• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.711-716
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the modulation method affects the effectiveness of eliciting tactile sensations by electrical stimulation. Two methods were employed and the results were compared and analyzed; pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and pulse width modulation (PWM). Thirty-five healthy subjects participated in the experiments to measure the stimulation intensity that began to elicit a tactile sensation - activation threshold (AT). Constant-current monophasic rectangular pulse trains were employed, and the stimulation intensity was varied from zero until the subject felt any uncomfortable sensation. The step size of the stimulation intensity was 100nC/pulse. After each experiment, the subject described the sensation both quantitatively and qualitatively. The two modulation methods did not make a significant difference as far as the AT values were concerned, but most of the subjects showed 'intra-individual' consistency. Also, it was confirmed that our range of the stimulation parameters enabled us to obtain three major tactile sensations; tickling, pressure and vibration. The results suggested that the stimulation parameters and the modulation type should be selected for each individual and that selective electrical stimulation of the mechanoreceptors needs more diversified researches on the electrode design, multi-channel stimulation protocol, waveforms of the pulse train, etc.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.358-363
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• 2008

The intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure has recently been utilized to produce transgenic animals and may serve as an alternative to the conventional pronuclear microinjection in species such as pigs whose ooplasm is opaque and pronuclei are often invisible. In this study, the effects of sperm membrane disruption and electrical activation of oocytes on in vitro development and expression of transgene green fluorescent protein (GFP) in ICSI embryos were tested to refine this recently developed procedure. Prior to ICSI, sperm heads were treated with Triton X-100+NaCl or Triton X-100+NaCl+NaOH, to disrupt membrane to be permeable to exogenous DNA, and incubated with linearized pEGFP-N1 vector. To induce activation of oocytes, a single DC pulse of 1.3 kV/cm was applied to oocytes for $30{\mu}sec$. After ICSI was performed with the aid of a micromanipulator, in vitro development of embryos and GFP expression were monitored. The chemical treatment to disrupt sperm membrane did not affect the developmental competence of embryos. 40 to 60% of oocytes were cleaved after injection of sperm heads with disrupted membrane, whereas 48.6% (34/70) were cleaved without chemical treatment. Regardless of electrical stimulation to induce activation, oocytes were cleaved after ICSI, reflecting that, despite sperm membrane disruption, the perinuclear soluble sperm factor known to mediate oocyte activation remained intact. After development to the 4-cell stage, 11.8 (2/17, Triton X-100+NaCl+NaOH) to 58.8% (10/17, Triton X-100+NaCl) of embryos expressed GFP. The expression of GFP beyond the stage of embryonic genome activation (4-cell stage in the pig) indicates that the exogenous DNA might have been integrated into the porcine genome. When sperm heads were co-incubated with exogenous DNA following the treatment of Triton X-100+NaCl, GFP expression was observed in high percentage (58.8%) of embryos, suggesting that transgenic pigs may efficiently be produced using ICSI.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.241-245
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate nuclear remodeling and developmental rate following nuclear transfer of fetal fibroblast cells, ear skin cells and oviduct epithelial cells into porcine recipient oocytes. To test par-thenogenetic activation, oocytes were treated with a 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), a single DC-pulse (DC), calcium ionomycin (ionomycin), DC+6-DMAP and ionomycin + 6-DMAP after in vitro maturation. For nuclear transfer, in vitro matured oocytes were enucleated, and donor cells were transferred into oocytes. Cloned embryos were fused and stimulated with 6-DMAP for 4 h and cultured in vitro for 6 days. Among treatments for parthenogenesis, the activation rate of DC +6-DMAP treatment was significantly higher than that of single treatment roups (p<0.01), except for DC treatment group. However, the difference was not significant in activation rate compared to other complex treatment groups. Nuclear swelling of the cloned embryos was initiated at 60 min after stimulation and increased afterwards. Fusion rates were not different among different donor cells. Cleavage rates of DC treatment groups were significantly higher than those of DC+6-DMAP treatment groups (p<0.05) in case that fetal fibroblast and ear cells were used for nuclear donor. The cloned embryos from developed to blastocysts in oviduct epithelial cell nuclear transfer with DC+6-DMAP treatment was significantly higher compared to those with DC only treatment (p<0.05). However, no blastocyst was developed from nuclear transfer of fetal fibroblast and ear cells regardless of activation treatments. Based on these results, a proper activation stimulation may be necessary to increase the activation rate and the development to blastocyst in cloned porcine embryos.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2013년도 제44회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.420-420
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• 2013

We investigated oxygen plasma effect on defect states near the interface of AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) structure grown on a silicon substrate. After the plasma treatment, electrical properties were evaluated using a frequency dependant Capacitance-Voltage (C-V) and a temperature dependant C-V measurements, and a deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) method to study the change of defect densities. In the depth profile resulted from the temperature dependant C-V, a sudden decrease in the carrier concentration for two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) nearby 250 K was observed. In C-V measurement, the interface states were improved in case of the oxygen-plasma treated samples, whereas the interface was degraded in case of the nitrogen-plasma treated sample. In the DLTS measurement, it was observed the two kinds of defects well known in AlGaN/GaN structure grown on sapphire substrate, which have the activation energies of 0.15 eV, 0.25 eV below the conduction band. We speculate that this defect state in AlGaN/GaN on the silicon substrate is caused from the decrease in 2DEG's carrier concentrations. We compared the various DLTS signals with filling pulse times to identify the characteristics of the newly found defect. In the filling pulse time range under the 80 us, the activation energies changed as the potential barrier model. On the other hand, in the filling pulse time range above the 80 us, the activation energies changed as the extended potential model. Therefore, we suggest that the found defect in the AlGaN/GaN/Si structure could be the extended defect related with AlGa/N/GaN interface states.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.13-16
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• 1963

Thermal neutron activation analysis was applied to determine the trace amount of Vanadium and Manganese in Buyo and Kumsan Ginseng. These elements have been regarded to have great nutritional value and one of the indispensable factor in the growth of ginseng. The TRIGA MARK II Reactor in Atomic Energy Research Institute was used for the neutron source. The samples were irradiated for 10 minutes for Vanadium and for 5 minutes for Manganese at the neutron flux of about $1.28{\times}10^{12}n/cm^2/sec$ and the RCL 256 Channel Pulse-Height Analyzer connected with $2"{\times}2"$ Nal(Tl) was used for activity determination. The amounts were about 0.02 ppm for Vanadium and 20 ppm for Manganese, and it was also found that the amounts of the elements were slightly different depending on the kinds of ginsengs.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.133-133
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• 2003

Recently, sperm has been used as a vector to carry exogenous genes for the production of transgenic animals. However, the success in cattle is low, due to deficiencies in oocyte activation and sperm decondensation caused by high disulphide bond (S=S) content in mature sperm. This study was carried out to develop an effective method for producing transgenic animals with round spermatids (RS). Two methods of embryo production - electric fusion (EC) or intracyto-plasmic injection (IC) and three activation treatments were compared. RS were isolated from bull testes by Percoll density gradients (20, 35, 40, 45 and 90%). Fusion between ooplast and RS was performed with a single DC electric pulse (1.0 KV/cm, 45 sec) in 0.28 M mannitol solution supplemented with 100 M CaCl2 and 100 M MgCl$_2$. (중략)

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.327-332
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• 2020

Laser induced surface activation (LISA) technology requires refined selection of process variables to fabricate conductive microcircuits on a general polymer material. Among the process variables, laser mode is one of the crucial factors to make a reliable conductor pattern. Here we compare the continuous wave (CW) laser mode with the pulse wave (PW) laser mode through determination of the surface roughness and circuit accuracy. In the CW laser mode, the surface roughness is pronounced during the implementation of the conductive circuit, which results in uneven plating. In the PW laser mode, the surface is relatively smooth and uniform, and the formed conductive circuit layer has few defects with excellent adhesion to the polymer material. As a result of a change of laser mode from CW to PW, the value of Ra of the polymer material decreases from 0.6 ㎛ to 0.2 ㎛; the value of Ra after the plating process decreases from 0.8 ㎛ to 0.4 ㎛, and a tight bonding force between the polymer source material and the conductive copper plating layer is achieved. In conclusion, this study shows that the PW laser process yields an excellent conductive circuit on a polymeric material.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권8호
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• pp.486-495
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• 2023

Lipofuscins are oxidized lipid and protein complexes that accumulate during cellular senescence and tissue aging, regarded as markers for cellular oxidative damage, tissue aging, and certain aging-associated diseases. Therefore, understanding their cellular biological properties is crucial for effective treatment development. Through traditional microscopy, lipofuscins are readily observed as fluorescent granules thought to accumulate in lysosomes. However, lipofuscin granule formation and accumulation in senescent cells are poorly understood. Thus, this study examined lipofuscin accumulation in human fibroblasts exposed to various stressors. Our results substantiate that in glucose-starved or replicative senescence cells, where elevated oxidative stress levels activate autophagy, lipofuscins predominately appear as granules that co-localize with autolysosomes due to lysosomal acidity or impairment. Meanwhile, autophagosome formation is attenuated in cells experiencing oxidative stress induced by a doxorubicin pulse and chase, and lipofuscin fluorescence granules seldom manifest in the cytoplasm. As Torin-1 treatment activates autophagy, granular lipofuscins intensify and dominate, indicating that autophagy activation triggers their accumulation. Our results suggest that high oxidative stress activates autophagy but fails in lipofuscin removal, leaving an abundance of lipofuscin-filled impaired autolysosomes, referred to as residual bodies. Therefore, future endeavors in treating lipofuscin pathology-associated diseases and dysfunctions through autophagy activation demand meticulous consideration.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.79-82
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• 1984

This study concerns about catalyic cracking of iso-octane over cation ($Cd^{2+},\;Ca^{2+}\;and\;La^{3+}$) exchange mordenites. It deals with mordenite shape selectivity and with kinetics of this catalytic reaction. The striking feature was that over the region of cracking temperature investigated, 523-665K, the yield of isobutene was predominant, relative to that of larger or smaller carbon chain(s). This permits kinetic analysis of the heterogeneous catalytic system in terms of the modified pulse-version microcatalytic chromatography. The observed activation energy ($E_a,\;KJ\;mol^{-1}$) was found to be 46 for Cd-M, 57 for Ca-M and 59 for La-M, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.75-82
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• 2017

The effects of acepromazine on human ether-$\grave{a}$-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels were investigated using whole-cell voltage-clamp technique in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells transfected with hERG. The hERG currents were recorded with or without acepromazine, and the steady-state and peak tail currents were analyzed for the evaluating the drug effects. Acepromazine inhibited the hERG currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of $1.5{\mu}M$ and Hill coefficient of 1.1. Acepromazine blocked hERG currents in a voltage-dependent manner between -40 and +10 mV. Before and after application of acepromazine, the half activation potentials of hERG currents changed to hyperpolarizing direction. Acepromazine blocked both the steady-state hERG currents by depolarizing pulse and the peak tail currents by repolarizing pulse; however, the extent of blocking by acepromazine in the repolarizing pulse was more profound than that in the depolarizing pulse, indicating that acepromazine has a high affinity for the open state of the channels, with a relatively lower affinity for the closed state of hERG channels. A fast application of acepromazine during the tail currents inhibited the open state of hERG channels in a concentration-dependent. The steady-state inactivation of hERG currents shifted to the hyperpolarized direction by acepromazine. These results suggest that acepromazine inhibits the hERG channels probably by an open- and inactivated-channel blocking mechanism. Regarding to the fact that the hERG channels are the potential target of drug-induced long QT syndrome, our results suggest that acepromazine can possibly induce a cardiac arrhythmia through the inhibition of hERG channels.