이 연구에서는 Inception V3, SqueezeNet(local), VGG-16, Painters 및 DeepLoc의 다섯 가지 인공지능(AI) 모 델을 사용하여 차나무 잎의 병해를 분류하였다. 여덟 가지 이미지 카테고리를 사용하였는데, healthy, algal leaf spot, anthracnose, bird’s eye spot, brown blight, gray blight, red leaf spot, and white spot였다. 이 연구에서 사용한 소프트웨 어는 데이터 시각적 프로그래밍을 위한 파이썬 라이브러리로 작동하는 Orange3였다. 이는 데이터를 시각적으로 조작하여 분석하기 위한 워크플로를 생성하는 인터페이스를 통해 작동되었다. 각 AI 모델의 정확도로 최적의 AI 모 델을 선택하였다. 모든 모델은 Adam 최적화, ReLU 활성화 함수, 은닉 레이어에 100개의 뉴런, 신경망의 최대 반복 횟수가 200회, 그리고 0.0001 정규화를 사용하여 훈련되었다. Orange3 기능을 확장하기 위해 새로운 이미지 분석 Add-on을 설치하였다. 훈련 모델에서는 이미지 가져오기(import image), 이미지 임베딩(image embedding), 신경망 (neural network), 테스트 및 점수(test and score), 혼동 행렬(confusion matrix) 위젯이 사용되었으며, 예측에는 이미 지 가져오기(import image), 이미지 임베딩(image embedding), 예측(prediction) 및 이미지 뷰어(image viewer) 위젯 이 사용되었다. 다섯 AI 모델[Inception V3, SqueezeNet(로컬), VGG-16, Painters 및 DeepLoc]의 신경망 정밀도는 각 각 0.807, 0.901, 0.780, 0.800 및 0.771이었다. 결론적으로 SqueezeNet(local) 모델이 차나무 잎 이미지를 사용하여 차 병해 탐색을 위한 최적 AI 모델로 선택되었으며, 정확도와 혼동 행렬을 통해 뛰어난 성능을 보였다.

매년 국내로 비래해 오는 해충인 벼멸구는 그 기원이 중국 또는 중국 남부일 것으로 예상해왔으나, 이에 대한 유전학적 근거는 Mun et al. (1999)에 의해 제시된 세 가지 COI haplotype 비교가 유일하다. Mun et al. (1999)은 국내에 서 확인된 두 가지 haplotype 유형이 인도차이나반도 이남의 균일한 한 가지 haplotype 집단 유형과 중국에서 확인 된 또 다른 haplotype 집단 유형임을 근거로 국내 벼멸구의 기원을 중국으로 특정한 바 있다. 본 연구는 국내 및 동남아시아 5개국(부탄, 미얀마, 캄보디아, 라오스 및 태국)으로부터 직간접적으로 확보한 개체들을 대상으로 GBS (genotyping by sequencing) 및 NGS 기법을 통해 PCA를 포함한 다양한 집단유전학적 분석을 수행하였다. 그 결과 인도차이나반도의 벼멸구 집단은 크게 북부와 남부로 나뉘며, 국내 개체들은 북부에 비해 남부(캄보디 아, 태국)에 더 가깝다는 사실을 확인하였다. 따라서 벼멸구의 국내 비래는 중국으로부터의 기원 이전에 장마전 선이 형성될 무렵부터 인도차이나반도 남쪽의 고온다습한 서풍이 남남서풍으로 바뀌면서 중국 내륙을 거쳐 국내로 비래하는 경로를 따르는 것으로 보인다. 하지만 태안의 개체 중에는 인도차이나반도 집단들의 외군으로 확인되는 개체가 있었고, 이는 인도차이나반도 외의 샘플링되지 않은 다른 지역에서도 벼멸구가 국내로 비래할 수 있다는 가능성을 제시하였다. 따라서 국내로 유입되는 벼멸구의 유전적 기원을 확인하기 위해서는 인도차이 나반도 남쪽 지역에서 시작한 동아시아 여름 몬순의 바람이 한국으로 도착하는 경로에 위치한 다른 지역에서의 추가적인 샘플링 및 지속적인 관심과 추적이 필요할 것이다.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanovesicles that carry bioactive cargoes of proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs between living cells. Their role in cellular communication has gained the attention of several research reports globally in the last decade. EVs are critically involved in sperm functions, oocyte functions, fertilization, embryonic development, and pregnancy. The review summarizes the state-of-theart of EVs research in the diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) potentials of the EVs during the pregnancy that might provide a solution for gestational disturbances such as implantation failure, maternal health problems, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. EVs can be found in all biological fluids of the fetus and the mother and would provide a non-invasive and excellent tool for diagnostic purposes. Moreover, we provide the current efforts in manufacturing and designing targeted therapeutics using synthetic and semi-synthetic nanovesicles mimicking the natural EVs for efficient drug delivery during pregnancy.

Numerous studies have addressed the commercial viability of lithium–air batteries (LABs). However, the high reactivity of Li with air moisture and CO2 has hindered the broad applicability of LABs. In this study, lithium-protective hybrid lithium–air batteries (HLABs) were fabricated with Super P (SP) and composites of fluorinated carbon ( CFx), MoS2, and WS2 as the cathodes. Subsequently, their potential use as a power source for the next generation of defense technologies was investigated. It was observed that a single cell HLAB with the SP-CFx composite cathode exhibited a specific capacity of 893 mAhg− 1 cathode. In comparison, a Tomcell with the SP cathode demonstrated a specific capacity of 465 mAhg− 1 cathode when discharged. The cells with SP-MoS2 and SP-WS2 cathode yielded specific capacities of 357 and 386 mAhg− 1 cathode, respectively. The improved performance of the SP-CFx cell can be attributed to synergistic effects of lithium–air cell and lithium battery reactions between CFx and SP. To assess all functionalities of the SP-CFx HLAB, lithium-protective HLABs were fabricated and discharged in air. To operate the lithium–air battery in air, pure lithium metal was sealed with solid electrodes (lithium-ion conducting glass–ceramics (LICGC)) and a buffer electrolyte (1 M LiFTSI in TEGDME) was applied. The SP-CFx cell was discharged for 25 days in air, greatly exceeding the 72 h requirement for the next-generation soldier power systems. These results demonstrate significant potential for HLABs to be used as a pioneering power source in nextgeneration energy-independent tactical defense units.

Bryopsis africana and Pyropia kinositae are reported for the first time on the list of Korean marine algal flora based on integrated morphological-molecular study. Bryopsis africana from Korea is recognized with distinct main axes, robust thalli, pinnately and radially branched above, and basally denuded. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that B. africana was placed within a clade of Bryopsis. Bryopsis africana differs from B. corymbosa by 2.7% gene sequence divergence. Pyropia kinositae is characterized by oblong to lanceolate thalli, entire margin, purplish red in color, twice as long as broad cells in transversal section view. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. kinositae was placed within a clade of Pyropia. Pyropia kinositae differs from P. tenera by 1.5-1.8%, P. ishigecola by 1.2-1.3%, and P. yezoensis by 1.5-1.8% gene sequence divergence respectively.

Detailed morphological studies and molecular analyses based on plastid-encoded rbcL gene sequences were undertaken on Peyssonnelia species, a poorly known genus from Korea. We report new records for the Korean coast, Peyssonnelia harveyana and P. rumoiana. Peyssonnelia harveyana is chiefly characterized by P. rubra-type anatomy, closely packed perithallial filaments in firm matrix, hypothallial filaments arranged in parallel rows, thalli with appressed margins, hypobasal calcification, and unicellular rhizoids. Peyssonnelia rumoiana is principally characterized by two vegetative features, hypothallial filaments arranged in a polyflabellate layer, and perithallial filaments arising from the whole upper surface of each hypothallial cell (Peyssonnelia rubra-type anatomy). Our rbcL analyses revealed that P. harveynana and P. rumoiana were placed within a clade of Peyssonnelia. We also propose the new combination, Sonderophycus cauliferus comb. nov., for previous Peyssonnelia caulifera. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that our S. cauliferus was placed within a clade of Sonderophycus.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (aLA) as an antioxidant that decrease the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bovine embryonic development. Slaughterhouse derived bovine immature oocytes were collected and 4 different concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 20 mM) of aLA was supplemented in bovine in Vitro maturation (IVM) medium. After 20 hrs of IVM, maturation rates, levels of ROS and glutathione (GSH), and further embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and in Vitro fertilization (IVF) was investigated according to aLA concentrations. Maturation rate was significantly higher in 10 mM group than other groups (80.5% vs. 62.9, 73.9, 64.2%; P<0.05). In the levels of ROS and GSH in matured oocytes as an indicator of oocyte quality, significantly better results were shown in 5 and 10 mM groups compared with other 2 groups. After IVM, significantly higher rates of blastocyst formation were shown in 10 mM groups in both of PA (27.9% vs. 18.8, 22.3, 14.2%; P<0.05) and IVF (32.6% vs. 23.9, 27.3, 16.2%; P<0.05) embryos. In addition, significantly more cell total cell number and higher inner cell mass ratio in 10 mM PA and IVP blastocysts showed developmental competence in 10 uM groups. Therefore, based on the entire data from this study, using 10 μM of aLA confirmed to be the optimal concentration for bovine oocyte maturation and embryonic development.

This study aims to survey current chicken industry and the status of technology based on the KAFACI project on the promotion of good management for increased productivity of market oriented small scale chicken producers in Nigeria. The agricultural sector has been identified as a virile sector with varieties of opportunities for the much sought diversification of revenue base and employment generation in Nigeria despite the dominance of smallholder farmers. The chicken enterprise has being a component of the livestock industry showing increasing importance. Growing entrepreneurships for sustainable growth of the industry requires investigating the prevailing environment in market-oriented chicken production in Southwest Nigeria. This study investigated the production practices, constraints of market oriented smallholder chicken farmers. Data were generated through farm survey of 240 farmers selected by multi-stage sampling techniques from 5 out of 6 states in the Southwest. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study shows a population of famers dominated by male 76.7% and average year of education of 13.88years. Foundation stock of birds are prominently sourced from commercial hatcheries (75.8%) and reared under intensive management system (87.8%). Majority of the farmers (46.7%) are into rearing of layers, broilers and cockerels with an average stock size of 449, 157 and 158 birds respectively. Birds are fed twice daily (74.8%) on compounded ration by 95.4% of the farmers. Major production constraints are high feed cost (32.1%), shortage of capital (30.0%) and poor access to market (25.4%). However, 96.7% of the farmers considered the enterprise profitable.

Will information from astroturf organizations affect people’s trust toward overall nonprofit organizations and willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors? Astroturf organizations are defined as “fake grassroots organizations animated by a clever public relations campaign and a huge budget” (Hoggan and Littlemore 2009). In other words, an astroturf organization hides its true identity by using rhetorical language to convince the public. It can be inferred that large corporations sponsor astroturf organizations to employ deceptive and fraudulent tactics as propaganda. Prior research on astroturf organizations for climate change shows that people exposed to information from astroturf organizations denying global warming tend to become more uncertain about climate issues (e.g., causes of global warming or the existence of global warming) than people exposed to information from grassroots organizations (Cho et al. 2011). We propose that information from astroturf organizations may affect not only relevant issues or organizations, but also nonprofit organizations in general, which can then lower people's willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors (e.g., donations and volunteering). Darke and Ritchie (2007) found that deceptive advertisements engender distrust and undermine the trustworthiness of subsequent advertising. The process of defensive stereotyping can explain how initial deception activates general skepticism regarding advertising. Based on such an explanation, we suggest that exposure to astroturf organizations can make consumers more logically defensive and can decrease their trust toward messages from other nonprofit organizations. Therefore, we hypothesize that people who read messages from astroturf organizations will be more distrustful toward nonprofit organizations and will display lower willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors than people who read messages from grassroots organizations. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an experiment. We used a one-factor design with two levels of organization types (astroturf vs. grassroots). Participants (N = 72) were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions. Participants were told that they would read a message captured from a website of an organization (astroturf vs. grassroots) working on global warming. After viewing the advertisement, participants completed a questionnaire measuring their trust toward nonprofit organizations in general and willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors. We assessed whether viewing the advertisement from the astroturf organization had an impact on participants' trust toward nonprofit organizations and their willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors. An analysis of variance (ANOVA), with trust toward nonprofit organizations as the dependent variable and the type of organization as the independent variable, yielded a significant effect (F = 4.38, p < .05). The results showed that participants who viewed the advertisement from the astroturf organization were more likely to be distrustful of nonprofit organizations than those who viewed the advertisement from the grassroots organization (Mastroturf = 4.14, SD = 1.48 vs. Mgrassroots = 4.80, SD = 1.16). Thus, astroturf organizations may not only confuse people about a specific issue that the respective astroturf organizations aimed to attack, but they can also significantly weaken people's trust toward nonprofit organizations in general, which suggests severe detriment for the entire society. In addition, exposure to the message from an astroturf organization appeared to have an impact on people's willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors (F = 4.77, p < .05). To be specific, people who viewed the advertisement from the astroturf organization indicated that they were less likely to engage in prosocial behaviors, compared to those who viewed the advertisement from the grassroots organization (Mastroturf = 3.11, SD = .63 vs. Mgrassroots = 3.48, SD = .77). Taken as a whole, this research suggests that messages from astroturf organizations can frequently engender people’s distrust toward nonprofit organizations and can lower their willingness to engage in prosocial behaviors. Our results extend prior research demonstrating that information from astroturf organizations affects people’s trust and certainty levels regarding one specific issue (Cho et al. 2011) and suggest that the effects of exposure to astroturf messages are not limited to a specific issue. Rather, the effects can be far-reaching and diverse, since such messages can evoke skepticism toward benign intentions and programs of nonprofit organizations. Given that the insidious use of astroturf organizations is growing in popularity, this research provides meaningful insights into the influence of fake grassroots organizations and can forewarn the public of their undesirable effects on the community.