• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.603-608
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• 2009

Novel ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/zirconia composites were previously prepared by the in situ polymerization of ethylene using a Ti-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst supported on to the surface of zirconia, as a bearing material for artificial joints. Tribological tests revealed that a uniform dispersion of zirconia in UHMWPE markedly increased the wear resistance. The effects of zirconia content on the oxidation behavior of the ${\gamma}$-ray-treated UHMWPE/zirconia composite surfaces were examined. The oxidation index that estimates the oxidation degree as the content of total carbonyl compounds was monitored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance. The changes in the surface composition due to the oxidation were confirmed by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The extent of oxidation decreased with increasing zirconia content, which was attributed to the increased crystallinity as well as the decreased polymer portion of the UHMWPE/zirconia composites.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2021

The transient interactions between cellular components, particularly on membrane surfaces, are critical in the proper function of many biochemical reactions. For example, many signaling pathways involve dimerization, oligomerization, or other types of clustering of signaling proteins as a key step in the signaling cascade. However, it is often experimentally challenging to directly observe and characterize the molecular mechanisms such interactions-the greatest difficulty lies in the fact that living cells have an unknown number of background processes that may or may not participate in the molecular process of interest, and as a consequence, it is usually impossible to definitively correlate an observation to a well-defined cellular mechanism. One of the experimental methods that can quantitatively capture these interactions is through membrane reconstitution, whereby a lipid bilayer is fabricated to mimic the membrane environment, and the biological components of interest are systematically introduced, without unknown background processes. This configuration allows the extensive use of fluorescence techniques, particularly fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. In this review, we describe how the equilibrium diffusion of two proteins, K-Ras4B and the PH domain of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), on fluid lipid membranes can be used to determine the kinetics of homodimerization reactions.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.48.1-48.1
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• 2019

We found a diffuse Hα feature with a large size of ~2' around a Herbig star, MWC 1080. It shows a strong correlation with the elongated outflow cavity centered on the star. To investigate the diffuse Hα source and the molecular cavity in detail, we carried out the high-resolution NIR spectroscopy using IGRINS. We detected six hydrogen Brackett line series, seven H2 lines, and an [Fe II] forbidden line. With the obtained spatial, kinematic, and line ratio results, we discuss the characteristics of the central MWC 1080A, the NE outflow cavity, and the SE molecular cloud regions separately. Most of the bright Brγ sources around MWC 1080A were found to be reflection nebulae, but a point-like Brγ source close to another young star, MWC 1080E, was identified as a distinct source due to MWC 1080E itself. The narrow components of the H2 lines observed around MWC 1080A were found to trace PDRs located on the wall of the main outflow cavity. Based on the shock-excited H2 and [Fe II] lines detected just inside a bow-shock shape Hα feature, we suggest that it represents the actual shock at the head of the NE outflow from MWC 1080A. Also, we newly detected the shock-excited H2 and [Fe II] lines with highly blueshifted velocities in the SE molecular cloud region. They could be related to unrevealed outflows from other young stars existing around MWC 1080A.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.86-96
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• 2024

This research investigation employs a terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy system to study the terahertz spectral characteristics of five different citrates in both solution and solid state. The citrates under examination are lithium citrate, monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, trisodium citrate, and potassium citrate. The results show that the THz absorption coefficients of the first four citrate solutions exhibit a decreasing trend with increasing concentration. However, the potassium citrate solution shows an opposite phenomenon. At the same time, the absorption coefficients of lithium citrate, trisodium citrate, and potassium citrate solutions are compared at the same concentration. The results indicate that the absorption coefficient of citrate solution increases in proportion to the increase of metal cation radius, which is explained from the perspective of the influence of metal cations on hydrogen bonds. In addition, we also study the absorption peaks of solid citrates, and characterize the formation mechanism of the absorption peaks by molecular dynamics simulations. This methodology can be further extended to the study of multitudinous salts, presenting theoretical foundations for the detection in food and medicine industries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.519-526
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• 2018

In order to analyze space resources, it had to be brought to earth. However, using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy, it is possible to analyze qualitative and quantitative analysis of space minerals in real time. LIBS is a spectroscopic method in which a high energy laser is concentrated on a material surface to generate a plasma, and the emitted light is acquired through a spectroscope to analyze the atomic composition. Raman spectroscopy is a spectroscopic method that analyzes the molecular structure by measuring scattered light. These two spectroscopic methods are complementary spectroscopic methods for analyzing the atoms and molecules of unknown minerals and have an advantage as space payloads. In this study, data were analyzed qualitatively by using principal component analysis(PCA). In addition, a mixture of two minerals was prepared and a quantitative analysis was performed to predict the concentration of the material.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) is a ginseng saponin that is widely investigated because of its remarkable antitumor activity. However, the molecular mechanism by which (20S) G-Rh2 triggers its functions and how target animals avoid its cytotoxic action remains largely unknown. Methods: Phage display was used to screen the human targets of (20S) G-Rh2. Fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy were used to confirm the interaction of candidate target proteins and (20S) G-Rh2. Molecular docking was utilized to calculate the estimated free energy of binding and to structurally visualize their interactions. MTT assay and immunoblotting were used to assess whether human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and bovine serum can reduce the cytotoxic activity of (20S) G-Rh2 in HepG2 cells. Results: In phage display, (20S) G-Rh2-beads and (20R) G-Rh2-beads were combined with numerous kinds of phages, and a total of 111 different human complementary DNAs (cDNA) were identified, including HSA which had the highest rate. The binding constant and number of binding site in the interaction between (20S)-Rh2 and HSA were $3.5{\times}10^5M^{-1}$ and 1, and those in the interaction between (20S) G-Rh2 and BSA were $1.4{\times}10^5M^{-1}$ and 1. The quenching mechanism is static quenching. HSA, BSA and bovine serum significantly reduced the proapoptotic effect of (20S) G-Rh2. Conclusion: HSA and BSA interact with (20S) G-Rh2. Serum inhibited the activity of (20S) G-Rh2 mainly due to the interaction between (20S) G-Rh2 and serum albumin (SA). This study proposes that HSA may enhance (20S) G-Rh2 water solubility, and thus might be used as nanoparticles in the (20S) G-Rh2 delivery process.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2008

To investigate the 3-bond connectivity of human brain metabolites by scalar coupling interaction through 2D-correlation spectroscopy (COSY) techniques using high field NMR spectroscopy. All NMR experiments were performed at 298K on Unity Inova 500 or 600 (Varian Inc.) equipped with a triple resonance probe head with z-shield gradient. Human brain metabolites were prepared with 10% $D_2O$. Two dimensional 2D COSY spectra were acquired with 4096 complex data points in $t_2$ and 128 or 256 increments in $t_1$ dimension. The spectral width was 9615.4 Hz and solvent suppression was achieved using presaturation using low power irradiation of the water resonance during 2s of relaxation delay. NMR data were processed using VNMRJ (Varian Instrument) software and all the chemical shifts were referenced to the methyl resonance of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) peak at 2.0 ppm. Total 10 metabolites such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), myo-inositol (Ins), lactate (Lac), taurine (Tau), ${\gamma}$-aminobutyricacid (GABA), alanine (Ala) were included for major target metabolites. Symmetrical 2D-COSY spectra were successfully acquired. Total 14 COSY cross peaks were observed even though there were parallel/orthogonal noisy peaks induced by water suppression. Except for Cr, all of human brain metabolites produced COSY cross peaks. The spectra of NAA methyl proton at 2.02 ppm and Glu methylene proton ($CH_2(3)$) at 2.11 ppm and Gln methylene proton ($CH_2(3)$) at 2.14 ppm were overlapped in the similar resonance frequency between 2.00 ppm and 2.15 ppm. The present study demonstrated that in vitro 2D-COSY represented the 3-bond connectivity of human brain metabolites by scalar coupling interaction. This study could aid in better understanding the interactions between human brain metabolites in vivo 2D-COSY study. Also it would be helpful to determine the molecular stereochemistry in vivo by using two-dimensional MR spectroscopy.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1353-1356
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• 2009

This study examined the adsorption of CO on a Mo(110) surface by Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS) and synchrotron-radiation based photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES). CO desorption was observed at approximately 400 K ($\alpha$-CO) and > 900 K ($\beta$-CO). When CO was exposed to Mo(110) at 100 K, it showed a tilted structure at low CO coverage and a vertical structure after saturation of the tilted CO. After heating the CO-precovered sample to 900 K, a broad peak at 12 eV below the Fermi level was identified in the valence level spectra, which was assigned to either the 4$\sigma$-molecular orbital of CO, or 2s of dissociated carbon. TDS results of the $\beta$-CO showed a first order desorption. These results are in a good agreement with the observations of CO adsorption on W(110) surfaces.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2018

Terahertz (THz) represents the portion of the electromagnetic radiation between the microwave and the infrared region and is within the frequency range of 0.1-10 THz. The ability of THz waves to pass through a wide variety of packaging materials, combined with their ability to characterize the molecular structure of many substances makes it an attractive tool for the application of food quality and safety management. This review provides current information on application of THz spectroscopy/imaging technology for food quality and safety management. The THz spectroscopy/imaging technology has been shown to be useful for detecting foreign bodies, vitamin/moisture, pesticides, antibiotics, melamine etc. However, major barriers to the adoption of THz spectroscopy/imaging for food quality and safety management include THz signal loss in heterogeneous food matrices, high costs of sources and detectors, and absence of a library for the wide group of food compounds. Further research is needed to overcome these barriers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2005

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) thin films were prepared from the pellets of the graphite doped PTFE via pulsed laser ablation with 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The graphite powder converts the absorbed photon energy into thermal energy which is transmitted to nearby PTFE. The PTFE is decomposed by thermal process. The deposited films were transparent and crystalline. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and AFM (atomic force microscopy) analyses indicated that the film surface morphology changed to fibrous structure with increasing thickness. The fluorine to carbon ratios of the film were 1.7 and molecular axis was parallel with (100) Si-wafer substrate. These results obtained by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), FTIR (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction).