The world is transitioning towards sustainable agriculture, which includes reducing chemical fertilizers and increasing the adoption of eco-friendly materials. Red clay, known for its colloidal properties, adsorption, and ion exchange capabilities, has become eco-friendly due to its non-toxic nature. However, when red clay is applied in its insoluble powdered form, its absorption by plants is limited. Processed red clay (PRC) was developed to overcome these limitations, and microbial formulations containing Lactobacillus fermentum (MFcL) were applied alongside it. Chlorophyll content and fluorescence values decreased over time after cucumber transplantation. However, co-application of PRC and MFcL resulted in higher chlorophyll content than PRC alone, suggesting that this combination could alleviate plant growth reduction caused by stress. Although the total yield of cucumbers was highest in the NF group, yield per plant increased by more than 10% in the PRC treatment compared to NF. Additionally, yield was higher when PRC was applied alongside MFcL than with MFcL alone. While the proportion of marketable fruits decreased over time in the NF treatment, it increased in the PRC treatment. Soil analysis revealed that PRC application increased soil pH by 3% and available silicon content by 7.6% compared to NF, while available phosphate levels decreased by 13%. Analysis of microbial density in the soil showed that bacteria levels significantly increased by 2-fold in PRC+MFcL compared to NF, while actinomycetes decreased by 1.5-fold. In conclusion, PRC treatment positively influenced cucumber growth, and co-application with microbial fertilizers demonstrated a synergistic effect.

Freshwater environments are rich ecosystems that support diverse microbial communities, including members of the phylum Actinomycetota critical for nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and water quality maintenance. Actinomycetota known to produce numerous bioactive secondary metabolites are valuable in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture. Despite their significance, the diversity and distribution of Actinomycetota in freshwater habitats, especially in the Republic of Korea, are underexplored. This study aimed to report the isolation and characterization of 22 previously unrecorded bacterial species of Actinomycetota from various freshwater environments in Korea. Using standard dilution plating techniques on six different culture media, 22 bacterial strains were isolated, incubated, and characterized based on colony and cellular morphologies, Gram staining, and biochemical properties. Genomic DNA was extracted and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to determine species identity using the EzBioCloud service with a cutoff of 98.7% sequence similarity for classification as unreported species. These strains were phylogenetically diverse, belonging to two classes, ten orders, and eighteen genera. This study enhances our understanding of bacterial diversity in freshwater ecosystems and underscores the importance of exploring microbial diversity in underexplored habitats, potentially leading to discovery of novel bioactive compounds. Findings of this study contribute valuable insights into ecological roles and biotechnological potential of Actinomycetota in freshwater environments.

As part of the research program “Freshwater Prokaryotic Organisms Research and Discovery,” freshwater samples were collected from the Nakdonggang River. After plating the samples on several culture media and incubating aerobically, approximately 900 bacterial strains were isolated and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequences. Among the bacterial isolates showing higher than 98.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with those of already confirmed bacterial species previously unreported in Korea, 29 strains were selected. These strains were phylogenetically diverse and belonged to 3 phyla, 6 classes, 13 orders, and 21 genera. At the genus level, these previously unreported species were found to be affiliated with Novosphingobium, Sphingomonas, Polymorphobacter, Croceibacterium, Devosia, Endobacterium, Agaricicola, Bradyrhizobium, Paracoccus, and Pseudotabrizicola of the class Alphaproteobacteria; Undibacterium, Azonexus, and Dechloromonas of the class Betaproteobacteria; Acinetobacter and Budvicia of the class Gammaproteobacteria; Streptomyces, Nocardioides, Mycobacterium, and Cellulomonas of the phylum Actinomycetota; Flavobacterium and Pedobacter of the phylum Bacteroidota. These species were further characterized by examining their Gram reaction, colony and cell morphologies, biochemical properties, and phylogenetic positions. Detailed descriptions of these 29 previously unreported species are provided.

Integration of noble metals on graphene is renowned for their catalytic and antioxidant prowess. However, utilization of toxic chemicals in the synthesis creates environmental pollution and poisonous nature of chemically synthesized materials. To address this, an economical and eco-friendly method for synthesizing graphene-gold (BRG-Au) nanocomposite by anchoring gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) onto reduced graphene oxide sheets using betel leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent is presented. Comprehensive structural characterizations through UV–Visible, Raman, FT-IR, and XRD analyses confirm the successful formation of the BRG-Au nanocomposite. Morphological assessments utilizing FE-SEM and TEM techniques revealed the presence of transparent, twinkling graphene sheets embellished with 20 to 60 nm of Au NPs in various shapes, including spherical, triangular, pentagonal, circular, and trapezoids. The catalytic and antioxidant activities of the BRG-Au nanocomposite were thoroughly evaluated. In catalytic trials, the nanocomposite exhibited remarkable efficiency in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, accomplishing this transformation within a mere 30 min during the initial cycle and maintaining stable catalytic performance over three consecutive cycles. Additionally, antioxidant analyses employing Total Antioxidant Activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl methods demonstrated that BRG-Au nanocomposite possessed equal or superior antioxidant activity than the ascorbic acid standard. This research thus underscores the promising potential of environmentally benign synthesis method for graphene-gold nanocomposite with enhanced catalytic and antioxidant properties.

상추는 수요가 연중 지속됨에 따라 재배면적과 생산량이 증가하고 있는데, 주로 생식으로 이용되며 수확간격 이 짧아 해충 다발생시 약제방제가 어려운 작물이다. 최근 검은무늬밤나방이 약제방제가 소홀한 포장에서 잎을 광포식하여 빠른 시간내에 직접적인 피해를 주고 있다. 본 연구에서는 검은무늬밤나방의 온도별 발육특성을 구명하여 방제를 위한 기초자료로 이용하고자 한다. 검은무늬밤나방은 시설재배 상추에 발생한 유충을 채집하 여 실내 사육 후 항온조건(15, 20, 25, 30℃)에서 발육단계별 발육기간을 조사하였다. 온도가 높아짐에 따라 각 태별 발육기간은 짧아지는 경향이었으며, 유충은 보통 4회 탈피하였다. 25℃에서 알기간은 2.5일, 유충기간 10.0 일, 전용기간 1.0일, 번데기기간 7.0일로 알에서 성충까지의 발육기간은 20.5일 이었다.

최근들어 평균 온도가 평년보다 높게 경과함에 따라 노지 작물에 발생이 많은 파밤나방, 담배거세미나방, 담배 나방의 발생소장을 2023년 전북 익산의 노지 고추포장에서 성페로몬트랩을 이용하여 조사하였다. 파밤나방은 4월 중순부터 채집되기 시작하였으나 채집량은 적었고 6월 중순, 7월 중순, 9월 상순, 9월 하순에 발생최성기를 보였다. 담배거세미나방은 5월 중순부터 채집되기 시작하여 6월 상순, 7월 상순, 8월 상순, 9월 상순, 11월 상순에 발생최성기를 보였으며 8월 하순이후 발생량이 많은 경향이었다. 담배나방은 5월 상순부터 발생하기 시작하여 6월 중순, 8월 상순, 9월 상순에 발생최성기를 보였으며 10월부터는 채집량이 적은 경향이었다.

Dystocia, a challenging condition in obstetrics, can arise from various causes, including fetal monsters with structural abnormalities. This case report presents a unique case of dystocia due to a fetal monster known as Perosomus Elumbis in a beetal breed goat from Pakistan. The 4-years-old pregnant doe presented with prolonged straining and failure to deliver the fetus after 8 hours of labor. Upon examination, the cervix was dilated, and only the forelimbs of the fetus were visible in the birth canal. The subsequent delivery involved the application of manual traction by using a dystocia kit, and the removal of edematous fluid from the legs. The monster fetus exhibited absence of hair growth, along with the absence of thoracic vertebrae. Two other fetuses were present, with one found dead and the other alive. Posttreatment involved fluid therapy, antibiotics, and supportive care for the doe. This case report sheds light on the occurrence of Perosomus Elumbis fetal monsters and their impact on dystocia in goat breeding. Understanding the underlying causes and implementing appropriate management strategies are crucial for successful outcomes in similar cases.

Activated carbon (AC) is a versatile and extensively employed adsorbent in environmental remediation. It possesses distinct properties that can be enhanced to selectively target specific pollutants through modifications, including chemical impregnation or incorporation into composite materials. In this study, porous calcium alginate beads (PCAB) were synthesized by incorporating AC and natural alginate through ion gelation in a Ca(II) ion-containing solution, with the addition of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. The prepared PCAB was tested for Cu(II) removal. PCAB exhibited a spherical shape with higher porosity and surface area (160.19 m2. g−1) compared to calcium alginate beads (CAB) (0.04 m2. g−1). The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-first-order model for PCAB and the pseudo-second-order model for CAB. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for adsorption on PCAB, while the Freundlich model was suitable for CAB. Notably, PCAB demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 75.54 mg.g−1, significantly higher than CAB's capacity of 9.16 mg. g−1. Desorption studies demonstrated that 0.1 M CaCl2 exhibited the highest efficiency (90%) in desorbing Cu(II) ions from PCAB, followed by 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaCl. PCAB showed efficient reusability for up to four consecutive adsorption– desorption cycles. The fixed-bed column experiment confirmed the match with the Thomas model to the breakthrough curves with qTH of 120.12 mg.g−1 and 68.03 mg.g−1 at a flow rate of 1 mL.min−1 and 2 mL.min−1, respectively. This study indicated that PCAB could be an effective adsorbent for Cu(II) removal, offering insights for further application and design considerations.

Composites of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are important materials to utilize the optical properties of CQDs in diverse applications including photoluminescence-based sensing and LED phosphors. Combining pre-prepared CQDs with a polymeric matrix usually causes changes in the optical properties of CQDs due to unavoidable aggregation. Recently, the preparation of composites based on in-situ formed CQDs has been debated to overcome the aggregation limits of the conventional mixing methods. Herein, we have demonstrated the synthesis of homogeneous CQDs composites by simple thermal annealing blends of aluminum hydroxide (AlOH), citric acid (CA), and urea (URA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy studies revealed the formation of individual CQDs with a diameter of about 2–9 nm dispersed homogeneously over the AlOH matrix. The composites have a broad excitation band centered at about 360 nm and exhibit excitation-dependent photoluminescence which was similar to that of hydrothermally synthesized CQDs from CA and URA. The photoluminescent intensity of the composite was stable to UV irradiation and responded selectively to Cu(II) ion demonstrating its potential application in Cu(II) sensing.

Background: The flexible flatfoot is characterized by a flattening of the foot arch due to excessive bodyweight. The use of shoe insoles or taping methods has been identified as effective in realigning the navicular or calcaneus bones and addressing supination in pronated feet. Objects: This study aimed to analyze the difference between the arch taping attachment method, introduced in a previous study, and a novel taping method designed to provide support to the inner aspect of the heel bone in cases of flexible flatfoot. Methods: A navicular drop test was performed to discriminate flexible flatfoot. To analyze the differences in pressure distribution during walking for each taping method, the subjects underwent testing in the barefoot state with no attachments. The procedure included a sequence of arch taping and heel taping. Subsequent analysis of pressure distribution during walking utilized the GaitRite® system (GAITRite Gold, CIR Systems Inc.). Results: Arch taping and calcaneus taping significantly reduced the integrated pressure over time and peak pressure on the medial side of the midfoot for both feet compared to the barefoot state. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that supporting the inside of the heel through calcaneus taping, without direct stimulation to the longitudinal arch and navicular bone, is an effective intervention for flexible flatfoot.

KORAD (Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, http://www.korad.or.kr) has stored slightly contaminated ascon (asphalt coated concrete mixture) that was introduced to Gyeongju repository about a decade ago waiting for a final disposal. It is believed to be mainly contaminated by radioisotope 137Cs due to impurities introduced from the outside during the ascon manufacturing process. We studied characteristics of the radioactive waste to see whether this material would be proper enough to be disposed in Gyeongju LILW repository or be other ways to reduce the disposal volume including self-disposal before its final disposal otherwise. KORAD looked into the properness of characteristics of ascon in terms of WAC (Waste Acceptance Criteria) documented by KORAD that includes general chemical and physical properties of asphalt, density, size of grains, content of organic material and possibility of existence of chelate materials that qualitatively limited to be disposed by the criteria. And other associated characteristics such as gas generation and bio degradation were also investigated. Based on the data obtained from the study, we proposed various plausible solutions in associated with operational and disposal safety and economic view points. This study will be used for KORAD’s decision on how to control and safely dispose the spent ascon within a reasonable time period. And also those experiences may be applied for other LILW issues that require treatment or conditioning of radioactive wastes in the future.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate a systematic design’s effectivity in remediating actual uranium-contaminated soil. The emphasis was placed on practical and engineering aspects, particularly in assessing the capabilities of a zero liquid discharge system in treating wastewater derived from soil washing. The research method involved a purification procedure for both the uranium-contaminated soil and its accompanying wastewater. Notably, the experimental outcomes demonstrated successful uranium separation from the contaminated soil. The treated soil could be self-disposed of, as its uranium concentration fell below 1.0 Bq·g−1, a level endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for radionuclide clearance. The zero liquid discharge system’s significance lay in its distillation process, which not only facilitated the reuse of water from the separated filtrate but also allowed for the self-disposal of high-purity Na2SO4 within the residues of the distilled filtrate. Through a comparative economic analysis involving direct disposal and the application of a remediation process for uranium-contaminated soil, the comprehensive zero liquid discharge system emerged as a practical and viable choice. The successful demonstration of the design and practicality of the proposed zero liquid discharge system for treating wastewater originating from real uranium-contaminated soil is poised to have a lasting impact.

토마토반점위조바이러스(TSWV)는 총채벌레가 매개하는 대표적인 바이러스로 고추 등 여러작물에서 심각 한 피해를 준다. 노지고추에서 토마토반점위조바이러스 발생 경감을 위한 총채벌레 방제시기를 설정하고자 시기별 총채벌레 발생량과 토마토반점위조바이러스병 발생량을 조사하였다. 2023년 전북 익산 노지 고추포장 에서 청색끈끈이트랩을 이용하여 총채벌레 발생량을 조사한 결과 4월 상순부터 채집되기 시작하여 5월 하순과 6월 하순에 발생최성기를 보였다. 반면 고추 꽃에서는 정식 2주후부터 꽃당 10마리 이상 관찰되었다. 토마토반점 위조바이러스병은 정식 30일 이후 증상이 발생하기 시작하여 빠르게 확산되는 경향이었다. 따라서 노지고추에 서 토마토반점위조바이러스병 경감을 위하여 총채벌레 방제를 활착 이후부터 시작하는 것이 좋을 것으로 판단 되었다.

기후변화 대응과 새로운 소득작물로 아열대작물이 도입되어 재배면적이 증가하고 있다. 그린빈은 아메리카 중남부가 원산지인 콩과 작물로 미성숙 꼬투리를 다양한 요리에 이용하는데 최근 수요가 증가하면서 재배면적 이 확대되고 있다. 새로운 작물이 도입됨에 따라 안정재배를 위한 방제 대상 해충을 설정하기 위하여 재배시기별 해충 종류와 피해정도를 조사하였다. 4월 중순에 파종한 그린빈에서는 생육초기부터 총채벌레 발생이 많았으 며, 5월 하순 이후 발생밀도가 급격하게 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 7월 상순에 파종한 그린빈에서는 8월 하순부터 아메리카잎굴파리 피해가 증가하여 9월 상순에 피해엽률이 50% 이상으로 발생이 심하였으며, 응애류와 총채벌 레류 발생이 많은 경향이었다.

열대거세미나방이 2019년 국내에 첫 비래한 이후 매년 비래하고 있으며 옥수수 등에서 피해를 주고 있음에 따라 전북지역 주요 옥수수 재배지역에서의 열대거세미나방 발생양상과 약제방제 효과를 조사하였다. 2022년 도에 성페로몬트랩을 이용하여 성충유인량을 조사한 결과 7월 1일 첫 채집되었으며 8월 중순이후 채집량이 증가 하여 9월 중순과 10월 중순에 발생최성기를 보였으며 11월 상순까지 유인되었다. 2022년과 2023년에 식용 옥수 수 재배지역에서 열대거세미나방 유충 피해 조사 결과 6월 수확하는 옥수수에서는 열매피해가 없었으나 9월에 수확하는 옥수수에서는 피해열매율이 30% 이상인 포장들이 관찰되어 재배시기에 따라 피해 정도 차이가 매우 큰 경향이었다. 옥수수 포장에서 열대거세미나방 유충 방제를 위해 2~3령기에 인독사카브 액상수화제를 7일 간격으로 2회 살포한 결과 처리 7일 후 방제효과는 91.7%로 높았다.

Parasitic rate of A. orientalis was calculated and compared with parasitic rate five years ago, immediately after release, and parasitic rate was also compared according to the distance away from the release point. In addition, haplotype of A. orientalis was confirmed and the association with life cycle characteristics was decided. The survey was conducted in 2022 and 2023. The parasitic rate of release point in Buyeo increased significantly from 3.6% in 18 years to 91.21% in 22. And the parasitic rate by distance from release point is 91.21% (200m), 44.46% (12km), and 65.75% (46km). At all points of survey, only haplotype C and D were found, and there was no significant difference between haplotype C and D in the parasitic rate and sex ratio.