A twelve-year-old, spayed female Siamese cat was presented for health screening. Abdominal radiography revealed a large amount of mineral opacity substances of various sizes and shapes, along with mild gaseous dilation proximal to the lesion. Ultrasonography showed hyperechoic surface with acoustic shadowing at the ileum and wall thickening of the ileum. Enterotomy was performed to remove the foreign bodies, which were numerous hairball- and stone-like objects. Analysis of the enteroliths revealed a composition of calcium phosphate. Although enterolithiasis is considered rare in cats, it should be included in the differential diagnosis when numerous pebble-like mineral opacity lesions are observed.

Background: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxic metabolite generated by Aspergillus species and is commonly detected during the processing and storage of food; it is considered a group I carcinogen. The hepatotoxic effects, diseases, and mechanisms induced by AFB1 owing to chronic or acute exposure are well documented; however, there is a lack of research on its effects on the intestine, which is a crucial organ in the digestive process. Dogs are often susceptible to chronic AFB1 exposure owing to lack of variation in their diet, unlike humans, thereby rendering them prone to its effects. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AFB1 on canine small intestinal epithelial primary cells (CSIc). Methods: We treated CSIc with various concentrations of AFB1 (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μM) for 24 h and analyzed cell viability and transepithelial-transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) value. Additionally, we analyzed the mRNA expression of tight junction-related genes (OCLN, CLDN3, TJP1, and MUC2), antioxidant-related genes (CAT and GPX1), and apoptosis-related genes (BCL2, Bax, and TP53). Results: We found a significant decrease in CSIc viability and TEER values after treatment with AFB1 at concentrations of 20 μM or higher. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated a downregulation of OCLN, CLDN3, and TJP1 in CSIc treated with 20 μM or higher concentrations of AFB1. Additionally, AFB1 treatment downregulated CAT , GPX1, and BCL2. Conclusions: Acute exposure of CSIc to AFB1 induces toxicity, and exposure to AFB1 above a certain threshold compromises the barrier integrity of CSIc.

최근 기후변화 등으로 인한 꿀벌의 폐사가 증가하고 있으나 관련 데이터가 부족하여 이에 대한 연구가 어려움 을 겪고 있어 학습용 인공지능 데이터를 구축하여 양봉 산업 발전에 기여하고자 한다. 학습용 데이터로 생애주기 별 5단계(알, 애벌레, 번데기, 숫벌, 여왕벌), 종봉별 4가지(이탈리안, 카니올란, 한봉, 호박벌), 발생질병 1종(백묵 병) 총 10가지 클래스를 데이터 수집장소 6곳(장성, 포천, 칠곡, 완주, 의령, 장흥)에서 학습용 데이터를 274,206장 구축하였다. 수집된 데이터는 원시데이터, 원천데이터 가공, 라벨링 데이터 결합, 가공데이터 검수 등을 통해 만들어졌으며 관측지에서 온습도, CO, CH4, NH3 등 환경데이터를 200,000건 확보하여 데이터 라벨링을 수행하 였다. 데이터는 AI Hub(www.aihub.or.kr)에서 다운받을 수 있다. 확보된 데이터는 꿀벌의 생애 단계별, 종별, 건강 상태별 이미지 데이터로 구성되어 있어 양봉 관리 자동화, 꿀벌 질병 예측, 양봉 기술 개발 및 연구 등 다양한 분야에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 예상된다.

식용곤충은 미래식량 자원으로써 우수한 가치를 지니고 있어 해외에서는 사육자동화, IoT 및 AI 기술적용, 수직재배시스템 구축 등 많은 연구가 진행되고 있지만 국내에서는 대규모 사육농가나 곤충스마트팜 기술개발 이 부족하여 이를 위한 AI/빅데이터 인프라 구축이 시급한 실정이다. 학습용 인공지능 데이터는 식용곤충으로 활용되고 있는 장수풍뎅이, 흰점박이꽃무지, 갈색거저리, 백강잠, 메뚜기, 풀무치의 생애 주기별 총 6종의 RGB 사진데이터와 분광이미지 데이터 408,000장을 구축하였으며 온도, 습도, CO,, 암모니아, 조도, 수분 등 환경 데이 터 200,000세트를 수집하였다. 수집된 데이터는 원시데이터 수집, 원천데이터 가공, 라벨링 데이터 결합, 가공데 이터 검수 등을 통해 만들어졌으며 관련 데이터는 AI Hub(www.aihub.or.kr)에서 다운받을 수 있다. 확보된 식용곤 충 6종의 데이터는 곤충 종별 성장단계, 환경 변수에 따른 최적의 사육환경 조성, 생산시기 예측, 스마트대량사육 시스템 개발, 제품 가공시 추적이력제 도입, 식용곤충 스마트팜 기술 개발 및 연구 등 다양한 분야에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 예상된다.

최근 이상기후 및 기후변화로 인해 농작물 병해충 발생이 증가하고 발생양상 또한 다양해지고 있으며, 국제 무역 및 해외 여행객 증가로 인한 외래 병해충 유입 위험성이 높아지고 있는 추세이다. 특히 대표적인 비래해충 중의 하나인 벼멸구(Nilaparvata lugens Stål, 1854)의 발생 범위, 출현율 및 빈도수가 꾸준히 증가하여 피해를 호소 하는 농가들이 많아진 반면, 이들에 대한 대응책은 피해발생의 불규칙성, 이전 자료의 부족 및 불명확성으로 인해 미비한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 문제를 대비해 벼멸구의 온도발육모형을 이용하여, 기상자료, NCPMS와 더불어 연발생 횟수와 분포 가능 범위 및 발생 시기를 예측하였다. 또한, 벼멸구의 발생량이 많았던 충남 예산, 경남 사천, 진주의 최초발생일, 최초비래일, 최고발생일, 발생최성일 기준으로 각각 발육영점온도 및 유효적산온도를 적용하여 세대별 발생시기를 예측하였다. 최초발생일과 최초비래일은 예산 7월 9일, 7월 16일, 사천 7월 2일, 7월 19일, 진주 7월 26일, 7월 26일로 나타났으며, 최초발생일과 최초비래일 사이를 초발생일 로 적용하면 다음세대 발생이 실제 조사한 지역별 최고발생일인 예산 9월 7일, 사천 8월 9일, 진주 8월 8일과 근접 한 시기로 추정되어 효과적임을 알 수 있었다.

Large-area porous carbon is easily produced for supercapacitors from polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) precursors, composed of carbon backbone and attached heteroatoms. The released heteroatoms during pyrolysis leave the porous carbon. This study explored the activation of both precursors using chemical agents (ZnO, Mg(OH)2, and KOH) to develop carbon with multiple micropores and mesopores. The activation process and relevant precursors were studied to implement synthesized porous carbon as an electrode in supercapacitors. During the activation of PVDC-resin, ZnO served both as templates and activating agents, while Mg(OH)2 served only as a template, and KOH served as an activating agent. For activation of PVDF, ZnO acted as a template and activating agent, whereas Mg(OH)2 and KOH impeded activation owing to side reactions. Therefore, with the above chemical agents, PVDC-resin was converted to carbon with a higher surface area than PVDF. The porous carbon produced using PVDC-resin with KOH had the highest specific capacitance of 137 F g− 1 and rate performance of 79% at 50 mV s− 1 (vs. 5 mV s− 1) owing to the successful creation of micropores and mesopores. This study identifies optimal conditions for synthesizing porous carbon using polymer precursors and chemical agents for supercapacitors.

Social media influencers have become a powerful tool in marketing in the past decade; consumers who engage with the influencers are more likely to trust their recommendations. A VI is a very attractive marketing tool for brands and businesses. However, there is little empirical work about why and how consumers react to the anthropomorphism of virtual agents. Therefore, this study develops an understanding of how consumers interact with VI, emphasizing the perceived anthropomorphism's role. Consequently, we aim to investigate antecedents and outcomes of perceived anthropomorphism of the VI from online consumers' perspectives to develop and implement effective marketing strategies on social media platforms.

A 9-year-old, intact female, Pungsan dog was referred for purulent vaginal discharge and depression. Abdominal radiographs revealed gas-filled and soft tissue opacity tubular structures in the mid to caudal abdomen. On ultrasonography, fluid-filled uterus and cervix accompanied by hyperechoic foci and reverberation artifacts were identified. Multiple hyperechoic foci were found within the uterine wall, indicating gas content. Escherichia coli was isolated from aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures. Radiological differential diagnosis of tubular shaped, dilated gas-filled structure, and gas in the wall of the structure should consider emphysematous pyometra with endometrial pneumatosis in intact female dogs with vulvar discharge.

We present the deep homogeneous 𝑈𝐵𝑉𝑅𝐼 photometric data of 135,071 stars down to 𝑉 ∼ 23 mag and 𝐼 ∼ 22 mag toward the Carina Nebula. These stars are cross-matched with those from the previous surveys in the X-ray, near-infrared, and mid-infrared wavelengths as well as the Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3). This master catalog allows us to select reliable members and determine the fundamental parameters distance, size, stellar density of stellar clusters in this star-forming region. We revisit the reddening toward the nebula using the optical and the near-infrared colors of early-type stars. The foreground reddening [𝐸(𝐵 −𝑉) 𝑓 𝑔] is determined to be 0.35 ± 0.02, and it seems to follow the standard reddening law. On the other hand, the total-toselective extinction ratio of the intracluster medium (𝑅𝑉,𝑐𝑙) decreases from the central region (Trumpler 14 and 16, 𝑅𝑉,𝑐𝑙 ∼ 4.5) to the northern region (Trumpler 15, 𝑅𝑉,𝑐𝑙 ∼ 3.4). It implies that the central region is more dusty than the northern region. We find that the distance modulus of the Carina Nebula to be 11.9 ± 0.3 mag (𝑑 = 2.4 ± 0.35 kpc) using a zero-age main-sequence fitting method, which is in good agreement with that derived from the Gaia EDR3 parallaxes. We also present the catalog of 3,331 pre-main-sequence (PMS) members and 14,974 PMS candidates down to 𝑉 ∼ 22 mag based on spectrophotometric properties of young stars at infrared, optical, and X-ray wavelengths. From the spatial distribution of PMS members and PMS candidates, we confirm that the member selection is very reliable down to faint stars. Our data will have a legacy value for follow-up studies with different scientific purposes.

Pseudo-pheochromocytoma is defined as an adrenal tumor that has the typical characteristics of pheochromocytoma likely hypertension but is histopathologically diagnosed to other types of adrenal tumors. 11-year-old, castrated male Maltese presented for a left adrenal mass with hypertension. According to clinical signs and radiological features, a temporary diagnosis was made of pheochromocytoma. The adrenalectomy was performed and the histopathological examination of the resected adrenal gland was diagnosed as cortical adenocarcinoma. This report describes the case of pseudo-pheochromocytoma in a dog and implies the salience that even if pheochromocytoma is diagnosed based on all test results, pseudo-pheochromocytoma should not be excluded.

This study evaluated the Protaetia brevitarsis larvae powder’s characteristic changes using hot air drying (60±2.5oC, 12 h) with different pre-treatment methods, including two sacrifice methods, two storage temperatures, and two defatting processes. Appearance, yield, moisture contents, pH, color, proximate analysis, volatile basic nitrogen level, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and total phenol content were assessed. Results revealed that a combination of blanching, defatting, and -20oC storage temperature resulted in higher total phenol contents, lower water contents, and lower volatile basic nitrogen levels than other methods. Defatted treatment resulted in a higher L-value than the non-defatted treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that a combination of -20oC storage, blanching, and defatting is the optimal pre-treatment method for obtaining P. brevitarsis larvae powder with high total phenol content, low water content, and low volatile basic nitrogen, taking into account cost efficiency considerations.