Cadmium (Cd) toxicity is a serious limitation for agricultural production. In this study, we explored tolerance mechanism associated with Cd toxicity tolerance in alfalfa plants. We used three distinct alfalfa cultivars M. sativa cv. Vernal, M. sativa cv. Zhung Mu, and M. sativa cv. Xing Jiang Daye in this study. Cd showed declined chlorophyll score in Xing Jiang Daye compared with Zhung Mu and Vernal. No significant change observed among the cultivars for root and shoot length. Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis demonstrated a significant accumulation of Cd, Fe, S and PC in distinct alfalfa cultivars. However, Zhung Mu and Xing Jiang Daye declined Cd accumulation in root, where Fe, S and PC incremented only in Zhung Mu. It suggests that excess Cd in Zhung Mu possibly inhibited in root by the increased accumulation of Fe, S and PC. This was further confirmed by the response of Fe (MsIRT1) and S transporters (MsSULTR1;2 and MsSULTR1;3), and MsPCS1 genes associated with Fe, S and PC availability and translocation in roots and shoots. It suggests that specially the transcript signal inducing the responses to adjust Cd especially in Zhung Mu. This finding provides the essential background for further molecular breeding program for forage crops.

본 연구는 몇가지 전처리제 및 보존용액 처리가 국내 육성 절화 프리지아 ‘Gold Rich’의 수확후 절화수명과 개화 품질에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 수행하였다. 10% sucrose, 200mg･L-1 Al2(SO4)3, 200mg･L-1 GA3, 150mg･L-1 citric acid가 혼용된 전처리 용액에서 절화 관상 기간 동안 수분 흡수량과 생체중은 유의적으로 증가한 것으로 조사되었지만 절화수명에는 큰 영향을 미치지 않았다. 보존용액으로 5% sucrose와 살균제인 300mg･L-1 8-HQ를 혼용 처리하였을 때 절화수명 연장(1일 이상), 높은 개화율(82.3~89.1%) 및 만개율(71.5~84.2%) 등의 개화 품질이 향상되었다. 이러한 결과들을 통해 10% sucrose, 200mg･L-1 Al2(SO4)3, 200mg･L-1 GA3, 150mg･L-1 citric acid를 혼합한 전처리제와 5% sucrose, 300mg･L-1 8-HQ를 혼합한 보존용액 처리는 절화수명 연장, 개화율 및 만개율 증가에 효과적일 것이라고 판단된다. 특히, sucrose가 포함된 보존용액은 절화 프리지아 ‘Gold Rich’ 의 상품성 향상에 있어 매우 유용할 것이다.

Background: Kinesiology taping (KT) is a method that helps immediately increase muscle activation, strength and joint stability by being attached to various skeletal muscles and structures of the body. Objectives: To investigate the effect of KT applied below the hyolaryngeal complex on the movement of the hyolaryngeal complex during swallowing in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Design: One-group, pre-post design. Methods: Twenty individuals with dysphagia after stroke participated in this study. KT was applied to the sternum and both clavicles from the hyolaryngeal complex. We analyzed the motion of the hyolaryngeal complex during swallowing with and placebo KT and KT using the Image-J software with videofluoroscopic swallowing study. In addition, a 0-to-10 numerical rating self-report scale was used to check the required effort and resistance felt during swallowing. Results: KT condition showed that the anterior and superior movement of the hyoid bone during swallowing was significantly lower than placebo KT (P<.05, all). Also, KT condition showed that the anterior and superior movement of the larynx during swallowing was significantly lower than placebo KT (P<.05, all). In result of statistical comparison between KT group and placebo KT group, the KT group showed significantly higher self-report scale score than the placebo KT group in terms of two category; the required effort and resistance felt (P<.05, all). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that KT applied below the hyolaryngeal complex inhibits the anterior and superior movement of hyoid bone and larynx during swallowing of patients with dysphagia after stroke.

To evaluate alterations in fecal bacterial compositions in weaning piglets after supplementation with Phellodendron Cortex extract (PCE), piglets were allowed freely to consume feed containing 10 ppm of PCE for 7 weeks. During the feeding period, fecal samples were collected from individual piglets. A total of 578 valid sequence reads were generated from 40 fecal samples of normal piglets before supplementation with PCE. Fifteen classes were identified. Approximately 90% of classifiable sequences belonged to Clostridia and Bacilli classes. The abundance of Clostridium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. was determined based on the results of the sequencing. The supplementation with 10 ppm PCE for 3 weeks increased the numbers of Clostridium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. whereas seven weeks of supplementation with PCE reduced their abundance. In vitro, PCE inhibited the growth of E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis in a dose-dependent manner.

본 연구는 Veronica속 20종의 생장 및 개화 특성을 평가하기 위해 2년 동안 국립수목원 식물자원연구과 육종온실에서 수행하였다. Veronica속 식물은 다양한 생장 및 개화 특성을 가지고 있었다. 꼬리풀 20종을 식물 형태 및 초장에 따라 분류하였다. 포복형의 10cm 미만 초장은 V. armena와 V. repens, 직립형 30cm 미만 초장은 V. gentianoides ‘Little blues’ 등 4종, 직립형 30~60cm 사이 초장은 V. gentianoides ‘Blue Streak’ 등 7종, 직립형 60cm 이상 초장은 V. incana 등 7종이었다. 대부분의 엽색은 초록색이었고 V. incana와 V. incana ‘Silbersee’는 잎에 흰 털이 있었다. 꽃대 수는 5.3개부터 80.7개, 화수는 4.5개부터 67.3개였고 개화일은 3월 초순부터 6월 중순이었다. 화서의 형태는 총상화서, 수상화서, 취산화서로 분류하였다. 화색은 보라색 13종, 분홍색 2종, 흰색 5종이었다. 2017년 모든 개체가 개화한 종은 3종으로 V. longifolia ‘Blue Shades’, V. spicata ‘Blue Bouquet’, V. subsessilis ‘Blue Pyramid’였고, 일부 개체만 개화한 종은 7종으로 V. armena, V. gentianoides ‘Little Blues’, V. longifolia ‘Alba’, V. prostrata ‘Nestor’, V. spicata, V. spicata ‘Alba’, V. spicata ‘Sightseeing’ 이었다. 모든 개체가 개화하지 않은 종은 10종으로 V. gentianoides ‘Blue Streak’, V. incana, V. incana ‘Silbersee’, V. longifolia ‘Pink Shades’, V. orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’, V. repens, V. schmidtiana, V. spicata ‘Blue Carpet’, V. spicata ‘Pink Goblin’, V. teucrium ‘Royal Blue’였다. 반면, 2018년에는 모든 종의 개체가 개화하였다.

This study aimed to examine the effect of a mild elevation in serum cholesterol level in a porcine coronary overstretch restenosis model using a balloon angioplasty catheter or drug-eluting coronary stent. Pigs were divided into two groups and were fed a commercial normal diet (CND, n = 4) or a high-fat diet (HFD, n = 4) for 5 weeks. Coronary overstretch injury by balloon angioplasty or stent implantation was induced in the left anterior descending and left circumflex artery after 1 week of feeding. Histopathological analysis was performed at 4 weeks after coronary injury. During the experiment, the total cholesterol level in the HFD group increased by approximately 44.9% (from 65.9 ± 3.21 mg/dL at baseline to 95.5 ± 9.94 mg/dL at 5 weeks). The lumen area in the CND group was reduced in comparison with that in the HFD group after balloon angioplasty. After stent implantation, the injury score showed no significant difference. There were significant differences in the neointimal area (2.7 ± 0.33 mm2 in the CND group vs. 3.3 ± 0.34 mm2 in the HFD group, p<0.05), lumen area (2.6 ± 0.54 mm2 in the CND group vs. 2.0 ± 0.33 mm2 in the HFD group, p<0.05), and percent area stenosis (52.0 ± 7.96% in the CND group vs. 62.4 ± 5.15% in the HFD group, p<0.05). Body weight change was not different between the two groups. Increased serum cholesterol level activated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in the porcine coronary overstretch model.