Synthesizing one-dimensional nanostructures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highefficiency photoelectrodes for hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays are successfully synthesized on fluorine-doped-tin-oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural, optical and PEC properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays synthesized at varying levels of Zn sputtering power are examined to reveal that the optimum ZnO nanorod array can be obtained at a sputtering power of 20W. The photocurrent density and the optimal photocurrent conversion efficiency obtained for the optimum ZnO nanorod array photoanode are 0.13 mA/cm2 and 0.49 %, respectively, at a potential of 0.85 V vs. RHE. These results provide a promising avenue to fabricating earth-abundant ZnO-based photoanodes for PEC water oxidation using facile hydrothermal synthesis.

In this study, quality keywords of frequent mention of failures were extracted by analyzing the field operational data of main battle tanks recorded for about 5 years. As a result of the data analysis, the leaf spring assembly of the crew hatches corrosion and failure was frequently occurred. FEA(Finite Element Analysis) and tests were performed to analyze the cause of the failure, and it was confirmed that durability of the leaf spring was insufficient. Therefore a design modification study was conducted to improve durability of the leaf spring, and FEA and durability tests demonstrated the improvement. As a result, the durability of leaf spring was improved at least 3.3 times compared to before improvement. This study will contribute to suggesting the use of data analysis in the defense area and improving the operability of the main battle tanks.

This study was performed to evaluate the odor occurrence of offensive leather odor in a district in Gyeonggi-do, where Jeil industrial complex is located, and its residential district, by using olfactory field frequency measurement (Gird Method). In addition, we measured the composite odor. The target points were 9 spots in Jeil industrial complex and 12 spots in the residential district, and we conducted the measurements 13 times each spot. As a result, odor occurrence in descending order was investigated as follows, leather industry > drug industry > food industry. Moreover, odor exposure of the industrial complex exceeded the industrial zone standard of 0.15 (=German odor standard) in all 9 spots (average 0.78). In addition, odor exposure of the residential district exceeded the residential zone standard of 0.10 (=German odor standard) in 12 spots (average 0.78). All the composite odors were below 20 (industrial zone standard). However, as the odor intensity of the sampling site and the lab analysis data showed a large deviation, we found that much supplementation is needed of the odor analysis techniques in the equipment measurement methods.

In the present study, vanadium oxide(V2O5) films for electrochromic(EC) application are fabricated using sol-gel spin coating method. In order to optimize the EC performance of the V2O5 films, we adjust the amounts of polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) added to the solution at 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt%. Due to the effect of added PVP on the V2O5 films, the obtained films show increases of film thickness and crystallinity. Compared to other samples, optimum weight percent(10 wt%) of PVP led to superior EC performance with transmittance modulation(45.43 %), responding speeds(6.0 s at colored state and 6.2 s at bleached state), and coloration efficiency(29.8 cm2/C). This performance improvement can be mainly attributed to the enhanced electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity due to the increased crystallinity and thickness of the V2O5 films. Therefore, V2O5 films fabricated with optimized amount of PVP can be a promising EC material for high-performance EC devices.

We report on the fabrication and characterization of an oxide photoanode with a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod array embedded in cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin film, namely a ZnO/Cu2O oxide p-n heterostructure photoanode, for enhanced efficiency of visible light driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. A vertically oriented n-type ZnO nanorod array is first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method and then a p-type Cu2O thin film is directly electrodeposited onto the vertically oriented ZnO nanorod array to form an oxide p-n heterostructure. The introduction of Cu2O layer produces a noticeable enhancement in the visible light absorption. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior under visible light illumination, the photoconversion efficiency of this ZnO/Cu2O p-n heterostructure photoanode is found to reach 0.39 %, which is seven times that of a pristine ZnO nanorod photoanode. In particular, a significant PEC performance is observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs Hg/Hg2Cl2, which makes the device self-powered. The observed improvement in the PEC performance is attributed to some synergistic effect of the pn bilayer heterostructure on the formation of a built-in potential including the light absorption and separation processes of photoinduced charge carriers, which provides a new avenue for preparing efficient photoanodes for PEC water splitting.

Morphology of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) at germinal vesicle (GV) stage as one of the evaluation criteria for oocyte maturation quality after in vitro maturation (IVM) plays important roles on the meiotic maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development in pigs. When cumulus cells of COCs are insufficient, which is induced the low oocyte maturation rate by the increasing of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in porcine oocyte during IVM. The ROS are known to generate including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from electron transport system of mitochondria during oocyte maturation in pigs. To regulate the ROS production, the cumulus cells is secreted the various antioxidant enzymes during IVM of porcine oocyte. Our previous study showed that Mito-TEMPO, superoxide specific scavenger, improves the embryonic developmental competence and blastocyst formation rate by regulating of mitochondria functions in pigs. However, the effects of Mito-TEMPO as a superoxide scavenger to help the anti-oxidant functions from cumulus cells of COCs on meiotic maturation during porcine oocyte IVM has not been reported. Here, we categorized experimental groups into two groups (Grade 1: G1; high cumulus cells and Grade 2: G2; low cumulus cells) by using hemocytometer. The meiotic maturation rate from G2 was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased (G1: 79.9 ± 3.8% vs G2: 57.5 ± 4.6%) compared to G1. To investigate the production of mitochondria derived superoxide, we used the mitochondrial superoxide dye, Mito-SOX. Red fluorescence of Mito-SOX detected superoxide was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in COCs of G2 compared with G1. And, we examined expression levels of genes associated with mitochondrial antioxidant such as SOD1, SOD2 and PRDX3 using a RT-PCR in porcine COCs at 44 h of IVM. The mRNA levels of three antioxidant enzymes expression in COCs from G2 were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than COCs of G1. In addition, we investigated the anti-oxidative effects of Mito-TEMPO on meiotic maturation of porcine oocyte from G1 and G2. Meiotic maturation and mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p < 0.05) recovered in G2 by Mito-TEMPO (0.1 μM, MT) treatment (G2: 68.4 ± 3.2% vs G2 + MT: 73.9 ± 1.4%). Therefore, our results suggest that reduction of mitochondria derived superoxide by Mito-TEMPO may improves the meiotic maturation in IVM of porcine oocyte.

미토콘드리아는 세포질 칼슘 항상성 및 ATP 생산에 중요한 역할을 하는 세포 소기관으로 이러한 미토콘드리아의 기능은 성숙과 수정 그리고 배 발달에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. 미토콘드리아 칼슘 축적은 기능장애를 일으킨다. 그러나 돼지 체외성숙란 및 수정란에서 미토콘드리아 칼슘 변화의 관련성에 관한 연구는 보고된 적이 없다. 본 연구의 목적은 미토콘드리아 칼슘 지시자로 알려진 Rhod-2 염색을 이용하여 성숙란 및 수정란에서 미토콘드리아 칼슘 축적의 변화를 확인하였다. 형태학적 모습의 기준을 통해 난구세포의 세포층과 세포질의 균질도를 바탕으로 G1과 G2로 나누어서 체외성숙을 진행하였다. 이후 두 그룹에서 핵 성숙율을 비교하였을 때, G2가 G1에 비해 낮게 나타났다(p<0.001). 돼지 체외성숙란 및 수정란에서 평균적인 Rhod-2 spot 의 수는 G1보다 G2에서 더 많이 나타났다(6시간째 체외수정란: p<0.05). 다음으로 Rhod-2 spot 수에 따른 난모세포의 비율을 확인하기 위해 Rhod-2 spot 의 수를 4개의 군(n<10, 10≤n<20, 20≤n<30, 그리고 30≤n)으로 나누어 해당 난모세포의 비율을 확인하였다. 체외성숙란 및 체외수정란 모두 G1이 G2에 비해 10개 미만(n<10)인 Rhod-2 spot 의 수를 가지는 난모세포가 많았으며, 체외수정란에서는 유의적으로 높았다(p<0.05). 마지막으로 체외성숙란 및 수정란에서 Rhod-2 intensity 값을 측정하여 두 그룹을 비교하였을 때, G2가 G1에 비해 유의적으로 높은 것을 확인 할 수 있었다(성숙란; p<0.001 그리고 수정란; p<0.05). 본 연구의 결과를 토대로 돼지에서 미성숙 난포란의 형태학적인 품질은 체외성숙 및 체외수정 과정 동안 미토콘드리아 내 칼슘 축적과 관련이 있음을 확인하였다.

형질전환 벼와 일반 벼의 환경위해성 평가 기초자료를 위해 경상남도 사천시에서 2013~2017년, 경상북도 군위군에서 2015~2016년 7월 말부터 10월 초까지 벼에 발생하는 곤충상을 조사하고 군집특성을 분석하여 비교하였다. 사천시에서 형질전환 벼는 경상대학교 LMO (Living genetically Modified Organism) 격리포장 내에서 재배되었고, 일반 벼는 경상남도 사천시 사천읍 두량리에서 재배되었다. 군위군에서 형질전환 벼는 경북대학교 LMO 격리포장 내에서 재배되었고, 일반 벼는 경상북도 군위군 효령면 화계리에서 재배되었다. 채집방법으로 육안 조사, 포충망 조사, 유아등 트랩, 끈끈이 트랩을 이용하였다. 5년 동안 사천시에서 총 15목 123과 464종 37,941개체가 채집되었고, 2년 동안 군위군에서 총 13목 111과 366종 10,030개체가 채집되었다. 다년간 LMO포장과 일반포장을 비교해본 결과 매년 상위 주요 목은 우점 순서를 제외하면 거의 같은 목이 나타나는 것을 보아 아직까지는 LMO포장과 일반포장의 차이가 뚜렷하게 나타나지 않았다고 사료된다. 그리고 LMO포장과 일반포장 사이의 유사도 지수와 일반포장 사이의 유사도 지수가 차이가 없는 것으로 보아 LMO로 인한 차이가 아닌 환경에 의한 차이로 사료된다.