• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.564-569
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• 2010

Highly anti-reflective optical property has been focussed in the field of thin film and display because of increasing demands to the high transparency and clearness of optical component. In this study, to obtain anti-reflective property, the formation of aluminium oxide with nanoscaled flowerlike frame structure was introduced as oxide material monolayer on the substrate by hydrothermal synthesis through sol-gel method. The properties of coating layer were measured by the means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, and FE-SEM. The morphology of coating layer in alumina-sol coated samples was controlled by hydrothermal temperature and time with aid of ultrasound. It was found that high transparency and anti-reflective optical properties were obtained the formation of flowerlike nanoframe structure.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.235-239
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• 2010

The $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$/CNT composite is prepared by ultrasound associated sol-gel method. The prepared composite is characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and TG analysis, and their electrochemical behaviors are investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and charge-discharge test in 1M $LiBF_4$/PC electrolyte. From the results, it is identified that the $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ nanoparticles coated on CNT surface have regular size with around 10~30 nm and spinel-framework structure. At the current rate of 20C, the discharge capacities of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$/CNT composites with CNT contents of 15, 30 and 50 wt% are 57, 63 and $48mAhg^{-1}$, respectively, which have similar value. The improved electrochemical behavior of the $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$/CNT composite electrode is attributed to the addition of CNT with electronic conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2010

ACF/ZnO photocatalyst was synthesized by a sol-gel method using activated carbon fiber (ACF) and Zn $(NO_3)_2$ as precursors. Samples were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XRD results showed that ACF/ZnO composites only included a hexagonal phase by heat-treated temperature at $400^{\circ}C$, $500^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$, and $700^{\circ}C$. The SEM analysis revealed that the ACF/ZnO composites did not exhibit any morphological changes of the catalyst surface according to the different heat-treated temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was tested for degradation of methylene blue (MB) solutions under ultraviolet (UV) light and ultrasonication respectively. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of ACF/ZnO composites heat-treated at $500^{\circ}C$ was higher than other samples, which is ascribed to the fine distribution of ZnO particles on the surface of the ACF. In addition, an ultrasound of low power (50 W) was used as an irradiation source to successfully induce ACF/ZnO composites to perform sonocatalytic degradation of MB. Results indicated that the sonocatalytic method in the presence of ACF/ZnO composites is an advisable choice for the treatments of organic dyes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2019

The study was conducted surveying ultrasound room workers on hospital infection awareness in Daejeon and Choong-chunng region. The contamination of ultrasonic probes used in clinical trials was measured using ATP, and the results were verified after using 70% alcohol sterilization. It was measured on the group's general characteristics and the specific categories such as academic background, job type, having professional certificate and infection education. After the examination, the gel removal and method, disinfection status of the probe and variable correlation analysis were performed to analyze the recognition of the ultrasonic probe disinfection. After examination in ultrasound room, it was found that towels were used the most for cleaning, and the gel container was not replaced for more than three months. After 70% alcohol disinfection, ATP contamination was reduced from $1055.4{\pm}944.2$ to $133.5{\pm}93.2$ and the result was analyzed to be statistically significant.(${\rho}<0.01$) The found bacteria were CNS, Gram positive bacillus, and Micrococcus specs. In order to solve this problem, 70% alcohol sterilization was applied and the bacteria were not detected after the treatment. The research shows that regular training on infection control and efforts to prevent infection are necessary, and that 70% alcohol is effective in disinfect the bacteria. Therefore, the medical institution should provide active hospital infection control education to improve the awareness of hospital infection among workers and contribute to the prevention of patient infection. It is also understood that proper use of the results of this study will help prevent infection by means of ultrasonic probes.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.427-435
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• 2018

There was a shortage of research reports on sterilization criterion and contamination of ultrasonic probes. Therefore, in this study, we were going to provide a basic study to measure the level of microbial contamination in ultrasonic probes and to investigate the radiographer's awareness of infection. After the scan, samples were collected from the rubber part of the probe by opening a sterile swab (Transport Medium AM608-1S) for medical bacteria collection with the remaining gel removed with a paper towel. Also, the collected samples of bacteria were grown for seven days and then the laboratory was analyzed. Among the total 29 types of microorganisms, Micrococcus luteus 21(26%), Moraxella species 16(20%), Coagulase negative staphylococcus 8(10%), Bacillus species 5(7%), Bicillus circulans 3(5%), Acinetobacter lwoffii 2(2%), and 1 other Candida parapsilosis (1%) a number of bacteria and fungus, was detected. In a disinfectant experiment using LuciPac Pen on the Lumitester PD-30s, we cultured the rubber part of the probe two to three times to measure the bacteria. Bacteria decreased to 97% with Aquanax (alkaline reduced water 100%), 99% with Klarion wash (0.01% sodium hydroxide), 94% with Klarion disinfection (0.01% nitrous acid water), Sterilization was best with Klarion wash (0.01% sodium hydroxide). Therefore, guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of ultrasonic probes was required, and further development of probe-only disinfectants is required.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2012

Inonotus obliquus mushroom, which is a fungus belonging to Hymenochaetaceae family, is known to grow on birth trees in colder northern climates and to be a fungal parasite that draws nutrients out of living trees rather than from the ground. For the separation of protein-bound polysaccharide (PBP) from the culture broth and mycelium of Inonotus obliquus, three well known extraction methods namely hot water, ultrasound and microwave were used. The best extraction conditions to separate the PBP (64.94 mg/g) from mycelium by microwave were found to be for 1 hour and $150^{\circ}C$. The possibility for concentration of extracted PBP solution by using membrane was also studied. The extracted PBP solution was concentrated effectively by using an ultrafiltration membrane and the molecular weight cut off (MWCO) is 30 KDa. It was observed that a concentration by the ultrafiltration membrane is essential not only for the development of clean separation technology but also for enhanced production of PBP. As a result, we have shown that PBP in the final concentrated solution showed approximately 10 times higher than that in the crude solution by application of the developed separation systems. The separation yield of PBP was about 89.79% by gel filtration of purification steps and the purified product was confirmed to be PBP by using FT-IR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5365-5370
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• 2015

Background: Combining risk factors for prostate cancer into a predictive tool may improve the detection of prostate cancer while decreasing the number of benign biopsies. We compare one such tool, age multiplied by prostate volume divided by total serum PSA (PSA-AV) with PSA density and detection of primary malignant circulating prostate cells (CPCs) in a Chilean prostate cancer screening program. The objectives were not only to determine the predictive values of each, but to determine the number of clinically significant cancers that would have been detected or missed. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted of all men undergoing 12 core ultrasound guided prostate biopsy for suspicion of cancer attending the Hospital DIPRECA and Hospital de Carabineros de Chile. Total serum PSA was registered, prostate volumecalculated at the moment of biopsy, and an 8ml blood simple taken immediately before the biopsy procedure. Mononuclear cells were obtained from the blood simple using differential gel centrifugation and CPCs identified using immunocytchemistry with anti-PSA and anti-P504S. Biopsy results were classed as positive or negative for cancer and if positive the Gleason score, number of positive cores and percent infiltration recorded. Results: A total of 664 men participated, of whom 234 (35.2%) had cancer detected. They were older, had higher mean PSA, PSA density and lower PSA-AV. Detection of CPCs had high predictive score, sensitivity, sensibility and positive and negative predictive values, PSA-AV was not significantly different from PSA density in this population. The use of CPC detection avoided more biopsies and missed fewer significant cancers.Conclusions: In this screening population the use of CPC detection predicted the presence of clinically significant prostate cancer better than the other parameters. The high negative predictive value would allow men CPC negative to avoid biopsy but remain in follow up. The formula PSA-AV did not add to the predictive performance using PSA density.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2010

Objective: Human sperm nucleus DNA damage may negatively affect pregnancy outcome, and the spermatozoa of infertile men have more DNA damage than that of fertile men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microsurgical varicocelectomy on human sperm nucleus DNA integrity. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 18 subfertile male patients who underwent microsurgical varicocelectomy at our hospital from April 2006 to April 2007. Varicocele was diagnosed by physical examination and Doppler ultrasound. Standard semen analysis was performed in 18 patients before and 4 months after microsurgical varicoceletcomy using a computer assisted semen analyzer. Sperm nucleus DNA integrity was assessed by a single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Results: No recurrence of varicocele was observed after 4 months later. The DNA fragmentation index improved after varicocelectomy compared with pre-operatively (19.3 versus 13.7%, respectively, p<0.05). Semen analysis parameters (total count, concentration, motile sperm, viability, strict morphology) increased after varicocelectomy, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Our data suggest that microsurgical varicocelectomy can improve semen analysis parameters and human sperm nucleus DNA integrity in infertile men with varicocele.