• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.620-629
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• 2022

By varying various experimental conditions such as heating rate, molar hourly space velocity (MHSV), and nitridation reaction temperature, vanadium oxynitride was prepared through temperature programmed reduction/nitridation reaction (TPRN) of vanadium pentoxide and ammonia, and characterization were performed. In order to investigate the physico-chemical properties of the prepared catalyst, N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed. Transformation of V₂O₅ with 5 m² g^-1 low specific surface area by reduction at 340 ℃ to V₂O₃ showed a high specific surface area value of 115 m² g^-1 by micropore formation. As the nitridation temperature increased beyond that, the specific surface area continued to decrease due to sintering. The nitridation reaction variable that had the greatest influence on the specific surface area was the reaction temperature, and the x + y value of VN_xO_y of a single phase approached from 1.5 to 1.0 as the nitridation reaction temperature increased. At a high reaction temperature of 680 ℃, the cubic lattice constant a was VN. close to the value. At 680 ℃, the highest nitridation temperature among the experimental conditions, the ammonia conversion rate was 93%, and no deactivation was observed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.450-464
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• 2023

Pulse oximetry, a non-invasive technique for evaluating blood oxygen saturation, conventionally depends on isolated measurements, rendering it vulnerable to factors like illumination profile, spatial blood flow fluctuations, and skin pigmentation. Previous efforts to address these issues through imaging systems often employed red and near-infrared illuminations with distinct profiles, leading to inconsistent ratios of transmitted light and the potential for errors in calculating spatial oxygen saturation distributions. While an integrating sphere was recently utilized as an illumination source to achieve uniform red and near-infrared illumination profiles on the sample surface, its bulkiness presented practical challenges. In this work, we have enhanced the pulse oximetry imaging system by transitioning illumination from an integrating sphere to a multi-wavelength LED configuration. This adjustment ensures simultaneous emission of red and near-infrared light from the same position, creating a homogeneous illumination profile on the sample surface. This approach guarantees consistent patterns of red and near-infrared illuminations that are spatially uniform. The sustained ratio between transmitted red and near-infrared light across space enables precise calculation of the spatial distribution of oxygen saturation, making our pulse oximetry imaging system more compact and portable without compromising accuracy. Our work significantly contributes to obtaining spatial information on blood oxygen saturation, providing valuable insights into tissue oxygenation in peripheral regions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2023

Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa and gastric ulcers are a break in the mucosa of the stomach lining. Past research on gastritis and gastric ulcers has been mainly conducted from the perspective that environmental factors are the primary cause of these gastric diseases. However, recently the importance of genetic factors has been emphasized due to current developments in genetic research. The SLC25A26 gene is believed to be associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress promotes an inflammatory response, which increases the production of free radicals and causes cellular damage, and these lead to the development of gastric diseases. In this study, the correlation between SLC25A26 and gastric diseases was analyzed. Polymorphisms in SLC25A26 were analyzed in 1,369 domestic gastric disease patients and 7,471 healthy controls. As a result, 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (in the genotype) and 13 SNPs (in the imputation) showed statistical significance (P<0.05), and high relative risk of gastric diseases. Among them, the rs13874 allele of SLC25A26 showed a highly significant association with gastric diseases. In the genotype-based mRNA expression analysis, the minor allele (C) group showed increased mRNA expression and this could increase oxidative stress. In conclusion, SLC25A26 polymorphisms are associated with gastric diseases. These results may provide a basis for new guidelines for gastric disease management in the Korean population.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 2011

Purpose: Extended spectrum $\beta$-lactamase (ESBL) producing organism is an important cause of infections in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) since 1990s. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences of clinical characteristics and hematologic studies between neonates with ESBL-positive organism and those with ESBL-negative organism. Methods: The subjects included 48 neonates admitted to NICU at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital from January 2005 to September 2010, from whom a total of 58 Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumonia were detected. The data were categorized in 2 groups, neonates with ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative. We compared clinical characteristics and hematologic studies between two groups. Results: Of 48 neonates and 53 isolates, ESBL-positive were 18 neonates and 20 isolates. Both ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative isolates were largely found in urine, each with 10 and 23. Of 20 ESBL-positive isolates, 13 (65%) and 7 (35%) were ESBL producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, respectively. ESBL-positive neonates were associated with low 1 and 5 minutes Apgar scores (P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively), more uses of oxygen (56% vs. 27%; P=0.005), longer duration of oxygen uses (15.8${\pm}$38.43 days vs. 4.3${\pm}$12.5 days; P=0.008) and more frequent anemia (33% vs. 7%; P=0.040). Conclusion: ESBL-positive neonates may have more anemia and lower Apgar score at birth. We can consider the use of cabapenem earlier if infant with previous antibiotics is confirmed to be infected with ESBL-positive organisms.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.881-887
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• 2009

Purpose : The survival rate of very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) had increased as a result of advances in neonatal intensive care. We evaluated the changes in outcomes of VLBWI who admitted to the neonatal care unit of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital. Methods : Retrospective review of 339 VLBWI who were born from 1st January 1997 to 31th December 2008 were performed. Outcomes including survival rate, birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), morbidities, and mortality between period I (1997- 2003) and period II (2004-2008) were compared. Results : Overall incidence of VLBWI was 2.3% and it was significantly higher in period II(3.3%). Mean BW and GA were significantly decreased in period II (P<0.001, P=0.01). The survival rate increased from period I (59.1%) to period II (74.2%). BW-specific survival rate increased in 1,000-1,249 gm and GA-specific survival rate significantly increased in 27-28 weeks and 29-30 weeks. The incidences of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, and necorotizing enterocolitis were same except patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusion : The survival rate of VLBWI was increased in period II, especially in less than 1,000 gm and below 27 weeks. This may be due to recent dramatic improvement of neonatal care. But more efforts are needed to improve outcome during initial phase and to reduce long term complication such as BPD and ROP.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1998

For the purpose of finding new cathode materials for medium-temperature $(700\~800^{\circ}C)$ solid oxide fuel cells, $Gd_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}Co_{1-x}Fe_xO_3,\;(x=0.0\~0.5)$ are prepared, and their thermal stability and conductivity characteristics are investigated. Also, the cathodic activities are measured after the cathode layer being attached on CGO (cerium-gadolinium oxide) electrolyte disk. The X-ray analyses indicate that the materials prepared by calcining the citrate-gels at $800^{\circ}C$ have the orthorhombic perovskite structure without discernible impurities. The thermal stability of the undoped Co perovskite is so poor that it is decomposed to the individual binary oxide even at $1300^{\circ}C$. But the partially Fe-doped cobaltates exhibit a better thermal stability to retain their structural integrity up to $1400^{\circ}C$. The observation whereby both the undoped and Fe-doped cobaltates melt at ca. $1300^{\circ}C$ leads us to perform the electrode adhesion at <$1300^{\circ}C$. The cathodic activity of $Gd_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}Co_{1-x}Fe_xO_3,\;(x=0.0\~0.5)$, electrodes is superior to $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}MnO_3$, among the samples of $x=0.0\~0.5$, the x=0.2 cathode shows the best activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. It is likely that the Fe-doping provides a better thermal stability to the materials but in turn imparts an inferior cathodic activity, such that the optimum trade-off is made at x=0.2 between the two factors. The total electrical conductivity and ion conductivity of $Gd_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}Co_{1-x}Fe_xO_3$, are measured to be 51 S/cm and $6.0\times10^{-4}S/cm\;at\;800^{\circ}C$, respectively. The conductivity values illustrate that the materials are a mixed conductor and the reaction sites can be expanded to the overall electrode surface, thereby providing a better cathodic activity than $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}MnO_3$.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.16 no.4 s.50
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• pp.411-427
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• 2006

This study aimed to recognize characteristics of groundwater flow in fractured bedrocks based on zonal pump-ing tests, slug tests, water quality logs and borehole TV camera logs conducted on two boreholes (NJ-11 and SJ-8) in the city of Naju. Especially, the zonal pumping tests using sin91e Packer were executed to reveal groundwater flow characteristics in the fractured bedrocks with depth. On borehole NJ-11, the zonal pumping tests resulted in a flow dimension of 1.6 with a packer depth of 56.9 meters. It also resulted in lower flow dimensions as moving to shallower packer depths, reaching a flow dimension of 1 at a 24 meter packer depth. This fact indicates that uniform permissive fractures take place in deeper zones at the borehole. On borehole SJ-8, a flow dimension of 1.7 was determined at the deepest packer level (50 m). Next, a dimension of 1.8 was obtained at 32 meters of packer depth, and lastly a dimension of 1.4 at 19 meters of packer depth. The variation of flow dimension with different packer depths is interpreted by the variability of permissive fractures with depth. Zonal pumping tests led to the utilization of the Moench (1984) dual-porosity model because hydraulic characteristics in the test holes were most suitable to the fractured bedrocks. Water quality logs displayed a tendency to increase geothermal temperature, to increase pH and to decrease dissolved oxygen. In addition, there was an increasing tendency towards electrical conductance and a decreasing tendency towards dissolved oxygen at most fracture zones.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.115-120
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• 2016

$CeO_2$ is used as a co-catalyst with $TiO_2$ to improve the catalytic activity of $MnO_x$ and characterization of nano-sized powder is identified with de-NOx efficiency. A comparison between $MnO_x-CeO_2/TiO_2$ and single $CeO_2$ was conducted in terms of microstructural analysis to observe the behavior of $CeO_2$ in the ternary catalyst. The $MnO_x-CeO_2/TiO_2$ catalyst was synthesized by sol-gel method and the average particle size of the single $CeO_2$ is about $285{\mu}m$ due to the low thermal stability, whereas the particle size $MnO_x-CeO_2/TiO_2$ is about 130 nm. The strong interaction between Ce and Ti was identified through the EDS mapping by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The improvement about 20 % of $de-NO_x$ efficiency is observed in the low-temperature ($150^{\circ}C{\sim}250^{\circ}C$) and vigorous oxygen exchange by well-dispersed $CeO_2$ is the reason of catalytic activity improvement.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2004

We investigate the effect of enzyme pretreatment using protease, carbohydrase, and lipase on improvement of sludge treatment efficiency by measuring SCOD and TCOD. The enzyme-pretreatment increases SCOD of excess sludge. In addition, the amount of sludge reduction during digestion, in terms of SCOD and TCOD, are enhanced by enzyme-pretreatment. Among pretense, carbohydrase, and lipase, pretense showed the best enhancement of the sludge treatment efficiency. Sludge digestion followed by ozone and enzyme treatments showed more effective sludge treatment when compared with ozone treatment alone. Therefore, we expect that enzyme pretreatment can be used as a useful tool for enhancing the sludge treatment efficiency.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.126-136
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• 2021

Oxidative stress causes injury to and degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. It is involved in several retinal disorders and leads to vision loss. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 14 kinds of natural compounds and two kinds of synthetic compounds on oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in human PRE cell lines (ARPE-19). From among them, we selected five kinds of compounds, including auranofin, FK-509, hemistepsin A, honokiol, and spermidine, which have inhibitory effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated cytotoxicity. In addition, we found that four kinds of compounds (excluding auranofin) have protective effects on H2O2-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, the expression of phosphorylation of histone H2AX, a sensitive marker of DNA damage, was markedly up-regulated by H2O2, whereas it was notably down-regulated by FK-506, honokiol, and spermidine treatment. Meanwhile, five kinds of candidate compounds had no effect on H2O2-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, suggesting that the five candidate compounds have protective effects on oxidative stress-induced cellular damage through the ROS-independent pathway. Taken together, according to the results of H2O2-mediated cellular damage―such as cytotoxicity, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage―spermidine and FK-506 are the natural and synthetic compounds with the most protective effects against oxidative stress in RPE. Although further studies on the identification of the mechanism responsible are required, the results of the present study suggest the possibility of using spermidine and FK-506 to suppress the risk of retinal disorders.