• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2006

For commercialization of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), it has some problems to be overcome such as decrease of porosity and thickness of the anode under the operating condition (at $650^{\circ}C$ and working pressure of more than 2 $kg_f/cm^2$). Recently, Ni-Al alloy anode has been proposed to replace the conventional Ni-Cr anode as an alternative material to resist a creep and inhibit the sintering. The objective of this research is to sinter the green sheet of Ni-Al alloy anode during single cell pre-treatment process, which has several advantages like cost down and simplification of manufacturing process. However, the Ni-Al alloy anode prepared with a conventional pre-treatment process showed the phase separation of Ni-Al alloy and formation of micropore(${\leqq}0.4{\mu}m$), resulting in low creep resistance and high electrolyte re-distribution. In order to prevent the Ni-Al alloy anode from phase-separating, nitrogen gas was used in the process of pre-treatment. Introducing the nitrogen, the phase separation from Ni-Al alloy into nickel and alumina was minimized and increased creep resistance. However, there was some micropore formation on the surface of Ni-Al alloy anode during the cell operation due to creation of lithium aluminate. Addition of more amount of electrolyte into a cell, especially at cathode, made the cell performance stable for 2,000 hrs. Consequently, it was possible to make the Ni-Al alloy anode with good creep resistance by the modified in-situ sintering technique.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.39 no.9
• /
• pp.863-870
• /
• 2002

The Single phase $Pb(Fe_{1/2}Ta_{1/2})O_3$ (x=0.0∼1.0) solid solutions were successfully synthesized and their ordering structures as well as dielectric properties were investigated ${{r(Nb^{5+})=r(Ta^{5+})=0.78 {\AA},\;AW(Nb^{5+})=92.91,\;AW(Ta^{5+})=180.95}}$. While $Pb(Fe_{1/2}Ta_{1/2})O_3$ showed typical relaxor ferroelectric characteristics such as dielectric relaxation and diffuse phase transition, the sharpeness of the phase transition increased as $Ta^{5+}$ was replaced by $Nb^{5+}$ and finally $Pb(Fe_{1/2}Nb_{1/2})O_3$ showed normal ferroelectric characteristics with no dielectric relaxation. By using Raman spectroscopy, it was revealed that the $Fe^{3+}\;and\;Ta^{5+}\;of\;Pb(Fe_{1/2}Ta_{1/2})O_3$ were stoichiometrically 1:1 ordered within the short range which can be hardly probed even by TEM. Also, The degree of ordering in $Pb(Fe_{1/2}Ta_{1/2})O_3$ decreased as $Ta^{5+}$ was replaced by $Nb^{5+}$ and finally $Fe^{3+}\;and\;Nb^{5+}\;of\;Pb(Fe_{1/2}Nb_{1/2})O_3$ were completely disordered. The relaxor ferroelectric characteristics of $Pb(Fe_{1/2}Ta_{1/2})O_3$ could be correlated with the stoichiometric 1:1 ordering of B-site cations within the short range which can be hardly probed even by TEM. Also, the decrease of the relaxor ferroelectric characteristics with the replacement of $Ta^{5+}\;by\;Nb^{5+}$ could be correlated with the weakening of the ordering and the normal ferroelectric characteristics of $Pb(Fe_{1/2}Nb_{1/2})O_3$ could be correlated with the complete disordering of B-site cations.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.165-176
• /
• 2011

The femoral nerve innervates the quadriceps muscles and its dermatome supplies anteromedial thigh and medial foot. Paralysis of the quadriceps muscles due to the injury of the femoral nerve results in disability of the knee joint extension and loss of sensory of the thigh. A child could walk independently even though he had injured his femoral nerve severely due to the penetrating wound in the medial thigh. We measured and analyzed his gait performance in order to find the mechanisms that enabled him to walk independently. The child was eleven-year-old boy and he could not extend his knee voluntarily at all during a month after the injury. His gait analysis was performed five times (GA1~GA5) for sixteen months. His temporal-spatial parameters were not significantly different after the GA2 or GA3 test, and significant asymmetry was not observed except the single support time in GA1 results. The Lower limb joint angles in affected side had large differences in GA1 compared with the normal normative patterns. There were little knee joint flexion and extension motion during the stance phase in GA1 The maximum ankle plantar/dorsi flexion angles and the maximum knee extension angles were different from the normal values in the sound side. Asymmetries of the joint angles were analyzed by using the peak values. Significant asymmetries were found in GA1with seven parameters (ankle: peak planter flexion angle in stance phase, range of motion; ROM, knee: peak flexion angles during both stance and swing phase, ROM, hip: peak extension angle, ROM) while only two parameters (maximum hip extension angle and ROM of hip joint) had significant differences in GA5. The mid-stance valleys were not observed in both right and left sides of vertical ground reaction force (GRF) in the GA1, GA2. The loading response peak was far larger than the terminal stance peak of vertical ground reaction curve in the affected side of the GA3, GA4, GA5. The measured joint moment curves of the GA1, GA2, GA3 had large deviations and all of kinetic results had differences with the normal patterns. EMG signals described an absence of the rectus femoris muscle activity in the GA1 and GA2 (affected side). The EMG signals were detected in the GA3 and GA4 but their patterns were not normal yet, then their normal patterns were detected in the GA5. Through these following gait analysis of a child who had selective injuries on the knee extensor muscles, we could verify the actual functions of the knee extensor muscles during gait, and we also could observe his recovery and asymmetry with quantitative data during his rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.11
• /
• pp.1717-1726
• /
• 2013

Fermentation characteristics and health functionalities of kimchi by inoculating kimchi lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starters were studied. We manufactured single LAB starter kimchi (Lactobacillus plantarum pnuK, Lactobacillus plantarum 3099K, Leuconostoc mesenteroides pnuK), mixed LAB starter kimchi (Lb. plantarum pnu/Leu. mesenteroides pnuK, Lb. plantarum 3099/Leu. mesenteroides pnuK) with inoculum size of $10^6$ CFU/g, as well as naturally fermented kimchi (NK), and fermented them for 6 days at $15^{\circ}C$. The pH and acidity of the early phase of fermentation were not different, but kimchi with the starters showed rapid changes in the pH and acidity from 2 days of fermentation. As the fermentation progressed, the level of total aerobic bacteria and Lactobacillus sp. increased similarly with or without Lb. plantarum (LP) inoculation. However, the level of Leuconostoc sp. was high in kimchi inoculated with Leuconostoc sp. starter. In the sensory evaluation test, kimchi with starters received higher overall acceptability scores than those of NK; mixed starter added kimchi earned the highest score. In DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, kimchi with the starters exhibited higher activity than that of NK. In the MTT assay of HCT-116 and HT-29 human colon cancer cells, NK showed inhibition rates of 63.4 and 51.9%, but LPpnuK achieved 77.1 and 68.8%, respectively. This study showed that inoculating starters in kimchi increased in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities, and single starter (LP) added kimchi revealed higher functionality than the kimchi with mixed starter. Kimchis with the starters effectively up-regulated the gene expressions of the pro-apoptotic gene of Bax, but down-regulated Bcl-2. They promoted expressions of p53 and p21, and suppressed expressions of inflammation-related genes, iNOS and COX-2, compared with NK. Taken together, it is expected that using starters may help manufacture kimchi with improved sensory quality and health functionality.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2000.10a
• /
• pp.10-12
• /
• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$-subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was. efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to consist of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t63I or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632-653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agonist-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17-fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.357-364
• /
• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.8
• /
• pp.1258-1265
• /
• 2007

Metabolizable energy (ME) required for basal metabolism, activity and growth was considered as the criterion for targeting specific increases in body weight (100 g/week) of broiler chicks during the grower phase (5-20 weeks) and its impact was evaluated on breeder performance. Broiler female chicks (460) from a synthetic dam line were randomly distributed to 4 test groups with 23 replicates of 5 birds each and housed in cages. The first group (ME-100) was offered a calculated amount of ME by providing a measured quantity of grower diet (160 g protein and 2,600 kcal ME/kg) which increased with age and weight gain (133-294 kcal/bird/day). The other three groups were offered 10 or 20% less ME (ME-90 and ME-80, respectively) and 10% excess ME (ME-110) over the control group (ME-100). From 21 weeks of age, a single breeder diet (170 g protein and 2,600 kcal ME/kg) was uniformly fed to all groups and the impact of grower ME restriction on breeder performance evaluated up to 58 weeks. The targeted body weight gain of 1,600 g in a 16-week period was achieved by pullets of the ME-100 group almost one week earlier by gaining 8.7 g more weight per week. However, pullets in the ME-90 group gained 1,571 g during the same period, which was closer to the targeted weight. At 20 weeks of age, the conversion efficiency of feed (5.21-5.37), ME (13.9-14.1 kcal/g weight gain) and protein (0.847-0.871 g/g weight gain), eviscerated meat yield, giblet and tibia weights were not influenced by ME restriction, but the weights of abdominal fat and liver were higher with increased ME intake. Reduction of ME by 10% in the grower period significantly delayed sexual maturity (169.3 d), but increased egg production (152.5 /bird) with better persistency. Improved conversion efficiency of feed, ME and protein per g egg content were also observed in this group up to 56 weeks. The fertility and hatchability at 58 weeks of age were higher in the ME-90 group compared to the control and 10% excess ME feeding. In conclusion, the present study revealed the possibility of achieving targeted weight gain in broiler growers by feeding measured quantities of ME during the rearing period with consequential benefits in breeder performance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 1990

New immunoassay systems for the detection of anti-sperm antibodies were developed. For this, sperm surface protein was purified by the immunoaffinity column prepared by the coupling of rabbit anti-human IgG antibodies to Sepharose-4B. Fraction eluted by tris-HCI buffer containing SDS showed a single band having molecular weight of about 60KD on electrophoresis. Enzyme HRP labelled goat anti-human IgG and chemiluminescence aminobutylethyl-isoluminol(ABEI) labelled rabbit anti-human IgG were used for ELISA and CIA, respectively. These two labelled conjugate bound well with human IgG. When serum dilution curves were made to titrate positive serums, two kinds of curves with steep and sluggish slopes were obtained Serum samples were categorized into 3 groups: positive, weak positive and negative based on slope of curve and O.D. values at 1:160 dilution of serum. When ELISA and CIA were compared to conventional method Kibrick test by the determinations of 62 male serums with different diagnosis, the results of ELISA and CIA agreed well, but both disagreed with that of Kibrick test. This study showed that purified sperm surface antigen can be used to develope solid-phase immunoassay systems such as ELISA and CIA which may eliminate the problems encounted the immobilization of living sperm in other tests.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.190-195
• /
• 1999

The crystallographic and magnetic properties of the system of $Fe_{1-x}Co_x$(x=0.2 and 0.4) prepared by microwave arc-melting with the maximum power of 3.5 kW and a iron-foil with thickness of 25 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ have been studied by the methods of X-ray diffraction and the measurement of the magnetic hysteresis using the vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature. The samples were prepared in three different ways: First, pellet form pressed under the pressure of 9,000 N/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Second, the sheet cold rolled. Third, thin sheet treated with the temperature of 90$0^{\circ}C$. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample prepared by the first method shows that the crystal structure of the sample is bcc as same as that of Fe with a good uniformity. The iron-foil has the coercivity of 43 Oe and the initial slope of magnetization of 0.328 emu/gOe. The coervicity and magnetization of the sample prepared by the second method increased as the Co content increased. But the initial slop of the magnetization decreased as the Co content increased. This means that the displacement of domain wall is suppressed by the increases of coercivity as the Co content increased. The saturation magnetization of the samples made by the third method increased. On the other hand, the coercivity of these samples decreased. The increase of saturation magnetization of the samples seems to be related to the changes in X-ray intensity after heat treatment. Also some magnetic parameters of the samples were calculated by using a simple model and compared with other values.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.14-19
• /
• 2002

The iron-doped perovskite La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$Mn$_{0.99}$$^{57}$Fe$_{0.01}$O$_3$compound has been studied by x-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The single phase of the polycrystalline La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$Mn$_{0.99}$$^{57}$Fe$_{0.01}$O$_3$powder has been prepared by a waterbased solgel method. Crystalline La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$Mn$_{0.99}$$^{57}$Fe$_{0.01}$O$_3$was a rombohedral structure with lattice parameters a$_{0}$=5.480 $AA$, $alpha$=60.259$^{circ}$. Mossbauer spectra of La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.3}$/Mn$_{0.99}$$^{57}$Fe$_{0.01}$O$_3$have been taken at various temperatures ranging from 20 to 400 K. As the temperature increases toward the Curie temperature, T$_{c}$=375 K, the Mossbauer spectra show line broadening and the difference between the 1,6 and 3,4 linewidths is caused by the anisotropic hyperfine field fluctuation. The anisotropic field fluctuation of +H (P$_{+}$=0.80) is greater than -H (P$_{-}$=0.20). We calculated that the anisotropy energy was 124.01 erg/cm$^3$for T=150 K which is associated with the large line broadening.