Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in the Heavily Exploited Korean Rockfish,Sebastes schlegeli,in Korea

The Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, is a valuable and intensively exploited species in Korea. We discuss the genetic diversity and genetic structure of four Korean rockfish populations using eight microsatellite loci. In total, 161 different alleles from 138 individuals were observed. Average allele number per locus ranged from 2.5 to 23 and allelic richness varied from 13.38 to 14.63 within a population. Despite a long history of stocking practices, we found very high levels of polymorphism (mean heterozygosity = 0.810), which is comparable to other congeneric species. No significant difference in genetic diversity and molecular genetic variance (F_ST and R_ST) was observed among four local samples (P > 0.1). Little indication of contemporary inbreeding (F_IS= 0.051) or population structure (K = 1) was detected. This absence of differentiation may reflect high levels of gene flow along the coast of Korea. Our study demonstrates that rockfish in Korea should be managed as a single unit. Currently, the species does not appear to be genetically threatened, but the potential for a rapid loss of genetic diversity remains. This information on the genetic characteristics of Korean rockfish populations has important implications for fisheries management and conservation efforts, and will aid in the sustainable exploitation of the fishing resources and the preservation of biodiversity.     

Application of the rpoS gene for the detection of Vibrio anguillarum in flounder and prawn by polymerase chain reaction

Vibrio anguillarum , an opportunistic fish pathogen, is the main species responsible for vibriosis, a disease that affects feral and farmed fish and shellfish, and causes considerable economic losses in marine aquaculture. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect V. anguillarum . PCR specificity was evaluated by amplifying the rpoS gene, a general stress regulator, in six strains of V. anguillarum and 36 other bacterial species. PCR amplified a species-specific fragment (689 bp) from V. anguillarum . Furthermore, the PCR assay was sensitive enough to detect rpoS expression from 3 pg of genomic DNA , or from six colony-forming units (CFU) mL⁻¹ of cultured V. anguillarum . However, the assay was less sensitive when genomic DNA from the infected flounder and prawn was used (limit of detection, 50 ng and 10 ng g⁻¹ tissue, respectively). These data demonstrate that PCR amplification of the rpoS gene is a sensitive and species-specific method to detect V. anguillarum in practical situations.     

Review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eilema</Emphasis> group of lichen moths from South Korea,with description of one new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini)

This review details the Korean species of the Eilema group in the subfamily Arctiinae of Erebidae: 19 species in five genera (Manulea, Collita, Katha, Dolgoma, and Wittia), a new species (Collita hwacheonensis Bayarsaikhan & Bae, sp. nov.), and an unrecorded species [C. vetusta aegrota (Butler 1877)]. All species are diagnosed, and figures of the adults and genitalia and a key to species based on male genital structure of Eilema group in South Korea are included.     

Impact of Buckwheat Flavonoids on In Vitro Starch Digestibility and Noodle‐Making Properties

The effects of various buckwheat materials (buckwheat flour [BF], dietary fiber extract [DE], flavonoids extract [FE], and rutin‐enhanced flavonoids extract [REFE]) on starch digestibility and noodle‐making properties were evaluated. When FE and REFE were incorporated into noodles, the amount of rapidly digestible starch and the predicted glycemic index (pGI) were reduced. However, BF and DE did not significantly decrease the pGI value of noodles. When assessing noodle properties, hardness was increased with increasing content of buckwheat materials, whereas other texture parameters were not significantly affected by buckwheat addition. All noodles were similar in regard to water absorption and swelling index, but cooking loss was slightly increased in FE and REFE noodles. FE and REFE demonstrated higher flavonoid stability during noodle making and, additionally, were more effective at reducing starch digestibility than BF and DE. REFE, specifically, does not generate quercetin (the cause of a bitter taste), and, therefore, REFE was effective in suppressing the hydrolysis of starch in the noodles, lowering the pGI.     

Protective effect of butylated hydroxylanisole against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic phenolic compound consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds: 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. We examined the effect of BHA against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. Cell viability was significantly decreased by H₂O₂ in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, H₂O₂ treatment increased Bax, decreased Bcl-2, and promoted PARP-1 cleavage in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with BHA before exposure to H₂O₂ significantly attenuated the H₂O₂-induced decrease of cell viability. H₂O₂ exposure resulted in an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with BHA or N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC, an ROS scavenger). H₂O₂-induced decrease of cell viability was also attenuated by pretreatment with BHA and NAC. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced increase of Bax, decrease of Bcl-2, and PARP-1 cleavage was also inhibited by BHA. Taken together, results of this investigation demonstrated that BHA protects primary cultured mouse hepatocytes against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by inhibiting ROS generation.     

First discovery of a cave-dwelling Tineid moth （Lepidoptera,Tineidae） from East Asia

In this study, we report Monopis crocicapitella （Clemens, 1859） （Tineidae）, which was collected from bat guano in a cave in the southern region of Korea, for the first time from East Asia. We briefly redescribe and illustrate the external morphology and genital structures of both sexes. Also, we discuss the local habitat characteristics and some of the ecological information that was observed during our field investi-gation.     

Synthesis of Novel Thin-Film Materials by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a conceptually and experimentally simple yet highly versatile tool for thin-film and multilayer research. Its advantages for the film growth of oxides and other chemically complex materials include stoichiometric transfer, growth from an energetic beam, reactive deposition, and inherent simplicity for the growth of multilayered structures. With the use of PLD, artificially layered materials and metastable phases have been created and their properties varied by control of the layer thicknesses. In situ monitoring techniques have provided information about the role of energetic species in the formation of ultrahard phases and in the doping of semiconductors. Cluster-assembled nanocrystalline and composite films offer opportunities to control and produce new combinations of properties with PLD.