In Korea, the agricultural industry has witnessed a growing emphasis on reducing reliance on imported forage by adopting locally available alternatives to enhance sustainability and self-sufficiency. Given the limited information on the potential use of whole-crop rice silage (WCRS) as livestock feed, this study evaluated the effects of total mixed rations (TMR) containing WCRS on the rumen microbiota of Hanwoo heifers. Thirty heifers (body weight = 351 ± 39 kg) were randomly assigned to three TMR diet groups for the early fattening period: oat hay (OH), oat hay with Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage (OIC), and silages from whole-crop rice, Italian ryegrass, and corn (WCRSEF). During the late fattening period, the same heifers (569 ± 40 kg) were reassigned to three other treatment groups: perennial ryegrass (PRG), Italian ryegrass silage and alfalfa hay (IRGA), and silage containing whole-crop rice (WCRSLF). The effects of different feeding diets on the rumen microbial composition of Hanwoo heifers were investigated using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The analysis revealed similar microbial diversity among the treatments across both fattening periods. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most dominant phyla during early and late fattening periods. Moreover, during the early fattening period, heifers fed WCRS exhibited a higher ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes, whereas Firmicutes became more predominant in the late fattening period. Hungateiclostridium and Porphyromonas were identified as biomarkers (LDA score > | 2 |; p < 0.05) for the WCRSEF and WCRSLF groups, respectively. Furthermore, the microbial co-occurrence network highlighted different patterns (| r | = 0.85; p < 0.05) between the early and late fattening periods. The results provide significant insights into the effects of WCRS as a substitute for conventional forages such as oat hay, perennial ryegrass, alfalfa, and Italian ryegrass silage. The findings suggest that WCRS can modulate the rumen microbiome of Hanwoo heifers.

Despite growing research interest in consumer health, well-being and beauty, little is known about factors influencing consumer purchase decisions for female fitness devices. This study focuses on Kegel exercises – exercise routines developed by Dr. Kegel to strengthen pelvic floor muscles – that are recommended by health professionals for patients experiencing health ailments such as urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and dissatisfaction. Despite the benefits, women are not well aware of the role of pelvic floor muscles. The diffusion and acceptance of Kegel exercise and devices among women are likely determined by how comfortable women are about obtaining such benefits. For this reason, feminism should play an important role in shaping women’s desire to engage in Kegel exercises. Thus, this research investigates how feminism is related to Millennial women’s engagement with fitness products, particularly Kegel devices. Drawing on the literatures about sexuality, health, and marketing, we propose that feminism positively influences women’s health-related attitudes (i.e., attitudes towards fitness, fitness opinion leadership, attitude toward core strength, and desire to control sex life), which in turn positively impacts women’s fitness engagement. Fitness engagement, in turn, is expected to predict attitudes towards Kegel exercise and Kegel device purchase intentions. On the other hand, women’s attitudes toward core strength and desire to control sex life are proposed to have a direct, positive impact on attitude towards Kegel exercise. Analysis of PLS-SEM shows general support for the hypotheses. We discuss how interest in Kegel devices could, in turn, lead to positive effects on overall physical and psychological health and provide implications for marketing practitioners.

Insect pollinators of the endanger orchid Cypripedium japonicum were surveyed and identified during two years, as a part of a conservation project of the orchid at Jukyeup-san and Hwaak-san (Mt.), South Korea. In total 40 individuals of 16 species in 4 families were identified. The dominant family was Halictidae, and Lasioglossum exiliceps Vachal visited the most frequently C. japonicum during the surveys. The average visiting frequency was 2.5 individuals per hour and the highest 4.3, from 12:00 – 13:00 in a day. After 15:00 insects did not visit the flowers at all. However, all of the visiting insects were found to not carry a pollinium or pollens of the orchard on their bodies; pollen carryover by any of the visiting insects did not occur at all. The orchid seems to require certain pollinators in particular body thickness due to its unique pollination mechanism. The orchid has two exit route openings, around 1 cm in diametre, where the entrapped insects can exit and an anther is situated just in front of each opening. It was inferred that a pollen carrier should be around 1 cm in body thickness. Therefore, the candidate species as the proper pollen carriers can be Tetralonia nipponensis Perez, Xylocopa appendiculata circumvolans Smith and Bombus consobrinus Dahlbom among the surveyed visitors.