Kangwon National University

About: Kangwon National University is a education organization based out in Chuncheon, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 9836 authors who have published 20002 publications receiving 393562 citations. The organization is also known as: KNU.

Comparison of the rebound tonometer (TonoVet) with the applanation tonometer (TonoPen XL) in normal Eurasian Eagle owls (Bubo bubo).

Abstract: Objective To examine the feasibility and accuracy of a handheld rebound tonometer, TonoVet®, and to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) readings of the TonoVet® with those of an applanation tonometer, TonoPen XL®, in normal Eurasian Eagle owls. Animals studied Ten clinically normal Eurasian Eagle owls (20 eyes). Procedures Complete ocular examinations, using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy, were conducted on each raptor. The IOP was measured bilaterally using a rebound tonometer followed by a topical anesthetic agent after 1 min. The TonoPen XL® tonometer was applied in both eyes 30 s following topical anesthesia. Results The mean ± SD IOP obtained by rebound tonometer was 10.45 ± 1.64 mmHg (range 7–14 mmHg), and by applanation tonometer was 9.35 ± 1.81 mmHg (range 6–12 mmHg). There was a significant difference (P = 0.001) in the IOP obtained from both tonometers. The linear regression equation describing the relationship between both devices was y = 0.669x + 4.194 (x = TonoPen XL® and y = TonoVet®). The determination coefficient (r2) was r2 = 0.550. Conclusions The results suggest that readings from the rebound tonometer significantly overestimated those from the applanation tonometer and that the rebound tonometer was tolerated well because of the rapid and minimal stress-inducing method of tonometry in the Eurasian Eagle owls, even without topical anesthesia. Further studies comparing TonoVet® with manometric measurements may be necessary to employ rebound tonometer for routine clinical use in Eurasian Eagle owls.

Anti-inflammatory activity of pectolinarigenin and pectolinarin isolated from Cirsium chanroenicum.

Abstract: In order to identify the active anti-inflammatory ingredient(s) in Cirsium chanroenicum (Compositae), its methanol extract and several solvent fractions were prepared; the methanol extract and the ethylacetate fraction inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)-mediated leukotriene (LT) production in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells and A23187-treated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells, respectively. Further bioactivity-guided fractionation of the ethylacetate fraction using column chromatography led to the isolation of pectolinarigenin (5,7-dihydroxy-4′,6-dimethoxyflavone), along with pectolinarin [pectolinarigenin 7-rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucoside]. Pectolinarigenin strongly inhibited COX-2-mediated PGE2 and 5-LOX-mediated LT production at >1 μM, indicating that it is a dual inhibitor of COX-2/5-LOX. However, pectolinarigenin did not affect COX-2 expression or nuclear transcription factor (NF-κB) activation. In addition, in vivo studies demonstrated that oral administration of these two compounds at 20—100 mg/kg resulted in similar inhibitory activities against several animal models of inflammation/allergy: arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema, carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. All of these results suggest that pectolinarigenin and pectolinarin possess anti-inflammatory activity and that they may inhibit eicosanoid formation in inflammatory lesions. These activities certainly contribute to the anti-inflammatory mechanism of C. chanroenicum.

Memory Properties of Nickel Silicide Nanocrystal Layer for Possible Application to Nonvolatile Memory Devices

Abstract: The memory properties of nickel silicide (NiSi) nanocrystal (NC) layers, which were directly grown in silicon dioxide by thermal annealing of a simple sandwich structure composed of an ultrathin Ni film sandwiched between two silicon-rich oxide (SiOx) layers, have been investigated for possible nonvolatile memory (NVM) applications. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements on MOS capacitors with a floating gate based on a NiSi NC layer of average diameter of 2.9 nm and areal density of 1.3 times 1012 cm-2 are shown to have a memory window of ~10 V, a retention time > 108 s, and an endurance > 106 program/erase cycles. These C-V characteristics demonstrate that the NiSi NC layer has high potential for NVM applications.