Background: Logistics service workers (LSWs) face significant occupational challenges, with ankle sprains being the second most prevalent work-related musculoskeletal disorder. Foot posture, assessed through the navicular drop test, can significantly influence dynamic balance performance, which is crucial for injury prevention in physically demanding occupational settings. Objects: This study aimed to investigate differences in dynamic balance performance among LSWs with pronated, supinated, and normal foot types using the Y-Balance test (YBT), comparing reach distances across anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Methods: A total of 205 LSWs were classified into three groups based on navicular drop measurements: supinated (n = 44), normal (n = 94), and pronated (n = 67) foot types. The YBT was performed on the dominant leg, measuring reach distances in three directions. Participants’ demographic characteristics were recorded, and statistical analyses were conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction. Results: Significant differences in YBT performance were observed across all three directions (anterior: p = 0.009, posterolateral: p = 0.015, posteromedial: p = 0.014). The supinated and normal foot groups showed significantly greater reach distances compared to the pronated group (p < 0.026 for anterior direction). In the posterolateral direction, the supinated group demonstrated significantly better performance compared to the pronated group (p = 0.014). Similarly, the posteromedial direction revealed significantly higher reach distances for the supinated group compared to the pronated group (p = 0.012). Conclusion: The study reveals that foot type significantly impacts dynamic balance performance among LSWs. Workers with pronated feet demonstrate reduced balance capabilities, while those with supinated feet show the most superior dynamic balance performance.

Climatic change affects agricultural, environmental and livestock production. Forage productivity is highly dependent on the weather change. The Pyeongchang region has more difficulty in cultivation of Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids (SSH) than other warm regions because of the cold weather. This experiment was carried out to analysis the agronomic characteristics, productivity, and nutritive value of three cultivars of Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids in the Pyeongchang region from 2021 to 2022. Two harvests were taken in each year, and the agronomic characteristics, dry matter yield, and nutrient content of the whole SSH crops were determined. The plant height ranged between 281-291 cm and 165-172 cm in the first and second harvest, respectively. Plant height of Superdan (291±49 cm) was the highest in the first cut and Dairy mens Dream (172±30 cm) was the highest in the second cut time. Stem diameter ranged from 9.5 to 8.8 mm with Superdan having a higher level than the other two cultivars. The Dairy mens Dream variety produced significantly higher dry matter yield (15,695 kg/ha) than those of Superdan (14,584 kg/ha) and Supergreen (14,300 kg/ha) over a two-year experimental period. In terms of nutritional quality, the crude protein content, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of SSH cultivars were analysed. There were no significant changes in the content of CP, ADF and NDF ranges among the cultivars. In addition, the Superdan cultivar had slightly higher CP content (10.17%) and was followed by Dairy mens Dream (9.84%) and Supergreen (9.54%) in the second cut time of 2-year average. Dairy mens dream had lower ADF and NDF values than other cultivars; however, no significant differences amongst cultivars in fiber content were observed. Therefore, these three cultivars displayed the potential growth characteristics, DM yield and nutritive values in Pyeongchang region. Hence, the SSH cultivars have a potential to withstand the climatic change and improve SSH productivity in the study area.

The study on the efficiency improvement of qualification procedures for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites analyzed the differences between the European ECSS and the American NASA standards. ECSS allows flexible test tailoring to accommodate project-specific requirements, whereas NASA enforces strict standardized procedures to ensure high reliability. Additionally, ECSS prioritizes cost efficiency, while NASA emphasizes reliability. In terms of application scope, NASA focuses on private-sector collaborations, whereas ECSS is centered on cooperative projects within Europe. Based on this comparative analysis, this study proposes a qualification framework for Korean LEO satellites, categorizing 18 qualification test items into mandatory and optional groups. This approach is expected to enhance the reliability, performance, and stability of satellite systems. Therefore, the proposed Korean qualification test sequence should be implemented and incorporated into national defense standards. This will strengthen the systematic structure of the qualification process while maximizing efficiency in terms of testing time and cost.

As part of the 2024 research initiative, “Investigation and Discovery of Prokaryotes in Freshwater Systems,” samples were collected from diverse freshwater habitats, including both water and soil environments. Approximately 2,000 bacterial strains were isolated as single colonies and identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Among these, 38 strains shared ≥98.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with those of known bacterial species not previously reported in Korea. These strains were thus categorized as newly recorded bacterial species in Korea. These 38 bacterial strains displayed significant phylogenetic diversities, spanning 2 phyla, 4 classes, 15 orders, 24 families, and 34 genera. These unrecorded species were classified into the following classes: Actinomycetia (with genera including Microcella, Conyzicola, Curtobacterium, Leucobacter, Microbacterium, Frigoribacterium, Lysinibacter, Streptomyces, Nonomuraea, Actinocorallia, Ruania, and Actinoplanes), Alphaproteobacteria (Paracoccus, Youngimonas, Loktanella, Corticibacterium, Neorhizobium, Onobrychidicola, Ferranicluibacter, Aureimonas, Asticcacaulis, and Novosphingobium), Betaproteobacteria (Rhodoferax, Rugamonas, and Cupriavidus), and Gammaproteobacteria (Rheinheimera, Shewanella, Kosakonia, Leclercia, Hafnia, Yersinia, Pseudomonas, Lysobacter, and Acinetobacter ). Further characterization included assessment of Gram reaction, colony and cell morphology, biochemical properties, and phylogenetic relationships. This report presents detailed phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of these bacterial species.

This study investigates the factors influencing the seed longevity of Quercus myrsinifolia, a species with recalcitrant seeds highly sensitive to desiccation and freezing. The effects of moisture content, seed collection date, and storage methods on seed viability were analyzed using exponential decay modeling. Interactions between these factors were also explored to refine conservation strategies. Seeds with moisture content above 40% demonstrated a predicted seed longevity of 2.19 years, whereas those with moisture content below 30% had seed longevity of less than 1 year. Late-season seeds collected in November and December exhibited superior germination percentages and longer predicted seed longevity (1.32 years) compared to early-season seeds collected in September and October (<1 year). In seed weight, large seeds (2.0 g) showed longer predicted seed longevity about 1.5 times greater than that of small seeds (<1.2g). Storage methods significantly affected seed longevity, with refrigerator (4°C) with silica gel maintaining viability for 2–3 years, while seeds stored at room temperature (25°C) exhibited a seed longevity of less than 1 year. Silica gel was found to prevent seed deterioration due to over-desiccation, emphasizing the importance of balanced moisture regulation. Q. myrsinifolia seeds exhibited 𝑏 values ranging from 0.30 to 2.04, demonstrating a close relationship between decay constant, moisture content, storage conditions, and seed longevity. These findings provide critical insights into optimizing seed storage and propagation strategies for Q. myrsinifolia, contributing to its conservation and ecological restoration efforts.

Background: Automated classification systems using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can enhance accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing pet skin diseases within veterinary medicine. Objectives: This study created a system that classifies pet skin diseases by evaluating multiple ML models to determine which method is most effective. Design: Comparative experimental study. Methods: Pet skin disease images were obtained from AIHub. Models, including Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Boosted Stacking Ensemble (BSE), H2O AutoML, Random Forest, and Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT), were trained and their accuracy assessed. Results: The TPOT achieved the highest accuracy (94.50 percent), due to automated pipeline optimization and ensemble learning. H2O AutoML also performed well at 94.25 percent, illustrating the effectiveness of automated selection for intricate imaging tasks. Other models scored lower. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of AI-driven solutions for faster and more precise pet skin disease diagnoses. Future investigations should incorporate broader disease varieties, multimodal data, and clinical validations to solidify the practicality of these approaches in veterinary medicine.

The Pieris napi-complex in East Asia that comprises P. melete Ménétriés, 1857, P. dulcinea (Butler 1882), and P. nesis (Fruhstorfer 1909) has been taxonomically challenging to distinguish due to their similar appearances. In this study, P. nesis, typically found in central Japan, was discovered in the highlands on Jejudo Island, the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial COI gene to explore the relationship between P. dulcinea and P. nesis, and confirmed that P. nesis occurs in Korea. This paper provides the morphological characteristics of P. nesis compared to P. dulcinea, along with DNA data.

전세계적으로 50여종이 알려져 있는 Adrapsa속은 지금까지 한국에서는 2종이 알려져 있다. 이 연구에서는 Adrapsa notigera (Butler)를 국내 에서 처음으로 보고한다. 이 종의 형태학적 특징과 유사종과의 차이, 분포지역, 성충 및 생식기 사진을 제공하며 유전학적 정보를 통하여 속 내 다른 종과의 분류학적 관계에 대해서도 고찰한다.

Background: South Korea has recently faced record-high temperatures, which have adversely affected dairy production. Holstein cows, the primary dairy breed globally, are particularly sensitive to heat stress. In contrast, Jersey cows have shown greater heat tolerance, as demonstrated by phenotypic studies. Methods: We investigated physiological and molecular responses to heat stress in Holstein and Jersey cows by measuring rectal temperature, milk yield, and average daily gain, confirming Holstein cows’ greater vulnerability. To explore molecular mechanisms, we analyzed circulating microRNA profiles from whole blood samples collected under heat stress and normal conditions using microRNA-sequencing. Differential expression patterns were compared between the two breeds to identify biological pathways associated with heat stress. Results: Four microRNAs (bta-miR-20b, bta-miR-1246, bta-miR-2284x, and bta-miR- 2284y) were significantly differentially expressed in both breeds under heat stress (|FC| ≥ 2, p < 0.05). Notably, bta-miR-20b and bta-miR-1246 were linked to corpus luteum function and progesterone biosynthesis, while bta-miR-2284x and bta-miR- 2284y were associated with immune responses. A comparison of 11 potential heat stress-related microRNAs identified in previous studies of Holstein cows revealed consistent expression trends in Jersey cows, albeit with lower fold changes, suggesting their superior heat resilience. Conclusions: Our study highlights the physiological and microRNA-based differences in heat stress responses between Holstein and Jersey cows. Jersey cows exhibited greater resilience, supported by more stable microRNA expression profiles and improved heat stress indicators, making them a promising breed for dairy production in increasingly hot climates.

Background: Lower back pain/injuries are common in caregivers, and physical stresses at the lower back during patient care are considered a primary cause. An instrumented hospital bed my help reduce the physical loads during patient repositioning. Objects: We estimated the physical stresses at the lower back during patient repositioning to assess biomechanical benefits of the instrumented hospital bed. Methods: Fourteen individuals repositioned a patient lying on an instrumented hospital bed. Trials were acquired for three types of repositioning (boosting superiorly, pulling laterally, and rolling from supine to side-lying). Trials were also acquired with two bed heights (10 and 30 cm below the anterior superior iliac spine), and with and without the bed tilting feature. During trials, kinematics of an upper body and hand pulling forces were recorded to determine the compressive and shear forces using static equilibrium equations. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test if the peak compressive and shear forces were associated with repositioning type (3 levels), bed height (2 levels), and bed feature (2 levels). Results: The peak compressive force ranged from 836 N to 3,954 N, and was associated with type (F = 14.661, p < 0.0005) and height (F = 10.044, p = 0.007), but not with bed feature (F = 0.003, p = 0.955). The peak shear force ranged from 66 to 473 N, and was associated with type (F = 8.021, p < 0.005), height (F = 6.548, p = 0.024), and bed feature (F = 22.978, p < 0.0005). Conclusion: The peak compressive force at the lower back during patient repositioning, draws one’s attention as it is, in some trials, close to or greater than the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health safety criterion (3,400 N). Furthermore, the physical stress decreases by adjusting bed height, but not by using tilting feature of an instrumented bed.

This study investigated the morphological characteristics and regional variations of leaves, flowers, and seeds of Quercus myrsinifolia Blume to understand its ecological adaptation and the effects of environmental factors. Samples were collected from Jinju, Hapcheon, and Sancheong, and nine leaf traits, six flower traits, and five seed traits were analyzed. Significant regional variations were observed, with Hapcheon exhibiting the largest leaf and flower sizes, while Sancheong showed the largest and heaviest seeds. Jinju recorded the smallest values for most traits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct regional groupings, with Hapcheon displaying intermediate traits, Sancheong larger traits, and Jinju smaller traits. Correlation analysis identified strong positive relationships between leaf length and width, seed length and weight, and the number of staminate flowers and catkin width, highlighting key indicators for growth. Climate factors such as temperature and precipitation significantly influenced morphological traits, with higher temperatures negatively affecting leaf and seed sizes, while precipitation showed a weak positive correlation with seed weight. Among soil factors, pH and magnesium content were closely related to morphological traits. pH exhibited a negative correlation with leaf length and petiole length, while magnesium showed a positive correlation with seed weight and leaf width. These findings underscore the significant role of environmental factors in morphological variation and provide valuable insights for developing regionally adaptive breeding strategies. These findings provide foundational data for developing region-specific breeding strategies and cultivars for Q. myrsinifolia, contributing to ecological management and climate change adaptation strategies.

본 연구는 제주도 모슬포 해역에서 채집된 대형 포식성 복족류인 붉은입두꺼비고둥(Tutufa bufo) 두 개체를 대상 으로 테트로도톡신(TTX) 존재 여부를 조사하였다. 일본에 서 채집된 붉은입두꺼비고둥의 내장에서 TTX가 검출된 사례가 보고된 바 있으며, 최근 제주도 남부 해역에서 해 당 종이 혼획되고 있으나, 한국 해역에 분포하는 붉은입 두꺼비고둥의 TTX 축적에 대한 정보는 부족하다. 이에 본 연구에서는 경쟁적 효소면역분석법(cELISA) 을 사용하여 붉은입두꺼비고둥의 주요 연조직(전타액선, 구강부, 소화 선, 생식소, 아가미, 신장, 근육, 후타액선)을 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 모든 조직에서 TTX 농도는 검출 한계 미만으 로 나타났다. 그러나 TTX 축적에는 개체 간, 지역적, 계 절적 변동 가능성이 존재할 수 있으므로, 한국 해역에서 붉은입두꺼비고둥의 TTX 축적 위험을 정확하게 평가하기 위해서는 추가적인 시료 확보와 계절별 연구가 요구된다.

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.