• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.217-223
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• 2014

Nerve agents are major chemical warfare agents with the "G series" and "V series" being the most widely known because of their lethal effect. Although not conspicuously used in major wars, the potential detrimental impact on modern society had been revealed from the sarin terror attack on Tokyo subway, which affected thousands of people. In this mini-review, major nerve agents of the "G series" and "V series" have been described along with various types of their detection methods. The physical properties and hydrolysis mechanisms of the major nerve agents are discussed since these are important factors to be considered in choosing detection methods, and specifying the procedures for sample preparations in order to enhance detection precision. Various types of extraction methods, including liquid-phase, solid-phase, gas-phase and solid-phase microextraction (SPME), are described. Recent development in the use of gas sensors for detecting nerve agents is also summarized.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.12S
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• pp.1217-1223
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• 2003

Nerve gas sensor based on tin oxide was fabricated and its characteristics were examined. Target gas is dimethyl methyl phosphonate(C$_3$ $H_{9}$ $O_3$P, DMMP) that is simulant gas of nerve gas. Sensing materials were Sn $O_2$ added a-Al$_2$ $O_3$ with 0∼20wt.% and were physically mixed each material. They were deposited by screen printing method on alumina substrate. The sensor device was consisted of sensing electrode with interdigit(IDT) type in front and a heater in back side. Total size of device was 7${\times}$10${\times}$0.6㎣. Crystallite size & phase identification and morphology of fabricated Sn $O_2$ powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and by a scanning electron microscope, respectively. Fabricated sensor was measured as flow type and resistance change of sensing material was monitored as real time using LabVIEW program. The best sensitivity was 75% at adding 4wt.% $\alpha$-Al$_2$ $O_3$, operating temperature 30$0^{\circ}C$ to DMMP 0.5ppm. Response and recovery time were about 1 and 3min., respectively. Repetition measurement was very good with $\pm$3％ in full scale.TEX>$\pm$3％ in full scale.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 1999

A gene expressing organophosphorus acid (OPA) anhydrolases have been cloned from Alteromonas haloplanktis strain and expressed in bacterial strain BL21. Crude extract was prepared from the transformed bacterial strain BL2l and used in testing its degrading capability of real nerve gas, soman and sarin. Within 1 minute after the start of the reaction, nearly 65% of the soman added to the reactant(3mM) was degraded by adding 1 mg of the crude extract enzyme(20.0 Unit $mg^-{1}$ crude protein). In 6 minutes, the reaction reached at its steady state, which indicates that soman was completely degraded by that time. In the case of sarin, the degradation efficiency was observed to be about 0.7 times of that of soman. If the specific activity of OPAA is enhanced by both increased expression efficiency and purification, OPAA seems to be applied for the development of decontaminant of skin, especially of eye.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.182-185
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• 2011

A case of radicular pain that resulted from a gas-filled intradural cyst in an 80-year-old male is described. Temporary improvement of radicular pain was observed after CT-guided aspiration. However, recurrent radicular pain led to surgical treatment. In this report, the authors document the radiologic and intraoperative features of a gas-filled intradural cyst that migrated into the nerve root, and propose an optimal treatment plan based on a review of the literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.781-786
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• 1993

Effrctive analgesia after elective thoracotomy can be provided by continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block.This study was designed to prove the effectiveness of continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block. Twenty patients undergoing elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups. Group I received lumbar epidural block[N=10] and group II received continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block[N=10]. Postoperative pain relief was assessed on Numeric Rating Scale[NRS] and recovery of pulmonary function was assessed by coparison of preoperatrive and postoperative FVC[Forced Vital Capacity], FEV1[Forced expiratory Volume in 1 second], VC[Vital Capacity]. Arterial blood gas analysis[ABGA], vital signs and amount of additive analgesics were compared also. No significant difference was observed between the groups concerning these parameters mentioned above. Systemic complications, such as urinary retention[2/10] and weakness of lower extremity[2/10], occurred in group I but no complication occurred in group II. We conclude that continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block is as effective as epidural block in pain relief and restoration of pulmonary mechanics with fewer comlications. Also because of it`s ease and safetiness, this must be considered as a substitute of epidural block in routine use for thoracotomy pain relief.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2018

In this study, the influence of microporous structures of activated carbon fibers (ACFs) on dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) gas sensing properties as a nerve agent simulant was investigated. The pore structure was given to carbon fibers by chemical activation process, and an electrode was fabricated for gas sensors by using these fibers. The PAN based ACF electrode, which is an N-type semiconductor, received electrons from a reducing gas such as DMMP, and then electrical resistance of its electrode finally decreased because of the reduced density of electron holes. The sensitivity of the fabricated DMMP gas sensor increased from 1.7% to 5.1% as the micropore volume increased. It is attributed that as micropores were formed for adsorbing DMMP whose molecular size was 0.57 nm, electron transfer between DMMP and ACF was facilitated. In conclusion, it is considered that the appropriate pore structure control of ACFs plays an important role in fabricating the DMMP gas sensor with a high sensitivity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.942-945
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• 2003

Nerve gas sensor based on tin oxide was fabricated and its characteristics were examined. Target gas was dimethylmethylphosphonate($C_3H_9O_3P$, DMMP) that is simulant gas of nerve gas. Sensing material was $SnO_2$ added ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ with $4{\sim}20wt.%$ and was physically mixed. And then it was deposited by screen printing method on alumina substrate. Sensor device was consisted of sensing electrode with interdigit(IDT) type in front and heater in back side. Total size of device was $7{\times}10{\times}0.6mm^3$. Crystallite size of fabricated $SnO_2$ were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD, Rigaku) and morphology of the $SnO_2$ powders was observed by a scanning electron microscope(SEM, Hitachi). Fabricated sensor was measured as flow type and sensor resistance change was monitored real time using LabVIEW program. The best conditions as added $Al_2O_3$ amounts and operating temperature changes were 4wt.% and $300^{\circ}C$ in DMMP 0.5ppm, respectively. The sensitivity was over 75%. Response and recovery times were about 1 and 3 min., respectively. Repetition measurement was very good with ${\pm}3%$ in full scale.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.521-526
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• 2014

The authors report a case of symptomatic epidural gas accumulation 2 weeks after the multi-level lumbar surgery, causing postoperative recurrent radiculopathy. The accumulation of epidural gas compressing the dural sac and nerve root was demonstrated by CT and MRI at the distant two levels, L3-4 and L5-S1, where vacuum in disc space was observed preoperatively and both laminectomy and discectomy had been done. However, postoperative air was not identified at L4-5 level where only laminectomy had been done in same surgical field, which suggested the relationship between postoperative epidural gas and the manipulation of disc structure. Conservative treatment and needle aspiration was performed, but not effective to relieve patient's symptoms. The patient underwent revision surgery to remove the gaseous cyst. Her leg pain was improved after the second operation.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.54-61
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• 2003

$SnO_2$ gas sensor for the detection DMMP, simulant of nerve gas was fabricated and its characteristics were examined. Sensing materials were $SnO_2$ added by TEX>$\alpha$-$Al_{2}O_{3}$ with 0∼20wt.% and $In_{2}O_{3}$ with 0∼3wt.% and were physically mixed each material. They were deposited by screen printing method on alumina substrate. The sensor was consisted of sensing electrode with interdigit(IDT) type in front and a heater in back side. Its dimension was 7$\times$10$\times$0.6$\textrm{mm}^2$. Crystallite size 8t phase identification, specific surface area and morphology of fabricated $SnO_2$ powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD), surface area analyzer(BET) and by a scanning electron microscope(SEM), respectively. Sensor was measured as flow type and sensor resistance change was monitored as real time using LabVIEW program. The best sensitivities were 75% at adding 4wt.% TEX>$\alpha$-$Al_{2}O_{3}$, operating temperature $300^{\circ}C$ and 87% at adding 2wt.% $In_{2}O_{3}$, operating temperature $350^{\circ}C$ to DMMP 0.5ppm. Response and recovery times were about 1 and 3 min., respectively. Repetition measurement was very good with $\pm$3% in full scale. As a result, operating temperature was lower TEX>$\alpha$-$Al_{2}O_{3}$ than $In_{2}O_{3}$, but sensitivity was higher $In_{2}O_{3}$ than $\alpha$-$Al_{2}O_{3}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.44-45
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• 2010

We are currently conducting studies on culturing and biocompatibility assessment of various cells such as neural stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells(IPS cells) on carbon nanotube (CNT), on nerve regeneration electrodes, and on silicon wafers with a focus on developing nerve integrated CNT based bio devices for interfacing with living organisms, in order to develop brain-machine interfaces (BMI). In addition, we are carried out the chemical modification of carbon nanotube (mainly SWCNTs)-based bio-nanosensors by the plasma ion irradiation (plasma activation) method, and provide a characteristic evaluation of a bio-nanosensor using bovine serum albumin (BSA)/anti-BSA binding and oligonucleotide hybridization. On the other hand, the researches in the case of "novel plasma" have been widely conducted in the fields of chemistry, solid physics, and nanomaterial science. From the above-mentioned background, we are conducting basic experiments on direct irradiation of body tissues and cells using a micro-spot atmospheric pressure plasma source. The device is a coaxial structure having a tungsten wire installed inside a glass capillary, and a grounded ring electrode wrapped on the outside. The conditions of plasma generation are as follows: applied voltage: 5-9 kV, frequency: 1-3 kHz, helium (He) gas flow: 1-1.5 L/min, and plasma irradiation time: 1-300 sec. The experiment was conducted by preparing a culture medium containing mouse fibroblasts (NIH3T3) on a culture dish. A culture dish irradiated with plasma was introduced into a $CO_2$-incubator. The small animals used in the experiment involving plasma irradiation into living tissue were rat, rabbit, and pick and are deeply anesthetized with the gas anesthesia. According to the dependency of cell numbers against the plasma irradiation time, when only He gas was flowed, the growth of cells was inhibited as the floatation of cells caused by gas agitation inside the culture was promoted. On the other hand, there was no floatation of cells and healthy growth was observed when plasma was irradiated. Furthermore, in an experiment testing the effects of plasma irradiation on rats that were artificially given burn wounds, no evidence of electric shock injuries was found in the irradiated areas. In fact, the observed evidence of healing and improvements of the burn wounds suggested the presence of healing effects due to the growth factors in the tissues. Therefore, it appears that the interaction due to ion/radicalcollisions causes a substantial effect on the proliferation of growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) that are present in the cells.