• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.56-60
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• 2019

Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) has been used widely in traditional medicine to treat common diseases. This study aimed to develop a high-sensitivity liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC-MS) spectrometry method for the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of a new natural product that contain CR extract with the main bioactive compound, berberine, at trace concentrations. Human plasma samples were pretreated with methanol by a protein precipitation method. Berberine was analyzed on a Kinetex C18 column ($2.1mm{\times}50mm$, $100{\AA}$, $1.7{\mu}m$) using a mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium formate/0.1% formic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) (50:50, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The analyte was detected by using electrospray ionization in positive mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The method was sensitive, with a lower limit of quantification of 1 pg/mL, which has not been previously obtained. The method was validated (over the range of 1-50 pg/mL) and applied successfully for the pharmacokinetic study of human plasma samples.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.959-967
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• 2004

The concentrations and loads of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wet deposition were investigated at Chungbuk National University in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Event based precipitation samples were collected during 1998 to 2003. The precipitation-weighted mean concentrations of pollutants were 0.60 mg/L for TN, 0.014 mg/L for TP, and 4.8 mg/L for COD, which were smaller than its arithmetic mean concentrations by 26% for TN, 18% for TP, and 14% for COD. The concentrations of TN, TP, and COD significantly decreased with precipitation. Mean concentrations of pollutants in spring (March-May) were higher than in other seasons likely due to dust caused by wind erosion and sand-dust storms, pollen etc. Significant relationships were determined between TN and TP, and TN and COD. Annual loads of wet deposition averaged 7.9 kg/ha$\cdot$yr for TN, 0.19 kg/ha$\cdot$yr for TP, and 63.9 kg/ha$\cdot$yr for COD, which are almost identical to the values of TN and TP but slightly higher than COD value reported in Japan.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1681-1685
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• 2012

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine valproic acid in human red blood cell (RBC). It is important to measure the drug concentration of the RBC as well as that of the plasma because of drug partitioning for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study. The method was linear over the dynamic range of 1-100 ${\mu}g$/mL with a correlation coefficient $r$ = 0.9997. The linearity of this method was established from 1 to 100 ${\mu}g$/mL for valproic acid in red blood cell with accuracy and precision within 15% at all concentrations. The intra-run and inter-run assay accuracy and coefficient of variations are all within 15% for all QC samples prepared in plasma and red blood human samples. Then, valproic acid amount by protein precipitation in plasma was quantified by LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry. The distribution ratio of VPA in RBC and plasma was analyzed by clinical samples. Based on measurement of the valproic acid in human red blood cell, this method has been applied to clinical research for study of distribution ratio of valproic acid in blood.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 1994

In order to investigate the regional level of air pollutants at Kangwha island situated on the western coast in Korea, the suspended particulate matter samples were collected by using the low volume air sampler on ten interval from March 1992 to February 1993 and the mass concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the chemical composition of water-soluble major ionic components in SPM samples were measured. During the sampling period, the average concentration of SPM under diameter 10 $\mu$m was found to be 48 $\mu$g/m$^3$ (+ 12). The seasonal concentration of SPM was showed in order of spring>fall>winter>summer. It was considered that higher concentration on spring than other season was affected by the long-range transport of Yellow sand particulate from China continent and lower concentration on summer by the washout and rainout effect of large rainfall. The content of water-soluble component in SPM samples was founded to be about 31% (14.69 $\mu$g/m$^3$) and 65% was unknown or unanalyzed. The content of cationic component showed in order of NH$_4^+$ (44.6%)>Na$^+$ (21.2%)>K$^+$ (14.7%)>Ca$^{2+}$ (13.6%)>Mg$^{2+}$ (5.9 %) and the content of anionic component SO$_4^{2-}$ (62.5%)>NO$_3^-$ (22.3%)>Cl$^-$ (15.2%), respectively. This fact indicates that ammonium and sulfate ion of water-soluble component in SPM sample were dominant in this region. From the chemical composition of water-soluble component, the most of Na$^+$, Mg$^{2+}$ and Cl$^-$ were originated from seawater source but K$^+$, Ca$^{2+}$ and SO$_4^{2-}$ were originated from other non-marine source. The contribution of seasalt to the composition of precipitation was 23%.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

The mineral phases precipitated in the swamp built for the treatment of the mine drainage of the Dalsung Mine were investigated to reveal the mineralogical changes from schwertmannite to goethite and related behavior of heavy metals. Our XRD results show that most schwertmannite were transformed to goethite except the small portions of the samples in the uppermost part. No significant morphological changes were observed in the samples during mineral transformation by SEM, indicating that this transformation process occurred not from dissolution-precipitation process, but in solid state. Among heavy metals sorbed or coprecipitated in the mineral phases, Pb and Cu concentrations were relatively higher compared with their concentrations in the mine drainage. The relative concentrations of other heavy metals show similar values. The heavy metal concentration in the minerals do not show noticeable differences from uppermost schwertmannite to lower goethite samples, indicating the transformation process without any leaching or additional sorption of heavy metals in the solid state.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2013

Magnesium alloys exhibit many attractive properties such as low density, high strength/weight ratio, high thermal conductivity, very good electromagnetic features and good recyclability. However, most commercial magnesium alloys require protective coatings because of their poor corrosion resistance. Attempts have been made to improve the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloys by surface treatments, such as chemical conversion coatings, anodizing, plating and metal coatings. Among them, chemical conversion coatings are regarded as one of the most effective and cheapest ways to prevent corrosion of Mg alloys. In this study, the effects of various $Zn^{2+}$ concentrations and pH levels on the formation of zinc phosphate conversion coatings (ZPCCs) on AZ31 magnesium alloy were investigated, and corrosion resistances of the coated samples were evaluated by immersion test and potentiodynamic polarization experiment. The corrosion resistance of the coated AZ31 samples was found to increase with increasing $Zn^{2+}$ concentration and the lowest corrosion rate was obtained for the samples coated at pH of 3.07, independent of $Zn^{2+}$ concentration. The best coatings on AZ31 were obtained at [$Zn^{2+}$] = 0.068 M and pH 3.07. At the conditions of [$Zn^{2+}$] = 0.068 M and pH 3.07, the formation and growth processes of ZPCCs on AZ31 Mg alloy are divided into four stages: formation of a dense layer, precipitation of fine crystals on the dense layer, growths of the inner and outer layers, and reorganization of outer crystalline layer.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2010

In order to investigate the effects of tempering temperature and heat-treatment path on the microstructural and mechanical properties of ASTM Gr.92 steels, four samples with different tempering temperatures and heat-treatment paths wer prepared. THeree experimental steels showed tempered martensitic microstructures, but the sample tempered at $810^{\circ}C$ was presumed to retain partially untempered martensitic microstructures due to a lower ${\alpha}$+${\gamma}$ phase regime. $M_{23}C_6$, V(C,N), and Nb(C,N) precipitates were observed in all samples. In addition $Cr_2N$ was observed to be precipitated finely and uniformly by isothermal heat-treatment. The lath width and precipitate size in the isothermal heat-treated samples were much smaller than those of the tempered-only specimens. Because of a fine and uniform precipitate, a reduction of lath width would enhance precipitation hardeing, and it was shown that mechanical propertiesincluding the hardness and tensile properties of the steels were improved by isothermal heat-treatment.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-20
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• 2019

In order to establish appropriate policy to control sediment-associated problems, it is necessary to identify the physical characteristics of the reservoir sediments in particulate form in the Yeongsan River. Two time-integrated suspended sediment samplers were installed at Seungchon and Juksan weir on the upper and middle Yeongsan River in July 2012. Reservoir sediment samples were obtained at monthly intervals until October 2014. During the monitoring period, a total of 38 sediment samples were obtained and analyzed. Seasonal trends of suspended sedimentation rates and grain size distributions were examined based on variations in precipitation and discharge fluctuations. Moreover, stream flow characteristics, which has a great influence on the physical characteristics of the river sediment, was analyzed using flow duration curve for the period 2003-2019 at Naju gauging station. Sedimentation rates during summer, when heavy rainfall was concentrated due to the monsoonal front and typhoon, were very high, indicating the positive relationship between sediment concentration and discharge. Particle size analysis of the collected sediment showed that coarse silt and very fine sand-sized sediment dominated most of the Seungchon weir sediment. On the other hand, medium silt-sized sediment dominated the downstream Juksan weir except for a few summer samples. These results implied that the physical characteristics of the suspended sediment are determined not only due to flow fluctuations, but also with regard to the antecedent rainfall conditions, hillslope-channel connectivity, and the supply of materials from various contributing regions. This information about flow characteristics and temporal variations in reservoir sediment can be used for safe management of the weir and discussing the issues on the dismantling of the weirs.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2003.05b
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• pp.245-246
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• 2003

아시아 지역 SO$_2$와 NOx 배출량의 2/3을 차지하는 중국이 1996년에 최대배출량을 기록한 후 석탄사용량 감소 등으로 점차 감소경향을 나타내고 있을지라도 한국을 포함한 동아시아 지역은 여전히 전세계적으로 이들 대기오염물질에 대한 주요 배출원 지역으로 알려져 있다. 대기중으로 배출된 이들 오염물질은 여러가지 반응기구를 통하여 2차 오염물질로 전환되고 기류의 흐름에 따라 풍하지역으로 이동하면서 습성 또는 건성강하물의 형태로 지표면에 침착하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 이유로 중국의 풍하지역에 위치한 우리나라와 일본에서는 대기오염물질의 장거리 이동에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있는 실정이다. (중략)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1541-1544
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• 2002

The concentration of B in steels is important due to its influence on mechanical properties of steel such as hardenability, hot workability, and creep resistance. An analytical method has been developed to determine B in steel samples by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). National Institute of Standard and Technology Standard Reference Material (NIST SRM) 348a was analyzed to validate the analytical method. The steel sample was digested in a centrifuge bottle with addition of aqua regia and $^{10}B$ spike isotope. Sample pH was then adjusted to higher than 10 to precipitate most matrix elements such as Fe, Cr, and Ni. After centrifugation, the supernatant solution was passed through a cation exchange column to enhance the matrix separation efficiency. B recovery efficiency was about 37%, while matrix removal efficiency was higher than 99.9% for major matrix elements. The isotope dilution method was used for quantification and the determined B concentration was in good agreement with the certified value.