• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.262-271
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• 2023

For electrode stability and the electrochemical performance of the Li-ion cell, it is essential that the active ingredients and unique additives in the polymer binder be well dispersed with the solvent-based slurry. The efficient procedure used to create the slurry affects the rheological characteristics of the electrode slurry. When successively adding different steps of Nmethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent to the cathode composition, it is evenly disseminated. The electrochemical performance of the Li-ion cells and the electrodes made with slurry formed by single step and multiple steps of addition of NMP solvent are examined. To preform rheological properties of cathode electrode slurry on Ni-rich Lithium Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum Oxide (LiNi_0.80Co_0.15Al_0.05) (NCA). Also, we investigate different step addition of electrode formation and mechanical strength characterization like peel strength. According to the EIS study, a multi-step electrode slurry has lower internal resistance than a single-step electrode slurry, which results in better electrical characteristics and efficiency. Further, microstructure of electrodes is obtained electrochemical performance in the 18650 cylindrical cells with targeted capacity of 1.5 Ah. The slurry of electrodes prepared by single step and multiple steps of addition of NMP solvent and its effect on the fabrication of 1.5 Ah cells. A three-step solvent addition on slurry has been found to be a lower internal resistance than a single-step electrode slurry as confirmed by the EIS analysis, yielding improved electrical properties and efficiency.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.35-39
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• 2009

A novel Helmholtz coil inductively coupled plasma(H-ICP) etcher is proposed and characterized for deep nano-scale CMOS technology. Various hardware tests are performed while varying key parameters such as distance between the top and bottom coils, the distance between the chamber ceiling and the wafer, and the chamber height in order to determine the optimal design of the chamber and optimal process conditions. The uniformity was significantly improved by applying the optimum conditions. The plasma density obtained with the H-ICP source was about $5{\times}10^{11}/cm^3$, and the electron temperature was about 2-3 eV. The etching selectivity for the poly-silicon gate versus the ultra-thin gate oxide was 482:1 at 10 sccm of $HeO_2$. The proposed H-ICP was successfully applied to form multiple 60-nm poly-silicon gate layers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.300-307
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• 2004

The chloroacetanilide herbicide alachlor (2-chloro-2', 6'-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)-acetanilide) and organochlorine insecticide endosulfan (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10-hexachloro-l, 5, 5a, 6, 9, 9a-hexahydro-6, 9-methano-2, 3, 4-benzodioxathiepin-3-oxide)are the highly toxic agricultural chemicals. Bombina orientalis is one of the most common amphibians in the world and comprises a large proportion of their total number. B. orientalis spawns in the farming regions at Spring when the massive application of agricultural chemicals occurs. These chemicals in farmland may threaten the reproduction of this frog. Therefore, we examined the embryotoxic and survival effects of alachlor and endosulfan at various concentrations in B. orientalis embryos. The survival rates of embryos at 312h post fertilization treated with alachlor and endosulfan were decreased with concentration dependent manner. Also, developmental malformations appeared by alachlor and endosulfan in B. orientalis embryos. The malformations showed in order of frequency with bent trunk, tail dysplasia, bent tail, thick-set body and ventral blister in alachlor treated embryos. The exposure of endosulfan produced 7 types of severe external malformations with tail dysplasia, pectoral blister, bent trunk, bent tail, cephalic dysplasia, ventral blister, and thick-set body. Following exposure to alachlor and endosulfan the types of malformations were diverse, suggesting these chemicals target multiple events in embryonic and larval development in this species. These results suggested that alachlor and endosulfan were detrimental for survival and development of B. orientalis embryos.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2014

Bone marrow is a hematological and immunological organ that provides multiple immune cells, including B lymphocytes, and thus plays a critical role in the efficacy of vaccine. We previously demonstrated that Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica antigen has high immunogenicity in spleen cells, a peripheral immune organ. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity of B. bronchiseptica antigen in bone marrow cells, a central immune organ. B. bronchiseptica antigen increased the cellular activity of bone marrow cells and significantly enhanced the production of nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$. Bone marrow cells primed with B. bronchiseptica antigen in vivo were harvested and stimulated with the same antigen in vitro. The stimulation of B. bronchiseptica antigen significantly increased the cellular activity and proliferation rate of the primed cells. B. bronchiseptica antigen also greatly induced the production of antigen-specific antibody in the primed cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that B. bronchiseptica antigen can stimulate bone marrow cells, a central immune organ, and recall the immune response of the primed bone marrow cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the following 4 structural changes : Atrophy of the Cortex, Parasympathetic, and other neural cells, the existence of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the accumulation of Senile plaques. NFTs and Senile plaques is known to be the index of this disease. Senile plaques disturbs the neutro transmission and depletes of Acetylcholine. So, Recovery of Acetylcholine is the primal objective for treating Alzheimer's disease. So, Inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholine Esterase (AChE), which causes the hydrolysus of acetylcholine into choline and acetate, can be seen as a key role for treating Alzheimer's disease. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom Acupuncture (BV) could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti-inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-_{\kappa}B$. BV dose-dependently attenuated Scopolamine-induced Acetylcholine esterase activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice brain. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1032-1041
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• 2010

The comparative influence of two nanoparticles [viz., superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) and nanobarium titanate (NBT)] upon the in vitro and in situ low-density polyethylene (LDPE) biodegradation efficiency of a potential polymer-degrading microbial consortium was studied. Supplementation of 0.01% concentration (w/v) of the nanoparticles in minimal broth significantly increased the bacterial growth, along with early onset of the exponential phase. Under in vitro conditions, ${\lambda}$-max shifts were quicker with nanoparticles and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) illustrated significant changes in CH/$CH_2$ vibrations, along with introduction of hydroxyl residues in the polymer backbone. Moreover, simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTG-DTA) reported multiple-step decomposition of LDPE degraded in the presence of nanoparticles. These findings were supported by scanning electron micrographs (SEM), which revealed greater dissolution of the film surface in the presence of nanoparticles. Furthermore, progressive degradation of the film was greatly enhanced when it was incubated under soil conditions for 3 months with the nanoparticles. The study highlights the significance of bacteria-nanoparticle interactions, which can dramatically influence key metabolic processes like biodegradation. The authors also propose the exploration of nanoparticles to influence various other microbial processes for commercial viabilities.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.426-431
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• 2017

Some phototoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles ($TiO_2$ NPs) has been reported in recent years in studies with fish embryos or larvae. However, it is necessary to focus on the potential effects of embryonic exposure due to irreversible abnormalities and mortalities observed in sac-fry, and to expand various fish embryos to generate multiple test species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of $TiO_2$ NPs under different irradiation conditions in exposed Oryzias latipes (O. latipes) at the embryonic and sac-fry stages. The effects of different irradiation conditions were observed using ultra-violet (UV) and visible light, and the corresponding effects were monitored by determining cumulative mortality and abnormality. O. latipes were exposed for 8 d to 0, 1, 5, 10, or 50 mg/L $TiO_2$ NPs under UV ($4,818.86mW/m^2$ at the bottom of clear vials) or visible light, after which the embryos were transferred to NP-free embryo-rearing solution until 16 days post fertilization (dpf). Abnormalities of embryos and sac-fry increased at high $TiO_2$ NP concentrations under UV irradiation, compared to control samples treated with visible light or UV irradiation alone. This work provides information regarding the phototoxicity of $TiO_2$ NPs using O. latipes at the embryonic and sac-fry stages.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.462-469
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• 2007

Objective : This study characterized the neurons in the lumbosacral cord that express phospho ERK (pERK) after distension or irritation of the bladder, and their relation to the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) positive primary afferents. Methods : Mechanical distension and chemical irritation of the bladder were induced by intravesical injection of the saline and mustard oil, respectively. Spinal neurons expressing pERK and the primary afferent fibers were characterized using multiple immunofluorescence for neurokinin 1 (NK1), neuronal nitric oxide synthetase (nNOS) and VR1. Results : Neurons in lamina I, medial dorsal horn (MDH), dorsal gray commissure (DGC) and sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN) were immunoreactive for pERK after either mechanical or chemical stimulation. The majority of pERK positive cells were positive for NK1 in lamina I and SPN, but not in the DGC. Most of pERK positive cells are not stained for nNOS except in a small population of the cells in the SPN and DGC. Contacts between perikarya and dendrites of pERK-positive cells and terminals of primary afferents expressing VR1 were identified in lamina I. lateral collateral path (LCP) and SPN. Conclusion : In this study, the lumbosacral neurons activated by mechanical and chemical stimulation of the urinary bladder were identified with expression of the pERK, and also provided the evidence that VR1-positive primary afferents may mediate the activation of these neurons.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.415-422
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• 2014

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the translucency of shaded zirconia allceramic systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Translucency of 3 different zirconia all-ceramic systems colored by different techniques was compared with a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max Press). Square-shaped specimens with 0.5 mm thickness were fabricated from In-Ceram YZ, ICE Zirkon and Katana systems in A1, A2 and A3.5 shades according to Vitapan Classical shade tab (n=11). Specimens were then veneered and glazed with corresponding veneer ceramic recommended by each zirconia system manufacturer and the total thickness was set to 1.5 mm. Translucency measurements were performed with VITA Easyshade Compact spectrophotometer after each stage and translucency parameter was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test. RESULTS. The control group was significantly more translucent than the zirconia systems (P<.05). ICE Zirkon cores showed the least translucency; neither In-Ceram YZ nor Katana systems were superior to each other in terms of translucency. Translucency of all specimens was decreased after veneering, and the translucency rankings were changed. CONCLUSION. Coloring technique did not have a significant effect on translucency of zirconia cores. Although zirconia systems were less translucent than lithium disilicate glass ceramic, they had partial translucency and there were translucency differences among the zirconia systems. Chroma affected the translucency of precolored zirconia cores.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.960-966
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• 2003

Macrophages play an important role in host defenses by killing tumors and virus infections and producing secretory products. High mannuronic acid (HMA) containing alginate was examined to determine the mechanisms by which HMA-activated macrophages resist infection with HSV-1 and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The ability of macro phages to resist infection with HSV-1 or to inhibit the growth of tumor cells was assessed following treatment with HMA alginate in the presence of either antibodies to various cytokines or inhibitors/scavengers of toxic macrophage products. Only antibodies to IFN-$\alpha$/$\beta$ were able to abrogate the protective effects of HMA alginate in macrophages infected with HSV-1, suggesting that the antiviral activity induced by this immunomodulator was mediated by the production of IFN-$\beta$. In contrast, anti-TNF-$\alpha$, anti-IFN and inhibitors of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species were all able to partially abrogate HMA-induced cytostatic activity, suggesting that multiple mechanisms are involved in macrophage cytostasis. These results indicate that the HMA-induced intrinsic antiviral and extrinsic cytotoxic activites are mediated by different mechanisms.