Two sintering methods of a pressureless sintering and a spark-plasma sintering are tested to densify the Fe-TiC composite powders which are fabricated by high-energy ball-milling. A powder mixture of Fe and TiC is prepared in a planetary ball mill at a rotation speed of 500 rpm for 1h. Pressureless sintering is performed at 1100, 1200 and 1300oC for 1-3 hours in a tube furnace under flowing argon gas atmosphere. Spark-plasma sintering is carried out under the following condition: sintering temperature of 1050oC, soaking time of 10 min, sintering pressure of 50 MPa, heating rate of 50oC, and in a vacuum of 0.1 Pa. The curves of shrinkage and its derivative (shrinkage rate) are obtained from the data stored automatically during sintering process. The densification behaviors are investigated from the observation of fracture surface and cross-section of the sintered compacts. The pressureless-sintered powder compacts show incomplete densification with a relative denstiy of 86.1% after sintering at 1300oC for 3h. Spark-plasma sintering at 1050oC for 10 min exhibits nearly complete densification of 98.6% relative density under the sintering pressure of 50 MPa.

Fe-TiC composite powders are fabricated by planetary ball mill processing. Two kinds of powder mixtures are prepared from the starting materials of (a) (Fe, TiC) powders and (b) (Fe, TiH2, Carbon) powders. Milling speed (300, 500 and 700 rpm) and time (1, 2, and 3 h) are varied. For (Fe, TiH2, Carbon) powders, an in situ reaction synthesis of TiC after the planetary ball mill processing is added to obtain a homogeneous distribution of ultrafine TiC particulates in Fe matrix. Powder characteristics such as particle size, size distribution, shape, and mixing homogeneity are investigated. In case of (Fe, TiC) powder many coarse TiC particulates with size of several μm are unevenly distributed in Fe-matrix. The composite powder prepared from (Fe, TiH2, C) powder mixture showed a homogeneous dispersion of ulatrafine TiC particulates.

The major limiting factor of the reproductive performance on many farms is the failure to detect estrus in a timely and accurate manner. The estrus detection for Hanwoo cows (Bos taurus coreanea) is generally performed by the visual observation which is estimated at about 40% detection rate only. This recurring problem among farmers has motivated the development of various estrus detection aids. The mounting event duration threshold, standing heat event frequency threshold, estrus detection algorithm and so on, are necessarily needed in order to detect the estrus of Hanwoo cows accurately when using some automatic devices. However, they are not yet investigated for Hanwoo cows. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish a mounting event duration threshold and standing heat event frequency threshold more specifically for Hanwoo breed by discriminating the duration of standing heat mounting from shorter duration spurious mountings which routinely occur in cattle herds. One hundred and fifty Hanwoo cows with an age between 2 to 5 years were used in this study. Cows that were expected to come into estrus within 3days were randomly assigned to each compartment for the estrus group (EG). The heated cows were video recorded for about 24 hours until after post estrus. The results showed that Hanwoo cows can be considered on estrus when it stand immobile during mounted by any other cow in more than or equal to 3.15s and 3.22s in chest-tail head mount (CTM) and head-above back mount (HBM) and that occurs consecutively at least three times within 876.4s interval. The algorithm was also developed using the thresholds of the mount duration, mount interval and consecutive occurrence number.

Purpose: Non-invasive tear break up time (NITBUT) is a test commonly used by clinicians to measure the stability of the tear film. This study aims to compare the NITBUT of the Bausch and Lomb Biotrue Oneday (BT) Daily Disposable contact lenses against 3 other commercially available daily disposable lenses to see if BT can provide a more stable pre-lens tear film over the other 3 types of lenses at 12 hours of lens wear. Methods: Twelve existing contact lens wearers were recruited to wear 4 types of contact lenses each for a day of at least 12 hours. Other than BT, the other 3 test lenses were the daily disposable lenses made of etafilcon A (AV), narafilcon A (TE) and delefilcon A (DT1) materials. Each subject was assigned the lenses without knowing the brand of the lenses. Baseline NITBUT was first measured with no lens in the eye and pre-lens NITBUT was measured again at 12 hours after the lenses were worn. The NITBUT was measured using Oculus Keratograph 5M. This instrument measures the NITBUT objectively using infrared illumination which is invisible to the human eye and can prevent glare or bright light irritation during examination. Results: NITBUT was provided by the instrument as “first break” and “average break” values. In this study, the first break value was analyzed because that was the time when the break-up of tears was first detected by the instrument, and that matches with what the clinicians normally do in measuring NITBUT. The NITBUT for the nesofilcon A lens (BT) was longer than that for all the other 3 lens types in 10 out of the 12 subjects (83%). The mean TBUT for BT, AV, TE, DT1 was respectively 17.9 ± 4.3 sec, 9.5 ± 3.3 sec, 8.3 ± 5.9 sec and 8.8 ± 3.6 sec. Not only is the difference in NITBUT statistically significant (p<0.05, paired t-test – nesofilcon A (BT) Vs each of the 3 lens types), but also the NITBUT for BT is about double than that for all the other 3 types of lenses. Conclusion: The NITBUT for the nesofilcon A lens (BT) measured at 12 hours was about double than that for the other 3 lens types and the difference was statistically significant. The results suggested that the Biotrue Oneday provides a more stable pre-lens tear film than the other 3 types of daily disposable lenses at 12 hours of lens wear.

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has been considered as a major thrips species after its invasion in 1993 in Korea although recently F. intonsa (Trybom) was found as a dominant species locally. To explain their asymmetrical abundance in the field, we hypothesized differential insecticide susceptibility of both thrips species as an underlying mechanism. Laboratory assays were conducted to know their susceptibility to different pesticides including chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam, spinosad, s-metolachlor, and metalaxyl by direct spray, residue, and oral ingestion. Results showed that both thrips species were highly susceptible to chlorfenapyr and mortality reached 100% within 12 hours in F. occidentalis in all the assays while 9 hours in F. intonsa in direct spray and residual assays. The LT50[h] values of tested insecticides were significantly lower than that of herbicide or fungicide regardless of exposure methods except metalaxyl from direct spray. The insecticides tested here differed considerably in species specific toxicity, and F. intonsa is generally more susceptible to the insecticides irrespective of exposure methods.

Successful somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been reported across a range of species using a range of recipient cells including enucleated metaphase II (MII) arrested oocytes, enucleated activated MII oocytes, and mitotic zygotes. However, the frequency of development to term varies significantly, not only between different cytoplast recipients but also within what is thought to be a homogenous population of cytoplasts. One of the major differences between cytoplasts is the activities of the cell cycle regulated protein kinases, maturation promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Dependent upon their activity, exposure of the donor nucleus to these kinases can have both positive and negative effects on subsequent development. Co-ordination of cell cycle stage of the donor nucleus with the activities of MPF and MAPK in the cytoplast is essential to avoid DNA damage and maintain correct ploidy. However, recent information suggests that these kinases may also effect reprogramming of the somatic nucleus and preimplantation embryo development by other mechanisms. This article will summarise the differences between cytoplast recipients, their effects on development and discuss the potential role/s of MPF and or MAPK in nuclear reprogramming.

The opening of the Northern Sea Route as an alternative route for transporting cargoes between the Far East and Europe seems highly acceptable by shipping companies due to the great saving in fuel consumption, bunker cost, operating cost, emissions and journey time. This situation will not only affect the maritime business activity in the Straits of Malacca but also, the Malaysian economy in different perspectives when the vessels sail via the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean are expected to decrease. The objective of this study is to analyse the implication in the opening of the Northern Sea Route on Maritime Sector of the Malaysian economy by using PESTEL analysis. The main scope is focusing more on the Malacca Straits shipping activity by using a number of parameters that have been obtained from Port Klang and Port Klang Authority through a set of questionnaires and interview sessions with industrial experts.

The movement, survival, and weight gain of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) first instar larvae were studied on CB9, CB10 and SR05 cotton varieties under field conditions. The neonate H. armigera were released on the cotton varieties at the squaring stage of the plants and, after a period of 72 hours, the survival, weight gain, and final location of the larvae were observed. While the different cotton varieties had no effect on the survival and weight gain of the larvae, the release locations on the cotton varieties had a significant influence on the larval survival and weight gain. The larvae fed small squares of the cotton varieties were significantly heavier and showed a higher mortality than the larvae fed leaflets and mature leaves. For the cotton varieties in this study, the larvae released on leaflets showed a significantly higher rate of recovery compared to the larvae released on mature leaves and squares. This study also found that that the larvae on leaflets did not move up or downward unlike the larvae on mature leaves and squares. This information on the foraging behavior of larvae on cotton varieties will assist researchers to interpret field data and thereby help with the development of pest management decisions.

강우를 대서양과 태평양으로 배수하는 Continental Divide는 북미의 4대 주요 분수령 중 가장 중요한 수문학적 분수령으로 몬태나, 아이다호, 와이오밍, 콜로라도, 뉴멕시 코 등 5개 주에 걸쳐있으며, 북쪽으로 미국-캐나다의 국경 에서 남쪽의 미국-멕시코 국경까지 약 5,000km에 걸쳐 있 다. 미 국립공원관리청은 1980년대 초기부터 '생명징후 (vital sign) 모니터링' 이라는 용어를 사용였으며, 이는 보호 지역 자연자원의 전반적인 현황 또는 건강상태를 확인하고 보다 효율적인 관리를 위해 간섭이 필요한 상황들에 대한 조기경보 제공 등을 위한 적합한 표본을 추출 및 관리 하는 것을 목표로 하고 있다. 효율적인 보호지역 자연자원 관리를 위하여 국립공원관 리청은 미국내 주요 자연자원을 270개 이상의 공원을 포함 하는 32개의 생태지역 네트워크로 설정하여 장기적인 생태 모니터링 프로그램을 개발하였으며, 모니터링 프로그램은 보호지역 생태계의 장기적인 보호를 위하여 관련기관 또는 전문가 및 일반대중과 협력하며, 의사 결정의 기초를 위한 자연자원의 변화와 현황에 대한 광범위한 이해를 바탕으로 공원관리자들의 활동을 지원하는 것을 목표로 하고 있다. 또한, 체계적인 생명징후 모니터링 프로그램을 통해 얻은 폭넓고 과학적이며 신뢰할 수 있는 정보는 보호 자원에 대 한 의사 결정, 연구, 교육, 대중의 이해 증진 등 다양한 목적 을 위해 활용이 가능하다.

Population growth is increasing rapidly, worldwide. The world is becoming more urban as well. Increased population growth in metropolitan areas has intensified burdens on landscapes to accommodate our daily needs for food, work, shelter, and recreation. Rapid urbanization influences ecological conditions by altering the physical mosaic of the landscape. One noticeable effect, landscape fragmentation (the division of large parcels of land into smaller lots), separates, degrades, and homogenizes habitats; in turn, affecting biogeochemical cycling and resulting in the erosion of biodiversity. Sprawl and climate change (severe and unpredictable weather events) exacerbate the negative ecological effects of urban development. Despite an impressive array of urban spatial forms and structures, the complexity of these problems associated with rapid urbanization and climate change has made solutions increasingly difficult to attain. I offer a complementary spatial framework comprised of a set of principles to facilitate meaning dialogue in addressing these problems. At the core of these principles is the search for a pathway aimed at creating and maintaining adaptive and regenerative urban places. I explore supportive principles for creating such places. The principles include the design imperatives for change and uncertainty grounded on ecological science especially resiliency theory; affirmation of regional thinking and action; conservation of ecosystem services; purposeful adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts; adoption of regenerative practices, as well as adaptive re-use, revitalization, and conservation. I conclude by affirming that the effectiveness of these principles in managing growth in urban landscapes lies in their synergistic effects.