In this study, we analyzed the structural and mechanical properties of aluminum foams fabricated using aluminum powders of varying sizes and mixtures. The effects of sintering and pore structure at each size on the integrity and mechanical properties of the foams were investigated. Structural characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy and micro–computed tomography, while mechanical properties were evaluated through compression testing. The experimental results demonstrated that smaller powder sizes improved foam integrity, reduced porosity and pore size, and resulted in thinner cell walls. In combination, these effects increased compressive strength as the powder size decreased. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding and improvement of the mechanical properties of aluminum foams and highlight their potential for use in a wide range of applications.

This study proposes a weighted ensemble deep learning framework for accurately predicting the State of Health (SOH) of lithium-ion batteries. Three distinct model architectures—CNN-LSTM, Transformer-LSTM, and CEEMDAN-BiGRU—are combined using a normalized inverse RMSE-based weighting scheme to enhance predictive performance. Unlike conventional approaches using fixed hyperparameter settings, this study employs Bayesian Optimization via Optuna to automatically tune key hyperparameters such as time steps (range: 10-35) and hidden units (range: 32-128). To ensure robustness and reproducibility, ten independent runs were conducted with different random seeds. Experimental evaluations were performed using the NASA Ames B0047 cell discharge dataset. The ensemble model achieved an average RMSE of 0.01381 with a standard deviation of ±0.00190, outperforming the best single model (CEEMDAN-BiGRU, average RMSE: 0.01487) in both accuracy and stability. Additionally, the ensemble's average inference time of 3.83 seconds demonstrates its practical feasibility for real-time Battery Management System (BMS) integration. The proposed framework effectively leverages complementary model characteristics and automated optimization strategies to provide accurate and stable SOH predictions for lithium-ion batteries.

This study was conducted from 2022 to 2024 at the Grassland and Forage Crops Division, National Institute of Animal Science (RDA), in Cheonan, Korea, to develop a medium-maturing variety of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The newly developed tetraploid cultivar, named ‘Spider’, is characterized by its green leaves, semi-erect growth habit in late autumn, and erect growth habit in mid-spring. With a heading date of May 16, ‘Spider’ is classified as a medium-maturing variety. Compared to the control cultivar ‘Kowinmaster’, ‘Spider’ has a 1.0 mm wider leaf blade, a 1.6 cm longer leaf blade, and is 5 cm taller in plant height. Its dry matter yield (10,169 kg/ha) is significantly higher than that of ‘Kowinmaster’ (p<0.05). The crude protein content of ‘Spider’ is 10.4%, which is 0.2% higher than that of the control. Additionally, ‘Spider’ has a neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of 49.5% and an acid detergent fiber (ADF) content of 26.6%, showing a 2.2% lower NDF and a 0.2% higher ADF compared to ‘Kowinearly’.

Background: Heat stress during summer impairs reproductive performance in sows, causing summer infertility. Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) plays a crucial role in steroid hormone metabolism in the liver and has been shown to be upregulated under stress conditions. However, the effect of seasonal heat stress on CYP1A2 expression in sow ovaries remains poorly understood. Methods: Ovaries were collected from crossbred sows during different seasons in Korea. The control group (CON) was exposed to optimal temperatures for swine rearing (22.0-24.5℃) during spring, while the heat-stressed group (HS) experienced high temperatures (30.5-37.0℃) during summer. Temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated to assess thermal stress severity. CYP1A2 expression was analyzed using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and these values were statistically compared with THI by Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: The HS exhibited significantly higher THI values compared to the CON (88.11 vs. 66.67). Western blot analysis revealed significant upregulation of CYP1A2 expression in the HS compared to CON (1.89 vs. 1.00). IHC demonstrated that CYP1A2 was specifically localized in granulosa cells of mature follicles, with a significantly higher proportion of CYP1A2-positive follicles in the HS (15.92%) compared to CON (9.08%). When the obtained values were compared with THI values, CYP1A2 expression showed a strong positive correlation with THI (r = 0.41 and 0.74). Conclusions: This study revealed that heat stress can alter the ovarian microenvironment, including the expression of CYP1A2. These findings emphasize the need for effective thermal management strategies to mitigate heat stress-induced reproductive dysfunction in livestock production.

This study investigated the flowering response of three Korean native Aster species, namely A. hayatae, A. spathulifolius, and A. koraiensis, to varying photoperiods. Three-month-old plants propagated from cuttings were grown under four different photoperiods: 9, 12, 14, and 16 h. Aster hayatae flowered under all conditions, with flowering rates of 92%, 85%, 65%, and 27% under 9-, 12-, 14-, and 16-h photoperiods, respectively. Flowering in A. hayatae was promoted by shorter photoperiods, classifying it as a facultative short-day plant. Aster spathulifolius flowered only under 9- and 12-h photoperiods, with no significant difference between these treatments, suggesting that the species is an obligate short-day plant. However, given the low A. spathulifolius flowering rates of 27% and 13% under 9- and 12-h photoperiods, respectively, further research is required. Aster koraiensis did not flower under any photoperiod, possibly due to vernalization requirements or juvenility. These findings offer valuable insights into the photoperiodic flowering responses of these three Korean native Aster species, enhancing our understanding of their ecological traits and potential horticultural applications.

본 연구는 절화 장미‘All For Love’에 대해 과산화초산 (peracetic acid, PAA)의 보존용액 적용 가능성과 적정 처리 농도를 구명하고자 수행되었다. 보존용액 처리는 Distilled water(DW), PAA 50, 100, 200μL·L-1, FloraLife 1%로 하였 다. 절화수명은 대조구 DW(5.27일)에 비해 PAA(5.87~6.20 일)와 FloraLife(5.87일) 처리구에서 절화수명 연장효과가 있었 다. 모든 처리구에서 80% 이상 꽃목 굽음(Bent neck)과 20% 이상 꽃잎 청변화(Blueing) 현상이 나타났다. 화색 변화율과 잎의 엽록소 함량은 처리간 차이가 없었다. 화폭변화율의 경 우, DW(135%)보다 PAA 50μL·L-1(155%), 100μL·L-1(154%), 200μL·L-1(161%) 처리구에서 높은 개화율을 보였다. 상대생체 중은 DW와 FloraLife 처리구에서는 2일, PAA 처리구에서는 3일까지 증가 후 감소하였다. 수분균형은 DW에서 가장 빠르게 (-)의 값을 나타냈고, PAA 50μL·L-1 처리구에서 가장 길게 수분 균형이 유지되었다. PAA와 FloraLife 처리구에서 보존용액과 줄기 절단면 모두 세균이 검출되지 않았다. 결론적으로 PAA 50μL·L-1 처리는 DW에 비해 장미의 절화수명 연장 및 품질 유지에 효과적이었다.

In this study, a bacterial strain exhibiting high degradation activity toward organic wastes was isolated and taxonomically identified. Five strains with excellent hydrolytic activity toward starch, lipids, and proteins were isolated from slaughter waste processors. Among the five strains, YBK-W4, which showed the highest amylase, protease, and lipase activities, was selected. Through 16S rRNA sequencing, YBK-W4 was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus (B. atrophaeus) and designated B. atrophaeus YBK-W4. The optimal temperature and pH for enzyme activity of B. atrophaeus YBK-W4 were 37~42°C and pH 7, respectively. The bacterium was grown on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar containing 12% NaCl, where enzyme activity was 11.4~29.7% of that observed in LB agar without NaCl. These results suggest that B. atrophaeus YBK-W4 is a useful bacterial agent for the decomposition of organic waste, such as food and slaughterhouse waste.

This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the New-Chinese style appearing in Chinese fashion designer Shiatzy Chen’s collections and, accordingly, recommend various directions for the New-Chinese style design. Regarding the research method, the background and concept of Chinese style and New-Chinese style were reviewed, while relevant characteristics were derived from prior research. Concerning the data collection, 21 season collections from A/W 2014 to A/W 2024, were selected, and 26 reviews and 1,168 collection data were collated. The results are as follows: First, “multicultural convergence” emerges as design methods reflecting social changes and utilizes diverse cultural elements. In fashion design, it emerges in a harmonious combination of culture and artistic styles, expressing the integration of varied cultures —for instance, East–West cultural convergence. Second, “historical tradition” consistently expresses Shiatzy Chen’s fashion; continuously explores Chinese people’s garments and aesthetics; and integrates oriental dignity, culture, and discipline into fashion design. Third, “temporary diversity” refers to a Chinese fashion design culture that represents the seamless blending of traditional culture and modern social values— leading the new consumer market by combining new and old generations, graffiti aesthetics on modern streets, and traditional and contemporary expressions. Fourth, “positive metaphor” expresses the intrinsic mental element and emphasizes covert rather than overt beauty. These expressions metaphorically communicate ancient Chinese legends via artistic techniques, such as contemporary illustration and embroidery, thereby conveying an active mental culture.