Kyungpook National University

About: Kyungpook National University is a education organization based out in Daegu, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 20497 authors who have published 42107 publications receiving 834608 citations.

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Wood Flour/Talc-filled Polylactic Acid Composites: Effect of Filler Content and Coupling Treatment:

Abstract: Wood flour (WF) and talc-filled polylactic acid (PLA) composites are prepared by melt compounding and injection molding. The effects of filler loading and silane treatment, the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites are studied. Loading of WF and WF/talc mixture into neat PLA results in a small decrease in the glass transition and crystalline temperatures of the composites. The use of WF, talc and silane in the composites causes successively larger decreased in the composite crystallinity. The addition of talc and silane to PLA/WF composites improved the tensile modulus. The tensile strength of the composites decreases slightly with the addition of talc, but it considerably improves with the use of 1 wt% silane. Morphological analysis shows improved interfacial bonding with silane treatment for the composites.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Koreans: Population-Specific Loci as Well as Overlap With European Susceptibility Loci

Abstract: Objective To perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Koreans in order to identify susceptibility loci for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We generated high-quality genotypes for 441,398 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 801 RA cases and 757 controls. We then tested 79 markers from 46 loci for replication in an independent sample of 718 RA cases and 719 controls. Results Genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10–08) was attained by markers from the major histocompatibility complex region and from the PADI4 gene. The replication data showed nominal association signals (P < 5 × 10–02) for markers from 11 of the 46 replicated loci, greatly exceeding random expectation. Genes that were most significant in the replication stage and in the combined analysis include the known European RA loci BLK, AFF3, and CCL21. Thus, in addition to the previously associated STAT4 alleles, variants at these three loci may contribute to RA not only among Europeans, but also among Asians. In addition, we observed replication signals near the genes PTPN2, FLI1, ARHGEF3, LCP2, GPR137B, TRHDE, and CGA1. Based on the excess of small P values in the replication stage study, we estimate that more than half of these loci are genuine RA susceptibility genes. Finally, we systematically analyzed the presence of association signals in Koreans at established European RA loci, which showed a significant enrichment of European RA loci among the Korean RA loci. Conclusion Genetic risk for RA involves both population-specific loci as well as many shared genetic susceptibility loci in comparisons of Asian and European populations.

Measurement of the decay B →dℓνℓ in fully reconstructed events and determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vcb |

Abstract: We present a determination of the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element vertical bar V-cb vertical bar using the decay B -> Dl nu(l) (l = e,mu) based on 711 fb(-1) of e(+)e(-) -> Upsilon(4S) data recorded by the Belle detector and containing 772 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs. One B meson in the event is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode, while the other, on the signal side, is partially reconstructed from a charged lepton and either a D+ or D-0 meson in a total of 23 hadronic decay modes. The isospin-averaged branching fraction of the decay B -> Dl nu(l) is found to be B(B-0 -> D(-)l(vertical bar)nu(l)) = (2.31 +/- 0.03(stat) +/- 0.11(syst))%. Analyzing the differential decay rate as a function of the hadronic recoil with the parametrization of Caprini, Lellouch, and Neubert and using the form-factor prediction G(1) = 1.0541 +/- 0.0083 calculated by FNAL/MILC, we obtain eta(EW)vertical bar V-cb vertical bar = (40.12 +/- 1.34) x 10(-3), where eta(EW) is the electroweak correction factor. Alternatively, assuming the model-independent form-factor parametrization of Boyd, Grinstein, and Lebed and using lattice QCD data from the FNAL/MILC and HPQCD collaborations, we find eta(EW)vertical bar V-cb vertical bar = (41.10 +/- 1.14) x 10(-3).

Oxidative desulfurization and denitrogenation of fuels using metal-organic framework-based/-derived catalysts

Abstract: Removal of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds (SCCs and NCCs) from commercial fuel is very important since those impurities can cause various problems including catalyst deactivation and acid rain. Because of the limitations of the conventional refinery methods, development of a new method such as oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is highly desirable. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based and MOF-derived nanohybrid materials were suggested as a good catalyst for ODS of fuels. Moreover, removal of NCCs via oxidation with MOF-derived catalyst was also reported even though the technique is just emerging. Therefore, it is required to analyze the reported results; and more importantly to suggest a new research direction; and finally, to estimate the possibility of new desulfurization/denitrogenation technology that might replace/compensate studied technologies. This review might be quite beneficial not only to accumulate or understand the reported results but also to develop new efficient catalysts for the probable commercialization of the ODS/ODN technology.