• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1133-1139
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• 2013

Enzymatic decomposition of gelatin layers on used X-ray films and repeated utilization of the enzyme for potential application in silver recovery were investigated using keratinolytic serine proteases from Purpureocillium lilacinum LPS # 876. At pH 9.0, the enzymatic reaction was enhanced by the increase of enzyme concentration or by the increase of the temperature up to $60^{\circ}C$. Under the conditions of 6.9 U/ml, $60^{\circ}C$, and pH 9.0, hydrolysis of the gelatin layers and the resulting release of silver particles were achieved within 6 min. The protective effect of polyols against thermal denaturation was investigated. The presence of glycerol and propylene glycol increased enzyme stability. When the reusability of the enzyme for gelatin hydrolysis was tested, it could be seen that it could be effectively reused for more cycles when glycerol was added, compared with the enzyme without protective agents. The results of these repeated treatments suggested that a continuous process of recycling silver from used X-ray is feasible. Keeping in mind that recycling is (at the present time) needed and imperative, it can be remarked that, in this research, three wastes were successfully used: hair waste in order to produce serine proteases; glycerol in order to enhance enzyme thermal stability; and used X-ray films in order to recover silver and PET films.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2020

Advancing the estrous cycle of mares is an essential breeding strategy that is routinely conducted by Thoroughbred breeders to improve economic outcomes. For this purpose, Equilume light masks have been developed as an alternative to existing technologies such as artificial lighting or hormonal treatments because they are considered as valid as existing methods with additional animal welfare advantages. For example, with the Equilume light masks, horses can be let out into the pasture, whereas they have to be kept indoors during lighting treatment. Because the function of Equilume light mask on the estrous cycle of mares is influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition condition and temperature, Equilume light mask should be studied in various environments. The objective of the present study was thus to verify the effect of Equilume light masks on the onset of the estrous cycle in Thoroughbred mares in South Korea. Mares were randomly selected and separated into two groups at two Thoroughbred horse breeding farms. The mares in the treatment group were equipped with Equilume light masks from November 18 to February 10 the following year. The body condition, the number and size (> 35 mm) of uterine follicles, and the uterine horn score of the mares were assessed on January 6 and February 10. The body condition scores were not different between the two groups. The treatment with the Equilume light mask had no positive effects on developing follicles and the reproductive tract. In conclusion, the use of Equilume light masks did not influence the seasonal resumption of the estrus cycles in Thoroughbred mares in South Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.638-644
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• 2018

In this study, the immobilization of xylanase using a protein-inorganic hybrid nanoflower system was assessed to improve the enzyme properties. The synthesis of hybrid xylanase nanoflowers was very effective at $4^{\circ}C$ for 72 h, using 0.25 mg/ml protein, and efficient immobilization of xylanase was observed, with a maximum encapsulation yield and relative activity of 78.5% and 148%, respectively. Immobilized xylanase showed high residual activity at broad pH and temperature ranges. Using birchwood xylan as a substrate, the $V_{max}$ and $K_m$ values of xylanase nanoflowers were 1.60 mg/ml and $455{\mu}mol/min/mg$ protein, compared with 1.42 mg/ml and $300{\mu}mol/min/mg$ protein, respectively, for the free enzyme. After 5 and 10 cycles of reuse, the xylanase nanoflowers retained 87.5% and 75.8% residual activity, respectively. These results demonstrate that xylanase immobilization using a proteininorganic hybrid nanoflower system is an effective approach for its potential biotechnological applications.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1358-1366
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• 1988

The dual dielectric films have been grown on single-crystalline silicon substrates with the thickness ranging from 125A to 180A at various gas and temperature conditions by using rapid thermal process that included independent nitridation step. The film characteristics and their dependence on the contents of the hydrochloric gas and the processing time have been studied. By the addition of the hydrochloric gas, the initial oxide thickness was significantly changed, but after sequential nitridation processes the thickness of the films was nevertheless a little bit varied within 10A. All the samples of the dual dielectric films show the increased breakdown voltages in proportion to the additive contents of the hydrochloric gas and also show the higher breakdown strengths than the thermal oxide and nitrided oxide films grown by the conventional furnance process or the rapid thermal nitridation process that was composed of the dependent nitridation cycles.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1350-1357
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• 1988

The dual dielectric films have been grown on single-crystalline silicon substrates with the thickness ranging from 125A to 180A at various gas and temperature conditions by using rapid thermal process that included independent nitridation step. The film characteristics and their dependence on the contents of the hydrochloric gas and the processing time have been studied. By the addition of the hydrochloric gas, the initial oxide thickness was significantly changed, but after sequential nitridation processes the thickness of the films was nevertheless a little bit varied within 10A. All the samples of the dual dielectric films show the increased breakdown voltages in proportion to the additive contents of the hydrochloric gas and also show the higher breakdown strengths than the thermal oxide and nitrided oxide films grown by the conventional furnance process or the rapid thermal nitridation process that was composed of the dependent nitridation cycles.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1201-1207
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• 2020

This study explored whether MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) could remove radioactive Cs⁺ from model nuclear wastewater. Various adsorption tests were performed and the physical aspects of the interaction were investigated. We varied the MXene dosage, Cs⁺ initial concentration, solution pH, solution temperature and exposure time. MXene adsorption exhibited very fast kinetics, based on the fact that equilibrium was achieved within 1 h. MXene exhibited an outstanding adsorption capacity (148 mg g^-1) at adsorbent and adsorbate concentrations of 5 and 2 mg L^-1, respectively, at neutral pH condition (i.e., pH 7). We explored Cs⁺ adsorption by MXene in the presence of four different ions (NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂ and MgCl₂) and three different organic acids (sodium oleate, oxalic acid, and citric acid). The Cs⁺ removal rate changed in the presence of these components; adsorption of Cs⁺ by MXene thus involved ion exchange, supported by both Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We confirmed that MXene was re-usable for at least four cycles. MXene is cost-effective and practical when used to adsorb radionuclides (e.g., Cs⁺) in nuclear wastewater.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2004

Redox characteristics of cobalt oxide-based oxygen carriers were tested for chemical-looping combustion. Cobalt oxide was chosen as active metal oxide and $CoAl_2O_4$ was compared with YSZ(yttria-stabilized zirconia) as a binder. Cobalt oxide/$CoAl_2O_4$ was prepared by sol-gel method. Hydrogen fuel was reacted with metal oxide and then the reduced metal was successively oxidized by air. The effects of reaction temperature were measured and the regenerabilies during 10 cycles were examined by a TGA. In regenerability of cobalt oxide/YSZ and cobalt oxide/$CoAl_2O_4$, after they showed above 90% conversion in first reduction, they were stabilized in about 70-75% conversion. From reaction rate constant obtained, the activation energies of cobalt oxide/YSZ in oxidation and reduction were 51.47kJ/mol and 7.71kJ/mol respectively.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 1997

The study of anneal characteristics is important for TL dosimeter to reuse. To obtain the annealing condition of the recently developed, new TL dosimeter, LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si Teflon Tills in a disk type (diameter 4.5 mm, thickness about $90mg/cm^2$), we studied for pre-irradiation annealing, readout procedure and post-readout annealing, in order. The gamma irradiations were carried out with a $^{60}Co$, dose of 0.1 Gy. We have used the method that observe the variation of thermoluminescent(TL) intensity of these Teflon TLDs over repeated cycles by changing both anneal temperature and anneal time with the TLD reader and the oven. There is a 5% loss in sensitivity over the ten repeated readouts by the annealing condition:pre-irradiation annealing at $80^{\circ}C$ for one hour, readout to $280^{\circ}C$ and post-readout annealing at $270^{\circ}C$ for 20 seconds.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2006

KIER has been developing a Ru-based preferential oxidation catalysts and a novel fuel processing system to provide hydrogen rich gas to residential PEMFCs system. The catalytic activity of Ru-based catalysts was investigated at different Ru loading amount and different support structure. The obtained result indicated that 2 wt% loaded Ru-based catalyst supported on ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ showed high activity in low temperature range and suppressed the methanation reaction. The developed prototype fuel processor showed thermal efficiency of 78% as a HHV basis with methane conversion of 92%. CO concentration below 10 ppm in the produced gas is achieved with separate preferential oxidation unit under the condition of $[O_2]/[CO]=2.0$. The partial load operation have been carried out to test the performance of fuel processor from 40% to 80% load, showing stable methane conversion and CO concentration below 10 ppm. The durability test for the daily start-stop and 8 h operation procedure is under investigation and shows no deterioration of its performance after 50 start-stop cycles. In addition to the system design and development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.624-627
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• 2003

The BLT thin-films were one of the promising ferroelectric materials with a good leakage current and degradation behavior on Pt electrode. The BLT target was sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours at the air ambient. $Bi_{3.25}La_{0.75}Ti_3O_{12}$ (BLT) thin-film deposited on $Pt/Ti/SIO_2/Si$ wafer by rf magnetron sputtering method. At annealed $700^{\circ}C$, (117) and (006) peaks appeared the high intensity. The hysteresis loop of the BLT thin films showed that the remanent polarization ($2Pr=Pr^+-Pr^-$) was $16uC/cm^2$ and leakage current density was $1.8{\times}10^{-9}A/cm^2$ at 50 kV/cm with coersive electric field when BLT thin-films were annealed at $700^{\circ}C$. Also, the thin film showed fatigue property at least up to $10^{10}$ switching bipolar pulse cycles under 7 V. Therefore, we induce access to optimum fabrication condition of memory device application by rf-magnetron sputtering method in this report.