• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.341-347
• /
• 2011

Acanthamoeba infection is difficult to treat because of the resistance property of Acanthamoeba cyst against the host immune system, diverse antibiotics, and therapeutic agents. To identify encystation mediating factors of Acanthamoeba, we compared the transcription profile between cysts and trophozoites using microarray analysis. The DNA chip was composed of 12,544 genes based on expressed sequence tag (EST) from an Acanthamoeba ESTs database (DB) constructed in our laboratory, genetic information of Acanthamoeba from TBest DB, and all of Acanthamoeba related genes registered in the NCBI. Microarray analysis indicated that 701 genes showed higher expression than 2 folds in cysts than in trophozoites, and 859 genes were less expressed in cysts than in trophozoites. The results of real-time PCR analysis of randomly selected 9 genes of which expression was increased during cyst formation were coincided well with the microarray results. Eukaryotic orthologous groups (KOG) analysis showed an increment in T article (signal transduction mechanisms) and O article (posttranslational modification, protein turnover, and chaperones) whereas significant decrement of C article (energy production and conversion) during cyst formation. Especially, cystein proteinases showed high expression changes (282 folds) with significant increases in real-time PCR, suggesting a pivotal role of this proteinase in the cyst formation of Acanthamoeba. The present study provides important clues for the identification and characterization of encystation mediating factors of Acanthamoeba.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.278.1-278.1
• /
• 2014

Organic materials have been explored as the gate dielectric layers in thin film transistors (TFTs) of backplane devices for flexible display because of their inherent mechanical flexibility. However, those materials possess some disadvantages like low dielectric constant and thermal resistance, which might lead to high power consumption and instability. On the other hand, inorganic gate dielectrics show high dielectric constant despite their brittle property. In order to maintain advantages of both materials, it is essential to develop the alternative materials. In this work, we manufactured nanocomposite gate dielectrics composed of organic material and inorganic nanoparticle and integrated them into organic TFTs. For synthesis of nanocomposite gate dielectrics, polyimide (PI) was explored as the organic materials due to its superior thermal stability. Candidate nanoprticles (NPs) of halfnium oxide, titanium oxide and aluminium oxide were considered. In order to realize NP concentration dependent electrical characteristics, furthermore, we have synthesized the different types of nanocomposite gate dielectrics with varying ratio of each inorganic NPs. To analyze gate dielectric properties like the capacitance, metal-Insulator-metal (MIM) structures were prepared together with organic TFTs. The output and transfer characteristics of organic TFTs were monitored by using the semiconductor parameter analyzer (HP4145B), and capacitance and leakage current of MIM structures were measured by the LCR meter (B1500, Agilent). Effects of mechanical cyclic bending of 200,000 times and thermally heating at $400^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour were investigated to analyze mechanical and thermal stability of nanocomposite gate dielectrics. The results will be discussed in detail.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.261-273
• /
• 2007

We investigated the antihypertensive effect of Pet ether extract (PE) of ginger rhizome; its toluene fraction (TF) and Korean ginseng extract (KGE) in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) - salt induced and fructose induced hypertensive rats. In DOCA model, DOCA (25 mg/kg, once a week; s.c) was administered in uninephrectomised animals for 4 w. PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o), TF (10 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) were evaluated for their antihypertensive effect. In the fructose model, drinking water was replaced with fructose (10%) for five weeks to induce hypertension. PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) were assessed for its antihypertensive effect in fructose model. After completion of the treatment schedule, vascular reactivity to various agonists like 5-HT, noradrenaline, adrenaline, phenylbiguanide and acetylcholine were recorded in rats of both the models. A cumulative dose response curve (CDRC) of 5-HT was carried out in isolated rat fundus strip of the fructose induced hypertensive rats. Chronic administration of PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o), TF (10 mg/kg/day; p.o), and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) significantly reduced the blood pressure in DOCA salt whereas PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) reduced the blood pressure in fructose induced hypertensive rats. Treatment with PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) in fructose model for five weeks shifted the CDRC towards the right on rat fundus. The mechanism of action may partly involve the serotonergic antagonistic property.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.448-454
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to develop a 100 kPa soil tensiometer mainly consisted of a porous ceramic cup, water-holding tube, and a digital vacuum gauge, through theoretical design analysis and experimental performance evaluation. Major findings were as follows. 1. Theoretical analysis showed that air entry value of a porous media decreased as the maximum effective size of the pore increased, and the maximum diameter of the pores was $2.9\;{\mu}m$ for measuring up a 100 kPa of soil-water tension. 2. Property analysis of tensiometer porous cups supplied in Korean domestic market indicated that main components were $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ with a porosity range of $33.8{\sim}49.3%$. 3. The porous cup selected through sample fabrication and air-permeability tests showed weight ratios of 87% and 11% for $Al_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$. The analysis of SEM (scanning electron microscope) images showed that the sample was sintered at temperatures of about $1150^{\circ}C$, which consisted of pores with sizes of up to 25% of those for commercial porous cups. 4. The prototype soil tensiometer was fabricated using the developed porous cup and a digital vacuum gauge that could measure water tension with a pressure of 85 kPa in air tests. 5. In-soil tests of the prototype conducted during a period of 25-day drying showed that soil-water tension values measured with the prototype and commercial units were not significantly different, and soil-water characteristic curves could be established for different soils, confirming accuracy and stability of the prototype.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.66-75
• /
• 2013

In this study, the effect of coating thickness($20{\mu}m$ and $30{\mu}m$) on microstructure and tensile properties in Yb:YAG disk laser welds of Al-Si-coated boron steel (1.2mmt) was investigated. In the case of as welds, the quantity of ferrite was found to be higher in base metal than that in HAZ (Heat Affected Zone) and fusion zone, indicating, fracture occurrs in base metal, and the fracture position is unrelated to the coating thickness. Furthermore, yield strength, tensile strength of base metal and welded specimens showed similar behavior whereas elongation was decreased. On the other hand, base metal and HAZ showed existence of martensite after heat treatment, the fusion zone indicated the presence of full ferrite or austenite and ferrite during heat treatment ($900^{\circ}C$, 5min), After water cooling, austenite was transformed to martensite, and the quantity of ferrite in fusion zone was higher as compared with in base metal, resulting in sharply decrease of yield strength, tensile strength and elongation, which leads to fracture occured at fusion zone. In particular, results showed that because the concentration of Al was higher in 30um coating layer specimen than that of 20um coating specimen, after heat treatment, producing a higher quantity of ferrite was higher after heat treatment in the fusion zone; howevers, it leads to a lower tensile property.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.189-194
• /
• 2016

The objectives of this research were to study the effect of salt-shrinkage finishing of silk on shrinkage degree and dyeing property of cochineal, and to investigate the efficacy of obtained results for imparting surface design effect on silk fabric. Ultimately it was aimed to suggest a technical process for developing natural dyed silk products with diverse design. Premordanted silk fabric was treated with $Ca(NO_3)_2$ solution(gravity: 1.45) at $90^{\circ}C$ for 1 min, washed, dried for further evaluation. The shrinkage of salt-treated fabric was calculated. The effects of salt treatment on the dye uptake of cochineal and colorfastness were investigated. The degrees of shrinkage were 10% and 3% for warp and weft, respectively. The salt treatment resulted in improving dye uptake of cochineal slightly. In addition, it improved colorfastness to washing and light. On the basis of the results, a technical process composed of premordanting, salt treatment and natural dyeing was suggested and using the process, two examples of textile design were presented. It can be concluded to impart various three dimensional surface design effect on silk fabric by applying salt-shrinkage finishing with combination of natural dyeing and mordanting.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.301-307
• /
• 2018

A boron-doped diamond(BDD) electrode is attractive for many electrochemical applications due to its distinctive properties: an extremely wide potential window in aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes, a very low and stable background current and a high resistance to surface fouling. An Ar gas mixture of $H_2$, $CH_4$ and trimethylboron (TMB, 0.1 % $C_3H_9B$ in $H_2$) is used in a hot filament chemical vapor deposition(HFCVD) reactor. The effect of argon addition on quality, structure and electrochemical property is investigated by scanning electron microscope(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD) and cyclic voltammetry(CV). In this study, BDD electrodes are manufactured using different $Ar/CH_4$ ratios ($Ar/CH_4$ = 0, 1, 2 and 4). The results of this study show that the diamond grain size decreases with increasing $Ar/CH_4$ ratios. On the other hand, the samples with an $Ar/CH_4$ ratio above 5 fail to produce a BDD electrode. In addition, the BDD electrodes manufactured by introducing different $Ar/CH_4$ ratios result in the most inclined to (111) preferential growth when the $Ar/CH_4$ ratio is 2. It is also noted that the electrochemical properties of the BDD electrode improve with the process of adding argon.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2014

In the present study, a yeast species isolated from CETP, Vellore, Tamilnadu was identified as Cryptococcus sp. VITGBN2 based on molecular techniques and was found to be a potent producer of acidic diacetate sophorolipid in mineral salt media containing vegetable oil as additional carbon source. The chemical structure of the purified biosurfactant was identified as acidic diacetate sophorolipid through GC-MS analysis. This sophorolipid was used as a stabilizer for synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZON). The formation of biofunctionalized ZON was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of naked ZON and sophorolipid functionalized ZON were tested based on the diameter of inhibition zone in agar well diffusion assay, microbial growth rate determination, protein leakage analysis, and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica and fungal pathogen Candida albicans showed more sensitivity to sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON compared with naked ZON. Among the two pathogens, S. enterica showed higher sensitivity towards sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON. SEM analysis showed that cell damage occurred through cell elongation in the case of S. enterica, whereas cell rupture was found to occur predominantly in the case of C. albicans. This is the first report on the dual role of yeast-mediated sophorolipid used as a biostabilizer for ZON synthesis as well as a novel functionalizing agent showing antimicrobial property.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2005

Statement of problem. Dental ceramics exhibit excellent esthetic property, compressive strength, chemical durability biocompatibility and translucency. However, it suffers from inherent brittle fractures. Various techniques and materials for intraoral porcelain repair has been suggested. Purpose. This study is to compare the tensile bond strength of four commonly used porcelain repair systems (Vivadent, Bisco, Ulttadent, Voco) and to insure the best system for the clinical application to the fractured porcelain. Materials and methods. A total of fifty specimens were fabricated. Specimens were stored in $37^{\circ}C$ distilled water for 7 days and thermocycling was performed(1000 cycles), and subjected to a tensile force parallel to the repair resin and porcelain interface by use of an Universal Testing Machine. Result. 1. Voco showed the highest tensile bond strength. In decreasing order, the tensile bond strength of the other materials was as follows : Ultradent, Bisco, Vivadent. 2. There was a statistically significant difference between the porcelain repair systems(Voco, Ultradent > Bisco, Yivadent) (p<0.05). 3. SEM examination of prepared porcelain surfaces revealed that the surface treated with Voco showed brittle fracture. However, Ultradent, Bisco and Vivadent showed ductile fracture. 4. All specimens treated with four porcelain repair systems showed adhesive failure between porcelain and composite resin.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.142-147
• /
• 2015

Two new chitosan derivatives, polyamine grafted chitosan copolymers have been synthesized for corrosion protection of carbon steel in acidic medium. First, methyl acrylate graft chitosan copolymer (CS-MAA) was prepared by the reaction of chitosan (CS) and methyl acrylate (MAA) via the Michael addition reaction. Then, CS-MAA was reacted with ethylene diamine (EN) and triethylene tetramine (TN) respectively to synthesize ethylene diamine grafted chitosan copolymer (CS-MAA-EN) and triethylene tetramine grafted chitosan copolymer (CS-MAA-TN), and the structures were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). At last, the corrosion inhibition activities on Q235 carbon steel were investigated by using gravimetric measurements, metallographic microscope, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The compounds CS-MAA-EN and CS-MAA-TN show an appreciable corrosion inhibition property against corrosion of Q235 carbon steel in 5% HCl solution at $25^{\circ}C$. It has been observed that CS-MAA-EN shows greater corrosion inhibition efficiency than CS-MAA-TN. The inhibition efficiency of CS-MAA-EN was close to 90% when the mass fraction concentration was 0.2%~0.3%; the inhibition efficiency of CS-MAA-TN was close to 85% when the mass fraction concentration was 0.02%. The present work provided very promising results in the preparation of green corrosion inhibitors.