Airborne fine particulate matter (FPM) is a major environmental health threat associated with inflammatory responses. Although previous studies have reported FPM-induced inflammation in macrophage cell lines, the effects of FPM on primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and systemic nitric oxide metabolite (NOx) levels have not been fully characterized. This study evaluated whether low-dose FPM exposure induces inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo . BMMs isolated from ICR mice were treated with FPM (0.0–12.5 μg/mL), and proinflammatory cytokine production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For in vivo assessment, mice were administered FPM (7.5 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection under short-term exposure conditions, and serum NOx levels were quantified using the Griess assay. Exposure to FPM at 6.25 and 12.5 μg/mL significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 production by BMMs compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In vivo , serum NOx levels were also significantly elevated in FPM-exposed mice compared with the control group (p = 0.026), consistent with results observed in the lipopolysaccharide-treated positive control group (p = 0.004). These findings suggest that low-dose transient FPM exposure activates innate immune cells and induces systemic inflammatory responses, supporting the potential role of FPM in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.

Molecular markers have been widely utilized in population genetics, diagnostic taxonomy, and genetic mapping, and can be applied to cultivar discrimination during field selection processes for alfalfa. In this study, whole-genome sequencing information was obtained for seven alfalfa lines and cultivars developed in Korea, including ‘Alfaone (MS001)’, using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed that ‘Alfaone (MS001)’ could be distinguished from other lines and cultivars using six SNP loci. Specifically, only two SNP loci were sufficient to differentiate ‘Alfaone (MS001)’ from major lines and cultivars such as ‘MS002’ and ‘Alfaking (MSCB07)’. This set of SNP barcodes provides a reliable standard for alfalfa cultivar discrimination, contributing to domestic cultivar protection and the advancement of the Korea forage industry. Furthermore, the development of distinguishing markers across alfalfa cultivars will enhance genetic resource identification and support the breeding of high-quality new cultivars.

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.

An unbalance of rice productions and consumptions caused serious problems in both of agricultural area and grain market of korea. In recently, various efforts for rice processing products such as rice noodles and rice wines are in progress to overcome the unstable rice market. Among them, waxy rice is predominant items in processing rice. However, varietal features of starch viscosity are not considered in the processing industries and rice breeding field. In this study, 12 waxy rices and 2 cultivars Ilmibyeo(japonica) and IR72(Indica) were studied for physicochemical and amylogram to characterize the use of waxy rices. The amylose contents of waxy rices were from 7.1 to 8.1% with soft gel consistency and relatively low alkali digestion value(1.4% KOH) compare to Ilmibyeo. In the amylogram analysis(RVU) of waxy rices, unlikely normal rices, very fast peak time(about 3.5 min.) was obtained compare to that of 6.2 min. of Ilmibyeo. And 2 to 3 groups were classified based on peak viscosity and consitency of RVU. Wangchal, Odorokimochi and Hangangchal showed relatively high peak viscosity seemed not suitable for rice cake due to the hardness speed. And most of waxy rices developed in korea were believed to be suitable for oil fried cakes(Hankwa) because of a certain grade of starch degradation speed. And Mochiminori and Midoromochi originated from japan could be a good sources in waxy rice breeding program to improve the cooking properties especially in slow down of hardness speed with very low peak viscosity, hot viscosity and cool viscosity.