• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.356-361
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• 2023

In order to improve the durability of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), it is important to accurately evaluate the durability of the polymer membrane in a short time. The test conditions for chemically accelerated durability evaluation of membranes are high voltage, high temperature, low humidity, and high gas pressure. It can be said that the protocol is developed by changing these conditions. However, the relative influence of each test condition on the degradation of the membrane has not been studied. In chemical accelerated degradation experiment of the membrane, the influence of 4 factors (conditions) was examined through the factor experiment method. The degree of degradation of the membrane after accelerated degradation was determined by measuring the hydrogen permeability and effluent fluoride ion concentration, and it was possible to determine the degradation order of the polymer membrane under 8 conditions by the difference in fluoride ion concentration. It was shown that the influence of the membrane degradation factor was in the order of voltage > temperature > oxygen pressure > humidity. It was confirmed that the degradation of the electrode catalyst had an effect on the chemical degradation of the membrane.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1C
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

In this study, the influence of wetting band depth by continuous rainfall and the magnitude of wetting front suction on the stability of slopes in weathered soils were investigated by using finite element programs SEEP/W and SLOPE/W. Three different intensities of rainfall (10mm/hr, 30mm/hr, 50mm/hr) were chosen, and the total duration of rainfall was 96 hours. Three infinite slopes with the inclination of 1:1.5 and 1:1.8, 1:2.0 were considered and the typical properties and the shear strength parameters of the weathered soil were applied. It is shown that rainfall duration plays an important role in slope stability. Based on the analytical results, it is found that as the rainfall duration increases, the wetting band depth also increases. Also, the increasing rate of the wetting band depth was decreased as the soil density was increased. These results come from the decrease of the coefficient of permeability and the increase of the soil suction. Finally, it is also shown that the safety factors of slopes by unsaturated analysis are mostly larger than those by saturated analysis. Therefore, commonly used saturated analysis may substantially underestimate the degree of safety factor in realistic situations.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.425-432
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• 2023

In this study, we aim to develop a carbon-reducing concrete technology by incorporating biochar. Performance evaluation experiments were conducted on concrete mixtures containing biochar with insulating and carbon-capturing properties, which are essential for key infrastructure sectors such as construction and tunnels. Concrete mixtures were designed with different biochar incorporation rates of 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 %, as w ell as w ater-to-binder ratios of 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, and 0.40. To assess the physical properties of each mixture, unit weight, total porosity, and permeability were measured, while mechanical properties were determined through the measurement of concrete compressive and flexural strengths. Key factors for enhancing the insulating effect of carbon-reducing concrete containing biochar were identified through regression analysis, indicating a close correlation among biochar incorporation rate, unit weight, concrete strength, and thermal conductivity. It is anticipated that it can be utilized as an insulating material to enhance thermal performance in northern regions with severe winter climates.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.352-361
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• 2023

Steam methane reforming is currently the most widely used technology for producing hydrogen, a clean fuel. Hydrogen produced by steam methane reforming contains impurities such as carbon monoxide, and it is essential to undergo an appropriate post-purification step for commercial usage, such as fuel cells. Recently, membrane separation technology has been gaining great attention as an effective purification method; in this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using commercial polysulfone membranes for biogas upgrading to separate and recover hydrogen from a hydrogen/carbon monoxide gas mixture. Initially, we examined the physicochemical properties of the commercial membrane used. We then conducted performance evaluations of the commercial membrane module under various conditions using mixed gas, considering factors such as stage-cut and operating pressure. Finally, based on the evaluation results, we carried out simulations for process design. The maximum H₂ permeability and H₂/CO separation factor for the commercial membrane process were recorded at 361 GPU and 20.6, respectively. Additionally, the CO removal efficiency reached up to 94%, and the produced hydrogen concentration achieved a maximum of 99.1%.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.534-540
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• 2023

The high-rate performance is limited by several factors, such as polarization generation, low electrical conductivity, low surface energy, and low electrolyte permeability of CF_X, which is widely used as a cathode active material in the lithium primary battery. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to improve the battery performance by using carbon fluoride modified by surface treatment using oxygen plasma as a cathode for lithium primary batteries. Through XPS and XRD analysis, changes in the surface chemical characteristics and crystal structure of CF_X modified by oxygen plasma treatment were analyzed, and accordingly, the electrochemical characteristics of lithium-ion primary batteries were analyzed and discussed. As a result, the highest number of semi-ionic C-F bonds were formed under the oxygen plasma treatment condition (7.5 minutes) with the lowest fluorine to carbon (F/C) ratio. In addition, the primary cell prepared under this condition using carbon fluoride as the active material of the cathode showed the highest 3 F/C(3 C rate-performance) rate-performance and maintained a relatively high capacity (550 mAh/g) even at high rates. In this study, it was possible to produce lithium primary batteries with high-rate performance by adjusting the fluorine contents of carbon fluoride and the type of carbon-fluorine bonding through oxygen plasma treatment.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: O-cyclic phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (cP1P) is a synthetic chemical and has a structure like sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P is known to promote cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and anti-apoptosis through hippocampal signals. However, S1P mediated cellular-, molecular mechanism is still remained in the lung. Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by excessive immune response, increased vascular permeability, alveolar-peritoneal barrier collapse, and edema. In this study, we determined whether cP1P primed human dermal derived mesenchymal stem cells (hdMSCs) ameliorate lung injury and its therapeutic pathway in ALI mice. Methods and Results: cP1P treatment significantly stimulated MSC migration and invasion ability. In cytokine array, secretion of vascular-related factors was increased in cP1P primed hdMSCs (hdMSC^cP1P), and cP1P treatment induced inhibition of Lats while increased phosphorylation of Yap. We next determined whether hdMSC^cP1P reduce inflammatory response in LPS exposed mice. hdMSC^cP1P further decreased infiltration of macrophage and neutrophil, and release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were reduced rather than naïve hdMSC treatment. In addition, phosphorylation of STAT1 and expression of iNOS were significantly decreased in the lungs of MSC^cP1P treated mice. Conclusions: Taken together, these data suggest that cP1P treatment enhances hdMSC migration in regulation of Hippo signaling and MSC^cP1P provide a therapeutic potential for ALI/ARDS treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.58-69
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• 2013

This paper presents production data analysis for two production wells located in the shale gas field, Canada, with the proper analysis method according to each production performance characteristics. In the case A production well, the analysis was performed by applying both time and superposition time because the production history has high variation. Firstly, the flow regimes were classified with a log-log plot, and as a result, only the transient flow was appeared. Then the area of simulated reservoir volume (SRV) analyzed based on flowing material balance plot was calculated to 180 acres of time, and 240 acres of superposition time. And the original gas in place (OGIP) also was estimated to 15, 20 Bscf, respectively. However, as the area of SRV was not analyzed with the boundary dominated flow data, it was regarded as the minimum one. Therefore, the production forecasting was conducted according to variation of b exponent and the area of SRV. As a result, estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) increased 1.2 and 1.4 times respectively depending on b exponent, which was 0.5 and 1. In addition, as the area of SRV increased from 240 to 360 acres, EUR increased 1.3 times. In the case B production well, the formation compressibility and permeability depending on the overburden were applied to the analysis of the overpressured reservoir. In comparison of the case that applied geomechanical factors and the case that did not, the area of SRV was increased 1.4 times, OGIP was increased 1.5 times respectively. As a result of analysis, the prediction of future productivity including OGIP and EUR may be quite different depending on the analysis method. Thus, it was found that proper analysis methods, such as pseudo-time, superposition time, geomechanical factors, need to be applied depending on the production data to gain accurate results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.16-36
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• 1984

It is very important in forestry to study the shear strength of weathered granitic soil, because the soil covers 66% of our country, and because the majority of land slides have been occured in the soil. In general, the causes of land slide can be classified both the external and internal factors. The external factors are known as vegetations, geography and climate, but internal factors are known as engineering properties originated from parent rocks and weathering. Soil engineering properties are controlled by the skeleton structure, texture, consistency, cohesion, permeability, water content, mineral components, porosity and density etc. of soils. And the effects of these internal factors on sliding down summarize as resistance, shear strength, against silding of soil mass. Shear strength basically depends upon effective stress, kinds of soils, density (void ratio), water content, the structure and arrangement of soil particles, among the properties. But these elements of shear strength work not all alone, but together. The purpose of this thesis is to clarify the characteristics of shear strength and the related elements, such as water content ($w_o$), void ratio($e_o$), dry density (${\gamma}_d$) and specific gravity ($G_s$), and the interrelationship among related elements in order to decide the dominant element chiefly influencing on shear strength in natural/undisturbed state of weathered granitic soil, in addition to the characteristics of soil hardness of weathered granitic soil and root distribution of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus rigida ${\times}$ taeda planted in erosion-controlled lands. For the characteristics of shear strength of weathered granitic soil and the related elements of shear strength, three sites were selected from Kwangju district. The outlines of sampling sites in the district were: average specific gravity, 2.63 ~ 2.79; average natural water content, 24.3 ~ 28.3%; average dry density, $1.31{\sim}1.43g/cm^3$, average void ratio, 0.93 ~ 1.001 ; cohesion, $ 0.2{\sim}0.75kg/cm^2$ ; angle of internal friction, $29^{\circ}{\sim}45^{\circ}$ ; soil texture, SL. The shear strength of the soil in different sites was measured by a direct shear apparatus (type B; shear box size, $62.5{\times}20mm$; ${\sigma}$, $1.434kg/cm^2$; speed, 1/100mm/min.). For the related element analyses, water content was moderated through a series of drainage experiments with 4 levels of drainage period, specific gravity was measured by KS F 308, analysis of particle size distribution, by KS F 2302 and soil samples were dried at $110{\pm}5^{\circ}C$ for more than 12 hours in dry oven. Soil hardness represents physical properties, such as particle size distribution, porosity, bulk density and water content of soil, and test of the hardness by soil hardness tester is the simplest approach and totally indicative method to grasp the mechanical properties of soil. It is important to understand the mechanical properties of soil as well as the chemical in order to realize the fundamental phenomena in the growth and the distribution of tree roots. The writer intended to study the correlation between the soil hardness and the distribution of tree roots of Pinus rigida Mill. planted in 1966 and Pinus rigida ${\times}$ taeda in 199 to 1960 in the denuded forest lands with and after several erosion control works. The soil texture of the sites investigated was SL originated from weathered granitic soil. The former is situated at Py$\ddot{o}$ngchangri, Ky$\ddot{o}$m-my$\ddot{o}$n, Kogs$\ddot{o}$ng-gun, Ch$\ddot{o}$llanam-do (3.63 ha; slope, $17^{\circ}{\sim}41^{\circ}$ soil depth, thin or medium; humidity, dry or optimum; height, 5.66/3.73 ~ 7.63 m; D.B.H., 9.7/8.00 ~ 12.00 cm) and the Latter at changun-long Kwangju-shi (3.50 ha; slope, $12^{\circ}{\sim}23^{\circ}$; soil depth, thin; humidity, dry; height, 10.47/7.3 ~ 12.79 m; D.B.H., 16.94/14.3 ~ 19.4 cm).The sampling areas were 24quadrats ($10m{\times}10m$) in the former area and 12 in the latter expanding from summit to foot. Each sampling trees for hardness test and investigation of root distribution were selected by purposive selection and soil profiles of these trees were made at the downward distance of 50 cm from the trees, at each quadrat. Soil layers of the profile were separated by the distance of 10 cm from the surface (layer I, II, ... ...). Soil hardness was measured with Yamanaka soil hardness tester and indicated as indicated soil hardness at the different soil layers. The distribution of tree root number per unit area in different soil depth was investigated, and the relationship between the soil hardness and the number of tree roots was discussed. The results obtained from the experiments are summarized as follows. 1. Analyses of simple relationship between shear strength and elements of shear strength, water content ($w_o$), void ratio ($e_o$), dry density (${\gamma}_d$) and specific gravity ($G_s$). 1) Negative correlation coefficients were recognized between shear strength and water content. and shear strength and void ratio. 2) Positive correlation coefficients were recognized between shear strength and dry density. 3) The correlation coefficients between shear strength and specific gravity were not significant. 2. Analyses of partial and multiple correlation coefficients between shear strength and the related elements: 1) From the analyses of the partial correlation coefficients among water content ($x_1$), void ratio ($x_2$), and dry density ($x_3$), the direct effect of the water content on shear strength was the highest, and effect on shear strength was in order of void ratio and dry density. Similar trend was recognized from the results of multiple correlation coefficient analyses. 2) Multiple linear regression equations derived from two independent variables, water content ($x_1$ and dry density ($x_2$) were found to be ineffective in estimating shear strength ($\hat{Y}$). However, the simple linear regression equations with an independent variable, water content (x) were highly efficient to estimate shear strength ($\hat{Y}$) with relatively high fitness. 3. A relationship between soil hardness and the distribution of root number: 1) The soil hardness increased proportionally to the soil depth. Negative correlation coefficients were recognized between indicated soil hardness and the number of tree roots in both plantations. 2) The majority of tree roots of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus rigida ${\times}$ taeda planted in erosion-controlled lands distributed at 20 cm deep from the surface. 3) Simple linear regression equations were derived from indicated hardness (x) and the number of tree roots (Y) to estimate root numbers in both plantations.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.77-91
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• 2015

This study aims to suggest adequate soil management through the analysis of physicochemical properties of soil in the planting grounds of Incheon International Airport, which was constructed on a massive land reclamation site. Study areas were 5 sites at the international business complex, the passenger terminal, the airport support complex, the free trade zone, and the access road. Soil profile analysis showed that 9 plots out of the 27 plots were hardpan and heterospere within 80cm from the soil surface. The earth laid on the ground was categorized as gravel based soil(4 plots), dredged soil from the sea bottom and mixed reclamation materials(2 plots), clay with poor permeability(3 plots) and waste construction material(1 plot). Average soil hardness was $11.5kg/cm^2$ and soil textures were sandy soil, sandy loam and loamy sand. Average soil pH was 6.7 and average organic matter content was 0.7%. Electrical conductivity was 0.0dS/m and exchangeable cation concentrations were $Ca^{2+}$ 3.4cmol/kg, $Mg^{2+}$ 1.5cmol/kg, $K^+$ 0.3cmol/kg and $Na^+$ 1.0cmol/kg. Average cation exchange capacity was 11.0cmol/kg. Although average figures in Solum mostly meet the landscape design criteria, properties of each soil layer showed various values sometimes over the limit. Base saturations were $Ca^{2+}$ 29.9%, $Mg^{2+}$ 13.3% and $K^+$ 3.7% for lower soil, $Ca^{2+}$ 33.3%, $Mg^{2+}$ 17.0% and $K^+$ 2.7% for mid-soil and $Ca^{2+}$ 32.6%, $Mg^{2+}$ 12.2% and $K^+$ 1.9% for upper soil. Exchangeable sodium percentages were 16.4% for lower soil, 7.5% for mid-soil and 4.7% upper soil. Sodium adsorption rates were 0.8 for lower soil, 0.3 for mid-soil and 0.2 for upper soil. Factors affecting to the vegetation growth were heterogeneity and poorness of solum, disturbance of dredged soils, high soil hardness including hardpan in the subsurface soil layer and shallow effective soil depth, high soil acidity, imbalance of base contents, low organic matter content and low available phosphate levels in the soil.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2007

Differentiation of cells can be induced through modulation of endogenous regulators using exogenous factors. Useful transfection systems to transport a specific exogenous regulator into cell have been tried but still there are many obstacles to overcome. In this study, we examined the transfection efficiency of cell permeable peptides (CPPs) in mouse embryonic stem cell under the various conditions. To identify the CPP-mediated translocation of a protein, we employed recombinant CPP-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Viability of R1 cells was different between experimental groups depending on the kind of CPP and the concentration of CPP-EGFP. Translocation of CPP-EGFPs into the R1 cells was not detected until 30 min after CPP-EGFPs treatment in all groups. After 1 hr, translocation of pEP-1-EGFP-N was detected, but it could not be detected in the other group. Transfection of pEP-1EGFP-N was independent on its concentration. The time course did not show saturation even after 24 hr in pEP-1-EGFP-N. These results showed that the permeability depended on the kind of CPP and the location of His-tag in the case of examined CPPs, and did not need biological energy. On summary, the efficiency of transfection of CPP-EGFP depends on the CPP sequences but the culture time is not a key factor in transfection for the mouse embryonic stem cell. For the future studies to improve the efficiency of translocation of protein into embryonic stem cells, it is needed to develop modified CPP or mediator. The studies would be very useful to induce the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.