The research on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is in the advanced stage today. The only concern observed so far has been regarding its stability and efficiency. Its power conversion efficiency can be increased by incorporating various methods and materials based on nanotechnology. Several attempts have been employed to develop advanced methods for eco-friendly, commercially viable, and sustainable DSSCs to minimize the energy crisis in the future. Photoanode is one of the essential components of DSSCs that can be modified using different nanostructures to enhance its efficiency. The TiO2 nanoparticlebased photoanode with gold and silver has proven to be potent materials for getting efficient DSSCs. The plasmonic and quantum confinement effects also play a vital role in efficiency enhancement. In this review, we discuss numerous attempts made by researchers in the last decade to modify the photoanode and their progress. We also look at different types of nanostructures, such as quantum dots, metal oxide doping, layered structures, nanocomposites, and thin film formation, that improve the efficiency of DSSCs. Several methods were reviewed to modify photoanodes to optimize electron transportation, light scattering, trapping power, surface area, and reduce charge recombination. The trend in the efficiency enhancement of DSSCs using TiO2, Au, ZnO, Ag, and graphene nanostructures-based photoanodes have been explored in great detail.

Sucrose (suc) is a disaccharide that consists of glucose (glu) and fructose (fru). It is a carbohydrate source that acts as a nutrient molecule and a molecular signal that regulates gene expression and alters metabolites. This study aimed to evaluate whether suc-specific signaling induces an increase in bioactive compounds by exogenous suc absorption via roots or whether other factors, such as osmotic stress or biotic stress, are involved. To compare the osmotic stress induced by suc treatment, 4-week-old cultured mugwort plants were subjected to Hoagland nutrient solution with 10 mM, 30 mM, and 50 mM of suc or mannitol (man) for 3 days. Shoot fresh weight in suc and man treatments was not significantly different from the control. Both man and suc treatments increased the content of bioactive compounds in mugwort, but they displayed different enhancement patterns compared to the suc treatments. Mugwort extract treated with suc 50 mM effectively protected HepG2 liver cells damaged by ethanol and t-BHP. To compare the biotic stress induced by suc treatment, 3-week-old mugwort plants were subjected to microorganism and/or suc 30 mM with Hoagland nutrient solution. Microorganisms and/or suc 30 mM treatments showed no difference about the shoot fresh weight. However, sugar content in mugwort treated with suc 30 mM and microorganism with suc 30 mM treatment was significantly higher than that of the control. Suc 30 mM and microorganism with suc 30 mM were effective in enhancing bioactive compounds than microorganism treatment. These results suggest that mugwort plants can absorb exogenous suc via roots and the enhancement of bioactive compounds by suc treatment may result not from osmotic stress or biotic stress because of microorganism, but by suc-specific signaling.

Current studies have revealed the capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in term of immunomodulatory properties, and this distinct potential is downgraded according to the disease duration of patients-derived MSCs. In order to enhance the immunomodulatory and anti-tumorigenic properties of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints-derived MSCs, we aggregate synovial fluid-derived MSCs from RA joints (RA-hMSCs) into 3D-spheroids by the use of hanging drop culture method. Cells were isolated from synovial fluids of RA joints with longstanding active status over 13 years. For aggregation of RA-hMSCs into 3D-spheroids, cells were plated in hanging drops in 30 μL of advanced DMEM (ADMEM) containing 25,000-30,000 cells/ drop and cultured for 48 h. To analyze the comparative immunomodulatory effects of 3D-spheroid and 2D monolayer cultured RA-hMSCs and then cells were cultured in ADMEM supplemented with 20% of synovial fluids of RA patients for 48 h and were evaluated by qRT-PCR for their expression of mRNA levels of inflammatory and antiinflammatory markers. Cellular aggregation of RA-hMSCs was observed and cells were aggregate into a single sphere. Following treatment of RA patient’s synovial fluids into the RA-hMSCs, spheroids formed RA-hMSCs showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher expression of TNFα stimulated gene/protein 6 (TSG-6) than the monolayer cultured RAhMSCs. Therefore, the 3D-spheroid culture methods of RA-hMSCs were more effective than 2D monolayer cultures in suppressing inflammatory response treated with 20% of RA-synovial fluids by expression of TNFα (TSG-6) according to the immune response and enhanced secretion of inflammatory factors.

본 연구는 새만금 농생명용지와 주변 지역의 간척 전후 생태계서비스를 평가하고 증진방안을 마련하기 위해 수행하 였다. 새만금 지역의 생태계서비스 기능은 토지 유형에 따라 다르게 나타났다. 간척 전 새만금은 공급, 조절, 문화, 지지서비스 기능이 모두 높았으나 간척 후에는 공급, 조절, 지지서비스 기능이 하락했다. 따라서 새만금 농생명 용지의 생태계서비스를 증진하려면 논 습지, 저수지 등의 반(半)자연생태계가 가지는 공급, 조절, 지지서비스를 강화하는 것이 필요하다. 현재 남아 있는 산림, 도서 지역 등의 자연생태계와 광활한 농경지를 농촌관광 및 생태관광을 특화하고, 농업과 관련된 교육․연구 위주의 문화서비스 기능을 강화할 필요가 있다. 이를 위해 넓은 농경지와 농업 기반을 활용하여 농업생산, 농촌관광 등을 활성화하고 고령화가 진행되고 있는 지역에 대한 정부의 지원이 필요하다.

최근 신체활동에 대해 인식하는 센서와 그 제품군에 대한 관심 및 수요가 증가하고 있다. 특히 유연하고 연신이 가능하 며 사용자의 생체신호를 감지할 수 있는 웨어러블 소재에 대한 개발이 주목받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 소수성 소재에 Micro Needle을 통해 미세 구멍을 형성한 후 SWCNT 분산용액에 대한 함침 효율을 향상시키는 실험을 수행하였다. 본 연구에서 는 구멍을 뚫지 않은 소재를 대조(control) 군으로 함침을 진행, 비교 분석하였다. 센서의 전기전도도를 평가하기 위해 Strain UTM (Universal Testing Machine, UTM, Dacell)과 저항을 측정하는 멀티미터(Keysight)를 이용해 센서를 인장했 을 때의 센서의 전기전도도를 측정하였다. 또한 센서의 내구성을 평가하기 위해 시료별로 500회 인장을 진행한 후에 센서 의 전기전도도를 평가하였다. 그 결과 Needling을 한 센서의 전기전도성이 Needling을 하지 않은 센서에 비해 최소 16배 이상 뛰어남을 알 수 있었다. 또한 센서의 초기 저항에 비해 게이지 팩터도 우수해 센서로서 좋은 성능을 확인할 수 있었다. 이를 통해 친수성 소재에 비해 물성이 뛰어나지만, 높은 표면장력 때문에 함침 효율이 좋지 않았던 소수성 소재의 함침 효율을 높여 신체의 움직임을 더 효과적으로 감지하고 내구성과 활용 가능성이 뛰어난 센서를 제작했다.

Climate change due to global warming causes a rise in atmospheric air temperature to rise and extreme shift in precipitation patterns. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is widely known as one of the major cause of global warming and accounts for about 72% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture is more vulnerable to climate change than other industries. Many studies have been conducted to investigate how agroecosystems, both natural and controlled, will respond to the rising level of CO2. Studies on the responses of crops and agricultural environments to climate change are crucial in predicting changes in agro-ecosystems. Research facilities for various types of CO2 treatment have been developed. The representative research facilities are SAR (Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research), OTC (Open Top Chamber), FACE (Free Air CO2 Enrichment System), and TGC & CTGC (Temperature Gradient Chamber & CO2-Temperature Gradient Chamber). Therefore, this study reviewed research data and their application in agriculture.

살리실산은 식물의 생장 및 발달, 항산화 방어기작, 광합성 작용 그리고 생물적 및 비생물적 스트레스 조건에서 다양한 생리적 기능을 조절하는 물질로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 고온･건조 스트레스 조건에서 살리실산 경엽처리가 고추의 생육, 광합성 특성 및 항산화효소 활성에 미치는 영향을 구명 하고자 하였다. 광합성 특성 측정결과 광합성 속도, 기공전도 도 및 증산 속도가 증가하였고, 3회차 처리에서 가장 높았다. 세포내 MDA와 H2O2 함량은 살리실산 3회차 처리에서 현저 하게 감소하는 경향을 보였다. APX, CAT, POD 및 SOD 활 성이 현저하게 증가하였으며, 무처리 대비 최대 247, 318, 55 및 54% 증가하였다. 고추의 생육 특성은 무처리구와 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 상품 수량은 15% 정도 증가하였다. 이러한 결과들을 종합해 볼 때, 살리실산의 경엽처리는 고추 의 광합성 특성과 항산화효소 활성을 증진시켜 고온･건조 스트 레스에 의한 피해 경감에 긍정적 효과를 유발함을 확인하였다

For highly contaminated elements such as reactor pressure vessels or reactor internals, it is a viable option to cool-down and dismantle these elements in submerged (e.g. underwater) state. Several tools and processes such as saw cutting, water jet cutting or plasma cutting are currently used for underwater cutting, with each of them having their own advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage of these existing methods, especially saw and water jet cutting, is the generation of secondary waste that then needs to be filtered out of the water. In addition, in the case of water jet cutting, a considerable amount of abrasive material is added, which must also be stored. To overcome this drawback, the feasibility of using laser cutting under water to minimize secondary waste production has been actively studied recently. One of the challenges with the underwater laser cutting is to visually monitor the cutting process. Flowing air bubbles generated by the cutting gas and the flashing light emitted from the laser and melting material prohibit visual monitoring of the cutting process. This study introduces a method to enhance the video from a monitoring camera. Air bubbles can be detected by computing optical flows and the video quality can be enhanced by selective removal of the detected bubbles. In addition, suppressing the frame image update from flashing light area can also effectively enhance the video quality. This paper describes the simple yet effective video quality enhancement method and reports preliminary results.

Sustainable capacity building of the rice value chain in Africa is essential in achieving the rice self-sufficiency and poverty alleviation. The breeding capacity enhancement has also been at the heart of AfricaRice’s mandate. Therefore, the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) has concentrated breeding capacity enhancement for young breeders or breeding technicians of national research institutes in the KAFACI member countries. Four-month trainings have been conducted at the Regional Training Center located in Saint Louis, Senegal. The actual practice training is as follows; First is to learn practical skills and techniques of key aspects of rice breeding which are field preparation and layout, sowing, transplanting, fertilizer application, weed control, water management, hybridization/crossing, selection, yield and yield components determination, and rice palatability testing. Second is to learn some theoretical aspects of plant breeding through lectures including basic principles of breeding, evaluation for biotic and abiotic stresses, and statistical analysis. Third is to learn about the accurate use of field and lab equipment for rice breeding. Forth is to learn about proper scientific reporting and presentation. The courses were organized twice per year following two rice cultivation seasons in Senegal. From 2019, a total of 24 trainees participated in the 4 month courses. We believe they have acquired the basic knowledge and skills to implement rice breeding activities indpendently in their countries.

Rapid development of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced to polymer composites has been recently noticed in many aspects. In this work, the latest developments on fatigue and fracture enhancement of polymer composites with CNTs reinforcement with diverse methods are thoroughly compiled and systematically reviewed. The existing available researches clearly demonstrate that fatigue fracture resistance of polymer composites can be improved accordingly with the addition of CNTs. However, this work identifies an interesting research gap for the first time in this field. Based on the systematic reviewing approach, it is noticed that all previously performed experiments in this field were mostly focused upon studying one factor only at a time. In addition, it is also addressed that there were no previous studies reported a relationship or effect of one factor upon others during examining the fatigue fracture of carbon nanotubes. Moreover, there was no adequate discussion demonstrating the interaction of parameters or the influence of one parameter upon another when both were examined simultaneously. It is also realized that the scope of the conducted fatigue fracture studies of carbon nanotubes were mainly focused on microscale fatigue analysis but not the macroscale one, which can consider the effect of environment and service condition. In addition, the inadequacy of fatigue life predicting models via analytical and numerical methods for CNT-reinforced polymer composites have also been highlighted. Besides, barriers and challenges for future directions on the application of CNT-reinforced polymer composite materials are also discussed here in details.

The purpose of this paper is to propose part management and standardization to reduce cost and increase compatibility of parts through standardization and standardization of parts to be applied to urban air mobility(UAM) systems, Personnel Air Vehicle(PAV), Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL), and so on. In other words, parts used in the urban air transportation system must be verified from the initial design stage in accordance with the aviation standard, and a systematic management system for various parts must be established to secure stability and improve quality. Therefore, as a system similar to the aviation component management system, it should be thoroughly managed for urban aviation components.

Thermoelectric materials can reversely convert heat and electricity into each other; therefore, they can be very useful for energy harvesting from heat waste. Among many thermoelectrical materials, SnSe exhibits outstanding thermoelectric performance along the particular direction of a single crystal. However, single-crystal SnSe has poor mechanical properties and thus it is difficult to apply for mass production. Therefore, polycrystalline SnSe materials may be used to replace single-crystal SnSe by overcoming its inferior thermoelectric performance owing to surface oxidation. Considerable efforts are currently focused on enhancing the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline SnSe. In this study, we briefly review various enhancement methods for SnSe thermoelectric materials, including doping, texturing, and nano-structuring. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of SnSe thermoelectric powder materials.