Background: Rounded Shoulder Posture (RSP) and Forward Head Posture (FHP) often result from prolonged digital device use, leading to muscle imbalance, pain, and functional limits. Growing demand for postural correction highlights the need for effective exercise approaches. Objectives: This study compared strengthening, self-stretching, and mixed exercises on acromion height, craniovertebral angle, and muscle tone in adults with FHP and RSP. Design: Randomized controlled pretest-post test trial over four weeks. Methods: Thirty university students (acromion height ≥2.5 cm, craniovertebral angle ≤53°) were randomly assigned to strengthening (n=6), self-stretching (n=9), or mixed exercise (n=9) groups. Participants exercised three times weekly for four weeks. Pre- and post-tests measured acromion height, craniovertebral angle, and muscle tone of the pectoralis major, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid using MyotonPro®. Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed ranks, Kruskal-Wallis, and repeated measures ANOVA (P<.05). Results: All groups significantly improved acromion height and craniovertebral angle (P<.05) without intergroup differences. Significant tone change appeared only in the upper trapezius (P<.05), with the mixed group showing the largest improvement. Conclusion: All exercises improved posture in adults with FHP and RSP. Mixed exercise yielded the greatest reduction in upper trapezius tone, suggesting a multimodal approach may be most effective.

From 2017 to 2024, we surveyed 43 diverse aquatic habitats in South Korea, leading to the identification of 18 cyanobacterial taxa that are newly recorded for the country, found across eight sites (about 18% of the surveyed locations). These taxa exhibit a wide range of morphological forms, including unicellular, colonial, filamentous, and heterocytous types, and belong to various orders such as Chroococcales, Synechococcales, Nostocales, and Stigonematales. Notably, this study provides a provisional record of Gomphosphaeria aponina in Korea, correcting its previous misidentification as G. natans. We also documented Dolichospermum compactum, a species that has been genetically reclassified. Additionally, we identified species with the potential to cause harmful algal blooms (HABs), such as Microcystis botrys and Gloeotrichia aurantiaca, which are crucial for domestic water quality monitoring. Currently, only 414 cyanobacterial taxa are recorded in Korea, representing less than 8% of the estimated global total of approximately 5,300 species. This significant gap underscores the considerable unrecorded diversity within Korean aquatic ecosystems. These findings substantially enhance the national cyanobacterial checklist and underscore the need for ongoing monitoring in understudied aquatic environments. They also highlight the importance of integrating classical morphological and ecological observations with advanced molecular methods. This polyphasic approach can accurately detect cryptic diversity and support robust ecological assessments. Overall, this comprehensive floristic expansion offers valuable baseline data for biodiversity inventories, ecological monitoring, and the development of microbial resources within Korean aquatic environments.

목적: 태양광을 모사한 D65 광원과 동일한 색온도의 LED6500K 광원 하에서 색보임 차이를 비교하고, 연령 및 성별에 따른 색채구별 능력의 차이를 알아보고자 한다. 방법 : 성인 100명을 대상으로 두 광원 조건에서 Farnsworth-Munsell 100 색상검사를 실시하고, 산출된 TES(Total Error Score)를 광원, 연령, 성별에 따라 분석하였다. 결과 : 전체 대상자의 TES는 LED6500K 광원에서 D65 광원보다 높게 나타났으며, 20~30대에서 광원 변화에 크게 반응하였다. 연령에 따라 두 광원 모두에서 50~60대의 TES가 높았고, 동일 광원 내 연령 비교에서는 D65 광 원에서 증가폭이 더 컸다. 성별에 따른 차이는 대부분 유의하지 않았다. 결론 : LED6500K 광원은 D65 광원에 비해 색보임 오류가 다소 크지만, 기존 실내 광원보다 우수하여 실내 환경 에 적합하다. 색채구별 능력은 연령 증가에 따라 저하되며, 청년층은 광원 변화에 더 민감하게 반응하는 경향이 있 어 주의가 필요하다. 본 연구는 다양한 인구 집단의 색보임 특성을 이해하는 데 기초자료를 제공하며, 고객 응대와 제품 진열뿐 아니라 안경사 교육 자료로도 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

This study evaluated the effects of a high-concentration soy pulp (HSP) diet on pig production performance and carcass traits under commercial farming conditions. Data were collected from a pig farm in Jeju, Korea, between 2019 and 2024. From 2019 to 2021, pigs were fed a control diet containing 2.3% soy pulp, and from 2022 to 2024, the proportion of soy pulp was increased by 254% (HSP, 21.9%). We evaluated production performance indicators including shipment date, feed cost per kilogram of weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass yield, and proportion of high-grade carcasses. The feed cost per kilogram remained constant under both diet conditions; however, pigs fed an HSP diet reached market weight significantly earlier than those on the control diet and the feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, and proportion of high-grade carcasses were significantly improved. The carcass yield percentage was non-significantly higher for pigs fed the HSP diet than for those fed the control diet. These findings suggest that providing HSP feed to grow–finish pigs enhance growth performance, improves carcass quality, and shortens the production period, indirectly reducing feed costs. Further studies should explore the long-term economic impacts and potential interactions of HSP with gut health and nutrient digestibility.

Bone-related diseases (e.g., osteoporosis) represent a significant health challenge, prompting research for effective therapeutic agents, particularly from natural sources. The edible mushroom, Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii has attracted interest due to its wide range of biological activities. Cytotoxicity assays revealed no significant toxicity of the M. aitchisonii water extract (MAWE) up to 50 μg/mL. MAWE significantly promoted dose-dependent osteoblast differentiation with ALP activity and mineralization increase by 109.17 % and 23 %, respectively, compared with the differentiation-only group. Moreover, MAWE significantly upregulated osteoblast-related gene expressions, including that of type I collagen (COL1A), osterix (Osx), and osteopontin (OPN). Furthermore, MAWE treatment significantly increased AMPK phosphorylation. This effect was further confirmed by demonstrating that the AMPK inhibitor compound C suppressed AMPK phosphorylation, and subsequent MAWE treatment restored it. In summary, these results demonstrate that MAWE possesses potent osteoblast differentiation-promoting efficacy, primarily through AMPK signaling pathway activation.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of gypsum application on dry matter yield (DMY), mineral content of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and soil properties in reclaimed tidal land in South Korea. The experiment was conducted in Seokmun, located on the west coast of South Korea, which is reclaimed with approximately 70 cm depth of degraded island soil. Treatments consisted of a control with no gypsum application (G0), 2 ton ha-1 (G2), and 4 ton ha-1 (G4) of gypsum application. The first harvest was carried out when the alfalfa reached 10% flowering, and subsequent harvests were conducted at 35-day intervals. Over the three-year experimental periods (2019-2021), the total DMY of G2 treatment was significantly higher than those of G0 and G4 (p<0.05). Although both G2 and G4 gypsum application treatments lowered soil pH, the G4 treatment increased the electrical conductivity (EC) content of the soil. Additionally, gypsum application affected the mineral contents of alfalfa, resulting in reduced concentration of sodium (Na) and Magnesium (Mg). Therefore, this present study suggests that a gypsum application rate of 2 ton ha-1 is optimal for improving alfalfa dry matter yield and mineral balance, as well as enhancing soil chemical properties in reclaimed tidal land in South Korea.

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.

Sperm storage is a crucial reproductive adaptation that ensures fertilization success by maintaining viable sperm until ovulation. Birds and mammals have evolved anatomically distinct yet functionally analogous structures, sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the avian female reproductive tract and the epididymis in the mammalian male reproductive tract, that represent a striking example of convergent evolution. These systems prolong sperm lifespan and regulate fertilization timing through shared physiological strategies. While each system has been studied independently, a direct comparison between SSTs and the epididymis has not been thoroughly explored. This review proposes that, although structurally distinct, SSTs and the epididymis exhibit shared physiological strategies such as metabolic suppression, pH and ion regulation, oxidative stress control, and hormonally mediated sperm release. By highlighting these parallels, we present a novel perspective on sperm storage as a case of evolutionary convergence in reproductive physiology. Understanding these shared mechanisms provides new insights into sperm viability regulation and offers practical implications for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as improved cryopreservation strategies and biomimetic sperm storage platforms designed to mimic SST or epididymal conditions.

Virtual Reality Head Mounted Display (VR HMD)-based flight simulators have recently emerged as promising tools for enhancing pilot training effectiveness. This study aims to establish a set of evaluation criteria for the development of VR HMD-based flight simulators and to determine their relative importance and priority using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Through an extensive review of the literature, a hierarchical evaluation model was constructed, consisting of three primary criteria and ten sub-criteria. A structured questionnaire was administered to experienced pilots, and the collected data were analyzed using the AHP methodology to assess the relative weights of each criterion. The analysis revealed that the fidelity of system performance is the most influential factor in evaluating VR HMD-based flight simulators. These findings present a structured evaluation framework and offer practical insights for guiding the strategic development and optimization of VR HMD-based flight training systems.

In this study, proteins were extracted from sesame and perilla meals (agricultural by-products) by using hot-water defatting and acid precipitation, and their functional properties were compared with those of a commercial soy protein isolate (SPI). According to the SDS-PAGE results, the sesame meal protein extract (SMPE) exhibited a higher content of hydrophobic amino acids than the perilla meal protein extract (PMPE), alongside a relatively lower intensity of the 7S globulin band. SMPE showed 1.41-fold higher solubility than SPI at pH 10 and 1.72- and 1.66-fold higher emulsifying activity indices (EAIs) at pH 8 and 10, respectively. PMPE exhibited similar trends in solubility and EAI as SPI at the corresponding pH values. However, the emulsifying stability indices of SMPE and PMPE were lower than that of SPI. In particular, the fat absorption capacity of SMPE was significantly higher than those of SPI and PMPE, likely because of its higher content of hydrophobic or nonpolar amino acid residues. These results suggest that SMPE and PMPE are promising alternative protein sources for food applications and may promote value-added utilization of plant-derived by-products in the food industry.

In this study, conjugates were prepared via dry heat-induced glycosylation with maltodextrin (MD) to enhance the functional properties of sesame meal protein extract (SMPE). With the progress of conjugation, the specific protein bands of SMPE decreased and new bands appeared in the higher molecular weight range (approximately 170 kDa). The FT-IR spectra confirmed the structural modifications resulting from Maillard reaction-driven covalent bonding between SMPE and MD. The solubility and emulsifying properties—emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI)—of the conjugates showed little variation with dry-heat treatment time, but they were significantly influenced by the dextrose equivalent (DE) of MD. Solubility was highest when SMPE was conjugated with MD of DE 4–7 at both 12 h (19.38%) and 24 h (20.54%) and decreased as DE increased. Notably, the three-way ANOVA results showed that the emulsifying properties improved significantly with higher DE of MD. The EAI and ESI of SMPE conjugated with MD of DE 16.5–19.5 increased by 1.52- and 1.41-fold, respectively, when compared with the control SMPE. These findings suggest that the SMPE-MD conjugates have promising potential for applications in food systems that require enhanced emulsifying properties.

Background: During daily activities, stability is maintained to enhance the function of muscles surrounding the lumbopelvic and hip structures. The core muscles such as the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) responsible for this stability. One effective static exercise for strengthening these muscles is the plank. Objects: This study aimed to compare abdominal electromyographic activation when an unstable support surface was applied to the upper and lower extremities during a standard and a knee plank. Methods: A total of 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) participated in this study. Surface electromyography electrodes were placed on the RA, EO, and IO muscles. Data were collected under six conditions for males, including two plank postures (standard and knee planks) and three unstable surface conditions (a dynamic balance cushion applied to the upper extremities, lower extremities, or no cushion). Female participants performed only the knee plank. A mixed-effects model with a random intercept was used to analyze muscle activation across plank posture and surface position, with statistical significance set at α = 0.05. Results: In males, the standard plank elicited greater muscle activation than the knee plank across all muscles (p < 0.0001). Additionally, applying an unstable support surface to the upper extremities significantly increased muscle activation in both plank postures in EO and IO (p < 0.001). Other muscle, RA, was only affected by the unstable support surface in the standard plank position only. In females, the knee plank with upper limb instability resulted in the highest muscle activation for all muscles. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of surface instability in core muscle engagement. However, future studies should further investigate abdominal muscle activation with a more detailed analysis and the inclusion of a control group to enhance comparative validity.