The objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects mixed with Weissella cibaria JW15 strain and black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). In this experiment, JW15 was cultured in De Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) broth at 37% for 17 hr, and the cells were washed twice with sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.2). And black soybean was extracted by ethanol or hot boiling water. The immuno-modulatory effects of mixed JW15 and black soybean extract were investigated by measuring the production of nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and cytokine (Interleukin-1β and Tumor necrosis factor-α) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells or RAW blue cells. The 0.1 % ethanol and hot water extract of black soybean increased NO, NF-κB, and cytokine production in a concentration dependent manner. The NF-κB activation by JW15 mixed with 0.1 % hot water extract of black soybean (0.26 ± 0.02) was significantly higher than JW15 alone (0.20 ± 0.02). Also, combination of JW15 and 0.1% hot water extract of black soybean triggered IL-1β production of 110.19 ± 4.38 pg/mL, which was significantly greater than the JW15 alone (12.06 ± 7.58 pg/mL). The results of this study indicate that combination of Weissella cibaria JW15 and black soybean extract may have an ability to activate innate immune response synergistically. According to these results, the mixture of JW15 and black soybean extract could hold great promise for use in probiotics.

We have studied the IR properties of molecular clouds in the region of the supershell GS234-02 using IRAS and COBE data. The mean values of dust color temperature and optical depth at 240μm are derived to be 15.4±1.5 K and 9.0±5.7×10-4, respectively, which agree well with those determined by Sodroski et al.(1994) for the outer Galaxy. Mean IRAS colors, R12/100= 0.074, R25/100= 0.052, R60/100= 0.219, indicate that the abundance of PAHs is enhanced but other particles are nearly the same as those of the solar neighborhood. We found the anticorrelation between R100/140 and R140/240. It cannot be explained by the thermal emission of traditional big grains. The anticorrelation implies that, at high ISRF, T100/140 underestimates the equilibrium temperature, while T140/240 overestimates it and, at low ISRF, vice versa. Therefore we propose to use the intensity ratio, R100/240 as a dust thermometer.

Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV) caused significant reduction in barley yield and is difficult to control due to alive parasitic soil-borne fungus, Palmyra gamines that transmits the, virus. Previous studies have indicated that a virus-free soil could be infested by using virus-contaminated farming machineneries and implements. For the further confirmation of this finding, different proportions of BaYMV-infested soil were mixed into virus free soil. Three barley varieties (Hordum vulgarae, cv "Olbori", "Baegdong" and "Sacheon 6") were sown in pots treated with different rate of P. graminis-infested soil ranging from 0% to 100% in October 20, 2001. Results showed that BaYMV infection increased as the rate of infested soil increased. Initial symptoms were observed in a pots treated with 10% infested soil in all the 3 varieties of barley. "Olbori" had about 5% infection in 20% infested soil and about 10% infection in 40% or 50% infested soil and about 20% infection in 60% infested soil. In "Baegdong", the trend of BYMV occurrence was similar with "Olbori" but the time of severe infection was earlier than "Olbori". BaYMV infection in "Sacheon 6" was even earlier than "Baegdong" with much more severe symptoms than "Baegdong". The growth rate of barley was affected by about 19-22% when grown in 20% infested soil. As the rate of BaYMV infested soil increased the heading date was delayed but the maturing date was early in "Olbori" and "Sacheon 6". Also, reduction rate of culm length in 3 varieties increased with increase of infested soil content. However, "Olbori" showed the highest reduction. "Sacheon 6", have been characterized with long spike length, however was significantly reduced as the infested soil increased. On the other hand, spike length of "Olbori" was not significantly affected despite of increased of infested soil. The reduction rate of 1000 kernel weight was higher in large kernel size cultivar "Sacheon 6" and "Olbori" than small kernel size "Baegdong" as increase of BaYMV-infested soil content.