• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2015.08a
• /
• pp.62-62
• /
• 2015

In this study, we study the effects of CF4 plasma treatment on the characteristics of enhancement mode (E-mode) AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The CF4 plasma is generated by inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE) system. The CF4 gas is decomposed into fluorine ions by ICP-RIE and then fluorine ions will effect the AlGaN/GaN interface to inhibit the electron transport of two dimension electron gas (2DEG) and increase channel resistance. The CF4 plasma method neither like the recessed type which have to utilize Cl2/BCl3 to etch semiconductor layer nor ion implantation needed high power to implant ions into semiconductor. Both of techniques will cause semiconductor damage. In the experiment, the CF4 treatment time are 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 seconds. It was found that the devices treated 100 seconds showed best electric performance. In order to prove fluorine ions existing and CF4 plasma treatment not etch epitaxial layer, the secondary ion mass spectrometer confirmed fluorine ions truly existing in the sample which treatment time 100 seconds. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy showed that the sample treated time 100 seconds did not have etch phenomena. Atomic layer deposition is used to grow Al2O3 with thickness 10, 20, 30 and 40 nm. In electrical measurement, the device that deposited 20-nm-thickness Al2O3 showed excellent current ability, the forward saturation current of 210 mA/mm, transconductance (gm) of 44.1 mS/mm and threshold voltage of 2.28 V, ION/IOFF reach to 108. As IV concerning the breakdown voltage measurement, all kinds of samples can reach to 1450 V.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2005

Methods used to study carbon sequestration by soil aggregates have often excluded the concentric spatial variability and other dynamic processes that contribute to resource accessibility and solute transport within aggregates. We investigated the spatial gradients of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from the exterior to interior layers within macroaggregates, $6.3\sim9.5$ mm, sampled from conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) sites of a Hoytville silt clay loam. Spatial gradients in C accumulation within macroaggregates were related to the differences in C dynamics by determining the sizes and the turnover rates of fast C and slow C pools in the concentric layers of aggregates. Aggregate exteriors contained more labile C and were characterized by greater C mineralization rates than their interiors in both management systems. In contrast, C in the interior layers of aggregates was more resistant in both systems. These results indicated the spatial differentiation of C dynamics within macroaggregates, i.e., exterior layers as a reactive site and interior layers as a protective site. Greater total C distribution in the exterior layers of NT aggregates indicated more influx of C from the macropores in interaggregate space than C. mineralization (net gain of C), whereas lower C distribution within the exterior layers of CT aggregates indicated net loss of C by greater C mineralization than C influx. We found total C increased approximately 1.6-fold by the conversion of CT soils to NT management systems for a period of 36 years. Differences in total accumulation and the spatial distribution of C within aggregates affected by management were attributed to the differences in aggregate stability and pore networks controlling the spatial heterogeneities of resource availability and microbial activity within aggregates.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.190-196
• /
• 2019

Tight junctions are constituents of the blood-epididymis barrier that play roles in regulating the unidirectional transcellular transport of ions, water, and solutes to maintain optimal conditions for sperm maturation and storage. Claudin 1 (Cldn1) and 4 (Cldn4) are known as tight junction proteins and are expressed in the basolateral membranes as well as tight junctions in the epididymis of rodents. Here, we examined the expression and localization of Cldn1 and 4 to determine the function of these proteins in the pig epididymis. Cldn1 was highly expressed in the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells in the caput and corpus regions of the epididymis. In the cauda region, however, Cldn1 labeling was significantly decreased in the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells. In contrast, labeling indicated that Cldn4 was expressed in the basolateral membrane in the cauda region of the epididymis and was present at punctate reactive sites in the caput and corpus regions. However, in no region of the epididymis did we detect colocalization of Cldn1 and 4 with labeled ZO-1, the distribution of which is restricted to the tight junctions. Our results indicate that Cldn1 and 4 were region-specifically expressed in the pig epididymis but not present in the tight junctions of epididymal epithelium. In addition, reciprocal regulation in specific regions of the epididymis between Cldn1 and 4 may play an important role in generating an optimal luminal environment for sperm maturation and storage in the pig epididymis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.155-163
• /
• 2004

The objectives of this study were to characterize the wastewater flow through the VFS, and relate this to the P removal in the VFS. A total of 68 subsurface wells (20∼40 cm below the soil surface) and 35 surface wells (0~5 cm), and the application of chloride tracer were used to investigate flow paths and soluble reactive P (SRP) removal from the 21 m wide and 33 m long VFS receiving dairy milkhouse waste. The early chloride breakthroughs in wells in the center of the VFS showed that the milkhouse waste flows preferentially down in the center of the hillslope. The locally saturated area created near the discharge pipe in the center of the VFS accelerates surface flow that contributed to rapid transport of P to the down slope area. Although VFS of 33m long eventually reduced SRP to lower than 0.2 mg/L in most cases, SRP is less effectively removed in the areas where soil saturation occurred. It is suggested that the effort to distribute the wastewater uniformly to avoid soil saturation and reduce the flow velocity need to be considered in new designs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2017

An university dorm has significant implications in terms of providing residential, living, and learning spaces. With its supportive function, a dorm enables each university to provide higher level of education. The operation & maintenance(O&M) condition of the dorm has a decisive effect on the students' satisfaction. Accordingly, high levels of O&M services should be performed for students. However, Korean dorms are being operated and maintained by their own O&M guidelines without the consideration of spatial characteristics of dorm facilities and the comprehensive and systematic understanding on effective O&M processes. Given the fact that dorm facility can be a crucial factor in determining the entire quality of university and its O&M condition is closely related to the satisfaction of students, it is imperative that we need to pay more attention to the O&M condition and services. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to improve dorm students' satisfaction levels by applying different O&M method, preventive maintenance rather than reactive maintenance which has been performed so far. In ordering for doing it, 'Facility Management(FM) Standard' from KS, 'Facility Performance Indicator(FPI)' from APPA: Leadership in educational facilities and 'Building O&M Inspection Manual' from Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport were analyzed to come up with 15 significant O&M factors. After extracting O&M factors, the survey was conducted to determine importance rate and performance rate of each O&M factor. Using the Important-Performance Analysis(IPA), the priority of 15 O&M factors was established. The result of this research will be helpful for the efficient dorm facility O&M services and for facility managers to appropriately allocate the limited resources and human power.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1368-1376
• /
• 2008

In our previous study, the expression of active H-ferritins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found to reduce cell growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation upon exposure to oxidative stress; such expression enhanced that of high-affinity iron transport genes (FET3 and FTR1). The results suggested that the recombinant cells expressing H-ferritins induced cytosolic iron depletion. The present study analyzes metabolic changes under these circumstances via proteomic methods. The YGH2 yeast strain expressing A-ferritin, the YGH2-KG (E62K and H65G) mutant strain, and the YGT control strain were used. Comparative proteomic analysis showed that the synthesis of 34 proteins was at least stimulated in YGH2, whereas the other 37 proteins were repressed. Among these, the 31 major protein spots were analyzed via nano-LC/MS/MS. The increased proteins included major heat-shock proteins and proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). On the other hand, the proteins involved with folate metabolism, purine and methionine biosynthesis, and translation were reduced. In addition, we analyzed the insoluble protein fractions and identified the fragments of Idh1p and Pgk1p, as well as several ribosomal assembly-related proteins. This suggests that intracellular iron depletion induces imperfect translation of proteins. Although the proteins identified above result from changes in iron metabolism (i.e., iron deficiency), definitive evidence for iron-related proteins remains insufficient. Nevertheless, this study is the first to present a molecular model for iron deficiency, and the results may provide valuable information on the regulatory network of iron metabolism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.888-894
• /
• 2009

It has been reported that silibinin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, induces cell death in various cancer cell types. However, the underlying mechanisms by which silibinin induces apoptosis in human glioma cells are poorly understood. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effect of silibinin on glioma cell apoptosis and to determine its underlying mechanism in human glioma cells. Apoptosis was estimated by FACS analysis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Psi}m$) were measured using fluorescence dyes DCFH-DA and $DiOC_6$(3), respectively. Cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase-3 activation were estimated by Western blot analysis using specific antibodies. Exposure of cells to 30 mM silibinin induced apoptosis starting at 6 h, with increasing effects after 12-48h in a time-dependent manner. Silibinin caused ROS generation and disruption of ym, which were associated with the silibinin-induced apoptosis. The silibinin-induced ROS generation and disruption in ym were prevented by inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport chain. The hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase blocked ROS generation and apoptosis induced by silibinin. Silibinin induced cytochrome c release into cytosolic fraction and its effect was prevented by catalase and cyclosporine A. Silibinin treatment caused caspase-3 activation, which was inhibited by DVED-CHO and cyclosporine A. Pretreatment of caspase inhibitors also protected against the silibinin-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that ROS generation plays a critical role in the initiation of the silibinin-induced apoptotic cascade by mediation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway including the disruption of ${\Psi}m$, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.09a
• /
• pp.29-32
• /
• 2004

Gaseous partitioning tracer test has been used for determining the volume and spatial distribution of residual non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the unsaturated soils. In this study, an experimental method for measuring the content of gas-exposed NAPL as well as that of total NAPL in a sand during air sparging was developed. Two different gaseous phase NAPL-partitioning tracers were used; n-pentane, with very low water solubility, was used as the tracer that partitions into NAPL that is only in contact with the mobile gas, and chloroform, with fairly good water solubility, was selected for detecting total NAPL content in the sand. Helium and difluromethanewere used as the non- reactive tracer and water-partitioning tracers, respectively. Using n-decane as a model NAPL (NAPL saturation of 0.018), 25.6% of total NAPL was detected by n-pentane at the water saturation of 0.68. Oniy 9.1% of total NAPL was detected by n-pentane at the water saturation of 0.84. This result implies that the quantity of gas-exposed NAPL increased about three times when the water saturation decreased from 0.84 to 0.68. At the water saturation of 0.68, more than 90% of total NAPL was detected by chloroform while 65.8% of total NAPL was detected by chloroform at the water saturation of 0.84. Considering that the removal rate of NAPL during air sparging for NAPL-contaminated aquifer is expected to be greatly dependent upon the spatial arrangement of NAPL phase with respect to the mobile gas, this new approach may provide useful information for investigating the mass transfer process during air-driven remedial processes fer NAPL-contaminated subsurface environment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.55 no.7
• /
• pp.238-248
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is an important cause of neonatal mortality, as this brain injury disrupts normal mitochondrial respiratory activity. Carnitine plays an essential role in mitochondrial fatty acid transport and modulates excess acyl coenzyme A levels. In this study, we investigated whether treatment of primary cultures of rat cortical neurons with L-carnitine was able to prevent neurotoxicity resulting from oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Methods: Cortical neurons were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rat embryos. L-Carnitine was applied to cultures just prior to OGD and subsequent reoxygenation. The numbers of cells that stained with acridine orange (AO) and propidium iodide (PI) were counted, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and the terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay were performed to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine (1 ${\mu}M$, 10 ${\mu}M$, and 100 ${\mu}M$) on OGD-induced neurotoxicity. Results: Treatment of primary cultures of rat cortical neurons with L-carnitine significantly reduced cell necrosis and prevented apoptosis after OGD. L-Carnitine application significantly reduced the number of cells that died, as assessed by the PI/AO ratio, and also reduced ROS release in the OGD groups treated with 10 ${\mu}M$ and 100 ${\mu}M$ of L-carnitine compared with the untreated OGD group (P<0.05). The application of L-carnitine at 100 ${\mu}M$ significantly decreased cytotoxicity, LDH release, and inhibited apoptosis compared to the untreated OGD group (P<0.05). Conclusion: L-Carnitine has neuroprotective benefits against OGD in rat primary cortical neurons in vitro.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.3 no.5
• /
• pp.529-538
• /
• 1999

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of ethanol on $Na^+ -dependent$ phosphate $(Na^+-P_i)$ uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established renal proximal tubular cell line. Ethanol inhibited ^Na^+-dependent$ component of phosphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner with $I_{50}$ of 8.4%, but it did not affect $Na^+-independent$ component. Similarly, ethanol inhibited $Na^+-dependent$ uptakes of glucose and amino acids (AIB, glycine, alanine, and leucine). Microsomal $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activity was not significantly altered when cells were treated with 8% ethanol. Kinetic analysis showed that ethanol increased $K_m$ without a change in $V_{max}$ of $Na^+-P_i$ uptake. Inhibitory effect of n-alcohols on $Na^+-P_i$ uptake was dependent on the length of the hydrocarbon chain, and it resulted from the binding of one molecule of alcohol, as indicated by the Hill coefficient (n) of 0.8-1.04. Catalase significantly prevented the inhibition, but superoxide dismutase and hydroxyl radical scavengers did not alter the ethanol effect. A potent antioxidant DPPD and iron chelators did not prevent the inhibition. Pyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, did not attenuate ethanol-induced inhibition of $Na^+-P_i$ uptake, but it prevented ethanol-induced cell death. These results suggest that ethanol may inhibit $Na^+-P_i$ uptake through a direct action on the carrier protein, although the transport system is affected by alterations in the lipid environment of the membrane.