• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 2004

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells in gastrointestinal tract and generate electrical rhythmicity in gastrointestinal muscles. Therefore, ICC may be modulated by endogenous agents such as neurotransmitter, hormones, and prostaglandins (PGs). In the present study, we investigated the effects of prostaglandins, especially $PGE_2$, on pacemaker currents in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine by using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ICCs generated spontaneous slow waves under voltage-clamp conditions and showed a mean amplitude of $-452{\pm}39\;pA$ and frequency of $18{\pm}2$ cycles/min (n=6). Treatments of the cells with $PGE_2$ $(1\;{\mu}M)$ decreased both the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents and increased the resting currents in the outward direction. $PGE_2$ had only inhibitory effects on pacemaker currents and this inhibitory effect was dose-dependent. For characterization of specific membrane EP receptor subtypes, involved in the effects of $PGE_2$ on pacemaker currents in ICCs, EP receptor agonists were used: Butaprost $(1\;{\mu}M)$, $EP_2$ receptor agonist, reduced the spontaneous inward current frequency and amplitude in cultured ICCs (n=5). However sulprostone $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a mixed $EP_1$ and $EP_3$ agonist, had no effects on the frequency, amplitude and resting currents of pacemaker currents (n=5). SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) and ODQ (an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) had no effects on $PGE_2$ actions of pacemaker currents. These observations indicate that $PGE_2$ alter directly the pacemaker currents in ICCs, and that the $PGE_2$ receptor subtypes involved are the $EP_2$ receptor, independent of cyclic AMP- and GMP-dependent pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 2003

Using phospholipase D1 (PLD1)-overexpressing PC12 (PLD1-PC12) cells, the regulatory roles of PLD1 on ATP-induced currents were investigated. In control and PLD1-PC12 cells, ATP increased PLD activity in an external $Ca^{2+}$ dependent manner. PLD activity stimulated by ATP was substantially larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. In whole-cell voltage-clamp mode, ATP induced transient inward and outward currents. The outward currents inhibited by TEA or charybdotoxin were significantly larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. The inward currents known as $Ca^{2+}$ permeable nonselective cation currents were also larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. However, the difference between the two groups of cells disappeared in $Ca^{2+}$-free external solution, where ATP did not activate PLD. Finally, ATP-induced $^{45}Ca$ uptakes were also larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. These results suggest that PLD enhances ATP-induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ permeable nonselective cation channels and increases subsequent $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ currents in PC12 cells.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.302-310
• /
• 2008

In order to evaluate the nominal rating of breakers in distribution system due to the increased capacity and operating conditions of power transformers in 154 kV substation, the fault currents in distribution system were calculated by the conventional method and simulations of PSCAD/EMTDC program. Consequently, under the condition of the parallel operation of transformers, the fault currents exceed the nominal current of the breakers in some areas. Without NGR at the secondary neutral of the transformer, the current of single line-to-ground fault was bigger than that of 3-phase fault. Therefore, the results clearly show that the measures to limit the fault currents in distribution system are needed when the increased capacity of power transformers is introduced into 154 kV substation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.1223-1232
• /
• 2014

Density currents have been easily observed in environmental flows, for instance turbidity currents and pollutant plumes in the oceans and rivers. In this study, we explored the propagation dynamics of density currents using the FLOW-3D computational fluid dynamics code. The renormalization group (RNG) $k-{\varepsilon}$ scheme, a turbulence numerical technique, is employed in a Reynold-averaged Navier-Stokes framework (RANS). The numerical simulations focused on two different types of intrusive density flows: (1) propagating into a two-layer ambient fluid; (2) propagating into a linearly stratified fluid. In the study of intrusive density flows into a two-layer ambient fluid, intrusive speeds were compared with laboratory experiments and analytical solutions. The numerical model shows good quantitative agreement for predicting propagation speed of the density currents. We also numerically reproduced the effect of the ratio of current depth to the overall depth of fluid. The numerical model provided excellent agreement with the analytical values. It was also clearly demonstrated that RNG $k-{\varepsilon}$ scheme within RANS framework is able to accurately simulate the dynamics of density currents. Simulations intruding into a continuously stratified fluid with the various buoyancy frequencies are carried out. These simulations demonstrate that three different propagation patterns can be developed according to the value of $h_n/H$ : (1) underflows developed with $h_n/H=0$ ; (2) overflows developed when $h_n/H=1$ ; (3) intrusive interflow occurred with the condition of 0 < $h_n/H$ < 1.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
• /
• v.25 no.1_2
• /
• pp.51-66
• /
• 2007

A layer of compressible, rotating, elastica-viscous fluid heated & soluted from below is considered in the presence of vertical magnetic field to include the effect of Hall currents. Dispersion relation governing the effect of viscoelasticity, salinity gradient, rotation, magnetic field and Hall currents is derived. For the case of stationary convection, the Rivlin-Erickson fluid behaves like an ordinary Newtonian fluid. The compressibility, stable solute gradient, rotation and magnetic field postpone the onset of thermosolutal instability whereas Hall currents are found to hasten the onset of thermosolutal instability in the absence of rotation. In the presence of rotation, Hall currents postpone/hasten the onset of instability depending upon the value of wavenumbers. Again, the dispersion relation is analyzed numerically & the results depicted graphically. The stable solute gradient and magnetic field (and corresponding Hall currents) introduce oscillatory modes in the system which were non-existent in their absence. The case of overstability is discussed & sufficient conditions for non-existence of overstability are derived.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.595-600
• /
• 2016

In this paper, the oxide currents of thin silicon oxides is investigated. The oxide currents associated with the on time of applied voltage were used to measure the distribution of voltage stress induced traps in thin silicon oxide films. The stress induced leakage currents were due to the charging and discharging of traps generated by stress voltage in the silicon oxides. The stress induced leakage current will affect data retention in memory devices. The oxide current for the thickness dependence of stress current and stress induced leakage currents has been measured in oxides with thicknesses between $109{\AA}$, $190{\AA}$, $387{\AA}$, and $818{\AA}$ which have the gate area $10^{-3}cm^2$. The oxide currents will affect data retention and the stress current, stress induced leakage current is used to estimate to fundamental limitations on oxide thicknesses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 1994

This study was carried out to elucidate the excitatory mechanisms of Substance P in the antral circular muscle, using isometric contraction recording, conventional microelectrode method and whole-cell patch clamp technique. Substance P produced tonic and phasic contractions in a dose-dependent manner and depolarized membrane potential with increased amplitude of slow waves in muscle strips. Voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ currents were increased by the application of Substance P from a holding potential of -60mV to 50mV in 10mV steps and this effect was blocked by the addition of an antagonist. Also Substance P increased transient and spontaneous oscillatory $K^+$ outward currents. The enhanced outward currents were abolished by apamin in dispersed single cells. These results suggest that the depolarization of membrane potential by Substance P activates voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels, which represents an excitatory response in the antral circular muscle and led to an increase in $Ca^{2+}\;activated\;K^+\;currents$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.338-341
• /
• 2006

This paper presents the leakage current characteristics of ZnO varistors exposed to the $8/20{\mu}s$ lightning impulse currents as functions of the number of injection and amplitude of impulse currents. The surge simulator system ECAT that can generate $8/20{\mu}s$ impulse currents with a peak short-circuit of $5[kA_p]$ was used. Leakage currents flowing through ZnO varistors subjected to the $8/20{\mu}s$ impulse currents were measured under 60 Hz AC voltages. The trend curves of resistive leakage current of ZnO varistors were analytically calculated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.279-281
• /
• 2003

We analysed the operating properties of resistive type superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) based on YBCO thin films with a single line-to-ground fault. When a single line-to-ground fault occurred, the short circuit current of a fault phase increased up to about 6 times of transport currents immediately after the fault instant and was effectively limited to the designed current level within 2 ms by the resistance development of the SFCL. The fault currents of the sound phases almost did not change because of their direct grounding system. The unsymmetrical rates of a fault phase were distributed from 6.4 to 1.4. It was found that the unsymmetrical rates of currents were noticeably improved within one cycle after the fault instant. We calculated the zero phase currents for a single line-to-ground fault using the symmetrical component analysis. The positive sequence resistance was reduced remarkably right after the fault but eventually approached the balanced positive resistance component prior to the system fault. This means that the system reaches almost the three-phase symmetrical state in about 60 ㎳ after the fault. The ground currents were almost 3 times of the zero phase mts since most of the fault currents flowed through the grounding line.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.202-207
• /
• 2000

The depletion of intracellular calcium stores by thapsigargin treatment evoked extracellular calcium-dependent membrane currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes. These currents have been compared to those evoked by microinjection of a calcium influx factor (CIF) purified from Jurkat T lymphocytes. The membrane currents elicited by thapsigargin treatment (peak current, $163{\pm}60$ nA) or CIF injection (peak current, $897{\pm}188$ nA) were both dependent on calcium entry, based on their eradication by the removal of extracellular calcium. The currents were, in both cases, attributed primarily to well-characterized $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ $Cl^-$ currents, based on their similar reversal potentials (-24 mV vs. -28 mV) and their inhibition by niflumic acid (a $Cl^-$ channel blocker). Currents induced by either thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection exhibited an identical pattern of inhibitory sensitivity to a panel of lanthanides, suggesting that thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection evoked $Cl^-$ currents by stimulating calcium influx through pharmacologically identical calcium channels. These results indicate that CIF acts on the same calcium entry pathway activated by the depletion of calcium stores and most lanthanides are novel pharmacological tools for the study of calcium entry in Xenopus oocytes.