• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.37-40
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• 2024

One of the current innovation trends in the solar industry is the increase in the size of silicon wafers. As the wafer size increases, the series resistance of the module rises, highlighting the need for research on methods for cutting and bonding solar cells. Among these, the Infrared (IR) laser scribing technique has been extensively researched. However, there is still insufficient optimization research regarding the thermal damage caused by lasers on the Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layer of Heterojunction (HJT) solar cells. Therefore, in this study, we systematically varied conditions such as IR laser scribing speed, frequency, power, and the number of scribes to investigate their impact on the performance of cut cells under each condition. Additionally, we conducted a comparative analysis of thermal damage effects on the TCO layer based on varying scribing depths.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor characterized by its heterogeneity and high recurrence and lethality rates. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play a crucial role in therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Therefore, targeting GSCs is a key objective in developing effective treatments for GBM. The role of Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in GBM and its impact on GSCs remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PTHrP on GSCs and its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM. Methods and Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found higher expression of PTHrP in GBM, which correlated inversely with survival. GSCs were established from three human GBM samples obtained after surgical resection. Exposure to recombinant human PTHrP protein (rPTHrP) at different concentrations significantly enhanced GSCs viability. Knockdown of PTHrP using target-specific siRNA (siPTHrP) inhibited tumorsphere formation and reduced the number of BrdU-positive cells. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, suppression of PTHrP expression led to significant inhibition of tumor growth. The addition of rPTHrP in the growth medium counteracted the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Further investigation revealed that PTHrP increased cAMP concentration and activated the PKA signaling pathway. Treatment with forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, nullified the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that PTHrP promotes the proliferation of patient-derived GSCs by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These results uncover a novel role for PTHrP and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.5
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• pp.437-452
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• 2024

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) have gained substantial attention from researchers due to their exceptional strength and thermal resistance. Their utilization in the aviation and automobile industries has significantly improved the efficiency of various structural components. Moreover, stiffened panels find wide applications in aerospace and automobile structures and these panels are frequently exposed to extreme environments. It is from this perspective that our research is focused on analysing the vibroacoustic response of stiffened functionally graded panels subjected to external dynamic excitations in a thermal environment. In the present research work, a finite element model is developed to conduct the dynamic analysis of functionally graded stiffened panels using the first-order shear deformation theory. Subsequently, a boundary element based model is also developed and coupled with the finite element model to investigate the sound radiation behaviour of those panels in a thermal environment. The material properties of FG stiffened panels are considered as temperature dependent, while the thermal environment is assumed to be acting as linearly varying through the panel's thickness. The present investigation aim to compare the vibroacoustic responses of different panels due to stiffener orientations, material compositions, power law indices and plate thicknesses at various temperatures. The research findings highlight the significant impact of addition of stiffeners, its orientation and material compositions on the sound radiation characteristics of these panels under thermal environments. The present numerical model can easily be employed for analysing the sound radiation behaviour of other types of flat or curved stiffened panels having arbitrary geometry and boundary conditions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.876-890
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• 2024

A balanced intestinal microbiome controls intestinal bacterial diseases, helps regulate immunity, and digests and utilizes nutrients, ultimately having a positive effect on the productivity of industrial animals. Yeasts help in the digestion process by breaking down indigestible fibers and producing organic acids, vitamins, and minerals. In particular, polysaccharides such as beta-glucan and mannan-oligosaccharides, which are present in the cell wall of yeast, inhibit the adhesion of pathogens to the surface of the gastrointestinal tract and increase resistance to disease to help maintain and improve intestinal health. Among the yeast additives used in animal feed, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the most commonly used probiotics. However, it does not naturally reside in the intestine, so if it is supplied in combination with other species of probiotics that can compensate for it, many benefits and synergies can be expected for pigs in terms of maintaining intestinal health such as supplementing the immune system and improving digestion. A number of previous studies have demonstrated that dietary complex probiotic supplementation has growth-promoting effects in pigs, suggesting that multiple strains of probiotics may be more effective than single strain probiotics due to their additive and synergistic effects. In practice, however, the effects of complex probiotics are not always consistent, and can be influenced by a variety of factors. Therefore, this review comprehensively examines and discusses the literature related to the effects of complex probiotics using Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pig production.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.515-529
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• 2024

Cold-formed steel (CFS) is a popular choice for construction due to its low cost, durability, sustainability, resistance to high environmental and seismic pressures, and ease of installation. The beam-column connections in residential and medium-rise structures are formed using self-drilling screws that connect two CFS channel sections and a gusset plate. In order to increase the moment capacity of these CFS screwed beam-column connections, stiffeners are often placed on the web area of each single channel. However, there is limited literature on studying the effects of stiffeners on the moment capacity of CFS screwed beam-column connections. Hence, this paper proposes a new test approach for determining the moment capacity of CFS screwed beam-column couplings. This study describes an experimental test programme consisting of eight novel experimental tests. The effect of stiffeners, beam thickness, and gusset plate thickness on the structural behaviour of CFS screwed beam-column connections is investigated. Besides, nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element (FE) models were developed and validated against experimental test data. It found that there was reasonable agreement in terms of moment capacity and failure mode prediction. From the experimental and numerical investigation, it found that the increase in gusset plate or beam thickness and the use of stiffeners have no significant effect on the structural behaviour, moment capacity, or rotational capacity of joints exhibiting the same collapse behaviour; however, the capacity or energy absorption capacities have increased in joints whose failure behaviour varies with increasing thickness or using stiffeners. Besides, the thickness change has little impact on the initial stiffness.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1609-1616
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• 2024

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) consists of opportunistic pathogens known to cause pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with cystic fibrosis. Treating Bcc pneumonia is challenging due to the pathogens' high multidrug resistance. Therefore, inhalation therapy with tobramycin powder, which can achieve high antibiotic concentrations in the lungs, is a promising treatment option. In this study, we investigated potential mechanisms that could compromise the effectiveness of tobramycin therapy. By selecting for B. cenocepacia survivors against tobramycin, we identified three spontaneous mutations that disrupt a gene encoding a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of cobalamin (Vitamin B₁₂). This disruption may affect the production of succinyl-CoA by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, which requires adenosylcobalamin as a cofactor. The depletion of cellular succinyl-CoA may impact the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which becomes metabolically overloaded upon exposure to tobramycin. Consequently, the mutants exhibited significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Both the wild-type and mutants showed tolerance to tobramycin and various other bactericidal antibiotics under microaerobic conditions. This suggests that compromised ROS-mediated killing, due to the impacted TCA cycle, underlies the mutants' tolerance to bactericidal antibiotics. The importance of ROS-mediated killing and the potential emergence of mutants that evade it through the depletion of cobalamin (Vitamin B₁₂) provide valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance antibiotic treatments of Bcc pneumonia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.30-39
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• 2024

This study introduces a novel approach for identifying potential failure risks in missile manufacturing by leveraging Quality Inspection Management (QIM) data to address the challenges presented by a dataset comprising 666 variables and data imbalances. The utilization of the SMOTE for data augmentation and Lasso Regression for dimensionality reduction, followed by the application of a Random Forest model, results in a 99.40% accuracy rate in classifying missiles with a high likelihood of failure. Such measures enable the preemptive identification of missiles at a heightened risk of failure, thereby mitigating the risk of field failures and enhancing missile life. The integration of Lasso Regression and Random Forest is employed to pinpoint critical variables and test items that significantly impact failure, with a particular emphasis on variables related to performance and connection resistance. Moreover, the research highlights the potential for broadening the scope of data-driven decision-making within quality control systems, including the refinement of maintenance strategies and the adjustment of control limits for essential test items.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.226-226
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• 2008

지난 10여년 동안 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5(wt%)Cu 합금은 대표 무연솔더 조성으로 다양한 전자제품의 실장 및 접합에 적용되어 왔으며, 그 신뢰성 역시 충분히 검증된 바 있다. 그러나 최근 Ag 가격의 급격한 상승과 솔더 접합부의 내 충격 신뢰성을 보다 향상시키고자 하는 업계의 동향은 Ag의 함량이 낮은 무연솔더 조성의 적용 확대를 유도하고 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구자들은 저 Ag 함유 무연슬더로 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 조성을 제안한 바 있는데, 이는 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 조성 이상의 solderability를 가지면서도 그 금속원료 가격이 약 20% 가량 저렴한 특징을 가진다. 또한 열 싸이클링 (cycling) 테스트를 통한 슬더 조인트의 신뢰성을 평가한 결과, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu에 크게 뒤떨어지지 않는 양호한 특성이 관찰되었다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 열 싸이클링 테스트와 더불어 최근 그 중요성이 지속적으로 커지고 있는 내 충격 신뢰성 평가 시험을 실시하여 개발된 4원계 무연솔더 조성의 기계적 특성을 기존 무연솔더 조성과 비교, 분석해 보았다. 각 솔더 조성은 솔더 볼 형태로 제조되어 CSP(Chip Scale Package) 상에 범핑 (bumping)되었으며, CSP를 PCB(Printed Circuit Board) 상에 실장하는 공정에서도 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 및 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In의 두 종류의 솔더 페이스트가 사용되었다. 본 연구에서의 내 충격 신뢰성 시험에는 자체 제작한 rod drop 시험기를 사용하였는데, 고정된 CSP 실장 board의 후면 부위를 일정한 높이에서 추를 반복적으로 자유 낙하시켜 급격한 충격을 주는 방식으로 실험을 실시하였다. 이 때 추의 무게는 30g, 낙하 높이는 10cm 였으며, 추의 낙하 시 측정된 board 의 휨 변위량은 약 0.7mm로 측정되었다. 사용된 CSP와 PCB 는 모두 daisy chain 방식으로 연결되어 있기 때문에 저항측정기를 사용한 간단한 실시간 저항 측정 방법으로 시험 이력에 따른 파단부의 발생 시점과 대략의 위치를 손쉽게 확인할 수 있었다. 솔더 조인트의 파단 기준 저항값으로 $1000\Omega$을 설정하였으며. 각 조건 당 5 개 이상의 샘플에 대해 평가를 실시한 후 그 평균값을 조사하였다. 시험 결과 제안된 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 조성은 대표적인 저 Ag 함유 조성인 Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu에 비해서는 떨어지는 내 충격 신뢰성을 나타내었지만, 우수한 연성에 기인하여 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 조성에 비해서는 약 2 배 이상 우수한 신뢰성이 관찰되었다. 또한 CSP의 실장 시 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu보다 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 조성 솔더 페이스트를 적용한 경우에서 보다 우수한 내 충격 신뢰성을 나타내어 기본적으로 개발된 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 솔더 페이스트가 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 조성의 기존 솔더 페이스트 보다 내 충격 신뢰성이 우수함을 검증할 수 있었다. 각 조성의 솔더 조인트를 $150^{\circ}C$ 에서 500시간 aging한 후 실시한 내 충격 신뢰성 평가에서는 모든 조성에서 그 신뢰성이 급감하는 경항을 나타내었으나, Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In가 Sn-l.0Ag-0.5Cu보다도 그 상대적인 신뢰성이 우수한 것으로 관찰되었다. 이와 같이 aging 후 실시하는 충격시험은 가장 실제적인 상황과 유사한 조건이므로 상기의 실험 결과는 매우 고무적이었으며, 이에 대한 보다 면밀한 분석이 요청되었다. 마지막으로 파면 및 미세조직 관찰을 통하여 각 조성에서의 충격 파단 특성을 비교, 분석해 보았다.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2011

Purpose: The present study was performed to evaluate the safety of ophthalmic lenses in domestic market since eyeglasses wearers could be exposed to the negligent accident by damaged ophthalmic lenses. Method: Totally, 160 ophthalmic lenses (NK55, ${n_{d}}$ = 1.56) with the refractive powers of -3D, -6D, +3D, +6D manufactured by 4 companies in domestic market were evaluated using drop ball test. In accordance with FDA standard, steel ball (~16 g) was freely dropped on these ophthalmic lenses from 127 cm high and the surfaces of lenses were observed. Results: From the study, center thicknesses of NK55 ophthalmic lenses manufactured by 4 different companies showed somewhat different numbers even though the lenses had the same refractive index and powers. All convex lenses of +3D, +6D were evaluated as the safe lenses since there was no damage such as crack and broken found on the lens surfaces after drop ball testing. However, some noticeable broken was shown on the surfaces of concave lenses with relatively thinner center thickness. Especially, 59(73.8%) of total 80 concave lenses with the refractive power of -3D and -6D classified as unacceptable lenses to FDA standard. Conclusions: From the results, the negligent accident by damaged ophthalmic lenses should be considered as well as the correction of visual acuity, design and price when customers purchase eyeglasses. Thus, the enforcement regulation like drop ball testing of uncut ophthalmic lens could be suggested to guarantee the safety of ophthalmic lenses in domestic market.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.256-264
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• 2021

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is generally sown in late autumn and harvested in early summer in Korea, however, spring cultivation has also been attempted in some areas because frequent climate changes induce reducing productivity. Therefore, there is a need for a transplanting technology that is relatively easy to control of cropping season according to changes in cultivation conditions. In this study, to find out the optimal characteristics of seedlings for machine transplanting of spring cultivation, seedling morphological characteristics were investigated according to the seedling age of three varieties for 2020 and 2021. The hypocotyl length was less than 2 cm in both years and the 40-day-old seedling was the shortest among all seedling ages. The number and size of leaf were increased with longer seedling age in both years. To evaluate seedling quality, total seedling length, seedling weight, and impact resistance were measured before transplanting. Total seedling length was the longest in 40-day-old seedlings and the shortest in 25-day-old seedlings in both years. In the case of seedling weight, no significant differences were observed depending on the seedling age and the impact resistance increased with increasing seedling age. Finally, 'Jungmo7001', 'Naehan', and 'Tamla' showed a high transplanting rate in seedlings grown for more than 30 days, 35 days, and 40 days, respectively, in the field using a general transplanter. These results suggest that the proper seedling age for transplanting is limited depending on the rapeseed varieties. The suitable seedling cultivation method can be selected for different cultivation environments.