Influenza A virus (IAV) causes respiratory disease in birds and mammals, including pigs and humans. Infection by IAV in pigs increases not only economic losses in the swine industry but also the emergence of novel IAV variants via gene reassortment, which is important due to the susceptibility of both birds and humans to IAV. This study provides serological data obtained during a study to detect IAV infections in pigs in the Republic of Korea during 2018 and 2019. A total of 1,559 samples were collected from 74 domestic pig farms. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays were performed using the A/Swine/Korea/25-13(H1N1), A/Swine/Korea/E102 (H1N2), and A/Swine/Korea/Cy10/2007 (H3N2) viruses as antigens. The HI assay results showed that 266 of the 1,559 samples were seropositive (17.0%). Among these, H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 comprised 7.3% (114), 6.0% (93), and 8.8% (137) of the 1,559 samples, respectively. Co-infections of H1N1/H1N2, H1N1/H3N2, H1N2/H3N2 and H1N1/H1N2/H3N2 were observed in 2.1% (31), 1.5% (23), 1.5% (24), and 0.8% (13) of the 1,559 samples, respectively. Interestingly, IAV infections were detected in all nine provinces of the country.

Background: Although magnetic resonance imaging is accurate, it is expensive to measure the movement of temporomandibular joint. The three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis system is an inexpensive measurement tool. Objects: This study examined the reliability of quantifying the mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift and differences between individuals with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) using the hygienic method of surface markers on the skin with 3D ultrasound-based motion analysis. Methods: This study included 24 subjects (12 with and 12 without TMD). Temporomandibular joint motion during mouth opening was recorded using two surface markers with 3D ultrasound-based motion analysis. An intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC (3,k)] was used to confirm the intrarater reliability of quantifying kinematic temporomandibular joint motion, and an independent t-test was used to evaluate differences in maximal mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift between the two groups. Results: Assessment of mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift showed excellent test–retest reliability with low standard error of measurement. The lateral mandibular shift and opening-lateral mandibular shift ratio were significantly increased in the TMD group during maximum mouth opening (p<.05). However, no significant difference in maximal mouth opening was observed between the groups with and without TMD (p>.05). Conclusion: This hygienic and simple surface marker method can be used to quantify the mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift at the end-range of mouth opening. The TMD group showed an increased lateral mandibular shift movement at the end-range of mouth opening. The lateral mandibular shift movement can be regarded as a symptom in the diagnosis and treatment of TMD.

PURPOSES : It is well known that low temperature cracking is one of the most serious distresses on asphalt pavement, especially for northern U.S. (including Alaska), Canada and the northern part of south Korea. The risk of thermal cracking can be numerically measured by estimating thermal stress of a given asphalt mixture. This thermal stress can be computed by low temperature creep testing. Currently, in-direct tensile (IDT) mixture creep test mentioned in AASHTO specification is used for measuring low temperature creep properties of a given asphalt mixture. However, IDT requires the use of expensive testing equipment for performing the sophisticated analysis process, however, very few laboratories utilize this equipment. In this paper, a new and simple performance test (SPT) method: bending beam rheometer (BBR) mixture creep testing equipment is introduced, and the estimated experimental results were compared with those of conventional IDT tests. METHODS: Three different asphalt mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and roofing shingles were prepared in the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) research laboratory. Using the BBR and IDT, the low temperature creep stiffness data were measured and subsequently computed. Using a simple power-law function, the creep stiffness data were converted into relaxation modulus, and subsequently compared. Finally, thermal stress results were computed from relaxation modulus master curve using Gaussian quadrature approach with condierations of 24 Gauss number. RESULTS: In the case of the conventional asphalt mixture, similar trends were observed when the relaxation modulus and thermal stress results were compared. In the case of RAP and Shingle added mixtures, relatively different computation results were obtained. It can be estimated that different experimental surroundings and specimen sizes affected the results. CONCLUSIONS: It can be said that the BBR mixture creep test can be a more viable approach for measuring low temperature properties of asphalt mixture compared to expensive and complex IDT testing methods. However, more extensive research and analysis are required to further verify the feasibility of the BBR mixture creep test.

본 조사지인 돌리네 습지보호지역은 경북 문경시 산북면 굴봉산 정상부에 위치하였으며, 물이 고이기 힘든 돌리네(doline) 지형에 형성된 희귀 습지이다. 뿐만 아니라 멸종위기종과 법적보호종이 분포하는 등 생물다양성 또한 매우 풍부한 것으로 평가되고 있다. 그러나 습지보호지역 주변으로 과수원 등 경작지가 형성되어 있어, 관리 및 보전을 위한 조사 및 대책이 필요하다. 따라서 본 조사에서는 습지보호지역의 체계적인 관리를 위하여 돌리네 습지의 곤충상을 조사하였다. 조사 방법에는 곤충의 다양한 습성과 서식환경을 고려하여, Searching, Sweeping, Pitfall trap, Bucket trap으로 총 4가지의 채집방법으로 조사를 실시하였다. 그 결과 총 11목 82과 188속 237종이 확인되었으며, 이중 딱정벌레목이 가장 많이 출현하였다. 특이사항으로 환경부지정종 51종(중복포함)이 조사되었으며, 그중 멸종위 기종 1종이 확인되었다. 본 연구를 통해 돌리네 습지보호지역의 곤충상을 파악하고 관리 및 보전에 대한 기초자료를 제공하고자 한다.

Metcalfa pruinosa (Hemiptera: Flatidae) is a invasive and harmful insect in South Korea. It is originated from the Nearctic region. Since M. pruinosa was first identified in South Korea in 2005, it dispersed throughout the country. In this study, we investigated the dispersal ability of M. pruinosa in the field in three different levels: 1) short distance movement, 2) flying movement, and 3) dispersal distance in large area in the two different landscape types (open canopy and forest with covered canopy). Our results showed that the movement ability of M. pruinosa was weak in walking. However, it displayed long dispersal distance that increasing dispersal distance in each year. These results can be used for modelling dispersal distance of the species.

Heamaphysalis longicornis is a major vector for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) virus and the density of the vector has been increasing because of the climate change. The incidence of fatalities due to SFTS is increasing every year. In this study, to evaluate the SFTS transmission by ticks, the density of ticks mediating SFTS was monitored. Tick was collected every month from four different sites (Grass land, Mountain path, Grave, Copse) in Andong with the traps containing dry ice as CO2 attractants. Among 2,572 ticks of 3 species; H. longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis were most abundantly collected from April to August. H. longicornis is the richest species (92.8%), whereas Ixodes nipponensis was the least species (0.8%). The 54.5% of the sample were nymph stage and female/male ratio was 64.3%. According to the pathogene analysis, SFTS virus was detected from H. longicornis adult and larvae stages collected in July and August. In July samples, SFTS virus was detected only from grassland site, but the virus was observed in the sample from all four sites in August. For effective prevention of SFTS, the tick density should be continuously monitored based on the onset time of SFTS with the consideration of habitate, habit & life history of ticks.

Ticks are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites, which can transmit various pathogens including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses via salivary secretion during feeding. Understanding salivation in ticks is crucial for the development of novel methods to prevent tick-borne disease transmission. The central nervous system (synganglion) of ticks controls salivary glands via several neuropeptidergic innervation: myoinhibitory peptide (MIP), SIFamide, and elevenin. These neuropeptides are thought to be modulators of dopamine’s action controlling the salivary glands including inward fluid transport into the lumen of salivary glands acini and emptying lumen solute into salivary duct by pumping and gating. These actions are via two distinct dopamine receptors, dopamine receptor (D1) and invertebrate D1-like dopamine receptor (InvD1L), respectively.

The modification of Silicotungstic acid (STA) was done by Melamine and Mixed matrix membranes from the Melamine modified Silico tungstic acid (M-STA) particles were prepared for the pervaporation dehydration of Water -Isopropanol (IPA) mixture. The characterization of the membranes were done by FTIR, SEM, EDS AFM XRD, and contact angle measurements. The M-STA loaded composite membranes showed improved pervaporation performance in comparison to the virgin membrane. The 8 wt% M-STA loaded (M8-MSTA) membrane gave an optimum pervaporation performance having flux = 0.36 kg/m2h, separation factor 485.6 for 20 wt% water -isopropanol feed composition at 60 0C was observed.

Blended membranes of hydrophilic polymers poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm) were prepared and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The characterization of membranes were done by using FTIR, XRD, DSC, SEM and swelling study. MB1.5 membrane was the best one in all since it exhibited higher separation index. By using blend membrane (MB1.5), the flux through a 65-mm film increased from 0.01 to 0.47 kg/m2h at an acetonitrile/water feed ratio between 20/80 and 5/95 w/w at 30°C while separation factor increased from the 5055 to 100.84 attributed to the higher hydrophilicity of blend membranes. On comparison of pervaporation data with water-acetonitrile vapor-liquid equilibrium data it was observed that the membrane acted as third phase to effectively break the azeotropes.