Fluorescence spectrometric analysis for diagnosing compositional variations in effluent organic matter by chlorination and ozonation.

Analyzing the reactivity of organic matter to oxidants such as chlorination and ozonation is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of water treatment systems and their potential impacts on environmental safety and human health. This study explored the changes in organic substances, specifically bovine serum albumin (BSA), humic acid sodium salt (HA), and effluent organic matter (EfOM) from a wastewater treatment facility during chlorination and ozonation. Four spectrometric techniques were employed: ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UVA), fluorescent excitation-emission matrix (EEM), synchronous fluorescence two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (SF-2DCOS), and EEM-parallel factor integrated 2DCOS (EEM-PARAFAC-2DCOS).

Long-Term Aspirin vs Clopidogrel After Coronary Stenting by Bleeding Risk and Procedural Complexity.

Importance: Antiplatelet monotherapy in the chronic maintenance period for patients with high bleeding risk (HBR) and those who have undergone complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not yet been explored.

Objective: To compare clopidogrel vs aspirin monotherapy in patients with HBR and/or PCI complexity.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This post hoc analysis of the multicenter HOST-EXAM Extended study, an open-label trial conducted across 37 sites in South Korea, enrolled patients from 2014 to 2018 with up to 5.

Distal Radial Access for Coronary Procedures in a Large Prospective Multicenter Registry: The KODRA Trial.

Background: Distal radial access (DRA) as an alternative access route lacks evidence, despite its recent reputation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of DRA on the basis of daily practice.

Methods: The KODRA (Korean Prospective Registry for Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Distal Radial Approach) trial was a prospective multicenter registry conducted at 14 hospitals between September 2019 and September 2021.

Randomized, multicenter, parallel, open, phase 4 study to compare the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin/amlodipine polypill versus atorvastatin/amlodipine polypill in hypertension patient with dyslipidemia.

The authors performed this study to investigate the efficacy and safety of a rosuvastatin (RSV)/amlodipine (AML) polypill compared with those of atorvastatin (ATV)/AML polypill. We included 259 patients from 21 institutions in Korea. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: RSV 10 mg/AML 5 mg, RSV 20 mg/AML 5 mg, or ATV 20 mg /AML 5 mg.

Artificial neural network implementation for dissolved organic carbon quantification using fluorescence intensity as a predictor in wastewater treatment plants.

Although spectroscopic methods provide a fast and cost-effective means of monitoring dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in natural and engineered water systems, the prediction accuracy of these methods is limited by the complex relationship between optical properties and DOC concentration. In this study, we developed DOC prediction models using multiple linear/log-linear regression and feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) and investigated the effectiveness of spectroscopic properties, such as fluorescence intensity and UV absorption at 254 nm (UV), as predictors. Optimum predictors were identified based on correlation analysis to construct models using single and multiple predictors.

Prediction of Extrusion Machine Stem Fatigue Life Using Structural and Fatigue Analysis.

In this study, the characteristics of the SKD61 material used for the stem of an extruder were analyzed through structural analysis, tensile testing, and fatigue testing. The extruder works by pushing a cylindrical billet into a die with a stem to reduce its cross-sectional area and increase its length, and it is currently used to extrude complex and diverse shapes of products in the field of plastic deformation processes. Finite element analysis was used to determine the maximum stress on the stem, which was found to be 1152 MPa, lower than the yield strength of 1325 MPa obtained from tensile testing.

Flocculation kinetics and mechanisms of microalgae- and clay-containing suspensions in different microalgal growth phases.

Interplays between microalgae and clay minerals enhance biologically mediated flocculation, thereby affecting the sedimentation and transportation of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in water and benthic environments. This interaction forms larger flocs with a higher settling velocity and enhances SPM sinking. The aim of this study was to investigate the flocculation kinetics of microalgae and clay in suspension and to elucidate the mechanisms associated with such interactions.

Body Mass Index and Major Adverse Events During Chronic Antiplatelet Monotherapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stents - Results From the HOST-EXAM Trial.

Background: This study evaluated the association of body mass index (BMI) with adverse clinical outcomes during chronic maintenance antiplatelet monotherapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods and results: Overall, 5,112 patients were stratified (in kg/m) into underweight (BMI ≤18.4), normal weight (18.

Desalination Technology in South Korea: A Comprehensive Review of Technology Trends and Future Outlook.

Due to advances in desalination technology, desalination has been considered as a practical method to meet the increasing global fresh water demand. This paper explores the status of the desalination industry and research work in South Korea. Desalination plant designs, statistics, and the roadmap for desalination research were analyzed.

Safety and usefulness of a novel short track sliding balloon catheter.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and technical utility of the short track sliding (STS) balloon catheter.

Background: An STS balloon catheter is designed to ensure a low profile at the shaft and perform distal anchoring using a single guidewire. However, its clinical practice with the STS balloon catheter has not been reported.

Facile Surface Modification of Polyamide Membranes Using UV-Photooxidation Improves Permeability and Reduces Natural Organic Matter Fouling.

A new optimized ultraviolet (UV) technique induced a photooxidation surface modification on thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) membranes that improved membrane performance (i.e., permeability and organic fouling propensity).

Study on Effect of Shapes of Serration of Joining Plane on Joining Characteristics for the Aluminum-Steel Multi-Materials Press Joining Process.

Recently, mechanical joining processes have received much attention for joining multi-materials. In particular, these processes have a great demand in the automobile industry for weight reduction. The press-fitting process is a representative mechanical joining process.

Performance Comparison of Spiral-Wound and Plate-and-Frame Forward Osmosis Membrane Module.

We compared two representative forward osmosis (FO) modules-spiral-wound (SW) and plate-and-frame (PF)-to provide practical information for the selection of FO element for a large-scale FO process. The FO operating performance of commercially available SW FO and PF FO was explored under different membrane area and flow rate conditions. The performance trend as a function of the membrane was obtained by adjusting the number of serially connected elements.

Occupational radiation exposure in femoral artery approach is higher than radial artery approach during coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention.

Medical radiation exposure is a significant concern for interventional cardiologists (IC). This study was aimed at estimating the radiation exposure of IC operators and assistants in real clinical practice. The radiation exposure of the operator and assistant was evaluated by conducting two types of procedures via coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on 1090 patients in 11-cardiovascular centers in Korea.

Exploring the Operation Factors that Influence Performance of a Spiral-Wound Forward Osmosis Membrane Process for Scale-up Design.

Forward osmosis (FO) technology has increasingly attracted attention owing to its low operational energy and low fouling propensity. Despite extensive investigations on FO, very few module-scale FO studies on the operation and design of the FO process have been conducted. In this paper, a simple and practical FO process design parameter called normalized membrane area is suggested based on a performance analysis of spiral-wound FO elements.

Prediction of Effective Strain Distribution in Two-Pass Drawn Wire.

In the multi-pass wire drawing process, the diameter of a wire is decreased by continuously passing it through progressively smaller drawing dies. Although the deformation depends on the process variables, in most wire drawing processes, the wire deformation is concentrated on the surface by its direct contact with the drawing dies, causing a nonlinear distribution of radial direction effective strain from the center to the surface. In this study, a new model for predicting this effective strain in two-pass drawn wire was derived based on the upper bound method, and a finite element analysis and drawing experiment were conducted to validate its effectiveness.

Fabrication of 50.0 μm Ultra-Fine Pure Rhodium Wire, Using a Multi-Pass Wire Drawing Process, for Probe Card Pins.

Rhodium is a rare material that is widely used in electrical and electronic components due to its excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Ultra-fine rhodium wires in particular are widely used in electronic components. In this study, a multi-pass wire drawing process was designed to fabricate ultra-fine pure rhodium wire with a diameter of 50.

Si Nanoparticles Coated with Co-Containing N-Doped Carbon: Preparation and Characterization as Li-Ion Battery Anode Materials.

Si nanoparticles uniformly coated with Co-containing N-doped carbon were investigated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. The Si nanoparticle surfaces were modified with conductive and matrix, N-doped carbon and cobalt element and prepared by a simple pyrolysis process using an ionic liquid that contained nitrogen with metal complex. After a simple annealing process, the N-doped carbon containing cobalt element was uniformly coated onto the Si nanoparticles.

Development of a Multi-Pass Drawing Process Design System for Steel Profiles.

The process design of a multi-pass steel profile drawing depends mainly on the experience of the industrial experts. Therefore, in the actual industrial field, a systematic design method is required to improve the efficiency of process design. Development of such a method will result in a reduction in production cost and time.

Evaluation of fouling in nanofiltration for desalination using a resistance-in-series model and optical coherence tomography.

Resistance-in-series models have been applied to investigate fouling behavior. However, it is difficult to model the influence of morphology on fouling behavior because resistance is indirectly calculated from the water flux and transmembrane pressure. In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was applied to evaluate the resistance of the fouling layer based on fouling morphology.

Sorption of pharmaceuticals to soil organic matter in a constructed wetland by electrostatic interaction.

There is a growing interest in the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater because pharmaceuticals have potential ecotoxicological effects. Among several removal mechanisms, the sorption of pharmaceuticals to sediment organic matter is an important mechanism related to the mobility of pharmaceuticals. This study investigated the sorption of pharmaceuticals to soil organic matter (SOM) by electrostatic interactions.

Detection and Sizing of Ti-Containing Particles in Recreational Waters Using Single Particle ICP-MS.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) was used to detect Ti-containing particles in heavily-used bathing areas of a river (Salt River) and five swimming pools. Ti-containing particle concentrations in swimming pools ranged from 2.8 × 10 to 4.

Safety of the Up-titration of Nifedipine GITS and Valsartan or Low-dose Combination in Uncontrolled Hypertension: the FOCUS Study.

Purpose: Doubling the dose of antihypertensive drugs is necessary to manage hypertension in patients whose disease is uncontrolled. However, this strategy can result in safety issues. This study compared the safety and efficacy of up-titration of the nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) with up-titration of valsartan monotherapy; these were also compared with low-dose combinations of the two therapies.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of the Lercanidipine/Valsartan Combination in Korean Patients With Essential Hypertension Not Adequately Controlled With Lercanidipine Monotherapy: A Randomized, Multicenter, Parallel Design, Phase III Clinical Trial.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the lercanidipine/valsartan combination compared with lercanidipine monotherapy in patients with hypertension.

Methods: Part 1 of this study was the randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel group, Phase III, 8-week clinical trial to compare superiority of lercanidipine 10 mg/valsartan 80 mg (L10/V80) and lercanidipine 10 mg/valsartan 160 mg (L10/V160) combinations with lercanidipine 10 mg (L10) monotherapy. At screening, hypertensive patients, whose diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was >90 mm Hg after 4 weeks with L10, were randomized to 3 groups of L10, L10/V80, and L10/V160.

Characterization, Recovery Opportunities, and Valuation of Metals in Municipal Sludges from U.S. Wastewater Treatment Plants Nationwide.

U.S. sewage sludges were analyzed for 58 regulated and nonregulated elements by ICP-MS and electron microscopy to explore opportunities for removal and recovery.