A crustose red alga, Lithophyllum neo-okamurae A.Kato, D.Basso, Caragnano, Rodondi, V.Peña & M.Baba, is reported a new record from Korea and its biogeographic distributions are extended in Korea. Lithophyllum neo-okamurae has been known as endemic species in Japan. Despite the resemblance between L. neookamurae and L. okamurae, our molecular and morphological analyses have revealed the simultaneous presence of both species in Korea. Although L. neo-okamurae and L. okamurae share morphological similarities, there are notable variations in gene sequences, with a range of 9.1-11.3% in psbA and 14.8-15.3% in rbcL. Specifically, while L. neo-okamurae is distributed throughout the entire coastline of Korea, L. okamurae is predominantly found in southern region. Furthermore, our analyses have revealed their detailed distributions in Korea.

Recently, it is demonstrate that the invertebrates have a immune memory, called Immune priming (IP). It was partially studied that the IP is mainly regulated by epigenetic modification. Here, to understand the IP on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production, we investigated larval mortality and time-dependent expression patterns of AMP genes in T. molitor larvae challenged with E. coli (two-times injection with a one-month interval). Interestingly, the results indicate that the higher and faster expression levels of most AMP genes were detected compared to the non-primed T. molitor larvae. Our results may used to improve the understanding of mechanisms of invertebrate immune memory.

Pellino, a highly conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase, is known to mediate ubiquitination of phosphorylated Interleukin-1 receptor-related kinase (IRAK) homologs in Toll signaling pathway. To understand the immunological function of TmPellino, we screened the knockdown efficiency of TmPellino by injecting TmPellino-specific dsRNA into T. molitor larvae. Subsequently, we investigated the larval mortality and the tissue-specific expression patterns of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes against microbial challenges. Interestingly, the results indicate that the expression of many AMP genes was upregulated in the Malpighian tubules of TmPellino-silenced T. molitor larvae. This study may provide basic information to understand how Tmpellino regulates AMPs production in T. molitor.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) is known to regulate antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production in mammals. Here, to understand the immunological function of TmTRAF against microbial challenge, the induction patterns of TmTRAF against microbial infection was investigated by qRT-PCR in the whole-body and tissue of young larvae. In addition, the effects of TmTRAF RNAi on larval mortality and expression of 15 AMP genes in response to microbial infection were investigated. Our studies may help to understand the basic role of AMP production.

Tube, an intracellular protein of the Toll-pathway, forms a complex with Pelle and MyD88, and regulates a signal transduction to activate NF-κB in Drosophila. To understand the antimicrobial function of TmTube, the induction patterns of TmTube were investigated at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h-post injection of pathogens into 10th to 12th instar larvae. In addition, we investigated the effects of TmTube RNAi on larval mortality and tissue specific AMP expression in response to microbial challenge. Our results will provide a basic information to elucidate the immunological function of TmTube

In insects, the glutathione S-transferase is initiated in both the detoxification process and the protection of cellular membranes against oxidative damage. In this study, we identified the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of GST-iso1 and 2 from Tenebrio molitor (TmGST-iso1 and 2). To investigate the expression patterrns of TmGST-iso1 and 2 in response to herbicide, 0.06, 0.6, and 6 ㎍/㎕ of butachlor (FarmHannong, Seoul, South Korea) was challenged into T. molitor larvae, resulting that the TmGST-iso1 were highly induced at 3 and 24 h-post injection. Whereas, the highest expression of TmGST-iso2 was detected at 24 h after treatment. This study may contribute to basic information about the detoxifying activities of T. molitor.

Pelle, a serine/threonine kinase, is an intracellular component of the Toll pathway and is involved in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production due to pathogenic infection. It is known that the Pelle phosphorylates Cactus and activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in Drosophila, but it is not studied in Tenebrio molitor. In this study we investigated the tissue-specific expression patterns of the Pelle following pathogenic infection at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours. Additionally, larval mortality and AMP expression against microbial injection were investigated in dsPelle-treated T. molitor larvae. Our results may help to understand the antimicrobial function of TmPelle.

It is well known that the JNK pathway regulates AMP production against pathogenic infection in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Tenebrio molitor hep (Tmhep) is an homolog of MAP kinase kinase in mammals. Here, we investigate the immunological function of Tmhep in responses in microbial infection using RNA interference technology. The results showed that silencing of Tmhep increased the larval mortality against microbial challenge, as well as reduced AMP production compared to the control group (dsEGFP-treated group). Conclusively, Tmhep plays an critical role in antimicrobial defense in T. molitor larvae.

본 논문에서는 빙하가 녹아 갈라져서 떠내려 온 새끼 펭귄이 다시 펭귄 무리로 되돌아가기 위 해서 길을 찾아 나서는 퍼즐 어드벤처 게임을 제안한다. 플레이어 40명의 로그 기록과 설문지 를 분석한 결과를 바탕으로 제안하는 게임의 특징을 살펴보고자 한다. 첫째, 제안하는 게임은 새끼 펭귄이 얼음 덩어리를 밀어서 길을 만들어 이동하는 직관적인 규칙을 제공한다. 로그 기 록에서 플레이 평균 시간은 19분이며, 이를 19개의 리스폰 지점으로 나누면, 구간별 플레이 평균시간은 1분이다. 설문에서 게임 목표 명확성은 4.45점, 게임 난이도는 4.16점을 받았다. 둘째, 제안하는 게임은 가마우지가 새끼 펭귄에게 도움말을 제시하는 등 유용한 정보를 친절 하게 제공한다. 전체 플레이 평균 시간은 baseline이 24분이고, kinder UI가 19분이다. kinder UI에서 새끼 펭귄이 얼음 덩어리를 덜 밀고, 게임 재시작을 덜 하고, 더 빨리 상호작 용하여, 문제를 빨리 해결한다. 설문에서 게임 스토리 이해는 4.15점, 유용한 정보는 4.45점을 받았다. 셋째, 제안하는 게임은 남극과 유사한 환경을 제공하여 몰입도를 상승시킨다. baseline에 비해서 kinder UI에서 다양한 게임 오브젝트와 더 적극적으로 상호작용을 시도하 고, 미션 완료 후 더 오랫동안 오로라를 지켜봤다. 설문에서 게임 캐릭터 선호도는 4.56점, 게 임 환경 만족도는 4.22점을 받았다.

본 연구는 주변 환경의 차이에 따른 화분매개곤충의 유입 특성을 파악하기 위하여 국립수목원 내 진화속을걷 는정원과 부추속전문전시원에 식재된 울릉산마늘의 화분매개곤충을 조사하였다. 2023년 5월 22일부터 6월 2일 까지 꽃이 70% 이상 개화하였을 때 포충망을 활용하여 8일간 곤충을 채집하였고, 각 전시원 별 식생(피도), 기후 (온도·습도·조도)를 조사하였다. 조사 결과 진화속을걷는정원에서 피도 60% 온도 26.4℃, 습도 31.5%, 조도 40953.6lx, 화분매개곤충 20과 450개체, 부추속전문전시원은 피도 90%, 온도 25.6℃, 습도 31.6%, 조도 6387lx, 화분매개곤충 15과 196개체로 나타났다. 온도와 조도가 상대적으로 높은 진화속을걷는정원이 채집된 곤충의 다양성과 방문 빈도가 높았다. 시간대별 곤충의 방문 빈도를 비교해본 결과 온도와 조도는 개체수가 증가할 때 같이 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 습도는 반대의 경향을 보였다.

The development of biochemical pesticides to replace existing chemical pesticides and the search for new substances with potential insecticidal ability are continuously required. The purpose of this study is to control myzus persicae with pyrethrum biochemical pesticide containing of high concentration of pyrethrin as an active ingredient. Pyrethrum dried powder was extracted with 95% ethanol for different periods of time and it was confirmed that the pyrethrin content increased as the extraction period increased and the extraction conditions for 20 days had the highest yield with 0.2% pyrethrin. We produced a prototype containing 0.13% pyrethrin content (pyrethrin II: 0.06%, pyrethrin I: 0.06%). and in 200 fold dilute spray condition. It showed a 77.2% corrected mortality against myzus persicae which is comparable to chemical pesticide. We are continuously researching to reduce the decomposition of active ingredients and look for additives to increase the insecticidal activity.

For the final disposal of radioactive waste generated during the operation of nuclear power plants, concentrations of 14 radionuclides including gross alpha have to be determined to meet nuclear regulatory requirements. In order to determine the gross alpha radioactivity in radioactive waste, the sample must be preprocessed into a solution which is usually a strong acid. When this solution is used to prepare the gross alpha measurement sample, it produces a lot of salt, which makes an accurate measurement difficult. Also it causes corrosion of a planchet, which causes problems in the disposal of waste in the future. For these reasons, an acid treatment of the solution was added to the existing preprocess procedure, which is also expected to improve the measurement error. Although the gross alpha measurement is known to be easy to perform and able to give rapid results, it cannot be used for quantitative analysis. This is because the energies emitted by the individual alpha nuclides are assumed to be produced from a single alpha emitted by the individual alpha nuclides are assumed to be produced from a single alpha emitter used as the standard calibration source. Also, due to self-absorption of alpha particles a counting rate depends on the thickness (or weight) of the residues on the planchet. In this study, we compared gross alpha radioactivity with and without an acid treatment to prepare gross alpha measurement samples. The weights of the treated samples increased by at most 5% after about 12 hours of evaporation to dryness, and then saturated or slightly decreased, while the weights of the untreated samples increased up to 20% over time. In addition, the radioactivities of the untreated samples were about two times those of the treated samples. This is considered to be due to differences both in the geometric shapes of the samples and the weights of their residues which resulted from whether acid treatment was applied or not. The results of this study showed that an acid treatment was beneficial in reducing both production corrosion and salts which could result in more reliable and constant measurements of gross alpha activity. The results showed that acid treatment was beneficial in reducing corrosion and measurement errors.

우리나라 정원의 식물 이용 현황을 알아보고자 전국 36개 정원을 대상으로 정원식물을 조사하였다. 정원은 6가지 유형 으로 구분하였다. 그 결과, 36개소 정원에는 정원식물 712종 류가 식재되고 있었다. 교목, 관목, 초본의 비중은 평균 1:2:7 이었다. 개별 정원(10×10㎡)에서 교목은 평균 2.5종으로 12.6%, 관목은 4.1종 20.7%, 초본은 13.2종 66.7%를 차지했다. 식재 빈도 상위 5%에 40여 종이 포함되었으며, 맥문동, 일본조팝나 무, 수국, 회양목, 단풍나무, 옥잠화, 에키네시아, 산철쭉이 대 표적이었다. 양지형 정원에는 관목이 상대적으로 적고 초본이 많았으며 다른 유형보다 20~40% 이상 다양했다. 그늘형은 초 본보다 교목이 많았으며, 건조형 및 습지형과 마찬가지로 식 재 다양성이 20% 감소했다. 옥상정원의 도시형 정원은 초본 이 전체의 80~90%를 차지하고, 해안형 정원에는 목본과 초본 이 1:1로 목본 중심의 식재 특성을 보였다. 결과적으로 정원 유형에 따라 식재 다양성과 구성 비율이 명확한 차이를 나타 냈다.