• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2765-2768
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• 2013

The effect of $TiO_2$ nanorods (TNR) and nanoparticles (TNP) composite photoelectrodes and the role of TNR to enhance the energy conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. The 5% TNR content into the TNP photoelectrode significantly increased the short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) and the open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$) with the overall energy conversion efficiency enhancement of 13.6% compared to the pure TNP photoelectrode. From the photochemical and impedemetric analysis, the increased $J_{sc}$ and $V_{oc}$ for the 5% TNR/TNP composite photoelectrode was attributed to the scattering effect of TNR, reduced electron diffusion path and the suppression of charge recombination between the composite photoelectrode and electrolyte or dye.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.356-370
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• 2017

The energy savings and $CO_2$ emission reductions obtainable from the situation that the Smart Grid system (SGs) is assumed to be applied in Korea up to 2030 is quantitatively analyzed with many reported data. For calculation, SGs is divided into five sectors such as Smart Transmission and Distribution (ST&D), Smart Consumer (SC), Smart Electricity Service (SES), Smart Renewable Energy (SRE) and Smart Transportation (ST). Total annual energy savings in 2030 is estimated to be approximately 103,121 GWh and this is 13.1% of total electricity consumption outlook. Based on this value, total amount of reducible $CO_2$ emissions is calculated to 55.38 million $tCO_2$, which is 17.6% of total nation's GHG reduction target. Although the contribution of energy saving due to SGs to total electricity consumption increases as years go by, that of $CO_2$ emission reduction gradually decreases. This might be because that coal fired based power generation is planned to be sharply increased and the rate of $CO_2$ emission reduction scheduled by nation is very fast. The contributable portion of five each sector to total $CO_2$ emission reductions in 2030 is estimated to be 44.37% for SC, 29.16% for SRE, 20.12% for SES, 5.11% for ST&D, and 1.24% for ST.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.198-208
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• 2006

To investigate the provenance of outer-shelf mud patch in the East China Sea, the geochemical compositions were analyzed and compared with those of Chinese rivers sediments. The mud sedimentary facies are distributed in the central region and sandy mud facies are also widely distributed around the study area. The major elements (Fe, Mg, K, Ti, and Mn) show strong positive correlation with Al, and trace elements also indicate the same characteristics; hence, clay minerals are likely to be the promising host for those elements. The high concentration of Fe, Ti, and Mn elements are found in the western middle part near the Changjiang estuary, indicating that it seems to result from the influence of the Changjiang River. Elemental ratios including Sc/Al, Ti/Nb, Th/Sc, Cr/Th, Nb/Co, and Th/U were thus used as provenance indicators to identify the sediment origins of the East China Sea. The discrimination diagrams clearly show that most of the sediment in the northern part are originated from the Huanghe River, while the muddy sediments in the western part near the Changjiang estuary might come from the Changjiang River, suggesting that the outer-shelf muddy sediments of East China Sea are originated from diverse sources.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of Sargassum confusum extracts on the reduction of body fat for eight weeks in overweight women ($BMI{\geq_-}23kg/m^2$). Methods: Subjects were classified by double-blind randomized trial as the control group (C group, n = 14) and the Sargassum confusum extract supplementation group (SC group, n = 16), which consumed 12 tablets per day. Questionnaires related to their health status were assessed twice (week 0 and week 8). Their dietary intake status was evaluated by 24-recall method and body compositions were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. In addition, we assessed the anti-obesity effect and the occurrence possibility of health risk factors during the supplementation periods by hematological and clinical analysis of blood. Results: Waist circumference and body fat (%) were significantly decreased in the SC group. Serum leptin level was also significantly decreased in the SC group. Defecation frequency was significantly increased in the SC group. The above results indicate that Sargassum confusum extract supplementation improves overweight on visceral fat and blood leptin level by increasing bowel movement. These results imply a decrease of health risk factors in overweight women. Seven subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events; however, no differences regarding adverse events were observed between the control and treatment group. Conclusion: Therefore, Sargassum confusum extract is a plausible effective agent for body fat reduction in humans.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.217-235
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• 2012

We evaluated the geochemical characteristics and their potential pollution of Asian Dusts in Daejeon, Korea during spring 2007. Compared with the chemical compositions of soils in source area of Asian Dust, those of aerosols in Daejeon were enriched with trace elements (ten to hundred fold), inferring that pollutants from China have affected on local environment in adjoining country such as Korea. Chemical analysis of aerosols during Asian dust showed that fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) contained high contents of trace elements such as Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, V, S, As, Cd, Co, Ni, Mo, Sb, Cs, Rb, Th, Sc and Y. In the case of TSP (Total Suspended Particle), Zr, Sr, Ba, Li, Th and U were contained much more than other trace elements. The contents of some elements (i.e. Li, Cs, Co, U, Cr, Ni, Rb, V, Th, Y, Sr and Sc) in aerosols collected in Asian Dust period, which are not likely enriched by air pollutants, were higher (2 - 4.2 fold) than those in Non Asian Dust period, indicating that these elements could be used as indicator elements for determining the occurrence of Asian Dust phenomena (especially, Sr, V, Cr & Li). In the case of Asian Dust coming through the big cities and/or industrial areas of China, the domestic aerosols had higher contents of trace elements (such as S, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mo and As) than those from Northeastern China via North Korea, indicating that the transportation courses of air mass are very important to determine the pollution degrees. Using the enrichment factors of trace elements in aerosols during Asian Dust and Non Asian Dust, we identified that some elements (i.e. S, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Mo and Cd) were most problematic in terms of environmental hazard aspects, and these elements could affect adverse effects on human health as well as ecosystem and surface environment (soil and water) through long-lived precipitation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.371-380
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• 2016

This study aims to identify the mineraloical and petrographical characteristics of caprock from drilling cores of Pohang basin as a potential $CO_2$ storage site. Experiments and modeling were conducted in order to investigate the geochemical and mineralogical caprock effects of carbon dioxide. A series of autoclave experiments were conducted to simulate the interaction in the $scCO_2$-caprock-brine using a high pressure and temperature cell at $50^{\circ}C$ and 100 bar. Geochemical and mineralogical alterations after 15 days of $scCO_2$-caprock-brine sample reactions were quantitatively examined by XRD, XRF, ICP-OES investigation. Results of mineralogical studies, together with petrographic data of caprock and data on the physicochemical parameters of brine were used for geochemical modeling. Modelling was carried out using the The Geochemist's Workbench 11.0.4 geochemical simulator. Results from XRD analysis for caprock sample showed that major compositional minerals are quartz, plagioclase, and K-feldspar, and muscovite, pyrite, siderite, calcite, kaolinite and montnorillonite were included on a small scale. Results from ICP-OES analysis for brine showed that concentration of $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Mg^{2+}$ increased due to dissolution of plagioclase, K-feldspar and muscovite. Results of modeling for the period of 100 years showed that the recrystallization of kaolinite, dawsonite and beidellite, at the expense of plagioclase and K-feldspar is characteristic. Volumes of newly precipitation minerals and minerals passing into brine were balanced, so the porosity remained nearly unchanged. Experimental and modeling results indicate the interaction between caprock and $scCO_2$ during geologic carbon sequestration can exert significant impacts in brine pH and solubility/stability of minerals.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.569-576
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• 2022

In this study, the healing performance of hybrid self-healing concrete was investigated by mixing bacterial pellets(BP) and solid phase capsules(SC), respectively, based on organic-inorganic self-healing material(MC). Constant water head permeability test was applied as a method of evaluating the healing performance, and the healing rate and the healed crack width calculated by the equivalent crack width were used as evaluation indicies. As a result of the water permeability test, when the initial crack width was 0.3 mm, the healing rates of MC-BP and MC-SC were 2.1~3.0 %pt higher than that of MC, and the healed crack width of hybrid concrete increased by 0.017~0.018 mm. In conclusion, it was found that the self-healing performance was not significantly improved even if the two types of healing materials are used together.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.37-44
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• 2018

In this study, the effects of considering hourly metabolic rate variations for predicted mean vote (PMV) control on the heating and cooling energy and greenhouse gas emission were investigated. The case adopting PMV control taking the hourly metabolic rate into account was comparatively analyzed against the conventional dry-bulb air temperature control, using a detailed simulation technique. Under the assumption that all the apartments in Korea adopt the PMV control incorporating real-time metabolic rate measurements, nationwide reductions of primary energy and greenhouse gas emission were analyzed. As a result, PMV control considering hourly metabolic rate variations is expected to reduce national primary energy by 6.2% compared to conventional dry-bulb air temperature control, corresponding to reduction of 10,342 GWh. In addition, it turned out that 6.6% of tCO2 emission can be reduced by adopting PMV control, corresponding to nationwide reduction of greenhouse gas emission by approximately 1,720,000 tCO2.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.225-229
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• 2017

Micron-sized dextran particles, which now attract wide attention as a promising drug delivery systems, can be prepared via the supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) process. In SAS process, dextran particles are obtained as a result of recrystallization of dissolved dextran in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on addition of supercritical $CO_2$ as an anti-solvent. In this work, with an intention to provide information on the feasible operating conditions of the process, the phase behavior of Dexran/DMSO/$CO_2$ is observed by measuring the cloud point in favor of a variable volume cell. From the experimental study, it is concluded that a feasible operating condition of the SAS process for preparation of dextran particles would be 300.15 K~330.15 K and 90 bar~130 bar, respectively, and solute concentration ranges from 5mg/ml to 20 mg/ml.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-32
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• 2010

This review shows the design and the development of new $CO_2$-soluble hydrocarbon copolymers which can be used as effective stabilizers for successful dispersion polymerizations of bio-compatible materials in supercritical carbon dioxide ($scCO_2$). The basic concepts of supercritical fluid including its solvent properties and applications in polymer synthesis are described. We report the facile synthesis of highly soluble hydrocarbon based copolymers, prepared with good control via controlled free radical polymerization from readily accessible and commercially available monomers. The phase behaviour of these materials was monitored in pure $CO_2$ to investigate how the molecular weights and the composition of the copolymers affect their solubility in $CO_2$. Their activity as a stabilizer was then tested in dispersion polymerization of N-vinyl pyrrolidone in $CO_2$ at various reaction conditions to identify the key parameters required for a successful dispersion stabilization of growing PVP particles. Some prospective potentials of this research which can be applied in developing new polymer materials in an environmentally-friendly fashion for use in cosmetics are also discussed.