Background: Porcine embryonic development is widely utilized in the medical industry. However, the blastocyst development rate in vitro is lower compared to in vivo . To address this issue, various supplements are employed. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play the role of communicators that carry many bioactive cargoes. Additionally, the contents of EVs can vary on the estrous cycle. Methods: We compared the effects of adding EVs derived from porcine uterine fluid (UF), categorized as non-EV (G1), EVs in estrus (G2) and EVs in diestrus (G3). After in vitro culture (IVC) was performed in three different groups, cleavage rate and blastocyst development rate were examined. In addition, glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured 2 days after activation to assess oxidative stress. Results: Using NTA and cryo-TEM, we confirmed the presence of EVs with sizes ranging from 30 nm to 200 nm, that the particles were suitable for analysis for analysis. In IVC data, the highest cleavage rate was observed in G2, which was significantly different from G1 but not significantly different from the next highest, G3. Similarly, the highest blastocyst development rate was observed in G2, which was significantly different from G1 but not significantly different from the next highest, G3. Conclusions: These results indicate that estrus derived EVs contain biofactors beneficial for early blastocyst development, including GSH which protects the blastocyst from oxidative stress. Additionally, although diestrus-derived EVs are expected to have some effect on blastocyst development, it appeared to be less effective than estrus-derived EVs.

이 연구에서는 Inception V3, SqueezeNet(local), VGG-16, Painters 및 DeepLoc의 다섯 가지 인공지능(AI) 모 델을 사용하여 차나무 잎의 병해를 분류하였다. 여덟 가지 이미지 카테고리를 사용하였는데, healthy, algal leaf spot, anthracnose, bird’s eye spot, brown blight, gray blight, red leaf spot, and white spot였다. 이 연구에서 사용한 소프트웨 어는 데이터 시각적 프로그래밍을 위한 파이썬 라이브러리로 작동하는 Orange3였다. 이는 데이터를 시각적으로 조작하여 분석하기 위한 워크플로를 생성하는 인터페이스를 통해 작동되었다. 각 AI 모델의 정확도로 최적의 AI 모 델을 선택하였다. 모든 모델은 Adam 최적화, ReLU 활성화 함수, 은닉 레이어에 100개의 뉴런, 신경망의 최대 반복 횟수가 200회, 그리고 0.0001 정규화를 사용하여 훈련되었다. Orange3 기능을 확장하기 위해 새로운 이미지 분석 Add-on을 설치하였다. 훈련 모델에서는 이미지 가져오기(import image), 이미지 임베딩(image embedding), 신경망 (neural network), 테스트 및 점수(test and score), 혼동 행렬(confusion matrix) 위젯이 사용되었으며, 예측에는 이미 지 가져오기(import image), 이미지 임베딩(image embedding), 예측(prediction) 및 이미지 뷰어(image viewer) 위젯 이 사용되었다. 다섯 AI 모델[Inception V3, SqueezeNet(로컬), VGG-16, Painters 및 DeepLoc]의 신경망 정밀도는 각 각 0.807, 0.901, 0.780, 0.800 및 0.771이었다. 결론적으로 SqueezeNet(local) 모델이 차나무 잎 이미지를 사용하여 차 병해 탐색을 위한 최적 AI 모델로 선택되었으며, 정확도와 혼동 행렬을 통해 뛰어난 성능을 보였다.

This study was conducted to assess the genetic variability and correlation of phenotypic characteristics in 12 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes including 11 WorldVeg and one commercial variety (Pusa Ruby) in Terai (plain) region of Nepal in 2021–2022. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The phenotypic traits, including days to 50% flowering, plant vigor and height, fruit number/plant, fruit yield, fruit weight and diameter, fruit firmness and fruit pericarp thickness, and total soluble solids (TSS) content of the fruits, were studied. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits except for plant vigor. The genotype of AVTO1705 resulted the highest fruit yield (2.9 kg/plant) than Pusa Ruby, a commercial check (0.5 kg/plant). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits and PCV values were maximum for the number of fruits, fruit yield, and fruit weight. High PCV, GCV, and genetic advance (GA) were observed for yield, fruit weight, and plant height, respectively, indicating the additive gene effect. High heritability for fruit yield/plant and plant height inferred the phenotypic selection for their genetic improvement. Fruit yield was significantly (P<0.05) positively correlated with the fruit number and fruit weight, and direct selection of these traits are reliable for yield improvement in tomato.

In the present study, we examined the effect of different lecithin concentrations on spermatozoa characteristics after freeze-thawing. Hanwoo semen was collected from one bull and divided into five groups (tris-citric acid semen extender with 0, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% lecithin groups as well as a 20% egg yolk group). Semen extender with 20% egg yolk was used as control treatment. After the freeze-thawing of semen, spermatozoa motility, motility parameters, viability, acrosomal membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity were examined. In experiment 1, the effect of different lecithin concentrations on spermatozoa motility and associated parameters was examined. The 0.1% lecithin-treated spermatozoa showed greater fast progressive motility (%) in addition to higher VCL (μm/s), VSL (μm/s), and VAP (μm/s) when compared to other lecithin concentration groups and controls. In experiment 2, the effect of different lecithin concentrations on spermatozoa viability was examined. The 0.1% and 0.25% lecithin addition groups (55.4±7.3 and 51.7±11.2%) exhibited similar viability compared to the control group (54.1±12.6%). In experiment 3, the effects of different lecithin concentrations on viability, acrosomal membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane integrity of spermatozoa were examined. The percentage of live spermatozoa with an intact acrosome and high mitochondrial membrane potential in the 0.1% lecithin group was not significantly different compared to the control group (31.2±13.3 vs. 30.5±10.9%). In experiment 4, the effect of different lecithin concentrations on the plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa was examined. The percentage of spermatozoa with a normal plasma membrane was similar between the 0.1% lecithin and control groups (31.2±13.3 vs. 30.5±10.9%). In conclusion, we suggest that semen extender supplemented with 0.1% lecithin can replace 20% egg yolk without reducing spermatozoa quality.

기대수명의 증가나 산업구조의 다변화 등 여러 요인에 의해 평생교육의 중요성이 부각되고 있으며, 우리나라에서도 국가사업의 일환으로 평생교육정책이 확대되면서 성인학습자들에 관한 연구가 증가하고 있다. 본 연구는 교수자와의 관계를 통한 지지가 중년기 여성인 성인학습자의 삶의 질에 미치는 영향을 살펴보고자 하였다. 특히 중년기 여성이 대학생활을 경험함에 있어서 느끼는 만족이 이 두 변수 사이에서 어떠한 역할을 하는지 분석하여 그 영향력을 규명하고, 차후 평생교육정책의 수립 및 평생교 육실천현장에 유용한 정보를 제공하는데 목적이 있다. 이를 위하여 경남에 위치한 2년제 및 4년제 대학에 재학 중인 중년기 여성을 대상으로 설문조사한 255부의 설문지를 분석에 활용하였다. 본 연구의 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 중년 여성학습자의 대학생활만족에 교수자 지지는 통계적으로 유의한 정(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 교수자 지지는 중년 여성학습자의 삶의 질에 통계적으로 유의한 정(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 중년 여성학습자의 대학생활만족은 교수자 지지와 삶의 질과의 관계에 매개효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 분석결과를 바탕으로 중년여성의 평생 교육 활성화 및 삶의 질 향상을 위한 제언을 하였다.

In the present study, we examined if deep uterine artificial insemination (DUAI) can improve the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination (AI) using epididymal spermatozoa (ES) in Hanwoo cattle. The estrus cycles of 88 Hanwoo cows were synchronized, and 17 cows were artificially inseminated using the DUAI method with ES, 20 cows were artificially inseminated via the uterine body (BUAI) method with ES, and as a control, 51 cows were inseminated by using the BUAI method with ejaculated spermatozoa from 1 proven bull after frozen thawing. The pregnancy rate of the DUAI method (58.8%) was higher than that of the BUAI method (25.0%, p = 0.0498). The motility of ES was examined immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation. The rapid progressive sperm motility of the control group was significantly higher than that of the ES group immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation (p < 0.05). The straight line velocity and average path velocity of the ES group after 6 h of incubation were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The linearity and amplitude of lateral head of ES were lower than those at 6 h (p < 0.05). The flagellar beat cross frequency and hyperactivation of ES were lower than the control spermatozoa immediately after thawing and at 3 h (p < 0.05). These motility parameters suggested that ES had a low motility and fertilization ability compared to the control spermatozoa. After frozen-thawing and 3 h of incubation, the percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the ES was significantly lower than that in ejaculated spermatozoa (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the DUAI method can overcome the low pregnancy rate of ES, despite the low motility, viability, and fertilization ability of ES.

항공 및 지리 공간 기술은 연구자 및 농업관련 실무자들이 더욱더 쉽게 접근할 수 있게 되었으며, 이러한 기술은 농업과 임업에 있어 현재 병해충 관리의 변화에 중추적인 역할을 할 수 있다. 지난 20년 동안 위성, 유무인항공기, 스펙트럼 센서들, 정보 시스템 및 자동화 현장 장비들의 기술들은 병해충을 감지하고, 특정 지점에 대한 병해충을 방제하는데 사용되어져 왔다. 빅 데이터 기반한 인공 지능과 함께 항공 및 지리 정보 기술의 가용 함에도 불구하고 이러한 기술을 사과 IPM에 적용하는 것은 아직 실현되지 않았다. 본 논문은 사과연구소에서 수행한 사례 연구를 통해 사과 IPM 개선에 활용할 수 있는 항공 및 지리 정보기술의 발전과 한계에 대해 논하고자 한다.

In the present study, we examined the effect of straw size on spermatozoa motility, viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity after freezing-thawing. Hanwoo semen was collected from three bulls and diluted with an animal protein-free extender, divided into two groups, namely, 10 million spermatozoa in 0.25 mL and 20 million spermatozoa in 0.5 mL straw, and cryopreserved. In Experiment 1, the motility and motility parameters of the frozenthawed spermatozoa were evaluated. After freezing-thawing, the spermatozoa motility parameters fast progressive, straight line velocity, and average path velocity were compared between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. They were 35.2 ± 1.0 and 32.3 ± 0.7%, 34.6 ± 0.7 and 31.8 ± 0.5 μm/s, 51.4 ± 1.3 and 47.1 ± 1.1 μm/s, 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups, respectively. In Experiment 2, the viability, acrosome membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa were assessed. After freezing-thawing, the percentages of spermatozoa with live, intact acrosomes and high mitochondrial membrane potential were compared between the in 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. They were 48.0 ± 2.6% and 35.6 ± 2.8% between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. In Experiment 3, the plasma membrane integrity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa was compared. After freezingthawing, the plasma membrane integrity was higher for the in 0.25 mL straw group than the 0.5 mL straw group. They were 62.0 ± 2.2 and 54.1 ± 1.3% between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that freezing semen in 0.25 mL straw improves the relative motility, viability, and acrosomal, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity of Hanwoo bull spermatozoa.