• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.287-294
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• 2015

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are environmentally friendly energy-conversion devices to generate electricity via the photovoltaic effect of semiconductors on solar energy. One of key elements in PV modules is "Backsheet," a multi-layered film to protect the devices from a variety of chemicals including water vapor. A representative Backsheet is composed of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). PVF is relatively expensive, while showing excellent resistance to chemical attacks. Thus, it is necessary to develop alternatives which can lower its high production cost and guarantee lifetime applicable to practical PV modules at the same time. In this study, PET films with certain levels of crystallinity were utilized instead of PVF. Since it is well known that PET is suffering from trans-esterification and hydrolysis under a wide pH range, it is needed to understand decomposition behavior of the PET films under PV operation conditions. To evaluate their chemical decomposition behavior within a short period of times, accelerated decomposition test protocol is developed. Moreover, electrochemical long-term performances of the PV module employing the PET-based Backsheet are investigated to prove the efficacy of the proposed concept.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.244-251
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have described the importance of bacteria that can degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Here we screened bacterial isolates from commercial gasoline for PAH degraders and characterized their ability to degrade PAHs, lipids and proteins as well as their enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity, salt tolerance, and seawater survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred two bacteria isolates from commercial gasoline were screened for PAH degraders by adding selected PAHs on to the surface of agar plates by the sublimation method. A clear zone was found only around the colonies of PAH degraders, which accounted for 13 isolates. These were identified as belonging to Bacillus sp., Brevibacterium sp., Micrococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., Arthrobacter sp., and Gordonia sp. based on 16S rRNA sequences. Six isolates belonging to Corynebacterium sp., 3 of Micrococcus sp., Arthrobacter sp. S49, and Gordonia sp. H37 were lipid degraders. Arthrobacter sp. S49 was the only isolate showing high proteolytic activity. Among the PAH-degrading bacteria, Arthrobacter sp. S49, Brevibacterium sp. S47, Corynebacterium sp. SK20, and Gordonia sp. H37 showed enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity with biocatalytic resolution of racemic styrene oxide. Among these, highest enantioselective hydrolysis activity was seen in Gordonia sp. H37. An intrinsic resistance to kanamycin was observed in most of the isolates and Corynebacterium sp. SK20 showed resistance to additional antibiotics such as tetracycline, ampicillin, and penicillin. CONCLUSION: Of the 13 PAH-degraders isolated from commercial gasoline, Arthrobacter sp. S49 showed the highest lipid and protein degrading activity along with high active epoxide hydrolase activity, which was the highest in Gordonia sp. H37. Our results suggest that bacteria from commercial gasoline may have the potential to degrade PAHs, lipids, and proteins, and may possess enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity, high salt tolerance, and growth potential in seawater.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.639-646
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• 2007

This study performed several tests for the durability of the concrete coated with nano synthesis ceramics which do not contain volatile organic compounds harmful to environment. The tests were adhesion test on dry and humid concrete, SEM test, MIP analysis, carbonation, chloride diffusion by electronic facilitation, freezing-thawing resistance, alkaline resistance, and brine resistance test. In the adhesion test on dry and humid concrete, nano synthesis ceramics coating produced the highest results among all the coatings tested. Nano synthesis ceramics adhered solidly on the concrete surface. The adhesive strength seemed to result from the hydrogen bond between nano synthesis ceramics which are inorganic and generated by hydrolysis and re-condensation reaction and the concrete's hydrates such as calcium silicate aluminate or calcium silicate hydrate. SEM test and MIP analysis results show surface structure with finest crevices pore in the nano synthesis ceramics coating applied concretes. In the carbonation, chloride diffusion, and freezing-thawing resistance tests, the concretes with nano synthesis ceramics coating indicated the best results. Based on these test results, further progress in application of nano synthesis ceramics coatings to various concrete structures including costal structures and sewerage arrangements can be expected.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.611-620
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• 2007

Statement of problem: Second-generation indirect composite resins have been improved flexural strength, compressive strength, hydrolytic degradation resistance, wear resistance compared to first-generation indirect composite resins, but there are still some problems as hydrolysis and low wear resistance. Some manufacturers claim that wear resistance of their materials has been improved, but little independent study has been published on wear properties of these materials and the properties specified in the advertising materials are largely derived from in-house or contracted testing. Purpose: This study was to evaluate the wear of indirect composite resins (SR Adore, Sinfony, Tescera ATL) and gold alloy against the human enamel. Material and method: Extracted human incisors and premolars were sectioned to $2{\times}2{\times}2mm$ cube and embedded in the clear resin and formed conical shaped antagonist to fit the jig of pin-on-disk tribometer. Total 20 antagonists were stored in distilled water. Five disk samples, 24mm in diameter and 1.5mm thick, were made for each of three groups of indirect composite resins and gold alloy group, and polished to #2,000 SiC paper on auto-polishing machine. Disk specimens were tested for wear against enamel antagonists. Wear test were conducted in distilled water using a pin-on-disk tribometer under condition (sliding speed 200rpm contact load 24N, sliding distance 160m). The wear of the enamel was determined by weighing the enamel antagonist before and after test, and the weight was converted to volumes by average density. The wear tracks were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and surface profilometer to elucidate the wear mechanisms. Statistical analysis of the enamel wear volume, wear track depth and wear tract width of disk specimens were accomplished with one-way ANOVA and the means were compared for significant differences with Scheffe's test. Results: 1. The enamel wear was most in gold alloy, but there were no statistically significant differences among all the groups (P>.05). 2. In indirect composite resin groups, the group to make the most shallow depth of wear tract was Sinfony, followed by Tescera ATL, SR Adoro (P<.05). Gold alloy was shallower than Sinfony, but there was no statistically significant difference between Sinfony and gold alloy (P>.05). 3. The width of wear tract of SR Adore was larger than the other groups (P<.05), and there were no statistically significant differences among the other groups (P>.05). 4. SEM analysis revealed that Sinfony and gold alloy showed less wear scars after test, Tescera ATL showed more wear scars and SR Adore showed the most. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, Sinfony and gold alloy showed the least wear rates and showed similar wear patterns.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.448-453
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• 2018

PV module protective film plays an important role in protecting the solar cell from external environment by anti-hydrolysis polyester, UV resistance and mechanical properties. The backsheet was manufactured by using Roll-to-Roll dry laminating process. The backsheet structure is composed of 3 layers, which are PE, PET, and Fluorine polymer films. In this study, we have experimented the variation of thermal conductivities depending on MgO inputs 10% to 25% in order to confirm the dependence of the module efficiencies. High thermal conductive backsheet can increase the module output power efficiency because the heat is dissipated by spreading out the internal heat. Long-term environment weatherability tests were conducted for confirming 25 year reliability in the field such as PCT, UV, and power efficiency degradations. As the evaluation result, high thermal conductivity can be effective for increase of power efficiency of solar panel by using thermal conductive MgO masterbatch.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2005

Industrial development has increase consumption of crude oil and environmental pollution. A large number of microbial lipolytic enzymes have been identified and characterized to date. To development for a new lipase with catalytic activity in degradation of crude oil as a microbial enzyme, Acinetobactor sp. B2 was isolated from soil samples that were contaminated with oil in Daejon area. Acinetobactor sp. B2 showed high resistance up to 10 mg/mL unit to heavy metals such as Ba, Li, Al, Cr, Pb and Mn. Optimal growth condition of Acinetobactor sp. B2 was confirmed $30^{\circ}C$. Lipase was purified from the supernatant by Acinetobactor sp. B2. Its molecular mass was determined to the 60 kDa and the optimal activity was shown at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 10. The activation energies for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate were determined to be 2.7 kcal/mol in the temperature range 4 to $37^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was unstable at temperatures higher than $60^{\circ}C$. The Michaelis constant $(K_{m})\;and\;V_{max}$ for p-nitrophenyl palmitate were $21.8{\mu}M\;and\;270.3{\mu}M\;min^{-1}mg\;of\;protein^{-1}$, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by $Cd{2+},\;Co^{2+},\;Fe^{2+},\;Hg^{2+},\;EDTA$, 2-Mercaptoethalol. From these results, we suggested that lipase purified from Acinetobactor sp. B2 should be able to be used as a new enzyme for degradation of crude oil, one of the environmental contaminants.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.934-940
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• 1994

Fibers of ZrO2-SiO2 system were prepared from the hydrolysis and condensation of Si(OC2H5)4 and Zr(OnC3H7)4 with different H2O/alkoxide molar ratios. It was found that fibers could be drawn in the viscosity range of 1~100 poise from HCl catalyzed solutions with lower water contents of the mole ratio H2O/alkoxide, r 2. The fibrous gels were converted into the corresponding oxide glass fibers by heating at 80$0^{\circ}C$. Mechanical test was performed on E, A and 20ZrO2-80SiO2 glass fibers reinforced cement in order to investigate the flexural strength. The flexural strength value of 20ZrO2-80SiO2 glass fibers reinforced cement was greater than those of E and A. The chemical durability of the fibers in alkaline solutions increased with ZrO2 content. The weight loss due to the corrosion by 2N-NaOH solutions at $25^{\circ}C$ for 160 hours was about 0.31$\times$10-2 mg/dm2 for the 20ZrO2-80SiO2 glass fibers, which was superior to that of Vycor glass.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.545-549
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• 2003

After irradiation of a cloned dextransucrase gene (dsrB742) with ultrasoft X-ray, an E. coli transformant (pDSRB742CK) was first developed for the expression of an extracellular dextransucrase, having increased activity and the synthesis of a highly branched dextran. Seven nucleotides of the parent gene (dsrB742) were changed in the nucleotide sequences of dsrB742ck. Among them, four nucleotides were changed at the ORF of dsrB742, resulting in a 30 amino acids deletion in the N-terminal of DSRB742 dextransucrase. The activity of DSRB742CK dextransucrase in culture supernatant was approximately 2.6 times higher (0.035 IU/ml) than that of the DSRB742 clone. The pDSRB742CK clone produced DSRB742CK dextransucrase when grown both on a sucrose medium (inducibly) and on a glucose medium (constitutively). The DSRB742 clone did not produce dextran constitutively on a glucose medium. DSRB742CK dextran had 15.6% branching and 2.7-times higher resistance to dextranase hydrolysis compared to DSRB742 dextran. $^{13}C-NMR$ showed that DSRB742CK dextran contained ${\alpha}-(1{\rightarrow}3)$ branch linkages that were not present in DSRB742 dextran.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.675-682
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• 2009

Sludge minimization from wastewater treatment plant is becoming more important to save disposal costs and to contribute to sustainable development. For the reduction of sludge production, solubilization and dewaterability of sludge are important factors in sludge processing. Ultrasonic treatment has been used to enhance sludge solubility and dewaterability with anaerobic digestion sludge, primary sludge, and activated sludge. At the ultrasonic power of 0.2 kW/L for 1 hour, anaerobic sludge and activated sludge showed higher solubilization efficiency than the primary sludge in terms of COD, proteins, and suspended solids. Ultrasonic treatment decreased sludge dewaterability and sludge settling characteristics up to 720 kJ/L of ultrasonic energy. In conclusion, ultrasonic treatment was effective for sludge solubilization but it deteriorate dewaterability (specific resistance) and settling characteristics (SVI) of sludge at the experimental conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.782-787
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• 2010

Recently the solution-based thin film technology has often been treated in the field of device fabrication owing to easy process and convenience for the development of various semiconductor devices and sensors. We deposited on glass substrate single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)/silane hybrid thin films by multiple spray-coating which is one of solution-based processes, and examined their electrical response for humidity. Generally silane binders which are often mixed in carbon nanotube (CNT) solution to adhere CNTs to substrate well form easily each own functionalized group on the surface of CNTs after they are hardened by way of the hydrolysis reaction. In this work, we investigated how silane binders (TEOS (tetraethoxy silane), MTMS (methyltrimethoxysilane) and VTMS (vinyltrimethoxysilane)) in CNT thin films make effect to their electrical response on humidity. As the result, we found that the resistance in the samples using TEOS was changed dramatically while it was almost invariant in the samples using MTMS and VTMS for increasing humidity.