We present a BV I optical photometric study of the old open cluster Ruprecht 6 using the data obtained with the SMARTS 1.0 m telescope at the CTIO, Chile. Its color-magnitude diagrams show the clear existence of the main-sequence stars, whose turn-o point is located around V  18:45 mag and B - V  0:85 mag. Three red clump (RC) stars are identied at V = 16:00 mag, I = 14:41 mag and B - V = 1:35 mag. From the mean Ks-band magnitude of RC stars (Ks = 12:39  0:21 mag) in Ruprecht 6 from 2MASS photometry and the known absolute magnitudes of the RC stars (MKS = - :595  0:025 mag), we obtain the distance modulus to Ruprecht 6 of (m -M)0 = 13:84  0:21 mag (d = 5:86  0:60 kpc). From the (J - Ks) and (B - V ) colors of the RC stars, comparison of the (B - V ) and (V - I) colors of the bright stars in Ruprecht 6 with those of the intrinsic colors of dwarf and giant stars, and the PARSEC isochrone ttings, we derive the reddening values of E(B - V ) = 0:42 mag and E(V - I) = 0:60 mag. Using the PARSEC isochrone ttings onto the color-magnitude diagrams, we estimate the age and metallicity to be: log(t) = 9:50  0:10 (t = 3:16  0:82 Gyr) and [Fe/H] = -0:42  0:04 dex. We present the Galactocentric radial metallicity gradient analysis for old (age > 1 Gyr) open clusters of the Dias et al. catalog, which likely follow a single relation of [Fe/H] = (-0:034  0:007)RGC + (0:190  0:080) (rms = 0.201) for the whole radial range or a dual relation of [Fe/H] = (-0:077  0:017)RGC + (0:609  0:161) (rms = 0.152) and constant ([Fe/H]  -0:3 dex) value, inside and outside of RGC  12 kpc, respectively. The metallicity and Galactocentric radius (13:28  0:54 kpc) of Ruprecht 6 obtained in this study seem to be consistent with both of the relations.

Activated carbons (ACs) have been used as electrode materials of electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) due to their high specific surface areas (SSA), stability, and ecological advantages. In order to make high-energy-density ACs for EDLC, petroleum pitch (PP) precarbonized at 500–1000°C in N2 gas for 1 h was used as the electrode material of the EDLC after KOH activation. As the pre-carbonization temperature increased, the SSA, pore volume and gravimetric capacitance tended to decrease, but the crystallinity and electrode density tended to increase, showing a maximum volumetric capacitance at a medium carbonization temperature. Therefore, it was possible to control the crystalline structure, SSA, and pore structure of AC by changing the pre-carbonization temperature. Because the electrode density increased with increasing of the pre-carbonization temperature, the highest volumetric capacitance of 28.4 F/cc was obtained from the PP pre-carbonized at 700°C, exhibiting a value over 150% of that of a commercial AC (MSP-20) for EDLC. Electrochemical activation was observed from the electrodes of PP as they were pre-carbonized at high temperatures above 700°C and then activated by KOH. This process was found to have a significant effect on the specific capacitance and it was demonstrated that the higher charging voltage of EDLC was, the greater the electrochemical activation effect was.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Kojongsi persimmon peels as a mushroom substrate on antioxidant activity of Pleurotus eryngii. The Pleurotus eryngii was growth on the medium with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50% Kojongsi persimmon peels. The Pleurotus eryngii was extracted into ethanol and their antioxidant activities were analyzed. The total polyphenol content was highest in the 20% Kojongsi persimmon peels treatment (40±0.38 mg of gallic acid equivalents/100 g) than 0% Kojongsi persimmon peels treatment (21 ±0.18 mg of gallic acid equivalents/100 g). The 20% Kojongsi persimmon peels treatment showed better DPPH scavenging activity (36.81±0.23% at 1 mg/ml), ABTS scavenging activity (39.03±0.10% at 1 mg/ml) and reducing power (0.3±0.10% at 1 mg/ml) than 0% Kojongsi persimmon peels treatment and another extract ones. Overall, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities of extracts from Pleurotus eryngii was increased dose dependently and 20% Kojongsi persimmon peels treatment was showed better total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities than 0% Kojongsi persimmon peels treatment and another extract ones.

We present analyses of 1250 variable sources identied in a 20 square degree eld toward NGC 2784 by the KMTNet Supernova Program. We categorize the variable sources into three groups based on their B-band variability. The rst group consists of 31 high variability sources with their B- band RMS variability greater than 0.3 magnitudes. The second group of medium variability contains 265 sources with RMS variability between 0.05 and 0.3 magnitudes. The remaining 951 sources belong to the third group of low variability with an RMS variability smaller than 0.05 magnitudes. Of the entire 1250 sources, 4 clearly show periods of variability greater than 100 days, while the rest have periods shorter than 51 days or no reliable periods. The majority of the sources show either rather irregular variability or short periods faster than 2 days. Most of the sources with reliable period determination between 2 and 51 days belong to the low-variability group, although a few belong to the medium-variability group. All the variable sources with periods longer than 35 days appear to be very red with B􀀀V > 1.5 and V 􀀀I > 2.1 magnitudes. We classify candidates of 51 Cepheids, 17 semi-regular variables, 3 Mira types, 2 RV(B) Tauri stars, 26 eclipsing binary systems and 1 active galactic nucleus. The majority of long-term variables in our sample belong to either Mira or semi-regular types, indicating that long-term variability may be more prominent in post-main sequence phases of late-type stars. The depth of the eclipsing dips of the 26 candidates for eclipsing binaries is equivalent to 0.61 as the average relative size of the two stars in the binary system. Our results illustrate the power of the KMTNet Supernova Program for future studies of variable objects.

Human interferon alpha 2b (hIFNα-2b) is an important immune regulator widely used in clinic, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis, hairy cell leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and multiple myeloma, etc. The clinically used hIFNα-2b is generally produced by E. Coli, which lacks the post-translational O-glycosylation of naturally synthesized protein, and has a short serum half-life. In this study, we report the successful generation of transgenic chickens that produce hIFNα-2b in the egg white using a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-based lentiviral vector. In preliminary in vitro study, the hIFNα-2b gene under the control of CMV promoter expressed as much as 2,650 ng/㎖ in CEF-LNC-hIFNα-2bW cell. A FIV vector packaged with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) was injected underneath the blastoderm of freshly laid chicken eggs (stage X) to produce a hIFNα -2b transgenic chicken. Out of 187 injected eggs, 55 chicks were hatched after 21 days of incubation, and 27 of the G0 hatched chicks expressed the vector-encoded hIFNα-2b gene. The expression of recombinant hIFNα-2b in transgenic chickens constitutes an important step towards low-cost and full biological activity production of this protein drug in bioreactor. This work was supported by the Bio-industry Technology Development Program, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea, and by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ011178), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

In the present study, using a MoMLV-based retrovirus vector, we successfully generated a new transgenic chicken line expressing high levels of hEPO. A replication-defective Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based vectors packaged with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). One rooster was mated to wild-type hens to produce 748 G1 progeny. PCR analysis of blood samples from these progeny revealed that there were seven G1 transgenic offspring, corresponding to a 0.9% germline transmission rate. Subsequently, Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA from three G1 transgenic chickens was carried out to verify the stable genomic integration and copy number of the transgene in the genome. Quantitative analyses of the blood samples taken from G1 transgenic chickens resulted in 4,150 ～ 10,823 IU/㎖ (34.6 ～ 90.2 ㎍/㎖) of hEPO in the blood. The biological activity of the recombinant hEPO in transgenic chicken serum was comparable to its commercially available counterpart. Red blood cell numbers were more than three-fold higher in the transgenic chickens compared to the non-transgenic chickens. Successful germline transmission of the transgene was also confirmed in G2 transgenic chicks produced from crossing G1 transgenic roosters with non-transgenic hens. We confirmed that 13 transgenic chicks of 45 G2 progeny, corresponding to a 28.9% germline transmission rate. These results will help establish a useful transgenic chicken model system for studies of embryonic development and for efficient production of transgenic chickens as bioreactors. This work was supported by the Bio-industry Technology Development Program, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea, and by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ011178), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.