• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_1
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• pp.1191-1205
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• 2022

Particulate matter(PM) among air pollutants with complex and widespread causes is classified according to particle size. Among them, PM_2.5 is very small in size and can cause diseases in the human respiratory tract or cardiovascular system if inhaled by humans. In order to prepare for these risks, state-centered management and preventable monitoring and forecasting are important. This study tried to predict PM_2.5 in Seoul, where high concentrations of fine dust occur frequently, using two ensemble models, random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) using 15 local data assimilation and prediction system (LDAPS) weather-related factors, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and 4 chemical factors as independent variables. Performance evaluation and factor importance evaluation of the two models used for prediction were performed, and seasonal model analysis was also performed. As a result of prediction accuracy, RF showed high prediction accuracy of R² = 0.85 and XGB R² = 0.91, and it was confirmed that XGB was a more suitable model for PM_2.5 prediction than RF. As a result of the seasonal model analysis, it can be said that the prediction performance was good compared to the observed values with high concentrations in spring. In this study, PM_2.5 of Seoul was predicted using various factors, and an ensemble-based PM_2.5 prediction model showing good performance was constructed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.427-441
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• 2022

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) serving as a separator that can prevent the permeation of unreacted fuels as well as an electrolyte that selectively transports protons from the anode to the cathode has been considered a key component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs, represented by Nafion®, have been commercialized in PEMFC systems due to their high proton conductivity and chemical stability. Nevertheless, these PEMs have several inherent drawbacks including high manufacturing costs by the complex synthetic processes and environmental problems caused by producing the toxic gases. Although numerous studies are underway to address these drawbacks including the development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer-based PEMs (SHP-PEMs), which can easily control the polymer structures, further improvement of PEM performances and durability is necessary for practical PEMFC applications. Therefore, this study focused on the various strategies for the development of SHP-PEMs with outstanding performance and durability by 1) introducing cross-linked structures, 2) incorporating organic/inorganic composites, and 3) fabricating reinforced-composite membranes using porous substrates.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2023

Wastewater purification is one of the most important techniques for controlling environmental pollution and fulfilling the demand for freshwater supply. Various technologies, such as different types of distillations and reverse osmosis processes, need higher energy input. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative method in which power consumption is deficient and works on the supercapacitor principle. Research is going on to improve the electrode materials to improve the efficiency of the process. A reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the most commonly used desalination technology and osmotic power generator. Among many studies conducted to enhance the efficiency of RED, MXene, as an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and 2D nanofluidic channels in IEM, is rising as a promising way to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of RED. It is used alone and other polymeric materials are mixed with MXene to enhance the performance of the membrane further. The maximum desalination performances of MXene with preconditioning, Ti₃C₂T_x, Nafion, and hetero-structures were respectively measured, proving the potential of MXene for a promising material in the desalination industry. In terms of osmotic power generating via RED, adopting MXene as asymmetric nanofluidic ion channels in IEM significantly improved the maximum osmotic output power density, most of them surpassing the commercialization benchmark, 5 Wm^-2. By connecting the number of unit cells, the output voltage reaches the point where it can directly power the electronic devices without any intermediate aid. The studies around MXene have significantly increased in recent years, yet there is more to be revealed about the application of MXene in the membrane and osmotic power-generating industry. This review discusses the electrodialysis process based on MXene composite membrane.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2009

Reductive reactivity of zero-valent iron nanoparticles was investigated for removal of nitrate-nitrogen which is considered one of the major water pollutants. To elucidate the difference in reactivity between preparation methods, iron nanoparticles were synthesized respectively from microemulsion and aqueous solution of ferric ions. Iron nanoparticles prepared from microemulsion were deposited on aluminum by electrophoretic method, and their reaction kinetics was compared to that of the same nanoparticles suspended in aqueous batch reaction. With an approximation of pseudo-first-order reaction, rate constants for suspended nanoparticles prepared from microemulsion and dilute aqueous solution were $3.49{\times}10^{-2}min^{-1}$ and $1.40{\times}10^{-2}min^{-1}$, respectively. Iron nanoparticles supported on aluminum showed ca. 30% less reaction rate in comparison with the identical nanoparticles in suspended state. However, supported nanoparticles showed the superior effectiveness in terms of nitrate-nitrogen removal per zero-valent iron input especially when excess amounts of nitrates were present. Iron nanoparticles deposited on aluminum maintained reductive reactivity for more than 3 hours, and produced nitrogen gas as a final reduction product of nitrate-nitrogen.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2020

금강하구와 같이 막힌 대형 하구는 근본적으로 복잡한 물리화학적 프로세스와 다양한 이해당사자간의 갈등 때문에 단편적인 접근으로는 관리의 한계가 있을 수밖에 없는 환경이다. 더욱이 하굿둑의 갑문을 열어 하구순환을 복원하는 해수유통 사업은 그 자체가 가지는 환경적 효용성의 확인과 기존 용수이용 체계의 전면적 변화와 관련된 상당한 비용이 요구된다는 면에서 특별한 논란이 되어왔다. 본 연구는 해수유통으로 인한 금강 하구해역의 수리, 수질, 퇴적 및 생태 등 다양한 환경적 변화를 집중적인 현장 조사 및 통합 모델링을 통해 정량적으로 예측하고 이를 지역 이해당사자 논의 체계인 금강하구해역정책협의회에 제공함으로써 해수유통과 연관된 이해당사자 간 갈등을 완화하고 과학적 자료에 근거한 정책결정을 지원하기 위해 수행되었다(과학-정책의 통합). 조사연구는 하굿둑 갑문 개방에 따른 다양한 시나리오별로 해수유통으로 인한 영향을 하구해역(하굿둑의 바다 쪽 해역)과 하구호(하굿둑의 하천 쪽 담수역)에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다(하천-하구호-연안해역의 공간적 통합). 시나리오는 하구해역정책협의회의 요구사항을 반영하여 개발되었고, 시나리오별 영향파악은 수리(조석 및 파랑 포함), 퇴적물 이동 및 수질은 Delft3D모델을, 유역으로부터의 유량 및 오염물질 부하량은 분포형 비점모델인 STREAM을, 김양식과 이매패류 생산량을 추정하는 생태모델은 통계기반의 포인트 모델을 통해 이루어졌다(수리-퇴적-수질-생태계 모델의 통합). 시나리오 분석결과, 상시 해수유통을 제외한 대부분의 하굿둑 부분 개방 시나리오에서는 하구해역에 미치는 영향이 제한적으로 나타나는 것으로 예측되었다. 이는 하굿둑 부분 개방에 따른 담수방류량 및 이에 대응하는 해수의 유동패턴이 현재와 크게 달라지지 않음을 반영한다. 반면 하구호에 대한 영향은 하구해역에 비해 하굿둑 갑문 운영시나리오에 따라 상대적으로 민감하게 변화되는 것으로 예측되었다. 갑문의 부분 개방을 통해 하구호의 수위를 현재 대비 5cm~50cm 변화시켰을 때 1psu 염분의 저층에서의 침투거리는 하굿둑 상류 6km~18km 정도로 예측되었고 갑문 개방에 의해 염분 침투 거리의 조절이 가능할 것으로 나타났다. 단, 사용된 통합모델은 수년간의 검보정 과정을 반복적으로 수행하여 예측의 정확도를 지속적으로 개선하였지만, 모델운영 자체의 불확실성을 고려할 때 실제 해수유통을 위해서는 시범개방을 통해 모델 예측의 결과를 확인할 필요가 있다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2024

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is an environmentally hazardous pollutant that originates from various sources. PM is comprised of solid particles and liquid droplets of diverse composition and size. Hazardous chemical compositions of PM include elemental and organic carbon, organic compounds, biological compounds and metals. Upon acute and chronic PM exposure, toxic contaminants enter and accumulate within physiological systems and prompt cell structure changes accompanied with intracellular endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid accumulation, and cell cycle arrest. Ultimately, these cellular response leads to the development of key characteristics of aging. In addition, PM internalization enhances autophagy reflux and lysosomal dysfunction, which is involved in cell aging. Previous studies have emphasized a positive association between PM and increased mortality or decreased lifespan, although these are evidenced mostly by observational studies. Direct evidence of the link between PM and aging is still limited. This review evaluates the evidence from not only observational studies but also in vitro and in vivo evidence of PM on aging progression and age-related diseases development. This evidence is based on age-associated cellular changes including endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, adipose accumulation, autophagy, which strengthen the association between PM exposure and aging. Understanding the underlying cellular responses under PM may allow for the development of new therapeutic targets for PM-induced aging.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2024

The endotoxin test is based on the reaction between Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) and the lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we sought to identify factors that interfere with the LAL testing of radiopharmaceuticals and evaluated acceptable ranges. A gel-clot LAL test and a chromogenic LAL test were used as endotoxin tests. We compared the performances of the Endosafe^Ⓡ LAL and recombinant Endosafe^Ⓡ Recombinant Cascade Reagent (rCR) cartridges for the chromogenic test. The factors that interfered with ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC injection were pH, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer, and organic solvents, especially ethanol. However, interference by these factors was overcome by diluting the ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC injection tenfold. In addition, no interference was observed at pH values between 4 and 8, at a HEPES concentration of 2,000 ㎍/mL, or an ethanol concentration of <1%. Furthermore, results showed that interfering factors had similar effects on the performances of the Endosafe^Ⓡ LAL and Endosafe^Ⓡ rCR cartridges. The results of this study are expected to be useful for evaluating factors that interfere with the endotoxin testing of new radiopharmaceuticals.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2012

Disinfecting contaminated swine manure with FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) and pathogenic viruses is very important for maintaining sanitized environment. However, very few research reported on this subject, especially post-disinfection to utilize the wastes as a renewable resource. This research is carried out to obtain basic information for chemical treatment in FMD SOP (Standard Operating Procedure, Korea) of contaminated swine manure. Using lime, sodium hydroxide, citric acid and hydrochloric acid, described in FMD SOP, the effects of chemical treatments on livestock manure were compared in this paper. Four combinations of alkali-acid treatments and four kinds of acid-alkali combinations were tested to find out the effective method. Total coliform bacteria in contaminated swine manure, $1.6{\times}10^4$ CFU/100 ml, decreased to the range of 1/1000~1/100 in all treatments. Some specific disinfectants increases BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and EC(Electric Conductivity), especially, alkaline treatments increases ammonia level than acid treatments. These findings suggest that the treatment methods should be considered as an important environmental factor in post-disinfection of contaminated animal manure with pathogenic microorganisms.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.24
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• pp.23-36
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• 2008

The stone Buddhas and Shrine of Unjusa temple (Korea Treasure No. 797) in Hwasun formed in Koryo Dynasty are unique style which the Buddha faces each other the back parts of south and north within the stone Shrine. The stone Buddhas and Shrine are highly evaluated in historical, artistic and academic respects. But, the stone properties have been exposed in the open system various aspects of degradations weathered for a long time without specific protective facilities. The rock materials of the stone Buddhas and Shrine are about 47 blocks, and total press load is about 56.6 metric ton. The host rocks composed mainly of white grey hyaline lithic tuff and rhyolitic tuff breccia. In addition, biotite granite used as part during the restoration works. The chemical index of alteration for host tuffaceous rocks and the replacement granites range from 52.1 to 59.4 and 50.0 to 51.0, respectively. Weathering types for the stone Buddhas and Shrine were largely divided with physical, chemical and biological weathering to make a synthetic deterioration map according to aspects of damage, and estimate share as compared with surface area. Whole deterioration degrees are represented that physical weathering appeared exfoliation. Chemical weathering is black coloration and biological weathering of grey lichen, which show each lighly deterioration degrees. According to deterioration degree by direction of stone Buddhas and Shrine, physical weathering mostly appeared by 39.1% on the sorthern part, and chemical weathering is 61.2% high share on the western part. Biological weathering showed 38.3% the largest distribution on the southern part. Therefore, it is necessary to try hardening for the parts with serious cracks or exfoliations, remove secondary contaminants and organisms through regular cleaning. Also necessary to make a plan to remove moisture of the ground which causes weathering, and estimate that need established and scientific processing through clinical demonstration of conservation plan that chooses suitable treatment.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2012

The purpose of the study is to collect basis data for to establish standard administrative processes of liquid fertilizer treatment. From this survey we could make out the key point of each step through a case of effective liquid manure treatment system in pig house. It is divided into six step; 1. piggery slurry management step, 2. Solid-liquid separation step, 3. liquid fertilizer treatment (aeration) step, 4. liquid fertilizer treatment (microorganism, recirculation and internal return) step, 5. liquid fertilizer treatment (completion) step, 6. land application step. From now on, standardization process of liquid manure treatment technologies need to be develop based on the six steps process.