Strontium lanthanum vanadate La1-xSrxVO3 (LSVO) is a promising anode material for electrochemical devices, especially for solid oxide fuel cells, thanks to its irregular electrical conductivity. However, the known synthesis methods are incapable of producing well-dispersed LSVO nanoparticles (NPs) with homogeneous size distribution, which partly impedes the applicability of the material. Thus, a new approach to synthesize LSVO NPs with such characteristics is of paramount importance. In the present work, we successfully prepare LSVO NPs with a high dispersion degree and homogeneous size distribution via a modified co-precipitation pathway, followed by hydrogen reduction at a temperature as low as 700 oC. The prepared LSVO NPs display uniform sizes in the range of 50 ~ 100 nm and do not contain any secondary phases, according to XRD analysis. The chemical mechanism of reactions that occur to form the LSVO is thoroughly highlighted. The work functions of NPs measured by the UPS analysis are in the 2.13 ~ 3.62 eV range, making the LSVO powders promising for use in thermionic devices. An explanation of the role of Sr substitution in work function values of LSVO is also proposed.

Radiological impact analyses were carried out for a near-surface radioactive waste repository at Gyeongju in South Korea. The RESRAD-ONSITE code was applied for the estimation of maximum exposure doses by considering various exposure pathways based on a land area of 2,500 m2 with a 0.15 m thick contamination zone. Typical influencing input parameters such as shield depth, shield materials’ density, and shield erosion rate were examined for a sensitivity analysis. Then both residential farmer and industrial worker scenarios were used for the estimation of maximum exposure doses depending on exposure duration. The radiation dose evaluation results showed that 60Co, 137Cs, and 63Ni were major contributors to the total exposure dose compared with other radionuclides. Furthermore, the total exposure dose from ingestion (plant, meat, and milk) of the contaminated plants was more significant than those assessed for inhalation, with maximum values of 5.5×10−4 mSv‧yr−1 for the plant ingestion. Thus the results of this study can be applied for determining near-surface radioactive waste repository conditions and providing quantitative analysis methods using RESRAD-ONSITE code for the safety assessment of disposing radioactive materials including decommissioning wastes to protect human health and the environment.

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were treated by electroless plating of CuO to improve their removal performance for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The properties of these samples(CuO@ACFs) were evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BET and N2O chemisorption to determine the area and dispersion of metallic CuO. The removal efficiency for benzene was investigated by gas chromatography (GC). The breakthrough time of CuO@ACFs increased by approximately 120% compared to that of untreated ACFs at benzene of 100 ppm. CuO@ACFs removed 100% of the benzene in 20 h, indicating this material can be used as a removal technology for VOCs.

To understand the role of small heat shock protein (sHSPs) in rice plant response to various stresses such as the heat and oxidative stresses, a cDNA encoding a 24.1 kDa mitochondrial small HSP (Oshsp24.1) was isolated from rice by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence shows very high similarity with other plant small HSPs. DNA gel blot analysis suggests that the rice genome contains more than one copy of Oshsp24.1. High level of expression of Oshsp24.1 transcript was observed in rice seedlings in response to heat, methyl viologen, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, salt and heavy metal stresses. Recombinant OsHSP24.1 protein was produced in E. coli cells for biochemical assay. The protein formed oligomeric complex when incubated with Sulfo-EGS (ethylene glycol bis (succinimidyl succinate)). Our results shows that Oshsp24.1 has an important role in abiotic stress response and have potential for developing stress-tolerant plants.

Cyanobacteria (blue green algae) blooms formed in natural water resources due to the environmental pollution produce toxic compounds as secondary metabolites, causing health hazards to both humans and other living beings. Microcystin is a well-known toxin produced by cynobacteria. The present study was undertaken to evaluate varying concentrations and exposure times of two different forms of microcystin, viz., -LR (MCLR) and -LA (MCLA), on the motility and seizure-like behavior of planarian (Dugesia japonica). Compared to control, reduced motility was observed in both the MCLR or MCLA treated groups, but did not differ significantly with increasing concentrations of microcystin. However, the number of seizure-like behaviors were increased dose-dependently in planarian exposed to MLCR or MCLA. Exposure time to microcystine also affected the motility and seizure-like behaviors of planarians; 24 hrs incubation with MCLR, and 48 and 96 hrs exposure to MCLA, showed significantly (p<0.05) lower motility, as compared to the control. Assessing regeneration of the planarians revealed the simultaneous completion of eye formation at day 9 in planarians incubated in the absence or presence of MCLR or MCLA, thereby indicating that exposure to microcystin has no effect on the process. In conclusion, we determined that exposure to microcystins resulted in decrease in the number of motility, and induced abnormal behavior pattern in planarians. Further studies are required to identify the toxicity of microcystin that affects aquatic ecosystems.

포인트 클라우드를 활용한 폴리곤 모델 활용에 대해서는 지속적으로 연구되고있다. 이러한 연구는 대부분 하이 폴리곤 모델을 대상으로 생성된 모델을 활용한 기술이다. 오늘날 비디오 게임 등에서 활용되는 하이 폴리곤 모델은 대부분 높은 퍼포먼스를 바탕으로 화려한 효과를 표현한다. 그러나 게임 등의 콘텐츠에 있어서 화려한 효과와 높은 품질의 리소스를 활용한 게임만이 만족도를 충족시켜주는 것이 아니다. 콘텐츠에 따라서 의도적으로 로우 폴리곤 모델을 활용하기도 한다. 인디 게임 등에서는 낮은 접근성을 장점으로 로우 폴리곤 형태의 모델을 제작하여 이를 활용한 게임들도 지속적으로 개발되어 왔다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이러한 변화에 맞춰서 포인트 클라우드 데이터를 활용하여 로우 폴리곤 모델을 생성 및 음영 처리하는 방법을 제안한다. 여러 개의 모델을 생성하여, 각각의 모델이 하나의 텍스처를 공유하고, 음영을 처리한다. 마지막으로 라이트맵 기법의 결과물과 비교하는 실험을 진행한다.

가상 현실은 현재 미래 지향적인 IT 콘텐츠 분야이며 엔터테인먼트 분야뿐만 아니라 교육, 건축 및 의료 분야까지 꾸준히 확장되고 있다. 이 논문에서는 Unity3D 엔진을 사용하여 심리 치료 콘텐츠의 프로토 타입을 개발하여 심리 치료 콘텐츠로써 가상 현실의 가능성을 실험하고 분석하였다. 심리 치료 시스템과 연결될 수 있는 가상 현실 요소를 분석 한 후 효과적인 치료 요인을 도출하였다. 가상 현실은 다른 콘텐츠에 비해 몰입감과 현 존감이 매우 강한 콘텐츠이다. 현재 엔터테인먼트 산업은 가상 현실 분야에서 가장 발전 된 분야이지만 머지않아 가상 현실이 심리 치료 분야에서 주 콘텐츠가 될 것이다. 본 연구에서는 심리 치료와 관련된 VR 콘텐츠를 연구하고 심리 치료에 효과적인 VR 요소를 추출한 후 Unity3D 엔진을 사용하여 무대 공포증을 치료할 수 있는 가상 현실 콘텐츠의 프로토 타입을 개발하였다. Unity3d 엔진은 VR 콘텐츠 제작에 효과적이고 최적화된 프로 그램이다. 실험 대상 환자와 충분한 피드백 후 환자에 최적화된 시나리오로 프로토타입이 개발되었다. 무대 공포증을 단계적으로 치료할 수 있는 심리 치료 콘텐츠 테스트 결과 일반 상담형, 자료 감상형 치료보다 치료 효과에 대한 만족도가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 향후 개발된 환자 맞춤형 VR 심리 치료 콘텐츠 개발 연구를 위한 예비 연구로써, 심리 치료 콘텐츠로써의 VR의 가능성을 증명하는데 기여할 것이다.