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This study predicted habitat distribution changes according to the current distribu seedtion 14 and future climate using the MaxEnt model for endangered Abies nephrolepis Maxim., which is vulnerable to 15 climate change and is a least-concerned species. This study aimed to predict the current distribution and future habitat distribution changes of the endangered A. nephrolepis under climate change using the MaxEnt model. The purpose was to predict the future habitat of the declining A. nephrolepis, to identify the necessity of in situ conservation, and to devise appropriate ex situ seed storage methods. The study utilized climate data from 513 GPS coordinates of A. nephrolepis habitats in South Korea to predict the changes in habitat distribution using the MaxEnt model. The seeds used in the seed experiment were collected from Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea in 2019. After confirming an initial seed filling, germination tests were performed under constant temperatures of 15, 20, and 25 °C and alternating day/night temperatures of 25/5, 25/10, 25/10, 20/15, 25/15, 30/15, and 35/15 °C. The seed germination conditions were investigated under 10 different temperature settings. For the determination of storage behavior, seeds were dried at a consistent temperature of 15 °C and relative humidity (eRH) levels of 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for three months at temperatures of −20 °C and 5 °C, and the vitality tests of the seeds were conducted. Based on these experiments, the storage characteristics of seeds were identified. The results indicated that in all SSP scenarios, it is predicted that A. nephrolepis will become extinct in its habitat by the 2090s. Therefore, it has been shown that on-site and ex situ conservation is necessary. As a result of the seed germination characteristics, the highest germination rate (52.5 ± 16.01%) was achieved at a constant temperature of 20 °C, followed by 25 °C (50.0 ± 10.81%) and 25/10 °C (47.5 ± 4.79%). The highest viability was obtained under 20% eRH (64.0 ± 0%) but was not statistically different from that determined immediately after seed collection. The moisture content was approximately 4.33% fresh weight under 15% eRH at 15 °C. A. nephrolepis seeds are classified as orthodox-type seeds, which do not lose viability at 3%–7% moisture content and after drying under 15% eRH conditions at 15 °C. In conclusion, it can be observed that the seeds can be stored long-term at −20 °C. This research was conducted as a basic study to predict the habitat distribution of the endangered species A. nephrolepis and to establish seed conservation methods. According to the results, it is deemed necessary to conduct both domestic and international analyses of the habitat of A. nephrolepis. In addition, the germination and storage characteristics of A. nephrolepis seeds were confirmed, and based on this, effective seed conservation methods were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the South Korean study to prevent cognitive impairment and protect BRAIN health through lifestyle intervention in at-risk elderly people (SUPERBRAIN), we evaluated the impact of a 24-week facility-based multidomain intervention (FMI) and homebased MI (HMI) on white matter integrity. Among 152 participants, aged 60–79  years without dementia but with ≥1 modifiable dementia risk factor, 19 FMI, 20 HMI, and 16 controls underwent brain MRI at baseline and 24  weeks. Between the intervention and control groups, we compared changes in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) at regions-of-interest (ROI) including the cingulum cingulate gyrus (CgC), cingulum hippocampus (CgH), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), as well as the uncinate fasciculus (UF). In addition, correlations between total and standard scores cognitive domains of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) or serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and changes in brain image measures were evaluated at a statistical significance level of p  <  0.05 (uncorrected for multiple corrections). The FA, MD, AD, and RD at each ROI at the baseline were not different among groups after Bonferroni correction. In the statistical analysis using two-way repeated measures ANOVA, any significant difference in longitudinal changes in the FA, MD, AD, and RD was not revealed. The statistical analysis, among the significant regions in paired t-test of the intervention group, compared with the control group, the FMI, HMI, and intervention group yielded significantly more beneficial effects on the AD of the CgC. In addition, longitudinal AD changes of the left CgC correlated with the BDNF changes (r  =  0.280, p  =  0.048). In this study, enhanced cognitive reserve after the multidomain lifestyle intervention could be revealed by changes in brain imaging for white matter integrity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aims to investigate the behavior and ecology of nutria (Myocastor coypus), a semi-aquatic rodent that was introduced to South Korea for commercial farming and subsequently damaged aquatic ecosystems after its release. How the behavioral ecology of introduced nutria changes over time and across seasons remains unclear. Twenty-four adult nutria (twelve males and twelve females) were radio tracked in 2015–2016 to identify their home range size and activity patterns in the Macdo wetland, South Korea. This study found that the nutria home range size varied seasonally, with males having larger home ranges than females. Additionally, nutria showed crepuscular and nocturnal activity patterns throughout the year, with no significant difference between sexes. The findings of this study provide crucial information on the home range and activity patterns of introduced nutria in the Macdo wetland, which can guide management efforts to mitigate their impacts on the ecosystem. It is the first quantitative analysis of the home range and activity patterns of introduced nutria based on radio tracking data in the Macdo wetland. Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are semi-aquatic rodents that were introduced in South Korea for commercial farming but significantly damaged aquatic ecosystems. Understanding nutria ecological behavior is essential for developing effective control and eradication strategies to mitigate their impacts. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the home range and activity patterns of 24 nutria (12 males and 12 females) in the Macdo wetland in South Korea from 2015–2016 through radio tracking. The average minimum convex polygon home range of the nutria was 0.29 ± 0.55 km2, with a 95% kernel density estimation (KDE) home range of 0.43 ± 0.85 km2 and a 50% KDE home range of 0.05 ± 1.1 km2. The home range of males was larger than that of females; however, the winter home range of females was as large as that of males. The home range also varied seasonally, with the smallest observed in winter. The nutria showed crepuscular and nocturnal activity patterns throughout the year, with no significant difference between sexes. The activities in spring, summer, and autumn showed no significant differences, but the activity in winter was significantly different from that in the other seasons. This study may serve as a basis for developing appropriately timed and scaled management strategies to mitigate the impacts of nutria on ecosystems. In conclusion, several environmental and biological factors contribute to the behavior of nutria in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Parthenium hysterophorus is one of the most noxious invasive weeds in the world. In this study, a species distribution model of P. hysterophorus was established using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling approach. According to the model, climate change would likely increase the habitat suitability for P. hysterophorus across the world. Estimation of mean habitat suitability revealed that 21 countries including Bulgaria, Brunei, China, Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Korea, currently in the low habitat suitability category, would transition into the moderate to very high suitability category by 2081–2100. In South Korea, climate change would increase the habitat suitability for P. hysterophorus, especially in the southern region of the country, which would be followed by spontaneous expansion towards the northern region, thus seriously threatening agriculture, native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the national economy. Therefore, regular monitoring is required to perform to prevent further habitat expansion of P. hysterophorus in South Korea. The global climate change, including increases in temperature and precipitation, may exacerbate the invasion by P. hysterophorus. Here, MaxEnt modeling was performed to predict P. hysterophorus distribution worldwide and in South Korea under the current and future climate global climate changes, including increases in temperature and precipitation. Under the current climate, P. hysterophorus was estimated to occupy 91.26%, 83.26%, and 62.75% of the total land area of Australia, South America, and Oceania, respectively. However, under future climate scenarios, the habitat distribution of P. hysterophorus would show the greatest change in Europe (56.65%) and would extend up to 65°N by 2081–2100 in South Korea, P. hysterophorus currently potentially colonizing 2.24% of the land area, particularly in six administrative divisions. In the future, P. hysterophorus would spread rapidly, colonizing all administrative divisions, except Incheon, by 2081–2100. Additionally, the southern and central regions of South Korea showed greater habitat suitability than the northern region. These findings suggest that future climate change will increase P. hysterophorus distribution both globally and locally. Therefore, effective control and management strategies should be employed around the world and in South Korea to restrict the habitat expansion of P. hysterophorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, changes in the climate and in land cover are the most prominent factors affecting the distribution of flora and fauna, including butterflies. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the impact of climate and land cover changes on the potential habitat of the endangered butterfly Leptalina unicolor and its principal host, Miscanthus sinensis, in South Korea. We developed a species distribution model using the maximum entropy modeling approach and evaluated the current and future potential distributions of both species. Currently, the potential habitat of L. unicolor is predicted to be located along the Baekdudaegan mountain range and some isolated patches of its western and southern regions, covering an area of approximately 16,865 km2. However, due to future climate change, its potential habitat would decrease on a large scale (by up to 80.39%), thus limiting its existence to the northeastern region. On the other hand, the host plant (M. sinensis) was estimated to live in all parts of the country under both current and future climate conditions, covering up to 50.45% of the country. Our results showed that future climate and land cover changes will critically reduce the habitat of L. unicolor and limit its existence to relatively cold areas. This study suggests that, in addition to the host habitat, climate and land cover changes also play important roles in the future distribution of L. unicolor. This study predicted the current and future potential habitats of L. unicolor and M. sinensis to help develop management policies for the conservation of this endangered butterfly in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the SoUth Korean study to PrEvent cognitive impaiRment and protect BRAIN health through lifestyle intervention in at-risk elderly people (SUPERBRAIN), we evaluated the impact of multidomain lifestyle intervention on regional homogeneity (ReHo) in resting-state functional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Of 152 participants aged 60–79 years without dementia assigned to either facility-based multidomain intervention (FMI), home-based MI, or controls, we analyzed 56 scanned MRIs at baseline and 24 weeks. ReHo values from regions with significant longitudinal changes were compared between the intervention and control groups and their correlations with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) or serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were evaluated. ReHo values in the left medial orbitofrontal gyrus and right superior parietal lobule were increased [p = 0.021, correlated positively with serum BDNF changes (r = 0.504, p = 0.047)] and decreased [p = 0.021, correlated negatively with changes in the total (r = −0.509, p = 0.044) and attention (r = −0.562, p = 0.023). RBANS], respectively, in the participants assigned to the FMI group than those of the controls. Our results suggest that facility-based group preventive strategies may have cognitive benefits through neuroplastic changes in functional processing circuits in the brain areas which play a crucial role in the adaptive learning and internally directed cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: End-of-life care decision-making has become important to support dignity and quality of life for patients who are facing death in Korea, along with the enactment of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Act in 2018. However, it seems that the concepts and policies related to the law are not yet familiar to health care providers or the general public. This unfamiliarity can hinder efficient end-of-life care discussions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to propose a valid and reliable tool to explore the level of understanding of concepts and attributes related to end-of-life care decisions.Methods: This is a mixed-methods study design. A relevant law and literature analysis, expert consultation, cognitive interviews of 10 adults, and cross-sectional survey for psychometric tests using data from 238 clinical nurses were performed to update a tool developed before the life-sustaining treatment Act was enacted in Korea.Results: 29 items of the draft version were polished in terms of literacy, total length, and scoring method via cognitive interviews and finalized into 21 items through psychometric tests and expert consultations. The 21 items conformed to the Rasch unidimensional paramenters.Conclusion: A tool to identify the level of understanding of concepts related to end-of-life care decisions was proposed through a rather rigorous process to ensure feasibility and validity/reliability. We recommend the proposed tool to apply to the adult population and nurses for evaluation and educational purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutria, (Myocastor coypus), is a semiaquatic rodent native to the subtropical and temperate regions of South America. The species was introduced to South Korea for meat and fur production purposes and a wild population has become established. The species subsequently invaded aquatic ecosystems and destroyed aquatic vegetation and cultivated crops. Thus, it is essential to understand their current distribution and future range expansion for effective control and eradication strategies to reduce the risk of colonization into new regions. In this study, we used niche modeling procedure to identify potentially suitable habitats for M. coypus under current and future predicted climate change using the maximum entropy algorithm. We found that the main habitat area of M. coypus is expected to expand under a warming climate from ~ 4069 km2 in the southern and southeastern regions of South Korea, to the northern border of the country, with estimated ranges of 21,744 km2, 55,859 km2, and 64,937 km2 by 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively. The findings of the present study assist in identifying the future distribution and potential dispersion routes of M. coypus in South Korea, which is important for informing the government regarding essential management actions plans at regional and local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The South Korean government has been combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak using public information and extensive viral screening. We describe the application of the Korean response system in Gyeongsangnam-do province and outline the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in the cohort. Methods A Rapid Response Team tracked the patients' activities and identified close contacts. A Patient Management Team made decisions regarding the severity of illness, hospital allocation depending on severity, and time of discharge. A national medical center with 155 beds and 4 university-affiliated hospitals with 48 negative-pressure isolation rooms were dedicated for patients with COVID-19. Results As of 15 April, 17 400 residents were tested, of whom 111 were confirmed positive cases. Of the 111 patients, 78 were cured and discharged, 2 recovered after mechanical ventilation, and none died. One healthcare worker at the national center tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. All 412 staff members at the center were tested, but there were no additional infections. Cough (30.0%) was the most common initial symptom, whereas anosmia and ageusia were the first symptoms in 14.7% and 15.7% of the patients, respectively. Overall, 25 patients (22.5%) reported having no symptoms at admission and 7 (6.3%) remained asymptomatic at discharge. Conclusions A response system that enabled the early detection of COVID-19 cases, including asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases, and timely quarantine of these patients and their contacts, along with efficient allocation of medical resources, was the key to curbing the COVID-19 outbreak in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human constitution, the fundamental basis of oriental medicine, is categorized into different patterns for a particular disease according to the physical, physiological, and clinical characteristics of the individuals. Obesity, a condition of metabolic disorder, is classified according to six patterns in oriental medicine, as follows: spleen deficiency syndrome, phlegm fluid syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome (YDS), food accumulation syndrome (FAS), liver depression syndrome (LDS), and blood stasis syndrome. In oriental medicine, identification of the disease pattern for individual obese patients is performed on the basis of differentiation in obesity syndrome index and, accordingly, personalized treatment is provided to the patients. The aim of the current study was to understand the obesity patterns in oriental medicine from the genomic point of view via determining the gene expression signature of obese patients using peripheral blood mononuclear cells as the samples.Methods: The study was conducted in 23 South Korean obese subjects (19 female and four male) with BMI ≥25 kg/m(2). Identification of oriental obesity pattern was based on the software-guided evaluation of the responses of the subjects to a questionnaire developed by the Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine. The expression profiles of genes were determined using DNA microarray and the level of transcription of genes of interest was further evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).Results and Conclusion: Gene clustering analysis of the microarray data from the FAS, LDS, and YDS subjects exhibited disease pattern-specific upregulation of expression of several genes in a particular cluster. Further analysis of transcription of selected genes using qRT-PCR led to identification of specific genes, including prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2, G0/G1 switch 2, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 3, cystein-serine-rich nuclear protein 1, and interleukin 8 receptor, alpha which were highly expressed in LDS obesity constitution. Our current study can be considered as a valuable contribution to the understanding of possible explanation for obesity pattern differentiation in oriental medicine. Further studies can address a novel possibility that the genomic and oriental empirical approaches can be combined and implemented in systematic and synergistic development of personalized medicine. This clinical trial was registered in Clinical Research Information Service of Korea National Institute of Health ( https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index.jsp ).Registration Number: KCT0000387. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated the disease profile and clinical management, including the status of both glycemic control and complications, in patients with diabetes who were transferred to referral hospitals in Korea. Methods: Patients referred to 20 referral hospitals in Gyeongsangnam/Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeollanam/Jeollabuk-do with at least a 1-year history of diabetes between January and June 2011 were retrospectively reviewed using medical records, laboratory tests, and questionnaires. Results: A total of 654 patients were enrolled in the study. In total, 437 patients (67%) were transferred from clinics and 197 (30%) patients were transferred from hospitals. A total of 279 patients (43%) visited higher medical institutions without a written medical request. The main reason for the referral was glycemic control in 433 patients (66%). Seventy-three patients (11%) had received more than one session of diabetic education. Only 177 patients (27%) had been routinely self-monitoring blood glucose, and 146 patients (22%) were monitoring hemoglobin Ale. In addition, proper evaluations for diabetic complications were performed for 74 patients (11%). The most common complication was neuropathy (32%) followed by nephropathy (31%). In total, 538 patients (82%) had been taking oral hypoglycemic agents. A relatively large number of patients (44%) had been taking antihypertensive medications. Conclusion: We investigated the clinical characteristics of diabetic patients and identified specific problems in diabetic management prior to the transfer. We also found several problems in the medical system, which were divided into three medical institutions having different roles in Korea. Our findings suggested that the relationships among medical institutions have to be improved, particularly for diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Chasmothecia; German chamomile; Identification; ITS sequence EN Chasmothecia German chamomile Identification ITS sequence 833 833 1 06/01/22 20220501 NES 220501 I Matricaria chamomilla i L. (Asteraceae), known as German chamomile, is popular in Korea for medicinal and ornamental purposes. During September and October 2019, powdery mildew symptoms on the leaves and stems of I M. chamomilla i were observed on 50% of 300 plants surveyed at an herb garden in Namyangju (37°35'29"N 127°13'52"E), Korea. [Extracted from the article]

For South Korea, the 2002 World Cup came to be largely defined by the ‘street supporters’ – millions of Koreans who took to the streets to support their team and celebrate its achievements. Proclaimed as a cathartic experience that would revitalize Korean society and mentality, such interpretations obscured the actual operation of street support as primarily a scheme of media consumption. This article examines the Korean media's coverage of street support, and their production of the practice as a commoditized spectacle. The media used this coverage to develop a pervasive rhythm of media consumption, wherein the relationship between sport and nationalism was leveraged for a generalized and carnivalesque spectacle. This treatment of street support was a particularly explicit indicator of a more general trend, wherein the practice of sport spectatorship is increasingly displaced by the practice of general media consumption with regard to sport. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The coastal landscapes in southwestern Korea include a diverse array of tidal wetlands and salt marshes. These coastal zones link the ecological functions of marine tidal wetlands and freshwater ecosystems with terrestrial ecosystems. They are rich in biological diversity and play important roles in sustaining ecological health and processing environmental pollutants. Korean tidal wetlands are particularly important as nurseries for economically important fishes and habitats for migratory birds. Diking, draining, tourism, and conversion to agricultural and urban uses have adversely affected Korean tidal wetlands. Recent large development projects have contributed to further losses. Environmental impact assessments conducted for projects affecting tidal wetlands and their surrounding landscapes should be customized for application to these special settings. Adequate environmental impact assessments will include classification of hydrogeomorphic units and consideration of their responses to biological and environmental stressors. As is true worldwide, Korean laws and regulations are changing to be more favorable to the conservation and protection of tidal wetlands. More public education needs to be done at the local level to build support for tidal wetland conservation. Some key public education points include the role of tidal wetlands in maintaining healthy fish populations and reducing impacts of nonpoint source pollution. There is also a need to develop procedures for integrating economic and environmental objectives within the overall context of sustainable management and land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdery mildew infections seem to suppress the growth and spread of this weed in natural habitat. Keywords: Chamothecia; Noxious weed; Polygonaceae EN Chamothecia Noxious weed Polygonaceae 403 403 1 02/24/22 20220201 NES 220201 I Rumex japonicus, i although indigenous to East Asia, is regraded as a noxious weed in Korea. [Extracted from the article]

Business is booming for IT security consultants as hacker attacks and the recent onslaught of worms and viruses have made enterprises acutely aware of the vulnerability of their computer systems. Kim Hong-Sun, chairman and CEO of Korean IT security company SecureSoft, describes the latest developments in information security and outlines the processes by which firms can secure their data. Of all the Asian tiger economies, South Korea has been the swiftest in its adoption of broadband and wireless Internet technology, and the author paints a glowing picture of a society well attuned to the potential benefi ts of IT. Uniting the two themes of the discussion, he describes how advances in secure technology have enhanced the lives of Koreans and foresees a bright future for Korean security technology vendors. He also cautions, however, that increased levels of vigilance and continuing cooperation between business and government will be required to insure that trust and security in e-commerce can be maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The spatial distribution and invasion risk of 10 intentionally introduced alien plant species (IIAPS) in South Korea were predicted from a species distribution model via a maximum entropy modeling approach. According to the model predictions, future environmental changes are likely to enlarge the range of the spatial distribution of all studied IIAPS in South Korea except Medicago sativa. We classified the IIAPS into three categories based on their spatial distribution and potential to spread; this revealed that four species (Coreopsis lanceolate, Eragrostis curvula, Ageratina altissima, and Lolium perenne) have the highest potential for invasion. Moreover, we classified invasion risk into three categories, low, moderate, and high, and estimated the area in each category. We found that, under current conditions, much of the country is at low risk (47.96%) of invasion, but by 2050 >54% of the country's total area will be at high risk of invasion by IIAPS. Serious invasion of IIAPS into cropland, pastures, and forests results in the loss of native biodiversity and damage to the national economy. Therefore, immediate action is required to control and manage IIAPS in South Korea. Predicting the regions at risk of invasion from IIAPS is an integral horizon-scanning activity that plays a crucial role in preventing, controlling, and eradicating invasive species. Here, we quantify the spatial distribution area and invasion risk of IIAPS using a species distribution model under different levels of environmental change in South Korea. From the model predictions, the current average spatial extent of the 10 IIAPS is 33,948 km2, and the individual spatial extents are estimated to change by −7% to 150% by 2050 and by −9% to 156% by 2070. The spatial invasion risk assessment shows that, currently, moderate-to-high invasion risk is limited to coastal areas and densely populated metropolitan cities (e.g., Seoul, Busan, and Gwangju), but that the area with this level of risk is expected to spread toward the central and northern regions of the country in the future, covering 86.21% of the total area of the country by 2070. These results demonstrate that the risk of invasion by IIAPS is estimated to enlarge across the whole country under future environmental changes. The modeling system provided in this study may contribute to the initial control and strategic management of IIAPS to maintain the dynamic ecosystems of South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bryophytes contain a variety of bioactive metabolites, but studies about the anti-inflammatory effect of bryophytes are meager. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effect of methanol extract of Marchantia polymorpha L. (liverwort) and Racomitrium canescens (Racomitrium moss) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HaCaT cells. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of liverwort and Racomitrium moss, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) production and the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in LPS-induced HaCaT cells were measured. The methanol extract of liverwort and Racomitrium moss significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production in HaCaT cells. When compared with Racomitrium moss extract, pre-treatment with methanol extract of liverwort markedly inhibited the expression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-1β at the concentration of 100 µg/mL with the exception of TNF-α. Further, liverwort extract markedly attenuated the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the culture medium. In addition, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions obtained from the methanol extract of liverwort showed remarkable inhibitory activity against the production of NO in LPS-stimulated HaCaT cells. The LC-MS data revealed the presence of bisbibenzyl types of bioactive components in the methanol extract of liverwort. These data demonstrate that liverwort extract exhibits effective inhibitory activity against the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced HaCaT cells and may be useful for the treatment of inflammation-mediated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the distribution of invasive weeds under climate change is important for the early identification of areas that are susceptible to invasion and for the adoption of the best preventive measures. Here, we predicted the habitat suitability of 16 invasive weeds in response to climate change and land cover changes in South Korea using a maximum entropy modeling approach. Based on the predictions of the model, climate change is likely to increase habitat suitability. Currently, the area of moderately suitable and highly suitable habitats is estimated to be 8877.46 km2, and 990.29 km2, respectively, and these areas are expected to increase up to 496.52% by 2050 and 1439.65% by 2070 under the representative concentration pathways 4.5 scenario across the country. Although habitat suitability was estimated to be highest in the southern regions (<36° latitude), the central and northern regions are also predicted to have substantial increases in suitable habitat areas. Our study revealed that climate change would exacerbate the threat of northward weed invasions by shifting the climatic barriers of invasive weeds from the southern region. Thus, it is essential to initiate control and management strategies in the southern region to prevent further invasions into new areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Conyza sumatrensis; Podosphaera erigerontis-canadensis; Powdery mildew EN Conyza sumatrensis Podosphaera erigerontis-canadensis Powdery mildew 381 381 1 02/25/21 20210201 NES 210201 I Conyza sumatrensis i (Retz.) PCR products were amplified using the primer ITS1F and PM6 for internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and PM3 and TW14 for the large subunit (LSU) of the rDNA. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Calystegia hederacea; Powdery mildew symptoms; Ascospores EN Calystegia hederacea Powdery mildew symptoms Ascospores 351 351 1 02/25/21 20210201 NES 210201 In 2016-2019, I Erysiphe convolvuli i DC. was observed on I Calystegia hederacea i Wall. Ascospores, Calystegia hederacea, Powdery mildew symptoms. [Extracted from the article]