Fabrication of ex situ processed MgB₂ wires using nano carbon doped powder

Lee, C.M.,Park, J.H.,Hwang, S.M.,Lim, J.H.,Joo, J.,Kang, W.N.,Kim, C.J. North-Holland 2009 Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol.469 No.15

We fabricated ex situ MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires using C-doped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> powder as a precursor in order to improve the core density of the wires and their C doping content. The C-doped powder was prepared with Mg, B, and nano carbon (NC) powders by the in situ technique and then MgB<SUB>2-x</SUB>C<SUB>x</SUB> (x=0, 0.01, and 0.03) wires were fabricated by the ex situ technique using the powder-in-tube method. The phase formation, lattice change, and microstructure were characterized and correlated with the T<SUB>c</SUB> and J<SUB>c</SUB> variations. We observed that the ex situ wire had a higher core density than the in situ wire, however its morphology consisted of agglomerated particles, indicating that sintering and grain growth did not occur completely, even though the sintering was conducted at high temperature (1000<SUP>o</SUP>C). As the C content increased, T<SUB>c</SUB> decreased, while the decrease of J<SUB>c</SUB> with increasing magnetic field became smaller. The J<SUB>c</SUB> of MgB<SUB>1.97</SUB>C<SUB>0.03</SUB> wire made by the ex situ technique was 3.34kA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> at 6.6T and 5K which is comparable to that of the in situ wire (4.81kA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> at 6.6T and 5K).

Low Temperature Oligomerization of Ethylene over Ni/Al-KIT-6 Catalysts

Hwang, A.,Kim, S.,Kwak, G.,Kim, S. K.,Park, H. G.,Kang, S. C.,Jun, K. W.,Kim, Y. T. Springer Science + Business Media 2017 Catalysis letters Vol.147 No.6

<P>In this paper, we have studied the oligomerization of ethylene with a liquid heptane solvent over bifunctional Ni catalysts in a continuous flow reactor. We have prepared an Al-containing KIT-6 silica that was used as a support after calcination in the temperature range of 300-900 A degrees C. The Ni/Al-KIT-6 catalysts had uniform mesopores with diameters in the range of 5.4-6.3 nm, excepting Ni/Al-KIT-6 (900). The calcination temperature of Al-KIT-6 support changed the surface acidity as well as the interaction of Ni2+ and acid sites for the Ni catalysts, as determined by temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, temperature-programmed reduction, infrared spectroscopy after the adsorption of pyridine, solid-state Al-27 magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray adsorption spectroscopy. Among the tested catalysts, the Ni/Al-KIT-6 (300) showed the highest ethylene conversion because of the increased intimate contact between Ni2+ and acid sites. The strong interaction of Ni2+ species and the support is not effective in increasing active sites for ethylene conversion. The Ni/Al-KIT-6 catalysts produced internal linear C4 and C6 olefins with high selectivity. The Ni/Al-KIT-6 (300) had 2.2-6.1 times lower selectivities toward 2-ethyl-1-butene than other catalysts at similar ethylene conversions. The reaction product mixture showed that the Ni/Al-KIT-6 catalysts shifted the product distribution towards acid-catalyzed oligomerization/cracking/realkylation products (i.e. C3, C7, C7, and C8+ olefins) as the concentration of Bronsted acid sites increased. Among the tested catalysts, the Ni/Al-KIT-6 (300) showed the highest yield of C4 and C6 olefins (78.3%).</P>

O-free polyacrylonitrile doping to improve the J_c(B) and H_c2 of MgB₂ wires

Hwang, S.M.,Sung, K.,Choi, J.H.,Kim, W.,Joo, J.,Lim, J.H.,Kim, C.J.,Park, Y.S.,Kim, D.H. North-Holland 2010 Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol.470 No.20

We selected polyacrylonitrile (PAN, -[C<SUB>3</SUB>H<SUB>3</SUB>N]-) as an O-free organic dopant and fabricated C-doped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires by in situ and powder-in-tube techniques. 0-5 wt.% PAN powders were uniformly mixed with B powder using a liquid mixing method. The precursor powders were mixed with Mg powder, filled into Fe tubes, and then drawn into wires. Sintering was performed at 900<SUP>o</SUP>C for 1h in a flowing Ar gas. The PAN doping decreased the critical temperature (T<SUB>c</SUB>) and a-axis lattice parameter, but significantly improved the critical current density (J<SUB>c</SUB>) in high fields, upper critical field (H<SUB>c2</SUB>), and irreversibility field (H<SUB>irr</SUB>) performances. These results are attributed to the replacement of B sites with C by the PAN doping. Furthermore, as expected, the MgO amount did not increase as the doping content increased. The J<SUB>c</SUB> of the PAN-doped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires was more than one order of magnitude higher than that of the undoped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wire at 5K and 6.6T (1.46-3.82kA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> vs. 0.11kA/cm<SUP>2</SUP>).

Spongiibacter tropicus sp. nov., isolated from a Synechococcus culture

Hwang, C. Y.,Cho, B. C. Microbiology Society 2009 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.59 No.9

<P>Two Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile strains, designated CL-CB221T and CL-CB467, were isolated from a Synechococcus culture derived from tropical surface water of the Pacific Ocean. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two strains were identical, and it was found that they belonged to the class Gammaproteobacteria, with Spongiibacter marinus HAL40bT as their closest relative (similarity of 96.3%). Both strains grew optimally at 30-35 degrees C and pH 7-8 in the presence of 3-4% (w/v) NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1omega7c, C17:1omega8c, C16:0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1omega7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH). The genomic DNA G+C contents were 57.7 and 57.8 mol%, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed high values (97+/-2%) for relatedness between strains CL-CB221T and CL-CB467, which suggested that these two strains belong to a single species. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data presented, it is proposed that strains CL-CB221T and CL-CB467 represent a novel species of the genus Spongiibacter, for which the name Spongiibacter tropicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CL-CB221T (=KCCM 90065T=DSM 19543T).</P>

Improvement of high-field J_c of MgB₂ wires by polymethyl-methacrylate doping

Park, G.C.,Hwang, S.M.,Lee, C.M.,Choi, J.H.,Joo, J.,Lim, J.H.,Kang, W.N.,Kim, C.J. North-Holland 2010 Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol.470 No.suppl1

We applied polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) as a new doping material for MgB<SUB>2</SUB> and fabricated C-doped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires by in situ powder-in-tube (PIT) process. With increasing PMMA doping level, the transition temperature (T<SUB>c</SUB>) decreased and the MgO content increased, whereas the magnetic field dependence of the critical current density (J<SUB>c</SUB>) weakened. The MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires doped with 3-10wt.% PMMA showed significantly higher J<SUB>c</SUB> by more than one order of magnitude than that of the undoped wire at 5K and 6.6T. These results confirmed the potential of PMMA as a promising material for the effective substitution of B by C in MgB<SUB>2</SUB>.

2, 4-Thiazolidindion Induced Plasticity of Myoblast (C2C12) and Satellite Cells (Porcine) - A Comparative Study

Singh, N.K.,Chae, H.S.,Hwang, I.H.,Yoo, Y.M.,Ahn, C.N.,Lee, H.J.,Park, H.J.,Chung, H.Y. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.7

This study was conducted to determine the difference between satellite cells (porcine) and myoblasts (C2C12) in their differentiation under the influence of 2, 4-thiazolidindion. C2C12 myoblast cells and porcine satellite cells (isolated from 10 d old $Landrace{\times}Duroc$ piglets) were grown to absolute confluency. Post confluent cells (day 0) were further exposed to adipogenic induction medium along with 2, 4-thiazolidindion ($8{\mu}M$) for 2 d. Thereafter, cells were exposed to 2, 4-thiazolidindion alone every 2 d till day 10 and analysed. The control was cultured in differentiation medium without any treatment. Increased (p<0.05) expression of transcriptional factors i.e. C/EBP-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ and transition of cells to adipocyte morphology was noticed from 2 d and 4 d onwards in satellite cells (Porcine) and myoblasts (C2C12) respectively. Myogenesis was observed to be suppressed completely in case of satellite cells compared to myoblasts in response to 2, 4-thiazolidindion. Pax-7 (transcriptional factor) appeared as a sole entity to satellite cells only, as it was not identified in case of myoblasts. Although both the cells were converting to adipoblasts, the degree of their conversion was different in response to 2, 4-thiazolidindion. Therefore, the hypothesis that satellite cells contribute various domains to the growing myoblasts appeared obscured and found to be dependent on the proliferative energy/or degree of fusion. However, it revealed satellite cells as currency to myoblasts/muscle.

Carbon-coated boron using low-cost naphthalene for substantial enhancement of J_c in MgB₂ superconductor

Ranot, Mahipal,Shinde, K.P.,Oh, Y.S.,Kang, S.H.,Jang, S.H.,Hwang, D.Y.,Chung, K.C. The Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity a 2017 한국초전도저온공학회논문지 Vol.19 No.3

Carbon coating approach is used to prepare carbon-doped $MgB_2$ bulk samples using low-cost naphthalene ($C_{10}H_8$) as a carbon source. The coating of carbon (C) on boron (B) powders was achieved by direct pyrolysis of naphthalene at $120^{\circ}C$ and then the C-coated B powders were mixed well with appropriate amount of Mg by solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that there is a noticeable shift in (100) and (110) Bragg reflections towards higher angles, while no shift was observed in (002) reflections for $MgB_2$ doped with carbon. As compared to un-doped $MgB_2$, a systematic enhancement in $J_c(H)$ properties with increasing carbon doping level was observed for naphthalene-derived C-doped $MgB_2$ samples. The substantial enhancement in $J_c$ is most likely due to the incorporation of C into $MgB_2$ lattice and the reduction in crystallite size, as evidenced by the increase in the FWHM values for doped samples.

Ionic and thermo-switchable polymer-masked mesoporous silica drug-nanocarrier: High drug loading capacity at 10^oC and fast drug release completion at 40^oC

Eltohamy, M.,Seo, J.W.,Hwang, J.Y.,Jang, W.C.,Kim, H.W.,Shin, U.S. Elsevier 2016 Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Vol.144 No.-

<P>The preparation of the ideal smart drug-delivery systems were successfully achieved by the in situ co-polymerization of a vinyl group-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (f-MSN) with 1-butyl-3-vinyl imidazolium bromide (BVIm) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomers. The thickness of the capping copolymer layer, poly(NIPAAm-co-BVIm) (p-NIBIm), was controlled at between 2.5 nm and 5 nm, depending on the monomers/f-MSN ratio in the reaction solution. The finally obtained smart drug-delivery systems are named as p-MSN2.5 and p-MSN5.0 (MSNs integrated by 2.5 nm and 5 nm p-NIBIm layer in thickness). The key roles of the mesoporous-silica-nanoparticle (MSN) core and the p-NIBIm shell are drug-carrying (or containing) and pore-capping, respectively, and the latter has an on/off function that operates in accordance with temperature changes. According to the swelling- or shrinking-responses of the smart capping copolymer to temperature changes between 10 degrees C and 40 degrees C, the loading and releasing patterns of the model drug cytochrome c were studied in vitro. The developed system showed interesting performances such as a cytochrome-c-loading profile (loading capacity for 3 h = 26.3% and 19.8% for p-MSN2.5 and p-MSN5.0, respectively) at 10 degrees C and a cytochrome-c-releasing profile (releasing efficiency = > 95% within 3 days and 4days for p-MSN2.5 and p-MSN5.0, respectively) at 40 degrees C. The cytotoxicity of the drug delivery systems, p-MSN2.5 and p-MSN5.0 (in the concentration range of <0.125 mg/mL without drug), for human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells were minimal in vitro compared with that of a blank MSN. These results may be reasonably applied in the field of specified drug delivery. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

Ethanol extract of Prunus mume fruit attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis involving Nrf2/HO-1 activation in C2C12 myoblasts

Kang, J.S.,Kim, D.J.,Kim, G.Y.,Cha, H.J.,Kim, S.,Kim, H.S.,Park, C.,Hwang, H.J.,Kim, B.W.,Kim, C.M.,Choi, Y.H. Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia 2016 Revista brasileira de farmacognosia Vol.26 No.2

<P>The fruit of the Prunus mume (Siebold) Siebold & Zucc., Rosaceae (Korean name: Maesil) has long been used as a health food or valuable medicinal material in traditional herb medicine in Southeast Asian countries. In this study, we determined the potential therapeutic efficacy of the ethanol extract of P. mume fruits (EEPM) against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the murine skeletal muscle myoblast cell line C2C12, and sought to understand the associated molecular mechanisms. The results indicated that exposure of C2C12 cells to H2O2 caused a reduction in cell viability by increasing the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and by disrupting mitochondrial membrane permeability, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. However, pretreatment of the cells with EEPM before H2O2 exposure effectively attenuated these changes, suggesting that EEPM prevented H2O2-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, the increased ex-pression and phosphorylation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a phase II antioxidant enzyme, were detected in EEPM-treated C2C12 cells. We also found that zinc protoporphyrin IX, an HO-1 inhibitor, attenuated the protective effects of EEPM against H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation and cytotoxicity. Therefore, these results indicate that the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway might be involved in the protection of EEPM against H2O2-induced cellular oxidative damage. In conclusion, these results show that EEPM contributes to the prevention of oxidative damage and could be used as a nutritional agent for oxidative stress-related diseases. (C) 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.</P>

Lipopolysaccharide-binding and neutralizing activities of surfactin C in experimental models of septic shock

Hwang, Y.H.,Park, B.K.,Lim, J.H.,Kim, M.S.,Park, S.C.,Hwang, M.H.,Yun, H.I. North-Holland ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2007 european journal of pharmacology Vol.556 No.1

To evaluate the anti-endotoxin activity of surfactin C, we studied its lipopolysaccharide-binding activity in vitro and therapeutic efficacy in experimental models of gram-negative septic shock. The ability of surfactin C to bind LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4 was determined using a limulus chromogenic assay. Male ICR mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were given intraperitoneal administration of 1x10<SUP>9</SUP> colony forming units of E. coli ATCC 25922. After bacterial challenge, all animals were randomized to receive intraperitoneally saline, polymyxin B or surfactin C. Surfactin C not only completely bound to the LPS (its median effective concentration being 13.75 μM) but also improved the survival and reduced of the number of inoculated bacteria in the mouse model of septic shock. Surfactin C reduced the plasma endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide levels in response to septic shock in rats.