Epoxy resin, which demonstrates a shape memory effect, is reinforced by chopped carbon fibers (CCFs) to improve the thermal and mechanical properties. The interfacial interactions between 2-mm-long CCFs and epoxy make an impact on not only molecular motion but also the physical behaviors of CCFs/epoxy composites. In particular, shape recovery ability of CCFs/epoxy composites is enhanced with an increase in thermal conductivity generated by crossing CCFs in the epoxy system, although CCFs/epoxy composites containing small amounts of CCFs, such as 1 or 3 phr (parts per hundred rubber), show slower recovery rates than those of raw epoxy specimens due to the difficulty of making heat bridges in composites. With these results, it is confirmed that for specific time-dependent purpose, the shape recovery vector of CCFs/epoxy can be controlled using the amount of CCFs.

Lhx8 (LIM homeobox 8) gene encodes a LIM homeodomain transcriptional regulator that is preferentially expressed in germ cells and critical for mammalian folliculogenesis. However, Lhx8 DNA binding sequences are not characterized yet. We aimed to identify and characterize a cis-acting sequence of germ-cell specific transcriptional factor, Lhx8. To identify Lhx8 DNA binding element, Cyclic Amplification of Sequence Target (CAST) Analysis was performed. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) was processed for the binding specificity of Lhx8. Luciferase assay was for the transcriptional activity of Lhx8 through identified DNA binding site. We identified a putative cis-acting sequence, TGATTG as Lhx8 DNA binding element (LBE). In addition, Lhx8 binds to the LBE with high affinity and augments transcriptional activity of luciferase reporter driven by artificial promoter containing the Lhx8 binding element. These findings indicate that Lhx8 directly regulates the transcription of genes containing Lhx8 binding element in oocytes during early folliculogenesis.