• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1226-1229
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• 2018

We investigated the improvement of surface roughness and states after high temperature annealing using reduced-graphene oxide (r-GO) capping layer on ion-implanted 4H-SiC epitaxial layer. The specification of the 4H-SiC wafer grown on n-type $4^{\circ}$ off-axis 4H-SiC was $10{\mu}m$-thick and n-type epitaxial layer with a dose of $1.73{\times}10^{15}cm^{-2}$. The $n^+$ region were formed by multiple nitrogen ion-implantations and r-GO capping layer was produced by spray coating method. AFM measurements revealed that RMS value of the sample capped with r-GO was tenfold decrease compared to the sample without r-GO capping. The improvement of surface states was also verified by the improvement of leakage current level.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2019

Inflammatory and oxidative stimuli play a critical role not only in the process of transforming normal cells into cancer cells, but also in the proliferation process of cancer cells. Sipyukmiryukieum (SYMRKU), a traditional Korean herb-combined remedy, is composed of 16 kinds of herbal medicines, which were recorded for "Ongjeo" treatment in "Dongeuibogam". In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of SYMRKU against inflammatory and oxidative responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that SYMRKU significantly inhibited LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ without showing any significant cytotoxicity. Consistent with these results, SYMRKU down-regulated LPS-induced expression of their regulatory enzymes such as inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. SYMRKU also inhibited LPS-induced production and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. In addition, SYMRKU significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species by LPS and showed a strong, which was associated with induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 expression. Although further studies are needed to fully understand the anti-inflammatory effects associated with the antioxidant capacity of SYMRKU, the findings of the current study suggest that SYMRKU may have potential benefits by inhibiting the onset and/or treatment of inflammatory and/or oxidative diseases.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.57-66
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• 2021

In this study, we attempted to separate and recover Cu from low-grade copper ore by a hydrometallurgical process. The leaching sample obtained after crushing and sieving by 0.355 mm of low-grade copper ore contained 1.5% Cu, 4.7% Fe, 1.0% Mn, and 0.3% Zn. The Cu in the oxide ore was very well leached into sulfuric acid and 97% Cu leaching efficiency was achieved at 80℃ and 3 M sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). From the leaching solution, Cu was separated by solvent extraction from Fe, Mn, and Zn using LIX984N. The separation tendency between Cu and other metals was confirmed through the distribution ratio and separation factor. By plotting the McCabe-Thiele Diagram, the optimum condition for recovering Cu is 5 vol.% LIX984N, 2-stage counter-current solvent extraction, and an O/A ratio of 0.5. Using this method, 99% of the Cu was extracted and a CuSO₄ solution was finally obtained that contained 1.6 g/L Cu after the stripping process using 2 M H₂SO₄.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2021

In this study, the research objects are gilt plated silver-iron nails excavated from the west of the tombs in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo. A gilt plated silver-iron nail was fabricated by combining silver and iron via heating and then gilding amalgam on top of this combination, demonstrating that this ancient artifact that can be replicated using current technology. Since the metal (Au, Ag) surface of these gilt plated artifacts are covered with iron oxide, which slips into the cracks and scratches of the artifacts as well, desalination is essential. Based on the results of the preliminary experiment, the research objects were classified into grades A, B, and C, according to the degree of corrosion and then desalinated using an alkali solution (NaOH, Sodium Sesquicarbonate of 0.1 M) at 60℃. The results demonstrate that the more serious is the degree of corrosion, the more is the amount of Cl^- detected. Further, more Cl^- was released when NaOH was used than when sodium sesquicarbonate was used, for all grades except Grade A. Furthermore, the more serious is the degree of corrosion, the longer is the desalination period and the reaction with NaOH for all grades except Grade A. A comparison of the Fe composition of the surface before and after desalination shows that Fe composition is the use of NaOH resulted in a smaller increase compared with the use of sodium sesquicarbonate, for all grades except Grade B. However, four of the nails were damaged owing to NaOH (Grade B 3ea, Grade C 1ea) during desalination. Thus, Cl^- ions are more stably released when sodium sesquicarbonate is used than when NaOH is used.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.463-475
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• 2020

Presence of microplastics in soil and groundwater has recently been reported and environmental concerns are raised as to the plastic pollution. In the subsurface environment, clay minerals and metal oxide minerals are commonly found as finely dispersed states. Because the minerals have high sorption capacities for diverse pollutants, interactions with mineral surface play an important role in the transport of microplastics in groundwater. Accordingly, environmental mineralogy investigating the interactions between microplastics and mineral surfaces is the essential research area to understand the fate and transport of microplastics in the subsurface environment. The microplastic-mineral surface research requires molecular- to nano-scale analyses to be able to probe the relatively weak interactions between them. The current report introduces a nano-scale analysis tool called quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) that can measure the sorbed/desorbed mass of nanoplastics on mineral surfaces at the level of a few nanograms (~10-9 g). This report briefly reviews the main principles in the QCM measurement and discusses applications of QCM to the environmental mineralogy research.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1501-1507
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• 2021

Lagerstroemia ovalifolia Teijsm. & Binn. (LO) (crape myrtle) has reportedly been used as traditional herbal medicine (THM) in Java, Indonesia. Our previous study revealed that the LO leaf extract (LOLE) exerted anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Based on this finding, the current study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of LOLE in a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI). The results showed that treatment with LPS enhanced the inflammatory cell influx into the lungs and increased the number of macrophages and the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice. However, these effects were notably abrogated with LOLE pretreatment. Furthermore, the increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in the lung tissues of mice with ALI was also reversed by LOLE. In addition, LOLE significantly suppressed the LPS-induced activation of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and led to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction in the lungs. Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that LOLE enhanced the expression of HO-1 in RAW264.7 macrophages. The aforementioned findings collectively indicate that LOLE exerts an ameliorative effect on inflammatory response in the airway of ALI mice.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2022

Environmental issues such as global warming due to fossil fuel use are now major worldwide concerns, and interest in renewable and clean energy is growing. Of the various types of renewable energy, green hydrogen energy has recently attracted attention because of its eco-friendly and high-energy density. Electrochemical water splitting is considered a pollution-free means of producing clean hydrogen and oxygen and in large quantities. The development of non-noble electrocatalysts with low cost and high performance in water splitting has also attracted considerable attention. In this study, we successfully synthesized a NiCo₂O₄/NF electrode for an oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline water splitting using a hydrothermal method, which was followed by post-heat treatment. The effects of heat treatment on the electrochemical performance of the electrodes were evaluated under different heat-treatment conditions. The optimized NCO/NF-300 electrode showed an overpotential of 416 mV at a high current density of 50 mA/cm² and a low Tafel slope (49.06 mV dec^-1). It also showed excellent stability (due to the large surface area) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (12.59 Ω). The results suggested that our noble-metal free electrodes have great potential for use in developing alkaline electrolysis systems.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2021

⁸²Sr for ⁸²Rb generator was produced through the irradiation of the proton beam on the ^nat.RbCI target at the target irradiation facility installed at the end of the Rl-dedicated beamline of the 100 MeV proton linear accelerator of KOMAC (Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex). The average current of the proton beam was 1.2 µA for irradiation time of 150 min. For the separation and purification of the ⁸²Sr from ^nat.RbCI irradiated, Chelex-100 resin was used. The activities of ⁸²Sr in the irradiated ^nat.RbCI target solution and after purification were 45.29 µCi and 43.4 µCi, respectively. The separation and purification yield was 95.8%. As an adsorbent to be filled in the generator for ⁸²Sr adsorption hydrous tin oxide was selected. The adsorption yield of ⁸²Sr into the generator adsorbent was > 99 %, and the total amount of ⁸²Sr adsorbed to the generator was 21.6 µCi as of the day of the ⁸²Rb elution experiment. When the elution amount was 22 mL, the maximum⁸²Rb elution yield was 93.3%, and the elution yield increased as the flow rate increased. After the eluted ⁸²Rb was filled in the correction phantom of the small PET for animals, a PET image was taken. The image scan time was set to 5 min, and the phantom PET image was successfully obtained. As results of impurity analysis on eluted ⁸²Rb using ICP-MS, ^nat.Rb stable isotopes that compete in vivo of ⁸²Rb were identified as undetected levels and were determined to be No-Carrier-Added (NCA).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was intended to investigate the revision status of the occupational exposure standards for aluminum at home and abroad; to investigate worker exposure at domestic aluminum manufacturing and handling workplaces; to conduct social and economic evaluation for the revision of domestic aluminum exposure limits. Methods: We investigated the current status of occupational exposure limits for aluminum at home and abroad, and analyzed supporting data. An exposure survey was conducted targeting domestic aluminum manufacturing and handling workplaces. Based on these, revised aluminum occupational exposure limits were proposed. Results: The major aluminum exposure limits at home and abroad show a notable difference. The toxicity of aluminum, which was revealed through animal experiments and epidemiological investigations. The average concentration of aluminum in the air at 12 workplaces was 0.016 mg/m³, and the maximum was 0.0776 mg/m³. When total dust and respiratory dust were measured side by side and simultaneously for the same process, 12.1% of the total mass concentration of aluminum dust was respiratory dust. As a result of measuring and comparing the size distribution of dust with an optical particle counter in real time, 48.1% of the total dust in the form of welding fume and pyro-powder was respiratory dust. Based on the literature review and workplace survey, three proposals for changing the aluminum exposure limit were proposed. Proposal (1): For all types, 10 mg/m³ is unified as the exposure limit except for soluble salts and alkyls. Proposal (2): 1(R) mg/m³ as the exposure limit for all forms except soluble salts and alkyl. Proposal (3): 1(R) mg/m³ for pyro-powder and welding fume, and 10 mg/m³ for metal dust, aluminum oxide, and insoluble compounds as exposure standards. A pyro-powder was defined as dry aluminum powder of 200 mesh size (74 ㎛) or smaller (larger size classified as metal dust). Reason for setting: In the workplace survey, the ratio of respiratory dust to total dust was analyzed to be about 1:10, so it was judged that the domestic standard and the ACGIH standard were compatible. Conclusions: In all scenarios according to the revision of the exposure standard, the B/C ratio was greater than 1 or only benefits existed, so it was evaluated as sufficiently reasonable as a result of the socio-economic evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2012

Over the last decade, the hafnium-based gate dielectric materials have been studied for many application fields. Because these materials had excellent behaviors for suppressing the quantum-mechanical tunneling through the thinner dielectric layer with higher dielectric constant (high-K) than $SiO_2$ gate oxides. Although high-K materials compensated the deterioration of electrical properties for decreasing the thickness of dielectric layer in MOSFET structure, their nano-mechanical properties of $HfO_2$ thin film features were hardly known. Thus, we examined nano-mechanical properties of the Hafnium oxide ($HfO_2$) thin film in order to optimize the gate dielectric layer. The $HfO_2$ thin films were deposited by rf magnetron sputter using hafnium (99.99%) target according to various oxygen gas flows. After deposition, the $HfO_2$ thin films were annealed after annealing at $400^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ for 20 min in nitrogen ambient. From the results, the current density of $HfO_2$ thin film for 8 sccm oxygen gas flow became better performance with increasing annealing temperature. The nano-indenter and Weibull distribution were measured by a quantitative calculation of the thin film stress. The $HfO_2$ thin film after annealing at $400^{\circ}C$ had tensile stress. However, the $HfO_2$ thin film with increasing the annealing temperature up to $800^{\circ}C$ had changed compressive stress. This could be due to the nanocrystal of the $HfO_2$ thin film. In particular, the $HfO_2$ thin film after annealing at $400^{\circ}C$ had lower tensile stress, such as 5.35 GPa for the oxygen gas flow of 4 sccm and 5.54 GPa for the oxygen gas flow of 8 sccm. While the $HfO_2$ thin film after annealing at $800^{\circ}C$ had increased the stress value, such as 9.09 GPa for the oxygen gas flow of 4 sccm and 8.17 GPa for the oxygen gas flow of 8 sccm. From these results, the temperature dependence of stress state of $HfO_2$ thin films were understood.