Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., IRG) is a widely cultivated winter forage crop known for its high yield and nutritional value. This study evaluated the processing characteristics and feeding performance of IRG-based pellets in Hanwoo cattle (Bos taurus coreanae) and Korean native black goats (Capra hircus). IRG was harvested at the optimal growth stage and processed into two pellet formulations: IRG ≥80% (with up to 20% soybean meal) and 100% IRG. Feeding trials were conducted under ad libitum feeding conditions. Hanwoo cattle showed higher intake of 100% IRG pellets (7.9 kg/day/head) than IRG ≥80% pellets (7.5 kg/day/head, p<0.05), with similar average daily gain (0.9 ± 0.4 kg/day/head). Conversely, black goats exhibited significantly lower intake of IRG ≥80% pellets (54.6 g/day/head) compared to 100% IRG pellets (266 g/day/head), likely due to reduced palatability associated with soybean meal inclusion. These findings suggest that IRG pellets are suitable for Hanwoo cattle, while further optimization of pellet size and formulation is required to improve acceptance in goats. Future studies should assess long-term impacts on digestion, rumen fermentation, and metabolic responses.

This study quantitatively assessed the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on the suitability zones and dry matter yield (DMY) of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Korea. Baseline climate (2006–2015) and recent climate (2021–2023) conditions were compared using national meteorological and crop yield data. A significant decrease in total annual precipitation (−84.3 mm, p<0.001) was observed, while winter minimum temperatures showed a slight but statistically insignificant increase (+0.27°C, p = 0.111). Suitability zone classification based on agro-climatic zoning indicated regional shifts, particularly a decrease in the best suitable zones in 2021 and partial recovery by 2023. Dry matter yield increased by 31.6% in central Korea due to improved winter survival under warmer conditions, while southern Korea experienced a 9.4% yield reduction in response to a severe spring drought in 2022. Pearson correlation analysis showed a moderate positive but non-significant relationship between precipitation and yield (r = 0.518, p = 0.292), and multiple linear regression explained 97.9% of yield variation (R² = 0.979). Precipitation had a stronger explanatory effect than temperature, suggesting that water availability is a more critical factor for forage productivity. These findings provide scientific evidence of regional climate sensitivity and support future data-driven cultivation planning.

Though Farnesiferol C (FC) derived from Ferula asafoetida is known to have antiangiogenic and apoptotic effect in gastric, breast, nonsmall lung cancers, the underlying antitumor mechanism of FC is not fully understood so far. Hence, in the current study, apoptotic mechanism of FC was explored in colon cancers in association with carbon catabolite repression 4-negative on TATA-less 2 (CNOT2)/c-Myc signaling. Herein FC significantly increased cytotoxicity and reduced the number of colonies in HCT116 cells more effectively than in SW480 cells, though FC enhanced sub-G1 cell population in HCT116 and SW480 cells compared to untreated control. Consistently, FC activated the cleavages of Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and Bax and attenuated the expression of pro-PARP and Cyclin D1 in HCT116 cells better than SW480 cells. Also, FC significantly reduced the expression of CNOT2 and c-Myc. Also, FC reduced of c-Myc stability in HCT116 cells by cycloheximide assay. Notably, CNOT2 depletion reduced the expression of c-Myc, while c-Myc depletion also attenuated the expression of CNOT2 in HCT116 cells, implying the crosstalk between CNOT2 and c-Myc. Furthermore, overexpression of c-Myc or CNOT2 promoted the expression of pro-PARP in HCT116 cells. Overall, these findings suggest that FC induces apoptosis via inhibition of CNOT2 and c-Myc in colon cancers for a potent anticancer candidate for further agriculture cultivation in Korea.

Climatic change affects agricultural, environmental and livestock production. Forage productivity is highly dependent on the weather change. The Pyeongchang region has more difficulty in cultivation of Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids (SSH) than other warm regions because of the cold weather. This experiment was carried out to analysis the agronomic characteristics, productivity, and nutritive value of three cultivars of Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids in the Pyeongchang region from 2021 to 2022. Two harvests were taken in each year, and the agronomic characteristics, dry matter yield, and nutrient content of the whole SSH crops were determined. The plant height ranged between 281-291 cm and 165-172 cm in the first and second harvest, respectively. Plant height of Superdan (291±49 cm) was the highest in the first cut and Dairy mens Dream (172±30 cm) was the highest in the second cut time. Stem diameter ranged from 9.5 to 8.8 mm with Superdan having a higher level than the other two cultivars. The Dairy mens Dream variety produced significantly higher dry matter yield (15,695 kg/ha) than those of Superdan (14,584 kg/ha) and Supergreen (14,300 kg/ha) over a two-year experimental period. In terms of nutritional quality, the crude protein content, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of SSH cultivars were analysed. There were no significant changes in the content of CP, ADF and NDF ranges among the cultivars. In addition, the Superdan cultivar had slightly higher CP content (10.17%) and was followed by Dairy mens Dream (9.84%) and Supergreen (9.54%) in the second cut time of 2-year average. Dairy mens dream had lower ADF and NDF values than other cultivars; however, no significant differences amongst cultivars in fiber content were observed. Therefore, these three cultivars displayed the potential growth characteristics, DM yield and nutritive values in Pyeongchang region. Hence, the SSH cultivars have a potential to withstand the climatic change and improve SSH productivity in the study area.

목적 : 본 연구는 세륨(IV)-지르코늄(IV) 산화물 나노입자를 사용하여 콘택트렌즈를 제조한 후, 안의료용 기능성 렌즈로의 사용 가능을 확인 위해 제조된 렌즈의 물성을 비교 분석하였다. 방법 : 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate에 나노 세륨-지르코늄 산화물(cerium(IV)-zirconium(IV) oxide)을 첨가하여 공중합 한 후 물성을 측정하고, 친수성 단량체인 methacrylic acid(MA)를 추가로 첨가하여 물성을 측정, 비교하였다. 결과 : 다양한 비율의 세륨(IV)-지르코늄(IV) 산화물 나노입자와 MA를 첨가한 렌즈의 물성을 평가한 결과, UV-B 투과율은 40.95~66.26%, 굴절률 1.4163~1.4357, 함수율 37.44~47.18%, 접촉각 36.87~56.36°, 인장 강도 0.0612~0.561 kgf/mm², 표면거칠기 7.70~8.72 nm로 각각 측정되었다. 나노입자 및 MA 첨가는 습윤성, 인장강도 및 중합안정성을 향상시키고, UV-B 투과율과 표면거칠기를 감소시켰으며, 황색포도상구균에 대한 항균 성이 확인되었다. 결론 : 세륨(IV)-지르코늄(IV) 산화물 나노입자에 MA를 첨가하여 제조한 렌즈가 중합 안정성, 내구성, 습윤성 을 향상시키는 것을 확인하였으며, 따라서 안의료용 기능성 콘택트렌즈 소재로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Being in a stable continental region (SCR) with a limited history of instrumentation, South Korea has not collected sufficient instrumental data for data-driven ground motion models. To address this limitation, we investigated the suitability of the hybrid ground motion simulation method that Graves and Pitarka (2010, 2015) proposed for simulating earthquake ground motions in South Korea. The hybrid ground motion simulation method used in this study relies on region-specific parameters to accurately model phenomena associated with the seismic source and the wave propagation. We initially employed relevant models and parameters available in the literature as a practical approach. We incorporated a three-dimensional velocity model developed by Kim et al. (2017) and a one-dimensional velocity model presented by Kim et al. (2011) to account for the crustal velocity structure of the Korean peninsula. To represent the earthquake source, we utilized Graves and Pitarka’s rupture generator algorithm along with a magnitude-area scaling relationship developed for SCR by Leonard (2014). Additionally, we assumed the stress and attenuation parameters based on studies of regional seismicity. Using the implemented platform, we simulated the 2016 Mw5.57 Gyeongju earthquake and the 2017 Mw5.4 Pohang earthquake. Subsequently, we compared results with recorded accelerations and an empirical ground motion prediction equation at strong motion stations. Our simulations had an overall satisfactory agreement with the recorded ground motions and demonstrated the potential of broadband hybrid ground motion simulation for engineering applications in South Korea. However, limitations remain, such as the underestimation of long-period ground motions during the 2017 Pohang earthquake and the lack of a model to predict the ground motion amplification associated with the near-surface site response accurately. These limitations underscore the importance of careful validation and refinement of region-specific models and parameters for practically implementing the simulation method.

Forage crop cultivation and management are the greatest challenge under warm and dry climatic conditions. In this study, we estimated the productivity of three Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids (SSH) cultivars in Cheonan, Korea, under different weather conditions during 2021-2023. The selected three cultivars performed well in the first and second cutting time during the experimental period and the plant growth characteristics were slightly different among cultivars. Particularly, the plant height was highest in Superdan cultivars (282 ± 24, 271 ± 30 cm), followed by Dairy mens dream (263 ± 39, 283 ± 29 cm) and Supergreen (270 ± 36, 264 ± 34 cm), for the first and second cuts respectively. The stem diameter slightly decreased in the second cut compared with the first cut of SSH cultivars. The highest stem diameter was found in Superdan cultivars (11.1 ± 1.7 mm), greater than Supergreen (10.2 ± 1.7 mm), and Dairy mens dream (9.5 ± 1.8 mm). Also, the total dry matter yield (DMY) was highest in Dairy mens dream (28,868 ± 6,653 kg/ha) followed by Supergreen and Superdan cultivars. In 2021 and 2023, the highest plant height, stem diameter and DMY were measured in the selected cultivars compared to 2022. The crude protein level was higher in the first cutting of all three cultivars at approximately 9-12%, in the order of Supergreen > Dairy mens dream > Superdan varieties. Moreover, the crude protein content was lowest in the second harvest of all cultivars, but the NDF and ADF levels did not alter in both harvest periods across different cultivars and years. In conclusion, the selected cultivars for SSH forage production could be efficient and recommended in the Cheonan region. However, the choice of cutting time and optimum precipitation should be considered to further increase SSH forage cultivation.

이 연구의 목적은 척추 자기공명영상 검사 시 기존의 포화 펄스와 함께 호흡 유도하(respiratory triggering, RTr) 기법을 적용하는 것이 영상화질 개선에 있어 효과적인지를 평가해 보기 위함이다. 이에 본 연구는 2024년 2월부터 2024년 10월까지 척추 MRI 검사를 받은 환자를 대상으로 분석하였다. 사용된 장비는 GE 사의 3.0T SIGNA Premier을 사용하였고, 축상 T2강조영상에서 동일한 부위를 RTr 기법을 적용하지 않은 영상과 RTr 기법을 적용한 영상 두 개를 획득해 평가하였다. 정성평가는 2명의 평가자의 평가점수를 Wilcoxon test로 비교하였다. 정성평가 결과, 경추와 요추에서는 RTr 기법 적용 시 영상화질 개선에 있어서 유의미한 차이를 보이지는 않았지만 흉추에서는 RTr 기법 적용 시 영상화질 개선에 있어서 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 결론적으로 경추와 요추보다는 포화펄스 사용에 있어 제한이 있고 호흡에 영향을 많이 받는 흉추 MRI 검사 시 RTr 기법을 적용하는 것이 더 효과적이다. 다만 RTr 기법 적용 시 검사 시간이 늘어나는 단점이 있어서 환자의 상태에 맞춰 검사하는 것이 요구되는 바이다.