Claude Thompson

SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Singer and actor Kim Jae-joong likens his past 20 years in the entertainment industry to a blossoming field of flowers. 

“When I was young, the flowers – symbolising the love and support from my fans – seemed small and delicate. But over time, they formed a vast flower garden that motivated me to keep moving forward and create more glorious moments in my life,” he shared during an interview in Seoul on Tuesday, introducing his fourth LP, “Flower Garden.”

Set to release on Wednesday evening, the album arrives just in time for the 20th anniversary of Kim’s debut. He first entered the music scene in 2003 as a member of the iconic K-pop boy group TVXQ.

“I invested a lot in the physical production of ‘Flower Garden’ because I wanted it to be a collectible item, not just a ticket to my fan meet event,” Kim explained. 

“This album encapsulates my musical journey since I began my solo career in 2013, showcasing my diverse vocal styles and the kind of music I can create as an artist.”

The 14-track album includes ten songs with lyrics written by Kim himself. The lead single, “Glorious Days,” celebrates the mutual love between Kim and his fans. 

“This song expresses how my glorious days are when I receive love from my fans and also when I give them my love in return. My days are glorious thanks to my fans,” he said.

In April last year, Kim founded his own entertainment agency, iNkode, after departing from C-JeS Studios.

Reflecting on this new chapter, he stated, “The biggest change in recent years has been starting my own agency. Now, I can actively pursue individual projects and focus on what I truly want to do.”

Kim is also venturing into producing, working on a K-pop group with members of diverse nationalities. His ambition is to set new trends in the entertainment industry. 

“With my two decades of experience, I can offer valuable advice to K-pop trainees and newcomers. I tell them that overcoming each barrier will extend their lifespan as artists,” he said. “My dream is to initiate a new trend in the K-pop industry with unique projects never seen before.”

In addition to his musical endeavours, Kim will embark on a fan concert tour, starting with performances in Seoul on July 20-21 at Jangchung Arena. 

He will also star as the lead in MBN’s romance drama series “Bad Memory Eraser,” premiering on August 2.

Source: borneobulletin.com.bn

That pile of soil you bought at the home improvement store may contain more than just dirt, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

A new UGA study found high levels of multidrug-resistant fungi in commercially available compost, soil and flower bulbs.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a widespread fungus that thrives in soil. But it also poses a serious risk to human health if inhaled. People with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the opportunistic fungus, facing a near 100% fatality rate if infected with a multidrug-resistant strain.

“People don’t think of tulips as deadly, but they could be,” said Marin Brewer, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“Gardening is a nice, stress-relieving hobby,” Brewer said. “But I’m nervous for people who may not be aware that working with compost and flower bulbs could pose a risk to their health.”

Those people include individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD), cystic fibrosis, Type 2 diabetes, HIV/AIDS and even COVID-19. Cancer patients and anyone taking immunosuppressant drugs are also vulnerable.

And research shows more people are at risk of developing fungal infections than before.

Aspergillus fumigatus poses a critical public health threat

The World Health Organization recently named Aspergillus fumigatus as one of the most critical fungal threats facing the world.

Aspergillus fumigatus infects more than 2 million people annually worldwide.

Aspergillosis, the disease caused by the fungus, is one of the most frequent causes of death in immunocompromised patients. About eight out of every 10 invasive aspergillosis patients die, according to a recent study.

Based on our findings, there could be tens of thousands of potentially resistant strains in one bag of compost.” —Marin Brewer, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

Although less common, the fungus can even pose a threat to individuals with healthy immune systems.

Known as aspergillomas, the fungus can create a clump on the lung. While some healthy individuals may clear the infection on their own with minimal to no symptoms, other aspergilloma patients require antifungal medications or surgery to stop the infection from spreading.

The problem is that the treatments for human patients rely on the same mechanisms to fight the fungi as those used in agricultural settings. And they’re becoming less effective.

Multidrug-resistant fungi found in soil, manure-based compost, flower bulbs

 The researchers sampled products including compost, soil, flower bulbs and a variety of food products sold at big box retail stores from 2019 through 2021.

The study found more than 500 strains of Aspergillus fumigatus in the products, which included an assortment of different brands. Of the 525 samples, 90% were found in flower bulbs, soil, compost and peanuts.

Most of the drug-resistant strains of fungi were found in soil, compost made from manure and flower bulbs, including daffodils, dahlias, gladioli and tulips.

“We found dozens of strains of resistant fungi in just 1 gram of compost,” Brewer said. “Based on our findings, there could be tens of thousands of potentially resistant strains in one bag of compost.”

How can gardeners keep themselves safe from fungus?

People are infected with Aspergillus fumigatus by inhaling the fungi’s spores.

The researchers highly recommend individuals with compromised immune systems take precautions when gardening and discuss the potential risks with their physicians. Devoted gardeners can also wear N-95 masks to provide some protection.

The agricultural industry is working to address the problem, but in the meantime Brewer said she personally won’t be planting flower bulbs. And she’ll probably pass on using commercial compost too.

Published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the study was co-authored by Caroline Wang, Natalie Miller, Douglas Vines, Paul M. Severns and Michelle Momany, of UGA’s Fungal Biology Group and UGA’s Departments of Plant Pathology and Plant Biology.

Source: news.uga.edu

These wildlife-friendly choices will keep pollinators happy throughout the summer

Source: independent.ie

What you need to know:

• Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor have joined together to support more sustainable farming practices through the use of Verizon’s network connectivity.

• Monarch’s autonomous tractors stay connected even in remote agricultural areas, leveraging the power of Verizon’s award-winning wireless networks.

• Monarch Tractor’s Monarch MK-V platform, integrated with Verizon’s technology, enables autonomous operations, near real-time visibility, and alerts for farmers.

NEW YORK – Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor, the pioneering force behind the MK-V, the world’s first fully electric, autonomous, smart tractor, announce a strategic partnership to support more sustainable farming practices with the use of autonomous tractors all connected via Verizon’s network. 

By harnessing Verizon’s technology, Monarch Tractor enables its autonomous tractors to be connected even in remote agricultural landscapes. Unlike traditional broadband solutions, Verizon provides game-changing technology that connects homes and businesses seamlessly. This connectivity is ideal for remote locations and well suited for the vineyards and farmlands served by Monarch Tractor.

“Monarch Tractor is an example of what happens when an innovative customer leverages our class network and shows the power and versatility of our wireless network,” said Aparna Khurjekar, Chief Revenue Officer, Verizon Business. “By providing connectivity to their autonomous tractors, we are enabling Monarch Tractor’s mission to redefine an industry, bringing greater data-driven decision-making to the agricultural sector.”

The Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor Partnership

Innovation is at the heart of the partnership between Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor, which is investigating the deployment of additional Verizon Business solutions tailored to the agricultural sector. These include capabilities such as the wireless network performance tool and GPS location services.

The deal between Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor underscores the transformative potential of technology in promoting sustainable agriculture by driving innovation, connectivity, and efficiency in farming practices, paving the way for a more resilient and prosperous future for farmers and communities worldwide.

Monarch MK-V Technology

Headquartered in Livermore, California, a renowned agricultural hub, Monarch Tractor’s farmer-centric approach to innovation aligns with Verizon Business’s commitment to advancing technological solutions for businesses across diverse sectors, marking this as a pivotal moment in the agricultural industry. This effort is driven heavily by the Monarch MK-V platform.

The Monarch MK-V combines electrification, machine learning, and data analysis to enhance operations by driving labor productivity, increased safety, and significant cost savings. Monarch Tractor customers can harness the true power of the MK-V with the Wingspan Ag Intelligence (WingspanAI) platform, which provides automated operations planning, remote fleet management, tractor performance reports, maintenance diagnostics, and more. Harnessing Verizon’s technology in the MK-V enables the execution of autonomous operations via the WingspanAI app and deeper visibility into MK-V operations through live video feeds and near real-time alerts from virtually anywhere, at any time.

Monarch Tractor, through its work with Verizon Business, is leveraging connectivity in this real-world use case, highlighting how the Verizon network helps meet the demand for access to high-speed, reliable internet, in virtually any location or industry. 

“The premise of Monarch Tractor has been centered around delivering farm machinery that drives farmer profitability and planet sustainability at scale,” said Praveen Penmetsa, CEO and Co-Founder of Monarch Tractor. “Leveraging Verizon’s connectivity solutions has been integral to making the MK-V tractor’s smart, sustainable technology accessible to customers in remote farming communities, allowing us to bring the latest in electrification and autonomy into the hands of farmers across the country.” 

Learn more about Monarch Tractor and the MK-V platform.

Learn more about innovative business solutions from Verizon Business.

Source: verizon.com