• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2013

To use as an anode material of lithium secondary battery, graphite-silicon composite powders are prepared by ball-milling with silicon nanoparticles (average diameter 100 nm, 0~50 wt%) and graphite powder (average diameter $15{\mu}m$) and their electrochemical properties are examined. As the silicon content increases, the graphite becomes smaller by the ball-milling and amorphous phase appears whereas the silicon do not suffer the change of nanocrystalline phases and embeds within the amorphous phase of graphite. Cyclic voltammetry at low scan rate reveals that typical oxidation peaks of graphite and silicon appear at 0.2~0.35 and 0.55~0.6 V, respectively, with higher reversibility for repeated cycles. In contrast, the high-scan-rate redox behavior is very irreversible for repeated cycles. High irreversible capacity is exhibited in the initial charging-discharging cycles, but it diminishes as the cycle number increases. The saturated discharge capacity achieves about 485 mAh $g^{-1}$ at 50th cycle for the composite of Si 20 wt%. This is due to the formation of amorphous graphite morphology by the adequate composition (C:Si=8:2 w/w), which efficiently buffers the volume change during alloying/dealloying between silicon and lithium.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.137-153
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibilities of identifying and detecting underground cavities using seismic waves recorded by the fixed and mobile stations. During 18 months of field work we recorded chemical explosions near the Bongdarn station. Seismic Stations were installed on the free surface and underground inside the Samba mine. The seismograms at the fixed(lorg-term) seismic station show abrupt change of polarization characteristics which can he associated with the appearance of P-to-S converted phase(PS) at 150 ~ 200 msec after the first P arrival. This result indicates that converted phases are generated very near to the Bongdarn station at a depth of 190m. Shear-wave splitting phenomena have also been observeci The time delay between fast shear(fS) and slow shear(sS) waves ranges between 30 and 60 msec(average is 42 msec). However, exact time delay between the fast and the slow shear waves can not be accurately measured because of the very short time delay and limitation of sampling rate. Chemical explosion experiments were recorded at stations along various paths to contrast the seismic response of areas with and without cavities. The seismograms recorded at the stations installed at cavity areas show an abrupt change of polarization characteristics but not on the other stations. Seismic waves propagating through the cavity are characterized by the attenuation of high frequency waves and predominantly low frequency seismic waves after the S wave arrivals.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.328-333
• /
• 2011

Melatonin has been known as an animal hormone. However, melatonin exists in diverse organisms including higher plants. The biosynthesis and physiological roles for melatonin in plants is still largely unknown, although both dicot and monocot plants have melatonin and some medicinal plants even contain large amounts of melatonin. In this study we detected melatonin in diverse Viola plants, in which melatonin had not been examined so far, by reverse phase HPLC analysis, demonstrating the wide existence of melatonin in the genus of Viola. We then fed tryptophan (Trp) and tryptamine (TAM) to the incubation medium for Viola leaf sections to test their effects on melatonin formation. Trp is also the hypothesized starting material of melatonin in plants, and TAM is the following intermediate produced by the decarboxylation of Trp. Trp feeding did not affect the contents of melatonin. In contrast, TAM feeding clearly increased the level of melatonin in Viola leaves. Because TAM is derived from Trp, we concluded that the Trp-TAM pathway exists in Viola plants as well. Ineffectiveness of Trp feeding to the change of melatonin contents supports the hypothesis that the decarboxylation step from Trp to TAM is the rate-limiting step in plant melatonin biosynthesis.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.455-459
• /
• 2002

The transport and optical properties of $In_2O_3$:Zn(IZO) thin films grown by DC magnetron sputtering deposition have been studied. The deposition temperatures ($T_s$) were varied from room temperature to $400^{\circ}C$ in $50^{\circ}C$ steps. The IZO films are an amorphous phase for $T_s$<$300^{\circ}C$ and polycrystalline phase for $350^{\circ}C$＜$T_s$. In contrast to ordinary films, amorphous IZO films have lower resistivity and higher optical transmittance than polycrystalline IZO films. The resistivity of amorphous IZO was in the range of 0.29~0.4 m$\Omega$cm and that of polycrystalline IZO was in the range of 1~4 m$\Omega$cm. The carrier type for IZO film was found to be n-type, and the carrier density, was $3~5{\times}10^{20}/cm^3$. The Hall mobility, $({\mu}_H)$, was 20~$50\textrm{cm}^2$/V.sec. The predominant scattering mechanisms in both amorphous and polycrystalline IZO films were believed to be ionized impurity scattering and lattice scattering. The visible transmittance of the IZO films, which decreases with an increase of TS, was above 80%.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.332-339
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different biochars on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous media. The experiment was carried out in aqueous solutions containing $200mg\;CdL^{-1}$ or $200mg\;PbL^{-1}$ using two different biochars derived from soybean stover and orange peel (20 mg Cd or $Pbg^{-1}$ biochar). After shaking for 24 hours, biochars were filtered out, and Cd and Pb in the filtrate were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). In order to provide information regarding metal binding strength on biochars, sequential extraction was performed by modified SM&T (formerly BCR). The results showed that 70~100% of initially added Cd and Pb was adsorbed on biochars and removed from aqueous solution. The removal rate of Pb (95%, 100%) was higher than that of Cd (70%, 91%). In the case of Cd, orange peel derived biochar (91%) showed higher adsorption rate than soybean stover derived biochar (70%). Cd was adsorbed on the biochar mainly in exchangeable and carbonates fraction (1st phase). In contrast, Pb was adsorbed on it mainly in the form of Fe-Mn oxides and residual fraction (2nd and 4th phase). The existence of Cd and Pb as a form of surface-precipitated complex was also observed on the surfaces of biochars detected by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDAX).

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.39.18-39.18
• /
• 2021

Background: Interferon lambda receptor 1 (IFNLR1) is a type II cytokine receptor that clings to interleukins IL-28A, IL29B, and IL-29 referred to as type III IFNs (IFN-λs). IFN-λs act through the JAK-STAT signaling pathway to exert antiviral effects related to preventing and curing an infection. Although the immune function of IFN-λs in virus invasion has been described, the molecular mechanism of IFNLR1 in that process is unclear. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of IFNLR1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Methods: The effects of IFNLR1 on the proliferation of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) during PRRSV infection were investigated using interference and overexpression methods. Results: In this study, the expressions of the IFNLR1 gene in the liver, large intestine, small intestine, kidney, and lung tissues of Dapulian pigs were significantly higher than those in Landrace pigs. It was determined that porcine IFNLR1 overexpression suppresses PRRSV replication. The qRT-PCR results revealed that overexpression of IFNLR1 upregulated antiviral and IFN-stimulated genes. IFNLR1 overexpression inhibits the proliferation of PAMs and upregulation of p-STAT1. By contrast, knockdown of IFNLR1 expression promotes PAMs proliferation. The G0/G1 phase proportion in IFNLR1-overexpressing cells increased, and the opposite change was observed in IFNLR1-underexpressing cells. After inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, the G2/M phase proportion in the IFNLR1-overexpressing cells showed a significant increasing trend. In conclusion, overexpression of IFNLR1 induces activation of the JAK/STAT pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of PAMs infected with PRRSV. Conclusion: Expression of the IFNLR1 gene has an important regulatory role in PRRSV-infected PAMs, indicating it has potential as a molecular target in developing a new strategy for the treatment of PRRSV.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 2019

Pituitary tumors are usually benign but can occasionally exhibit hormonal and proliferative behaviors. Dysregulation of the G1/S restriction point largely contributes to the over-proliferation of pituitary tumor cells. F-box protein S-phase kinase-interacting protein-2 (SKP2) reportedly targets and inhibits the expression of $p27^{Kip1}$, a well-known negative regulator of G1 cell cycle progression. In this study, SKP2 expression was found to be upregulated while $p27^{Kip1}$ expression was determined to be downregulated in rat and human pituitary tumor cells. Furthermore, SKP2 knockdown induced upregulation of $p27^{Kip1}$ and cell growth inhibition in rat and human pituitary tumor cells, while SKP2overexpression elicited opposite effects on $p27^{Kip1}$ expression and cell growth. The expression of microRNA-186 (miR-186) was reported to be reduced in pituitary tumors. Online tools predicted SKP2 to be a direct downstream target of miR-186, which was further confirmed by luciferase reporter gene assays. Moreover, miR-186 could modulate the cell proliferation and $p27^{Kip1}$-mediated cell cycle alternation of rat and human pituitary tumor cells through SKP2. As further confirmation of these findings, miR-186 and $p27^{Kip1}$ expression were downregulated, while SKP2 expression was upregulated in human pituitary tumor tissue samples; thus, SKP2 expression negatively correlated with miR-186 and $p27^{Kip1}$ expression. In contrast, miR-186 expression positively associated with $p27^{Kip1}$ expression. Taken together, we discovered a novel mechanism by which miR-186/SKP2 axis modulates pituitary tumor cell proliferation through $p27^{Kip1}$-mediated cell cycle alternation.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.313-322
• /
• 2021

Purpose: To find diagnostic image features, to compare diagnostic performance of multiphase CT versus gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced MRI (GAD-MRI), and to evaluate the impact of analyzing Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) imaging features, for distinguishing combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Ninety-six patients with pathologically proven CHC (n = 48) or HCC (n = 48), diagnosed June 2008 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed in random order by three radiologists with different experience levels. In the first analysis, the readers independently determined the probability of CHC based on their own knowledge and experiences. In the second analysis, they evaluated imaging features defined in LI-RADS 2018. Area under the curve (AUC) values for CHC diagnosis were compared between CT and MRI, and between the first and second analyses. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Cohen's weighted κ values. Results: Targetoid LR-M image features showed better specificities and positive predictive values (PPV) than the others. Among them, rim arterial phase hyperenhancement had the highest specificity and PPV. Average sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values were higher for MRI than for CT in both the first (P = 0.008, 0.005, 0.002, respectively) and second (P = 0.017, 0.026, 0.036) analyses. Interobserver agreements were higher for MRI in both analyses (κ = 0.307 for CT, κ = 0.332 for MRI in the first analysis; κ = 0.467 for CT, κ = 0.531 for MRI in the second analysis), with greater agreement in the second analysis for both CT (P = 0.001) and MRI (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement on GAD-MRI can be a good indicator suggesting CHC more than HCC. GAD-MRI may provide greater accuracy than CT for distinguishing CHC from HCC. Interobserver agreement can be improved for both CT and MRI by analyzing LI-RADS imaging features.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.12
• /
• pp.1850-1859
• /
• 2022

Objective: The quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the most accurate and reliable technique for analysis of gene expression. Endogenous reference genes (RGs) have been used to normalize qPCR data, although their expression may vary in different tissues and experimental conditions. Verification of the stability of RGs in selected samples is a prerequisite for reliable results. Therefore, we attempted to identify the most stable RGs in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in sows. Methods: The cycle threshold values of nine commonly used RGs (18S, HPRT1, GAPDH, RPL4, PPIA, B2M, YWHAZ, ACTB, and SDHA) from HPG axis-related tissues in the domestic sows in the different stages of estrus cycle were analyzed using two RG-finding programs, geNorm and Normfinder, to rank the stability of the pool of RGs. In addition, the effect of the most and least stable RGs was examined by normalization of the target gene, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), in the hypothalamus. Results: PPIA, HPRT1, and YWHAZ were the most stable RGs in the HPG axis-related tissues in sows regardless of the stages of estrus cycle. In contrast, traditional RGs, including 18S and ACTB, were found to be the least stable under these experimental conditions. In particular, in the normalization of GnRH expression in the hypothalamus against several stable RGs, PPIA, HPRT1, and YWHAZ, could generate significant (p<0.05) elevation of GnRH in the preovulatory phase compared to the luteal phase, but the traditional RGs with the least stability (18S and ACTB) did not show a significant difference between groups. Conclusion: These results indicate the importance of verifying RG stability prior to commencing research and may contribute to experimental design in the field of animal reproductive physiology as reference data.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.130-138
• /
• 2016

The use of antibiotics in aquaculture raises environmental and food safety concerns because chronic exposure of an aquatic ecosystem to antibiotics can result in the spread of antibiotic resistance, bioaccumulation of antibiotics in the organisms, and transfer of antibiotics to humans. In an attempt to overcome these problems, high-concentration red clay was applied as an alternative antibiotic against the following common fish pathogens: Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Streptococcus equinus. The growth of A. salmonicida and V. alginolyticus was retarded by red clay, whereas that of S. equinus was promoted. Phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed the attachment of red clay on cell surfaces, resulting in rapid gravitational removal and cell surface damage in both A. salmonicida and V. alginolyticus, but not in S. equinus. Different cell wall properties of grampositive species may explain the unharmed cell surface of S. equinus. Significant levels of oxidative stress were generated in only the former two species, whereas significant changes in membrane permeability were found only in S. equinus, probably because of its physiological adaptation. The bacterial communities in water samples from Oncorhynchus mykiss aquacultures supplemented with red clay showed similar structure and diversity as those from oxytetracycline-treated water. Taken together, the antibiotic effects of high concentrations of red clay in aquaculture can be attributed to gravitational removal, cell surface damage, and oxidative stress production, and suggest that red clay may be used as an alternative for antibiotics in aquaculture.