• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1833-1841
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• 2000

Microelectrode probe was made and applied to the biofilm in the biological treatment process as the state-of-art technology in order to actually measure the biofilm thickness, ionic concentration gradient, and material transport, etc. instead of classical theoretical approach. The working microelectrode, one of the main components of microelectrode probe, was easily contaminated and broken when determining the differences in the ionic concentrations through the measurement of biofilm's EMF (electromotive force). As a demonstration, two microelectrode probes were constructed in our lab for the measurement of the pH and $NO_3{^-}$ concentration in denitrifying biofilm. The microelectrode probe through the inner biofilm ($350{\mu}m$ from the surface of biofilm) showed that the pH was increased from pH 8 in the bulk solution to pH 8.3, on the other hand, the $NO_3{^-}$ concentration was decreased from 30 fig N/L in the bulk solution to 4 fig N/L.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2013

Purpose : To investigate the blood pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution of DTPA-bis-amide (L3) Gd(III) complexes. Materials and Methods: The pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution of Gd $(L3)(H_2O){\cdot}nH_2O$ were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats after intravenous administration at a dose of 0.1 mmol Gd/kg. The Gd content in the blood, various tissues, and organs was determined by ICP-AES. Blood pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a two-compartment model. Results: The half-lives of ${\alpha}$ phase and ${\beta}$ phase Gd $(L3)(H_2O){\cdot}nH_2O$ were $2.286{\pm}0.11$ min and $146.1{\pm}7.5$ min, respectively. The bio-distribution properties reveal that the complex is mainly excreted by the renal pathway, and possibly excreted by the hepatobiliary route. The concentration ratio of Gd (III) was significantly higher in the liver and spleen than in other organs, and small amounts of Gd (III) ion were detected in the blood or other tissues of rats only after 7 days of intravenous administration. Conclusion: The MRI contrast agent Gd $(L3)(H_2O){\cdot}nH_2O$ provides prolonged blood pool retention in the circulation and then clears rapidly with minimal accumulation of Gd(III) ions. The synthesis of gadolinium complexes with well-balanced lipophilicity and hydrophilicity shows promise for their further development as blood pool MRI contrast agents.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2005

It is demonstrated that the annealing process for Ti in-diffusion to z-cut $LiNbO_3$ at temperature lower than the curie temperature in a platinum (Pt) box can cause a ferroelectric micro-domain inversion at the +z surface and Li out-diffusion, therefore which should be avoided or suppressed for waveguide type periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) devices. The depth of the inversion layer depends on the Ti-diffusion conditions such as temperature, atmosphere, the sealing method of $LiNbO_3$ in the Pt box and crystal orientation is experimentally examined. The result shows that the polarization-inverted domain boundary appears at the only +z surface and its thickness is about $1.6{\mu}m$. Also, for the etched $LiNbO_3$, surface the domain shape was observed by the optical microscope and atomic force microscopy (AEM), and distribution of the cation concentrations in the $LiNbO_3$ crystal by the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.576-580
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• 2011

Silver has potent antibacterial activity against a variety of bacteria while maintaining low toxicity in mammalian cells. This study was conducted to investigate the possible mechanism underlying the bactericidal effects of silver ions against bovine mastitis pathogens using electron microscopy. We used two different bacterial strains, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which are primarily responsible for the majority of bovine mastitis cases. Interaction between the bacteria and silver ions (50 ${\mu}g/mL$, 2 hours) were studied using energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). EFTEM images showed that E. coli and S. aureus cells treated with the silver ions had distorted plasma membranes, silver ions attached to the outer membranes, scattered electron-light material, and leakage of cell contents from disrupted cell membranes.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.326-333
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• 2011

The need for rapid on-site monitoring of hydroponic macronutrients has led to the use of ion-selective electrodes, because of their advantages over spectrophotometric methods, including simple methodology, direct measurement of analyte, sensitivity over a wide concentration range, and low cost. Stability and repeatability of response can be a concern when using multiple ion-selective electrodes to measure concentrations in a series of samples because accuracy might be limited by drifts in electrode potential. A computer-based measurement system could improve accuracy and precision because of both consistent control of sample preparation and easy calibration of sensors. Our goal was to investigate the applicability of a cobalt-based electrode used in conjunction with a laboratory-made automated test stand for quantitative determination of ${PO_4}^-$ in hydroponic solution. Six hydroponic solutions were prepared by diluting highly concentrated paprika hydroponicsolution to provide a concentration range of 1 to 300 ppm $PO_4$-P. A calibration curve relating electrode response to phosphate in paprika hydroponic solution titrated to pH 4 with 0.025M KHP was developed based on the Nikolskii-Eisenman equation with a coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.94. The laboratory-made test stand consisting of three cobalt-based electrodes measured phosphate concentrations similar to those obtained with standard laboratory methods (a regression slope of 0.98 with $R^2$ = 0.80). However, the y intercept was relatively high, 30 ppm, probably due to the relatively large amount of variation present among multiple measurements of the same sample. Further studies on the high variation in EMFs obtained with cobalt electrodes during replicate measurements were required for P estimations comparable to those obtained with standard laboratory instruments.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the comparison of storability on film sources and storage temperature and determine the proper condition for fresh Japanese mint in U storage. The fresh weight in storage was maintained well more than 40$\mu$m ceramic film(CE 40) thickness. The carbon dioxide, ethylene, and acetaldehyde contents in 80$\mu$m ceramic film(CE 80) was higher than those in CE 40. Those were not different among the storage temperatures, rather, those in 3$^{\circ}C$ and 1$^{\circ}C$ storage were higher than those in 1$0^{\circ}C$. The chlorophyll contents loss was promoted by above 5％ water loss and 0.5ppm ethylene contents, but mote than 4％ carbon dioxide contents restrained from degrading chiorophyll. The storage period in 3$^{\circ}C$ was 30 days that was twice longer than those in other storage temperatures. The visual quality was higher in CE 40 at 3$^{\circ}C$, and this plot was lowest in ion leakage that was shown the degree of chilling injury. It was concluded that storage temperature of at 3$^{\circ}C$ and packaged ceramic 40$\mu$m film to increase storability of Japanese mint would be favorable.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2005

Oriental melons hold at $38^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours before storage increased their soluble solid, titratable acidity, vitamin C contents and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol activity. These heat treated oriental melons maintained lower production of carbon dioxide, ethylene and acetaldehyde and loss of fresh weight than untreated them, called control, during $3^{\circ}C$ MA storage. After 39 days in storage, the last day of storage, visual quality and internal quality, such as firmness, soluble solid, titratable acidity, vitamin C and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol activity, showed higher in heat treated oriental melons. Especially, Ion leakage of flesh, index of chilling injury, increased remarkably in control, so that heat treatment had to alleviate chilling injury in oriental melon. Moreover, while Alternaria rot was shown in control plot after 25 days in $3^{\circ}C$ MA storage, oriental melons treated heat were not appeared any decomposition after 39 days in $3^{\circ}C$ MA storage. As storage life of oriental melon was calculated by regression equation between visual quality and days in storage, that was longer 8 days in heat treated than control. Consequently, heat treatment that was mild, $38^{\circ}C$ and long period, 48 hours, executed before storage, sterilized surface alleviated chilling injury and lengthened storage life in oriental melons.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of NaCl and jasmonic acid (JA) on the growth and physiological responses of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.). Spearmint was hydroponically grown for 3 weeks in modified Hoagland solution containing 0 (untreated control), JA ($20{\mu}M$ JA pretreatment), NaCl (50 mM NaCl treatment) and JA + NaCl ($20{\mu}M$ JA pretreatment + 50 mM NaCl treatment). Growth characteristics, chlorophyll, vitamin C, proline contents, DPPH scavenging activity and inorganic ion contents were evaluated. As a results, there were significant decreases in the plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and fresh weight of plants, treated with NaCl compared with control. On the other hand, the dry matters of shoot and root treated with JA + NaCl combination were better than control or NaCl treatment. Chlorophyll a and b contents in JA treatment was the highest. Vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and proline content in shoot were increased in NaCl treatment which showed low level of growth rate. The K/Na ratio, which is known to indirectly reflect the balance of ion uptake, was higher in a single treatment of JA than the control group, while lower in salt treatment (NaCl and JA + NaCl) because of high $Na^+$ absorption. In conclusion, these results showed that moderate stress treatment such as low level salt treatment and plant growth regulator jasmonic acid (JA) application would be potential strategies to improve the quality of spearmint by inducing the accumulation of secondary metabolites containing high antioxidant activity and essential oil.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2001

This study was conducted to develop a nutrient uptake model in cucumnber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Eunsung Backdadagi) plants for prediction of the amount of nutrients in drainage solution in a closed perlite culture system. Electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution was adjusted to 1.5, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, and 2.7 dS. $m^{-1}$ . The amount of nutrient solution absorbed in different EC treatments was not different until the mid stage of growth. However, after the mid growth stage, a high EC treatment resulted in less solution absorption. The absorption rates of K, N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ -N, Mg, and P increased continuously for a whole growing period in all treatments, while those of Ca decreased slightly. For S, the decrease was significant after th mid stage of growth. although the amounts of absorbed inorganic ions in different EC treatments were not significantly different at the first stage of growth, they were significantly different after the mid stage of growth and decreased slightly at the end of growth stage. Models for predicting the amounts of each inorganic ion absorbed were developed by using EC and the amount of nutrient solution absorbed per unit radiation(mg.M $J^{-1}$), which proved to be practical with a positive correlation at 1 percent probability between the developed model and practical values..

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to estimate the amount of nutrient and water taken up at different growth stages by cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Eunsung Backdadagi) grown in a closed substrate culture system. The amount of nutrient solution absorbed increased in proportion to days from planting at the first stage of growth and depended on the level of radiation after the mid stage of growth. After the mid growth stage, the amount of nutrient solution absorption was maintained at 80-100 mg.MJ$^{-1}$ . Total amount of absorbed inorganic ions except S increased since the nutrient solution absorption increased with the level of radiation, although the absorption rate of each inorganic ion declined. A highly significant correlation ($R^2$>0.9) was found between amount of inorganic ions absorbed and days after planting, LAI, total dry weight and leaf dry weight, but not with CGR. Correlation coefficient between days after planting and the amount of nutrient solution absorbed per unit radiation level was 0.92. Correlation coefficient between leaf area an the amount of nutrient solution absorbed per unit radiation level was 0.97. Regression of the amount of nutrient solution absorbed per unit radiation level and nutrient ions uptake showed a high significance ($R^2$>0.9).