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Production of $[^{18}F]F_2$ Gas for Electrophilic Substitution Reaction (친전자성 치환반응을 위한 $[^{18}F]F_2$ Gas의 생산 연구)

  • Moon, Byung-Seok;Kim, Jae-Hong;Lee, Kyo-Chul;An, Gwang-Il;Cheon, Gi-Jeong;Chun, Kwon-Soo
    • Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.228-232
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    • 2006
  • Purpose: electrophilic $^{18}F(T_{1/2}=110\;min)$ radionuclide in the form of $[^{18}F]F_2$ gas is of great significance for labeling radiopharmaceuticals for positron omission tomography (PET). However, its production In high yield and with high specific radioactivity is still a challenge to overcome several problems on targetry. The aim of the present study was to develop a method suitable for the routine production of $[^{18}F]F_2$ for the electrophilic substitution reaction. Materials and Methods: The target was designed water-cooled aluminum target chamber system with a conical bore shape. Production of the elemental fluorine was carried out via the $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ reaction using a two-step irradiation protocol. In the first irradiation, the target filled with highly enriched $^{18}O_2$ was irradiated with protons for $^{18}F$ production, which were adsorbed on the inner surface of target body. In the second irradiation, the mixed gas ($1%[^{19}F]F_2/Ar$) was leaded into the target chamber, fellowing a short irradiation of proton for isotopic exchange between the carrier-fluorine and the radiofluorine absorbed in the target chamber. Optimization of production was performed as the function of irradiation time, the beam current and $^{18}O_2$ loading pressure. Results: Production runs was performed under the following optimum conditions: The 1st irradiation for the nuclear reaction (15.0 bar of 97% enriched $^{18}O_2$, 13.2 MeV protons, 30 ${\mu}A$, 60-90 min irradiation), the recovery of enriched oxygen via cryogenic pumping; The 2nd irradiation for the recovery of absorbed radiofluorine (12.0 bar of 1% $[^{19}F]fluorine/argon$ gas, 13.2 MeV protons, 30 ${\mu}A$, 20-30 min irradiation) the recovery of $[^{18}F]fluorine$ for synthesis. The yield of $[^{18}F]fluorine$ at EOB (end of bombardment) was achieved around $34{\pm}6.0$ GBq (n>10). Conclusion: The production of $^{18}F$ electrophilic agent via $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ reaction was much under investigation. Especially, an aluminum gas target was very advantageous for routine production of $[^{18}F]fluorine$. These results suggest the possibility to use $[^{18}F]F_2$ gas as a electrophilic substitution agent.

The Effect of Aroma Therapy on Lower Extremity Edema of Terminal Cancer Patients: A Controlled Trial (아로마 요법이 말기 암 환자의 하지부종에 미치는 영향 - 대조군 연구)

  • Kim, Sung-Ah;Kim, Sung-Ju;Chung, Ju-Hye;Lee, Soo-Young;Han, Myung-Suk;Oh, Seon-Hee;Kim, Se-Hong
    • Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.139-146
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    • 2009
  • This study was designed to examine the effect of aroma massage therapy on lower extremity edema of terminal cancer patients. Methods: A total of thirty-six terminal cancer patients with lower extremity edema were divided into two groups: the aroma massage group received massage with blending oil which was applied from toes to 10 cm above the knee of the subject for 15 to 20 minutes in each turn, while the control group received sham aroma massage (applied with carrier oil only). The circumferences of the fore-foot, ankle and calf were measured before massage and 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 12 hours after massage. The blood pressure, pulse and body temperature were also measured to find the change of subject's physiologic conditions. Results: There were no significant differences in blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and lower extremity circumferences between two groups. However, edema at each site was slightly improved in the treatment group after the aroma massage therapy, compared to baseline data (P<0.05). In addition, the reduction of lower extremity circumference was maximal at 2 hours in foot, 30 min in right ankle and 12 hours in right calf after aroma massage therapy (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that aroma massage therapy is not effective on the lower extremity edema of terminal cancer patients.

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The Effects of Maternal HBs antigenemia on the Neonatal Health (산모(産母)의 B형 간염(肝炎) Virus 보유(保有)가 신생아(新生兒) 건강(健康)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Park, Jung-Han;Yoon, Sung-Do;Kim, Chang-Youn;Lee, Sung-Kwan
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.47-55
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    • 1984
  • To study the risk factors associated with maternal HBsAg carrier and the effects of maternal HBs antigenemia on the neonatal health, sera of 729 pergnant women admitted to the Keimyung University Hospital for delivery during the period of February 1-May 30. 1982 were tested for HBsAg by RPHA method and for anti-HBs by PHA method. Among them 43 women (5.9%) had HBsAg and 246 women (33.7%) had anti-HBs giving an infection rate of 39.6%. The interview data for 43 HBsAg positive mothers and randomly selected 210 HBsAg negative mothers showed a statistically significant association between acupuncture history and HBsAg positive rate (p<0.005) which suggest that acupuncture might have contributed significantly to the propagation of viral hepatitis in Korea. The living standard of HBsAg positive mothers was generally lower than that of HBsAg negative mothers which supports the hypothesis that environmental factors are associated with viral hepatitis B infection. None of the 43 neonates born to HBsAg positive mothers had HBsAg in their cord blood. Three months after birth, 35 out of 43 infants were retested and only one infant became HBsAg positive. At six months of age, 32 out of 35 infants were retested and none of them were HBsAg positive except the same infant who was positive at three months. Among 20 control infants of HBsAg negative mothers, all of them were HBsAg negative at three and six months follow-up. These findings are not consistent with the supposition that perinatal infection is a main route of viral hepatitis B transmission in south-east Asia including Korea. HBsAg positive mothers had significantly higher rate of premature delivery (27.9%) than HBsAg negative mothers (11.7%) (p<0.05). Also, the low birthweight incidence rate was higher among HBsAg positive mothers (23.3%) than negative mothers (14.1%) but this was not statistically significant (P=0.16). The premature rupture of membrane was more frequent among HBsAg positive mothers (25.5%) than negative mothers (11.1%) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the stillbirth rate and incidence of congenital anomalies between HBsAg positive and negative groups. It was not clarified in this study due to small sample size whether higher incidence of premature delivery and premature rupture of membranes among HBsAg positive mothers was due to HBs antigenemia per so or their lower living standard than HBsAg negative mothers.

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Is the BRCA Germline Mutation a Prognostic Factor in Korean Patients with Early-onset Breast Carcinomas? (한국의 젊은 여성유방암 환자에서 BRCA 배선유전자 돌연변이는 예후인자인가?)

  • Choi Doo Ho;Lee Min Hyuk;Haffty Bruce G.
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.149-157
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    • 2003
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were prognostic differences between BRCA related and BRCA non-related Korean patients with early-onset breast carcinomas. Materials and Methods: Sixty women who had developed breast cancers before the age of 40, and who were treated at the Soonchunhyang University Hospital, were studied independently of their family histories. The age range was 18 to 40 with a median of 34.5 years. Lymphocyte specimens from peripheral blood were studied for the heterozygous mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 using direct sequencing methods. Immunohistochemistry was peformed on the paraffin-embedded tissue blocks that were available. Results: Eleven deleterious mutations (18.3%, 6 in BRCA1 and 5 in BRCA2) and 7 missense mutations of unknown significance (11.7%), were found among the 60 patients. More than half of the mutation were novel, and were not reported in the database. Most of the BRCA-associated patients had no history of breast cancer. No treatment related failures were observed in the BRCA carriers, with the exception of one patient that had experienced a new primary tumor of the contralateral breast. The seven year relapse free survival rate were 50 and 79% In the BRCA carrier and BRCA negative patients, respectively. Although the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors were less common, and histological features more aggressive, in the BRCA associated tumors, the outcome of the patients with BRCA mutations was not poorer than that on the patients without deleterious mutations. Conclusion.: Despite the BRCA mutation carriers having adverse prognostic features, the recurrence rate was relatively lower than that in the BRCA non-carrying Korean patients wi4h early-onset breast carcinomas. In addition, although the prevalence of the BRCA mutation in Korean patients was higher than that in white patients, the penetrance of the cancer seemed to be relatively low in Korean women carrying BRCA mutations. A large population based study of the BRCA mutation, with a long-term follow-up of the study patients will be required to confirm these results.

Synthesis of $[^{51}Cr]Cr(III)$-EDTA Complex and Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate br Radioactivity Counting of Head and Neck Region ($[^{51}Cr]Cr(III)$-EDTA 착물 합성 및 $[^{51}Cr]Cr(III)$-EDTA 주사후 두경부 방사능 계측에 의한 사구체 여과율 측정)

  • Yang, Seung-Dae;Lim, Sang-Moo;Chun, Kwon-Soo;Suh, Yong-Sup;Yoon, Yong-Ki;Park, Hyun;Woo, Kwang-Sun;Chung, Wi-Sup;Oh, Ok-Doo;Lee, Jung-Doo
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.364-370
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    • 1994
  • The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical application of the no carrier added $[^{51}Cr]Cr(III)$-EDTA complexes, produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital. The $[^{51}Cr]Cr(III)$-EDTA complexes, usefut for measurement of GFR were prepared at room temperature in the presence of bicarbonate catalysts. The radiochemical purity of $[^{51}Cr]Cr(III)$-EDTA was over 99% by paper electrophoresis. The time activity curves were obtained by counting the blood samples from 5 volunteers and counting the head and neck regions with whole body counter after injection of the $^{51}Cr$-EDTA, respectively. After the nonlinear regression, the area under curve was obtained. The plasma clearance of the $^{51}Cr$-EDTA was calculated with injected dose/AUC. The clearance rate calculated with the head and neck counting data was in good agreement with the result from the plasma sample radioactivity at 1-3 hrs after injection. From this result, the counting of head and neck region and the nonlinear regression by 2-compartment model could be applied for the measurement of the clearance rate. Using MIRD system, the absorbed radiation dose was calculated by residence $time{\times}S$. The absorbed whole body radiation dose was negligibly small.

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Characterization of InAs Quantum Dots in InGaAsP Quantum Well Grown by MOCVD for 1.55 ${\mu}m$

  • Choe, Jang-Hui;Han, Won-Seok;Song, Jeong-Ho;Lee, Dong-Han
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2011.08a
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    • pp.134-135
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    • 2011
  • 양자점은 전자와 양공을 3차원으로 속박 시키므로 기존의 bulk나 양자우물보다 양자점을 이용한 레이저 다이오드의 경우 낮은 문턱 전류, 높은 미분이득 및 온도 안전성의 장점이 있을 거라 기대되고 있다. 그러나, 양자점은 낮은 areal coverage 때문에 높은 속박효율을 얻지 못하고 있다. 이러한 양자점의 문제점을 해결하기 위해 양자점을 양자우물 안에 성장시켜 운반자들의 포획을 향상시키는 방법들이 연구되고 있다. 양자우물 안에 양자점을 넣으면 양자우물이 운반자들의 포획을 증가 시키고, 열적 방출도 억제하여 온도 안정성이 향상 되는 것으로 알려져 있다. 광통신 대역의 1.3 ${\mu}m$ 경우, GaAs계를 이용하여 InAs 양자점을 strained InGaAs 박막을 우물층으로 한 dot-in-a-well 구조의 연구는 몇몇 보고된 바 있다. 그러나 InP계를 사용하는 1.55 ${\mu}m$ 대역에서 dot-in-a-well구조의 연구는 아직 미미하다. 본 연구에서는 유기 금속 화학 증착법(metal organic chemical vapor deposition)을 이용하여 InP 기판 위에 InAs 양자점을 자발성장법으로 성장하였으며 dot-in-a-well 구조에서 우물층으로 1.35 ${\mu}m$ 파장의 $In_{0.69}Ga_{0.31}As_{0.67}P_{0.33}$ (1.35Q)를, 장벽층으로는 1.1 ${\mu}m$ 파장의 $In_{0.85}Ga_{0.15}As_{0.32}P_{0.68}$(1.1Q)를 사용하였다. 양자우물층과 장벽층은 모두 InP 기판과 격자가 일치하는 조건으로 성장하였다. III족 원료로는 trimethylindium (TMI)와 trimethylgalium (TMGa)을 사용하였으며 V족 원료 가스로는 $PH_3$ 100%, $AsH_3$ 100%를, carrier gas로는 $H_2$를 사용하였다. InP buffer층의 성장 온도는 640$^{\circ}C$이며 양자점 성장 온도는 520$^{\circ}C$이다. 양자점 형성은 원자력간 현미경(Atomic force microscopy)를 이용하여 확인하였으며, 박막의 결정성은 쌍결정 회절분석(Double crystal x-ray deffractometry)를 이용하여 확인하였다. 확인된 성장 조건을 이용하여 양자점 시료를 성장하였으며 광여기분광법(Photoluminescence)을 이용하여 광특성을 분석하였다. Fig. 1은 dot in a barrier 와 dot-in-a-well 시료의 성장구조이다. Fig. 1(a)는 일반적인 dot-in-a-barrier 구조로 InP buffer층을 성장하고 1.1Q를 100 nm 성장한 후 양자점을 성장하였다. 그 후 1.1Q 100 nm와 InP 100 nm로 capping하였다. Fig. 1(b)는 dot-in-a-well 구조로 InP buffer층을 성장하고 1.1Q를 100 nm 성장 후 1.35Q 우물층을 4 nm 성장하였다. 그 위에 InAs 양자점을 성장하였다. 그 후에 1.35Q 우물층을 4 nm 성장하고 1.1Q 100 nm와 InP 100 nm로 capping하였다. Fig. 2는 dot-in-a-barrier 시료와 dot-in-a-well 시료의 상온 PL data이다. Dot-in-a-barrier 시료의 PL 파장은 1544 nm이며 반치폭은 79.70 meV이다. Dot-in-a-well 시료의 파장은 1546 nm이며 반치폭은 70.80 meV이다. 두 시료의 PL 파장 변화는 없으며, 반치폭은 dot-in-a-well 시료가 8.9 meV 감소하였다. Dot-in-a-well 시료의 PL peak 강도는 57% 증가하였으며 적분강도(integration intensity)는 45%가 증가하였다. PL 데이터에서 높은 에너지의 반치폭 변화는 없으며 낮은 에너지의 반치폭은 8 meV 감소하였다. 적분강도 증가에서 dot-in-a-well 구조가 dot-in-a-barrier 구조보다 전자-양공의 재결합이 증가한다는 것을 알 수 있으며, 반치폭 변화로부터 특히 높은 에너지를 갖는 작은 양자점에서의 재결합이 증가 된 것을 알 수 있다. 이는 양자우물이 장벽보다 전자-양공의 구속력을 증가시키기 때문에 양자점에 전자와 양공의 공급을 증가시키기 때문이다. 따라서 낮은 에너지를 가지는 양자점을 모두 채우고 높은 에너지를 가지는 양자점까지 채우게 되므로, 높은 에너지를 가지는 양자점에서의 전자-양공 재결합이 증가되었기 때문이다. 뿐만 아니라 파장 변화 없이 PL peak 강도와 적분강도가 증가하고 낮은 에너지 쪽의 반치폭이 감소한 것으로부터 에너지가 낮은 양자점보다는 에너지가 높은 양자점에서의 전자-양공 재결합율이 급증하였음을 알 수 있다. 우리는 이와 같은 연구에서 InP계를 이용해 1.55 ${\mu}m$에서도 dot in a well구조를 성장 하여 더 좋은 특성을 낼 수 있으며 앞으로 많은 연구가 필요할 것이라 생각한다.

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Estrus Induction Rates and Conception Rates by MGA Feeding System in Hanwoo (MGA Feeding System에 의한 발정 동기화 방법이 한우의 발정 발현율과 수태율에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, M.S.;Jung, Y.H.;Park, S.B.;Im, S.K.;Park, J.J.;Jung, J.K.;Moon, S.J.;Kim, C.K.
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.177-182
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    • 2006
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effects of melengesterol acetate (MGA) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ administrations on serum progesterone level, synchrony of estrus and conception rates in Han-woo. Firstly, ten heifers and one freematin were fed 0.5 mg MGA/day for 14 days in a grain carrier, and after 19 days of MGA feeding, a single injection of 25 mg $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were treated. Blood samples were collected to evaluate serum progesterone concentrations from the start of feeding of MGA until the end of feeding and subsequent estrous detection and artificial insemination (AI) at 3 days intervals, and on days of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection, estrous detection, AI, and 15th and 60th days after AI. The level of progesterone in the blood began to increase from 7 days after MGA feeding, and 9 days after feeding it became 5.4 ng/ml and maintained that level thereafter. On the 33th day when the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was injected, it reached the peak level of 7.6 ng/ml. However, 2-3 days after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection, it dropped to 1.4 ng/ml drastically (p<0.05). Secondly, one hundred and ninety four Hanwoo heifers or cows were divided into two groups to compare estrous induction and conception rates: the one treated with MGA and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, (n=104) and the other with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (two injections at 11 days interval, n=90). The heifers or cows treated with MGA and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were identical to those used as above. The percentages of heifers or cows showed estrus were higher in the $MGA+PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (91.3%) than in the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (72.2%, p<0.05). Conception rates were also higher in the $MGA+PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (94.2%) than in the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (88.9%, p<0.05). The results of this experiment indicate that estrus synchronization using $MGA+PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ is more effective than that using $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ (two injections) in Hanwoo.

A Preliminary Survey of a Typhoid Epidemic in the City of Samchunpo During 1967 (1967년(年) 삼천포시(三千浦市)에 발생(發生)된 장(腸)지브스유행(流行)에 관(關)한 조사(調査))

  • Ryu, Young-Hai;Kee, Ryong-Sook
    • The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.35-41
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    • 1968
  • An outbreak of typhoid fever in Samchunpo city was surveyed and the results were summarized as follows: 1. 638 of clinical cases were detected in 17 Dongs(districts) of the city of Samchunpo,(54,064), during the epidemic period from 1st September to the end of November, 1967. 2. The morbidity rate was 1,189 per 100,000 population;(1,300 female, and 1,060 male). 3. The highest peak was reached in the third week of September and a second peak appeared at the end of September 1967. 4. The mode of infection was suspected strongly as a water-borne and the source of infection as an old public well called Gal-Dae-Saim, since the causative agent was found in close public latrine and the contaminated sewage ditch witch was connected with the well. 5. All patients and carriers were treated at their home under the supervision of local medical authorities. 6. The Gal-Dae-Saim was closed immediately on 7th October, 1967 by the order of the mayor. 7. At the end of November, 1967 when the outbreak in Samchunpo was almost ended, another small epidemic occurred in Koseong county which bordered the eastern outskirt of the city. 8. During the survey, a strain of Shigella flexneri was isolated from the sewage located three meters from Gal-Dae-Saim and also from one case. 9. It was reported by the local health center in May, 1968, that no carrier had been detected in the survey made among the persons who had had typhoid fever in 1967. Also thereafter no cases of typhoid fever were reported through October, 1968.

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Alcoholic Fermentation of Traditional Kanjang by Semi-pilot Scale Bioreactor Systems (Semi-pilot plant 규모 bioreactor를 이용한 재래식 간장의 알코올발효)

  • Kwon, Kwang-Il;Lee, Jong-Gu;Choi, Jong-Dong;Chung, Hyun-Chae;Ryu, Mun-Kyun;Im, Moo-Hyeog;Kim, Ki-Ju;Choi, Yong-Hoon;Kim, Young-Ji;Choi, Cheong;Choi, Kwang-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.103-110
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    • 2003
  • Stable production of fermented kanjang containing 1.8% (v/v) ethanol was obtained within four days using traditional kanjang containing 4% added glucose in packed-bed bioreactor systems filled with immobilized Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Candida versatilis on porous alumina ceramic bead carrier at $28{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and aeration rate of 0.05 vvm. Specific rates of alcohol production for Z. rouxii and C. versatilis were 0.0033 and 0.0031/day, respectively, and those of glucose consumption were both -0.0087/day in the batch type of alcoholic fermentation. In semi-continuous alcoholic fermentation at a dilution rate of 0.25/day, specific rates of alcohol production for Z. rouxii and C. versatilis were 0.0045 and 0.0029/day, and those of glucose consumption were -0.01 and -0.008/day, respectively, using identical bioreactor system. Similar specific rates of alcohol production were observed both in the batch or semi-continuous process and in the continuous one at the dilution rate of 0.25/day. Sensory characteristics of all alcoholic-fermented kanjang by Z. rouxii, C. versatilis, and a mixture of both yeasts (2:1, w/w) were shown to be significantly superior to those of home-made kanjang as revealed through organoleptic evaluation tests (p<0.05).

Wearable Computers

  • Cho, Gil-Soo;Barfield, Woodrow;Baird, Kevin
    • Fiber Technology and Industry
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.490-508
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    • 1998
  • One of the latest fields of research in the area of output devices is tactual display devices [13,31]. These tactual or haptic devices allow the user to receive haptic feedback output from a variety of sources. This allows the user to actually feel virtual objects and manipulate them by touch. This is an emerging technology and will be instrumental in enhancing the realism of wearable augmented environments for certain applications. Tactual displays have previously been used for scientific visualization in virtual environments by chemists and engineers to improve perception and understanding of force fields and of world models populated with the impenetrable. In addition to tactual displays, the use of wearable audio displays that allow sound to be spatialized are being developed. With wearable computers, designers will soon be able to pair spatialized sound to virtual representations of objects when appropriate to make the wearable computer experience even more realistic to the user. Furthermore, as the number and complexity of wearable computing applications continues to grow, there will be increasing needs for systems that are faster, lighter, and have higher resolution displays. Better networking technology will also need to be developed to allow all users of wearable computers to have high bandwidth connections for real time information gathering and collaboration. In addition to the technology advances that make users need to wear computers in everyday life, there is also the desire to have users want to wear their computers. In order to do this, wearable computing needs to be unobtrusive and socially acceptable. By making wearables smaller and lighter, or actually embedding them in clothing, users can conceal them easily and wear them comfortably. The military is currently working on the development of the Personal Information Carrier (PIC) or digital dog tag. The PIC is a small electronic storage device containing medical information about the wearer. While old military dog tags contained only 5 lines of information, the digital tags may contain volumes of multi-media information including medical history, X-rays, and cardiograms. Using hand held devices in the field, medics would be able to call this information up in real time for better treatment. A fully functional transmittable device is still years off, but this technology once developed in the military, could be adapted tp civilian users and provide ant information, medical or otherwise, in a portable, not obstructive, and fashionable way. Another future device that could increase safety and well being of its users is the nose on-a-chip developed by the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. This tiny digital silicon chip about the size of a dime, is capable of 'smelling' natural gas leaks in stoves, heaters, and other appliances. It can also detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. This device can also be configured to notify the fire department when a leak is detected. This nose chip should be commercially available within 2 years, and is inexpensive, requires low power, and is very sensitive. Along with gas detection capabilities, this device may someday also be configured to detect smoke and other harmful gases. By embedding this chip into workers uniforms, name tags, etc., this could be a lifesaving computational accessory. In addition to the future safety technology soon to be available as accessories are devices that are for entertainment and security. The LCI computer group is developing a Smartpen, that electronically verifies a user's signature. With the increase in credit card use and the rise in forgeries, is the need for commercial industries to constantly verify signatures. This Smartpen writes like a normal pen but uses sensors to detect the motion of the pen as the user signs their name to authenticate the signature. This computational accessory should be available in 1999, and would bring increased peace of mind to consumers and vendors alike. In the entertainment domain, Panasonic is creating the first portable hand-held DVD player. This device weight less than 3 pounds and has a screen about 6' across. The color LCD has the same 16:9 aspect ratio of a cinema screen and supports a high resolution of 280,000 pixels and stereo sound. The player can play standard DVD movies and has a hour battery life for mobile use. To summarize, in this paper we presented concepts related to the design and use of wearable computers with extensions to smart spaces. For some time, researchers in telerobotics have used computer graphics to enhance remote scenes. Recent advances in augmented reality displays make it possible to enhance the user's local environment with 'information'. As shown in this paper, there are many application areas for this technology such as medicine, manufacturing, training, and recreation. Wearable computers allow a much closer association of information with the user. By embedding sensors in the wearable to allow it to see what the user sees, hear what the user hears, sense the user's physical state, and analyze what the user is typing, an intelligent agent may be able to analyze what the user is doing and try to predict the resources he will need next or in the near future. Using this information, the agent may download files, reserve communications bandwidth, post reminders, or automatically send updates to colleagues to help facilitate the user's daily interactions. This intelligent wearable computer would be able to act as a personal assistant, who is always around, knows the user's personal preferences and tastes, and tries to streamline interactions with the rest of the world.

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