The yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), has long been used as a key study organism in many fundamental researches, including biochemistry, physiology, and behavior. Lifespan and reproduction are two of the most important components of fitness in all insects, but it remains largely unexplored how these two traits are influenced by macronutrient intake in this beetle. In this study, we used the nutritional geometry framework to analyze the complex and interactive effects of dietary protein and carbohydrate intake on lifespan and reproductive performance in T. molitor beetle. Lifespan and the number of eggs laid throughout the lifetime were quantified from more than 2,000 individual beetles provided with one of 35 chemically defined diets representing a full combination of seven protein-to-carbohydrate ratios (P:C= 0:1, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, or 1:0) and five protein plus carbohydrate concentrations (P+C=25.2, 33.6, 42, 50.4, or 58.8 %, dry mass). All measures of lifespan and egg production were expressed highly at high caloric intake, but they differed in the optimal P:C ratio where traits peaked. While lifespan was the longest at a moderately carbohydrate-biased P:C ratio of 1:1.36, the rate of egg production was maximized at a protein-biased P:C ratio of 1.75:1, suggesting a possible nutrient-mediated trade-off between lifespan and daily reproductive efforts in T. molitor beetles. Lifetime egg production was maximized at a P:C ratio of 1.31:1, which was still protein-biased but lower than that maximized egg production rate. Reproductive lifespan was the longest at a P:C ratio of 1:1.06. When given a food choice, T. molitor beetles preferred a P:C ratio of 1:1, which is closest to the ratio that enables T. molitor beetles to stay reproductively active as long as possible.

고대 중국에서 인간의 수명은 하늘로부터 받는 것으로서 태어나면서 정해진 수명이 있다는 운명론적 믿음이 보편적이었다. 본고에서는 꿈을 통해 예견되는 이야기들을 수록한 『몽점일지』｢수명편｣을 다루었다. 그 가운데 수명에 대한 운명론적 관념에 도 불구하고, 하늘로부터 받아 정해진 채로 타고난 수명이 인간 삶의 여러 요인으로 인해 바뀔 수 있다는 인식을 보여주는 이야기를 분석했다. 주요 작품 분석은 수명을 주고받은 이야기, 음덕을 쌓아 수명이 연장된 이야기, 그리고 고대 중국인들이 수명을 관장하는 신으로 여겼던 사명군과 함께 인간 생의 선악을 낱낱이 기록해 심판의 기준으로 삼은 생사부에 관한 이야기를 중심으로 진행하였다. 이 이야기들의 공통점 은 국가적 대의나 至孝, 至誠 등의 윤리적 가치, 선한 삶이야말로 정해진 수명도 바꿀 수 있다는 고대 중국인들의 가치를 담고 있다는 것이다. 이처럼 불로장생에 대한 인간의 욕망, 그리고 언제 다가올지 모르는 죽음에 대한 두려움을 인간 삶에 요구되는 윤리적 가치와 연계시킴으로서 善과 不善의 차이가 수명의 가감을 초래할 수 있다는 인식을 양산하게 되었다. 이러한 관념은 전통시기 중국에서 하나의 도덕률로 작용하여 실천적 삶의 기준이 되었음을 알 수 있다.

집박쥐 (Pipistrellus abramus)는 인간의 주거 지역을 중심으로 서식하는 대표적인 종으로, 우리나라에 광범위하게 분포하고 있다. 그러나 대부분의 박쥐류가 유사한 크기의 다른 포유동물보다 상대적으로 긴 수명을 가지는 것에 반하여 집박쥐는 매우 짧은 수명을 가지는 것으로 알려져 왔다. 지금까지 집박쥐의 장기 수명에 관한 내용으로는 암컷 5년, 수컷 3년의 확인 기록이 전부였다. 그러나 본 연구자들은 284개체에 대한 밴딩을 통하여 지금까지 알려진 집박쥐의 최대 수명보다 2배 이상 생존한 개체를 재포획 하였으며, 그 결과를 정리하였다. 집박쥐는 인간의 생활권과 가장 밀접한 종으로 서식지의 환경은 본 종의 수명에 직접적인 영향을 미친다고 볼 수 있다. 따라서 향후 서식지 환경에 따른 수명과의 연계성에 대한 연구가 이루어져야 할 것으로 판단되며, 본 자료는 집박쥐의 장기 생존과 수명에 관한 국내 첫 보고로써 향후 박쥐의 수명에 관한 기초 자료가 될 것으로 기대된다.

Diets influence lifespan and reproduction in insects, but little is known how temperature modulates the impacts of diet on these two key fitness components. Here we examined the interactive effects of temperature and nutrient balance on lifespan and egg production rate in Drosophila melanogaster. Newly emerged adult D. melanogaster were allowed to feed ad libitum on one of eight chemically defined diets differing in P:C ratio (1:16, 1:8, 1:4, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, or 8:1) under one of six ambient temperatures (13, 18, 23, 28, 31, or 33℃). For both males and females, lifespan was longest for D. melanogaster fed on P:C 1:16 diet at 13℃ and shortened as both temperature and P:C ratio increased. As indicated by a significant temperature-by-diet interaction for lifespan, the diet effects on lifespan were more pronounced at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures. Egg production rate was maximized on P:C 4:1 diet at 28℃.

The differences in adult lifetime among various silkworm strains has been suggested that the adult lifetime may be genetically controlled. In this experiment, using J037 and Daizo strains we investigated genetic factors related to the adult lifetime of silkworm. We constructed the full-length cDNA library from the adult male of the J037 strain. A total of 2,688 clones were randomly selected, and we performed a differential display hybridization with cDNA probes generated from J037 and Daizo adult males. In conclusion, 193 clones were identified as differential expressed genes, and 154 unique genes were generated after the assembly of 193 clones. Of the 154 unique genes, the most abundant genes were cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 gene(9 times) and unknown(clone ID; 1-50) gene(5 times). The functional groups of these unique genes with matches in the AmiGo database were constructed according to their putative molecular functions. Among thirteen functional categories, the largest group was unclassified protein(24%). In addition, We analyzed the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the most highly occurred gene(1-50, EF434397), which consisted of 240 amino acids. However, it is confirmed yet that these genes really have an affected on the silkworms longevity.

Phytoncides are volatile substances diffused largely from trees to protect themselves against harmful factors. Many people are attracted to forest bathing and the effects of forest bathing involve the effect of protecting human dermal cell against reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activation of immune function and the reduction of stress hormones. Since phytoncides are released to prevent plants from rotting or being eaten by animals, we expect that phytoncides have negative effects on insects. However, there is almost no study to show the effects of phytoncides of Chamaecyparis obtusa on insects so far. Therefore, we examined the effects of phytoncides on insects using fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Our results showed that the exposure to phytoncides scents reduced the lifespan of Drosophila in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, development rate, locomotion and fecundity of fruit flies were also decreased with phytoncides exposure. In food preference test, fruit flies and house flies showed strong avoidance behavior to the food containing phytoncides in a dose dependent manner. Overall, these results suggest the possibility of phytoncides as human-friendly insect repellent.

An assessment was made of beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme (BACE1) inhibitory, feeding, climbing activities and lifespan of the diarylalkyls curcumin (CCN), demethoxycurcumin (DCCN) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDCCN) identified in the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Based on IC50 values, BDCCN (0.024 mM) was the most inhibitory constituent, followed by DCCN (0.31 mM) and CCN (0.59 mM). Overall the three curcuminoids were significantly less inhibitory than BACE1 inhibitor IV isophthalamide (8.5 × 10-5 mM). The expression of human APP and BACE1 in compound eye of Drosophila melangaster presented rough abnormal ommatidial lattice. Co-expression of APP and BACE1 within the developing nervous system of drosophila showed climbing defects. These transgenic flies kept on media containing 1 mM of CCN and BDCCN were observed to ameliorate eye degeneration, significantly suppress locomotive dysfunctions, and increase media life time, as well as isophthalamide. CCN and BDCCN as human BACE1 inhibitory constituents may be used as potential therapeutics or lead molecules to develop Alzheimer's disease treatment drugs.

About 50,000 hives of Bombus terrestris are used for pollination of tomato and other economical crops (fruit vegetables and fruit trees) in Korea. Therefore this study was conducted to find out the effective use of B. terrestris and its economic effect in the major beefsteak-tomato cultivation areas from February to August in 2008. The pollinating activities, rate of bite-mark and lifespan of B. terrestris"s hive according to all beefsteak-tomato varieties (Super Momotaro, Zeus42, Mascara and Super Sunroad, 500 ㎡, 9,600～12,000plants) were apparent by regular supplement of pollen (5～6g/3 days) to the hive of B. terrestris. Especially, Super Momotaro and Super Sunroad variety were most distinctive in the effects by regular pollen supplement.

This paper applied a new methodology to estimate the generation rate of waste refrigerator using Population Balance Model as well as assigning Weibull Distribution Function as probability distribution function (PDF) of lifespan. In order to determine the generation rate of waste refrigerator, it is necessary to estimate yearly sales quantity of new refrigerator and lifespan PDF of refrigerator. The average lifespan of refrigerator is determined to be 16.8 years as a result of averaging the lifespans of 4,682 waste refrigerators. We also developed a methodology to calibrate the PDF of lifespan of waste refrigerator. The generation rate of waste refrigerator in 2014 is estimated to be 1,822,633 decreasing sharply with time. The new methodology developed here can be applied to estimate the generation rates of other e-wastes.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has been known for having strong anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic activities. The free radical theory of aging, also known as the oxidative stress theory of aging, claims that cellular oxidative damage accumulated with time is a major causal factor of aging. In the present study, we investigated the effect of buckwheat extracts on resistance to oxidative stress and aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Survival under an oxidative-stress condition induced by paraquat increased markedly following 500mg/L buckwheat extracts treatment, suggesting lower cellular oxidative damage by buckwheat extracts. A lifespan assay also revealed that treatment of buckwheat extracts significantly extended both the mean and maximum lifespan in C. elegans. Interestingly, this lifespan-extension by buckwheat extracts was not accompanied by reduced fertility. These findings suggest that buckwheat extracts can confer longevity phenotype to C. elegans through its strong anti-oxidant activity and support the aging theory which emphasizes a pivotal role of oxidative stress during aging.

This study determined the ship replacement life expectancy from an economic perspective. There are many ambiguities in the cost for calculation of economic lifespan, and these were expressed as fuzzy numbers. Also, a fuzzy cost model using fuzzy numbers was developed and suggested as a more practical analysis method than the existing cost model. And the suggested fuzzy model was used to determine the economic lifespan for various types of container ships. As the result, Without fuzziness, the economic lifespan of 5000 TEU Ships was found to be 19 years. it was found that the greater the container ship, the greater the economic lifespan was.