• Applied Microscopy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-64
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• 1987

Morphological difference of the renal glomerulus at different age groups have been studied in young (three month-old), adult (twelve month-old) and old (thirty month-old) Fisher strain 344 rats. Pieces of the tissues were taken from renal corticies prefixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde (0.1 M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3), following by post-fixation with 1% osmium tetroxide (0.1 M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3) and embedded within Araldite. The ultrathin sections contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed under a JEM 100CX electron microscope. The mean thickness of glomerular basal lamina and Bowman's capsule were determined by measuring the thinnest portion of basal lamina, and by taking the average of 50 readings from electron micrographs at different ages. The numerical changes of the slit pores were compared based upon the numbers over the length of 10um of glomerular basal lamina. The results were as follow: 1. The thickness of glomerular basal lamina is increased during aging; 140.4 nm in young rats, 270.0 nm in adult ones, and 437.8 nm in old ones. 2. The thickness of basal lamina of parietal cells of Bowman's capsule is 187.5 nm in young rats, 914.0 nm in adult ones, and 2850.0 nm in old ones. 3. The numbers of the slit pores of basal lamina are reduced during aging, 30.3 slit pores/$10{\mu}m$ in adult ones, and 24.2 slit pores/$10{\mu}m$ in old ones. 4. Accumulation of dense intracytoplasmic filamentous material in the parietal cells of Bowman's capsule is increased in the vicinity of the basal lamina during aging. The proximal tubule-like epithelial cell in Bowman's capsule is observed at one glomerulus in a young rat. 5. The endothelial cells are edematous and form balloon-like structure protruding into capillary lumen in young and old rats. 6. Cytoplasm of the podocyte shows a variety of alteration during aging, such as swelling of mitochondria and of endoplasmic reticulum, and increase of microtubules, microfilaments, lysosomes and lamellated myelin structures, etc. Accumulation of dense intracytoplasmic material in the foot processes is increased in the vicinity of the basal lamina during aging. The podocytic membrane-like structures are seen in young and o]d rats. 7. The mesangial matrices and mesangial cells are increased during aging, and slight swelling of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi cisternae in young and old rats.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2007

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a promising power source for portable applications due to many advantages such as simple construction, compact design, high energy density, and relatively high energy-conversion efficiency. In this work, an electrochemical methanol sensor for monitoring the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells was fabricated using a thin composite nafion membrane as the electrolyte. We have analyzed the I-V characteristic of the fabricated methanol sensor as a function of methanol concentration, catalyst electrode and platinum(Pt) thickness. The fabricated sensor was analyzed by I-V measurement with various methanol concentration. When we measured the sensor characteristics with 10nm Pt and at 1V, the current value was $1.30{\times}10^{-6}A,\;1.96{\times}10^{-6}A\;and\;2.80{\times}10^{-6} A$ for three methanol concentration of 1M, 2M and 3M, respectively. When the methanol concentration was fixed at 2M, the current value of the fabricated device with Pt layers of 5, 10 and 15 nm thickness was $3.06{\times}10^{-6}A,\;1.96{\times}10^{-6}A\;and\;1.00{\times}10^{-6}A$, respectively. These results lead us to the conclusion that when the methanol concentration increases, the output current increases and when the catalyst electrode become thinner, the current increase more. It showed that, the thinner the catalyst electrode, the more electrochemistry become activation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.973-990
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• 1996

To investigate diagnostic imaging of cystitis and to apply it to the small animal practice, ultrasonogram of urinary bladder with moderate distension(4ml/kg) and with complete distension(9ml/kg) to evaluate the irregularity and thickness of bladder, radiography and histopathological examination were performed after experimental cystitis induction. On double contrast cystography, mucosal membrane of the urinary bladder was smooth and thickening urinary bladder wall was not found before cystitis induction. At 3rd day post induction(PI), mucosal irregularity was noted at the cranioventral region of the urinary bladder. Thickening of the urinary bladder wall and filling defect was observed as well. Cystographic findings of 7, 10, 15, 21 day PI were similar to that of 3rd day PI. On ultrasonographic findings of the mural thickness in induction group, it was ascertain that the mural thickness with moderate distention was more thickened than with complete distention at transverse scan. Ultrasonographic findings at longitudinal scan were similar to those of transverse scan. On ultrasonographic findings of mucosal irregularity in induction group, from PI to 7 day PI, mucosal irregularity with moderate distention was more irregular than mucosal irregularity with complete distention. At 10 day PI, there was similarity between moderate distention and complete distention. On histopathologic examination of a section of urinary bladder taken 3 day PI, the mucosal and submucosa were infiltrated by a mixture of thick inflammatory exudate which was composed of neutrophil, plasma protein, bacterial colony and necrotic cells. Congestion, hemorrhage and edema were also observed in the submucosa. At 7th day PI, the mucosal change was similar to that of 3rd day PI, but neovascularization and fibroplasia were observed in the submucosa. At 15th and 21th day PI, mild hyperplasia of mucosal epithelium was observed in the mucosa. Deposition of collagen, neovascularization and severe diffuse infiltration of lymphocyte were observed. These results suggest that ultrasonographic examination with moderate distention is considered to be a more simple, rapid, noninvasive, sensitive and useful diagnostic method than other diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of the cystitis and the differential diagnosis of urinary tract infection.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2002

Purpose: Thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy (TGBMN) is recognized as the leading cause of microscopic hematuria in both children and adults. However thinning of glomerular basement membrane (TCBM) has been found in healthy adult and also is known to be associated with various renal diseases such as Alport syndronh, IgA nephropathy and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. The association of TGBM with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) has been very rare so that the present study was undertaken to determine the relationship between TGBM and MCNS. Methods: The study population consisted of 49 children with biopsy- proven MCNS who have been admitted to the pediatric department of Kyungpook University Hospital during the past 5 years from 1997 to 2001. Group I consisted of 8 children associated with TGBM and Group II 41 children without TCBM. Various parameters such as age of illness, duration from discovery of illness to the time of biopsy, family history of hematuria and other laboratory tests were compared between these two groups and the following results were obtained. Results: Age distribution showed slightly older age in Group I ($7.1{\pm}3.5$ years) compared to Group II ($4.8{\pm}2.9$ years). However this was not statistically different (P=0.056). Family history of hematuria was noted in 2 cases in Group II. Though statistically not significant, hematuria was seen in 2 out of 8 cases ($25\%$) in MCNS children with TGBM, compared to 7 out of 41 cases ($17\%$) with MCNS children without TGBM. Other parameters such as BUN, creatinine, 24 hours urine protein excretion, serum protein, albumin, cholesterol, and T4/T8 ratio, showed no difference. Also renal biopsy finding showed no significant difference and the thickness of glomerular basement membrane in Croup I was $188{\pm}30nm$. Conclusion: TGBM was found in 8 out of 49 children with MCNS ($16.3\%$). And this high frequency of occurrence indicates that these association is not an incidental findings. Typical clinical findings of TCBMN was not noted in all of the 8 children with MCNS associated with TGBM, suggesting that thinning of glomerular basement membrane (TCBN) is secondary to rather than the cause of MCNS. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2002;6: 48-55)

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.125-134
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• 1980

The dovelopment of the gonads, gametogenesis and the reproductive cycle of the topshell, Turbo cornutus Solander, which is one of valuable food animals fom Korean waters were studied by photomicroscophy. The materials were monthly collected from Bangeojin, Jeongjari and Dangweol, all these places being located in the south-eastern part of Korea, for one year from March 1979 to February 1980. Topshell is dioecious and oviparous. Gonad is situated on the surface of liver, which lies posteriorly. The surface of ovary and testis is covered with a fibrous membrane, membrane of connective and muscular fibers and then an outermost layer of simple-columnar epithelial cells which are composed of cuboidal and columnar mucous gland cells. Primordial germ cells develop on the germinal epithelium of ovarian and testicular lobuli which are originated from the fibrous membrane and extend toward hepatic gland. Undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and pigment granular cells are abundantly distributed between the growing oocytes and spermatocytes in the early development stages. With the further development of the ovary and testis these tissue and cells gradually disappear. Then the undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and pigment granular cells are considered to be related to the growing of the oocytes and spermatocytes. Early multiplicating oogonium is ca. $10\mu$ in diameter and nucleushaving a central nucleolus is ra. $8\mu$. As the oocytea grow to ca. $50-60\mu$ by the increase of cytoplasm, the oocytes become look like bunches of grapes which are attached to ovarian lobuli. Mature eggs are ca. $180-210\mu$ in diameter and it is surrounded by a gelatinous membrane of ca. $10\mu$ in thickness. After spawning, undischarged ripe eggs and spermatozoa remain in the ovary and testis respectively for some time. Then they finally degenerate, and proliferation of new oogonia and spermatogonia occur along the germinal epithelia of newly developed ovarian and testicular lobuli. Reprocuctive cycle of Turbo cornutus could be classified into five successive stages: multiplicative, growing, maturer spent and recovery stages. Spawning occurs from August to November with Peak spawning from early September to late October.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1401-1406
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• 2011

Morphological changes in immune cells occur due to pathogen infection and natural circulation. T cells produce uropod, filopodia, lamellipodia, and microvilli for inflammation, immunosurvelliance, migration, and diapedesis. Short finger-like microvilli cover the surfaces of circulating mammalian immune cells. The surface features of monocytes and neutrophils are quite different, containing membrane ruffles as their predominant structure. In this study, we present the involvement of actin cytoskeleton regarding T lymphocyte microvilli. From analysis of scanning electron micrographs, Jurkat T lymphocyte microvilli was observed to rapidly disassemble when exposed to the actin-sequestering molecule, cytochalasin D. In contrast to cytochalasin D treatment, we found that median microvillar thickness was enlarged on Jurkat T lymphocytes treated with PMA via Lin-11, Isl-1, Mec-3 Kinase (LIMK) and cofilin signaling. In addition, actin cytoskeleton was involved in polarity formation in EL4 T lymphocytes. These results suggest that microvilli formation or polarity of T lymphocytes are involved in actin cytoskeleton dynamics.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to inquire into the effect of different concentrations of bee venom pharmacopuncture to inhibit genesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and to inhibit nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activation on type II collagen induced arthritis. Methods : The experiment was divided into category of the normal group (NOR)-no treated group, control group (CON)-CIA (collagen induced arthritis) induced group, and 4,000 : 1 bee venom group (BV-L)- 4000:1 bee venom pharmacopuncture treated group after CIA, and 2000:1 bee venom group (BV-H)- 2,000 : 1 Bee venom pharmacopuncture treated group after CIA. RA was induced in the mice via injecting $50{\mu}{\ell}$ C II mixed CFA. The bee venom pharmacopuncture was applied on $ST_{35}$ for 19 days from the 3rd day of RA inducement. To research the effect on the expression of IKK ($I{\kappa}B$ kinase), iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) & COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) mRNA, RT-PCR was performed on synovial membrane cells from the knee joint of CIA mice. Results : The PMA-induced $I{\kappa}B$ kinase (IKK), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) mRNA expression were dose-dependantly decreased in bee venom treated with synoviocytes. In mice treated with bee venom pharmacopuncture, foot thickness and the damage of synovial membranes of the joint was lessened, and the activation of RA-related pro-inflammatory cytokines such as MIF, TNF-${\alpha}$ and MMP-9 was significantly decreased. The activation of iNOS and COX-2 was suppressed by the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$. In addition, each data was shown that 2,000 : 1 bee venom pharmacopuncture was more effective than 4,000 : 1 bee venom pharmacopuncture. Conclusions : It is speculated that bee venom pharmacopuncture has the therapeutic effect of palliating the damage of the synovial membrane and inflammation on RA by suppressing of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2016

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) using the electrolytes containing various vanadium ions in sulfuric acid as supporting solution are one of the energy storage devices in alternatively charging and discharging operation modes. The positive electrolyte contains $V^{5+}/V^{4+}$ and the negative electrolyte $V^{2+}/V^{3+}$ depending on the operation mode. To prevent the mixing of two solutions, proton exchange membranes are mainly used in VRFBs. Nafion 117 could be the most promising candidate due to the strong oxidative property of $V^{5+}$ ion, but causes high crossover of electroactive species to result in a decrease in coulombic efficiency. In this study, the composite membranes using Nafion ionomer and porous polyethylene substrate were prepared to keep good chemical stability and to decrease the cost of membranes, and were compared to the properties and performance of the commercially available electrolyte membrane, Nafion 117. As a result, the water uptake and ionic conductivity of the composite membranes increased as the thickness of the composite membranes increased, but those of Nafion 117 slightly decreased. The permeability of vanadium ions for the composite membranes significantly decreased compared to that for Nafion 117. In a single cell test for the composite membranes, the voltage efficiency decreased and the coulombic efficiency increased, finally resulting in the similar energy efficiency. In conclusion, the less cost of the composite membranes by decreasing 6.4 wt.% of the amount of perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer due to the introduction of porous substrate and lower vanadium ion permeability to decrease self-discharge were achieved than Nafion 117.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.17-24
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• 1996

Planar multi-junction thermal converters were fabricated for precise measurements of the ac voltage and current by an ac-dc transfer method. A heater and a thermocouple array were fabricated onto a sandwiched membrane, $Si_{3}N_{4}$ (200 nm) / $SiO_{2}$ (400 nm) / $Si_{3}N_{4}$ (200 nm), a thickness of $0.8\;{\mu}m$ and a size of $2{\times}4\;mm^{2}$, which is supported by a surrounding frame. The NiCr heater is located at the center of the membrane vertically. Hot junctions of $48{\sim}156$ pairs of thermocouples (Cu-CuNi44) are located near or onto the heater, and cold junctions are located onto the silicon frame. Output of the thermal converters for 10 mA dc input was $76\;mV{\sim}382\;mV$ dependent on a model, and short term stability of the outputs was ${\pm}5{\sim}15\;ppm$/ 10 min with 5 mA dc input. Responsivity in air was in the range of $3.9{\sim}14.5V/W$. Responsivity of the model BF48 in air which has 48 thermocouples was 2 times or greater than that of 3 dimensional multi-junction thermal converter in vacuum which has 56 thermocouples. AC-DC transfer differences with an input of 10 mA or less were less than ${\pm}1\;ppm$ in the frequency range from 5 Hz to 2 kHz, and about $2{\sim}3\;ppm$ at 5 kHz and 10 kHz.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.317-328
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• 1997

Since laser therapy has been applied to dentistry, many dental practitioners are very interested in laser therapy on various intraoral soft tissue lesions including gingival hyperplasia and aphthous ulcer. The purpose of the present study was to determine the therapeutic effect and the harmful effect of a pulsed-Nd:YAG laser irradiation on human gingival tissue. In twenty periodontal patients with gingival enlargement, the facial gingival surface of maxillary anterior teeth was randomly irradiated at various power of 1.0W(100mJ, 10Hz), 3.0W(100mJ, 30Hz) and 6.0W(l50mJ, 40Hz) for 60 seconds by contact delivery of a pulsed-Nd:YAG laser(EN.EL.EN060, Italy). Immediately after laser irradiation, the gingival tissues were surgically excised and prepared in size of 1mm3. Subsequently the specimens were processed for prefixation and postfixation, embedded with epon mixture, sectioned in $1{\mu}$ thickness, stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and observed under transmission electron microscope(JEM 100 CXII). Following findings were observed; l. In the gingival specimens irradiated with l.OW power, widening of intercelluar space and minute vesicle formation along the widened intercellular space were noted at the epithelial cells adjacent to irradiated area. 2. In the gingival specimens irradiated with 3.0W power, the disruption of cellular membrane, aggregation of cytoplasm, and loss of intercellular space were observed at the epithelial cells adjacent to irradiated area. 3. In the gingival specimens irradiated with 6.0W power, the disruption of nuclear and cellular membrane was observed at the epithelial cells adjacent to irradiated area. The ultrastructural findings of this study suggest that surgical application of a pulsed-Nd:YAG laser on human gingival tissue may lead somewhat delayed wound healing due to damage of epithelial cells adjacent to irradiated area.