Improvement of water-stability of clay aggregates admixed with aqueous polymer soil stabilizers

Aqueous soil stabilizers improve soil properties. Water-stability of soil aggregates was determined using two different soil stabilizers: S-type and E-type. Various concentrations of the two soil stabilizers were tested in soil aggregates that were bigger than 5 mm but smaller than 10 mm. Testing the aggregates using the static water-measure method showed that the water-stability index, K, increased with the concentrations of soil stabilizers. S-type soil stabilizer in concentrations ranging between 20% and 40% resulted in K-values between 64.0% and 83.8%, and E-type polymer emulsions in concentrations between 3% and 7% resulted in K-values between 90.1% and 99.7% respectively. The soil aggregates admixed with water resulted in a K-value of 11.5%, which was tested as a control. Two aggregate collapse models were found and discussed based on the collapse characteristics of the modified aggregates: S-type soil stabilizer in low concentrations follows a gradual collapse pattern, while S-type stabilizer in high concentrations and E-type stabilizer in low concentrations follow an explosive collapse pattern. These patterns depend on the formation of a membrane structure on the surface of the aggregates through physicochemical bonding. By identifying the mechanisms of the membrane structure and calculating the K-values, significant information on the improvement of soil properties can be determined.     

Mice immune responses to Brucella abortus heat shock proteins. Use of baculovirus recombinant-expressing whole insect cells,purified Brucella abortus recombinant proteins,and a vaccinia virus recombinant as immunogens

Brucella abortus resists the microbicidal mechanisms of macrophages, and the expression of its heat shock proteins (HSPs) such as GroEL, GroES and HtrA may play a role in this resistance. Bacterial HSPs can be very immunogenic, inducing protective immunity in various types of bacterial infections. However, the significance of immune responses directed against B. abortus HSPs in the protection against brucellosis is currently unresolved. To elucidate the role of these proteins in protection against Brucella challenge, individual, divalent or trivalent baculovirus (BV) recombinants of B. abortus GroEL, GroES and/or HtrA were injected into BALB/c mice either as protein-expressing whole cells or as purified proteins. The preparations were given to mice in combination with Freund's or Ribi adjuvant, respectively. In addition, some mice were primed with a vaccinia virus-GroEL recombinant, followed by inoculation with purified GroEL-Ribi adjuvant combination. Antibodies were observed against B. abortus GroEL and HtrA, but not against GroES. Cellular immune response was demonstrated by observing significant IFN-gamma release by lymphocytes of mice immunized with the purified HtrA-Ribi adjuvant combination. However, none of the mice inoculated with individual, divalent or trivalent HSP-expressing cells combined with complete Freund's adjuvant or inoculated with purified B. abortus HSPs combined with Ribi adjuvant, were protected against challenge with B. abortus virulent strain 2308. Priming with vaccinia virus-GroEL recombinant and boosting with GroEL-Ribi combination did not induce protective immunity. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that although humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are induced, but protective immune response is not induced by B. abortus HSPs.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Productive efficiency of the sandfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arctoscopus japonicus</Emphasis> coastal gillnet fishery using stochastic frontier analysis

It is important to estimate the productive efficiencies of industries, especially the fishing industry, in order to determine policies that can improve business conditions. In this study, the productive efficiency of the sandfish coastal gillnet fishery on the east coast of Korea has been estimated using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). A translog production function wherein the inefficiency was represented by a truncated-normal distribution was established; the output variable was the trip production quantity, the input variables were physical production factors directly related to the fishing activities of vessels, such as tonnage, horsepower, and the number of employed fishers. The average productive efficiency of the sample was 0.59 [0.40–0.79], which implied that productive inefficiency occurs in sandfish coastal gillnet vessels. Moreover, it was verified that there are no differences among the average productive efficiencies of fishing vessels of different tonnages.     

Epidemiological investigation of equine hindlimb ataxia with Setaria digitata in South Korea

BackgroundSince 2013, the number of requests for diagnosis for horses based on neurological symptoms has increased rapidly in South Korea. The affected horses have commonly exhibited symptoms of acute seasonal hindlimb ataxia. A previous study from 2015–2016 identified Setaria digitata as the causative agent.ObjectivesThis study is an epidemiological investigation to find out risk factors related to the rapid increase in hindlimb ataxia of horses due to aberrant parasites in South Korea.MethodsAn epidemiological investigation was conducted on 155 cohabiting horses in 41 horse ranches where the disease occurred. The surrounding environment was investigated at the disease-causing horse ranches (n = 41) and 20, randomly selected, non-infected ranches.ResultsHindlimb ataxia was confirmed in nine cohabiting horses; this was presumed to be caused by ectopic parasitism. Environments that mosquitoes inhabit, such as paddy fields within 2 km and less than 0.5 km from a river, had the greatest association with disease occurrence.ConclusionsMost horse ranches in South Korea are situated in favorable environments for mosquitoes. Moreover, the number of mosquitoes in the country has increased since 2013 due to climate change. Additional research is required; however, these data show that it is necessary to establish guidelines for the use of anthelmintic agents based on local factors in South Korea and disinfection of the environment to prevent disease outbreaks.     

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.     

Detection and characterization of bovine-like coronaviruses from four species of zoo ruminants

Five coronaviruses (CoVs) were detected in diarrheal feces from four zoo ruminant species: one wisent (Bison bonasus), two Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), one sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii), and one nyala (Tragelaphus angasii). We sequenced and analyzed the spike (S) and hemagglutinin/esterase (HE) genes of these viruses and compared the nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequences with those of other bovine CoV (BcoV) strains. Comparison of the entire deduced aa sequences of the S and HE glycoproteins revealed no specific differences that would account for discrimination between bovine-like CoV strains from zoo ruminants and BcoVs strains. In addition, the 99.9% aa identity among the five CoV strains revealed that the ruminants were infected by the same strain. Phylogenetically, bovine-like CoVs belong to group 2a CoVs, which are related most closely to the BcoV strains recently isolated in Korea. These data suggest that cattle are potential reservoirs for CoVs that are capable of infecting zoo ruminants.