This study investigates the compaction behavior of anisotropic, plate-like powders used in axial flux motor cores through a combined FEM–DEM approach. A porous continuum FEM model captures stress and density evolution during die pressing, revealing strong gradients along the compaction direction, with higher stress and densification near the upper punch and reduced compaction in the lower region. Guided by these results, DEM simulations examine particle packing, orientation, and contact pressure in representative zones. The DEM analysis shows that higher local pressure promotes denser packing and in-plane particle alignment near the upper punch, while the lower region exhibits more random orientations and lower contact forces. As a result, the multi-scale FEM–DEM framework clarifies how anisotropic particle behavior governs local densification and offers practical guidance for die design and process optimization to achieve more uniform density and controlled magnetic-property-relevant particle alignment in axial flux motor cores.

The present study was conducted to investigate effects of rabbit meat extract on energy metabolism and muscle differentiation in C2C12 myotubes. Water extract of rabbit meat (10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml) was used to treat differentiated C2C12 cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis were used to determine mRNA or protein levels of energy metabolism-related genes. Total adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was also measured. Treatment with rabbit meat extract significantly increased expression levels of muscle differentiation markers (myogenin and myosin heavy chain) and mitochondrial biogenesis regulators (PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM) in C2C12 myotubes compared to non-treated control. Additionally, rabbit meat extract activated phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC). Rabbit meat extract significantly increased ATP contents in myotubes. These results suggest that rabbit meat extract has the potential to improve energy metabolism in skeletal muscles.

A surveillance of chigger mites was performed to monitor the incidence of scrub typhus vectors at four environmental collection points in two locations (Sunchang and Haenam) in the Honam region of Korea from August to December 2023. During the surveillance period, 4,174 chigger mites were collected and the predominant species were Leptotrombidium scutellare (94.3%). The density of chigger mites had the peaked at 44 week (10.26~11.1), while the density of patients peaked at 45 week (11.2~11.8) respectively. A positive correlation (r=0.69) observed between scrub typhus patients and vectors. This result suggests that this vector surveillance method will be useful for alarm system of tsutsugamushi disease. However, the relationship between scrub typhus cases and chigger mite density will be studied through long-term periodic surveillance.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Centella asiatica powder on the quality characteristics and storage stability of goat meat Tteokgalbi. The goat meat Tteokgalbi samples were prepared with four different quantities (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%) of Centella asiatica powder. The moisture content of the samples containing Centella asiatica powder was significantly lower than that of the control (p<0.05). The protein content of the samples containing Centella asiatica powder was significantly higher than that of the control (p<0.05). As the proportion of Centella asiatica powder increased, the pH, L*, and a* values of the uncooked and cooked samples decreased (p<0.05). The water holding capacity and the cooking yield of the uncooked and cooked samples were higher in the samples containing Centella asiatica powder than in the control (p<0.05). Also, with the increasing amounts of the Centella asiatica powder, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels decreased. The 1-1.5% Centella asiatica powder group showed lower levels of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) than the other groups as per the assay (p<0.05). The results indicate that Centella asiatica powder could enhance the quality characteristics and storage stability of goat meat Tteokgabi.

Aluminum alloy-based additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a popular manufacturing process for the fabrication of complex parts in the automotive and aerospace industries. The addition of an inoculant to aluminum alloy powder has been demonstrated to effectively reduce cracking by promoting the formation of equiaxed grains. However, the optimization of the AM process parameters remains challenging owing to their variability. In this study, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to predict the crack density of AM-processed Al alloy samples. RSM was performed by setting the process parameters and equiaxed grain ratio, which influence crack propagation, as independent variables and designating crack density as a response variable. The RSM-based quadratic polynomial models for crack-density prediction were found to be highly accurate. The relationship among the process parameters, crack density, and equiaxed grain fraction was also investigated using RSM. The findings of this study highlight the efficacy of RSM as a reliable approach for optimizing the properties of AM-processed parts with limited experimental data. These results can contribute to the development of robust AM processing strategies for the fabrication of highquality Al alloy components for various applications.

This study evaluated the nutritional composition and quality traits of rabbit meat as compared to chicken meat. Samples of loin (M. longissimus dorsi) and breast meats were collected from rabbit and chicken carcasses, respectively. The meats were then analyzed for the proximate composition, collagen and energy contents, fatty acid composition, myoglobin and heme iron contents, pH value, water-holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss, meat color, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) value, and texture profile. Compared to chicken breast meat, lower (p<0.05) protein content and higher (p<0.05) ash and collagen contents were obtained in rabbit loin meat. Rabbit meat remarkably had higher (p<0.05) total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and linolenic acid contents and lower (p<0.05) n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio as compared to chicken meat. The pH value and WHC were lower (p<0.05) in rabbit meat than in chicken meat (p<0.05). Rabbit meat exhibited lower (p<0.05) L* value and higher (p<0.05) a* and b* values compared to chicken meat (p<0.05). The WBSF value, hardness, and gumminess were higher (p<0.05) in rabbit meat than in chicken meat (p<0.05). These findings suggest that rabbit meat has higher essential n-3 PUFA, darker color, and firmer texture as compared to chicken meat.

This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics and antioxidant properties of cookies supplemented with 1-4% (w/w) persimmon leaf powder (PLP). pH and density of cookie dough increased significantly but moisture content decreased significantly with increasing levels of PLP (p<0.05). The spread ratio and loss rate of cookies decreased significantly with increasing levels of PLP (p<0.05). Lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) decreased significantly with higher amount of PLP (p<0.05). The use of PLP significantly increased the hardness of cookies while 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were significantly elevated (p<0.05). The consumer acceptance test indicated that the addition of PLP up to 2% had a favorable effect on the consumer preferences in most attributes. Based on the overall observations, cookies with 2% PLP can take advantage of the functional properties of PLP without sacrificing consumer acceptability.

Entomopathogenic fungus is a useful control agent to sucking type insect such as whitefly and aphid. The fungi are influenced by some environmental factors such as relative humidity, temperature and UV and cause slow and fluctuation in pest control efficacy. Especially, UV kills conidia or spores of entomopathogenic fungi and a mycopesticide using fungi has short control period in field. UV intensity changes from season to season. Survival rate of entomopathognic fungi treated may differ from seasons and will show different control efficacy. Therefore, we conducted a study to estimate the persistence of an Isaria javanica isolate, which was already reported as sweet potato whitefly control agent, in potted greenhouse soil planted different crops. The number of survival spore decreased gradually and differ from seasons.

Strawberry, Fragaria ananassa Duchesne, is one of the important horticultural crops cultivated in greenhouses. Tetranychus urticae is one of major strawberry pests, and Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis have been used as biological control agents for control of T. urticae. The interactions between T. urticae and N. californicus and between T. urticae and P. persimilis were investigated to compare their control efficiency for T. urticae on a spatially-structured strawberry leaf disc area at different temperatures and on different treatments. The experimental arena was an array of leaf discs (3 cm diameter) placed upside down on a water-saturated cotton pad in an aluminum pan (17.4 x 21.5 cm). Twenty leaf discs (4 x 5) were placed adjacent each other for allowing dispersal of T. urticae and its predatory mites. The temperature conditions were 20, 25, and 30°C and there were six different treatments. The overall population densities of T. urticae were influenced by temperature (20, 25, and 30°C) in N. californicus treatment. In the same temperature condition, P.persimilis was more effective than N. californicus to control T. uritcae. Two predator systems were better than one predator systems to suppress the population density of T. urticae at 25°C. Some results of this study could be used to understand the spatial association of T. urticae and its predatory mites in greenhouse crops and fields.

The study was conducted to explore whether environmental differences, in this case the physical characteristics of abaxial leaf surfaces of strawberry cultivars ('Maehyang' and 'Sulhyang' cultivars), affect the functional response of adult female N. californicus preying on immature stages (egg, larva and nymph) of T. urticae. We also evaluated the functional response of N. californicus to eggs of T. urticae at different temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35℃). We conducted a logistic regression of the proportion of prey consumed as a function of initial prey density to identify functional response types, and used nonlinear squares regression and the random predator equation to estimate attack rates and handling times. The functional response of adult female N. californicus to T. urticae was not influenced by non-glandular trichomes and epicuticular waxes on the abaxial leaf but was affected by temperature. Overall, the functional response of adult female N. californicus exhibited a type 2 functional response to T.urticae. The handling time of N. californicus was highest (1.9970) against T. urticae nymphs. The attack rate did not change much at 15-30℃, but the handling time decreased linearly with increasing temperature. At 35℃, the attack rate was highest (0.1876) and the handling time was lowest (0.9296). The results of this study may be used to evaluate the potential of N. californicus to suppress T. urticae and to estimate parameters for relevant prey-predator models.

KORAD (Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, http://www.korad.or.kr) has stored slightly contaminated ascon (asphalt coated concrete mixture) that was introduced to Gyeongju repository about a decade ago waiting for a final disposal. It is believed to be mainly contaminated by radioisotope 137Cs due to impurities introduced from the outside during the ascon manufacturing process. We studied characteristics of the radioactive waste to see whether this material would be proper enough to be disposed in Gyeongju LILW repository or be other ways to reduce the disposal volume including self-disposal before its final disposal otherwise. KORAD looked into the properness of characteristics of ascon in terms of WAC (Waste Acceptance Criteria) documented by KORAD that includes general chemical and physical properties of asphalt, density, size of grains, content of organic material and possibility of existence of chelate materials that qualitatively limited to be disposed by the criteria. And other associated characteristics such as gas generation and bio degradation were also investigated. Based on the data obtained from the study, we proposed various plausible solutions in associated with operational and disposal safety and economic view points. This study will be used for KORAD’s decision on how to control and safely dispose the spent ascon within a reasonable time period. And also those experiences may be applied for other LILW issues that require treatment or conditioning of radioactive wastes in the future.