Polarimetric measurements of the lunar surface from lunar orbit soon will be available via Wide-Field Polarimetric Camera (PolCam) onboard the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), which is planned to be launched in mid 2022. To provide calibration data for the PolCam, we are conducting speckle polarimetric measurements of the nearside of the Moon from the Earth’s ground. It appears that speckle imaging of the Moon for scientific purposes has not been attempted before, and there is need for a procedure to create a “lucky image” from a number of observed speckle images. As a first step of obtaining calibration data for the PolCam from the ground, we search for the best sharpness measure for lunar surfaces. We then calculate the minimum number of speckle images and the number of images to be shift-and-added for higher resolution (sharpness) and signal-to-noise ratio.

Pleurotus ostreatus is a globally cultivated mushroom crop. Cap color is a quality factor in P. ostreatus. However, cap color can spontaneously mutate, degrading the quality of the mushroom on the market. Early detection and removal of mutant strains is the best way to maintain the commercial value of the crop. To detect the cap color mutant Gonji7ho, molecular markers were developed based on insertion/deletions (InDels) derived from the comparison of mitogenomes of Gonji7ho and Gonji7hoM mushrooms. Sequencing, assembly, and comparative analysis of the two mitogenomes revealed genome sizes of 73,212 bp and 72,576 bp with 61 and 57 genes or open reading frames (ORFs) in P. ostreatus Gonji7ho and Gonji7hoM, respectively. Fourteen core protein-encoding genes, two rRNA, and 24 tRNA with some OFRs were predicted. Of the 61 genes or OFRs in the wild type, dpo, rpo, and two orf139 were missing (or remnant) in the mutant strain. Molecular markers were developed based on the sequence variations (InDels) between the two mitogenomes. Six polymorphic molecular markers could detect the mutated mitochondria by PCR. These results provide basic knowledge of the mitogenomes of wild-type and mutant P. ostreatus, and can be applied to discriminate mutated mitochondria.

The Kori Unit 1 and Wolsong Units 1, commercial reactors in South Korea, were permanently shut down due to the expiration of their design lifetime. Therefore, nuclear power plants that have been permanently shut down must be dismantled, and the site must be finally released after removing the remaining radionuclides. Domestic regulatory standards for site remediation should not exceed 0.1 mSv per year based on effective dose. In addition, it is necessary to calculate the preliminary Derived Concentration Guideline Levels (DCGL) to prove that the conditions are met. Therefore, in this study, the input factor considering the geological characteristics of the site of Kori Unit 1 was investigated, and the preliminary Derived Concentration Guideline Levels were calculated and compared with the results of previous studies. As a result of comparative analysis, 60Co, 134Cs, and 137Cs, which are gamma-ray emitting radionuclides, had similar values to DCGL of previous studies A and B. However, 63Ni, a beta-rayemitting nuclide, was 5.94×104 Bq·g−1 in this study and 8.47×101 Bq·g−1in previous study B, resulting in a difference of about 700 times. In addition, in the case of 90Sr, this study and previous study A were derived similarly, but this study was 5.34×101 Bq·g−1 and previous study B was 1.18×10−1 Bq·g−1, resulting in a difference of about 450 times. This difference is judged to be because, unlike this study using only the industrial worker scenario, in the case of previous study B, the resident farmer scenario was mixed and used, which considers the internal exposure caused by ingestion of food produced in the contaminated area. In this study, it was confirmed that DCGL according to the change of geological factors of the site did not have a significant effect on gamma-ray-emitting nuclides. However, it was confirmed that considering the intake of food affects the DCGL of beta-ray-emitting nuclides. Therefore, there is a need to conduct future studies applying intake input factors that meet domestic conditions.

In Korea livestock farms breeding cattle have been suffering from re-emerging problems of Brucella (B.) abortus infection while steady decline of bovine brucellosis. Therefore, this study underscored the identification and association of etiological agent of brucellosis in cattle in South Korea. The incidence of brucellosis in cattle was analyzed by bacteriological and molecular methods in 187 brucellosis-suspicious farms of 11 regions between 2018 and 2020. Brucella isolates from various specimens were identified by Brucella-specific multiplex PCR. Epidemiological data were collected by local official veterinarians through history taking from farmers and animal data systems. In 230 of 560 cattle (40.9%) and 94 of 187 farms (50.3%), a total of 313 B. abortus were isolated from various specimens, the majority of isolates were from supramammary lymph node (41%). In epidemiological findings, the majority of positive cases were mainly caused by resurgence (43.7%) and unknown (37.2%). Of 94 positive cases isolated B. abortus, abortion in cattle infected by B. abortus occurred in 51 farms (54.3%) where led to resurgence in 30 farms and environmental survival of B. abortus in 9 farms. Consequently, these findings revealed the existence of etiological agent of bovine brucellosis in Korea, which still occurred at low levels in distinct regions where are allowed to call for persistent biosecurity. Thus, we highlight that brucellosis in Korea needs to take more effective control strategies with potential evidence. Moreover it is ultimately important to maintain a constant monitoring for eradication of brucellosis.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a gastrointestinal disorder with diverse symptoms but no structural or organic manifestations. Benachio-F® (herein named ‘BF-1’) is an over-the-counter liquid digestive formulated with multiple herbal extracts, which has been reported to improve symptoms of FD. A total two experiments were conducted. First, we examined whether BF-1 can modulate the progression of FD through two experimental rat models. A total of three doses (0.3x, 1x, 3x of the human equivalent dose) were used. In the gastric emptying model, both 1x (standard) or 3x (3-fold-concentrated) BF-1 enhanced gastric emptying was compared with that of vehicle-treated animals. In a feeding inhibition model induced by acute restraint stress, treatment with 1x or 3x BF-1 led to a similar degree of restoration in food intake that was comparable to that of acotiamide-treated animals. Among the constituents of BF, fennel is known for its choleretic effect. Thus, we next investigated whether a novel BF-based formula (named ‘BF-2’) that contains an increased amount of fennel extract (3.5-fold over BF-1), has greater potency in increasing bile flow. BF-2 showed a superior choleretic effect compared to BF-1. Furthermore, the postprandial concentration of serum secretin was higher in animals pretreated with BF-2 than in those pretreated with BF-1, suggesting that the increased choleretic effect of BF-2 is related to secretin production. Our results demonstrate that BF-1 can modulate the pathophysiological mechanisms of FD by exerting prokinetic and stress-relieving effects, and that BF-2 has a better choleretic effect than BF-1.

A new free-living marine nematode species of the genus Pseudosteineria Wieser, 1956 affiliated with the family Xyalidae is described based on specimens collected from the sediment of a subtidal benthic environmental habitat in the East Sea, Korea. Pseudosteineria varisetis sp. nov differed from its congeners by the combination of the following characteristics: a relatively long body (1,628-1,691 μm long in males), a circular amphideal fovea situated behind the subcephalic setae, the presence of lateral cuticular alae starting from behind the nerve ring, the presence of eight groups of long subcephalic setae, the presence of irregularly distributed variable lengths of somatic setae on the body, solid spicules (43.2-43.9 μm long) with a cephalated proximal end, a long tubular shaped gubernaculum with dorsal swelling, and a conico-cylindrical tail with two to four terminal setae. In this report, we provide a taxonomic description and illustrations of a new species of the genus Pseudosteineria by differential interference contrast microscopy.

Admirandus multicavus Belogurov and Belogurova, 1979, a new record of free-living marine nematode species belonging to family Oncholaimidae is reported based on the specimens collected from the intertidal sediments of Korea. Admirandus multicavus is characterized by the following unique characteristics: cephalic setae (1-2 μm long), spicules (71-126 μm long) and gubernaculum (15-31 μm long), midventral preanal supplementary organ, three glandular duct openings of the Demanian system, and stoma length measuring twice the width. A comparative analysis of the biogeographical and ecological characteristics of Admirandus species is presented. DIC (Differential interference contrast) photomicrographs of the species are also provided herein. This report represents the first taxonomic analysis of the genus Admirandus Belogurov and Belogurova, 1979 discovered from the Korean seawaters.

Two new free-living marine nematodes of the genus Belbolla Andrássy, 1973 belonging to family Enchelidiidae are newly described based on specimens obtained from a shallow subtidal sediment of the western and southern outermost islands of Korea. Belbolla koreensis sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus by the combination of the following characteristics: longer body length (3,080-3,462 μm long), eight oesophageal bulbs in the posterior region of pharynx, well-developed two winged precloacal supplements (anterior precloacal supplement slightly longer than posterior one: 47-59 μm vs. 43-46 μm long), strongly arcuated, very thick, L - shaped spicule (122- 127 μm long, 1.7-1.9 anal body diameter (a.b.d.) long) with three separated blunt distal tips, and well-developed relatively long cylindrical shaped gubernacular apophysis with blunt teeth covering two thirds of the dorsal margin (57-58 μm long, 0.8-0.9 a.b.d. long). Belbolla hoonsooi sp. nov. is characterized by the following combination of characteristics: longer body length (3,494 μm long), eight oesophageal bulbs in the posterior region of pharynx, well-developed two winged precloacal supplements (anterior precloacal supplement slightly longer than posterior one: 43 μm vs. 36 μm long), strongly arcuated, L - shaped spicule (119 μm long, 1.5 a.b.d. long) with three separated blunt distal tip, and well-developed relatively long inverted triangle shaped gubernacular apophysis with blunt teeth covering half of the dorsal margin (45 μm long, 0.6 a.b.d. long). Detailed morphological characteristics and illustrations of two new Belbolla nematodes from the Korean seawaters were provided by differential interference contrast microscopy. Comparative tables on biogeographical and morphological characteristics of Belbolla species are also provided herein.