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The Washing Effect of Precipitation on PM10 in the Atmosphere and Rainwater Quality Based on Rainfall Intensity (강우 강도에 따른 대기 중 미세먼지 저감효과와 강우수질 특성 연구)

  • Park, Hyemin;Byun, Myounghwa;Kim, Taeyong;Kim, Jae-Jin;Ryu, Jong-Sik;Yang, Minjune;Choi, Wonsik
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.36 no.6_3
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    • pp.1669-1679
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    • 2020
  • This study examines the washing effect of precipitation on particulate matter (PM) and the rainwater quality (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water-soluble ions concentration). Of six rain events in total, rainwater samples were continuously collected every 50 mL from the beginning of the precipitation using rainwater collecting devices at Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea, from March 2020 to July 2020. The collected rainwater samples were analyzed for pH, EC, and water-soluble ions (cations: Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, NH4+, and anions: Cl-, NO3-, SO42-). The concentrations of particulate matter were continuously measured during precipitation events with a custom-built PM sensor node. For initial rainwater samples, the average pH and EC were approximately 4.3 and 81.9 μS/cm, and the major ionic components consisted of NO3- (5.4 mg/L), Ca2+ (4.2 mg/L), Cl- (4.1 mg/L). In all rainfall events, rainwater pH gradually increased with rainfall duration, whereas EC gradually decreased due to the washing effect. When the rainfall intensities were relatively weak (<5 mm/h), PM10 reduction efficiencies were less than 40%. When the rainfall intensities were enhanced to more than 7.5 mm/h, the reduction efficiencies reached more than 60%. For heavy rainfall events, the acidity and EC, as well as ions concentrations of initial rainwater samples, were higher than those in later samples. This appears to be related to the washing effect of precipitation on PM10 in the atmosphere.

Study on High Sensitivity Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Sensors for HNS Monitoring of Emissions from Marine Industrial Facilities (해양산업시설 배출 HNS 모니터링을 위한 고감도 금속산화물 나노입자 센서에 대한 연구)

  • Changhan Lee;Sangsu An;Yuna Heo;Youngji Cho;Jiho Chang;Sangtae Lee;Sangwoo Oh;Moonjin Lee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.28 no.spc
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    • pp.30-36
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    • 2022
  • A sensor is needed to continuously and automatically measure the change in HNS concentration in industrial facilities that directly discharge to the sea after water treatment. The basic function of the sensor is to be able to detect ppb levels even at room temperature. Therefore, a method for increasing the sensitivity of the existing sensor is proposed. First, a method for increasing the conductivity of a film using a conductive carbon-based additive in a nanoparticle thin film and a method for increasing ion adsorption on the surface using a catalyst metal were studied.. To improve conductivity, carbon black was selected as an additive in the film using ITO nanoparticles, and the performance change of the sensor according to the content of the additive was observed. As a result, the change in resistance and response time due to the increase in conductivity at a CB content of 5 wt% could be observed, and notably, the lower limit of detection was lowered to about 250 ppb in an experiment with organic solvents. In addition, to increase the degree of ion adsorption in the liquid, an experiment was conducted using a sample in which a surface catalyst layer was formed by sputtering Au. Notably, the response of the sensor increased by more than 20% and the average lower limit of detection was lowered to 61 ppm. This result confirmed that the chemical resistance sensor using metal oxide nanoparticles could detect HNS of several tens of ppb even at room temperature.

A Study on the Wind Ventilation Forest Planning Techniques for Improving the Urban Environment - A Case Study of Daejeon Metropolitan City - (도시환경 개선을 위한 바람길숲 조성 계획기법 개발 연구 - 대전광역시를 사례로 -)

  • Han, Bong-Ho;Park, Seok-Cheol;Park, Soo-Young
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.51 no.2
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    • pp.28-41
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    • 2023
  • The objective of the study was to develop an Urban Windway Forest Creation Planning Technique for the Improvement of the Urban Environment using the case of Daejeon Metropolitan City. Through a spatial analysis of fine dust and heat waves, a basin zone, in which the concentration was relatively serious, was derived, and an area with the potential of cold air flow was selected as the target area for the windway forest development by analyzing the climate and winds in the relevant zone. Extreme fine dust areas included the areas of the Daejeon Industrial Complex Regeneration Business District in Daedeok-gu and Daedeok Techno Valley in Yuseong-gu. Heat wave areas included the areas of Daedeok industrial Complex in Moksang-dong, the Daejeon Industrial Complex Regeneration Business District in Daehwa-dong, and the high-density residential area in Ojeong-dong. As a result of measuring the wind speeds in Daejeon with an Automatic Weather System, the average wind speeds during the day and night were 0.1 to 1.7 m/s,, respectively. So, a plan of for a windway forest that smoothly induces the movement of cold air formed in outer forests at night is required. The fine dust/heat wave intensive management zones of Daejeon Metropolitan City were Daejeoncheon, Yudeungcheon, Gapcheon-Yudeungcheon, and Gapcheon. The windway forest formation plan case involved the old city center of Daejeon Metropolitan City among the four zones, the Gapcheon-Yudeungcheon area, in which the windway formation effect was presumed to be high. The Gapcheon-Yudeungcheon area is a downtown area that benefits from the cold and fresh air generated on Mt. Gyejok and Mt. Wuseong, which are outer forests. Accordingly, the windway forest was planned to spread the cold air to the city center by connecting the cold air generated in the Seosa-myeon forest of Mt. Gyejok and the Namsa-myeon forest of Mt. Wuseong through Gapcheon, Yudeungcheon, and street forests. After selecting the target area for the wind ventilation forest, a climate map and wind formation function evaluation map were prepared for the area, the status of variation wind profiles (night), the status of fine dust generation, and the surface temperature distribution status were grasped in detail. The wind ventilation forest planning concept and detailed target sites by type were identified through this. In addition, a detailed action plan was established according to the direction of creation and setting of the direction of creation for each type of wind ventilation forest.

Leaf Mineral Contents and Growth Characteristics of Strawberry Grown in Aquaponic System with Different Growing Media in a Plant Factory (식물공장형 아쿠아포닉스 시스템에서 배지 종류에 따른 딸기 잎의 무기이온 함량과 생육 특성)

  • Su-Hyun Choi;Min-Kyung Kim;Young-Ae Jeong;Seo-A Yoon;Eun-Young Choi
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.122-131
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    • 2023
  • This study was aimed to determine the effects of grow media on the mineral contents of the leaves and growth characteristics of strawberry grown under aquaponics system in a plant factory. For aquaculture, 12 fish (Cyprinus carpio) (total weight, 2.0 kg) were raised in an aquaponics tank (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.45 m, 472.5 L) filled with 367.5 L of water at a density of 5.44 kg·m-3 and total 34 of strawberry seedlings were transplanted in the pots filed with 200 g of orchid stone, hydroball or polyurethane sponge in the growing bed (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.22 m) laid out with holly acrylic sheet (140×60 mm, Ø80) on the top of the system. The pH and EC of the aquaponic solution was ranged from 7.6 to 4.9 and 0.24-0.91 dS·m-1, respectively. The concentration of NO3-N was about 28% lower than that of the hydroponic standard solution, and K, Fe and B were 10, 27 and 3.8 times lower, respectively; however, the mineral contents of strawberry leaves were in the appropriate ranges with lower contents in the leaves grown with sponge media. The organic content (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the sludge were 61.5, 5.72, 8.92, and 0.24%, respectively. The leaf area, leaf number, and dry and fresh weights of shoot at 81 DAT were significantly higher in the hydroball, and the average number of fruits per plant was significantly higher in both the orchid stone and hydroball. There was no significant difference in the fresh and dry weights of fruits. Integrated all the results suggest that the orchid stone and hydroball media are more effective to utilize nutrients in solid particles of aquaponic solution, compared to the polyurethane sponge.

Investigation of Heavy Metal Migration from Food Contact Materials used for Food Delivery Using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer

  • Chae-Yeon Hwang;Young-Jun Kim
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.38 no.2
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    • pp.37-45
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    • 2023
  • The surge in food delivery systems during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic necessitated this study of heavy metal migration from food contact materials (FCMs). A total of 104 samples of FCMs, comprising 51 polypropylene (PP), 21 polyethylene (PE), and 32 polystyrene (PS) samples of six different types of FCMs (containers, covers, table utensils, cups, pouches, and wrappers) used for food delivery distributed in Korea, were collected and investigated for migration of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and As) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine whether they complied with Korea's Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages. Acetic acid (4%, v/v) was used as the food simulant, and tests were performed at 100℃ (in harsh conditions) for 30 min. Linearity of Pb, Cd, and As showed acceptable results with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9999. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of Pb, Cd, and As were 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001 ㎍/L and 0.002, 0.003, and 0.003 ㎍/L, respectively. Accuracy and precision results complied with the criteria presented in the European Commission Joint Research Centre guidelines. The average concentration of Pb, Cd, and As migration detected in a total of 104 samples was 0.009-0.260 ㎍/L, which was very low compared with the migration specification set in the Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages. The maximum level of Pb corresponded to 0.23% of the migration limit. There were no samples exceeding the limit. Thus, this study confirmed that the heavy metal contents of FCMs used for delivery food distributed in Korea were safely managed. The data from this study represent an invaluable source for science-based safety management of hazardous heavy metals migrating from FCMs used in the food delivery industry.

Calculation of Damage to Whole Crop Corn Yield by Abnormal Climate Using Machine Learning (기계학습모델을 이용한 이상기상에 따른 사일리지용 옥수수 생산량에 미치는 피해 산정)

  • Ji Yung Kim;Jae Seong Choi;Hyun Wook Jo;Moonju Kim;Byong Wan Kim;Kyung Il Sung
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.11-21
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    • 2023
  • This study was conducted to estimate the damage of Whole Crop Corn (WCC; Zea Mays L.) according to abnormal climate using machine learning as the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and present the damage through mapping. The collected WCC data was 3,232. The climate data was collected from the Korea Meteorological Administration's meteorological data open portal. The machine learning model used DeepCrossing. The damage was calculated using climate data from the automated synoptic observing system (ASOS, 95 sites) by machine learning. The calculation of damage was the difference between the dry matter yield (DMY)normal and DMYabnormal. The normal climate was set as the 40-year of climate data according to the year of WCC data (1978-2017). The level of abnormal climate by temperature and precipitation was set as RCP 4.5 standard. The DMYnormal ranged from 13,845-19,347 kg/ha. The damage of WCC which was differed depending on the region and level of abnormal climate where abnormal temperature and precipitation occurred. The damage of abnormal temperature in 2050 and 2100 ranged from -263 to 360 and -1,023 to 92 kg/ha, respectively. The damage of abnormal precipitation in 2050 and 2100 was ranged from -17 to 2 and -12 to 2 kg/ha, respectively. The maximum damage was 360 kg/ha that the abnormal temperature in 2050. As the average monthly temperature increases, the DMY of WCC tends to increase. The damage calculated through the RCP 4.5 standard was presented as a mapping using QGIS. Although this study applied the scenario in which greenhouse gas reduction was carried out, additional research needs to be conducted applying an RCP scenario in which greenhouse gas reduction is not performed.

Physiological and Ecological Studies on the Low Temperature Damages of Rice (Oryza sativia L.) (수도의 저온장해에 관한 생리 생태학적 연구)

  • 오윤진
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.1-31
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    • 1981
  • Experiments were conducted to investigate rice varietal response to low water and air temperatures at different growth stages from 1975 to 1980 in a phytotron in Suweon and in a cold water nursery in Chooncheon. Germination ability, seedling growth, sterility of laspikelets, panicle exertion, discoloration of leaves, and delay of heading of recently developed indica/japonica cross(I/J), japonica, and indica varieties at low air temperature or cold water were compared to those at normal temperature or natural conditions. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Practically acceptable germination rate of 70% was obtained in 10 days after initiation of germination test at 15\circ_C for japonica varieties, but 15 days for IxJ varieties. Varietal differences in germination ability at suboptimal temperature was greatest at 16\circ_C for 6 days. 2. Cold injury of rice seedlings was most severe at the 3.0-and 3.5-leaf stage and it was reduced as growth stage advanced. A significant positive correlation was observed between cold injury at 3-leaf stage and 6-leaf stage. 3. At day/night temperatures of 15/10\circ_C seedlings of both japonica and I/J varieties were dead in 42 days. At 20/15\circ_C japonica varieties produced tillers actively, but tillering of I/J varieties was retarded a little. At 25/15\circ_C, both japonica and I/J varieties produced tillers most actively. Increase in plant height was proportional to the increase in all varieties. 4. In I/J varieties the number of differentiated panicle rachis branches and spikelets was reduced at a day-night temperature of 20-15\circ_C compared to 25-20 or 30-25\circ_C, but not in japonica varieties although panicle exertion was retarded at 20-15\circ_C. The number of spikelets was not correlated with the number of primary rachis branches, but positively correlated with that of secondary rachis branches. 5. Heading of rice varieties treated with 15\circ_C air temperature at meiotic stage was delayed compared to that at tillering stage by 1-3 days and heading was delayed as duration of low temperature treatment increased. 6. At cold water treatment of 17\circ_C from tillering to heading stage, heading of japonica, I/J, and cold tolerant indica varieties was delayed 2-6, 3-9, and 4-5 days, respectively, Growth stage sensitive to delay of heading delay at water treatment were tillering stage, meiotic stage, and booting tage in that order, delay of heading was greater in indica corssed japonica(Suweon 264), japonica(Suweon 235), and cold tolerant indica(Lengkwang) varieties in that order. Delay of heading due to cold water treatment was positively correlated with culm length reduction and spikelet sterility. 7. Elongation of culms and exertion of panicles of rice varieties treated with low air temperature 17\circ_C. Culm length reduction rate of tall varieties was lower than that of short statured varieties at low temperature. Panicle exertion was most severaly retarded with low temperature treatment at heading stage. Generally, retardation of panicle exertion of 1/1 varieties was more severe than that of japonica varieties at low temperature. There was a positive correlation between panicle exertion and culm length at low temperature. 8. The number of panicles was increased with cold water treatment at tillering stage, but reduced at meiotic stage. As time of cold water treatment was conducted at earlier growth stage, culm length was shorter and panicle exertion poorer. 9. Sterility of all rice varieties was negligible at 17\circ_C for three days but 30.3-85.2% of strility was observed for nine-day treatment at 17\circ_C. Among the tested varieties, sterility of Suweon 264 and Milyang 42 was highest and that of Suweon 290 and Suweon 287 was lowest. The most sensitive growth stage to low temperature induced sterility was from 15 to 5 days before heading. There was positive correlation between sterility of rice plants treated with low temperature at meiotic and heading stage. 10. Percentage of spikelet sterility was greatest at cold water treatment at meiotic stage (auricle distance -15~-10cm) and it was higher in 1/1 (Suweon 264, Joseng tongil), japonica (Nongbaek, Towada), and cold tolerance indica(Lengkwang) varieties in the order. Level of cold water and position of young-ear affected on the sterility of varieties at meiotic stage; percentage of spikelet sterility of variety, Lengkwang, of which young-ear was located above the cold water level was high, but that of short statured variety, Suweon 264, of which young-ear was located in the cold water was lower. 11. Percentage of ripened grains was not reducted at 15\circ_C air temperature for three days at full heading stage in all varieties. However, at six-day low temperature treatment Suweon 287, Suweon 264 showed percentage of ripended grains lower than 60%, but at nine-day low temperature treatment all varieties showed percentage of ripened grains lower than 60%. Low temperature treatment of 17\circ_C from 10 days after heading for 20 days did not affect on the ripening of all varieties. 12. Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in whole plants was higher at average air temperature of 25\circ_C, but concentration of the elements was lower compared to those at 19\circ_C. However, both total uptake and concentration of manganese were higher at 19\circ_C compared to 25\circ_C. 13. Higher application of nitrogen, phosphorus, silicate, and compost increased yield of rice due to increased number of panicles and spike let fertility in cold water irrigated paddy.

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Establishment of Analytical Method for Dichlorprop Residues, a Plant Growth Regulator in Agricultural Commodities Using GC/ECD (GC/ECD를 이용한 농산물 중 생장조정제 dichlorprop 잔류 분석법 확립)

  • Lee, Sang-Mok;Kim, Jae-Young;Kim, Tae-Hoon;Lee, Han-Jin;Chang, Moon-Ik;Kim, Hee-Jeong;Cho, Yoon-Jae;Choi, Si-Won;Kim, Myung-Ae;Kim, MeeKyung;Rhee, Gyu-Seek;Lee, Sang-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.214-223
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    • 2013
  • BACKGROUND: This study focused on the development of an analytical method about dichlorprop (DCPP; 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid) which is a plant growth regulator, a synthetic auxin for agricultural commodities. DCPP prevents falling of fruits during their growth periods. However, the overdose of DCPP caused the unwanted maturing time and reduce the safe storage period. If we take fruits with exceeding maximum residue limits, it could be harmful. Therefore, this study presented the analytical method of DCPP in agricultural commodities for the nation-wide pesticide residues monitoring program of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: We adopted the analytical method for DCPP in agricultural commodities by gas chromatograph in cooperated with Electron Capture Detector(ECD). Sample extraction and purification by ion-associated partition method were applied, then quantitation was done by GC/ECD with DB-17, a moderate polarity column under the temperature-rising condition with nitrogen as a carrier gas and split-less mode. Standard calibration curve presented linearity with the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) > 0.9998, analysed from 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L concentration. Limit of quantitation in agricultural commodities represents 0.05 mg/kg, and average recoveries ranged from 78.8 to 102.2%. The repeatability of measurements expressed as coefficient of variation (CV %) was less than 9.5% in 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 mg/kg. CONCLUSION(S): Our newly improved analytical method for DCPP residues in agricultural commodities was applicable to the nation-wide pesticide residues monitoring program with the acceptable level of sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility.

The Evaluation of Attenuation Difference and SUV According to Arm Position in Whole Body PET/CT (전신 PET/CT 검사에서 팔의 위치에 따른 감약 정도와 SUV 변화 평가)

  • Kwak, In-Suk;Lee, Hyuk;Choi, Sung-Wook;Suk, Jae-Dong
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.21-25
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    • 2010
  • Purpose: For better PET imaging with accuracy the transmission scanning is inevitably required for attenuation correction. The attenuation is affected by condition of acquisition and patient position, consequently quantitative accuracy may be decreased in emission scan imaging. In this paper, the present study aims at providing the measurement for attenuation varying with the positions of the patient's arm in whole body PET/CT, further performing the comparative analysis over its SUV changes. Materials and Methods: NEMA 1994 PET phantom was filled with $^{18}F$-FDG and the concentration ratio of insert cylinder and background water fit to 4:1. Phantom images were acquired through emission scanning for 4min after conducting transmission scanning by using CT. In an attempt to acquire image at the state that the arm of the patient was positioned at the lower of ahead, image was acquired in away that two pieces of Teflon inserts were used additionally by fixing phantoms at both sides of phantom. The acquired imaged at a were reconstructed by applying the iterative reconstruction method (iteration: 2, subset: 28) as well as attenuation correction using the CT, and then VOI was drawn on each image plane so as to measure CT number and SUV and comparatively analyze axial uniformity (A.U=Standard deviation/Average SUV) of PET images. Results: It was found from the above phantom test that, when comparing two cases of whether Teflon insert was fixed or removed, the CT number of cylinder increased from -5.76 HU to 0 HU, while SUV decreased from 24.64 to 24.29 and A.U from 0.064 to 0.052. And the CT number of background water was identified to increase from -6.14 HU to -0.43 HU, whereas SUV decreased from 6.3 to 5.6 and A.U also decreased from 0.12 to 0.10. In addition, as for the patient image, CT number was verified to increase from 53.09 HU to 58.31 HU and SUV decreased from 24.96 to 21.81 when the patient's arm was positioned over the head rather than when it was lowered. Conclusion: When arms up protocol was applied, the SUV of phantom and patient image was decreased by 1.4% and 9.2% respectively. With the present study it was concluded that in case of PET/CT scanning against the whole body of a patient the position of patient's arm was not so much significant. Especially, the scanning under the condition that the arm is raised over to the head gives rise to more probability that the patient is likely to move due to long scanning time that causes the increase of uptake of $^{18}F$-FDG of brown fat at the shoulder part together with increased pain imposing to the shoulder and discomfort to a patient. As regarding consideration all of such factors, it could be rationally drawn that PET/CT scanning could be made with the arm of the subject lowered.

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[ $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$ ]-enhanced, and Quantitative MR Imaging in Articular Cartilage (관절연골의 $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-조영증강 및 정량적 자기공명영상에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Eun Choong-Ki;Lee Yeong-Joon;Park Auh-Whan;Park Yeong-Mi;Bae Jae-Ik;Ryu Ji Hwa;Baik Dae-Il;Jung Soo-Jin;Lee Seon-Joo
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.100-108
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    • 2004
  • Purpose : Early degeneration of articular cartilage is accompanied by a loss of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the consequent change of the integrity. The purpose of this study was to biochemically quantify the loss of GAG, and to evaluate the $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhanced, and T1, T2, rho relaxation map for detection of the early degeneration of cartilage. Materials and Methods : A cartilage-bone block in size of $8mm\;\times\;10mm$ was acquired from the patella in each of three pigs. Quantitative analysis of GAG of cartilage was performed at spectrophotometry by use of dimethylmethylene blue. Each of cartilage blocks was cultured in one of three different media: two different culture media (0.2 mg/ml trypsin solution, 1mM Gd $(DTPA)^{2-}$ mixed trypsin solution) and the control media (phosphate buffered saline (PBS)). The cartilage blocks were cultured for 5 hrs, during which MR images of the blocks were obtained at one hour interval (0 hr, 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, 4 hr, 5 hr). And then, additional culture was done for 24 hrs and 48 hrs. Both T1-weighted image (TR/TE, 450/22 ms), and mixed-echo sequence (TR/TE, 760/21-168ms; 8 echoes) were obtained at all times using field of view 50 mm, slice thickness 2 mm, and matrix $256\times512$. The MRI data were analyzed with pixel-by-pixel comparisons. The cultured cartilage-bone blocks were microscopically observed using hematoxylin & eosin, toluidine blue, alcian blue, and trichrome stains. Results : At quantitation analysis, GAG concentration in the culture solutions was proportional to the culture durations. The T1-signal of the cartilage-bone block cultured in the $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$ mixed solution was significantly higher ($42\%$ in average, p<0.05) than that of the cartilage-bone block cultured in the trypsin solution alone. The T1, T2, rho relaxation times of cultured tissue were not significantly correlated with culture duration (p>0.05). However the focal increase in T1 relaxation time at superficial and transitional layers of cartilage was seen in $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$ mixed culture. Toluidine blue and alcian blue stains revealed multiple defects in whole thickness of the cartilage cultured in trypsin media. Conclusion : The quantitative analysis showed gradual loss of GAG proportional to the culture duration. Microimagings of cartilage with $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhancement, relaxation maps were available by pixel size of $97.9\times195\;{\mu}m$. Loss of GAG over time better demonstrated with $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhanced images than with T1, T2, rho relaxation maps. Therefore $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhanced T1-weighted image is superior for detection of early degeneration of cartilage.

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