• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.46-46
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• 2003

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix has been used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases in oriental medicine. To investigate the possible involvement of cardiac ion channel in this effect, we examined electrophysiological effects of the extract of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix on action potentials and ionic currents in rat ventricular myocytes. The extracts of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix were fractionated into nine fractions, and the effect of each fraction on action potential was tested. The fraction containing monomethyl lithospermic acid-A (LSA-A) induced a significant prolongation of action potential duration (APD). LSA-B which is a major component of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, however, did not cause a significant effect. In voltage clamp experiments, the effects of LSA-A on K currents, Ca currents and Na currents were tested. Neither K currents nor L-type Ca currents were affected by LSA-A. On the contrary, LSA-A significantly slowed down the inactivation kinetics of the Na current with no effect on the fast component of the inactivation process. The amplitude of the peak current and the voltage-dependence of activation were not changed by LSA-A. The effect of LSA-A on Na current was abolished when high concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ buffer (10 mM BAPTA) was included in the pipette solution or when Ca2+ current was blocked by nicardipine (1 $\mu$M) in the bath solution.n.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.285-289
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• 2011

Shilajit, a medicine herb commonly used in Ayurveda, has been reported to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form that act on a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) are involved in orofacial nociceptive processing. Shilajit has been reported to be an injury and muscular pain reliever but there have been few functional studies of the effect of Shilajit on the SG neurons of the Vc. Therefore, whole cell and gramicidin-perfotrated patch clamp studies were performed to examine the action mechanism of Shilajit on the SG neurons of Vc from mouse brainstem slices. In the whole cell patch clamp mode, Shilajit induced short-lived and repeatable inward currents under the condition of a high chloride pipette solution on all the SG neurons tested. The Shilajit-induced inward currents were concentration dependent and maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a voltage gated $Na^+$ channel blocker, CNQX, a non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, and AP5, an NMDA receptor antagonist. The Shilajit-induced responses were partially suppressed by picrotoxin, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and totally blocked in the presence of strychnine, a glycine receptor antagonist, however not affected by mecamylamine hydrochloride (MCH), a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Under the potassium gluconate pipette solution at holding potential 0 mV, Shilajit induced repeatable outward current. These results show that Shilajit has inhibitory effects on the SG neurons of Vc through chloride ion channels by activation of the glycine receptor and $GABA_A$ receptor, indicating that Shilajit contains sedating ingredients for the central nervous system. These results also suggest that Shilajit may be a potential target for modulating orofacial pain processing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2010

Silicate-silsesquioxane or siloxane-silsesquioxane hybrid thin films are strong candidates as matrix materials for ultra low dielectric constant (low-k) thin films. We synthesized the silicate-silsesquioxane hybrid resins from tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) through hydrolysis and condensation polymerization by changing their molar ratios ([TEOS]:[MTMS] = 7:3, 5:5, and 3:7), spin-coating on Si(100) wafers. In the case of [TEOS]:[MTMS] 7:3, the dielectric permittivity value of the resultant thin film was measured at 4.30, exceeding that of the thermal oxide (3.9). This high value was thought to be due to Si-OH groups inside the film and more extensive studies were performed in terms of electronic, ionic, and orientational polarizations using Debye equation. The relationship between the mechanical properties and the synthetic conditions of the silicate-silsesquioxane precursors was also investigated. The synthetic conditions of the low-k films have to be chosen to meet both the low orientational polarization and high mechanical properties requirements. In addition, we have investigated a new solution-based approach to the synthesis of semiconducting chalcogenide films for use in thin-film transistor (TFT) devices, in an attempt to develop a simple and robust solution process for the synthesis of inorganic semiconductors. Our material design strategy is to use a sol-gel reaction to carry out the deposition of a spin-coated CdS film, which can then be converted to a xerogel material. These devices were found to exhibit n-channel TFT characteristics with an excellent field-effect mobility (a saturation mobility of ${\sim}\;48\;cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$) and low voltage operation (< 5 V). These results show that these semiconducting thin film materials can be used in low-cost and high-performance printable electronics.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.252-262
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• 2019

A sulfonated star branched poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) triblock copolymer (SSBS) was synthesized with varying degrees of sulfonation. The effective sulfonation on the butadiene block was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Ion exchange capacity by titration was used to determine the degree of sulfonation. The synthesized polymer observed enhanced water uptake and proton conductivity. At room temperature, the SSBS with 25 mol% degree of sulfonation showed an outstanding proton conductivity of 0.114 S/cm, similar to that of commercial membrane, Nafion. The effect of temperature at constant relative humidity on conductivity resulted to a remarkable increase in proton conductivity. Methanol permeability studies showed a value lower than Nafion for all the sulfonated membranes. Structural nature observed using AFM showed that the membranes observed microphase separated nanostructures and the connectivity of the interionic channels.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 1995

The effect of operating conditions on separation of soybean proteins in a home-made free-flow electrophoresis apparatus was investigated. Measurement of the pH, conductivity, and UV-absorbance(280 nm) were carried out at each run and the purity of the sample was tested with SDS-PAGE analysis. The soybean extract pretreated with Tris and boric acid was mixed with the amino acids composed of glutamic acid, histidine, arginine, glycine(1 mM each) with glycyl-glycine(2mM) and KCl(1mM). When the cellulose acetate was used as a compartment between the electrode and the buffer solution in the cell, pH distribution in the separation cell varied from 3.0 at the anodic side to 8.0 at the cathodic side and had two inflection point. The applied voltage was from 300V to 1000V and the separation was better at a higher voltage but the voltage was limited by the capability of the cooling system due to Joule heat. The proteins focused near the middle of the channel. From the change of pH and conductivity it was found that the ions in the channel moved out to the electrodes through the membrane. In the case when the concentration of the buffer solution was increased 5 times, proteins were focused at 300V. We could not increase up to the ten times of the concentration since the temperature difference between inlet and outlet was more than $25^{\circ}C$ and denaturation of proteins was expected. When ion-exchange membranes were used U-type pH distribution was set up due to the ionic polarization near the membrane. The commercial ampholytes, instead of the mixed amino acids showed not much improvements in purity of the separated sample.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

The layers of keratinocytes form an acid mantle on the surface of the skin. Herein, we investigated the effects of acidic pH on the membrane current and $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ of human primary keratinocytes from foreskins and human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Acidic extracellular pH ($pH_e{\leq}5.5$) activated outwardly rectifying $Cl^-$ current ($I_{Cl,pH}$) with slow kinetics of voltage-dependent activation. $I_{Cl,pH}$ was potently inhibited by an anion channel blocker 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS, 73.5% inhibition at 1${\mu}$M). $I_{Cl,pH}$ became more sensitive to $pH_e$ by raising temperature from $24^{circ}C$ to $37^{circ}C$. HaCaT cells also expressed $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ current ($I_{Cl,Ca}$), and the amplitude of $I_{Cl,Ca}$ was increased by relatively weak acidic $pH_e$ (7.0 and 6.8). Interestingly, the acidic $pH_e$ (5.0) also induced a sharp increase in the intracellular [$Ca^{2+}$] (${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$) of HaCaT cells. The ${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$ was independent of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, and was abolished by the pretreatment with PLC inhibitor, U73122. In primary human keratinocytes, 5 out of 28 tested cells showed ${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$. In summary, we found $I_{Cl,pH}$ and ${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$ in human keratinocytes, and these ionic signals might have implication in pathophysiological responses and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.280-289
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• 1998

Voltage-sensitive ion channels contribute to establishment of the cell excitablity and the generation of the cellular function. At hamster oocytes in the primitive stage during developing process, an inward current elicited by voltage pulses was found to be carried mainly by $Ca^{2+}$. Even at present, $Ca^{2+}$ channels serve as the most probable route to pass this inward current but there is no evidence of the presence of this channels in eggs. To date, both the characteristic properties and the physiological role in the early stage of development remain unclear. Here we examined the characteristic properties of the inward current and changes in this currents at unfertilized oocytes, fertilized zygotes and two-cell embryos using whole-cell voltage clamp technique. The inward current carried reportedly by $Ca^{2+}$ was remained following removing external $Ca^{2+}$ but completely abolished by further replacement of impermeants such as tetramethylammonium ion ($TMA^+$) or $choline^+$ instead of $[Na^+]_0$. Tetrodotoxin did not affect on this inward current remained at $[Ca^{2+}]_0$-free condition. Removal of $Na^+$ ion out of the experimental solution clearly decreased the current. After adding 2mM $Ca^{2+}$ to the $Na^+$-free media, the inward current was restored. Interestingly, this current carried by either $Ca^{2+}$ or $Na^+$ was decreased by the reduction of intracellular $Cl^-$ concentration, or by $Cl^-$ channel blockers such as niflumic acid, DIDS and SITS. When $Cl^-$ concentration was lowered without changes in other ionic components, this inward current was reduced. At fertilized oocytes and two-cell embryos, the inward current carried by $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ was severely reduced. Also $Cl^-$ component could not be observed. From these results, the inward current is composed of $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ component, suggesting that the channel carrying this inward current is not selective specifically to $Ca^{2+}$. During early stage of development, the voltage-sensitive ion current seems not to contribute essentially to the cell cleavage and differentiation. The loss of $Cl^-$ component after fertilization suggests that $Cl^-$ may play a role in maintaining the viability of unfertilized ova.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2000

It has been reported that plasma membrane activity of the spermatozoa may be susceptible to be influenced by extracellular osmolality and such membranous changes involve infracellular molecular changes, special regard to the structure of membranous lipids, and the accompanying ion-channel of which are closely related with their fluidity of $Ca^{2+}$ and HCO$^{-}_{3}$. It is of common recognition that a certain kind of sterol acceptor player an important to induce lipid fluctuation of the sperm plasma membrane which have been influenced by BSA administration and came in effect to outflow of cholesterol from the spermatozoa and resulted in changes of ionic fluidity to facilitate adenylyl cyclase, and to induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation by increase of cAMP and activation of PKA. Thus it seems likely that an augmentation of the acrosomal reaction is closely related with protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The following experimental results were obtained in the present study; Under the high osmolality conditions, the spermatozoa motility declined significantly and the structural change of the plasma membrane diminished to confirm that the response degrees to the osmolality depended upon the water transfer volume through the plasma membrane and the changes of cellular volume. Those experimental results suggest that a physiological parameter such as low temperature condition played an important role for presentation of spermatozoa and that inducement of spermatozoa activation for reinforcement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. On the other hand, it seemed likely that the BSA administration as one of sterol accepters might represent a key role also under the high osmolality condition and their result also suggests that osmolality change, special regard to high osmolality condition may play an important role also in the processes of signal transmission.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.337-350
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• 2016

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (LIBs) have garnered increasing attention with the rapid advancements in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage systems which are expected to drastically change our future lives. This review describes a separator membrane, one of the key components in LIBs, in terms of porous structure and physicochemical properties, and its recent development trends are followed. The separator membrane is a kind of porous membrane that is positioned between a cathode and an anode. Its major functions involve electrical isolation between the electrodes while serving as an ionic transport channel that is filled with liquid electrolyte. The separator membranes are not directly involved in redox reactions of LIBs, however, their aforementioned roles significantly affect performance and safety of LIBs. A variety of research approaches have been recently conducted in separator membranes in order to further reinforce battery safeties and also widen chemical functionalities. This review starts with introduction to commercial polyolefin separators that are currently most widely used in LIBs. Based on this understanding, modified polyolefin separators, nonwoven separators, ceramic composite separators, and chemically active separators will be described, with special attention to their relationship with future research directions of advanced LIBs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.305-312
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• 1996

Cell volume regulatory mechanisms are usually disclosed by exposure of cell to anisotonic media. If a cell is suddenly exposed to hypotonic media, it swells initially like an osmometer but within minutes regains its original cell volume. This behavior has been labelled as regulatory cell volume decrease(RVD). RVD is believed to result from the loss of permeable ions through the membrane. In this study, we examined hypotonically induced changes in the membrance currents involved in RVD by using whole cell voltage clamp technique in the unfertilized hamster egg. At -40mV of the holding potential, the stationary current was maintained in the hamster egg exposed to isotonic solution composed of, mainly, 115mM NaCl and 40mM mannitol. Hypotonic solution was prepared by removing mannitol. Therefore, the concentrations of $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ in this hypotonic media were the same as those in the isotonic solution. Following 30 to 60 sec after applying the hypotonic media to the egg, the inward current was evoked. This inward current was eliminated by $100{\mu}M$ 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostil-bene-2,2'-disulfonic acid(SITS), an anion channel blocker, leaving the small outward current component. Further addition of 2mM $Ba^{2+}$, a broad $K^+$ channel blocker, completely abolished the small outward current left even in the presence of SITS during hypotonic stress. These results suggest that $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ move out of cells, resulting in RVD. To test the involvement of $Na^+$ in RVD, 20mM Na-isethionate was substituted for mannitol in isotonic media(135mM $Na^+$) and Na-isethionate (20mM) was freed the hypotonic solution. Only $Cl^-$ concentration in both isotonic and hypotonic media was kept constant at 115mM, whereas concentration of $Na^+$ was lowered in hypotonic solution to 115mM from 135mM in isotonic solution. Hypotonic medium induced the outward current in the egg equilibrated isotonically. This current was reduced by $100{\mu}M$ SITS but was augmented by 2 mM $Ba^{2+}$. In terms of RVD, these results imply that $Cl^-$ efflux is coupled with $K^+$, maybe for electroneutrality during hypotonic stress and/or with $Na^+$ via unknown transport mechanism(s). From the overall results, the hypotonic stress facilitates the movement of $Cl^-$ and $K^+$ out of the hamster egg to regain cellular volume with electroneutrality. If there exist a difference in $[Na^+]_0$ between isotonic and hypotonic solution, another transport mechanism concerned with $Na^+$ may, at least partly, participate in regulatory volume decrease.