• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.248-257
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• 2013

It is generally recognized that thin Pd-Cu alloy films fabricated by sputtering show a wide range of microstructures and properties, both of which are highly dependent on the sputtering conditions. In view of this, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between the performance of hydrogen separation membranes and the microstructure of Pd alloy films depending on sputtering deposition conditions such as substrate temperature, working pressure, and DC power. We fabricated thin and dense Pd-Cu alloy membranes by the micro-polishing of porous Ni support, an advanced Pd-Cu sputtered multi-deposition under the conditions of high substrate temperature / low working pressure / high DC power, and a followed by Cu-reflow heat-treatment. The result of a hydrogen permeation test indicated that the selectivity for $H_2/N_2$ was infinite because of the void-free and dense surface of the Pd alloy membranes, and the hydrogen permeability was 10.5 $ml{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}min^{-1}{\cdot}atm^{-1}$ for a 6 ${\mu}m$ membrane thickness.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 1998

A and Y type zeolitic crystal films were synthesized on porous supports from the reaction mixture of 1.9 $SiO_2-1.5\;Na_2O-Al_2O_3-40\;H_2O$ and 10 $SiO_2-7\;Na_2O-Al_2O_3-280\;H_2O$ composition, respectively. The zeolite film was characterized by XRD and SEM. The crystals grown on the porous matrix were very closely bound together and the thickness of membrane was about 8-15$\mu \textrm{m}$. The densely intergrown crystals could be also synthesized by the hydrothermal treatment at $100^{\circ}C$ after pressing the reaction mixture without addition of water. A zeolite membrane crystallized as a thin film showed the selective permeability of water from water and methanol mixture through the molecular sieving activity of micropores.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2007

In this study, 3-(trihydroxysilyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid (THS-PSA) was added to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes crosslinked with poly(styrene sulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSA_MA) to improve the separation characteristics toward water vapors in the air. The prepared membranes varying both PSSA_MA and THS-PSA amounts were also synthesized at different cross linking temperatures. Then, in order to investigate the separation characteristics of the resulting membranes, the dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and vapor permeation experiments were carried out. The increase of cross-linking temperature showed longer time to reach the equilibrium sorption state from the dynamic vapor sorption experiments. PVA/PSSA_MA (3%)/THA-PSA(7%) prepared at $120^{\circ}C$ gave the highest permeability of 480 barrer at $35^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.224-228
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• 2010

The encapsulation of bacteria may be used to harness them for longer periods of time in order to make them viable, whereas antibiotic treatment would result in controlled release of therapeutic molecules. Encapsulated Escherichia coli GFP (green fluorescent protein) (E. coli GFP) was used here as a model for therapeutic substance - GFP fragments release (model of bioactive substances). Our aim was to evaluate the performance of bacteria encapsulated in hollow fibers (HFs) treated with antibiotic for induction of cell death. The polypropylene-surface-modified HFs were applied for E. coli encapsulation. The encapsulated bacteria were treated with tetracycline in vitro or in vivo during subcutaneous implantation into mice. The HF content was evaluated in a flow cytometer, to assess the bacteria cell membrane permeability changes induced by tetracycline treatment. It was observed that the applied membranes prevented release of bacteria through the HF wall. The E. coli GFP culture encapsulated in HF in vitro proved the tetracycline impact on bacteria viability and allows the recognition of the sequence of events within the process of bacteria death. Treatment of the SCID mice with tetracycline for 8 h proved the tetracycline impact on bacteria viability in vivo, raising the necrotic bacteria-releasing GFP fragments. It was concluded that the bacteria may be safely enclosed within the HF at the site of implantation, and when the animal is treated with antibiotic, bacteria may act as a local source of fragments of proteins expressed in the bacteria, a hypothetical bioactive factor for the host eukaryotic organism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2003

The salivary glands produce 1.5L of fluid per day. As in other exocrine organs, the general mechanism in the salivary glands is that water movement occurs secondary to osmotic driving forces created by active salt transport. Therefore, high water permeability in the salivary glands is expected to have a variety of aquaporin (AQP), a water channel. Although some AQPs have been known to be present in the salivary glands, roles of parasympathetic nerve in AQP expression have not yet been examined. This study was designed to examine the changes of AQPs and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the submandibular glands after parasympathetic denervation. Right chorda-lingual nerve was cut, and each right (experiment) and left (control) submandibular gland was excised at 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 days after denervation. The denervated right submandibular glands were resulted in weight loss and morphologic changes, including cell loss and atrophy, as the time elapsed after parasympathetic denervation increased, whereas there were no histologic alteration in control side. AQP5 which is known to reside in apical membrane and secretory caraliculi of the submandibular acini were gradually underexpressed according, as the time after denervation increased. Expression of AQP4 in submandibular ductal epithelium was down-regulated after denervation. Besides, AQP3 and 8, which is known to be present in basolateral membrane of the glandular acini, were gradually underexpressed after denervation, similar to the pattern of other types. Expression of ERK, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, was downregulated after parasympathetic denervation in the submandibular gland. These results suggest that parasympathetic nervous system regulates the expression of AQPs in salivary glands, and is in part mediated by ERK pathway.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2012

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of carbon composite type in polymer electrolyte fuel cells were prepared by simple and cheap manufacturing process. To obtain the carbon composite GDLs, carbon black with polymer binder was mixed in solvent, rolled to make sheet, and finally heat-treated at $340^{\circ}C$. The performance of fuel cell using composite GDLs was changed by PTFE content. The physical properties of composite GDLs for pore, conductivity and air permeability were analyzed to compare with the variation of fuel cell performance. The conductivity of composite GDLs was very similar to carbon paper as commercial GDL but pore properties and air flux were considerably different. The porosity, PTFE content and conductivity for composite GDLs did not have an influence on the cell performance much. The increase of pore diameter and air flux led to enhance cell performance.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.546-551
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• 2014

The insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry toxins involves toxin stabilization, oligomerization, passage across the peritrophic membrane (PM), binding to midgut receptors and pore-formation. The residues Arg-158 and Tyr-170 have been shown to be crucial for the toxicity of Bt Cry4Ba. We characterized the biological function of these residues. In mosquito larvae, the mutants R158A/E/Q (R158) could hardly penetrate the PM due to a significantly reduced ability to alter PM permeability; the mutant Y170A, however, could pass through the PM, but degraded in the space between the PM and the midgut epithelium. Further characterization by oligomerization demonstrated that Arg-158 mutants failed to form correctly sized high-molecular weight oligomers. This is the first report that Arg-158 plays a role in the formation of Cry4Ba oligomers, which are essential for toxin passage across the PM. Tyr-170, meanwhile, is involved in toxin stabilization in the toxic mechanism of Cry4Ba in mosquito larvae.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.278-288
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• 2013

Objectives : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a cephalosporin and beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strains. MRSA is one of the major pathogens causing hospital infection and the isolation ratio of MRSA has gradually increased. Consequently, increased resistance to antibiotics is causing serious problems in the world. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. Methods : The antibacterial activities of Ipyo-san were evaluated against 2 strains of MRSA and 1 standard Methicillin-susceptible staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strain by using the disc diffusion method, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) assay, colorimetric assay using MTT test, checkerboard dilution test and time-kill assay performed under dark. Results : The MIC of Ipyo-san water extract against S. aureus strains ranged from 1000 to $2,000{\mu}g/ml$, so we confirmed that it had a strong antibacterial effect. Also, the combinations of Ipyo-san water extract and conventional antibiotics exhibited improved inhibition of MRSA with synergy effect. We suggest that Ipyo-san water extract against MRSA has antibacterial activity so it has potential as alternatives to antibiotic agents. For the combination test, we used Triton X-100 (TX) and DCCD for measurement of membrane permeability and inhibitor of ATPase. As a result, antimicrobial activity of Ipyo-san water extract was affected by the cell membrane. Conclusions : We suggest that the Ipyo-san water extract lead the treatment of bacterial infection to solve the resistance and remaining side-effect problems that are the major weak points of traditional antibiotics.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1997

The effectiveness of presteaming for improving CCA treatability on refractory Japanese larch heartwood was investigated in this study. Presteaming was effective on improving treatability, and the extent of improvement was dependent on moisture contents of wood specimen and steaming conditions. Green wood showed higher average value in both preservative retention and penetration than dry wood, and steaming under pressure conditions also had higher treatability than steaming at atmospheric conditions. The degree of improvement for treatability was increased with the extension of steaming period. Treatability of dry wood pres teamed under pressure conditions more than 6 hours and green wood for 3 hours was similar to that enhanced by conventional incising. Presteaming green wood under pressure conditions more than 6 hours was more effective than conventional incising in improvement of CCA treatability, and resultant treatability satisfied a minimum value required for CCA-treated wood for being used at the regions of hazard class H3 and H4. In addition, an improvement of treatability by presteaming was due to an increase in permeability resulted from the degradation of hemicelluloses within aspirated pit membrane and cell wall, not the removal of extractives from pit membrane. The reduction in strength, measured as longitudinal compressive strength, due to pres teaming was related with the degradation of hemicelluloses, and was increased as steaming conditions were severe. The degree of strength reduction associated with presteaming treatment to obtain required treatability could be quantified from the relatively good relation between the increase in treatability and the decrease in strength.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2009

Polyimides synthesized by using 2,2'-bis(3,4-carboxylphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DAM) were sulfonated according to reaction times, 5 min to 20 min. And the resulting polyimide membranes were investigated in terms of permeability and separation factor for $N_2$, $O_2$, and $CO_2$ gases. The introduction of bulky group, $-{SO_3}H$, leads to the decreases of both diffusivities and solubilities for all the range of reaction times. At 20 min of sulfonation, the diffusivity and solubility of $N_2$ decrease up to 21% and 26%, respectively. Overall separation efficiencies for $O_2/N_2$ and $CO_2/N_2$ increase as the reaction time increases to 20 min.