• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2004

Benzoyl peroxide is a High Production Volume Chemical, which is produced about 1,371 tons/year in Korea as of 2001 survey. The substance is mainly used as initiators in polymerization, catalysts in the plastics industry, bleaching agents for flour and medication for acne vulgaris. In this study, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) are used for getting adequate information on the physical -chemical properties of this chemical. And hydrolysis in water, acute toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial organisms for benzoyl peroxide were studied. The physical -chemical properties of benzoyl peroxide were estimated as followed; vapor pressure=0.00929 Pa, Log $K_{ow}$ = 3.43, Henry's Law constant=3.54${\times}$10$^{-6}$ atm-㎥/mole at $25^{\circ}C$, the half-life of photodegradation=3 days and bioconcentration factor (BCF)=92. Hydrolysis half-life of benzoyl peroxide in water was 5.2 hr at pH 7 at $25^{\circ}C$ and according to the structure of this substance hydrolysis product was expected to benzoic acid. Benzoyl peroxide has toxic effects on the aquatic organisms. 72 hr-Er $C_{50}$ (growth rate) for algae was 0.44 mg/1.,48 hr-E $C_{50}$ for daphnia was 0.07mg/L and the 96hr-L $C_{50}$ of acute toxicity to fish was 0.24mg/L. Acute toxicity to terrestrial organisms (earth worm) of benzoyl peroxide was low (14 day-L $C_{50}$ = > 1,000 mg/kg). Although benzoyl peroxide is high toxic to aquatic organisms, the substance if not bioaccumulated because of the rapid removal by hydrolysis (half-life=5.2 hr at pH 7 at $25^{\circ}C$) and biodegradation (83% by BOD after 21 days). The toxicity observed is assumed to be due to benzoyl peroxide rather than benzoic acid, which shows much lower toxicity to aquatic organisms. One can assume that effects occur before hydrolysis takes place. From the acute toxicity value of algae, daphnia and fish, an assessment factor of 100 was used to determine the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC). The PNEC was calculated to be 0.7$\mu\textrm{g}$/L based on the 48 hr-E $C_{50}$ daphnia (0.07 mg/L). The substance shows high acute toxicity to aquatic organisms and some information indicates wide-dispersive ore of this substance. So this substance is, a candidate for further work, even if it hydrolysis rapidly and has a low bioaccumulation potential. This could lead to local concern for the aquatic environment and therefore environmental exposure assessment is recommended.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2012

Vitex trifolia L. is a full grown fruit of Vitex rotundifolia L. (Verbenaceae). It has been used for treating headache, dizziness, toothache and removal of fever as a traditional medicine in Korea. V. trifolia (500 g) were extracted three times with 80% aqueous MeOH at room temperature. The MeOH extract (38 g) was successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH and $H_2O$. Both n-hexane and EtOAc fractions showed more than 80% antifungal activity in vivo against several plant pathogens at 2000 ppm. Successive repeated silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, preparative TLC, and preparative HPLC of these fractions led to isolation of three compounds. Using mainly mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnatic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, their chemical structures were determined as agnuside(1), chrysosplenol B(2), and artemetin(3). Compound 2 was isolated for the first time from V. trifolia. Study on in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the isolated compounds is in progress.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.432-436
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• 2009

Purpose: Negative pressure therapy has been used in various conditions to promote wound healing. It has also been used to secure a skin graft by improving microcirculation and improving tight adhesion between the graft and the recipient bed. To reduce post burn scar contracture and improve aesthetical result, many types of dermal substitutes have been invented and used widely. The goal of this study was evaluate usefulness of the VAC (Kinetic concepts Inc., San Antonio, TX) in improving the take rate and time to incorporation of Integra$^{(R)}$ in reconstruction of burn scar contracture. Methods: A retrospective study was performed from October, 2006 to December, 2008. The VAC was utilized for 11 patients. The average patient's age was 19.7 years (range 5 - 27) and average surface area was $785cm^2$ (range 24 - 1600). The burn scars were excised deep into normal subcutaneous tissue to achieve complete release of the scar, Integra$^{(R)}$ was sutured in place with skin staple와 Steri - strip$^{(R)}$. Then slit incisions were made on silicone sheet only with No.11 blade for effective drainage. The VAC was used as a bolster dressing over Integra$^{(R)}$. Negative - Pressure ranging from 100 to 125 mm Hg was applied to black polyurethane foam sponge trimmed to the appropriate wound size. An occlusive seal over the black polyurethane foam sponge was maintained by a combination of the occlusive dressing, OP - site$^{(R)}$. The VAC dressing changes were performed every 3 or 4 days until adequate incorporation was obtained. The neodermis appeared slightly yellow to orange color. When the Integra$^{(R)}$ deemed clinically incorporated, The VAC was removed and take was estimated with visual inspection. Very thin STSG(0.006 ~ 0.008 inches) was performed after silicone sheet removal. Result: The mean time for clinically assessed incorporation of Integra$^{(R)}$ was 10.00 days (range 9 - 12). The mean dressing change was 3.5 times until take was obtained. In All patients, Integra$^{(R)}$ had successful incorporation in tissue without serious complications. Conclusion: Integra$^{(R)}$ in combination with Vacuum - Assisted Closure(VAC) may be incorporated earlier than conventional dressing method.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.512-515
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• 2009

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis(NF) is an autosomal - dominant systemic disease. Up to fifty percent of patients with NF are reported to have concomitant vascular abnormalities. In the resection of a larger NF, the risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage is much higher due to the difficulty of hemostasis of large vessels within the tumor. We ligated the base of the giant NF with a simple loop - shaped ligation before removal of the giant NF in both buttocks. And then we could successfully reduce the amount of hemorrhage during the operation. Methods: A 46 - year - old female patient presented for giant masses of both gluteal area, which has been growing slowly for the last ten years. Each mass was about $30{\times}20cm$ in size. After designing the elliptical resection margin, we tightened the tumor base by using continuous loop - shaped suture ligation(weaving the thread up and down in a loop - shaped pattern, leaving a space of 2 cm between each loop) with a straight needle and prolene 2 - 0. After skin incision, we proceeded the dissection toward the central and inferior side of the mass obliquely while we avoided breaking large vascular sinuses. We resected the tumor in a wedged - shape. Subcutaneous tissue was sutured layer by layer and skin was closed by vertical mattress and interrupted suture. The loop - shaped ligation of the base was removed and compressive dressing was done with gauzes and elastic bandages. Results: Postoperative complications such as infection, hemorrhage, hematoma, and dehiscense did not occur. Perioperatively the patient was sufficiently transfused with five units of blood and two units of fresh frozen plasma. During the subsequent 1 year follow - up, the functional and cosmetic result was excellent. Conclusion: A continuous loop - shaped suture ligation procedure along the base of the giant NF effectively reduced the amount of hemorrhage during the operation, made dissection and ligation of vessels easily and quickly, and shorten the operating time and postoperative recovery time.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.6 s.59
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• pp.452-461
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• 2005

In a bidirectional tunnel, the accident rate is 1.5 times as high as that of one directional tunnel , the risk of a fire is increased. On fire, there is a problem that the jet fan should not be operated until completion of refuge. To be special, as the great damages occur owing to the expansion of smoke in long tunnels, there is a need to minimize fatality by constructing cross passage and smoke removal system. This study aims at verifying the efficiency of smoke exhaust system through fire propagation simulation as well as scale model test. The results show that completion of escape through emergency exit requires 335 seconds, while addition of smoke exhaust system reduce the escape time to 185 seconds. Also, near the fire source temperature decreased by about $60^{\circ}C$. Without the exhaust system, fire propagation speed was in the range of 0.36 and 0.82 m/s, and it dropped to $0.27\~0.58\;m/s$ with the exhaust system on. Taking into account the escape speed of tunnel users, usually $0.7\~1.0\;m/s$, the emergency exit built every 150m is sufficient for the safe egress. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide fundamental information for the smoke exhaust system in bidirectional tunnels.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.432-439
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• 2009

For more reliable estimation of seismic source, attenuation properties and dynamic ground property, site amplification function should be considered. Among various estimation methods, this study used the Nakamura's method (1989) for estimating site amplification characteristics. This method was originally applied to the surface waves of background noise and therefore there are some limitations in applying to general wave energy. However, recently this method has been extended and applied to the S wave energy successfully. This study applied the method to S wave and Coda wave energy, which is equivalent to the backscattered S wave energy. We used more than 60 observed ground motions from 5 earthquakes which were occurred recently, with magnitude range from 3.6 to 5.1. Each station showed characteristic site amplification property in low-, high- and resonance frequencies. Some of the stations showed as high as 4 times of site amplification in the range of specific frequencies, which may imply abnormal small scale geologic strata below the station or development of various trapped modes in the basin structure. Moreover, removal of site amplification can give us more reliable seismic source and attenuation parameters, addition to the seismic hazard estimation.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 1999

Objective of this research is to obtain fundamental data of carbonized wood wastes for soil condition, de-ordorization, absorption of water, carrier for microbial activity, and purifying agent for water quality of river. The carbonization technique and the properties of carbonized wood wastes(thinned trees) are analyzed. Proximate analysis shows the thinned wood contains 0.22-0.73% ash, 77-80% volatile matter, and 10-14% fixed carbon. The charcoal yield decreases and the shrinkage rate increases as the carbonization temperature and time increase. The charcoal yields of Larix leptolepis, Pinus rigida and Pinus densiflora are high, whereas those of Pinus koraiensis and Quercus variabilis are low. The shrinkage rate by carbonization has same trend as water removal of wood. The specific gravity after the carbonization decreases about 50% comparing to green wood. The charcoal has 0.89-4.08% ash, 6.31-13.79% volatile matter, and 73.9-83.5% fixed carbon. As the carbonization temperature and time increase, pH of charcoal increases. When the carbonization temperature is $400^{\circ}C$, pH is about 7.5. When the temperature is between 600 to $800^{\circ}C$, pH is about 10 with small difference. The water-retention capacity is not affected by the carbonization temperature and time. The water-retention capacity within 24hr is about 2.5 - 3times of sample weight, and the equivalent moisture content becomes 2-10% after 24 hr.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.653-657
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• 2009

Nitrous oxide is a typical greenhouse gas which is produced from various organic or fossil fuel combustion processes as well as chemicals producing plants. $N_2O$ has a global worming potential of 310 times that of $CO_2$ on per molecule basis, and also acts as an ozone depleting material in the stratosphere. However, its removal is not easy for its chemical stability characteristics. Most SCR processes with several effective reducing agents generally require the operation temperature higher than $450^{\circ}C$, and the catalytic conversion becomes decreased significantly when NOx is present in the stream. Present experiments have been performed to obtain basic design data of actual application concerning the effects of $SO_2$ and $NH_3$ on the interim and long term activities of $N_2O$ reduction with CO over the mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalyst derived from a hydrotalcite-like compound precursor. The MMO catalysts used in the experiments, have shown prominent activities displaying full conversions of $N_2O$ near $200^{\circ}C$ when CO is introduced. The presence of $SO_2$ is considered to show no critical behavior as can be met in the $NH_3$ SCR DeNOx systems and the effect of $NH_3$ is considered to play as mere an impurity to share the active sites of the catalysts.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1999

In the past several years phytoremediation, defined as the use of plants for removing contaminants from media such as soils or water, has attracted a great deal of interest as a potentially useful remediation technology We attempted to assess the effectiveness of phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils in a green house. Screening test for selecting an appropriate plant was performed by observing the harmful effects of diesel dosage on the growth of 4 plants. Alfalfa was selected as a potentially useful plant among corn and barnyard grasses due to its high tolerance to the toxicity of diesel in growth. Bioremediation of the artificial diesel-contaminated soil packed in the PVC columns(0.3m in diameter $\times$ 1m in length) with air supplied, alfalfa planted, and alfalfa and air supplied was investigated for 100 days. The results of the column test showed plant effects on enhancing the biodegradation of diesel in the contaminated soils compared to the control column which had no plant. Injecting air to the columns during phytoremediation also showed additional effects on the removal rate of diesel. Comparison of microbial activity in each test column showed a beneficial effect of plants in the soil remediation processes. This results can be explained microbial activity in rhizosphere is a crucial factor for removing diesel.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.61-68
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• 2006

Soil washing techniques coupled with high pressure air jet were applied for diesel-contaminated soils sampled by an underground oil reservoir of which the initial total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) ($2,828{\pm}206\;mg/kg$) exceeded 5 times of current standard level (500 mg/kg) regulated by the Soil-Environment Conservation Law. Through several tests, we found that the position of impeller has a critical impact for washing efficiencies. The highest washing efficiency was obtained at an oblique angle (30 degree) for the impeller and optimized mixing speed (300 rpm) that could have high shearing forces. Considered economical and feasible aspects, the optimum mixing time was 10 min. Rate constants of TPH removal derived from the first-order equation were not linearly increased as mixing speed increased, indicating that mechanical mixing has some limits to enhance the washing efficiencies. Application of high-pressure air jet in washing process increased the washing efficiency. This increase might be caused by the fact that the surface of micro-air bubbles strongly attached hydrophobic matters of soil particles. As the pressure of air jet increased, the separation efficiencies of TPH-contaminated soil particles increased. In the combined process of high-pressure air jet and mixing by impeller, the optimum mixing speed and air flow-rate were determined to be 60 rpm and $2\;kg/cm^2$, respectively. Consequently, the washing technique coupled with high-pressure air jet could be considered as a feasible application for remediating petroleum-contaminated soils.