• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.445-449
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• 1997

The complex refractive indices of $Ge_2Se_2Te_5$ which show reversible phase change between the crystalline phase and an amorphous one depending upon the annealing process have been determined in the spectral range of 0.7-4.5 eV. The $Ge_2Se_2Te_5$ films were DC sputter deposited on the crystalline silicon substrate. The spectro-ellipsometry data of a thick film were analyzed following the modelling procedure where the quantum mechanical dispersion relation were used for the complex refractive indices of both the cryastalline phase $Ge_2Se_2Te_5$ and and amorphous phase $Ge_2Se_2Te_5$, respectively. On the other hand, with the surface micro-roughness layer whose effective thickness was determined from AFM analysis, the spectro-ellipsometry data were numerically inverted to yield the complex refractive index of $Ge_2Se_2Te_5$ at each wavelength. With these set of complex refractive indices, the reflectance spectra were calculated and those spectra obtained from the numerical inversion showed better agreement with the experimental reflection spectra for both the cryastalline phase and an amorphous phase. Finally, the thin $Ge_2Se_2Te_5$ film which has the optimum thickness of 26 nm as the medium for optical recording was also analyzed and the quantitative result of the film thickness and the surface microroughness has been reported.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.549-552
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• 2009

Genetic mutations by gene fusion result from chromosomal rearrangement, trans-splicing, and intergenic splicing. Trans-splicing is a phenomenon in which two pre-mRNAs grow together into one. We analyzed the trans-splicing products in embryonic stem cells. By using bioinformatic tools, 70 trans-splicing transcripts were identified. They are classified into 6 types according to fusion pattern: 5'UTR-5'UTR, 5'UTR-3'UTR, 3'UTR-3'UTR, 5'UTR-CDS, 3'UTR-CDS, CDS-CDS. The fusion products are more abundant in CDS regions than in UTR regions, which contain multiple intron numbers. Chromosome analysis showing gene fusion via trans-splicing indicated that chromosomes 17 and 19 were activated. These data are of great use for further studies in relation to fusion genes and human diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.66-77
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• 2023

Background: Along with the increase in consumer interest in and consumption of tattoo products, the controversy over harmful heavy metals associated with the use of tattoo cosmetics is also increasing. Therefore, investigation of hazardous metals in these tattoo products is needed. Objectives: This study was performed to provide useful data for establishing reasonable standards to securely manage tattoo cosmetics, tattoo stickers, and tattoo inks distributed in the market. Methods: Thirteen kinds of hazardous metal contents (Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr, Se, Ba, Zn, Sn, and Hg) were analyzed for 23 tattoo cosmetics, ten tattoo stickers, and 16 tattoo inks. Hg was measured through the combustion-gold amalgamation method, and other hazardous metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acidic decomposition using a microwave apparatus. Results: The detected ranges of Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Ni, and Hg in tattoo cosmetics were 0.07~1.18, 0.06~0.41, ND~0.07, 0.01~3.44, 0.12~2.75, and ND~0.01 ㎍/g, respectively. All of the hazardous metals detected were below the recommended maximum standards of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The mean amount of Pb detected in tattoo stickers for children was 0.24 ㎍/kg and Cd was not detected, meaning both metals met the recommended criteria. There was no statistically significant difference in all measured metals between children's tattoo stickers and adults' tattoo stickers. In the results of the study on the hazardous metal content of tattoo inks, four products (25%) for Pb, one product (6%) for As, 13 products (81%) for Ni, four products (25%) for Cu, and five products (31%) for Zn exceeded the recommended standards approved by the government. The highest predicted exposure amount for hazardous metals exceeding the recommended level of tattoo inks in a single tattooing was 5.69 ㎍/kg for Ni, 8.51 ㎍/kg for Zn, 0.44 ㎍/kg for Pb, 8.07 ㎍/kg for Cu, 0.44 ㎍/kg for As, and 71.36 ㎍/kg for Ba. Conclusions: It is necessary to prepare criteria for content limitation for the management of Co, Cr, Ba and Se tattoo cosmetics, and tattoo inks require thorough quality control.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.399.2-399.2
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• 2016

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) 박막 태양전지는 높은 효율과 낮은 제조비용, 높은 신뢰성으로 인해 박막 태양전지 중 가장 각광받고 있다. 특히 유리기판 대신 가볍고 유연한 철강소재나 플라스틱 소재를 이용하여 발전분야 외에 건물일체형, 수송용, 휴대용등 다양한 분야에 적용이 가능하다. 이러한 유연 기판을 이용한 CIGS 태양전지의 개발을 위해서는 기판의 특성에 따른 다양한 공정개발이 선행되어야 한다. Poly-imide와 같은 유연기판은 공정온도가 $400^{\circ}C$이하로 낮고 기판이 매우 얇아 기존 Mo 공정을 개선하여야한다. 이러한 유연기판의 특성을 고려하여 본 연구에서는 기존 bi-layer Mo의 bottom layer의 두께를 조절하여 박막의 strain을 조절하였다. 유연기판으로는 SKC KOLON에서 제조된 GL type의 기판을 사용하였다. 기판의 두께는 50um이다. 먼저 Mo의 bottom layer 두께 비율을 기존 12.5%에서 50%로 증가 시켰으며 전체 박막의 두께 역시 900nm에서 500nm로 두께를 감소시키며 실험을 실시하였다. 그 후 흡수층은 Co-Evaporation 방법을 이용하여 제조하였으며 이때 공정온도는 기존 공정온도에서 450, $400^{\circ}C$로 낮추어 흡수층을 제조하였다. 소자 제조 후 초기 Mo의 strain 개선과 저온공정이 적용되지 않은 경우 4.4%에서 공정 최적화 후 13%로 효율이 증가하였다. 제조된 흡수층은 SEM, XRF, XRD등을 이용하여 분석하였으며 그 외 일반적인 방법을 이용하여 Mo, CdS, TCO, Al grid를 제조하였다. AR 코팅은 제외 하였으며 제조된 소자는 솔라 시뮬레이터를 이용하여 효율 특성 분석을 실시하였으며 Q.E. 분석을 실시하였다.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 2014

Purpose: The finite element method (FEM) is advantageous because it can save time and cost by reducing the number of samples and experiments in the effort to identify design factors. In computational problem-solving it is necessary that the exact material properties are input for achieving a reliable analysis. However, in the case of fiber boards, it is difficult to measure their cross-directional material properties because of their small thickness. In previous research studies, the Poisson's ratio was measured by analyzing ultrasonic wave velocities. Recently, the Poisson's ratio was measured using a high-speed digital camera. In this study, we measured the transverse strain of a fiber board and calculated its Poisson's ratio using a high-speed digital camera in order to apply these estimates to a FEM analysis of a fiber board, a corrugated board, and a corrugated box. Methods: Three different fiber board samples were used in a uniaxial tensile test. The longitudinal strain was measured using the Universal Testing Machine. The transverse strain was measured using an image processing method. To calculate the transverse strain, we acquired images of the fiber board before the test onset and before the fracture occurred. Acquired images were processed using the image processing program MATLAB. After the images were converted from color to binary, we calculated the width of the fiber board. Results: The calculated Poisson's ratio ranged between 0.2968-0.4425 (Machine direction, MD) and 0.1619-0.1751 (Cross machine direction, CD). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that measurement of the transverse properties of a fiber board is possible using image processing methods. Correspondingly, these processing methods could be used to measure material properties that are difficult to measure using conventional measuring methodologies that employ strain gauge extensometers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2006

Purpose : The reliability of hair mineral analyses regarding nutritional status, environmental exposure or diseases is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the normal reference range of hair mineral concentration of Korean children. Methods : We examined hair mineral concentrations of 223 children(3-12 yrs old, 110 boys, 113 girls, mean age $8.8{\pm}2.2$ yrs old) living in the northern area of Seoul. The trace elements including six toxic elements(Al, As, Cd, Ba, Hg, Pb) and 11 nutritional elements(Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se) were analyzed by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). Results : The mean concentrations of Ca and Mg were higher in girls than in boys. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cr were higher in boys than girls. The Zn, Ca, Mg, Cu and Hg levels in hair samples were positively correlated with increasing age. The Zn levels of the Korean children's hair samples appear to be lower than that of other countries' reference values. Conclusion : There are considerable differences in hair mineral concentrations by age, sex and race. Additional research is needed to establish Korean reference values, and to evaluate the usefulness of hair mineral analyses as a screening tool for nutrition- and environment-related childhood diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1422-1426
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to test characteristics between normal and autistic children via comparison of nutrient intakes, hair mineral, blood free radical, and serotonin contents. A total of 50 children aged 3-9 were divided into two main groups of normal control children (n=22) and autistic children (n=28) tested by child psychiatrist. The nutrient intakes by 24-hour recall method were no significantly different between the two groups. The concentrations of toxic mineral, such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in hair of autistic children were significantly higher, while concentration of antioxidant mineral (Cu, Zn, Fe) was lower than that of normal children. The autistic children had significantly higher concentrations of blood free radical than that of normal children. No significant difference was observed in serotonin concentration between the two groups. Our results suggest a possible role of increased toxic mineral and free radical, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of autism in children with developmental delay.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2022

The purpose of our study was to investigate the migration level of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and barium (Ba) from glassware into a food simulant and to evaluate the exposure of each element. The test articles were glassware, including tableware, pots, and other containers. Pb, Cd, and Ba were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The analytical performance of the method was validated in terms of its linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery, precision, and uncertainty. The monitoring was performed for 110 samples such as glass cups, containers, pots, and bottles. a food simulant. Migration test was conducted at 25? for 24 hours in a dark place using 4% acetic acid as a food simulant. Based on the data; exposure assessment was carried out to compare the estimated daily intake (EDI) to the human safety criteria. The risk levels of Pb and Ba determined in this study were approximately 1.9% and 0.3% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and tolerable daily intake (TDI) value, respectively, thereby indicating a low exposure to the population.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2015

Chironomous is aquatic insect belonging to order Diptera, family Chironomidae. Their larval stage can be found mainly in aquatic benthic environment, hence good model organism to study environmental toxicology assessments and consider as useful bio indicators of contamination of the aquatic environment. In this study, Chironomus Heat Shock Proteins, Cytochrome 450, Glutathione S-transferase, Serine-type endopeptidase gene expressions were compared between polluted field areas (Chironomus plumosus) and under laboratory conditions (Chironomus riparious) to investigate molecular indicators for environmental contaminant stress assessment. Heavy metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Se, Pb, As, Cd) concentrations in sediments collected from three study areas exceeded the reference values. Moreover, HSPs, CYP450 and GST gene expression except SP for C. plumosus showed higher expression than C. riparious gene expression. Similar gene expression pattern was observed in C. riparious that exposed environment waters up to 96 h when compared to C. plumosus exposed to waters that grown in lab conditions. In summary, this comparative gene expression analysis in Chironomous between field and laboratory condition gave useful information to select candidate molecular indicators in heavy metal contaminations in the environment.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to confirm that a bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of the marine environment. The clams were collected from the silt of Cheonsu-bay, Buheung-ri, and Tan-island of the West Sea, Korea. To observe the normal structures of the target organs (hepatopancreas and gill), they were dissected out for the immunohistochemical study and the electron microscopy with TEM, SEM, and SEM-EDS. The immunohistochemical study showed that the interdiverticular connective tissues of the hepatopancreas, and the outer epithelium of the gill lamellae was strongly reacted to anti-metallothionein (MT), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein, involved in metal detoxifying process. According to the examinations under the TEM, the epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of the clams collected from polluted area (Tan-island) showed certain changes such as swollen rER, swollen nuclear envelope and inclusion bodies in the nulcei. In the SEM-EDS analysis, tissue of the hepatopancreas showed relatively higher concentration of S, Zn, and Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerning with the MT-reaction in the hepatopancreas. Considering that the coastal bivalve R. philippinarum showed immediate subcellular responses to heavy metal pollution in the overall experiments conducted, this species might act as one of efficient biomarkers for the heavy metal contamination in the marine environment.