• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify factors determining the toxicity of manufactured silver nano-particles (AgNPs) on aquatic organisms. Methods: For this purpose, we prepared several AgNPs with varied characteristics, including hydrodynamic size (nano-$^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}\;vs$-sized-$^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}$), impurities ($^{ABC}Ag$ stock vs $^{ABC}Ag$), and citrate capping ($^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}$), using a commercially available manufactured AgNP ($^{ABC}Ag$ stock). Acute tests were conducted using larval zebrafish (Danio rerioI). In addition, in order to determine the ecotoxicological potentials of various capping agents, toxicity tests were conducted with microbes, waterfleas, and fish for eight different capping agents that are used for NPs. Results: The toxicity of AgNPs in terms of 96 h fish $LC_{50}$ increased in the following order: $^{ABC}Ag$ stock < $^{ABC}Ag=^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}=nano-^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}$ < ${\mu}$-sized-$^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}$ < $AgNO_3$. After removing impurities by dialysis, 96 h $LC_{50}$ value decreased significantly from $126.6{\mu}g/L$ (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 107.0-146.2) ($^{ABC}Ag$ stock) to $78.6{\mu}g/L$ (CI: 72.7-84.8) ($^{ABC}Ag$). For ${\mu}$-sized-$^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}$ (ranging between 3.9 and 40.6 nm) and $^{ABC}Ag^{Cit}$ (40.6 nm and $9.1{\mu}m$), the 96 h $LC_{50}$ of the former ($43.9{\mu}g/L$, CI: 36.0-51.7) was approximately two-fold lower than that of the latter ($87.0{\mu}g/L$, CI: 73.5-100.3). Conclusions: In this study, we found that for acute lethality, the contribution of impurities and particle size was significant, but that of citrate was negligible.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2001

The ion chromatography for the separation of plutonium species which are suggested to be $Pu^{3+}$, $Pu^{4+}$, $PuO_2{^+}$ and $PuO_2{^{2+}}$ in natural water was studied. Two separation methods were performed; 1) two-column method containing each of $SiO^-$ and SiO-$SO_3{^-}$ cation exchanger, 2) IC with AG11 column and the eluent of oxalate/nitric acid. Separation conditions for $Eu^{3+}$, $Th^{4+}$, $NpO_2{^+}$, $UO_2{^{2+}}$ in place of plutonium species were acquired from preliminary tests. When these conditions were applied to separate the plutonium species, two-column method was separated them successfully. However, the IC method with oxalate eluent was difficult in the separation of plutonium species due to the change of $Pu^{3+}$ and $PuO_2{^{2+}}$ to $Pu^{4+}$ and $PuO_2{^+}$ respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.347-351
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• 2014

We studied the green synthesis and antibacterial activity of chitosan-silver (Ag) nanocomposite films for application in food packaging. Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) was achieved by a chemical reaction involving a mixture of chitosan-silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) in an autoclave at 0.1 MPa, $121^{\circ}C$, for 15-120 s. The formation of AgNPs in chitosan was confirmed by both UV-Visible spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the effects of chitosan-$AgNO_3$ concentration and reaction time on the synthesis of AgNPs in chitosan were examined. The resulting chitosan-Ag composite films were characterized by various analytical techniques and their antibacterial activity was evaluated based on the formation of halo zones around films, indicating inhibition of the growth of Escherichia coli. A fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed that free amino groups in chitosan acted as effective reductants and AgNP stabilizers. The composite films exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity with increasing Ag content on the surface of as-prepared composite films.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.550-558
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• 2021

In a radiotracer study, the bioaccumulation and efflux of metals in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to soil spiked with ZnO and Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) were compared to those exposed to soil spiked with ionic Zn and Ag. Additionally, the bioavailability and chemical mobility of nano- and ionic metals in the soil were estimated using the sequential extraction method and compared to the bioaccumulation factor(BAF). The BAF for ZnO (0.06) was 31 times lower than that for Zn ions (1.86), suggesting that ZnO was less bioavailable than the ionic form in contaminated soil. In contrast, the BAFs for two types of AgNPs coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (0.12) or citrate (0.11) were comparable to those of ionic Ag (0.17). The sequential extraction of metals from the soil suggests that the chemically mobile fractions in the Zn ion treatment were higher(35%) than those (<20%) in the Ag ion treatment, which was consistent with the greater BAFs in the former than the latter. However, the chemical mobility in the ZnO treatments did not predict bioavailability. The efflux rates of Ag (3.2-3.8% d^-1) in the worms were 2-3×those(1.2-1.7% d^-1) for Zn.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.226-236
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• 2020

Antibiotic resistance by pathogenic bacteria and fungi is one of the most serious global public health problems in the 21^st century, directly affecting human health and lifestyle. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with strong resistance to the common antibiotics have been isolated from Intensive Care Unit patients at Zagazig Hospital. Thus, in this study we assessed the biocidal activity of nanoparticles of silver, copper and zinc synthesized by Fusarium solani KJ 623702 against these multidrug resistant-bacteria. The synthesized Metal Nano-particles (MNPs) were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Zeta potential. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) result showed the presence of different functional groups such as carboxyl, amino and thiol, ester and peptide bonds in addition to glycosidic bonds that might stabilize the dispersity of MNPs from aggregation. The antimicrobial potential of MNPs by F. solani against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in addition to the mycotoxigenic Aspergillus awamori, A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum was investigated, based on the visual growth by diameter of inhibition zone. Among the synthesized MNPs, the spherical AgNPs (13.70 nm) displayed significant effect against P. aeruginosa (Zone of Inhibition 22.4 mm and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 21.33 ㎍/ml), while ZINC oxide Nano-Particles were the most effective against F. oxysporum (ZOI, 18.5 mm and MIC 24.7 ㎍/ml). Transmission Electron Microscope micrographs of AgNP-treated P. aeruginosa showed cracks and pits in the cell wall, with internalization of NPs. Production of pyocyanin pigment was significantly inhibited by AgNPs in a concentration-dependent manner, and at 5-20 ㎍ of AgNPs/ml, the pigment production was reduced by about 15-100%, respectively.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.79-85
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• 2023

A novel low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) dielectric, composed of (1-4x)Bi_1.5Zn_1.0Nb_1.5O₇-3xBi₂Zn_2/3Nb_4/3O₇-2xLiZnNbO₄ (x=0.03-0.21), was synthesized through reactive liquid phase sintering of Bi_1.5Zn_1.0Nb_1.5O₇-xLi₂CO₃ ceramic at temperatures ranging from 850℃ to 920℃ for 4 hours. During sintering, Li₂CO₃ reacted with Bi_1.5Zn_1.0Nb_1.5O₇, resulting in the formation of Bi₂Zn_2/3Nb_4/3O₇, and LiZnNbO₄. The resulting sintered body exhibited a relative sintering density exceeding 96% of the theoretical density. By altering the initial Li₂CO₃ content (x) and consequently modulating the volume fraction of Bi_1.5Zn_1.0Nb_1.5O₇, Bi₂Zn_2/3Nb_4/3O₇, and LiZnNbO₄ in the final sintered body, a sample with high dielectric constant (ε_r), low dielectric loss (tan δ), and the temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (TCε) characterized by NP0 specification (TCε ≤ ±30 ppm/℃) was achieved. As the Li₂CO₃ content increased from x=0.03 mol to x=0.15 mol, the volume fraction of Bi₂Zn_2/3Nb_4/3O₇ and LiZnNbO₄ in the composite increased, while the volume fraction of Bi_1.5Zn_1.0Nb_1.5O₇ decreased. Consequently, the dielectric constant (εr) of the composite materials varied from 148.38 to 126.99, the dielectric loss (tan δ) shifted from 5.29×10^-4 to 3.31×10^-4, and the temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (TCε) transitioned from -340.35 ppm/℃ to 299.67 ppm/℃. A dielectric exhibiting NP0 characteristics was achieved at x=0.09 for Li₂CO₃, with a dielectric constant (ε_r) of 143.06, a dielectric loss (tan δ) value of 4.31×10^-4, and a temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (TCε) value of -9.98 ppm/℃. Chemical compatibility experiment with Ag electrode revealed that the developed composite material exhibited no reactivity with the Ag electrode during the co-firing process.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.161-171
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• 2020

Direct seeding is one of the rice seedling establishment methods that is increasingly being practiced by farmers to save labor and reduce costs. However, this method often causes poor germination under flooding conditions after sowing. In this study, we developed japonica elite lines with quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with anaerobic germination (AG) tolerance to overcome poor germination and seedling establishment in wet direct seeding. The QTL introgression lines were developed from a cross between weedy photoblastic rice as the AG donor and the Nampyeong variety via phenotypic and genotypic selection. Compared to Nampyeong, the survival rates of the selected lines were improved by approximately 50% and 240% under field and greenhouse conditions, respectively. To improve selection efficiency by marker assisted selection, the QTL markers associated with AG tolerance were converted to cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers designed based on next-generation sequence analysis. These lines retained similar agronomic traits and yield potential to the parent, Nampyeong. Among these lines, we selected the most promising line, which exhibited high survival rate and good agricultural traits under flooding conditions and named the line as Jeonju643. This line will contribute to breeding programs aiming to develop rice cultivars adapted to wet direct seeding. This study demonstrates the successful application of marker-assisted selection to targeted introgression of anaerobic genes into a premium quality japonica rice variety.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

An understanding of particle-particle interactions in filtration requires studying the detachment as well as the attachment of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles captured in a granular media filter can be released by changing the physicochemical factors. In this study, the detachment of captured silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in granular media filtration was examined under different ionic strengths, ion type, and the presence or absence of natural organic matter (NOM). Filtration velocity and ionic strength were chosen as the physical and chemical factors to cause the detachment. Increasing filtration velocity caused a negligible amount of AgNP detachment. On the other hand, lowering ionic strength showed different release amounts depending on the background ions, implying a population of loosely captured particles inside the filter bed. Overall detachment was affected by ionic strength and ion type, and to a lesser degree by NOM coating which resulted in slightly more detachment (in otherwise identical conditions) than in the absence of that coating, possibly by steric effects. The secondary energy minimum with Na ions was deeper and wider than with Ca ions, probably due to the lack of complexation with citrate and charge neutralization that would be caused by Ca ions. This result implies that the change in chemical force by reducing ionic strength of Na ions could significantly enhance the detachment compared to that caused by a change in physical force, due to a weak electrostatic deposition between nanoparticles and filter media. A modification of the 1-D filtration model to incorporate a detachment term showed good agreement with experimental data; estimating the detachment coefficients for that model suggested that the detachment rate could be similar regardless of the amount of previously captured AgNPs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.551-552
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• 2006

This study was attended to demonstrate synthesis of silver nanoparticles stabilized with polymer and their applicability to printed electronics. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by reduction of silver nitrate in aqueous solution in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer. The ink used here is composed of 50 wt% Ag NP, 15 wt% humectant and then were printed on polyimide film. Particle deposit morphologies were controlled by varying the ink compositions. Printed silver patterns and dots were cured on a convection oven in air at $300^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. The printed patterns show good shape definition and the resistivity of the printed films is about $5{\mu}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2024

Laser-induced plasmonic sintering of metal nanoparticles (NPs) holds significant promise as a technology for producing flexible conducting electrodes. This method offers immediate, straightforward, and scalable manufacturing approaches, eliminating the need for expensive facilities and intricate processes. Nevertheless, the metal NPs come at a high cost due to the intricate synthesis procedures required to ensure long-term reliability in terms of chemical stability and the prevention of NP aggregation. Herein, we induced the self-generation of metal nanoparticles from Ag organometallic ink, and fabricated highly conductive electrodes on flexible substrates through laser-assisted plasmonic annealing. To demonstrate the practicality of the fabricated flexible electrode, it was configured in a mesh pattern, realizing multi-touchable flexible touch screen panel.