• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.70-78
• /
• 2024

A photo-crosslinked anion exchange membrane (AEM) based on quaternary-aminated polyacrylates was developed for reverse electrodialysis (RED). Although reverse electrodialysis is a clean and renewable energy generation system, the low power output and high membrane cost are serious obstacles to its commercialization. Cross-linked AEMs without any polymer supporters were fabricated through photo-crosslinking between polymer-typed acrylates with anion conducting groups, in particular, polymer-typed acrylates were synthesized based on engineering plastic with outstanding mechanical and chemical property. The fabricated membranes showed outstanding physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties. The area resistance of the fabricated membranes (CQAPPOA-20, CQAPPOA-35, and CQAPPOA-50) were ~50% lower than that of AMV (2.6 Ω cm²). Moreover, the transport number of CQAPPOA-35 wase comparable to that of AMV, despite the thin thickness (40 ㎛) of the fabricated membranes. The RED stack with the CQAPPOA-35 membrane provided an excellent maximum power density of 2.327 W m^-2 at a flow rate of 100 mL min^-1, which is 15% higher than that (2.026 W m^-2) of the RED stack with the AMV membrane. Considering easy fabrication process by UV photo-crosslinking and outstanding RED stack properties, the CQAPPOA-35 membrane is a promising candidate for REDs.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2024

In order to evaluate the relationship between the ground confining pressure and the shear characteristics of the pile-soil interface, this study described the comparative results of the existing experimental results and the FEA results using the strength reduction factor. The strength reduction factor was applied to simulate the shear behavior of the pile-soil interface in finite element analysis(FEA). The analysis results showed that the maximum pullout resistance decreased due to the influence of low confining pressure, as the fines content increased. This trend was similar to the previous experimental research, and this FEA model simulated with the interface strength reduction factor was evaluated as reasonable. The analysis results of the variation in the interface strength reduction factor clearly showed that the interface strength reduction factor clearly increased at a high fines content when the confining pressure was 50kPa. However, it was found that the increase rate was low when the confining pressure was 100kPa and 150kPa. Therefore, confining pressure and fines content need to be considered in FEA to evaluate the shear behavior of the pile-soil interface.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.457-466
• /
• 2023

Background: During hot environment work tasks with whole-body enclosed anti-bioaerosol suit, the combined effect of heavy sweating and exhaled hot humid air may cause the N95 medical respirator to saturate with water/sweat (i.e., water-blocking). Methods: 32 young male subjects with different body mass indexes (BMI) in whole-body protection (N95 medical respirator + one-piece protective suit + head covering + protective face screen + gloves + shoe covers) were asked to simulate waste collecting from each isolated room in a seven-story building at 27-28℃, and the weight, inhalation resistance (R_f), and aerosol penetration of the respirator before worn and after water-blocking were analyzed. Results: All subjects reported water-blocking asphyxia of the N95 respirators within 36-67 min of the task. When water-blocking occurred, the R_f and 10-200 nm total aerosol penetration (P_t) of the respirators reached up to 1270-1810 Pa and 17.3-23.3%, respectively, which were 10 and 8 times of that before wearing. The most penetration particle size of the respirators increased from 49-65 nm before worn to 115-154 nm under water-blocking condition, and the corresponding maximum size-dependent aerosol penetration increased from 2.5-3.5% to 20-27%. With the increase of BMI, the water-blocking occurrence time firstly increased then reduced, while the R_f, P_t, and absorbed water all increased significantly. Conclusions: This study reveals respirator water-blocking and its serious negative impacts on respiratory protection. When performing moderate-to-high-load tasks with whole-body protection in a hot environment, it is recommended that respirator be replaced with a new one at least every hour to avoid water-blocking asphyxia.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.214-221
• /
• 2024

Polyether ketone (PEEK) has been widely used in membranes because of its excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, and significant mechanical strength. However, the melting temperature is very high, making it difficult to find suitable solvents. Therefore, in this study, PEEK and benzophenone (DPK) were used as diluents to prepare a membrane with excellent mechanical strength and chemical stability using the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method to compensate for the shortcomings of PEEK membrane preparation and achieving the highest performances. The optimal membrane manufacturing conditions were confirmed through the crystallization temperature and cloud point according to the polymer content through the phase diagram. Subsequently, the morphological changes of the membrane, influenced by the polymer and diluent content, were confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the membrane thickness tended to increase with higher polymer content. Tensile strength and DI-water permeability tests were conducted to confirm the mechanical strength and permeability of the membrane. Through the previous characteristic evaluation, it was confirmed that the membrane using PEEK had excellent mechanical strength and permeability.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.484-491
• /
• 2023

Tomatoes in greenhouse are a widely cultivated horticultural crop worldwide, accounting for high production and production value. When greenhouse ventilation is minimized during low temperature periods, CO₂ enrichment is often used to increase tomato photosynthetic rate and yield. Plant-induced electrical signal (PIES) can be used as a technology to monitor changes in the biological response of crops due to environmental changes by using the principle of measuring the resistance value, or impedance, within the crop. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between tomato growth data, vital response, and PIES resulting from CO₂ enrichment in greenhouse tomatoes. The growth of tomato treated with CO₂ enrichment in the morning was significantly better in all items except stem diameter compared to the control, and PIES values were also higher. The growth of tomato continuously applied with CO₂ was better in the treatment groups than control, and there was no significant difference in chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis. However, PIES and SPAD values were higher in the CO₂ treatment group than control. CO₂ enrichment have a direct relationship with PIES, growth increased, and transpiration increased due to the increased leaf area, resulting in increased water absorption, which appears to be reflected in PIES, which measures vascular impedance. Through this, this study suggests that PIES can be used to monitor crops due to environmental changes, and that PIES is a useful method for non-destructively and continuously monitoring changes of crops.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
• /
• 2001.05b
• /
• pp.42-63
• /
• 2001

The detail survey on the Songsanri tomb site including the Muryong royal tomb was carried out during the period from May 1 , 1996 to April 30, 1997. A quantitative analysis was tried to find changes of tomb itself since the excavation. Main subjects of the survey are to find out the cause of infiltration of rain water and groundwater into the tomb and the tomb site, monitoring of the movement of tomb structure and safety, removal method of the algae inside the tomb, and air controlling system to solve high humidity condition and dew inside the tomb. For these purposes, detail survery inside and outside the tombs using a electronic distance meter and small airplane, monitoring of temperature and humidity, geophysical exploration including electrical resistivity, geomagnetic, gravity and georadar methods, drilling, measurement of physical and chemical properties of drill core and measurement of groundwater permeability were conducted. We found that the center of the subsurface tomb and the center of soil mound on ground are different 4.5 meter and 5 meter for the 5th tomb and 7th tomb, respectively. The fact has caused unequal stress on the tomb structure. In the 7th tomb (the Muryong royal tomb), 435 bricks were broken out of 6025 bricks in 1972, but 1072 bricks are broken in 1996. The break rate has been increased about 250% for just 24 years. The break rate increased about 290% in the 6th tomb. The situation in 1996 is the result for just 24 years while the situation in 1972 was the result for about 1450 years. Status of breaking of bircks represents that a severe problem is undergoing. The eastern wall of the Muryong royal tomb is moving toward inside the tomb with the rate of 2.95 mm/myr in rainy season and 1.52 mm/myr in dry season. The frontal wall shows biggest movement in the 7th tomb having a rate of 2.05 mm/myr toward the passage way. The 6th tomb shows biggest movement among the three tombs having the rate of 7.44mm/myr and 3.61mm/myr toward east for the high break rate of bricks in the 6th tomb. Georadar section of the shallow soil layer represents several faults in the top soil layer of the 5th tomb and 7th tomb. Raninwater flew through faults tnto the tomb and nearby ground and high water content in nearby ground resulted in low resistance and high humidity inside tombs. High humidity inside tomb made a good condition for algae living with high temperature and moderate light source. The 6th tomb is most severe situation and the 7th tomb is the second in terms of algae living. Artificial change of the tomb environment since the excavation, infiltration of rain water and groundwater into the tombsite and bad drainage system had resulted in dangerous status for the tomb structure. Main cause for many problems including breaking of bricks, movement of tomb walls and algae living is infiltration of rainwater and groundwater into the tomb site. Therefore, protection of the tomb site from high water content should be carried out at first. Waterproofing method includes a cover system over the tomvsith using geotextile, clay layer and geomembrane and a deep trench which is 2 meter down to the base of the 5th tomb at the north of the tomv site. Decrease and balancing of soil weight above the tomb are also needed for the sfety of tomb structures. For the algae living inside tombs, we recommend to spray K101 which developed in this study on the surface of wall and then, exposure to ultraviolet light sources for 24 hours. Air controlling system should be changed to a constant temperature and humidity system for the 6th tomb and the 7th tomb. It seems to much better to place the system at frontal room and to ciculate cold air inside tombs to solve dew problem. Above mentioned preservation methods are suggested to give least changes to tomb site and to solve the most fundmental problems. Repairing should be planned in order and some special cares are needed for the safety of tombs in reparing work. Finally, a monitoring system measuring tilting of tomb walls, water content, groundwater level, temperature and humidity is required to monitor and to evaluate the repairing work.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2015.05a
• /
• pp.59-59
• /
• 2015

Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in humans, but the treatment of cryptococcosis remains challenging. To develop novel therapeutic targets and approaches, signaling cascades controlling pathogenicity of C. neoformans have been extensively studied but the underlying biological regulatory circuits remain elusive, particularly due to the presence of an evolutionarily divergent set of transcription factors (TFs) in this basidiomycetous fungus. In this study, we constructed a high-quality of 322 signature-tagged gene deletion strains for 155 putative TF genes, which were previously predicted using the DNA-binding domain TF database (http://www.transcriptionfactor.org/). We tested in vivo and in vitro phenotypic traits under 32 distinct growth conditions using 322 TF gene deletion strains. At least one phenotypic trait was exhibited by 145 out of 155 TF mutants (93%) and approximately 85% of the TFs (132/155) have been functionally characterized for the first time in this study. Through high-coverage phenome analysis, we discovered myriad novel TFs that play critical roles in growth, differentiation, virulence-factor (melanin, capsule, and urease) formation, stress responses, antifungal drug resistance, and virulence. Large-scale virulence and infectivity assays in insect (Galleria mellonella) and mouse host models identified 34 novel TFs that are critical for pathogenicity. The genotypic and phenotypic data for each TF are available in the C. neoformans TF phenome database (http://tf.cryptococcus.org). In conclusion, our phenome-based functional analysis of the C. neoformans TF mutant library provides key insights into transcriptional networks of basidiomycetous fungi and ubiquitous human fungal pathogens.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.139-144
• /
• 1969

1. In order to obtain useful mutants such as early maturity, resistance to lodging, high protein and oil content, and capability of high yield, dormant seeds of two soybean varieties, Jang Dan Baik Mok and Clark, were treated with ${\gamma}$-ray, Ethyl Methane Sulfonate(EMS), Ethylene Imine(EI)and combinations of ${\gamma}$-ray and EMS or EI. 2. The germination rate and survival rate in a variety Jang Dan Baik Mok were significantly decreased with ${\gamma}$-ray treatment while it was not the same in the Clark variety. A significant decrease for seedling height measured at 14 and 21 days after sowing was found with the increase of ${\gamma}$-ray dose in both varieties. 3. Germination rates in both varieties were significantly decreased as EI concentration increases, particularly severe damage in germination was observed at 0.008 Mo. concentration. Germination rate damages were found with EMS concentration increases in the variety Jang Dan Baik Mok while no regular responses in seedling height were observed in the variety Clark. 4. Germination rate was significantly lowered with the combined treatment of EMS and ${\gamma}$-ray 24KR than that of EMS alone. In the treatments of ${\gamma}$-ray with three levels of EI concentration, the combined treatments except 24KR+EI 0.002 Mol. resulted in better germination than of EI alone. In both varieties, significant reduction in seedling height was observed in the combined treatments of ${\gamma}$-ray with various concentrations of EMS, whereas stimulation effect on seedling height was found with treatment of ${\gamma}$-ray EI +0.08Mol. 5. Germination rate, survival rate, and plant height as criteria of radio sensitivity, variety Jang Dan Baik Mok is moze sensitive to ${\gamma}$-ray, EMS, and EI than the variety Clark, and the varietal difference in responsibility to mutagen may be due to the genetic-constitution of the varieties.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.203-215
• /
• 2007

Statement of problem: Titanium and its alloy, with their excellent bio-compatibility and above average resistance to corrosion, have been widely used in the field of dentistry. However, the excessive oxidization of titanium which occurs during the process of firing on porcelain makes the bonding of titanium and porcelain more difficult than that of the conventional metal-porcelain bonding. To solve this problem related to titanium-porcelain bonding, several methods which modify the surfaces, coat the surfaces of titanium with various pure metals and ceramics, to enable the porcelain adhesive by limiting the diffusion of oxygen and forming the adhesive oxides surfaces, have been investigated. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to know whether the titanium-porcelain bonding strength could be enhanced by treating the titanium surface with gold and TiN followed by fabrication of clinically applicable porcelain-fused-to-titanium crown Material and method: The porcelain-fused-to-titanium crown was fabricated after sandblasting the surface of the casting titanium coping with $Al_2O_3$ and treating the surface with gold and TiN coating followed by condensation and firing of ultra-low fusing porcelain. To compare with porcelain-fused-to-titanium crowns, porcelain-fused-to-gold crowns were fabricated and used as control groups. The bonding strengths of porcelain-fused-to-gold crowns and porcelain-fused-totitanium crowns were set for comparison when the porcelain was fractured on purpose to get the experimental value of fracture strength. Then, the surface were examined by SEM and each fracturing pattern were compared with each other Result:Those results are as follows. 1. The highest value of fracture strength of porcelain-fused-to-titanium crowns was in the order of group with gold coating, group with TiN coating, group with $Al_2O_3$ sandblasting. No statistically significant difference was found among the three (P>.05). 2. The porcelain-fused-to-gold crowns showed the highest value in bonding strength. The bonding strength of crowns porcelain-fused-to-titanium crowns of rest groups showed bonding strength reaching only 85%-94% of that of PFG, though simple comparision seemed unacceptable due to the difference in materials used. 3. The fracturing patterns between metal and porcelain showed mixed type of failure behavior including cohesive failure and adhesive failure as a similar patterns by examination with the naked eye and SEM. But porcelain-fused-to-gold crowns showed high incidence of adhesive failure and porcelain-fused-to-titanium crowns showed high incidence of cohesive failure. Conclusion: Above results proved that when fabricating porcelain-fused-to-titanium crowns, treating casting titanium surface with gold or TiN was able to enhance the bonding strength between titanium and porcelain. Mean value of masticatory force was found to showed clinically acceptable values in porcelain bonding strength in all three groups. However, more experimental studies and evaluations should be done in order to get better porcelain bonding strength and various surface coating methods that can be applied on titanium surface with ease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.11
• /
• pp.1658-1664
• /
• 2014

Sprout vegetables containing various types of polyphenols and flavonoids, are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been few reports on the anti-diabetic efficacy of sprout vegetables. Here, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of sprout extract obtained from buckwheat, beet, rape, broccoli, kohlrabi, red young radish, and dachai, in high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetes mellitus mice. The mice were fed a HFD (60% calories as fat) for 8 weeks prior to intraperitoneal injection with STZ (75 mg/kg). The diabetic mice were divided into four groups: standard diet (STD, 10% calories fat), HFD, HFD with sprout extract (SPE) and HFD with metformin (MET). After 4 weeks, body weight gain was much lower in both SPE and MET groups than in HFD group. In contrast, there was no difference experiment groups regarding food intake ratio. The level of fasting blood glucose was significantly lower in the SPE and MET groups compared to the HFD group. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance in the SPE and MET groups were significantly ameliorated in comparison to the HFD group. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in the SPE and MET groups were remarkably reduced in comparison to the HFD group, and HDL cholesterol concentration was higher in the SPE and MET groups than in the HFD group. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels were between SPE and HFD groups. The serum insulin and leptin concentrations were significantly reduced in both the SPE and MET groups compared to the HFD group. Therefore, these results indicate that sprout extract could improve insulin resistance and attenuate blood glucose level in HFD/STZ-induced type II diabetes mellitus mice. We conclude that this study may provide positive insights into sprout extract as a functional food ingredient for treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.