The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of core strengthening training on baseball throwing. A total of 14 subjects were recruited from among middle school baseball players. The main outcome measures were as follows: speed guns were used to measure the velocity of baseballs thrown; scored targets were used to measure throwing accuracy; and 50m measuring tapes were used to measure throwing distances. It was found that core strengthening training improved the velocity of baseballs thrown and throwing accuracy and distance. Thus, core strengthening training is effective for improving the throwing ability of baseball players.

We analyzed molecular and enzymatic properties of three cholinesterases (ChEs; ClAChE1, ClAChE2 and ClSChE) from Cimex lectularius. The ClAChE1 and ClAChE2 were generally present as a membrane-anchored dimeric insoluble form in the brain and ganglia. In the case of ClSChE, monomeric and dimeric soluble forms were observed. To investigate enzymatic properties, three ChEs were functionally expressed using baculovirus expression system. ClAChE1 revealed a significantly higher activity than ClAChE2 to acetylthiocholine iodide (ATChI) substrate. Kinetic analysis using two choline substrates (ATChI and butyrylthiocholine iodide) demonstrated that ClAChE2 had higher catalytic efficiency but lower substrate specificity than ClAChE1. Inhibition assay was conducted by using three inhibitors (BW284C51, eserine, Iso-OMPA) and two insecticides (chlorpyrifos-methyl and carbaryl). Two ClAChEs revealed high sensitivities to BW284C51, eserine, chlorpyrifos-methyl and carbaryl, but were not sensitive to Iso-OMPA. This inhibition profile confirmed that both ClAChEs are categorized as ChEs. Interestingly, the salivary specific cholinesterase did not show any measurable activities to choline substrates, confirming its non-synaptic function in C. lectularius

The impact of transgenic Bt maize plant contained Cry1F was evaluated on the oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi as a non-target insect species. Slightly reduced rates of survival and alata vivipar production were observed on Bt maize than on the non-Bt maize. In addition, slightly low preference to Bt maize plant was observed. Aphid fecundity, measured as the number of offspring produced for 7 days, was higher on Bt maize than on non-Bt maize but not different significantly. ELISA test using Cry1F-antibody revealed that 26% of Cry1F protein compared to the positive control was detected from the whole body of R. padi when the insects were fed Bt maize for 50 days, showing that R. padi can carry Cry1F protein to the higher trophic level when exposed to Bt maize. Taken together, the Bt maize plant is not likely to cause any negative side impacts on non-target insect R. padi but Bt toxin can be transferred to higher predators via R. padi as it carries the toxin.

Western blot analysis using acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-specific antibody was conducted to determine whether AChE gene (Tuace) duplication actually results in overproduction of AChE in Tetranychus urticae (TuAChE). The protein quantities of TuAChE in seven field-collected mite populations were precisely correlated with the copy numbers. To investigate the effects of each mutation on AChE insensitivity and possible fitness cost, eight variants of TuAChE were in vitro expressed using the baculovirus expression system. Kinetic analysis revealed that the Ala391Thr mutation did not change kinetic properties of AChE, whereas the Gly228Ser and Phe439Trp mutations significantly increased the insensitivity to monocrotophos. Moreover, when the Gly228Ser and Phe439Trp mutations are present together, insensitivity increased over a thousand-fold, showing that both mutations confer resistance in a synergistic manner. Presence of the mutations, however, reduced catalytic efficiency of AChE considerably, suggesting an apparent fitness cost in monocrotophosresistant mites. Reconstitution of the multiple copies of AChE having different compositions of mutations revealed that the catalytic efficiencies of the six-copy and two-copy AChEs (resembling the AD and PyriF strains of mite, respectively) were still lower but comparable to that of wildtype AChE. These finding clearly suggested that multiple rounds of Tuace duplication was needed to compensate the reduced catalytic activity of AChE caused by mutations.

Large amounts of genetically modified (GM) grains, including maize, cotton and soybean, have been imported to Korea for food, feed and processing (FFP). To evaluatethe environmental impacts, particularly on non-target insects, of FFP GM grains of unknown source, it is a prerequisite to identify Cry protein types in the test GM grains and to establish proper risk assessment protocols. Imported GM maize grains were randomly obtained and their Cry toxins were analyzed by ELISA using Cry1A, Cry1F, and Cry3A antibodies. Since all tested GM maize grains contained Cry1A, Tenebrio molitor, a non-lepidopteran species, was selected as a non-target insect species. A domestic maize strain was used as a non-GM control, which did not show any differences in major nutritional composition from the GM maize grain. Slightly increased survival rate and head capsule width of T. molitor larvae were observed when reared on GM maize powder, demonstrating no sub-chronic adverse effects of GM maize on T. molitor larvae. Head capsule width of T. molitor neonate increased steadily from hatch to 70-day-old, regardless of being fed Bt or non-Bt maize. ELISA test using Cry1A-antibody revealed that concentration of Cry1A protein slowly increased in the whole body of T. molitor from 0 to 50 post-feeding days when the insects were fed GM maize but rapidly decreased within 5 days when Bt maize-fed larvae were transferred to non-Bt maize, showing that the Cry toxin is not accumulated inside the body of T. molitor once the exposure source is removed. In addition, no Cry protein was detected in the hemolymph of the larvae reared on Bt maize, suggesting little possibility of Cry toxin exposure to higher tropic level. Taken together, the imported GM-maize grains is not likely to cause any side impacts on non-target insect T. molitor.

Developmental periods of sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci(Gennaius) Q-biotype, were investigated on three host plants- sweet bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), eggplant(Solanum melongena L.) and oriental melon(Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa MAKINO). Egg and nymph development of B. tabaci were studied within temperature ranging of 15℃-35℃ by 2.5℃ under photoperiod 16:8(L:D). Egg period of B. tabaci was the shortest at 32.5℃ and nymphal period was shortest at 27.5℃ on sweet bell pepper. Nymphal period of B. tabaci on eggplant was the shortest at 27.5℃ as well. On the other hand, nymphal period of B. tabaci was shortest at 30℃ and 32.5℃. Lower temperature threshold and effective degree-day for completing egg development on sweet bell pepper were estimated as 13.11, 91.95, respectively. Lower threshold temperature of nymphal stage on sweet bell pepper, eggplant, oriental melon were estimated as 13.01, 13.39, 12.31,respectively. Degree-days required to complete nymphal stage on sweet bell pepper, eggplant, oriental melon were estimated as 191.22, 164.41, 190.34, respectively. The relationships between development rates of egg and nymph were well described by poikilothermal rate function and weibull function. The fitted curves will be used as input for a simulation model of the population dynamics of B. tabaci.

중저준위 방사성폐기물 천층처분시설의 처분덮개설계 및 성능평가를 위해 국내 역사시대 고분연구를 수행하였다. 처분덮개 성능과 관련된 국내외 연구현황을 조사하고 삼국시대 고분을 중심으로 봉분의 층상특성을 정리하였다. 국내 고분에 대한 봉토의 시료채취와 시료에 대한 수리전도도 측정 및 분석을 실시하였다. 고분에 대한 자연유사 연구에서 발굴조사보고서 상에 제시된 봉토의 유사판축기법의 적용, 모세관 방벽현상과 배수로를 이용한 봉분 내 습도조절 여부를 천층처분 시설설계에 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 향후 국내 고분발굴현장이 있을 때 현장을 방문하여 필요한 자료수집과 더불어 원자력분야의 관심사와 필요사항에 대하여 국내 고고학계와의 정보교환이 이루어져야 할 것으로 판단된다.

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.

In this study, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite films containing various content of GO were prepared using solution casting method. The effect of GO content on Young’s modulus and dispersion of GO in PHBV matrix was investigated. Also, the thermomechanical properties, oxygen transmission rates and hydrolytic degradation of PHBV/GO nanocomposite films were studied. The addition of GO into PHBV improves the Young’s modulus and decreases thermal expansion coefficient. The improvement can be mainly attributed to good dispersion of GO and interfacial interactions between PHBV and GO. Furthermore, PHBV/GO nanocomposite films show good oxygen barrier properties. PHBV/GO nanocomposites show lower hydrolytic degradation rates with increasing content of GO.

Background : Agrimonia pilosa (A. pilosa) Ledebour has been registered in The Korean Herbal Pharmacopeia (KHP). In the recent study, A. Coreana showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. However, Studies of components in Agrimonia coreana (A. Coreana) Nakai was not much. So, we compared A. pilosa and A. coreana by High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). we perfomed Thin layer chlromatography (TLC) including the anatomical characteristics by using microscope. Methods and Results : The anatomical characteristics of A. pilosa were similar to them of A. coreana. But, fascicular fivers of A. Coreana was broader than it of A. pilosa. TLC were performed to identify the Rutin and Apigenin-7-glucuronide compound. In the extract of Agrimoniae Herba, they were identified on the spot of Rf 0.2, 0.4 in Ethyl acetate - Formic acid – Water (8 : 1 : 1). The Rutin and Apigenin-7-glucuronide were analysed by HPLC/UV with Thermo Column (5 μm, 4.6 × 250 mm, C18), the column temperature at 40 ℃ and a diode-array detector (DAD) seted at 255 nm and 338 nm. The mobile phase was composed of water and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid with the flow rate 1 mL/min. All compounds showed good linearity (R2>0.999) within test ranges. Agrimoniae herba was extrated by four kinds of extraction methods: MeOH, 50% MeOH, EtOH and water. The highest extraction rate occurred, when it was treated with 50% Methanol for refluxing extraction (60min). Content of Rutin was found to be 0.07±0.00 mg/g in A. pilosa and 0.02±0.00 mg/g in A. coreana. Content of Apigenin-7-glucuronide was found to be 0.12±0.00 mg/g in A. pilosa and 0.11±0.00 mg/g in A. coreana. Conclusion : The anatomical characteristics of A. pilosa were similar to them of A. coreana. Contents of Rutin and Apigenin-7-glucuronide in A. pilosa was higher than them in A. coreana slightly. But there were observed the similar patterns of Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour and Agrimonia coreana Nakai on the finger print anelysis.

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.