• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.99-108
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• 2023

Several challenges arise in DNA extraction and gene amplification for airborne fungal metagenome analysis from a particulate matter (PM) samples. In this study, various conditions were tested to optimize the DNA extraction method from PM samples and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions with primer set and annealing temperature. As a result of comparative evaluation of DNA extraction under various conditions, chemical cell lysis using buffer and proteinase K for 20 minutes and bead beating treatment were followed by using a commercial DNA extraction kit to efficiently extract DNA from the PM filter samples. To optimize the PCR conditions, PCR was performed using 10 primer sets for amplifying the ITS2 gene region. The concentration of the PCR amplicon was relatively high when the annealing temperature was 58℃ with the ITS3tagmix3/ITS4 primer set. Even under these conditions, when the concentration of the PCR product was low, nested PCR was performed using the primary PCR amplicon as the template DNA to amplify the ITS2 gene at a satisfactory concentration. Using the methods optimized in this study, DNA extraction and PCR were performed on 15 filter samples that collected PM2.5 in Seoul, and the ITS2 gene was successfully amplified in all samples. The optimized methods can be used for research on analyzing and interpreting the fungal metagenome of atmospheric PM samples.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.404-411
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• 2023

For the direct reforming of biogas, a three-phase gliding arc plasma reformer was designed to expand the plasma discharge region, and the operation conditions of the plasma reformer, such as the S/C ratio, the gas flow rate, and the plasma input power, were optimized. The H₂ production efficiency is increased at a lower specific plasma input energy density, but byproducts such as C_XH_Y and carbon soot are generated along with the increase in H₂ production efficiency. The formation of byproducts is decreased at higher specific plasma input energy densities and S/C ratios. The optimized operation conditions are 5.5 ~ 6.0 kJ/L for the specific plasma input energy density and 3 for the S/C ratio, considering the conversion efficiency, H₂ production, and byproduct formation. It is expected that the H₂ production efficiency will improve with the decrease in fuel consumption in biogas burners because the heat generated from plasma discharge heats up the feed gas to over 500 ℃.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2010

The physiological roles of various wavelength of light emitting diode (LED) on ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit experiencing after-ripening were investigated. Various wavelengths from LED light source were irradiated on kiwifruits kept in plastic bags or under open air at $25^{\circ}C$. During two weeks of storage, firmness of Hayward kiwifruits was decreased by $25^{\circ}C$ treatment than by $4^{\circ}C$ treatment. In the $25^{\circ}C$ storage condition, the firmness of kiwifruits was decreased by the treatment of 380 nm UV and 470nm white LED light source. Sweetness of kiwifruits treated with 380 nm UV LED and dark condition at $25^{\circ}C$ increased higher than $15^{\circ}$Brix. The acidity of kiwifruits under open air was decreased 52% by incubating at $25^{\circ}C$ with 660 nm red LED treatment. The acidity of kiwifruits in plastic bags was decreased 52.6, 55.6, 52.8% by the treatment of 440 nm blue, 470 nm white and 660 nm red LED light source, respectively, compared to that of kiwifruits incubated in darkness at $25^{\circ}C$. Decreased acidity irradiated by 660 nm red LED light source can be applied for regulating periods of the kiwifruit after-ripening process. LED light sources emit very narrow wavelength with a power-saving mode, therefore, the usage of these LED light source for regulating the after-ripening process can be classified as a clean biotechnology producing safe and environment-friendly kiwifruits.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2023

The possibility of improving plating thickness distribution was investigated through quantitative consideration of bipolar electrodes without external power applied. By having the cathode tilted with respect to the anode, the potential distribution in the electrolyte solution adjacent to the cathode is different due to the difference in iR drop due to the path difference to the anode in each region of the cathode. The purpose of this study is to observe the bipolar characteristics in the case of an auxiliary anode for the non-uniform potential distribution of such a Hull cell. In particular, in order to evaluate the possibility of improving the non-uniform thickness distribution of the cathode by utilizing these bipolar characteristics, it was verified through experiments and simulations, and the electric potential and current density distribution around the bipolar electrode were analyzed. The electroplating in a Hull cell was performed for 75 min at a current density of 10 mA/cm², and the average thickness is about 16 ㎛. The standard deviation of the thickness was 10 ㎛ in the normal Hull cell without using the auxiliary anode, whereas it was 3.5 ㎛ in the case of using the auxiliary cathode. Simulation calculations also showed 8.9 ㎛ and 3.3 ㎛ for each condition, and it was found that the consistency between the experimental and simulation results was relatively high, and the thickness distribution could be improved through using the auxiliary anode by the bipolar phenomenon.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.17-29
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• 2009

There has been an increase in the investigation of deep sea sediments with a consequent increase in the amount of energy required to undertake these investigations. The geotechnical characteristics of Ulleung Basin sediment are explored by using depressurized specimens following methane production tests carried out on pressured core samples obtained at 2,100 m water depth and 110 m below sea floor. Geotechnical index tests, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope are conducted to identify the geotechnical index parameters, clay mineralogy, chemical composition, and microstructure of the sediments. Compressibility, and elastic and electromagnetic wave parameters are investigated for two samples by using a multi sensing instrumented oedometer cell. The strength chatracteristics are obtained by the direct shear tests. The dominant clay minerals are mostly kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and calcite. The SEM shows a well-developed flocculated structure of the microfossil. Void ratio, electrical resistivity, real permittivity, conductivity, and shear wave velocity show bi-linear behavior with the effective vertical stress: as the vertical effective stress increases. The friction angle obtained by the direct shear test is about $21^{\circ}$, which is similar to the value observed in the Ulleung Basin sediments. This study shows that the understanding of the behavior acting on the diatomaceous marine sediment is important because it often maintains the useful energy resources such as gas hydrate and so will be the new engineering field in the next generation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2023

This study examined the transition process of clinical laboratory technologists' national examination and job definition in Korea and compared the differences in the national examination between Korea and neighboring countries, such as Japan and Taiwan. In Korea, the number of questions made for it was 200 (1965), 200 (1977), 300 (1982), 250 (1992), 330 (2006), and 280 (2015). The practice of clinical physiology is important for real-time monitoring, given the characteristics of physiological testing. On the other hand, there are conflicts between other occupations in the working area. Clinical molecular biology needs to be established as a new major subject considering the diagnostic importance of molecular biological tests and the speed of science and technology development. Clinical laboratory operations provide policy and guidance recommendations to technologist staff. The proposed clinical laboratory technologists' national examination comprises major subjects: clinical biochemistry, clinical hematology, clinical transfusionology, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, clinical molecular biology, clinical histology, clinical cytology, clinical physiology, and clinical laboratory operations. In addition, this study proposes the job definition of clinical laboratory technologists, revising various chemical or physiological testing to biomedical or physiological testing required for medical practice.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2023

The performance of computer systems and the development of various computer simulation programs have made it possible to analyze chemical systems composed of more complex elements, and accordingly, research using molecular dynamics simulation is being actively conducted. Research on calculating the gas permeation characteristics of polymer membranes by molecular dynamics, which was previously conducted mainly through experiments, is receiving attention for gas barrier membranes used in food packaging and pharmaceuticals. Recently, there has been a report that a gas barrier effect appears when a coating film is made using silk fibroin, and in this study, a study was conducted using molecular dynamics simulation to confirm whether an oxygen barrier effect appears when a composite film is made using silk fibroin. We built a single model, calculated the gas permeation characteristics, and compared it with the experimental value to confirm that the model reflects the actual experimental results. Actual composite membrane models were then built and the gas movement path within the polymer was analyzed. As a result, oxygen molecules were found that they could not pass through and was blocked in the fibroin region. Therefore, the composite membrane with silk fibroin has excellent oxygen barrier property and is expected to be useful in food packaging, etc.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.56-63
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• 2023

In this paper, we studied the effect of electron beam irradiation on sol-gel indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) thin films under air and nitrogen atmosphere and carried out the electrical characterization of the s ol-gel IGZO thin film transistors (TFTs). To investigate the optical properties, crystalline structure and chemical state of the sol-gel IGZO thin films after electron beam irradiation, UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were carried out. The sol-gel IGZO thin films exhibited over 80% transmittance in the visible range. The XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the sol-gel IGZO films regardless of electron beam irradiation. When electron beam irradiation was conducted in a nitrogen (N₂) atmosphere, we observed an increased proportion of peaks related to M-O bonding contributed to the improved quality of the thin films. Sol-gel IGZO TFTs subjected to electron beam exposure in a nitrogen atmosphere exhibited enhanced electrical characteristics in terms of on/off ratio and electron mobility. In addition, the electrical parameters of the transistor (on/off ratio, threshold voltage, electron mobility, subthreshold swing) remained relatively stable over time, indicating that the electron beam exposure process in a nitrogen atmosphere could enhance the reliability of IGZO-based thin-film transistors in the fabrication of sol-gel processed TFTs.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.629-646
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• 2023

Host rock of Cheonjeon-ri petroglyph is shale belonging to the Daegu Formation of Cretaceous Gyeongsang Supergroup. The rocks were hornfelsified by thermal alteration, and shows high density and hardness. The petroglyph forms weathered zone with certain depth, and has difference in mineral and chemical composition from the unweathered zone. As the physical deterioration evaluations, most of cracks on the surface appear parallel to the bedding, and are concentrated in the upper part with relatively low density. Breakout parts are occurred in the upper and lower parts of the petroglyph, accounting for 6.0% of the total area and occurs to have been created by the wedging action of cracks crossing. The first exfoliation parts occupying the surface were 23.8% of the total area, the second exfoliations covered with 9.3%, and the exfoliation parts with three or more times were calculated as 3.4%. It is interpreted that this is not due to natural weathering, and the thermal shock caused by the cremation custom here in the past. As the ultrasonic properties, the petroglyph indicates highly strength in the horizontal direction parallel to bedding, and the area with little physical damage recorded mean of 4,684 m/s, but the area with severe cracks and exfoliations showed difference from 2,597 to 3,382 m/s on average. Physical deterioration to the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyph occurred to influence by repeated weathering, which caused the rock surface to become more severe than the inside and the binding force of minerals to weaken. Therefore, it can be understood that when greater stress occurs in the weathered zone than in the unweathered zone, the relatively weathered surface loses its support and exfoliation occurs.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.359-372
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to develop the FPHER (problem finding, prediction & discussion, hands-on & experiment, explanation & arrangement, enrichment) instructional model emphasizing the social interactions, and as applied, characteristics of verbal interactions were examined overall and with each step. For this study, this model was applied to the students in 10th grade chemistry classes in a science high school, and their group verbal interactions were recorded and analyzed. The results of this study show that most verbal interactions were classified as on-task interactions in the FPHER instructional model, where suggestions were predominant to the acceptance of opinions. There were a few interactions in the F step, and there were many suggestions relating to the solutions and lacking in confidence in the P step. There were many suggestions relating to the process and orders in the H step. Also, there were many questions, some explanation and dissatisfaction, as well as a lack of confidence in the E step. There were many high-level interactions in the R step, and mainly interactions with worksheets showing high-level problem-solving abilities. More in-depth research is needed to develop the teaching strategies that can activate student-to-student interaction and student-teacher interaction with regard to instructions, enhancing thought as counter-argument, justification or sophistication, based on the instructional model in this study.