목적 : 건강한 20대를 대상으로 각막내피세포의 형태학적 분석을 실시하고, 양안, 성별, 굴절교정수술 여부, 콘택트렌즈 착용여부, 코로나바이러스-19의 감염에 따른 차이를 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 충청남도 일개 대학교에서 20대 남녀 87명(174안)을 대상으로 하였다. 각막내피세포의 형태학적 분석 은 비접촉식 경면현미경을 이용하여 검사하였고, 각막내피세포의 밀도, 내피세포의 다형성, 육각형비율, 그리고 중심각막두께를 분석하였다. SPSS 18.0 프로그램을 이용하여 양안, 성별, 그리고 그 외에 조사한 변수에 따른 각 막내피세포의 밀도, 다형성 및 육각형 비율을 측정하였다. 결과 : 우안과 좌안에서 각막내피세포의 밀도는 각각 2,977.7±238.7 cells/mm2와 3,008.9±236.7 cells/mm2(p=0.056)이었고, 남성과 여성은 각각 2,970.9±237.9 cells/mm2와 2,983.6±241.8 cells/mm2로 통 계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다(p=0.807). 각막내피세포의 다형성과 육각형 비율도 양안, 성별, 굴절교정수술 여 부. 코로나바이러스-19 감염 유무에 따라 유의한 차이가 없었다(p>0.050). 그러나 각막내피세포의 다형성과 육각 형 비율은 콘택트렌즈 착용 군과 대조군에서 각각 30.7±4.5%와 61.9±5.4% 그리고 28.2±4.0%와 64.7±4.7% 를 보였다(각각 p=0.018와 p=0.029). 결과 : 한국 20대 성인을 대상으로 분석한 각막내피세포 밀도의 평균값은 2,993.3±237.5 cells/mm2이었고, 양안과 성별에 따른 차이는 없었다.

To understand how to efficiently observe the biomass and community of phytoplankton, phytoplankton sampling was carried out from June to October 2019 at the Yeongju dam sediment control reservoir (YJ) and Bohyeonsan dam reservoir (BH1 and BH2). The results derived from microscopic observation, such as the conventional phytoplankton qualitative/quantitative analysis, and from the CHEMTAX method based on the pigments, were compared. The relative contribution of phytoplankton, calculated by the microscopy and CHEMTAX methods, showed a significant difference in all four classes: cryptophyta, chlorophyta, cyanobacteria, and diatoms. In addition, the correlation between the two observation methods was poor. This might be caused by methodological differences in microscopy that do not consider the varying cell sizes among phytoplankton species. In this study, by converting the cells into carbon, the slope between both carbon biomasses based on microscopy and CHEMTAX was improved close to the 1 : 1 line, and the y-intercept was closer to 0 for cryptophyta and diatoms. For cyanobacteria, the slope increased, the y-intercept decreased, and the plot approached 1 : 1 although the correlation coefficients were not improved in all classes. The present study suggests that application of CHEMTAX based on pigment analysis could be a possible approach to efficiently determine the relative carbon proportions of individual classes of phytoplankton community composition.

Zona pellucida (ZP), a primarily representative coat of mammalian egg and embryo, has an extremely heterogeneous morphology during different developmental stages. The objective of the present study was to compare the morphological changes of the ZP surface of immature, in vitro and in vivo matured canine oocytes by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Canine ovaries were collected from local veterinary hospitals to recover immature oocytes. The ovaries were sliced and the released cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were washed with TL-HEPES. The selected COCs were randomly divided into two groups, first group was processed immediately at immature state and the second group was processed 72 h after in vitro maturation, and compared with in vivo derived oocytes. Oocytes were fixed, critical point dried and examined under SEM. The diameters of oocyte and outer holes of the ZP were measured on a total of 249 oocytes; the results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA. Our results showed that, the diameter of immature oocytes significantly differed (p < 0.05) from that of in vivo matured oocytes (79.60 ± 0.77 μm vs. 101.46 ± 1.07 μm, respectively). Similarly, a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the diameters between those of in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes were found (79.51 ± 2.36 μm vs. 101.46 ± 1.07 μm, respectively). Moreover, the diameters of the outer holes of the ZP were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in in vivo matured (1.48 ± 0.42 μm) than in vitro matured for 72 and immature oocytes (1.10 ± 0.16 and 0.43 ± 0.12 μm, respectively). Taken together, these data indicates that the ZP surface is related to oocyte maturity in canine.

흑요석 내 미세결정은 화산암질 마그마의 과냉각 조건에서 정출된 아주 작은 결정이다. 백두산, 일본 규슈와 홋카이도, 그리고 이태리 리파리 섬에서 산출되는 흑요석을 대상으로 그 내부에 포함된 미세결정의 형태와 조직을 전자현미경을 사용하여 관찰하여 정리하였다. 전자현미경의 후방산란전자 이미지로부터 관찰한 보다 자세한 미세결정에 대한 형태학적 분류는 기존의 광학현미경으로 얻을 수 없는 미세결정의 결정화에 대한 정보를 제공해 준다. 이 논문에서는 Clark (1961)의 미세결정 형태 분류 14가지 중에서 10가지에 대해 새로이 기재하였다. 즉, Lath, Crenulite, Bacillite, Margarite, Belonites, Trichites, Arculites, Furculite, Scopulites, Scopulitic growth 등의 미세결정에 대한 형태와 조직적 특징을 구체적으로 살펴보았다. 이런 기재적 연구로부터 향후 산성 마그마의 냉각과정동안 흑요석 내 미세결정의 결정작용과 광물 공생관계를 밝히는데 활용될 것이다.

We investigate the effect of light intensity and wavelength of a solar cell device using photoconductive atomic force microscopy(PC-AFM). A POCl3 diffusion doping process is used to produce a p-n junction solar cell device based on a poly- Si wafer, and the electrical properties of prepared solar cells are measured using a solar cell simulator system. The measured open circuit voltage(Voc) is 0.59 V and the short circuit current(Isc) is 48.5 mA. Moreover, the values of the fill factors and efficiencies of the devices are 0.7 and approximately 13.6%, respectively. In addition, PC-AFM, a recent notable method for nano-scale characterization of photovoltaic elements, is used for direct measurements of photoelectric characteristics in limited areas instead of large areas. The effects of changes in the intensity and wavelength of light shining on the element on the photoelectric characteristics are observed. Results obtained through PC-AFM are compared with the electric/optical characteristics data obtained through a solar simulator. The voltage(VPC-AFM) at which the current is 0 A in the I-V characteristic curves increases sharply up to 18 W/m2, peaking and slowly falling as light intensity increases. Here, VPC-AFM at 18 W/m2 is 0.29 V, which corresponds to 59 % of the average Voc value, as measured with the solar simulator. Furthermore, while the light wavelength increases from 300 nm to 1,100 nm, the external quantum efficiency(EQE) and results from PC-AFM show similar trends at the macro scale but reveal different results in several sections, indicating the need for detailed analysis and improvement in the future.

저어새의 먹이생물을 파악하기 위해 2010년 6월부터 2014년 6월까지 인천 남동유수지에서 저어새의 토사물 시료를 채집하여 현미경 관찰 및 차세대염기서열 (NGS) 기법으로 분석 하였다. 저어새의 먹이생물은 어류, 갑각류, 다모류, 곤충류로 구성되어 있었으며, 주로 저어새는 어류와 갑각류를 섭이하는 것으로 나타났다. 최우점 먹이생물은 풀망둑 (Acanthogobius hasta)이었으며, 이 외에도 길게 (Macrophthalmus abbreviates), 징거미새우류 (Macrobrachium sp.), 칠게 (Macrophthalmus japonicus), 각시흰새우 (Exopalaemon modestus), 참 갯지렁이 (Neanthes japonica)가 우점 먹이생물로 출현하였다. 이들 먹이생물은 번식지 인근지역인 송도갯벌과 시화호에서 흔히 발견되며, 저어새는 채식지로써 이들 지역에 대한 의존도가 높을 것으로 판단된다. 현미경과 NGS로 분석한 일부 먹이생물에서 차이를 보였는데, 이는 토사물 내 먹이생물은 저어새의 위 내에서 분해되어 현미경 분석을 통한 형태학적 분류 특징을 찾기 어려웠던 반면, NGS 분석은 유전자를 통해 분류가 가능하기 때문에 형태학적 분석의 결과보다 높은 종 다양성을 보인 결과이다.

The electronic and optical characteristics of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) film significantly vary with its thickness, and thus a rapid and accurate estimation of the number of MoS2 layers is critical in practical applications as well as in basic researches. Various existing methods are currently available for the thickness measurement, but each has drawbacks. Transmission electron microscopy allows actual counting of the MoS2 layers, but is very complicated and requires destructive processing of the sample to the point where it will no longer be useable after characterization. Atomic force microscopy, particularly when operated in the tapping mode, is likewise time-consuming and suffers from certain anomalies caused by an improperly chosen set point, that is, free amplitude in air for the cantilever. Raman spectroscopy is a quick characterization method for identifying one to a few layers, but the laser irradiation causes structural degradation of the MoS2. Optical microscopy works only when MoS2 is on a silicon substrate covered with SiO2 of 100~300 nm thickness. The last two optical methods are commonly limited in resolution to the micrometer range due to the diffraction limits of light. We report here a method of measuring the distribution of the number of MoS2 layers using a low voltage field emission electron microscope with acceleration voltages no greater than 1 kV. We found a linear relationship between the FESEM contrast and the number of MoS2 layers. This method can be used to characterize MoS2 samples at nanometer-level spatial resolution, which is below the limits of other methods.

Defects of zeolite membranes often lower their separation performance. Thus, the investigation of the defects is highly critical in achieving high separation performance. While general characterization methods (e.g. scanning electron microscopy; SEM) that examine the membrane surface cannot detect defects, the FCOM measurement is able to identify the defective structure inside the zeolite membrane using dye molecules of appropriate size [1]. In this work, various dyeing conditions (times and concentrations) were applied to a MFI zeolite membrane in an attempt to investigate the defective structure. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis is practiced to measure the defects in numerical form.

In the present study, domain evolution processes of a near-morphotropic PZT ceramic during poling was studied using vertical piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). To perform macroscopic poling in bulk polycrystalline PZT, poling was carried out in a stepwise fashion, and PFM scan was performed after unloading the electric field. To identify the crystallographic orientation and planes for the observed non-180o domain walls in the PFM images, compatibility theory and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were used in conjunction with PFM. Accurate registration between PFM and the EBSD image quality map was carried out by mapping several grains on the sample surface. A herringbone-like domain pattern consisting of two sets of lamellae was observed; this structure evolved into a single set of lamellae during the stepwise poling process. The mechanism underlying the observed domain evolution process was interpreted as showing that the growth of lamellae is determined by the potential energy associated with polarization and an externally applied electric field.

Defects of zeolite membranes often lower their separation performance. Thus, the investigation of the defects is highly critical in achieving high separation performance. While general characterization methods (e.g. scanning electron microscopy; SEM) that examine the membrane surface cannot detect defects, the FCOM measurement is able to identify the defective structure inside the zeolite membrane using dye molecules of appropriate size [1]. In this work, various dyeing conditions (times and concentrations) were applied to a MFI zeolite membrane in an attempt to investigate the defective structure. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis is practiced to measure the defects in numerical form.

OBJECTIVES : In this study, microstructural components of crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) binder were investigated using environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). To clearly understand the elemental composition of the CRMA binder, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was employed on the ESEM samples. METHODS: CRMA binders were produced using open blade mixers at 177℃ for 30 min. The binders were artificially aged through a series of accelerated aging processes. Sample preparation was done by making a mold shape on the glass slide. Thereafter, the morphology of the CRMA binder was observed using the ESEM coupled with the EDX. RESULTS : The images captured from the ESEM indicate that the unaged CRMA binder appears to have a single-phase continuous nonuniform structure after the addition of crumb rubber particles, whereas the artificially aged CRMA binder was observed to have two different phases. ESEM coupled with EDX shows detailed internal structure of the modified binders compared to other technologies (i.e., optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and conventional scanning electron microscope). CONCLUSIONS: The captured images resemble the internal structures such as the viscous properties of the unaged CRMA binder and the interaction between the rubber particles and the base binder at aged condition. ESEM is a powerful instrument and with the introduction of EDX, it provided more details of the network microstructure of the asphalt binder. ESEM coupled with EDX is recommended for use in future investigation of microstructure of asphalt binders.

4H- and 6H-SiC grown by physical vapor transport method were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From the TEM diffraction patterns observed along the [11-20] zone axis, 4H- and 6H-SiC were identified due to their additional diffraction spots, indicating atomic stacking sequences. However, identification was not possible in the [10-10] zone axis due to the absence of additional diffraction spots. Basal plane dislocations (BPDs) were investigated in the TEM specimen prepared along the [10-10] zone axis using the two-beam technique. BPDs were two Shockley partial dislocations with a stacking fault (SF) between them. Shockley partial BPDs arrayed along the [0001] growth direction were observed in the investigated 4H-SiC. This arrayed configuration of Shockley partial BPDs cannot be recognized from the plan view TEM with the [0001] zone axis. The evaluated distances between the two Shockley partial dislocations for the investigated samples were similar to the equilibrium distance, with values of several hundreds of nanometers or even values as large as over a few micrometers.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers have high specific strength, elastic modulus, thermal resistance, and thermal conductivity. Due to these properties, they have been increasingly widely used in various spheres including leisure, aviation, aerospace, military, and energy applications. However, if exposed to air at high temperatures, they are oxidized, thus weakening the properties of carbon fibers and carbon composite materials. As such, it is important to understand the oxidation reactions of carbon fibers, which are often used as a reinforcement for composite materials. PAN-based carbon fibers T300 and T700 were isothermally oxidized in air, and microstructural changes caused by oxidation reactions were examined. The results showed a decrease in the rate of oxidation with increasing burn-off for both T300 and T700 fibers. The rate of oxidation of T300 fibers was two times faster than that of T700 fibers. The diameter of T700 fibers decreased linearly with increasing burn-off. The diameter of T300 also decreased with increasing burn-off but at slower rates over time. Cross-sectional observations after oxidation reactions revealed hollow cores in the longitudinal direction for both T300 and T700 fibers. The formation of hollow cores after oxidation can be traced to differences in the fabrication process such as the starting material and final heat treatment temperature.

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of antibiotics that inhibits the visible growth of bacteria. It has been reported that sub-MIC of antibiotics may result in morphological alterations, along with the biochemical and physiological changes in bacteria. The purpose of this study was to examine morphological changes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, after the treatment with sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin. The bacterial morphology was observed with scanning electron microscope, after incubating with sub-MIC antibiotics. The length of A. actinomycetemcomitans was increased after the incubation with sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin. Sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin inhibited bacterial division and induced long filaments. Our study showed that metronidazole and penicillin can induce the morphological changes in A. actinomycetemcomitans.

This study suggested comprehensive structural characterization methods for the commercial blue light emitting diodes(LEDs). By using the Z-contrast intensity profile of Cs-corrected high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscope(HAADF-STEM) images from a commercial lateral GaN-based blue light emitting diode, we obtained important structural information on the epilayer structure of the LED, which would have beendifficult to obtain by conventional analysis. This method was simple but very powerful to obtain structural and chemical information on epi-structures in a nanometer-scale resolution. One of the examples was that we could determine whether the barrier in the multi-quantum well(MQW) was GaN or InGaN. Plan-view TEM observations were performed from the commercial blue LED to characterize the threading dislocations(TDs) and the related V-pit defects. Each TD observed in the region with the total LED epilayer structure including the MQW showed V-pit defects for almost of TDs independent of the TD types: edge-, screw-, mixed TDs. The total TD density from the region with the total LED epilayer structure including the MQW was about 3.6 × 108 cm−2 with a relative ratio of Edge- : Screw- :Mixed-TD portion as 80%: 7%: 13%. However, in the mesa etched region without the MQW total TD density was about 2.5 × 108 cm−2 with a relative ratio of Edge- : Screw- :Mixed TD portion of 86%: 5%: 9 %. The higher TD density in the total LED epilayer structure implied new generation of TDs mostly from the MQW region.

This study used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the micro-morphological features of two formaldehyde to urea (F/U) mole ratio liquid urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins with three hardener levels as a function of the curing time. The micro-morphological features of the liquid UF resins were characterized after different curing times. As a result, the TEM examination revealed the presence of globular/nodular structures in both liquid UF resins, while spherical particles were only visible in the low F/U mole ratio resins. The high F/U mole ratio liquid UF resins also showed extensive particle coalescence after adding the hardener, along with the appearance of complex filamentous networks. When the resins were cured with a higher amount of hardener and longer curing time, the spherical particles disappeared. For the low mole UF resins, the particles tended to coalesce with a higher amount of hardener and longer curing time, although discrete spherical particles were still observed in some regions. This is the first report on the distinct features of the crystal structures in low F/U mole ratio UF resins cured with 5% hardener and after 0.5 h of curing time. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the crystal structures of low F/U mole ratio UF resins are formed during the curing process.

Oxygen consumption is a useful parameter for evaluating mammalian embryo quality, since individual bovine embryos was noninvasively quantified by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Recently, several approaches have been used to measure the oxygen consumption rates of individual embryos, but relationship between oxygen consumption and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo following embryo transfer has not yet been reported. In this study, we measured to investigate the correlation between oxygen consumption rate and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo embryo using a SECM. In addition to, the expression of pluripotent gene and anti-oxidant enzyme was determined using real-time PCR by extracting RNA according to the oxygen consumption of in vivo embryo. First, we found that the oxygen consumption significantly increased in blastocyst-stage embryos (blastocyst) compared to early blastocyst stage embryos, indicating that oxygen consumption reflects the embryo quality (Grade I). Oxygen consumption of blastocyst was measured using a SECM and total cell number of in vitro blastocyst was enumerated by counting cells stained by propidium iodide. The oxygen consumption or GI blastocysts were significantly higher than those of GII blastocysts (10.2 × 1015/mols—1 versus 6.4 × 1015/mols—1, p<0.05). Total cell numbers of in vitro blastocysts were 74.8, 90.7 and 110.2 in the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0∼12.0 and over 12.0∼1015/mols—1, respectively. Pregnant rate in recipient cow was 0, 60 and 80% in the transplantation of embryo with the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0∼12.0 and over 12.0 × 1015/mols—1, respectively. GPX1 and SOD1 were significantly increased in over —10.0 group than below 10.0 groups but in catalase gene, there was no significant difference. On the other hand, In OCT-4 and Sox2, pluripotent gene, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the below-10.0 (0.98 ± 0.1) and over 10.0 (1.79 ± 0.2). In conclusion, these results suggest that measurement of oxygen consumption maybe help increase the pregnant rate of Hanwoo embryos.

In this work, we report in-situ observations of changes in catalyst morphology, and of growth termination of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs), by complete loss of the catalyst particle attached to it. The observations strongly support the growth-termination mechanism of CNT forests or carpets by dynamic morphological evolution of catalyst particles induced by Ostwald ripening, and sub-surface diffusion. We show that in the tip-growth mode, as well as in the base-growth mode, the growth termination of CNT by dissolution of catalyst particles is plausible. This may allow the growth termination mechanism by evolution of catalyst morphology to be applicable to not only CNT forest growth, but also to other growth methods (for example, floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition), which do not use any supporting layer or substrate beneath a catalyst layer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological development of fungiform papillae in native Korean goats by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tongues were removed from fetuses on days 120 and 150 of gestation and from juveniles on days 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 after birth. The sizes of fungiform papillae in the newborn were 225.0-250.0 μm, the weaning period of 60-day-old goats was 271-294 μm and the maturing period of 180-day-old goats was 385-398 μm, respectively. The primordia of fungiform papillae had the typical feature of a mushroom shape in a 120-day-old fetus. In a 150-day-old fetus (neonate), fungiform papillae had features similar to those of the adult form and showed a gradual increase in size with slight morphological changes until 150-day-old goats. Microridges, microplicae, and micropits were well developed on the epithelial surface of lingual papillae from 60 to 150-day-old goats. The results obtained in this study might provide some basic data on the mechanisms that control the morphogenesis and development of the lingual papillae in ruminants.

High-throughput microscopy (HTM) was developed recently for the automatic detection of airborne asbestos fibers that can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The HTM method has been applied to couting the airborne asbestos fibers as an alternative to the conventional phase contrast microscopy (PCM). In this paper, we demonstrated that the HTM enabled us to obtain quantitative results for low-concentration airborne asbestos samples under detection limit, and we made a comparison between the results from HTM and PCM. In addition, a verification study was conducted using proficiency analytical testing (PAT) samples of chrysotile and amosite. The HTM method can be applied to the existing PCM method by reducing analysis time and labors. Potential applications can be extended to detection of asbestos fibers in soil and water.