• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.509-516
• /
• 2010

This study was investigated the characteristics of indoor air concentration of fiber particles in 30 public facilities and 245 schools by PCM (phase contrast microscopy). Also SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscope / energy dispersive using X-ray analysis) was used to obtain physicochemical information of asbestos fiber and to classify asbestos and non-asbestos of fiber particles. The airborne concentrations of fiber particles were $0.0009\pm0.0009$ counts/mL in public facilities and $0.0012\pm0.0006$ counts/mL in schools by PCM. All the samples were satisfied with the IAQ (indoor air quality) level of 0.01 counts/mL. In classification of 4 type shapes, over 80% of the fiber particles were identified as single fiber type. And this study analysed airborne fiber particles in 4 sites for identifying asbestos of by SEM/EDX. The asbestos fibers in most samples could not be found.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.219-224
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Lung cancer occurred with worker working in an urban bus garage. A survey was conducted to investigate whether lung cancer had causal relationship with work. Exposure to asbestos and diesel engine exhaust were suspected. Methods: Airborne asbestos was sampled on membrane filter and analyzed using phase-contrast microscopy. Airborne diesel exhaust was sampled using quartz filter and analyzed with thermal-optical analyzer. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons was sampled using PTFE filter and XAD-2 tube and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass selective detector. Results: Airborne asbestos concentration was under 0.01 fiber/cc. Worker who warmed up an engine of urban bus for 2 hours was exposed to elemental carbon concentration, $15.5{\mu}g/m^3$. Only naphtalene among polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons was detected. Conclusions: It was difficult to conclude about worker exposure to asbestos because working hour related asbestos was too short. In reviewing papers, the exposure to asbestos over 0.01 fiber/cc during exchange brake lining was found. It was identified that worker's occupational exposure to diesel exhaust based on elemental carbon was higher than the other occupational exposure to diesel exhaust.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2012.02a
• /
• pp.313-313
• /
• 2012

ZnO and $SnO_2$, well-known wide direct band-gap semiconductors, have been considered as the most promising functional materials due to their highly sensitive gas sensing and excellent optical properties. ZnO/$SnO_2$ epitaxial hetrostructure exhibited unique luminescence properties in contrast with individual tetra-pod ZnO and $SnO_2$ nanostructures. Polycrystalline $SnO_2$-based samples $Zn_xSn_{1-x}O_2$(x=0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05) were prepared by solid state reaction and eco-friendly hydrothermal techniques. Scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron dispersive x-ray spectra confirms the formation of near stoichiometric $Zn_xSn_{1-x}O_2$ nanorods of diameter ~10 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the rutile structure, except for x=0.07, which may have a small part of $Zn_2SnO_4$ as a secondary phase.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.99-102
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Acetone/triacetine method for clearing cellulose ester membrane (CEM) filter has been a popular method for air-borne asbestos analysis. However, as a weakness of this method, it is time consuming to analyses asbestos samples after sampling. Crystalclear method can be used to analyses asbestos samples promptly after sampling. Although a strength of crystal clear method exists, there was little valid studied for the method. This study was conducted to compare acetone/triacetine method with crystalclear one for analysing asbestos sample. Methods: Test samples made in three different concentration ranges(low, medium and high concentration) were analysed by phase contrast microscopy after acetone/triacetine and crystalclear method treatment respectively. Results: We did not find statistical difference in analysed results between two methods, which were conducted in three different concentrations ranges. Conclusions: We concluded that crystalclear method can be used as clearing method for air-borne asbestos analysis instead of acetone/triacetine method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2016.02a
• /
• pp.307.2-307.2
• /
• 2016

In this study, we synthesized Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) thin films using a simple annealing process in the solid phase. The synthetic conditions were systematically controlled and optimized by varying the concentration of the Au salt solution and the annealing temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed their chemical state, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified the successful synthesis, size, and density of AuNPs. Au nanoparticles were generated from the thermal decomposition of the Au salt and stabilized during the cyclization of the PAN matrix. For actual device applications, previous synthetic techniques have required the synthesis of AuNPs in a liquid phase and an additional process to form the thin film layer, such as spin-coating, dip-coating, Langmuir-Blodgett, or high vacuum deposition. In contrast, our one-step synthesis could produce gold nanoparticles from the Au salt contained in a solid matrix with an easy heat treatment. The PAN:AuNPs composite was used as the charge trap layer of an organic nano-floating gate memory (ONFGM). The memory devices exhibited a high on/off ratio (over $10^6$), large hysteresis windows (76.7 V), and a stable endurance performance (>3000 cycles), indicating that our stabilized PAN:AuNPs composite film is a potential charge trap medium for next generation organic nano-floating gate memory transistors.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2016

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Nps), composed of magnetite, $Fe_3O_4$, or maghemite, ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$, core and biocompatible polymer shell, such as dextran or chitozan, have recently found wide applications in magnetic resonance imaging, contrast enhancement and hyperthermia therapy. For different diagnostic and therapeutic applications, current attempt is focusing on the synthesis and biomedical applications of various ferrite Nps, such as $CoFe_2O_4$ and $MnFe_2O_4$, differing from iron oxide Nps in charge, surface chemistry and magnetic properties. This study is focused on the synthesis of manganese ferrite, $MnFe_2O_4$, Nps by most commonly used chemical way pursuing better control of their size, purity and magnetic properties. Co-precipitation syntheses were performed using aqueous alkaline solutions of Mn(II) and Fe(III) salts and NaOH within a wide pH range using various hydrothermal treatment regimes. Different additives, such as citric acid, cysteine, glicine, polyetylene glycol, triethanolamine, chitosan, etc., were tested on purpose to obtain good yield of pure phase and monodispersed Nps with average size of ${\leq}20nm$. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), $M\ddot{o}ssbauer$ spectroscopy down to cryogenic temperatures, magnetic measurements and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed in this study.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.173-192
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bioactive glass and natural coral on the human periodontal ligament fibroblast(HPLF) behaviors during the regeneration process of peridontium. To determine the cellular events occuring in the presence of the particles of bioactive glass and natural coral, HPLF were isolated from healthy premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment. Cells were cultured in ${\alpha}$MEM at 37$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$, 95% humidity incubator. Bioactive glass and natural coral were powdered, and each particles(<40${\mu}$m) were placed on the cultured cells at the concentration of 0.3mg/ml, and 1,0mg/ml for experimental group. In control group no particles were added. And each group was evaluated by examining the cell morphology under phase-contrast micrograph at 4 day and transmission electron micrograph(TEM) and scanning electron micrograph(SEM) at 14 day, alkaline phosphatase activity at 5 and 9 day, protain synthesis at 4 day, DNA synthesis at 1, 2, 3 and 4 day, cell proliferation at 1, 3, 5,7 and 9 day and the formation of bone nodule at 30 day after culturing all groups in mineralizing supplemented mediun, No significant changes in cell morphology by adding these two matirials were found under phase contrast microscopy and TEM. HPLF phagocytocized each particles suggesting that HPLF is involved in the process of resorbing each particles and that bioactive glass were more biocompatible than natural coral. The ALPase activity of bioactive glass 0.3 mg/ml was similar with control groups and all the rests of control groups were significantly low(P<0.01) indicating a transient dedifferentiation of HPLF in the presence of bioactive glass and natural coral particles. There were no significant differences of protein synthesis between all groups. The DNA synthesis in experimental groups were significantly lower than control groups at 1, 2 and 3 day (P<0.01) but became similar to control groups at 4 day. Between control groups, the DNA synthesis in bioactive glass O.3mglml group was significantly higher than other groups(P<0.01). Cell proliferation in natural coral 1.0mg/ml and bioactive glass 1.0mglml groups were significantly lower than control group at 3 day(P<0.05) and there were no differences at 5, 7, 9 day. There were more bone nodule formation in experimental groups than in control groups. In conclusion, these results indicated that bioactive glass and natural coral have some effects of a transient dedifferentiation on HPLF and regeneration of periodontal tissues, however any significant cytotoxic effect on HPLF by these two particles were not found.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.331-341
• /
• 1999

Examination of the morphology of red blood cells in the urine has been shown to be a promising adjunct in determining whether hematuria represents glomerular or nonglomerular bleeding. This is due to distortion of RBCs as they Pass across the basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries. It is concluded that is method can greatly help the clinician in distinguishing between glomerular and nonglomerular bleeding in patients with hematuria and channeling such patients toward the most appropriate investigations. We have experimented dysmorphic red blood cells that 5 patients of the hematuria are distorted with irregular outlines and often have small blobs extruding from the red cell membrane. Tried urinary sediments were seen with phase contrast microscope and confirmed scanning electron microscope. There are seen acanthocytes, anulocytes, ghost cells and sphero-echinocytes in dysmorphic erythrocytes. Clinical diagnosis was referred from the result of the biopsy-proven. Scanning electron microscopic findings of the hematuria are good diagnostic tool that disclose in distorted red blood cells from patients with glomerular disorders.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.24
• /
• pp.10659-10663
• /
• 2015

Background: Rapamycin is an effective anti-angiogenic drug. However, the mode of its action remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the antitumor mechanism of rapamycin, hypothetically via apoptotic promotion, using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: MCF-7 cells were plated at a density of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/well in 6-well plates. After 24h, cells were treated with a series of concentrations of rapamycin while only adding DMEM medium with PEG for the control regiment and grown at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ and 95% air for 72h. Trypan blue was used to determine the cell viability and proliferation. Untreated and rapamycin-treated MCF-7 cells were also examined for morphological changes with an inverted-phase contrast microscope. Alteration in cell morphology was ascertained, along with a stage in the cell cycle and proliferation. In addition, cytotoxicity testing was performed using normal mouse breast mammary pads. Results: Our results clearly showed that rapamycin exhibited inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cell lines. The $IC_{50}$ value of rapamycin on the MCF-7 cells was determined as $0.4{\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.05). Direct observation by inverted microscopy demonstrated that the MCF-7 cells treated with rapamycin showed characteristic features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage, vascularization and autophagy. Cells underwent early apoptosis up to 24% after 72h. Analysis of the cell cycle showed an increase in the G0G1 phase cell population and a corresponding decrease in the S and G2M phase populations, from 81.5% to 91.3% and 17.3% to 7.9%, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that rapamycin may potentially act as an anti-cancer agent via the inhibition of growth with some morphological changes of the MCF-7 cancer cells, arrest cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase and induction of apoptosis in late stage of apoptosis. Further studies are needed to further characterize the mode of action of rapamycin as an anti-cancer agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.130-138
• /
• 2016

The use of antibiotics in aquaculture raises environmental and food safety concerns because chronic exposure of an aquatic ecosystem to antibiotics can result in the spread of antibiotic resistance, bioaccumulation of antibiotics in the organisms, and transfer of antibiotics to humans. In an attempt to overcome these problems, high-concentration red clay was applied as an alternative antibiotic against the following common fish pathogens: Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Streptococcus equinus. The growth of A. salmonicida and V. alginolyticus was retarded by red clay, whereas that of S. equinus was promoted. Phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed the attachment of red clay on cell surfaces, resulting in rapid gravitational removal and cell surface damage in both A. salmonicida and V. alginolyticus, but not in S. equinus. Different cell wall properties of grampositive species may explain the unharmed cell surface of S. equinus. Significant levels of oxidative stress were generated in only the former two species, whereas significant changes in membrane permeability were found only in S. equinus, probably because of its physiological adaptation. The bacterial communities in water samples from Oncorhynchus mykiss aquacultures supplemented with red clay showed similar structure and diversity as those from oxytetracycline-treated water. Taken together, the antibiotic effects of high concentrations of red clay in aquaculture can be attributed to gravitational removal, cell surface damage, and oxidative stress production, and suggest that red clay may be used as an alternative for antibiotics in aquaculture.