• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2003

This paper reports the results of course restructuring employing design projects in an introductory mechanics of materials course at Pennsylvania State University. Unlike traditional lecture courses, students were encouraged to learn the rudiments of mechanical design and how materials standards, economics, manufacturing, environmental, legal (liability) and societal (safety) concerns relate to design. Through conducting collaborative design projects, the instructors helped students to acquire more advanced skills such as team-based decision making, integration and establishment of criteria, use of modern design theory, consideration of alternative solutions, and application of realistic constraints. In order to examine the impact of new course changes on students' learning, a survey was conducted in 1998 Fall semester. According to the results of survey analyses, students reported high values on this introductory mechanics of materials course. However, they did not give high values on the design projects. Rather, they preferred lecture sessions. Additionally, it was also found that students who earned higher grades from a prerequisite course(statics) showed lower values on the design projects. Implications for engineering educators and suggestions for future research studies were discussed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.466-474
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• 2013

Despite the reports on safety concerns regarding the relationship between aluminum salts and neurological and bone disease, many countries continue to use aluminum as phosphate binders among patients with renal failure. In search for a diet supplement that could reduce aluminum toxicity related to renal failure, we carried out this prospective animal study in which the fenugreek seeds were assessed for their effects on rats nephrotoxicity induced by aluminum chloride ($AlCl_3$). Oral $AlCl_3$ administration during 5 months (500 mg/kg bw i.g for one month then 1600 ppm via drinking water) led to plasma biochemical changes, an inhibition of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a decrease of total antioxidant status (TAS), and an induction of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the blood and brain, in addition to kidney atrophy and morphological alterations at the level of Bowman's capsule, the glomerulus and different sorts of tubules, reminiscent of some known kidney disease. The treatment with the whole fenugreek seed powder (FSP) (5% in the diet) during the last 2 months showed its effectiveness in restoring normal plasma values of urea, creatinine, ALP and glucose, as well as re-increasing the TAS, inhibiting LPO and alleviating histopathological changes in the injured kidneys. This study highlights the induced nephrotoxicicity, as well as the related toxicity in the brain and bone, by chronic oral ingestion of the aluminum salts. However, the maintenance of a diet supplemented with fenugreek seeds could offer protection for the kidney, bone and brain, at the same time.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.359-370
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• 1990

This study concerns with comparing low-dimensional reactor kinetics methods with a three-dimensional kinetics method to be used for safety analysis of light water reactors in order to suggest means of preparing input parameters required for low-dimensional methods. For this purpose a one-dimensional finite difference two-group diffusion theory code ODTRAN and a third-order Hermit polynomial-based point kinetics code POTRAN are developed and used to obtain low-dimensional solutions to the LRA-BWR kinetics benchmark problem. The results are compared with a three-dimensional modified Borresen's coarse-mesh solution of the kinetics problem by CMSNACK code. Through this comparison some simple but practical means of preparing input parameters of low-dimensional kinetics analysis methods are suggested.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3301-3306
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• 2013

This paper aims to address the cellular toxicity of ultra-pure titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) frequently employed in sunscreens as inorganic physical sun blockers to provide protection against adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation including UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm). In consideration that the production and the use of inorganic NPs have aroused many concerns and controversies regarding their safety and toxicity and that microsized $TiO_2$ and ZnO have been increasingly replaced by $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs (< 100 nm), it is very important to directly investigate a main problem related to the intrinsic/inherent toxicity of these NPs and/or their incompatibility with biological objects. In the present study, we took advantage of the laser-assisted method called laser ablation for generation of $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs. NPs were prepared through a physical process of irradiating solid targets in liquid phase, enabling verification of the toxicity of ultra-pure NPs with nascent surfaces free from any contamination. Our results show that $TiO_2$ NPs are essentially non-poisonous and ZnO NPs are more toxic than $TiO_2$ NPs based on the cell viability assays.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.73-73
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• 2012

Modern technology-driven society largely relies on hybrid electric vehicles or electric vehicles for eco-friendly transportation and the use of high technology devices. Lithium rechargeable batteries are the most promising power sources because of its high energy density but still have a challenge. Graphite is the most widely used anode material in the field of lithium rechargeable batteries due to its many advantages such as good cyclic performances, and high charge/discharge efficiency in the initial cycle. However, it has an important safety issue associated with the dendritic lithium growth on the anode surface at high charging current because the conventional graphite approaches almost 0 V vs $Li/Li^+$ at the end of lithium insertion. Therefore, a fundamental solution is to use an electrochemical redox couple with higher equilibrium potentials, which suppresses lithium metal formation on the anode surface. Among the candidates, $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ is a very interesting intercalation compound with safe operation, high rate capability, no volume change, and excellent cycleability. But the insulating character of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ has raised concerns about its electrochemical performance. The initial insulating character associated with Ti4+ in $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ limits the electronic transfer between particles and to the external circuit, thereby worsening its high rate performance. In order to overcome these weak points, several alternative synthetic methods are highly required. Hence, in this presentation, novel ways using a synergetic strategy based on 1D architecture and surface coating will be introduced to enhance the kinetic property of Ti-based electrode. In addition, first-principle calculation will prove its significance to design Ti-based electrode for the most optimized electrochemical performance.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.35-38
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• 2016

A PFA lined ball valve, which is machined with fluorinated resin PFA to its inner part for improving corrosion resistance, non-stickness, heat-resistance, has been widely used in semiconductor/LCD manufacturing processes with the high purity chemicals as working fluid. Due to the safety concerns, the experiments for measuring the flow coefficient of a PFA lined ball valve should be conducted with water at room temperature according to IEC standards. However, it is required to know the real flow coefficient with the real working fluid, because the flow coefficient is critical to correctly design valves in piping system. In this study, we calculated the flow coefficient of a PFA lined ball valve 40A with hydrochloric acid ($40^{\circ}C$ 36% HCl) as the working fluid using a commercial CFD package, ANSYS CFX v15. The computational results had a good agreement with the measured data and showed a little difference between water and hydrochloric acid as the working fluid of a PFA lined ball valve.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.23-30
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• 2000

Cogeneration systems are seen as a significant innovation for dispersed energy generation since they are both environmentally friendly and has comparatively high degrees of efficiency. It is especially suited for the decentralized provision of electricity and heat. However, it causes operational problems such as voltage regulation, voltage variation, protection and safety. Especially, it is expected that the interconnection/disconnection operation of cogeneration system has an effect on distribution voltage regulation and variation. Recently, with the increased use of customer-owned computers and other sensitive electronic equipment, electric power quality has become an important concerns. Therefore, the voltage quality problems with cogeneration system should be investigated because the voltage quality is an important part of electrical power quality. In this paper, the momentary voltage dips associated with the interconnection/disconnection operation of cogeneration system are analyzed, including restraint solutions at the customer level. In addition, the unit capacity of cogeneration systems per feeder are evaluated from the view point of momentary voltage variations. The results of this paper are useful analysis data for interconnection standards/guidelines of cogeneration systems and dispersed generation (DG)

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.119-124
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• 2007

Adenoviral vectors are among the most promising vectors available for human gene therapy. However, the use of recombinant adenoviral vectors, including replicationcompetent adenovirus (RCA), raises a variety of safety concerns in relation to the development of new therapies based on gene therapy. To examine how organic compounds change in rat plasma following the injection of adenovirus, $\beta$-galactosidase expressing recombinant adenovirus (designated rAdLacZ) or RCA, we investigated the content of fatty acids (FAs), which are important biochemical indicators in pathological conditions. Pattern recognition analysis on the level of FAs in rat plasma is described for the visual discrimination of adenovirus infection groups from normal controls. Plasma FAs from four control rats (normal group), and from four rats with rAdLacZ infection and six rats with RCA infection (the two abnormal groups), were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring modes as their tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. In total, 20 FAs were positively detected and quantified. The results of the Student's t-test on the normal mean of two abnormal groups, the levels of three FAs (p<0.05) from rAdLacZ group and eleven FAs (p<0.05) from RCA group were significantly different. When star symbol plotting was applied to the group mean values of 20 FAs after normalization to the corresponding normal mean values, the resulting eicosagonal star patterns of the two infected groups were distorted into similar shapes, but were distinguishable from each other. Thus, these approaches will be useful for screening and monitoring of diagnostic markers for the effects of infection following the use of adenoviral vectors in gene therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2005

The purpose of the present study is to seek measures to increase the quality of farmers lives by considering the results of a survey on the welfare demand for them when setting up policy. The results are as follows: First, though many concerns and policies to control the rural exodus have been exerted in terms of maintaining agricultural communities, which is one of critical components for the development of Korean agriculture and farming villages, the rural exodus became more and more serious. It is urgently required, therefore, for the Korean administration to correspond actively to the reasons why farmers depart their villages, such as bad prospects, low incomes or problems with their children's education. Second, as the number of females who take part in farming has increased, it is necessary to reform the rural educational environment. In addition, as the agricultural community develops, and other industries flow in, the greater the worries about crime, and consequently, it is necessary to equip a local safety system, share information on job opportunities, and provide educational opportunities. Third, since rural districts nay have financial difficulties because of old-aged and small-sized farmhouse, it is necessary to mainly support the welfare of the aged and lower-income farmers, considering the characteristics of each group and area. Fourth, over half of the farmers responded that they cannot bear to pay the national pension and health insurance premiums, and therefore it should be considered to reduce the pension and premium, or to readjust the insurance value appropriate to the level of the farmer's income. Fifth, despite a number of agricultural policies now in place, farmers desire a policy which can promise a prosperous vision for Korean agriculture and the facilities needed for education and health. It is necessary for the administration to set up policies that are characterized by locality with the view that farmers are not mere recipients, but participants in the policies.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.80-83
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• 2008

As SOC (Social Overhead Capital) has been expanded, the highway road construction has been accelerated and city road system has been more complicated. So, long road tunnels have been increased and traffic flow rate also has been raised. Accordingly, the exhausting gas of vehicle cars seriously deteriorates the tunnel inside air quality and driving view. In order to improve tunnel inside air quality, we may need to introduce a compulsory ventilation system as well as natural ventilation mechanism. The natural ventilation mechanism is enough for short tunnels, meanwhile longer tunnels require a specific compulsory ventilation facility. Many foreign countries already have been devoting on development of effective tunnel ventilation system and especially, some European nations and Japan have already applied their developed tunnel ventilation system for longer road tunnels. More recently, as the quality of life improved, our concerns about safety of driving and better driving environment have been increased. In order to obtain clearer and longer driving view, we are more interested in EP tunnel ventilation system in order to remove floating contaminants and automobile exhaust gas. Evan though it's been a long time since many European countries and Japan applied more economical and environment-friendly tunnel ventilation system with their self-developed Electrostatic Precipitator, we are still dependant on imported system from foreign nations. Therefore, we need to develop our unique technical know-how for optimum design tools through validity investigation and continuous possibility examination, eventually in order to localize the tunnel ventilation system technology. In this project, we will manufacture test-run products to examine the performance of system in order to develop main parts of tunnel ventilation system such as electrostatic precipitator, high voltage power generator, water treatment system, etc.