• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.662-667
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• 2020

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are not only genetic markers for diagnosis but also biomarkers of clinical-response against tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among the EGFR mutations, the in-frame deletion mutation in EGFR exon 19 kinase domain (EGFR exon 19-del) is the most frequent mutation, accounting for about 45% of EGFR mutations in NSCLCs. Development of sensitive method for detecting the EGFR mutation is highly required to make a better screening for drug-response in the treatment of NSCLC patients. Here, we developed a fluorometric tandem gene amplification assay for sensitive detection of low-abundance EGFR exon 19-del mutant genomic DNA. The method consists of pre-amplification with PCR, thermal cycling of ligation by Taq ligase, and subsequent rolling circle amplification (RCA). PCR-amplified DNA from genomic DNA samples was used as splint DNA to conjugate both ends of linear padlock DNA, generating circular padlock DNA template for RCA. Long stretches of ssDNA harboring multiple copies of G-quadruplex structure was generated in RCA and detected by thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence, which is specifically intercalated into the G-quadruplex, emitting strong fluorescence. Sensitivity of tandem gene amplification assay for detection of the EGFR exon 19-del from gDNA was as low as 3.6 pg, and mutant gDNA present in the pooled normal plasma was readily detected as low as 1% fraction. Hence, fluorometric detection of low-abundance EGFR exon 19 deletion mutation using tandem gene amplification may be applicable to clinical diagnosis of NSCLC patients with appropriate TKI treatment.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.299-303
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• 2004

The conventional drilling method of caries removal makes vibration and thermal stimuli, so that children are afraid of dental treatment. Recently, various non-invasive caries removal techniques of alternatives to traditional methods are introduced and chemo-mechanical caries removal is one of them. $Carisolv^{TM}$ comprises a gel that is composed of three different amino acids and a low concentration of sodium hypochlorite and specially-designed hand instruments. This report describes two cases of dental caries treatment with $Carisolv^{TM}$. The carious dentin was eliminated with $Carisolv^{TM}$ gel with instruments and then composite resin restoration was conducted.

• Ceramist
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.211-230
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• 2020

Perovskite-type oxides with the nominal composition of ABO₃ can exsolve the B-site transition metal upon the controlled reduction. In this exsolution process, the transition metal emerges from the oxide lattice and migrates to the surface at which it forms catalytically active nanoparticles. The exsolved nanoparticles can recover back to the bulk lattice under oxidation treatment. This unique regeneration character by the redox treatment provides uniformly dispersed noble metal nanoparticles. Therefore, the conventional problem of traditional impregnated metal/support, i.e., sintering during reaction, can be effectively avoided by using the exsolution phenomenon. In this regard, the catalysts using the exsolution strategy have been well studied for a wide range of applications in energy conversion and storage devices such as solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysis cells (SOFCs and SOECs) because of its high thermal and chemical stability. On the other hand, although this exsolution strategy can also be applied to gas phase reaction catalysts, it has seldomly been reviewed. Here, we thus review recent applications of the exsolution catalysts to the gas phase reactions from the aspects of experimental measurements, where various functions of the exsolved particles were utilized. We also review non-perovskite type metal oxides that might have exolution phenomenon to provide more possibilities to develop higher efficient catalysts.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.350-358
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• 2020

A variety of composite powders having different aluminum and carbon contents are prepared using various organic solvents having different amounts of carbon atoms in unit volume as ball milling agents for titanium and aluminum ball milling. The effects of substrate temperature and post-heat treatment on the texture and hardness of the coating are investigated by spraying with this reduced pressure plasma spray. The aluminum part of the composite powder evaporates during spraying, so that the film aluminum content is 30.9 mass%~37.4 mass% and the carbon content is 0.64 mass%~1.69 mass%. The main constituent phase of the coating formed on the water-cooled substrate is a non-planar α₂ phase, obtained by supersaturated carbon regardless of the alloy composition. When these films are heat-treated at 1123 K, the main constituent phase becomes γ phase, and fine Ti₂AlC precipitates to increase the film hardness. However, when heat treatment is performed at a higher temperature, the hardness is lowered. The main constitutional phase of the coating formed on the preheated substrate is an equilibrium gamma phase, and fine Ti₂AlC precipitates. The hardness of this coating is much higher than the hardness of the coating in the sprayed state formed on the water-cooled substrate. When hot pressing is applied to the coating, the porosity decreases but hardness also decreases because Ti₂AlC grows. The amount of Ti₂AlC in the hot-pressed film is 4.9 vol% to 15.3 vol%, depending on the carbon content of the film.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.401-411
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• 2023

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) mitigation in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. The ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized using plasma discharge in water, resulting in rod-shaped particles with a hexagonal crystal structure. The ZnO nanoparticles are applied to Alloy 600 tubes in simulated nuclear power plant atmospheres to evaluate their effectiveness. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals the formation of thermodynamically stable ZnCr₂O₄and ZnFe₂O₄ spinel phases with a depth of approximately 35 nm on the surface after 240 hours of treatment. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) mitigation experiments reveal that ZnO treatment enhances thermal and mechanical stability. The ZnO-treated specimens exhibit increased maximum temperature tolerance up to 310 ℃ and higher-pressure resistance up to 60 bar compared to non-treated ZnO samples. Measurements of crack length indicate reduced crack propagation in ZnO-treated specimens. The formation of thermodynamically stable Zn spinel structures on the surface of Alloy 600 and the subsequent improvements in surface properties contribute to the enhanced durability and performance of the material in challenging high-temperature and high-pressure environments. These findings have significant implications for the development of corrosion-resistant materials and the mitigation of stress corrosion cracking in various industries.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2016

Chrysotile is a 1:1 sheet silicate mineral belonging to serpentine group. It has been highlighted studies because of uses, shapes and structural characteristics of the fibrous chrysotile. However, it was designated as Class 1 carcinogen, so high attentions were being placed on detoxification studies of chrysotile. The objectives of this study were to investigate changes of mineralogical characteristics of chrysotile and to suggest detoxification mechanism of chrysotile by thermal decomposition. Samples for this study were obtained from LAB Chrysotile mine in Canada. The samples were heated in air in the range of 600 to $1,300^{\circ}C$. Changes of mineralogical characteristics such as crystal structure, shape, and chemical composition of the chrysotile fibers were examined by TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR, TEM-EDS and SEM-EDS analyses. As a result of thermal decomposition, the fibrous chrysotile having hollow tube structure was dehydroxylated at $600-650^{\circ}C$ and transformed to disordered chrysotile by removal of OH at the octahedral sheet (MgOH) (Dehydroxylation 1). Upon increasing temperature, it was transformed to forsterite ($Mg_2SiO_4$) at $820^{\circ}C$ by rearrangement of Mg, Si and O (Dehydroxylation 2). In addition, crystal structure of forsterite had begun to transform at $800^{\circ}C$, and gradually grown 3-dimensionally to enstatite ($MgSiO_3$) by recrystallization after the heating above $1,100^{\circ}C$. And then finally transformed to spherical minerals. This study showed chrysotile structure was collapsed about $600-700^{\circ}C$ by dehydroxylation. And then the fibrous chrysotile was transformed to forsterite and enstatite, as non-hazardous minerals. Therefore, this study indicates heat treatment can be used to detoxification of chrysotile.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.650-659
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• 2013

To investigate the effects of facial blood flow rates(FBFR) and facial skin temperature(FST) generated by Gagam-Jawoonaek(GJ) application(appl.) after Miso Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture(MFRA). Ten people in their twenties to fifties with no skin diseases were recruited. We randomly divided subjects two groups(A, B) and set the GJ appl. site(group A - right side, group B - left side). MFRA was performed on both sides of their face. Immediately after acupuncture treatment(AT treat.), GJ was applied only half of the face. We measured their FBFR using Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging(LDPI) and FST using Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging(DITI) at pre-AT treat., immediately after AT treat., twenty and sixty minutes after GJ appl.. We analyzed data using Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon test(p < 0.05). After MFRA treat., FBFR on both sides increased. Twenty minutes after JW appl., the changes of FBFR on GJ appl. side($122.9{\pm}43.1PU$) were bigger than GJ non-appl. side($80.9{\pm}38.4PU$), a statistically significant decrease. Sixty minutes after application, FBFR on both sides were recovered almost at the same level as that of pre-AT treat. After MFRA treat., FST on both sides increased. Twenty minutes after GJ appl., the changes of FST on GJ appl. side($1.1{\pm}0.6^{\circ}C$) were comparable to that of GJ non-appl. side($1.2{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$). Sixty minutes after application, FST on both sides were recovered almost at the same level as that of pre-AT treat.. Gagam-Jawoonaek could decrease facial blood flow rates.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.312-319
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• 2017

In the present study, disinfection efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water [SlAEW, 30 ppm of effective chlorine at $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) $562{\pm}23mV$, pH 6.4] on 4 kinds of vegetables (lettuce leaf, endive leaf, perilla leaf and kale leaf) was evaluated to obtain a microbial reduction characteristics which are necessary to design a process control for non-thermal sterilization of fresh vegetables. Active chlorine, residual chlorine, microbial counts and residual microbial counts, which are the key factors in the non-thermal sterilization process were measured by dipping them in SlAEW three times for 30 minutes in order to analyze the relationship between factors. Total microbial count was decreased mostly during the first 10 minutes of washing, and the limit value that can be reduced by immersion treatment was 3 log CFU/g for the total microbial count surviving in 4 kinds of vegetables. The total number of microorganism that can be reduced by washing in SIAEW for 10 min was found to be about 2 log CFU/g on average. In addition, the active chlorine decreased in the initial 10 minutes in 2.2 ppm, 2.0 ppm, 1.7 ppm and 2.5 ppm in lettuce, perilla leaf, endive leaf and kale leaf, respectively, and about 50-80% of the chlorine was reduced in the initial 10 min appear.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2015

Plasma is an ionized gas mixture, consisting of neutral particles, positive ions, negative electrons, electronically excited atoms and molecules, radicals, UV photons, and various reactive species. Also, plasma has unique physical properties distinct from gases, liquids, and solids. Until now, non-thermal plasmas have been widely utilized in bio-medical applications (called bio-plasma) and have been developed for the plasma-related devices that are used in the medical field. Although numerous bio-plasma studies have been performed in biomedicine, there is no confirmation of the nonthermal effect induced by bio-plasma. Standardization of the biological application of plasma has not been evaluated at the molecular level in living cells. In this context, we investigated the biological effect of bio-plasma on living cells. Hence, we treated the fibroblasts with Dielectric Bauvier Discharge bio-plasma (DBD), and assessed the characteristic change at the molecular level, one of the typical cellular responses. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) regulates its own protein level in response to stimuli. HSP70 responds to heat shock by increasing its own expression at the molecular level in cells. Hence, we confirmed the level of HSP70 after treatment of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with DBD. Interestingly, DBD-plasma induced cell death, but there was no difference in the level of HSP70, which is induced by heat shock stimuli, in DBD-treated MEFs. Our data provide the basic information on the interaction between MEFs and DBD, and can help to design a molecular approach in this field.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2017

In this study, nitrogen functional groups were introduced on graphite fiber (GF) to modify their electrical properties, and heating properties were investigated according to the treatment conditions. GF was prepared by a thermal solid-state reaction at $200^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Surface properties of the nitrogen doped GF were examined by XPS, and its resistance and heating temperature were measured using a programmable electrometer and thermo-graphic camera, respectively. The XPS result showed that the nitrogen functional groups on the GF surface were increased with increasing of urea contents, and the heating property of the GF was also improved as nitrogen functional groups were introduced. The maximum heating temperature of GF treated by urea was $53.8^{\circ}C$ at 60 V, which showed 55% improved heating characteristics compared to that of non-treated GF. We ascribe this effect to introduced nitrogen functional groups on the GF surface by thermal solid-state reaction, which significantly affects the heating characteristics of GF.