A 20' X 20' region around 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is observed and analyzed in the near-infrared. We obtain polarimetry data in the J, H, and Ks bands using the SIRIUS polarimeter SIRPOL at the Infrared Survey Facility 1.4 m telescope. We measure the Stokes parameters of 2562 point-like sources to derive the degree of polarization and the polarization position angles. We discuss the statistics of the groups classified by color-magnitude diagram and proper motions of the sources, in order to separate the Galactic foreground sources from those present in the LMC. We notice that groups classified by the proper motion data show a tendency towards different polarimetric properties.

The forest of Korea had been severely degraded since early 1900s until 1950s. Korean Government has successfully accomplished the reforestation works since 1960s. However, some plantations showed poor survival and growth caused by ignoring site characteristics in selecting plantation species and lack of tending works such as thinning. The natural regeneration of indigenous species, such as Quercus species and Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., were examined in the plantations of Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc. and Larix kaempferi Fortune ex Gordon. Quercus species regenerated mainly by sprouting while P. densiflora regenerated naturally from a few mother trees that remained in the plantations. P. koraiensis showed poor survival (IVI ≤ 25%) and suppressed growth (height ≤ 3 m and DBH ≤ 3 cm at 20 year-old) by Quercus species or P. densiflora in the plantation areas, however had high survival (IVI ≥70%) and growth (8 m height and 14.1 cm DBH at 20 year-old) in areas where silvicultural practices were conducted. L. kaempferi showed good survival (IVI ≥40%) and growth (17.2 m height and 16.3 cm DBH at 30 year-old) mostly in valley areas, while it was nearly dead (IVI ≤ 10%) in ridge or ridge-slope areas and was replaced by indigenous species such as Quercus species (IVI ≥ 25～55%) or P. densiflora (IVI ≥ 18～50%).

목적: International Association of Contact Lens Educators(IACLE)가 실시하는 STE결과를 분석하여 한국에서의 콘택트렌즈 교육 실태를 알아보고자 한다. 방법: 2010년 IACLE에서 주관한 STE에 참여한 12개 대학 안경광학과 학생들의 시험성적을 분석하여 대학 및 국가간 비교를 실시하였다. 결과: 12개 대학의 평균은 100점 만점을 기준으로 하여 54.01점이었으며 평균 합격률은 62.75%였다. 문항을 주제별로 7개 부류로 나누어 분석한 결과 평균 점수는 각각 전안부 해부 및 생리 48.73점, 콘택트렌즈 디자인 및 관리 46.14점, 콘택트렌즈 피팅원리 49.08점, 환자 검사 및 콘택트렌즈 처방 73.37점, 콘택트렌즈 관리 및 유지 66.12점, 콘택트렌즈에 대한 안구 반응 55.45점, 콘택트렌즈 착용으로 인한 부작용 52.54점으로 나타났다. 교육기간에 따라 2,3년제 대학과 4년제 대학을 비교해 본 결과 2,3년제 대학의 평균 점수가 53.35점, 4년제 대학의 점수가 54.94점으로 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 국가간 비교에서는 중국, 인도, 프랑스, 독일에 비해 한국 학생들의 점수가 다소 낮은 것으로 확인 되었다. 결론: 평균점수와 합격률에 있어 학교 및 과목 사이에 편차가 확인 되었다.

Ovulation synchronization (ovsynch) has proved to increase the number of insemination in cattle by overcoming the problems of heat detection. The aim of this study was to do ovsynch in water buffaloes where heat detection is a major reproductive problem and to determine the conception rates after timed artificial insemination (TAI). Twenty cyclic buffaloes at 60 days postpartum were selected by examining 24 unobserved estrus buffaloes based on milk progesterone assay (progesterone concentration 1.0 ng/ml) from the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Ovsynch treatment regimen was started irrespective of the stage of estrous cycle. Gonadorelin (500 ) was injected intramuscularly at Day 0 followed by Alfaprostol (8 mg) at Day 7. A second injection of Gonadorelin was given at Day 9 and TAI was done with frozen semen from Mediterranean buffalo bulls at 16~20 hours of the second Gonadorelin injection. Milk progesterone ELISA at Day 10~12 post AI confirmed ovulation in 16 out of 20 (80%) buffaloes (progesterone concentration 1.0 ng/ml). High progesterone concentration ( 1.0 ng/ml) at Day 10~12 and Day 22~24 of AI showed pregnancy in six out of 20 (30%) buffaloes. Pregnancy was further confirmed by ultrasonography at Day 40 in these six buffaloes. In conclusion, ovsynch followed by TAI could be applied in cyclic buffaloes for overcoming the estrus detection problems; however, more studies are needed to increase the conception rate.

Edible mushrooms have been used and researched as medicinal ingredients. They improve immunity and contain excellent anticancer components with large amounts of minerals such as iron, calcium, and potassium. Due to this reason, it has been hailed as a raw material for functional foods. Especially, β-glucan, known to be contained in Ganoderma incidum Karst, Coriolus versicolor, and Phellinus linteus, was reported to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells by activating immune function (macrophages, natural killer cells and T-cells). In addition, mushroom polysaccharides dissolve in water but are undigested ingredients, resulting in stimulating the immune system as well as staying of parasympathetic nervous system in the stomach for a long time. As a result, they induce increase of T-cells and NK cell that attacks cancer cell and has effect on the discharge of body's waste products, blood purification, and constipation improvement. In this study, we report the culture characteristics of Sparassis crispa as to the medium growth compositions, yeast, and elicitor treatments to investigate the optimal condition for the highest β-glucan production in mushrooms.

Lycorma delicatula (White 1845), which has been recently introduced into Korea, is a notorious pest on grapes. This invasive insect has rapidly spread throughout central and southern Korea. To date, we have no behavioral or population genetics information, such as invasion routes and subsequent dispersal rates in Korea, to help understand and control populations of L. delicatula. Here, we have developed 15 novel microsatellite loci for L. delicatula. The isolated loci were polymorphic, with 2 to 19 alleles in 42 individuals from a single population in Cheonan. The analyses revealed that all 42 individuals had different multilocus genotypes with heterozygosity ranging from 0.214 to 0.866. Eleven of the 15 loci did not deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The isolated markers will facilitate population genetic studies of L. delicatula.

Western blot analysis using acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-specific antibody was conducted to determine whether AChE gene (Tuace) duplication actually results in overproduction of AChE in Tetranychus urticae (TuAChE). The protein quantities of TuAChE in seven field-collected mite populations were precisely correlated with the copy numbers. To investigate the effects of each mutation on AChE insensitivity and possible fitness cost, eight variants of TuAChE were in vitro expressed using the baculovirus expression system. Kinetic analysis revealed that the Ala391Thr mutation did not change kinetic properties of AChE, whereas the Gly228Ser and Phe439Trp mutations significantly increased the insensitivity to monocrotophos. Moreover, when the Gly228Ser and Phe439Trp mutations are present together, insensitivity increased over a thousand-fold, showing that both mutations confer resistance in a synergistic manner. Presence of the mutations, however, reduced catalytic efficiency of AChE considerably, suggesting an apparent fitness cost in monocrotophosresistant mites. Reconstitution of the multiple copies of AChE having different compositions of mutations revealed that the catalytic efficiencies of the six-copy and two-copy AChEs (resembling the AD and PyriF strains of mite, respectively) were still lower but comparable to that of wildtype AChE. These finding clearly suggested that multiple rounds of Tuace duplication was needed to compensate the reduced catalytic activity of AChE caused by mutations.

A polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), is a symbiotic provirus to an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae. When the wasp parasitizes its natural host, Plutella xylostella, larvae, CpBV viral particles are translocated to hemocoel of P. xylostella along with the wasp eggs. CpBV-ELP1 is encoded in a viral segment and expressed in the parasitized larvae during entire parasitization period. A recombinant baculovirus expressing CpBV-ELP1 was constructed and applied to a non-natural host, Spodoptera exigua, larvae. When the recombinant baculovirus was injected to hemocoel, CpBV-ELP1 was expressed in hemocytes as early as 2h postinjection and then later expressed in other tissues. When it was applied to diet, CpBV-ELP1 was expressed in midgut epithelium at 12 h and subsequently expressed in internal tissues. Both application methods of the recombinant baculovirus caused significantly higher mortality of S. exiguathan non-recombinant baculovirus. Interestingly, midgut epithelial cells expressing CpBV-ELP1 by infection of the recombinant baculovirus showed poor cell-cell interactions. Integrin, a cell surface molecule associated with cell-cell interaction, was cloned in S. exigua and was confirmed in its expression in the midgut epithelium. A hypothesis was raised that CpBV-ELP1 interrupts integrin function by direct binding or by blocking internal integrin signaling.

A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a needle, or via fingerprick. They are used to determine physiological and biochemical states, such as disease, mineral contents, drug effectiveness, and organ function. Although the term blood test is used, most routine tests (except for most haematology) are done on plasma or serum, instead of blood cells. Main advantage of using saliva in diagnostics is easy and non invasive sample taking compared to peripheral blood. According to the study published, saliva contains more than 20 percent of the proteins found in blood. The purpose of present study is to compare biochemical enzymes in saliva and in blood serum and to evaluate the usefulness of saliva specimens instead of blood in dental clinic. The saliva from 215 healthy over 50 years of aged people lived in Dong-gu district, Gwangu city was collected and the analysis was performed by six enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). ELISA results were compared with blood chemistry results. The values or patterns on Alanine Aminotransperase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransperase (AST), Cholesterol and Triglyceride in saliva were not correlated with those in blood serum. However, Albumine and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) were followed the positive relationship with blood chemistry. These result showed that detection and identification of Albumine and γ-GTP level could be established by saliva ELISA analysis, so that ELISA assay on saliva could be useful alternative to serum testing.