• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.417-417
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• 2016

Global environmental deterioration has become more serious year by year and thus scientific interests in the renewable energy as environmental technology and replacement of fossil fuels have grown exponentially. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell consisting of semiconductor photoelectrodes that can harvest light and use this energy directly to split water, also known as photoelectrolysis or solar water splitting, is a promising renewable energy technology to produce hydrogen for uses in the future hydrogen economy. A major advantage of PEC systems is that they involve relatively simple processes steps as compared to many other H2 production systems. Until now, a number of materials including TiO2, WO3, Fe2O3, and BiVO4 were exploited as the photoelectrode. However, the PEC performance of these single absorber materials is limited due to their large charge recombinations in bulk, interface and surface, leading low charge separation/transport efficiencies. Recently, coupling of two materials, e.g., BiVO4/WO3, Fe2O3/WO3 and CuWO4/WO3, to form a type II heterojunction has been demonstrated to be a viable means to improve the PEC performance by enhancing the charge separation and transport efficiencies. In this study, we have prepared a triple-layer heterojunction BiVO4/WO3/SnO2 photoelectrode that shows a comparable PEC performance with previously reported best-performing nanostructured BiVO4/WO3 heterojunction photoelectrode via a facile solution method. Interestingly, we found that the incorporation of SnO2 nanoparticles layer in between WO3 and FTO largely promotes electron transport and thus minimizes interfacial recombination. The impact of the SnO2 interfacial layer was investigated in detail by TEM, hall measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. In addition, our planar-structured triple-layer photoelectrode shows a relatively high transmittance due to its low thickness (~300 nm), which benefits to couple with a solar cell to form a tandem PEC device. The overall PEC performance, especially the photocurrent onset potential (Vonset), were further improved by a reactive-ion etching (RIE) surface etching and electrocatalyst (CoOx) deposition.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2016

This paper presents a CMOS interface circuit for vibration energy harvesting with MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking). In the proposed system a PMU (Power Management Unit) is employed at the output of a DC-DC boost converter to provide a regulated output with low-cost and simple architecture. In addition an MPPT controller using FOC (Fractional Open Circuit) technique is designed to harvest maximum power from vibration devices and increase efficiency of overall system. The AC signal from vibration devices is converted into a DC signal by an AC-DC converter, and then boosted through the DC-DC boost converter. The boosted signal is converted into a duty-cycled and regulated signal and delivered to loads by the PMU. A full-wave rectifier using active diodes is used as the AC-DC converter for high efficiency, and a DC-DC boost converter architecture using a schottky diode is employed for a simple control circuitry. The proposed circuit has been designed in a 0.35um CMOS process, and the designed chip occupies $915{\mu}m{\times}895{\mu}m$. Simulation results shows that the maximum power efficiency of the entire system is 83.4%.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 1996

Leaching of $^{54}Mn$, $^{60}Co$, $^{85}Sr$ and $^{137}Cs$ in paddy soil was studied using lysimeter cultures in a greenhouse. The radionuclides were applied to the water surfaces shortly before transplanting and five different times between transplanting and harvest. Fertilizer KCl and slaked lime were added simultaneously in the rate of 83kg and 200kg, respectively, per l0a following the first application after transplanting. Percolating water was sampled until two days before harvest. Concentrations of the radionuclides in percolating water decreased in the order of $^{85}Sr$ > $^{54}Mn$ > $^{60}Co$ > $^{137}Cs$ on the whole. Time taken to reach the maximum was the shortest for $^{137}Cs$(< one week) and the longest for $^{54}Mn$ and $^{85}Sr$. Six days' water dropping started 47 days after transplanting reduced the concentrations of $^{54}Mn$, $^{60}Co$, $^{85}Sr$ and $^{137}Cs$ by factors of 30-180, 3-75, 2-4 and 3-6, respectively, depending on the application time. After the significant decrease, $^{54}Mn$ concentration tended to gradually increase but $^{137}Cs$ did to the contrary Percent leaching varied 0.09-6.2% for $^{54}Mn$, 0.009-0.9% for $^{60}Co$, 1.4-14.4% for $^{85}Sr$ and 0.002-0.06% for $^{137}Cs$, with the application time. The highest leaching came from the application at 40 days after transplanting for all the radionuclides. The addition of KCl and lime increased percent leaching of the radionuclides by factors of 9, 85, 4 and 9, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1181-1186
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• 2013

Due to climate change, the occurrence of abnormal weather conditions has become more frequent, causing damage to vegetable crops grown in Korea. Hot pepper, Chinese cabbage and radish, the three most popular vegetables in Korea, are produced more in the field than in the greenhouse. It has been a trend that the time for field transplanting of seedlings is getting earlier and earlier as the spring temperatures keep rising. Seedlings transplanted too early in the spring take a longer time to resume the normal growth, because they are exposed to suboptimal temperature conditions. This study examined the influence of air temperature during seedling growth on the time required to reach the first fruit maturity and yield of hot pepper. Seedling plants of 'Super Manita' hot pepper was grown in temperatures $2.5^{\circ}C$ and $5.0^{\circ}C$ lower than the optimum temperature (determined by the average of temperatures for the past 5 years). Seedlings were transplanted into round plastic containers (30-cm diam., 45-cm height) and were placed in growth chambers in which the ambient temperature was controlled under natural sunlight. The growth of seedlings under lowered temperatures was reduced compared to the control. The mineral (K, Mg, P, N) concentrations in the leaf tissues were higher when plants were grown with the ambient temperature $2.5^{\circ}C$ lower than the optimum, regardless of changes in other growth parameters. Tissue calcium (Ca) concentration was the highest in the plants grown with optimum temperature. The carbohydrate to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, which was the highest (18.3) in the plants grown with optimum temperature, decreased concomitantly as the ambient temperature was lowered $2.5^{\circ}C$ and $5.0^{\circ}C$. The yield of the early harvested fruits was also reduced as the ambient temperature became lower. The first fruit harvest date for the plants grown with optimum temperature (June 27) was 13 days and 40 days, respectively, earlier than that in plants grown with $2.5^{\circ}C$ (July 10) and $5.0^{\circ}C$ (Aug 6) lower ambient temperatures. The fruit yield per plant for the optimum temperature (724 g) was the greatest compared to those grown with $2.5^{\circ}C$ (446 g) and $5.0^{\circ}C$ (236 g) lower temperatures. The result of this study suggests that the growers should be cautioned not to transplant their hot pepper seedlings too early into the field, since it may delay the time of first harvest eventually reducing total fruit yield.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.515-523
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the variability in broiler performance, apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and ileal digestible energy (IDE) between five different maize samples fed with and without xylanase at 16,000 U/kg. Various in vitro characterisations were conducted to determine if any could predict performance or AME. Samples of the maize were harvested in five diverse regions and fed individually in a mash diet as follows (g/kg): test maize 608.3; soya bean meal (SBM) 324.1; poultry fat 25.2; salt 4.6; met 2.6; lys 1.6; thr 0.5; limestone 9.7, dical 18.4; vit/min 5.0; CP 210 and ME (kcal/kg) 3,085. The diets were fed to 720 broilers with 6 replicates, each containing 12 birds per treatment, from 0 to 18 d of age. Maize samples were analysed for starch, protein, crude fibre, fat, protein solubility index (PSI) and vitreousness using near infra red reflectance spectroscopy (NIR). They were also assayed using an in vitro starch digestibility method. The results showed that there was no effect of harvest region on the feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the broilers over the 18 d period (p = 0.959, 0.926, 0.819 respectively). There was an improvement in all parameters with the addition of xylanase (FI p = 0.011; BWG and FCR p<0.001). There was a significant positive effect of xylanase on IDE, AME, IDE Intake (IDEI) and AME intake (AMEI) (p<0.0001 in all cases). Although there was no significant effect of maize source, there was a strong trend towards variability in IDE (p = 0.066) and AME (p = 0.058). There were no significant correlations (p<0.05) between any proximate or physiochemical values and any performance or AME values. This may suggest that none of those selected were suitable predictors for performance or AME. The broilers performed well according to the breed guidelines, with slightly increased FI, increased BWG and similar FCR prior to the addition of xylanase. When FCR and BWG were analysed with FI as a covariate, xylanase addition remained significant suggesting that the improvement in BWG and FCR was driven by an increase in digestibility and nutrient availability.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.141-150
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate three-dimensional embroidery techniques for creating conductive fabric materials. Such techniques can increase the efficiency of energy harvesting by increasing the fabric's area during rubbing and brushing. We also investigate the fabric structure of the triboelectric energy harvesting type. Two experiments were conducted for this purpose. In Experiment I, the three-dimensional embroidery technique(satin technique, file technique) and the conductive fabric material(copper-based MPF, nickel-based MPF) were selected as the main variables affecting the efficiency of triboelectric energy harvesting from the human body. Four samples were fabricated according to a combination of two variables. In Experiment II, the harvesters fabricated by the three-dimensional embroidery method showing the highest efficiency were subjected to brushing processes and the voltages generated after processing were analyzed. As a result, in both conductive fabric materials, the pile embroidery fabric structure showed a higher efficiency than the satin structure. These results show the triboelectric energy harvesting principle, which is proportional to the charge density and the generated voltage. It can be seen that the structure of pile embroidery fabric with a large friction area is advantageous for increasing efficiency compared to satin embroidery-fabric structure with a relatively small friction area. Moreover, the energy harvesting efficiency after brushing was higher than that before processing due to the increased friction area, and it was found that the brushing method is advantageous for increasing the triboelectric-energy harvest.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1509-1517
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• 2013

So far, most studies associated with soil carbon sequestration have been focused on long term aspect. However, information regarding soil carbon sequestration in short term aspect is limited. This study was conducted to determine changes of soil organic carbon content and stability of carbon in response to compost application rate and tillage management during rice growing season(150 days) in short term aspect. Under pot experiment condition, compost was mixed with an arable soil at rates corresponding to 0, 6, 12, and 24 Mg/ha. To determine effect of tillage on soil carbon sequestration, till and no-till treatments were set up in soils amended with application rate of 12 Mg/ha. Compost application and tillage management did not significantly affect soil organic carbon(SOC) content in soil at harvest time. Bulk density of soil was not changed significantly with compost application and tillage management. These might result from short duration of experiment. While hot water extractable organic carbon(HWEOC) content decreased with compost application, humic substances(HS) increased. Below ground biomass of rice increased with application of compost and till operation. From the above results, continuos application of compost and reduce tillage might improve increase in soil organic carbon content and stability of carbon in long term aspect.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.27
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• pp.56-67
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• 1984

As in many other country, the use of organic matter in Korea has long history. Farmers understand the value of organic matter as the source of plant nutrient and soil improving agent in general. Since 50 years ago, the sources of organic matter in paddy soils were compost, rice and barly straw, green manure, animal waste, fish and beancake, etc.. Application of green manures such as vetch and chinese milk vetch showed no significant effect on the yield of brown rice in paddy soil. On the other hand, the effects of compost and rice straw showed more significant on the yield of brown rice in paddy soil. Application of rice straw in rice cultivation is commonly made at different times between harvest, early spring and several weeks before transplanting. Considering the suitable paddy soil for application of rice straw under well to moderately well drained soil, the yield was pronounced more than poorly drained soil. Based on laboratory and field experimants, application of rice straw promoted the decrease of oxidation-reduction potential in well to moderately well drained soil. This results to be enhanced the release of some mineral nutrients,. such as potassium, calcium, silicon, and increase of availability of soil phosphorus. In the field experiments, results obtained from nitrogen fraction on the immobilization-mineralization of the tracer nitrogen applied in paddy soil,the amount and index of organic nitrogen incoporated in soil was more pronounced in rice straw application than control. Rice straw and its transformation products incoporated in the soil, provided the inflow of energy necessary to maintain heterotrophic microbes activities. Rice straw and its transformation products, especially soluble carbohydrate, enhanced the population of free-living heterotrophic $N_2$ - fixing microbes. Moreover, rice straw and its transformation products in paddy soil, enhanced the activities of soil enzymes such as dehydrogenase and urease.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.271-281
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• 2014

Fluctuating wind conditions necessitate the use of a variable speed wind turbine (VSWT) with a AC/DC/AC converter scheme in order to harvest the maximum power from the wind and to decouple the synchronous generator voltage and frequency from the grid voltage and frequency. In this paper, a combination of a three phase diode bridge rectifier (DBR) and a modified topology of the diode clamped multilevel inverter (DCMLI) has been considered as an AC/DC/AC converter. A control strategy has been proposed for the DCMLI to achieve the objective of grid interface of a wind power system together with local load compensation. A novel fixed frequency current control method is proposed for the DCMLI based on the level shifted multi carrier PWM for achieving the required control objectives with equal and uniform switching frequency operation for better control and thermal management with the modified DCMLI. The condition of the controller gain is derived to ensure the operation of the DCMLI at the fixed frequency of the carrier. The converter current injected into the distribution grid is controlled in accordance with the wind power availability. In addition, load compensation is performed as an added facility in order to free the source currents being fed from the grid of harmonic distortion, unbalance and a low power factor even though the load may be unbalanced, non-linear and of a poor power factor. The results are validated using PSCAD/EMTDC simulation studies.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2017

The food situation in North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK) has been in difficulty situation because of a shortage of energy, and of raw materials such as fertilizer and agricultural chemicals. The international agricultural aid programs can alleviate some difficulties in the agricultural areas, but the policies and measures in North Korea can not help difficulties in the agriculture due to the institutional obstacles enforced by DPRK. The arable area of DPRK is approximately $20,000km^2$, of which $14,000km^2$ is well for cereal cultivation. Fertilizer supplies in recent years between 700,000 and 750,000 tons annually were less than 50% of the normal requirement. Also, North Korea strongly needed to inject phosphorus fertilizer and lime to increase the fertility. Soil degradation in DPRK was characterized by physical and chemical changes caused by rapid loss of clay particles and organic matter. Intensive ploughing and tilling to grow crops may lead to massive soil degradation and declining yields. Although farmers in the DPRK have faced numerous challenges, not least of which are soil erosion, scarce inputs and extreme weather like drought, flooding and cold spells. Therefore farmers should be encouraged to adopt more environmentally sound cropping practices, to access quality seeds and planting materials and to reduce losses after the harvest.