• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

The production of oxygen and hydrogen from solar water splitting has been considered to be an ultimate solution for energy and environmental issues, and over the past few years, nano-sized semiconducting metal oxides alone and with graphene have been shown to have great promise for use in photocatalytic water splitting. It is challenging to find ideal materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting, and these have limited commercial applicability due to critical factors, including their physico-chemical properties, the rate of charge-carrier recombination and limited light absorption. This review article discusses these main features, and recent research progress and major factors affect the performance of the water splitting reaction. The mechanism behind these interactions in transition metal oxides and graphene based nano-structured semiconductors upon illumination has been discussed in detail, and such characteristics are relevant to the design of materials with a superior photocatalytic response towards UV and visible light.

• Solar Energy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.60-69
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• 1992

Heat transfer characteristics and heat storage rate for vertical cylinder packed with paraffin as a latent heat storage material were theoretically studied. Conduction and convection mechanism were applied to the solid and liquid phase, respectively, and the results were compared with that of pure conduction model. The effects of heating temperature, initial solid temperature and aspect ratio on rate of storage were also studied. In the initial stage of melting, the natural convection is nearly restricted by the friction at the wall and the phase boundary. But it is generated when about 40% of solid melts and again it shrinks by the hot liquid situated on the upper part of the cylinder. So overall melting rate is higher then that for pure conduction model. The increase in heating temperature and aspect ratio activates the natural convection, so melting rate becomes higher. And the larger the aspect ratio, the greater the difference between upper and lower size of the solid. In the initial stage of melting, the initial temperature of solid paraffin has great effect on the melting rate, but as melting proceeds its effect lessens gradually.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.155-167
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• 2015

The thermal-hydrological-mechanical (T-H-M) behavior of rock mass surrounding a high-temperature cavern thermal energy storage (CTES) operated for a period of 30 years has been investigated by TOUGH2-FLAC3D simulator. As a fundamental study for the development of prediction and control technologies for the environmental change and rock mass behavior associated with CTES, the key concerns were focused on the hydrological-thermal multiphase flow and the consequential mechanical behavior of the surrounding rock mass, where the insulator performance was not taken into account. In the present study, we considered a large-scale cylindrical cavern at shallow depth storing thermal energy of $350^{\circ}C$. The numerical results showed that the dominant heat transfer mechanism was the conduction in rock mass, and the mechanical behavior of rock mass was influenced by thermal factor (heat) more than hydrological factor (pressure). The effective stress redistribution, displacement and surface uplift caused by heating of rock and boiling of ground-water were discussed, and the potential of shear failure was quantitatively examined. Thermal expansion of rock mass led to the ground-surface uplift on the order of a few centimeters and the development of tensile stress above the storage cavern, increasing the potential of shear failure.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2018

In this paper, the optimal fuzzy logic controller(FLC) for a hybrid renewable energy system(HRES) is proposed. Generally, hybrid renewable energy systems can consist of wind power, solar power, fuel cells and storage devices. The proposed FLC can effectively control the entire HRES by determining the output power of the fuel cell or the absorption power of the electrolyzer. In general, fuzzy logic controllers can be optimized by classical optimization algorithms such as genetic algorithms(GA) or particle swarm optimization(PSO). However, these FLC have a disadvantage in that their performance varies greatly depending on the control parameters of the optimization algorithms. Therefore, we propose a method to optimize the fuzzy logic controller using the teaching-learning based optimization(TLBO) algorithm which does not have the control parameters of the algorithm. The TLBO algorithm is an optimization algorithm that mimics the knowledge transfer mechanism in a class. To verify the performance of the proposed algorithm, we modeled the hybrid system using Matlab Tool and compare and analyze the performance with other classical optimization algorithms. The simulation results show that the proposed method shows better performance than the other methods.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2010

Switching an elementary excitation by injecting a single carrier would offer the exciting opportunity for the ultra-high data storage technologies. However, there has been no methodology available to investigate the interaction of low energy discrete carriers with nano-structures. In order to map out the spatial dependency of such single carrier level interactions, we developed a pulse-and-probe algorithm, combining with low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. The new tool, which we call single carrier spectroscopy, allows us to track the interaction with the target macrostructure with tunneling carriers on a single carrier basis. Using this tool, we demonstrate that it is possible not only to locally write and erase individual bi-solitons, reliably and reversibly, but also to track of creation yields of single and multiple bi-solitons. Bi-solitons are pairs of solitons that are elementary out-of-phase excitations on anti-ferromagnetically ordered pseudo-spin system of Si dimers on Si(001)-c(42) surfaces. We found that at low energy tunneling the single bisoliton creation mechanism is not correlated with the number of carriers tunneling, but with the production of a potential hole under the tip. An electric field at the surface determines the density of the local charge density under the tip, and band-bending. However a rapid, dynamic change of a field produces a potential hole that can be filled by energetic carriers, and the amount of energy released during filling process is responsible for the creation of bi-solitons. Our model based on the field-induced local hole gives excellent explanation for bi-soliton yield behaviors. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy data supports the existence of such a potential hole. The mechanism also explains the site-dependency of bi-soliton yields, which is highest at the trough, not on the dimer rows. Our study demonstrates that we can manipulate not just single atoms and molecules, but also single pseudo-spin excitations as well.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.431-437
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• 2020

The hypothalamus is a crucial organ for the maintenance of appropriate body fat storage. Neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARH) detect energy shortage or surplus via the circulating concentrations of metabolic hormones and nutrients, and then coordinate energy intake and expenditure to maintain energy homeostasis. Malfunction or loss of hypothalamic ARH neurons results in obesity. Accumulated evidence suggests that hypothalamic inflammation is a key pathological mechanism that links chronic overconsumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) with the development of obesity and related metabolic complications. Interestingly, overnutrition-induced hypothalamic inflammation occurs specifically in the ARH, where microglia initiate an inflammatory response by releasing proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in response to excessive fatty acid flux. Upon more prolonged HFD consumption, astrocytes and perivascular macrophages become involved and sustain hypothalamic inflammation. ARH neurons are victims of hypothalamic inflammation, but they may actively participate in hypothalamic inflammation by sending quiescence or stress signals to surrounding glia. In this mini-review, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the contributions of neurons and glia, and their interactions, to HFD-induced hypothalamic inflammation.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2016

Recent years, supercapacitors have been attracting a growing attention as an efficient energy storage, due to their long-lifetime, device reliability, simple device structure and operation mechanism and, most importantly, high power density. Along with the increasing interest in flexible/stretchable electronics, the supercapacitors with compatible mechanical properties have been also required. A eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) liquid metal could be a strong candidate as a soft electrode material of the supercapacitors because of its insulating surface oxide layer for electric double layer formation. Here, we report the electrochemical study on the charging/reaction process at the interface of EGaIn liquid metal and electrolyte. Numerical fitting of the charging current curves provides the capacitance of EGaIn/insulating layer/electrolyte (${\sim}38F/m^2$). This value is two orders of magnitude higher than a capacitance of a general metal electrode/electrolyte interface.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2009

Cell death has been traditionally classified in apoptosis and necrosis. Apoptosis, known as programmed cell death, is an active form of cell death mechanism that is tightly regulated by multiple cellular signaling pathways and requires ATP for its appropriate process. Apoptotic death plays essential roles for successful development and maintenance of normal cellular homeostasis in mammalian. In contrast to apoptosis, necrosis is classically considered as a passive cell death process that occurs rather by accident in disastrous conditions, is not required for energy and eventually induces inflammation. Regardless of different characteristics between apoptosis and necrosis, it has been well defined that both are responsible for a wide range of human diseases. Glycogen storage disease type I (GSD-I) is a kind of human genetic disorders and is caused by the deficiency of a microsomal protein, glucose-6-phosphatase-${\alpha}$ ($G6Pase-{\alpha}$) or glucose-6-phosphate transporter (G6PT) responsible for glucose homeostasis, leading to GSD-Ia or GSD-Ib, respectively. This review summarizes cell deaths in GSD-I and mostly focuses on current knowledge of the neutrophil apoptosis in GSD-Ib based upon ER stress and redox signaling.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2012

This study investigated the hydrogen storage properties of Zr-Based $AB_{2-x}M_x$ metal hybride made by HCS (Hydriding Combustion Synthesis). The materials were prepared by HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-15 wt% Mg-5 wt% Mm, HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-20 wt% Mg and pure Zr-Based $AB_2$, These materials were activated at 298 K under 20 bar. Both HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-20 wt% Mg and HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-15 wt% Mg-5 wt% Mm were absorbed within 1 minute. In the case of the $AB_2$, it was perfectly absorbed within 6 minutes. Then, the materials were evaluated to obtain P-C-T (Pressure-Composition-Temperature) curves at 298K. As a result, the hydrogen storage capacity of HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-20 wt% Mg, HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-15 wt% Mg-5 wt% Mm and pure Zr-Based $AB_2$ were determined to be 1.2, 1.6 and 1.74 wt%, respectively. The activation energy and rate controlling step were calculated by the Johnson-Mehl Avrami equation. The activation energies of HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-20 wt% Mg, HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-15 wt% Mg-5 wt% Mm and pure Zr-Based $AB_2$ were 26.91, 20.45, and 60.41 kJ/mol, respectively. Also, the values of ${\eta}$ in the Johnson-Mehl Avrami equation for HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-20 wt% Mg, HCS 80 wt% $AB_2$-15 wt% Mg-5 wt% Mm and pure Zr-Based $AB_2$ are 0.60, 0.51, and 0.44. So, the rate controlling steps which indicate hydrogen storage mechanism are an one dimensional diffusion process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-77
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• 2017

The failure mechanism of a deep hard rock tunnel under high geostress and high geothermalactivity is extremely complex. Uniaxial compression tests of granite at different temperatures were conducted. The complete stress-strain curves, mechanical parameters and macroscopic failure types of the rock were analyzed in detail. The brittleness index, which represents the possibility of a severe brittleness hazard, is proposed in this paperby comparing the peak stress and the expansion stress. The results show that the temperature range from 20 to $60^{\circ}C$ is able to aggravate the brittle failure of hard rock based on the brittleness index. The closure of internal micro cracks by thermal stress can improve the strength of hard rock and the storage capacity of elastic strain energy. The failure mode ofthe samples changes from shear failure to tensile failure as the temperature increases. In conclusion, the brittle failure mechanism of hard rock under the action of thermal coupling is revealed, and the analysis result offers significant guidance for deep buried tunnels at high temperatures and under high geostress.