• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2024

In order to improve the efficiency of the water splitting system for hydrogen production, the high overvoltage in the electrochemical reaction caused by the catalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) must be reduced. Among them, transition metal-based compounds are attracting attention as catalyst materials that can replace precious metals such as platinum that are currently used. In this study, nickel foam, an inexpensive metal porous material, was used as a support, and Fe-doped β-Ni(OH)₂ microcrystals were synthesized through a hydrothermal synthesis process. In addition, in order to improve OER properties, changes in the shape, crystal structure, and water splitting characteristics of Fe-Mo co-doped β-Ni(OH)₂ microcrystals synthesized by co-doping with Mo were observed. The changes in the shape, crystal structure, and applicability as a catalyst for water splitting were examined.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.29-37
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the changes in chemical components that occur when weak clay is mixed with steel slag modified with calcium oxide, and to understand the expression characteristics of compressive strength according to hydrophilicity and curing time. XRF testing, SEM imaging, vane shear strength and uniaxial compressive strength testing were conducted. Calcium (Ca) released from the steel slag increases the Ca content in clay by increasing the number of crystal particles and forming a coating layer known as calcium silicate hydrate (CaO-SiO₂-H₂O) through chemical reactions with SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ components. The weak clay stabilized with steel slag is classified into an initial inactive zone where strength relatively does not increase and an activation zone where strength increases over curing time. The vane shear strength of the initial inactive area was found to be 4.4 to 18.4 kN/m² in the state of the weight mixing ratio Rss 30% (steel slag 30% + clay 70%). In the case of the active area, the maximum uniaxial compressive strength increased to 431.8 kN/m² after 480 hours of curing time, which increased due to the apparent adhesion strength of clay through pozzolanic reaction. Therefore, considering the strength expression characteristics of stabilized mixed clay based on the mixing ratio (Rss) during the recycling of steel slag can enhance its practicality in civil engineering sites.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2024

Pulse-like ground motion can cause greater damage to structures than nonpulse-like ground motion. Currently, much research is being conducted to determine the presence or absence of velocity pulses and to quantify them from seismic-acceleration records. Existing ground motion is divided into far-field (FF) and near-fault ground motion, based on the distance of the measurement point from the fault. Near-fault ground motion is further classified into near-fault pulse-like (NFP) and near-fault nonpulse-like (NFNP) ground motion by quantifying the presence or absence of velocity pulses. For each ground motion group, 40 FF, 40 NFP, and 40 NFNP ground motions are selected; thus, 120 ground motions are used in the seismic analysis to assess the seismic fragility of sample bridges. Probabilistic seismic demand models (PSDMs) are created by evaluating the seismic responses of two types of sample bridges with lead-rubber and elastomeric rubber bearings using three groups of ground motions. Seismic fragility analysis is performed using the PSDM, and from these results, the effect of the presence or absence of seismic velocity pulses on the seismic fragility is evaluated. From the comparison results of the seismic fragility curve, the seismic fragility of NFP ground motion appears to be approximately three to five times greater than that of NFNP ground motion, according to the presence or absence of a velocity pulse of seismic waves. This means that the damage to the bridge is greater in the case of NFP ground motion than that in the case of NFNP ground motion.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2024

In recent years, the construction industry has diligently focused on improving the quality and safety of buildings through smart technologies. However, there is a growing trend of leakage defects, especially in educational facilities, due to aging. The objective of this study is to analyze the causes of these defects in educational environments using the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) technique and propose preventive measures based on the findings. The FTA technique is explained through a review of domestic literature, and data from the Educational Support Center from 2019 to 2021 are examined to identify major defects. The construction of the Fault Tree (FT) for leakage defects resulted in the identification of 12 basic events. Subsequently, a comprehensive understanding of the causes of leakage is achieved through FTA analysis, leading to the identification of the primary causes of defects. Leakage defects accounted for 46.8% of all reported issues in educational facilities, with roof (ceiling) leaks being the most common problem. FTA analysis revealed that poor substrate treatment was the main cause of roof (ceiling) leaks, which could be attributed to cracks in the waterproof layer, joint cracks, and microvoids in the waterproof layer. The primary achievement of this research is to provide essential data for preventing leakage defects in educational facilities and developing preventive measures through the FTA technique. These results are expected to significantly enhance the management of educational facilities and the prevention of leakage issues.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.479-493
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• 2023

The need for safety management has arisen due to the increasing number of years of operated underground structures, such as tunnels and utility tunnels, and accidents caused by those aging infrastructures. However, in the case of privately managed underground utility ducts, there is a lack of detailed guidelines for facility safety and maintenance, resulting in inadequate safety management. Furthermore, the absence of basic design information and the limited space for safety assessments make applying currently used non-destructive testing methods challenging. Therefore, this study suggests non-destructive inspection methods using ultrasonic and impact-echo techniques to assess the quality of underground structures. Thickness, presence of rebars, depth of rebars, and the presence and depth of internal defects are assessed to provide fundamental data for the safety assessment of box-type general underground structures. To validate the proposed methodology, different conditions of concrete specimens are designed and cured to simulate actual field conditions. Applying ultrasonic and impact signals and collecting data through multi-channel accelerometers determine the thickness of the simulated specimens, the depth of embedded rebar, and the extent of defects. The predicted results are well agreed upon compared with actual measurements. The proposed methodology is expected to contribute to developing safety diagnostic methods applicable to general underground structures in practical field conditions.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2024

A fishway is an artificial waterway or device used to resolve difficulties in the movement of fish in a river. Most existing fishways are made of concrete and emit toxic substances, which has a negative impact on the river environment. Accordingly, there is a need to develop fishway construction technology that is eco-friendly and can increase movement efficiency. The technology presented in this study is an integrated porous structure that combines the aggregate with a biopolymer material extracted from castor oil, a non-toxic material. It is a fishway construction technology using eco-friendly materials that can allow vegetation to grow on the surface. In this study, an eco-friendly fishway mixed with biopolymer and aggregate was built on a real scale and the fish movement efficiency was tested and analyzed. As a result of the experiment, a total of 201 fish of 14 species were released with tags inserted, and the detection rate of released fish was confirmed to be 82.6% on average. A total of 40 fish of 6 species were transported upstream through the fishway, and the average passage rate was confirmed to be 21.7%. As a result of checking the circadian migration pattern, it was found that all fish mainly migrate during the day. It was confirmed that there was no significant functional difference between a fishway using biopolymer and a concrete fishway. It is believed that a fishway using biopolymer can be used as a replacement for a concrete fishway.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2024

The cutaneous lymphatic system in humans plays a crucial role in draining interstitial fluid and activating the immune system. Environmental factors, such as ultraviolet light and natural aging, often affect structural changes of such lymphatic vessels, causing skin dysfunction. However, some limitations still exist because of no alternatives to animal testing. To better understand the skin lymphatic system, a biomimetic microfluidic platform, skin-lymph-on-a-chip, was fabricated to develop a novel in vitro skin lymphatic model of humans and to investigate the molecular and physiological changes involved in lymphangiogenesis, the formation of lymphatic vessels. Briefly, the platform involved co-culturing differentiated primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLECs) in vitro. Based on our system, Lymphanax^TM, which is a condensed Panax ginseng root extract obtained through thermal conversion for 21 days, was applied to evaluate the lymphangiogenic effect, and the changes in molecular factors were analyzed using a deep-learning-based algorithm. Lymphanax^TM promoted healthy lymphangiogenesis in skin-lymphon-a-chip and indirectly affected HDELCs as its components rarely penetrated differentiated NHEKs in the chip. Overall, this study provides a new perspective on Lymphanax^TM and its effects using an innovative in vitro system.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2024

Ozone is a colorless, toxic gas that is produced when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons undergo a photochemical oxidation reaction in the sun's rays. Even at low concentrations, it affects the respiratory system, causing coughing and other harmful effects. It was confirmed that ozone was generated from nitrogen plasma among cosmetic raw materials, and it was found that the concentration of ozone decreased after 1 day. On the other hand, ozone was not detected in ozone-free plasma generated with argon gas. Therefore, we aimed to produce ozone-free cosmetics by utilizing ozone-free plasma. For efficient plasma processing, the non-sinking method was utilized to inject the plasma into layer separation mists, toners, and ampoules, and the stability was observed. It was found that the successful injection of plasma in the layer separation mist was higher than the other two formulations, but decreased sharply compared to the toner and ampoule. It was found that the ozone-free plasma used did not affect the stability of the layer separation mist, toner, and ampoule under low temperature (4 ℃), room temperature (25 ℃), and high temperature (37 ℃, 50 ℃) conditions. Therefore, this study suggests the importance of ozone-free plasma for cosmetic potential and stability of each formulation.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.164-170
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• 2024

The light buoy, a floating structure at sea, is prone to drifting due to external factors such as oceanic weather. This makes it imperative to monitor for any loss or displacement of buoys. In order to address this issue, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries aims to issue alerts for buoy displacement by analyzing historical buoy position data to detect patterns. However, periodic lifting inspections, which are conducted every two years, disrupt the buoy's location pattern. As a result, new patterns need to be analyzed after each inspection for location monitoring. In this study, buoy position data from various periods were analyzed using convex hull and distance-based clustering algorithms. In addition, the optimal data collection period was identified in order to accurately recognize buoy location patterns. The findings suggest that a nine-week data collection period established stable location patterns, explaining approximately 89.8% of the variance in location data. These results can improve the management of light buoys based on location patterns and aid in the effective monitoring and early detection of buoy displacement.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.493-499
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• 2024

Antimicrobial peptides are antimicrobial substances inherent in animals and plants, with strong antibacterial activity even in small amounts and with various other functions such as antiviral and antioxidant actions. Plants can be grown with just water and sunlight, allowing for their mass production at low costs. However, transforming a chloroplast into one that produces antimicrobial peptides, rather than growing plants, increases the amount of protein expression and minimizes contamination of the ecosystem because gene transfer by pollen does not occur. In that context, using transgenic plant chloroplasts to produce recombinant proteins increases protein degradation and reduces the solubility of proteins. To solve this problem, we fused SUMO, a fusion protein, with a recombinant protein. We also used a 6xHis tag to purify the fusion protein. The antimicrobial peptide stomoxyn is an antibacterial substance found in stable flies. Stomoxyn has an α-helix structure and is amphiphilic, which allows it to dissolve bacterial cell membranes. In this study, we constructed a transformation vector to express stomoxyn in both plant chloroplasts and Escherichia coli and used this vector to confirm the expression of stomoxyn in E. coli. The expression of the protein was then confirmed in E. coli using a transformation vector. The expressed stomoxyn was purified by nickel column and SUMOase treatment, and its antibacterial activity was confirmed using an agar diffusion assay. The EGFP gene was used to ensure that the transformed vector was inserted into the chloroplast.