Pepper is one of the most important vegetables in South Korea. It is a key ingredient in kimchi, the nation’s staple dish, and serves as the primary raw material for producing gochujang, a commonly used condiment in Korean cooking. As a result, numerous pepper varieties have been developed, including those that yield more fruit or have milder pungency. However, farmers who grow peppers tend to prefer varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases. Bacterial wilt (BW) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting peppers and is transmitted through the soil. To breed pepper varieties resistant to bacterial wilt using molecular breeding techniques, it is essential to first identify the Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) that confers resistance to this disease. This requires conducting locus analysis with resistant cultivars. In this study, an F2 population was developed by selfing F1 hybrids, which were obtained by crossing a resistant cultivar with a susceptible cultivar, to identify QTLs associated with bacterial wilt resistance. Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) analysis will be performed using the F2 population, and the results will be utilized for QTL mapping.

Efficient and safe maritime navigation in complex and congested coastal regions requires advanced route optimization methods that surpass the limitations of traditional shortest-path algorithms. This study applies Deep Q-Network (DQN) and Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms to generate and refine optimal ship routes in East Asian waters, focusing on passages from Shanghai to Busan and Ulsan to Daesan. Operating within a grid-based representation of the marine environment and considering constraints such as restricted areas and Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS), both DQN and PPO learn policies prioritizing safety and operational efficiency. Comparative analyses with actual vessel routes demonstrate that RL-based methods yield shorter and safer paths. Among these methods, PPO outperforms DQN, providing more stable and coherent routes. Post-processing with the Douglas-Peucker (DP) algorithm further simplifies the paths for practical navigational use. The findings underscore the potential of RL in enhancing navigational safety, reducing travel distance, and advancing autonomous ship navigation technologies.

방아벌레과에 속하는 제주도청동방아벌레(신칭)을 신종으로 보고한다. 본 종은 제주도 고유종으로, 국내 근연종들과 구별이 쉽도록 종 검색 표와 진단형질을 제공한다.

Rapid morphological changes in fish larvae during growth make adult classification criteria ineffective for identifying larval fishes. Therefore, species identification of fish larvae requires understanding morphological changes during growth stages within and between species. However, for many fish larvae, the lack of morphological trait information, along with physical damage or protein degradation that occurs during specimen collection and preservation in the wild, creates obstacles for morphology-based identification. A fish larva (10.0 mm SL) collected from the coastal waters of the western Korean Peninsula in August 2019 exhibited morphological characteristics and melanophore distribution patterns closely matching those of an unidentified species of the family Platycephalidae (sp.5). Its MT-CO1 amplicon sequences identified it as Cociella crocodilus, through genetic similarity with MT-CO1 reference sequences and phylogenetic analyses of related species. This study provides significant insights into the early life stages of Cociella crocodilus, marking the first identification of this species at the larval stage.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a significant cereal crop from the Gramineae family, serves as a vital source of protein, essential minerals, B-group vitamins, and dietary fiber. However, its productivity is often hindered by issues such as poor seed germination, which can adversely affect yield and crop quality. This study investigated the effects of different silicon concentrations and priming durations on wheat germination and seedling growth. Analysis of variance revealed that silicon treatment significantly influenced key parameters of germination and growth, including germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), vigor index (VI), radicle length (RL), plumule length (PL), and seedling dry weight (SDW). Priming with silicon at a concentration of 1 mM resulted in notable improvements, increasing GP, GI, VI, RL, and PL by 10.6%, 65.5%, 29.4%, 18.6%, and 28.6%, respectively, after 6 hours of priming. Certain germination traits demonstrated strong positive correlations, particularly GP and GI (r = 0.96) and VI and RL (r = 0.94), after 4 hours of priming. These improvements in seed germination and seedling development may result from enhanced water uptake, stimulated cell division, and increased hydrolytic enzyme activity, which facilitate the mobilization of seed reserves and accelerate the growth of embryonic tissues.

Climate change and human activities have significantly threatened plant diversity in Nigeria, leading to the imminent extinction of plant genetic resources (PGR). The collected and conserved PGR are insufficient to slow the rate of diversity loss. To address this challenge, plant breeders have initiated various improvement programs aimed at utilizing available PGR to enhance plant resilience against the severity of climate change. Despite these efforts, several limiting factors hinder the sustainable conservation of PGR in Nigeria. The lack of up-to-date information on PGR in Nigeria restricts our understanding of crop diversity. This review explores these constraints and outlines the diverse strategies employed by relevant research institutes over the years to conserve PGR. It also evaluates both in-situ and ex-situ conservation efforts in the country. Collaborations and interactions between research institutes in Nigeria focused on managing PGR are highlighted. Establishing more ex-situ fields across all ecological zones of Nigeria is emphasized as a crucial step to enhance effective conservation measures. Additional recommendations are provided to encourage the conservation and sustainable production of PGR in Nigeria.

본 연구에서는 한국산 혹좀벌속(신칭)의 미기록종인 얼룩혹좀벌(신칭)을 국내에 처음으로 보고한다. 한국산 혹좀벌속(신칭)의 목록과 검색 표, 얼룩혹좀벌(신칭)의 기재 및 주요 형질 사진, S. biguttata와 S. flavicollis, S. variegata의 외형과 날개 사진을 제공한다.

Morphological analyses of two newly recorded sea star species, Henricia exigua Hayashi, 1940 and Henricia tumida Verrill, 1909, of genus Henricia collected from Dongsan Harbor in the East Sea and Chuja-do, Jeju, Korea, respectively, were carried out. Henricia exigua could be characterized by an irregular arrangement of abactinal plates with adambulacral armature comprised of 10-13 spinelets. Henricia tumida has a short arm (R/r=4.0-4.2) with abactinal paxillae scattered and 4-8 abactinal spinelets with adambulacral spines having 4-6 spinelets. This study provides the first report of H. exigua and H. tumida in the Korean fauna along with detailed morphological description with their key characteristics.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables in Paraguay, playing a crucial role in the daily diet of the population. Onion production is mainly concentrated in the Eastern Region, especially in the departments of Caaguazú, Paraguarí, and Itapúa. However, despite its importance, Paraguay continues to rely on onion imports from Argentina and Brazil to meet the growing domestic demand. This dependence is concerning, as national yields are approximately 40% lower than those obtained in these neighboring countries. There are several problems affecting onion production in Paraguay. Among them, the most important problem is the lack of local varieties adapted to the country’s climate conditions. Another problem is the absence of adequate and well-defined agricultural practices. This study aims to review the agroclimatic conditions of the main production areas, as well as the production technologies currently employed and local research efforts. A significant aspect of the research is the KOPIA-IPTA (Paraguayan Institute of Agricultural Technology) cooperation project, which sought to promote innovation in onion cultivation by transferring technologies and technical knowledge. Trials of different onion varieties were conducted at three IPTA regional institute of Caacupé, Choré, and San Juan Bautista across three planting seasons. Additionally, demonstration fields in Cordillera, Paraguarí, Misiones, and San Pedro showed an increase in gross income between 145% and 438% compared to the national average. This project has demonstrated that developing appropriate technologies and farmer training are essential to improving onion production and quality in Paraguay. Furthermore, the prospect emphasizes the need for the implementation of an internal program where the main focus is the development o f appropriate technologies and their transfer to farmers to ensure sustainable and high- quality local production.

This study was conducted in the San Pedro Department to determine the impact of different soil management practices on sesame productivity. Different tillage methods (conventional deep tillage, minimum tillage, and no-tillage), crop rotations (monoculture, double, and triple rotation), various combinations of green manure, and appropriate doses of chemical fertilizers were studied. The results revealed that the no-tillage method combined with crop rotation (corn-cotton-sesame) and fertilization had the highest productivity of 1,548 kg/ha. In contrast, the conventional deep tillage method without fertilization showed the lowest productivity with 614 kg/ha. Incorporation of summer green manures (Mucuna pruriens) in minimum tillage methods with fertilization significantly improved productivity (1,010 kg/ha) in comparison with the same tillage method and fertilization but without Mucuna (720 kg/ha), which highlights the synergistic effects of combining green manures with chemical fertilizers. The treatment of winter green manures consisting of black oat + white lupine and black oat + radish has also significantly improved the productivity of sesame with 904 and 900 kg/ha, respectively, compared to the non-use of winter green manure and the use of chia, which had productivities of 695 and 298 kg/ha, respectively. The best chemical fertilization doses of nitrogen (urea 45% N), phosphorus (46% P2O5), and potassium (60% K2O) were determined through tests with increasing doses of each nutrient, maintaining 40 kg/ha as the base for the other two. The highest productivity was obtained with N, P, and K levels of 70 kg/ha each, resulting in productivities of 1,421, 1,522, and 1,486 kg/ha. However, the maximum profit compared to the input is obtained with doses of 50 kg/ha for N and 60 kg/ha for P and K, giving a productivity of 1,390, 1,510, and 1,421 kg/ha, respectively.

This study investigated the growth dynamics of Lilium miquelianum bulb scales cultured in four different media formulations: Full Murashige-Skoog (FMS), Half Murashige-Skoog (HMS), Anderson Vitamin (AV), and Knudson Vitamin (KV). Bulb scales were collected from native populations on Jeju Island, Korea, and cultured in vitro for 12 weeks. Growth parameters, including bulb area and scale count, were measured at 3-week intervals. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in growth rates across media types and time points. FMS consistently demonstrated the highest growth rates and final bulb area and scale count, while KV exhibited the lowest performance. Heatmap analysis showed that FMS achieved the highest weekly growth rates in most time points, with HMS showing comparable performance during early growth stages. Individual sample growth rates varied within media, highlighting the influence of both external and internal factors on growth. Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between bulb size and scale quantity, with FMS exhibiting the strongest relationship. These findings emphasize the importance of appropriate media selection for optimal L. miquelianum propagation, with FMS being the most suitable for extended cultivation. This research provides valuable insights for improving propagation efficiency and conservation efforts of L. miquelianum.

목적 : 디지털 시기능 훈련용 게이밍 프로그램을 사용하여 대상자의 시기능 훈련 후 양안시기능의 변화를 조사 하였다. 방법 : 본 연구는 전신질환, 안과적 질환, 과거 수술력이 없고 사시 진단을 받지 않은 신체 건강한 성인 25명(남 자 14명, 여자 11명)을 대상으로 하였다. 언리얼 엔진을 기반으로 한 게이밍 프로그램은 시기능을 강화 및 훈련하 기 위한 목적으로 개발되었다. 모든 피검자에게 디지털 시기능 훈련용 프로그램을 한달 동안 일주일 2회, 30분간 시행하여 훈련을 진행하였다. 결과 : 디지털 시기능 훈련 전과 후의 조절근점은 13.08±2.26 cm에서 10.15±3.41 cm으로 향상되었다. 조절 용이성은 12.05±1.20회에서 9.78±1.32회로 개선되어 선명하게 초점을 맺는데 시간이 단축되었다(p<0.050). 버 전스용이성(Vergence facillity)은 12.89±2.34 회에서 9.14±1.75 회로 통계적으로 유의하게 향상되었다(p< 0.050). 외사위도는 –2.48±2.56 Δ(exo.)에서 -1.07±1.23 Δ(exo.)으로 외사위량이 통계학적으로 유의하게 감소 하였고(p<0.050) 양성융합버전스 분리점은 21.99±4.26 Δ에서 24.55±2.89 Δ으로 개선되었고 음성융합버전스 분리점은 평균 17.57±2.12 Δ에서 18.69±1.60 Δ으로 약 0.1 Δ이 소폭 증가하였다. 결론 : 디지털 시기능 훈련으로 연구 대상자들의 외사위도가 감소하였고 조절력, 조절 및 버전스 용이성과 안구 운동성 능력이 개선되는 것을 알 수 있었다. 디지털 시기능 훈련은 안구 운동성 기능과 양안시기능이 중요한 직군 의 사람들에게 도움을 줄 수 있고 다양하게 활용될 수 있는 활용가치 및 잠재력을 가지고 있다.

Agriculture plays a critical role in Uganda’s economy, contributing to 24% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and serving as the primary source of livelihood for a large portion of the population. Organic horticulture presents a promising pathway for sustainable development, offering economic opportunities through access to niche markets both locally and internationally. However, effective management for pests and diseases remains a major challenge in organic horticulture. This review addresses pest and disease issues affecting non-traditional export crops in Uganda, such as pepper, bitter gourd, and aubergine. Additionally, it provides an overview of botanical pesticides currently used in Uganda, along with approved organic fungicides (e.g., lime sulfur, copper) and insecticides (e.g., paraffinic oils, pyrethrum). This review explores physical and chemical properties, target pests, benefits, drawbacks, and active ingredients of these substances. The ultimate aim is to offer Ugandan farmers expanded options for managing pests and diseases in organic horticulture.

This study investigates the strategies that teachers employ when presenting the meaning and form of a novel English word to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This case study observed and interviewed three teachers who taught five ASD students with diverse characteristics and varying language proficiency. Thematic analysis was conducted by integrating a top-down approach, based on the vocabulary teaching strategies commonly used with typically developing students, and a bottom-up approach, based on the emerging data. The results indicate that, similar to their typically developing peers, the meaning and form of the new English word were introduced by connecting to the first language, providing first language definitions, relating to real objects and phenomena, encouraging students’ active participation through elicitation, and conducting oral drills and word spelling. However, unlike typically developing students, the teachers presented English vocabulary to ASD students while making an effort to capture their attention and engagement in the learning process. This study offers suggestions for teachers and recommendations for future research.

목적 : 안과의원에서 근무하는 안경사를 대상으로 타각적·자각적 굴절검사 기기의 업무 요구도, 해당 교과과정 이 도움이 되는 정도, 교육의 필요도를 분석하고자 하였다. 방법: 안경사 면허증을 보유하고 서울 소재의 안과의원에 근무하고 있는 안경사를 대상으로 설문조사를 진행하였 다. 일반적 특성과 타각적 굴절검사 기기(자동안굴절력계, 검영기, 각막곡률계)와 자각적 굴절검사 기기(시험렌즈/검안 렌즈와 포롭터)를 대상으로 업무 요구도, 해당 교과과정이 도움이 되는 정도, 교육의 필요도를 5점 리커트 척도를 이용하여 조사하였고, 독립표본 t-검정을 시행하여 성별, 근무경력, 그리고 교육수준에 따른 차이를 분석하였다. 결과 : 대상자의 평균나이는 29.73±3.62(범위: 24.00-37.00)세였으며, 성별은 남자가 17명(20.0%)이었고 여 자가 68명(80.0%)이었다. 타각적 굴절검사의 경우 자동안굴절력계, 각막곡률계, 검영기 순으로 업무 요구도가 높 았고, 자각적 굴절검사의 경우 시험렌즈/검안렌즈, 포롭터 순으로 업무 요구도가 높았다. 검영기를 이용한 검사를 하는 경우는 61명(71.8%)으로 그중에서 16명(26.2%)은 검영기를 이용한 검사 시 약제를 직접 점안하고 있었다. 대학에서 받은 교과내용이 업무에 도움이 되는 정도는 ‘도움이 된다’ 이상으로 응답한 경우가 32.90%로 낮았고, 교 육의 필요도는 필요하다 이상으로 응답한 경우가 62.30%로 높게 나타났다. 결론 : 본 연구를 통해 타각적 굴절검사와 관련된 안경사 업무영역이 존재함을 확인할 수 있었다.

자생 바위솔인 와송(Orostachys japonica), 영동바위솔(O. japonica from ‘Youngdong’), 포천바위솔(O. latiellipticus) 의 휴면과 추대에 미치는 일장의 영향을 알아보기 위해 식물생 장상의 일장을 달리하여 실험을 수행하였다. 세 종류의 바위솔 들을 일장이 다른 식물생장상(86.7±8.7μmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD, 24±2℃)으로 옮기자 세 종류 모두 대부분의 일장에서 휴면이 시작되었다. 그러나 이 휴면은 얼마 지나지 않아 타파되기 시작 하였는데, 와송과 영동바위솔은 일장이 길수록 빨리 타파되었 고, 휴면타파에 걸리는 기간도 짧아졌다. 그러나 포천바위솔은 12시간 이하의 단일 조건에서는 휴면 타파가 보이지 않았다. 와송의 경우 16시간 일장에서는 휴면 없이 화서가 신장하는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 영동바위솔은 16시간 일장에서 잠시 휴면 에 들어갔으나 곧 타파되었고, 이어서 추대가 이루어졌으나, 포 천바위솔은 어떤 일장에서도 추대가 보이지 않았다. 결론적으 로, 이 연구의 바위솔에서 관찰된 휴면은 자연 조건에서 보이는 휴면과는 성질이 다르며 식물생장상의 낮은 광도 때문에 발생한 것으로 판단되었다. 이로써 바위솔은 환경 변화에 대해 매우 민감하게 반응하는 식물이며, 일장과 광도에 대한 반응은 바위 솔 종류에 따라 다르다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

This study confirmed the fungal community of rice makgeolli sold in the eastern part of Jeollanam-do using ITS 2 sequence-based metagenome analysis. A total of 18 fungi were found in six makgeolli samples, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae being dominant in all samples at high rates ranging from 96.61~99.96%. The six makgeolli samples were classified into three groups based on the PCoA and UPGMA tree analysis results using the Jaccard distance matrix. Network analysis of the relationships among the 18 identified fungal species helped identify a fungus that demonstrated either a positive or negative correlation with the dominant species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study provides important foundational data for understanding the fungal composition in the makgeolli fermentation process.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into all cell types in the body. They have the potential to replenish cells in tissues and organs, and have unique properties that make them a powerful tool for regenerative therapy. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst of pre-implantation embryo and epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) derived from the epiblast layer of post-implantation embryo are the well-known PSCs. These stem cells can differentiate into any of three germ layers of germ cells (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm). Additionally, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) refer to adult somatic cells reprogrammed to return to the pluripotent state by introducing specific factors. This is a breakthrough in stem cell research because ethical concerns such as fertilized embryo destruction can be avoided. PSCs have tremendous potential in treating degenerative cells by generating the cells needed to replace damaged cells, which can also allow to generate specific cell types to study the mechanisms of the disease and create disease models that screen for potential drugs. However, if the proliferative capacity of PSCs is not controlled, there is a risk that tumors will form, as this can lead to uncontrolled growth in their proliferative capacity. In addition, when PSCs are used for therapeutic purposes, there is a risk that the body’s immune system rejects the transplanted cells when the transplanted cells do not originate from the patient’s own tissue. Taken together, PSC is the foundation of stem cell research and regenerative medicine, providing disease treatment and animal development understanding. We would like to explain the classification of PSCs based on their developmental potential, the types of PSCs (ESCs, EpiSCs and iPSCs), their pluripotent status (naïve vs. primed) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) in PSCs and PSCs in domestic animals.

기후변화로 인해 국내에서의 기온, 강수량, 호우일수가 증가 할 것으로 예측됨에 따라, 토양 답압과 높은 불투수면적 비율이 나타나는 도심지를 중심으로 정원과 공공녹지에 활용되는 식물 소재에 있어 내침수성이 중요한 특성으로 부각될 가능성이 높 다. 그러나 내침수성 식물소재에 대한 대다수의 문헌은 재배경 험이나 각 종의 서식지 환경에 기반하고 있는 경우가 많아 실험 적 검증이 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구는 토양수분함량이 높은 서식지에서 기원한 골등골나물(Eupatorium lindleyanum DC.), 새등골나물(E. fortunei Turcz.), 좀개미취(Aster maackii Regel) 3개 종과 중간인 서식지에서 기원한 까실쑥부쟁이 (A. ageratoides Turcz.) 1개 종의 침수조건에 대한 생육반응 비교로 서식지 환경이 내침수성 평가의 유효한 지표인지 알아보 고자 하였다. 실험대상 종을 6주간 무처리(대조구), 5일 침수처리, 7일 침수처리한 결과, 골등골나물과 새등골나물은 대조구와 처리구간 생육반응에서 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않아 높은 수준 의 내침수성을 지니는 것으로 나타났다. 좀개미취는 생장반응이 처리구에서 대조구 대비 유의하게 감소하여 내침수성은 제한적 인 것으로 보였으나, 5일 침수처리구에서 광계 II의 최대양자효 율(Fv/Fm)이, 두 처리구 모두에서 지상부 대비 지하부의 비율 (R/S율)이 대조구와 유의한 차이를 보이지 않아 침수조건의 해 소 후 회복 가능성을 지니는 것으로 나타났다. 까실쑥부쟁이는 처리 4 주차에 모든 처리구에서 100%의 고사율을 보여 내침수 성을 갖추지 못한 것으로 판단되었다. 결론적으로, 서식지 환경 은 내침수성과 관련이 있다 할 수 있었으나, 내침수성의 정확한 평가를 위해서는 토양수분함량 외 다양한 환경요소들을 함께 고려해야할 필요성이 있을 것으로 보인다.

The mammalian testis is a highly organized organ essential for male reproduction. Its structure comprises seminiferous tubules lined with Sertoli cells, which support spermatogenesis, surrounded by peritubular myoid cells. Within the connective tissue framework lie the Leydig cells, which synthesize testosterone in response to luteinizing hormone. Research has highlighted the importance of various ion channels and proteins in testicular function. The TWINK-related acid-sensitive potassium channel 1 (TASK-1), a two-pore channel, is vital for several physiological functions in the testis. Furthermore, Leydig cells uniquely express several key proteins, including c-kit, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α. The co-expression of these proteins, including TASK-1, in Leydig cells suggest the presence of complex regulatory mechanisms critical for modulating testosterone production, release, and overall testicular function. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), a member of the transient receptor potential channel family, also plays a crucial role in testicular function, influencing processes such as sensory function, steroidogenesis, and sperm function. Hormonal fluctuations and aging affect both the presence and function of TRPV1. This channel is thought to contribute programmed cell death within the testes, particularly impacting Leydig cell survival. Notably, testosterone appears to counteract these detrimental effects by downregulating TRPV1 expression, indicating a complex interplay between TRPV1, testosterone, and overall testicular function. Therefore, we aim to discuss the critical role of ion channels, specifically focusing on TASK-1 and TRPV1 channels, in the physiological and pathophysiological functions of testicular cells.