• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.197-206
• /
• 2007

P2X receptors are membrane-bound ion channels that conduct $Na^+,\;K^+$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in response to ATP and its analogs. There are seven subunits identified so far ($P2X_1-P2X_7$). $P2X_2$ receptors are known to be expressed in a wide range of organs including brains and adrenal grands. PC12 cells are originated from adrenal grand and differentiated by nerve growth factor or pituitary adenylate cyclase activating poly peptide (PACAP). Previous studies indicate that $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells couples to $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ release of catecholamine and ATP. It is known that acidic pH potentiates ATP currents at $P2X_2$ receptors. This leads to a hypothesis that $P2X_2$ receptors may play an important role in PC12 cell differentiation, one of the characteristics of which is neurite outgrowth, induced by the hormones under lower pH. In the present study, we isolated several clones which potentiate neurite outgrowth by PACAP in acidic pH (6.8), but not in alkaline pH (7.6). RT-PCR and electrophysiology data indicate that these clones express only functional $P2X_2$ receptors in the absence or presence of PACAP for 3 days. Potentiation of neurite outgrowth resulted from PACAP (100 nM) in acidic pH is inhibited by the two P2X receptor antagonists, suramin and PPADS ($100\;{\mu}M)$ each), and exogenous exprerssion of ATP-binding mutant $P2X_2$ receptor subunit ($P2X_2[K69A]$). However, acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are not involved in PACAP-induced neurite outgrowth potentiation in lower pH since treatments of an inhibitor of ASICs, amyloride ($10\;{\mu}M$), did not give any effects to neurite extension. The vesicular proton pump ($H^+-ATPase$) inhibitor, bafilomycin (100 nM), reduced neurite extension indicating that ATP release resulted from $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells is needed for neurite outgrowth. These were confirmed by activation of mitogen activated protein kinases, such as ERKs and p38. These results suggest roles of ATP and $P2X_2$ receptors in hormone-induced cell differentiation or neuronal synaptogenesis in local acidic environments.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2020

A colorimetric paper sensor was used to detect volatile nitrogen-containing compounds emitted from spoiled salmon filets to determine their freshness. The sensing mechanism was based on acid-base reactions between acidic pH-indicating dyes and basic volatile ammonia and amines. A sensing layer was simply fabricated by drop-casting a dye solution of bromocresol green (BCG) on a polyvinylidene fluoride substrate, and its color-change response was enhanced by optimizing the amounts of additive chemicals, such as polyethylene glycol, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and graphene oxide in the dye solution. To avoid the adverse effects of water vapor, both faces of the sensing layer were enclosed by using a polyethylene terephthalate film and a gas-permeable microporous polytetrafluoroethylene sheet, respectively. When exposed to basic gas analytes, the paper-like sensor distinctly exhibited a color change from initially yellow, then to green, and finally to blue due to the deprotonation of BCG via the Brønsted acid-base reaction. The use of ammonia analyte as a test gas confirmed that the sensing performance of the optimized sensor was reversible and excellent (detection time of < 15 min, sensitive naked-eye detection at 0.25 ppm, good selectivity to common volatile organic gases, and good stability against thermal stress). Finally, the coloration intensity of the sensor was quantified as a function of the storage time of the salmon filet at 28℃ to evaluate its usefulness in monitoring of the food freshness with the measurement of the total viable count (TVC) of microorganisms in the food. The TVC value increased from 3.2 × 10⁵ to 3.1 × 10⁹ cfu/g in 28 h and then became stable, whereas the sensor response abruptly changed in the first 8 h and slightly increased thereafter. This result suggests that the colorimetric response could be used as an indicator for evaluating the degree of decay of salmon induced by microorganisms.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.277-284
• /
• 2017

This paper presents an implantable pH measurement electrode for wireless gastroesophageal reflux measurement. Usually, gastroesophageal reflux is diagnosed by a catheter-type wire connection between the esophagus and the diagnostic device which brings many side effects such as restriction of daily living, pain, and discomfort in the nasal cavity and pharynx of patients. In order to solve these issues, researchers have been studied a wireless measurement method and a micro-sized pH electrode for human body insertion is necessary. Commercial glass packaged pH meter is formed by a sensing and a reference electrodes in a KCl solution. However, if the glass meter is inserted into the human body, there are risks of leakage of the solution, breakage of the glass package, injury of the body elements. Therefore, the solution should be solidified on the micro-sized noble metal wire which has a characteristic of biocompatible. After solidified wire fabrication, the designed meter was tested for feasibility of measurement and the result was well agreed with pH values of commercial pH meter. Potentials in pH 1 to 12 solution was measured to obtain the sensitivity of the sensor with linearity. And we have designed a simulation of gastroesophageal reflux with symptom frequency, interval, and duration time in pH 2 solution. The proposed sensor has capable to get the same potential for 24 measurements in 3 days, and it has sensed same pH values of 2 for one hour with every 10 minutes. Furthermore, the sensor was survived for 48 hours with reasonable potentials in the acid solution.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.40-44
• /
• 1998

The LAPS device of fast response and high sensitivity, based on electrochemical potential difference, and its system were fabricated for the precise measurement of pH changes and its characteristic were investigated. The electrostatic variation characteristics of LAPS according to the pH changes and parameters in the device were verified through a simulation using LAPS equivalent circuit model. The LAPS device and its system were fabricated on the basis of the result of simulation. The fabricated LAPS system showed linear sensitivity (about 56 mV/pH within the range of pH 2 to pH 11. In order to overcome the defect of general urea sensor (especially slow response time), urease immobilized nitrocellulose membrane was attached on the LAPS and resulted in the very fast response time, 0.29 mV/sec, 0.86 mV/sec at urea concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml,\; 500{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. And also in order to measure the uranyl ion, the uranyl ion selective sensing membrane with calix[6]arene derivative was used and its sensitivity was 25mV/concentration decade in the wide uranyl ion concentration range of $10^{-11}M\;to\;10^{-4}M$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.211-215
• /
• 2014

The Pt-, Ni- and Cr-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers for gas sensors were prepared by the electrospinning of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers containing Pt, Ni, and Cr precursors, the sputtering of $SnO_2$ on the electrospun PVP nanofibers, and the removal of sacrificial PVP parts by heat treatment at $600^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Pt-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers showed high response ($R_a/R_g=210.5$, $R_g$: resistance in gas, $R_a$: resistance in air) to 5 ppm $C_2H_5OH$ at $350^{\circ}C$ with negligible cross-responses to other interference gases (5 ppm trimethylamine, $NH_3$, HCHO, p-xylene, toluene and benzene). Cr-decorated tubular $SnO_2$nanofibers showed the selective detection of p-xylene at $400^{\circ}C$. In contrast, no significant selectivity to a specific gas was found in Ni-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers. The selective and sensitive detection of gases using Pt-decorated and Cr-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers were discussed in relation to the catalytic promotion of gas sensing reaction.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.344-353
• /
• 1992

This study was carried out to develop a fully-controlled plant growth system for studying the effects of environmental factors on plant growth. The plant growth system consists of the growth chamber, the measurement system for sensing and signal conditioning the environmental factors and the control system which includes control algorithm required for optimum operation and on-line monitoring. The results of the study on the performance of the controlled plant growth system are summarized as follows : 1. Under the light intensity of 18,000~20,000 lux, the temperature was controlled in the range of $22{\pm}0.4^{\circ}C$, the relative humidity of $70{\pm}5%$ respectively. 2. The $CO_2$ concentration was controlled in the range of $1,000{\pm}40ppm$(from 1st to 4th day) and $1,500{\pm}40ppm$(from 4th to 9th day). 3. The electric conductivity(EC) and pH of the nutrient solution were controlled in the range of $1.9{\pm}0.2mS/cm$ and $6.8{\pm}0.5pH$ respectively. 4. Under the above environmental conditions, the average fresh weight of leaf lettuce increased from 10g to 74g in 9 days with 24 hour lighting.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.1642-1652
• /
• 2024

Arctium lappa (Burdock) root is used in various culinary applications especially in Asian Cuisine. Arctigenin (ARC) is a polyphenolic compound abundant in the roots of the burdock plant from which it derives its name. The emergence of bacterial resistance is a growing global worry, specifically due to the declining availability of new antibiotics. Screening for the antibacterial candidates among the safe natural products is a promising approach. The present study was aimed to assess the antibacterial activity of ARC against Pseudomonas aeruginosa exploring its effect on the bacterial cell membrane. Furthermore, the anti-virulence activities and anti-quorum sensing (QS) activities of ARC were in vitro, in vivo and in silico assessed against P. aeruginosa. The current results showed the ARC antibacterial activity was owed to its disruption effect of the cell membrane. ARC at sub-MIC significantly decreased the formation of biofilm, motility, production of extracellular enzymes and in vivo protected mice against P. aeruginosa. These anti-virulence activities of ARC are owed to its interference with bacterial QS and its expression. Furthermore, ARC showed mild effect on mammalian erythrocytes, low probability to induce resistance and synergistically combined with antibiotics. In summary, the promising anti-virulence properties of ARC indicate its potential as an effective supplement to conventional antibiotics for treating severe P. aeruginosa infections.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.8 no.9
• /
• pp.813-818
• /
• 1998

Ultrafine powders of $\textrm{In}_{2}\textrm{O}_{3}$-doped $\textrm{SnO}_{2}$ were synthesized by a coprecipitation method and the effects of pH value and the amount of In2Q addition on particle size were investigated. The influence of pH value on particle size could be negligible, whereas the amount of $\textrm{In}_{2}\textrm{O}_{3}$ has influenced on particle size and specific surface area. The gas sensitivity to hydrocarbOn($\textrm{C}_{3}\textrm{H}_{8}$, $\textrm{C}_{4}\textrm{H}_{10}$) increased with $\textrm{In}_{2}\textrm{O}_{3}$ addition and reached a maximum at 3wt.% addition. From the results of impedance analysis and I-V characteristics. it was showed that the agglomeration structure of particles and the boundaries between agglomerates were the important factors to determine the gas sensing mechanism.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2011

The basidiomycete fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is an important pathogen of immunocompromised people. The ability of the fungus to sense its environment is critical for proliferation and the generation of infectious propagules, as well as for adaptation to the mammalian host during infection. The conserved cAMP/protein kinase A pathway makes an important contribution to sensing, as demonstrated by the phenotypes of mutants with pathway defects. These phenotypes include loss of the ability to mate and to elaborate the key virulence factors capsule and melanin. This review summarizes recent work that reveals new targets of the pathway, new phenotypic consequences of signaling defects, and a more detailed understanding of connections with other aspects of cryptococcal biology including iron regulation, pH sensing, and stress.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.36-38
• /
• 1986

The Ferricyanide-sensing electrodes were prepared with $Ag_2S\;and\;Ag_3Fe(CN)_6$ (mole ratio 3:1-7:1). The 5:1 $(Ag_2S:Ag_3Fe(CN)_6)$ composition is superior to others in terms of potentiometric response, rapidity of response and reproducibility. Testing was done over the concentration range $10^{-1}M{\sim}10^{-6}M\; Fe(CN)_6^{3-}$ at pH 6.8 with constant ionic strength. The concentration-potential curve was linear and coincided with the Nernstian slope (19.7 mV/decade). Interfering ions were $I^-,\;Br^-,\; SCN^-\;and\;Fe(CN)_6^{4-}$ and the life time of this electrode was 3 weeks. This electrode could be used as the indicator electrode for measuring the ferricyanide and ferrocyanide.