• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.293-306
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• 2020

Increasing harmful effects of climate change, such as its effect on water scarcity, has led to a focus on developing effective water purification methods to obtain pure water. Additionally, rising levels of water pollution is increasing levels of environmental degradation, calling for sources of water treatment to remove contaminants. To purify water, osmotic processes across a semipermeable membrane can take place, and recent studies are showing that incorporating nanoparticles, including carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene carbon dots (GQDs), and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are making thin film composite (TFC) membranes more effective by increasing water flux while maintaining similar levels of salt rejection, increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface, showing bactericidal properties, exhibiting antifouling properties to prevent accumulation of bacteria or other microorganisms from reducing the effectiveness of the membrane, and more. In the review, the synthesis process, applications, functionality, properties, and the role of several types of quantum dots are discussed in the composite membrane for water purification.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2004

In this study, we present a noble study far membrane transport models using chlorine resistance of polyamide RO membranes. Membrane transport mechanism is investigated by the comparison of membrane permeation performance under the continuous and Intermittent operation modes with mixed feed solution containing NaOCl and NaCl. Analysis of permeation performance indicates that solution-diffusion model and preferential adsorption-capillary flow model are relatively efficient according to operation mode. Under the continuous flow state, mass transfer depends on preferential adsorption-capillary flow model rather than solution-diffusion model. On the other hand, it prefers solution-diffusion model to preferential adsorption-capillary flow model under the stationary state. SEM images of NaOCl treated membrane surfaces strongly support these conclusions. These surface images reveal that NaOCl treated membrane in continuous operation mode exhibits ridge and valley structure in some fraction of the surface area, whereas that in intermittent operation mode shows surface degradation entirely.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2021

The shorting resistance (SR) of the PEMFC(Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) polymer membrane is an important indicator of the durability of the membrane. When SR decreases, shorting current (SC) increases, reducing durability and performance. When SR becomes less than about 0.1 kΩ·㎠, shorting occurs, the temperature rises rapidly, and MEA(Membrane Electrode Assembly) is burned to end stack operation. In order to prevent shorting, we need to control the SR, so the conditions affecting the SR were studied. There were differences in the SR measurement methods, and the SR measurement method, which improved the DOE(Department of Energy) and NEDO(New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) method, was presented. It was confirmed that the SR decreases as the relative humidity, temperature and cell compression pressure increase. In the final stage of the accelerated durability evaluation process of the polymer membrane, SR rapidly decreased to less than 0.1 kΩ·㎠, and the hydrogen permeability became higher than 15 mA/㎠. After dismantling the MEA, SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis showed that a lot of platinum was distributed inside the membrane.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 1997

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF), a polypeptide of 53 amino acid residues, is subject to degradation by numerous enzymes, especially proteases, when it is applied on the skin for the treatment of open wound. Amastatin, aprotinin, bestatin, EDTA, EGTA, gabexate, gentamicin, leupeptin, and TPCK were investigated for the possible protease inhibitors, which may use to protect rhEGF from degradation by the enzymes in the skin. Skin homogenates containing protease inhibitors and rhEGF were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. After the reaction was stopped with trifluoroacetic acid, the amount of rhEGF remaining in the sample was determined with an HPLC method. The percentages of rhEGF degraded, at the skin/PBS ratio of 0.25, in the mouse, rat, and human skin homogenate were 85%, 70%, and 46%, respectively. The degree of degradation of rhEGF in the cytosolic fraction was higher than that in the membrane fraction and these enzyme reactions were completed in 30 minutes. Bestatin, EGTA, and TPCK showed significant inhibitory effects on the degradation of rhEGF in the two fractions (p<0.05), while the other protease inhibitors had no significant inhibitory effects or, even resulted in deleterious effects. Therefore, the formulation containing one or several inhibitors among these effective inhibitors would be a promising topical preparation of rhEGF for the treatment of open wound.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2008

A study on the enhancement of environmental durability of EPDM rubber materials for the aerator membrane was performed using a butyl rubber as a modifier. A conventional EPDM rubber formulation was evaluated as having about 26.0 wt% or more oil content from the chloroform immersion test. These oils would be gradually and continuously deleted from the aerator membrane when directly exposed to a waste-water or chemically corrosive fluids, making the membrane less flexible and the performance worse. To improve this, a butyl rubber (IIR) was utilized as the modifier for a low-ENB type of EPDM rubber formulation with low-oil content. The environmental durability of the IIR-modified EPDM rubber material was expected to be greatly enhanced compared to the conventional one. However, the mechanical and performance properties such as elongation, tensile strength, and air bubble size, etc. were still maintained as good as in the conventional one. Furthermore, TGA analysis of the IIR-modified EPDM material showed that there would be partially compatible between IIR and EPDM. It also showed that the initial degradation temperature of the IIR-modified EPDM could be somewhat increased, exhibiting the enhanced compatibility among the components and, thereby, more enhanced environmental durability.

• Carbon letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-150
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• 2012

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), PLLA/hydroxyapatite (HA), PLLA/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/HA, PLLA/trifluoroethanol (TFE), PLLA/gelatin, and carbon nanofibers (CNFs)/${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate (${\beta}$-TCP) composite membranes (scaffolds) were fabricated by electrospinning and their morphologies, and mechanical properties were characterized for use in bone tissue regeneration/guided tissue regeneration. MWNTs and HA nanoparticles were well distributed in the membranes and the degradation characteristics were improved. PLLA/MWNTs/HA membranes enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) by 30% and inhibited the adhesion of gingival epithelial cells by 30%. Osteoblast-like MG-63 cells on the randomly fiber oriented PLLA/TEF membrane showed irregular forms, while the cells exhibited shuttle-like shapes on the parallel fiber oriented membrane. Classical supersaturated simulated body fluids were modified by $CO_2$ bubbling and applied to promote the biomineralization of the PLLA/gelatin membrane; this resulted in predictions of bone bonding bioactivity of the substrates. The ${\beta}$-TCP membranes exhibit good biocompatibility, have an effect on PDLC growth comparable to that of pure CNF membrane, and can be applied as scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.361-368
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• 2014

Lipid components in biological membranes are essential for maintaining cellular function. Phosphoinositides, the phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (PI), regulate many critical cell processes involving membrane signaling, trafficking, and reorganization. Multiple metabolic pathways including phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases and phospholipases tightly control spatio-temporal concentration of membrane phosphoinositides. Metabolizing enzymes responsible for PI 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) production or degradation play a regulatory role in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and trafficking. These enzymes include PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase, phosphatase and tensin homolog, PI 3-kinase, and phospholipase C. PI(4,5)P2 mediates the interaction with target cytosolic proteins to induce their membrane translocation, regulate vesicular trafficking, and serve as a precursor for other signaling lipids. TLR activation is important for the innate immune response and is implicated in diverse pathophysiological disorders. TLR signaling is controlled by specific interactions with distinct signaling and sorting adaptors. Importantly, TLR signaling machinery is differentially formed depending on a specific membrane compartment during signaling cascades. Although detailed mechanisms remain to be fully clarified, phosphoinositide metabolism is promising for a better understanding of such spatio-temporal regulation of TLR signaling and trafficking.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.308-314
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• 2021

Chemical durability issue in polymer electrolyte membranes has been a challenge for the commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this study, we proposed a manufacturing method of Nafion composite membrane containing a stable polyimide antioxidant to improve the chemical durability of the membrane. The thermal casting of the Nafion solution with poly (amic acid) induced polyimide reaction. We evaluated proton conductivity, oxidative stability with ex-situ Fenton's test, and fluoride ion emission to analyze the effect of polyimide antioxidants. We confirmed that incorporating the polyimide antioxidant improves the chemical durability of the Nafion membrane while maintaining inherent proton conductivity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2014

Objectives: Feasibility of electrochemical oxidation of the aqueous non-biodegradable wastewater such as cationic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) has been investigated in an electrochemical reactor with solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). Methods: Nafion 117 cationic exchange membrane as SPE has been used. Anode/Nafion/cathode sandwiches were constructed by sandwiching Nafion between two dimensionally stable anodes (JP202 electrode). Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of applied current (0.5~2.0 A), supporting electrolyte type (0.2 N NaCl, $Na_2SO_4$, and 1.0 g/L NaCl), initial RhB concentration (2.5~30.0 mg/L) on RhB and COD degradation and $UV_{254}$ absorbance. Results: Experimental results showed that an increase of applied current in electrolysis reaction with solid polymer electrolyte has resulted in the increase of RhB and $UV_{254}$ degradation. Performance for RhB degradation by electrolyte type was best with NaCl 0.2 N followed by SPE, and $Na_2SO_4$. However, the decrease of $UV_{254}$ absorbance of RhB was different from RhB degradation: SPE > NaCl 0.2 N > $Na_2SO_4$. RhB and $UV_{254}$ absorbance decreased linearly with time regardless of the initial concentration. The initial RhB and COD degradation in electrolysis reaction using SPE showed a pseudo-first order kinetics and rate constants were 0.0617 ($R^2=0.9843$) and 0.0216 ($R^2=0.9776$), respectively. Conclusions: Degradation of RhB in the electrochemical reactor with SPE can be achieved applying electrochemical oxidation. Supporting electrolyte has no positive effect on the final $UV_{254}$ absorbance and COD degradation. Mineralization of COD may take a relatively longer time than that of the RhB degradation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.252-255
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• 1996

As an index of freeze-injury of yeast, the leakage of intracellular substances from yeast cells after freeze-thawing was investigated. It was found that much more ultraviolet-absorbing substances leaked out from non-freeze tolerant yeast (NETY) than from freeze-tolerant yeast. Furthermore, the rate of leakage of cellular substances form NFTY during incubation exceeded that of FTY, indicating that NFTY is more susceptible to freeze-injury than FTY during frozen-storage. An apparent degradation of phospholipid was observed during incubation of perfermented frozen-cells of NFTY, while little change of phospholipid occurred in FTY, These results suggested that the difference in the sensitivity of yeast might be due to the strength of cell membrane in terms of the degradation of phospholipid by enzymes, phospholipases, attached to cell membranes.