• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.353-363
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• 2024

The incorporation of nanoplatelets in composite and polymeric materials represents a recent and innovative approach, holding substantial promise for diverse property enhancements. This study focuses on the application of nanocomposites in the production of sports equipment, particularly soccer balls, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical advancements and practical implications. Addressing the longstanding challenge of suboptimal interaction between carbon nanofillers and epoxy resin in epoxy composites, this research pioneers inventive solutions. Furthermore, the investigation extends into unexplored territory, examining the integration of glass fiber/epoxy composites with nanoparticles. The incorporation of nanomaterials, specifically expanded graphite and graphene, at a concentration of 25.0% by weight in both the epoxy structure and the composite with glass fibers demonstrates a marked increase in impact resistance compared to their nanomaterial-free counterparts. The research transcends laboratory experiments to explore the practical applications of nanocomposites in the design and production of sports equipment, with a particular emphasis on soccer balls. Analytical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are employed to scrutinize the surface chemical structure and morphology of the epoxy nanocomposites. Additionally, an in-depth examination of the thermal, mechanical, viscoelastic, and conductive properties of these materials is conducted. Noteworthy findings include the efficacy of surface modification of carbon nanotubes in preventing accumulation and enhancing their distribution within the epoxy matrix. This optimization results in improved interfacial interactions, heightened thermal stability, superior mechanical properties, and enhanced electrical conductivity in the nanocomposite.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1108-1113
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• 2012

The changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in paddy soils (sandy loam) were assessed from data of the 59 years fertilization plots in which the continuous rice cropping experiment started in 1954. The treatments were no fertilization(no fert.), NPK fertilization (N, NPK), NPK plus rice straw compost (NPK+C), and NPK plus rice straw compost, silicate fertilizer and lime (NPK+CLS). After 41 years, SOC content in NPK+C and NPK+CLS treatment in surface soils (0~15 cm) reached at the highest, followed by maintaining a plateau level for 8 years. After 51 years, they showed a tendency to decrease. Peak concentrations of soil organic carbon were $20.1g\;kg^{-1}$ in NPK+CLS, $19.1g\;kg^{-1}$ in NPK+C, $13.3g\;kg^{-1}$ in NPK, $11.9g\;kg^{-1}$ in N, and $11.6g\;kg^{-1}$ in control. Dissolved organic carbon(DOC) contents in surface soil solution were about 2.3 times higher in NPK+C than that in NPK+CLS. Therefore, SOC in subsurface soil(15~30 cm) was greater in NPK+C than the other treatments. These results indicate that continuous application of rice straw compost and silicate fertilizer affected significantly on the level of SOC in surface soils, subsurface soils, and soil solutions. Thus, the combined applications of NPK fertilizers with organic compost and silicate as a soil amendment are recommended as the best fertilization practice for soil carbon accumulation, environment conservation, and enhancement of soil fertility status in the continuous rice cropping system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2024

As climate change issues intensify, the importance of green spaces, a Nature-based Solution (NbS), is being emphasized for urban climate change adaptation. This study analyzes the carbon neutrality effects of the historical landscape forests of Seolleung and Jeongneung, large green spaces in urban areas, using the i-Tree Eco simulation. By doing so, the study underscores the significance of maintenance and management from a climate change adaptation perspective. For the simulation analysis, an inventory was established based on field-measured tree monitoring data of 10,643 trees within the study area, linked with climate data from nearby weather observation stations. The analysis results showed that the trees within the study area annually reduced air pollutants by 5,400 kg, stored 1,260 tons of carbon, and sequestered 98.23 tons of carbon. Additionally, since the study area primarily consists of forest species, it was found that it can secure relatively higher biomass accumulation compared to trees applied to street trees and park green spaces. This emphasizes the need for maintenance and management of historical landscape forests as urban resources that can contribute to national carbon neutrality due to their high forest structure integrity, in addition to their heritage preservation value.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.415-419
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• 2012

Electrochemical characteristics of nitrite ion were investigated at a poly(methylene blue)-modified glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The poly(methylene blue)-modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited enhanced anodic signals for nitrite. The effects of key parameters on the detection of nitrite were evaluated at the modified electrode, such as pH, accumulation time, and scan rate. Under optimum condition, the chemically modified electrode can detect nitrite in the concentration range $2.0{\times}10^{-6}$ to $5.0{\times}10^{-4}$ M with the detection limit of $2.0{\times}10^{-6}$ M and a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The detection of nitrite using the chemically modified electrode was not affected by common ions such as $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $HPO_4^{2-}$ and $H_2PO_4^- $. The modified electrode showed good stability and reproducibility. The practical application of the present method was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite ion in cabbage samples.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.15-23
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• 2000

This study's purpose is the investigating the created liquid post-acid fermentation of usability of denitrification as exterior carbon sources by loading capacity of Organic matters. The time of acid fermentation of food waste, the slower loading capacity of organic matter, the faster decomposition fate, but the density of generation $VFA_S$ was weak and, $SBOD_5$ : ST-N rate and $SBOD_5/SCOD_{Cr}$ rate was low. Between TS and VS, VS was decreased to 6th day rast, and then was decreased slowly. Two days after stating the experiments, $SCOD_{Cr}$, $SBOD_5$, STOC and $VFA_S$ was decreased or increased slowly, and then increased fast. And after showing the highest density, it was tended to decreased fast. About 5 days after, because about 5 days later $CH_4$ bacteria activity due to the accumulation of $VFA_S$ was limited, $CH_4$ density was weak. When highest density in the acquisition of VFA, $R_1$ was $10,120mg/{\ell}$, $R_2$ was $11,380mg/{\ell}$, $R_3$was $13,720mg/{\ell}$. So $R_3$ only cut was highest generation. At the time of $SBOD_5$ with the highest density, at $SBOD_5$ : ST-N ratio, $R_1$ was 243:1, $R_2$ was 278:1, $R_3$ was 293:1. All of these were high $SBOD_5$ : ST-N ratios. And $R_3$ was the highest. After studying $SBOD_5$ : ST-N ratio and $SBCD_5/SCOD_{Cr}$ ratio, as a carbon source of biological denitrification it was profitable composition ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

The objective of this study is to understand how regulatory mechanisms respond to sugar status for more efficient carbon utilization and source-sink regulation in plants. So, we need to identify and characterize many components of sugar-response pathways for a better understanding of sugar responses. For this end, genes responding change of sugar status were screened using Arabidpsis cDNA arrays, and confirmed thirty-six genes to be regulated by sucrose supply in detached leaves by RNA blot analysis. Eleven of them encoding proteins for amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were repressed by sugars. The remaining genes induced by sugar supply were for protein synthesis including ribosomal proteins and elongation factors. Among them, I focused on three hydrolase genes encoding putative $\beta$-galactosidase, $\beta$-xylosidase, and $\beta$-glucosidase that were transcriptionally induced in sugar starvation. Homology search indicated that these enzymes were involved in hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides. In addition to my results, recent transcriptome analysis suggested multiple genes for cell wall degradation were induced by sugar starvation. Thus, I hypothesized that enzyme for cell wall degradation were synthesized and secreted to hydrolyze cell wall polysaccharides producing carbon source under sugar-starved conditions. In fact, the enzymatic activities of these three enzymes increased in culture medium of Arabidopsis suspension cells under sugar starvation. The $\beta$-galactosidase encoded by At5g56870 was identified as a secretory protein in culture medium of suspension cells by mass spectrometry analysis. This protein was specifically detected under sugar-starved condition with a specific antibody. Induction of these genes was repressed in suspension cells grown with galactose, xylose and glucose as well as with sucrose. In planta, expression of the genes and protein accumulation were detected when photosynthesis was inhibited. Glycosyl hydrolase activity against galactan also increased during sugar starvation. Further, contents of cell wall polysaccharides especially pectin and hemicellulose were markedly decreased associating with sugar starvation in detached leaves. The amount of monosaccharide in pectin and hemicellulose in detached leaves decreased in response to sugar starvation. These results supported my idea that cell wall has one of function to supply carbon source in addition to determination of cell shape and physical support of plant bodies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1593-1600
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• 2016

This research was conducted to investigate the physiological consequences of undernourished yak. Twelve Maiwa yak ($110.3{\pm}5.85kg$) were randomly divided into two groups (baseline and starvation group). The yak of baseline group were slaughtered at day 0, while the other group of yak were kept in shed without feed but allowed free access to water, salt and free movement for 9 days. Blood samples of the starvation group were collected on day 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and the starved yak were slaughtered after the final blood sample collection. The liver and muscle glycogen of the starvation group decreased (p<0.01), and the lipid content also decreased while the content of moisture and ash increased (p<0.05) both in Longissimus dorsi and liver compared with the baseline group. The plasma insulin and glucose of the starved yak decreased at first and then kept stable but at a relatively lower level during the following days (p<0.01). On the contrary, the non-esterified fatty acids was increased (p<0.01). Beyond our expectation, the ketone bodies of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid decreased with prolonged starvation (p<0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expression of lipogenetic enzyme fatty acid synthase and lipoprotein lipase in subcutaneous adipose tissue of starved yak were down-regulated (p<0.01), whereas the mRNA expression of lipolytic enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 and hormone sensitive lipase were up-regulated (p<0.01) after 9 days of starvation. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and pyruvate carboxylase, responsible for hepatic gluconeogenesis were up-regulated (p<0.01). It was concluded that yak derive energy by gluconeogenesis promotion and fat storage mobilization during starvation but without ketone body accumulation in the plasma.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.293-306
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• 2020

Increasing harmful effects of climate change, such as its effect on water scarcity, has led to a focus on developing effective water purification methods to obtain pure water. Additionally, rising levels of water pollution is increasing levels of environmental degradation, calling for sources of water treatment to remove contaminants. To purify water, osmotic processes across a semipermeable membrane can take place, and recent studies are showing that incorporating nanoparticles, including carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene carbon dots (GQDs), and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are making thin film composite (TFC) membranes more effective by increasing water flux while maintaining similar levels of salt rejection, increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface, showing bactericidal properties, exhibiting antifouling properties to prevent accumulation of bacteria or other microorganisms from reducing the effectiveness of the membrane, and more. In the review, the synthesis process, applications, functionality, properties, and the role of several types of quantum dots are discussed in the composite membrane for water purification.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.316-325
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• 2017

Background: Ginseng essence (GE) is a formulation comprising four medicinal and edible herbs including ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera), and lily bulb (Lilium longiflorum). This study was aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective effect of GE against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: We treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium, and high [0.625 g/kg body weight (bw), 1.25 g/kg bw, and 3.125 g/kg bw, respectively] doses of GE for 9 wk. After the 1st wk of treatment, rats were administered 20% $CCl_4$ (1.5 mL/kg bw) two times a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended. Results: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GE ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and albumin decline in $CCl_4$-treated rats. Moreover, $CCl_4$-induced accumulation of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride was inhibited. The hepatoprotective effects of GE involved enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. In addition, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining showed that GE inhibited $CCl_4$-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin indicated that $CCl_4$-triggered activation of hepatic stellate cells was reduced. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that GE improves $CCl_4$-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GE could be a promising hepatoprotective herbal formulation for future development of phytotherapy.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2004

Pseudomonas sp. MBEL21 was newly isolated from soil samples and found to accumulate medium-chain-length Polyhydroxyalkanoates(MCL-PHAs) using oleic acid as a sole carbon source. Among the various nutrient limiting conditions examined, including nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus, only phosphorus limitation supported the accumulation of MCL-PHAs up to 15 wt％ of dry cell weight in flask cultures. MCL-PHAs produced by Pseudomonas sp. MBEL21 was mainly composed of 3-hydroxy-5-cis-tetradecenoate. Fed-batch culture of Pseudomonas sp. MBEL21 by novel feeding strategies based on cell growth charcteristics was carried out under phosphorus limitation using oleic acid as a sole carbon source. The final cell concentration and PHA content of 82 g/L and 28 wt％, respectively, were obtained. Furthermore, PHA consisted of MCL-hydroxyalkanoates and 3-hydroxybutyrate could be produced using olive oil as a sole carbon source.