This study evaluated the risk of single and combined exposure to microplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through biomarkers, such as survival rate, excretion rate, and histological alterations of organ systems. The experimental groups were the control (Cont.), single microplastics exposure group (MPs, 1.83%/fish total weight (g)), the copper group (Cu, 21.6 μg L-1), and a group with combined exposure to MPs and copper (MPs*Cu). The experiment was conducted with individual exposure (7 days) for MP excretion rate analysis and group exposure (14 days) for biomarker analysis. The daily excretion rate of MPs tended to decrease in a time-dependent manner. The copper concentration in the body was not significantly different between single and combined copper exposure. The degeneration of mucous cells in the skin, capillary dilation of the gill lamella, increased intestinal mucous, hepatocyte hypertrophy, and the degeneration of glomeruli and renal tubules were observed in all exposure groups. These histological alterations showed the highest tendency in the MPs*Cu group. In this study, the changes in biomarkers were attributed to the single effect of copper or the combined effect of copper and MPs rather than being solely influenced by MPs.

Regarding to diagnosis for bovine brucellosis, more than one serological test should be conducted to confirm the infection by Brucella with a reliable result due to various factors including false positive serological reactions. In this study, we compared confirmatory serological tests to determine the appropriate way to detect and confirm the Brucella infection in South Korea. Several serological tests, including serum agglutination test (SAT), indirect (I)- and competitive (C)-ELISA, and fluorescence polarization assay (FPA), for detection of bovine brucellosis were performed with sera from 537 cattle. In addition, comparison of diagnostic efficacy was performed with bacterial isolation represented true positive. Of 537 serum samples, 426 (79.3% of prevalence), 433 (80.6%), 414 (77.1%), and 409 (76.2%) sera were positive for SAT, C-ELISA, I-ELISA, and FPA respectively. Based on the results of serology, the correlation among the serological tests revealed observed agreements of more than 92% with kappa (k) value of more than 0.77. The correlation between serological tests with bacterial isolation appeared observed agreements of between 79.9% and 84.7% with k value of between 0.42 and 0.59. Particularly, FPA recorded almost perfect agreements with C-ELISA and I-ELISA as well as the highest correlation with bacterial isolation. Accordingly, this investigation presented the comparison of correlation and diagnostic efficacy of serological tests for bovine brucellosis in South Korea. We suggest this finding will be a useful data to re-establish the potential serological diagnostic methods that can apply to maintain the low prevalence.

한라개승마(Aruncus aethusifolius (H.Lév.) Nakai)는 관상 용 및 약용 식물로 이용이 될 가능성이 있는 한국 고유종이 다. 그러나 종자에 의한 번식에 대해서는 알려진 바가 거의 없다. 이 연구는 한라개승마의 종자번식 프로토콜을 개발하기 위해 수행되었다. 실험에 사용된 종자는 2019년 11월 3일 한 택식물원에서 채종하였으며, 안동대학교 유전자원포지에서 관 리하던 식물체에서 2020년 11월 10일에 채종하였다. 한라개 승마 종자는 완전히 성숙한 배를 가지고 있었다. 종자는 모식 물체에서 탈리되고 이듬해 3월부터 발아하기 시작하였다. 수 분흡수실험 3시간 이내에 초기 건조상태의 무게 대비 25% 이 상 무게가 증가하여 물리적휴면이 없는 것을 확인하였다. 명 암 조건에서의 온도별 발아시험 결과, 한라개승마 종자의 발 아율은 암조건보다 명조건에서 높았고, 명암 조건 모두 4°C에 서 발아하지 않았다. 따라서 종자는 광발아종자이므로 soil seed bank를 형성할 가능성이 있다. GA 실험의 경우 2019년 수확한 종자와 2020년 수확한 종자의 효과가 다르게 나타났 다. 저온습윤처리 기간이 길어질수록 발아소요일이 앞당겨지 는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 2020년도 종자는 발아율이 낮아 서 12주간의 저온습윤처리 이후에도 발아율이 40%를 넘지 못 했다. 그리고 후숙처리 기간은 한라개승마 종자의 발아에 영 향을 미쳤다. 실험결과 2019년 수확한 종자와 2020년 수확한 종자의 발아율 차이가 확인되었다. 이는 모식물체의 생육 환 경에 따른 영향으로 판단된다.

털부처꽃(Lythrum salicaria L.)은 전국에 분포하는 다년생 초본식물로 척박하고 습한 지역을 포함한 다양한 환경에서 잘 자라는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 하천변, 척박지에서 정원 용, 화훼용 및 관상용 식물로 이용이 가능하다. 본 연구는 털 부처꽃의 적정 육묘 조건(토양종류, 플러그 트레이 셀 크기,파종립수, 액비농도 및 차광)을 조사하였다. 대조구(원예상토) 에서 재배된 유묘의 생육이 가장 우수하였다. 반면 피트모스 와 펄라이트의 혼합용토는 육묘기간이 지속되면서 생육수치 가 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. 셀 크기는 용적이 가장 큰 162 셀에서 재배된 유묘의 생육이 우수하였으나, 200셀과 288셀에 서 자란 묘도 건강했다. 한편 유묘의 결주발생을 고려하면 셀 당 2립을 파종하는 것이 적합하였다. 액비 처리는 유묘의 생 육을 촉진하였다. 특히 Hyponex 1000배는 초장, 줄기직경, 엽수, 마디수, 근장, 지상부 생체중 및 지하부 생체중을 증가 시켰다. 또한 유묘의 생육은 55% 차광 하에서 우수하였다. 따 라서 털부처꽃의 가장 효과적인 생육조건은 원예상토가 충진 된 288셀 플러그 트레이에 셀 당 2립을 파종하고 Hyponex 1000배를 시비하면서 55% 차광 하에서 재배하는 것이었다.

The bacterial soft-rot disease is one of the most critical diseases in vegetables such as Chinese cabbage. The researchers isolated two bacteria (Pseudomonas kribbensis and Pantoea vagans) from diseased tissue samples of Chinese cabbages and confirmed them as being the strains that cause soft-rot disease. Lactic-acid bacteria (LAB), were screened and used to control soft-rot disease bacteria. The researchers tested the treatments with hypochlorous acid water (HAW) and LAB supernatant to control soft-rot disease bacteria. The tests confirmed that treatments with the HAW (over 120 ppm) or LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum PL203) culture supernatants (0.5 mL) completely controlled both P. kribbensis and P. vagans.

In Korea livestock farms breeding cattle have been suffering from re-emerging problems of Brucella (B.) abortus infection while steady decline of bovine brucellosis. Therefore, this study underscored the identification and association of etiological agent of brucellosis in cattle in South Korea. The incidence of brucellosis in cattle was analyzed by bacteriological and molecular methods in 187 brucellosis-suspicious farms of 11 regions between 2018 and 2020. Brucella isolates from various specimens were identified by Brucella-specific multiplex PCR. Epidemiological data were collected by local official veterinarians through history taking from farmers and animal data systems. In 230 of 560 cattle (40.9%) and 94 of 187 farms (50.3%), a total of 313 B. abortus were isolated from various specimens, the majority of isolates were from supramammary lymph node (41%). In epidemiological findings, the majority of positive cases were mainly caused by resurgence (43.7%) and unknown (37.2%). Of 94 positive cases isolated B. abortus, abortion in cattle infected by B. abortus occurred in 51 farms (54.3%) where led to resurgence in 30 farms and environmental survival of B. abortus in 9 farms. Consequently, these findings revealed the existence of etiological agent of bovine brucellosis in Korea, which still occurred at low levels in distinct regions where are allowed to call for persistent biosecurity. Thus, we highlight that brucellosis in Korea needs to take more effective control strategies with potential evidence. Moreover it is ultimately important to maintain a constant monitoring for eradication of brucellosis.

Lithium-ion battery (LiB) is one of the special issues on nowadays and diverse researches to develop LiB with better performances have been carried out so far, especially, regarding improved properties of each component such as cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte. However, there are limited information on ‘processing’ to prepare each component, and especially fabrication of cathode is strongly dependent on thinky mixer to realize homogeneous dispersion of active materials and conductors in binders. Herein, we report on preparation of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) based cathode materials with different carbon conductors (CNT and carbon black) using homogenizer and three-roll milling method. These processes are turned out perfect alternative to prepare cathode electrode. LiB cells were assembled using the dispersed electrode slurry and the performance of a cell was electrochemically stable, even in the case of a CNT conductor, which is normally difficult to make perfect dispersion because of its strong Van der Waals attraction between the tubes and π–π interactions.

The effect of heat treatment and vacuum conditions on the textural properties and electrochemical performance of commercially available activated carbons (ACs) was investigated. The AC after post-heat treatment was characterized by nitrogen adsorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. The ACs treated under vacuum conditions exhibit a higher specific surface area and micropore surface area than those treated under nitrogen atmospheric pressure without significantly affecting the graphite structure of the AC. Under 800 °C temperature and vacuum conditions (AC-V800), the AC with the highest Brunauer– Emmett–Teller surface area of 1951.9 m2 g−1 (16.4% improvement relative to that of the original AC (1677.2 m2 g−1)) was obtained. This is attributed to the removal of oxygen-containing functional groups and volatile matters in the carbon by thermal treatment under vacuum conditions. Consequently, the electric double-layer capacitor using ACs treated under vacuum conditions (1 kPa) at 800 °C (AC-V800) shows considerably improved electrochemical performance in terms of higher specific capacitance and better cycling stability at a high working voltage (3.1 V), compared to the nitrogen-treated and commercial ACs.