• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.490-495
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• 2019

Using tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), various pathological molecules and viruses disseminate to adjacent cells intercellularly. Here, we show that the intracellular invasion of Mycoplasma hyorhinis induces the formation of actin- and tubulin-based TNTs in various mammalian cell lines. M. hyorhinis was found in TNTs generated by M. hyorhinis infection in NIH3T3 cells. Because mycoplasma-free recipient cells received mycoplasmas from M. hyorhinis-infected donor cells in a mixed co-culture system and not a spatially separated co-culture system, direct cell-to-cell contact via TNTs was necessary for the intracellular dissemination of M. hyorhinis. The activity of Rac1, which is a small GTP binding protein, was increased by the intracellular invasion of M. hyorhinis, and its pharmacological and genetic inhibition prevented M. hyorhinis infection-induced TNT generation in NIH3T3 cells. The pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Rac1 also reduced the cell-to-cell dissemination of M. hyorhinis. Based on these data, we conclude that intracellular invasion of M. hyorhinis induces the formation of TNTs, which are used for the cell-to-cell dissemination of M. hyorhinis.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2018

The traditional silicon heterojunction solar cells consist of intrinsic amorphous silicon to prevent recombination of the silicon surface and doped amorphous silicon to transport the photo-generated electrons and holes to the electrode. Back contact solar cells with silicon heterojunction exhibit very high open-circuit voltages, but the complexity of the process due to form the emitter and base at the backside must be addressed. In order to solve this problem, the structure, manufacturing method, and new materials enabling the carrier selective contact (CSC) solar cell capable of achieving high efficiency without using a complicated structure have recently been actively developed. CSC solar cells minimize carrier recombination on metal contacts and effectively transfer charge. The CSC structure allows very low levels of recombination current (eg, Jo < 9fA/cm2), thereby achieves high open-circuit voltage and high efficiency. This paper summarizes the core technology of CSC solar cell, which has been spotlighted as the next generation technology, and is aiming to speed up the research and development in this field.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.817-822
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• 2008

Metal matrix composite (MMC) materials having low electrical contact resistance based on 316L stainless steel (STS) matrix alloy with $ZrB_2$ particles were fabricated for PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) separator by powder metallurgy (PM). The effects of the boride particle addition into the matrix alloy on microstructure, surface morphology, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the samples and gas diffusion layer (GDL) were investigated. Both conventional and PM 316L STS samples showed high ICR due to the existence of non-conductive passive film on the alloy surface. The addition of the boride particles, however, remarkably reduced ICR of the samples. SEM observation revealed that the boride particles were protruded out of the matrix surface and particle density existing on the surface increased with increasing the boride content, causing increase of the total contact area between the conductive particles and GDL. ICR of the samples also decreased with increasing the boride content resulted from the increased contact area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.68-75
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• 2010

The one of the major problems in the development of PEMFC was regarding to the assurance of sealing on stack. The failure on the sealing creates the problems of fuel leakage, mixing, internal combustion, damage on parts and can be a direct reason for the degrading the efficiency of fuel cell. This paper studies on the analytical approach for improving the contacting pressure distribution on the gasket at the evaluation on the sealing of fuel cell stack. So, the assembly analysis on multi layered fuel cell stack was performed. The research on the simplification of finite element model was performed for three dimensional analysis at the multi layered state. The improved contact pressure distribution was obtained through the case studies on gasket for better sealing. In addition, the number of the cell was determined for the effective analysis and the structural characteristics were evaluated based on this research.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.89.2-89.2
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• 2011

Stainless steel bipolar plates have many advantage such as high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength and low fabrication cost. However, they need a passivation layer due to low corrosion resistance under PEM fuel cell operation condition. In this study, polyphenyene sulfide(PPS)/carbon composite coated stainless steel bipolar plates were fabricated by compression molding method after PPS/carbon composite sprayed on the stainless steel plate. PPS and carbon were chosen as the binder and conductive filler of passivation layer, respectively. The interfacial contact resistance and corrosion resistance of PPS/carbon composite coated stainless steel bipolar plates were investigated and compared to the stainless steel. The PPS/carbon composite coated stainless steel compared to stainless steel was improved interfacial contact resistance. The results of the potentiodynamic and potentiostatic measurements also showed that the PPS/carbon composite coated stainless steel did not corroded under PEM fuel cell operating conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1032-1037
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• 2017

The poly-${\gamma}$-$\small{D}$-glutamic acid (PGA) capsule, a major virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis, provides protection of the bacterium from phagocytosis and allows its unimpeded growth in the host. We investigated crosstalk between murine natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages stimulated with the PGA capsule of Bacillus licheniformis, a surrogate of the B. anthracis capsule. PGA induced interferon-gamma production from NK cells cultured with macrophages. This effect was dependent on macrophage-derived IL-12 and cell-cell contact interaction with macrophages through NK cell receptor NKG2D and its ligand RAE-1. The results showed that PGA could enhance NK cell activation by inducing IL-12 production in macrophages and a contact-dependent crosstalk with macrophages.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.671-675
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• 2014

This paper presents a fabrication of hydrophilic Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with periodic wrinkling surface. The proposed periodic wrinkling surface was fabricated using the sequential processes of typical curing process of PDMS, cutting process, platinum deposition process, and wrinkling transfer process. The surface morphology of the fabricated wrinkling surface was observed by using optical and dynamic atomic force microscopy and discussed. The measured period and amplitude of wrinkling was about $2.2{\mu}m$ and $0.31{\mu}m$, respectively. And, the contact angles of water droplets on the wrinkled surface were measured in order to understand effect of the wrinkling surface on surface modification of hydrophobic PDMS. Our new finding was that the proposed wrinkling surface was hydrophilic and the measured contact angle was about $62^{\circ}$. Moreover, it was found out from the simple cell culture test that the fabricated wrinkling surface was more effective for cell spreading and adhesion than the case of native PDMS substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.206-209
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• 2004

Mechanical behavior of a fuel stack was studied using an orthotropic material model. The fuel stack is essentially composed of a bipolar plate (BP), a gasket, an end plate, a membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA), and a gas diffusion layer (GDL). Each component is fastened with a suitable pressure. It is important to maintain a suitable contact pressure distribution of BP, because it influences the power efficiency of the fuel cell stack. When it is exposed to high temperature, its behavior must be stable. Hence, we performed stress analysis at high temperature as well as at room temperature. At high temperature, the contact pressure distribution becomes poor. Many patents have shown that using an elastomer can overcome this phenomena. Its effect was also studied. By using an elastomer, we found a good contact pressure distribution at high temperature as well as at room temperature.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.525-529
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• 1990

Plant cell cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon were performed in stirred tank and packed-bed reactors with in situ extraction by n-hexadecane. The specific shikonin production and volumetric shikonin productivity of stirred tank reactor reached 1.5 mg shikoninlg cell and 400$\mu g$ shikonin/(L.day), respectively. In packed-bed reactor with calcium alginate-immobilized cells specific shikonin production and volumetric productivity reached 2.0 mg shikoninlg cell and 2857$\mu g$ shikonin/(L.day), which were 1.3 and 7.1 times higher than those of stirred tank reactor, respectively. The higher shikonin production and productivity of packed-bed reactor seemed to be due to high cell loading capacity of calcium alginate immobilized cells in packed-bed reactor and improved cell-cell contact.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2014

Purpose: Current common method of cytotoxicity evaluation for elastomeric impression materials use animal based cell lines, which the clinical relevance has been often questioned. Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine the difference in results with both human based and animal based fibroblast cell line. Materials and Methods: Three types of fibroblast cells were used in this study; conventional mouse fibroblasts of L929, human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1), and immortalized human oral fibrobalsts (hTERT-hNOF). Test on extract and test by direct contact using different commercially available elastomeric impression materials were carried out according to the international standards. Result: There was significant difference in cell viability between types of fibroblasts cell used, where HGF-1 showed highest cell viability and L929 the lowest. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, careful consideration must be given when selecting the cells and interpreting the results for cytotoxicity evaluation of elastomeric impression materials, where use of human based cell lines such as hTERT-hNOF would be appropriate for both ease of cytotoxicity test and clinical relevance.