• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.333-342
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• 2021

A flexible electrochromic device (ECD) is a promising technology that is expected to be applied in various fields such as smart windows. Polymer electrolyte is an important component that determines the bleaching-coloration performance and physical stability of flexible ECDs. In this study, a pore-filled polymer electrolyte membrane (PFPEM) with excellent dimensional stability was developed to effectively fabricate flexible ECDs and improve durability. Polyvinyl acetate, which has excellent adhesion, and polyethylene glycol, which can improve ionic conductivity, were filled in the pores of a porous substrate made of polyethylene, which is inexpensive and has excellent physical and chemical stability. The optimal lithium salt (LiTFSI) content of the prepared PFPEM was determined at about 27 wt%, and it was confirmed to possess excellent dimensional stability, adhesive strength, and ion conductivity close to that of conventional polymer electrolytes. Although the visible light transmittance was lowered by the use of the porous substrate, it was expected to act as an advantage in the colored state.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.445-450
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• 2024

The expansion of lithium-ion battery usage beyond portable electronic devices to electric vehicles and energy storage systems is driven by their high energy density and favorable cycle characteristics. Enhancing the stability and performance of these batteries involves exploring solid electrolytes as alternatives to liquid ones. While sulfide-based solid electrolytes have received significant attention for commercialization, research on amorphous-phase glass solid electrolytes in oxide-based systems remains limited. Here, we investigate the glass transition temperatures and sintering behaviors by changing the molecular ratio of Li₂O/B₂O₃ in borate glass comprising Li₂O-B₂O₃-Al₂O₃ system. The glass transition temperature is decreasing as increasing the amount of Li₂O. When we sintered at 450℃, just above the glass transition temperature, the samples did not consolidate well, while the proper sintered samples could be obtained under the higher temperature. We successfully obtained the borate glass ceramics phases by melt-quenching method, and the sintering characteristics are investigated. Future studies could explore optimizing ion conductivity through refining processing conditions, adjusting the glass former-to-modifier ratio, and incorporating additional Li salt to enhance the ionic conductivity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.34-63
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• 2003

Occupational and environmental exposure to manganese continue to represent a realistic public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Increased utility of MMT as a replacement for lead in gasoline creates a new source of environmental exposure to manganese. It is, therefore, imperative that further attention be directed at molecular neurotoxicology of manganese. A Need for a more complete understanding of manganese functions both in health and disease, and for a better defined role of manganese in iron metabolism is well substantiated. The in-depth studies in this area should provide novel information on the potential public health risk associated with manganese exposure. It will also explore novel mechanism(s) of manganese-induced neurotoxicity from the angle of Mn-Fe interaction at both systemic and cellular levels. More importantly, the result of these studies will offer clues to the etiology of IPD and its associated abnormal iron and energy metabolism. To achieve these goals, however, a number of outstanding questions remain to be resolved. First, one must understand what species of manganese in the biological matrices plays critical role in the induction of neurotoxicity, Mn(II) or Mn(III)? In our own studies with aconitase, Cpx-I, and Cpx-II, manganese was added to the buffers as the divalent salt, i.e., $MnCl_2$. While it is quite reasonable to suggest that the effect on aconitase and/or Cpx-I activites was associated with the divalent species of manganese, the experimental design does not preclude the possibility that a manganese species of higher oxidation state, such as Mn(III), is required for the induction of these effects. The ionic radius of Mn(III) is 65 ppm, which is similar to the ionic size to Fe(III) (65 ppm at the high spin state) in aconitase (Nieboer and Fletcher, 1996; Sneed et al., 1953). Thus it is plausible that the higher oxidation state of manganese optimally fits into the geometric space of aconitase, serving as the active species in this enzymatic reaction. In the current literature, most of the studies on manganese toxicity have used Mn(II) as $MnCl_2$ rather than Mn(III). The obvious advantage of Mn(II) is its good water solubility, which allows effortless preparation in either in vivo or in vitro investigation, whereas almost all of the Mn(III) salt products on the comparison between two valent manganese species nearly infeasible. Thus a more intimate collaboration with physiochemists to develop a better way to study Mn(III) species in biological matrices is pressingly needed. Second, In spite of the special affinity of manganese for mitochondria and its similar chemical properties to iron, there is a sound reason to postulate that manganese may act as an iron surrogate in certain iron-requiring enzymes. It is, therefore, imperative to design the physiochemical studies to determine whether manganese can indeed exchange with iron in proteins, and to understand how manganese interacts with tertiary structure of proteins. The studies on binding properties (such as affinity constant, dissociation parameter, etc.) of manganese and iron to key enzymes associated with iron and energy regulation would add additional information to our knowledge of Mn-Fe neurotoxicity. Third, manganese exposure, either in vivo or in vitro, promotes cellular overload of iron. It is still unclear, however, how exactly manganese interacts with cellular iron regulatory processes and what is the mechanism underlying this cellular iron overload. As discussed above, the binding of IRP-I to TfR mRNA leads to the expression of TfR, thereby increasing cellular iron uptake. The sequence encoding TfR mRNA, in particular IRE fragments, has been well-documented in literature. It is therefore possible to use molecular technique to elaborate whether manganese cytotoxicity influences the mRNA expression of iron regulatory proteins and how manganese exposure alters the binding activity of IPRs to TfR mRNA. Finally, the current manganese investigation has largely focused on the issues ranging from disposition/toxicity study to the characterization of clinical symptoms. Much less has been done regarding the risk assessment of environmenta/occupational exposure. One of the unsolved, pressing puzzles is the lack of reliable biomarker(s) for manganese-induced neurologic lesions in long-term, low-level exposure situation. Lack of such a diagnostic means renders it impossible to assess the human health risk and long-term social impact associated with potentially elevated manganese in environment. The biochemical interaction between manganese and iron, particularly the ensuing subtle changes of certain relevant proteins, provides the opportunity to identify and develop such a specific biomarker for manganese-induced neuronal damage. By learning the molecular mechanism of cytotoxicity, one will be able to find a better way for prediction and treatment of manganese-initiated neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.113-125
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• 2007

To know the differences in ionic compositions in rain and snow as well as snow influence on the chemical characteristics of winter precipitation, precipitation samples were collected by the wet-only automatic precipitation sample, in winter(November-February) in the Iksan located in the northwest of Chonbuk from 1995 to 2000. The samples were analyzed for concentrations of water-soluble ion species, in addition to pH and electrical conductivity. The mean pH of winter precipitation was 4.72. According to the type of winter precipitation, the mean pH of rain was 4.67 and lower than 5.05 in snow. The frequencies of pH below 5.0 in rain were about 73%, while those in snow were about 30%. Snow contained 3 times higher concentrations of sea salt ion components originated from seawater than did rain in winter, mainly $Cl^-,\;Na^+$, and $Mg^{2+}$. Neglecting sea salt ion components, $nss-SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$ were important anions and $NH_4^+$ and $nss-Ca^{2+}$ were important cations in both of rain and snow. Concentrations of $nss-SO_4^{2-}$ was 1.3 times higher in rain than in snow, while those of $nss-Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_3^-$ were 1.5 and 1.3 times higher in snow, respectively. The mean equivalent concentration ratio of $nss-SO_4^{2-}/NO_3^-$ in winter precipitation were 2.4, which implied that the relative contribution of sulfuric and nitric acids to the precipitation acidity was 71% and 29%, respectively. The ratio in rain was 2.7 and higher than 1.5 in snow. These results suggest that the difference of $NO_3^-$ in rain and snow could be due to the more effective scavenging of $HNO_3$ vapor than particulate sulfate or nitrate by snow. The lower ratio in snow than rain is consistent with the measurement results of foreign other investigators and with scavenging theory of atmospheric aerosols. Although substantial $nss-SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$ were observed in both of rain and snow, the corresponding presence of $NH_4^+,\;nss-Ca^{2+},\;nss-K^+$ suggested the significant neutralization of rain and snow. Differences in chemical composition of non-sea salt ions and neutralizing rapacity of $NH_4^+,\;nss-Ca^{2+}$, and $nss-K^+$ between rain and snow could explain the acidity difference of rain and snow. Snow affected that winter precipitation could be less acidic due to its higher neutralizing rapacity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 1977

A laboratory study was made to develop a simple and economic model method for the systematic determination of functional properties of 'Soy Protein Isolates (SPI)' prepared from defatted soybean meal. These are required to evaluate and to predict how SPI may behave in specific systems and such proteins can be used to simulate or replace conventional proteins. Data concerning the effects of pH, salt concentration, temperature, and protein concentration on the functional properties which include solubility, heat denaturation, gel forming capacity, emulsifying capacity, and foaming capacity are presented. The results are as follows: 1) The yield of SPI from defatted soybean meal increased to 83.9 % as the soybean meal was extracted with 0.02 N NaOH. 2) The suitable viscocity of a dope solution for spinning fiber was found to be 60 Poises by using syringe needle (0.3 mm) with 15 % SPI in 0.6 % NaOH. 3) Heat caused thickening and gelation in concentration of 8 % with a temperature threshold of $70^{\circ}C$. At $8{\sim}12\;%$ protein concentration, gel was formed within $10{\sim}30\;min$ at $70{\sim}100\;^{\circ}C$. It was, however, disrupted rapidly at $125\;^{\circ}C$ of overheat treatment. The gel was firm, resilient and self-supporting at protein concentration of 14 % and less susceptible to disruption of overheating. 4) The emulsifying capacity (EC) of SPI was correlated positively to the solubility of protein at ${\mu}=0$. At pH of the isoelectric point of SPI (pH 4.6), EC increased as concentration of sodium chloride increased. Using model system$(mixing\;speed:\;12,000\;r.p.m.,\;oil\;addition\;rate:\;0.9\;ml/sec,\;and\;temperature\;:\;20{\pm}1\;^{\circ}C)$, the maximum EC of SPI was found to be 47.2 ml of oil/100 mg protein, at the condition of pH 8.7 and ${\mu}=0.6$. The milk casein had greater EC than SPI at lower ionic strength while the EC of SPI was the same as milk casein at higher ionic strength. 5) The shaking test was used in determining the foam-ability of proteins. Progressively increasing SPI concentration up to 5 % indicated that the maximum protein concentration for foaming capacity was 2 %. Sucrose reduced foam expansion slightly but enhanced foam stability. The results of comparing milk casein and egg albumin were that foaming properties of SPI were the same as egg albumin, and better than milk casein, particularly in foam stability.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2013

Solid polymer electrolyte films are prepared by ultraviolet radiation in the mixtures of an ionic liquid salt (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, $EMIBF_4$) and solvent (acetonitrile (ACN) or propylene carbonate(PC)), and an oligomer (poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate, PEGDA, 45-60 wt.%). Electrochemical properties of activated carbon supercapacitors adopting the solid polymer electrolyte films as a separator are also examined by cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurement techniques. As a result, the supercapacitor adopting the PEGDA as much as 45 wt.% exhibits a superior capacitance of $46Fg^{-1}$ at $20mVs^{-1}$. It seems that this is due to fast kinetics of ion conduction by sufficient film flexibility, which can be allowed by comparatively weak ultraviolet curing of small anount of the PEGDA.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2010

In present work, sulfonated poly(arylene biphenyklsulfone ether) copolymers containing hydroquinone moiety were successfully synthesized using 4,4'-bis[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1,1'-biphenyl(BCPSBP), hydroquinone sulfonic acid potassium salt(sHQ), 4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol and evaluated their characteristics. Three kinds of polymer electrolyte membranes, PBPSEH-HQ00, PBPSEH-HQ10 and PBPSEH-HQ30 were prepared by using mole fraction of sulfonated hydroquinone(sHQ). The structure of the fabricated polymers was analyzed using NMR, IR and GPC. The Mw(weight-average molecular weights) of the polymers were in the range of 62,000-213,000 g $mol^{-1}$, and the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) varied from 1.66-4.04. The thermal analysis of the copolymers was carried out by TGA and DSC. The temperature of Td5% and Td10% was decreased with the mole fraction of sHQ but Tg was increased with the mole fraction. The water uptake, IEC and ion conductivity were increased with increasing the ionic cluster of the polymers. The proton conductivity equal to 9.4 mS $cm^{-1}$ was measured for the PBPSEH-HQ30 membrane at $90^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity. From the observed results it is clear that the prepared hydrocarbon membrane can be considered as suitable polymer electrolyte membrane for the application of PEMFC.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2015

A continuous series of 60 snow samples was collected at a 2.5-cm interval from a 1.5-m snow pit at a site on the Styx Glacier Plateau in Victoria Land, Antarctica, during the 2011/2012 austral summer season. Various chemical components (${\delta}D$, ${\delta}^{18}O$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, $F^-$, $CH_3SO_3{^-}$, $CH_3CO_2{^-}$ and $HCO_2{^-}$) were determined to understand the highly resolved seasonal variations of these species in the coastal atmosphere near the Antarctic Jang Bogo station. Based on vertical profiles of ${\delta}^{18}O$, $NO_3{^-}$and MSA, which showed prominent seasonal changes in concentrations, the snow samples were dated to cover the time period from 2009 austral winter to 2012 austral summer with a mean accumulation rate of $226kgH_2Om^{-2}yr^{-1}$. Our snow profiles show pronounced seasonal variations for all the measured chemical species with a different pattern between different species. The distinctive feature of the occurrence patterns of the seasonal variations is clearly linked to changes in the relative strength of contributions from various natural sources (sea salt spray, volcanoes, crust-derived dust, and marine biogenic activities) during different short-term periods. The results allow us to understand the transport pathways and input mechanisms for each species and provide valuable information that will be useful for investigating long-term (decades to century scale periods) climate and environmental changes that can be deduced from an ice core to be retrieved from the Styx Glacier Plateau in the near future.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2006

Methanol induction conditions with various additives for the enhanced production of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) were investigated in Pichia pastoris, which can utilize methanol as a carbon source and produce recombinant proteins under the control of strong, tightly-regulated alcohol oxidase(AOX) promoter. The presence of non-methanol carbon sources such as glycerol and glucose fully repressed the expression of AOX promoter. Various additives were tested to improve the production of recombinant protein and it was found that sorbitol could be a good carbon source during methanol induction period. An optimized concentration of amino acid mixture enhanced the production of HBsAg significantly. Pluronic F-68, a non-ionic surfactant, also improved the production of HBsAg without inhibiting cell growth. Addition of oleic acid at 0.01%(v/v) during the induction period showed positive effect on the production of HBsAg. Finally, 1.2%(v/v) of trace salts enhanced the production of HBsAg 1.9 times compared to that of control culture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1017-1023
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• 2010

This study investigated the effect of surfactants (nonionic surfactant (Tween 20), biosurfactant) on enhancing transport of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) in geological materials. Column experiments were performed under various surfactant conditions with columns packed with quartz sand (particle size distribution: 0.5~2.0 mm, mean diameter: 1.0 mm). Bacterial mass recovery, sticking efficiency, and other parameters were quantified from breakthrough curves. Results indicate that bacterial attachment to sand surfaces increased considerably in the presence of mineral salt medium (MSM), especially at the inlet, which was due to the increase of ionic strength by MSM. It was observed that bacterial transport in sand columns was enhanced in the presence of surfactant. Results also show that simultaneous injection of both surfactant and MSM or pre-injection of surfactant was more effective in bacterial transport enhancement than after-injection of surfactant. This study suggests that transport of bacteria in geological materials could be influenced by surfactants and their injection methods.