• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.781-792
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• 2020

Mine tailings, which are inevitably formed by the development of manganese nodules, manganese crusts, and hydrothermal seafloor deposits, have attracted attention because of their quantity and potential toxicity. However, there is a lack of data on the quantity of mine tailings being generated, their physicochemical properties, and their effects as environmental hazards and on marine ecosystems in general. The importance of treating mine tailings in an environmentally friendly manner has been recognized recently and related reduction/treatment methods are being considered. In the case of deep-sea mineral resource development, if mine tailings cannot be treated aboard a ship, the issue becomes one of the cost of transporting them to land and solving the problem of environmental pollution there. Therefore, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology conducted research on the harmfulness of mine tailings, their effect on marine ecosystem, the diffusion model of contaminated particles, and candidate purification treatment technologies based on five representative controlling factors: 1) effects of pollution /on the environment, 2) effects of environmental/ biological hazards, 3) diffusion of particles, 4) mineral dressings, and 5) reducing/processing mine tailings. The results of this study can provide a basis for minimizing environmental problems by providing scientific evidences of the environmental effects of mine tailings. In addition, it is also expected that these results could be applied to the treatment of pollutants of different origins and at land-based mining waste sites.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Acoustic-pressure response of diluted hydrogen-air diffusion flames is investigated numerically by adopting a fully unsteady analysis of flame structures in low and high pressure regimes. As acoustic frequency increases, finite-rate chemistry is enhanced through a nonlinear accumulation of heat release rate for any pressure regime, leading to a high amplification index. Same numerical results are analyzed with application of a pressure-sensitive time lag model, and thereby, interaction index and time lag are calculated for each pressure regime. The interaction index has the largest value in each pressure regime at an acoustic frequency near 1000 Hz. In a high-pressure regime, flames are more unstable than in a low-pressure regime. The interaction index shows a good agreement with the amplification index.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2012

Lignite of low rank coal and petroleum coke of high sulfur content can be high potential energy sources for coal gasification process because of their plentiful supply. The steam gasification of lignite, anthracite, and pet coke has been carried out in both an atmospheric thermobalance reactor and a lab-scale fludized bed reactor (0.02 m i.d. ${\times}$ 0.6 m height). The effects of gasification temperature ($600{\sim}900^{\circ}C$) and partial pressure of steam (0.15~0.95 atm) on the gasification rate and on the heating value of product gas have been investigated. The modified volumetric reaction model was applied to the experimental data to describe the behavior of carbon conversion, and to evaluate kinetic parameters of char gasification. The results shows that higher temperature bring more hydrogen in the product syngas, and thus increased gas heating value. The feed rate of steam is needed to be optimized because an excess steam input would lower the gasification temperature which results in a degradation of fuel quality. The rank of calorific value of the product gas was anthracite > lignite > pet coke. Their obtained calorific value at $900^{\circ}C$ with 95% steam feed were 10.0 > 6.9 > 5.7 $MJ/m^3$. This study indicates that lignite and pet coke has a potential in fuel gas production.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2007

The Tumor necrosis factor-α, (TNF-α), is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and contributes to the degeneration of oligodendrocytes as well as neurons. Nicotine has been found to have immunosuppressive and inflammation-suppressing effects. Astrocytes, the major glial cells in the CNS, are capable of producing TNF-α at both the mRNA and protein levels in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1) or TNF-α. Nicotine has been shown to influence glial cell functions. To order to explore the role of astrocytes in the production of TNF-α, astrocytes were pretreated with nicotine and are stimulated with IL-1β to determine their effects on TNF-α production. The results are as follows. Cytotoxic effects of nicotine on human fetal astrocytes were noted above 10 μg/ml of nicotine. The effect of IL-1β on TNF-α mRNA expression in primary cultured human fetal astrocytes was maximal at 2 h after IL- 1β(100 pg/ml) treatment. Human fetal astrocytes were pretreated with 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/ml of nicotine and then stimulated with IL-1β (100 pg/ml) for 2 h. The inhibitory effect of nicotine on expressions of TNF-α mRNA in human fetal astrocytes with pretreated 0.1 μg/ml of nicotine is first noted at 8 hr, and the inhibitory effect is maximal at 12 h. The inhibitory effect at 1 μg/ml of nicotine is inhibited maximal at 24 h. Nicotine at 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/ml concentrations significantly inhibits IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation. Collectively, this study indicates that nicotine might inhibit the expression of TNF-α in activated human fetal astrocytes.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.945-958
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• 2014

Soil temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that govern hydrological and biogeochemical processes related to diffuse pollution. In this study, considering the snowmelting and the soil freezing-thawing processes, a set of computer codes to estimate winter soil temperature has been developed for CAMEL (Chemicals, Agricultural Management and Erosion Losses), a distributed watershed model. The model was calibrated and validated against the field measurements for three months at 4 sites across the study catchment in a rural area of Yeoju, Korea. The degree of agreement between the simulated and the observed soil temperature is good for the soil surface ($R^2$ 0.71~0.95, RMSE $0.89{\sim}1.49^{\circ}C$). As for the subsurface soils, however, the simulation results are not as good as for the soil surface ($R^2$ 0.51~0.97, RMSE $0.51{\sim}5.08^{\circ}C$) which is considered resulting from vertically-homogeneous soil textures assumed in the model. The model well simulates the blanket effect of snowpack and the latent heat flux in the soil freezing-thawing processes. Although there is some discrepancy between the simulated and the observed soil temperature due to limitations of the model structure and the lack of data, the model reasonably well simulates the temporal and spatial distributions of the soil temperature and the snow water equivalent in accordance with the land uses and the topography of the study catchment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.945-953
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• 1996

Background : Many acute and chronic lung diseases including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflammatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, interleukin-8(IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells including : monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-${\alpha}$ preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pneumoconioses. So we hypothesized that IL-8 may be a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-8 as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-8 in the pneumoconiotic patient and the correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis. Method : We measured IL-8 in the serum of 48 patients with pneumoconiosis and 16 persons without dust exposure history as a control group. Pneumoconiotic cases were divided into 3 groups according to ILO Classification : suspicious group(n=16), small opacity group(n=16) and large opacity group(n=16). IL-8 was measured by a sandwich enzytne immunoassay technique. All data were expressed as the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of age was higher in the small opacity and large opacity group than comparison group, but smoking history was even. Duration of dust exposure was not different among 3 pneumoconiosis groups. 2) IL-8 level was $70.50{\pm}53.63pg/m{\ell}$ in the suspicious group, $107.50{\pm}45.88pg/m{\ell}$ in the small opacity group, $132.50{\pm}73.47pg/m{\ell}$ in the large opacity group and $17.85{\pm}33.85pg/m{\ell}$ in the comparison group. IL-8 concentration in all pneumoconiosis group was significant higher than that in the comparison group(p<0.001). 3) IL-8 level tended to increase with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Multiple comparison test using Anova/Scheffe analysis showed a significant difference between suspicious group and large opacity group(p<0.05). 4) The level of IL-8 was correlated with the progression of pneumoconiosis(r=0.4199, p<0.05). Conclusion : IL-8 is thought to be a good biomarker for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.279-287
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• 2010

To identify characteristics of the water quality at Goseong bay, we analyzed long term monitoring data collected at surface and bottom water which was accumulated during the period of 1987~2009. The result showed that the waters of Goseong bay represented mesotrophic level that is based on chlorophyll-a, DIP and DIN and seasonal average of COD that indicates level by the COD criteria. This analysis can be translated that the waters is comparatively clean even though the waters is in the closed bay that slowly diffuses influx mass. We also did the time series analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis on the moving average of the water parameter at Goseong bay. According to the results, DIP showed a increasing trend as time passed while DIN was on a decreasing trend under the same condition. In the waters of Goseong bay, the phyto-plankton growth was shown to be limited by DIN concentration. The chlrophyll-a was at the peak in August, at $4.60{\mu}g/L$. As the seasonal average and index were the highest in November, it was understood that the balance of nutrient at Goseong bay was dependent more on inner factors, ie, mass farming of aquatic species and release of bottom sediment rather than on inflow of fresh water. Accordingly, it is needed to consider the balance of nutrient like DIP and DIN to manage the water quality or estuaries at Goseong bay.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.554-560
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• 2012

Recently, it has been increasing trend to use conductive materials as electronics and communication technology in electronics industry are developing. The noble metal such as Ag, Pt, Pd etc. are mostly used as conductive materials, To reduce production cost, alternative materials with similar characteristics of noble metals are needed. Copper has advantages, i.e its electronic properties are similar to noble metals and low cost than noble metal, but its use has been restricted because of oxidation in air. In this study, the tin film was coated on copper by electroless plating to protect copper from oxidation and to confirm the effects of temperature, pH, amount of $SnCl_2$, and feeding speed in plating conditions. Additionally, we apply $Cu_{core}Sn_{shell}$ powder as conductive filler with low-temperature densification and analysis by SEM, XRD, FIB and 4-Point Probe techniques. As result of the study, tin film was coated well on copper and was protected from oxidation. After low-temperature densification treatment, the meted tin made chemical interconnections with copper. Accordingly, conductivity was increased than before condition. We hope $Cu_{core}Sn_{shell}$ powder to replace noble metals and use in the electronic field.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of postoperative radiotherapy in a case of perihilar cholagiocarcinoma by analyzing overall survival rate, patterns of failure, prognostic factors for overall survival, and toxicity. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and March 2008, 38 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent a surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. The median patient age was 59 years (range, 28 to 72 years), which included 23 men and 15 women. The extent of surgery was complete resection in 9 patients, microscopically positive margins in 25 patients, and a subtotal resection in 4 patients. The tumor bed and regional lymphatics initially received 45 Gy or 50 Gy, but was subsequently boosted to a total dose of 59.4 Gy or 60 Gy in incompletely resected patients. The median radiotherapy dose was 59.4 Gy. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered in 30 patients. The median follow-up period was 14 months (range, 6 to 45 months). Results: The 3-year overall survival and 3-year progression free survival rates were 30% and 8%, respectively. The median survival time was 28 months. A multivariate analysis showed that differentiation was the only significant factor for overall survival. The 3-year overall survival was 34% in R0 patients and 20% in R1 patients. No statistically significant differences in survival were found between the 2 groups (p=0.3067). The first site of failure was local in 18 patients (47%). No patient experienced grade 3 or higher acute toxicity and duodenal bleeding developed in 2 patients. Conclusion: Our results suggest that adjuvant RT might be a significant factor in patients with a positive margin following a radical resection. However, there was still a high locoregional recurrence rate following surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Further study is necessary to enhance the effect of the adjuvant radiotherapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.679-685
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• 2010

Many animal models of osteoarthritis (OA) have been developed, aimed at understanding the long-term progression of OA and difficulty of identifying patients in the initial stage of the disease. In canines, coxofemoral luxation and hip dysplasia are common orthopedic ailments related to OA in the hip joint. Transecting the ligament of the head of the femur (LHF) aids in diagnosis of coxofemoral joint OA. Presently, mobility of this joint was increased by transected LHF in 10 mature, 2-3-year-old (average $2.57{\pm}0.20$ years), healthy male beagles. The animals were normally gaited 1-week post-operatively. During the experimental period, examinations including X-ray, complete blood count and serum chemistry were unremarkable. Proteomic examination revealed protein alterations in synovial fluid, with significant increases in Vitamin D-binding protein precursor (ANOVA, p < 0.004) and Kinogen-1 (ANOVA, p < 0.039). Both proteins correlated with arthritis.