This study investigates the phenomenon of task specialization in subterranean termites, focusing on their tunneling behavior. Termites, known for their complex social structure, allocate specific individuals for tunnel construction, rarely switching tasks. To explore this behavior, we developed a simulation model comparing termite groups with and without task shifts. While tunnel orientation showed no significant difference between the two tunnel pattern groups, the absence of task shifts resulted in larger tunnels, indicating enhanced foraging efficiency. This suggests that maintaining a consistent division of labor without task rotation benefits termite foraging. This study sheds light on the ecological advantages of task specialization in social insects, highlighting its role in foraging success and colony survival.

From an evolutionary perspective, it is speculated that termites have evolved to construct tunnels in a manner that optimizes search and transport efficiency. While numerous studies have focused on search efficiency, there has been limited research on transport efficiency due to the challenges associated with direct field observations. To address this challenge, we developed an individual-based model to simulate the transport process. Using the model, we examine the effects of several key variables on transport efficiency, Based on our results, we discuss potential strategies that termites might employ to optimize transport efficiency. In addition, we briefly discuss ways to improve the realism of the model.

This study investigated the influence of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and progesterone on acrosome reaction and proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition boar sperm. The sperm were diluted with semen extender and incubated with NaHCO3 and progesterone at 38℃, 5% CO2 for 6 h. Plasma membrane integrity and acrosome reaction were analyzed using SYBR14/propidium iodide (PI) and FITC-PNA/PI doubling staining method, and proportion of PUFA was analyzed using gas chromatography. In results, Plasma membrane integrity was significantly decreased in 50 mM NaHCO3 group and acrosome reaction was significantly increased by over the 100 mM NaHCO3 group compared to control group (p < 0.05). In addition, progesterone significantly increased decreased plasma membrane integrity at 100 mM progesterone and acrosome reaction at over the 5.0 µM progesterone (p < 0.05), but there was no difference among the 5.0 to 100 µM groups. PUFAs were significantly decreased in 100 mM NaHCO3 and 50 µM progesterone treatments compared to control group. In summary NaHCO3 and progesterone induce acrosome reaction and reduce PUFA composition in boar sperm, therefore, the results maybe help to understand basically knowledge for the acrosome reaction and PUFA composition in boar sperm.

The immunological sperm separation method is economical compared to the existing sorting method, and it is promising for the development of new technologies by reducing sperm damage. Wholemom (WM) is a sex-regulating protein that comprises on immunoglobulin G coupled with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that responds to surface proteins derived from the Y chromosome in cattle. Y sperms are restricted in motility as the WM aggregates them, and the magnet could separate the non-aggregated cells. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of WM treatment on the characteristics of bull sperm. After treating sperm with WM and incubation for 6 h, the motility parameters including total motility, progressive motility, velocity average path, velocity straight line, amplitude of lateral head displacement, and linearity were significantly higher in the WM treatment group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Sperm viability and acrosome reaction rates were similar in both groups during each incubation period (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the immunological sperm sexing procedure using a monoclonal antibody conjugated with MNPs did not affect the characteristics of bull sperm. This study suggests that compared to other techniques, the immunological method for sperm sexing could classify sperm quickly and efficiently without the use of expensive equipment.

최근 유기농산물에 대한 선호가 증가하고 있다. 유기농산물 생산에 있어 물리적 제초는 필수적이다. 하지만, 국내 밭 제초작업 기계화율은 60% 미만으로 낮으며, 농촌 인구의 고령화·여성화로 소형 제초기의 개발이 필요하다. 또한, 제초기의 경우 사용자가 반복적 진동에 노출되기 때문에 이를 절감할 수 있는 노력이 필요하나, 이에 대한 연구는 미흡한 실정이다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 여성·고령 농업인도 사용하기 편리한 전동 배부식 중경제초기를 개발하는 데 있어 수평 회전식 원판에 부착된 제초날의 형상(원형, 삼각형, 일자형) 및 폭(15, 20, 25mm)에 따른 제초성능 및 ISO5349-1에 따라 손에 전달되는 진동을 분석하였다. 제초율은 원형 제초날에서 90.4~96.4%로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 진동 또한 원형 제초날을 사용하였을 때 사용자의 10%가 수지백증이 발병하는데 걸리는 시간이 20년 내외로 삼각형 및 일자형 제초날을 사용했을 때 보다 200% 가량 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서, 원형 제초날을 사용하였을 때 진동을 감소시킬 수 있으며, 불필요한 반력을 줄여 높은 제초효과를 볼 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

인삼 뿌리썩음병균(Cylindrocarpon destructans)과 뿌리혹선충(Meloidogyne spp.)은 국내 인삼(panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) 연작장해의 주요인으로, 인삼 생산성 향상을 위해 방제가 필요하다. 본 연구는 새로 개발한 액제 훈증성 토양 소독제를 살포하며 동시에 비닐피복이 가능한 트랙터부착형 토양 소독기를 이용하여 dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)를 처리하였을 때, C. destructans와 뿌리혹선충의 방제효과를 분석하고, 시작기의 성능을 확인하기 위해 수행하였다. 토양 소독기를 이용하여 인삼 재배 포장에 DMDS를 처리한 후 비닐이 피복된 상태에서 5주간 훈증하였다. 토양 소독기의 성능은 약제 살포량 오차 2.5%, 작업능률 0.9h/10a로 40%의 노력절감 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 처리 전후 C. destructans 의 밀도를 분석한결과 82.5%의 밀도 억제 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 뿌리혹선충 방제효과는 100%로 나타났다. 따라서, 본 토양 소독기 시작기를 이용하여 능률적으로 DMDS를 처리할 수 있으며, C. destructans와 뿌리혹선충의 방제효과를 볼 수 있는 것으로 판단된다.

국내 감자 수확작업은 굴취기를 이용하여 감자를 굴취한 후 인력으로 수집하는 형태로 이루어지기 때문에 수집에 노동력이 많이 소요된다. 감자는 굴취 후 지면에서 장시간 노출 시 독성물질인 solanine 합성이 일어날 뿐만 아니라 변색되어 상품성이 떨어지게 된다. 따라서, 굴취에서 수집까지 동시작업이 가능한 수집형 감자 수확기의 개발이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 수집형 감자 수확기를 개발하고자 굴취, 이송, 이물질제거, 수집부로 구성된 굴취에서 수집까지 감자 수확 일관작업이 가능한 수집형 수확기 시작기의 작업속도에 따른 성능을 분석하였다. 시작기의 성능은 굴취율, 손실율, 손상율, 이물질혼입율, 작업능률 5가지 지표를 분석하였다. 3수준(0.2, 0.24, 0.28 m/s)의 작업속도에 따른 시작기의 성능을 분석한 결과 작업속도 0.24 m/s에서 굴취율 99.9%, 손상율 4.7%, 이물질혼입율 3%, 손실율 5%로서 성능이 가장 우수하게 나타났다. 작업속도 0.24 m/s에서 작업능률은 1.3 h/10a로 관행 수확 방식 대비 92.4%의 노동력 절감 효과가 나타났다.

In this study we present a new approach to estimating termite populations size. So far, termite researchers have been using the mark-capture-recapture method. This method has a disadvantage that measurement time is long and error range is large. To this end, we built an agent-based model to simulate termite tunneling behavior. Using this model, we made simulated tunnel patterns that are determined by three variables: the number of simulated termites (N), the passing probability of two encountering termites (P), and the distance that termites move soil parcels (D). To explore whether the N value can be estimated with a partial termite tunnel pattern, we generated four groups of tunnel patterns that are partially obscured in complete tunnel pattern image: (1) A pattern group in which the outer area of the tunnel pattern is obscured (I-pattern), (2) a pattern group in which half of the tunnel pattern is obscured (H-pattern), (3) a pattern group in which the inner region of the tunnel pattern is obscured (O-pattern), and (4) a pattern group combining I- and O-pattern (IO-pattern). For each group, 80% of the tunnel patterns were learned through a convolution neural network (CNN) and the remaining 20% of the patterns were used for estimating N value. The estimation results showed that the N estimates for the IO-pattern are the most accurate and are in the order I-, H-, and O-patterns. This means that the termite population size can be estimated based on tunnel information near the center of the colony.

This study was to investigate effect of tunicamycin (TM) on sperm viability, mitochondrial activity and motility in boar semen. Collected sperm were incubated with semen extender containing 0, 1, 2, and 5 μM TM for 3, 6 and 9 h. Sperm viability was analyzed using SYBR14/PI doubling staining, and mitochondrial activity was detected using Rhodamine123/PI staining methods. Sperm viability, mitochondrial activity and motility were measured every 3 h during incubation. In results, boar sperm viability, mitochondrial activity and motility were significantly decreased in 2 and 5 μM TM groups compare to control group at all incubation time (p<0.05). In addition, mitochondrial activity and motility were significantly decreased in 1, 2, and 5 μM TM groups compare to control group at 9 h after incubation (p<0.05). These results suggest that TM can inhibit sperm viability, mitochondrial activity and motility in boar semen, and it may influence on the fertility of sperm.

The aim of this study was to investigate change of plasminogen activators (PAs) and their inhibitors (PAIs) mRNA and protein expression level by heat stress in porcine endometrial cells. The endometrial epithelial cells were isolated from endometrial epithelium in porcine uterus and cultured in different temperature conditions (38.5 and 41.5℃) for 24 h. Expression of urokinase-type PA (uPA), tissue-type PA (tPA), PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and -2 (PAI-2) mRNA in epithelial cells were analyzed using reverse transcription-PCR and protein levels were measured by immunofluorescence. In result, mRNA expression of uPA, tPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 were decreased in 41.5℃ than 38.5℃ culture condition, however, significant differences were no detected. uPA, tPA and PAI-2 protein were mainly expressed in nucleus, whereas PAI-1 was distributed in cytoplasm and nucleus. uPA and tPA protein levels were increased by heat stress treatment and significant difference was only detected in tPA level (p<0.05). In contrast, two types of PAIs protein level were decreased in 41.5℃ cultured group compared with 38.5℃ group. In present study, tPA protein expression was upregulated by heat stress in porcine endometrial cells. This result suggest that change of tPA by heat stress may be related to blood flow into uterus and intrauterine microenvironments, and could directly and indirectly influence to reproductive performance in pigs.

본 연구는 커피를 마시는 대학생들이 커피음용 행동의 의미에 대해 어떻게 지각하고 있는지를 알아보기 위해 수행되 었다. 이를 위해 대학생 15명을 연구 참가자로 선정하여 커피음용 행동의 의미에 대한 아이디어를 산출하고, 그 내용을 바탕으로 69개의 진술문을 도출해냈다. 이후 다차원 척도 분석과 위계적 군집분석을 사용하여 개념도분석을 실시하여 참가자들의 개념적 구조를 확인하였다. 그 결과 대학생들이 지각하는 커피 음용 행동의 의미에 대한 구성 요인으로 7개의 군집이 도출되었다. 각 군집은 ‘개인이 원하는 신체적 효과를 얻기 위한 방법’, ‘사교 활동의 수단’, ‘심리적 위안을 얻기 위한 방법’, ‘공간 활용 및 사적인 시간을 보내기 위한 음용’, ‘습관적 음용 및 카페인의 효과 이용’, ‘커피만의 다양한 특성과 매력을 즐김’, ‘커피의 도시적이고 고급스러운 이미지 선호’로 나타났다. 또한 각 군집을 분류하는 두 가지 차원을 알아본 결과, 커피 내적고려-커피 외적고려 차원과 정서적 요인-물리적 요인의 두 차원을 확인할 수 있었다. 한편 군집별 중요도를 살펴본 결과, 대학생이 커피음용의 행동의 의미로 가장 중요하게 생각하는 요인은 ‘공간 활용 및 사적인 시간을 보내기 위한 음용’으로 나타났다. 마지막으로 연구의 의의 및 후속연구를 위한 제한점을 제시하였다.

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of α-linolenic acid (ALA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) on viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial intact in frozen-thawed boar sperm. The boar semen was collected by gloved-hand method and cryopreserved using freezing extender containing 3 ng/mL ALA and/or 20 μg/mL BSA. Cryopreserved boar sperms were thawed in 37°C water-bath for 45 sec to analysis. Viability, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial intact were analyzed using flow cytometry. In results, viability of frozen-thawed boar sperm was significantly higher in only ALA+BSA supplement group than control group (p<0.05), whereas there was no difference either in ALA or BSA supplement. However, acrosome reacted sperm in both of live and all sperm population were significantly decreased in all treatment groups than control (p<0.05). Interestingly, mitochondrial intact of boar sperm was enhanced in ALA and ALA+BSA groups compared with control (p<0.05). In this study, we showed that supplementation of ALA and BSA in freezing extender enhanced the sperm viability, mitochondrial intact and decrease acrosomal membrane damage. In conclusion, our findings suggest that quality of frozen-thawed sperm in mammalians could improve by using of ALA and BSA.

The objective of this study was to investigate to influence of glutathione (GSH) on development and antioxidant enzyme activity in tetraploid porcine embryos. Tetraploid embryos were produced using parthenogenetic 2-cell embryo by electrofusion method. Tetraploid embryo development was observed every 24 hours and intracellular antioxidant enzyme activity was measured at 120 hours after electrofusion. The 4-cell to 16-cell stage tetraploid embryos was increased in 100 and 500 μM GSH-treated groups compared control group at 48 hours (P < 0.05) but cleavage rates were not significantly different among the GSH treatment groups at 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. Blastocyst formation was significantly increased by 300 and 500 μM GSH at 120 hours in tetraploid embryos (P < 0.05). But blastocyst cell number were not significantly different among the GSH treatment groups (16.4 ± 0.8, 16.8 ± 2.6, 18.5 ± 2.8 and 17.5 ± 1.8). The intracellular antioxidant enzyme level was increased in 500 μM GSH compared to 0 and 100 μM GSH (P < 0.05). We suggest that GSH may be improve development of tetraploid embryo in pigs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of uterine histotroph on embryo development and the expression of cysteine-rich protein 2 (CRP2), coatomer subunit gamma-2 (G2COP), myoglobin (MYG), vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGFD), collagen alpha 4 chain (COL4) and galactoside 3-L-fucosyltransferase 4 (FUT4) proteins in porcine embryo during pre-implantation. Uterine histotroph (UH) was collected from uterine horn on corpus albican phase, and embryos were cultured in porcine zygote medium with UH for 168 hours. Cleavage and blastocyst formation of embryo were detected at 168 hours after in vitro fertilization. And CRP2, G2COP, MYG, VEGFD, COL4 and FUT4 proteins were observed using confocal laser microscope. In results, embryo cleavage rate was not significantly changed by UH, but blastocyst rate was significantly (P<0.05) decreased in UH-treated embryos. Moreover, CRP2, G2COP, MYG, VEGFD, COL4 and FUT4 proteins were expressed in blastomere. CRP2 in embryo was significantly overexpressed (P<0.05), but not G2COP, MYG, VEGFD, COL4 and FUT4 proteins. In summary, UH on corpus albican phase was increased CRP2 protein in embryo, and inhibited blastocyst formation in preimplantation porcine embryos, suggesting that CRP2 may play an interrupter on embryo development in pigs.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of taurine and vitamin E on ovarian granulosa cells damaged by bromopropane (BP) in pigs. We evaluated cell viability, plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and apoptotic morphological change in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. The cells were treated with 1-BP (0, 5.0, 10, and 50 μM), 2-BP (0, 5.0, 10, and 50 mM), taurine (0, 5.0, 10, and 25 mM), and vitamin E (0, 100, 200, and 400 μM) for 24 h. 10 μM 1-BP and 50 μM 2-BP inhibited viability and PMI, and induced apoptosis in porcine ovarian granulosa cells (p < 0.05). Cell viability and PMI were increased by taurine (10 and 25 mM) and vitamin E (100 and 200 μM), and apoptosis decreased (p < 0.05). Finally, the porcine ovarian granulosa cells were co-treated with BPs (10 μM), taurine (10 mM) and/or vitamin E (200 μM). Cell viability and PMI in the co-treated cells were increased, and apoptosis was decreased. In conclusion, taurine and vitamin E can improve cell viability and inhibition of apoptosis in porcine ovarian granulosa cells damaged by bromopropane.

This research was performed to confirm the four emotional eating types and examine the differences in BMI, ego resilience, and the level of college adaptation among those types. The total of 485 Korean college students (male 249, female 236) participated in this study. The main results were as follows, First, the emotional eating types were divided into four types based on positive emotional eating and negative emotional eating, and the type of more - eating with positive emotion and less? eating with negative emotion was the largest one among all the types. Second, there were no significant distinctions on frequency between emotional eating types and BMI. Third, individuals with less - eating for both positive and negative emotions showed the highest ego resilience level, whereas those with more - eating for both positive and negative emotions showed the lowest. Fourth, individuals with less - eating for both positive and negative emotions showed the highest score in the level of adaptation in college whereas those with more - eating for negative emotion and less - eating for positive emotion showed the lowest. Limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of α-linolenic acid (ALA) on viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial intact in frozen-thawed boar sperm. The boar semen was collected by gloved-hand method and cryopreserved in 20% egg yolk freezing extender containing ALA (0, 3, 5, and 10 ng/mL) with 0.05% ethanol. The frozen-boar spermatozoa were thawed at 37.5°C for 45 sec in water-bath. The spermatozoa samples were evaluated the plasma membrane integrity, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial integrity using flow cytometry. In results, population of live sperm with intact plasma membrane was significantly higher in control and 3 ng/mL ALA treatment group than ethanol group (p<0.05). In contract, dying sperms were higher in ethanol group than 3 ng/mL ALA treatment (p<0.05). Acrosomal membrane damage in all sperm population was reduced in 3 ng/mL ALA groups compared with ethanol treatment (p<0.05). However, acrosome damage in live sperm population was no significant difference among the all treatment groups. Mitochondrial integrity was not influenced by ALA treatments in both of live and all sperm population. In conclusion, this results show that supplement of ALA during the cryopreservation process could reduce the membrane damages including plasma and acrosomal membrane, whereas ALA did not influence to mitochondria in boar spermatozoa. Therefore, these results suggest that ALA can protect against the membrane damage derived cryo-stress, and cryopreservation efficiency of boar semen would be improved by use of ALA.

This study investigated the effects of L-carnitine (LC) and nicotinic acid (NA) on sperm viability during liquid storage at 18℃ in miniature pigs. 10 μM LC and 30 mM NA, combined LC and NA (LN) were treated in fresh semen for 3, 7, and 10 days. In results, sperm survival increased in NA- and LN-treated semen on 7 and 10 days (p<0.05), mitochondrial integrity of live sperm increased in LN-treated semen on 7 days (p<0.05), but not NA-treated semen. In addition, we examined the acrosome reaction of sperm in miniature pigs. LC and NA did not influence on acrosome reaction of boar sperm. In conclusion, LC and NA effectively maintained the viability and quality of sperm during long-term storage in miniature pigs, suggesting that the combined LN may be useful for improving the semen extender for long-term liquid storage in pigs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of nicotinic acid during in vitro fertilization (IVF) in frozen-thawed bull sperm . The ejaculated semen was diluted with Triladyl containing 20% egg-yolk and cryopreserved in liquid notrigen. The frozen sperm was thawed for 45 seconds in the 38℃ water bath. Sperm was diluted with IVF medium (Bovine-Oviduct medium; BO) containing 0, 15, 30 and 60 mM nicotinic acid (NA), which were incubated at 39℃, 5% CO2 for 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4h. The characteristics of frozen-thawed sperm were estimated with SYBR14/PI double staining for viability, FITC-PNA/PI for outer acrosomal membrane damage and Rhodamine123/PI for mitochondrial integrity using flow cytometry. And the sperm ability was analysed by Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) staining for acrosome reaction state and Rose bengal staining for abnormality. Acrosome reaction and abnormality were analyzed using a microscope. In results, sperm viability was significantly higer in 30 mM group than 0 and 15 mM groups at 1 and 2 h (p<0.05). Outer acrosomal membrane damage was significantly lower in 30 mM group than 0 and 15 mM groups at 1, 2 and 4 h (p<0.05). And mitochondrial integrity was significantly higher in 30 mM group than 0 and 15 mM groups at 2 and 4 h (p<0.05). Also, acrosome reaction was significantly lower in 30 mM than 0 and 15 mM groups at 1 and 2 h (p<0.05) and abnormality was lower NA groups than 0 group at 1 h (p<0.05). In couclusion, we suggest that using the thawing medium containing NA for sperm dilution can be benefical for IVF in bulls

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of sperm cryosurvival in boar sperm separated by Percoll containing antioxidant enzymes. The boar semen was collected into a pre-warmed (37℃) thermos bottle by gloved-hand method and was separated by 65% Percoll with superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) before freezing. The frozen sperm was thawed at 38.5℃ for 45 sec in water-bath for sperm characteristic analysis. The sperm were estimated with SYBR14/PI double staining for viability, FITC-PNA/PI double staining for acrosome reaction, Rhodamine123/PI double staining for mitochondrial integrity and were analyzed using flow cytometry. In results, sperm viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial integrity were improved in separated sperm groups compared with unseparated sperm by Percoll (UP) group. Especially, viability was significantly higher in sperm separated by Percoll containing 400 IU CAT group compared with other groups (P<0.05). And acrosome reaction was decreased in sperm separated by Percoll with 300 IU SOD, 400 IU CAT and 0.5 mM GSH groups compared with other groups, however, there were no significantly difference mitochondrial integrity among sperm separated by Percoll with antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, we suggest that use of Percoll containing antioxidant enzymes for sperm separation will be beneficial for sperm cryopreservation in pigs.