• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2020

Currently, increasing attention is being paid to relaxor-based ferroelectric single crystals in photoacoustic images, especially for high-end applications. Among the crystals are (1-x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPbTiO₃ (PMN-100xPT) single crystals located near their morphotropic phase boundary (x = 0.30-0.35) because of their ultrahigh piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling properties. The alternating current poling (ACP) treatment, rather than the conventional direct current poling treatment, has recently been spotlighted due to its effectiveness in enhancing the piezoelectric properties. So far, it has been suggested that the enhanced piezoelectricity originates from either a domain miniaturization to nanodomains or from an electric-field-induced monoclinic symmetry. In this study, we demonstrate by thermally stimulated depolarization current measurements that the effect of ACP is too complex to be explained using a single mechanism and that the proposed electric-field-induced monoclinic symmetry is unlikely to exist.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.338-348
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• 2000

The present study was attempted to determine the effect of 5'-(N'-ethylcarboxamido) adenosine (NECA), which is an potent $A_2$-adenosine receptor agonist, on catecholamine (CA) secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation, membrane depolarization and calcium mobilization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. NECA (20 nM) perfused into the adrenal vein for 60 min produced a time-related inhibition in CA secretion evoked by ACh (5.32x10$^{-3}$ M), high $K^{+}$(5.6x10$^{-2}$ M), DMPP (10$^{-4}$ M for 2 min), McN-A-343 (10$^{-4}$ M for 2 min), cyclopiazonic acid (10$^{-5}$ M for 4 min) and Bay-K-8644 (10$^{-5}$ M for 4 min). Also, in the presence of $\beta$,${\gamma}$-methylene adenosine-5'-triphosphate (MATP), which is also known to be a selective $P_{2x}$-purinergic receptor agonist, showed a similar inhibition elf CA release evoked by ACh, high potassium, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid. However, in adrenal glands preloaded with 20$\mu$M NECA for 20 min under the presence of 20$\mu$M 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), an adenosine receptors antagonist, CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high potassium, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were much recovered in comparison to the case of NECA-treatment only. Taken together, these results indicate that NECA causes the marked inhibition of CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as by membrane depolarization. This inhibitory effect may be mediated by inhibiting influx of extracellular calcium and release in intracellular calcium in the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells through the adenosine receptor stimulation. Therefore, it is suggested that the inhibitory mechanism of adenosine receptor stimulation may play a modulatory role in regulating CA secretion.n.n.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.125-130
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• 2005

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal proteins (tPMP) are antibacterial proteins released when platelets are stimulated by thrombin. It has been reported that tPMP has antibacterial activity against various bacterial species including causative agents of infective endocarditis. Most of the oral streptococci have resistance to the killing by tPMP and this fact may play an important role as a virulence factor in infective endocarditis. However, the susceptibility and resistance mechanism of oral streptococci for tPMP have not been revealed yet. In this study, the killing mechanism of tPMP for oral streptococci has been investigated. Streptococcus rattus BHT, a susceptible strain, and Streptococcus gordonii DL1, a resistant strain, have been used in this study. tPMP was isolated from platelet after stimulation with thrombin. Cell membrane depolarization was examined with 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine iodide ($DiSC_3$), membrane potential-sensitive cyanine dye, by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The permeabilization of cell membrane by tPMP was investigated with propidium iodide (PI) by flow cytometry. tPMP susceptible S. rattus BHT showed the increase of the $DiSC_3$ fluorescence level meaning depolarization of cell membrane and increase of the uptake of PI which means permeabilization of cell membrane. However, tPMP resistant S. gordonii DLI did not show depolarization and permeabilization. These results indicate that the increasing depolarization and permeabilization of oral streptococcal cell membrane are associated with the bactericidal activity of tPMP.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1912-1920
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• 2021

Objective: This study investigated the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on the motility parameters, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and ATP levels in chicken sperm. Methods: The pooled semen from Barred Plymouth Rock males was used. In the first experiment, the semen was diluted 4-times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS (-)) containing various concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mM) of 5-ALA, and then the sperm motility parameters after incubation were evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). In the second experiment, the semen was diluted 4-times with PBS (-) containing 0.05 mM 5-ALA, and then sperm mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ATP levels after 1.5 h of incubation were analyzed with the MitoPT^® JC-1 Assay and ATP Assay kits, respectively. In the third experiment, the semen was removed from the seminal plasma and resuspended with the mediums of PBS (-), PBS (-) supplemented with CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ (PBS (+)) + 5-ALA, PBS (+) + caffeine, and PBS (+) + caffeine + 5-ALA. Then, the sperm motility parameters after incubation were evaluated by CASA. In the last experiment, the semen was treated with the mediums of PBS (-), PBS (-) + 5-ALA, 5.7% glucose, 5.7% glucose + 5-ALA after removing the seminal plasma, and then the sperm motility parameters were evaluated by CASA. Results: The addition of 0.05 mM 5-ALA significantly increased the chicken sperm motility, progressive motility, linearity, average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, and the wobble. The sperm mitochondrial membrane depolarization was also increased by the 5-ALA treatment. The 5-ALA treatment decreased the sperm ATP levels. Both the caffeine treatment and glucose treatment decreased the sperm motility during incubation period. Conclusion: 5-ALA might increase sperm mitochondrial membrane depolarization to utilize the ATP for enhancing sperm movement.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.688-696
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• 2012

The particle depolarization ratios were retrieved from the observation with a multi-wavelength Raman lidar at Gwangju, Korea ($35.11^{\circ}N$, $126.54^{\circ}E$). The measurements were carried out on 24 February and 9 March 2004. Using the particle depolarization ratios, the non-dust aerosol particles were distinguished from the Asian dust plume, and the proportion of the non-dust particle to total dust plume was retrieved. The calculated proportion of the non-dust particle was used for the retrieval of backscatter coefficients at 355, 532, and 1064 nm and extinction coefficients at 355 and 532 nm of non-dust particles in the dust plume. Microphysical parameters of non-dust particles including single-scattering albedo at 532 nm were retrieved using retrieved optical values. The retrieved single-scattering albedo of non-dust particles was 0.92~0.95 below 1 km height and 0.82~0.91 above 1 km height on 24 February 2004 and $0.81{\pm}0.03$ on 9 March 2004.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.255-267
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• 2018

Inflammation is one of the main causes of pathologic pain. Knowledge of the molecular links between inflammatory signals and pain-mediating neuronal signals is essential for understanding the mechanisms behind pain exacerbation. Some inflammatory mediators directly modulate the excitability of pain-mediating neurons by contacting the receptor molecules expressed in those neurons. For decades, many discoveries have accumulated regarding intraneuronal signals from receptor activation through electrical depolarization for bradykinin, a major inflammatory mediator that is able to both excite and sensitize pain-mediating nociceptor neurons. Here, we focus on the final effectors of depolarization, the neuronal ion channels, whose functionalities are specifically affected by bradykinin stimulation. Particular G-protein coupled signaling cascades specialized for each specific depolarizer ion channels are summarized. Some of these ion channels not only serve as downstream effectors but also play critical roles in relaying specific pain modalities such as thermal or mechanical pain. Accordingly, specific pain phenotypes altered by bradykinin stimulation are also discussed. Some members of the effector ion channels are both activated and sensitized by bradykinin-induced neuronal signaling, while others only sensitized or inhibited, which are also introduced. The present overview of the effect of bradykinin on nociceptor neuronal excitability at the molecular level may contribute to better understanding of an important aspect of inflammatory pain and help future design of further research on the components involved and pain modulating strategies.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1991

For the observations of both the membrane properties and the excitability on the unfertilized eggs of female mice, changes of the membrane resistance and the membrane potential by hyerpolarizing current stimulation were recorded. As current-voltage relation was linear over the entire range (-180mV~+60mV), membrane resistance($R_m$) was calculated from the amplitude of electrotonic potential to a given stimulus current. Also the presence of anode-break excitation was confirmed. The results were as follows; 1. There was a linear relation between the membrane resistance and resting membrane potential, the expected input resistance was 61. 4M$\Omega$(resting membrane potential was $-18.9{\pm}8.7mV$, mean${\pm}$SD, n=30). 2. Transient depolarization with overshoot was generated just after hyperpolarizing current stimulus and showed the dependency of stimulus duration. 3. Transient depolarization lasted over 30ms, amplitude of these depolarization was increased by high $Ca^{{+}{+}}$(20mM) and inhibited by $Ca^{{+}{+}}$-antagonist, $Mn^{{+}{+}}$. 4. From the above results, it was suggested that the unfertilized mouse egg showed the characteristics of the excitable cell.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2010

We present linear particle depolarization ratios (LPDRs) retrieved from measurements with an AERONET Sun photometer at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Korea ($35.10^{/circ}N$, $126.53^{\circ}E$) between 19 October and 3 November 2009. The Sun photometer data were classified into three categories according to ${\AA}$ngstr$\ddot{o}$ exponent and size distribution: 1) pure Asian dust (19 October 2009), 2) Asian dust mixed with urban pollution observed in the period from 20-26 October 2009, and 3) clean conditions (3 November). We show that the LPDRs can be used to distinguish among Asian dust, mixed aerosol, and non-Asian dust in the atmosphere. The mean LPDR of the pure Asian dust case is 23 %. Mean LPDRs are 13 % for the mixed case. The lowest mean LPDR is 6 % in the clean case. We compare our results to vertically resolved LPDRs (at 532 nm) measured by a Raman LIDAR system at the same site. In most cases, we find good agreement between LPDRs derived with Sun photometer and measured by LIDAR.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2014

The Polarization and Depolarization Current (PDC) measurement is an efficient and effective diagnostic technique based on time domain measurement, for evaluating the high voltage insulation condition. This paper presents a review and comparison results from several published papers on the application of the PDC method to finding the conductivity and moisture content of various types of insulators. For solid insulation, the study was focused on cable insulation, electric machine stator insulation, and paper insulator in transformer insulation with different conditions. For liquid insulation, the review and comparison was done on biodegradable and mineral transformer oils, with fresh oil condition, and aged condition. The results from previous researchers tests were complied, analyzed and discussed, to evaluate the application of the PDC method to monitor the conductivity and moisture of HV equipment insulation systems. From the review results, the PDC technique successfully gives an indication of the conductivity and moisture level of high voltage insulation.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.2_1
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• pp.237-248
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• 2018

The vertical distribution of hydrometeor before precipitation near the cloud base has been analyzed using a scanning lidar, rawinsonde data, and Cloud-Resolving Storm Simulator (CReSS). This study mostly focuses on 13 Desember 2016 only. The typical synoptic pattern of lake-effect snowstorm induced easterly in the Yeongdong region. Clouds generated due to high temperature difference between 850 hPa and sea surface (SST) penentrated in the Yeongdong region along with northerly and northeasterly, which eventually resulted precipitation. The cloud base height before the precipitation changed from 750 m to 1,280 m, which was in agreement with that from ceilometer at Sokcho. However, ceilometer tended to detect the cloud base 50 m ~ 100 m below strong signal of lidar backscattering coefficient. As a result, the depolarization ratio increased vertically while the backscattering coefficient decreased about 1,010 m~1,200 m above the ground. Lidar signal might be interpreted to be attenuated with the penetration depth of the cloud layer with of nonspherical hydrometeor (snow, ice cloud). An increase in backscattering signal and a decrease in depolarization ratio occured in the layer of 800 to 1,010 m, probably being associated with an increase in non-spherical particles. There seemed to be a shallow liquid layer with a low depolarization ratio (<0.1) in the layer of 850~900 m. As the altitude increases in the 680 m~850 m, the backscattering coefficient and depolarization ratio increase at the same time. In this range of height, the maximum value (0.6) is displayed. Such a result can be inferred that the nonspherical hydrometeor are distributed by a low density. At this time, the depolarization ratio and the backscattering coefficient did not increase under observed melting layer of 680 m. The lidar has a disadvantage that it is difficult for its beam to penetrate deep into clouds due to attenuation problem. However it is promising to distinguish hydrometeor morphology by utilizing the depolarization ratio and the backscattering coefficient, since its vertical high resolution (2.5 m) enable us to analyze detailed cloud microphysics. It would contribute to understanding cloud microphysics of cold clouds and snowfall when remote sensings including lidar, radar, and in-situ measurements could be timely utilized altogether.