• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.467-484
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• 2023

Despite the significant features of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCCs), including better mechanical, fractural, and durability performance, their high content of cement has restricted their use in the construction industry. Although ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is considered the main supplementary cementitious material, its slow pozzolanic reaction stands against its application. The addition of nano-sized mineral modifiers, including nano-silica (NS), is an alternative to address the drawbacks of using GGBFS. The main object of this empirical and numerical research is to examine the effect of NS on the strain-hardening behavior of cementitious composites; ten mixes were designed, and five levels of NS were considered. This study proposes a new method, using a four-point bending test to assess the use of nano-silica (NS) on the flexural behavior, first cracking strength, fracture energy, and micromechanical parameters including interfacial friction bond strength and maximum bridging stress. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used for monitoring the initiation and propagation of the cracks. In addition, to attain a deep comprehension of fiber/matrix interaction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was used. It was discovered that using nano-silica (NS) in cementitious materials results in an enhancement in the matrix toughness, which prevents multiple cracking and, therefore, strain-hardening. In addition, adding NS enhanced the interfacial transition zone between matrix and fiber, leading to a higher interfacial friction bond strength, which helps multiple cracking in the composite due to the hydrophobic nature of polypropylene (PP) fibers. The findings of this research provide insight into finding the optimum percent of NS in which both ductility and high tensile strength of the composites would be satisfied. As a concluding remark, a new criterion is proposed, showing that the optimum value of nano-silica is 2%. The findings and proposed method of this study can facilitate the design and utilization of green cementitious composites in structures.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-57
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• 2023

Majority of the plastic produced each year is being disposed in land after single-use, which becomes waste and takes up a lot of storage space. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find alternative solutions instead of disposal. Recycling and reusing the PET plastic waste as aggregate replacement and fiber in concrete production can be one of the eco- friendly methods as there is a great demand for concrete around the world, especially in developing countries by raising human awareness of the environment, the economy, and Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a key development in concrete technology that offers a number of attractive features over traditional concrete applications. Recently, in order to improve its durability and prevent such plastics from directly contacting the environment, various kinds of plastics have been added. This review article summarizes the latest evident on the performance of SCC containing recycled PET as eco-friendly aggregates and fiber. Moreover, it highlights the influence of substitution content, shape, length, and size on the fresh and properties of SCC incorporating PET plastic. Based on the findings of the articles that were reviewed for this study, it is observed that SCC made of PET plastic (PETSCC) can be employed in construction era owing to its acceptable mechanical and fresh properties. On the other hand, it is concluded that owing to the lightweight nature of plastic aggregate, Reusing PET waste in the construction application is an effective approach to reduces the earthquake risk of a building.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-110
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• 2024

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are green energy conversion devices, for which commercial markets have been established, owing to their application in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Development of cathode electrocatalysts, replacing commercial Pt/C, plays a crucial role in factors such as cost reduction, high performance, and durability in FCVs. PtNi octahedral catalysts are promising for oxygen reduction reactions owing to their significantly higher mass activity (10-15 times) than that of Pt/C; however, their application in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) is challenged by their low stability. To overcome this durability issue, various approaches, such as third-metal doping, composition control, halide treatment, formation of a Pt layer, annealing treatment, and size control, have been explored and have shown promising improvements in stability in rotating disk electrode (RDE) testing. In this review, we aimed to compare the features of each strategy in terms of enhancing stability by introducing a stability improvement factor for a direct and reasonable comparison. The limitations of each strategy for enhancing stability of PtNi octahedral are also described. This review can serve as a valuable guide for the development of strategies to enhance the durability of octahedral PtNi.

• Oncology Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1189-1198
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• 2019

Prostate cancer (PC) metastasizes to the bone, and a small number of cancer cells, described as cancer stem cells (CSCs), have the ability to differentiate into tumor cells. CSCs are responsible for tumor recurrence and metastases. In the present study, we examined whether ectopic overexpression of CD133, a key molecule maintaining the stability of CSCs in the human PC cell line, LnCaP, caused bone metastasis in a mouse model. Ectopic overexpression of CD133 was induced in LnCaP cells, and CSC-related protein expression was measured. Furthermore, a colony-forming assay was performed to compare results against the blank green fluorescent protein-expressing cells. Furthermore, epithelial to mesenchymal transition-related protein expression, cell migration and wound healing were investigated. To assess the role of CD133 in bone metastasis, CD133-overexpressing LnCaP cells were inoculated into mice via intracardiac injection, and bone metastasis was assessed via histological and immunohistochemical study. In addition, cytokine arrays were used to determine the cytokines involved in bone metastasis. Ectopic overexpression of CD133 in LnCaP cells increased CSC properties such as Oct-4 and Nanog expression and colony-forming ability. Furthermore, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties, including decreased E-cadherin and increased vimentin expression, wound gap distance, and cell migration increased. CD133 overexpression led to formation of bone metastatic tumors in mice, consistent with results of hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, an increase in expression of the macrophage-migration inhibitory factor was observed at the tumor margin in mice inoculated with CD133+ LNCaP cells. These findings suggest a regulatory role of CD133 in stem cell and EMT properties, and the sustained acquisition of osteolytic features in PC. Therefore, our results may facilitate development of a novel classification system and therapeutic strategies for bone metastasis of PC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-62
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• 1972

Pitch pine (Pinus rigida Miller) in Korea has become one of the major silvicultural species for many years since it was introduced from the United States of America in 1907. To attain the more rational wood utilization basical researches on wood properties are primarily needed, since large scale of timber production from Pitch Pine trees has now been accomplishing in the forested areast hroughout the country. Under the circumustances, this experiment was carried out to study the wood anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of Pitch Pine grown in the country. Materials used in this study had been prepared by cutting the selected pitch pine trees from the Seoul National University Forests located in Suwon. To obtain and compare the anatomical and physical properties of the different parts of tree such as stem, branch, top and rootwood, this study had been divided into two categories (anatomical and physical). For the anatomical study macroscopical and microscopical features such as annual ring, intercellular cannal, ray, tracheid, ray trachid, ray parenchyma cell and pit etc. were observed and measured by the different parts (stem, branch, root and topwood) of tree. For the physical and mechanical properties the moisture content of geen wood, wood specific gravity, shrinkage, compression parallel to the grain, tension parallel and perpendicular to the grain, radial and tangential shear, bending, cleavage and hardness wree tested. According to the results this study may be concluded as follows: 1. The most important comparable features in general properties of wood among the different parts of tree were distinctness and width of annual ring, transition from spring to summerwood, wood color, odor and grain etc. In microscopical features the sizes of structural elements of wood were comparable features among the parts of tree. Among their features, length, width and thickness of tracheids, resin ducts and ray structures were most important. 2. In microscopical features among the different parts of tree stem and topwood were shown simillar reults in tissues. However in rootwood compared with other parts on the tangential surface distinctly larger ray structures were observed and measured. The maximum size of unseriate ray was attained to 27 cell ($550{\mu}$) height in length and 35 microns in width. Fusiform rays were formed occasionally the connected ray which contain one or several horizontal cannals. Branchwood was shown the same features like stemwood but the measured values were very low in comparing with other parts of tree. 3. Trachid length measured among the different parts of tree were shown largest in stem and shortest in branchwood. In comparing the tracheid length among the parts the differences were not shown only between stem and rootwood, but shown between all other parts of tree. Trachid diameters were shown widest in rootwood and narrowest in branchwood, and the differences among the different parts were not realized. Wall thickness were shown largest value in rootwood and smallest in branchwood, and the differences were shown between root and top or branchwood, and between stem and branch or top wood, but not shown between other parts of tree. 4. Moisture contents of green wood were shown highest in topwood and lowest in heartwood of stem. The differences among the different parts were recognized between top or heartwood and other parts of tree, but not between root and branchwood or root and sapwood. 5. Wood specific gravities were shown highest in stem and next order root and branchwood, but lowest in topwood. The differences were shown clearly between stemwood and other parts of tree, but not root and branchwood. However the significant difference is realized as most lowest value in topwood. 6. In compression strength parallel to the grain compared among the different parts of tree at the 14 percent of moisture content, highest strength was appeared in stem, next order branch and rootwood, but lowest in topwood. 7. In bending strength compared among the different parts of tree at the 14 percent of moisture content clearly highest strength was shown in branchwood, next order stem and root, but lowest in topwood. Though the branchwood has lower specific gravity than stemwood it was shown clearly high bending strength.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.239-248
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• 2012

This paper looks to extract personality traits from the drama characters within a drama script, and to apply it them to a character that has an artificial emotion. The method of applying the personality of a character from a drama script is as follows. First, we separate a drama script into several pieces, by the characters therin. Next, we extract emotion-related terms by matching morphemes analysis and by using an emotion terms database. Next, we analyze a dominant emotion using extracted emotion terms. Finally last, we apply the analyzed dominant emotion to an equation pertaining to artificial emotion. We made progress in developing user evaluation that features blind testing, to verify that the artificial emotion character bears the personality of a drama character. We apply three drama character personalities to artificial emotion characters bearing the same appearance. The user had to match three artificial emotion characters and drama characters according to personality. The users had a high percentage of correct answers, thus confirming the efficacy of our method of applying a personality, using information from a drama script.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.37-47
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• 2014

This study aims to examine the usage of and satisfaction with neighborhood parks and university campuses and compare through the RPRS analysis of them to figure out how university campuses, as substitutive green spaces, play the role of curative environment for neighboring people. This study relied on two methods: a descriptive method of researching publications and related scholastic writings and an empirical study of researching how the park and campus has been utilized and researching whether the residents are satisfied with the currently existing space and the environment or not, and finally researching how the university campus open space as a curative environment impacts the satisfaction and utilization through reliability analysis. As a result, contribution of healing environment has a relatively high average contribution of 4 or more points, respectively. These results suggest that urban people think that a relationship between man and nature is very important in the overabundance of stress in modern society. It shows that neighborhoods are higher than university campuses in the explanatory of the Attention Restoration Theory, but the campus is higher than the neighborhood park in similarity of configuration. The result of RPRS analysis shows that the therapeutic qualities of the landscape may be very useful to evaluate a college campus open space in "the Revised Perceived Restoration Scale." The results showed that, in future studies, it will be a great help by widespread use of pre-evaluation of the characteristics of restorative environments in the planning, design and other works. To study the impact of the curative features on evaluating future research locations, the location should provide a variety of purposes and motives. At the same time, it should provide specific design ideas to design-related designers by using perceived restoration scale.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2012

Recently, energy security is one of the most important world-wide issues. Biodiesel derived from microalgae has received much attention as a renewable bioenergy. The green colonial alga, $Botryococcus$ $braunii$, is characterized by the ability to produce and accumulate large amounts of hydrocarbons and fatty acids. In this study, we have isolated 5 strains of $B.$ $braunii$ from Korean surface waters using a microcapillary-pipetting method and identified them by morphological features and phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that 5 strains of $B.$ $braunii$ are placed in the class of Trebouxiophyceae, and strains belong to race A type producing hydrocarbons which are alkadienes and alkatrienes. In addition, we need further studies to find out optimal growth conditions for producing biodiesel.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.477-491
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to develop urban planning for mitigating thermal comfort by analyzing the relationship between various physical environmental factors and radiation fluxes focused on urban areas of Changwon city, Gyeongsangnam-do. Physical environmental factors were analyzed by sky view factor (SVF), land cover and land use types using GIS program. Radiation fluxes were measured upward and downward in solar and terrestrial radiation by mobile measurement during 3 days (2 daytime and 1 nighttime) in summer season. SVF is high in urban park less around buildings. High dense building sites were low. Downward solar radiation fluxes were the highest about $700W/m^2$ at daytime, and decreased in spatial type arranged dense buildings. Upward solar and terrestrial radiations was affected by land cover types that have thermal features such as reflectivity, emissivity, and heat capacity. Therefore, urban space needs appropriate planning with building arrangement, green walls and land cover replacement for mitigating thermal comfort in urban area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2015

This study purposed on introducing a new automated solution for detecting railway tracks and reconstructing track models from the mobile laser scanning data. The proposed solution completes following procedures; the study initiated with detecting a potential railway region, called Region Of Interest (ROI), and approximating the orientation of railway track trajectory with the raw data. At next, the knowledge-based detection of railway tracks was performed for localizing track candidates in the first strip. In here, a strip -referring the local track search region- is generated in the orthogonal direction to the orientation of track trajectory. Lastly, an initial track model generated over the candidate points, which were detected by GMM-EM (Gaussian Mixture Model-Expectation & Maximization) -based clustering strip- wisely grows to capture all track points of interest and thus converted into geometric track model in the tracking by detection framework. Therefore, the proposed railway track tracking process includes following key features; it is able to reduce the complexity in detecting track points by using a hypothetical track model. Also, it enhances the efficiency of track modeling process by simultaneously capturing track points and modeling tracks that resulted in the minimization of data processing time and cost. The proposed method was developed using the C++ program language and was evaluated by the LiDAR data, which was acquired from MMS over an urban railway track area with a complex railway scene as well.