• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of melatonin and selenium in freezing extenders on frozen-thawed rat sperm. Methods: Semen samples were collected from 20 adult male Wistar albino rats. Following dilution, the samples were divided into six groups: four cryopreserved groups with 1 mM and 0.5 mM melatonin and selenium supplements, and two fresh and cryopreserved control groups. The rapid freezing technique was used to freeze the samples. Flow cytometry was used to assess plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA damage, while computer-assisted sperm analysis was used to assess motility. Results: Total motility was higher in the 1 mM melatonin supplementation group than in the cryopreserved control group (mean±standard error of the mean, 69.89±3.05 vs. 59.21±1.31; p≤0.05). The group with 1 mM selenium had the highest plasma membrane integrity (42.35%±1.01%). The cryopreserved group with 0.5 mM selenium had the highest mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas the cryopreserved control group had the lowest (45.92%±4.53% and 39.45%±3.52%, respectively). Conclusion: Cryopreservation of rat semen supplemented with 1 mM melatonin increased sperm motility after freeze-thawing, while supplementation with 0.5 mM selenium increased mitochondrial activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2001

We observed the APD of rat ventricle myocyte and the effects of Lithospermic acid that was separated at Salvia miltiorrhiza having used in Oriental medicine by using classical whole cell patch clamp technique. We classified APD into APD30mV, APD0mV, APD-50mV, APD-60mV by cell membrane potential and the mean of cell resting membrane potential was -69.44${\pm}$1.72 mV.(omitted)

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2013

In traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy, the Condurango extract (Con) is often used to cure stomach cancer mainly, without having any scientific validation of its anti-cancer ability. Con has therefore been tested against non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549 and NCI-H522 (H522) known to contain the KRAS mutation, making them resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents. As cancer cells generally defy cytotoxicity developed by chemopreventive agents and escape cell death, any drug showing the capability of preferentially killing cancer cells through apoptosis is worth consideration for judicious application. A549 and H522 cells were exposed to $0.35{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ and $0.25{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of Con, respectively, for 48 h and analysed based on various protocols associated with apoptosis and DNA damage, such as MTT assay to determine cell viability, LDH assay, DNA fragmentation assay, comet assay, and microscopical examinations of DNA binding fluorescence stains like DAPI, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide to determine the extent of DNA damage made in drug-treated and untreated cells and the results compared. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were also documented through standard techniques. Con killed almost 50% of the cancer cells but spared normal cells significantly. Fluorescence studies revealed increased DNA nick formation and depolarized membrane potentials after drug treatment in both cell types. Caspase-3 expression levels confirmed the apoptosis-inducing potential of Con in both the NSCLC lines. Thus, overall results suggest considerable anticancer potential of Con against NSCLC in vitro, validating its use against lung cancer by practitioners of traditional medicine including homeopathy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.199-209
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• 1993

The effects of ${\alpha}_1$-adrenergic stimulation on membrane potential, intracellular sodium activity $(a_N{^i{_a}})$, and contractility were investigated in the isolated papillary muscle of euthyroid, hyperthyroid, and hypothyroid guinea pigs. Cardiac alterations in the thyroid state have been shown to induce marked changes in action potential characteristics, the most pronounced shortening of action potential duration by hyperthyroidism and an increase in duration by hypothyroidism. $10^{-5}M$ Phenylephrine produced a decrease in $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ in euthyroid and hypothyroid preparations, but an increase in $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ in hyperthyroid ones. The major findings were that phenylephrine produced a stronger positive inotropic effect(PIE) without initial negative inotropic effect(NIE) in hyperthyroid preparations, while phenylephrine produced markedly NIE in hypothyroid ones. The alterations in membrane potential, $(a_N{^i{_a}})$, and contractility were abolished by $3{\times}10^{-5}M$ prazosin in hypothyroidism. In hypothyroid ventricular muscle, the decrease in $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ caused by phenylephrine were not abolished or reduced by $10^{-5}M$ strophanthidin, $10^{-5}M$ TTX, $3{\times}10^{-4}M$ lidocaine, or $100^{-5}M$ verapamil. These results indicate that the ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor-mediated decrease in $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ is not associated with a stimulation of the $Na^+$-$K^+$ pump, inhibition of the $Na^+$ or $Ca^+$ channel in hypothyroid ventricular muscle. $10^{-5}M$ Phenylephrine decreased $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ but increased $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ in the presence of a PKC activator phorbol dibutyrate$(PDB_u)$. In conclusion, it is suggested that the following sequence of events in response to phenyleplhane occur in guinea pig ventricular muscle. First, changes in thyroid state may contribute to the ventacular electrophysiological propeties or ion transport system. Second, the adrenoceptor-mediated initial transient NIE may be associated with the decrease in $(a_N{^i{_a}})$ by PKC activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 1992

The effects of changes in extracellular $Na^+\;and\;Ca^+$ concentration on the membrane potential and contractility were studied in the antral circular muscle of guinea pig stomach in order to elucidate the existence and the nature of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange mechanism. All experiments were performed in tris buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept at $35^{\circ}C.$ The treatment of $10^{-5}$ ouabain was performed to induce intracellular $Na^+$ loading prior to the start of experiment. The results were as follows: 1. $Na^+$-free Tyrode or high $Ca^{2+}$-Tyrode solution hyperpolarized the membrane potential and induced contracture. The time course of contracture was similar to that of change in membrane potential. 2. The degree of hyperpolarization and the amplitude of contracture decreased in accordance with the increase of extracellular $Na^+$ concentration. 3. $Na^+$-free contracture was developed even after blocking the influence of intrinsic nerves by the pretreatment with atropine, guanethidine and TTX. 4. $Ca^{2+}$-channel blockers(D-600 or $Mn^{2+}$) and the blocker of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum(ryanodine) did not suppress the development of $Na^+$-free contracture. And also, dinitrophenol had no effect on $Na^+$-free contracture. 5. Dose-response relationship between extracellular $Na^+$ concentrations and the magnitude of contractures showed a sigmoid pattern. The slope of straight line from Hill plot was 2.7. 6. In parallel with the increase of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, the amplitude of contracture increased dose dependently and was maximum at 8 mM $Ca^{2+}$-Tyrode solution. 7. The relationship between extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations and the magnitude of contractures showed hyperbolic pattern. The slope of straight line from Hill plot was 1.1. From the above results, it is suggested that $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange mechanism exists in the antral circular muscle of guinea pig stomach and this mechanism affects the membrane potential electrogenically.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2011

The deficiency of clean water is a major global concern because all the living creatures rely on the drinkable water for survival. On top of this, abundant of clean water supply is also necessary for household, metropolitan inhabitants, industry, and agriculture. Among many purification processes, advances in low-energy membrane separation technology appear to be the most effective solution for water crisis because membranes have been widely recognized as one of the most direct and feasible approaches for clean water production. The aim of this article is to give an overview of (1) two new emerging membrane technologies for water reuse and desalination by forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD), and (2) the molecular engineering and development of highly permeable hollow fiber membranes, with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) as the main focuses for the aforementioned applications in National University of Singapore (NUS). This article presents the main results of membrane module design, separation performance, membrane characteristics, chemical modification and spinning conditions to produce novel hollow fiber membranes for FO and MD applications. As two potential solutions, MD and FO may be synergistically combined to form a hybrid system as a sustainable alternative technology for fresh water production.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 1995

The wave interaction with flexible membrane such as PVC and PU fabrics is studied to prove its applicability to portable breakwaters. To analyze the wave deformation due to the flexible membrane. eigen-function expansion method is employed. The fluid domain is seperated into two regions. The velocity potential in each regions and the deformation of membrane are coupled by the body boundary conditions. Herein the deformation of membrane is obtained by solving the membrane equation. As a numerical example, transmission and reflection coefficients according to the change of several design parameters such as tensile force. mooring line stiffness and membrane height are investigated. It is found that the efficiency of flexible membrane breakwater is significantly affected by these design parameters. The angle of incident wave is an important role to the performance of breakwater. Finally we conclude that flexible membrane can be used to engineering material for the future breakwaters.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.22-32
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• 2001

The numerical investigation of obliquely incident wave interactions with fully submerged dual buoy/porous-membrane floating breakwaters placed in parallel with spacing is studied based on linear potential theory and Darcy's law. The numerical solutions are obtained by using a discrete-membrane dynamic model and second-kind modified Bessel function distribution over the entire boundaries of fluid regions. First, numerical solutions for an idealized dual submerged system without buoys are obtained. Second, a more practical dual submerged system with membrane tension provided by buoys at its tops is investigated by the multi-domain boundary element method particularly devised for dual buoy/porous-membrane problems with gaps. The velocity potentials of wave motion are coupled with porous-membrane deformation, and solved simultaneously since the boundary condition on porous-membrane is not known in advance. The effects of varying permeability on membranes and wave characteristics are discussed for the optimum design parameters of systems previously studied. The inclusion of permeability on membrane eliminates the resonances that aggravate the breakwater performance. The system is highly efficient when waves generated by the buoys and membranes were mutually canceled and its energy at resonance frequency dissipates through fine pores on membranes.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.451-476
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• 2015

Membrane distillation (MD), which can utilize low-grade thermal energy, has been extensively studied for desalination. By incorporating solar thermal energy, the solar membrane distillation desalination system (SMDDS) is a potential technology for resolving the energy and water resource problems. Small-scale SMDDS (s-SMDDS) is an attractive and viable option for the production of fresh water for small communities in remote arid areas. The minimum-cost design and operation of s-SMDDS are determined by a systematic method, which involves a pseudo steady state approach for equipment sizing and the dynamic optimization using overall system mathematical models. The s-SMDDS employing three MD configurations, including the air gap (AGMD), direct contact (DCMD) and vacuum (VMD) types, are optimized. The membrane area of each system is $11.5m^2$. The AGMD system operated for 500 kg/day water production rate gives the lowest unit cost of $5.92/m^3$. The performance ratio and recovery ratio are 0.85 and 4.07%, respectively. For the commercial membrane employed in this study, the increase of membrane mass transfer coefficient up to two times is beneficial for cost reduction and the reduction of membrane heat transfer coefficient only affects the cost of the DCMD system.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2022

Vacuum-assisted air gap membrane distillation (V-AGMD) has the potential to achieve higher flux and productivity than conventional air gap membrane distillation (AGMD). Nevertheless, there is not much information on technical aspects of V-AGMD operation. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the effect of membrane deformation on flux in V-AGMD operation. Experiments were carried out using a bench-scale V-AGMD system. Statistical models were applied to understand the flux behaviors. Statistical models based on MLR, GNN, and MLFNN techniques were developed to describe the experimental data. Results showed that the flux increased by up to 4 times with the application of vacuum in V-AGMD compared with conventional AGMD. The flux in both AGMD and V-AGMD is affected by the difference between the air gap pressure and the saturation pressure of water vapor, but their dependences were different. In V-AGMD, the membranes were found to be deformed due to the vacuum pressure because they were not fully supported by the spacer. As a result, the deformation reduced the effective air gap width. Nevertheless, the rejection and LEP were not changed even if the deformation occurred. The flux behaviors in V-AGMD were successfully interpreted by the GNN and MLFNN models. According to the model calculations, the relative impact of the membrane deformation ranges from 10.3% to 16.1%.