• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.62-67
• /
• 2015

The carbon microspheres of a core-shell type were grown by the method of mixed-source hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The surface and the cross section of the carbon microsphere grown by a new method were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The characteristics of the carbon microsphere were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a high resolution-transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). From these measurements, the diameters of carbon sphere were about few hundred micrometers. Furthermore, we show that the carbon microsphere of the core-shell type by mixed-source HVPE method can be grown successfully with the larger size than those of the existing one. This mixed-source HVPE method is proposed a new method for making of carbon microsphere.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.39 no.8
• /
• pp.801-806
• /
• 2002

The decomposition and/or conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon have been studied using oxygen-deficient ferrites for the reduction of $CO_2$ emission to the atmosphere. In this work, the homogeneous precipitation method using urea decomposition was employed to induce in situ precipitation of Ni ferrite($Ni_{0.4}Fe_{2.6}O_4$) on the porous ceramic fiber support (50 mm diameter${\times}$10 mm thickness). Effects of ferrite loading conditions on the CO2 decomposition efficiency were discussed in this paper. Removal of residual chloride ions and urea by solvent exchange from the porous media after ferrite deposition apparently helps to form spinel ferrite, but does not increase the efficiency of $CO_2$ decomposition. Porous ceramic fiber composites containing 20 wt% (1g) ferrite samples showed 100% efficiency for $CO_2$decomposition during the first three minutes, but the efficiency decreased rapidly after the elapsed time of ten minutes. The characteristic reduction time for the $CO_2$ decomposition efficiency was estimated as about 3∼7 min.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2016

The ultrasonic waves for monitoring concrete materials have been used to investigate the setting and hardening process of concrete. This paper presents the application of bender elements for monitoring the hardening properties of Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) and the characterization of shear waves in CLSM according to curing time. To ensure the early age properties and flow, the CLSM consists of CSA cement, sand, silt, water, fly ash, and accelerator. In addition, three different type specimens according to fine contents are mixed. A couple of bender elements are installed at the wall of measurement cell and the CLSM specimen are prepared at the measurement cell for 28 days. Experimental results show that the resonant frequency and shear wave velocities increase with an increase in the curing time, regardless of the fine contents. Up to ten hours, the amplitudes of shear waves also increase, and the resonant frequency and shear wave velocities at the same time increase as the fine contents increase. The shear wave measurement technique using the bender elements may be effectively used to evaluate the hardening properties of CLSM along the curing time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.14
• /
• pp.6039-6046
• /
• 2015

Aims: To investigate effect of metallic nanoparticles, silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as antitumor treatment in vitro against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and their associated mechanisms. This could provide new class of engineered nanoparticles with desired physicochemical properties and may present newer approaches for therapeutic modalities to breast cancer in women. Materials and Methods: A human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was used as a model of cells. Metallic nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytotoxic effects of metallic nanoparticles on MCF-7 cells were followed by colorimetric SRB cell viability assays, microscopy, and cellular uptake. Nature of cell death was further investigated by DNA analysis and flow cytometry. Results: Treatment of MCF-7 with different concentrations of 5-10nm diameter of AgNPs inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value of $6.28{\mu}M$, whereas treatment of MCF-7 with different concentrations of 13-15nm diameter of AuNPs inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value of $14.48{\mu}M$. Treatment of cells with a IC50 concentration of AgNPs generated progressive accumulation of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and prevented entry into the M phase. The treatment of cells with IC50 concentrations of AuNPs similarly generated progressive accumulation of cells in sub-G1 and S phase, and inhibited the entrance of cells into the M phase of the cell cycle. DNA fragmentation, as demonstrated by electrophoresis, indicated induction of apoptosis. Conclusions: Our engineered silver nanoparticles effectively inhibit the proliferation of human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 in vitro at high concentration ($1000{\mu}M$) through apoptotic mechanisms, and may be a beneficial agent against human carcinoma but further detailed study is still needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.15
• /
• pp.6015-6020
• /
• 2014

Background: Isolation and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients suffering from a variety of different cancers have become hot biomarker topics. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of CTCs in pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: Initial literature was identified using Medline and EMBASE. The primary data were hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and progression free survival/recurrence free survival (PFS/RFS). Results: A total of 9 eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis, published between 2002 and 2013. The estimated pooled HR and 95%CI for OS for all studies was 1.64 (95%CI 1.39-1.94, p<0.00001) and the pooled HR and 95%CI for RFS/DFS was 2.36 (95%CI 1.41-3.96, p<0.00001). The HRs and 95%CIs for OS and RFS/DFS in patients before treatment were 1.93 (95%CI 1.26-2.96, p=0.003) and 1.82 (95%CI 1.22-2.72, p=0.003), respectively. In patients receiving treatment, the HRs and 95%CI for OS and RFS/DFS were 1.37 (95%CI 1.00-1.86, p=0.05) and 1.89 (95%CI 1.01-3.51, p=0.05), respectively. Moreover, the pooled HR and 95%CI for OS in the post-treatment group was 2.20 (95%CI 0.80-6.02, p=0.13) and the pooled HR for RFS/DFS was 8.36 (95%CI 3.22-21.67, p<0.0001). Conclusions: The meta-analysis provided strong evidence supporting the proposition that CTCs detected in peripheral blood have a fine predictive role in pancreatic patients especially on the time point of post-treatment.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.470-476
• /
• 2003

In order to obtain high refractive plastic materials, 1,2 -ethylenedisulfanylbis(2-mercaptomethyl-1-ethanthiol) (ESTT) was newly prepared in good yield by the reaction of 1,2-ethylenedisulfanylbis(2-bromomethyl-1-ethanthiol) (ESTB) with thiourea followed by hydrolysis using an aqueous ammonia solution and characterized by $^1$H-NMR (-SH at 1.7 ppm), $\^$13/C-NMR(-CH$_2$SH at 28.4 ppm) and FT-IR (-SH at 2540 cm$\^$-1/) spectroscopy, etc. Polythiourethanes (PTU) were obtained from the combinations of ESTT with each of 4,4＇-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), tolyene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), mxylene diisocyanate (XDI), and 1,6-diisocyanatohexane (HMDI) in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurylate as a catalyst, in a casting mold, and characterized by FT-IR (existence of N=C=O) spectroscopy and elemental analyzer (sulfur content). Accordingly, their thermal, mechanical and optical properties were investigated by using DSC, TGA, hardness tester and refractometer: both the melting point on DSC and crystallinity on X -ray diffraction (XRD) for specimens of PTUs were not observed. PTUs with T$\_$g/s above 110 $^{\circ}C$ showed good hardness (Shore D) in the range of 86 to 89. Thermal stabilities of PTUs obtained by using ESTT and each of diisocyanates containing aromatic rings were especially good. Also, the optical transmittances of amorphous PTUs through UV-visible source in the range of 400 to 600 nm were good. PTUs showed refractive indexes above 1.60, and their refractive indexes gradually increased with increase of sulfur contents.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.103-107
• /
• 2008

Membrane process has been focused as an alternative separation process because not only it exhibits a high selectivity compared with a traditional distillation process, but also it is known to be an energy saving separation process. Inorganic membrane, especially zeolite membrane, has been studied since it can be operated in severe conditions compared to the organic membranes. Recently, new zeolite materials are tested as an inorganic membrane material to overcome disadvantages of existing zeolite membranes. Kalsilite can be used as an inorganic membrane material for gas separation and selective water separation from water/organic mixtures because it is expected to be hydrophilic resulted from Si/Al ratio of 1 like zeolite 4A and has a narrow pore size of 0.36 nm. In this study, kalsilite was synthesized by a new economical hydrothermal process using Si : Al : K : $H_2O$ mole ratio of 1 : 1 : 8 : 60. The synthesized kalsilite powder was confirmed by XRD and has a mean diameter of $2.73{\mu}m$. The vapor adsorption test showed the synthesized kalsilite is hydrophilic.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2009

To understand contribution of thermophilic microorganisms in decomposition of litter deposits on shore of lakes, we surveyed a lakeshore litter deposit for bacteria growing at $60^{\circ}C$. Ten thermophilic isolates were selected for in-depth characterization, based on their high capacity to degrade high molecular weight organic compounds. Based on phylogenetic analysis on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, all isolates were identified as Geobacillus. The optimal growth temperature and pH of the strains ranged $55{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0${\sim}$8.0, respectively. Salinity was inhibitory to the growth of the isolates, showing marked decrease of growth rates at 3% salinity. Based on activities of hydrolytic enzymes and profiles of carbohydrate utilization (determined by API 50 CHB kit), three G. stearothermophilus strains showed patterns clearly distinctive from other isolates. Two G. kaustophilus strains also demonstrated distinctiveness in their metabolic pattern and ecological parameters. However, ecological and metabolic profiles of the other five isolates were more variable and showed some degree of digression from their phylogenetic classification. Therefore, it could be concluded that endospore-forming thermophilic bacteria in lakeshore litter deposits contribute to degradation of organic materials with diverse ecological niches while having successions similar to microbial flora in compost. We propose that the thermophilic isolates and/or their thermo-tolerant enzymes can be applied to industrial processes as appropriate mixtures.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 2012

Carbon nano fibers (CNFs) reinforced magnesium alloy (AZ91) matrix composites have been fabricated by liquid pressing process. In order to improve the dispersibility of CNFs and the wettability with magnesium alloy melt, CNFs were mixed with submicron sized SiC particles ($SiC_p$). Also, the mixture of CNFs and $SiC_p$ were coated with Ni by electroless plating. In liquid pressing process, AZ91 melts have been pressed hydrostatically and infiltrated into three reinforcement preforms of only CNFs, the mixture of CNFs and $SiC_p$ (CNF+$SiC_p$), and Ni coated CNFs and $SiC_p$ ((CNF+$SiC_p$)/Ni). Some CNFs agglomerates were observed in only CNFs reinforced composite. In cases of the composites reinforce with CNF+$SiC_p$ and (CNF+$SiC_p$)/Ni, CNFs were dispersed homogeneously in the matrix, which resulted in the improvement of mechanical properties. The compressive strengths of CNF+$SiC_p$ and (CNF+$SiC_p$)/Ni reinforced composites were 38% and 28% higher than that of only CNFs composite.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.439-445
• /
• 2001

The destructive method is reliable and widely used lot the estimation of material degradation but, it have time-consuming and a great difficulty in preparing specimens from in-service industrial facilities. Therefore, the estimation of degraded structural materials used at high temperature by nondestructive evaluation such as electric resistance method, replica method, Barkhausen noise method, electro-chemical method and ultrasonic method are strongly desired. Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation technique has been reported good to attain efficiency of measurement, high sensitivity of measurement, and rapidity and reliability of result interpretation. In this study, it was verified experimentally the feasibility of the evaluation of degraded 2.25Cr-1Mo steel specimens which were prepared by the isothermal aging heat treatment at $630^{\circ}C$ by high frequency longitudinal wave method investigating the change of attenuation coefficient by FFT analysis and wavelet transform. Because of carbide precipitation increase and spheroidization near grain boundary of microstructure to aging degradation, attenuation coefficient had a tendency to increase as degradation proceeded. It was identified possibly to evaluate degradation using the characteristics of high-frequency ultrasonics. Frequency dependence of ultrasonic attenuation coefficient to aging degradation appeared large, which made sure that attenuation coefficient is an important parameter for evaluation of aging degradation.