When exposed to different types of bacteria in the oral cavity, denture based resins are prone to bacteria attachment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical, biological, and antimicrobial properties of denture base resins coated with Peony extract (200, 400, and 600 μg/mL). Specifically, the surface properties (microhardness, contact angle, and color change of the coated specimens), cell cytotoxicity (measured using MTT assay), and antimicrobial activity (against S. mutans (Streptococcus mutans) and C. albicans (Candida albicans) using a growth inhibition assay) were evaluated. The polyphenol content was measured using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometry. The experimental groups (specimens coated with Peony extract) and a control group (specimens coated without Peony extract) were statistically compared using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc tests. No statistically significant differences in surface properties or cell cytotoxicity were observed, which demonstrated their biocompatibility. Conversely, a statistically significant difference in antimicrobial activity was observed between the experimental and control groups after 48 h. This confirms the antimicrobial activity of the denture base resin coated with Peony extract and demonstrates that it is a promising dental material for preventing stomatitis.

In this study, text mining was conducted on the product names of skirts, pants, shirts/ blouses, and dresses to analyze the characteristics of keywords appearing in online shopping product names. As a result of frequency analysis, the number of keywords that appeared 0.5% or more for each item was around 30, and the number of keywords that appeared 0.1% or more was around 150. The cumulative distribution rate of 150 terms was around 80%. Accordingly, information on 150 key terms was analyzed, from which item, clothing composition, and material information were the found to be the most important types of information (ranking in the top five of all items). In addition, fit and style information for skirts and pants and length information for skirts and dresses were also considered important information. Keywords representing clothing composition information were: banding, high waist, and split for skirts and pants; and V-neck, tie, long sleeves, and puff for shirts/blouses and dresses. It was possible to identify the current design characteristics preferred by consumers from this information. However, there were also problems with terminology that hindered the connection between sellers and consumers. The most common problems were the use of various terms with the same meaning and irregular use of Korean and English terms. However, as a result of using co-appearance frequency analysis, it can be interpreted that there is little intention for product exposure, so it is recommended to avoid it.

Phytoplankton communities, with emphasis on picoplankton and nanoplankton, were investigated in Gamak Bay, South Korea, where freshwater input and coastal water intrusion shape ecosystem functions. Shellfish farms and fish farms are located in the inner bay and outer bay, respectively, and tides translocate uneaten food and urine production from aquaculture farms toward the inner bay. Water masses were distinctly different based on a significantly different density between the surface and bottom layer and among three water masses, including the inner bay, outer bay, and Yeosu Harbor. Phytoplankton communities were quantified using flow cytometry and size-fractionated chlorophyll-a (chl-a) was measured. Salinity was a principal variable separating phytoplankton communities between the surface and bottom layer, whereas Si(OH)4 controlled the communities in the inner bay, and NH4 + and PO4 3- governed the outer bay communities. While phycocyanin-containing (PC) cyanobacteria dominated in the outer bay, phycoerythrin-containing (PE) cyanobacteria dominance occurred with cryptophyte dominance, indicating that nutrients affected the distribution of pico- and nanoplankton and that cryptophytes potentially relied on a mixotrophic mode by feeding on PE cyanobacteria. Interestingly, picoeukaryotes and eukaryotes larger than 10 μm were mostly responsible for the ecological niche in the western region of the bay. Given that chl-a levels have historically declined, our study highlights the potential importance of increased small phytoplankton in Gamak Bay. Particularly, we urge an examination of the ecological role of small phytoplankton in the food supply of cultivated marine organisms.

Haploidization in somatic cells is the process of reducing the diploid somatic chromosomes to haploid. Several studies have attempted somatic haploidization using oocytes in mice and humans. Some researchers showed partial somatic haploidization, but none observed embryo development. Our study attempted somatic haploidization using the modified somatic nuclear transfer (SCNT) protocol with various combinations of chemicals or proteins in mice. This study induced the proper segregation of somatic homologous chromosomes and full embryo development in vitro. Furthermore, somatic haploid embryos established embryonic stem cells and produced live births. The current review summarizes this recent study on the success of somatic haploidization and provides an overview of other related studies on somatic haploidization.

Veterinary medicines have been widely used for disease protection, growth promotion, and feed efficacy development of animals. Along with development of livestock and pet industry, veterinary medicine market in Korea has increased up to 1 billion US dollar in 2021. The national post-market surveillance (NMS) assessment is important system to manage quality control of veterinary medicines that have reached the open market in Korea. In this study, post marketed veterinary medicines have been analyzed particularly for the active ingredient contents based on the rule, “Tips on animal pharmaceutical audit” and monitored the noncomplicant compounds for prevention of adverse drug event. 6,620 veterinray medicines were chosen by NVRQS-SE10-V1 software program which we developed annually in Korea during 2018-2021. The programe chooses veterinary medicines which is 70% were selected products with high sales in order, 20% were selected products with low sales randomly and 10% were noncompliant product from last year automatically, as we input year`s sales and noncompliant product data. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) leads collection of veterinary medicines from manufacturing companies, drug stores, and hospitals. The NMS assay was analyzed particularly for the active ingredient ingredients performed using liquid and gas chromatography, titration, UV/Vis spectrophometer, pH, and bioassay in Korea Animal Health Production Association (KAHPA). A total of 129 cases were deemed noncompliant and the average noncompliance rate for veterinray medicines was 1.9%. Among noncompliant products violating regulations, the leading cause was insufficient quantity of major ingredients. The compounds found to be noncompliant most frequently were tylosin, spiramycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and colistin, respectively In this study, we analyzed the results of post marketing surveillance assay from 2018 to 2021 particularly violation rate and pattern. The overall trend indicated gradually decreasing noncompliance rate from 2.7% to 1.6%, suggesting that the quality of veterinary medicines has improved according to the steadily NMS assay and settlement of Korea Veterinary Good Manufacturing Practice (KVGMP) system.

The objective of this study is to estimate the dietary exposure of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibezofurans (PCDD/Fs) of Korean population via milk and meat using a probabilistic exposure assessment model. Total 319 raw milk and meat samples collected in the period 2006-2008 from nationwide Korea were measured the concentrations of 17 PCDD/Fs. Distributions of dietary exposure of 7 age subgroups to PCDD/Fs from the commodities were estimated probabilistically using Monte Carlo simulations. Dietary exposure groups were divided as lower, medium and high consumer subgroups according to the consumption of each commodity. The amounts of dietary exposures of Korean population subgroups were compared to the provisional maximum tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (JECFA). The mean PCDD/Fs concentrations in raw milk and meat of beef, prok and chicken were measured as 0.501, and 0.022~0.150pg WHO-TEQ/g, respectively. Dietary exposure of children was significantly higher than that of adults due to their high milk consumption per body weight (BW). Dietary intake of PCDD/Fs of the Korean populations estimated ranged from 0.154 to 1.248 pg WHO- TEQ/kg BW/day for high consumers (the 97.5th percentile) at the upper bound. Dietary intakes of average population of various subgroups were below the half of PTMI, but those of higher consumers were found exceeding or comparable to PTMI at the upper bound level. This study also suggests that the estimated PCDD/Fs concentrations in milk and meat are comparable to those reported in previous studies. Probabilistic assessment model for PCDD/Fs exposure in meat and milk commodities could be used to estimate the exposure of PCDD/Fs in Korean population for the development of risk mangement mesaures for PCDD/Fs in meat and milk.

Yam is an important tuber crop nutritionally, socio-culturally, and an income generator for many Nigerian. This explains its high demand both locally and internationally, causing increased production as Nigeria leads world production with about 45.41 million metric tons annually. The peculiarity of yam production in Nigeria entails lower yield, high cost of production, and post-harvest losses. Yam produced in Nigeria falls far below the potential crop yield, therefore, it is essential to close these yield gaps through the provision of solutions to the different constraints that hamper sustainable yam production. Despite the challenges, there is still insufficient information on the impact of policies, weeds, pests, and diseases which constitute major constraints. Nigerian farmers mostly utilize indigenous cultural approaches to manage yam production. Their goal of production is to produce yam cultivars that are suitable mainly for food products leading to the neglect of other cultivars. Few selected institutions with a yam mandate have been working on improving the production of D. rotundata and D. alata through breeding yam cultivars suitable for consumption and resilient against pests and diseases. However, more extensive studies should focus on breeding programs for yam resilient under drought and flooding, with peculiar physicochemical properties that give unique textual qualities considered in pounded yam and other yam food products. In this review paper, the significance and limitations of yam production in Nigeria and her efforts to achieve sustainable production are extensively studied.

This study aimed to identify prognostic factors and describe the treatment outcomes of multidrug therapy in dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE). A total of 23 dogs diagnosed with MUE were treated with prednisolone in combination with cyclosporine, cytosine arabinoside (CA), leflunomide, and mycophenolate mofetil. Based on the survival time, these dogs were divided into two groups: group A (n = 10), surviving for < 100 days, and group B (n = 13), surviving for > 100 days. Signalment, seizure activity, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis results, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings were reviewed. Survival studies were conducted to investigate the association of each prognostic factor and treatment with the clinical outcome. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body weight, occurrence of seizures, cell number and protein concentration in the CSF, or location of lesions between groups A and B. Abnormal MR features were more frequently observed in group A than in group B. It was identified that the longest median survival time was administration of multi-drug therapy including CA. In conclusion, abnormal MR features were associated with poor prognosis in dogs with MUE and CA-based multi-drug therapy could be considered the most effective treatment of MUE.

This study examined how Google Jamboard-based autonomous knowledge-sharing advanced language proficiency and motivation in an online intermediate–high EFL communication course. For one semester, 30 Korean first-year college students shared their learning experiences beyond the classroom, enhancing their English communication competence via a weekly Jamboard. The students speaking and perceived proficiencies and motivation changes were examined. Overall speaking proficiency increased, except for pronunciation. Students acquired the ability to selfstudy, but this was insufficient for oral practice because distance learning limited direct interactions. Perceived current proficiency increased, but imaginary proficiency and English importance did not. Their ease in using English in their daily life improved, and they felt the gap between the current and imaginary proficiencies decreased. The ideal L2 self increased, based on instrumentality and integrativeness. This finding indicates that students understood that they were undergoing the process of becoming fluent English speakers. Hence, well-organized self-directed activities can promote autonomous learning behavior to improve language proficiency and motivation.