• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the chemical and biological properties of fast-set white mineral trioxide aggregate (FS WMTA), which was WMTA combined with calcium chloride dihydrate ($CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$), compared to that of WMTA. Materials and Methods: Surface morphology, elemental, and phase analysis were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The cytotoxicity and cell attachment properties were evaluated on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs) using methyl-thiazoldiphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay and under SEM after 24 and 72 hours, respectively. Results: Results showed that the addition of $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ to WMTA affected the surface morphology and chemical composition. Although FS WMTA exhibited a non-cytotoxic profile, the cell viability values of this combination were lesser than WMTA, and the difference was significant in 7 out of 10 concentrations at the 2 time intervals (p < 0.05). HPLFs adhered over the surface of WMTA and at the interface, after 24 hours of incubation. After 72 hours, there were increased numbers of HPLFs with prominent cytoplasmic processes. Similar findings were observed with FS WMTA, but the cells were not as confluent as with WMTA. Conclusions: The addition of $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ to WMTA affected its chemical properties. The favorable biological profile of FS WMTA towards HPLFs may have a potential impact on its clinical application for repair of perforation defects.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2010

In this study, we used activated carbon (AC) and titanium oxysulfate as a titanium precursor to prepare carbon/titania composites. We then mixed it with bentonite in different ratios to make a carbon/titania/bentonite monolith for use in architecture bricks by using Phenolic rosin (PR) as a bonding agent. The physicochemical properties of the prepared composites were analyzed by BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), self-cleaning effect and bactericidal tests. The BET surface areas increased as the ratio of carbon/titania composites increased. The SEM microscopy showed that the $TiO_2$ and bentonite were coated on the surface of the AC. The XRD patterns showed a mixture structure of anatase and rutile of $TiO_2$ with a clear $SiO_2$ structure. The EDX spectra of the carbon/titania/bentonite monolith confirmed the presence of various elements, namely C, O, Ti and Si, as well as other, impure elements. Moreover, to determine the self-cleaning effect of the carbon/titania/bentonite monolith, we used methylene blue (MB, $C_{16}H_{18}N_3S{\cdot}Cl{\cdot}3H_2O$) in an aqueous solution under the irradiation of visible light. Accordingly, all of the samples had excellent degradation of the MB solution. Furthermore, it was observed that the composites with sunlight irradiation had a greater effect on E. coli than any other experimental conditions.

• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2012

In the present study, TiN and CrN films were coated by arc ion plating equipment onto aluminum alloy substrate, A2024. The film thickness was about 4.65 ${\mu}m$. TiN and CrN films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray equipments. The Young's modulus and the micro-Vickers hardness of aluminum substrate were modified by the ceramic film coatings. The difference in Young's modulus between substrate and coating film would affect on the wear resistance. The critical load, Lc, was 75.8 N for TiN and 85.5 N for CrN. It indicated from the observation of optical micrographs for TiN and CrN films that lots of cracks widely propagated toward the both sides of scratch track in the early stage of MODE I. TiN film began to delaminate completely at MODE II stage. The substrate was finally glittered at MODE III stage. For CrN film, a few crack can be observed at MODE I stage. The delamination of film was not still occurred at MODE II and then was happened at MODE III. This agrees with critical load measurement which the adhesive strength was greater for CrN film than for TiN film. Consequently, it was difficult for CrN to delaminate because the adhesive strength was excellent against Al substrate. The wear process, which the film adheres and the ball transfers, could be enhanced because of the increase in loading. The wear weight of ball was less for CrN than for TiN. This means that the wear damage of ball was greater for TiN than for CrN film. It is also obvious that it was difficult to delaminate because the CrN coating film has high toughness. The coefficient of friction was less for CrN coating film than for TiN film.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.433-439
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• 2009

Ti and Ti based hydrogen storage alloys have been thought to be the third generation of alloys with a high hydrogen capacity, which makes it difficult to handle because of high reactivity. In order to solve the problem, the activation of a wide range of hysteresis of hydriding/dehydriding and without degradation of hydrogen capacity due to the hydriding/dehydriding cycle have to be improved in order to be aplied. Ti-Cr alloys have a high capacity about 0.8 wt.% in an ambient atmosphere. When the Ti-Cr alloys are added to Nb and Ta elements, they formed a laves phase in the alloy system. The Nb element was expected to make easy diffuse hydrogen in the Ti-Cr storage alloy, which was a catalytic element. In this study, the Ti-Nb-Cr ternary alloy was prepared by melt spinning. As-received specimens were characterized using XRD (X-ray Diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) with EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) and TG/DSC (Thermo Gravimetric Analysis/Differential Scanning Calorimetry). In order to examine hydrogenation behavior, the PCI (Pressure-Composition-Isotherm) was performed at 293, 323, 373 and 423 K.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Nps), composed of magnetite, $Fe_3O_4$, or maghemite, ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$, core and biocompatible polymer shell, such as dextran or chitozan, have recently found wide applications in magnetic resonance imaging, contrast enhancement and hyperthermia therapy. For different diagnostic and therapeutic applications, current attempt is focusing on the synthesis and biomedical applications of various ferrite Nps, such as $CoFe_2O_4$ and $MnFe_2O_4$, differing from iron oxide Nps in charge, surface chemistry and magnetic properties. This study is focused on the synthesis of manganese ferrite, $MnFe_2O_4$, Nps by most commonly used chemical way pursuing better control of their size, purity and magnetic properties. Co-precipitation syntheses were performed using aqueous alkaline solutions of Mn(II) and Fe(III) salts and NaOH within a wide pH range using various hydrothermal treatment regimes. Different additives, such as citric acid, cysteine, glicine, polyetylene glycol, triethanolamine, chitosan, etc., were tested on purpose to obtain good yield of pure phase and monodispersed Nps with average size of ${\leq}20nm$. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), $M\ddot{o}ssbauer$ spectroscopy down to cryogenic temperatures, magnetic measurements and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed in this study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 2013

Gamma-irradiation (0-7 kGy) of ginseng is permitted in Korea for the purpose of microbial decontamination; with strict labeling, traceability and monitoring requirements. An identification study was conducted to determine the photostimulated-luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of gamma-irradiated fresh and white ginsengs cultivated in different areas. Dose- dependent PSL-based screening was possible for white ginseng samples; however, inappropriate results from non-irradiated fresh ginseng samples were obtained, showing intermediate (700 to 5,000) or positive ($T_2$ >5,000, irradiated) PSL counts due to the abundance of minerals on the surfaces of the samples. TL analysis of separated minerals from all non-irradiated samples gave TL glow curves of low intensity with a maximum peak after $300^{\circ}C$. However, well-defined irradiation-specific (high intensity with a maximum peak at about $200^{\circ}C$) glow curves were observed for all the irradiated samples, regardless of their type and origins. TL ratios (first glow curve /second glow curve) were also determined to confirm the irradiated (>0.1) and non-irradiated (<0.1) results. SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) spectroscopic analyses showed that feldspar and quartz minerals were the main source for the typical radiation-specific luminescence properties.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2021

In the present work, we studied a method for the synthesis of uniform gold-peptide hierarchical superstructures using tyrosine rich peptide, Tyr-Tyr-Leu-Tyr-Tyr (YYLYY). Peptide nanoparticles self-assembled by dityrosine bonds were synthesized through the photo-crosslinking reaction of the peptide, and gold-peptide hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized using biomineralization properties of tyrosine in a green synthetic manner. The synthesized gold-peptide hybrid nanoparticles were then characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of gold-peptide hybrid nanoparticles was confirmed by the reduction reaction of methylene blue where the catalytic reaction rate constant was 13.4 × 10-3 s-1.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.143-157
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• 2021

Expansive soil is the most predominant geologic hazard which shows a large amount of shrinkage and swelling with changes in their moisture content. This study investigates the macro-mechanical and micro-structural behaviours of dredged natural expansive clay from coal mining treated with ordinary Portland cement or hydrated lime addition. The stabilised expansive soil aims for possible reuse as pavement materials. Mechanical testing determined geotechnical engineering properties, including free swelling potential, California bearing ratio, unconfined compressive strength, resilient modulus, and shear wave velocity. The microstructures of treated soils are observed by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive spectroscopy to understand the behaviour of the expansive clay blended with cement and lime. Test results confirmed that cement and lime are effective agents for improving the swelling behaviour and other engineering properties of natural expansive clay. In general, chemical treatments reduce the swelling and increase the strength and modulus of expansive clay, subjected to chemical content and curing time. Scanning electron microscopy analysis can observe the increase in formation of particle clusters with curing period, and x-ray diffraction patterns display hydration and pozzolanic products from chemical particles. The correlations of mechanical properties and microstructures for chemical stabilised expansive clay are recommended.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2019

Waste materials are being produced in huge quantities globally, and the usual practice is to dump them into legal or illegal landfills. Recycled tiles (RT) are being used in soil stabilisation which is considered as sustainable solution to reduce the amount of waste and solve the geotechnical problems. Although the stabilisation of soil using RT improved the soil properties, it could not achieve the standard values required for construction. Thus, this study uses 20% RT together with low cement content (2%) to stabilise soft soil. Series of consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests were conducted on untreated and RT-cement treated samples. Each test was performed at 7, 14, and 28 days curing period and 50, 100, and 200 kPa confining pressures. The results revealed an improvement in the undrained shear strength parameters (cohesion and internal frication angle) of treated specimens compared to the untreated ones. The cohesion and friction angle of the treated samples were increased with the increase in curing time and confining pressure. The peak deviator stress of treated samples increases with the increment of either the effective confining pressures or the curing period. Microstructural and chemical tests were performed on both untreated and RT-cement treated samples, which included field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The results indicated the formation of cementation compounds such as calcium aluminium hydrate (C-A-H) within the treated samples. Consequently, the newly formed compounds were responsible for the improvement observed in the results of the triaxial tests. This research promotes the utilisation of RT to reduce the amount of cement used in soil stabilisation for cleaner planet and sustainable environment.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2019

The metal-manufacturing method and smelting temperature of ancient metal-production processes have been studied by analyzing the principal elements and microstructures of slag. However, the microstructure of slag varies according to the solidification cooling rate and types and relative amounts of various oxides contained within the smelting materials. Hence, there is a need for accurate analysis methods that allow slag to be distinguished by more than its composition or microstructure. In this study, the microstructures of slag discharged as a result of smelting iron sands collected from Pohang and Gyeongju, as well as the slag excavated from the Ungyo site in Wanju, were analyzed by using metalloscopy, scanning election microscopy-energy dispersine X-ray spectroscopy(SEM-EDS) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorenscence(WD-XRF). Furthermore, the microcrystals were accurately characterized by performing Raman micro-spectroscopy, which is a technique that can be used to identify the microcrystals of slags. SEM-EDS analysis of Pohang slag indicated that its white polygonal crystals could be Magnetite; however, Raman micro-spectroscopy revealed that these crystals were actually $ulv{\ddot{o}}spinel$. Raman micro-spectroscopy and SEM-EDS were also used to verify that the coarse white dendritic structures observed in the Gyeongju-slag were $W{\ddot{u}}stites$. Additionally, the Wanju slag was observed to have a glassy matrix, which was confirmed by Raman micro-spectroscopy to be Augite. Thus, we have demonstrated that Raman micro-spectroscopy can accurately identify slag microcrystals, which are otherwise difficult to distinguish as solely based on their chemical composition and crystal morphology. Therefore, we conclude that it has excellent potential as a slag analysis technique.