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.

InP quantum dots (QDs) have attracted researchers’ interest due to their applicability in quantum dot light-emitting displays (QLED) or biomarkers for detecting cancers or viruses. The surface or interface control of InP QD core/ shell has substantially increased quantum efficiency, with a quantum yield of 100% reached by introducing HF to inhibit oxide generation. In this study, we focused on the control of bandgap energy of quantum dots by changing the Zn/(In+Zn) ratio in the In(Zn)P core. Zinc incorporation can change the photoluminescent light colors of green, yellow, orange, and red. Diluting a solution of as-synthesized QDs by more than 100 times did not show any quenching effects by the Förster resonance energy transfer phenomenon between neighboring QDs.

A poorly known spider, Pholcus kwangkyosanensis Kim & Park, 2009 is redescribed with diagnosis, detailed descriptions, and taxonomic photographs of diagnostic characters. P. kwangkyosanensis is similar in appearance to P. kwanaksanensis Namkung & Kim, 1990, in terms of the shape of the genital organ and body, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by the shape of the cheliceral apophysis, uncus, and procursus in males, as well as the shape of the epigynum and pore plates in females. The specimens of this spider were collected at the type locality (Mt. Gwanggyosan, Suwon), specifically under the bridge on a local stream in an agricultural landscape surrounded by rice fields, upland fields, or horticultural greenhouses.

Due to the complexity of urban area, the city vehicle routing problem has been a difficult problem. The problem has involved factors such as parking availability, road conditions, and traffic congestion, all of which increase transportation costs and delivery times. To resolve this problem, one effective solution can be the use of parcel lockers located near customer sites, where products are stored for customers to pick up. When a vehicle delivers products to a designated parcel locker, customers in the vicinity must pick up their products from that locker. Recently, identifying optimal locations for these parcel lockers has become an important research issue. This paper addresses the parcel locker location problem within the context of urban traffic congestion. By considering dynamic environmental factors, we propose a Markov decision process model to tackle the city vehicle routing problem. To ensure more real situations, we have used optimal paths for distances between two nodes. Numerical results demonstrate the viability of our model and solution strategy.

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.

Teaching is often regarded as a profession with a high probability of job burnout. Research has shown a close relationship between teachers’ motivation and their burnout, but it has not been closely explored among EFL (English as a foreign language) teachers in Chinese contexts. Considering the large number of college English teachers in Chinese universities and recent changes in their role, the study explores the relationship between their motivation and burnout, as well as the factors that affect teacher burnout among Chinese college English teachers. For this purpose, a total of 261 college English teachers from ten Chinese universities participated in the survey. Among them, 68 teachers submitted their narratives on teacher burnout using the narrative frame. The results showed that high mastery and relational goals and a low level of work avoidance goals contributed to higher motivation and less teacher burnout. The demand for research, lack of autonomy, and guanxi-based practices influenced Chinese teachers’ burnout. The results show that teacher burnout is highly context-dependent and affected by the organizational structure and cultural practices. An organizational support needs to be provided for teachers to maintain their mastery goal orientations and increase their autonomy as professional teachers.

漢字構形學은 한자를 구성하는 단위의 개념을 규정하고 각 단위가 맺는 공시 적, 통시적 관계를 밝혀내어 관계를 지배하는 원리를 기술하는 학문이다. 1980년대 말에 한자구형학 이론이 정립된 후 2002년에 처음 출판된 󰡔漢字構形學講座󰡕부터 10여 년이 지난 후 2015년에 출판된 󰡔漢字構形學導論󰡕까지 내용이 보완되면서 점차 늘어난 편폭 만큼 한자구형학에 대한 저자의 깊은 통찰력도 더욱 분명하게 드러난다. 이 책 서문에서 저자는 한자를 인식하는 데 필요한 두 가지 열쇠가 표의성(表意性)과 형태 구성(構形)의 체계성이라고 강조하고 있으며, 이것은 漢字構形學을 지배하는 기본 원리라고 할 수 있 다. 漢字構形學은 한자의 본체인 ‘형태(形)’에 초점을 맞추어 한자의 형태가 구성되고 변화하는 과정에서 나타나는 ‘현상’을 연구하며, 그 이론을 관통하고 있는 핵심 주제는 한자의 ‘체계성’이다. 체계성의 핵심 의미는 그 체계를 구성하는 요소 간의 유기적 관계 에 있다. 이 책은 한자의 본체인 자형(字形)을 중심으로 한자 체계의 내부적, 외부적 요 소 간의 ‘관계’를 폭넓게 다루고 있다. 그리고 한자 체계 내부에 존재하는 각종 관계와 외 부 요소와의 관계는 통시적인 형태 변화 과정에서 나타나는 현상을 근거로 증명한다. 이 책은 이론적인 문제의 해결에서 ‘관계’를 기술하여 설명하고 ‘근거’를 들어 ‘증명’하는 한 자학의 학술적 의미를 되새기게 한다.

The pet industry, especially pet food, is experiencing rapid growth. This growth is accompanied by increasing concerns about pets' gut health, as an imbalanced microbiota can lead to various diseases. This study analyzes global patent trends in microbiome-based technologies for treating pet digestive issues using the WIPS database across major markets. Of 1,194 patents identified, 394 key references were examined, highlighting the increasing number of probiotic and microbiome-related patents since 2016. China dominates this sector, followed by Korea, Japan, and the United States. The findings provide a foundation for advancing microbiome-driven solutions for pet digestive ailments.

Background: This study focused on reproductive traits in Hanwoo cattle, specifically the environmental factors affecting gestation length and birth weight. Methods: The records of 1,540 cows calved at the Hanwoo Research Institute from 2015 to 2023 were examined. This study analyzed two populations, linebreeding Hanwoo (LBH) and general Hanwoo (GH), with all cows undergoing estrus synchronization and artificial insemination. The R software was used to compare the differences between the two populations and analyze the environmental factors affecting each trait. Results: The results showed that the average gestation length for LBH was 283.28 ± 5.93 days, which was significantly shorter than that of the GH, which had an average of 285.63 ± 6.21 days (p < 0.001). The average birth weight of LBH calves was 25.10 ± 3.69 kg, significantly lighter than GH calves, which weighed 27.26 ± 4.11 kg on average (p < 0.001). Analysis of environmental factors revealed significant differences in the gestation length of LBH based on dam parity, year, and season of calving. However, no significant differences were observed based on calf sex. For LBH, birth weight showed significant differences based on dam parity, year of calving, and sex of the calf, but not the season of calving. In GH, gestation length varied with dam parity and calving season, but not with calving year or calf sex. The GH birth weight showed differences based on dam parity, year of calving, and calf sex, but not the season of calving. Conclusions: Reproductive traits in the Hanwoo cattle industry are economically vital but are heavily influenced by environmental factors due to their low heritability. An accurate evaluation of the genetic potential of these traits requires an analysis of the environmental factors affecting them. The results of this study serve as foundational data for predicting the potential for genetic improvement in the gestation length and birth weight of Hanwoo cattle.

실내 벽면녹화용으로 많이 이용되고 있는 덩굴식물 스킨답 서스(Epipremnum aureum)는 줄기의 상·하 유인방향에 생장 차이를 보이는 것으로 알려져 있으나 그 원인에 대해서는 구 체적으로 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 광원의 위치(상· 하)와 줄기 유인방향(상·하)에 따른 스킨답서스의 생장반응을 15주간 조사하였다. 그 결과 정상적인 식물 생장 환경조건인 광원이 위에 있고 줄기를 위로 유인한 처리를 제외하고는 광 원이 아래에 위치하거나 줄기를 아래로 유인한 처리에서는 굴 곡과 뒤틀림 정도가 매우 컸다. 이것은 굴광성과 항굴지성에 대한 식물체 지상부의 반응 결과이며, 굴광성과 항굴지성의 경합반응은 식물체 아래 광원이 위치하고 줄기를 아래로 유인 했을 때 더욱 뚜렷하였다. 광원의 위치와 줄기 유인방향에 따 른 스킨답서스의 생장 반응은 굴광성과 항굴지성으로 설명 가 능하며 굴광성의 영향이 상대적으로 높게 나타났다.

As the complexity and uncertainty of international construction projects increase, the importance of risk management capabilities in the construction industry has become more pronounced. Accordingly, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has become a widely adopted approach among organizations as a new way for more effective risk management. Despite its growing application, research related to ERM is still in its infancy, and most of the existing studies have been limited to financial industries. Therefore, this study aims to empirically examine the influence of ERM’s core elements on project risk management (PRM) and project performance within construction firms. Our findings indicate that the key ERM components—organization, policy, and culture—significantly enhance PRM processes, underscoring their critical role and importance. Additionally, effective PRM positively affects project outcomes, highlighting its significance for construction companies engaged in international projects. While ERM does not directly impact project performance, it indirectly improves outcomes through enhanced PRM capabilities. It suggests that ERM will contribute to the firm’s performance by improving the firm’s PRM capability through policies and a risk-focused culture corresponding to the adopted ERM organization and system..

Probiotic lactic acid bacteria are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when administered in adequate amounts and may exhibit antiproliferative effects on various cancer cell lines, including colon cancer. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of three Lactobacillus strains - Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) - on mouse colon carcinoma cells (CT-26). Live cells, heat-killed cells, and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus sp. were prepared and used to treat CT-26 cells at different concentrations. The cytotoxic effect was assessed using the MTT assay. The results indicated that the CFS of all strains significantly reduced the viability of CT-26 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the VA 102 strain showing the most pronounced effect. Heat-killed cells of L. reuteri VA 102 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) also reduced cell viability. These findings suggest the potential anticancer properties of these Lactobacillus strains and indicate that CFS and heat-killed cells may offer a safer and more effective alternative to live bacteria for therapeutic applications. Our study contributes to the understanding of the potential of Lactobacillus strains, particularly L. reuteri VA 102, L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272), and L. animalis VA 105, as possible candidates for cancer treatment and control.

This study explores the development of English textbooks in North Korea through corpus-based analysis aimed at illuminating the differences between materials produced during the Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un regimes. In the context of educational reforms and changing political ideology, this study investigates BNC/COCA-based lexical coverage and the key lexical features of North Korean middle school English textbooks, highlighting the complexity, vocabulary, and readability of the learning materials. The findings revealed that the Kim Jong-un regime had implemented reforms to improve English language education, with increased lexical diversity, textual complexity, and vocabulary exposure. Although no significant differences were found between the two regimes regarding the lexical coverage of textbooks, the Kim Jong-un regime’s textbooks exhibited improvements in diversity, readability, and complexity. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the interplay between political ideology and English language education in North Korea, offering insights that have implications beyond the North Korean context and encouraging reflection on the nation-driven educational reform.

목적 : 광학 시뮬레이션 프로그램을 통해 Gullstrand 모형안을 입체적으로 설계하여, 정시와 굴절이상을 구현하 였다. 이를 이용하여 망막 상의 해상도 변화를 확인하고 정량적인 분석법을 제시하고자 하였다. 방법 : 3D 광학 시뮬레이션 프로그램인 Ansys SPEOS Ver. 2012(ANSYS Inc., USA)를 이용하여 모형안을 설계하였으며, 각막 전면 곡률반지름을 변화시켜 근시 및 원시의 굴절이상을 구현하였다. 각막 전면에서 우측 24.00, 24.38 및 25.00 mm 떨어진 위치에 탐지기를 설치하여 위치에 따른 상의 변화를 분석하였다. 굴절이상의 정도와 검출기 위치에 따른 상의 겉보기 해상도, 세기 분포, 가시성, 선명도를 확인하였으며 도출하였으며, 최종적 으로 정량적 해상도를 계산하였다. 결과 : 망막 상의 겉보기 해상도는 근시는 망막 앞에, 그리고 원시는 망막 뒤에 결상된 상에서 가장 우수한 결과 를 보였다. 세기 분포는 24.76 mm에서 +1.00과 +2.00 D가 모두 유사하게 높은 것으로 나타나 겉보기 해상도와 일부 차이를 보였다. 가시성은 24.00 mm에서 –2.00과 –1.00 D, 24.38 mm에서 –1.00과 +0.00 D, 24.76 mm에 서 +1.00과 +2.00 D가 높게 측정되었다. 선명도는 24.00 mm에서 –2.00 D, 24.38 mm에서는 -1.00 D, 그리고 24.76 mm에서는 +1.00 D에서 가장 높게 측정되었다. 이로써 가시성과 선명도 값은 위치와 굴절이상도에 따른 서로 다른 결과로 분석되었다. 정량적인 해상도는 24.00 mm에서 –2.00 D, 24.38 mm에서 –1.00과 +0.00 D, 24.76 mm에서 +1.00 D가 가장 우수하게 분석되었으며, 겉보기 해상도와 잘 일치하는 것이 확인되었다. 결론 : 본 연구에서 제안된 망막 상의 정량적 해상도 분석 결과를 통해 상대적으로 비교가 까다로운 망막 상에 대하여 정량적으로 명확한 분석이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

Nursing research in veterinary hospitals is critical to the work of veterinary nursing and is necessary for continued advancements that promote optimal nursing care. Since the work of veterinary nursing involves animals with whom communication is difficult, the level of work performance can vary greatly depending on the experience, knowledge, and abilities of each animal nurse. In addition, veterinary nursing might establish a successful work environment through collaboration with veterinarians, and smooth work cooperation and communication among hospital members are direct factors in improving the work performance of animal hospitals. Because the work of nursing shows significant differences in performance depending on the individual, much research is being conducted to develop tools to measure work performance in the veterinary nursing field of medical assistants. In the present study, we attempted to develop a work performance measurement tool that is useful and suitable for veterinary nursing using the Delphi method. As a result of this study, an 18-item questionnaire was developed to measure the work performance of veterinary nursing, and these evaluation items were found to have excellent suitability in terms of content and construct validity. The evaluation scale of work performance of animal nurses developed through this study is believed to be useful in evaluating work performance in terms of work performance ability, attitude, and work performance relationship. Additionally, it is considered that the results of this study can be actively used to understand and develop the work relationships of veterinary nursing.

최근 다양한 기술의 발달로 인하여 시간과 공간의 제약 없이 관람객에게 사실감과 현장감을 표 현하며 관람객에게 실제적인 감각을 선사하는 실감미디어에 대한 관심과 시장이 늘어나고 있다. 모든 미디어는 기술 발전에 따라 더 실제적인 감각을 선사할 수 있는 콘텐츠를 제공한다. 기존 사각형의 영상 프레임에 머물던 디스플레이의 형태를 감상하는 환경과 다르다. 이러한 360도 영상은 콘텐츠 제작, 영상 렌더링 플랫폼 및 영상 이미징 장비 등 다양한 분야에서 적용되고 있 다. 전방위적인 360도를 제공하는 돔 형태를 통한 실감미디어 콘텐츠의 사례가 국내와 국외적 으로 늘어나고 있다. 하지만 이러한 상황에 비하여 360도의 돔 형태를 활용한 실감미디어의 콘 텐츠 사례 연구가 부족한 상황이다. 따라서 이 논문에서는 360도의 영상 개요를 살펴보며 돔 형태 영상의 디스플레이가 가진 특성을 알아보았다. 본 논문을 통해 360도 돔 형태를 활용한 실감미디어의 콘텐츠 사례들을 살펴보며, 이를 통하여 360도 영상을 기반으로 돔 형태를 활용 한 실감미디어 콘텐츠를 기획하려는 다양한 영상 창작자들에게 보탬이 되고자 한다.

This paper presents a path planning optimization model for the engineering units to install obstacles in the shortest time during wartime. In a rapidly changing battlefield environment, engineering units operate various engineering obstacles to fix, bypass, and delay enemy maneuvers, and the success of the operation lies in efficiently planning the obstacle installation path in the shortest time. Existing studies have not reflected the existence of obstacle material storage that should be visited precedence before installing obstacles, and there is a problem that does not fit the reality of the operation in which the installation is continuously carried out on a regional basis. By presenting a Mixed Integrer Programming optimization model reflecting various constraints suitable for the battlefield environment, this study attempted to promote the efficient mission performance of the engineering unit during wartime.

The use of big data needs to be emphasized in policy formulation by public officials in order to improve the transparency of government policies and increase efficiency and reliability of government policies. ‘Hye-Ahn’, a government-wide big data platform was built with this goal, and the subscribers of ‘Hye-Ahn’ has grown significantly from 2,000 at the end of 2016 to 100,000 at August 2018. Additionally, the central and local governments are expanding their big data related budgets. In this study, we derived the costs and benefits of ‘Hye-Ahn’ and used them to conduct an economic feasibility analysis. As a result, even if only some quantitative benefits are considered without qualitative benefits, the net present value, the benefit/ cost, and internal rate of return turned out to be 22,662 million won, 2.3213, and 41.8%, respectively. Since this is larger than the respective comparison criteria of 0 won, 1.0, and 5.0%, it can be seen that ‘Hye-Ahn’ has had economic feasibility. As noticed earlier, the number of analysis using ‘Hye-Ahn’ is increasing, so it is expected that the benefits will increase as time passes. Finally, the socioeconomic value gained when the results of analysis using ‘Hye-Ahn’ are used in policy is expected to be significant.

본 논문의 목적은 생성형 AI 기술의 급속한 발달로 인해 변화하는 게임산업의 생태계를 살펴 보고 이에 따른 대응방안을 모색하는 데 있다. 2022년 11월 OpenAI가 ChatGPT를 대중에게 공개한 이후, 생성형 AI를 가장 직접적으로 활용 및 투자하고 있는 분야는 게임콘텐츠 산업이 다. 생성형 AI의 활용은 단순반복적인 작업의 효율화를 통해 게임 개발의 간소화와 예산 절감 을 가능케 한다. 여기에 플레이어의 반응에 실시간 반응하며 소통하는 콘텐츠 자동 생성을 통 해 사용자 경험을 극대화한다. 실제 게임 개발 현장에서도 게임 레벨, 맵, 퀘스트, 지능형 NPC, QA 자동화 등 게임 제작과 운영의 전 분야에서 생성형 AI 도구가 활용되고 있다. 신기 술에 민감하며 노동집약적인 게임의 산업적 특성 때문에 생성형 AI가 게임산업의 미래를 바꿀 것이라는 전망과 함께, 저작권 이슈와 대량 해고 등 우려 또한 제기되고 있다. 이에 대응하기 위해 게임업계는 생성형 AI가 가져올 불가피한 변화를 적극적으로 받아들이고, 이분법적 ‘대체 론’을 넘어 인간의 창의력과 AI 기술의 장점을 결합할 수 있는 새로운 협업 지성과 창작물에 대한 법적, 윤리적 가이드라인을 모색해야 한다.

As environmental concerns escalate, the increase in recycling of aluminum scrap is notable within the aluminum alloy production sector. Precise control of essential components such as Al, Cu, and Si is crucial in aluminum alloy production. However, recycled metal products comprise various metal components, leading to inherent uncertainty in component concentrations. Thus, meticulous determination of input quantities of recycled metal products is necessary to adjust the composition ratio of components. This study proposes a stable input determination heuristic algorithm considering the uncertainty arising from utilizing recycled metal products. The objective is to minimize total costs while satisfying the desired component ratio in aluminum manufacturing processes. The proposed algorithm is designed to handle increased complexity due to introduced uncertainty. Validation of the proposed heuristic algorithm's effectiveness is conducted by comparing its performance with an algorithm mimicking the input determination method used in the field. The proposed heuristic algorithm demonstrates superior results compared to the field-mimicking algorithm and is anticipated to serve as a useful tool for decision-making in realistic scenarios.