• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.12 no.1_2
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• pp.1-5
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• 1978

In an attempt to explore the effect of Ginseng on the permeability of the biological membrane to cations we have investigated the effect of Ginseng-alcohol extract on the transport of $Na^+$ human red blood cell preprations. The $Na^+$ influx was measured in intact red cells using $^{22}Na$ as a tracer and the efflux in reseated red cells using $^{24}Na$ as a tracer. 1. The influx of $Na^+$ was not apparently changed by the Ginseng-alcohol extract of 20mg% in the incubation medium. 2. Similarly, 20mg% Ginseng-alcohol extract in the cellular space did not alter the efflux of $Na^+$ from the cell. However, 50mg% of Ginseng-alcohol extract in the cell resulted in a significant increase in the $Na^+$ efflux and this effect was magnified when the cell was suspended in the medium containing the Ginseng-alcohol extract in a concentration of 20mg %. The results suggest that Ginseng-alcohol extract over 50mg% increase permeability of red blood cell membrane to $Na^+$ by altering the membrane integrity.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2017

The reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an energy generation system to convert chemical potential of saline water directly into electric energy via the combination of current derived from a redox couple electrolyte and ionic potential obtained when cation ($Na^+$) and anion ($Cl^-$) pass through cation exchange membrane (CEM) and anion exchange membrane (AEM) into fresh water, respectively. Ion exchange membrane, a key element of RED system, should satisfy requirements such as 1) low swelling behavior, 2) a certain level of ion exchange capacity, 3) high ion conductivity, and 4) high perm-selectivity to achieve high power density. In this paper, research trends and prospects of ionomer materials and ion exchange membranes are dealt with.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2024

A photo-crosslinked anion exchange membrane (AEM) based on quaternary-aminated polyacrylates was developed for reverse electrodialysis (RED). Although reverse electrodialysis is a clean and renewable energy generation system, the low power output and high membrane cost are serious obstacles to its commercialization. Cross-linked AEMs without any polymer supporters were fabricated through photo-crosslinking between polymer-typed acrylates with anion conducting groups, in particular, polymer-typed acrylates were synthesized based on engineering plastic with outstanding mechanical and chemical property. The fabricated membranes showed outstanding physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties. The area resistance of the fabricated membranes (CQAPPOA-20, CQAPPOA-35, and CQAPPOA-50) were ~50% lower than that of AMV (2.6 Ω cm²). Moreover, the transport number of CQAPPOA-35 wase comparable to that of AMV, despite the thin thickness (40 ㎛) of the fabricated membranes. The RED stack with the CQAPPOA-35 membrane provided an excellent maximum power density of 2.327 W m^-2 at a flow rate of 100 mL min^-1, which is 15% higher than that (2.026 W m^-2) of the RED stack with the AMV membrane. Considering easy fabrication process by UV photo-crosslinking and outstanding RED stack properties, the CQAPPOA-35 membrane is a promising candidate for REDs.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.247-250
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• 2011

The excess volumes of mixing of benzyl alcohol and halothane in vesicle and in suspensions of several lipids have been determined at $25^{\circ}C$ it using a excess volume dilatometer. The potency of general anesthetics has long been known to correlate with lipid solubility. Denaturations of the vesicle, which is a sole membrane protein in the purple membrane of Halobacteriun Halobium, were studied by absorption changes at 280 nm and fluorescence changes at 330 nm and excess volume dilatometer. The particle size analysis of viscous polymer solutions by diffusional interchange is the key step by measurement. The excess volume of mixing in chitosan was found to be negative, whereas them of purple membrane, Halobacteriun Halobium and red membrane were positive in benzyl alcohol and halothane. This result was confirmed as Miller's supposition.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.89-92
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• 2004

The effects of different light quality on the change of membrane potential difference (PD) of the guard cell in the intact leaf have been investigated. The mombrane PD was about -5.5 mV by white light of 600 $\mu$moles $m^{-2}\; s^{-1}$. The mean PD of change caused by red light was about -5.2 mV at the light intensity of 80 $\mu$moles $m^{-2}\; s^{-1}$. Membrane PD of guard cells in response to blue light was saturated at low light intensity. However, red and green light enhanced the change of membrane PD of guard cells with increasing intensity. In green light the biggest change of memrane PD was around -4 mV, whereas, with blue light the change of of memrane PD was around -2 mV. Accordingly, the membrane PD of guard cell showed the different degree of hyper-polarization by each wavelength.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 1993

The effects of light and $CO_2$ on the electrophysiological characteristics of guard cells in the intact leaf and in the detached epidermis have been investigated. Guard cells in intact leaves showed the membrane hyperpolarization in response to light. The biggest induced change of the membrane potential difference (PD) in the guard cells of the intact leaf was 13 m V by light and 42 mV by $CO_2$ in Commelina communis. Similar results were obtained with Tradescantia virginiana. However, there were no changes of membrane PD in detached epidermis. In order to determine the influence of the mesophyll on the changes of membrane PD, infiltration of the mesophyll cells with photosynthetic inhibitors was performed. In CCCP infiltrated leaf discs the guard cell membrane was depolarized slightly by red-light and hyperpolarized by $CO_2$, but in leaf discs infiltrated with DCCD and DCMU the guard cell membrane was hyperpolrized by both red-light and $CO_2$ as the control leaf discs. In azide infiltrated leaf discs the guard cell membrane showed no response to light and there was a much reduced membrane hyperpolarization by $CO_2$ compared to other responses. It was likely that azide caused leaf damage and the activity of cell metabolism was decreased greatly, resulting in small membrane PD changes by $CO_2$ and no changes by redlight. Therefore, it can be suggested that red light was sensed by the mesophyll and the light induced guard cell membrane hyperpolarization was related to energy produced by cyclic-photophosphorylation, but ${CO_2}-induced$ guard cell membrane hyperpolarization was not related to photosynthesis. Alkalisation of the vacuole was observed when the intact leaf was exposed to $CO_2$, indicating that membrane hyperpolarization was mainly the result of proton efflux.efflux.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 1976

The action of acetylcholine on the sodium plus potassium activated ATPase activity in the rabbit red cell membrane has been investigated and the experiments were also designed to determine the mechanism of action of acetylcholine on the ATPase activity. The following results were observed. 1. The activity of the NaK ATPase from red cell membrane is inhibited by acetylcholine. 2. The ratio of inhibition of NaK ATPase by acetylcholine is decreased by raising the potassium concentration, and is increased by raising the sodium concentration. 3. The ATPase activity is increased by small amounts of calcium but inhibited by larger amounts. The ratio of inhibition of the enzyme by acetylcholine is increased by raising the calcium concentration. 4. The inhibitory action of acetylcholine on the NaK ATPase activity was not related to the sulfhydryl group of cysteine, the hydroxyl group of threonine, or the carboxyl group of aspartic acid. 5. The inhibitory action of acetylcholine on the ATPase activity is due to amino group of the enzyme of NaK ATPase.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.302-312
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• 2019

The voltage produced from the salinity gradient in reverse electrodialysis (RED) increases proportionally with the number of cell pairs of alternating cation and anion exchange membranes. Large-scale RED systems consisting of hundreds of cell pairs exhibit high voltage of more than 10 V, which is sufficient to utilize water electrolysis as the electrode reaction even though there is no specific strategy for minimizing the overpotential of water electrolysis. Moreover, hydrogen gas can be simultaneously obtained as surplus energy from the electrochemical reduction of water at the cathode if the RED system is equipped with proper venting and collecting facilities. Therefore, RED-driven water electrolysis system can be a promising solution not only for sustainable electric power but also for eco-friendly hydrogen production with high purity without $CO_2$ emission. The RED system in this study includes a high membrane voltage from more than 50 cells, neutral-pH water as the electrolyte, and an artificial NaCl solution as the feed water, which are more universal, economical, and eco-friendly conditions than previous studies on RED with hydrogen production. We measure the amount of hydrogen produced at maximum power of the RED system using a batch-type electrode chamber with a gas bag and evaluate the interrelation between the electric power and hydrogen energy with varied cell pairs. A hydrogen production rate of $1.1{\times}10^{-4}mol\;cm^{-2}h^{-1}$ is obtained, which is larger than previously reported values for RED system with simultaneous hydrogen production.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2023

Wastewater purification is one of the most important techniques for controlling environmental pollution and fulfilling the demand for freshwater supply. Various technologies, such as different types of distillations and reverse osmosis processes, need higher energy input. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative method in which power consumption is deficient and works on the supercapacitor principle. Research is going on to improve the electrode materials to improve the efficiency of the process. A reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the most commonly used desalination technology and osmotic power generator. Among many studies conducted to enhance the efficiency of RED, MXene, as an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and 2D nanofluidic channels in IEM, is rising as a promising way to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of RED. It is used alone and other polymeric materials are mixed with MXene to enhance the performance of the membrane further. The maximum desalination performances of MXene with preconditioning, Ti₃C₂T_x, Nafion, and hetero-structures were respectively measured, proving the potential of MXene for a promising material in the desalination industry. In terms of osmotic power generating via RED, adopting MXene as asymmetric nanofluidic ion channels in IEM significantly improved the maximum osmotic output power density, most of them surpassing the commercialization benchmark, 5 Wm^-2. By connecting the number of unit cells, the output voltage reaches the point where it can directly power the electronic devices without any intermediate aid. The studies around MXene have significantly increased in recent years, yet there is more to be revealed about the application of MXene in the membrane and osmotic power-generating industry. This review discusses the electrodialysis process based on MXene composite membrane.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 1989

The effects of Gypsophila saponin, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100 on volume changes and fragility of red blood cells were compared to ginseng saponin to elucidate whether there are any difference in their action on membrane lipid. Cell volume was decreased to about 38% in 1M NaCl and increased to about 20% in 1/10M NaCl. Hematocrit value was decreased by Gypsophila saponin, SDS, and Triton X-100 which caused hemolysis in isotonic NaCl solution. These detergents also inhibited increase of cell volume and accelerated hemolysis in hypotonic solution. However, ginseng saponin did not influence to osmotic volume changes and hemolysis of red blood cells. These results suggest that the disruptive effect of plant saponin on membrane barriers induced by removing membrane lipid is different from their source and ginseng saponin has very low affinity to membrane lipid.