• Carbon letters
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• v.22
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• pp.1-13
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• 2017

Porous materials play a vital role in science and technology. The ability to control their pore structures at the atomic, molecular, and nanometer scales enable interactions with atoms, ions and molecules to occur throughout the bulk of the material, for practical applications. Three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon-based materials (e.g., graphene aerogels/hydrogels, sponges and foams) made of graphene or graphene oxide-based networks have attracted considerable attention because they offer low density, high porosity, large surface area, excellent electrical conductivity and stable mechanical properties. Water pollution and associated environmental issues have become a hot topic in recent years. Rapid industrialization has led to a massive increase in the amount of wastewater that industries discharge into the environment. Water pollution is caused by oil spills, heavy metals, dyes, and organic compounds released by industry, as well as via unpredictable accidents. In addition, water pollution is also caused by radionuclides released by nuclear disasters or leakage. This review presents an overview of the state-of-the-art synthesis methodologies of 3D porous graphene materials and highlights their synthesis for environmental applications. The various synthetic methods used to prepare these 3D materials are discussed, particularly template-free self-assembly methods, and template-directed methods. Some key results are summarized, where 3D graphene materials have been used for the adsorption of dyes, heavy metals, and radioactive materials from polluted environments.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.183-196
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• 2017

The research efforts directed at advancing water electrolysis technology continue to intensify together with the increasing interest in hydrogen as an alternative source of energy to fossil fuels. Among the various water electrolysis systems reported to date, systems employing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane are known to display both improved safety and efficiency as a result of enhanced separation of products: hydrogen and oxygen. Conducting water electrolysis in an alkaline medium lowers the system cost by allowing non-platinum group metals to be used as catalysts for the complex multi-electron transfer reactions involved in water electrolysis, namely the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively). We briefly review the anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and electrocatalysts developed and applied thus far in alkaline AEM water electrolysis (AEMWE) devices. Testing the developed components in AEMWE cells is a key step in maximizing the device performance since cell performance depends strongly on the structure of the electrodes containing the HER and OER catalysts and the polymer membrane under specific cell operating conditions. In this review, we discuss the properties of reported AEMs that have been used to fabricate membrane-electrode assemblies for AEMWE cells, including membranes based on polysulfone, poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phylene) oxide, polybenzimidazole, and inorganic composite materials. The activities and stabilities of tertiary metal oxides, metal carbon composites, and ultra-low Pt-loading electrodes toward OER and HER in AEMWE cells are also described.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2008

RNA-RNA interactions and the dynamic RNA conformations are important regulators in virus replication in several RNA virus systems and may also involved in the regulation of many important virus life cycle phases, including translation, replication, assembly, and switches in these important stages. The 5' non-translated region of Potato virus X(PVX) contains multiple cis-acting elements that facilitate various viral processes. It has previously been proposed that RNA-RNA interactions between various RNA elements present in PVX RNA genome are required for PVX RNA accumulation(Hu et al., 2007; Kim and Hemenway, 1999). This model was based on the potential base-pairing between conserved sequence elements at the upstream of subgenomic RNAs(sgRNAs) and at the 5' and 3' end of RNA genome. We now provide more evidence that RNA-RNA base-pairing between elements present at the 5' end and upstream of each sgRNA is required for efficient replication of genomic and subgenomic plus-strand RNA accumulation. Site-directed mutations introduced at the 5' end of plus-strand RNA replication defective mutant(${\Delta}12$) increasing base-pairing possibility with conserved sequence elements located upstream of each sgRNAs restored genomic and subgenomic plus-strand RNA accumulation and caused symptom development in inoculated Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Serial passage of a deletion mutant(${\Delta}8$) caused more severe symptoms and restored wild type sequences and thus retained possible RNA-RNA base-pairing. Altogether, these results indicate that the RNA element located at the 5' end of PVX genome involved in RNA-RNA interactions and play a key role in high-level accumulation of plus-strand RNA in vivo.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.184-184
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• 2011

Using first-principles density-functional calculations, we investigate the chain reaction mechanism of allyl alcohol (ALA) molecules on the H-terminated Si(001)-2${\times}$1 surface. Recently, it was reported [1] that allyl mercaptan (ALM) molecules show a self-directed line growth across the dimer rows through a chain reaction involving several reaction processes: (i) The created radical at the C atom is transferred to the S atom, (ii) the resulting S-centered radical easily abstracts an H atom from the neighboring dimer row, and (iii) the generated S-H group further reacts with the neighboring dimer row to produce the Si-S bond on the neighboring dimer row, accompanying the associative desorption of H2. This H2-desorption process creates a new DB on the neighboring dimer row, setting off the chain reaction across the dimer rows. In the present study, we find that although the structure of ALA with -OH functional is analogous to that of ALM with -SH functional, ALA and ALM lines show a difference in their growth direction. We predict that ALA undergoes the chain reaction to show a line growth along the dimer row, contrasting with the ALM line growth across the Si dimer rows. Our analysis shows that the different growth direction of ALA is due to the strong instability of oxygen radical intermediate, which prevents from growing across the dimer rows. Thus, we demonstrate that the stability of the radical intermediate plays a crucial role in determining the direction of molecular line growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.4-4
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• 2012

Proteins enable biology to be viable through molecular interactions (such as in antigen-antibody, ligand-receptor, and drug-target) with

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.331-340
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• 2012

Synthetic methods of colloids have been significantly developed in industry due to their significant demand for preparation of functional particles. Recently, dynamic/static microfluidic system has emerged as a promising route to the synthesis of the particles, providing precise control of physical and chemical properties such as size, shape, porosity, surface roughness, and surface functionality. These formed particles can be potentially used in various applications including medical diagnostics, photonic device, and biological industry. In addition, these particles provide a novel route to create new materials via their directed self-assembly, and it enable to study and predict the natural phenomenon by mimicking of the nature. Therefore, we describe recent progress for functional colloid particles and its applications.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2018

Regenerative orthopedics needs significant devices to transplant human stem cells into damaged tissue and encourage automatic growth into replacements suitable for the human skeleton. Soft biomaterials have similarities in mechanical, structural and architectural properties to natural extracellular matrix (ECM), but often lack essential ECM molecules and signals. Here we engineer mineralized polysaccharide beads to transform MSCs into osteogenic cells and osteoid tissue for transplantation. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMP-2) and indispensable ECM proteins both directed differentiation inside alginate beads. Laminin and collagen IV basement membrane matrix proteins fixed and organized MSCs onto the alginate matrix, and BMP-2 drove differentiation, osteoid tissue self-assembly, and small-scale mineralization. Augmentation of alginate is necessary, and we showed that a few rationally selected small proteins from the basement membrane (BM) compartment of the ECM were sufficient to up-regulate cell expression of Runx-2 and osteocalcin for osteoid formation, resulting in Alizarin red-positive mineral nodules. More significantly, nested BMP-2 and BM beads added to a non-union skull defect, self-generated osteoid expressing osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) in a chain along the defect, at only four weeks, establishing a framework for complete regeneration expected in 6 and 12 weeks. Alginate beads are beneficial surgical devices for transplanting therapeutic cells in programmed (by the ECM components and alginate-chitosan properties) reaction environments ideal for promoting bone tissue.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to compare the retention and stability of implant overdenture according to the shape and the number of magnetic attachment. The experimental groups were designed for the number of implants(1, 2, 4) and shape of magnetic attachments(flat, cushion, dome type) resulting in 9 subgroups. 45 attachments were tested attached to $Br{\aa}nemark$ system implants which were planted on a mandibular model. Each attachment was composed of the magnet assembly embedded in a overdenture sample and the abutment keeper screwed into the implants. Dislodging tensile forces were applied to the overdenture samples using an Instron(cross-head speed 50.80mm/min) in 3 directions simulating function: vertical, oblique, and anterior-posterior. The loading was repeated 10 times in each direction for 45 samples. The values of maximum dislodging force of each subgroup were processed statistically using SPSS V. 12.0 at the 0.05 level of significance. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Flat type magnetic overdenture was the most retentive when subjected to vertically directed forces and dome type was the lest retentive when subjected to obliquely directed forces(p<0.05). 2. In case of planting one implant, flat type had a higher vertically retentive force than anterior-posteriorly retentive force. In case of planting two implants, flat type and dome type had a higher vertically retentive force and in case of planting four implants, flat type and cushion type had a higher vertically retentive force than anterior-posteriorly retentive force(p<0.05). 3. The incremental number of dental implant, without regards to the three types of magnetic attachment shapes, showed higher retention of overdenture(p<0.05). From the results, if a patient need much more retention of implant overdenture, flat type magnetic overdenture would be a good treatment. In case of the bruxism where excessive lateral forces are already present, dome type could be expected to produce better results. In case of planting one implant, flat type is more stable than the other shape of magnet and in case of two implant, flat type and dome type are more stable and in case of four implants, flat type and cushion type are more stable. Planting more than two implants and using flat type magnetic attachment would provide better retention and stability of implant overdenture

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.115-162
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• 2022

The Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), revised at the eighth Party Congress in 2021, reflect the Kim Jong Un regime's changes in strategic lines and ideological justifications on North Korea's socialism and communism, and its recent stances against the external environment. Moreover, they contain critical changes in the party's organizational system encompassing the central and the provinces. This study explores the organizational changes of the "monolithic guidance system of the party core" stipulated by the new party rules in January 2021, based on the analysis of the entire nine revised rules of the WPK since 1945. In the 2021 Party Congress, the Kim Jong Un regime, which officially came to power after the fourth Party Conference in 2012, has institutionalized the monolithic guidance system centered on the party core, or the head of state, Kim Jong Un. The newly set leadership and execution system, which reorganized party, government, and military organizational structure and accompanied the relevant personnel changes, was derived from the attempts for reinstating the Kim Jong Un regime as a more normalized party-state structure before its 10th year in power in April 2022. The "monolithic leadership system of the party core" established a system of "organizational leadership" through the organization of the Central Committee, directed by the Party Head, or General Secretary. The institutionalization of the new system resulted from the ten-year development of the revival of the party-state structure, which compromised the status of the military and reconfirmed the party's control of the military. This study explains the new system from the perspectives of both institutionalization and top-down unity, shedding light on the new party-military-government relations of the Kim Jong Un regime. The analysis contributes to a better understanding and forecasting of the Kim Jong Un regime's governance, which currently strengthens the monolithic leadership system as a crisis management system in the face of the "triple hardships" of sanctions, Covid and disaster.