• Title/Summary/Keyword: limiting processes

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Three-dimensional Algal Dynamics Modeling Study in Lake Euiam Based on Limited Monitoring Data (제한된 측정 자료 기반 의암호 3차원 조류 예측 모델링 연구)

  • Choi, Jungkyu;Min, Joong-Hyuk;Kim, Deok-Woo
    • Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.181-195
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    • 2015
  • Algal blooms in lakes are one of major environmental issues in Korea. A three-dimensional, hydrodynamic and water quality model was developed and tested in Lake Euiam to assess the performance and limitations of numerical modeling with multiple algal groups using field data commonly collected for algal management. In this study, EFDC was adopted as the basic model framework. Simulated vertical profiles of water temperature, dissolved oxygen and nutrients monitored at five water quality monitoring stations from March to October 2013, which are closely related to algal dynamics simulation, showed good agreement with those of observed data. The overall spatio-temporal variations of three algal groups were reasonably simulated against the chlorophyll-a levels of those estimated from the limited monitoring data (chlorophyll-a level and cell numbers of algal species) with the RMSEs ranging from 2.6 to $17.5mg/m^3$. Also, note that $PO_4-P$ level in the water column was a key limiting factor controlling the growth of three algal groups during most of simulation period. However, the algal modeling results were not fully attainable to the levels of observation during short periods of time showing abrupt increase in algae throughout the lake. In particular, the green algae/cyanobacteria and diatom simulations were underestimated in late June to early July and early October, respectively. The results shows that better understanding of internal algal processes, neglected in most algal modeling studies, is necessary to predict the sudden algal blooms more accurately because the concentrations of external $PO_4-P$ and specific algal groups originated from the tributaries (mainly, dam water releases) during the periods were too low to fully capture the sharp rise of internal algal levels. In this respect, this study suggests that future modeling efforts should be focused on the quantification of internal cycling processes including vertical movement of algal species with respect to changes in environmental conditions to enhance the modeling performance on complex algal dynamics.

Development of Mobile-Based Design Value Engineering(VE) Supporting System for VE Process Improvement (VE프로세스 개선을 위한 모바일 기반의 설계VE 시스템 개발)

  • Song, Chang-Young;Yang, Byong-Soo
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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    • v.21 no.5
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    • pp.433-443
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    • 2021
  • Value Engineering(VE) is an organized effort to create the most value through a functional analysis and creation of alternatives. Depending on the VE job plan, a VE Workshop must be performed in a certain place within a certain period of time. A VE Workshop, which is an organized activity that aims to create the best value through functional analysis and creation of alternatives, should be held in a certain place and at a scheduled time according to the VE job plan. In the Pre-Study, VE Study and Post-Study phases of VE, functional assessments, performance evaluations and idea evaluations are driven by variable management techniques and analysis methods, respectively. Generally, VE is executed for about 3 to 5 days in a particular place to create value. However, there are many problems associated with limiting all VE processes to a specific place and schedule. Moreover, in Korea, VE teams are required to finish all VE processes in a limited time because of the short duration of VE workshops, the necessity of which has been overlooked. Therefore, an efficient VE support system is required to resolve the problem of time and space limitations. In this study, a VE support system based on the Mobile environment was developed to support the VE Workshop process. This VE support system enables participants to review design documents, drawing sheets and all VE-related documents using mobile devices. After the Workshop, participants can conveniently rearrange the result(evaluation of function and ideas) at the workshop. Not only can the members of VE team can review the design documents, drawing sheet and all VE-related documents in the step before the workshop, but also the result(evaluation of function and ideas) of the workshop can be easily rearranged in the phase after the workshop under the developed supporting system using mobile devices.

Growth performance of planted population of Pinus roxburghii in central Nepal

  • Tiwari, Achyut;Thapa, Nita;Aryal, Sugam;Rana, Prabina;Adhikari, Shankar
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.264-274
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    • 2020
  • Background: Climate change has altered the various ecosystem processes including forest ecosystem in Himalayan region. Although the high mountain natural forests including treelines in the Himalayan region are mainly reported to be temperature sensitive, the temperature-related water stress in an important growth-limiting factor for middle elevation mountains. And there are very few evidences on growth performance of planted forest in changing climate in the Himalayan region. A dendrochronological study was carried out to verify and record the impact of warming temperature tree growth by using the tree cores of Pinus roxburghii from Batase village of Dhulikhel in Central Nepal with sub-tropical climatic zone. For this total, 29 tree cores from 25 trees of P. roxburghii were measured and analyzed. Result: A 44-year long tree ring width chronology was constructed from the cores. The result showed that the radial growth of P. roxburghii was positively correlated with pre-monsoon (April) rainfall, although the correlation was not significant and negatively correlated with summer rainfall. The strongest negative correlation was found between radial growth and rainfall of June followed by the rainfall of January. Also, the radial growth showed significant positive correlation with that previous year August mean temperature and maximum temperature, and significant negative correlation between radial growth and maximum temperature (Tmax) of May and of spring season (March-May), indicating moisture as the key factor for radial growth. Despite the overall positive trend in the basal area increment (BAI), we have found the abrupt decline between 1995 and 2005 AD. Conclusion: The results indicated that chir pine planted population was moisture sensitive, and the negative impact of higher temperature during early growth season (March-May) was clearly seen on the radial growth. We emphasize that the forest would experience further moisture stress if the trend of warming temperatures continues. The unusual decreasing BAI trend might be associated with forest management processes including resin collection and other disturbances. Our results showed that the planted pine forest stand is sub-healthy due to major human intervention at times. Further exploration of growth climate response from different climatic zones and management regimes is important to improve our understanding on the growth performance of mid-hill pine forests in Nepal.

A Techno-Economic Study of Commercial Electrochemical CO2 Reduction into Diesel Fuel and Formic Acid

  • Mustafa, Azeem;Lougou, Bachirou Guene;Shuai, Yong;Razzaq, Samia;Wang, Zhijiang;Shagdar, Enkhbayar;Zhao, Jiupeng
    • Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.148-158
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    • 2022
  • The electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) to produce value-added fuels and chemicals using clean energy sources (like solar and wind) is a promising technology to neutralize the carbon cycle and reproduce the fuels. Presently, the ECR has been the most attractive route to produce carbon-building blocks that have growing global production and high market demand. The electrochemical CO2 reduction could be extensively implemented if it produces valuable products at those costs which are financially competitive with the present market prices. Herein, the electrochemical conversion of CO2 obtained from flue gases of a power plant to produce diesel and formic acid using a consistent techno-economic approach is presented. The first scenario analyzed the production of diesel fuel which was formed through Fischer-Tropsch processing of CO (obtained through electroreduction of CO2) and hydrogen, while in the second scenario, direct electrochemical CO2 reduction to formic acid was considered. As per the base case assumptions extracted from the previous outstanding research studies, both processes weren't competitive with the existing fuel prices, indicating that high electrochemical (EC) cell capital cost was the main limiting component. The diesel fuel production was predicted as the best route for the cost-effective production of fuels under conceivable optimistic case assumptions, and the formic acid was found to be costly in terms of stored energy contents and has a facile production mechanism at those costs which are financially competitive with its bulk market price. In both processes, the liquid product cost was greatly affected by the parameters affecting the EC cell capital expenses, such as cost concerning the electrode area, faradaic efficiency, and current density.

Manipulation of Tissue Energy Metabolism in Meat-Producing Ruminants - Review -

  • Hocquette, J.F.;Ortigues-Marty, Isabelle;Vermorel, M.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.720-732
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    • 2001
  • Skeletal muscle is of major economic importance since it is finally converted to meat for consumers. The increase in meat production with low costs of production may be achieved by optimizing muscle growth, whereas a high meat quality requires, among other factors, the optimization of intramuscular glycogen and fat stores. Thus, research in energy metabolism aims at controling muscle metabolism, but also liver and adipose tissue metabolism in order to optimize energy partitioning in favour of muscles. Liver is characterized by high anabolic and catabolic rates. Metabolic enzymes are regulated by nutrients through short-term regulation of their activities and long-term regulation of expression of their genes. Consequences of liver metabolic regulation on energy supply to muscles may affect protein deposition (and hence growth) as well as intramuscular energy stores. Adipose tissues are important body reserves of triglycerides, which result from the balance between lipogenesis and lipolysis. Both processes depend on the feeding level and on the nature of nutrients, which indirectly affect energy delivery to muscles. In muscles, the regulation of rate-limiting nutrient transporters, of metabolic enzyme activities and of ATP production, as well as the interactions between nutrients affect free energy availability for muscle growth and modify muscle metabolic characteristics which determine meat quality. The growth of tissues and organs, the number and the characteristics of muscle fibers depend, for a great part, on early events during the fetal life. They include variations in quantitative and qualitative nutrient supply to the fetus, and hence in maternal nutrition. During the postnatal life, muscle growth and characteristics are affected by the age and the genetic type of the animals, the feeding level and the diet composition. The latter determines the nature of available nutrients and the rate of nutrient delivery to tissues, thereby regulating metabolism. Physical activity at pasture also favours the orientation of muscle metabolism, towards the oxidative type. Consequently, breeding systems may be of a great importance during the postnatal life. Research is now directed towards the determination of individual tissue and organ energy requirements, a better knowledge of nutrient partitioning between and within organs and tissues. The discovery of new molecules (e. g. leptin), of new molecular mechanisms and of more powerful techniques (DNA chips) will help to achieve these objectives. The integration of the different levels of knowledge will finally allow scientists to formulate new types of diets adapted to sustain a production of high quality meat with lower costs of production.

A Study on Intensive Quantities Handled in Korean Elementary Math Textbooks and Workbooks (우리나라 초등학교 수학 교과서 및 익힘책에서 취급하는 내포량에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Jong Hyeon;Ko, Jun Seok;Lee, Jeong Eun;Park, Kyo Sik
    • Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2016
  • In this paper, the following three issues are discussed in connection with intensive quantities. (1) Is there any relationship among intensive quantity, per unit quantity, and ratio? (2) Which intensive quantities obtained by two same extensive quantities are handled? And How are they handled? (3) Which intensive quantities obtained by two different extensive quantities are handled? And How are they handled? Based on the results of this discussions, three implications are suggested as conclusions to explore the direction for the development of handling intensive quantities in elementary math textbooks and workbooks. Firstly, it is necessary to systematize the systemize a series of processes to handle intensive quantities. There is a need to rethink to use terms like speed and velocity before handling the ratio. Secondly, there is a need to rethink the definition of intensive quantities which have the particular names. For example, it is necessary to rethink using average distance in the definition of speed and the average population in the definition of density of population. Thirdly, it is necessary to consider the limiting the kinds of intensive quantities obtained by two same extensive quantities handled in the elementary math. There is a need to set limit to them which are used in daily life, and there is a need to rethink to use them which are used in the specialized area. There is a need to rethink the using hitting ratio in the form of %.

On the Plug-in Estimator and its Asymptotic Distribution Results for Vector-Valued Process Capability Index Cpmk (2차원 벡터 공정능력지수 Cpmk의 추정량과 극한분포 이론에 관한 연구)

  • Cho, Joong-Jae;Park, Byoung-Sun
    • Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.377-389
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    • 2011
  • A higher quality level is generally perceived by customers as improved performance by assigning a correspondingly higher satisfaction score. The third generation index $C_{pmk}$ is more powerful than two useful indices $C_p$ and $C_{pk}$ that have been widely used in six sigma industries to assess process performance. In actual manufacturing industries, process capability analysis often entails characterizing or assessing processes or products based on more than one engineering specification or quality characteristic. Since these characteristics are related, it is a risky undertaking to represent the variation of even a univariate characteristic by a single index. Therefore, the desirability of using vector-valued process capability index(PCI) arises quite naturally. In this paper, we consider more powerful vector-valued process capability index $C_{pmk}$ = ($C_{pmkx}$, $C_{pmky}$)$^t$ that consider the univariate process capability index $C_{pmk}$. First, we examine the process capability index $C_{pmk}$ and plug-in estimator $\hat{C}_{pmk}$. In addition, we derive its asymptotic distribution and variance-covariance matrix $V_{pmk}$ for the vector valued process capability index $C_{pmk}$. Under the assumption of bivariate normal distribution, we study asymptotic confidence regions of our vector-valued process capability index $C_{pmk}$ = ($C_{pmkx}$, $C_{pmky}$)$^t$.

Regulation of Chilling Tolerance in Rice Seedlings by Plant Hormones

  • Chu, Chun;Lee, Tse-Min
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.288-298
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    • 1992
  • Since the major important factors limiting plant growth and crop productivity are environmental stresses, of which low temperature is the most serious. It has been well known that many physiological processes are alterant in response to the environmental stress. With regard to the relationship between plant hormones and the regulation of chilling tolerance in rice seedlings, the major physiological roles of plant hormones: abscisic acid, ethylene and polyamines are evaluated and discussed in this paper. Rice seedlings were grown in culture solution to examine the effect of such plant hormones on physiological characters related to chilling tolerance and also to compare the different responses among tested cultivars. Intact seedlings about 14 day-old were chilled at conditions of 5$^{\circ}C$ and 80% relative humidity for various period. Cis-(+)-ABA content was measured by the indirect ELISA technique. Polyamine content and ethylene production in leaves were determined by means of HPLC and GC respectively. Chilling damage of seedlings was evaluated by electrolyte leakage, TTC viability assay or servival test. Our experiment results described here demonstrated the physiological functions of ABA, ethylene, and polyamines related to the regulation of chilling tolerance in rice seedlings. Levels of cis-(+)-ABA in leaves or xylem sap of rice seedlings increased rapidly in response to 5$^{\circ}C$ treatment. The tolerant cultivars had significant higher level of endogenous ABA than the sensitive ones. The ($\pm$)-ABA pretreatment for 48 h increased the chilling tolerance of the sensitive indica cultivar. One possible function of abscisic acid is the adjustment of plants to avoid chilling-induced water stress. Accumulation of proline and other compatible solutes is assumed to be another factor in the prevention of chilling injuies by abscisic acid. In addition, the expression of ABA-responsive gene is reported in some plants and may be involving in the acclimation to low temperature. Ethylene and its immediate precusor, 1-amincyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid(ACC) increased significantly after 5$^{\circ}C$ treatment. The activity of ACC synthase which converts S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to ACC enhanced earlier than the increase of ethylene and ACC. Low temperature increased ACC synthase activity, whereas prolonged chilling treatment damaged the conversion of ACC to ethylene. It was shown that application of Ethphon was beneficial to recovering from chilling injury in rice seedlings. However, the physiological functions of chilling-induced ethylene are still unclear. Polyamines are thought to be a potential plant hormone and may be involving in the regulation of chilling response. Results indicated that chilling treatment induced a remarkable increase of polyamines, especially putrescine content in rice seedlings. The relative higher putrescine content was found in chilling-tolerant cultivar and the maximal level of enhanced putrescine in shoot of chilling cultivar(TNG. 67) was about 8 folds of controls at two days after chilling. The accumulation of polyamines may protect membrane structure or buffer ionic imbalance from chilling damage. Stress physiology is a rapidly expanding field. Plant growth regulators that improve tolerance to low temperature may affect stress protein production. The molecular or gene approaches will help us to elucidate the functions of plant hormones related to the regulation of chilling tolerance in plants in the near future.

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Genomic and Proteomic Analysis of Microbial Function in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Ruminants - Review -

  • White, Bryan A.;Morrison, Mark
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.14 no.6
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    • pp.880-884
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    • 2001
  • Rumen microbiology research has undergone several evolutionary steps: the isolation and nutritional characterization of readily cultivated microbes; followed by the cloning and sequence analysis of individual genes relevant to key digestive processes; through to the use of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) sequences for a cultivation-independent examination of microbial diversity. Our knowledge of rumen microbiology has expanded as a result, but the translation of this information into productive alterations of ruminal function has been rather limited. For instance, the cloning and characterization of cellulase genes in Escherichia coli has yielded some valuable information about this complex enzyme system in ruminal bacteria. SSU rRNA analyses have also confirmed that a considerable amount of the microbial diversity in the rumen is not represented in existing culture collections. However, we still have little idea of whether the key, and potentially rate-limiting, gene products and (or) microbial interactions have been identified. Technologies allowing high throughput nucleotide and protein sequence analysis have led to the emergence of two new fields of investigation, genomics and proteomics. Both disciplines can be further subdivided into functional and comparative lines of investigation. The massive accumulation of microbial DNA and protein sequence data, including complete genome sequences, is revolutionizing the way we examine microbial physiology and diversity. We describe here some examples of our use of genomics- and proteomics-based methods, to analyze the cellulase system of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 and explore the genome of Ruminococcus albus 8. At Illinois, we are using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors to create libraries containing large (>75 kbases), contiguous segments of DNA from R. flavefaciens FD-1. Considering that every bacterium is not a candidate for whole genome sequencing, BAC libraries offer an attractive, alternative method to perform physical and functional analyses of a bacterium's genome. Our first plan is to use these BAC clones to determine whether or not cellulases and accessory genes in R. flavefaciens exist in clusters of orthologous genes (COGs). Proteomics is also being used to complement the BAC library/DNA sequencing approach. Proteins differentially expressed in response to carbon source are being identified by 2-D SDS-PAGE, followed by in-gel-digests and peptide mass mapping by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, as well as peptide sequencing by Edman degradation. At Ohio State, we have used a combination of functional proteomics, mutational analysis and differential display RT-PCR to obtain evidence suggesting that in addition to a cellulosome-like mechanism, R. albus 8 possesses other mechanisms for adhesion to plant surfaces. Genome walking on either side of these differentially expressed transcripts has also resulted in two interesting observations: i) a relatively large number of genes with no matches in the current databases and; ii) the identification of genes with a high level of sequence identity to those identified, until now, in the archaebacteria. Genomics and proteomics will also accelerate our understanding of microbial interactions, and allow a greater degree of in situ analyses in the future. The challenge is to utilize genomics and proteomics to improve our fundamental understanding of microbial physiology, diversity and ecology, and overcome constraints to ruminal function.

Control of Membrane Fouling in Submerged Membrane Bioreactor(MBR) using Air Scouring (침지형 생물 반응기 공정에서 플럭스 향상을 위한 공기 세척 효과에 관한 연구)

  • Shin, Dong-Hwan;Baek, Byung-Do;Chang, In-Soung
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.30 no.9
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    • pp.948-954
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    • 2008
  • Membrane bioreactor(MBR) processes have been widely applied to wastewater treatment for last decades due to its excellent capability of solid-liquid separation. However, membrane fouling was considered as a limiting factor in wide application of the MBR process. Excess aeration into membrane surface is a common way to control membrane fouling in most MBR. However, the excessively supplied air is easily dissipated in the reactor, which results in consuming energy and thus, it should be modified for effective control of membrane fouling. In this study, cylindrical tube was introduced to MBR in order to use the supplied air effectively. Membrane fibers were immersed into the cylindrical tube. This makes the supplied air non-dissipated in the reactor so that membrane fouling could be controlled economically. Two different air supplying method was employed and compared each other; nozzle and porous diffuser which were located just beneath the membrane module. Transmembrane pressure(TMP) was monitored as a function of airflow rate, flux, and ratio of the tube area and cross-sectioned area of membrane fibers(A$_m$/A$_t$). Flow rate of air and liquid was regulated to obtain slug flow in the cylindrical tube. With the same flow of air supply, nozzle was more effective for controlling membrane fouling than porous diffuser. Accumulation of sludge was observed in the tube with the nozzle, if the air was not suppled sufficiently. Reduction of membrane fouling was dependent upon the ratio, A$_m$/A$_t$. For diffuser, membrane fouling was minimized when A$_m$/A$_t$ was 0.27, but 0.55 for nozzle.