Semen collection from epididymis has been used as an important alternative tool, particularly on abnormal animals including those with joint disorder, poor sex drive and poor libido. However, previous studies had been focused on only recovery of sperm derived from testes, regardless of fundamental parameters such as age, body weight, scrotal circumference, testicular size (weight, length, width and volume) and semen volume. In addition, there is no precise castrating periods to recover sperm from young Hanwoo bulls’ testis. Therefore, we investigated fundamental parameters in Hanwoo bulls at 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 17 months of age, which parameter can be used for sperm recovery from testis. Before castration, body weight and scrotal circumference were recorded. After castration, testes were transported to laboratory and testicular weight, length and width were recorded. About 2 cm of epididymal tail was collected and minced using blades on 100 mm petridish. Minced epididymal tail tissues were mixed with Optixcell (France, IMV technologies) and debris were removed by filteration with 100 um nylon mesh. Seven to 8 months of age in bulls showed low fundamental parameters compared to those of at 14 to 17 months of age in bulls (body weight, 218-258 vs. 330-429 kg; scrotal circumference, 23.4-24.6 vs. 28.8-32.8 cm; testicular weight, 92-104 vs. 222.3-269.9 g; testicular length, 10.9-11.6 vs. 13.4-15.6 cm; testicular width, 4.7 vs. 6.2-6.6; testicular volume, 126.4-136.4 vs. 268.9-357.6 cm3, semen volume, 3.0-4.8 vs. 60.6-68.3 ml, p<0.001). In conclusion, to recover semen derived from epididymis of testis in young Hanwoo bull, these fundamental parameters should be satisfied; 330 kg of body weight, 28.8 cm of scrotal circumference, 222.3 g of testicular weight, 13.4 cm of testicular length, 6.2 cm of testicular width, 268.9 cm3 of testicular volume. In further study, fundamental parameters of 9 to 13 months of age in bull should be investigated to determine more accurate castrating periods for sperm recovery from testis.

Microalgae are of significant importance for future biotechnological applications. Many microalgae banks or laboratories attempt to maintain various microalgae for further research purposes. Cryopreservation has been preferred to reduce a labor-intensive and costly routine sub-culturing. Cryopreservation can also diminish the genetic drift risk. However, cryopreservation as a long term storage of microalgae method are still in developing progress because it cannot be generalized for all microalgae. Microalgae types, cryoprotectant agents (CPAs) types, freezing and thawing methods are the most important factors that should be considered for cryopreservation. In this short review the basic principles and the current advanced of microalgae cryopreservation methods are discussed with a suggested starting parameters for microalgae cryopreservation.

The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Ti-6%Al-4%V alloy was investigated. Heat treatment of cast Ti-6Al-4V alloy was conducted by solution treatment at 950 oC for 30 min; this was followed by water quenching and then aging at 550 oC for 1 to 1440 min. The highest hardness of the heat-treated specimens was obtained by solution treatment and subsequent aging for 5 min due to precipitates of fine α that formed from retained β phase. The tensile strength of this alloy increased without dramatic decrease of the ductility due to microstructural refinement resulting from the decomposition of α' martensite into fine α and β phases, and also due to the fine α phase formed from the retained β phase by aging treatment for 5 min. In addition, this strengthening might be caused by the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect, which is a strain-induced martensite transformation from the retained β phase during deformation, and which occurs even after aging treatment at 550 oC for 5 min.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is defined as the manufacture of three-dimensional tangible products by additively consolidating two-dimensional patterns layer by layer. In this review, we introduce four fundamental conceptual pillars that support AM technology: the bottom-up manufacturing factor, computer-aided manufacturing factor, distributed manufacturing factor, and eliminated manufacturing factor. All the conceptual factors work together; however, business strategy and technology optimization will vary according to the main factor that we emphasize. In parallel to the manufacturing paradigm shift toward mass personalization, manufacturing industrial ecology evolves to achieve competitiveness in economics of scope. AM technology is indeed a potent candidate manufacturing technology for satisfying volatile and customized markets. From the viewpoint of the innovation technology adoption cycle, various pros and cons of AM technology themselves prove that it is an innovative technology, in particular a disruptive innovation in manufacturing technology, as powder technology was when ingot metallurgy was dominant. Chasms related to the AM technology adoption cycle and efforts to cross the chasms are considered.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of ε-poly-L-lysine mixture (EPM) on cheon-ggukjang and to determine the optimal mixing ratio in cheonggukjang. Increasing the EPM up to 2% decreased via-ble cell counts at both 15oC and 30oC storage. The pH of cheonggukjang without EPM increased slowly over thestorage periods, but cheonggukjang with EPM showed a slight increasing tendency, with the highest pH at 2% EPM.The sensory scores, such as texture and flavor, were highest in samples containing 2% EPM; however, overall pref-erence was not significantly different when compared to the control. For the optimum cheonggukjang processingconditions, 13 experimental points were selected. Soybean and EPM were chosen as independent variables. Viablecell count, pH, texture, and overall preference were measured. The optimum formulation of cheonggukjang usingthe numerical analysis was found to be 98.52% soybean and 1.48% EPM, resulting in a 0.722 desirability value.

In the present study, lichen(Parmelia sp.) extract showed insecticidal activity against Aedes albopictus, and the effect of growth inhibiting activity was investigated. Acetone and methanol extracts of the lichen against larvae of Aedes albopictus were showed high insecticidal activities in low lethal concentration. 50% lethal concentration of the acetone extractof the lichen is 0.13% and the 50% lethal concentration of methanol extract of lichen is 0.15% respectively. This experiment that used acetone and methanol extracts of the lichen were observed for 24, 48 and 72 hours. As a result, the higher concentration and the longer exposure time is increased mortality against Aedes albopictus. Pupation time took more time as the higher concentration of acetone extract of lichen. Consequently, the lichen extract is effect in inhibiting the growth of Aedes albopictus larvae. In this experiment indicates that lichen extract has activity against Aedes albopictus and is available as the natural insecticide.

The spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), was originally observed in a few Asian countries, but is now found even in North America and Europe. Genetic information on geographic variation and relationship may broaden our understanding of origin and migration. As a first step, in this study, a portion of mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced to understand genetic relationship and diversity in Korea. Sequencing of 104 individuals provided 57 haplotypes, with the maximum sequence divergence of 1.5%, suggesting high haplotype diversity and moderate sequence divergence. Comparison to GenBankregistered D. suzukii haplotypes (possibly from Spain, Portugal, USA) has shown 100% sequence identity to most of the haplotypes found in this study, but two USA sequences were found to be independent haplotypes, with the sequence divergence ranging from 0.5% ~ 1.4% from our samples in the 553-bp comparison. Phylogenetically, no separable group was found, but, population genetically, the only Chinese population, Sandong, was significantly differentiated (p < 0.05) from all Korean populations, without sharing any haplotype. Among 28 pairwise comparisons of Korean populations only two comparisons showed a significant genetic differentiation, indicating that no population in Korea is completely isolated. Geographically, one haplotype (SWDBA06) was relatively widespread (five among nine localities) and a few haplotypes were found in more than one locality, but most haplotypes were restricted in a locality as a single individual. Overall, high rate of per generation female migration (Nm = 0.75 ~ infinite) and low level of geographic separation (FST=0~0.40) among localities were characteristic. Current data is limited mainly to Korean localities, thus, an expanded study may provide further scrutinized analysis for the fly.

The developmental time of larvae of mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor was studied at six temperatures ranging from 17 to 30℃ with 60~70% RH, and a photoperiod of 14L:10D. Mortality of 1st~13th larva was very low at 17 and 20℃ but did not die over 22℃. Developmental time of larva decreased with increasing temperature. The total developmental time was longest at 17℃ (244.3 days) and shortest at 30℃ (110.8 days), suggesting that the higher temperature, the faster development period. The lower developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulative temperatures for the total larval stages were 6.0℃ and 2564.1 day-degrees. The relationship between developmental rate and temperature fitted a linear model and nonlinear model by Logan-6 (r2=0.95). The distribution of completion of each development stage was well described by the 3-parameter Weibull function (r2=0.89).

Cellular uptake of nanoparticles for stem cell labeling and tracking is a critical technique for biomedical therapeutic applications. However, current techniques suffer from low intracellular labeling efficiency and cytotoxic effects, which has led to great interest in the development of a new labeling strategy. Using silica-coated nanoparticles conjugated with rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RITC) (SR), we tested the cellular uptake efficiency, biocompatibility, proliferation or differentiation ability with murine bone marrow derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. The bone marrow hematopoietic cells showed efficient uptake with SR with dose or time dependent manner and also provided a higher uptake on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Biocompatibility tests revealed that the SR had no deleterious effects on cell cytotoxicity, proliferation, or multi-differentiation capacities in vitro and in vivo. SR nanoparticles are advantageous over traditional labeling techniques as they possess a high level of cellular internalization without limiting the biofunctionality of the cells. Therefore, SR provides a useful alternative for gene or drug delivery into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells for basic research and clinical applications.

Anthocyanins are naturally occuring phytochemicals and the main components of the coloring of plants, flowers and fruits. They are known to elicit antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive activity. In this study, we investigated anthocyanins in black / yellow soybean seedcoats using different methods of detection - thin layer chromatography (TLC), capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and HPLC analysis. The anthocyanins in soybean seedcoats were extracted by five independent methods of extraction and the aglycons (anthocyanidins) of the corresponding anthocyanins were prepared by acid mediated hydrolysis. The anthocyanin / anthocyanidin in black soybean seedcoat showed characteristic TLC mobility, CZE electrophoretic retention and HPLC migration time while little of anthocyanins were detected from yellow soybean seedcoat. The extracted anthocyanins showed pH dependent retention time in CZE and spectral change in UV-Vis spectrum. HPLC analysis of the hydrolyzed extract of black soybean seedcoat identified the presence of four anthocyanidins. The major anthocyanin in black soybean seedcoat was cyanin (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside), with the relative order of anthocyanidin in cyanidin > delphinidin > petunidin > pelargonidin.

The Samia cynthia ricini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a commercial silk-producing insect belonging to an insect family Saturniidae in Bombycoidea. The species that has presumably been originated in India, is distributed in India, China, and Japan. Unlikely domestic silkworm the prime host plant for the species is a castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis in Euphorbiaceae). Recently, the eri-silkworm also is reared in Korea and is expected to be utilized for a diverse purpose. In this report, we present the complete mitochondrial genome of the species with the emphasis of a few major characteristics. The 15,384-bp long S. cynthia ricini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) mitochondrial genome was amplified into three long overlapping fragments (from COI ~ ND4, ND5 ~ lrRNA, and lrRNA ~ COI) and subsequent several short fragments using the long fragments as temperate. The primers for both long and short fragments were designed solely for lepidopteran genomes, without any species-specific primers. As a usual the genome is composed of 37 genes: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes, and one large non-coding region termed the A+T-rich region. Arrangement of the genome is identical to those of other lepidopteran mitochondrial genome, but this differs from the common arrangement found in a diverse insect order, by the movement of tRNAMet to a position 5’- up stream of tRNAIle. Unlikely previous report on the start codon for COI gene in Lepidoptera S. cynthia ricini COI gene starts with typical ATT codon located between tRNATyr and the beginning region of COI gene. The 22 tRNAs that are interspersed throughout the mitogenome ranged in length from 62 to 71 bp. All tRNAs but tRNASer(AGN) were shown to be folded into the expected cloverleaf secondary structures. More detailed structural and phylogenetic analyses among Bombycidae and Saturniidae in connection with other families in the Bombycoidea will be performed soon