Even in an era where 8-meter class telescopes are common, small telescopes are considered very valuable research facilities since they are available for rapid follow-up or long term monitoring observations. To maximize the usefulness of small telescopes in Korea, we established the SomangNet, a network of 0.4{1.0 m class optical telescopes operated by Korean institutions, in 2020. Here, we give an overview of the project, describing the current participating telescopes, its scientic scope and operation mode, and the prospects for future activities. SomangNet currently includes 10 telescopes that are located in Australia, USA, and Chile as well as in Korea. The operation of many of these telescopes currently relies on operators, and we plan to upgrade them for remote or robotic operation. The latest SomangNet science projects include monitoring and follow-up observational studies of galaxies, supernovae, active galactic nuclei, symbiotic stars, solar system objects, neutrino/gravitational-wave sources, and exoplanets.

Metal matrix composites(MMC) can obtain mechanical characteristics of application purposes that a single material is difficult to obtain. Al2 O3/AC8A composites were fabricated by low pressure infiltration process. The purpose is establishing the optimal casting conditions for composite preparation under low pressure. It is known the inorganic binder help infiltration. Therefore Al2O3 fiber preform's optimum sinter temperature is 1160℃, added inorganic binder is mixed binder(SiO2 sol:Al2O3 sol=5:2). And three fibers have been compared (Al2O3 80%/SiO2 20%, Al2O3 80%/SiO2 10% and Al2O3 97%/SiO2 3%). Al2O3/AC8A composites was made by each melting temperatures(650℃, 700℃, 750℃) and wear test was performed about effect of temperatures, kind of fiber, matrix and composites, aging time. Wear test is Ball on disk wear test. The resistance increased with the low melting temperature and Al2O3 80%/SiO2 20% fiber.

In ruminants, Interferon-τ (IFN-τ) has the role of recognizing pregnancy signals produced by the embryo and it may have an important role during the luteolysis. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of IFN-τ on prostaglandin synthesis, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in vitro and secretion of progesterone (P4) in vivo. The epithelial and stromal cells isolated from bovine endometrium were cultured with different doses of IFN-τ (0, 0.02, 0.2 and 2 μg/ml). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 1.5 IU/ml) was used as a positive control. Prostaglandin E2 and F2α levels in the culture media were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays, and total RNA was extracted from the cells for RT-PCR. P4 concentrations in blood samples were assayed by chemiluminescent immunoassay system. In epithelial cells, COX-2 gene expression was increased in the presence of IFN-τ (p<0.05), but it was not significantly different in all groups of stromal cells except 2 μg/ml IFN-τ group (p<0.05). Although IFN-τ did not affect PGE2 and PGF2α production in epithelial cells, it decreased PGE2 and PGF2α production significantly in stromal cells (p<0.05). In vivo experiment, the P4 concentrations in blood sample was significantly increased after injection of 1 μg/ml IFN-τ. These results indicate that PG production was mediated by COX-2 expression in the stromal cells but it did not affect in the epithelial cells, and suggest that treatment of IFN-τ was to improve the implantation environment of uterine by maintenance of high P4 concentration. * This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ907008)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

화학적 안정성이 양호하고, 제막조건이 온화한 재료인 poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)를 주재료로 사용하여 용매, 첨가제, 혼합고분자 및 제막조건의 변화에 따른 고강도 친수성 정밀여파(microfiltration, MF) 중공사 분리막의 실험에 의해 고찰하였다. 제조된 MF 중공사막의 막성능은 평균 공경 0.3 μm, 인장강도 42kgf/㎠, 순수 투과유량은 600 LMH을 얻었다. 제막과정에서 다양한 첨가제의 막성능을 검토한 결과는 순수투과유량과 제거율에 상당한 영향을 미치고 있음을 알 수 있었다. MF막의 친수성을 개선하기 위해 소수성 PVDF와 상호 용해성 이 좋은 친수성 poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)를 혼합하여 투과성능과 제거율을 개선한 우수한 친수성 MF막을 제조할 수 있었다.