A new annual dose evaluation system called E-DOSE has been developed. The system is based on the methodology of the previous version, K-DOSE60, which uses the dose evaluation methods of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP-60). However, E-DOSE is coded in ABAP to be compatible with the KHNP’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, SAP. This allows E-DOSE to use the real-time data from SAP, which minimizes the need for user intervention. The socio-environmental data, which was previously managed by the staff of each plant sites, can now managed in the system in a centralized manner. This is a significant improvement over the previous system, as it reduces the risk of errors and makes it easier to track and manage data. The system also automatically generates the reports required by regulations. EDOSE is expected to minimize the occurrence of human errors in preparing and managing the input data. This is because the system uses the data from SAP, which is less prone to errors than manually entered data. Additionally, the automatic generation of reports reduces the risk of errors in report preparation. E-DOSE is also expected to improve work efficiency. This is because the system automates many of the tasks involved in annual dose evaluation, such as data entry, calculation, and report generation. Overall, E-DOSE is a significant improvement over the previous annual dose evaluation system. It is more efficient, accurate, and user-friendly.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common liver disease in industrialized countries. Recently, natural compounds that may be beneficial for improving NAFLD have received increasing attention. Artemisia annua L. is the source of antimalarial phytomolecule, artemisinin, which has been reported to prevent obesity. However, the effect of A. annua extract on hepatic lipid metabolism remains unclear. This study was performed to determine the protective effect of Artemisia annua extract (AAE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic lipid accumulation, and elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind its effects in vivo and in vitro. We found that HFD-fed mice with AAE administration (50 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks dramatically reduced hepatic lipid accumulation compared to the control mice taken with HFD alone. The body and liver weights of AAE group were significantly lower than those of HFD group, and oral administration of AAE remarkably suppressed the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), fasting glucose, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in HFD-fed mice. AAE significantly increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the liver of HFD-fed mice and HepG2 hepatocytes. Moreover, AAE downregulated the hepatic expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in HFD-fed mice and high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. In addition, the inhibitory effects of AAE on the overexpression of SREBP-1c and FAS were attenuated by compound C, which is the specific AMPK inhibitor, in high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. These results indicated that AAE may represent a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related NAFLD via the activation of AMPK and the regulation of AMPK-dependent lipogenic genes.

The fish influx and behavioral properties at a set-net off Goseong, South Korea were investigated using an imaging sonar. As a result, the average influx of fish was 33.9% at day time and 66.1% at night time, respectively, which indicated that a majority of fish entered into a playground in the set-net at night. The fish behavioral properties such as target (fish) length, range, orientation and major-axis angle were examined and compared among survey dates (4, 5, and 6 June 2019) using the statistical analysis tool (analysis of variance, ANOVA). The behavioral properties presented differently sometime of survey dates. This is preparatory study to support fish behavior properties in a set-net. It is expected that more elaborated behavioral information of fishes in the set-net is beneficial for designing and deploying a set-net fishing gear as well as general fish behavior research in the future.

베트남 메콩 델타 지역은 베트남에서도 쌀 생산이 활발히 이루어지는 지역으로 꼽히고 있으나 기후온난화에 따른 고온 현상 증가로 쌀생산량 감소의 우려가 증대되고 있다. 이에 고온에 따른 벼 피해발생 현황 및 대응 기술에 대한 정보를 제공하고자 한다. 베트남의 평균기온은 2060년 까지 약 2.7oC 증가, 35oC 이상의 폭염은 2030년까지 2달 이상 길어질 것으로 예측되고 있으며 기온상승에 따라 기온이 높은 작기의 벼 생산량이 감소되고 있다. 벼 개화기 온도가 33oC 이상으로 높을 시, 화분의 감수분열에 영향을 미쳐 화분의 활력이 저하되며 수술에서 약의 개열이 감소되어 화분의 방출이 감소될 뿐만 아니라 화분이 암술의 주두에 부착하여 발아 시 발아율을 낮추어 불임 발생이 증가하게 된다. 베트남의 벼 연구소는 고온에 대비하여 베트남 벼 생산의 안정화를 위해서 개화기에 내열성을 가지는 품종 육성 뿐만 아니라 이른 아침에 개화할 수 있는 품종을 육성하고 있다. 또한 재배 적인 측면에서 고온 피해를 줄일 수 있도록 벼 재배시기를 조절하여 기존 3기작에서 고온피해가 큰 시기의 재배를 제외한 2기작으로 재배하는 반면 파종 및 이앙시기를 조절하여 벼의 생육량을 충분히 확보하여 2기작에 따른 수량감소를 최소화하는 연구가 필요하다. 더불어 벼를 재배하지 못하는 무더운 계절에는 농업인의 소득보존을 위해 논을 이용한 물고기 양식 기술 도입하는 것도 필요하며, 시비 방법 등의 개선을 통한 벼 생육량 조절, 물관리 기술 개발을 통한 포장 미세기상변화 등의 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is also called as aging related memory damage. Decreased cognitive function due to aging is known to be associated with the frontal lobe. Alpha wave is generated in the dominance in the frontal lobe or a wide range of regions in the brain, it should be doubted that the brain function might be degraded. Objective: To determine the effect of sensory stimulation type on learning and brain activity pattern of elderly persons with MCI. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind) Methods: Twenty elderly persons aged more than 65 with MCI were randonmized to simultaneous visual/auditory stimulation group (SVASG) and or auditory stimulation group (ASG). Ten peoples were assigned to each group and lectroencephalogram test was performed to individuals. In the electroencephalogram test, electroencephalography of prior to sensory stimulation, and during sensory stimulation were measured to compare brain activity pattern according to the study groups and measurement period. Results: The relative alpha power due to a sensory stimulation type showed that the SVASG significantly decreased in the left frontal lobe and the left parietal lobe statistically compared to those of the ASG while sensory stimulation was given (p<.05). The relative beta power due to a sensory stimulation type showed that the SVASG significantly increased in the left and right frontal lobes, the left and right parietal lobes, and the left temporal lobe statistically compared to those of the ASG while sensory stimulation was given (p<.05). Conclusions: Electroencephalographic analysis showed that the type of sensory stimulation can affect the brain activity pattern. However, the effects were not studied that which brain activity pattern help to improved cognitive function of elderly persons with mild cognitive impairment.

The dynastid beetle Allomyrina dichotoma has been used as a herbal medicine. Recently, we performed de novo RNAsequencing of Allomyrina dichotoma and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates based on in silico analysis.Among them, cationic antimicrobial peptide, Allomyrinasin, was selected and we assessed the anti-inflammatory activitiesof Allomyrinasin against mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. The results showed that Allomyrinasin decreased the nitricoxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and Westernblot analysis revealed that Allomyrinasin reduced cytokine expression levels in the Raw264.7 cells. Taken together, thesedata indicated that Allomyrinasin had anti-inflammatory activity in the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells.

Although the grasshopper Oxya chinensis sinuosa has long been used as a food in Korea, there is little data on itsfunctional effects. Thus we prepared and analyzed total RNA from the whole body of adult Escherichia coli non-immunizedand immunized Oxya chinensis sinuosa strains. Using an Illumina Hiseq sequencer, we generated a total of 66,555 pooledtranscriptome and singletons with and without Escherichia coli immunization, respectively. Then, we performed in silicoanalysis of the Oxya chinensis sinuosa transcriptome, using bioinformatics tools for screening putative antimicrobial peptides(AMPs) and 38 AMPs were finally selected and tested their antimicrobial activity of Gram positive, Gram negative bacteriaand antifungal activity with radial diffusion assay. As a result, 5 out of 38 AMPs showed the highest antimicrobial activityand antifungal activity against microbes and it also evidenced with no hemolytic activity.

It is very difficult to get the information about semen quality analysis in transgenic pigs because of limited numbers and research facilities. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed the semen quality of transgenic boars generated for xenotransplantation research. Briefly, the semen samples were collected from 5 homozygous α1,3-Galactosyltransferase knock-out (GalT-/-) transgenic boars and immediately transported to the laboratory. These semen samples were decupled with DPBS and conducted to analyze semen parameters by a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. The boar semen were examined all 12 parameters such as total motility (TM), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), and hyperactivated (HYP), etc. In results, among the 5 GalT-/- boars, three boars (#134, 144, and 170) showed normal range of semen parameters, but #199 and 171 boars showed abnormal ranges of semen parameters according to standard ranges of semen parameters. Unfortunately, #171 boar showed azoospermia symptom with rare sperm counts in the original semen. Conclusively, assessment of semen parameters by CASA system is useful to pre-screening of reproductively healthy boar prior to natural mating and artificial insemination for multiplication and breeding.

Vulpes zerda is a fox that inhabits the desert regions of North Africa and Asia, whereas Vulpes pallida is a fox that inhabits the savannah zones of North Africa and the Sahara desert. Vulpes zerda, which is on the “Red List of Threatened Species” designated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), belongs to the “Appendix II” group drawn up by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and hence its cross-border trade is prohibited. In contrast, Vulpes pallida is classified as being of “Least concern” (LC) by IUCN. However, distinguishing between Vulpes pallida and Vulpes zerda by shape alone is difficult. This study attempted to differentiate between the two species by examining the chromosomes of Vulpe szerda and Vulpes pallida that were raised in Korea. According to the examination, two of eight foxes believed to be Vulpes zerda were Vulpes pallida and one of six foxes believed to be Vulpes pallida was actually Vulpes zerda. Considering the ambiguity of making a formal distinction between Vulpes zerda and Vulpes pallida, a more scientific approach to differentiation will be required.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas9) system can be applied to produce transgenic pigs. Therefore, we applied CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate FoxN1-targeted pig parthenogenetic embryos. Using single guided RNA targeted to pig FoxN1 genes was injected into cytoplasm of in vitro matured oocyte before electrical activation. In results, regardless of the concentrations of vector, the cleavage rate were significantly (p<0.05) decreased (4 ng/μl, 51.24%; 8 ng/μl, 40.88%; and 16 ng/μl; 45.22%) compared to no injection group (70.44%). The blastocyst formation rates were also decreased in vector injected 3 groups (4 ng/μl, 7.96%; 8 ng/μl, 6.4%; and 16 ng/μl; 9.04%) compared to no injection group (29.07%). In addition, the blastocyst formation rates between sham injected group (13.51%) and no injection group (29.07%) also showed significant difference (p<0.05). The mutation rates were comparable between groups (4 ng/μl, 18.4%; 8 ng/μl, 12.5%; and 16 ng/μl; 20.0%). The sequencing analysis showed that blastocysts derived from each group were successfully mutated in FoxN1 loci regardless of the vector concentrations. However, the deletion patterns were higher than the patterns of point mutation and insertion regardless of the vector concentrations. In conclusion, we described that cytoplasmic microinjection of FoxN1-targeted CRISPR/Cas9 vector could efficiently generate transgenic pig parthenogenetic embryos in one-step.

Previously, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of Scolopendra subpinipes mutilans using high-throughput sequencing technology and identified several AMP candidates. Among them, a synthetic peptide (CP112) was designed based on the physicochemical properties of antimicrobial peptide such as length, charge, isoelectric point. Here, we have assessed the antimicrobial activities of CP112 against various microbes and the antioxidative effects. The results showed that CP112 had antimicrobial activities in radial diffusion assay and colony count assay. In addition, we found that CP112 bound to the surface of microorganisms via a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, which is one of bacteria cell wall components. Furthermore, CP112 has shown significant DPPH radical scavenging activity. Taken together, the results would be provided the basis for developing of peptide antibiotics and antioxidants.

The purpose of this study was performed to determine the whitening effect of organic solvent extracts from the centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. We prepared different concentrations (50%, 70% and 100%) of ethanol, methanol, 100% ethyl acetate and water extracts. We tested melanin inhibitory effect and tyrosinase activity using B16/F10 melanoma cell. As a result, treatment of organic solvent extracts is decreased the biosynthesis of melanin and tyrosinase activity to 30~60%. Especially the 70% ethanol extracts was the most effective in B16/F10 melanoma cells. In the study on melanogenic protein expression, 70% ethanol extracts of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans blocked glycosylation of tyrosinase. Therefore this result suggests that 70% ethanol extracts could be developed as a skin whitening agents.