• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.731-738
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• 2011

Cholesterol is the precursor of various steroid hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D with functions related to regulation of membrane permeability and fluidity. However, the presence of excess blood cholesterol may lead to arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Moreover, dietary cholesterol may affect blood cholesterol levels. Generally, cholesterol determination is performed by spectrophotometric or chromatographic methods, but these methods are very time consuming and costly, and require complicated pretreatment. Thus, the development of a rapid and simple analysis method for measuring cholesterol concentration in food is needed. Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was functionalized to MWCNT-$NH_2$ via MWCNT-COOH to have high sensitivity to $H_2O_2$. The fabricated MWCNT-$NH_2$ was attached to a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), after which Prussian blue (PB) was coated onto MWCNT-$NH_2$/GCE. MWCNT-$NH_2$/PB/GCE was used as a working electrode. An Ag/AgCl electrode and Pt wire were used as a reference electrode and counter electrode, respectively. The sensitivity of the modified working electrode was determined based on the amount of current according to the concentration of $H_2O_2$. The response increased with an increase of $H_2O_2$ concentration in the range of 0.5~500 ${\mu}M$ ($r^2$=0.96) with a detection limit of 0.1 ${\mu}M$. Cholesterol oxidase was immobilized to aminopropyl glass beads, CNBr-activated sepharose, Na-alginate, and toyopearl beads. The immobilized enzyme reactors with aminopropyl glass beads and CNBr-activated sepharose showed linearity in the range of 1~100 ${\mu}M$ cholesterol. Na-alginate and toyopearl beads showed linearity in the range of 5~50 and 1~50 ${\mu}M$ cholesterol, respectively. The detection limit of all immobilized enzyme reactors was 1 ${\mu}M$. These enzyme reactors showed high sensitivity; especially, the enzyme reactors with CNBr-activated sepharose and Na-alginate indicated high coupling efficiency and sensitivity. Therefore, both of the enzyme reactors are more suitable for a cholesterol biosensor system.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.295-301
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• 2023

Thermoelectric (TE) energy harvesting, which converts available thermal resources into electrical energy, is attracting significant attention, as it facilitates wireless and self-powered electronics. Recently, as demand for portable/wearable electronic devices and sensors increases, organic-inorganic TE films with polymeric matrix are being studied to realize flexible thermoelectric energy harvesters (f-TEHs). Here, we developed flexible organic-inorganic TE films with p-type Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ powder and polymeric matrices such as poly(3,4-eethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The fabricated TE films with a PEDOT:PSS matrix and 1 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) exhibited a power factor value of 3.96 µW·m^-1·K^-2 which is about 2.8 times higher than that of PVDF-based TE film. We also fabricated f-TEHs using both types of TE films and investigated the TE output performance. The f-TEH made of PEDOT:PSS-based TE films harvested the maximum load voltage of 3.4 mV, with a load current of 17.4 µA, and output power of 15.7 nW at a temperature difference of 25 K, whereas the f-TEH with PVDF-based TE films generated values of 0.6 mV, 3.3 µA, and 0.54 nW. This study will broaden the fields of the research on methods to improve TE efficiency and the development of flexible organic-inorganic TE films and f-TEH.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.53-67
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• 2023

Blood circulation is one of the most important life support functions of our body. It is essential to maintain healthy blood circulation as problems with blood circulation can lead to numerous diseases and serious complications. This study developed women's leggings with gradual compression and soft surface heating functions to improve blood circulation, and evaluated their performance and wearability. A silicon print pattern was developed to provide gradual compression, and a flexible heating surface coated with MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotube) conductive ink was fabricated for comfort and thermal effect. For the design, incision lines and materials were applied in consideration of aesthetic aspects, and design lines and colors were altered using a 3D program. The developed leggings showed that blood circulation can be improved when gradual compression and heating functions are simultaneously applied. Results were confirmed through measurements of clothing pressure, blood flow, and surface temperature. In the subjective wearability evaluation, it was confirmed that wearers felt gradual pressure, and they showed high satisfaction with wearability and design.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2020

Recently, excellent thermal and electrical performance of cementitious composites by mixing nano materials are being studied. The purpose of this study is to research the heat generation and power consumption of rapid hardening nano-cementitious composites. The experiment was carried out after setting the rapid hardening cementitious material, curing day, and supply voltage as parameters. Rapid hardening nano-cementitious materials were classified into cement paste, mortar, and concrete The heat performance of all rapid hardening nano-cementitious composites in curing 1 day has increased over 10℃. The rapid hardening nano-cementitious composites can exhibit heat performance within 1 day. The heat performance of the rapid hardening nano-cementitious composites is maintained after 28 days.