Estrogens are ubiquitous signaling molecules that influence nearly every cell type, and exert profound effects on embryonic development, and differentiation. Wnt pathway, which recruits β-catenin into nuclei, and activates The Wnt-dependent transcription factors, also plays an important role in embryonic development and stem cell maintenance, and differentiation. Accumulating evidences indicate that potential convergence between these two pathways in carcinoma cells. However, physiological roles of estrogens in development and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are relatively unknown. Here, we demonstrated that estrogenic compounds 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and genistein (GEN) significantly increased β-catenin expression in undifferentiated hESCs cultured in feeder-free media. Interestingly, GEN treatement induced an increased trend of mesendodermal gene expressions, and significantly inhibited ectodermal gene expressions (Nestin and Pax6) in embrioid body (EB). Expectantly, GEN increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related gene expression (Snail2, and Twist), whereas decreased E-cadherin on day 6 of EB development. Taken together, these suggest that estrogens may in part the powerful effects on normal hESC differentiation. Mechanistic studies of estrogen signaling continue to suggest novel drug targets for stem cells and will also improve screening methods of developmental toxicity.

The characteristics of meteorological conditions relevant to Asian dust (AD) outbreaks and their occurrence frequencies were analyzed in four source regions (R1 to R4) during spring months (March to May) of 1998-2002. Moreover, the concentration variations of AD (e.g., PM10) observed in Korea were investigated during the study period. In the relationship between AD outbreaks and three meteorological parameters (i.e., air temperature, wind speed, and aridity), the largest AD outbreaks in April (～250 observations) mostly occurred in R2 when air temperature ranging from 10.0 to 15.0℃ and surface wind speed from 7 to 9 m s-1 were recorded. Moreover, the aridity (≥ 4) in April was significantly high in R2 with the maximum frequency of AD outbreaks (i.e., 206 observations). On the other hand, the number (percentage) of days belonging to AD events observed in five Korean cities were found to be 116 (44%), 121 (46%), and 26 days (10%) in March, April, and May, respectively. The mean PM10 concentrations were found to range from 150 to 220, 150 to 200, and 95 to 120 ㎍ m-3 in March, April, and May, respectively. Consequently, this implied that the AD events in Korea were found to be gradually frequent in early spring and to be affected from the large AD outbreaks observed in the source regions.

Foehn damage on rice plant is one of the important abiotic stresses in eastern costal area of Korea. To know the relationship between foehn impact and morphological traits of rice, wind tunnel method was used with 106 rice cultivars. Less influencing traits on foehn were short panicle, large panicle number per hill, thin panicle neck, and the flag leaf of narrow, short and thick. Leaf pubescence reduced the impact on foehn. 'Naepungbyeo' belong-ed to foehn tolerant varietal group, while 'Ansanbyeo' belonged to the opposite group. Three levels of root cutting treatment with two rice cultivars were conducted to evaluate the foehn impact using wind tunnel. The severity of wind damages was followed the sigmoidal curve duration of wind tunnel treatment were prolonged. Different responses of root cutting to wind tunnel treatment could be used to evaluate the severity of the foehn impact. 'Naepungbyeo' was one of the less implausible cultivars on foehn. 'Nae-pungbyeo' showed tolerant response to wind under 21% root removing treat-ment (20㎝ root cutting), however 'Ansanbyeo' was wilted under the same treatment. In case of 35 % root removing treatment(10㎝ root cutting), both rice cultivars failed to alive against foehn wind.