• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1095-1103
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• 2019

Objective: Among stress responses, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is a well-known mechanism related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress is induced by a variety of external and environmental factors such as starvation, ischemia, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and heat stress. Inositol requiring enzyme $1{\alpha}$ ($IRE1{\alpha}$)-X-box protein 1 (XBP1) is the most conserved pathway involved in the UPR and is the main component that mediates $IRE1{\alpha}$ signalling to downstream ER-associated degradation (ERAD)- or UPR-related genes. XBP1 is a transcription factor synthesised via a novel mechanism called 'frame switch splicing', and this process has not yet been studied in the horse XBP1 gene. Therefore, the aim of this study was to confirm the frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and characterise its dynamics using Thoroughbred muscle cells exposed to heat stress. Methods: Primary horse muscle cells were used to investigate heat stress-induced frame switch splicing of horse XBP1. Frame switch splicing was confirmed by sequencing analysis. XBP1 amino acid sequences and promoter sequences of various species were aligned to confirm the sequence homology and to find conserved cis-acting elements, respectively. The expression of the potential XBP1 downstream genes were analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: We confirmed that splicing of horse XBP1 mRNA was affected by the duration of thermal stress. Twenty-six nucleotides in the mRNA of XBP1 were deleted after heat stress. The protein sequence and the cis-regulatory elements on the promoter of horse XBP1 are highly conserved among the mammals. Induction of putative downstream genes of horse XBP1 was dependent on the duration of heat stress. We confirmed that both the mechanisms of XBP1 frame switch splicing and various binding elements found in downstream gene promoters are highly evolutionarily conserved. Conclusion: The frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and its dynamics were highly conserved among species. These results facilitate studies of ER-stress in horse.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.562-568
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• 2021

(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ (BNT)-based ceramics are considered promising candidates for actuator application owing to their excellent electromechanical strain properties However, to obtain large strain properties, there remain several issues such as thermal stability and high operating fields. Therefore, this study investigates a reduction of operating field in (0.98-x)Bi_1/2Na_1/2TiO₃-0.02 BiAlO₃-xSrTiO₃ (BNT-2BA-100xST, x = 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, and 0.24) via analyses of the microstructure, crystal structure, dielectric, polarization, ferroelectric and electromechanical strain properties. The average grain size of BNT-${\underline{2}}$BA-100xST ceramics decreases with increasing ST content. Results of polarization and electromechanical strain properties indicate that a ferroelectric to relaxor state transition is induced by ST modification. As a consequence, a large electromechanical strain of 592 pm/V is obtained at a relatively low electric field of 4 kV/mm in 22 mol% ST-modified BNT-2BA ceramics. We believe that the materials synthesized in this study are promising candidates for actuator applications.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.903-913
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• 2021

Three-type PVC membranes denoted by AEM-1, AEM-2, and AEM-3 with a cross-linked anion-exchange group were prepared by substitution reaction of PVC with triethyldiamine (TEDA), 1,4-dimethylpiperazine (DMP), and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (BIB) in cyclohexanone, respectively. We confirmed the successful preparation of the AEM-1, AEM-2, and AEM-3 via ionic conductivity (S/cm), water uptake (%), contact angle, ion-exchange capacity (m_eq/g), thermal properties, SEM and XPS analysis, respectively. The electrochemical capacitor experiments using PVC membrane with cross-linked anion-exchange group in organic electrolytes were performed. The prepared AEM-1, AEM-2 AEM-3 have a good stability by charge and discharge performance in organic electrolyte. As a result, the AEM-2 and AEM-3 membrane based on PVC prepared by the solvent casting method after substituent reaction is suitable for the use as a separator in organic electrochemical capacitor (supercapacitor).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.915-921
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• 2020

Thermoacoustic instability caused by air conditioning in a combustion chamber has emerged as a problem that must be solved to establish a stable combustion system. Thermoacoustic instability is largely divided into primary and secondary acoustic instability. In this study, an experimental study of the effects of heat losses was conducted to investigate the mechanism of secondary acoustic instability. To generate the secondary acoustic instability, a quarter-wavelength resonator with one open end and one closed end was used, and the inside of the resonator was filled with premixed gases. Subsequently, secondary acoustic instability with downward-propagating flames could be realized via thermal expansion on the burnt side. To control heat losses qualitatively, an additional co-axial tube was installed in the resonator with air or nitrogen supply. Therefore, additional diffusion flames can be formed at the top of the resonator depending on the injection of the oxidizer into the co-axial tube when rich premixed flames are used. Consequently, secondary acoustic instability could not be achieved by increasing heat losses to the ambient when the additional diffusion flame was not formed, and the opposite result was obtained with the additional diffusion flame.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.41-45
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• 2021

In this study, in order to secure the high reliability of the memristor, we adopted a patterned lithium filament seed layer as the main agent for resistive switching (RS) characteristic on the 30 nm thick ZrO₂ thin film at the device manufacturing stage. Lithium filament seed layer with a thickness of 5 nm and an area of 5 ㎛ × 5 ㎛ were formed on the ZrO₂ thin film, and various electrode areas were applied to investigate the effect of capacitance on filament type memristive behavior in the parallel memristive circuit of memristor and capacitor. The RS characteristics were measured in the samples before and after 250℃ post-annealing for lithium metal diffusion. In the case of conductive filaments formed by thermal diffusion (post-annealed sample), it was not available to control the filament by applying voltage, and the other hand, the as-deposited sample showed the reversible RS characteristics by the formation and rupture of filaments. Finally, via the comparison of the RS characteristics according to the electrode area, it was confirmed that capacitance is an important factor for the formation and rupture of filaments.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.91-96
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• 2021

The enhancement of thermoelectric figure of merit was achieved by the simple processes of sieving and high energy ball milling, respectively, which are enable to reduce the grain size of n-type Bi₂Te₃ thermoelectric materials. By optimizing the grain size, the electrical conductivities and thermal conductivities were controlled. In this study, spark plasma sintering was employed for hindering the grain growth during the sintering process. The thermoelectric figure of merit was measured to be 0.78 in the samples with 30 min high energy ball milling process. Notably, this value was 40 % higher than that of pristine Bi₂Te₃ sample. This result shows the properties of thermoelectric materials can be readily controlled by optimization of grain size via simple ball milling process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

The lignite and bituminous coal are mainly used in thermal power plant. They exhaust green house gas (GHG) such as CO₂, and become deplete, thus require alternative energy resources. To solve the problem, the hydrochar production from biomass is suggested. In this study, both hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and solvothermal carbonization (STC) were used to produce high quality hydrochar. To improve the reactivity of water solvent process in HTC, STC process was conducted using ethanol solution. The experiments were carried out by varying the solid-liquid ratio (1:4, 1:8, 1:12), reaction temperature (150~300 ℃) and retention time (15~120 min) using kenaf. The characteristic of hydrochar was analyzed by EA, FT-IR, TGA and SEM. The carbon content of hydrochar increased up to 48.11%, while the volatile matter decreased up to 39.34%. Additionally, the fuel characteristic of hydrochar was enhanced by reaction temperature. The results showed that the kenaf converted to a fuel by HTC and STC process, which can be used as an alternative energy source of coal.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.367-382
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• 2022

Numerous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) produced by periodic combinations of organic ligands and metal ions or metal-oxo clusters have led the way for the creation of energy-efficient membrane-based separations that may serve as viable replacements for traditional thermal counterparts. Although tremendous progress has been made over the past decade in the synthesis of polycrystalline MOF membranes, only a small number of MOFs have been exploited in the relevant research. Intercrystalline defects, or nonselective diffusion routes in polycrystalline membranes, are likely the reason behind the delay. Postsynthetic modifications (PSMs) are newly emerging strategies for providing polycrystalline MOF membrane diversity by leveraging advanced membranes as a platform and improving their separation capabilities via physical and/or chemical treatments; therefore, neither designing and developing MOFs nor tailoring membrane synthesis techniques for focused MOFs is necessary. In this minireview, seven subclasses of PSM techniques that have recently been adapted to polycrystalline MOF membranes are outlined, along with obstacles and future directions.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

Currently, no guidelines exist regarding the maximum residues of pesticides in edible oil which is a processed food commonly consumed in Korea. This lack of guidelines hinders the evaluation of the safety of edible oil in terms of pesticide contamination. In this study, an analysis method based on heat distillation and GC-MS/MS was established by optimizing the extraction and purification procedure for 68 pesticides. Important variables in the thermal distillation procedure included heating temperature and time, and we found the nitrogen flow rate as a mobile phase and the type of dissolving solvent were not considerably affected. The determination coefficient (R²) of the residual pesticide was 0.99 or higher, and the quantitative limit (LOQ) was 0.01-0.02 mg/L. The average recovery rate (n=5) was 66.1-120.0% and the relative standard deviation was lower than ±10% when 68 pesticides were spiked at concentrations of 0.01-0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/L. In addition, the within-laboratory precision was less than ±11%, meeting the Korea Food and Drug Safety Evaluation Institute's Guidelines on Standard Procedures for Preparing Food Testing Methods (2016). Therefore, the test method developed in this study can be used as a test method for managing the safety of the residual pesticide concentration in edible oil.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.537-546
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• 2023

For the purpose of fire delineation within buildings, steel walls in Korea are mandated to undergo rigorous certification as fire-resistant entities, substantiated via a series of qualitative assessments. Predominantly, these evaluations comprise the fire resistance test paired with supplementary examinations; specifically for steel walls, these encompass the gas hazard and panel bending strength tests. Given the prevalence of semi-noncombustible core materials, gas hazard tests are largely rendered superfluous, pivoting the focus solely onto the panel bending strength test during the certification trajectory. This particular test is designed to gauge the flexural robustness of individual wall panels. An enhanced bending strength is postulated to fortify both the structural integrity and thermal insulation of the wall by mitigating potential deformations. In this scholarly exploration, an analytical deep dive was undertaken into extant, valid certification test datasets. The endeavor aimed to ascertain the depth of correlation between the designated fire resistance metric and the bending strength, the latter being the sole supplementary assessment for steel walls. In distilling the findings, it was discerned that temperature elevations beyond baseline values exhibited no statistically salient linkage with the panel's bending strength.