소나무재선충병은 소나무재선충(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)의 감염으로 발생하며, 소나무 숲 생태계에 심각한 환경 피해를 준다. 본 연구에 서는 소나무재선충에 대한 살선충제를 개발하기 위해 7가지 곤충병원성 곰팡이 추출물의 살선충 활성을 평가하였다. 곰팡이를 배양하여 추출물을 얻은 다음, 다양한 농도에서 96-웰 플레이트를 이용해 살선충 활성을 평가하였다. 그 결과, 붉은자루동충하초(Cordyceps pruinosa) 추출물은 5 mg/mL 농도에서 84.7%의 가장 높은 치사율을 보였으며, LC50 값은 0.130 mg/mL였다. 노린재포식동충하초(Ophiocordyceps nutans) 추출물은 76.2%의 치사율을 보였다. 나머지 5가지 곰팡이 추출물은 42.8%에서 62.0% 사이의 치사율을 나타내었다. 동충하초류 추출물의 높은 살선충 활성 은 활성 화합물을 추가로 밝혀낸다면, 생물학적 살선충제로 개발될 가능성을 시사하였다.

Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) play a critical role in maintaining skin integrity and promoting tissue repair, but are highly susceptible to apoptosis under stress conditions such as nutrient deprivation. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their regenerative potential and ability to secrete bioactive factors. In this study, we investigated the effect of ADSC-derived paracrine signaling on apoptosis in HDFs and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Using a Transwell co-culture system, we found that ADSCs significantly reduced apoptosis in HDFs subjected to low-serum stress, as confirmed by APOPercentage™ staining and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Among several soluble factors secreted by ADSCs, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exhibited the most pronounced time-dependent increase in culture supernatants. The anti- apoptotic effect of ADSCs was abolished by neutralizing antibodies against HGF, indicating a key role of this factor in mediating fibroblast survival. Further, HDFs were found to express the HGF receptor c-Met at both the mRNA and protein levels. Inhibition of c-Met signaling reversed the cytoprotective effect of ADSCs, suggesting that HGF functions through this receptor. Mechanistically, only the PI3K/AKT pathway—among the major survival pathways tested—was selectively activated in HDFs by ADSC co-culture. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling using LY294002 abolished the protective effect, while inhibition of ERK or p38 MAPK had no significant impact. These findings demonstrate that ADSC-derived HGF protects HDFs from stress-induced apoptosis primarily through activation of the c-Met–PI3K/ AKT pathway. This mechanistic insight may provide a basis for the development of stem cell– based therapies aimed at enhancing skin regeneration and fibroblast viability in degenerative or wound-healing contexts.

This study is a continuation of previous research (Bae & Kim, 2024) that identified ways to improve the fit of commercially available domestic and international leotards for women in their 30–40s through a survey and evaluation of wearing conditions. The previous study revealed that women in this age group struggle to find well-fitting leotards, despite knowing their body measurements. This issue arises because most apparel industries produce garments for women in their 20s, and grading differences do not sufficiently address the increases in bust, waist, and abdominal girth typical of women in their 30s and 40s. Therefore, this study developed leotard patterns that improve fit and comfort based on the physical characteristics of women in their 30s and 40s. Body surface data of the participants were collected using 3D body scanning technology, forming the basis for pattern design. Experimental garments were created to evaluate compression and determine the suitable pattern reduction rate based on material elasticity. Thus, a pattern reduction rate that offers suitable wearing comfort was proposed. Leotard patterns were developed from experimental results in the most popular styles: camisole and sleeved types. The final leotard patterns were presented after synthesizing results from wearers’ evaluations, compression assessments, and expert appearance evaluations. The final leotards were deemed appropriate for women in their 30s and 40s, demonstrating improvements in comfort, movement stability, compression, and appearance.

Galaxy evolution studies require the measurement of the physical properties of galaxies at different redshifts. In this work, we build supervised machine learning models to predict the redshift and physical properties (gas-phase metallicity, stellar mass, and star formation rate) of star-forming galaxies from the broad-band and medium-band photometry covering optical to near-infrared wavelengths, and present an evaluation of the model performance. Using 55 magnitudes and colors as input features, the optimized model can predict the galaxy redshift with an accuracy of σ(Δz/1+z) = 0.008 for a redshift range of z < 0.4. The gas-phase metallicity [12 + log(O/H)], stellar mass [log(Mstar)], and star formation rate [log(SFR)] can be predicted with the accuracies of σNMAD = 0.081, 0.068, and 0.19 dex, respectively. When magnitude errors are included, the scatter in the predicted values increases, and the range of predicted values decreases, leading to biased predictions. Near-infrared magnitudes and colors (H, K, and H −K), along with optical colors in the blue wavelengths (m425–m450), are found to play important roles in the parameter prediction. Additionally, the number of input features is critical for ensuring good performance of the machine learning model. These results align with the underlying scaling relations between physical parameters for star-forming galaxies, demonstrating the potential of using medium-band surveys to study galaxy scaling relations with large sample of galaxies.

Background: Stroke patients often exhibit excessive kyphosis of the spine and a forward head posture (FHP), which negatively impacts their daily activities. These postural abnormalities not only negatively affect functional movement but also exacerbate musculoskeletal problems. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of backward walking on FHP in stroke patients. Design: Single-case experimental design (A-B-A’ design). Methods: The study was conducted over a total of 8 weeks, comprising 24 sessions: 3 baseline sessions (A), 18 intervention sessions (B), and 3 regression baseline sessions (A'). No backward walking intervention was performed during baseline (A) and regression baseline (A’). To determine changes in FHP, the craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured at all sessions. Results: The CVA increased in the intervention (B) and regression baseline (A’) compared to the baseline (A). Conclusion: Backward walking was effective in improving FHP, and the effect was maintained after intervention (B) in patients with stroke. Therefore, backward walking was effective in improving the postural alignment of stroke patients.