The Republic of Korea has experienced rapid economic growth alongside increasing concern for animal welfare. However, progress in improving farm animal welfare remains slow, particularly in slaughterhouses, which are recognized as critical points for animal welfare concerns due to numerous issues observed. Due to the impracticality of assessing all slaughterhouses nationwide, this study conducted a field survey of seven chicken slaughterhouses utilizing the widely adopted WQ® protocol. The evaluation criteria included crate density, rough handling, plumage loss and emaciation, panting or huddling, wing flapping, vocalization, leg fractures, and dead-on arrival (DOA). Given that broilers are transported in crates from farms to the stunning area, the relationship between crate density and these welfare indicators was analyzed. The significance level was set at <0.05. Revealed correlations between crate density and various health and welfare indicators, including rough handling, plumage loss and emaciation, crate height, panting or huddling, pen spacing, lairage temperature and humidity, wing flapping, vocalization, and DOA. This study represents a pioneering effort in the Korean poultry industry, marking the first development of a welfare standard for chicken slaughterhouses.

Area-selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD) is a bottom-up process that selectively deposits thin films onto specific areas of a wafer surface. The surface reactions of AS-ALD are controlled by blocking the adsorption of precursors using inhibitors such as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) or small molecule inhibitors. To increase selectivity during the AS-ALD process, the design of both the inhibitor and the precursor is crucial. Both inhibitors and precursors vary in reactivity and size, and surface reactions are blocked through interactions between precursor molecules and surface functional groups. However, challenges in the conventional SAM-based AS-ALD method include thermal instability and potential damage to substrates during the removal of residual SAMs after the process. To address these issues, recent studies have proposed alternative inhibitors and process design strategies.

Amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT), a tricyclic antidepressant, is known to exhibit antimicrobial effects against a wide range of bacterial species. This study aims to evaluate the effect of AMT on Brucella (B.) abortus infection in RAW 264.7 cells and ICR mice, which has not yet been clearly characterized. The results showed that all tested concentrations of AMT had no direct bactericidal effect on B. abortus survival at any incubation time point. Interestingly, RAW 264.7 cells pre-treated with a non-toxic high concentration of AMT before B. abortus infection showed a significant reduction in the phagocytosis of B. abortus at 20 min post-infection, compared to untreated cells. However, AMT treatment did not affect the intracellular replication of B. abortus compared to the control cells. Based on the reduced bacterial uptake observed in-vitro, an in-vivo experiment was conducted to assess whether daily oral administration of AMT at a dose of 20 mg/kg could inhibit B. abortus growth in ICR mice. The results showed that AMT treatment slightly increased both organ weights and bacterial loads, suggesting possible systemic effects of prolonged AMT exposure. In summary, these preliminary results provide initial insight into the potential effects of AMT on B. abortus infection both in-vitro and in-vivo. Therefore, further study should focus on dose optimization in-vivo and exploration of the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in AMT-mediated inhibition of phagocytosis during Brucella infection.

This case study with 12 Korean high school emergent bilinguals (K-emergent bilinguals) illustrates how the pedagogical concept of translingual dialogic webbing can be conceptualized based on theories of dialogism and translanguaging. Through a concrete case of classroom activities using a picturebook, the Rough Patch, this article shows how the pedagogical concept of translingual dialogic webbing can be conceptualized and materialized in Korean high school English language teaching classrooms (Korean ELT). K-emergent bilinguals’ translingual classroom discussions as well as translingual and multimodal written responses revealed that translingual dialogic webbing could help Kemergent bilinguals draw on their available meaning making resources, including Korean, English, semiotic modes, cultural knowledge, and experiences, to navigate and construct more nuanced meanings with creativity and critical insights across time and space. By bridging translanguaging and dialogism, this study addresses the critical need for linguistic inclusivity and adaptability in Korean ELT, while embracing students’ diverse ideas, creativity, and the multilingual and multimodal realities of today.

The role of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC) development has garnered attention, highlighting probiotics as potential adjuncts in CRC prevention and treatment. In recent years, probiotics and their derivatives have demonstrated mechanisms that may contribute to anticancer properties. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum KCTC 3357, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus KCTC 5033, Limosilactobacillus reuteri VA 103, Bacillus galactosidilyticus VA 107, and Lactococcus taiwanensis VE101 on CT-26 mouse colon carcinoma cells using live cells, heat-killed cells (paraprobiotics), and cell-free supernatants (CFS, postbiotics) through an MTT assay. The results indicate that live bacterial strains, such as KCTC 3357, VA 103, and VA 107, promoted CT-26 cell viability, while heat-killed cells and CFS exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Inactivated forms of KCTC 3357 and VE 101, as well as CFS at 10 mg/mL concentration of KCTC 5033, VA 103, and VE 101, showed the strongest antiproliferative effects. These findings suggest that non-viable probiotic derivatives, such as paraprobiotics and postbiotics, offer promising therapeutic potential for CRC, providing a safer and more stable alternative to live probiotics. However, further research is required to explore their mechanisms of action, in vivo efficacy, and potential clinical applications.

산마늘(Allium microdictyon)과 울릉산마늘(A. ulleungense) 은 수선화과(Amaryllidaceae) 부추속(Allium)에 속하는 다년 초 식물로 산마늘은 우리나라에서는 지리산, 오대산 등의 고산 지대, 울릉산마늘은 울릉도에 분포하고 있다. 본 연구는 산마늘 과 울릉산마늘의 휴면과 발아특성을 조사하여 효과적인 대량증 식법을 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 수행하였다. 실험은 2021 년 7월에 강원도 정선에서 재배한 산마늘 종자와 2021년 8월에 울릉도에서 채종한 종자를 사용하였다. 수분흡수 실험결과, 산 마늘과 울릉산마늘 모두 수분흡수 3시간 만에 20% 이상의 수분 흡수율을 보여 물리적 휴면이 없는 것으로 판단하였다. 온도 처리(25/15, 20/10, 15/6, 5℃) 실험에서 패트리디쉬에 종자 를 치상 후 30일 이전에 5℃를 제외한 나머지 온도 처리에서 모두 발아가 나타났으며, 산마늘과 울릉산마늘 종자의 발아 적 온은 20~25℃인 것으로 확인되었다. 저온층적(0, 4, 8, 12주)처 리 결과, 산마늘과 울릉산마늘 종자 모두 발아율 향상에는 큰 효과가 없었지만, 저온층적처리 기간이 길어질수록 발아세가 증가하는 양상을 보였다. GA3 처리 결과, 산마늘 종자는 처리 농도 간 유의성이 나타나지 않았지만, 울릉산마늘 종자는 처리 농도가 높아질수록 평균발아일수 및 발아균일도에서 유의적인 차이를 나타냈다. 이러한 결과를 통하여 산마늘과 울릉산마늘 종자는 non-deep PD 유형인 것으로 판단된다.

두줄가슴무당벌레붙이속의 붉은두줄가슴무당벌레붙이와 좁은두줄가슴무당벌레붙이 두 종이 한국에서 처음으로 보고된다. 또한, 외부형태 및 생식기의 삽화, 진단특징, 분포도, 그리고 분류키를 제공한다.

Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) plays a crucial role in animal cell culture; however, the increasing number of bovine fetuses used and sacrificed solely for FBS collection has raised ethical concerns globally. The welfare of fetuses during FBS blood collection has become a key focus of debate among animal welfare and ethics organizations worldwide. Previous studies indicate that heat-inactivated coelomic fluid (HI-CF) from the earthworm Perionyx excavatus may serve as a viable FBS alternative in adherent cell cultures. This study evaluates the potential of HI-CF as an FBS substitute during the in vitro maturation (IVM) stage of bovine embryo culture, with a focus on improving developmental rate through antioxidation effects. In this study, 2% HI-CF was incorporated into IVM media, assessing its impact on cell growth, differentiation, and the expression of genes related to antioxidation. The group of 2% of HI-CF exhibited a trend toward increased cleavage and blastocyst development rates compared to the control group. Although antioxidant genes such as NRF2 and GSR showed no statistically significant differences between the control and treatment groups, a trend toward increased expression was observed. Conversely, GPX1 displayed a trend of decreased expression. Notably, IGF1 and NQO1 were significant upregulated (p < 0.05) in the 2% HI-CF group. Additionally, oocytes stained with H2DCFDA showed a significantly reduced ROS levels (p < 0.05) in the 2% HI-CF group compared with controls. These findings suggest that HI-CF's antioxidative effects support enhanced cell growth and blastocyst development rate, surpassing those observed with FBS. Consequently, HI-CF shows promise as an effective alternative to FBS in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes.

The current study examines the digital behaviors of 124 university students enrolled in a blended learning class in Korea. The students were divided into two groups (upper and lower) based on their scores on a self-regulated learning questionnaire. Their digital behaviors were compared across four areas: (a) task completion scores; (b) strategy use; (c) the days on which tasks were completed; and (d) learning gains. The results revealed a significant difference in task completion scores between the upper and lower groups. However, no meaningful difference was observed in strategy use between the two groups. Students in the upper group were more proactive in completing videos, homework, and TOEIC tests, often finishing these tasks ahead of deadlines. In contrast, students in the lower group tended to complete their assignments on the due date. Finally, there were no significant differences in learning gains between the two groups. These findings may inform the design and management of online L2 learning programs.

A series of toxicity trials was conducted to analyze the acute and subchronic oral toxicity of calcium from Jeju Lava Seawater (CJLS) in Sprague-Dawley rats. In the acute toxicity trial, rats were administered 0 or a daily dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight (BW) of CJLS. General behavior, side effects, and mortality were monitored over 14 days. In the subacute and subchronic trials, daily doses of 0, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg BW were administered to the rats over 28 and 90 days, respectively. Clinical signs were examined daily, and changes in body weight, relative organ weight (ROW), and hematological, biochemical, and pathological parameters were recorded. The acute toxicity trial showed that the maximum tolerated dose of CJLS was >2,000 mg/kg BW, with no adverse effects or mortality observed during the 14-day period. In subacute and subchronic trials, oral administration of CJLS at a dosage of 1,000 mg/kg BW/day did not result in significant changes in BW, ROW, or hematological and biochemical biomarkers. These results indicate that the oral administration of CJLS at doses lower than 1,000 mg/kg BW/day is safe for rats, providing a basis for the clinical use of CJLS.