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.

This study investigated the influence of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and progesterone on acrosome reaction and proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition boar sperm. The sperm were diluted with semen extender and incubated with NaHCO3 and progesterone at 38℃, 5% CO2 for 6 h. Plasma membrane integrity and acrosome reaction were analyzed using SYBR14/propidium iodide (PI) and FITC-PNA/PI doubling staining method, and proportion of PUFA was analyzed using gas chromatography. In results, Plasma membrane integrity was significantly decreased in 50 mM NaHCO3 group and acrosome reaction was significantly increased by over the 100 mM NaHCO3 group compared to control group (p < 0.05). In addition, progesterone significantly increased decreased plasma membrane integrity at 100 mM progesterone and acrosome reaction at over the 5.0 µM progesterone (p < 0.05), but there was no difference among the 5.0 to 100 µM groups. PUFAs were significantly decreased in 100 mM NaHCO3 and 50 µM progesterone treatments compared to control group. In summary NaHCO3 and progesterone induce acrosome reaction and reduce PUFA composition in boar sperm, therefore, the results maybe help to understand basically knowledge for the acrosome reaction and PUFA composition in boar sperm.

Fescues, which are widely cultivated as grasses and forages around the world, are often naturally infected with the endophyte, Epichloë. This fungus, transmitted through seeds, imparts resistance to drying and herbivorous insects in its host without causing any external damage, thereby contributing to the adaptation of the host to the environment and maintaining a symbiosis. However, some endophytes, such as E. coenophialum synthesize ergovaline or lolitrem B, which accumulate in the plant and impart anti-mammalian properties. For example, when livestock consume excessive amounts of grass containing toxic endophytes, problems associated with neuromuscular abnormalities, such as convulsions, paralysis, high fever, decreased milk production, reproductive disorders, and even death, can occur. Therefore, pre-inoculation with non-toxic endogenous fungi or management with endophyte-free grass is important in preventing damage to livestock and producing high-quality forage. To date, the diagnosis of endophytes has been mainly performed by observation under a microscope following staining, or by performing an immune blot assay using a monoclonal antibody. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular diagnostic method is gaining importance in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and healthcare given the method’s advantages. These include faster results, with greater accuracy and sensitivity than those obtained using conventional diagnostic methods. For the diagnosis of endophytes, the nested PCR method is the only available option developed; however, it is limited by the fact that the level of toxic alkaloid synthesis cannot be estimated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop a triplex real-time PCR diagnostic method that can determine the presence or absence of endophyte infection using DNA extracted from seeds within 1 h, while simultaneously detecting easD and LtmC genes, which are related to toxic alkaloid synthesis. This new method was then also applied to real field samples.

This study was conducted to investigate the forage characteristics of very early-maturing Italian ryegrass (IRG) three cultivars within September, 2021 to July, 2022 in Cheonan, Korea. We used three different cultivars of Italian ryegrass in this study “Greenfarm” “Greenfarm2ho” and “Greenfarm3ho” The results of heading date in this study, “Greenfarm” was recorded 3 days earlier than the other two cultivars, and its lodge tolerance score was the highest among the three. However, in case of plant length, there was no significantly difference in whole cultivars, in addition disease resistance, insect resistance and cold tolerance were not significantly different in three cultivars. The forage productivity of “Greenfarm2ho” was recorded the highest, especially the 1st harvesting of “Greenfarm2ho” yielded significantly the highest and superior to other varieties. As a result of feed value analysis, three cultivars were generally superior to overseas varieties and in particular, “Greenfarm2ho” was recorded to have excellent value because of the lowest NDF and ADF content. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in crude protein content among three varieties. In case of the monosaccharides content "Greenfarm3ho” had significantly higher glucose content than other two varieties, therefore the “Greenfarm” has advantage for preparing high quality of silage. In contrast, there was no significant difference among three varieties in fructose content.

Bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells are commonly used to study mammary gland development and mastitis. Lipopolysaccharide is a major bacterial cell membrane component that can induce inflammation. Autophagy is an important regulatory mechanism participating in the elimination of invading pathogens. In this study, we evaluated the mechanism underlying bacterial mastitis and mammary cell death following lipopolysaccharide treatment. After 24 h of 50 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide treatment, a significant decrease in the proliferation rate of MAC-T cells was observed. However, no changes were observed upon treatment of MAC-T cells with 10 μg/mL of lipopolysaccharide for up to 48 h. Thus, upon lipopolysaccharide treatment, MAC-T cells exhibit dose-dependent effects of growth inhibition at 10 μg/mL and death at 50 μg/mL. Treatment of MAC-T cells with 50 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide also induced the expression of autophagy-related genes ATG3, ATG5, ATG10, ATG12, MAP1LC3B, GABARAP-L2, and BECN1. The autophagy-related LC3A/B protein was also expressed in a dose-dependent manner upon lipopolysaccharide treatment. Based on these results, we suggest that a high dose of bacterial infection induces mammary epithelial cell death related to autophagy signals.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of planting densities on the growth characteristics, dry matter yield, and feed value of “Geukdong 6” (a new variety of corn for feed). The experimental design was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of six planting densities, 60 cm × 25 cm (T1), 60 cm × 30 cm (T2), 70 cm × 25 cm (T3), 70 cm × 30 cm (T4), 80 cm × 25 cm (T5) and 80 cm × 30 cm (T6). All treatments were sown on May 14, 2021, and the harvest was on October 3 (late flowering). Plant length and the number of tillers were the highest in T5 (p<0.05), but the number of leaves and stem diameter were the highest in T6 than in the other treatments (p<0.05). Leaf length, leaf width, and dead leaf were not significantly different among the treatments. Organic matter was highest in T6, and crude protein was highest in T5 (p<0.05). The ether extract was not significantly different among the treatments. Crude fiber, NDF, and ADF were highest in T2 with relatively higher planting density (p<0.05). Calcium and phosphorus were not significantly different among the treatments. TDN content was the highest in T3 (p<0.05). Sugar degree (Brix), fructose, glucose, dextran, isomerose, and inverted sugar were not significantly different among the treatment. Fresh yield, dry matter yield and TDN yield were higher in order of T6 > T5 > T4 > T3 > T2 > T1 (p<0.05). Relatively feed value was higher in order of T3 > T6 > T5 > T1 > T4 > T2 (p<0.05). Based on the above results, planting density could be recommended from 80 cm × 30 cm for efficient production of “Geukdong 6”.

Aster 속에 속하는 자생식물로는 눈갯쑥부쟁이, 개쑥부쟁이, 쑥부쟁이, 벌개미취, 참취 등이 있는데, 대부분 식용 또는 관상용 으로 많이 활용되고 있다. 특히 눈갯쑥부쟁이는 제주 한라산(표 고 1,200~1500m근처)에서 자생하는 한반도 특산식물로써, 다른 Aster 속과 다르게 포복성을 가지고 있고 개체당 소화의 수가 많아 관상가치가 매우 뛰어나다. 또한 파종 당해년에도 개화가 가능하기 때문에 유망한 관상식물 자원이라 할 수 있다. 본 연구 에서는, 한반도 특산 눈갯쑥부쟁이의 유전자원 보존 및 대량번 식을 위한 기초자료를 확보하고자 종자의 발아특성 및 휴면유형 을 분류하였다. 눈갯쑥부쟁이 종자는 형태적으로 완전하게 발달 된 배를 가지고 있고, 배양 72시간 내에 145%의 수분을 흡수하 였다. 4가지 온도조건(4°C, 15/6°C, 20/10°C, 25/15°C)에 배양한 결과, 광조건에서는 각각 67.0%, 58.9%, 62.2%, 71.6% 발아하였 고, 암조건에서는 각각 79.4%, 65.9%, 65.9%, 49.1% 발아하였 다. 저온층적처리(4°C) 실험 결과, 최종 발아율에는 큰 차이가 없었으나, 층적처리 기간 동안에도 발아하는 특성을 관찰하였 다. GA3처리 후 25/15°C에 배양한 결과, 0, 10, 100, 1000mg·L-1 처리에서 각각 57.9%, 68.3%, 74.9%, 63.9%의 발아율을 보였 다. 15/6°C에 배양한 경우에는 각각 78.3%, 62.8%, 72.2%, 55.9% 발아하였다. 본 연구에서는 위 실험들을 통하여, 약 80% 정도는 non-dormant 종자로, 나머지 약 20%는 생리적 휴면 (physiological dormancy)을 가지고 있는 것으로 판단되었다.

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.

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.

매미나방은 산림과 과수에 심각한 피해를 입히는 해충이다. 본 연구에서는 국내 매미나방의 미토콘드리아 게놈(15,548 bp)을 분석하였다. 13개의 PCG와 2개의 rRNA를 연결한 서열(13,568 bp)을 사용한 23개의 미토콘드리아 게놈의 계통분석 결과, 분석한 매미나방은 다른 지역의 매 미나방과 같은 과에 속하며 각각의 과(Erebidae, Euteliidae, Noctuidae, Nolidae, Notodontidae)들은 높은 노드수치로 단계통을 형성하였다.

본 연구에서 Periphyllus acerihabitans를 국내에서 최초로 보고한다. 이 종의 분포지역, 기주식물, 무시성충의 형태학적 정보와 분류키를 제공 하였다.

계란의 비린내 강도는 가금류의 종류와 개인의 인식에 따라 다르지만 여러 요인에 의해 발생할 수 있다. 특히 트 리메틸아민(TMA)이 원인으로 밝혀졌다. 주목할만한 점은 리보플라빈이 TMA를 무취의 트리메틸아민-N-옥사이드로 전환시키는 역할을 하는 효소인 플라빈 함유 모노옥시게 나제 3의 활성을 증가시킬 수 있다는 점이다. 본 연구는 난황의 TMA 함량을 분석하여 비린내에 대한 기여도를 평 가하고, 비린내를 방지하는 방법을 개발하는 것을 목적으 로 하였다. 고체상 미세추출-기체 크로마토그래피/질량 분 석법을 사용하여 리보플라빈이 강화, 보충된 사료를 먹인 암탉의 난황에 있는 휘발성 화합물을 감지하고 정량화했다. 또한 샘플 간 휘발성 물질의 상대적 함량을 비교하기 위해 전자코를 이용하여 상관관계 연구를 수행하였다. TMA는 콜린이 함유된사료를 섭취한 가금류의 난황에서 고농도로 검출되었지만 리보플라빈이 보충된 사료를 섭취한 가금류 에서는 검출되지 않았다. 전반적으로, 이 연구는 리보플라 빈이 TMA를 포함하여 계란에 존재하는 휘발성 물질의 양 과 품질에 영향을 미친다는 것을 시사한다. 이러한 발견 이 계란의 비린내를 줄이는 것은 물론 품질 향상에 기여 하기를 기대한다.

Thermodynamically, TRUOx, REOx, and SrOx can be chlorinated using ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) as a chlorinating agent, whereas uranium oxides (U3O8 and UO2) remain in the oxide form. In the preliminary experiments of this study, U3O8 and CeO2 are reacted separately with NH4Cl at 623 K in a sealed reactor. CeO2 is highly reactive with NH4Cl and becomes chlorinated into CeCl3. The chlorination yield ranges from 96% to 100%. By contrast, U3O8 remains as UO2 even after chlorination. We produced U/REOx- and U/SrOx-simulated fuels to understand the chlorination characteristics of the oxide compounds. Each simulated fuel is chlorinated with NH4Cl, and the products are dissolved in LiCl-KCl salt to separate the oxide compounds from the chloride salt. The oxide compounds precipitate at the bottom. The precipitate and salt phases are sampled and analyzed via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The analysis results indicate that REOx and SrOx can be easily chlorinated from the simulated fuels; however, only a few of U oxide phases is chlorinated, particularly from the U/SrOx-simulated fuels.

Busulfan is the most commonly used drug for preconditioning during the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells and male germ cells. Here, we describe side effects of high doses of busulfan in male mongrel dogs. Busulfan was intravenously administered to three groups of dogs at doses of 10, 15, and 17.5 mg/kg body weight. The total white blood cell, neutrophil, eosinophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts steadily reduced in a dose-dependent manner following busulfan treatment. The white blood cell, neutrophil, and monocyte counts recovered after 6 weeks of busulfan treatment, however, the eosinophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts remained unaltered. Additionally, there was one fatality in the each of the groups that were administered 15 and 17.5 mg/kg busulfan. The gross lesions included severe hemorrhage in the stomach, intestinal tracts, mesentery and urinary bladder. Microscopic investigation revealed severe pulmonary edema and hemorrhage in the lungs, and severe multifocal to coalescing transmural hemorrhage in the intestines and urinary bladder. These results indicated that treatment with busulfan at doses higher than 15 mg/kg initiates severe bleeding in the internal organs and can have fatal results.

The ovary undergoes substantial physiological changes along with estrus phase to mediate negative/positive feedback to the upstream reproductive tissues and to play a role in producing a fertilizable oocyte in the developing follicles. However, the disorder of estrus cycle in female can lead to diseases, such as cystic ovary which is directly associated with decline of overall reproductive performance. In gene expression studies of ovaries, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay has been widely applied. During this assay, although normalization of target genes against reference genes (RGs) has been indispensably conducted, the expression of RGs is also variable in each experimental condition which can result in false conclusion. Because the understanding for stable RG in porcine ovaries was still limited, we attempted to assess the stability of RGs from the pool of ten commonly used RGs (18S, B2M, PPIA, RPL4, SDHA, ACTB, GAPDH, HPRT1, YWHAZ, and TBP) in the porcine ovaries under different estrus phase (follicular and luteal phase) and cystic condition, using stable RG-finding programs (geNorm, Normfinder, and BestKeeper). The significant (p < 0.01) differences in Ct values of RGs in the porcine ovaries under different conditions were identified. In assessing the stability of RGs, three programs comprehensively agreed that TBP and YWHAZ were suitable RGs to study porcine ovaries under different conditions but ACTB and GAPDH were inappropriate RGs in this experimental condition. We hope that these results contribute to plan the experiment design in the field of reproductive physiology in pigs as reference data.

최근 AI 기술은 하루가 다르게 빠르게 발전하고 있고, AI기술은 각 분야에서 다양하게 사용되어지고 있다. 본 논문은 예술분야에서 AI기술의 활용으로 COVID-19 상황에서 인간관계, 개인적인 이유로 지친 마음을 위 로해주는 힐링 게임을 제작하였다. 제작한 힐링게임에서는 주로 Self-help-therapy의 효과를 얻을 수 있어, 치 료자의 도움없이 이용자가 힐링게임을 통하여 일상적 이용과정에서 치유적 효과를 얻을 수 있는 것을 기대 하고 있다. 게임 리뷰 데이터를 통계 분석하여 힐링게임으로 대중들이 요구하는 부분을 수용하여 힐링게임 이 제작되었으며, 사용자는 게임 시작 전 간단한 스토리라인과 AI와 상호작용할 수 있는 간단한 대화를 통 화여 Self-help-therapy 효과를 얻을 수 있었다.

This study was conducted to provide basic data on controlling boring insect pests by identifying the damage and the occurrence ecology of beetles, which are boring insect pests that seriously damage Castanea crenata, an income tree of mountain farms. By location, the damage rate was 62.5% at the foot of mountain, 61.4% at the mountain range, and 61.3% at the mountain peak. By region, the damage rate was the highest in Hapcheon at 65.3%, followed by 62.5% at Hadong and 58.1% at Jinju. The total number of adult fables was 171, followed by 49.1% (84) for Moechotypa diphysis, 39.2% (67) for Batocera lineolata, and 11.7% (20) for Anoplophora malasiaca. As for the male and female ratio of imago, Moechotypa diphysis had 51.2% (43) female and 48.4% (41) male. The percentage of emergence of beetles, which are boring insect pests appearing in the specimen collected by the survey area, was 46.0% in Hapcheon, 32.9% in Hadong, and 21.1% in Jinju. As for the prevalence of beetles, Batocera lineolata appeared from June 22 which is the first day of the emergence period to August 30, and the amount of emergence by the prevalence period was 3.0% in June, 46.2% in July, and 47.8% in August. Anoplophora malasiaca appeared from May 20 to July 20, and the amount of emergence by prevalence period was 5.0% in May, 10.0% in June, and 75.0% in July. Moechotypa diphysis first appeared from August 10 to September 30, and the amount of emergence by prevalence period was 1.2% in July, 51.2% in August, and 46.4% in September. As for the number of eggs laid by beetles, Anoplophora malasiaca laid 90±6, Batocera lineolate laid 75±5, and Moechotypa diphysis laid 60±6.