• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2023

Converter slag is a by-product generated by refining the pig iron produced into molten steel in the blast furnace, occupying about 15 % of the weight of steel production. It has a high free-CaO content that can generate expansion cracks when used for concrete aggregate. This is the main reason to make it difficult to recycle. To solve this problem, government guideline requires that converter slag has to be aged in an open yard for 90 days. However, aging can not be perfectly performed because it entails time and cost. In this study, we tried to investigate the applicability of converter slag as a cementitious material rather than an aggregate by mixing converter slag with mortar formulations. According to the EDS results of the converter slag in the experiment, we found that screening in the aggregate phase was more effective than that in the powder phase. When the particles separated by a magnet in the aggregate state were pulverized and used for concrete up to a 15 % replacement ratio, various engineering characteristics, such as flow, length change, and compressive strength, showed engineering characteristics similar to those of the control mix.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.77-95
• /
• 2023

The regional infrastructure industries of Gwangyang City, the subject of this study, are Gwangyang Port and Gwangyang Steel Mill. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the regional economic ripple effects of the port logistics industry in Gwangyang City. In this study, a multi-stage approach using the RW and the LQ methodology using the national input-output tables in 2015 and 2019 is used to prepare the regional interindustry analysis chart in Gwangyang City, and an exogenous demand induction model that reclassified the port logistics industry was applied. Through this, the purpose of this study was to provide policy implications by figuring out the regional economic ripple effects of the port logistics industry quantitatively in Gwangyang City. As a result of the analysis, the industries with high production inducement effect and forward/backward linkage effect of the port logistics industry in Gwangyang City were analyzed as manufacturing, transportation, land and air logistics sectors. And the industries in which the added value inducement effect and the employment inducement effect were analyzed as an industry related to the service industry. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare support measures to foster the port logistics industry as a way to promote these industries and revitalize the local economy of Gwangyang City. To this end, it is desirable to improve policies and systems for the vitalization of the Gwangyang port maritime cluster and provide various policy support for the port logistics industry in Gwangyang City. This study is meaningful in suggesting policy implications for the regional economy of Gwangyang City based on the results of exogenous analysis of the port logistics industry in small and medium-sized cities. However, It seems that further studies related to this will be needed in the future.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.576-583
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the impact of enhancing the electrode conductivity and mitigating the production of hydrogen peroxide - a by-product arising from lactate oxidation - on the performance of lactate electrodes. The electrical conductivity of the electrode was improved by modifying the surface of carbon paper with single-walled carbon nanotubes. Catalase was introduced to effectively eliminate the hydrogen peroxide produced during the lactate oxidation reaction. The carbon paper electrode, with simultaneous immobilization of both lactate oxidase and catalase, yielded a current 1.7 times greater than the electrode where only lactate oxidase was immobilized. The electrode in which lactate oxidase and catalase were co-immobilized on the surface of carbon paper modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes, produced a current of 171 µA, which was more than twice as much current as the carbon paper with only lactate oxidase immobilized. The optimized electrode showed a linear response up to lactate concentration of 20 mM, confirming that it can be used as a sensor electrode.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.46 no.9
• /
• pp.545-557
• /
• 2023

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) catalyzes ceramide production from sphingomyelin. Ceramides are critical in cellular responses such as apoptosis. They enhance mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through self-assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane to form channels that release cytochrome c from intermembrane space (IMS) into the cytosol, triggering caspase-9 activation. However, the SMase involved in MOMP is yet to be identified. Here, we identified a mitochondrial Mg²⁺-independent SMase (mt-iSMase) from rat brain, which was purified 6,130-fold using a Percoll gradient, pulled down with biotinylated sphingomyelin, and subjected to Mono Q anion exchange. A single peak of mt-iSMase activity was eluted at a molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa using Superose 6 gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH of 6.5 and was inhibited by dithiothreitol and Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. It was also inhibited by GW4869, which is a non-competitive inhibitor of Mg²⁺-dependent neutral SMase 2 (encoded by SMPD3), that protects against cytochrome c release-mediated cell death. Subfractionation experiments showed that mt-iSMase localizes in the IMS of the mitochondria, implying that mt-iSMase may play a critical role in generating ceramides for MOMP, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. These data suggest that the purified enzyme in this study is a novel SMase.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2023

Soybeans are one of the world's top five staple crops and a major source of plant-based protein. Due to their susceptibility to climate change, which can significantly impact grain production, the National Agricultural Science Institute is conducting research on crop phenotypes through growth analysis of various soybean varieties. While the process of capturing growth progression photos of soybeans is automated, the verification, recording, and analysis of growth stages are currently done manually. In this paper, we designed and trained a YOLOv5s model to detect soybean leaf objects from image data of soybean plants and a Convolution Neural Network (CNN) model to judgement the unfolding status of the detected soybean leaves. We combined these two models and implemented an algorithm that distinguishes layers based on the coordinates of detected soybean leaves. As a result, we developed a program that takes time-series data of soybeans as input and performs growth analysis. The program can accurately determine the growth stages of soybeans up to the second or third compound leaves.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.39 no.5_4
• /
• pp.1075-1084
• /
• 2023

Satellite-derived data is collected by observing the Earth and is used in various fields such as national defense, natural disasters, location-based services, infrastructure, environment, energy, marine, and insurance. This study aims to present the virtuous cycle structure of the satellite information data industry and the business ecosystem model of the industry. As a research method, cases were collected and categorized from the following areas: literature, online, application, and content. The results show that the ecosystem model of the satellite information data industry provides an approach to content services in public and commercial areas, and develops various algorithmic technologies to facilitate content production and services at the level of complex general-purpose technologies. Second, in terms of content typology, satellite information data can be subdivided into monitoring content, urban space monitoring content, and satellite information content. Third, the consumption value of satellite content could be subdivided into informational value, environmental, social and governance (ESG) value, educational value, and content value. In order to expand the global content market, Korea will need to focus on creating an ecosystem for the satellite information industry and discovering differentiated content. It will also need to increase the popularization and accessibility of data to the general public and promote the Korean K-Satellite Information Data Industry ecosystem through government support, policy efforts, and policies such as establishing legal systems, increasing investment, and training human resources.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 2023

There are several methods for shaping foams, but the most commonly used methods involve the use of resin mixed with a foaming agent, which is then foamed under high temperature and pressure in the case of compression foaming, or foamed under high temperature without applying pressure in the case of atmospheric foaming. The polymers used for foaming require design and analysis of optimal foaming conditions in order to achieve foaming under ambient pressure. Environmentally friendly bio-based polymers face challenges when it comes to foaming on their own, which has led to ongoing research in blending them with resins capable of traditional foam production. This study investigates changes in the characteristics of bio-based polymer-EVA blend foams based on variations in the content of bio-based polymers and explores the optimal foaming conditions according to crosslinking. The correlation between foaming characteristics and mechanical properties of the foams was examined. Through this research, we gained insights into how the content of bio-based polymers affects the properties of foams containing bio-based polymers and identified differences between ambient pressure and high-pressure foaming processes. Additionally, the feasibility of commercializing bio-based polymer-EVA composite foams was confirmed.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.967-977
• /
• 2023

Rubus crataegifolius (RC) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits of RC are known to prevent adult diseases through antioxidants. In this study, the effects of RC extract (RCex) on obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in animal models. Twenty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become obese for 8 weeks and then the extract was orally administered for 8 weeks. RCex reduced body weight, adipose tissue, liver weight. RCex improved biochemical biomarkers including lipid metabolism (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reduced the expression of adipogenesis genes (liver × receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and the effect of enhancing carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity by RCex was verified. RCex also influence on plasma production of hormones (adiponectin & leptin) related on energy expenditure and metabolism. In addition, we confirmed that RCex improved glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese rats. RCex was first demonstrated to have anti-obesity as well as anti-NAFLD effects by regulating fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of AMPK. This suggests that RCex could be a good supplement for the prevention of obesity and related NAFLD.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.978-986
• /
• 2023

Inflammation by the innate immune system is a protective mechanism of the organism against infection-mediated environmental factors. It is also responsible for the pathogenesis of various human diseases, including the progression of cancer. Lichens are receiving increasing attention as a source of bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential for a variety of diseases. Additionally, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer potential of lichen and its secondary metabolites have been widely reported. However, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, to investigate molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammation and anti-cancer activity in the Antarctic lichen, Usnea aurantiaco-atra, methanol extract of Usnea aurantiaco-atra (MEUS) was used in vitro assays in RAW 264.7 macrophages cell and HCT116 colon cancer cells. Based on our data, MEUS had the anti-inflammatory activity through the modulation of main inflammatory indicators such as COX-2, IL-6, iNOS, TNF-α and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, we observed that MEUS had cytotoxic activity against HCT116 colon cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, leading to a significantly reduced proliferation of the cancer cells through apoptotic induction by activating caspase-3. Taken together, this work firstly reported the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of an Antarctic lichen, Usnea aurantiaco-atra, and MEUS may provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying a link between inflammation and cancer.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.519-533
• /
• 2023

In this study, the linear cutting tests of pick cutters were carried out on a granitic rock with the average compressive strength over 100 MPa. From the tests, the correlation between the cutter acting force and the temperature measured by infrared thermal imaging camera during rock cutting was analyzed. In every experimental condition, the maximum temperature was measured at the rock surface where the chipping occurred, and the temperature generated in the rock was closely correlated with the cutter acting force. On the other hand, the temperature of a pick cutter increased up to only 36℃ above the ambient temperature, and the correlation with the cutter force was not obvious. This can be attributed to the short cutting distance under laboratory conditions and the high thermal conductivity of the tungsten carbide inserts. However, the relatively high temperature of the tungsten carbide inserts was found to be maintained. Therefore, it is recommended that a reinforcement between the insert and the head of a pick cutter or the quality improvement of silvering brazing in the production of a cutter is necessary to maintain the high cutting performance of a pick cutter.