In this study, the synthesis of nickel nanoparticles and copper nanospheres for the potential applications of MLCC electrode materials has been studied by plasma arc evaporation method. The change in the broad distribution of the size of nickel and copper nanopowders is successfully controlled by manifesting proper mixture of gas ambiance for plasma generation in the size range of 20 to 200 nm in diameter. The factors affecting the mean diameter of the nanopowder was studied by changing the composition of reactive gases, indicating that nitrogen enhances the formation of larger particles compared to hydrogen gas. The morphologies and particle sizes of the metal nanoparticles were observed by SEM, and ultrathin oxide layers on the powder surface generated during passivation step have been confirmed using TEM. The metallic FCC structure of the nanoparticles was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction method.

Flexible transparent conducting films (TCFs) were fabricated by dip-coating single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) onto a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. The amount of coated SWCNTs was controlled simply by dipping number. Because the performance of SWCNT-based TCFs is influenced by both electrical conductance and optical transmittance, we evaluated the film performance by introducing a film property factor using both the number of interconnected SWCNT bundles at intersection points, and the coverage of SWCNTs on the PET substrate, in field emission scanning electron microscopic images. The microscopic film property factor was in an excellent agreement with the macroscopic one determined from electrical conductance and optical transmittance measurements, especially for a small number of dippings. Therefore, the most crucial factor governing the performance of the SWCNT-based TCFs is a SWCNT-network structure with a large number of intersection points for a minimum amount of deposited SWCNTs.

This report is a part of research on pests occurring in grapevine orchards in export complexes (Hwangsung in Gyeonggi, Sangju and Yeongcheon in Gyeongbuk, Namwon in Junbuk and Yeongdong in Chungbuk) from 2010 to 2012. This research was conducted to evaluate the distribution and difference in damage rates depending on management types of grapevine orchards (domestic sale farm vs. export farm). Damage by Arbordia spp. occurred only in 2010 and differed depending on localities and individual farms in the same area. Numbers of orchards damaged by Arbordia spp. were one, two and four in Hwasung, Namwon and Sangju, respectively, and the damage rate was below 6.2%. There was no damage in the orchards in 2011 and 2012, however, Arbordia spp. were collected on sticky traps in the orchards. A. nigrigena and A. kakogawana were the dominant species in Yeongcheon and Yeongdong, respectively, in 2011. A. kakogawana, A. maculifrons and A. nigrigena were collected on sticky traps in 2012. Collected numbers of Arbordia spp. were different depending on localities and management types of the orchards (domestic sale vs. export). A. kakogawana was the dominant species in all the survey sites and the densities were higher in the domestic sale farms than in the export farms.

The current study aimed to describe overall trends in recent English second language (L2) academic writing research and to identify effective interventions. To support drawing defensible conclusions based on the literature dealing with L2 writing, only recent empirical articles dealing with academic writing for English-L2 college students published in peer reviewed journals were included. Fifty five English L2 writing articles met the criteria for inclusion. For the identification of effective L2 writing interventions, I discriminated if the studies provided L2 writing interventions and the relevance to L2 writing development. As a result of analyses based on themes emerging in the English L2 academic writing literature, I noted effective English L2 academic writing interventions. Those interventions were teacher feedback, self-regulatory learning, peer feedback, and technology use. The use of a variety of measures and incorporation of specificity about prompts into the studies was recommended and the developmental trajectory of L2 writers was suggested to be further studied.

We analyzed molecular and enzymatic properties of three cholinesterases (ChEs; ClAChE1, ClAChE2 and ClSChE) from Cimex lectularius. The ClAChE1 and ClAChE2 were generally present as a membrane-anchored dimeric insoluble form in the brain and ganglia. In the case of ClSChE, monomeric and dimeric soluble forms were observed. To investigate enzymatic properties, three ChEs were functionally expressed using baculovirus expression system. ClAChE1 revealed a significantly higher activity than ClAChE2 to acetylthiocholine iodide (ATChI) substrate. Kinetic analysis using two choline substrates (ATChI and butyrylthiocholine iodide) demonstrated that ClAChE2 had higher catalytic efficiency but lower substrate specificity than ClAChE1. Inhibition assay was conducted by using three inhibitors (BW284C51, eserine, Iso-OMPA) and two insecticides (chlorpyrifos-methyl and carbaryl). Two ClAChEs revealed high sensitivities to BW284C51, eserine, chlorpyrifos-methyl and carbaryl, but were not sensitive to Iso-OMPA. This inhibition profile confirmed that both ClAChEs are categorized as ChEs. Interestingly, the salivary specific cholinesterase did not show any measurable activities to choline substrates, confirming its non-synaptic function in C. lectularius

New record of family of arhynchobdellid leeches (Hirudiniformes: Haemadipsidae) from Korea is presented. We have surveyed for land leeches in Korea from July to September in 2011 and found 1 species. This is Haemadipsa rjukjuana Oka, 1910, reported for the first time in Korean Peninsula. This species is terrestrial blood-feeding leech which attacks medium or large sized mammals primarily, including human and originally distributed in East and South East Asia, including Indochinese Peninsula, Malay Peninsula, Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan. In Japan, the number and areas of habitats of land leech have been rapidly expanded since 1970s and many leeches attack forest workers, hikers and resident during May to September. As a result of climate change, same situation can be reproduced in Korean Peninsula. We firstly report the occurrence of blood-feeding land leech, the behavior on human being and distributions in Korea. Also, we obtained the sequence of the mitochondrial gene (COI) and additional biology is discussed for this species according to collection data.

The impact of transgenic Bt maize plant contained Cry1F was evaluated on the oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi as a non-target insect species. Slightly reduced rates of survival and alata vivipar production were observed on Bt maize than on the non-Bt maize. In addition, slightly low preference to Bt maize plant was observed. Aphid fecundity, measured as the number of offspring produced for 7 days, was higher on Bt maize than on non-Bt maize but not different significantly. ELISA test using Cry1F-antibody revealed that 26% of Cry1F protein compared to the positive control was detected from the whole body of R. padi when the insects were fed Bt maize for 50 days, showing that R. padi can carry Cry1F protein to the higher trophic level when exposed to Bt maize. Taken together, the Bt maize plant is not likely to cause any negative side impacts on non-target insect R. padi but Bt toxin can be transferred to higher predators via R. padi as it carries the toxin.