• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.388-394
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• 2010

In the present study, polyacetal bone mimics with circular cylindrical pores were used to investigate variations of speed of sound and attenuation coefficient with porosity and microarchitecture in bone. The speed of sound and attenuation coefficient of the 6 bone mimics with porosities from 0 % to 65.9 % were measured by a through-transmission method in water, using a pair of broadband, unfocused transducers with a diameter of 12.7 mm and a center frequency of 1.0 MHz. Independently of the structural properties of the bone mimics, the speed of sound decreased almost linearly with the increasing porosity. The attenuation coefficient measured at 1.0 MHz exhibited linear or nonlinear correlations with the porosity, depending on the structural properties of the bone mimics. These results are consistent with those previously published by other researchers using bone samples and mimics, and advances our understanding of the relationships of the ultrasonic parameters for the diagnosis of osteoporosis with the bone density and microarchitecture in human bones.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2024

In paste backfill mining, cemented coal gangue-fly ash backfill (CGFB) can effectively utilize coal-based solid waste, such as gangue, to control surface subsidence. However, given the pressurized water accumulation environment in goafs, CGFB is subject to coupling effects from water pressure and chloride ions. Therefore, studying the influence of pressurized water on the chlorine salt erosion of CGFB to ensure green mining safety is important. In this study, CGFB samples were soaked in a chloride salt solution at different pressures (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 MPa) to investigate the chloride ion transport characteristics, hydration products, micromorphology, pore characteristics, and mechanical properties of CGFB. Water pressure was found to promote chloride ion transfer to the CGFB interior and the material hydration reaction; enhance the internal CGFB pore structure, penetration depth, and chloride ion content; and fill the pores between the material to reduce its porosity. Furthermore, the CGFB peak uniaxial compression strain gradually decreased with increasing soaking pressure, whereas the uniaxial compressive strength first increased and then decreased. The resulting effects on the stability of the CGFB solid-phase hydration products can change the overall CGFB mechanical properties. These findings are significant for further improving the adaptability of CGFB for coal mine engineering.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.365-372
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• 2024

As the energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continues to increase, various separators are being developed to with the aim of improving the safety performance. Although poly(imide) (PI)-based separators are widely used, it is difficult to control their pore size and distribution, and this may further increase the risk associated. Herein, a melamine phosphonic acid (MP)-coated PI separator that can effectively control the pore structure of the substrate is suggested as a remedy. After the MP material is embedded into the PI separator with a simple one-step casting process, it effectively clogs the large pores of the PI separator, preventing the occurrence of internal short circuits during charging. It is anticipated that the MP material can also suppress rapid thermal runaway upon cycling due to its ability to reduce the internal temperature of the LIB cell caused by the desirable endothermic behavior around 300℃. According to experiments, the MP-coated PI separator not only decreases the thermal shrinkage rate better than commercial poly(ethylene) (PE) separators but also exhibits a desirable Gurley number (109.6 s/100 cc) and electrolyte uptake rate (240%), which is unique. The proposed separator is electrochemically stable in the range 0.0-5.0 V (vs. Li/Li⁺), which is the typical working potential of conventional electrode materials. In practice, the MP-coated PI separator exhibits stable cycling performance in a graphite-LiNi_0.83Co_0.10Mn_0.07O₂ full cell without an internal short circuit (retention: 90.3%).

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.541-552
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• 2024

This study introduces a new analytical model known as the Cellular Automaton Method(CAM) designed to predict the degree of deterioration in concrete, taking into account its complex pore structure. The CAM model assesses the impacts of moisture migration, driven by capillary action and pressure differentials at the gas-liquid interface, which are influenced by the distribution of pores. It also evaluates how porosity and diffusion coefficients affect the penetration of chloride ions. The model's application revealed distinct moisture movement patterns in concrete structures, distinguishing between those with porosity levels below and above 40 percent. Additionally, it facilitated a comparison and analysis of chloride ion diffusion phenomena, based on diffusion coefficients in areas penetrated by moisture, against results obtained from the Finite Element Method(FEM). The comparison showed a maximum deviation of only 0.989 percent between the predicted outcomes of the FEM and CAM, demonstrating substantial agreement and validating CAM's efficacy in simulating the diffusion processes of chloride ions within concrete under actual salt damage conditions. Thus, CAM proves to be a reliable tool for modeling and anticipating deterioration in concrete structures exposed to saline environments.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.669-675
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• 2011

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and in-situ Position Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy(PALS) analysis of hybrid film, which consist of silsesquioxane(SSQ) and 4-tert-butyl calix[4]arene-O,O',O",O'"-tetraacetic acid tetraethyl ester(CA[4]) have been investigated in order to understand initial formation of nanopore in the next generation porous low-k dielectrics(k < 2.0). SSQ/CA[4] can provide effective homogeneous thin film having porous structure. The porogen decomposition behavior were completely different in the two kinds of SSQ/CA[4] based hybrid film (i.e. SSQ/CA[4] 10 and SSQ/CA[4] 20%). Relatively small pores(1.5 nm) come from dispersion of uni-molecular CA[4] in the SSQ matrix have been generated at $300^{\circ}C$, while mesopores(2.5~3.0 nm) induced from self assembled CA[4] have been generated at $250^{\circ}C$. It might be due to highly interconnected structure of SSQ/CA[4] 20% hybrid thin film resulting in facile evacuating of decomposed fragment of CA[4] molecule.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

The bacterial toxin, tolaasin, causes brown blotch disease on the cultivated mushrooms by collapsing fungal and fruiting body structure of mushroom. Cytotoxicity of tolaasin was evaluated by measuring hemolytic activity because tolaasins form membrane pores on the red blood cells and destroy cell structure. While we investigated the inhibitions of hemolytic activity of tolaasin by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$, we found that $Ni^{2+}$ is another antagonist to block the toxicity of tolaasin. $Ni^{2+}$ inhibited the tolaasin-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner and its Ki value was $\sim10$ mM, implying that the inhibitory effect of $Ni^{2+}$ is stronger than that of $Cd^{2+}$. The hemolytic activity was completely inhibited by $Ni^{2+}$ at the concentration higher than 50 mM. The effect of $Ni^{2+}$ was reversible since it was removed by the addition of EDTA. When the tolaasin-induced hemolysis was suppressed by the addition of 20 mM $Ni^{2+}$, the subsequent addition of EDIA immediately initiated the hemolysis. Although the mechanism of $Ni^{2+}$ -induced inhibition on tolaasin toxicity is not known, $Ni^{2+}$ could inhibit any of fallowing processes of tolaasin action, membrane binding, molecular multimerization, pore formation, and massive ion transport through the membrane pore. Our results indicate that $Ni^{2+}$ inhibits the pore activity of tolaasin, the last step of the toxic process.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2002

We prepared γ-alumina beads using the amorphous alumina, obtained by fast calcination of gibbsite, and its were immersed in aqueous solution of the mixture of 21.87% nitric acid and 28.57% acetic acid. The beads thus were hydrothermaly treated at 200$^{\circ}$C for 3h, and were investigated changes of crystal, pore characteristics, $N_2$ adsorption and desorption isotherms, mechanical strengths and thermal resistance. Acicular platelet crystals of 0.1∼0.3${\mu}$m were transformed into acicular boehmite crystals of 1∼2${\mu}$m having the same crystal structure. Through this changes, we found that reversible phase transformation due to hydrothermal reaction took placed between boehmite and ${\gamma}$-alumina. In comparison to the ${\gamma}$-alumina bead before hydrothermal treatment, $N_2$ adsorption capacity was increased from 450㎖/g to 670㎖/g, and pore volume between 100${\AA}$ and 1000${\AA}$ was increased form 0.15㎖/g to 0.77㎖g, and mechanical strength was increased form 1.4MPa to 2.2MPa. Also, it showed the remarkable thermal resistance which sustained ${\theta}$-alumina crystal structure and pores between 100${\AA}$ and 1000${\AA}$ at 1000$^{\circ}$C in 40vol% steam.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2012

The cathode catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was fabricated with anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template and its structure was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The SEM analysis showed that the catalyst layer was fabricated the Pt nanowire with uniform shape and size. The BET analysis showed that the volume of pores in range of 20-100 nm was enhanced by AAO template. The electrochemical properties with the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) were evaluated by current-voltage polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the MEA with AAO template reduced the mass transfer resistance and improved the cell performance by approximately 25% through controlling the structure of catalyst layer.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2013

The highly porous cellulosic aerogels were prepared by freeze-drying method using sodium hydroxide-urea aqueous solution in the process of dissolution, gelation, regeneration and organic solvent substitution. The structural characteristics of porous aerogel were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption apparatus. As a result, the dissolving pulp was completely dissolved, but filter papers and holocellulose were divided into two layers (dissolved and undissolved parts) in the process of centrifugation. The structure of aerogel from dissolved pulp showed porous pores in the surface and net-shaped network in the inner part. Aerogels from filter paper and holocellulose had the condensed porous network surface and the open-pore nano-fibril network inner structure. Undissolved form of fibers was observed in the aqueous solution of aerogel from holocellulose. The BET value ($S_{BET}$) of aerogel from dissolved pulp was ranged in 260~326 $m^2/g$, and it was decreased with the increase of concentration. Whereas, the $S_{BET}$ value of aerogel from filter paper (198~418 $m^2/g$) was increased with the increase of concentration. The $S_{BET}$ value of aerogel from holocellulose were 137 $m^2/g$ at 2% (w/w) of cellulose, and it was increased to maximum 401 $m^2/g$ at 4% (w/w) of cellulose. Then, it was decreased at 5% (w/w) of cellulose.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2017

Tolaasin, a 1.9 kDa peptide toxin, is produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii and causes the brown blotch disease of cultivated oyster mushroom. It forms pores on the membrane and thus destroys cellular membrane structure, seriously reducing the productivity of mushroom cultivation. The mechanism of tolaasin-induced cytotoxicity is not known in detail. However, it has been reported to form a pore structure in the cytoplasmic membrane through the molecular multimerization. Therefore, food additives which can interact with tolaasin molecules may inhibit the pore formation by hydrophobic interactions with tolaasin molecules. In this study, various food additive materials have been identified as inhibitors of the tolaasin activity and named tolaasin-inhibitory factors (TIF). Most of TIFs are emulsifying agents for food processing procedures. Among various TIFs, polyglycerol and sucrose esters of fatty acids blocked effectively the cytotoxicity of tolaasins at the concentrations $10^{-4}-10^{-5}M$. These TIFs also successfully suppressed the blotch disease development in the shelf cultivation of oyster mushroom.