The A182 steel is used in the steam pressure regulator of power plant valves. Since the part is operated under high temperature and high pressure conditions, it is necessary to study the machining characteristics. In this study, EDS analysis of the tool wear shape according to the cutting condition of A182 steel was performed. The A182 steel is identified as a steel belonging to the hardest cutting material and will be used to derive the optimum cutting condition.

Currently, due to the development of technology, the industry is proceeding with the development of advanced materials with high performance such as light weight, heat resistance and electric conductivity. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) is an excellent material with high heat resistance, high strength and thermal shock resistance. In order to obtain excellent hole shape in CFRP drilling, we compared the modified drill shape and the conventional carbide drill. On the other hand, we determine the proper helix angle by observing the CFRP surface according to the helix angle at the trimming of the end mill proceeding after the hole machining.

다육식물인 에케베리아(Echeveria)는 최근 전세계적으로 수요가 증가하고 있지만, 번식효율이 품종이나 환경 요인의 영향을 크게 받으므로 연중 고품질 묘를 공급하는 것이 어렵다. 이 연구는 밀폐형 식물공장 내에서 LED 파장 조합이 에케베리아 엽삽번식 효율에 미치는 영향을 구명하여 주년 생산의 기초자료를 제공하고자 실시되었다. 번식이 어려운 ‘Afterglow(AG)’, ‘Berkeley Light(BL)’, ‘Mason(MS)’, ‘Subsessilis Light(SL)’, ‘Cream Tea(CT)’, ‘Ben Badis(BB)’ 등 6품종의 모주로부터 균일한 잎을 채취하여 실내온도 24±2℃, 상대습도 60±10%의 식물공장 내에서 혼합상토에 삽목하였다. 청색(B, 450nm), 녹색(G, 530nm), 적색(R, 660nm), 원적색(FR, 730nm) LED를 이용하여 R10, R8+B2, R5+B5, R7+B2+FR1, R7+B2+G1의 비율로 광질을 달리하여 처리하였고, PPFD는 200μmol·m-2·s-1, 광주기는 16/8(명/암) 시간이었다. 그 결과, 번식 효율은 품종에 따라 차이가 있었는데, ‘SL’은 상대적으로 발근과 신초 형성이 쉽게 되었으나, ‘AG’는 발근과 뿌리 생장이 잘 되지 않았다. LED 파장 또한 번식효율에 영향을 주었는데, B 비율이 높은 R5+B5, R7+B2+FR1, R7+B2+G1 하에서 신초 형성과 생장이 촉진된 반면, 발근과 뿌리 생장은 억제되었다. 반대로, R 비율이 높은 R10나 R8+B2 하에서는 부정근 형성 및 생장이 촉진된 반면, 신초 형성 및 생장이 억제되었다. 한편, FR은 잎의 크기와 무게를 증가시켰다. 따라서, 번식이 어려운 에케베리아 품종의 엽삽 시 번식 효율을 높이기 위해서는 각 파장별 효과를 활용한 적정 파장 조성에 대한 연구가 필요하다.

Mature colonies of leaf-cutting ants (LCA) in the genus Atta are among the largest of any social insect. These “superorganisms” harvest substantial amounts of leaf material per year, which they use to cultivate a specialized symbiotic fungus for food (Basidiomycota, Agaricales, Leucoagaricus). This complex symbiosis is not bipartite as originally thought, as it includes at least four coevolved and integrated organisms: the farming ants, the fungi that the ants cultivate for food, a genus of fungi (Escovopsis) that are specialized mycoparasites of the ant’s fungal gardens, and actinomycete bacteria (genus Pseudonocardia) that the ants culture on their bodies and from which they obtain antibiotics against the Escovopsis parasites. More recently we described an additional symbiosis with Nitrogen-fixing bacteria that colonize the fungus gardens and contribute to supplement the ants’ nutrition. Our present research efforts in Costa Rica focus on potential biotechnological application of the ants’ microbial symbionts, including bioprospecting for novel antibiotics. We currently investigate the contributions of symbiotic bacteria in cellulose degradation within the fungus garden, employing a combination of culture-dependent and independent techniques coupled with ultrastructural analysis based on high resolution microscopy. Further, given that the ants constitute one of the main agricultural pests in Latin America, we study microbial parasites of both the ants and the fungus gardens to develop biocontrol products that can be incorporated into Integrated Management Strategies to control the detrimental effects of these insects.