Most ectotherms mature at a larger body size in colder conditions. This negative relationship between developmental temperature and final body size is termed the temperature-size rule. In this study, we investigated how dietary protein:carbohydrate (P:C) balance modulates the fundamental relationship between temperature and body size in the final-instar caterpillars of Spodoptera litura. The magnitude and sign of the thermal reaction norm for body size were altered by the dietary P:C balance of the food eaten by caterpillars. The slope of the reaction norm was flat for caterpillars raised on a nutritionally balanced food (P:C = 1:1) but was negative for those on imbalanced foods (1:5 or 5:1). When allowed to self-compose their preferred diet, caterpillars preferred carbohydrate-rich food at higher temperatures. The negative impact of high temperature on body size was mitigated by such a temperature-driven shift in nutrient preference. This study highlights the importance of macronutrient balance as a key factor modulating the relationship between temperature and body size in insects.

In photovoltaic power generation where minority carrier generation via light absorption is competing against minority carrier recombination, the substrate thickness and material quality are interdependent, and appropriate combination of the two variables is important in obtaining the maximum output power generation. Medici, a two-dimensional semiconductor device simulation tool, is used to investigate the interdependency in relation to the maximum power output in front-lit Si solar cells. Qualitatively, the results indicate that a high quality substrate must be thick and that a low quality substrate must be thin in order to achieve the maximum power generation in the respective materials. The dividing point is 70 μm/5 × 10−6 sec. That is, for materials with a minority carrier recombination lifetime longer than 5 × 10−6 sec, the substrate must be thicker than 70 μm, while for materials with a lifetime shorter than 5 × 10−6 sec, the substrate must be thinner than 70 μm. In substrate fabrication, the thinner the wafer, the lower the cost of material, but the higher the cost of wafer fabrication. Thus, the optimum thickness/lifetime combinations are defined in this study along with the substrate cost considerations as part of the factors to be considered in material selection.

It is clearly understood that e-navigation is beneficial to prevent collision and grounding of ships. The purpose of this study is to define and present a future ship operation system under the e-navigation environment in order to provide clear direction for the design of Korean e-navigation system. The future ship operation system consists of shipboard navigational system, shore supporting system and maritime communication system. To achieve the objectives of this study, the ship operation system was discussed separately into SOLAS ships and non-SOLAS ships in this study. In SOLAS ships, mariners become a system manager, choosing system presets, interpreting system output, and monitoring vessel response. In small ships and fishing vessels, mariners may enjoy their navigation by using the automatic tracking of ship’s position on the portable electronic chart display. The improved bridge design, integrated and harmonized navigational system and single window reporting will reduce significantly the administrative and physical workload of mariners. Mariners can concentrate their attention more on navigational duty under the e-navigation environment. To build an effective Korean e-navigation system, the essential navigational functions and e-navigation services for small ships and fishing vessels must be identified and developed taking into account user needs.

Insect cuticular melanization is regulated by the prophenoloxidase (proPO)-activating system, which is a component of innate immunity. However, the differentiation between cuticular melanization and innate immunity is not well defined. Here, we demonstrate that the proPO-activating system regulates cuticular melanization in the silkworm pupae using a different mechanism. Our results indicate that the differential and spatial regulation of key components, such as the proPO-activating factor, tyrosine hydroxylase, proPOs, and immulectin, primes the proPO-activating system for either cuticular melanization or innate immunity. This dual strategy for cuticular melanization in development and innate immunity upon infection demonstrates a two-pronged defense mechanism mediated by the priming of the proPO system.

Using the spray pyrolysis process, nano-sized cobalt oxide powder with average particle size below 50 nm was prepared from cobalt chloride solution. The influences of the raw material solution on the properties of the powder formed examined. When the concentration of Co was low(20 g/L), the average particle size of the powder formed was roughly 20 nm, and the cohesion between these particles was significantly strong. When the concentration of Co increased to 100 g/L, the droplets nearly failed to exist in circular form and reflected a severely divided form. Furthermore, the average size of the particles formed was roughly 40 nm, and the particles reflected a polygonal form. When the solution was increased to nearly saturation level (Co at 200 g/L), the particle size distribution reflected significant unevenness due to severe droplet division while the surface also reflected significant unevenness. Furthermore, the average size of the particles formed increased significantly to 70 nm. The results of XRD analysis showed that the strength of the peaks reflected very little change when the concentration of Co was increased from 20 g/L to 50 g/L. Alternatively, when the concentration was increased to 100 g/L, the strength of the peaks increased compared to when the concentration was 50 g/L. However, when the concentration was increased to 200 g/L, the strength of the peaks failed to reflect significant change compared to when the concentration was 100 g/L. The specific surface area dramatically decreased by 30 % when the concentration of Co was increased from 20 g/L to 50 g/L. Alternatively, when the concentration of Co the solution increased to 100 g/L, the specific surface area decreased by roughly 15 %. Furthermore, when the concentration of Co was increased to nearly saturation level(200 g/L), the specific surface area decreased by roughly 35%.

Nutritional conditions experienced during early growth have important implications for the lifetime fitness of herbivores. We investigated how the early life effects of imbalanced nutrient intake can be overcome in a generalist caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Over the fifth larval instar, caterpillars were pretreated on one of three diets that varied in protein: carbohydrate balance (p35:c7, p21:c21 or p7:c35). After molting to the sixth instar, they were transferred to one of three no-choice diets (p35:c7 ,p21:c21 or p7:c35) or a food choice where they received two nutritionally complementary diets (p35:c7 versus p7:c35). Approximately 80% of caterpillars that had been protein-deprived (p7:c35) during the fifth instar molted to the seventh instar. The threshold body mass for pupal metamorphosis was 144 mg at the start of the sixth instar. When given a choice, caterpillars pretreated on the low-protein diet (p7:c35) selected significantly more protein than those from other diets (p35:c7,p21:c21). Our results suggest that caterpillars are not only capable of switching their developmental program to reduce the deleterious effects of a nearly deficiency of protein, but also flexible at adjusting nutrient preference store dress specific nutritional imbalances experienced early in life.

Insect cuticular melanization is regulated by the prophenoloxidase (proPO)- activating system, which is also involved in the innate immune reaction. Here, we demonstrate how the differentiation of the proPO-activating system is regulated toward a cuticular melanization or innate immunity function in silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae. Our results indicate that the differential and spatial regulation of key components, such as the proPO-activating factor, tyrosine hydroxylase, and porPOs, primes the proPO-activating system for either cuticular melanization or innate immunity. This dual strategy for cuticular melanization in development and innate immunity upon infection demonstrates a two-pronged defense mechanism that is mediated by the priming of the proPO system.

Cleanroom could be largely classified into industrial cleanroom that can be contaminated by particles and bio-cleanroom that can be contaminated by biological particles. Electrical manufacturing companies producing precision machines and electrical parts essentially have industrial cleanroom facilities and clean technologies to produce defects free products due to particles. Industrial cleanroom should be controlled in respect of 4M1E to prevent from foreign materials of sub-micro unit and to keep out contamination sources from outside. In this paper, a concept for a quantitative methodology to measure the particles from running components was suggested by combining both newly making clean booth such as wear tester and laser particle counter.

In arthropods, an immune challenge triggers a serine protease cascade that leads to the activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO)-activating factors (PPAFs), which are also called proPO-activating enzymes (PPAEs) or proteinases (PAPs). PPAFs are activated by cleavage between their clip and serine protease domains. Once activated, PPAFs convert proPO to phenoloxidase (PO), which then catalyzes the production of quinones to form melanin. In this study, we identified a Bombyx mori PPAF(BmPPAF) that involves in the pupal melanization. In the fat body, expression of BmPPAF was detected on day 1 to 3 of the pupal stage. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated BmPPAF knock-down inhibited pupal melanization, resulting in the delay of pupal melanization. Based on these results, we concluded that BmPPAF is involved in the melanization of pupal stage in silkworm metamorphosis.

Bee venom contains serine proteases and serine protease inhibitors. In this study, we identified a bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) venom Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (Bi-KTI) that acts as a plasmin inhibitor. Bi-KTI showed no detectable inhibitory effect on factor Xa, thrombin, or tissue plasminogen activator. In contrast, Bi-KTI strongly inhibited plasmin, indicating that it acts as an antifibrinolytic agent. The fibrin(ogen)olytic activities of B. ignitus venom serine protease (Bi-VSP) and plasmin in the presence of Bi-KTI indicate that Bi-KTI targets plasmin more specifically than Bi-VSP. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which bumblebee venom affects the hemostatic system through the antifibrinolytic activity of Bi-KTI and through Bi-VSP-mediated fibrin(ogen) olytic activities, raising interest in Bi-KTI and Bi-VSP as potential clinical agents.

Spider silks hold great potential as biomaterials with extraordinary properties. Here we report cloning and characterization of the major ampullate silk protein gene from the spider Araneus ventricosus. A cDNA coding for the partial major ampullate silk protein (AvMaSp) was cloned from A. ventricosus. Analysis of the cDNA sequence shows that AvMaSp consists of 240 amino acids of a repetitive region and 99 amino acids of a C-terminal non-repetitive domain. The peptide motifs found in spider major ampullate silk proteins, (A)n, (GA)n, and (GGX)n, were conserved in the repetitive region of AvMaSp. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed that AvMaSp belongs to the spider major ampullate spidroin proteins. The AvMaSp-R cDNA, which contains sequences encoding for 240 amino acids of a repetitive domain, was expressed as a 22 kDa polypeptide of soluble form in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Recombinant AvMaSp-R was degraded abruptly by trypsin. However, AvMaSp-R was stable at 100 °C for at least 30 min. Additionally, the AvMaSp-R was stable at various pH values from 2 to 12 for at least 1 h. Taken together, our findings provide the molecular structure and biochemical property for A. ventricosus major ampullate silk protein as a biomaterial.