A laser scabbling experiment was performed using a high-power fiber laser to investigate the removal rate of the concrete block and the scabbled depth. Concrete specimens with a 28-day compressive strength of 30 MPa were used in this study. Initially, we conducted the scabbling experiment under a stationary laser beam condition to determine the optimum scan speed. The laser interaction time with the concrete surface varied between 3 s and 40 s. The degree of spalling and vitrification on the surface was primarily dependent on the laser interaction time and beam power. Furthermore, thermal images were captured to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of temperature during the scabbling process. Based on the experimental results, the scan speed at which the optical head moved over the concrete was set to be 300 mm∙min−1 or 600 mm∙min−1 for the 4.8-kW or 6.8-kW laser beam, respectively. The spalling rates and average depth on the concrete blocks were measured to be 87 cm3∙min−1 or 227 cm3∙min−1 and 6.9 mm or 9.8 mm with the 4.8-kW or 6.8-kW laser beams, respectively.

Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA)-based metabarcoding approaches have been proposed to evaluate the status of freshwater ecosystems owing to various advantages, including fast and easy sampling and minimal habitat disruption from sampling. Therefore, as a case study, we applied eDNA metabarcoding techniques to evaluate the effects of an abandoned mine land located near a headwater stream of Nakdonggang River, South Korea, by examining benthic macroinvertebrate diversity and compared the results with those obtained using the traditional Surber-net sampling method. The number of genera was higher in Surbernet sampling (29) than in the eDNA analysis (20). The genus richness tended to decrease from headwater to downstream in eDNA analysis, whereas richness tended to decrease at sites with acid-sulfated sediment areas using Surber-net sampling. Through cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling, the sampling sites were differentiated into two parts: acid-sulfated and other sites using Surber-net sampling, whereas they were grouped into the two lowest downstream and other sites using eDNA sampling. To evaluate freshwater ecosystems using eDNA analysis in practical applications, it is necessary to constantly upgrade the methodologies and compare the data with field survey methods.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein produced by hepatocytes. The plasma concentration of CRP peaks around 48 hours following stimulation. A rapid decrease in CRP levels is observed when the stimuli end. Considering these characteristics of CRP, it is used to evaluate acute inflammatory responses in clinics. In addition, as it reflects the degree of surgical trauma, measuring the CRP concentration is an effective method of evaluating tissue damage depending upon the surgical method. As CRP is also an acute-phase protein in dogs, the purpose of the present study was to compare the factors related to acute inflammatory responses between dogs undergoing elective general surgery (GS) and orthopedic surgery (OS). A total of 44 healthy dogs were included in this study. The sex ratio of dogs that underwent OS was similar. Both groups showed increased CRP levels and white blood cell (WBC) counts on post-operative day (POD) 1-2. The CRP level in the OS group on POD 1-2 was significantly higher than that of the GS group and it was increased about 16-fold compared to the pre-operative value. No significant difference in WBC counts was observed between the two groups. Although a slight increase in the WBC count was observed on POD 1-2 in both groups, it was near the reference range during follow-up. Thus, measuring CRP levels can be more effective in evaluating acute inflammatory responses than WBC counts. Although a high level of post-operative serum CRP concentrations was observed in the OS group, it rapidly decreased to a level similar to the pre-operative value if there were no post-operative complications.

Radioactive materials from nuclear power facilities can be released into the atmosphere through various channels. Recently, the dispersion of radioactive materials has become critical issue in Korea after Kori Unit 1 and Wolsong Unit 1 were permanently shut down. In this study, annual atmospheric dispersion factors were compared based on the continuous release and purge release using the XOQDOQ computer program, a method for calculating atmospheric dispersion factors at commercial nuclear power stations. The meteorological data analyzed in this study was based on the Shin Kori nuclear power meteorological tower which has the largest operating nuclear power plants in Korea, for three years (from 2008 to 2010). The analysis results of the dispersion factor of the radioactive material release obtained using the XOQDOQ program showed that the difference between the continuous release and purge release was within two times. This study will be valuable helpful for revealing the uncertainty of the predictive atmospheric dispersion factor to achieve regulation.

비모란 선인장 ‘Ahwang’ 품종이 2016년에 국립원예특작과 학원에서 육성되었다. 증식력이 우수한 밝은 황색 ‘Ahwang’ 품종 육성을 위해서, 황색 ‘Hwangun’품종을 모본으로, 황색 ‘0930001’ 계통을 부본으로 하여 2012년 6월 25일에 교배하였다. 어린 비모란 선인장을 2014년 이전에 삼각주에 2번 접목하여 계통을 양성하였으며 2014년부터 2016년까지 총 3회에 걸쳐 생육특성을 조사하였다. ‘Ahwang’ 품종의 모구는 편원형 모양에 황색 구색(Y9A)이다. 모구는 평균 8.6개의 능(rip)과 2.7mm의 짧은 직립형 회색 가시를 가지고 있고 혹(tubercle)이 돌출된 형태를 띠고 있다. 10개월 재배 후 ‘Ahwang’ 품종의 구직경은 44.5mm였으며 자구는 평균 26.9개가 생성되었다. ‘Ahwang’ 품종은 모구 능마다 황색의 자구가 3-4개가 착생되었다. 2016년 육성계통 평가회에서 ‘Ahwang’ 품종은 기호도 점수 3.9을 받았다. 이 품종은 2018년 5월 16일 국립종자원에 등록되었으며 식물신품종보호법에 의해 품종보호(등록번호 7193)를 받게 되었다.

연중생산이 가능하고 특히, 저온에서 화색발현이 우수하며 볼륨감 있는 스프레이국화 신품종을 개발하기 위하여 충청남 도농업기술원 화훼연구소에서 2010년에 모본으로 황색의 홑꽃 ‘SP09-251-01’를 부본으로 ‘SP08-010-16’계통을 인공수분 하였다. 종자 파종은 2011년에 실시하였고, 실생개체 중 화색과 화형이 우수한 281번째 개체를 선발하여 ‘SP11-103-05’로 계통명을 부여하였다. 주년생산성 검정을 위하여 2011년부터 2013년까지 자연일장, 전조재배, 차광재배를 각각 실시하였고, ‘Yes Holic’과 화형, 화색, 초형이 비슷한 ‘Jazz’ 품종을 대조품 종으로 사용하였다. ‘Yes Holic’ 품종은 2013년에 국립종자원에 품종보호 출원을 하였다. ‘Yes Holic’은 황색(Yellow 7A)의 꽃잎과 녹색(Green 1B)의 화심색으로 조사되었고 자연일장 작형의 개화기는 10월 25일로 ‘Jazz’의 10월 26일에 비해 빨랐다. ‘Yes Holic’의 초장과 줄기굵기는 각각 80.2cm와 6.1mm 로 ‘Jazz’의 78.6cm와 5.3mm보다 컸다. ‘Yes Holic’의 꽃 직경은 4.4cm로 ‘Jazz’의 4.1cm보다 컸으며, 착화수도 ‘Yes Holic’ 가 29.4개로 ‘Jazz’의 22.1개보다 많았다. 흰녹병저항성은 ‘Yes Holic’이 10%이하의 발병율인 3단계로 흰녹병이 저항성이 높은 것으로 확인되었다. 재배상 유의사항은 ‘Yes Holic’은 소등 후 야간온도를 18℃로 가온하면 고유화색 발현과 적당한 착화수 확보 및 균일한 개화가 가능하다. 그리고 여름철 고온기에는 ‘Yea Holic’의 총포에 잿빛곰팡이병이 주로 발생되므로 스크린과 포그를 활용하여 주간온도를 낮추고 봉오리 착색기에 전용 농약을 살포해 주어야 한다.

This study summarizes the recent cutting-edge approaches for dentin regeneration that still do not offer adequate solutions. Tertiary dentin is formed when odontoblasts are directly affected by various stimuli. Recent preclinical studies have reported that stimulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway could facilitate the formation of reparative dentin and thereby aid in the structural and functional development of the tertiary dentin. A range of signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, is activated when dental tissues are damaged and the pulp is exposed. The application of small molecules for dentin regeneration has been suggested as a drug repositioning approach. This study reviews the role of Wnt signaling in tooth formation, particularly dentin formation and dentin regeneration. In addition, the application of the drug repositioning strategy to facilitate the development of new drugs for dentin regeneration has been discussed in this study.