• Title/Summary/Keyword: Fossil Fuels

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Responses of Various Biomarkers in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Exposed to Benzo[k]fluoranthene

  • Kim, Woo-Keun;Kim, Ja-Hyun;Yeom, Dong-Hyuk;Lee, Sung-Kyu
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.331-337
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    • 2008
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from leakage of fossil fuels and incomplete combustion of organic materials have been considered as harmful contaminants in environments. This study evaluated the effect of benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), one of the PAHs, using the multiple biomarkers and applied the integration model with those biomarker responses. After 10 days of the exposure at the measured concentrations of BkF (6, 25, and 45 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), the changes of the four biomarkers, that is, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), DNA single-strand breaks (Comet), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and vitellogenin (VTG) in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were observed. The standardized values of four biomarker responses were computed and integrated as star plots, representing Integrated Biomarker Respnse (IBR) values. DNA damage was induced in a dose-dependent manner, and increased significantly compared with that in the control. EROD and VTG levels were significantly elevated at low concentrations of BkF. On the other hand, AChE activities were not altered by BkF. IBR values increased as the exposure concentrations increased. Thus, the metabolic, endocrine and genetic changes of the biomarker responses in the common carp exposed to BkF should be considered in the case of the ecological risk assessment of the BkF in fish and it can be used as a biomonitoring tool in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, star plots can be used as a useful analysis tool in multibiomarker integration approach.

A Comprehensive Review of PEMFC Durability Test Protocol of Pt Catalyst and MEA (수소연료전지 백금촉매 및 MEA 장기내구성 평가 방법의 비교)

  • Ham, Kahyun;Chung, Sunki;Lee, Jaeyoung
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.659-666
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    • 2019
  • Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) generate electricity by electrochemical reactions of hydrogen and oxygen. PEMFCs are expected to alternate electric power generator using fossil fuels with various advantages of high power density, low operating temperature, and environmental-friendly products. PEMFCs have widely been used in a number of applications such as fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and stationary fuel cell systems. However, there are remaining technical issues, particularly the long-term durability of each part of fuel cells. Degradation of a carbon supported-platinum catalyst in the anode and cathode follows various mechanistic origins in different fuel cell operating conditions, and thus accelerated stress test (AST) is suggested to evaluate the durability of electrocatalyst. In this article, comparable protocols of the AST durability test are intensively explained.

Current status on metabolic engineering of starch in sweetpotato (고구마 전분 대사공학 연구 동향)

  • Ahn, Young-Ock;Yang, Kyoung-Sil;Kim, Sun-Hyung;Kwak, Sang-Soo;Lee, Haeng-Soon
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.207-213
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    • 2009
  • Starch serves not only as an energy source for plants, animals, and humans but also as an environmentally friendly alternative for fossil fuels. Progress in understanding of starch biosynthesis, and the isolation of many genes involved in this process have enabled the genetic modification of crops in a rational manner to produce novel starches with improved functionality. Starch is composed of two glucose polymers, amylose and amylopectin. The amylose and amylopectin ratio in starch affects its physical and physicochemical properties. Alteration in starch structure can be achieved by modifying genes encoding the enzymes responsible for starch biosynthesis and starch hydrolysis. Here, we describe recent findings concerning the starch modification in sweetpotato. Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] ranks seventh in annual production among food crops in the world as an important starch source. To develop transgenic sweetpotato plants with modifying starch composition, we constructed transformation vectors overexpressing granule bound starch synthase I and inhibiting amylopectin synthesis genes such as starch branching enzyme and isoamylase under the control of 35S promoter, respectively. Transformation of sweetpotato (cv. Yulmi) is in progress.

Biofuel Utilization and Implications in ASEAN Based on Case Analysis of Developed Countries (선진국 사례분석을 통한 ASEAN 국가의 바이오연료 활용 방안 및 시사점)

  • Heo, Su Jung;Choi, Joon Weon
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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    • v.46 no.5
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    • pp.577-596
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    • 2018
  • ASEAN countries consist of vast coastal areas and thousands of islands that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on sea level rise. It is believed that this will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally in order to minimize the damage suffered by ASEAN countries. To overcome this issue, biofuels have been used to minimize the impact on the environment by replacing fossil fuels and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In those cases of United States, Brazil and Europe, where biofuels are highly utilized, research, development and investment in this field have been actively conducted in the past. In ASEAN countries, however, it has not been a long time since the biofuel policies were established. To overcome this problem, we investigated the renewable fuel policy in the United States, Brazil and the European Union. Based on this, we suggested the utilization plan and prospect of biofuel policy in ASEAN countries.

Demand Forecasts Analysis of Electric Vehicles for Apartment in 2020 (2020년 아파트의 전기자동차 수요예측 분석 연구)

  • Byun, Wan-Hee;Lee, Ki-Hong;Lee, Sang-Hyuk;Kee, Ho-Young
    • The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.81-91
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    • 2012
  • The world has been replacing fast fossil fuels vehicles with electric vehicles(EVs) to cope with climate change. The government set a goal which EVs will be substitute at least 10% of the domestic small vehicles with EVs until 2020, and will try to build electric charging infrastructures in apartments with the revision the law of 'the housing construction standards'. In apartments the EVs charging infrastructure and parking space is, essential to accomplish the goal. But the studies on EVs demand are few. In this study, we predicted that the demand for EVs using time-series analysis of statistical data, survey results for apartments residents in the metropolitan area. As a result, the ratio of the EVs appeared to be 6~21% for the total vehicles in a rental apartments for the years 2020, 21~39% in apartments for sales. For the EVs, the maximum power required for 1,000 households in rental apartment is predicted to be about 4200 kwh on a daily basis, while the maximum power in the apartment for sales is predicted to be 7800kwh.

Explosion Simulations for the Quantitative Risk Analysis of New Energy Filling Stations (신에너지 충전소의 정량적 위험성 평가를 위한 폭발 시뮬레이션)

  • Dan, Seung-Kyu;Park, Kyung-Jun;Kim, Tae-Ok;Shin, Dong-Il
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.60-67
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    • 2011
  • The interest about new and renewable energy is increasing to reduce the burden of problems by depletion of fossil fuels and air pollutions. For example, LNG/CNG and LPG are expected to be replaced, especially in transportation use, by HCNG mixture and DME-LPG mixture, respectively. Because these new energies are still flammable gases, it is not inherently safe from the explosion. In this research, the quantitative risk analysis for using alternative mixtures in existing recharging facilities has been studied by using three types of explosion models (TNT equivalency model, PHAST and CFD-based FLACS) to manage the risk effectively. The differences of results by models were compared against, and the practical ways of when and how to use these models were suggested. It was also predicted that conventional gas filling stations would be converted as new energy stations without additional explosion risk.

Technical Trends for Small Aircraft Propulsion (소형항공기 추진기관 기술동향)

  • Kim, Keun-Bae
    • Current Industrial and Technological Trends in Aerospace
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.35-43
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    • 2008
  • Technical trends of propulsion system for small aircraft are investigated. Currently, most small aircraft are equipped with piston engine, turboprop and turbofan engines, and the technology development is going continuously. For piston engines, new diesel engines are arising besides gasoline engine. The diesel engines use relatively low-cost and easy to get fuel(Jet A), so the demand for small aircraft is getting increased, and new engines with high reliability and efficiency are being developed. For gas turbine engines, application of small turbofan is getting increased for newly arising VLJ market and the engine demand will be rapidly increased in the future. On the other hand, some electric propulsions without fossil fuels are being developed without high cost of fuel and environmental effects. In the future, propulsion system for small aircraft will be developed having enhancement of performance and efficiency with higher reliability and safety.

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Design of Bottom Shape and Forming Analysis of Hydrogen Pressure Vessel with Maximum Volume (최대 내용적을 갖는 수소압력용기의 형상설계 및 성형해석)

  • Park, Gun Young;Kwak, Hyo Seo;Lee, Kwang O;Kim, Chul
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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    • v.41 no.10
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    • pp.941-948
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    • 2017
  • Recently, hydrogen energy has been in the spotlight as an alternative to diminishing fossil fuels and as a potential solution to environmental pollution. The development of hydrogen-fueled vehicles and the demands for improved fuel efficiencies have resulted in the need to increase the volume of the hydrogen pressure vessels. Pressure vessels having an elliptical bottom, as opposed to one that is hemispherical, allow for a greater capacity. However, there are insufficient studies on the feasibility of the forming process required for an elliptical bottom. In this study, the liner capacity is calculated according to the ratios of the major to the minor axes of the elliptical bottom part in a hydrogen pressure vessel. Structural safety is verified through finite element analyses, and the results are compared to the theoretical results. The feasibility of the proposed elliptical shape of the pressure vessel bottom, while filled to maximum capacity, is validated through forming analysis.

A Study for Removing Road Shields from Mobile Mapping System of the Laser Data using RTF Filtering Techniques (RTF 필터링을 이용한 모바일매핑시스템 레이저 데이터의 도로 장애물 제거에 관한 연구)

  • Song, Hyun-Kun;Kang, Byoung-Ju;Lee, Sung-Hun;Choi, Yun-Soo
    • Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.3-12
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    • 2012
  • It is a global trend to give attention to generating precise 3D navigation maps since eco-friendly vehicles have become a critical issue due to environmental protection and depletion of fossil fuels. To date, Mobile Mapping System (MMS) has been a efficient method to acquire the data for generating the 3D navigation maps. To achieve this goal so far in the Mobile Mapping System using the data acquisition method has been proposed to be most effective. For this study the basic RTF filter algorithm was applied to modify to fit MMS quantitative analysis derived floor 99.71%, 99.95% of the highly non-producers to maintain accuracy and high-precision 3D road could create DEM. In addition, the roads that exist within the cars, roadside tree, road cars, such as the median strips have been removed to shields it takes to get results effectively, and effective in practical applications and can be expected to improve operational efficiency is considered.

International Rule for Environment and International Trade (국제환경규범(國際環境規範)과 무역연계(貿易連繫))

  • Shin, Han-Dong
    • THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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    • v.12
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    • pp.587-613
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    • 1999
  • Environmental problems such as global climate change, depletion, ocean and air pollution, and resource degradation-compounded by an expanding world population-respect no border and threaten the health, prosperity and jobs of all mankind. Our efforts to promote democracy, free trade, and stability in the world will fall short unless people have a livable environment. We have an enormous stake in the management of the world's resources. By increasing demand for timber, natural gas, coal and consumer's goods have destroyed the grounds for living. Greenhouse gas emissions anywhere in the world have threatened coastal communities, and then changed the Earth's climate system. The burning of coal, oil, and other fossil fuels is increasing substantially the concentration of heat-trapping gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in our air. The earth's temperature and sea levels are rising as a result. Since 1972 there has been a marked growth in the number and scope of environmental treaties. In particular, after the 1992 Rio Conference, international legal instruments became more concentrated on addressing environment within the context of sustainable development and incorporated a number of new concepts and innovative approaches. A preliminary analysis of recent conventions and in particular those associated with the Rio Conference indicates various ideas, concepts and principles which have come to the fore including sustainable development, equity, common concern of humankind, common but differentiated responsibilities and global partnership. However, international trade also has an environmental impact which must be minimized or countered. Positive measures are to be preferred to achieve environmental goals, but where trade provisions are necessary, they should be appropriately used within environmental conventions to facilitate the reduction and limitation of the negative impacts of trade and to enhance the complementarity of the multilateral trade regime with the imperatives of environmental protection, in the interests of environmental protection and sustainable development generally. The international community has to recognize and endorse this need to achieve complementarity between trade and environment issues.

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