Tae-Soo Kwak

Vitellogenin gene characterization and expression of Asian paddle crabs (Charybdis japonica) following endocrine disrupting chemicals

Vitellogenin (VTG), the yolk-precursor lipoprotein, has been widely recognized as a biomarker for the detection of estrogenic activity in water-borne chemical pollutants. The Asian paddle crab, Charybdis japonica, is a potential bio-indicator for monitoring marine environments. The aim of this study was to identify the possibility of using C. japonica VTG as biomarkers of stress caused by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). We characterized a partial sequence of the VTG cDNA in the C. japonica crab and evaluated the crab’s mRNA expression profiles following exposure to different concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) for 24 or 96 h. The sequence homology of C. japonica VTG is over 93% in nucleotide and over 98% in amino acid with the corresponding gene of other crabs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the C. japonica VTG is an ortholog of other species of lobster and shrimp. Tissue distribution analysis of the C. japonica VTG mRNA revealed that the expression of VTG mRNA was highest in the ovary of females and hepatopancreas. The expression of the C. japonica VTG gene in various BPA or NP concentrations during shorter and longer times was assessed. The expression of VTG transcripts was significantly increased in the C. japonica crab exposed to BPA and NP at different concentrations for 24 h. The mRNA expression of the VTG gene was significantly induced in concentration- and time-dependent manners after BPA or NP exposures for 96 h. These results indicate that crab C. japonica VTG could be used as a potential biomarker of EDCs in marine environment monitoring.

Antioxidative-related genes expression following perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure in the intertidal mud crab, Macrophthalmus japonicus

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent environmental contaminant that is used as a surfactant in various industries and consumer products. The intertidal mud crab, Macrophthalmus japonicus, is one of the most abundant macrobenthic creatures. In this study, we have investigated the effect of PFOS on the molecular transcription of antioxidant and detoxification signaling in M. japonicus crab. The selected stress response genes were superoxide dismutases (CuZnSOD and MnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), peroxiredoxin (Prx), and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Significant up-regulation of SODs and CAT was observed after 24 and 96 h exposure to PFOS at different concentrations. The gene expression levels of GPx, PHGPx, and TrXR were significantly up-regulated after exposure to PFOS for 96 h. The transcript levels of CAT and PHGPx were induced in dose- and time-dependent manners after PFOS treatments. However, Prx gene expression was significantly up-regulated in M. japonicus crabs exposed to 10 and 30 μg L-1 PFOS for 96 h. Additionally, PFOS toxicity in M. japonicus induced reduced survival rates at relatively high concentrations of PFOS exposure. Our findings support the contention that exposures to PFOS induced the response of genes related to oxidative stress and detoxification in M. japonicus crabs.

Changes of exoskeleton surface roughness and expression of crucial participation genes for chitin formation and digestion in the mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) following the antifouling biocide irgarol

Irgarol is a common antifoulant present in coastal sediment. The mud crab Macrophthalmus japonicus is one of the most abundant of the macrobenthos in the costal environment, and its exoskeleton has a protective function against various environmental threats. We evaluated the effects of irgarol toxicity on the exoskeleton of M. japonicus, which is the outer layer facing the environment. We analyzed transcriptional expression of exoskeleton, molting, and proteolysis-related genes in the gill and hepatopancreas of these exposed M. japonicus. In addition, changes in survival and exoskeleton surface characteristics were investigated. In the hepatopancreas, mRNA expression of chitinase 1 (Mj-chi1), chitinase 4 (Mj-chi4), and chitinase 5 (Mj-chi5) increased in M. japonicus exposed to all concentrations of irgarol. Mj-chi1 and Mj-chi4 expressions from 1 to 10μgL(-1) were dose- and time-dependent. Ecdysteroid receptor (Mj-EcR), trypsin (Mj-Tryp), and serine proteinase (Mj-SP) in the hepatopancreas were upregulated in response to different exposure levels of irgarol at day 1, 4, or 7. In contrast, gill Mj-chi5, Mj-Tryp, and Mj-SP exhibited late upregulated responses to 10μgL(-1) irgarol compared to the control at day 7. Mj-chi1 showed early upregulation upon exposure to 10μgL(-1) irgarol and Mj-chi4 showed no changes in transcription in the gill. Gill Mj-EcR presented generally downregulated expression patterns. In addition, decreased survival and change of exoskeleton surface roughness were observed in M. japonicus exposed to the three concentrations of irgarol. These results suggest that exposure to irgarol induces changes in the exoskeleton, molting, and proteolysis metabolism of M. japonicus.

Properties of ELID Mirror-Surface Grinding for Single Crystal Sapphire Optics

This study has been focused on application of ELID mirror-surface grinding technology for manufacturing single crystal optic sapphire. Single crystal sapphire is a superior material with optic properties of high performance as light transmission, thermal conductivity, hardness and so on. Mirror-surface machining technology is necessary to use sapphire as optic parts. The ELID grinding system has been set up for machining of the sapphire material. According to the ELID experimental results, it shows that the surface of sapphire can be eliminated by metal bonded wheel with micron abrasives and the surface roughness of 60nmRa can be gotten using grinding wheel of 2,000 mesh in 4.5um, depth of cut. In this study, the chemical experiments after ELID grinding also has been conducted to check chemical reaction between workpiece and grinding wheel on ELID grinding process. It shows that the chemical reaction has not happened as the results of the chemical experiments.

Application of Magnetic Assisted Polishing for ELID Ground Surface of Aluminum Oxide Ceramics

This study has focused on the application of magnetic assisted polishing for ELID ground surface of aluminum oxide ceramics. Aluminum oxide ceramics has been widely used as advanced materials for electric, optic, mechanic, chemical usage and so on. In this study, ELID grinding and magnetic assisted polishing technology was adopted for high-effective manufacturing and high quality surface of ceramic parts. The characteristic of MAP machining have been evaluated by the value of surface roughness and surface profile before and after magnetic assisted polishing. As the results of experiments, the surface roughness after magnetic assisted polishing has shown a significant improvement and the surface roughness was more improved when the feed rate of tool became slow.

Development of ELID Monitoring System and its Application to ELID Grinding of Structural Ceramics

This study has focused on development of ELID monitoring system and its application to ELID grinding of structural ceramics. ELID monitoring system was consisted of grinding equipment, ELID power supply, grinding wheel, electrode and monitoring program. It can give a real time data to check spindle grinding resistance, wheel revolution, dressing current and voltage in ELID grinding process. The performance of developed system was evaluated by applying to grinding of structural ceramics, silicon carbide and alumina. As the results of experiments, monitored data for spindle resistance and ELID dressing current was useful to check steady-state ELID grinding process. From the comparison of spindle resistance between ELID grinding and conventional grinding process according to change of depth of cut, it could be confirmed that the spindle resistance in ELID grinding was lower than conventional grinding process.

A Study on Characteristics of ELID Lapping for Sapphire Wafer Material

This study has been focused on application of ELID lapping process for mirror-surface machining of sapphire wafer. Sapphire wafer is a superior material with optic properties of high performance as light transmission, thermal conductivity, hardness and so on. High effective surface machining technology is necessary to use sapphire as various usages. The interval ELID lapping process has been set up for lapping of the sapphire material. According to the ELID lapping experimental results, it shows that 12.5 kg of load for lapping is most pertinent to ELID lapping. the surface of sapphire can be eliminated by metal bonded wheel with micron abrasives and the surface roughness of 60 nmRa can be gotten using grinding wheel of 2,000 mesh in 4.5 um, depth of cut. In this study, the chemical experiments after ELID grinding also has been conducted to check chemical reaction between workpiece and grinding wheel on ELID grinding process. It shows that the chemical reaction has not happened as the results of the chemical experiments.

Nano-precision combined process of electrolytic in-process dressing grinding and magnetic assisted polishing on optics glass material

Abstract This study is focused on the application of an effective fabrication method combining electrolytic in-process dressing(ELID) grinding and magnetic assisted polishing(MAP) to nano-precision mirror surface grinding on the optics glass-ceramic named Zerodure that is commonly used in precision optics components. The results show the variation of surface roughness after MAP processes utilizing Fe+CeO 2 , Fe+CeO 2 +diamond paste and Fe+diamond paste are applied to ELID ground surfaces. The MAP surface roughnesses for ELID ground surface roughnesses( R a ) of 52.1, 39.8 and 51.1 nm using #1200 grinding wheel are improved to 6.1, 4.6 and 1.9 nm, respectively. The surface roughness of MAP process using Fe+CeO 2 +diamond paste is superior to that using other processes. Moreover, it takes less than 10 min to conduct the MAP processes. The combined method suggested effectively reduces the working time to get the required surface qualities.

Effect of Reference Current and Depth of Cut on Electro-Discharge Energy in Electro- Discharge Truing Process for Metal-Bonded Grinding Wheel

This study focused on developing an electro-discharge truing method for the ELID grinding process using a metal-bonded grinding wheel. The truing process in grinding plays important roles in enhancing the quality of the ground surface. In this study, a reference current in the electro-discharge truing process was confirmed to be a viable solution for efficient truing through performance experiments. Current and voltage variation experiments were carried out and the variation output data were collected with a monitoring program to understand the electrodischarge phenomenon that occurs between metal-bonded grinding wheels and copper electrodes. The experimental results showed that as the reference current decreased, the average electro-discharge energy decreased. Therefore, the reference current can be used as an indicator to estimate the size of the gap between the truer and grinding wheel.

Development of Auto-Control Power Supply of ELID Electrolysis Speed for Metal-Bonded Grinding Wheel

ELID grinding is an excellent technique for the mirror grinding of the variety of the advanced metallic or nonmetallic materials. The focus of this study is the development of an automaticcontrol electrolysis-speed device for the automation of the ELID-grinding process. For the development of the automatic-control electrolysis-speed device, analysis experiments regarding the ELID cycle and oxide-layer removal and creation were conducted according to a truing and dressing process. Also, a comparative experiment was conducted to confirm the variance of the electrolysis speed in accordance with changes of the voltage. The experiment results for the developed automatic-control electrolysis-speed device show that the developed device could control the electrolysis speed according to voltage changes through the use of the data that are monitored during the ELID-grinding process.