• Title/Summary/Keyword: Bio-Energy

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Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf Sprout Extract Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Upregulating LKB1/AMPK Signaling (LKB1/AMPK 신호 전달 경로의 활성화로 인한 새싹율무 열수 추출물의 항비만 효과)

  • Kim, Min Ju;Lee, Jeong Hoon;Choi, Jeong Won;Park, Hae-Jin;Shin, Mi-Rae;Roh, Seong-Soo
    • The Korea Journal of Herbology
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    • v.36 no.6
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    • pp.39-46
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    • 2021
  • Objectives : AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key metabolic regulator that reduces lipogenesis. AMPK is mainly activated via phosphorylation of liver kinase B (LKB) 1 under energy stress. Here, we highlighted the anti-obesity effect and underlying mechanism of Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf sprout water extract (CSW) sprout extract in connection with the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. Methods : C57BL/6 mice (20~25 g) fed HFD to induce obesity and at the same time administered CSW 100 mg/kg (CSWL; (CSWL; CSW low concentration) or CSW 200 mg/kg (CSWH; CSW high concentration) or Garcinia extract (Garcinia) 200 mg/kg orally for 6 weeks. Body weight and food intake were measured at the same time each day. After 6 weeks of CSW administration, liver tissue and serum were obtained through an autopsy. After the end of the experiment, biochemical analysis (triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol) was performed on the serum. And then, protein levels related to TG and TC synthesis were measured through western blot analysis in liver tissue. Results : As a result, serum TG, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the control group and significantly decreased in the CSW administration group. On the other hand, the HDL-cholesterol level was increased in the CSW-administered group. And as a result of Western blot analysis, CSW significantly increased the phosphorylation of LKB1 & AMPK, and remarkably decreased the expression of factors related to TG and TC synthesis. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CSW influences the TG and TC synthesis to positively affect HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

Why is ecological restoration practiced differently from the international community in Korea? (우리나라에서는 왜 생태복원이 국제사회와 다르게 진행될까?)

  • Chang Seok Lee
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.394-407
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    • 2023
  • Ecological restoration is an ecological technology that diagnoses problematic ecological spaces and restores the damaged ecosystem to a healthy appearance similar to its original appearance based on reference information obtained by analyzing intact nature. To achieve successful restoration, the project must be carried out in respect of a series of procedures. However, in Korea, restoration projects are usually actively promoted regardless of diagnostic evaluation, which wastes cost and energy, and the effect is not significant. As the reference information is not utilized, ecological restoration to return the damaged nature makes features different greatly from the appearance of nature, causing another damage. As the restoration effect is not evaluated, it is impossible to determine whether it is successful or not, and as a result, even if the project continues, there is no development and no effect. However, advanced societies have not only made academic progress by respecting these procedures but also have great economic effects along with the improvement of environmental conditions as ecological restoration has become an industry. Therefore, the international society recognizes ecological restoration as an important means of solving environmental problems at the global level, including climate change, and international organizations are actively promoting projects to treat the injured planet. However, most of the restoration projects promoted in Korea were evaluated below the level as a result of the evaluation of the effect. Nevertheless, those who have led low-quality projects are blocking plans to establish ecological restoration as a new industry that can contribute significantly to improving these levels, and thus the problem is expected to worsen. To solve this problem, it is necessary to filter out defective businesses by introducing a strict and correct project evaluation system by dividing it into before and after. Furthermore, it is necessary to establish ecological restoration as an industry and leave the process in the principles of the market.

Recent Progress in Micro In-Mold Process Technologies and Their Applications (마이크로 인몰드 공정기술 기반 전자소자 제조 및 응용)

  • Sung Hyun Kim;Young Woo Kwon;Suck Won Hong
    • Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 2023
  • In the current era of the global mobile smart device revolution, electronic devices are required in all spaces that people interact with. The establishment of the internet of things (IoT) among smart devices has been recognized as a crucial objective to advance towards creating a comfortable and sustainable future society. In-mold electronic (IME) processes have gained significant industrial significance due to their ability to utilize conventional high-volume methods, which involve printing functional inks on 2D substrates, thermoforming them into 3D shapes, and injection-molded, manufacturing low-cost, lightweight, and functional components or devices. In this article, we provide an overview of IME and its latest advances in application. We review biomimetic nanomaterials for constructing self-supporting biosensor electronic materials on the body, energy storage devices, self-powered devices, and bio-monitoring technology from the perspective of in-mold electronic devices. We anticipate that IME device technology will play a critical role in establishing a human-machine interface (HMI) by converging with the rapidly growing flexible printed electronics technology, which is an integral component of the fourth industrial revolution.

Analysis of Rollover Angle According to Arrangement of Main Parts of Electric Tractor Using Dynamic Simulation (시뮬레이션을 이용한 전기 트랙터 주요 부품 배치에 따른 전도각 분석)

  • Jin Ho Son;Yeong Su Kim;Yu Shin Ha
    • Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.77-84
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    • 2023
  • In the agricultural sector, power sources are being developed that use alternative energy sources such as electric tractors and hydrogen tractors, away from internal combustion engine tractors. As parts such as engines and transmissions used in conventional internal combustion engine tractors are replaced with motors and batteries, the center of gravity changes, and thus the risk of rollover should be considered. The purpose of this study is to analyze the overturn angle of the main parts of the electric tractor through dynamic simulation to minimize the overturn accident and to derive the optimal arrangement of parts to improve stability. A total of nine dynamics simulations were conducted by designing three components of the PTO motor, drive motor and the battery pack, and three factors of the arrangement method. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that Type3 Level3, in which the drive motor and the PTO motor are located at the front and rear of the tractor, and two battery packs are located in the middle of the tractor, has a high rollover angle. As a result of this study, the stability increased as the center of gravity was placed backward and located below. Future research needs to be done to find the optimal location of parts considering their performance and placement efficiency.

Adsorption Behaviors of Amphiphilic AuNPs at the Interface between Diverse organic Solvents and Water (다양한 유기용매와 물 경계면에서의 양친매성 금나노입자의 흡착 거동)

  • Yeon-Su Lim;Yeong-min Lee;Kyo-Chan Koo;Hee-Young Lee
    • Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.157-161
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    • 2024
  • Amphiphilic gold nanoparticles, synthesized by the simultaneous binding of hydrophilic and hydrophobic ligands on their surfaces, find diverse applications in energy, bio, optical, electronic technologies, and various other fields. Particularly, these amphiphilic gold nanoparticles possess both hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics, enabling them to activate interface at the interface of immiscible fluids and form organized structures. The surface properties of gold nanoparticles play a crucial role in influencing the behaviors of amphiphilic gold nanoparticles at the interface of two fluids. Therefore, this study investigated the adsorption behaviors of gold nanoparticles at the organic solvent-water interface based on the surface characteristics of amphiphilic gold nanoparticles and the type of organic solvents. It was observed that the amount of adsorbed gold nanoparticles at the interface increased with the length of hydrocarbon chains in hydrophobic ligands and increased with shorter hydrocarbon chains in the organic solvent. Furthermore, using the Langmuir isotherm model, the study confirmed the formation of a monolayer by amphiphilic gold nanoparticles and obtained significant thermodynamic parameters simultaneously.

Effect of Lythrum salicaria Extract on Body Fat Reduction: A Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial (체지방 감소에 대한 털부처꽃 추출물의 효과: 무작위배정, 이중눈가림, 대조군 비교 인체적용시험 프로토콜)

  • Hye-Jin Park;In Heo;Yea-Jin Park;Hyo-Jin An;Su Shin;Yun-Yeop Cha
    • Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.87-93
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    • 2024
  • Objectives: Obesity is a globally prevalent public health issue. Hence, there is a need for the development of safer and more effective anti-obesity drugs. Lythrum salicaria, a traditional medicinal herb used for centuries, has been reported to improve lipid metabolism and fat accumulation. It also has a low toxicity profile. Therefore, its potential as a functional ingredient in health functional foods needs to be evaluated. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 90 participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Each subject will orally receive L. salicaria extract (1,350 mg/day) (500 mg L. salicaria+850 mg lactose as vehicle) or lactose (1,350 mg/day) as a hard capsule formula for 84 days (12 weeks). The primary outcome will be body fat mass (kg), which will be assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (performed only at visits 2 and 4). Secondary outcomes include body mass index, body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage (%) measured using DXA, lean body mass (kg) measured using DXA (assessed only at visits 2 and 4), lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), free fatty acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, adiponectin, and leptin. Conclusions: This protocol will be implemented after approval of Institutional Review Board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital (approval number: PNUKHIRB-2022-08-002) and registration with the Korean National Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) (CRIS-KCT0008060). The results of this trial will provide potential of L. salicaria as a new anti-obesity functional food with fat-reducing effects and low toxicity.

Distribution Maps for Waste generation using GIS (GIS 이용 폐기물 발생량 분포지도 작성)

  • Kim, Yi-Hyun;Hong, S. Young;Hong, Seung-Gil;Choe, Eunyoung;Nam, Jae Jak;So, Kyu Ho
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.55-61
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    • 2010
  • This study was carried out to analyze national and regional distribution of the organic wastes generation and build their distribution maps including food wastes, paper and wood wastes, wastewater and slaughterhouse wastes. The information for the annual waste production was modified using statistics from Ministry of Environment (MOE). Based on waste generation resources data, we established database architecture table about waste generation. The distribution maps for food wastes were built up in both national and regional scales and distribution maps for paper and wood wastes, wastewater and slaughterhouse wastes were also produced, respectively. The distribution maps of waste generation graphically provide the information regarding biomass resources to policy-makers, farmers, general users and it is highly expected to be utilized for policy-making of environmental-friendly agriculture and bioenergy.

Analysis of Greenhouse Thermal Environment by Model Simulation (시뮬레이션 모형에 의한 온실의 열환경 분석)

  • 서원명;윤용철
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.215-235
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    • 1996
  • The thermal analysis by mathematical model simulation makes it possible to reasonably predict heating and/or cooling requirements of certain greenhouses located under various geographical and climatic environment. It is another advantages of model simulation technique to be able to make it possible to select appropriate heating system, to set up energy utilization strategy, to schedule seasonal crop pattern, as well as to determine new greenhouse ranges. In this study, the control pattern for greenhouse microclimate is categorized as cooling and heating. Dynamic model was adopted to simulate heating requirements and/or energy conservation effectiveness such as energy saving by night-time thermal curtain, estimation of Heating Degree-Hours(HDH), long time prediction of greenhouse thermal behavior, etc. On the other hand, the cooling effects of ventilation, shading, and pad ||||&|||| fan system were partly analyzed by static model. By the experimental work with small size model greenhouse of 1.2m$\times$2.4m, it was found that cooling the greenhouse by spraying cold water directly on greenhouse cover surface or by recirculating cold water through heat exchangers would be effective in greenhouse summer cooling. The mathematical model developed for greenhouse model simulation is highly applicable because it can reflects various climatic factors like temperature, humidity, beam and diffuse solar radiation, wind velocity, etc. This model was closely verified by various weather data obtained through long period greenhouse experiment. Most of the materials relating with greenhouse heating or cooling components were obtained from model greenhouse simulated mathematically by using typical year(1987) data of Jinju Gyeongnam. But some of the materials relating with greenhouse cooling was obtained by performing model experiments which include analyzing cooling effect of water sprayed directly on greenhouse roof surface. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The heating requirements of model greenhouse were highly related with the minimum temperature set for given greenhouse. The setting temperature at night-time is much more influential on heating energy requirement than that at day-time. Therefore It is highly recommended that night- time setting temperature should be carefully determined and controlled. 2. The HDH data obtained by conventional method were estimated on the basis of considerably long term average weather temperature together with the standard base temperature(usually 18.3$^{\circ}C$). This kind of data can merely be used as a relative comparison criteria about heating load, but is not applicable in the calculation of greenhouse heating requirements because of the limited consideration of climatic factors and inappropriate base temperature. By comparing the HDM data with the results of simulation, it is found that the heating system design by HDH data will probably overshoot the actual heating requirement. 3. The energy saving effect of night-time thermal curtain as well as estimated heating requirement is found to be sensitively related with weather condition: Thermal curtain adopted for simulation showed high effectiveness in energy saving which amounts to more than 50% of annual heating requirement. 4. The ventilation performances doting warm seasons are mainly influenced by air exchange rate even though there are some variations depending on greenhouse structural difference, weather and cropping conditions. For air exchanges above 1 volume per minute, the reduction rate of temperature rise on both types of considered greenhouse becomes modest with the additional increase of ventilation capacity. Therefore the desirable ventilation capacity is assumed to be 1 air change per minute, which is the recommended ventilation rate in common greenhouse. 5. In glass covered greenhouse with full production, under clear weather of 50% RH, and continuous 1 air change per minute, the temperature drop in 50% shaded greenhouse and pad & fan systemed greenhouse is 2.6$^{\circ}C$ and.6.1$^{\circ}C$ respectively. The temperature in control greenhouse under continuous air change at this time was 36.6$^{\circ}C$ which was 5.3$^{\circ}C$ above ambient temperature. As a result the greenhouse temperature can be maintained 3$^{\circ}C$ below ambient temperature. But when RH is 80%, it was impossible to drop greenhouse temperature below ambient temperature because possible temperature reduction by pad ||||&|||| fan system at this time is not more than 2.4$^{\circ}C$. 6. During 3 months of hot summer season if the greenhouse is assumed to be cooled only when greenhouse temperature rise above 27$^{\circ}C$, the relationship between RH of ambient air and greenhouse temperature drop($\Delta$T) was formulated as follows : $\Delta$T= -0.077RH+7.7 7. Time dependent cooling effects performed by operation of each or combination of ventilation, 50% shading, pad & fan of 80% efficiency, were continuously predicted for one typical summer day long. When the greenhouse was cooled only by 1 air change per minute, greenhouse air temperature was 5$^{\circ}C$ above outdoor temperature. Either method alone can not drop greenhouse air temperature below outdoor temperature even under the fully cropped situations. But when both systems were operated together, greenhouse air temperature can be controlled to about 2.0-2.3$^{\circ}C$ below ambient temperature. 8. When the cool water of 6.5-8.5$^{\circ}C$ was sprayed on greenhouse roof surface with the water flow rate of 1.3 liter/min per unit greenhouse floor area, greenhouse air temperature could be dropped down to 16.5-18.$0^{\circ}C$, whlch is about 1$0^{\circ}C$ below the ambient temperature of 26.5-28.$0^{\circ}C$ at that time. The most important thing in cooling greenhouse air effectively with water spray may be obtaining plenty of cool water source like ground water itself or cold water produced by heat-pump. Future work is focused on not only analyzing the feasibility of heat pump operation but also finding the relationships between greenhouse air temperature(T$_{g}$ ), spraying water temperature(T$_{w}$ ), water flow rate(Q), and ambient temperature(T$_{o}$).

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Changes of Radiation Dose and Image Quality Due to Additional Filtration Material in Computed Radiography (Computed Radiography에서 Additional Filtration Material에 따른 Radiation Dose와 Image Quality의 변화)

  • Kwon, Soon-Mu;Cho, Hyung-Wook;Kang, Yeong-Han;Kim, Boo-Soon;Kim, Jung-Su
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.239-246
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    • 2014
  • Filter absorbs low-energy X-ray to increase the average energy and reduces patient exposure dose. This study investigates if the materials of Mo and W could be used for the digital imaging device CR by conducting image assessment and dose measurement of SNR, FOM and histogram. In addition, measurement of beam quality was conducted depending on the material of the filter, and at the same time, a proper combination of filters was examined depending on the change in tube voltage (kVp). In regard to entrance skin dose, Mo filter showed the dose reduction by 42~56%, compared to Cu filter. Moreover, Mo filter showed higher transmission dose by around 1.5 times than that of Cu filter. In image assessment, it was found that W was unsuitable to be used as a filter, whereas Mo could be used as a filter to reduce dose without decline in image quality at the tube voltage of 80 kVp or higher. As tube voltage increased, 2.0 mm Al+0.1 mm Mo almost had a similar histogram width to that of 2.0 mm Al+0.2 mm Cu. Therefore, Mo filter can be used at relatively high tube voltage of 80 kVp, 100 kVp and 120 kVp. The SNR of 2.0 mm Al+0.1 mm Mo did not show any significant difference from those of 2.0 mm Al+0.2 mm Cu and 2.0 mm Al+0.1 mm Cu. As a result, if Mo filter is used to replace Cu filter in general radiography, where 80 kVp or higher is used for digital radiation image, patient exposure dose can be reduced significantly without decline in image quality, compared to Cu filter. Therefore, it is believed that Mo filter can be applied to chest X-ray and high tube voltage X-ray in actual clinical practice.

Mapping and Assessment of Forest Biomass Resources in Korea (우리나라 산림 바이오매스 자원량 평가 및 지도화)

  • Son, Yeong Mo;Lee, Sun Jeoung;Kim, Sowon;Hwang, Jeong Sun;Kim, Raehyun;Park, Hyun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.103 no.3
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    • pp.431-438
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    • 2014
  • This study was conducted to assess forest biomass resource which is a carbon sink and a renewable resource in Korea. The total forest biomass resource potential was 804 million tons, and conifers, broadleaved forest and mixed forest accounted for 265 million tons, 282 million tons, and 257 million tons, respectively. Proportionately to regional forest stocks, biomass potential of Gangwon-do had most biomass potential, followed by Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. The woody biomass from the byproduct of sawn timber in commercial harvesting was 707 thousand ton/year, and that from the byproduct of forest tending was 592 thousand ton/year. The amount resulted in about 1,300 thousand ton/year of potential supplies from forest biomass resource into the energy market. It's tonnage of oil equivalent(toe) was 585 thousand ton/year. In this study, we developed a program (BiomassMap V2.0) for forest biomass resource mapping. Used system to develop this program was Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Access ArcGIS and Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. Additionally, This program made use of tool such as ESRI MapObjects2.1 in order to take advantage of spatial information. This program shows the map of total biomass stock, annual biomass growth at forest land in Korea, and biomass production from forest tending and commercial harvesting. The information can also be managed by the program. The biomass resource map can be identified by regional and forest type for the purpose of utilization. So, we expect the map and program to be very useful for forest managers in the near future.