• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1108-1117
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• 2007

To investigate the possible mechanism of ${\alpha}-spinasterol$ as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, I examined the effects of ${\alpha}-spinasterol$ on the apoptosis of U937 cells MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR were performed. ${\alpha}-spinasterol$ treatment reduced the cell viablilty of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death. ${\alpha}-spinasterol$ treatment also reduced the levels of Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein expression and increased the levels of caspase-3, p53, pro-apoptotic protein, in U937 cells. After treatment the level of Bcl-xL, anti-apoptotic gene expression was decreased and the level of ICE pro-apoptotic gene expression was increased. These findings suggest that ${\alpha}-spinasterol$ induced the apoptotic cell death via regulation of several growth regulatory gene products. The abbreviations used are: FBS, fetal bovine serum; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PI, propidium iodide; OD, optical density; DiOC6, 3,3-dihexyloxa carbcyanine iodide; MTT, 3 [4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2013

We fabricated transparent conductive electrodes with silver (Ag) nanofibers by electrospinning process. Ag nanofibers have high aspect ratio and fused junctions which result in low sheet resistance. Electrospinning is a fast and efficient process to fabricate continuous one-dimensional (1D) nanofibers. Ag/polymer ink were prepared in polymer matrix solution by a sol-gel method. Then, Ag/polymer nanofibers precursors are heated at $200{\sim}500^{\circ}C$ in air for 2 h to eliminate partially the polymers. The topographical features of the Ag nanofibers were characterized by FE-SEM, and the electrical property was analyzed through I-V measurement system. Finally, optical property was measured using UV/VIS spectroscopy. The transparent conductive electrodes with Ag nanofibers exhibited a sheet resistance (Rs) of $250{\Omega}/sq$ at a transparency (T) of 83%. Transparent conductive films, contain the Ag nanofibers as conductive materials, have good electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Therefore, it is expected to be useful for the application of flexible display in the future.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2003

In spite of high ionic conductivity, the polymer gels have poor mechanical properties and high reactivity with lithium metal anode. To solve these problems, the dry solid systems and polymer composites have been intensively studied, due to their good mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrochemical stability. The objectives of this experiment were to improve ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of the solid polymer electrolytes based on PEO-LiClO$_4$. To obtain higher ionic conductivity and better mechanical properties, ceramic or rubber phase was added in the PEO-LiClO$_4$(8:1) matrix. The results showed that ionic conductivity and mechanical properties were improved. The ionic conductivity of the samples was as high as 10$\^$-5/ S cm$\^$-1/. This value is similar to the best ionic conductivity ever reported in the solid drying system. To obtain better results, we used PEO with various molecular weights (600∼8000) and changed the salt contents. By using DSC, we found that the addition of salt reduced the crystallinity of PEO. The mobility of polymer dependence on salt contents was examined by FT-IR.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.932-938
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• 2005

[ $TiO_2$ ] nanoparticles were prepared from the precipitation in $TiCl_4$ and the sol-gel profess in $Ti(OC_3H_7)_4$ as starting materials with various synthetic conditions. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, and TEM testing techniques. The photocatalytic degradation of congo red has been investigated in $TiO_2/UV$ process to evaluate photocatalytic activities for the samples. $TiO_2$ nanoparticles calcined at $400^{\circ}C$ had the best photocatalytic activity with the rate constant of the degradation of congo red as $0.0319\;min^{-1}$. The rate constant of $TiO_2$ photocatalysts was increased with the calcination temperature under $400^{\circ}C$ and decreased with the calcination temperature upper $400^{\circ}C$. In the case of $TiO_2$ photocatalysts, the photocatalytic activity wasn't greatly affected by the frequencies of usage. In the similar synthesis condition, the degradation efficiency of the $TiO_2$ particle prepared by $TiCl_4$ was increased to 8.8%, when the rate was compared with the sample prepared by $Ti(OC_3H_7)_4$. The photocatalytic activities of $TiO_2$ photocatalysts synthesized by $Ti(OC_3H_7)_4$ with various conditions were also discussed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2013

This paper describes the electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of small biomolecules on the surface of Pt-Ru nanoparticles supported by $TiO_2$-hollow sphere prepared for use in sensor applications or fuel cells. The $TiO_2$-hollow sphere supports were first prepared by sol-gel reaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide with poly(styrene-co-vinylphenylboronic acid), PSB used as a template. Pt-Ru nanoparticles were then deposited by chemical reduction of the $Pt^{4+}$ and $Ru^{3+}$ ions onto $TiO_2$-hollow sphere ($Pt-Ru@TiO_2-H$). The prepared $Pt-Ru@TiO_2-H$ nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental analysis. The electrocatalytic efficiency of Pt-Ru nanoparticles was evaluated via ethanol, methanol, dopamine, ascorbic acid, formalin, and glucose oxidation. The cyclic voltammograms (CV) obtained during the oxidation studies revealed that the $Pt-Ru@TiO_2-H$ nanocomposites showed high electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of biomolecules. As a result, the prepared Pt-Ru catalysts doped onto $TiO_2$-H sphere nanocomposites supports can be used for non-enzymatic biosensor or fuel cell anode electrode.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.377-392
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• 2012

It has been known that small solid particles act as a stabilizer in pickering emulsion system. In this study, we successfully prepared stable pickering emulsion in n-hexylalcohol and water system with $TiO_2$ whose surface was treated by alkylsilane. The optimum condition to prepare pickering emulsion stabilized by $TiO_2$ particles was determined by amount of $TiO_2$ particles and ratio of water and oil phase. The type of pickering emulsion was dependent on wettability of particles for water and n-hexylalcohol. When the amount of $TiO_2$ particles increased up to 5.00 wt%, the stability of pickering emulsion was showed to be improved. The most stable pickering emulsion was prepared in the case of W/O type which has the ratio of oil and water phase (3 : 7). We tried to prepare porous $SiO_2-TiO_2$ composite pigments using a pickering emulsion as template at the optimal condition. Porous pigments were synthesized with Ludox HS-30 as an inorganic material by sol-gel process. The characteristics and shape of porous pigments were measured by optical microscope, SEM, BET, XRD and EDS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.253-258
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• 2016

The $MnO_x-WO_3-TiO_2$ nanoscale powders were synthesized by sol-gel method in order to prevent the biological fouling on the ships and offshore structures. Powder characteristics and antifouling performance were investigated with respect to the crystalline, microstructure and surface property for application in self-polishing copolymer resins. The high antifouling activity of $TiO_2$-system biocide was attributed to its redox potential and soluble metal ions originating from tungsten oxides according to the improvements in the powder characteristics. Based on their physio-chemical characterizations, the specific surface areas of powders were about $90m^2/g$ and the grain size was in the region 100 ~ 150 nm. Powder characteristics and surface properties were improved by the addition of $WO_3$. Antifouling performance were analyzed according to their surface properties and static immersion tests to determine the effects of the $TiO_2$-system compounds. The surface of 2 wt. % added sample was clean for 5 month. This may be attributed to the ability of $MnO_x-WO_3-TiO_2$ powders to act as a promoter in antifouling agents.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2008

Purpose: A simple and efficient method to prepare nanocrystalline ZnO thin film with pure strong UV emission on soda-lime-silica glass substrates by low-temperature annealing was improved. Methods: Crystal structural, surface morphological, and optical characteristics of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films deposited on soda-lime-silica glass substrates by prefiring final annealing process at 300$^{\circ}C$ were investigated by using X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission-scanning electron microscope, scanning probe microscope, ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectrophotometer, and photoluminescence. Results: Highly c-axis-oriented ZnO films were obtained by prefiring at 300$^{\circ}C$. A high transmittance in the visible spectra range and clear absorption edge in the ultra violet range of the film was observed. The PL spectrum of ZnO thin film with a deep near band edge emission was observed while the defect-related broad green emission was nearly quenched. Conclusions: Our work will be possibly adopted to cheaply and easily fabricate ZnO-based optoelectronic devices at low temperature, below 300$^{\circ}C$, in the future.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2009

This minireview provides the chosen examples of our recent discoveries in the polymerization of hydrosilanes, dihydrosilole, lactones, and vinyl derivatives using various catalysts. Hydrosilanes and lactones copolymerize to give poly(lactone-co-silane)s with $Cp_2MCl_2$/Red-Al (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) catalyst. Hydrosilanes (including dihydrosilole) reduce noble metal complexes (e.g., $AgNO_3$, $Ag_2SO_4$, $HAuCl_4$, $H_2PtCl_6$) to give nanoparticles along with silicon polymers such as polysilanes, polysilole, polysiloxanes (and silicas) depending on the reaction conditions. Interestingly, phenylsilane dehydrocoupled to polyphenylsilane in the inert nitrogen atmosphere while phenylsilane dehydrocoupled to silica in the ambient air atmosphere. $Cp_2M/CX_4$ (M = Fe, Co, Ni; X = Cl, Br, I) combination initiate the polymerization of vinyl monomers. In the photopolymerization of vinyl monomers using $Cp_2M/CCl_4$ (M = Fe, Co, Ni), the photopolymerization of MMA initiated by $Cp_2M/CCl_4$ (M = Fe, Co, Ni) shows while the polymerization yield decreases in the order $Cp_2Fe$ > $Cp_2Ni$ > $Cp_2Co$, the molecular weight decreases in the order $Cp_2Co$ > $Cp_2Ni$ > $Cp_2Fe$. For the photohomopolymerization and photocopolymerization of MA and AA, the similar trends were observed. The photopolymerizations are not living. Many exciting possibilities remain to be examined and some of them are demonstrated in the body of the minireview.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.8.1-8.1
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• 2011

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) materials have been widely used as an electron collector in DSSC. This is required to have an extremely high porosity and surface area such that the dye can be sufficiently adsorbed and be electronically interconnected, resulting in the generation of a high photocurrent within cells. In particular, their geometrical structures and crystalline phase have been extensively investigated as important issues in improving its photovoltaic efficiency. In this study, we present a new strategy to fabricate a photoelectrode having a periodic structured $TiO_2$ film templated from 1D or 3D polystyrene (PS) microspheres array. Monodisperse PS spheres of various radiuses were used for colloidal array on FTO glasses and two types of photoelectrode structures with different $TiO_2$ materials were investigated respectively. One is the igloo-shaped electrode prepared by $TiO_2$ deposition by RF-sputtering onto 2D microsphere-templated substrates. At the interface between the film and substrate, there are voids formed by the decomposition of PS microspheres during the calcination step. These holes might be expected to play the predominant roles as scattering spherical voids to promote a light harvesting effect, a spacious structure for electrolytes with higher viscosity and effective paths for electron transfer. Additionally the nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ phase prepared by the RF-sputtering method was previously reported to improve the electron drift mobility within $TiO_2$ electrodes. This yields solar cells with a cell efficiency of 2.45% or more at AM 1.5 illumination, which is a very remarkable result, considering its $TiO_2$ electrode thickness (<2 ${\mu}m$). This study can be expanded to obtain higher cell efficiency by higher dye loading through the increase of surface area or multi-layered stacking. The other is the inverse opal photonic crystal electrode prepared by titania particles infusion within 3D colloidal arrays. To obtain the enlargement of ordered area and high quality of crystallinity, the synthesis of titania particles coated with a organic thin layer were applied instead of sol-gel process using the $TiO_2$ precursors. They were dispersed so well in most solvents without aggregates and infused successfully within colloidal array structures. This ordered mesoporous structure provides the large surface area leading to the enough adsorption of dye molecules and have an light harvesting effect due to the photonic band gap properties (back-and-forth reflection effects within structures). A major advantage of this colloidal array template method is that the pore size and its distribution within $TiO_2$ photoelectrodes are determined by those of latex beads, which can be controlled easily. These materials may have promising potentials for future applications of membrane, sensor and so on as well as solar cells.