• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2012

The electrical wire explosion process in liquid media is promising for nano-sized metal and/or alloy particles. The hybrid Pt/Fe-Cr-Al and Pt/Ni-Cr-Fe nanoparticles for exhaust emission control system are synthesized by electrical wire explosion process in liquid media. The alloy powders have spherical shape and nanometer size. According to the wire component, while Pt/Fe-Cr-Al nanoparticles are shown the well dispersed Pt on the Fe-Cr-Al core particle, Pt/Ni-Cr-Fe nanoparticles are shown the partially separated Pt on the Ni-Cr-Fe core particle. Morphologies and component of two kinds of hybrid nano catalyst particles were characterized by transmission electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.181-184
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• 2017

Multilayer ceramics in which piezoelectric layers of $0.90Pb(Zr_{0.48}Ti_{0.52})O_3-0.05Pb(Mn_{1/3}Sb_{2/3})O_3-0.05Pb(Zn_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3$ (0.90PZT-0.05PMS-0.05PZN) stack alternately with silver electrode layers were prepared by an advanced low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) method. The electrical properties and bonding strength of the multilayers were associated with the interface morphologies between the piezoelectric and silver-electrode layers. Usually, the inner silver electrodes are fabricated by sintering silver paste in multi-layer stacks. To improve the interface bonding strength, piezoelectric powders of 0.90PZT-0.05PMS-0.05PZN with an average particle size of $23{\mu}m$ were added to silver paste to form a gradient interface. SEM observation indicated clear interfaces in multilayer ceramics without powder addition. With the increase of piezoelectric powder addition in the silver paste, gradient interfaces were successfully obtained. The multilayer ceramics with gradient interfaces present greater bonding strength as well as excellent piezoelectric properties for 30~40 wt% of added powder. On the other hand, over addition greatly increased the resistance of the inner silver electrodes, leading to a piezoelectric behavior like that of bulk ceramics in multilayers.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2019

Previously, we reported negative effects of low-dose nonylphenol (NP) exposure on the reproductive organs of F1 male mice. In the present study was further investigated the endocrine disrupting effect of NP exposure to F2 generation male mice. Mice were divided into 2 groups; (1) CON, control animals and (2) NP-50 ($50{\mu}g/L$), animals were treated with NP via drinking water. NP exposures were continuously conducted from parental pre-mating period until the postnatal day (PND) 55 of F2 offsprings. Mice were sacrificed on PND 55 and the reproductive tissue weights were measured. The initial (at PND 21) and terminal (PND 55) body weights of the NP-50 group animals were not significantly different from those of control group animals. NP exposure fail to induce a significant weight change of the testes, seminal vesicle and prostate except absolute epididymal weight (p<0.05). However, pathohistological studies revealed that NP-treated F2 animals showed evident decrease in seminiferous tubule diameters, reduced luminal area and number of germ cells. Also, sloughing morphologies in the tubules were notable. In the caudal epididymis, fewer mature sperms and swollen epithelial cells were found in the NP-treated group. The present study demonstrated that the subchronic low-dose NP exposure induced pathohistological abnormalities in testis and epididymis of F2 mice, and we assumed that these 'qualitative' changes in reproductive tissues could be derived from the epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone modification, altered DNA accessibility and chromatin structure. Further studies are needed to achieve a better understanding on the multi- or trans-generational effects of NP on the reproductive health and a human application.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.130-136
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• 2022

Recently, organic semiconductor based indoor photovoltaics have gained attention since they exhibit excellent photovoltaic performance than that of conventional Si-based photovoltaics. In this study, we synthesize the medium bandgap polymer of PTBT and optimize PTBT:PC₇₁BM blend films by introducing solvent additives. To this end, we select DIO and CN solvent additives and vary their contents from 0 to 3 vol%. As a result, we produce the highest power conversion efficiency of 11.31% under LED 1000 lx conditions with DIO (1.5 vol%) + CN (0.5 vol%)

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2019

Nonylphenols (NPs) are widely used industrial materials, and are considered as potent endocrine disrupting chemical. Present study was undertaken to clarify the effect of subchronic low-dose NP exposure to F1 generation male mice. Mice were divided into 2 groups; (1) CON, control animals and (2) NP-50 ($50{\mu}g/L$), animals were treated with NP via drinking water. NP exposures were continuously conducted from parental pre-mating period until the postnatal day (PND) 55 of F1 offsprings. Mice were sacrificed on PND 55 and the tissue weights were measured. The initial body weights (at PND 21) and terminal body weights (PND 55) of the NP-50 animals were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.05). NP exposure induced a significant increase in the absolute weight of the testes (p<0.05). Conversely, the NP exposure caused significant decrease in the absolute weights of the epididymis (p<0.01), prostate (p<0.05) and seminal vesicle (p<0.05). Histopathological studies revealed that NP-treated animals exerted decreased seminiferous tubule diameters, reduced luminal area, and lower number of germ cells. Also some sloughing morphologies in the tubules were observed. In the caudal epididymis, fewer mature sperms and swollen epithelial cells were found in the NP-treated group. Our results confirmed that the subchronic low-dose NP exposure altered some male parameters and induced histopathological abnormalities in testis and epididymis of F1 mice. Since the NP dose used in this study is close to the average human daily NP exposure, our results could provide practically meaningful understanding of adverse effect of EDC in human.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.749-759
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• 2009

A survey of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) strains isolated from Spanish citrus orchards has been performed, and the strains were tested for insecticidal activity against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), a key citrus pest in Spain. From a total of 150 environmental samples, 376 isolates were selected, recording a total B. thuringiensis index of 0.52. The collection was characterized by means of phase-contrast microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and PCR analysis with primer pairs detecting toxin genes cry1, cry2, cry3, cry4, cry5, cry7, cry8, cry9, cry10, cry11, cry12, cry14, cry17, cry19, cry21, cry27, cry39, cry44, cyt1, and cyt2. Diverse crystal inclusion morphologies were identified: bipyramidal (45%), round (40%), adhered to the spore (7%), small (5%), and irregular (3%). SDS-PAGE of spore-crystal preparations revealed 39 different electrophoresis patterns. All primer pairs used in PCR tests gave positive amplifications in strains of our collection, except for primers for detection of cry3, cry19, cry39, or cry44 genes. Strains containing cry1, cry2, cry4, and cry27 genes were the most abundant (48.7%, 46%, 11.2%, and 8.2% of the strains, respectively). Ten different genetic profiles were found, although a total of 109 strains did not amplify with the set of primers used. Screening for toxicity against C. capitata adults was performed using both spore-crystal and soluble fractions. Mortality levels were less than 30%. We have developed a large and diverse B. thuringiensis strain collection with huge potential to control several agricultural pests; however, further research is needed to find out Bt strains active against C. capitata.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.446-452
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• 2005

The interactions between the surface of scaffolds and specific cells play an important role in tissue engineering applications. Some cell adhesive ligand peptides including Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) have been grafted into polymeric scaffolds to improve specific cell attachment. In order to make cell adhesive scaffolds for tissue regeneration, biodegradable nonporous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films were prepared by using a solvent casting technique with chloroform. The hydrophobic PLLA films were surface-modified by Argon plasma treatment and in situ direct acrylic acid (AA) grafting to get hydrophilic PLLA-g-PAA. The obtained carboxylic groups of PLLA-g-PAA were coupled with the amine groups of Gly-Arg-Asp-Gly (GRDG, control) and GRGD as a ligand peptide to get PLLA-g-GRDG and PLLA-g-GRGD, respectively. The surface properties of the modified PLLA films were examined by various surface analyses. The surface structures of the PLLA films were confirmed by ATR-FTIR and ESCA, whereas the immobilized amounts of the ligand peptides were 138-145 pmol/$cm^2$. The PLLA surfaces were more hydrophilic after AA and/or RGD grafting but their surface morphologies showed still relatively smoothness. Fibroblast adhesion to the PLLA surfaces was improved in the order of PLLA control

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.343-353
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• 1991

In order to investigate the histopathological, mechanism of Rompun-induced shock, the development of mammary carcinoma, the numerical changes and the morphological findings of the mast cells appeared in the carcinoma were microscopically observed in the rat treated with DMBA and each chemical of compound 48/80 and Rompun. Also mast cell degranulation induced by Rompun was observed with electron microscope. The results observed were summarized as follows: Tumor appeared in 100% of the animals. Tumors grew more rapidly to $10{\times}10mm$ in rats depleted of mast cells ($37.7{\pm}4.2$ days) than was observed in the control group ($42.5{\pm}4.7$ days) (p<0.005). The mean number of tumors per rat was $2.8{\pm}1.3$ in the compound 48/80- treated group in contrast to $3.4{\pm}1.3$ in the control group. No significant difference was apparent in the tumor induction time of Rompun treated group compared with the compound 48/80-treated group, but the tumor measuring at least $10{\times}10mm$ appeared more quickly in the Rompun treated group than in the control group (p<0.005). The numbers of mast cells in the control group were inclined to increase significantly according to the mammary tumor development (p<0.005). In contrast, the mast cells were fewer significantly in the compound 48/80-treated group and Rompun-treated group than in the control group (p<0.005). The numbers of mast cells in the compound 48/80-treated group and Rompun-treated group were inclined to reduce significantly according to the stages of the mammary carcinoma growth in contrast to the control group respectively. The ultrastructural morphologies of mast cells at 30 minutes after Rompun injection were appeared many normal granules in the cytoplasm, but many normal and degranulated granules were scattered along the cell membrane. And at 1 hour after Rompun injection mast cell granules were disappeared nearly or rarely seen. many long cytoplasmic projections were folded back to adhere to their own surface membrane. and mast cells resulted in a reduced size of these cells. Otherwise. compound 48/80 caused extensive degranulation of mast cells by disrupting cell membrane. but mast cell degranulation by Rompun was observed exocytosis of granules through a channel. From the above results. it is concluded that the Rompun may give rise to the dealth of animals as a shock caused by mast cell degranulation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.262-270
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• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Daebangfung-tang (DBFT) on suppressing muscle atrophy followed by immobilization. Methods : Twenty young male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups. The rats in experimental group (DBFT group) were orally administrated DBFT once a day for 2 weeks, and the rats in control group were given normal saline in the same manner. The immobilization on left leg was carried out using casting tape. The morphologies of gastrocnemius in both groups were assessed. The cross sectional area of them was measured by image analyzer. Immunohistochemical staining was implemented and the numbers of immunopositive cells implying the expression of TNF-α were measured and quantified. Results : DBFT represented the significant suppressive effects against the weight loss of the left gastrocnemius muscle and the reduction in cross sectional area of the left gastrocnemius muscle compared with normal saline. Also the treatment with DBFT significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α in gastrocnemius compared with normal saline. Conclusions : DBFT is thought to have the significant suppressive effect against muscle atrophy followed by immobilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2008

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on the semen characteristics of the Markhoz buck. Sixteen bucks were randomly allocated into 4 groups and received four different diets: unsupplemented control diet, supplemented with fish oil at 2.50% dry matter (DM), supplemented with fish oil (2.50% DM) and vitamin E (0.30 g/kg DM), and supplemented with vitamin E (0.30 g/kg DM). All experimental diets were formulated according to AFRC (1998). Semen was collected at 14 d intervals from June 17, 2006 to September 2, 2006. Semen characteristics were evaluated. Significant effects (p<0.05) of the week (sampling time) were observed for all parameters except semen volume. Also a significant effect (p<0.05) of dietary treatment was observed for all parameters except for percent sperm with normal morphologies and semen volume. Fish oil supplementation with excess vitamin E had a significant effect (p<0.05) on total number and sperm density, motility and progressive motility, percentage viability and dead sperm. The interaction between fish oil feeding and sampling time was significant (p<0.05) for all of the parameters. The bucks that received fish oil in association with vitamin E, effect fish oil showed the greatest improvement in semen characteristics compared with the other groups (p<0.05). This study showed that fish oil supplementation with vitamin E may have a beneficial effect on the semen quality and fertility of Markhoz bucks.