Forage crop cultivation and management are the greatest challenge under warm and dry climatic conditions. In this study, we estimated the productivity of three Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids (SSH) cultivars in Cheonan, Korea, under different weather conditions during 2021-2023. The selected three cultivars performed well in the first and second cutting time during the experimental period and the plant growth characteristics were slightly different among cultivars. Particularly, the plant height was highest in Superdan cultivars (282 ± 24, 271 ± 30 cm), followed by Dairy mens dream (263 ± 39, 283 ± 29 cm) and Supergreen (270 ± 36, 264 ± 34 cm), for the first and second cuts respectively. The stem diameter slightly decreased in the second cut compared with the first cut of SSH cultivars. The highest stem diameter was found in Superdan cultivars (11.1 ± 1.7 mm), greater than Supergreen (10.2 ± 1.7 mm), and Dairy mens dream (9.5 ± 1.8 mm). Also, the total dry matter yield (DMY) was highest in Dairy mens dream (28,868 ± 6,653 kg/ha) followed by Supergreen and Superdan cultivars. In 2021 and 2023, the highest plant height, stem diameter and DMY were measured in the selected cultivars compared to 2022. The crude protein level was higher in the first cutting of all three cultivars at approximately 9-12%, in the order of Supergreen > Dairy mens dream > Superdan varieties. Moreover, the crude protein content was lowest in the second harvest of all cultivars, but the NDF and ADF levels did not alter in both harvest periods across different cultivars and years. In conclusion, the selected cultivars for SSH forage production could be efficient and recommended in the Cheonan region. However, the choice of cutting time and optimum precipitation should be considered to further increase SSH forage cultivation.

Moringa oleifera, a versatile plant, has been traditionally used to treat various ailments and is gaining scientific attention due to its potential as a medicine. Native to the Indian subcontinent, it is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions, thriving in Asia, Africa, and South America, especially in arid climates. This study explores the antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE), employing a comprehensive screening approach with various solvents to identify the most effective extraction method. Initial experiments assessed antioxidant efficacy and yield using distilled water (D.W.), 95% ethanol, and 95% methanol. Among these, 95% ethanol extract demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, confirmed through assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-14 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, total polyphenol content analysis, and reducing power assay. In addition, with the 95% ethanol MOLE, a higher extraction efficiency was yielded compared to other solvents, making it the most effective for large-scale preparation. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of key bioactive compounds, including ellagic acid, rutin, Q-3-O, quercetin, and kaempferol. Results revealed that MOLE, prepared using 95% ethanol, exhibited remarkable antioxidant properties, attributed to its rich polyphenolic content. This research underscores the therapeutic potential of MOLE as a natural antioxidant source and highlights the importance of solvent optimization in phytochemical extractions.

Background: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are capable of differencing into various cell types in the body, providing them valuable for therapy of degenerative diseases. Patientspecific treatments using PSCs, such as mesenchymal stem cells in patient’s own body, may reduce the risk of immune rejection. Inducing the differentiation of PSCs into vascular endothelial cells (ECs) altering culture conditions or using specific growth factors is able to applied to the treatment of vascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to induce the differentiation of porcine epiblast stem cells (pEpiSCs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pBM-MSCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pAMSCs) into ECs and then examine the functionality of vascular ECs. Methods: Porcine pEpiSCs, pBM-MSCs and pA-MSCs were induced to differentiate into ECs on matrigel-coated plates in differentiation medium (EBM-2 + 50 ng/mL of VEGF) for 8 days. Cells differentiated from these stem cells were isolated using CD-31 positive (+) magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and then proliferated in M199 medium. Evaluation of ECs differentiated from these stem cells was treated with capillary-like structure formation and three-dimensional spheroid sprouting assay. Results: Porcine pEpiSCs, pBM-MSCs and pA-MSCs showed similar expression of pluripotency-related genes (OCT-3/4. NANOG, SOX2). These stem cells were differentiated into vascular ECs, but showed different morphologies after the differentiation. Cells differentiated from pEpiSCs showed an elongated spindle-like morphology, whereas cells differentiated from pBM-MSCs showed a round pebble-like morphology. In the case of pA-MSCs, these two morphologies were mixed with each other. Additionally, vascular ECs differentiated from these stem cells showed different formation of capillary-like structure formation and three-dimensional spheroid sprouting assay. Conclusions: Cells differentiated from pEpiSCs, pBM-MSCs and pA-MSCs presented the functionality of different vascular ECs, demonstrating the potential of the excellent ECs differentiated from pEpiSCs.

This study developed an unmanned autonomous moving algae collection device (HAMA-bot) to remove high-density algae concentrated in the waterfront of urban agricultural reservoirs, and analyzed the effect of algae removal after field application to medium-sized urban reservoir. The algae reduction effect (Chl-a) of the study site in the reservoir by the HAMA-bot operation showed an average 18.5% higher in the treatment area compared to the control area before operation, while the average reduction of 24% in the treatment area after operation. In addition, the Chl-a removal rate, which directly analyzed the influent and effluent of HAMA-bot, showed a very high level with an average of 96.9% (94.7~99.2%). Currently, it is optimized for urban reservoirs and manufactured on a small scale, but it is a useful tool that can be applied on a large scale to large dams and rivers, and it is considered that the field applicability would be improved with the optimized scale.

Coffee is a major traded item worldwide. Uganda, where the coffee sector provides a livelihood to 1.8 million households, is Africa’s second-biggest coffee exporter. Pests and diseases are significant constraints affecting coffee production. Although the Ugandan government has implemented strategies to assist farmers in addressing these constraints, coffee pests and diseases continue to affect the yield and quality of coffee crops. This ongoing issue highlights the need for more effective and sustainable solutions to protect coffee production in Uganda. This review examined two prevalent diseases and two major pests known to significantly impact Uganda’s coffee systems. It explored strategies that pathogens and pests would utilize to invade and colonize coffee plants. Furthermore, this review evaluated current challenges and prospects for improving coffee pest and disease management. By offering valuable insights and recommendations, it aims to equip agricultural stakeholders with the knowledge needed to develop and implement more effective strategies for combating these persistent threats to coffee production in Uganda.

목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈의 광학적 특성을 분석하고, 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈를 이해하는 데 도움이 되는 자료를 제시하는 것이다. 방법 : 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈(소재 방법 및 코팅 방법)와 일반 렌즈를 시감투과율 0, 2, 3등급( 10종)으로 구 분하여, 250∼1,400 nm의 분광 투과율을 측정하였고, 청색광 및 근적외선 차단율을 산출하였다. 또한, 주행 중 교통 신호등 감지에 대한 적합도를 확인하기 위해 상대 시각 감쇄 계수(Q)를 분석하였다. 결과 : 시감투과율 분류 0, 2, 3등급에서 투과율은 일반렌즈가 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈보다 높았다(p<0.05). 410∼470 nm 영역에서 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈와 일반렌즈의 청색광 차단율은 차이가 없었고(p>0.05), 470 nm ∼500 nm 영역의 0, 2, 3등급은 차이가 있었다(p<0.05). 근적외선(780 nm∼1,400 nm) 영역의 차단율은 0, 2, 3등급에서 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈가 일반 렌즈에 비해 높았고(p<0.05), 근적외선 차단 성능이 더 우수함을 입증 하였다. 근적외선의 침투로 인해 영향을 받는 눈과 피부 영역에서 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈는 일반 렌즈보다 차단율 이 높았고(p<0.05), 일반렌즈 보다 근적외선의 침투를 감소시킬 수 있을 것이다. 동일한 차단율의 0등급 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈는 소재 방식보다 코팅방식 차단 렌즈의 차단 성능이 좋았다(p<0.05). 시감투과율 0, 2, 3등급에서 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈는 주행 중 교통 신호등 감지를 위한 색 구별에 적합했다. 결론 : 시감투과율 분류 0, 2, 3등급에서 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈는 일반 렌즈에 비해 높은 차단율을 나타내어 그 성능을 입증하였고, 근적외선의 영향을 받는 눈과 피부의 파장 영역에서도 근적외선의 침투를 감소시킬 수 있을 것이다. 결과적으로, 근적외선 차단 안경렌즈의 광학적 특성에 대해 이해하는데 도움이 되는 자료를 제공하였다.

Malaria remains a significant public health issue, particularly in regions such as the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Effective malaria control and prevention require precise prediction of mosquito density across both monitored and unmonitored areas. This study aimed to develop predictive models to estimate the abundance of malaria vector mosquitoes by integrating meteorological and geographical data. Data from mosquito surveillance sites and NASA MODIS land cover datasets acquired between 2009 and 2022 were utilized. Two predictive models, the Gradient Boosted Model (GBM) and Principal Component Regression (PCR), were employed and evaluated. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R²). Results showed that PCR outperformed GBM in predictive accuracy, suggesting that PCR is more robust in handling multicollinearity among variables. However, both models did not show practically-usable level of prediction performance. This study provides a preliminary but foundational framework for extending predictive modeling to broader regions, thereby supporting malaria prevention efforts through improved risk mapping.

Probiotics have been evaluated as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment in an increasing number of studies. This study investigated the inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of specific Lactobacillus strains on a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29). The strains assessed were Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272). The viability of HT-29 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. The findings revealed that cell-free supernatants (CFS) exhibited significant anticancer effects. Heat-inactivated L. reuteri VA 105 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 induced a pronounced reduction in cell viability. Furthermore, live cultures of L. reuteri VA 105 and L. reuteri VA 102 also showed reduced cell viability compared to the control group. These results suggest that CFS and heat-inactivated cells may be more suitable for therapeutic applications than live bacteria owing to their improved safety profiles and reduced potential for adverse effects. Our findings also emphasize the potential anticancer benefits of these LAB strains.

This study was conducted to investigate changes in immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration, nutrient content, and microbial communities of fresh and heat-treated Holstein colostrum collected from a colostrum bank operated by a local agricultural technology center in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Of the 16 colostrum samples, 8 were heated at 60℃ for 30 min under a pressure of 0.9–1 bar. The colostrum samples were stored at −70℃ until use, at which time they were thawed at 50–55℃ in a water bath to analyze IgG levels, chemical composition, and microbiome, which was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq-PE250 platform. The IgG concentrations were similar in fresh and heat-treated colostrum. The fat, protein, and lactose contents also did not differ in these samples. However, somatic cell count (SCC) was lower in heat-treated colostrum than those in fresh colostrum (p<0.05). At the phylum level for the microbiome of fresh colostrum, Proteobacteria (44.16%) was the most abundant taxa, followed by Bacteroidota (33.26%), Firmicutes (10.04%), Actinobacteriota (7.14%), and a marginal difference in the order of abundance was observed in heat-treated colostrum. At the genus level, bacteria belonging to Sphingomonas, Delftia, Ochrobactrum, Simplicispira, and Lactobacillus were more abundant (p<0.05) in the heat-treated colostrum, while the abundance of Acinetobacter in the fresh colostrum was four times more (p<0.05) than that in the heat-treated colostrum. Our results demonstrated that heating does not affect IgG level and colostrum composition but reduces SCC (p<0.05), suggesting that heat-treated colostrum can potentially be put to further use (e.g., feeding Hanwoo calves) without compromising its quality. Differences in the microbiome between the fresh and heat-treated colostrum were limited. Further studies are required to extensively investigate the quality and safety of colostrum collected from dairy farms to ensure better utilization and processing at a local agricultural technology center.

This study investigates how working memory (WM) capacity and L2 linguistic knowledge affect L2 literal and inferential reading comprehension, considering the presence or absence of background knowledge. Eighty upper-intermediate to advanced adult English learners participated, completing tasks to assess WM capacity, background knowledge, L2 linguistic knowledge, and reading comprehension (both literal and inferential). Stepwise regression analyses revealed that WM capacity had a stronger influence on both literal and inferential comprehension when background knowledge was absent. For literal comprehension, L2 linguistic knowledge was the sole predictor when background knowledge was present, while WM capacity dominated in its absence. Inferential comprehension was consistently predicted by WM capacity, regardless of background knowledge. These findings indicate that WM capacity and L2 linguistic knowledge influence L2 reading comprehension differently depending on background knowledge and the type of comprehension. Implications include incorporating WM training into L2 reading instruction and employing diverse WM assessment methods to measure WM independently of L2 linguistic proficiency.

Background: Evaluating embryo quality is crucial for the success of in vitro fertilization procedures. Traditional methods, such as the Gardner grading system, rely on subjective human assessment of morphological features, leading to potential inconsistencies and errors. Artificial intelligence-powered grading systems offer a more objective and consistent approach by reducing human biases and enhancing accuracy and reliability. Methods: We evaluated the performance of five convolutional neural network architectures—EfficientNet-B0, InceptionV3, ResNet18, ResNet50, and VGG16— in grading blastocysts into five quality classes using only embryo images, without incorporating clinical or patient data. Transfer learning was applied to adapt pretrained models to our dataset, and data augmentation techniques were employed to improve model generalizability and address class imbalance. Results: EfficientNet-B0 outperformed the other architectures, achieving the highest accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and F1-score across all evaluation metrics. Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping was used to interpret the models’ decision-making processes, revealing that the most successful models predominantly focused on the inner cell mass, a critical determinant of embryo quality. Conclusions: Convolutional neural networks, particularly EfficientNet-B0, can significantly enhance the reliability and consistency of embryo grading in in vitro fertilization procedures by providing objective assessments based solely on embryo images. This approach offers a promising alternative to traditional subjective morphological evaluations.

Humic acids (HA), with their irregular polymeric structures and largely existing in grassland, present challenges in quality control due to significant variations in biological activities depending on extraction sources. To address this, we explored industrial byproducts as potential alternatives mimicking HA-like bioactivities. This study evaluates sulfite lignin, a byproduct of the pulp industry, as an eco-friendly biostimulant for enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance. Sulfite lignin demonstrated HA-like bioactivities, promoting seed germination and salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Germination assays revealed that sulfite lignin significantly improved radicle and cotyledon emergence, particularly at low concentrations (8.6 mg L⁻¹), outperforming HA and kraft lignin. Additionally, under salt stress conditions, sulfite lignin-treated plants exhibited healthier phenotypes and maintained higher chlorophyll content compared to control treatments, similar to HA and kraft lignin. The findings highlight sulfite lignin as a promising, sustainable, and cost-effective biofertilizer, effectively replicating HA's biological functions while leveraging industrial byproducts.

목적 : 근시 교정용 비구면렌즈를 대상으로 중심 두께와 굴절률 및 굴절력 그리고 직경이 가장자리 두께와 무게에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 비교하고 분석하고자 하였다. 방법 : 시중에 판매되고 있는 근시 교정용 렌즈를 굴절률(1.56~1.74)과 굴절력(-3.00~-8.00 D)별로 252개를 대상으로 선정하였다. 굴절률과 굴절력별로 40.00, 50.00 및 60.00 mm 직경 크기로 평산각 가공하여 가장자리 두께와 무게를 측정하여 그 결과를 비교 분석하였다. 결과 : 가장자리 두께는 직경이 1.00 mm 증가하였을 때 0.11 mm 증가하고 굴절력이 –1.00 D 증가하였을 때 0.50 mm 증가하며 굴절률이 한 단계 높아질 때 0.24 mm 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 무게는 직경이 1.00 mm 증가 하였을 때 0.42 g 증가하고 굴절력이 –1.00 D 증가하였을 때 0.75 g 증가하며 굴절률이 한 단계 높아질 때 0.08 g 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 가장자리 두께와 무게와의 인과관계는 직경이 가장 크고, 굴절력, 굴절률, 중심 두께 순으 로 나타났으며 가장자리 두께가 1.00 mm 증가하면 무게는 2.57 g 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 : 근시안을 비구면렌즈로 교정하고자 할 때, 굴절이상도와 안경렌즈 각 요소와의 관계를 고려하여 안경렌 즈를 선택하면 가장자리 두께 및 무게 감소에 도움이 되리라 사료된다.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth of ASEAN countries. This study also discovered impacts of other factors such as labor force, trade openness, gross fixed capital formation, domestic credit, and pandemic on economic growth. We used country panel data during the period of 1998-2021 from nine ASEAN countries including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Data were collected from world development indicators of the World Bank and UNCTAD database. Estimation results from fixed effects models showed a consistency in terms of impact of foreign direct investment on economic growth between two outputs (GDP per capita and national GDP). This study found that foreign direct investment had a positive and significant effect on economic growth in the ASEAN region. Moreover, control factors also impacted economic growth positively, except for COVID- 19 v ariable, w hich h ad a n egative impact. Labor force had the strongest impact, followed by gross fixed capital formation, COVID-19, and bank credit. Based on these results, some implications for ASEAN policymakers are suggested.

In this study, an simultaneous LC-MS/MS multi-residue analytical method was developed and validated for the residues of six neonicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) in honey. Sample preparation included a combination of QuEChERS extraction kit and liquid-liquid extraction method to effectively extract pesticide components from the honey matrix and optimized analytical conditions to achieve high sensitivity and selectivity. The limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantitation (LOQ) were set in the range of 6-15 ng/mL and 19-44 ng/mL, respectively and the correlation coefficient (R²) was greater than 0.99, confirming good linearity. In addition, the intra-day recoveries for each pesticide were 75-104%, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was less than 20%, which met the guideline recommended by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The LC-MS/MS method developed in this study is expected to be used as a multi-residue analysis method for 6 neonicotinoid pesticides in honey.

Oyster mushrooms were analyzed to confirm the effect of installing a convection fan on the uniformity of the environment inside the cultivation house, the quantity of fruiting bodies, and marketability for stable production. When using a convection fan, it was confirmed that the temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration were maintained more uniformly than when not used.As for the characteristics of the fruiting bodies, the quantity per bottle was 177.3 g when using a convection fan, which was 17% higher than when not used, and the individual weight was 49% higher. In addition, the cap diameter, cap thickness, and stem thickness increased slightly in the convection fan treatment, and the stem length was shorter.

The Ansan Reclaimed Wetland, reclaimed in 1986 and maintained for 38 years, underwent two wetland function assessments to develop strategies for enhancing biodiversity and conservation. The biota of the reclaimed wetland showed an increase in the number of species observed across most taxa, while the number of amphibian and reptile species decreased. Among legally protected species and specific species, Aix galericulata and Lefua costata were not observed, whereas Libellula angelina were introduced. The results were categorized into “protection or improvement” and “enhancement.” Proposed conservation measures include removing planted shrubs, maintaining waterways, and installing gabion structures and wildlife corridors.

This study was conducted to confirm whether domestic fruit tree pruning residues can replace sawdust, which is the main ingredient of mushroom medium. The five types of fruit tree pruning residues collected were from apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and citrus. The basic components of these residues were analyzed. The pH ranged from 5.2 to 7.0, the Total carbon(T-C) ranged from 46.0% to 47.2%, the Total nitrogen(T-N) ranged from 0.5% to 0.9%, and the moisture content ranged from 12.4% to 14.2%, which was identified as an appropriate range for growing mushrooms. In order to confirm the possibility of mycelial growth of oyster mushroom "Suhan", column tests were conducted based on the conventional medium(poplar sawdust 49.5: cotton seed hull 27.3: beet pulp 12.7: cotton seed meal 10.5, v/v). As a result of incubation at 25°C for 28 days, grape branches showed the fastest growth at 143 mm compared to the control, which showed 135 mm. The yield per bottle was comparable, with grape branches(134g/bottle) and control(139g/bottle). Additionally, the quality of the fruiting bodies was comparable across all Processed lots. It means grape branches can be used as alternative sawdust materal. In the future, it is expected that using by-products as substitutes for carbon sources and main ingredients will help reduce farm production costs and protect the environment.

The winter forage triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivar ‘Onggoljin’ was developed in 2018 by Central Area Crop Breeding Division, the National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, as a winter forage. ‘Onggoljin’ has green leaves with medium length and narrower blade width compared to ‘Joseong’. ‘Onggoljin’ has shorter length spikes, a slightly longer awn than ‘Joseong’, and it’s anther without anthocyanin color. The seeds of ‘Onggoljin’ was shorter in both length and thickness than those of ‘Joseong’, with a yellowish-brown grain coat color. The heading date of ‘Onggoljin’ was at April 23 nationwide on average, two days later than ‘Joseong’. It exhibits stronger winter hardness, and simmilar lodging and desease resistance compared to ‘Joseong’. The plant height of ‘Onggoljin’ was longer than that of ‘Joseong’, and its fresh matter yield and dry matter yield were 46.31 tons/ha and 15.75 tons/ha, respectively, representing 18% and 17% higher than ‘Joseong’. The forage quality characteristics of ‘Onggoljin’ at late milky stage were crude protein content of 6.2%, neutral detergent fiber content of 59.5%, acid detergent fiber content of 34.4%, and total digestible nutrients content of 61.8%, and the silage quality was grade 2. The grain yield of ‘Onggoljin’ was 6.57 tons per ha.

Background: The ability of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to transduce various cell types with minimal immune responses renders them prominent vectors for gene editing (GE), with different AAV serotypes exhibiting distinct transduction efficiencies due to their specific cellular tropism. However, detailed molecular processes of AAV infection and penetration, as well as the optimal serotype for specific purposes, remain poorly understood. Porcine models are widely used in research benefitting both human and livestock due to anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Methods: Transduction efficiencies of 18 AAV serotypes (AAV1–9, 6.2, rh10, DJ, DJ/8, PHP.eB, PHP.S, 2-retro, 2-QuadYF, and 2.7m8) were evaluated in immortalized porcine lung epithelial cells (pLCsImt) and pulmonary alveolar macrophages 3D4/31 (PAMs 3D4/31). Results: We found AAV2, DJ, and 2.7m8 to be the most effective in both cell types. The highest enhanced green fluorescent protein expression of 52.46 ± 2.4% in pLCsImt and 64.08 ± 2.4% in PAMs 3D4/31 was observed for AAV2, while negligible transduction was observed for AAV4, rh10, DJ, PHP.eB, PHP.S, and 2-retro. AAV-DJ showed superior transduction efficiency in PK-15, as compared to AAV2 and 2.7m8. Results emphasize the cell type-specific nature of AAV serotype transduction efficiencies. Notably, AAV2 was most effective in both lung and macrophage cells, whereas AAV-DJ was more effective in renal cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that AAV2 was identified as the most efficient serotype for transducing pLCsImt and PAMs 3D4/31, compare to the PK-15 cells. Understanding cell type-specific preferences of AAV serotypes offer crucial insight for tailoring AAV vectors to specific tissue and optimizing genome editing strategies, with potential implications for the advancement of personalized medicine and development of treatments for human and livestock.