• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.721-734
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• 2022

This study analyzed the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of major environmental factors such as primary productivity (PP), chlorophyll a, nutrients, sinking particle matters, and organic contamination and biochemical composition of surface sediment on a monthly basis for approximately 2 years around shellfish mariculture in Jaran Bay, Korea. In addition, PP in Jaran Bay was compared with that in other coastal areas and related policy plans were proposed. The average PP of the study area was high in summer and autumn with 6.43~115.43 mgC m^-2 hr^-1 range. This was lower than that in Gamak Bay and Masan Bay, whereas higher than that in Garorim Bay and the West Sea. The PP in coastal waters, where many aquaculture farms were distributed, significantly fluctuated. The different size compositions of phytoplanktons constituting chlorophyll a slightly varied by month, and little restriction existed on the productivity of phytoplanktons owing to the depletion of nutrients. Typically, the Redfield ratio was less than 16, indicating that nitrogen was the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplanktons. The biochemical composition of particulate organic matters in the water column showed the highest carbohydrates, but lipids and protein contents were high in surface sediments. The concentration of TOC and AVS of the surface sediments was high at inside of bay, and sometimes, exceeded the environmental criteria of fishing grounds. The organic C:N ratio of sediments ranged from 8.1 to 10.4 on average. PP had the highest correlation with chlorophyll a, nitrogen and protein of particle organic materials. Recently, chlorophyll a, DIN, and DIP of water column trends tended to decrease, however, the contamination of sediments increased. Considering the annual PP of 125.9 gC m^-2 yr^-1 and mariculture area (oyster) of 4.97 km², the annual carbon production from phytoplanktons was estimated to be about 625 tons, and the annual total wet weight of shellfish (oyster) was estimated to be about 6,250 tons.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.112-123
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• 2022

To assess the influence of environmental factors on the phytoplankton community structure and total phytoplankton biomass during four seasons in 2014, we investigated the abiotic and biotic factors at 25 stations in the Busan coastal region. The phytoplankton community and total phytoplankton biomass were strongly dependent on the discharge from the Nakdong River, and the high density of phytoplankton was related with the introduction of the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC), particularly in the thermohaline fronts of the fall season. The relationship between the salinity and nutrient (Dissolved inorganic nitrogen=DIN: R²=0.72, p<0.001 and Dissolved inorganic silicon=DSi: R²=0.78, p<0.001) highly correlated with the river discharge, implying that those nutrients have played a crucial role in the growth of diatom and cryptophyta. The total phytoplankton biomass was highest in the summer followed by autumn, spring, and winter. Diatom and cryptophyta species were dominant species during the four seasons. Additionally, there were strong positive correlations between Chlorophyll a and total phytoplankton biomass (R²=0.84, p<0.001), cryptophyta (R²=0.76, p<0.001) and diatom (R²=0.50, p<0.001), respectively. In particular, we found that there were significant differences in the nutrients, phytoplankton community compositions, and total phytoplankton biomass between the inner and the outer coastal region of Busan, depending on the amount of river discharge from the Nakdong River, particularly during rainy seasons. Therefore, the seasonal change of TWC and river discharge from the Nakdong River serve an important role in determining phytoplankton population dynamics in the Busan coastal region.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2001

Three harmful algal bloom species with similar morphology, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gyodinium impudicum and Gymodinium catenatum have damaged to aquatic animals or human health by either making massive blooms or intoxication of shellfishes in a food chain. Eco-physiological and hydrodynamic studies on the harmful algae offer useful informations in the understanding their bloom mechanism by giving promising data for the prediction and modelling of harmful algal blooms event. Thus, we studied the abundance of these species in the coastal area of South Sea of Korea and their effects of temperature, salinity, irradiance and nutrient on the growth for the isolates. The timing for initial appearance of the three species around the coastal area of Namhaedo, Narodo and Wando was between Bate July and late August in 1999 when water temperature ranged from $22.8^{\circ}C\;to\;26.5^{\circ}C$ Vegetative cells of C. polykrikoides and G. impudicum were abundant until late September when water temperature had been dropped to less than $23^{\circ}C$. By contrast, vegetative cell of G. catenatum disappeared before early September, showing shorter period of abundance than the other two species in the South Sea. Both G. impudicum and G. catenatum revealed comparatively low density with a maximal cell density of 3,460 cells/L and 440 cells/L, respectively without making any bloom, while C. polykrikoides made massive blooms with a maximal cell density more than $40\times10^6$cells/L, The three species showed a better growth at the relatively higher water temperature ranging from 22 to $28^{\circ}C$ with their maximal growth rate at $25^{\circ}C$ in culture, which almost corresponded with the water temperature during the outbreak of C. polykrikoides in the coastal area of South Sea. Also, they all showed a relatively higher growth at the salinity from 30 to $35\%$. Specially, G. impudicum showed the euryhalic characteristics among the species, On the other hand, growth rate of G. catenatum decreased sharply with the increase of water temperature at the experimental ranges more than $35\%$. The higher of light intensities showed the better growth rates for the three species, Moreover, C. polykrikoides and G. impudirum continued their exponential growth even at 7,500 lux, the highest level of light intensity in the experiment, Therefore, It is assumed that C. polykrikoides has a physiological capability to adapt and utilize higher irradiance resulting in the higher growth rate without any photo inhibition response at the sea surface where there is usually strong irradiance during its blooming season. Although C. poiykikoides and G. impudicum continued their linear growth with the increase of nitrate ($NO_3^-$) and ammonium ($NH_4^-$) concentrations at less than the $40{\mu}M$, they didn't show any significant differences in growth rates with the increase of nitrate and ammonium concentrations at more than $40{\mu}M$, signifying that the nitrogen critical point for the growth of the two species stands between 13.5 and $40{\mu}M$. Also, even though both of the two species continued their linear growth with the increase of phosphate ($PO_4^{2-}$) concentrations at less than the $4.05{\mu}M$, there were no any significant differences in growth rates with the increase of phosphate concentrations at more than $4.05{\mu}M$, signifying that the phosphate critical point for the growth of the two species stands between 1.35 and $4.05{\mu}M$. On the other hand, C. polykrikoides has made blooms at the oligotrophic environment near Narodo and Namhaedo where the concentration of DIN and DIP are less than 1.2 and $0.3{\mu}M$, respectively. We attributed this phenomenon to its own ecological characteristics of diel vertical migration through which C. polykrikoides could uptake enough nutrients from the deep sea water near bottom during the night time irrespective of the lower nutrient pools in the surface water.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3939-3944
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• 2014

Background: To elucidate the role of rapamycin and PF4 on apoptosis regulation via Bax (pro-apoptosis), Bcl-2 (anti-apoptosis) and survivin activation on the growth in the 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea-induced invasive breast carcinoma model. Materials and Methods: Thirty five female Sprague Dawley rats at age 21-day old were divided into 4 groups; Group 1 (control, n=10), Group 2 (PF4, n=5), Group 3 (rapamycin, n=10) and Group 4 (rapamycin+PF4, n=10). MNU was administered intraperitionally, dosed at 70mg/kg body weight. The rats were treated when the tumors reached the size of $14.5{\pm}0.5mm$ and subsequently sacrificed after 5 days. Rapamycin and PF4 were administered as focal intralesional injections at the dose of $20{\mu}g$/lesion. The tumor tissue was then subjected to histopathological examinations for morphological appraisal and immunohistochemical assessment of the pro-apoptotic marker, Bax and anti-apoptotic markers, Bcl-2 and survivin. Results: The histopathological pattern of the untreated control cohort showed that the severity of the malignancy augments with mammary tumor growth. Tumors developing in untreated groups were more aggressive whilst those in treated groups demonstrated a transformation to a less aggressive subtype. Combined treatment resulted in a significant reduction of tumor size without phenotypic changes. Bax, the pro-apoptotic marker, was significantly expressed at higher levels in the rapamycin-treated and rapamycin+PF4-treated groups compared to controls (p<0.05). Consequently, survivin was also significantly downregulated in the rapamycin-treated and rapamycin+PF4-treated group and this was significantly different when compared to controls (p). Conclusions: In our rat model, it could be clearly shown that rapamycin specifically affects Bax and survivin signaling pathways in activation of apoptosis. We conclude that rapamycin plays a critical role in the induction of apoptosis in MNU-induced mammary carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3829-3849
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• 2014

Continued advances in the field of histo pathology (and cyto pathology) over the past two decades have resulted in dramatic changes in the manner in which these disciplines are now practiced. This is especially true in the setting of a large university hospital where the role of pathologists as clinicians (diagnosticians), undergraduate and postgraduate educators, and researchers has evolved considerably. The world around us has changed significantly during this period bringing about a considerable change in our lifestyles and the way we live. This is the world of the internet and the world-wide web, the world of Google and Wikipedia, of Youtube and Facebook where anyone can obtain any information one desires at the push of a button. The practice of histo (and cyto) pathology has also evolved in line with these changes. For those practicing this discipline in a poor, developing country these changes have been breathtaking. This is an attempt to document these changes as experienced by histo (and cyto) pathologists practicing in the biggest center for Histopathology in Pakistan, a developing country in South Asia with a large (180 million) and ever growing population. The Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city has since its inception in the mid-1980s transformed the way histopathology is practiced in Pakistan by incorporating modern methods and rescuing histopathology in Pakistan from the primitive and outdated groove in which it was stuck for decades. It set histopathology in Pakistan firmly on the path of modernity and change which are essential for better patient management and care through accurate and complete diagnosis and more recently prognostic and predictive information as well.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.315-326
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• 2013

This study investigated the temporal-spatial distribution and variations in water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, DO, COD, SPM, DIN, DIP, silicate, TN, TP, and chlorophyll-a) in the coastal area of Jeju, Korea, adjacent to aquaculture ponds (Aewol-ri, Haengwon-ri, Pyosun-ri, and Ilkwa-ri). Data were collected bimonthly from February 2010 to December 2011. A principal component analysis (PCA) identified three major factors controlling variations in water quality during the sampling period. Aquaculture effluent water led to large changes in nutrient levels. The highest nutrient values were observed during the investigation period. The relatively large increase in organic matter at the sampling stations coupled with sea area runoff events during the summer rainy period. Variation in chlorophyll-a concentration was mainly driven by meteorological factors such as air temperature and rainfall in the coastal areas of Aewol and Haengwon. In the coastal areas of Pyosun and Ilkwa, pollution was caused by anthropogenic factors such as discharge of aquaculture effluent water. High nutrient concentrations at the majority of the coastal stations indicate eutrophication of coastal waters, especially within a distance of 300 m and depth of 10m from drainage channels. Coastal eutrophication driven by aquaculture effluent may be harmful inshore. Events such as eutrophication may potentially influence water pollution in aquaculture ponds when seawater intake is detected because of aquaculture effluent water.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.691-710
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the geochemical and benthic environment of three shellfish farms in Suncheon Bay during the period of September 2014 ~ April 2015. Three sampling stations were selected; St.1 is the shellfish farm of razor clam near Jangsan area. St.2 is the shellfish farm of small ark shell near Hwapo area and St.3 is the shellfish farm of razor clam near Yongdu area. Razor clam was the dominant species at St.1, small ark shell and granulated ark shell were dominant at St.2 and St.3, respectively. Granulated ark shell inhabited St.3, although it is not cultured at that station. This station's exposure to air during the ebb tide and sediment composition likely provides the appropriate habitat for granulated ark shell species. Analysis of the number of different species showed that 8 benthos species were found to be distributed at St.1, 18 species at St.2, and 13 species at St.3. Among three stations, the highest Ignition Loss (IL), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) values were obtained from the sediment at St.2. The analysis of pore water from St.2 also showed the highest values of Total Organic Carbon (TOC), ammonia ($NH_4^+$), Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate ($PO_4^{3-}$). These results are related to the fact that species dominance and richness is the highest in St.2.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1011-1018
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• 2011

Aflatoxin-contaminated feed cause mortality, suppression of the immune system, reduced growth rates and losses in feed efficiency. This research study was planned to investigate the immunomodulatory and growth promoting effect of milk thistle as feed additive against aflatoxin $B_1$ in broiler chicks at NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan. Two hundred and forty (240) day old broilers chicks were randomly assigned into four major groups AfF, aflatoxin free feed; Aflatoxin $B_1$ was present in the feed at the levels of 80-520 ${\mu}g/kg$ of the feed in the remaining three groups. Aflatoxin contaminated feed was provided for 5 weeks. Group AfB was supplemented with toxin binder "Mycoad" at 3 g/kg of feed and group AfT was supplemented with milk thistle at10 g/kg of feed. Each group was further sub divided into two sub-groups, vaccinated against ND (Newcastle disease), IB (Infectious bronchitis) and IBD (Infectious bursal diseases) according to recommended schedule of vaccination or non vaccinated. Each sub group carried three replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. Chicks were reared in pens in an open sided house. Supplementary heat was provided to all the chicks during brooding period. Mean body weight gain and dressing percentage were significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfT, AfB and Af. Weight gain and dressing percentage was the same in group AfB and AfT, while it was significantly lower in group Af. Feed intake, breast, thigh and leg weight were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfB, AfT and Af. Significantly lower (better) FCR value was recorded in group AfT. Water intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT and AfF as compared to other groups. Mortality was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group Af. Mean bursa and thymus weights were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, AfB and AfT followed by Af, while higher spleen weight was recorded in group AfT. Mean antibody titer against ND, IB and IBD was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT, as compared to other groups. It is concluded that milk thistle at 10 g/kg of feed could effectively be utilized as immunostimulant and growth promotant in the presence of immunosuppressant aflatoxin $B_1$ in the feed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2012

We surveyed 23 sites of Jinhae Bay in spring and summer 2010 in order to study the correlation between the variation of environmental factors, including salinity, temperature, and nutrients and the characteristics of phytoplankton community structures in summer stratification. Phytoplankton biomass was high in the surface water in summer; however, it was very low in the bottom water. The results showed a negative correlation between chlorophyll a (chl. a) and nutrients (silicate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and phosphate) or nutrients ratio in summer; however, there was mostly a positive correlation between chl. a and these nutrients in spring. This inconsistent correlation between spring and summer was attributed to the phytoplankton community, because a diverse phytoplankton community has different nutrient uptake abilities. In addition, the results of CCA (canonical correspondence analysis) showed a negative correlation between phosphate and dominant species, including Chaetoceros spp., Skeletonema costatum-like spp., and Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima in summer, but a strong positive correlation between DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) and the dominant species, including Cryptomonas spp. and Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata in spring. Consistently, the dominant algal species in summer showed a relatively smaller size cells compared with those in spring, suggested that it may have related with the low nutrient levels at surface layer due to strong stratified water column of summer.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.280-291
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• 2011

Bottom-up approaches to control of Microcystis aeruginosa blooms were comparatively investigated through an in situ mesocosm experiment using aquatic plants (Iris pseudoacorus). In the mesocosm experiments, floating I. pseudoacorus, seemed to be effective in controlling massive M. aeruginosa blooms in an agricultural reservoir, exhibiting a close coupling with temporal variations in Chl-a and DO concentration. Shading by floating I. pseudoacorus resulted in a reduced phytoplankton abundance inhibiting light energy availability. Moreover, I. pseudoacorus may suppress phytoplankton growth through the excretion of chemical substances, likes a allelopathy, that inhibit phytoplankton photosynthetic activity. The $^{15}N$ atom % of I. pseudoacorus showed higher values than POM, suggesting that I. pseudoacorus assimilates DIN predominantly compared to phytoplankton, which was mostly M. aeruginosa. This result strongly suggests that the M. aeruginosa bloom should be regulated by aquatic plants, like I. pseudoacorus, this approach can affect zooplankton composition. This is the first study that has used stable isotope tracers to evaluate the biomanipulation efficiency through floating I. pseudoacorus.