• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.908-914
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• 2017

Cold plasma (CP) was applied to examine microbial safety and physicochemical properties of rough rice. CP was generated in a square-shaped plastic container (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment was applied for periods of 0, 10, and 20 min during 2 weeks at 4 and $25^{\circ}C$. As a result of observing changes in growth of microorganisms, 3.46-3.86 log CFU/g of total aerobic bacteria and 2.27-2.86 log CFU/g of mold were detected in the early stage of storage. The growth of total aerobic bacteria and mold was increased depending on the storage temperature and period, but there was no big difference between cultivars. Microbial analysis after storage showed that microorganisms of plasma-treated group were less grown approximately 1.50 log CFU/g. Moisture content of rough rice was decreased by storage temperature and periods. As for the amylose content, changes in the content by plasma were not observed in Samkwang, Cheongpum and Misomi, whereas Palbangmi showed a tendency to increase. The results of this study indicated that CP treatment improved the microbial quality of rough rice, but further studies should be conducted to reduce the deterioration of sensory quality induced by CP.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

The cathode, which is one of the four major components of a lithium secondary battery, is an important component responsible for the energy density of the battery. The mixing process of active material, conductive material, and polymer binder is very essential in the commonly used wet manufacturing process of the cathode. However, in the case of mixing conditions of the cathode, since there is no systematic method, in most cases, differences in performance occur depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) cathodes were prepared using a commonly used THINKY mixer and homogenizer to optimize the mixing method in the cathode slurry preparation step, and their characteristics were compared. Each mixing condition was performed at 2000 RPM and 7 min, and to determine only the difference in the mixing method during the manufacture of the cathode other experiment conditions (mixing time, material input order, etc.) were kept constant. Among the manufactured THINKY mixer LMO (TLMO) and homogenizer LMO (HLMO), HLMO has more uniform particle dispersion than TLMO, and thus shows higher adhesive strength. Also, the result of the electrochemical evaluation reveals that HLMO cathode showed improved performance with a more stable life cycle compared to TLMO. The initial discharge capacity retention rate of HLMO at 69 cycles was 88%, which is about 4.4 times higher than that of TLMO, and in the case of rate capability, HLMO exhibited a better capacity retention even at high C-rates of 10, 15, and 20 C and the capacity recovery at 1 C was higher than that of TLMO. It's postulated that the use of a homogenizer improves the characteristics of the slurry containing the active material, the conductive material, and the polymer binder creating an electrically conductive network formed by uniformly dispersing the conductive material suppressing its strong electrostatic properties thus avoiding aggregation. As a result, surface contact between the active material and the conductive material increases, electrons move more smoothly, changes in lattice volume during charging and discharging are more reversible and contact resistance between the active material and the conductive material is suppressed.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2017

Potentilla supina (Rosaceae) has traditionally been used to treat disorders of hemostasis, dysentery, malaria, bloody discharge and arthritis, and it has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, validity of the anti-inflammatory activity has not been scientifically investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of P. supina using the ethanolic extract of P. supina and its sub-fractions. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of P. supina, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in RAW 264.7 cells. Our results indicated that ethyl acetate fraction significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO, iNOS and $PGE_2$ production in RAW 264.7 cells. This result showed that ethyl acetate fraction of P. supina is expected to be a good candidate for development into a source of anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Using $Na_2CO_3$ and $MeSO_4$ (Me = Ni, Co and Mn) as starting materials, the precursor of $[Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}]CO_3$ has been synthesized by carbonate co-precipitation. The precursor was mixed with $Li_2CO_3$, and calcined at 750, 850, and$950^{\circ}C$ in air. Effect of calcinations temperature on characteristics of $Li[Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}]O_2$ cathode materials was investigated. The structure and characteristics of $Li[Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}]O_2$ were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical measurements. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that the intensity ratio of $I_{(003)}/I_{(104)}$ increased and the R-factor ratio decreased with the increase of calcinations temperature. And Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) result show that the primary particle size increased. Especially, the $Li[Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}]O_2$ calcined at $950^{\circ}C$ for 24 H shows excellent electrochemical performances with reversible specific capacity of $165.3mAhg^{-1}$ [cut-off voltage 2.5~4.3 V, 0.1 C($17mAhg^{-1}$)] and good capacity retention of 95.4% after 50th charge/discharge cycles[cut-off voltage 2.5~4.3 V, 1 C($170mAhg^{-1}$)].

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.578-583
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• 2010

Acid rain and its problem to environment such as acid precipitation and environmental problems related to the air pollution in East Asia has been emerging. To evaluate the acidity and chemical characteristics of rainwater precipitated in western Korea, Suwon and Taean, its pH and ion concentrations were investigated during farming season (April to November) in 2009. Also, ion composition and cation-affected neutralization were determined to evaluate the contribution of cations on the acidity of rainwater. Ion and electrical conductivity between the measured and the estimated showed high correlation. The $Na^+$ in rainwater was the main cation followed by ${NH_4}^+>Ca^{2+}>H^+>Mg^{2+}>K^+$. Sum of $Na^+$ and ${NH_4}^+$ contents was over 65% of total cations contents. In the case of anions, the concentration was in order of ${SO_4}^{2-}>{NO_3}^->Cl^-$. The ${SO_4}^{2-}$ among anions in rainwater composed about 61%, which showed on average 130.2 ${\mu}eq\;L^{-1}$ and 121.3 ${\mu}eq\;L^{-1}$ during monitoring at Suwon and Taean, respectively. Also, 89.6 and 88.6% of soluble sulfate in rainwater at Suwon and Taean area was NSS-${SO_4}^{2-}$ (Non-Sea Salt sulfate). Especially, ${NH_4}^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ contributed greatly in neutralizing the acid rain in dry season. Total nitrogen content flowed into soil from rain was around 1~2 kg $ha^{-1}$ in each month, but in July at Suwon, it reached 6 kg $ha^{-1}$ due to heavy rain (over 7.3 mm).

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.157-184
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• 2010

Global climate change is destroying the water circulation balance by changing rates of precipitation, recharge and discharge, and evapotranspiration. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007) makes "changes in rainfall pattern due to climate system changes and consequent shortage of available water resource" a high priority as the weakest part among the effects of human environment caused by future climate changes. Groundwater, which occupies a considerable portion of the world's water resources, is related to climate change via surface water such as rivers, lakes, and marshes, and "direct" interactions, being indirectly affected through recharge. Therefore, in order to quantify the effects of climate change on groundwater resources, it is necessary to not only predict the main variables of climate change but to also accurately predict the underground rainfall recharge quantity. In this paper, the authors selected a relevant climate change scenario, In this context, the authors selected A1B from the Special Report on Emission Scenario (SRES) which is distributed at Korea Meteorological Administration. By using data on temperature, rainfall, soil, and land use, the groundwater recharge rate for the research area was estimated by period and embodied as geographic information system (GIS). In order to calculate the groundwater recharge quantity, Visual HELP3 was used as main model for groundwater recharge, and the physical properties of weather, temperature, and soil layers were used as main input data. General changes to water circulation due to climate change have already been predicted. In order to systematically solve problems associated with how the groundwater resource circulation system should be reflected in future policies pertaining to groundwater resources, it may be urgent to recalculate the groundwater recharge quantity and consequent quantity for using via prediction of climate change in Korea in the future and then reflection of the results. The space-time calculation of changes to the groundwater recharge quantity in the study area may serve as a foundation to present additional measures for the improved management of domestic groundwater resources.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2008

1,4-Dioxane($C_4H_8O_2$), which is used as a solvent stabilizer, could make harmful effects on ecosystem because of its higher solubility, toxicity and carcinogenic by US EPA. From 2011, its discharge limit to waterbody will be regulated at 5 mg/L by Ministry of Environment Republic of Korea. It was thus to investigate that the currently operating activated sludge in polyester manufacturing processes in Gumi can properly treat it to meet with the regulation standard. For that purpose, the removal rate of 1,4-dioxane and its microbial properties were assessed for a few companies(i.e. K, H and T). Its removal efficiency was the most highly recorded in H as 98% and then 77% for K, which met with the regulation standard. However, concentration of 1,4-dioxane of T was 23 mg/L in the effluent, which is more than the regulation standard. Aside from, microbial degradation test was done for 100 ppm of 1,4-dioxane in BSM (Basal salt medium) inoculated with each of activated sludge. After 7 days, 1,4-dioxane was completely removed in the test bottle inoculated with H sludge, 67% in T and 52% in K, which could confirm that the given activated sludge might have different biodegradability against the amount of 1,4-dioxane. Therefore, microbial diversity in each company was investigated by 16s rDNA cloning methods where a species, e.g. Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1, was the greatest observed from H and in lesser from K, but it was not detected from T. Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1 is known to efficiently degrade ether like methyl tertiary-butyl ether(MTBE). It is concluded that the activated sludge in H can be most effectively adopted for a biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane in the concern of industrial sector.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.395-403
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• 2006

It is known that $MgAl_2O_4$ has higher resistance to moisture than MgO, in humid ambient MgO is chemically unstable. It reacts very easily with moisture in the air. In this study, the characteristic of $MgAl_2O_4$ and $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ layers as dielectric protection layers for AC- PDP (Plasma Display Panel) have been investigated and analysed in comparison for conventional MgO layers. MgO and $MgAl_2O_4$ films both with a thickness of $1000\AA$ and $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ film with a thickness of $200/800\AA$ were grown on the Cu substrates using the electron beam evaporation. $1000\AA$ thick aluminium layers were deposited on the protective layers in order to avoid the charging effect of $Ga^+$ ion beam while the focused ion beam(FIB) is being used. We obtained sputtering yieds for the MgO, $MgAl_2O_4$ and $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ films using the FIB system. $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ protective layers have been found th show $24{\sim}30%$ lower sputtering yield values from 0.244 up to 0.357 than MgO layers with the values from 0.364 up to 0.449 for irradiated $Ga^+$ ion beam with energies ranged from 10 kV to 14 kV. And $MgAl_2O_4$ layers have been found to show lowest sputtering yield values from 0.88 up to 0.109. Secondary electron emission coefficient(g) using the ${\gamma}$- FIB. $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ and MgO have been found to have similar g values from 0.09 up to 0.12 for indicated $Ne^+$ ion with energies ranged from 50 V to 200 V. Observed images for the surfaces of MgO and $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ protective layers, after discharge degradation process for 72 hours by SEM and AFM. It is found that $MgAl_2O_4/MgO$ protective layer has superior hardness and degradation resistance properties to MgO protective layer.