• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1772-1781
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• 2007

Activated sludge was sequentially adapted to benzene, toluene, and o-xylene (BTX) to study the effects on the change of microbial community. Sludge adapted to BTX separately degraded each by various rates in the following order; toluene>o-xylene>benzene. Degradation rates were increased after exposure to repeated spikes of substrates. Eleven different kinds of sludge were prepared by the combination of BTX sequential adaptations. Clustering analyses (Jaccard, Dice, Pearson, and cosine product coefficient and dimensional analysis of MDS and PCA for DGGE patterns) revealed that acclimated sludge had different features from nonacclimated sludge and could be grouped together according to their prior treatment. Benzene- and xylene-adapted sludge communities showed similar profiles. The sludge profile was affected from the point of the final adaptation substrate regardless of the adaptation sequence followed. In the sludge adapted to 50 ppm toluene, Nitrosomonas sp. and bacterium were dominant, but these bands were not dominant in benzene and benzene after toluene adaptations. Instead, Flexibacter sp. was dominant in these cultures. Dechloromonas sp. was dominant in the culture adapted to 50 ppm benzene. Thauera sp. was the main band in the sludge adapted to 50 ppm xylene, but became vaguer as the xylene concentration was increased. Rather, Flexibacter sp. dominated in the sludge adapted to 100 ppm xylene, although not in the culture adapted to 250 ppm xylene. Two bacterial species dominated in the sludge adapted to 250 ppm xylene, and they also existed in the sludge adapted to 250 ppm xylene after toluene and benzene.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.1 s.57
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• pp.20-28
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• 2005

Major petrochemical companies in the USA and the EU map out the strategies step-by-step hazard evaluation for the efficient risk management. They adopted the risk screening methods, such as Dow fire & explosion index, as a preliminary phase to execute detailed evaluation such as QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment). In this study, The FEDI (Fire & Explosion Damage Index), which a kind of risk screening method proposed by Khan and Abbasi, was applied to the BTX plant in Korea. We showed that the FEDI can be effectively used to classify the hazard potential by comparison of the result from the FEDI and the result from QRA. And we showed that the characteristics and the quantities of chemical are the factors which have a largest effect on fire and explosion by executing relative sensitivity analysis of the FEDI. In conclusion, if the FEDI was applied as a preliminary phase of HAZOP, more efficient hazard evaluation can be possible.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2017

Background and Objectives : This study evaluated the efficacy of combination therapy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and steroid inhaler (SI), with or without botulinum toxin injection (BTX) for contact granuloma. Subjects and Methods : Fourteen contact granuloma patients were enrolled in this study. Combination therapy of PPI and SI were used for the first line treatment. When combination therapy was not effective, BTX was performed as the second method. Treatment results were recorded as responsible or non-responsible. Farwell grade, size, history of voice abuse, gender, and reflux finding score (RFS) were compared between responsible group and non-responsible group. Results : Initial response rate was 28.6% after treatment of PPI and SI. BTX was performed on three un-responsible patients. After BTX injection, three patients had complete remission of granuloma. Final response rate was 50.0%. Un-responsible group had significantly higher RFS than responsible group. Conclusion : The efficacy of PPI and SI was limited for contact granuloma in this study. Botulium toxin injection was recommended in early phase when PPI and SI did not effective for contact granuloma. Prospective studies evaluating the effects of PPI and SI are warranted.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.312-316
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• 2015

Background: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. Results: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be $0.8mg\;m^{-3}$, $1.4mg\;m^{-3}$, and $2.8mg\;m^{-3}$, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. Conclusion: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.256-259
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• 2013

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) inhibits muscle contraction, which leads to reversible muscle atrophy and paralysis. Therefore, BTX-A injection can be an effective treatment of facial asymmetry that originated from the uncoordinated muscle movement. A 52-year-old patient was referred from another hospital for the correction of post-traumatic sequelae. The patient had prominent scar in the mandibular symphysis area with asymmetric lower lip movement. The reason for this asymmetric lower lip movement was due to damage in the lower lip depressor muscle. After the injection of BTX-A on the lower lip depressors, asymmetric lip movement has been improved.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.20.1-20.7
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin A (BTX) injection into the anterior belly of the digastric muscle on a growing rat. Methods: Ten Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. When the rats were 13 days old, 0.5 units of BTX was injected into the anterior belly of the digastric muscle for the experimental group (n = 5). For the control, the same volume of normal saline was injected (n = 5). The rats were sacrificed at 60 days old, and the skulls were harvested for micro-computed tomography (μCT) analysis. Results: In anthropometric analysis, the zygomatic arch and mandibular bi-condylar width were significantly lower in the experimental group than those in the control group (P = 0.025 and 0.027, respectively). The maxillary point width was significantly higher in the experimental group than that in the control group (P = 0.020). Conclusion: BTX injection into the anterior belly of the digastric muscle had effects on the maxillofacial bony width in growing rats.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.58
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• pp.45-50
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• 2005

Titania gel formations were prepared by sol-gel method using titanium(IV) chloride $(TiCl_4)$, and its characteristics were analyzed by varying the $epoxide/TiCl_4$ ratio and the amount of water In the end, titania $(TiO_2)$ aerogel were prepared using supercritical drying process. VOCs such as benzene, toluene, and m-xylene (BTX) were oxidized using prepared titania aerogel and commercially available $TiO_2$, and its performance was compared. The surface area, pore volume, and average pore diameter of 1,2-epoxybutane are significantly smaller than the propylene oxide. And the titania aerogels with 6 moi of epoxides have high surface areas, pore volumes, and average pore diameters. As a result of photo-oxidation, conversion of benzene was reached about $70\%$, and other reactants were reached about $60\%$ similarly. The conversion of BTX was increased as inlet concentration decreased. The reactivity of titania calcined at $600^{\circ}C$ was greater than $400^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$. Water is required as a reactants for the oxidation of VOCs, and the continuous consumption of hydroxyl radicals required replenishments to maintain catalyst activity. The activity ratio increased with increasing reaction time when enough amount of water was present in the reactor.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2010

Botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A) has been applied successfully to treat masseteric hypertrophy. However it can cause muscle weakness. This study was designed to measure the change in maximum bite force(MBF) after BTX-A injection into human masseter muscle and to evaluate the influence of a booster(repeated) injection. Thirty volunteers completed 18-week follow-up and MBF was measured. At 18 weeks after the first injection, a booster injection was given to 14 patients and they were followed up until 18 weeks from the booster injection. The mean MBF was approximately 20% lower at 2 weeks than before the injection, and it recovered gradually after 4 weeks to return to the preinjection level at 12 weeks. The MBF differed significantly between before the injection and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the injection(p<0.05). In booster injection group(n=14),the MBF decreased markedly at 6 weeks(p<0.05),and it recovered gradually in 12 weeks. The MBF was significantly reduced after booster injection of BTX-A into the human masseter muscle. The degree of discomfort experienced by the subjects had little effect on normal mastication.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.689-695
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• 2015

A biofilm filtration for the removal of gaseous pollutants has been recognized as a process with a complex interaction between the gas flow characteristics and the process operating variables. This study aims to develop an one dimensional dynamic numerical model which can be utilized as a tool for the analysis of biofilm filtration process operated in plug flow mode. Since, in a plug flow system, minor environmental changes in a gaseous unit process cause a drastic change in reaction and the interaction between the pollutants is an influencing factor, plug flow system was generalized in developing the model. For facilitation of the model development, dispersion was simplified based on the principles of material balance. Several reactions such as competition, escalation, and control between the pollutants were included in the model. The applicability of the developed model was evaluated by taking the calibration and verification steps on the experimental data performed for the removal of BTX at both low and high flow concentration. The model demonstrated a correlation coefficient ($R^2$) greater than 0.79 under all the experimental conditions except for the case of toluene at high flow condition, which suggested that this model could be used for the generalized gaseous biofilm plug flow filtration system. In addition, this model could be a useful tool in analyzing the design parameters and evaluating process efficiency of the experiments with substantial amount of complexity and diversity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.4 no.3 s.11
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• pp.9-18
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• 2000

Accident analysis are useful in the design stage of chemical plants and their surrounding structures. Also, analysis results are required for safety management of existing plants. In this paper, the fire and explosion effect by BTX released was evaluated. The computer program was prepared for accident analysis and adopted for evaluating the magnitude of fire (pool fire) and explosion (UVCE) effect. The thermal radiation was used as a measure of fire magnitude and the overpressure as a measure of explosion magnitude. And probit analysis was made for each case. As a case study, benzene tank model was used. The simulation results of explosion of benzene showed that the damage within 20 meters from the accident spot was severe and the damage beyond 60 meters was negligible. The simulation results of fire of benzene showed that the damage in summer is bigger than that in winter. And the damage of city located inland seems to be bigger than that of city in seaside. And thermal radiation effects was negligible beyond 40 meters-distance from the accident spot.