This study deals with replacement analysis of deteriorated equipment for improving productivity of production system. Frequent breakdown of the deteriorated equipment causes a situation that reduces productivity such as low product quality, process delay, and repair cost. However, the replacement of new equipment will be required a high initial investment cost, so it is important to analysis the economic feasibility. Therefore, we analyze the effect of the production system due to the aging effect of the equipment and the feasibility of equipment replacement based on the economic analysis. The process flow, working time, logistics movement, etc. are analyzed in order to build the simulation modeling for a ship and land switchboard production system. Using numerical examples, the economic feasibility analysis of equipment replacement through replacement of existing deteriorated equipment and additional arrangement of new facilities is performed.

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.

The PoN (Proof of Nonce) distributed consensus algorithm basically uses a non-competitive consensus method that can guarantee an equal opportunity for all nodes to participate in the block generation process, and this method was expected to resolve the first trilemma of the blockchain, called the decentralization problem. However, the decentralization performance of the PoN distributed consensus algorithm can be greatly affected by the network transaction transmission delay characteristics of the nodes composing the block chain system. In particular, in the consensus process, differences in network node performance may significantly affect the composition of the congress and committee on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, in this paper, we presented a problem by analyzing the decentralization performance of the PoN distributed consensus algorithm, and suggested a fairness control algorithm using a learning-based probabilistic acceptance rule to improve it. In addition, we verified the superiority of the proposed algorithm by conducting a numerical experiment, while considering the block chain systems composed of various heterogeneous characteristic systems with different network transmission delay.

Here, a novel nitrogen-doped carbon nano-material (N-CGNM) with hierarchically porous structure was prepared from spent coffee ground for efficient adsorption of organic dyes by a simple one-step carbonization process (the uniform mixture consists of spent coffee ground, urea, and CaCl2 with the ratio of 1:1:1, which was heated to 1000 °C with a rate of 10 °C min− 1 and held at 1000 °C for 90 min in N2 atmosphere to carry out carbonization, activation, and N-doping concurrently). The morphology and structure analysis show that the prepared N-CGNM exhibits hierarchical pore structure, high specific surface area (544 m2/ g), and large numbers of positively charged nitrogen-containing groups. This unique structure and chemical composition endow N-CGNM with an excellent adsorption capacity toward anion Congo red (623.12 ± 21.69 mg/g), which is obviously superior to that (216.47 ± 18.43 mg/g) of untreated spent coffee ground-based carbon nano-materials (CGM). Oppositely, the adsorption capacity of N-CGNM towards cation methylene blue is inferior to that of CGM due to the existence of electrostatic repulsion. These findings show a great guidance for the development of low-cost but efficient selective adsorbent.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recognized as a therapeutic tool for various diseases due to its unique ability for tissue regeneration and immune regulation. However, poor survival during in vitro expansion and after being administrated in vivo limits its clinical uses. Accordingly, protocols for enhancing cell survivability is critical for establishing an efficient cell therapy is needed. CDDOMe is a synthetic C-28 methyl ester of 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid, which is known to stimulate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)- antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. Herein, report that CDDO-Me promoted the proliferation of MSCs and increased colony forming units (CFU) numbers. No alteration in differentiation into tri-lineage mesodermal cells was found after CDDO-Me treatment. We observed that CDDO-Me treatment reduced the cell death induced by oxidative stress, demonstrated by the augment in the expression of Nrf2-downstream genes. Lastly, CDDO-Me led to the nuclear translocation of NRF2. Our data indicate that CDDO-Me can enhance the functionality of MSCs by stimulating cell survival and increasing viability under oxidative stress.

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.

Cymbidium is one of the most popular and economically important species cultivated as a commercial ornamental crop. The objectives of this study were to determine the appropriate electrical conductivity (EC) treatments of nutrient solution, which gives the highest spike production and quality. Three-year-old Cymbidium ‘Lovely Smile’ plants were grown in the environmentally controlled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) smart greenhouse at Seoul Women’s University. The EC of the nutrient solution was changed in three distinct stages: vegetative, flower initiation, and flower development. The EC treatments were 1-0-1 (dS·m-1, EC101), 1-1-1 (dS·m-1, EC111), 2-1-2 (dS·m-1, EC212), 2-2-2 (dS·m-1, EC222), 3-2-3 (dS·m-1, EC323), 3-3-3 (dS·m-1, EC333) and the pH was adjusted to 6.0–6.5. Pseudobulb diameter increased in the plants treated with EC 101 and EC111 compared to the plants treated with EC 2.0–3.0 dS·m-1 at the reproductive stage 28 weeks after nutrient solution treatment. Flower spike production per pot and pseudobulb showed the highest values in the plants treated with EC111 of 3.3 and 1.4, respectively. Flower spikes length was the highest in the plants treated with EC 1.0 dS·m-1 and stem thickness, number of flowers, and fresh weight were the largest in the plants with EC 1.0 dS·m-1 among the EC treatments. Flower spikes had the worst quality (e.g., plant growth and flowering quality) in the plants treated with EC 3.0 dS·m-1 among the EC treatments. Floral bud and flower development took place 1–2 weeks earlier in the plants treated with EC 101, 111, and 212 than the other treatments. Flower diameter showed the highest values in the plants treated with EC 1.0 dS·m-1 among the EC treatments and flower color showed higher L* and b* values and lower a* values in the plants treated with EC 3.0 dS·m-1 compared to EC 1.0 and 2.0 dS･m-1. Nutrient solution of EC 1.0 dS·m-1 (EC111) can be recommended to improve flower spike quality and advanced flower development of Cymbidium.

Depression is one of the most important psychiatric disorders worldwide. Most depression-related data mining and machine learning studies have been conducted to predict the presence of depression or to derive individual risk factors. However, since depression is caused by a combination of various factors, it is necessary to identify the complex relationship between the factors in order to establish effective anti-depression and management measures. In this study, we propose a methodology for identifying and interpreting patterns of depression expressions using the method of deriving random forest rules, where the random forest rule consists of the condition for the manifestation of the depressive pattern and the prediction result of depression when the condition is met. The analysis was carried out by subdividing into 4 groups in consideration of the different depressive patterns according to gender and age. Depression rules derived by the proposed methodology were validated by comparing them with the results of previous studies. Also, through the AUC comparison test, the depression diagnosis performance of the derived rules was evaluated, and it was not different from the performance of the existing PHQ-9 summing method. The significance of this study can be found in that it enabled the interpretation of the complex relationship between depressive factors beyond the existing studies that focused on prediction and deduction of major factors.