Pathogenesis of type 1 (European genotype) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in male gonads of infected boar

The objective of this study was to determine the pathogenesis of experimental infection with a type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by defining the sites of viral replication and apoptosis in male gonads from infected boars for a period of 21 days after intranasal inoculation. Microscopically, hypospermatogenesis and abundant germ cell depletion and death were observed in the testes. Such germ cell death occurs by apoptosis, as determined by a characteristic histological patterns and evidence of massive DNA fragment detected in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) reaction. PRRSV was detected in the testicular tissue of infected boars only. Viral nucleic acid was localized in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids but not in the vesicular and bulbourethral gland. In serial sections, PRRSV-positive cells did not co-localized with apoptotic cells. TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were more numerous than PRRSV-positive cells in testicular sections. The present study demonstrated that type 1 PRRSV infects the spermatogonia and their progeny, and induces apoptosis in these germ cells.     

Association of antioxidant vitamins and oxidative stress levels in pregnancy with infant growth during the first year of life

OBJECTIVE: Whereas there are numerous reports in the literature relating the impact of maternal nutritional status on subsequent birth outcome, much less is known about the long-term impact on infant growth after birth. Therefore, we conducted a prospective cohort study to investigate the association of maternal micronutrient status (vitamins A, C and E, folate) and oxidative stress status in pregnancy with infant growth during the first year of life. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic of obstetrics, Ewha Womans University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.Subjects and methodsTwo groups were constructed for this study - the Ewha pregnancy cohort (n = 677) and the infant growth cohort comprising follow-up live newborns of all the recruited pregnant women (n = 317). Maternal serum vitamin and urinary oxidative stress levels were collected and infant weights and heights were measured at birth and at 6 and 12 months after birth. RESULTS: Division of the subjects into folate-deficient and normal groups revealed that infant weight and height at 0, 6 and 12 months were adversely affected by folate deficiency. High maternal vitamin C was associated with increased infant weight and height at birth and after birth.ConclusionOur findings indicate the importance of preventing folate deficiency and supplementing vitamin C during pregnancy.     

Estimation and Mapping of Nitrogen Uptake by Forest in South Korea

Regional air pollution in northeast Asia is an emerging environmental problem requiring long-term impact assessment of acidic deposition. In this study, the gridded distribution of nitrogen uptake led by both growing forests and harvested biomass for eight tree species: Japanese Larch, Red pine, Korean pine, Oak tree, Chestnut, Other Conifers, Other broad leaved trees, and Mixed forest was identified to estimate critical loads for nitrogen over South Korea. The gridded spatial distribution of averaged nitrogen uptake was mapped by 0.125° Latitude × 0.125° Longitude resolution. The results showed that net uptake of nitrogen led by both growth and harvested biomass was totaled at 438 mol_c ha^?1 year^?1 among which harvested biomass contribution was estimated to be 25 mol_c ha^?1 year^?1, yielding a very small fraction of total nitrogen uptake presumably due to the younger stages of forest in South Korea.     

Miscibility of flame retardant epoxy resin with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the characterizations of the blends

Epoxy resin containing bromine compound was melt blended with PET to obtain flame retardant polymer. The blend product was characterized by DSC, SEM, intrinsic viscosity and melt index measurements. The reaction between the epoxy group of DGEBBA (diglycidyl ether of brominated bisphenol A) and the carboxyl (or hydroxyl) end group of PET led to cross-linking of PET chains, and the intrinsic viscosity and melt index (MI) were increased in the range of equivalent amount of epoxy resin (within 1 %). DSC data revealed that the epoxy resin was not located in the crystalline region but was appeared in the amorphous region of PET matrix. Good miscibility of epoxy resin resulted in the decrease of crystallization temperature and glass transition temperature of PET. The blend was spun into fiber without any problems such as swelling or draw resonance, however, the mechanical properties were decreased as the amount of the DGEBBA was increased.     

Eco-dyeing and antimicrobial properties of chlorophyllin copper complex extracted from Sasa veitchii

Cotton fabrics were dyed with the natural chlorophyll derivates (chlorophyllin, Chlin) after treatment with and without chitosan. The water-soluble Chlin extracted from Sasa veitchii based on Japanese bamboo leaves were investigated in order to improve the textile coloration and antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of the dyed fabrics that had been pretreated with chitosan as a biomordant over a concentration range of 0∼0.7 % was tested against two common gram pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The color depth as measured by the K/S value, the color difference and the colorfastness to washing and light were also evaluated. The fabrics treated with chitosan resulted in an increase in dye uptake in all cases compared with the corresponding untreated fabrics, and did not affect fastness of washing and light. The cotton fabrics dyed with mordant and CuSO₄ extracts appeared to have over 99.9 % of antimicrobial activity, while MeOH extracts showed 71.8 %.     

Opuntia humifusa Partitioned Extracts Inhibit the Growth of U87MG Human Glioblastoma Cells

Opuntia humifusa, a member of the Cactaceae family widely distributed in the southern regions of the Korean peninsula, has potential bioactive functions and medicinal benefits. In the present study, we investigated the effect of hexane, ethyl acetate extracts and water partitioned fraction of O. humifusa on proliferation, G1 arrest and apoptosis in U87MG human glioblastoma cells. Glioblastoma cellular proliferation was evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, and the effects of O. humifusa partitioned extracts on cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results revealed that when U87MG cells were treated with hexane extracts and water partitioned fraction of O. humifusa, the number of viable cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, water partitioned fractions of O. humifusa induced G1 arrest and non-apoptotic cell death as well as significant increases in ROS production in U87MG cells. In conclusion, water partitioned fractions of O. humifusa induce G1 arrest and inhibit U87MG human glioblastoma cell proliferation.     

Endosperm-Specific Expression of Serotonin <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase in Rice

Serotonin N-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (SHT) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of feruloylserotonin (FS) and 4-coumaroylserotonin (CS). These serotonin derivatives show strong antioxidant activity, making them valuable for both nutritional and pharmacological use in humans. Ectopic expression of SHT under the control of the endosperm specific-glutelin and prolamin promoters from rice was produced via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. SHT expression was confirmed by Southern blot analysis, followed by Northern blotting and SHT enzyme activity analyses using total RNA and protein, respectively, extracted from transgenic seeds. The glutelin A3 (GluA3) promoter produced low SHT mRNA expression in rice seeds, whereas the prolamin promoter expressed high levels of SHT mRNA. In spite of the ectopic expression of SHT in rice seeds, both transgenic genotypes accumulated levels of serotonin derivatives similar to those found in wild-type rice. Furthermore, our data suggest that serotonin, rather than phenylpropanid-CoAs, is the rate-limiting substrate in the biosynthesis of serotonin derivatives in SHT-overexpressing transgenic rice seeds.     

Evaluation of the effects of climate change on forest watershed hydroecology using the RHESSys model: Seolmacheon catchment

Paddy and Water Environment - This study examines the effects of future climate changes on watershed hydroecology, including runoff, evapotranspiration, soil moisture content, gross primary...     

Application of the real fabric frictional speeds to the fabric sound analysis using water repellent fabrics

This study aims to determine fabric frictional speeds between the arm and the trunk when people walk (1.3 m/s), jog (2.5 m/s) and run (4.5 m/s), and to apply the measured speeds to setting a sound generator for each motion to obtain fabric rustling sounds. By analyzing body motions captured by the Falcon motion analysis system and a camcorder, it was identified that the friction between the arm and trunk occurred within 10° of shoulder angle along the center line of the trunk in the sagittal plane and the maximum frictional speed occurred at the elbow within the shoulder friction range. The averages (SDs) of maximum frictional speed at the elbow were found 0.63 m/s (0.17) at walking, 1.1 m/s (0.25) at jogging, and 1.98 m/s (0.35) at running. The frictional sounds of three coated nylon fabrics were obtained using these predetermined speeds. We calculated sound characteristics such as the sound pressure levels (SPL) and Zwicker’s psychoacoustic parameter using 1/3 octave band analysis. The SPL values ranged from 74.2 dB at running to 79.0 dB at jogging, which was about the same noise level as in the busy street. The values of loudness (Z) at walking and jogging were higher than that at running, but the fluctuation strength (Z) increased in the order of walking, jogging, and running.     

Antiproliferative Activity of Korean Wild Vegetables on Different Human Tumor Cell Lines

This study was conducted to determine the antiproliferative activity of 24 Korean wild vegetables. The methanol extracts of these wild vegetables were used against lung, breast, colon and gastric cancer cells, and the results were assessed by MTT assay. It was found that at the extract concentration of 400 mgL⁻¹ 14 plants exercised antiproliferative activity over 80% against the lung cancer cells, one plant among six—against breast cancer cells, and two plants among six—against colon cancer cells, respectively. Eighteen wild vegetables had the hyperplasia inhibition activity against gastric cancer cells over 23.6% at all extract concentrations, however, only six plants had the antiproliferative activity over 80% in 600 mgL⁻¹. It was found that the extracts from Youngia sonchifolia, Synurus deltoides, Syneilesis palmata, and Cephalonoplos segetum, in concentration of 400 mgL⁻¹ inhibited the hyperplasia of lung cancer cells over 95% and Angelica gigas—both lung and colon cancer cells over 95%. In conclusion, the studied wild vegetables’ methanol extracts possess dose dependent antiproliferative properties, based on their bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, but some of them as Hypericum ascyron against lung cancer are not effective and even course harm.