• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.405-425
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to review the methodologies for evaluation of consumer spray products containing engineered nanomaterials (ENM), particularly focusing on inhalation exposure. Method: Literature on the evaluation methods for aerosolized ENM exposure from consumer spray products were collected through academic web searching. Common methodologies used in the literature, including research reports and academic articles, were also introduced. Results: The number of ENM-containing products have shown a considerable increase over recent years, from 54 in 2005 to 1,827 in 2018. Currently there is still discussion over the existing regulations with regard to product safety. Analysis of both ENM suspensions in the products and their aerosols is important for risk assessment. Comparison between the phases suggests how the size and concentration of particles change during the spray process. To analyze the ENM suspensions, dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy techniques, and inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry were used. In the aerosol monitoring, direct-reading instruments have been used to monitor the aerosols and conventional active sampling is used together to supplement the lack of real-time monitoring. There are also some models for estimating inhalation exposure. These models may be used to estimate mass exposure to nanomaterials contained in consumer products. Conclusion: Although there is no standardized method to evaluate ENM exposure from consumer products, many concerns about ENM have emerged. Every potential measure to reduce exposure to ENM from spray product use should be implemented through a precautionary recognition.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.157-164
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• 2021

We describe a method for the in-orbit calibration of body-mounted magnetometers based on the CHAOS-7 geomagnetic field model. The code is designed to find the true calibration parameters autonomously by using only the onboard magnetometer data and the corresponding CHAOS outputs. As the model output and satellite data have different coordinate systems, they are first transformed to a Star Tracker Coordinate (STC). Then, non-linear optimization processes are run to minimize the differences between the CHAOS-7 model and satellite data in the STC. The process finally searches out a suite of calibration parameters that can maximize the model-data agreement. These parameters include the instrument gain, offset, axis orthogonality, and Euler rotation matrices between the magnetometer frame and the STC. To validate the performance of the Python code, we first produce pseudo satellite data by convoluting CHAOS-7 model outputs with a prescribed set of the 'true' calibration parameters. Then, we let the code autonomously undistort the pseudo satellite data through optimization processes, which ultimately track down the initially prescribed calibration parameters. The reconstructed parameters are in good agreement with the prescribed (true) ones, which demonstrates that the code can be used for actual instrument data calibration. This study is performed using Python 3.8.5, NumPy 1.19.2, SciPy 1.6, AstroPy 4.2, SpacePy 0.2.1, and ChaosmagPy 0.5 including the CHAOS-7.6 geomagnetic field model. This code will be utilized for processing NextSat-1 and Small scale magNetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment (SNIPE) data in the future.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.817-823
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• 2019

노화는 광범위한 생리 변화이다. 노화가 진행됨에 따라 면역반응은 쇠퇴하고 조절장애가 나타나는데 이를 포괄적 의미로 immunosenescense라고 정의한다. 내재면역반응과 적응면역 반응 모두의 면역 성분은 노화가 진행됨에 따라 영향을 받아 감염성 질병에 대한 취약성이 증가하게 된다. 노화된 동물 모델과 인간에서 면역 세포의 수와 용해성 면역 인자의 양이 줄어 들었고, 면역체계의 기능이 감소하였고, 구조적인 변형과 퇴화가 나타났다. 또한, 세포 내 신호분자와 같은 내재적 변화도 발견되었다. 최근 노화와 관련된 연구는 급격히 증가하였고, 면역체계 영역을 포함하여 다양한 방향으로 노화현상을 분석하는 진보된 기술들이 개발되고 있다. 이 총설은 면역의 주요 구성 요소의 노화 관련 변화에 대한 광범위한 개요를 제공하고자 하였다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.159-168
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• 2019

In solstices during the solar minimum, the hemispheric difference of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) intensity (hereafter hemispheric asymmetry) is understood as being opposite in the morning and afternoon. This phenomenon is explained by the temporal variation of the combined effects of the fountain process and interhemispheric wind. However, the mechanism applied to the observations during the solar minimum has not yet been validated with observations made during other periods of the solar cycle. We investigate the variability of the hemispheric asymmetry with local time (LT), altitude, season, and solar cycle using the electron density taken by the CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload satellite and the global total electron content (TEC) maps acquired during 2001-2008. The electron density profiles provided by the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate satellites during 2007-2008 are also used to investigate the variation of the hemispheric asymmetry with altitude during the solar minimum. During the solar minimum, the location of a stronger EIA moves from the winter hemisphere to the summer hemisphere around 1200-1400 LT. The reversal of the hemispheric asymmetry is more clearly visible in the F-peak density than in TEC or in topside plasma density. During the solar maximum, the EIA in the winter hemisphere is stronger than that in the summer hemisphere in both the morning and afternoon. When the location of a stronger EIA in the afternoon is viewed as a function of the year, the transition from the winter hemisphere to the summer hemisphere occurs near 2004 (yearly average F10.7 index = 106). We discuss the mechanisms that cause the variation of the hemispheric asymmetry with LT and solar cycle.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.331-337
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• 2012

Electrical properties as a function of composition in silicon nitride ($SiN_x$) films grown at low temperatures ($<200^{\circ}C$) were studied for applications to photonic devices and thin film transistors. Both silicon-rich and nitrogen-rich compositions were successfully produced in final films by controlling the source gas mixing ratio, $R=[(N_2\;or\;NH_3)/SiH_4]$, and the RF plasma power. Depending on the film composition, the dielectric and optical properties of $SiN_x$ films varied substantially. Both the resistivity and breakdown field strength showed the maximum value at the stoichiometric composition (N/Si = 1.33), and degraded as the composition deviated to either side. The electrical properties degraded more rapidly when the composition shifted toward the silicon-rich side than toward the nitrogen-rich side. The composition shift from the silicon-rich side to the nitrogen-rich side accompanied the shift in the photoluminescence characteristic peak to a shorter wavelength, indicating an increase in the band gap. As long as the film composition is close to the stoichiometry, the breakdown field strength and the bulk resistivity showed adequate values for use as a gate dielectric layer down to $150^{\circ}C$ of the process temperature.

• 환경분석과 독성보건
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.237-242
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• 2018

Strontium (Sr) commonly exists in rock, groundwater, soil, plants, and animals. The Sr isotope ratio offers important information as a tracer on nature because the Sr isotopic composition is not fractionated by any biological process in these ecosystems. Hence, Sr isotope ratio has been used in several studies on tracing the Sr source for contaminated sites and human migration. In this study, we developed a separation method for Sr content, and then improved Sr isotope analysis using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). A powdered rock standard (NIST 2710a) was used to determine the removal of interference elements (Rb and Ca) and the recovery rate of Sr content. The results ranged from 98% to 106%. Additionally, three standard samples (NBS 987, IAPSO and NIST 1486) were analyzed to evaluate the precision and accuracy of the results. The measured $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratio for all the samples were consistent with the reported values, within an error. These results indicate that our established Sr separation and Sr isotope measurement methods are reliable and can hence be useful in the fields of environmental and forensic sciences.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.251-258
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• 2021

본 논문에서는 U-Net 기반의 semantic segmentation 방법에서 정확도를 향상시키기 위해 residual learning을 활용한 인코더-디코더 구조의 모델을 제안하였다. U-Net은 딥러닝 기반의 semantic segmentation 방법이며 자율주행 자동차, 의료 영상 분석과 같은 응용 분야에서 주로 사용된다. 기존 U-Net은 인코더의 얕은 구조로 인해 특징 압축 과정에서 손실이 발생한다. 특징 손실은 객체의 클래스 분류에 필요한 context 정보 부족을 초래하고 segmentation 정확도를 감소시키는 문제가 있다. 이를 개선하기 위해 제안하는 방법은 기존 U-Net에 특징 손실과 기울기 소실 문제를 방지하는데 효과적인 residual learning을 활용한 인코더를 통해 context 정보를 효율적으로 추출하였다. 또한, 인코더에서 down-sampling 연산을 줄여 특징맵에 포함된 공간 정보의 손실을 개선하였다. 제안하는 방법은 Cityscapes 데이터셋 실험에서 기존 U-Net 방법에 비해 segmentation 결과가 약 12% 향상되었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.867-874
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• 2021

Epalrestat (EPS) is a brain penetrant aldose reductase inhibitor, an approved drug currently used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. At near-plasma concentration, EPS induces glutathione biosynthesis, which in turn reduces oxidative stress in the neuronal cells. In this study, we found that EPS reduces neurodegeneration by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative injury, mitochondrial membrane damage, apoptosis and tauopathy. EPS treatment up to 50 µM did not show any toxic effect on SH-SY5Y cell line (neuroblastoma cells). However, we observed toxic effect at a concentration of 100 µM and above. At 50 µM concentration, EPS showed better antioxidant activity against H₂O₂ (100 µM)-induced cytotoxicity, ROS formation and mitochondrial membrane damage in retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cell line. Furthermore, our study revealed that 50 µM of EPS concentration reduced the glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3-β) expression and total tau protein level in H₂O₂ (100 µM)-treated cells. Findings from this study confirms the therapeutic efficacy of EPS on regulating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating GSK3-β and total tau proteins phosphorylation, which helped to restore the cellular viability. This process could also reduce toxic fibrillary tangle formation and disease progression of AD. Therefore, it is our view that an optimal concentration of EPS therapy could decrease AD pathology by reducing tau phosphorylation through regulating the expression level of GSK3-β.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.434-444
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• 2022

Corrosion inhibitors based on Zn-Al hydrotalcites containing benzoate (ZnAlHB) with different molar ratios of Zn/Al were prepared with a co-precipitation process. Compositions and structures of the resulting hydrotalcites were studied with suitable spectroscopic methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and surface zeta potential measurements, respectively. Results of physico-chemical studies showed that crystallite sizes, compositions of products, and surface electrical properties were significantly changed when the molar ratio of Zn/Al was increased. The release of benzoate from hydrotalcites also differed slightly among samples. Anticorrosion abilities of hydrotalcites intercalated with benzoate at a concentration of 3 g/L on carbon steel were analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), polarization curve, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and SEM. Corrosion inhibition abilities of benzoate modified hydrotalcites in 0.1 M NaCl showed an upward trend with increasing Zn/Al ratio. The reason for the dependence of corrosion resistance on the Zn/Al ratio was discussed, including changes in the microstructure of hydrotalcites such as crystal size, density, uniformity, and formation of ZnO.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.99-109
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• 2022

Powder flowability is critical in additive manufacturing processes, especially for laser powder bed fusion. Many powder features, such as powder size distribution, particle shape, surface roughness, and chemical composition, simultaneously affect the flow properties of a powder; however, the individual effect of each factor on powder flowability has not been comprehensively evaluated. In this study, the impact of particle shape (sphericity) on the rheological properties of Ti-6Al-4V powder is quantified using an FT4 powder rheometer. Dynamic image analysis is conducted on plasma-atomized (PA) and gas-atomized (GA) powders to evaluate their particle sphericity. PA and GA powders exhibit negligible differences in compressibility and permeability tests, but GA powder shows more cohesive behavior, especially in a dynamic state, because lower particle sphericity facilitates interaction between particles during the powder flow. These results provide guidelines for the manufacturing of advanced metal powders with excellent powder flowability for laser powder bed fusion.