• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2012

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been used worldwide as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various reproductive diseases. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are the fundamental regulators of pulsatile release of gonadotropin required for fertility. In this study, an extract of KRG (KRGE) was applied to GnRH neurons to identify the receptors activated by KRGE. The brain slice patch clamp technique in whole cell and perforated patch was used to clarify the effect of KRGE on the membrane currents and membrane potentials of GnRH neurons. Application of KRGE (3 ${\mu}g$/${\mu}L$) under whole cell patch induced remarkable inward currents (56.17${\pm}$7.45 pA, n=25) and depolarization (12.91${\pm}$3.80 mV, n=4) in GnRH neurons under high $Cl^-$ pipette solution condition. These inward currents were not only reproducible, but also concentration dependent. In addition, inward currents and depolarization induced by KRGE persisted in the presence of the voltage gated $Na^+$ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), suggesting that the responses by KRGE were postsynaptic events. Application of KRGE under the gramicidin perforated patch induced depolarization in the presence of TTX suggesting its physiological significance on GnRH response. Further, the KRGE-induced inward currents were partially blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, 10 ${\mu}M$) or picrotoxin (PIC; $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, 50 ${\mu}M$), and almost blocked by PIC and CNQX mixture. Taken together, these results suggest that KRGE contains ingredients with possible GABA and non-NMDA glutamate receptor mimetic activity, and may play an important role in the endocrine function of reproductive physiology, via activation of $GABA_A$ and non-NMDA glutamate receptors in GnRH neurons.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2023

Microfluidic preconcentration technologies, which collect or extract low-abundance analytes in a specific location, have been spotlighted in various applications such as medical and bio-engineering. Here, we conducted extensive studies on the variables to be considered when concentrating target samples based on electrophoresis in an electromembrane system utilizing an ion exchange membrane. Using negatively charged Alexa Fluor 488 and positively charged Rhodamine 6G as fluorescent dyes, we examined the effects of flow velocity of the main channel, channel electrolyte concentration, and applied voltage on sample preconcentration. As a result, it was found that the preconcentration of the target sample occurs much better when the flow velocity is slow and the concentration of the main channel containing the sample is high, given that the channel concentration ratio (main and buffer) is constant. In addition, based on the experimental data acquired in this study, the electrophoretic mobility values of Alexa Fluor 488 and Rhodamine 6G were experimentally calculated and compared.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and information Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 1998

Piezoelectric pressure sensors and pyroelectric infrared detectors based on ZnO thin film have been integrated with GaAs metal-semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) amplifiers. Surface micromachining techniques have been applied in a GaAs MESFET process to form both microsensors and electronic circuits. The on-chip integration of microsensors such as pressure sensors and infrared detectors with GaAs integrated circuits is attractive because of the higher operating temperature up to 200 oC for GaAs devices compared to 125 oC for silicon devices and radiation hardness for infrared imaging applications. The microsensors incorporate a 1${\mu}$m-thick sputtered ZnO capacitor supported by a 2${\mu}$m-thick aluminum membrane formed on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate. The piezoelectric pressure sensor of an area 80${\times}$80 ${\mu}$m2 designed for use as a miniature microphone exhibits 2.99${\mu}$V/${\mu}$ bar sensitivity at 400Hz. The voltage responsivity and the detectivity of a single infrared detector of an area 80${\times}$80 $\mu\textrm{m}$2 is 700 V/W and 6${\times}$108cm$.$ Hz/W at 10Hz respectively, and the time constant of the sensor with the amplifying circuit is 53 ms. Circuits using 4${\mu}$m-gate GaAs MESFETs are fabricated in planar, direct ion-implanted process. The measured transconductance of a 4${\mu}$m-gate GaAs MESFET is 25.6 mS/mm and 12.4 mS/mm at 27 oC and 200oC, respectively. A differential amplifier whose voltage gain in 33.7 dB using 4${\mu}$m gate GaAs MESFETs is fabricated for high selectivity to the physical variable being sensed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.172-172
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• 2016

The International Maritime Organization(IMO) adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments in 2004 to prevent the transfer of aquatic organisms via ballast water. Forty ballast water treatment systems were granted final approval. A variety of techniques have been developed for ballast water treatment including UV treatment, indirect or direct electrolysis, ozone treatment, chemical compounds and plasma-arc method. In particular, using plasma and ozone nano-bubble treatments have been attracted in the fields. However, these treatment systems have a problem such as remained toxic substance, demand for high power source, low efficiency, ets. In this paper, we present our strilization results obtained from membrane type electrolytic-reduction treatment system The core of an electrolysis unit is an electrochemical cell, which is filled with pure water and has two electrodes connected with an external power supply. At a certain voltage, which is called critical voltage, between both electrodes, the electrodes start to produce hydrogen gas at the negatively biased electrode and oxygen gas at the positively biased electrode. The amount of gases produced per unit time is directly related to the current that passes through the electrochemical cell. From the results, we could confirm the sterilization effect of bacteria such as S. aureus, E. Coli and demonstrate the mechanism of sterilization phenomena by electrolytic-reduction treatment system.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.341-347
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• 2023

In PEMFC, PtCo/C alloy catalysts are widely used because of good performance and durability. However, few studies have been reported on the durability of carbon supports of PtCo/C evaluated at high voltages (1.0~1.5 V). In this study, the durability of PtCo/C catalysts and Pt/C catalysts were compared after applying the accelerated degradation protocol of catalyst support. After repeating the 1.0↔1.5V voltage change cycles, the mass activity, electrochemical surface area (ECSA), electric double layer capacitance (DLC), Pt dissolution and the particle growth were analyzed. After 2,000 cycles of voltage change, the current density per catalyst mass at 0.9V decreased by more than 1.5 times compared to the Pt/C catalyst. This result was because the degradation rate of the carbon support of the PtCo/C catalyst was higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst. The Pt/C catalyst showed more than 1.5 times higher ECSA reduction than the PtCo/C catalyst, but the corrosion of the carbon support of the Pt/C catalyst was small, resulting in a small decrease in I-V performance. In order to improve the high voltage durability of the PtCo/C catalyst, it was shown that improving the durability of the carbon support is essential.

• Ceramist
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2020

Recently, polymer-metal composite (IPMC)-based ionic artificial muscle has been drawing a huge attention for its excellent soft actuator performance having outstanding soft actuator performance with efficient conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy under low working voltage. In addition, light, flexible and soft nature of IPMC and high bending strain response enabled development of versatile sensor application in association with soft actuator. In this paper, current issues of IPMC were discussed including standardizing preparation steps, relaxation under DC bias, inhibiting solvent evaporation, and improving poor output force. Solutions for these drawbacks of IPMC have recently been suggested in recent studies. After following explanation of the IPMC working mechanism, we investigate the main factors that affect the operating performance of the IPMC. Then, we reviewed the optimized IPMC actuator fabrication conditions especially for the preparation process, additive selection for a thicker membrane, water content, solvent substitutes, encapsulation, etc. Lastly, we considered the pros and cons of IPMCs for sensor application in a theoretical and experimental point of view. The strategies discussed in this paper to overcome such deficiencies of IPMCs are highly expected to provide a scope for IPMC utilization in soft robotics application.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2001

A conventional electrolyzing cell has been made by an ion exchange membrane inbetween parallel plate electrodes. A low dc voltage is applied to the electrodes for electrolyzing and the efficiency is remained in low. in this study, a novel electrolyzing cell with a pair of slit-type third electrodes installed inbetween parallel plate electrodes has been proposed and investigated experimentally. And pulse power wa supplied to between each electrodes. This slit type of third electrodes can concentrate the strong electric fields at the every its edges to accelerate the electrolyzing powers, and to generate oxygen bubble discharges for generating oxidants. And moreover the slits eliminate the space charge limiting action and the temperature of the water by leaking out through the slits from electrolyzing region to outside of the main electrode region. As a result, it was found that a strong electorzed water of pH 2.8 and pH 10.5 and oxidants dissolved water of 1 [ppm] in acidic water were obtained with a tap water fed at the electric current of 2 [A], which however were several times higher oxidant and ion concentration quantity compared with the conventional cell.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2018

A-type $K^+$ ($I_A$) channels are transiently activated in the suprathreshold membrane potential and then rapidly inactivated. These channels play roles to control the neuronal excitability in pyramidal neurons in hippocampi. We here electrophysiologically tested if regulatory functions of $I_A$ channels might be targeted by acute activation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in cultured hippocampal neurons(DIV 6~8). The application of high KCl in recording solutions(10 mM, 2 min) to increase presynaptic glutamate release, significantly reduced the peak of somatic $I_A$ without changes of gating kinetics. This indicates that neuronal excitation induced by the enhancement of synaptic transmission may process with distinctive signaling cascades to affect voltage-dependent ion channels in hippocampal neurons. Therefore, it is possible that short-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission is functionally restricted in local synapses without effects on intracellular signaling cascades affecting a whole neuron, efficiently and rapidly enhancing synaptic functions in hippocampal network.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.735-742
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• 2019

In this work, the electrokinetic interactions between the undulated structure of an ion-selective membrane and electroconvective instability has been studied using numerical analysis. Using finite element method, electric field-ionic species transport-flow field were analyzed by fully-coupled manner. Through the numerical study, the Dukhin's mode as the mechanism of undulated surface for the electroconvective instability were proven. The Dukhin's mode which competes with Rubinstein's mode has roles of (i) decreasing transition voltage to overlimiting regime and (ii) non-linearly increasing of overlimiting current. Also, (iii) the mixing efficiency is enhanced by removal mechanism of high-frequency Fourier mode of the electroconvective instability. Conclusively, the undulated ion-selective surface would provide energy-efficient mechanism for ion-selective transport systems such as electrodialysis, electrochemical battery, etc.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2019

In this study, we performed an electrowinning process for effective removal of metals (Cu and Ni) in solution and their recovery as solid forms. A complete removal of Cu and Ni (1,000 mg/L) was observed during four times recycling test, indicating that our electrowinning system can ensure the efficient metal removal with high stability and durability. In addition, we investigated effect of operation parameters (i.e., concentration of boric acid only for Ni, variation of pH, concentration of electrolyte ($H_2SO_4$), and cell voltage) on the efficiency of metal removal (Cu and Ni) during the electrowinning. The addition of boric acid significantly enhanced removal efficiency of Ni as the concentration of boric acid increased up to 10 g/L. Compared to negligible pH effect (pH 1, 2, and 4) on the Cu removal, we observed the increase in removal efficiency of Ni as the pH increased from 1 to 4. The electrolyte concentration did not significantly influence the removal of Cu and Ni in this study. We also obtained great removal rates of Cu and Ni at 2.5 V and 4.0 V, which were much faster than those at lower voltages. Finally, almost 99% of each Cu and Ni (1,000 mg/L) was selectively removed from the mixture of metals by adjusting pH and addition of boric acid after the completion of Cu removal. The findings in this study can provide a fundamental knowledge about effect of important parameters on the efficiency of metal recovery during the electrowinning.