Handspinning Enabled Highly Concentrated Carbon Nanotubes with Controlled Orientation in Nanofibers

The novel method, handspinning (HS), was invented by mimicking commonly observed methods in our daily lives. The use of HS allows us to fabricate carbon nanotube-reinforced nanofibers (CNT-reinforced nanofibers) by addressing three significant challenges: (i) the difficulty of forming nanofibers at high concentrations of CNTs, (ii) aggregation of the CNTs, and (iii) control of the orientation of the CNTs. The handspun nanofibers showed better physical properties than fibers fabricated by conventional methods, such as electrospinning. Handspun nanofibers retain a larger amount of CNTs than electrospun nanofibers, and the CNTs are easily aligned uniaxially. We attributed these improvements provided by the HS process to simple mechanical stretching force, which allows for orienting the nanofillers along with the force direction without agglomeration, leading to increased contact area between the CNTs and the polymer matrix, thereby providing enhanced interactions. HS is a simple and straightforward method as it does not require an electric field, and, hence, any kinds of polymers and solvents can be applicable. Furthermore, it is feasible to retain a large amount of various nanofillers in the fibers to enhance their physical and chemical properties. Therefore, HS provides an effective pathway to create new types of reinforced nanofibers with outstanding properties.ArticleSCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 6:37590 (2016)journal articl

국내 논필지 모니터링 자료를 이용한 APEX-paddy 모델 적용성 평가

APEX 모형은 다양한 영농 활동의 토양과 물환경에 대한 영향을 필지 및 유역 규모로 평가하기 위해 개발된 모형이다. 최근 APEX의 주요기작을 바탕으로 논에서의 수도작 운영에 따른 물수지, 양분 유출에 대한 모의가 가능하도록 한 APEX-Paddy가 고안된 바 있다. 본연구에서는 익산 지역의 논 시험포 모니터링 자료를 이용하여 APEX-Paddy 모형의 적용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 2013년과 2014년의 논유출량과 부하량 자료를 수집하고 자동보정 툴 APEX-CUTE 4.1과 추가적 수동보정을 통해 모형의 모의성능을 검토하고 한계점을고찰하였다. 연구결과, 논의 물수지와 질소 배출부하량은 대체로 합리적인 수준의 모의성능을 보이는 한편 유사량과 인 배출부하량 모의에있어 논의 담수상태 유사배출 기작에 대한 고려가 미흡하여 모의성능에 한계가 있는 것으로 분석되었으며 원인에 대해 고찰하였다. 더불어자동보정 툴의 적용에 있어 매개변수 민감도를 바탕으로 한 수동보정 결과보다 정확도가 다소 떨어지는 경향을 보여 그 활용에 유의가필요한 것으로 판단되었다. The APEX model has been developed for assessing agricultural management efforts and their effects on soil and water at the field scale as well asmore complex multi-subarea landscapes, whole farms, and watersheds. Recently, a key component of APEX application, named APEX-Paddy, hasbeen modified for simulating water quality by considering paddy rice management practices. In this study, the performance of the APEX-Paddy modelwas evaluated using field data at Iksan experimental paddy sites in Korea. The discharge and pollutant load data during 2013 and 2014 were usedto both manually and automatically calibrate the model. The APEX auto-calibration tool (APEX-CUTE 4.1) was used for model calibration andsensitivity analysis. Results indicate that APEX-Paddy reasonably performs in predicting runoff discharge rate and nitrogen yield. However, sedimentand phosphorus yield is not correctly predicted due to the limitation of model schemes. With APEX-Paddy, the performance in reproducing thedischarge and nitrogen yield is found to be a satisfactory level after manual calibration. The manually calibrated model performed better than theautomatically calibrated model in nearly all comparisons. For runoff, manual calibration reduced PBIAS while R2 and NSE values of the automaticallycalibrated model were the same as the manual calibration. For T-N, NSE and PBIAS were reduced when using manual calibration, whereas R2 valuewas the same as manual calibration. The limitation of the APEX-Paddy model for predicting sediment, as well as the phosphorous yield, was discussedin this study.N

Cold shock domain proteins and glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana can promote the cold adaptation process in Escherichia coli

Despite the fact that cold shock domain proteins (CSDPs) and glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins (GRPs) have been implicated to play a role during the cold adaptation process, their importance and function in eukaryotes, including plants, are largely unknown. To understand the functional role of plant CSDPs and GRPs in the cold response, two CSDPs (CSDP1 and CSDP2) and three GRPs (GRP2, GRP4 and GRP7) from Arabidopsis thaliana were investigated. Heterologous expression of CSDP1 or GRP7 complemented the cold sensitivity of BX04 mutant Escherichia coli that lack four cold shock proteins (CSPs) and is highly sensitive to cold stress, and resulted in better survival rate than control cells during incubation at low temperature. In contrast, CSDP2 and GRP4 had very little ability. Selective evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment (SELEX) revealed that GRP7 does not recognize specific RNAs but binds preferentially to G-rich RNA sequences. CSDP1 and GRP7 had DNA melting activity, and enhanced RNase activity. In contrast, CSDP2 and GRP4 had no DNA melting activity and did not enhance RNAase activity. Together, these results indicate that CSDPs and GRPs help E.coli grow and survive better during cold shock, and strongly imply that CSDP1 and GRP7 exhibit RNA chaperone activity during the cold adaptation process

A highly hydrophilic water-insoluble nanofiber composite as an efficient and easily-handleable adsorbent for the rapid adsorption of cesium from radioactive wastewater

Herein, we report a new Prussian blue nanoparticle (PBNPs) incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite nanofiber (c-PBNPs/PVA) for the rapid adsorption of cesium (Cs) from radioactive wastewater. Initially, various electrospinning parameters such as solvent, PVA wt%, PBNPs wt% and glutaraldehyde (GA) wt% were extensively optimized to obtain a better physicochemical property of the c-PBNPs/PVA. In order to improve the water insoluble nature of the PVA, post cross-linking was carried out for the c-PBNPs/PVA using glutaraldehyde (GA) and HCl vapor as the cross-linker and catalyst, respectively. SEM images revealed the smooth and continuous morphology of the c-PBNPs/PVA composite nanofibers with diameters of 200–300 nm and lengths up to several millimeters. TEM images confirmed homogeneous dispersion and good incorporation of PBNPs into the PVA matrix. The amorphous nature of the c-PBNPs/PVA was confirmed by the XRD analysis. FT-IR spectra showed successful cross-linking of PVA with GA. It was found that the prepared composite nanofiber is highly hydrophilic and water-insoluble. The c-PBNPs/PVA showed an excellent and faster Cs adsorption rate of 96% after only 100 min. These results are comparable to those previously reported. After the Cs adsorption test, the c-PBNPs/PVA composite nanofiber can be easily separated from the wastewater.ArticleRSC ADVANCES. 4(103):59571-59578 (2014)journal articl

A Case of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Associated with an Ovarian Teratoma

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with an ovarian teratoma is a very rare disease. However, treating teratoma is the only method to cure the hemolytic anemia, so it is necessary to include ovarian teratoma in the differential diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. We report herein on a case of a young adult patient who had severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia that was induced by an ovarian teratoma. A 25-yr-old woman complained of general weakness and dizziness for 1 week. The hemoglobin level was 4.2 g/dL, and the direct and indirect antiglobulin tests were all positive. The abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a huge left ovarian mass, and this indicated a teratoma. She was refractory to corticosteroid therapy; however, after surgical resection of the ovarian mass, the hemoglobin level and the reticulocyte count were gradually normalized. The mass was well encapsulated and contained hair and teeth. She was diagnosed as having autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with an ovarian teratoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such a case to be reported in Korea

Grain Boundary Induced Bias Instability in Soluble Acene-Based Thin-Film Transistors

Since the grain boundaries (GBs) within the semiconductor layer of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have a strong influence on device performance, a substantial number of studies have been devoted to controlling the crystallization characteristics of organic semiconductors. We studied the intrinsic effects of GBs within 5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene (TES-ADT) thin films on the electrical properties of OFETs. The GB density was easily changed by controlling nulceation event in TES-ADT thin films. When the mixing time was increased, the number of aggregates in as-spun TES-ADT thin films were increased and subsequent exposure of the films to 1,2-dichloroethane vapor led to a significant increase in the number of nuleation sites, thereby increasing the GB density of TES-ADT spherulites. The density of GBs strongly influences the angular spread and crystallographic orientation of TES-ADT spherulites. Accordingly, the FETs with higher GB densities showed much poorer electrical characteristics than devices with lower GB density. Especially, GBs provide charge trapping sites which are responsible for bias-stress driven electrical instability. Dielectric surface treatment with a polystyrene brush layer clarified the GB-induced charge trapping by reducing charge trapping at the semiconductor-dielectric interface. Our study provides an understanding on GB induced bias instability for the development of high performance OFETs