• Title/Summary/Keyword: Alternative candidates

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Scented Geraniums: a Model System for Phytoremediation

  • Raj, Sankaran-Krishna;Dixon, Michael-A;Praveen K. Saxena
    • Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.325-337
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    • 2000
  • All living organisms depend on soil and water for their sustained growth and development. In recent years, sustenance of life in these growth matrices has been adversely affected by the cumulative increase in environmental pollutants resulting from increasing population, growing economies and resource-use. This review provides a glimpse into the problem of global environmental pollution, the traditional technologies available for remediation and the scope of emerging‘plant-based remediation’technologies. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to effectively remove or stabilize contaminants from the growth substrate, is a low cost and ecologically friendly alternative to the common‘dig and dump’technologies. The field of phytoremediation has been driven by the intrinsic need for identification of ideal candidate plant species. To date, there are only a very few identified plants which satisfy all of the prerequisites for use in phytoremediation. The review focuses on one such plant species, the common horticultural plant scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.), with demonstrated potential to remediate metal / salt contaminated soils / aqueous systems. The characterization of tolerance and metal / salt accumulation potential of Pelargonium sp. and its efficacy in remediating complex contaminated sites are described. The unique ability of scented geraniums to tolerate excessive amounts of multi-metals, hydrocarbon and salt mixtures, and at the same time to accumulate significant amounts of metal and salt ions in the biomass, renders this plant species as one of the ideal candidates for remediation.

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Highly Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Nonplatinized Graphene Oxide/Metal

  • Jeon, Yong-Seok;Lee, Dong-Uk;Kim, Jeong-U;Im, Jeong-Min;Seo, Seung-Hyeok;Han, Min-Su;Han, Chi-Hwan;Sin, Hyeon-Seok;Jeon, Yong-Seok
    • Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2011.10a
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    • pp.11.2-11.2
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    • 2011
  • A key technological issue related to the implementation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the replacement of Pt at the counter electrodes with an inexpensive and electro-chemically stable alternative. Carbon based nanomaterials could be promising candidates, but in practice they exhibit inadequate device performance. Here, we report very thin graphene oxide (GO)/metal hybrid films as transparent counter electrodes for high-efficiency DSSCs. Transparent GO/Pt and GO/Au hybrid films showed cell efficiencies of 9.2 and 9.0%, respectively (improvements of 9.5 and 7.1% over conventional Pt counter electrodes). More interestingly, highly stable DSSCs with GO hybrid films from relatively inexpensive metals such as Cu and Ni have been demonstrated with efficiency values comparable to Pt counter electrodes. The results reported in this study should enable low-cost fabrication of DSSCs because it allows the use of relatively inexpensive metals such as Au, Cu, Ni, and Ag that could not be previously employed in DSSCs with iodide/tri-iodide electrolyte due to corrosion.

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A Study on the Broadcast Access Policy for the Disabled in the Convergence Environment (방송·통신융합 환경에서 장애인 방송 접근 정책에 관한 연구)

  • Yi, Minsang;Sung, Wookjoon
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.20 no.5
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    • pp.635-643
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    • 2020
  • This study aims to suggest ways to improve the dissemination of TV for the blind and deaf in the convergence environment of broadcasting and communication. As candidates for improvement of the project, it presents three alternatives: ①built-in set-top box in the TV, ②converting to a smart TV, and ③the development of specialized functions for the disabled in the set-top box. Through interviews with pay-TV and TV industry experts and disability experts, their opinions on each alternative were collected. To promote alternatives, this study suggests: collaboration between governments and companies, provision of incentives for participating companies, and revision related law and broadcasting technology standards.

Condensing Performance Evaluation in Smooth and Micro-Fin Tubes for Natural Mixture Refrigerant (Propane/Butane) (프로판/부탄 혼합자연냉매의 평활관과 마이크로핀관 내의 응축성능평가)

  • Lee Sang-Mu;Lee Joo-Dong;Park Byung-Duck
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.17 no.9
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    • pp.816-823
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    • 2005
  • This paper deals with the heat exchange performance prediction of a counter flow type double-tube condenser for natural refrigerant mixtures composed of Propane/n-Butane or Propane/i-Butane in a smooth tube and a micro-fin tube. The local characteristics of heat transfer, mass transfer and pressure drop are calculated using a prediction method developed by the authors. The total pressure drop and the overall heat transfer coefficient are also evaluated on various heat exchange conditions. The calculated results of the natural refrigerant mixtures are compared with HCFC22. In conclusion, natural refrigerant mixtures composed of Propane/n-Butane or Propane/i-Butane are appropriate candidates for alternative refrigerant from the viewpoint of heat transfer characteristics.

Near-IR Quantum Cutting Phosphors: A Step Towards Enhancing Solar Cell Efficiency

  • Jadhav, Abhijit P.;Khan, Sovann;Kim, Sun Jin;Cho, So-Hye
    • Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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    • v.23 no.5
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    • pp.221-239
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    • 2014
  • The global demand for energy has been increasing since past decades. Various technologies have been working to find a suitable alternative for the generation of sustainable energy. Photovoltaic technologies for solar energy conversion represent one of the significant routes for the green and renewable energy production. Despite of remarkable improvement in solar cell technologies, the generation of power is still suffering with lower energy conversion efficiency, high production cost, etc. The major problem in improving the PV efficiency is spectral mismatch between the incident solar spectrum and bandgap of a semiconductor material used in solar cell. Luminescent materials such as rare-earth doped phosphor materials having the quantum efficiency higher than unity can be helpful for photovoltaic applications. Quantum cutting phosphors are the most suitable candidates for the generation of two or more low-energy photons for the absorption of every incident high-energy photons. The phosphors which are capable of converting UV photon to visible and near-IR (NIR) photon are studied primarily for photovoltaic applications. In this review, we will survey various near IR quantum cutting phosphors with respective to their synthesis method, energy transfer mechanism, nature of activator, sensitizer and dopant materials incorporation and energy conversion efficiency considering their applications in photovoltaics.

Properties of charge/discharge in synthesis method or substituting transition element for Li-Mn Oxide (전이금속 치환 및 합성방법에 따른 Li-Mn 산화물의 충방전 특성)

  • Jee, Mi-Jung;Choi, Byung-Hyun;Lee, Dae-Jin
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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    • 2007.06a
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    • pp.46-46
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    • 2007
  • There has been rapid progress in the portable electronics industry. which has led to a great increase for a demand of portable, lightweight power sources. Lithium 2'nd batteries have met these demand. and many studies on the cahtod materials for the lithium 2,nd batteries have been reported during the last decade. Possible candidates for the cathode materials for lithium 2,nd batteries are $LiCoO_2$, $LiNiO_2$, and $LiMn_2O_4$. Currently $LiCoO_2$ is widely used. but $LiMn_2O_4$ is an excellent alternative material in view of its several advantages such a low cost as well as the wasy availability of raw materials and environmental benignity. In this study, find the most suitable synthesis method that satisfied high capacitor and stability cycle character, etc in Li-Mn oxide for 2'nd batteries. And also made an experiment on doping the $LiMn_2O_4$ spinel with a small amount of metal ions has a remarkable effect on the electrochemical properties and characterics of powder, BET, PSA, Porosity, etc.

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Importance of Convergency Researches for the Appropriate Application of Oil Dispersant (오일분산제 적용을 위한 융합연구의 필요성)

  • Oh, Kyeongseok
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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    • v.9 no.12
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    • pp.181-187
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    • 2018
  • The historical consumption of oil dispersant was recorded during the protection plans after huge oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. As a well-known oil dispersant, Corexit 9500 was used and continuously blamed for the negative effects on environmental ecology. Nevertheless, US EPA still recognizes Corexit 9500 as a future oil dispersant that might be possibly sprayed again to oil slick. In order to develop alternative oil dispersants, it is important to impel the convergency works mainly from microbiologist, ecologist, environmentalist, chemist, and chemical engineer. In this paper, the major components of Corexit 9500 were introduced by chemical structures and physical properties. Presented were also the biodegradable process of dispersed oils and the possible candidates of biosurfactants.

Research Trends of the Mo-Si-B Alloys as Next Generation Ultra-high-temperature Alloys (차세대 초고온 합금인 Mo-Si-B 합금의 연구 동향)

  • Choi, Won June;Park, Chun Woong;Park, Jung Hyo;Kim, Young Do;Byun, Jong Min
    • Journal of Powder Materials
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.156-165
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    • 2019
  • Over the last decade, the next generation's ultra-high-temperature materials as an alternative to Nickel-based superalloys have been highlighted. Ultra-high-temperature materials based on refractory metals are one of several potential candidates. In particular, molybdenum alloys with small amounts of silicon and boron (Mo-Si-B alloys) have superior properties at high temperature. However, research related to Mo-Si-B alloys were mainly conducted by several developed countries but garnered little interest in Korea. Therefore, in this review paper, we introduce the development history of Mo-Si-B alloys briefly and discuss the properties, particularly the mechanical and oxidation properties of Mo-Si-B alloys. We also introduce the latest research trends of Mo-Si-B alloys based on the research paper. Finally, for domestic research related to this field, we explain why Mo-Si-B alloys should be developed and suggest the potential directions for Mo-Si-B alloys research.

Juniperus chinensis extract induces apoptosis via reaction oxygen species (ROS) generation in human pancreatic cancer cell lines

  • Go, Boram;Han, Song-I;Lee, Jungwhoi;Kim, Da-Hye;Kim, Chang-Sook;Kim, Jae Hoon
    • Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.63 no.4
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    • pp.457-462
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    • 2020
  • Pancreatic cancer is among the most difficult-to-treat tumors. More than half of patients with this cancer have very few symptoms at the early stages, allowing the development of distant metastases and resistance to cancer treatment. In this study, we found that Juniperus chinensis extract (JCX) decreased the cell viability and migration activity of PANC-1 and SNU-213 pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. JCX increased caspase-3 activation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). N-acetylcysteine treatment blocked JCX-induced ROS generation and the negative effects on pancreatic cancer cell viability. In addition, JCX down-regulated the levels of phospho-focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK) and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). Together, these results indicate that JCX induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cell lines through ROS production, downregulating FAK/ERK signaling and activating caspase-3. We propose that JCX-derived compounds represent candidates for the development of alternative medicines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Properties of Silicone and its Suitability as a Synthetic Leather Coating Agent (실리콘의 특성 이해와 합성피혁 코팅제로서의 적합성)

  • Suhong Kim;Doohyun Baik
    • Textile Coloration and Finishing
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.42-65
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    • 2023
  • Leather is widely used in human lives and many industries, and the market size continues to grow. In terms of quality and durability, natural leather is still being used as the most luxurious product. And synthetic leather, made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), were developed and being widely have been used as alternative materials for natural leather. Processes, properties and issues of these leather were reviewed. Then silicone leather was reviewed why they can be good candidates for leather. Properties of general silicone polymers and silicone rubber coating agents were reviewed such as eco-friendliness, human-friendliness, stain resistances, resistance to uv light and ozone, heat stability and so on. Papers and patents related to silicone leather were studied to understand current status of development and commercialization of silicone leather. Finally direction of development was described how to improve deficient performances of current silicone leather, such as formulation of silicone, combination with organic materials and manufacturing processes.