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Development of Novel Materials for Reduction of Greenhouse Gases and Environmental Monitoring Through Interface Engineering

  • Hirano, Shin-Ichi;Gang, Seok-Jung L.;Nowotny, Janusz-Nowotny;Smart, Roger-St.C.Smart;Scrrell, Charles-C.Sorrell;Sugihara, Sunao;Taniguchi, Tomihiroi;Yamawaki, Michio;Yoo
    • Korean Journal of Materials Research
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    • v.9 no.6
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    • pp.635-653
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    • 1999
  • The present work considers work considers research strategies to address global warming. Specifically, this work considers the development of technologies of importance for the reduction of greenhouse gas emission and, especially, the materials that are critical to these technologies. It is argued that novel materials that are essential for the production of environmentally friendly energy may be developed through a special kind of engineering: interface engineering, rather than through classical bulk chemistry. Progress on the interface engineering requires to increase the present state of understanding on the local properties of materials interfaces and interfaces processes. This, consequently, requires coordinated international efforts in order to establish a strong background in the science of materials interfaces. This paper considers the impact of interfaces, such as surfaces and grain boundaries, on the functional properties of materials. This work provides evidence that interfaces exhibit outstanding properties that are not displayed by the bulk phase. It is shown that the local interface chemistry and structure and entirely different than those of the bulk phase. In consequence the transport of both charge and matter along and across interfaces, that is so important for energy conversion, is different than that in the bulk. Despite that the thickness of interfaces is of an order to a nanometer, their impact on materials properties is substantial and, in many cases, controlling. This leads to the conclusion that the development of novel materials with desired properties for specific industrial applications will be possible through controlled interface chemistry. Specifically, this will concern materials of importance for energy conversion and environmental monitoring. Therefore, there is a need to increase the present state of understanding of the local properties of materials interfaces and the relationship between interfaces and the functional properties of materials. In order to accomplish this task coordinated international efforts of specialized research centres are required. These efforts are specifically urgent regarding the development of materials of importance for the reduction of greenhouse gases. Success of research in this area depends critically on financial support that can be provided for projects on materials of importance for a sustainable environment, and these must be considered priorities for all of the global economies. The authors of the present work represent an international research group economies. The authors of the present work represent an international research group that has entered into a collaboration on the development of the materials that are critical for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Phylogenetic Characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Lato in Uzbekistan

  • Kim, Hye-Jin;Yong, Tai-Soon;Shin, Myeong Heon;Lee, Kyu-Jae;Park, Gab-Man;Suvonkulov, Uktamjon;Kovalenko, Dmitriy;Yu, Hak Sun
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.58 no.2
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    • pp.205-210
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    • 2020
  • Echinococcosis occurs mainly in areas with heavy livestock farming, such as Central Asia, America, and Australia. Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) infection causes echinococcosis in intermediate hosts, such as sheep, cattle, goats, camels, and horses. Numerous cases of echinococcosis occur in Uzbekistan as stock farming is a primary industry. Epidemiological and genetic studies of E. granulosus s.l. are very important for mitigating its impact on public health and the economy; however, there are no such studies on E. granulosus s.l. in Uzbekistan. In the present study, to determine which genotypes exist and are transmitted, we isolated Echinococcus sp. from definitive hosts (one isolate each from jackal and dog) and intermediate hosts (52 isolates from humans and 6 isolates from sheep) in Uzbekistan and analyzed the isolates by sequencing 2 mitochondrial DNA components (cox1 and nad1). The results showed that all of isolates except one belonged to the E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) G1 and G3 genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis based on cox1 sequences showed that 42 isolates from humans, 6 isolates from sheep, and one isolate from jackal were the G1 genotype, whereas the remaining 8 isolates from human and the one isolate from dog were the G3 genotype. These results suggest that the G1 and G3 genotypes of E. granulosus s.s. are predominant in Uzbekistan, and both wild animals and domestic animals are important for maintaining their life cycle. Only one isolate from human sample was confirmed to be E. eqiinus (G4 genotype), which is known to be for the first time.

Biological Control of Crown Gall

  • Kerr, Allen;Biggs, John;Ophel, Kathy
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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    • 1994.06a
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    • pp.11-26
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    • 1994
  • Crown gall of stonefruit and nut trees is one of the very few plant diseases subject to efficient biological control. The disease is caused by the soil-inhabiting bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes and the original control organism was a non-pathogenic isolate of A. rhizogenes strain K84. Control is achieved by dipping planting material in a cell suspension of strain K84 which specifically inhibits pathogenic strains containing a nopaline Ti plasmid. Because the agrocin 84-encoding plasmid (pAgK84) is conjugative, it can be transmitted from the control strain to pathogenic strains which, as a result, become immune to agrocin 84 and cannot be controlled. To prevent this happening, the transfer genes on pAgK84 were located and then largely eliminated by recombinant DNA technology. The resulting construct, strain K1026, is transfer deficient but controls crown gall just as effectively as does strain K84. Field data from Spain confirm that pAgK84 can transfer to pathogenic recipients from strain K84 but not from strain K1026. The latter has been registered in Australia as a pesticide and is the first genetically engineered organism in the world to be released fro commercial use. It is recommended as a replacement for strain K84 to prevent a breakdown in the effectiveness of biological control of crown gall. Several reports indicate that both strains K84 and K1026 sometimes control crown gall pathogens that are resistant to agrocin 84. A possible reason for this is that both strains produce a second antibiotic called 434 which inhibits growth of nearly all isolates of A. rhizogenes, both pathogens and non-pathogens. Crown gall of grapevine is caused by another species, Agrobacterium vitis. It is resistant to agrocin 84 and cannot be controlled by strains K84 or K1026. It is different from other crown gall pathogens in several characteristics, including the fact that, although a rhizosphere coloniser, its also lives systemically in the vascular tissue of grapevine. Pathogen free propagating material can be obtained from tissue culture or, less surely, by heat therapy of dormant cuttings. A number of laboratories are searching for a biocontrol strain that will prevent, or at least delay, reinfection. A non-pathogenic A. vitis strain F/25 from South Africa looks very promising in this regard.

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On the Numerical Analysis of Korean Food Supply Pattern ($1962{\sim}1969$) (우리나라 식량공급양상(食量供給樣相)의 수량적고찰(數量的考察)($1962{\sim}1969$))

  • Kwon, Tai-Wan;Lee, Yong-Hyun
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.140-150
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    • 1972
  • Using methods of principle component analysis and pattern of analysis. Korean food supply pattern and its change (1962-1969) have been compared whit those of other 40 countries. 1) Among the 4 groups classified on the first and second principle components, Korea belongs to the highest crop grain dependent group of Asia. Although Korea is identified as one of the highest crop consuming countries among the group, a significant increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables is noticed during the period. 2) According to the pattern of numerics analysis Korean food supply pattern (1969) is similar with those of Japan (1949), philippines, Taiwan, while is quite apart from those of U.S.A., W. Germany, France and Australia. 3) During the period the food supply pattern of Korea has been changed significantly toward the more common locations on the world food supply pattern map. Yet the location is far from the desirable one and its moving direction is characteristic, differing not only those of Europian countries but also Asian neighborhoods. this unique pattern should receive a careful examination and thus proper measures should be undertaken to take care of optimal nation's nutritional requirements.

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Comparison of Forage Performance of Introduced Vetch Cultivars and Korean Wild Vetch (자생 베치와 도입 베치의 생육특성과 건물수량 비교)

  • Shin, Chung-Nam;Ko, Ki-Hwan
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.223-228
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    • 2003
  • A field experiment was conducted to evaluate agronomic characteristics, and dry matter yield of Korean wild hairy vetch(Vicia villosa Roth), Korean wild woolly pod vetch(Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa(Ten.) Eav.), introduced hairy and woolly pod vetch cultivars from Japan, and Haymaker plus(woolly pod vetch) from Australia. Seeds were sown on 7 October 2000 at the Livestock Experiment Fm, Keimyung College, Seongju, Kyeongbuk. Vetch Plants were harvested on 19 May 2001. Cold tolerance for woolly pod vetch from Japan and Haymaker plus were lower than other cultivars. Dry matter content of the Haymaker Plus was higher than other cultivars. Fifty percent flowering was observed 16 April for Haymaker plus, 20 April fur woolly pod vetch from Japan, 22 April fur Korean wild hairy vetch( I ), 28 April fer Korean wild hairy vetch(II), 1 May for Korean wild hairy vetch(III), 5 May fur Korean wild woolly pod vetch, and 10 May for hairy vetch from Japan. Dry matter yield per hectar was significantly highest(P<0.05) for wild hairy vetch(III) and wild hairy vetch(II) was higher(P<0.05) than other cultivars. Dry matter yield Per hectar was higher(P<0.05) for Haymaker Plus and wild hairy vetch(I) than hairy vetch from Japan.

Developing a Roadmap for National Research Data Management Governance: Based on the Analysis of United Kingdom's Case (국가 차원의 연구데이터 관리체계 구축을 위한 로드맵 제안 - 영국 사례 분석을 중심으로 -)

  • Shim, Wonsik
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.355-378
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    • 2015
  • In recent years, countries such as USA, United Kingdom and Australia have begun to implement national policies in order to systematically manage and share research data produced through publicly funded research. However, Korea as of yet does not have a coordinated research data policy. The lack of infrastructure that supports the sharing and preserving research data results in the poor management and loss of valuable data produced from significant national R&D investments. The need for research data collection, management and sharing goes beyond the outcome assessment of national research: it facilitates the diffusion of research impact and economic development. There is a growing recognition that data sharing is an essential element of research ethics. This research investigates the relevant research data policies and methods of governance at the national level using a case study analysis. United Kingdom was selected as a case study target as it shows a wide variety of policy examples and instruments. In particular, this research focuses on the UK's national legal framework for research data sharing, analyzes the RCUK (Research Councils UK)'s data policies, activities at the seven research councils under RCUK as well as several supporting institutions. Based on the analyses, this research offers a national roadmap for better managing and sharing of research data in Korea.

On the Diurnal Variation of Cloudiness over the Weatern Pacific by Using GMS-IR Data (GMS-IR 자료를 이용한 서태평양에서의 운량 일변동에 관한 연구)

  • 김영섭;한경수
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 1997
  • The western equatorial Pacific Ocean, where sea surface temperature is the warmest on the globe, is characterized by numerous convective systems and large annual precipitation. In this region, the cloudiness data with tops higher than 8km level obtained from the GMS-IR data are used to investigate the diurnal variation of cloudiness. The amplitude and phase of diurnal and semi-diurnal cycles are mainly investigated to examine details on the temporal and spatial structure of clouds. Cloudiness variation has typical cycles and each cycle is associated with the air-sea interactive phenomena. Spectral analysis on the cloudiness time series data indicates that 30-60 day, 17-20day, 7-8 day, diurnal and semi diurnal cycle are peaked. During Northern Winter and Southern Summer, the large cloudiness exsists over New Guinea, the adjacent seas of North Australia, and the open oceanic regions east of $160^{\circ}$E. Cloudiness diurnal variability over the lands and their adjacent seas is about 2.0 times larger than that over the open sea regions. That may be due to the difference of specific heat between the land and sea. The maximum and minimum cloudiness appeared at 18:00 and 09:00 hours over the land, and at noon and 21:00 hours over the sea, respectively. The amplitude of diurnal component over the land is 4,7 times larger than that of semi-diurnal component, and 1.5 times over the sea.

A Comparative Study on the Semantic and Functional Appropriateness of the Safety Sign Color Standards in Construction Sites (건설안전표지 색채기준의 의미적·기능적 적절성 판단 및 개선방안 도출을 위한 국가 간 비교법제 연구)

  • Jang, YeEun;Yi, June-Seong
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Construction Safety
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.22-30
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    • 2018
  • Construction accidents in Korea are continuously increasing. Safety signs with high visibility color can diminish such accidents in dangerous places. In order for safety color to be more effective as a global communication means in construction sites, it needs to be checked out whether safety color standard reflect the characteristics of construction industry such as worker or work environment. This paper compared safety color standards among Korea, the US, the UK, and Australia. First, blue color was included in all, which should be corrected considering aged workers increasing in construction industry. Because with age, the ability to distinguish between blue, purple, and gray colors decreases. Second, Korea, which has only single code designated to safety colors, should find alternatives like tolerance to be applicable to a variety of light environments on construction sites, as the contrast which affect the visibility may decrease in dark conditions.

Benchmarking Highway Maintenance Practices for Standardized Guideline Development (도로공사 유지관리 표준화 절차 개발을 위한 벤치마킹)

  • Ha, Minhui;Kim, Donghee;Shin, Hochul;Choi, Jaehyun
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.44-56
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    • 2019
  • Recently, the paradigm of SOC investment has shifted from new construction to maintenance. This shift became more important for the highway system because it is as one of the most important SOC. In Korea, highway maintenance costs are about 20% of the total annual highway construction budget, which is about two-thirds of developed countries. In addition, establishing standardized guidelines for the highway maintenance operation is not in place. Therefore, in order for domestic road construction and maintenance technology to secure competitiveness in the global construction market, it is urgent to improve the management capacity for maintenance as well as the technology and management capacity. This study examines highway maintenance practices in OECD countries such as North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan to identify core elements of highway maintenance practice. It is imperative to establish a comprehensive management system based upon asset management principle. Even if the budget for the highway construction is reduced, investment in maintenance needs to be maintained.

The Association of Perceived Neighborhood Walkability and Environmental Pollution With Frailty Among Community-dwelling Older Adults in Korean Rural Areas: A Cross-sectional Study

  • Kim, Mi-Ji;Seo, Sung-Hyo;Seo, Ae-Rim;Kim, Bo-Kyoung;Lee, Gyeong-Ye;Choi, Yeun-Soon;Kim, Jin-Hwan;Kim, Jang-Rak;Kang, Yune-Sik;Jeong, Baek-Geun;Park, Ki-Soo
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.52 no.6
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    • pp.405-415
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    • 2019
  • Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of frailty with perceived neighborhood walkability and environmental pollution among community-dwelling older adults in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 808 community-dwelling men and women aged 65 years and older in 2 rural towns. Comprehensive information, including demographics, socioeconomic status, grip strength, polypharmacy, perceived neighborhood environment (specifically, walkability and environmental pollution), and frailty, was collected from participants using face-to-face interviews conducted between June and August 2018. Perceived neighborhood walkability was measured using 20 items that were selected and revised from the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, the Neighborhood Walkability Checklist from the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Survey. The Kaigo-Yobo Checklist was used to assess participants' frailty. Results: The overall prevalence of frailty in this community-dwelling population was 35.5%. Sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, grip strength, and polypharmacy were significantly associated with frailty. In the logistic regression analysis, frailty was associated with low perceived neighborhood walkability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.881; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.833 to 0.932; p<0.001) and severe perceived neighborhood environmental pollution (aOR, 1.052; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.087; p=0.003) after adjusting for sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, monthly income, grip strength, and polypharmacy. Conclusions: More studies are warranted to establish causal relationships between walkability and environmental pollution and frailty.