• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.119-119
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• 1997

Valacyclovir is a L-valyl ester prodrug of acyclovir which is a highly effective and selective antiviral agent in the treatment of herpes virus diseases. Valacyclovir is rapidly and almost completely converted to acyclovir and increases the oral bioavailability of acyclovir three to five fold. However, the intestinal absorption mechanism of valacyclovir is not clear. If the improved absorption mechanism of valacyclovir is fully understood, it will provide a rationale of designing the amino acid ester prodrugs of polar drugs containing hydroxyl group. The main objective of our present study is to characterize the membrane transport mechanism of valacyclovir. Methods : Intestinal absorption of valacyclovir was investigated by using in-situ rat perfusion study and its wall permeability was estimated by modified boundary layer model. The membrane transport mechanism was also investigated through the uptake study in Caco-2 cells and in CHO-hPepTl cells. Results : In the rat perfusion study, the wall permeability of valacyclovir was ten times higher than acyclovir and showed concentration dependency, Valacyclovir also demonstrated a D,L stereo-selectivity with L-isomer having an approximately five-fold higher permeability than D-isomer. Mixed dipeptides and cephalexin, which are transported by dipeptide carriers, strongly competed with valacyclovir for the intestinal absorption, while L-valine did not show any competition with valacyclovir. This indicated that the intestinal absorption of valacyclovir could be dipeptide carrier-mediated. In addition, the competitive uptake study in Caco-2 cells presented that dipeptides reduced the valacyclovir uptake but valine did not. Also, in IC$\sub$50/ study, valacyclovir showed strong inhibition on the $^3$H-gly-sar uptake in CHO-hPepTl cells over-expressing a human intestinal peptide transporter. Taken together, the result from our present study indicated that valacyclovir utilized the peptide transporter for the intestinal absorption.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2012

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of carbon composite type in polymer electrolyte fuel cells were prepared by simple and cheap manufacturing process. To obtain the carbon composite GDLs, carbon black with polymer binder was mixed in solvent, rolled to make sheet, and finally heat-treated at $340^{\circ}C$. The performance of fuel cell using composite GDLs was changed by PTFE content. The physical properties of composite GDLs for pore, conductivity and air permeability were analyzed to compare with the variation of fuel cell performance. The conductivity of composite GDLs was very similar to carbon paper as commercial GDL but pore properties and air flux were considerably different. The porosity, PTFE content and conductivity for composite GDLs did not have an influence on the cell performance much. The increase of pore diameter and air flux led to enhance cell performance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2009

In order to improve the electrochemical, mechanical and electrocatalytic characteristics, engineering plastic of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) as polymer matrix was sulfonated (SPEEK) and the organic-inorganic blend composite membranes has been prepared by loading heteropoly acids (HPAs), including tungstophosphoric acid (TPA), molybdophosphoric acid (MoPA), and tungstosilicic acid (TSiA). And then these were covalently cross-linked (CL-SPEEK/HPA) as the electrolyte and MEA of polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis (PEME). As a result, the optimum reaction conditions of CL-SPEEK/HPA was established and the electrochemical characteristics such as ion conductivity ($\sigma$) were in the order of magnitude: CL-SPEEK /TPA30 (${\sigma}=0.128\;S/cm^{-1}$) < /MoPA40 (${\sigma}=0.14\;S/cm^{-1})$ < /TSiA30 (${\sigma}=0.22\;S/cm^{-1}$) at $80^{\circ}C$, and mechanical characteristics such as tensile strength: CL-SPEEK /TSiA30 $\fallingdotseq$ /MoPA40 < /TPA30. Consequently, in regards of above characterisitics and oxidation durability, the CL-SPEEK/TPA30 exhibited a better performance in PEME than the others, but CL-SPEEK/MoPA40 showed the best electrocatalytic activity of cell voltage 1.71 V among the composite membranes. The dual effect of higher proton conductivity and electrocatalytic activity with the addition of HPAs, causes a synergy effect.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 2014

Fucodiphlorethol G (6'-[2,4-dihydroxy-6-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenoxy)phenoxy]biphenyl-2,2',4,4',6-pentol) is a compound purified from Ecklonia cava, a brown alga that is widely distributed offshore of Jeju Island. This study investigated the protective effects of fucodiphlorethol G against oxidative damage-mediated apoptosis induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. Fucodiphlorethol G attenuated the generation of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and intracellular reactive oxygen species in response to UVB irradiation. Fucodiphlorethol G suppressed the inhibition of human keratinocyte growth by UVB irradiation. Additionally, the wavelength of light absorbed by fucodiphlorethol G was close to the UVB spectrum. Fucodiphlorethol G reduced UVB radiation-induced 8-isoprostane generation and DNA fragmentation in human keratinocytes. Moreover, fucodiphlorethol G reduced UVB radiation-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, generation of apoptotic cells, and active caspase-9 expression. Taken together, fucodiphlorethol G protected human keratinocytes against UVB radiation-induced cell damage and apoptosis by absorbing UVB radiation and scavenging reactive oxygen species.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.679-686
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• 2010

A proprietary device is adopted to break out the membrane of cell in the rigid polyurethane foam. As it is known, the membrane of cell is hardly tearing-off thoroughly in a mechanical way due to both its elastic characteristic and micro sized pores. In this study, a novel experimental approach is introduced to burst out all gases inside the cells of the rigid polyurethane foam by abrasively grinding micro-cells completely into fine powder. The biggest advantage of this approach is to be capable of releasing all gases out from the cell even in the micro pores. As clearly reflected from the repeatability, the accuracy of the result is highly improved and high confidence in the data sets as well. For the measurements of not only gas composition but partial pressure for each gas simultaneously as well, a precision gas mass spectrometer is used in-line directly to the abrasive grinding device. To control the starting point of the polyurethane foam, all samples were prepared on site in the laboratory. Manufactured time is one of the most critical factors in characterization of cell gas composition because it is known that one of gas composition, especially, carbon dioxide, is diffused out dramatically in a short period of time as soon as it is foamed.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.407-411
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• 2002

A method to determine lead ion in aqueous media using an optical sensor loaded on a fluorescent optode membrane incoporating a metal ion-selective ionophore, a proton-selective chromoionophore and lipophilic anionic sites has been studied. The effects of pH and thickness of membrane on the fluorescence intensity were investigated. The effects of foreign ions such as $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Mn^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ on the determination of lead ion were also studied. The linear range in the calibration curve for the determination of lead ion was found to be 5.0${\times}10^-7$ to 5.0${\times}$$10^-3$M and the correlation coefficient in this range was -0.99107 under the optimal experimental conditions. The relative standard deviation of the blank signals was 3.0% and the detection limit of lead ion was 5.0${\times}$$10^-9$M.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2000

A rapid preconcentration method was developed for the speciation of the trace mercury compounds in water sample. The mercury compounds were extracted and preconcentrated simply as their dithizone complexes by passing through the dithizone impregnated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) membrane solvent inlet filter following sanification in methanol solvent. The concentrated dithizonates were separated by liquid chromatography on a $C_{18}$ column. Complete resolution was obtained between methyl-, ethyl-, phenyl-, and inorganic mercury with a mobile phase of 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH=4)/THF/methanol(3:5:2). The separnted mercury chelates were detected by spectrophotometrically at 475 nm. The proposed method was successfully applied to the speciation of mercury compounds in waste water with detection limit at the subnanogram/mL level.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.143-153
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• 2006

The purpose of this work was to assess and quantify the beneficial effects of gas exchange, while testingto the various frequencies of the sinusoidal wave that was excited by the PZT actuator, for patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or chronic respiratory problems. Also, this paper considered a simulator to design a hollow type artificial lung, and a mathematical model was used to predict a behavior of blood. This simulation was carried out according to the Montecarno's simulation method, anda fourth order Runge-Kutta method was used to solve the equation. The experimental design and procedure are then applied to the construction of a new device to assess the effectiveness of the membrane vibrations. As a result, the vibration method is very effective in the increase of gas transport. The gas exchange efficiency for the vibrating intravascular lung assist device can be increased by emphasizing the following design features: consistent and reproducible fiber geometry, and most importantly, an active means of enhancing convective mixing of water around the hollow fiber membranes. The experimental results showed the effective performance of the vibrating intravascular lung assist device. Also, we concluded that important design parameters were blood flow rates, fiber outer diameter and oxygen pressure drop. Based on the present results, it was believed that the optimal level of blood flow rates was 200$cm^3$/min.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.56-63
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• 2023

The development of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wave, and wind power, has led to the diversification of water electrolysis technologies, which can be easily coupled with renewable energy sources in terms of economics and scale. Water electrolysis technologies can be classified into three types based on operating temperature: low-temperature (<100 ℃), medium-temperature (300-700 ℃), and high-temperature (>700 ℃). It can also be classified by the type of electrolyte membrane used in the system. However, the concepts of thermodynamic and thermo-neutral voltages calculations and are very important factors in the evaluation of energy consumption and efficiency of water electrolysis technologies, are often confused. This review aims to contribute to a better understanding of the calculation of operating voltage and efficiency of PEM water electrolysis technologies and to clarify the differences between thermodynamic voltage and thermo-neutral voltage.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.309-319
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• 1991

A continuous stirred tank membrane reactor(CSTMR ) was developed and optimized for the production of cod skin gelatin hydrolyzates using endo-protease Alcalase. A experimental design methodology was used to optimize the four performance variables: enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, permeate flux and reactor volume. All four variables studied had an effect on substrate conversion, with enzyme and substrate concentrations being predominant. Conversion increased with the increase in enzyme concentration, with the decrease in substrate concentration, at high volumes and low flux. A strong interaction was observed between enzyme and substrate concentrations and smaller interactions between enzyme and flux and substrate and flux. The optimum operating conditions for the CSTMR process for an initial substrate concentration for 10% were $50^{\circ}C$, pH 8, flux 7.3ml/min, residence time 82 min, and Alcalase to substrate ratio 0.02(w/w). A gradual decay in reactor activity during 8 hrs was 2.1% conversion/hr. Enzyme leakage through the 10, 000 MWCO membrane was 16% at $50^{\circ}C$ and 12% at $35^{\circ}C$, 6hrs. However, there was no apparent correlation between enayme leakage and substrate conversion. The Km value for the CSTMR was 20 times higher than the batch reactor. The productivity(expressed as mg product/mg enzyme) of the CSTMR was more than six fold higher than the batch at $50^{\circ}C$. The hydrolyzate was non-bitter.