Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis (family Salmonidae), cold freshwater fish, is endemic to Asia. This species is currently distributed throughout Russia, Mongolia, China and the Korean Peninsula. B. lenok tsinlingensis in South Korea was severely affected by anthropogenic activities such as habitat destruction, agricultural run-off and water pollution, and hence this fish has recently been dramatically decreased in its population sizes and become now critically endangered. To recover the number of individuals of B. lenok tsinlingensis, stocking or translocation programs have been conducted continuously by local governments since 1970s. However, these programs made little effort to clarify populations that may have originated from stocked, translocated or introduced fish. An understanding of genetic characteristics of endangered populations is critical to develop effective conservation and restoration plans especially because genetic diversity ensues their future fate. Therefore, we assessed the “conservation status” of this species by estimating the level of genetic diversity and genetic structure among ten geographic populations including restored populations via reinforcement and supplementation. Also, we aimed to trace the genetic origins of the newly translocated population (Chiak) through a restoration practice program. Moreover, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships among Korean lenok populations as well as across the Northeast Asia. Two hundred eighteen individuals of B. lenok tsinlingensis were sampled from ten localities (Yanggu, Injae, Seorak, Bangtae and Hongcheon: North Han River basin; Pyeongchang, Chiak and Jeongseon: South Han River basin; Taebaek and Bonghwa: Nakdong River basin in South Korea). Based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and eight nuclear microsatellite loci, we found extremely low levels of within-population genetic diversity, which suggests small effective population sizes (Ne) within populations. For mtDNA control region, each population housed one, or at most, two haplotypes that are restricted to the respective localities, meaning that these ‘genetically unique’ lineages will be lost permanently if the local populations undergo extinction. The overall values of haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π) for the entire Korean population were 0.703 ± 0.024 and 0.021 ± 0.010, respectively. In the case of microsatellites, average number of alleles across the eight loci for the entire population was 9.1 and allelic richness (AR) per population ranged from 2.375 to 4.144 (mean = 3.104). The values of observed heterozygosity (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE) were similar to each other [HO: 0.400 ~ 0.590 (mean = 0.518); HE: 0.407 ~ 0.608 (mean = 0.504)]. The inbreeding coefficient (FIS) values were generally low, ranging from 0.048 to 0.279. Consequently, the majority of the populations (except Yanggu and Pyeongchang) were not significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), suggesting random mating at these loci tested. In addition, we found that Korean lenok populations were significantly genetically isolated from each other, with private mtDNA haplotypes and microsatellite alleles, indicating limited gene flow among populations, strong effects of genetic drift due to small Ne, or a combination of both. The Mantel test of microsatellites revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.414, P = 0.04) between genetic and geographic distances for pairwise comparisons among the ten populations, while that of mtDNA showed a lack of correlation. Given the shared identical mtDNA haplotype and similar microsatellite allelic distributions between Chiak and Hongcheon populations, we suggest that the restored (introduced) Chiak population would be inferred to be genetically originated from Hongcheon population. Phylogenetic relationships among Northeast Asian populations showed that South Korean lineages have more recently diverged from China (Yellow River), than between North Korea and Russia. Although the phylogenetic relationship would be expected to be associated with geography, South-North Korea and China populations with a similar latitude was more phylogenetically closely related. These findings may suggest a possible scenario for the historical movements of B. lenok tsinlingensis in Northeast Asia during Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). It would be supported by the line of evidence that most lenok populations migrated to southward from Northern Asia such as Russia and Mongolia during LGM because the Korean Peninsula was landlocked as inland epoch and functioned as a southern shelter with Yellow River. For this reason, the Korean Peninsula is suggested to be an important geographical region for better understanding phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary histories of B. lenok tsinlingensis across the Northeast Asia. Despite large efforts made to develop several restoration programs in South Korea for B. lenok tsinlingensis, it is still unknown whether these past restoration efforts were successful or fruitless, mainly because of little attention paid to post-restoration monitoring research. Hence, there was a lack of their published official records. In the future, conservation and restoration projects of the Korean lenok populations should consider the genetic data for a better understanding of their ecological and evolutionary trajectories. And finally, we hope that our findings here can help inform on the future effective conservation and restoration plans for B. lenok tsinlingensis populatio ns in South Korea.

We use light-curve fitting models (MLCS2k2, SALT2, and SNooPy) as implemented in SNANA to make the YOnsei Nearby Supernova Evolution Investigation (YONSEI) Supernova Catalogue. The catalogue consists of several hundred Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) in the redshift range from 0.01 to 1.35, and provides distance moduli, light-curve shape parameters, and color or extinction values for each supernova. This data set will be used to study the dependence of SNe Ia luminosities on the host galaxy morphologies. In this paper, we present the YONSEI Supernova Catalogue and preliminary systematic tests for the catalogue.

Probles is apredominantly Holarctic genus with about 44 species in the Palearctic region (Yu et al. 2012). Palearctic fauna of Probles is rather irregularly studied: West European species were revised by Horstmann (1971, 1981; Horstmann and Kolarov 1988), and Palearctic species of five small subgenera, Microdiaparsis Horstmann, Probles s. str., Rhynchoprobles Horstmann, and Rugodiaparsis Horstmann, were reviewed by Khalaim (2003), whereas the most species rich subgenus, Euporizon Horstmann, is virtually unknown outside Europe. Only two species of Euporizon, P. (E.) sibirica Khalaim, 2007 from Mongolia and Russian Siberia and P. (E.) vulnifica Khalaim & Sheng, 2009 from the Palearctic part of China, are known to occur in the East Palearctic region, and one Oriental species, P. (E.) vietnamica Khalaim, 2011, was recently described from Vietnam (Khalaim, 2011; Khalaim and Sheng 2009). Some species of Probles were recorded as parasitoids of the beetle families Ciidae, Curculionidae, Endomycidae, and Melandryidae in Europe (Horstmann 1971, 1981). In this paper, we describe three closely related new species of Euporzon belonging to one species-group. Three closely related species of the genus Probles Förster, P. fulgida sp. n., P. korusa sp. n., and P. rukora sp. n. differ from other Palearctic species of the genus based on a combination of long and weakly sinuate apically ovipositor and short temple. A portion of the key for identification of this species-group is provided here.

In this study, PtRu nanoparticles deposited on binary carbon supports were developed for use in direct methanol fuel cells using carbon blacks (CBs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The particle sizes and morphological structures of the catalysts were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the PtRu loading content was determined using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrocatalytic characteristics for methanol oxidation were evaluated by means of cyclic voltammetry with 1 M CH3OHin a 0.5 MH2SO4 solution as the electrolyte. The PtRu particle sizes and the loading level were found to be dependent on the mixing ratio of the two carbon materials. The electroactivity of the catalysts increased with an increasing MWCNT content, reaching a maximum at 30% MWCNTs, and subsequently decreased. This was attributed to the introduction of MWCNTs as a secondary support, which provided a highly accessible surface area and caused morphological changes in the carbon supports. Consequently, the PtRu nanoparticles deposited on the binary support exhibited better performance than those deposited on the single support, and the best performance was obtained when the mass ratio of CBs to MWCNTs was 70:30.

Three acetylcholinesterases (ACEs) were identified from the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and named BxACE-1, BxACE-2, and BxACE-3. Sequence comparison with known ACEs in conjunction with three-dimensional structure analysis suggested that all BxACEs share typical characteristics of ACE but show some differences in the peripheral anionic site. BgACE-3 was most predominantly transcribed, followed by ACE-1 and ACE-2. Immunohistochemistry using anti-BxACEs antibodies revealed that BxACE-1 is most widely distributed whereas BxACE-2 exhibits more localized distribution in neuronal tissues. BxACE-3 was detected from entire body together with some limited tissues, and determined to be soluble. Kinetic analysis of in vitro expressed BxACEs revealed that BxACE-1 has the highest substrate specificity whereas BxACE-2 has the highest catalytic efficiency with BxACE-3 having the lowest catalytic efficiency. Interestingly, presence of BxACE-3 in the pool of BxACEs significantly reduced the inhibition of BxACE-1 and BxACE-2 by inhibitors. Knockout of BxACE-3 by RNAi significantly increased the toxicity of nematicides, supporting the protective role of BxACE-3 against these toxicants. Taken together, BxACE-1 appears to be the major ACE with the function of postsynaptic transmission whereas BxACE-3 has been evolved to acquire the function of chemical defense. BxACE-2 appears to play a role in post-synaptic transmission in specialized neurons.

본 연구에서는 심지층 처분장 부지선정 시에 고려되는 요소를 지질, 수리지질, 지화학 등으로 분류하고 그 첫 번째 단계로 지질분야의 세부 항목을 지형, 토양층, 암종, 구조지질, 역학적 안정성, 지질학적사건으로 분류하였으며, 이들 항목에 대한 국외 기준분석을 수행하였다. 부지선정요소(Siting factor)에 대한 기준(Criteria)은 각 국가의 처한 지질환경에 따라 다른 조건혹은 값을 제시하고 있다. 화산 및 지진활동이 빈번한 일본에서는 이에 대한 기준을 상대적으로 자세히 기술하고 있으며, 빙하작용이 예상되는 스웨덴에서는 빙하작용에 의한 지반 융기·침식에 대한 영향을 상세히 분석하였다. 따라서, 본 논문 결과는 향후 국내의 심지층 처분장 부지선정 기준 수립시에 중요한 참고자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Bovine brucellosis causes abortion and infertility. The authors conducted this study in order to determine pathological lesions of Korean native cows and fetuses who received experimental vaccination with Brucella abortus RB51 and were challenged with Brucella abortus 2308. Gross and histopathological lesions in endometrium and placenta were observed in cows of the vaccinated group. Twenty-five percent of pregnant cattle in the vaccinated group showed endometritis and placentitis, which was three times lower, compared with the non-vaccinated group. The pathological lesions in the uterus and placenta in both groups were consistent with previous reports. Therefore, vaccination in heifers using Brucella abortus RB51 may not provide adequate protection against infection with Brucella abortus virulent strain.

Since embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were first established from explant cultures of in vivo day 3.5 mouse embryos, the establishment of ESCs from species such as primates and rat has been developed. However, this success relies on the development of culture medium suitable for human and rat cells, which has different requirements from the murine ESC. In general, the establishment of ESC from pig and cow is of great interest both the agricultural perspective and for biomedical application. Large animal models, particularly pig, are likely to provide models of human genetic diseases and transplantation research where rodent models are inappropriate. However, establishment of ESCs establishment from pigs has remained an elusive goal. In the present study, we focused on signaling transduction regulation in pig epiblast stem cells (pEpiSCs). Pig epiblasts were isolated from early tubular stage embryos collected in vivo day 10.5～12 after insemination. Epiblasts were separated from trophoblast and underlying primitive endoderm using 21G needles and fine forceps. Epiblasts were cultured on mitomycin C (10 μl/ml) treated mouse embryonic feeder cells in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) containing 1% minimal essential medium (MEM) nonessential amino acids, 1% penicillin/ streptomycin, 1% glutamine, 0.007% β-mercaptoethanol, 5 ng/ml bFGF and 1 ng/ml LIF. After plating rapid differentiation of isolated epiblasts to extraembryonic cell types was visualized in most cultures but stem cells were enclosed by these differentiated cells. We have established seven pig epiblast stem cells lines (pEpiSC1-7) from Days 10.5–12 pig embryos. pEpiSC expressed the pluripotent markers including OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 and NODAL at 3-5 passage. In addition, the modification of culture condition by the inclusion of particular protein kinase inhibitor such as Akt inhibitor, PD0325091(PD), delyed rapid differentiation of pEpiSCs. These results showed that stemness of pEpiSCs can be maintained by regulation of signaling pathway. * This work was partly supported by a grant from the NPR (2011-0013703) and the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ008209), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.