• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2828-2834
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• 2024

This research intends to recycle bone and incorporate it into concrete for radiation shielding application using Phy-X/PSD software. Cement, sand and granite were mixed in proportion of 0.5 kg:1 kg:1 kg to obtain sample A. Other concretes composing of cement, sand, granite and bone ash was in proportion 0.45 kg:1 kg:1 kg:0.05 kg, 0.1 kg:1 kg:1 kg:0.4 kg and 0.35 kg:1 kg:1 kg:0.15 kg to obtain samples B, C and D respectively. 0.5 water-to-cement (W/C) ratio was adopted throughout the mixes because the control mix contain the normal water quantity for normal hydration of cement. Replacing the bone ash for the cement in the fabricated concretes enhances their densities where the fabricated concretes' density decreased from 2.33 g/cm³ to 2.22 g/cm³ by raising the reinforcing bones fly ash concentration from 0 to 0.15 kg. Additionally, increasing the bones fly ash concentration within the fabricated concretes increases their linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) where the fabricated concretes' μ values at 0.662 MeV reach 0.181 cm^-1, 0.178 cm^-1, 0.174 cm^-1, and 0.171 cm^-1, respectively for concretes A, B, C, and D. The use of other local materials is recommended, as it improves waste management being the major aim of the sustainable development goal.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.148-159
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• 2024

Background/Aims: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of denosumab treatment in severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with osteoporosis. We also investigated whether the treatment affects the coronary artery calcifications. Methods: Twenty-seven postmenopausal women with Stage 3b-4 CKD and osteoporosis were enrolled. Twenty patients received denosumab plus calcium carbonate and vitamin D, and seven controls received calcium carbonate and vitamin D for 1 year. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring computed tomography were performed before and after treatment. Hypocalcemic symptoms and serum calcium levels were evaluated. Results: After 1 year of treatment, the percent changes of femur neck (3.6 ± 3.2% vs. -0.7 ± 4.4%, p = 0.033) and total hip (3.4 ± 3.8% vs. -1.9 ± 2.1%, p = 0.001) bone mineral density (BMD) were significantly increased in the denosumab treated group compared to the control group. However, the percent change of lumbar spine BMD did not differ between two groups (5.6 ± 5.9% vs. 2.7 ± 3.9%, p = 0.273). The percent change of bone alkaline phosphatase was significantly different in the denosumab-treated group and control group (-31.1 ± 30.0% vs. 0.5 ± 32.0%, p = 0.027). CAC scores did not differ between groups. No hypocalcemic events occurred in both groups. Conclusions: If carefully monitored and supplemented with calcium and vitamin D, denosumab treatment for 1 year provides significant benefits in patients with Stage 3b-4 CKD and osteoporosis. However, denosumab treatment did not affect coronary artery calcifications in these patients.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2024

Enhancing the oxygen surface exchange reaction by increasing the specific surface area of the electrode is a promising structural approach to lowering the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Nanowire structures, due to their high specific surface area and lower tortuosity of ion and electron conduction pathways, play a vital role in enhancing SOFC electrode performance. In this study, we synthesized La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-𝛿 (LSC) nanowires using a polycarbonate membrane filter as a nanotemplate and applied them to the cathode for intermediate-temperature SOFC fabrication. The fabricated cell exhibited a 10% increase in peak power density at 650℃, achieving 0.506 W·cm^-2, compared to cell using only commercial LSC powder. Furthermore, distribution of relaxation times analysis revealed a 15% reduction in area-specific polarization resistance in the mid-frequency range. These findings demonstrated that the electrode with LSC nanowires fabricated through electrospray deposition can significantly improve electrochemical performance of intermediate-temperature SOFC.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2024

Rechargeable Li-SnO₂ batteries suffer from issues such as poor electronic/ionic conductivity and huge volume changes. In order to overcome these inherent limitations, this study designed a cell with a unique hierarchical structure, denoted as SnO₂@PCNF. The SnO₂@PCNF cell design incorporates in-situ generated SnO₂ nanoparticles strategically positioned within N-doped porous carbon nanofibers (PCNF). The in-situ generated SnO₂ nanoparticles can alleviate strains during cycling and shorten the pathway for the ions and electrons, improving the utilization of active materials. Moreover, the N-doped PCNF establishes a continuously conductive network to further increase the electrical conductivity and also buffers the significant volume changes that occur during charging and discharging. The resulting SnO₂@PCNF cell exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance and stable cycling characteristics. Notably, a reversible capacity of 520 mAh g^-1 was achieved after 100 cycles at 70 mA g^-1. Even under a higher current density of 1 A g^-1, the cell maintained a capacity retention of 393 mAh g^-1 after 1,000 cycles. These results highlight the SnO₂@PCNF cell's exceptional cycling stability and superior rate capability.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.1469-1473
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• 2022

Tungsten diselenide (WSe₂) is one of the promising transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. To enhance and tune the electronic performance of TMDs, chemical functionalization via covalent and van der Waals approaches has been suggested. In the present report, the electric and structural transition of WSe₂ oxidized by exposure to O₃ is investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy. It is demonstrated that the exposure of WSe₂/high-ordered pyrolytic graphite sample to O₃ induces the formation of molecular adsorbates on the surface, which enables to increase in the density of states near the valence band edge, resulting from electric structural modification of domain boundaries via exposure of atomic O. According to the work function extracted by Kelvin probe force microscopy, monolayer WSe₂ with the O₃ exposure results in a gradual increase in work function as the exposure to O₃. Therefore, the present report demonstrates the potential pathway for the chemical functionalization of TMDs to enhance the electric performance of TMDs devices.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.647-655
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• 2016

Lead dioxide ($PbO_2$) is an electrode material that is effective for organic pollutant degradation based on hydroxyl radical ($^{\bullet}OH$) attack. Representative parameters for $PbO_2$ electrodeposition are summarized to current, temperature, reaction time, concentration of Pb(II) and electrolyte agent. In this study, $Ti/PbO_2$ electrodes were fabricated by electrodeposition method under controlled reaction time, current density, temperature, concentration of $HNO_3$ electrolyte. Effects of deposition parameters on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution were investigated in terms of electrochemical bleaching of p-Nitrosodimethylaniline (RNO). As major results, the $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution was promoted at the $PbO_2$ that was deposited in longer reaction time (1-90 min), lower current density ($0.5-50mA/cm^2$), higher temperature ($5-65^{\circ}C$) and lower $HNO_3$ concentration (0.01-1.0 M). Especially, the $PbO_2$ which was deposited in 0.01 M of lowest $HNO_3$ concentration by applying $20mA/cm^2$ for above 10 min was most effective on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution. The performance gap between $PbO_2$s that was best and worst in $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution was about 41%. Among the properties of $PbO_2$ related on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution performance, conductivity of $Ti/PbO_2$ significantly influenced on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution. The increase in conductivity promoted $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution. In addition, the increase in crystal size of $PbO_2$ interfered $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution at surface of some $PbO_2$ deposits.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.340-346
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• 2002

To understand the characteristics of the passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser output energy with $Cr^{4+}$:YAG saturable absorbers, the transmissions of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG and the inversion population densities of Nd:YAG at the onset of Q-switch were experimentally analysed. The measured transmissions at the onset of Q-switch were 0.70$\pm$0.02 and 0.62$\pm$0.02 for the 0.48 and 0.38 of initial transmission, respectively. It means that the initial transmission loss of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG absorber is reduced in a low Q-state due to the initial absorbing effect of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG. In pumping stage, $Cr^{4+}$:YAG has absorbing processes due to the fluorescence and amplified spontaneous emissions of the Nd:YAG even if there is no laser oscillation. The minimum population inversion densities for Qswitch were approximately 3.7${\times}{10^{17}}$ and 4.0${\times}{10^{17}}$ $cm^{-3}$, respectively. At the beginning of Q-switch, the number density of $Cr^{4+}$ions in the ground state of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG was approximately 1.4${\times}{10^{17}}$ $cm^{-3}$ and the ratio of the ground to the excited state of absorbing $Cr^{4+}$ions was 0.44 both. The modified theoretical output energies with the initial absorbing effect were 18 and 18.5 mJ. The measured output energies were 17$\pm$1 and 18$\pm$1.5 mJ, respectively. The quantum extraction efficiencies of Q-switch were 0.32 both. The theoretical Q-switched output results with the initial absorbing effect of the saturable absorber are a good agreement with the experimental results.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.99-104
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• 2011

A stoichiometric mixture of evaporating materials for $MgGa_2Se_4$ single crystal thin films was prepared from horizontal electric furnace. The crystal structure of these compounds has a rhombohedral structure with lattice constants $a_0=3.953\;{\AA}$, $c_0=38.890\;{\AA}$. To obtain the single crystal thin films, $MgGa_2Se_4$ mixed crystal was deposited on thoroughly etched semi-insulating GaAs(100) substrate by the Hot Wall Epitaxy (HWE) system. The source and substrate temperatures were $610^{\circ}C$ and $400^{\circ}C$, respectively. The crystalline structure of the single crystal thin films was investigated by the double crystal X-ray rocking curve and X-ray diffraction ${\omega}-2{\theta}$ scans. The carrier density and mobility of $MgGa_2Se_4$ single crystal thin films measured from Hall effect by van der Pauw method were $6.21{\times}10^{18}\;cm^{-3}$ and 248 $cm^2/v{\cdot}s$ at 293 K, respectively. The optical absorption of $MgGa_2Se_4$ single crystal thin films was investigated in the temperature range from 10 K to 293 K. The temperature dependence of the optical energy gap of the $MgGa_2Se_4$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's equation, $E_g(T)=E_g(0)-({\alpha}T^2/T+{\beta})$. The constants of Varshni's equation had the values of $E_g(0)=2.34\;eV$, ${\alpha}=8.81{\times}10^{-4}\;eV/K$ and ${\beta}=251\;K$, respectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2001

A barrier liner system is placed at the bottom and side slope in landfill to protect a leaking of leachate that the hydraulic conductivity of this system should be less than It 107cm/sec. In this study, the soil-bentonite mixture for the bottom liner system was evaluated in two point of views : changing characteristics of the hydraulic conductivity according to the different mixing ratio of soil-bentonite with the effect of bentonite swelling and the difference method (A & D type) of compaction on the hydraulic conductivity. As the results, maximum dry density (${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$) of SC group mixture was higher than of CL group mixture. However, the result of optimum moisture contents(OMC) of both groups were the contrary. In case of ${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$ by different compaction method, D type was higher than A. But the OMC were the contrary. The difference of ${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$ according to the Compaction energy, “SC” group mixture W3S higher than the “CL” group. In case of OMC of “CL” group was higher than “SC” group. The effecting of swelling was a little bit different on the two factors. According to the result of compaction test, the use of site soil only could not meet the criteria on hydraulic conductivity, but could find a solution for the mixing ratio of bentonite mixture were satisfied to the standard of barriation. The increased in bentonite mixing ratio and degree of swelling, the values of hydraulic conductivity were decreased. Especially the “CL” group with “D” type compaction measured the lowest value with the same conditions. Also, the bentonite mixing ratio has more influenced on the hydraulic conductivity compare with swelling effect. The “SC” group mixture with “A” typo compaction got a big difference from others. The evaluation of economic for the construction cost on the two cases, the lower bentonite mixing ratio of soil-bentonite mixed soil is more economically because of bentonite cost.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2008

To response climate change and Kyoto protocol and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising option. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources(eg. power plant), to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the marine geological structure such as deep sea saline aquifer. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, it is necessary to perform numerical process simulation using thermodynamic equation of state. The purpose of this paper is to compare and analyse the relevant equations of state including ideal, BWRS, PR, PRBM and SRK equation of state. To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the equation of the state, we compared numerical calculation results with reference experimental data. Ideal and SRK equation of state did not predict the density behavior above $29.85^{\circ}C$, 60 bar. Especially, they showed maximum 100% error in supercritical state. BWRS equation of state did not predict the density behavior between $60{\sim}80\;bar$ and near critical temperature. On the other hand, PR and PRBM equation of state showed good predictive capability in supercritical state. Since the thermodynamic conditions of $CO_2$ reservoir sites correspond to supercritical state(above $31.1^{\circ}C$ and 73.9 bar), we conclude that it is recommended to use PR and PRBM equation of state in designing of $CO_2$ marine geological storage process.