In this study, ester co-solvents and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) were used as low-temperature electrolyte additives to improve the formation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Four ester co-solvents, namely methyl acetate (MA), ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, and ethyl propionate, were mixed with 1.0 M LiPF6 ethylene carbonate:diethyl carbonate:dimethyl carbonate (1:1:1 by vol%) as the base electrolyte (BE). Different concentrations were used to compare the electrochemical performance of the LiCoO2/ graphite full cells. Among various ester co-solvents, the cell employing BE mixed with 30 vol% MA (BE/MA30) achieved the highest discharge capacity at − 20 °C. In contrast, mixing esters with low-molecular-weight degraded the cell performance owing to the unstable SEI formation on the graphite anodes. Therefore, FEC was added to BE/MA30 (BE/MA30-FEC5) to form a stable SEI layer on the graphite anode surface. The LiCoO2/ graphite cell using BE/MA30-FEC5 exhibited an excellent capacity of 127.3 mAh g− 1 at − 20 °C with a capacity retention of 80.6% after 100 cycles owing to the synergistic effect of MA and formation of a stable and uniform inorganic SEI layer by FEC decomposition reaction. The low-temperature electrolyte designed in this study may provide new guidelines for resolving low-temperature issues related to LIBs, graphite anodes, and SEI layers.

최근 국내외 화장품과 식품산업에서 다양하게 사용되어 지고 있는 콜라겐 단백질 제품은 점차 그 용도와 특성에 따라 보다 고도화, 기능화 되어 가고 있다. 피부 건강의 지표인 콜라겐은 다양한 용도로 개발되어 사용되고 있으 며, 콜라겐의 소비가 증가함에 따라 용도에 적합한 최적 화된 콜라겐 제품의 개발이 중요한 연구 분야이다. 특히 여러 기업과 연구기관들에 의해서 콜라겐의 흡수율을 높 이기 위한 다양한 노력이 이루어지고 있다. 따라서 본 연 구에서는 프란즈(Franz) 세포 시스템을 이용하여 국내에서 판매되는 다양한 분자량별 콜라겐 제품의 경피 및 구강 상피세포 투과성을 비교하였다. 그 결과, 피부 표피/진피 조직과 비교하여 구강점막 조직의 콜라겐 흡수율이 분자 량 500달톤과 1,000달톤의 경우 모두 통계적으로 유의하 게(각각 약 10배, 2배) 높은 것으로 확인되었다. 또한, 분 자량별 구강점막 조직 흡수율을 비교한 결과, 분자량 500 달톤의 콜라겐이 분자량 1,000달톤 제품에 비해 흡수율이 2-3배 증가함을 확인하였다. 분자량 500달톤의 경우 Cmax 와 AUCt 값이 가장 높게 나타났으며, 피부 표피/진피 세 포에 비해 구강점막세포 시험군의 모든 지표가 높은 것으 로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과는 피부 흡수보다는 구강 점막 세포를 통한 콜라겐의 흡수방법이 콜라겐 체내 흡수증가 에 유효한 수단임을 시사하며, 분자량 1,000달톤 이하에서 도 보다 더 작은 500달톤의 저분자 콜라겐의 흡수율이 증 가되는 것으로 보아 콜라겐의 분자량이 흡수율 증가의 주 요한 요소임을 확인할 수 있었다.

귀뚜라미는 단백질 함량이 높고 필수아미노산이 풍부하여 세계적으로 식용과 사료용 곤충으로서 가치가 높 다. 국내에서 쌍별귀뚜라미(Gryllus bimaculatus)는 사육이 용이하다는 장점이 있고 주로 파충류, 물고기 등의 사료로 대량 소비되고 있기 때문에 매우 중요한 산업곤충으로 자리매김하고 있다. 그러나 최근 쌍별귀뚜라미의 활동성이 저하되고 다리가 마비되는 등 이상 증상이 발생하여 대량 폐사된 농가가 급증하였다. 이에 대한 원인을 규명하기 위해 질병 발생 농가로부터 귀뚜라미 시료를 수집하여 RNA를 추출하고 metatranscriptomic analysis 를 수행하였다. 그 결과, 신규한 덴소바이러스(Densovirus)가 대량 폐사의 원인임을 밝혀내었고, 이 바이러스를 Gryllus bimaculatus densovirus (GbDV)로 명명하였다. 또한, GbDV의 유전체 분석 결과, genome size는 5,643 bp로 5개의 ORFs(Open Reading Frames)을 포함하며, 왼쪽에는 세 개의 Non-structural proteins을 포함하는 유전자(NS1, NS2, NS3)가 존재했고 오른쪽에는 두 개의 Structural proteins을 포함하는 유전자(VP1, VP2)가 존재했다. 본 연구 는 알 수 없는 곤충 질병의 원인을 밝혀내어 해당 질병에 대한 모니터링을 가능케 함으로써 산업곤충 질병의 예찰하고 확산을 방지하는 데 기여할 것으로 사료된다.

Insects, including aphids, caterpillars, and beetles, have a significant impact on biodiversity, ecology, and the economy by consuming various plant tissues like leaves, stems, and fruits, leading to issues such as holes, defoliation, and impaired growth. Consequently, our study's primary goal was to establish a model system capable of identifying and tracking insects, covering aspects like their behaviors, movements, sizes, and patterns. Our research has successfully produced a 3D monitoring system specifically designed for continuous insect tracking by applying it to brown planthopper. This technology allows for in-depth exploration of insect behaviors and their interactions with plants and crops. The potential applications of this technique are highly promising, offering valuable assistance to researchers in unraveling insect behavior and ecological dynamics and driving further advancements in these crucial research areas.

Mitochondrial genomes of three specimens of Gadus chalcogrammus Pallas 1,814 from Korea and Japan were completely analyzed by the primer walking method. They were 16,570~16,571 bp in length, each comprising 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. Their gene orders were identical to those of conspecific specimens, but exhibited unique haplotypes. In the phylogenetic tree, the juvenile Korean and adult Japanese specimens were separated from the dominant clade composed of specimens from Japan, Korea, the Bering Sea, and the Arctic, including the adult Korean specimen.

This study deals with replacement analysis of deteriorated equipment for improving productivity of production system. Frequent breakdown of the deteriorated equipment causes a situation that reduces productivity such as low product quality, process delay, and repair cost. However, the replacement of new equipment will be required a high initial investment cost, so it is important to analysis the economic feasibility. Therefore, we analyze the effect of the production system due to the aging effect of the equipment and the feasibility of equipment replacement based on the economic analysis. The process flow, working time, logistics movement, etc. are analyzed in order to build the simulation modeling for a ship and land switchboard production system. Using numerical examples, the economic feasibility analysis of equipment replacement through replacement of existing deteriorated equipment and additional arrangement of new facilities is performed.

Olfactory receptors (OR) are primarily responsible for the detection of odorant molecules. We previously demonstrated that OR7D4, an OR for androstenone, is expressed in the vomeronasal organ and olfactory epithelium tissue of stallions. Recently, the expression of OR1I1 in the human testes was reported and the possible roles of OR1I1 in the testicular cells were suggested. The objectives of this study were 1) to explore the expression of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in stallion testes, and 2) to define the specific localization of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in the testicular tissues. Stallion testicular tissue samples were used for this study. Western blot was performed to confirm the cross-reactivity of OR7D4 and OR1I1 antibody with stallion testicular tissue samples. OR7D4 and OR1I1 gene expressions were investigated using reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in stallion testes. Immunofluorescence was performed to investigate the expression of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in stallion testicular tissues. The protein bands for OR7D4 and OR1I1 from the testes were observed at approximately 38 kDa and 43 kDa, respectively. The mRNA of OR7D4 and OR1I1 were detected in stallion testes. Immunolabeling of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in the cytoplasm of both spermatogonia and Leydig cells was observed. In conclusion, androstenone and another odorant chemical, which is recognized by OR1I1, may play an important role in stallion testes.

In horse management, the alarm system with sensors in the foaling period enables the breeder can appropriately prepare the time of the parturition. It is important to prevent losses by unpredictable parturition because there are several high risks such as dystocia and the death of foals and mares during foaling. However, unlike analysis in the alarm system that detects specific motions has been widely performed, analysis of classification following specific behavior patterns or number needs to be more organized. Thus, the objective of this study is to classify signs of the specific behaviors of the mares for the prediction of pre-foaling behaviors. Five Thoroughbred mares (9-20 yrs) were randomly selected for observation of the prefoaling behaviors. The behaviors were monitored for 90 min that was divided into three different periods as 1) from -90 to -60 min, 2) from -60 to -30 min, 3) from -30 min to the time for the discharge of the amniotic fluid, respectively. The behaviors were divided into two different categories as state and frequent behaviors and each specific behavioral pattern for classification was individually described. In the state behaviors, the number of mares in the standing of the foaling group (3.17 ± 0.18b) at period 3 was significantly higher than the control group (1.67 ± 0.46a). In contrast, the number of the mares in the eating of the foaling group (1.17 ± 0.34b) at period 3 was significantly lower than the control group (3.33 ± 0.46a). In the frequent behaviors, the weaving of the foaling group was significantly higher than the control group, and looking at the belly of the foaling group was significantly lower than the control group. In period 2, defecation, weaving, and lowering the head of the foaling group were significantly higher than the control group, respectively. In period 3, sitting down and standing up, pawing, weaving, and lowering the head in the foaling group were also significantly higher than the control group. In conclusion, the behavior is significantly different in foaling periods, and the prediction of foaling may be feasible by the detection of the pre-foaling behaviors in the mares.