Background: With rapid advances in digital technology, tablet PC use among university students has increased significantly. While convenient, prolonged use often causes neck and shoulder discomfort due to poor posture, such as forward head posture and rounded shoulders. Although students commonly use tablets for writing, there is limited research on head movements during these tasks. Objects: To compare frontal plane head movements and tablet tilt angles between college students with and without neck pain during tablet PC use. Methods: Participants were divided into two groups based on neck pain presence (neck pain group and no pain group). Each participant sat at a table, adjusted the tablet stand angle independently, and placed the tablet accordingly. Participants wore earphones and dictated English sentences to ensure focused handwriting and the evaluator recorded all process. These video recordings of handwriting sessions were analyzed for frontal plane head movements using Kinovea software. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to reveal the group differences in tablet tilt angle, total head movement (THM), horizontal head movement (HHM), and vertical head movement (VHM). Results: There were no significant differences between the neck pain and no neck pain groups in tablet tilt angle or HHM (p > 0.05). In contrast, the neck pain group exhibited significantly greater THM (p < 0.001) and VHM (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate no significant relationship between neck pain and tablet tilt angle or HHM, but a significant association with increased VHM and THM. These findings provide basic knowledge for understanding movement patterns in individuals with neck pain.

Background: Dairy cows exposed to heat stress have reduced milk production, milk quality, and conception rates, leading to lower profits. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of heat stress according to Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) on the milk production of Korean Holstein cows. Methods: Monthly maximum temperature and average relative humidity data from January 2017 to August 2024 were obtained from 62 observation points used by the Korea Meteorological Administration to calculate the national average. Using this data, the THI, a key indicator for assessing heat stress in Korean Holstein cows, was calculated. Additionally, data from 240,088 Korean Holstein cows, collected through tests conducted by the Dairy Cattle Improvement Center of the NH-Agri Business Group, were analyzed. Results: Comparative analysis of the relationship between THI and milk production revealed that milk yield remained relatively stable until THI reached the “very severe” heat stress threshold (THI ≥ 79). Beyond this level, milk production showed a tendency to decline. Conversely, when THI dropped below this threshold, milk yield tended to recover. Notably, the temperature in September, typically considered part of the autumn season, has been rising in recent years, with THI values now approaching the very severe stress level (THI ≥ 79). Conclusions: These findings suggest that establishing an appropriate farm environment and implementing systematic THI management are essential for mitigating the decline in milk production, as well as the associated economic losses, caused by rising domestic temperatures due to global warming.

Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) play a critical role in maintaining skin integrity and promoting tissue repair, but are highly susceptible to apoptosis under stress conditions such as nutrient deprivation. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their regenerative potential and ability to secrete bioactive factors. In this study, we investigated the effect of ADSC-derived paracrine signaling on apoptosis in HDFs and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Using a Transwell co-culture system, we found that ADSCs significantly reduced apoptosis in HDFs subjected to low-serum stress, as confirmed by APOPercentage™ staining and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Among several soluble factors secreted by ADSCs, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exhibited the most pronounced time-dependent increase in culture supernatants. The anti- apoptotic effect of ADSCs was abolished by neutralizing antibodies against HGF, indicating a key role of this factor in mediating fibroblast survival. Further, HDFs were found to express the HGF receptor c-Met at both the mRNA and protein levels. Inhibition of c-Met signaling reversed the cytoprotective effect of ADSCs, suggesting that HGF functions through this receptor. Mechanistically, only the PI3K/AKT pathway—among the major survival pathways tested—was selectively activated in HDFs by ADSC co-culture. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling using LY294002 abolished the protective effect, while inhibition of ERK or p38 MAPK had no significant impact. These findings demonstrate that ADSC-derived HGF protects HDFs from stress-induced apoptosis primarily through activation of the c-Met–PI3K/ AKT pathway. This mechanistic insight may provide a basis for the development of stem cell– based therapies aimed at enhancing skin regeneration and fibroblast viability in degenerative or wound-healing contexts.

곤충 Laccifer lacca의 분비물인 stick lac에서 얻어지는 락색소는 물에 용해되는 붉은색 식용 색소로, 식품에 붉 은 색을 더하는 착색제이다. 주요 성분은 안트라퀴논계 기 반의 laccaic acid로 A, B, C, D, E로 구성된다. 본 연구 의 목적은 HPLC-DAD를 활용하여 laccaic acid를 정량적 으로 분석할 수 있는 방법을 검증하는 것과 섭취 노출량 을 산출하는 것이다. 제안된 분석법은 특이성, 선형성, LOD, LOQ, 정확성, 정확도 등 다양한 검증 항목에서 평 가되었으며, 매트릭스 효과 또한 충분히 고려되었다. 모든 매트릭스에서 검량선은 높은 선형성 (R20.999)을 보였고, 락색소의 MDL과 MQL은 각각 1.93 mg/kg와 5.86 mg/ kg로 확인되었다. 일내 및 일간 회수율 시험에서 정확도 는 91.5-100.9% 사이였고, 정밀도는 0.8-2.6%RSD로 AOAC 기준을 충족하였다. 한국에서 유통되는 다양한 식 품들을 수집하여 락색소를 모니터링하여 식품 유형별 락 색소 섭취 노출량을 평가하였다. 락색소 섭취 수준의 범 위는 국민전체, 섭취자 각각 0.0000-0.0027 mg/kg·bw/day 와 0.0000 -0.0306 mg/kg·bw/day였다. 개발된 분석법은 다 양한 식품 유형에 적용 가능하여 락색소 추출물의 효과적 인 모니터링을 가능하게 하며, 섭취량 평가를 통해 락색 소의 안전성 평가에 추가적으로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

Background: During daily activities, stability is maintained to enhance the function of muscles surrounding the lumbopelvic and hip structures. The core muscles such as the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) responsible for this stability. One effective static exercise for strengthening these muscles is the plank. Objects: This study aimed to compare abdominal electromyographic activation when an unstable support surface was applied to the upper and lower extremities during a standard and a knee plank. Methods: A total of 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) participated in this study. Surface electromyography electrodes were placed on the RA, EO, and IO muscles. Data were collected under six conditions for males, including two plank postures (standard and knee planks) and three unstable surface conditions (a dynamic balance cushion applied to the upper extremities, lower extremities, or no cushion). Female participants performed only the knee plank. A mixed-effects model with a random intercept was used to analyze muscle activation across plank posture and surface position, with statistical significance set at α = 0.05. Results: In males, the standard plank elicited greater muscle activation than the knee plank across all muscles (p < 0.0001). Additionally, applying an unstable support surface to the upper extremities significantly increased muscle activation in both plank postures in EO and IO (p < 0.001). Other muscle, RA, was only affected by the unstable support surface in the standard plank position only. In females, the knee plank with upper limb instability resulted in the highest muscle activation for all muscles. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of surface instability in core muscle engagement. However, future studies should further investigate abdominal muscle activation with a more detailed analysis and the inclusion of a control group to enhance comparative validity.

본 연구에서는 국내에서 처음 발견된 Aulacophoroides hoffmanni (Takahashi, 1937)를 최초로 보고한다. 2024년 야외조사에서 한국의 서부 2개 지역의 등나무(Wisteria floribunda (Willdenow))에서 심각한 피해를 주고 있는 A. hoffmanni를 확인하였다. 무시성충의 상세한 형태 기재와 계측값을 제시하였으며, 생체 및 슬라이드 표본 사진을 포함하였다. 이 종은 등나무에 심각한 피해를 주고 있어 관상용 등나무의 주요 해충이 될 것으로 예상된다.

Background: The poultry industry experiences genetic losses due to recurring infectious diseases, necessitating effective preservation strategies. Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in male reproduction, and optimal NO (nitric oxide) levels may enhance sperm viability. This study investigated the effects of SNAP (S-nitroso-Nacetylpenicillamine) on the longevity of rooster sperm. Methods: Semen was diluted with Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender-I containing 0 or 25 μM SNAP and stored at 10°C. Sperm motility and acrosome integrity were assessed at 1, 3, and 7 days. NO levels were quantified by DAF-FM diacetate and AI trials were evaluated by fertility and hatchability. Results: On day 1, sperm motility in the SNAP 25 μM-treated group was significantly higher than in the control. NO quantification confirmed that SNAP-treated semen exhibited higher NO levels. For fertilization and hatchability assessment, hens were divided into two groups based on the presumed duration sperm resided in sperm storage tubules. Before artificial insemination, the sperm was preserved at low temperature (10°C) to maintain viability. Fertilization rates were significantly higher in the SNAP-treated group in both short-term and long-term SST storage conditions. However, hatchability was only significantly improved in the SNAP-treated group when fertilization occurred after extended storage. Conclusions: These findings suggest that NO enhances sperm viability and fertility in poultry semen stored at low temperatures. SNAP 25 μM enhances AI efficiency by maintaining sperm viability and extending fertilization potential. Further research is needed to refine NO-based fertility enhancement strategies for avian species.

This study is a continuation of previous research (Bae & Kim, 2024) that identified ways to improve the fit of commercially available domestic and international leotards for women in their 30–40s through a survey and evaluation of wearing conditions. The previous study revealed that women in this age group struggle to find well-fitting leotards, despite knowing their body measurements. This issue arises because most apparel industries produce garments for women in their 20s, and grading differences do not sufficiently address the increases in bust, waist, and abdominal girth typical of women in their 30s and 40s. Therefore, this study developed leotard patterns that improve fit and comfort based on the physical characteristics of women in their 30s and 40s. Body surface data of the participants were collected using 3D body scanning technology, forming the basis for pattern design. Experimental garments were created to evaluate compression and determine the suitable pattern reduction rate based on material elasticity. Thus, a pattern reduction rate that offers suitable wearing comfort was proposed. Leotard patterns were developed from experimental results in the most popular styles: camisole and sleeved types. The final leotard patterns were presented after synthesizing results from wearers’ evaluations, compression assessments, and expert appearance evaluations. The final leotards were deemed appropriate for women in their 30s and 40s, demonstrating improvements in comfort, movement stability, compression, and appearance.