• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.240-250
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the advantages and usefulness of transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) in diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in children and adolescents compared to those of abdominal computed tomography and liver ultrasonography. Methods: Forty-six children and adolescent participants aged between 6 and 16 years who underwent transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) as well as liver ultrasonography or abdominal computed tomography were included. Thirty-nine participants underwent liver ultrasonography and 11 underwent computed tomography. The physical measurements, blood test results, presence of metabolic syndrome, and the degree of liver steatosis and liver fibrosis were analyzed, and their correlations with transient elastography (Fibroscan^®), abdominal computed tomography, and liver ultrasonography, as well as the correlations between examinations, were analyzed. Results: Thirty-six participants (78.3%) were boys, and the mean age was 12.29±2.57 years, with a mean body mass index of 27.88±4.28. In the 46 participants, the mean values for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were 89.87±118.69 IU/L, 138.54±141.79 IU/L, and 0.77±0.61 mg/dL, respectively. Although transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) and abdominal computed tomography grading had a statistically significant positive correlation with aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase values, the correlations between the results of grading performed by transient elastography (Fibroscan^®), abdominal computed tomography, and liver ultrasonography were not statistically. Conclusion: We confirmed that each examination was correlated with the results of some blood tests, suggesting the usefulness and possibility of diagnosis and treatment of steatohepatitis mediated by transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) in the department of pediatrics.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.354-360
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• 2022

In this study, an Co/Fe coated porcelain using a cobalt and ferrous sulfate was sintered at 1,250 ℃. The specimens were investigated by HR-XRD, FE-SEM (EDS), Dilatometer, and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The surface of the porcelain was uniformly fused with the pigment, and white ware and celadon body specimens were densely fused to a certain thickness from the surface. Other new compounds were produced by the chemical reaction of cobalt/ferrous sulfate with the porcelain body during the sintering process. These compounds were identified as cobalt ferrite spinel phases for white ware and white mixed ware, and an andradite phase for the celadon body, and the amorphous phase, respectively. As for the color of the specimens coated with cobalt and ferrous mixed pigments, it was found that the L^* value was greatly affected by the white ware, and the a^* and b^* values were significantly changed in the celadon body. The L^* values of the specimens fired with pure white ware, celadon body, and white mix ware were 72.1, 60.92, 82.34, respectively. The C7F3 pigment coated porcelain fired at 1,250 ℃ had L^* values of 39.91, 50.17, and 40.53 for the white ware, celadon body, and white mixed ware, respectively; with a^* values of -1.07, -2.04, and -0.19, and at b^* values of 0.46 and 6.01, it was found to be 4.03. As a new cobalt ferrite spinel phase was formed, it seemed to have had a great influence on the color change of the ceramic surface.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2005

The phytoplankton community, environmental factors, and rainfall were investigated from July to October in 2001 and 2003 on Dam site in Daechung Reservoir. The monthly average rainfall in the investigated period were 91.3 and 265.3 mm in 2001 and 2003, respectively. The maximum chlorophyll a concentration was observed higher at 131.5 ㎍ L/sup -1/ in 2003 than at 45.4 ㎍ L/sup -1/ in 2001. The cyanobacterial number in 2001 was counted up to over 200,000 cells mL/sup -1/, which was much higher than the maximum number of 49,000 cells mL/sup -1/ in 2003. The relative abundance of cyanobacteria in the phytoplankton community was about 97% in 2001 and 74% in 2003. Microcystis spp. were absolutely dominant species in 2001, while a couple of cyanobacteria such as Oscillatoria spp., Phormidium spp. Chroococcus spp. and Microcystis spp. were dominant species in 2003. Consequently, it seemed that rainfall affected the diversity of phytoplankton species and decreased the density of bloom-forming cyanobacteria.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.61-72
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• 2022

We investigated the electrochemical behavior of Sn (93.0 %)-Ag (4.06 %)-Cu (0.89 %) during electrolysis of Pb-free solder waste to recover tin and silver. A thin strip of the solder waste produced by high-temperature melting and casting was used as a working electrode to perform electrochemical analysis. During anodic polarization, the current peak of an active region decreased with an increase in the concentration of sulfuric acid used as an electrolyte. This resulted in the electro-dissolution of the working electrode in the electrolyte (1.0 molL^-1 sulfuric acid) for a constant current study. The study revealed that the thickening of an anode slime layer at the working surface continuously increased the electrode potential of the working electrode. At 10 mAcm^-2, the dissolution reaction continued for 25 h. By contrast, at 50 mAcm^-2, a sharp increase in the electrode potential stopped the dissolution in 2.5 h. During dissolution, silver enrichment in the anode slime reached 94.3% in the 1 molL^-1 sulfuric acid electrolyte containing a 0.3 molL^-1 chlorine ion, which was 12.7% higher than that without chlorine addition. Moreover, the chlorine enhanced the stability of the dissolved tin ions in the electrolyte as well as the current efficiency of tin electro-deposition at the counter electrode.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2002

This study was to investigate the adhesion properties of fancy veneer and base panels and formaldehyde emission of wood-based floorings bonded with urea-melamine formaldehyde adhesives. We focused on stoichiometric mole ratio of reactive functional groups. The urea-melamine formaldehyde adhesives were made at twelve different formaldehyde/urea-melamine mole ratios. The interlaminated shear strength and formaldehyde emission of wood-based floorings bonded with selected adhesive among these adhesives were examined. The results showed that the bonding properties were high and the formaldehyde emission was low as the adhesive consisted of stoichiometric mole ratio of formaldehyde/urea-melamine. Interlaminated shear strengths of HDF(High Density Fiberboard) flooring were over 14 kgf/cm² at all mole ratios. At the mole ratio of 1.0, HDF flooring showed low value of formaldehyde emission of 953 mg/L. Interlaminated shear strengths of Plywood flooring were high, 14.02 kgf/cm² at mole ratio of 1.4. At the mole ratio of 1.0, Plywood flooring showed low value of formaldehyde emission of 0.26 mg/L.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.465-474
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• 2022

The suction pressure was measured with respect to operational time by the backwashable flat sheet membrane module in membrane bioreactor (MBR). The membrane module having the nominal pore size of 0.2 ㎛ and the effective membrane area of 128cm² was submerged in MLSS 8,000 mg/L active sludge aqueous solution. The suction pressure was observed with respect to permeation flux and the quorum quenching (QQ) treatment. The effects of FR and SFCO operation methods were compared and analyzed in the experimental groups: vacant bead (VB), BH4 and DKY-1 beads. The suction pressure reduction was the most effective for the permeation flux 40 L/m² ⋅h with the injection of DKY-1 QQ beads. Also, the suction pressure reduction by the backwashing method was more than twice for using DKY-1 QQ beads.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2022

This study seeks towards an optimal way to control sulfate ions in semiconductor wastewater effluent with potential eco-toxicity. We developed a system based on ettringite (Ca₆Al₂(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂·26H₂O). The basic idea is that the pH of the water is raised to approximately 12 with Ca(OH)₂. After, aluminium salt is added, leading to the precipitation of ettringite. Lab-scale batch and continuous experiment results with real semiconductor wastewater demonstrated that 1.5 and 1 of stoichiometric quantities for Ca²⁺ and A³⁺ with pH above 12.7 could be considered as the optimal operation condition with 15% of sludge recycle to the influent. A mixed AlCl₃ + Fe reagent was selected as the beneficial Al³⁺ source in ettringite process, which resulted in 80% of sludge volume reduction and improved sludge dewaterability. The results of continuous experiment showed that with precipitation as ettringite, sulfate concentration can be stably reduced to less than 50 mg/L in effluent from the influent 2,050 ± 175 mg/L on average (1,705 ~ 2,633 mg/L).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.493-499
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• 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the midbrain, which results in decreased dopamine levels accompanied by movement symptoms. Oral administration of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), the precursor of dopamine, provides initial symptomatic relief, but abnormal involuntary movements develop later. A deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying dopamine homeostasis is thus critically needed for the development of a successful treatment. Here, we show that p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) controls dopamine levels. Constitutively active PAK4 (caPAK4) stimulated transcription of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) via the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) transcription factor. Moreover, caPAK4 increased the catalytic activity of TH through its phosphorylation of S⁴⁰, which is essential for TH activation. Consistent with this result, in human midbrain tissues, we observed a strong correlation between phosphorylated PAK4^S474, which represents PAK4 activity, and phosphorylated TH^S40, which reflects their enzymatic activity. Our findings suggest that targeting the PAK4 signaling pathways to restore dopamine levels may provide a new therapeutic approach in PD.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1075-1090
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• 2023

In this paper, we study new classes of operators k-quasi (m, n)-paranormal operator, k-quasi (m, n)^*-paranormal operator, k-quasi (m, n)-class 𝒬 operator and k-quasi (m, n)-class 𝒬^* operator which are the generalization of (m, n)-paranormal and (m, n)^*-paranormal operators. We give matrix characterizations for k-quasi (m, n)-paranormal and k-quasi (m, n)^*-paranormal operators. Also we study some properties of k-quasi (m, n)-class 𝒬 operator and k-quasi (m, n)-class 𝒬^* operators. Moreover, these classes of composition operators on L² spaces are characterized.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2022

This study was carried out to establish proper irrigation standards by growth stages using integrated solar radiation (ISR) for strawberry hydroponics cultivation. The irrigation methods were automatically controlled when it reached ISR values based on the external solar irradiance. The ISR standards were set at 150 J·cm^-2 and 200 J·cm^-2, and as the last treatment, ISR value was changed from 200 J·cm^-2 to 150 J·cm^-2 according to growth stage. The timer-automated irrigation system was applied as a control. The monthly average irrigation frequency of 150 J·cm^-2, growth stages (150 J·cm^-2) treatment in March were 5.6 times, that of 200 J·cm^-2, growth stages (200 J·cm^-2) treatment in December were 2.7 times, and that of timer system was 3.6-3.8 times. The water use efficiency (WUE) of timer was 19.8 g·L^-1 lower than ISR. There was no significant difference in growth and fruit characteristics between ISR and timer. The total yield and rate of marketable fruit of treatments by growth stages was the highest 328 g/10 a and 85.3 %, respectively. Therefore, in case of strawberry hydroponic cultivation, controlling ISR by growth stages was more helpful to improve yield rather than applying same ISR standard during cultivation.