• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.29 no.2A
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• pp.166-173
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• 2004

Satellite communication system uses a high non-linear HPA(high power amplifiers) in the earth station and satellite transponder. Therefore, it is important to consider the nonlinear effect of HPA on the communication system. In this paper, we find the variation of power spectrum density by nonlinearity HPA and the change of harmonic component according to IBO (input back-off). When the BPSK is used for satellite communication system, we analyze BER performance including the external co-channel interference (CCI) and the adjacent channel interference (ACI) resulting from the HPA nonlinearity. BER degrades as ACI magnitude grows up when the uplink SNR, uplink SIR (signal to co-channel interference power ratio) and downlink SIR are constant at some level. In case there is only non-linear HPA in the satellite, it is shown that BER considerably depends on the ACI magnitude ACI. When there are two non-linear HPAs in the both earth station and satellite, much BER degradation results from the CCI and ACI.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.294-302
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• 2003

Unstable cosmetic active ingredients could be degraded rapidly by chemical and photochemical process. Particularly, some of active ingredients like retinol are known to cause skin irritation when applied on the skin excessively. Therefore, it has become a very important issue to encapsulate cosmetic actives for the stabilization and skin protection. This study was performed in order to prepare a chitosan microcapsule containing liposoluble cosmetic actives and to investigate the stabilization effect of actives when chitosan microcapsule was applied in cosmetic formulation. Chitosan, deacetylated form of chitin, has been of interest in the industrial applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, antimicrobial activity and also used as a wall material of capsule. Retinol was used as a core material and was stabilized by a wall of chitosan and antioxidants. The chitosan microcapsule containing retinol(CMR) was prepared by using coacervation method and W$_1$/O/W$_2$ emulsification techniques. The CMR has 0.5~10.0 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size distribution and a long-term stability of more than an year inside the cosmetic formulation(O/W). Remaining retinol percentages at 45$^{\circ}C$ after 8 weeks in the CMR dispersion were 15.6%(pH 4.0), 59.8%(pH 6.0) and 65.0%(pH 6.0 with antioxidant) respectively. Retinol stability when added CMR inside a ONV emulsion was better than that of ONV emulsion added non-capsulated retinol. As a result, remaining retinol at 45$^{\circ}C$ after 8 weeks in O/W emulsion added non-capsulated retinol and O/W emulsion containing CMR was 12.7%, 70.5% respectively. It appeared that chitosan treated microcapsule may be used for a potential encapsulation method of unstable active ingredients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.108-116
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the differences between patients with acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning who visited the emergency department (ED) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective observational study. Patients with CO poisoning who visited the ED during the period from February 2020 to January 2023 were classified as the COVID-19 pandemic group, and those from February 2019 to January 2020 were classified as the non-pandemic group. Patients' medical records were reviewed, their demographic and clinical characteristics were compared, and the length of stay in ED was checked. The time from admission to the ED to the start of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) was defined as the door-to-HBO time, and this parameter was compared between both groups. Results: In total, 672 patients were included in this study. The proportion of intentional poisoning was significantly higher in the COVID-19 pandemic group than in the non-pandemic group (p=0.028). The proportion of intentional poisoning significantly increased in the 20- to 29-year-old age group during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). In addition, it took longer to initiate HBO in the COVID-19 pandemic group than in the non-pandemic group (p=0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that pandemics of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, increase the proportion of intentional CO poisoning, and it may take longer to initiate HBO after visiting the ED. Efforts will be needed to decrease intentional CO poisoning and length of stay in ED.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2010

We evaluated the performance of a novel screening test, PBP2a MRSA rapid kit (Dinona Inc., Iksan, Korea), for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) based on a immunochromatographic assay. The test is able to detect penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) using the nasal specimens from health care workers. The nasal specimens were obtained from 69 healthcare workers and were incubated in enrichment broth followed eight hours incubatin in BHI with cefoxitin $4{\mu}g/mL$. These broth were tested by PBP2a Rapid Kit. The enrichment broths were also directly tested for tube coagulase using the conventional identification method. 19 of 22 MRSA showed positive results by PBP2a rapid test and direct coagulase test (the sensitivity for detection of MRSA, 86.36%). While, 8 of 47 non-MRSA showed false positive results for the two tests. All of the 8 non-MRSA which showed false positive were co-colonizing isolates with MRCNS and MSSA. In addition, 46 of 49 methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) showed positive results for PBP2a MRSA rapid kit (the sensitivity for detection of MRS, 93.8%), and all of 20 non-MRS showed negative results (specificity, 100%). The combination of PBP2a MRSA rapid kit and direct coagulase test showed the good sensitivity for detection of MRSA from anterior nares but frequently showed false positive results from the co-colonizing carrier with MRCNS and MSSA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.304-318
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• 2023

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment and significantly contribute to immune evasion. We investigated the effects of CAFs on the immune function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We isolated CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) from tumors and normal lung tissues of NSCLC patients, respectively. CAFs were co-cultured with activated T cells to evaluate their immune regulatory function. We investigated the effect of CAF conditioned medium (CAF-CM) on the cytotoxicity of T cells. CAFs were also co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and further incubated with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitors to investigate the potential role of COX2 in immune evasion. Results: CAFs and NFs were isolated from the lung tissues (n=8) and lymph nodes (n=3) of NSCLC patients. Immune suppressive markers, such as COX2 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), were increased in CAFs after co-culture with activated T cells. Interestingly, CAFs promoted the expression of programmed death-1 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and strongly inhibited T cell proliferation in allogenic and autologous pairs of CAFs and T cells. CAF-CM decreased the cytotoxicity of T cells. COX2 inhibitors partially restored the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and downregulated the expression of COX2, prostaglandin E synthase, prostaglandin E2, and PD-L1 in CAFs. Conclusion: CAFs promote immune evasion by suppressing the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via their effects on COX2 and PD-L1 in NSCLC. The immunosuppressive function of CAFs could be alleviated by COX2 inhibitors.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2023

Purpose: An association between Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination has been reported. We aimed to summarize the clinical features of GBS associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and determine the contrasting features from coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) associated GBS and GBS following other causes. Materials and Methods: We performed PubMed search for articles published between 1 December 2020 and 27 January 2022 using search terms related to "SARS-CoV-2 vaccination" and "GBS". Reference searching of the eligible studies was performed. Sociodemographic and vaccination data, clinical and laboratory features, and outcomes were extracted. We compared these findings with post-COVID-19 GBS and International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS) (GBS from other causes) cohorts. Results: We included 100 patients in the analysis. Mean age was 56.88 years, and 53% were males. Six-eight received non-replicating virus vector and 30 took messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The median interval between the vaccination and the GBS onset was 11 days. Limb weakness, facial palsy, sensory symptoms, dysautonomia, and respiratory insufficiency were seen in 78.65%, 53.3%, 77.4%, 23.5%, and 25%, respectively. The commonest clinical and electrodiagnostic subtype were sensory-motor variant (68%) and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (61.4%), respectively. And 43.9% had poor outcome (GBS outcome score ≥3). Pain was common with virus vector than mRNA vaccine, and the latter had severe disease at presentation (Hughes grade ≥3). Sensory phenomenon and facial weakness were common in vaccination cohort than post-COVID-19 and IGOS. Conclusion: There are distinct differences between GBS associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and GBS due to other causes. Facial weakness and sensory symptoms were commonly seen in the former and outcomes poor.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.94-109
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• 2023

1,3-Dioxolane is an exciting material that has attracted widespread interest in the chemical, paint, and pharmaceutical industries as a solvent, electrolyte, and reagent because 1,3-dioxolane is not toxic, carcinogenic, explosive, auto-flammable, and multifunctional, and due to their excellent miscibility in most organic and aqueous solvent conditions. Recently, this material has received increasing attention as a CO₂-selective polymer precursor to separating CO₂ from flue gas and natural gas mixtures. Poly(1,3-dioxolane) (PDXL) possesses higher ether oxygen content than polyethylene oxide (PEO), which demonstrates superior membrane CO₂/N₂ separation properties owing to their polar ether oxygen groups exhibiting strong affinity toward CO₂. Thus, PDXL-based membranes displayed an outstanding CO₂ solubility selectivity over non-polar (N₂, H₂, and CH₄) gases. However, the polar groups of PDXL, like PEO, promote chain packing efficiency and cause polymer crystallization, thereby reducing its gas permeability, which should be improved. In this short review, we discuss the recent advancement and limitations of PDXL membranes in gas separation applications. To conclude, we provide future perspectives for inhibiting the limits of 1,3-dioxolane-based polymers in the CO₂ separation process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.225-226
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• 2017

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the development of non-sintered binder to reduce CO2 emissions from the cement clinker manufacturing process and a number of studies have been conducted on fly ashes as an industrial by-product. However, in order to utilize fly ashes as a non-sintered binder, it is necessary to solve problems such as safety issues and economical efficiency due to use of an alkali activator. This study evaluates the material properties and compressive strength characteristics of three types of circulating fluidized bed boiler ashes. As a result, it was confirmed that the characteristics of each binder vary depending on the location of the power plant and the types of raw materials. In addition, it has been confirmed that the fluidized bed boiler ash shows a high compressive strength and can be used sufficiently as an non-sintered binder.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.39-40
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• 2023

In this study, the compressive strength development was analyzed at early ages of concrete specimens admixed with non-sintered hwangto to reduce the CO₂ emissions generated during cement production. The W/B of the specimens was set at 0.41, the percentage of non-sintered hwangto admixture was set at three levels of 15, 30, and 45%, and the compressive strength were measured at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. The results showed that the compressive strength decreases as the percentage of non-sintered hwangto increases, but the strength development rate increases, and the NHTC41-15 test specimen developed a compressive strength close to NC41 at 28 days.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.163-168
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• 2002

Through the developing measuring system of gas diffusivity, the experiments on carbon dioxide diffusivity in concrete carry out. From this, some important results was achieved. First, the times of reaching the steady state condition don't depend on the water/cement ratio with linearity. But, for the 0.42 w/c ratio the duration of the non-steady state condition is long. Second, in constant relative humidity, the diffusion coefficient shows linearity for the w/c ratio. Third, for the same w/c ratio, the influence of relative humidity on the diffusivity is very large. This shows the importance of the environmental condition for the carbonation. This study on $CO_2$ diffusivity in concrete is the first attempt within a country and will be important data.