Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is an important issue in modern daily life due to the increasing prevalence of electronic devices and their compact design. This study estimated EMI-shielding effect (EMI-SE) of small (8–14×17 mm) Hanji (Korean traditional paper) doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and compared to Hanji without CNT using 2H (92.1 MHz) and 23Na (158.7 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) peak area data obtained from 1 M NaCl in D2O samples in capillary tubes that were wrapped in the Hanji samples. The simpler method of using the variation of reflected power and tuning frequency by inserting the sample into an NMR coil was also tested at 242.9, 158.7, and 92.1 MHz. Overall, EMI shielding was relatively more effective at the higher frequencies. Our results validated that NMR methods to be useful to evaluate EMI-SE, particularly for small, flexible shielding materials, and demonstrated that EMI shielding by absorption is dominant in Hanji mixed with CNT.

Composite pavements are constructed by placing a high functional asphalt surface layer on a high performance concrete rigid base layer and provide a more durable, high functional surface to road users. Service life of composite pavements is dependent on the bonding performance of the lower rigid base and the flexible surface layer. Accordingly, it is necessary to place an impermeability layer between the functional surface layer and the rigid base to enhance bonding performance and to prevent moisture penetration into the rigid base and deterioration of pavement. In order to use optimal composite pavement sections, two types were applied to impermeability layer: highly impermeable water-tight SMA and mastic asphalt currently in use. APT (Accelerated Pavement Testing) and experimental construction were carried out to evaluate bond strengths between the rigid base and the impermeability layer depending on the type of impermeability layers. Composite pavement sections for the APT had a 22 cm concrete rigid base layer and a 5cm functional surface, as well as either 5cm of SMA impermeability layer and 5cm of mastic layer. After applying around 8,574,000 ESALs, pull-off test was conducted, which showed that the mastic section outperformed the SMA section. In the experimental construction, three types of rigid base layers, JCP (Jointed Concrete Pavement), CRCP (Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement), and RCCP (Roller Compacted Concrete Pavement), were used for composite pavement sections, and as in the APT, two types of impermeability layers, SMA and mastic, were used per rigid base layer of new and deteriorated concrete pavement. Therefore, seven composite pavement sections in total were constructed. We measured the bond strength over one year or so following the construction of these composite pavement sections and found that regardless of the type of rigid base layer and whether it was new or not, those sections with a mastic impermeability layer had high bond strengths.

감귤그린병(Citrus Huanglongbing Disease)은 전 세계적으로 감귤산업에 가장 큰 피해를 주는 병해로 국내 미분포종인 귤나무이(Diaphorina citri Kuwayama)가 매개충으로 알려져 있다. 바이러스에 감염된 나무는 5~12년내에 대부분 고사하며 열매는 크지 못하고 색이 들지 않는 증상을 보여 상품성을 저해시킨다. 현재 접목, 묘목, 매개충등의 유입으로 전 세계적으로 확산되고 있는 실정이다. 귤나무이의 국내 분포가능성이 꾸준히 제시되면서 유입 대비를 위한 예찰방법 및 동정법 개발이 필요한 실정이다. 제주도에는 총 33종이 분포하는 것으로 알려져 있으며(권, 1983; Cho & burckhardt, 2017) 2016년부터 지금까지의 조사로 11종의 나무이와 10종의 기주식물을 확인되었다. 귤나무가 속해있는 운향과를 기주로 하는 나무이는 발견되지 않았다.

Apolipophorin III (apoLp-III) is a well-known hemolymph protein having a functional role in lipid transport and immune response of insects. We cloned full-length cDNA encoding putative apoLp-III from larvae of the coleopteran beetle, Tenebrio molitor (TmapoLp-III), by identification of clones corresponding to the partial sequence of TmapoLp-III, subsequently followed with full length sequencing by a clone-by-clone primer walking method. The complete cDNA consists of 890 nucleotides, including an ORF encoding 196 amino acid residues. Excluding a putative signal peptide of the first 20 amino acid residues, the 176-residue mature apoLp-III has a calculated molecular mass of 19,146 Da. Genomic sequence analysis with respect to its cDNA showed that TmapoLp-III was organized into four exons interrupted by three introns. Several immune-related transcription factor binding sites were discovered in the putative 5’-flanking region. BLAST and phylogenetic analysis reveals that TmapoLp-III has high sequence identity (88%) with Tribolium castaneum apoLp-III but shares little sequence homologies (<26%) with other apoLp-IIIs. Homology modeling of Tm apoLp-III shows a bundle of five amphipathic helices, including a short helix 3’. The ‘helix-short helix-helix’ motif was predicted to be implicated in lipid binding interactions, through reversible conformational changes and accommodating the hydrophobic residues to the exterior for stability. Highest level of TmapoLp-III mRNA was detected at late pupal stages, albeit it is expressed in the larval and adult stages at lower levels. The tissue specific expression of the transcripts showed significantly higher numbers in larval fat body and adult integument. In addition, TmapoLp-III mRNA was found to be highly up-regulated in late stages of L. monocytogenes or E. coli challenge. These results indicate that TmapoLp-III may play an important role in innate immune responses against bacterial pathogens in T. molitor.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous syndrome associated with follicle growth arrest, dysregulated sex hormone profile, hyperthecosis and insulin resistance. Chemerin, a novel adipokine, is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Although obese women and in PCOS subjects have elevated plasma chemerin levels, whether and how chemerin is involved in the regulation of follicular growth/steroidogenesis and pathogenesis of PCOS is unknown. Our objective is to better understand the complex regulatory mechanisms involved in the control of these processes and gain insights in their dysregulation in the pathogenesis of PCOS. We hypothesize that: (a) hyperandrogenism induces small and medium antral follicle growth arrest and ovarian structural changes, resulting from granulosa cell and oocyte apoptosis and theca cell survival, and (b) chemerin regulates follicular growth and steroidogenesis and contributes to the pathogenesis of PCOS. Using immature rats (day 13～15 for follicle culture and day 21～24 for granulosa cells culture) and a chronically androgenized rat model [dihydrotestosterone (DHT); 83 μg daily, day 21～105] which recapitulates the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of human PCOS, we have examined the granulosa cell expression patterns of chemerin and its receptor CMKLR1 and their steroidogenic and follicle growth capability. DHT treatment resulted in decreased follicle numbers in preantral to preovulatory stages and absence of corpus luteum, but increased numbers of condensed atypical follicles. Atypical follicles, constituted predominantly of theca cells, exhibited high expression of calpain and down‐regulation of the cytoskeletal protein substrates vimentin, fodrin and β‐tubulin. Granulosa cell aromatase expression was significantly down‐regulated, a response accompanied by increased activated caspase‐3 content and DNA fragmentation. While PTEN levels were considerably higher in granulosa cells in the PCOS rats than controls, phospho‐Akt (Ser473) content was lower. In addition, DHT also activated granulosa cell caspase‐3, decreased XIAP, PARP and phospho‐Akt contents and induced apoptosis in vitro, responses that could be attenuated by forced expression of XIAP. These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that dysregulated follicular growth in PCOS is associated with changes in follicular growth dynamics and follicle cell fate, a consequence of dysregulated interactions of pro‐survival (p‐Akt, XIAP, PARP) and proapoptotic (calpain, PTEN, caspase‐3) modulators in a cell‐specific manner. Chemerin and CMKLR1 were expressed in granulosa cells and negatively regulated by gonadotropin in vivo and in vitro. Serum and ovarian chemerin levels in DHT‐treated rats were elevated, and associated with arrested early antral follicular growth, remodeling of the follicle wall and decreased expression of p450 side‐chain cleavage enzyme (p450- scc), aromatase and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Recombinant chemerin inhibited FSH ‐ induced estradiol secretion in granulosa cells from DHT‐treated rats in vitro. Chemerin also suppressed basal and FSH‐ and GDF9‐induced follicle growth and estradiol/ progesterone production in preantral follicle cultures. Moreover, chemerin suppressed FSH‐induced p450scc/aromatase expression and progesterone/estradiol secretion in immature rat granulosa cells in vitro. These studies demonstrate that chemerin is a novel negative regulator in FSH‐induced follicular growth and steroidogenesis and support the notion that the dysregulation of chemerin expression and function contributes to pathogenesis of PCOS. Our observations also suggest that this chronically androgenized rat model may be useful not only for studies on the long term effects of androgen on folliculogenesis, but also on the pathophysiology of PCOS. * This work was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; MOP‐119381) and the World Class University (WCU) program through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (R31‐10056).

Ascotis selenaria, a major geometridae moth in citrus trees, annually damages the citrus leaves and fruits. The surface of young citrus fruit were usually fed by 1st larva of A. selenaria after landing or stepping onto the citrus fruits. To protect the larval damages of citrus fruits needs to predict the accurate occurrence time of the 1st larva for spraying. Because larval occurrences is dependent on the oviposition of adult female and the eggs were not found in/on citrus trees, oviposition model of A. selenaria linked with the egg development model will be helpful of protecting larval damages on citrus fruits. Adult longevity, survival and fecundity of A.selenaria was investigated at 13, 16, 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, and 35℃. The longevity decreased as the temperature increased and the female development rates (1/median longevity) were well described by a modified sigmoid model, which was used to calculate the adult physiological age. Description of the total fecundity was used by a non-linear model: The maximum fecundity of A. selenaria was estimated as 2490 eggs and peaked temperature was 19.7℃ according to the fecundity model. The cumulative age-specific oviposition rate and the age-specific survival rate was well described by 2 parameters Weibull function and a reverse logistic curve respectively. Total fecundity model, age-sepecific oviposition model, and age-specific survival model were incorporated into the oviposition model.

Background : Cordyceps militaris has been an wonder drug to anti-aging efficacy and called the three main drugs with ginseng and deer antler from the past. Cordycepin, cordycepic acid (d-mannitol) and adenosine are known as functional ingredients in Cordyceps militaris. Among them, cordycepin, the representative component, has been reported as antimicrobial substance containing immune enhancement, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods and Results : After Cordyceps militaris produced from different types of medium mixed with 10-fold volume of purified water, the mixture were extracted at 70±5℃ for a hour and that extracts re-extracted using ultrasonics wave for 30 minutes. Qualitative analysis of the index component was determined by using the Q-TOF (A quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer), and quantitative analysis was performed by using HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) with Xselect HSS T3 column (2.1 X 100 mm, 2.5㎛, Waters, USA) and ultrapure water and acetonitrile as mobile phase A and B. Detection column temperature, injection volume and the flow rate were 35℃, 2 μL and 0.3 mL / minute respectively. The cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris produced from medium mixed with vegetable and animal ingredients higher than single ingredient. Moreover, through a variety of analyzes by varying the type and content of the medium additives, the cordycepin in Cordyceps militaris produced from medium mixed with animal ingredients highest. Furthermore, the cordycepin content of a fruit body was higher than those of the a mycelium. Conclusion : These results provide a method for producing an high cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris as functional food ingredient.