• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2002

The diffusion coefficients of ions in the reverse transport system using the carrier mediated membrane were estimated from the diffusional membrane permeabilities and the ion activity in membrane system. In the aqueous alkali metal ions-membrane system diffusional flux of alkali metal ions driven by coupled proton was analyzed. The aqueous phase I contained NaOH solution and the aqueous phase II also contained NaCl and HCl mixed solution. The concentration of Na ions of both phases were $10^{0},\;10^{-1},\;10^{-2},\;5{\times}10^{-1}\;and\;5{\times}10^{-2}\;mol{\cdot}dm^{-3}$ and the concentration of HCI in aqueous phase II was always kept at $1{\times}10^{-1}\;mol{\cdot}dm^{-3}$. Moreover, the carrier concentration in liquid membrane was $10^{-2}\;mol{\cdot}dm^{-3}$. The results indicated that the diffusion coefficients depend strongly on the concentration of both phases electrolyte solution equilibriated with the membrane. The points were interpreted in terms of the energy barrier theory. Furthermore, eliminating the potential terms from the membrane equation was derived.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.353-362
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• 2009

A new method and equipment for measuring the zeta potential of the external surface of hollow fiber (HF) membranes is reported. An existing commercial streaming potential analyzer in conjunction with home-made test cells was used to determine the electrokinetic surface characteristics of various HF membranes. It was shown that measurements of the external surface of HF membrane using the home-made test cells designed in this study were easy and reliable. The zeta potential values were quite accurate and reproducible. By varying the physical shape of the test cells to adjust hydrodynamics inside the test cells, several upgrade versions of home-made test cells were obtained. It was shown that the zeta potential of the external surface of HF membranes was most influenced by membrane materials as well as the way of surface modification. However, the overall surface charge of tested HF membranes were much less than that of commercial polyamide thin-film-composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes due to the lack of surface functional groups. For the HF membranes with the same material, the effect of pore size on the zeta potential was not significant, implying the potential of accurate zeta potential measurements for various HF membranes. The results obtained in this study are expected to be useful for better understating of electrokinetic surface characteristics of the external surface of HF membranes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.4 s.140
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• pp.373-378
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• 2006

To evaluate whether iron concentration in TYM medium influence on hydrogenosomal enzyme gene expression and hydrogenosomal membrane potential of Trichomonas vaginalis, trophozoites were cultivated in iron-depleted, normal and iron-supplemented TYM media. The mRNA of hydrogenosomal enzymes, such as pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), hydrogenase, ferredoxin and malic enzyme, was increased with iron concentrations in T. vaginalis culture media, measured by RT-PCR. Hydrogenosomal membrane potentials measured with $DiOC_6$ also showed similar tendency, e.g. T. vaginalis cultivated in iron-depleted and iron-supplemented media for 3 days showed a significantly reduced and enhanced hydrogenosomal membrane potential compared with that of normal TYM media, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that iron may regulate hydrogenosomal activity through hydrogenosomal enzyme expression and hydrogenosomal membrane potential.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2007

To prepare chemically stable asymmetric microporous membranes with a hydrophilic surface, which would be expected to have better antifouling properties, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend membranes were prepared by the phase inversion process. PVDF mixture solutions in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) blended with several polar potential ionic polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAM) were used for the formation of the PVDF blend membranes. They were then characterized with several analytical methods such as FESEM, FTIR, contact angle measurement, pore size distribution and permeability measurement. Regardless of different polar polymers blended, they all showed a finger-like structure with more hydrophilic surface than the pristine PVDF membrane. For all the PVDF blend membrane, due to the polar potential ionic polymers used, the flux of those was improved. Especially the PVDF blend membrane with NIPAM showed the highest flux among the membranes prepared. Also antifouling property of the PVDF membrane was improved by the use of the polar polymers.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2000

The surface charge properties of a polymeric NF and a ceramic UF membranes were characterized in terms of zeta potential and acidity. Both the negative zeta potential and acidity values increased as pH increases due to ionizable acidic functional groups. Increased ionic strength reduced the acidity of the negatively-charged membrane surface as anticipated. Through these results, it can be envisioned are used to reject solutes with ionizable functional groups. Fouling of the negatively-charged membrane with natural organic matter (NOM) having a negative charge density was also investigated with respect to the surface charge. The surface charge of the NF membrane increased negatively when greater NOM adsorption onto the membrane surface occured.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1033-1037
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• 1995

PVC-based calcium-selective electrodes doped with ETH 129 usually suffer from a shift in the standard potential when they are in contact with protein-containing solutions (e.g. blood serum) after being calibrated with aqueous standards. The shift is due to the development of asymmetry potential in inherently symmetric PVC membranes through the contamination of outer membrane surface by proteins in the biological samples. Membranes prepared with polyurethane showed much reduced shifts in terms of standard potential. This study was performed with a flow-injection system following a protocol designed to observe minor shifts in baseline potential. Other electrochemical properties of the system, including selectivity and response slope, were similar to those obtained with regular PVC-based ones. PVC-based calcium selective membrane electrodes, doped with commonly used ETH 1001, were also tested to compare their electrochemical performances.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.147-166
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• 2022

Liquid-liquid membrane contactor (LLMC), a device that exchanges dissolved gas molecules between the two sides of a hydrophobic membrane through membrane pores, can be employed to extract ammoniacal nitrogen from a feed solution, which is transported across the membrane and accumulated in a stripping solution. This LLMC process offers the promise of improving the sustainability of the global nitrogen cycle by cost-effectively recovering ammonia from wastewater. Despite recent technological advances in LLMC processes, a comprehensive review of their feasibility for ammonia recovery is rarely found in the literature. Our paper aims to close this knowledge gap, and in addition to analyze the challenges and provide potential solutions for improvement. We begin with discussions on the operational principles of the LLMC process for ammonia recovery and membrane types and membrane configurations commonly used in the process. We then assess the performance of the process by reviewing publications that demonstrate its practical application. Challenges involved in the implementation of the LLMC process, such as membrane fouling, membrane wetting, and chemical requirements, are presented, along with discussions on potential strategies to address each. These strategies, including membrane modification, hybrid process design, and process optimization based on cost-benefit analysis, guide the reader to identify key areas of future research and development.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2014

With wide use of nano-materials, it is increasingly important to address their potential toxicity to mammalian cells. However, toxic effects of these materials have been mainly assessed by the cell survival assays. Considering that mitochondrial morphology and quality are highly sensitive to the condition of the cells, and the impairment of mitochondrial function greatly affect the survival of cells, here we tested the impact of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) on the survival, mitochondrial morphology, and their membrane potential in HeLa cells. Interestingly, although MWNT did not induce cell death until 24 hours as assessed by pyknotic cell assay, mitochondrial length was elongated and the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly reduced by exposure of HeLa cells to MWNT. These results suggest that MWNT exposure is potentially harmful to the cell, and the mechanism how MWNT alters mitochondrial quality should be further explored to assess the safety of MWNT use.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2020

In the present study, we examined the effect of straw size on spermatozoa motility, viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity after freezing-thawing. Hanwoo semen was collected from three bulls and diluted with an animal protein-free extender, divided into two groups, namely, 10 million spermatozoa in 0.25 mL and 20 million spermatozoa in 0.5 mL straw, and cryopreserved. In Experiment 1, the motility and motility parameters of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa were evaluated. After freezing-thawing, the spermatozoa motility parameters fast progressive, straight line velocity, and average path velocity were compared between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. They were 35.2 ± 1.0 and 32.3 ± 0.7%, 34.6 ± 0.7 and 31.8 ± 0.5 μm/s, 51.4 ± 1.3 and 47.1 ± 1.1 μm/s, 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups, respectively. In Experiment 2, the viability, acrosome membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa were assessed. After freezing-thawing, the percentages of spermatozoa with live, intact acrosomes and high mitochondrial membrane potential were compared between the in 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. They were 48.0 ± 2.6% and 35.6 ± 2.8% between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. In Experiment 3, the plasma membrane integrity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa was compared. After freezing-thawing, the plasma membrane integrity was higher for the in 0.25 mL straw group than the 0.5 mL straw group. They were 62.0 ± 2.2 and 54.1 ± 1.3% between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that freezing semen in 0.25 mL straw improves the relative motility, viability, and acrosomal, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity of Hanwoo bull spermatozoa.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.563-569
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• 2013

This study was undertaken to apply the yin-yang theory in action potential. In order to apply the yin-yang theory in action potential, nature of yin and yang, interrelation of yin and yang and action potential in cell were reviewed. According to the yin-yang theory, inner cellular space corresponds to yin, but outer cellular space corresponds to yang. If we classify ions in intracellular fluid or extracellular fluid by nature of yin and yang, potassium(K+) corresponds to yang within yin(陰中之陽), protein(Pr-) corresponds to yin within yin(陰中之陰) in intracellular fluid, and sodium(Na+) corresponds to yang within yang(陽中之陽), chloride(Cl-) corresponds to yin within yang(陽中之陰) in extracellular fluid. Double donnan equilibrium and equilibrium potential were caused by intracellular anion(Pr-) and extracellular cation(Na+) are related with mutual rooting of yin and yang(陰陽互根) and opposition of yin and yang(陰陽對立). The influx and efflux of ion through cell membrane means waxing and waning of yin and yang(陰陽消長), the change of membrane potential means yin-yang conversion(陰陽轉化) during action potential.