• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2010

Most brachytherapy treatment planning systems employ a dosimetry formalism based on the AAPM TG-43 report which does not appropriately consider tissue heterogeneity. In this study we aimed to set up a simple Monte Carlo-based intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IC-HDRB) plan verification platform, focusing particularly on the robustness of the direct Monte Carlo dose calculation using material and density information derived from CT images. CT images of slab phantoms and a uterine cervical cancer patient were used for brachytherapy plans based on the Plato (Nucletron, Netherlands) brachytherapy planning system. Monte Carlo simulations were implemented using the parameters from the Plato system and compared with the EBT film dosimetry and conventional dose computations. EGSnrc based DOSXYZnrc code was used for Monte Carlo simulations. Each $^{192}Ir$ source of the afterloader was approximately modeled as a parallel-piped shape inside the converted CT data set whose voxel size was $2{\times}2{\times}2\;mm^3$. Bracytherapy dose calculations based on the TG-43 showed good agreement with the Monte Carlo results in a homogeneous media whose density was close to water, but there were significant errors in high-density materials. For a patient case, A and B point dose differences were less than 3%, while the mean dose discrepancy was as much as 5%. Conventional dose computation methods might underdose the targets by not accounting for the effects of high-density materials. The proposed platform was shown to be feasible and to have good dose calculation accuracy. One should be careful when confirming the plan using a conventional brachytherapy dose computation method, and moreover, an independent dose verification system as developed in this study might be helpful.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.171-177
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• 2007

In order to investigate the effect of the methanogenic bacteria in bacteria in leachate on the degradability of landfill waste, this study has created 4 cylinder-shape PVC lysimeters (Diameter: 30cm, Height: 200cm, Volume: 140L) and for the biological treatment and recirculation of the leachate, two anaerobic batch reactors (Diameter: 20cm, Height: 30cm) were created. To simulate a conventional landfill, no recycling was done in L1. In L2, 1,068ml of leachate (twice of rainfall amount) was recycled. In L3 and L4, the leachate was anaerobically digested in a dark room (with $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) for a week and them recycled by 1,064ml and 2,128ml, respectively, with recycled water only. In terms of cumulative $CH_4$ production, however, L3 and L4 were much higher (three times) than L1 and L2. Between L3 and L4, the latter was 1.23 times higher than the former in terms of cumulative CH4 production. In other words, the more the methanogenic bacteria-activated leachate is recycled, the more active the degradation due to active methane fermentation by the recyled methanogenic bacteria. And methane recovery is different according to the amount of recycled the methanogenic bacteria in leachate.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 1979

In this study, the adhesive strength of three commercial polycarboxylate cements to ten types of dental casting alloys, such as gold, palladium, silver, indium, copper, nickel, chromium, and human enamel and dentine were measured and compared with that of a conventional zinc phosphate cement. The $8.0mm{\times}3.0mm$ cylindrical alloy specimens were made by casting. The enamel specimens were prepared from the labial surface of human upper incisor, and the dentine specimens were prepared from the occulusal surface of the human molar respectively. Sound extracted human teeth, which had been kept in a fresh condition since, extraction, were mounted in a wax box with a cold-curing acrylic resin to expose the flattened area. The mounted teeth were then placed in a Specimen Cutter (Technicut) and were cut down under a water spray, and then the flat area on the all specimens were ground by hand with 400 and 600 grit wet silicone carbide paper. Two such specimens were then cemented together face-to-face with freshly mixed cement, and moderate finger pressure was applied to squeeze the cement to a thin and uniform film. All cemented specimens were then kept in a thermostatic humidor cabinet regulated at $23{\pm}2^{\circ}C.$ and more than 95 per cent relative humidity and tested after 24 hours and 1 week. Link chain was attached to each alloy specimen to reduce the rigidity of the jig assembly, and then all the specimens were mounted in the grips of the Instron Universal Testing Machine, and a tensile load was delivered to the adhering surface at a cross head speed of 0.20 mm/min. The loads to which the specimens were subjected were recorded on a chart moving at 0.50 mm/min. The adhesive strength was determined by measuring the load when the specimen separated from the cement block and by dividing the load by the area. The test was performed in a room at $23{\pm}2^{\circ}C.$ and $50{\pm}10$ per cent relative humidity. A minimum of five specimens were tested each material and those which deviated more than 15 per cent from the mean were discarded and new specimens prepared. From the experiments, the following results were obtained. 1) It was found that the adhesive strength of the polycarboxylate cement to all alloys tested was considerably greater than that of the zinc phosphate cement. 2) The adhesive strength of the polycarboxylate cements was superior to the non precious alloys, such as the copper, indium, nickel and chromium alloys, but it was inferior to the precious gold, silver and palladium alloys. 3) Surface treatment of the alloy was found to be an important factor in achieving adhesion. It appears that a polycarboxylate cement will adhere better to a smooth surface than to a rough one. This contrasts with zinc phosphate cements, where a rough helps mechanical interlocking. 4) The adhesion of the polycarboxylate cement with enamel was found superior to its adhesion with dentine.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2001

Stricter environmental demands have increased the need to replace conventional C/D bleaching sequence by chlorine-free sequence. Permanganate is well known as a powerful oxidant and have been used industrially in variable fields. However, it has considered to be difficult to use permanganate as a bleaching reagent because of its strong oxidative effect decreasing the viscosity of pulps extremely. We have tried to use permanganate as a bleaching reagent for KP under the mild condition and it was clear that pernanganate oxidized lignin remained in pulps selectively and increased pulp brightness decreasing K number of pulps with small degradation of cellulose. We have employed the neutral condition in the permanganate bleaching process in this study. In this case, permanganate was converted to manganese dioxide after bleaching reaction. The manganese dioxide is remained in the treated pulp fibers because of its insolublity in water. So it was required to reduction the manganese oxide to manganese ion by using reductants with acid. In this paper, we proposed to use oxalic acid as a reducing reagent converting manganese oxide to manganese ion after bleaching reaction. Oxalic acid plays the role as a reductant and a acid, so post-treatment after bleaching became to be easy by using oxalic acid. On the study using lignin model compounds, it was clear that permaganate react with phenols firstly, after that oxalic acid reduce the manganese oxide to manganese ion in the mixture of permanganate, phenols and oxalic acid. Several lignin model compounds ($\textit{p}$-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, syringaldehyde, veratraldehyde) are selected to elucidate the effect of substituents on reaction rate and its mechanism with permanganate including oxalic acid in this study. Except for veratraldehyde, the rate of oxidative degradation of phenolic compounds by permanganate with oxalic acid are higher than neutral condition. Especially, the degradation rate of $\textit{p}$-hydroxybenzaldehyde are strongly dependent on pH of reaction mixture. On the other hand, the degradation rate of veratraldehyde are decreased with decreasing pH and main degradation product is veratric acid. This result indicate that pH of bleaching liquor should be kept over 2 to degrade of non-phenolic lignin in the pulps effectively in permanganate bleaching.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.455-463
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• 2011

Conventional construction technologies have been continually applied without consideration of its impact to the environment. This resulted to various problems including the negative responses of local citizens that regarded some constructed facilities as aversive facilities causing environmental and hydraulic problems in the urban area, etc. To prevent these problems, therefore, alternative methods should be undertaken. A new approach termed "Low Impact Development (LID)" technology is currently adapted in developed countries around the world. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of the developed small constructed wetland (SCW) with horizontal subsurface flow as a LID technique applicable in urban areas. Two test-bed facilities were constructed and monitoring had been conducted between July 2010 and June 2011. Based on the findings, the removal efficiencies achieved for TSS, $COD_{Cr}$, TN, TP, Total Fe, Total Pb for the SCW-1 were 66, 53, 46, 55, 67 and 50%, respectively. On the other hand, the SCW-2 attained 82, 62, 51, 48, 74 and 42% efficiency for TSS, $COD_{Cr}$, TN, TP, Total Fe, Total Pb, respectively. The results indicated that the removal of particulate matter and heavy metals which are considered as main pollutants from stormwater runoff in urban areas was satisfactory in the system. Therefore, the test-beds proved to be appropriate for the treatment of pollutants in urban landuses such as road, parking lot, etc. The results of this study can contribute to the conservation of aquatic ecosystems and restoration of natural water cycle in the urban areas.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2006

In this study, we have isolated and identified a proteolytic bacterium from conventional Cheongkukjang. We also characterized several bioactivity of Cheongkukjang, which was fermented by an isolated strain. One strain out of about $10^4$ strains obtained from Cheongkukjang showed relatively high proteolytic activity was selected and named as a Bacillus subtilis LSH805 strain. White soy-bean Cheongkukjang possessed less odor and more viscous substance than black soy-bean Cheongkukjang. Cheongkukjang showed fibrinolytic activity, and about 1,500 mg fibrin was degraded after 20 h incubation. Although nitric oxide (NO) assays of soy-bean and Cheongkukjang were almost the same, their activities were significantly higher than that of no treatment. Activity of water fraction of Cheongkukjang was somewhat higher than that of soy-bean. Fibrinolytic and NO assays of Cheongkukjang suggest that Cheongkukjang, which was fermented by an isolated strain may be a useful candidate for natural fibrinolytic and macrophage-stimulating agents.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.226-241
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• 2000

Recently a new generation of crown and bridge veneering resins containing submicron glass fillers was introduced. These ultrasmall particle hybrid composite materials distinguish themselves, compared with conventional microfill crown and bridge resins, through improved mechanical properties. It is claimed that these composites are suitable for metal free crowns and even bridges using fiber reinforcement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermal cycling on the tensile strength of the following veneering composites: Artglass(Heraeus Kulzer Co., Wehrheim, Germany), Estonia(Kuraray Co.. Japan), Sculpture(Jeneric Pentron Co., Wallingford, U.S.A.), and Targis(Ivoclar Co., Schaan Liechenstein). According to manufacturer's instructions, rectangular tensile test specimens measuring $1.5{\times}2.0{\times}4.5mm$ were made using a teflon mold. Whole specimens were divided into two groups. One group was dried in a desiccator at $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 days, and another group was subjected to thermal cycling($10,000{\times}$) in water($5/55^{\circ}C$). All test specimens were placed in a universal testing machine and loaded until fracture with a crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min. Weibull analysis and Tukey's test were used to analyze the data. The fracture surfaces of specimens were observed in SEM and the aliphatic C=C absorbance peak of Estenia and Targis resin was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy. Within the limitations imposed in this study, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. Both in drying condition and thermal cycling condition, the highest tensile strength was observed in Estenia testing group(p<0.05). 2. The strength data were at to single-mode Weibull distribution, and the Weibull modulus of all veneering composite resin specimens increased after thermal cycling treatment. 3. After thermal cycling test, the highest tensile strength was observed in the Estenia group, and the lowest value was observed in the Targis group. The tensile strength values showed the significant differences between each group(p<0.05) 4. The aliphatic C=C absorbance peak of Estonia and Targis resin was decreased after light curing, and there was no distinct change after thermal cycling.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.278-288
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by Rural Development Administration. ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice were exposed on Sprague-Dawley rats for 13 weeks. All rats survived until the end of the exposure period. There were no biologically significant differences in body weight, feed and water consumption, weight gains and feed efficiency. There were no clinical signs of toxicity attributable to exposure to GM rice. Mild decreases in AST, ALT, TG levels were observed in Group II (25% GM rice (w/w) and Group III (50% GM rice (w/w), both in females and males. Results of histopathological changes treated with the ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice had no significant differences between the control and treatment groups. Based on these results, we deemed that genetically modified ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice was as safe as conventional rice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2009

This study was conducted to identify the magnitude of first flush in small city urban area and to provide the basic information on the criteria of stormwater runoff management. Monitoring site was surrounded by residential area in Gumi city near to national industrial complex and the monitoring period was three months. Total watershed area was 24.9 ha, where 80% of the area is impervious (asphalt of pavement type). Periodic monitoring of conventional water quality parameters were conducted with six times of rainfall period. Event mean and site mean concentrations for all the parameters were calculated based on the analytical results. Particle size distribution was 9.82 ${\mu}m$ for $D_{0.1}$, 38.99 ${\mu}m$ for $D_{0.5}$ and 159.61 ${\mu}m$ for $D_{0.9}$ respectively. First flush phenomenon was detected highly in particulate solids than dissolved ones. The first flush criteria results by mass first flush contained between 44.4% to 58.5% pollutant mass during the first 30% of runoff volume. Mass first flush ratio and particle size distribution obtained in this study are expected to provide the basic information for the design and operation of non-point source treatment facility.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.244-249
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• 2021

The hydroponic culture for growing 'Duke' blueberry was evaluated in a protective greenhouse provided with similar environmental conditions to the conventional blueberry cultivations. One year old 'Duke' blueberry bushes planted in 180 L containers filled with 130 L peat moss and 40 L pearlite (v/v) were selected for the experiment. A nutrient solution consisted with NO₃-N 4.6, NH₄-N 3.4, PO₄-P 3.3, K 3, Ca 4.6, and Mg 2.2 mmol^-1 was supplied to the plants, comparing non-hydroponic treatment (provided with only underground water). Hydroponic culture increased number of shoot per bush by 18% and total shoot length by 24% compared with non-hydroponic culture. Total dry weight of a bush increased in the hydroponic with vigorous root growth 1.4-fold more than the non-hydroponic. Higher concentrations of inorganic elements and organic compounds were found in the hydroponic, indicating active nutrient absorption of the bush. The hydroponic produced high yield similar to adult bush from 4 years old age, maintaining the yield until 8 years old age. The findings of this study indicated that hydroponic cultivation systems will be useful for growing blueberry crop.