• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2010

Purpose: The surfaces and compositions of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses were analyzed with the consistent methods, and the basic informations for the composition design of lens materials were suggested. Methods: The bulk structures were analyzed by using Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the compositions of surface components were observed by using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the surface morphology and roughness were observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the wettabilities were estimated by the surface wetting angles. The relations and trends of those results were analyzed. Results: The high oxygen permeability RGP lenses showed the trend that the fluorine decreases and the silicon increases. As the silicon and fluorine contents increased, the carbon and oxygen contents of RGP lens materials decreased at a constant ratio. The decreasing ratio of the carbon contents was three times larger than the decreasing ratio of oxygen contents. The composition of the surface treated lens was far from these tendency line. When the silicon contents increased, the rough surface was formed with the cohered particles. When the fluorine contents increased, the rough surface was formed with the deep flaws. The surface roughness increased and then wettabilities decreased as the silicon and fluorine contents increased. For the surface roughness changes, the increasing ratio of the silicon contents was two times larger than the increasing ratio of fluorine contents. The surface of RGP lens materials appeared the hydrophobic character of which the wettabilities decreased when the roughnesses increased. Conclusions: The surfaces and compositions of RGP contact lenses were measured by the same methods. Those results and relationships were compared and analysed. It is considered that these research results will be applied with the basic data for the composition design of lens materials.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.341-346
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• 2005

The mechanism underlying oxidant-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) increase was studied in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) using fura-2 AM. In the presence of 2 mM extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, the application of DTBNP ($20{\mu}M$), a membrane-permeable oxidant, caused an increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and DTT (2 mM) as a reductant completely reversed the effect of DTBNP. The $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase induced by DTBNP was also observed in an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-free/2 mM EGTA solution, indicating the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from intracellular store(s). After endoplasmic reticulum was depleted by an $IP_3$-generating agonist, ATP ($30{\mu}M$) or an ER $Ca^{2+}$ pump inhibitor, thapsigargin ($1{\mu}M$), DTBNP-stressed BAECs showed an increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in $Ca^{2+}$-free/2 mM EGTA solution. Ratio-differences before and after the application of DTBNP after pretreatment with ATP or thapsigargin were $0.42{\pm}0.15$ and $0.49{\pm}0.07$, respectively (n=7), which are significantly reduced, compared to the control value of $0.72{\pm}0.07$ in a $Ca^{2+}$-free/2 mM EGTA solution. After the protonophore CCCP ($10{\mu}M$) challenge to release mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$, the similar result was obtained. Ratio-difference before and after the application of DTBNP after pretreatment with CCCP was $0.46{\pm}0.09$ (n=7). Simultaneous application of thapsigargin and CCCP completely abolished the DTBNP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase. The above results together indicate that the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by DTBNP resulted from the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Cells can resist and even recover from stress induced by acute hypoxia, whereas chronic hypoxia often leads to irreversible damage and eventually death. Although little is known about the response(s) to acute hypoxia in neuronal cells, alterations in ion channel activity could be preferential. This study aimed to elucidate which channel type is involved in the response to acute hypoxia in rat pheochromocytomal (PC12) cells as a neuronal cell model. Using perfusing solution saturated with 95% $N_2$ and 5% $CO_2$, induction of cell hypoxia was confirmed based on increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ with diminished oxygen content in the perfusate. During acute hypoxia, one channel type with a conductance of about 30 pS (2.5 pA at -80 mV) was activated within the first 2~3 min following onset of hypoxia and was long-lived for more than 300 ms with high open probability ($P_o$, up to 0.8). This channel was permeable to $Na^+$ ions, but not to $K^+$, $Ca^+$, and $Cl^-$ ions, and was sensitively blocked by amiloride (200 nM). These characteristics and behaviors were quite similar to those of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). RT-PCR and Western blot analyses confirmed that ENaC channel was endogenously expressed in PC12 cells. Taken together, a 30-pS ENaC-like channel was activated in response to acute hypoxia in PC12 cells. This is the first evidence of an acute hypoxia-activated $Na^+$ channel that can contribute to depolarization of the cell.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2004

The focus of this study is the promotion of green area volumes and their naturalness, water circulation system, decline of entropy, creation of biological habitats and linkage of separated urban green space. Re-presentative urban biotope survey sites were categorized as urban biotope, semi-natural biotope, and natural forest. In the urban biotope, a residential biotope was constructed near the Han river and in mountain areas. The green-area ratio at the housing complex was about 25%. GVZ(Grunvolumenzahl) was 0.35m$^3$/m$^2$ at the 5∼10-story housing complex, and 1.53m$^3$/m$^2$ over the 11-story. As for the green-area structure of the housing complex, canopy layer, understory layer, and shrub layer were not differentiated and the green-area volume was not high enough. The green-area ratio of school areas as a public area biotope was 5∼20%. GVZ was 1.12m$^3$/m$^2$ at Myungduk High School, and 1.78m$^3$/m$^2$ at Jeonggok Elementary School. In order to convert the urban biotope into an ecological area, green areas around the buildings should be connected to urban buffer green areas, and multi-layer structures should be established with natural plant species. In the semi-natural biotope, neighbor parks were created park in the vicinity of the natural forests. GVZ was 0.28m$^3$/m$^2$, and plantation was established with single layer structure and was definitely insufficient for the area. The urban buffer green areas have been established in strip corridors with the width of 20∼123m. In those areas, GVZ was 0.16∼0.27m$^3$/m$^2$ and had a deficient canopy layer, understory layer, and shrub layer. Soil conditions were not favorable for tree growth. In the natural biotope, GVZ of the plantation was 1.03∼1.5m$^3$/m$^2$ but the high crown closure of this area reduces the chance of species change and succession. GVZ of natural forest was 2.53∼2.57m$^3$/m$^2$. It is desirable to plant diverse plants and the natural forest should be succeeded by broad-leaf deciduous tree species. To improve the value of biotope at Kangseo-Gu, building height needs to be limited to reduce the environmental deterioration in the city. In order to maintain the water circulation system, water-permeable material is recommened when the urban surface areas are paved. The establishment of a water circulation system will improve ground water levels, soil moisture, water quality, and habitats. In order to improve biological diversity, it is desirable to have multi-layer structures in urban green areas with native species.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.302-308
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• 2005

Nitrate is one of common contaminants frequently found in the bank filtrate. Biological autotrophic denitrification into permeable reactive barrier(PRB) system to reduce nitrate concentration in bank filtrate was implanted. The objectives of research are to investigate effect of inoculation, to evaluate alternative alkalinity sources, and to determine effect of hydraulic characteristics, such as retention time, flow rate on the performance of semi-pilot PRB system. Semi-pilot scale biological PRB system was installed using elemental sulfur and limestone/oyster shell as reactive materials near Nakdong River in Kyoungnam province, Korea. Nitrate concentration in bank filtrate was reduced by indigenous microorganisms in oyster shell as welt as by inoculating microorganisms isolated from the sludge of an anaerobic digester in a wastewater treatment plant. Oyster shell as well as limestone can be used as an alkalinity source. However, oyster shell resulted in suspended solids of effluent. As the flow rate in the system increased from 66 to 132 mL/min and accordingly the residence time decreased from 15 to 7.5 hours, nitrate concentration in effluent increased and nitrate removal efficiencies decreased from 75 to 58% at the fixed thickness of 80 cm of PRB.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 1993

$Ca^{2+}$ is an important regulator of neurite elongation and growth cone movements but the mechanism(s) mediating these $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ effects is unclear. Since cytoskeletal proteins are rapidly degraded by $Ca^{2+}-dependent $ proteinases (calpains) in vitro and in vivo, we investigated whether $Ca^{2+}-induced$ pruning or regression of neuronal processes is mediated by calpains. Isolated hippocampal pyramidal-like neurons were cultured and the ability of the membrane-permeable calpain inhibitors EST (etyl (+)-(2S,3S)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-(3-methlbutylcarbamoyl)-butylcarbamoyl]2-oxiranecarboxylate) and MDL28170 (carbobenzoxyl-Val-Phe-H) to block the $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore A23187-induced suppression in neurite outgrowth was investigated. Addition of 100 nM A23187 to the culture medium resulted in a retraction of dendrites without altering axonal elongation. The addition of 300 nM A23187 to the culture medium resulted in a signiciant decrease in the rate of axonal elongation as well as a retraction of dendritic processes. Administration of EST $(5\;or\;20{\mu}M)$ to the culture medium completely blocked the pruning effect of 100 nM A23187 on dendrites and of 300 nM A23187 on axons, while EST alone did not significantly affect neurite outgrowth rate. MDL 28170 $(20\;{\mu}M)$ showed the same effect as EST in preventing ionophore-induced pruning of dendrites and axons at 100 nM and 300 nM concentrations, respectively, of A23187. EST $(20\;{\mu}M)$ did not block the A23187-induced rise of $[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$ as measured with fura-2. These results show that $Ca^{2+}-induced$ pruning of neurites in isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons is mediated by calpains.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2009

The effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein(OxLDL) and its major lipid constituent lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC) on $Ca^{2+}$ entry were investigated in cultured human umbilical endothelial cells(HUVECs) using fura-2 fluorescence and patch-clamp methods. OxLDL or LPC increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by OxLDL or by LPC was inhibited by $La^{3+}$ or heparin. LPC failed to increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in the presence of an antioxidant tempol. In addition, store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry(SOC), which was evoked by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store depletion in $Ca^{2+}$-free solution using the sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ pump blocker, 2, 5-di-t-butyl-l,4-benzohydroquinone(BHQ), was further enhanced by OxLDL or by LPC. Increased SOC by OxLDL or by LPC was inhibited by U73122. In voltage-clamped cells, OxLDL or LPC increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and simultaneously activated non-selective cation(NSC) currents. LPC-induced NSC currents were inhibited by 2-APB, $La^{3+}$ or U73122, and NSC currents were not activated by LPC in the presence of tempol. Furthermore, in voltage-clamped HUVECs, OxLDL enhanced SOC and evoked outward currents simultaneously. Clamping intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ to 1 ${\mu}M$ activated large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+(BK_{ca})$ current spontaneously, and this activated $BK_{ca}$ current was further enhanced by OxLDL or by LPC. From these results, we concluded that OxLDL or its main component LPC activates $Ca^{2+}$-permeable $Ca^{2+}$-activated NSC current and $BK_{ca}$ current simultaneously, thereby increasing SOC.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2016

Water-in-oil emulsions including water-in-ester oil and water-in-silicone oil (W/O+S) have various advantages such as blocking moisture evaporation and forming air permeable membrane. However, their applications have been limited due to the poor stability under low viscosity condition. In this study, we investigated the effect of synergistic interaction between nonionic surfactant, micro-size particles and cationic surfactant on the stability of W/O+S formulation. The stability of W/O+S emulsions was changed as a function of cationic surfactant concentration where it increased at lower concentration and then started to decrease above a critical point. Finally, emulsion phase inversion occurred at a high concentration. The results suggest that W/O+S emulsions of low viscosity ranging from 2000 to 5000 cps can be stabilized under the conditions where a nonionic surfactant, micro-size particles and a cationic surfactant are used in the range of 1.0 ~ 4.0 wt%, 2.5 wt% and 0.1 ~ 0.5 wt%, respectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.54-61
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• 2008

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) technology has been focused in contaminated groundwater remediation. It is necessary to select adequate reactive material according to characteristics of contaminant in groundwater. In this research, the reaction between reactive material and heavy metal contaminants was estimated through column test. Reactive material was slag, which has been produced in Gwangyang power plant, and heavy metal contaminants were cadmium, lead and copper. Column test was performed in the condition of 1) single and multi contaminated solution and 2) different initial concentration of cadmium. Retardation factor of cadmium is 3.94 in multi contamination. But that of copper is 40.3 in single and 25 in multi. The difference of retardation between cadmium and copper is due to affinity, resulted from the difference of electronegativity. In multi-contamination, copper effluent concentration was above initial copper concentration and at the same time lead effluent concentration was decreased. This phenomenon was considered that lead extract copper sorbed in slag and then lead was sorbed to the vacant sorption site instead. And as the initial concentration was increased, the retardation factor of cadmium became decreased.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.867-873
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• 2010

This study investigated the corrosion properties of reinforced concrete with the addition of steel fibers. The transport properties of steel fiber-reinforced concrete such as permeable void, absorption by capillary action, water permeability and chloride diffusion were first measured to evaluate the relationship with the corrosion of steel rebar. Test results showed a slight increase on the compressive strength with the addition of steel fibers as well as considerable improvement of penetration resistance to mass transport of harmful materials into concrete. The addition of steel fibers in reinforced concrete accelerated the initiation of steel corrosion contrary to the expected results based on the measured transport properties. The NaCl ponding surface showed the spalling failure due to the corrosion expansion of steel fibers and the cut-surface around the steel rebar showed the localized steel fiber's corrosion. The wet-dry cycling with high chloride ions as well as high temperature seems to induce the increase of salt crystallization on the pores continually and the increased pressure with the steel fiber's corrosion on the pores caused the spalling failure on the exposed surface. The microcracking on the surface therefore accelerated the movement of water, chloride ions and oxygen into the embedded steel rebar. The mechanism affecting corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement with steel fibers in this study are not yet fully understood and require further study comprising of accurate experimental design to isolate the effect of steel fiber's potential mechanism on the corrosion process.