• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1349-1356
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• 2017

Potassium channel openers (KCOs) produce physiological and pharmacological defense mechanisms against cell injuries caused by oxidative stress of diverse origins. Openings of mitochondrial and plasmalemmal $K^+$ channels are involved in the defense mechanisms. This study tested whether NS 1619, an opener of large-conductance BK channels, has a similar beneficial influence on the pigment epithelial cells of retinas. The human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 was exposed to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in the absence and presence of NS 1619. The degrees of the cells' injuries were assessed by analyzing the cells' trypan-blue exclusion abilities and TUNEL staining. NS 1619 produced remarkable protections against cell injuries caused by $H_2O_2$. It prevented apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths. The protective effect of NS 1619 was significantly diminished when the cells were treated with NS 1619 in combination with the BK channel-blocker paxilline. NS 1619 significantly ameliorated cellular ATP deprivations in $H_2O_2$-treated cells. It helped mitochondria preserve their functional integrity, which was estimated by their MTT reduction abilities and mitochondrial membrane potential. In conclusion, it was suggested that NS 1619 had a beneficial effect on mitochondria in regards to preserving their functional integrity under oxidative stress, and it produces defense mechanisms against oxidant-induced cell injuries in ARPE-19 cells.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.119-133
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• 1998

Attentional processes facilitate cognitive and behavioral performance in several ways. Attention serves to reduce the amount of information to receive. Attention enables humans to direct themselves to appropriate aspects of external environmental events and internal operations. Attention facilitates the selection of salient information and the allocation of cognitive processing appropriate to that information. Attention is not a unitary process that can be localized to a single neuroanatomical region. Before the cortical registration of sensory information, activation of important subcortical structures occurs, which is called as an orienting response. Once sensory information reaches the sensory cortex, a large number of perceptual processes occur, which provide various levels of perceptual resolution of the critical features of the stimuli. After this preattentional processing, information is integrated within higher cortical(heteromodal) systems in inferior parietal and temporal lobes. At this stage, the processing characteristics can be modified, and the biases of the system have a direct impact on attentional selection. Information flow has been traced through sensory analysis to a processing stage that enables the new information to be focused and modified in relation to preexisting biases. The limbic and paralimbic system play significant roles in modulating attentional response. It is labeled with affective salience and is integrated according to ongoing pressures from the motivational drive system of the hypothalamus. The salience of information greatly influences the allocation of attention. The frontal lobe operate response selection system with a reciprocal interaction with both the attention system of the parietal lobe and the limbic system. In this attentional process, the search with the spatial field is organized and a sequence of attentional responses is generated. Affective, motivational and appectitive impulses from limbic system and hypothalamus trigger response intention, preparation, planning, initiation and control of frontal lobe on this process. The reticular system, which produces ascending activation, catalyzes the overall system and increases attentional capacity. Also additional energetic pressures are created by the hypothalamus. As psychophysiological measurement, skin conductance, pupil diameter, muscle tension, heart rate, alpha wave of EEG can be used. Event related potentials also provide physiological evidence of attention during information process. NI component appears to be an electrophysiological index of selective attention. P3 response is developed during the attention related to stimulus discrimination, evaluation and response.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.228-242
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• 2016

This research was conducted for understanding the evergreen forest community structure of the Bijin Island. The island was worth of vegetational value because of the representative warm temperate species such as Castanopsis cuspidata was distribute there. According to the results of community classification by TWINSPAN and DCA, the Bijin Island evergreen forest were classified by 9 communities, such as C. cuspidata, C. cuspidata-Pinus thunbergii, Neolitsea sericea-Camellia japonica, Platycarya strobilacea, Quercus serrata-Decidus broad-leaved, Alnus firma, P. thunbergii. Due to the C. cuspidata, N. sericea, Ca. japonica etc. were still dominated at canopy and under-canopy layer, so the evergreen forest will be sustain current conditions for a while if there is no artificial disturbances that were caused by human. Pl. strobilacea community will be expected to replace N. sericea and also Q. serrata-Decidus broad-leaved community will be changing caused by mutual competition. Normally, in the way of the succession process of the warm temperate forest, P. thunbergii will be expect via deciduous broad-leaved to evergreen forest such as Machilus thunbergii, C. cuspidata var. sieboldii, and N. sericea. In case of species diversity index, P. thunbergii comm.(1.2739), Q. serrata-Decidus broad-leaved comm.(1.2325), Decidus broad-leaved comm.(1.1807), and A. firma comm.(1.0854) are relatively high, while C. cuspidata and N. sericea-Ca. japonica that was dominated by evergreen species at canopy layer and P. thunbergii that was damaged by fire are relatively low(0.7380~0.8416). Soil pH was 4.72~6.33, electric conductance was 0.035~0.128dS/m, and content of organic matter was 3.4~17.4%.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.539-546
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• 1994

The critical micelle concentration(CMC) and the counterion binding $constant(\beta)$ at the CMC of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) in a series of aqueous solutions containing medium chain-length n-alcohols(Propanol, Butanol, Pentanol and Hexanol) have been determined from the concentration dependence of electrical conductance at serveral temperature from $17^{\circ}C\;to\;41^{\circ}C.$ Thermodynamic parameters $({\Delta}G^o_m,\;{\Delta}H^o_m,\;{\Delta}S^o_m,\;and\;{\Delta}C_p)$ associated with micelle formation of CTAB have been also estimated from the temperature dependence of CMC and $\beta$ values, and the significance of these parameters and their relation to the theory of micelle formation have been considered. The results show that an enthalpy-entropy compensation effect is usually observed for the micellization of CTAB. The effects of n-alcohols on the micellar properties (CMC and $\beta$) of CTAB solutions have been also investigated. The addition of n-alcohol to the CTAB solution in a small quantity decreases the CMC value and the counterion binding constant $(\beta)$ at the CMC, but the addition of n-alcohol in an excessive quantity increases the CMC values on the conterary. These results have been explained in terms of the effect of the micelle-solubilized alcohol on the micellar surface charge density.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.804-810
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• 2015

Salvia miltiorrhiza has been used for treating heart and liver disease. In the present study, the influences of temperature on photosynthetical capacity of S. miltiorrhiza under controlled cultivation environment using growth chamber were investigated because of providing information about growth and secondary metabolite synthesis. And effect of harvesting time on growth properties and constituents such as salvianolic acid B, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA were evaluated. Maximum photosynthesis rate ($5.102{\mu}mol\;CO2/m2/s$) and net apparent quantum yield ($0.147{\mu}mol\;CO2/m2/s$), stomatal conductance (0.035 mmol/m2/s) and water use efficiency ($7.108{\mu}mol\;CO2/mmol\;H2O$) was highest at $20^{\circ}C$. Results of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that elevated temperature had contributed to reduce a quantum yield and electron flux in photosystem. This result demonstrated that favorable temperature condition was determined at $20^{\circ}C$. Contents of salvianolic acid B, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA was highest in root sample harvested at 20 March, whereas growth and yield of S. miltiorrhiza had no significant differences with harvesting time. Therefore, this study shows that temperature play an important role in photosynthetic activity and harvesting time have influence upon accumulation of constituents in root of S. miltiorrhiza.

• Clean Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2007

The indium tin oxide(ITO) film on PET was prepared by a wet coating method to obtain the transparent film with a high conductance. ITO nano-particles was synthesized by a SAS method at 15 MPa and $50^{\circ}C$, where optimized rate of In/Sn was 65. Average diameter and resistivity of ITO obtained from SAS are $15{\pm}2\;nm$ and $4{\times}10^4\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$. Coating solution was prepared at pH 10. The ITO film was obtained by solution including 0.1 0.5, 1, and 2 ITO wt% on PET. Roughness(Ra) of ITO film with 0.1, 0.5, 1. and 2 ITO wt% is 4, 10, 12, and 16 nm. Resistivity with an increasing ITO concentration is $3.7{\times}10^6,\;2.4{\times}10^6,\;8{\times}10^5,\;and\;2{\times}10^5\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$. Transmissivity of ITO film decreased as 89, 88, 86, and 82% with an increasing ITO concentration as 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.267-273
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• 2003

We have investigated the effect on inducing substate(s) of positively charged residues replaced in position 172 of the second transmembrane domain in murine inward rectifier potassium channels, formed by stable or transient transfection of Kir2.1 gene in MEL or CHO cells. Single channel recordings were obtained from either cell-attached patches or inside-out patches excised into solution containing 10 mM EDTA to rule out the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ on the channel gating. The substate(s) could be recorded with all mutants D172H, D172K and D172R. The unitary current-voltage (I-V) relation was not linear with D172H at $pH_i$ 6.3, whereas the unitary I-V relation was linear at $pH_i$ 8.0. The relative occupancy at $S_{LC}$ was increased from 0.018 at $pH_i$ 8.0 to 0.45 at $pH_i$ 5.5. In H-N dimer, that was increased from 0.016 at $pH_i$ 8.0 to 0.23 at $pH_i$ 5.5. The larger the size of the side chain or $pK_a$ with mutants (D172H, D172K and D172R), the more frequent the transitions between the fully open state and substate within an opening. The conductance of the substate also depended upon the pKa or the size of the side chain. The relative occupancy at substate $S_{LC}$ with monomer D172K (0.50) was less than that in K-H dimer (0.83). However, the relative occupancy at substate with D172R (0.79) was similar to that with R-N dimer (0.82). In the contrary to ROMK1, positive charge as well as negative charge in position 172 can induce the substate rather than block the pore in murine Kir2.1. The single channel properties of the mutant, that is, unitary I-V relation, the voltage dependence of the mean open time and relative occupancy of the substates and the increased latency to the first opening, explain the intrinsic gating observed in whole cell recordings.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2013

The calcium-activated $K^+$ ($BK_{Ca}$) channel is one of the potassium-selective ion channels that are present in the nervous and vascular systems. $Ca^{2+}$ is the main regulator of $BK_{Ca}$ channel activation. The $BK_{Ca}$ channel contains two high affinity $Ca^{2+}$ binding sites, namely, regulators of $K^+$ conductance, RCK1 and the $Ca^{2+}$ bowl. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA, 1-radyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphate) is one of the neurolipids. LPA affects diverse cellular functions on many cell types through G protein-coupled LPA receptor subtypes. The activation of LPA receptors induces transient elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels through diverse G proteins such as $G{\alpha}_{q/11}$, $G{\alpha}_i$, $G{\alpha}_{12/13}$, and $G{\alpha}s$ and the related signal transduction pathway. In the present study, we examined LPA effects on $BK_{Ca}$ channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes, which are known to endogenously express the LPA receptor. Treatment with LPA induced a large outward current in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner. However, repeated treatment with LPA induced a rapid desensitization, and the LPA receptor antagonist Ki16425 blocked LPA action. LPA-mediated $BK_{Ca}$ channel activation was also attenuated by the PLC inhibitor U-73122, $IP_3$ inhibitor 2-APB, $Ca^{2+}$ chelator BAPTA, or PKC inhibitor calphostin. In addition, mutations in RCK1 and RCK2 also attenuated LPA-mediated $BK_{Ca}$ channel activation. The present study indicates that LPA-mediated activation of the $BK_{Ca}$ channel is achieved through the PLC, $IP_3$, $Ca^{2+}$, and PKC pathway and that LPA-mediated activation of the $BK_{Ca}$ channel could be one of the biological effects of LPA in the nervous and vascular systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.414-422
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to find optimal water condition of containerized seedling production of two tropical species for high seedling quality. This study was conducted to investigate photosynthesis, water use efficiency(WUE), Stomatal conductance(gs) and growth performances of containerized seedlings of Eucalyptus pellita and Acacia mangium growing under three different irrigation periods (1 time/1 day, 1 time/2 days and 1 time/3 days). E. pellita showed outstanding photosynthetic capacities at 1time/1day irrigation and A. mangium showed good photosynthetic capacity at all treatments. As irrigation period were shortened, gs of two species increased, while WUE of two species decreased. Root collar diameter and height of two species were the highest at 1 time/1 day irrigation, while the lowest at 1 time/3 days irrigation. As irrigation period were shortened, H/D ratio, biomass and seedling quality index (DQI) of two species increased but T/R ratio of two species showed the opposite tendency. These results showed that 1 time/1 day irrigation is optimal water condition of containerized seedling production of two tropical species and irrigation controlling is very important for growth and seedling quality of containerized seedling.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.919-925
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• 2011

A new series of manganese(II), iron(III) and cobalt(III) complexes of 14-membered macrocyclic ligand, (3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaazabicyclo[6.6.6]icosane-1,8-diamine) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV-VIS, $^1H$- and $^{13}C$- NMR spectra, magnetic susceptibilities, conductivities, and ESR measurements. Molar conductance measurements in DMF solution indicate that the complexes are electrolytes. The ESR spectrum for cobalt(III) complex in $CD_3OD+10%D_2O$ after exposure to $^{60}Co-{\gamma}$-rays at 77 K using a 0.2217 M rad $h^{-1}$ vicrad source showed $g_{\perp}$ > $g_{\parallel}$ > $g_e$, indicating that, the unpaired electron site is mainly present in the $d_z2$ orbital with covalent bond character. In this case, the ligand hyperfine tensors are nearly collinear with ${\gamma}$-tensors, so there is no major tendency to bend. Therefore, little extra delocalization via the ring lobe of the $dz^2$ orbital occurs. However, the ESR spectrum in solid state after exposure to $^{60}Co-{\gamma}$-rays at 77 K showed $g_{\parallel}$ > $g_{\perp}$ > $g_e$, indicating that, the unpaired electron site is mainly present in the $d_x2_{-y}2$ ground state as the resulting spectrum contains a large number of randomly oriented molecules provided that, the principle directions of g and A tensors. Manganese (II) complex 2, $[H_{12}LMn]Cl_4.2H_2O$, showed six isotropic lines characteristic to an unpaired electron interacting with a nucleus of spin 5/2, however, iron(III) complex 3, $[H_{12}LFe]Cl_5.H_2O$, showed spectrum of a high spin $^{57}Fe$ (I=1/2), $d^5$ configuration. The geometry of these complexes was supported by elemental analyses, IR, electronic and ESR spectral studies. Complex 1 showed exploitation in reducing the amount of electron adducts formed in DNA during irradiation with low radiation products.