Background: Cadmium (Cd) is toxic heavy metal that accumulates in organisms after passing through their respiratory and digestive tracts. Although several studies have reported the toxic effects of Cd exposure on human health, its role in embryonic development during preimplantation stage remains unclear. We investigated the effects of Cd on porcine embryonic development and elucidated the mechanism. Methods: We cultured parthenogenetic embryos in media treated with 0, 20, 40, or 60 μM Cd for 6 days and evaluated the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation. To investigate the mechanism of Cd toxicity, we examined intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, we examined mitochondrial content, membrane potential, and ROS. Results: Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates began to decrease significantly in the 40 μM Cd group compared with the control. During post-blastulation, development was significantly delayed in the Cd group. Cd exposure significantly decreased cell number and increased apoptosis rate compared with the control. Embryos exposed to Cd had significantly higher ROS and lower GSH levels, as well as lower expression of antioxidant enzymes, compared with the control. Moreover, embryos exposed to Cd exhibited a significant decrease in mitochondrial content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of mitochondrial genes and an increase in mitochondrial ROS compared to the control. Conclusions: We demonstrated that Cd exposure impairs porcine embryonic development by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings provide insights into the toxicity of Cd exposure on mammalian embryonic development and highlight the importance of preventing Cd pollution.

This study analyzed the impact of Higher-order resources on profit sustainability for domestic companies using a mathematical statistical model. Higher-order resources refer to resources that do not directly affect profits but influence other resources that directly contribute to profits. As a result of analysis using 30 years of actual data from more than 650 domestic companies, the average duration of competitive advantage including high-order resources was found to be about twice as long as the period suggested by the autoregressive model excluding high-order resources. Through this, if companies want to earn more profits over a long period of time than their competitors, they must not only possess resources that are more valuable, rare, difficult to imitate, and non-substitutable compared to their competitors, but also that higher-order resources can contribute to changes in these resources over time. It was confirmed that it must lead the long-term profit difference. High-level resources include strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) capabilities, and good forecasting.

최근 정원에 대한 관심이 증가함에 따라 자생 식물을 활용 하기 위한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 참식나무(Neolitsea sericea (Blume) Koidz).는 관상용뿐만 아니라 목재로도 이용할 수 있 다. 따라서 이 연구는 참식나무를 정원 식물 소재로 활용하기 위한 대량 증식 기술 개발을 위하여 종자의 발아 특성과 저장 특성에 대해 알아보고자 진행하였다. 2022년 11월 2일 제주 지역에서 채집한 종자를 실험에 사용하였다. 종자의 내·외부 형태 관찰을 한 결과, 종자가 탈리되는 시점에 배가 완전히 발 달한 형태를 가지고 있기 때문에 형태적휴면(morphological dormancy, MD)이 없음을 확인할 수 있었다. 수분흡수 실험 을 통하여 참식나무 종자는 72시간 이후 40% 정도의 수분흡수 율을 보여 내과피의 불투성에 의한 물리적휴면(PY, physical dormancy)이 없는 것으로 판단하였다. 채종 후 곧바로 무가 온 온실에 파종하면 이듬해 5월에 약 60%가 발아하였다. 저 온습윤처리 0, 2, 4, 8, 12주 후 25/15°C에 배양한 결과 최 종 발아율은 각각 0%, 0%, 21.1%, 32.6%, 34.7%였다. GA3 를 0, 10, 100, 1000mg·L-1 농도로 처리한 후 25/15°C에서 배양한 결과, 최종 발아율은 각각 0, 14.5, 22.7, 42.2%였다. 따라서 본 실험의 결과 8주 이상의 저온 처리 또는 GA3 처리 를 통하여 어느 정도 휴면을 타파시킬 수 있었다. 이러한 결과 를 통하여 종자는 intermediate PD를 가지는 것으로 판단 된다. 일부 발아하지 않은 종자는 deep PD를 가지고 있는 것 으로 판단하였다. 후숙 처리 실험의 결과 4주 만에 수분 함량 이 2% 이하로 감소하였고 종자는 전혀 발아하지 않았다. 따라 서 종자의 저장 특성 중 recalcittrant 특성을 지닌 난저장성 종자로 보인다.

본 연구에서는Stable Diffusion 프레임워크를 활용하여 게임 스타일의 스케치, 특히 도시 장면을 생성하는 방법 을 소개한다. 확산 기반의 모델인Stable Diffusion은 쉬운 접근성과 뛰어난 성능으로 많은 연구자와 일반인들에 게 선호되며, 텍스트-스케치, 이미지-스케치의 생성이 가능하다. Stable Diffusion의 몇 가지 문제는 이미지의 국 소성 보존 문제 및 미세 조정인데, 이를ControlNet과DreamBooth를 사용하여 해결한다. 결과적으로, 본 연구를 통 해 게임 제작에 사용될 수 있는 텍스트-스케치, 이미지-스케치 생성이 가능하며, 더 나아가 아티스트를 돕는 툴 로도 활용될 수 있다.

Molten Salt Reactor, which employs molten salt mixture as fuel, has many advantages in reactor size and operation compared to conventional nuclear reactor. In developing Molten Salt Reactor, the behavior of fission product in operation should be preliminary evaluated for the correct design of reactor and its associated system including off-gas treatment. In this study, for 100 Mw 46 KCl- 54 UCl3 based Molten Salt Reactor with operating life time of 20 year, the fission product behavior was estimated by thermodynamic modeling employing FactSage 8.2. Total inventory of all fission product were firstly calculated using OpenMC code allowing depletion during neutronic calculation. Then, among all inventory, 46 element species from Uranium to Holmium were chosen and given to the input for equilibrium module of Factsage with its mass. In phase equilibrium calculation, for the correct description of solution phase, KCl-UCl3 solution database based on modified quasichemical model in the quadruplet approximation (ANL/CFCT-21/04) was employed and the coexisting solid phase was assumed to pure state. With the assumption of no oxygen and moisture ingress into reactor system, equilibrium calculation showed that 1% of solid phase and of gas phase were newly formed and, in gas phase, major species were identified : ZrCl4 (47%), Xe (33%), UCl4 (14%), Kr (5%), Ar (1%) and others. This result reveals that off-gas treatment of system should account for the appropriate treatment of ZrCl4 and UCl4 besides treatment of noble gas such as Xe and Kr.

The domestic Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PWHR) nuclear power plant, Wolsong Unit 1, was permanently shut down on December 24, 2019. However, research on decommissioning has mainly focused on Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs), with a notable absence of both domestic and international experience in the decommissioning of PHWRs. If proper business management such as radiation safety and waste is not performed, it can lead to increased business risks and costs in decommissioning. Therefore, the assessment of waste volume and cost, which provide fundamental data for the nuclear decommissioning process, is a crucial technical requirement before initiating the actual decommissioning of Wolsong Unit 1. Decommissioning radiation-contaminated structures and facilities presents significant challenges due to high radiation levels, making it difficult for workers to access these areas. Therefore, technology development should precede decommissioning process assessments and safety evaluations, facilitating the derivation of optimal decommissioning procedures and ensuring worker safety while enhancing the efficiency of decommissioning operations. In this study, we have developed a program to estimate decommissioning waste amounts for PHWRs, building upon prior research on PWR decommissioning projects while accounting for the specific design characteristics of PHWRs. To evaluate the amount of radioactive waste generated during decommissioning, we considered the characteristics of radioactive waste, disposal methods, packaging container specifications, and the criteria for the transfer of radioactive waste to disposal operators. Based on the derived algorithm, we conducted a detailed design and implemented the program. The proposed program is based on 3D modeling of the decommissioning components and the calculation of the Work Difficulty Factor (WDF), which is used to determine the time weighting factors for each task. Program users can select the cutting and packaging conditions for decommissioning components, estimate waste amount based on the chosen decommissioning method, and calculate costs using time weighting factors. It can be applied not only to PHWRs, but also to PWRs and non-nuclear fields, providing a flexible tool for optimizing decommissioning process.

Nuclear facilities present the important task related to the migration and retention of radioactive contaminants such as cesium (Cs), strontium (Sr), and cobalt (Co) for unexpected events in various environmental conditions. The distribution coefficient (Kd) is important factor for understanding these contaminants mobility, influenced by environmental variables. This study focusses the prediction of Kd values for radionuclides within solid phase groups through the application of machine-learning models trained on experimental data and open source data from Japan atomic energy agency. Three machine-learning models, such as the convolutional neural network, artificial neural network, and random forest, were trained for prediction model of the distribution coefficient (Kd). Fourteen input variables drawn from the database and experimental data, including parameters such as initial concentration, solid-phase characteristics, and solution conditions, served as the basis for model training. To enhance model performance, these variables underwent preprocessing steps involving normalization and log transformation. The performances of the models were evaluated using the coefficient of determination. These results showed that the environmental media, initial radionuclide concentration, solid phase properties, and solution conditions were significant variables for Kd prediction. These models accurately predict Kd values for different environmental conditions and can assess the environmental risk by analyzing the behavior of radionuclides in solid phase groups. The results of this study can improve safety analyses and longterm risk assessments related to waste disposal and prevent potential hazards and sources of contamination in the surrounding environment.

Until now, in case of Palaearctic region, only one species, Nesendaeus monochrous in this genus was recorded from China. but the biology and life cycle are not clearly known, yet. This species collected from the bud of Glochidion chodoense in Korea for the first time and closely related to Heterochyromera imerodeus Kojima & Morimoto which was recorded only in Japan,. But Nesendaeus monochrous is easily distinguishable from H. imerodeus by the relatively longer elytra with bisinuately round apices. Heterochyromera imerodeus Kojima & Morimoto can be found from Eurya emarginata and Glochidion obovatum in Japan. So, this two species are closely related each other and need more taxonomic study about the generic synonymy or changing the generic position.

The repeated use of biocidal products, including household insecticides and disinfectants, has led people to seek safer alternatives, such as light traps, ultrasound generators, or repellent lamps. By appearances, these physical/non-chemical alternatives seem appealing to many consumers and are gaining more attention. However, unlike biocidal products, these alternatives are not subject to mandatory approval and registration processes, and no standards for efficacy and safety are in place. Given the increasing numbers of insect traps on the market, there is an urgent need to investigate their efficacy. In the present study, we examined the attraction activity of ten commercially available insect trap products. They varied in size, structure, trapping methods (fan or sticky pad), and attractants. Their efficacies were assessed under both laboratory condition (1.8m x 1.8m x 1.8m) and semi-field room condition (4m x 6m x 2m). Ul*****APTM demonstrated the highest capture rate (%), leading us to further study the role of its attractant. Notably, the capture rate increased by 28.9% when the CO2 attractant was used, displaying statistical differences (P = 0.032). For practical application in the field, consumer acceptance and satisfaction were monitored using 20 participants. The potential of insect traps as viable alternatives to biocidal products is discussed.

모기는 감염병을 매개하는 종으로 전염병 확산 억제를 위해서는 개체수의 감시와 정확한 예측이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 모기 개체수 및 기상 및 현장 자료를 활용해 모기 개체수 머신러닝 모델을 개발하였다. 모기 개체수는 디지털 모기 측정기(Digital Mosquito Monitoring System, DMS)의 2015 년~2022년의 5월~10월의 자료를 활용하였다. 기상 자료는 기온, 강수량, 풍속, 습도를 사용하였으며, 현장 조사 자료는 현장을 명목척도와 서열척도로 나누어 기록하여, 명목 척도의 경우 원핫 인코딩으 로 변환해 수치화하여 사용하였다. 분석에 사용된 머신러닝 모델은 Artificial Neural Network, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine, Support Vector Machine이며 성능지표로 R2, RMSE를 사용하였다. 연구 결과, Gradient Boosting 모델이 R2 0.4, RMSE 22.45로 가장 좋은 성능을 나타냈다. 현장 조사 자료 를 분석에 활용하였을 때 R2는 증가하였고, RMSE는 감소하였다. 본 연구 결과 모기 개체수에 현장 조사 자료가 예측 정확도를 향상시킬 수 있음을 확인하였다.

This study was conducted to determine the appropriate seeding dates by verifying the difference in winter survival and productivity of alfalfa according to fall sowing dates in the central area of South Korea. The experiment was conducted for 2 years (2020 and 2021) at the field in the Department of Animal Resources Development, NIAS located in Cheonan. Sowing dates started from September 18 to November 8 with 10 days of intervals during 2020 and 2021; SO1 (September 18), SO2 (September 28), SO3 (October 8), SO4 (October 18), SO5 (October 28), and SO6 (November 8). After sowing, the winter survival rate was measured in the spring of the following year, and the dry matter yield was measured by harvesting at 10% flowering and harvesting five times a year. SO6 failed to winter survival, and SO5 also had a lower winter survival rate than SO1~4 (p<0.05). The average annual dry matter yield of alfalfa linearly decreased with delaying sowing dates (p<0.05). The feed value did not differ in the same year by delaying the sowing date in the same year. These results suggest that sowing date should be started before October 18 to increase winter survival and productivity of alfalfa in the central area of South Korea.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), which is a traditional Korean crop, has been known as a health food due to its rich nutrition. This study was conducted to evaluate the change in flavonoid content of flowers and seeds during post-flowering growth of Korean tartary buckwheat variety ‘Hwanggeummiso’, with the aim of providing basic data for the development of functional food and feed additive. Tartary buckwheat took 69 and 99 days from the sowing date to reach the flowering and maturity stages, respectively. As a result of examining the flavonoid components of each part of tartary buckwheat, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and isoquercitrin of flowers increased from the flowering period on 22 May (0 days after flowering) to 42 days after flowering, while quercetin increased until 21 days after flowering and then decreased thereafter. In seeds, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and isoquercitrin were most abundant at the time of seed-bearing on 14 days after flowering, and showed a decreasing tendency thereafter. On the other hand, quercetin showed a tendency to increase until 21 days after flowering and then decrease. Overall, the flavonoid content was higher in flowers than in seeds, with rutin being particularly prominent. Based on this, the possibility as food materials and feed additives was confirmed using buckwheat produced in Korea.

Instagram marketing is a popular tool for communication in the tourism industry. However, research into effective execution tactics has been limited to the content, recipient characteristics, and sender types (e.g., celebrities) (i.e., Ferwerda & Tkalcic, 2018; Jin et al., 2019; Singh, 2020). The layouts of Instagram ads themselves have received little scholarly attention. Instagram ads typically convey multiple pieces of information in a single advertisement unit, raising concerns about the significance of the order in which the information is presented. Specifically, we must understand how different orders of presenting information affect a firm’s performance. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of presentation order on consumer behavioral intentions toward tour programs promoted on Instagram.

Roridin E, a constituent of Podostroma cornu-damae, has excellent medicinal properties and exhibits powerful anticancer effects. However, being a poisonous mushroom, P. cornu-damae is difficult to find in its natural environment. Therefore, only a limited amount of roridin E is isolated from P. cornu-damae. We isolated roridin E from mycelial culture medium of P. cornu-damae and examined its effects on five breast cancer cell lines. The purity of the isolated roridin E was 96%. It exhibited anticancer effects on all five breast cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of at least 0.0006 mg/L. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of effects of roridin E isolated from the mycelium of P. cornu-damae mushrooms on five breast cancer cell lines. However, safety issues should be investigated and addressed in future studies before roridin E is used in clinical settings.

본 연구는 신생아 검사 중 포수클로랄(chloral hydrate)을 투여 후 진행되는 신생아 진정 검사 대비 진정 대체 방식 중 하나인 피드 및 랩(feed and wrap) 방식의 유용성을 평가한 연구이다. 본 연구에선 진정으로 진행한 신생아의 두뇌 T2 축면 영상과 피드 및 랩 방식으로 진행한 같은 영상 각 30개의 운동 허상(motion artifact)과 백질과 회백질의 구분 정도를 두 명의 영상의학과 전문의가 정성적으로 평가하였고, 운동 허상을 측정하기 위해서 위상부호화(phase encoding) 방향의 배경 영역(background area)의 평균 신호 강도(mean signal intensity)를 구하여서 정량적 방식으로 평가하였다. 또한 총검사 시간을 정리한 뒤 정량적 방식으로 평가하였고 투약 기록의 여부와 간호일지를 토대로 피드 및 랩 방식의 총 39건의 검사 건수 대비 성공률을 측정하였다. 운동 허상의 정량적 평가와 영상 품질의 정성적 평가 모두에서 두 집단은 유의미한 차이가 없었으나, 검사 시간의 정량적 평가에선 p값이 0.001로 유의한 차이가 있었다. 피드 및 랩 방식의 총검사 건수 대비 성공률은 100%였다. 결론적으로 본 논문에선 피드 및 랩 방식과 진정 방식의 영상 품질이 유의한 차이가 없고 성공률이 높기에 유용하다고 판단하였으나, 검사 시간이 더 지연되는 한계가 있다는 사실을 확인하였다.