World-class zoos have been recognized proponents of both animal welfare and wildlife conservation. The Korean zoos are in controversy over its existence, citing poor role performance. As one of the efforts to protect animals’ welfare and enhance wildlife conservation, leading zoos have been accredited through the inspections and evaluations. To improve the quality of Korean zoos, an accreditation standard that fits for Korean environment needs to be set. Out of various zoo accreditation standards around the world, we compared each category of all five publicly available accreditation standards; the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the United States(AZA), Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquarium(CAZA), European Association of Zoos and Aquaria(EAZA), Zoological Association of America(ZAA), and the Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquariums(PAAZA). Based on the analysis result, we established 10 essential categories that were finally approved by the Focus group interview; animal welfare and care and management, veterinary care, conservation, education and interpretation, governing authority, staff, finance, physical facilities, safety and security, and master & strategy plan. This minimum zoo accreditation standards would enlighten the path to improve animal welfare and wildlife conservation of Korean local zoos.

Oil spills into ocean or coastal waters can result in significant damage to the environment via pollution of aquatic ecosystems. Absorbents based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) foams have the capacity to remove minor or major oil spills. However, conventional chemical synthesis of rGO often uses petrochemical precursors, potentially harmful chemicals, and requires special processing conditions that are expensive to maintain. In this work, an alternative cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach suitable for large-scale production of high-quality rGO directly from used cooking sunflower oil is discussed. Thus, produced flaky graphene structures are effective in absorbing used commercial sunflower oil and engine oil, via monolayer physisorption in the case of used sunflower and engine oils facilitated by van der Waals forces, π–π stacking and hydrophobic interactions, π-cation ( H+) stacking and radical scavenging activities. From adsorption kinetic models, first-order kinetics provides a better fit for used sunflower oil adsorption (R2 = 0.9919) and second-order kinetics provides a better fit for engine oil adsorption (R2 = 0.9823). From intra-particle diffusion model, R2 for USO is 0.9788 and EO is 0.9851, which indicates that both used sunflower and engine oils adsorption processes follow an intra-particle diffusion mechanism. This study confirms that waste-derived rGO could be used for environmental remediation.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) grafted with hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer (CNTD) were used as a multifunctional curing and composite agent of polyurethane (PU) terminated with epoxy units. Amino-functionalized CNT was used as the core for grafting the first generation of PAMAM dendrimer by sequential addition of methyl acrylate and ethylenediamine. Two different epoxy-terminated PUs (PUB and PU-PMDA) were prepared from the reaction of poly(ethylene glycol), excess amounts of hexamethylene diisocyanate, and different chain extenders (1,4-butanediol for PUB and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) for PU-PMDA), and subsequent end group transformation of the isocyanate groups to epoxy functionalities using glycidol. Fourier transform infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that CNTD was successfully prepared. TGA thermograms revealed that thermal decomposition of composites were carried out in two main steps related to the soft and hard segments. In addition, char content and thermal stability of the composites were increased with increasing the CNTD content. Most importantly, the PMDA chain extender resulted in high thermal stability of the epoxy-terminated PU composites. X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopies presented morphological and structural properties of nanotubes and hybrid composites.

본 연구의 목적은 한국 대학생들의 기초체력과 신체활동량이 폐기능과 상관관계가 있는지를 분석하고, 성별에 따른 차이를 검증하는데 있다. 건강한 참여자 312명(남성 150명[평균연령: 19.29±1.72세], 여성 160명[평균연령: 19.05±1.17세])은 신체조성, 기초체력, 신체활동량 설문지, 그리고 노력성폐활량 (FVC)과 1초간 강제호기량(FEV1)의 폐기능 검사를 수행하였다. 연구결과, 남학생의 폐기능은 우악력과 좌악력, 그리고 배근력과 관련이 있었고, 여학생의 폐기능은 모든 기초체력 하위 요인과 관련이 있었다. 또한 여성의 폐기능은 중강도 신체활동량과 관련이 있는 반면 남성의 폐기능은 신체활동량의 모든 하위 요인과 관련이 있었다. 본 연구의 주요 발견은 폐기능을 개선하기 위해서 남학생은 신체활동량을 증가시키고, 여학생은 기초체력을 향상시킬 필요가 있음을 제안한다. 대학생들의 폐기능을 유지하고 개선시키기 위해서는 폐기능 관련 인자에 대한 성별의 차이를 이해하고, 성별에 맞는 교육적 노력이 필요할 것이다.

하늘소아과 검정삼나무하늘소속의 미기록아속인 호리검정삼나무하늘소아속(신칭)에 속하는 Ropalopus (Pronocerodes) aurantiicollis Plavilstshikov, 1940의 한반도 분포를 처음으로 보고한다. 형태적 기재와 사진, 국내 검정삼나무하늘소속의 검색표를 함께 제공한다.

창날개뿔나방과의 모래창날개뿔나방(Alloclita mongolica Sinev)을 국내에서 처음으로 보고한다. 본 보고는 모래창날개뿔나방속(Alloclita) 의 국내 첫 기록이며, 모래창날개뿔나방의 세계 분포 상 최남단 기록이기도 하다. 국내 채집기록으로 보아 모래창날개뿔나방은 주로 해안사구에 서 식하는 것으로 보인다. 이 희귀종의 외부 형태 및 수컷 생식기의 특징을 기술하고 사진을 도시하였다.

Facing the demands of the pandemic and distance learning, English learners require educational technologies that are accessible, engaging, and effective. Meeting these demands requires educational technology developers to consider learners’ sociocultural contexts. Learning theories can be applied to meet individuals’ needs to optimize chances for participation, engagement, and learning gains. This article describes two Internet-based digital technologies that target struggling adult readers who need to improve their comprehension skills: SARA (Study Aid and Reading Assessment) and AutoTutor for Adult Reading Comprehension. The SARA assessment provides a diagnostic profile for individuals’ reading strengths and weaknesses. This profile can be used to guide the selection of reading comprehension lessons in AutoTutor-ARC, a digital technology that both adapts to learners’ performances and engages them in an immersive learning experience using a three-way conversation with computer agents acting as a tutor and a peer to discuss texts. We discuss how these technologies can be integrated into educational settings to improve engagement and learning.

This paper presents the characteristics of gentamicin-loaded into cetyl trimethyl ammonium intercalated montmorillonite (GtM/CTMA/Mt) as a hybrid composite for a slow-released antibacterial delivery systems. The work describes the successful immobilization of gentamicin into the interlayers of surfactant-modified montmorillonite. Physicochemical characterization of the material is carried out by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The kinetics of the gentamicin release is investigated by in vitro study and analyzed based on UV–Vis spectrometry. In addition, antibacterial study is performed towards Klebsiella pneumoniae Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The results show that the gentamicin loading into CTMA/ Mt increases the effectiveness of the antibacterial activity, as shown by the higher inhibition zone for all tested bacteria, compared to gentamicin as a positive control. The kinetics study suggests that the gentamicin release obeys the modified Korsmeyer–Peppas model. The physicochemical study and activity test demonstrate the feasibility of the GtM/CTMA/Mt for practical applications.

In this study, the well-known non-destructive acoustic emission (AE) and electrical resistivity methods were employed to predict quantitative damage in the silo structure of the Wolsong Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Center (WLDC), Gyeongju, South Korea. Brazilian tensile test was conducted with a fully saturated specimen with a composition identical to that of the WLDC silo concrete. Bi-axial strain gauges, AE sensors, and electrodes were attached to the surface of the specimen to monitor changes. Both the AE hit and electrical resistance values helped in the anticipation of imminent specimen failure, which was further confirmed using a strain gauge. The quantitative damage (or damage variable) was defined according to the AE hits and electrical resistance and analyzed with stress ratio variations. Approximately 75% of the damage occurred when the stress ratio exceeded 0.5. Quantitative damage from AE hits and electrical resistance showed a good correlation (R = 0.988, RMSE = 0.044). This implies that AE and electrical resistivity can be complementarily used for damage assessment of the structure. In future, damage to dry and heated specimens will be examined using AE hits and electrical resistance, and the results will be compared with those from this study.

Even in an era where 8-meter class telescopes are common, small telescopes are considered very valuable research facilities since they are available for rapid follow-up or long term monitoring observations. To maximize the usefulness of small telescopes in Korea, we established the SomangNet, a network of 0.4{1.0 m class optical telescopes operated by Korean institutions, in 2020. Here, we give an overview of the project, describing the current participating telescopes, its scientic scope and operation mode, and the prospects for future activities. SomangNet currently includes 10 telescopes that are located in Australia, USA, and Chile as well as in Korea. The operation of many of these telescopes currently relies on operators, and we plan to upgrade them for remote or robotic operation. The latest SomangNet science projects include monitoring and follow-up observational studies of galaxies, supernovae, active galactic nuclei, symbiotic stars, solar system objects, neutrino/gravitational-wave sources, and exoplanets.

In this study, the near-complete genome sequence of the novel reassortant H1N2 influenza A virus strain A/swine/Korea/KS60/2016 is reported. Sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and polymerase basic 2 (PB2) genes were analyzed, revealing that the isolates contain segments from previous Korean swine H1N2 strains. Additionally, the remaining genes of this strain originated from human H1N1 strains in 2009.

확산강조 영상은 자기공명영상에서 진단에 매우 중요한 역할을 차지하고 있다. 또한, 높은 b-value를 요구하는 검사가 늘어나는 추세로 확산강조 영상을 얻기 위하여 검사 시간이 길어지게 되며 인공물과 전체적인 신호 감소가 동반하게 된다. 본 연구에서는 확산강조 영상에서 확산 방법을 3스캔 추적 확산강조 영상(3-scan trace diffusion weighted image, tDWI) 에서 DTI의 원리를 적용한 대각선 확산강조 영상(diagonal diffusion weighted image, dDWI)로 변경하여 획득 하였을 때, 두 방법 간의 검사 시간의 단축과 영상을 비교 평가하였다. 농도가 0에서 50%까지 10% 간격인 팬텀을 제작하여 제한된 확산(restrict diffusion)을 단발 스핀에코평면영상(single shot spin echo echo planar, SE-EPI) 기법을 사용하여 검사하였다. 확산 방법을 변경하며 tDWI와 dDWI 검사를 진행하였으며, 획득한 영상을 Image J 프로그램을 이용 하여 농도별 동일한 관심 체적을 설정하여 신호를 측정 후 분석방법은 독립 T-test를 이용하고, 통계적 분석은 SAS를 통해 신호 대 잡음 비와 대조도 대 잡음 비를 비교·분석하였다. p-value 0.05를 기준으로 유의성을 검증하였다. b0를 제외한 b100 이상은 전반적으로 신호 대 잡음 비, 대조도 대 잡음 비가 크며, p-value 0.05 이상으로 나타났다. 확산 방법 간 유의하지 않지만, 전반적으로 dDWI이 tDWI에 비해 평균이 높았다. dDWI 방법이 tDWI에 비해 화질의 변화 없이 검사 시간이 18.35% 단축되는 효과가 있으며, 신호 대 잡음 비와 대조도 대 잡음 비가 소폭 향상된 것으로 나타나 다른 부위의 확산강조 영상을 사용하는 검사에 적용 시 유용할 것으로 사료 된다.

This study summarizes the recent cutting-edge approaches for dentin regeneration that still do not offer adequate solutions. Tertiary dentin is formed when odontoblasts are directly affected by various stimuli. Recent preclinical studies have reported that stimulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway could facilitate the formation of reparative dentin and thereby aid in the structural and functional development of the tertiary dentin. A range of signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, is activated when dental tissues are damaged and the pulp is exposed. The application of small molecules for dentin regeneration has been suggested as a drug repositioning approach. This study reviews the role of Wnt signaling in tooth formation, particularly dentin formation and dentin regeneration. In addition, the application of the drug repositioning strategy to facilitate the development of new drugs for dentin regeneration has been discussed in this study.