Background: Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent often causes nephrotoxic side effects. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is known to induce pro-inflammatory responses, often leading to septic renal injury. We hypothesized that the combination of cisplatin and LPS would amplify renal injury, thereby improving a renal injury model. Therefore, we administered both agents to mice and evaluated renal injury indicators. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected with cisplatin (8, 10, or 12 mg/kg) and LPS (5 mg/kg) on days 1 and 4 following of each week. Mice were euthanized at specific time points to assess renal injury. Body weight, renal weight, area, and BUN levels were measured to evaluate renal damage. Additionally, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome (MT) staining were performed to assess histological changes. Results: The combination of cisplatin and LPS significantly reduced body and renal weight compared to cisplatin alone. A high dose of cisplatin (12 mg/kg) resulted in a 50% mortality, while, lower doses (8 and 10 mg/kg) showed 100% survival. Significant renal injury was observed in the 10 mg/kg cisplatin group administered for two weeks. In the 8 mg/kg cisplatin group, no changes were observed after two weeks, but renal damage appeared after four weeks. Histological evaluations in the 10 mg/kg cisplatin group administered for two weeks showed renal injury features, including tubular damage and fibrosis. Conclusions: Administering cisplatin (10 mg/kg) with LPS for two weeks or cisplatin (8 mg/kg) with LPS for four weeks resulted in a distinct renal injury, effectively establishing a renal injury mouse model.

개회나무(Syringa reticulata)는 수수꽃다리속 물푸레나무과 에 속하는 낙엽활엽교목으로 관상 및 약용 등으로 사용되는 가 치가 높은 식물이다. 본 연구는 개회나무 종자의 휴면타파와 발아특성을 구명하여 대량증식 체계를 확립하고자 하였다. 이에 따라 종자내외부특성, 수분흡수률, 변온처리(25/15, 20/10, 15/6, 5℃), 저온층적처리(0, 4, 8, 12주), 생장조절제 농도 (GA3 0, 10, 100, 1000mg·L-1)처리하여 확인하였다. 그 결과 배는 완전히 성숙되어 있는 형태였으며, 수분흡수률은 초기대비 약 39.2% 증가하였다 변온 처리조건에서는 15/6℃ 조건에서 발아율이 69.2%로 가장 높았으며, 0주 층적처리에서 가장 높은 발아율을 나타낸 것으로 보아 변온의 5℃ 처리의 결과와 동일한 양상으로 저온은 발아에 큰 영향을 미치지 않았다. 생장조절제 처리에서는 상대적으로 GA3 농도가 높은 100, 1000mg·L-1 처리에서 발아률이 통계적으로 높게 나타났다. 위 결과를 보아 개 회나무는 생리적 휴면을 가지고 있으며, 세부적으로 non-deep PD라고 판단된다.

Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter that plays an important role in brain function, but excessive release of glutamate causes excitotoxicity and damages cells. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of baicalin in glutamate-exposed neurons. The mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line (HT22) was cultured in a general manner, glutamate and/or baicalin were treated on the cells. Baicalin was administered 1 hr before glutamate treatment. Cells were collected 24 hr after glutamate, and cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) assays were performed to measure oxidative stress. Glutamate reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. MTT assay showed that baicalin treatment ameliorated the decrease in cell viability due to glutamate toxicity. The effect of baicalin is dose-dependent. Glutamate caused severe nerve damage, including condensation of the cell shape, loss of dendrites and axons. However, baicalin treatment attenuated these morphological changes, and the effect of baicalin was dose-dependent. ROS and LPO analyses showed that glutamate increases oxidative stress, and baicalin attenuates this change due to glutamate toxicity. The effect of baicalin on these results was dose-dependent. We confirmed that baicalin performs an antioxidant function against glutamate toxicity in neurons. In conclusion, these results suggest that baicalin exerts neuroprotective effects on damaged neurons through antioxidant activity.

Background: Limited ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) is associated with mechanical dysfunctions and chronic ankle instability. Uphill treadmill walking exercise (UTWE) has the potential to improve ankle mobility and function. Objects: This study aimed to examine the immediate effects of a 15° UTWE on DF ROM and torque generation in patients with limited DF. Methods: The study included 20 adults, comprising 10 males and 10 females, with a mean age 28 years and a passive DF range of 5°–12°. After baseline assessments, participants completed 30 minutes of UTWE on a 15° incline treadmill, followed by post-assessments. DF ROM was evaluated during the stance phase of gait, and in both open-kinematic-chain (OKC) and closed-kinematic-chain (CKC) conditions using a goniometer and Image J software. DF and plantar flexion (PF) peak torque were measured with a Biodex Dynamometer. Results: Post intervention, maximum DF ROM during the stance phase of gait increased significantly from a mean of 8.54° ± 3.97° to 11.03° ± 4.41°. The DF ROM in the OKC and CKC conditions increased significantly from a mean of 8.90° ± 0.62° and 21.55° ± 0.72° to 18.00° ± 1.13° and 28.20° ± 1.00°, respectively (p < 0.0001). DF peak torque increased from 16.20 ± 1.28 N/m to 21.52 ± 1.39 N/m, and PF peak torque increased from 25.26 ± 2.51 N/m to 44.22 ± 4.20 N/m (p < 0.0002). Conclusion: UTWE significantly enhanced DF ROM and ankle torque, indicating that it may be an effective intervention for improving ankle function and preventing injury in clinical and rehabilitation settings.

Silage inoculants, which include beneficial microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria (LAB), play a vital role in modern silage production by enhancing fermentation quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of various commercial inoculants on the fermentation dynamics of Italian ryegrass silage over 45 days. The treatments included a control group and five inoculant formulations: T1 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum), T2 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus), T3 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactiplantibacillus buchneri), T4 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactiplantibacillus acidophilus and Lactiplantibacillus bulgaricus), and T5 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enterococcus faecium). After 45 days, all treatment groups exhibited significantly higher crude protein (CP) content compared to the control group (80.64 g/kg dry matter (DM), p<0.05). Treatments T2 and T5, which incorporated combinations of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enterococcus faecium, showed higher CP contents at 105.53 and 107.05 g/kg DM, respectively. The inoculated silages also demonstrated a rapid pH reduction within the early days, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in T1 reducing the pH to 4.0 within four days. Additionally, inoculated treatments had significantly higher lactic acid levels than the control (67.96 g/kg DM, p<0.05), and T3 (Lactiplantibacillus buchneri) produced higher acetic acid levels (16.07 g/kg DM, p<0.05) than other inoculants. The control group also had a notably higher ammonia nitrogen content. In conclusion, while single-strain inoculants like Lactiplantibacillus plantarum are effective for rapid acidification, the use of combined bacterial strains can further enhance silage quality by improving lactic acid fermentation and nutrient preservation, particularly in treatments like Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactiplantibacillus buchneri and Enterococcus faecium.

목적 : 누진 가입도 안경 착용자의 안경테의 크기와 얼굴 형태에 적합한 안경테를 비교하여 안경테 크기와 신체 적(역학적) 불편감 사이의 연관성을 조사하였다. 방법 : 누진 가입도 안경 착용자 중 안경의 피팅 상태가 적절한 71명(남성 37명, 여성 34명, 평균 54.52±8.78 세)이 참여하였고, 신체적 불편감을 설문지로 조사하였다. 안경테 크기를 FHD(front horizontal dimension), FTB(front to bend), LOD(length of drop) 및 TL(temple length)로 확인하였다. 얼굴 형태를 계측한 후 얼굴에 적합한 안경테 크기를 계산하였고, 착용하고 있는 안경테 크기와 비교하였다. 결과 : 신체적 불편감의 정도는 관자놀이 눌림, 흘러내림, 코 눌림, 귀 눌림 순으로 높았으며, 불편함을 경험한 비율은 흘러내림, 코 눌림, 귀 눌림, 관자놀이 눌림 순으로 높았다. 착용한 안경테의 FHD는 남녀 모두 얼굴 계측 으로 계산한 안경테 설계값보다 작았다(p=0.001). 착용한 안경테의 FTB는 남녀 모두 안경테 설계값보다 작았으 며, 착용한 안경의 LOD는 설계값보다 컸고 여성은 남성보다 길었다(all, p=0.001). 결론 : 착용한 남녀 안경의 FHD는 얼굴 형태에 비해 작아 관자놀이 눌림의 원인이 될 수 있고, 측면부 LOD는 얼굴에 비해 커서 흘러내림과 코 눌림의 원인이 될 수 있다. 얼굴 형태에 적합한 안경테 크기를 선택할 수 있도록 안경테의 FHD와 측면부 전체 길이(FTB+LOD)가 여러 사이즈로 제작되어야 할 것이다.

This study aims to identify crisis signs in small and medium enterprise (SME)-concentrated regions and establish measures to prevent economic recession and normalize regional economies through proactive responses. To achieve this, we investigated and analyzed the crisis status and outlook of companies located in Jeonbuk, their detailed management conditions, management issues by industry, difficulties in business operations, and policy demands. Out of 4,144 SMEs in Jeonbuk's concentrated areas, 270 companies responded to the survey. The results showed that 60% of the responding companies perceived their current management situation as being in a state of crisis. However, the outlook for the next quarter and the following year is expected to improve. Notably, compared to manufacturing companies, non-manufacturing firms responded that their crisis situation in the next quarter would not improve and expected the crisis to persist. In terms of detailed business conditions, regardless of the distinction between manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, all aspects of the survey, including domestic sales, export sales, operating profit, financial status, and the number of employees, indicated better prospects for the next quarter and the following year compared to the current quarter. The study's findings suggest that companies in SME-concentrated areas of Jeonbuk are relatively accurate in recognizing the crisis situation of their own businesses and operating markets. Additionally, the companies responded that crisis monitoring is necessary. Differences in difficulties faced by the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors imply the need for industry-specific financial support programs. Based on the survey results, we propose financial support projects tailored to the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, considering the degree of market competition. For more precise research, future studies will involve extracting larger samples and conducting a detailed analysis by subdividing manufacturing sectors (e.g., food, metal) and non-manufacturing sectors (e.g., agriculture, design).

A 17-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu dog, weighing 5.0 kg, presented with frequent coughing and respiratory distress. Blood tests revealed mild thrombocytosis, and thoracic ultrasonography and radiography confirmed a significant amount of pleural effusion. However, the thoracic radiographs showed no radiopaque nodules or interstitial patterns indicative of thoracic tumors. Thoracentesis was performed to relieve effusion-induced thoracic pressure, yielding a hemorrhagic serosanguinous pleural fluid. The cytological analysis of this fluid revealed mesothelial cells, supporting the clinical diagnosis of mesothelioma in situ. To address the patient’s clinical symptoms, an aggressive management approach was implemented with chest tube placement to address recurrent pleural effusion after initial thoracentesis. During treatment, the patient exhibited stable health and adapted well to daily life. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of mesothelioma in situ with hemorrhagic malignant pleural effusion in South Korea. Using a chest tube as an aggressive treatment successfully alleviated dyspnea symptoms and provided symptomatic relief in a patient with mesothelioma in situ.

Background: South Korea has recently faced record-high temperatures, which have adversely affected dairy production. Holstein cows, the primary dairy breed globally, are particularly sensitive to heat stress. In contrast, Jersey cows have shown greater heat tolerance, as demonstrated by phenotypic studies. Methods: We investigated physiological and molecular responses to heat stress in Holstein and Jersey cows by measuring rectal temperature, milk yield, and average daily gain, confirming Holstein cows’ greater vulnerability. To explore molecular mechanisms, we analyzed circulating microRNA profiles from whole blood samples collected under heat stress and normal conditions using microRNA-sequencing. Differential expression patterns were compared between the two breeds to identify biological pathways associated with heat stress. Results: Four microRNAs (bta-miR-20b, bta-miR-1246, bta-miR-2284x, and bta-miR- 2284y) were significantly differentially expressed in both breeds under heat stress (|FC| ≥ 2, p < 0.05). Notably, bta-miR-20b and bta-miR-1246 were linked to corpus luteum function and progesterone biosynthesis, while bta-miR-2284x and bta-miR- 2284y were associated with immune responses. A comparison of 11 potential heat stress-related microRNAs identified in previous studies of Holstein cows revealed consistent expression trends in Jersey cows, albeit with lower fold changes, suggesting their superior heat resilience. Conclusions: Our study highlights the physiological and microRNA-based differences in heat stress responses between Holstein and Jersey cows. Jersey cows exhibited greater resilience, supported by more stable microRNA expression profiles and improved heat stress indicators, making them a promising breed for dairy production in increasingly hot climates.

This study aimed to investigate the metabolic and morphological responses of Italian ryegrass to waterlogging stress during its early growth stage. Waterlogging increased the number of adventitious roots and root porosity, indicating an enhanced oxygen transport mechanism. Phenolic compound levels were increased in both leaf and root tissues under waterlogging stress compared to the control, suggesting the development of a non-enzymatic antioxidant system. Waterlogging treatment also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels only in roots. Total soluble carbohydrates and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity increased under waterlogging stress, suggesting an increased activity of carbohydrate breakdown and energy conversion mechanisms. This study suggests that Italian ryegrass exhibits significant metabolic and morphological adaptations to waterlogging stress during its early growth stage. These adaptations demonstrate that Italian ryegrass has developed tolerance mechanisms to cope with such stress.

Background: Rotator cuff tears often cause shoulder pain and functional limitations that may require conservative treatment or surgical intervention. Identifying preoperative differences in muscle strength and function can aid in treatment decisions. Objects: This study aimed to compare the preoperative shoulder muscle strength and functional outcomes between patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and those receiving conservative treatment. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 315 patients with rotator cuff tears, including 145 who underwent surgery and 170 who received conservative treatment. Shoulder isokinetic muscle strength (external rotator, internal rotators, abductor, and adductors) and functional scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] and Constant-Murley shoulder scores) were measured. The conservative treatment group was assessed during a hospital visit, whereas the surgery group was tested on the morning of the surgery. An independent t-test was used to evaluate the preoperative shoulder strength and functional scores. Results: The conservative treatment group showed lower deficits in external (11.3 ± 23.9) and internal (11.7 ± 15.5) rotators compared to the surgery group (26.3 ± 33.8 and 17.1 ± 26.1, respectively; p = 0.001). Abductor and adductor deficits (18.2 ± 25.3 and 9.8 ± 16.8) were also lower in the conservative treatment group (30.7 ± 31.6 and 21.9 ± 28.4, respectively; p = 0.036 and p = 0.001). The external per internal rotator ratio (50.9 ± 16.8; p = 0.003) and ASES scores were higher (74.5 ± 14.8; p = 0.047) was higher in the conservative treatment group. Conclusion: The conservative treatment group had lower shoulder strength deficits, better muscle balance, and higher ASES scores than the surgery group, indicating superior functional outcomes. These findings suggest that assessing preoperative muscle strength and function might provide valuable insights into treatment planning for patients with rotator cuff tears.

Because intact FMDV particles (146S) are often unstable in vitro, stabilizing foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antigens remains a key challenge in studying viral charateristics. Therefore, finding optimal condition to stabilize the FMDV is essential. In this study, we investigated formulations and potentials of several stabilizers such as appropriate buffer, excipients, and storage conditions to enhance the stability of 146S. Inactivated FMDV O-Jincheon (O-JC) was dissolved in various buffer formulations, and stored at 4℃ for two months to evaluate quantity of 146S at every 2-week interval. Among phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Tris buffered saline (TBS), HEPES buffered saline (HBS), and MOPS buffered saline (MBS), PBS showed more effective 146S stabilization that showed 1.3-1.6 fold higher 146S fraction than TBS, HBS, and MBS after storage for 2 weeks. However, constant dissociations of 146S were observed in all formulations at 8 weeks. Compared with other FMDVs, A22 Iraq and SAT-1, in PBS, O-JC proved to be the least stable in PBS. A variety of excipients including carbohydrate, sugar alcohol, cryo-protectant were tested for the capability in protecting O-JC from dissociation. By adding 4-8% sucrose, more than 60% of 146S fractions were maintained at 8 weeks, those were at least 1.8 fold higher than the PBS-only control. Addition of 1% β-cyclodextrin showed synergistic enhancement in O-JC stability. As the results of this study, it could be suggested that the PBS-based buffer together with 4-8% sucrose + 2% sorbitol or 2% sucrose + 2% sorbitol + 1% β-cyclodextrin could help the better stability of the O-JC in vaccine preparation.

목적 : 본 연구는 중국 안과병원에 방문한 저도와 중등도 근시 청소년을 연구 대상으로 각막굴절교정 렌즈에 의한 단기간의 근시 진행 억제 효과가 있는지 관찰하고자 하였다. 방법 : J안과에 방문한 근시환자 중 40명의 환자 저도 근시군 20명(40안), 중등도 근시군 20명(40안)을 대상으 로 각막굴절교정 렌즈를 처방하고 6개월 동안 추적 관찰하였다. 각막굴절교정 렌즈 착용 후 1개월, 3개월, 6개월 후 각각 각막굴절교정 렌즈 교정 후 시력과 안축의 길이, 각막곡률, 안압, 각막 중앙 두께 등을 검사하여 분석 및 비교하였다. 통계분석은 SPSS 27.0 소프트웨어를 사용하였다. 결과 : 저도근시군과 중등도근시군의 교정시력이 모두 향상되었으며, 두 군 간의 차이는 통계학적 으로 유의하 였으며, 안축 길이는 중등도근시군의 안축 성장이 작았고, 두 군 간의 차이는 통계학적으로 유의하였다. 각막 곡률 은 중등도 근시 군의 각막 곡률이 더 많이 감소했으며, 두 군 간의 차이는 통계적으로 유의했다. 각막굴절교정 렌 즈를 착용한 환자는 안압과 각막 중앙 두께 측면에서 기준치와 유의한 변화가 없었다. 결론 : 각막굴절교정 렌즈는 청소년의 근시를 효과적으로 교정되었으며, 근시 진행을 억제하는 방법 중 하나로 근시 정도에 따라 차이가 있었다. 또한 청소년들의 근시 통제 효과는 중등도 근시 환자가 저도 근시 환자보다 더 효과적이었다.

Rapidly changing environmental factors due to climate change are increasing the uncertainty of crop growth, and the importance of crop yield prediction for food security is becoming increasingly evident in Republic of Korea. Traditionally, crop yield prediction models have been developed by using statistical techniques such as regression models and correlation analysis. However, as machine learning technique develops, it is able to predict the crop yield more accurate than the statistical techniques. This study aims at proposing the onion yield prediction framework to accurately predict the onion yield by using various environmental factor data. Temperature, humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, and wind speed are considered as climate factors and irrigation water and nitrogen application rate are considered as soil factors. To improve the performance of the prediction model, ensemble learning technique is applied to the proposed framework. The coefficient of determination of the proposed stacked ensemble framework is 0.96, which is a 24.68% improvement over the coefficient of determination of 0.77 of the existing single machine learning model. This framework can be applied to the particular farmland so that each farm can get their customized prediction model, which is visualized by the web system.

Background: Interest in cardiac rehabilitation therapy has been increasing in Korea after the addition of cardiac rehabilitation as a benefit item in the National Health Insurance Service in 2017. However, few epidemiological studies have characterized cardiac rehabilitation in Korea. Objects: To assess the national epidemiological data on cardiac rehabilitation therapy in Korea from 2017 to 2023. Methods: This study analyzed MM453, a prescription code for cardiac rehabilitation therapy in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. The data reviewed included the total number of cases per year and the number of cardiac rehabilitation therapy prescriptions per 100,000 people, along with sex and age distribution of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation therapy. Results: The number of cardiac rehabilitation therapy prescriptions in Korea increased from 4,443 in 2017 to 15,646 in 2023 (252.1% increase in 7 years). The incidence per 100,000 person-years rose from 8.64 in 2017 to 30.22 in 2023. The number of males undergoing therapy increased from 3,183 (incidence: 12.35) in 2017 to 11,276 (incidence: 43.53) in 2023. The number of females undergoing therapy increased from 1,260 (incidence: 4.91) in 2017 to 4,370 (incidence: 16.89) in 2023. The highest number of patients undergoing therapy from 2017 to 2023 was observed in the 60s age group (patients: 4,747, incidence: 9.17), followed by the 70s, 50s, and > 80s age groups. Conclusion: From 2017 to 2023, the number of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation therapy in Korea increased consistently. The therapy is approximately 2.6 times more common in males than that in females and is predominantly administered to individuals in their 60s, followed by those in their 70s, 50s, and 80s and above.

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a zoonotic pathogen that affects the nervous systems of humans, pigs, and horses. It has been classified into five genotypes (G1-G5) based on molecular analysis of the pre-membrane or envelope gene. In the Republic of Korea, the predominant JEV genotype has recently shifted from G3 to G1 and G5, highlighting the need for a rapid and accurate diagnostic method. In this study, we designed specific common and differential primer sets for JEV G1, G3, and G5 to detect the JEV gene. Four specific primer sets for JEV G1, G3, and G5 were used to selectively amplify the target gene. The detection limits of the common primer set for JEV G1, G3, and G5 were 100, 0.1, and 10 TCID50/reaction, respectively. The detection limits of the three differential primer sets were 1, 0.1, and 1 TCID50/reaction, respectively. No cross-reactivity was observed with non-JEV reference viruses. We successfully developed a multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to distinguish the three JEV genotypes. Our multiplex RT-PCR assay is highly sensitive and specific, providing a reliable tool for confirming JEV infection in suspected samples. Additionally, our assay can be applied to suspected mosquito samples and commercial veterinary biological products.

Hyperoxaluria is a disorder associated with an increased risk of renal stones, one of the most common conditions. For people with hyperoxaluria, there are a limited number of effective therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to examine whether an oxalate-degrading enzyme, oxalate decarboxylase (OxdC), can inhibit crystallization of calcium oxalate (CaOx) in vitro, and whether it can prevent nephrolithiasis caused by CaOx induced by ethylene glycol (EG) in rats. When OxdC was applied at various concentrations to CaOx in vitro, there was a significant reduction in the crystallization of CaOx. The OxdC was found to inhibit crystal formation as well as the formation of crystals that had sharp edges. In animal experiments, rats that had been treated with EG showed impaired renal filtration functions, as well as increased deposition of CaOx crystals and the creation of kidney stones. It has been found that oral administration of OxdC to rats with chronic EG-induced nephrolithiasis that is characterized by CaOx intratubular crystal deposits with hyperoxaluria dramatically reduces the severity of the disease. The results of this study point to a potential therapeutic approach for treating human hyperoxaluria as well as CaOx nephrolithiasis that could be achieved by the oral administration of OxdC.

Sequential zone picking is an order picking method designed to enhance warehouse efficiency by dividing the storage area into multiple zones and picking items in a sequential order across these zones. Picked items are often placed in dedicated totes and transported between zones using a conveyor system, which manages the picking flow but can occasionally result in inefficiencies during the process. This study presents a variant of the sequential zone picking system, called a dual-lane zone picking system (DZP), which consists of two parallel conveyor lanes without buffers between consecutive zones. This conveyor configuration allows the picker in each zone to alternate processing between the two lanes, thereby lessening the constraints of tote transitions between zones and improving both system throughput and picker utilization. We design and conduct a series of experiments using a discrete-event simulation model to evaluate the performance of DZPs. The experiment results indicate that DZP surpasses the original single-lane zone picking system by shortening the system’s mean flow time in low flow intensity scenarios and achieving a higher maximum throughput and worker utilization in high flow intensity scenarios. Additionally, we investigate the effects of the number of zones and order batching size on the performance of DZP to gain further insights into the system’s operational control.

This study aimed to address the time, cost, and ethical issues associated with traditional animal experiment-based observational methods by utilizing in silico Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic modeling to predict veterinary drug residues in livestock products and validate them against observational data. Using PK-sim software, we modeled the physiological conditions of pigs to predict the depletion of ceftiofur and spiramycin. We evaluated the ceftiofur (3 mg, 6 mg) and spiramycin models by comparing them with observational data using residuals, MSE, and R-squared values. Specifically, the R-squared values for the ceftiofur models were all negative, indicating poor predictive power. For Ceftiofur (3 mg), the R-squared value was <0 with MSE of 611.3764, and for Ceftiofur (6 mg), it was <0 with MSE of 2447.982, highlighting significant discrepancies. Similar shortcomings were observed in the spiramycin models, with an R-squared value of <0 . These discrepancies can be attributed to inaccuracies in literature data, limited physicochemical data, inadequate consideration of inter-individual differences, mismatches between experimental and model conditions, and limitations of benchmark observational experiments. This underscores the critical importance of enhancing data quality and refining modeling approaches. Future research should focus on validating in silico techniques across diverse animal models and drugs to broaden their applicability in safety assessments. Ultimately, leveraging in silico techniques is crucial for establishing a scientifically robust safety management system for livestock products, overcoming the constraints of current observational experimental methods.

Following the previous study, which investigated the pharmacological properties of the Technekitty injection (Tc-99m), the toxicity of a single intravenous administration of the Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) and the side effects that may occur at the diagnostic dose were confirmed. The Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) was administered intravenously once at a dose of 0, 0.67, 2.0, and 6.0 mCi/kg to 5 male and female rats per group. Mortality, general symptom observation, and weight measurement were performed for 2 weeks, followed by observation of autopsy findings. There were no deaths, and no statistically significant weight change was observed. No abnormal systemic signs related to the Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) were observed. These results confirmed that Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) can be safely administered intravenously at doses up to 6.0 mCi/kg. Additionally, technetium-99m at an average dose of 2 mCi (74 MBq) has been verified as a diagnostic dose without adverse effects, allowing the Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) to be used safely without side effects at this dosage. This study demonstrates that the Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) has a wide safety margin, supporting its potential for clinical application. Moreover, these findings align with the nonclinical safety standards for radiopharmaceuticals, reinforcing its utility in veterinary medicine. The Technekitty injection (Tc-99m) is expected to be applicable for clinical diagnosis as a veterinary drug in Korea.