• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.683-693
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• 2017

Transport biofuels have been recognized as a promising means to resolve the following issues like global warming, oil depletion and environmental pollutions. Among various biofuels, biodiesel has several advantages such as less emission of air pollutants and higher cetane values compared to diesel oil. Demand for biodiesel in Korea is increasing that leads to higher dependence on the imported feedstocks. Therefore, it is important to utilize the waste materials collected domestically for biodiesel production. Food waste oil collected in waste treatment facility has not been used for biodiesel production due to high free fatty contents in the oil. In this work, biodiesel conversion of food waste oil by Amberlyst 15 was studied. Synthetic and actual food waste oils have been used in the study. First, the effects of the major operating parameters including reaction temperature, methanol to oil molar ratio and catalyst loading on the conversion rates and yields were determined with synthetic waste oil. Kinetic modelling work was also done to determine the activation energy of the reaction. From the work, optimization reaction conditions were determined to be 383K, 1: 26.1 for methanol molar ratio to oil, 10 wt.% for catalyst loading and 360 min for reaction time. Activation energy of the reaction is determined to be 29.75 kJ/mol, lower than those reported in the previous works. So the solid catalyst, Amberlyst 15, was more efficient for esterification than the solid catalysts employed in the other works. Agitation rates have the negligible effects on the conversion rates and yields. With the identified optimization conditions, conversion of the actual food waste oil was also carried out. The esterification yield of actual food waste oil in 60 min was 13% lower than that of synthetic waste oil but the final yields in 240 min were similar each other, 98.12% for synthetic oil and 97.62% for actual waste oil.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-32
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• 2005

The optimum population of a society or country can be defined as 'the population growth path that maximizes the welfare level of the society over the whole generations of both the present and the future, under the paths allowed by its endowments of production factors such as technology, capital and labor'. Thus, the optimum size or growth rate of population depends on: (i) the social welfare function, (ii) the production function, and (iii)demographic economic interrelationship which defines how the national income is disposed into consumption(birth and education of children included) and savings on the one hand and how the demographic and economic change induced thereby, in turn, affect production capacities on the other. The optimum population growth path can, then, be derived in the process of dynamic optimization of (i) under the constraints of (ii) and (iii), which will give us the optimum population growth rate defined as a function of parameters thereof. This paper estimates the optimum population growth rate of Korea by: specifying (i), (ii), and (iii) based on the recent development of economic theories, solving the dynamic optimization problem and inserting empirical estimates in Korea as the parametric values. The result shows that the optimum path of population growth in Korea is around TFR=1.81, which is affected most sensitively, in terms of the size of the partial elasticity around the optimum path, by the cost of children, share of capital income, consumption rate, time preference, population elasticity of utility function, etc. According to a survey implemented as a follow up study, there are quite a significant variations in the perceived cost of children, time preference rate, population elasticity of utility across different socio-economic classes in Korea, which implied that, compared to their counterparts, older generation and more highly educated classes prefer higher growth path for the population of Korea.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.472-481
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• 2009

Response surface methodology (RSM) is frequently used for optimization studies. In the present work, RSM was used to determine the antimicrobial activitiesof grapefruit seed extract (GFSE) and a lactic acid mixture (LA) against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A central composite design was used to investigate the effects of independent variables on dependent parameters. One set of antimicrobial preparations included mixtures of 1% (w/w) GFSE and 10% (w/w) LA, in which the relative proportions of component antimicrobials varied between 0 and 100%. In further experiments, the relative proportions were between 20% and 100%. Antimicrobial effects against various microorganisms were mathematically encoded for analysis. The codes are given in parentheses after the bacterial names, and were S. aureus ($Y_1$), B. cereus ($Y_2$), E. coli ($Y_3$), S. typhimurium ($Y_4$), P. fluorescens ($Y_5$), and V. parahaemolyticus ($Y_6$). The optimum antimicrobial activity of the 1% (w/w) GFSE:10% (w/w) LA mixture against each microorganism was obtained by superimposing contour plots ofantimicrobial activities on measures of response obtained under various conditions. The optimum rangesfor maximum antimicrobial activity of a mixture with a ratio of 1:10 (by weight) GFSE and LA were 35.73:64.27 and 56.58:43.42 (v/v), and the optimum mixture ratio was 51.70-100%. Under the tested conditions (a ratio of 1% [w/w] GFSE to 10% [w/w] LA of 40:60, and a concentration of 1% [w/w] GFSE and 10% [w/w] LA, 70% of the highest value tested), and within optimum antimicrobial activity ranges, the antimicrobial activities of the 1% (w/w) GFSE:10% (w/w) LA mixture against S. aureus ($Y_1$), B. cereus ($Y_2$), E. coli ($Y_3$), S. typhimurium ($Y_4$), P. fluorescens ($Y_5$), and V. parahaemolyticus ($Y_6$) were 24.55, 25.22, 20.20, 22.49, 23.89, and 28.04 mm, respectively. The predicted values at optimum conditions were similar to experimental values.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.163-171
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various technical parameters for the dose optimization in pediatric chest radiological examinations by evaluating effective dose and effective detective quantum efficiency (eDQE) including the scatter radiation from the object, the blur caused by the focal spot, geometric magnification and detector characteristics. For the tube voltages ranging from 40 to 90 kVp in 10 kVp increments at the FDD of 100, 110, 120, 150, 180 cm, the eDQE was evaluated at the same effective dose. The results showed that the eDQE was largest at 60 kVp when compares the eDQE at different tube voltage. Especially, the eDQE was considerably higher without the use of an anti-scatter grid on equivalent effective dose. This indicates that the reducing the scatter radiation did not compensate for the loss of absorbed effective photons in the grid. When the grid is not used the eDQE increased with increasing FDD because of the greater effective modulation transfer function (eMTF). However, most of major hospitals in Korea employed a short FDD of 100 cm with an anti-scatter grid for the chest radiological examination of a 15 month old infant. As a result, the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) values for the hospitals of this survey exceeded the Korean DRL (diagnostic reference level) of $100{\mu}Gy$. Therefore, appropriate technical parameters should be established to perform pediatric chest examinations on children of different ages. The results of this study may serve as a baseline to establish detailed reference level of pediatric dose for different ages.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.642-652
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• 2008

The aim of our research was to apply experimental design methodology in the optimization condition of Photo-Fenton oxidation of the residual livestock wastewater after the coagulation process. The reactions of Photo-Fenton oxidation were mathematically described as a function of parameters amount of Fe(II)($x_1$), $H_2O_2(x_2)$ and pH($x_3$) being modeled by the use of the Box-Behnken method, which was used for fitting 2nd order response surface models and was alternative to central composite designs. The application of RSM using the Box-Behnken method yielded the following regression equation, which is an empirical relationship between the removal(%) of livestock wastewater and test variables in coded unit: Y = 79.3 + 15.61x$_1$ - 7.31x$_2$ - 4.26x$_3$ - 18x$_1{^2}$ - 10x$_2{^2}$ - 11.9x$_3{^2}$ + 2.49x$_1$x$_2$ - 4.4x$_2$x$_3$ - 1.65x$_1$x$_3$. The model predicted also agreed with the experimentally observed result(R$^2$ = 0.96) The results show that the response of treatment removal(%) in Photo-Fenton oxidation of livestock wastewater were significantly affected by the synergistic effect of linear terms(Fe(II)($x_1$), $H_2O_2(x_2)$, pH(x$_3$)), whereas Fe(II) $\times$ Fe(II)(x$_1{^2}$), $H_2O_2$ $\times$ $H_2O_2$(x$_2{^2}$) and pH $\times$ pH(x$_3{^2}$) on the quadratic terms were significantly affected by the antagonistic effect. $H_2O_2$ $\times$ pH(x$_2$x$_3$) had also a antagonistic effect in the cross-product term. The estimated ridge of the expected maximum response and optimal conditions for Y using canonical analysis were 84 $\pm$ 0.95% and (Fe(II)(X$_1$) = 0.0146 mM, $H_2O_2$(X$_2$) = 0.0867 mM and pH(X$_3$) = 4.704, respectively. The optimal ratio of Fe/H$_2O_2$ was also 0.17 at the pH 4.7.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2004

in this study, we developed a Monte Carlo imaging simulation code written by the visual C$\^$++/ programing language for design optimization of a digital X-ray imaging system. As a digital X-ray imaging system, we considered a Gd$_2$O$_2$S(Tb) scintillator and a photosensor array, and included a 2D parallel grid to simulate general test renditions. The interactions between X-ray beams and the system structure, the behavior of lights generated in the scintillator, and their collection in the photosensor array were simulated by using the Monte Carlo method. The scintillator thickness and the photosensor array pitch were assumed to 66$\mu\textrm{m}$ and 48$\mu\textrm{m}$, respertively, and the pixel format was set to 256 x 256. Using the code, we obtained X-ray images under various simulation conditions, and evaluated their image qualities through the calculations of SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), MTF (modulation transfer function), NPS (noise power spectrum), DQE (detective quantum efficiency). The image simulation code developed in this study can be applied effectively for a variety of digital X-ray imaging systems for their design optimization on various design parameters.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.281-289
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• 2010

We determined the optimum ethanolic conditions for extraction of $\gamma$-oryzanol and other functional components from rice bran, using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design was used to investigate the effects of the independent variables of solvent ratio ($X_1$), extraction temperature ($X_2$), and extraction time ($X_3$), on dependent variables including yield ($Y_1$), total phenolic content ($Y_2$), electron-donating activity ($Y_3$), ferulic acid level ($Y_4$), and $\gamma$-oryzanol concentration ($Y_5$). Solvent ratio and extraction temperature were the most important factors in extraction. The maximum yield was at 22.56 mL/g ($X_1$), 78.19C ($X_2$), and 522.15 min ($X_3$), at the saddle point. Total phenolic levels were little affected by solvent ratio or extraction temperature. The maximum concentration of extracted total phenolics was 90.78mg GAE/100 g at 21.26 mL/g, $94.65^{\circ}C$, and 567.97 min. A maximum electron-donating ability of 54.72% was obtained with the parameters 20.20 mL/g,$81.89^{\circ}C$, and 701.87 min, at the highest point. The maximum level of ferulic acid components was 210.47 mg/100g at 5.22 mL/g, $79.66^{\circ}C$, and 575.24 min. In addition, the maximum $\gamma$-oryzanol concentration was 660.39 mg/100g at 5.10 mL/g, $81.83^{\circ}C$, and 587.39 min. The optimum extraction conditions were a solvent ratio of 10.45 mL/g, $80^{\circ}C$ extraction temperature, and 535 min extraction time. Predicted extraction levels under optimized conditions were in line with experimental values.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2008

Retinal prosthesis is regarded as the most feasible method for the blind caused by retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or age related macular degeneration (AMD). Recently Korean consortium launched for developing retinal prosthesis. One of the prerequisites for the success of retinal prosthesis is the optimization of the electrical stimuli applied through the prosthesis. Since electrical characteristics of degenerate retina are expected to differ from those of normal retina, we performed voltage stimulation experiment both in normal and degenerate retina to provide a guideline for the optimization of electrical stimulation for the upcoming prosthesis. After isolation of retina, retinal patch was attached with the ganglion cell side facing the surface of microelectrode arrays (MEA). $8{\times}8$ grid layout MEA (electrode diameter: $30{\mu}m$, electrode spacing: $200{\mu}m$, and impedance: $50k{\Omega}$ at 1 kHz) was used to record in-vitro retinal ganglion cell activity. Mono-polar electrical stimulation was applied through one of the 60 MEA channel, and the remaining channels were used for recording. The electrical stimulus was a constant voltage, charge-balanced biphasic, anodic-first square wave pulse without interphase delay, and 50 trains of pulse was applied with a period of 2 sec. Different electrical stimuli were applied. First, pulse amplitude was varied (voltage: $0.5{\sim}3.0V$). Second, pulse duration was varied $(100{\sim}1,200{\mu}s)$. Evoked responses were analyzed by PSTH from averaged data with 50 trials. Charge density was calculated with Ohm's and Coulomb's law. In normal retina, by varying the pulse amplitude from 0.5 to 3V with fixed duration of $500{\mu}s$, the threshold level for reliable ganglion cell response was found at 1.5V. The calculated threshold of charge density was $2.123mC/cm^2$. By varying the pulse duration from 100 to $1,200{\mu}s$ with fixed amplitude of 2V, the threshold level was found at $300{\mu}s$. The calculated threhold of charge density was $1.698mC/cm^2$. Even after the block of ON-pathway with L-(1)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB), electrical stimulus evoked ganglion cell activities. In this APB-induced degenerate retina, by varying the pulse duration from 100 to $1200{\mu}s$ with fixed voltage of 2 V, the threshold level was found at $300{\mu}s$, which is the same with normal retina. More experiment with APB-induced degenerate retina is needed to make a clear comparison of threshold of charge density between normal and degenerate retina.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.680-685
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• 2015

Previously, cellulase and xylanase producing microorganism, Bacillus subtilis NC1, was isolated from soil. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and API 50 CHL test the strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis, and named as B. subtilis NC1. We cloned and sequenced the genes for cellulase and xylanase. Plus, the deduced amino acid sequences from the genes of cellulase and xylanase were determined and were also identified as glycosyl hydrolases family (GH) 5 and 30, respectively. In this study to optimize the medium parameters for cellulase production by B. subtilis NC1 the RSM (response surface methodology) based on CCD (central composite design) model was performed. Three factors, tryptone, yeast extract, and NaCl, for N or C source were investigated. The cellulase activity was measured with a carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) plate and the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) methods. The coefficient of determination (R²) for the model was 0.960, and the probability value (p=0.0001) of the regression model was highly significant. Based on the RSM, the optimum conditions for cellulase production by B. subtilis NC1 were predicted to be tryptone of 2.5%, yeast extract of 0.5%, and NaCl of 1.0%. Through the model verification, cellulase activity of Bacillus subtilis NC1 increased from 0.5 to 0.62 U/ml (24%) compared to the original medium.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.172-176
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• 1996

Effect of culture conditions such as pH, temperature, agitation speed and oxygen transfer rate on xylitol production from xylose by Candide parapsilosis ATCC 21019 mutant was investigated in a jar fermentor. The initial concentration of xylosr was fixed at 50 g/l in this experiment. When pH was increased, cell growth and xylose consumption rate were increased, but maximum xylitol production was shown in the range of pH 4.5 and 5.5 with a yield of 0.68 g/g-xylose. The optimal temperature for xylitol production was determined to be $30^{\circ}C$. Considering the importance of dissolved oxygen tension, for xylitol production, the effect of oxygen transfer rate coefficient $(k_La)$ on fermentation parameters was carefully evaluated in the range of $20{\sim}85\;hr{-1}\;of\;k_La$ (corresponding to $100{\sim}300$rpm of agitation speed). The xylitol production was maximized at $30\;hr^{-1}\;of\;k_La$(150 rpm). A higher oxygen transfer rate supported better cell growth with lower xylitol yield. It was determined that maximum xylitol concentration, xylitol yield and productivity was 35.8 g/l, 71.6% and $0.58\;g/l{\sim}hr^{-1}$, respectively, at $30\;hr^{-1}\;of\;k_La$ In order to further increase xylitol productivity, ferementation using the concentrated biomass(20 g/l) was carried out at the conditions of pH 4.5, $30^{\circ}C$ and $30\;hr\;1$ of oxygen transfer rate. The final xylitol concentration of 40 g/l was obtained at 18 hours of culture time. From this result, it was calculated that xylitol yield was 80ft on the basis of xylose consumption and volumetric productivity was $2.22\;g/l{\sim}hr$ which was increased by $3{\sim}4$ fold compared with $0.5{\sim}0.7\;g/l-hr$ obtained in a normal fermentation condition.