• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.43-55
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• 2023

Mass transport through nanoporous structures such as nanopores or nanochannels has fundamental electrochemical implications and many potential applications as well. These structures can be particularly useful for water treatment, energy conversion, biosensing, and controlled delivery of substances. Earlier research focused on creating nanopores with diameters ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers that can selectively transport cationic or anionic charged species. However, recent studies have shown that nanopores with diameters of a few nanometers or even less can achieve more complex and versatile transport control. For example, nanopores that mimic biological channels can be functionalized with specific receptors to detect viruses, small molecules, and even ions, or can be made hydrophobic and responsive to external stimuli, such as light and electric field, to act as efficient valves. This review summarizes the latest developments in nanopore-based systems that can control mass transport based on the size of the nanopores (e.g., length, diameter, and shape) and the physical/chemical properties of their inner surfaces. It also provides some examples of practical applications of these systems.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1666-1684
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• 2023

Objective: Our objective was to examine the relationships of supplemental rumen-protected lysine (RPL) or lysine + methionine (RPLM) on lactational performance, plasma amino acids (AA) concentration, and nitrogen use efficiency of lactating dairy cows by using a meta-analysis approach. Methods: A total of 56 articles comprising 77 experiments with either RPL or RPLM supplementation were selected and analyzed using a mixed model methodology by considering the treatments and other potential covariates as fixed effects and different experiments as random effects. Results: In early lactating cows, milk yield was linearly increased by RPL (β₁ = 0.013; p<0.001) and RPLM (β₁ = 0.014; p<0.028) but 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) and energy-corrected milk (ECM) (kg/d) was increased by only RPL. RPL and RPLM did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) but positively increased (p<0.05) dairy efficiency (Milk yield/DMI and ECM/DMI). As a percentage, milk fat, protein, and lactose were unchanged by RPL or RPLM but the yield of all components was increased (p<0.05) by feeding RPL while only milk protein was increased by feeding RPLM. Plasma Lys concentration was linearly increased (p<0.05) with increasing supplemental RPL while plasma Met increased (p<0.05) by RPLM supplementation. The increase in plasma Lys had a strong linear relationship (R² = 0.693 in the RPL dataset and R² = 0.769 in the RPLM dataset) on milk protein synthesis (g/d) during early lactation. Nitrogen metabolism parameters were not affected by feeding RPL or RPLM, either top-dress or when supplemented to deficient diets. Lactation performance did not differ between AA-deficient or AA-adequate diets in response to RPL or RPLM supplementation. Conclusion: RPL or RPLM showed a positive linear relationship on the lactational performance of dairy cows whereas greater improvement effects were observed during early lactation. Supplementing RPL or RPLM is recommended on deficient-AA diet but not on adequate-AA diet.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2024

Roll-to-roll processing holds an integral position within the manufacturing landscape, and its significance reverberates across numerous industries. This versatile technology platform encompasses a diverse array of process methods and accommodates a wide spectrum of material categories, making it a cornerstone of modern production. Within this expansive domain, two commonly employed coating techniques, namely the slot die and gravure coating methods, have earned their prominence for their precision and efficiency in delivering flawless coatings. Additionally, the realm of drying processes relies heavily on thermal drying, infrared (IR) drying, and ultraviolet (UV) drying methods to expedite the transformation of materials from their liquid or semi-liquid states to solid, ready-to-use products. The undeniable importance of roll-to-roll processing lies in its ability to streamline manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and enhance product quality. This article embarks on a comprehensive journey to fathom the depth of this importance by delving into the intricacies of these common roll-to-roll process methods. Through rigorous research and meticulous data collection, we aim to shed light on the pivotal role these techniques play in shaping various industries and advancing the world of manufacturing. By understanding their significance, we can harness the full potential of roll-to-roll processing and pave the way for innovation and excellence in production.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.91-97
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• 2023

Electrochemical (EC) CO₂ reduction is a promising method to convert CO₂ into valuable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals ecofriendly. Here, we report on a facile method to synthesize surface-controlled SnO₂/Cu(OH)₂ nanowires (NWs) and its EC reduction of CO₂ to HCOOH and CO. The SnO₂/Cu(OH)₂ NWs (-16 mA/cm²) showed superior electrochemical performance compared to Cu(OH)2 NWs (-6 mA/cm²) at -1.0 V (vs. RHE). SnO₂/Cu(OH)₂ NWs showed the maximum Faradaic efficiency for conversion to HCOOH (58.01 %) and CO (29.72 %). The optimized catalyst exhibits a high C1 Faradaic efficiency stable electrolysis for 2 h in a KHCO₃ electrolyte. This study facilitates the potential for the EC reduction of CO₂ to chemical fuels.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.312-338
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• 2023

The underground disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel demands a specialized design, distinct from conventional practices, to ensure long-term thermal, mechanical, and hydraulic integrity, preventing the release of radioactive isotopes from high-temperature spent nuclear fuel. SKB has established design criteria for such facilities and executed practical design implementations for Forsmark. Moreover, in response to subsurface uncertainty, SKB has proposed an empirical approach involving monitoring and adaptive design modifications, alongside stepwise development. SKB has further introduced a unique support system, categorizing ground types and behaviors and aligning them with corresponding support types to confirm safety through comparative analyses against existing systems. POSIVA has pursued a comparable approach, developing a support system for Onkalo while accounting for distinct geological characteristics compared to Forsmark. This demonstrates the potential for domestic implementation of spent nuclear fuel disposal facility designs and the establishment of a support system adapted to national attributes.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.445-471
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• 2023

Long-term safety over millennia is the top priority consideration in the construction of disposal sites. However, ensuring the mechanical stability of deep geological repositories for spent fuel, a.k.a. radwaste, disposal during construction and operation is also crucial for safe operation of the repository. Imposing restrictions or limitations on tunnel support and lining materials such as shotcrete, concrete, grouting, which might compromise the sealing performance of backfill and buffer materials which are essential elements for the long-term safety of disposal sites, presents a highly challenging task for rock engineers and tunnelling experts. In this study, as part of an extensive exploration to aid in the proper selection of disposal sites, the anticipation of constructing a deep geological repository at a depth of 500 meters in an unknown state has been carried out. Through a review of 2D and 3D numerical analyses, the study aimed to explore the range of properties that ensure stability. Preliminary findings identified the potential range of rock properties that secure the stability of central and disposal tunnels, while the stability of the vertical tunnel network was confirmed through 3D analysis, outlining fundamental rock conditions necessary for the construction of disposal sites.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.332-336
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• 2024

High-energy bandgap material silicon carbide (SiC) is gaining attention as a next-generation power semiconductor material, and in particular, SiC-based MOSFETs are developed as representative power semiconductors to increase the breakdown voltage (BV) of conventional planar structures. However, as the size of SJ (Super Junction) MOSFET devices decreases and the depth of pillars increases, it becomes challenging to uniformly form the doping concentration of pillars. Therefore, a structure with different doping concentrations segmented within the pillar is being researched. Using Silvaco TCAD simulation, a SJ VVD (vertical variation doping profile) MOSFET with three different doping concentrations in the pillar was studied. Simulations were conducted for the width of the pillar and the doping concentration of N-epi, revealing that as the width of the pillar increases, the depletion region widens, leading to an increase in on-specific resistance (R_on,sp) and breakdown voltage (BV). Additionally, as the doping concentration of N-epi increases, the number of carriers increases, and the depletion region narrows, resulting in a decrease in R_on,sp and BV. The optimized SJ VVD MOSFET exhibits a very high figure of merit (BFOM) of 13,400 KW/cm², indicating excellent performance characteristics and suggesting its potential as a next-generation highperformance power device suitable for practical applications.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 2024

ChatGPT, as a representative chatbot leveraging generative artificial intelligence technology, is used valuable not only in scientific and technological domains but also across diverse sectors such as society, economy, industry, and culture. This study conducts an explorative analysis of user sentiments and needs for ChatGPT by examining global social media discourse on Reddit. We collected 10,796 comments on Reddit from December 2022 to August 2023 and then employed keyword analysis, sentiment analysis, and need-mining-based topic modeling to derive insights. The analysis reveals several key findings. The most frequently mentioned term in ChatGPT-related comments is "time," indicative of users' emphasis on prompt responses, time efficiency, and enhanced productivity. Users express sentiments of trust and anticipation in ChatGPT, yet simultaneously articulate concerns and frustrations regarding its societal impact, including fears and anger. In addition, the topic modeling analysis identifies 14 topics, shedding light on potential user needs. Notably, users exhibit a keen interest in the educational applications of ChatGPT and its societal implications. Moreover, our investigation uncovers various user-driven topics related to ChatGPT, encompassing language models, jobs, information retrieval, healthcare applications, services, gaming, regulations, energy, and ethical concerns. In conclusion, this analysis provides insights into user perspectives, emphasizing the significance of understanding and addressing user needs. The identified application directions offer valuable guidance for enhancing existing products and services or planning the development of new service platforms.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.170-178
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• 2023

We investigated the free radical scavenging and digestive enzyme inhibitory activities of the hot water extract of peach twig (Prunus persica L. Bastch). This extract of the peach twigs was further split up into n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butyl alcohol(n-BuOH), which resulted in three solvent-soluble fractions. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) assay systems, while hypoglycemic effect of the peach twig extract and the solvent-soluble fractions were tested using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. Accordingly, the EtOAc layer showed a greater free radical scavenging activity compared to other solvent-soluble fractions. Furthermore, based on the α-glucosidase and α-amylase assays, the IC₅₀ values were determined to be 38.2±1.6 and 69.6±6.1 ㎍/mL for the EtOAc-soluble fractions, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that the fractions obtained from the peach twig extract can be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant and hypoglycaemic constituents.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.294-304
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• 2023

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether image standardization using deep learning-based computed tomography (CT) image conversion would improve the performance of deep learning-based automated hepatic segmentation across various reconstruction methods. Materials and Methods: We collected contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT of the abdomen that was obtained using various reconstruction methods, including filtered back projection, iterative reconstruction, optimum contrast, and monoenergetic images with 40, 60, and 80 keV. A deep learning based image conversion algorithm was developed to standardize the CT images using 142 CT examinations (128 for training and 14 for tuning). A separate set of 43 CT examinations from 42 patients (mean age, 10.1 years) was used as the test data. A commercial software program (MEDIP PRO v2.0.0.0, MEDICALIP Co. Ltd.) based on 2D U-NET was used to create liver segmentation masks with liver volume. The original 80 keV images were used as the ground truth. We used the paired t-test to compare the segmentation performance in the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and difference ratio of the liver volume relative to the ground truth volume before and after image standardization. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used to assess the agreement between the segmented liver volume and ground-truth volume. Results: The original CT images showed variable and poor segmentation performances. The standardized images achieved significantly higher DSCs for liver segmentation than the original images (DSC [original, 5.40%-91.27%] vs. [standardized, 93.16%-96.74%], all P < 0.001). The difference ratio of liver volume also decreased significantly after image conversion (original, 9.84%-91.37% vs. standardized, 1.99%-4.41%). In all protocols, CCCs improved after image conversion (original, -0.006-0.964 vs. standardized, 0.990-0.998). Conclusion: Deep learning-based CT image standardization can improve the performance of automated hepatic segmentation using CT images reconstructed using various methods. Deep learning-based CT image conversion may have the potential to improve the generalizability of the segmentation network.