In existing ceramic mold manufacturing processes, inorganic binder systems (Si-Na, two-component system) are applied to ensure the effective firing strength of the ceramic mold and core. These inorganic binder systems makes it possible to manufacture a ceramic mold and core with high dimensional stability and effective strength. However, as in general sand casting processes, when molten metal is injected at room temperature, there is a limit to the production of thin or complex castings due to reduced fluidity caused by the rapid cooling of the molten metal. In addition, because sodium silicate generated through the vitrification reaction of the inorganic binder is converted into a liquid phase at a temperature of 1,000 °C. or higher, it is somewhat difficult to manufacture parts through high-temperature casting. Therefore, in this study, a high-strength ceramic mold and core test piece with effective strength at high temperature was produced by applying a Si-Na-Ti three-component inorganic binder. The starting particles were coated with binary and ternary inorganic binders and mixed with an organic binder to prepare a molded body, and then heat-treated at 1,000/1,350/1,500 °C to prepare a fired body. In the sample where the two-component inorganic binder was applied, the glass was liquefied at a temperature of 1,000 °C or higher, and the strength decreased. However, the firing strength of the ceramic mold sample containing the three-component inorganic binder was improved, and it was confirmed that it was possible to manufacture a ceramic mold and core via high temperature casting.

One disadvantage of deep cycle flooded lead-acid batteries is increasing water loss caused by use of (+) Pb-Sb / () Pb-Sb alloy grid. Water loss is generated by the emission of hydrogen gas from the () electrode during battery charging. In this paper, we maintain cycle life aspect through the development of hybrid flooded lead-acid batteries to which a (+) Pb- Sb / () Pb-Ca grid is applied and deal with the improvement of water loss. The amount of water loss compared to that of the () Pb-Sb grid decreased when Ca was added to the () Pb grid. For the () Pb-Ca grid, it was confirmed that the time to reach 0.0 V, at which water decomposition occurs, was increased compared to that of the () Pb-Sb grid at the NPV (Negative Potential Voltage). In the cycle life test conducted with the BCI (Battery Council International) standard, compared to the (+) Pb-Ca grid, the (+) Pb-Sb grid increased the life cycle of the batteries and the (+) Pb-Ca grid showed an early end of life due to PbO corrosion layer generation, as determined through SEM / EDS and Tear Down analysis. In conclusion, by addition of Sb to (+) Pb grid and Ca to () Pb grid, we developed a hybrid flooded lead-acid battery that meets user requirements to improve water loss characteristics and preserve cycle life characteristics.

The performance characteristics of a lead acid battery are investigated with the content of Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate (SPT, NaBO3·4H2O) in a positive plate active material. SPT, which reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide, is applied as an additive in the positive plate active material to increase adhesion between the substrate (positive plate) and the active material; this phenomenon is caused by a chemical reaction on the surface of substrate. A positive plate with the increasing content of SPT is prepared to compare its properties. It is confirmed that the oxide layer increases at the interface between the substrate and the active material with increasing content of SPT; this is proven to be an oxide layer through EDS analysis. Battery performance is confirmed: when SPT content is 2.0 wt%, the charging acceptance and high rate discharge properties are improved. In addition, the lifetime performance according to the Standard of Battery Association of Japan (SBA) S0101 test is improved with increasing content of SPT.

Although assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been developed in many mammalian species including cows, the only embryo preservation technology that is available is cryopreservation. In the present study, small molecules were used to preserve embryos at room temperature. The basic medium for embryo preservation consisted of 1% BSA non-cryopreservation medium (BNC) instead of fetal bovine serum (FBS). To maintain survival and prevent damage during embryo storage, three candidate small molecules were selected—CHIR99021, Y-27632 and Thiazovivin—and their concentrations were optimized. Then, the embryos in the small molecule supplemented preservation medium were stored at room temperature. The viability and hatching rate of embryos stored at 10°C were greater for Y-27632-BNC and CHIR99021+Y-27632-BNC compared to BNC. However, the rate was lower for Thiazovivin-BNC compared to BNC. Although there were no surviving embryos after storage at 20°C, the viability and hatching rate of embryos significantly increased in Y-27632-BNC and CHIR99021+Y-27632-BNC compared to BNC. The mechanism by which small molecules enhance survival of embryos during storage was investigated, and expression of heat shock protein 70 was observed to increase. The findings of this work may be useful in improving ART in the agricultural field.

The effects of coating thickness on the delamination and fracture behavior of thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems were investigated with cyclic flame thermal fatigue (FTF) and thermal shock (TS) tests. The top and bond coats of the TBCs were prepared by electron beam-physical vapor deposition and low pressure plasma spray methods, respectively, with a thickness ratio of 2:1 in the top and bond coats. The thicknesses of the top coat were 200 and 500 μm, and those of the bond coat were 100 and 250 μm. FTF tests were performed until 1140 cycles at a surface temperature of 1100 oC for a dwell time of 5 min. TS tests were also done until more than 50 % delamination or 1140 cycles with a dwell time of 60 min. After the FTF for 1140 cycles, the interface microstructures of each TBC exhibited a sound condition without cracking or delamination. In the TS, the TBCs of 200 and 500 μm were fully delaminated (> 50 %) within 171 and 440 cycles, respectively. These results enabled us to control the thickness of TBC systems and to propose an efficient coating in protecting the substrate in cyclic thermal exposure environments.

Antioxidants, as reactive oxygen species scavengers, are one of the beneficial additives in serum-free defined culture medium. In this study, three separate experiments were performed to determine the effects of 3-hyroxyflavone added to the culture medium on the developmental competence of follicular bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) and/or in vitro culture (IVC). The rate of blastocyst developed from oocytes cultured in IVM medium with 3 hyroxyflavone was significantly higher than that from control oocytes (39.0% vs. 26.3%, p<0.001), respectively. However, oocytes cultured in the medium with addition of 3-hyroxyflavone only at IVC period did not show significance in the blastocyst development when compared with control. When 3-hyroxyflavone was added to both IVM and IVC media, the rate of blastocyst formation was even significantly lower (21.1%) than control (26.5%; p<0.05). The present findings suggested that antioxidative activity of 3-hydroxyflavone added to only IVM medium beneficially affected the developmental competence of follicular bovine

This study was designed to determine the effect of electric field strength, duration and fusion buffer in fusion parameters on the rate of membrane fusion between the somatic cell and cytoplast for Korean cattle (HanWoo) somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) procedure. Following electrofusion, effect of 5 or 10 μM Ca2+-ionophore of activation treatment on subsequent development was also evaluated. Cell fusion rates were significantly increased from 23.1% at 20 V/mm to 59.7% at 26 V/mm and 52.9% at 27 V/mm (p<0.05). Due to higher cytoplasmic membrane rupture or cellular lysis, overall efficiency was decreased when the strength was increased to 30 V/mm (18.5%) and 40 V/mm (6.3%) and the fusion rate was also decreased when the strength was at 25 V/mm or below. The optimal duration of electric stimulation was significantly higher in 25 μs than 20 and 30 μs (18.5% versus 9.3% and 6.3%, respectively, p<0.05). Two nonelectrolyte fusion buffers, Zimmermann’s (0.28 M sucrose) and 0.28 M mannitol solution for cell fusion, were used for donor cell and ooplast fusion and the fusion rate was significantly higher in Zimmermann’s cell fusion buffer than in 0.28 M mannitol (91.1% versus 48.4%, respectively, p<0.05). The cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of SCNT bovine embryos activated by 5 μM Ca2+-ionophore was significantly higher than the rates of the embryos activated with 10 μM of Ca2+-ionophore (70.0% versus 42.9% and 22.5% versus 14.3%, respectively; p<0.05). This result is the reverse to that of parthenotes which shows significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst rates in 10 μM Ca2+-ionophore than 5 μM counterpart (65.6% versus 40.3% and 19.5% versus 9.7%, respectively; p<0.05). In conclusion, SCNT couplet fusion by single pulse of 26 V/mm for 25 μs in Zimmermann’s fusion buffer followed by artificial activation with 5 μM Ca2+-ionophore are suggested as optimal fusion and activation methods in Korean cattle SCNT protocol.