본 연구는 비방사성 SrCl2를 이용하여 Sr 농도를 50, 100, 200mg·kg-1 및 토양 유기물 함량을 5%, 10% 및 15%로 달리하여 배추의 생육, 생체중, 엽록소 함량에 미치는 영향을 생육 시기별로 분석하였다. 그 결과, Sr 농도가 증가할수록 초장, 근장, 엽면적, 생체중 및 건물중이 유의하게 감소하였으며, 특히 Sr 200mg·kg-1 처리에서 생육 저 해가 뚜렷하였다. 반면, 엽록소 함량(SPAD)은 처리 간 유의한 차이를 보이지 않아 광합성 색소에는 Sr의 영향이 제 한적인 것으로 나타났다. 유기물 함량이 높은 토양에서는 Sr 처리에 따른 생육 저해가 완화되었으며, 특히 유기물 15% 조건에서 완충 효과가 가장 크게 나타났다. 이는 유기물이 Sr의 생물유효도를 감소시켜 식물체 흡수를 억제하 는 기작에 의한 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구는 비방사성 SrCl2를 이용한 실험을 통해 작물의 Sr 독성 반응과 유기물 기 반 토양 완충 효과를 정량적으로 규명하였으며, 향후 방사성 오염 토양의 생물학적 복원 및 안전 농산물 생산 전략 수립에 기초자료로 활용될 수 있다.

Background: Flexible flatfoot impairs gait and posture by weakening arch support, potentially leading to musculoskeletal dysfunction. Strengthening exercises, such as the short foot exercise (SFE), have shown promise in correcting this condition. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of SFE with visual feedback on medial arch height and foot function in adults with flexible flatfoot. Design: Experimental research. Methods: Adults diagnosed with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group performed SFE with visual feedback, whereas the control group performed the same exercises without feedback. Both groups trained three times per week for five weeks. Outcome measures included the Navicular Drop Test (NDT), YBalance Test (YBT), and Tetrax postural analysis. Results: In the NDT, both groups showed significant improvements (P<.05), while in the YBT, only the experimental group showed a significant improvement (P<.05). In contrast, there were no significant changes in the Weight Distribution Index (WDI) and Stability Test (ST) areas of the Tetrax system in either group (P>.05). Conclusion: SFE effectively improved arch height regardless of visual feedback, though only the visual feedback group showed significant improvements in dynamic balance. However, between-group differences were not statistically significant, suggesting that visual feedback provides subtle rather than substantial additional benefits. Further research with larger samples is needed to establish the clinical value of adding visual feedback to SFE protocols.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has emerged as a powerful tool for biodiversity monitoring due to its efficiency, standardization potential, and cost-effectiveness. We evaluated the applicability of eDNAbased zooplankton monitoring in Korean lakes by comparing three DNA methods-eDNA, iDNA, and eiDNA-with traditional microscopy. Sampling was conducted in six lakes with varying conditions. eDNA was obtained from lake water, iDNA from unpreserved zooplankton incubated in water, and eiDNA from zooplankton incubated in ethanol. DNA metabarcoding detected more taxa than microscopy, but dominant taxa overlapped, mainly Daphnia. While DNA methods showed higher richness, Simpson and Shannon indices were higher in microscopy, reflecting differences in quantification methods. These discrepancies reflect methodological differences in how taxa are quantified and suggest that DNA-based approaches may overrepresent certain groups in richness estimates. In addition, false negatives were observed for several common rotifer species (e.g., Keratella, Polyarthra), likely due to incomplete reference databases and high intraspecific genetic diversity. Conversely, some taxa detected only by DNA-particularly small-bodied or rare crustaceans-may represent false positives relative to microscopy. These findings emphasize the importance of improving reference libraries and interpreting DNA results with caution, while also supporting the utility of DNA-based methods as complementary tools in zooplankton monitoring and national biodiversity assessments.

This study analyzed and presented zooplankton species occurrence, diversity distribution, and community composition in ninety lakes across South Korea using samples collected through the “Survey of Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Status and Health Assessment.” When comparing our results with the National Species Checklist, we identified factors within each of the three taxa that warrant improvement due to their influence on diversity assessments. To bridge the gap between the ongoing lake ecosystem surveys and the continually updated National Species Checklist-and to enhance the accuracy of diversity evaluations-we conclude that (1) greater taxonomic rigor must be reflected in the national checklist, and (2) the limitations of morphology-based identification (α-taxonomy) must be addressed. Because the National Species Checklist does not distinguish among species, subspecies, and morphospecies, it can give rise to taxonomic oversplitting and taxonomic inflation, leading to ambiguous diversity-index results. Moreover, the low resolution of morphological identification for zooplankton (at the genus, family, or class level) can introduce errors when comparing communities across habitats or detecting non-native introductions. Although alternatives such as environmental DNA and functional diversity exist, they require further refinement before being adopted in policy; therefore, they should be implemented alongside and in comparison with current aquatic ecosystem health assessment methods.

This study was conducted from 2022 to 2024 at the Grassland and Forage Crops Division, National Institute of Animal Science (RDA), in Cheonan, Korea, to develop a medium-maturing variety of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The newly developed tetraploid cultivar, named ‘Spider’, is characterized by its green leaves, semi-erect growth habit in late autumn, and erect growth habit in mid-spring. With a heading date of May 16, ‘Spider’ is classified as a medium-maturing variety. Compared to the control cultivar ‘Kowinmaster’, ‘Spider’ has a 1.0 mm wider leaf blade, a 1.6 cm longer leaf blade, and is 5 cm taller in plant height. Its dry matter yield (10,169 kg/ha) is significantly higher than that of ‘Kowinmaster’ (p<0.05). The crude protein content of ‘Spider’ is 10.4%, which is 0.2% higher than that of the control. Additionally, ‘Spider’ has a neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of 49.5% and an acid detergent fiber (ADF) content of 26.6%, showing a 2.2% lower NDF and a 0.2% higher ADF compared to ‘Kowinearly’.

Background: Dairy cows exposed to heat stress have reduced milk production, milk quality, and conception rates, leading to lower profits. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of heat stress according to Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) on the milk production of Korean Holstein cows. Methods: Monthly maximum temperature and average relative humidity data from January 2017 to August 2024 were obtained from 62 observation points used by the Korea Meteorological Administration to calculate the national average. Using this data, the THI, a key indicator for assessing heat stress in Korean Holstein cows, was calculated. Additionally, data from 240,088 Korean Holstein cows, collected through tests conducted by the Dairy Cattle Improvement Center of the NH-Agri Business Group, were analyzed. Results: Comparative analysis of the relationship between THI and milk production revealed that milk yield remained relatively stable until THI reached the “very severe” heat stress threshold (THI ≥ 79). Beyond this level, milk production showed a tendency to decline. Conversely, when THI dropped below this threshold, milk yield tended to recover. Notably, the temperature in September, typically considered part of the autumn season, has been rising in recent years, with THI values now approaching the very severe stress level (THI ≥ 79). Conclusions: These findings suggest that establishing an appropriate farm environment and implementing systematic THI management are essential for mitigating the decline in milk production, as well as the associated economic losses, caused by rising domestic temperatures due to global warming.

Hallucinations represent a transdiagnostic phenomenon observed in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, substance use disorder and substance-induced psychotic conditions. Despite their clinical prevalence, objective assessment remains challenging due to its subjective nature, underscoring the critical need for validated translational models. The present study explores the biological mechanisms underlying hallucinations, evaluates the animal models developed to date, and discusses methods for analyzing these models along specific pathways. Hallucinations are primarily mediated through glutamatergic and/or serotonergic pathways. Numerous animal models for assessing hallucinations have been extensively reported; however, these models have mainly been designed to investigate specific neurotransmitter mechanisms, rather than encompassing all relevant pathways. Therefore, this study systematically examines currently established animal models based on the aforementioned neurotransmitter mechanisms and proposes future directions for developing universal animal models capable of comprehensively evaluating hallucinatory phenomena. The present study aims to provide deeper insights for future research involving animal models of hallucination.

The emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases pose ongoing threats to public health. This study aims to develop an agent-based simulation model (ABM) to predict the spread of novel infectious diseases during early outbreak phases and evaluate the effectiveness of control measures, specifically focusing on the impact of interventions such as maskwearing, vaccination, and social distancing on outbreak dynamics and the reduction of symptomatic cases. Using demographic and COVID-19 outbreak data from South Korea, we constructed a detailed contact network model encompassing workplaces, schools, households, and communities. Using demographic and COVID-19 outbreak data from Seoul, South Korea, we constructed a detailed contact network model encompassing workplaces, schools, households, and communities. Key transmission parameters were inferred using Approximate Bayesian Computation. The resulting ABM platform, implemented in a C-based R package, allows for flexible scenario simulation involving 56 adjustable parameters, including mask-wearing, vaccination coverage, and social distancing. Simulation outputs demonstrated the model’s capacity to reproduce observed transmission patterns in workplace and school outbreaks, enabling public health authorities to anticipate outbreak dynamics and assess interventions. This framework provides a valuable decision-support tool for controlling future infectious disease incursions.

Background: Aquatic exercise utilizing hot springs helps individuals with nonspecific knee pain by reducing joint stress and providing a safe environment for movement. It can improve muscle strength and balance, enhancing overall functional mobility. Objects: This study aims to examine the muscle strength of knee flexion, knee extension, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion, as well as to investigate static and dynamic balance in middleaged females after performing hot spring aquatic exercise for 4 weeks. Methods: Twenty-two middle-aged females participated in the study. The participants performed hot spring aquatic exercise for 4 weeks. The hot spring aquatic exercise consisted of aquatic walking, aquatic stretching, aquatic side step, aquatic forward reach, aquatic squat, leg lift, and aquatic arm and leg rotation. Muscle strength was measured using microFET2, while static balance was assessed through the one-leg stance test, and dynamic balance was evaluated using the Y-balance test. This study utilized the paired t-test for statistical analysis, with a significance level set at 0.05. Results: The muscle strength of bilateral knee flexion showed a significant increase in the pre- and post-comparison (p < 0.05), and the muscle strength of bilateral knee extension also improved significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant increase was observed in the muscle strength of bilateral dorsiflexion (p < 0.05). The one-leg stance test performed while supporting on the right leg showed a significant increase in the pre- and post-comparison (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the dynamic balance measurements performed while supporting on both the right and left legs demonstrated significant improvements in both legs when compared before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In individuals with nonspecific knee pain, a 4-week hot spring aquatic exercise program can contribute to the improvement of lower extremity strength, as well as static and dynamic balance ability.