• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.66.1-66.1
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• 2015

Plasma medicine is an upcoming research area that has attracted the scientists to explore more deeply the utility of plasma. So, apart from the treating biomaterials and tissues with plasma, we have studied the effect of plasma with different feeding gases on modification of biomolecules. Additionally, we have checked the action of nanosecond pulsed plasma on the biomolecules. We have checked the plasma action on proteins ((Hemoglobin (Hb) Myoglobin (Mb) and lysoenzyme), calf thymus DNA and amino acids. The structural changes or structural modification of proteins and DNA have been studied using circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), gel electrophoresis, protein oxidation test, UV-vis spectroscopy and 1D NMR, while Liquid Chromatograph/Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometer(LC/CE-MS) based qualitative bio-analysis have been used to study the modification of amino acids. We have also shown the effect of NaCl and ionic liquid on the formation of OH radicals using electron spin resonance and fluorescence techinques.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.86.2-86.2
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• 2015

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cells have been fabricated using sputtered Cu/Sn/Zn metallic precursors on Mo coated sodalime glass substrate without using a toxic H2Se and H2S atmosphere. Cu/Sn/Zn metallic precursors with various thicknesses were prepared using DC magnetron sputtering process at room temperature. As-deposited metallic precursors were sulfo-selenized inside a graphite box containing S and Se pellets using rapid thermal processing furnace at various sulfur to selenium (S/Se) compositional ratio. Thin film solar cells were fabricated after sulfo-selenization process using a 65 nm CdS buffer, a 40 nm intrinsic ZnO, a 400 nm Al doped ZnO, and Al/Ni top metal contact. Effects of sulfur to selenium (S/Se) compositional ratio on the microstructure, crystallinity, electrical properties, and cell efficiencies have been studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, I-V measurement system, solar simulator, quantum efficiency measurement system, and time resolved photoluminescence spectrometer. Our fabricated Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cell shows the best conversion efficiency of 9.24 % (Voc : 454.6 mV, Jsc : 32.14 mA/cm2, FF : 63.29 %, and active area : 0.433 cm2), which is the highest efficiency among Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cells prepared using sputter deposited metallic precursors and without using a toxic H2Se gas. Details about other experimental results will be discussed during the presentation.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 2015

The unintentionally doped and bismuth (Bi) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) films were prepared by spray pyrolysis at $450^{\circ}C$ with zinc acetate and bismuth nitrate precursor. The n-type conduction with concentration $6.13{\times}10^{16}cm^{-3}$ can be observed for the unintentionally doped ZnO. With the increasing of bismuth nitrate concentration in precursor, the p-type conduction can be observed. The p-type concentration $4.44{\times}10^{17}cm^{-3}$ can be achieved for the film with the Bi/Zn atomic ratio 5% in the precursor. The photoluminescence spectroscopy with HeCd laser light source was studied for films with different Bi doping. The photocatalytic activity for the unintentionally doped and Bi-doped ZnO films was studied through the photodegradation of Congo red under UV light illumination. The effects of different Bi contents on photocatalytic activity are studied and discussed. Results show that appropriate Bi doping in ZnO can increase photocatalytic activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.276-280
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• 2008

To elucidate the effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on molecular properties of ovalbumin, the molecular weight profile, secondary structure and tertiary structure of proteins were examined after irradiation by UV with 254 nm wavelength for 4, 8, 16 and 32 hrs, respectively. UV irradiation of protein solution caused the disruption on the native state of protein molecules. SDS-PAGE and gel permeation chromatography indicated that radiation caused initial fragmentation of polypeptide chains and as a result subsequent aggregation due to cross-linking of protein molecules. Circular dichroism (CD) study showed that UV irradiation caused the change on the secondary structure resulting in decrease of helical structure or compact denature on structure of protein depending on irradiation period. Fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that irradiation quenched the emission intensity excited at 280 nm. These results suggest that UV irradiation affect the molecular properties of ovalbumin and may have potential as a means to change the antigenicity of protein allergen.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

In this study, the performances of various adsorbents-red mud, zeolite, limestone, and oyster shell-were investigated for the adsorption of multi-metal ions ($Cr^{3+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $As^{3+}$, $Cd^{2+}$, and $Pb^{2+}$) from aqueous solutions. The result of scanning electron microscopy analyses indicated that the some metal ions were adsorbed onto the surface of the media. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the Si(Al)-O bond (red mud and zeolite) and C-O bond (limestone and oyster shell) might be involved in heavy metal adsorption. The changes in the pH of the aqueous solutions upon applying adsorbents were investigated and the adsorption kinetics of the metal ions on different adsorbents were simulated by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The sorption process was relatively fast and equilibrium was reached after about 60 min of contact (except for $As^{3+}$). From the maximum capacity of the adsorption kinetic model, the removal of $Pb^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$ were higher than for the other metal ions. Meanwhile, the reaction rate constants ($k_{1,2}$) indicated the slowest sorption in $As^{3+}$. The adsorption mechanisms of heavy metal ions were not only surface adsorption and ion exchange, but also surface precipitation. Based on the metal ions' adsorption efficiencies, red mud was found to be the most efficient of all the tested adsorbents. In addition, impurities in seawater did not lead to a significant decrease in the adsorption performance. It is concluded that red mud is a more economic high-performance alternative than the other tested adsorption materials for applying a removal of multi-metal in seawater.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2002

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) deposited in soil are one of serious problems against sustainable land use. In this paper, chemical soil flushing in a packed sandy soil matrix using a natural surfactant, $\beta$-cyclodextrin (CD) was studied via a fluorescence spectroscopy and a dye labelling. The contaminants are lipophilic ring compounds- phenanthrene and naphthalene. Sand type and flushing intensity (rate and concentration) are chosen as important investigation variables. The removal efficiencies were proportional to flow rate, concentration, temperature of the flushing solution and voidity of the sand column. Initial sorption of the surfactant onto the soil matrix was found to be a key step while flow shear was more crucial in the latter steps. The residual portion of the surfactant, which was most likely to be due to the initial sorption, would not be so influential on this type of soil washing for long times. These results will be useful in future for pilot scale in situ washing and for establishing better soil washing strategy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.338-338
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• 2010

지난 20여년 동안 반도체 레이저 다이오드는 주로 CD (DVD) 픽업용 (파장: 640 nm 이하) 및 통신용 (파장 1550 nm) 광원 분야에서 집중적으로 개발되어 왔다. 그러나 기술의 개발과 더불어 파장조절이 비교적 자유로워지고 광출력이 증대 되면서 기존의 레이저 고유의 영역까지 그 응용분야기 확대되고 있고, 이에 따라 고출력 반도체 레이저 다이오드의 시장 규모도 꾸준히 증가되고 있는 상황이다. 고출력 반도체 레이저 다이오드는 발진 파장 및 광출력에 따라 다양한 분야에 응용되고 있으며, 특히 발진파장이 808 nm 인 고출력 레이저 다이오드의 경우 재료가공, 펌핑용 광원 (DPSSL, 광섬유 레이저), 의료, 피부미용 (점 제거), 레이저 다이오드 디스플레이 등 가장 다양한 응용분야를 가진 광원 중의 하나라고 할 수 있다. MBE(Molecular Beam Epitaxy)로 성장된 InAlAs 에피층 (epi-layer)을 사용하여 고출력을 갚는 레이저 다이오드를 제작함에 있어서, 에피층은 결함 (defect)이 없는 우수한 단결정이 요구되지만, 실제 결정 성장 과정에서는 성장온도와 Al 조성비 등의 성장 조건의 변화에 따라 전기적 광학적 특성 및 신뢰성에 큰 영향을 받는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 DLTS (Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy) 방법을 이용하여 InAlAs 양자점 에피층의 깊은 준위 거동을 조사하였다. DLTS 측정 결과, 0.3eV 부근의 point defect과 0.57 ~ 0.70 eV 영역의 trap이 조사되었으며, 이는 갈륨 (Ga) vacancy와 산소 원자의 복합체에 기인한 결함으로 분석된다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.624-631
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• 2005

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, continues to be one of the main diseases to mankind. It is urgent to discover novel drug targets for appropriate antimicrobial agents against this human pathogen. The shikimate pathway is onsidered as an attractive target for the discovery of novel antibiotics for its essentiality in bacteria and absence in mammalian cells. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis aroE-encoded shikimate dehydrogenase was cloned, expressed and purified. Sequence alignment analysis shows that shikimate dehydrogenase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exhibit the pattern of G-X-(N/S)-V-(T/S)-X-PX-K, which is highly conserved within the shikimate dehydrogenase family. The recombinant shikimate dehydrogenase spectrum determined by CD spectroscopy showed that the percentages for $\alpha$-helix, $\beta$-sheet, $\beta$-turn, and random coil were 29.2%, 9.3%, 32.7%, and 28.8%, respectively. The enzymatic characterization demonstrates that it appears to be fully active at pH from 9.0 to 12, and temperature $63^{\circ}C$. The apparent Michaelis constant for shikimic acid and $NADP^+$ were calculated to be about $29.5\;{\mu}M$ and $63\;{\mu}M$. The recombinant shikimate dehydrogenase catalyzes the substrate in the presence of $NADP^+$ with an enzyme turnover number of $399\;s^{-1}$. Zymological studies suggest that the cloned shikimate dehydrogenase from M. tuberculosis has a pretty activity, and the work should help in the discovery of enzyme inhibitors and further of possible antimicrobial agents against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.530-536
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• 2006

Thermal conformational changes of human serum albumin (HSA) in phosphate buffer, 10 mM at pH = 7 are investigated using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), circular dichroism (CD) and UV spectroscopic methods. The results indicate that temperature increment from $25^{\circ}C$ to $55^{\circ}C$ induces reversible conformational changes in the structure of HSA. Conformational change of HSA are shown to be a three-step process. Interestingly, melting temperature of the last domain is equal to the maximum value of fever in pathological conditions, i.e. $42^{\circ}C$. These conformational alterations are accompanied by a mild alteration of secondary structures. Study of HSA-SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) interaction at $45^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$ reveals that SDS affects the HSA structure at least in three steps: the first two steps result in more stabilization and compactness of HSA structure, while the last one induces the unfolding of HSA. Since HSA has a more affinity for SDS at $45^{\circ}C$ compared to $35^{\circ}C$, It is suggested that the net negative charge of HSA is decreased in fever, which results in the decrease of HSA-associated cations and plasma osmolarity, and consequently, heat removal via the increase in urine volume.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.412-418
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• 2007

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is an unique antioxidant enzyme that directly reduces lipid hydroperoxides in biomembranes. In the present work, the entire encoding region for Oryza sativa PHGPx was expressed in Escherichia coli M15, and the purified fusion protein showed a single band with 21.0 kD and pI = 8.5 on SDS- and IFE-PAGE, respectively. Judging from CD and fluorescence spectroscopy, this protein is considered to have a well-ordered structure with 12.2% $\alpha$-helix, 30.7%$\beta$-sheet, 18.5% $\delta$-turn, and 38.5% random coil. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme activity were pH 9.3 and 27$^{\circ}C$. The enzyme exhibited the highest affinity and catalytical efficiency to phospholipid hydroperoxide employing GSH or Trx as electron donor. Moreover, the protein displayed higher GSH-dependent activity towards t-Butyl-OOH and $H_2O_2$. These results show that OsPHGPx is an enzyme with broad specificity for hydroperoxide substrates and yielded significant insight into the physicochemical properties and the dynamics of OsPHGPx.