• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.565-571
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• 2003

The locomotor responses of human peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes were measured by the change from spherical to polarized shapes in the presence of endotoxins (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) of enteric pathogens: S. dysenteriae type 1, V. cholerae Inaba 569B, S. typhimurium, and K. pneumoniae. We reported earlier that these endotoxins are chemotactic factors for the neutrophils since they stimulated cell polarization within a few minutes of incubation. Endotoxins had an inhibitory effect upon neutrophil phagocytosis of opsonized yeast and the cells engulfed fewer yeasts. Interestingly, endotoxins increased neutrophil adhesion to clean glass surfaces, but stimulated the cells to exhibit increased random locomotion (chemokinesis) through cellulose nitrate filters and show an enhanced ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye. Unlike neutrophils, lymphocytes direct from blood do not show polarized morphology towards chemotactic factors but the cells acquire locomotor capacity during 24-72 h culture with mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), phorbol myristate acetate or concanavalin A. Stimulation of blood lymphocytes with endotoxins did not induce cell polarization in short-term but long-term culture resulted in an increase in the proportion of polarized cells that acquired locomotor morphologies. The majority of these cells were identified as esterase negative B-lymphocytes that migrated through filters. Despite the optimum time of incubation for each of these cell types being different, we found that lymphocytes respond to much lower concentrations of endotoxins than the neutrophils. These findings suggest that endotoxins of enteric pathogens modulate the functions of human blood neutrophils and lymphocytes.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 1996

The stability of the genetically engineered microorganisms and their recombinant plasmids released in natural environments has been regarded as one of the molecular ecological topics. In this study, the recombinant plasmids pCU103 in which the pcbCD genes involved in biodegradation of biphenyl and 4-chlorobiphenyl were cloned in pBluescript SK(+) vector, were examined for their structural and functional stability in different waters at 15 $^{\circ}C$ by the methods of electrophoresis, Southern hybridization, quantification with fluorescent dye, and transformation. The recombinant plamids maintained their stabilities for about 30 days in sterilized distilled water (SDW), 15 days in autoclaved creek water (AW), 25 days in filtered and autoclaved non-sterile creek water (FAW), 4 days in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth, and less than one day in filtered non-sterile creek water (FW). The covalently closed circular (CCC) form of the plasmid was decreased and open circular (OC) form was increased as a function of incubation time, and then linear (L) form was produced to be ultimately degraded out. The degradation rates of the plasmid were proportionally correlated to trophic level of the water, and the biological factor such as DNases was found to be one of the most critical factors affecting structural and functional stability of the plasmid in non-sterile natural water.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 1998

The texture change of non-linear optical molecules at the air/water interface was investigated as a function of surface pressure with Brewster angle microscopy. The texture change resulted from the aggregation of dye molecules is important to understand the film uniformity and grain formation process. The 4-Octadecylhydroxy-4'-nitrostilbene (OHNS) generated the small spots of size around 1$\mu$m. The spots exhibit high contrast with other film area and do not show angle dependent reflectivity change. It is interesting to observe that the size of the domain stays the same as the film pressure increases. At high surface pressure, the contrast ratio of domains becomes high, which means dense packing of OHNS. And, the size of domain grows. In the middle of domain, highly contrasted domains are formed. The first and the second order transitions of OHNS observed from surface pressure-area isotherm result from the two types of grains. The N,N-Dihexadecylcyanoaniline (DHCA) formed highly contrasted gains over entire region, and the grains are the double layers. The difference in Langmuir film of OHNS and DHCA at the air/water interface is consistent with the small tilt angle from the surface normal for OHNS and the large tilt angle for DHCA in the Langmuir-Blodgett films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.328-328
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• 2007

$SnO_2$ has a high potential for electric and electronic applications. We have anodized pure tin metal and nano porous tin oxide film was obtained on pure Sn. Nano porous tin oxide were grown by anodization in nonaqueous-base electrolytes at different potentials between 5 V and 100 V. Pore size of ~100nm was observed by FE-SEM. Pore sizes as a function of applied voltage and anodizing time were characterized. We obtained nano porous tin oxide film having an uniform pore size at low temperature. High specific surface area of $SnO_2$ will be very useful for gas sensor, lithium battery, and dye sensitized solar cell.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.25.1-25.7
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• 2021

The axolotl has extraordinary regeneration capacity compared to other vertebrates. This remarkable potential has been attributed to its life-long neoteny, characterized by the exhibition of embryonic characteristics at the adult stage. A recent study provided a detailed morphological analysis of the sperm morphology of the Ambystoma mexicanum using routine and detailed histological techniques. The primary purpose of the present study is to describe a simple and inexpensive method for evaluating the morphology of axolotl sperm. In this study, spermatophore structures were collected and spread on slides and air-dried. The slides were stained with periodic acid Schiff, toluidine blue, Masson's trichrome, Giemsa, Spermac, and Diff-Quik dye for a morphological examination. The slides were coated with gold/palladium for a scanning electron microscopy examination. The sperm of the axolotl consisted of an elongated head, a neck, and a flagellum covered with an undulating membrane. The lengths of the midpiece, tail, and head were 8.575 ㎛, 356.544 ㎛, and 103.661 ㎛, respectively. In the flagellum part, the wavy membrane structure, whose function has not been explained, surrounds the tail. The data obtained from this study will constitute an important step in designing future research on the reproductive and regeneration capacity of the axolotl.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.429-440
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• 2023

Objective: 12-oxo-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-KETE), a metabolite of arachidonic acid, is a strong candidate signal for placenta separation following calf discharge at delivery. In the present study, the effects of 12-KETE on bovine trophoblast cells were investigated to determine its function in the placentome at delivery. Methods: Bovine trophoblast cells derived from blastocysts were used. They were cocultured with or without fibroblasts derived from bovine placentome and/or bovine uterine epithelial cells. 12-KETE was added to the culture medium. Results: Bovine trophoblast cells contained binucleate cells and strongly expressed caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX-2) genes. Addition of 12-KETE to the trophoblast cell colony without feeder cells or that on a fibroblast monolayer induced rapid exfoliation of the colony. After 12-KETE addition, trophoblast cells emitted strong fluorescence caused by the degradation of dye-quenched collagen, indicating that 12-KETE activated matrix metalloproteinase of the trophoblast cells. Exfoliated cell colonies were stained with YOPRO-1, but not propidium iodide (PI). Moreover, DNA fragmentation and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) gene (apoptosis stimulator) upregulation were observed in exfoliated cells, indicating that 12- KETE induced trophoblast cell apoptosis. These results were consistent with previous in vivo observations; however, even a lower concentration of 12-KETE activated trophoblast protease. Meanwhile, fibroblasts derived from the bovine placentome converted arachidonic acid to 12-KETE. Conclusion: These observations indicate that 12-KETE may serve as a signal for placenta separation at delivery.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2005

The mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Mes V) contains cell bodies of primary afferent sensory neurons that relay proprioceptive information from the periodontium and masticatory muscles and function as typical sensory neurons or potentially as integrative interneurons. In the present study, we studied these two potential functions using combined experimental approaches of retrograde labeling and whole cell patch clamp recording. Mes V neurons that presumably originate from periodontal nerve fibers in subsets of Mes V nucleus were identified by retrograde labeling with a fluorescent dye, DiI, which was applied onto inferior alveolar nerve. These cells were elliptical perikarya shaped cells about $40{\mu}m$ in diameter. In these neurons, we measured high voltage-activated calcium channel (HVACC) currents. $GABA_B$ agonist, baclofen, inhibited calcium currents, and the HVACC currents inhibition by baclofen was voltage-dependent, exhibited prepulse facilitation, indicating that it was mediated by $G_i/_G_o$ protein. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Mes V neurons not only have cell bodies originating from periodontium, but also receive synaptic inputs including GABAergic neurons suggesting that Mes V neurons function as both primary sensory neurons and integrative interneurons.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 2017

Bacteria exist everywhere and continuously come into contact with daily surroundings and humans. Super bacterium methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, resistant to methicillin, has recently appeared. The morbidity and rate of death associated with super bacteria infection has increased. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of fabrics naturally dyed with Chamaecyparis obtusa leaves extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Fabrics were left for 15 min in a natural dyeing solution prepared by extraction from C. obtusa leaves using 11.3% (o.w.f) with a fixed liquor ratio of 1:22 at $40^{\circ}C$. The dyeing process was conducted using three different mordants; subsequently, the K/S value of the dyed fabrics increased in the order of None < Cu < Fe < Al. The color fastness property of the fabrics to washing, dry-cleaning, and rubbing was found to be excellent and ranked in the 4-5 grade. The color fastness to light of natural dyeing is low in most cases and has the problem that the dye color soon becomes bleached. Yet, in most cases cloth dyed with retinispora leaves, the color fastnezz to light was good with a third to fourth grade. Non-mordant fabrics, aluminum mordants, and copper mordants also showed better antibacterial properties (99.9% reduction) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, compared to the control fabrics. The dyed fabrics showed the same antibacterial activity even after three washes. The results highlight the strong potential of fabrics naturally dyed with C. obtusa-extract as a medicinal material with excellent antibacterial function against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2020

A colorimetric paper sensor was used to detect volatile nitrogen-containing compounds emitted from spoiled salmon filets to determine their freshness. The sensing mechanism was based on acid-base reactions between acidic pH-indicating dyes and basic volatile ammonia and amines. A sensing layer was simply fabricated by drop-casting a dye solution of bromocresol green (BCG) on a polyvinylidene fluoride substrate, and its color-change response was enhanced by optimizing the amounts of additive chemicals, such as polyethylene glycol, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and graphene oxide in the dye solution. To avoid the adverse effects of water vapor, both faces of the sensing layer were enclosed by using a polyethylene terephthalate film and a gas-permeable microporous polytetrafluoroethylene sheet, respectively. When exposed to basic gas analytes, the paper-like sensor distinctly exhibited a color change from initially yellow, then to green, and finally to blue due to the deprotonation of BCG via the Brønsted acid-base reaction. The use of ammonia analyte as a test gas confirmed that the sensing performance of the optimized sensor was reversible and excellent (detection time of < 15 min, sensitive naked-eye detection at 0.25 ppm, good selectivity to common volatile organic gases, and good stability against thermal stress). Finally, the coloration intensity of the sensor was quantified as a function of the storage time of the salmon filet at 28℃ to evaluate its usefulness in monitoring of the food freshness with the measurement of the total viable count (TVC) of microorganisms in the food. The TVC value increased from 3.2 × 10⁵ to 3.1 × 10⁹ cfu/g in 28 h and then became stable, whereas the sensor response abruptly changed in the first 8 h and slightly increased thereafter. This result suggests that the colorimetric response could be used as an indicator for evaluating the degree of decay of salmon induced by microorganisms.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Cobalt silicide was used as a counter electrode in order to confirm its reliability in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. 100 nm-Co/300 nm-Si/quartz was formed by an evaporator and cobalt silicide was formed by vacuum heat treatment at $700^{\circ}C$ for 60 min to form approximately 350 nm-CoSi. This process was followed by etching in $80^{\circ}C$-30% $H_2SO_4$ to remove the cobalt residue on the cobalt silicide surface. Also, for the comparison against Pt, we prepared a 100 nm-Pt/glass counter electrode. Cobalt silicide was used for the counter electrode in order to confirm its reliability in DSSC devices and maintained for 0, 168, 336, 504, 672, and 840 hours at $80^{\circ}C$. The photovoltaic properties of the DSSCs employing cobalt silicide were confirmed by using a simulator and potentiostat. Cyclic-voltammetry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry analyses were used to confirm the catalytic activity, microstructure, and composition, respectively. The energy conversion efficiency (ECE) as a function of time and ECE of the DSSC with Pt and CoSi counter electrodes were maintained for 504 hours. However, after 672 hours, the ECEs decreased to a half of their initial values. The results of the catalytic activity analysis showed that the catalytic activities of the Pt and CoSi counter electrodes decreased to 64% and 57% of their initial values, respectively(after 840 hours). The microstructure analysis showed that the CoSi layer improved the durability in the electrolyte, but because the stress concentrates on the contact surface between the lower quartz substrate and the CoSi layer, cracks are formed locally and flaking occurs. Thus, deterioration occurs due to the residual stress built up during the silicidation of the CoSi counter electrode, so it is necessary to take measures against these residual stresses, in order to ensure the reliability of the electrode.