• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2005

Potential for measuring mobile cadmium concentration in sandy soil using polymer magnetic beads with carboxyl groups was investigated. Experiments for extracting cadmium were performed with contaminated soils, de-ionized water and magnetic beads. In this neutral experimental condition, reacting cadmium with magnetic beads indicate total amount of cadmium that can be moved in soil. The results showed that the mobile fraction of cadmium in soil could be combined with magnetic beads in short time. After binding between cadmium and magnetic beads, the beads were separated from soil suspension by outer magnetic force. The bound cadmium was dissolved from magnetic beads by acid solutions, which were then analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). This method can determine mobile heavy metals in sandy soil effectively than existing method which use pollutant chemicals to environments such as EDTA.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.6 s.101
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• pp.439-443
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• 2006

Biocompatibility and tissue regenerating capacity are essential characteristics in the design of collagenous biomaterials for tissue engineering. Attachment of glycosaminoglycans to collagen may add to these characteristics by creating an appropriate micro-environment. In this study, porous type I collagen matrices were crosslinked using dehydrothermal treatment and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide, in the presence and absence of chondroitin sulfate (CS). The scaffold like discs in 3 mm diameter were inserted into the intralamellar stromal pockets of rabbit cornea. In 8 weeks of follow up, clinical evaluation including corneal neovascularization, opacity and transparency of the graft scaffold was performed, and the inflammatory reaction and migration of corneal fibroblast were evaluated histologically. No inflammation, neovascularization and opacity in any of the implant were observed. CS increased the corneal fibroblast invasion and the transparency. It is concluded that the type I collagen sponge showed a biocompatibility in corneal stromal layer and addition of CS slightly improved the quality of the bioartificial corneal stromal layer. These results could be useful for the development of corneal substitutes.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.440-451
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• 1997

This study was designed to prospect the $^{111}In$-labelled paclitaxel as tumor imaging agent. In order to provide a taxol molecule with a functional group which is able to chelate In-111, taxol-DTPA conjugate and 2'-hemisuccinyltaxol were synthesized by esterification of taxol at C-2'on C-13 carbon with DTPA anhydride and succinic anhydride, respectively. Synthesis yield of the taxol derivatives was 34% for taxol-DTPA and 80% for 2'-hemisuccinyltaxol. Cytotoxicity of the taxol derivatives were measured by MTT method toward cell lines HT29, B16, P388, and CT26. The cytotoxic activities of the taxol derivatives were maintained, although less active than taxol. Radiolabelling of the taxol derivatives were proceeded directly with $^{111}InCl_3$ or indirectly with $^{111}In$-citrate(ligand-exchange method). The ligand-exchange method was not suitable because some precipitates appeared during the reaction. On the contrary, by direct radiolabelling method, we were able to obtain taxol-DTPA-$^{111}In$ in 100% radiochemical yield. However, 2'-hemisuccinyltaxol was not labelled by both methods. Yield and radiochemical purity of the radiolabelled com-pound were determined by HPLC, paper chromatography and instant thin layer chromatography. Taxol-DTPA-$^{111}In$ was characterized to be hydrophilic by lipophilicity test, and nearly non-adhesive to HT29, B16, P388, and CT26 by cell binding affinity test. Binding affinity of the taxol-DTPA-$^{111}In$ complex to serum proteins was also examined by protein precipitation with 30% trichloroacetic acid. The results showed that 30% of the taxol-DTPA-$^{111}In$ complex binds with serum proteins.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2006

We investigate a method to improve the extinction ratio of directional couplers by controlling the angle of approach to their input ports and controlling the error limit for improving the extinction ratio of the directional coupler. Although relatively large angle of approach to the input port usually causes an error in calculations made by mode propagation analysis(MPA), optimally designed angle of approach not only minimizes errors in MPA calculations but also can improve extinction ratio by precision control of coupling coefficients of optical modes. We show that abrupt changes in approaching angle, although not enough to cause modal leakage, give rise to field-profile overshooting, which degrades extinction ratio and other properties of the directional coupler. Using Beam Propagation Method (BPM) we calculate two types of input structures, linear and curved, for optimization of extinction ratio.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.891-898
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• 2008

In this paper, we have studied on the possibilities of the biomaterial detection using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) based on interdigital capacitors. For the four different configurations, such as interdigital capacitor, SWNT in the $5\;{\mu}m$ gap interdigital capacitor, biotinlated SWNT, and biotin and sreptavidin immobilization cases, the resonant frequency has been measured as 10.02 GHz, 11.02 GHz, 10.82 GHz, and 10.22 GHz, respectively. Assuming that the resonant frequency reflects the capacitance changes due to binding of two-different permittivity biomaterials, we have suggested an equivalent circuit model based on measured results, confirming the capacitance changes. For biotinlated SWNT and biotin-streptavidin immobilization cases, the capacitances are $C_b=0.55\;pF$ and $C_s=0.95\;pF$. In this work, we experimentally demonstrated that the specific biomaterial binding causes the capacitance change and therefore this gives rise to resonant frequency. In conclusion, we confirmed the sufficient possibility as CNT biosensor because an analyte biomaterial(streptavidin) binding arouses a considerable resonant frequency change.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1685-1689
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• 2009

Phytochelatins (PCs) are small polypeptides synthesized by PC synthase (PCS). They are present in various living organisms including plants, fission yeast, and some animals. The presumed function of PCs is the sequestration of cytosolic toxic heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) into the vacuoles via vacuolar membrane localized heavy metal tolerance factor 1 (HMT-1). HMT-1 was first identified in fission yeast (SpHMT-1), and later in Caenorhabdtis (CeHMT-1). Recently, its homolog has also been found in PC-deficient Drosophila (DmHMT-1), and this homolog has been shown to be involved in Cd detoxification, as confirmed by the heterologous expression of DmHMT-1 in fission yeast. Therefore, the dependence of HMT-1 on PC in Cd detoxification should be re-evaluated. I heterologously expressed SpHMT-1 in cytosolic PC-deficient yeast, Saccharomycea cerevisiae, to understand the dependence of HMT-1 on PC. Yeast cells expressing SpHMT-1 showed increased tolerance to Cd compared with control cells. This result indicates that SpHMT-1 is not strictly correlated with PC production on its function. Moreover, yeast cells expressing SpHMT-1 showed increased tolerance to exogenously applied glutathione (GSH) compared with control cells, and the tolerance to Cd was further increased by exogenously applied GSH, while tolerance in control cells was not. These results indicate that the function of SpHMT-1 in Cd detoxification does not depend on PCs only, and suggest that SpHMT-1 may sequester cytosolic GSH-Cd complexes into the vacuole.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.196-208
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• 2009

Sophisticated polymeric materials with 'responsive' properties are beginning to reach the market. The use of reversible, noncovalent interactions is a recurring design principle for responsive materials. Recently developed hydrogen-bonding units allow this design principle to be taken to its extreme. Supramolecular polymers, where hydrogen bonds are the only force keeping the monomers together, form materials whose (mechanical) properties respond strongly to a change in temperature or solvent. In this review, we describe some examples of hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers that can be utilized for self-healing materials. Synthesis of a rubber-like material that can be recycled might not seem exciting. But one that can also repeatedly repair itself at room temperature, without adhesives, really stretches the imagination. Autonomic healing materials respond without external intervention to environmental stimuli in a nonlinear and productive fashion, and have great potential for advanced engineering systems.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.389-395
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• 2009

To develop the carrier of hydrophobic antifungal agents based on low molecular weight water-soluble chitosan (LMWSC), LMWSC was chemically modified with deoxycholic acid (DA) which is one of the bile acid as a hydrophobic group. The nanoparticles (WSCDA) using DA conjugated LMWSC were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmittance electron microscope (TEM). The particle size of WSCDA ranged from 250 to 350 nm and increased with the number of DA substitution. The loaded itraconazole as an antifungal agent WSCDA nanoparticles (WSCDA-ITCN) were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The drug content and the loading efficiency were investigated approximately $9{\sim}10%$ and $61{\sim}68%$ by UV spectrophotometer, respectively. The release of drug from nanoparticles was slow and showed sustained release characteristics. Based on the results of release study that the higher DA contents in WSCDA, the slower the releasing rate, the WSCDA-ITCN could be used as an excellent antifungal agent.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2008

To develop carriers of hydrophobic anticancer agents based on chitosan, chitosan oligosaccharide lactate (COS) was chemically modified with lithocholic acid (LA) which is one of the bile acids as a hydrophobic group. The physicochemical properties of the lithocholic acid conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (COS-LA) were investigated using $^1H$-NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and spectrofluorophotometer. COS-LA-paclitaxel (CLs-Tx) nanoparticles loading paclitaxel as an anticancer agent were prepared by a dialysis method and its loading efficiency was measured through HPLC. On the basis of DLS results, the estimated particle sizes of CLs-Tx were around 300 nm. Also, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) was proven to be dependent on the degree of substitution of lithocholic acid. It showed that the CLs-Tx has the superior potential for the application as a paclitaxel carrier.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.479-486
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• 2009

In natural environments, manganese (Mn) exists in the valence of +2, +3, and +4 and plays a pivotal role as a strong oxidant or reductant in the geochemical cycles of elements. Especially, Mn forms varying (oxyhydr)oxides. The oxidation state of structural Mn is characteristic to each oxide and is one of the most important factors controlling its geochemical behaviors such as solubility, sorption capacity, and redox potential. Therefore, it is important to elucidate processes governing Mn oxidation state in predicting the fate and transport of many redox sensitive elements in the environment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a very useful method to determine the oxidation state of various elements in solid phases. In this study, the oxidation states of structural Mn in MnO, $Mn_2O_3$, $MnO_2$ were assessed based on the binding energy spectra of $Mn2p_{3/2}$ and Mn3s using XPS and were compared with those reported elsewhere. $Mn2p_{3/2}$ binding energies were determined as 640.9, 641.5, 641.8 eV for MnO, $Mn_2O_3$, $MnO_2$, respectively, which indicates that the binding energy increased with increasing Mn oxidation state. It was also noted that Ar etching may cause changes in electronic structure configuration on surface of the original sample.