In this work, we investigated the photo-degradation performance of MnO2-SiC fiber-TiO2 (MnO2-SiC-TiO2) ternary nanocomposite according to visible light excitation utilizing methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) as standard dyes. The photocatalytic physicochemical characteristics of this ternary nanocomposite were described by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent and cyclic voltammogram (CV) test. Photolysis studies of the synthesized MnO2-SiC-TiO2 composite were conducted using standard dyes of MB and MO under UV light irradiation. The experiments revealed that the MnO2-SiC-TiO2 exhibits the greatest photocatalytic dye degradation performance of around 20 % with MB, and of around 10 % with MO, respectively, within 120 min. Furthermore, MnO2-SiC-TiO2 showed good stability against photocatalytic degradation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the nanocomposite was indicated by the adequate photocatalytic reaction process. These research results show the practical application potential of SiC fibers and the performance of a photocatalyst composite that combines these fibers with metal oxides.

Mathematically modeling photosynthesis helps to interpret gas exchange in a plant and estimate the photosynthetic rate as affected by environmental factors. Notably, the photosynthetic rate varies among leaf vertical positions within a single plant. The objective of this study was to measure the distinct photosynthetic rate of lily (Lilium Oriental Hybrid ‘Casa Blanca’) at the upper, medium, and basal leaf positions. Subsequently, the FvCB (Farquhar-von Caemmerer-Berry) photosynthesis model was employed to determine the parameters of the model and compared it with a rectangular hyperbola photosynthesis model. The photosynthetic rates were measured at different intracellular CO2 concentrations () and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels. SPAD values significantly decreased with lowered leaf position. The photosynthetic rates at the medium and basal leaves were lower compared with the upper leaves. FvCB model parameters,  and   , showed no significant difference between the medium and basal leaves. Estimated photosynthetic rates from derived parameters by the FvCB model demonstrated over 0.86 of R2 compared with measured data. The rectangular hyperbola model tended to overestimate or underestimate photosynthetic rates at high  with high PPFD levels or low  with high PPFD levels, respectively, at each leaf position. These results indicated that the parameters of the FvCB model with different leaf positions can be used to estimate the photosynthetic rate of lily.

Salinity stress is a major threat to plant growth and development, affecting crop yield and quality. This study investigated the effects of different salinity levels on photosynthetic responses and bulb growth of Lilium LA hybrid “‘Serrada’.” Plants were irrigated with 1 L of 0, 200, and 400 mM NaCl solutions every two weeks for 14 weeks in a greenhouse. At the end of the cultivation period, the substrate pH decreased, and electrical conductivity increased with increasing salinity. Regardless of salinity levels, the days to flowering and number of flowers were similar among treatments. In contrast, the flower width, plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. Although there were no differences in the photosystem II (PSII) operating efficiency and maximum quantum yield of PSII, net CO2 assimilation rates (An) and stomatal conductance (gs) were significantly reduced at 200 and 400 mM NaCl solutions compared to the control. At 400 mM NaCl solution, bulb diameter and weight significantly decreased at the end of the experiment. These results suggest that bulb growth inhibition could be attributed to limiting photosynthetic rate and stem growth. This finding suggests that salinity mitigation is necessary to maintain plant growth and photosynthetic capacity in lily cultivation on salt-affected soils.

Recently, it is demonstrate that the invertebrates have a immune memory, called Immune priming (IP). It was partially studied that the IP is mainly regulated by epigenetic modification. Here, to understand the IP on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production, we investigated larval mortality and time-dependent expression patterns of AMP genes in T. molitor larvae challenged with E. coli (two-times injection with a one-month interval). Interestingly, the results indicate that the higher and faster expression levels of most AMP genes were detected compared to the non-primed T. molitor larvae. Our results may used to improve the understanding of mechanisms of invertebrate immune memory.

본 연구는 대한민국 울릉도 특산식물인 추산쑥부쟁이(Aster × chusanensis Y.S.Lim, Hyun, Y.D.Kim & H.C.Shin)의 기내 대량증식체계 확립을 위해 시토키닌 계열 식물생장조절 제를 첨가하여 캘러스 및 신초 형성 조건을 구명하고자 수행 하였다. 실험결과, 추산쑥부쟁이의 줄기 절편체에서 캘러스 와 신초가 형성되었다. 캘러스 형성률은 TDZ 3.0mg·L-1처 리구에서 88.9%로 가장 높았고 BAP 3.0mg·L-1와 Zeatin 3.0mg·L-1 처리구는 66.7%, 2iP 3.0mg·L-1 처리구에서는 11.1%였다. 신초 형성률은 모든 처리구에서 77% 이상이고 특히 TDZ처리구와 Zeatin 처리구에서 100%였다. 그러나 TDZ처리구에서는 형성된 신초가 부풀어 오르거나, 잎에 과수 성이 나타나는 등 형태적 기형이 나타났다. Zeatin처리구에 서 발생한 신초는 정상적인 형태를 나타났다. 잎 절편체에서 는 캘러스, 신초가 발생하지 않았으며 절편체가 탈색하며 고 사하는 것을 확인하였다. 종합적으로 추산쑥부쟁이의 캘러 스 및 신초 형성을 위해서는 줄기 절편체를 배양 재료로 이 용하는 것이 효과적으로 확인되었다. 캘러스 유도에는 TDZ 3.0mg·L-1처리가 가장 효과적이었고, 추후 NAA와 같은 옥신 을 함께 첨가하여 증식 효과를 분석하는 연구가 필요할 것이 다. 또한, 신초 유도에도 TDZ 3.0mg·L-1 처리가 효과적이었 으나 장기간, 고농도로 사용할 경우 형태적인 기형이 발생할 수 있어 정상적인 식물생산에 부적합한 것으로 확인되었다. 따라서 형태적 기형이 발생하지 않은 아데닌 유도체형 시토키 닌인 Zeatin을 활용하는 것을 추천한다. 본 연구는 울릉도 특 산식물인 추산쑥부쟁이의 기내 대량증식과 생태계 유지에 필 요한 종 공급을 위한 대량증식 체계 구축을 위한 자료로 활용 할 수 있을 것이다.

Owing to the great demand for portable and wearable chemical sensors, the development of all-solid-state potentiometric ion sensors is highly desirable considering their simplicity and stability. However, most ion sensors are challenged by the penetration of water and gas molecules into ion-selective membranes, causing unstable and undesirable sensing performances. In this study, a hydrophobic ionic liquid-modified graphene (Gr) sheet was prepared using a fluid dynamics-induced exfoliation and functionalization process. The high hydrophobicity and electrical double-layer capacitance of Gr make it a potential solid-state ion-to-electron transducer for the development of potentiometric sodium-ion ( Na+) sensors. The as-prepared Na+ sensors effectively prevented the formation of the water layer and penetration of gas species, resulting in stable and high sensing performances. The Na+ sensors showed a Nernstian sensitivity of 58.11 mV/[Na+] with a low relative standard deviation (0.46), fast response time (5.1 s), good selectivity (K < 10− 4), and good durability. Furthermore, the Na+ sensor demonstrated its feasibility in practical applications by measuring accurate and reliable ion concentrations of artificial human sweat and tear samples, comparable to a commercial ion meter.

KHNP is carrying out international technical cooperation and joint research projects to decommission Wolsong unit 1 reactor. Construction data of the reactor structures, experience data on the pressure tube replacement projects, and the operation history were reviewed, and the amount of dismantled waste was calculated and waste was classified through activation analysis. By reviewing COG (CANDU owners Group) technical cooperation and experience in refurbishment projects, KHNP’s unique Wolsong unit 1 reactor decommissioning process was established, and basic design of a number of decommissioning equipment was carried out. Based on this, a study is being conducted to estimate the worker dose of dismantling workers. In order to evaluate the dose of external exposure of dismantling workers, detailed preparation and dismantling processes and radiation field evaluation of activated structures are required. The preparation process can be divided into dismantlement of existing facilities that interfere with the reactor dismantling work and construction of various facilities for the dismantlement process. Through process details, the work time, manpower, and location required for each process will be calculated. Radiation field evaluation takes into account changes in the shape of structures by process and calculates millions of areas by process, so integrated scripts are developed and utilized to integrate input text data. If the radiation field evaluation confirms that the radiation risk of workers is high, mutual feedback will be exchanged so that the process can be improved, such as the installation of temporary shields. The results of this study will be used as basic data for the final decommissioning plan for Wolsong unit 1. By reasonably estimating the dose of workers through computer analysis, safety will be the top priority when decommissioning.

A facile and efficient method was developed to prepare highly stretchable and conductive graphene conductors with wrinkled structures by the mechanical stretching and shrinking of elastomeric substrates, in which graphene inks were printed on a prestretched elastomeric substrate. Stretchable and exfoliated graphene inks were prepared by mixing graphite and Ecoflex in a shear-assisted fluid dynamics reactor. The resultant graphene conductor exhibited excellent stretchability at 150% strain and high electrical conductivity of 64 ± 1.2 S m− 1. The resistance of the conductor did not change in bent, twisted, and stretched states. The resistance did not change during 10,000 cycles of stretching/releasing, with a maximum strain of 150%. Based on the graphene conductor, a stretchable conductometric sensor with a two-electrode configuration was fabricated to measure impedance changes at different concentrations of electrolyte ions. This sensor exhibited a good and linear sensitivity curve (298.61 Ω mM− 1, R2 = 0.999) in bent and stretched states.

Background: A hip fracture may occur spontaneously prior to the hip impact, due to the muscle pulling force exceeding the strength of the femur. Objects: We conducted falling experiments with humans to measure the activity of the hip muscles, and to examine how this was affected by the fall type. Methods: Eighteen individuals fell and landed sideways on a mat, by mimicking video-captured real-life older adults’ falls. Falling trials were acquired with three fall directions: forward, backward, or sideways, and with three knee positions at the time of hip impact, where the landing side knee was free of constraint, or contacted the mat or the contralateral knee. During falls, the activities of the iliopsoas (Ilio), gluteus medius (Gmed), gluteus maximus (Gmax) and adductor longus (ADDL) muscles were recorded. Outcome variables included the time to onset, activity at the time of hip impact, and timing of the peak activity with respect to the time of hip impact. Results: For Ilio, Gmed, Gmax, and ADDL, respectively, EMG onset averaged 292, 304, 350, and 248 ms after fall initiation. Timing of the peak activity averaged 106, 96, 84, and 180 ms prior to the hip impact, and activity at the time of hip impact averaged 72.3, 45.2, 64.3, and 63.4% of the peak activity. Furthermore, the outcome variables were associated with fall direction and/or knee position in all but the iliopsoas muscle. Conclusion: Our results provide insights on the hip muscle activation during a fall, which may help to understand the potential injury mechanism of the spontaneous hip fracture.

The present study investigated effects of antifungal and carboxylesterase inoculant on rumen fermentation with different rumen pH. Corn silage was treated without inoculant (CON) and with a mixed Lactobacillus brevis 5M2 and L. buchneri 6M1 (MIX). Rumen fluid was collected from two cannulated Hanwoo heifers before morning feeding (high rumen pH at 6.70) and 3 h after feeding (low rumen pH at 6.20). Dried corn silage was incubated in the rumen buffer (rumen fluid + anaerobic culture medium at 1:2 ratio) for 48 h at 39oC. Eight replications for each treatment were used along with two blanks. Both in a high and a low rumen pH, MIX silages presented higher (p<0.05) the immediately degradable fraction, the potentially degradable fraction, total degradable fraction, and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) than those of CON silages. Incubated corn silages in a low rumen pH presented lower (p<0.05) total degradable fraction, ammonia-N, total VFA (p=0.061), and other VFA profiles except acetate and propionate, than those in a high rumen pH. The present study concluded that application of antifungal and carboxylesterase inoculant on corn silage could improve degradation kinetics and fermentation indices in the rumen with high and low pH conditions.