In this study, the effects of silver treatment and activation on the physical and chemical properties of spherical activated carbon (SAC) were studied. The textural properties of SAC were characterized by BET surface area, XRD, SEM, iodine adsorption, strength intensity, pressure drop and antibacterial effects. BET surface areas of SACs decreased with an increase of the amount of PR before and after activation, and the BET surface areas of SACs were found to be about 2-3 times the size of those before activation. The XRD patterns showed their existing state as stable Ag crystals and carbon structure. The Ag particles are seaweedlike and uniform, being approximately 5-10 μm in size deposited on the surface of activated carbon. All of the samples had much more iodine adsorption capability after activation than before activation. The strength values of SACs increased with an increase of the amount of PR, and there was a smaller drop in the strength values of SACs with silver treatment than with non-silver treatment after activation. The Ag-SAC composites showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. Coli).

This study compared the electromyographic activities and input performance of computer operators using a computer mouse and a trackball. Muscle activities were assessed at the upper trapezius (UT), middle deltoid (MD), extensor digitorum (ED), and first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI). Twenty-six healthy subjects were recruited, and the test order was selected randomly for each subject. The task set was to click moving targets on a Windows program. The EMG amplitude was normalized using the percentage of reference voluntary contraction for UT and MD and the percentage of maximal voluntary contraction for ED and FDI. To analyze the differences in EMG activity, a paired t-test was used. UT muscle activities were significantly greater when the computer mouse was used (p<.05). FDI muscle activities were significantly greater when the trackball was used (p<.05). Using a trackball can reduce the load on the UT during computer work and help to prevent and manage work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

The active-knee-extension (AKE) test has been used to measure hamstring muscle length. The traditional AKE test measures the popliteal angle to the point of resistance with a 90-degree flexion of the hip fixed by straps, while the stabilized AKE test measures the popliteal angle to the point of resistance with a 90-degree flexion of the hip stabilized using a pressure biofeedback unit providing lumbopelvic stabilization. The purpose of this study was to determine test-retest reliability of the traditional AKE test and stabilized AKE test. Twenty healthy adults participated in the study. The popliteal angles were measured with a digital inclinometer during each test. To assess the test-retest reliability between the 2 test sessions, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. The intrasubject coefficient of variation (CVintra) was also calculated. To compare the traditional and stabilized AKE tests for changes in pressure, paired t-tests were applied. The results of this study were as follows: 1) ICCs(3,1) value for test-retest reliability was .96 in the traditional AKE test, and was .98 in the stabilized AKE test. 2) The maximal CVintra was 33.7% in the traditional AKE test and 15.7% in the stabilized AKE test. 3) Differences of 6.1±2.1 mmHg in pressure were measured in the traditional AKE test, and differences of 1.2±1.0 mmHg in pressure were measured in the stabilized AKE test. The results show the traditional and stabilized AKE test to be highly reliable, with test-retest reliability. However, the stabilized AKE test represented less variation and more stabilization than the traditional AKE test. Further study is needed to measure the inter-rater reliability of the stabilized AKE test for generalization and clinical application.

Expanded graphite (EG) is synthesized by chemical intercalation of natural graphite (NG) and rapid expansion at high temperature, with titanium n-butoxide (TNB) used as titanium source by a sol-gel method to prepare EG-TiO2 composite. The performances of the prepared EG-TiO2 composite are characterized by BET surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). To compare the photocatalytic activities of the EG-TiO2 composite, three kinds of dye solutions, methylene blue (MB), methylene orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB), and two kinds of light source, UV light and visible light (VL), are used. Comparing the results, it can be clearly seen that the degradation of all of the dye solutions under irradiation by UV light is much better than that under irradiation by visible light, and the decomposition of MB solution was better than that of both of MO and RhB solution.

Si-C composite with hollow spherical structure was synthesized using ultrasonic treatment of organosilica powder formed by hydrolysis of phenyltrimethoxysilane. The prepared powder was pyrolyzed at various temperatures ranging from 900 to 1300 ˚C under nitrogen atmosphere to obtain optimum conditions for Li-ion battery anode materials with high capacity and cyclability. The XRD and elemental analysis results show that the pyrolyzed Si/C composite at 1100 ˚C has low oxygen and nitrogen levels, which is desirable for increasing the electrochemical capacity and reducing the irreversible capacity of the first discharge. The solid Si-C composite electrode shows a first charge capacity of ~500 mAhg-1 and a capacity fade within 30 cycles of 0.93% per cycle. On the other hand, the electrochemical performance of the hollow Si-C composite electrode exhibits a reversible charge capacity of ~540 mAhg-1 with an excellent capacity retention of capacity loss 0.43% per cycle up to 30 cycles. The improved electrochemical properties are attributed to facile diffusion of Li ions into the hollow shell with nanoscale thickness. In addition, the empty core space provides a buffer zone to relieve the mechanical stresses incurred during Li insertion.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of chestnut honey which were harvested at various areas in South Korea. First at all, we measured the total phenols content through a spectrophotometric determination with a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method and total flavonoids content determined with aluminium chloride. Total phenolic compounds was highest in Sunchang of Chestnut honey(2.21mg/ml)and flavonoids contents was also the highest in Sunchang of Chestnut honey(1.02mg/ml) than other samples. For measured the antioxidant activity of chestnut honey, we performed DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test and FRAP(ferric reducing-antioxidant assay)test. DPPH scavenging activity highest in Sunchang of Chestnut honey more than 50% DPPH scavenging activitywhile other samples (Gong-ju, Yechen, Chung-ju, Imsil, Ha-dong) showed more than 25% DPPH scavenging activity. The ferric reducing-antioxidant assay (FRAP) is based on the reduction of ferric 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine [Fe(III)-TPTZ] by spectrophotometric analysis. Sunchang were found to have more than 532μM FRAP activity while other samples (Gong-ju, Yechen, Chung-ju, Imsil, Ha-dong) showed more than 300μM FRAP activity. The results suggested that chestnut honey strong antioxidant activity and it could be utilized as a source of natural antioxidant.

We report for the first time the occurrence of DWV-infected bumble bees (Bombus ignitus). For the present study, the detection of DWV virus from the female and male bumble bee was investigated in the same colony. The Deformed wing virus (DWV) of honeybee (Apis mellifera) is closely associated with characteristic wing deformities, abdominal bloating, paralysis, and rapid mortality of emerging adult bees. Using specific RT-PCR protocols for the detection of DWV followed by sequencing of the PCR products we could demonstrate that the bumble bees were indeed infected with DWV. The virus was detected from Bombus ignitus, and its partial DWV gene was cloned and sequenced. The partial DWV gene encoding the polyprotein is 711-nt of 235 amino acid residues. The deduced nucleotide sequence of the polyprotein partial gene of DWV showed 96.9%, 96.2%, 96.8%, and 96.5% homology to other structure polyprotein partial gene of DWV from insects, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis further conformed that the deduced nucleotide sequence of the polyprotein partial gene of DWV divided to the outside tree. We describe the first time that presence of Deformed wing virus(DWV) from bumble bee(Bombus terrestris) in korea using RT-PCR.