• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.595-604
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• 2000

Flow-Accelerated Corrosion Behavior of SA106 Gr.C steel in room temperature alkaline solution simulating the CANDU primary water condition was studied using Rotating Cylinder Electrode. Systems of RCE were set up and electrochemical parameters were applied at various rotating speeds. Corrosion current density decreased up to pH 10.4 then it increased rapidly at higher pH. This is due to the increasing tendency of cathodic and anodic exchange half-cell current. Corrosion potential shifted slightly upward with rotating velocity. Passive film was formed from pH 9.8 by the mechanism of step oxidation and the subsequent precipitation of ferrous species into hydroxyl compound. Above pH 10.4, the film formation process was active and the film became stable. Corrosion current density showed increment in pH 6.98 with the rotating velocity, while it soon saturated from 1000 rpm above pH 9.8. This seems that activation process which represents formation of passive film on the bare metal surface controls the entire corrosion process

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.801-804
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• 2004

It should be noted that the critical chloride threshold level is not considered to be a unique value for all conditions. This value is dependent on concrete mixture proportions, cement type and constituents, presence of admixtures, environmental factors, steel reinforcement surface conditions, and other factors. In this study, the accelerated corrosion test for reinforcing steel was conducted by electrochemical and sea water-circulated method, respectively and during the test, corrosion monitoring by half cell potential method was carried out to estimate the critical chloride threshold value when corrosion for reinforcing steel in concrete was perceived. For this purpose, lollypop and beam test specimens were made for $31.4\%,\;41.5\%\;and\;49.7\%$ of w/c. respectively and then the accelerated corrosion test for reinforcing steel was executed. It was observed from the test that the time to initiation of corrosion was found to be different with water-cement ratio and the critical chloride threshold value was found to range from 0.91 to $1.27kg/m^3$.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1785-1787
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• 2016

Granular cell tumor (GCT) of the oral cavity is a benign lesion. Half of oral GCTs demonstrate pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia (PCH) of the mucosa which can mimic invasive islands of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Such similarity can be confusing when diagnosing or evaluating the two conditions, potentially leading to misdiagnosis or misclassification. Indeed, several misdiagnosed cases of oral GCT have been reported in the literature as OSCC or malignant oral GCT that resulted in unnecessary aggressive treatment for the affected patients. The aim of this study was to investigate if the cytokeratin pattern of the PCH can help in differentiating GCT from oral SCC. To distinguish between these two entities, we examined 12 patient specimens of oral GCT-PCH and oral SCC histologically and via immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CK13, CK17 and P75. The results suggest that the cytokeratin profile of PCH is similar to that of oral SCC. Therefore, consideration of IHC findings for epithelial markers alone may lead to erroneous diagnosis; thus, the presence of the granular tumor underneath the PCH and its immunopositivity for P75 or other neural definition markers can be essential to identify the underlying tumor and exclude oral SCC. Finally we recommend more studies on the molecular biology of PCH to understand how it can mimic oral SCC histologically without harboring its malignant phenotype clinically, which could have significant translational potential for understanding invasive oral SCC.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2014

In this research, we investigate electrical performance and electrochemical properties of carbon supported Pt (Pt/C) that is synthesized by polyol method. With the Polyol_Pt/C that is adopted for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), their catalytic activity and ORR performance and electrical performance are estimated and compared with commercial Pt/C(Johnson Mattey) catalyst. Their electrochemically active surface (EAS) area are measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. On the other hand, regarding ORR activity and electrical performance of the catalysts, (i) linear sweeping voltammetry by rotating disk electrode and (ii) PEMFC single cell tests are used. The CV measurement demonstrate EAS of Polyol_Pt/C is compared with commercial JM_Pt/C. In case of Polyol_Pt/C, its half-wave potential, kinetic current density are excellent. Based on data obtained by half-cell test, when PEMFC single cell tests are carried out, current density measured at 0.6V and maximum power density of the PEMFC single cell employing Polyol_Pt/C are better than those employing commercial Pt/C. Conclusively, Polyol_Pt/C synthesized by modified polyol process shows better ORR catalytic activity and PEMFC performance than other catalysts.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.676-686
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• 2013

Background To overcome the potential drawbacks of a short half-life and dose-related adverse effects of using active transforming growth factor-beta 1 for cartilage engineering, a cell-mediated latent growth factor activation strategy was developed incorporating latent transforming growth factor-${\beta}$1 (LTGF) into an electrospun poly(L-lactide) scaffold. Methods The electrospun scaffold was surface modified with NH3 plasma and biofunctionalised with LTGF to produce both random and orientated biofunctionalised electrospun scaffolds. Scaffold surface chemical analysis and growth factor bioavailability assays were performed. In vitro biocompatibility and human nasal chondrocyte gene expression with these biofunctionalised electrospun scaffold templates were assessed. In vivo chondrogenic activity and chondrocyte gene expression were evaluated in athymic rats. Results Chemical analysis demonstrated that LTGF anchored to the scaffolds was available for enzymatic, chemical and cell activation. The biofunctionalised scaffolds were non-toxic. Gene expression suggested chondrocyte re-differentiation after 14 days in culture. By 6 weeks, the implanted biofunctionalised scaffolds had induced highly passaged chondrocytes to re-express Col2A1 and produce type II collagen. Conclusions We have demonstrated a proof of concept for cell-mediated activation of anchored growth factors using a novel biofunctionalised scaffold in cartilage engineering. This presents a platform for development of protein delivery systems and for tissue engineering.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.479-494
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• 2022

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have been intensively studied as therapeutic tools for a variety of disorders. To enhance the efficacy of MSCs, therapeutic genes are introduced using retroviral and lentiviral vectors. However, serious adverse events (SAEs) such as tumorigenesis can be induced by insertional mutagenesis. We generated lentiviral vectors encoding the wild-type herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene and a gene containing a point mutation that results in an alanine to histidine substitution at residue 168 (TK(A168H)) and transduced expression in MSCs (MSC-TK and MSC-TK(A168H)). Transduction of lentiviral vectors encoding the TK(A168H) mutant did not alter the proliferation capacity, mesodermal differentiation potential, or surface antigenicity of MSCs. The MSC-TK(A168H) cells were genetically stable, as shown by karyotyping. MSC-TK(A168H) responded to ganciclovir (GCV) with an half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value 10-fold less than that of MSC-TK. Because MSC-TK(A168H) cells were found to be non-tumorigenic, a U87-TK(A168H) subcutaneous tumor was used as a SAE-like condition and we evaluated the effect of valganciclovir (vGCV), an oral prodrug for GCV. U87-TK(A168H) tumors were more efficiently ablated by 200 mg/kg vGCV than U87-TK tumors. These results indicate that MSC-TK(A168H) cells appear to be pre-clinically safe for therapeutic use. We propose that genetic modification with HSV-TK(A168H) makes allogeneic MSC-based ex vivo therapy safer by eliminating transplanted cells during SAEs such as uncontrolled cell proliferation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2004

Nitric oxide (NO) system has been implicated in a wide range of physiological functions in the nervous system. However, the role of NO in regulating the neural activity in the gustatory zone of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) has not been established. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of NO in the gustatory NTS neurons. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing about 50 g, were used. Whole cell patch recording and immunohistochemistry were done to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of the rostral gustatory nucleus of the tractus solitaries and distribution of NO synthases (NOS). Neuronal NOS (nNOS) immunoreactivity was strongly detected along the solitary tract extending from rostral to caudal medulla. Resting membrane potentials of NTS neurons were $-49.2{\pm}2\;mV$ and action potential amplitudes were $68.5{\pm}2\;mV$ with a mean duration measured at half amplitude of $1.7{\pm}0.3\;ms$. Input resistance, determined from the response to a 150 ms, -100 pA hyperpolarizing current pulse, was $385{\pm}15\;M{\Omega}$, Superfusion of SNAP or SNP, NO donors, produced either hyperpolarization (68%), depolarization (5%), or no effect (27%). The hyperpolarization was mostly accompanied by a decrease in input resistance. The hyperpolarization caused by SNAP or SNP increased the time to initiate the first action potential, and decreased the number of action potentials elicited by current injection. SNP or SNAP also markedly decreased the number of firing neural discharges of the spontaneous NTS neural activity under zero current. Superfusion of L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor, slightly depolarized the membrane potential and increased the firing rate of NTS neurons induced by current injection. ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ameliorated the SNAP-induced changes in membrane potential, input resistance and firing rates. 8-Br-cGMP, a non-degradable cell-permeable cGMP, hyperpolarized the membrane potential and decreased the number of action potentials. It is suggested that NO in the gustatory NTS has an inhibitory role on the neural activity of NTS through activating soluble guanylate cyclase.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

The corrosion of reinforcement is the main reason for the performance degradation of concrete structures. The pre-rusted parts of rebar in concrete structures are vulnerable to the corrosion, especially if the structure is exposed to wet or chlorinated environments. In this study, effects of different curing solution on corrosion behavior of the pre-rusted rebars in the cement composites were investigated. HCl(3%) and CaCl₂(10%) solution were utilized to accelerate the pre-rust of the rebar, and each pre-rust condition rebar including reference (RE) were placed in mortar cylinder. Three kinds of samples then were cured in CaCl₂ (3%) solution and tap water respectively for 120 days. Electrochemical polarization and half-cell potential measurement were used to monitor the influence of curing water on the corrosion behavior of pre-rusted steel bar in cement composite. The surface morphology and composition of corroded steel bar were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. The results show that the corrosion rates of pre-rusted samples in both curing water are higher than that of non-pre-rusted samples. The corrosion rates of RE, CaCl₂ and HCl pre-rusted samples in salt water were 8.14, 4.48, 13.81 times higher than those in tap water respectively, on the 120th day.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2021

In this study, the correlation between the influencing factors on corrosion and Half Cell Potential(HCP) measurement was analyzed considering the three levels of W/C ratio, cover depth, and chloride concentration. The HCP increased with enlarged cover depth, so it was confirmed that the increment of cover depth was effective for control of corrosion. Based on the criteria, the case of 60mm cover depth showed excellent corrosion control with under -200mV, indicating increase of cover depth is an effective method for reducing intrusion of external deterioration factors. When fresh water was injected to the upper part of specimens, very low level of HCP was monitored, but in the case that concentrations of chloride were 3.5% and 7.0%, HCP dropped under -200mV. In addition, the case with high volume of unit binder showed lower HCP measurement like increasing cover depth. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between the corrosive influence factors and HCP results, showing high coefficient of determination of 0.97. However, there were limitations such as limited number of samples and measuring period. Through the additional corrosion monitoring and chloride content evaluation after dismantling the specimen, more reasonable prediction can be achieved for correlation analysis with relevant data.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.216-233
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• 1995

The distributions of the ionospheric conductivities, electric potential, ionospheric currents, field-aligned currents, Joule heating rate, and particle energy input rate by auroral electrons along with the characteristics of auroral particle spectrum are examined during moderately disturbed period by using the computer code developed by Kamide et al. (1981) and the ionospheric conductivity model developed by Ahn et al. (1995). Since the ground magnetic disturbance data are obtained from a single meridian chain of magnetometers (Alaska meridian chain) for an extended period of time (March 9 - April 27, 1978), they are expected to present the average picture of the electrodynamics over the entire polar ionosphere. A number of global features noted in this study are as follows: (1) The electric potential distribution is characterized by the so-called two cell convection pattern with the positive potential cell in the morning sector extending into the evening sector. (2) The auroral electrojet system is well developed during this time period with the signatures of DP-1 and DP-2 current systems being clearly discernable. It is also noted that the electric field seems to play a more important role than the ionospheric conductivity the conductivity over the poleward half of the westward electrojet in the morning sector while the conductivity enhancement seems to be more important over its equatorward half. (3) The global field-aligned current distribution pattern is quite comparable with the statistical result obtained by Iijima and Potemra (1976). However, the current density of Region 1 is much higher than that of Region 2 current at pointed out by pervious studies (e.g.; Kamide 1988). (4) The Joule heating occurs over a couple of island-like areas, one along the poleward side of the westward electrojet region in the afternoon sector. (5) The maximum average energy of precipitating electrons is found to be in the morning sector (07∼08 MLT) while the maximum energy flux is registered in the postmidnight sector (02 MLT). Thus auroral brightening and enhancement of ionospheric conductivity during disturbed period seem to be more closely associated with enhancement of particle flux rather than hardening of particle energy.