• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.251-255
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• 2021

a-Si is commonly considered as a primary candidate for the formation of passivation layer in heterojunction (HIT) solar cells. However, there are some problems when using this material such as significant losses due to recombination and parasitic absorption. To reduce these problems, a wide bandgap material is needed. A wide bandgap has a positive influence on effective transmittance, reduction of the parasitic absorption, and prevention of unnecessary epitaxial growth. In this paper, the adoption of a-SiO_x:H as the intrinsic layer was discussed. To increase lifetime and conductivity, oxygen concentration control is crucial because it is correlated with the thickness, bonding defect, interface density (D_it), and band offset. A thick oxygen-rich layer causes the lifetime and the implied open-circuit voltage to drop. Furthermore the thicker the layer gets, the more free hydrogen atoms are etched in thin films, which worsens the passivation quality and the efficiency of solar cells. Previous studies revealed that the lifetime and the implied voltage decreased when the a-SiOx thickness went beyond around 9 nm. In addition to this, oxygen acted as a defect in the intrinsic layer. The D_it increased up to an oxygen rate on the order of 8%. Beyond 8%, the D_it was constant. By controlling the oxygen concentration properly and achieving a thin layer, high-efficiency HIT solar cells can be fabricated.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2022

The study on electrode degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was mainly studied on the particle growth and active area reduction of Pt on the electrode. The degradation of the electrode catalyst Pt in contact with the membrane affects the deterioration of the polymer membrane, but there are not many studies related to this. In this study, the phenomenon of the deposition of deteriorated Pt inside the polymer membrane during the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test and its effects were studied. The voltage change (0.6 V ↔ 0.9 V) was repeated up to 30,000 cycles to accelerate the platinum degradation rate. When the voltage change cycle was repeated while oxygen was introduced into the cathode, the amount of Pt deposited inside the film was larger than when nitrogen was introduced. As the number of voltage change cycles increased, the amount of Pt deposited inside the membrane increased, and Pt dissolved in the cathode moved toward the anode, showing a uniform distribution throughout the membrane at 20,000 cycles. In the process of the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test, the hydrogen crossover current density of the membrane did not change, and it was confirmed that the deposited Pt did not affect the durability of the membrane.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.12-18
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• 2022

Korea depends on the import of raw materials such as iron ore and coal for the steel industry. These raw materials have a major impact on the cost, productivity, and quality competitiveness in the global steel industry. To secure the competitiveness of steel companies, it is necessary to reduce the country's dependence on raw materials. This can be achieved using byproducts with a high Fe content, which are primarily generated by the steel industry. These byproducts are available in the form of a very fine powder, which can disperse as dust when used directly in plant processes. Dust dispersion has a negative impact on the environment and can lead to the loss of raw materials. To enable the use of a wide range of Fe-containing byproducts, it is necessary to pretreat them in the form of larger aggregates such as pellets and briquettes. There are several methods to achieve such aggregates. There are two ways to produce briquettes: using a hot briquette, which supplies additional heat to produce briquettes, or using a cold briquette, which does not use heat. A method for producing cold briquettes using Fe-containing byproducts was investigated in this study. The yield ratio and briquette strength were examined under various manufacturing conditions.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2024

The creation of vertically aligned one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures through the decoration of n-type tin oxide (SnO₂) on p-type chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) constitutes an effective strategy for enhancing gas sensing performance. These heterostructures are deposited in multiple stages using a glancing angle deposition technique with an electron beam evaporator, resulting in a reduction in the surface porosity of the nanorods as SnO₂ is incorporated. In comparison to Cr₂O₃ films, the bare Cr₂O₃ nanorods exhibits a response 3.3 times greater to 50 ppm H₂S at 300℃, while the SnO₂-decorated Cr₂O₃ nanorods demonstrate an eleven-fold increase in response. Furthermore, when subjected to various gases (CH₄, H₂S, CO₂, H₂), a notable selectivity toward H₂S is observed. This study paves the way for the development of p-type semiconductor sensors with heightened selectivity and sensitivity towards H₂S, thus advancing the prospects of gas sensor technology.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.329-340
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• 2024

Mangiferin is a kind of natural xanthone glycosides and is known to have various pharmacological activities. However, since the beneficial efficacy of this compound has not been reported in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, this study aimed to evaluate whether mangiferin could protect human RPE ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury mimicked by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The results showed that mangiferin attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell viability reduction and DNA damage, while inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and preserving diminished glutathione (GSH). Mangiferin also antagonized H₂O₂-induced inhibition of the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as manganese superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase, which was associated with inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production. In addition, mangiferin protected ARPE-19 cells from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreasing caspase-3 activation, and blocking poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Moreover, mangiferin suppressed the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, which was achieved by interfering with mitochondrial membrane disruption. Furthermore, mangiferin increased the expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, the inhibition of ROS production, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of mangiferin were significantly attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor, indicating that mangiferin promoted Nrf2-mediated HO-1 activity to prevent ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury. The results of this study suggest that mangiferin, as an Nrf2 activator, has potent ROS scavenging activity and may have the potential to protect oxidative stress-mediated ocular diseases.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2011

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of sanitizer concentrations and treatment time against two major toad-borne pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on a stainless steel surface. As a result, stainless steel, treated with 100 ppm of chlorine showed reduction of E. coli(1.56, 1.49, 1.95 log cfu/25 $cm^2$) and S. aureus(0.49, 0.88, 1.27 log cfu/25 $cm^2$) after 0, 5 and 10 min, but none was not detected in treatment with 200 ppm. The population of E. coli(0.73, 0.90, 1.55 log cfu/25 $cm^2$) and S. aureus(0.37, 1.00, 1.45 log cfu/25 $cm^2$) reduced in 35.5% ethanol treated group, but none was not detected in treatment with 70%. The population was reduced E coli(0.28, 0.64, 1.07 cfu/25 $cm^2$) and S. aureus(0.53, 0.87, 0.99 log cfu/25 $cm^2$) by treatment with 45.5 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, but none was not detected in treatment with 91 ppm. Quarternary ammonium compound with 100 ppm was reduced E. coli(0.82, 1.62, 1.71 log cfu/25 $cm^2$) and S. aureus(0.46, 0.93, 1.38 log cfu/25 $cm^2$), but none was not detected in treatment with 200 ppm. Predictive models of sterilization for all 4 disinfectants were suitable to use with $r^2$ value of higher than 0.94. These models may be of use to food services and manufacture of safe products by controlling E. coli and S. aureus without the need for further detection of the organisms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2006

The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of the antioxidant activity and the cytotoxic effect of Ceramium kondoi. The antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effect of the water extracts were evaluated by total phenolic contents (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), reducing power (RP), comet assay, and MTT reduction assay. TPC, DPPH RSA, and RP of the extract at the concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ was $659.2{\mu}M$, 86.0%, and 1.084, respectively, and those were concentration dependent. The $200{\mu}M\;H_2O_2-induced$DNA damage was inhibited by C. kondoi water extract in a dose dependent manner in human leukocytes. The inhibition was by 62.3, 39.8, 24.8% and 16.4% at the concentration of 5, 10, $25{\mu}g/mL$ and $50{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Cytotoxic activity on HT-29 cells and MCF-7 cells of the C. kondoi water extract at the concentration of $10{\mu}g/mL$ was 49% and 60%, respectively. These results strongly support the possibility of C. kondoi as a source of natural functional materials.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.53-65
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• 1987

The study was performed to investigate the effect of gaseous emissions of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen fluoride on the growth of rice plants under stressed field conditions consisting of 88 industrial plants operating with 285 smoke stacks emitting pollutants. As for the relationship between yields and yield components it is believed that the panicles per hill is the single most important component affecting the rate of yield of the rice plant. Based on the standard partial regression coefficient analysis, panicles per hill has the largest contribution to yield and the average contribution of 54%. Other components such as spikelets per panicle, percent fertility and 1000 grain weight are also contributing factors to yield, although far less so. Fluorine content in the leaf appear to have more negative effect on panicles per hill, percent fertility and subsequent overall yield than does sulfur content in the leaf. It is constantly observed and interesting to note that fluorine and sulfur content in the leaf appears to have no effect on spikelets per panicle and 1000 grain weight. Reduction in yield seems to be affected mainly by panicles per hill which are, in turn, affected more by fluorine content in the leaf as demonstrated by the standard partial coefficient analysis. Regarding the prediction sum of the square of the regression equation, the lowest value was found when nine variables were used for the analysis. The variables taken into consideration were the monthly sulfur and fluorine content in the leaf as well as the monthly percent of leaf damage during the months of June, July and August. A significant correlation is found between the actual and predicted yields by the regression equations selected as a result of a prediction sum of the square analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.578-587
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• 2022

Korea, as the world's 7^th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has raised the national greenhouse gas reduction target as international regulations have been strengthened. As it is possible to utilize coastal and marine ecosystems as important nature-based solutions (NbS) for implementing climate change mitigation or adaptation plans, the blue carbon ecosystem is now receiving attention. Blue carbon refers to carbon that is deposited and stored for a long period after carbon dioxide (CO₂) is absorbed as biomass by coastal ecosystems or oceanic ecosystems through photosynthesis. Currently, there are only three blue carbon ecosystems officially recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. However, the results of new research on the high CO₂ sequestration and storage capacity of various new blue carbon sinks, such as seaweeds, microalgae, coral reefs, and non-vegetated tidal flats, have been continuously reported to the academic community recently. The possibility of IPCC international accreditation is gradually increasing through scientific verification related to calculations. In this review, the current status and potential value of seaweeds, seagrass fields, and non-vegetated tidal flats, which are sources of blue carbon on the east coast, are discussed. This paper confirms that seaweed resources are the most effective NbS in the East Sea of Korea. In addition, we would like to suggest the direction of research and development (R&D) and utilization so that new blue carbon sinks can obtain international IPCC certification in the near future.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2002

One of the critical problems to preserve books and documents in libraries and archives is the deterioration. Some of previous results showed that the major cause of paper deterioration was the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the cellulose in paper fibres and aging rate of acidic paper was faster than that of alkaline paper. Therefore, It is necessary to remove the acid in the paper for reducing the rate of paper deterioration. It has been reported to extend the useful life of acidic paper by three to five times. Recently, It has been recognized the need for an effective method of deacidifying large quantities of books and document. However, in the previous many reports little attention was paid to the effect of paper additives. In this paper, We carried out experiment about the effect of additives on paper aging and the effect of deacidification by the gaseous ethanolamines (monoehtanolamine, diethanolamine, triehtanolamine). In result, it was found that the strength of aging was in the order of the alum＋rosin＞alum ＞AKD＞ control and the rate of deacidification was in the order of the monoethanolamine＞diethanolamine＞triethanolamine. The treatment with the gaseous ethanolamines caused decreasing of brightness and dropping of fold endurances. However, deacidification by combination treatment of the various gaseous ehtnaolamines prevented from decreasing of brightness and dropping of folding endurances.