To provide a basis for studying the pharmacological actions of tetracaine HCl, we analyzed the membrane activities of this local anesthetic. The n-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic and palmitic acid (n-AS) probes (n = 2, 6, 9, 12 and 16) have been used previously to examine fluorescence polarization gradients. These probes can report the environment at a graded series of depths from the surface to the center of the membrane bilayer structure. In a dosedependent manner, tetracaine HCl decreased the anisotropies of 6-AS, 9-AS, 12-AS and 16-AP in the hydrocarbon interior of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles isolated from bovine cerebral cortex (SPMV), and liposomes derived from total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. However, this compound increased the anisotropy of 2-AS at the membrane interface. The magnitude of the membrane rotational mobility reflects the carbon atom numbers of the phospholipids comprising SPMV, SPMVTL and SPMVPL and was in the order of the 16, 12, 9, 6, and 2 positions of the aliphatic chains. The sensitivity of the effects of tetracaine HCl on the rotational mobility of the hydrocarbon interior or surface region was dependent on the carbon atom numbers in the descending order 16-AP, 12-AS, 9-AS, 6-AS and 2-AS and on whether neuronal or model membranes were involved in the descending order SPMV, SPMVPL and SPMVTL.

A noble method was developed for determining indoor greenery ratio through a digital camera and image analysis. Photographs with 10 different exposure compensations level were taken at indoor room using the function of “Partial color (green)” in a digital camera under varied indoor light conditions. RGB photographs were converted into Lab mode using [Image/Mode] function of Photoshop software program. The number of green pixels were calculated within 1 to 127 level (equivalent to -127 to -1 of Hunter a* value) through “Channel a” in [Histogram] function of the software. Greenery ratio was calculated by maximum green pixel number of an exposure compensation in relation to total pixel number, as maximum green pixels number would be obtained under a certain exposure compensation level when it minimizes achromatic color by partially excessive lower or higher light condition within certain area of photograph. When greenery ratio obtained from this method was compared with general greenery calculation of green area through manual selection, coefficient of determination was 0.9852, indicating appropriate greenery ratio estimating method. When applied to vertical planter of veranda and office, greenery ratio varied at 0.53～14.96%. In our experimental condition, error of the function, “Partial color” by the digital camera was within 0.013, while the error of the function, “Channel a” by the software was within 0.005.

This study was conducted to analyze the muscle activity in the right forearm and shoulderwhile doing the sowing activity by muscle type and work section, and to find the possibility of the utilization of sowing as a muscle exercise and rehabilitative activity based on the results of the analysis. The results showed that the activity of 7 muscles including the upper trapezius near the neck, the upper trapezius near the shoulder, the middle deltoid, the biceps brachii, the triceps brachii, the brachioradialis, and the flexor carpi ulnaris were significantly higher than the stable state. In addition, the muscle activity in the sections of mixing the soil, filling the tray with the soil, sowing, writing the label, and watering was significantly higher than the stable state. In particular, the muscle activity of the biceps brachii and the triceps brachii was statistically significantly high in the section of filling the tray with the soil, which indicates that the task of filling the tray with the soil can be utilized as an exercise to activate the biceps brachii and the triceps brachii. In addition, the muscle activity of the brachioradialis was significantly high in all the work sections, which indicates that the sowing process can be utilized to exercise the brachioradialis in particular. These results can be used as the basic data about the activated muscle types and degrees throughout the sowing process. These results can be also used to induce the activation of specific muscles, and the overall exercise and rehabilitation of the forearms.

This study was conducted in order to examine the effects of horticultural activities and flower tea drinking based on reminiscent storytelling on demented elders’ cognitive and emotional functions. For these an purposes, the program was executed 35 elders divided four groups at the elders institutionalized at B Facility through 10 sessions during the period from 10 March to 14 July in 2015. As a result first, in the test of pretreatment homogeneity among the groups, no significant difference was observed among the four groups, so they were considered homogeneous. As to difference between before and after the program, cognitive functions were improved significantly after the treatment in the experimental group with both horticultural activities and flower tea drinking (p=.039). Among the emotional functions, self‐esteem was significantly different in the experimental group with only horticultural activities (p=.040), the experimental group with only flower tea drinking (p=.005), and the experimental group with both horticultural activities and flower tea drinking (p=.024). Life satisfaction was significantly different only in the experimental group with both horticultural activities and flower tea drinking (p=.005). Ego integrity was significantly different in the experimental group with only horticultural activities (p=.011) and the experimental group with both horticultural activities and flower tea drinking (p=.005). Therefore, the experimental group with both horticultural activities and flower tea drinking were improved significant that all the items of cognitive and emotional functions.

Asterales are dicotyledonous flowering plants and are one of the Asterid clade, incuding many species as well as Codonopsis and Platycodon. Here, we have determined the complete chloroplast genome sequences of C. lanceolata and P. grandiflorus by using the targeted denovo assembly method of short reads derived from whole genome resequencing. The total lengths of each chloroplast genome sequence are 156,180 bp for C. lanceolata and 155,453 bp for P. grandiflorus. In their chloroplast genomes, 106 genes (75 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA genes, 23 tRNA genes, and 4 hypothetical chloroplast open reading frames [ycfs]) exhibited the relatively similar positions. Also, 7 protein-coding genes commonly showed to contain introns in both C. lanceolata and P. grandiflorus chloroplast genome, while psaA gene contain intragenic regions only in P. grandiflorus chloroplast genome. In further analysis, we identified the codon usage bias to A or T and found the different simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci of each chloroplast genome (18 SSR loci of C. lanceolata and 16 SSR loci of P. grandiflorus). In the phylogenetic trees based on 72 protein-coding genes, C. lanceolata is more closely related to P. grandiflorus than the other plant species order Asterales. Also, we found the highest sequence diversities of 12 protein-coding genes in small single copy (SSC) region than in the inverted repeat (IRs) and large single copy (LSC) region, and 3 genes such as rpoC2 (LSC region), ndhB (IRs region), and ndhF (SSC region) showed the highest number of segregating sites in each region. Additionally, we developed the molecular markers for phylogenetic applications of C. lanceolata and P. grandiflorus chloroplast genome.

The correct development of male gametophytes (pollen grains) in flowering plants is essential for proliferate in gamete production. Here we have taken a map-based cloning approach using Arabidopsis male gametophytic mutant, named gemini pollen3 (gem3) to identify and characterize key gene that is expressed gametophytically for the completion of microgametogenesis focusing on genes which control cell division and cell fate determination. Previously reported gem1 and gem2 mutants with similar characteristics to gem3 that are disturbed at asymmetric division and cytokinesis at pollen mitosis I (PMI) in Arabidopsis. However, gem3 was mapped to a different genetic locus, and pollen developmental analysis revealed that gem3 exert an effect at meiosis and mitosis causing complete sterility. We also discovered that gem3 homozygous lines produce aberrant pollen grains, arising from incomplete cytokinesis during male meiosis with sporophytic phenotypes of twisted-shape leaves, large flowers. This mutation shows reduced genetic transmission of gem3 allele through male gametophyte. In previous results, the gem3 locus was confirmed by mapping to the region located on chromosome 5. To further confirm strong candidate gene, we performed sequencing and genetic complementation analysis. Currently, we are performing functional studies of the gem3 gene for the better understanding of molecular mechanisms that control asymmetric division at meiosis and mitosis during pollen development.

The metalloid arsenic (As) and the hevy metal cadmium (Cd) are ubiquitously found at low concentrations in the earth, while high concentrations of the both elements in soil and crop are severe dangerous to human health. We have tried to retrieve RING E3 ligase gene, which is believed to regulate substrate proteins in As or Cd uptake via ubiquitin 26S proteasome pathway, related to inhibit metal ion transport system. A total of 48 rice RING E3 ligases were randomly selected and then conducted semi-quantitative RT-PCR for their expression patterns as exposed to As and Cd treatments. We discovered one gene, Oryza sativa heavy metal induced RING E3 ligase 1 (OsHIR1) that was significantly up-regulated against both treatments. A total of 31 positive interaction clones with OsHIR1 were screened depending on their strong α-galactosidase activity via yeast-two hybrid screen. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis evidenced that the OsHIR1 protein was clearly interacted with each of six partner protein including aquaporin tonoplast intrinsic protein 4;1 (OsTIP4;1) in the plasma membrane. Protein degradation assay showed that OsHIR1 strongly degraded the protein level of OsTIP4;1 via ubiquitin 26S proteasome system. Heterogeneous overexpression of OsHIR1 in Arabidopsis showed As- and Cd-insensitive phenotype. In addition, the transgenic plant showed low levels of As and Cd accumulation than the control plant in leaf and root. Here, we report the novel finding that OsHIR1 E3 ligase positively regulates OsTIP4;1 related to As and Cd uptake.

Somatic embryogenesis is a process where a plant or embryo is derived from a single somatic cell or group of somatic cells. Application of this process include: clonal propagation of genetically uniform plant material; elimination of viruses; provision if source tissue for genetic transformation; generation of whole plants from single cells called protoplasts; development of synthetic seed technology. In this study tissue culture was carried out for mass propagation of cassava using somatic embryogenesis. For tissue culture set up, we used cassava variety (“Rayong5”, “Rayong7”, “Rayong9”, “Rayong11”) developed in Rayong Field Crop Research Center(RYFCRC). In induction of callus step, the callus formed from each cassava variety. “Rayong 7“ showed the highest induction rate of 95%, while induction rate of other varies were ranged from 50% to 85%. In the case of weight of callus ”Rayong5“ has the highest weight. Results in the present study would be useful in mass propagation of cassava by somatic embryogenesis.

Plants are known to have homeostatic cellular mechanisms to control the concentration of heavy metal inside the cell. We tried to retrieve rice RING finger protein genes, which are believed to regulate substrates via ubiqitinations, related to metal ions detoxification mechanisms. A total of 48 rice RING finger proteins were randomly selected and then examined for their expression patterns as exposed to cadmium and arsenic treatments. We discovered a RING finger protein gene that was significant up-regulated against both treatments and then named Oryza sativa heavy metal induced 1 (OsHMI1). We tested subsequently OsHMI1 expression patterns against to salinity, dehydration, cold, heat stress and phytohormones treatments. In addition, we evaluated its subcellular localization and determined E3 ligase activity. The interaction partner proteins were screened via yeast-two hybridization. These results might shed further light on the understanding of homeostatic cellular mechanisms to control heavy metal detoxification via protein degradation in plants.

In order to produce the organic foods in accord with international standard, organic seeds should be used in organic farming. This study was conducted to establish the stable production of organic seed of waxy corn by examining the growing characteristics, seed yield, and the economy for seed production by organic farming. The optimal sowing timing for organic seed production of waxy corn hybrid was within 10 days of the 1st of May with yield of 88~90% of conventional seed production. The optimal planting density was 41,600 plants/ha (80×30 cm) for organic seed production of waxy corn. The weight of 100 seeds and seed productivity increased at the planting ratio of 2:1 mother plant:male plant. Growth and seed production were improved by removing male plant at 7~10 days after silking. Organic fertilizer (mixed oil cake) was applied at a rate of 4~6 Mg/ha before sowing. Black plastic mulching was used for weed control. In addition, sex pheromone trap and bio-control agents were used for safe pest control and low labour cost.