• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.255-265
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• 2001

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between short-term exposure to particulate air pollutants and increased mortality. However the biological mechanism underlying these associations have not been fully established and also the chemical and physical characteristics of the pollutant particles are not well understood. The metal constituents of air pollutant particles and their bioavailability are considered to Play an important role as possible mediators of Particle-induced airway injury and inflammation. Sprague-Dawley rat alveolar macrophage cells (NR8383) were exposed to airborne and acid-leached particulate matter (PM). Titanium oxide and nickel subsulfide were used as negative and positive controls. Particle-induced reactive oxygen species formation in cells was detected using the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and PM-induced DNA double-strand breaks were determined with $\lambda$DNA/Hind III marker. Metals associated with air pollutant particles mediated intracellular oxidant production in alveolar macrophages, and the cytotoxicity and proinflammatory cytokine production induced by PM were associated with oxidative stress. The oxidants produced by air pollutant particles also are likely to induce DNA double-strand breaks. Our findings in alveolar macrophage cells exposed to PM and acid-leached PM support the hypothesis that metal components in urban air pollutants and their bioavailabilities might play an Important role in the induction of the adverse health effects.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1193-1198
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• 2000

The preparation of nanocrystalline hematite, ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$, paricles and their surface coating with silica layers are described. The hematite particles with the size of 30~60 nm are firstly prepared by thermal decomposition of trinuclear acetate-hydroxo iron (III) nitrate complex, $[Fe_3$(OCOCH_3)_7$OH${\cdot}$2H_2O]NO_3$, at $400^{\circ}C$. Subsequently the hematite surfaces are coated with siliva layers by a controlled hydrolysis and condensation reaction of TEOS with varying the TEOS concentration and pH. Monodispersed and spherical $SiO_2-coatedFe_2O_3$ particles with the average particle diameter of ~90 nm and extremely narrow size distribution can be obtained at the pH of 11 and the TEOS concentration of 0.68M, which are found to be the optimum conditions in the present study in achieving the homogeneous deposition of silica layers on hematite surfaces. Diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra reveal that the characteristic optical reflectance of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ particles is preserved almost constant even after coating the surfaces, suggesting that the $SiO_2$ layers can be regarded as protecting layers without degrading the optical properties of hematite particles.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 1994

The morphological changes of primary solid particles as a fuction of process time on Al-Si alloys during semi-solid state processing with a shear rate of 200s were studied. In hypereutectic Al-15.5wt%Si alloy, it was observed that primary Si crystals are fragmented in the early stage of stirring and morphologies of primary Si crystals change from faceted to spherical during isothermal shearing for 60 minutes. In quaternary Al-12.5wt%Si-2.9wt%Cu-0.7wt%Mg alloy system, it was observed both primary silicon and ${\alpha}$-alumunum particles. Microstructural evolution of primary Si crystals was similar to that of the hypereutectic Al-Si alloy but equiaxed ${\alpha}$-Al dendrites are broken into nearly spherical at the early stage of shearing and later stage of the isothermal shearing ${\alpha}$- Al particles are slightly coarsoned by Ostwald ripening. Mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy were compared to those from other processes (squeeze casting and gravity casting). After T6 heat treatment, comparable values of hardness were obtained while slightly lower compressive strength values were observed in rheocast alloy. The elongation, on the other hand, exhibited significant increasement of 15% over gravity cast alloy.

• 연구논문집
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• s.26
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• pp.103-112
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• 1996

$Al_2O_3/SiC$ Hybrid-Composite has been fabricated by conventional powder process. The addition of $\alpha-Al_2O_3$ as seed particles in the transformation of $\gamma-Al_2O_3 to $\alpha-Al_2O_3$ provided a homogeneity of the microstructure, resulting in increase of mechanical properties. The grain growth of $Al_2O_3$ are significantly surpressed by the addition of nano-sized. SiC particles, increasing in fracture strength. The addition of SiC plates to $Al_2O_3$ nano-composite decreased the fracture strength, but increased the fracture toughness. Coated SiC plates with nitrides such as BN and /SiC$Si_3N_4$ enhanced fracture toughness much more than uncoated SiC plates by inducing crack deflection.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2000

Si3N4/SiC nanocomposite ceramics containing 5 wt%dispersed SiC particles were prepared by gas-pressure-sintering at 200$0^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen atmosphere. SiC particles with average sizes of 0.2 and 0.5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ were used, and the effect of the SiC particle size on the microstructure was investigated. The addition of SiC particles effectively suppressed the growth of the Si3N4 matrix grains. The effect of grain growth inhibition was higher in the nanocomposites dispersed with fine SiC. SiC particles were dispersed uniformly inside Si3N4 matrix grains and on grain boundaries. When the fine SiC particles were added, large fraction of the SiC particles was trapped inside the grains. On the other hand, when the large SiC particles were added, most of the SiC particles were located on grain boundaries. Typically, the fraction of SiC particles located at grain boundaries was higher in the specimen prepared from $\beta$-Si3N4 than in the specimen prepared from $\alpha$-Si3N4.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.367-376
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• 1992

The powder characteristics of seeded alumina prepared from alkoxide by sol-gel method were studied. When ${\alpha}$-Al2O3 seeded powders used, these ${\alpha}$ phase transformation temperatures decreased than those of unseeded powders by 110$^{\circ}C$ and fine powders under 0.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$ could be obtained. When Fe-nitrate added powders used, fast transformation rate resulted from ionic effects of Fe3+, but hard aggregated morphology exhibited. When ${\alpha}$-Al2O3 and Fe nitrate simultaneously added, these powders represented lower transformation temperature but resulted in microstructure with aggregated particles.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1379-1384
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• 2014

${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ spherical particles having an average diameter of ca. 420 nm and ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ fine particles (< 10 ${\mu}m$ particle size) were prepared to examine as catalysts for CO oxidation. Kinetic studies on the catalytic reactions were performed in a flow reactor using an on-line gas chromatography system operated at 1 atm. The apparent activation energies and the partial orders with respect to CO and $O_2$ were determined from the rates of CO disappearance in the reaction stage showing a constant catalytic activity. In the temperature range of $150-275^{\circ}C$, the apparent activation energies were calculated to be 13.7 kcal/mol on the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ spherical submicron clusters and 15.0 kcal/mol on the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ fine powder. The Pco and $Po_2$ dependencies of rate were investigated at various partial pressures of CO and $O_2$ at $250^{\circ}C$. Zero-order kinetics were observed for $O_2$ on both the catalysts, but the reaction order for CO was observed as first-order on the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ fine powder and 0.75-order on the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ spherical submicron clusters. The catalytic processes including the inhibition process by $CO_2$ on the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ spherical submicron powder are discussed according to the kinetic results. The catalysts were characterized using XRD (X-ray powder diffraction), FE-SEM (field emission-scanning electron microscopy), HR-TEM (high resolution-transmission electron microscopy), and $N_2$ sorption measurements.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 1998

The Urechis unicinctus sperm and spermatogenic cells prepared from the testis are investigated to identify $\alpha-tubulin$ of axoneme microtubules using mouse monoclonal $anti-\alpha-tubulin$ as the first Ab and Gold(10nm) conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG as the Ab marker. The Ag-Ab reaction analyzed excellently the localization of $\alpha-tubulin$ and the gold particles incorporated with the proximal and distal centrioles, manchette microtubules, and flagellum. The gold particles can be also observed in the spermatogenic cells while the cells are still in sperm ball which is composed of a somatic cell and spermatogenic cells. The sperm ball is the functional unit of sperm production in U unicinctus testis. The spermatids are developed from the spermatogenic cells in the sperm ball and released into the testis cavity through a cortical cytoplasmic opening. The spermatid architectures are similar with the mature sperm of the testis cavity in aspects of shape of discoid acrosome, degree of nuclear condensation and ring type of mitochondrion. However, the distal centriole connecting with the flagella can be observed from the mature sperm while the both proximal and distal centrioles reveal only in the spermatids. The proximal centriole is directly connected with nuclear outer membrane during the stage of nuclear condensation and oriented perpendicularly to the distal centriole whose axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the spermatozoon. There are indications that the distal centriole is intimately associated with the polymerization of the flagellum. The manchette microtubules appear during spermatid development but the mature sperm have round head and no conspicuous middle piece.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 1989

The $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$ gas sensor, prepared by the precipitation of Fe(OH)$_3$ from a solution of iron(III) sulfate and tin (IV) chloride, was composed of fine particles and was superior in sensitivity to other $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$. The gas sensitivity was found to depend on the amounts of remaining sulfate ion the microstructure and a small amount of iron(II) species generated through the reduction of $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$. The sensing mechanism of $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$gas sensor was confirmed to be due to the reduction of $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$ to the low resistive Fe$_3$-xO$_4$ by combustible gas and to depend on the crystral structure.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2004

Non-aggregated nanoscale $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ powders were prepared successfully by polyacrylamine (PAA) gel method. The method was very simple and polymer network inhibited the aggregate of $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ powders. In this investigation, nanoparticles of $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ with a diameter of about 8-15 nm were fabricated by calcining the gel precusors with various concentrations of aluminum sulfate, acrylamide and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (BIS) in air at 110$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. The molar ratio of aluminum sulfate to acrylamide did not have any influence on the size of particles. On the other hand, as the molar ratio of BIS to acrylamide increased, the size of nanoparticles decreased.