• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2005

Many compounds might become activated after absorption of UV light energy. In some cases, the resulting molecule may undergo further biological reaction of toxicological relevance related especially to the photo-carcinogenicity resulting from photo-genotoxicity. However, no regulatory requirements have been issued with the exception of guideline issued by the Scientific Committee of Cosmetology, Commission of the European Communities (SCC/EEC) on the testing of sunscreens for their photo-genotoxicity. Thus, the objectives of this study are to investigate the utility of photo-Ames assay for detecting photo-mutagens, and to evaluate its ability to predict rodent photo-carcinogenicity. Photo-Ames assay was performed on five test substances that demonstrated positive results in photo-carcinogenicity tests: 8-methoxypsoralen (photoactive substance that forms DNA adducts in the presence of ultraviolet A irradiation), chlorpromazine (an aliphatic phenothiazine an a-adr-energic blocking agent), lomefloxacin (an antibiotic in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones), anthracene (a tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon a basic substance for production of anthraquinone, dyes, pigments, insecticides, wood preservatives and coating materials) and retinoic acid (a retinoid compound closely related to vitamin A). Out of 5 test substances, 3 showed a positive outcome in photo-Ames assay. With this limited data set, an investigation into the predictive value of this photo-Ames test for determining the photo-carcinogenicity showed that photo-Ames assay has relatively low sensitivity (the ability of a test to predict carcinogenicity). Thus, to determine the use of in vitro genotoxicity tests for prediction of carcinogenicity,' several standard photo-genotoxicity assays should be compared for their suitability in detecting photo-genotoxic compounds.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2009

In presence of a polymer, the crystallization of low MW organic materials can be stopped at an intermediary step, where mesocrystals can be identified. A mesocrystal is defined as a superstructure of nanoparticles having polymer-adsorbed crystal faces on the scale of several hundred nanometers to micrometers. This study examined the effects of water soluble polymers and relevant parameters on the formation of guanosine-5'-monophosphate mesocrystals. It was observed in OM and SEM that GMP obtained in a polymer solution had a unique particle morphology different from the typical one of GMP. XRD analysis indicated that the polymer-directed crystallized GMP had a different polymorph of GMP. This result shows that the crystal structure of GMP can be changed by polymers. It was observed in TGA analysis that the polymer-directed crystallized GMP had a different water content, indicating a different type of hydrate.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.143-157
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• 2021

Expansive soil is the most predominant geologic hazard which shows a large amount of shrinkage and swelling with changes in their moisture content. This study investigates the macro-mechanical and micro-structural behaviours of dredged natural expansive clay from coal mining treated with ordinary Portland cement or hydrated lime addition. The stabilised expansive soil aims for possible reuse as pavement materials. Mechanical testing determined geotechnical engineering properties, including free swelling potential, California bearing ratio, unconfined compressive strength, resilient modulus, and shear wave velocity. The microstructures of treated soils are observed by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive spectroscopy to understand the behaviour of the expansive clay blended with cement and lime. Test results confirmed that cement and lime are effective agents for improving the swelling behaviour and other engineering properties of natural expansive clay. In general, chemical treatments reduce the swelling and increase the strength and modulus of expansive clay, subjected to chemical content and curing time. Scanning electron microscopy analysis can observe the increase in formation of particle clusters with curing period, and x-ray diffraction patterns display hydration and pozzolanic products from chemical particles. The correlations of mechanical properties and microstructures for chemical stabilised expansive clay are recommended.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.139-153
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• 2021

Background: In anesthetic techniques, touching bones can cause needle bending. Theoretically, a needle should support such deflection without fracturing. However, it is possible that a needle may fracture depending on the quality and type of needle used. This study evaluated the physical, chemical, and micromorphological characteristics of long and short dental anesthetic needles, as well as the mechanical properties of flexural load and bending resistance when needles are subjected to different bending angles. Methods: Long and short needles (30G, Jets, Misawa, Selekto, Terumo, Unoject and 27G, Dencojet, Injex, Jets, Misawa, Procare, Setoject XL, Terumo) were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the needle bevels and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used for the chemical analysis of needle compositions. Flexural loading and bending strength assessments were performed using a universal testing machine by bending the needles (n = 5) to angles of 30°, 60°, or 90°, or until fracture occurred. Results: The Injex 27G, Jets 27G, and Septoject XL 27G needles were all less than 30 mm in length. There were small percentage variations in the chemical compositions of the needles. Superior smoothness was observed for the Unoject 30G needle, which exhibited the highest fracture resistance at 60°. The Jets 30G needle exhibited greater resistance to fractures at 90°. The Procare 27G needle exhibited the highest load resistance to bending, followed by the Septoject XL 27G needle, and both needles were tied for the lowest fracture resistance. No needle fractured when bent to 30° or at less than three bends to 60° or 90°. Conclusions: Greater needle resistance to bending increases the probability of early fracturing. Thinner and shorter needles are more resistant than longer and thicker needles. Performing a single bend does not result in any significant risk of fracture or obliterate the lumen, allowing for the continued passage of anesthetic liquid.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.340-349
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• 2022

Objectives: The importance of MSDS is emphasized for communicating hazardous information due to the increase in the types and usage of chemical substances. The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability of MSDS by collecting and examining paint thinners commercially available in South Korea. Methods: Twenty-five paint thinners were purchased at paint stores and the provision of MSDS was checked. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed on the chemical constituents of the thinners using GC-MSD and GC-FID. Reliability was evaluated by the MSDS collection rate for the paint thinners and calculating the rate of matching between laboratory analysis results and the contents and composition of chemical constituents given in the MSDS. Results: Unlike a study conducted in 2006, MSDS were provided for all 25 thinners. As a result of qualitative analysis using GC-MSD, 104 chemical substances were detected. The substances with the highest detection rate were identified in the order of toluene, butyl acetate, acetone, xylene, and ethyl benzene. A component matching rate of 41% was found by comparing the differences between the number of substances detected in laboratory testing and the number of substances listed in the MSDS. Benzene, a carcinogen not listed in the MSDS, was detected in two thinners produced by a small company. The detected benzene contents were 0.039 and 0.040%. When benzene is used, it should be strictly handled according to the Industrial Safety and Health Act. However, since it is not listed on the MSDS, it is judged that benzene was not being managed as a carcinogen in the workplaces where it is used. Conclusions: Since the reliability of MSDS, which play an important role in hazard communication, was evaluated to be low, it is necessary to systematically and continuously secure this reliability. In particular, carcinogens should be managed more strictly.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.183-194
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• 2022

Background: No study has examined the regulatory factors associated with fatal health problems due to the use of humidified disinfectants (HD) in South Korea. Objectives: This study aimed to identify and discuss the deficiencies and limitations found in the Toxic Chemical Control Acts (TCCA) that failed to prevent the health risk of chemicals in HD products. Methods: The South Korean TCCA was reviewed focusing on acts in operation from 1994 through the end of 2011, the period when HD was allowed in manufacturing and marketing. Results: The TCCA was the act intended to regulate the toxicity of chemicals in HD products. We found the TCCA to lack three key legal clauses which would have been essential to controlling the health risk of HD. First, there was the exemption of toxic and hazard testing for existing chemicals, including chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT), methylisothiazolinone (MIT), and benzalkonium chloride (BKC). Secondly, there were no articles requiring industry to provide animal inhalation test result for polymers such as polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) and Oligo(2-)ethoxyethoxyethyl guanidine chloride (PGH). Finally, there was a lack of articles on examining the risk of products as well as on addressing changes in the usage of products. These articles were found to be generally provided in the US Toxic Substance Chemical Act (TSCA) and the EU Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH). Conclusions: In conclusion, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea had not updated key articles for regulating hazardous chemicals, causing large-scale health problems due to HD which had been fundamentally addressed in chemical-related acts in other countries.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.396-407
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• 2023

The golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) has been utilized as a natural and eco-friendly control of weeds in rice paddy fields. However, P. canaliculata can damage other crops. In this study, the effectiveness of plant extracts from various natural sources that are reportedly effective against pests in the control of P. canaliculata was investigated. The four plant extracts were effective against P. canaliculata and ranked in descending order as green tea seed (Camellia sinensis) > root of red spider lily (Lycoris radiata) > leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) > root of sophora (Sophora flavescens). The mortality rate of P. canaliculata was increased using 200 to 2000 mg/kg of green tea seed powder. However, shrubby sophora root extract did not significantly increase the mortality rate. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ of green tea seed, tobacco leaves, shrubby sophora root, and red spider lily root were 900 and 2800 mg/L, 956 and 2320 mg/L, 2162 and 5325 mg/L, and 512 and 1054 mg/kg, respectively. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ of ground powder of C. sinensis, N. tabacum, S. flavescens and L. radiata were 248 and 646 mg/L, 403 and 733 mg/L, 409 and 905 mg/L, and 493 and 1141 mg/L, respectively. The findings indicate the remarkable control potency of green tea seeds against the golden apple snail. An organic material incorporating the four plant powders may help control green apple snail in an ecosystem-friendly manner.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2024

Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic that can be produced from renewable material to create various components for industrial purposes. In 3D printing technology, PLA is used due to its good mechanical, electrical, printing properties, environmentally friendly and non-toxic properties. However, the physical properties and excellent electrical insulation properties of PLA have limited its application. In this study, with the carbon black (CB) as filler added into PLA, the lattice spacing and morphology were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The physical properties of PLA-carbon composite were evaluated by using tensile test, shore D hardness test and density and voids measurement. Impedance test was conducted to investigate the electrical properties of PLA-Carbon composites. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of carbon black as filler enhances the physical properties of the PLA-carbon composites, including tensile properties, hardness, and density. The addition of carbon black also leads to improved electrical conductivity of the composites. Better enhancement toward the electrical properties of PLA-carbon composites is observed with 1wt% of carbon black in N774 grade. The N550 grade with 2wt% of carbon black shows better improvement in the physical properties of PLA-carbon composites, achieving 10.686 MPa in tensile testing, 43.330 in shore D hardness test, and a density of 1.200 g/cm3 in density measurement. The findings suggest that PLA-carbon composites have the potential for enhanced performance in various industrial applications, particularly in sectors requiring improved physical and electrical properties.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2017

Epoxy resins are widely used in various fields due to their excellent thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. In order to improve the mechanical properties of the epoxy composition after curing, various materials are mixed in the epoxy resin. Among the nano materials, CNT is the most widely used. However, CNT has limitations in terms of manufacturing process and manufacturing cost. Therefore, there is a growing interest in naturally occurring HNTs having similar structure to that of CNT. In this study, the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy compositions containing HNTs treated with two types of silane compounds were investigated. The mechanical properties of silane-treated HNT were measured by using a universal testing machine. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) were used to measure thermal properties. As a result of the above tests, when the HNT was surface-treated with aminosilane, the tensile strength of the epoxy composition containing the HNT was higher than that of the epoxy composition containing epoxy silane treated HNT. The linear thermal expansion coefficients (CTE) obtained from the thermomechanical analysis of the two epoxy compositions for the comparison of dimensional stability showed that the HNT composition treated with aminosilane showed a lower value of CTE than that of epoxy composition including the pristine HNT.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.153-170
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• 1977

Considering the ways for the possible improvement of soil test for upland crops, various methods for the evaluation of K supplying power and testing of available soil K were reviewed in terms of theoretical principles and practical usefulness of the each method. The review was also made on the characteristics of upland crops in K requirement and on the chemical properties of major korean upland and lowland rice soils in terms of K availability. Following is the few remarks drawn from the review. 1. Quite large number of methods have been known for the evaluation of K supplying power and testing for available soil K. In nature, they can be divided into two categories; capacity-based methods and intensity-based methcds. The capacity-based methods usually measure the exchangeable and some portion of nonexchangeable K, while the intensity-based methods suggest to consider the ractivity ratios of major cations in soil solution and the energy requirement for the replacement of exchangeable soil K into soil solution. 2. As methodology for extraction of interested part of soil K, chemical extraction, electrodialysis and ion exchange methods have been known. Among these, chemical extract ion is favorable because of its simplicity. However, recently suggested Electro-Ultra-Filtration method seems to merit further study for wider use for not only K but also other nutrient availability of soils. 3. The intensity-based methods, although they are more theoretical, because of their complexity, in methods may not be adapted for practical soil tests. 4. The exchangeable K which is rather simple to measure and which well reflects the status of K reserve as nonexchangeable and is immediate pool of water soluble K may be good, if not best, criterion of soil K availability to plant in common soil testing. 5. Because there are evidences that the abundance of available K alone may not be good inclication for availability of K to plant, it is recommendable to interprete the exchangeable K data as percent saturation of exchangeable K to total C. E. C. of soil for the recommend ation of K fertilizer based on soil tests. 6. Some pot and field trial results showed the trends that percent potassium saturation to total C. E. C. better serve as the parameter for K fertilizer recommendation.