The development of food packaging materials with mechanical and antimicrobial properties is still a major challenge. N, P-doped carbons (NPCs) were synthesized. Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which has an adverse effect on the environment and affects petroleum resources, has been commonly used for applications as food packaging. The development of PBAT composites reinforced with NPCs and studies on their structure and antimicrobial properties are presented in this study. The composite materials in the PBAT/NPCs were processed by solution casting. The plasticizing properties of NPCs enhanced the mechanical strength of composites produced of PBAT and NPCs. The thermal properties of PBAT composites were enhanced with addition of NPCs, according to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After reinforcement, PBAT/NPCs composites became more hydrophobic, according to contact angle measurements. In studies against S. aureus and E. coli food-borne pathogenic bacteria, the obtained composites show noticeably improved antimicrobial activity. The composite materials, according to the results of PBAT and NPCs may be a good choice for packing for food that prevents microorganisms.

The purpose of this study is to determine the concepts of heterotopic image and fashion space, and the characteristics of fashion space and images from the perspective of fashion brands and users. This study examines the evolution of fashion space and consumers with it, based on Foucault’s theory of heterotopia, which refers to spaces that blend contradictory features not typically found within a single physical structure. This is accomplished by employing a single case study of Ader Error’s Ader Space, a Seoul-based brand known for its unique approach to presenting and communicating fashion. Based on an analysis of Instagram posts of Ader Error along with the hashtag searches “aderspace” and “adererror”, this study categorizes heterotopia from the perspective of fashion brands into three properties: fashion space as a medium for selling fashion products; fashion space as getaway to hybrid fashion practices; and fashion space as an illusionary place to experience fashion. From the user perspective, the heterotopic image of Ader Space portrayed on Instagram is characterized by the image of fashion products in an extraordinary fashion space, the image of a fashion space beyond space and time, and the image of exposing the hidden and the illusioncompensation of fashion space. This study contributes to a heightened understanding of the evolutionary concept of the fashion space.

Biomass-derived porous carbon is an excellent scientific and technologically interesting material for supercapacitor applications. In this study, we developed biomass-derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets (BDPCNS) from cedar cone biomass using a simple KOH activation and pyrolysis method. The BDPCNS was effectively modified at different temperatures of 600 °C, 700 °C, and 800 ℃ under similar conditions. The as-prepared BDPCNS-700 electrode exhibited a high BET surface area of 2883 m2 g− 1 and a total pore volume of 1.26 cm3 g− 1. Additionally, BDPCNS-700 had the highest electrical conductivity (11.03 cm− 1) and highest N-doped content among the different electrode materials. The BDPCNS-700 electrode attained a specific capacitance of 290 F g− 1 at a current density of 1 A g− 1 in a 3 M KOH electrolyte and an excellent longterm electrochemical cycling stability of 93.4% over 1000 cycles. Moreover, the BDPCNS-700 electrode had an excellent energy density (40.27 Wh kg− 1) vs power density (208.19 W kg− 1). These findings indicate that BDPCNS with large surface areas are promising electrode materials for supercapacitors and energy storage systems.

Metakaolin-based geopolymers have shown promise as suitable candidates for 14C immobilization and final disposal. It has been shown that the physicochemical properties of metakaolin wasteforms meet, and often far exceeding, the strict compression strength and leaching acceptance criteria of the South Korea radioactive waste disposal site. However, it is not possible to analyze and characterize the internal structure of the geopolymer wasteform by conventional characterization techniques such as microscopy without destruction of the wasteform; an impractical solution for inspecting wasteforms destined for final disposal. Internal inspection is important for ensuring wastes are homogenously mixed throughout the wasteform and that the wasteform itself does not pose any significant defects that may have formed either during formulation and curing or as a result of testing prior to final disposal. X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) enables Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of objects, such as final wasteforms, allowing for both their internal and external, characterization without destruction. However, for accurate quantification of an objects dimensions the spatial resolution (length and volume measures) must be know to a high degree of precision and accuracy. This often requires extensive knowledge of the equipment being used, its precise set-up, maintenance and calibration, as well as expert operation to yield the best results. A spatial resolution target consists of manufactured defects of uniformed dimensions and geometries which can be measured to a high degree of accuracy. Implementing the use of a spatial resolution target, the dimensions of which are known and certified independently, would allow for rapid dimensional calibration of XCT systems for the purpose of object metrology. However, for a spatial resolution target to be practical it should be made of the same material as the intended specimen, or at least exhibit comparable X-ray attenuation. In this study, attempts have been made to manufacture spatial resolution targets using geopolymer, silica glass, and alumina rods, as well as 3D printed materials with varying degrees of success. The metakaolin was activated by an alkaline activator KOH to from a geopolymer paste that was moulded into a cylinder (Diameter approx. 25 mm). The solidified geopolymer cylinder as well as both the silica glass rod and alumina rod (Diameter approx. 25 mm) we cut to approximately 4 mm ± 0.5 mm height with additional end caps cut measuring 17.5 mm ± 2.5 mm height. All parts were then polished to a high finish and visually inspected for their suitability as spatial resolution targets.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is very sluggish compared to the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Considering this difference is essential when designing and developing a cost-effective and facile synthesis method for a catalyst that can effectively perform OER activity. The material should possess a high surface area and more active sites. Considering these points, in this work we successfully synthesized sheets of cobalt phosphate hydrate (CP) and sulphurated cobalt phosphate hydrate (CPS) material, using simple successive ionic layered adsorption and reaction (SILAR) methods followed by sulfurization. The CP and CPS electrodes exhibited overpotentials of 279 mV with a Tafel slope of 212 mV dec1 and 381 mV with a Tafel slope of 212 mV dec1, respectively. The superior performance after sulfurization is attributed to the intrinsic activity of the deposited well-aligned nanosheet structures, which provided a substantial number of electrochemically active surface sites, speeded electron transfer, and at the same time improved the diffusion of the electrolyte.

The 2-round Delphi survey and Focus Group Interview (FGI) survey method, in this study, are sequentially applied for the level analysis of the high-level radioactive waste (HLW) management technologies, that are classified into transport/storage, site evaluation, and disposal categories. The 2- round Delphi survey was conducted on domestic 56 experts in the HLW field in Korea, and survey answers were managed with questionnaires distributed by e-mail. In the FGI survey, domestic 24 experts from management field were formed into three groups to conduct in-depth interviews. Past research achievements including journal papers, intellectual properties and the expert opinions presented at expert hearing on HLW technology were used as reference materials. As a result of the survey, in this study, the average domestic technology level compared to the leading countries was 83.1% in transport area, 79.6% in storage area, 62.2% in site evaluation area, and 57.4% in disposal area, respectively. When compared to the former level analysis results in 2017, technology level of transport-storage area increased by 8.6%, and the site evaluation-disposal technology area decreased by 7.27%. The highest factor that increase the level of technology in the transport-storage field was due to the increased R&D program resulting on journal papers, intellectual properties. In addition, the decrease factor in the level of technology in the site evaluation-disposal field was mainly due to relatively low R&D program when compared to the leading countries. Suggested method for the level survey can be used to find out the basic data of the lower tech technologies, to estimate the efficient research budgets and to prepare the R&D human resources. With this regards, R&D roadmap can be matured with suggested prediction method for the domestic technology level on HLW.

To assist farmers in shifting from subsistence to commercial agriculture, the government of Laos has promoted farmer organizations throughout the country. The farmer production groups have gradually transformed and emerged into strong cooperatives or associations. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting farmers’ participation in FPGs. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. A total of 140 respondents participated in a field survey in three kumb ban (village groups) in the Xepon District. Descriptive statistics and binary logistics regression models were used to analyze the data. The results show that the education level of household head, farmland size, access to credit, and perceived trust for farmer production group membership are significantly different from those who are non-members of the groups. However, non-members of FPGs face more constrain in accessing the market, as compared to the members of FPGs. The empirical results from the Binary Logit Model indicate that education level of headed household, farmland size, access to credit, perceived trust, and constraint to market are factors that significantly determine farmers’ participation in FPGs. This study contributes to the empirical literature by providing a better understanding of farmer participation in the groups. The government of Laos should consider and promote access to credit, farmer learning, and market integration to improve farmers' participation in FPGs.

To investigate the industrial availability of liquid fermentation (PL-ferment) by Phellinus linteus mycelium as a postbiotics for the inhibition of inflammation, PL-ferment was fractionated into culture supernatant (CS), hot-water extract (HW) from PL-ferment, EtOH-precipitate (CP) fractionated from HW, and the dialysate (DCP) of CP. Compared to the other fractions, DCP which is expected to contain exopolysaccharide (EPS) as the major component, significantly decreased the production of NO, IL-6, and MCP-1 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, and IL-6 and IL-8 in TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. The general component analysis results showed that no significant difference in components was observed between the fractions, whereas sugar composition analysis revealed that DCP had decreased glucose and increased mannose contents compared to the other fractions. This suggests that mannose played an important role in the anti-inflammatory activity of the active fraction, DCP. Molecular weight distribution analysis revealed that DCP was mainly composed of low-molecular-weight material-removed high-molecular-weight polysaccharides of 18–638 kDa, suggesting that EPS originated from P. linteus EPS. In conclusion, our results suggest that the DCP of P. linteus mycelium fermentation using the anti-inflammatory activity could be used industrially as postbiotic material.