• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2021

Background: Phosphogypsum is material produced as a byproduct in fertilizer industry and is generally used for building materials. This material may contain enhanced radium-226 (²²⁶Ra) activity concentration compared to its natural concentration that may lead to indoor radon accumulation. Therefore, an accurate measurement method is proposed in this study to determine ²²⁶Ra activity concentration in phosphogypsum sample, considering the potential radon leakage from the sample container. Materials and Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) phosphogypsum reference material was used as a sample in this study. High-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry was used to measure the activity concentration of the ²²⁶Ra decay products, i.e., ²¹⁴Bi and ²¹⁴Pb. Marinelli beakers sealed with three different sealing methods were used as sample containers. Due to the potential leakage of radon from the Marinelli beaker (MB), correction to the activity concentration resulted in gamma spectrometry is needed. Therefore, the leaked fraction of radon escaped from the sample container was calculated and added to the gamma spectrometry measured values. Results and Discussion: Total activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra was determined by summing up the activity concentration from gamma spectrometry measurement and calculated concentration from radon leakage correction method. The results obtained from ²¹⁴Bi peak were 723.4 ± 4.0 Bq·kg^-1 in MB1 and 719.2 ± 3.5 Bq·kg^-1 in MB2 that showed about 5% discrepancy compared to the certified activity. Besides, results obtained from ²¹⁴Pb peak were 741.9 ± 3.6 Bq·kg^-1 in MB1 and 740.1 ± 3.4 Bq·kg^-1 in MB2 that showed about 2% difference compared to the certified activity measurement of ²²⁶Ra concentration activity. Conclusion: The results show that radon leakage correction was calculated with insignificant discrepancy to the certified values and provided improvement to the gamma spectrometry. Therefore, measuring ²²⁶Ra activity concentration in TENORM (technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material) sample using radon leakage correction can be concluded as a convenient and accurate method that can be easily conducted with simple calculation.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2009

Sesame oils are partially mixed with other vegetable oils due to high price in a Korean market. To find out authentic sesame oil, a mass spectrometer-based electronic nose (MS-based E-nose) was used. Sesame oil (Se) was blended with soybean oil (So) or corn oil (Co) at the ratio (Se:So, Se:Co) of 97:3, 94:6, 91:9, 88:12 and 85:15, respectively. Intensities of each fragment from sesame oil by MS-based E-nose were completely different from those of soybean oil or corn oil. The obtained results were used for discriminant function analysis (DFA). Volatile organic components (VOC) of soybean oil or corn oil were similar to those of fresh air and DFA plot indicated a significant separation of pure sesame oil and pure other oil. The group of the mixed oil was seperated with that of sesame oil in DFA plot and the added amount of soybean oil to sesame oil was correlated with discriminant function first score (DF1). MS based E-nose system could be used as an efficient method to investigate the purity of sesame oil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.801-806
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• 2018

Germanium crystals have a dead layer that causes efficiency deterioration because the layer is not useful for detection but strongly weakens the photons. Thus, when the data provided by the manufacturer is used in the detector simulation model, there is a slight difference between the calculated efficiency and the measured efficiency.The shape and dimensions of the high purity germanium (HPGe) detector were determined by CT scans to accurately characterize the shape for the Monte Carlo roll simulation. It is found that the adjustment of the dead layer is a good match with the relative deviation of ${\pm}3%$ between the measurement efficiency and the simulation efficiency at the energy range of 50 - 1500 keV. Simulation data were compared by varying the thickness of the dead layer. The new Monte Carlo simulations were compared with the experimental results to obtain new blank layer thicknesses. The difference in dead layer results for the 1.5 mm thick end cap simulation model in 1.4 and 1.6 mm thick End Cap simulation models was a systematic error due to the accuracy of the end cap dimensions. After considering all errors including statistical errors and systematic errors, the thickness of the detector was calculated as $1.02{\pm}0.14mm$. Therefore, it was confirmed that the increase in the thickness of the dead layer causes the effect to be effected on the efficiency reduction.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.743-748
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• 2019

This study focuses on the simulation of wet flue gas desulfurization process for improving the production of gypsum by the utilization of low-grade limestone. At present, high-grade limestone with a $CaCO_3$ content of 94% is used for producing merchantable gypsum. In modeling process, a lot of reactions are considered to develop model. First, the limestone dissolution is simulated by RSTOIC model. Second, SOx absorption and crystallization is used by RCSTR model. Finally the gypsum is separated by using SEPERATORS model. Modeling steps make it easy to reflect further side reactions and physical disturbances. In optimization condition, constraints are set to 93% purity of gypsum, 94% desulfurization efficiency, and total use of limestone at 3710 kg/hr. Under these constraints, the mass flow of low-grade limestone was maximized. As a result, the maximum blending quantity of low-grade limestone for 2,100 kg of high-grade limestone that satisfies constraints is about 1,610 kg.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2019

This study proposed the fabrication and deposition of high purity crystalline $core-TiO_2/shell-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles. Morphological properties of $core-TiO_2$ and coated $shell-Al_2O_3$ were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and transmission electron microscope - energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). The electrical properties of the prepared $core-TiO_2/shell-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles were evaluated by applying them to a working electrode of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). The particle size, growth rate and the main crystal structure of $core-TiO_2$ were analyzed through dynamic light scattering system (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The $core-TiO_2$, which has a particle size of 17.1 nm, a thin film thickness of $20.1{\mu}m$ and a main crystal structure of anatase, shows higher electrical efficiency than the conventional paste-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). In addition, the energy conversion efficiency (6.28%) of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using the $core-TiO_2/shell-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles selectively controlled to the working electrode is 26.1% higher than the energy conversion efficiency (4.99%) of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using the conventional paste method.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

Recently rapid economic growth and technological development have led to an increase in the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). As the amount of electric and electronic waste generated increases, the importance of processing waste printed circuit boards (PCB) is also increasing. Various studies have been conducted to recycle various valuable metals contained in a waste PCB in an environmentally friendly and economical manner. To get anode slime containing Ag and Au, Anode copper prepared from PCB scraps was used by means of electro-refining. Ag and Au recovery was conducted by leaching, direct reduction, and ion exchange method. In the case of silver, the anode slime was leached at 3 M $HNO_3$, 100 g/L, $70^{\circ}C$, and Ag was recovered by precipitation, alkali dissolution, and reduction method. In the case of gold, the nitrate leaching residues of the anode slime was leached at 25% aqua regia, 200 g/L, $70^{\circ}C$, and Au was recovered by pH adjustment, ion exchange resin adsorption, desorption and reduction method. The purity of the obtained Au and Ag were confirmed to be 99.99%.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2019

Damage to the pavement system due to various causes will be required rapid repair work for reopening the vehicle traffic. The magnesium oxide phosphate composite(MPC) has a short curing time and is capable of early compressive strength development, is suitable for rapid repair materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hardening and compressive strength characteristics of MPC according to the water-binder (W / B) ratio and magnesium-phosphate(M / P) ratio in order to develop repair materials consisted with light burned magnesia and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. In order to ensure the workability in the field application, the difference of mechanical properties according to standard sand and ordinary sand and performance of retards were evaluated. The mix proportion with W/B ratio was about 35% and the M/P ratio was about 1.0 ~ 1.2 has a superior perfomance with strength and hardening condition. Especially, the strength of composite at only 1 day curing with W/B ratio of 0.35 and the M/P ratio of 1.2 was shown the higher than 25.0 MPa. Boric acid as a retarder was found to be suitable for ensuring the working time, and the purity of magnesium oxide was about 90 ~ 95%, which is effective for ensuring curing time and strength.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.496-501
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• 2019

Conventionally, immunotoxins have been produced as a single polypeptide from fused genes of an antibody fragment and a toxin. In this study, we adopted a unique approach of chemical conjugation of a toxin protein and an antibody fragment. The two genes were separately expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to high levels of purity. The two purified proteins were conjugated using a chemical linker. The advantage of this approach is its ability to overcome the problem of low recombinant immunotoxin production observed in some immunotoxins. Another advantage is that various combinations of immunotoxins can be prepared with fewer efforts, because the chemical conjugation of components is relatively simpler than the processes involved in cloning, expression, and purification of multiple immunotoxins. As a proof of concept, the scFv of trastuzumab and the PE24 fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A were separately produced using E. coli and then chemically crosslinked. The new immunotoxin was tested on four breast cancer cell lines variably expressing HER2. The chemically crosslinked immunotoxin exhibited cytotoxicity in proportion to the expression level of HER2. In conclusion, the present study revealed an alternative method of generating an immunotoxin that could effectively reduce the viability of HER2-expressing breast cancer cells. These results suggest the effectiveness of this method of immunotoxin crosslinking as a suitable alternative for producing immunotoxins.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.48-57
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• 2014

More than 30 lead beads have been excavated from buddhist temples and sites but the production times are unknown the origin. The aim of this study is to estimate manufacturing technique and provenance of 11 beads through the chemical composition and isotope analysis. Results shows that the lead beads are composed of high-purity lead and cast using for 2 semicircle moulds. Furthermore, 11 lead beads are similar in size, chemical composition and casting methods. Lead isotope analysis data suggest that the provenance of lead beads are not Korea peninsula. Also it is estimated that 11 lead beads were divided in 2 groups considering the time and places of production. The future works will be executed additional scientific analysis and historical background due to confirm the manufacturing system and provenance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1086-1095
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• 2019

This research was performed to develop a new material consisting of a mixture of Red Allium cepa (RA) Cucurbita moschata duch (CM), and Angelica gigas Nakai (AG). RA and CM have low storage stability because of their high moisture content. Therefore, their major components were extracted and used for the research after a content analysis. In order to overcome these limitations, the quercetin from RA, ${\beta}-carotene$ from CM, and decursin/decursinol angelate (D/DA) from AG were separately extracted, and the biochemical activity of each extract and mixture was compared. RA was bioconverted by the Bacillus subtillis KJ-3 (BS3) after ethanol extraction. After bioconversion, the quercetin content of RA was increased by 128.9%. ${\beta}-carotene$ was detected in the CM ethanol extract and its content was very low concentrations at 0.2 mg/g. The AG ethanol extract (1 mg) contained 0.4146 mg and 0.3659 mg of D/DA, respectively. The purity of the D/DA was found to be about 78%. The flavonoid and polyphenol content of each extract and their mixtures (mixture 1 (RA:CM:AG = 5:2:3), mixture 2 (RA:CM: AG = 3:5:2), and mixture 3 (RA:CM:AG = 3:2:5)) were measured. In addition, the cell survival rate, anti-inflammatory activity, and antioxidant ability were also evaluated. In all the results, the antioxidant activity of mixture 3 was most effective. Therefore, these findings provide basic data for future food development using a 3:2:5 mixture of RA, CM, and AG.