L-Carnitine is an antioxidant for the transport of fatty acids in mitochondria and breakdown of lipids for metabolic energy. Some studies have suggested that carnitine improves sperm motility in mammals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the characteristics in fresh semen of miniature pigs. The collected fresh semen was stored in modena B medium with L-carnitine (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/ml) for 10 days at 18℃. The semen quality of viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondria integrity was analyzed on 0, 3, 7, and 10 day of semen storage. The percentages of live and dying sperm were not different among treatment groups with different concentrations of L-carnitine during the storage period. In acrosome reaction analysis, when the sperm stored for 7 day, the percentages of live sperm with acrosome reaction were significantly (p<0.05) lower in 1 (9.0±0.9%), 2 (7.6±0.2%) or 4mg/ml (7.9±0.8%) L-carnitine-treated groups than the control group (0 mg/ml L-carnitine) (11.12±0.2%). However, there were no difference in percentages of live sperm with acrosome reaction for 3 and 10 days of storage with each concentrations of L-carnitine. When sperm was stored for 3 and 10 days, the percentages of live sperm with mitochondria integrity were significantly higher in 2 mg/ml of L-carnitine-treated group than control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the L-carnitine has a positive effect on acrosome reaction and mitochondria integrity in liquid state of fresh semen in miniature pigs.

The 35.6-mb genome contained 12,218 predicted protein-encoding genes and 287 tRNA genes assembled into 11 scaffolds corresponding with the 11 chromosomes of strain KACC 42780. Based on presence of copper binding region and signal peptide, 8 laccase genes (Fv Lac-1, Fv Lac-2, Fv Lac-3, Fv Lac-4, Fv Lac-5, Fv Lac-6, Fv Lac-7, Fv Lac-8) were selected in F.velutipes genome. The laccase genes of F.velutipes ranged from 1,300 to 1,700 base pair in their size. In addition, the molecular mass and PI values of laccase genes ranged from 50 to 62 kDa and from 3 to 11, respectively. In laccase activity assays, the highest laccase activity (3unit/ml)was shown in medium with 0.5mM of CuSO4 on 9th day. However, laccase activity was severely decreased in medium with 1mM and 2mM of CuSO4 was drastically decreased from day 3 through day 9. Interestingly, laccase activity in the medium without CuSO4 showed higher level than in the medium with 0.25, 1 and 2mM on both 6th and 9th day. RT_PCR showed the highest transcription level with 0.25mM and 0.5mM of CuSO4 supplementation on day 3 and on day 9, respectively. In addition, the transcription level of Lac-1 increased depending on concentration of CuSO4 supplementation.

In order to identify peculiar X-ray sources, we select 442 sources with no counterparts in other wavelength bands (as of the year 1999) from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalog. We cross- correlate this initial list with the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database, the USNO and WISE catalogs, and the HEASARC XRAY Master Catalog. Eventually, we are left with four unidentified sources with no counterparts in other wavelength bands. We present these four sources and their X-ray properties in this paper.

Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an economically important and polyphagous pest, which harms various kinds of ornamental plants and flowers. The effects of electron beam irradiation of six level between 50 and 350 Gy on egg (24-48 h old), larval (4th-5th instar), and pupal (7-d old for female, 5-d old for male) development and on adult (1-d old) reproduction in H. armigera were tested to identify a potential quarantine treatment dose. Increased doses of irradiation on eggs decreased egg hatchability, pupation and adult emergence and increased period of larvae. ED99 values for inhibition of hatching, pupation and emergence were 460.6, 236.9 and 197.8 Gy, respectively. When larvae were electron-beam irradiation treated ,at 280 Gy and above, no pupa was observed. ED99 values for inhibition of pupation and emergence were 265.6 and 189.6 Gy, respectively. Electron beam radiation on pupa did not completely inhibit adult emergence. ED99 value for inhibition of emergence was 1241.9 Gy. When adults were irradiated, fecundity was not affected. However, F1 egg hatching was completely inhibited at the dose of 350 Gy. ED99 value for inhibition of emergence was estimated at 366.5 Gy. Our results suggest that electron beam irradiation could be recommendable as alternative to MB and as a phytosanitary treatment for quarantine. The dose of 211 Gy is suggested as a potential quarantine treatment dose for H. armigera egg and larva.

Curcumin is a widely used flavoring agent in food, and it has been reported to inhibit cell growth, to induce apoptosis, and to have antitumor activity in many cancers. Cisplatin is one of the most potent known anticancer agents and shows significant clinical activity against a variety of solid tumors. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effects of co-treatment with curcumin and cisplatin on human tongue SCC25 cells. To investigate whether the co-treatment efficiently reduced the viability of the SCC25 cells compared with the two treatments separately, an MTT assay was conducted. The induction and the augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by DNA electrophoresis, Hoechst staining, and an analysis of DNA hypoploidy. Western blot, MMP and immunofluorescence tests were also performed to evaluate the expression levels and the translocation of apoptosis-related proteins following the co-treatment. In this study, following the co-treatment with curcumin and cisplatin, the SCC25 cells showed several forms of apoptotic manifestation, such as nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, reduction of MMP, increased levels of Bax, decreased levels of Bcl-2, and decreased DNA content. In addition, they showed a release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) to the nuclei, and activation of caspase-7, caspase-3, PARP, and DFF45 (ICAD). In contrast, separate treatments of 5 μM of curcumin or 4 μg/ml of cisplatin, for 24 hours, did not induce apoptosis. Therefore, our data suggest that combination therapy with curcumin and cisplatin could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

We investigated the change of growth characters by over-expressing OsPT6 (OsPT6-OX) under phosphorus (Pi) deficient condition in rice. In analyzing the change of growth rate according to Pitreatment for two weeks, shoot growth rate of OsPT6-OX was increased in Pi deficient condition than in Pi sufficient condition. Therefore, the chlorophyll content of leaf in OsPT6-OXs did not increase even decreased in the youngest leaf. However growth rate of wild type plant in Pi deficient condition showed significant reduction with increment of chlorophyll content. In analyzing agronomic characters, the tiller number of OsPT6-OX less decreased than those of wild type plant in Pi deficient condition. Panicle number and ripening rate of wild type plant were changed according to Pi treatment. However those of OsPT6-OX did not change in such conditions. Resulting of changes in agronomic characters, yield of wild type plant decreased about 10 % in Pi deficient condition. That of OsPT6-OX did not show significant difference in Pi deficient condition. The results obtained this study demonstrated that over-expression of OsPT6 could increase phosphorus deficient stress resistance in rice.

A 7-year-old, spayed female, domestic short hair cat showed signs of a 2-week history of chronic anorexia, depression, and severe weight loss. Upon physical examination, pyrexia, mild gingivitis, and pale mucus membranes were noted. Laboratory analysis revealed normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed the presence of elevated alpha-2 fraction within the globulin concentration. Based on history, clinical signs, and laboratory results, systemic viral infection was strongly suspected. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction identified the presence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the serum. Furthermore, gene sequencing revealed the virus as FIV subtype A. Treatment with anti-retroviral agents, including azidothymidine (AZT) and recombinant human interferon-alpha, was continued for 4 weeks. However, the patient’s clinical condition deteriorated, resulting in death 1 month after initiation of treatment due to progressive renal failure. Necropsy and histopathology revealed hepatic and renal necrosis with hyper-cellular bone marrow mainly comprised of myeloid precursor cells. This case report is the first to describe phylogenetic subtyping, anti-retroviral combination treatment, and clinical outcomes in an FIV-infected cat in Korea. In addition, this report suggests that treatment should be initiated during the early phase of infection that could be effective for the virus.

Auricularia auricula-judae is an edible mushroom, which is known as wood ear, free ear, black ear mushroom, and free jelly fish. This study was carried out to obtain the basic information for mycelial culture conditions of Auricularia auriculajudae. According to colony diameter and mycelial density, the media for suitable mycelial growth were PDA and MCM. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was 25~30oC. Carbon and nitrogen sources were mannose and malt extract, respectively. The optimum C/N ratio was in the range of 10 to 1 with 2% glucose. Other minor components for the optimal growth were thiamine-HCl and biotin as vitamins, succinic acid and lactic acid as organic acids, and MgSO4·7H2O and KH2PO4 as mineral salts.

Lacticin NK34 is a small nisin-like bacteriocin present in the supernatants of an isolate of Lactococcus lactis from jeotgal, a salted and fermented Korean food made with seafood such as shrimp, oysters, and fish. Recently, we demonstrated that a partially purified NK34 is highly effective against various Staphylococcus species in a murine infection model. In this study, the two major bacterial pathogens associated with bovine mastitis, Streptococcus aureus and S. agalactiae, were evaluated for their susceptibility to NK34 in vitro using a standard teat-dip assay as well as in vivo using mastitic cows infected with one of these pathogenic strains. The experimental analyses showed a significant decrease (up to 98 times) in the bacterial numbers between the NK34-treated and -untreated teats. Moreover, a dramatic reduction in somatic cell counts was observed at 3 days post-treatment with 10 ml of NK34 administered directly into the mastitic cows. Neither S. aureus nor S. agalactiae were recovered. Taken together, these results imply that lacticin NK34 is an alternative antimicrobial substitute for the treatment of bovine mastitis, caused especially by either S. aureus or S. agalactiae.

Distribution of aquatic organisms is governed by various environmental factors Hydromorphological characteristics which are heavily affected by heavy rains in stream are one of the fundamental factors to influence the distribution of aquatic organisms. In this study we evaluated the difference response of two aquatic species Chironomus yoshimatisui and Limnodrilus hoffmesteri habiting to changes of discharge due to heavy rains. We compared the differences in their resilience and recover to disturbances. Our results showed that after a heavy rain during the sampling periods, the proportion of macrosubstrate highly increased and was not recovered into the previous states. Nonmetric Multi-dimensional scaling based on Chironomidae and Oligochaeta biota well represented annual and seasonal differences with heavy rain effects. Random forest model showed that the abundance of C. yoshimatisui were mainly influenced by microsubstrate, precipitation and Reynolds number, whereas stream roughness, mesosubstrate and macrosubstrate much more influenced the abundance of L. hoffmesteri.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging disease, causing high fever, thromobocytopenia, leukopenia, gastrointestinal simptoms (vomiting, diarrhea), hemorrhage and multiorgan dysfunction. It was known that Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis), a major tick in Korea, is the principal vector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Firstly, to investigate the existence and prevalence of SFTSV in the country, we collected the ticks in 9 provinces in South Korea and detected SFTSV from H. longicornis ticks from 2011 to 2012. And we also investigated SFTSV infection in ticks collected from healthy humans without SFTS symptom and their residential areas. From the former study, we collected 13,053 ticks, and H. longicornis (90.8%, 11,856/13,053) was the most abundant among them. The minimum infection rate (MIR) of SFTSV in H. longicornis was 0.5% (59 pools). From the later study, totally 422 ticks of 8 species were collected from humans and at their neighborhood throughout the nation from May to October, 2013 and SFTSVs were detected from 12 pools (5.7% MIR) by RT-PCR. Finally, we diagnosed 35 patients by detecting SFTSV gene with their sera, and isolated 26 SFTSVs among them in 2013. These findings indicate that SFTSVs are prevalent and SFTS is probably endemic in Korea.