• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.533-537
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• 2022

Flexible zinc-air batteries have many merits, including low cost, high safety, environmentally friendliness applicability, etc. One of the key factors to improve the performance of flexible zinc-air batteries is to use a gel electrolyte. In this study, gel electrolytes were synthesized from potato, sweet potato, and corn starch. In a comparison of each starch, the corn starch-based gel electrolyte showed the highest discharge capacity of 12.41 mAh/cm² in 20 mA and 6.47 mAh/cm² in 30 mA. It also delivered a higher specific discharge capacity of 7.06 mAh/cm² than the other materials after 100° bending. In addition, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was analyzed to calculate the ionic conductivity. The potato, sweet potato, and corn starch-based gel electrolytes showed electrolyte resistances (Re) of 0.306, 0.298, and 0.207 Ω, respectively. In addition, the corn starch-based gel electrolyte delivered the highest ionic conductivity of 0.121 S cm^-1 among the other gel electrolytes. Thus, the corn starch-based gel electrolyte was verified to improve the performance of flexible zinc-air batteries.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.359-365
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate the causes of bacterial growth to prevent infection caused by ultrasound gel and gel containers in contact with patients during ultrasonography. To investigate bacterial contamination during manufacturing or storage, we cultured ultrasound gels originally supplied from three manufacturers. To analyze bacterial growth according to the lapse of time and frequency of use of the ultrasound gel container, the gel and container were cultured at regular intervals every week for 4 weeks. In addition, to determine the source of infection, the examiner's hand was inspected with hand plate and the degree of bacterial contamination was measured before the test. As a result of the study, bacteria were not detected in the gel provided at the initial supply, and in the gel and gel container used repeatedly for 4 weeks, the same bacteria residing on the skin were identified in the examiner's hand, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus, Leuconostoc mesenteroid spp cremoris, Kocuria rhizophila, and etc. Separated strains were classified as those of the low- or non-pathogenicity; however, most of these strains may render fatal consequences to patients of lower level of immunity due to acquired tolerance to antibiotics. At week 1, when the number of tests was the highest, 44 colonies were identified, and at week 4, when the number of tests was the lowest, 4 colonies were identified. As r=0.994, it was found that the number of colonies increased as the number of tests increased. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the cause of the infection was not the ultrasound gel, but the examiner's hand. The ultrasound gel or gel container may be contaminated by skin flora of examiner's hands, which can cause opportunistic infection in patients with low immunity. The ultrasound gel or gel container may be contaminated by skin flora of examiner's hands, which can cause opportunistic infection in patients with low immunity. Therefore, it was confirmed that thorough hand disinfection was necessary to block healthcare-associated infections.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1350-1356
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• 1998

An attempt was made to investigate the effects of additives (3%) such as egg white, soybean protein, corn starch and Read Amity-N (green bean starch 85%+psyllium husk 10%) on the thermal properties and gel structures of mackerel surimi and to examine the quality of surimi by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal transition temperatures of mackerel surimi protein were 40, 52, 67 and $79^{\circ}C$ after those temperatures were changed to 37, 46, 57 and $76^{\circ}C$ after adding salt (3% NaCl). Addition of Read Amity-N and corn starch to surimi showed new peak at the temperature of $90^{\circ}C\;and\;92^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enhancing effects of gel strengths of mackerel surimi cooked gels prepared from adding four kinds of additives, respectively, were egg white > soybean protein > Read Amity-N > corn starch in order. Scanning electron microscopy showed a difference in fine structures between the cooked gels which were prepared with and without additives. Dispersion profiles of protein were more thick in cooked gel prepared with additive than in cooked gel prepared without additive.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.899-909
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• 2021

In Musculoskeletal ultrasound examination, a linear transducer (12-5 MHz) with a contact surface length of 6 cm, which is commonly distributed in medical institutions, does not contact with bent fingers and wrist depressions only by using a conventional liquid ultrasound gel, which causes image loss. In order to solve this image loss, the use of commercially available Water gel pad is increasing. However, it is a disposable medical product. Repeated use is prohibited and expensive. In this study, in order to reduce the economic burden caused by the use of the commercialized Water gel Pad, we searched for water-soluble food thickener powder that can be easily purchased around our lives and manufactured Gel pads. Among them, kappa-Carrageenan Gel Pad, iota-Carrageenan Gel Pad, and Agar-Agar Gel Pad satisfied the evaluation criteria without artifacts in image evaluation using the N-365 Multipurpose Phantom. Also, the price to purchase the food thickener powder was about 38 times cheaper than the existing commercialized Water gel pad. As a result, if you use the food thickener powder such as kappa-Carrageenan, iota-Carrageenan and Agar-Agar to make solidified elastic Gel pad without a cover instead of the commercially available expensive disposable Water gel pad, the convenience and usefulness of use are improved. It is judged that the manufactured Gel pads can contribute well to the role of efficient ultrasound propagation medium.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.212-218
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• 2009

This study was carried out to determine the quality characteristics of Jeju mandarin orange jellies containing sugar (control) and sugar derivative sweeteners (erythritol, isomaltooligosaccharide, sorbitol, and xylitol) to be consumed by the elderly. The gelling agents were carrageenan and gellan gum at the concentration of 0.27%, respectively. The average age of the subjects for the acceptance test was 78. The lightness (L), redness (a), and yellowness (b) values of the carrageenan gel were higher than those of the gellan gum gel using the same sugars. The L, a, and b values of the carrageenan gel made with sugar derivative sweeteners were higher than those of the respective gel made with sugar. Whereas there were almost no differences between the color values of the gellan gum gels made with sugar and sugar derivative sweeteners, respectively. The gelling and melting temperatures of the carrageenan gel with erythritol were highest and those of the respective gel with xylitol were lowest among the sugar derivative sweeteners. The gelling and melting temperatures of the gellan gum gels with erythritol and isomaltooligosaccharide, respectively, were lower, and those of the respective gel made with xylitol were higher compared to that with sugar. There was no break down in the gellan gum gel. The break down rate of the carrageenan gel made with isomaltooligosaccharide was highest and that of the respective gel with xylitol was lowest among the sugar derivative sweeteners. The hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, and chewiness of the gellan gum gel were greater compared to the carrageenan gel. The adhesiveness levels of the carrageenan gels made with sugar derivative sweeteners were lower, and their springiness was higher than the respective gel with sugar. All the TPA characteristics of the gellan gum gels made with erythritol and xylitol, respectively, were higher than the respective gel with sugar. The rupture properties of the gels were the same as their TPA characteristics. The sensory acceptance of the carrageenan and gellan gum gels made with sugar were highest among all the sweeteners. There were no significant differences in the sensory acceptance scores of the carrageenan gels made with xylitol, erythritol, and sugar, respectively, and there were also no significant differences in the sensory acceptance scores of the gellan gum gels made with xylitol, sorbitol, and sugar, respectively. Xylitol was preferred in both the carrageenan and gellan gum gels. Thus, xylitol appears to be an appropriate alternative sweetener to sugar in Jeju mandarin orange jelly for consumption by the elderly, with regard to the acceptability and stability of the gel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.47-55
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• 2013

Curved duct channel flow characteristics for non-Newtonian gel fluid is investigated. A simulant gel propellant mixed by Water, Carbopol 941 and NaOH solution has been chosen to analyze the gel propellant flow behavior. Rheological data have been measured prior to the flow analysis where water-gel propellant and water-gel propellant with $Al_2O_3$ nano particles are both used. The critical Dean number examined by the numerical simulation in the U-shape duct flow reveals that although water-gel-nano propellants have higher apparent viscosity, the critical Dean number do show no notable difference for both the two gel propellant. It is found that the power-law index may be a dominant parameter in determining the critical Dean number and that the gel with particles addition may be more vulnerable to Dean instability.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1052-1058
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• 1996

The effect of varietal differences of rice starches by amylose content and gel consistency on the retrogradation behavior was studied. Setback viscosity of rice flour measured in a Brabender amylograph was significantly affected by amylose content as well as gel consistency. Increase in the rigidity modulus (E) of rice starch gels during storage determined by using texture analyzer indicated that amylose content was an important factor in terms of hardness increase. Kinetics of retrogradation showed that time constant of rice starch gels was influenced by amylose content, but not by gel consistency.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.477-482
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• 2004

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of a mixed gel formulation composed of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and gellan gum (Na-CMC gel) for the prevention of adhesions after laminectomy. The anti-adhesive effect of the Na-CMC gel was tested in a controlled randomized study using an animal model of lumbar laminectomy. The animals (60 female Sprague-Dawley rats) were randomly allocated into two treatment groups to receive the Na-CMC gel on the injured area or no gel (control). The incidence of adhesions and their grade were blindly evaluated at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. The amount of scar tissue and tenacity were grossly reduced by the Na-CMC gel at postoperative 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The mean adhesion scores were 0.75, 1.25, and 1.38 at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the gel-treated group, respectively. No significant inflammatory reaction was observed and the healing of wound was not affected by the Na-CMC gel. The Na-CMC gel reduced the amount of scar formation and tenacity in rat laminectomy model without affecting the healing of operation wound and other complications. Therefore, the Na-CMC gel may be the potential to prevent postsurgical adhesions in clinical state.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1195-1204
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether addition of konjac gel with three different vegetable powders can increase quality of low-fat frankfurter-type sausage. Methods: Low-fat frankfurter-type sausages were manufactured with formulations containing konjac gel and three vegetable powders (aloe vera, cactus pear, or wheat sprout) as pork fat replacers. The formulations of frankfurters were as follows: NF (normal-fat; 20% pork fat), LF (low-fat; 10% pork fat), KG (low-fat; 10% pork fat+10% konjac gel), and konjac gel with three vegetable powders (KV), such as KV-AV (10% pork fat+10% konjac gel with aloe vera), KV-CP (10% pork fat+10% konjac gel with cactus pear), and KV-WS (10% pork fat+10% konjac gel with wheat sprout). Proximate analysis, pH value, color evaluation, cooking loss, water-holding capacity, emulsion stability, apparent viscosity, texture profile analysis, and sensory evaluation were determined. Results: The konjac gel containing groups showed lower fat content (p<0.05) and higher moisture content than NF group (p<0.05). The pH value of frankfurters was decreased in three KV groups (p<0.05). The three KV groups had increased dark color (p<0.05) compared with KG, and KV-CP had the highest redness (p<0.05). The water-holding capacity and emulsion stability were higher in the three KV groups than KG and LF (p<0.05). Cooking loss was generally decreased in the three KV groups, compared with KG (p<0.05). The apparent viscosity of KV groups was similar with NF group and overall texture properties were improved in KV-CP. In the sensory evaluation, the highest overall acceptability was found in KV-CP groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The four fat replacers improved physicochemical properties of low-fat frankfurters. Particularly, konjac gel with cactus pear powder seems more acceptable as a pork fat replacer.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2012

Disposable amperometric screen-printed biosensor strips have been fabricated by a sol-gel encapsulation for the analysis of glucose. The glucose oxidase(GOx) is entrapped in the gel matrix through sol-gel transition of tetraethoxysliane(TEOS). The biosensor is fabricated by GOx containing thin film of TEOS gel on the surface of screen-printed carbon electrode(SPCE). The GOx-containing thin film of TEOS gel offers a one-step modification process on the surface of SPCE. The optimum conditions for glucose determination have been characterized with respect to the applied potential, enzyme loading ratio, and pH. The linear range and detection limit of glucose detection were from 2.0 mM to 16.0 mM and 0.25 mM, respectively.