Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), widely recognized for their excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, have gained significant attention across various fields. However, aggregation due to their high Van der Waals force limits their processability and applications. Surface functionalization can offer a solution to these limitations and broadens their potential uses. Nevertheless, the low reaction rates of covalent functionalization in conventional batch reactors, caused by MWCNT aggregation, remain a significant challenge to overcome. Moreover, controlling the degree of functionalization in batch reactors is difficult. In this work, we demonstrated covalent functionalization of MWCNT with 4-bromoaniline to produce MWCNT-PhBr with high, controllable degrees of functionalization, using a customized packed-bed flow reactor. The reaction was performed under various conditions, including the reactant injection sequence, reaction time (1–3 h), temperature (60–80 ℃), and concentration of reactant (0.42–1.72 M). The resulting degree of functionalization was controlled within the range of 1.81–5.70 wt%. Notably, the highest degree of functionalization obtained under the optimized flow conditions (5.70 wt% at 70 °C and 1.72 M) represents a 2.11-fold increase compared to that achieved under the optimized batch conditions (2.70 wt% at 60 °C and 0.86 M). These results suggest that the flow system is an efficient and reliable method for synthesizing functionalized MWCNTs with the desired functional group content.

Background: Sustaining regular exercise is a major public health challenge. Self-directed, goal-oriented exercise programs may enhance autonomy and adherence compared to traditional supervised approaches. Objects: This study evaluated the effects of an 8-week individualized, goal-oriented exercise program on physical fitness and body composition in college students and assessed the durability of these effects following an 8-week washout period. Methods: In a non-randomized, fixed-sequence design, 24 healthy young adults (19 males, 5 females) completed an 8-week self-directed exercise intervention, followed by an 8-week washout and an 8-week control period. Physical fitness (vertical jump, standing long jump, handgrip strength, one-leg stance) and body composition (body mass index, skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage) were assessed. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and effect size estimates. Results: Significant improvements were observed in all fitness measures post-intervention (p < 0.01). Large effect sizes were found for vertical jump (Cohen’s dav = 0.87) and standing long jump (dav = 0.99), while handgrip strength and one-leg stance showed moderate effects (dav ≈ 0.65). However, no consistent changes were detected in body composition variables. Fitness gains declined rapidly during the washout period, indicating transient adaptation. Conclusion: An 8-week goal-oriented, self-directed exercise program effectively improved physical fitness but not body composition in young adults. These findings support the utility of autonomy-supportive models, though the rapid reversal of gains highlights the critical need for sustained engagement strategies.

미세플라스틱(MPs)은 수생 환경에 광범위하게 분포하는 오염물질로, 항생제 및 항생제 내성유전자(ARGs)의 운반체로 작용하여 생태계와 인체 건강에 복합적인 위해를 초래할 수 있다. 환경에 노출된 MPs는 노화 과정을 거치며 미생물 생물막이 형성된다. 이러한 생물막은 MPs의 물리화학적 특성을 변화시켜 항생제 흡착능을 향상시키고, ARGs의 유지 및 증식을 촉진한다. 항생제와 생물막이 형성된 MPs 간의 상호작용은 수소결합, 정전기적 상호작용, 소수성 효과, 공극 채움 등 복합적인 기작에 의해 지배되며, 미생물 활성은 흡착, 분해 및 탈착의 동역학을 추가로 조절한다. 생물막이 형성된 MPs는 오염물질의 저장소이자 운반체로서 기능하며, 수생 생물에 대한 항생제의 생물유효성을 증가시키고 미생물 군집 간의 수평적 유전자 전달을 촉진한다. 이러한 공동 노출은 수생 생물에서 산화적 스트레스, 면역 기능 저하, 효소 활성 억제, 조직 손상 등을 유발할 수 있으며, 먹이망을 통한 연쇄적 영향을 통해 궁극적으로 인간 건강에도 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 특히, 본 논문은 생물막 형성이 항생제 흡착과 수평적 유전자 전달 역학에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지에 대해 초점을 맞추어 최신 연구 결과를 정리하였다. 이를 통해 생물막형성-항생제흡착-유전자전달 세가지 요소간 복잡한 상호작용의 물리화학적 및 생물학적 메커니즘을 명확히 설명하였으며, 이와 연관된 환경적 위해성을 파악하고 저감하기 위한 연구를 수행하기 위한 배경지식으로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

We determine the galaxy luminosity function of cluster galaxies in the nearby galaxy cluster Abell 2199 (A2199), focusing on the faint-end slope down toMr ∼ −14.5. To achieve this, we augment the existing dataset by adding redshift data from our deep MMT/Hectospec survey and from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), significantly improving the spectroscopic completeness down to rpetro,0 = 20.8 within the central 30′ region. The resulting luminosity function is well described by a Schechter function with a characteristic magnitudeM∗ = −21.30±0.27 and a faint-end slope α = −1.23±0.05. This faint-end slope is consistent with those measured in the nearby Coma and Virgo clusters and in a cluster from the TNG50 cosmological simulation, and is slightly shallower than that of field galaxies. These findings indicate that the previously claimed steep faint-end upturn (with α ∼ −2) in nearby galaxy clusters is not supported. Instead, they indicate that environmental processes in dense cluster cores do not seem to trigger the formation or survival of low-mass galaxies, thereby preventing a steep faint-end upturn in the luminosity function.

Octopus minor is an important seafood species inhabiting Korean coastal mudflats and holds considerable industrial value. However, the restricted distribution of mudflats and increasing environmental pollution have highlighted the need for stock restoration and the development of superior strains. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of O. minor across sexes, tissues, and developmental stages to identify genes associated with sexual maturation. A de novo transcriptome assembly yielded 993,121 transcripts, and after redundancy removal and expression refinement, 40,688 transcripts were retained. Differential expression analysis identified 8,104 DEGs in females (gonad: 7,068; optic lobe: 1,036) and 5,285 in males (gonad: 4,765; optic lobe: 520). Gene expression changes related to sexual maturation were more pronounced in females and in gonadal tissues than in males and optic lobes. These findings provide essential genomic insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual maturation and offer valuable resources for selective breeding and sustainable aquaculture of O. minor.

In this study, we performed optical simulations for two light sources: internal and external electrode light sources. Based on the optical simulation results, we created a practical design to verify the design validity and extract optimal design factors for each light source. The three key geometric variables in the design of a direct-lit flat panel light source are the distance between the two lamps, the distance between the lamps and the reflector, and the number of lamps. These variables significantly impact the optical design and determine various characteristics of the flat panel light source system. In this study, we used a 26 mm distance between the two lamps, a 4.5 mm distance between the lamps and the reflector, and a total of 20 lamps to derive optimal values for these variables. Under these conditions, we created a practical design and evaluated its performance, achieving an excellent flat panel light source with a central luminance of 6,423 nits and a luminance uniformity of less than 5%. This study demonstrates that optical simulation techniques are an effective method for designing a surface-emitting light source system for medical LCDs, demonstrating the feasibility of achieving high performance while maintaining a low cost.