• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2003

The growth patterns of primary culture of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BBMECs) were studied using electron microscopy when grown on $3.0{\mu}m$ and $0.4{\mu}m$ pore Transwell. The capillary fragments and isolated endothelial cells grew on collagen coated culture plate and Transwell membrane. The BBMECs grew only on the upper surface of membrane of $0.4{\mu}m$. But BBMECs on $3.0{\mu}m$ pore membrane migrated through the pore and grew on the opposite side of the membrane. In summary, BBMECs isolated by enzyme digestion could migrate through $3.0{\mu}m$ pore membrane but not through $0.4{\mu}m$ pore membrane. So $0.4{\mu}m$ pore membrane instead of $3{\mu}m$ pore membrane should be used for drug transport experiment or transendothelial electrical resistance measurement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.430-430
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• 2007

In general, polyimides (PIs) are used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) as alignment layer of liquid crystals (LCs). Up to date, the rubbing alignment technique has been widely used to align liquid crystals on the PI surface, which is suitable for mass-production of LCDs because of its simple process and high productivity. However, this method has some disadvantages. Rubbed PI surfaces include the debris left by the cloth and the generation of electrostatic charges during rubbing process. Therefore, rubbing-free techniques for LC alignment are strongly required in LCD technology. In this experiment, PI was uniformly coated on indium-tin-oxide electrode substrates to form LC alignment layers using a spin-coating method and the PI layers were subsequently imidized at 433 K for 1 h. The thickness of the PI layer was set at 50 nm. The LC alignment layer surfaces were exposed to an $Ar^+$ ion-beam under various ion-beam energies. The antiparallel cells and twisted-nematic (TN) cells for the measurement of pretile angle and electro-optical characteristics were fabricated with the cell gap of 60 and $5\;{\mu}m$, respectively. The LC cells were filled with nematic LC (NLC, MJ001929, Merck) and were assembled. The NLC alignment capability on ion-beam-treated PI was observed using photomicroscope and the pretilt angle of the NLC was measured by the crystal-rotation method at room temperature. Voltage-transmittance (V-T) and response time characteristics of the ion-beam irradiated TN cell were measured by a LCD evaluation system.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1125-1132
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• 2000

The pH effect of the precursor solution on the preparation of $LiCoO_2$ by a solution phase reaction containing malonic acid was carried out. Layered $LiCoO_2$ powders were obtained with the precursors prepared at the different pHs (4, 7, and 9) and heat-treated at $700^{\circ}C(LiCoO_2-700)$ or $850^{\circ}C(LiCoO_2-850)$ in air. pHs of the media for precursor synthesis affects the charge/discharge and electrochemical properties of the $LiCoO_2electrodes.$ Upon irrespective of pH of the precursor media, X-ray diffraction spectra recorded for $LiCoO_2-850$ powder showed higher peak intensity ratio of I(003)/I(104) than that of $LiCoO_2-700$, since the better crystallization of the former crystallized better. However, $LiCoO_2$ synthesized at pH 4 displayed an abnormal higher intensity ratio of I(003)/I(104) than those synthesized at pH 7 and 9. The surface morphology of the $LiCoO_2-850$ powders was rougher and more irregular than that of $LiCoO_2-700$ made from the precursor synthesized at pH 7 and 9. The $LiCoO_2electrodes$ prepared with the precursors synthesized at pH 7 and 9 showed a better electrochemical and charge/discharge characteristics. From the AC impedance spectroscopic experiments for the electrode made from the precursor prepared in pH 7, the chemical diffusivity of Li ions (DLi+) in $Li0.58CoO_2determined$ was 2.7 ${\times}$10-8 $cm^2s-1$. A cell composed of the $LiCoO_2-700$ cathode prepared in pH 7 with Lithium metal anode reveals an initial discharge specific capacity of 119.8 mAhg-1 at a current density of 10.0 mAg-1 between 3.5 V and 4.3 V. The full-cell composed with $LiCoO_2-700$ cathode prepared in pH 7 and the Mesocarbon Pitch-based Carbon Fiber (MPCF) anode separated by a Cellgard 2400 membrane showed a good cycleability. In addition, it was operated over 100 charge/discharge cycles and displayed an average reversible capacity of nearly 130 mAhg-1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2024

The zonula occludens (ZO) protein serves as a scaffolding protein, providing structural support at the junctions between cells and the cytoplasmic surface. It acts as a bridge between integral membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton. Besides its structural role, it also participates in regulating cell growth and proliferation. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of ZO protein in various diseases, including cancer. Specifically, research has indicated that ZO protein influences the cancer microenvironment surrounding cancer cells, thereby facilitating their growth and development. ZO proteins exert diverse functions in the cancer microenvironment, impacting processes such as angiogenesis, inflammatory responses, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and interactions with mesenchymal stem cells. The specific mechanisms vary depending on the type of cancer and environmental conditions. Recent research unveiled several signaling pathways involving ZO protein, which could potentially impede cancer progression in the tumor microenvironment. Consequently, these insights open avenues for novel treatment strategies. While the numerous physiological, structural, and morphological roles of ZO protein have been observed at the cellular and in vivo levels, understanding the signaling mechanisms it operates in vivo and how these mechanisms influence the cancer microenvironment remains a challenge. In this review, we delineate the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of ZO protein in the context of the cancer microenvironment. Additionally, we propose leveraging the properties of ZO protein to devise defense mechanisms within the cancer cell environment and provide an overview of its in vivo role.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2014

Cation exchange membrane (Nafion) was modified to reduce the vanadium ion permeation through the membrane and to increase the vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) system performance by coating the graphene oxide (GO) which has nano-plate like morphology. Modified membrane properties were studied by measuring the ion exchange capacity (I.E.C), water uptake and proton conductivity. The thickness of the coated layer on the surface of the Nafion membrane was observed as $0.93{\mu}m$ by SEM. Proton conductivity and vanadium ion permeability of the modified membrane were decreased to 27% and 25% compared to that of the commercial Nafion membrane respectively. VRB single cell performance test was performed to compare the system performance of the VRB applied with commercial Nafion membrane and modified membrane. VRB system applied with modified membrane showed higher coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency than the VRB system applied with the commercial Nafion membrane due to the reduction of the vanadium ion permeation. From these result, we could suggest that the membrane modification by coating the GO on the surface of the Nafion membrane could be one of the promising strategies to reduce the vanadium ion permeation and to increase the VRB system performance effectively.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

As an electrolyte additive, the effects of lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) on the electrochemical properties of a carbon-coated silicon monoxide (C-coated SiO) negative electrode are investigated. The used electrolyte is 1.3M $LiPF_6$ that is dissolved in ethylene carbonate (EC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and diethyl carbonate (DEC) (5:25:70 v/v/v) with or without 0.5 wt. % LiBOB. In the LiBOB-free electrolyte, the film resistance is not so high in the initial period of cycling that lithiation is facilitated to generate the crystalline $Li_{15}Si_4$ phase. Due to repeated volume change that is caused by such a deep charge/discharge, cracks form in the active material to cause a resistance increase, which eventually leads to capacity fading. When LiBOB is added into the electrolyte, however, more resistive surface film is generated by decomposition of LiBOB in the initial period. The crystalline $Li_{15}Si_4$ phase does not form, such that the volume change and crack formation are greatly mitigated. Consequently, the C-coated SiO electrode exhibits a better cycle performance in the later cycles. At an elevated temperature ($45^{\circ}C$), wherein the effect of film resistance is less critical, the alloy ($Li_{15}Si_4$ phase) formation is comparable for the LiBOB-free and added cell to give a similar cycle performance.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.451-463
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to develop thin film materials and fabrication process for efficient $TiO_2$/CdTe solar cells. In this work photocatalyst titanium dioxide was prepared by sol-gel procedure according to reaction condition, the mole ratio of $H_2O$/TTIP, pH of solution and aging condition of powder. The prepared titanium dioxide was thermally treated from 300 to $750^{\circ}C$. Maximum intensity of anatase phase of titanium dioxide was achieved by calcination at $600^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr. And it was mixture of anatase and rutile phase when temperature of calcination was $750^{\circ}C$. It has been known that the properties of synthesized titanium dioxide according to aging time and calcination temperature was converted to anatase phase crystal on increasing of aging time. Also the current density has been increased with aging time and temperature, the efficiency has been increased with because of reason on above results. The formation of chemical bonding on oxygen and cadmium telluride under oxygen circumstances had been observed, and oxygen of thin film surface on cadmium telluride had been decreased with the treatment of chromate and hydrazine. As results had been shown that the energy conversion efficiency of cadmium telluride use by rapidly treatmented heat at the condition of $550^{\circ}C$ under air circumstance got 12.0%, 6.0% values according to $0.07cm^2$, $1.0cm^2$ surface area, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2015

Sodium borohydride, $NaBH_4$, shows a number of advantages as hydrogen source for portable proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). Properties of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis reaction using unsupported Co-B, Co-P-B catalyst were studied. BET surface area of catalyst, yield of hydrogen, effect of $NaBH_4$ concentration and durability of catalyst were measured. The BET surface area of unsupported Co-B catalyst was $75.7m^2/g$ and this value was 18 times higher than that of FeCrAlloy supported Co-B catalyst. The hydrogen yield of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis reaction by unsupported catalysts using 20~25 wt% $NaBH_4$ solution was 97.6~98.5% in batch reactor. The hydrogen yield decrease to 95.3~97.0% as the concentration of $NaBH_4$ solution increase to 30 wt%. The loss of unsupported catalyst was less than that of FeCrAlloy supported catalyst during $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis reaction and the loss increased with increasing of $NaBH_4$ concentration. In continuous reactor, hydrogen yield of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis was 90% using 1.2 g of unsupported Co-P-B catalyst with $3{\ell}/min$ hydrogen generation rate.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.641-646
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• 2018

Sodium borohydride, $NaBH_4$, shows a number of advantages as hydrogen source for portable proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Properties of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis reaction using activated carbon supported Co-B/C, Co-P-B/C catalyst were studied. BET surface area of catalyst, yield of hydrogen, effect of $NaBH_4$ concentration and durability of catalyst were measured. The BET surface area of carbon supported catalyst was over $500m^2/g$ and this value was 2~3 times higher than that of unsupported catalyst. Hydrogen generation of activated carbon supported catalyst was more stable than that of unsupported catalyst. The activation energy of Co-P-B/C catalyst was 59.4 kJ/mol in 20 wt% $NaBH_4$ and 14% lower than that of Co-P-B/FeCrAlloy catalyst. Catalyst loss on activated carbon supported catalyst was reduced to about 1/3~1/2 compared with unsupported catalyst, therefore durability was improved by supporting catalyst on activated carbon.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.160-170
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• 2019

The lactic acid bacteria species Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has been used extensively for vaccine delivery. Considering to the critical role of dendritic cells in stimulating host immune response, in this study, we constructed a novel CD11c-targeting L. plantarum strain with surface-displayed variable fragments of anti-CD11c, single-chain antibody (scFv-CD11c). The newly designed L. plantarum strain, named 409-aCD11c, could adhere and invade more efficiently to bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) in vitro due to the specific interaction between scFv-CD11c and CD11c located on the surface of BMDCs. After incubation with BMDCs, the 409-aCD11c strain harboring a eukaryotic vector pValac-GFP could lead to more efficient expression of GFP compared with wild-type strains shown by flow cytometry analysis, indicating the enhanced translocation of pValac-GFP from L. plantarum to BMDCs. Similar results were also observed in an in vivo study, which showed that oral administration resulted in efficient expression of GFP in both Peyer's patches (PP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) within 7 days after the last administration. In addition, the CD11c-targeting strain significantly promoted the differentiation and maturation of DCs, the differentiation of $IL-4^+$ and $IL-17A^+$ T helper (Th) cells in MLNs, as well as production of $B220^+$ $IgA^+$ B cells in the PP. In conclusion, this study developed a novel DC-targeting L. plantarum strain which could increase the ability to deliver eukaryotic expression plasmid to host cells, indicating a promising approach for vaccine study.