• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.199-208
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• 2007

Although many studies have focused on the biological and toxicological effects of phenol products, in particular, in reproductive tracts, the data about their effects in this estrogenic responsive tissue are much less clear. In addition, the in vitro and in vivo data concerning ED-adverse impacts in other endocrine organs, i.e. pituitary gland, are not understood well either. Thus, a further study is needed for providing a new insight into possible impacts of estrogenic EDs including phenol products in humans and wildlife. A combination of in vitro and in vivo system for examining EDs may bring better understanding into the regulatory mechanisms underlying EDs-induced events. In addition, this information may support for developing optimal screening methods of estrogenic EDs, in particular, phenol products.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2016

Cochlodinium polykrikoides is a red-tide forming dinoflagellate that causes significant worldwide impacts on aquaculture industries and the marine ecosystem. There have been extensive studies on managing and preventing C. polykrikoides blooms, but it has been difficult to identify an effective method to control the bloom development. There is also limited genome information on the molecular mechanisms involved in its various ecophysiology and metabolism processes. Thus, comprehensive genome information is required to better understand harmful algal blooms caused by C. polykrikoides. We estimated the C. polykrikoides genome size using flow cytometry, with detection of the fluorescence of DNA stained with propidium iodide (PI). The nuclear genome size of C. polykrikoides was 100.97 Gb, as calculated by comparing its mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) to the MFI of Mus musculus, which is 2.8 Gb. The exceptionally large genome size of C. polykrikoides might indicate its complex physiological and metabolic characteristics. Our optimized protocol for estimating the nuclear genome size of a dinoflagellate using flow cytometry with PI can be applied in studies of other marine organisms.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2006

In the present work, life cycle assessments (LCA) of various waste-plastic recycling methods (material recycling, refused derived fuel (RDF), recycling on furnace, and pyrolytic oil production) were carried out to investigate their impacts on the environment. Six types of impacts were considered. While the impact on global warming was found to be significant, the impact on others were negligible. The impact values on the global warming caused by the material recycling, RDF, and the recycling on furnace were negative, which implied that their impacts could be noticeably reduced when waste-plastic are used as an alternative to newly drawn plastics. The pyrolytic oil production, however, showed positive value, which may be due to the carbon dioxide produced during electric power generation. The pyrolytic oil production had the largest impact on the ozone layer destruction, which was due to ozone depleting substances produced from the process itself. These results can be used as a useful data for the enhancement of waste-plastic recycling.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2017

In flight particulate matter particularly emissions generated by incomplete combustion processes has become a subject of global concern due to the health problems and environmental impacts associated with them. This has compelled most countries to set standards for coarse and fine particles due to their conspicuous impacts on environment and public health. This contribution therefore explores forest fire emissions and how its particulates affects air quality, damage to vegetation, water bodies and biological functions as architects for lung diseases and other degenerative illnesses such as oxidative stress and aging. Soot was collected from simulated forest fire using a clean glass surface and carefully transferred into amber vials for analysis. Volatile components of soot were collected over 10 mL dichloromethane and analyzed using a QTOF Premier-Water Corp Liquid Chromatography hyphenated to a mass selective detector (MSD), and Gas Chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). To characterize the size and surface morphology of soot, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used. The characterization of molecular volatiles from simulated forest fire emissions revealed long chain compounds including octadec-9-enoic acid, octadec-6-enoic acid, cyclotetracosane, cyclotetradecane, and a few aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and naphthalene). Special classes of organics (dibenzo-p-dioxin and 2H-benzopyran) were also detected as minor products. Dibenzo-p-dioxin for instance in chlorinated form is one of the deadliest environmental organic toxins. The average particulate size of emissions using SEM was found to be $11.51{\pm}4.91{\mu}m$. This study has shown that most of the emissions from simulated forest fire fall within $PM_{10}$ particulate size. The molecular by-products of forest fire and particulate emissions may be toxic to both human and natural ecosystems, and are possible precursors for various respiratory ailments and cancers. The burning of a forest by natural disasters or man-made fires results in the destruction of natural habitats and serious air pollution.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 2010

The purpose of this case study is to analyze the environmental and sociological impacts on a golf course construction at the damaged area of a previous limestone mine. Due to a long term of the open-pit mining, that site had been abandoned with geographical and ecological destruction before it was renovated to Ostar Danyang public golf course. This study is focused on the review of restoring the ecosystem through golf course construction procedures. Literature surveys of restoration through golf course construction in Japan and Canada were analyzed the procedure of utilization of previously existed lime mine. The sociological and environmental changes before and after construction were compared and analyzed. Environmental impacts on geographical, animal and plant ecology, and water quality were not affected or significantly improved after golf course construction from the mining site existed before. The local economy was also improved by increasing employment of resident and tax payment to local government. The construction of golf course could be one of the typical alternatives of ecological restoration of abandoned lime mine. Moreover in this project, minimizing the environmental impacts on surrounding ecosystem was emphasized by a larger size of developing construction. The harmonious lay-out on nature and artificial landscape were also considered a very first stage of construction procedure.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.203-222
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• 2013

The district of Ganghwa-gun in the western coast (Seohae) of the Korea is consisted of several islands, Ganghwa-do, Seokmo-do, Gyodong-do, Jumun-do, Boreum-do, Seogeom-do and Donggeom-do. Since several islands of them were connected to mainland of Korea by bridges, the islands attract a lot of tourists from Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do areas. Construction of new roads, pensions, resort areas and restaurants provided economical benefits to local residents while natural vegetation of these islands has deteriorated continuously. Before biodiversity of vascular plants in these regions is damaged seriously by human impacts, it is needed to conserve original vegetation of the islands for restoration and monitoring in the future. Therefore, the primary purpose of the study is to clarify the flora of Donggeom-do, belonging to Ganghwa-gun. From the 15 times of field trips to the island, we have collected a number of vascular plants, 512 taxa in total, including 110 families, 329 genera, 449 species, six subspecies, 52 varieties, four forms and one hybrid. Of 512 taxa investigated, we have identified 12 taxa to be endemic to Korea. Six taxa were endangered or rare species which were designated by the Ministry of Environment and Korea Forest Service, respectively. 25 taxa were recognized as floristic regional indicator species designated specially by the Ministry of Environment. Seven species have shown their northern or southern distributional limit ranges, and 29 taxa were recognized as halophytes. The naturalized plants were identified as 55 taxa, and their naturalization ratio was 10.7%.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.441-450
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• 2023

β-Catenin (Ctnnb1) has been shown to play critical roles in the development and maintenance of epithelial cells, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Ctnnb1 is not only a component of intercellular junctions in the epithelium, it also functions as a transcriptional regulator in the Wnt signaling pathway. To identify which of its functional modalities is critically involved in mouse RPE development and maintenance, we varied Ctnnb1 gene content and activity in mouse RPE lineage cells and tested their impacts on mouse eye development. We found that a Ctnnb1 double mutant (Ctnnb1^dm), which exhibits impaired transcriptional activity, could not replace Ctnnb1 in the RPE, whereas Ctnnb1^Y654E, which has reduced affinity for the junctions, could do so. Expression of the constitutively active Ctnnb1^∆ex3 mutant also suppressed the development of RPE, instead facilitating a ciliary cell fate. However, the post-mitotic or mature RPE was insensitive to the loss, inactivation, or constitutive activation of Ctnnb1. Collectively, our results suggest that Ctnnb1 should be maintained within an optimal range to specify RPE through transcriptional regulation of Wnt target genes in the optic neuroepithelium.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.29-32
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• 2002

Studies till date suggest the existence of a fetal biological clock in suprachiasmatic nuclei entrained by the circadian signal from mother. Melatonin from maternal pineal gland reaches to the fetus by crossing every biological barrier including placenta, hence fetuses were exposed to similar melatonin variation as their mother. Experimental modulations of maternal pineal gland activity of pregnant females either by exposing the them to different photoperiodic schedules or by exogenous melatonin treatments till the date of parturition, regulated the fetal plasma level of melatonin, thereby the prenatal (fetal) growth and development. This clearly suggests the maternal transport of melatonin to their fetus through placenta since fetal retina-hypothalamic tract was incomplete. An extension of experimental schedules till 60 days of post-partum period regulated the neonatal pineal gland activity and gonadal maturation along with their plasma levels of melatonin and sex steroids suggesting clearly the phenomenon of maternal transfer of melatonin to their young ones during the post-natal period, when the neonates were solely dependent on the mother's milk for their nutrition and energetic demands. On the basis of above observations we may suggest that the maternal pineal gland activity regulate the prenatal development by passing its melatonin to fetus via placenta and post-natal growth and sexual maturation by passing maternal melatonin to neonates via milk. Hence, the photoperiod perceived by mother is translated into the maternal plasma level of melatonin which not only regulates the prenatal but also the post-natal growth and sexual maturation of neonates.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine effects of Recorded Mother's Voice on weight and physiological reactions to the premature infants. Methods: This study was conducted on the nonequivalent control group pre-posttest quasi-experimental design and the subject group was the premature infants who were admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Pusan National University Hospital. Total 50 infants, divided into two groups 25 experimental and control were participated in the study. The data were analyzed using frequency, %, chi-square test, t-test between the two groups. Results: The results of this study were as followingsfollowings; In the physical response(heart rate, respiration rate, pulse oximetry saturation), there were significant statistical difference between two groups. Conclusion: In short, it turned out that the intervention of the recorded mother's voice had some significance as nursing intervention with positive impacts. Such as improving infant's growth and stablizing their physical response. By providing the effectiveness of such intervention, the study will further provide the evidence-based information in developing the practice of pediatric nursing.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.859-877
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• 2012

In this study, Echo-sounder($E_s$) monitoring methodology was applied to test environmental impacts of artificial weirs(SCW and JSW) in the Yeongsan River on fish community and habitat structures at first time, and was compared with conventional fish sampling methodologies($C_s$). For the Es monitoring in the fields, parallel transect methods was employed in determining the survey distance interval with every 125 m within the upper-lower 2 km of the weirs. Four different fish sampling gears such as casting nets, kick nets, fyke nets, and gill nets were used for applications of $C_s$ monitoring methodology. According to the Echo-sounder monitoring, fish density, expressed as a number of individuals per square meter, along the longitudinal axis of the weir was significantly greater(JSW, t = 3.506, n = 30, p < 0.001) in the down-river reach of the weir than in the up-river reach. Also, fish density along the vertical water column was highest at mid-depths of Seungchon weir, which has simple habitat substrates, while fish density was highest at hypolimnetic depth of Juksan weir. According to fish sampling by the $C_s$ methodology, the fish compositions decreased as the river goes upward, and significant differences(JSW, t = 0.248, n = 30, p < 0.05) in the compositions of fish species occurred between up-reach and down-reach of the weirs. The dominant species near the two weirs were Opsarichthys uncirostris amurensis, Hemiculter eigenmanni and Coilia nasus. Overall, our fish and habitat data, based on $E_s$ and $C_s$ monitoring methodologies, suggest that the weirs disturbed the rivers due to initial habitat disturbances by the weir constructions as well as the barrier roles of weirs on fish passage and migrations. More long-term scientific and systematic fish impact monitoring and assessments($E_s$ and $C_s$) are required in the future to predict changes of ecological structures and functions on the constructions of the weirs.