• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.523-530
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• 2014

One juvenile raptor which was not able to be identified due to its head damage was discovered on a roadside in Janggok-ri, Jori-eup, Paju on 28th June, 2011. The species was identified by DNA barcoding. After polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), we obtained 695 bp sequences. We analyzed the obtained COI sequence with similar sequences from the BOLD systems and BLAST of the NCBI Genbank, and discovered that its sequence showed 100 % similarity values with the one of the five gray-faced buzzards which were previously researched. In addition, it was confirmed to be a female through sex determination using DNA. Such results are important information as it confirms the breeding of the gray-faced buzzards for the first time in 43 years since its breeding was last recorded in 1968, in Paju. Wildlife rescue center needs to work with adjacent consigned registration and preservation institutions when carcass of wild animals is collected or DNA samples are obtained for more accurate both species and sex identification through a systematic management system in the future. Furthermore, the obtained DNA sample of the gray-faced buzzard and COI gene, DNA barcode, could be used as reference standards for similar researches in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) ranks as the 6th most planted crop in the world behind wheat, rice, maize, soybean, and barley. The objective of this study was to identify bio-marker among sorghum cultivars using proteomics approach such as two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Proteins were extracted from sorghum seed, and separated by 2-DE. Total 652 spots were detected from 4 different sorghum seed after staining of 2-DE with colloidal Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB). Among them, 8 spots were differentially expressed and were identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. They were involved in RNA metabolism (spot1, spot 4), heat shock proteins (HSPs, spot 2), storage proteins (spot 3, spot 5, and spot 6), and redox related proteins (spot 8). Eight of these proteins were highly up-regulated in Whinchalsusu (WCS). The HSPs, Cupin family protein, and Globulin were specifically accumulated in WCS. The DEAD-box helicase was expressed in 3 cultivars except for WCS. Ribonuclease T2 and aldo-keto reductase were only expressed in 3 cultivars except for Daepung-susu (DPS). CONCLUSION(S): Functions of identified proteins were mainly involved in RNA metabolism, heat shock protein (HSP), and redox related protein. Thus, they may provide new insight into a better understanding of the charactreization between the cultivars of sorghum.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.259-264
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• 2004

Convention on Biological Diversity has authorized national sovereignty over biological resources so that legislative framework should be established. In biological resources management, the access to biological resources and the benefit sharing arising out of their utilization are two most important steps. Bonn guidelines adopted by the 6th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity contain MAT (Mutually Agreed Terms) and PIC (Prior Informed Consent) indispensable to implement the access and benefit-sharing process. MAT is contractual agreement between provider countries and use entities while PIC is a specific measure associated with consent prior to access to biological resources. Moreover, the guidelines include the responsibilities of national focal point and competent national authority, incentives and so on. Our laws related to access to biological resources have no items on benefit-sharing and intellectual property rights. The role of the competent national authority is very important to coordinate the organization controlling information availability, opening to the public, and intellectual property rights with other stakeholders. But, the national regulations must not interfere with academic studies on biological diversity and disobey the two objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the conservation of biological diversity and its sustainable use.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2002

Photoperiod (length of light per day) is a major factor in regulating reproductive function in golden hamsters. The information of photoperiod is transmitted to the reproductive endocrine system by melatonin. Thus the effects of melatonin aye investigated in male golden hamsters exposed to photoperiods. Paired testicular weights were markedly reduced in the animals housed in short photoperiod $(SP,\le{12\;hours\;day^{-1})$ and injected with melatonin in the evening, but not in long photoperiod $(LP,\le{12.5}\;hours\;day^{-1})$ and injected with melatonin in the morning. The histological examination of regressed testes showed reduction of tubular lumen diameter including the numbers of cells and Leydig cell number. The mean values of both follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were also lowered in the sexually inactive animals than in the sexually active animals. Melatonin receptor was identified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and its expression was examined in various tissues to scrutinize the action site of melatonin. It turned out 309 nucleotides and was definitely expressed in hypothalamus and pituitary including spleen, retina, and epididymis. And gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) gene, which is a key element in regulating reproduction, was identified by RT-PCR but the expression of GnRH was not modified by the treatment of melatonin. Taken together, photoperiod via melatonin indirectly affects reproductive endocrine system, possibly through the release of GnRH, not the synthesis of GnRH.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2011

Archaeal communities were investigated using 454 pyrosequencing technology based on 16S rRNA gene in 11 samples collected from six different full-scale anaerobic digesters. Observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) estimated from the archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences were 13-55 OTUs (3% cutoff) which was corresponded to 29-89% of Chao1 richness estimates. In the anaerobic digesters there were archaeal sequences within the orders Thermoproteales, Thermoplasmatales, Desulfurococcales as well as within the orders Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacteriales, Methanococcales, Methanosarcinales, and Methanocellales, which are known to produce methane. Among these orders, Methanococcales known to produce methane using hydrogen was the predominant taxon and constituted 51.8-99.7% of total sequences. All samples showed a very similar community structure (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.99) except for one sample based on a heat map analysis. In addition, canonical correspondence analysis correlating archaeal communities to the environmental variables demonstrated that digester temperature and total solids removal rate were the two important explanatory variables. Overall results suggested that environmental and operational variables of anaerobic digester are important factors determining archaeal diversity and community structure.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.2 s.62
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• pp.166-171
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• 2006

To elucidate the effect of phytoestrogens on the prevention of neurodegenerative disease in postmenopausal women, the expression of occludin which build up the blood-brain barrier was examined in hippocampus following oral administration of estrogen (E2), genistein, diadzein or combination of genistein and diadzein in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. E2 significantly increased occludin mRNA level in OVX rat hippocampus, suggesting that estrogen is a physiological regulator for structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier in hippocampus. Following isoflavone diet for 4 weeks, there was significant increase in occludin mRNA level in hippocampus, suggesting that isoflavone diet may be effective for protection of structural integrity of blood-brain barrier in hippocampus from degenerative changes in estrogen deficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.444-451
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• 2016

Most research on membrane fouling models in the past are based on theoretical equations in lab-scale experiments. But these studies are barely suitable for applying on the full-scale spot where there is a sequential process such as filtration, backwash and drain. This study was conducted in submerged membrane system which being on operation auto sequentially and treating wastewater from G-water purification plant in Incheon. TMP had been designated as a fouling indicator in constant flux conditions. Total volume of inflow and SS concentration are independent variables as major operation parameters and time-series analysis and prediction of TMP were conducted. And similarity between simulated values and measured values was assessed. Final prediction model by using genetic algorithm was fully adaptable because simulated values expressed pulse-shape periodicity and increasing trend according to time at the same time. As results of twice validation, correlation coefficients between simulated and measured data were $r^2=0.721$, $r^2=0.928$, respectively. Although this study was conducted limited to data for summer season, the more amount of data, better reliability for prediction model can be obtained. If simulator for short range forecast can be developed and applied, TMP prediction technique will be a great help to energy efficient operation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.829-835
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• 2012

The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased due to their economic and agronomic advantages. Before commercialization of GM crops, however, we must assess the potential risks of GM crops on human health and environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of Bt rice on the soil microbial community. Microbial communities were isolated from the rhizosphere soil cultivated with Bt rice and Nakdong, parental cultivar and were subjected to be analyzed using both culture-dependent and molecular methods. The total counts of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the rhizosphere of transgenic and conventional rice were not significantly different. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed that the bacterial community structures during cultural periods were very similar each other. Analysis of dominant isolates in the rhizosphere cultivated with Bt and Nakdong rice showed that the dominant isolates from the soil of Bt rice and Nakdong belonged to the Proteobacteria, Cloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. These results indicate that the Bt rice has no significant impact on the soil microbial communities during cultivation period. Further study remains to be investigated whether the residue of Bt rice effect on the soil environment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2020

The development of GM crops has gained significant economic importance, and the number of countries cultivating commercial GM crops has continuously increased since the 1960s. Globally, the area given to cultivating GM soybean, maize, cotton, and canola alone had reached 114 million hectares by 2007. Although the economic importance of cultivating and commercializing GM crops has increased, there is still a need to assess their agricultural traits in comparison to non-GM produce. This study evaluated the agricultural traits of GM rice containing the drought-tolerant gene CaMsrB2 and standard rice to investigate any unintended effects of genetic engineering. The GM and non-GM rice were compared in terms of various agricultural traits in a drought greenhouse and an irrigated paddy field. There was no statistical difference in the field-grown crops, but there was a statistically significant difference in both tiller number and yield in the greenhouse. These results therefore suggest that GM rice lines containing the CaMsrB2 gene are superior in performance to non-GM rice in drought stress conditions and could be grown in drought-prone areas where drought intolerant rice may not be able to grow.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of Bt Chinese cabbage on the soil microbial community. Microbial communities were isolated from the rhizosphere of one Bt Chinese cabbage variety and four varieties of conventional ones and were subjected to be analyzed using both culture-dependent and molecular methods. The total counts of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the rhizosphere of transgenic and conventional Chinese cabbages were observed to have an insignificant difference. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed that the bacterial community structures were very similar to each other and this genetic stability of microbial communities was maintained throughout the culture periods. Analysis of dominant isolates in the rhizosphere of transgenic and conventional Chinese cabbages showed that the dominant isolates from the soil of transgenic Chinese cabbage belonged to the Bacilli and Alphaproteobacteria, while the dominant isolates from the soil of conventional cabbage belonged to the Holophagae and Planctomycetacia, respectively. These results indicate that the Bt transgenic cabbage has no significant impact on the soil microbial communities.