• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2017

BACKGROUND:This study was carried out to establish an efficient sample preparation for the simultaneous determination of bisphenols (BPs) in river water samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sample preparation was examined with conventional extraction methods, such as solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and their efficiency was compared with validation results, including linearity of calibration curve, method detection limit (MDL), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, and precision. METHODS AND RESULTS:The BPs (bisphenol A, BPA; bisphenol B, BPB; bisphenol C, BPC; bisphenol E, BPE; bisphenol F, BPF; bisphenol S, BPS) were analyzed using GC-MS. The range of MDLs by SPE and LLE methods was $0.0005{\sim}0.0234{\mu}g/L$ and $0.0037{\sim}0.2034{\mu}g/L$, and that of LOQs was $0.0015{\sim}0.0744{\mu}g/L$ and $0.0117{\sim}0.6477{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The calibration curve obtained from standard solution of $0.004{\sim}4.0{\mu}g/L$ (SPE) and $0.016{\sim}16{\mu}g/L$ (LLE) showed good linearity with $r^2$ value of 0.9969 over. Accuracy was 93.2~108% and 97.4~120%, and precision was 1.7~4.6% and 0.7~6.5%, respectively. The values of MDL and LOQ resulted from the SPE method were higher than those from the LLE method, particularly those values of BPA were highest among the BPs. Based on the results, the SPE method was applied to determine the BPs in river water samples. Water samples were collected from mainstream, tributary and sewage wastewater treatment plants (SWTPs) in the Yeongsan river basin. The concentration of BPB, BPC, BPE, BPF and BPS were not detected in all sites, whereas BPA was ranged $0.0095{\sim}0.2583{\mu}g/L$, which was $0.0166{\sim}0.0810{\mu}g/L$ for mainstreams, $0.0095{\sim}0.2583{\mu}g/L$ for tributaries, $0.0352{\sim}0.1217{\mu}g/L$ for SWTPs. CONCLUSION: From these results, the SPE method was very effective for the simultaneous determination of BPs in river water samples using GC-MS. We provided that it is a convenient, reliable and sensitive method enough to monitor and understand the fate of the BPs in aquatic ecosystems.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2018

The epidemic of disorders associated with synthetic stimulants, such as methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AP), is a health, social, legal, and financial problem. Owing to the high potential of their abuse and addiction, reliable analytical methods are required to detect and identify MA, AP, and their metabolites in biological samples. Thus, a dilute-and-shoot liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of MA, 4-hydroxymethamphetamine (4HMA), AP, and 4-hydroxyamphetamine (4HA) in urine. Urine sample ($100{\mu}L$) was mixed with $50{\mu}L$ of mobile phase consisting of 0.4 % formic acid and methanol and $50{\mu}L$ of working internal-standard solution. Aliquots of $8{\mu}L$ diluted urine was injected into the LC-MS/MS system. For all analytes, chromatographic separation was performed using a C18 reversed-phase column with gradient elution and a total run time of 5 min. The identification and quantification were performed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Linear least-squares regression was conducted to generate a calibration curve, with $1/x^2$ as the weighting factor. The linear ranges were 2.0-200, 1.0-800, and 10-2500 ng/mL for 4HA and 4HMA, AP, and MA, respectively. The inter- and intraday precisions were within 6.6 %, whereas the inter- and intraday accuracies ranged from -14.9 to 11.3 %. The low limits of quantification were 2.0 ng/mL (4HA and 4HMA), 1.0 ng/mL (AP), and 10 ng/mL (MA). The proposed method exhibited satisfactory selectivity, dilution integrity, matrix effect, and stability, which are required for validation. Moreover, the purification efficiency of high-speed centrifugation was clearly higher than 6-15 % for QC samples (n=5), which was higher than that of the membrane-filtration method. The applicability of the proposed method was tested by forensic analysis of urine samples from drug abusers.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.134-138
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• 2007

The current PET/CT system with high quality CT images not only increases diagnostic value by providing anatomic localization, but also shortens the acquisition time for attenuation correction than primary PET system. All commercially available PET/CT system uses the CT scan for attenuation correction instead of the transmission scan using radioactive source such as $^{137}Cs,\;^{68}Ge$. However the CT scan may substantially increase the patient dose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of PET images reconstructed by CT attenuation map using various tube currents. in this study, images were acquired for 3D Hoffman brain phantom and cylindrical phantom using GE DSTe PET/CT system. The emission data were acquired for 10 min using phantoms after injecting 44.03 MBq of $^{18}F-FDG$. The CT images for attenuation map were acquired by changing tube current from 10 mA to 95 mA with fixed exposure time of 8 sec and fixed tube voltage of 140 kVp. The PET images were reconstructed using these CT attenuation maps. Image quality of CT images was evaluated by measuring SD (standard deviation) of cylindrical phantom which was filled with water and $^{18}F-FDG$ solution. The PET images were evaluated by measuring the activity ratio between gray matter and white matter in Hoffman phantom images. SDs of CT images decrease by increasing tube current. When PET images were reconstructed using CT attenuation maps with various tube currents, the activity ratios between gray matter and white matter of PET images were almost same. These results indicated that the quality of the PET images using low dose CT data were comparable to the PET images using general dose CT data. Therefore, the use of low dose CT is recommended than the use of general dose CT, when the diagnostic high quality CT is not required. Further studies may need to be performed for other system, since this study is limited to the GE DSTe system used in this study.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2001

A barrier liner system is placed at the bottom and side slope in landfill to protect a leaking of leachate that the hydraulic conductivity of this system should be less than It 107cm/sec. In this study, the soil-bentonite mixture for the bottom liner system was evaluated in two point of views : changing characteristics of the hydraulic conductivity according to the different mixing ratio of soil-bentonite with the effect of bentonite swelling and the difference method (A & D type) of compaction on the hydraulic conductivity. As the results, maximum dry density (${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$) of SC group mixture was higher than of CL group mixture. However, the result of optimum moisture contents(OMC) of both groups were the contrary. In case of ${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$ by different compaction method, D type was higher than A. But the OMC were the contrary. The difference of ${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$ according to the Compaction energy, “SC” group mixture W3S higher than the “CL” group. In case of OMC of “CL” group was higher than “SC” group. The effecting of swelling was a little bit different on the two factors. According to the result of compaction test, the use of site soil only could not meet the criteria on hydraulic conductivity, but could find a solution for the mixing ratio of bentonite mixture were satisfied to the standard of barriation. The increased in bentonite mixing ratio and degree of swelling, the values of hydraulic conductivity were decreased. Especially the “CL” group with “D” type compaction measured the lowest value with the same conditions. Also, the bentonite mixing ratio has more influenced on the hydraulic conductivity compare with swelling effect. The “SC” group mixture with “A” typo compaction got a big difference from others. The evaluation of economic for the construction cost on the two cases, the lower bentonite mixing ratio of soil-bentonite mixed soil is more economically because of bentonite cost.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.511-519
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• 2006

Autogenous bone grafts have been considered the gold standard for maxillofacial bony defects. However, this procedure could entail a complicated surgical procedure as well as potential donor site morbidity. Possibly the best solution for bone-defect regeneration is a tissue engineering approach, i.e. the use of a combination of a suitable scaffold with osteogenic cells. A major source of osteogenic cells is the bone marrow. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent and have the ability to differentiate into osteoblastic, chondrocytic, and adipocytic lineage cells. However, the isolation of cells from bone marrow has someproblems when used in clinical setting. Bone marrow aspiration is sometimes potentially more invasive and painful procedure and carries of a risk of morbidity and infection. A minimally invasive, easily accessible alternative would be cells derived from periosteum. The periosteum also contains multipotent cells that have the potential to differentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes. In the present study, we evaluated the osteogenic activity and mineralization of cultured human periosteal-derived cells. Periosteal explants were harvested from mandibule during surgical extraction of lower impacted third molar. The periosteal cells were cultured in the osteogenic inductive medium consisting of DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 50g/ml L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, 10 nmol dexamethasone and 10 mM -glycerophosphate for 42 days. Periosteal-derived cells showed positive alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining during 42 days of culture period. The formation of ALP stain showed its maximal manifestation at day 14 of culture period, then decreased in intensity during the culture period. ALP mRNA expression increased up to day 14 with a decrease thereafter. Osteocalcin mRNA expression appeared at day 7 in culture, after that its expression continuously increased in a time-dependent manner up to the entire duration of culture. Von Kossa-positive mineralization nodules were first present at day 14 in culture followed by an increased number of positive nodules during the entire duration of the culture period. In conclusion, our study showed that cultured human periosteal-derived cells differentiated into active osteoblastic cells that were involved in synthesis of bone matrix and the subsequent mineralization of the matrix. As the periosteal-derived cells, easily harvested from intraoral procedure such as surgical extraction of impacted third molar, has the excellent potential of osteogenic capacity, tissue-engineered bone using periosteal-derived cells could be the best choice in reconstruction of maxillofacial bony defects.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.411-429
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• 2018

Daeyoung mine (also called "Daema mine") produced gold and silver from mainly gold- and silver-bearing quartz veins. The mine tailings are a waste hazard, but most of the tailings were swept away or dispersed throughout the area around the mine long before the tailing dump areas were transformed into agricultural land. Soil liner and protection facilities, such as retaining walls, were constructed in the mine area to prevent the loss of tailings. The content of the tailings is 3,424.41~3,803.61 mg/kg, which exceeds the safety standard by a factor of 45. In addition, contamination was detected near agricultural areas and in the sediments in downstream drainage channels. A high level of As contamination was concentrated near the waste tailings yard; comparaable levels were detected in agricultural areas close to streams that ran through the waste dump yard, whereas the levels were much lower in areas far from the streams. The contamination in stream sediments showed a gradual decrease with distance from the mine waste yard. Based on these contamination patterns, we concluded that there are two main paths that affect the spread of contaminants: (1) loss of mine waste, and (2) the introduction of mine waste into agricultural areas by floods after transportation by streams. The agricultural areas contaminated by mass inflow of mine waste can act as contamination sources themselves, affecting other agricultural areas through the diffusion of contaminants. At present, although the measured effect in minimal, sediments in streams are contaminated by exposed mine waste and surface liners. It is possible for contaminants to diffuse or spread into nearby areas if heavy elements trapped in soil grains in contaminated agricultural areas leach out as soil solution or contaminant particles during diffusion into the water supply.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.223-232
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• 2012

Purpose: Validating a new research method to determine posterior corneal curvature and asphericity(Q) in vivo, based on measurements of anterior corneal topography and corneal thickness. Methods: Anterior corneal topographic data, derived from the Medmont E300 corneal topographer, and total corneal thickness data measured along the horizontal corneal meridian using the Holden-Payor optical pachometer, were used to calculate the anterior and posterior corneal apical radii of curvature and Q. To calculate accurate total corneal thickness the local radius of anterior corneal curvature, and an exact solution for the relationship between real and apparent thickness were taken into consideration. This method differs from previous approach. An elliptical curve for anterior and posterior cornea were calculated by using best fit algorism of the anterior corneal topographic data and derived coordinates of the posterior cornea respectively. For validation of the calculations of the posterior corneal topography, ten polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lenses and right eyes of five adult subjects were examined. Results: The mean absolute accuracy (${\pm}$standard deviation(SD)) of calculated posterior apical radius and Q of ten PMMA lenses was $0.053{\pm}0.044mm$ (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.033 to 0.139), and $0.10{\pm}0.10$ (95% CI -0.10 to 0.31) respectively. The mean absolute repeatability coefficient (${\pm}SD$) of the calculated posterior apical radius and Q of five human eyes was $0.07{\pm}0.06mm$ (95% CI -0.05 to 0.19) and $0.09{\pm}0.07$ (95% CI -0.05 to 0.23), respectively. Conclusions: The result shows that acceptable accuracy in calculations of posterior apical radius and Q was achieved. This new method shows promise for application to the living human cornea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.205-209
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• 1977

The pool size of plasma glucose, turnover rate and other concerned items for glucose metabolism in normal laying hen were investigated by a single-injection method using $U-C^{14}-glucose$. The 11.6 nCi of pure dose was injected to a hen normally fed through the wing vein. The glucose concentration in plasma sample taken at 5 minutes after injections was 214mgper 100ml. From the plottings of logarithmic standard specific activities of plasma taken from 5 to 120 minutes against the time after injection and from the regresion analysis, metabolic states were determined. The pool size was 1.07g, turnover rate was 0.024 per minute, turnover time was 41 minutes, utilization rate was 26mg/min. (0.83 g/hr/kg B.W. 3/4) and glucose space(extracellular fluid volume) was 25.3 per cent of body weight. The values obtained from. 10-50 minutes samples were similar to those described above, which we from 5-120 minutes samples.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2018

This study aimed to improve the method for detecting eight secondary aliphatic amines (SAAs), so as to measure their concentrations in fresh water and tap water samples. NaOH (8 mL, 10 M) and benzenesulfonyl chloride (2 mL) were added to a water sample (200 mL), and the mixture was stirred at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. An additional NaOH solution (10 mL) was added and the stirring was continued for another 30 min. The pH of the cooled mixture was adjusted to 5.5-6.0 by adding HCl (35 %), and the SAAs were extracted using dichloromethane (50 mL). This extraction was repeated once. The extract was then washed with $NaHCO_3$ (15 mL, 0.05 M) and dried over $Na_2SO_4$ (4 g). The extract was finally concentrated to 0.1 mL, of which $1{\mu}L$ was analyzed for SAAs by GC-MS. The linearity of the spike calibration curves was high ($r^2=0.9969-0.9996$). The detection limits of the method ranged from 0.01 to $0.20{\mu}g/L$, and its repeatability and reproducibility (expressed as relative standard deviation) were both less than 10 % (6.6-9.4 %). Its accuracy (measured in percentage error) ranged between 2.4 % and 6.1 %. The established method was applied to the analysis of five surface water and 82 tap water samples. Dimethylamine was the only SAA detected in all the water samples, and its average concentration was $0.79{\mu}g/L$ (range: $0.20-2.54{\mu}g/L$). Therefore, this study improved the analytical method for SAAs in surface water and tap water, and the regional and seasonal concentration distributions were obtained.