• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2020

Glial cells, including astrocytes and microglia, interact closely with neurons and modulate pain transmission, particularly under pathological conditions. In this study, we examined the excitability of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the spinal dorsal horn using a patch clamp recording to investigate the roles of microglial activation in the nociceptive processes of rats. We used xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO), a generator of superoxide anion (O2·-), to induce a pathological pain condition. X/XO treatment induced an inward current and membrane depolarization. The inward current was significantly inhibited by minocycline, a microglial inhibitor, and fluorocitrate, an astrocyte inhibitor. To examine whether toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in microglia was involved in the inward current, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a highly specific TLR4 agonist. The LPS induced inward current, which was decreased by pretreatment with Tak-242, a TLR4-specific inhibitor, and phenyl N-t-butylnitrone, a reactive oxygen species scavenger. The X/XO-induced inward current was also inhibited by pretreatment with Tak-242. These results indicate that the X/XO-induced inward current of SG neurons occurs through activation of TLR4 in microglial cells, suggesting that neuroglial cells modulate the nociceptive process through central sensitization.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2007

CO oxidation and selective CO oxidation of $La_xCe_{1-x}Co_yCu_{1-y}O_{3-{\alpha}}$ perovskite(x=1, 0.9, 0.7. 0.5; y=1, 0.9, 0.7, 0.5) were investigated. For CO oxidation, catalytic activities were studied according to different preparation conditions such as pH and calcination temperature. The influence of the change of the $O_2$ concentration for selective CO oxidation was studied, too. The substitution of Ce for La improved the catalytic activity for CO oxidation and selective CO oxidation and best activity was observed for $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$ prepared at pH 11 and calcined at $600^{\circ}C$. The temperature of 90% CO conversion for CO oxidation using $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$ was $230^{\circ}C$. In contrast to the enhancement effect by Ce substitution, the partial substitution of Cu for Co in $LaCo_yCu_{1-y}O_{3-{\alpha}}$ decreased catalytic activities for CO oxidation reaction compared to that using $LaCoO_3$. For selective CO oxidation, the best CO conversion was 66% at $230^{\circ}C$ for $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$. The CO conversion of $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$ was greatly increased from 66% to 91% as increasing $O_2$ concentration from 1% to 2%.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2014

We have investigated the passivation property of $SiN_x$ and $SiO_2$ thin films formed using various process conditions for the application of crystalline Si solar cells. An increase in the thickness of $SiN_x$ deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) led to the improvement of passivation quality. This could be associated with the passivation of Si dangling bonds by hydrogen atoms which were supplied during PECVD deposition. The $SiO_2$ thin films grown using dry oxidation process exhibited better passivation behavior than those using wet oxidation process, implying the dry oxidation process was more effective in the formation of high quality $SiO_2$ thin films. The relative effective life time gradually decreased with increasing dry oxidation temperature. Such a degradation of passivation behavior could be attributed to the increase in interface trap density caused by thermal damages.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.347.2-347.2
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• 2016

Recently, in order to improve the performance of the colloidal quantum dot solar cells (CQDSCs), various efforts such as the modification of the cell architecture and surface treatment for quantum dot (QD) passivation have been made. Especially, the incorporation of halides into the QD matrix was reported to improve the performances significantly via passivating QD trap states that lower the life-time of the minority-carrier. In this work, we fabricated a lead sulfide (PbS) QD bilayer treated with different ligands and utilized it as a photoactive layer of the CQDSCs. The bottom and top PbS layer was treated using metal iodide ($MI_x$ and butanedithiol (BuDT), respectively. All the depositions and ligand treatments were carried out in air using layer-by-layer spin-coating process. The fabrication of the active layers as well as the n-type zinc oxide (ZnO) layer was successfully carried out on the bendable indium-tin-oxide (ITO)-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, which implies that this technique can be applied to the fabrication of flexible and/or wearable solar cells. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the CQDSCs with the architecture of $PET/ITO/ZnO/PbS-MI_x/PbS-BuDT/MoO_x/Ag$ reached 4.2 %, which is significantly larger than that of the cells with single QD (PbS-BuDT) layer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10483-10487
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• 2015

Heptaphylline derivatives are carbazoles in Clausena harmandiana, a medicinal plant that is utilized for headache, stomach ache, and other treatments of illness. The present study examined the effects of heptaphylline and 7-methoxyheptaphylline on apoptosis of human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29 cell line). Quantification of cell viability was performed using cell proliferation assay (MTT assay) and of protein expression through immunoblotting. The results showed that only heptaphylline, but not 7-methoxyheptaphylline, significantly significantly activated cleaved of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) which resulted in HT-29 cell death. We found that heptaphylline activated BH3 interacting-domain death agonist (Bid) and Bak, proapoptotic proteins. In contrast, it suppressed X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (XIAP), Bcl-xL and survivin, inhibitors of apoptosis. In addition, heptaphylline inhibited activation of NF-${\kappa}B$/p65 (rel), a regulator of apoptotic regulating proteins by suppressing the activation of Akt and $IKK{\alpha}$, upstream regulators of p65. The findings suggested that heptaphylline induces apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma cells.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 1990

Nickel-hydrogen battery systems with metal hydride alloys are expected to have both higher energy density and lower pollution than nickel-cadmium cells. Nickel-hydrogen storage cells are expected to be well-suited for use in space crafts for a large capacity power storage system. Their major advantages are not only a capability of deep DOD(depth of discharge) using but also with excellent durability under excessive overcharging and overdischarging. In this study, the charge/discharge capacities, anodic polarization characteristics and durability for the continious charge/diacharge cycling of the $Ti_{1-X}Zr_XVNi$ and $Ti_{1-X}Zr_XV_{0.5}Ni_{1.5}$ alloys were measured by electrochemical method. The electrode properties of the copper or nickel plated $Ti_{1-X}Zr_XV_{0.5}Ni_{1.5}$ alloys were examined with a battery charge/discharge testing system in the temperature range of -5 to $25^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2019

Silicon solar cells have been widely used as a most promising renewable energy source due to eco-friendliness and high efficiency. As modules of silicon solar cells are connected in series for a practical electricity generation, a large voltage of 500-1,500 V is applied to the modules inevitably. Potential-induced degradation (PID), a deterioration of the efficiency and maximum power output by the continuously applied high voltage between the module frames and solar cells, has been regarded as the major cause that reduces the lifetime of silicon solar cells. In particular, the migration of the $Na^+$ ions from the front glass into Si through the anti-reflection coating and the accumulation of $Na^+$ ions at stacking faults inside Si have been reported as the reason of PID. In this research, the thickness effect of $SiO_x$ layer that can block the migration of $Na^+$ ions on the reduction of PID is investigated as it is incorporated between anti-reflection coating and p-n junction in p-type PERC solar cells. From the measurement of shunt resistance, efficiency, and maximum power output after the continuous application of 1,000 V for 96 hours, it is revealed that the thickness of $SiO_x$ layer should be larger than 7-8 nm to reduce PID effectively.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 1996

Acinous gland cells (A, B, C, D and E-type cells) and duct cell (G-type cell) are observed in acinus and in duct of salivary gland of Korean Slug respectively by electron microscope. The type-A gland cells are numerous and are packed with medium electron dense granules (diameter, $3{\mu}m$) in cytoplasm. The circular shaped nucleolus and evenly developed chromatins are observed in the nucleus of type-B cell, and cytoplasm includes medium electron dense granules (diameter, $2.5X3.7{\mu}m$). The type-C gland cell has a round nucleus, and thin elongated-shaped heterochromatins are evenly distributed in the nucleoplasm and many net shaped endoplasmic reticulums and oval serous granules of middle electron density (diameter, $3.5X5{\mu}m$) fill the cytoplasm. The type-D gland cell is the largest and the most numerous of the gland cells consisting the salivary gland and heterochromatins in nucleus are well developed in the nucleoplasm. Most of granules (diameter, $0.8X2.5{\mu}m$) in cytoplasm are round, and look dark for the high electron density, and cytoplasm is filled with net-shaped endoplasmic reticulums. The type-E gland cells are rarely existent around the salivary gland, and the granules of those cells are irregular in shape and size and are vacuolized in cytoplasm. Intralobular salivary duct is composed of the high electron dense squamus endotheliums, while the other interlobular salivary duct is filled with irregular columnar epitheliums. The interlobular duct cell contains the high electron dense granules (size, $0.3{\sim}1.5{\mu}m$) in cytoplasm and those granules are secreted into cilia of salivary lumen.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2014

Mixed ionic and electronic conducting $K_2NiF_4$-type oxide, $Nd_{2-x}Sr_xNiO_{4+\delta}$ (x = 0, 0.4, 0.6) powders were synthesized by a solid-state reaction technique and solid oxide fuel cells consisting of a $Nd_{2-x}Sr_xNiO_{4+\delta}-GDC$ cathode, a Ni-YSZ anode and 8YSZ as an electrolyte were fabricated. The effect of strontium substitution for neodymium on the electrical and electrochemical properties was examined. The electrical conductivity increased with an increase in the Sr doping content, while it appears that the excess oxygen (${\delta}$) decreased. Sr doping into $Nd_2NiO_{4+\delta}$ resulted in an increase in the cathode polarization resistance and an decrease in the power density of the cell. These phenomena may be associated with the decreased amount of excess oxygen noted in the $Nd_{2-x}Sr_xNiO_{4+\delta}$ cathode.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 1997

A murine leukemia x LM fibroblast hybrid cell line with immune augmenting properties stimulated resistance to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in mouse peritoneal macrophages, and in immune deficient beige mice (C57BL/6/bgj/bgj). The proliferation of MAC in mouse peritoneal macrophages was inhibited by medium conditioned by the growth of the hybrid cells (hybrid cell-CM). Under similar circumstances, media conditioned by the growth of LM cells (LM cell-CM), a mouse fibroblast cell line used as one parent in forming the hybrid cell, was exhibited no inhibitory effect. Treatment of mouse peritoneal macrophages with hybrid cell-CM, but not with LM cell-CM, stimulated the expression of each of four previously described macrophage activation antigens, suggesting that the hybrid cells formed immunomodulators in addition to those formed by LM cells. Furthermore, the morphology of the macrophages following treatment with hybrid cell-CM was clearly distinguishable from that following exposure of the cells to LM cell-CM. The therapeutic effects of hybrid cells on the progression of MAC-infection were indicated by the prolonged survival of MAC-infected immune-deficient beige mice. One hundred percent of treated animals survived more than 60 days, while untreated animals died in approximately 22 days.