• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2007

In this study, we constructed and tested retrovirus vectors designed to express the human thrombopoietin gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoters. To increase the hTPO gene expression at him-on state, WPRE sequence was also introduced into retrovirus vector at downstream region of either the hTPO gene or the sequence encoding reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA). Primary culture cells (PFF, porcine fetal fibroblast; CEF, chicken embryonic fibroblast) infected with the recombinant retrovirus were cultured in the medium supplemented with or without doxycycline for 48hr, and induction efficiency was measured by comparing the hTPO gene expression level using RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA. Higher hPTO expression and tighter expression control were observed from the vector in which the WPRE sequence was placed at downstream of the hTPO (in CEF) or rtTA(in PFF) gene. This resulting tetracycline inducible vector system may be helpful in solving serious physiological disturbance problems which have been a major obstacle in successful production of transgenic animals.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to investigative the effects of amino acids supplementation on maturation, fertilization and embryo development of pig oocytes. Essential amino acids (EA), non-essential amino acids (NA) or both amino acids (EA + NA) were supple-mented to North Carolina State University (NCSU) 23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (pFF). When the amino acids were supplemented to the maturation medium, the maturation rates were higher (p<0.05) in the NA group than control ($83.3{\pm}0.04\%\;versus\;70.0{\pm}0.05\%$, but the subsequent cleavage rates and development to morula and blstocyst stage between aminoacid supplement groups and control were not different. The developmental rates to morula and blastocysts stage were not significantly different regardless of amino acid supplementation to culture medium. In addition, supplementation of amino acids did not significantly affect the rate of fertilization and polyspermy. When the amino acids were supplement to culture medium, the number of trophectodermal (TE) cells was significantly (p<0.05) higher in amino acid supplement group than that of control ($18.6{\pm}0.5\;versus\;16.1{\pm}0.6$), whereas the numbers of inner cell mass (ICM) cells were not different among the treaonent groups and control ($29.0{\pm}0.9\~31.5{\pm}1.2$). Total cell number was also significantly (p<0.05) higher in EANA group ($50.0{\pm}1.0$) than that of control group ($44.2{\pm}1.1$). These results indicate that the amino acid supplementation to maturation and culture medium may not significantly stimulate early embryo development, but may improve the TE cell number of blastocyst stage in the pig.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1994

These studies were Conducted to survey cultivation methods, and to analyze soil chemical properties for stable production of Aralia continentalis K., a promising medicinal crop, in the main producting districts. Aralia continentalis K. was cultivated with planting budstocks in distances of $90cm{\times}60cm$ for 3~4 years in the same field, and application rates were N 10~31 kg/10a and P, K 8~17/10a using inorganic fertilizer, that is compound fertilizer(21-17-17) for basal dressings and urea for topdressings. Most of all, the soil surveyed was coarse loamy class which was well drained and soil depth is 50~150cm in the valleys. Soil pH was low, and content of organic matters and av. $P_2O_5$ was abundant but that of exchangeable cation such as Ca, Mg, K was deficient. The relationship between growth characteristics and weight of fresh root was positive correlation in the order of No. of root, stem width, No. of node and branch, plant height and root width. On the path coefficiant analysis, the relationship between content of soil K, Ca and root yield was more apparent than other chemical properties.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2009

Biosorption uses adsorbents derived from non-living biomass and removes toxic metals from industrial wastewater. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of low cost biosorbents to remove heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from aqueous solutions using chemically modified rice husk and saw dust (Pseudotsuga menziesi, Quercus, Populus). Batch-type adsorption experiments were carried out using rice husk and saw dust treated with NaOH and/or tartaric acid in artificial wastewater 100 mg metal/L). The experimental results showed that the adsorption specificity of each biosorbent was Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn irrespective of the types of biosorbents. The adsorption capacity of Pb and Cu onto NaOH-treated sawdust was increased 2${\sim}$3 times compared to the untreated one. In addition, the tartaric acid treatment increased the adsorption capacity of rice husk for Zn and Cd approximately 5${\sim}$10 fold compared to the untreated one. Surface conditions and changes in functional groups by chemical modification of each biosorbent were confirmed by SEM and FT-IR. Overall, the results show that chemical modification increases the metal removal capacity of rice bran and sawdust.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.2 s.42
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• pp.213-227
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• 2005

This study aims to assess the problems with investigation method and to suggest the complementary solutions by comparing the predicted data from surface investigation with the outcome data from underground cavern. In the study area, one(NE-1) of 6 fracture zones predicted during the surface investigation was only confirmed in underground caverns. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the confidence level for prediction. In this study, the fracture classification criteria was quantitatively suggested on the basis of the BHTV images of NE-1 fracture zone. The major orientation of background fractures in rock mass was changed at the depth of the storage cavern, the length and intensity were decreased. These characteristics result in the deviation of predieted predicted fracture properties and generate the investigation bias depending on the bore hole directions and investigated scales. The evaluation of hydraulic connectivity in the surface investigation stage needs to be analyze by the groundwater pressures and hydrochemical properties from the monitoring bore hole(s) equipped with a double completion or multi-packer system during the test bore hole is pumping or injecting. The hydraulic conductivities in geometric mean measured in the underground caverns are 2-3 times lower than those from the surface and furthermore the horizontal hydraulic conductivity in geometric mean is six times lower than the vertical one. To improve confidence level of the hydraulic conductivity, the orientation of test hole should be considered during the analysis of the hydraulic conductivity and the methodology of hydro-testing and interpretation should be based on the characteristics of rock mass and investigation purposes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2014

Differential transcription of the clusterin (CLU) gene yields two CLU isoforms, a nuclear form (nCLU) and a secretory form (sCLU), which play crucial roles in prostate tumorigenesis. Pro-apoptotic nCLU and anti-apoptotic sCLU have opposite effects and are differentially expressed in normal and cancer cells; however, their regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional level are not yet known. Here, we examined the transcriptional regulation of nCLU in response to hypoxia. We identified three putative hypoxia response elements (HREs) in the human CLU promoter between positions -806 and +51 bp. Using a luciferase reporter, electrophoretic gel mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we further showed that hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) bound directly to these sites and activated transcription. Exposure to the hypoxia-mimetic compound $CoCl_2$, incubation under 1% $O_2$ conditions, or overexpression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ enhanced nCLU expression and induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC3M cells. However, LNCaP prostate cancer cells were resistant to hypoxia-induced cell death. Methylation-specific PCR analysis revealed that the CLU promoter in PC3M cells was not methylated; in contrast, the CLU promoter in LNCap cells was methylated. Co-treatment of LNCaP cells with $CoCl_2$ and a demethylating agent promoted apoptotic cell death through the induction of nCLU. We conclude that nCLU expression is regulated by direct binding of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ to HRE sites and is epigenetically controlled by methylation of its promoter region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 2003

In order to design and develop a product that can treat the fatty liver, natural complex food with all natural ingredients was developed and supplemented to rats with high fat diet to induce fatty liver. As a result, when the amount of natural complex food was increased in diet of subjects, the activities of the blood serum AST, ALT, ALP, 3-GT and LDH were decreased. The total protein concentration levels of the 30% and the 50% natural complex food groups did not show changes in respect to the control group, but the 100% natural complex food groups showed significant decrease (p<0.05). Likewise, the amount of blood serum albumin in the 30% and the 50% natural complex food groups did not show improvement, but the 100% natural complex food did showed significant changes (p<0.05). The amount of blood serum triglyceride decreased as the amount of natural complex food was increased. In order to investigate the appearances of the accumulated fat in the liver, the animals were dissected. Livers of the control group (no natural complex food) were appeared as a white color, which means serious fat accumulation. However, all the natural complex food groups (30,50 and 100% natural complex food) showed noticeable decrease of fat content. Even the histology showed that livers of the control group had expansion of the fat, but a11 the natural complex food groups had e decreased as the contents and continued to show destroyed fatty cells. By observing the biological numeric data, the physical appearance and the history of the fatty liver, it is highly expected that natural complex food is very effective in treating the liver damaged -by the to fat and the cholesterol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.1157-1164
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• 2015

The present investigation evaluated the antioxidant activities of water extracts from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) aerial parts, roots, and mixed extracts. Mixed extract of T. officinale was a mixture of aerial parts and roots at 9:1 and 8:2 weight ratios. Extracts from aerial parts (DAE), roots (DRE), and mixture of aerial parts and roots (DME) were measured for cell viability and catalase activity in HepG2 cells, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. Cell viabilities of HepG2 cells treated with DAE, DRE, DME 8:2, and DME 9:1 against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative damage were 63.4%, 54.6%, 76.7% and 83.4% at a concentration of $400{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Catalase activity was highest in DME 9:1 (12.2 mU/min/mg protein) compared with DAE (9.0 mU/min/mg protein) and DRE (9.7 mU/min/mg protein). DPPH radical scavenging activity of DME showed a significantly lower $EC_{50}$ value than DAE ($EC_{50}$ value of DME $9:1=163.3{\mu}g/mL$, DME $8:2=172.4{\mu}g/mL$, and $DAE=173.7{\mu}g/mL$). Lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity of DME showed a significantly lower $EC_{50}$ value than DAE [$EC_{50}$ values of DME $(9:1)=454.4{\mu}g/mL$, DME $(8:2)=426.6{\mu}g/mL$, and $DAE=654.7{\mu}g/mL$]. The results indicate that a small amount of T. officinale roots increased antioxidant activity of aerial parts. Especially, a 9:1 mixture was more valuable than 8:2 mixture for industry.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.100-110
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• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate influence of chemical properties in the riparian on the species diversity and to get plant information for enhancement of natural purification in Mankyeong River. The concentration of total nitrogen was high in Jeonju and Sam stream, while that of total nitrogen showed the highest peak in Winter. Concentrations of $NH_4-N$ was $0.01{\sim}0.06\;mg/L$ in Gosan and Soyang stream. The water quality of upstream along with Mankyeong River was suitable for the irrigation source. The riparian vegetation was investigated by Zurich-Montpellier school's method from June, 2001 to September, 2002. The number of riparian plants were 59 families, 129 genera, 165 species, 20 varieties in Gosancheon, on the while 53 families, 111 genera, 141 species, 19 varieties in Soyangcheon. The number of riparian plants in Bari basin was higher than that of other sites namely, 73 families, 134 genera, 218 species, 33 varieties. Riparian vegetation was consisted of 12 plant communities. The contents of organic matter, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity had negative relationship with species diversity (Species richness index, Heterogeneity index, Species evenness index Species number). On the while, species diversity had positive relationship with soil pH. Species diversify of the plant communities were affected by topography and disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 1994

To investigate differences in Cd and Zn contents of paddy soils and rice plants polluted by the municipal and industrial waste water in the Mangyeong River Area, soil and plant samples were collected at several distances from the main inlet and at different depths of the soil. Soil samples were extracted with $4M-HNO_3$ and plant samples were digested with a mixture of $HNO_3$and $HClO_4$for analyzing heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The contents of Cd and Zn in soils ranged from 0.38 to 1.17 and from 33.8 to 464.6mg kg^{-1}, respectively. The average Cd level in 1990 was less than that in 1982, but the Zn level in 1990 was higher than that in 1982 in general. No variation in Cd contents was observed in soils at the different distances from the source of waste water, but Zn contents in soils were lower with the increasing distances from the source of waste water. A significant correlation was observed among Cd content, OM, available silicate, CEC and $Ca^{++}$. Similar results existed among Zn content of 1982, OM and $Ca^{++}$. The Cd content in subsurface soils of 1992 was significantly correlated with Zn, Cu, and Pb in soils, and the Zn content in soils was significantly correlated with the Cu and Pb in soils, regardless of years. The Cd content in leaf blades of rice was more than seven times higher than that in brown rice. The Zn content in rice was higher than that in leaf blades and in panicle axis. The Cd content in panicle axis and the Zn content in all parts of rice were correlated with Zn, Cu and Pb contents in soils. The Cd and Zn contents in brown rice ranged from 0.10 to 0.90mg $kg^{-1}$ and from 4.2 to 95.9mg $kg^{-1}$ in the Mangyeong River Area, respectively.