• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.405-410
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• 2016

Auxins are essential in plant growth and development. The auxin-stimulated elongation of plant cells has been explained by the "acid-growth theory", which was proposed forty years ago. According to this theory, the auxin activates plasma membrane $H^+-ATPase$ to induce proton extrusion into the apoplast, promoting cell expansion through the activation of cell wall-loosening proteins such as expansins. Even though accepted as the classical theory of auxin-induced cell growth for decades, the major signaling components comprising this model were unknown, until publication of recent reports. The major gap in the acid growth theory is the signaling mechanism by which auxin activates the plasma membrane $H^+-ATPase$. Recent genetic, molecular, and biochemical approaches reveal that several auxin-related molecules, such as TIR1/AFB AUX/IAA coreceptors and SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR), serve as important components of the acid-growth model, phosphorylating and subsequently activating the plasma membrane $H^+-ATPase$. These researches reestablish the four-decade-old theory by providing us the detailed signaling mechanism of auxininduced cell growth. In this review, we discuss the recent research progress in auxin-induced cell elongation, and a set of possible future works based on the reestablished acid-growth model.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 1994

Stem tissues of tomato plants (cv. Kwanyang) inoculated with Phytophthora capsici were examined by light and electron microscopy to compare early cytological differences between comaptible and incompatible interactions of tomatoes with the fungus. Twenty four hours after inoculation, the compatible isolate S 197 colonized severely the epidermis, cortex, and xylem vessels of stem tissue, whereas only few fungal cells colonized the stem tissues inoculated with the incompatible isolate CBS 178.26. Fragmented plasma membrane, distorted chloroplast, degraded cell wall, remnants of host cytoplasm were early ultrastructural features of the damaged host cell observed both in the compatible and incompatible interaction, a number of vesicles were distributed in the space between fungal cell walls and plasma membrane. The degradation of host cell walls by P. capsici was more pronounced in the compatible than the incompatible interactions. The incompatible interactions of tomato cells with P. capsici were characterized by formation of host cell wall apposition in the cortical parenchyma cells, indicating that the apposition of electron-dense material from the host cell walls may function as a plant defense reaction to the fungus. The fungal cells encased by wall appositions had abnormal cytoplasm and separated plasma membranes. The haustorium which formed from the fungal hyphae did not further penetrate through the host wall apposition and cytoplasmic aggregation, especially in the incompatible reactions. In contrast, the haustorium of the compatible isolate S 197 was not encased by wall appositions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.505-509
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• 2016

We have investigated the characteristics of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell by inserting barrier layer. The conversion efficiency of a-Si thin-film solar cells on graphite substrate shows nearly zero because of the surface roughness of the graphite substrate. To enhance the performance of solar cells, the surface morphology of the back side were modified by changing the barrier layer on graphite. The surface roughness of graphite substrate with the barrier layer grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reduced from ~2 um to ~75 nm. In this study, the combination of the barrier layer on graphite substrate is important to increase solar cell efficiency. We achieved ~ 7.8% cell efficiency for an a-Si thin-film solar cell on graphite substrate with SiNx/SiOx stack barrier layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.227-227
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• 1999

Plasma display panel(PDP) is a leading technology for large-area flat panel displays. A current issue in operating the PDP cell is that the efficiency of the PDP cell is very low. To increase the efficiency of the PDP cell, the visible light needs to be maximized and the power consumption minimized. Since the excited xenons are related to the production of the visible light, it is important to optimize the cell geometry and the gas composition that produce the excited xenons more efficiently. A 2D-fluid code (FL2P) is developed and used to simulate the plasma dynamics and the radiation transport in the PDP cell. The cell is optimized with the code for various operating conditions and cell dimensions such as the voltage pulse, electrode length, electrode spacing, gap size, dielectric constant, gas mixture ratio, pressure, and pulse duration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.153-153
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• 2015

Application of the plasma is already highlighted as a new technology in the last few years. In these days, there are lots of attempt in various application with plasma in that it is known as an effective treatment to animal, plants, material and so on. Plasma in liquid, one of new plasma applications, has advantages in ability to treat bio-cell or solutions. For example, electro-surgery, water purification, radical generation and so on. Especially, plasma discharge in solutions is very useful technique and difficult to generate due to electrolysis, vaporization and something else. In this study, we have performed plasma discharge and checked sustainability of plasma in solution(saline 0.9%). And we have measured basic characteristics of plasma in liquid. Such as electrical energy and plasma density are calculated from discharging current and voltage. Also, its thermal energy is measured with IR camera.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2015

Plasma is an ionized gas mixture, consisting of neutral particles, positive ions, negative electrons, electronically excited atoms and molecules, radicals, UV photons, and various reactive species. Also, plasma has unique physical properties distinct from gases, liquids, and solids. Until now, non-thermal plasmas have been widely utilized in bio-medical applications (called bio-plasma) and have been developed for the plasma-related devices that are used in the medical field. Although numerous bio-plasma studies have been performed in biomedicine, there is no confirmation of the nonthermal effect induced by bio-plasma. Standardization of the biological application of plasma has not been evaluated at the molecular level in living cells. In this context, we investigated the biological effect of bio-plasma on living cells. Hence, we treated the fibroblasts with Dielectric Bauvier Discharge bio-plasma (DBD), and assessed the characteristic change at the molecular level, one of the typical cellular responses. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) regulates its own protein level in response to stimuli. HSP70 responds to heat shock by increasing its own expression at the molecular level in cells. Hence, we confirmed the level of HSP70 after treatment of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with DBD. Interestingly, DBD-plasma induced cell death, but there was no difference in the level of HSP70, which is induced by heat shock stimuli, in DBD-treated MEFs. Our data provide the basic information on the interaction between MEFs and DBD, and can help to design a molecular approach in this field.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.710-714
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• 2011

In present work, $La_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}CrO_{3}$(LCC), $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}CrO_{3}$(LSC) and $La_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}CrO_{0.9}Co_{0.1}O_{3}$(LCCC) ceramic interconnect layer for SOFC were prepared by using thermal plasma spray coating process. The LCC, LSC and LCCC powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), particle counter and BET analysis. In addition, basic and essential properties such as the surface morphology, cross section, gas leak rate, and electrical conductivity of LCC, LSC, and LCCC layers coated by thermal plasma spray coating process were analyzed and discussed. Based on these experimental results, it can be concluded that the LCCC layer coated by thermal plasma spray coating process can be suitable as a ceramic interconnect of SOFC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.476-476
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• 2012

Although plasma is an efficient means of microbial sterilization, mechanism of plasma effect on microorganisms still needs to be clarified. In addition, a limited number of studies are available on eukaryotic microorganisms such as yeast and fungi in relation to plasma application. Thus, we investigated cellular and molecular aspects of plasma effects on a filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa by making use of argon plasma jet at atmospheric pressure. The viability and cell morphology of N. crassa spores exposed to plasma were both significantly reduced depending on the exposure time when treated in water. The intracellular genomic DNA content was dramatically reduced in fungal tissues after a plasma treatment and the transcription factor tah-3 was found to be required for fungal tolerance to a harsh plasma environment.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.60 no.12
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• pp.2276-2280
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• 2011

An indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is normally used as a substrate in organic photovoltaic cells. We examined the effects of an oxygen ($O_2$) plasma treatment on the electrical properties of an organic photovoltaic cell. Experiments with four-point probe method and atomic force microscope revealed the lowest surface resistance of 17.64 ${\Omega}$/sq and the lowest average surface roughness of 1.39 nm at the plasma treatment power of 250 W. A device structure of ITO/CuPc/$C_{60}$/BCP/$Cs_2CO_3$/Al was fabricated by thermal evaporation with and without the plasma treated ITO substrate. It was found that the power conversion efficiency of the cell with the plasma treated ITO is 65 % higher than the one without the plasma treated ITO.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2005

It has been suggested that the elevated plasma homocysteine may lead to retinal dysfunction. We investigated the effects of plasma levels of homocysteine and folate on the retinal glial cells' injuries. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were raised either on a control diet or on an experimental diet containing 3.0 g/kg homocystine without folic acid for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were measured by a HPLC-fluorescence detection method. Plasma folate and vitamin B/sub 12/ levels were analyzed by a radioimmunoassay. The response of Muller cells which are the principal glial cells of the retina was immunohistochemically examined using an antibody for vimentin, a cytoskeletal protein belonging to the family of intermediate filament. At 2 weeks, the homocystine diet induced a twofold increase in plasma homocysteine, and a concomitant increase in the expression of vimentin in the Muller cells' processes spanning from the inner to outer membranes of the retina indicating arterial degeneration. At 10 weeks, the homocystine diet induced a fourfold increase in plasma homocystine, but vimentin immunoreactivity in the retinas was similar in both groups. In conclusion, increased plasma homocysteine levels have influence on morphological and functional changes of Muller cells in the retina. (Korean J Nutrition 38(2): 96～103, 2005)