• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.572-580
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• 2003

Synthesizing behavior and microstructural evolution of $CaZrO_3$and $m-ZrO_2$in a thermal reaction process of $ZrSiO_4$-$xCaCO_3$mixtures, where x is 7 and 19, were investigated to determine the addition amount of CaO in CaO:$ZrO_2$:$SiO_2$ternary composition. CaZrO$_3$-Ca$_2$SiO$_4$precursor prepared by the mixture of $ZrSiO_4$and CaCO$_3$in aqueous suspending media was controlled to the acidic (pH=4.0) condition with HCI solution to enhance the thermal reaction. The addition amount of dispersant into the $ZrSiO_4$-$xCaCO_3$slip increased with increasing mole ratio of $CaCO_3$, which was associated with the viscosity of slip. Decarbonation reaction was activated with an increase of the addition amount of $CaCO_3$, showing different final temperatures in $ZrSiO_4$-$7CaCO_3$and $ZrSiO_4$-$19CaCO_3$mixtures as about 980 and 116$0^{\circ}C$, respectively, for finishing decarbonation reaction. The grain morphology was changed to spherical shape for all samples with an increase of sintering temperature. The grain size and phase composition of the synthesized composites depended on the mixture ratio of Zrsi04 and CacO3 powders, indicating that the main crystals were m-ZrO2 ($\leq$3 $\mu\textrm{m}$) and $CaZrO_3$ ($\leq$ 7 $\mu\textrm{m}$) in $ZrSiO_4$$>-7CaCO_3$and $ZrSiO_4$-$19CaCO_3$mixtures, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2018

Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization is closely linked with the initiation of salivary secretion in parotid acinar cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be related to a variety of oxidative stress-induced cellular disorders and believed to be involved in salivary impairments. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) on cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation in mouse parotid acinar cells. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels were slowly elevated when $1mM\;H_2O_2$ was perfused in the presence of normal extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. In a $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium, $1mM\;H_2O_2$ still enhanced the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level. $Ca^{2+}$ entry tested using manganese quenching technique was not affected by perfusion of $1mM\;H_2O_2$. On the other hand, $10mM\;H_2O_2$ induced more rapid $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation and facilitated $Ca^{2+}$ entry from extracellular fluid. $Ca^{2+}$ refill into intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ($1{\mu}M$)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release from $Ca^{2+}$ store was not affected by $1mM\;H_2O_2$ in permeabilized cells. $Ca^{2+}$ efflux through plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ (PMCA) was markedly blocked by $1mM\;H_2O_2$ in thapsigargin-treated intact acinar cells. Antioxidants, either catalase or dithiothreitol, completely protected $H_2O_2-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation through PMCA inactivation. From the above results, we suggest that excessive production of $H_2O_2$ under pathological conditions may lead to cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation and that the primary mechanism of $H_2O_2-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation is likely to inhibit $Ca^{2+}$ efflux through PMCA rather than mobilize $Ca^{2+}$ ions from extracellular medium or intracellular stores in mouse parotid acinar cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 2003

The glutamate receptors (GluRs) are key receptors for modulatory synaptic events in the central nervous system. It has been reported that glutamate increases the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and induces cytotoxicity. In the present study, we investigated whether the glutamate-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was associated with the activation of ionotropic (iGluR) and metabotropic GluRs (mGluR) in substantia gelatinosa neurons, using spinal cord slice of juvenile rats (10${\sim}21 day). $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was measured using conventional imaging techniques, which was combined with whole-cell patch clamp recording by incorporating fura-2 in the patch pipette. At physiological concentration of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, the inward current and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase were induced by membrane depolarization and application of glutamate. Dose-response relationship with glutamate was observed in both $Ca^{2+}$ signal and inward current. The glutamate-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase at holding potential of -70 mV was blocked by CNQX, an AMPA receptor blocker, but not by AP-5, a NMDA receptor blocker. The glutamate-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in $Ca^{2+}$ free condition was not affected by iGluR blockers. A selective mGluR (group I) agonist, RS-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase at holding potential of -70 mV in SG neurons. These findings suggest that the glutamate-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase is associated with AMPA-sensitive iGluR and group I mGluR in SG neurons of rats.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Purpose: Cellulose acetate (CA) was blended with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) having different molecular weight at various mixing conditions to enhance melt-processibility of CA, which might prevent the harmful effect resulted from the introduction of phthalic plasticizer. Methods: To establish optimal plasticizing conditions, CA/PEG blends were examined under various plasticizing conditions: PEG concentration, molecular weight of PEG, and plasticzing temperature. Mechanical properties of the CA/PEG blends, as well as migration and exudation of the PEG, were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of plasticization. Results: Compared to industrial CA resin plasticized by diethyl phthalate, CA/PEG blends exhibited similar thermal plasticization. It was established that the optimum condition was to blend 30~40 phr PEG with molecular weight 400 at $175{\sim}180^{\circ}C$. CA/PEG blend showed superior glassness, PEG stability, and mechanical properties. Conclusions: CA/PEG blends would be a eco-friendly glasses frame to substitute traditional CA glasses frame prepared phthalate plasticizers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2020

Saturated fatty acids contribute to β-cell dysfunction in the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cellular responses to lipotoxicity include oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and blockage of autophagy. Palmitate induces ER Ca²⁺ depletion followed by notable store-operated Ca²⁺ entry. Subsequent elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ can activate undesirable signaling pathways culminating in cell death. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU) is the major route for Ca²⁺ uptake into the matrix and couples metabolism with insulin secretion. However, it has been unclear whether mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake plays a protective role or contributes to lipotoxicity. Here, we observed palmitate upregulated MCU protein expression in a mouse clonal β-cell, MIN6, under normal glucose, but not high glucose medium. Palmitate elevated baseline cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and reduced depolarization-triggered Ca²⁺ influx likely due to the inactivation of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels (VGCCs). Targeted reduction of MCU expression using RNA interference abolished mitochondrial superoxide production but exacerbated palmitate-induced [Ca²⁺]_i overload. Consequently, MCU knockdown aggravated blockage of autophagic degradation. In contrast, co-treatment with verapamil, a VGCC inhibitor, prevented palmitate-induced basal [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and defective [Ca²⁺]_i transients. Extracellular Ca²⁺ chelation as well as VGCC inhibitors effectively rescued autophagy defects and cytotoxicity. These observations suggest enhanced mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake via MCU upregulation is a mechanism by which pancreatic β-cells are able to alleviate cytosolic Ca²⁺ overload and its detrimental consequences.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.665-672
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• 2011

We evaluated the effects of organic Ca supplements chelated with milk protein (CaMP) in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats. Eight week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were ovariectomized and fed a low $CaCO_3$ diet (0.1%) for 4 weeks to create an osteoporotic model. At that point, L4-$CaCO_3$ rats were sacrificed and the rest of the rats were divided into 4 groups, each of which was fed an experimental diet for 4 weeks: low-$CaCO_3$ (0.1%; L8-$CaCO_3$) and CaMP at 3 Ca levels: low (0.1%; L8-CaMP), normal (0.5%; N8-CaMP), and high (1.5%; H8-CaMP). Daily weight gain, serum ALP, weight and breaking force of femurs, Ca content of the lumbar, and Ca absorption were measured. Daily weight gain increased in the N8-CaMP and H8-CaMP groups compared to the low Ca groups. The ALP activity in the CaMP-fed rats was significantly lower than in the $CaCO_3$-fed rats. Both breaking force and femur weight were higher in the N8-CaMP and H8-CaMP groups compared to the L8-$CaCO_3$ group. Ca content of the lumbar increased dose-dependently with Ca intake levels of CaMP. Ca absorption rates of the CaMP-fed rats increased more than that of the rats fed low Ca levels of $CaCO_3$. These results demonstrate that the CaMP supplement had positive effects on bone metabolism and Ca bioavailability in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats. Therefore, CaMP may be recommended as a useful Ca supplement to prevent bone loss in osteoporosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.55-62
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• 2004

In this study, the effects of Ca content and processing variables on hot rolling properties of gravity cast AZ31-xCa alloys were evaluated systematically. The number and length of side crack were decreased with increasing preheating temperature and decreasing reduction ratio per pass and Ca content. The UTS and YS were not strongly dependent on the Ca content but the elongation decreased with increasing Ca content. The decrease of elongation in Ca containing alloys was least when the sheets were fabricated under preheating temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ and reduction ratio per pass of $15\%$. The sheets had the sound external features with little side cracks by homogenization of gravity cast AZ31-xCa alloys before hot rolling. In the cases of AZ31-xCa alloys containing under $1wt.\%$ Ca, the annealed sheets after homogenization and hot rolling had the similar tensile properties to those of AZ31 sheet.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.351-356
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• 2010

This study was done to evaluate the effect of Ca source using fish (Tilapia mossambica) scales on the bone metabolism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks of age, were fed low-calcium diet (0.15% Ca) for 2 weeks. The rats on the low-calcium diet were further assigned to one of following three groups for an additional 4 weeks: 1) Ca-depletion group (LoCa) given 0.15% Ca diet ($CaCO_3$), 2) Ca-repletion group (AdCa) given 0.5% Ca diet ($CaCO_3$), 3) Ca-repletion diet (AdFa) received 0.5% Ca diet (Ca source from Tilapia mossambica scales). Serum parathyroid (PTH) and calcitonin showed no differences among experimental groups. Whereas LoCa group elevated the turnover markers, serum ALP and osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), AdCa and AdFa groups reduced their values. Elevation in the femoral weight, ash and Ca contents was observed in AdCa and AdFa groups. Bone mineral density was increased in AdCa and AdFa groups by 25-26% compared with LoCa group. These data demonstrate that Ca repletion with either Ca source from Tilapia mossambica scales or $CaCO_3$ is similarly effective in the improvement of bone turnover markers and BMD, suggesting the usefulness of Tilapia mossambica scales in the prevention of bone loss compared with $CaCO_3$.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.395-399
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• 2000

The main interdendritic phase which was formed during early solidification of the ternary Mg-Zn-Ca alloys is the $Ca_2Mg_6Zn_3$ phase. The microstructure of $Mg-6wt%Zn-0.1{\sim}0.3wt%Ca$ alloys consisted of MgZn precipitates and $Ca_2Mg_6Zn_3$ phase formed around the grain boundaries. In the alloys with the highest level of Ca($Mg-6wt%Zn-0.5{\sim}0.7wt%aCa$ alloys), the microstructure revealed wholly $Ca_2Mg_6Zn_3$ phase formed around the grain boundaries. The grain size of Mg-6wt%Zn-Ca alloys decreased significantly with increase in Ca content and, at 0.5wt% Ca or more, grain size becomes constant at about 60 ${\mu}m$. The tensile properties of the as-cast Mg-6wt%Zn-Ca magnesium alloys were improved due to grain refinement by addition of Ca.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2016

The Chlor-alkali (CA) membrane cell is a major electrolysis system to produce valued chemicals such as chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide. The CA membrane process has been attracted in the industries, since it has relatively low energy consumption when compared with other CA processes. The key component in CA process is perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer membranes, which provide ion-selectivity and barrier properties to produced gases. Unfortunately, there is limited information to determine which factors should be satisfied for CA applications. In this study, the influences of PFSA membranes on CA performances are disclosed. They include ion transport behaviors, gas evolution capability, and chemical/electrochemical resistances under CA operation conditions.