• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 2015

Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-250 in 'herbal incense' also called 'spice' were first introduced in many countries. Numerous synthetic cannabinoids with similar chemical structures emerged simultaneously and suddenly. Currently there are not sufficient data on their adverse effects including neurotoxicity. There are only anecdotal reports that suggest their toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the neurotoxicity of two synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-081 and JWH-210) through observation of various behavioral changes and analysis of histopathological changes using experimental mice with various doses (0.1, 1, 5 mg/kg). In functional observation battery (FOB) test, animals treated with 5 mg/kg of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed traction and tremor. Their locomotor activities and rotarod retention time were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. However, no significant change was observed in learning or memory function. In histopathological analysis, neural cells of the animals treated with the high dose (5 mg/kg) of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed distorted nuclei and nucleus membranes in the core shell of nucleus accumbens, suggesting neurotoxicity. Our results suggest that JWH-081 and JWH-210 may be neurotoxic substances through changing neuronal cell damages, especially in the core shell part of nucleus accumbens. To confirm our findings, further studies are needed in the future.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2008

Nano core shell structures of $TiO_2$ particles coated on surface of ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by the polymerized complex and sol-gel method. The average particle size of ZnO by the polymerized complex method showed 100 nm and the average particle size of $TiO_2$ by the sol-gel method showed below 10 nm. The average particle size of $ZnO@TiO_2$ nano core shell struture represented about 150 nm. The agglomeration between the ZnO particles using the polymerized complex method was highly controlled by the uniform absorption of $TiO_2$ colloid on the spherical ZnO surfaces. The driving force of heterogeneous bonding between ZnO and $TiO_2$ was induced by the Coulomb force. The ZnO and $TiO_2$ particles electrified with + and - charges, respectively, resulted in strong bonding by the difference of iso-electric point (IEP) when they laid neutrality pH area, depending on the heterogeneous surface electron electrified by the different zeta potential on the pH values.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2002

The effect of block sequence on the self-assembly of ABC-type triblock copolymers in the ordered state is investigated using an isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamics simulation. The block sequence has an important effect ,on the ]norphology of ABC triblock copolymers. Different morphologies are observed depending on the block sequence as well as the block composition. The triblock copolymers with the volume fraction of 1 : 1 : 1 ($f_A$=$f_B$=$f_C$= 0.33) show the three phase and four layered lamellar structures irrespective of the block sequence. The $A_{32}$$B_{16}$$C_{32}$triblock copolymer with $f_B$=0.2 shows a morphology In which cylinders of midblock B are formed at the interface between A and C lamellae, whereas the morphology of triblock copolymer $B_{16}$$C_{32}$ $A_{32}$ and $C_{32}$ $A_{32}$ $B_{16}$ show a cylindrical core-shell structure and a lamellar type morphology, respectively. The $A_{20}$$B_{40}$$C_{20}$the triblock copolymer with the block B as a major component shows a tricontinuous structure, whereas both $B_{40}$$C_{20}$$A_{20}$ and $C_{20}$$A_{20}$$B_{40}$ triblock coolymers exhibit the lamellar structures. When the block B has larger volrome fraction with $f_B$=0.75, the matrix is composed of block B, and other two blocks A and C form spherical domains.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2001

Magnetic Fe-Co(C) nanocapsules and Fe-Co nanoparticles were prepared by arc-discharge in two kinds of atmospheres, i.e. methane and a mixture of ($H_2$+Ar), respectively. Characterization and magnetic properties of this two kinds of ultrafine particles were investigated systematically by means of X-ray diffraction, Mssbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy disperse spectroscopy analysis, chemical analysis, oxygen determination and magnetization measurement. Effects of carbon element, decomposed from a methane atmosphere in carbon arc process, on phase structures, magnetic states and surface characterization were studied in comparison to that of Ar element. Two ultrafine particles showed a little difference in the weight ratio of (Fe/co) and the size for Fe-Co nanoparticles was about two times bigger than Fe-Co(C) nanocapsules. The saturation magnetization of Fe-Co (C) nanocapsules was about 8% higher than that of Fe-Co nanoparticles while their phase constitutions were similar. Although no carbon could be detected by XRD measurement because of extremely thin shells on the surfaces of the cores, it is still believed that they are carbon and oxygen layers.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

In this article, I will introduce recent developments of environmental-friendly materials fabricated using atomic layer deposition (ALD). Advantages of ALD include fine control of the thin film thickness and formation of a homogeneous thin fim on complex-structured three-dimensional substrates. Such advantages of ALD can be exploited for fabricating environmental-friendly materials. Porous membranes such as anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) can be used as a substrate for $TiO_2$ coating with a thickness of about 10 nm, and the $TiO_2$-coated AAO can be used as filter of volatile organic compound such as toluene. The unique structural property of AAO in combination with a high adsorption capacity of amorphous $TiO_2$ can be exploited in this case. $TiO_2$ can be also deposited on nanodiamonds and Ni powder, which can be used as photocatalyst for degradation of toluene, and $CO_2$ reforming of methane catalyst, respectively. One can produce structures, in which the substrates are only partially covered by $TiO_2$ domains, and these structures turns out to be catalytically more active than bare substrates, or complete core-shell structures. We show that the ALD can be widely used not only in the semiconductor industry, but also environmental science.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.573-580
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• 2004

To prepare chitosan-based polymeric amphiphiles that can form nanosized core-shell structures (nanopar­ticles) in aqueous milieu, chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs) were modified chemically with hydrophobic cholesterol groups. The physicochemical properties of the hydrophobized COSs (COSCs) were investigated by using dynamic light scattering and fluorescence spectroscopy. The feasibility of applying the COSCs to biomedical applications was investigated by introducing them into a gene delivery system. The COSCs formed nanosized self-aggregates in aqueous environments. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of the COSC nanoparticles were closely related to the molecular weights of the COSs and the number of hydrophobic groups per COS chain. The critical aggregation concentration values decreased upon increasing the hydrophobicity of the COSCs. The COSCs effi­ciently condensed plasmid DNA into nanosized ion-complexes, in contrast to the effect of the unmodified COSs. An investigation of gene condensation, performed using a gel retardation assay, revealed that $COS6(M_n=6,040 Da)$ containing $5\%$ of cholesteryl chloroformate (COS6C5) formed a stable DNA complex at a COS6C5/DNA weight ratio of 2. In contrast, COS6, the unmodified COS, failed to form a stable COS/DNA complex even at an elevated weight ratio of 8. Furthermore, the COS6C5/DNA complex enhanced the in vitro transfection efficiency on Human embryonic kidney 293 cells by over 100 and 3 times those of COS6 and poly(L-lysine), respectively. Therefore, hydrophobized chitosan oligosaccharide can be considered as an efficient gene carrier for gene delivery systems.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.729-732
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• 2012

Herein we report the in-situ synthesis and direct decoration of chalcogenide naoparticles (NPs) onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through an ionic liquid-assisted sonochemical method (ILASM). The as-obtained MWCNT/$BMimBF_4$/CdTe, MWCNT/$BMimBF_4$/ZnTe and MWCNT/$BMimBF_4$/ZnSe nanocomposites were characterized by TEM images and EDS spectra. In particular, the morphologies of nanocomposites such as bump-like, rough, and smooth core-shell structures were strongly influenced by the type of precursors and the interactions with MWCNT. This synthetic strategy opens a new way to directly synthesize and deposit semiconducting NPs (s-NPs) onto CNTs, which consist of binary components obtained from two precursors with different reaction rates.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.435-440
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to find the optimal stiffness and volume of bone cement and their biomechanical effects on the adjacent vertebrae to determine a better strategy for conducting vertebroplasty. Methods : A three-dimensional finite-element model of a functional spinal unit was developed using computed tomography scans of a normal motion segment, comprising the T11, T12 and L1 vertebrae. Volumes of bone cement, with appropriate mechanical properties, were inserted into the trabecular core of the T12 vertebra. Parametric studies were done by varying the volume and stiffness of the bone cement. Results : When the bone cement filling volume reached 30% of the volume of a vertebral body, the level of stiffness was restored to that of normal bone, and when higher bone cement exceeded 30% of the volume, the result was stiffness in excess of that of normal bone. When the bone cement volume was varied, local stress in the bony structures (cortical shell, trabecular bone and endplate) of each vertebra monotonically increased. Low-modulus bone cement has the effect of reducing strain in the augmented body, but only in cases of relatively high volumes of bone cement (>50%). Furthermore, varying the stiffness of bone cement has a negligible effect on the stress distribution of vertebral bodies. Conclusion : The volume of cement was considered to be the most important determinant in endplate fracture. Changing the stiffness of bone cement has a negligible effect on the stress distribution of vertebral bodies.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.615-620
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• 2013

There is considerable interest in developing energy sources capable of larger power densities. In our previous works, we proved that by coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with 1D nanostructures, a self-propagating reactive wave can be driven along its length with a concomitant electrical pulse of high specific power, which we identified as a thermopower wave. Herein, we discuss details about many different aspects of a thermopower wave. Different alignment degree in vertically aligned CNT films is evaluated in the reactive wave speed and correlated with its thermal reaction that affects the change in the magnitude of energy generation. The effects of the temperature-dependent properties of chemical fuels and CNTs are evaluated. Furthermore, we explore the convection and radiation portions in this thermal wave as well as the synchronization between the thermal reaction transfer and the oscillation of the electrical signal.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.217-217
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• 2011

Recently, demand for thermally stable metal nanoparticles suitable for chemical reactions at high temperatures has increased to the point to require a solution to nanoparticle coalescence. Thermal stability of metal nanoparticles can be achieved by adopting core-shell models and encapsulating supported metal nanoparticles with mesoporous oxides [1,2]. However, to understand the role of metal-support interactions on catalytic activity and for surface analysis of complex structures, we developed a novel catalyst design by coating an ultra-thin layer of titania on Pt supported silica ($SiO_2/Pt@TiO_2$). This structure provides higher metal dispersion (~52% Pt/silica), high thermal stability (~600$^{\circ}C$) and maximization of the interaction between Pt and titania. The high thermal stability of $SiO_2/Pt@TiO_2$ enabled the investigation of CO oxidation studies at high temperatures, including ignition behavior, which is otherwise not possible on bare Pt nanoparticles due to sintering [3]. It was found that this hybrid catalyst exhibited a lower activation energy for CO oxidation because of the metal-support interaction. The concept of an ultra-thin active metal oxide coating on supported nanoparticles opens-up new avenues for synthesis of various hybrid nanocatalysts with combinations of different metals and oxides to investigate important model reactions at high-temperatures and in industrial reactions.