• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.572-581
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• 2022

Objective : Compared to microscopes, exoscopes have advantages in field-depth, ergonomics, and educational value. Exoscopes are especially well-poised for adaptation into fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) due to their excitation source, light path, and image processing capabilities. We evaluated the feasibility of near-infrared FGS using a 3-dimensional (3D), 4 K exoscope with near-infrared fluorescence imaging capability. We then compared it to the most sensitive, commercially-available near-infrared exoscope system (3D and 960 p). In-vitro and intraoperative comparisons were performed. Methods : Serial dilutions of indocyanine-green (1-2000 ㎍/mL) were imaged with the 3D, 4 K Olympus Orbeye (system 1) and the 3D, 960 p VisionSense Iridium (system 2). Near-infrared sensitivity was calculated using signal-to-background ratios (SBRs). In addition, three patients with brain tumors were administered indocyanine-green and imaged with system 1, with two also imaged with system 2 for comparison. Results : Systems 1 and 2 detected near-infrared fluorescence from indocyanine green concentrations of >250 ㎍/L and >31.3 ㎍/L, respectively. Intraoperatively, system 1 visualized strong near-infrared fluorescence from two, strongly gadolinium-enhancing meningiomas (SBR=2.4, 1.7). The high-resolution, bright images were sufficient for the surgeon to appreciate the underlying anatomy in the near-infrared mode. However, system 1 was not able to visualize fluorescence from a weakly-enhancing intraparenchymal metastasis. In contrast, system 2 successfully visualized both the meningioma and the metastasis but lacked high resolution stereopsis. Conclusion : Three-dimensional exoscope systems provide an alternative visualization platform for both standard microsurgery and near-infrared fluorescent guided surgery. However, when tumor fluorescence is weak (i.e., low fluorophore uptake, deep tumors), highly sensitive near-infrared visualization systems may be required.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.783-791
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• 2015

A fluidized-bed reactor with an inside diameter of 0.1 m and a height of 1.2 m was used to study the effect of steam and catalyst additions to air-blown biomass gasification on the production of producer gas. The equipment consisted of a fluidized bed reactor, a fuel supply system, a cyclone, a condenser, two receivers, steam generator and gas analyzer. Silica sand with a mean particle diameter of $380{\mu}m$ was used as a bed material and calcined dolomite ($356{\mu}m$), which is effective in tar reduction and producer gas purification, was used as the catalyst. Both of Korea wood pellet (KWP) and a pellet form of EFB (empty fruit bunch) which is the byproduct of Southeast Asia palm oil extraction were examined as biomass feeds. In all the experiments, the feeding rates were 50 g/min for EFB and 38 g/min for KWP, respectively at the reaction temperature of $800^{\circ}C$ and an ER (equivalence ratio) of 0.25. The mixing ratio (0~100 wt%) of catalyst was applied to the bed material. Air or an air-steam mixture was used as the injection gas. The SBR (steam to biomass ratio) was 0.3. The composition, tar content, and lower heating value of the generated producer gas were measured. The addition of calcined dolomite decreased tar content in the producer gas with maximum reduction of 67.3 wt%. The addition of calcined dolomite in the air gasification reduced lower heating value of the producer gas. However The addition of calcined dolomite in the air-steam gasification slightly increased its lower heating value.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.994-1001
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• 2001

An easier way of understanding the BNR system was proposed from the study on substrate, nutrient removal tendency, microbial community and its metabolic function by applying the municipal settled sewage. During the anaerobic period, the phosphorus release rate per VFACOD we varied depending on the phosphorus content in the sludge. When the phosphorus content in the sludge was $6\%$ VSS, according to influent VFACOD, the phosphorus release rate and PHA production were $0.35 gPO_4P/gVFACOD$ and 1.0 gPHA/gVFACOD, respectively. The $NO_3N$ requirement for the phosphorus uptake as an electron acceptor was about $0.5 gNO_3N/gPO_4P_{uptake}$ based on the proposed equation with PHA, biomass, production, and the concentration of phosphorus release/uptake. Bacterial-community analysis of the sludge, as determined by FISH and 16SrDNA characterization FISH, revealed that the beta-subclass proteobacteria were the most abundant group ($27.9\%$ of the proteobacteria-specific probe EUB338), and it was likely that representative of the beta-subclass played key roles in activated sludge. The next dominant group found was the gamma-protebacteria ($15.4\%$ of probe EUB338). 16S rDNA clone library analysis showed that the members of${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-proteobacteria were also the most abundant groups, and $21.5\%$ (PN2 and PN4) and $15.4\%$ (PN1 and PN5) of total clones were the genera of denitrifying bacteria and PAO, respectively. Prediction of the microbial community composition was made with phosphorus content (Pv, $\%$ P/VSS) in wasted sludge and profiles of COD, PHA, $PO_4P,\;and\;NO_3N$ in an anaerobic-anoxic SBR unit. Generally, the predicted microbial composition based upon metabolic function, i.e., as measured by stoichiometry, is fairly similar to that measure by the unculturable dependent method. In this study, a proposal was made on he microbial community composition that was more easily approached to analyze the reactor behavior.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 2007

A submerged biofilm sequencing batch reactor (SBSBR) process, which liquor was internally circulated through sandfilter, was designed, and performances in swine wastewater treatment was evaluated under a condition of no external carbon source addition. Denitrification of NOx-N with loading rate in vertical and slope type of sandfilter was 19% and 3.8%, respectively, showing approximately 5 times difference, and so vertical type sandfilter was chosen for the combination with SBSBR. When the process was operated under 15 days HRT, 105L/hr.m3 of internal circulation rate and 54g/m3.d of NH4-N loading rate, treatment efficiencies of STOC, NH4-N and TN (as NH4-N plus NOx-N) was 75%, 97% and 85%, respectively. By conducting internal circulation through sandfilter, removal performances of TN were enhanced by 14%, and the elevation of nitrogen removal was mainly attributed to occurrence of denitrification in sandfilter. Also, approximately 57% of phosphorus was removed with the conduction of internal circulation through sandfilter, meanwhile phosphorus concentration in final effluent rather increased when the internal circulation was not performed. Therefore, It was quite sure that the continuous internal circulation of liquor through sandfilter could contribute to enhancement of biological nutrient removal. Under 60g/m3.d of NH4-N loading rate, the NH4-N level in final effluent was relatively low and constant(below 20mg/L) and over 80% of nitrogen removal was maintained in spite of loading rate increase up to 100g/m3.d. However, the treatment efficiency of nitrogen was deteriorated with further increase of loading rate. Based on this result, an optimum loading rate of nitrogen for the process would be 100g/m3.d.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2017

A new approach to the solubilization of waste activated sludge (WAS) using alginate-quaternary ammonium complex beads was investigated under controlled mild alkaline conditions. The complex beads were prepared by the reaction of sodium alginate (SA) with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-octadecyldimethylammonium chloride (TSA) in acid solution, followed by crosslinking with $CaCl_2$. Treatment of WAS with SA-TSA complex beads was effective for enhancing the efficacy of WAS solubilization. The highest value of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration (3,900 mg/L) was achieved after 10 days of treatment with 30% (v/v) SA-TSA complex beads. The WAS solubilization efficacy of the complex beads was also evaluated by estimating the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The maximum value of VFAs was 2,961 mg/L, and the overall proportions of VFAs were more than 75% of SCOD. The main components of VFAs were acetic, propionic, iso-butyric, and butyric acids. These results suggest that SA-TSA complex beads might be useful for enhancing the solubilization of WAS. The potential use of VFAs as the external carbon substrate for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by a mixed microbial culture (MMC) was also examined. The enrichment of PHA-accumulating MMC could be achieved by periodic feeding of VFAs generated from WAS in a sequencing batch reactor. The composition of PHA synthesized from VFAs mainly consisted of 3-hydroxybutyrate. The maximum PHA content accounted for 25.9% of dry cell weight. PHA production by this process is considered to be promising since it has a doubly beneficial effect on the environment by reducing the amount of WAS and concomitantly producing an eco-friendly biopolymer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2009

1,3-butadiene is classified as suspected human carcinogen, group A2(American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH). In Korea, 1,3-butadiene has been used as a raw material; monomer, homopolymer, polybutadiene latex, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS) and styrene-butadiene rubber(SBR), in the petrochemistry and precision chemistry industry. As petrochemistry industry in Korea has been developed, the potential exposure possibility of 1,3-butadiene to workers can be increased. Therefore the purpose of this study is to evaluate airborne 1,3-butadiene concentration and workers' exposure levels in the workplace using 1,3-butadiene. Air samples were collected with 4-tert-butyl catechol(TBC) charcoal tube(100 mg/50 mg) and were analyzed by gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector(GC/FID) according to the Choi's method(2002). Geometric mean (GM) and arithmetic mean (AM) of total 59 workers' exposure concentrations to airborne 1.3-butadiene were 0.042 ppm and 1.51 ppm, respectively. Although most samples were lower than 1ppm, 2 samples(21.5ppm and 33.1ppm as 8hr-TWA) were exceeded the Korean standard(2ppm) over 10 times at the repair process in synthetic rubber and resin manufacture industry. 14 samples(41%) of total 34 short-term air samples were exceeded the Korean standard(10ppm as STEL) of Ministry Labor. 1,3-butadiene concentration(GM) in the synthetic rubber and resin manufacture industry(7.87ppm) was significantly higher than that in the monomer manufacure industry (0.35ppm)(p<0.05). Also in the sampling and repair process, each GM(range) was 1.39ppm(N.D.-469.6ppm) and 7.85ppm(N.D.-410.2ppm). In conclusion, it depends on the industry and process, 1,3-butadiene can be exposed to workers as high concentration for short-term.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1281-1286
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• 2008

Nitrous oxide(N$_2$O) is well known as a greenhouse gas that contributes to the global warming (310 times more per molecule than carbon dioxide) and to the destruction of the ozone layer. The objective of this study is to estimate N$_2$O emission factor using an emission isolation flux chamber from municipal wastewater treatment plants. N$_2$O gas was analysed by GC/ECD with 6 port gas sampling valve. The results of this study were as follows. N$_2$O emission factor of 5-Stage process from Y wastewater treatment plants was lowest as 0.94 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN. And that of other processes were 2.65 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN for Activated sludge process, 9.30 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN for Denipho process, and 26.73 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN for Sequencing Batch Reactor process. We have known that 5-Stage process is most appropriate process to reduce greenhouse for municipal wastewater treatment plants.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2016

Recently, application case of the ultra rapid hardening concrete-polymer composite(URHCPC) are increasing to repair for the deterioration of pavement. But it is a major disadvantage that the main material is expensive and has environmental load. For these reasons, the development of the economic, eco-friendly materials is needed. Calcium Aluminate Composite (CAC), produced by rapid cooling of atomizing method with molten ladle furnace slag, is a material capable of improving the economic feasibility and reducing the environmental load of URHCPC. In this paper, the properties of CAC and gypsum mixed CAC (GC) as alternative materials of RSC according to the types of polymer dispersion were studied. The results were as follows; compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, bonding strength and modulus of elasticity of the composites using CAC or GC showed higher values than those of plain proportion in 3 hour. In later age, they were at the same level as the general proportions. URHCPC using BPD as polymer dispersion had superior strength properties generally. But modulus of elasticity was the same level as the case of using a SBR latex. According to these results, CAC or GC can partially substituted for RSC to product the URHCPC. When URHCPC uses the BPD as the polymer dispersion, it can be improved performance.

• 전자공학회논문지 IE
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2011

In this paper, we propose a method to improve the performance of initial channel estimation (CE) for the multiband-OFDM (MB-OFDM) UWB. The performance of the initial CE can be generally improved as increasing the number of the used preamble symbols. The MB-OFDM specification presents two CE symbols per band in preamble format. The performance of CE estimation with two CE symbols may be satisfied in relatively high sensitivity -77.5 and -72.5 dBm for 200 Mbps and 480 Mbps data rate, respectively, but can not be enough in the degraded 55 Mbps and 110 Mbps sensitivities such as -83.5 and -80.5 dBm, respectively. A method proposed in this paper achieves the performance improvement by extending CE estimation region to packet synchronization (PS) symbols and frame synchronization (FS) symbols including two CE symbols. This can improve the CE performance in the degraded SNR and increase the link-margin by reducing the error rate in physical-layer header. The link-margin improvement obtained by the proposed CE preamble can induce the decrease of error-rate in physical-layer header and increase of communication throughput. Simulation results for the proposed initial method show that the performance is improved by about 0.7 dB at 10-4 bit-error-rate using '4' symbols than initial method using only two CE symbols.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2023

Purpose: Gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) is increasingly used in nuclear medicine imaging for various conditions such as lymphoma and neuroendocrine tumors by labeling tracers like Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and DOTA-TOC. However, compared to Fluorine-18 (¹⁸F) used in conventional nuclear medicine imaging, ⁶⁸Ga has lower spatial resolution and relatively higher Signal to Background Ratio (SBR). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimized parameters and reconstruction methods for PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer through model-based image evaluation. Materials and Methods: Based on clinical images of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a NEMA/IEC 2008 PET phantom model was prepared with a Hot vs Background (H/B) ratio of 10:1. Images were acquired for 9 minutes in list mode using DMIDR (GE, Milwaukee WI, USA). Subsequently, reconstructions were performed for 1 to 8 minutes using OS-EM (Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) + TOF (Time of Flight) + Sharp IR (VPFX-S), and BSREM (Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization) + TOF + Sharp IR (QCFX-S-400), followed by comparative evaluation. Based on the previous experimental results, images were reconstructed for BSREM + TOF + Sharp IR / 2 minutes (QCFX-S-2min) with varying β-strength values from 100 to 700. The image quality was evaluated using AMIDE (freeware, Ver.1.0.1) and Advanced Workstation (GE, USA). Results: Images reconstructed with QCFX-S-400 showed relatively higher values for SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CNR (Contrast to Noise Ratio), count, RC (Recovery Coefficient), and SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) compared to VPFX-S. SNR, CNR, and SUV exhibited the highest values at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. RC showed the highest values for a 10 mm sphere at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. For small spheres of 10 mm and 13 mm, an inverse relationship between β-strength increase and count was observed. SNR and CNR peaked at β-strength 400 and then decreased, while SUV and RC exhibited a normal distribution based on sphere size for β-strength values of 400 and above. Conclusion: Based on the experiments, PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer yielded the most favorable quantitative and qualitative results with a 2 minutes/bed acquisition time and BSREM reconstruction, particularly when applying β-strength 400. The application of BSREM can enhance accurate quantification and image quality in ⁶⁸Ga PET/CT imaging, and an optimization process tailored to each institution's imaging objectives appears necessary.