Genus Spilonota is a small group of the family Tortricidae, including over 29 described species worldwide (Brown, 2005). Most larvae of the genus feed on various plant families including Pinaceae, Rosaceae, Leguminosae, Betulaceae, Salicaceae, and Juglandaceae, with economical importance (Park, 1983, Zhang & Li, 2005). Even though this genus has been relatively well investigated in East Asia: five species from South Korea (Byun et al., 2009); ten species from China (Zhang & Li, 2005); eight species from Russian Far East (Kuznetsov, 2001); thirteen species including four unidentified species from Japan (Kawabe, 1982, Oku, 2003), it has been very poorly studied from North Korea with only two recorded species to date (Razowski, 1999, Byun et al., 2009) The aim of the present study is to clarify the fauna of the genus Spilonota from North Korea, including two new records, based on the material deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary (HNHM). In the present study, the author examined all available material from North Korea. In this study, four species of Spilonota are recognized. Among them, two species, Spilonota lechriaspis Meyrick, 1932 and Spilonota ocellana (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), are reported for the first time from North Korea. A key to the species is provided. Photos of adults and the genitalia are provided with brief comments on the distribution.

A bacterium was isolated from feces of Allomyrina dichotoma larva that feeds on well-rotted sawdust of woods. The isolate was identified as a Gram-positive and spore-forming stain. We named the isolate as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on the basis of morphological and biochemical properties as well as 16S rRNA gene sequences. The culture of bacteria beneficially increased root and shoot growth of tomato, pepper and cucumber plants compared to the distilled water control. In addition, the bacterial culture strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of several fungal phytopathogens. The drop collapse assay with this culture showed a surfactant activity that is a major indicator for the selection of biocontrol agent. Also, a bacterium has ability of wastewater treatment. These data demonstrate the potential application of B. amyloliquefaciens as a biocontrol agent.

Ski protein is implicated in proliferation/differentiation in a variety of cells. We had previously reported that Ski protein is present in granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in preovulatory follicles, suggesting that Ski has a role in apoptosis of granulosa cells. The alternative fate of granulosa cells other than apoptosis is to differentiate to luteal cells, however, it is unknown whether Ski is expressed and has a role in granulosa cells undergoing luteinization. Thus, the aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein in the rat ovary during luteinization to predict the possible role of Ski. In order to examine the expression pattern of Ski protein along with the progress of luteinization, follicular growth was induced by administration of equine chorionic gonadtropin to immature female rat, and luteinization was induced by human chorionic gonadtropin treatment to mimic luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. While no Ski-positive granulosa cells were present in preovulatory follicle, Ski protein expression was induced in response to LH surge, and was maintained after the formation of corpus luteum (CL). Though Ski protein is absent in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicle, its mRNA (c-ski) was expressed and the level was unchanged even after LH surge. Taken together, these results demonstrated that Ski protein expression is induced in granulosa cells upon luteinization, and suggested that its expression is regulated post-transcriptionally.

Sloan-Kettering virus gene product of a cellular protooncogene c-Ski is an unique nuclear pro-oncoprotein and belongs to the Ski/Sno proto-oncogene family. Ski plays multiple roles in a variety of cell types, it can induce both oncogenic transformation and terminal muscle differentiation when expressed at high levels. The aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein in rat ovaries in order to predict the possible involvement of Ski in follicular development and atresia. First, expression of c-Ski mRNA in the ovaries of adult female rats was confirmed by RT-PCR. Then, ovaries obtained on the day of estrus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Ski and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in combination with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). Ski was expressed in granulosa cells that were positive for TUNEL, but negative for PCNA, regardless of the shape and size of follicles. Expression of Ski in TUNEL-positive granulosa cells, but not in PCNA-positive granulosa cells, was also verified in immature hypophysectomized rats having a single generation of developing and atretic follicles by treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in growing follicles, and suggest that Ski plays a role in apoptosis of granulosa cells during follicular atresia.

This study investigated whether the addition of porcine sperm cytosolic factor (SCF) at fusion/activation affects in vitro development of porcine parthenogenetic(PA) and nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. To determine the optimum concentration of SCF, control group of oocytes was activated with 0.3M mannitol (1.0 mM CaCl2 ․ 2H2O), other three groups of oocytes were parthenogentically activated with the fusion medium (0.1mM CaCl2 ․ 2H2O) supplemented with 100, 200 or 300 μg/ml SCF, respectively. Matured oocytes were activated with two electric pulses (DC) of 1.2 kv/cm for 30 μsec. The activated embryos were cultured in PZM-3 under 5% CO2 in air at 38.5℃ for 6 days. Oocytes activated in the presence of SCF showed a significantly higher blastocyst rate than control (p<0.05). Apoptosis rate was significantly lower in 100 μg/ml SCF group than other groups (p<0.05). Cdc2 kinase activity in control and SCF treatment group of oocytes was determined using MESACUP cdc2 kinase assay kit at 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after activation. Cdc2 kinase activity was significantly decreased (p<0.05) in SCF group than MII oocytes or control within 5 min. For NT embryo production, reconstructed oocytes were fused in the fusion medium supplemented with 0.1 mM CaCl2 ․ 2H2O (T1), 1.0 mM CaCl2 ․ 2H2O (T2) and 0.1 mM CaCl2 ․ 2H2O with 100 μg/ml SCF (T3). Fused embryos were cultured in PZM-3 under 5% CO2 in air at 38.5℃ for 6 days. Developmental rate to blastocyst stage was significantly higher in T3 than other groups (23.0% vs. 13.5 to 15.2%) (p<0.05). Apoptosis rate was significantly lower in T3 than T1 or T2 (p<0.05). The relative abundance of Bax-α/Bcl-xl was significantly lower in in vivo or SCF group than that of control (p<0.05). Moreover, the expression of p53 and caspase3 mRNA was significantly lower in in vivo or SCF group than that of control (p<0.05). These results indicate that the addition of SCF at fusion/activation might improve in vitro development of porcine NT embryos through regulating cdc2 kinase level and expression of apoptosis related genes.

Fibroblasts of large animals are easy to isolate and to maintain in vitro culture. Thus, these cells are extensively applied to donor cell for somatic cell nuclear transfer, and to substrate cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells after transfection of required genes to be essentially required for direct reprogramming. However, limited mitotic activity of fibroblasts to differentiate along a terminal lineage becomes restrictive for their versatile application. Recently, commercial culture medium and systems developed for primary cells are provided by manufactures. In this study, we examined whether one of the systems developed for primary fibroblasts of human are effective on porcine ear skin fibroblasts. To this end, we performed proliferation assay after five days culture in vitro of porcine fibroblasts in medium DMEM, which is generally used for fibroblasts culture, and medium M106 for human dermal fibroblasts, supplemented with various concentrations of FBS and LSGS contained mainly growth factors, respectively. Consequence was that presence of 15% FBS and 0.1 X concentrations of LSGS in DMEM showed most active proliferation of porcine fibroblasts.

Poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC-g-POEM) 가지형 공중합체를 원자전달라디칼 중합을 통해 합성하여 전기변색소자의 전해질에 적용하였다. 가소화된 고분자 전해질은 가소제로서 propylene carbonate (PC)/ethylene carbonate (EC) 혼합물을 도입하여 제조하였으며, Lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), lithium perchlorate (LiCIO4), lithium iodide (LiI) and lithium bistrifluoromethanesulfonimide (LiTFSI)를 사용하여 염의 종류에 따른 영향을 조사하였다. 광각 x-선 산란(WAXS)과 시차주사 열량법(DSC) 측정 결과 고분자 전해질의 구조와 유리전이온도(Tg)가 변하였고, 이는 POEM 내의 에테르의 산소와 리튬염 사이의 상호작용으로 인해 변했다는 것을 FT-IR 분광법을 통하여 확인하였다. 투과전자현미경(TEM) 측정 결과 PVC-g-POEM 가지형 공중합체의 미세상분리 구조가 PC/EC와 리튬염의 도입에도 변하지 않는 것을 관찰하였다. 가소화된 고분자 전해질은 poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) 전도성 고분자를 이용한 전기변색소자에 적용되었다.

Eight female Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were estrus-synchronized, and transcervically inseminated with frozen-thawed semen in September, 2009, about 2 to 3 months earlier than their natural breeding season. Intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices were inserted into vaginas of six Himalayan tahrs on September 7, and the other two on September 8 to suppress luteal function of ovaries. The devices had been placed deep inside the vagina prior to withdrawal on September 23. A day before CIDR removal, a combination of PMSG 400 IU and hCG 200 IU was intramuscularly injected. Forty hours later, frozen-thawed semen was transcervically inseminated. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 39 days later by analyzing progesterone level of serum. Every treatment was done under anesthesia inducted by xylazine injection. In conclusion, vaginal discharge of cervical mucus, hormonal changes induced by implant-typed or muscularly injectable hormones and widening of cervix enough to insert an insemination gun into uterine body were achieved in non-breeding season. Moreover, the first inseminated Himalayan tahr, 36 hours after CIDR removal was assumed to be pregnant but the fetus may have been lost due to the use of anesthetic drug.

Although the function and utility of RNA transcripts derived from matured spermatozoa remains unclear, they might play important roles in the establishment of a paternal genome and subsequently embryo development. Herein, we investigated the expression of X-chromosome linked RNA transcripts in matured bovine spermatozoa. The total RNA was extracted from the matured spermatozoa, and then converted to cDNA. Autosomal genes (ACT-β and H-2A) and X-chromosome linked genes (ANT3, HPRT, MeCP2, RPS4X, XIAP, XIST and ZFX) were analyzed for the characterization of X-chromosome linked RNA transcripts and compared to female fibroblasts by RT-PCR. The transcripts of autosomal genes (ACT-β and H2A) and X-chromosome linked genes (ANT3, HPRT, MeCP2, RPS4X and ZFX) were not detected in spermatozoa. However, XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) and XIST (X-chromosome inactive-specific transcript, a kind of paternal imprinted gene) transcripts were detected in spermatozoa, and relative levels of XIAP and XIST transcripts were similar and 0.5-fold lower when compared to female fibroblasts, respectively. Based on the findings, it is summarized that the presence of RNA transcripts of XIAP and XIST in the isolated spermatozoa may imply their role in inhibition of apoptosis and induction of X-chromosome inactivation in embryo development.

We present a list of Korean fungivorous Tenebrionidae associated with higher fungi (Basidiomycetes). Most fungivorous tenebrionids are associated with the order Aphyllophorales. A total of31 Tenebrionid species (both adults and larvae) belonging to four tribes (Bolitophagini, Toxicini, Scaphidernini, and Diaperini) are presented in our checklist. Of these, 62 percent are obligate mycetobionts, In addition, 42 fungal hosts of fungivorous tenebrionids are presented. Both thetenebrionids and the fungal hosts reported here are found throughout Korea.

Immunotherapeutic approaches using agonist antibodies or fusion proteins of immunomodulatory molecules significantly inhibit tumor growth and boost cell-mediated immunity. We isolated mRNA from previously reported 1D4 hybridoma cells and amplified the variable regions of the heavy chain (VH) and light chain (VL) genes using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Using a linker, the amplified sequences for the heavy and light chains were each connected to the sequence for a single polypeptide chain that was designed to be expressed. VL and VH fragments were cloned into the pOptiVEC-TOPO vector containing the human CH2-CH3 fragment. Then, 293T cells were transfected with the 1D4 single-chain Fv-Fc (scFv-Fc) constructs. A549 cells were used for presentation of the 1D4 antigen. Flow cytometry was performed for analysis of the secreted 1D4 scFv-Fc constructs. The DNA sequence of 1D4 scFv-Fc was obtained. The 1D4 scFv-Fc constructs were expressed by the transfected 293T cells and secreted into the culture medium. The immunoreactivity of the secreted scFv-Fc construct was lower than that of the murine 1D4 antibody for A549 cells. A 1D4 scFv-Fc construct for immunotherapy was developed.

In this study, a nanofibrous scaffold was obtained by co-electrospinning poly (3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and collagen in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol at a ratio of 3/7. The fiber diameters were in the range of 250-600 nm. It was found that PHBV/Collagen (PHCP) nanofibrous scaffold showed greater proliferation than the PHBV nanofibrous scaffold induced by oxidant in NIH3T3 cells. Otherwise, in the early-stage wound-healing mouse model, wound closure was evaluated according to wound size reduction and histology of regenerated skin on the backs of mice. Each of the tissues removed on day 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 was used for analysis of biochemical and pathological changes. None of the nanofiber-attached mice showed significant difference on the third day, however, from the third day until the ninth day, significantly faster healing was observed in PHCP-attached mice, compared to control wounds in epithelialization, wound contraction, and histopathological examinations. These results strongly support the beneficial effects of biomedical application of PHCP nanofiber in acceleration of the initial phase of wound healing through α-SM actin contraction.

Kenaf fibers, cellulose-based natural fibers, were used as precursor for preparing kenafbased carbon fibers. The effects of carbonization temperature (700℃ to 1100℃) and chemical pre-treatment (NaOH and NH4Cl) at various concentrations on the thermal change, chemical composition and fiber morphology of kenaf-based carbon fibers were investigated. Remarkable weight loss and longitudinal shrinkage were found to occur during the thermal conversion from kenaf precursor to kenaf-based carbon fiber, depending on the carbonization temperature. It was noted that the alkali pre-treatment of kenaf with NaOH played a role in reducing the weight loss and the longitudinal shrinkage and also in increasing the carbon content of kenaf-based carbon fibers. The number and size of the cells and the fiber diameter were reduced with increasing carbonization temperature. Morphological observations implied that the micrometer-sized cells were combined or fused and then re-organized with the neighboring cells during the carbonization process. By the pre-treatment of kenaf with 10 and 15 wt% NaOH solutions and the subsequent carbonization process, the inner cells completely disappeared through the transverse direction of the kenaf fiber, resulting in the fiber densification. It was noticeable that the alkali pre-treatment of the kenaf fibers prior to carbonization contributed to the forming of kenaf-based carbon fibers.

Eugenol is an essential oil found in cloves and cinnamon that is used widely in perfumes. However, the significant anesthetic and sedative effects of this compound have led to its use also in dental procedures. Recently, it was reported that eugenol induces apoptosis in several cancer cell types but the mechanism underlying this effect has remained unknown. In our current study, we examined whether the cytotoxic effects of eugenol upon human melanoma G361 cells are associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis using a range of methods including an XTT assay, Hoechst staining, immunocytochemistry, western blotting and flow cytometry. Eugenol treatment was found to decrease the viability of the G361 cells in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis in eugenol-treated G361 cells was confirmed by the appearance of nuclear condensation, the release of both cytochrome c and AIF into the cytosol, the cleavage of PARP and DFF45, and the downregulation of procaspase-3 and -9. With regard to cell cycle arrest, a time-dependent decrease in cyclin A, cyclin D3, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4, and cdc2 expression was observed in the cells after eugenol treatment. Flow cytometry using a FACScan further demonstrated that eugenol induces a cell cycle arrest at S phase. Our results thus suggest that the inhibition of G361 cell proliferation by eugenol is the result of an apoptotic response and an S phase arrest that is linked to the decreased expression of key cell cycle-related molecules.

본 논문에서는 산업 현장에서 비전기술을 이용한 객체의 검사나 분류에 사용되는 빠르고 효율적인 최소 사각형 근사화 방법을 대해서 소개한다. 주어진 객체의 최소 사각형 근사를 위해서 객체의 전체 외곽선을 사용하지 않고 n 개로 샘플링된 에지 점들에 대해서만 각도 히스토그램을 생성하고 이를 이용하여 객체의 장축과 단축을 계산한다. 최종 근사 사각형을 찾기 위해 이전 단계에서 얻어진 장축과 단축을 중심으로 하는 4개의 모서리점을 갖는 사각형을 찾는다. 이후에, 잡음에 의한 오차를 줄이기 위해 첫 번째 사각형의 각도를-1∼+1로 변형하여 추가적으로 2개의 후보 사각형을 생성한 후, 3개의 추정된 사각형과 원본 영상의 외곽선의 매칭 정도를 측정하여 오류가 최소화 되는 사각형을 최종 사각형 영역으로 선택한다. 제안된 방법을 몇 개의 실험데이터에 대해 실험한 결과 기존의 방법에 비해 빠르고 효율적인 최소 사각형 근사가 가능하였다.

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.