This study aimed to develop the in vitro method using domestic commercial diets to estimate nutrient digestibility in dogs. The existing in vitro method were tested and compared with literature data to develop new in vitro method. The development of in vitro method progressed as follows: modification of pepsin solution to an activated form and supplementation with 1% lipase. All the in vitro method progressed to 4 hours of stomach simulation and 2 hours of small intestine simulation. In vivo digestibility was measured using the same diets as beagle dogs. The supplementation of lipase methods showed significantly improved (p < 0.05) DM, OM, and EE than the existing and modified pepsin solution methods. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo data in DM, OM, and EE digestibility was high (r2 = 0.889, 0.907, and 0.721, respectively), and the correlation between in vitro and in vivo data in CP and GE digestibility was medium (r2 = 0.681 and 0.536, respectively). The current in vitro method is similar to in vivo digestibility and helps potentially predict digestibility for dogs. In conclusion, this developed in vitro method suggests that it can help estimate the nutrient digestibility of dogs' diets without in vivo experiments.

Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), the presumed ancestor of B. mori, has long been a subject of study to illustrate the geographic relationships in connection with origin of B. mori. We report 97 mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences of B. mandarina collected from Korea and Japan. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses showed that all individuals of B. mandarina collected in Korean localities formed a strong group together with all individuals originated from northern China (mainly north of the Qinling-Huaihe line) and some of southern China. This group was placed as the sister group to B. mori strians suggesting that this group had been served as an immediate progenitor for B. mori.

Background: The grading of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) is based on four economic traits, and efforts have been continuously made to improve the genetic traits associated with these traits. There is a technology to predict the expected grade based on the 4 economic genetic SNP characteristics of Korean cattle calves using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) technology. Selection of highly proliferative, self-renewing, and differentiating satellite cells from cattle is a key technology in the cultured meat industry. Methods: We selected the Hanwoo with high and low-scored of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) by using the Hanwoo 50K SNP bead chip. We then isolated the bovine satellite cells from the chuck mass. We then conducted comparative analyses of cell proliferation, immunocytochemistry, qRT-PCR at short- and long-term culture. We also analyzed the differentiation capability at short term culture. Results: Our result showed that the proliferation was significantly high at High scored GEBV (Hs-GEBV) compared to Low scored GEBV (Ls-GEBV) at short- and long-term culture. The expression levels of Pax3 were significantly higher in Hs-GEBV bovine satellite cells at long-term culture. However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of Pax7 between Hs- and Ls-GEBV bovine satellite cells at short- and long- term culture. The expression levels of MyoG and MyHC were significantly high at Ls-GEBV bovine satellite cells. Conclusions: Our results indicated that selection of bovine satellite cells by Hanwoo 50K SNP bead chip could be effective selection methods for massive producing of satellite cells.

This study was aimed to isolate bacterial inoculants producing chitinase and evaluate their application effects on corn silage. Four corn silages were collected from four beef cattle farms to serve as the sources of bacterial inoculants. All isolates were tested against Fusarium graminearum head blight fungus MHGNU F132 to confirm their antifungal effects. The enzyme activities (carboxylesterase and chitinase) were also measured to isolate the bacterial inoculant. Based on the activities of anti-head blight fungus, carboxylesterase, and chitinase, L. buchneri L11-1 and L. paracasei L9-3 were subjected to silage production. Corn forage (cv. Gwangpyeongok) was ensiled into a 10 L mini silo (5 kg) in quadruplication for 90 days. A 2 × 2 factorial design consists of F. graminearum contamination at 1.0104 cfu/g (UCT (no contamination) vs. CT (contamination)) and inoculant application at 2.1 × 105 cfu/g (CON (no inoculant) vs. INO (inoculant)) used in this study. After 90 days of ensiling, the contents of CP, NDF, and ADF increased (p<0.05) by F. graminearum contamination, while IVDMD, acetate, and aerobic stability decreased (p<0.05). Meanwhile, aerobic stability decreased (p<0.05) by inoculant application. There were interaction effects (p<0.05) on IVNDFD, NH3-N, LAB, and yeast, which were highest in UCT-INO, UCT-CON, CT-INO, and CT-CON & INO, respectively. In conclusion, this study found that mold contamination could negatively impact silage quality, but isolated inoculants had limited effects on IVNDFD and yeast.

Benthic harpacticoids were collected from the East Sea of Korea. Specimen were identified as members of the genus Robertgurneya Apostolov & Marinov, 1988 based on the following characteristics: the fourth segment of antennule with aesthetasc, antenna with three-segmented exopod, shape of mandible, and P1-P4 armature formula. Robertgurneya donghaensis sp. nov. is morphologically most closely related to R. simulans (Norman & Scott T., 1905) and R. similis similis (Scott A., 1896). However, R. donghaensis is characterized by the rostrum with a pointed tip, caudal rami about as board as the length of its inner edge, the first segment of the P1 endopod much longer than entire exopod, and the P5 exopod with five setae in male. The genus Robertgurneya is reported from Korean waters for the first time.