• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.524-530
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• 2002

Micro electric spark discharge device was fabricated on a FOTURAN glass wafer using MEMS processing technique and its performance of electron discharge and subsequent formation of ignition kernel were tested. Micro electric spark device is an essential subsystem of a power MEMS that has been under development in this laboratories. In a combustion chamber of sub millimeter scale depth, spark electrodes are formed by electroplating Ni on a base plate of FOTURAN glass wafer. Optimization of spark voltage and spark gap is crucial for stable ignition and endurance of the electrodes. Namely, wider spark gaps insures stable ignition but requires higher ignition voltage to overcome the spark barrier. Also, electron discharge across larger voltage tends to erode the electrodes limiting the endurance of the overall system. In the present study, the discharge characteristics of the proptotype ignition device was measured in terms of electric quantities such as voltage and currant with spark gap and end shape as parameters. Discharge voltage shows a little decrease in width of less than 50㎛ and increases with electrode gap size. Reliability test shows no severe damage over 10$\^$6/ times of discharge test resulting in satisfactory performance for application to proposed power MEMS devices.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.620-631
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• 2015

A total of 59 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from corn stover silage. According to phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences and recA gene polymerase chain reaction amplification, these LAB isolates were identified as five species: Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum subsp. plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Enterococcus mundtii, Weissella cibaria and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, respectively. Those strains were also screened for antimicrobial activity using a dual-culture agar plate assay. Based on excluding the effects of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide, two L. plantarum subsp. plantarum strains ZZU 203 and 204, which strongly inhibited Salmonella enterica ATCC $43971^T$, Micrococcus luteus ATCC $4698^T$ and Escherichia coli ATCC $11775^T$ were selected for further research on sensitivity of the antimicrobial substance to heat, pH and protease. Cell-free culture supernatants of the two strains exhibited strong heat stability (60 min at $100^{\circ}C$), but the antimicrobial activity was eliminated after treatment at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. The antimicrobial substance remained active under acidic condition (pH 2.0 to 6.0), but became inactive under neutral and alkaline condition (pH 7.0 to 9.0). In addition, the antimicrobial activities of these two strains decreased remarkably after digestion by protease K. These results preliminarily suggest that the desirable antimicrobial activity of strains ZZU 203 and 204 is the result of the production of a bacteriocin-like substance, and these two strains with antimicrobial activity could be used as silage additives to inhibit proliferation of unwanted microorganism during ensiling and preserve nutrients of silage. The nature of the antimicrobial substances is being investigated in our laboratory.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.155-160
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• 2005

Abstract A direct approach was used to retrieve active lipases from Paenibacillus polymyxa genome databases. Twelve putative lipase genes were tested using a typical lipase sequence rule built on the basis of a consensus sequence of a catalytic triad and oxyanion hole. Among them, six genes satisfied the sequence rule and had similarity (about 25%) with known bacterial lipases. To obtain the six lipase proteins, lipase genes were expressed in E. coli cells and lipolytic activities were measured by using tributyrin plate and pnitrophenyl caproate. One of them, contig 160-26, was expressed as a soluble and active form in E. coli cell. After purifying on Ni-NTA column, its detailed biochemical properties were characterized. It had a maximum hydrolytic activity at $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7- 8, and was stable up to $40^{\circ}C$ and in the range of pH 5- 8. It most rapidly hydrolyzed pNPC$_6$ among various PNPesters. The other contigs were expressed more or less as soluble forms, although no lipolytic activities were detected. As they have many conserved regions with lipase 160-26 as well as other bacterial lipases throughout their equence, they are suggested as true lipase genes.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.197-204
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• 2007

Ceramic pigments were developed by using 4 kinds of Brass scraps. Each Brass scraps were mixed with same weight-ratio of Husk ash, and fine-ground by Rotate ring mill(RRG-120, Armstech industrial. co. Ltd, Korea) after firing at $900^{\circ}C$, $1000^{\circ}C$ and $1100^{\circ}C$. As a result, analysis of particle size of synthetic pigments by particle size analyser, they are $3{\mu}m$ as average. The resulting pigments were characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, SEM Structure of the crystals are Zn2SiO4,, and ZnO, Cu2O, CuO, and cristobalite are existed and particles' shape are plate or needle. As a result of analysis of chemical composition by XRF, synthetic pigments have high SiO2 and CuO content and have SnO2, ZnO and NiO, too. 1wt%, 3wt% and 5wt% pigments were added in each lime glaze, lime-barium glaze and lime-magnesia glaze, and fired at oxidation and reducing atmosphere to figure hue in glazes out. As a result of analysis of color, chroma and brightness by UV, colors of glazes fired at oxidation atmosphere turned into green from sky blue, and colors of glazes fired at reducing atmosphere turned into pink and red.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.91-106
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• 2016

Two-dimensional elastoplastic finite element formulation is employed to investigate the load- carrying capacity degradation of reinforced concrete piers wrapped with steel plates due to occurrence of corrosion at the pier base. By comparing with experimental results, the employed finite element analysis method is verified to be accurate. After that, a series of parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effect of corrosion ratio and corrosion mode of steel plates located near the base of in-service pier P2 on load-carrying capacity of the piers. It is observed that the load-carrying capacity of the piers decreases with the increase in corrosion ratio of steel plates. There exists an obvious linear relationship between the load-carrying capacity and the corrosion ratio in the case of even corrosion mode. The degradation of load-carrying capacity resulted from the web's uneven corrosion mode is more serious than that under even corrosion mode, and the former case is more liable to occur than the latter case in actual engineering application. Finally, the failure modes of the piers under different corrosion state are discussed. It is found that the principal tensile strain of concrete and yield range of steel plates are distributed within a wide range in the case of slight corrosion, and they are concentrated on the column base when complete corrosion occurs. The findings obtained from the present study can provide a useful reference for the maintenance and strengthening of the in-service piers.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the antibacterial activity of urushiol against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) to that of NaOCl. Materials and Methods: The canals of thirty two single rooted human teeth were instrumented with Ni-Ti files (ProTaper Next X1, X2, X3, Dentsply). A pure culture of E. faecalis ATCC 19433 was prepared in sterile brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. The teeth were submerged in the suspension of E. faecalis and were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 7 days to allow biofilm formation. The teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups according to the irrigant used, and a negative control group where no irrigant was used (n = 8). Group 1 used physiologic normal saline, group 2 used 6% NaOCl, and group 3 used 10 wt% urushiol solution. After canal irrigation, each sample was collected by the sequential placement of 2 sterile paper points (ProTaper NEXT paper points, size X3, Dentsply). Ten-fold serial dilutions on each vials, and 100 µL were cultured on a BHI agar plate for 8 hours, and colony forming unit (CFU) analysis was done. The data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-whitney U tests. Results: Saline group exhibited no difference in the CFU counts with control group, while NaOCl and urushiol groups showed significantly less CFU counts than saline and control groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The result of this study suggests 10% urushiol and 6% NaOCl solution had powerful antibacterial activity against E. faecalis when they were used as root canal irrigants.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.99-117
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• 2015

The Stonecutters Bridge (SCB) in Hong Kong is the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world with a main span stretching 1,018 m between two 298 m high single-leg tapering composite towers. A Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS) is being implemented on SCB by the Highways Department of The Hong Kong SAR Government, and the SCB-WASHMS is composed of more than 1,300 sensors in 15 types. In order to establish a linkage between structural health monitoring and maintenance management, a Structural Health Rating System (SHRS) with relevant rating tools and indices is devised. On the basis of a 3D space frame finite element model (FEM) of SCB and model updating, this paper presents the development of an SHR-oriented 3D multi-scale FEM for the purpose of load-resistance analysis and damage evaluation in structural element level, including modeling, refinement and validation of the multi-scale FEM. The refined 3D structural segments at deck and towers are established in critical segment positions corresponding to maximum cable forces. The components in the critical segment region are modeled as a full 3D FEM and fitted into the 3D space frame FEM. The boundary conditions between beam and shell elements are performed conforming to equivalent stiffness, effective mass and compatibility of deformation. The 3D multi-scale FEM is verified by the in-situ measured dynamic characteristics and static response. A good agreement between the FEM and measurement results indicates that the 3D multi-scale FEM is precise and efficient for WASHMS and SHRS of SCB. In addition, stress distribution and concentration of the critical segments in the 3D multi-scale FEM under temperature loads, static wind loads and equivalent seismic loads are investigated. Stress concentration elements under equivalent seismic loads exist in the anchor zone in steel/concrete beam and the anchor plate edge in steel anchor box of the towers.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2011

The grain size and growth direction of a directionally solidified turbine blade were evaluated by the initial nucleation condition at the start block of directional solidification. The initial nucleation condition was controlled by inserting a Ni foil on the directional solidification plate of the directional solidification furnace. Fine grains with good orientation were obtained in the faster cooling condition at the start block. The nucleus number was compared with the cooling rate of the start block by electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD). DSC (differential scanning calorimeter) analysis was performed to compare the melting point and undercooling for nucleation of the coarse nuclei and fine nuclei of the start block. The faster cooling condition at the start block showed more undercooling for nucleation and smaller size of nuclei which resulted in a fine grain with good orientation in the directional turbine blade.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.321-327
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• 2008

Cu based amorphous ($Cu_{54}Zr_{22}Ti_{18}Ni_6$) coating was produced by cold spraying as a new fabrication process. The microstructure and macroscopic properties of amorphous coating layer was investigated and compared with those of cold sprayed pure Cu coating. Amorphous powders were prepared by gas atomization and Al 6061 was used as the substrate plate. X-ray diffraction results showed that Cu based amorphous powder could be successfully deposited by cold spraying without any crystallization. The Cu based amorphous coating layer ($300{\sim}400{\mu}m$ thickness) contained 4.87% porosity. The hardness of Cu based amorphous coating represented $412.8H_v$, which was correspond to 68% of the hardness of injection casted bulk amorphous material. The wear resistance of Cu based amorphous coating was found to be three times higher than that of pure Cu coating. The 3-point bending test results showed that the adhesion strength of Cu based amorphous coating layer was higher than that pure Cu coating. It was also observed that hard Cu base amorphous particle could easily deform soft substrate by particle collisions and thus generated strong adhesion between coating and substrate. However, the amorphous coating layer unexpectedly represented lower corrosion resistance than pure Cu coating, which might be resulted from the higher content of porosity in the cold sprayed amorphous coating.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2006

Sample preparation plays a critical role in microstructure analysis using TEM. Although TEM specimen has been usually prepared by jet-polishing or Ar-ion beam milling technique. these methods could not be applied to YBCO CC which is composed of IBAD or RABiTS substrates, several buffet layers, and YBCO superconducting layer because of big difference in mechanical strengths between the metallic phase and oxide phases. To obtain useful cross-sectional information such as interface between the phases or second phases in YBCO CC, it is prerequisite to secure the large area of thin section in the cross-sectional direction. The superconducting layer or the buffer layers are relatively weak and fragile compared to the metallic substrate such as Ni-5wt%W RABiTS of Hastelloy-based IBAD, and preferential removal of weak ceramic phases during polishing steps makes specimen preparation almost impossible. Tripod polisher and small jig were home-made and employed to sample preparation. The polishing angle was maintained <$1^{\circ}$ throughout the polishing steps using 2 micrometers attached to the tripod plate. TEM specimens with large and thin area could be secured and used for RABiTS/IBAD substrate analyses. In some cases, additional Ar-beam ion milling with low beam current and impinging angle was used for less than 30 sec. to remove debris or polishing media attacked to the specimens.