• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2023

Wastewater purification is one of the most important techniques for controlling environmental pollution and fulfilling the demand for freshwater supply. Various technologies, such as different types of distillations and reverse osmosis processes, need higher energy input. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative method in which power consumption is deficient and works on the supercapacitor principle. Research is going on to improve the electrode materials to improve the efficiency of the process. A reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the most commonly used desalination technology and osmotic power generator. Among many studies conducted to enhance the efficiency of RED, MXene, as an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and 2D nanofluidic channels in IEM, is rising as a promising way to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of RED. It is used alone and other polymeric materials are mixed with MXene to enhance the performance of the membrane further. The maximum desalination performances of MXene with preconditioning, Ti₃C₂T_x, Nafion, and hetero-structures were respectively measured, proving the potential of MXene for a promising material in the desalination industry. In terms of osmotic power generating via RED, adopting MXene as asymmetric nanofluidic ion channels in IEM significantly improved the maximum osmotic output power density, most of them surpassing the commercialization benchmark, 5 Wm^-2. By connecting the number of unit cells, the output voltage reaches the point where it can directly power the electronic devices without any intermediate aid. The studies around MXene have significantly increased in recent years, yet there is more to be revealed about the application of MXene in the membrane and osmotic power-generating industry. This review discusses the electrodialysis process based on MXene composite membrane.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2024

The endotoxin test is based on the reaction between Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) and the lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we sought to identify factors that interfere with the LAL testing of radiopharmaceuticals and evaluated acceptable ranges. A gel-clot LAL test and a chromogenic LAL test were used as endotoxin tests. We compared the performances of the Endosafe^Ⓡ LAL and recombinant Endosafe^Ⓡ Recombinant Cascade Reagent (rCR) cartridges for the chromogenic test. The factors that interfered with ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC injection were pH, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer, and organic solvents, especially ethanol. However, interference by these factors was overcome by diluting the ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC injection tenfold. In addition, no interference was observed at pH values between 4 and 8, at a HEPES concentration of 2,000 ㎍/mL, or an ethanol concentration of <1%. Furthermore, results showed that interfering factors had similar effects on the performances of the Endosafe^Ⓡ LAL and Endosafe^Ⓡ rCR cartridges. The results of this study are expected to be useful for evaluating factors that interfere with the endotoxin testing of new radiopharmaceuticals.

• Journal of IKEEE
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 2024

Some drugs can offer far better medical effectiveness as it is injected through the intradermal layer of the skin, known as a needle-free injection. However, conventional needle-free devices might deliver a relatively large amount of drug in a just single spot of skin, splitting open the tissue layer structure, which might cause bruising and bleeding. By injecting the small volume with a fast repetition rate in a large surface area of skin, the patient may get much fewer injuries and pain. To achieve that specification, the driving force must be instantaneous and short-pulsed. Such a form of an injection device has been developed but the efficacy of those devices has been rarely examined. Therefore, this study developed the laser-induced microjet device that ejects microjet whose speed is ~310 m/s, during the 400~800 ㎲ of pulse time. The device can eject ~1 µL of the drug at the rate at which each shot repeated 10 shots per second. Using this specification, we evaluated the efficacy of drug injection onto mouse models. After injecting the insulin solution into the mouse model, the blood insulin level is detected, resulting in 20 % of blood insulin level with the ordinary needle syringe injection method.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2024

In this study, LiDAR-detectable black hollow-structured materials are synthesized using different reducing agents to evaluate their applicability to LiDAR sensor. Initially, white SiO₂/TiO₂ core/shell (WST) materials are fabricated via a sol-gel method, followed by a reduction using ascorbic acid (AA) and sodium borohydride (SB). After the reduction, subsequent etching of the SiO₂ core leads to the formation of two different black hollow-structured materials (AA-BHT and SB-BHT). The lightness (L^*) and near-infrared (NIR) reflectance (R%) of AA-BHT are measured as ca. 19.1 and 34.5 R%, and SB-BHT shows values of ca. 11.5 and 31.8 R%, respectively. While AA-BHT exhibits higher NIR reflectance compared to SB-BHT, it displays slightly lower blackness. Compared with core/shell structured materials, improved NIR reflectance of both AA-BHT and SB-BHT is attributed to the morphology of hollow- structured materials, which increase light reflection at the interface between air and black TiO₂ according to the Fresnel's reflection principle. Consequently, both AA-BHT and SB-BHT are effectively detected by the commercially available LiDAR sensors, validating their suitability as black materials for autonomous vehicle and environment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2019

Purpose In in-vitro laboratories of nuclear medicine department, when the reagent lot or reagent lot changes Comparability test or parallel test is performed to determine whether the results between lots are reliable. The most commonly used standard domestic laboratories is to obtain %difference from the difference in results between two lots of reagents, and then many laboratories are set the standard to less than 20% at low concentrations and less than 10% at medium and high concentrations. If the range is deviated from the standard, the test is considered failed and it is repeated until the result falls within the standard range. In this study, several tests are selected that are performed in nuclear medicine in-vitro laboratories to analyze parallel test results and to establish criteria for customized percent difference for each test. Materials and Methods From January to November 2018, the result of parallel test for reagent lot change is analyzed for 7 items including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA-125, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), HBs-Ab and Insulin. The RIA-MAT 280 system which adopted the principle of IRMA is used for TSH, FT4, CEA, CA-125 and PSA. TECAN automated dispensing equipment and GAMMA-10 is used to measure insulin test. For the test of HBs-Ab, HAMILTON automated dispensing equipment and Cobra Gamma ray measuring instrument are used. Separate reagent, customized calibrator and quality control materials are used in this experiment. Results 1. TSH [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(low concentration) [14.8 / 4.4 / 3.7 / 0.0 ] C-2(middle concentration) [10.1 / 4.2 / 3.7 / 0.0] 2. FT4 [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(low concentration) [10.0 / 4.2 / 3.9 / 0.0] C-2(high concentration) [9.6 / 3.3 / 3.1 / 0.0 ] 3. CA-125 [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(middle concentration) [9.6 / 4.3 / 4.3 / 0.3] C-2(high concentration) [6.5 / 3.5 / 4.3 / 0.4] 4. CEA [%diffrence Max / Mean / median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(low concentration) [9.8 / 4.2 / 3.0 / 0.0] C-2(middle concentration) [8.7 / 3.7 / 2.3 / 0.3] 5. PSA [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(low concentration) [15.4 / 7.6 / 8.2 / 0.0] C-2(middle concentration) [8.8 / 4.5 / 4.8 / 0.9] 6. HBs-Ab [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(middle concentration) [9.6 / 3.7 / 2.7 / 0.2] C-2(high concentration) [8.9 / 4.1 / 3.6 / 0.3] 7. Insulin [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(middle concentration) [8.7 / 3.1 / 2.4 / 0.9] C-2(high concentration) [8.3 / 3.2 / 1.5 / 0.1] In some low concentration measurements, the percent difference is found above 10 to nearly 15 percent in result of target value calculated at a lower concentration. In addition, when the value is measured after Standard level 6, which is the highest value of reagents in the dispensing sequence, the result would have been affected by a hook effect. Overall, there was no significant difference in lot change of quality control material (p-value>0.05). Conclusion Variations between reagent lots are not large in immunoradiometric assays. It is likely that this is due to the selection of items that have relatively high detection rate in the immunoradiometric method and several remeasurements. In most test results, the difference was less than 10 percent, which was within the standard range. TSH control level 1 and PSA control level 1, which have low concentration target value, exceeded 10 percent more than twice, but it did not result in a value that was near 20 percent. As a result, it is required to perform a longer period of observation for more homogenized average results and to obtain laboratory-specific acceptance criteria for each item. Also, it is advised to study observations considering various variables.

• Archives of design research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.31-45
• /
• 1998

Human beings receive experiences and education in viewing and manipulating objects since birth, These experiences in forms and colours influence signifrcantty the formation of the person's humanity, sensibility and constituOOn until he becomes an adult. Considering that all objects coexist through space and time with human beings from birth to an adulthood, we can imagine how these things shape a person, Human beings' perception of form and colour might be different according to the person's living environment, experiences, education, age and job, However, when we see there are certain kinds of form and colour of that most people favor, we can understand that human beings have a certain inherent feelings about forms and colours, Let's suppose a man faces an object that dosen't correspond with his basic feelings about form and colour, He would avoid that object at least unconsoousty, All of his acts dealing with form and colour probably satisfy a desire for beauty which can be required from certain proper forms and colours, By revealing the feelings about forms and colours that human beings originally have, this study is going to explore what kinds of form and colour have what kinds of psychological and physical influences on human beings. Another purpose of this study is to be a theory suggesting more profitable and effective forms and colours psychologically and physically to the consumer. this study demonstrates that the basic feelings about forms and colours which human beings possess are different according to the individual's psychology and the body's condition. It also establishes the reality of the principle of how human psychology and the body change according to the surrounding environment. Finally, it will be appropriate for the suggested theory from this study to be used as fundamental material in deciding the forms and colours used in the design field in the future in that these forms and colours are more profitable and efftient.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2011

Maintenance of adequate soil water potential during the period of crop growth is necessary to support optimum plant growth and yields. A better understanding of soil water movement within and below the rooting zone can facilitate optimal irrigation scheduling aimed at minimizing the adverse effects of water stress on crop growth and development and the leaching of water below the root zone which can have adverse environmental effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a portable irrigation controller with an Watermark sensor for the cultivation of drip-irrigated vegetable crops in a greenhouse. The control capability of the irrigation controller for a soil water potential of -20 kPa was evaluated under summer conditions by cultivating 45-day-old tomato plants grown in three differently textured soils (sandy loam, loam, and loamy sands). Water contents through each soil profile were continuously monitored using three Sentek probes, each consisting of three capacitance sensors at 10, 20, and 30 cm depths. Even though a repeatable cycling of soil water potential occurred for the potential treatment, the lower limit of the Watermark (about 0 kPa) obtained in this study presented a limitation of using the Watermark sensor for optimal irrigation of tomato plants where -20 kPa was used as a point for triggering irrigations. This problem might be related to the slow response time and inadequate soil-sensor interface of the Watermark sensor as compared to a porous and ceramic cup-based tensiometer with a sensitive pressure transducer. In addition, the irrigation time of 50 to 60 min at each of the irrigation operation gave a rapid drop of the potential to zero, resulting in over irrigation of tomatoes. There were differences in water content among the three different soil types under the variable rate irrigation, showing a range of water contents of 16 to 24%, 17 to 28%, and 24 to 32% for loamy sand, sandy loam, and loam soils, respectively. The greatest rate increase in water content was observed in the top of 10 cm depth of sandy loam soil within almost 60 min from the start of irrigation.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.33 no.5_3
• /
• pp.855-866
• /
• 2017

Several research cases using remote sensing methods to analyze changes of storage and dynamics of groundwater aquifer were reviewed in this paper. The status of groundwater storage, in an area with regional scale, could be qualitatively inferred from geological feature, surface water altimetry and topography, distribution of vegetation, and difference between precipitation and evapotranspiration. These qualitative indicators could be measured by geological lineament analysis, airborne magnetic survey, DEM analysis, LAI and NDVI calculation, and surface energy balance modeling. It is certain that GRACE and InSAR have received remarkable attentions as direct utilization from satellite data for quantification of groundwater storage and dynamics. GRACE, composed of twin satellites having acceleration sensors, could detect global or regional microgravity changes and transform them into mass changes of water on surface and inside of the Earth. Numerous studies in terms of groundwater storage using GRACE sensor data were performed with several merits such that (1) there is no requirement of sensor data, (2) auxiliary data for quantification of groundwater can be entirely obtained from another satellite sensors, and (3) algorithms for processing measured data have continuously progressed from designated data management center. The limitations of GRACE for groundwater storage measurement could be defined as follows: (1) In an area with small scale, mass change quantification of groundwater might be inaccurate due to detection limit of the acceleration sensor, and (2) the results would be overestimated in case of combination between sensor and field survey data. InSAR can quantify the dynamic characteristics of aquifer by measuring vertical micro displacement, using linear proportional relation between groundwater head and vertical surface movement. However, InSAR data might now constrain their application to arid or semi-arid area whose land cover appear to be simple, and are hard to apply to the area with the anticipation of loss of coherence with surface. Development of GRACE and InSAR sensor data preprocessing algorithms optimized to topography, geology, and natural conditions of Korea should be prioritized to regionally quantify the mass change and dynamics of the groundwater resources of Korea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.182-188
• /
• 1994

Similar to the $^{42}K$ uptake, $^{86}Rb$ uptake by the roots of Hordeum distichum grown in the hydroponic culture was negatively correlated with the concentration of K supplied previously, showing that $^{86}Rb$ can be used for the K-bioassay. $^{86}Rb$ having longer half life (18.86 day) than $^{42}K$ (12.36 hr) allowed the use of larger number of root samples. $^{86}Rb$ uptake of 3 years old Citrus unshiu Marc. grown in water culture decreased drastically with the increase of K concentration of the culture solution, thus demonstrating that the nutrition status of K for citrus trees can be diagnosed by K-bioassay using $^{86}Rb$ tracer. $^{86}Rb$ uptake by the excised roots of Hordeum distichum grown in the pot with different K fertilizations was well correlated with the exchangeable K in soil. The amount of exchangeable K in soil for the optimal plant growth can be determined by its relationship. $^{42}K$ and $^{86}Rb-uptake$ by the Hordeum distichum roots were markedly inhibited by $5{\times}10^{-3}\; M$ KCN in the bioassay solution, indicating that uptake is energy-dependent. There was no significant relationship between K content in citrus leaves and K concentration in the water-culture medium. It is concluded that K-bioassay is a potentially useful tool for determining of K requirement in citrus trees.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.172-180
• /
• 2007

Among the nuclear medicine imaging methods available today, $H_2^{15}O-PET$ is most widely used by cognitive neuroscientists to examine regional brain function via the measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The short half-life of the radioactively labeled probe, $^{15}O$, often allows repeated measures from the same subjects in many different task conditions. $H_2^{15}O-$ PET, however, has technical limitations relative to other methods of functional neuroimaging, e.g., fMRI, including relatively poor time and spatial resolutions, and, frequently, insufficient statistical power for analysis of individual subjects. However, recent technical developments, such as the 3-D acquisition method provide relatively good image quality with a smaller radioactive dosage, which in turn results in more PET scans from each individual, thus providing sufficient statistical power for the analysis of individual subject's data. Furthermore, the noise free scanner environment $H_2^{15}O$ PET, along with discrete acquisition of data for each task condition, are important advantages of PET over other functional imaging methods regarding studying state-dependent changes in brain activity. This review presents both the limitations and advantages of $^{15}O-PET$, and outlines the design of efficient PET protocols, using examples of recent PET studies both in the normal healthy population, and in the clinical population.