• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2023

Lab-on-a-disc is a circular disc shape of cartridge that can be used for blood-based liquid biopsy to diagnose an early stage of cancer. Currently, liquid biopsies are regarded as a time-consuming process, and require sophisticated skills to precisely separate cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) floating in the bloodstream for accurate diagnosis. However, by applying the lab-on-a-disc to liquid biopsy, the entire process can be operated automatically. To do so, the lab-on-a-disc should be designed to prevent blood leakage during the centrifugation, transport, and dilution of blood inside the lab-on-a-disc in the process of liquid biopsy. In this study, the main components of lab-on-a-disc for liquid biopsy are fabricated by injection molding for mass production, and ultrasonic welding is employed to ensure the bonding strength between the components. To guarantee accurate ultrasonic welding, the flatness of the components is optimized numerically by using the response surface methodology with four main injection molding processing parameters, including the mold & resin temperatures, the injection speed, and the packing pressure. The 27 times finite element analyses using Moldflow® reveal that the injection time and the packing pressure are the critical factors affecting the flatness of the components with an optimal set of values for all four processing parameters. To further improve the flatness of the lab-on-a-disc components for stable mass production, a quarter-disc shape of lab-on-a-disc with a radius of 75 mm is used instead of a full circular shape of the disc, and this significantly decreases the standard deviation of flatness to 30% due to the reduced overall length of the injection molded components by one-half. Moreover, it is also beneficial to use a quarter disc shape to manage the deviation of flatness under 3 sigma limits.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.354-374
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• 2016

This study explored spatiotemporal variability of water quality in correspondence with hydrometeorological factors in the five stations of Paldang Reservoir located in the Han River during 4 years from May 2012 to December 2015. Variability of basic water quality factors were largely related with seasonal fluctuations of hydrology. Temperature stratification occurred in the deep dam station, and prolonged hypoxia was observed during the draught year. Nitrogen nutrients were increased with decreasing inflow in which changing pattern of $NH_4$ reversed to $NO_3$ by the effect of treated wastewater effluent. Phosphorus increase was manifest during the period of high inflow or severe drought. Chl-a variation was reversely related with both flow change and AGP(algal growth potential) variations. Our study demonstrated that water quality variability in Paldang Reservoir was largely attributed to both natural and operational changes of inflow and outflow (including water intake) based on major pollution source of the treated wastewater (total amount of $472{\times}10^3m^3d^{-1}$) entering to the water system from watershed. In the process of water quality variability, meteorological (e.g., flood, typhoon, abnormal rainfall, scorching heat of summer) and hydrological factors (inflow and discharge) were likely to work dynamically with nutrients pulse, dilution, absorption, concentration and sedimentation. We underline comprehensive limnological study related to hydro-meteorolology to understand short- and long-term water quality variability in river-type large reservoir and suggest the necessity of P-free wastewater treatment for the effective measure of reducing pollution level of Paldang drinking water resource.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.362-371
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• 2016

The distribution patterns of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and the chemical characteristics of CDOM in the Seomjin river estuary were investigated in March, June and July 2012 in order to determine the spatial and temporal variability of CDOM along the salinity gradient considering the effects of mixing, nutrients and Chl a. The average CDOM values were $1.0{\pm}0.3m^{-1}$, $1.3{\pm}0.4m^{-1}$, and $1.4{\pm}0.3m^{-1}$ in March, June and July, respectively. A high concentration of CDOM (greater than $1.5m^{-1}$) was found at the head of the river which decreased towards the river mouth to as low as less than $0.5m^{-1}$. The average concentrations of CDOM increased from the dry season (March and June) to the wet season (July), and the average slope values ($S_{300-500}$), which were used as indicators of CDOM characteristics and sources, were in the range of $0.013-0.018m^{-1}$. The CDOM and $S_{300-50}$ values showed that not only the concentration of CDOM but also the chemical properties of DOM clearly changed between upstream and downstream in the Seomjin river. CDOM and FDOM showed a negative correlation with salinity ($R^2$ > 0.8), and CDOM was positively correlated with FDOM. Furthermore, the mixing pattern of CDOM was confirmed as conservative for all seasons. The main environmental factors influencing the concentration of CDOM was confirmed as conservative for all seasons. The main environmental factors influencing the concentration of CDOM were salinity (mixing) and water temperature, which meant the dilution of low CDOM seawater, was the controlling factor for the spatial distribution of CDOM. Increases in water temperature seemed to induce the production of CDOM during summer (June and July) through the biological degradation of DOM either by microbial activity or photo-degradation.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.242-250
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the terpenoids of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released during drying of Cryptomeria japonica using the thermal extractor (TE). Considering the drying process of C. japonica, temperatures of TE were set at $27^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$, and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. As the result, the emission factors of VOCs and terpenoids were increased as temperature increased. The amount of terpenoids included in VOCs emission factors were 87.5%, 81.6%, 83.6%, 90.1%, and 97.3% depending on above temperatures, respectively. Especially at$100^{\circ}C$ and $120^{\circ}C$, the amount of terpenoids were measured more than 90%. ${\delta}$-cadinene was the highest yield at each temperature and 32 types of terpenoids were collected. Emitted terpenoids were classified into the sesquiterpene group which consists of 15 carbon sources. These 32 sesquiterpenes were used for determining the useful bioactivity such as antifungal activity by the agar dilution. As the result, they showed the antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum. The 5,000 ppm concentration of terpenoids showed a strong activity with 100% against the 3 fungi. At the 1,000 ppm concentration of terpenoids, the antifungal activities against three fungi were 95.2%, 98.7%, and 97.3%, and their activities were a little inhibited at 100 ppm concentration.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2017

This study explored spatiotemporal variability of water quality in correspondence with hydro-meteorological factors in the four stations of Euiam Reservoir located in the upstream region of the North-Han River from May 2012 to December 2015. Seasonal effect was apparent in the variation of water temperature, DO, electric conductivity and TSS during the study period. Stratification in the water column was observed in the near dam site every year and vanished between August and October. Increase of nitrogen nutrients was observed when inflowing discharge was low, while phosphorus increase was distinct both during the early season with increase of inflowing discharge and the period of severe draught persistent. Duration persisting high concentration of Chl-a (>$25mg\;m^{-3}$: the eutrophic status criterion, OECD, 1982) was 1~2 months of the whole year in 2014~2015, while it was almost 4 months in 2013. Water quality of Euiam Reservoir appeared to be affected basically by geomorphology and source of pollutants, such as longitudinally linked instream islands and Aggregate Island, inflowing urban stream, and wastewater treatment plant discharge. While inflowing discharge from the dams upstream and outflow pattern causing water level change seem to largely govern the variability of water quality in this particular system. In the process of spatiotemporal water quality change, factors related to climate (e.g. flood, typhoon, abruptly high rainfall, scorching heat of summer), hydrology (amount of flow and water level) might be attributed to water pulse, dilution, backflow, uptake, and sedimentation. This study showed that change of water quality in Euiam Reservoir was very dynamic and suggested that its effect could be delivered to downstream (Cheongpyeong and Paldang Reservoirs) through year-round discharge for hydropower generation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.527-539
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• 2009

The Kumho River flows through volcanic and sedimentary rocks at upstream and downstream regions and also through industrial district including dyeing complex before it meets the Nakdong River, and as a result, many factors can influence the geochemistry of river water. The concentrations of dissolved ions generally increased as it flows downstream. The concentrations of cations are in the order of Ca>Na>Mg>K, and those of anions are $HCO_3$>$SO_4$>Cl>$NO_3$. These results show that the weathering of sandstone and shale containing carbonate including calcite caused the enrichment of Ca and $HCO_3$. At first 4 sampling sites, Si contents are relatively high mainly due to the weathering of silicate minerals of volcanic rocks. However, Na and $SO_4$ contents are higher at downstream sites due to the industrial and municipal sewage. Piper diagram also shows that the geochemical patterns changed from Ca-$HCO_3$ to Ca-Cl/Ca-$SO_4$ and Na-Cl/Na-$SO_4$ type. When comparing the samples collected in May and July, the concentrations of dissolved ions in July are generally lower than those in May, which indicates that dilution by precipitation played an important role. In July the relative concentration of Ca increased, indicating that Ca in soils probably from fertilizer were mixed into the river water by precipitation. The river waters are mainly from precipitation. The dissolved ions are mainly from weathering of carbonate minerals and pollutants from municipal sewage and discharged water from industrial complex. The composition of oxygen and deutrium isotope in July showed higher values, which is contrary to the amount effect, maybe due to Youngchon Dam. The nitrogen isotope showed lower values in July than those in May, which can be interpreted to indicate mixing of nitrate from soils and fertilizer in the cultivated land by the heavy rain. The isotope composition of nitrate increased downstream, indicating that the influence of sewage and animal manure also increased downstream.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.247-252
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• 2011

Electrical conductivity, drainage, and irrigation amount of nutrient solution are important factors for determination of the mixing ratio of fresh and reused nutrient solutions in closed-loop soilless culture. Generally a fixed mixing ratio is applied in commercial scale greenhouses using solar radiation-based irrigation system. Although it ensures continuous supply of fresh nutrient solution in the mixing process, occasional discharge of the drainage is inevitably required. This study was conducted to compare the nutrient replenishing effect under different mixing processes and to investigate appropriate mixing process. For this experiment, a fixed mixing ratio (FR), modifiable mixing ratio (MR), and open-loop (OP) as control were applied. Mixing ratio was determined by a set value of EC for dilution of collected drainage in FR and the set values of 1.0 and $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ were used as treatments (FR 1.0 and FR 2.0), respectively. In MR, mixing ratio was determined based on EC and volume of drainage within irrigation volume per event. The volume of drainage stored in the drainage tank tended to increase in FR 1.0. Although such trend was not observed in FR 2.0 and MR, the volume of drainage stored in MR was lower than that in FR 2.0. The ion balance of $Mg^{2+}:K^+:Ca^{2+}$ or $SO^{2-}_4:NO^-_3:PO^{3-}_4$ in the drainage and reused nutrient solution changed within a narrow range regardless of treatment.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.379-389
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• 2012

Environmental issues are being paid more attention due to income growth, urban overcrowding, and population growth in Korea. Among the various environmental problems, odor damage is the one of the serious factors. To take example for food waste combination treatment in Su-young wastewater treatment plant in Busan, many complaints occurred because this plant locate around residential areas. The purpose of this work is not only to analyze odorous elements and their contributions but also to evaluate odor quotient (OQ), sum of odor quotient (SOQ), and treatment efficiency of bio-filter. The results of dilution sensory test of complex odor, grinder, leachate, hopper indicated higher order complex odors happen in July and August. The main odorous elements consisted of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methly mercaptan and acetaldehyde, which were analyzed by instrumental detection method, and methyl mercaptan was exceeded over 3,571 times of threshold. In addition, result of contribution of odor was methyl mercaptan (49.95 to 59.08%), hydrogen sulfide (20.43 to 29.27%), trimethylamine (8.82 to 13.42%) and acetaldehyde (9.17 to 11.35%). Other facilities were compared with the contribution of the odor using OQ and SOQ during the process. Sulfur compounds, acetaldehyde, and trimethylamine are high contribution of odor using OQ as well as odor intensity of grinding process is highest. As a result, sulfur compounds (e.g., methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide) are highest for OQ and SOQ of grinding process is highest as 7,067. The removal efficiency of deodorization equipment was more than 90.00% in ammonia and amines, but the average efficiency of sulfur compounds was 53.51%. Thus, this facility is more higher contribution of acetaldehyde and trimethylamine than other treatment facilities. And food waste treatment in environmental area needs to consider appropriate capacity and refers to other bio-filter operating conditions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1470-1475
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• 1998

Two kinds of Korean rice-wine (Yakju) with different process and ingredients, and Japanese rice-wine (Sake) were chosen for this study, and throughly dried and solubilized in water or cell culture medium. In vitro cytotoxicity assays of the solubilized wine solids exhibited that maximum dilution factors for inhibition of B 16BL6 mouse melanoma cell growth were 16X for herbal medicine-added rice-wine (Korean rice-wine I) and typical Korean rice-wine (Korean rice-wine II), and 8X for Japanese rice-wine. Their cytotoxic effects on HRT18 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were even lower than those on B16BL6 cells. The morphology of the tumor cells were changed by addition of the solubilized wine solids. Inhibitory effect of the rice-wine on in vivo tumor growth and metastasis were monitored after implantation of B16BL6 cells into C57BL/6 mice with daily feeding the solubilized wine solids. Compared to non-fed control groups, B16BL6 tumor growth and metastasis to lung were clearly inhibited by feeding the wine solids, in order of Korean rice-wine I > Korean rice-wine II > Japanese rice-wine. The data of in vitro cytotoxicity and the cell shape changes indicate that the inhibitory effect of tumor progression may be attributed to tumor cell differentiation or immune stimulation induced by certain components in the rice-wine, rather than direct cytotoxicity of the components.