The objective of this study was to assess the effects of gypsum application on dry matter yield (DMY), mineral content of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and soil properties in reclaimed tidal land in South Korea. The experiment was conducted in Seokmun, located on the west coast of South Korea, which is reclaimed with approximately 70 cm depth of degraded island soil. Treatments consisted of a control with no gypsum application (G0), 2 ton ha-1 (G2), and 4 ton ha-1 (G4) of gypsum application. The first harvest was carried out when the alfalfa reached 10% flowering, and subsequent harvests were conducted at 35-day intervals. Over the three-year experimental periods (2019-2021), the total DMY of G2 treatment was significantly higher than those of G0 and G4 (p<0.05). Although both G2 and G4 gypsum application treatments lowered soil pH, the G4 treatment increased the electrical conductivity (EC) content of the soil. Additionally, gypsum application affected the mineral contents of alfalfa, resulting in reduced concentration of sodium (Na) and Magnesium (Mg). Therefore, this present study suggests that a gypsum application rate of 2 ton ha-1 is optimal for improving alfalfa dry matter yield and mineral balance, as well as enhancing soil chemical properties in reclaimed tidal land in South Korea.

Nitrogen fertilizers are generally known to be of great help in improving crop yields, but excessive nitrogen fertilizer usage can not only destroy the environment but also negatively affect crop growth. This study aims to develop a decision-making system for optimal nitrogen fertilizer use for efficient production of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa), one of the major vegetables. The proposed system has the functions of detecting farmland based on satellite images, predicting cabbage yields and greenhouse gas (e.g., nitrous oxide) emissions according to nitrogen fertilizer use, and making decisions using the prediction results. To develop the proposed system, a generalized prediction model is developed using experimental data collected from South Korea, Egypt, India, Canada, Lithuania, and China, and the effectiveness of the proposed system is validated through experiments. As a result, the proposed system will enable farmers to conduct eco-friendly agricultural activities through appropriate nitrogen fertilizer use while stably maximizing productivity of Chinese cabbages.

The postharvest quality of cut flowers often declines during transportation, especially under dry storage conditions. Therefore, incorporating preservative solutions during shipment is vital for extending the vase life of high-value cut flowers. Among commonly used additives, sucrose (Suc) and Floralife (FL), a commercial preservative, have demonstrated efficacy in maintaining vase life. Oxygen nanobubbles (O2NB) and ozone nanobubbles (O3NB), which are nanoscale gas-filled bubbles in aqueous media, have been proposed as antimicrobial agents for use in preservative solutions applied to cut flowers. This study examined the effects of seven preservative treatments on the postharvest performance of cut Cymbidium ‘Lovely King’ during simulated transport. Treatments included tap water (control), Suc, FL, O2NB, O2NB combined with Suc (O2NBS), O3NB, and O3NB combined with Suc (O3NBS). Cut stems were placed in floral water tubes filled with the respective solutions and stored in a cold chamber at 5°C for 7 days to simulate transport conditions. Among the treatments, O2NB resulted in the longest vase life of 21.0 days, significantly longer than that under O2NBS (14.3 days). Additionally, the O2NB solution exhibited the lowest bacterial count (4.9 log 10 CFU mL-1) compared with other treatment solutions. Stems treated with O3NB maintained the highest relative fresh weight throughout the experiment. Initial water uptake was 8.4 g and 7.6 g for the O3NB and O2NB treatments, respectively. These findings indicate that O2NB is an effective transport preservative for enhancing postharvest quality and extending the vase life of cut Cymbidium ‘Lovely King.’

This study investigates activism as a powerful force for social and environmental change in South Asian fashion industries, specifically those in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. It defines the characteristics of fashion activism within regional contexts and explores the manifestation of fashion activism in a range of styles and practices. By combining a qualitative literature review with social media analysis, this study evaluates the role of activism in fashion and reveals that fashion serves as a vital medium for advocating social change while fostering a sense of community and identity among marginalized groups. The key findings indicate that social media is crucial for amplifying activist messages, encouraging stakeholder collaboration, and raising awareness regarding urgent social issues. In contrast to prior studies, which have primarily focused on a single topic, this research encompasses a comprehensive spectrum of activism within the fashion domain, examining critical themes such as cultural identity, gender equality, economic empowerment, and environmental justice. The findings suggest that fashion activism catalyzes significant transformations beyond conventional metrics, promoting a holistic framework for understanding social justice and sustainability. Furthermore, this study highlights the transformative potential of the fashion industry in driving social progress and emphasizes the need for further research to better understand these movements.

곤충 Laccifer lacca의 분비물인 stick lac에서 얻어지는 락색소는 물에 용해되는 붉은색 식용 색소로, 식품에 붉 은 색을 더하는 착색제이다. 주요 성분은 안트라퀴논계 기 반의 laccaic acid로 A, B, C, D, E로 구성된다. 본 연구 의 목적은 HPLC-DAD를 활용하여 laccaic acid를 정량적 으로 분석할 수 있는 방법을 검증하는 것과 섭취 노출량 을 산출하는 것이다. 제안된 분석법은 특이성, 선형성, LOD, LOQ, 정확성, 정확도 등 다양한 검증 항목에서 평 가되었으며, 매트릭스 효과 또한 충분히 고려되었다. 모든 매트릭스에서 검량선은 높은 선형성 (R20.999)을 보였고, 락색소의 MDL과 MQL은 각각 1.93 mg/kg와 5.86 mg/ kg로 확인되었다. 일내 및 일간 회수율 시험에서 정확도 는 91.5-100.9% 사이였고, 정밀도는 0.8-2.6%RSD로 AOAC 기준을 충족하였다. 한국에서 유통되는 다양한 식 품들을 수집하여 락색소를 모니터링하여 식품 유형별 락 색소 섭취 노출량을 평가하였다. 락색소 섭취 수준의 범 위는 국민전체, 섭취자 각각 0.0000-0.0027 mg/kg·bw/day 와 0.0000 -0.0306 mg/kg·bw/day였다. 개발된 분석법은 다 양한 식품 유형에 적용 가능하여 락색소 추출물의 효과적 인 모니터링을 가능하게 하며, 섭취량 평가를 통해 락색 소의 안전성 평가에 추가적으로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

Background: During daily activities, stability is maintained to enhance the function of muscles surrounding the lumbopelvic and hip structures. The core muscles such as the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) responsible for this stability. One effective static exercise for strengthening these muscles is the plank. Objects: This study aimed to compare abdominal electromyographic activation when an unstable support surface was applied to the upper and lower extremities during a standard and a knee plank. Methods: A total of 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) participated in this study. Surface electromyography electrodes were placed on the RA, EO, and IO muscles. Data were collected under six conditions for males, including two plank postures (standard and knee planks) and three unstable surface conditions (a dynamic balance cushion applied to the upper extremities, lower extremities, or no cushion). Female participants performed only the knee plank. A mixed-effects model with a random intercept was used to analyze muscle activation across plank posture and surface position, with statistical significance set at α = 0.05. Results: In males, the standard plank elicited greater muscle activation than the knee plank across all muscles (p < 0.0001). Additionally, applying an unstable support surface to the upper extremities significantly increased muscle activation in both plank postures in EO and IO (p < 0.001). Other muscle, RA, was only affected by the unstable support surface in the standard plank position only. In females, the knee plank with upper limb instability resulted in the highest muscle activation for all muscles. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of surface instability in core muscle engagement. However, future studies should further investigate abdominal muscle activation with a more detailed analysis and the inclusion of a control group to enhance comparative validity.