Various viral and bacterial pathogens interact with environmental factors to cause diarrhea in piglets. Enterococcus spp. are Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria that are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of several animal species, including pigs. Enterococcus spp. have been reported to infect several animal species as a pathogen. However, gastrointestinal infection by Enterococcus hirae is rare in pigs; only a few cases have been reported worldwide. Four piglets with diarrhea were examined in the diagnostic laboratory of Optipharm Inc. (Cheongju, Korea). During the initial post-mortem examination, no disease lesions were observed. Upon microscopic examination, we found numerous Gram-positive cocci that were adhered to epithelial villi in the jejunum and ileum. However, the villi did not exhibit significant structural damage. Cultured bacteria were identified as E. hirae using the VITEK 2 system and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using PCR, we also confirmed that viruses and protozoa that can potentially infect piglet intestines were absent. In antibiotic susceptibility test, the bacteria were resistant to most types of antibiotics. This study presents rare cases of E. hirae infection of the piglet small intestine, which can occur in association with diarrhea possibly by the continuous use of antibiotics.

The stick insect fauna of Laos has been poorly studied to date. Only 4 species are recorded from the country: Medauroidea brongniarti (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907), Phobaeticus magnus Hennemann & Conle, 2008, Parapachymorpha spiniger (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907), Sipyloidea sipylus (Westwood, 1859). Assessment of their actual species richness is impeded by various unfavorable circumstances. Their cryptic and immobile lifestyle does not allow for easy trapping and collecting. The aim of this study is to update the taxonomic status of the order Phasmatodea in Laos for the future study.

In this paper, first the aging level of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA): one of the widely applied asphalt mixture types for highway construction in South Korea, was analysed then those aging effects on various performance characteristics were studied. Then, a suitable methodology for improving performance on real asphalt pavement construction site was recommended. To fulfil the objective, Gel-Permeation Chromatography (GPC) experimental work was performed on various aged SMA mixtures by measuring Large Molecular Size (LMS) then the Absolute Viscosity (AV) value was predicted based on the findings in the previous step. As results, it was found that types of performance change on aged asphalt binders could be estimated by computed Estimated Absolute Viscosity (EAV) values. It also should be mentioned that the performances of tested SMA mixture presented negative trend after aging effect increases; even though the performance deterioration level of SMA is lower than that of regular Dense Grade Asphalt (DGA) mixture, which means proper reactions are recommended to keep its quality. Moreover, better resistance against aging effect was found by applying Hydrated-Lime (HL) or Low Density Poly-Ethylene (LDPE) compared to any other additives on asphalt mixtures. A unique Aging Quantity (AQ) model for SMA mixtures was developed by using two factors: collected aging time data set from field (and/or laboratory) and AV values based on different temperature conditions. The Predicted Absolute Viscosity (PAV) on SMA mixtures was computed by using the introduced AQ model then the aging level of asphalt binder was estimated as a final step. Additionally, five performance characteristics of asphalt binder: Dynamic Shear Rheometer(DSR) high temperature limit, Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) low temperature limit, G*/sinδ, Creep stiffness, and m-value, were analysed. The value of AV showed the best performance for predicting and representing aging level. Finally, the aging level of given asphalt mixtures in the field can be easily predicted by choosing one of three approaches presented in this research. It can be concluded that the performance of asphalt pavement can be increased by selecting proper materials and performance prediction methodologies introduced in this study. However, only limited number of specimens were considered in this study due to limit of raw materials and laboratory equipment condition. Therefore, extensive experimental works with various types of asphalt materials are recommended for strengthen findings in this thesis as a future research.

We report facile solution processing of mesoporous hematite (α-Fe2O3) thin films for high efficiency solar-driven water splitting. Fe2O3 thin films were prepared on fluorine doped tin oxide(FTO) conducting substrates by spin coating of a precursor solution followed by annealing at 550 oC for 30 min. in air ambient. Specifically, the precursor solution was prepared by dissolving non-toxic FeCl3 as an Fe source in highly versatile dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) as a solvent. The as-deposited and annealed thin films were characterized for their morphological, structural and optical properties using field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical performance of the precursor (α-FeOOH) and annealed (α-Fe2O3) films were characterized and it was found that the α-Fe2O3 film exhibited an increased photocurrent density of ~0.78 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is about 3.4 times higher than that of the α-FeOOH films (0.23 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE). The improved performance can be attributed to the improved crystallinity and porosity of α-Fe2O3 thin films after annealing treatment at higher temperatures. Detailed electrical characterization was further carried out to elucidate the enhanced PEC performance of α-Fe2O3 thin films.

The purpose of this study was to review regulatory management of the classification system and scope of veterinary medical devices in Korea. In Korea, the four categories of the classification system for veterinary medical devices (instruments, supplies, artificial insemination apparatus, and others) is somewhat differently than that for human medical devices (instruments, supplies, dental materials, and reagents for in vitro diagnostics). In 2013, veterinary medical devices were classified into approximately 1,400 items, whereas, human medical devices were classified into approximately 2,200 items. Dissimilar to human medical devices, veterinary medical devices have no individual identification codes for effective market management. In conclusion, it is necessary to introduce a device identification code system and re-examine scope of the classification system for veterinary medical devices in Korea.

Sperm cell development in spider species undergoes in testicular cyst, containing certain number of cells per cyst. As a germ cell matures through entire stages of spermatogenesis, testicular cysts rupture and produced spermatozoa are transferred in a form of cleistosperm. When mature spermatozoa pass through deferent duct, it is known that various types of seminal secretions are released into the lumen to provide auxillary functions to the mature sperms – such as nutrition, protection, or sperm release inside the female body. However, a peculiar type of seminal secretion was observed in this study. In the lumen of deferent duct, encapsulated seminal secretions are observed along with coiled sperm cells. Since the capsule is quite thick – as thick as the one of mature sperm cell, it is thought that the secretion capsule would be transferred as well along with the sperm cells into the spermathecae probably activiating sperm cells through decapsulation. Also, this study revealed that sperm storage in deferent duct occurs in droplet-by-droplet basis; which suggests possible sperm inducing mechanism. Since spider uses pedipalps in copulation to transfer its sperm cells, spider has to fill it accordingly. In other words, stored sperms in deferent duct are released in a droplet at once.

The caddisfly is an aquatic insects that resembles small moth. Silk is produced by the larvae through a pair of labial silk glands. The larvae, caddisworms, use silk not only to produce ‘capture nets’ to collect food particles from the water environment but also to construct ‘silken cases’ for their shelters in running water. Physically, two different processes of silk-producing systems are reported among the different species of arthropod animals: terrestrial and aquatic silk productions. Although both types of silks can be produced along its sophisticated process through a sequential pathway from silk gland, most of our recent knowledges of silk producing system are dependent on those revealed from the terrestrial animals including silkworms or spiders. Therefore, this experiment was initiated to reveal the fine structural aspects of the silk producing system of larval stage of the caddisfly Hydatophylax nigrovittatusu with light and electron microscopes

방사능 오염 토양 복원을 위해 실험실 규모의 동전기 복원장치를 제작하여 가동 하던 중 토양 내 존재하던 금속이온의 용출로 금속 산화물이 발생하여 음극의 전류 흐름을 차단하는 문제가 발생하였다. 전류의 차단으로 토양 내 우라늄 제거 능력이 상실되어 이러한 문제를 해결하는 해결 방안을 모색하여 개선된 동전기 복원 장치를 제작하였다. 개선된 실험실 규모 동전기 복원 장치를 이용하여 토양복원 실험을 25 일간 수행 하였을 때 우라늄 잔류 농도는 0.81 Bq/g으로 약 96.8%의 제거 효율을 보였으며, 초기 우라늄 농도 50 Bq/g 일 때 우라늄 규제 해제 농도인 1 Bq/g 이하로 제거 되기 까지는 34 일의 복원 기간이 필요하고, 초기 우라늄 농도 75 Bq/g, 100 Bq/g 일 때 각 42 일, 49 일이 필요한 것으로 나타났다.

We developed the “Nest Finder System” to detect the breeding ecology of cavity nesters. Nest Finder System is composed of three parts, camera, transfer and recorder parts. In camera part, we utilized three types like pin camera, CCTV camera and endoscope with CMOS lens. Electricity and information was transferred with cable lines, and the information were directly recorded into sony digital recorder (GV-HD 700) or hard disk. To survey the breeding status of cavity nester, we disassembled the cone lens (TVC-MN4428C) applicable to enter the natural tree hole ranging no less than 30 mm. To support the camera and transfer part reaching at the hole located about 15m height, we used a couples of carbon poles in size of 1.8m, and its slender ending part was designed to fit each other. Nest Finder System can be applied to monitor breeding status of forest wildlife including cavity nesters, canopy nesters and aquatics. We discussed the potential problem in applying the equipment and analyzing the obtained data. Nest Finder System enable us to monitor the inner part of nest located at the upper part of trees not only coniferous and deciduous forests, and it can be applied to monitor the breeding ecology of aquatic organism.

The initial irreversible capacity, Qi, is one of the parameters to express the material balancing of the cathode to anode. We introduced new terms, which are the initial intercalation Ah efficiency (IIE) and the initial irreversible specific capacity at the surface (Qis), to express precisely the irreversibility of an electrode/electrolyte system. Two terms depended on kinds of active-materials and compositions of the electrode, but did not change with charging state. MPCF had the highest value of IIE and the lowest value of Qis in 1M LiPE6/EC + DEC (1 : 1 volume ratio) electrolyte. IIE value of LiCoO2 electrode was 97-98%, although the preparation condition of the material and the electrolyte were different. Qis value of LiCoO2 was 0~1 mAh/g. MPCF-LiCoO2 cell system had the lowest of the latent capacity. Qis value increased slightly by adding conductive material. IIE and Qis value varied with the electrolyte. By introducing PC to EC+DEC mixed solvent, IIE values were retained, but Qis increased. In case of addition of MP, IIE value increased and Qis value also increased a little.

AUDIT-K(한국형 알코올 중독 간이선별 검사법)을 이용하여 일상적으로 생활하고 있는 상당수의 잠재적인 위험 음주자들을 선별 할 수 있었으며 연령, 종교, 결혼여부, 직업, 소득음주사망 가족력, 음주시작 연령, 흡연, BMI(체질량지수)는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 학력, 음주기간만 통계적으로 유의하였다. 이러한 결과는 교육을 더 받은 사람의 남성이 알코올 소비가 더 높다고 한 선행연구와 부합하는 결과를 나타내었으며 교육수준 또한 무엇을 어떻게 배웠는가에 따른 차이를 살펴 볼 필요가 있음을 시사하며, 교육에 따른 알코올 소비도 각각 다른 결과를 나타냄을 알 수 있다. 또한 나이가 적을수록 술을 많이 마시면 음주기간이 길어질 것이고 기존의 음주시작 연령에 대한 연구와 일치하는 결과가 나타났다. 본 연구에서는 음주 기간이 알코올 사용 장애의 가장 큰 요인이었으며 음주 기간을 단축하기 위한 방법으로는 음주 시작연령을 최대한 늦출 수 있는 국가 정부 제도의 대책 및 교육이 필요하다고 생각된다.