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Biphasic Study to Characterize Agricultural Biogas Plants by High-Throughput 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing and Microscopic Analysis

  • Maus, Irena;Kim, Yong Sung;Wibberg, Daniel;Stolze, Yvonne;Off, Sandra;Antonczyk, Sebastian;Puhler, Alfred;Scherer, Paul;Schluter, Andreas
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.321-334
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    • 2017
  • Process surveillance within agricultural biogas plants (BGPs) was concurrently studied by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and an optimized quantitative microscopic fingerprinting (QMF) technique. In contrast to 16S rRNA gene amplicons, digitalized microscopy is a rapid and cost-effective method that facilitates enumeration and morphological differentiation of the most significant groups of methanogens regarding their shape and characteristic autofluorescent factor 420. Moreover, the fluorescence signal mirrors cell vitality. In this study, four different BGPs were investigated. The results indicated stable process performance in the mesophilic BGPs and in the thermophilic reactor. Bacterial subcommunity characterization revealed significant differences between the four BGPs. Most remarkably, the genera Defluviitoga and Halocella dominated the thermophilic bacterial subcommunity, whereas members of another taxon, Syntrophaceticus, were found to be abundant in the mesophilic BGP. The domain Archaea was dominated by the genus Methanoculleus in all four BGPs, followed by Methanosaeta in BGP1 and BGP3. In contrast, Methanothermobacter members were highly abundant in the thermophilic BGP4. Furthermore, a high consistency between the sequencing approach and the QMF method was shown, especially for the thermophilic BGP. The differences elucidated that using this biphasic approach for mesophilic BGPs provided novel insights regarding disaggregated single cells of Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta species. Both dominated the archaeal subcommunity and replaced coccoid Methanoculleus members belonging to the same group of Methanomicrobiales that have been frequently observed in similar BGPs. This work demonstrates that combining QMF and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing is a complementary strategy to describe archaeal community structures within biogas processes.

A Study on Multi-Facilities Location Decision Model in Perspective of SCM (SCM관점의 복수시설물 입지결정모형에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Dae-Seok;Zhang, Tao
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.47-62
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    • 2008
  • Joining the WTO in 2001, China became a number of the global economic system. China succeeded in vying to host Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and World Expo 2010 Shanghai. It is China's honor and opportunity to have high economic growth in the coming future. In 2007, the total cost of public logistics decreased by 18.2% than 2006 to 4540.6 billion RMB, accounting for 18.4% of the GDP. So, China logistics is a huge industry and a growing market full of charm. The statistic ratios of China's logistics and growth trends show us it is an important issue to build and run an effective logistics system. However, research on China's logistics systems and supply chain is lacked. This study is focus on the logistic location strategy in China including the study of factories and warehouses geographic strategy concerned with SCM. The core of this study is to propose a New Multi-Facilities Location Decision Model. This study banded the revised gravity center, the standard single facility location decision model(Gravity Center Model) and the transportation model into a new Multi-Facilities Location Decision Model. In addition, this study suggested the gravity center of population, the gravity center of each industry, the location decision graded-list of each industry of china using the gravity center model and the revised gravity center model. The new Multi-Facilities Location Decision Model proposed in this study can be used to solve the location decision problem of more than two facilities. And it can be used in the fields such as the location decision of production facility and service facility, the location of distribution and logistics, the location of broadcast and satellite communications, the location of wireless communication tower and so on.

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Drone-based smart quarantine performance research (드론 기반 스마트 방재 방안 연구)

  • Yoo, Soonduck
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.437-447
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study is to research the countermeasures and expected effects through the use of drones in the field of disaster prevention as a drone-based smart quarantine performance method. The environmental, market, and technological approaches to the review of the current quarantine performance task and its countermeasures are as follows. First, in terms of the environment, the effectiveness of the quarantine performance business using drone-based control is to broaden the utilization of forest, bird flu, livestock, facility areas, mosquito larvae, pests, and to simplify and provide various effective prevention systems such as AI and cholera. Second, in terms of market, the standardization of livestock and livestock quarantine laws and regulations according to the use of disinfection and quarantine missions using domestic standardized drones through the introduction of new technologies in the quarantine method, shared growth of related industries and discovery of new markets, and animal disease prevention It brings about the effect of annual budget savings. Third, the technical aspects are (1) on-site application of disinfection and prevention using multi-drone, a new form of animal disease prevention, (2) innovation in the drone industry software field, and (3) diversification of the industry with an integrated drone control / control system applicable to various markets. (4) Big data drone moving path 3D spatial information analysis precise drone traffic information ensures high flight safety, (5) Multiple drones can simultaneously auto-operate and fly, enabling low-cost, high-efficiency system deployment, (6) High precision that this was considered due to the increase in drone users by sector due to the necessity of airplane technology. This study was prepared based on literature surveys and expert opinions, and the future research field needs to prove its effectiveness based on empirical data on drone-based services. The expected effect of this study is to contribute to the active use of drones for disaster prevention work and to establish policies related to them.

Seismic Performance of Concrete-Filled Steel Piers Part I : Quasi-Static Cyclic Loading Test (강합성교각의 내진성능평가 Part I : 준정적 반복재하실험)

  • 조창빈;서진환;장승필
    • Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.9-19
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    • 2002
  • Steel piers and concrete-filled steel(CFS) piers, in spite of reasonable strength, high ductility, small section, and fast construction, have not been considered as one of alternatives to RC piers even in the highly populated urban area where aseismic safety, limited space and fast construction are indispensably required. This paper, the first of two companion papers for the seismic performance of steel and CFS piers, tests steel and CFS piers under quasi-static cyclic loading to estimate their ductility and strength. Additional details such as rebars and base ribs are added to increase the ductility of a concrete-filled steel pier with minimum additional cost. Also, simplified numerical analyses using nonlinear spring and shell elements are examined for the estimation of the ductility and strength of concrete-filled steel piers and a steel pier. The result shows that concrete-filled steel peirs have higher energy absorption, i.e., ductility and strength than those of steel pier and increasing bonding between in-filled concrete and lower diaphragm, and the improved details of stress concentrated region would be important for the ductility and strength of a pier. Numerical results show that simplified modeling with nonlinear springs and shells has potential to be effective modeling technique to estimate the seismic performance of a concrete-filled steel pier.

Improvement of Address Pointer Assignment in DSP Code Generation (DSP용 코드 생성에서 주소 포인터 할당 성능 향상 기법)

  • Lee, Hee-Jin;Lee, Jong-Yeol
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.37-47
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    • 2008
  • Exploitation of address generation units which are typically provided in DSPs plays an important role in DSP code generation since that perform fast address computation in parallel to the central data path. Offset assignment is optimization of memory layout for program variables by taking advantage of the capabilities of address generation units, consists of memory layout generation and address pointer assignment steps. In this paper, we propose an effective address pointer assignment method to minimize the number of address calculation instructions in DSP code generation. The proposed approach reduces the time complexity of a conventional address pointer assignment algorithm with fixed memory layouts by using minimum cost-nodes breaking. In order to contract memory size and processing time, we employ a powerful pruning technique. Moreover our proposed approach improves the initial solution iteratively by changing the memory layout for each iteration because the memory layout affects the result of the address pointer assignment algorithm. We applied the proposed approach to about 3,000 sequences of the OffsetStone benchmarks to demonstrate the effectiveness of the our approach. Experimental results with benchmarks show an average improvement of 25.9% in the address codes over previous works.

Strategies for Multilateral Development Banks Utilization to Enhance International Construction Competitiveness (해외건설 수주경쟁력 강화를 위한 다자간개발은행 활용 방안)

  • Sohn, Tae-Hong;Jung, Chang-Goo;Jang, Hyoun-Seung
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.32 no.5D
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    • pp.493-498
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    • 2012
  • Korean construction companies have maintained stable market share based on high technology and cost competitiveness although international construction market has been stalled due to increasing global economy uncertainties. However, Korean construction companies have relied heavily on the general types of projects in Middle East and Asia although the portion of different types of projects such as Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO), Build-Transfer-Lease (BTL), and Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) has been increasing in the market. When delivering huge projects requiring contractors deal with activities from project planning to operation, securing finance sources and profitability is deemed critical. Therefore, Korean construction companies need more attentions on the construction market supported by Multilateral Development Banks. However, Korean construction companies have not utilized effective strategies for the market entry and also government supportive policies are not useful enough to help construction companies. This study aims both to analyze the contract structure of Korean construction companies for presenting critical factors that need to be prepared and to suggest various methods that can be applied to support construction companies that have much interest in the Multilateral Development Banks. According to the results of study, it is important that Korean government provide structural information system, make a specialized organization, prevent over-heating among Korean construction companies, and collaborate with Official Development Agency. In addition, it appeared that the fairness and financial stability of project have recognized main advantages of the Multilateral Development Banks.

Effective Treatment System for the Leachate from a Small-Scale Municipal Waste Landfill (소규모 쓰레기 매립장 침출수의 효율적인 처리 방안에 관한 연구)

  • Cho Young-Ha;Kwon Jae Hyun
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.51-65
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    • 2002
  • This study was carried out to apply some basic physical and chemical treatment options including Fenton's oxidation, and to evaluate the performances and the characteristics of organic and nitrogen removal using lab-scale biological treatment system such as complete-mixing activated sludge and sequencing batch reactor(SBR) processes for the treatment of leachate from a municipal waste landfill in Gyeongnam province. The results were as follows: Chemical coagulation experiments using aluminium sulfate, ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride resulted in leachate CO $D_{Cr}$ removal of 32%, 23% and 21 % with optimum reaction dose ranges of 10,000~15,000 mg/$\ell$, 1,000 mg/$\ell$ and 500~2,000 mg/$\ell$, respectively. Fenton's oxidation required the optimum conditions including pH 3.5, 6 hours of reaction time, and hydrogen peroxide and ferrous sulfate concentrations of 2,000 ~ 3,000 mg/$\ell$ each with 1:1 weight ratio to remove more than 50% of COD in the leachate containing CO $D_{Cr}$ between 2,000 ~ 3,000 mg/$\ell$. Air-stripping achieved to remove more than 97% of N $H_3$-N in the leachate in spite of requiring high cost of chemicals and extensive stripping time, and, however, zeolite treatment removing 94% of N $H_3$-N showed high selectivity to N $H^{+}$ ion and much faster removal rate than air-stripping. The result from lab-scale experiment using a complete-mixing activated sludge process showed that biological treatability tended to increase more or less as HRT increased or F/M ratio decreased, and, however, COD removal efficiency was very poor by showing only 36% at HRT of 29 days. While COD removal was achieved more during Fenton's oxidation as compared to alum treatment for the landfill leachate, the ratio of BOD/COD after Fenton's oxidation considerably increased, and the consecutive activated sludge process significantly reduced organic strength to remove 50% of CO $D_{Cr}$ and 95% of BO $D_{5}$ . The SBR process was generally more capable of removing organics and nitrogen in the leachate than complete-mixing activated sludge process to achieve 74% removal of influent CO $D_{Cr}$ , 98% of BO $D_{5}$ and especially 99% of N $H_3$-N. However, organic removal rates of the SBR processes pre-treated with air-stripping and with zeolite were not much different with those without pre-treatment, and the SBR process treated with powdered activated carbon showed a little higher rate of CO $D_{Cr}$ removal than the process without any treatment. In conclusion, the biological treatment process using SBR proved to be the most applicable for the treatment of organic contents and nitrogen simultaneously and effectively in the landfill leachate.e.

Effect of protein transduction domain fused-bone morphogenetic protein-2 on bone regeneration in rat calvarial defects (단백질 전달 영역 융합-Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2가 백서 두개골 결손부에서 골 조직 재생에 미치는 효과)

  • Um, Yoo-Jung;Cho, Kyoo-Sung;Kim, Chong-Kwan;Choi, Seong-Ho;Chai, Jung-Kiu;Kim, Chang-Sung
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.38 no.2
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    • pp.153-162
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: Recombining bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is usually acquiredfrom high level animals. Though this method is effective, its high cost limits its use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 with protein transduction domain (BMP-2/PTD;TATBMP-2) on bone regeneration. Rat calvarial defect model and osteoblastic differentiation model using MC3T3 cell were used for the purpose of the study. Materials and Methods: MC3T3 cells were cultured until they reached a confluence stage. The cells were treated with 0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 500 ng/ml of BMP-2/PTD for 21 days and at the end of the treatment, osteoblastic differentiation was evaluated usingvon Kossa staining. An 8mm, calvarial, critical-size osteotomy defect was created in each of 48 male Spraque-Dawley rats (weight $250{\sim}300\;g$). Three groups of 16 animals each received either BMP-2/PTD (0.05mg/ml) in a collagen carrier, collagen only, or negative surgical control. And each group was divided into 2 and 8 weeks healing intervals. The groups were evaluated by histologic analysis(8 animals/group/healing intervals) Result: In osteoblastic differentiation evaluation test, a stimulatory effect of BMP-2/PTD was observed in 10ng/ml of BMP-2/PTD with no observation of dose-dependent manner. The BMP-2/PTD group showed enhanced local bone formation in the rat calvarial defect at 2 weeks. New bone was observed at the defect margin and central area of the defect. However, new bone formation was observed only in 50% of animals used for 2weeks. In addition, there was no new bone formation observed at 8 weeks. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that BMP-2/PTD(TATBMP-2) have an positive effect on the bone formation in vitro and in vivo. However, further study should be conducted for the reproducibility of the outcomes.

Traction Performance Improvement Study on a Small-scale Tower Yarder Attached to a Farm Tractor (농업용 트랙터 기반 소형 타워야더의 견인 성능 개선에 관한 연구)

  • Paik, Seung Ho;Choi, Yun-Sung;Cho, Min-Jae;Mun, Ho-Seong;Han, Sang-Kyun;Kim, Dae-Hyun;Oh, Jae-Heun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.108 no.4
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    • pp.562-573
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    • 2019
  • In a cable yarding system, a small-scale tower yarder attached to a farm tractor wasdeveloped and used for small-diameter tree harvesting operations. Based on this design, improvement of traction performance was required for medium- and large-diameter tree harvesting operations. In this study, the mechanical transmission employed for the tower yarder was modified into ahydro-mechanical transmission system. Maximum traction forces, including tractor engine speed and hydraulic power pressure, were investigated, and comparisons were made between the mechanical and hydro-mechanical transmission systems. Six tractor engine speeds (1,200, 1,400, 1,600, 1,800, 2,000, and 2,200) and three levels of power transmission mechanism pressure (4.9, 6.9, and 8.8 MPa) were investigated in the two different transmission systems. Results showed a maximum traction force of 15,146.6 N at an engine rotation speed of 757 rpm in the current mechanical transmission system, and 36,140.0 N at anengine rotation speed of 1,575 rpm in the modified hydro-mechanical transmission system. The maximum traction forces for the hydro-mechanical transmission were 2.4 times greater than those of the mechanical transmission, and may therefore be applicable to medium and large-diameter tree harvesting operations. Thus,as a modified version of the conventional transmission system, the new hydro-mechanical transmission system may be cost-effective for use in large-scale cable yarding operations. In the future, however, it will be necessary to investigate problems that may arise from field application tests.

Electrochemical determination of chloramphenicol using a glassy carbon electrode modified with dendrite-like Fe3O4 nanoparticles

  • Giribabu, Krishnan;Jang, Sung-Chan;Haldorai, Yuvaraj;Rethinasabapathy, Muruganantham;Oh, Seo Yeong;Rengaraj, Arunkumar;Han, Young-Kyu;Cho, Wan-Seob;Roh, Changhyun;Huh, Yun Suk
    • Carbon letters
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    • v.23
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    • pp.38-47
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    • 2017
  • In this study, magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) nanoparticles were electrochemically synthesized in an aqueous electrolyte at a given potential of -1.3 V for 180 s. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that dendrite-like $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles with a mean size of < 80 nm were electrodeposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The $Fe_3O_4/GCE$ was utilized for sensing chloramphenicol (CAP) by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. A reduction peak of CAP at the $Fe_3O_4/GCE$ was observed at 0.62 V, whereas the uncoated GCE exhibited a very small response compared to that of the $Fe_3O_4/GCE$. The electrocatalytic ability of $Fe_3O_4$ was mainly attributed to the formation of Fe(VI) during the anodic scan, and its reduction to Fe(III) on the cathodic scan facilitated the sensing of CAP. The effects of pH and scan rate were measured to determine the optimum conditions at which the $Fe_3O_4/GCE$ exhibited the highest sensitivity with a lower detection limit. The reduction current for CAP was proportional to its concentration under optimized conditions in a range of $0.09-47{\mu}M$ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9919 and a limit of detection of $0.09{\mu}M$ (S/N=3). Moreover, the fabricated sensor exhibited anti-interference ability towards 4-nitrophenol, thiamphenicol, and 4-nitrobenzamide. The developed electrochemical sensor is a cost effective, reliable, and straightforward approach for the electrochemical determination of CAP in real time applications.