The utilization of pig slurry (PS) as an organic fertilizer plays a pivotal role in nutrient recycling within agricultural systems. However, this practice concomitantly leads nitrogen (N) losses through ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of wood biochar on mitigating NH3 and N2O emissions and enhancing N retention from PS-applied soil, and plant biomass production during the vegetative growth of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). The experiment consisted of three treatments: 1) water (non-PS), 2) PS, and 3) PS combined with wood biochar (PS+WB). The PS+WB treatment resulted in the maintenance of elevated soil water content during the experimental period. The PS+WB treatment significantly enhanced soil nitrogen retention compared to PS alone, maintaining higher total N and NH₄⁺-N levels while reducing NO₃⁻ -N accumulation. Wood biochar application also leds to substantial reductions in NH₃ and N₂O emissions, mitigating environmental N losses. The PS+WB treatment resulted in an improvement of shoot biomass, crude protein content, and total digestible nutrients, indicating enhanced forage quality. The increased soil moisture content in PS+WB further contributed to plant growth benefits. These findings demonstrate that wood biochar is an effective amendment for improving nitrogen retention, reducing gaseous N emissions, and enhancing crop productivity in PS-amended soils.
This study aimed to estimate the accumulated temperature requirements for phenological changes in Lilium. Eight cultivars of three lily types were cultivated in open field conditions for phenological observations based on floral organ development. Growing degree days (GDD) requirements for phenological changes were calculated and verified using Lilium LA hybrid ‘Serrada’ under greenhouse conditions. Lilium Oriental hybrids exhibited higher GDD requirements compared to Lilium FA and LA hybrids for their phenological development. Estimations of phenological change dates in greenhouse cultivation were accurate within 1–3 days. These results provide a reliable description for predicting lily development stages across diverse cultivation environments by quantifying the accumulated temperature requirements for key phenological events.
A 13-year-old female lion underwent a simple mastectomy for a rapidly growing abdominal mass, confirmed as mammary adenocarcinoma after histopathological examination. Mammary tumors are common in domestic cats but less frequently reported in African lions. This report presents the first documented case of mammary adenocarcinoma in an African lion in South Korea. The mass was successfully excised through stable anesthesia and surgery. This report adds to the limited literature on mammary tumors in large felids and discusses the need for tailored management strategies.
This research, grounded in the extended technology acceptance model, aimed to explore the relationships among factors influencing Korean EFL learners’ acceptance of ChatGPT for English learning in a voluntary usage context. To this end, a questionnaire was distributed to college students who had used ChatGPT for language learning, utilizing a convenience sampling method. A total of 400 responses were analyzed to test hypotheses using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings revealed that learners’ perceived usefulness significantly predicted their intention to continue using ChatGPT, while perceived ease of use did not. Moreover, learners’ result demonstrability was found to be a predictor of perceived usefulness, whereas subjective norm was not. Both playfulness and output quality significantly influenced learners’ perceived ease of use. This study identified key factors that could enhance EFL learners’ acceptance of ChatGPT by improving perceptions of usefulness and ease of use, offering valuable insights for integrating ChatGPT into English education.
For risk assessment of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transportation, it is necessary to calculate the damage ratio of SNF rods loaded in the cask. Due to the complexity in the geometry and material properties of SNF, it is impractical to analyze the detailed behavior of every fuel rod and assembly in a single cask model. This study presents a framework for performing cask-level analysis by sequentially simplifying the fuel rods and spent fuel assemblies for fuel damage ratio (FDR) calculation. Using the simplified fuel rod model developed in previous studies, we constructed a CE 16×16 fuel assembly model and presented a methodology to simplify the CE 16×16 assembly model into cuboids. Cask drop analyses were performed to validate the similarity of the detailed CE 16×16 model and the simplified model. Using the proposed simplified models, a procedure for quantifying the bending load and pinch load applied to the fuel rods during the drop impact is presented. The FDR can then be calculated by comparing the quantified loads with their respective failure criteria. Through a case study, the feasibility of the developed framework for systematic and accurate FDR calculation was effectively demonstrated.
목적 : COVID-19 팬데믹 기간 동안 사회적 거리두기와 비대면 활동 증가로 인해 생활습관이 크게 변화하였다. 본 연구는 근거리 작업시간, 수면시간, 스트레스 수준의 변화가 비정시(근시, 원시, 난시) 발생에 미치는 영향을 분 석하고자 하였다. 방법 : 본 연구는 질병관리청 국민건강영양조사 제8기(2019~2021년도) 조사 중 2020년에 참여한 대상자들 중 만 40세 이상인 성인들을 대상으로 수행된 단면 연구이다. 연구 대상자는 안검진을 받은 성인 중 안과 질환이 없는 2,564명을 포함하였다. 굴절 이상은 등가구면굴절력을 기준으로 하였다. 결과 : 근거리 작업시간이 하루 4시간 이상인 그룹에서 근시 유병률이 유의하게 증가하였다. 반면, 1시간 이하 의 근거리 작업을 수행하는 그룹에서는 원시 유병률이 높았다(p<0.0001). 수면시간이 6~8시간인 그룹에서 근시 유병률이 가장 높았으며, 원시는 6시간 미만 그룹에서 높았다(p=0.0082). 스트레스 수준이 높은 그룹에서 근시 유 병률이 유의하게 증가하는 경향을 보였으나, 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석에서는 근거리 작업시간이 짧은 그룹에서 난시 유병률이 더 높은 경향을 보였으며(p<0.0001), 수면시간과 스트레스의 영향은 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 결론 : 본 연구 결과, 근거리 작업시간 증가가 근시 발생에 가장 큰 영향을 미치는 요인임이 확인되었으며, 수면 패턴과 스트레스 또한 비정시와 연관성을 가질 수 있음을 시사하였다. 이는 COVID-19 팬데믹과 같은 환경적 변 화가 시력 건강에 미치는 영향을 이해하고, 근시 예방 및 관리 전략을 수립하는 데 기여할 수 있다.
In this study, we aimed to understand the effects of pest control on forest ecosystems by examining the populations of beetles, a bioindicator species, in pine wilt disease-affected areas. Density and diversity of beetles at the pest control (sites 1 and 2) and control (site 3) sites were compared. Site 1 contained 247 individuals of 11 species from 5 families, site 2 contained 461 individuals of 19 species from 9 families, and control site 3 contained 511 individuals of 19 species from 9 families. The following main species were collected from each site: 34 pine jewel beetles(Chalcophora japonica) in June, 23 red flat bark beetles(Synuchus cycloderus) in August, and 42 red flat bark beetles in September from site 1, 46 pine jewel beetles in June, 36 elegant beetles(Carabus jankowskii) in August, and 21 elegant beetles in September from site 2, and 31 red ground beetles(Coptolabrus smaragdinus) in June, 56 two-spotted dust beetles(Planetes puncticeps) in August, and 30 two-spotted dust beetles in September from site 3. Furthermore, diversity, evenness, and dominance indices were analyzed for all beetles collected from the pest control and control sites. Site 1 exhibited a diversity index of 0.706, evenness index of 0.711, and dominance index of 0.161. Site 2 exhibited a diversity index of 1.115, evenness index of 0.872, and dominance index of 0.097. Site 3 exhibited a diversity index of 1.101, evenness index of 0.861, and dominance index of 0.102. Similarity index was 47.4% between sites 1 and 2, 33.3% between sites 1 and 3, and 40.0% between sites 2 and 3.
온실 내부 환경은 지역에 따라 외부 환경의 영향을 지속적으로 받는다. 본 연구는 몽골, UAE(아부다비), 호 주(퀸슬란드) 등 지역별로 구축된 한국형 스마트 온실의 환경 특성을 비교하고자 수행하였다. 몽골과 아부다비의 온실 모두 내외부 엔탈피 차이가 감소함에 따라 환기율이 증가하였다. 아부다비의 반밀폐형 온실에서는 10시부터 14시까지 평균 내부 기온이 외부 기온보다 약 7-10°C 낮았고 내부 VPD(12mbar)는 외부 VPD(56mbar)보다 4.6 배 낮았는데 이 결과는 포그 시스템 운영과 관련이 있는 것으로 보인다. 퀸즐랜드 온실의 경우, 내부 온도가 외부 온 도보다 11시 기준 약 3.81°C 높았고, 내부 엔탈피와 VPD가 외부 온도보다 높았으며, 내부와 외부의 엔탈피 차이가 증가함에 따라 환기율이 증가하였다. 이 결과로 엔탈피를 낮추는 것은 환기와, VPD를 낮추는 것은 포그 시스템 작 동과 관련이 있는 것을 알 수 있다. 또한, 작물 생육에 적합한 환경 조건을 효과적으로 관리하기 위해 엔탈피와 VPD 기반의 포그, 환기 또는 난방 시스템이 필요하다는 것을 알 수 있다.
This study analyzes the participants’ purchasing and wearing conditions of Jiu-Jitsu uniforms, identifying issues with current designs and proposing improvements. Data were collected from 160 participants through an online survey from April 15 to May 20, 2024. Frequency, cross-tabulation analyses, and one-way ANOVA were performed using SPSS 29.0. The survey included questions related to participants’ general information, uniform purchasing behavior, satisfaction with Jiu-Jitsu uniforms, preferred brands, and sizing, and fit satisfaction. The results revealed that most male participants were in their 30s, while female participants were in their 20s. A higher proportion of males were overweight, while females were likelier to have a normal BMI. Participants generally owned 3–6 uniforms, most purchases in the 160,000–200,000 KRW price range. International brands were preferred, and participants selected uniforms based on fit, quality, and design. The most common sizes were A1 and A1L, with overweight and obese participants tending to opt for additional size options. Key improvement areas included pants length and waist width. The findings highlight the need for unisex pattern designs for individuals in the B range (160–170cm) and patterns specifically designed for overweight males in the C range (170–180cm). This study provides valuable insights into Jiu-Jitsu uniform preferences and body typespecific requirements, offering foundational data for enhancing uniform design and functionality.
Background: The increasing demand for real-time professional fitness coaching has led to a need for accurate exercise posture recognition using artificial intelligence. Objectives: To compare the performance of Feedforward Neural Network (FNN) and Stacked Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models in classifying fitness posture images using detailed joint coordinate labeling. Design: Comparative analysis of machine learning models using a labeled dataset of fitness posture images. Methods: A dataset from AI-hub containing images and data of 41 exercises was used. Five exercises were selected and processed using a custom program. Data was converted from JSON to CSV format, augmented with joint condition information, and analyzed using Google Colab. Results: The best FNN model achieved a training error of 1.21% and test error of 9.08%. The Stacked LSTM model demonstrated superior performance with a training error of 1.05% and test error of 6.09%. Conclusion: Both FNN and Stacked LSTM models effectively classified sequential fitness images, with Stacked LSTM showing superior performance. This indicates the potential of Stacked LSTM models for accurate fitness posture classification in real-time coaching scenarios.
The recent release of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant highlights the need for accurate tritium measurement, particularly near the minimum detectable activity (MDA) of 5 Bq·L−1 set by South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. This study aims to improve low-level tritium measurement accuracy by optimizing the region of interest (ROI) for quench curve determination. These adjustments are crucial for separating tritium signals from background noise. Quench standards were prepared and measured using a liquid scintillation counter (LSC). Three ROIs were analyzed to assess the impact of channel selection on measurement precision: A 20-148 channel range optimized via figure of merit (FOM) analysis, a 20-250 channel range covering tritium’s full beta spectrum, and a broad 1-1024 channel range. Quench curves were obtained by fitting the counting efficiency of each ROI to the quench standards. Tritium samples with six different activity levels were prepared, and their radioactivity was calculated using the quench curves. Selecting appropriate ROIs for quench curve determination is critical for measuring low-concentration tritium accurately. This approach reduces uncertainty and emphasizes reliable methods to improve the precision and consistency of tritium measurements.
Industries that use or produce radionuclides have unintentionally released these substances into surrounding soils and sediments. To address this problem, Beautiful Environmental Construction (BEC) Co. developed the BEC’s Radioactive Soil Decontamination (BERAD) system to remove contaminants and reduce the volume of radionuclide-contaminated soils. Owing to the limited availability of radioactive isotopes such as 60Co, 90Sr, 137Cs, and uranium-contaminated soil, naturally occurring elements in soil were used in this demonstration. The soil was divided into six size fractions via manual wet sieving and the BERAD system. Then, the concentrations of uranium, cobalt, strontium, cesium, and iron in each fraction were measured. The results of both separations showed that a considerable amount of each element is retained in the finer size fractions (<0.2 mm). After BERAD separation, the corresponding values yielded 53% uranium, 45% strontium, 66% cobalt, and 53% cesium in the fine size (<0.2 mm) fractions of 35% by weight. The study found that the concentrations of these elements increased as the particle sizes decreased. Iron and micaceous minerals played a significant role in retaining the elements. The pilot scale BERAD system yielded results that were similar to those obtained via laboratory wet-sieving and was successfully demonstrated as a soil washing technology.
육성한 화단국화 품종인 황색 국화(Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.)인 ‘한아름볼(Hanarum Ball)’은 충남농업기술원 화훼 연구소에서 모본 ‘Gigi Gold’와 부본 ‘Jinny Ball’을 이용하여 육성되었다. ‘한아름볼’ 품종은 2014년에 인공 교배를 통해 개 발되었으며, 2015년부터 2017년까지 품종 특성을 조사한 후 2017년에 최종 선발되었다. ‘한아름볼’의 초형은 반구형으로, 노랑색 꽃잎(Yellow 5B)을 가진 반겹꽃을 지니고 있으며, 개화 기는 9월 21일이다. 초장은 36.0cm로, 초폭은 66.0cm, 화폭 은 4.1cm, 본당 착화수는 1,147개, 꽃잎수는 81.0개이며, 엽색 은 녹색(Green 137B)이어서, 대조품종인 ‘금방울’과 유사한 형 태와 색을 가지고 있으나, 꽃크기와 착화수, 개화시기에서 차이 를 보였다. ‘한아름볼’은 도로변이나 화단 등 조경용으로 활용 가능하며, 화훼 농가에 새로운 소득원을 제공할 수 있는 품종으 로 기대된다.
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into all cell types in the body. They have the potential to replenish cells in tissues and organs, and have unique properties that make them a powerful tool for regenerative therapy. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst of pre-implantation embryo and epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) derived from the epiblast layer of post-implantation embryo are the well-known PSCs. These stem cells can differentiate into any of three germ layers of germ cells (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm). Additionally, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) refer to adult somatic cells reprogrammed to return to the pluripotent state by introducing specific factors. This is a breakthrough in stem cell research because ethical concerns such as fertilized embryo destruction can be avoided. PSCs have tremendous potential in treating degenerative cells by generating the cells needed to replace damaged cells, which can also allow to generate specific cell types to study the mechanisms of the disease and create disease models that screen for potential drugs. However, if the proliferative capacity of PSCs is not controlled, there is a risk that tumors will form, as this can lead to uncontrolled growth in their proliferative capacity. In addition, when PSCs are used for therapeutic purposes, there is a risk that the body’s immune system rejects the transplanted cells when the transplanted cells do not originate from the patient’s own tissue. Taken together, PSC is the foundation of stem cell research and regenerative medicine, providing disease treatment and animal development understanding. We would like to explain the classification of PSCs based on their developmental potential, the types of PSCs (ESCs, EpiSCs and iPSCs), their pluripotent status (naïve vs. primed) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) in PSCs and PSCs in domestic animals.
기후변화로 인해 국내에서의 기온, 강수량, 호우일수가 증가 할 것으로 예측됨에 따라, 토양 답압과 높은 불투수면적 비율이 나타나는 도심지를 중심으로 정원과 공공녹지에 활용되는 식물 소재에 있어 내침수성이 중요한 특성으로 부각될 가능성이 높 다. 그러나 내침수성 식물소재에 대한 대다수의 문헌은 재배경 험이나 각 종의 서식지 환경에 기반하고 있는 경우가 많아 실험 적 검증이 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구는 토양수분함량이 높은 서식지에서 기원한 골등골나물(Eupatorium lindleyanum DC.), 새등골나물(E. fortunei Turcz.), 좀개미취(Aster maackii Regel) 3개 종과 중간인 서식지에서 기원한 까실쑥부쟁이 (A. ageratoides Turcz.) 1개 종의 침수조건에 대한 생육반응 비교로 서식지 환경이 내침수성 평가의 유효한 지표인지 알아보 고자 하였다. 실험대상 종을 6주간 무처리(대조구), 5일 침수처리, 7일 침수처리한 결과, 골등골나물과 새등골나물은 대조구와 처리구간 생육반응에서 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않아 높은 수준 의 내침수성을 지니는 것으로 나타났다. 좀개미취는 생장반응이 처리구에서 대조구 대비 유의하게 감소하여 내침수성은 제한적 인 것으로 보였으나, 5일 침수처리구에서 광계 II의 최대양자효 율(Fv/Fm)이, 두 처리구 모두에서 지상부 대비 지하부의 비율 (R/S율)이 대조구와 유의한 차이를 보이지 않아 침수조건의 해 소 후 회복 가능성을 지니는 것으로 나타났다. 까실쑥부쟁이는 처리 4 주차에 모든 처리구에서 100%의 고사율을 보여 내침수 성을 갖추지 못한 것으로 판단되었다. 결론적으로, 서식지 환경 은 내침수성과 관련이 있다 할 수 있었으나, 내침수성의 정확한 평가를 위해서는 토양수분함량 외 다양한 환경요소들을 함께 고려해야할 필요성이 있을 것으로 보인다.
Ectopic ureter refers to a congenital anomaly in which one or both ureters do not connect to the urinary bladder at the correct anatomical site. This case report discusses the case of a 6-year-old female mixed-breed dog diagnosed with chronic urinary incontinence, systemic hypertension, pancreatitis, and sepsis resulting from an ectopic ureter. Treatment involved an initial nephro-ureterectomy to address severe pyonephrosis, followed by ureteroneocystostomy for the remaining functional kidney. Post-surgical outcomes showed notable improvements in clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and blood pressure. This report emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment in cases of ectopic ureter. Additionally, it aims to present the clinical symptoms and conditions resulting from prolonged disease progression, as well as the corresponding treatment methods and prognosis.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a zeolite and sulfuric acid mixture (ZS) as an air filter to mitigate the emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) during the composting of cattle manure. Compared to the control group (blank), ZS reduced NH3 emissions by 91.4%, N2O emissions by 33.6%, and CH4 emissions by 20.0% over the 100-day composting period. Additionally, sulfuric acid in the ZS reacted with NH3, storing it as ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4], which can serve as a source of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S). To evaluate the fertilizing efficiency of [(NH4)2SO4] in ZS for maize growth, we applied four treatments: control (non-N fertilizer), collected ZS (cZS), cattle manure (organic fertilizer, OF), and urea (chemical fertilizer, CF). Compared to the control, cZS increased total dry weight (DW) by 48%, total digestible nutrients (TDN) by 7.3%, and crude protein (CP) by 77.8%. No significant differences were found among the applications of cZS, OF, and CF. These results suggest that the zeolite mixed with sulfuric acid effectively reduces hazardous gas emissions such as NH3, CH4, and N2O during cattle manure composting. Furthermore, the collected zeolite can potentially be reused as fertilizer, suggesting a positive opportunity for resource recycling to mitigate environmental pollution.
갯취(Ligularia taquetii)는 국화과에 속하는 한반도 특산식물 로, 관상가치가 뛰어나지만 한국 관속식물 적색목록에서 취약종 (VU)으로 분류되며 보존이 필요한 종이다. 본 연구는 갯취 종자 의 휴면 유형을 분류하고, 후숙 처리 효과를 확인하여 보존을 위한 기초 자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 2022년과 2023년에 채종한 종자를 사용하여 온도, 저온 습윤, GA3, 후숙 처리 실험을 진행하였다. 갯취 종자는 수분을 원활하게 흡수하였고, 모체에 서 탈리될 때 배가 형태적으로 완전히 발달한 상태였다. 4, 15/6, 20/10, 25/15℃에서 배양한 결과, 4주간 발아하지 않았 기 때문에 생리적 휴면(physiological dormancy, PD)으로 분 류하였다. 후숙 처리를 하지 않거나 6주간 후숙 처리만 한 종자 의 발아율은 20% 미만이었으나, 후숙 처리 후 8주 동안 저온 습윤 처리한 종자의 발아율은 70%로 증가하였다. 또한, 후숙 처리 후 GA3 100 mg·L⁻¹ 농도 처리 시 49% 발아하였다. 따라 서, 갯취 종자의 PD를 타파하기 위해 후숙 후 저온 습윤 또는 GA3 처리가 효과적인 것으로 보인다.
Background: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are capable of differencing into various cell types in the body, providing them valuable for therapy of degenerative diseases. Patientspecific treatments using PSCs, such as mesenchymal stem cells in patient’s own body, may reduce the risk of immune rejection. Inducing the differentiation of PSCs into vascular endothelial cells (ECs) altering culture conditions or using specific growth factors is able to applied to the treatment of vascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to induce the differentiation of porcine epiblast stem cells (pEpiSCs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pBM-MSCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pAMSCs) into ECs and then examine the functionality of vascular ECs. Methods: Porcine pEpiSCs, pBM-MSCs and pA-MSCs were induced to differentiate into ECs on matrigel-coated plates in differentiation medium (EBM-2 + 50 ng/mL of VEGF) for 8 days. Cells differentiated from these stem cells were isolated using CD-31 positive (+) magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and then proliferated in M199 medium. Evaluation of ECs differentiated from these stem cells was treated with capillary-like structure formation and three-dimensional spheroid sprouting assay. Results: Porcine pEpiSCs, pBM-MSCs and pA-MSCs showed similar expression of pluripotency-related genes (OCT-3/4. NANOG, SOX2). These stem cells were differentiated into vascular ECs, but showed different morphologies after the differentiation. Cells differentiated from pEpiSCs showed an elongated spindle-like morphology, whereas cells differentiated from pBM-MSCs showed a round pebble-like morphology. In the case of pA-MSCs, these two morphologies were mixed with each other. Additionally, vascular ECs differentiated from these stem cells showed different formation of capillary-like structure formation and three-dimensional spheroid sprouting assay. Conclusions: Cells differentiated from pEpiSCs, pBM-MSCs and pA-MSCs presented the functionality of different vascular ECs, demonstrating the potential of the excellent ECs differentiated from pEpiSCs.