• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1090-1096
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• 2005

$Ag_4Br_4$ nanoclusters have been synthesized in about 75% of the sodalite cavities of fully $K^+$-exchanged zeolite A (LTA). An additional KBr molecule is retained in each large cavity as part of a near square-planar $K_4Br^{3+}$ cation. A single crystal of $Ag_{12}$-A, prepared by the dynamic ion-exchange of $Na_{12}$-A with aqueous 0.05 M $AgNO_3$ and washed with $CH_3OH$, was placed in a stream of flowing 0.05 M KBr in $CH_3OH$ for two days. The crystal structure of the product ($K_9(K_4Br)Si_{12}Al_{12}O_{48}{\cdot}0.75Ag_4Br_4$, a = 12.186(1) $\AA$) was determined at 294 K by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the space group Pm m. It was refined with all measured reflections to the final error index $R_1$ = 0.080 for the 99 reflections for which $F_o\;{\gt}\;4_{\sigma}\;(F_o)$. The thirteen $K^+$ ions per unit cell are found at three crystallographically distinct positions: eight $K^+$ ions in the large cavity fill the six-ring site, three $K^+$ ions fill the eight-rings, and two $K^+$ ions are opposite four-rings in the large cavity. One bromide ion per unit cell lies opposite a four-ring in the large cavity, held there by two eight-ring and two six-ring $K^+$ ions ($K_4Br^{3+}$). Three $Ag^+$ and three $Br^-$ions per unit cell are found on 3-fold axes in the sodalite unit, indicating the formation of nano-sized $Ag_4Br_4$ clusters (interpenetrating tetrahedra; symmetry $T_d$; diameter ca. 7.9 $\AA$) in 75% of the sodalite units. Each cluster (Ag-Br = 2.93(3) $\AA$) is held in place by the coordination of its four $Ag^+$ ions to the zeolite framework (each $Ag^+$ cation is 2.52(3) $\AA$ from three six-ring oxygens) and by the coordination of its four $Br^-$ ions to $K^+$ ions through six-rings (Br-K = 3.00(4) $\AA$).

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.400-408
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• 2010

Purpose: Complete septal extension grafts have been widely used in rhinoplasty for effective projection of the short retruded columella in Asian patients. Autologous septal cartilages and porous high-density polyethylene sheets are frequently used as septal extension grafts. This study was conducted to compare the postoperative results of porous polyethylene sheets and septal cartilages used for correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities by using photogrammetric analysis. Methods: This study investigated a total of 49 patients with cleft lip nasal deformities who underwent corrective surgery, and were followed up for at least 6 months. Septal cartilages were used in 39 patients, and porous polyethylene sheets were used in 10 patients. In all patients, through the open rhinoplasty, complete septal extension grafts were sutured to the caudal margin of the septal cartilage, and the alar cartilage was sutured with suspension. The cleft side alar cartilage was overcorrected by approximately 3 - 5 mm. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated by using photogrammetric analysis. Five indices and 4 angles were measured on their photographs taken before and after the surgery. In patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities, symmetry was also evaluated by means of columellar length index. Results: The postoperative values obtained in photogrammetric analysis showed improvements in comparison with the preoperative ones. The polyethylene group produced more improved outcomes than the septal cartilage group but also resulted in more complications at the same time. Conclusion: The results of this study indicates that complete septal extension grafts are efficient for the correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities. However, since postoperative complications occur more frequently in the polyethylene group than in the septal cartilage group, caution is advised in using porous high-density polyethylene sheets in patients with cleft lip nasal deformities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2010

Background and Objectives : Unilateral vocal fold paralysis is generally treated using injection laryngoplasty or voice therapy. However, the decision of treatment method is dependent on clinician's preference and hospital facilities without specific criteria. The purpose of the study was to examine factors predictive of voice therapy outcome in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Materials and Method : 38 patients diagnosed as unilateral vocal fold paralysis, aged from 24 to 81 years and undergone voice therapy more than 1 month were included. After 3 to 12 (mean 5.1) sessions of voice therapy, subjects had divided into responder group (RG, 28 patients) and non-responder group (NRG, 10 patients) according to G scale change. Paramters of perceptual assessment, acoustic and aerodynamic measure, and videostroboscopy were compared between two groups, and factors predictive of voice therapy result were analyzed. Results : RG patients showed significantly reduced rough, breathy, asthenic voice after voice therapy. Change of MPT and MFR was more substantial in RG than in NRG. By videostroboscopy, RG patients showed significantly more mucosal wave symmetry, glottal closure, reduced glottal gap index during the closed phase of phonation, while NRG patients showed more occurrences of abnomal supraglottic activities during phonation (p < 0.05). Poor outcome of voice therapy significantly associated with increased asthenic scale, short MPT, and less glottal closure (p=0.02). In addition, 90% of patients with MPT more than 5 seconds were in RG, whereas 56% of patients with MPT less than 5 secondes were in RG. Conclusion : Voice therapy is useful for large proportion of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis as an initial treatment method. However, patients with large asthenia scale, large glottic gap or MPT less than 5 seconds tend to have poor voice therapy outcome, and early injection laryngoplasty maybe recommended for these patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.615-624
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the use of sugar alcohols as alternative sweeteners for replacing sucrose in sponge cake. The sponge cakes were prepared with only sucrose or a 50% replacement of sucrose with various sugar alcohols (erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol). The specific gravity of cake batter containing only sucrose was significantly higher and the viscosity was significantly lower than those containing sugar alcohol (p<0.001). Among sugar alcohols, xylitol was the most similar to sucrose. The thermal characteristics, as assessed by differential scanning calorimetry, showed that sucrose delayed gelatinization of cake batter more than sugar alcohol, as the onset temperature and the peak temperature of cake batter containing only sucrose were higher than those containing sugar alcohol. The moisture content of cake containing sorbitol was the highest and that containing only sucrose was the lowest among cakes. The specific volume of cakes containing only sucrose and xylitol were higher and the baking loss rate of those were lower than other sugar alcohols. The volume and symmetry index of cake containing only sucrose were the highest among cakes (p<0.001), and xylitol was similar to sucrose for the above indices. The redness (a) and yellowness (b) values of crust containing only sucrose were significantly higher than those containing sugar alcohols (p<0.001). The a and b values of crumb containing erythritol were the lowest among cakes, showing a pale yellowish color. The microstructure, as assessed by scanning electron microscopy, showed that the cake containing only sucrose had more uniformly and finely distributed pores and a smoother cross section than that containing sugar alcohols. Cake containing xylitol was similar to cake containing only sucrose. Hardness, chewiness, and gumminess of cake containing only sucrose were higher than those containing sugar alcohols, whereas the adhesiveness of cakes containing sugar alcohols were higher than those containing only sucrose (p<0.01). Among sugar alcohols, xylitol was the most similar to sucrose in textural properties. In a sensory quality test, the tenderness and moistness of cakes containing sorbitol and erythritol were higher than those containing only sucrose and xylitol. The overall acceptance of cakes containing xylitol and only sucrose were higher than those containing sorbitol and erythritol (p<0.001). Thus, xylitol is more appropriate as a 50% replacement for sucrose than erythritol and sorbitol when preparing sponge cake.