• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2013

Endotoxins are part of the outer membrane of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and are continuously released during bacterial growth. Endotoxins typically induce severe sepsis and septic shock, which cause more than 50% of mortalities. Endotoxins are easily measured in the serum by the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test. However, a nonspecific result is obtained, because the high concentration of serum proteins disturbs the enzyme reaction of the LAL test. In order to solve this problem, the LAL test was performed in this study after the centrifugation of the boiled serum samples to remove the impurities. As a result, among the various conditions examined, endotoxin measurement with the LAL test was the most accurate and repeatable after centrifugation of the boiled serum at $100^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the endotoxin was accurately and repeatedly measured from the prepared sera of mice that had been administered an intraperitoneal injection of purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or E. coli. Therefore, the application of centrifugation to remove impurities from boiled serum gives an accurate measurement of endotoxins in the sera of normal subjects or patients, and this will lead to the improved diagnosis and prevention of diseases caused by endotoxins. In addition, the centrifugation of boiled serum samples should be considered and included in the development of endotoxin test kits.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.292-298
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• 1997

An ICP(Inductively Coupled Plasma) emission spectrometer was developed with an axially viewed ICP source incorporated by a 5-turned induction coil and a torch, outer quartz tube of which was 50 mm longer than that used in conventional ICP/AES(Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry). The Optimization of the system has been performed in terms of the determination of signal-to-noise ratio and background intensity at various rf powers, sample flow rates, argon gas flow rates and cut-off gas flow rates. The spectro-analytical characteristics of the spectrum obtained between 200 and 500 nm was revealed to be similar compared with a vertically viewed ICP source. The detection limit of Pb(Ⅱ) at 220.35 nm was 11 ppb which was 5 times lower than that obtained with a vertically viewed ICP source.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2000

The beneficial aspects of applying emulsion fuels to combustion systems may be due to the changes of fuel properties which lead to the enhanced atomization characteristics. The spray characteristics of water/oil emulsified fuel injected from the pressure-swirl(simplex) atomizer using for oil burner were investigated. Four different water contents from 10 to 40 % by volume at 10% increment were prepared by mixing with the different contents of surfactants. Total amount of surfactant used was varied from 1 to 3 % by volume. This study demonstrates the influence of water and surfactant contents of emulsified fuel, injection pressure on the spray characteristics, i.e. Sauter mean diameter(SMD) and spray angle. The drop size distribution of the emulsified fuel spray was measured with a Malvem particle sizer. In order to measure the spray angle, the digital image processing was employed by capturing multiple images of the spray with 3-CCD digital video camera. It was evident that the addition of water and surfactant changes fuel properties which are the key parameters influencing the atomization of the spray. The increase in surfactant content results in the decrease of SMD and the increase in spray angle. The droplets decease with increase in injection pressure, but the influence of injection pressure in this experimental condition was less important than expected. The more viscous fuel with the increase of water content exhibits the larger droplets in the centerline of the spray, and the less viscous fuel in the outer edges of the spray. The increase in axial position from the nozzle causes the spray angle to decrease. The spray angle decreases with increase in water content. This is due to increase in viscosity with increase in water content.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

This paper presents a brief summary on a relatively new plasma aided electrolytic surface treatment process for light metals. A brief discussion regarding the advantages, principle, process parameters and applications of this process is discussed. The process owes its origin to Sluginov who discovered an arc discharge phenomenon in electrolysis in 1880. A similar process was studied and developed by Markov and coworkers in 1970s who successfully deposited an oxide film on aluminium. Several investigation thereafter lead to the establishment of suitable process parameters for deposition of a crystalline oxide film of more than $100{\mu}m$ thickness on the surface of light metals such as aluminium, titanium and magnesium. This process nowadays goes by several names such as plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), micro-arc oxidation (MOA), anodic spark deposition (ASD) etc. Several startups and surface treatment companies have taken up the process and deployed it successfully in a range of products, from military grade rifles to common off road sprockets. However, there are certain limitations to this technology such as the formation of an outer porous oxide layer, especially in case of magnesium which displays a Piling Bedworth ratio of less than one and thus an inherent non protective oxide. This can be treated further but adds to the cost of the process. Overall, it can be said the PEO process offers a better solution than the conventional coating processes. It offers advantages considering the fact that he electrolyte used in PEO process is environmental friendly and the temperature control is not as strict as in case of other surface treatment processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.04b
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• pp.7-7
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• 2009

Lead telluride (PbTe) is a very promising thermoelectric material due to its narrow band gap (0.31 eV at 300 K), face-centered cubic structure and large average excitonic Bohr radius (46 nm) allowing for strong quantum confinement within a large range of size. In this work, we present the thermoelectric properties of individual single-crystalline PbTe nanowires grown by a vapor transport method. A combination of electron beam lithography and a lift-off process was utilized to fabricate inner micron-scaled Cr (5 nm)/Au (130 nm) electrodes of Rn (resistance of a near electrode), Rf (resistance of a far electrode) and a microheater connecting a PbTe nanowire on the grid of points. A plasma etching system was used to remove an oxide layer from the outer surface of the nanowires before the deposition of inner electrodes. The carrier concentration of the nanowire was estimated to be as high as $3.5{\times}10^{19}\;cm^{-3}$. The Seebeck coefficient of an individual PbTe nanowire with a radius of 68 nm was measured to be $S=-72{\mu}V/K$ at room temperature, which is about three times that of bulk PbTe at the same carrier concentration. Our results suggest that PbTe nanowires can be used for high-efficiency thermoelectric devices.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.19-35
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• 2003

In order 새 investigate the spatial and seasonal variations of heavy metal pollution in heavily industrialized urban area, urban roadside sediments were collected for five years from gully pots in Seoul City. A series of studies have been carried out concerning the physicochemical characteristics of the sediments in order to evaluate the contamination of heavy metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Roadside sediments and uncontaminated stream sediments were analyzed for total metal concentrations using acid extraction. The roadside sediments are characterized by very high concentrations of Zn (2,665.0$\pm$1,815.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g), Cu (445.6$\pm$708.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g), Pb (214.3$\pm$147.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g) and Cr (182.1$\pm$268.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g), indicating an artificial accumulation of these metals to the sediment chemistry. Comparing with average contents of uncontaminated stream sediments, roadside sediments were shown zinc 14 times (up to 64.4), copper 9 times (up to 181.7), lead 6 times (up to 63.7), cobalt 6 times (up to 168.7), nickel 4 times (up to 98.4), cadmium 2 times (up to 12.8) and chrome 2 times (up to 40.2) high content. The relative degree of heavy metal pollution for roadside sediments collected from each district in Seoul City is evaluated using the “geoaccumulation index”. As a result, heavy-metal contamination is highest centering the oldest residential district and industry area, and contamination level decreases as go to outer block of the city. The factor analysis results indicate that the levels of Cu, Ni, Fe and Cr are strongly related to numbers of factories, whereas the concentrations of Cr, Zn and Cd dependant on pollution index, indicating artificial contamination due to site-specific traffic density.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.23
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• pp.91-108
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• 2020

This study conducted non-destructive analyses of the material features of seven gilt-bronze crowns of Baekje Kingdom that were excavated in the Cheonan, Gongju, Seosan, Iksan, Naju, and Hapcheon areas. A typical Baekje gilt-bronze crown has a conical inner crown and an outer crown embellished with vertical ornaments on the front and the back, a tube topped with a hemispherical ornament, and other ornamentation. Diverse designs (e.g., dragon, bonghwang, flowers, and plants) were applied using a range of techniques, including repoussé, chasing, openwork, and engraving. Formal features differ among the crowns according to their period of production and site of excavation. The substrate metal of the crowns is either pure copper or mixed copper with a small amount of lead. The crowns were amalgam-plated on the surface with pure gold or gold with a small amount of silver. The crown from Okjeon Tomb No. 23 in Hapcheon in the ancient Gaya region has a high silver content, which appears to be a regional feature. In addition, this crown from Okjeon Tomb No. 23, which can be categorized as Baekje-style gilt-bronze crown, seems to be plated at most three times, while the gilt-bronze crowns found within Baekje Kingdom territory were plated once or twice.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-46
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• 1997

Ultrastructure of mouse thymus was evaluated, following the administration of potassium dichromate and mercuric chloride, the heavy metals of evironmental pollutants. Potassium dichromate (20 mg/kg) or mercuric chloride solutions (10 mg/kg) were subcutanously injected to the mice. Six hours, three days and two weeks after the injections, animals were sacrificed. Thymic tissues were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solutions. The procedure was followed by the fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide solutions. Washed and dehydrated tissue-blocks were embedded in the araldite mixture. Ultra-thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate-lead citrate solutions. Results observed were as follows: 1. In electron microscopy, cortical population of thymocytes in the thymus of experimental groups were reduced. especially in the outer cortex. Subcapsular cortices of potassium dichromate treated mice were filled with many epithelial reticular cells, whereas the similar area of mercuric chloride-treated mice exhibited large intercellular spaces. 2. In the thymus of mercuric chloride treated group, large intercellular spaces were formed by shrinkage of epithelial reticular cells, and the space was invaded by numerous cytoplasmic projections of macrophages. Thymocytes nuded out from the shrunken cytoplasm of epithelial reticular cells, presented numerous microvilli. 3. In the thymus of potassium dicromate treated group, many activated macrophages and plasma cells migrated into thymic cortices. 4. In the perivascular spaces of thymic cortices of potassium dichromate- and mercuric chloride-treated mice, activated macrophages. plasma cells, collagen fibrils, and flocculent substance of exudated materials were exhibited. From the above findifgs, it was concluded that potassium dichromate or mercuric chloride could disturb the normal differentiation or 'education' of T cells in the thymic cortex. In turn, these heavy metals may hurt the immunological defense mechanism.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2015

Objectives: Molecular mechanism of the pathogenicity of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), a suspected endodontic pathogen, has not yet been adequately elucidated due to limited information on its virulence factors. Here we report the identification of in vivo expressed antigens of E. faecalis by using a novel immunoscreening technique called change-mediated antigen technology (CMAT) and an experimental animal model of endodontic infection. Materials and Methods: Among 4,500 E. coli recombinant clones screened, 19 positive clones reacted reproducibly with hyperimmune sera obtained from rabbits immunized with E. faecalis cells isolated from an experimental endodontic infection. DNA sequences from 16 of these in vivo-induced (IVI) genes were determined. Results: Identified protein antigens of E. faecalis included enzymes involved in housekeeping functions, copper resistance protein, putative outer membrane proteins, and proteins of unknown function. Conclusions: In vivo expressed antigens of E. faecalis could be identified by using a novel immune-screening technique CMAT and an experimental animal model of endodontic infection. Detailed analysis of these IVI genes will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the endodontic infection of E. faecalis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2018

Modern manufacturing industries is to produce both precise and robust mechanical parts without failure while they are in service. In order to prevent a part failure for its lifetime, a mechanical design for a part should be examined on a basis of mechanical simulation. A nozzle plate, being a key part in steam engines, changes flow directions of steam in a turbine used in power plant. This paper is to the design and test for part safety and durability. Currently, nozzle plates are fabricated by welding nozzles to their plates. Welding causes some defects on the used materials while they are being manufactured. Another major defect is un-even pitches between welded nozzles. Welding causes phase changes because of high melting temperature of metal. This leads to decay on the welding spots, which weakens their structural strength and then, may lead to early damages on mechanical structures. This research proposes assembly-typed nozzle plate without welding. From the beginning, nozzle and plate are designed for insertion-typed assembly. Nozzle head and foot are designed in accordance with the grooves on outer ring and inner ring of a plate to make mating surfaces. Then the nozzle plate should be proved for structural and fatigue safety before they are put in manufacturing. This research adopts commercial softwares for modeling and mechanical simulation. The test result shows that the design with smaller mating area and deeper insertion produces higher safety in terms of structure and durability. From the conclusion, this paper proposes the assembly-typed nozzle plate to replace the welding typed.