• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2009

Background: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major catechin in green tea, and has shown antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic and cell cycle pertubation activity in various tumor models. Hypoxia can be induced because angiogenesis is insufficient for highly proliferating cancer. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1$\alpha$ (HIF-1$\alpha$) and its downstream target, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), are important for angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine how hypoxia could cause changes in the cellular phenomena and microenvironment in a non-small cell culture system and to examine the effects of EGCG on a HIF-1$\alpha$ and VEGF in A549 cell line. Methods: A549 cells, a non-small cell lung cancer cell line, were cultured with DMEM and 10% fetal bovine serum. A decrease in oxygen tension was induced using a hypoxia microchamber and a $CO_2-N_2$ gas mixture. Gas analysis and a MTT assay were performed. The A549 cells were treated with EGCG (0, 12.5, 25, 50 ${\mu}mol/L$), and then examined by real-time-PCR analysis of HIF-1$\alpha$, VEGF, and $\beta$-actin mRNA. Results: Hypoxia reduced the proliferation of A549 cells from normoxic conditions. EGCG inhibited HIF-1$\alpha$ transcription in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to HIF-1$\alpha$, VEGF was not inhibited by EGCG. Conclusion: HIF-1$\alpha$ can be inhibited by EGCG. This suggests that targeting HIF-1$\alpha$ with a EGCG treatment may have therapeutic potential in non-small cell lung cancers.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.588-596
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• 2006

The surface of polystyrene membrane treated by Ar, $O_2$ plasma, and the effects were observed before and after the treatment and permeability of $CO_2$, $N_2$ and selectivity of $CO_2$ relative to $N_2$ was measured using continuous flow gas permeation analyzer (GPA). The mole ratio of O over C in the surface was increased from 0 to 0.179 with Ar plasma treatment and route mean square of surface was increased from $15.86{\AA}$ to $71.64{\AA}$. Therefore the contact angle was decreased from $89.16^{\circ}$ to $18.1^{\circ}$. Thus Plasma treatments made surface of membrane tend to be highly hydrophilic. The optimum condition for the $CO_2$ permeability and ideal selectivity of the plasma treated membrane was as follows: the measurement of Ar (60 W, 2 min, $70^{\circ}C$) plasma treatment was $1.14{\times}10^{-12}[m^3(STP){\cdot}m/m^2{\cdot}sec{\cdot}atm]$ and 4.22. In the case of $O_2$ plasma treatment, the contact angle was decreased at $13.56^{\circ}$ with increase of O/C ratio ($0.189{\AA}$) and route mean square of surface ($57.10{\AA}$). The optimum condition for the $CO_2$ permeability and ideal selectivity of the plasma treated membrane was as follows: the measurement of $O_2$ (90 W, 2 min, $70^{\circ}C$) plasma treatment was $7.1{\times}10^{-12}[m^3(STP){\cdot}m/m^2{\cdot}sec{\cdot}atm]$ and 11.5. After plasma treatment, the changes of membrane surface were all subtly linked with both cross-linking and etching effects. Finally, it was confirmed that the gas permeation capacity and selectivity of the modified membrane with plasma could be improved by an appropriate control of the plasma conditions such as treatment time, the power input and sort of plasma gas.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2011

We have developed a wearable device that can convert sensor data into real-time step counts and activity levels. Sensor data on gait were acquired using a triaxial accelerometer. A test was performed according to a test protocol for different walking speeds, e.g., slow walking, walking, fast walking, slow running, running, and fast running. Each test was carried out for 36 min on a treadmill with the participant wearing a portable gas analyzer (K4B2), an Actical device, and the device developed in this study. The signal vector magnitude (SVM) was used to process the X, Y, and Z values output by the triaxial accelerometer into one representative value. In addition, for accurate step-count detection, we used three algorithms: an heuristic algorithm (HA), the adaptive threshold algorithm (ATA), and the adaptive locking period algorithm (ALPA). A regression equation estimating the energy expenditure (EE) was derived by using data from the accelerometer and information on the participants. The recognition rate of our algorithm was 97.34%, and the performance of the activity conversion algorithm was better than that of the Actical device by 1.61%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.472-478
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• 2013

Cu and Cr as a base metal and Pt, Pd as a supportive metal were selected for improving adsorption capacity of activated carbon fiber in eliminating especially targeted VOCs. Preparing variables such as metal loading, loading temperature, loading hours and kinds of loaded metals were changed. Properties measurement was carried out by SEM (scanning electron microscope), XRF (x-ray fluorescence analysis) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer) and adsorption capacity evaluation were also performed by gas analyzer. Under this study, the adsorption capacity of complex metal loaded activated carbon fiber was improved positively than that of single metal loaded activated carbon fiber. And we found that the best conditions for metal loading were 5 hours loading time at $100^{\circ}C$ and the adsorption capacity was enhanced almost double compared with other condition based activated carbon fiber. Cu-Cr-Pt-Pd loaded activated carbon fiber showed the best adsorption capacity. Also we confirmed that more than 0.5 second is necessary for adsorbate diffusion and adsorption over activated carbon fiber.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.807-813
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• 2014

The Ag-impregnated activated carbon was produced from bamboo activated carbon by soaking method of silver nitrate solution. The carbonization and activation of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$. Soaking conditions are the variation of silver nitrate solution concentration (0.002~0.1 mol/L) and soaking time (maximum 24 h). The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. Also, NO and activated carbon reaction were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer in order to use for de-NOx agents of used activated carbon. Carbon-NO reactions were carried out with respect to reaction temperature ($20{\sim}850^{\circ}C$) and NO gas partial pressure (0.1~1.8 kPa). As results, Ag amounts are saturated within 2h, Ag amounts increased 1.95 mg Ag/g (0.2%)~ 88.70 mg Ag/g (8.87%) with the concentration of silver nitrate solution in the range of 0.002~0.1 mol/L. The specific volume and surface area of bamboo activated carbon of impregnated with 0.2% silver were maximum, but decreased with increasing Ag amounts of activated carbon due to pore blocking. In NO reaction, the reaction rate of impregnated bamboo activated carbon was retarded as compare with that of bamboo activated carbon. Measured reaction orders of NO concentration and activation energy were 0.63[BA], 0.69l[BA(Ag)] and 80.5 kJ/mol[BA], 66.4 kJ/mol[BA(Ag)], respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the positive effects of artificial ground greening on the reduction of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) which can help improve ecological functions in cities and mitigation of climate change, through quantifying $CO_2$ uptake and evapotranspiration by the process of photosynthesis of some plants. Experiment of $CO_2$ uptake and evapotranspiration was conducted by measurement of $CO_2$ exchange rate using the infrared gas analyzer, for 7 month, growing season from May to November 2009, 2 times a month. The result was as follows; The $CO_2$ uptake quantity per $cm^2$ of Chrysanthemum zawadskii was the highest rate at $21.47{\times}10^{-6}g/cm^2/s$ and Poa pratensis was $16.20g{\times}10^{-6}g/cm^2/s$. The stronger was light of intensity, the higher were $CO_2$ uptake rate of most plants. In quantity of evapotranspiration, Poa pratensis was the highest rate at $8.75{\times}10^{-5}g/cm^2/s$ and Aquilegia buergariana was $8.66{\times}10^{-5}g/cm^2/s$. From this study, it is confirmed that artificial ground greening has capacity of absorption $CO_2$ and effects on improving urban microclimate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2016

The metal-impregnated activated carbon was produced from bamboo activated carbon by soaking method of metal nitrate solution. The carbonization and activation of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$. The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. Also, NO and activated carbon reaction were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer in order to use as de-NOx agents of used activated carbon. Carbon-NO reactions were carried out with respect to reaction temperature ($20^{\circ}C{\sim}850^{\circ}C$) and NO gas partial pressure (0.1 kPa~1.8 kPa). As results, the specific volume and surface area of bamboo activated carbon impregnated with copper were decreased with increasing Cu amounts of activated carbon. In NO reaction, the reaction rate of Cu impregnated bamboo activated carbon[BA(Cu)] was promoted to compare with that of bamboo activated carbon[BA]. But the reaction rate of Ag impregnated bamboo activated carbon[BA(Ag)] was retarded. Measured reaction orders of NO concentration and activation energy were 0.63[BA], 0.92[BA(Cu)], and 80.5 kJ/mol[BA], 48.5 kJ/mol[BA(Cu)], 66.4 kJ/mol[BA(Ag)], respectively.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.109-114
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to estimate the energy expenditure simply and practically during physical activities. The physical activity is quantified by the integration of the accelerometer signals obtained from the triaxial accelerometer attached at the waist level of the human body. To find a relationship between energy expenditure and accelerometer data, 6 male and 5 female subjects walked and ran on the treadmill with speeds of 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and 8.5 km/hr. Each subject performed walking at the speed lower than 6.0 km/hr and running at the speed higher than 6.5 km/hr. Actual energy expenditure was determined by a continuous direct gas analyzer. Two predictive equations of walking and running mode for energy expenditure which includes gender, body mass index(BMI) and data from accelerometer were developed using multiple regression analysis. The correlation coefficients and coefficients of determination between the estimated and measured energy expenditure were R=0.936, R2=0.876 and R=0.881, R2=0.776 in walking and running mode, respectively. For further study, experiments on a larger scale of test subjects are essential for acquiring more reliable results.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.80-89
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• 2017

The bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) reactor with a diameter of 0.1 m and a height of 1.2 m was used for experimental study of co-firing and emission characteristics fueled by sewage sludge (SS) and wood pellet (WP). The facility consists of a fluidized bed reactor, feeding system, cyclone, condenser and gas analyzer, The mean particle diameter and minimum fluidization velocity are $460{\mu}m$ and $0.21ms^{-1}$ respectively. SS produced from Korea and WP from Canada were examined. The various mixing ratios of WP were 20, 50, and 80% based on HHV. The equivalence ratio of 1.65, reactor temperature of $800^{\circ}C$, air flow rate of $100Lmin^{-1}$, and fluidization number of 4 were fixed in the BFB experiment. In TGA, the range of combustion temperature of SS was wider than that of WP. It represents that the combustibility of WP is higher than that of SS. The BFB reactor temperature was maintained between 800 and $900^{\circ}C$. CO emission of SS was high because of lower combustibility. $NO_X$ and $SO_X$ formation of SS were higher than that of WP since high nitrogen and sulfur contents of SS. CO, $NO_X$, and $SO_X$ formation were suppressed as the mixing ratio of WP was increased. The slagging and fouling tendencies show high in all test conditions.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.135-142
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• 2015

Human-powered self-generating devices have been attractive with its operation characteristic independent from outer environment such as weather condition and wind speed. However, conventional self-generators have low electric power output due to their weakly-coupled electromagnetic structure. More importantly, rotary crank motion which is usually adopted by conventional self-generator to generate electricity requires specific skeletal muscles to maintain large torque circular motion and consequently, causes fatigue on those muscles before it can generate enough amount of electricity for any practical application. Without improvement in electric power output and usability, the human-powered self-generator could not be used in everyday life. This study aims to develop a human-powered self-generator which realized a strong electromagnetic coupling in a closed-loop tubular structure (hula-hoop shape) for easy and steady long-term driving as well as larger electric output. The performance and usability of the developed human-powered generator is verified through experimental comparison with a commercial one. Additionally, human workload which is a key element of a human-powered generator but not often considered elsewhere, is estimated based on metabolic energy expenditure measured respiratory gas analyzer. Further study will focus on output and portability enhancement, which can contribute to the continuous power supply of mobile equipments.