• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.510-518
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• 2005

In this study, we investigated whether PLGA microspheres in combination with hyaluronic acid (HA) gel have appropriate properties as a bulking agent for urologic injection therapies and whether the implantation of PLGA microspheres and HA gel induces angiogenesis in the newly formed tissues. In order to investigate whether this bulking agent is injectable, this material was injected through 24-gauge needles into the subcutaneous dorsum of the mouse. The bulking agent was easily injected without needle obstruction. Histological analyses of the hybrid tissues at 2 weeks showed that host cells at the surrounding tissues migrated into the spaces between the implanted PLGA microspheres and formed tissue-like structures. An inflammatory response to the implants was mild at 2 weeks and diminished at 8 weeks. Importantly, extensive ingrowth of blood vessels was observed in the hybrid tissues formed by the injection of PLGA microspheres and HA, whereas blood vessels rarely formed in the hybrid tissues formed by the injection of PLGA microspheres only. The implant volume was conserved for almost the entire implantation period. Histological analyses of the distant organs of the bulking agent-implanted animals, such as the lungs, liver, heart, brain, kidney, and spleen, showed no evidence of the injected microsphere migration. These results show that PLGA microspheres in combination with HA possess the appropriate characteristics for a bulking agent for urologic injection therapies and induce extensive blood vessel formation in the hybrid tissues.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.759-770
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• 1998

biotic indices scoring with the benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed as pollution monitoring tools in the north branch of the Han River system, Korea. We investigated the temporal variability of water quality at unpolluted, moderately polluted and heavily polluted sites using several biotic indices and assessed appropriate biological monitoring indices for lotic systems in Korea. The following biotic and chemical indices were employed in order to compare their applicability to the lotic systems : Trent Biotic Index (TBI), Chandler's Biotic Index-Average Score per Taxon (CBI-ASPT), Modified Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System-Average Score per Taxon (BMWP-ASPT), Hilsenhoff's biotic Index (BI) and Family-level Biotic Index (FBI) models for biotic analyses and National Sanitation foundation's Water Quality Index (NSFWQI) and comprehensive Chemical Pollution Index (Pb/n) for chemical analyses of water quality. Index and score values were compared with each other and with 24 water chemistry parameters. All biotic indices were significantly auto-correlated (p<0.001) and BI and FBI/ROK among them were highly correlated (r=0.84). BI and BMWP-ASPT models were also highly correlated with NSFWQI, while TBI values showed high correlation with the Pb/n. The BI and BMWP-ASPT were highly correlated with the most water chemistry parameters. We conclude that the BI model, which includes indicator species and abundance of taxa, is best suited for the bioassessment of lotic systems in Korea. For rapid field-based assessments, FBI/ROK and BMWP-ASPT models are also appropriate.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.188-203
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• 2021

The specific benefits of the modified films formed on preliminary anodized aluminum, including the versatility of their potential applications impose the need for evaluation of the exploitation reliability of these films. In this aspect, the durability of Cu and Ni modified anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) films on the low-doped AA1050 alloy was assessed through extended exposure to a 3.5% NaCl model corrosive medium. The electrochemical measurements by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic scanning (PDS) after 24 and 720 hours of exposure have revealed that the obtained films do not change their obvious barrier properties. In addition, supplemental analyses of the coatings were performed, in order to elucidate the impact of the AC-deposition of Cu and Ni inside the pores. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images have shown that the surface topology is not affected and resembles the typical surface of an etched metal. The subsequent energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) tests have revealed a predominance of Cu in the combined AAO-Cu/Ni layers, whereas additional X-ray photoelectron (XPS) analyses showed that both metals form oxides with different oxidation states due to alterations in the deposition conditions, promoted by the application of AC-polarization of the samples.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.28.1-28.12
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• 2022

Objectives: Metalloproteinase-inhibiting agents, such as chitosan, can prevent collagen degradation in demineralized dental substrates, thereby improving the adhesive interface. This study evaluated the bond strength (BS) and chemical and morphological characterization of the adhesive interface after applying chitosan solution to demineralized dentin. Materials and Methods: The 80 third molars were selected. Forty teeth underwent caries induction using the pH cycling method. The teeth were divided according to the treatment: distilled water (control) and 2.5% chitosan solution. The surfaces were restored using adhesive and composite resins. Half of the specimens in each group were aged, and the other half underwent immediate analyses. The teeth were sectioned and underwent the microtensile bond strength test (µTBS), and chemical and morphological analyses using energy-dispersive spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Data analysis was performed using 3-way analysis of variance. Results: For µTBS, sound dentin was superior to demineralized dentin (p < 0.001), chitosan-treated specimens had higher bond strength than the untreated ones (p < 0.001), and those that underwent immediate analysis had higher values than the aged specimens (p = 0.019). No significant differences were observed in the chemical or morphological compositions. Conclusions: Chitosan treatment improved bond strength both immediately and after aging, even in demineralized dentin.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1989.06a
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• pp.83-86
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• 1989

Lead titanate thin films with a perovskite structure were successfully structure were successfully fabricated on titanium substrate by Chemical Vapour Deposition(CVD). Analyses of Auger Electron Spectroscopy(AES) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) have been performed in order to find a chemical composition of lead titanate films. The analysis of chemical composition by AES and XPS was investigated for variations of deposition temperature and Ti(C$_2$H$_{5}$O)$_4$ fractions. The chemical composition of PbTiO$_3$by XPS analysis was almost constant regardless of deposition parameters and the comparison of chemical composition by AES and XPS was performed.d.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.343-347
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• 2009

In this study, the surface of inorganic fine powders is hybridized with nanovesicles containing tocopheryl acetate prepared with hydrogenated lecithin via a coating process. From AFM and SEM analyses it is found that the surface of the nanovesicle-coated fine powders lost their traditional topology and improved in terms of their roughness, skewness, and kurtosis. In addition, TEM observations revealed the formation of a 5 nm thick coating layer on the surface of the fine powders. These hybridized powders, in which bioactive materials such as tocopheryl acetate can be embedded, can be employed as a part of a drug delivery system due to their special ability to control release rate and temperature selectivity. Physical properties of the powders, i.e., the different angle and friction coefficient, were excellent.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.455-466
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• 2021

Micro and nanoparticles of Finasteride were prepared by gas-antisolvent method. The influence of process parameters such as pressure (100, 130 and 160 bar), temperature (308, 318 and 328 K) and solute concentrations (10, 25 and 40 mg/ml) on mean particle size was studied by Box-Behnken design. As ANOVA results indicated, the highest influence in production of smaller particles was attributed to the pressure. Optimum condition leading to the smallest particle size was as follows: initial solute concentration, 10 mg/ml; temperature, 308 K and pressure, 160 bar. The particles were evaluated with FTIR, SEM, DLS, XRD as well as DSC. The analyses revealed a size decrease in the precipitated Finasteride particles (232.4 nm, on mean) via gas-antisolvent method, as compared to the original particles (55.6 ㎛).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.463-471
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• 2023

Nitrogen-rich carbon dots (NDots) were synthesized by using uric acid as carbon and nitrogen sources. The as-synthesized NDots showed strong dual emissions at 420 nm and 510 nm with excitation at 350 nm and 460 nm, respectively. The physicochemical analyses such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze the chemical, physical and morphological structures of NDots. The as-synthesized NDots exhibited wide linear range (0-100 µM) and very low detection limit (124 nM) in Ag⁺ ion sensing. In addition, Ag⁺ saturated NDots could be used as an EDTA sensor by the EDTA induced PL recovery.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.217-232
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• 2017

An Eulerian-Lagrangian hybrid modeling system to analyze physical and chemical processes during the transport of air parcels was developed. The Backward-tracking Model Analyzer (BMA) was designed to take advantages of both Eulerian and Lagrangian modeling approaches. Simulated trajectories from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration HYSPLIT model were combined with the US Environmental Protection Agency Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ)-simulated concentrations and additional diagnostic analyses. In this study, we first introduced a generalized methodology to seamlessly match polylines (HYSPLIT) and threedimensional polygons (CMAQ), which enables mass-conservative analyses of physio-chemical processes of transporting air parcels. Two applications of the BMA were conducted: (1) a long-range transport case of pollutant plume across the Yellow Sea using CMAQ Integrated Process Rate analyses, and (2) a domestic circulation of pollutants within (and near) the South Korea based on the sulfate tracking analyzer. The first episode demonstrated a secondary formation of nitrate and ammonium during the transport over the Yellow Sea while sulfate is mostly transported after being formed over the China, and the second episode demonstrated a dominant impact of boundary condition with active sulfate formation from gas-phase oxidation near the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2005

Bioassay using the marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri and rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and chemical analyses were conducted to assess the toxicity of the various sewage sludges, one of the major ocean dumped materials in the Yellow Sea of Korea. Sludge elutriates extracted by filtered seawater were used to estimate the ecotoxicity of the sludge. Chemical characterization included the analyses of organic contents, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants in sludge. Bacterial bioluminescent inhibition (15 min), rotifer mortality (24 hr) and rotifer population growth inhibition (48 hr) assay were conducted to estimate the sludge toxicity. EC50 15 min (inhibition concentration of bioluminescence after 15 minutes exposed) values by Microtox(R) bioassay clearly revealed different toxicity levels depending on the sludge sources. Highest toxicity for the bacteria was found with the sludge extract from dyeing waste and followed by industrial waste, livestock waste, and leather processing waste. Clear toxic effects on the bacteria were not found in the sludge extract from filtration bed sludge and rural sewage sludge. Consistent with Microtox(R) results, rotifer neonate mortality and population growth inhibition test also showed highest toxicity in dyeing waste and low in filtration bed and rural sewage sludge. High concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals were measured in the samples from the industrial wastes, leather processing plant waste sludge, and urban sewage sludge. However, there was no significant correlation between pollutant concentration levels and the toxicity values of the sludge. This suggests that the ecotoxicity in addition to the chemical analyses of various sludge samples must be estimated before release of potential harmful waste in the natural environment as part of an ecological risk assessment.