Melia azedarach is commonly used in traditional and folk medicine in Korea and China to treat a variety of diseases including diarrheal, diabetic, rheumatic, and hypertensive disease. The aim of this study was to determine the potential prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Melia azedarach against a broad spectrum of viruses in in vitro cell culture model and the protective effect against different influenza A subtypes in BALB/c mice model. An effective dose of pre-treatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment of Melia azedarach significantly reduced the replication of coxsackievirus, herpes simplex virus, influenza A virus, enterovirus, and bovine rhinovirus in both epithelial and macrophage cell lines. Melia azedarach treatment remarkably promoted the phosphorylation of the key molecules associated with the type-1 interferon and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, it induced the secretion of type-1 interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines and the subsequent stimulation of the antiviral state in both epithelial and macrophage cells. Interestingly, oral inoculation of an effective dose of herb extract significantly improved viral clearance in the lungs of BALB/c mice, thus exhibiting protection against several subtypes of influenza A virus. Together with our results indicate that an extracts of Melia azedarach and its components could exhibit a potential natural source of an antiviral drug candidate for a broad spectrum of viruses in animal and humans.

This study explored the effect of writing activity on EFL participants’ speaking performance. In order to attain this purpose, three research questions were presented; 1) What are the characteristics of learners’ writing? 2) How does their speaking fluency change during the writing sessions?, and 3) What is the effect of writing practice on learners’ speaking fluency, in terms of features of spoken grammar? Four college students participated in this study. Pre- and post-oral proficiency test scores, the participants’ writing products, and recorded data of their speaking performance were used for data analysis. Results of data analysis showed that, first, the more proficient participants were, the fewer the errors they made in their writing. Second, there was an increase in scores of intermediate- and beginning-level of students between the pre- and post- oral tests while the scores of advanced level of students did not show any differences between those two tests. Lastly, the result shows that the learners with higher proficiency in writing ability have higher recognition to the spoken grammar. Pedagogical implications are also made on the effective teaching of English writing and speaking in the Korean classroom setting.

Sticky mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum Thuill.) is a dominant annual weed of Korea. Control management of such an exotic weed is a challenging task for agronomist and researcher over the years. We evaluated the effect of elevated pH levels on the germination, growth, chlorophyll content, nutrients and hormonal regulation of sticky mouse-ear chickweed under green-house conditions. Our results showed that pH have no significant effect on seed germination except pH3, which reduced germination rate by 10%. Maximum hypocotyl and radicle growth was observed at pH5 and pH7, while hypocotyl failed to emerge at pH 3. Plant growth attributes showed that plant height, fresh biomass, number of leaves and chlorophyll content were higher at pH7 and pH9; while lowest number of leaves (24.8 ± 2.8) and chlorophyll content (313.2 ± 11.2 SPAD) were recorded for pH3. The endogenous ABA levels were significantly higher at pH3 (71.22±5.4ng/g) but lowered at pH7 and pH9 (6.6±0.8 ng/g). The weed nutrients uptake result showed higher Fe (858.47 mg/kg) and Al (835.05 mg/kg) at pH 3 and pH 5; while higher Ca content (4887.2 mg/kg) was observed at pH 5. It was concluded that use of varying pH can play a vital role in the weed management, although its possible adverse impact on endemic flora and fauna needs to be assessed.

The establishment of porcine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) blastocysts is influenced by in vitro culture day of porcine reconstructed embryo and feeder cell type. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the optimal in vitro culture period for reconstructed porcine SCNT embryos and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cell type for enhancing colony formation efficiency from the inner cell mass (ICM) of porcine SCNT blastocysts and their outgrowth. As the results, porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of the reconstructed embryos for 8 days showed significantly increased efficiency in the formation of colonies, compared to those for 7 days. Moreover, MEF feeder cells derived from outbred ICR mice showed numerically the highest efficiency of colony formation in blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of porcine SCNT embryos for 8 days and porcine ESCs with typical ESC morphology were maintained more successfully over Passage 2 on outbred ICR mice-derived MEF feeder cells than on MEF feeder cells derived from inbred C57BL/6 and hybrid B6CBAF1 mice. Overall, the harmonization of porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of the reconstructed embryos for 8 days and MEF feeder cells derived from outbred ICR mice will greatly contribute to the successful establishment of ESCs derived from porcine SCNT blastocysts.

As a preclinical study, many researchers have been attempted to convert the porcine PSCs into several differentiated cells with transplantation of the differentiated cells into the pigs. Here, we attempted to derive neuronal progenitor cells from pig embryonic germ cells (EGCs). As a result, neuronal progenitor cells could be derived directly from pig embryonic germ cells through the serum-free floating culture of EB-like aggregates (SFEB) method. Treating retinoic acid was more efficient for inducing neuronal lineages from EGCs rather than inhibiting SMAD signaling. The differentiated cells expressed neuronal markers such as PAX6, NESTIN, and SOX1 as determined by qRT-PCR and immunostaining. These data indicated that pig EGCs could provide valid models for human therapy. Finally, it is suggested that developing transgenic pig for disease models as well as differentiation methods will provide basic preclinical data for human regenerative medicine and lead to the success of stem cell therapy.

농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원에서는 2017년 빅립 형태의 분홍색계 팔레놉시스 ‘Lovely Angel’을 개발하였다. 2009년 백색 팔레놉시스 P. ‘Timonthy’와 빅립을 가지는 분홍색 P. World Class ‘Big Foot’을 모본과 부본으로 교배하였다. 2013년 생육이 우수하고 화색, 화형, 꽃대수 등 개화 특성이 우수한 ‘09056-12’를 개체선발하여 기내 화경배양을 통해 증식하였다. 2014년부터 2017년에거쳐 1차, 2차 특성검정을 통해 품종의 안정성과 균일성을 확인하여 ‘Lovely Angel’을 육성하였다. 이 품종은 밝고 선명한 보라빛 분홍색(RHS, PVG81C)을 띄며, 줄 무늬를 가지고 있고 설판이 큰 빅립 형태가 특징적이다. 안아피는 형태의 꽃은 길이와 폭이 각각 6.1, 5.6cm이며, 1개의 꽃대에 20.6개의 소화가 착생하여 꽃 수가 비교적 많이 달리고, 꽃대 길이는 31.8cm 이다. ‘Lovely Angel’는 생육시 잎은 반하수로 자라며 길이는 18.7cm, 폭은 6.8cm이다. 신품종인 ‘Lovely Angel’은 소형 분화용으로 이용 가능할 것이다.

화훼작물의 새로운 품종 개발과 특성을 개선하기 위해 교잡 및 돌연변이 육종과 같은 기존 기술에서 유전자변형기술에 이르기까지 다양한 육종 기술이 사용되고 있으며, 특히 화훼류의 유전자변형기술은 화색변형, 화형 및 형태변형, 개화시기 조절, 꽃 수명연장, 내환경성, 내병성, 내충성 등의 목적으로 이루어지고 있다. 국내에서의 GM 화훼류 연구는 2000년대부터 진행되었고, 현재는 장미, 국화, 카네이션, 페튜니아 등을 대상으로 형질전환체를 개발하고 있다. 호주의 Florigene사에서 개발한 푸른 카네이션이 상업화되면서 일본 SUNTORY사 의 파란색 장미 그리고 호주 Florigene사의 시들지 않는 카네이션이 개발되어 상용화되고 있으며, 더 많은 품종 개발과 판매 시장이 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 이처럼 GM 화훼작물에 대한 연구성과는 급속도로 발전하고 있으며, 국내에서도 생명 공학 기술을 기반으로 형질이 우수하고 소비자의 선호도가 높은 새로운 화훼 신품종 개발로 수출확대를 도모함으로써 농가 소득 향상을 기대할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 본 보고에서는 국내외에 최근 보고된 GM 화훼작물의 형질전환체 연구개발 성공 사례들을 소개하고, 그 요인 분석을 통해 향후 더 성공적인 GM 화훼작물 개발 전략을 수립하는데 도움이 되고자 한다.

A liver mass was incidentally revealed in a 10-year-old male neutered Himalayan cat on radiographic examination conducted in a local animal hospital. The abdominal distention had worsened over the past five months, along with intermittent vomiting and nausea for two weeks. Serum chemistry was unremarkable, except for elevated alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels. Radiography revealed a round-shaped soft mass in the cranial abdomen. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a well defined, massive, fluid-filled cyst with multiple lobes, and heterogeneous echogenicity in the pancreas. Computed tomography examination revealed hypoplasia of the left lobes of the liver, but the vascular changes and enhancement of the mass were not observed on contrast computed tomography images. The herniation of the abdominal fat through the diaphragm was incidentally observed on sonography and computed tomography scan. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with pancreatic cyst. The laparotomy revealed that the origin was not related to the pancreas, but was suspended from the liver. The mass was multilobular and filled with approximately 120 ml of fluid containing a few white blood cells. The patient recovered from anesthesia, but showed postoperative respiratory depression and died of cardiac arrest 15 hours later. Histopathologically, the mass was definitively diagnosed to be hepatic cellular carcinoma.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of differentiating into mesenchymal tissue such as bone, cartilage, muscle, and adipose, and have been isolated and characterized from various species. Deer adipose tissue-derived MSCs (dAD-MSCs) have not been studied and deer bone marrow-derived MSCs (dBM-MSCs) have not been fully characterized. In this study, we firstly isolated MSCs from deer tissues and then compared characteristics of dAD-MSCs and dBM-MSCs. dAD-MSCs and dBM-MSCs exhibited significant increase in proliferation under low-glucose DMEM culture condition during 20 and 10 passages consecutive passages, respectively. Both cells expressed cell surface markers such as CD73, CD90, and CD105, but did not express CD34 and CD45. Two types of cells expressed stemness markers (Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog) and exhibited differentiation potential into mesodermal lineages. Both cells exhibited osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential, but poor adipogenic differentiation potential. Specifically, dAD-MSCs have a greater capacity for chondrogenic differentiation potential compared to dBM-MSCs. Collectively, we successfully isolated dAD-MSCs from deer for the first time. This study suggests that adipose tissue of deer could be used as a source of deer MSCs.

This study is aimed at applying the philosophical concept of “différance” to contemporary men’s fashion design, which could effectively show the shift in thinking. For the study method, the author examined the theoretical background of deconstruction and prepared the standard of analysis by organizing the concept of “différance,” which exists at the center of philosophy. This study selected the three most popular brands: Maison Margiela, Comme des Garcons, and Yohji Yamamoto. The results are as follows. First, there is expression of perpetual reservation emphasizing time. This includes texture, patchworks, hems with ladder, and exposure of seam that expresses the trace of time flow and delayed delivery of immediate meaning, and the expression creates delay between major and minor and leads to consistent role exchange. Second, the trace of blank that emphasizes the space gives a visual sense of weight on spares with the intentionally granted space, as well as the space that is the trace of trace and creates a sense of depth through the direction of empty space. Third, the space created in the process of wearing cloth is visualized, the structure of clothing is deconstructed, and the movement from the process recomposes the shape of space and expands the definition that enables expansion of time and space. Fourth, the undetermined relationship expresses the border of time and space visually and deconstructs time and space. The approaches are mostly constructive, demonstrating an avant-garde form of clothes-wearing to show the non-form or imbalance condition.

Although somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in pigs have great potential, their use is limited because the establishment efficiency of ESCs is extremely low. Accordingly, we tried to develop in-vitro culture system stimulating production of SCNT blastocysts with high performance in the colony formation and formation of colonies derived from SCNT blastocysts for enhancing production efficiency of porcine ESCs. For these, SCNT blastocysts produced in various types of embryo culture medium were cultured in different ESC culture medium and optimal culture medium was determined by comparing colony formation efficiency. As the results, ICM of porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through sequential culture of porcine SCNT embryos in the modified porcine zygote medium (PZM)-5 and the PZM-5F showed the best formation efficiency of colonies in α-MEM-based medium. In conclusion, appropriate combination of the embryo culture medium and ESC culture medium will greatly contribute to successful establishment of ESCs derived from SCNT embryos.

This study was carried out to investigate the acute oral toxicity of Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) essential oil (CBE) in New Zealand white male and female rabbits. Acute oral treatment with the CBE did not reveal any sign of toxicity or mortality in treated rabbits. The body weight of the rabbits was not affected after a single oral administration of the CBE during the 14-day observation period. In both the hematological and blood biochemical analysis, all parameters of the treated group with 2,000 mg/kg body weight of the CBE were not significantly different than those of the control group. Therefore, the lethal dose 50 of the CBE was estimated to be greater than 2,000 mg/kg body weight in rabbits, which indicated that the CBE is non-toxic. In conclusion, this study suggests that oral administration of the CBE is safe on rabbits.