• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1968-1985
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• 2024

At present, the world is witnessing a rapid change in all the fields of human civilization business interests and goals of all the sectors are changing very fast. Global changes are taking place quickly in all fields - manufacturing, service, agriculture, and external sectors. There are plenty of hurdles in the emerging technologies in agriculture in the modern days. While adopting such technologies as transparency and trust issues among stakeholders, there arises a pressurized necessity on food suppliers because it has to create sustainable systems not only addressing demand-supply disparities but also ensuring food authenticity. Recent studies have attempted to explore the potential of technologies like blockchain and practices for smart and sustainable agriculture. Besides, this well-researched work investigates how a scientific cum technological blockchain architecture addresses supply chain challenges in Precision Agriculture to take up challenges related to transparency traceability, and security. A robust registration phase, efficient authentication mechanisms, and optimized data management strategies are the key components of the proposed architecture. Through secured key exchange mechanisms and encryption techniques, client's identities are verified with inevitable complexity. The confluence of IoT and blockchain technologies that set up modern farms amplify control within supply chain networks. The practical manifestation of the researchers' novel blockchain architecture that has been executed on the Hyperledger network, exposes a clear validation using corroboration of concept. Through exhaustive experimental analyses that encompass, transaction confirmation time and scalability metrics, the proposed architecture not only demonstrates efficiency but also underscores its usability to meet the demands of contemporary Precision Agriculture systems. However, the scholarly paper based upon a comprehensive overview resolves a solution as a fruitful and impactful contribution to blockchain applications in agriculture supply chains.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1836-1847
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• 2024

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most widely used plastics in the world, causes serious environmental problems. Recently, scientists have been focused on the enzymatic degradation of PET, an environmentally friendly method that offers an attractive approach to the degradation and recycling of PET. In this work, PET hydrolase from Streptomyces sp. W2061 was biochemically characterized, and the biodegradation of PET was performed using the PET model substrate bis (2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate) (BHET). PET hydrolase has an isoelectric point of 5.84, and a molecular mass of about 50.31 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature were 7.0 and 40℃, respectively. LC-MS analysis of the enzymatic products showed that the PET hydrolase successfully degraded a single ester bond of BHET, leading to the formation of MHET. Furthermore, in silico characterization of the PET hydrolase protein sequence and its predicted three-dimensional structure was designed and compared with the well-characterized IsPETase from Ideonella sakaiensis. The structural analysis showed that the (Gly-x1-Ser-x2-Gly) serine hydrolase motif and the catalytic triad (Ser, Asp, and His) were conserved in all sequences. In addition, we integrated molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze the variation in the structural stability of the PET hydrolase in the absence and presence of BHET. These simulations showed the formation of a stable complex between the PET hydrolase and BHET. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on Streptomyces sp. W2061 to investigate the BHET degradation activity of PET hydrolase, which has potential application in the biodegradation of plastics in the environment.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.151-164
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• 2024

In water treatment plants supplying potable water, the management of chlorine concentration in water treatment processes involving pre-chlorination or intermediate chlorination requires process control. To address this, research has been conducted on water quality prediction techniques utilizing AI technology. This study developed an AI-based predictive model for automating the process control of chlorine disinfection, targeting the prediction of residual chlorine concentration downstream of sedimentation basins in water treatment processes. The AI-based model, which learns from past water quality observation data to predict future water quality, offers a simpler and more efficient approach compared to complex physicochemical and biological water quality models. The model was tested by predicting the residual chlorine concentration downstream of the sedimentation basins at Plant, using multiple regression models and AI-based models like Random Forest and LSTM, and the results were compared. For optimal prediction of residual chlorine concentration, the input-output structure of the AI model included the residual chlorine concentration upstream of the sedimentation basin, turbidity, pH, water temperature, electrical conductivity, inflow of raw water, alkalinity, NH₃, etc. as independent variables, and the desired residual chlorine concentration of the effluent from the sedimentation basin as the dependent variable. The independent variables were selected from observable data at the water treatment plant, which are influential on the residual chlorine concentration downstream of the sedimentation basin. The analysis showed that, for Plant, the model based on Random Forest had the lowest error compared to multiple regression models, neural network models, model trees, and other Random Forest models. The optimal predicted residual chlorine concentration downstream of the sedimentation basin presented in this study is expected to enable real-time control of chlorine dosing in previous treatment stages, thereby enhancing water treatment efficiency and reducing chemical costs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2013

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a member of serine protease inhibitor family, which regulates the activity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). In CNS, tPA/PAI-1 activity is involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes such as neuronal development, synaptic plasticity and cell survival. To gain a more insights into the regulatory mechanism modulating tPA/PAI-1 activity in brain, we investigated the effects of proteasome inhibitors on tPA/PAI-1 expression and activity in rat primary astrocytes, the major cell type expressing both tPA and PAI-1. We found that submicromolar concentration of MG132, a cell permeable peptide-aldehyde inhibitor of ubiquitin proteasome pathway selectively upregulates PAI-1 expression. Upregulation of PAI-1 mRNA as well as increased PAI-1 promoter reporter activity suggested that MG132 transcriptionally increased PAI-1 expression. The induction of PAI-1 downregulated tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Another proteasome inhibitor lactacystin similarly increased the expression of PAI-1 in rat primary astrocytes. MG132 activated MAPK pathways as well as PI3K/Akt pathways. Inhibitors of these signaling pathways reduced MG132-mediated upregulation of PAI-1 in varying degrees and most prominent effects were observed with SB203580, a p38 MAPK pathway inhibitor. The regulation of tPA/PAI-1 activity by proteasome inhibitor in rat primary astrocytes may underlie the observed CNS effects of MG132 such as neuroprotection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.503-511
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• 2015

In long span steel structure, the plate girder reinforced with stiffeners are commonly used. When choosing the cross section with deep depth of girder as well as narrow width, however, out of plane buckling can be a problem due to web slenderness. In an effort to solve this issue, current study determined the applicability of using corrugated web girder with deep depth as bending member, which is generally being utilized in both factory and warehouse nationwide. To accomplish this, we performed the loading test of H-shaped beam with sinusoidal corrugated web. Corrugated web CP-2.3 specimen exhibited 12% less maximal bending strength but CP-3.2 specimen exerted 24% increase in strength compared to plate web P-4.5. this result indicates that corrugated web provides enough strength even with unfavorable width-thickness ratio of plate. And bending as well as shear strength estimated by the Eurocode (EN 1993-1-5) were compared with both bending strength by loading test and shear strength estimated by KBC2009. In case of eurocode, increase in plate thickness did not help in bending performance improvement. moreover, shear performance was sensitive to the thickness of the web folds and the shape of the web plate.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2020

A colorimetric paper sensor was used to detect volatile nitrogen-containing compounds emitted from spoiled salmon filets to determine their freshness. The sensing mechanism was based on acid-base reactions between acidic pH-indicating dyes and basic volatile ammonia and amines. A sensing layer was simply fabricated by drop-casting a dye solution of bromocresol green (BCG) on a polyvinylidene fluoride substrate, and its color-change response was enhanced by optimizing the amounts of additive chemicals, such as polyethylene glycol, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and graphene oxide in the dye solution. To avoid the adverse effects of water vapor, both faces of the sensing layer were enclosed by using a polyethylene terephthalate film and a gas-permeable microporous polytetrafluoroethylene sheet, respectively. When exposed to basic gas analytes, the paper-like sensor distinctly exhibited a color change from initially yellow, then to green, and finally to blue due to the deprotonation of BCG via the Brønsted acid-base reaction. The use of ammonia analyte as a test gas confirmed that the sensing performance of the optimized sensor was reversible and excellent (detection time of < 15 min, sensitive naked-eye detection at 0.25 ppm, good selectivity to common volatile organic gases, and good stability against thermal stress). Finally, the coloration intensity of the sensor was quantified as a function of the storage time of the salmon filet at 28℃ to evaluate its usefulness in monitoring of the food freshness with the measurement of the total viable count (TVC) of microorganisms in the food. The TVC value increased from 3.2 × 10⁵ to 3.1 × 10⁹ cfu/g in 28 h and then became stable, whereas the sensor response abruptly changed in the first 8 h and slightly increased thereafter. This result suggests that the colorimetric response could be used as an indicator for evaluating the degree of decay of salmon induced by microorganisms.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.237-244
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• 2017

This study examined the pathological phenomenon of smartphone addiction and prevention. The smartphone provides many conveniences but it also brings psychological and physical problems, such as failure of learning capacity, maladjustment, and impulsive actions. To provide actual proof, this material included correlation analysis among physical, verbal aggression and smartphone addiction factors through high school students. Using SPSSWIN 22.0, frequency analysis, mail factor analysis, T-test, correlation analysis, regression analysis were also included. The main factors of smartphone addiction discrimination were divided into 'aim for imaginary', 'daily obstacles', 'tolerance', 'withdrawal symptom'. Smartphone addicted group members show the result of r=0.668 (physical aggression), r=0.704 (verbal aggression), r=0.481 (hostility). (p< 0.001). This study focused on the aggression from smartphone overuse and the positive effect of music for adolescent's mind stability. Moreover, suggestions for constant research on the pathological phenomena from smartphone addiction and prevention programs are made.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.7 no.1 s.12
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• pp.9-15
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• 2003

An optimized finite-field multiplier is proposed for encryption and error correction devices. It is based on a modified Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) which has lower power consumption and smaller area than prior LFSR-based finite-field multipliers. The proposed finite field multiplier for GF(2n) multiplies two n-bit polynomials using polynomial basis to produce $z(x)=a(x)^*b(x)$ mod p(x), where p(x) is a irreducible polynomial for the Galois Field. The LFSR based on a serial multiplication structure has less complex circuits than array structures and hybrid structures. It is efficient to use the LFSR structure for systems with limited area and power consumption. The prior finite-field multipliers need 3${\cdot}$m flip-flops for multiplication of m-bit polynomials. Consequently, they need 6${\cdot}$m latches because one flip-flop consists of two latches. The proposed finite-field multiplier requires only 4${\cdot}$m latches for m-bit multiplication, which results in 1/3 smaller area than the prior finite-field multipliers. As a result, it can be used effectively in encryption and error correction devices with low-power consumption and small area.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2018

This study was performed to compare medium characteristics during the composting stage for medium turning performed using an excavator agitator and a prototype medium turner in button mushroom cultivation. The changes in temperature in the medium did not significantly differ between the treatments until the 3rd turn performed using the excavator agitator. However, during the 4th and 5th turns, the temperature increased during turning with the prototype medium turner. During outdoor composting, various types of microorganisms such as thermophilic bacteria (Bacillus spp.), Actinomycetes, fluorescent Pseudomonas spp., and filamentous fungi were found to be distributed in the medium. The counts of aerobic bacteria and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. did not significantly differ between treatments, and the counts of thermophilic bacteria and thermophilic actinomycetes were slightly higher during turning with the prototype medium turner. The rice straw was slightly shorter and water content lower for the prototype medium turner. There was no significant difference between pH and EC treatments. The L, a, and b values tended to increase on turning with the prototype medium turner.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1998

Multi-channel sensors can be used to increase the reliability and remove the random iloise in ion-sensitive field effect transistors(ISFETs). Multi-channel sensors is also an essential step toward potential fabrication of sensors for several ionic species in one device. However, when the multi-channel sensors are separately biased, the biasing problems become difficult, that is to say, the bias circuit is needed as many sensors. In this work, a circuit for biasing the four pH-ISFETs in null-balance method, where bias voltages are switched, was proposed. The proposed concept is need only one bias circuit for the four sensors. Therefore it has advantages of smaller size and lower power consumption than the case that all sensors are separately biased at a time. The proposed circuit was tested with discrete devices and its performance was investigated. In the recent trend, sensor systems are implemented as portable systems. So the verified measurement circuit was integrated by using the CMOS circuit. Fortunately, ISFET fabrication process can be compatible with CMOS process. Full circuit has a mask area of $660{\mu}m{\times}500{\mu}m$. In the future, this step will be used for developing the smart sensor system with ISFET.