• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.430-439
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• 2014

This study was performed to assess the perception and needs of the traditional Korean Medical Equipment (KME) in clinic. We conducted survey research among 15,550 traditional Korean medical doctors (KMD) responded to e-mail during 2 weeks. 899 participants the survey, consisting of questions regarding 'number of devices of the KME' and 'solution and improvement plan of the KME'. The participants were asked to choose their ranking of problems of the KME and also put a check mark in the column that the reasons for this choice. As results, final scores in priority ranking medical devices were derived in 7 categories. Physical therapy equipment and acupuncture treatment devices were included in high ranks. 42.8 % of the participants responded that the diagnostic medical devices seemed important in clinics and 67.4 % of the participants indicated that the therapeutic medical devices seemed to important in clinics. The identified problems of KME were 'low reproducibility and reliability of a diagnosis result (24.8%)' and 'uncertain validity of a diagnostic medical devices (20.5%)'. The improvement plan of the problems were 'to establish the law for using the medical devices (26.6%)' and 'evaluation of validity of the KME (26.2%)'. A survey of KMD revealed the condition of KME's number of devices and the solution plan for the problem of several KMEs. Understanding the needs of KMD could probably contribute to the research and development of KMEs in the future.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of digestion temperature on the extraction of heavy metals from soil using the standard method established by Korean Ministry of Environment (KMES). A total of 7 heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soil samples were extracted at varying digestion temperatures [(66 ± 2.0)℃, (73 ± 1.9)℃, (80 ± 1.3)℃, (85 ± 1.7)℃, (92 ± 2.0)℃, (98 ± 1.7)℃]. As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations remained relatively constant over the temperature range, but Ni and Cr concentrations greatly varied with the digestion temperature. The extent of variation in extraction efficiencies as compared to the concentration obtained at 66℃ was in following order; Ni (7.09% ~ 35.42%) > Cr (4.79% ~ 25.40%) > Zn (3.99% ~ 17.52%) > Cu (2.22% ~ 19.34%) > As (3.54% ~ 8.26%) > Cd (-5.08% ~ 1.08%) > Pb (-4.71% ~ -1.70%). The accuracy for certified reference materials at the digestion temperature of 80 and 85℃ was 98.7% ~ 105.8%. Therefore, digestion temperature of 80℃ ~ 85℃ is suggested to obtain reliable and reproducible data when the standard method by Korean Ministry of Environment is employed to analyze multiple heavy metal components in soil samples.