This study evaluated the fungicidal efficacy of weakly acidic hypochlorous acid water (WAHW) against Microsporum canis (M. canis) and its therapeutic effect on M. canis-infected mouse skin. WAHW was produced by a WAHW generation module. A fungicidal efficacy test by the broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective concentration of the WAHW. The lowest effective concentration of WAHW was less than 10 ppm. For T-1, T-2, and T-3, 30 ppm of WAHW was applied to the infected skin once, twice, and three times a day, respectively, and for T-4, 50 ppm of WAHW was applied once a day. On the 3rd day after the initiation of treatment, skin scores in all of the WAHW-treated groups were significantly decreased compared to those in the positive control group (PC) (p<0.05), and there were no significant differences compared to the normal control (NC). The area of the infected skin in all of the WAHW-treated groups was significantly decreased compared to PC from the first day after the initiation of WAHW treatment (p<0.05). The results showed that WAHW had a fungicidal efficacy on M. canis at less than 10 ppm, and it was effective in improving skin symptoms when 30 ppm of WAHW was applied to the M. canis-infected area once a day for five days or 50 ppm of WAHW was applied once a day.

In this study, Bacillus velesensis TJS119, isolated from freshwater, demonstrated growth inhibition against insect pathogenic fungi. The culture medium of the B. velezensis TJS119 strain underwent sequential fractionation with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. Notably, the n-butanol fraction exhibited significant antifungal activity against Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. LC/MS analysis of antifungal peaks identified the production of various lipopeptides by B. velezensis TJS119, including two types of iturin A (C14, C15), four types of fengycin A (C14, C15, C16, C17), and two types of fengycin B (C16, C17). The antifungal efficacy of Iturin A and Fengycin against insect pathogenic fungi was further validated using the paper disc diffusion method. These findings underscore the potential of B. velezensis TJS119 as a promising candidate for future research and applications in the realm of agricultural biological controls against fungal diseases.

Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae from industrial insects are traditionally recognized as functional health foods in South Korea. We evaluated the immuno-modulatory effects of feeding beneficial microorganism (Bacillus velezensis TJS119) to P. brevitarsis larvae as a dietary source. In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing activities of P. brevitarsis larvae hot-water extract (PLW) and PLW after treatment with B. velezensis TJS119 (PLWB) using the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. We examined the effects of PLWB on cell proliferation, cytokine production, and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. PLWB showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 1,000 μg/mL in RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with PLWB increased the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] at doses of 62.5 to 1,000 μ g/mL in RAW264.7 cells. As a result, PLWB exhibited a stronger immune-enhancing effect compared to PLW. In conclusion, the results of this study offer experimental evidence to support the potential utilization of PLWB as an immunity-enhancing nutraceutical ingredient.

Bacillus velezensis TJS119 was isolated from the freshwater, and antagonistic activity against of pathogenic fungi. Strain TJS119 showed a broad spectrum of antagonistic activities many fungal pathogens, including the green muscardine fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. The whole-genome sequence of B. velzensis TJS119 was analyzed using the illumina platform. The genome comprises a 3,809,913 bp chromosome with a G + C content of 46.43%, 3,834 total genes, 10 rRNA and 73 tRNA genes. The genome contained a total of 8 candidate gene clusters (difficidin, fengycin, bacillaene, macrolactin, bacillibactin, bacilysin, surfactin and butirosin) to synthesize secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Overall, our data will aid future studies of the biocontrol mechanisms of B. velezensis TJS119 and promote its application in insect disease control.

유기농업자재 제조 원료가 되는 주요 식물인 제충국, 고삼, 데리스, 님 등은 대부분 수입에 의존하고 있는 실정 으로 제품수급, 효용성 및 안전성 등에 빈번한 문제가 발생되고 있다. 이러한 문제점을 해결하기 위하여 국내 자생식물을 추출물 원료로 이용하기 위한 연구를 수행하고 있다. 이중 마트린이 함유되어 살충제로 이용되고 있는 고삼에 흰가루병, 총채벌레, 줄붉은들명나방, 담배거세미나방, 거품벌레류가 발생하여 피해를 주었다. 특 히 줄붉은들명나방(Uresiphita prunipennis)은 7월 하순부터 9월 중순까지 발생하여 엽육을 갉아먹고 엽맥만 남기는 피해를 주었고, 피해주율은 11% 였다. 이를 방제하기 위해 18종의 유기농업자재의 살충효과를 조사한 결과 주성분이 마늘추출물 80%, 데리스추출물 70% 등인 자재 6종이 80% 이상의 살충률을 나타내었다.

The present study was conducted to analyze agronomic characteristics of 8 ecotypes of Arundinella hirta (A. hirta) and the correlation among them. Changes in phenotypic characteristics of 8 ecotypes were measured at equal intervals of time from May to September. Among ecotypes, Jangsoo-1 has the highest plant height (172.33 cm), number of leaves (9.00) and leaf length (55 cm) while the ecotype Youngduk has the highest leaf width (1.57 cm), fresh mass (26.63 g), dry mass (7.06 g), number of spikelets per spike (53.33), amount of seeds per spike (0.74 g) and amount of seeds per 10 spikes (7.23 g). The ecotype Jinju-1 has the shortest plant height (119 cm) and leaf number (6.33), while Okgye-2 has shortest leaf length (30.67 cm), leaf width (0.93 cm), fresh mass (12.60 g), dry mass (3.30 g), spike length (30.33 cm), spikelet per spike (39.67), amount of seeds per spike (0.61 g) and amount of seeds per 10 spikes (6.00 g). Correlation coefficients were estimated among the studied agronomic characteristics which showed positive and significant association with each other. In the present study, the agronomic data collected would be useful to understand the potential of A. hirta as a forage resource and helpful in selecting the high-yielding genetic resource for future forage improvement.

In recent years, young Chinese consumers have become more favorably inclined toward products relating to traditional culture. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a textile design that incorporates traditional Chinese patterns and cultural symbolism that will appeal to consumers from the MZ generation (millennials and Generation Z). Through a literature search for traditional Chinese patterns and symbols regarded as auspicious, our design concept and motives were established. We selected peony, lotus, and frog motifs as representative of a “wealth and eternal prosperity” design theme. In textile design work 1, we used hand drawing and watercolor techniques, color transformation with Adobe Photoshop, and colorway and end-use 3D simulation with TexPro. The 3D simulation work suggests that this textile pattern is suitable for women’s outerwear, mufflers, and tote bags. Textile design work 2 conveyed the ‘wealth and eternal prosperity’ design theme and had a graceful mood that embodied the nobility of the lotus flower whilst also encompassing the symbolism of money and status. The end design is a modern reinterpretation of traditional Chinese patterns and motifs. As such, it is hoped that it will satisfy the needs of young consumers for cultural values yet offer a unique new aesthetic distinct from existing textile designs. These qualities can be expected to enhance the competitive market value of textiles bearing this design.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, yet little is known about how consumers experience and make decisions regarding follow-up care with medical AI. We take an interdisciplinary approach combining behavioral research and neuroscience to examine how anthropomorphism and personalization influence well-being and follow-up decisions. Study 1 found that consumers felt well-being after interacting with a highly personalized interaction, whether human or AI doctor. However, they preferred follow-up visits with the human doctor. Empathy mediated these effects. Study 2 used fMRI to show that the anterior cingulate cortex had greater activation when interacting with the human doctor, indicating more emotional processing and conflict resolution. These findings suggest that medical AI cannot currently replace human doctors, who remain vital for actual medical consultations and treatment. However, consumers viewed AI doctors positively and expressed a belief that AI will enhance well-being. By integrating neuroscience, this research provides biological evidence complementing behavioral findings.

As digital technology becomes more prevalent in today’s business environment and interest in digital trust rises, restaurants need to identify whether and how their mobile apps enhance the customer experience, and what features of the apps can strengthen customers’ attachment to them. However, few studies have examined the role of restaurant mobile apps as a catalyst for building customer loyalty. Considering restaurant mobile apps as a means to build a trustworthy relationship between customers and restaurants, this study develops and validates a research framework to measure digital trust between restaurants and customers through restaurant mobile apps. Specifically, due to the lack of measurement constructs for digital trust, a reliable and valid set of measurements that can explain digital trust in relation to restaurant mobile apps is developed and the effects of mobile apps’ digital trust on customers’ trust in a restaurant brand, overall experience, and their continued use intention are assessed.