• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.72-80
• /
• 2015

Purpose Serum estradiol ($E_2$) measurement is requested for diagnosing menstrual cycles, ovulation induction, infertility, and menopause. $E_2$ is measured using several methods and kits including radioimmunoassay (RIA) and chemiluminescece immunoassay (CLIA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of these methods and to compare them with each other. Materials and Methods Seven radioimmunoassay kits and two CLIA methods were included in the analysis. Using standard samples and patient samples, intra-assay precision, inter-assay precision, correlation between other methods, sensitivity, and recovery rate were evaluated. Results For all tested kits and methods, coefficients of variance (CVs) of intra-assay precision test were 10.9~13.6% in low-level samples and less than 10% in medium and high-level samples. CVs of inter-assay precision test were 10.8~12.3% in low-level samples and less than 10% in medium and high-level samples with all tested kits and methods. Recovery rates were $92.7{\pm}12.4%$ for SIEMENS, $101.4{\pm}18.4%$ for DIAsource, $95.1{\pm}11.5%$ for AMP, $108.4{\pm}18.5%$ for BECKMAN COULTER, $104.2{\pm}13.5%$ for BECKMAN COULTER Ultra Sensitive, $101.3{\pm}11.6%$ for CIS Bio, and $93.1{\pm}13.2%$ for MP kits. Sensitivity was 7.5, 6.2, 5.7, 6.2, 5.3, 4.5, and 5.5 pg/mL for SIEMENS, DIAsource, AMP, BECKMAN COULTER, BECKMAN COULTER Ultra Sensitive, CIS Bio, and MP kits, respectively. The measurement by MP kit was slightly higher than those by other kits in low-level samples, and the measurement by E170 was slightly higher than those of other kits in medium and high-level samples. In the measurement of standard sample for external quality control, SIEMENS kit produced relatively lower values whereas E170, Architect, and MP kits produced relatively higher values compared with other kits. Conclusion All tested kits for $E_2$ measurement have satisfactory performance for clinical use. However, correlation between kits should be considered when test kits are to be changed, because some pairs of kits do not have correlations with each other.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2020

Purpose It is intended to figure out the errors derived from changes in depth and volume when measuring the Standard source and ^99mTc-pertechnetate by using a Dose calibrator. Then recommend appropriate measurement depth and volume. Materials and Methods As a Dose calibrator, CRC-15βeta and CRC-15R (Capintec, New Jersey, USA) was used, and the measurement sources were ⁵⁷Co, ¹³³Ba, ¹³⁷Cs and ^99mTc-pertechnetate was also adopted due to its high frequency of use. The Standard source was respectively measured the changes according to its depth without changing the volume, in a range of 0 cm to 15 cm from the bottom of the ion chamber. ^99mTc-pertechnetate was measured at each depth by changing the volume with 0.1 mL, 0.3 mL, 0.5 mL, 0.7 mL and 0.9 mL Respectively. And the depth range was from 0 cm to 15 cm at the bottom of the ion chamber. Results In the case of Standard source ⁵⁷Co, ¹³³Ba, ¹³⁷Cs and ^99mTc-pertechnetate, there were significant differences according to the measurement depth(p<0.05). ^99mTc-pertechnetate has a negative correlation coefficient according to the depth, and the error of the measured value was negligible at a depth from 0 cm to 7 cm at 0.3 mL and 0.5 mL, and the range of error increased as the volume increased. Conclusion In clinical practice, it is sometimes installed differently than the Standard depth recommended by the equipment company. If it's measured at the recommended depth and volume, it could be thought that unnecessary exposure of the operator and the patient will be reduced, and more accurate radiation exams will be possible in quantitative analysis.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.186-194
• /
• 2013

We investigated the concentrations and distribution patterns of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs), 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls(DL-PCBs) and 24 polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) in sediments from Ulsan Bay in Korea. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and PBDEs in 33 sediment samples ranged from 0.11 to 4.86($1.81{\pm}1.04$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ dry weight(dw), 0.06 to 44.2($4.02{\pm}7.99$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ dw, and 2.81 to 63.8($19.4{\pm}13.9$) ng $g^{-1}$ dw, respectively. DL-PCBs had dominant contributions(mean, 88%) of total TEQ concentrations in sediment. The concentrations of target compounds in inner locations were higher than those in outer locations in Ulsan Bay (p<0.05). The dominant contribution of highly chlorinated DD/Fs in sediment was associated with combustion process from industrial complexes. Distribution pattern of DL-PCBs was similar with those of commercial PCB products. BDE209 was a dominant congener in sediment, suggesting high use amount of commercial deca-BDE product in surrounding areas.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.229-234
• /
• 2001

The EDXRF(Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer) technique was applied to the determination of heavy metals in welding fume. The EDXRF method designed in this study was a non-destructive analysis method. Samples were analyzed directly by EDXRF without any pre-treatment such as digestion and dilution. The samples used to evaluate this method were laboratory samples exposed in a chamber connected with a welding fume generator. The samples were first analyzed using a non-destructive EDXRF method. The samples subsequently were analyzed using AAS method to verify accuray of the EDXRF method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of the non-destructive analysis of heavy metals in welding fume by EDXRF. The results of this study were as follow: 1.When the samples were collected under the open-face sampling condition, a surface distribution of welding fume particles on sample filters was uniform, which made non-destructive analysis possible. 2. The method was statistically evaluated according to the NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and HSE(Health and Safety Executive) method. 3. The overall precision of the EDXRF method Was calculated at 3.45 % for Cr, 2.57 % for Fe and 3.78 % for Mn as relative standard deviation(RSD), respectively. The limits of detection were calculated at $0.46{\mu}g$/sample for Cr, $0.20{\mu}g$/sample for Fe and $1.14{\mu}g$/sample for Mn, respectively. 4. A comparison between the results of Cr, Fe, Mn analyzed by EDXRF and AAS was made in order to assess the accuracy of EDXRF method. The correlation coefficient between the results of EDXRF and AAS was 0.9985 for Cr, 0.9995 for Fe and 0.9982 for Mn, respectively. The overall uncertainty was determined to be ${\pm}12.31%$, 8.64 % and 11.91 % for Cr, Fe and Mn, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that Cr, Fe, Mn in welding fume were successfully analyzed by the EDXRF without any sample pre-treatment such as digestion and dilution and a good correlation between the results of EDXRF and AAS was obtained. It was thus possible to use the EDXRF technique as an analysis method of working environment samples. The EDXRF method was an efficient method in a non-destructive analysis of heavy metals in welding fume.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.403-408
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the physiological responses of $Rhododendron$ $mucronulatum$ Turcz. and $R.$ $indicum$ (L.) Sweet seedlings with 0%, 35%, 55% and 75% shading of full sunlight in polyethylene film house. The shading treatments were performed during the late growth season for each species (from Sept. 9 to Nov. 5, 2008). The shading treatment was effective in reducing the daily temperature by 0.9 to $1.7^{\circ}C$ during September and by 0.8 to $1.7^{\circ}C$ during October. Before the shading treatments, the water content of $R.$ $mucronulatum$ and $R.$ $indicum$ amounted to 68.5% and 66.3%, respectively. The water contents of two species after 75% shading treatment period decreased to 66.2% (3.4% reduction) and 65.9% (0.6% reduction), respectively. Notably, both species had a similar tendency indicating less reduction rate of water content with 75% shading. $R.$ $indicum$ showed higher photosynthetic capacity with higher level of shading, and its photosynthetic capacity reached the highest level ($9.63{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$). On the other hand, shading-treated $R.$ $indicum$ showed higher intercellular $CO_2$ concentration, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate (55% shading > 35% shading > 75% shading) than non-treated ones. In addition, non-treated seedlings showed higher water use efficiency than treated ones. In particular, it was found that the leaf color of $R.$ $mucronulatum$ turned equivalent to purple under full sunlight, while its leaf color kept equivalent more to green with higher level of shading, as evidenced even in naked eyes. According to comprehensive analysis using Munsell Color Chart on potential leaf color variations of $R.$ $mucronulatum$ depending on the level of shading, it was found that relatively many leaf colors under full sunlight were equivalent to R (red) and Y (yellow) chart, while relatively many leaf colors with higher level of shading were equivalent to G (green) and Y chart, where the latter still showed green color.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2015

The Energy Storage System stores electricity for later use. This system can store electricity from legacy electric power systems or renewable energy systems into a battery device when demand is low. When there is high electricity demand, it uses the electricity previously stored and enables efficient energy usage and stable operation of the electric power system. It increases the energy usage efficiency, stabilizes the power supply system, and increases the utilization of renewable energy. The recent increase in the global interest for efficient energy consumption has increased the need for an energy storage system that can satisfy both the consumers' demand for stable power supply and the suppliers' demand for power demand normalization. In general, an energy storage system consists of a Power Conditioning System, a Battery Management System, a battery cell and peripheral devices. The specifications of the subsystems that form the energy storage system are manufacturer dependent. Since the core component interfaces are not standardized, there are difficulties in forming and operating the energy storage system. In this paper, the design of the profile structure for energy storage system and realization of private profiling system for energy storage system is presented. The profiling system accommodates diverse component settings that are manufacturer dependent and information needed for effective operation. The settings and operation information of various PCSs, BMSs, battery cells, and other peripheral device are analyzed to define profile specification and structure. A profile adapter software that can be applied to energy storage system is designed and implemented. The profiles for energy storage system generated by the profile authoring tool consist of a settings profile and operation profile. Setting profile consists of configuration information for energy device what composes energy saving system. To be more specific, setting profile has three parts of category as information for electric control module, sub system, and interface for communication between electric devices. Operation profile includes information in relation to the method in which controls Energy Storage system. The profiles are based on standard XML specification to accommodate future extensions. The profile system has been verified by applying it to an energy storage system and testing charge and discharge operations.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.260-269
• /
• 2009

Hwabuk Dam has been under construction to reduce flood damage in Nakdong River watershed and to supply stable water for middle area of Gyeongbuk Province. Therefore, fish investigation in up and downstream of the dam was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in order to determine any negative effect on fish community due to dam construction and to use as fundamental data for conserving species diversity and maintaining stream health. According to data analysis on water quality, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, suspended solids, and total E-coli had seasonal variation, but they did not significantly differ in sites. However, biological and chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, nitrogen, and phosphorus representing organic matter and nutrient concentration were higher in upper site and decreased to lower site so that they differed by site. Concentration of arsenic among the heavy metals was less than 0.05 mg $L^{-1}$, which is regulated for protection of human health in water quality standard, except for 0.092 mg $L^{-1}$ in June 2005. During the study period, the total number of fish caught from the 6 sites was 10,263 representing 7 families 19 species. Among them, dominant and subdominant species were Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 62.5%) and Chinese minnow (Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, 10.6%) which inhabit mostly in mid and upper streams, Korea. Among the 19 species, Korean endemic species were 9 species (47.4%) including Korean slender gudgeon (Squalidus gracilis majimae), Korean dark sleeper (Odontobutis platycephala), and Korean shiner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus). There was several individuals of the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Naktong nose loach (Koreocobitis nahtongensis), caught in 2005${\sim}$2007, and no introduced species of fish was found in entire sampling period. According to result of community analysis, dominance index decreased toward lower site, but diversity and richness indices increased toward lower site. The equation of length-weight relationship on the dominant species was TW=0.000003$(TL)^{3.2603}$. The parameter b in the equation was greater than 3.0 indicating good nutritional condition in the populations. Compared to populations of Korean chub in other streams, the population in Hwabuk Dam watershed had higher mean of condition factor by size indicating better growth rate. With fish fauna and multi-metric health assessment model in each sampling attempt, index of biotic integrity (IBI) was evaluated and it resulted mostly in good (26${\sim}$35) and excellent (36${\sim}$40) condition in all sites, and the mean of IBI was the highest in site 5. The results indicate that it is very important to study not only environmental impact assessment with fish composition but also stream health assessment in order to conserve healthy aquatic ecosystem.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2020

Sustainable plastics can be mainly categorized into (1) biodegradable plastics decomposed into water and carbon dioxide after use, and (2) biomass-derived plastics possessing the carbon neutrality by utilizing raw materials converted from atmospheric carbon dioxide to biomass. Recently, biomass-derived engineering plastics (EP) and natural nanofiber-reinforced nanocomposites are emerging as a new direction of the industry. In addition to the eco-friendliness of natural resources, these materials are competitive over petroleum-based plastics in the high value-added plastics market. Polyesters and polycarbonates synthesized from isosorbide and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, which are representative biomass-derived monomers, are at the forefront of industrialization due to their higher transparency, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and gas barrier properties. Moreover, isosorbide has potential to be applied to super EP material with continuous service temperature over 150 ℃. In situ polymerization utilizing surface hydrophilicity and multi-functionality of natural nanofibers such as nanocellulose and nanochitin achieves remarkable improvements of mechanical properties with the minimal dose of nanofillers. Biomass-derived tough-plastics covered in this review are expected to replace petroleum-based plastics by satisfying the carbon neutrality required by the environment, the high functionality by the consumer, and the accessibility by the industry.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to develope an automatic liquid feeder for early weaning piglets and to test the efficacy of the system. The liquid feeder consists of water heating and discharge unit, dry diet storing and discharge unit, mixing and discharge unit, mixed liquid feed-delivering unit, and the central control part which control each unit, feeding frequency and the amount of feeding. For investigating the possibility of practical use, a feeding trial was carried out using eighteen three way crossbred piglets weaned on 19 days of age for the experimental period of six weeks. Experimental diet was provided in liquid form using the automatic liquid feeder for the first three weeks and in dry form for the later three weeks. The water heating and discharge unit exactly supplied warm water by 27 $m\ell$/s, into the mixing unit. The dry diet storing and discharge unit supplied dry feed by 3.7g/s, into the mixing unit. Being compared with the standard growth rate suggested by NRC, average daily gain of the piglets during the first three weeks of liquid feeding was lower by 10%, while it was higher during three weeks of dry feeding and over the whole experimental period by 24 and 17%, respectively. Feed/gain was 1.09, 2.14 and 1.89 for the first 3 weeks, later 3 weeks, and whole period, respectively. Diarrhea was observed for three days from day 3 to day 7 after feeding liquid diet, but no pig died of it. In conclusion, a preliminary test for the newly developed an automatic liquid feeder using 19 days of age weaning piglets showed that the unit was successfully operated without any major problems. Piglets raised on a liquid diet through the unit developed grew less during the first three weeks, but their growth and feed intake were greatly improved thereafter, indicating the developed automatic liquid feeder may be practically used in swine industry.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.205-215
• /
• 2010

Geothermal heat pump system (GHPS) is an energy-efficient technology that use the relatively constant and renewable energy stored in the earth to provide heating and cooling. With the aim of using GHPS as a heating source, it's possibilities of application in farrowing house were examined by measuring environmental assessment and sow's performance. A total of 96 sows were assigned to 2 pig housings (GHPS and conventional housing) with 48 for four weeks in winter season. During the experimental period, indoor maximum temperature in GHPS-housing was measured up to $26.7^{\circ}C$, average temperature could maintain $21.2^{\circ}C$. The mean value of dust levels and $CO_2$, $NH_3$ and $H_2S$ gas emissions were decreased in GHPS-housing compare with those of conventional housing. Litter size, birth weight, parity and weaning weight did not differ between housings. However, feed intake of sow in GHPS-housing was lower than that of conventional housing. In energy consumption for heating, electric power consumption increased in GHPS-housing than the conventional housing, a 2,250 kwh increase, whereas there is no fuel usage for heater in GHPS-housing. Amount of ground water circulated for heating in cold weather for earth heat exchanger was 8.4-12.9 ton per day. In conclusion, GHPS may have environmental benefits and effectiveness of heating in farrowing housing and affect the performance in sows.