This study conducted an investigation into the effects of fruit type and cultivation practices (organic and conventional) on soil characteristics and soil arthropod communities within apple, blueberry, grape, peach, and pear orchards. The collection of soil arthropod communities was achieved through the utilization of pitfall traps, with concurrent measurements taken for soil moisture content, electrical conductivity, and temperature. The findings of this study unveiled substantial impacts attributed to fruit type and cultivation practices on soil characteristics. Specifically, within organic apple orchards, discernibly higher levels of soil moisture content, electrical conductivity, and temperature were observed when compared to their conventional counterparts. The investigation into soil arthropod communities yielded a total of 1,527 individuals, classified in to five phyla and 15 orders. The range of abundance, species richness, and diversity indices varied across conventional and organic orchards. Cultivation practices were found not to exert a significant influence on soil arthropod community characteristics. However, Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis indicated a significant differentiation in soil arthropod community structure based on cultivation practices. This study underscores the importance of considering vegetation structure and environmental characteristics that may influence soil arthropod communities comprehensively when assessing the impact of cultivation practices on soil arthropods. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to account for both the characteristics and structure of soil arthropod communities in understanding the implications of cultivation practices on these organisms.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to derive dropout rates according to various international roughness index (IRI) specifications using ProVAL, develop a comparative methodology, and indirectly assess the level of road management in each country. METHODS : Based on a literature review, the IRI specifications for each country were collected, and the ProVAL analysis tool was used to compare and analyze dropout rates according to each specification. Thus, the dropout rate rankings for each country were calculated. Additionally, by analyzing the correlation between dropout rates according to each threshold, a model was created to convert the threshold between the most commonly used baseline distances of 100 m and 161 m. RESULTS : Dropout rates were derived according to the standards of each country and rankings were assigned. Comparing 51 standards, the IRI level of New Mexico appeared to be the highest, whereas the domestic specifications ranked 36th. A model was created to convert the threshold between the standard distances of 100 m and 161 m. CONCLUSIONS : This study objectively assessed the roughness standards in various countries using the dropout rate and IRI ranking specifications. The highest specification was found for the asphalt of New Mexico in the USA, with the domestic specification ranking 36th. A model that converts the thresholds between the most commonly used baseline distances of 100 m and 161 m was developed, with slight differences across sections. For a precise conversion, individual models may be required for each section.

This study was conducted to provide basic data on the antioxidant activity, inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of a mixture of Brassica juncea extract (BJE) and fermented black rice fraction (BRF). We investigated the total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant effects (DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power, FRAP and ORAC assay) and anti-obesity activity of the mixture in 3T3-L1 cells. Our results showed that the total phenol and flavonoid content increased with increasing BRF mixture ratio. The antioxidant activity increased as the BRF mixture ratio increased. In addition, BJE and BRF mixtures did not show any cytotoxicity during the 3T3-L1 differentiation period. During adipocyte differentiation, BJE and BRF mixtures significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and ROS production compared to the control group. These results warrant further experiments to develop an anti-obesity functional food using a mixture of BJE and BRF.

Cellular myxoma is an uncommon type of myxoid benign tumor, predominantly occurring in adult female patients aged >40 years. This report aims to document a case of cellular myxoma that occurred in the buccal mucosa. Compared to intramuscular myxomas, cellular myxoma demonstrates hypercellularity and vascularity. Its manifestation in the soft tissue of the head and neck area is exceptionally rare. Generally, cellular myxoma manifests as a firm and immovable mass covered with normal oral mucosa, with no associated clinical symptoms. Homogenous low signal intensity on T1-weighted scans and high-signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance scans reveal cellular myxoma, as most lesions show well-defined margins and heterogeneous contrast enhancement. The significant histologic features include a focal or diffuse increase in cellularity with fibroblast-like cells and vascularity with an abundant collagenous matrix. Our presented case reflects these facts examinations, based on which a final diagnosis of cellular myxoma was made. Immunohistochemistry revealed locally and diffusely positive SMA and CD34. The clinical tendency of cellular myxoma with hypercellularity may affect the production of myxoid and collagenous substrates, and if complete resection is not performed, the possibility of local recurrence in the primarily affected region remains. Hence, complete surgical excision was performed under general anesthesia, and follow-up until a year after treatment revealed no observed recurrence. To achieve precise diagnosis and complete treatment without local recurrence, several diagnostic examinations should be considered.

Small ponds, which exhibit unstable succession pattern of plankton community, are less well studied than large lakes. Recently, the importance of small ponds for local biodiversity conservation has highlighted the necessity of understanding the dynamics of biological community. In the present study, we collected zooplankton from three small reservoirs with monthly basis and analyzed their seasonal dynamics. To understand the complicated zooplankton community dynamics of small reservoirs, we categorized zooplankton species into four groups (LALF Group, Low Abundance Low Frequency; LAHF Group, Low Abundance High Frequency; HALF Group, High Abundance Low Frequency; HAHF Group, High Abundance High Frequency) based on their occurrence pattern (abundance and frequency). We compared the seasonal pattern of each group, and estimated community diversity based on temporal beta diversity contribution of each group. The result revealed that there is a relationship between groups with the same abundance but different occurrence frequencies, and copepod nauplii are common important component for both abundance and frequency. On the other hand, species included with LALF Group throughout the study period are key in terms of monthly succession and diversity. LALF Group includes Anuraeopsis fissa, Hexarthra mira and Lecane luna. However, groups containing species that only occur at certain times of the year and dominate the waterbody, HALF Group, hindered to temporal diversity. The results of this study suggest that the species-specific occurrence pattern is one key trait of species determining its contribution to total annual biodiversity of given community.

Vulnerable populations in healthcare facilities are more sensitive to exposure to indoor air pollutants, and therefore are more affected by such pollutants than the general population. This was the underlying reason why studies of indoor air pollutant concentration distribution and health risk assessment have been conducted targeting facilities, such as daycare centers, medical facilities, elderly care facilities, and postnatal care centers. However, previous studies have mainly focused on daycare and medical facilities for their research, and relatively speaking, studies conducted on the other venues are lacking. Therefore, this study aims to present the current status of indoor air quality and perform a health risk assessment in regard to Formaldehyde exposure at postnatal care centers and elderly care facilities. Here, the study focused on facilities that had undergone pollution level inspections from January 2017 to December 2021. A total of 81 postnatal care centers and 48 elderly care facilities were selected as the subject of the study. Then, the study utilized concentrations of five elements (CO2, HCHO, PM10, PM2.5, TBC) to determine the status of indoor air quality of both postnatal care centers and elderly care facilities. For health risk assessment, HCHO concentration was used. The investigation demonstrated that the yearly average concentration of the five elements stood within the indoor air quality maintenance standards, and the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 in the two types of facilities was distributed as high as about 70%. In addition, the study showed that HCHO and TBC demonstrated a positive correlation when the relationship between indoor temperature and humidity with the five elements was examined. The health risk assessment showed that the cancer risk level of postnatal care center users stood below 10-6, below the level that is perceived as an acceptable risk. The cancer risk of workers from both postnatal care centers and elderly care facilities and elderly care facility users exceeded the acceptable risk level of 10-6, but was shown to be below 10-4, the maximum acceptable risk.

저서동물은 저서환경특성을 나타내는 중요한 지시자로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 무안만 조 하대의 환경 및 저서동물의 분포특성을 조사하였으며, 수질평가지수(WQI)와 저서생물지수 (AMBI)를 이용하여 저서생태계 건강성을 평가하였다. 현장채집은 2019년 하계 무안만 조하대 의 10개 정점에서 이루어졌다. 무안만 조하대는 상부지역이 하부지역에 비해 세립한 입도특성 을 나타내고 있었으며, 높은 유기물 함량을 보였다. 일부 정점에서 오염지표종인 Musculista senhousia, Theora fragilis and Lumbrineris longifolia과 같은 종들도 우점을 나타내고 있었다. 군집분석결과 무안만 조하대는 상부, 중부, 하부 그룹으로 구분되었으며, 유기물 함량과 저서 건강성 평가지수(WQI 및 AMBI)와의 상관결과와 일치하였다. 본 연구결과, 무안만 조하대의 저서생태계는 양호한 것으로 평가되었다. 하지만 저서동물이 균등하게 분포하지 않고, 기회 종이 출현하고 있어 조하대의 유기물 부하량이 증가하고 있는 것으로 보인다.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided intervention has gradually become a standard treatment for peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs). However, it is difficult to popularize the procedure in Korea because of restrictions on insurance claims regarding the use of endoscopic accessories, as well as the lack of standardized Korean clinical practice guidelines. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (appointed a Task Force to develope medical guidelines by referring to the manual for clinical practice guidelines development prepared by the National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency. Previous studies on PFCs were searched, and certain studies were selected with the help of experts. Then, a set of key questions was selected, and treatment guidelines were systematically reviewed. Answers to these questions and recommendations were selected via peer review. This guideline discusses endoscopic management of PFCs and makes recommendations on indication for the procedure, pre-procedural preparations, optimal approach for drainage, procedural considerations (e.g., types of stent, advantages and disadvantages of plastic and metal stents, and accessories), adverse events of endoscopic intervention, and procedural quality issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This will be revised as necessary to address advances and changes in technology and evidence obtained in clinical practice and future studies.

To improve light absorption ability in the visible light region and the efficiency of the charge transfer reaction, Pd nanoparticles decorated with reduced TiO2 nanotube photocatalyst were synthesized. The reduced TiO2 nanotube photocatalyst was fabricated by anodic oxidation of Ti plate, followed by an electrochemical reduction process using applied cathodic potential. For TiO2 photocatalyst electrochemically reduced using an applied voltage of -1.3 V for 10 min, 38% of Ti4+ ions on TiO2 surface were converted to Ti3+ ion. The formation of Ti3+ species leads to the decrease in the band gap energy, resulting in an increase in the light absorption ability in the visible range. To obtain better photocatalytic efficiency, Pd nanoparticles were decorated through photoreduction process on the surface of reduced TiO2 nanotube photocatalyst (r10-TNT). The Pd nanoparticles decorated with reduced TiO2 nanotube photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocurrent response, and high efficiency and rate constant for aniline blue degradation; these were ascribed to the synergistic effect of the new electronic state of the TiO2 band gap energy induced by formation of Ti3+ species on TiO2, and by improvement of the charge transfer reaction.

2-에티닐-N-노나노일피리디늄 클로라이드를 치환기로 갖는 새로운 폴리아세틸렌 유도체를 합성하였다. 반응초기에 2-에티닐피리딘과 노나노일 클로아이드의 4차염화반응으로 생성된 단량체 종인 2-에티닐-N-노나노일피리디늄 클로라이드 는 별도의 촉매 없이도 중합반응이 잘 진행되었으며, 그결과 89%의 수율로 폴리아세틸렌계 이온성 공액구조 고분자를 합 성할 수 있었다. 여러 가지 분석장비를 이용하여 고분자 구조를 분석한 결과 설계한 치환기를 갖는 폴리아세틸렌 유도체 가 합성되었음을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 고분자는 메탄올, DMF, DMAc, DMSO, NMP 와 같은 극성 용매에 완전히 용해하였 으며, 이온성 측쇄 부분을 갖는 특성으로 다루는 과정에서 공기중 수분을 흡수하는 경향이 강했다. 고분자의 광흡수 및 전 기화학적 특성을 측정하고 분석하였다. 본 고분자는 산화-환원 피크 사이에 비가역적 전기화학적 거동을 보였으며 다른 이 온성 공액구조 고분자의 경우와 유사하게 전기화학적 스캔수를 증가한 실험에서 50회까지도 안정된 산화-환원 거동을 보 였다.

For the purpose of manufacturing a high efficiency TiO2 photocatalyst, B-doped TiO2 photocatalysts are synthesized using a plasma electrolytic oxidation method in 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte with different concentrations of H3BO3 as additive. For the B doped TiO2 layer fabricated from sulfuric electrolyte having a higher concentration of H3BO3 additive, the main XRD peaks of (101) and (200) anatase phase shift gradually toward the lower angle direction, indicating volume expansion of the TiO2 anatase lattice by incorporation of boron, when compared with TiO2 layers formed in sulfuric acid with lower concentration of additive. Moreover, XPS results indicate that the center of the binding energy peak of B1s increases from 191.45 eV to 191.98 eV, which suggests that most of boron atoms are doped interstitially in the TiO2 layer rather than substitutionally. The B doped TiO2 catalyst fabricated in sulfuric electrolyte with 1.0 M H3BO3 exhibits enhanced photocurrent response, and high efficiency and rate constant for dye degradation, which is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the new impurity energy band induced by introducing boron to the interstitial site and the improvement of charge transfer reaction.