• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2009

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a promising technology for short-term power generation required in residential and automobile applications. Proper management of water has been found to be essential for improving the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells. This study investigated the liquid water exhaust capabilities of various flow channels having different geometries and surface properties. Three-pass serpentine flow fields were prepared by patterning channels of 1 mm or 2 mm width onto hydrophilic Acrylic plates or hydrophobic Teflon plates, and the behaviors of liquid water in those flow channels were experimentally visualized. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were also conducted to quantitatively assess the liquid water exhaust capabilities of flow channels for PEM fuel cells. Numerical results showed that hydrophobic flow channels have better liquid water exhaust capabilities than hydrophilic flow channels. Flow channels with curved corners showed less droplet stagnation than the channels with sharp corners. It was also found that a smaller width is desirable for hydrophobic flow channels while a larger width is desirable for hydrophilic ones. The above results were explained as being due to the different droplet morphologies in hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.3049-3052
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• 2008

MCFC(molten carbonate fuel cell) power generation system is prime candidate for the utilization of fossil based fuels to generate ultra clean power with a high efficiency. In the MCFC power plant system, a combustor performs a role to supply high temperature mixture gases for cathode and heat for reformer by using the stack off-gas of the anode which includes a high concentration of $H_2O$ and $CO_2$. Since a combustor needs to be operated in a very lean condition and to avoid excessive local heating, catalytic combustor is usually used. The catalytic combustion is accomplished by the catalytic chemical reaction between fuel and oxidizer at catalyst surface, different from conventional combustion. In this study, a mathematical model for the prediction of internal flow and catalytic combustion characteristics in the catalytic combustor adopted in the MCFC power plant system is suggested by using the numerical methods. The numerical simulation models are then implemented into the commercial CFD code. After verifying result by comparing with the experimental data and calibrated kinetic parameters of catalytic combustion reaction, a numerical simulation is performed to investigate the variation of flow and combustion characteristics by changing such various parameters as inlet configuration and inlet temperature. The result show that the catalytic combustion can be effectively improved for most of the case by using the perforated plate and subsequent stable catalytic combustion is expected.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.482-489
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• 2007

Kaempferitrin, isolated from Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), was examined to evaluate its modulatory effects on antigen-presenting cell functions of macrophages/monocytes such as phagocytosis of foreign materials, up-regulation of costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80 and CD86), adhesion molecule activation, and antigen processing and presentation. Kaempferitrin strongly blocked up-regulation of CD40, CD80 and CD86, but not pattern recognition receptor (PRR) (e.g., TLR2). It also suppressed functional activation of CD29 (${\beta}1$-integrins), as assessed by cell-cell adhesion assay, required for T cell-antigen-presenting cell (APC) interaction. Furthermore, this compound did not block a simple activation of CD29, as assessed by cell-fibronectin adhesion assay. However, the compound did not diminish phagocytic uptake, an initial step for antigen processing, and ROS generation in RAW264.7 cells. In particular, to understand molecular mechanism of kaempferitrin-mediated inhibition, the regulatory role of LPS-induced signaling events was examined using immunoblotting analysis. Interestingly, this compound dose dependently suppressed the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, Src, Akt and Syk, demonstrating that it can negatively modulate the activation of these signaling enzymes. Therefore, our data suggested that kaempferitrin may be involved in regulating APC function-relevant immune responses of macrophages and monocytes by regulating intracellular signaling.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.129-149
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• 1991

An attempt has been made to examine the characteristics of acoustic and MHD waves generated in stellar convection zones($4000\;K\;{\leq}\;T_{eff}\;{\leq}\;7000\;K$, $3\;{\leq}\;\log\;g\;{\leq}\;4.5$). With the use of wave generation theories formulated for acoustic waves by Stein (1967), for MHD body waves by Musielak and Rosner (1987, 1988) and for MHD tube waves by Musielak et al.(l989a, 1989b), the energy fluxes are calculated and their dependence on effective temperature, surface gravity and megnetic field strength are analyzed by optimization techniques. In computing magneto-convection models, the effect of magnetic fields on the efficiency of convection has been taking into account by extrapolating it from Yun's sunspot models(1968; 1970). Our study shows that acoustic wave fluxes are dominant in F and G stars, while the MHD waves dominant in K and M stars, and that the MHD wave fluxes vary as $T_{eff}^4{\sim}T_{eff}^7$ in contrast to the acoustic fluxes, as $T_{eff}^{10}$. The gravity dependence, on the other hand, is found to be relatively weak; the acoustic wave fluxes ${\varpropto}\;g^{-0.5}$, the longitudinal tube wave fluxes ${\varpropto}\;g^{0.3}$ and the transverse tube wave fluxes ${\varpropto}\;g^{0.3}$. In the case of the MHD body waves their gravity dependence is found to be nearly negligible. Finally we assesed the computed energy fluxes by comparing them with the observed fluxes $F_{ob}$ of CIV(${\lambda}1549$) lines and soft X-rays for selected main sequence stars. When we scaled the corrected wave fluxes down to $F_{ob}$, it is found that these slopes are almost in line with each other.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2018

Vibrational problems in the domestic Small Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (SHAWT) are due to flap wise vibrations caused by varying wind velocities acting perpendicular to its blade surface. It has been reported that monitoring the structural health of the turbine blades requires special attention as they are key elements of a wind power generation, and account for 15-20% of the total turbine cost. If this vibration problem is taken care, the SHAWT can be made as commercial success. In this work, Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires made of Nitinol (Ni-Ti) alloys are embedded into the Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) wind turbine blade in order to reduce the flapwise vibrations. Experimental study of Nitinol (Ni-Ti) wire characteristics has been done and relationship between different parameters like current, displacement, time and temperature has been established. When the wind turbine blades are subjected to varying wind velocity, flapwise vibration occurs which has to be controlled continuously, otherwise the blade will be damaged due to the resonance. Therefore, in order to control these flapwise vibrations actively, a non-linear current controller unit was developed and fabricated, which provides actuation force required for active vibration control in smart blade. Experimental analysis was performed on conventional GFRP and smart blade, depicted a 20% increase in natural frequency and 20% reduction in amplitude of vibration. With addition of active vibration control unit, the smart blade showed 61% reduction in amplitude of vibration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2020

Objectives: Oleanolic acid, a minor element of ginsenosides, and its derivatives have been shown to have cytotoxicity against some tumor cells. The impact of cytotoxic effect of oleanolic acid 3-acetate on ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and endometrial cancer HEC-1A cells were examined both in vivo and in vitro to explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cytotoxic effects of oleanolic acid 3-acetate were assessed by cell viability, phosphatidylserine exposure on the cell surface, mitochondrial release of cytochrome C, nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor, depolarization of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (∆Ψ_m), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vivo inhibition of tumor growth was also assessed with xenografts in immunocompromised mice. Results: Oleanolic acid 3-acetate exhibited potent cytotoxicity toward SKOV3 and HEC-1A cells by decreasing cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Importantly, oleanolic acid 3-acetate effectively suppressed the growth of SKOV3 cell tumor xenografts in immunocompromised mice. Furthermore, oleanolic acid 3-acetate induced apoptotic cell death as revealed by loss of ∆Ψ_m, release of cytochrome c, and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor with a concomitant activation of many proapoptotic cellular components including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, Bcl-2, and caspases-8, caspase-3, and caspase-7. Oleanolic acid 3-acetate, however, caused a decrease in ROS production, suggesting the involvement of an ROS-independent pathway in oleanolic acid 3-acetate-induced apoptosis in SKOV3 and HEC-1A cells. Conclusion: These findings support the notion that oleanolic acid 3-acetate could be used as a potent anticancer supplementary agent against ovarian and endometrial cancer. Oleanolic acid 3-acetate exerts its proapoptotic effects through a rather unique molecular mechanism that involves an unconventional ROS-independent but mitochondria-mediated pathway.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.503-512
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• 2012

There is a new power generation system such as direct coal fuel cell (DCFC) with a solid oxide electrolyte operated at relatively high temperature. In the system, it is of great importance to feed coal continuously into anodic electrode surface for its better contact, otherwise it would reduce electrochemical conversion of coal. For that purpose, it is required to improve the electrochemical conversion efficiency by using either rigorous mixing condition such as fluidized bed condition or just by recirculating coal particle itself successively into the reaction zone of the system. In this preliminary study, we followed the second approach to investigate how significantly particle recycle would affect the coal conversion efficiency. As a first phase, coal conversion was analyzed and evaluated from the thermochemical reaction of carbon with air under particle recirculating condition. The coal conversion efficiency was obtained from raw data measured by two different techniques. Effects of temperature and fuel properties on the coal conversion are specifically examined from the thermochemical reaction.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2006

In this study, it could be found that the microbial movement in soil under electric field mainly occurred by electrophoresis and electroosmosis. The contribution of electrophoresis on the microbial mobility and flux was generally higher than that of electroosmosis. In the electrokinetic(EK) bioremediation of a pentadecane-contaminated soil, the microbial population increased simultaneously at anode and cathode regions of the soil specimen because both electrophoresis and electroosmosis affected on the microbial movement. After initial operation, the microbial population was high in order of anode, middle, and cathode regions due to their negatively-charged surface and oxygen generation at anode. However, the uniform contaminant removal was achieved by the microbial movement with two-directionality.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.142-149
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• 2008

This paper proposes an effective decomposition method of trichloroethylene using pellet packed-bed non-thermal plasma reactor and catalyst. For that, two types of reactors filled with manganese dioxide and alumina pellets are designed. When $MnO_2$ packed reactor is used, TCE decomposition rate is high due to the generation of oxygen atom radicals at the surface of catalyst during ozone decomposition. In addition, When $Al_2O_3$ packed reactor is used, TCE is oxidized into DCAC and it did not decomposed into small molecules such as COx and $Cl_2$. However, the plasma processed gas using $Al_2O_3$ packed reactor is passed through the $MnO_2$ catalyst reactor, which is placed at the downstream of plasma reactor, the decomposition rate increased as well due to oxygen atom radicals through ozone decomposition. Therefore, the adequate use of $MnO_2$ catalyst in the plasma process is very promising way to increase the decomposition efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.181-186
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• 2006

In this paper, generation mechanisms of ocean freak waves are briefly introduced in the context of wave-current interaction phenomena. The present model of the fluid motion is based on the Navier-Stokes equations incorporating velocity-pressure formulation because of need to model the nonlinear wave interaction with spatially non-uniform current field. In order to deal with the free surface motion, an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) description is adopted. As an accurate and efficient numerical tool, the spectral element method is presented with general features and specific treatment for the wave-current interaction problem. As an intermediate stage of development, solution procedure and characteristics aspects of the present modeling and numerical method are addressed in detail, and preliminary numerical results prove its accuracy and convergence.