Among various methods to produce graphene sheets, electrochemical exfoliation has been regarded as an effective method for the mass production of high-quality graphene sheets because of its simplicity and environmental friendliness. However, conventional electrochemical exfoliation has a disadvantage of accumulating intercalating ions at graphite interlayers owing to the use of a constant voltage. In this study, we developed a DC switching technique to achieve more efficient intercalation of ions than that in the conventional method. In the DC switching method, positive and negative voltages are successively applied to release the accumulated intercalating ions. By testing various conditions, we found the optimum switching time to produce high-quality graphene sheets with the highest yield rate and the highest electrical conductivity. As a result, the graphene sheets using this DC switching technique showed 85% higher yield rate, 193% higher electrical conductivity, 160% larger area, and 25% thinner thickness than those obtained when using a constant DC method. We believe that this DC switching technique can be used for large-scale production of high-quality graphene sheets.

In this study, epoxy composites were reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and fused silica particles, dispersing the fillers within the epoxy resin based on a simple physical method using only shear mixing and ultrasonication. The hybrid composite specimens with 0.6 wt% of carbon nanotubes and 50 wt% of silica particles showed improved mechanical properties, with increase in tensile strength and Young’s modulus up to 12 and 37%, respectively, with respect to those of the baseline specimens. The experimental results showed that the low thermal expansion of the silica particles improved the thermal stability of the composites compared with that of the baseline specimen, whereas the thermal expansion slightly increased, due to the increased heat transfer from the exterior to the interior of specimens by the carbon nanotube filler. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the hybrid composite specimen reinforced with 0.6 wt% of carbon nanotubes and 50 wt% of silica particles was decreased by 25%, and the thermal conductivity was increased by about 84%, compared with those of the baseline specimen.

A tick survey was conducted to monitor ticks using tick traps attached dry ice and a flagging method at each four sites in Busan, Ulju, and Geoje areas of Gyeongnam Province from April to November, 2018. Haemaphysalis longicornis was the most frequently collected, representing 99.8% in Ulju. A total of 27,247 ticks were collected as H. longicornis (Trap Index; TI 283.2), H. flava (TI 0.3), and Ix. nipponensis (TI 0.3). In the collection environment, a total number of 15,672, 5,798, 4,876, and 901 ticks were collected from glassland, tump, tomb, and mountain path, respectively. On the other hand, H. longicornis and Ix. nipponensis were collected with flaggings at the four sites in Ulju, Busan, and Geoje in May and June, 2018. A total of 1,517 ticks collected H. longicornis (Flagging Index; FI 9.3) and Ix. nipponensis (FI 0.1) in Ulju. Haemaphysalis longicornis were collected 2,183 (FI 13.6) and 1,596 (FI 10.0) in Geoje and Busan, respectively. In the results of the isolation of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) from the ticks, no pathogens detected from RNA of 557 pools of the ticks using a Polymerase Chain Reaction method in 2018.

In vitro culture (IVC) can be used for a variety of assisted reproductive technologies. However, IVC in dog has been low efficient compared to other mammalian. It is believed that an embryo developmental block in IVC embryos is cause of low production efficiency. There is no study of embryo developmental block in dog yet. In this study, we attempted to estimate the beneficial role of EDTA in canine parthenogenic (PA) embryos development to overcome embryo developmental block. The PA embryos were divided into EDTA treated and non-treated groups. Embryo developmental efficiency was measured by activating chemically parthenote. After EDTA induction, PA embryos were evaluated for embryonic development, ROS activity, mitochondrial integrity, ATP production and genomic activation. The EDTA treated PA embryos showed significantly higher survival rate and improved cavity formation compared to non-treated. Moreover, cytoplasmic ROS level was mitigated and mitochondrial membrane potential was found significantly higher in EDTA treated group followed by higher ATP production. Furthermore, major embryonic genomic activation specific markers/factors were also elevated in EDTA treated group. Conclusively, these results indicated that EDTA showed substantially positive effect to overcome embryo developmental block in canine.

본 연구에서는 신선편이 양배추 내 Bacillus cereus의 최 적 증균 온도를 선정하고 증균배양액에 소수성필터를 적용하여 multiplex PCR의 검출률을 확인하였다. B. cereus 증균온도는 B. cereus 균주 5 개를 혼합하여 1 Log CFU/ mL이 되도록 증균배지에 접종하고 30oC, 37oC, 42oC에서 증균한 뒤 3시간 간격으로 MYP agar에 도말한 후 계수하여 선정하였다. 소수성필터 미적용 그룹은 B. cereus 균 주 5 개를 혼합하여 신선편이 양배추에 접종한 뒤 최적 증균온도에서 증균하였으며, 증균배양액을 가열하여 DNA 를 추출한 뒤 multiplex PCR을 진행하였다. 소수성필터 적용 그룹은 증균배양액을 소수성 필터에 적용하고 필터에 있는 균을 멸균증류수로 현탁한 뒤 가열하여 추출된 DNA 로 multiplex PCR을 진행하였다. 증균온도 확인 결과, 6시간 증균 시 42oC에서 증균된 샘플(5.4 ± 0.3 Log CFU/mL) 과 30oC에서 증균된 샘플(4.6 ± 0.6 Log CFU/mL) 간 유의 차가 확인되었다(p < 0.05). 소수성필터 적용 유무에 따른 multiplex PCR 결과, 1 Log CFU/g 접종된 샘플의 검출률이 소수성 필터 적용 전 60%(3/5)에서 100%(5/5)로 향상 되었다. 2 Log CFU/g 접종 샘플은 소수성필터 적용 전 80%(4/5)에서 소수성 필터 적용 후 100%(5/5)로 검출률이 증가하였으나, 3 Log CFU/g 접종 샘플은 소수성 필터 적용 전후 모두 100%(5/5)로 확인되었다. 이상의 결과를 통해 신선편이 양배추 내 B. cereus 검출 시 증균배양액에 소수성필터를 적용하고 multiplex PCR을 적용했을 때 신속하고 효율적인 검출이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

후각 신경 시스템은 일반 생활 환경에서 많은 다양한 화학 물질을 인식하고 구별한다. 곤충에서는 다양한 화학 물질을 기호적 또는 회피적인 특이성을 부여하고 이를 구분해 낼 수 있는 고도로 발달된 후각신경 수용체들로 구성된 냄새 맡는 (odorant-gated) 이온 채널 군을 진화시켰다. 최근에 후각 수용체와 단백질을 포함한 olfaction 관련한 진딧물 게놈 밝혀졌고, 초파리에서 다양하게 분화되어 있는 후각 수용체들이 보고되고 있다. 후각 신경 수용체의 유전체는 매우 높은 보전적인 염기 서열을 가지고 있으며, 체계적인 신호 전달 시스템을 갖추고 있다. 대표적 수용체인 odorant-gated ion channels comprised of a highly conserved co-receptor (Orco)는 중심 구멍 주위에 대칭 적으로 배열된 4 개의 서브 유닛을 갖는 homotetramer 채널 구조를 가지고 있다. 이는 인체 내에 존재하는 7-transmembrane receptor와 매우 유사한 구조를 형성하고 있고, 신경전달물질의 수용체와 매우 유사한 구조적 형태 및 gating mechanism을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 초파리에서 분리한 후각 신경 수용체 하위 유형인 OR65 유전자 분리하여 세포 발현 시켜 Xenopus oocyte를 이용하여 Whole cell voltage clamp recording을 실시하였다. 본 수용체의 성공적인 발현 이후 유해 해충 유인제 개발 회사인 마이크로자임의 미생물 배양 추출물을 이용해서 후각 신경 수용체 활성 조절 여부를 연구하였다. 미생물 배양 추출물을 10,000배 희석한 recording media에서 수용체의 활성을 확인하였고, 이를 농도 별로 처리하여 농도 의존성 수용체 활성 작용을 확인하였다. 따라서 곤충의 후각 신경 수용체 활성 조절 시스템을 이용하여 유인물질 또는 기피 물질을 발굴할 수 있으며, 본 연구를 통해서 MZ01은 곤충 수용체 OR65를 활성 시킴으로써 유인 현상을 나타내며, 본 연구를 통해서 현장에서 검증된 미생물 배양 추출물의 성능을 과학적 분석으로 결과를 제시하였다.

핵분열로 인해 생성되는 방사성 노블가스는 주변국의 핵활동을 감시할 수 있는 중요한 지표 핵종이다. 특히 제논은 생성량이 많고 반감기가 짧아 핵실험 탐지에 적합하며 크립톤은 핵연료 재처리 탐지의 추적자로 활용되고 있다. 방출된 방사성 노블가스는 막대한 대기에 희석되어 농도가 감소하고 일부는 시간에 따라 방사능이 감쇠하기 때문에 대기 중에는 매우 극미량으로 존재하게 된다. 따라서 측정을 통해 의미 있는 데이터를 얻기 위해서는 가능한 낮은 수준의 MDA를 설정하는 것이 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 방사성 제논과 크립톤을 동시 포집 할 수 있는 장비인 BfS-IAR시스템을 활용하여 이론을 통해 MDA 를 산출하였다. 또한 MDA 산출방식의 변화, 신뢰수준의 정도는 물론 계측 조건의 변화에 따른 영향을 확인하고 MDA를 저감하기 위한 방안들을 모색하였다. 그 결과 배경농도가 극미량인 제논의 경우 전처리과정의 효율화와 안정적인 계측 성능 유지가 가장 중요한 요소로 판단되었으며, 크립톤의 경우 제논과 달리 시료의 방사능이 높기 때문에 MDA 재설정을 통한 분석조건이나 시스템 최적화를 통해 효율적인 분석을 수행할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high levels of nutrients on the growth performance, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo cattle. Eighteen Hanwoo steers were fed two types of diets: 1) Nine animals were fed the conventional diet including typical levels of crude protein (CP) and total digestive nutrients (TDN), and 2) Nine animals were fed the treatment diet including high levels of CP and TDN. The average body weight (BW) and dry matter intake (DMI) were greater (P < 0.05) in the treatment group than in the conventional group at early and late fattening stages. Also, in the treatment group, the average daily gain (ADG) was greater (P < 0.05) at the late fattening stage. The serum total lipid and cholesterol levels were higher (P < 0.05) in the late fattening stage of treatment group. The carcass weight, total fat weight, longissimus muscle area and the grade of meat quality were also greater (P < 0.05) in the treatment group than the conventional diet group. This study demonstrates that high levels of CP and TDN exhibit a positive effect on the growth performance and carcass characteristics, indicating that high levels of CP and TDN can be used as a cost-effective feeding program for Hanwoo cattle by shortening the feeding period.

Pesticide application in agriculture provides significant benefits such as protection from disease, prevention of harmful insects, and increased crop yields. However, accurate toxicological tests and risk assessments are necessary because of many related adverse effects associated with pesticide use. In this review, we discuss and analyze residual pesticides contained in livestock feed in Korea. A pesticide residue tolerance standard for livestock feed has not been precisely established; so, risk assessments are required to ensure safety. Standards and approaches for animal criteria and appropriate methods for evaluating residual pesticides are discussed and analyzed based on technology related to animal product safety in Korea. The safety of livestock feed containing pesticides is assessed to establish maximum residue limits relative to pesticides. Analysis of residual pesticides in milk, muscle, brain, and fat was performed with a livestock residue test and safety evaluation of the detected pesticide was performed. Efficacy of organic solvent extraction and clean-up of feed was verified, and suitability of the instrument was examined to establish if they are effective, rapid, and safe. This review discussed extensively how pesticide residue tolerance in livestock feed and hazard evaluation may be applied in future studies.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a useful biotechnological tool for animal cloning. Until now, SCNT has been inefficient, especially in dog. It is believed that an embryo developmental block in SCNT embryos is cause of low production efficiency. However, no studies have been performed on canines for embryo developmental block. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the beneficial role of EDTA in canine parthenogenic (PA) embryos development to overcome embryo developmental block. The PA embryos were divided into 0.01 mM EDTA treated and non-treated groups. Embryo developmental efficiency was measured by activating chemically parthenote. After EDTA induction, PA embryos were evaluated for embryonic development, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) activity, mitochondrial integrity, ATP production and genomic activation. The EDTA treated PA embryos showed significantly higher survival rate and improved cavity formation compared to non-treated. Furthermore, cytoplasmic ROS level was mitigated and mitochondrial membrane potential was found significantly higher in EDTA treated group followed by higher ATP production. Moreover, major embryonic genomic activation specific markers/factors were also elevated in EDTA treated group. Conclusively, we elucidated that EDTA showed substantially positive effect to overcome embryo developmental block in canine.

The purpose of this study is to illustrate the design of safety suits based on energy-harvesting technology, particularly targeting street cleaners who must work at night with high mobility. The design focuses on applying lightweight energyharvesting tools and illuminant into the wear. The design development reflects feedback from testers collected via survey constituting a key methodology. The development process has two main stages. Each stage uses a process of design prototyping, internal examination, test sampling, test wearing, and wearers’ feedback via survey that consists of questions on visibility, wearing convenience, and washability. The first stage results show the design of safety suits with energy-harvested LED illuminant inserted and the survey results collected from street cleaners dressed in 4 sample and 80 actual suits in total. Improved based on the first-stage survey results, the second stage designs the suits with detachable energy-harvested EL tape. From these 5 sample and 30 actual second-stage suits, the additional survey indicates that this second-stage design facilitates more visibility and convenience in washing and wearing than the first-stage design. Accordingly, one can expect that this new design can apply not only to safety suits for night workers but also to handicapped or outdoor sportswear applications in the future.

본 연구에서는 도축장에서 분리된 Listeria monocytogenes를 저해할 수 있는 식물성 항균 물질을 탐색하고, 각 항균 물질의 최소살균농도(MBC)를 확인하였다. 잠재적인 항균 물질로 자몽종자 추출물, 감귤류 추출물, 생강 추출물, 배 추출물, 매실 농축액, 도라지 추출물, 대추 추출물, 오미자 추출물을 선정하였고, 대상 균주로는 국내 도축장에서 분리한 15 개의 L. monocytogenes 균주를 혼합하여 사용하였다. MBC 확인 결과, 최대 4.0 μg/mL 농도의 생강 추출물, 배 추출물, 매실 농축액, 도라지 추출물, 대추 추 출물, 오미자 추출물은 고농도의 L. monocytogenes (7 Log CFU/mL)에 대해 균 저해 효과가 전혀 나타나지 않았다. 반면, 7 Log CFU/mL의 L. monocytogenes에 대한 자몽종자 추출물과 감귤류 추출물의 MBC는 0.002 μg/mL인 것으로 확인되었다. 3 Log CFU/mL의 L. monocytogenes에 대한 MBC를 시험해 본 결과, 자몽종자 추출물과 감귤류 추출물의 MBC는 0.001 μg/mL로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 자몽종자 추출물과 감귤류 추출물은 L. monocytogenes를 제어하기 위해 적용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Microalgae produce not only lipids for biodiesel production but also valuable biochemicals which are often accumulated under cellular stress mediated by certain chemicals. While the microcarriers for the application of drug delivery systems for animal cells are widely studied, their applications into microalgal research or biorefinery are rarely investigated. Here we develope dual-functional magnetic microcapsules which work not only as flocculants for microalgal harvesting but also potentially as microcarriers for the controlled release of target chemicals stimulating microalgae to enhance the accumulation of valuable chemicals. Magnetic microcapsules are synthesized by layer-by-layer(LbL) coating of PSS-PDDA on Fe3O4 nanoparticle-embedded CaCO3 microparticles followed by removing CaCO3 sacrificial templates. The positively charged magnetic microcapsules flocculate microalgae by electrostatic interaction which are sequentially collected by the magnetophoretic separation. The microcapsules with a polycationic outer layer provide efficient binding sites for negatively charged microalgae and by that means are further utilized as a chemical-delivery and flocculation system for microalgal research and biorefineries.

To be better fit for highways, pavement systems are required to provide comfortable and safe driving and be structurally durable. Composite pavements can be an effective option as they are more durable by placing a high functional asphalt overlay on a rigid concrete base layer. In order to apply a composite pavement system to the field, it is necessary not only to develop technologies that prevent reflecting crack and deterioration of the base layer, but also to improve bonding performance of materials and ensure structural performance as a pavement system against traffic loading. In advanced countries like Japan, USA and Europe, high-functional composite pavement systems are being put into practice across new highway networks. In this study, we evaluated structural performance (rutting, reflecting crack, and deflection) by applying traffic loads of actual highways through an accelerated pavement tester (APT) of a composite pavement section made up of a quiet porous surface laid over a water-proofing layer, a continuously reinforced concrete base, and a lean concrete sub-base layer, which was developed with new pavement methods used for each layer prior to field application. The APT specimen was constructed with paving materials and equipment actually used on site in the same dimensions (W3.5m*L14m*H2m) as actual highway sections in Korea, and 3-axle double-wheel heavy load (45ton) cart type KALES(Korean Accelerated Loading and Environmental Simulator) traveling on the specimen in both directions was used to simulate traffic loading. After applying around 8,574,000 ESALs of traffic loads, no reflecting crack occurred on the asphalt surface of the composite pavement, without surface distress except for rutting. In order to examine what causes rutting of pavements, we surveyed thickness of pavements by layer and measured asphalt density.