To determine the optimal media conditions for the detection of the cellulolytic activity in Ganoderma lucidum, we varied three media conditions: dye reagent, pH, and temperature. First, we evaluated the use of four dyes, Congo Red, Phenol Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue, and Trypan Blue. To observe the effect of pH on the chromogenic reaction, we also made and tested various media spanning acidic and alkaline pHs, ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. Furthermore, in order to research the effect of temperature on the clear zone and the fungus growing zone, we tested temperatures ranging from 15 to 35℃. On the whole, the best protocol called for Ganoderma lucidum transfer onto media containing Congo red with pH adjusted to 7.0, followed by incubation at 25℃ for 5 days. Our results will be useful to researchers who aim to study extracellular enzyme activity in Ganoderma lucidum

Few studies have evaluated the apoptosis-inducing efficacy of NaF on cancer cells in vitro but there has been no previous investigation of the apoptotic effects of NaF on human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. In this study, we have investigated the mechanisms underlying the apoptotic response to NaF treatment in the YD9 human squamous cell carcinoma cell line. The viability of YD9 cells and their growth inhibition were assessed by MTT and clonogenic assays, respectively. Hoechst staining, DNA electrophoresis and TUNEL staining were conducted to detect apoptosis. YD9 cells were treated with NaF, and western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, FACScan flow cytometry, and MMP and proteasome activity assays were performed sequentially. The NaF treatment resulted in a time- and dose-dependent decrease in YD9 cell viability, a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, and the induction of apoptotic cell death. The apoptotic response of these cells was manifested by nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, the reduction of MMP and proteasome activity, a decreased DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, the translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) into the nucleus, a significant shift of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, PARP, Lamin A/C and DFF45 (ICAD). Furthermore, NaF treatment resulted in the downregulation of G1 cell cyclerelated proteins, and upregulation of p53 and the Cdk inhibitor p27KIP1. Taken collectively, our present findings demonstrate that NaF strongly inhibits YD9 cell proliferation by modulating the expression of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and inducing apoptosis via mitochondrial and caspase pathways.

In this work, graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were prepared by ammonia and heat treatment at temperatures up to 1000℃ to improve its CO2 adsorption capacity. The effects of the heat treatment on the textural properties and surface chemistry of the GNFs were investigated by N2 adsorption isotherms, XRD, and elemental analysis. We found that the chemical properties of GNFs were significantly changed after the ammonia treatment. Mainly amine groups were formed on the GNF surfaces such as lactam groups, pyrrole and pyridines. The GNFs treated at 500℃ showed highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 26.9 mg/g at 273 K in this system.

In this work, the effect of co-carbon fillers on the electrical and mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. The graphite nanosheets (GNs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as co-carbon fillers. The results showed that the electrical conductivity of the epoxy nanocomposites showed a considerable increase upon an addition of MWNTs when GNs were fixed at 2 wt.%. This indicated that low content GNs formed the bulk conductive network and then MWNTs added were intercalated between the GN layers, resulted in the formation of additional conductive pathway. Furthermore, the flexural strength of the epoxy nanocomposites was enhanced with increasing the MWNT content. It was probably attributed to the flexible MWNTs compared with rigid GNs, resulted in the enhancement of the mechanical properties.

In this work, the effect of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) addition on physicochemical characteristics of CNFs-reinforced epoxy matrix nanocomposites was studied. Poly(amide imide) solutions in dimethylformamide were electrospun into webs consisting of 250±50 nm fibers which were used to produce CNFs through stabilization and carbonization processes. As a result, the CNFs with average diameter of 200±20 nm were obtained after carbonization process. The nanocomposites with CNFs showed an improvement of thermal stability parameters and fracture toughness factors, compared to those of the specimen without CNFs, which could be probably attributed to the higher specific surface area and larger aspect ratio of CNFs, resulting in improving the mechanical interlocking in the nanocomposites. Also, the applied external loading can effectively transfer to CNFs because strong interactions are resulted between the epoxy matrix and the CNFs.

This study was to investigate pregnancy rate of IVM/IVF/IVC Korean cattle (registered in government) embryos according to transport time course. For the production of embryos, oocytes recovered from slaughtered excellent grade cow and highly motile frozen‐thawed bull semen (purchased from LIMC, KPN#497) was used. In vitro produced embryos were cultured in CR1aa medium for 8 days and some of them were frozen. The rate of average cleavage (>2‐cell) was 83.0% (308/371) and blastocyst rate at day 8 was 34.7% (107/308). Among in vitro produced blastocyst embryos at day 8, most healthy embryos were freshly transferred on production day and some frozen embryos were direct transferred on appropriate day. These embryos were produced in a laboratory, embryo transfer (ET) was planned in 10 areas of the remote island (Jeju) from the laboratory by airplane. Thus, we examined the pregnancy rate in recipient cow according to embryo of transport time course before ET. From embryo transferred 44 recipient cows, overall pregnancy was 40.9% (18/44), these 18 cows were all calved [single, 94% (17/18); twin, 6% (1/18)] and total embryo implantation rate was 26% (19/66). Comparing transport time in the base of 6 hr, pregnancy rate in ET group required less 4 hr (60%, 9/15) was significantly higher than that required more 6 hr (26.3%, 5/19). In direct ET of freezing embryos, the pregnancy rate was 40% (4/10). However, it was difficult to find the meaning of temperature, pH and corpus luteum quality of recipients on comparison of pregnancy rate. When the cell death level of embryos according to storage time in thermos (straw container) before ET was measured by TUNEL staining, apoptotic index was increased with storage time‐dependent. These results demonstrated that long distance transfer of IVM/IVF/IVC embryos is possible and the time of embryo transport is very important for the pregnancy rate on field trial.

Ganoderma applantaum belonged to Polyporaceae of Basidiomycetes and has been known as one of the popular medicinal mushrooms due to high antitumor and anti-diabetes activity. This study was carried out to obtain the basic information for mycelial culture conditions of Ganoderma applantaum. According to colony diameter and mycelial density, the media for suitable mycelial growth of them were shown in PDA and MEA. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was 25~30℃The colonies are white, flocculose and underside of the plates is whitish to cream. Carbon and nitrogen sources were mannose and malt extract, respectively. The optimum C/N ratio was 10:1 to 5:1with 2% glucose concentration, vitamin was thiamine- HCl, organic acid was succinic acid, and mineral salt was MgSO4ㆍ7H2O. Present experiments were conducted to determine the possibility of artificial culture with sawdusts of G. applantaum. The pH value which was 6.0 of oak sawdust and6.4 of ricebran. Mycelial density on oak sawdust of G.applantaum spp. was higher than Ganoderma lucidium (a control). Wt. of dried fruiting body (g) of G. applantaum. (origin culture: GBEA-01, strain name: SamJung(三淨)) showed that 16.0 g on oak sawdust bottle cultivation (850㎖), 7.8 g on oak sawdust and G. lucidum. This present study was undertaken to investigate comparative anti-tumor activity of water extracts of G. lucidum ASI 7125 (GLE), G. applantaum SamJung (GAE) in vitro. The anti-tumor activity in the present study was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) and microtetrazolium (MTT) assay in terms of cell survival level. The results showed that DW, GLE and GAE inhibited proliferation showing both tumor cells.

Since pine wilt disease was first reported in Busan in 1988, this disease has become a serious threat to pine forests in Korea. A general survey for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus group (B. xylophilus, B. mucronatus) nematodes were carried out to determine their geographic range, host tree species and insect vectors, Monochamus species. Based on the survey results, B. xylophilus were found over 57 cities or district and a similar nematode, B. mucronatus also has been isolated over 30 cities or district including Jeju and Pocheon. The Asian type of B. mucronatus was founded from Pinus thunbergii and P. densiflora, generally associated with M. alternatus as its insect vector. The European type of B. mucronatus which was limited distribution to the central areas, such as Yeongwol, Bonghwa, Yeongdeok, was also found on P. koraiensis and P. desiflora associated with M. saltuarius. Both Monochamus species transmitted both Bursaphelenchus species and co-existed in Muju and Yeongdeok predicted as their range margin. Their range margins shifted northwards compared to 2006, seemingly as a result of climate change. Recently, the European type of B. mucronatus has been identified in other several areas since it was first reported in Pocheon in 2008. Several reports indicate the potential pathogenicity of European type of B. mucronatus and other species, B. sexdentati and B. lenoni in Europe. Therefore, sustainable survey and the study for the newly invading Bursaphelenchus species as well as the member of B. xylophilus group should be performed to protect Korean forests.

The small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatelleus (Fallén), is a insect vector of Rice stripe virus (RSV) in temperate countries such as Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. As SBPH is able to overwinter successfully in these areas, RSV disease in subsequent rice fields has been believed to be endemic. In Korea, however, the RSV disease outbreaks have been observed mainly but not continuously at some western regions since 2001, caused a severe damage to the rice production. Although many efforts are underway to explain the outbreak phenomenon, the exact related factors are not known yet. In the meantime of the study on SBPH population dynamics in 2009, we catched unusually large numbers of SBPH adults by aerial net traps, maximally over 900, in early June at western coastal counties such as Taean, Seocheon, Buan, Sinan, and Jindo in Korea. Age distribution changes of SBPH in winter and post-winter seasons at some selected fields shows that the adults might be not related to overwintering population. The adults of overwintering population emerged from early April. Newly hatched nymphs of first generation were found from mid-May. In late May, just before the unusual catch of adults, the developmental stages of SBPH were mostly below 5th instars. This means that the big adult populations would be results of mass migration of SBPH abroad. We present also spacial distribution and host relationship of overwintering population as well as viruliferous rate changes of immigratory population.