Sympathetic innervation stimulates β-adrenergic receptors, triggering cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production and enhancing protein secretion in salivary gland cells. While cAMP signaling, in conjunction with Ca2+ signaling, is essential for salivary gland function, the identified cAMP-producing G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remains limited. Here, we report the presence of cAMP-producing adenosine receptors in salivary gland cells. By reanalyzing publicly available single-cell transcriptome datasets of human and mouse submandibular glands, we identified mRNA expression of adenosine A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors. Additionally, we confirmed that 5’-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), an adenosine A2B receptor agonist, increases cAMP levels in human salivary gland cells, suggesting a physiological role for adenosine A2B receptors. Our findings enhance understanding of adenosine’s regulatory function in salivary glands and highlight new avenues for research on cAMPproducing adenosine receptors.

As part of the 2024 research initiative, “Investigation and Discovery of Prokaryotes in Freshwater Systems,” samples were collected from diverse freshwater habitats, including both water and soil environments. Approximately 2,000 bacterial strains were isolated as single colonies and identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Among these, 38 strains shared ≥98.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with those of known bacterial species not previously reported in Korea. These strains were thus categorized as newly recorded bacterial species in Korea. These 38 bacterial strains displayed significant phylogenetic diversities, spanning 2 phyla, 4 classes, 15 orders, 24 families, and 34 genera. These unrecorded species were classified into the following classes: Actinomycetia (with genera including Microcella, Conyzicola, Curtobacterium, Leucobacter, Microbacterium, Frigoribacterium, Lysinibacter, Streptomyces, Nonomuraea, Actinocorallia, Ruania, and Actinoplanes), Alphaproteobacteria (Paracoccus, Youngimonas, Loktanella, Corticibacterium, Neorhizobium, Onobrychidicola, Ferranicluibacter, Aureimonas, Asticcacaulis, and Novosphingobium), Betaproteobacteria (Rhodoferax, Rugamonas, and Cupriavidus), and Gammaproteobacteria (Rheinheimera, Shewanella, Kosakonia, Leclercia, Hafnia, Yersinia, Pseudomonas, Lysobacter, and Acinetobacter ). Further characterization included assessment of Gram reaction, colony and cell morphology, biochemical properties, and phylogenetic relationships. This report presents detailed phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of these bacterial species.

This study investigates the factors influencing the seed longevity of Quercus myrsinifolia, a species with recalcitrant seeds highly sensitive to desiccation and freezing. The effects of moisture content, seed collection date, and storage methods on seed viability were analyzed using exponential decay modeling. Interactions between these factors were also explored to refine conservation strategies. Seeds with moisture content above 40% demonstrated a predicted seed longevity of 2.19 years, whereas those with moisture content below 30% had seed longevity of less than 1 year. Late-season seeds collected in November and December exhibited superior germination percentages and longer predicted seed longevity (1.32 years) compared to early-season seeds collected in September and October (<1 year). In seed weight, large seeds (2.0 g) showed longer predicted seed longevity about 1.5 times greater than that of small seeds (<1.2g). Storage methods significantly affected seed longevity, with refrigerator (4°C) with silica gel maintaining viability for 2–3 years, while seeds stored at room temperature (25°C) exhibited a seed longevity of less than 1 year. Silica gel was found to prevent seed deterioration due to over-desiccation, emphasizing the importance of balanced moisture regulation. Q. myrsinifolia seeds exhibited 𝑏 values ranging from 0.30 to 2.04, demonstrating a close relationship between decay constant, moisture content, storage conditions, and seed longevity. These findings provide critical insights into optimizing seed storage and propagation strategies for Q. myrsinifolia, contributing to its conservation and ecological restoration efforts.

The Pieris napi-complex in East Asia that comprises P. melete Ménétriés, 1857, P. dulcinea (Butler 1882), and P. nesis (Fruhstorfer 1909) has been taxonomically challenging to distinguish due to their similar appearances. In this study, P. nesis, typically found in central Japan, was discovered in the highlands on Jejudo Island, the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial COI gene to explore the relationship between P. dulcinea and P. nesis, and confirmed that P. nesis occurs in Korea. This paper provides the morphological characteristics of P. nesis compared to P. dulcinea, along with DNA data.

This study investigated the morphological characteristics and regional variations of leaves, flowers, and seeds of Quercus myrsinifolia Blume to understand its ecological adaptation and the effects of environmental factors. Samples were collected from Jinju, Hapcheon, and Sancheong, and nine leaf traits, six flower traits, and five seed traits were analyzed. Significant regional variations were observed, with Hapcheon exhibiting the largest leaf and flower sizes, while Sancheong showed the largest and heaviest seeds. Jinju recorded the smallest values for most traits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct regional groupings, with Hapcheon displaying intermediate traits, Sancheong larger traits, and Jinju smaller traits. Correlation analysis identified strong positive relationships between leaf length and width, seed length and weight, and the number of staminate flowers and catkin width, highlighting key indicators for growth. Climate factors such as temperature and precipitation significantly influenced morphological traits, with higher temperatures negatively affecting leaf and seed sizes, while precipitation showed a weak positive correlation with seed weight. Among soil factors, pH and magnesium content were closely related to morphological traits. pH exhibited a negative correlation with leaf length and petiole length, while magnesium showed a positive correlation with seed weight and leaf width. These findings underscore the significant role of environmental factors in morphological variation and provide valuable insights for developing regionally adaptive breeding strategies. These findings provide foundational data for developing region-specific breeding strategies and cultivars for Q. myrsinifolia, contributing to ecological management and climate change adaptation strategies.

The aggressive scaling of dynamic random-access memory capacitors has increased the need to maintain high capacitance despite the limited physical thickness of electrodes and dielectrics. This makes it essential to use high-k dielectric materials. TiO2 has a large dielectric constant, ranging from 30~75 in the anatase phase to 90~170 in rutile phase. However, it has significant leakage current due to low energy barriers for electron conduction, which is a critical drawback. Suppressing the leakage current while scaling to achieve an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) below 0.5 nm is necessary to control the influence of interlayers on capacitor performance. For this, Pt and Ru, with their high work function, can be used instead of a conventional TiN substrate to increase the Schottky barrier height. Additionally, forming rutile-TiO2 on RuO2 with excellent lattice compatibility by epitaxial growth can minimize leakage current. Furthermore, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) can be used to deposit a uniform thin film with high density and low defects at low temperatures, to reduce the impact of interfacial reactions on electrical properties at high temperatures. In this study, TiO2 was deposited using PEALD, using substrates of Pt and Ru treated with rapid thermal annealing at 500 and 600 °C, to compare structural, chemical, and electrical characteristics with reference to a TiN substrate. As a result, leakage current was suppressed to around 10-6 A/cm2 at 1 V, and an EOT at the 0.5 nm level was achieved.

Helicobacter pylori are known as a causative agent of gastritis, gastric duodenum and peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer, and multiple drug use is associated with various side effects in patients. The discovery of antibacterial substances against H. pylori from Korean resource plants is an important substitute for antibiotics. 52 species of Korean resource plants were collected and extracted with 50% ethanol, and antibacterial activity against H. pylori was measured using the disk diffusion method. The toxicity of plant extracts to human gastric adenocarcinoma(AGS) cells was measured by MTT assay, and the level of IL-8 secreted when gastric epithelial cells were inoculated with H. pylori was measured. As a result of measuring the antibacterial activity of H. pylori, antibacterial activity was confirmed in 38 plant extracts. The plant species with the strongest antibacterial activity were Chrysanthemum indicum, Rheum rhabarbarum, Patrinia scabiosaefolia and Petasites japonicus. C. indicum was not cytotoxic to H. pyroli-infected AGS cells and showed anti-inflammatory effects. This study's results can be used to develop healthy, functional foods and medical materials.

Light is a major external environmental factor that influences the circadian rhythm of photosynthetic organisms and various physiological phenomena, such as growth, maturation, and behavior. The number of light-reaching organisms changes depending on the season and atmospheric conditions, and the intensity and wavelength of light differ depending on the organisms inhabiting the environment. Altered light changes the circadian rhythm of fish, which is controlled by clock genes, such as period 2 (Per2), cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), and melatonin. In this study, we set the zeitgeber time (ZT; 14 light-10 dark, LD) based on the actual sunrise and sunset times and examined Per2 and Cry1 activities, levels of aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), and melatonin in Pholis nebulosa, a drifting seaweed species exposed to irregular light. Per2 and Cry1 levels increased during the daytime and decreased after sunset. The AANAT levels decreased during the daytime and increased during the night. Melatonin concentration was highest around midnight (ZT21, 23:30), but exhibited similar concentrations during the daytime. While the activity of Per2, Cry1, and AANAT levels exhibited a typical circadian rhythm observed in most vertebrates, melatonin concentrations did not show a significant difference between the daytime and nighttime. These findings provide insights into the circadian rhythm patterns of organisms exposed to irregular light environments, such as P. nebulosa, which differ from those of typical fish species.

기존의 사후경과시간(PMI) 추정 방법은 대략적인 사후경과시간의 추정, 사후 48~72시간 경과 또는 부패 시 추정 불가능이라는 문제가 발생하여 최근에는 법의곤충학(Medicolegal entomology)을 통한 최소 사후 경과시간 (PMImin) 추정이 더욱 강조되고 있다. 이로 인해 시식성파리의 발육 성장속도 파악은 시체의 최소 사후 경과시간 추정에 있어 효과적인 도구로 활용될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 곱슬털쉬파리(Parasarcophaga. similis)를 사육대상 종으로 선정하였다. P. similis는 부패한 시체를 섭식하는 시식성파리 중 하나로서, 발육 성장 속도에 따른 법곤충 학적(Forensic entomology) 최소 사후 경과시간을 추정하는 데 중요한 지표가 된다. 실험에 사용된 대상종의 경우, 경북 칠곡군 지천면 일대에서 6~9월경 야외쉬파리 채집하였고, 종 동정, 사육 및 증식, 예비 실험을 거친 후 본실험 을 진행하였다. 본실험은 산란 집단 케이지 내에서 산란 유도 후 12시간 간격으로 6개체를 샘플링하였고, 이를 Leica M125 Microscope (Leica Microsystems, Germany), EG-2HDNL(이지테크, Korea)로 이미지와 측정치를 확보 하였다. P. similis를 16~34°C 사이 7개의 온도 조건에서 성장 속도 측정을 3회 반복 실험하였으며, 곱슬털쉬파리의 최초 출현시점, 특정 온도 조건 별 발육 성장 속도 측정, 유충 몸길이 데이터, 이미지 자료, 표본 등을 확보하였다. 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34°C에서 P. similis의 알에서 성충까지의 발달 기간은 각각 822.0±5.9, 605.0±12.2, 442.3±9.4, 339.3±6.1, 289.3±7.5, 253.0±8.0, and 248.7±3.4h이 경과함을 확인하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 P. similis의 성장과정 데이터와 PMImin추정을 위한 지표로서 활용가능한 데이터를 제공한다.

본 연구는 우수한 꿀벌 신품종 육성을 위해 국립농업과학원에서 육성된 재래꿀벌 RX계통을 분양받아 ’23~’24 년까지 부안군 변산면에 위치한 전북농업기술원 잠사곤충시험장 양봉사에서 꿀벌세력, 수밀력, 질병저항성, 온순성, 질병발생, 월동능력을 한라벌 품종과 비교하여 조사하였다. 8~11월 RX계통의 꿀벌세력 감소는 3.9%로 한라벌 39.8% 대비 상대적으로 낮았고, 수밀력, 청소능력, 온순성은 유의적 차이가 없었다. 낭충봉아부패병 등 질병은 전북동물위생시험소에서 병성검정한 결과, 두 시험군 모두 항원이 검출되었으나 임상증상은 없었다. 그리고 월동 중 한라벌 품종은 폐사한 반면, RX계통은 모든 시험군이 월동에 성공하였고, 또한 월동전·후 먹이감 소량이 적어 월동능력이 우수한 것으로 판단하였다. 본 연구는 국립농업과학원 공동연구사업(PJ01504205)의 지원을 받아 수행하였다.

The chemical composition of 86 species of native plants in Korea, including plants to be afforestation, was analyzed. The chemical composition of the species analyzed was different. The species with the highest extractable content was Viburnum dilatatum (3.91%), and the species with the lowest extractable content was Ligustrum lucidum (0.11%). The lignin content ranged from 12 to 39%, with an average of 25%. The species with the highest lignin content was Chaenomeles lagenaria (39.37%). Hemicellulose content ranged from 18 to 52%, with the highest species being Thuja occidentalis (51.22%) and Eucommia ulmoides (48.84%). Cellulose content ranged from 25 to 58%, and the species with the highest content were Prunus serrulata (57.67%), Diospyros kaki (57.14%), Aesculus turbinata (53.29%), Albizia julibrissin (53.02%), and Zelkova serrata (52.29%). The chemical composition was different for each use taxon of 86 plant species. The lignin content was the highest in the fruit group and the lowest in the group other than recommended species for afforestation. Cellulose content was highest in non-reforestation-recommended tree species and lowest in fruit trees. In classification according to tree height, lignin content was higher in shrubs than in tall trees, and cellulose content was highest in tall trees. Between deciduous and evergreen trees, the lignin content was high in deciduous trees (26.46%), and the cellulose content was also high in deciduous trees (44.01%). As a result of analyzing the correlation between each compound, there was a difference. There tended to be a positive correlation between extractives and lignin content. There was a negative correlation between extractives and holocellulose content, hemicellulose and cellulose. The higher extract content affected the cellulose content much more than hemicellulose. Also, the higher the lignin content, the lower the cellulose content. The species with low lignin content and high cellulose content were Diospyros kaki and Prunus serrulata var. spontanea. This result is expected to be primary data for bioenergy, pulp industry and bioindustry.