Abstract: Provided are a separator, a lithium secondary battery employing the same, and a method of preparing the separator. The separator includes: a porous substrate; and a coating layer arranged on at least one surface of the porous substrate, wherein the coating layer includes a binder and inorganic particles, the binder includes an aqueous cross-linking reactive polyacrylamide-based copolymer, and the polyacrylamide-based copolymer includes at least two cross-linking reactive groups cross-linkable with each other, a weight ratio of the binder to the inorganic particles is about 1:10 to about 1:35, and a thickness of the coating layer is greater than 0.5 ?m and no greater than 4 ?m. The separator has significantly improved thermal resistance characteristics and low resistance, and therefore, a lithium secondary battery with improved battery stability and lifespan characteristics at the same time may be provided.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method includes performing first parameter optimization of a battery model through a first predetermined optimization technique; switching, based on a count accumulated while performing the first parameter optimization indicating that a switching criterion has been met, from the first optimization technique to a second predetermined optimization technique; performing second parameter optimization of the battery model through the second predetermined optimization technique; and determining a final parameter combination as an optimized parameter of the battery model, in response to an occurrence of an optimization end event during the performance of the second parameter optimization.

Abstract: A method for cleaving polypeptides includes contacting a polypeptide with a recombinant or isolated Kell protein having proteolytic activity for the polypeptide. A method for converting big endothelins-1, -2 and -3 to endothelins-1, -2 and -3 respectively comprises contacting the big endothelin with Kell protein having proteolytic activity for cleaving big endothelin-1, -2 and -3 to endothelin-1, -2 or -3 respectively. In another embodiment, the Kell protein cleaves vasoactive intestinal peptide.

Abstract: The invention provides a diagnostic method of determining Kell genotype by the identification of the molecular basis of a Kell polymorphism. Specifically, the invention provides a method for determining K1/K2 genotype with great accuracy, overcoming problems associated with traditional serological typing methods. The diagnostic method of the invention preferably employs amplification of K1/K2 nucleic acid sequences, and optionally employs differential cleavage of K1- and K2-specific nucleic acid sequences by a restriction enzyme. Also provided are nucleic acid oligomers useful as probes or primers for the method of the invention. Furthermore, diagnostic kits for the determination of Kell genotype are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a diagnostic method of determining Kell genotype by the identification of the molecular basis of a Kell polymorphism. Specifically, the invention provides a method for determining K1/K2 genotype with great accuracy, overcoming problems associated with traditional serological typing methods. The diagnostic method of the invention preferably employs amplification of K1/K2 nucleic acid sequences, and optionally employs differential cleavage of K1- and K2-specific nucleic acid sequences by a restriction enzyme. Also provided are nucleic acid oligomers useful as probes or primers for the method of the invention. Furthermore, diagnostic kits for the determination of Kell genotype are provided.