• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2018

This paper presents an integrated photochemical reaction system (i.e., an artificial leaf) that uses earth-abundant catalysts for artificial photosynthesis with a carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) fixation process. The performance of the system was investigated in terms of the energy capture and conversion capabilities. A wireless configuration was achieved by directly doping cobalt oxide as an oxygen-evolving catalyst for water splitting reaction on the illuminated surface of photovoltaic (PV) cell, as well as molybdenum disulfide ($MoS_2$) as an efficient catalyst for $CO_2$ reduction on the back substrate surfaces of the PV cell. The system produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) as sustainable fuels (i.e., synthesis gas) at around 4.5% efficiency, which implies more than 75% catalytic efficiency at the cathode. The process of solar-driven $CO_2$ conversion and water-splitting reaction is contained in one system, which is one step closer to the successful realization of artificial photosynthesis.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Environmental problems like global warming have now become important issues that should be considered in all industries, including construction. In South Korea, many studies have been conducted to achieve the government's goals of reduction in environmental impacts. However, the research on buildings has only focused on CO2 emission as a research target despite the fact that other environmental impacts resulting from ozone depletion and acidification should also be considered, in addition to global warming. In this regard, this study attempted to propose assessment criteria and methods to evaluate the environmental performance of the structures from various aspects. The environmental impact category can be divided into global impacts, regional impacts, and local impacts. First, global impacts include global warming, ozone layer depletion, and abiotic resource depletion, while regional impacts include acidification, eutrophication, and photochemical oxidation. In addition, noise and vibration occurring in the building construction phase are defined as local impacts. The evaluation methods on the eight environmental impacts will be proposed after analyzing existing studies, and the methods representing each environmental load as monetary value will be presented. The methods presented in this study will present benefits that can be obtained through green buildings with a clear quantitative assessment on structures. Ultimately, it is expected that if the effects of green buildings are clearly presented through the findings of this study, the greening of structures will be actively expanded.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2011

The effect of $TiO_2$ nanotube (TNT) and nanoparticle (TNP) composite photoelectrode and the role of TNT to enhance the photo conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) have investigated in this study. Results demonstrated that the increase of the TNT content (1-15 %) into the electron collecting TNP film increases the open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$) and short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$). Based on the impedance analysis, the increased $V_{oc}$ was attributed to the suppressed recombination between electrode and electrolyte or dye. Photochemical analysis revealed that the increased Jsc with the increased TNT content was due to the scattering effect and the reduced electron diffusion path of TNT. The highest $J_{sc}$ (12.6 mA/$cm^2$), Voc (711 mV) and conversion efficiency (5.9%) were obtained in the composite photoelectrode with 15% TNT. However, $J_{sc}$ and $V_{oc}$ was decreased for the case of 20% TNT, which results from the significant reduction of adsorbed dye amount and the poor attachment of the film on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). Therefore, application of this composite photoelectrode is expected to be a promising approach to improve the energy conversion efficiency of DSSC.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2000

In this study the disassembly process of chlorophyII (ChI)protein complexes of a stay-green mutant (ore10 of Arabidopsis thaliana) was investigated during the dark incubation of detached leaves. During this dark-induced senescence (DIS), the Chi loss was delayed in the mutant, while the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) or Fv/Fm was accelerated when compared with the wild type (WT) leaves. This indicates that the decrease in Fv/Fm is a separate process and not causally-linked to the degradation of Chi during DIS of Arabidopsis leaves. In the native green gel electrophoresis of the Chi-protein complexes, which was combined with an additional twodimensional SDS-PAGE analysis, the delayed senescence of this mutant was characterized by the appearance of an aggregate at 1 d or 2 d, as well as very stable light harvesting complex II (LHCII) trimers until 5 d after the start of DIS. The polypeptide composition of the aggregates varied during the whole DIS at 5 d. Dl protein appeared to be missing in the aggregates. This result supports the idea of a faster depletion of functional PSH in the mutants compared with WT, as suggested by the earlier reduction of Fv/Fm and the stable Chl a/b ratio in the mutants. At 5 d, the WT leaves also often showed aggregates, but the polypeptide composition was different from those of ore10. The results presented suggest that the formation of aggregates, or stable LHCII trimers in the stay-green mutants, is a way to structurally protect Chi-protein complexes from serious proteolytic degradation. Detailed disassembly processes of Chi-protein complexes in WT and ore10 mutants are discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.4258-4264
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• 2011

The total mercury concentration ($Hg_T$) of surface snow samples collected along a ~1500 km transect in east Queen Maud Land was determined using inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry to address the behavior of Hg on the Antarctic Plateau. Due to the volatile nature of mercury, measures were taken against Hg loss from standard solutions by choosing appropriate container material and stabilizing agents. Glass bottles with Teflon-lined caps were superior to Teflon and polyethylene containers in protecting against Hg loss, but addition of gold chloride ($AuCl_3$) or bromine chloride (BrCl) was necessary to ensure preservation of Hg. As Hg loss was also observed in snowmelt samples, our analysis may underestimate the actual amount of HgT in the snow. Even so, the measured HgT was still very low (< 0.4-10.8 pg $g^{-1}$, n = 44) without a signal of depositional enhancement accompanying photo-oxidation of atmospheric elemental mercury in austral midsummer. Moreover, the dynamic variation along the traverse implies spatial and temporal heterogeneity in its source processes.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2017

Ozone concentration in Tokyo Metropolitan area is one of the most serious issues of the local air quality. Tropospheric ozone is formed by radical reaction including volatile organic compound (VOC) and nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$). Reduction of the emission of reactive VOC is a key to reducing ozone concentrations. VOC is emitted from anthropogenic sources and also from vegetation (biogenic VOC or BVOC). BVOC also forms ozone through $NO_x$ and radical reactions. Especially, in urban area, the BVOC is emitted into the atmosphere with high $NO_x$ concentration. Therefore, trees bordering streets and green spaces in urban area may contribute to tropospheric ozone. On the other hand, not all trees emit BVOC which will produce ozone locally. In this study, BVOC emissions have been investigated (terpenoids: isoprene, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes) for 29 tree species. Eleven in the 29 species were tree species that did not emit BVOCs. Three in 12 cultivars for future planting (25 %) were found to emit no terpenoid BVOCs. Eight in 17 commonly planted trees (47%) were found to emit no terpenoid BVOC. Lower-emitting species have many advantages for urban planting. Therefore, further investigation is required to find the species which do not emit terpenoid BVOC. Emission of reactive BVOC should be added into guideline for the urban planting to prevent the creation of sources of ozone. It is desirable that species with no reactive BVOC emission are planted along urban streets and green areas in urban areas, such as Tokyo.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.406-412
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• 2008

Biogas plant with anaerobic digestion is receiving high attention as a facility for both livestock waste treatment and electric power generation. Objective of this study was to perform life cycle assessment (LCA) of a biogas plant which incorporates swine and food waste (7:3) as source materials for biogas production. In addition, the biogas production process was compared with the prevalent composting method as a reference in the aspects of green house gas (GHG) reduction potential and environmental impact. The biogas method was capable of reducing 52 kg $CO_2$ eq. emission per ton of swine/food waste, but the composting process was estimated to emit 268 kg $CO_2$ eq. into air. The biogas method was evaluated as more beneficial to the environment by mitigating the impact on abiotic depletion potential (ADP), global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), eutrophication potential (EP), and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), but not to acidification potential (AP).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.479-484
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• 2006

Ecophysiological parameters of non-transgenic sweetpotato (NT) and transgenic sweetpotato (SSA) plants were compared to evaluate their resistance to multiple environmental stresses. Stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in NT plants decreased markedly from Day 6 after water was withheld, whereas those values in SSA plants showed relatively higher level during this period. Osmotic potential in SSA plants was reduced more negatively as leaf water potential decreased from Day 8 after dehydration treatment, while such reduction was not shown in NT plants under water stressed condition. SSA plants showed less membrane damage than in NT plants. As water stress and high light stress, were synchronously applied to NT and SSA plants maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II ($F_v/F_m$) in NT plants markedly decreased, while that in SSA plants was maintained relatively higher level. This trend of changes in $F_v/F_m$ between SSA plants and NT plants was more conspicuous as simultaneously treated with water stress, high light and high temperature stress. These results indicate that SSA plants are more resistive than NT plants to multiple environmental stresses and the enhanced resistive characteristics in SSA plants are based on osmotic adjustment under water stress condition and tolerance of membrane.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.6
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• pp.922-928
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• 2010

There is a little information on the effect of calcium cloride ($CaCl_2$) which is used as deicing salt in Korea on the physiological responses of the street trees. Prunus sargentii is one of the most widespread tree species of street vegetation in Korea. In this study, the effect of $CaCl_2$ on photosynthetic apparatus such as chlorophyll fluorescence image and light response curve of P. sargentii in relation to their leaf and root collar growth responses were investigated. To study the effect of $CaCl_2$ treatment in the early spring, we irrigated twice in rhizosphere of P. sargentii (3-year-old) planted plastic pots with solution of 0.5%, 1.0%, 3.0% $CaCl_2$ concentration before leaf expansion. Results after treatments, total chlorophyll contents and the chlorophyll a/b, photosynthetic rate, quantum yield, dark respiration decreased with increasing $CaCl_2$ concentration. On the contrary, light compensation point increased with increasing $CaCl_2$ concentration. Through the linear regressions of correlation of photosynthetic rate with photosynthetic parameters (quantum yield, dark respiration and light compensation point), we found a significant relationship (p<0.05) between photosynthetic rate and quantum yield and light compensation point except dark respiration. Calcium cloride ($CaCl_2$) induced inhibition of photochemical efficiency ($F_v/F_M$) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were found in treatments of $CaCl_2$, and these reduction rates between control and CaCl2 treatments were drastically showed at 80 days. We suggest that physiological activities are limited from treatment of $CaCl_2$. These reductions of photosynthetic apparatus ability caused eventually the reduction of leaf and diameter at root collar growth.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.361-369
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• 1994

Voltammetric behavior of some light lanthanide ions($La^{3+}$, $Pr^{3+}$, $Nd^{3+}$, $Sm^{3+}$ and $Eu^{3+}$) in acetonitrile(AN) and dimethylformamide(DMF) has been investigated by direct current, differential pulse polarography and cyclic voltammetry. The reduction of $La^{3+}$, $Pr^{3+}$ and $Nd^{3+}$ in 0.1M TEAP proceeded directly to the metallic state through three-electron charge transfer of irreversible process where as $Sm^{3+}$ and $Eu^{3+}$ proceeded by charge transfer of two steps. As the results of the cyclic voltammetric investigation, the first step reduction of $Sm^{3+}$ and $Eu^{3+}$ were a quasireversible reaction, the second step reductions were an irreversible reaction. The cathodic peak currents of the differential pulse polarogram showed adsorptive properties at lower sweep rates and high concentrations of these metal ions. The peak potenital was shifted to a negative petential and the peak current decreased with the increase of percentage of water in AN. On the other hand, the peak potential was shifted to a positive potential and the peak current decreased with an increased percentage of water in DMF.