Jeju TechnoPark

Jeju Island, South Korea, is a volcanic island where the population depends entirely on groundwater for freshwater supply, and the island exhibits unique hydrogeological characteristics. This study examines groundwater recharge processes by analyzing the stable isotopes of oxygen (δ¹⁸O) and hydrogen (δ²H) in monthly precipitation and groundwater. Precipitation isotopes showed clear seasonal variability, characterized by a strong summer monsoon effect. Northern-slope precipitation was slightly more depleted in ¹ ⁸O and has lower d -excess values compared to other slopes. Groundwater in this area exhibited similarly depleted isotopic signatures, suggesting that high-elevation recharge moves downgradient along preferential flow pathways toward coastal areas. Mixing analysis indicates that high-elevation summer rainfall is the dominant source of groundwater recharge. These findings significantly enhance the understanding of the linkages between precipitation patterns and groundwater recharge dynamics on the island. • Summer rainfall is the primary source of recharge. • Isotope mixing analysis indicates high-altitude summer rainfall as the main source. • Low δ¹ ⁸O in northern-slope indicates rapid flow of high-altitude recharge. • Long-term isotope monitoring is vital for sustainable water management.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems owing to their high energy density and excellent stability. Accordingly, various studies are actively underway to improve battery life and suppress degradation; however, most have focused on advancing internal materials such as cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. This approach has limitations, including complex manufacturing processes, increased costs, and difficulty in applying such changes to existing systems in operation. In this study, we propose an external, nonintrusive approach involving the application of an external magnetic field to a battery to overcome these limitations. This method can improve performance through physical stimulation without altering the internal structure of the cell, making it easily applicable to commercial systems. First, we compared the electrochemical characteristics based on the magnetic polarity using a beaker cell. Subsequently, the optimal conditions to a commercial 18,650 lithium-ion battery were applied to analyze and compare the charge/discharge cycle performance with and without application of magnetic field. Additionally, we conducted electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrode surface observations, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the cells after cycling to comprehensively evaluate the effect of the magnetic field on battery degradation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of improving battery life through a simple and practical approach of applying an external magnetic field, and highlights its potential as an alternative technique to enhance the performance of existing battery systems. • External magnetic fields suppress lithium-ion degradation and improve cycle life. • Beaker-cell EIS found an axial ring magnet with the lowest internal resistance. • Ring(S) and Ring(N) configurations were tested on 18,650 cells for 200 cycles. • Compared with Bare, Ring(S) most improved SOH, efficiency, etc. • MHD/Lorentz-force analysis confirmed that Ring(N) best suppresses degradation.

Human-wildlife conflicts frequently occur at forest-agriculture interfaces, particularly in fragmented landscapes where wildlife movement corridors intersect with farmland. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a short fence in reducing seasonal incursions by wild boar (Sus scrofa) and Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) into farmland at Baekbong Mountain, Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, from January 2021 to February 2022. Using camera trap detections and UAV-derived environmental data, we developed seasonal habitat suitability models with Maxent and conducted connectivity analyses using Omniscape to identify potential movement corridors. A 200 m fence was installed at a predicted hotspot, and additional camera traps were used to monitor changes in wildlife movement. Trails and roads were identified as key environmental variables influencing habitat suitability for both species. After fence installation, the preferred corridor used by wild boar near a mud pool was effectively blocked, whereas Korean water deer continued to access the same location. Seasonal distribution changes were more pronounced for wild boar, with their range expanding beyond the fenced area. Our results suggest that even relatively short fences can effectively deter wild boar movement while having minimal impact on water deer, highlighting the importance of species-specific ecological considerations when implementing mitigation measures. These findings provide practical insights for farmers and land managers seeking to reduce wildlife incursions and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in urban-fringe ecosystems.

Fucoxanthin has gained attention for its beneficial effects, including anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory activities. A benthic marine diatom Melosira nummuloides is a promising candidate for fucoxanthin production. Nevertheless, industrial-scale cultivation remains constrained by suboptimal growth performance and the lack of species-tailored media. This study aimed to develop a cost-effective medium for enhancing biomass and fucoxanthin production in M. nummuloides by modifying the conventional F/2 medium based on species-specific intracellular nutrient stoichiometry. The cellular molar N:P:Si ratio of M. nummuloides was identified as 13:1:12.3. Despite nitrogen reduction by 36.13% relative to F/2 medium, M. nummuloides cultivated in the Melosira-Optimized Medium using Fumed Silica (MOM-FS) was well grown, achieving biomass concentration of 261 mg/L on day 4-approximately 1.21-fold higher than that obtained with F/2. In addition, MOM-FS enhanced biomass-associated fucoxanthin yield by 10.3% and biogenic silica yield by 20.8% relative to the F/2. The use of MOM-FS reduced total medium costs by 28.3%, fucoxanthin production cost by 36.8%, and bio-silica production cost by 28.3%. Overall, these findings indicate that the cost-effective medium developed here provides a practical, efficient, and economically viable framework for large-scale cultivation of M. nummuloides and the co-production of fucoxanthin and bio-silica.

Abstract A chemical strategy depositing functional nanoemulsions onto Fe(III)‐tannic acid (TA) priming layers enables the fabrication of polyphenolic composite nanocoatings. Optimization of the composition yields stable nanoemulsions (~200 nm) utilizing a 1:1 trans ‐cinnamaldehyde/olive oil core and a lactoferrin shell. These nanoemulsions demonstrate superior colloidal stability, specifically maintaining dispersion stability for 7 days at room temperature, resisting heat up to 60°C, and withstanding centrifugal shear forces. Notably, a 3‐day incubation triggers interfacial conjugation between trans‐cinnamaldehyde and lactoferrin. On Fe(III)‐TA‐primed surfaces, these nanoemulsions promote the uniform growth of multinary composite nanofilms. This methodology offers a versatile, biocompatible approach to developing tailored composite nanocoatings, establishing a robust platform for engineering functional interfaces in food and biomedical applications.

Accurate forecasting of photovoltaic (PV) power generation is essential for mitigating weather-induced variability and maintaining power-system stability. This study aims to improve PV power forecasting accuracy by enhancing the quality of numerical weather prediction (NWP) inputs rather than modifying forecasting model structures. Specifically, systematic errors in temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation data produced by the Unified Model–Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System (UM-LDAPS) are corrected using a Model Output Statistics (MOS) approach. A case study was conducted for a 20 kW rooftop PV system in Buan, South Korea, comparing forecasting performance before and after MOS application using a random forest-based PV forecasting model. The results show that MOS significantly improves meteorological input accuracy, reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) of temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation by 38.1–62.3%. Consequently, PV power forecasting errors were reduced by 70.0–78.7% across lead times of 1–6 h, 7–12 h, and 19–24 h. After MOS correction, the normalized mean absolute percentage error (nMAPE) remained consistently low at approximately 7–8%, indicating improved forecasting robustness across the evaluated lead-time ranges. In addition, an economic evaluation based on the Korean renewable energy forecast-settlement mechanism estimated an annual benefit of approximately 854 USD for the analyzed 20 kW PV system. A complementary valuation using an NREL-based framework yielded an annual benefit of approximately 296 USD. These results demonstrate that improving meteorological data quality through MOS enhances PV forecasting performance and provide measurable economic value.