• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2023

Water quality is crucial for human health and the environment. Accurate measurement of the quantity of organic carbon in water is essential for water quality evaluation, identification of water pollution sources, and appropriate implementation of water treatment measures. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis is an important tool for this purpose. Although other methods, such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) are also used to measure organic carbon in water, they have limitations that make TOC analysis a more favorable option in certain situations. For example, COD requires the use of toxic chemicals, and BOD is time-consuming and can produce inconsistent and unreliable results. In contrast, TOC analysis is rapid and reliable, providing accurate measurements of organic carbon content in water. However, common methods for TOC analysis can be complex and energy-intensive because of the use of high-temperature heaters for liquid-to-gas phase transitions and the use of acid, which present safety risks. This study focuses on a TOC analysis method using TiO₂ photocatalysis, which has several advantages over conventional TOC analysis methods, including its low cost and easy maintenance. For TiO₂, rutile and anatase powders are mixed with an inorganic binder and spray-coated onto a glass fiber substrate. The TiO₂ powder and inorganic binder solutions are adjusted to optimize the photocatalytic reaction performance. The TiO₂ photocatalysis method is a simple and low-power approach to TOC analysis, making it a promising alternative to commonly used TOC analysis methods. This study aims to contribute to the development of more efficient and cost-effective approaches for water quality analysis and management by exploring the effectiveness and reliability of the developed equipment.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2023

In underwater signal processing, separating individual signals from mixed signals has long been a challenge due to low signal quality. The common method using Short-time Fourier transform for spectrogram analysis has faced criticism for its complex parameter optimization and loss of phase data. We propose a Triple-path Recurrent Neural Network, based on the Dual-path Recurrent Neural Network's success in long time series signal processing, to handle three-dimensional tensors from multi-channel sensor input signals. By dividing input signals into short chunks and creating a 3D tensor, the method accounts for relationships within and between chunks and channels, enabling local and global feature learning. The proposed technique demonstrates improved Root Mean Square Error and Scale Invariant Signal to Noise Ratio compared to the existing method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 2007

A selective analytical method of LC/MS/MS has been applied to determine the levels of acrylamide in food products. Food samples were 17 including 6 potato chips, and 11 french fries. The analysis of food samples includes extraction with DDDW, clean-up using C18 and mixed ion exchange SPE cartridges and detection by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.1 % acetic acid and 0.5 % methanol in water. The target ions were identified and determined by ESI mass spectrometer. The overall recoveries were ranged from 91 % to 101 % and the limit of quantitation was $10{\mu}g/kg$. Depending on food kinds, the levels of acrylamide were variable and the average was 0.71 mg/kg for potato chips, and 0.34 mg/kg for french fries.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.161-171
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• 2024

The efficient management of pain and discomfort is essential for successful dental treatment and patient compliance. Dental professionals are commonly evaluated for their ability to perform treatment with minimal patient discomfort. Despite advancements in traditional local dental anesthesia techniques, the pain and discomfort associated with injections remain a concern. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on novel dental anesthetics and associated devices designed to alleviate pain and discomfort during dental procedures. The Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines were used to prepare the review. Six databases and two sources of gray literature were searched. This review analyzed 107 sources from 1994 to 2023. Local anesthesia devices were grouped into computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) systems, intraosseous anesthesia (IOA), vibratory stimulation devices, and electronic dental anesthesia (EDA). CCLAD systems, particularly the Wand and Single-Tooth Anesthesia, have been the most researched, with mixed results regarding their effectiveness in reducing pain during needle insertion compared to traditional syringes. However, CCLAD systems often demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain during anesthetic deposition, especially during palatal injections. Limited studies on IOA devices have reported effective pain alleviation. Vibrating devices have shown inconsistent results in terms of pain reduction, with some studies suggesting their primary benefit is during needle insertion rather than during the administration phase. EDA devices are effective in reducing discomfort but have found limited applicability. These findings suggest that the CCLAD systems reduce injection pain and discomfort. However, the evidence for other devices is limited and inconsistent. The development and research of innovative technologies for reducing dental pain and anxiety provides opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and improved patient care in dental practice.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.445-450
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• 2023

Background: The impact of COVID-19 infection on workers' work function persists even after the acute phase of the infection. We studied this phenomenon in Japanese workers. Methods: We conducted a one-year prospective cohort study online, starting with a baseline survey in December 2020. We tracked workers without baseline work functioning impairment and incorporated data from 14,421 eligible individuals into the analysis. We estimated the incidence rate ratio for new onset of work functioning impairment due to COVID-19 infection during follow-up, using mixed-effects Poisson regression analysis with robust variance. Results: Participants reporting infection between January and December 2021 showed a significantly higher incidence of new work functioning impairment (adjusted incidence rate ratio: 2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.75-2.71, p < 0.001). The formality of the recuperation environment correlated with a higher risk of work functioning deterioration in infected individuals (p for trend <0.001). Conclusion: COVID-19-infected workers may continue to experience work difficulties due to persistent, post-acute infection symptoms. Companies and society must urgently provide rehabilitation and social support for people with persistent symptoms, recognizing that COVID-19 is not just a transient acute infection.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.2 s.171
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• pp.187-196
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• 2005

Structural sites which cations can occupy in garnet structure are centers of the tetrahedron, octahedron, and distorted cube sharing edges with the tetrahedron and octahedron. Among them, the size of cation occuping at tetrahedral site (the center of tetrahedron) is closely related with the size of a unit cell of garnet. Accordingly, garnet containing iron with relative large ionic radii in tetrahedral site can be considered as a promising matrix for the immobilization of the elements with large ionic radii, such as actinides in radioactive wastes. We synthesized several garnets with the batch composition of $Ca_{1.5}GdCe_{0.5}ZrFeFe_3O_{12}$, and studied their properties and phase relations under various conditions. Mixed samples were fabricated in a pellet form under a pressure of $200{\~}400{\cal}kg/{\cal}cm^2$ and were sintered in the temperature range of $1100\~1400^{\circ}C$ in air and under oxygen atmospheres. Phase identification and chemical analysis of synthesized samples were conducted by XRD and SEM/EDS. In results, garnet was obtained as the main phase at $1300^{\circ}C$, an optimum condition in this system, even though some minor phases like perovskite and unknown phase were included. The compositions of garnet and perovskite synthesized from the batch composition of $Ca_{1.5}GdCe_{0.5}ZrFeFe_3O_{12}$ were ranged $[Ca_{l.2-1.8}Gd_{0.9-1.4}Ce_{0.3-0.5}]^{VIII}[Zr_{0.8-1.3}Fe_{0.7-1.2}]^{VI}[Fe_{2.9-3.1}]^{IV}O_{12}$ and $Ca_{0.1-0.5}Gd_{0.0-0.8}Ce_{0.1-0.5}\;Zr_{0.0-0.2}Fe_{0.9-1.1}O_3$, respectively. Ca content was exceeded and Ce content was depleted in the 8-coordinated site, comparing to the initial batch composition. This phenomena was closely related to the content of Zr and Fe in the 6-coordinated site.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.484-495
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• 2020

This study is a mixed surfactant (MimicLipid-MSM1000) that forms the same structure as that of the stratum corneum, sucrose distearate, polyglyceryl-2 dioleate, fermented squalane, ergosterol, 10-hydroxystearic acid, mixture consisting of was synthesized. When using 2~5 wt% of this mixed surfactant, it was possible to make an artificial skin mimetic that forms a multi-layer lamellar structure of 5~30 layers. An emulsion was prepared using this mixed surfactant, and a multi-layered lamellar phase was formed and analyzed mechanically. The appearance of this surfactant was a light brown hard wax, the hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) was 12.53, the critical parameter value was 0.987, and the acid value was 0.13. Stability according to pH change was also stable in acidic (3.8), neutral (7.2) and alkaline (10.8). The particle size of the liquid crystal was found to be the most stable maltese cross lamellar crystalline droplet at 5~25mm. The size of the emulsified particles according to the change in the speed of the homo agitator is 2500 rpm (17.9mm±2.6mm), 3500rpm (12.5mm±2.1mm), 4500rpm (6.2mm±1.8mm) particles were formed. Liquid crystal forming particles were observed through a polarization microscope, and the formation structure of the liquid crystal was precisely analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (cryo-SEM). As an application field, it is expected that it will be widely applicable to the development of various prescriptions, such as various skin care cosmetics, makeup care cosmetics, and scalp protection cosmetics, by using a skin-mimicking surfactant.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.641-644
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• 2001

This study was performed for development of new analytical method of monascus pigments in foods. In this method, analysis of monascus pigment in foods has been carried out by detection of monascin and ankaflavin of the main color component of monascus pigment as indicator compounds. Monascin and ankaflavin were isolated and identified by TLC, HPLC, Prep. HPLC, $^{1}H-NMR$ and Mass spectrophotometer. The analysis of monascin and ankaflavin in foods such as massal, sausage, mixed press ham, mixed fish sausage, semi-dried sausage and syrup was performed by using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatograph with Capcell Pak C18 column at wave length 390 nm. The quantitative results of monascin were as follows : $0.01{\sim}3.31\;{\mu}g/g$ item in massal, $0.05{\sim}0.10\;{\mu}g/g$ in mixed fish sausage, and $0.34{\sim}0.35\;{\mu}g/g$ in semi-dried sausage. But the quantitative results of ankaflavin were as follows: $0.02{\sim}0.89\;{\mu}g/g$ in massal, ankaflavin were not founded in other samples.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.182-186
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• 2015

In this study, the porous CuO/MnO₂ catalyst was prepared through the co-precipitation process from an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), manganese(II) acetate (Mn(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O) and copper(II) acetate (Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O). The phase change in MnO₂ was analyzed according to the reaction molar ratio of KMnO₄ to Mn(CH₃COO)₂. The reaction mole ratio of KMnO₄ to Mn(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O was varied at 0.3:1, 0.6:1, and 1:1. The aqueous solution of Cu(CH₃COO)₂ was injected into a mixed solution of KMnO₄ and Mn(CH₃COO)₂ to 10~75 wt% relative to MnO₂. The Cu ion co-precipitates as CuO with MnO₂ in a highly dispersed state on MnO₂. The physicochemical property of the prepared CuO/MnO₂ was analyzed by using the TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, and BET. The different phase types of MnO₂ were prepared according to the reaction mole ratio of KMnO₄ to Mn(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O. The results confirmed that the porous CuO/MnO₂ catalyst with γ-phase MnO₂ was produced in the reaction mole ratio of KMnO₄ to Mn(CH₃COO)₂ as 0.6:1 at room temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.997-1006
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• 2009

Organic removal efficiency and methane production rate, a feasibility of power generation from biogas, and the optimum conditions for membrane operation were evaluated for the pilot scale (5 tons/day) two-phase anaerobic digestion coupled with ultra filtration (TPADUF) system fed with garbage leachate. The TPADUF system is consisted of a thermophilic acidogenic reactor, a mesophilic methanogenic reactor, and an UF membrane. When garbage leachate with 150 g/L of TCOD was fed to the TPADUF up to organic loading rate (OLR) of 11.1 g COD/L/d, the effluent TCOD was lower than 6 g/L and the average removal efficiencies of TCOD and SCOD were higher than 95%. The methane composition of the gas was 65%, and the methane yield was 39 $m^3/m^3$ garbage leachatefed, 260 $m^3$/tons $COD_{added}$, or 270 $m^3$/tons $COD_{removed}$, even there was some gas leak. The power production per consumed gas was 0.96 kWh/$m^3$ gas or 1.49 kWh/$m^3$ methane. This lower power production efficiency mainly due to the small capacity of gas engine (15 kW class). The membrane was operated at the average flux of 10 L/$m^2$/hr. When the flux decreased, washing with water and chemical (NaOCl) was conducted to restore the flux. In the TPADUF system, optimum pH could be maintained without alkali addition by recycling the membrane concentrate or mixed liquor of the methanogenic digester to the acidogenic reactor. Also, partial production of methane in the acidogenic reactor had a positive effect on lowering the OLR of the methanogenic reactor.