• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2018

Forward osmosis (FO) desalination system has been highlighted to improve the energy efficiency and drive down the carbon footprint of current reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology. To improve the trade-off between water flux and salt rejection of thin film composite (TFC) desalination membrane, thin film nanocomposite membranes (TFN), in which nanomaterials as a filler are embeded within a polymeric matrix, are being explored to tailor the separation performance and add new functionality to membranes for water purification applications. The objective of this article is to develop a graphene nanocomposite membrane with high performance of water selective permeability (high water flux, high salt rejection, and low reverse solute diffusion) as a next-generation FO desalination membrane. For advances in fabrication of graphene oxide (GO) membranes, layer-by-layer (LBL) technique was used to control the desirable structure, alignment, and chemical functionality that can lead to ultrahigh-permeability membranes due to highly selective transport of water molecules. In this study, the GO nanocomposite membrane fabricated by LBL dip coating method showed high water flux ($J_w/{\Delta}{\pi}=2.51LMH/bar$), water selectivity ($J_w/J_s=8.3L/g$), and salt rejection (99.5%) as well as high stability in aqueous solution and under FO operation condition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate adsorption characteristics of MTBE and Cd depending upon types of clay minerals md their physicochemical properties. The adsorption characteristics were examined by batch adsorption test on various experimental parameters such as adsorption time, ratio of solution to soil, concentration of contaminants, content of organic matter, pH, and zeta potential. The adsorption efficiency of MTBE or Cd for three types of clays decreased in response to the increase of the ratio of solution to soil whereas their adsorbed amounts increased. MTBE was greatly adsorbed in the decreasing order of vermiculite, bentonite, and CTAB-bentonite while Cd was adsorbed in the decreasing order of bentonite, vermiculite, and CTA-bentonite. An equilibrium isotherm for MTBE was well fitted to Freundlich plotting whereas that for Cd was closely corresponded to Langmuir isotherm. The adsorbed amount of MTBE on bentonite and vermiculite showed the maximum at 1% and 5% of humic acid, thereafter diminished while the adsorbed amount of MTBE on CTAB-bentonite increased in proportion to humic acid. Conversely, the adsorbed amount of Cd on the addition of humic acid continued to increase regardless of types of adsorbents. For all types of adsorbents, adsorbed quantity and adsorption efficiency of Cd have been coincidently increased at pH 8 and they were further enhanced at pH 10 showing 90% adsorption efficiency. Upon pH rose, the zeta potential on each adsorbent began to decrease, while increasing Cd concentration led to decline of zeta potential, which in turn ascribed to lowering dispersion stability that could consequently enhance adsorption capability.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.482-503
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• 2019

Introduction: A new third version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III) has been developed in response to trends in working life, theoretical concepts, and international experience. A key component of the COPSOQ III is a defined set of mandatory core items to be included in national short, middle, and long versions of the questionnaire. The aim of the present article is to present and test the reliability of the new international middle version of the COPSOQ III. Methods: The questionnaire was tested among 23,361 employees during 2016-2017 in Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Turkey. A total of 26 dimensions (measured through scales or single items) of the middle version and two from the long version were tested. Psychometric properties of the dimensions were assessed regarding reliability (Cronbach α), ceiling and floor effects (fractions with extreme answers), and distinctiveness (correlations with other dimensions). Results: Most international middle dimensions had satisfactory reliability in most countries, though some ceiling and floor effects were present. Dimensions with missing values were rare. Most dimensions had low to medium intercorrelations. Conclusions: The COPSOQ III offers reliable and distinct measures of a wide range of psychosocial dimensions of modern working life in different countries; although a few measures could be improved. Future testing should focus on validation of the COPSOQ items and dimensions using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Such investigations would enhance the basis for recommendations using the COPSOQ III.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.135-153
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• 1998

Nanofiltration (NF) is a recently introduced term in membrane separation. In 1988, Eriksson was one of the first authors using the word 'nanofiltration' explicitly. Some years before, FilmTech started to use this term for their NF50 membrane which was supposed to be a very loose reverse osmosis membrane or a very tight ultrafiltration membrane. Since then, this term has been introduced to indicate a specific boundary of membrane technology in between ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. The application fields of the NF membranes are very broad as follows: Demeneralizing water, Cleaning up contaminated groundwater, Ultrapure water production, Treatment of effleunts containing heavy metals, Offshore oil platforms, Yeast production, Pulp and paper mills, Textile production, Electroless copper plating, Cheese whey production, Cyclodextrin production, Lactose production. The earliest NF membrane was made by Cadotte et al, using piperazine and trimesoyl chloride as monomers for the formation of polyamide active layer of the composite type membrane. They coated very thin interfacially potymerized polyamide on the surface of the microporous polysulfone supports. The NF membrane exhibited low rejections for monovalent anions (chloride) and high rejections for bivalent anions (sulphate). This membrane was called NS300. Some of the earliest NF membranes, like the NF40 membrane of FilmTech, the NTR7250 of Nitto-Denko and the UTC20 and UTC60 of Toray, are formed by a comparable synthesis route as the NS300 membrane. Commercially available NF membranes nowadays are as follows: ASP35 (Advanced Membrane Technology), MPF21; MPF32 (Kiryat Weizmann), UTC20; UTC60; UTC70; UTC90 (Toray), CTA-LP; TFCS (Fluid Systems), NF45; NF70 (FilmTec), BQ01; MX07; HG01; HG19; SX01; SX10 (Osmonics), 8040-LSY-PVDI (Hydranautics), NF CA30; NF PES 10 (Hoechst), WFN0505 (Stork Friesland). The typical ones among the commercially available NF membranes are polyamide composite membrane consisting of interfacially polymerized polyamide active layer and microporous support. While showing high water fluxes and high rejections of multivalent ions and small organic molecules, these membranes have relatively low chemical stability. These membranes have low chlorine tolerance and are unstable in acid or base solution. This chemical instability is appearing to be a big obstacle for their applications. To improve the chemical stability, we have tried, in this study, to prepare chemically stable NF membranes from PVA. The ionomers and interfacially polymerized polyamide were used for the modification of'the PVA membranes. For the detail study of the active layer, homogeneous NF membranes made only from active layer materials were prepared and for the high performance, composite type NF membranes were prepared by coating the active layer materials on microporous polysulfone supports.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.798-803
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• 2014

Cathepsin D (CtsD), an aspartyl peptidase, is involved in apoptosis, resulting in the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria in cells. Here, we investigated microRNA regulation of CtsD expression in 3T3-L1 cells First, we observed the expression of CtsD in cells in response to doxorubicin (Dox). As expected, the level of CtsD mRNA was increased in 3T3-L1 cells exposed to Dox in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular viability of ectopically expressed CtsD cells was also decreased. Next, we used the miRanda program to search for particular microRNA targeting CtsD. MiR-145 was selected as a putative controller for CtsD because miR-145 had a high mirSVR score. In a reporter assay, the luciferase activity of cells containing the CtsD 3'-UTR region was decreased in cells transfected with miR-145 mimic compared to that of a control. The level of CtsD expression was down-regulated in preadipocytes ectopically expressing miR-145 and up-regulated by an miR-145 inhibitor. Cells also suppressed miR-145 expression when exposed to Dox. The miR-145 inhibitor reduced the cellular viability of 3T3-L1 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that miR-145 regulates CtsD-mediated cell death in adipocytes. These findings may have valuable implications concerning the molecular mechanism of CtsD-mediated cell death in obesity, suggesting that CtaD could be a useful therapeutic tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity by regulating fat cell numbers.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.127-153
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• 2013

The trend of China's industry has been changed from manufacturing industry based on cheap labor market to service industries gradually as a whole. The investment of Korean corporations toward Chines service industry is gradually being increased. The importance of Chinese service industry related taxations such as business tax and value-added tax are growing. This study, therefore, examines the changes of investment environment and does the business tax and VAT of growing importance in China. From the point of view that the taxation on services is mainly related to the business tax or VAT, this study, also, examines the changes of present condition of investment and corresponding trends of the Korean corporations, in accordance with the domestic investment environment changes tied to the business tax and the VAT in China. With regard to the business tax and the VAT, this study looks into their features and tax requisition and also makes comparison between them and VAT of Korea. This study examines the problems and situations from the cases of separation, integration and trial integration of the business tax and VAT, and also does the development direction of the above two taxation and the corresponding strategy of Korea and her companies The purpose of this study is to provide information about the changing trends of investment environment and the business tax and VAT and to present corresponding plan for the corporations advancing into China.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.717-723
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• 2007

Statement of problem. Unreasonable distal cantilevered implant-supported prosthesis can mask functional problems of reconstruction temporarily, but it can cause serious strain and stress around its supported implant and surrounding alveolar bone. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate strain of implants supporting distal cantilevered fixed prosthesis with two different cantilevered length under distal cantilevered static load. Material and methods. A partially edentulous mandibular test model was fabricated with auto-polymerizing resin (POLYUROCK; Metalor technologies, Stuttgart, Swiss) and artificial denture teeth (Endura; Shofu inc., Kyoto, Japan). Two implants-supported 5-unit screw-retained cantilevered fixed prosthesis was made using standard methods with Type III gold alloy (Harmony C&B55; Ivoclar-vivadent, Liechtenstein, Germany) for superstructure and reinforced hard resin (Tescera; Ivoclar-vivadent, Liechtenstein, Germany) for occlusal material. Two strain gauges (KFG-1-120-C1-11L1M2R; KYOWA electronic instruments, Tokyo, Japan) were then attached to the mesial and the distal surface of each standard abutment with adhesive (M-bond 200; Tokuyama, Tokyo, Japan). Total four strain gauges were attached to test model and connected to dynamic signal conditioning strain amplifier (CTA1000; Curiotech inc., Paju, Korea). The stepped $20{\sim}100$ N in 25 N increments, cantilevered static load 8mm apart (Group I) or 16mm apart (Group II), were applied using digital push-pull gauge (Push-Pull Scale & Digital Force Gauge, Axis inc., Seoul, Korea). Each step was performed ten times and every strain signal was monitored and recorded. Results. In case of Group I, the strain values were surveyed by $80.7{\sim}353.8{\mu}m$ in Ch1, $7.5{\sim}47.9{\mu}m/m$ in Ch2, $45.7{\sim}278.6{\mu}m/m$ in Ch3 and $-212.2{\sim}718.7{\mu}m/m$ in Ch4 depending on increasing cantilevered static load. On the other hand, the strain values of Group II were surveyed by $149.9{\sim}612.8{\mu}m/m$ in Ch1, $26.0{\sim}168.5{\mu}m/m$ in Ch2, $114.3{\sim}632.3{\mu}m/m$ in Ch3, and $-323.2{\sim}-894.7{\mu}m/m$ in Ch4. Conclusion. A comparative statistical analysis using paired sample t-test about Group I Vs Group II under distal cantilevered load shows that there are statistical significant differences for all 4 channels (P<0.05).

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation which based on Celiac axis and SMA using by CT volume rendering images. 613 patients underwent abdominal CTA, there were 552 patients (99.05%, TypeI, II) with normal anatomical form and 61 (9.95%, Type III~XII) with variation. TypeI was 339(55.31%), Type II was 213 (34.74%), Type III was 18 (2.93%), Type IV was 12 patients (1.95%), Type V was 11 patient (1.79%), Type VI was 9 patients (1.46%), Type VII was 6 patients (0.97%), Type VIII was 1 patient (0.16%), Type IX was 1 patient (0.16%), Type X was 1 patient (0.16%), Type XI was 1 patient (0.16%), and Type XII was 1 patient (0.16%) into totally new types of variation. In conclusion, we could found 9 new types of variation by classifying based on celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. These results were considered to be an important opportunity for a new vessel map.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to find an optimized imaging technique and evaluate its usefulness by comparing and analyzing the difference in contrast enhancement of lower extremity artery according to the patient's heart rate during lower extremity Computed Tomography Angiography examination. From January 2022 to August 22nd, 139 outpatients who visited Ajou University Hospital and underwent lower extremity angio CT examination were targeted. According to the heart rate, the groups were divided into four groups: A(HR ≤65), B(65 < HR < 80), C(80≤ HR). In addition, among patients with a heart rate of 65 or less, the heart rate was considered, and the scan was divided into D, E, F group with a delay time. The time of arrival of contrast medium and the average value of contrast enhancement were compared and analyzed. As a result of quantitative evaluation, B and C groups with a heart rate of more than 65 times had better HU values in the popliteal artery than A group (HR ≤ 65), and D group showed better HU improvement effects compared to A group (p<0.001). The comparative analysis with other groups was insignificant. The difference in heart rate affected the angiographic intensity of the lower extremities artery. Therefore, it is effective to apply the appropriate test timing for each patient by using the heart rate during the lower extremity angio CT Scan.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.144-154
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• 2023

Objective : Stroke caused from large vessel occlusion (LVO) has emerged as the most common stroke subtype worldwide. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration (IV-tPA) and additional intraarterial thrombectomy (IA-Tx) is regarded as standard treatment. In this study, the authors try to find the early recanalization rate of IV-tPA in LVO stroke patients. Methods : Total 300 patients undertook IA-Tx with confirmed anterior circulation LVO, were analyzed retrospectively. Brain computed tomography angiography (CTA) was the initial imaging study and acute stroke magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) followed after finished IV-tPA. Early recanalization rate was evaluated by acute stroke MRA within 2 hours after the IV-tPA. In 167 patients undertook IV-tPA only and 133 non-recanalized patients by IV-tPA, additional IA-Tx tried (IV-tPA + IA-Tx group). And 131 patients, non-recanalized by IV-tPA (IV-tPA group) additional IA-Tx recommend and tried according to the patient condition and compliance. Results : Early recanalization rate of LVO after IV-tPA was 12.0% (36/300). In recanalized patients, favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 0-2) was 69.4% (25/36) while it was 32.1% (42/131, p<0.001) in non-recanalized patients. Among 133 patients, non-recanalized after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and undertook additional IA-Tx, the clinical outcome was better than not undertaken additional IA-Tx (favorable outcome was 42.9% vs. 32.1%, p=0.046). Analysis according to the perfusion/diffusion (P/D)-mismatching or not, in patient with IV-tPA with IA-Tx (133 patients), favorable outcome was higher in P/D-mismatching patient (52/104; 50.0%) than P/D-matching patients (5/29; 17.2%; p=0.001). Which treatment tired, P/D-mismatching was favored in clinical outcome (iv-tPA only, p=0.008 and IV-tPA with IA-Tx, p=0.001). Conclusion : The P/D-mismatching influences on the recanalization and clinical outcomes of IV-tPA and IA-Tx. The authors would like to propose that we had better prepare IA-Tx when LVO is diagnosed on initial diagnostic imaging. Furthermore, if the patient shows P/D-mismatching on MRA after IV-tPA, additional IA-Tx improves treatment results and lessen the futile recanalization.