Background: Low back pain is a very common musculoskeletal disorder. Since low back pain can indicate physical and psychological problems, reducing the pain level of low back pain can be the primary goal of rehabilitation. Objectives: This study was performed to explain the personalized treatment protocol of Maitland orthopedic physiotherapy based on the brick wall concept for low back pain patients with hypomobility. Design: Randomized controlled study. Methods: A total of 14 chronic low back pain patients were divided into two groups. The experimental group received orthopedic manual physical therapy intervention. The control group received traditional physical therapy intervention. After the 3 days intervention, the joint range of motion and pain of the low back were measured. Results: The low back flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation joint range of motion was significantly increased in the experimental group than in the control group (P<.05). Low back pain was significantly reduced in the experimental group than in the control group (P<.05). Conclusion: It was confirmed that Maitland orthopedic physical therapy was an effective method as an intervention method to improve the joint range of motion and pain of chronic low back pain patients.

The acoustic emission (AE) is proposed as a feasible method for the real-time monitoring of the structural damage evolution in concrete materials that are typically used in the storage of nuclear wastes. However, the characteristics of AE signals emitted from concrete structures subjected to various environmental conditions are poorly identified. Therefore, this study examines the AE characteristics of the concrete structures during uniaxial compression, where the storage temperature and immersion conditions of the concrete specimens varied from 15℃ to 75℃ and from completely dry to water-immersion, respectively. Compared with the dry specimens, the water-immersed specimens exhibited significantly reduced uniaxial compressive strengths by approximately 26%, total AE energy by approximately 90%, and max RA value by approximately 70%. As the treatment temperature increased, the strength and AE parameters, such as AE count, AE energy, and RA value, of the dry specimens increased; however, the temperature effect was only minimal for the immersed specimens. This study suggests that the AE technique can capture the mechanical damage evolution of concrete materials, but their AE characteristics can vary with respect to the storage conditions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of cane-based fruiting position on fruit quality at harvest in a golden-flesh kiwifruit variety, ‘Sweet Gold’ (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis). The vines were grown on a pergola-trained system, under a protected plastic film house in Jeju, Korea. The cane-based fruiting positions were classified into six sectors with three sectors acropetally from the trunk to the apex of the leader, and two sectors acropetally from the leader to the apex of the cane. Fruits positioned in sectors far away from the trunk (sectors three and six) tended to be heavier, whereas fruits in sectors close to the trunk (sectors one and four) exhibited higher dry matter, soluble solid contents, and flesh coloration. The highest firmness was obtained at the fruits positioned far from the trunk and leader (sector six). Titratable acidity was slightly impacted. The highest starch content was obtained from the fruits of sector six far from the trunk and leader, whereas the highest soluble sugar content was from sector one proximal to the trunk and leader. Results indicate appreciable variations in fruit quality parameters at harvest, among fruits at different fruiting positions within vines. However, these variations were inconsistent over the years, and there were no distinct correlations among these fruit quality parameters.

The successful implementation of green supply chain management(GSCM) practices requires a level of cooperation that can be difficult to conduct. Despite this challenge, limited scholarly attention has been paid to exploring how the implementation of GSCM practices can be effectively facilitated and enhanced through accumulated social capital with suppliers. Based on social capital theory, this study postulates that supplier network characteristics derived from social capital with key suppliers can be critical antecedents of GSCM, which in turn enhances the firm’s environmental performance. To test hypotheses, data were collected from 330 firms in 15 countries, and structural equation modeling was employed. Results show that GSCM improves environmental performance, and structural and cognitive social capitals of the supplier network act as antecedents and lead to GSCM implementation.

In recent years, ESG activities (Environment, Social and Governance) have been paid more and more attention by enterprises and their stakeholders in various countries. China is the largest developing country in the world. The ESG performance of Chinese listed enterprises helps to understand the shortcomings of their sustainable development ability and further enhance the firm value. Moreover, the interaction effect between green innovation investment and ESG activities is of great significance for enterprises to balance the resource allocation between the two factors in the future. Taking listed Chinese manufacturing companies from 2011 to 2020 as an example, this study investigates the influence of ESG activities on financial performance and non-financial performance, and tests the moderating role of green innovation. Our results show that: (1) ESG performance has a negative impact on financial performance; (2) ESG performance has a positive impact on non-financial performance; (3) Green innovation can positively adjust the negative impact of environmental activities on financial performance. However, it will enhance the negative impact of governance activities on financial performance. The interaction effect between green innovation and social activities on corporate financial performance is a substitution effect; (4) With the improvement of green innovation level, the positive impact of ESG overall performance and environmental performance on corporate reputation will also be suppressed.

The aim of this study was to investigate dry matter productivity and nitrate nitrogen content in the growth stages of barnyard millet (Echinochloa esculenta) cultivated for feed, which was treated with different nitrogen fertilization levels. An early variety of barnyard millet (cv. Shirohie) was used for the test, and the different treatments with nitrogen fertilizer were as follows: 50% (N-40 kg/ha, T1), 100% (N-80 kg/ha, reference amount, T2), 150% (N-120 kg/ha, T3), 200% (N- 160 kg/ha, T4), 250% (N-200 kg/ha, T5), and 300% (N-240 kg/ha, T6). Sowing was done on May 13, 2021 and plants were harvested for four stage; vegetative stage, elongation stage, heading stage, and milk stage. The length of the millet increased significantly as the amount of nitrogen fertilization increased during the harvest period (p<0.05), but the difference was insignificant during the milk stage (p>0.05). Moreover, barnyard millet dry matter yield increased significantly as the levels of nitrogen fertilization increased (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in dry matter yield among nitrogen fertilization levels during the heading stage (p>0.05). Chlorophyll also was significantly higher in T5 (250%) at all harvesting times, whereas nitrate nitrogen content was highest at the vegetative stage, gradually decreased as growth progressed, and lowest at the milk stage. Finally, as the nitrogen fertilization levels increased, the nitrate nitrogen content was significantly higher in all treatment groups (p<0.05). Therefore, our results suggest that the most appropriate nitrogen fertilizer levels is between 150%–200%, considering the dry matter yield, feed ingredients and nitrate nitrogen content in barnyard millet for feed.

For the smooth implementation and success of smart city projects, it is necessary to recognize that there is a difference in the perception of value judgments or strategic goals among major stakeholders in the planning process. And it is necessary to aim the values and goals of smart cities through reconciliation of these differences. The two major stakeholders in the smart city development project are citizens group and government officials group. Government officials are in charge of establishing and implementing policies for smart city projects, and their value judgments and perceptions influence the policy direction. In these respects, government officials can be an important stakeholder group. Citizens are a group that includes ordinary residents and business owners who live in smart cities and are the ultimate users of infrastructure and facilities. This study investigated the importance perceptions of citizens and government officials, who are the major stakeholders, about the core values and strategic goals that the smart city project aims. Responses were collected using a structured questionnaire to which the AHP methodology was applied. And the priority of perceptions for constituent items was compared for each stakeholder group. Through the comparative analysis results, it was empirically confirmed that there is a difference in the values and goals pursued by the smart city project between stakeholder groups. As an empirical study on the stakeholders of the smart city project, this study is meaningful in contributing to the theoretical development in that it suggests that the conceptual structural model of the smart city strategy system presented in previous studies can be applied in practice.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is known as an important biomarker for fetal abnormality during first trimester and has a pivotal role in follicle development and corpus luteum formation. And also, it is being revealed that an expression of PAPP-A in various cells and tissues such as cancer and lesion area. PAPP-A is the major IGF binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) protease. Cleavage of IGFBP-4 results in loss of binding affinity for IGF, causing increased IGF bioavailability for proliferation, survival, and migration. Additionally, PAPP-A can be used as a promising therapeutic target for healthy longevity. Despite growing interest, almost nothing is known about how PAPP-A expression is regulated in any tissue. This review will focus on what is currently known about the zinc metalloproteinase, PAPP-A, and its role in cells and tissues. PAPP-A is expressed in proliferating cells such as fetus in uterus, granulosa cells in follicle, dermis in wound, cancer cells, and Sertoli cells in testis. They have common characteristics of proliferation faster than normal cells with stimulating IGFs action and inhibiting IGFBPs. The PAPP-A functions and expression studies in livestock have not yet been conducted much. Further studies are needed to use PAPP-A as a marker for healthy longevity in animal science.

기후 변화의 가속화로 국내 제주 및 남부 지방을 중심으로 열대 및 아열대 작물의 재배 및 소비가 증가하는 추세이다.오크라는 식용적 가치가 있을 뿐만 아니라, 품종별 고유의 꼬 투리와 잎의 색은 관상적 가치가 있어 조경 식물로 많이 사용 되고 있다. 본 연구는 도심 내 옥상 온실에 관상식물인 오크 라를 도입하기 위해 피트모스와 펄라이트 비율에 따른 기초 종자 발아 및 육묘기 실험을 진행하였다. 피트모스와 펄라이 트 비율은 PT:PL=1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 네 가지로 조성하였다. 발 아율은 파종 후 7일차부터 다른 처리구에 비해 피트모스:펄라 이트=1:2의 처리구에서 가장 높았다. 파종 후 28일차와 70일 차에 줄기길이, 경경, 뿌리길이, 지상부와 지하부의 생체중과 건물중 그리고 엽면적은 피트모스:펄라이트=1:2 처리구에서 가장 높았다. 그러나, 파종 후 56일 이후부터 엽수는 피트모 스:펄라이트=1:2, 2:1, 4:1 처리구에서 감소하였다. 피트모스: 펄라이트=1:1, 2:1, 4:1 처리구에서 식물이 필요로 하는 피트 모스의 비율이 지나치게 높아 높은 피트모스 비율로 인하여 수분함수량이 과도하게 높아 식물이 고사한 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 오크라를 관상식물로 활용하기 위해서는 피트모스와 펄라이트를 1:2로 혼합한 배지가 가장 적합하다.

This study aimed to investigate whether bacterial ghosts (BGs), empty cell envelopes of a gram-negative bacterium, delivering envelope protein domain III (EDIII) of dengue virus (DENV) serotype 2 could induce protective immune responses against dengue infection. In this study, we constructed Salmonella Typhimurium BGs expressing and delivering EDIII (BG-EDIII) and evaluated these ghosts for their immunogenicity studies in C57BL/6 mice. Our results demonstrated that the mice vaccinated once orally with BG-EDIII followed by an intramuscular boosting with a recombinant EDIII protein elicited significantly higher humoral and cell-mediated immune responses compared to the BGs alone vaccinated group (p<0.001). Upon challenge with DENV2, significantly lower viral load and liver damage was observed in BG-EDIII vaccinated group than BGs alone control group (p<0.05). The outcomes of this study revealed the ability of BG- EDIII to stimulate immune response with no observable damage to the vital organs.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious vesicular disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, causing substantial economic losses to the livestock industry. The causative FMD virus (FMDV) comprises four structural proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4) and several non-structural proteins. Among the capsid proteins, VP4 is the most conserved, making it an attractive target as a diagnostic and vaccine antigen, regardless of FMDV serotype. In this study, we attempted to express the VP4 protein N-terminally fused to a glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag in Escherichia coli. Whereas VP0 and VP2 proteins were expressed in the soluble fraction, we failed to detect VP4, even in the insoluble fraction. To investigate the effect of VP4 C-terminal amino acid residues on protein expression, we constructed three VP4 mutants fused to GST, among which the mutant in which the C-terminal 15 amino acid residues had been deleted showed the highest level of protein expression. Furthermore, protein expression was observed even in the mutant in which three amino acid residues (DKK) had been fused to the C terminus. However, unlike the other two mutants, the wild-type VP4 mutant was poorly expressed, thereby indicating that the C-terminal amino acid residues could play a pivotal role in determining expression of the VP4 protein in E. coli.

털부처꽃(Lythrum salicaria L.)은 전국에 분포하는 다년생 초본식물로 척박하고 습한 지역을 포함한 다양한 환경에서 잘 자라는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 하천변, 척박지에서 정원 용, 화훼용 및 관상용 식물로 이용이 가능하다. 본 연구는 털 부처꽃의 적정 육묘 조건(토양종류, 플러그 트레이 셀 크기,파종립수, 액비농도 및 차광)을 조사하였다. 대조구(원예상토) 에서 재배된 유묘의 생육이 가장 우수하였다. 반면 피트모스 와 펄라이트의 혼합용토는 육묘기간이 지속되면서 생육수치 가 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. 셀 크기는 용적이 가장 큰 162 셀에서 재배된 유묘의 생육이 우수하였으나, 200셀과 288셀에 서 자란 묘도 건강했다. 한편 유묘의 결주발생을 고려하면 셀 당 2립을 파종하는 것이 적합하였다. 액비 처리는 유묘의 생 육을 촉진하였다. 특히 Hyponex 1000배는 초장, 줄기직경, 엽수, 마디수, 근장, 지상부 생체중 및 지하부 생체중을 증가 시켰다. 또한 유묘의 생육은 55% 차광 하에서 우수하였다. 따 라서 털부처꽃의 가장 효과적인 생육조건은 원예상토가 충진 된 288셀 플러그 트레이에 셀 당 2립을 파종하고 Hyponex 1000배를 시비하면서 55% 차광 하에서 재배하는 것이었다.

Minuartia laricina (L.) Mattf. is a Korean native plant with high potential as a commercial flowering potted plant due to its compactness and long flowering duration. However, because this plant is a groundcover, it is susceptible to lodging and leggy growth. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of plant growth retardants (PGRs) on the inhibition of stem elongation and flowering characteristics of M. laricina. Commercial products, Trimmit, Cycocel, and B-Nine, were used for the exogenous PGR application of paclobutrazol (PBZ), chlormequat chloride (CCC), and daminozide (DMZ), respectively. Application concentrations were 50 and 100 mg·L-1 for PBZ; 100, 500, and 1,000 mg･L-1 for CCC; and 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg·L-1 for DMZ. Paclobutrazol was the only PGR that inhibited stem elongation. The stem lengths of the plants treated with 50 or 100 mg·L-1 PBZ were 2.2 cm (13%) or 9.8 cm (57%) shorter, respectively, than those of the control. 50 mg·L-1 PBZ retarded stem growth effectively without negatively affecting flowering or other growth parameters, whereas 100 mg·L-1 PBZ caused excessive dwarfing and significantly reduced flowering by 59%. CCC and DMZ applications were ineffective for growth control. Flowering time was accelerated with most PGRs, except for 2,000 mg·L-1 DMZ, reducing the time to flowering by 2–8 days. These results indicate that the stem growth of M. laricina was successfully inhibited with PBZ but not with CCC or DMZ. Thus, we concluded that a single application of 50 mg·L-1 PBZ or similar treatment is effective in miniaturizing M. laricina without causing harm to its growth or aesthetic value, such as the flower number. Additionally, because CCC and DMZ are not persistent in the growing medium, testing multiple application times for these PGRs is crucial.

This case report describes satisfactory correction of deep and large canine corneal ulcerations by application of bidirectional corneo-conjunctival transposition (CCT). A 12-year-old spayed female Maltese dog with a large corneal descemetocele, perforation, and blepharospasm of the right eye was referred to Chungbuk National University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. More than half of the thickness of the cornea was damaged, and the ulcer was progressive. On ophthalmic examination, menace response and dazzle reflex were absent. No corneal melting was observed. As the patient had large and deep corneal ulcers, traditional one-sided CCT was not sufficient to cover the wound lesion. To increase corneal transparency after recovery, we decided to perform bidirectional CCT from 12 o’ clock on the dorsal side to 7 o’ clock on the ventral side. The dog was medicated with topical eye drops, ofloxacin, atropine, and moxifloxacin before surgery. Debridement with a diamond burr was then performed around the descemetocele. Five weeks after surgery, the dazzle reflex was restored as the blood vessel receded from the cornea to the conjunctiva. Eight weeks after surgery, corneal transparency and corneal stability were gradually restored, but not completely. Bidirectional CCT provides structural support and helps corneal wound healing in large canine corneal ulceration.

시각적 데이터는 도처에 존재하며 자연어는 인간이 이해할 수 있는 의사소통 수단이다. VQA(Visual Question Answering)는 이미지를 이미지에 대한 입력과 질문으로 취하고 복잡한 추론을 사용하여 자연어 답변을 생성 하는 시스템이다. 따라서, VQA는 답을 예측하기 위해 이미지에 대한 자세한 이해와 복잡한 이유가 필요하 다. 멀티모달 구조와 가능한 실제 구현을 고려할 때, VQA는 인공지능에게 매우 중요한 과제이다. VQA를 위한 심층 신경망에 사용되는 아키텍처와 하이퍼 파라미터는 결과에 큰 영향을 미친다. 이 프로젝트는 이미 지 특징을 추출하기 위해 사전 훈련된 모델(VGGNet)과 단어를 내장하기 위해 Word2Vec를 도입하고 질문에 서 단어 특징을 얻기 위해 LSTM을 도입하고 결과를 결합한 후 가장 높은 확률을 가진 답을 예측한다.

An automated material handling system (AMHS) has been emerging as an important factor in the semiconductor wafer manufacturing industry. In general, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) in the Fab’s AMHS travels hundreds of miles on guided paths to transport a lot through hundreds of operations. The AMHS aims to transfer wafers while ensuring a short delivery time and high operational reliability. Many linear and analytic approaches have evaluated and improved the performance of the AMHS under a deterministic environment. However, the analytic approaches cannot consider a non-linear, non-convex, and black-box performance measurement of the AMHS owing to the AMHS’s complexity and uncertainty. Unexpected vehicle congestion increases the delivery time and deteriorates the Fab’s production efficiency. In this study, we propose a Q-Learning based dynamic routing algorithm considering vehicle congestion to reduce the delivery time. The proposed algorithm captures time-variant vehicle traffic and decreases vehicle congestion. Through simulation experiments, we confirm that the proposed algorithm finds an efficient path for the vehicles compared to benchmark algorithms with a reduced mean and decreased standard deviation of the delivery time in the Fab’s AMHS.

컴퓨터 성능의 발전으로 빅데이터의 효율적인 사용이 가능해지면서, 심층 학습(deep learning)은 다양한 의료 분야에 활용할 수 있는 핵심적인 인공지능(artificial intelligence, AI) 기법으로 각광받고 있다. 이에 본 종설은 뇌종양 진단과 치료에 사용되는 자기공명영상(magnetic resonance imaging, MRI)의 심층 학습 기법을 소개하고자 하였다. 먼저 국내 AI의 의료 분야 도입의 동향을 분석하고, 이를 바탕으로 MRI를 활용한 뇌종양의 진단과 치료에 적용할 수 있는 심층 학습 기법과 그 결과들을 기술하였다. 뇌종양 진단과 치료 시, 심층 학습을 이용한 최근 사례는 영상 분류, 영상 품질 개선, 영상 분할로 나타났으며, 질병의 진단과 치료에 적용할 수 있는 객관적이고 높은 성능 수치를 나타내면서 그 유용성을 확인 할 수 있었다. 종합하자면, 심층 학습은 질병의 진단과 치료에 적용할 수 있는 유용한 지표이며, AI 역량을 지닌 의료진의 지도하에 점진적인 도입이 이뤄진다면 질병의 진단과 치료에 큰 도움을 주는 훌륭한 소프트웨어로 활용될 것으로 여겨진다. 본 종설이 심층 학습을 이해할 때 많은 도움이 되길 바라며, 향후 관련 연구를 수행할 때 가이드라인으로 활용될 것을 기대 한다.

Sustainable capacity building of the rice value chain in Africa is essential in achieving the rice self-sufficiency and poverty alleviation. The breeding capacity enhancement has also been at the heart of AfricaRice’s mandate. Therefore, the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) has concentrated breeding capacity enhancement for young breeders or breeding technicians of national research institutes in the KAFACI member countries. Four-month trainings have been conducted at the Regional Training Center located in Saint Louis, Senegal. The actual practice training is as follows; First is to learn practical skills and techniques of key aspects of rice breeding which are field preparation and layout, sowing, transplanting, fertilizer application, weed control, water management, hybridization/crossing, selection, yield and yield components determination, and rice palatability testing. Second is to learn some theoretical aspects of plant breeding through lectures including basic principles of breeding, evaluation for biotic and abiotic stresses, and statistical analysis. Third is to learn about the accurate use of field and lab equipment for rice breeding. Forth is to learn about proper scientific reporting and presentation. The courses were organized twice per year following two rice cultivation seasons in Senegal. From 2019, a total of 24 trainees participated in the 4 month courses. We believe they have acquired the basic knowledge and skills to implement rice breeding activities indpendently in their countries.

The Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) has been cooperating with AfricaRice since 2014 for the eradication of hunger and poverty in Africa through sustainable agriculture and its industrialization. At first, rice breeding activities for staple food production started with KAFACI member countries by sharing high-yielding Tongil-type rice breeding lines and varieties. The Africa Rice Development Partnership project entitled “Enhancement of high-yielding rice germplasm and breeding capacity of rice producing countries in Africa” is implemented for the period from 2016 to 2025 with three phases. The actual rice breeding activities have been conducted by applying anther culture haploid breeding technology in the laboratory and field of AfricaRice Saint-Louis center. The 1,547 elite lines selected through participatory variety selection were distributed to 21 national breeders of KAFACI member countries. These lines derived from the 1,181 cross combination and 34,616 breeding lines on Korea and AfricaRice germplasm crossed. Among them 11 new Tongil-type rice varieties have been selected and registered in the national variety catalogue of Senegal, Mali, Rwanda, Malawi, and Tanzania.

고치벌과의 송충살이고치벌아과에 속하는 Aleiodes conina Quicke and Butcher, 2012를 국내 최초로 보고한다. 본 종에 대한 진단, 분포 및 삽화를 제공한다.