• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2024

Research into optical signal processing using photonic integrated circuits (PICs) has been actively pursued in various fields, including optical communication, optical sensors, and quantum optics. Among the materials used in PIC fabrication, polymers have attracted significant interest due to their unique characteristics. To fabricate polymer-based PICs, establishing an accurate manufacturing process for the cross-sectional structure of an optical waveguide is crucial. For stable device performance and high yield in mass production, a process with high reproducibility and a wide tolerance for variation is necessary. This study proposes an efficient method for fabricating polymer optical-waveguide devices by introducing the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. Compared to conventional photoresist or metal-film deposition methods, the ALD process enables more precise fabrication of the optical waveguide's core structure. Polyimide optical waveguides with a core size of 1.8 × 1.6 ㎛² are fabricated using the ALD process, and their propagation losses are measured. Additionally, a multimode interference (MMI) optical-waveguide power-splitter device is fabricated and characterized. Throughout the fabrication, no cracking issues are observed in the etching-mask layer, the vertical profiles of the waveguide patterns are excellent, and the propagation loss is below 1.5 dB/cm. These results confirm that the ALD process is a suitable method for the mass production of high-quality polymer photonic devices.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence, and growth performance of Parasenecio firmus under changing light environment. Parasenecio firmus was grown under non-treated (full sunlight) and three different shading conditions (88~93%, 65~75% and 45%~55% of full sunlight) for the experiment. Total chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), T/R ratio, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR), and leaf weight ratio (LWR) were increased with increasing shading level, but decreased dark respiration. Therefore, light absorption and light utilization efficiency were improved under the low intensity light. Plants under 65~75% of full sunlight had best maximum photosynthetic rate and net apparent quantum yield in May. On the other hand, the non-treated plants had lower maximum photosynthetic rate, photochemical efficiency, and chlorophyll content than the treated ones. Parasenecio firmus considered to be a sciophyte, is fairly sensitive to high intensity light. If 88-93% of full sunlight lasts for a long period, photosynthetic capacity will be sharply decreased, though limiting light. These results suggest that growth of Parasenecio firmus adapted to 65~75% of full sunlight.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.143-150
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• 2009

Deicing salt is used to melt snow and ice on the road for traffic safety during the winter season, which accumulates in the roadside vegetation and induces visible injuries. The damage may accelerate particularly when it coincides with early spring leaf out. In order to better understand the response mechanisms, C. kousa (3-year-old) was irrigated twice prior to leaf bud in a rhizosphere with solutions of 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0% calcium chloride ($CaCl_2$) concentration, that were made by using an industrial $CaCl_2$ reagent practical deicing material in Seoul. Physiological traits of the mature leaves were progressively reduced by $CaCl_2$ treatment, resulting in reductions of total chlorophyll contents, chlorophyll a:b, photosynthetic rate, quantum yield, stomatal conductance, $F_V/F_M$, and NPQ. On the contrary, light compensation point and dark respiration were increased at high $CaCl_2$ concentration. A decrease in intercellular $CO_2$ concentration by stomatal closure first resulted in a reduced photosynthetic rate and then was accompanied by low substance metabolic rates and photochemical damage. Based on the reduction of physiological activities at all treatments ($CaCl_2$ 0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.0%), C. kousa was determined as one of the sensitive species to $CaCl_2$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.309-314
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• 2022

Carbon dots (CDs) are few nanometer-sized carbon-based nanoparticles and emerging candidate materials in various fields such as biosensors and bioimaging due to their excellent optical properties and high biocompatibility. However, most CDs, emitting blue light, have limited their application in biomedical fields due to the low penetration of short-wavelength lights into the biological system. Therefore, there has been enormous need to develop long-wavelength emitting CDs. In this study, red-emitting CDs were successfully synthesized through the hydrothermal reaction of p-phenylenediamine with hydrochloric acid. In addition, the effect of the amount of hydrochloric acid on the formation of carbon dots, resulting in the variation of the chemical structures of CDs, were investigated, which was confirmed with the intensive structural analyses using infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the chemical structure of CDs governed their optical properties and quantum yield. Therefore, this study provides an insight into the role of acid in forming red-emitting CDs as the optimal probe for biomedical application.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.61-74
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• 2024

Daemadeung, located in the estuary of the Nakdong River, is formed by sand dunes and possesses well-developed intertidal flats. This study aimed to investigate the habitat of benthic microalgae, photosynthetic pigments, and photosynthetic efficiency in the intertidal flats of Daemadeung from January to December 2011. The inorganic nitrogen content in the sediment pore water was primarily composed of ammonium, while nitrate + nitrite was dominant in the upper layer water. The concentration of chlorophyll a and fucoxanthin in the sediment surface was significantly higher than the mean of all the sediment layer. The average Fv/Fm of benthic microalgae during the entire survey period was 0.52±0.03, with the highest value (0.61±0.08) observed in February. The rETR_max showed a seasonal trend, being high from spring to early autumn (April to October) and low from winter to early spring (January to March, November, December), with the highest value (153.05±2.30 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1) in July and the lowest (38.49±5.17 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1) in January. The average Fv/Fm of diurnal microalgae was 0.48±0.03, with the highest value (0.61±0.08) observed at noon. The rETR_max showed a highest peak at noon (54.24±11.35 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1) and reached its lowest point at 16:00 (26.17±4.75 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1). These findings suggest that the productivity of benthic microalgae varies significantly depending on the survey time and sediment depth. Therefore, to quantify the productivity of benthic microalgae using Diving-PAM, surveys should be conducted based on tidal conditions, and simultaneous pigment analysis of sediment layers should also be performed.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.196-205
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• 2011

To investigate the contribution of macroalgae to biogeochemical nutrients and carbon cycles, we measured the uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$ and characteristics of fluorescence of Saccharina japonica (Laminaria japonica Areschoug) using an incubation method in an acrylic chamber. From January to May 2011, S.japonica was sampled at Ilkwang, one of well-known macroalgae culture sites around Korea and ranged 46~288 cm long and 4.8~22.0 cm wide of whole thallus. The production rate of dissolved oxygen by S. japonica (n=25) was about $6.9{\pm}5.8{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}$ fresh weight(FW) $h^{-1}$. The uptake rate of total dissolved inorganic carbon ($TCO_2$), calculated by total alkalinity and pH, was $8.9{\pm}7.9{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$. Mean nutrients uptake were $175.6{\pm}161.1\;nmol\;N\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$ and $12.7{\pm}10.1\;nmol\;P\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$. There were logarithmic relationships between thallus length and uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$, which suggested that younger specimens (<100-150 cm) were much more efficient at nutrients and $CO_2$ uptake than old specimens > 150 cm. There was a positive linear correlation ($r^2$=9.4) existed between the dissolved oxygen production rate and the $TCO_2$ uptake rate, suggesting that these two factors may serve as good indicators of S. japonica photosynthesis. There was also positive linear relationship between maximal quantum yield ($F_v/F_m$) and production/uptake rates of dissolved oxygen, $TCO_2$ and phosphate, suggested that $F_v/F_m$ could be used as a good indicator of photosynthetic ability and $TCO_2$ consumption of macroalgae. Maximum relative electron transport rate ($rETR_{max}$) of S. japonica increased as thallus grew and was high in distal part of thallus which may be resulted from the increase of photosynthetic cell density per area. The annual $TCO_2$ uptake by S. japonica in Gijang area was estimated about $1.0\sim1.7{\times}10^3C$ ton, which was about 0.02-0.03% of carbon dioxide emission in Busan City. Thus, more research should be focused on macroalgae-based biogeochemical cycles to evaluate the roles and contributions of macroalgae to the global carbon cycle.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.461-470
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• 2019

This study was carried out to quantify the drought stress in grafted watermelon seedlings non-destructively by using chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) imaging technique rather than the visual judgment. Six-day old watermelon seedlings were grown under uniform irrigation for 3 days, and then given drought stress. Afterward, the sensor for the measurement of water content in plug tray cell unit was used to classify the drought-stress level into nine groups from D1 (53.0%, sufficient moisture state) to D9 (15.7%, extremely dry stress), and the 16 CF parameters were measured. In addition, re-irrigation was performed on the drought stressed seedlings(D5 - D9) to determine the growth and photosynthesis recovery level, which was not confirmed by visual judgment. The kinetic curve patterns of CF in three different drought stressed seedling groups were found to be different for the early detection of drought stress. All the 16 CF parameters decreased continuously with exposure to drought stress and drastically decreased from D5 (32.1%) where the visual judgment was possible. The fluorescence decline ratio (Rfd_Lss) started to decrease from the initial drought stress level (D5 - D6), and the Maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm) was significantly decreased in the later extreme drought stress range (D7 - D9) by re-irrigation recovery test. Thus, Rfd_Lss and Fv/Fm parameters were finally selected as potent indicators of growth and photosynthesis recovery in the initial and later stages of drought stress. Also, to the differences in the numerical values of the individual chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, the drought stress level was intuitively confirmed through the image. These results indicate that Rfd and Fv/Fm can be considered as potential CF parameters for the detection of low and extremely high drought stress, respectively. Furthermore, Fv/Fm can be considered as the best CF parameters for recovery at re-irrigation.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2019

Rapeseed meal, which is a byproduct of rapeseed oil extraction, improves crop productivity by supplying nutrients to the soil. The present study aimed to manufacture fermented rapeseed meal compost using two effective microbial agents and evaluate their efficiency as fertilizer. To types of fermented rapeseed meal, manufactured using either a bio-carrier or microbial agent, showed no differences in pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total nitrogen content. However, the contents of $NH_4-N$ and $NO_3-N$ as inorganic nitrogen were increased by 5.6 times and 1.5 times, respectively, after 5 d of fermentation. Rapeseed meal fermented for 5 d was applied to tomato a basal fertilizer and after eight weeks, the plant height increased in all fermented rapeseed treatments compared to that in the chemical fertilizer treatment, and also the quantum yield of photosystem II (PS II) showed the same trend. The total nitrogen content of tomato leaves treated with a microbial fermented rapeseed meal was twice as high as that of that treated with a chemical fertilizer. It was confirmed that the increase in the tomato height was an effect of the rapeseed meal containing inorganic nitrogen, which can easily be absorbed by plants. From these results, it is considered that fermented rapeseed meal manufactured with an effective microbial agent for 5 d showed the highest inorganic nutrient content and greatest growth enhancement in tomato.