• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1013-1022
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• 2023

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread soil endophytic fungi, forming mutualistic relationships with the vast majority of land plants. Biochar (BC) has been reported to improve soil fertility and promote plant growth. However, limited studies are available concerning the combined effects of AMF and BC on soil community structure and plant growth. In this work, a pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of AMF and BC on the rhizosphere microbial community of Allium fistulosum L. Using Illumina high-throughput sequencing, we showed that inoculation of AMF and BC had a significant impact on soil microbial community composition, diversity, and versatility. Increases were observed in both plant growth (the plant height by 8.6%, shoot fresh weight by 12.1%) and root morphological traits (average diameter by 20.5%). The phylogenetic tree also showed differences in the fungal community composition in A. fistulosum. In addition, Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed that 16 biomarkers were detected in the control (CK) and AMF treatment, while only 3 were detected in the AMF + BC treatment. Molecular ecological network analysis showed that the AMF + BC treatment group had a more complex network of fungal communities, as evidenced by higher average connectivity. The functional composition spectrum showed significant differences in the functional distribution of soil microbial communities among different fungal genera. The structural equation model (SEM) confirmed that AMF could improve the microbial multifunctionality by regulating the rhizosphere fungal diversity and soil properties. Our findings provide new information on the effects of AMF and biochar on plants and soil microbial communities.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.283-290
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• 2024

The aggressive scaling of dynamic random-access memory capacitors has increased the need to maintain high capacitance despite the limited physical thickness of electrodes and dielectrics. This makes it essential to use high-k dielectric materials. TiO₂ has a large dielectric constant, ranging from 30~75 in the anatase phase to 90~170 in rutile phase. However, it has significant leakage current due to low energy barriers for electron conduction, which is a critical drawback. Suppressing the leakage current while scaling to achieve an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) below 0.5 nm is necessary to control the influence of interlayers on capacitor performance. For this, Pt and Ru, with their high work function, can be used instead of a conventional TiN substrate to increase the Schottky barrier height. Additionally, forming rutile-TiO₂ on RuO₂ with excellent lattice compatibility by epitaxial growth can minimize leakage current. Furthermore, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) can be used to deposit a uniform thin film with high density and low defects at low temperatures, to reduce the impact of interfacial reactions on electrical properties at high temperatures. In this study, TiO₂ was deposited using PEALD, using substrates of Pt and Ru treated with rapid thermal annealing at 500 and 600 ℃, to compare structural, chemical, and electrical characteristics with reference to a TiN substrate. As a result, leakage current was suppressed to around 10^-6 A/cm² at 1 V, and an EOT at the 0.5 nm level was achieved.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.431-441
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• 2024

A newly developed line-style sand pluviator has been calibrated to prepare repeatable sand specimens of specific statuses of compactness and homogeneity for laboratory tests. Sand is falling via a bottom slot of a fixed hopper, and by moving the sample container under the slot, the container is evenly filled with sand. The pluviator is designed with high flexibility: The falling height of sand, the hopper's opening width and the relative moving speed between the hopper and the sample box can be easily adjusted. By changing these control factors, sand specimens of a wide range of densities can be prepared. A series of specimen preparation was performed using the coarse Merwede River sand. Performance of the pluviator was systematically evaluated by exploring the alteration of achievable density, as well as checking the homogeneity and fabric of the prepared samples by CT scanning. It was found that the density of prepared coarse sand samples has monotonic correlations with none of the three control factors. Furthermore, CT scanning results suggested that the prepared samples exhibited excellent homogeneity in the horizontal direction but periodical alteration of density in the vertical direction. Based on these calibration test results, a preliminary hypothesis is proposed to describe the general working principles of this type of pluviators a priori, illustrating the mechanisms dominating the non-monotonic correlations between control factors and the relative density as well as the vertically prevalent heterogeneity of specimens. Accordingly, practical recommendations are made in a unified framework in order to lessen the load of similar calibration work.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 2024

Molten salt reactors represent a promising advancement in nuclear technology due to their potential for enhanced safety, higher efficiency, and reduced nuclear waste. However, the development of structural materials that can survive under severe corrosion environments is crucial. In the present work, pure Ni was deposited on the surface of 316H stainless steel using a directed energy deposition (DED) process. This study aimed to fabricate pure Ni alloy layers on an STS316H alloy substrate. It was observed that low laser power during the deposition of pure Ni on the STS316H substrate could induce stacking defects such as surface irregularities and internal voids, which were confirmed through photographic and SEM analyses. Additionally, the diffusion of Fe and Cr elements from the STS316H substrate into the Ni layers was observed to decrease with increasing Ni deposition height. Analysis of the composition of Cr and Fe components within the Ni deposition structures allows for the prediction of properties such as the corrosion resistance of Ni.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.129-142
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• 2024

Alendronate sodium (ALS) is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate used for the treatment of different bone disorders. However, its adverse effect on oral soft tissue has been detected. Rutin (RUT) is natural flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This work aimed to investigate the possible effect of ALS on the tongue of adult male albino rats and to evaluate the possible protective role of RUT. Forty adult male albino rats were equally divided into four groups: group I (control), group II (RUT): Received RUT 50 mg/kg, group III (ALS): Received ALS 1 mg/kg, group IV (ALS+RUT):(ALS+RUT): Received ALS and RUT with the same doses as pervious groups. The drugs were given once daily for 5 weeks. Tongue specimens were taken and processed for light and scanning electron microscopic inspection. ALS treated group revealed structural changes in the tongue in the form of decrease in the height of the filiform papillae with blunt ends, marked atrophy in some papillae with areas of focal loss, loss of some epithelial cells, pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuoles in some epithelial cells. The lamina propria showed inflammatory cellular infiltration with congested blood vessels. Statistically, there were highly significant decrease in the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunopositive cells, area percentage of Bcl-2 immunoexpression and highly significant increase in the collagen content compared to control group. Administration of RUT with ALS minimizes these changes. RUT protected the rat tongue against the histological and immunohistochemical changes induced by ALS through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.4068-4076
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• 2024

In the event of severe accidents in pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants, the potential leakage of radioactive aerosols through containment cracks poses a considerable radioactive hazard to the public. Understanding aerosol transport and retention in cracks helps reduce the conservatism and uncertainty of radioactive hazard assessment. Concrete cracks are recognized as a pivotal pathway for the leakage of radioactive aerosols, and several researchers have undertaken experimental investigations concerning the aerosol transport and retention in concrete cracks. However, the majority of these studies have rather low gas flow Reynolds numbers. In this work, an experimental setup is built to study aerosol transport and retention in concrete cracks under high Reynolds number flow. The TiO₂ aerosol with a mass median diameter of 1 ㎛ and two concrete crack specimens are used in experiments. The results of gas flow experiments indicate that the Reynolds number is capable of reaching 10547. Combining the flow experimental data and Suzuki's formula, the equivalent heights of these two crack specimens are approximated as 303.67 ㎛ and 231.48 ㎛. The experimental results indicate a notably high retention rate of aerosols, exceeding 0.8. Furthermore, under high Reynolds number flow, the retention rate varies over a relatively narrow range, with the larger the equivalent height of the crack resulting in a lower retention rate. The experimental results match well with the mechanistic analysis based on inertial deposition theory, demonstrating the rationality of the inertial deposition theory.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.607-618
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• 2024

With the growing adoption of Building Information Modeling(BIM), many studies on BIM-based quantity take-off are being conducted. However, the absence of standardized quantity take-off protocols for BIM-based methods has led to a decline in accuracy. This study aimed to compare quantity take-off results from 3D models with those derived from traditional 2D-based quantity take-off methods and modeling approaches, specifically for finishing work, and to identify the underlying causes of any discrepancies. The analysis revealed significant variations in the quantities of walls, floors, and ceilings, with walls exhibiting the largest deviation. The primary cause of these discrepancies was that when interior and exterior surfaces were modeled as a single composite object, it became impossible to accurately set the height of individual finishing materials, resulting in overestimations of the quantities. Consequently, the study demonstrated that modeling interior and exterior components as separate composite objects in 3D models can significantly reduce quantity take-off discrepancies. Moving forward, the establishment of precise quantity take-off standards through additional case studies will be crucial for improving cost management in BIM applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.30-41
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• 1976

The workers involved in breeding the growth of forest trees as well as in the efficiency of breeding work wish to find out the evidence that juvenile-mature correlations are high and that therefore early tests can be profitably employed in relation work. Juvenile-mature correlation denotes in general sense the interdependence between qualitative or quantitative data collected at different intervals during the life cycle. The correlation can also be obtained through the stem analysis if there is the possibility of cutting sample trees needed amount. In the present study, the juvenile-mature correlation coefficients are calculated from the stem analysis data. The every possible values of correlation coefficient between the 5-year age groups as to diameter, height, and volume growth of Pinus koraiensis S. et Z. and Larix leptolepis Gord. grown in the middle district of Korea were calculated. All the sample trees were cut from the man made plantation. The correlation coefficients are presented in tables and figures. In Pinus koraiensis S. et Z., the values of correlation coefficient between the successive age groups of heights growth are lower in general than those values pertaining to diameter growth. This tendencies are indifferent to site quality. In Larix leptolepis Gord., the values were lower thant these of Pinus koraiensis S.etZ. In any species and characteristics studied, the implications that at least 15 years growth character are related to 35 or 40 years size with reliability could be deduced. Through the relative ranking studies of diameter, height and volume growth of Larix leptolepis Gord., the large varieties among individual trees are appeared during 5-year to 35 year old.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2009

Aimed at office workers at their height of Temporomandibular joint disorder(TMD), organized self-filling questionnaires were distributed from January 7 to 26, 2008 to 216 workers in the fields of service, office work, and production in D metropolitan city, to get a proper recognition about prevention and treatment of TMD by observing how strongly occupational stress influence on them. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. For subjective symptoms of joint noise as TMD, occasional was 45.8% and often 12.0%, while for joint dislocation often was 12.0%. 41.2% said they feel pains while chewing, while 24.1% said they occasionally feel pains while not chewing. 2.8% said they often experience mouth-opening disorder. 2. For joint noise, answers were significantly different according to their ages, while 30's are at their height (P < 0.05). For joint dislocation, the shorter they worked the more they have it, so less than a year worker was 37.9%, while less than 3 years 31.0%, and less than 5 years 20.7%. For work type, daytime workers have more dislocation, 58.6%, than shift-workers 34.5% (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). For pains while chewing, the shorter they worked, the more they experienced, which is the same as mouth-opening disorder (P < 0.01). 3. Workers with mouth-opening disorder have much stress on occupational autonomy (P < 0.05) and workers with dislocation and pains while chewing have much stress on relation trouble (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Workers with highly occupational insecurity has much trouble on dislocation and pains while chewing, while workers with dislocation have significantly much stress on unproper compensation (P < 0.05). 4. For who have joint dislocation, they have much stress on relation-trouble, occupational disorder, and un-proper compensation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Workers with pains while not chewing showed significant difference about occupational insecurity and relation troubles (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Who have mouth-opening disorder showed significant difference about occupational autonomy (P < 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.245-256
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• 2021

This study was conducted to identify the applicability of a LiDAR sensor to forest resources inventories by comparing data on a tree's position, height, and DBH obtained by the sensor with those by existing forest inventory methods, for the tree species of Criptomeria japonica in Jeolmul forest in Jeju, South Korea. To this end, a backpack personal LiDAR (Greenvalley International, Model D50) was employed. To facilitate the process of the data collection, patterns of collecting the data by the sensor were divided into seven ones, considering the density of sample plots and the work efficiency. Then, the accuracy of estimating the variables of each tree was assessed. The amount of time spent on acquiring and processing the data by each method was compared to evaluate the efficiency. The findings showed that the rate of detecting standing trees by the LiDAR was 100%. Also, the high statistical accuracy was observed in both Pattern 5 (DBH: RMSE 1.07 cm, Bias -0.79 cm, Height: RMSE 0.95 m, Bias -3.2 m), and Pattern 7 (DBH: RMSE 1.18 cm, Bias -0.82 cm, Height: RMSE 1.13 m, Bias -2.62 m), compared to the results drawn in the typical inventory manner. Concerning the time issue, 115 to 135 minutes per 1ha were taken to process the data by utilizing the LiDAR, while 375 to 1,115 spent in the existing way, proving the higher efficiency of the device. It can thus be concluded that using a backpack personal LiDAR helps increase efficiency in conducting a forest resources inventory in an planted coniferous forest with understory vegetation, implying a need for further research in a variety of forests.