This study evaluated the sub-chronic oral toxicity of freeze-dried deer velvet antler (DVA) extract in ICR mice over a 90-day period. The extract was administered orally to male and female mice at doses of 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight daily; the control group (0 mg/kg body weight) received vehicle only. No clinical signs of toxicity or mortality were observed. Body weight gain, food consumption, and general behavior remained normal across all groups. Hematological analysis revealed no dose-dependent alterations in hemoglobin levels, platelet characteristics, or red or white blood cell counts. Males administered 2,000 mg/kg DVA exhibited a slight increase in reticulocyte count, whereas females exhibited reduced count at 5,000 mg/kg; however, neither finding was doseresponsive or toxicologically significant. Serum biochemistry including liver and kidney function markers (ALT, AST, -GT, BUN, and creatinine) remained within normal range, and no evidence of organ damage was observed. Notably, male mice exhibited a significant reduction in serum triglycerides compared with those in the control group, suggesting potential lipid-modulating effects of DVA; however, this finding requires further investigation. Based on these findings, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of DVA extract was determined to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg/day in both sexes. These results support the safety profile of DVA extract at the tested doses, and its potential metabolic benefits.

This study develops and validates an English communicative competence model for Korean high school students, in response to the need to redefine the relevant concepts and components of competence that are demanded by the rapidly evolving future society. Drawing on Celce-Murcia’s (2008) theoretical model on communicative competence, this research conceptualized a model that could assess high school students’ English communicative competence by examining relevant domestic and international studies as well as theoretical reflections. Expert opinions from a two-stage Delphi survey were compiled and incorporated to revise, supplement, and validate the English communicative competence among high school students reflecting Korea’s English education environment. Following this process, the conceptual model for English communicative competence was reorganized into five sub-competences (sociolinguistic, discourse, linguistic, interactional, and strategic competence) and 15 corresponding subfactors. The content validity ratio values for the conceptual definition and factor structure of this model were all above 0.64, thus affirming the validity of the conceptual definition and factor structure.

This study aimed to identify prognostic factors and describe the treatment outcomes of multidrug therapy in dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE). A total of 23 dogs diagnosed with MUE were treated with prednisolone in combination with cyclosporine, cytosine arabinoside (CA), leflunomide, and mycophenolate mofetil. Based on the survival time, these dogs were divided into two groups: group A (n = 10), surviving for < 100 days, and group B (n = 13), surviving for > 100 days. Signalment, seizure activity, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis results, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings were reviewed. Survival studies were conducted to investigate the association of each prognostic factor and treatment with the clinical outcome. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body weight, occurrence of seizures, cell number and protein concentration in the CSF, or location of lesions between groups A and B. Abnormal MR features were more frequently observed in group A than in group B. It was identified that the longest median survival time was administration of multi-drug therapy including CA. In conclusion, abnormal MR features were associated with poor prognosis in dogs with MUE and CA-based multi-drug therapy could be considered the most effective treatment of MUE.

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.

There have long been debated whether Jeju king cherry in Korea and Punus x yedoensis (Yoshino cherry) in Japan are the same or not and its originality. Recent genomic approach among P. yedoensis and closed related varieties from Korea, Japan and USA confirms that P. yedoensis is F1 hybrid. The results also show that there are two types of Jeju king cherry in Mt. Halla, Jeju, Korea and one type is clearly different and the other type is the same grouping to Yoshino cherry in Japan and USA and the maternal texa of the two types in Jeju is the same of P. pendula. The search of paternal texa of the same type and further molecular genetic analysis and classification among newly found hundreds of Jeju King Trees in natural habitats of Mt. Halla including a 265 year-old tree along with previous findings would reveal the hypothesis that two independent F1 hybrid of P. yedoensis are evolved in Mt. Halla where is the only natural birth place of P. yedoensis in the world. Furthermore, policy agenda of king cherry tree eco-exploration among six countries including two divided Korea proposed. In terms of bio-diplomacy, it was amazing fact that Jeju King Cherry trees were sent USA under Japanese colony in 1912. In 1943, USA Congressman John Rankin of Mississippi confirms that they were Korean Cherry Trees. The first four of these trees were presented to the American University in 1943 by the Korean Women’s Relief Society of Honolulu according to notice of AU’s School authority. As Jeju NAtional University students and teachers confirmed the fact in April 2018, they suggest Jeju King Cherry Trees Eco- Exploration between the two universities at university level, hoping to extend a warming program of planting Jeju King Cherry trees at the Dalma tourism complex in Wonsan city of North Korea in April of 2020.

Insecticidal and repellent effects of herb extracts were tested against Aedes albopictus and Ochlerotatus togoi that are common among mosquitoes which inhabit Korea. Herb extracts from Mentha×piperita, Ocimum basilicum, and Nepeta cataria were extracted using distilled water and 70% ethanol respectively. Both kinds of mosquitoes were raised in environment control rearing system with air temperature of 25℃, humidity of 70%, and light condition of 14:10(L:D). Insecticidal effect was verified by feeding extracts to mosquitoes(Park et al., 2016.); repellent effect, by measuring their radial distance from extract by time. N. cataria extract using distilled water as a solvent is predominant in insecticidal effect; O. basilicum, using 70% ethanol. In particular, N. cataria has the most outstanding repellent effect.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a common cause of pain that occurs during shoulder movement, thereby restricting shoulder rotation in clinical practice. Although most patients respond to pain relief treatment (NSAID or corticosteroids) by improving their range of motion, it remains poorly understood without any definitive treatment algorithm. In addition to immune cells, synoviocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts in the joint are known to produce pro-inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators, presumably contributing to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and adhesive capsulitis. Although inflammation and also fibrosis are proposed to be the basic pathological changes of a frozen shoulder, there is a lack of information regarding the downstream targets of the pro-inflammatory ROS signaling pathway in the synoviocytes and also how these ROS targets are modulated at the transcription level by a corticosteroid - dexamethasone. In this study, we used human fibroblast like synoviocytes (HFLS) to characterize the signaling targets of ROS by employing a human DNA microarray tool and studied the role of dexamethasone in this process. Our data suggest that several genes such as FOS, FOSB and NFkBIZ, which are known to be involved in pro- or anti- inflammation response, are modulated at the transcription level by ROS and dexamethasone.

This study was carried out to explore possibilities of cultivating horticultural crops in the air-dome greenhouse in comparison to the common iron-frame greenhouse as the standard. The levels of carbon dioxide and atmospheric pressure measured inside the air-dome greenhouse turned out to be higher than those measured inside the iron-frame greenhouse. Contrastingly, light intensity was relatively weaker inside the air-dome greenhouse due to the air-inflated double layers. Plants of melon and cherry tomato were cultivated from May 2 to August 12, 2016, respectively in the two greenhouses. For melon plants, growth in the air-dome greenhouse effectively increased fruit weight as well as trunk circumference compared to iron-frame greenhouse. Moreover, soluble sugar content of melon fruit was significantly higher when cultivated in the air-dome greenhouse. For cherry tomato plants, fruit yield of cherry tomato was significantly increased inside the air-dome greenhouse. Furthermore, it has been found that the air-dome greenhouse was considerably effective in shortening the growing period of melon and cherry tomato plants in comparison to the iron-frame greenhouse.

The aim of this paper is to illuminate some aspects of the Jeju 4.3 Grand Tragedy (the Jeju Tragedy) education and informing process. We hope to not only with these aspects show some aspects of moral origin of the Jeju World Peace Island movement, but to share a culture of peace with world citizens through world civilization education cross the Pacific at a local, national and global level. In addition bring liberty to the cause of national freedom of the SAM IL movement of 1919 in Korea. it actualizes itself as a peace buffer zone locally, nationally and globally through the “Jeju World Peace Island Treaty JWPIT,” based on international agreement of the Six Talks Nations because “it is believed that that they (Jeju islanders) will follow the pattern of the SAM IL movement of 1919 with the participants imbued with the spirit of sacrifice to life and liberty to the cause of national freedom (G-2 Summary Report)” as a moral origin of Jeju World Peace Island. Globally, one New Haven teacher has been working on an elective course called “The Power of Culture in a Multicultural World” in which to use social studies tools to investigate the meaning and importance of culture. Jeju offers an excellent opportunity to explore a culture that few New Haven students are familiar with. It will be for students to use the Jeju idea of turning troubles into opportunities, as a vehicle for addressing local issues” (“New Haven Learn- Teach Jeju 4.3,” New Haven Independent: March 29, 2017). Another New Haven teacher in his history class explains the different components of genocide. “Although the Jeju 4.3 events are not deemed genocide by the international community, using this as a lens to understand broader concepts seemed really exciting.” Jeju offers educators an opportunity to teach the curriculum but instead of gratuitous death and violence, there is a legacy of hope, healing, reconciliation and remembrance.” (Ibid, New Haven Independent: March 29, 2017). Locally and partially on the global level, “The Resurgence of Jeju 4.3 Social Healing Advocacy of “PETITION FOR A JOINT SOUTH KOREA AND UNITED STATES JEJU 4.3 INCIDENT TASK FORCE TO FURTHER IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOSTER COMPREHENSIVE AND ENDURING SOCIAL HEALING THROUGH JUSTICE” (March 27, 2014). The petition supports a combined solution to social healing for numerous survivors of Jeju 4.3. Based on interviews with members of the Jeju 4.3 Victim Family Association, 20% of them are now elderly and require expensive medical care and assistance. Many continue to suffer from psychological trauma (PTSD). It serves as a beacon of international peace in the same vein as May 24, 2015’s event, “Women Cross DMZ Demilitarized Zone.” Jeju itself aims to serve as a “Peace Buffer Zone” between the two Koreas among 6 Nations Talks within the framework of the Jeju World Peace Island Treaty, similar to Costa Rica. Never before has the need for a Peace Island in the region been so vital, with China stretching its reach across the ocean, and President Trump flexing his muscles against North Korea, the time has come for serious peacemaking, that is, prevention of conflict. It’s a real time to think about actualization of Jeju World Peace Island Treaty for Peace between two Koreas.

Plant growth and development strongly influenced by light quantity and its spectral composition. Young tomato plants were cultivated in growth cabinets under artificial light provided by red and blue light emitting diodes(LEDs) during 12 hours, then plants were exposed to monochromatic ultraviolet, blue, green and red lights as an end-of-day(EOD) treatment during 4 hours to study their effect on plant growth parameters. EOD lighting from various LEDs increased total fresh and dry weights as well as assimilation area compared to those in control. Blue light increased stem height, internode length and stem diameter. Monochromatic UV-A light reduced stem elongation, highly increased stomatal conductance. Compactness and health index of young tomato plants were increased in UV-A and red light treatments.

농진청에서 수행하고 있는 아프리카 국제협력프로그램인KAFACI 사업의 일환으로 우간다 등 8개국에 ‘통일형 다수성벼 품종개발’ 사업을 추진하고 있다. 이를 위해 아프리카에서정상적인 생육과 수량을 나타내는 다수성 통일형 품종인 밀양23호와 아프리카의 재래종인 O. glaberrima를 이용하여 밀양23호의 유전적배경을 보유한 근동질 계통인 BC4F1을 육성하고, 약배양을 통해 유전적 고정계통을 육성하였다. 이 중 50개계통을 우간다에서 생물검정을 실시한 결과, 아프리카에서 문제시되는 Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV), Bacterial LeafStreak(BLS), 흰잎마름병 및 도열병에 복합저항성인 계통으로판명되었다. 특히 RYMV에 대한 저항성은 저항성원이 결여되어 있는 병으로 본 연구를 통해 육성한 계통들은 향후 아프리카에 적응하는 내병성 다수성 품종개발에 유용한 재료를 활용 될 것으로 생각된다.

In establishing and overseeing ASIAPARC Federation in March of 2016 in Jeju Island Korea, it will be essential for us to learn aspiration, network, purpose, values, goals and strategies from 42 years experiences of EUROPARC Federation as our partnership organization such as practicing exchange programs and joint conferences. We also believe we can add one more principle, ‘Initiating Island Resilience’, into the three principles of the Jeju Declaration of 1) Scaling up Conservation, 2) Nature-based Solutions, and 3) Sustainability in Action through the opening of a "Green Growth Organization" of the Jeju Declaration of WCC 2012.

Renal dysplasia is a developmental disorder of the renal parenchyma involving anomalous differentiation. It is characterized by persistent metanephric ducts surrounded by primitive mesenchyme, fetal or immature glomeruli, fetal or immature tubules, interstitial fibrosis, and dysontogenic metaplasia involving tissues such as cartilage. Renal dysplasia has been rarely reported in rats. Here, we observed a small left kidney in a rat used in a short-term repeat toxicity study. The rat showed no clinical signs throughout the study. All parameters, including those reflecting kidney functions, were normal upon hematological examination and urinalysis. Grossly, the kidney was small (5 × 8 mm) and its surface appeared normal. Histological examination revealed that the cortex and medulla were poorly demarcated and contained immature/atrophic glomeruli, immature renal tubules, and mesenchymal cells. The cortex contained immature glomeruli, atrophic glomeruli with cystic dilatation of Bowman’s capsular space, and some atypical tubules. Primitive metanephric tubules in the medulla were larger in diameter than normal collecting ducts, lined by a tall columnar epithelium with pale cytoplasm and basal nucleus, and surrounded by loose mesenchymal cells. Occasional tubules contained pale eosinophilic homogenous material in the lumen. Thus, this was diagnosed as a case of renal dysplasia on the basis of histologic features and is the first reported case of renal dysplasia in Sprague Dawley rats.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different spectrum conversion greenhouse films (red, blue, red+blue) to changing microclimate and subsequent effect on growth and quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and melon (Cucumis melo L.) Transmission of PAR (photosynthetic active radiation, 400-700 nm) under red, blue, and blue+red (BR) films was higher by 7.2, 7.6, and 5.8%, respectively, as compared with control greenhouse film. Light transmission in the 300-1100 nm wave band was 91.6% and 91.3% under red and blue films, respectively, compared to 86.4% under control film. Mean daytime temperature in greenhouse was slightly higher in red and blue film and mean night time temperature was higher in BR film. There were no significant differences in relative humidity among the films. Number of leaves and plant fresh weight of lettuce were higher under BR film. Total number of marketable tomato fruits was greater under blue and BR film and fruit weight was heavier under red and blue film compared to control film. Under BR and red film melon fruit weight was increased by 140 g and 80 g respectively, as compared to control film. Sugar content in melon and tomato fruits was not affected by covering films.

Setdb1/Eset, a histone lysine methyltransferase, is recruited by various transcription factors to modify local chromatin. The observation that Setdb1-null blastocysts fail to produce epiblast-lineage cells suggests a role for Setdb1 in generating mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). When examined in mouse zygotes, Setdb1 proteins appeared as dots at perinucleolar rims of pronuclei, with the dot-shaped signals more prominent in male pronuclei. Setdb1 signals were observed diffusely in the nucleus from the two-cell stage onward and, by the blastocyst, took a punctate form, away from nucleolus. Such varying expression patterns suggest its involvement in diverse biological processes at preimplantation stage. Setdb1 appeared in Oct4-positive cells of inner-cell-mass origin but not in trophectoderm-lineage cells in blastocyst outgrowths. Setdb1 co- immunoprecipitated with Oct4 in mESCs, and Setdb1 expression was markedly reduced upon retinoic acid- induced differentiation. These observations suggest that Setdb1 has an important role in maintaining the self-renewal of mESCs through collaboration with Oct4.

Covalent modifications of histone tails have fundamental roles in chromatin structure and transcriptional activity of a target locus. One of such modifications, Methylation at Lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3-K9) causes several epigenetic phenomena including heterochromatin formation, transcriptional regulation and DNA methylation. Setdb1, H3-K9 specific histone methyltransferase, functions in gene silencing, heterochromatin formation and essential role for early development. Here, we demonstrate that Setdb1 associates with promyelocytic leukemia (Pml) protein from the early stage of mouse development and is a constitutive member of PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) that have been linked to many cellular processes such as apoptosis, DNA damage responses, and transcriptional regulation. Immunostaining of mouse blastocyst showed that Setdb1 and Pml signals were scattered in nucleus as a few speckles and microinjected Pmlmyc signals colocalize with Setdb1 signals. This colocalization was observed in mEF and the punctate signals of Setdb1 were observed to be present in every nucleus of mEFs and dividing cells with condensed chromosomes. Arsenic treatment, which induces Pml degradation, also caused Setdb1 signals to disappear. Setdb1 knockdown resulted in disassembly of PML-NBs and immunoprecipitation results demonstrated physical interactions between Setdb1 and Pml. These data suggest that Setdb1 was associated in PML-NB and Setdb1 has important function in maintenance of PML-NB structure.