• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2008

The multilayered membrane for lithium rechargeable batteries based on poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) is prepared with the coated layer containing nano-sized filler. The prepared membranes were subjected to studies of mechanical strength, morphology, interfacial stability, impedance spectroscopy, ionic conductivity, and cycle performance. The localized inorganic filler in the PVdF composite membrane rendered mechanical strength much reduced because of its low stretching ratio and it results in around half value of the mechanical strength of highly stretched PVdF membrane. In order to achieve high ionic conductivity and interfacial stability without sacrificing high mechanical strength, coating layer with nano-filler was newly introduced to PVdF membrane. The ionic conductivity of the coated membrane was 1.03 mS/cm, and the interface between the coating layer and PVdF membrane was stable when the membrane was immersed into liquid electrolyte. The discharge capacity of the cell based on nano-filler coated PVdF membrane was around 91% of the initial discharge capacity after 250 cycles, which is an improvement in cycle performance compared to the case for the non-coated PVdF membrane.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2008

Laser light microscopy enables observation of various simultaneously occurring events in living cells. This capability is important for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of the molecular interactions underlying such events. Two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy (two-photon microscopy), a technology based on multiphoton excitation, is one of the most promising candidates for such imaging. The advantages of two-photon microscopy have spurred wider adoption of the method, especially in neurological studies. Multicolor excitation capability, one advantage of two-photon microscopy, has enabled the quantification of spatiotemporal patterns of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and single episodes of fusion pore openings during exocytosis. In pancreatic acinar cells, we have successfully demonstrated the existence of "sequential compound exocytosis" for the first time, a process which has subsequently been identified in a wide variety of secretory cells including exocrine, endocrine and blood cells. Our newly developed method, the two-photon extracellular polar-tracer imaging-based quantification (TEPIQ) method, can be used for determining fusion pores and the diameters of vesicles smaller than the diffraction-limited resolution. Furthermore, two-photon microscopy has the demonstrated capability of obtaining cross-sectional images from deep layers within nearly intact tissue samples over long observation times with excellent spatial resolution. Recently, we have successfully observed a neuron located deeper than 0.9 mm from the brain cortex surface in an anesthetized mouse. This microscopy also enables the monitoring of long-term changes in neural or glial cells in a living mouse. This minireview describes both the current and anticipated capabilities of two-photon microscopy, based on a discussion of previous publications and recently obtained data.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1190-1195
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• 2007

This study was conducted to improve efficiency of a follicle culture system without reducing developmental competence of intrafollicular oocytes. Preantral follicles (100 to $125{\mu}m$ in diameter) of F1 hybrid (B6CBAF1) mice were cultured singly for 216 h in modified ${\alpha}$-MEM-glutamax medium, to which 2.5 IU/ml hCG and epidermal growth factor was added 16 h prior to the end of culture. Medium change was either performed three times (54 h interval), twice (72 h interval), once (108 h interval), or not at all (216 h interval). Maturation (progression to the metaphase II stage) of intrafollicular oocytes was detected from 4 days after culture in the three-times change treatment, while all treatments yielded mature oocytes from day 5 of culture. Compared with the three-times change, decreasing the change frequency to once did not reduce the capacity to begin maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown of 82 to 86%), to mature (78 to 79%) and to develop into blastocysts after parthenogenetic activation (29 to 32%). Morphological parameters were similar among these treatments. Except for the no medium change treatment, similar colony-forming activity of inner cell mass cells after culturing of blastocysts in leukemia inhibitory factor-containing medium was detected, while the morphology of the colony-forming cells deteriorated in the change-once treatment compared with the change twice or three-times. In conclusion, the efficiency of the preantral follicle culture system could be improved by reducing frequency of medium change up to a 72 h interval (three times in total 216 h culture) without decreasing developmental competence of oocytes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-74
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• 1986

The anatomy of the renal papilla and pelvis of the bat(Pipistrellus abramus abramus Temminck) and their ultrastructure of the epithelium has been studied by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The bats were captured at Ondal cave located in Yangchun-Myun, Tanyang-Kun, Chungchongpuk-Do, Korea in the active(July) and hibernating(January) phases. A conical renal papilla with several papillary foramina at the apex was curved toward the ureter. At the margin of the funnel-shaped renal pelvis, the fornix extended deeply into the kidney parenchyme was formed between the outer zone of the medulla and the cortex. The epithelium of the papilla covered the inner zone of the medulla. The epithelium of the fornix medially overlayed the outer zone of the medulla, and laterally the cortex. The surface epithelium of the papilla was simple columnar in shape with the scanty organelles and the short microvilli on their luminal surface. The fornix was Jined with $1{\sim}2$ cell layered squamous epithelium. On the medial surface of the fornix, two types of the superficial epithelial cells were identified; one had numerous short microvilli and the other had the microplicae and plaques on their luminal surface. The lateral surface of the fornix lined with the epithelial cells showed microridges and plaques on the luminal surface. The epithelial cells on the medial and lateral surfaces of the fornix were similar to their internal ultrastructures. The pelvic epithelium was a typical transitional type, which was composed of a layer of basal cells, one or two layers of intermediate cells, and a layer of superficial(facet) cells. The fusiform vesicles were observed in the cytoplasm of the intermediate and facet cells. There were no noticeable morphological changes in the epithelium of the papilla, fornix and pelvis except the medial epithelium of the fornix in the hibernating cycle. The microvillar cells were more numerous in the hibernating phase than in the active phase. The morphology, of the renal papilla and fornix of bats, indicates that a functional relationship may exist between the pelvic urine and the renal parenchyme.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.266-270
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• 2014

Metal foams have a cellular structure consisting of a solid metal containing a large volume fraction of pores. In particular, open, penetrating pores are necessary for industrial applications such as in high temperature filters and as a support for catalysts. In this study, Fe foam with above 90% porosity and 2 millimeter pore size was successfully fabricated by a slurry coating process and the pore properties were characterized. The Fe and $Fe_2O_3$ powder mixing ratios were controlled to produce Fe foams with different pore size and porosity. First, the slurry was prepared by uniform mixing with powders, distilled water and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA). After slurry coating on the polyurethane(PU) foam, the sample was dried at $80^{\circ}C$. The PVA and PU foams were then removed by heating at $700^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours. The debinded samples were subsequently sintered at $1250^{\circ}C$ with a holding time of 3 hours under hydrogen atmosphere. The three dimensional geometries of the obtained Fe foams with an open cell structure were investigated using X-ray micro CT(computed tomography) as well as the pore morphology, size and phase. The coated amount of slurry on the PU foam were increased with $Fe_2O_3$ mixing powder ratio but the shrinkage and porosity of Fe foams were decreased with $Fe_2O_3$ mixing powder ratio.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2011

Thirty Streptomyces sp. and 200 Bacillus sp. isolated from Korean soils and traditional foods were screened for their abilities to inhibit ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and produce 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ). This screening identified a Bacillus sp. bacterium that strongly inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and produced high levels of DNJ from Chungkookjang, a Korean traditional food. The bacterium was characterized in terms of its biochemical and molecular biological properties such as sugar utilization, cellular quinone composition, cell wall fatty acid composition, and 16S rDNA sequence. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the morphology of the bacterium. These analyses identified the bacterium as B. subtilis, a bacterium with Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. The selected strain was named B. subtilis MORI.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.228-238
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• 2011

Two urostyloid ciliates, collected from brackish water in Korea, were identified as Diaxonella pseudorubra pseudorubra (Kaltenbach, 1960) Berger, 2006 and Pseudokeronopsis flava (Cohn, 1866) Wirnsberger, Larsen and Uhlig, 1987. The description was based on living, protargol impregnated specimens. These species are described as follows: Diaxonella pseudorubra pseudorubra: body size in vivo $145-230{\times}40-60\;{\mu}m$, elongated ellipsoidal in shape. Cytoplasm reddish and flexible. Adoral zone of membranelles occupied 30-40% of the body; composed of 33-44 membranelles; 1-3 frontoterminal cirri, 1-4 frontal row cirri, 4-6 buccal cirri, 6-10 transverse cirri. Midventral rows composed of 14-24 cirri, four left marginal rows, one right marginal row. Two kinds of cortical granules; the larger one is yellowish and the smaller one is reddish. Pseudokeronopsis flava: body size in vivo $150-210{\times}30-45\;{\mu}m$, elongated ellipsoidal shape. Cytoplasm yellowish and flexible. Adoral zone of membranelles occupied 25-30% of body; composed of 44-58 membranelles in number. Frontal cirri forming bicorona composed of 5-7 cirral pairs, 2-3 frontoterminal cirri, one buccal cirrus, and 2-3 transverse cirri. Midventral rows composed of 18-33 cirri, 34-53 left marginal cirri, and 40-58 right marginal cirri. Two kinds of cortical granules; the larger one is colorless and "blood-cell-shaped," and the smaller one is yellowish. Diaxonella pseudorubra pseudorubra is different from the most similar subspecies, D. pseudorubra pulchra, in cytoplasmic color and number of midventral cirri. Pseudokeronopsis flava is different from its most similar congeners in pigment granular color, number of bicorona, number of midventral cirri, and position of the contractile vacuole.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.52-52
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• 2010

CIS(CuInSe2)계 화합물 태양전지는 높은 광흡수계수와 열적 안정성으로 고효율 태양전지 제조가 가능하여 태양전지용 광흡수층으로 매우 이상적이다. 미국 NREL에서는 이러한 CIGS 태양전지를 Co-evaporation 방법으로 제조 20%이상의 에너지 변환 효율을 달성하였다고 보고하였다. CIGS 태양전지의 경우 기존의 유리 기판 대신 유연한 철강 기판을 사용해 태양전지를 flexible하게 제조 할 수 있다는 장점이 있다. 이러한 flexible 태양전지의 경우 기존의 rigid 태양전지의 적용분야 뿐만 아니라 BIPV, 선박, 장난감, 군용, 자동차등 더욱더 많은 분야에 활용이 가능하다. 하지만 flexible 태양전지에 사용되는 철강기판의 경우 기존의 유리 기판인 SLG에 함유되어 있는 Na이 첨가되어 있지 않아 별도의 Na 첨가가 필요하다. Na은 CIGS 광흡수층의 결정을 증가 시키며 태양전지의 전기적 특성을 향상시킨다. 이러한 Na이 없는 경우 효율이 감소한다. 따라서 flexible 태양전지 개발을 위해서는 Na 첨가에 대한 연구가 필수적이다. 본 연구에서는 Na의 증착 순서를 변화시켜서 CIGS 증착 전, 동시증착, CIGS 증착 후로 나누어 CIGS 광흡수층 결정성의 변화를 알아보고자 한다. Na의 두께를 5nm에서 500nm 까지 단계 별로 나누어 실험을 실시하였다. 이때 CIGS 광흡수층은 미국의 NREL과 같은 3 stage 방식을 이용하였다. 1st stage의 시간은 15분으로 고정하였으며 기판온도는 약 $300^{\circ}C$로 고정 하였다. 2nd stage는 실시간 온도 감지 장치를 이용하여 Cu와 In+Ga의 조성비가 1:1이 되는 시간을 기준으로 Cu의 조성을 30%더 높게 조절하였으며 기판 온도는 약 $640^{\circ}C$로 고정 후 실험을 실시하였다. 3rd stage의 경우 Cu poor 조성으로 조절하기 위해 모든 조건을 10분으로 고정 후 실험을 실시하였다. 기판은 Na의 영향만을 비교하기위하여 Na이 첨가되어있지 않은 corning glass를 사용하였다. 후면 전극으로 약 $1{\mu}m$ 두께의 Mo을 DC Sputtering 방법을 이용하여 증착 하였다. 각각의 Na 두께에 따른 CIGS 광흡수층의 특성을 분석하기 위해 FE-SEM, XRD 분석을 실시하였다.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.881-884
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• 2005

We present a microfabricated three-dimensional (3-D) hybrid biopolymer micro cantilever which can measure the contractile force of cardiomyocytes and analyze the force dependence on different types of surface. To make different conditions of the cell seeding surface, we fabricated the specific type of cantilever which was grooved on the surface. The presented cantilever was facilitated to measure bending of the cantilever and to calculate the contractile force of cardiomyocytes. Also, we demonstrate the dependence of the morphology for the cardiomyocytes seeded on a plain surface and a grooved surface. Finally, we show the dependence of force for the cardiomyocytes on a different surface.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7343-7350
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• 2015

Genetic changes associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) provide very important diagnostic and prognostic information with a direct impact on patient management. Detection of chromosome abnormalities by conventional cytogenetics combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) play a very significant role in assessing risk stratification. Identification of specific chromosome abnormalities has led to the recognition of genetic subgroups based on reciprocal translocations, deletions and modal number in B or T-cell ALL. In the last twelve years 102 newly diagnosed childhood/adult ALL bone marrow samples were analysed for chromosomal abnormalities with conventional G-banding, and FISH (selected cases) using specific probes in our hospital. G-banded karyotype analysis found clonal numerical and/or structural chromosomal aberrations in 74.2% of cases. Patients with pseudodiploidy represented the most frequent group (38.7%) followed by high hyperdiploidy group (12.9%), low hyperdiploidy group (9.7%), hypodiploidy (<46) group (9.7%) and high hypertriploidy group (3.2%). The highest observed numerical chromosomal alteration was high hyperdiploidy (12.9%) with abnormal karyotypes while abnormal 12p (7.5%) was the highest observed structural abnormality followed by t(12;21)(p13.3;q22) resulting in ETV6/RUNX1 fusion (5.4%) and t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2) resulting in BCR/ABL1 fusion (4.3%). Interestingly, we identified 16 cases with rare and complex structural aberrations. Application of the FISH technique produced major improvements in the sensitivity and accuracy of cytogenetic analysis with ALL patients. In conclusion it confirmed heterogeneity of ALL by identifying various recurrent chromosomal aberrations along with non-specific rearrangements and their association with specific immunophenotypes. This study pool is representative of paediatric/adult ALL patients in Oman.