• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.529-543
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• 2020

In contrast to ventricular myocytes, the structural and functional importance of atrial transverse tubules (T-tubules) is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the ultrastructure of T-tubules of living rat atrial myocytes in comparison with ventricular myocytes. Nanoscale cell surface imaging by scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) was accompanied by confocal imaging of intracellular T-tubule network, and the effect of removal of T-tubules on atrial excitation-contraction coupling (EC-coupling) was observed. By SICM imaging, we classified atrial cell surface into 4 subtypes. About 38% of atrial myocytes had smooth cell surface with no clear T-tubule openings and intracellular T-tubules (smooth-type). In 33% of cells, we found a novel membrane nanostructure running in the direction of cell length and named it 'longitudinal fissures' (LFs-type). Interestingly, T-tubule openings were often found inside the LFs. About 17% of atrial cells resembled ventricular myocytes, but they had smaller T-tubule openings and a lower Z-groove ratio than the ventricle (ventricular-type). The remaining 12% of cells showed a mixed structure of each subtype (mixed-type). The LFs-, ventricular-, and mixed-type had an appreciable amount of reticular form of intracellular T-tubules. Formamide-induced detubulation effectively removed atrial T-tubules, which was confirmed by both confocal images and decreased cell capacitance. However, the LFs remained intact after detubulation. Detubulation reduced action potential duration and L-type Ca²⁺ channel (LTCC) density, and prolonged relaxation time of the myocytes. Taken together, we observed heterogeneity of rat atrial T-tubules and membranous ultrastructure, and the alteration of atrial EC-coupling by disruption of T-tubules.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.407-412
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• 2008

Purpose: Hydrofluoric acid(HF) is one of the most dangerous mineral acids with the dissociated fluoride ions. The initial corrosive burn is caused by free hydrogen ion, and the second and more severe burn is caused by penetration of fluoride ions into subcutaneous tissues. Silver is a cation producing dressing, an effective antimicrobial agent, but older silver-containing formulations are rapidly inactivated by wound environment, requiring frequent replenishment. But, $Acticoat^{(R)}$ is a relatively new form of silver dressing which helps avoid the problems of earlier agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate effects of $Acticoat^{(R)}$, silver-containing dressing on the treatment for HF injury wound. Methods: From september 2006 to september 2007, the study was carried out with 10 patients who had HF partial thickness burns. $Acticoat^{(R)}$ dressing and 10% calcium gluconate wet gauze dressings in 10 cases. As a principle, in the emergency treatment, partial or complete removal of the nail and early bullectomy along with copious washing with normal saline was done, depending on the degree of HF invasion of the wound. Wound was dressed with $Acticoat^{(R)}$ and 10% calcium gluconate solution. The effect of dressing was investgated by serial bacterial culture and wound exudates assessment. Results: We therefore reviewed 10 cases of HF-induced chemical burns and treatment principle. The 10 cases who came to the hospital nearly immediately after the injury healed completely without sequelae. Conclusion: As the industrial sector develops, the use of HF is increasing more and more, leading to increased incidences of HF-induced chemical burns. The education of patients regarding this subject should be empathized accordingly. In conclusion, $Acticoat^{(R)}$ dressing is a better choice for HF partial thickness burn injuries because of shorter healing time, less pain and more comfortable dressing.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1229-1234
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• 2006

This study investigated whether matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can be modified in apoptotic smooth muscle cell (SMC) using the SMC that undergoes apoptotic death by expressing Fas-associated death domain containing protein (FADD) when they are grown without tetracycline in culture medium. In the absence of tetracycline, FADD-SMC lost adherence and showed the fragmentation of the nuclei. In proportion to duration of tetracycline removal, phosphorylated form of p38 MAPK and of ERK increased, whereas phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB) was not changed very much in response to tetracycline The levels of cyclin A and cyclin D were also decreased in a time dependent manner. Up-regulation of MMP-9 expression and activity was observed when the SMC were grown without tetracycline. Immunoreactivity of MMP-9 was detected from both attached and floating FADD-SMCs grown without tetracycline. An inhibitor of MAPK kinase, PD098059, and an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB203580, inhibited the up-regulation of MMP-9. Treatment of the SMC with a synthetic MMP inhibitor, BB94, attenuated death occurring in the absence of tetracycline. These results indicate that SMC undergoing death is able to up-regulate MMP-9 and that the enzyme can affect cell viability.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.91-105
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• 1998

The present study is undertaken to investigate the hypertrophical changes of the corpus allatum (corpora allata, CA) after the ovariectomy in Blattella germanica. In particular, the ultrastructural aspects of the normal and ovariectomized conditions, and induced factors of the hypertrophic phenomenon are focused. Ultrastructure of the CA from an immediately emergent adult is similar to that of the last larval stage that has stopped secreting juvenile hormone. The CA is composed of undifferentiated cells, exhibiting an electron-lucent matrix, a few mitochondria and less smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The karyoplasm occupy most of the cytoplasm. Electron-dense materials are filled with the intercellular spaces and gap junctions are also found. Almost no ultrastructural changes have been noticed during seven days until the oviposition. However, considerable changes in structure have been detected soon after the oviposition. Mitochondria are increased dramatically in number and cristae, and changed to the filamentous form with a high electron density. In addition, Golgi complexes, microtubules, and polysomes are also increased. After an oviposition, the total volume of the CA are decreased again. The volume of the CA are increased continuously, hypertrophy, after the ovariectomy. Morphological aspects of the CA in an early stage after the removal are similar to the structure of the secondary egg maturation. Large and electron dense globules are observed in the ovariectomized CA cytoplasms and they are present in those cells for a long period of time. Yet such a hypertrophical phenomenon occur only in the specific cells. The hypertrophy are caused by hollowing the part of the CA cells and later filling such site with polysomes. In 42 days after the ovariectomy, the nuclear membranes disappear in the CA cells, thus, exhibiting the prokaryotic-like features. Some results of the current study will contribute to the establishment of the model that explain unusual changes accompanied by certain treatment in insects and/or further in animals.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2013

The objective of this study is optimization of extrusion process for preparation of pellet-type adsorbents employed with alum sludge. Effects of water content and methyl cellulose as a binder on the possibility of extrusion and physical properties of pellet-type adsorbents were investigated. The physical characteristics of the pellet-type adsorbents were studied using nitrogen adsorption and compression strength. With a ratio of water to sludge, 63/100, the adsorbent was well extruded with a cylindrical form and the compressive strength was the highest. With increasing methyl cellulose content, the compressive strength of pellet-type adsorbent could be improved, but the specific surface area decreased. The breakthrough time of the hydrogen sulfide could be increased significantly through calcination and the breakthrough capacity reached to 1,700 mg/g, which seems to be due to increase of surface area during calcination.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2018

To abate the problem of odor from restaurants, a hybrid adsorbent consisting of organic and inorganic materials was developed and evaluated using acetaldehyde as a model compound was deveioped and evaluated. Powders of activated carbon, bentonite, and calcium hydroxide were mixed and calcinated to form adsorbent structure. The surface area of the hybrid adsorbent was smaller than that of high-quality activated carbon, but its microscopic image showed that contours and pores were developed on its surface. To determine its adsorption capacity, both batch isotherm and continuous flow column experiments were performed, and these results were compared with those using commercially available activated carbon. The isotherm tests showed that the hybrid adsorbent had a capacity 40 times higher than that of the activated carbon. In addition, the column experiments revealed that breakthrough time of the hybrid adsorbent was 2.5 times longer than that of the activated carbon. These experimental results were fitted to numerical simulations by using a homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM); the model estimated that the hybrid adsorbent might be able to remove acetaldehyde at a concentration of 40 ppm for a 5-month period. Since various odor compounds are commonly emitted as a mixture when meat is barbecued, it is necessary to conduct a series of experiments and HSDM simulations under various conditions to obtain design parameters for a full-scale device using the hybrid adsorbent.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.412-420
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• 2016

Effect of $H_2S$ on reactivity of oxygen carrier was measured and discussed using fluidized bed reactor and SDN70 oxygen carrier. We could get 100% of fuel conversion and $CO_2$ selectivity even though $H_2S$ containing simulated syngas was used as fuel for reduction. Absorbed sulfur was released during oxidation and $N_2$ purge step after oxidation as $SO_2$ form. We could get 100% of fuel conversion and $CO_2$ selectivity during cyclic reduction-oxidation tests up to 10th cycle. However, only 6~7% of sulfur can be removed during oxidation and $N_2$ purge step and 93~94% of sulfur was accumulated in the oxygen carrier. Therefore we could conclude that total removal of sulfur was not possible. $SO_2$ emission during oxidation decreased as the number of cycle increased. Therefore we could expect that the reactivity of oxygen carrier will be decreased with time.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 1998

Laboratory-scale experiment using anaerobic fluidized bed reactor was carried out to investigate the prehydrolysis step with caustic soda on the treatment efficiency of anaerobic sludge treatment, since the overall rate-limiting step for the complete anaerobic digestion of sludge was the hydrolysis step by extracellular bacterial enzymes of insoluble polymeric molecules. Reactors received a sludge which had not been pretreated, a 50-50 mixture of pretreated and untreated sludge, and the fully pretreated sludge. Hydraulic retention time of 10, 5, 2.5 days and 1 day were applied with an respective equivalent organic loading rate of 1.17, 2.23, 4.17, 11.24 gCOD/L/d. Reactor with the untreated sludge did not archieve adequate digestion even at the HRT of 5 days, and reactor, which received the 50-50 mixture, operated well at the HRT of 5 days, but began to show signs of unstable digestion at the HRT of 2.5 days. While, reactor, which was fed the hydrolyzed sludge, operated reasonably well at the 2.5 days, but was showing somewhat decrease in removal efficiencies. Results, therefore, have substantiated that the limiting reaction in the anaerobic treatment process is hydrolysis. The soluble COD did not significantly accumulate in the reactor as organic acid form, even when they were highly stressed. It was believed that this resistance to a build-up of organic acids and soluble COD behavior was mainly due to the maintenance of the methane bacteria in the fixed-film system which prevents washout as the organic loading increased. The anaerobic fluidized bed reactor was therefore effective for the digestion of waste activated sludge at short HRT.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2021

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the application of double layered bubble sheet on the curing of slab and wall concrete placed at the job site in cold weather and to offer a feasibility of Concrete IoT Management System(CIMS), which is wireless sensor network developed by the authors, to manage early age quality of the concrete in terms of temperature, maturity and strength development. Test results indicated that the application of bubble sheet enhances the insulation performance, which results in an increase of the temperature by around 1~20. 6℃. It is found that CIMS can gather the temperature, maturity and strength development data from the sensors embedded from 30 m far from CIMS successfully. Predicted compressive strengths by CIMS had good agreement with measured ones within 2 MPa error level until 7 days. It is thought that the combination of the bubble sheet application for cold weather protection and CIMS for quality management tool in cold weather concreting contributes to shorten the time for the form removal by one day.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.48-48
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• 2011

We have developed a chemically-driven top-down approach using vapor phase HCl to form various GaN nanostructures and successfully demonstrated dislocation-free and strain-relaxed GaN nanostructures without etching damage formed by a selective dissociation method. Our approach overcomes many limitations encountered in previous approaches. There is no need to make a pattern, complicated process, and expensive equipment, but it produces a high-quality nanostructure over a large area at low cost. As far as we know, this is the first time that various types of high-quality GaN nanostructures, such as dot, cone, and rod, could be formed by a chemical method without the use of a mask or pattern, especially on the Ga-polar GaN. It is well known that the Ga-polar GaN is difficult to etch by the common chemical wet etching method because of the chemical stability of GaN. Our chemically driven GaN nanostructures show excellent structure and optical properties. The formed nanostructure had various facets depending on the etching conditions and showed a high crystal quality due to the removal of defects, such as dislocations. These structure properties derived excellent optical performance of the GaN nanostructure. The GaN nanostructure had increased internal and external quantum efficiency due to increased light extraction, reduced strain, and improved crystal quality. The chemically driven GaN nanostructure shows promise in applications such as efficient light-emitting diodes, field emitters, and sensors.