• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.488-497
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• 2009

In this study, analytical methodology for several organic fatty acids (OFA: propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), isovaleric acid (IA), and valeric acid (VA)) designated as new offensive odorants in Korea (as of year 2010) was investigated along with some odorous VOCs (styrene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl acetate, and isobutyl alcohol). For this purpose, working standards (WS) containing all of these 13 compounds were loaded into adsorption tube filled with Tenax TA, and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) system thermal desorber interfaced with. The analytical sensitivities of organic fatty acids expressed in terms of detection limit (both in absolute mass (ng) and concentration (ppb)) were lower by 1.5-2 times than other compounds (PA: 0.24 ng (0.16 ppb), BA: 0.19 ng (0.11 ppb), IA: 0.15 ng (0.07 ppb), and VA: 0.28 ng (0.13 ppb)). The precision of BA, IA, and VA, if assessed in terms of relative standard error (RSE), maintained above 5%, while the precison of other compounds were below 5%. The reproducibility of analysis improved with the aid of internal standard calibration (PA: $1.1{\pm}0.4%$, BA: $10{\pm}0.46$, IA; $12{\pm}0.3%$, VA: $4{\pm}0.1%$), respectively. The results of this study showed that organic fatty acid can be analyzed using adsorption tube and thermal desorber in a more reliable way to replace alkali absorption method introduced in the odor prevention law of the Korea Ministry of Environment (KMOE).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 1996

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful technique to detect scanty amount of DNA from living organisms. The present study intended to develope specific primers for PCR diagnosis of pneumocystosis and to evaluate diagnostic efficacy by preparation of template DNAs from invasive BAk fluid and also to screen serum or blood as a non-invasive specimen. Albino rats of Wistar or Fischer strains were experimentally infected by Pneumocwstis ccrinii. Extracted DNAs or cell Iysates of their blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung homogenate were used as the tenlplate DNA. Primers were synthetic oligonucleotides among 16s rDNA sequences. All of the primer combinations gave PCR products, but the primer pair of #24 and #27 gave best quality product of 666 bp. The sensitivity of PCR with Iysates of BAk fluid was 57.7% but it increased to 84.6% with extracted DNAs. None of BAL Iysate or DNA was positive among 13 microscopically negatives. The serum DNAs were positive only in 2 cases out of 20 morphologically positive rats. DNAs of human, rat, other parasites, yeast, and microorganisms were negative. The findings suggest that the present primers are specific but simple Iysate of BAL fluid is not sensitive. PCR may be used as a routine diagnostic method of pneumocystosis if simple and rapid preparation of non-invasive clinical specimens are available.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2015

X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis using X-ray absorption spectroscopy is being applied as a state-of-the-art method in a wide range of disciplines. This review article summarizes the overall procedure of XAFS analysis from the preparation of soil samples to the analysis of data in X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) region and extended Xray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) region. The previous studies on application of XANES and EXAFS techniques in environmental soil science field are discussed and classified them according to metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). A significant number of previous studies of XAFS application in the environmental soil science field have focused on the identification of Pb chemical species in soil. Moreover, XANES and EXAFS techniques have been widely used to investigate the contamination source via identification of metal species. Similarly, these techniques were applied to identify the mechanisms of metal stabilization in soil after application of various amendments, phytoremediation, etc.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2_spc
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• pp.227-235
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• 2020

In this study, we discussed the limitations of gross alpha measurements for the characterization of radioactive wastes produced in nuclear facilities through experimental tests and Monte Carlo N-particle transport simulations. The determination of gross alpha is essential for the disposal of radioactive waste produced in nuclear facilities in Korea. The measurements of gross alpha are easy to perform and yield rapid analytical results, but it cannot be used for quantitative analysis. The error of counting efficiency for gross alpha with various masses of the deposit on planchets using KCl and ²⁴¹Am was determined. The relative deviation of the counting efficiency in samples having the same mass was 20%. Uranium was extracted from the soil through acid leaching and extraction chromatography, and the concentration of U determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was compared with the results for gross alpha. The gross alpha was underestimated by 50% compared to the U concentration by ICP-MS. The counting efficiency depended on the energy from the alpha emitters, which differed by up to three times in determination of the counting efficiency depending on the kinds of alpha radionuclides of interest. Therefore, the gross alpha is not compatible with the sum of radioactivity for each alpha emitter and is suitable as a screening method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 1997

This paper examines the influences of mining activities on the concentrations of heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of the Dalsung Cu-W mine, Korea. Geochemical surveys were undertaken in the Dalsung mine area and sampling of surface and subsurface soils was carried out. Samples were prepared using 0.1 N HCI, HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$, and aqua regia, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. In addition, soil samples were sequentially extracted to investigate the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils. Heavy metals are highly contaminated in soils in the vicinity of mining area ranging up to 28 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cd, 5000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cu, 2390 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Pb and 930 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Zn by the method using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$. The pollution indices calculated with the permissible levels are up to 49 in surface and subsurface soils, which are considered sufficient to raise environmental problems. However, the heavy metal levels by the method using 0.1 N HCl are not higher than Korean standard for soil contamination. It suggests that analytical methods and soil standard should be re-examined. From the results of the sequential extraction methods for metal speciation, total Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations may be determined by analytical methods using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$ or aqua regia, and exchangeable phase of those metals by the method using 0.1 N HCl.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2017

This study aimed at more precisely estimating the age of big old trees using dendrochronological method. Gesan-gun in Chungbuk (CBGS), Gurye-gun in Jeonnam (JNGR) and Uljin-gun in Gyeongbuk (GBUJ) were study areas and Zelkova serrata (ZS) and Pinus densiflora (PD) selected as protected trees therein were used as experimental tree species. The increment cores were extracted from 12, 8, and 6 ZSs and 10, 3, and 9 PDs in CBGS, JNGR, and GBUJ, respectively, using an increment borer (${\phi}5.2mm$). In order to clearly distinguish tree-ring boundary, the surface in the transverse section was cut for ZS using a sliding microtome and sanded for PD using a sand paper. Ring widths were measured in the resolution of 0.01 mm. Based on the measurement values, 203-year long (1813-2015) ZS local master tree-ring chronologies were successfully established and 175-year long (1841-2015) ZS local master tree-ring chronology for JNGR was also successfully established. In the case of PD, 154-, 175-, and 250-year long local master tree-ring chronologies for CBGS, JNGR, and GBUJ were successfully established, respectively. In the comparisons between local master tree-ring chronologies, they showed low t-values and Glks. According to the comparisons of the local master tree-ring chronologies with 50-year (1950~2000) average temperature and precipitation distribution maps, the annual variations of local master tree-ring chronologies seem to be determined by not temperature but precipitation. For such cross-dating therefore more local master tree-ring chronologies have to be established at the least based on the distribution map for precipitation.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2018

The decommissioning of nuclear power plants is generally executed in five steps, including preparation, decontamination, cutting/demolition, waste disposal and environmental restoration. So, for efficient decommissioning of nuclear power plants, worker safety, effects compared to cost, minimization of waste, possibility of reuse, etc., shall be considered. Worker safety and measurement technology shall be secured to exert optimal efficiency of nuclear power plant decommissioning work, for which accurate measurement technology for systems and devices is necessary. Typical In-Situ methods for decommissioning of nuclear plants are CZT, Gamma Camera and ISOCS. This study used ISOCS, which can be applied during the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant site without collecting representative samples, to take measurements of the S/G Water Chamber. To validate the measurement values, Microshield and the GEANT4 code was used as the actual method were used for modeling, respectively. The comparison showed a difference of $1.0{\times}10^1Bq$, which indicates that it will be possible to reduce errors due to the influence of radiation in the natural environment and the precision of modeling. Based on the research results of this paper, accuracy and reliability of measurement values will be analyzed and the applicability of the direct measurement method during the decommissioning of NPPs will be assessed.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2011

The influence of two process parameters (starter and fermentation period) on sourdough bread qualities was investigated. Bifidobacterium longum/Enterococcus faecium/Lactobacillus acidophilus (a mixed culture) was used as a starter. The five production conditions tested were: Control (sourdough fermentation with yeast); LAB 1(fermentation with mixed culture); LAB 2 (fermentation with yeast and mixed culture, respectively); LAB 3 (fermentation with yeast and mixed culture); and LAB 4 (first fermentation with yeast and mixed culture, respectively, followed by a second fermentation using the combination). The LAB 4 process showed the most favorable fermentation characteristics upon CrumbScan analysis, and the highest specific bread volume (5.14 mL/g). These results were reflected in the sensory evaluation of bread produced by the LAB 4 process; the bread achieved an excellent overall acceptance ranking of 3.7. Upon firmness analysis, the LAB 2, LAB 3, and LAB 4 bread figures were 113.67 g, 111.97 g, and 113.50 g, respectively. Thus, the firmness of LAB 2, LAB 3, and LAB 4 bread was higher than that of the control (93.20 g), although the aroma compounds of bread produced by the five processes did not differ. These results show that LAB 4 bread had improved sourdough properties, compared to control.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.207-222
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• 2014

In order to recover the metallic copper powder from the mine-waste rock, heap bioleaching, Fe removal and electrowinning experiments were carried out. The results of heap leaching with the mine-waste rock sample containing 0.034% Cu showed that, the leaching rate of Cu were 61% and 62% in the bacteria leaching and sulfuric acid leaching solution, respectively. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$) were applied to effectively remov Fe from the heap leaching solution, and then $H_2O_2$ was selected for the most effective removing Fe agent. In order to prepare the electrolytic solution, $H_2O_2$ were again treated in the heap leaching, and Fe removal rates were 99% and 60%, whereas Cu removal rates were 5% and 7% in the bacteria and sulfuric acid leaching solutions, respectively. After electrowinning was examined in these leaching solution, the recovery rates of Cu were obtained 98% in bacteria and obtained 76% in the sulfuric leaching solution. The dendritic form of metallic copper powder was recovered in both leaching solutions.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.195-199
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• 2008

Composites of $Fe_{93.5}Si_{6.5}$ powder and epoxy were prepared using a thermal curing process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and network analyzer were used to analyze the structure, electromagnetic properties and microwave absorption of the composites. Results show that the saturation magnetization depends on the fraction of the $Fe_{93.5}Si_{6.5}$ powder in the composite, which affects initial permeability. It is believed that the eddy current loss is a dominant factor over 1 GHz and that the resonance frequency of the composite decreases with increasing fractions of $Fe_{93.5}Si_{6.5}$ powder. Finally, reflection loss was calculated from the permeability and permittivity of these composites. Composite with 50 wt.% $Fe_{93.5}Si_{6.5}$ powder fractions and 5 mm thickness showed reflection loss below -20 dB from 3.66 GHz to 4.16 GHz. Therefore, it is believed that thin Fe-Si/epoxy composites may be a good candidate for microwave absorption application.