The constituents of coal tar pitch (CTP) significantly impact the wettability of calcined coke (CC) and the performance of prebaked anodes (PA) used in aluminum electrolysis. However, balancing wettability and carbon residue within CTP remains a central challenge in material applications. In addition, limited pore permeability and structural stability in these composites hinder the effective utilization of PA. Enhancing CTP fluidity is crucial for overcoming these challenges. In this work, a novel method was developed to modify CTP utilizing various coal tar fractions, enabling controlled modulation of CTP composition and wettability. Incorporating different fractions allowed for substantial control over interfacial bonding and pore structure. The chemical composition, functional groups, and elemental content of the CTP were analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Subsequently, systematic comparisons of PA materials produced from different CTP formulations demonstrated improved wettability and enhanced mechanical properties. Moreover, DFT calculations were performed to compare the adsorption energies of small molecules from different coal tar fractions with coke, reflecting the interaction strength between the molecules and the solid surface. Using micro-computed tomography (μ-CT), the refined pore structure was examined, resulting in a PA composite with an optimized balance of high strength and toughness.

Cheonsu is a new japonica rice cultivar tolerant to drought. This cultivar was developed from the cross Ilmibyeo// Juanbyeo/Salshare, where the parent Ilmibyeo is a japonica cultivar with high eating quality, Juanbyeo is a japonica for direct-seeding cultivation, and Salshare is a japonica weedy rice from Korea. The preliminary and replicated yield trail on Cheonsu was carried out at Yeungnam University in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and the local adaptability test was carried out by the National Seed Management Office (NSMO), Korea, in 2004 and 2005. This cultivar was registered to NSMO, Korea, as variety Cheonsu in 2006. Cheonsu has about 122 days growth duration from transplanting to harvesting. This cultivar has stature with 81cm of culm length. The milled rice yield of Cheonsu is about 5.10 MT/ha under standard fertilizer level of the ordinary transplanting cultivation. Amylose content of this cultivar is 18.3%.

Sanho is a new japonica rice cultivar with brown pericarp color (Fig. 1). This cultivar was developed from the cross Ilmibyeo//Ilmibyeo/Pyeongtaekaengmi 4, where the recurrent parent Ilmibyeo is a japonica cultivar with high eating quality, and the donor