• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.218-223
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• 2014

This paper presents a method of controlling the stiffness of a tungsten probe for an atomic force microscope (AFM) in order to provide high-quality phase contrast images in accordance with sample characteristics. While inducing sufficient deformation on sample surfaces with commercial Si or $Si_3N_4$ probes is difficult because of their low stiffness, a tungsten probe fabricated by electrochemical etching with appropriately high stiffness can generate relatively large elastic deformation without damaging sample surfaces. The fabrication of the tungsten probe involves two separate procedures. The first procedure involves immersing a tungsten wire with both ends bent parallel to the surface of an electrolyte and controlling the stiffness of the tungsten cantilever by decreasing its diameter using electrochemical etching in the direction of the central axis. The second procedure involves immersing the end of the etched tungsten cantilever in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the electrolyte and fabricating a tungsten tip with a tip radius of 20-50 nm via the necking phenomenon. The latter etching process applies pulse waves every 0.25 seconds to the manufactured tip to improve its yield. Finite element analysis (FEA) of the stiffness of the tungsten probe as a function of its diameter showed that the stiffness of the tungsten probes greatly varies from 56 N/m to 3501 N/m according to the cantilever diameters from $30{\mu}m$ to $100{\mu}m$, respectively. Thus, the proposed etching method is effective for producing a tungsten probe having specific stiffness for optimal use with an AFM and certain samples.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.411-422
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• 1993

Osseointegrated dental implants are now an accepted part of the prosthetic treatment of fully and partially edentulous patients. Clinical studies have shown that osseointegrated dental implants may successfully be used as abutments for prosthetic rehabilitations, and that the supporting tissue can be kept in a stable and healthy clinical state for prolonged periods of time. The purpose of this study was to look for differences in the distribution in the bacterial morphotypes around natural teeth and osseointegrated dental implants. The subgingival plaque around natural teeth and implants was analysed by means of differential phase-contrast microscopy. In addition, clinical indices used to analyse natural teeth condition were used to compare the condition of natural teeth and implants. The results were as follows : 1. In implants of partially edentulous patients, the plaque index, sulcus bleeding index(P<0.05), pocket depth(P<0.01) were greater than natural teeth. 2. Gingival crevicular fluid volume was not significantly different between natural teeth and implants. 3. In implants of fully edentulous patients, the plaque index was greater than natural teeth(P<0.01) and implants of partially edentulous patients(P<0.05), but sulcus bleeding index was not significantly different. 4. In partially edentulous patient, coccoid cell proportion was greater in implants than natural teeth (P<0.05). 5. In implants of fully edentulous patients, coccid cell proportion was even greater than implants of partially edentulous patients(P<0.05) and natural teeth(P<0.01). 6. Among three groups, the proportions of non-motile rods, motile rods, spirochetes and others were not significantly different. 7. The proportion of motile bacteria was not significantly different among three group.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.42 no.8 s.279
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• pp.537-541
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• 2005

Silicon nitride is one of the most successful engineering ceramics, owing to a favorable combination of properties, including high strength, high hardness, low thermal expansion coefficient, and high fracture toughness. However, the impact damage behavior of $Si_3N_4$ ceramics has not been widely characterized. In this study, sphere and explosive indentations were used to characterize the static and dynamic damage behavior of $Si_3N_4$ ceramics with different microstructures. Three grades of $Si_3N_4$ with different grain size and shape, fine-equiaxed, medium, and coarse-elongated, were prepared. In order to observe the subsurface damaged zone, a bonded-interface technique was adopted. Subsurface damage evolution of the specimens was then characterized extensively using optical and electron microscopy. It was found that the damage response depends strongly on the microstructure of the ceramics, particularly on the glassy grain boundary phase. In the case of static indentation, examination of subsurface damage revealed competition between brittle and ductile damage modes. In contrast to static indentation results, dynamic indentation induces a massive subsurface yield zone that contains severe micro-failures. In this study, it is suggested that the weak glassy grain boundary phase plays an important role in the resistance to dynamic fracture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 1995

Twenty(20) large commercial buildings located in Seoul with friable sprayed-on surface insulation material on ceilings were investigated for asbestos content in bulk material by polarized light microscopy and for airborne fiber concentrations in buildings by phase contrast microscopy. In addition, such building-related variables as building age, numbers of traffic, airflow, surface conditions of the ceiling, temperature, and humidity were studied for any correlation with airborne fiber concentrations. The results were as follows: 1. Chrysotile asbestos was found in two bulk samples with 3-5% content and with <1%in one sample out of total 20 bulk samples collected. Glass fiber and mineral wool were the two major constituents of the bulk samples. 2. The ceiling surfaces were very friable in 16 buildings and were relatively hard in 4 buildings. The friability of the surface material was dependent upon the type and the amount of binder that had been mixed with the sprayed-on surface material. 3. Airborne fiber concentrations were log-normally distributed and the geometric mean(geometric standard deviation) fiber concentrations in the underground parking lots, inside buildings, and outdoor ambient air were 0.0063(1.97)f/cc, 0.0068(2.29)f/cc, and 0.0033(2.36)f/cc, respectively. 4. No significant relationship of airborne fiber concentrations and all building-related variables studied except humidity was found. The results of this study suggest that the sprayed-on surface insulation material found in some commercial buildings may possibly be contaminated with asbestos. Since most of the ceiling surfaces surveyed were very friable and poorly maintained and the airborne fiber concentrations were relatively high, there is a possibility of asbestos fiber contamination in these buildings, particularly at those buildings with asbestos-contaminated surface material. Since poorly maintained surface conditions were thought to be a source of high airborne fiber concentrations, there is a urgent need of a systematic operation and maintenance program. Further study of non-occupational asbestos exposure in general population utilizing advanced analytical technique such as transmission electron microscopy is highly recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6273-6280
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• 2013

Goniothalamin, a natural compound extracted from Goniothalamus sp. belonging to the Annonacae family, possesses anticancer properties towards several tumor cell lines. This study focused on apoptosis induction by goniothalamin (GTN) in the Hela cervical cancer cell line. Cell growth inhibition was measured by MTT assay and the $IC_{50}$ value of goniothalamin was $3.2{\pm}0.72{\mu}g/ml$. Morphological changes and biochemical processes associated with apoptosis were evident on phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. DNA fragmentation, DNA damage, caspase-9 activation and a large increase in the sub-G1 and S cell cycle phases confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. It could be concluded that goniothalamin show a promising cytotoxicity effect against cervical cancer cells (Hela) and the cell death mode induced by goniothalamin was apoptosis.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.719-725
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effects of sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and mouse fibroblast NIH-3T3 cells. Methods: The effect of sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) cell viability and proliferation were determined by WST-1 assay and changes shape of nucleus were evaluated by Hoechst staining under fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, observation of cell morphological changes under light microscopy. Results: SLS induced cytotoxicity and a marked apoptosis in both HaCaT and NIH-3T3 cell lines. With the result of the WST-1 assay, SLS induced the cytotoxicity of 0.005% and 0.0075%, 0.01% SLS for 24 h after HaCaT and NIH-3T3 cells in time and dose-dependent manner(p<0.005). SLS inhibited cell growth and caused apoptosis as evidenced by nuclear fragmentation and condensation. Thus, determination of the morphological changes to define apoptosis was visualized using inverted phase contrast microscopy. Conclusions: SLS had toxicity of the human keratinocyte cells and mouse fibroblast cells and this study will provide the basic data for the development of proper SLS concentration in dentifrice.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.718-726
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• 2007

There are many varieties of asbestos: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophylite. These are widely used in construction materials, brake lining, textile, and so on. Even though non-asbestos fibers such as glassfiber and rockwool have manufactured because asbestos causes asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, etc., some bad effects of non-asbestos have been also reported. PCM (phase contrast microscopy) and PLM (polarized light microscopy) have been used to qualitatively analyze asbestoses. These techniques have serious drawbacks when identifying and separating various asbestoses. Recently scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) has been known as an useful tool to analyze airborne particle since it provides physical and chemical information simultaneously. The purpose of the study was to classify both asbestos and non-asbestos fibers and finally to develop their source profiles by using the SEM/EDX. The source profiles characterized by 6 different types of asbestos fibers and 2 types of non-asbestos fibers had been developed by analyzing a total of 380 fibers. Analytical parameters used in this study were length, width, aspect ratio, and shape as physical information, and Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Cu as chemical information. All the parameters were intensively reviewed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 1996

Fourteen(14) large commercial buildings located in Seoul with friable sprayed-on surface insulation material on ceiling were investigated for fiber types in bulk material and for airborne fiber concentrations in buildings by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to compare the results with those by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The results were as follows: 1. Chrysotile asbestos was found in one bulk sample out of total 14 bulk samples collected. Glass fiber and mineral wool were the two major constituents of the bulk samples. 2. The Na-Mg-Si-Ca-Fe-Al ratios of the EDX spectra which were normalized with the Si peak were 0-1.0-10-8.3-4.0-4.0 in mineral wool and 0-5-10-21-0-0 in chrysotile asbestos, respectively. 3. Airborne fiber concentrations were log-normalcy distributed and the geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) fiber concentrations by TEM in the underground parking lots and inside buildings were 0.0048 f/cc(1.93) and 0.0040 f/cc(2.27), respectively with no statistical difference. In the outdoor ambient air, statistically significantly lower concentration of 0.0018 f/cc(2.04) was measured. 4. The TEM/PCM ratios of airborne fiber concentrations ranged 0.5 - 2.0 for 80 % of airborne samples analyzed, end the regression equation between TEM and PCM was PCM=-0.2724+1.1355(TEM) with the coefficient of determination $R^2=0.52$. The results of this study confirmed that the sprayed-on surface insulation material found in some commercial buildings may possibly be contaminated with asbestos fiber. Since statistically significant relationship of fiber concentrations measured by PCM and TEM inside buildings and ambient air was found, previous results by PCM in ambient air could be used to estimate the ambient fiber concentrations in knowing the ratio of TEM/PCM.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.47.1-47.12
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• 2024

Importance: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli contribute to global health challenges by forming biofilms, a key virulence element implicated in the pathogenesis of several infections. Objective: The study examined the efficacy of various generations of cephalosporins against biofilms developed by pathogenic S. aureus and E. coli. Methods: The development of biofilms by both bacteria was assessed using petri-plate and microplate methods. Biofilm hydrolysis and inhibition were tested using first to fourth generations of cephalosporins, and the effects were analyzed by crystal violet staining and phase contrast microscopy. Results: Both bacterial strains exhibited well-developed biofilms in petri-plate and microplate assays. Cefradine (first generation) showed 76.78% hydrolysis of S. aureus biofilm, while significant hydrolysis (59.86%) of E. coli biofilm was observed by cefipime (fourth generation). Similarly, cefuroxime, cefadroxil, cefepime, and cefradine caused 78.8%, 71.63%, 70.63%, and 70.51% inhibition of the S. aureus biofilms, respectively. In the case of E. coli, maximum biofilm inhibition (66.47%) was again shown by cefepime. All generations of cephalosporins were more effective against S. aureus than E. coli, which was confirmed by phase contrast microscopy. Conclusions and Relevance: Cephalosporins exhibit dual capabilities of hydrolyzing and inhibiting S. aureus and E. coli biofilms. First-generation cephalosporins exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus, while the third and fourth generations significantly inhibited E. coli biofilms. This study highlights the importance of tailored antibiotic strategies based on the biofilm characteristics of specific bacterial strains.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 1997

A study was performed to examine the aging behaviors of Al-2.1Li-2.9Cu alloy by differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy. DSC measurements were conducted over the temperature range of $25{\sim}550^{\circ}C$ at a heating rate of $5^{\circ}C$/min. for the specimens aged at 130, 160, $190^{\circ}C$ and $220^{\circ}C$ for various times after solution treatment at $540^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. The peaks due to the formation of G.P.zone were not detected in the specimens aged at 130 and $160^{\circ}C$, but those at 190 and $220^{\circ}C$ appeared in DSC curves. The heat absorption due to the dissolution of ${\delta}^{\prime}$ phase was increased with increasing aging time at $130^{\circ}C$ aging. In contrast, those values for the specimens aged at 160 and $190^{\circ}C$ were initially increased and inversely decreased at the transition time of 72 and 1 hour, respectively. The heat evolution due to the formation of $T_1$ phase was nearly unchanged at $130^{\circ}C$ aging, but at $160^{\circ}C$ and $190^{\circ}C$ aging, drastically decreased after the transition time. It can be considered that the increase of $T_1$ phase results in the decrease of ${\delta}^{\prime}$ phase when aging time is longer than the transition time. The hardness of the specimen aged at $190^{\circ}C$ is initially higher compared with that at $160^{\circ}C$, however, the peak hardness shows the lower value than that at $160^{\circ}C$.