• Title/Summary/Keyword: limiting factors

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Effects of Ru/C Catalyst on the CO Tolerance of Anode and Durability of Membrane in PEMFC (PEMFC에서 전극의 CO 내성 및 막 내구성에 미치는 Ru/C 촉매의 영향)

  • Sim, Woo-jong;Kim, Dong-whan;Choi, Seo-hee;Kim, Ki-joong;Ahn, Ho-Geun;Jung, Min-chul;Park, Kwonpil
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.46 no.2
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    • pp.286-290
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    • 2008
  • Small amounts of CO in reformate fuel gas effectively block platinum catalysts by strong adsorption on the platinum surface at the operation temperature of $60{\sim}80^{\circ}C$ in PEMFC. To oxidate CO, Ru/C layer (CO filter) was placed between Pt/C layer and GDL (gas diffusion layer) in this study. Ru/C filter provided good CO-tolerant PEMFC anode, but decreased the performance of unit cell about 10% at 0.6 V due to mass transfer resistance from Ru/C filter thickness and increase of charge transfer resistance. Membrane degradation is one of the most important factors limiting the life-time of PEMFCs. Membrane durability would be dependent on the electrode catalyst type. It seemed that Ru catalyst layer would shorten the life time of PEMFC as enhanced the fluoride emission rate of membrane in acceleration test.

Fatty Acid Modulation of Atherosclerosis by Peroxisome Proliferator- Activated Receptors

  • Erickson, Kent L.;Hubbard, Neil E.;Meinecke, Lynette M.
    • Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.454-460
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    • 2002
  • While atherosclerosis is a major killer, there is now concern that mortality from the disease will increase due to the rising incidence of type II diabetes. Because diet can potentially influence both diseases, it is important to elucidate the role of diet in the progression of atherosclerosis. In addition, the mechanisms involved in dietary-related alterations of the disease need to be defined to guide public health recommendations to reduce athero-sclerosis incidence and limiting unwanted side effects. Since diet is thought to play a role in atherosclerosis even without added complications due to type II diabetes, reducing the incidence of that metabolic disease will not be enough. While evidence is increasing that high intake of carbohydrate can lead to type II diabetes and atherosclerosis, the preponderance of existing evidence indicates that intake of specific fats as a major dietary causal factor. It has recently been hypothesized that a dietary fat link to atherosclerosis may depend partly on the activity of a transcriptional regulator, the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR). Thusfar, PPAR $\alpha$, $\beta$/$\delta$ and ${\gamma}$, have been shown to play a major role in metabolism, inflammation, and cancer. Furthermore, PPAR may regulate specific processes associated with atherosclerosis such as triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism; the reverse cholesterol transport pathway; lipid accumulation within plaques; the local inflammatory response and plaque stability. Synthetic ligands for PPAR have been developed; however, natural ligands include specific fatty acids and their metabolites. Though the role of PPAR in atherosclerosis has been reported with respect to synthetic ligands, additional studies need to be done with established and possible natural ligands. In this review, we will focus on the relation of dietary fat to PPAR alteration of atherosclerosis.

High Temperature Fracture Mechanisms in Monolithic and Particulate Reinforced Intermetallic Matrix Composite Processed by Spray Atomization and Co-Deposition (분무성형공정에 의한 세라믹미립자 강화형 금속간화합물 복합재료의 고온파괴거동)

  • Chung, Kang;Kim, Doo-Hwan;Kim, Ho-Kyung
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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    • v.18 no.7
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    • pp.1713-1721
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    • 1994
  • Intermetallic-matrix composites(IMCs) have the potential of combing matrix properties of oxidation resistance and high temperature stability with reinforcement properties of high specific strength and modulus. One of the major limiting factors for successful applications of these composite at high temperatures is the formation of interfacial reactions between matrix and ceramic reinforcement during composite process and during service. The purpose of the present investigation is to develop a better understanding of the nature of creep fracture mechanisms in a $Ni_{3}Al$ composite reinforced with both $TiB_{2}$ and SiC particulates. Emphasis is placed in the roles of the products of the reactions in determining the creep lifetime of the composite. In the present study, creep rupture specimens were tested under constant ranging from 180 to 350 MPa in vacuum at $760^{\cric}C$. The experimental data reveal that the stress exponent for power law creep for the composite is 3.5, a value close to that for unreinforced $Ni_{3}Al$. The microstructural observations reveal that most of the cavities lie on the grain boundaries of the $Ni_{3}Al$ matrix as opposed to the large $TiB_{2}/Ni_{3}Al$ interfaces, suggesting that cavities nucleate at fine carbides that lie in the $Ni_{3}Al$ grain boundaries as a result of the decomposition of the $SiC_{p}$. This observation accounts for the longer rupture times for the monolicthic $Ni_{3}Al$ as compared to those for the $Ni_{3}Al/SiC_{p}/TiB_{2} IMC$. Finally, it is suggested that creep deformation in matrix appears to dominate the rupture process for monolithic $Ni_{3}Al$, whereas growth and coalescence of cavities appears to dominate the rupture process for the composite.

Spinal Cord Partial Block Technique Using Dynamic MLC

  • Cho, Sam-Ju;Yi, Byong-Yong;Back, Geum-Mun;Lee, Sang wook;Ahn, Seung-Do;Kim, Jong-Hoon;Kwon, Soo-Il;Park, Eun-Kyung
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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    • 2002.09a
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    • pp.138-140
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    • 2002
  • The spinal cord dose is the one of the limiting factor for the radiation treatment of the head & neck (H&N) or the thorax region. Due to the fact that the cord is the elongated shaped structure, it is not an easy task to maintain the cord dose within the clinically acceptable dose range. To overcome this problem, the spinal cord partial block technique (PBT) with the dynamic Multi-Leaf Collimator (dMLC) has been developed. Three dimension (3D) conformal beam directions, which minimize the coverage of the normal organs such as the lung and the parotid gland, were chosen. The PBT field shape for each field was designed to shield the spinal cord with the dMLC. The transmission factors were determined by the forward calculation method. The plan comparisons between the conventional 3D conformal therapy plan and the PTB plan were performed to evaluate the validity of this technique. The conformity index (CI) and the dose volume histogram (DVH) were used as the plan comparison indices. A series of quality assurance (QA) was performed to guarantee the reliable treatment. The QA consisted of the film dosimetry for the verification of the dose distribution and the point measurements. The PBT plan always generated better results than the conventional 3D conformal plan. The PBT was proved to be useful for the H&N and thorax region.

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Optimum Harvest Time for High Quality Seed Production of Sweet and Super Sweet Corn Hybrids

  • Lee Suk Soon;Yun Sang Hee;Seo Jung Moon
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.49 no.5
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    • pp.373-380
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    • 2004
  • The production of sweet (su) and super sweet corns (sh2) has been economically feasible in Korea in recent years. Major factors limiting super sweet corn production are low germination and low seedling vigor. Since seed quality is closely related to seed maturity, the optimum harvest time for the seed production of sweet and super sweet corns was studied and the quality of seeds with varying maturities was investigated in 2001 and 2002 cropping seasons. The parents of the sweet corn seeds were Hybrid Early Sunglow and 'Golden Cross Bantam 70' and those of super sweet corn were Xtrasweet 82 and 'For­tune'. Seeds were harvested at 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days after silking (DAS). As the seeds developed, seed weight of sweet corn increased and the seed moisture content decreased faster than that of super sweet corn. Germination rates of sweet corn seeds harvested 21 and 28 DAS at $25^{\circ}C$ and emergence rates in the cold soil test were significantly lower than those of seeds harvested after 42 DAS in both years. Although the germination rates of super sweet corn seeds with varying maturities showed similar patterns as sweet corn seeds at $25^{\circ}C$, the emergence rate of super sweet corn seeds in cold soil test continuously increased with seed maturity. This suggests that seed quality of super sweet corn should be tested in a cold soil test to estimate field emergence. As the seeds developed, leakage of total sugars and electrolytes from the both sweet and super sweet corn seeds decreased up to 42 or 49 DAS. The $\alpha-amylase$ activities of both sweet and super sweet corn seeds increased with seed maturity from 21 to 35 or 49 DAS depending on genotype and year. The optimum harvest time for the seed production of sweet corn was 42 DAS and 49 DAS for super sweet corn considering emergence rate and plumule dry weight in the cold soil test, leakage of sugars and electrolytes from the seeds, and $\alpha-amylase$ activity.

Effects of Nitrogen Level and Seedling Number on Panicle Structure in Japonica Rice

  • Kim, Bo-Kyeong;Kim, Ki-Young;Oh, Myung-Kyu;Shin, Mun-Sik;Ko, Jae-Kwon;Lee, Jae-Kil;Kang, Hee-Kyoung
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.120-126
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    • 2003
  • Four different rice varieties, Sindongjinbyeo, Dongjin #1, Saegyehwabyeo, and Iksan 467, were transplanted under three different nitrogen levels and two different seedling numbers per hill to obtain basic information on panicle traits under different cultural conditions and to propose the ideal panicle structure in Japonica rice. Sindongjinbyeo and Iksan 467 were characterized by more primary rachis branches (PRBs) per panicle and more grains on PRB than other cultivars. The two varieties also had fewer secondary rachis branches (SRBs) per PRB and fewer grains on SRB per PRB. These characteristics, consequently, resulted in higher ripened grain rate, contrary to that of Dongjin #1 and Saegyehwabyeo. In the correlation coefficient analysis, PRB number per panicle and grain number on PRB per panicle were positively correlated with ripened grain rate, while SRB number per panicle, number of grains on SRB per panicle, SRB number per PRB, number of grains on SRB per PRB and grain number per panicle were negatively correlated with ripened grain rate. Therefore, the number of grains on PRB per panicle, SRB number per PRB and the number of grains on SRB per PRB were the appropriate criteria for determining and achieving higher ripened grain rate in rice. High ripened grain rate over 90% was obtainable with over 12.5 PRBs per panicle and 63 grains on PRB per panicle, and with under 1.7 SRBs per PRB, 5 grains on SRB per PRB, 130 grains per panicle, and 14 panicles per hill. The study recommended that for over 90% high ripened grain rate, the critical limiting factors should be under 2 SRBs per PRB, 6 grains per PRB, and 130 grains per panicle, irrespective of the PRB number per panicle and the number of grains on PRB.

Fundamental Study of Energy Harvesting using Thermoelectric Module on Road Facilities (열전소자를 활용한 도로구조물에서의 에너지 하베스팅 기초 연구)

  • Lee, Jae-Jun;Kim, Dae-Hoon;Lee, Kang-Hwi;Lim, Jae-Kyu;Lee, Seung-Tae
    • International Journal of Highway Engineering
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    • v.16 no.6
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    • pp.51-57
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    • 2014
  • PURPOSES : An conventional method for electric power generation is converting thermal energy into mechanical energy then to electrical energy. Due to environmental issues such as global warming related with $CO_2$ emission etc., were the limiting factor for the energy resources which resulting in extensive research and novel technologies are required to generate electric power. Thermal energy harvesting using thermoelectric generator is one of energy harvesting technologies due to diverse advantages for new green technology. This paper presents a possibility of application of the thermoelectric generator's application in the direct exchange of waste solar energy into electrical power in road space. METHODS : To measure generated electric power of the thermoelectric generator, data logger was adopted as function of experimental factors such as using cooling sink, connection methods etc. Also, the thermoelectric generator、s behavior at low ambient temperature was investigated as measurement of output voltage vs. elapsed times. RESULTS : A few temperature difference between top an bottom of the thermoelectric generator is generated electric voltage. Components of an electrical circuit can be connected in various ways. The two simplest of these are called series and parallel and occur so open. Series shows slightly better performance in this study. An installation of cooling sink in the thermoelectric generator system was enhanced the output of power voltage. CONCLUSIONS : In this paper, a basic concepts of thermoelectric power generation is presented and applications of the thermoelectric generator to waste solar energy in road is estimated for green energy harvesting technology. The possibility of usage of thermoelectric technology for road facilities was found under the ambient thermal gradient between two surfaces of the thermoelectric module. An experiment results provide a testimony of the feasibility of the proposed environmental energy harvesting technology on the road facilities.

Evaluation of Trophic State of a Small-scale Pond (Wonheung) in Ecological Park (소규모 생태연못(원흥이 방죽)의 부영양화 평가)

  • Lee, Heung Soo;Chung, Se Woong;Choi, Jung Kyu;Shin, Sang Il
    • Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.741-749
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    • 2008
  • Many small-scale ponds that serve as ecological habitat, recreation and irrigation are faced to eutrophication problem, which causes aesthetic nuisance and ultimately loss of their functions. Thus accurate evaluation of the trophic state of these ponds is essential to provide rational information to the stakeholders so that they can develop effective management actions. In this study, the trophic state of a small pond (Wonheung) that experiencing water quality degradation due to vicinity land development was assessed using various Trophic State Indexes (TSIs) and statistical analysis including Principal Components Analysis (PCA) based on the field monitoring data obtained from May to December, 2007. The results showed that the pond is under eutrophic state with average total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) concentrations of $708.1{\mu}g/L$ and $59.3{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The factor loading plot obtained from PCA showed distinct two influencing factors, PC 1 and PC 2. PC 1 was grouped by T-P, Chlorophyll a (Chl-a), suspended solids (SS), TN/TP ratio, and transparency that all strongly related to the eutrophication state, while PC 2 by temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and turbidity that explains the seasonal water quality variations. The limiting factor was identified as light rather than phosphorus by both T-N/T-P ratio and TSI indexes analysis. The results and methodology adopted in this study can be used for water quality assessment for other small ponds and lakes.

Development of Defects Detecting System for Corrugated Board, Mill Application, and Changes of Production Defects Ratio (골판지 불량 검색 시스템 개발, 현장적용과 생산 불량률 변화)

  • Jeong, Jin-Mo;Min, Kyung-Eun;Kim, Mun-Sung;Park, Jong-Moon
    • Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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    • v.40 no.2
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    • pp.37-42
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    • 2008
  • Defects of corrugated board were limiting factors to the corrugated industry's growth. On-line detecting systems of defects are beneficial to increase profits of the corrugated board companies by reducing base paper consumption, increasing process reliability, and increasing productivity. By replacing naked eye inspection of defects to a defects detecting system, continuous inspection without fatigue may guarantee final products quality. The system was developed, which was consisted of line scan CCD camera, lens, illuminating parts, high speed image processor, software, various input parts, and output parts. First installation location of the system was at before fluting process after base paper unwinding, and surface of liner board was inspected by the system. Second installation location was after fluting process and combining process for liner board. Production loss includes ragged appearance of edge, irregular flute shape, wrong combination of flute, score cracking, defects in base paper, and flute cracking. The production loss was analyzed before and after the system installation at a commercial domestic mill. The production loss ratio was defined as a production loss weight per total production weight. The production loss ratio before the installation was decreased a lot from 1.28%(during 3 months before installation) to 0.76%(during 12 months after the first installation) and to 0.25%(during 6 months after the second installation).

A $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS 3.2-Gb/s 4-PAM Serial Link Receiver Using Current Mode Signaling (Current Mode Signaling 방법을 이용한 $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS 3.2-Gb/s 4-PAM Serial Link Receiver)

  • Lee, Jeong-Jun;Jeong, Ji-Kyung;Burm, Jin-Wook;Jeong, Young-Han
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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    • v.46 no.10
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    • pp.79-85
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    • 2009
  • The design of a 3.2 Gb/s serial link receiver in $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS process is presented. The major factors limiting the performance of high-speed links are transmission channel bandwidth, timing uncertainty. The design uses a multi-level signaling(4-PAM) to overcome these problems. Moreover, to increase data bit-rate and lower BER, we designed this circuit by using a current mode amplifier, Current-mode Logic(CML) sampling latches. The 4-PAM receiver achieves 3.2 Gb/s and BER is less than $1.0\;{\times}\;10^{-12}$. The $0.5\;{\times}\;0.6\;mm^2$ chip consumes 49 mA at 3.2 Gb/s from a 1.8-V supply.