The first commercial bioinsecticide in Korea was registered in 2003 to control diamond back moth and beet armyworm in Chinese cabbage using Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai. Currently, fourteen microbial pesticides have registered in Korean market. The Korean government is aiming for 40% reduction (from the 2004 value) in the use of chemical pesticides by 2013. To increase the use of microbial pesticides as an alternative of chemicals, we conducted in vitro bioassay with Bt products. Bt products were treated alone and in combination against larvae of beet armyworm, diamond back moth and tobacco cutworm. Five Bt products shown high mortality against diamond back moth in recommended concentration, but had low control effects against beet armyworm and tobacco cutworm. Mixed Bt products had no synergic effects against the tested three moths. When Bt products were sprayed with higher concentration than recommended dose, those mortality was similar with lower concentration.

본 연구에서는 azoxymethane (AOM)과 dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)로 유도된 대장 발암과정에 대한 셀레늄의 방어 효과를 조사하였다. 셀레늄 결핍(0.02 ppm Se), 정상(0.1 ppm Se), 과다(0.5 ppm Se)사료를 12주간 식이로 급여하여 혈액검사와 대장암 발생의 초기단계인 aberrant crypt foci (ACF)수를 측정했으며, 암 발생율을 조사하였다. ICP-AES 를 사용하여 간의 셀레늄 농도를 측정하였으며, 또한 셀레늄포함 항산화효소인 glutathione peroxidase (GPx) 활성을 알아보았다. 또한 TUNEL assay와 PCNA, β-catenin에 대한 면역조직 염색을 수행하였다. ACF 수 및 종양 발생률에 있어서, 셀레늄과다사료를 급여한 군이 정상셀레늄사료를 급여한 군보다 낮았으며, 셀레늄결핍사료를 급여한 군은 오히려 ACF 수 및 종양 발생률이 높았다. GPx 활성은 셀레늄의 섭취가 과다한 군에서 높게 나타났으며, 이 때, TUNEL 에서 apoptotic positive cell이 증가하는 것을 확인했다. 또 한 셀레늄의 섭취가 과다한 군에서 PCNA와 β-catenin의 발현이 감소됨을 볼 수 있었다. 본 마우스 모델실험에서 셀레늄은 여러 기전에 의해 대장암 발생을 억제할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Animal crude drugs (natural medicines derived from animal organs) have been widely used in various Chinese medicine for the therapeutic effects and for enhancement of immunologic functions. We found the specific identification methods using DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses for mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) in order to discriminate between the animal species and organs as well as the placenta of humans. Species-specific PCR bands of D-loop mt DNA for equine, bovine, porcine, and human were 133 bp, 137 bp, 231 bp, and 240 bp, respectively. Porcine organs were identified using restriction enzyme, HphI cut into two subfragments, 36 bp and 195 bp bands in the heart, spleen, and liver, except for kidney. The heart and liver of porcine were identified using restriction enzyme, SpeI cut into two subfragments, 84 bp and 147 bp bands, except for kidney and spleen. Bovine organs were cut into 68 bp and 69 bp bands in the liver, kidney, and spleen using NalIV, except heart and placenta. Placentas of bovine and humans were easily identified using each primer. Our results suggest that sequencing of mt DNA and its PCR-RFLP methods are useful for identification and discrimination of inter- and intra-specific variations in equine, bovine, porcine, and human by routine analysis.

Wrinkles are an outward sign of cutaneous aging appearing preferentially on ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed areas. The anti-wrinkle effects of herbal extracts were investigated in an animal model. Female albino hairless mice (HR/ICR) were randomly allocated to the control group (non-irradiated vehicle), positive control group (UVB irradiated-vehicle), and two herbal extract mixture groups (HE-1 and HE-2). HE-1 included Glycyrrhizae radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Cornus officinalis, and Sesami semeni, and HE-2 included Swertia pseudo-chinensis, Sophora flavescens, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Salvia miltiorrhiza. The herbal extract mixtures were pre-treated dorsally with 0.2 ml per individual five times per week for four weeks prior to the start of UVB irradiation. At the fifth week, the animals were exposed to UVB irradiation for a subsequent eight weeks, three times per week. The intensity of irradiation showed a gradual increase, from 30 mJ/cm 2 to 240 mJ/cm2 (1 MED: 60 mJ/cm2 ). Dorsal skin samples were stained with H&E in order to examine the epidermal thickness. In addition, Masson-Trichrome staining was performed for determination of the amount of collagen fiber. Treatments with HE-1&2 resulted in an increase in the amount of collagen fiber, a better appearance, and fewer wrinkles, compared with the positive control. As determined by hydroxyproline assay, treatments with HE-1&2 led to a significant increase in the amount of collagen, compared with the positive control group (p<0.05). Chronic UVB irradiation to skin of hairless mice resulted in an increase in expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), however, treatments with HE-1&2 tended to decrease the expression of MMP-1. These results indicate that the herbal extracts used in this study have a preventive effect on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in a hairless mouse model, due in part to inhibition of MMP-1 expression and increment of collagen amount.

Chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn′s disease and ulcerative colitis are associated with increased risk of colon adenocarcinoma. Apoptic induction of colon cancer cells by cytokines and death receptors is an important anti-cancer therapy. We observed that co-administration of TNFα and IFNγ in human colon cancer cell line, HCT116, resulted in cell death and expression of IL-32. Cleavage forms of caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP were increased in TNFα / IFNγ-treated HCT116. mRNA expression of death receptors, including TNFR1 and Fas were not changed and NO generation was not induced by combination of TNFα and IFNγ. However, mRNA expression of IL-32α, β, and γ was increased in TNFα / IFNγ-treated HCT116. To determine the effect of IL-32 in HCT116 cell apoptosis by TNFα / IFNγ stimulation, IL-32 siRNA-transfected HCT116 cells were cultured with TNFα / IFNγ and cell proliferation was measured. IL-32 siRNA induced slight recovery of cell viability of TNFα / IFNγ-stimulated HCT116. These results suggest that IL-32 is not directly related to apoptosis of HCT116 by TNFα / IFNγ stimulation. However, IL-32 expression by TNFα or TNFα / IFNγ in a colon cancer cell line is very interesting because of the unknown effect of IL-32 in colon cancer. Our study will contribute to development of studies for IL-32 function in human colon cancer and anti-cancer therapies using cytokines.

This study was conducted to develop economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold (ET) of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci on welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L. var). The changes of welsh onion biomass and T. tabacci density were investigated after introductions of T. tabacci at different densities and days: By the results of the experiment in the early welsh onion cultivation periods (30d after transplanting), the biomass of welsh onion significantly decreased with increasing the initial inoculated density of T. tabacci. The relationship between cumulative insect days (CID) and yield loss (%) of welsh onion was well described by a nonlinear logistic equation. Using the estimated equation, EIL and ET of T. tabacci on welsh onion were estimated at 24 and 20 CID per plant, respectively. By the results of the experiment in the late cultivation periods of welsh onion (about 120d after transplanting), the welsh onion biomass was also significantly different inoculation thrips densities to welsh onion. The EIL and ET were calculated as 35 and 28 thrips per welsh onion plant. Until a more elaborate EIL-model is developed, the present result may be useful for T. tabacci management during the cultivations of welsh onion.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature and nematicides on endospore attachment characteristics of 2 Korean isolates of nematodeparasitic bacteria, Pasteuria penetrans. P. penetrans CJ-1 and 98-35 isolates and 3 species of root-knot nematodes in U. of Florida were used ; Meloidogyne incognita (MI), M. arenaria (MA), and M. javanica (MJ). Three nematicide levels of 2, 4, and 6 ppm were compared by treating Vydate and Nemacur in the endospore containing soils. The endospores were attached to the root-knot nematode juveniles by centrifugal method. Reproduction of the isolates was checked by observing root-knot nematode females harvested from inoculated tomato roots. 1. Among the two Korean isolates, 98-35 showed attachments to MI, MA, and MJ juveniles, but it could not reproduce in any species. CJ-1 reproduced on all the 3 tested root-knot nematode species. 2. Endospores pretreated in -14°C showed higher attachment rate than those pretreated in 4, 24, and 40℃. 3. Nemacur treatments significantly suppressed the attachment of the endospores to the juveniles, while Vydate treatment effects were negligible.

A storage mite (cheese mite), Tyrophagus putrescentiae, is known as the pest in storing grains and common health pest species in the dust around home. The mite directly affect our well-being as parasites, vectors of disease, and producers of allergens. But recently we found damages in horticultural crops especially in greenhouses. It is very difficult to diagnose the damage by the mite because of the tiny size of the mite. And the symptom is not clear at the beginning stage. In this study, observations were done on the mite and the crop damage symptoms in several horticultural crops under dissecting microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mite body size was 0.3~0.5㎜ and they had long hairs all around their body when observed under SEM. The characteristic damage symptoms in some horticultural crops are as follows. In phalaenopsis, the flower buds became yellow and the lower side of the leaves had white spots. The surface of young cucumber fruits became shiny and soft at the early damage stage. In the crops, the damaged surfaces became corky as the plants grew up. In peach tree, whole the trees lost vigor and flower drops were observed when the mite density was very high in greenhouse cultivation.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of group exer˗ cise program on depression in the elders with dementia. Subjects of this research were selected from the patients of Hyoja hospital(Yong˗ in, Korea). They were elders with dementia having minor to moderate degrees of cognitive function. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, each with 12 people; exercise group and the control group. The control group only performed general physio˗ therapy, while the exercise group performed exercise program and general physiotherapy for 8 weeks. Depression of the exercise group and the control group were measured at baseline before the study, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after the study. Depression was measured by Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version(GDSSF-K). Firstly, when comparing the levels of depression within the same group, depression was significantly lower in the exercise group, after the group exercise program. However, depression of the control group did not show significant changes before or after the study. Secondly, when comparing the levels of depression of the control group and the exercise group, differences between the levels meas˗ ured before the study and 8 weeks after the study, was a statistically significant decrease of depression. Thirdly, effects of group exercise program according to the applied period were analyzed showing 8 weeks of group exercise to be more beneficial than 4 weeks. People who performed continuous group exercise program showed decrease in depression compared to the absence of group exercise program. This can infer beneficial effects of group exercise program. Group exercise program had desirable influence on decreasing the level of depression.

Iron catalyzes the production of free radicals, which can be related to a variety of pathological events, such as cancer and aging. The effect of dietary iron was investigated on formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by azoxymethane in male F344 rats. Animals were fed three different diets, including iron-deficient (3 ppm Fe), iron-normal (35 ppm Fe), and iron-overloaded (350 ppm Fe) diets for eight weeks. During the first and second weeks of the experiment, animals received two subcutaneous injections of azoxymethane (AOM, 15 mg/kg body weight) to induce ACF. After staining with methylene blue, the total numbers of ACF and aberrant crypts (AC) were counted on the colonic mucosa. Analysis of blood and serum was performed using a blood cell differential counter and an automatic serum analyzer. Iron-deficient diets induced a significant decrease in red blood cell counts and the values of hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume, while an iron-overloaded diet did not affect these values. The iron-overloaded diet induced an increase in deposits of iron in the liver of rats, as determined by the ICP method and Perl’s staining. The numbers of ACF per colon showed a slight increase in iron-overloaded or iron-deficient rats, without statistical significance, compared to iron-normal rats. The number of total AC per colon in iron-overloaded rats was significantly higher than that in iron-normal rats (p<0.05). The number of large ACF (≥ 4 AC per ACF) in iron-overloaded rats was also significantly higher than that in iron-normal rats (p<0.05). These results suggest that dietary iron intake may play an important role in colon carcinogenesis in humans and animals.

The Mental Image is designed and proposed for making a comfort and amenity in built environments using digital color analysis in the regional urban artificial environment. For a long time, it is crucial to relate visual environment with thermal environments. Especially, color makes an important role to making thermal comfort. In order to making this information, this paper describes how we can analyze the color information of the regional urban artificial environment using the color syntax program and transfer the data to form maker and create the mental image. Because of the rapid urbanization and the acceptance of mixed function, modern urban landscape is disordered and is not controlled. The Mental Image prepares our environmental color system corresponding to our mental image with perceiving regional urban environment color. This research aims to systematize the process making the Mental Image in the regional urban landscape’s color and suggest a theoretical basis to extract, embody and use the information of the regional main color from urban landscape color. Through these concepts, this research will suggest how to systematize, develop the Mental Image with emotional environmental color system. Finally, it is expected to offer a theoretical basis to embody the Mental Image and build up the emotional environments.

A bee-vectoring method has been recently developed against greenhouse insect pests. In this study, we conducted experiments to determine if bumble bees, bombus terrestris L. could vector Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai from hives equipped with a pathogen dispenser to leaf and flower of sweet pepper. First, in laboratory, insecticidal activity of B. t. subsp. aizawai NT0423 WP (Tobagi, Dongbu Hitek Co.) against 2nd instar larva of Spodoptera litura Fabricius was evaluated to determine if the amount of B. thuringiensis deposited on the leaf and flower would be sufficient to control the tobacco cutworm. The B. t concentration of the product in this experiment was estimated as 2.8-3.1 x 109 CFU/ml. The B. t. concentration on the body of bumble bees that was captured as they exited hives with filled pathogen dispensers was 4.6 x 109 cfu/ml. At the laboratory bioassay, the mortality of tobacco cutworm was serially measured depending on the pathogen concentrations. At the cage trials, the B. t. delivered by bumble bees was detected in bees, flowers and leaves. Through the several trials, the control effect on the tobacco cutworm has been investigating. The side effect on bumble bee from the first trial was not found in this experiment.

In organic agriculture, various cover-crops have been used to control weeds. In this study, we have investigated the effect of Vicia tetrasperma (L.) Schred. (Eolchigiwandu) which is native to on major insect pests of pepper. Redpepper seedlings at 8 leaves stage were transplanted in 20th May 2009 into experimental field located in the farm of the department of agricultural biology, Suwon, Korea. A cover-crop cultivation plot was compared with a control plot mulched by black plastic-film. Density of aphids and damaged fruits by oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, were surveyed ten times from 21 days after transplanting (DAT) to 82 DAT. Fifty and forty pepper plants were sampled to count the density of aphids and damaged fruits by oriental tobacco budworm per a plant, respectively. In current study, three aphid species namely, cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae were collected. Overally, the density of aphids on pepper in the control plot was higher than the cover-crop plot. Especially, aphid density increased up to 67.44±26.8 in early stage of control plot, whereas aphid was not found in cover-crop plot. The rate of fruit damage by oriental tobacco budworm was significantly higher in the cover-crop plot than the control plot in early stage of pepper, however damaged fruit rate of pepper in the control plot was significantly higher since the middle of July.

Global warming is one of the most buzzing words these days, as the average temperature increased up to 6.4℃ before the end of 21st century and the water level to 59cm causing severe draught, heavy snowfall, and monster typhoon all over the world. The capacity of natural ecosystem will not be able to contain such changes. Many of the species will be endangered and some of them are warned to be extinct, and accordingly water and food supply will not meet the demand of human. In 2007, IPCC, Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change, made fourth report about global warming and estimated that the CO2 content in the atmosphere increased about 1.35 times to 379ppm at 2005 from 280ppm before the industrialization period pulling the average air temperature up by 0.7℃ a year. The water level as well increased by 1.8mm a year as the polar iceberg and permanent snow melt down. Global warming caused by environmental pollution and greenhouse gas may lead to the increase of price of not only agricultural product but also the industrial products as a consequence, a phenomenon so called Ecoflation, Ecology+inflation. IPCC forecasted that if the present phase use of fossil energy continues the air temperature in 2090-2099 will increase by 4℃ and the water level by 26-59cm compared to that of 1980-1999, warning particularly that the average increase of global temperature by 1.5-2.5℃ a year will put the species of 20-30% into danger of extinction. According to the report by the Korea National Statistical Office about the effect of climate change on the production of agriculture and fishery, the cultivation area of apple which is typical temperate fruit decreased to 29,204ha in 2007 from 52,447ha in 1992. On the other hand the cultivation area of peach increased greatly to 15,014ha(2005) compared to 12,000ha in 1996 as it became possible to grow wherever in Korea. Similar change can also be found for orange and grape, orange can be grown in Jeonnam and Kyuongnam province, and grape in Kangwon province. Jeju island and southern coastal area of Korea worry about the inhabitation of subtropical pests when they invade these area, in fact the pest outbreak as a result of the increase of generation a year is ever more frequent. The typical examples are Paratlanticus ussuriensis (Uvarov), the lantern fly, Lycorma delicatula, and the fruit moths like Carposina sasakii Walsingham.

Although hair disorders are not life threatening, a lot of people who suffer hair loss and/or hair thinning is increasing in accordance with changes in lifestyle and nutritional balance. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of herbal extracts on hair regrowth in C3H/HeJ mice. There were 6 experimental groups including distilled water (D.W.), 50% ethanol (a vehicle control), 3% minoxidil (a positive control), and 3 kinds of herbal extracts mixtures (C, D & E). The test compounds included followings; C : Glycyrrhizae radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Cornus officinalis and Sesami semeni, D : Viticus fructus, Pulsatilla chinensis, Gardenia fructus and Artemisiae argyi herb, E : Swertia pseudo-chinensis, Sophora flavescens Scutellaria baicalensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza. The animals were shaved with an electric clipper. The test compounds were daily treated to dorsal skin with 0.2 ml per mouse for 3 weeks. The topical application of the E test solution accelerated hair regrowth after 10 days faster than that of the positive and vehicle controls. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase significantly were increased in all the treatment groups after 3 weeks, compared with D.W. group. Especially, the E test solution notably increased ALP activity compared with positive or vehicle control group. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were increased in all the treatment groups after 3 weeks compared with D.W. group. These results suggest that the herbal extracts have hair regrowth effect by increasing enzyme activities and growth factors and it can be useful for treatment for alopecia in humans.