• Title/Summary/Keyword: 표면형

Search Result 3,292, Processing Time 0.063 seconds

A Rational Design of Coin-type Lithium-metal Full Cell for Academic Research (차세대 리튬 금속 전지 연구 및 개발을 위한 코인형 전지의 효율적 설계)

  • Lee, Mingyu;Lee, Donghyun;Han, Jaewoong;Jeong, Jinoh;Choi, Hyunbin;Lee, Hyuntae;Lim, Minhong;Lee, Hongkyung
    • Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
    • /
    • v.24 no.3
    • /
    • pp.65-75
    • /
    • 2021
  • Coin cell is a basic testing platform for battery research, discovering new materials and concepts, and contributing to fundamental research on next-generation batteries. Li metal batteries (LMBs) are promising since a high energy density (~500 Wh kg-1) is deliverable far beyond Li-ion. However, Li dendrite-triggered volume fluctuation and high surface cause severe deterioration of performance. Given that such drawbacks are strongly dependent on the cell parameters and structure, such as the amount of electrolyte, Li thickness, and internal pressure, reliable Li metal coin cell testing is challenging. For the LMB-specialized coin cell testing platform, this study suggests the optimal coin cell structure that secures performance and reproducibility of LMBs under stringent conditions, such as lean electrolyte, high mass loading of NMC cathode, and thinner Li use. By controlling the cathode/anode (C/A) area ratio closer to 1.0, the inactive space was minimized, mitigating the cell degradation. The quantification and imaging of inner cell pressure elucidated that the uniformity of the pressure is a crucial matter to improving performance reliability. The LMB coin cells exhibit better cycling retention and reproducibility under higher (0.6 MPa → 2.13 MPa) and uniform (standard deviation: 0.43 → 0.16) stack pressure through the changes in internal parts and introducing a flexible polymer (PDMS) film.

Optimization and Application Research on Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Wind Energy Based High Voltage Generation (정전발전 기반 바람에너지 수확장치의 최적화 및 고전압 생성을 위한 활용 방안)

  • Jang, Sunmin;Ra, Yoonsang;Cho, Sumin;Kam, Dongik;Shin, Dongjin;Lee, Heegyu;Choi, Buhee;Lee, Sae Hyuk;Cha, Kyoung Je;Seo, Kyoung Duck;Kim, Hyung Woo;Choi, Dongwhi
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
    • /
    • v.60 no.2
    • /
    • pp.243-248
    • /
    • 2022
  • As the scope of use of portable and wearable electronic devices is expanding, the limitations of heavy and bulky solid-state batteries are being revealed. Given that, it is urgent to develop a small energy harvesting device that can partially share the role of a battery and the utilization of energy sources that are thrown away in daily life is becoming more important. Contact electrification, which generates electricity based on the coupling of the triboelectric effect and electrical induction when the two material surfaces are in contact and separated, can effectively harvest the physical and mechanical energy sources existing in the surrounding environment without going through a complicated intermediate process. Recently, the interest in the harvest and utilization of wind energy is growing since the wind is an infinitely ecofriendly energy source among the various environmental energy sources that exist in human surroundings. In this study, the optimization of the energy harvesting device for the effective harvest of wind energy based on the contact electrification was analyzed and then, the utilization strategy to maximize the utilization of the generated electricity was investigated. Natural wind based Fluttering TENG (NF-TENG) using fluttering film was developed, and design optimization was conducted. Moreover, the safe high voltage generation system was developed and a plan for application in the field requiring high voltage was proposed by highlighting the unique characteristics of TENG that generates low current and high voltage. In this respect, the result of this study demonstrates that a portable energy harvesting device based on the contact electrification shows great potential as a strategy to harvest wind energy thrown away in daily life and use it widely in fields requiring high voltage.

A Study on the Expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas (비소세포성 폐암종의 CD44s 및 CD44v6의 발현에 대한 연구 -CD44의 발현에 대한 연구-)

  • Chang, Woon-Ha;Oh, Tae-Yun;Kim, Jung-Tae
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.39 no.1 s.258
    • /
    • pp.1-11
    • /
    • 2006
  • Background: CD44 is a glycoprotein on the cell surface which is involved in the cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interaction. The standard form, CD44s and multiple isoforms are determined by alternative splicing of 10 exons. Recent studies have suggested that CD44 may help invasion and metastasis of various epithelial tumors as well as activation of Iymphocytes and monocytes. The expression pattern of CD44 can be different according to tumor types. The author studied the expression pattern of CD44s and one of its variants, CD44v6 in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) to find their implications on clinicopathologic aspects, including the survival of the patients. Material and Method: A total of 89 primary NSCLSs (48 squamous cell carcinomas, 33 adenocarcinomas, and 8 undifferentiated large cell carcinomas) were retrieved during the years between 1985 to 1994. The immunohisto chemistry was done by using monoclonal antibodies and the CD44 expression for angiogenesis was evaluated by counting the number of tumor microvessels. Result: Seventy-one (79.8$\%$) and 64 (71 .9$\%$) among 89 NSCLSs revealed the expression of CD44s and CD44v6, respectively. The expression of CD44s was well correlated with that of CD44v6 (r=0.710, p < 0.0001). The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was associated with the histopathologic type of the NSCLCs, and squamous cell carcinoma was the type that showed the highest expression of CD44s and CD44v6 (p < 0.0001). Microvessel count was the highest in adenocarcinomas (113.6$\pm$69.7 on 200-fold magnification and 54.8$\pm$41.1 on 400-fold magnification) and correlated with the tumor size of TNM system (r=0.217, p=0.043) and CD44s expression (r=0.218, p=0.040). In adenocarcinoma, the patients with higher CD44s expression survived shorter than those with lower CD44s expression (p=0.0194) but there was no statistical significance on multivariate analysis(p=0.3298). Conclusion: The expression of both CD44s and CD44v6 may be associated with the squamous differentiation in non-small cell lung carcinomas. The relationship of CD44s expression with micro-vessel density of the tumor suggests an involvement of CD44s in tumor angiogenesis, which in turn would help tumor growth.

Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Features of Compression Wood, Opposite Wood, and Side Wood in Branch of Pitch Pine(Pinus rigida Miller) (리기다소나무 (Pinus rigida Miller) 지재(枝材)의 압축이상재(壓縮異常材), 대응재(對應材) 및 측면재(側面材) 특성(特性)에 관한 주사전자현미경적(走査電子顯微鏡的)인 연구(硏究))

  • Eom, Young-Geun;Lee, Phil-Woo
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
    • /
    • v.13 no.1
    • /
    • pp.3-18
    • /
    • 1985
  • In Korea, a study on the anatomical features of pitch pine (pinus rigida Miller) branch wood through photo-microscopical method was reported in 1972 by Lee. Therefore, as a further study of Lee's on the anatomical features in branch wood of pinus rigida miller that grows in Korea, compression wood, opposite wood, and side wood were selected and treated for the purpose of comparing their structures revealed on cross and radial surface through scanning electron microscope in this study. The obtained results in this study were summarized as follows; 1. The trachied transition from earlywood to late wood is very gradual and the tracheids are nearly regular in both arrangement and size in compression wood but this transition in opposite wood and side wood is abrupt and the tracheids in opposite wood and side wood are less regular than those in compression wood. Also, the annual ring width of opposite wood is narrower than that of compression wood or side wood and the rays revealed on cross surface of side wood are more distinct than compression wood and opposite wood rays. 2. The tracheids of compression wood show roundish trends especially in earlywood but those of opposite wood and side wood show some angular trends. And intercellular space, helical cavity, and spiral check are present in both earlywood and latewood of compression wood but not present in opposite wood and side wood irrespective of earlywood and latewood. 3. The wall thickness of latewood tracheid is similar to that of earlywood tracheid in compression wood whereas the wall thickness of latewood tracheid is by far thicker than that of earlywood tracheid in opposite wood and side wood and the S3 layer of secondary wall is lack in compression wood tracheid unlike opposite wood and side wood tracheid. 4. The tracheids in compression wood are often distorted at their tips unlike those in opposite wood and side wood and the bordered pit in compression wood tracheid is located at the bottom of helical groove unlike that in opposite wood and side wood tracheid. 5. The bordered pits in radial wall of opposite wood and side wood tracheids are oval in shape but those of compression wood tracheids show some modified oval shape. 6. In earlywood of side wood, the small apertures of cross-field pits are roundish triangle to rectangle and the large one are fenestriform through the coalition of two small ones. However, the small apertures of cross-field pits are upright oval and the large ones are procumbent oval shape in earlywood of opposite wood and the apertures of cross-field pits in compression wood are tilted bifacial convex lens shape in earlywood and slit in late wood because of the border on tracheid side.

  • PDF

The Study of Dose Change by Field Effect on Atomic Number of Shielding Materals in 6 MeV Electron Beam (6 MeV 전자선의 차폐물질 원자번호와 조사야 크기에 따른 선량변화 연구)

  • Lee, Seung Hoon;Kwak, Keun Tak;Park, Ju Kyeong;Gim, Yang Soo;Cha, Seok Yong
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
    • /
    • v.25 no.2
    • /
    • pp.145-151
    • /
    • 2013
  • Purpose: In this study, we analyzed how the dose change by field size effects on atomic number of shielding materials while using 6 MeV election beam. Materials and Methods: The parallel plate chamber is mounted in $25{\times}25cm^2$ the phantom such that the entrance window of the detector is flush with the phantom surface. phantom was covered laterally with aluminum, copper and lead which thickness have 5% of allowable transmission and then the doses were measured in field size $6{\times}6$, $10{\times}10$ and $20{\times}20cm^2$ respectively. 100 cGy was irradiated using 6 MeV electron beam and SSD (Source Surface Distance) was 100 cm with $10{\times}10cm^2$ field size. To calculate the photon flux, electron flux and Energy deposition produced after pass materals respectively, MCNPX code was used. Results: The results according to the various shielding materials which have 5% of allowable transmission are as in the following. Thickness change rate with field size of $6{\times}6cm^2$ and $20{\times}20cm^2$ that compared to the field size of $10{\times}10cm^2$ found to be +0.06% and -0.06% with aluminum, +0.13% and -0.1% with copper, -1.53% and +1.92% with lead respectively. Compare to the field size $10{\times}10cm^2$, energy deposition for $6{\times}6cm^2$ and $20{\times}20cm^2$ had -4.3% and +4.85% respectively without shielding material. With aluminum it had -0.87% and +6.93% respectively and with lead it had -4.16% and +5.57% respectively. When it comes to photon flux with $6{\times}6cm^2$ and $20{\times}20cm^2$ of field sizes the chance -8.95% and +15.92% without shielding material respectively, with aluminum the number -15.56% and +16.06% respectively and with copper the chance -12.27% and +15.53% respectively, with lead the number +12.36% and -19.81% respectively. In case of electron flux in the same condition, the number -3.92% and +4.55% respectively without shielding material respectively, with aluminum the number +0.59% and +6.87% respectively, with copper the number -1.59% and +3.86% respectively, with lead the chance -5.15% and +4.00% respectively. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the required thickness of the shielding materials got thinner with low atomic number substance as the irradiation field is increasing. On the other hand, with high atomic number substance the required thickness had increased. In addition, bremsstrahlung radiation have an influence on low atomic number materials and high atomic number materials are effected by scattered electrons.

  • PDF

Optimization and Development of Prediction Model on the Removal Condition of Livestock Wastewater using a Response Surface Method in the Photo-Fenton Oxidation Process (Photo-Fenton 산화공정에서 반응표면분석법을 이용한 축산폐수의 COD 처리조건 최적화 및 예측식 수립)

  • Cho, Il-Hyoung;Chang, Soon-Woong;Lee, Si-Jin
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
    • /
    • v.30 no.6
    • /
    • pp.642-652
    • /
    • 2008
  • The aim of our research was to apply experimental design methodology in the optimization condition of Photo-Fenton oxidation of the residual livestock wastewater after the coagulation process. The reactions of Photo-Fenton oxidation were mathematically described as a function of parameters amount of Fe(II)($x_1$), $H_2O_2(x_2)$ and pH($x_3$) being modeled by the use of the Box-Behnken method, which was used for fitting 2nd order response surface models and was alternative to central composite designs. The application of RSM using the Box-Behnken method yielded the following regression equation, which is an empirical relationship between the removal(%) of livestock wastewater and test variables in coded unit: Y = 79.3 + 15.61x$_1$ - 7.31x$_2$ - 4.26x$_3$ - 18x$_1{^2}$ - 10x$_2{^2}$ - 11.9x$_3{^2}$ + 2.49x$_1$x$_2$ - 4.4x$_2$x$_3$ - 1.65x$_1$x$_3$. The model predicted also agreed with the experimentally observed result(R$^2$ = 0.96) The results show that the response of treatment removal(%) in Photo-Fenton oxidation of livestock wastewater were significantly affected by the synergistic effect of linear terms(Fe(II)($x_1$), $H_2O_2(x_2)$, pH(x$_3$)), whereas Fe(II) $\times$ Fe(II)(x$_1{^2}$), $H_2O_2$ $\times$ $H_2O_2$(x$_2{^2}$) and pH $\times$ pH(x$_3{^2}$) on the quadratic terms were significantly affected by the antagonistic effect. $H_2O_2$ $\times$ pH(x$_2$x$_3$) had also a antagonistic effect in the cross-product term. The estimated ridge of the expected maximum response and optimal conditions for Y using canonical analysis were 84 $\pm$ 0.95% and (Fe(II)(X$_1$) = 0.0146 mM, $H_2O_2$(X$_2$) = 0.0867 mM and pH(X$_3$) = 4.704, respectively. The optimal ratio of Fe/H$_2O_2$ was also 0.17 at the pH 4.7.

A Study on Market Expansion Strategy via Two-Stage Customer Pre-segmentation Based on Customer Innovativeness and Value Orientation (고객혁신성과 가치지향성 기반의 2단계 사전 고객세분화를 통한 시장 확산 전략)

  • Heo, Tae-Young;Yoo, Young-Sang;Kim, Young-Myoung
    • Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
    • /
    • v.10 no.1
    • /
    • pp.73-97
    • /
    • 2007
  • R&D into future technologies should be conducted in conjunction with technological innovation strategies that are linked to corporate survival within a framework of information and knowledge-based competitiveness. As such, future technology strategies should be ensured through open R&D organizations. The development of future technologies should not be conducted simply on the basis of future forecasts, but should take into account customer needs in advance and reflect them in the development of the future technologies or services. This research aims to select as segmentation variables the customers' attitude towards accepting future telecommunication technologies and their value orientation in their everyday life, as these factors wilt have the greatest effect on the demand for future telecommunication services and thus segment the future telecom service market. Likewise, such research seeks to segment the market from the stage of technology R&D activities and employ the results to formulate technology development strategies. Based on the customer attitude towards accepting new technologies, two groups were induced, and a hierarchical customer segmentation model was provided to conduct secondary segmentation of the two groups on the basis of their respective customer value orientation. A survey was conducted in June 2006 on 800 consumers aged 15 to 69, residing in Seoul and five other major South Korean cities, through one-on-one interviews. The samples were divided into two sub-groups according to their level of acceptance of new technology; a sub-group demonstrating a high level of technology acceptance (39.4%) and another sub-group with a comparatively lower level of technology acceptance (60.6%). These two sub-groups were further divided each into 5 smaller sub-groups (10 total smaller sub-groups) through two rounds of segmentation. The ten sub-groups were then analyzed in their detailed characteristics, including general demographic characteristics, usage patterns in existing telecom services such as mobile service, broadband internet and wireless internet and the status of ownership of a computing or information device and the desire or intention to purchase one. Through these steps, we were able to statistically prove that each of these 10 sub-groups responded to telecom services as independent markets. We found that each segmented group responds as an independent individual market. Through correspondence analysis, the target segmentation groups were positioned in such a way as to facilitate the entry of future telecommunication services into the market, as well as their diffusion and transferability.

  • PDF

Genetic Polymorphisms of the $\beta_2$-Adrenergic Receptor in the Severity of Bronchial Asthma (기관지 천식 환자에서 천식 증상의 정도에 따른 $\beta_2$ 교감신경 수용체의 유전자 다형성)

  • Shim, Jae-Jeong;Kim, Jei-Hyung;Lee, Seung-Yong;Kwan, Young-Hwan;Lee, So-Ra;Lee, Sang-Youb;Kang, Se-Yong;Kang, Yong-Koo;Cho, Jae-Youn;In, Kwang-Ho;Won, Nam-Hee;Yoo, Se-Hwa;Kang, Kyung-Ho
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.45 no.1
    • /
    • pp.77-89
    • /
    • 1998
  • Background: Genetic and environmental factors are known to affect the incidence and severity of asthma. Stimulation of $\beta_2$-Adrenergic Receptor ($\beta_2$AR) results in smooth muscle relaxation, leading to decrease in resistance of airflow. The gene encoding the $\beta_2$AR has recently been seguenced. The $\beta_2$AR genotype at the polymorphic loci of codons 16, 27, 34, and 164 was known to cause changes in the amino acids. The relationships between the structure of the $\beta_2$AR and its functions are being elucidated. Purpose : The gene encoding the $\beta_2$AR was carried out to assess the frequency of polymorphisms in bronchial asthma, to determine wheather these polymorphisms have any relation to the severity, or nocturnal symptoms in bronchial asthma. Methods: The subjects studied were 103 patients with bronchial asthma, which consisted of 30 mild episodic, 32 mild persistent, 17 moderate, and 24 severe asthma patients. The polymorphisms of the $\beta_2$AR gene were detected by mutated allele specific amplification (MASA) method at the codons 16,27,34, and 164. Results: The most frequent polymorphism was arginine 16 to glycine. The other two polymorphisms, valine 34 to methionine and glutamine 27 to glutamic acid occured in 11 and 6 patients respectively. The polymorphism of threonine 164 to isoleucine was not found in our enrolled patients. The homozygous polymorphism of $\beta_2$AR gene was found in only arginine 16 to glycine (12.6%). The heterozygous polymorphisms of $\beta_2$AR gene were in arginine 16 to glycine, valine 34 to methionine, and glutamine 27 to glutamic acid, as 65.1 %,10.7%, and 5.8% respectively in asthma patients. The presence of agrginine 16 to glycine heterozygous or/and homozygous polymorphism was associated in severe asthma (p=0.015), but there was no association between the other three polymorphisms and the severity of asthma. The frequency of the $\beta_2$AR gene polymorphisms was no relation in nocturnal asthma as compared with non-nocturnal asthma. Conclusion: The arginine 16 to glycine polymorphism of the $\beta_2$AR gene is the most frequently found in asthma patients and association with severe asthma. But there was no association between the polymorphism of the $\beta_2$AR gene and nocturnal asthma.

  • PDF

Research on Perfusion CT in Rabbit Brain Tumor Model (토끼 뇌종양 모델에서의 관류 CT 영상에 관한 연구)

  • Ha, Bon-Chul;Kwak, Byung-Kook;Jung, Ji-Sung;Lim, Cheong-Hwan;Jung, Hong-Ryang
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
    • /
    • v.35 no.2
    • /
    • pp.165-172
    • /
    • 2012
  • We investigated the vascular characteristics of tumors and normal tissue using perfusion CT in the rabbit brain tumor model. The VX2 carcinoma concentration of $1{\times}10^7$ cells/ml(0.1ml) was implanted in the brain of nine New Zealand white rabbits (weight: 2.4kg-3.0kg, mean: 2.6kg). The perfusion CT was scanned when the tumors were grown up to 5mm. The tumor volume and perfusion value were quantitatively analyzed by using commercial workstation (advantage windows workstation, AW, version 4.2, GE, USA). The mean volume of implanted tumors was $316{\pm}181mm^3$, and the biggest and smallest volumes of tumor were 497 $mm^3$ and 195 $mm^3$, respectively. All the implanted tumors in rabbits are single-nodular tumors, and intracranial metastasis was not observed. In the perfusion CT, cerebral blood volume (CBV) were $74.40{\pm}9.63$, $16.08{\pm}0.64$, $15.24{\pm}3.23$ ml/100g in the tumor core, ipsilateral normal brain, and contralateral normal brain, respectively ($p{\leqq}0.05$). In the cerebral blood flow (CBF), there were significant differences between the tumor core and both normal brains ($p{\leqq}0.05$), but no significant differences between ipsilateral and contralateral normal brains ($962.91{\pm}75.96$ vs. $357.82{\pm}12.82$ vs. $323.19{\pm}83.24$ ml/100g/min). In the mean transit time (MTT), there were significant differences between the tumor core and both normal brains ($p{\leqq}0.05$), but no significant differences between ipsilateral and contralateral normal brains ($4.37{\pm}0.19$ vs. $3.02{\pm}0.41$ vs. $2.86{\pm}0.22$ sec). In the permeability surface (PS), there were significant differences among the tumor core, ipsilateral and contralateral normal brains ($47.23{\pm}25.45$ vs. $14.54{\pm}1.60$ vs. $6.81{\pm}4.20$ ml/100g/min)($p{\leqq}0.05$). In the time to peak (TTP) were no significant differences among the tumor core, ipsilateral and contralateral normal brains. In the positive enhancement integral (PEI), there were significant differences among the tumor core, ipsilateral and contralateral brains ($61.56{\pm}16.07$ vs. $12.58{\pm}2.61$ vs. $8.26{\pm}5.55$ ml/100g). ($p{\leqq}0.05$). In the maximum slope of increase (MSI), there were significant differences between the tumor core and both normal brain($p{\leqq}0.05$), but no significant differences between ipsilateral and contralateral normal brains ($13.18{\pm}2.81$ vs. $6.99{\pm}1.73$ vs. $6.41{\pm}1.39$ HU/sec). Additionally, in the maximum slope of decrease (MSD), there were significant differences between the tumor core and contralateral normal brain($p{\leqq}0.05$), but no significant differences between the tumor core and ipsilateral normal brain($4.02{\pm}1.37$ vs. $4.66{\pm}0.83$ vs. $6.47{\pm}1.53$ HU/sec). In conclusion, the VX2 tumors were implanted in the rabbit brain successfully, and stereotactic inoculation method make single-nodular type of tumor that was no metastasis in intracranial, suitable for comparative study between tumors and normal tissues. Therefore, perfusion CT would be a useful diagnostic tool capable of reflecting the vascularity of the tumors.

The comparison of microtensile bond strength with immediate and delayed dentin sealing (즉시 상아질 봉쇄와 지연 상아질 봉쇄에 따른 상아질 접착의 미세인장 결합강도 비교)

  • Lee, Heung-Bae;Han, Chong-Hyun;Shim, Jun-Sung;Kim, Sun-Jai
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
    • /
    • v.46 no.4
    • /
    • pp.372-380
    • /
    • 2008
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various methods of dentin bonding agent application on microtensile bond strength between dentin and resin, using a 2-step etch-and-rinse dentin bonding agent. Material and methods: Twenty freshly extracted human molars were obtained and divided into 4 groups of 5 teeth. 2-step etch-and-rinse dentin bonding agent was used for all groups. The control specimens were prepared using a direct immediate bonding technique. The delayed dentin sealing (A, C) specimens were prepared using an indirect approach with delayed dentin sealing. For group A, resin was built-up on uncured dentin bonding agent, and for group C, resin was built-up on pre-cured dentin bonding agent. Preparation of the immediate dentin sealing (B) specimens also used an indirect approach with immediate dentin sealing immediately following preparation. All teeth were prepared for a microtensile bond strength test. Specimens were stored in water for 24 hours. Ten beams (1.0 ${\times}$ 1.0 ${\times}$ 11 mm) from each tooth were selected for testing. Bond strength data (MPa) were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA test, and post hoc comparison was done using the Scheffe's test. Results: The mean microtensile bond strengths of control group, B and C (DDS with pre-cure) were not statisticaaly different from each other at 32.7, 33.3, 34.2 MPa. the bond strength for group A (DDS without pre-cure), 19.5 MPa, was statistically different (P < .01) from the other 3 groups. Conclusion: When preparing teeth for indirect bonded restorations, DDS with pre-curing dentin bonding agent and IDS results in the same bond strength between dentin and resin. On the contrast, the bond strength was decreased when DDS without pre-curing dentin bonding agent was used.