• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.95-102
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• 2020

In this study, we provide full descriptions of how to make a low-cost and completely open-source laboratory-made air sampler that will be used for sample adsorption for thermal desorption-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) analysis. It is well known that harmful gases cause bad effects on human bodies, so it is necessary to identify the types and amounts of gases in industrial sites. One of the most commonly used methods for gas sampling is to utilize a sorbent tube using an air sampler. Commercially available air samplers are expensive, typically priced between $1,000 and $2,000, and their design often cannot be modified to fit the experiment. To address these shortcomings, we have developed a do-it-yourself (DIY) air sampler that is not only cheap enough, but also completely open-source. Furthermore, the performance of the fabricated air sampler was validated in conjunction with TD-GC/MS for the analysis of volatile compounds.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.25 no.5A
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• pp.743-750
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• 2000

In this paper, low-power block filtering architecture for digital If down sampler and up sampler is proposed. Software radio technology requires low power and cost effective digital If down and up sampler. Digital If down sampler and up sampler are accompanied with decimation filter and interpolation filter, respectively. In the proposed down sampler architecture, it is shown that the parallel and low-speed processing architecture can be produced by cancellation of inherent up sampler of block filter and down sampler. Proposed up sampler also utilizes cancellation of up sampler and inherent down sampler of block filtering structure. The proposed architecture is compared with the conventional polyphase architecture.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2017

Previous studies of health effects of $PM_{2.5}$ performed spatial monitoring campaigns to assess spatial variability of $PM_{2.5}$ across people's residences. Highly reliable portable and cost-effective samplers will be useful for such campaigns. This study aimed to investigate applicability of the Deployable Particulate Impact Sampler(DPIS), one of the compact impact samplers, to spatial monitoring campaigns of $PM_{2.5}$ in Seoul, Korea. The investigation focused on the consistency of $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations measured by DPISs compared to those by the Low-volume Cyclone sampler (LCS). LCS has operated at a fixed site in the Seoul National University Yeongeon campus, Seoul, Korea since 2003 and provided qualified $PM_{2.5}$ data. $PM_{2.5}$ sampling of DPISs was carried out at the same site from November 17, 2015 through February 3, 2016. $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were quantified by the gravimetric method. Using a duplicated DPIS, we confirmed the reliability of DPIS by computing relative precision and mean square error-based R squared value ($R^2$). Relative precision was one minus the difference of measurements between two samplers relative to the sum. For accuracy, we compared $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations from four DPISs (DPIS_Tg, DPIS_To, DPIS_Qg, and DPIS_Qo) to those of LCS. Four samplers included two types of collection filters(Teflon, T; quartz, Q) and impaction discs(glass fiber filter, g; pre-oiled porous plastic disc, o). We assessed accuracy using accuracy value which is one minus the difference between DPIS and LCS $PM_{2.5}$ relative to LCS $PM_{2.5}$ in addition to $R^2$. DPIS showed high reliability (average precision=97.28%, $R^2=0.98$). Accuracy was generally high for all DPISs (average accuracy=83.78~88.88%, $R^2=0.89{\sim}0.93$) except for DPIS_Qg (77.35~78.35%, 0.82~0.84). Our results of high accuracy of DPIS compared to LCS suggested that DPIS will help the assessment of people's individual exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ in extensive spatial monitoring campaigns.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.583-586
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• 1998

Porous ceramic cups are used for monitoring ion concentration in soil solutions in various time course and depth. A soil solution sampler was constructed in laboratory by inserting pliable perfluoroalkoxy(PFA) tubings into porous cup through holes in PVC rod segment which plugged top opening of the porous cup. The system was installed in drip irrigated soil in a vertical position, and nitrogen movement below the drip basin was monitored. To collect soil solution, vacuum in the cup was applied with a hand vacuum pump. The samples obtained were sufficient enough to run quantitative analyses for a number of chemicals. Nitrogen transformation and movement could be well defined, and the system seemed to be relevant to the other soil solution samplers in monitoring chemical movement in soil. Although this system has general deficiencies found in the other samplers using ceramic cup, it could be easily constructed at a low cost. Since the tubing was pliable, the cups could be installed in horizontal position, and this allows installations of the cups at more precise depth increments and also more precise samplings of soil solution at each depth.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 2009

Passive air samplers with polyurethane foam (PUF) disks were employed to determine seasonal gas phase variation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air on Anmyeon island from March 2007 to January 2008. Sum of 13 PAHs ranged between $3.5\;ng/m^3$ and $27.6\;ng/m^3$. Total PAHs during the heating season was 6.2 times higher than non-heating season. The dominant PAHs components during sampling periods were low and middle molecular weight PAHs including phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene. Gas exchange fluxes of PAHs across the air-water interface of the Yellow Sea were calculated using a modified two-film exchange model. PAHs fluxes ranged from $196\;ng/m^2/d$ net volatilization during summer to $3830\;ng/m^2/d$ net absorption during winter. Passive air sampler provides a convenient and cost-effective tool for measuring averaged gas phase PAHs, which was successfully used for calculation of gas exchange flux of PAHs in the Yellow Sea.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.416-421
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• 2003

To develop an easy, low-cost method for evaluating the degree of weathering by radioactive prospecting, radioactive prospecting and the investigation of the degree of weathering were carried out in the southern Kitakami massif of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, in which weathering granitic rocks was distributed. Fifty outcrops in the study area were selected, and strength of the gamma-rays emitted from the weathering bedrock of $^{40}K,\;^{214}Bi,\;and\;^{208}Tl$ was measured for 15 minutes at each point. At the same points, soil hardness was measured on the surface of the outcrop with a Yamanaka soil penetration tester. In addition, 100cc samples of each outcrop were taken with the sampler. The samples were analyzed by XRD, and the kind of the rock-forming minerals containing K was identified. We then compared the degree of weathering and the radioactive prospecting results by using K as an indicator. The relation between $^{40}K/^{208}Tl$ gamma rays counting rate by the radioactive prospecting and the hardness index showed a positive correlation as a result of the investigation, and the correlation coefficient ($R^2$) was 0.67.Moreover, when $^{40}K/^{208}Tl$ gamma rays counting rate emitted from the bedrock was low, the number of rock-forming mineral species containing K was also low. Thus, it was found that $^{40}K/^{208}Tl$ gamma rays counting rate measured by the radioactive prospecting could be used as an indicator of the degree of weathering.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4971-4975
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• 2015

Background: Several methods have been presented for the evaluation of the endometrium in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, which include minimal invasive and invasive approaches such as diagnostic curettage or endometrial biopsy by Pipelle. Many studies have been performed in order to compare two methods; diagnostic curettage and outpatient endometrial biopsy. This investigation compared sampling adequacy, endometrial histopathology, failure rates, duration and costs between diagnostic curettage in a hospital and endometrial biopsy. Materials and Methods: This single blind clinical trial was performed on 130 patients older than 35 years who was referred to Amir training hospital in 2013 for elective diagnostic curettage because of abnormal uterine bleeding. For all patients eligible for the study, an endometrial sample by Pipelle was taken without anesthesia or dilatation. Then under general anesthesia diagnostic curettage was performed by sharp curette. Sampling duration was calculated and both samples were sent to the same pathologist. The diagnostic values of two methods in the diagnosis of normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma were compared. The costs of these two methods were also compared. Data analysis was performed by SPSS (version 16.0) software. Chi-Square, Fisher, and Pearson tests were used and were considered statistically significant at P values less than 0.05. Results: Two methods were agreed upon 88% of sampling adequacy and 94% of pathological results. Specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 90% for detection of proliferative endometrium, secretory endometrium, simple hyperplasia without atypia and 100% for cancer were recorded. Pipelle diagnostic accuracy in comparison with curettage, have been reported over 97%, so the failure rate in this study was below 5%. Sensitivity of Pipelle for detection of atrophic endometrium was reported below 50%. Duration and cost was lower in Pipelle versus curettage. Conclusions: It is concluded that due to high agreement and cohesion coefficient between curettage and Pipelle on the issue of sampling adequacy, histopathology finding (except atrophic endometrium), low failure rate, duration of sampling and cost, Pipelle can be introduced as a suitable alternative of diagnostic curettage.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 1995

A new piston-type Free-fall corer (FFC) was developed for the sampling of core sediments in aquatic environments. The corer, named "KORDI-FFC", is the modified sampler of the existing FFX with an open barrel gravity corer. It was rested successfully on the muddy bottom in the Chinhae Bay and on the sandy bottom (Mz=3$\phi$) in nearshore areas around the Cheju Island. Several merits found in the unstrument are; $\circled1$ operation on a small vessel without winch and cable, $\circled2$ low cost of construction, $\circled3$ little disturbance of surface sediments during the sampling, $\circled4$ short round-trip time of sampling, and $\circled5$ simultaneous performance of other research works during the lowering of FFC.