• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.356-361
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• 2023

In order to improve the durability of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), it is important to accurately evaluate the durability of the polymer membrane in a short time. The test conditions for chemically accelerated durability evaluation of membranes are high voltage, high temperature, low humidity, and high gas pressure. It can be said that the protocol is developed by changing these conditions. However, the relative influence of each test condition on the degradation of the membrane has not been studied. In chemical accelerated degradation experiment of the membrane, the influence of 4 factors (conditions) was examined through the factor experiment method. The degree of degradation of the membrane after accelerated degradation was determined by measuring the hydrogen permeability and effluent fluoride ion concentration, and it was possible to determine the degradation order of the polymer membrane under 8 conditions by the difference in fluoride ion concentration. It was shown that the influence of the membrane degradation factor was in the order of voltage > temperature > oxygen pressure > humidity. It was confirmed that the degradation of the electrode catalyst had an effect on the chemical degradation of the membrane.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.819-827
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• 2023

If respiratory arrest occurs or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed for a long period on board ships, CPR with rescue breathing (not compression-only CPR) is required. Accordingly, ships must have resuscitation equipment for oxygen supply, and seafarers must have the maritime competence to use it. This study aimed to analyze the placement status of resuscitation equipment on ships and seafarers' intention to use them in order to increase the usability of resuscitation equipment on board ships and propose improvement measures. The study was conducted from February 2, 2023, to April 21, 2023, and a total of 340 seafarers were surveyed. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, and chi-square test using SPSS WIN 23.0. The results showed that the checking of resuscitation equipment was high among seafarers in the positions of officer, captain, deck department personnel, and ocean-going personnel. The intention of seafarers to use resuscitation equipment was low, and the main barrier was the lack of knowledge on how to use. Among the general characteristics of the study participants, those whose rank was that of officer or captain, whose working department was the deck, voyage who were ocean-going, and who managed a gross tonnage of 20,000 tons or more had a high intention to use resuscitation equipment. Participants who knew the necessity of rescue breathing and had received practice and equipment-based training were active in using resuscitation equipment. Therefore, a system should be developed so that all ships can be equipped with resuscitation equipment, and an environment must be created to increase accessibility to resuscitation equipment on board ships. In addition, an education system based on practical and resuscitation equipment training must be established to ensure that seafarers have maritime competence.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2023

In order to increase the usability of H₂-SCR, the NOx removal characteristics with catalyst powder of PtNi/CeO₂-W-TiO₂ using Ce as a co-catalyst was synthesized and coated on a porous metal structure (PMS) were evaluated. Catalyst powder of PtNi/CeO₂-W-TiO₂(PtNi nanoparticles onto W-TiO₂, with the incorporation of ceria (CeO₂) as a co-catalysts) was synthesized and coated onto a porous metal structure (PMS) to produce a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst. H₂-SCR with CeO₂ as a co-catalyst exhibited higher NOx removal efficiency compared to H₂-SCR without CeO₂. Particularly, at a 10wt% CeO₂ loading ratio, the NOx removal efficiency was highest at 90℃. As the amount of catalyst coating on PMS increased, the NOx removal efficiency was improved below 90℃, but it was decreased above 120℃. When the space velocity was changed from 4,000 h^-1 to 20,000 h^-1, the NOx removal efficiency improved at temperatures above 120℃. It was expected that the use of the catalyst could be reduced by applying the PMS with excellent specific surface area as a support.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2024

Wastewater treatment using membrane bioreactors has been extensively used to alleviate water shortage and pollution by improving the quality of the treated water discharged into the environment. However, membrane biofouling persistently holds back an MBR process by reducing the process efficiency. Herein, we synthesized carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with many hydrophilic oxygen groups and utilized them as an additive to prepare high-performance ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with hydrophilicity and porous pore structure. CNSs were found to form crescent-shaped pores on the membrane surface, increasing the mean surface pore size by about 40% without causing significant defects larger than bubble points, as the CNS content increased by 4.6 wt%. In addition, the porous pore structure of CNS composite membranes was also attributable to the CNS's isotropic morphologies and relatively low particle number density because the aforementioned properties contributed to preventing the polymer solution viscosity from soaring with the loading of CNS. However, too porous structure compromised the mechanical properties, such that CNS2.3 was the best from a comprehensive consideration including the pore structure and mechanical properties. As a result, CNS2.3 showed not only 2 times higher water permeability than CNS0 but also 5 times longer operation duration until membrane cleaning was required.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2008

Marine ecotoxicological standard method using fish larvae was established with the standard test species of Oryzias latipes(Japanese Medaka) and Paralichthys olivaceus(flounder) and with the 7 day $LC_{50}$ as endpoint. Test method referred to the USEPA(1994) with the replacement of test species found in the Korean water. Standard test species were selected in terms of the species supply and ecological importance in Korean waters. Japanese medaka can be reared with small tanks in the lab and has wide tolerance on salinity, and flounder eggs can be easily obtained from commercial fish hatcheries. General conditions for larval fish toxicity test are as follows. The possible salinity ranges for toxicity test were $0{\sim}35\;psu$ for medaka and >20 psu for flounder. Test type was designated as static non-renewal test if the dissolved oxygen in the test chamber does not fall below 4.0 mg/L. Ages of test species were selected as 7 days after hatched for medaka(about 5 mm TL) and 25 days for flounder(about 10 mm TL) because of the low natural mortality after these periods. Test can be accepted when the survival rates are over 80% in control. Also, species sensitivity on standard reference materials(copper, cadmium or zinc) must be provided with the toxicity test results.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2024

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are essential components in water electrolysis systems, serving to physically separate the generated hydrogen and oxygen gases while enabling the selective transport of hydroxide ions between electrodes. Key characteristics sought in AEMs include high ion conductivity and robust chemical and mechanical stability in alkaline. In this study, quaternized Poly(terphenyl piperidinium)/cellulose nanocrystals (qPTP/CNC) mixed matrix membrane was fabricated. The polymer matrix, PTP, was synthesized via super-acid polymerization, known for its excellent ion conductivity and alkaline durability. The qPTP/CNC membrane showed a dense and uniform morphology without significant voids or large aggregates at the polymer-nanoparticle interface. The qPTP/CNC membrane containing 2 wt% CNC demonstrated a high ion exchange capacity of 1.90 mmol/g, coupled with low water uptake (9.09%) and swelling ratio (5.56%). Additionally, the qPTP/CNC membrane showed significantly lower resistance and superior alkaline stability (384 hours at 50℃ in 1 M KOH) compared to the commercial FAA-3-50 membrane. These results highlight the potential of hydrophilic additive CNC in enhancing ion conductivity and alkaline durability of ion exchange membranes.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.159-171
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• 2024

This study confirmed the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial efficacy and formulation stability for the effectiveness experiment of Rumex crispus. L root extract. For antioxidant activity, DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP activity, ABTS+ radical scavenging, and SOD-like activity were performed. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans strains. In addition, skin containing Rumex crispus. L root extract is checked over time for pH, temperature, and daylight for 21 days. As a result of antioxidant evaluation, it was confirmed that the activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner at a concentration of 0.0625-1 mg/mL. The clear zones of each bacterium at 100mg/mL concentrations were 10.45±0.34, 9.77±0.59, 9.92±0.22, and 10.08±0.12, which were superior to the control group Methyl paraben, and the antibacterial power of S. aureus and E. coli was confirmed at 100mg/mL concentration for MIC. There was little change in absorbance when the pH of the skin was 4.0, 6.0, and 7.0 and At 4℃, 25℃, and 40℃, it was discolored as the temperature increased. It was also observed that discoloration occurred when exposed to daylight. This is presumed to be able to prevent discoloration when it is shielded and stored at low temperatures. When the results of this study are summarized, Rumex crispus. L root extract is considered to have high value in use as a cosmetic raw material that can expect antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 ㎍/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 ㎍/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 ㎍/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO₂, respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times. In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion: PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.606-621
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• 2024

This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of fermented Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (FPB) in ethanol-induced liver injury mice. As a result of amino acids in FPB, 18 types of amino acids including essential amino acids were identified. In the results of in vitro tests, FPB increased alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities. In addition, FPB treatment increased cell viability on ethanol- and H₂O₂-induced HepG2 cells. FPB ameliorated serum biomarkers related to hepatoxicity including glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamine pyruvic transaminase, total bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase and lipid metabolism including triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Also, FPB controlled ethanol metabolism enzymes by regulating the protein expression levels of ADH, ALDH, and cytochrome P450 2E1 in liver tissue. FPB protected hepatic oxidative stress by improving malondialdehyde content, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase levels. In addition, FPB reversed mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP levels. FPB protected ethanol-induced apoptosis, fatty liver, and hepatic inflammation through p-AMP-activated protein kinase and TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, FPB prevented hepatic fibrosis by decreasing TGF-β1/Smad pathway. In summary, these results suggest that FPB might be a potential prophylactic agent for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease via preventing liver injury such as fatty liver, hepatic inflammation due to chronic ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.720-734
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• 2023

To understand the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of zooplankton and the environmental factors influencing zooplankton abundance in Gomso Bay, major harvesting area of Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum) in South Korea, zooplankton sampling was conducted four times in autumn (October 2022), winter (January 2023), early spring (March 2023), and spring (May 2023). Among the environmental factors of Gomso Bay, water temperature, chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH observed different patterns, while salinity and suspended particulate matter(SPM) showed no significant statistical differences between the survey periods. The zooplankton in Gomso Bay occurred 33, 29, 27, and 29 taxonomic groups during each respective survey period. In October 2022 and May 2023, arthropod plankton were dominated, while in January and March 2023, protozoa were primarily dominant. Among the Arthropods, copepods including Acartia hongi, Paracalanus parvus s. l., Corycaeus spp., and Oithona spp. commonly found along Korean coastal areas of the Yellow Sea, were dominated. Cluster analysis based on zooplankton abundance indicated a single community (stable condition) in each season, attributed to low dissimilarity distances, while three distinct clusters (autumn, winter-early spring, spring) between seasons indicated a highly seasonal environment in Gomso Bay.