We assessed the environmental risk of herbicide resistant transgenic rice (Protox) on non-target herbivore, grasshoppers (Oxya japonica japonica Thunberg). We conducted life-history experiments of grasshoppers with measuring their body weight, body length, eating amount, and feces amount between non-transgenic rice (nTR; Dongjin rice) and transgenic rice (TR; Protox rice) under laboratory conditions (Temp. 25Ð, R.H. 50-70%, Photoperiod L16:D8) in 2007. The growth of grasshoppers appeared to increase at each measuring date. We also compared the growth rate of grasshoppers between nTR and TR to examine the transgenic impact on the herbivore and we found there was no statistically signifi cant difference between the two plant types (P>0.05). We found that body weight and body length for grasshoppers were highly correlated at each of the two types of plants, nTR (0.962) and TR (0.960). The correlation of eating amount and feces amount of grasshoppers were higher nTR (0.830) than TR (0.782). The energy effi ciency of the grasshopper was not a signifi cant between nTR and TR (P> 0.05). But the molt timing of the grasshoppers for TR difference was faster than for nTR. Conclusively life-history of the grasshoppers but molt timing was not a signifi cant difference between nTR and TR. Therefore, we could conclude there was not any environment risk on herbivore from our result.

The present study investigated the effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on the nuclear maturation of canine oocytes. Oocytes were recovered from mongrel female ovaries in various reproductive states; follicular, luteal or anestrous stage. Oocytes were cultured in serum-free tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with various concentrations of FSH (Exp. 1: 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 10 IU) or hCG (Exp. 2: 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 10 IU) or both (Exp. 3: 1 IU FSH + 1 IU hCG) for 72 hr to determine the effective concentration of these hormones, and to examine their combined effect. After maturation culture, oocytes were denuded in PBS containing 0.1% (w/v) hyaluronidase by gentle pipetting. The denuded oocytes were stained with 1.9 μM. Hoechst 33342 in glycerol and the nuclear state of oocytes was evaluated under UV light. More (p<0.05) oocytes matured to MII stage when follicular stage oocytes were supplemented with 1 IU FSH (6.2%) compared with the control, 0.1 or 10.0 IU FSH (0 to 1.2%). Significantly higher (p<0.05) maturation rate to MII stage was observed in follicular stage oocytes supplemented with 1.0 IU hCG (7.2%) compared with the control or other hCG supplemented groups (0 to 1.5%). However, the combination of FSH and hCG did not improve the nuclear maturation rate of canine oocyte (2.4 %) compared with FSH (6.2%) and hCG alone (7.2%). In conclusion, FSH or hCG alone significantly increased the maturation of canine oocytes to MII stage.

고무화합물 형태로 구성된 조영제의 병에 Syringe Connector의 Spike를 연결 시 고무의 찢김 정도를 알아보고 찢김 및 분쇄로 인한 합성고무의 혼입 유무와 분쇄된 합성고무가 검출 시 분쇄물의 크기를 실험을 통해 알아보고자 하였다. 그 결과 찢김 정도의 경우 Syringe Connector의 끝과 최초 접촉하는 앞면이 약 3.14±0.04 ㎜로 뒷면 보다 많이 찢겼으며, 실험 대상인 10 병의 조영제에서 평균 7 개에서 15 개로 모두 분쇄물이 검출되었다. 검출된 분쇄물을 이용하여 크기를 측정한 결과 평균크기는 약 7.89±0.31 ㎛이었다. 향 후 다양한 실험 및 분석방법을 통한 추가실험과 더불어 흡인된 분쇄물 차단을 위한 미세 필터타입 자동주입장치의 개발이 필요하며, 분쇄물 유입 시 치명적 사고를 대비하여 관련기관의 관심 또한 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and intracellular anti-inflammatory efficacy of blueberry leaf extracted with hot water (BLW), 70% ethanol (BLE), and 70% acetone (BLA) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of blueberry leaf extracts, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce the production of inflammation-related factors, which were measure by Western blotting and real-time PCR methods. i-NOS, COX-2 protein, and mRNA expression showed concentration-dependent decrease. The decreases in the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were concentration-dependent. Further, the antioxidant effects of blueberry leaf on total polyphenol contents, electron donating ability and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity were evaluated. The total polyphenol contents of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 217.04±2.98, 156.72±3.90, and 182.88±3.02 mg TAE/g, respectively, while the electron donating abilities at 1,000 μg/mL of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 81.7, 79.6, and 79.3%, respectively. The ABTS+ radical scavenging activity was fond to be concentration dependent. The nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition activities at 50 μg/mL of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 35.1, 42.4 and 42.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory test results indicate that blueberry leaf extracts (BLW, BLE, and BLA) can be used as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

Background : Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain. Especially, MRSA is developing resistance to available antibacterial agents and causing complications in the treatment of infections related to skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, and endovascular disorders. Therefore, antibacterial agent combination therapy appears to be a useful option, particularly in developing countries where antibiotic availability is limited. (+)-Usnic acid (UA) is uniquely found in lichens, and is especially abundant in genera such as Usnea and Cladonia. UA has antimicrobial activity against human and plant pathogens. Therefore, UA may be a good antibacterial drug candidate for clinical development. Methods and Results : In search of a natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug-resistant bacteria, we have investigated the antimicrobial activity of UA against MRSA. In this study, the effects of a combination of UA and permeable agents against MRSA were investigated. For the measurement of cell wall permeability, UA with concentration of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used. In the other hand, Sodium azide (NaN3) was used as inhibitors of ATPase. These results suggest that the antibacterial effect of UA was potentiated by membrane-binding agents and ABC transporter-inhibiting agents, implying that antibacterial activity is associated with damage of the cell wall and inhibition of ATPase function by UA. Conclusion : UA and in combination with EDTA and NaN3 could lead to the development of new combination antibiotics against MRSA infection. The results of this study appear to be promising, and they are expected to enhance the use of natural products as drugs.

Background : Ginseng widely cultivated as a major medicinal herb in Korea, is economically important crop for farmer. Ginseng root disease caused by soil borne pathogens is main factors restricting the quantity and quality of ginseng. The disease can result in harvest loss of up to 20~70% and limits the replanting of ginseng under same field for long time. The traditional control method of agrochemical use is not recommend to control soil borne disease because of difficulty in use and unstable effect. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of several antagonistic microbes for developing biological control method of ginseng root rot. Methods and Results : To select biocontrol agents against ginseng soil borne disease, several bacteria were isolated from ginseng root and rhizosphere soil evaluated in vitro screening of antifungal bacterial against ginseng root pathogens. Two antagonistic bacteria, ES17 and CJ4, showed the strongest inhibition effect against ginseng root pathogen. In the pot experiment under greenhouse conditions, ginseng seedling dipped in bacterial suspension at inoculum density of 106 cfu/ml for 1 hour were planted in pot containing inoculum. Control effect was examined depend on disease severity index at 30 days after inoculation. Ginseng root treated with CJ4 and ES17 isolate reduced root rot disease development on the ginseng root with degrees of control efficacy of 85% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion : Two biocontrol agent, Burkholderia ambifaria CJ4 and Paenibacillus strain ES17, had strong antifungal efficacy against ginseng soil borne pathogens. These results obtained from in vitro test and pot experiment suggest the potential applicability of the biocontrol agent to control ginseng root rot caused by various soil borne pathogens.

We present proton-induced single event effects (SEEs) and γ-ray-induced total ionizing dose (TID) data for 1 Gbit lowpower double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (LPDDR SDRAM) fabricated on a 5 μm epitaxial layer (54 nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology). We compare our radiation tolerance data for LPDDR SDRAM with those of general DDR SDRAM. The data confirms that our devices under test (DUTs) are potential candidates for space flight applications.

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum amount of Artemisia annua L. powder for adding rice flour. The A. annua powder was added to the rice flour at ratios of 1% (30 g/3 kg), 2% (60 g/3 kg), 3% (90 g/3 kg, w/w). As the amount of A. annua powder in rice cake dough increased, carbohydrate, ash content, total amino acid, and dietary fiber contents increased whereas the moisture content decreased. Hunter’s L value decreased as A. annua powder content increased. On the contrary, the a- and b values increased. The sensory score of the rice cakes containing 30 g of A. annua powder was the highest of all the rice cakes tested. Based on these results, adding A. annua powder could improve the quality and sensory characteristics of rice cake.

Primary oocytes that are arrested in first meiotic prophase for years enter maturation process to meet a critical precondition for successful fertilization. During maturation, oocyte finishes meiosis I and progresses to the metaphase II stage, achieving meiotic maturity. Although importance of oocyte maturation for oocyte quality has been recognized, it is not fully understood for molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte maturation. Here, we found that dexamethasone-induced Ras-related protein 1 (RASD1), a member of RAS superfamily of small GTPases, was expressed in the mouse ovary. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Rasd1 expression was dominant in oocyte cytoplasm. Real-time PCR and RT-PCR analyses showed that Rasd1 mRNA was steadily expressed in germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle break down (GVBD), metaphase I (MI) oocytes, but decreased in metaphase II(MII) oocytes during oocyte maturation. Konckdown of Rasd1 using RNAi system in the GV oocytes suppressed oocyte maturation through disruption of meiotic spindle and formation of misarranged chromosomes. Taken together, Rasd1 is a critical factor for MI-MII transition of oocyte and is involved in the regulation of spindle formation during oocyte maturation. Further study is needed to examine relationship between Rasd1 and spindle formation in MI-MII transition.

Abeliophyllum distichum is a monotypic taxon of Oleaceae and endemic to Korea. A comprehensive study on embryogeny and fruit and seed coat ontogeny in Abeliophyllum was carried out via microtome and light microscopy. The fertilization occurs during mid– to late April and embryo matures by early July. The embryo development follows the general fashion from globular embryo – transition embryo – heart shaped embryo – torpedo embryo – walking-stick embryo to mature embryo. The pericarp clearly differentiates into three histological zones: exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The young seed comprises 10-12 cells thick seed coat and the mature seed coat comprises an exotesta, 6-8 mesotesta and an endotesta. Any crystals, phenolic-like compounds, idioblasts, and the sclereids are not found in pericarp as well as seed coat. An overall development confirms Solanade type of embryogenesis in Abeliophyllum. The endocarp becomes more prominent in mature fruit

Expression of claudin-11 (CLDN11), a tight junction (TJ) protein, was examined in the Korean soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) testes. Spermatogenesis began during the breeding season and peaked at the end of the breeding season. Spermiation started in summer and peaked in autumn. The deduced amino acid sequence of P. maackii CLDN11 was similar to those of avian and mammalian species. During the non-breeding season when spermatogenesis and testosterone production were active, testicular Cldn11 levels were high. In the seminiferous epithelium, strong wavy CLDN11 strands parallel to the basement membrane delaminate the spermatogonia, and early spermatocytes are in the open compartment. Otherwise, CLDN11 was found beneath the early spermatocytes and in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm. Punctate zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1) immunoreactivity was found within the CLDN11 strands parallel to the basement membrane or at the outermost periphery of the seminiferous epithelium close to the basal lamina. During the breeding season, when circulating testosterone levels and spermatogenic activity was low, testicular CLDN11 level was lower than those of non-breeding season. CLDN11 was found at apicolateral contact sites between adjacent Sertoli cells devoid of the postmeiotic germ cells. At this time, lanthanum tracer diffused to the adluminal compartment of seminiferous epithelium. In cultured testis tissues, testosterone propionate significantly increased the level of Cldn11 mRNA. In P. maackii testis, CLDN11 participates in the development of the BTB where the CLDN11 expression was coupled with spermatogenic activity and circulating androgen levels, indicating the conserved nature of TJ’s expressing CLDN11 at the BTB in amniotes.