• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.235-242
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• 2022

Purpose: To investigate associations of perceived stress level, serum cortisol level, and telomere length of community-dwelling adults in Korea. Methods: Data of a total of 135 community-dwelling adults aged over 40 years living in D metropolitan city from December 2020 to March 2021 were collected. Perceived stress level over the past month were measured using the Perceived Stress Score. Serum cortisol level was analyzed using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Telomere length was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The statistical package SPSS 23.0 was used to perform Chi-square test, independent t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. Results: There was no association between perceived stress and serum cortisol level (r = .07, p= .402). Serum cortisol level was not significantly associated with telomere length either (r = -.15, p= .081). However, the higher the perceived stress level, the shorter the telomere length (r= -.29, p= .001). Conclusion: These results suggest that perceived stress might induce physiological stress, which might partially affect gene biology. Further longitudinal research is needed to investigate the effect of perceived stress on telomere length. Intervention for relieving stress should be included in stabilizing the genetic environment of adults.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.226-233
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• 2022

Background/Aims: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel aerosol-exposure protection (AP) mask in preventing coronavirus disease in healthcare professionals during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and to evaluate its clinical feasibility. Methods: In Study 1, three healthy volunteers volitionally coughed with and without the AP mask in a cleanroom. Microparticles were visualized and counted with a specific measurement system and compared with and without the AP mask. In Study 2, 30 patients underwent endoscopic resection with the AP mask covering the face, and the SpO2 was measured throughout the procedure. Results: In Study 1, the median number of microparticles in volunteers 1, 2, and 3 with and without the AP mask was 8.5 and 110.0, 7.0 and 51.5, and 8.0 and 95.0, respectively (p<0.01). Using the AP mask, microparticles were reduced by approximately 92%. The median distances of microparticle scattering without the AP mask were 60, 0, and 68 in volunteers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In Study 2, the mean SpO2 was 96.3%, and desaturation occurred in three patients. Conclusion: The AP mask could provide protection from aerosol exposure and can be safely used for endoscopy in clinical practice.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.476-481
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to formulate a sustained release system for indomethacin (IND) with rosin gum obtained from a pine tree. Rosin microparticles were prepared by a disper­sion and dialysis method without the addition of surfactant. In order to investigate the influence of solvents on the formation of colloidal microparitcles, various solvents like ethanol, DMF, DMAc, and acetone were used. The rosin microparticles containing IND were characterized by X­ray differactometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphologies of rosin microparticles observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were spherical. The solvents used to dissolve rosin significantly affected the drug content and drug release rate of IND. The release behaviors of IND from the rosin microparticles were dependent on the drug content and size of the particles. Rosin micorparticles with a higher drug content and of a larger particle size had a slower drug release rate. Also, the IND release rate from the rosin microparticles could be regulated by the rosin content in the microparticles. From these results, rosin microparticles have the potential of being used as a sustained release system of IND.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.379-386
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• 2010

In the present study, biocompatible poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) microparticles containing coriander essential oil were prepared using a supercritical particles from gas saturated solution (PGSS) process to improve the stability of the coriander oil. The effects of various process parameters such as temperature, pressure, and nozzle diameter on the morphology and entrapment efficiency of coriander oil loaded PEG microparticles were then investigated. A positive influence on the formation of spherical microparticles was observed with increasing temperature and decreasing pressure. Furthermore, somewhat more porous microparticles were produced with an increase in pressure. At a given temperature, the highest entrapment efficiency of coriander essential oil in PEG microparticles was observed under the lowest experimental pressure condition.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.247-255
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• 2017

Scutellaria Baicalensis(SB) is widely used in traditional and modern oriental medicine. It possesses several biology activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral activities. In this study, a functional high density polyethylene (HDPE) fabric with antimicrobial properties was developed using zeolite microparticles as a SB extract delivery carrier. Zeolites loaded with SB extract were prepared by immersing in an SB extract aqueous solution. The average size of the SB extract-loaded zeolites was about 0.1 to $2.0{\mu}m$, and the morphology of the zeolites was not altered after SB extract binding. The resulting SB extract-loaded zeolites were then immobilized homogeneously onto the HDPE fabric using acrylic binder. The encapsulation efficiency of SB extract to the zeolite was more than 45%. The in vitro release test of SB extract-loaded zeolites containing HDPE fabrics showed release of 35% of the total SB extract by day 1 in a 24hours immersion study. Moreover, the SB extract-loaded zeolites containing HDPE fabrics showed effective antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, indicating that this innovative delivery platform potently imparted antimicrobial activity to the HDPE fabric. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the HDPE fabric containing the SB extract-loaded zeolites microparticle carrier system has potential as an effective antimicrobial textile such as safety gloves, protective gloves etc.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.341-342
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• 2008

The dynamics of nano particles in LC medium under an external electric field is of theoretical and technological interest. In this work, the dynamical characteristics of fullerene $(C_{60})$ particles in liquid crystal (LC) medium under dc electric field have been investigated. This effect was studied for homogeneously aligned nematic LC cells driven by in-plane field. The $C_{60}$ was found to be aggregated in a form of cluster inside the LC medium. Hence polystytene was used to protect the aggregation of $C_{60}$ in LC medium. When the electric field was applied, the fullerenes start to move in direction of applied electric field. The density of $C_{60}$'s particles at the electrodes increase with increase in the value of applied electric field. The dynamical motions of fullerene $(C_{60})$ particles in liquid crystal (LC) suggest that fullerene can be designed for electrophoretic displays (i.e., electronic ink).

• Clean Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2007

Phase behavior of the ternary systems of water-insoluble simvastatin drug, which is well known to be effective drugs for hypercholesterolemia therapy, in solvent mixtures of dimethyl ether (DME) and supercritical carbon dioxide was investigated to present a guideline of establishing operating conditions in the particle formation of the drugs by a supercritical anti-solvent recrystallization process utilizing DME as a solvent and carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. The solubilities of simvastatin in the mixtures of DME and carbon dioxide were determined as functions of temperature, pressure and solvent composition by measuring the cloud points of the ternary mixtures at various conditions using a high-pressure phase equilibrium apparatus equipped with a variable-volume view cell. The solubility of the drug increased as the DME composition in solution and the system pressure increases at a fixed temperature. A lower solubility of the drug was obtained at a higher temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 1985

In order to improve dyeing and finishing technology of thin cloth of microfiber(super-fine fiber), the degrees of deep dyeing method, the light fastness, and the washing fastness were investiagted. 1. The thin cloth made of microfiber, $0.15^d\~0.2^d$, was conjugated type and the dyeing degree was lower at 5 to $10\%$ than that of cloth made of common fiber. The cloth of excellent dyeing fastness, light fastness, was developed by increasing the concentration of dye of high quality up to $5\~10\%$. 2. Because refractory rate of microfiber of $0.2^d$ was lower than that of $0.01^d$, the surface refractory rate of $0.2^d$ was lower than that of $0.01^d$ fiber. Therefore the surface of micro-fiber, $0.2^d$, was more rougher than that of $0.01^d$ and it belongs to separate type. 3. The higher degree of dyeing was increased by using dye of microparticle. Also the degree of textile printing was increased by adding urea solution ($20\%$) and glycerine diethylene glycol. 4. Light fastness was very excellent, marked 5 grade. However, washing fastness was 2$\~$3 grade. After dyeing, we could improve to 4 grade, through hot water washing including some organic chlorine solvent. 5. Super microfiber of $0.01^d$ will not be dyed by present dye and dyeing equipment, because right reflection light rate(white light) of fiber surface was too high and the more refraction rate higher the more surface refraction rate will be increased.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.523-529
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• 2010

Recently, several research groups have been investigating the motion of flagellated bacteria, with the aim of examining the feasibility of using bacterial chemotaxis as an efficient power source for microactuators. In this study, microparticle-tracking velocimetry ($\mu$-PTV) is used for investigating the motion of fluorescent microbeads propelled by bacterial chemotaxis. Flagellated bacteria, Serratia marcescens, are spontaneously attached to the surface of the fluorescent polystyrene (PS) microbeads in an aqueous culture. The microbeads thus treated are injected into the test medium, which contains the solidified chemoattractant L-aspartate. With time, the particles slowly move toward the zone in which the L-aspartate concentration is high. This study shows that chemotaxis of flagellated bacteria can be applied as an efficient power source for microactuators.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Synthetic mineral microparticles (SMM) is a patented system which has been developed to promote drainage of water and retention of fine particles during papermaking. It is shown in patents that the SMM system can have advantages in both of drainage and retention, compared with montmorillonite (bentonite), which is one of the most popular materials presently used in this kind of application. Turbidity and gravity drainage time were measured using a Britt-Jar test with representative SMM formulations, in order to confirm the efficacy of SMM covering a wide range of compositions and discover effects of some key variables that have the potential to lead to unexpected advantages in terms of the effectiveness of the microparticles, when used in combination with a cationic polyacrylamide treatment of papermaking furnish. An iron silicate showed highest retention performance, as well as suitably fast drainage time relative to other metal silicate and bentonite. Zinc silicate improved retention and drainage. SMM synthesized from aluminum sulfate ($Al_2(SO_4){_3}$) did not show a benefit in retention and drainage, relative to bentonite. SMM synthesized from aluminum chloride ($AlCl_3$) performed better in drainage and retention than bentonite when the Al/Si ratios were 0.76 and 1.00. It was found that when the Al/Si ratio and neutralization are considered, pH variation due to the change of Al/Si ratio can be a key factor to control the size of primary metal silicate particles and the degree of coagulation of the primary particles.