• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.841-846
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• 2016

Local protein synthesis mediates precise spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression for neuronal functions such as long-term plasticity, axon guidance and regeneration. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of local translation, it is crucial to understand mRNA transport, localization and translation in live neurons. Among various techniques for mRNA analysis, fluorescence microscopy has been widely used as the most direct method to study localization of mRNA. Live-cell imaging of single RNA molecules is particularly advantageous to dissect the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes in neurons. Here, we review recent advances in the study of mRNA localization and translation in live neurons using novel techniques for single-RNA imaging.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.76.2-76.2
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• 2015

I will present my research group's recent investigation on how the localized plasmon of a nanoparticle interacts with another plasmon, and with nearby molecules. First, I will demonstrate the use of scattering-type scanning near-field microscopy (s-SNOM) to directly visualize the capacitive / conductive coupling in dimeric nanoparticles and heterometallic nanorods. Second, I will talk about the use of gap-plasmons to locally induce photochemical reactions, and to follow chemical kinetics of individual organic molecules using the gap-plasmons. As a last topic, I will talk about the use of near-field coupling between a scanning probe and graphenes to visualize / identify the stacking domains (e. g., ABA versus ABC-type stacking in triple layer) hidden in multilayer graphenes.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.429-433
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• 2015

The binding ability and hydrogen storage capacity of nitrogen doped carbon nanotube with divacancy (4NDCN_xNT) that is decorated with transition metals was investigated based on density functional theory calculations. Results indicate that scandium shows an ideal reversible hydrogen binding capability with promising system-weight efficiency compared with other transition metals when functionalized with 4ND-CN_xNT. The (Sc/4ND)₁₀-CN_xNT can store up to 50H₂ molecules, corresponding to a maximum gravimetric density of 5.8 wt%. Detailed structural stability and electronic properties were reported as hydrogen molecules were absorbed. It takes about 0.16 eV/H₂ to add one H₂ molecule, which assures reversible storage of H₂ molecules under ambient conditions.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.195-202
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• 2021

This paper presents a numerical analysis of the lubrication characteristics of condensed water molecules on a solid surface by conducting molecular dynamics simulations. We examine two models consisting of a simple hexahedral substrate with and without water molecules to reveal the lubrication mechanism of mono-layered water molecules. We perform a sliding simulation by contacting and translating a single asperity on the substrate under various normal loads. During the simulation, we measure the friction coefficient and atomic stress. When water molecules were interleaved between solid surfaces, atomic stress exerted on individual atom and friction coefficient were smaller than those of model without water molecule. Particularly, at a low load, the efficacy of water molecules in the reduction of atomic stress and friction is remarkable. Conversely, at high loads, water molecules rarely lubricate solid surfaces and fail to effectively distribute the contact stress. We found a critical condition in which the lubrication regime changes and beyond the condition, significant plastic deformation was created. Consequently, we deduce that water molecules can distribute and reduce contact stress within a certain condition. The reduced contact stress prevents plastic deformation of the substrate and thus diminishes the mechanical interlocking between the asperity and the substrate.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2008

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can be modified to produce a new concept of hybrid materials by introducing atoms or molecules inside their cylindrical empty space. Such an endohedral doping of the SWCNTs is expected to decisively alter their electronic transport and mechanical properties, In this study, we purified SWCNTs by three-step purification processes and formed the peapod structure by introducing $C_{60}$ fullerenes inside the SWCNTs. $C_{60}$ molecules were observed to be regularly arranged by transmission electron microscopy. In Raman spectra, the radial breathing mode (RBM) rather than the other modes was significantly affected by the endohedral injection of $C_{60}$. The RBM intensity was more greatly reduced in the large-diameter SWCNTs than the small-diameter ones, Raman spectroscopy is expected to be a key technique for analyzing $C_{60}$-encapsulated SWCNTs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.16-17
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• 2010

Molecular spintronics has attracted attentions, which combines molecular electronics with the spin degree of freedom in electron transport. Among various molecules as candidates of the molecular spintronics, single molecule magnet (SMM) is one of the most promising material. SMM molecules show a ferromagnetic behavior even as a single molecule and hold the spin information even after the magnetic field is turned off. Here in this report, we show the spin behavior of SMM molecules adsorbed on the Au surface by combining the observation of Kondo peak in the STS and ESR-STM measurement. Kondo resonance state is formed near the Fermi level when degenerated spin state interacts with conduction electrons. ESR-STM detects the Larmor frequency of the spin in the presence of a magnet field. The sample include $MPc_2$ and $M_2Pc_3$ molecules ($M\;=\;Tb^{3+}$, $Dy^{3+}$, and $Y^{3+}$ Pc=phthalocyanine) whose critical temperature as a ferromagnet reaches 40 K. A clear Kondo peak was observed which is originated from an unpaired electron in the ligand of the molecule, which is the first demonstration of the Kondo peak originated from electron observed in the STS measurement. We also observed corresponding peaks in ESR-STM spectra. [1] In addition we found that the Kondo peak intensity shows a clear variation with the conformational change of the molecule; namely the azimuthal rotational angle of the Pc planes. This indicates that the Kondo resonance is correlated with the molecule electronic state. We examined this phenomena by using STM manipulation technique, where pulse bias application can rotate the relative azimuthal angle of the Pc planes. The result indicates that an application of ~1V pulse to the bias voltage can rotate the Pc plane and the Kondo peaks shows a clear variation in intensity by the molecule's conformational change.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2006.02a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2006

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.69-70
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• 2023

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.11-18
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• 1996

Liquid droplets of water and argon surrounded by their vapor have been simulated by the milecular dynamics method. To explore the surface phenomena of clusters, each molecule is classified into 'liquid', 'surface', or 'vapor' with respect to the number of neighbor molecules. The contribution of a 'surface' molecule of the water cluster to the far infrared spectrum is almist the same as that of the 'liquid' molecule. Hence, the liquid-vapor interface is viewed as geometrically and temporally varying boundary of 'liquid' molecules with only a single layer of 'surface' molecules that might have different characteristics from the 'liquid' molecules. The time scale of the 'phase change' of each molecule is estimated for the argon cluster by observing the instantancous kinetic and potential energies of each molecule. To compare the feature of clusters with macroscopic droplets, the temperature dependence of the surface tension of the argon cluster is estimated.

• International Journal of Oncology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.1490-1498
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• 2020

Multicellular tumor spheroids (MTSs) of malignant cells can display cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, different from monolayer cultures. The objective of the present study was to examine difference in intercellular and cell-matrix interaction between monolayered cultures and spheroid cultures. Expression levels of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling molecules in monolayered cells and MTS cells were compared. The motility of single cells dispersed from each culture was evaluated using a live-cell imaging device. The effect of an E-cadherin neutralizing antibody, DECMA, was also compared between the two cultures. Among various CAMs, only E-cadherin was increased in MTSs. The motility of single cells dispersed from MTSs was higher than that from monolayered cells. Compared with monolayered cells, the molecular weight (MW) of β1 integrin was decreased during MTS formation, particularly during the early stage. This notable reduction was maintained when DECMA was used to treat MTSs. Additionally, the expression levels of the EMT signaling molecules Snail and ILK increased more in MTSs than in monolayered cells. The blocking of E-cadherin elicited increased expression levels of EMT molecules and cellular motility only in MTSs. In conclusion, the alteration of E-cadherin expression and presence of low-MW β1 integrin in MTS may enhance cell motility via the upregulation of EMT signaling molecules that may be intensified by blocking E-cadherin.