This study was conducted to determine the optimal Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) fertilizer composition for the growth of containerized Quercus myrsinifolia Blume seedlings by analyzing trait-specific growth responses and selecting superior treatments using response surface methodology (RSM) and a comprehensive growth index (CGI). Fifteen fertilizer treatment combinations and an untreated control were established by varying the ratios of N, P and K within the ranges of N 1.5, 1.75, and 2.00 g L-1; P 0.9, 1.4, and 1.9 g L-1; and K 1.5, 1.75, and 2.00 g L-1. For three months after fertilizer application, height, root collar diameter (RCD), H/D ratio, leaf length, leaf width, and number of leaves were measured. The quadratic response surface regression showed that the model fit differed among growth traits, with relatively high coefficients of determination for leaf length, height, and H/D ratio. Height and H/D ratio were significantly affected by the P × K interaction, whereas leaf length was influenced by N, K, N × K, and K2 terms, indicating that seedling growth responses were determined by nutrient balance and interaction effects rather than by a single nutrient alone. In the CGI analysis, T4 containing N, P, and K at concentrations of 2.0, 1.4, and 1.5 g L-1, ranked highest in both Equal CGI and Weighted CGI, with values of 0.741 and 0.772, respectively. T5 (1.75:1.4:1.75) ranked second in both indices, while T2 and T6 showed different rankings depending on whether height and RCD were weighted more heavily or all traits were equally considered. These results indicate that the optimal NPK composition may vary depending on the target growth trait; however, T4 was identified as the most favorable candidate for promoting comprehensive growth of containerized Q. myrsinifolia seedlings. This study provides quantitative baseline information for establishing fertilization regimes and improving container seedling production techniques for warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved tree species.

본 연구는 토마토 육묘기에 적용한 DIF 처리가 묘소질과 정식 후 생육, 조기 수확성 및 초기 수량성에 미치 는 영향을 구명하고자 수행되었다. 육묘기 DIF 처리 결과, 생육 단계에 따라 처리 간 반응이 상이하게 나타났다. 육 묘 초기에는 +5 DIF 처리 조건에서 잎 전개와 초장 신장이 상대적으로 촉진되었으나, 육묘 후기에는 －5 DIF 처리 구에서 엽면적, 생체중 및 건물중이 높았다. 특히 －5 DIF 처리는 초장 신장을 효과적으로 억제하면서 경직경 비대 와 근장 발달을 동시에 유도하여, 지상부와 지하부 생육의 균형이 우수한 강건묘 형성에 가장 적합한 조건이었다. 육묘기 DIF 처리는 정식 이후 생육과 수량 형성 단계까지 지속적인 이월 효과를 나타냈다. DIF 처리의 경우, －5 및 －8 DIF 조건에서는 조기 수확성이 뚜렷하게 향상되었다. 대조구(0 DIF)와 +5 DIF 에서는 정식 후 7주차까지 수확 이 되지 않는 반면, - DIF 처리구에서는 동일 시점에 전체 개체의 약 절반 이상에서 수확이 가능하여 수확 개시 시점 이 최소 2주 이상 앞당겨졌다. 특히 －5 DIF 처리구는 정식 이후 영양생장과 생식생장의 균형이 안정적으로 유지되 었으며, 그 결과 누적 수확량이 가장 높게 나타나 전반적인 생산 효율이 우수한 처리로 평가되었다. 이상의 결과로 토마토 육묘기 －5 DIF 환경 관리가 묘의 초형을 안정적으로 제어하면서도 정식 후 초기 활착을 개선하고, 수확 시 기를 단축하며 초기 수량성을 극대화할 수 있는 가장 효과적인 재배 관리 전략으로 판단된다.

Salvia plebeia R. Brown is a medicinal plant containing various bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, and has been reported to exhibit diverse pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective activities. However, previous studies on S. plebeia have mainly focused on phytochemical identification and pharmacological evaluation, while biotechnological approaches aimed at enhancing the productivity of major bioactive compounds—particularly metabolic regulation and content improvement through elicitor treatment in in vitro culture systems—remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of elicitor treatments on the accumulation of homoplantaginin, a major bioactive compound in the leaves of in vitro–cultured S. plebeia, as well as the associated changes in anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro–grown plantlets were treated with yeast extract at concentrations of 1, 2, and 5 mg/L and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at concentrations of 1, 2, and 5% (w/v), respectively. Homoplantaginin content was quantitatively analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. As a result, the homoplantaginin content was significantly increased in the treatment with 2 mg/L yeast extract compared to the control, while the highest NO inhibition activity was observed in the 5% PEG treatment. These findings suggest that elicitor treatment can effectively enhance the production of bioactive compounds and anti-inflammatory activity in in vitro–cultured S. plebeian. Furthermore, this study provides fundamental data supporting the potential industrial application of S. plebeia through further elucidation of metabolic pathways and optimization of culture conditions.

Maturity at harvest is the key factor influencing storage life and the final quality of fruit. This study examined how the firmness of ‘Sweet Gold’ kiwifruit at harvest affects its post-ripening characteristics to create a maturity chart. Throughout the storage period, firmness decreased in all categories of fruit: hard, medium, and soft. ‘Soft’ fruits lost 40% of their firmness within 2 days after harvest, whereas ‘hard’ fruits remained firmer than soft fruits throughout the storage period and had the least soluble solids content, indicating a slower ripening progression. The acidity of ‘soft’ kiwifruit was very low from the day of harvest, suggesting that it was utilized as a respiratory substrate during ripening. The a-values (indicating redness) for ‘soft’ fruits gradually increased until day 6, stabilizing thereafter. ‘Soft’ fruits exhibited the highest ethylene production rate throughout storage. They showed a climacteric rise in ethylene on day 13, compared to ‘medium’ and ‘hard’ fruits, which exhibited increases on days 19 and 21, respectively. This data can help determine the optimal ethylene treatment duration for ripening ‘Sweet Gold’ kiwifruit. The firmness of ‘Sweet Gold’ kiwifruit at harvest is a crucial factor in determining its marketability and can effectively serve as a maturity index to estimate its shelf life.

This study aimed to address the time, cost, and ethical issues associated with traditional animal experiment-based observational methods by utilizing in silico Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic modeling to predict veterinary drug residues in livestock products and validate them against observational data. Using PK-sim software, we modeled the physiological conditions of pigs to predict the depletion of ceftiofur and spiramycin. We evaluated the ceftiofur (3 mg, 6 mg) and spiramycin models by comparing them with observational data using residuals, MSE, and R-squared values. Specifically, the R-squared values for the ceftiofur models were all negative, indicating poor predictive power. For Ceftiofur (3 mg), the R-squared value was <0 with MSE of 611.3764, and for Ceftiofur (6 mg), it was <0 with MSE of 2447.982, highlighting significant discrepancies. Similar shortcomings were observed in the spiramycin models, with an R-squared value of <0 . These discrepancies can be attributed to inaccuracies in literature data, limited physicochemical data, inadequate consideration of inter-individual differences, mismatches between experimental and model conditions, and limitations of benchmark observational experiments. This underscores the critical importance of enhancing data quality and refining modeling approaches. Future research should focus on validating in silico techniques across diverse animal models and drugs to broaden their applicability in safety assessments. Ultimately, leveraging in silico techniques is crucial for establishing a scientifically robust safety management system for livestock products, overcoming the constraints of current observational experimental methods.

This study aims to systematically investigate the insect diversity within the distinct coastal grassland and mountain habitats of East Busan, Busan Metropolitan City. The objective is to gather foundational data that will inform natural environment conservation plans and contribute to policy formulation. Employing a comprehensive collection approach, we utilized trapping nets, pitfall traps, and flying insect traps to capture a broad spectrum of insect species. The investigation identified a rich diversity of 132 species across 9 orders and 52 families. Coleoptera emerged as the most prevalent order with 13 families and 41 species, followed by Diptera with 8 families and 24 species, and Lepidoptera with 9 families and 21 species. To assess the biodiversity and structure of these communities by habitat type, we applied several biodiversity indices: the Shannon-Wiener index (H'), Margalef index (R), and Pielou evenness index. Coastal grasslands exhibited an H' of 3.153, R of 11.08, and a Pielou evenness of 0.371; coastal mountains showed an H' of 2.922, R of 13.02, and a Pielou evenness of 0.202. These metrics reveal no significant differences in diversity and evenness between the two habitats. The endangered Copris tripartitus was notably observed in coastal grasslands, alongside 20 species classified as Least Concern (LC) in the National Red List across both habitats. The comparative analysis of biodiversity and evenness levels across coastal grassland and mountain areas highlights the ecological significance of both habitats in supporting a diverse insect fauna. The detection of endangered and LC species within these areas emphasizes the critical need for ongoing monitoring and the development of effective conservation strategies tailored to protect Busan's coastal ecosystems. The findings underscore the necessity of conducting periodic surveys to monitor faunal changes and inform conservation efforts actively. By ensuring the continued protection of insect diversity, these efforts will play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological integrity of coastal areas, thereby supporting broader environmental conservation objectives.

This study aimed to collect foundational data essential for devising a natural environment conservation plan and implementing relevant policies. It underscores the significance of understanding the current state of the natural environment. Our research concentrated on surveying the biodiversity and distribution of key natural habitats within Busan Metropolitan City, with the goal of gathering crucial data to guide the development of conservation and management strategies. The focus of our investigation was on the insect populations in Ilgwang, covering two primary habitats: mountains and wetlands. The survey, conducted from July to September 2023, utilized various collection methods, including pitfall traps, fly traps, sweeping nets, and aspirators. Our findings documented the presence of 109 species across 88 genera, 50 families, and 9 orders. Specifically, the study identified two species from the order Odonata, two from Blattodea, one from Mantodea, six from Orthoptera, eleven from Hemiptera, twenty-nine from Coleoptera, twelve from Diptera, ten from Lepidoptera, and thirty-five from Hymenoptera. Through community analysis, biodiversity indices were calculated, revealing a Shannon-Wiener index (H') of 4.07 for mountain habitats and 3.92 for wetlands. The Margalef richness index (R) displayed values of 13.92 for mountains and 14.78 for wetlands, while the Pielou evenness index indicated values of 0.96 and 0.91, respectively. Among the identified species, one was classified as endangered, and thirteen were designated as of Least Concern, according to legal protection statuses.

The study of blowfly (Diptera, Calliphoridae) biodiversity and distribution is crucial for forensic investigations involving cadavers. Abiotic and biotic factors, such as seasonality and habitat type, have significant impacts on blowfly populations. However, few forensic entomology studies have been conducted in South Korea, particularly the Gyeongsangnam-do region. To address this, in this study, an extensive year-long survey was conducted to analyze the compositions, habitat preferences, distribution, and seasonal abundance of forensically relevant blowflies in urban and forested habitats in Gyeongsangnam-do, utilizing mouse carcass-baited traps set for 48 h each month. A total of 3,478 adult blowflies were recorded, encompassing six genera and 14 species, with a noted absence of specimens during the winter months. The predominant species was Lucilia porphyrina, accounting for 37.1% of the total sample, followed by Chrysomya pinguis (27.5%), Lucilia sericata (7.6%), and Lucilia illustris (7.1%). The species composition was consistent across all surveyed regions; however, seasonal variation in species diversity was evident, with a peak in spring and decline in summer. Notably, certain species exhibited clear preferences for either urban (Calliphora calliphoroides and L. sericata) or forested habitats (L. porphyrina and Ch. pinguis). This pioneering study elucidates the diverse blowfly communities in Gyeongsangnam-do, highlighting significant seasonal and habitat-dependent variations.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cloven-hoofed animals, is economically important because of its highly contagious nature. FMD virus (FMDV), the causative agent of FMD, involves seven serotypes (O, A, Asia1, C, and SAT 1-3). Serotype Asia1 is unique to the Asian territory and is subdivided into nine genetic groups (G-I-IX) based on nucleotide variations in the VP1 sequence. Asia1 Shamir, the most representative Asia1 vaccine, is not highly protective against the Asia1/MOG/05 (G-V) lineage found in North Korea in 2007. Therefore, we investigated whether a chimeric virus strain (Asia1/MOG/Shamir), in which the VP4, VP2, and VP3 sequences of Asia1/MOG/05 were combined with the VP1 sequence of Asia1 Shamir, can simultaneously protect against both viruses. We determined the optimal viral growth conditions for the commercial utilization of this chimeric virus strain. Of the three types of cell culture media, the Cellvento medium resulted in the highest amount of antigen in the samples. The chimeric strain was proliferated in a small bioreactor to produce a test vaccine, and its immunogenicity was evaluated in pigs. The virus neutralization (VN) titer against the Asia1 Shamir virus was > 1/100 after the second immunization with the chimeric vaccine in pigs. In addition, a single dose of the test vaccine resulted in a VN titer of > 1/100 against the Asia1/MOG/05 strain. Taken together, our chimeric vaccine strain provided sufficient protection against the Asia1/MOG/05 and Asia1 Shamir viruses, suggesting its potential as a novel vaccine for both these strains.

Emotional labor, characterized by a dysfunctional type of emotional regulation called surface acting, has detrimental psychological consequences on employees, including depression and social anxiety. Because such disorders exhibit psychological characteristics manifested through brain activation, previous studies have succeeded in distinguishing individuals with depression and social anxiety from healthy controls using their functional connectivity characteristics. However, it has not been established whether the functional connectivity characteristics associated with emotional labor are distinguishable. Thus, we obtained resting-state fMRI data from participants in the emotion labor (EL) group and control (CTRL) group, and we subjected their whole-brain functional connectivity matrices to a linear support vector machine classifier. Our analysis revealed that the EL and CTRL groups could be successfully distinguished on the basis of individuals' connectivity patterns, and confidence in the classification was correlated with the scores on the depression and social anxiety scales. These results are expected to provide insight on the neurobiological characteristics of emotional labor and enable the sorting of employees undergoing adverse emotional labor utilizing neurobiological observations.