Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered an alternative source of neuronal lineage cells, which are difficult to isolate from brain and expand in vitro. Previous studies have reported that MSCs expressing Nestin (Nestin+ MSCs), a neuronal stem/progenitor cell marker, exhibit increased transcriptional levels of neural development-related genes, indicating that Nestin+ MSCs may exert potential with neurogenic differentiation. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of the presence of Nestin+ MSCs in bone-marrow-derived primary cells (BMPCs) on enhanced neurogenic differentiation of BMPCs by identifying the presence of Nestin+ MSCs in uncultured and cultured BMPCs. The percentage of Nestin+ MSCs in BMPCs was measured per passage by double staining with Nestin and CD90, an MSC marker. The efficiency of neurogenic differentiation was compared among passages, revealing the highest and lowest yields of Nestin+ MSCs. The presence of Nestin+ MSCs was identified in BMPCs before in vitro culture, and the highest and lowest percentages of Nestin+ MSCs in BMPCs was observed at the third (P3) and fifth passages (P5). Moreover, significantly the higher efficiency of differentiation into neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes was detected in BMPCs at P3, compared with P5. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that neurogenic differentiation can be enhanced by increasing the proportion of Nestin+ MSCs in cultured BMPCs.

Yoko Tawada’s drama Kafka Kaikoku (2013) depicts Japan’s encounter with Western culture from the Meiji era on as the catalyst for a metamorphosis much like Gregor Samsa’s in the work of the same name by Franz Kafka. Ironically, the victim of this East-West clash turns out to be Izumi Kyōka (1873-1939), a man who was anything but an enthusiastic adopter of European literary style. Interweaving elements also from Kafka’s Ein Landarzt (A Country Doctor, 1919), Tawada’s play suggests further that Izumi’s fate was set, since he—and, by extension, all Japanese—could not resist roles the West had prepared for him. Ultimately, this article explains, Kafka Kaikoku offers a critical view of modernization as a force that made Japanese into beings with a hybrid literary consciousness who lacked both much of their own native particularity and also their very humanity.

Generally, fate of spematogonial stem cells (SSCs) can be determined specifically by microenvironments enclosed with various extracellular matrix (ECM) components and integrins recognizing directly ECM proteins play an pivotal role in transporting ECM-derived signals into cytoplasm, resulting in inducing a variety of biological functions such as cell attachment, self-renewal and differentiation. However, to date, studies on type of integrins expressed on the undifferentiated SSCs remain unclear. Therefore, we tried to investigate systematically what kind of integrin subunits are expressed transcriptionally or translationally in the SSCs derived from testis of hybrid B6CBAF1 mouse. For these, isolation of SSCs from testis were conducted by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) using Thy1 antibody. Subsequently, transcriptional and translational level of integrin α and β subunits in the isolated SSCs were measured by real-time PCR and fluorescene immunoassay, respectively. As the results, transcriptional levels of genes encoding total 25 integrin subunits were quantified, and integrin α4, α6, α7, α9, αV, αL and αE and integrin β1, β5 showed higher expression levels than other subunits. By contrast, integrin α3, α5, α 10 and α11 and integrin β2, β3, β4, β7 were weakly transcribed. When translational levels of the integrin α subunits showing high transcription level (α4, α6, α7, α9, αV αL, and αE) were measured, integrin α6, α7, α9, αV and αL were higher than integrin α4 and αE. In case of integrin β subunit, β1 evaluated more expression than β5. From these results, we speculate that the undifferentiated SSCs derived from hybrid B6CBAF1 mouse may express integrin α4β1, α6β1, α7β1, α9β1, αVβ1 and/or αVβ5 on plasma membrane. Moreover, this information will greatly contribute to constructing non-cellular niche supporting self-renewal of SSCs in the future.

To obtain in vivo matured oocytes for dog cloning, serum progesterone (P4) level were employed for ovulate determination. Radioactive immunoassay (RIA) is a traditional serum hormone assay method with highly radioactivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of RIA and to compare its canine serum P4 concentration determination accuracy to that of the electric chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLI). To obtain in vivo matured oocytes for canine somatic cell nuclear transfer, serum P4 levels were accurately measured with both methods of RIA and ECLI. Although both methods detected similar P4 level before ovulation, the mean P4 concentration using ECLI was significantly higher than that using RIA from 3days before ovulation. Following ovulation, oocytes were collected by surgery, and a lower percentage of mature oocytes were observed using ECLI (39%) as compared to RIA (67%) if 4-8ng/ml of P4 were criteria for determination of ovulation. On other hand, high percentage of mature oocytes was observed using ECLI when 6–15 ng/mL of progesterone was criteria for ovulation determination. To determine whether in vivo oocytes obtained by ECLI method could be used for canine cloning, six canines were selected as oocyte donors and two puppies were produced after SCNT and embryo transfer. In conclusion, compared to the traditional RIA method, the ECLI method is a safe and reliable method for canine cloning.

The physicochemical and sensorial properties of fibrous tofu with the addition of different sized defatted soybean flour (DSF) were investigated. Coarse DSF (DSF-150; D50 = 279 μm), fine DSF (DSF-63; D50 = 105 μm), and super-fine DSF (DSF-JM; D50 = 5.0 μm) were prepared via conventional sifting followed by jet-milling with the milling pressure of 7 bars. Tofu was made with the 5% addition of coarse DSF (TDSF-63), fine DSF (TDSF-150), superfine DSF (TDSF-JM), and without DSF (TC). The yields of tofu were slightly decreased as coarse and fine DSF were incorporated while the yield of tofu with super-fine DSF was statistically identical with that of control tofu (p<0.05). Tofu with larger DSF (TDSF-63 and TDSF-150) showed less smoother texture and less pure in color, while tofu with superfine DSF (TDSF-JM) resulted in little changes in physical and organoleptic qualities, which were verified by quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), texture profile analysis (TPA), and color measurements. Each fibrous tofu samples were prepared by mixing soymilk with 5% of DSF from sifting (150 μm, 63 μm sieve) and jet milling process which mentioned as TDSF-150 (DSF average particle size), TDSF-63 (D50 = 105 μm) and TDSF-JM (D50 = 5 μm), respectively. The fibrous tofus were compared to the normal tofu (TC). TDSF-JM has higher yielded (50.98%) among tofu samples. The moisture content of TC, TDSF-JM, TDSF-150 and TDF-63 were 75.81%, 75.47%, 69.89% and 69.80%, respectively. TDSF-JM and TC were having similar L-a-b index. Texture properties of TDSF-JM were similar with TC. On the other hand, TDSF-150 and TDSF-63 has statistically significant higher hardness value and lower point on springiness and cohesiveness compared with TC. Sensory evaluation with quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) method shown that hardness, mouth feel and beany flavor intensity were decreased with the decreasing of particle size of DSF.

The overconsumption ofsolid fatssuch as butter and shortening can cause health concernsrelated to cardiovascular diseases due to their high levels of saturated fatty acids. Therefore many researchers have madea great deal of effort to develop solid fat replacers. In this study, grape seed oil-candelila wax oleogelswere prepared and evaluated as a replacer for shortening in baked goods (specifically muffins). Muffin batters with increasing levels of oleogels exhibited lower viscosity. The reduced porosity of muffins by the shortening replacementwith oleogels could be expected from higherspecificgravity and lowerspecific volume. A stress relaxation test showed that more shortening replacement with oleogels produced muffins with a harder and springier texture. However, the use of the oleogels as a shortening replacer as a ratio of 1:3 by weight was effective in producing muffins with comparable quality attributes to the control with shortening. The ratio of saturatedto unsaturated fatty acids was significantly decreased from 2.81 to0.41 when shortening was replaced with oleogels. Hence, this study showed the possibility of oleogels as shortening replacement in the food industries. The use of oleogels instead of solid fat presents possible opportunities to formulate healthier bakerygoods.

Aedes albopictus is one species of mosquito transmitting flavivirus causing Dengue, Zika, and West Nile fever. Although it is an important disease vector, the genetic study of Ae. alpopictus populations has not been undertaken yet in South Korea. Here, we investigated the genetic variation of 99 Ae. albopictus individuals collected from 29 sites in nine provinces in 2016, through mitochondrial COI gene analysis. Haplotype analyses revealed seven haplogroups in South Korea. The main haplogroup, comprising 76 individuals (77.8%), was genetically identical to the one from Nagasaki. Two groups from Jeju Island (11) and the southern coast of South Korea (nine) were closely related to different Ae. albopictus strains from Kumamoto and Guangdong/Fujian, respectively. However, the others (four) were distinct from these two countries. No geographic divisions of populations were found in the study regions. The results suggest the possibility that the currently prevalent Ae. albopictus in South Korea, represents a part of the descendants that originated from nearby countries. However, more comprehensive investigations are needed to explain its movement routes.

We performed a survey for flavivirus infection and distribution of Aedes albopictus that known as Zika and Dengue virus vector using black–light trap and BG-sentinel trap around urban area in Korea. Mosquitoes were collected in 27 cities during March to November (twice a month) year 2016. Total numbers of mosquitoes collected 102,102 including 19 species 8 genera during collecting period. Total 21,467 Ae. albopictus was collected that 20,961(24.3%) by BG-sentinel trap and 506 (3.2%) by Black-light trap in urban area. Trap index(trap/night) of Ae. albopictus was showed highest in Hamyang (TI:992.3) and lowest in Taebaek (TI:0.3) there was only collected by Black-light trap. A total of 894 pools from all collecting Ae. albopictus were performed a Flavivirus detection. Flavivirus was not detected during study period. This study may provide basic information for surveillance of imported diseases (include Zika virus) and vectors in Korea.

In contrast to the silkworms in 3 days of the 5th instar larval stage, the mature silkworms of Bombyx mori L. have enlarged silk glands containing various functional materials. However, they are too hard to chew or digest for humans when they are cooked or lyophilized. The mature silkworms have recently been regarded as a potential health supplement due to gaining their edibility for humans by a newly-developed steaming method in the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in Korea. Therefore, the present study was performed to examine the skin care activity, one of the potential biological activities of the steamed mature silkworms for humans, which will be helpful to increase incomes for sericultural farm households in Korea (This work was supported by the RDA grant, PJ010828022017.).

Entomopathogenic fungi have been used as important part of integrated pest management program to control aphid. In particular, Beauveria bassiana was distributed throughout the world including temperate and tropical area, various habitats from alpine soil, desert soil to running water and both insect and plant. Especially the fungus has also been isolated from the surface and the interior of plants and act as natural control agent. Viability of fungi on the plant surface may be influenced by temperature, humidity, sunlight and plant type as well as fungal isolate. Persistence of treated fungal control agent on phylloplane and control efficacy may differ from environmental conditions and isolates. In this study, we investigated the persistence of an B. bassiana which is developing as prototype wettable powder to control cotton aphid, and the residual efficacy of the prototype on cucumber under three different greenhouse conditions.

The sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a serious pest and virus vector of many crops. To understand thermal tolerance of B. tabaci at molecular level, effects of rapid and acclimated thermal stress were analyzed by measuring mRNA levels of two heat shock proteins (hsp), hsp23 and hsp90, of B. tabaci using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Mortality of adult whiteflies were 65.5% by 45°C for 1 h but 100% by 50°C for 1 h. However, mortality by subsequent exposures to 35°C for 1 h then 45°C for 1 h was 43.3%. Comparison between rapid and acclimated heat shock treatments showed that different patterns between hsp23 and hsp90 levels. At acclimated condition, hsp90 was higher but hsp23 was lower than rapid heat shock. The results suggest that the heat acclimation response is possibly advantageous to whiteflies that are often exposed to drastic temperature fluctuations.

Rapid resistance detection of resistance level is most important step to manage the resistant population in Tetranychus urticae in Korea. Residual contact vial bioassay (RCV) and quantitative sequencing (QS) methods were employed to determine the resistance level and applied to measure the resistance level of 46 field population collected from rose, strawberry and apple trees. Most populations exhibited multiple resistance pattern to various types of acaricides. Especially, the resistance levels in mites from rose cultivation area were higher than those from strawberry and apple cultivation areas. The resistance level detection would provide a useful parameter enabling the proactive action for a proper resistant population management for T. urticae.