• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.145-162
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• 2019

This study aimed to increase the sugar and ethanol yield from the mengkuang plant biomass through biological and liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment and their combination. The results showed that biological pretreatments with 5% inoculum of the fungus Trametes versicolor resulted in the highest alpha cellulose content incubated for 30 days, and 10% inoculum resulted in the lowest lignin content. LHW pretreatment decreased the hemicellulose content of pulps from 10.17% to 9.99%. T. versicolor altered the structure of the mengkuang pulp by degrading the lignin and lignocellulose matrix. The resulting delignification and cellulose degradation facilitate the hydrolysis of cellulose into sugars. The alpha cellulose content after biological-LHW pretreatment was higher (78.99%) compared to LHW-biological pretreatment (76.85%). Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that biological-LHW combinated treatment degrades the cell wall structures. The ethanol yield for biological-LHW pretreated sample was observed 43.86% (13.11 g/L ethanol by weight of the substrate, which is much higher than that of LHW-biological pretreatment (34.02%; 9.097 g/L). The highest reducing sugar content about 45.10% was observed with a resulting ethanol content of 15.5 g/L at LHW pretreatment temperature of $180^{\circ}C$ for 30 min.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.549-558
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• 2018

The overall efficiency depend on the overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline water electrolysis. Therefore, it is necessary to research to reduce the oxygen evolution overpotential of electrodes. In this study, Ni-Zn-Fe electrodes were prepared by electroplating and the surface area was increased by Zn leaching process. Electroplating variables were studied to optimize the plating parameters(electroplating current density, pH value of electroplating solution, Ni/Fe content ratio). Ni-Zn-Fe electrode, which is electroplated in a modified Watts bath, showed 0.294 V of overpotential at $0.1A/cm^2$. That result is better than that of Ni and Ni-Zn plated electrodes. As the electroplating current density of the Ni-Zn-Fe electrode increased, the particle size tended to increase and the overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction decreased. As reducing pH of electroplating solution from 4 to 2, Fe content in electrode and activity of oxygen evolution reaction decreased.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.499-507
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), a dominant component from the extract of Panax ginseng root, exhibits neuroprotective functions in many neurological diseases. This study was intended to investigate whether Rb1 can attenuate cisplatin-induced memory impairments and explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: Cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 5 mg/kg/wk, and Rb1 was administered in drinking water at the dose of 2 mg/kg/d to rats for 5 consecutive wk. The novel objects recognition task and Morris water maze were used to detect the memory of rats. Nissl staining was used to examine the neuron numbers in the hippocampus. The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, cholineacetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, and the levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, acetylcholine, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and interleukin-10 were measured by ELISA to assay the oxidative stress, cholinergic function, and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus. Results: Rb1 administration effectively ameliorates the memory impairments caused by cisplatin in both novel objects recognition task and Morris water maze task. Rb1 also attenuates the neuronal loss induced by cisplatin in the different regions (CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus) of the hippocampus. Meanwhile, Rb1 is able to rescue the cholinergic neuron function, inhibit the oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in cisplatin-induced rat brain. Conclusion: Rb1 rescues the cisplatin-induced memory impairment via restoring the neuronal loss by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and recovering the cholinergic neuron functions.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.163-174
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• 2018

Consumer and property evaluation of wetsuit materials were conducted to obtain useful data for developing competitive products that meet consumer expectations and improving industrial competitiveness. Data were collected through online surveys of 213 domestic consumers who have experienced wearing wetsuit among marine leisure activities. Five types of commercial wet suit materials by brand and four types of commercial wet suit materials with the same quality by thickness were collected. Then, their physical properties, salt water resistance and thermal insulation rate were evaluated and compared. As a result, the most commonly used wetsuit material is 3 to 5 mm thick, and the basic jersey material is bonded on both sides. As a processing for imparting functionality, processing for improving warmth and reducing surface resistance are most frequently used. Consumers often feel uncomfortable when wearing a wetsuit, such as wearing comfort, weight, ease of movement, stretchability, and clothing pressure, which are different from those of casual wear. Also, mechanical strength and warmth were considered to be the most important criteria for selection of wetsuit material for purchase or rental. The mechanical properties of brand A and B were better than those of brand C, D, and E. Resilience and thermal shrinkage were better in brand C, D, and E. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the physical properties due to the difference in thickness of the material at the same quality. Also, it was found that the thicker the material, the more stable it is in the heat. Brand A and B had superior salt water resistance than brand C, D, and E. In the thermal insulation test, brand A and B showed better insulation characteristics than brand C, D, and E, but the types of bonded fabric and surface finishing of materials were thought to have affected. In comparison of the thickness, the thicker the materials, the better the salt resistance and the thermal insulation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.742-750
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• 2021

Ixeris repens is a type of halophyte that grows in high salinity sands found in coastal sand dunes and sandy shores. This study was conducted to investigate the contents, antioxidant potency, and physiological activities of I. repens. In analyses of general composition, carbohydrate, protein, ash, and moisture content were 57.42%, 10.48%, 11.99% and 10.29%, respectively. Potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium were its most prevalent minerals. The solvents used to extract I. repens were 70% ethanol, 80% methanol, and distilled water. Among the resultant extracts, ethanol and methanol extracts displayed higher total polyphenol and flavonoid contents than the water extract. ABTS (IC50, 0.12 mg/mL) and FRAP (0.77 mM) radical scavenging activity were highest in the water extract, while methanol extract exhibited the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50, 1.32 mg/mL), NO scavenging activity (IC50, 4.10 mg/mL), and reducing power (EC50, 0.14 mg/mL). Tyrosinase, elastase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were highest in the ethanol extract. The ethanol extract also possessed the most potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. These results indicate that I. repens may be useful as an antioxidant, and a functional substance in food and pharmaceutical materials.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.435-442
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• 2021

Mn-added Barium hexaaluminates were manufactured by homogeneous precipitation method using Urea. The effects of water wash and dry temperature were analyzed by thermal weight analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Catalysts that went through the filtration step only produced pure hexaaluminate images compared to those that went through the water wash step. During the drying process, it seems that the remaining urea helps dehydration of the precursor and affects the phase shift of gibbsite to boehmite, which is easy to convert to pure hexaaluminate. The catalyst WO200 gave the best performance in the methane combustion reaction, and NOx was not emitted in the reaction for all catalysts. Hexaaluminates were found to affect reducing the highest CO emissions.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.294-299
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• 2020

Based on the combined results of field surveys and analyses of the road structure and traffic flow, we propose a new plan for reducing roadside non-point pollution in the Paldang Water Source Protection Zone. The results show that the soil surrounding the roads in Paldang is highly permeable, which mitigates the need for filtration facilities. Roads flanked by steep slopes are found to facilitate the reduction of non-point roadside pollution through vegetation and soils along road slopes without the need for pollution reduction facilities. These results highlight the need for a flexible roadside non-point pollution reduction plan for roadside non-point pollution, which can be tailored to compliment relevant regulations and design standards after analyzing the characteristics of the target road.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2022

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) is major cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) play an important role in insulin sensitivity. Medicinal plants are frequently used for T2D treatment. This study investigates the effect of Artemisia annua L. (AA) extracts on adipokines in mice with high-fat-diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D. Methods: We divided 60 mice into 12 groups (n = 5 per group): control, untreated T2D, treated T2D, and 9 other groups. T2D was induced in all groups, except controls, by 8 weeks of HFD and STZ injection. The treated T2D group was administered 250 mg/kg of metformin (MTF), while the nine other groups were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of hot-water extract (HWE), cold-water extract (CWE), and alcoholic extract (ALE) of AA (daily oral gavage) along with 250 mg/kg of MTF for 4 weeks. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed, and the homeostasis model assessment of adiponectin (HOMA-AD) index and blood glucose and serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels were measured. Results: Similar to MTF, all three types of AA extracts (HWEs, CWEs, and ALEs) significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose during the IPGTT, the HOMA-AD index, blood glucose levels, and serum insulin, leptin, and resistin levels and increased serum adiponectin levels in the MTF group compared to the T2D group (p < 0.0001). The HWEs affected adipokine release, while the CWEs and ALEs decreased leptin and resistin production. Conclusion: Water and alcoholic AA extracts have an antihyperglycemic and antihyperinsulinemic effect on HFD/STZ diabetic mice. In addition, they decrease IR by reducing leptin and resistin production and increasing adiponectin secretion from adipocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

The riparian area plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The Korean government has recognized the importance of protecting riparian areas and has taken steps to purchase land and create ecobelt to reduce non-point source pollutants(NSPs) that can negatively impact water quality. However, selecting the catchment area and calculating the pollution load can be challenging due to the small area of the purchased land and the limitations of low-resolution DEMs. To address these challenges, this study proposes the use of unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) to create a high-resolution DEM and calculate the pollution load through land cover analysis. This approach can provide a more accurate representation of the land use status and help to identify areas that are contributing to NSPs. The quantitative comparison of the difference in water quality improvement ecosystem services according to the scenarios of additional catchment areas shows that even land purchased for the same amount of money may have different ecosystem service values, and this was quantitatively calculated. This can be used to prioritize future land acquisition. Overall, this study's approach could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of ecobelt in reducing NSPs and inform future efforts to protect riparian areas in Korea and beyond.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1189-1197
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• 2024

Due to the rapid development of the industry, the use of iron is increasing rapidly in various industrial fields. Among these iron use areas, problems caused by corrosion of iron are seriously occurring in water-related industries. In particular, as the importance of environmental management has emerged, the water industry market desperately needs to replace aging water infra structure due to corrosion. In order to overcome this problem, research on a method capable of corrosion prevention system is being actively conducted. As the method for corrosion prevention system has various voltages and currents applied depending on the surrounding environment, the demand for an appropriate voltage regulator is increasing rapidly. In particular, as the IOT industry develops, the capacity of corrosion prevention system is increasing by expanding the area in which the method machine operates. Therefore, rectifiers for preventing corrosion are being changed from conventional flyback systems suitable for small capacities to inverter-type rectifiers suitable for large capacities. The inverter-type rectifier has various problems by reducing it to the initial rush current when starting. Therefore, this paper proposes a new starting method that can reduce initial inrush current in inverter-type rectifiers. T he proposed method can secure DC phase voltage for stable operation of the inverter by implementing discontinuous boosting operation using the switch of the inverter. In addition, the excellence of the proposed method was verified through simulations and experiments.