• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2010

Inhaled inorganic dusts, such as coal, can cause inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs, known as pneumoconiosis. Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis depends on morphological changes by radiological findings and functional change by pulmonary function test (PFT). Unfortunately, current diagnostic findings are limited only to lung fibrosis, which is usually irreversibly progressive. Therefore, it is important that research on potential and prospective biomarkers for pneumoconiosis should be conducted prior to initiation of irreversible radiological or functional changes in the lungs. Analytical techniques using exhaled breath condensate (EBC) or exhaled gas are non-invasive methods for detection of various respiratory diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers, such as EBC pH or fractional exhaled nitric oxide ($FE_{NO}$), and pneumoconiosis among 120 retired coal miners (41 controls and 79 pneumoconiosis patients). Levels of EBC pH and FENO did not show a statistically significant difference between the pneumoconiosis patient group and pneumoconiosis patients with small opacity classified by International Labor Organization (ILO) classification. The mean concentration of $FE_{NO}$ in the low percentage $FEV_1$ (< 80%) was lower than that in the high percentage (80% $\leq$) (p = 0.023). The mean concentration of $FE_{NO}$ in current smokers was lower than that in non smokers (never or past smokers) (p = 0.027). Although there was no statistical significance, the levels of $FE_{NO}$ in smokers tended to decrease, compared with non smokers, regardless of pneumoconiosis. In conclusion, there was no significant relationship between the level of EBC pH or $FE_{NO}$ and radiological findings or PFT. The effects between exhaled biomarkers and pneumoconiosis progression, such as decreasing PFT and exacerbation of radiological findings, should be monitored.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : Hormonal treatments which have an androgenic effect have the potential to cause vocal changes. The changes in vocal fold structure and voice quality are considered to be irreversible. To date, studies have documeted subjective vocal changes or documented single cases without detailed, baseline voice assessments. Materials and Methods : We have performed objective voice analyses of 20 women who were treated with androgenic hormones for endometriosis and compared the results with those of normal control women. Results : The averages of fundamental frequency were 194.7${\pm}$28.2 in study group, 207.0${\pm}$14.1 in control group. The means of closed quotient which were measured with electroglottography were 45.13${\pm}$2.06 in study group, 45.1${\pm}$3.03 in control group. Results of acoustic analysis are as follows. The averages of jitter were 0.95${\pm}$0.46 in study group, 1.10${\pm}$0.65 in control group. The means of shimmer were 2.44${\pm}$0.60 in study group, 2.32${\pm}$1.09 in control group. The averages of noise to harmonic ratio were 0.13${\pm}$0.028 in study group, 0.15$\pm$0.18 in control group. Conclusion : Although there were no statistically meaningful differences between the two groups, we could detect the masculinizing tendency of the therapeutic hormones of endomentriosiss(lowering of fundamental frequency). Given the availability of objective voice assessments today and the continued use of these potent hormones, comprehensive voice assessment and vocal monitoring would appear vital for women commencing hormonal treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.444-451
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• 1987

The dependence of polarographic parameters on the pressure for the reduction of copper(II), cadmium(II), and zinc(II) complex ions with ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine has been studied. In this study the dropping mercury electrode, the mercury pool electrode, and helix type of platinum wire were used as the working, the reference, and the auxilary electrode, respectively. With increasing the pressure from 1 atmosphere to 1,500 atmospheres, the reduction half-wave potentials of metal complex ions are shifted to the negative values and the diffusion currents become considerably larger, in keeping with the theory on the change of the physical properties of the electrolytic solution such as the density, the viscosity, the dielectric constant, and the electrical conductance, etc. The slope values of the logarithmic plot are increased with increasing the pressure, which indicates the more irreversible reduction. The temperature coefficients of diffusion current observed over the range of the temperature from 25$^{\circ}$C to 35$^{\circ}$C are about two percentage with increasing the pressure, therefore the polarographic reduction under the high pressure is controlled by diffusion. The linear relationships between diffusion current and concentration of metal complex ions are established over all pressure range.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.614-622
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• 1989

The electrochemical reduction of ${\alpha},{\beta}$-dibenzyl N-benzylidene L-aspartate in 0.1M LiCl ethanol solution was investigated by direct current (DC), differential pulse (DP) polarography, cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry(CPC). The irreversible reductive amination of imino group proceeded to form ${\alpha},{\beta}$-dibenyl N-benzyl L-aspartate by CEC or CE electrochemical reaction mechanism at the first reduction step (-0.92 volts vs. Ag-AgCl). The polarographic reduction wave was slightly suppressed due to inhibitory effect of micelle, while the irreversibility was increased according to the increase of Triton X-100 concentration. Upon the basis of product analysis and polarogram interpretation with pH change, possible CE electrode reaction mechanism was suggested.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2009

It is well known that coagulation pretreatment can reduce foulants prior to membrane filtration. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of coagulation on fouling of ceramic microfiltration membrane($0.1 {\mu}m$) using pilot plant of $150m^3/day/train$ capacity. Train A membrane system has pretreatment process of ozonation and coagulation while train B has only coagulation. Two types of coagulation operation were investigated: back mixer(rapid mixing with or without slow mixing) which is a conventional mechanically stirred mixer and an inline static mixer. Ozone dose rate for train A was 1 mg/L and ozone contact time was 12 min. The coagulation dose(PACl 10% as $Al_2O_3$) rate was changed 20~40 mg/L according to experimental schedule. In this experimental conditions, the coagulation of back mixer type with rapid mixing(GT=72,000) and slow mixing(GT=45,000) was the best effective in reduction of ceramic membrane fouling regardless preozonation. Especially, the effect of inline static mixer was sensitive to change in water quality. Ozonation mainly affected irreversible fouling rather than reversible fouling in accordance with less adsorption of NOM on the membrane surface. Thus, the increase rate of the nomalized TMP(trans membrane pressure) at $25^{\circ}C$ for train A was relatively lower than that of train B under same coagulation process with same coagulant dosage. The best performance of ceramic membrane appeared in case of combined process with ozonation, therefore this integrated process is able to archive less coagulant dosing and secure a stability of ceramic membrane system.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.584-593
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• 1983

Esophageal reconstruction was performed in 344 patients with irreversible stricture of the esophagus resulting from caustic burns at National Medical Center from 1959 to 1982.There were 113 males and 231 females, and ranging from 2.5 to 58 years of age, and mean age was 26.5 years, and 25 cases were less than 10 years old. Caustic materials were 286 [83.2%] alkali and 50[14.5%] acid. The most frequent stricture site was upper thoracic esophagus as 56.7%, and the next was cervical as 31.4%, and lower, 11.9%. The stomach was involved in 10.8% totally, and hypopharyngeal stricture was also noticed in 3.2%, and in 3 cases, hypopharyngeal reconstruction was needed due to extensive scar change. In 329 of total 344 cases, colon interposition was performed without resection of the strictured esophagus except 4 cases which were complicated T-E fistula or perforation, and most of them, about 10-15 cm of terminal ileum with right half of the colon was used as the graft. The left colon with anti-peristalsis was used as graft only in 30 cases. The most common postoperative complication was anastomotic leak as 16.7% of total cases, and it was 12.5% from neck, 3.3% from ileocolostoma and 0.9% from cologastrostoma. Next common complication was neck stenosis [8.8%], aspiration pneumonia [6.4%], and graft necrosis [3.9%] in order. Overall operative mortality was 5.5% [14/329], and main causes of death were graft necrosis, sepsis due to anastomotic leak, gastric bleeding, and intestinal obstruction. Besides of colon interposition, according to shape or level of the stricture, plastic repair or segmental resection and direct anastomosis was done in 9, and 1 of them were complicated stenosis at the anastomotic site. In lower stricture, esophagogastrostomy was done in 10 cases, and 1 case expired due to hepatitis, and anastomotic stenosis was occurred in 2 cases at 1.5 months and 2.4 years later. During follow-up of 298 cases colon interposition from 6 months to 22 years, 82.6% was excellent, and 2.9% was complained of mild discomfort, and 4 cases were dead laterly, but 3 of them were not related to reconstruction.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.175-187
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• 2013

In-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction experiments have been performed on mineral natrolite (Na-zeolite) to investigate the dehydration behavior under high temperature and high pressure-temperature conditions. XRD data show reversible dehydration up to $450^{\circ}C$ whereas Raman data show irreversible change when the material is heated up to $630^{\circ}C$. The existence of post-natrolite was newly identified to form from ${\beta}$-metanatrolite at $380^{\circ}C$ upon cooling. The formation of dehydrated metanatrolite under simultaneous high temperature-pressure (room temperature < T < $300^{\circ}C$, 0 GPa < P < 2.1 GPa) conditions was not observed.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1988

In order to investigate the role of nuclei and cytoplasm in early embryogenesis, interspecific nuclear transplantation was carried out Nuclei of one species of amphibian was transplanted into enucleated egg of another species. In interspecific hybrids between Rana species, development was arrested before or right after the dorsal lip formation. In intergenetic hybrids between Rana, Xenopus and axolod, developmental arrest took place at late blastula stage. Comparing the developmental capacity of each nudeocytoplasmic hybrid, the more distantly related the species, the earlier does development arrest. The general rule is that nuclear transfers between any amphibian species will form a regulary cleaved late blastula. Two plausible factors relate to limitation of tite developmental capacity of nudeocytaplasmic hybrids. One is an irreversible change in grafted nuclei and another is tunctional incompatibility between the recipient cytoplasm and transplanted nucleus. The later is postulated a more possible cause of the arrestrnent.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2010

The extensive use of fossil resources over the past century resulted in dwindling supply and surging price of oil and it is strongly suspected that irreversible global climate change might be due to carbon dioxide emitted from combustion of fossil carbons. With this regard, much attention is recently paid to renewable and sustainable resources as alternatives to petroleum. In this review, we considered a range of efforts to replace petroleum-derived chemicals, particularly adhesive materials with renewable and sustainable plant-based biomass feedstock.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 1986

Radiation myelitis is a rather rare, but irreversible fatal complication. Etiology, pathologic change, clinical symptoms and the method of diagnosis have been studied with animal experiments and human necropsies. In spite of massive studies, pathogenesis of post-irradiation myelitis and the level of tolerance dose still remain controversial. Thoracolumbar spine of 110 hybrid mice were irradiated with orthovoltage x-ray machine. Mild capillary congestion and axonal swelling were observed in 1,000 rad irradiated specimens. Focal necrosis in 3,500 rad specimens, fragmentation of neural tissue in 4,000 rad specimens were also observed. These results suggest that 5,000 rad is not a completely safe tolerable dose which have been accepted and we cannot exclude direct radiation damage to news tissue as the causative pathology of radiation myelitis in addition to blood vessel damage.