• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.192-204
• /
• 2024

Generally, odorant molecules are detected by olfactory receptors, which are specialized chemoreceptors expressed in olfactory neurons. Besides odorant molecules, certain volatile molecules can be inhaled through the respiratory tract, often leading to pathophysiological changes in the body. These inhaled molecules mediate cellular signaling through the activation of the Ca²⁺-permeable transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in peripheral tissues. This review provides a comprehensive overview of TRP channels that are involved in the detection and response to volatile molecules, including hazardous substances, anesthetics, plant-derived compounds, and pheromones. The review aims to shed light on the biological mechanisms underlying the sensing of inhaled volatile molecules. Therefore, this review will contribute to a better understanding of the roles of TRP channels in the response to inhaled molecules, providing insights into their implications for human health and disease.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.322-329
• /
• 2016

Voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ ($Ca_V$) channels are dynamically modulated by Gprotein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The $M_1$ muscarinic receptor stimulation is known to enhance $Ca_V2.3$ channel gating through the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Here, we found that $M_1$ receptors also inhibit $Ca_V2.3$ currents when the channels are fully activated by PKC. In whole-cell configuration, the application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, potentiated $Ca_V2.3$ currents by ~two-fold. After the PMA-induced potentiation, stimulation of $M_1$ receptors decreased the $Ca_V2.3$ currents by $52{\pm}8%$. We examined whether the depletion of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PI(4,5)P_2$) is responsible for the muscarinic suppression of $Ca_V2.3$ currents by using two methods: the Danio rerio voltage-sensing phosphatase (Dr-VSP) system and the rapamycin-induced translocatable pseudojanin (PJ) system. First, dephosphorylation of $PI(4,5)P_2$ to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) by Dr-VSP significantly suppressed $Ca_V2.3$ currents, by $53{\pm}3%$. Next, dephosphorylation of both PI(4)P and $PI(4,5)P_2$ to PI by PJ translocation further decreased the current by up to $66{\pm}3%$. The results suggest that $Ca_V2.3$ currents are modulated by the $M_1$ receptor in a dual mode-that is, potentiation through the activation of PKC and suppression by the depletion of membrane $PI(4,5)P_2$. Our results also suggest that there is rapid turnover between PI(4)P and $PI(4,5)P_2$ in the plasma membrane.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.547-556
• /
• 2016

Myometrial relaxation of mouse via expression of two-pore domain acid sensitive (TASK) channels was studied. In our previous report, we suggested that two-pore domain acid-sensing $K^+$ channels (TASK-2) might be one of the candidates for the regulation of uterine circular smooth muscles in mice. In this study, we tried to show the mechanisms of relaxation via TASK-2 channels in marine myometrium. Isometric contraction measurements and patch clamp technique were used to verify TASK conductance in murine myometrium. Western blot and immunehistochemical study under confocal microscopy were used to investigate molecular identity of TASK channel. In this study, we showed that TEA and 4-AP insensitive non-inactivating outward $K^+$ current (NIOK) may be responsible for the quiescence of murine pregnant longitudinal myometrium. The characteristics of NIOK coincided with two-pore domain acid-sensing $K^+$ channels (TASK-2). NIOK in the presence of $K^+$ channel blockers was inhibited further by TASK inhibitors such as quinidine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis. Furthermore, oxytocin and estrogen inhibited NIOK in pregnant myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed stronger inhibition of NIOK by quinidine and increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretch-activated channels in the longitudinal myometrium of mouse. Activation of TASK-2 channels seems to play an essential role for relaxing uterus during pregnancy and it might be one of the alternatives for preventing preterm delivery.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.34 no.6_1
• /
• pp.1101-1117
• /
• 2018

The clear sky radiance (CSR) is one of the baseline products of the Himawari-8 which was launched on October, 2014. The CSR contributes to numerical weather prediction (NWP) accuracy through the data assimilation; especially water vapor channel CSR has good impact on the forecast in high level atmosphere. The focus of this study is the quality analysis of the CSR of the Himawari-8 geostationary satellite. We used the operational CSR (or clear sky brightness temperature) products in JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency) as observation data; for a background field, we employed the CSR simulated using the Radiative Transfer for TOVS (RTTOV) with the atmospheric state from the global model of KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration). We investigated data characteristics and analyzed observation minus background statistics of each channel with respect to regional and seasonal variability. Overall results for the analysis period showed that the water vapor channels (6.2, 6.9, and $7.3{\mu}m$) had a positive mean bias where as the window channels(10.4, 11.2, and $12.4{\mu}m$) had a negative mean bias. The magnitude of biases and Uncertainty result varied with the regional and the seasonal conditions, thus these should be taken into account when using CSR data. This study is helpful for the pre-processing of Himawari-8/Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) CSR data assimilation. Furthermore, this study also can contribute to preparing for the utilization of products from the Geo-Kompsat-2A (GK-2A), which will be launched in 2018 by the National Meteorological Satellite Center (NMSC) of KMA.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.266-269
• /
• 2020

In this study, we investigated the effect of a sulfur passivation (S-passivation) process step on the electrical properties of surface-channel In_0.7Ga_0.3As quantum-well (QW) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) with S/D regrowth contacts. We fabricated long-channel In_0.7Ga_0.3As QW MOSFETs with and without (NH₄)₂S treatment and then deposited 1/4 nm of Al₂O₃/HfO₂ through atomic layer deposition. The devices with S-passivation exhibited lower values of subthreshold swing (74 mV/decade) and drain-induced barrier lowering (19 mV/V) than the devices without S-passivation. A conductance method was applied, and a low value of interface trap density D_it (2.83×10¹² cm^-2eV^-1) was obtained for the devices with S-passivation. Based on these results, interface traps between InGaAs and high-κ are other defect sources that need to be considered in future studies to improve III-V microsensor sensing platforms.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2020

A river bed which is submerged in water at high flow and becomes part of the river at low flow, serves as a bridge between the river and the land. The channel bar creates a unique ecosystem with vegetation adapted to the particular environment and the water pool forms a wetland that plays a very important role in the environment. To evaluate anthropogenic impacts on the river bed in the Middle Yeongsangang River, the fluvial landforms in the stream channel were analyzed using multi-temporal remotely-sensed images. In the aerial photograph of 2005 taken before the construction of the large weirs, oxbow lakes, mid-channel bars, point bars, and natural wetlands between the artificial levees were identified. Multiple bars divided the flow of stream water to cause the braided pattern in a particular section. After the construction of the Seungchon weir, aerial photographs of 2013 and 2015 revealed that most of the fluvial landforms disappeared due to the dredging of its riverbed and water level control(maintenance at 7.5El.m). Sentinel-2 images were analyzed to identify differences between before and after the opening of weir gate. Change detection was performed with the near infrared and shortwave infrared spectral bands to effectively distinguish water surfaces from land. As a result, water surface area of the main stream of the Yeongsangang River decreased by 40% from 1.144km² to 0.692km². A large mid-channel bar that has been deposited upstream of the weir was exposed during low water levels, which shows the obvious influence of weir on the river bed. Newly formed unvegetated point bars that were deposited on the inside of a meander bend were identified from the remotely sensed images. As the maintenance period of the weir gate opening was extended, various habitats were created by creating pools and riffles around the channel bars. Considering the ecological and hydrological functions of the river bed, it is expected that the increase in bar areas through weir gate opening will reduce the artificial interference effect of the weir.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 1999

A flammable gas sensor based on the $SnO_2$thin film deposited by the reactive ion assisted deposition was fabricated and ultra-thin Pd layer as catalyst was adsorbed at surface by ion beam sputtering. The initial oxidation states of Pd catalyst were controlled to investigate the role of Pd in the sensing process of inflammale gas sensor through annealing in air and vacuum respectively. The Pd catalyst existing in pure metallic state showed the sensitivity higher than that of PdO. The result might be closely related to the fact that PdO as a surface acceptor would receive electrons via Pd sub-channel from $SnO_2$, and thus which reduces the sensitivity and delay the response time.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2012

Integrated-optic asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer at $1.3{\mu}m$ wavelength and segmented electrode structure were designed and fabricated as a sensing part for the electric-field measurement system. The device was simulated based on the BPM software and fabricated utilizing Ti-diffused $LiNbO_3$ channel optical waveguides and lumped-type electrodes. Almost half-maximum power transmission was observed for asymmetric interferometers with ${\pi}/2$ intrinsic phase difference. Expected experimental measurements were observed for 1KHz electrical signal bandwidth.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.62-70
• /
• 2015

Recently the demand for projected capacitance touch screens is sharply growing especially for large screens for medical devices, PC monitors and TVs. Large touch screens in general need a controller of higher complexity. They usually have a larger number of driving and sensing lines, and hence it takes longer to scan one frame for touch detection leading to a low frame scan rate. In this paper, a novel touch screen control technique is presented, which scans each frame in two steps of simultaneous multi-channel driving. The first step is to drive all driving lines simultaneously and determine which sensing lines have any touch. The second step is to sequentially rescan only the touched sensing lines, and determine exact positions of the touches. This technique can substantially increase the frame scan rate. This technique has been implemented using an FPGA and an AFE board, and tested using a commercial 23-inch touch screen panel. Experimental results show that the proposed technique improves the frame scan rate by 8.4 times for the 23-inch touch screen panel over conventional methods.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.2256-2262
• /
• 2015

Recently, device-to-device (D2D) communication has been considered as key technology for future cellular system, because it can solve the problem of excessive data traffic increment and can also provide new communication services. Herein, we propose new neighbor discovery for D2D communication and examine its performance. Our proposed scheme is proximity beacon based discovery in which wireless resource for pilot transmission is assigned based on the spatial correlation of wireless channel and sensing period is adjusted according to target accuracy such that power consumption can be reduced. The performance of our propose scheme is analyzed mathematically and verified through computer simulations.