• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.419-426
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• 2010

Aeromonas hydrophila is a bacterial pathogen that infects a large number of eukaryotes, including humans. The UDP-galactose 4'-epimerase (GalE) catalyzes interconversion of UDP-galactose to UDP-glucose and plays a key role in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. This makes it an important virulence determinant, and therefore a potential drug target. Our earlier studies revealed that unlike other GalEs, GalE of A. hydrophila exists as a monomer. This uniqueness necessitated elucidation of its structure and active site. Chemical modification of the 6xHis-rGalE demonstrated the role of histidine residue in catalysis and that it did not constitute the substrate binding pocket. Loss of the 6xHis-rGalE activity and coenzyme fluorescence with thiol modifying reagents established the role of two distinct vicinal thiols in catalysis. Chemical modification studies revealed arginine to be essential for catalysis. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated Tyr149 and Lys153 to be involved in catalysis. Use of glycerol as a cosolvent enhanced the GalE thermostability significantly.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.594-601
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• 2001

Direct thermal lamination of polyethylene film on aluminum plate without using adhesive was tried by modifying their surfaces to have polar groups. Polyethylene film was modified by treating with oxygen or acrylic acid plasma. Aluminum plate was modified by treating with boiling water or diaminocyclohexane plasma. Fairly high adhesion strength was obtained even in the case when only the polyethylene film was modified, and adhesion strength was so high that film was broken during the adhesion test if both the film and the aluminum plate were modified. Even chemical bonding seemed to be possible when the film treated with acrylic acid was laminated on the plate treated with diaminocyclohexane plasma by forming amide linkage through the reaction between COOH groups on the film surface and NH$_2$ groups on the plate surface.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.136-140
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• 2008

$TiO_2$ photocatalyst has been known to exhibit a notable disinfecting activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. A lot of commercial $TiO_2$ photocatalyst products have been developed for antimicrobial purposes. However, a standard method has not yet been proposed for use in testing antimicrobial activity. In this study, we developed a $TiO_2$ photocatalytic adhesion test method with film as the standard testing method for the evaluation of antimicrobial activity. This method was devised by modifying the previous antimicrobial products test method, which has been widely used, and considering the characteristics of $TiO_2$ photocatalytic reaction. The apparatus for testing the antimicrobial activity was composed of a Black Light Blue (BLB) lamp as UV-A light source, a Petri dish as the cover material, and a polypropylene film as the adhesion film. The standard $TiO_2$ photocatalyst sample, Degussa P25 $TiO_2$ - coated glass, could only be used once. The optimal initial concentration of the microorganism, proper light intensity, and light irradiation time were determined to be $10^6$ CFU/mL, 1.0 mW/$cm^2$, and 3 hr, respectively, for testing and evaluating antimicrobial activity on the $TiO_2$ surface.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2000

Biodegradable microspheres were prepared with poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, 75 : 25 by mole ratio) by an oil/oil solvent evaporation method for the sustained release of anti-AIDS virus agent, AZT The microspheres of relatively narrow size distribution (7.6$\pm$ 3.8 ㎛) were obtained by controlling the fabrication conditions. The shape of microspheres prepared was smooth and spherical. The efficiency of AZT loading into the PLGA microsphere was over 93% compared to that below 15% for microspheres by a conventional water/oil/water method. The effects of Preparation conditions on the morphology and in vitro AZT release pattern were investigated. in vitro release studies showed that different release pattern and release rates could be achieved by simply modifying factors in the fabrication conditions such as the type and amount of surfactant, initial amount of loaded drug, the temperature of solvent evaporation, and so on. PLCA microspheres prepared by 5% of initial drug loading, 1.0% (w/w) of surfactant concentration, and 25$\^{C}$ of solvent evaporation temperature were free from initial burst effect and a near-zero order sustained release was observed. Possible mechanisms of the near-zero order sustained release for our system have been proposed.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.218-227
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• 2022

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), a new green energy, that have various potential applications, such as energy harvesters and self-powered sensors. The output performance of TENGs has been improving rapidly, and their output power significantly increased since they were first reported owing to improved triboelectrification materials and interfacial material engineering. Because the operation of a TENG is based on contact electrification in which electric charges are exchanged at the interface between two materials, its output can be increased by increasing the contact area and charge density. Material surface modification with microstructures or nanostructures has increased the output performance of TENGs significantly because not only does the sharp micro/nano morphology increases the contact area during friction, but it also increases the charge density. Chemical treatment in which ions or functional groups are added has also been used to improve the performance of TENGS by modifying the work functions, charge densities, and dielectric constants of the triboelectric materials. In addition, ultrahigh output power from TENGs without using new materials or treatments has been obtained in many studies in which special structures were designed to control the current release or to collect the charge current directly. In this review, we discuss physical and chemical treatments, bulk modifications, and interfacial engineering for enhancing TENG performance by improving contact electrification and electrostatic induction.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

In this review, surface modification methods of hydrophobic poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membrane are introduced and their improved hydrophilicity results are discussed. Fluoropolymer based membranes, represented by PTFE membranes have been used in various membrane separation processes, including membrane distillation, oil separation and gas separation. However, despite excellent physical properties such as chemical resistance, heat resistance and high mechanical strength, the strong hydrophobicity of PTFE membrane surface has become a challenging factor in expanding its membrane separation application. To improve the separation performance of PTFE membranes, wet chemical, hydrophilic coating, plasma, irradiation and atomic layer deposition are applied, modifying the surface property of PTFE membranes while maintaining their inherent properties.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.723-733
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• 2016

Intensive researches have been focused on the 3-dimensional packaging technology using through silicon via (TSV) to overcome the limitation in Cu interconnection scaling. Void-free filling of TSV by the Cu electrodeposition is required for the fabrication of reliable electronic devices. It is generally known that sufficient inhibition on the top and the sidewall of TSV, accompanying the selective Cu deposition on the bottom, enables the void-free bottom-up filling. Organic additives contained in the electrolyte locally determine the deposition rate of Cu inside the TSV. Investigation on the additive chemistry is essential for understanding the filling mechanisms of TSV based on the effects of additives in the Cu electrodeposition process. In this review, we introduce various filling mechanisms suggested by analyzing the additives effect, research on the three-additive system containing new levelers synthesized to increase efficiency of the filling process, and methods to improve the filling performance by modifying the functional groups of the additives or deposition mode.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.915-921
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• 2008

In most PEM fuel cell research, effects of cell geometry, physical properties of component such as membrane, carbon cloth, catalyst, etc. and water transport phenomena are key issues. The scope of these research was limited to single cell and stack except BOP(Balance of plant) of fuel cell. The research fouced on the fuel cell system usually neglect to consider detailed transport phenomena in the cell. The research of the fuel cell system was interested in a system performance and system dynamics. In this paper, the effect of the anode recirculation is calculated using the 2D steady-state model. For this work, 2D steady-state modeling and experiments are performed. For convenience of modifying of model equation, not commercial pakage but the in-house algorithm was used in simulation. For an vehicle industry, the analysis of the anode recirculation system helps the optimization of operating condition of the fuel cell.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 2012

Objectives: The study aim was to evaluate the application of a chemical exposure assessment tool for the Korean workplace. The Ministry of Employment and Labor in Korea (KMOEL) introduced the need for workplace risk assessments in 2011, requiring the Korean chemical industry to consider both domestic and international chemical regulation policies (e.g., estimations of exposure scenarios). Exposure scenarios are required in the European Union as part of material safety data sheets (MSDS) under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) system. Methods: Although many programs for the estimation of exposure have been developed worldwide, to date there is no standard for the Korean workplace. To develop programs suitable for the Korean workplace, we examined the applicability of the European Center for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals target risk assessment (ECETOC TRA), which is recommended by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). Results: To investigate the applicability of the ECETOC TRA to Korean industry, this study simulated 15 industrial processes. The predicted respiratory exposures for four processes using origin input parameters were underestimated compared to the measured respiratory exposure. Using calibrated input parameters, results for two processes were underestimated compared to the measured respiratory exposure. This result suggests that the use of calibrated input parameters reduces the differences between predicted and measured respiratory exposure. Conclusions: we developed applicable exposure estimating method by modifying the ECETOC TRA program; one suggested the development of exposure estimating program that explains Korea domestic workplace exposure scenario.This study will support the introduction of exposure scenario in MSDS system and protect health of worker from hazardous chemical.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.E
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• pp.29-38
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• 1999

This study identified emission sources and emissions of air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), solvents, and acid gases produced from chemical plants. We collected air samples from various processes, reactors and facilities using VOC detectors and workers' experience. We identified chemical structures and emission concentrations of air pollutants. We analyzed total emissions of air pollutants emitted from the chemical plants. Also, we developed some emission reduction technologies based on chemical types and emission situations of the identified air pollutants. For reduction of air emissions of acid gases, we employed a method improving solubility of pollutants by reducing scrubber operation temperature, increasing surface area for effective contact of gas and liquid, and modifying or changing chemicals used in the acid scrubbers. In order to reduce air emissions of both amines and acid gases, which have had different emission sources each other but treated by one scrubber, we first could separate gas components. And then different control techniques based on components of pollutants were applied to the emission sources. That is, we first applied condensation and then acid scrubbing method using H2SO4 solution for amine treatment. However, we only used an acid scrubbing method using H2O and NaOH solution for acid gas treatment. In order to reduce air emissions of solvents such as dimethylformamide and toluene, we applied condensation and activated carbon adsorption. In order to reduce air emissions of mixture gases containing acid gases and slovents, which could not be separated in the processes, we employed a combination of various air pollution control devices. That is, the mixture gases were passed into the first condenser, the acid scrubber, the second condenser, and the activated carbon adsorption tower in sequence. In addition, for improvement of condensation efficiency of VOCs, we changed the type of the condensers attached in the reactors as a control device modification. Finally, we could successfully reduce air emissions of pollutants produced from various chenmical processes or facilities by use of proper control methods according to the types and specific emission situations of pollutants.