한국 분포가 확인되지 않았던 니토베은주둥이벌 Ectemnius nitobei (Matsumura, 1912)을 경기도 포천시 광릉숲에서 처음으로 확인하였다. 국립수목원 내 휴게광장의 가래나무과(Juglandaceae) 목재 벤치 구멍에서 암컷의 둥지 짓기 행동을 관찰하였으며, 유충의 먹이로 사용하기 위해 나방류 성충을 운반하는 행동을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서는 니토베은주둥이벌 암컷의 전신 사진, 주요 형태학적 진단 형질, 그리고 DNA 바코드 (COI) 서열을 함께 제시하여 향후 국내 분류학적 및 생태학적 연구의 기초 자료로 제공하고자 한다.

The vitrification of embryos is essential for animal reproduction and significantly contributes to assisted reproductive technologies, enabling fast cryopreservation without ice crystal formation. Mitochondria, vital organelles in cellular metabolism, are responsible for critical functions like ATP synthesis, calcium regulation, and apoptotic signaling. Preserving mitochondrial integrity is essential for ensuring embryonic strength. Studies demonstrate that vitrification, a widely used cryopreservation method, can markedly impair mitochondrial function in mammalian embryos. This study examines the efficacy of novel/modified antifreeze peptide as a biocompatible agent when used in an appropriate concentration with base vitrification media. Blastocysts vitrified in base media as well as supplemented with the peptide exhibited significantly enhanced post-thaw survival rates, attaining re-expansion and hatching rates of 96.89 ± 4.2% and 88.31 ± 1.3%, respectively, in contrast to 79.38 ± 3.7% and 52.57.9 ± 0.8% observed in the control group. Furthermore, peptide-treated BLs demonstrated elevated expression of PGC1α, BCL2, and Sirt-1, which are the key genes related to mitochondrial membrane potential and anti-apoptotic factors. The mitochondrial function was maintained, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of genes such as Cyto-c, caspases 3, and caspase 9 were markedly diminished in the embryos vitrified with peptide. These findings highlight the ability of this modified peptide to preserve mitochondrial integrity and reduce oxidative stress, hence enhancing the survival of blastocysts post-vitrification.

Reversible solid oxide cells (rSOCs), which enable two-way conversion between electricity and hydrogen, have gained attention with the rise of hydrogen energy. However, foam-type current collectors in rSOC stacks exhibit poor structural controllability and limited electrode contact area. To address these limitations, this study aimed to convert spherical cobalt powders into flake-type morphology via high-energy ball milling, as a preliminary step toward fabricating flake-based current collectors.Milling parameters—specifically, the ball-to-powder ratio (BPR), milling time, and process control agent (PCA) content—were varied. At an 8:1 BPR, over 90% of the powder became flake-shaped after 8 hours, while extended milling caused cold welding. In contrast, a 10:1 BPR resulted in dominant fragmentation. The Burgio–Rojac model quantified energy input and defined the optimal range for flake formation. Increasing the PCA to 4 wt% delayed flake formation to 16 hours and induced cold welding, as shown by bimodal particle size distributions. These results support the development of Co-based current collectors for use in rSOCs.