This study deals with replacement analysis of deteriorated equipment for improving productivity of production system. Frequent breakdown of the deteriorated equipment causes a situation that reduces productivity such as low product quality, process delay, and repair cost. However, the replacement of new equipment will be required a high initial investment cost, so it is important to analysis the economic feasibility. Therefore, we analyze the effect of the production system due to the aging effect of the equipment and the feasibility of equipment replacement based on the economic analysis. The process flow, working time, logistics movement, etc. are analyzed in order to build the simulation modeling for a ship and land switchboard production system. Using numerical examples, the economic feasibility analysis of equipment replacement through replacement of existing deteriorated equipment and additional arrangement of new facilities is performed.

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.

We investigated densities of the bean bug, R. pedestris (Alydidae) and three Pentatomidae stinkbug species, Dolycoris baccarum, Nezera antennata and Halyomorpha halys in an experimental field in Suwon, 2018. Three pheromone traps for R. pedestris adults were installed at distances of more than 50 meters from soybean fields. The adults began to be caught from late March. Its mean number increased from early August, and reached a maximum at early September. The fluctuation aspects of adult number caught, however, were different among trapping sites. Soybean and mungbean were sowed at June 21, and all stages of stinkbugs were scouted from July 18 to late September through direct observation. Adults and eggs of R. pedestris were not observed during the vegetative stage of soybean, but observed first at the flowering stage, mainly early August, of reproductive stage. The results indicated that R. pedestris adults invaded into soybean fields at the flowering stage, despite of inhabitation in the surrounding area during the pre-reproductive stage of soybean. Adults of only D. baccarum in Pentatomid stinkbugs were found at the vegetative stage of soybean. Densities of R. pedestris were compared between two mungbean cultivars, which those seeds have been known to be resistant and susceptible to feeding of the bean bug, respectively. The densities of the third and fifth instar nymphs were higher on the susceptible cultivar than on the resistant cultivar, but densities of egg, adult, and the first and second instar nymphs were not significantly different between the two cultivars.

This paper defines the common features of synbiotics based on the definition of probiotics and prebiotics, and reviews the effectiveness of synbiotic food. The concept of synbiotics is defined as ‘a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics that have a beneficial effect on the host, as a dietary supplement that alters living organisms in the gastrointestinal tract and improves their survival.’ Synbiotic food contains ingredients with beneficial microbes that are expected to improve interactions between microbial and useful substances. Synbiotic foods may have anti-cancer and immune system-boosting effects. Improved digestion, healthier bowel movements, and overall increased intestinal health has been reported were reported after increasing the healthy microorganisms within the intestinal tract. In addition, depending on the type of food containing the symbiotic ingredients, more consistent weight control, improvement of cardiovascular health, and lower blood glucose levels may also be expected. Unlike previous studies, this review of synbiotics has shown that it is necessary for synergistic effects to take place among microorganisms and components to be further studied. Further research is needed on the safety and ingestion of microorganisms contained in synbiotics.