• Title/Summary/Keyword: Ionic currents

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A study for gas distribution in separators of molten carbonate fuel cell (용융 탄산염 연료전지의 분리판 내 연료 분배 해석)

  • Park, Joonho;Cha, Suk Won
    • 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2011.11a
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    • pp.82.2-82.2
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    • 2011
  • A channel design which is closely related with the mass transport overpotential is one of the most important procedures to optimize the whole fuel cell performance. In this study, three dimensional results of a numerical study for gas distribution in channels of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) unit cell for a 1kW class stack was presented. The relationship between the fuel and air distribution in the anode and cathode channels of the unit cell and the electric performance was observed. A charge balance model in the electrodes and the electrolyte coupled with a heat transfer model and a fluid flow model in the porous electrodes and the channels was solved for the mass, momentum, energy, species and charge conservation. The electronic and ionic charge balance in the anode and cathode current feeders, the electrolyte and GDEs were solved for using Ohm's law, while Butler-Volmer charge transfer kinetics described the charge transfer current density. The material transport was described by the diffusion and convection equations and Navier-Stokes equations govern the flow in the open channel. It was assumed that heat is produced by the electrochemical reactions and joule heating due to the electrical currents.

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Simulation of ATP Metabolism in Cardiac Excitation - Contraction Coupling

  • Matsuoka, Satoshi;Sarai, Nobuaki;Jo, Hikari;Noma, Akinori
    • Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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    • 2003.06a
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    • pp.19-19
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    • 2003
  • We have developed a cardiac cell model (Kyoto Model) for the sinoatrial node and ventricle, which is composed of a common set of kinetic equations of membrane ionic currents, Ca$\^$2+/dynamics of sarcoplasmic reticulum and contractile protein. To expand this model by including metabolic pathways, the intracellular ATP metabolism, which is pivotal in cardiac excitation - contraction coupling, was incorporated. ATP consumption by the sarcolemmal Na$\^$+/ pump and the Ca pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum were calculated with stoichiometry of 3Na:2K:1ATP and 2Ca:1ATP, respectively. ATP consumption by contraction was estimated according to experimental data. Dependence of contraction on ATP and inorganic phosphate was modeled, based on data of skinned cardiac fiber. in production by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was modified from Korzeniewski '||'&'||' Zoladz (2001), and creatine kinase and adenylate kinase reactions were incorporated. ATP dependence of ATP-sensitive K channel and L type Ca channel were also included.

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Functional significance of rSK2 N-terminal region revealed by electrophysiology and Preliminary Structural Studies

  • Narae Shin;Kang, Gil-boo;Eom, Soo-Hyun;Park, Chul-Seung
    • Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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    • 2003.06a
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    • pp.41-41
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    • 2003
  • Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (or SKCa channels) are potassium selective, voltage-independent, and activated by intracellular calcium concentration. These channels play important roles in excitable cells such as neuron in the central nervous system (Vergara et al., 1998). The activity of SKCa channels underlies the slow afterhyperpolarization that inhibits neuronal cell firing (Hille, 1991; Vergara et al.,1998). Until now, N-terminal region of rSK2 isn't characterized. To study the role of N-terminus, we constructed the N-terminal deletion mutant and characterized by electrophysiological means. Interestingly, N-terminal deletion mutant be trafficked to membrane couldn't evoke any ionic currents. Thus, N-terminal region has a role in functional rSK2 channel formation. To elucidate the function of N-terminal region, (His)6-conjugated protein was purified and filtrated by affinity column chromatography. Surprisingly, N-terminal region was shown in tetramer size that was supported by cross-linking result. Thus, we predicted that N-terminal region might be involved in the tetramerization of rSK2.

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Underwater Discharge Phenomena in Inhomogeneous Electric Fields Caused by Impulse Voltages

  • Lee, Bok-Hee;Kim, Dong-Seong;Choi, Jong-Hyuk
    • Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.329-336
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    • 2010
  • The paper describes the electrical and optical properties of underwater discharges in highly inhomogeneous electric fields caused by 1.2/50 ${\mu}s$ impulse voltages as functions of the polarity and amplitude of the applied voltage, and various water conductivities. The electric fields are formed by a point-to-plane electrode system. The formation of air bubbles is associated with a thermal process of the water located at the tip of the needle electrode, and streamer coronas can be initiated in the air bubbles and propagated through the test gap with stepped leaders. The fastest streamer channel experiences the final jump across the test gap. The negative streamer channels not only have more branches but are also more widely spread out than the positive streamer channels. The propagation velocity of the positive streamer is much faster than that of the negative one and, in fact, both these velocities are independent of the water conductivity; in addition the time-lag to breakdown is insensitive to water conductivity. The higher the water conductivity the larger the pre-breakdown energy, therefore, the ionic currents do not contribute to the initiation and propagation of the underwater discharges in the test conditions considered.

Antagonists of Both D1 and D2 Mammalian Dopamine Receptors Block the Effects of Dopamine on Helix aspersa Neurons

  • Kim, Young-Kee;Woodruff, Michael L.
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.221-226
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    • 1995
  • Dopamine mediates inhibitory responses in Helix aspersa neurons from the right parietal lobe ("F-lobe") of the circumoesophageal ganglia. The effects appeared as a dose-dependent hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane and a decrease in the occurrence of spontaneous action potentials. The average hyperpolarization with 5 ${\mu}m$ dopamine was -12 mV (${\pm}1.5$mV, S.D., n=12). Dopamine also modulated the currents 'responsible for shaping the action potentials in these neurons. When dopamine was added and action potentials were triggered by an injection of current, the initial depolarization was slowed, the amplitude and the duration of action potentials were decreased, and the after-hyperpolarization was more pronounced. The amplitude and the duration of action potential were reduced about 15 mV and about 13% by 5 ${\mu}m$ dopamine, respectively. The effects of dopamine on the resting membrane potentials and the action potentials of Helix neurons were dose-dependent in the concentration range 0.1 ${\mu}m$ to 50 ${\mu}m$. In order to show 1) that the effects of dopamine were mediated by dopamine receptors rather than by direct action on ionic channels and 2) which type of dopamine receptor might be responsible for the various effects, we assayed the ability of mammalian dopamine receptor antagonists, SCH-23390 (antagonist of D1 receptor) and spiperone (antagonist of D2 receptor), to block the dopamine-dependent changes. The D1 and D2 antagonists partially inhibited the dopamine-dependent hyperpolarization and the decrease in action potential amplitude. They both completely blocked the decrease in action potential duration and the increase in action potential after-hyperpolarization. The dopamine-induced slowdown of the depolarization in the initial phase of the action potentials was less effected by SCH-23390 and spiperone. From the results we suggest 1) that Helix F-lobe neurons may have a single type of dopamine receptor that binds both SCH-23390 and spiperone and 2) that the dopamine receptor of Helix F-lobe neurons may be homologous with and primitive to the family of mammalian dopamine receptors.

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Effects of Bradykinin on Intracellular Calcium Transients in Cardiac Myocytes

  • Park, Choon-Ok;Kim, Yang-Mi;Han, Jae-Hee;Allen, David G.;Hong, Seong-Geun
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.3 no.6
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    • pp.615-621
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    • 1999
  • In spite many evidences has supported the cardioprotective effect of bradykinin, its direct effects at the cell level are still under question. We investigated the both effects of bradykinin (BK) on $Ca^{2+}-related$ ionic currents using whole cell voltage clamp technique in rabbit cardiomyocytes and on the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ transient using calcium sensitive fluorescence dye, indo-1AM. Simultaneously with recording intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ transients, cell contractility was estimated from the changes in length of the electrical stimulated rat cardiac myocytes. L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current decreased by bradykinin at the entire voltage range. Inward tail current increased initially up to its maximum about 4 min after exposing myocytes to BK, and then gradually decreased again by further exposure to BK. This tail current decreased remarkably at washing BK off but slowly recovered ca. 20 min later. The change in cell contractility was similar to that in tail current showing initial increase followed by gradual decrease. Removal of BK brought remarkable decrease in contractility, which was recovered $15{\sim}20$ min after cessation of electrical stimulation. Bradykinin increased $Ca^{2+}$ transient initially but after some time $Ca^{2+}$ transient also decreased coincidentally with contractility. From these results, it is suggested that bradykinin exerts directly its cardioprotective effect on the single myocytes by decreasing the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level followed by an initial increase in $Ca^{2+}$ transient.

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TASK-1 Channel Promotes Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Apoptosis

  • Yun, Ji-Hyun;Kim, Seung-Tae;Bang, Hyo-Weon
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.63-68
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    • 2005
  • Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) causes oxidative stress and is considered as an inducer of cell death in various tissues. Two-pore domain $K^+$ ($K_{2p}$) channels may mediate $K^+$ efflux during apoptotic volume decreases (AVD) in zygotes and in mouse embryos. In the present study, we sought to elucidate linkage between $K_{2p}$ channels and cell death by $H_2O_2$. Thus $K_{2p}$ channels (TASK-1, TASK-3, TREK-1, TREK-2) were stably transfected in HEK-293 cells, and cytotoxicity assay was preformed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell survival rates were calculated using the cytotoxicity assay data and dose-response curve was fitted to the $H_2O_2$ concentration. Ionic currents were recorded in cell-attached mode. The bath solution was the normal Ringer solution and the pipette solution was high $K^+$ solution. In HEK-293 cells expressing TREK-1, TREK-2, TASK-3, $H_2O_2$ induced cell death did not change in comparison to non-transfected HEK-293. In HEK-293 cells expressing TASK-1, however, dose-response curve was significantly shifted to the left. It means that $H_2O_2$ induced cell death was increased. In cell attached-mode recording, application of $H_2O_2$ (300μM) increased activity of all $K_{2p}$ channels. However, a low concentration of $H_2O_2$ ($50{\mu}M$) increased only TASK-1 channel activity. These results indicate that TASK-1 might participate in $K^+$ efflux by $H_2O_2$ at low concentration, thereby inducing AVD.

Electrochemical Properties of a Zirconia Membrane with a Lanthanum Manganate-Zirconia Composite Electrode and its Oxygen Permeation Characteristics by Applied Currents

  • Park, Ji Young;Jung, Noh Hyun;Jung, Doh Won;Ahn, Sung-Jin;Park, Hee Jung
    • Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.197-204
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    • 2019
  • An electrochemical oxygen permeating membrane (OPM) is fabricated using Zr0.895Sc0.095Ce0.005Gd0.005O2-δ (ScCeGdZ) as the solid electrolyte and aLa0.7Sr0.3MnO3-bScCeGdZ composite (LZab, electrode) as the electrode. The crystal phase of the electrode and the microstructure of the membrane is investigated with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical resistance of the membrane is examined using 2-p ac impedance spectroscopy, and LZ55 shows the lowest electrode resistance among LZ82, LZ55 and LZ37. The oxygen permeation is studied with an oxygen permeation cell with a zirconia oxygen sensor. The oxygen flux of the OPM with LZ55 is nearly consistent with the theoretical value calculated from Faraday's Law below a critical current. However, it becomes saturated above the critical current due to the limit of the oxygen ionic conduction of the OPM. The OPM with LZ55 has a very high oxygen permeation flux of ~ 3.5 × 10-6 mol/㎠s in I = 1.4 A/㎠.

Myocardial Preserving Effect of Fructose-1, 6-diphosphate in Isolated Rat Heart (적출된 쥐심장을 이용한 Fructose-1, 6 diphosphate의 심근보호 효과에 관한 실험)

  • 이철주;조수신;류재온;김문환;김세환;이익호;박소라;서창국
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.75-79
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    • 1993
  • Myocardial protection against ischemic and reperfusion injuries is still in troublesome eventhough couples of the way of myocardial protection have been applied since 1970's. One of the possibility in myocardial protection is adding Fructose-l,6-diphosphate(FDP) in cardioplegic solution. It is assumed that FDP can promote ATP production under anaerobic condition as well as inhibiting the supressing effect of lactate on phosphofructokinase. We compared the myocardial protecting effects of FDP in crystalloid cardioplegic solution (St. Thomas formula, 10$^{\circ}C$, pH = 7.4) and reperfusate using isolated rat hearts in modified Langendorf apparatus by the parameters of preischemic and post reperfusing heart rate, time to first beat, occurance of arrhythmia, time to stabilization, and the rate of left ventricular pressure developing. Group A (n = 10), containing no FDP in cardioplegic and reperfusing solutions was control. Group B (n = 5), containing FDP in cardioplegic solution, showed statistically significant superiority of postischemic left ventricular pressure development than the control group. Group C (n = 5), containing FDP in reperfusate, showed statistically significant myocardial depressing effect than the controls. Other parameters were unremarkable. The cause is uncertain, but it is assumed that the negative feedback inhibition of FDP in energy metabolism or unknown blocking effect of FDP on certain transmembrane ionic currents is present. In conclusion, 1) FDP in cardioplegic solution has beneficial effect on postischemic left ventricular preservation. 2) FDP is strong acid when is hydrolyzed, so precise acid titration is neccessary. 3) FDP in reperfusate has negative left ventricular preservation, otherwise the mechanism is still uncertain.

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A Study on the Behavior of Charged Particles of $(1-x)(SrPb)(CaMg)TiO_3-Bi_2O_3{\cdot}3TiO_2$ Ceramics ($(1-x)(SrPb)(CaMg)TiO_3-xBi_2O_3{\cdot}3TiO_2$ 세라믹의 하전입자 거동에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Chung-Hyeok;Choi, Woon-Shik;Jung, Il-Hyung;Chung, Kue-Hye;Lee, Joon-Ung
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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    • 1992.11a
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    • pp.34-37
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    • 1992
  • In this paper, the $(SrPb)(CaMg)TiO_3$-xBi_2O_3{\cdot}3TiO_2$ ceramics with paraelectric properties were fabricated by the mixed oxide method. In order to investigate the behavior of charged particles, the characteristics of electrical conduction and thermally stimulated current were measured respectively. As a result on characteristics of the electrical conduction, the leakage current was increased as measuring temperature was increased. At room temperature, the conduction current was divided into the three steps as a function of DC electric field. The first step was Ohmic region due to ionic conduction, below 15[kV/cm]. The second step was showed a saturation which seems to be related to a depolarizing field occuring in field-enforced ferroelectric phase, between 15[kV/cm] and 40[kV/cm]. The third step was attributed to Child's law related to spare charge which injected from electrode, above 40[kV/cm]. Thermally stimulated currents(TSC) spectra with various biasing fields exhibited three distinguished peaks that were denoted as ${\alpha}$, ${\alpha}'$ and ${\beta}$ peak, each of which appeared at nearby -30, 20 and 95[$^{\circ}C$] respectively. It is confirmed that the a peak was due to trap electron trapped in the grainboundary, and ${\alpha}'$ peak that was observed above only 1.5[kV/mm] was attributed to field-enforced ferroelectric polarization. The origin of ${\beta}$ peak was identified as ion migration which caused the degradation.

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