Insect cuticular extracellular matrices (ECM) including the eggshell and exoskeleton play vital roles in protecting them from natural environmental stresses. However, these chitinous ECMs must be degraded at least in part during embryonic and post-embyonic molting periods to accommodate continuous growth all the way to the adult stage. In this study we investigated the functions of groups I and II chitinases, TcCHT5 and TcCHT10, in turnover of the eggshell and cuticle in Tribolium castaneum. RNAi and TEM analyses revealed that TcCHT10 is required for digestion of chitin in the serosal cuticle for embryo hatching as well as in the old cuticle during post-embryonic molts including larval-pupal and pupal-adult metamorphosis. However, although TcCHT5 is apparently involved in these vital physiological events, TcCHT10 could substitute for TcCHT5 except during the pupal-adult molting when both enzymes are indispensable to degrade chitin in the old pupal cuticle.

Insect eggshell and cuticle/exoskeleton play vital roles in protecting them from natural environmental stresses. However, these chitinous cuticular extracellular matrices must be degraded at least in part during embryo hatching and molting/ecdysis periods to accommodate continuous growth all the way to the adult stage. In this study, we investigated the functional importance of groups I and II chitinases, TcCHT5 and TcCHT10, in the turnover of chitinous cuticle during both embryonic and post-embryonic development in Tribolium castaneum. RNAi and TEM analyses revealed that TcCHT10 is required for digestion of chitin in the serosal cuticle for embryo hatching as well as in the old cuticle during post-embryonic molts including larval-pupal and pupal-adult metamorphosis. TcCHT10 appears to be able to substitute for TcCHT5 in all these vital physiological events except for the pupal-adult molting in which TcCHT5 is indispensable for complete digestion of chitin in the old pupal cuticle.

In recent years E-commerce platforms recommend some products for consumers based on their shopping history and user persona. However, sometimes, unfamiliar products or styles would be recommended to consumers unintentionally or intentionally. Curiosity drives consumers to try but this idea would be declined with the consideration of product fit uncertainty. Augmented Reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with the user‘s environment in real-time (Hilken et al. 2018), it can deal with issues related to physical apprehension that hinder consumers’ online shopping (i.e, clothes, cosmetics), especially for the unfamiliar style. This study aims to investigate whether AR technology could improve consumers' purchase likelihood. Augmented Reality (AR) can enhance customer experiences in a multichannel environment (Hilken et al. 2017). AR Integrates online experiences into the offline experience (Hilken et al. 2018), such as virtual try-on or magic mirrors. Customers often find it difficult to imagine how firms’ products and services fit them personally or fit with their environment (Hilken et al. 2018). Drawn on AR, consumers can easily evaluate the fitness between themselves and the selected products. Prior studies have explored the different underlying processes of why AR technology could improve consumer purchase intention and customer experience. For instance, according to the situated cognition theory, AR creates a feeling of spatial presence (Hilken et al. 2017). The usage of AR benefits mental imagery, improving decision comfort (Heller et al. 2019). AR can compensate for consumers’ need for touch and offer hedonic and/or utilitarian benefits (Gatter et al. 2022). Based on media richness theory, AR offers more information for customers (Hoffmann et al. 2022), which represents a fitting concept for customers to evaluate the product (Javornik 2016).

The mechanosynthesis route is a physical top–down strategy to produce different nanomaterials. Here, we report the formation of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) through this route using carbon bars recovered from discarded alkaline batteries as raw material. The mechanosynthesis time (milling time) is shown to have an influence on different features of the GNRs such as their width and edges features. TEM revealed the presence of GNRs with widths of 15.26, 8.8, and 23.55 nm for the milling times of 6, 12, and 18 h, respectively. Additionally, the carbon bars evolved from poorly shaped GNRs for the shortest milling time (6 h) to well-shaped GNRs of oriented sheets forming for the longest milling time. Besides GNRs, graphene sheets (GNS) of different sizes were also observed. The Raman analysis of the 2D bands identified the GNS signal and confirmed the GNRs nature. ID/IG values of 0.21, 0.32, and 0.40 revealed the degree of disorder for each sample. The in-plane sp2 crystallite sizes ( La) of graphite decreased to 91, 60, and 48 nm with increasing peeling time. The RBLM band at 288 cm− 1 confirmed the formation of the GNRs. Mechanosynthesis is a complex process and the formation of the GNRs is discussed in terms of a mechanical exfoliation, formation of graphene sheets and its fragmentation to reach GNR-like shapes. It is shown that the synthesis of GNRs through the mechanosynthesis route, besides the use of recycled materials, is an alternative for obtaining self-sustaining materials.

Preparation of activated carbon from biomass residue with conventional steam activation was conducted to find the alternative raw materials for meeting the high demand for low-cost porous material in the desiccant application. In this study, activated carbons were produced from dead camphor leaves using two-step methods at different preparation temperatures. The characterization results revealed that the prepared activated carbons have a surface area of 700 m2/g, with 75% of microporosity. The water vapor sorption study reported that the water uptake of camphor leaf-based activated carbons was strongly affected by the pore properties of the materials. Moreover, from the water adsorption kinetics, it was observed that the rate constant of adsorption was varied at each relative pressure, which can be assumed that the water adsorption mechanism is different at each relative pressure. From these results, it was revealed that the prepared camphor leaf-based activated carbons have a promising ability to adsorb water vapor from humid air.

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.

We report a simple procedure to fabricate single crystals 3D C60 having an FCC structure on silicon substrates using a vapour–solid set-up in vacuum conditions. The morphology of the deposited film can be tuned by controlling the temperature and position of the substrate. The as-fabricated samples are extensively characterised by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nanoindentation, which allow us to shed light on the recrystallization process of the C60. In addition, the growth mechanism of the formation of crystalline 3D structure of the C60 film is discussed in detail. Based on the newly gained knowledge of mechanism and its unique properties, fullerene has shown huge potential as a solid lubricant on various kinds of substrates.

We report the discovery of a giant exoplanet in the microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-1049, with a planet―host star mass ratio of q = 9.53 ± 0.39 × 10-3 and a caustic crossing feature in Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) observations. The caustic crossing feature yields an angular Einstein radius of θE = 0.52 ± 0.11 mas. However, the microlens parallax is not measured because the time scale of the event, tE ≃ 29 days, is too short. Thus, we perform a Bayesian analysis to estimate physical quantities of the lens system. We find that the lens system has a star with mass Mh = 0.55+0.36 -0.29 M⊙ hosting a giant planet with Mp = 5.53+3.62 -2.87 MJup, at a distance of DL = 5.67+1.11 -1.52 kpc. The projected star{planet separation is aㅗ = 3.92+1.10 -1.32 au. This means that the planet is located beyond the snow line of the host. The relative lens{source proper motion is μrel ~ 7 mas yr-1, thus the lens and source will be separated from each other within 10 years. After this, it will be possible to measure the flux of the host star with 30 meter class telescopes and to determine its mass.