This study investigated the effects of different protein levels on growth performance, feed efficiency, and morphological traits in female and male Boer × Korean native crossbred goats (Capra hircus) raised in Korea. A total of twenty-four goats (12 per sex) with an average age of seven months were included in the experiment. The initial body weights (BW) were 31.0 ± 0.6 kg for females and 27.4 ± 1.5 kg for males. A randomized block design was used with three dietary crude protein (CP) treatments: 15% (T1), 18% (T2), and 21% (T3). The results demonstrated that, in female goats, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in most growth parameters, except for dry matter intake (DMI), which was significantly higher in T2 and T3 (p<0.05). The total weight gain (TWG) was 2.2 kg in both T1 and T2, and 2.8 kg in T3. The average daily gain (ADG) in females reached 82 g/d in T3, significantly higher than the other. In male goats, DMI was also greater in T2 and T3 compared to T1, with the highest TWG (4.4 kg) and ADG (126.9 g/d) recorded in T3, surpassing the other treatments. Regarding morphological traits, female goats in T3 exhibited significantly greater body length (66.9 cm), withers height (62.8 cm), and chest girth (19.3 cm) compared with T1 and T2 (p<0.05). In contrast, male goats in T2 showed superior body length (65.6 cm), chest width (20.1 cm), and chest girth (78.5 cm) (p<0.05). In conclusion, the study indicates that higher protein levels (21% CP) enhance growth performance and morphological development in female goats, whereas a moderate level (18% CP) appears to be more effective for male goats. These findings suggest that protein requirements differ by sex, and sex-specific feeding strategies should be considered to optimize growth and body conformation in crossbred goats.

A survey was carried out in Paraguay to investigate the prevalence and distribution of sweet potato virus diseases. Two DNA viruses, Sweet potato pakakuy virus (SPPV) and Sweet potato symptomless virus (SPSMV), and three RNA viruses, Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG), and Sweet potato virus C (SPVC), were detected. They were cloned and sequenced. Sequences were deposited in GenBank of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Of 53 samples from which viruses were detected, SPVG was detected in 29, representing 57.6% of virus-detected samples. The second most common virus was SPFMV. It was detected in 23 samples. This is the first report of a sweet potato virus disease outbreak in Paraguay confirmed through viral sequence analysis.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables in Paraguay, playing a crucial role in the daily diet of the population. Onion production is mainly concentrated in the Eastern Region, especially in the departments of Caaguazú, Paraguarí, and Itapúa. However, despite its importance, Paraguay continues to rely on onion imports from Argentina and Brazil to meet the growing domestic demand. This dependence is concerning, as national yields are approximately 40% lower than those obtained in these neighboring countries. There are several problems affecting onion production in Paraguay. Among them, the most important problem is the lack of local varieties adapted to the country’s climate conditions. Another problem is the absence of adequate and well-defined agricultural practices. This study aims to review the agroclimatic conditions of the main production areas, as well as the production technologies currently employed and local research efforts. A significant aspect of the research is the KOPIA-IPTA (Paraguayan Institute of Agricultural Technology) cooperation project, which sought to promote innovation in onion cultivation by transferring technologies and technical knowledge. Trials of different onion varieties were conducted at three IPTA regional institute of Caacupé, Choré, and San Juan Bautista across three planting seasons. Additionally, demonstration fields in Cordillera, Paraguarí, Misiones, and San Pedro showed an increase in gross income between 145% and 438% compared to the national average. This project has demonstrated that developing appropriate technologies and farmer training are essential to improving onion production and quality in Paraguay. Furthermore, the prospect emphasizes the need for the implementation of an internal program where the main focus is the development o f appropriate technologies and their transfer to farmers to ensure sustainable and high- quality local production.

This study was conducted in the San Pedro Department to determine the impact of different soil management practices on sesame productivity. Different tillage methods (conventional deep tillage, minimum tillage, and no-tillage), crop rotations (monoculture, double, and triple rotation), various combinations of green manure, and appropriate doses of chemical fertilizers were studied. The results revealed that the no-tillage method combined with crop rotation (corn-cotton-sesame) and fertilization had the highest productivity of 1,548 kg/ha. In contrast, the conventional deep tillage method without fertilization showed the lowest productivity with 614 kg/ha. Incorporation of summer green manures (Mucuna pruriens) in minimum tillage methods with fertilization significantly improved productivity (1,010 kg/ha) in comparison with the same tillage method and fertilization but without Mucuna (720 kg/ha), which highlights the synergistic effects of combining green manures with chemical fertilizers. The treatment of winter green manures consisting of black oat + white lupine and black oat + radish has also significantly improved the productivity of sesame with 904 and 900 kg/ha, respectively, compared to the non-use of winter green manure and the use of chia, which had productivities of 695 and 298 kg/ha, respectively. The best chemical fertilization doses of nitrogen (urea 45% N), phosphorus (46% P2O5), and potassium (60% K2O) were determined through tests with increasing doses of each nutrient, maintaining 40 kg/ha as the base for the other two. The highest productivity was obtained with N, P, and K levels of 70 kg/ha each, resulting in productivities of 1,421, 1,522, and 1,486 kg/ha. However, the maximum profit compared to the input is obtained with doses of 50 kg/ha for N and 60 kg/ha for P and K, giving a productivity of 1,390, 1,510, and 1,421 kg/ha, respectively.

This article aims to compile key information to describe the current production situation of potatoes f or c onsumption and v irus- free s eed potatoes i n Paraguay, and to identify the main challenges for developing a self-sufficient production system. The study describes the climatic conditions of the production of potatoes and the national production and distribution situation, highlighting the dependence on imports for more than 90% of market demand. It analyzed the issues surrounding the production and supply of virus-free seed potatoes, which depend on imports from Argentina, averaging 799.9 tons per year. Additionally, this study collects information on virus detection in local potatoes and the risks associated with introducing viruses through imported seeds. To address these issues, the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Paraguayan Institute of Agricultural Technology (IPTA) cooperation project promoted the production of virus-free seed potatoes for their distribution to smallholder farmers across various country regions, strengthening the foundations for future virus-free seed potato production and distribution systems. Improving self-sufficiency in potato production in Paraguay requires an integrated strategy that includes analyzing suitable regions for seed potato production, implementing advanced technologies, and strengthening farmers’ technical capacity. Establishing virus-free seed potato production areas and securing governmental and legal support are crucial steps toward achieving sustainable seed potato production and reducing dependence on imports.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, caused by the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins, activates the unfolded protein response to maintain cellular homeostasis and is implicated in bacterial infections. This study investigated ER stress activation in THP-1-derived macrophages infected with oral bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis , Prevotella intermedia , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , and Streptococcus oralis at an multiplicity of infection of 50 for 4 hours. mRNA and protein expressions related to ER stress were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, while pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. P. gingivalis induced the highest mRNA expression of XBP1 and PERK, whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans showed elevated GRP78, ATF6, IRE1α, ATF4, and CHOP. P. intermedia strongly expressed PERK, while S. oralis showed higher GRP78, PERK, ATF4, and CHOP expression. Protein analysis revealed S. oralis had the highest phosphorylation levels of eIF2α and IRE1α, while CHOP was most highly expressed in P. intermedia . Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression showed P. intermedia and P. gingivalis elicited the most TNF-α, while P. gingivalis induced the highest IL-1β levels. These findings suggest oral bacteria induce varying levels of ER stress, influencing the progression of oral infectious diseases. Targeting ER stress could offer therapeutic potential for managing inflammatory conditions like periodontitis.

In 2024, the South Korean government’s research and development budget cuts sparked significant concerns in the scientific community, prompting increased interest in international research funding opportunities. In this regard, South Korea’s upcoming participation as an Associated Country in the European Union’s (EU’s) Horizon Europe offers a timely opportunity. Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation program, running from 2021 to 2027 with a budget of €95.5 billion. It is structured on three key pillars: 1) excellent science; 2) global challenges and European industrial competitiveness; and 3) innovative Europe. South Korea’s direct benefits will focus on Pillar II, which emphasizes global challenges across six clusters, including health, climate, and digital innovation. It should be noted that participation in the program mandates international collaborations, typically involving consortia with diverse expertise. Meanwhile, the National Contact Points network has been expanded to support Korean researchers, offering the necessary resources to facilitate engagement with EU counterparts. By leveraging these opportunities, South Korean researchers aim to collaboratively address global challenges, thus enhancing the nation’s scientific standing.

This study examined the physicochemical and mechanical properties of edible composite films made of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and shellac (Sh). All films were conditioned at 25℃ and 53% relative humidity (RH) for at least 48 h before analyses. Increasing the Sh ratio from 0% to 100% resulted in an increase in film thickness from 57.8 μm to 71.1 μm, while opacity decreased significantly from 22.3 mm⁻¹ to 3.7 mm⁻¹. With the increase in the Sh ratio, the moisture content, water solubility, and swelling of the film increased from 9.7% to 35.1%, 4.9% to 100%, and 3.0% to 10.5%, respectively. The CNF film (0% Sh) exhibited a lower water contact angle than the films with 80% and 100% Sh, but it was more water-resistant. As the Sh ratio increased, the tensile strength, yield stress, Young’s modulus, and work of break of the films decreased significantly from 17.9 MPa to 0.3 MPa, 1.00 MPa to 0.38 MPa, 220.7 MPa to 0.9 MPa, and 0.67 MJ/m3 to 0.13 MJ/m3, respectively. Conversely, the elongation at break increased dramatically from 10% to 253%. This study demonstrated that the thickness, opacity, moisture-related properties, and mechanical properties of CNF-Sh composite films could be tailored by varying the biopolymer ratio.

국경 간 인수합병(Cross-border M&A)은 이중 조직 정체성과 다양한 제도적 환경을 관리하는 복잡한 통합 과제를 포함한다. 기존 연구들은 주로 국가 수준의 요인에 초점을 맞췄지만, 특히 자 회사의 경험과 같은 목표 기업의 특성에 대한 연구는 상대적으로 부족했다. 본 연구는 자회사 대 독립 기업, 국내 자회사 대 해외 자회사와 같은 다양한 목표 기업의 특성이 국경을 넘는 M&A에서 인수 기업의 주주 가치에 어떻게 영향을 미치는지 분석한다. 1994년부터 2012년까지의 국경을 넘 는 M&A 거래에 대한 이벤트 연구를 통해, 자회사의 경험이 인수 기업의 주주 가치를 증가시킨다 는 것을 발견했다. 그러나 제도적 거리가 증가할수록 국내 자회사의 경험 가치는 감소하는 경향이 있었다. 이러한 연구 결과는 국경을 넘는 M&A에서 자회사 경험의 중요성을 강조하며, 제도적 거 리가 그 효과를 어떻게 조절하는지를 보여준다. 이는 연구자와 실무자 모두에게 중요한 시사점을 제공한다.