Japanese pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is considered as a serious pest in pine trees. To develop an eco-friendly strategy to manage this forest insect, we collected entomopathogenic fungi from Korean soil and assessed their virulence against the adults of the insect in laboratory conditions. As a result, two isolates with conidial suspension (1.0×107conidia/ml), showed 87% and 90% mortality 12 days after fungal treatment, respectively. We assessed the potential of the fungi-derived destruxin and protease as additives to the fungal isolates, and they showed insecticidal activity via feeding and spraying treatments. Finally, we produced fungal conidia in massive solid cultures and formulated wettable powders, and now studying optimal conditions of oil-based formulation with two isolates. Based on these results, we are evaluating the control efficacy of the fungal agents against M. alternatus in field conditions.

Despite growing research interest in consumer health, well-being and beauty, little is known about factors influencing consumer purchase decisions for female fitness devices. This study focuses on Kegel exercises – exercise routines developed by Dr. Kegel to strengthen pelvic floor muscles – that are recommended by health professionals for patients experiencing health ailments such as urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and dissatisfaction. Despite the benefits, women are not well aware of the role of pelvic floor muscles. The diffusion and acceptance of Kegel exercise and devices among women are likely determined by how comfortable women are about obtaining such benefits. For this reason, feminism should play an important role in shaping women’s desire to engage in Kegel exercises. Thus, this research investigates how feminism is related to Millennial women’s engagement with fitness products, particularly Kegel devices. Drawing on the literatures about sexuality, health, and marketing, we propose that feminism positively influences women’s health-related attitudes (i.e., attitudes towards fitness, fitness opinion leadership, attitude toward core strength, and desire to control sex life), which in turn positively impacts women’s fitness engagement. Fitness engagement, in turn, is expected to predict attitudes towards Kegel exercise and Kegel device purchase intentions. On the other hand, women’s attitudes toward core strength and desire to control sex life are proposed to have a direct, positive impact on attitude towards Kegel exercise. Analysis of PLS-SEM shows general support for the hypotheses. We discuss how interest in Kegel devices could, in turn, lead to positive effects on overall physical and psychological health and provide implications for marketing practitioners.

The potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is an important pest for solanaceous crops mainly potatoes. There is an increasing concern on host expansion to tomato which is higher cash crop. We monitored PTM population dynamics in potato dominated area and tomato greenhouse area in Andon, South Korea for 2 years using delta sticky trap with sex pheromone lure. PTM population was higher in potato growing area and low in tomato area; 19.82 PTM/trap/week and 0.8 PTM/trap/week, respectively. Peak occurrence time was related to the crop phenologies; August in potato field and November in tomato field. Land scape analysis showed that there was significant positive correlation between habitat potato field itself and green house with the number of moth catch during the monitoring period.

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is an oligophagous insect pest on solanaceous crops. Potato tuber is regarded as the main host of PTM but it can also feed, develop and reproduce on other solanaceous crops such as tomato. We tested adult olfactory behavior and larval development on 5 cultivated tomato varieties namely Money maker, Campari, Ailsa craig, LA 3475 (M82) and E-6203, and one wild species, S. pimpinellifolium. Tomato leaf hydro-distilled oils of Money maker, Campari, Ailsa craig, S. pimpinellifolium and E-6203 leaves showed strong attractiveness for mated adult PTM of both sexes (> 70%) in two-armed bioassay. LA 3475 (M82) oil showed repulsive response (83.7% for males and 87.3% for females). GC-MS analysis of the hydro-distilled oils of all tomato leaves contain the fatty acid n-hexadecanoic acid (Palmitic acid) as a major compound with relative percentage as S. pimpinelifollium (32.1%) > E-6203 (26.5%) > money maker (26.1%) > LA-3475 (16.3%) > Campari (15.0%) > Ailsa craig (10.4%). LA 3475 consists of (1-hexyltetraecyl)cyclohexane (10.5%) as the second major compound which was absent in all other tomato varieties. In no choice test, PTM larvae showed highest developmental performances such as number of mines, headcapsule size, pupal weight and survival in Ailsa craig, and lowest in LA 3475. In choice test, similar results were observed. This study indicates the leaf volatile of n-hexadecanoic acid might be responsible for PTM attractiveness and (1-hexyltetraecyl)cyclohexane for repulsiveness. And varieties of tomato leaves could support suitable nutritional contents to PTM, posing pest potential in the future where higher exposure is expected.

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is a cosmopolitan insect pest and hosts various solanaceous crops including tomato. We tested olfactory behavior and larval development of PTM on different varieties of tomato fruit namely, Money maker, Campari, Ailsa craig, LA 3475 (M82) and E-6203, and one wild species, S. pimpinellifolium. We also analyzed essential oil of the tomato fruits through GC/MS. There were significance differences in immature developmental period and head capsule size among the tested varieties. PTM larvae showed highest survival on Ailsa craig (66.0±6.0) and E-6203 (64.0±4.0) and lowest on S. pimpinellifolium (14.0±6.0). The major compounds found in the tomato fruit’s essential oils include n-hexadecanoic acid (14.2%) and 2-octylcyclopropaneoctanal (8.7%) in Money makers; hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy -1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (13.1%) in Campari; tert-hexadecanethiol (6.8%) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester (6.2%) in Ailsa craig; (Z)-13-docosenamide (13.39) in S. pimpinellifolium; Eicosane (4.4%,), (Z)-9 -octadecenamide (4.2%), and n-hexadecanoic acid (4.1%) in E-6208. The larval development result on tomato fruit could support its suitable nutritional contents to PTM, posing pest potential in the future where higher exposure is expected.

Potato tuber moth (PTM) is damaging pest of solanaceous crop invasive to Korea. We showed earlier that it inflicteddamage to tomato. So in this study, we evaluated accessions of Solanum lycopersicum (Money maker, Campari, AilsaCraig, LA3475 and e6203) and a wild variety of S. pimpinellifolium for resistance variability. A day old larvae of PTMwere inoculated to leaves and fruits. The result showed high survivability on leaves of Ailsa Craig (95.6%±4.4 SE) andlow on fruits of S. pimpinellifolium (14.0%±6.0). Leaves of LA3475 and fruits of S. pimpinellifolium were less preferred.Volatile compounds could be the cause. Density of trichomes could also influence PTM activity on leaves. These resultsgive us information on resistance variability which could be utilized if there is a host shift due to climate change.

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a ubiquitous pest on potatoes, tobacco, tomato and othercrops. The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, is a pest of European honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in severalcountries in the world. Propolis is a balm-like substance collected from plants by bees. Its chemical composition variesand depends mainly on the flora in the region in which it is collected as well as the bee species. Hitherto biologicalproperties and the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from propolis of Korean origin are unknown. Inthis study, while searching for an environmentally friendly method to control these pests we evaluated the repellent effectsof essential oil of propolis collected from Bee Lab of Andong National University and found that it possess repellentactivity against both small hive beetle and potato tuber moth. Moreover, a total of 171 constituents of the oil were identifiedof which 6 were major compounds using GC/MS analysis. We also compared the chemical composition of this oil withthose from 2 Ethiopian regions.

By definition, endosymbionts reside in the hosts' cells and are maternally inheritted to offspring as the mitochondriondoes. Recent progresses reveal that some endosymbionts have evolved their manipulabilities of hosts' reproduction. Inthis nature, once an endosymbiont shares its host with others, their association may last long unless their evolutionaryinterest or hosts' fitness is undermined.We tested whether the association existed among the endosymbionts; Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Cardinium and Rickettsia.The results show that there are some multiple infection cases but there is no obvious pattern in their association.

Xenotransplantation is proposed as a solution to the problem of organ shortage. However, transplantation of xenogeneic organs induces an antigen-antibody reaction in α-1,3-gal structure that are not present in humans and primates, and thus complement is also activated and organs die within minutes or hours. In this study, we used FasL gene, which is involved in the immune response of NK cell, and US11, which suppresses MHC Class I cell membrane surface expression, to inhibit cell mediated rejection in the interspecific immunity rejection, and also hDAF(CD55) was introduced to confirm the response to C3 complement. These genes were tranfeced into Korean native pig fetal fibroblasts using pCAGGS vector. And cytotoxicity of NK cell and human complement was confirmed in each cell line. The US11 inhibited the cytotoxicity of NK cell and, in addition, the simultaneous expression of US11 and Fas ligand showed excellent suppress to T-lymphocyte cytotoxicity, hDAF showed weak resistance to cytotoxicity of natural killer cell but not in CD8+ CTLs. Cytotoxicity study with human complement showed that hDAF was effective for reducing complement reaction. In this studies have demonstrated that each gene is effective in reducing immune rejection.

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.

Potato tuber moth (PTM), phthorimaea operculella, invaded into Korea in 1968 but recently expanding the distribution possibly due to climate change. Ten insecticides were evaluated against the neonates and eggs of PTM. Vial contact test for neonates and dipping for eggs were conducted. LT50 at recommended dose and LC50 at 24 h were determined. Shortest LT50 was observed for fenthion (0.37 h) whereas longest LT50 from spinetoram (13.56 h). LC50 at 24 h was lowest in Abamectin (0.0052 ppm) followed by Emamectin benzoate (0.0084 ppm). Cartap hydrochloride significantly inhibited hatchability of 1, 2, 3, 4 day-old eggs (95.7, 94.0, 94.2, 89.8 % respectivly). Our result indicated that cartap hydrochloride was effective against both neonate and eggs of PTM.

This study investigated the antidiabetic effect of amaranth grain ethanol extract (AEE) in a diabetic animal model, db/db mouse. The mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control mice (C57BL/6J), diabetic mice (C57BL/6J db/db), diabetic mice fed a lower concentration of AEE (0.3 mg/kg), and diabetic mice fed a higher concentration of AEE (0.5 mg/kg). After 10 weeks of treatment, body weights, blood insulin levels and blood glucose levels of each group were compared. At the end of treatment, the results showed that both AEE supplemented groups had lower body weights than those in the diabetic groups although higher than those in the normal groups. Moreover, in both AEE supplemented groups, serum insulin levels were higher and blood glucose levels were lower than those in the diabetic groups although both values were higher than those in the normal groups. The results of this study suggest that AEE can alleviate many of the common symptoms of diabetes in diabetic mice and, therefore, has potential as a therapeutic supplement for normalization of blood glucose and insulin levels in humans.