Nicrophorus Fabricius, 1775, commonly known as necrophagous beetle, is associated with vertebrate carrion. Up to date, the genus consists of 72 species worldwide. In recent years, various phylogenetic studies explored on the evolution and relationship of the species in the genus. However, morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies produced conflicting results, continuing the problem over whether Nicrophrous quadraticollis is monotypic or not. The present study is to report the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of N. quadraticollis that was sequenced in prior to a systematic research of Silphinae. It was 17,747bp in length and comprised 12 protein-coding genes(PCGs), 2 rRNA Genes, 22 tRNA Genes and one non-coding region. The nucleotide composition is 40.9% for A, 36.7% for T, 9.0% for G and 13.4% for C.

Root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita, inflicts significant greenhouse crop damage, causing over 40% economic losses. While chemical agents effectively control RKN, they leave harmful residue in soil and crops. To address this issue, we investigated soil-derived entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in this study. We assessed the nematicidal impact of ten EPF species through in vivo and in vitro tests. Beauveria bassiana JEF-503 exhibited nematicidal effectiveness exceeding 65% in both experimental settings. In a semi-field test using greenhouse pots, we experimented with the application of B. bassiana JEF-503 suspension during tomato growth, which is an uncommon practice in comparison to chemical treatments due to residue concerns. B. bassiana JEF-503 was applied during transplantation, and the same application was repeated four weeks later. JEF-503 One-time and abamectin treatments were used as control groups. The JEF-503 two-time application notably reduced root damage compared to single JEF-503 or abamectin treatment. In conclusion, JEF-503 offers a promising, residue-free, and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical agents for RKN management.

Macrophages secrete various cytokines and inflammatory mediators, resulting in playing critical roles in inflammation and immunity. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties of PB203, which is a water-soluble extract powder from the fruit of Actinidia polygama, in macrophages. A. polygama is a medicinal plant traditionally known to treat abdominal pain, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the molecular mechanism for the immune modulation of PB203 is still unclear. Therefore, we assessed the effects of PB203 on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and immune activation, and elucidated its action mechanism in mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells. PB203 significantly suppressed not only the levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but also the mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. We also found that these anti-inflammatory activities of PB203 were mediated through the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) induced by LPS. On the other hand, in normal macrophages, PB203 dose-dependently elevated the gene expression of immunomodulators including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and TNF-α in a statistically significant manner. The expression of IL-10, IL-1β, IL-6, and interferon-γ were also remarkably upregulated by the treatment of 500 μg/mL PB203. In addition, PB203-mediated production of NO and TNF-α was attenuated by NF-κB inhibition in RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, PB203 promoted the production of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2, resulting in the increased level of heme oxygenase-1, which is a representative antioxidant enzyme, in both LPS-stimulated and normal RAW264.7 cells. Taken all together, these results suggest that PB203 may have great potential as the candidate of anti-inflammatory agent for improving inflammatory diseases or immune enhancing agent for preventing infectious diseases. Keywords: Actinidia polygama extract (PB203); macrophages; immunomodulator; nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB); heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)

This study aimed to identify and characterize lactic acid bacteria strains with antimicrobial activity against Proteus mirabilis, a gram-negative bacterium associated with Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and nosocomial infections. Among the 987 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from various sources, strain no. CHK903 showed high antimicrobial activity against P. mirabilis. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and scanning electron microscope analysis identified the selected strain as the rod-shaped Weissella cibaria. The culture supernatants of W. cibaria CHK903 showed antimicrobial activity against some pathogens. Two antimicrobial compounds with molecular weights 189 and 365 Da were partially purified from the culture supernatants of W. cibaria CHK903 using Biogel P2 gel permeation column chromatography. The culture supernatants of W. cibaria CHK903 also showed significant antibiofilm properties, inhibiting biofilm formation by 90% and removing pre-formed biofilms by 60%. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic use of W. cibaria CHK903 as a natural antimicrobial against P. mirabilis-related infections.

The plant-specific NAC transcription factors control various biological processes, including plant development and stress responses. We have isolated an ANAC032 gene, one of the NAC transcription factor family, which was highly activated by multi-abiotic stresses, including high salt and drought in Arabidopsis. Here, we generated transgenic plants constitutively expressing ANAC032 and its knockout to identify the functional roles of ANAC032 in Arabidopsis under abiotic stress responses. The ANAC032-overexpressing plants showed enhanced tolerance to salinity and drought stresses. The anac032 knockout mutants were observed no significant changes under the high salt and drought conditions. We also monitored the expression of high salt and drought stress-responsive genes in the ANAC032 transgenic plants and anac032 mutant. The ANAC032 overexpression upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, RD29A and ERD10, under the stresses. Thus, our data identify that transcription factor ANAC032 plays as an enhancer for salinity and drought tolerance through the upregulation of stress-responsive genes and provides useful genetic traits for generating multi-abiotic stress-tolerant forage crops.

Repetitive or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes oxidative stress-mediated skin photoaging through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Actinidia polygama is known as a medical plant used in oriental medicine for treating several diseases such as abdominal pain, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, it was reported that A. polygama extract had anti-wrinkle and skin hydrating properties in ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed hairless mice. However, the molecular biological mechanism of this extract on alleviating skin photoaging is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the anti-photoaging effects of PB203, which is the powder of A. polygama extract, in the in vivo and in vitro photoaging models. First, PB203 showed 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities due to the presence of anti-oxidant components including flavonoids and polyphenols. In UVB-irradiated hairless mice, oral administration of PB203 (100 mg/ kg) significantly improved wrinkle formation, skin dehydration, elasticity and skin barrier function by decreasing the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and increasing those of collagen I, filaggrin, involucrin and loricrin. Especially, the reduced production of p-p38, p-c-Jun and p-c-Fos by PB203 reversed the elevated levels of MMPs mediated by UVB exposure, resulting in the upregulation of collagen I expression. Consistent with these animal data, PB203 remarkably enhanced the mRNA expression of collagen I, filaggrin, involucrin and loricrin, while suppressed that of MMPs in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. And PB203 increased the wound recovery rate of cells by promoting their proliferation and migration. Moreover, PB203 significantly recovered the activity of superoxide dismutase inhibited by UVB in both mice and cells. In conclusion, PB203, which protects skin from UVB-induced photodamage by exerting antioxidant properties, can be considered to have sufficient potential as a functional ingredient or therapeutic agent improving skin photoaging and related skin symptoms.

The distributions of common minke whales observed in the East Sea in ten surveys in May of 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2020 were investigated using satellite sea surface temperature (SST) derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). Most of the minke whales were observed in the waters off the Korean Peninsula at 36-38.5° N, which is expected as the highly productive coastal upwelling area. Yet, no minke whale was observed in 2006 when a relatively larger scale coastal upwelling occurred with SST at 11°C. In 2016 and 2020, the warm water higher than 17°C extended widely in the area, and the minke whales were observed in the offshore waters, deeper than 1,000 m. 87.5% of minke whales observed in May appeared in the SST from 13 to 16°C, and they seemed to avoid relatively high temperatures. This suggests that optimum habitat water temperature of minke whales in May is 13-16°C. The SST in the area had risen 1.67°C from 2003 to 2021, and it was remarkably higher than in other parts of the surrounding areas. The future temperature rising may change the route and timing of the migration of minke whales in the study area.

We present the analysis of a planetary microlensing event OGLE-2019-BLG-0362 with a shortduration anomaly (∼0.4 days) near the peak of the light curve, which is caused by the resonant caustic. The event has a severe degeneracy with Δχ2 = 0.9 between the close and the wide binary lens models both with planet-host mass ratio q ≃ 0.007. We measure the angular Einstein radius but not the microlens parallax, and thus we perform a Bayesian analysis to estimate the physical parameters of the lens. We find that the OGLE-2019-BLG-0362L system is a super-Jovian-mass planet Mp = 3.26+0.83 −0.58 MJ orbiting an M dwarf Mh = 0.42+0.34 −0.23 M⊙ at a distance DL = 5.83+1.04 −1.55 kpc. The projected star-planet separation is a⊥ = 2.18+0.58 −0.72 AU, which indicates that the planet lies beyond the snow line of the host star.

This paper aims to examine the progressive development process of the ASEAN under the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. As of 2022, the ASEAN Member States have a total population of 622 million people and a combined GDP of USD 3.2 trillion. The ASEAN’s main focus is integration by connectivity which has been facilitated by “the ASEAN Way.” The ASEAN connectivity was upgraded into a single community through the ASEAN Vision 2020 comprehensively formalized by the Bali Concord II in 2003. The ASEAN has been geographically expanding towards Northeast Asia (ASEN+3) and then Oceania with India (ASEAN+6). It was also connected to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is the biggest mega FTA in the contemporary world. With the Vision 2025, furthermore, the ASEAN Community reset its direction to sustainable development goals which are the main objective to attain for the Association under the Master Plan 2025.

PURPOSES : Abroad, road pavement materials vary depending on the speed and traffic volume of vehicles, but owing to the negative perception of block pavements, sidewalks, parking lots, and parks are primarily used in Korea. In addition, since speed restriction policies such as safety speed 5030 have been implemented recently, it is necessary to use block pavements for roadways, which are considered to have the effect of reducing speed. Therefore, it is necessary not only to actively discuss the introduction of block pavements for roadways but to continue research on the effectiveness of the performance evaluation and to change the perception of roads in Korea. METHODS : In this study, five indicators (surface damage, surface temperature, driving speed of vehicle, noise, and suspended dust) were selected for a sustainable road environment. The performance evaluation index of block pavement for roadways was decided according to the domestic and international literature, and the data were collected based on the evaluation index in the section with block pavement for roadways in Korea. RESULTS : The damage rate was calculated 0.35% according to the breakage of block and Maintenance Control Index(MCI) was ranked A~B even though the pavement was used for more than 4~5 years. The surface temperature of block pavement has a temperature reduction effect of 7 ℃ compared with ordinary asphalt pavement and a speed reduction of approximately 4 km/h on average; therefore, the traffic calming effect of block pavements can be expected. The noise of block pavement and asphalt pavement exhibited a similar level, and the noise level experienced by pedestrians did not change significantly as a result of frequency analysis. The measurement of road suspended dust around the road confirmed the possibility of reducing the concentration of road dust in the air owing to the smooth surface drainage and the results indicated the possibility. CONCLUSIONS : The results of this study are expected to contribute to the recognition and functional improvement of domestic block pavements by continuous monitoring to ensure the reliability of blocks. In addition, it is necessary to ensure the reliability of the quality and functional evaluation of paving materials through continuous on-site monitoring.