The eco-friendly surface modification of textiles for deep digital textile printing by in-line atmospheric non-thermal plasma treatment

This study evaluated the potential application of an atmospheric plasma (AP) treatment as a pre-treatment for digital textile printing (DTP) of polyester (PET) fabrics and cotton, in order to determine its viability as an alternative to the usual chemical treatment. The surface properties of the AP-treated fabrics were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle, and the physical properties, such as electrostatic voltage and water absorbance, were tested. The properties of cotton and PET with the AP treatment were found to be dependent on number of repetitions and electric voltage. Although no remarkable surface differences were observed by SEM in the fabrics before and after treatment, the static contact angle of the PET after AP treatment was decreased from 85 ° to 24 ° at wave. In addition, the charge decay time decreased as the voltage and number of treatments increased. The absorption height of PET changed after exposure to 7 mm with increasing measurement time. The K/S with and without the AP pre-treated and DTP finished cotton was better than that with the usual chemical modification. In PET, the 0.5 kW and 1 time AP-treated specimen showed the highest K/S values.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of modified CaCO3 filled poly (ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposites

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/CaCO₃ and PET/modified-CaCO₃ (m-CaCO₃) nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending. The morphology indicated that m-CaCO₃ produced by reacting sodium oxalate and calcium chloride, was well dispersed in PET matrix and showed good interfacial interaction with PET compared to CaCO₃. No significant differences in the thermal properties such as, glass transition, melting and degradation temperatures, of the nanocomposites were observed. The thermal shrinkage of PET at 120 °C was 10.8 %, while those of PET/CaCO₃ and PET/m-CaCO₃ nanocomposites were 2.9–5.2 % and 1.2–2.8 %, respectively depending on filler content. The tensile strength of PET/CaCO₃ nanocomposite decreased with CaCO₃ loading, whereas that of PET/m-CaCO₃ nanocomposites at 0.5 wt% loading showed a 17 % improvement as compared to neat PET. The storage modulus at 120 °C increased from 1660 MPa for PET to 2350 MPa for PET/CaCO₃ nanocomposite at 3 wt% loading, and 3230 MPa for PET/m-CaCO₃ nanocomposite at 1 wt% loading.     

SWAT modeling of best management practices for Chungju dam watershed in South Korea under future climate change scenarios

Suitable and practicable best management practices (BMPs) need to be developed due to steadily increasing agricultural land development, intensified fertilization practices, and increased soil erosion and pollutant loads from cultivated areas. The soil and water assessment tool model was used to evaluate the present and future proper BMP scenarios for Chungju dam watershed (6,642 km²) of South Korea, which includes rice paddy and upland crop areas. The present (1981–2010) and future (2040s and 2080s) BMPs of streambank stabilization, building recharge structures, conservation tillage, and terrace and contour farming were examined individually in terms of reducing nonpoint source pollution loads by applying MIROC3.2 HiRes A1B and B1 scenarios. Streambank stabilization achieved the highest reductions in sediment and T-N, and slope terracing was a highly effective BMP for sediment and T-P removal in both present and future climate conditions.     

Prevalence and different characteristics of two serotypes of Streptococcus parauberis isolated from the farmed olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck and Schlegel), in Korea

The prevalence of two serotypes of Streptococcus parauberis isolated from the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, was evaluated in a total of 29 isolates between 2003 and 2010 in Korea. Streptococcus parauberis isolates were divided into two serologically distinct types (serotype 1 and serotype 2), except for one strain (S1091), using an agglutination assay with rabbit antiserum, and serotype 1 was identified as the dominant type (24 of 29 isolates) in this study. To identify the characteristics of the two serotypes of S. parauberis, we conducted a biochemical test using the API 20 Strep kit, a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assay, sequence analysis of 16S‐23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) and a pathogenicity test. In TEM, both serotypes possessed polysaccharide capsule layers around the cell surface when bacterial cells were treated with a homologous serotype of rabbit antiserum. However, we were unable to discriminate serotype‐specific biochemical characteristics and genetic characteristics of 16S‐23S rRNA ISR between the two serotypes. In the pathogenicity test, the serotype 1 strains induced significantly higher mortality than the serotype 2 strains in olive flounder when experimentally inoculated via the intraperitoneal route.     

Antioxidant activity of glyceollins derived from soybean elicited with Aspergillus sojae

The extract of soybean exposed to biotic elicitors such as food-grade fungus is known to have antioxidant activity. Glyceollins were major bioactive compounds present in soybean elicited by fungi and shown to have antifungal and anticancer activities. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of glyceollins by measuring ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, singlet oxygen quenching, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibition. In addition, the antioxidant potential of glyceollins were measured by a fluorescent probe, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA), and dihydroethidium (DHE) in mouse hepatoma hepa1c1c7 cells in which they were insulted with H2O2 to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glyceollins showed a strong reducing power and inhibited lipid peroxidation, with significant scavenging activities of radicals including singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, ABTS, and DPPH. We also found that glyceollins significantly suppressed H2O2-induced ROS production in hepa1c1c7 cells. Therefore, glyceollins deserve further study as natural antioxidants and nutraceuticals.     

The SRI (system of rice intensification) water management evaluation by SWAPP (SWAT–APEX Program) modeling in an agricultural watershed of South Korea

Paddy and Water Environment - In this study, a potential system for achieving rice intensification (SRI) water management in an agricultural watershed of South Korea was evaluated using the...     

Identification of quantitative trait loci and candidate genes controlling the tocopherol synthesis pathway in soybean (Glycine max)

A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and their candidate genes controlling the tocopherol (Toc) synthesis pathway. The RIL population was cultivated in field conditions in 3 years. A genetic map constructed using 1624 DNA markers was used for QTL analysis. We identified 22 QTLs for seed tocopherol contents and their ratios, of which two QTL clusters on chromosomes (Chr) 9 and 14 exerted consistent large effects on tocopherol composition across the 3 years. The QTL cluster localized on Chr 9 might correspond to γ-TMT3, which controls the conversion of γ-Toc into α-Toc. The QTL cluster localized on Chr 14 was novel, which might regulate the conversion of MPBQ (a precursor of δ-Toc) into DMPBQ (the precursor of γ-Toc). The effect of the QTL cluster on Chr 14 was validated in a pair of near isogenic lines, and its candidate gene was mined. The identified QTLs and their candidate genes might be used in breeding programmes to improve α-Toc content in soybean seeds.     

In vitro neuronal and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capabilities for self-renewal and differentiation into cells with the phenotypes of bone, cartilage, neurons and fat cells. These features of MSCs have attracted the attention of investigators for using MSCs for cell-based therapies to treat several human diseases. Because bone marrow-derived cells, which are a main source of MSCs, are not always acceptable due to a significant drop in their cell number and proliferative/differentiation capacity with age, human umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are good substitutes for BMCs due to the immaturity of newborn cells. Although the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells from UCB has been well established, the isolation and characterization of MSCs from UCB still need to be established and evaluated. In this study, we isolated and characterized MSCs. UCB-derived mononuclear cells, which gave rise to adherent cells, exhibited either an osteoclast or a mesenchymal-like phenotype. The attached cells with mesenchymal phenotypes displayed fibroblast-like morphologies, and they expressed mesenchym-related antigens (SH2 and vimentin) and periodic acid Schiff activity. Also, UCB-derived MSCs were able to transdifferentiate into bone and 2 types of neuronal cells, in vitro. Therefore, it is suggested that the MSCs from UCB might be a good alternative to bone marrow cells for transplantation or cell therapy.     

Effect of recombinant canine IFNγ on canine atopic dermatitis evaluated by clinical signs,histopathology and expression of Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNA

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is thought to be caused by immunologic abnormalities expressed as a Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance in both humans and dogs. Several studies have focused on the therapeutic effects of IFNγ in human AD with successful results; however, the mechanism of action of IFNγ is not fully understood. We investigated the effect of recombinant canine interferon gamma (rCaIFNγ) on 10 dogs with AD and evaluated the ratio of IL‐4 mRNA to IFNγ mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, serum total IgE levels, and histological changes in skin. After six injections of rCaIFNγ over a span of 2 weeks, seven of the 10 dogs showed improvement, and six of these seven dogs exhibited decreased IL‐4:IFNγ mRNA ratios. Two of the three cases that did not improve had increased IL‐4:IFNγ mRNA ratios. Total serum IgE levels were significantly decreased in nine of 10 cases. The number of IgE‐positive cells detected by immunostaining and the number of mast cells in skin biopsy samples were decreased. A reduction of epidermal cell layers was demonstrated by histopathology after treatment. These results demonstrated that rCaIFNγ may be a novel safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of canine AD, and the mechanism of action of rCaIFNγ may be related to the modulation of Th2 cytokines to Th1 cytokines with the reduction of serum IgE production. Funding: Self‐funded.