• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-473
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• 2019

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has proved to be an effective tool in applied environmental nanotechnology, where the decreased particle diameter provides a drastic change in the properties and efficiency of nanomaterials used in water purification. However, the agglomeration and colloidal instability represent a problematic and a remarkable reduction in nZVI reactivity. In view of that, this study reports a simple and cost-effective new strategy for ultra-small (< 7.5%) distributed functionalized nZVI-EG (1-9 nm), with high colloidal stability and reduction capacity. These were obtained without inert conditions, using a simple, economical synthesis methodology employing two stabilization mechanisms based on the use of non-aqueous solvent (methanol) and ethylene glycol (EG) as a stabilizer. The information from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests iron ion coordination by interaction with methanol molecules. Subsequently, after nZVI formation, particle-surface modification occurs by the addition of the EG. Size distribution analysis shows an average diameter of 4.23 nm and the predominance (> 90%) of particles with sizes < 6.10 nm. Evaluation of the stability of functionalized nZVI by sedimentation test and a dynamic light-scattering technique, demonstrated very high colloidal stability. The ultra-small particles displayed a rapid and high nitrate removal capacity from water.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2018

Background: Non-conversion of sputum smear and culture prolongs the infectivity of the patient and has been associated with unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to evaluate factors associated with persistent sputum positivity at the end of two months of treatment of new case pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Data of 87 human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients with culture-positive drug-susceptible pulmonary TB admitted to local university hospital between September 2015 and September 2016 were reviewed. Factors associated with sputum smear and/or culture positivity at the end of the second month of treatment were analyzed. Results: Twenty-two patients (25.3%) remained smear and/or culture-positive. Male sex, lower body mass index (BMI), unemployment, alcohol abuse, higher number of lobes involved and cavities on chest X-rays, shorter time to detection (TTD) on liquid cultures, higher respiratory sample smear grading and colony count in solid cultures, higher C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and anemia were all significantly associated with persistent sputum positivity. However, in the logistic regression analysis only male sex, lower BMI, alcohol abuse, higher radiological involvement, cavitation, higher smear grading, higher colony count in solid cultures and shorter TTD were determined as independent factors associated with persistent sputum positivity at the end of 2 months of treatment. Conclusion: In conclusion, higher sputum smear and culture grading at diagnosis, shorter TTD, higher number of lobes involved, cavitation, male sex, alcohol abuse, and lower BMI were independently associated with persistent sputum positivity. These factors should be sought when distinguishing which patients will remain infectious longer and possibly have worse outcomes.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2014

This study aimed to synthesize dispersed and reactive nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVP/VA), nontoxic and biodegradable stabilizer. The nZVI used for the experiments was prepared by reduction of ferric solution in the presence of PVP/VA with specific weight ratios to iron contents. Colloidal stability was investigated based on the rate of sedimentation, hydrodynamic radius and zeta potential measurement. The characteristic time, which demonstrated dispersivity of particles resisting aggregation, increased from 21.2 min (bare nZVI) to 97.8 min with increasing amount of PVP/VA (the ratios of 2). For the most stable nZVI coated by PVP/VA, its reactivity was examined by nitrate reduction in a closed batch system. The pseudo-first-order kinetic rate constants for the nitrate reduction by the nanoparticles with PVP/VA ratios of 0 and 2 were 0.1633 and $0.1395min^{-1}$ respectively. A nitrogen mass balance, established by quantitative analysis of aqueous nitrogen species, showed that the addition of PVP/VA to nZVI can change the reduction capacity of the nanoparticles.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.4 s.140
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• pp.331-341
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• 2006

Actin binding proteins play key roles in cell structure and movement particularly as regulators of the assembly, stability and localization of actin filaments in the cytoplasm. In the present study, a cDNA clone encoding an actin bundling protein named as AhABP was isolated from Acanthamoeba healyi, a causative agent of granulomatous amebic encephalitis. This clone exhibited high similarity with genes of Physarum polycephalum and Dictyostelium discoideum, which encode actin bundling proteins. Domain search analysis revealed the presence of essential conserved regions, i.e., an active actin binding site and 2 putative calcium binding EF-hands. Transfected amoeba cells demonstrated that AhABP is primarily localized in phagocytic cups, peripheral edges, pseudopods, and in cortical cytoplasm where actins are most abundant. Moreover, AhABP after the deletion of essential regions formed ellipsoidal inclusions within transfected cells. High-speed co-sedimentation assays revealed that AhABP directly interacted with actin in the presence of up to $10{\mu}M$ of calcium. Under the electron microscope, thick parallel bundles were formed by full length AhABP, in contrast to the thin actin bundles formed by constructs with deletion sites. In the light of these results, we conclude that AhABP is a novel actin bundling protein that is importantly associated with actin filaments in the cytoplasm.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the level of disease condition and ADL by self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The subjects of the study consisted of eighty-four outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis at a university hospital in Taegu between July 20, 1999 and August 25, 1999. The instruments used in this study were the self-efficacy developed by Lorig et al. (1989), the pain scale developed by Lee and Song(1987), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), the pain joint count to measure disease condition scale, and the ADL scale developed by Katz et al. (1970) and Barthel(1973). Analysis of data was done by use of descriptive statistics: Pearson Correlation, Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe, with the SPSS program. The major findings can be summarized as follows: 1. The first hypothesis, "There will be differences in the level of disease condition by self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis" was partially supported. 1-1. "There will be differences in the level of pain by self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis" was supported(F=3.422, p=.037). 1-2. "There will be differences in the level of ESR by self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis" was the Disease Condition and supported (F=3.314, p=.041). 1-3. "There will be differences in the level of pain joints count by self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis" was rejected(F=2.602, p=.080). 2. The second hypothesis, "There will be differences in the level of ADL by self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis" was supported(F=7.067, p=.001). With the above results, it can be concluded that the higher level of self-efficacy contributed to the better level of disease condition and ADL in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, by providing nursing intervention to promote the level of self-efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis patients with low self-efficacy, disease condition and ADL would be much better.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.173-184
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• 2019

As the size of semiconductors becomes smaller, it is necessary to perform high precision polishing of nanoscale. Ceria, which is generally used as an abrasive, is widely used because of its uniform quality, but its stability is not high because it has a high molecular weight and causes agglomeration and rapid precipitation. Such agglomeration and precipitation causes scratches in the polishing process. Therefore, it is important to accurately analyze the size distribution of ceria particles. In this study, a study was conducted to select dispersants useful for preventing coagulation and sedimentation of ceria. First, a dispersant was synthesized and a ceria slurry was prepared. The defoamer selection experiment was performed in order to remove the air bubbles which may occur in the production of ceria slurry. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) were used to determine the size distribution of ceria particles in the slurry. AsFlFFF is a technique for separating nanoparticles based on sequential elution of samples as in chromatography, and is a useful technique for determining the particle size distribution of nanoparticle samples. AsFlFFF was able to confirm the presence of a little quantities of large particles in the vicinity of 300 nm, which DLS can not detect, besides the main distribution in the range of 60-80 nm. AsFlFFF showed better accuracy and precision than DLS for particle size analysis of a little quantities of large particles such as ceria slurry treated in this study.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2016

Co-production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) was suggested as an innovative strategy to overcome several limitations occurring in the single production of 3-HP from glycerol. In this study, two new isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which produce less lipopolysaccharide (LPS) thus considered less pathogenic than K. pneumoniae DSM 2026, were compared and evaluated for their potential for the co-production of 3-HP and 1,3-PDO. The newly isolated strains showed significantly faster sedimentation rate than DSM, which should be beneficial for downstream processing. Analysis of genome sequences of the isolates confirmed the presence of all genes necessary for glycerol assimilation, 1,3-PDO production and biosynthesis of coenzyme $B_{12}$. Co-production yield was highest under anaerobic condition while cell growth was highest under aerobic condition. Both strains showed similarly good performance for the co-production although J2B gave the slightly higher co-production yield of 0.80 mol/mol than GSC021 (0.75 mol/mol). The evaluation of the newly developed strains presented here should be useful in designing similar evaluation experiments for other microorganisms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.81-101
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• 2011

This study was conducted to understand the environmental and ecological function of habitat through evaluation of water environment, soil environment, vegetation characteristics, macro-invertebrate characteristics, and visual habits environment evaluation (SVAP) in Hongdong stream located in Hongseong-Gun, Chungnam Province, and hereafter to utilize the results for the habits reconstruction and improvement project. As the results of water quality analysis, BOD, COD, T-P was almost below the standard quality from upper stream to down stream. The construction of small reservoir, wetland and water purification facility, and the management of non-point pollution are proposed to improve these problems. The soil texture was sandy soil, which is unfitted with vegetation development. The construction of shallows and bogs, and induction of soil sedimentation and biotope formation are proposed to improve these problems. In the plant flora, total 90 kinds were observed with 81 species and nine varieties in total 36 families and 85 genera, and the naturalization rate was higher at down area than upper area. As the results of macro-invertebrate fauna survey, total 26 species and 297 individuals in 20 families and 22 genera were collected. Peltodytes sinensis, Chironomidae sp., and Culicidae sp., which are observed at polluted environment, were collected as dominant species. An appropriate vegetation management party idea is necessary, and it is done an idea in consideration of the soil and a physical characteristic. Visual habits environment evaluation (SVAP) result was mostly determined with below normal (Fair) grade. Pollution source interception, purification pond establishment, and various bog establishment are proposed to improve these problems. With the above results, the ecological environment was determined with bad condition, and the improvement of biotope was urgently needed through sustainable monitoring and management of streams habitat in rural area.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2015

The coastline influenced naturally and artificially changes dynamically. While the long-term change is influenced by the rise in the surface of the sea and the changes in water level of the rivers, the short-term change is influenced by the tide, earthquake and storm. Also, man-made thoughtless development such as construction of embankment and reclaimed land not considering erosion and deformation of coast has been causes for breaking functions of coast and damages on natural environment. In order to manage coastal environment and resources effectively, In this study is intended to analyze and predict erosion in coastal environment and changes in sedimentation quantitatively by detecting changes in coastal line from data collection for satellite images and aerial LiDAR data. The coastal line in 2007 and 2012 was extracted by manufacturing Digital Surface Model (DSM) with Aviation LiDAR materials. For the coastal line in 2009 and 2010, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) method was used to extract the KOMPSAT-2 image selected after considering tide level and wave height. The change rate of the coastal line is varied in line with the forms of the observation target but most of topography shows a tendency of being eroded as time goes by. Compared to the relatively monotonous beach of Taean, the gravel and rock has very complex form. Therefore, there are more errors in extraction of coastlines and the combination of transect and shoreline, which affect overall changes. Thus, we think the correction of the anomalies caused by these properties is required in the future research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.35-45
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• 2019

The enlargement and reduction of river channels can not only change the flow of water but also alter sedimentation patterns, thus hindering smooth flood conveyance. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the effects of the sudden enlargement of river channels on changes in the riverbed and river flow. For this purpose, as part of the "Hometown River" Construction Project, this study examined the local river Kyungpo-cheon, which a section of the river channel was widened by at least two- to three-fold, using RMA-2 and SED-2D models to simulate the changes in flow characteristics and riverbed variation due to the widening of the channel. The results of the study indicated that widening the Kyungpo -cheon river channel secured its dimensional stability in comparison to before widening. however, due to a flood frequency of more than once per year, future maintenance and management will be costly and time-consuming.