• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.681-693
• /
• 2007

Background and Objective : Atractylodes japonica (AJ) is a commonly-used herbal medicine in Asian countries such as Korea, China and Japan. The present study was designated to evaluate the direct effects of AJ on helper T cell activities and on Th1/Th2 lineage development in vitro. Materials and Methods : Spleen cells from 8-week BALB/c mice were cultured in CR extracts containing medium without activation for 24 hours and with activation for 48 hours. CD4+ T cells were isolated and analyzed for mRNA expression levels of INF-$\gamma$, IL-4, T-bet and GATA-3 by RT-PCR and secretion cytokines levels of INF-$\gamma$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 by ELISA. Results : The results demonstrated that AJ had no mitogenic effects on unstimulated CD4+ T cells, but augmented CD4+T-cell proliferation upon activation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies in a dose-dependent manner. AJ treatment significantly increased CD4+ T cell population and IFN-$\gamma$ expression was significantly enhanced, while IL-4 expression significantly decreased. In addition, in vitro Th1/Th2 polarization experiments revealed that AJ enhanced IFN-$\gamma$ secretion in Th1 cells, but reduced the IL-4 in Th2 cells in dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that AJ treatment could be a desirable alternative therapy for the prevention or correction of Th2 dominant pathological disorders, such as allergy and asthma.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.69-75
• /
• 2008

Electrochemical behaviors of surface modified and MC3T3-E1 cell cultured Ti-30Ta alloys have been investigated using various electrochemical methods. The Ti alloys containing Ta were melted by using a vacuum furnace and then homogenized for 6 hrs at $1000^{\circ}C$. MC3T3-E1 cell culture was performed with MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblasts for 2 days. The microstructures and corrosion resistance were measured using FE-SEM, XRD, EIS and potentiodynamic test in artificial saliva solution at $36.5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. Ti-Ta alloy showed the martensite structure of ${\alpha}+{\beta}$ phase and micro-structure was changed from lamellar structure to needle-like structure as Ta content increased. Corrosion resistance increased as Ta content increased. Corrosion resistance of cell cultured Ti-Ta alloy increased predominantly in compared with non cell cultured Ti- Ta alloy due to inhibition of the dissolution of metal ion by covered cell. $R_p$ value of MC3T3-E1 cell cultured Ti-40 Ta alloy showed $1.60{\times}10^6{\Omega}cm^2$ which was higher than those of other Ti alloy. Polarization resistance of cell-cultured Ti-Ta alloy increased in compared with non-cell cultured Ti alloy.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.133.2-133.2
• /
• 2010

현재 융융탄산염 연료전지의 공기극으로 다공성의 lithiated NiO를 사용하고 있는데 이 재료의 경우 크게 두 가지의 문제점을 안고 있다. 첫 번째는 Ni이 전해질 내로 용해하는 것이고, 두 번째는 낮은 활성으로 인한 높은 공기극의 분극이다. Ni이 전해질로 용해되는 문제는 Co나 Fe를 코팅하여 공기극 표면에 $Li_x(Ni_yCo_{1-y})1-xO_2$나 $Li_x(Ni_yFe_{1-y})_{1-x}O_2$를 형성시켜 NiO의 전해질 내로 용해되는 것을 억제하는 방법이나 ZnO, MgO, $La_2O_3$ 등의 산화물을 NiO 표면에 코팅하여 전해질과 접촉을 막는 방식으로 해결하는 등 많은 연구가 이루어져 왔다. 하지만 연료극의 비해 상당히 높은 공기극의 분극으로 인해 큰 전압손실이 일어나 용융탄산염 연료전지 성능이 낮아지는 문제의 경우 이를 해결하고자 하는 연구는 상대적으로 많이 진행되지 못한 상태이다. 특히 현재 용융탄산염 연료전지의 장기수명화를 위해 기존의 작동온도인 $650^{\circ}C$ 보다 다소 낮은 온도인 $600{\sim}620^{\circ}C$에서 작동하려는 움직임이 있다. 작동 온도가 내려가면 전해질이 휘발되는 속도가 낮아져 전해질 부족에 따른 운전시간이 줄어드는 문제를 해결할 수 있어 장기 수명화를 위해서는 작동온도를 낮추는 것이 매우 유리하다. 하지만 작동 온도가 내려가면서 양 전극에서 일어나는 전기화학 반응 속도가 느려지기 때문에 각 전극에서의 활성화 분극으로 인한 전압손실은 더욱 커질 수밖에 없다. 특히 연료극의 수소산화반응 속도는 공기극의 산소환원반응에 비해 매우 빠르기 때문에 작동 온도가 내려감에 따라 연료극의 분극이 커지는 것에 비해 공기극의 분극이 급격히 커지게 된다. 따라서 운전온도가 낮아지는 상황에서는 낮은 작동온도에서도 성능감소가 적게 일어나 0.8V 이상 운전(150mA/$cm^2$, 단위전지 기준)이 가능한 공기극의 개발이 매우 필요한 실정이다. 이를 해결하고자 본 연구에서는 고체 산화물 연료전지의 공기극의 재료로 많이 연구되고 있는 혼합전도성 물질의 페로브스카이트 구조의 물질을 기존 NiO 전극에 코팅하여 새로운 공기극을 개발하였다. 페로브스카이트 구조의 물질로 대표적인 LSCF 물질을 사용하였으며 LSCF를 코팅한 공기극을 이용한 단위전지에서 150mA/$cm^2$의 전류를 흘려주었을 때 0.84V의 성능을 1000hr 유지하였다. 이는 기존의 NiO 전극을 사용했을 때보다 15~20mV 높은 값이다. 낮은 작동온도에서도 좋은 성능을 보였는데, 기존의 NiO 전극의 경우 $630^{\circ}C$에서 0.79V의 성능을 보인 반면 LSCF가 코팅된 공기극의 경우 $620^{\circ}C$에서 0.811V의 매우 좋은 성능을 보였다. 이는 LSCF의 산소이온전도성 및 전기전도성이 공기극에서의 분극을 낮추어 성능을 증가시키는 것으로 보인다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.451-464
• /
• 2009

Background and Objective : Cyperus rotundus L. (CR) is a commonly used herbal medicine in Asian countries such as Korea, China and Japan. The present study was designated to evaluate the direct effects of CR on helper T cell activities and on Th1/Th2 lineage development in vitro. Materials and Methods : Spleen cells from 8 week BALB/c mice were cultured in CR extracts containing medium without activation for 24 hours and with activation for 48 hours. CD4+ T cells were isolated and analyzed for mRNA expression levels of INF-$\gamma$, IL-4, T-bet and GATA-3 by RT-PCR and secretion cytokines levels of INF-$\gamma$, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 by ELISA. Results : The results demonstrated that CR had no mitogenic effects on unstimulated CD4+ T cells, but augmented CD4+ T-cell proliferation upon activation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies in a dose-dependent manner. CR treatment significantly increased CD4+ T cell population and the IFN-$\gamma$ expression was significantly enhanced, while IL-4 expression was significantly decreased. In addition, in vitro Th1/Th2 polarization experiments revealed that CR enhanced IFN-$\gamma$ secretion in Th1 cells, but reduced the IL-4 in Th2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that CR treatment could be a desirable alternative therapy for the prevention or correction of Th2 dominant pathological disorders, such as allergy and asthma.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.20-23
• /
• 2003

Piezoelectric powder with the composition of PbTiO$_3$-PbZrO$_3$-Pb(Mn$\_$1/3/Nb$\_$2/3/)O$_3$ and small particle size of 0.3 $\mu\textrm{m}$ was investigated for low-temperature firing of PZT thick films. PbTiO$_3$-PbZrO$_3$-Pb(Mn$\_$1/3/Nb$\_$2/3)O$_3$ ceramics showed dense microstructure and superior piezoelectric properties, electromechanical coupling factor (k$\_$p/) of 0.501 and piezoelectric constant (d$\_$33/) of 224. The PZT paste was made of the powder and organic vehicles, and screen-printed on Pt(450nm)/YSZ(110nm)/SiO$_2$(300nm)/Si substrates and fired at 800∼900$^{\circ}C$. Any interface reaction between the PZT thick film and the bottom electrode was not observed in the PZT thick films. The PZT thick film fired at 800$^{\circ}C$ showed moderate electrical properties, the remanent polarization(p$\_$r/) of 16.0 ${\mu}$C/$\textrm{cm}^2$, the coercive field(E$\_$c/) of 36.7 ㎸/cm, and dielectric constant ($\varepsilon$$\_$r/) of 531. Low-temperature sinterable piezoelectric composition and high activity of fine particles reduced the sintering temperature of the thick film. This PZT thick film could be utilized for piezoelectric microactuators or microsensors that require Si micromachining technology.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.253-258
• /
• 2009

Mn-substituted $BiFeO_3$(BFO) thin films were prepared by r.f. magnetron sputtering under an Ar/$O_2$ mixture of various deposition pressures at room temperature. The effects of the deposition pressure and annealing temperature on the crystallization and electrical properties of BFO films were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that BFO films were crystallized for films annealed above $500^{\circ}C$. BFO films annealed at $550^{\circ}C$ for 5 min in $N_2$ atmosphere exhibited the crystallized perovskite phase. The (Fe+Mn)/Bi ratio decreased with an increase in the deposition pressure due to the difference of sputtering yield. The grain size and surface roughness of films increased with an increase in the deposition pressure. The dielectric constant of BFO films prepared at various conditions shows $127{\sim}187$ at 1 kHz. The leakage current density of BFO films annealed at $500^{\circ}C$ was approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that of $550^{\circ}C$. The leakage current density of the BFO films deposited at $10{\sim}30\;m$ Torr was about $5{\times}10^{-6}{\sim}3{\times}10^{-2}A/cm^2$ at 100 kV/cm. Due to the high leakage current, saturated P-E curves were not obtained in BFO films. BFO film annealed at $500^{\circ}C$ exhibited remnant polarization(2Pr) of $26.4{\mu}C/cm^2$ at 470 kV/cm.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.543-546
• /
• 2000

Ferroeleclric 0.05PZN-xPZT(90/10)-(0.95-x)PZT(10/90) (x=0.65, 0.85) specimens were fabricated by the mixed-oxide method and cold-pressing method using sol-gel derived PZT(90/10) and PZT(10/90) powders. All specimens show a uniform ferroelectric grain without the presence of the pyrocholre phase. Average grain size increased with an increase in sintering temperature, the value for the x=0.65 specimen sintered at 125$0^{\circ}C$ was 14.4$\mu$m. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the x=0.65 specimen sintered at 125$0^{\circ}C$ were 1247, 2.06%, respectively. All specimens showed fairly good temperature and frequency stability of dielectric constant with the range from -2$0^{\circ}C$ to 6$0^{\circ}C$ and 100Hz to 10MHz. The coercive field and the remanent polarization of x = 0.65 specimen sintered at 125$0^{\circ}C$ were 8.5 kV/cm and 13 $\mu$C/cm$^2$, respectively. The pyroelectric coefficient of the x=0.65 specimen sintered at 125$0^{\circ}C$ was 5.64$\times$10$^{-8}$ C/cm$^2$K, respectively.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.40-49
• /
• 2013

Effects of magnesium and pH on corrosion of aluminum galvanically coupled to iron have studied by using potentio- dynamic and static tests for polarization curves, Mott-Schottky test for analysis of semiconductor property, and GD-AES and XPS for film analysis. Pitting potential was sensitive to magnesium as an alloying element but not to pH, while passive current was sensitive to pH but not to magnesium. It was explained with, instead of point defect model (PDM), surface charge model describing that the ingression of chloride depends on the state of surface charge and passive film at film/solution interface is affected by pH. In addition, galvanic current of aluminum electrically coupled to iron was not affected by magnesium in pH 8.4, 0.2M citrate solution but was increased by magnesium at the solution of pH 9.1. The galvanic current at pH 9.1 increased with time at the initial stage and after the exposure of about 200 minute, decreased and stabilized. The behavior of the galvanic current was related with the concentration of magnesium at the surface. It agreed with the depletion of magnesium at the oxide surface by using glow discharge atomic emission spectroscopy (GD-AES). In addition, pitting potential of pure aluminum was reduced in neutral pH solution where chloride ion maybe are competitively adsorbed on pure aluminum. It was confirmed by the exponential decrease of pitting potential with log of [$Cl^-$] around 0.025 M of [$Cl^-$] and linear decrease of the pitting potential. From the above results, unlike magnesium, alloying elements with higher electron negativity, lowering isoelectric point (ISE), are recommended to be added to improve pitting corrosion resistance of aluminum and its alloys in neutral solutions as well as their galvanic corrosion resistance in weakly basic solutions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.12
• /
• pp.3553-3558
• /
• 2014

The reduced graphene oxide(rGO)/aluminum phosphate($AlPO_4$)-coated $LiMn_{1.5}Ni_{0.5}O_4$ (LMNO) cathode material has been developed by hydroxide precursor method for LMNO and by a facile solution based process for the coating with GO/$AlPO_4$ on the surface of LMNO, followed by annealing process. The amount of $AlPO_4$ has been varied from 0.5 wt % to 1.0 wt %, while the amount of rGO is maintained at 1.0 wt %. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The rGO/$AlPO_4$-coated LMNO electrodes exhibit better cyclic performance compared to that of pristine LMNO electrode. Specifically, rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(0.5%)- and rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(1%)-coated electrodes deliver a discharge capacity of, respectively, $123mAhg^{-1}$ and $122mAhg^{-1}$ at C/6 rate, with a capacity retention of, respectively, 96% and 98% at 100 cycles. Furthermore, the surface-modified LMNO electrodes demonstrate higher-rate capability. The rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(0.5%)-coated LMNO electrode shows the highest rate performance demonstrating a capacity retention of 91% at 10 C rate. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to (1) the suppression of the direct contact of electrode surface with the electrolyte, resulting in side reactions with the electrolyte due to the high cut-off voltage, and (2) smaller surface resistance and charge transfer resistance, which is confirmed by total polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.917-922
• /
• 2012

In order to improve applicability of a microbial fuel cell the laboratory-scaled study has been performed by adopting an air-cathode MFC system with high concentrated anaerobic slugies in this study. The concentrations of microbes are grouped into three types, Type A (TS 1.7%), Type B (TS 1.1%) and Type C (TS 0.51%). The open circuit voltage $(V_{oc})$ characteristics showed that the medium microbes concentration of 1.10% (Type B) kept a constant voltage of 1.0 V for 150 hours, which showed the longest time among three types (Type A and Type C). The discharge charge curves for a closed circuit with $500 \Omega$ also showed that Type B generated a stable discharge voltage of 0.8 V for a longer time as in the open circuit voltage case. This could be explained by the relatively large amount of the attached microbes. Under the $V_{oc}$condition the COD removal efficiency of Type B was found to be low for a long time, but those of Type A and C were found to be high for a short period of time. Therefore, the suspended microbes could decrease the coulombic efficiency. It was concluded that the high $V_{oc}$ was caused by low COD and the $V_{oc}$ became low after the COD removal. The COD reduction resulted in an unstable and low working voltage. From the polarization characteristics Type A was found to show the highest power density of $193\;mW/m^2$ with a fill factor of 0.127 due to the relatively high remaining COD even after the MFC reaction.