Recently, there had been reports on ethanol fermentation from mono-saccharide and disaccharide by mushroom mycelia. This experiment was conducted to study ethanol production from xylose by mycelila of mushrooms isolated from Korea. The cultures used in this study were obtained from Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms in the Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University. The results showed that Neolentinus lepideus, Trametes hirsuta and Cerrena unicolor produced ethanol from xylose contained media. The ethanol concentration produced in the xylose contained media ranged from 2.5∼3.8%. The highest ethanol concentration(3.8%) was obtained from fermentation of xylose by Neolentinus lepideus mycelia. All of the mushroom mycelia used in this study showed a good ability of ethanol fermentation from glucose, fructose, mannose, cellobiose and maltose.

Recently, there had been many reports on ethanol fermentation by mushrooms. This study was initiated to screening of ethanol fermentation by mushroom mycelilal cultures preserved in Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms in the Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University. The experimental results showed that ethanol concentration produced by Cerrena unicolor, Trametes pubescens and Daedalea dickinsii, Microporus vernicipes and Perenniporia fraxinea in the glucose medium ranged from 2.3∼4.7%. The highest ethanol concentration was obtained from fermentation of glucose by Cerrena unicolor (4.7%). Some of the mushrooms used in this study have a good ability to efficiently ferment arabinose, fructose, mannose, cellobiose, maltose and sucrose . The highest ethanol concentration was obtained under semi-aerobic condition compared with aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The media used for ethanol fermentation by T. pubescens and P. fraxinea. contained small amounts of β -D-glucan, which is known to have anti-tumor activity.

Medicinal plant extracts from 27 plant species in 20 families were tested for their larvicidal activity against house fly, Musca domestica (L.). Responses varied with plant material and concentration. Among plant species tested, Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica showed 100% larvicidal activity against M. domestica at 10 mg/g concentration. Larvicidal activities of Atractylodes japonica, Saussurea lappa, Asiasarum sieboldi, and Gleditsia japonica var. koraiensis were 89.3, 85.3, 93.3 and 96.6% at 10 mg/g concentration, respectively. Extracts of Prunus persica, Curcuma longa and Paeonia moutan produced moderate activity. Larvicidal activity of other plant extracts was less than 50%. Among test plant species, Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica showed the most potent larvicidal activity. The active constituent of P. leptostachya var. asiatica roots was identified as the leptostachyol acetate by spectroscopic analysis. The LC50valuesofleptostachyolacetateagainstM. domestica larvae was 0.039 mg/g. Naturally occurring medicinal plant extracts and Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica root–derived compounds merit further study as potential house fly larval control agents or lead compounds.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in tissue development and re-modeling. Dynamic morphological changes of tooth germs reflect involvement of these enzymes during odontogenesis. The present study was performed to investigate expression and localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which have been known to have type IV collagenase activities, in rat tooth germs at different developmental stages. MMP-2 expression was increased gradually in the tooth germs from cap to crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. The localization of this molecule was detected in secretory ameloblasts and preameloblasts. The strong immunoreactivities were occasionally seen along the basement membrane between ameloblasts (or preameloblasts) and odontoblasts (preodontoblasts). However, weak reactivity was detected in odontoblasts and reduced enamel epithelium. The level of MMP-9 expression in the tooth germs was higher in cap stage than in crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. They were strongly expressed in both ameloblasts and odontoblasts. Even though reduced enamel epithelium after enamel formation and inner enamel epithelium at the cap stage exhibited weak reactivity, strong reactivity was detected in dental follicles and perifollicular tissues surrounding cap staged germs. These results suggested that MMP-2 may involve degradation of the basement membrane during hard tissue formation, whereas MMP-9 might be involved in remodeling of follicular tissues.

The purpose of this study is to investigate and reveal the effects that the complex exercise training consisting of aerobic exercise and strength training(sit up, push up) that everyone can easily practice regardless of a time and a place in order to manage practically the physical strength of the aged affects the difference on their body composition and the change of physical fitness level. Looking into the change of body composition of an experimental group, the weight of 2.5kg was reduced after applying complex training for 12 weeks and the body fat mass of 2.65kg was reduced. Also, the abdominal fat of 0.13% was decreased and the muscle mass of 1.56kg was increased. For the change factors of physical fitness, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance and flexibility excluding agility showed significant improvement after applying complex exercise training. The improvement of health fitness of the aged under this study was significantly effective to improve specified body functions which had been lowered by aging and insufficient physical activities. So, it is regarded that their health fitness is the important factor to improve the activity competence required for daily life and to lead healthy living by the improved activity competence. Henceforth, it needs to study more the complex composition of several sports, exercise intensity and the frequency based on the previous researches and studies. In addition, it needs to develop the complex exercise training in accordance with various characteristics such as a sex of the aged, an age, a physical fitness level, environment, a disease and the program in consideration of the efficacy and safety during training.

This study aims to reveal how EA affects BAX and NF-kB involved in cell deaths from global ischemia, and to do this, observes the changes of BAX and NF-kB caused by EA application after transient global ischemia. The experimental method is to give rise to global ischemia and apply EA to 27 SD rats with the particulars of being six-week-old, male, around-300 gram-weighing, and adapted to laboratory environment for more than a week, and divide them into three groups, that is, GV20 EA group(n=9), L14 EA group(n=9), no-treatment GI group(n=9), and then observe their changes of BAX and NF-kB at the time lapse of 6 hours, 9 hours and 12 hours after ischemia, using western blotting. The numerical decrease of BAX expression at the time lapse of 9 hours after EA application, though not statistically significant, was observed in GV20 EA group and L14 EA group, and the NF-kB expression appeared statistically significant decrease in GV20 EA group and L14 EA group, but the expression was higher in the group with EA application. Therefore, EA application at the early phase of global ischemia is considered to affect BAX and NF-kB and play a positive role in decreasing apoptosis and cell deaths by inflammation.

The growing oocytes become progressively capable of resuming meiosis, and full meiotic competence appear when they are about 80% of the size of fully grown oocytes. As hormonal influences vary at different stages of reproductive cycle, the size of oocytes may vary according to the reproductive stages. The present study was designed to compare the diameter between the ovulated and freshly collected immature canine oocytes. The ovulated oocytes were collected 72 hr after ovulation by oviductal tube flushing by laparotomy under general anesthesia. Immature oocytes were collected by ovarian slicing method. Diameter of all oocytes was measured directly using epiflurescence microscope with a calibrated micro-eyepiece micrometer at ×200 magnification. The thickness of zona pellucida and diameter of cytoplasm were measured separately and recorded. A total of 2209 zona intact oocytes were collected, among them 628 from anestrus, 675 from follicular, 838 from luteal and 68 by fallopian tubes flushing methods. The average number of oocytes was 104.7, 168.8, 119.7 and 11.3 for anestrus, follicular, luteal and fallopian tubes flushing methods, respectively. The average diameters of the ooplasm and oocyte were significantly varied in different reproductive stages as well as with ovulated oocytes (P<0.05). The average diameter of ooplasm and oocyte was 115.6 and 127.7, 143.0 and 162.0, 134.6 and 150.6, 159.6 and 185.6 for anestrus, follicular, luteal and ovulated oocytes, respectively. Highest number of oocytes with larger diameter could be collected from the follicular and luteal stages. In conclusion, the follicular and luteal ovaries are the best sources of oocytes for canine IVM.

Tomato fruit color, which is the most visible characteristic among the other fruit traits, is considered to have a substantial influence on consumers. The pink-colored tomatoes with high soluble solids content are considerably preferred especially in Asia compared to the other colors. Generally the pink fruit trait of tomatoes is easily determined by visual examination of intact fruit, however, it is technically determined by the characteristic of the fruit peel. The pink trait is regulated by variations of the SlMYB12(y) gene located on chromosome 1, which controls the accumulation of the naringenin chalcone, which comprises a large proportion of flavonoids. In this study, we developed a derived Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (dCAPS) marker and a sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) marker in order to discriminate of pink/non-pinktomatoes in the domestic breeding lines. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that the SlMYB gene is highly expressed in non-pink fruit peel, whereas the expression is significantly lowered in the pink fruit peel. These gene based markers are expected to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of selection pink-tomatoes in tomato breeding programs.

Shoot-fresh-weight (SFW) is one of the parameters, used to estimate the total plant biomass yield in soybean. Understanding the genetic and molecular basis of SFW could help increase the total biomass production. In this particular study, we identified QTLs associated with SFW in a Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) population derived from interspecific cross of PI483463 and Hutcheson. A total of 551 (535 SNP and 16 SSR) markers, were found to be polymorphic between the parental lines and were used to screen the RILs to develop the genetic map. Linkage analysis and QTL mapping were performed using with the software QTL IciMapping version 4.0, with the minimum LOD score of 3.0 and estimating the likelihood of a QTL and its corresponding effects at every 1cM. QTLs with LOD value > threshold LOD, as determined by 1000 permutation tests at p > 0.05 were considered as significant QTLs. The analysis identified a total of 5 QTLs associated with shoot fresh weight over two environments, with the phenotypic variation (PV) ranging from 6.34 to 21.32%, and the additive effect from -0.54 to 0.33. Among these QTLs, qFW1314_19_1 had the largest LOD scores, with PV of 21.32%. Interestingly, three QTLs, qFW2013_19_1, qFW2014_19_1, and qFW1314_19_1 identified on chromosome 19(L), showed negative additive effects, indicating the contribution from the wild parent PI483463. The QTLs identified in this study can be the targets to identify the candidate genes for the SFW and can help in developing cultivars with increased biomass potential.

Seed weight (SW), often expressed as 100-seed weight (HSW), is an important yield component in soybean and has been found to show positive correlation with seed yield. It is shown to behave as a quantitative trait controlled by many loci that are largely unclear. In this study, we represent the identification of chromosomal regions controlling the seed weight in soybean. We used a Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) population, consisting of 188 lines derived from a cross of a wild soybean PI483463 (HSW: 0.85g) and a cultivated soybean cultivar Hutcheson (HSW: 14.05g) to identify the chromosomal regions controlling the SW trait. The population, along with parental samples and check, William82 (HSW: 21.2g) was grown for four years and phenotype data was recorded postharvest. A total of 535 SNP and 16 SSR markers, polymorphic between the parents were employed to genotype the RILs using Golden gate assay to develop the linkage map. Whole genome QTL scanning identified a total of 17 QTLs, spanning 10 chromosomes for the 100-seed weight. All these QTLs explained phenotypic variation (PV) in the range of 3.77 to 12.33%. Of the 17 QTLs, 2 QTLs qSWA1-1 and qSWD2-1, found to be the consistent QTLs, expressing in all the four environments. The QTL qSWD2-1 explained highest contribution to the total PV with 10.04 -12.23 %. The remaining 15 QTLs were identified in at least one environment with PV ranging up to 10.39%. The findings from this study will provide useful information to understand the genetic and molecular basis of SW and facilitate further genomic research leading to the yield improvements in soybean.

Mungbean (Vigna radiata) is a fast-growing, warm-season legume crop that is primarily cultivated in developing countries of Asia. We constructed a draft genome sequence of mungbean to facilitate genome research into the subgenus Ceratotropis and to enable a better understanding of the evolution of leguminous species. The draft genome sequence covers 80% of the estimated genome, of which 50.1% consists of repetitive sequences. In total, 22,427 high confidence protein-coding genes were predicted. Based on the de novo assembly of additional wild mungbean species, the divergence of what was eventually domesticated and the sampled wild mungbean species appears to have predated domestication. Moreover, the de novo assembly of a tetraploid Vigna species (Vigna reflexo-pilosa var. glabra) provided genomic evidence of a recent allopolyploid event. To further study speciation, we compared de novo RNA-seq assemblies of 22 accessions of 18 Vigna species and protein sets of Glycine max and Cajanus cajan. The species tree was constructed by a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method using highly confident orthologs shared by all 24 accessions. The present assembly of V. radiata var. radiata will facilitate genome research and accelerate molecular breeding of the subgenus Ceratotropis.

Marked neutrophilia associated with neoplasia is a relatively rare finding and has been considered as a paraneoplastic manifestation. Thyroid cancer seldom presents with paraneoplastic leukocytosis. We report on a case of a 69-year-old man who presented with paraneoplastic leukocytosis seven months after undergoing total thyroidectomy and I-131 therapy for treatment of papillary thyroidcarcinoma. We found neither bone marrow involvement of malignant cells nor hematologic malignancy. Based on elevated levels of serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, we concluded that the cause was paraneoplastic leukocytosis. Another interesting point was the anaplastic transformation in the pleural metastatic site. It usually occurs in the intrathyroid or regional lymph node.

Legume and rhizobia symbiosis plays an important role in conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia. On a global scale, thin interaction represent a key entry point for reduced nitrogen into the biosphere, and as a consequence this symbiosis in important in both natural and agricultural systems. Symbiotic development of nodule organ in triggered by chito-oligosaccharide signals(Nod factors) from the bacterium which are perceived by the legume root. Understanding the molecular and cellular processes that underlie Nod factor perception is one focus of legume biology. Although forward genetics has proved to be an important tool to elucidate key players in Nod factor perception, we still know relatively little regarding the functional networks of genes and proteins that connect the earliest steps of Nod factor perception to immediate downstream outcomes. To identify genes and proteins that link Nod factor perception to cellular and physiological responses we are taking a discovery-based strategy on large-scale transcriptome profiling using RNA sequencing in the roots of Medicago truncatula in response to Sinorhizobium meliloti. Functional characterization of a number of candidate genes is currently in progress to further examine their role in nodulation.