• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.611-616
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• 1998

Although the $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+\;(I_{K,Ca})$ channel is known to play an important role in the maintenance of resting membrane potential, the regulation of the channel in physiological condition is not completely understood in vascular myocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of cytoplasmic $Mg^{2+}$ on the regulation of $I_{K,Ca}$ channel in pulmonary arterial myocytes of the rabbit using the inside-out patch clamp technique. $Mg^{2+}$ increased open probability (Po), but decreased the magnitude of single channel current. $Mg^{2+}-induced$ block of unitary current showed strong voltage dependence but increase of Po by $Mg^{2+}$ was not dependent on the membrane potential. The apparent effect of $Mg^{2+}$ might, thus, depend on the proportion between opposite effects on the Po and on the conductance of $I_{K,Ca}$ channel. In low concentration of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+}$ increased $I_{K,Ca}$ by mainly enhancement of Po. However, at very high concentration of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+},$ such as pCa 5.5, $Mg^{2+}$ decreased $I_{K,Ca}$ through the inhibition of unitary current. Moreover, $Mg^{2+}$ could activate the channel even in the absence of $Ca^{2+}.\;Mg^{2+}$ might, therefore, partly contribute to the opening of $I_{K,Ca}$ channel in resting membrane potential. This phenomenon might explain why $I_{K,Ca}$ contributes to the resting membrane potential where membrane potential and concentration of free $Ca^{2+}$ are very low.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.657-662
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• 2015

Rapid and efficient engulfment of apoptotic cells is an essential property of phagocytes for removal of the large number of apoptotic cells generated in multicellular organisms. To achieve this, phagocytes need to be able to continuously uptake apoptotic cells. It was recently reported that uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2) promotes engulfment of apoptotic cells by increasing the phagocytic capacity, thereby allowing cells to continuously ingest apoptotic cells. However, the functions of Ucp2, beyond its possible role in dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential, that contribute to elevation of the phagocytic capacity have not been determined. Here, we report that the anion transfer or nucleotide binding activity of Ucp2, as well as its dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, is necessary for Ucp2-mediated engulfment of apoptotic cells. To study these properties, we generated Ucp2 mutations that affected three different functions of Ucp2, namely, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, transfer of anions, and binding of purine nucleotides. Mutations of Ucp2 that affected the proton leak did not enhance the engulfment of apoptotic cells. Although anion transfer and nucleotide binding mutations did not affect the mitochondrial membrane potential, they exerted a dominant-negative effect on Ucp2-mediated engulfment. Furthermore, none of our Ucp2 mutations increased the phagocytic capacity. We conclude that dissipation of the proton gradient by Ucp2 is not the only determinant of the phagocytic capacity and that anion transfer or nucleotide binding by Ucp2 is also essential for Ucp2-mediated engulfment of apoptotic cells.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2017

The reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an energy generation system to convert chemical potential of saline water directly into electric energy via the combination of current derived from a redox couple electrolyte and ionic potential obtained when cation ($Na^+$) and anion ($Cl^-$) pass through cation exchange membrane (CEM) and anion exchange membrane (AEM) into fresh water, respectively. Ion exchange membrane, a key element of RED system, should satisfy requirements such as 1) low swelling behavior, 2) a certain level of ion exchange capacity, 3) high ion conductivity, and 4) high perm-selectivity to achieve high power density. In this paper, research trends and prospects of ionomer materials and ion exchange membranes are dealt with.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 1995

The effects of ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor stimulation on membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force were investigated in ventricular muscles from guinea-pig hearts. Action potentials, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force of ventricular papillary muscles were measured simultaneously under various experimental conditions. Stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor by phenylephrine produced variable changes in action potential duration, a slight hyperpolarization of the diastolic membrane potential, a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and a biphasic inotropic response in which a transient negative inotropic response was followed by a sustained positive inotropic response. These changes were blocked by prazosin, an antagonist of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor, but not by atenolol, an antagonist of the ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor. This indicates that the changes in membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force are mediated by stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor, but not by stimulation of ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was not observed in quiescent muscles, depending on the rate of the action pontentials in beating muscles. The intracellular $Na^+$ activity decrease was substantially inhibited by tetrodotoxin. However, the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was not affected by an inhibition of the $Na^+-K^+$ pump. Therefore, the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity mediated by the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor appears to be due to a reduction of $Na^+$ influx during the action potential, perhaps through tetrodotoxin sensitive $Na^+$ channels. Our study also revealed that the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity might be related to the transient negative inotropic response. The intracellular $Na^+$ activity decrease could lower intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and thereby produce a decline in twitch force.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2003

The prostate gland contains numerous neuroendocrine cells that are believed to influence the function of the prostate gland. Our recent study demonstrated the expression of both ${\alpha}1$- and ${\alpha}2$-ARs, signaling the release of stored $Ca^{2+}$ and the inhibition of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, respectively, in rat prostate neuroendocrine cells (RPNECs). In this study, the effects of NA on the resting membrane potential (RMP) of RPNECs were investigated using a whole-cell patch clamp method. Fresh RPNECs were dissociated from the ventral lobe of rat prostate and identified from its characteristic shape; round or oval shape with dark cytoplasm. Under zero-current clamp conditions with KCl pipette solution, the resting membrane potential (RMP) of RPNECs was between -35 mV and -85 mV. In those RPNECs with relatively hyperpolarized RMP (＜-60 mV), the application of noradrenaline (NA, $1{\mu}M$) depolarized the membrane to around -40 mV. In contrast, the RPNECs with relatively depolarized RMP (＞-45 mV) showed a transient hyperpolarization and subsequent fluctuation at around -40 mV on application of NA. Under voltage clamp conditions (holding voltage, -40 mV) with CsCl pipette solution, NA evoked a slight inward current (＜-20 pA). NA induced a sharp increase of cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_c$), measured by the fura-2 fluorescence, and the voltage clamp study showed the presence of charybdotoxin-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ currents. In summary, adrenergic stimulation induced either depolarization or hyperpolarization of RPNECs, depending on the initial level of RMP. The inward current evoked by NA and the $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ current might partly explain the depolarization and hyperpolarization, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.401-413
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• 2011

The aerodynamic stability of orthotropic tensioned membrane structures with rectangular plane is theoretically studied under the uniform ideal potential flow. The aerodynamic force acting on the membrane surface is determined by the potential flow theory in fluid mechanics and the thin airfoil theory in aerodynamics. Then, based on the large amplitude theory and the D'Alembert's principle, the interaction governing equation of wind-structure is established. Under the circumstances of single mode response, the Bubnov-Galerkin approximate method is applied to transform the complicated interaction equation into a system of second order nonlinear differential equation with constant coefficients. Through judging the stability of the system characteristic equation, the critical divergence instability wind velocity is determined. Finally, from different parametric analysis, we can conclude that it has positive significance to consider the characteristics of orthotropic and large amplitude for preventing the instability destruction of structures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.833-840
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• 2003

Sperm motility of salmonid fishes is suppressed by external $K^{+}$ and initiated by decrease of $K^{+}$ concentration surrounding the sperm. It was shown that the decrease in external $K^{+}$ concentration induced not only the initiation of sperm motility, but also hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane and synthesis of cAMP in the sperm of rainbow trout, steelhead trout, and masu salmon. Inhibitors of $K^{+}$ channels, especially voltage-dependent $K^{+}$ channels, inhibited these three reactions, and the inhibitions were abolished by subsequent addition of a $K^{+}$ ionophore, valinomycin, suggesting that $K^{+}$ efflux through the $K^{+}$ channel contributes to rapid changes in the membrane potential of sperm and cAMP synthesis, thereby resulting in the initiation of sperm motility of salmonid fishes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.775-780
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effect of foulant characteristics on Membrane fouling index such as Silt Density Index (SDI) and Modified Fouling Index (MFI). A linear relationship was found relating the fouling index (both SDI and MFI) on particle concentration, but fouling index values were nonlinearly (exponentially) with increasing organic concentration. When organic matter was the primary cause of fouling, the MFI was not accurately predicted due to internal fouling such as pore adsorption. The fouling index was determined mainly by particle characteristics when both particle and organic coexisted in the feed water. This observation was attributed to lessening of organic pore adsorption by particle cake layer formed on the membrane surface. Bench-scale actual fouling experiments demonstrated that permeate flux declines much faster with feed water containing particles than organic matters although fouling potential predicted by SDI values were identical, indicating that the accurate prediction of fouling potential requires the development of fouling index reflecting different foulant characteristics.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 1993

The effects of light and $CO_2$ on the electrophysiological characteristics of guard cells in the intact leaf and in the detached epidermis have been investigated. Guard cells in intact leaves showed the membrane hyperpolarization in response to light. The biggest induced change of the membrane potential difference (PD) in the guard cells of the intact leaf was 13 m V by light and 42 mV by $CO_2$ in Commelina communis. Similar results were obtained with Tradescantia virginiana. However, there were no changes of membrane PD in detached epidermis. In order to determine the influence of the mesophyll on the changes of membrane PD, infiltration of the mesophyll cells with photosynthetic inhibitors was performed. In CCCP infiltrated leaf discs the guard cell membrane was depolarized slightly by red-light and hyperpolarized by $CO_2$, but in leaf discs infiltrated with DCCD and DCMU the guard cell membrane was hyperpolrized by both red-light and $CO_2$ as the control leaf discs. In azide infiltrated leaf discs the guard cell membrane showed no response to light and there was a much reduced membrane hyperpolarization by $CO_2$ compared to other responses. It was likely that azide caused leaf damage and the activity of cell metabolism was decreased greatly, resulting in small membrane PD changes by $CO_2$ and no changes by redlight. Therefore, it can be suggested that red light was sensed by the mesophyll and the light induced guard cell membrane hyperpolarization was related to energy produced by cyclic-photophosphorylation, but ${CO_2}-induced$ guard cell membrane hyperpolarization was not related to photosynthesis. Alkalisation of the vacuole was observed when the intact leaf was exposed to $CO_2$, indicating that membrane hyperpolarization was mainly the result of proton efflux.efflux.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of a membrane bioreactor filled with high concentration of powdered activated carbon (HCPAC-MBR) to reduce DBPs at the drinking water treatment. The pilot system was installed after the rapid sand filtration process whose plant was the conventional treatment process. The removal efficiencies of DBPs were measured during pilot operation period of 2 years. HAA and THM removal rates could be maintained around 80~90% without any troubles and then tremendous reduction of HAA and THM reactivity were observed more than 52%. The average removal rate of HAA formation potential (FP) and THM formation potential (FP) were 70.5% and 67.6% respectively. It is clear that the PAC membrane bioreactor is highly applicable for advanced water treatment to control DBPs.