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Perfluoropolymer Membranes of Tetrafluoroethylene and 2,2,4Trifluofo- 5Trifluorometoxy- 1,3Dioxole.

  • Arcella, V.;Colaianna, P.;Brinati, G.;Gordano, A.;Clarizia, G.;Tocci, E.;Drioli, E.
    • Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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    • 1999.07a
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    • pp.39-42
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    • 1999
  • Perfluoropolymers represent the ultimate resistance to hostile chemical environments and high service temperature, attributed to the presence of fluorine in the polymer backbone, i.e. to the high bond energy of C-F and C-C bonds of fluorocarbons. Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene (TEE) and 2, 2, 4Trifluoro-5Trifluorometoxy- 1, 3Dioxole (TTD), commercially known as HYFLON AD, are amorphous perfluoropolymers with glass transition temperature (Tg)higher than room temperature, showing a thermal decomposition temperature exceeding 40$0^{\circ}C$. These polymer systems are highly soluble in fluorinated solvents, with low solution viscosities. This property allows the preparation of self-supported and composite membranes with desired membrane thickness. Symmetric and asymmetric perfluoropolymer membranes, made with HYFLON AD, have been prepared and evaluated. Porous and not porous symmetric membranes have been obtained by solvent evaporation with various processing conditions. Asymmetric membranes have been prepared by th wet phase inversion method. Measure of contact angle to distilled water have been carried out. Figure 1 compares experimental results with those of other commercial membranes. Contact angles of about 120$^{\circ}$for our amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes demonstrate that they posses a high hydrophobic character. Measure of contact angles to hexandecane have been also carried out to evaluate the organophobic character. Rsults are reported in Figure 2. The observed strong organophobicity leads to excellent fouling resistance and inertness. Porous membranes with pore size between 30 and 80 nanometers have shown no permeation to water at pressures as high as 10 bars. However high permeation to gases, such as O2, N2 and CO2, and no selectivities were observed. Considering the porous structure of the membrane, this behavior was expected. In consideration of the above properties, possible useful uses in th field of gas- liquid separations are envisaged for these membranes. A particularly promising application is in the field of membrane contactors, equipments in which membranes are used to improve mass transfer coefficients in respect to traditional extraction and absorption processes. Gas permeation properties have been evaluated for asymmetric membranes and composite symmetric ones. Experimental permselectivity values, obtained at different pressure differences, to various single gases are reported in Tab. 1, 2 and 3. Experimental data have been compared with literature data obtained with membranes made with different amorphous perfluoropolymer systems, such as copolymers of Perfluoro2, 2dimethyl dioxole (PDD) and Tetrafluorethylene, commercialized by the Du Pont Company with the trade name of Teflon AF. An interesting linear relationship between permeability and the glass transition temperature of the polymer constituting the membrane has been observed. Results are descussed in terms of polymer chain structure, which affects the presence of voids at molecular scale and their size distribution. Molecular Dyanmics studies are in progress in order to support the understanding of these results. A modified Theodoru- Suter method provided by the Amorphous Cell module of InsightII/Discover was used to determine the chain packing. A completely amorphous polymer box of about 3.5 nm was considered. Last but not least the use of amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes appears to be ideal when separation processes have to be performed in hostile environments, i.e. high temperatures and aggressive non-aqueous media, such as chemicals and solvents. In these cases Hyflon AD membranes can exploit the outstanding resistance of perfluoropolymers.

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A Study on Air Temperature Reduction Effect and the Functional Improvement of Street Green Areas in Seoul, Korea (서울 도심 가로수 및 가로녹지의 기온 저감 효과와 기능 향상 연구)

  • Jung, Hee-Eun;Han, Bong-Ho;Kwak, Jeong-In
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.37-49
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    • 2015
  • The goal of this research is to examine air temperature changes according to tree type, plantation type, roadside green area structure, and green volume of street green area within a city. The plantation type that could be analyzed for comparison by tree type with over 3 species was 1 rows of tree+shrubs. The results of analysis of average air temperature difference between pedestrian and car streets vis-a-vis 1 row of tree+shrub in high air temperature areas were: Pinus densiflora, $1.35^{\circ}C$; Zelkova serrata, $1.84^{\circ}C$; Ginkgo biloba, $2.00^{\circ}C$; Platanus occidentalis, $2.57^{\circ}C$. This standard large wide canopy species was analyzed by the roadside to provide shade to have a significant impact on air temperature reduction. In terms of analysis of the relationship between plantation type of roadside trees and air temperature, the average air temperature difference for 1 row of tree type was $1.80^{\circ}C$; for 2 rows of trees it was $2.15^{\circ}C$. In terms of analysis of the relationship between the roadside green area structure and air temperature, for tree type, average air temperature $1.94^{\circ}C$: for tree+shrub type, average air temperature $2.49^{\circ}C$; for tree+mid-size tree+shrub type, average air temperature $2.57^{\circ}C$. That is, air temperature reduction was more effective in a multi-layer structure than a single layer structure. In the relationship analysis of green volume and air temperature reduction, the air temperature reduction effect was enlarged as there was a large amount of green volume. There was a relationship with the green volume of the road, the size of the tree and number of tree layers and a multi-layer structured form of planting. The canopy volume was large and there were a great number of rows of the tree layer and the plantation type of multi-layer structure, which is what is meant through a relationship with the green volume along the roadside. Green composition standards for air temperature reduction effects and functional improvement were proposed based on the result. For a pedestrian street width of 3m or less in the field being ideal, deciduous broadleaf trees in which the canopy volume is small and the structure of the tree+shrub type through the greatest 1m green bend were proposed. For a pedestrian street width of over 3m, deciduous broadleaf trees in which the canopy volume is large and is multi-layer planted with green bend over 1m, tree+mid-size tree+shrub type was proposed.

A Study on the Roles and Ideological Development of Welfare Characteristics in Parks (공원복지 역할 및 이념 전개 양상에 관한 연구)

  • Han, So-Young;Cho, Han-Sol;Zoh, Kyung-Jin
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.69-81
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    • 2015
  • Under the premise that parks have been a performing field of welfare ideology that benefits the citizen from the past, the present study began with a basic question on what substance a park has and how it has worked. Therefore, this study tried to find out the theoretic background that can explain the roles of a park as an instrument for welfare, of which topic is currently being discussed, and examine how the ideology in the debate regarding welfare characteristics of parks are differentiated from those of social welfare. In addition, this study divided the process of development of parks defined by Galen Cranz in an attempt to view how welfare benefits offered by parks have changed in their development and looked into the roles and types of welfare functions that parks provided to the citizens under a certain social situation by period. Furthermore, the characteristics and development of the ideology underlying a welfare park were examined by function and element in its progression. The results of this study are as follows. The functions that parks have performed so far can be classified into three categories. First, they have a remedial function. Parks have given direct services to 'the socially disadvantaged' such as relief, fostering, and rehabilitation. Second, parks have played a preventive function. They aim to reinforce the functions of individual, family, group, and community. Third, they have exerted a developmental function. They function to promote change of society in a way for it to contribute to social development. Looking into the roles and functions of parks from the perspective of their beneficiary class and benefits, the following were discovered. First, the beneficiaries of welfare characteristics in parks have expanded to the general public from the poor class, and the benefits of parks have spread into the public including the underprivileged in a real sense. Second, the significance of welfare characteristics in parks has also changed from literal benefits to caring for basic human rights. Third, the purpose of welfare characteristics in parks has changed from providing minimal conditions to optimal conditions. At its beginning, the ideology of welfare in parks remained ideal, confining itself to their idealistic characteristics; but as time went on, they created several social benefits in response to various social demands, developing into a field where welfare ideology manifests and is realized in an active manner. Furthermore, it was witnessed that the parks and welfare of the present times are standing at the point of contact for participation and universal well-being. The present study reconsidered the meaning and value of parks from perspective of them as a provider of welfare benefits as well as examined how the welfare ideology of parks is connected to practice. By doing so, this study discovered the various roles, values, and ideology that parks should bear in the future. Therefore, this study is expected to be a good example for future research related to the topic.

A Study on the Visual Characteristics of the Landscape of Darangyi-paddy in Garchon, Namhae (남해 가천마을 다랑이논 경관의 시각적 특성에 관한 연구)

  • Youn, Kyung-Sook;Lee, Chang-Hun;Lee, Jae-Keun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.76-84
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    • 2010
  • Darangyi paddy in Namhae Gachon village provides natural beauty with its distinct location. Darangyi is a traditional Korean landscape, shaping a circular form to serve continuous cultivation. Despite the paddy's landscape, it is difficult to preserve its natural scenery due to many factors such as inadequate visual analysis. Under the belief that there is a necessity to preserve Darangyi paddy, the research in visual features of the paddy began to illustrate the relevance between its viewpoint and landscape objects. First, we researched typical view structures. When considering the visual features, Darangyi paddy landscape objects has a viewpoint from the horizontality to its below, which its center area is about $-5^{\circ}{\sim}-30^{\circ}$. From the analyzed data, the scenary of Darangyi paddy, which most people agree its decency, is formed in a visually decent location. The above type of measure of visual structure in Darangyi paddy is expected to be applied in maintenance of foothold of views in the future. Second, the surrounding elements play important parts to form the whole landscape of Gachon Darangyi paddy. Although Darangyi paddy is the principal part of the scenary, the landscape analysis showed a high relevance with the paddy's identity, forest around the paddy, sky, ocean, settlements, and the roads in terms of visual perception. It was affirmed that those elements around the paddy play important parts in structuring and providing the beauty of the whole landscape. Various viewy objects are seen obvious especially in a long distance, and the splendid scenary proved that those viewy objects are in indispensable location. In order to preserve the paddy, it seems necessary to consider the surrounding envrionment of Darangyi paddy, not just the paddy's sole landscape form. Third, Darangyi paddy has a distinct seasonal characteristics. According to the survey analysis, the full heading time in spring and time when people can take a picture against the sun light proved magnificence of Darangyi paddy. Thus, it would be ideal to maintain Darangyi paddy by securing the sunlight condition with decent landscape view and the views from its surrounding environments or researching the ways to principally maintain the surrounding environments.

The Nature Cognition and Lyricism Reflected in the Pavilion Tablets - Focusing on the Pavilions in the Damyang Poetry Culture Area Built during in 16th Century - (누정편액(樓亭扁額)에 반영된 자연인식과 서정 - 16세기 담양 시가문화권의 누정을 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Hyun-Woo;Kim, Jai-Sik
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.1-13
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    • 2010
  • This research is the semantic study on the nature cognition and lyricism of pavilion builders as reflected in the pavilion tablets in the Damyang poetry culture area built during 16th century. The names of pavilions, pavilion writings and "poetry with given theme" were studied by actual site visits. The view on the nature and aesthetic awareness of the pavilion builders at the time were explored together with surrounding landscapes. Following conclusions were drawn. 1. Pavilion names borrowed phrases from the famous historical events left by the sages. Or, they took the compliment on the beautiful nature surrounding orthe academic achievement of pavilion owners as the theme, then elaborated them with thinking based on Sung Confucianism. 2. The writings of pavilion literature were the idealistic view on the nature. They think the nature and human as "object and ego are one, object and ego communicate each other, object and ego become one". 3. The nature in the 16th century was the "principle of birth-death-grow-wither" for the intellectuals. They thought that the nature is the ultimate place to return for the realization of life with self-respect. 4. The introduction of fairy land among literary activities in the pavilion was the symbolic means healing the frustrated ego. It was confirmed that they temporarily entrusted their depressed feelings by borrowing the fairy land, far from the reality. The pavilion was the space to escape from the reality and soothe the anger and discord in the reality. 5. The pavilion literature in the Damyang poetry culture area during 16th century sang their pleasure of enjoying the beautiful scenery in the rural area using their social status. The literary works also contained their agony due to the frustration of difficulty in the realization of ideal. When the intellectuals, who already mastered literature, history and philosophy, came down to rural area, built pavilions at the location with beautiful scenery, and spent time while composing poetry, it was an escape from the burden that they should take the social responsibility as the model intellectuals of the society. The pavilions in Damyang poetry-culture area during 16th century were the idealized conceptual world and the space of awareness reflecting the philosophy and thinking of the time.

Interpretation of Cultural Landscape Elements at the Management of Udam Chae Deug-gi's Gyeongcheondae(擎天臺) (우담 채득기의 경천대 경영에 나타난 문화경관 요소의 해석)

  • Lee, Yoo-Jin;Kim, Soo-Jin;Sim, Woo-Kyung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.127-143
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    • 2010
  • This research was made on the interpretation of cultural landscape elements which is shown at nature management around Gyeongcheondae managed by Udam Chae Deug-gi, scholar in Joseon dynasty. Naming the nature management and natural features not only reflected on the formation toward the view of nature by the contemporary intellectuals, but influenced on the fashion of garden culture. Udam Chae Deug-gi dwelt in the riverside of Sangju, Kyungbuk as the characteristics of hermitage and managed landscape and had a willing to live a life free from worldly cares. The Gyeongchundae 28 landscapes, which was managed by himself, represent that natural features are named on the basis of neo-confucian principle and loyalty and he imposed symbolic meaning on landscape management by practically translating his aesthetic consciousness to reality; the name of detailed landscape is largely 'loyalty to Ming dynasty and to king's order and loyalty', 'Taoism' and 'Management will of landscape' by the life of metaphor and enjoyment, and symbolizes 'Searching for learning'. In addition, by selecting 10 out of 28 landscapes around Gyeongcheondae, lyrically describing the landscape by representing the change of time, season and the climate which is the scenic term of Great 8 Sosang views in fashion at that time focusing on the place he strolled or enjoyed watching himself; it can be seen that such moves are related with the landscape management in fashion in order to understand microcosmic providence with the change of natural environment. Therefore, Udam Chaedeug-gi is regarded as the neo-confucian view of nature for which any value scholars in Joseon dynasty have to own - 'loyalty' and 'integrity' - he usually emphasized himself to name the natural features and overcome the darkness of society comparing the landscape management around Gyeongchundae he lived a life free from worldly cares to the situation of Joseon dynasty when a transition times between Ming and Chung comes from China.

A Study on the Formation Process and the Settling Period of the Gwandong-Palkyung by the Thematic Exploration of Joseon Landscape Poetry and Paintings (옛 시문과 그림으로 살핀 관동팔경(關東八景)의 형상화 및 정착시기)

  • Rho, Jae-Hyun;Son, Hee-Kyung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.10-24
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    • 2017
  • The research takes note of the formation process and settling period of Gwandong-Palkyung(關東八景, Eight Sites of Eastern Korea), the representative palgyeong(prominent eight sites) and jipgyeong(集景, landscape collection of scenic beauty), and investigates the time of formation regarding the palkyung and jipgeyong of Gwandong's scenic beauty through the analysis and interpretation of bibliographic data, and reference data. The result of the study is as follows. As the first document that records the terminology of "Gwandong-Palkyung" is "Daphongeunggil(答洪應吉)" of Yi, Hwang(李滉), Gwandong-Palkyung is inferred to be settled within the recognition of the people even before the 16th century. The geographic analysis result including "Sinjeung Donggukyeojiseungram(新增東國輿地勝覽)", Gwandong-Palkyung expanded as Gwandong-Sipkyung in early to middle of the 16th century. The first confirmed landscape collection regarding Gwandong-Palkyung in this study is confirmed in Shin Zup(申楫)'s "Yeonggwandong-Palkyung(詠關東八景)", thus, the terminology of Gwandong-Palkyung existed before 16th century at the latest. The settlement time of current "Palkyung" collection is estimated to be early 17th century at the latest. Poetries regarding Gwandong-Palkyung, and the frequency on the appearance of Gwandong scenic beauties are analyzed as making clear of the concentrated phenomenon on the sceneries of Gwandong-Palkyung. On the other hand, the collection of Gwandong-Palkyung in the domain of arts is confirmed initially in the ${\ll}$Gwandongpalkyungdobyeong(關東八景圖屛)${\gg}$ of Heo, Pil(許泌). Gwandong-Palkyung, expressed as the actual scene landscape painting shows similar tendencies of the conditions in the jipgyeong from the poetry, but the appearance rate of the painting subject was more prominent in visual solidarity and cohesion due to the reflection of the importance on icon(圖像) of the art works produced with particular meaning in the case of fixed ideal system. From late Joseon to modern times, ${\ll}$palpokbyeongpung(八幅屛風)${\gg}$ of various forms of folk painting is a corroborative evidence notifying that the cultural phenomenon of Gwandong-Palkyung has entered the universal period of embrace. Also, the 13 scenic beauties of Gangwon-Do appearing in the games of Namseungdo and Myeongseungyuramdo include Gwandong-Palkyung, which confirms the settlement of Gwandog-Palkyung even within the culture of games in late Joseon. Such results demonstrate the existence of awareness regarding Gwandong-Palkyung from the first half of the 15th century, which is presumed to have completely settled in the 17th century through the continuous development of formative process in the 16th century. Ultimately, Gwandong-Palkyung is the concrete formation of regional scenic beauties that individually gained its reputations as scenery from the Koryo Dynasty to late 17th century. Gwandong-Palkyung of the scenic beauty of Gwandong is a unique cultural scenery of the region that have germinated and formed through the process of cutting and polishing of long time to collect the best eight of scenic beauty from the many participation of sightseeing culture.

A Study on Gardening Theories of Li, Yu in 'Xian Qing Ou Ji' (한정우기(閑情偶寄)를 통해 본 이어(李漁)의 조원(造園) 이론)

  • Zhang, Lin;Jung, Woo-Jin;Sung, Jong-Sang
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.137-148
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    • 2018
  • Li Yu's Xian Qing Ou Ji was written during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty when material culture flourished due to the development of the commercial economy. Xian Qing Ou Ji is considered a retrospective work that reflects the rich material society at that time. This study focuses on his gardening theories through the interpretation and analysis of these two texts of 'Jushibu(居室部)' and 'Zhongzhibu(種植部)' in Xian Qing Ou Ji. The results are summarized as follows. First, he explained the method of garden configuration and orientation according to the topography utilizing the theory of 'suiting one's measures to local conditions(因地制宜)'. He emphasized the detailed understanding of topography as the starting point for all the gardening theories. It stated that he tried to adjust the height of the terrain artificially to create an ideal form of 'anterior high and posterior low(前低後高)'. The successful arrangement of houses, pavilions, rockery and waterways et al. was able to be achieved because of his accurate understanding of topography. Second, 'borrowing scenery(取景在借)' means 'borrowing the outside scenery to the inside'. He applied this theory by 'viewing in motion(動觀)' and 'viewing in repose(靜觀)'. 'Viewing in motion' is seen as a positive methodology for landscape enjoyment. For example, the view through a window changes with movements of the boat, and it can portray thousands of landscape paintings which can be seen through the windows. In the case of 'viewing in repose', the window is regarded as a means of attracting outside garden views to the inside. Third, he emphasized 'the firmness of objects(制體宜堅)', where the design of windows and railings must be considered ahead of others. Fourth, he interpreted the contents of 'the pursuit of novelty(創異標新)'. This generalizes the characteristics of his gardening theory. The contents included 'hall wall(廳壁)', 'variable sun visor(活?)', 'hanging boards and couplets(聯?)' and 'method of supporting vines with bamboo screen(竹屛扶植法)'.

COLOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RESIN COMPOSITES BEFORE- AND AFTER-POLYMERIZATION, AND SHADE GUIDES (복합레진의 광중합 전·후와 shade guide의 색차 비교)

  • Chon, Yi-Ju;Cho, Sung-Shik;Um, Chung-Moon
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.299-309
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    • 1999
  • The composite resin, due to its esthetic qualities, is considered the material of choice for restoration of anterior teeth. With respect to shade control, the direct-placement resin composites offer some distinct advantages over indirect restorative procedures. Visible-light-cured (VLC) composites allow dentists to match existing tooth shades or to create new shades and to evaluate them immediately at the time of restoration placement. Optimal intraoral color control can be achieved if optical changes occurring during application are minimized. An ideal VLC composite, then, would be one which is optically stable throughout the polymerization process. The shade guides of the resin composites are generally made of plastic, rather than the actual composite material, and do not accurately depict the true shade, translucency, or opacity of the resin composite after polymerization. So the numerous problems associated with these shade guides lead to varied and sometimes unpredictable results. The aim of this study was to assess the color changes of current resin composite restorative materials which occur as a result of the polymerization process and to compare the color differences between the shade guides provided with the products and the actual resin composites before- and after-polymerization. The results obtained from this investigation should provide the clinician with information which may aid in improved color match of esthetic restoration. Five light activated, resin-based materials (${\AE}$litefil, Amelogen Universal, Spectrum TPH VeridonFil-Photo, and Z100) and shade guides were used in this study. Three specimens of each material and shade combination were made. Each material was condensed inside a 1.5mm thick metal mold with 10mm diameter and pressed between glass plates. Each material was measured immediately before polymerization, and polymerized with Curing Light XL 3000 (3M Dental products, USA) visible light-activation unit for 60 seconds at each side. The specimens were then polished sequentially on wet sandpaper. Shade guides were ground with polishing stones and rubber points (Shofu) to a thickness of approximately 1.5mm. Color characteristics were performed with a spectrophotometer (CM-3500d, Minolta Co., LTD). A computer-controlled spectrophotometer was used to determine CIELAB coordinates ($L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$) of each specimen and shade guide. The CIELAB measurements made it possible to evaluate the amount of the color difference values (${\Delta}E{^*}ab$) of resin composites before the polymerization process and shade guides using the post-polishing color of the composite as a control, CIE standard D65 was used as the light source. The results were as follows. 1. Each of the resin composites evaluated showed significant color changes during light-curing process. All the resin composites evaluated except all the tested shades of 2100 showed unacceptable level of color changes (${\Delta}E{^*}ab$ greater than 3.3) between pre-polymerization and post-polishing state. 2. Color differences between most of the resin composites tested and their corresponding shade guides were acceptable but those between C2 shade of ${\AE}$litefil and IE shade of Amelogen Universal and their respective shade guides exceeded what is acceptable. 3. Comparison of the mean ${\Delta}E{^*}ab$ values of materials revealed that Z100 showed the least overall color change between pre-polymerization and post-polishing state followed by ${\AE}$litefil, VeridonFil-Photo, Spectrum TPH, and Amelogen Universal in the order of increasing change and Amelogen Universal. Spectrum TPH, 2100, VeridonFil-Photo and ${\AE}$litefil for the color differences between actual resin and shade guide. 4. In the clinical environment, the shade guide is the better choice than the shade of the actual resin before polymerization when matching colors. But, it is recommended that custom shade guides be made from resin material itself for better color matching.

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The Role of the Endometrium and Embryo in Human Implantation (인간 착상 과정에 자궁내막과 배아의 역할)

  • Jee, Byung-Chul
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.1-11
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    • 2009
  • Implantation itself is governed by an array of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine modulators, of embryonic and maternal origin. Window of implantation is the unique temporal and spatial expression of factors allows the embryo to implant via signaling, appositioning, attachment, and invasion in a specific time frame of $2{\sim}4$ days. When the embryo has arrived in the uterine cavity, a preprogrammed sequence of events occurs, which involves the production and secretion of a multitude of biochemical factors such as cytokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules by the endometrium and the embryo, thus leading to the formation of a receptive endometrium. Cytokines such as LIF, CSF-1, and IL-1 have all been shown to play important roles in the cascade of events that leads to implantation. Integrin, L-selectin ligands, glycodelin, mucin-1, HB-EGF and pinopodes are involved in appositioning and attachment. The embryo also produces cytokines and growth factors (ILs, VEGF) and receptors for endometrial signals such as LIF, CSF-1, IGF and HB-EGF. The immune system and angiogenesis play an important role. The usefulness of these factors to assess endometrial receptivity and to estimate the prognosis for pregnancy in natural and artificial cycles remains to be proven. Integrins, pinopodes, glycodelin and LIF (from biopsies) are promising candidates; from uterine flushings, glycodelin and LIF are also candidates. The ideal serum marker is not available, but VEGF, glycodelin and CSF have some clinical implications. Further evaluation that includes larger groups of infertile women and fertile controls are needed to elucidate whether their presence in plasma, flushing fluid, or endometrial samples can be used as some kind of a screening tool to assess endometrial function and prognosis for pregnancy before and after artificial reproductive therapy. A better understanding of their function in human implantation may lead to therapeutic intervention, thereby improving the success rate in reproduction treatment. New molecular techniques are becoming available for measuring both embryonic and endometrial changes prior to and during implantation. The use of predictive sets of markers may prove to be more reliable than a single marker. Ultimately, the aim is to use these tools to increase implantation in artificial cycles and consequently improve live-birth rates.

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