• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.238-239
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• 2010

Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) is one of the widely-used secondary dopants in order to enhance the conductivity of poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) film. In this work, we investigated the effect of DMSO doping in to PEDOT:PSS on the electrical performance of the bulk heterojunction photovoltaics consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2, 5-diyl) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester. Correlation between the power conversion efficiency and the mechanism of improving conductivity, surface morphology, and contact properties was examined. The PEDOT:PSS films, which contain different concentration of DMSO, have been prepared and annealed at different annealing temperatures. The mixture of DMSO and PEDOT:PSS was prepared with a ratio of 1%, 5%, 15%, 25%, 35%, 45%, 55% by volume of DMSO, respectively. The DMSO-contained PEDOT:PSS solutions were stirred for 1hr at $40^{\circ}C$, then spin-coated on the ultra-sonicated glass. The spin-coated films were baked for 10min at $65^{\circ}C$, $85^{\circ}C$, and $120^{\circ}C$ in air. In order to investigate the electrical performance, P3HT:PCBM blended film was deposited with thickness of 150nm on DMSO-doped PEDOT:PSS layer. After depositing 100nm of Al, the device was post-annealed for 30min at $120^{\circ}C$ in vacuum. The fabricated cells, in this study, have been characterized by using several techniques such as UV-Visible spectrum, 4-point probe, J-V characteristics, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The power conversion efficiency (AM 1.5G conditions) was increased from 0.91% to 2.35% by tuning DMSO doping ratio and annealing temperature. It is believed that the improved power conversion efficiency of the photovoltaics is attributed to the increased conductivity, leading to increasing short-circuit current in DMSO-doped PEDOT:PSS layer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.241-251
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• 2019

There are several manufacturing techniques for developing thermionic cathodes for vacuum ultraviolet(VUV) ionizers. The triple alkaline earth metal emitters(Ca-Sr-Ba) are formulated as efficient and reliable thermo-electron sources with a great many different compositions for the ionizing devices. We prepare two basic suspensions with different compositions: calcium, strontium and barium. After evaluating the electron-emitting performance for europium, gadolinium, and yttrium-based cathodes mixed with these suspensions, we selected the yttrium for its better performance. Next, another transition metal indium and a lanthanide metal neodymium salt is introduced to two base emitters. These final composite metal emitters are coated on the tungsten filament and then activated to the oxide cathodes by an intentionally programmed calcination process under an ultra-high vacuum(${\sim}10^{-6}torr$). The performance of electron emission of the cathodes is characterized by their anode currents with respect to the addition of each element, In and Nd, and their concentration of cathodes. Compared to both the base cathodes, the electron emission performance of the cathodes containing indium and neodymium decreases. The anode current of the Nd cathode is more markedly degraded than that with In.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.12-26
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• 2017

Processing steps such as washing and cutting, involved in preparing fresh-cut produce causes tissue damage, leading to rapid quality deterioration. Major defects of fresh-cut produce are discoloration, softening, off-odor development, and microbial growth. Packaging of fresh-cut produce has been changed to reduce these quality problems. Flexible packaging film is widely used to pack fresh-cut produce. Vacuum packaging was the popular packaging method in the beginning of fresh-cut industry in Korea. Vacuum packaging creates high $CO_2$ and low $O_2$ levels to control browning of fresh-cut produce. However, these conditions induce some visual defects and off-odor development. Discoloration problem was also found when fresh-cut produce was packaged with conventional packaging film or plastic tray. Modified atmosphere (MA) packaging is effective for prolonging shelf-life of fresh-cut produce by decreasing $O_2$ and increasing $CO_2$ concentration in the package. Retail MA packaging using different oxygen transmission rate (OTR) film and micro-perforated film has started to be applied to fresh-cut produce in Korea. Proper MA package design that provides optimum range of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ partial pressures is one of the major challenges in the industry. An initial package flushing with $N_2$ or an low $O_2$/high $CO_2$ atmosphere is also used to more rapidly establish steady-state MA condition. Film OTR and $O_2$ flushing affects the fermentative volatile production, off-odor development, electrolyte leakage, discoloration, $CO_2$ injury, microbial population of fresh-cut produce. There is also a demand for convenient packaging to attract consumers. Rigid fresh-cut produce container for retail market has increased since the packaging provides excellent protection from physical damage during transport. Rigid tray used as actual serving vessel for the consumer is increasing in Korea. The tray with flexible lid to wrap or seal fresh-cut produce is more and more gaining popularity. Further practical technology to control quality change and microbial growth for each fresh-cut product has been studied since various fresh-cut items were required. The fresh-cut industry also focuses on searching for more convenient and environmentally friendly packaging.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.272-280
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• 2021

The influence of acetylene flow rates on the carburizing behavior of an AISI 4115 steel in 1 ton-class mass production-type vacuum carburizing furnace has been studied through microstructure, carbon concentration, hardness analyses. The AISI 4115 steels were carburized with various flow rates (20, 32.7, 60 l/min) and locations in the furnace (top, center, bottom) at 950℃. The acetylene flow rate played an important role in controlling the carburizing properties of carburized samples, such as effective case depth and uniformity carburizing according to location in the furnace. At an acetylene flow rate of 20 l/min, the carburized samples had a shallow average hardened layer (0.645 mm) compared to the target hardening depth (1 mm) due to low carbon flux and spatial uniformity of carburization (17.8%) in the furnace. At a flow rate of 60 l/min, the carburized samples showed an average hardened layer (1.449 mm) deeper than the target hardening depth and had the spatial uniformity of carburization (98.8%). In particular, at a flow rate of 32.7 l/min, the carburized samples had an average hardened layer (1.13 mm) close to the target hardening depth and had the highest carburizing uniformity (99.1%). As a result, an appropriate flow rate of 32.7 l/min was derived to satisfy the target hardening depth and to have spatial uniform hardened layer in the furnace.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.94-103
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• 2023

The effects of carburizing pressure and gas ratio on vacuum carburizing properties (uniformity and surface characteristics) have been studied through the analyses of carbon concentration, hardness, surface color, surface roughness and type of carbon bonding. AISI 4115 steel specimens were carburized with various pressures (1, 5, and 10 Torr) at different locations (P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, P₅, and P₆) inside a furnace held at 950 ℃. Since the carburizing pressure represents the density of the carburizing gas, it plays an important role in improving the carburizing uniformity according to locations in the furnace. As the carburizing pressure increased, the carburizing uniformity according to the sample location was improved, but the surface of the carburized specimen was discolored due to the residual acetylene gas, which does not contribute to the carburizing reaction. Therefore, the carburizing uniformity and surface discoloration have been improved by injecting acetylene gas (carburizing gas) and nitrogen gas (non-reactive gas) in a specific ratio.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.732-737
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• 2018

We develop a purification process of $Hg_2Br_2$ raw powders using a physical vapor transport(PVT) process, which is essential for the fabrication of a high performance acousto-optic tunable filter(AOTF) module. Specifically, we characterize and compare three $Hg_2Br_2$ powders: $Hg_2Br_2$ raw powder, $Hg_2Br_2$ powder purified under pumping conditions, and $Hg_2Br_2$ powder purified under vacuum sealing. Before and after purification, we characterize the powder samples through X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The corresponding results indicate that physical properties of the $Hg_2Br_2$ compound are not damaged even after the purification process. The impurities and concentration in the purified $Hg_2Br_2$ powder are evaluated by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Notably, compared to the sample purified under pumping conditions, the purification process under vacuum sealing results in a higher purity $Hg_2Br_2$ (99.999 %). In addition, when the second vacuum sealing purification process is performed, the remaining impurities are almost removed, giving rise to $Hg_2Br_2$ with ultra-high purity. This high purification process might be possible due to independent control of impurities and $Hg_2Br_2$ materials under the optimized vacuum sealing. Preparation of such a highly purified $Hg_2Br_2$ materials will pave a promising way toward a high-quality $Hg_2Br_2$ single crystal and then high performance AOTF modules.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.2451-2459
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• 2009

The present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the blood glucose test with almost painless vacuum assisted auto-lancing technique. The blood glucose concentration measurements in the capillary blood sampled from the alternative (forearm) site were compared with the standard venous or finger sampling techniques. Capillary blood was sampled from both the left index finger and the forearm, followed by the venous blood sampling in 531 patients who visited the C University Hospital. Blood sugar test was performed for each blood samples for comparative analysis. Mean blood glucose concentration measured on the forearm was closer to the venous glucose level than that of the finger, but the difference was approximately 10 mg/dL small enough to ignore from the clinical point of view. The correlation coefficients of the measured blood glucose levels between finger and vein and between forearm and vein were 0.94 and 0.92, respectively (p<0.001). The blood glucose measurement on the forearm also well correlated with the finger, showing a correlation coefficient of 0.94, and both data were very much close to each other. Therefore, the blood sugar test on the alternative capillary blood sampling site such as forearm was accurate enough for clinical practice. The vacuum assisted auto-lancing technique on the alternative site would be of particular interest for the disease management of the chronic diabetes, since it induces almost no pain when sampling blood from the capillaries.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-103
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• 2023

The in-situ remediation of a solidified stratum containing a large amount of fine-texture material like clay or organic matter in contaminated soil faces limitations such as increased remediation cost resulting from decreased purification efficiency. Even if the soil conditions are good, remediation generally requires a long time to complete because of non-uniform soil properties and low permeability. This study assessed the remediation effect and evaluated the field applicability of a methodology that combines pneumatic fracturing, vacuum extraction, and plasma blasting (the PPV method) to improve the limitations facing existing underground remediation methods. For comparison, underground remediation was performed over 80 days using the experimental PPV method and chemical oxidation (the control method). The control group showed no decrease in the degree of contamination due to the poor delivery of the soil remediation agent, whereas the PPV method clearly reduced the degree of contamination during the remediation period. Remediation effect, as assessed by the reduction of the highest TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) concentration by distance from the injection well, was uncleared in the control group, whereas the PPV method showed a remediation effect of 62.6% within a 1 m radius of the injection well radius, 90.1% within 1.1~2.0 m, and 92.1% within 2.1~3.0 m. When evaluating the remediation efficiency by considering the average rate of TPH concentration reduction by distance from the injection well, the control group was not clear; in contrast, the PPV method showed 53.6% remediation effect within 1 m of the injection well, 82.4% within 1.1~2.0 m, and 68.7% within 2.1~3.0 m. Both ways of considering purification efficiency (based on changes in TPH maximum and average contamination concentration) found the PPV method to increase the remediation effect by 149.0~184.8% compared with the control group; its average increase in remediation effect was ~167%. The time taken to reduce contamination by 80% of the initial concentration was evaluated by deriving a correlation equation through analysis of the TPH concentration: the PPV method could reduce the purification time by 184.4% compared with chemical oxidation. However, the present evaluation of a single site cannot be equally applied to all strata, so additional research is necessary to explore more clearly the proposed method's effect.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 1998

Controlling malodor originating from livestock feces has become a major issue, due to its influence on the health of man and livestock, together with its influences on atmospheric pollution. In this study, Five types of biofilters filled with saw-dust, night soil, fermented compost, leaf mold and a mixture(a compound of night soil, fermented compost and leaf mold at the same rates, respectively) were manufactured and tested. To study the effect of the biofilter on reducing malodor in a composting facility and swine building, a pilot scale composting facility enclosed with polyethylene film was constructed. Swine feces was composted in the facility and malodorous gas generated from the decomposition of organic matter in the feces was gathered by vacuum pump. Each biofilter achieved 87∼96% NH3 removal efficiency. This performance was maintained throughout 10 days of operation. The highest NH3 removal efficiency was achieved by leaf mold on the first day of operation period. It reduced the concentration of NH3 by about 96%. Night soil and fermented compost showed nearly equal performance of 93 to 94% for 10 days from the beginning of operation. The mixture achieved the lowest NH3 removal efficiency. It reduced NH3 concentration by about 89∼94% for 10 days from the beginning of operation. However NH3 removal efficiency of each biofilter declined with the passage of operational time. After 30 days from the beginning of operation, NH3 removal efficiency of each biofilter of each biofilter was below 60%, respectively. The concentration of H2S and CH3-SH originating from compost were equal to or less than 5mg/l and 3mg/l, respectively. After passing throughout the biofilter, the concentration of H2S and CH3-SH were not detected.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.808-811
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• 2001

Performance of pilot plant scale extraction and concentration of purple-fleshed sweet potato anthocyanin pigment was tested and the characteristics of pigment extracts and concentrates were investigated. Fifty kilograms of purple-fleshed sweet potato was extracted with 500 L of 1% citric acid in 20% ethanol. As a whole, extraction pattern of the large scale extraction was similar to that of the laboratory scale extraction. The extracted pigment solution was filtered twice with a bag filter and a winding type microfilter and the filtrate was concentrated by a large scale vacuum evaporator at $40^{\circ}C$ and 600 mmHg vac. The mean values of total optical density (TOD) of the extract and the concentrate were 6.53 and 120.45, respectively. Browning index (BI) and Degradation index (DI) of extract were 5.86 and 1.55 and those of concentrate were 5.89 and 1.56, respectively, which indicated that the pigments were not changed or degraded through the extraction and concentration process.