• Title/Summary/Keyword: plasma assisted

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Coenzyme Q10, oxidative stress, and male infertility: A review

  • Alahmar, Ahmed T.;Calogero, Aldo E.;Singh, Rajender;Cannarella, Rossella;Sengupta, Pallav;Dutta, Sulagna
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.97-104
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    • 2021
  • Male infertility has a complex etiopathology, which mostly remains elusive. Although research has claimed that oxidative stress (OS) is the most likely underlying mechanism of idiopathic male infertility, the specific treatment of OS-mediated male infertility requires further investigation. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a vitamin-like substance, has been found in measurable levels in human semen. It exhibits essential metabolic and antioxidant functions, as well as playing a vital role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Thus, CoQ10 may be a key player in the maintenance of biological redox balance. CoQ10 concentrations in seminal plasma directly correlate with semen parameters, especially sperm count and sperm motility. Seminal CoQ10 concentrations have been shown to be altered in various male infertility states, such as varicocele, asthenozoospermia, and medical or surgical regimens used to treat male infertility. These observations imply that CoQ10 plays an important physiological role in the maintenance and amelioration of semen quality. The present article thereby aimed to review the possible mechanisms through which CoQ10 plays a role in the regulation of male reproductive function, and to concisely discuss its efficacy as an ameliorative agent in restoring semen parameters in male infertility, as well as its impact on OS markers, sperm DNA fragmentation, pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Hard TiN Coating by Magnetron-ICP P $I^3$D

  • Nikiforov, S.A.;Kim, G.H.;Rim, G.H.;Urm, K.W.;Lee, S.H.
    • Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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    • v.34 no.5
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    • pp.414-420
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    • 2001
  • A 30-kV plasma immersion ion implantation setup (P $I^3$) has been equipped with a self-developed 6'-magnetron to perform hard coatings with enhanced adhesion by P $I^3$D(P $I^3$ assisted deposition) process. Using ICP source with immersed Ti antenna and reactive magnetron sputtering of Ti target in $N_2$/Ar ambient gas mixture, the TiN films were prepared on Si substrates at different pulse bias and ion-to-atom arrival ratio ( $J_{i}$ $J_{Me}$ ). Prior to TiN film formation the nitrogen implantation was performed followed by deposition of Ti buffer layer under A $r^{+}$ irradiation. Films grown at $J_{i}$ $J_{Me}$ =0.003 and $V_{pulse}$=-20kV showed columnar grain morphology and (200) preferred orientation while those prepared at $J_{i}$ $J_{Me}$ =0.08 and $V_{pulse}$=-5 kV had dense and eqiaxed structure with (111) and (220) main peaks. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed some amount of $Ti_{x}$ $N_{y}$ in the films. The maximum microhardness of $H_{v}$ =35 GN/ $M^2$ was at the pulse bias of -5 kV. The P $I^3$D technique was applied to enhance wear properties of commercial tools of HSS (SKH51) and WC-Co alloy (P30). The specimens were 25-kV PII nitrogen implanted to the dose 4.10$^{17}$ c $m^{-2}$ and then coated with 4-$\mu\textrm{m}$ TiN film on $Ti_{x}$ $N_{y}$ buffer layer. Wear resistance was compared by measuring weight loss under sliding test (6-mm $Al_2$ $O_3$ counter ball, 500-gf applied load). After 30000 cycles at 500 rpm the untreated P30 specimen lost 3.10$^{-4}$ g, and HSS specimens lost 9.10$^{-4}$ g after 40000 cycles while quite zero losses were demonstrated by TiN coated specimens.s.

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Studies on Fabrication and Characteristics of $Al_{0.3}Ga_0.7N/GaN$ Heterojunction Field Effect Transistors for High-Voltage and High-Power Applications (고전압과 고전력 응용을 위한 $Al_{0.3}Ga_0.7N/GaN$ 이종접합 전계효과 트랜지스터의 제작 및 특성에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Jong-Wook;Lee, Jae-Seung;Kim, Chang-Suk;Jeong, Doo-Chan;Lee, Jae-Hak;Shin, Jin-Ho
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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    • v.38 no.8
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    • pp.13-19
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    • 2001
  • We report on the fabrication and characterization of $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}N$ HFETs with different barrier layer thickness which were grown using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE). The barrier thickness of $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}N$/GaN HFETs could be optimized in order to maximize 2 dimensional electron gas induced by piezoelectric effect without the relaxation of $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}N$ layer. $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}N$/GaN (20 nm/2 mm) HFET with 0.6 ${\mu}m$-long and 34 ${\mu}m$-wide gate shows saturated current density ($V_{gs}=1\;V$) of 1.155 A/mm and transconductance of 250 ms/mm, respectively. From high frequency measurement, the fabricated $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}N$/GaN HFETs showed $F_t=13$ GHz and $F_{max}=48$ GHz, respectively. The uniformity of less than 5% could be obtained over the 2 inch wafer. In addition to the optimization of epi-layer structure, the relation between breakdown voltage and high frequency characteristics has been examined.

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Comparison of Dry Etching of AlGaAs/GaAs in High Density Inductively Coupled $BCl_3$ based Plasmas ($BCl_3$에 기초한 고밀도 유도결합 플라즈마에 의한 AlGaAs/GaAs 건식식각 비교)

  • ;;;;;S. J. Pearton
    • Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2003.03a
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    • pp.63-63
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    • 2003
  • 플라즈마 공정은 DRAM, 이종접합 양극성 트랜지스터(HBTs), 레이저, 평면도파로(planar lightwave circuit)와 같은 전자소자 및 광조자 제작에 있어서 핵심 공정중의 하나이다. 최근 미세 구조의 크기가 극도로 감소하게 됨에 따라 실제 소작 제작에 있어서 미세한 모양을 식각하는 공정이 매우 중요하게 되었다. 그 중에서 고밀도 유도결합 플라즈마(high density inductively coupled plasma)를 이용한 기술은 빠르고 정확한 식각률, 우수한 식각 균일도와 높은 재현성 때문에 습식식각 기술보다 선호되고 있다. 본 연구는 평판형(planar) 고밀도 유도결합 플라즈마 식각장치를 이용하여 BCl$_3$와 BCl$_3$/Ar 플라즈마에 따른 AlGaAs/GaAs의 식각결과를 비교 분석하였다. 공정 변수는 ICP 소스(source power)파워, RIE 척(chuck) 파워, 공정 압력, 그리고 Ar 조성비(0-100%)이었다. BCl$_3$에 Ar을 첨가하게 되면 순수한 BCl$_3$ 플라즈마에서의 AlGaAs/GaAs 식각률(> 3000 $\AA$/min) 보다 분당 약 1000$\AA$ 이상 높은 식각률(>4000 $\AA$/min)을 나타내었다. 이 결과는 Ar 플라즈마의 이온보조(ion-assisted)가 식각률 증가에 기인한다고 예측된다. 그리고 전자주사 현미경(SEM)과 원자력간 현미경(AFM)을 사용하여 식각 후 표면 거칠기 및 수직 측벽도 둥을 분석하였다. 마지막으로 XPS를 이용하여 식각된 후에 표면에 남아 있는 잔류 성분 분석을 연구하였다. 본 결과를 종합하면 BCl$_3$에 기초한 평판형 유도결합 플라즈마는 AlGaAs/GaAs 구조의 식각시 많은 우수한 특성을 보여주었다.79$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 0.016$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 혼합재료 2는 0.045$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 0.014$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 혼합재료 3은 0.123$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 0.017$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 혼합재료 4는 0.055$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 0.016$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 혼합재료 5는 0.031$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 0.015$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 혼합재료 6은 0.111$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$, 0.020$\ell/\textrm{cm}^3$로 나타났다. 3. 단일재료의 악취흡착성능 실험결과 암모니아는 코코넛, 소나무수피, 왕겨에서 흡착능력이 우수하게 나타났으며, 황화수소는 펄라이트, 왕겨, 소나무수피에서 다른 재료에 비하여 상대적으로 우수한 것으로 나타났으며, 혼합충진재는 암모니아의 경우 코코넛과 펄라이트의 비율이 70%:30%인 혼합재료 3번과 소나무수피와 펄라이트의 비율이 70%:30%인 혼합재료 6번에서 다른 혼합재료에 비하여 우수한 것으로 나타났으며, 황화수소의 경우 혼합재료에 따라 약간의 차이를 보였다. 4. 코코넛과 소나무수피의 경우 암모니아가스에 대한 흡착성능은 거의 비슷한 것으로 사료되며, 코코넛의 경우 전량을 수입에 의존하고 있다는 점에서 국내 조달이 용이하며, 구입 비용도 적게 소요되는 소나무수피를 사용하는 것이 경제적이라고 사료된다. 5. 마지막으로 악취제거 미생물균주를 접종한 소나무수피 70%와 펄라이트 30%의 혼합재료를 24시간동안 장기간 운전

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Humidity Dependence of Tribological Behavior of DLC Films (DLC 필름의 마찰마모 특성의 습도 의존성에 대한 연구)

  • Park, Se-Jun;Lee, Kwang-Ryeol;Lee, Seung-Cheol;Ko, Dae-Hong
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.287-293
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    • 2006
  • Diamond-like carbon (DLC) film was deposited using benzene $(C_6H_6)$ by r. f-plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition. The tribological properties of the DLC film were tested by rotating ball-on-disc type tribometer isolated by a chamber. The tribological test was performed in air environment of relative humidity ranging from 0 to 90% in order to observe the tribological behavior of the DLC film with the change of humidity. We used steel ball and DLC coated steel ball to investigate the effect of the counterface material. Using steel ball, the friction coefficient of DLC film increased from 0.025 to 0.2 as the humidity increased from 0% to 90%. In case of DLC coated steel ball which didn't form the Fe-rich debris, the friction coefficient showed much lower dependence of humidity as 0.08 in relative humidity 90%. We confirmed that the high humidity dependence of the friction coefficient using steel ball resulted from the increase of debris size with humidity and the formation of Fe-rich debris by the wear of steel ball. And the friction coefficient was immediately dropped when the relative humidity changed from 90% to 0% during test using steel ball. From this result, we confirmed that the effect of the Fe-rich debris on the friction coefficient was that Fe element in debris formed the highly sensitive graphitic transfer layer to humidity.

Usefulness of Intravenous Anesthesia Using a Target-controlled Infusion System with Local Anesthesia in Submuscular Breast Augmentation Surgery

  • Chung, Kyu-Jin;Cha, Kyu-Ho;Lee, Jun-Ho;Kim, Yong-Ha;Kim, Tae-Gon;Kim, Il-Guk
    • Archives of Plastic Surgery
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    • v.39 no.5
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    • pp.540-545
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    • 2012
  • Background Patients have anxiety and fear of complications due to general anesthesia. Through new instruments and local anesthetic drugs, a variety of anesthetic methods have been introduced. These methods keep hospital costs down and save time for patients. In particular, the target-controlled infusion (TCI) system maintains a relatively accurate level of plasma concentration, so the depth of anesthesia can be adjusted more easily. We conducted this study to examine whether intravenous anesthesia using the TCI system with propofol and remifentanil would be an effective method of anesthesia in breast augmentation. Methods This study recruited 100 patients who underwent breast augmentation surgery from February to August 2011. Intravenous anesthesia was performed with 10 mg/mL propofol and 50 ${\mu}g/mL$ remifentanil simultaneously administered using two separate modules of a continuous computer-assisted TCI system. The average target concentration was set at 2 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 2 ng/mL for propofol and remifentanil, respectively, and titrated against clinical effect and vital signs. Oxygen saturation, electrocardiography, and respiratory status were continuously measured during surgery. Blood pressure was measured at 5-minute intervals. Information collected includes total duration of surgery, dose of drugs administered during surgery, memory about surgery, and side effects. Results Intraoperatively, there was transient hypotension in two cases and hypoxia in three cases. However, there were no serious complications due to anesthesia such as respiratory difficulty, deep vein thrombosis, or malignant hypertension, for which an endotracheal intubation or reversal agent would have been needed. All the patients were discharged on the day of surgery and able to ambulate normally. Conclusions Our results indicate that anesthetic methods, where the TCI of propofol and remifentanil is used, might replace general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation in breast augmentation surgery.

Tribological behavior of multi-layered diamond-like carbon films (다층 다이아몬드상 카본 필름의 윤활 및 마모 거동)

  • 김명근;이광렬;은광용
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.59-65
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    • 1998
  • Multi-layer diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited by 13.56 MHz r.f. PACVD method. Multi-layer DLC film was composed of 2.5 $mu extrm{m}$ thick pure DLC filml and 0.2$\mu\textrm{m}$ thick Si incorporated DLC (Si-DLC) film as a surface layer. Tribological behaviors of the multi-layer DLC film were investigated with a ball-on-disk type tribometer in ambient atmosphere using AISI 52100 steel ball. Low friction coefficient (<0.1) period increased with increasing the Si content in the surface Si-DLC film. The wear rate after 44,000 cycles and 158,400 cycles were the $2.5\times10^{-8}\sim1.8\times10^{-7}\textrm{mm}^3$/rev. and $7.1\times10^{-9}\sim1.8\times10^{-8}\textrm{mm}^3$/rev.,respectively. The wear rate of the multi-layer DLC film after 158,400 cycles was about 2 times smaller than that of pure DLC films of 2.7 $\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness. This high wear resistance and low friction coefficient was caused by the formation of Si oxide layer on the wear scar surface, as confirmed by the debris composition analysis. It was further shown that this si oxide debris layer on the wear scar surface is formed again even after removing the debris of the steel ball, which maintain the low friction coefficient between multi-layer DLC films and steel ball.

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Analytical Method of Silicon Dioxide in Health Functional Food Products using ICP-OES

  • Ka, Mi-Hyun;Lee, Kwang-Geun;Lim, Heung-Youl;Lee, Gunyoung;Yun, Sang Soon;Lim, Ho Soo;Kim, Yong-Suk
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.32 no.5
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    • pp.343-347
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    • 2017
  • The analytical method of silicon dioxide ($SiO_2$) in health functional food products was developed employing inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method assisted by acid (hydrofluoric acid and boric acid) digestion in open system without alkali fusion. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of this method were found to be 0.07 and 0.20 mg/L, respectively. Linearity ($r^2$) and linear range were 0.99 and 0.20~20.0 mg/L, respectively. The accuracy and precision of $SiO_2$ (0.4, 1.0, and 2.0%, w/w) in spiked glucosamine exhibited to be the range of 90.22~94.14% and 0.72~1.67%, respectively. The contents of $SiO_2$ in 11 health functional food products were detected in range of 0.02~1.80% (w/w). Every sample showed below content of the permitted use level (2%, w/w) of $SiO_2$. Therefore ICP-OES method with acid can analyze the content of $SiO_2$ in health functional food products easily and rapidly. Consequently, the application of specification analysis of $SiO_2$ in health functional food products could be a significant work.

A STUDY ON THE RESISTANCE OF WEAR AND CYTOTOXICITY OF THE TITANIUM SURFACE AFTER FILM DEPOSITIONS (박막증착시 티타늄 표면의 마손저항도와 세포독성에 관한 연구)

  • Kim Hyung-Woo;Kim Chang-Whe;Kim Yung-Soo
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.84-95
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    • 2001
  • Titanium is widely used in dentistry for its low density, high strength, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. But it has a tendency of surface damage under circumstance of friction and impact for its low hardness of the surface. Coating is one of methods fir increasing surface hardness. Its effect is to improve surface physical characteristics without change of titanium. Diamond-like carbon and titanium nitride are known for its high hardness of the surface. So that this study was aimed at the wear test and the cytotoxicity test of the commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy which were deposited by diamond-like carbon film or titanium nitride film to acertain improvement of the surface hardness and the biocompatibility. A disk (25mm diameter, 2mm thickness) was made of commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy and these substrates were deposited by diamond-like carbon film or titanium nitride film. Diamond-like carbon film was deposited by the method of radiofrequency plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition and titanium nitride film was deposited by the method of reactive arc ion plating. Then these substrates were tested about wear characteristics by the pin-on-disk type wear tester in which ruby ball was used as a wear causer under the load of 32N, The fracture cycles were measured by rotating the substrates until their films were fractured. The wear volume was measured after 150 cycles and 3,000 cycles using surface profiler. The cytotoxicity test was peformed by the method of the MTT assay. The results were as follows : 1. In the results of the wear volume test, commercially pure titanium and titanium alloy which were coated by diamond-like carbon film or titanium nitride aim had higher resistance against wear than the substrates which were not coated by any films (P<0.05). 2. In the results of the fracture cycle test and the wear volume test, diamond-like carbon film had higher resistance against wear than titanium nitride film (P<0.05). 3. In both coatings of diamond-like carbon aim and titanium nitride film, Ti-6Al-4V alloy had higher resistance against wear than commercially pure titanium (P<0.05) 4. In the results of the cytotoxicity test, diamond-like carbon film and titanium nitride film had little cytotoxicity as like commercially pure titanium or Ti-6Al-4V alloy (P>0.05).

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Effect of Cooking Methods on Elemental Composition of Pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae spp.) (호박류의 조리방법에 따른 무기질 성분의 변화)

  • Hong, Young Shin;Kim, Kyong Su
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.46 no.10
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    • pp.1195-1204
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    • 2017
  • This study was designed to determine the effects of three cooking methods, boiling, microwave, and steaming, on elemental compositions of green pumpkin, zucchini, and sweet and ripened pumpkin. The cooking methods were carried out at 3, 5, and 10 min. The samples were then dried, crushed, and decomposed by microwave-assisted digestion method. Macro elements were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), whereas ICP-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used for micro elements determination. From the results, macro elements were present in the order of K, P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, and Na in all analyzed pumpkins. Among micro elements, Mn, Cu, Rb, and Ba, were present at high levels. For the effects of cooking methods, boiling significantly reduced the concentrations of elements. Cooking time affected concentrations of elements in the same manner with large differences between elemental contents in samples cooked for 5 and 10 min. Regarding micro elements contents, both effects were not significant. Similar elemental compositions with different concentration levels in all pumpkin types were observed. Green pumpkin and ripened pumpkin showed high retention rates of inorganic components upon steaming, and zucchini and sweet pumpkin showed high retention rates upon microwave cooking. Conclusively, cooking method and time affect amounts of residual inorganic ingredients in pumpkin.