Sperm examination is an important tool in estimating the fertilizing capacity of an ejaculate. The number of spermatozoa in a semen dose, morphology and motility are important for the fertilization process. By evaluation of semen, artificial insemination (AI) using high quality of semen can increase fertilization rate. Boar semen is subject to contamination by various pathogens that can result in fertility disorders in sows. Among these pathogens, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) are of particular importance and accurate monitoring prior to and during the presence of boars in AI stations is essential. Because of the high risk of dissemination of disease via AI, The absolute goal is to provide pathogen-free semen and this is feasible with the adequate measures. The disease affects boars semen causes a significant reduction quality. In this study we investigated the characterization boar semen in Jeju, interaction of pathogenic virus infection with characterization of boar semen. Forty-two boar semen from 13 farms were investigated. The semen were stored during 5 days at 17℃ and the sperm qualities in the stored semen were analysed. Visual-motility assessment is a tool (Computer- Assisted Semen Analysis) used to determine the quality of boar semen. Percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa were assessed. PRRS ,PPV and PCV-2 were detected in boar semen using PCR. The motion characteristics in boar semen was showed 68.4±9.1% for motility, 48.6±7.1 μm/s for VAP, 45.3±7.0 μm/s for VSL, 79.1±8.7 μm/s for VCL, 1.3±0.2 μm/s for ALH, 8.3±0.4 Hz for BCF, 93.6±3.5% for STR, 57.9±6.4 % for LIN. The percentage of sperm with abnormal head, midepeice and tail were 0.3±0.7%, 14.4±12.5%, 4.9±6.6%, respectively. Based on the PCR method, PPV was detected in 20 samples (48%). However, PCV-2 and PRRSV were not detected in any cases. Marked differences in motility and morphology between PPV negative and PPV positive semen were not observed. Sperm cell production was not affected by PPV infection. However, slight increases in detached head, coiled tail after infection were observed (p<0.05). The motility of semen in Jeju is similar to case comparing with other regions in Korea. Although PPV in semen was not affected in semen quality, there is the high risk of virus excretion in the semen of Jeju boars. Therefore continuous screening tests for some particular pathogens in boar semen would be warranted.

We investigated the effects of cadmium exposure and various stress on the transcription of heat shock protein 70 and 82 (HSP70 and HSP82) from Pardosa astrigera wolf spider. To do this, P. astrigera HSP70 and HSP82 genes were cloned and its full-length sequence determined. Female spiders were long-term exposed to cadmium or to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks and short-term exposed to endosulfan by dietary uptake. Female spiders were also exposed to various temperatures. HSP82 did not show a clear tendency of transcription induction following exposure to cadmium. On the contrary, HSP70 transcription gradually increased during the exposure to 2, 20 and 40 mM of cadmium for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Transcript level of HSP70 was not significantly changed by endosulfan and PCB exposure. In the short-term (3 hr) temperature exposure, an increased expression of HSP70 was observed under the heat shock to 30°C and then slightly decreased at 35°C. However, induction of HSP70 transcription was not observed during the long-term (7 days) temperature exposure. Taken together, HSP70 gene appears to be up-regulated by cadmium in a time-dependent manner but little affected by other potential contaminants. Analysis of HSP70 transcript levels in P. astrigera collected from various fields revealed that levels of cadmium concentration were well correlated with HSP70 transcript levels (r2 = 0.76). Taken together, it was suggested that transcript level of HSP70 could be useful as a biomarker for the long-term cadmium exposure of P. astrigera.

We examined the effects of cadmium exposure and various temperature stress on the expression of Pardosa astrigera heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). To do this, P. astrigera HSP70 gene was cloned and its sequence determined. Female spiders collected from non-contaminated region were exposed to 40mM CdCl2 for 2, 4 and 6 weeks by dietary uptake. At the end of every 2, 4 and 6 weeks of exposure, a batch of 5 spiders was collected and total RNA was extracted from each batch of whole bodies. Female spiders were also exposed to different temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35℃) for 3h and RNA extracted likewise. Transcription profiles of HSP70 in response to cadmium and temperature were determined by quantitative real-time PCR using 18S rRNA as reference gene for data normalization. HSP70 transcription gradually increased during 2,4 and 6 weeks of exposure to cadmium. In particular, the expression level at 6-week exposure was 3.4-fold higher than that of untreated control. In the temperature response, an increased expression of HSP70 was also observed as temperature increased up to 30℃ and then slightly decreased at 35℃. The expression level at 30℃ was 2.3-fold higher than that of 25℃. Taken together, HSP70 gene appears to be up-regulated by general stress factors including cadmium exposure and temperature increase.

In this study, to investigate the effects of herb aroma components, the BDI test was performed with the 124 students of the Youngdong University and the subjects whose score was 16 or higher were selected and allocated to the herb-extracted aroma-treated group and the non-treated group, 27 and 10 students for each group. The BDI and SDS tests were carried out at each stage (before and after the treatment, 10 days later and 30 days later). The result showed that the pre-treatment BDI test result was significantly different from all those of the post-treatment test, and the tests after 10 days and 30 days in the aroma-treated group. In the SDS test, the pre-treatment test result was significantly different from the results of the post-treatment test and the test after 10 days, while it was not significantly different from the result of the test after 30 days. Additionally, to verify whether the change within the group is larger than that by natural recovery or not, ANCOVA was performed with respect to the difference in the pre-treatment test score between the groups depending on whether the treatment was given or not, having the SDS pre-treatment score as the covariate, and the result showed that the post-treatment test scores were significantly different. Thus, it was verified that, if the SDS test score is considered as the depression indicator, the effect of aromatherapy was greater than the change by natural recovery. The difference in the post-treatment test score was analyzed depending on whether the treatment was given or not, having the BDI pre-treatment test score as the control variable, and the result showed that the post-treatment test scores were not significantly different. Based on such a theoretical verification, it is assumed that the nature-friendly treatment method using herb aroma components can be a great help in suppressing depression. Therefore, it is expected that herb aroma components can provide systematic therapeutic effect on the suppression of depression.