To develop customized food products for gastric cancer patients, it is crucial to understand their dietary characteristics and changes in their perception of smell and taste due to their condition. This study conducted in-depth interviews and administered olfactory and gustatory tests on 20 patients with gastric cancer. A control group of 20 healthy, gender and age matched individuals, was included for comparison. Patients reported difficulties in sustaining their appetite, particularly during chemotherapy. This could be attributed to gastrointestinal discomfort and an altered perception of smell and taste. The olfactory test revealed that cancer patients were significantly less sensitive than the control group. Also, a smaller number of participants in the cancer group were reported to have a normal taste function, which enabled them to perceive umami, one of the five basic taste compared to those in the control group. These findings demonstrated that gastric cancer patients experience post-surgical digestive issues, chemotherapy-induced changes in smell and taste, and appetite loss. To improve the quality of life of these patients and the efficacy of the treatment, it is necessary to consider not only their nutritional requirements but also other factors such as appetite loss and discomfort when developing meals specifically for them.

To improve the etch rate of Si3N4 thin film, H2SiF6 is added to increase etching rate by more than two times. SiO3H2 is gradually added to obtain a selectivity of 170: 1 at 600 ppm. Moreover, when SiO3H2 is added, the etching rate of the SiO2 thin film increases in proportion to the radius of the wafer. In Si3N4 thin film, there is no difference in the etching rate according to the position. However, in the SiO2 thin film, the etching rate increases in proportion to the radius. At the center of the wafer, the re-growth phenomenon is confirmed at a specific concentration or above. The difference in etch rates of SiO2 thin films and the reason for regrowth at these positions are interpreted as the result of the flow rate of the chemical solution replaced with fresh solution.

In order to prevent the oxide formation on the surface of nano-size iron particles and thereby to improve the oxidation resistance, iron nanoparticles synthesized by a chemical vapor condensation method were directly soaked in hexadecanethiol solution to coat them with a polymer layer. Oxygen content in the polymer-coated iron nanoparticles was significantly lower than that in air-passivated particles possessing iron-core/oxide-shell structure. Accordingly, oxidation resistance of the polymer-coated particles at an elevated temperature below in air was times higher than that of the air- passivated particles.

Ultra fine titanium carbide particles were synthesized by novel metallic thermo-reduction process. The vaporized TiC1+ gases were reacted with liquid magnesium and the fine titanium carbide particles were then produced by combining the released titanium and carbon atoms. The vacuum treatment was followed to remove the residual phases of MgC1 and excess Mg. The stoichiometry, microstructure, fixed and carbon contents and lattice parameter were investigated in titanium carbide powders produced in various reaction parameters.

Nanostructured Cu-AlO composite powders were synthesized by thermochemical process. The synthesis procedures are 1) preparation of precursor powder by spray drying of solution made from water-soluble copper and aluminum nitrates, 2) air heat treatments to evaporate volatile components in the precursor powder and synthesis of nano-structured CuO + O, and 3) CuO reduction by hydrogen into pure Cu. The suggested procedures stimulated the formation of the gamma-AlO, and different alumina formation behaviors appeared with various heat treating temperatures. The mean particle size of the final Cu/AlO composite powders produced was 20 nm, and the electrical conductivity and hardness in the hot-extruded bulk were competitive with Cu/AlO composite by the conventional internal oxidation process