Currently, phylogenetic relationships of Bombycoidea have been reconstructed using molecular data, but generated several hypotheses on among-familial relationships [(especially, “Satruniidae+Bombycidae+Sphingidae” group)] within Bombycoidea. Thus, in this study, we sequenced 39 mitogenomes from both Bombycoidea and Lasiocampoidea. Consequently, one topology was obtained on the basis of ML and BI methods. It suggested the monophyly of the two superfamilies (Bombycoidea and Lasiocampoidea) consistently with a high nodal support; the sister relationship between Saturniidae and Sphingidae in “SBS”; and the sister relationships between Bombycidae and the Saturniidae + Sphingidae group.

The effects of cold storage temperature and exposure duration on immature stages of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on ‘Campbell Early’ grapes were examined to establish a phytosanitary control method. The immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) of SWD were all dead after a 6-day cold treatment at 1°C and 8-day cold treatment at 1.5 and 2°C. Small-scale tests using pupae, which were the most-cold tolerant stage, confirmed the validity of the selected temperature and exposure durations. Conversely, the 8- and 10-day at 1°C treatments showed 100% mortality, suggesting that these treatments can guarantee quarantine security against infestations of SWD on exported ‘Campbell Early’ grapes.

In this study, we developed 12 microsatellite markers specific to N. pygmaea using Illumina paired-end sequencing. Forty individuals of N. pygmaea collected from three currently known localities in South Korea were genotyped to validate these markers and to preliminarily assess population genetic characteristics. No locus showed significant deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Our preliminary data indicate an absence of inbreeding in all populations and an absence of obvious genetic difference. The microsatellite markers developed in this study will be useful for studying the population genetics of N. pygmaea collected from other regions, including additional sites in South Korea.

The aim of this study was to select various fungal strains indigenous to Korea that have the potential to produce cellulases, including filter paper activity (FPase), endo-β-1,4-glucanase (EG), and β-glucosidase (BGL). Among the 25 species of Ascomycetes and the 32 species of Basidiomycetes tested in this study, the Bjerkandera adusta KUC10565, Heterobasidion orientale KUC10556, Hyphoderma praetermissum KUC10609, and Trichoderma harzianum KUC1716 all exhibited remarkably high FPase activity. In addition, the T. harzianum KUC1716 showed high levels of EG and BGL activity. This strain has been selected for further study because of their enzymatic potential.

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

The electronic and optical characteristics of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) film significantly vary with its thickness, and thus a rapid and accurate estimation of the number of MoS2 layers is critical in practical applications as well as in basic researches. Various existing methods are currently available for the thickness measurement, but each has drawbacks. Transmission electron microscopy allows actual counting of the MoS2 layers, but is very complicated and requires destructive processing of the sample to the point where it will no longer be useable after characterization. Atomic force microscopy, particularly when operated in the tapping mode, is likewise time-consuming and suffers from certain anomalies caused by an improperly chosen set point, that is, free amplitude in air for the cantilever. Raman spectroscopy is a quick characterization method for identifying one to a few layers, but the laser irradiation causes structural degradation of the MoS2. Optical microscopy works only when MoS2 is on a silicon substrate covered with SiO2 of 100~300 nm thickness. The last two optical methods are commonly limited in resolution to the micrometer range due to the diffraction limits of light. We report here a method of measuring the distribution of the number of MoS2 layers using a low voltage field emission electron microscope with acceleration voltages no greater than 1 kV. We found a linear relationship between the FESEM contrast and the number of MoS2 layers. This method can be used to characterize MoS2 samples at nanometer-level spatial resolution, which is below the limits of other methods.

This study was carried out to investigate insect community structure from different habitats in Baengnyeong island.We performed day and night collection at two different habitats (mountain, rural area) of Baengnyeong island from Mayto September in 2015. A total of 2,879 individuals of 404 species, 81 families belonging to 10 orders were collectedand identified. A dominant species was Idisia ornata Pascoe (Tenebrionidae) despite a very low percentage (6.04%) ofthe species among the catches. Results of independent t-test showed a significant high (p<0.001) of species richness onmountain. Also, seasonal results of ANOVA (Analysis of variance) were significantly influential with species abundanceand species richness. The result of NMDS analysis showed that the community structure of the insects from the mountainis different with rural area.

목적: 본 연구의 목적은 여러 산업의 선행연구들을 통하여 고객에게 제공되는 관계효익의 개념을 경제적 효익, 고객화효익, 사회적효익, 심리적효익으로 구분하여 전환장벽과 재구매의도에 미치는 영향에 대하여 확인하고자 하였다. 방법: 본 연구는 안경원에서 안경테, 안경렌즈, 콘택트렌즈를 구입하였던 347명의 고객을 대상으로 설문 조사하고 그 데이터를 분석하였다. 데이터 분석은 SPSS 18.0 통계프로그램을 이용하여 빈도분석, 요인분석, 회귀분석을 실시하여 안경원의 관계효익과 전환장벽, 재구매의도에 관한 연구 가설을 검증하였다. 결과: 첫째, 관계효익 중 심리적효익과 고객화효익이 전환장벽 형성에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 둘째, 관 계효익 중 세 요인, 즉 심리적효익, 경제적효익, 고객화효익이 재구매의도에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 전환장벽이 재구매의도에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 결론: 본 연구에서는 안경원의 관계효익 중에서 심리적효익이 전환장벽과 재구매의도에 중요한 역할을 하 는 것과 관계효익의 네 요인 중 고객화효익이 전환장벽 형성과 재구매의도에 영향을 주는 것을 발견하였다. 경제적효익은 재구매의도 형성에만 영향을 미치므로 안경원 경영자는 안경사의 장기 근무를 위한 노력과 재 교육을 제공하여 고객관계관리를 통한 전환장벽 형성과 재구매의도를 높이려는 노력을 기울여야 할 것이다.

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality that accounts for over 9% of all incidences of cancer. Additionally, colorectal cancer is widely recognized as an environmental disease related to ill-defined cultural, social and lifestyle factors including physical activity, obesity, cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Accordingly, natural phytochemicals and extracts have attracted attention because of their beneficial biological effects. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a common supplementary medicine applied to increase bioenergetic capacity in various diseases. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether CoQ10 treatment has any inhibitory effects and its related cellular mechanisms in human colon cancer HCT116 cells. A MTT assay revealed that CoQ10 slightly decreased the proliferation of HCT116 cells; however, glutathione- and superoxide dismutase- activity were unchanged in response to CoQ10 treatment. A DCF-DA assay revealed that CoQ10 slightly increased ROS release of HCT116 cells. However, in a nitric oxide (NO) assay, CoQ10 significantly increased NO production in a dose-dependent manner. The results of western blot analysis revealed that the protein levels of Bax, p21 and p53 were increased, whereas the protein level of Bcl2 was decreased suggesting that the CoQ10-mediated inhibitory mechanism is associated with apoptotic signaling. Taken together, our findings indicate that CoQ10 has an inhibitory effect on the growth of colon cancer cells via NO production that is associated with regulation of factors involved in apoptotic signaling including Bax, Bcl2, p21 and p53.

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a perennial herb found widely distributed in various regions of Korea, Europe, and New Zealand. The root of A. sylvestris have been extensively used in the treatment for antitussive, antipyretic, cough remedy in Oriental medicine, but the physiologically active function of the leaf of A. sylvestris is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death of water extracts of leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris (WELAS), on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that WELAS treatment inhibited cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the treatment of WELAS markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells, as determined by the viability assay, DAPI stain and FACS analysis. WELAS also increased the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9 and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase). In addition, exposure to WELAS decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic factor), but increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor), suggesting that mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are mediated in WELAS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, we propose that the water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris is a novel chemotherapeutic drug, having growth inhibitory properties and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

The OPU technology has been largely used in order to enhance genetic improvement in domestic animals. This study demonstrated that OPU in Hanwoo can be used for the effective technique to improve the reproductive efficiency. This experiment showed the longest times of OPU ever carried out in Hanwoo. In this study four donors were selected from Hanwoo by using DNA extraction and SNP maker. Individual donors have genes which are CAPN1, CAST and FASN and that contain dominant position. CAPN1, CAST genes are often thought to be related with tenderness and FASN gene is thought to be associated with oleic acid which is identified a monounsaturated fatty acid found naturally in many plant and animal products. In experiment 1, OPU technique was used to evaluate the influence of the number of oocytes recovery rate per session. Totally 50 times OPU sessions were performed and oocytes recovery at every 10 times session was evaluated. In case of H4, the OPU session could be done around 30 times after her calving. Compared to the average number of oocytes recovery, H1 was more efficient than H3. Considering this results, the current study showed that animals have considerable individual variation in numbers of oocytes. In this study, the average recovery rate in Hanwoo is similar to the recovery rate of the Bos Taurus. Individual donors have no significant difference among group for recovery rate during 30 sessions. However, Thoese showed significant decrease in the number of oocytes recovery rate after 40 session of OPU treatment. Therefore we conclude that the Hanwoo donor is considered to be suitable for 30 times of OPU treatment. In experiment 2, OPU technique was used to evaluate the influence of the number of recovery rate monthly. The average number of oocytes recovery rate showed no significantly difference for five months. However, the number of oocytes recovery rate decreased significantly during three months after first five months experiments. In experiment 3, whether donors are parity or non-parity, the average number of oocytes recovery rate was checked. However, we could not find any significant result from this experiment. In experiment 4, the developmental rate of in vitro produced embryos from OPU was compared with that from slaughterhouse. From this, cleavage rate of oocytes from OPU is significantly less than that from slaughterhouse. In conclusion, this study included a thorough analysis of oocytes and embryo production by OPU from Hanwoo. OPU can be successfully performed under a continuous regime for 8 month in Hanwoo. The current study shows the clear proof that OPU could be adopted to produce oocytes and embryos of better quality as an advanced technique replacing the usage of MOET in Korea. Finally, elucidation the basis for numerous oocytes obtained from Hanwoo may contribute to a better understanding of reproductive physiology in cattle.