• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2016

Nepeta cataria L. has been used in traditional medicine of some countries. Here the cytotoxic and apoptogenic activity of methanol extracts, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and acqueous extracts and the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of the plant were evaluated with PC3, DU-145 and MCF-7 cell lines. Cell viability, histograms of PI stained fragmented DNA in apoptotic cells and Western blot analysis of proteins involved in the cascade of apoptosis were compared in all samples. Thirty components were identified as volatile, representing 99.7% of essential oil composition after GC-MS analysis of the oil obtained from aerial parts of the N. cataria by hydro-distillation. The major oil components of the essential oil were nepetalactone stereoisomers. Comparing IC50 values showed estrogen receptor positive PC3 cells were more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of N. cataria in comparison with low hormone-receptor presenting DU-145 cells. Among multiple extracts and essential oils of the plant, only the ethyl acetate extract could significantly decrease cell viability in PC3 cells, in a concentration dependent manner. Ethyl acetate extract of N. cataria treated cells showed a sub-G1 peak in PC3 cells in a concentration dependent manner that indicates the involvement of an apoptotic process in ethyl acetate extract-induced cell death. Western blotting analysis showed that in PC3 cells treated with ethyl acetate (48 h) caspase 3 and PARP were cleaved to active forms. Overall, the results suggest that further analytical elucidation of N. cataria in respect to finding new cytotoxic chemicals with anti-tumor activity is warranted.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2006

Two sulfur-based column reactors inoculated with a bacterial consortium containing autotrophic denitrifiers were operated for 100 and 500 days, respectively and nitrate removal efficiency and the adaptation of microbial communities in the columns were monitored with column depths and time. For better understanding the adaptation phenomenon, molecular techniques including 16S rDNA sequencing and DGGE analysis were employed. Although both columns showed about 99% of nitrate removal efficiency heterotrophic denitrifiers such as Cenibacterium arsenioxidans and Geothrix fermentans were found to a significant portion at the initial stage of the 100-day reactor operation. However, as operation time increased, an autotrophic denitrifier Thiobacillus denitrificans became a dominant bacterial species throughout the column. A similar trend was also observed in the 500-day column. In addition, nitrate removal efficiencies were different with column depths and thus bacterial species with different metabolic activities were found at the corresponding depths. Especially, T. denitrificans was successfully adapted and colonized at the bottom parts of the columns where most nitrate was reduced.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.723-728
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• 2006

The species of Grateloupia filicina, Grateloupia divaricata in East Sea were investigated taxonmically in order to clarify taxonomic position. The ecological character, external morphology, anatomy of vegetative structure. Blade length are $15{\sim}40\;cm$, erect from discoidal holdfast of $3{\sim}10\;mm$ in diameter. Stipe $1{\sim}2.5\;cm$ long, narrowly cylindrical below, compressed above Grateloupia filicina. Main axis are long and compressed, $3{\sim}7\;mm$ broad in broadest part. Colors are scarlet to light red. Blade length are $10{\sim}25\;cm$, erect from discoidal holdfast of $3{\sim}8\;cm$ in diameter Grateloupia divaricata. Stipe are single and simple $2{\sim}5\;mm$ broad. Thallus composed of cortex and medulla in section ; cortex composed of $9{\sim}10$ layers of anticlinally arranged cortical cell, divided into outer, middle and inner parts. Partial fragments of nuclear 18S rDNAs from the two species of Grateloupia (Rhodophyta) were amplified using the PCR reaction and sequenced to compare their similarity. The partial sequences showed 98.9% similarity each other. Grateloupia filicina has 371 bp sizes and Grateloupia divaricata has 372 bp size. The G+C contents of Grateloupia filicina is 54.3% and Grateloupia divaricata is 53.64%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.749-757
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• 2016

This study was carried out to reveal the genetic population structure of the Jeju Island population and the phylogenetic relationship of East Asian populations of the large-footed bat (Myotis macrodactylus) based on the genetic polymorphisms of mitochondrial cytochrome B (CYTB) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene sequences. A total of fourteen and nine haplotypes were found in the CYTB and ND1 sequences from East Asian bats, respectively. Haplotype distribution showed locality specific patterns. The results from ND1 haplotype analysis showed that the Jeju Island population has four haplotypes: the Mt. Halla and Western subpopulations have three ND1 haplotypes, but the Eastern subpopulation has just a single haplotype Nd03, which is commonly found on this island. The neighbor-joining (NJ) tree showed the closer relationship between Jeju Island and Japan rather than that between Jeju and Gangwon-do Province. The divergence time between the maternal ancestor lineages of Japanese and Chinese populations was estimated to be 0.789±0.063 MYBP. The secondary divergence between Jeju and Japanese bats was calculated about to be 0.168±0.013 MYBP. The Jeju population has immigrated to the island at least fifty thousand years ago. In addition, ND1 haplotype analysis suggested that the insular bats have experienced at least two further genetic differentiation events within this island. Consequently, these findings suggested that the results of this study may play a critical role in understanding the phylogenetic relationship among East Asian bat populations of M. macrodactylus. To prepare more explainable information on evolutionary correlation, analysis is still required to examine using expanded samples from China, Russia, and southern parts of the Korean Peninsula.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2012

In the present study, an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fungal endophytes inhabiting $Emblica$ $officinalis$ has been made keeping in view the medicinal importance of the selected host plant in Indian traditional practices. A total of four endophytic fungi belonging to Phylum Ascomycetes were isolated from different parts of the plant which were characterized morphologically and by using rDNA-internal transcribed spacer. The most frequently isolated endophyte was $Phomopsis$ sp. The antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay, and total phenol were evaluated using ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi. DPPH activities in all the ethanolic extract increased with the increase in concentrations. Endophytes, $Phomopsis$ sp. and $Xylaria$ sp. showed highest antioxidant activity and also had the higher levels of phenolics. Antimicrobial activity of fungal extract were tested against four bacteria namely, $Escherichia$ $coli$ MTCC730, $Enteroccocus$ $faecalis$ MTCC2729, $Salmonella$ $enterica$ ser. $paratyphi$ MTCC735 and $Streptococcus$ $pyogenes$ MTCC1925, and the fungus $Candida$ $albicans$ MTCC183. In general, the fungal extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms except $E.$ $coli$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.651-658
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• 2010

Garcinia is commonly found in Malaysia, but limited information is available regarding endophytic fungi associated with this plant. In this study, 24 endophytic fungi were successfully recovered from different parts of two Garcinia species. Characterization of endophytic fungi was performed based on the conserved internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequence analysis and the antimicrobial properties. Results revealed that fruits of the plant appeared to be the highest inhabitation site (38%) as compared with others. Glomerella sp., Guignardia sp., and Phomopsis sp. appeared to be the predominant endophytic fungi group in Garcinia mangostana and Garcinia parvifolia. Phylogenetic relationships of the isolated endophytic fungi were estimated from the sequences of the ITS region. On the other hand, antibacterial screening showed 11 of the isolates possessed positive response towards pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria. However, there was no direct association between certain antibacterial properties with the specific genus observed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Immigration to South Korea from neighboring Asian countries has risen dramatically, primarily due to marriage between Korean men and foreign women. Although Filipino women rank fourth among married immigrant women, little is known about the health condition of this population. This manuscript focuses on the design and methods of Filipino women's diet and health study (FiLWHEL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: FiLWHEL is a cohort of Filipino women married to Korean men, aged 19 years old or over. The data collection comprised three parts: questionnaire, physical examination, and biospecimen collection. Questionnaires focused on demographic factors, diet, other health-related behaviors, acculturation and immigration-related factors, medical history, quality of life, and children's health information. Participants visited the recruitment site and answered the structured questionnaires through a face-to-face interview. We also measured their anthropometric features and collected fasting blood samples, toenails, and DNA samples. Recruitment started in 2014. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Collection of data is ongoing, and we plan to prospectively follow our cohort participants. We expect that our study, which is focused on married Filipino women immigrants, can elucidate nutritional/health status and the effects of transitional experiences from several lifestyle factors.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.76-90
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• 2017

Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae Kitam. is an endemic taxon of Korea and is protected by law as an endanger taxon. The genetic information of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae is unavailable in Genbank. Here we sequenced chloroplast genome of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae. The cp-genome of Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae was 152,446 bps in size: LSC was 84,240 bps, IR 25,005 bps, SSC 18,196 bps. The cp-genome contains 112 genes and 21 introns consisted of 79 protein coding genes(PCGs), 4 RNA genes, and 29 tRNA genes, with 20 group II introns and one group I intron. There were three pseudo-genes including ${\psi}$-ycf1, ${\psi}$-rps19, and ${\psi}$-trnT_GGU. Eighteen genes, five introns, and parts of two genes and an intron are found within the IR, which has two copies. The cp-DNA of Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae is distinguished from A. spathulifolius, only known cp-genome of the genus Aster, by 172 SNP in genic regions of 43 PCGs and 21 indels in 11 PCGs and SSU. The chloroplast genome sequence was deposited at GenBank (KX35265).

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2017

We firstly described a box jellyfish, Carybdea brevipedalia collected from the southern coasts of Korea. It is morphologically characterized by gastric phacellae, a special digestive system of cubozoan jellyfish, and velarium, the thin muscle flap forming the opening of the subumbrellar cavity. The phacellae are linear-shaped, comprising numerous cirri branched from multiple roots. Each root also has multiple numbers of cirrus bundles. Basis of velarial cannels parts into two branches in each octant of velarium. Its geographic distributions were limited to Jeju-do and the middle-southern coasts where the organisms are seriously hazardous to bathers in summer. Numerous individuals and/or large-sized populations were observed specifically from beaches at Jeju-do, Namhae-do and a small fishing port of Namildae, while only a small amount of the individuals was observed in Gamak Bay, Jaran-Goseung Bay, and Geoje-do. We confirmed molecular identity of the Korean C. brevipedalia with comparison of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. Until now, Carybdea brevipedalia is the only cubozoan species reported to be distributed in Korean waters.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-73
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• 1983

The age related changes in the life cycle of the progenitor cell population of murine oral epithelia was studied. Using radioautographic methods which have been adopted in previous cell cycle studies, the age-related changes of different phases in renewing cells of the palatal, buccal and lingual mucosae were determined. The results confirm published findings on cell cycle changes of epithelia with aging and illustrated further that mitotic phase which has hither to been considered stationary, also changes with aging. The major parts revealed by this study are as follows: 1) The basal progenitor cells in different regions of oral mucosa have different generation times. 2) The basal cell cycle time increases as a function of aging and the region most affected by aging appears to be the epithelium of the cheek. 3) The phases of the cell cycle affected by the process of aging are in increasing order of magnitude: M-, S- and G₁-phase. 4) The age elated change in the number of DNA synthesizing basal progenitor cells occurs at two age periods. Between 1 and 12 months of life it decreases, while from 12 to 20 months it increases.