• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 2021

Human intestinal microbiota play an important role in the regulation of the host's metabolism. There is a close pathological and physiological interaction between dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora and obesity and metabolic syndrome. Akkermansia muciniphila, which was recently isolated from human feces, accounts for about 1-4% of the intestinal microbiota population. The use of A. muciniphila- derived external membrane protein Amuc_1100 and extracellular vesicles (EVs) could be a new strategy for the treatment of obesity. A. muciniphila is considered a next-generation probiotic (NGP) for the treatment of metabolic disorders, such as obesity. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii accounts for about 5% of the intestinal microbiota population in healthy adults and is an indicator of gut health. F. prausnitzii is a butyrate-producing bacterium, with anti-inflammatory effects, and is considered an NGP for the treatment of immune diseases and diabetes. Postbiotics are complex mixtures of metabolites contained in the cell supernatant secreted by probiotics. Parabiotics are microbial cells in which probiotics are inactivated. Paraprobiotics and postbiotics have many advantages over probiotics, such as clear chemical structures, safe dose parameters, and a long shelf life. Thus, they have the potential to replace probiotics. The most natural strategy to restore the imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem normally is to use NGPs among commensal bacteria in the gut. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new foods or drugs such as parabiotics and postbiotics using NGPs.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.270-275
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• 2021

ZnO was synthesized according to the transformation behavior and crystallization conditions of Zn-intermediate obtained by zinc sulfate as a precursor and NaOH, Na₂CO₃ as a alkali agents. For ZnO crystallization, Zn₄(OH)₆SO₄·H₂O and Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂·H₂O as a Zn-intermediate were calcined at 400℃ and 800℃ for 1 h, respectively, based on decomposition temperature from TGA. Zn₄(OH)₆SO₄·H₂O was confirmed to have mixed Zn₄(OH)₆SO₄·H₂O and ZnO at 400℃, and was completely thermally decomposed at 800℃ to form ZnO phase. The prepared Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂·H₂O as a Zn-intermediate by the reaction with Na₂CO₃ was transformed to a complete ZnO crystallization over 400℃. Nano-sized ZnO can be synthesized at a relatively lower calcination temperature through the reaction with Na₂CO₃.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.357-372
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• 2021

The energy harvesting device is known to be promising as an alternative to solve the resource shortage caused by the depletion of petroleum resources. In order to overcome the limitations (environmental pollution and low mechanical properties) of piezoelectric elements capable of converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, many studies have been conducted on a polymer matrix-based composite piezoelectric energy harvesting device. In this paper, the output performance and related applications of the reported piezoelectric composites are reviewed based on the applied materials and processes. As for the piezoelectric fillers, zinc oxide, which is advantageous in terms of eco-friendliness, biocompatibility, and flexibility, as well as ceramic fillers based on lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate, were reviewed. The polymer matrix was classified into piezoelectric polymers composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and copolymers, and flexible polymers based on epoxy and polydimethylsiloxane, to discuss piezoelectric synergy of composite materials and improvement of piezoelectric output by high external force application, respectively. In addition, the effect of improving the conductivity or the mechanical properties of composite material by the application of a metal or carbon-based secondary filler on the output performance of the piezoelectric harvesting device was explained in terms of the structure of the composite material. Composite material-based piezoelectric harvesting devices, which can be applied to small electronic devices, smart sensors, and medicine with improved performance, can provide potential insights as a power source for wireless electronic devices expected to be encountered in future daily life.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.605-616
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• 2022

We prepared two samples of ultrafine ferrihydrite (FH) nanoparticle ensembles of quite a different origin. First is the biosynthesized sample (as a product of the vital activity of bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca (hereinafter marked as FH-bact) with a natural organic coating and negligible magnetic interparticle interactions. And the second one is the chemically synthesized ferrihydrite (hereinafter FH-chem) without any coating and high level of the interparticle interactions. The interparticle magnetic interactions have been tuned by modifying the nanoparticle surface in both samples. The coating of the FH-bact sample has been partially removed by annealing at 150℃ for 24 h (hereinafter FH-annealed). The FH-chem sample, vice versa, has been coated (1.0 g) with biocompatible polysaccharide (arabinogalactan) in an ultrasonic bath for 10 min (hereinafter FH-coated). The changes in the surface properties of nanoparticles have been controlled by XPS. According to the electron microscopy data, the modification of the nanoparticle surface does not drastically change the particle shape and size. A change in the average nanoparticle size in sample FH-annealed to 3.3 nm relative to the value in the other samples (2.6 nm) has only been observed. The estimated particle coating thickness is about 0.2-0.3 nm for samples FH-bact and FH-coated and 0.1 nm for sample FH-annealed. Mössbauer and magnetization measurements are definitely shown that the drastic change in the blocking temperature is caused by the interparticle interactions. The experimental temperature dependences of the hyperfine field hf>(T) for samples FH-bact and FH-coated have not revealed the effect of interparticle interactions. Otherwise, the interparticle interaction energy E_int estimated from the hf>(T) for samples FH-chem and FH-annealed has been found to be 121k_B and 259k_B, respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.sup1
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• pp.134-146
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence has shown the beneficial effects of isoflavone on health. There is limited information on the usual isoflavone intake for Koreans. This study examined the usual intake of total isoflavone and its major food sources in Koreans according to age and gender. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The dietary intake data of 21,271 participants aged 1 yrs and older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII 2016-2018 were analyzed. The average isoflavone intake was estimated based on the 24-h dietary recall data in KNHANES and the isoflavone database from the Korea Rural Development Administration (RDA) and literatures. The usual isoflavone intake was estimated by applying the ratio of within- and between-participant variance estimated from the 2009 KNHANES data to the 7th KNHANES (2016-2018) data. The variance of the isoflavone intake was calculated using MIXTRAN macro with intake data for two days in the 2009 KNHANES. Complex sample analysis with stratified variables and integrated weights was conducted. RESULTS: The mean total isoflavone intake in the Korean population aged 1 yrs and older (n = 21,271) was 139.27 mg/d, which was higher than the usual intake of 47.44mg/d. Legumes were a major contributing food group (91%), with arrowroot being a major individual contributor to the isoflavone intake (67.2%), followed by 21.3% of soybean, 5.4% of bean sprouts, and 2.1% of tofu. The usual isoflavone intake was highest in the participants aged 50 to 64 yrs old and increased with age until 50 to 64 yrs and then decreased with further increases in age. The usual isoflavone intake of participants aged 65 yrs and older was higher for men than for women, showing gender differences. CONCLUSIONS: The usual dietary intake of isoflavone varied according to age and gender in the Korean population. This study showed that the usual isoflavone intake was lower than the average isoflavone intake. The difference between percentiles of the usual isoflavone intake was similarly smaller than the average intake. An estimation of average intake can be hindered by the occasional consumption of foods high in isoflavones, suggesting that the usual intake estimation method can be more appropriate. Further research will be needed to establish isoflavone dietary guidelines regarding the effects of isoflavone intake on health outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.639-646
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• 2022

Energy harvesting technologies that can convert wasted various energy into usable electrical energy have been widely investigated to overcome the limitation of batteries for the powering of IoT sensors and small electronic devices. Hybrid energy harvesting is known as a technology that enhances the output power of single energy harvesting device by housing two or more various energy harvesting mechanisms. In this study, we introduce a hybrid MME (Magneto-Mechano-Electric) generator coupled with the triboelectric effect. Through FEA modeling, four triboelectric materials, including PI (Polyimide), PFA(Teflon), Cu, and Al, were selected and compared with the expected triboelectric potentials. The effect of surface morphology was investigated as well. Among various combination of triboelectric materials and surface morphologies, PFA-Al combination with the surface morphology having nano-scale square projections showed highest output potential under triboelectrification. It is also experimentally confirmed that output voltage and power of the hybrid MME generator with triboelectric material combinations.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.402-411
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the bactericidal effect of nisin (Nisin) only, atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) only, and a combination of APP and nisin (APP+Nisin)(APP+Nisin) on beef jerky and sliced ham inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, gram-negative bacteria. The bactericidal effect against E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed using a nisin solution at a concentration of 0-100 ppm, and APP+Nisin was tested on beef jerky and sliced ham using 100 ppm nisin. Beef jerky and sliced ham were treated with APP for 5 min and 9 min, respectively. In the bacterial solution, 100 ppm nisin out of 0-100 ppm nisin exhibited the highest bactericidal activity against L. monocytogenes (gram-positive bacteria; p<0.05); however, it did not exhibit bactericidal effects against E. coli O157:H7 (gram-negative bacteria). The APP+Nisin APP+Nisin exhibited a 100% reduction rate in both E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes compared to the control group, and was more effective than the Nisin. The APP+Nisin decreased the number of colonies formed by 0.80 and 1.96 Log CFU/g for beef jerky and sliced ham, respectively, compared to the control, and exhibited a higher bactericidal effect compared to the Nisin (p<0.05). These results demonstrate the synergistic bactericidal effect of APP and nisin, providing a possible method to improve the limitations of nisin against gram-negative bacteria. In addition, this technology has the potential to be applied to various meats and meat products to control surface microorganisms.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.149-157
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• 2023

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown promise in various applications, including molecular separation, dye separation, gas separation, filtration, and desalination. Integrating COFs into membranes enhances permeability, selectivity, and stability, improving separation processes. Combining COFs with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) creates nanocomposite membranes with high permeability and stability, ideal for dye separation. Incorporating COFs into polyamide (PA) membranes improves permeability and selectivity through a synthetic interfacial strategy. Three-dimensional COF fillers in mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) enhance CO₂/CH₄ separation, making them suitable for biogas upgrading. All-nanoporous composite (ANC) membranes, which combine COFs and metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes, overcome permeance-selectivity trade-offs, significantly improving gas permeance. Computational simulations using hypothetical COFs (hypoCOFs) demonstrate superior CO₂ selectivity and working capacity relevant for CO₂ separation and H₂ purification. COFs integrated into thin-film composite (TFC) and polysulfonamide (PSA) membranes enhance rejection performance for organic contaminants, salt contaminants, and heavy metal ions, improving separation capabilities. TpPa-SO₃H/PAN covalent organic framework membranes (COFMs) exhibited superior desalination performance compared to traditional polyamide membranes by utilizing charged groups to enable efficient desalination through electrostatic repulsion, suggesting their potential for ionic and molecular separations. These findings highlight COFs' potential in membrane technology for enhanced separation processes by improving permeability, selectivity, and stability. In this review, COF applied for the separation process is discussed.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.36-45
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• 2023

Recently, in digital agriculture, the types and utilization of greenhouses based on IoT are spreading, and greenhouses are being modernized, enlarged, and even factoryized using smart technology. However, a specific standardization plan has not been proposed according to the equipment for data collection in the smart greenhouse and the size or shape of the greenhouse. In other words, there is a lack of standard data for facility equipment, such as the type and number of sensors and equipment according to the size of the greenhouse, the type of greenhouse construction film and materials suitable for crops and carbon neutrality. Therefore, in this study, the suitability of the implementation, installation and quantity of IoT equipment for data collection was tested, and some standard technologies were presented through the implementation of data collection and communication methods. In addition, impact strength, tensile, tear, elongation, light transmittance, and lifespan issues for PE, PVC, and EVA, which account for about 90% of existing greenhouses, were presented, and the shape, size, and environmental problems of greenhouses made of films were presented. presented in the text. In this research paper, a standardized carbon-neutral modular smart greenhouse using nano-material film was implemented as a solution to environmental problems such as greenhouse size, farm crop type, greenhouse lifespan, and film, and its performance with existing greenhouses was analyzed and presented. Through this, we propose a modularized greenhouse that can be expanded or reduced freely without distinction in the size of the greenhouse or the shape of farmhouse crops, and the lifespan is extended and standardized. Finally, the average characteristics of greenhouses using existing PE, PVC, and EVA films and the characteristics of greenhouses using new carbon-neutral nanomaterials are compared and reviewed, and a plan to implement an expandable IoT greenhouse that supports carbon neutrality is proposed.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.13-19
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• 2023

Following the signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 2015), the world is expanding greenhouse gas reduction activities through comprehensive participation that includes not only developed countries but also developing countries. Major countries around the world are placing high expectations on the effectiveness of total carbon emissions regulation through the carbon emissions market. However, in order to obtain carbon credits, third-party verification is required based on quantitative carbon reduction data. Accordingly, in this paper, we developed an AIoT high-efficiency street light for carbon emissions and conducted a performance analysis study to measure the luminous efficiency of the lighting fixture. To obtain carbon emissions rights, we used high-efficiency LED PKG, developed our own high-voltage PFC, and developed high-efficiency lighting fixtures capable of communication. For communication, the 2.4GHz LoRa method was adopted between the lighting fixture and the gateway. Lens design was conducted through simulation of Korea Expressway Corporation's standard streetlight types A, B, and C. The performance of the streetlight was verified as being more efficient than other existing products through the measurement of luminous efficiency by an accredited rating agency, and it is expected that carbon emissions rights will be obtained by reducing electrical energy through this.