This study evaluated the impact of sowing dates on the growth, yield, and nutritive quality of three corn cultivars including Gwangpyeongok, Dacheongok, and Shinhwangok. Plant height and total yield components declined with delayed sowing across all cultivars. Gwangpyeongok achieved the highest plant height (289 ± 14 cm), grain yield (9,108 ± 82 kg/ha), and total yield (18,973 ± 2,560 kg/ha) at the April 29 sowing. Dacheongok recorded the highest stover yield (17,227 ± 137 kg/ha) and total yield (22,236 ± 1,053 kg/ha) on May 13. Shinhwangok reached its maximum total yield (19,158 ± 604 kg/ha) at May 13 but showed the sharpest declines by May 16. Nutritional quality also deteriorated with later sowing. In stover, crude protein (CP) declined to 3.58% in Shinhwangok at May 16, accompanied by a rise in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) to 69.9%. In contrast, Dacheongok maintained stable CP levels (5.27–5.60%) and the lowest fiber fractions. Gwangpyeongok exhibited the highest stover CP at April 29 sowing, along with the lowest NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents. Grain CP was highest in Gwangpyeongok (8.1 ± 0.4%) and Shinhwangok (9.6 ± 0.9%) at April 29, while Dacheongok showed its maximum grain CP (8.0 ± 0.3%) at the same sowing date, coupled with relatively low fiber content. Overall, the findings highlight that timely sowing is crucial for achieving both high yield and optimal nutritive quality in maize. For Gwangpyeongok and Dacheongok, sowing from late April to mid-May provided the best balance between yield and nutritional quality. In Shinhwangok, the highest stover, grain, and total biomass yields were obtained at the May 13 sowing.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of sowing dates on the growth, yield, and forage quality of two triticale cultivars, Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho. Field experiments were conducted with sowing dates ranging from September 25 to November 13, 2023. The results indicate that both cultivars and sowing date significantly influence growth characteristics, dry matter yield, and nutritional composition. The highest yields were obtained from the earliest sowing (September 25), with Joseong producing 10,979 ± 366 kg/ha and Hanmiso-1ho 12,201 ± 2,124 kg/ha. Yields remained relatively high on October 5 and 16 sowings but declined sharply after October 25, reaching the lowest levels on November 13 (Joseong 4,991 ± 458 kg/ha; Hanmiso-1ho 6,353 ± 338 kg/ha). Delayed sowing increased plant height but reduced forage biomass. Forage quality also varied with the sowing date. Crude protein (CP) ranged from 8–11%, with higher values in early sowing (10.7% for Joseong, 10.3% for Hanmiso-1ho) and lower at mid to late sowing dates. Fiber content such as NDF and ADF levels increased with the sowing dates delayed, but declined slightly with the November sowing dates. Overall, end September to early October sowings provide optimal yield and forage quality for both triticale cultivars.

This study was conducted to quantitatively verify whether payment motives and usage patterns differ according to the motivations of users of mobile character-collecting games. For this purpose, three user types were derived based on game motivation profiles tailored to mobile character-collecting games: Cluster 1 (Communicators), Cluster 2 (Character Collectors), and Cluster 3 (Competitors). It was confirmed that each cluster was mutually exclusive and exhibited different payment motives and usage patterns. These findings emphasize the value of a motivation-based segmentation strategy in understanding the behavior of mobile game users. Furthermore, based on the results of this study, game developers and publishers can more sophisticatedly tailor game content, monetization strategies, and marketing campaigns based on users' motivational profiles, rather than relying on simple demographic variables. Future research needs to expand the diversity of the sample by including a wider age range and considering a balanced gender distribution. Additionally, to gain a more in-depth understanding of the temporal changes in user motivation, future studies should explore potential causal relationships through a longitudinal research design.

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., IRG) is a widely cultivated winter forage crop known for its high yield and nutritional value. This study evaluated the processing characteristics and feeding performance of IRG-based pellets in Hanwoo cattle (Bos taurus coreanae) and Korean native black goats (Capra hircus). IRG was harvested at the optimal growth stage and processed into two pellet formulations: IRG ≥80% (with up to 20% soybean meal) and 100% IRG. Feeding trials were conducted under ad libitum feeding conditions. Hanwoo cattle showed higher intake of 100% IRG pellets (7.9 kg/day/head) than IRG ≥80% pellets (7.5 kg/day/head, p<0.05), with similar average daily gain (0.9 ± 0.4 kg/day/head). Conversely, black goats exhibited significantly lower intake of IRG ≥80% pellets (54.6 g/day/head) compared to 100% IRG pellets (266 g/day/head), likely due to reduced palatability associated with soybean meal inclusion. These findings suggest that IRG pellets are suitable for Hanwoo cattle, while further optimization of pellet size and formulation is required to improve acceptance in goats. Future studies should assess long-term impacts on digestion, rumen fermentation, and metabolic responses.

This study quantitatively assessed the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on the suitability zones and dry matter yield (DMY) of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Korea. Baseline climate (2006–2015) and recent climate (2021–2023) conditions were compared using national meteorological and crop yield data. A significant decrease in total annual precipitation (−84.3 mm, p<0.001) was observed, while winter minimum temperatures showed a slight but statistically insignificant increase (+0.27°C, p = 0.111). Suitability zone classification based on agro-climatic zoning indicated regional shifts, particularly a decrease in the best suitable zones in 2021 and partial recovery by 2023. Dry matter yield increased by 31.6% in central Korea due to improved winter survival under warmer conditions, while southern Korea experienced a 9.4% yield reduction in response to a severe spring drought in 2022. Pearson correlation analysis showed a moderate positive but non-significant relationship between precipitation and yield (r = 0.518, p = 0.292), and multiple linear regression explained 97.9% of yield variation (R² = 0.979). Precipitation had a stronger explanatory effect than temperature, suggesting that water availability is a more critical factor for forage productivity. These findings provide scientific evidence of regional climate sensitivity and support future data-driven cultivation planning.

The emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases pose ongoing threats to public health. This study aims to develop an agent-based simulation model (ABM) to predict the spread of novel infectious diseases during early outbreak phases and evaluate the effectiveness of control measures, specifically focusing on the impact of interventions such as maskwearing, vaccination, and social distancing on outbreak dynamics and the reduction of symptomatic cases. Using demographic and COVID-19 outbreak data from South Korea, we constructed a detailed contact network model encompassing workplaces, schools, households, and communities. Using demographic and COVID-19 outbreak data from Seoul, South Korea, we constructed a detailed contact network model encompassing workplaces, schools, households, and communities. Key transmission parameters were inferred using Approximate Bayesian Computation. The resulting ABM platform, implemented in a C-based R package, allows for flexible scenario simulation involving 56 adjustable parameters, including mask-wearing, vaccination coverage, and social distancing. Simulation outputs demonstrated the model’s capacity to reproduce observed transmission patterns in workplace and school outbreaks, enabling public health authorities to anticipate outbreak dynamics and assess interventions. This framework provides a valuable decision-support tool for controlling future infectious disease incursions.

Sperm storage is a crucial reproductive adaptation that ensures fertilization success by maintaining viable sperm until ovulation. Birds and mammals have evolved anatomically distinct yet functionally analogous structures, sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the avian female reproductive tract and the epididymis in the mammalian male reproductive tract, that represent a striking example of convergent evolution. These systems prolong sperm lifespan and regulate fertilization timing through shared physiological strategies. While each system has been studied independently, a direct comparison between SSTs and the epididymis has not been thoroughly explored. This review proposes that, although structurally distinct, SSTs and the epididymis exhibit shared physiological strategies such as metabolic suppression, pH and ion regulation, oxidative stress control, and hormonally mediated sperm release. By highlighting these parallels, we present a novel perspective on sperm storage as a case of evolutionary convergence in reproductive physiology. Understanding these shared mechanisms provides new insights into sperm viability regulation and offers practical implications for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as improved cryopreservation strategies and biomimetic sperm storage platforms designed to mimic SST or epididymal conditions.

In this study, a bacterial strain exhibiting high degradation activity toward organic wastes was isolated and taxonomically identified. Five strains with excellent hydrolytic activity toward starch, lipids, and proteins were isolated from slaughter waste processors. Among the five strains, YBK-W4, which showed the highest amylase, protease, and lipase activities, was selected. Through 16S rRNA sequencing, YBK-W4 was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus (B. atrophaeus) and designated B. atrophaeus YBK-W4. The optimal temperature and pH for enzyme activity of B. atrophaeus YBK-W4 were 37~42°C and pH 7, respectively. The bacterium was grown on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar containing 12% NaCl, where enzyme activity was 11.4~29.7% of that observed in LB agar without NaCl. These results suggest that B. atrophaeus YBK-W4 is a useful bacterial agent for the decomposition of organic waste, such as food and slaughterhouse waste.