Poor embryo quality and low blastocyst formation have been major limitations in establishment of cloned embryonic stem cells and production of cloned animals through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Aggregation of embryos is a promising method for improving developmental competence of blastocysts. The aim of this study was to improve the blastocyst formation and the quality of parthenogenetic (PA) pig embryos by the aggregation of blastomeres at the 4-cell stage that were cultured in various type of culture dishes with or without phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The PA embryos were produced by the general method of our laboratory. On Day 2 after PA, the zona pellucida of 4 cell-stage embryos were removed by treatment with 0.5% (wt/vol) pronase solution. The 3x zona-free blastomere (ZFB) were randomly distributed in each of the following treatments for aggregation. ZFB were cultured for 5 days at 39℃ in an atmosphere 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2. In Experiment 1, effect of culture dishes on the aggregation efficiency and developmental competence of PA embryos were investigated. ZFB were cultured on non-coated (control) culture dish or dishes coated with 1% (wt/vol) agarose substrate (AS) or Well of the Well in dishes coated with 1% (wt/vol) agarose substrate (WAS). The ZFB cultured in WAS showed significantly higher (P<0.05) aggregation (81.2%) than AS and control (21.6-45.5%). The mean cell number in blastocysts derived from AS and WAS (81.4-89.3 cells/blastocyst) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of control (63.8 cells/blastocyst). In Experiment 2, effects of 150 ug/ml PHA treatment on the aggregation efficiency and developmental competence of embryos were investigated. The ZFB cultured in AS with PHA showed a higher (P<0.05) aggregation rate (90.0%) than that in AS without PHA, control with PHA, and control (39.2%, 57.9% and 17.5%, respectively). In conclusion, aggregation of porcine ZFB treated with PHA and agarose substrate could be a useful technique for producing improving blastocyst development with increased mean cell number of blastocysts in pigs.

We report the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the Ni70Mn30 alloy prepared by Planetary Ball Mill method. Keeping the milling time constant for 30 h, the effect of different ball milling speeds on the synthesis and magnetic properties of the samples was thoroughly investigated. A remarkable variation in the morphology and average particle size was observed with the increase in milling speed. For the samples ball milled at 200 and 300 rpm, the average particle size and hence magnetization were decreased due to the increased lattice strain, distortion and surface effects which became prominent due to the increase in the thickness of the outer magnetically dead layer. For the samples ball milled at 400, 500 and 600 rpm however, the average particle size and hence magnetization were increased. This increased magnetization was attributed to the reduced surface area to volume ratio that ultimately led to the enhanced ferromagnetic interactions. The maximum saturation magnetization (75 emu/g at 1 T applied field) observed for the sample ball milled at 600 rpm and the low value of coercivity makes this material useful as soft magnetic material.

Incursions of red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta into Korea have been increasing. After a first interception of a colony of S. invicta on Gamman pier, Pusan port while intensive surveillance by Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) in September 2017, three more RIFA colonies have been found in sea port piers of Pyeongtek, Incheon and Pusan cities. The social forms and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of the intercepted RIFA colonies were analysed by allelic discrimination assay (peptide nucleic acid probe based RT-PCR) of Gp-9 gene and mt-DNA fragment of 768 bp, which is part of the Cytochrome oxidaseⅠ gene. The colony on Gamman pier, intercepted in Sep. 2017 was previously reported as a haplotype 5 (H5) of mitochondrial DNA and a social form of polygyne. The colony on Hutchison pier of Pusan port, intercepted in June 2018 were confirmed as a H22 haplotype and a monogyne. Those different social forms show different origins of each colonies. Those on piers of Pyeongtek and Incheon ports, also found in 2018 were confirmed samely as H22 and monogyne. However, it could be putatively assumed that those two colonies were differently introduced via different container cargoes, considering those colonies were found in container yards of distantly located different sea ports. More genetic variation analyses using diverse sets of molecular markers such as microsatellites, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms, etc. in nuclear gens are being proceeded for more exact introduction routes (origins).

The hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) of the honeybee worker produces royal jelly (RJ) and has a developmental cycle closely related to the division of labor. In this study, we investigated to compare the HPG acini diameter of differently aged worker bees with high royal jelly producing colony (HRC) or less producing colony (LRC). Additionally, we also evaluated whether the fresh weight of the head is a reliable indicator of the developmental status of HPG. The HRC showed a significantly higher RJ production about two-times as compared with those of the LRC. We measured the HG-diameters on days 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. The microscopic analysis revealed that the acini size of the HRC was significantly larger than the LRC. In addition, the acini diameter of HRC was 15% longer than the LRC on the first day after emerging. It was shown that the fastest development during 3 days which is preparing for nurse the brood. The HPG acini diameters increased in both colonies in a similar fashion until day 12 and then decreased. We also compared the fresh head weight of the experimental colonies, differences were similar to the development of HPG. Therefore, high royal jelly production may have a positive correlation between HPG acini size and the fresh head weight.

벼메뚜기는 분류학적으로 메뚜기목(Orthoptera), 메뚜기과(Acrididae)에 속하는 곤충으로 작물에 피해를 주는 해충으로 인식하고 있지만 예로부터 단백질 보충을 위하여 채집하여 튀기거나 볶음요리 로 이용해 왔다. 벼메뚜기는 갈색거저리, 쌍별귀뚜라미 등과 함께 식품공전에 등록되어 있으나 1년 1세대로 가을철에 채집하여 이용하는 실정으로 공급확대에 한계가 있다. 최근 우리나라에서 벼메뚜기를 사육하고자 하는 농가와 다양한 용도로 가공을 통해 이용하려는 수요가 점차 증가하고 있으나 연중사육기술이 개발되지 않아 대량사육하는 농가가 거의 없는 실정이다. 이에 벼메뚜기의 연중대량사육기술 뿐만 아니라 인공사료 및 자동화 사육시설 개발에 따른 생산비 절감 기술 개발이 필요한 실정이다. 벼메뚜기의 먹이로는 여름작물로 옥수수, 수단그래스, 겨울작물로 밀, 보리 등의 볏과작물이 있으며 많은 양의 생엽과 발육에 적합한 작물의 선발 및 볏과작물의 통곡실 가루를 이용한 인공사료의 개발로 먹이공급 부족 시 15~20일 급여 가능하며, 벼메뚜기 사육시설로 단독형, 연결형, 절충형 등의 사육시설을 개발하여 연결형 사육시설의 수확량과 생존율이 가장 높았으며, 예취 급이 노동력이 단독형의 16% 소요되었다.

To identify the venom components and their expression patterns of some Aculeata bees/wasps, venom gland-specific transcriptome analysis was conducted. FPKM values were normalized with the average of the transcription level of reference gene (a-tubulin). Common components in both solitary and social wasp venoms include hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, metalloendopeptidase, etc. Although it has been expected that more diverse bioactive components with the functions of prey inactivation and physiology manipulation are present in solitary wasps, the information on venom compositions of solitary wasps obtained in this study was not sufficient to generalizae this notion. Nevertheless, some neurotoxic peptides (e.g., pompilidotoxin and dendrotoxin-like peptide) and proteins (e.g., insuline-like peptide binding protein) appear to be specific to solitary wasp venom. In contrast, several proteins, such as venom allergen 5 protein, venom acid phosphatase, and various phospholipases, appear to be relatively more abundant in social wasp venom. In the venom gland trancsriptome of bumblebees, major allergens or pain producing factors were barely identified, implying that bumblebee venoms are relatively less toxic than those of social or solitary wasps.

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, possesses a cholinesterase expressed exclusively in the salivary gland (ClSChE). In this paper, we investigated the molecular structure, tissue distribution patterns, and biochemical properties of ClSChE and showed that ClSChE exists as a soluble monomeric form or a soluble dimeric form connected by a disulfide bridge. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that ClSChE was expressed in the epithelial cells of both the salivary gland and the duct. In addition, the secretion of monomeric ClSChE through the proboscis during feeding was detected by western blotting using a ClSChE-specific antibody. To predict the role of ClSChE injected into the tissue of an animal host, we analyzed the extent of sequestration and hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh)/choline (Ch) by ClSChE by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Kinetic analysis revealed that ClSChE possesses extremely low Km (high affinity to ACh) and Vmax values. These findings suggest that ClSChE functions as a sequestering enzyme specific to ACh (not to Ch) by having a very strong affinity to ACh but an extremely long turnover time.

Porcine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) prefer three-dimensional (3D) culture systems to 2D ones for the maintenance of self-renewal. Of the many 3D culture systems, agar-based hydrogels are candidates for supporting porcine SSC self-renewal, and there are various types of agar powder that can be used. In this study, we sought to identify an agar-based 3D hydrogel system that exhibited strong efficacy in the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. First, 3D hydrogels with different mechanics were prepared with various concentrations of Bacto agar, lysogeny broth (LB) agar, and agarose powder, and the 3D hydrogel with the strongest alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and greatest increase in colony size was identified for the different types of agar powder. Second, among the porcine SSCs cultured in the different 3D hydrogels, we analyzed the colony formation, morphology, and size; AP activity; and transcription and translation of porcine SSC-related genes, and these were compared to determine the optimal 3D hydrogel system for the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. We found that 0.6% (w/v) Bacto agar-, 1% (w/v) LB agar-, and 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogels showed the strongest maintenance of AP activity and the most pronounced increase in colony size in the culture of porcine SSCs. Moreover, among these hydrogels, the strongest transcription and translation of porcine SSC-related genes and largest colony size were detected in porcine SSCs cultured in the 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel, whereas there were no significant differences in colony formation and morphology. These results demonstrate that the 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel can be effectively used for the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal.

The relationship of in vitro starch digestibility and gel strength was investigated at various concentrations (10-30%) of rice cultivars with different amylose contents (27.9, 17.9, and 5.2%). As the rice flour concentration increased, predicted glycemic index decreased, but gel strength increased regardless of amylose contents. Gel strength correlated strongly with amylose content, whereas in vitro starch digestibility was more highly affected by rice flour concentration than by amylose contents. Moreover, the impact of degree of gelatinization on in vitro starch digestibility of high amylose rice was also examined in terms of structural features and rheological properties. The digestion rate of fully gelatinized flour was 1.7 times higher than that of native flour, while the disrupted structure with a different gelatinization degree during starch digestion was visually demonstrated through the X-ray diffraction and molecular distribution analysis. The rice flour changed from an A-type to a V-type pattern and showed difference in crystalline melting. The low molecular weight distribution increased with increasing degree of gelatinization during starch digestion. The apparent viscosity also increased with degree of gelatinization. These results demonstrated that the starch digestibility of rice was more affected by concentration than by amylose content, as well as by the degree of gelatinization due to structural difference.

The members of the genus Flavivirus are noteworthy, as they cause infectious diseases in humans, such as Zika, denguefever, yellow fever, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis. Due to the increased awareness of the public health risk posedby flavivirus-infected mosquitoes, mosquito collections were performed in six urban parks of South Korea, as the parksare designated for human recreation but also provide suitable habitats for mosquitoes. We examined the diversity andabundance of mosquito species and conducted molecular diagnostics for the detection of flavivirus infections. Monthlycollections were carried out in each park from March to August in 2017. A total of 4,851 mosquitoes (5 genera and13 species) were collected using BG-sentinel traps and then investigated for flavivirus infections. Pathogenic flavivirusinfections causing human diseases were not observed in the field-collected mosquitoes. However, insect-specific flavivirus(ISF) infections were detected in several mosquito pools. ISF has been previously known to enhance or suppress the replicationof medically important flaviviruses in co-infected mosquito cells. In this study, partial sequences of ISF were analyzed.However, further studies are needed in order to determine its genetic characterization and biological function in vivo.

The organic light-emitting diodes are fabricated with six anthracene derivatives containing simple substituents such as phenyl or naphthyl group. The device structure is as in the following: Indium tin oxide (ITO) (180 nm)/4,4-4,4`,4``-tris[N-(1-naphthyl)-Nphenylamino] triphenylamine (2-TNATA) (30 nm)/4,4`-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenyl-1-amino] biphenyl (NPB) (20 nm)/Emitting compound (30 nm)/2,2′,2"- (1,3,5-Benzinetriyl)-tris (1-phenyl-1-H–benz-imidazole) TPBi (40 nm)/lithium quinolate (Liq) (2 nm)/Al (100 nm). In the emitting layer the anthracene derivatives are used without any dopant. All the six devices show blue emissions. Among the tested diodes, the one with 9-(2-naphthyl)-10-(p-tolyl) anthracene (2-NTA) exhibited luminous efficiency, power and external quantum efficiencies of 3.26 cd/A, 0.98 lm/A, 2.8 % at 20 mA/cm .

Today, consumers are becoming more sensitive to price since price have been an essential motivation for them to choose the electronic retail venue. Recently, it is recognized that social commerce, with higher rate of daily active users, is ahead of traditional electronic mobile commerce in Korea. One of strengths in social commerce is attractive price deals for fashion brands, which positively lead to purchase probabilities. Therefore, fashion retailers should understand consumers’ price perception and their responses toward sales promotions on the social commerce. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of consumer price perception and choice heuristics on impulse buying behavior for sales promotion of fashion brands and to examine the moderating effect of an engagement level in the social commerce. A self-administered questionnaire was developed, and mainly included consumer price perception (e.g., price consciousness, sales proneness), choice heuristics (e.g., affect referral, price referral), engagement, impulse buying and demographics. An online survey was undertaken by a research agency. A total of 235 usable responses were obtained from Korean consumers who had purchased fashion brands from social commerce sites (e.g., Coupang, Wemakeprice, Ticketmonster, etc.) using mobile devices. Respondents represent more females (n=129, 54.9%) than males (n=106, 45.1%). They are aged from 19 to 39 years old (Means=29). Results showed that consumers’ sales proneness had a positive effect on affect referral and price referral heuristics, which positively lead to impulse buying behavior. However, consumer price consciousness had a negative effect on impulse buying at the social commerce sites. Also, the mediating effect of the engagement was significant in the relationship among sales proneness, choice heuristics, and impulse buying behavior for sales promotion of fashion brands in the social commerce sites. This study discussed marketing implications for social commerce to effectively manage promotional program in the social commerce market.

Selecting an appropriate antigen with optimal immunogenicity and physicochemical properties is a pivotal factor to develop a protein based subunit vaccine. Despite rapid progress in modern molecular cloning and recombinant protein technology, there remains a huge challenge for purifying and using protein antigens rich in hydrophobic domains, such as membrane associated proteins. To overcome current limitations using hydrophobic proteins as vaccine antigens, we adopted in silico analyses which included bioinformatic prediction and sequence-based protein 3D structure modeling, to develop a novel periodontitis subunit vaccine against the outer membrane protein FomA of Fusobacterium nucleatum. To generate an optimal antigen candidate, we predicted hydrophilicity and B cell epitope parameter by querying to web-based databases, and designed a truncated FomA (tFomA) candidate with better solubility and preserved B cell epitopes. The truncated recombinant protein was engineered to expose epitopes on the surface through simulating amino acid sequence-based 3D folding in aqueous environment. The recombinant tFomA was further expressed and purified, and its immunological properties were evaluated. In the mice intranasal vaccination study, tFomA significantly induced antigen-specific IgG and sIgA responses in both systemic and oral-mucosal compartments, respectively. Our results testify that intelligent in silico designing of antigens provide amenable vaccine epitopes from hard-to-manufacture hydrophobic domain rich microbial antigens.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a two-week English-language orientation program at a Korean university on first-year students’ perceptions of English. This quantitative study contributes to the local literature by documenting the changes on a preand post-course survey that measured participants’ willingness to communicate, foreign language anxiety, attitudes towards English, and perceptions of English as a global language. Key results of independent-samples t-tests indicated that student perceptions showed statistically significant changes on five of the six scales, and that the biggest influences of the program were on willingness to communicate and lessening student anxiety. The study also investigated the link between program satisfaction and experience of studying English abroad, finding that there was no relation between them. However, a one-way ANOVA and correlation analysis indicated that there was a relationship between program satisfaction and students’ self-rated proficiency, finding that the lower-proficiency students were slightly less satisfied than those rating themselves as “average” or “good” English speakers. The study concludes with recommendations for future studies and for planning English-language orientation programs in Korean universities.

Generally, fate of spematogonial stem cells (SSCs) can be determined specifically by microenvironments enclosed with various extracellular matrix (ECM) components and integrins recognizing directly ECM proteins play an pivotal role in transporting ECM-derived signals into cytoplasm, resulting in inducing a variety of biological functions such as cell attachment, self-renewal and differentiation. However, to date, studies on type of integrins expressed on the undifferentiated SSCs remain unclear. Therefore, we tried to investigate systematically what kind of integrin subunits are expressed transcriptionally or translationally in the SSCs derived from testis of hybrid B6CBAF1 mouse. For these, isolation of SSCs from testis were conducted by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) using Thy1 antibody. Subsequently, transcriptional and translational level of integrin α and β subunits in the isolated SSCs were measured by real-time PCR and fluorescene immunoassay, respectively. As the results, transcriptional levels of genes encoding total 25 integrin subunits were quantified, and integrin α4, α6, α7, α9, αV, αL and αE and integrin β1, β5 showed higher expression levels than other subunits. By contrast, integrin α3, α5, α 10 and α11 and integrin β2, β3, β4, β7 were weakly transcribed. When translational levels of the integrin α subunits showing high transcription level (α4, α6, α7, α9, αV αL, and αE) were measured, integrin α6, α7, α9, αV and αL were higher than integrin α4 and αE. In case of integrin β subunit, β1 evaluated more expression than β5. From these results, we speculate that the undifferentiated SSCs derived from hybrid B6CBAF1 mouse may express integrin α4β1, α6β1, α7β1, α9β1, αVβ1 and/or αVβ5 on plasma membrane. Moreover, this information will greatly contribute to constructing non-cellular niche supporting self-renewal of SSCs in the future.

A study was conducted to determine the rheological properties of pomegranate puree (PP) as affected by different gums (xanthan and guar gums) and temperatures (25, 35 and 45°C). The rheological properties of the samples were determined using a rotational rheometer at a shear range of 1 to 40 s-1. The PP added with xanthan and guar gums were found to be Non-Newtonian fluids following the Herschel-Bulkley model. The yield stress and consistency coefficient of the PP with xanthan gum at different temperatures were higher than those of the PP with guar gum but the opposite was observed for the flow behavior index. Moreover, all rheological properties of the PP regardless of type of gum addition decreased with increasing temperature. The consistency coefficient was related to temperature using an Arrhenius-type relationship. The PP with xanthan gum (16.11 kJ/mol) has higher activation energy than the PP with guar gum (11.44 kJ/mol). The yield stress values of the PP with xanthan gum and guar gum can be related to temperature by linear regression equations and the flow behavior index values by exponential regression equations.