• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.845-851
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• 2010

Purpose: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been widely used to treat short stature. However, there are some concerns that growth hormone treatment may induce skeletal maturation and early onset of puberty. In this study, we investigated whether rhGH can directly affect the neuronal activities of of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Methods: We performed brain slice gramicidin-perforated current clamp recording to examine the direct membrane effects of rhGH on GnRH neurons, and a whole-cell voltage-clamp recording to examine the effects of rhGH on spontaneous postsynaptic events and holding currents in immature (postnatal days 13-21) and adult (postnatal days 42-73) mice. Results: In immature mice, all 5 GnRH neurons recorded in gramicidin-perforated current clamp mode showed no membrane potential changes on application of rhGH (0.4, $1{\mu}g/mL$). In adult GnRH neurons, 7 (78%) of 9 neurons tested showed no response to rhGH ($0.2-1{\mu}g/mL$) and 2 neurons showed slight depolarization. In 9 (90%) of 10 immature neurons tested, rhGH did not induce any membrane holding current changes or spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs). There was no change in sPSCs and holding current in 4 of 5 adult GnRH neurons. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that rhGH does not directly affect the GnRH neuronal activities in our experimental model.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2016

Early life neuronal exposure to environmental toxicants has been suggested to be an important etiology of neurodegenerative disease development. Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), one of the major perfluoroalkyl compounds, is widely distributed environmental contaminants. We have reported that PFHxS induces neuronal apoptosis via ERK-mediated pathway. Imperatorin is a furanocoumarin found in various edible plants and has a wide range of pharmacological effects including neuroprotection. In this study, the effects of imperatorin on PFHxS-induced neuronal apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms are examined using cerebellar granule cells (CGC). CGC were isolated from seven-day old rats and were grown in culture for seven days. Caspase-3 activity and TUNEL staining were used to determine neuronal apoptosis. PFHxS-induced apoptosis of CGC was significantly reduced by imperatorin and PD98059, an ERK pathway inhibitor. PFHxS induced a persistent increase in intracellular calcium, which was significantly blocked by imperatorin, NMDA receptor antagonist, MK801 and the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers, diltiazem and nifedipine. The activation of caspase-3 by PFHxS was also inhibited by MK801, diltiazem and nifedipine. PFHxS-increased ERK activation was inhibited by imperatorin, MK801, diltiazem and nifedipine. Taken together, imperatorin protects CGC against PFHxS-induced apoptosis via inhibition of NMDA receptor/intracellular calcium-mediated ERK pathway.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.158-164
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• 2017

Typical hydrophones in line array sensors for early detection of covert underwater targets can measure only sound-pressure-magnitude with the limitation of being unable to identify the direction of an incoming wave. In this study, a thickness shear mode vibrator was proposed as the main component of an inertia type vector hydrophone to measure both magnitude and direction of acoustic signals from targets. The equation to analyze the output voltage of the vibrator to an external force was derived, and the validity of the equation was verified through finite element analysis of a PMN-PT single crystal vibrator. The analysis results from this study will be utilized in the future for the design of inertia type vector hydrophones made of thickness shear vibrators.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.319-338
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• 2015

The electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) technique makes use of surface-bonded lead zirconate titanate (PZT) patches as impedance transducers measuring impedance variations monitored on host structural components. The present experimental work further evaluate an alternative to the conventional EMI technique which performs measurements of the variations in the output voltage of PZT transducers rather than computing electromechanical impedance (or admittance) itself. This paper further evaluates a variant of the EMI approach presented in a previous work of the present authors, suitable, for low-cost concrete structures monitoring applications making use of a credit card-sized Raspberry Pi single board computer as core hardware unit. This monitoring approach is also deployed by introducing a new damage identification index based on the ratio between the area of the 2-D error ellipse of specific probability of EMI-based measurements containment over that of the 2-D error circle of equivalent probability. Experimental results of damages occurring in concrete cubic and beam specimens are investigated under increasing loading conditions. Results illustrate that the proposed technique is an efficient approach for identification and early detection of damage in concrete structures.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.998-1005
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• 2006

The effects of imipramine on A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents and ATP-sensitive $K^{+}\;(K_{ATP)$ currents were studied in isolated murine proximal colonic myocytes using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Depolarizing test pulses between-80 mV and +30 mV with 10 mV increments from the holding potential of-80 mV activated voltage-dependent outward $K^{+}$ currents that peaked within 50 ms followed by slow decreasing sustained currents. Early peak currents were inhibited by the application of 4-aminopyridine, whereas sustained currents were inhibited by the application of TEA. The peak amplitude of A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents was reduced by external application of imipramine. The half-inactivation potential and the half-recovery time of A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents were not changed by imipramine. With 0.1 mM ATP and 140 mM $K^{+}$ in the pipette and 90 mM $K^{+}$ in the bath solution and a holding potential of -80 mV, pinacidil activated inward currents; this effect was blocked by glibenclamide. Imipramine also inhibited $K_{ATP}$ currents. The inhibitory effects of imipramine in A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents and $K_{ATP}$ currents were not changed by guanosine 5-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) ($GDP{\beta}S$) and chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor. These results suggest that imipramine inhibits A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents and $K_{ATP}$ currents in a manner independent of G-protein and protein kinase C.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.267-274
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• 2008

Since first discovered in chick skeletal muscles, stretch-activated channels (SACs) have been proposed as a probable mechano-transducer of the mechanical stimulus at the cellular level. Channel properties have been studied in both the single-channel and the whole-cell level. There is growing evidence to indicate that major stretch-induced changes in electrical activity are mediated by activation of these channels. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of stretch-induced automaticity by exploiting a recent mathematical model of rat atrial myocytes which had been established to reproduce cellular activities such as the action potential, $Ca^{2+}$ transients, and contractile force. The incorporation of SACs into the mathematical model, based on experimental results, successfully reproduced the repetitive firing of spontaneous action potentials by stretch. The induced automaticity was composed of two phases. The early phase was driven by increased background conductance of voltage-gated $Na^+$ channel, whereas the later phase was driven by the reverse-mode operation of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange current secondary to the accumulation of $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ through SACs. These results of simulation successfully demonstrate how the SACs can induce automaticity in a single atrial myocyte which may act as a focus to initiate and maintain atrial fibrillation in concert with other arrhythmogenic changes in the heart.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.352-359
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• 2017

The growth of nanocrystalline diamond films on a p-type poly silicon substrate was studied using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition method. A 6 mm thick poly silicon plate was mirror polished and scratched in an ultrasonic bath containing slurries made of 30 cc ethanol and 1 gram of diamond powders having different sizes between 5 and 200 nm. Upon diamond deposition, the specimen scratched in a slurry with the smallest size of diamond powder exhibited the highest diamond particle density and, in turn, fastest diamond film growth rate. Diamond deposition was carried out applying different DC bias voltages (0, -50, -100, -150, -200 V) to the substrate. In the early stage of diamond deposition up to 2 h, the effect of voltage bias was not prominent probably because the diamond nucleation was retarded by ion bombardment onto the substrate. After 4 h of deposition, the film growth rate increased with the modest bias of -100 V and -150 V. With a bigger bias condition(-200 V), the growth rate decreased possibly due to the excessive ion bombardment on the substrate. The film grown under -150V bias exhibited the lowest contact angle and the highest surface roughness, which implied the most hydrophilic surface among the prepared samples. The film growth rate increased with the apparent activation energy of 21.04 kJ/mol as the deposition temperature increased in the range of $300{\sim}600^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1981

This study was conducted, during the period of 20-30th, July in 1981, to survey measurement methods in thyroid uptake rate test in Seoul city. The results were summarized as follows: 1. For the great part of nuclear medcine department, a mount of radioiodine($^{131}I$) administrated to the patients was $50-100{\mu}Ci$ in thyroid uptake rate test. 2. Distribution of scintillation, counter with crystal size of $1\frac{1}{2}inch$ was 43%, 3inch(22%), 2.5inch(14%) and $2\frac{1}{2}inch$ was 7% in RAI uptake rate test. 3. When RAI uptake rate test was performed, distribution of collimator in use was flat field type collimator(78%) in general and cylindrical type collimator was 22%. 4. High voltage applied to the P-M tube was $900{\sim}1000V$(50%) and most units provided $3{\sim}15%$ of the window range for the $^{131}I$ peak $\gamma-ray$ energy. 5. Distribution on the use of neck phantom for measurements standard solution was 57% and distribution of b filter in use for room background counts and extrathyroidal tissue was 43% and 50%. 6. The distance between the counter and the source was 25cm(58%) in measuring radioactivity of standard solution, thyroid tissue and background radioactivity count. 7. The early uptake measurements(2, 4, 6 hours) are done after administration of the radioiodine dose and also 24-hour and 48-hour uptake measurements are done in routine test.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.207-212
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• 2018

The increase in the size and the uptake of PV systems is leading to significant increase in the penetration of PV into local electricity grids. The increased penetration of PV is impacting on grid operation and in particular the voltage within the local grid can be significantly influenced by the various PV systems. The current global situation of environmental pollution, climate change and energy demand urgently requires dramatic political, economic and technical decisions in order to avoid a potential collapse of environmental and social systems. Around the world, electricity remains the vital component of national and international development. The implementation of renewable energy resources can provide solutions to these challenges by stimulating the early implementation of economically viable sustainable energy technologies.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

Although a lot of research and development has been conducted on the performance improvement of PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) water electrolysis, the research on durability is still in early stage. This study investigated effect of temperature on the water electrolysis durability when driving temperature of the PEM water electrolysis was increased to improve performance. Voltage change, I-V, CV (Cyclic Voltammetry), LSV (Linear Sweep Voltammetry), Impedance, and FER (Fluoride Emission Rate) were measured while driving under a constant current condition in a temperature range of 50~80 ℃. As the operating temperature increased, the degradation rate increased. At 50~65 ℃, the degradation of the IrO₂ electrocatalyst mainly affected the durability of the PEM water electrolysis cell. At 80 ℃, the polymer membrane and electrode degradation proceeded similarly, and the short resistance decreased to 1.0 kΩ·cm² or less, and the performance decreased to about 1/3 of the initial stage after 144 hours of operation due to the shorting phenomenon.