• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.59-63
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ has been inconsistently associated with gradual decreases in lung function. Here, we studied the effects of $NO_2$ exposure in asthmatics by examining the association between changes in lung function and concentrations of $NO_2$ which were personally measured. Methods : Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and daily personal exposures to $NO_2$ were recorded on 28 patients with asthma (confirmed by methacholine provocation test) over 4 weeks. We used generalized estimating equations to assess the relationship between personal $NO_2$ exposure and PEF, adjusting for potential confounders such as age, gender, outdoor particulate matter, temperature, humidity, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Results : The personal $NO_2$ exposures were higher than the corresponding ambient levels. The mean personal: ambient ratio for $NO_2$ was 1.48. The personal $NO_2$ exposures were not associated with the morning PEF, evening PEF, or the diurnal PEF variability. However, environmental tobacco smoke was negatively associated with both the morning and evening PEF. Conclusions : Among the asthmatic adults who participated in this study, we found no apparent impact of personal $NO_2$ exposures on the peak expiratory flow.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2009

It is important to find the effective position for cough and sputum clearance in respiratory physical therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), and peak cough flow (PCF) related to functional level and measurement position in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Twenty one subjects were classified into three functional levels, and measurements was undertaken in three different measurement positions (upright sitting, $45^{\circ}$ reclining and supine). Vitalograph PEF/FEV DIARY was used to measure PEF and $FEV_1$, and Ferraris Pocket Peak was used to measure PCF. Mixed two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Significant main effects for measurement position were found. 2) PEF was the highest in upright sitting, followed by $45^{\circ}$ reclining, and supine in order. 3) $FEV_1$ in upright sitting and $45^{\circ}$ reclining were significantly greater compared with that in supine. 4) PCF in upright sitting and $45^{\circ}$ reclining were significantly greater compared with that in supine. 5) No significant main effects for functional level were found in PEF, $FEV_1$, and PCF. 6) No significant functional level by measurement position interactions were found in PEF, $FEV_1$, and PCF. Therefore, it is concluded that upright sitting and $45^{\circ}$ degree reclining positions are recommended for effective cough and sputum clearance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.16-23
• /
• 2018

Alternative technologies for sludge treatment and disposal need to be developed urgently because the amount of produced production has increased continuously. In this study, Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technique was applied for sludge solubilization and the performance was evaluated. The PEF equipped with electrodes coated by epoxy resin and teflon was inducted to the activated sludge suspension, and the effect of the coating materials on the solubilization was determined. In addition, the effect of the applied voltage on the solubilization yield was investigated as the applied voltage was increased from 6 to 12 and 15 kV. Sludge solubilization was not observed when the epoxy-coated electrode was used for PEF induction regardless of the applied voltage. However, sludge solubilization occurred when 12 and 15 kV were applied to the teflon-coated electrodes. The MLSS decreased to 9%, and the soluble-COD increased to 496% when the applied voltage was 15 kV. But sludge solubilization did not happen under 6 kV condition. The corona discharge was observed at applied voltages of 12 and 15 kV, (Ed- sorry but I cannot understand the following highlight) but if 6 kV, strongly indicating that the corona discharge make the sludge solubilized, which suggests that the critical voltage for sludge solubilization lies between 6 and 12 kV. Consequently, proper selection of electrode-coating materials and the applied voltage of PEF could lead to sludge solubilization by corona discharge.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.169-179
• /
• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are the main pharmacological components of Panax ginseng root, which are thought to be primarily responsible for the suppressing effect on oxidative stress. Methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorption capacity were applied to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the ginsenosides. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells were incubated with ginsenosides extracted by pulsed electric field (PEF) and solvent cold soak extraction (SCSE) for 24 h and then the injury was induced by $40{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$. The cell viability and surface morphology of HEK-293 cells were studied using MTS assay and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate fluorescent probe assay was used to measure the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The intracellular antioxidant activities of ginsenosides were evaluated by cellular antioxidant activity assay in HepG2 cells. Results: The PEF extracts displayed the higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and stronger oxygen radical absorption capacity (with an oxygen radical absorption capacity value of $14.48{\pm}4.04{\mu}M\;TE\;per\;{\mu}g/mL$). The HEK-293 cell model also suggested that the protective effect of PEF extracts was dose-dependently greater than SCSE extracts. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay further proved that PEF extracts are more active (8% higher than SCSE extracts) in reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images showed that the HEK-293 cells, which were treated with PEF extracts, maintained more intact surface morphology. Cellular antioxidant activity values indicated that ginsenosides extracted by PEF had stronger cellular antioxidant activity than SCSE ginsenosides extracts. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the antioxidative effect of ginsenosides extracted by PEF in vitro. Furthermore, rather than SCSE, PEF may be more useful as an alternative extraction technique for the extraction of ginsenosides with enhanced antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.871-878
• /
• 2004

Pulsed electric fields(PEF) technology is one of the latest nonthermal methods of food processing for obtaining safe and minimally processed foods. This technology can be effectively explored for obtaining safe food with minimum effect on nutritional, flavor, rheological and sensory qualities of food products. The process involves the application of high voltage(typically 20 ${\sim}$ 80 kv/cm) to foods placed between two electrodes. The mode of inactivation of microorganism; by PEP processing has been postulated in term; of electric breakdown and electroporation. The extent of destruction of microorganisms in PEF processing depends mainly on the electric field strength of the pulses and treatment time. For each cell types, a specific critical electric field strength and specific critical treatment time are required depending on the cell characteristics and the type and strength of the medium where they have been present. The effect also depends on the types of microorganisms and their phase of growth. A careful combination of processing parameters has to be selected for effective processing. The potential applications of PEF technology are numerous ranging from biotechnology to food preservation. With respect to food processing, it has already been established that, the technology is non-thermal in nature, economical and energy efficient, besides providing minimally processed foods. This article gives a brief overview of this technology for food processing applications.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.68 no.3
• /
• pp.207-215
• /
• 2023

This study was compared the soil environment and growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.) treated with non-mulching (NM) and mulching polyethylene film (PEF) and two biodegradable films (BFI and BFII) commonly used in farmhouses. Visual observation confirmed the degradation of BFI and BFII films after 150 days after tansplanting (DAT). BFII increased light penetration into the films and reduced the weight maintenace after 180 DAT, with a high decompostion at 30 days after soil tilling. Soil moisture contents much fluctuated between -14 kP and - 0 kPa in NM plots, increasing the minimum soil temperature of BFI plots. Mulching treatments decreased soil organic matter contents but did not subtantially increase soil mineral nutrients, soil bulk density, and number of bacteria compared to those of NM plots. Onion root growth was increased by PEF and BFI treatments at an early growth stage, 60 DAT, with the most remarkable stem extension observed for PEF and BFI treatments after 150 DAT. PEF and BFI treatments increased the bulb's diameter, length, weight, and lodging at 180 DAT. BFI treatments exhibited a high portion of the "very large" category producing with 55.3 tons ha^-1 based on the classification into bulb size, followed by PE (49.3 tons), NM (9.4 tons), and BFII treatments (2.7 tons) at 230 DAT.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.36 no.2 s.141
• /
• pp.102-108
• /
• 2005

We have studied the physico-chemical change and pharmacological transformation of traditional herbal medicines with processing. Evodia fruit (EF) has processed for the purpose of detoxification and reduction of its bitter taste. There are various methods of processing EF in Oriental medicinal reference. Among them, we processed EF according to the method of Sang-han theory, the most famous medicinal reference. We processed EF with washing in hot water, and then dried. Processed EFs(PEFs) were prepared according to the above procedure through repetition of 1,3,5 and 7 times respectively. The contents of weight loss, water extract, diluted ethanol extract, ether extract, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alkaloids and limonin in non-processed EF (NPEF) and PEFs were examined. The weight loss, and contents of water extract and dilute ethanol extract in PEF showed decrease in proportion to increase of washing time, while the contents of ether extract, total ash and acid insoluble ash showed little change as compared with those of NPEF. And the content of evodiamine and rutaecarpine was not changed distinctly. However, the content of limonin decreased in the final processed material in proportion to increase of washing times with hot water. And the intense of bitter taste in PEF was also reduced. These results were ascribed to the flowing-out of the water-soluble portion. The biological activities of NPEF and PEF were also investigated. In the test of DPPH scavenging effect, xanthine oxidase inhibition effect and TBA-Rs effect, PEF was more effective than NPEF in vitro. Also, both NPEF and PEF showed potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects against in mice. Especially, PEF by 3 times washing with hot water was more effective than other PEFs. From these results, it is considered that PEF should be prepared by 3 times washing with hot water.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.545-551
• /
• 2008

When cultivated aerobically, Aspergillus niger hyphae produced extracellular glucoamylase, which catalyzes the saccharification of unliquified potato starch into glucose, but not when grown under anaerobic conditions. The $K_m\;and\;V_{max}$ of the extracellular glucoamylase were 652.3 mg/l of starch and 253.3 mg/l/min of glucose, respectively. In mixed culture of A. niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, oxygen had a negative influence on the alcohol fermentation of yeast, but activated fungal growth. Therefore, oxygen is a critical factor for ethanol production in the mixed culture, and its generation through electrolysis of water in an electrochemical bioreactor needs to be optimized for ethanol production from starch by coculture of fungal hyphae and yeast cells. By applying pulsed electric fields (PEF) into the electrochemical bioreactor, ethanol production from starch improved significantly: Ethanol produced from 50 g/l potato starch by a mixed culture of A. niger and S. cerevisiae was about 5 g/l in a conventional bioreactor, but was 9 g/l in 5 volts of PEF and about 19 g/l in 4 volts of PEF for 5 days.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 1997.07f
• /
• pp.2162-2164
• /
• 1997

High Voltage High Current Pulsed Electric Fields (HVHC-PEF) is a promising technology for the non-thermal pasteurization of foods and a sound complement or replacement to traditional thermal pasteurization, which inactivates bacteria and other microorganisms harmful to humans, but also degrades color, flavor, texture and nutrients. Foods can be pasteurized with pulsed electric fields at ambient or refrigerated temperatures for a short treatment time of seconds or less and the fresh-like quality of food is preserved. Although successful in laboratory tests, applying HVHC-PEF to food pasteurization on a large scale presents many unresolved engineering problems. In this paper the design considerations for 25kV 1kA class HVHC-PEF pasteurization equipment are analyzed and experimental results are discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.3C
• /
• pp.279-285
• /
• 2003

In this paper we propose a blind decision feedback equalizer (DFE) that is characterized by the fact that it does not require channel estimation. Because the output of the optimized multistep prediction error filter (PEF) can be represented as a product of the channel partial impulse response and the transmitted sequence, a backward multistep PEF can be used as the blind DFE feedforward filter (FFF). The corresponding feedback filter (FBF) is obtained from the symbol -rate partial channel impulse response. The proposed algorithm has several advantages over existing blind channel estimation techniques, including stable performance without the necessity of exact channel order estimation.