• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.521-527
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• 1998

An important property of the intestine is the ability to secrete fluid. The intestinal secretion is regulated by a number of substances including vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), ATP and different inflammatory mediators. One of the most important secretagogues is adenosine during inflammation. However, the controversy concerning the underlying mechanism of adenosine-stimulated $Cl^-$ secretion in intestinal epithelial cells still continues. To investigate the effect of adenosine on $Cl^-$ secretion and its underlying mechanism in the rabbit colon mucosa, we measured short circuit current ($I_{SC}$) under automatic voltage clamp with DVC-1000 in a modified Ussing chamber. Adenosine, when added to the basolateral side of the muocsa, increased $I_{SC}$ in a dose-dependent manner. The adenosine-stimulated $I_{SC}$ response was abolished when $Cl^-$ in the bath solution was replaced completely with gluconate. In addition, the $I_{SC}$ response was inhibited by a basolateral Na-K-Cl cotransporter blocker, bumetanide, and by apical $Cl^-$ channel blockers, dephenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC), 5-nitro-2-(3-phenyl-propylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), glibenclamide. Amiloride, an epithelial $Na^+$ channel blocker, and 4,4-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2-disulphonate (DIDS), a $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $Cl^-$ channel blocker, had no effect. In the mucosa pre-stimulated with forskolin, adenosine did not show any additive effect, whereas carbachol resulted in a synergistic potentiation of the $I_{SC}$ response. The adenosine response was inhibited by 10 ${\mu}M$ H-89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A. These results suggest that the adenosine-stimulated $I_{SC}$ response is mediated by basolateral to apical $Cl^-$ secretion through a cAMP-dependent $Cl^-$ channel. The rank order of potencies of adenosine receptor agonists was $5'-(N-ethylcarboxamino)adenosine(NECA)＞N^6-(R-phenylisopropyl)adenosine(R-$ PIA)＞2-[p-(2-carbonylethyl)-phenyl-ethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxaminoadenosine(CGS21680). From the above results, it can be concluded that adenosine interacts with the $A_{2b}$ adenosine receptor in the rabbit colon mucosa and a cAMP-dependent signalling mechanism underlies the stimulation of $Cl^-$ secretion.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.83-88
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• 2011

This study presented the structure and characteristics of vinyl cords used for wiring electric equipment and appliances and analyzed the photographs of damaged flat-type vinyl cords (VFF, $1.25mm^2$) and the metallic cross-sectional structure of melted conductors. Normal VFFs were made by twisting several strands together and the surface of the conductor was red brown. In addition, from the analysis of the metallic structure of the conductor, it was found that its grains had been elongated. The surface of a VFF damaged by normal flame showed no sheen with carbonized insulation material fused on the conductor surface. In addition, from the analysis of the cross-sectional structure of the melted area, it was found that voids of a certain shape were formed on it but that the cord's own elongation structure could not be checked. The cross-sectional analysis of the melted conductor damaged by the external flame applied to a VFF to which electric current was being applied showed no elongation structure for each cord, and revealed that irregular voids and a columnar structure had grown. The surface of the VFF damaged by overcurrent was uniformly carbonized and the cross-sectional structure analysis of the melted conductor revealed that the dendritic structure had grown. The analysis of the characteristics of the VFF melted by short-circuit showed that even though some part of the surface was contaminated, it showed little sheen and that the area rebounded by melting was round in shape. In addition, the cross-sectional structure analysis using a metallurgical microscope showed the boundary surface and columnar structure and revealed an amorphous structure like normal copper at areas other than the melted conductor.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

The stoichiometric mixture of evaporating materials for the $CuInSe_2$ single crystal thin film was prepared from horizontal furnace. Using extrapolation method of X-ray diffraction patterns for the polycrystal $CuInSe_2$, it was found tetragonal structure whose lattice constant $a_0$ and $c_0$ were $5.783\;{\AA}$ and $11.621\;{\AA}$, respectively. To obtain the $CuInSe_2$ single crystal thin film, $CuInSe_2$ mixed crystal was deposited on throughly etched GaAs(100) by the HWE(Hot Wall Epitaxy) system. The source and substrate temperature were $620^{\circ}C$ and $410^{\circ}C$ respectively. The crystalline structure of $CuInSe_2$ single crystal thin film was investigated by the double crystal X-ray diffraction(DCXD). Hall effect on this sample was measured by the method of Van der Pauw and studied on carrier density and mobility depending on temperature. From Hall data, the mobility was likely to be decreased by impurity scattering in the temperature range 30 K to 100 K and by lattice scattering in the temperature range 100 K to 293 K. The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $CuInSe_2$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's relation, $E_g(T)=1.1851\;eV-(8.99{\times}10^{-4}\;eV/K)T^2/(T+153\;K)$. The open-circuit voltage, short current density, fill factor, and conversion efficiency of $n-CdS/p-CuGaSe_2$ heterojunction solar cells under $80\;mW/cm^2$ illumination were found to be 0.51V, $29.3\;mA/cm^2$, 0.76 and 14.3 %, respectively.

• Solar Energy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.3-11
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• 1997

Because grain boundaries in polycrystalline silicon act as potential barriers and recombination centers for the photo-generated charge carriers, these defects degrade conversion effiency of solar cell. To reduce these effects of grain boundaries, we investigated various influencing factors such as thermal treatment, various grid pattern, selective wet etching for grain boundaries, buried contact metallization along grain boundaries, grid on metallic thin film. Pretreatment above $900^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ atmosphere, gettering by $POCl_3$ and Al treatment for back surface field contributed to obtain a high quality poly-Si. To prevent carrier losses at the grain boundaries, we carried out surface treatment using Schimmel etchant. This etchant delineated grain boundaries of $10{\mu}m$ depth as well as surface texturing effect. A metal AI diffusion into grain boundaries on rear side reduced back surface recombination effects at grain boundaries. A combination of fine grid with finger spacing of 0.4mm and buried electrode along grain boundaries improved short circuit current density of solar cell. A ultra-thin Chromium layer of 20nm with transmittance of 80% reduced series resistance. This paper focused on the grain boundary effect for terrestrial applications of solar cells with low cost, large area, and high efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2018

The stoichiometric mixture of evaporating materials for the $CaAl_2Se_4$: Co single crystal thin film was prepared from horizontal furnace. Using extrapolation method of X-ray diffraction patterns for the polycrystal $CaAl_2Se_4$, it was found orthorhomic structure whose lattice constant $a_0$, $b_0$ and $c_0$ were 6.4818, $11.1310{\AA}$ and $11.2443{\AA}$, respectively. To obtain the $CaAl_2Se_4$: Co single crystal thin film, $CaAl_2Se_4$: Co mixed crystal was deposited on throughly etched Si (100) by the HWE (Hot Wall Epitaxy) system. The source and substrate temperature were $600^{\circ}C$ and $440^{\circ}C$ respectively. The crystalline structure of $CaAl_2Se_4$: Co single crystal thin film was investigated by the double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXD). Hall effect on this sample was measured by the method of Van der Pauw and studied on carrier density and mobility depending on temperature. From Hall data, the mobility was likely to be decreased by impurity scattering in the temperature range 30 K to 100 K and by lattice scattering in the temperature range 100 K to 293 K. The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $CaAl_2Se_4$: Co obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's relation, $E_g(T)=3.8239eV-(4.9823{\times}10^{-3}eV/K)T_2/(T+559K)$. The open-circuit voltage, short current density, fill factor, and conversion efficiency of $p-Si/p-CaAl_2Se_4$: Co heterojunction solar cells under $80mW/cm^2$ illumination were found to be 0.42 V, $25.3mA/cm^2$, 0.75 and 9.96%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.232-236
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• 1999

A solar cell based on dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion was studied by electrochemical and spec-trofluorometric methods for the purposes of enhancing its efficiency and stability of $TiO_2$ solar cells. Nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ was used to prepare photoelectrodes, and photosensitizing dyes such as malachite green oxalate, basic blue3, rhodamine B, and bromocresol purple were chosen as sensitizers. Electrochemical oxidation potentials and absorption and emission wavelengths of dyes were used to determine energy levels of the dyes. By comparing excited energy levels of the dyes with the conduction band edge potential $(E_{c,s})\;of\;TiO_2$ calculated by using the flat-band potential $(E_{fb})\;of\;TiO_2$, properties of a dye required to fabricate a high efficient photosensitizing solar cell with high short-circuit current $(J_{sc})$ were suggested. Enhanced stability of photocurrent was obtained by coating a $TiO_2|ITO$ electrode with Polypyrrole that Possibly Prevented the recombination between the conduction band electrons and oxidized dyes and suppressed the direct electrode redox reactions of dyes on ITO.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.276-276
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• 2010

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) has been explored recently as a promising approach to increase energy conversion efficiency in photovoltaic devices, particularly for thin film hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells. The LSPR is frequently excited via an electromagnetic (EM) radiation in proximate metallic nanostructures and its primary con sequences are selective photon extinction and local EM enhancement which gives rise to improved photogeneration of electron-hole (e-h) pairs, and consequently increases photocurrent. In this work, high-dielectric-constant (k) $ZrO_2$ (refractive index n=2.22, dielectric constant $\varepsilon=4.93$ at the wavelength of 550 nm) is proposed as spacing layer to enhance the LSPR for application to the thin film silicon solar cells. Compared to excitation of the LSPR using $SiO_2$ (n=1.46, $\varepsilon=2.13$ at the wavelength of 546.1 nm) spacing layer with Au nanoparticles of the radius of 45nm, that using $ZrO_2$ dielectric shows the advantages of(i) ~2.5 times greater polarizability, (ii) ~3.5 times larger scattering cross-section and ~1.5 times larger absorption cross-section, (iii) 4.5% higher transmission coefficient of the same thickness and (iv) 7.8% greater transmitted electric filed intensity at the same depth. All those results are calculated by Mie theory and Fresnel equations, and simulated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations with proper boundary conditions. Red-shifting of the LSPR wavelength using high-k $ZrO_2$ dielectric is also observed according to location of the peak and this is consistent with the other's report. Finally, our experimental results show that variation of short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) of the LSPR enhanced a-Si:H solar cell by using the $ZrO_2$ spacing layer is 45.4% higher than that using the $SiO_2$ spacing layer, supporting our calculation and theory.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2021

Background: Abnormal chloride (Cl-) transport has a detrimental impact on mucociliary clearance in both cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF chronic rhinosinusitis. Ginseng is a medicinal plant noted to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The present study aims to assess the capability of red ginseng aqueous extract (RGAE) to promote transepithelial Cl- secretion in nasal epithelium. Methods: Primary murine nasal septal epithelial (MNSE) [wild-type (WT) and transgenic CFTR-/-], fisher-rat-thyroid (FRT) cells expressing human WT CFTR, and TMEM16A-expressing human embryonic kidney cultures were utilized for the present experiments. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and airway surface liquid (ASL) depth measurements were performed using micro-optical coherence tomography (μOCT). Mechanisms underlying transepithelial Cl- transport were determined using pharmacologic manipulation in Ussing chambers and whole-cell patch clamp analysis. Results: RGAE (at 30㎍/mL of ginsenosides) significantly increased Cl- transport [measured as change in short-circuit current (ΔISC = ㎂/㎠)] when compared with control in WT and CFTR-/- MNSE (WT vs control = 49.8±2.6 vs 0.1+/-0.2, CFTR-/- = 33.5±1.5 vs 0.2±0.3, p < 0.0001). In FRT cells, the CFTR-mediated ΔISC attributed to RGAE was small (6.8 ± 2.5 vs control, 0.03 ± 0.01, p < 0.05). In patch clamp, TMEM16A-mediated currents were markedly improved with co-administration of RGAE and uridine 5-triphosphate (8406.3 +/- 807.7 pA) over uridine 5-triphosphate (3524.1 +/- 292.4 pA) or RGAE alone (465.2 +/- 90.7 pA) (p < 0.0001). ASL and CBF were significantly greater with RGAE (6.2+/-0.3 ㎛ vs control, 3.9+/-0.09 ㎛; 10.4+/-0.3 Hz vs control, 7.3 ± 0.2 Hz; p < 0.0001) in MNSE. Conclusion: RGAE augments ASL depth and CBF by stimulating Cl- secretion through CaCC, which suggests therapeutic potential in both CF and non-CF chronic rhinosinusitis.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.196-205
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• 2021

As industrial safety increases, various industrial accident prevention technologies using smart factory technology are being studied. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for the majority of industrial accidents, are having difficulties in preventing industrial accidents by applying these smart factory technologies due to practical problems. In this study, customized monitoring and warning systems for each type of industrial accident were developed and applied to the actual field. Through this, we demonstrated industrial accident prevention technology through appropriate smart factory technology used by SMEs. A customized monitoring system using vision, current, temperature, and gas sensors was established for the four major disaster types: worker body access, short circuit and overcurrent, fire and burns due to high temperature, and emission of hazardous gas. In addition, a notification method suitable for each work environment was applied so that the monitored risk factors could be recognized quickly, and real-time data transmission and display enabled workers and managers to understand the disaster risk effectively. Through the application and demonstration of these appropriate smart factory technologies, the spread of these industrial safety technologies is to be discussed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.481-488
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• 2022

The Cu₂ZnSn(S_xSe_1-x)₄ (CZTSSe) absorbers are promising thin film solar cells (TFSCs) materials, to replace existing Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) and CdTe photovoltaic technology. However, the best reported efficiency for a CZTSSe device, of 13.6 %, is still too low for commercial use. Recently, partially replacing the Zn²⁺ element with a Cd²⁺element has attracting attention as one of the promising strategies for improving the photovoltaic characteristics of the CZTSSe TFSCs. Cd²⁺ elements are known to improve the grain size of the CZTSSe absorber thin films and improve optoelectronic properties by suppressing potential defects, causing short-circuit current (J_sc) loss. In this study, the structural, compositional, and morphological characteristics of CZTSSe and CZCTSSe thin films were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), and Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. The FE-SEM images revealed that the grain size improved with increasing Cd²⁺ alloying in the CZTSSe thin films. Moreover, there was a slight decrease in small grain distribution as well as voids near the CZTSSe/Mo interface after Cd²⁺ alloying. The solar cells prepared using the most promising CZTSSe absorber thin films with Cd²⁺ alloying (8 min. 30 sec.) exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.33 %, J_sc of 34.0 mA/cm², and fill factor (FF) of 62.7 %, respectively.