Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, caused by the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins, activates the unfolded protein response to maintain cellular homeostasis and is implicated in bacterial infections. This study investigated ER stress activation in THP-1-derived macrophages infected with oral bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis , Prevotella intermedia , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , and Streptococcus oralis at an multiplicity of infection of 50 for 4 hours. mRNA and protein expressions related to ER stress were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, while pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. P. gingivalis induced the highest mRNA expression of XBP1 and PERK, whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans showed elevated GRP78, ATF6, IRE1α, ATF4, and CHOP. P. intermedia strongly expressed PERK, while S. oralis showed higher GRP78, PERK, ATF4, and CHOP expression. Protein analysis revealed S. oralis had the highest phosphorylation levels of eIF2α and IRE1α, while CHOP was most highly expressed in P. intermedia . Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression showed P. intermedia and P. gingivalis elicited the most TNF-α, while P. gingivalis induced the highest IL-1β levels. These findings suggest oral bacteria induce varying levels of ER stress, influencing the progression of oral infectious diseases. Targeting ER stress could offer therapeutic potential for managing inflammatory conditions like periodontitis.

국경 간 인수합병(Cross-border M&A)은 이중 조직 정체성과 다양한 제도적 환경을 관리하는 복잡한 통합 과제를 포함한다. 기존 연구들은 주로 국가 수준의 요인에 초점을 맞췄지만, 특히 자 회사의 경험과 같은 목표 기업의 특성에 대한 연구는 상대적으로 부족했다. 본 연구는 자회사 대 독립 기업, 국내 자회사 대 해외 자회사와 같은 다양한 목표 기업의 특성이 국경을 넘는 M&A에서 인수 기업의 주주 가치에 어떻게 영향을 미치는지 분석한다. 1994년부터 2012년까지의 국경을 넘 는 M&A 거래에 대한 이벤트 연구를 통해, 자회사의 경험이 인수 기업의 주주 가치를 증가시킨다 는 것을 발견했다. 그러나 제도적 거리가 증가할수록 국내 자회사의 경험 가치는 감소하는 경향이 있었다. 이러한 연구 결과는 국경을 넘는 M&A에서 자회사 경험의 중요성을 강조하며, 제도적 거 리가 그 효과를 어떻게 조절하는지를 보여준다. 이는 연구자와 실무자 모두에게 중요한 시사점을 제공한다.

The 300 concrete silo systems installed and operated at the site of Wolsong nuclear power plant (NPP) have been storing CANDU spent nuclear fuel (SNF) under dry conditions since 1992. The dry storage system must be operated safely until SNF is delivered to an interim storage facility or final repository located outside the NPP in accordance with the SNF management policy of the country. The silo dry storage system consists of a concrete structure, liner steel plate in the inner cavity, and fuel basket. Because the components of the silo system are exposed to high energy radiation owing to the high radioactivity of SNF inside, the effects of irradiation during long-term storage must be analyzed. To this end, material specimens of each component were manufactured and subjected to irradiation and strength tests, and mechanical characteristics before and after irradiation were examined. Notably, the mechanical characteristics of the main components of the silo system were affected by irradiation during the storage of spent fuel. The test results will be used to evaluate the long-term behavior of silo systems in the future.

This study investigated the surface tension and foaming properties of the hot-water extracts of pumpkin leaf and chickpea, as well as the effects of the plant hot-water extracts on white pan bread baking. Propylene glycol alginate (PGA), a synthetic emulsifier widely used in bakery, was used as a control. Pumpkin leaf water extract showed lower surface tension and comparable foaming capacity, compared with chickpea water extract and PGA solution when total solid  0.15% (w/w). Chickpea water extract showed the highest foam stability when total solid  0.15% (w/w). The dough was found to have a weak gel structure, and its viscoelastic properties were not significantly influenced by adding 0.05% or 0.15% (w/w) (based on total solid content) plant water extracts or PGA. The specific volume of the bread increased, and the baking loss was reduced by adding the two plant water extracts of total solid 0.15% (w/w). The hardness and chewiness of the bread crumb were reduced to a level comparable to the crumb containing 0.05% (w/w) PGA. The results showed that the pumpkin leaf water extract could be an effective natural emulsifier with a high phenolic content for bakery products.

Nuclear Forensics is recognized as a essential component in the nuclear non-proliferation verification sector by the international community. It is being advanced under the leadership of the IAEA, the U.S., and the EU. Both the U.S.’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the international collaborative organization, the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG), have proposed to establish a relationship between the production timing and radiochronometry of nuclear materials or samples to utilize in the field of nuclear forensics. Radiochronometry of nuclear materials is calculated based on the Bateman equation, incorporating factors with uncertainties derived from tests, experiments, and analyses. The results from the nuclear activity radiochronometry also encompass uncertainties, affecting their reliability. This study examined the mathematical uncertainty calculations related to the results of nuclear activity radiochronometry, focusing on calculation methods, contribution rates per factor, and sensitivities. Uncertainty factors for the Bateman equation-based radiochronometry were observed in the decay constants for each nuclide type and the uncertainty in the radioactive ratio of the tracer nuclide. The sensitivity for each factor revealed that the uncertainty in the radioactive ratio of the signature nuclide contributed more significantly than the uncertainty in decay constants for each nuclide type. Each factor displayed a distinct sensitivity curve relative to the radioactive ratio. As it approaches a radioactive equilibrium, the sensitivity tends to increase infinitely, indicating a corresponding trend of infinite increase in uncertainty. Because the time and curve shape to reach radioactive equilibrium vary depending on the signature nuclide, it’s essential to choose an appropriate signature nuclide based on the anticipated period and analysis requirements for nuclear activity radiochronometry. However, radiochronometry using mathematical methods is limited to the relationship between parent and daughter nuclides, presenting the potential for underestimation of uncertainty factors like decay constants. Future research will need to focus on uncertainty calculation methods through computational simulations, especially using the Monte Carlo method, to overcome the limitations of mathematical approaches and potential underestimations.

본 연구는 관상가치가 있는 자생 참두메부추와 갯부추를 절화소재로 이용하고자 수행되었다. 실험은 절화가 수확된 직후, gibberellic acid(GA3) 50, 75, 100mg·L-1, silver thiosulfate(STS) 0.1, 0.3, 0.5mM, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate(8-HQS) 25, 50, 100mg·L-1, 그리고 시중에 판매되 고 있는 Chrysal 8mL·L-1, Floralife 10mL·L-1의 보존용액 에 처리되었다. 참두메부추의 절화수명 연장에는 Chrysal 보 존용액 처리가 가장 효과적이었으며 다음으로 75mg·L-1 GA3 처리가 효과적이었다. 한편 8-HQS와 STS는 참두메부추의 절화수명을 단축하고 줄기가 갈변하는 등의 부정적인 영향을 끼쳤다. Chrysal과 더불어 Floralife 보존용액 처리는 절화 참두메부추의 상대 생체중변화율을 높이는데 효과가 있었다. 반면 갯부추는 100mg·L-1 GA3 처리에서 절화수명이 유일하 게 7일까지 연장되었다. GA3 보존용액 처리를 제외한 다른 처리에서 갯부추의 절화수명은 증류수인 대조구보다 비슷하 거나 약간 높은 수준이었다. 절화 갯부추의 수분흡수율은 실 험 초반 100mg·L-1 8-HQS 처리에서, 상대 생체중변화율은 Chrysal 보존용액 처리에서 가장 높게 조사되었으나 두 처 리 모두 절화수명이 유의하게 연장되지 않았다. 갯부추는 100mg·L-1 GA3 처리에서 절화수명을 비롯한 절화품질이 가 장 우수하였다.