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The Evaluation of Usefulness of Pixelated Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging in Thyroid scan (Pixelated Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging(BSGI) 감마 카메라를 이용한 갑상선 검사의 유용성 평가)

  • Jung, Eun-Mi;Seong, Ji-Hye;Yoo, Hee-Jae
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.90-93
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: A Pixelated BSGI gamma camera has features to enhance resolution and sensitivity and minimize the distance between detector and organs by narrow FOV. Therefore, it is known as useful device to examine small organs such as thyroid, parathyroid and gall bladder. In general, when we would like to enlarge the size of images and obtain high resolution images by gamma camera in nuclear medicine study, we use pinhole collimator. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Pixelated BSGI gamma camera and to compare to it using pinhole collimator in thyroid scan which is a study of typical small organs. Materials and methods: (1) The evaluation of sensitivity and spatial resolution: We measured sensitivity and spatial resolution of Pixelated BSGI with LEHR collimator and Infinia gamma camera with pinhole collimator. The sensitivity was measured by point source sensitivity test recommended by IAEA. We acquired images considering dead time in BSGI gamma camera for 100 seconds and used $^{99m}TcO4-\;400{\mu}Ci$ line source. (2) The evaluation of thyroid phantom: The thyroid phantom was filled with $^{99m}TcO4-$. After set 300 sec or 100 kcts stop conditions, we acquired images from both pixelated BSGI gamma camera and Infinia gamma camera with LEHR collimator. And we performed all thyroid studies in the same way as current AMC's procedure. Results: (1) the result of sensitivity: As a result, the sensitivity and spatial resolution of pixelated BSGI gamma camera were better than Infinia's. The sensitivities of pixelated BSGI and Infinia gamma camera were $290cps/{\mu}Ci$ and $350cps/{\mu}Ci$ respectively. So, the sensitivity of pixelated BSGI was 1.2 times higher than Infinia's (2) the result of thyroid phantom: Consequently, we confirmed that images of Pixelated BSGI gamma camera were more distinguishable between hot and cold spot compared with Infinia gamma camera. Conclusion: A pixelated BSGI gamma camera is able to shorten the acquisition time. Furthermore, the patients are exposed to radiation less than before by reducing amount of radiopharmaceutical doses. Shortening scan time makes images better by minimizing patient's breath and motion. And also, the distance between organ and detector is minimized because detector of pixelated BSGI gamma camera is small and possible to rotate. When patient cannot move at all, it is useful since device is feasible to move itself. However, although a pixelated BSGI gamma camera has these advantages, the effect of dead time occurs over 2000 cts/s since it was produced only for breast scan. So, there were low concentrations in organ. Therefore, we should consider that it needs to take tests to adjust acquisition time and amount of radiopharmaceutical doses in thyroid scan case with a pixelated BSGI gamma camera.

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Optimum Nutrient Solution Strength for Korean Strawberry Cultivar 'Daewang' during Seedling Period (국내 육성 신품종 딸기 '대왕'의 육묘기 적정 배양액 농도)

  • Jun, Ha Joon;Jeon, Eui Hwan;Kang, Soo In;Bae, Geun Hye
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.812-818
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    • 2014
  • Raising seedlings is important for fruit crops and is especially significant for strawberries as it accounts for 80% of their cultivation. However, there are few studies on raising seedlings of strawberries by hydroponics. Since strawberries show clear differences in growth characteristics based on cultivar, it is necessary to develop suitable fertilizer formula, concentration and pH for each cultivar, and also to examine the amount of nutrient feeding appropriate for each medium type. A key to raising seedlings of strawberries by hydroponics is the development of strategies to manage the concentration of nutrient solution. The mother plants of 'Daewang' strawberries were planted on hydroponics benches filled with cocopeat on March 28, 2012. Three nutrient solution treatments were employed during the term of raising seedlings: a type that supplied EC $0.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ nutrient solution for 30 days and only water for 20 days [0.6 (30) + 20]; a type that supplied EC $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ nutrient solution for 30 days and only water for 20 days [1.2 (30) + 20]; and a type that supplied EC $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ nutrient solution for 50 days [1.2 (50)]. The plants were then planted on hydroponics benches filled with cocopeat on September 20, and managed with EC $0.6-0.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ strawberry nutrient solution developed by Yamazaki. After planting, shoot growth, flowering rate and fruit quality of the first cluster were investigated. The petiole length, leaf length, leaf width and crown diameter showed the highest grown in the [1.2 (50)] treatment, followed by [1.2 (30) + 20], and then [0.6 (30) + 20], indicating that the higher concentration of nutrient solution was preferable for raising seedlings. However, the growth differences among treatments gradually disappeared as growth continued, and the crown diameter especially grew to exhibit almost no difference at all among treatments. The point of flowering came first in [0.6 (30) + 20], followed by [1.2 (30) + 20] and then [1.2 (50)]. The [0.6 (30) + 20] treatment showed much earlier flowering than other treatments, which implies that low-concentration nutrient solution may be beneficial to the flowering of 'Daewang' strawberries while raising seedlings. There was no statistically significant difference among treatments in fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit firmness. Fruit weight in [1.2 (50)] treatment was significantly higher than other treatments. However, soluble solids of fruit was the lowest in [1.2 (50)] treatment. Together, the results of this experiment imply that it is better to supply EC $0.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ solution for 30 days and then supply only water for 20 days to adequately manage concentration of nutrient solutions during the period of raising seedlings of strawberries by hydroponics.

The First Newborn Screening Study of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circle and κ-Deleting Recombination Excision Circle for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency in Korea: A Pilot Study (국내 최초 T-Cell Receptor Excision Circle과 κ-Deleting Recombination Excision Circle 신생아 선별검사에 관한 연구)

  • Son, Sohee;Kang, Ji-Man;Kim, Jong Min;Sung, Sein;Kim, Yi-Seoul;Lee, Haejeong;Kim, BitA Reum;Lee, Yeon Kyoung;Ko, Sun Young;Shin, Son Moon;Kim, Yae-Jean
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.134-140
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is the most serious form of primary immunodeficiency. Infants with SCID are susceptible to life-threatening infections. To establish newborn screening for SCID in Korea, we performed a screening test for T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) and ${\kappa}$-deleting recombination excision circle (KREC) in neonates and investigated the awareness of SCID among their parents. Methods: Collections of dried blood spots from neonates and parent surveys were performed at the Samsung Medical Center and Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center in Korea. The amplification crossing point (Cp) value <37.0 was defined as TREC/KRECpositive based on cutoff values from measuring multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction. A Cp value >39.0 was defined as negative. Results: For TREC/KREC screening, 141 neonates were enrolled; 63 (44.7%) were male. One hundred forty neonates (99.3%) had positive TREC/KREC results at the time of the initial test; 82.3% and 75.9% were positive and 17.0% and 23.4% were weakly positive for TREC and KREC, respectively. In one neonate (0.7%), the initial TREC/KREC test result was negative. However, repeated tests obtained and confirmed a positive result. For an awareness survey, 168 parents were engaged. Only 2% of parents (3/168) knew that the newborn screening test for SCID had been introduced and performed in other countries. Eighty-four percent of parents (141/168) replied that nationwide newborn SCID screening should be performed in Korean newborns. Conclusions: In this study, newborn SCID screening was performed along with assessment of public awareness of the SCID test in Korea. The study results showed that newborn SCID screening can be readily applied for clinical use at a relatively low cost in Korea.

Determination of Sulfur Requirement to Adjust pH of Alkaline Soil by Buffer Curve Method (알칼리성 토양 pH 교정시 완충곡선법을 이용한 황 시용량 결정)

  • Lee, In-Bog;Lim, Jae-Hyun;Yiem, Myoung-Soon
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.33 no.6
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    • pp.405-415
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    • 2000
  • To determine application rate of elemental sulfur to adjust pH of alkaline soil, buffer curve method was investigated. The elemental sulfur required to control pH 8.3 to pH 6.3 by buffer curve calculation was treated in two soils of silty loam and sandy loam, and the sulfur-mixed soils were moistened with 50% of water holding capacity during incubation of 6 weeks at $30^{\circ}C$. Soil pH was lowered with incubation and reached to target point after 4 weeks of incubation, and elemental sulfur was oxidised entirely to sulfate. This means that buffer curve has the accuracy to determine sulfur application rate in alkaline soil. However it is estimated that application rate of sulfur should be carefully determined in the field scale. Excess application of elemental sulfur resulted in extremely low soil pH and caused the hinderance of lettuce growth by nutritional imbalance and ion toxicity. To simplify the determination procedure of sulfur requirement, buffer curve method by addition of 0.1N-HCl solution as unit of mL was developed, it was compared with theroutine methods which diluted $H_2SO_4$ solution and $Ca(OH)_2$ are added as cmolc per kg soil to adjust each pH step. Buffer capacities, cmolc kg $soil^{-1}$ $pH^{-1}$, calculated from two buffer curves were not significantly different. The result indicates that buffer curve method by 0.1N-HCl can be used to adjust high pH of alkaline soil.

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Potential Reproductive Toxicity Study of p53 Expressing Adenoviral Vector in Mice (아데노바이러스 유전자치료벡터의 생식독성 연구)

  • Rhee, Gyu-Seek;Kwack, Seung-Jun;Kim, Soon-Sun;Lee, Rhee-Da;Seok, Ji-Hyun;Chae, Soo-Young;Chung, Soo-Youn;Kim, Seung-Hee;Lee, Seung-Hoon;Park, Kui-Lea
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.43 no.3
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    • pp.151-158
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    • 2007
  • The possibility of inadvertent introduction of therapeutic gene expressing viral vectors has raised safety concerns about germ-line infection. Particularly, for indications such as prostate cancer and ovarian cancer, the proximity of the point of viral administration to organs of the reproductive system raises concerns regarding inadvertent germ-line transmission of genes carried by the virus vector. To evaluate the safety of in vivo adenovirus mediated gene transfer, we explored the biodistribution, persistance and potential germ-line transmission of p53-expressing adenovirus (Ad-CMV-p53). Both male and female Balb/c mice were injected with $1{\times}10^9$ PFU of Ad-CMV-p53. The PCR analysis showed that there were detectable vector sequences in liver, kidney, spleen, seminal vesicle, epididymis, prostate, ovary, and uterus. The RT-PCR analysis for detecting inserted gene, p53 showed that Ad-CMV-p53 viral RNA were present in spleen, prostate and ovary. Direct injected male and female mice of adenovirus vector into testis and ovary were mated and their of offspring were evaluated for germ-line transmission of the adenoviral vector. The PCR and RT-PCR analysis showed no evidence of germline transmission, although vector sequences were detected in DNA extracted from gonadal tissues. Real-time PCR result confirmed a significant decrease of adenovirus in gonad tissues 1 week after injection. We have also analysed the cell specific localization of viral DNA in gonad tissues by using in-situ PCR. Positive signals were detected in interstitial tissue but not in seminiferous tubule in sperm. In the case of ovary, adenovirus signal were localized to the stromal tissue, but no follicular signals were observed. Together, these data provide strong evidence that the risk of the Inadvertent germ-line transmission of vector sequences following intraperitoneal or direct injection into genito-urinary system of adenovirus is extremely low.

Studies on Dairy Farming Status, Reproductive Efficiencies and Disorders in New Zealand (II) A Survey on Reproductive Efficiencies and Disorders in Palmerston North Area (뉴질랜드 (Palmerston North) 의 낙농 현황과 번식 및 번식장해에 관한 연구 (II) Palmerston North 지역의 낙농 번식현 황과 번식장해에 관한 조사)

  • 김중계;맥도날드
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.19-33
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    • 2000
  • Eighty dairy farms (38 farms responded) in Palmerston North area of New Zealand were questioned by mail questionnaire on: 1) general characteristics, 2) milk yield and feed supplementary, 3) reproductive efficiencies (12 questions) and 4) reproductive disorders (12 questions) from February to July, 1998. Among those 4 items, the reproductive efficiencies (3) and disorders (4), various diseases and culling rates were surveyed and analyzed for Korean dairy farmers (especially in Cheju island) and compared with New Zealand. The results are as follows: 1. Fifteen farms in 38 dairy farms relied entirely on artificial insemination, the rest of 23 dairy farms (60.5%) raised 5∼6 bulls to increase conception rate. The dairy farmers in Palmerston North used artificial insemination from Oct 4th to Dec 10th for 42.8 days, and then used bulls from that point to coming Jan 10th for 41.4 days. The submission rate within 3, 6 and 10 weeks following the initiation of AI season was 84.7, 93.9 and 97.9% respectively. 2. The average age of heifers at the first estrus, pregnancy and calving was 11.0, 18.0 and 24.7 months respectively, and an average 1.4 estrus cycles were required for conception. The intervals of estrus recurrence and the following conception after calving were 38 and 68 days respectively. 3. Among inseminated cows, calving, abortion and empty cow was 90.9, 1.6 and 7.4% respectively. Calving rate decreased according to increasing farm size, while the number of empty cows decreased. 4. Stillbirth, retained placenta and delivery abnormalities were 5.3, 3.7 and 5.5% respectively, not different depend on herd size. 5. The incidence of milk fever, grass tetany, and ketosis was 3.6, 3.0 and 1.0%, respectively. The delivery abnormality and mastitis treated with medicine were 3.1 and 6.7%, but decreased according to farm size. Lameness was 8.6% on average, but over 10% in farms which has more than 400 milking cows. 6. Among the culled cows (15.5% of the total), those culled due to an old age, lameness and other diseases were 2.9, 1.8 and 4.3% respectively and those culled due to low milk production, reproductive abnormality reduced with farm size. 7. Compared with the data collected in Korea, the reproductive efficiency was better, and lameness, metabolic problem and culling rate were higher in New Zealand

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The Optimal TDN Levels of Concentrates and Slaughter Age in Hanwoo Steers (거세한우에 있어서 배합사료의 적정 TDN 수준과 도축 월령)

  • Kim, K.H.;Lee, J.H.;Oh, Y.G.;Kang, S.W.;Lee, S.C.;Park, W.Y.;Ko, Y.D.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.47 no.5
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    • pp.731-744
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    • 2005
  • Ninety Hanwoo steers(initial BW=167.2$\pm$13.4kg) were used to determine the effect of energy concentrations in concentrates and slaughter age on performance, carcass characteristics. Steers were allotted by BW to one of eighteen pens. Eighteen pens were randomly allotted to a low(70-70-71-72% for the growing, the early, the middle or the late fattening periods), medium(70-71-72-73%) or high(70-72- 73-74%) TDN level of concentrates. Five steers for each treatment of energy level were slaughtered every one month from 26 month of age to 31 month of age. Concentrates was fed restrictedly to achieve a predicted gain of 0.7-0.9kg from growing stage to middle fattening stage. All steers were fed orchard grass(Dactylis glomerata L.) hay as roughage during the growing period, fed rice straw gradually substituted for orchard grass hay during the early fattening period, and fed rice straw only thereafter. Overall body weight and feed intake were not affected by TDN levels of concentrates. Average daily gain for all treatments was higher than 0.9kg/d during the 19-21 month of age and decrease thereafter, but sustained above 0.7kg/d. Mean concentrates intake for all treatments was 1.0-1.3% of live BW during the growing period and 1.5% during the early fattening. Thereafter, it decreased up to 1.4% during the middle fattening and 1.0% during late fattening period. Delay of slaughter end point resulted in a gradual increase of rib-eye area, back fat thickness and marbling score, especially after slaughter age of 29 month there was significant increases(P<0.05). The appearance rate of 1+ and 1 grade related to the slaughter ages was 100% at 29, 30 and 31 months of age, whereas those at 26, 27 and 28 months were 93, 86 and 80%, respectively. Dressing rate was significantly(P<0.05) increased and rate of retailed cut weight significantly(P<0.05) decreased when slaughter age increased. In economic analysis, there was pronounced increase in net income up to 32-46% after slaughter age of 29 months. Under the conditions of this study, high TDN intake is not necessarily required for high quality Hanwoo meat production and slaughter age of 29 month might be the optimum for Hanwoo steers.

Preliminary Post-closure Safety Assessment of Disposal Options for Disused Sealed Radioactive Source (폐밀봉선원 처분방식별 폐쇄후 예비안전성평가)

  • Lee, Seunghee;Kim, Juyoul;Kim, Sukhoon
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.301-314
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    • 2016
  • Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources (DSRSs) are stored temporally in the centralized storage facility of Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) and planned to be disposed in the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) disposal facility in Gyeongju city. In this study, preliminary post-closure safety assessment was performed for DSRSs in order to draw up an optimum disposal plan. Two types of disposal options were considered, i.e. engineered vault type disposal and rock cavern type disposal which were planned to be constructed and operated respectively in LILW disposal facility in Gyeongju city. Assessment end-point was individual effective dose of critical group and calculated by using GoldSim code. In normal scenario, the maximum dose was estimated to be approximately $1{\times}10^{-7}mSv/yr$ for both disposal options. It meant that both options had sufficient safety margin when compared with regulatory limit (0.1 mSv/yr). Otherwise, in well scenario, the maximum dose exceeded regulatory limit of 1 mSv/yr in engineered vault type disposal and the exposure dose was mainly contributed by $^{226}Ra$, $^{210}Pb$ (daughter nuclide of $^{226}Ra$) and $^{237}Np$ (daughter nuclide of $^{241}Am$). For rock cavern type disposal, even though the peak dose satisfied regulatory limit, the exposure doses by $^{14}C$ and $^{237}Np$ were relatively high above 10% of regulatory limit. Therefore, it is necessary to exclude $^{14}C$, $^{226}Ra$ and $^{241}Am$ for two type of disposal options and additional management such as long-term storage and development of disposal container for those radionuclides should be performed before permanent disposal for conservative safety and security.

Effects of Thermal Wastewater Effluent and Hydrogen Ion Potential (pH) on Water Quality and Periphyton Biomass in a Small Stream (Buso) of Pocheon Area, Korea (포천지역 계류 (부소천)의 수질과 부착조류 생물량에 온배수와 수소이온농도 (pH) 영향)

  • Jeon, Gyeonghye;Eum, Hyun Soo;Jung, Jinho;Hwang, Soon-Jin;Shin, Jae-Ki
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.50 no.1
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    • pp.96-115
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    • 2017
  • Understanding effects of thermal pollution and acidification has long been a concern of aquatic ecologists, but it remains largely unknown in Korea. This study was performed to elucidate the effects of thermal wastewater effluent (TWE) and acid rain on water quality and attached algae in a small mountain stream, the Buso Stream, a tributary located in the Hantan River basin. A total of five study sites were selected in the upstream area including the inflowing point of hot-spring wastewater (HSW), one upstream site (BSU), and three sites below thermal effluent merged into the stream (1 m, 10 m and 300 m for BSD1, BSD2, and BSD3, respectively). Field surveys and laboratory analyses were carried out every month from December 2015 to September 2016. Water temperature ranged $1.7{\sim}28.8^{\circ}C$ with a mean of $15.0^{\circ}C$ among all sites. Due to the effect of thermal effluent, water temperature at HSW site was sustained at high level during the study period from $17.5^{\circ}C$ (January) to $28.8^{\circ}C$ (September) with a mean of $24.2{\pm}3.7^{\circ}C$, which was significantly higher than other sites. Thermal wastewater effluent also brought in high concentration of nutrients(N, P). The effect of TWE was particularly apparent during dry season and low temperature period (December~March). Temperature effect of TWE did not last toward downstream, while nutrient effect seemed to maintain in longer distance. pH ranged 5.1~8.4 with a mean of 6.9 among all sites during the study period. The pH decrease was attributed to seasonal acid rain and snow fall, and their effects was identified by acidophilic diatoms dominated mainly by Eunotia pectinalis and Tabellaria flocculosa during March and August. These findings indicated that water quality and periphyton assemblages in the upstream region of Buso Stream were affected by thermal pollution, eutrophication, and acidification, and their confounding effects were seasonally variable.

Experimental Study on N2 Impurity Effect in the Pressure Drop During CO2 Mixture Transportation (CO2 파이프라인 수송에서의 N2 불순물이 압력강하에 미치는 영향에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Cho, Meang-Ik;Huh, Cheol;Jung, Jung-Yeul;Baek, Jong-Hwa;Kang, Seong-Gil
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.67-75
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    • 2012
  • Carbon-dioxide capture and storage (CCS) process is consisted by capturing carbon-dioxide from large point source such as power plant and steel works, transporting and sequestrating captured $CO_2$ in a stable geological structure. During CCS process, it is inevitable of introducing impurities from combustion, capture and purification process into $CO_2$ stream. Impurities such as $SO_2$, $H_2O$, CO, $N_2$, Ar, $O_2$, $H_2$, can influence on process efficiency, capital expenditure, operation expense of CCS process. In this study, experimental apparatus is built to simulate the behavior of $CO_2$ transport under various impurity composition and process pressure condition. With this apparatus, $N_2$ impurity effect on $CO_2$ mixture transportation was experimentally evaluated. The result showed that as $N_2$ ratio increased pressure drop per mass flow and specific volume of $CO_2-N_2$ mixture also increased. In 120 and 100 bar condition the mixture was in single phase supercritical condition, and as $N_2$ ratio increased gradient of specific volume change and pressure drop per mass flow did not change largely compared to low pressure condition. In 70 bar condition the mixture phase changed from single phase liquid to single phase vapor through liquid-vapor two phase region, and it showed that the gradient of specific volume change and pressure drop per mass flow varied in each phase.