본 연구는 국립수목원 내 전문전시원에 발생한 이입식물을 대상으로 2015년부터 2023년까지 이입식물 분포조사를 시행 하였다. 그 결과 자생식물 299종, 귀화식물 49종, 재배식물 13 종 총 63과 214속 361종이 조사되었다. 국화과가 63종으로 가장 많았고, 벼과, 사초과 순으로 발생하였다. 이입식물의 이입 경로를 분석하기 위하여 광릉숲에 분포하는 식물상과 비교 분석 한 결과 309종이 광릉숲에 분포하는 식물로 확인되었으며, 전 문전시원 내 식재 식물이 확산된 경우가 17종으로 조사되었다. 조사된 귀화식물 49종을 원산지별로 구분하면 유럽과 북아메리카가 69.4%, 이입 시기별 1기와 3기의 비율이 90%를 차지하였 다. 귀화식물의 귀화도 분포 등급을 적용한 결과 4등급 이상이 면서 이입 시기가 3기인 식물 9종은 빠르게 확산할 우려가 큰 식물이므로 지속적인 모니터링이 필요하다. 국립수목원에 어느 정도 귀화식물이 분포하는지를 가늠하는 도시화지수를 산출한 결과 15.0%로 나타났으며, 환경부 지정 생태계교란 야생식물 중 돼지풀, 단풍잎돼지풀, 애기수영, 미국쑥부쟁이가 출현하였 다. 이입식물은 자생식물군락과 전문전시원 내 관람로에 침입하 여 세력권을 확장하고 우점하는 경향이 있어 각각의 생태적 특 성을 고려한 제거 방법이 필요하다.

많은 연구에 따르면 Tenebrio molitor은 유충 단계에서 플라스틱을 섭취할 수 있다고 보고되었다. 이 연구의 목적은 T. molitor 유충의 성장과 발달에 발포폴리스티렌 섭취가 미치는 영향을 조사하는 것이다. 밀기울을 섭취한 유충의 성장률은 발포폴리스티렌을 섭취한 유충의 성장률보다 더 좋았고(p < 0.001) 발포폴리스티렌을 섭취한 유 충의 번데기로 전환되는 기간은 밀기울을 섭취한 유충의 번데기로 전환되는 기간보다 더 빨랐다(p < 0.001). 하지만 두 처리구간 생존율은 유의미한 차이가 없었다(p = 0.786). 이 결과에 따르면 발포폴리스티렌을 섭취한 유충은 체중 감소와 짧은 발육기간이 특징이지만 생존하는 것에는 문제가 없었다. 따라서 우리는 T. molitor가 플라스틱 폐기물 의 지속 가능하고 친환경적인 제거를 위한 주요 자원이라는 결론을 내렸다.

This study prepares highly porous carbon (c-fPI) for lithium-ion battery anode that starts from the synthesis of fluorinated polyimide (fPI) via a step polymerization, followed by carbonization. During the carbonization of fPI, the decomposition of fPI releases gases which are particularly from fluorine-containing moiety (–CF3) of fPI, creating well-defined microporous structure with small graphitic regions and a high specific surface area of 934.35 m2 g− 1. In particular, the graphitic region of c-fPI enables lithiation–delithiation processes and the high surface area can accommodate charges at electrolyte/electrode interface during charge–discharge, both of which contribute electrochemical performances. As a result, c-fPI shows high specific capacity of 248 mAh g− 1 at 25 mA g− 1, good rate-retention performance, and considerable cycle stability for at least 300 charge–discharge cycles. The concept of using a polymeric precursor (fPI), capable of forming considerable pores during carbonization is suitable for the use in various applications, particularly in energy storage systems, advancing materials science and energy technologies.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have been reported to have better properties than conventional materials; however, they are more expensive due to the high cost of their main components. Therefore, research is needed to reduce manufacturing costs. In this study, CoCrFeMnNi HEAs were prepared using metal injection molding (MIM), which is a powder metallurgy process that involves less material waste than machining process. Although the MIM-processed samples were in the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase, porosity remained after sintering at 1200°C, 1250°C, and 1275°C. In this study, the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process, which considers both temperature (1150°C) and pressure (150 MPa), was adopted to improve the quality of the MIM samples. Although the hardness of the HIP-treated samples decreased slightly and the Mn composition was significantly reduced, the process effectively eliminated many pores that remained after the 1275°C MIM process. The HIP process can improve the quality of the alloy.

The development of thermoelectric (TE) materials to replace Bi2Te3 alloys is emerging as a hot issue with the potential for wider practical applications. In particular, layered Zintl-phase materials, which can appropriately control carrier and phonon transport behaviors, are being considered as promising candidates. However, limited data have been reported on the thermoelectric properties of metal-Sb materials that can be transformed into layered materials through the insertion of cations. In this study, we synthesized FeSb and MnSb, which are used as base materials for advanced thermoelectric materials. They were confirmed as single-phase materials by analyzing X-ray diffraction patterns. Based on electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity of both materials characterized as a function of temperature, the zT values of MnSb and FeSb were calculated to be 0.00119 and 0.00026, respectively. These properties provide a fundamental data for developing layered Zintl-phase materials with alkali/alkaline earth metal insertions.

Human bitter taste-sensing type 2 receptors (hTAS2Rs) are expressed in various human tissues and may be associated with various cell signaling pathways, cell progression, and cell physiology in each tissue. hTAS2Rs can be a potential drug target because it is also expressed in some cancer cells. Xanthorrhizol (XNT) has various biological activities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. XNT produces a bitter taste, but the specific hTAS2R activated is unknown, and the hTAS2R-mediated effect of XNT on cancer cells has not been studied. This study discovered the target receptor of XNT among 25 hTAS2Rs and confirmed the possibility of the hTAS2R-mediated inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. XNT activated only one receptor, hTAS2R38 (EC50=1.606±0.021 g/mL), and its activity was inhibited by probenecid, a hTAS2R38 antagonist. When HepG2 and MCF-7 cells were treated with XNT or phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), a known hTAS2R38 agonist, both chemicals inhibited cancer cell proliferation. XNT targets the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 and inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 and MCF-7 cells mediated by TAS2R38. This suggests that TAS2R38 may be a new target for disease treatment and a potential new factor for drug development.