Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) has been known as greater duckweed or great duckmeat. It is native inhabited in Korea. It is considered as a rich source of primary metabolites including protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Thus, it is considered as an alternative food source for the future. In addition, it has a strong phytoremediation capacity to remove various environmental pollutants, especially inorganic elements and pesticides. With a variety of duckweed’s application, there is an urgent need to develop a cultivation method for a sustainable supply of S. polyrhiza. In this study, an indoor vertical farm has been introduced to optimize duckweed cultivation. Indoor cultivated S. polyrhiza showed about 2-fold higher fresh weight than outdoor cultivated duckweed. Contents of inorganic elements were also significantly reduced in indoor cultivated S. polyrhiza. Especially, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were approximately 10-fold decreased in indoor cultivated duckweed. On the other hand, contents of proteins and fats were significantly increased in indoor cultivated S. polyrhiza, while carbohydrates were found more in outdoor cultivated S. polyrhiza. Increasing N content in a homemade nutrition solution also enhanced fresh and dried weights of S. polyrhiza by about 1.8-fold in comparison with other commercial nutrition solutions. Proliferation rate (%) was doubled every 24 hours in this indoor vertical farm, indicating the accomplishment of a sustainable supply for S. polyrhiza. Further studies need to be undertaken to cultivate other duckweeds such as Wolffia arrhiza and Lemna minor using the same indoor farming system.

The swallowing reflex is modulated by multiple sensory inputs, such as bolus volume, viscosity, and taste. The interactions among different types of sensory information have been extensively studied. However, the influence of oral temperature on bolus volume perception has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of temperature on volume perception sensitivity in healthy individuals. Five volumes (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mL) of distilled water were estimated at three different temperatures, 4℃ (cold), 21℃ (room temperature), and 45℃ (warm), using a visual analogue scale. There were no significant differences in the sensitivity of oral volume perception across temperatures. These findings suggest that the ability to perceive bolus volume remains stable under temperature variation.

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) cause substantial economic losses on the livestock industry. Therefore, vaccinations have been implemented as the control strategy in endemic countries. However, the potential adverse effects of administering vaccines for both diseases simultaneously have not been thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of vaccinating dairy cows with either or both LSD and FMD vaccines on milk production and physiological parameters such as milk temperature, rumination time and body weight. The experimental groups were divided into four according to the injection materials: 1) saline, 2) LSD vaccine, 3) FMD vaccine, and 4) both vaccines. The impact of vaccination on milk yield and physiological parameters was evaluated daily until 12 days post-vaccination, and milk components were analyzed twice, once per week. Among the experimental groups as well as each vaccine group, no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed at milk yield, milk components, or milk temperature. This suggests that simultaneous vaccination of LSD and FMD can be administered without adverse effects.

본 연구를 통해 미기록종 Homalotylus albifrons (Ishii, 1925) (벌목: 깡충좀벌과)를 한국에 최초로 보고한다. 이 종에 대한 진단과 사진과 한국 의 Homalotylus 속의 종 키를 수록한다.

We previously reported that pyridoxine and its derivatives exert antidiabetic effects by alleviating postprandial hyperglycemia via inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes in normal sprague–dawley (SD) rats. In this study, we aimed to further evaluate whether long-term pyridoxal supplementation decreases the blood glucose levels using SD rats. SD rats were randomly assigned to groups fed a high-carbohydrate diet (66.1% cornstarch) with or without pyridoxal (4%) for 36 days. Changes in body weight, blood glucose levels, and food intake were measured daily for 36 days. Dietary supplementation with pyridoxal significantly decreased the blood glucose levels (P<0.001) and body weight (P<0.001) in mice. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, which are good indicators of plasma glucose concentrations over prolonged periods, were also significantly decreased over five weeks (P<0.001). Similarly, dietary treatment with Acarbose ® (0.04%), a positive control, also significantly decreased the blood glucose and HbA1c levels and body weight. Overall, our findings suggest that pyridoxal inhibits weight gain and alleviates postprandial hyperglycemia by decreasing glucose absorption and HbA1c levels.

A 17-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu dog, weighing 5.0 kg, presented with frequent coughing and respiratory distress. Blood tests revealed mild thrombocytosis, and thoracic ultrasonography and radiography confirmed a significant amount of pleural effusion. However, the thoracic radiographs showed no radiopaque nodules or interstitial patterns indicative of thoracic tumors. Thoracentesis was performed to relieve effusion-induced thoracic pressure, yielding a hemorrhagic serosanguinous pleural fluid. The cytological analysis of this fluid revealed mesothelial cells, supporting the clinical diagnosis of mesothelioma in situ. To address the patient’s clinical symptoms, an aggressive management approach was implemented with chest tube placement to address recurrent pleural effusion after initial thoracentesis. During treatment, the patient exhibited stable health and adapted well to daily life. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of mesothelioma in situ with hemorrhagic malignant pleural effusion in South Korea. Using a chest tube as an aggressive treatment successfully alleviated dyspnea symptoms and provided symptomatic relief in a patient with mesothelioma in situ.

The oral microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining oral and overall health and affects immune responses, digestion, and pathogen suppression. While most studies focus on age groups prone to specific conditions, such as dental caries in children or periodontal disease in older adults, limited data exist on preschool-aged children and young adults. This study investigates the composition and diversity of the oral microbiome between these age groups for enhanced understanding of a healthy oral microbiome. Microbial samples from the supragingival regions of 41 children and 31 young adults in Korea were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity were assessed, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) identified taxa with significant differences in abundance between the groups. No significant differences in alpha diversity were observed between children and young adults however, beta diversity analysis revealed notably compositional differences. At the phylum level, Firmicutes were more abundant in children, whereas Actinobacteria were more prevalent in young adults. Genera such as Veillonella and Lautropia were more abundant among children, whereas Haemophilus and Rothia were more common among young adults. LEfSe analysis identified Veillonella rogosae and Lautropia mirabilis as more abundant in children, whereas Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Rothia dentocariosa were more prevalent in young adults. The observed differences suggest that children’s microbiomes are associated with biofilm development, while young adults’ microbiomes involve biofilm maturation and immune modulation. These findings highlight the age-related shift in oral microbiome composition, emphasizing the importance of monitoring these changes to support long-term oral health.

국립원예특작과학원에서는 밝은 화색과 안정적인 화형의 생 육이 우수한 빨간색 스탠다드 장미 품종을 육성하기 위해 진한 적색 스탠다드 장미 품종 ‘엔드리스러브(Endless Love)’를 모 본으로, 꽃잎수가 많고 안정적으로 가시가 적은 밝은 노란색 ‘페니레인(Penny Lane)’ 품종을 부본으로 인공교배하였다. 37 개의 교배실생을 양성해 1, 2, 3차에 걸친 특성검정 및 현장실증 을 통해 꽃이 크고 화형이 안정적이며, 재배안정성 및 생산성, 절화특성이 우수한 ‘원교 D1-390’을 최종 선발하였다. 2023년 ‘루비레드(Ruby Red)’로 명명하여 국립종자원에 품종보호출원·등록되었다. ‘루비레드’ 품종은 밝은 적색(R53C)을 가졌으 며, 꽃잎수가 32.8매, 화폭과 화고는 각각 10.9, 5.9cm로 대조 품종보다 크다. 절화장은 평균 71.7cm, 절화수명은 약 16.7일, 수량은 연간 168대/m2로 대조품종인 ‘레드스퀘어(Red Square)’ 대비 절화장이 길고 절화수명도 2배 이상 길며, 수확량도 1.4배 우수하다. 2023년 국내 육성 장미 품종 서울식물원 관람객 대상 공동평가회에서 스탠다드 장미 중 우수한 평가를 받았으며, 현 장 실증 결과 농가별로 균일하고 우수한 수량과 절화품질을 보 였다. 절화용 장미 ‘루비레드’ 품종은 밝은 적색과 우수한 화형 을 가지는 품종으로 해외 대체 품종으로 국내에서 많이 재배될 것으로 기대된다.

장미과의 과일 및 관상용 식물은 세계적으로 경제적, 원예적 가치가 뛰어나다. 장미과의 뱀딸기는 관상 및 약용 작물로써 이용가치가 매우 높은데, 증식방법이 마련되어 있지 않은 실정 이다. 뱀딸기의 종자 종자발아 특성을 조사하기 위해 내부형태 관찰, 수분흡수실험, 온도 별 배양, move-along test, GA3처리 실험을 수행하였다. 뱀딸기 종자는 탈리시점부터 성숙한 배를 지닌다. 수분흡수실험 결과, 침지 3시간만에 종자 무게가 초 기무게 대비 100% 이상 증가하였다. 온도 별 배양 실험 결 과, 25/15, 20/10, 15/6, 5, 25, 20, 15°C에서 각각 8주간 배양하였을 때 88, 71, 61, 12, 89, 39, 17%로 나타났다. Move-along test의 T125/15°C(12주)→20/10°C(4주)→ 15/6°C(4주)→5°C(12주)]에서 12주차까지 72%가 발아하였고 T2[4°C(12주)→15/6°C(4주)→20/10°C(4주)→25/15°C(12주)] 에선 20/10°C까지 발아하지 않았고 25/15°C에 도달하고 나서 발아하여 최종발아율은 16%로 나타났다. GA3처리구에선 배양 3주차에 발아를 시작한 반면에 대조구에선 배양 4주차부터 발 아하였다. 따라서 한반도 자생 뱀딸기 종자는 PD로 분류하였다. 뱀딸기속과 Potentilla속 식물은 서로 근연관계이고, 종간의 종 자휴면에 차이가 나타나 종자휴면 특성에 분화가 일어난 것으로 판단된다.

This study evaluated the immunogenicity of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in a guinea pig model to refine preclinical assessment methods. 24 guinea pigs were divided into four groups for immunohistochemical, histopathological, and molecular analyses, including qRT-PCR and ELISA. The ELISA results revealed significant elevations in interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN- ), and tuberculosis-specific antibodies in vaccinated guinea pigs, particularly γ notable after 6 weeks. Although lung cytokine levels remained unchanged, spleen gene expression showed significant differences in interleukin-17, interleukin-12, interleukin-1β, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 after 6 weeks. Immunohistochemistry revealed peak IL-2 expression at 8 weeks and significant IFN-γ and TNF-α expression at 6 weeks. This study confirmed the effectiveness of BCG vaccine in guinea pigs, providing crucial insights for future tuberculosis vaccine development and standardizing immune response indicators.

This study develops a model to determine the input rate of the chemical for coagulation and flocculation process (i.e. coagulant) at industrial water treatment plant, based on real-world data. To detect outliers among the collected data, a two-phase algorithm with standardization transformation and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) is applied. In addition, both of the missing data and outliers are revised with linear interpolation. To determine the coagulant rate, various kinds of machine learning models are tested as well as linear regression. Among them, the random forest model with min-max scaled data provides the best performance, whose MSE, MAPE, R2 and CVRMSE are 1.136, 0.111, 0.912, and 18.704, respectively. This study demonstrates the practical applicability of machine learning based chemical input decision model, which can lead to a smart management and response systems for clean and safe water treatment plant.

This study aimed to determine how 15 weeks of Tai Chi training affected attention and brain waves. Thirty-six university students (mean age = 24.27 years; SD = ±1.054) participated in this experiment. Participants practiced form postures from the first section of form 85 of the traditional Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan. The Frankfurt Attention Inventory (FAIR) was used to assess each participant’s level of attention. The sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) power analysis demonstrated that participants in the Tai Chi group show higher SMR power than the control group. This study showed that Tai Chi Chuan increases theta and alpha waves by relaxing the body and mind, as well as through soft and slow movement and deep breathing. It reduces fast beta waves, which stabilizes the brain and improves attention. FAIR results showed that 15 weeks of Tai Chi training improved selective ability, control index, and persistence index. These findings suggested that Tai Chi is an exercise that helps improve attention.