• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 1982

Ginsenosides in epidermis·cortex(EC) and xylem-pith(XP) of main body of Panax ginseng(var. atropurpureacaulo) root were investigated in relation to dark purple area on stem. Pattern of ginsenosides, ratio of protopanaxatriol(PT) to diol(PD) and total ginsenoside content were significantly different between EC ana XP, and not related with stem color. The increasing trend of total ginsenosides with decreasing in purple area on stem needs to be tested with greater sample size. The order of ginsenoside content was $Rb_1>Rg_1>Re>Rc>Rg_2>Rb_2>Rf>Rd$ for EC, $Rg_1>Rb_1>Rg_2>Re>Rb_2>Rc>Rf>Rd$ for XP. PT/PD was 1.08 for EC,1.95 for XP. Since total ginsenoside content was 3 times higher in EC than in XP and weight of two parts was almost same, the content of ginsenosides of main body mostly depends on those of EC.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2010

Toxicity assessment of ocean dumping wastes (dye waste, urban sewage, food waste) were examined in the fertilization and embryo development rates of the Sea Urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. Spawning was induced by injecting 1 mL of 0.5 M KCl into coelomic cavity. Males released white or cream-colored sperms and females released yellow or orange-colored eggs. Experiments were began within 30 min the collection of both gametes. The fertilization and embryo development rates test were performed for 10 min and 64 h after fertilization, respectively. The fertilization and embryo development rates in the control condition (not including ocean dumping wastes sludge elutriate) were greater than 90%, but suddenly decreased with increasing of ocean dumping waste sludge elutriate concentrations. The fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates were significantly inhibited in all waste sludge elutriate from dye waste ($EC_{50}$=4.37; $EC_{50}$=1.76), urban sewage ($EC_{50}$=5.79; $EC_{50}$=2.00) and food waste ($EC_{50}$=7.68; $EC_{50}$=2.16), respectively. The NOEC (<3.13) and LOEC (3.13) of fertiliztion and normal embryogenesis rates very similar in all waste sludge elutriate. These results suggest that biological assay using the fertilization and embryo development rates of H. pulcherrimus are very useful test method for the ecological toxicity assessment of ocean dumping wastes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1997.06c
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• pp.89-98
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• 1997

This study was conducted to develop an automatic nutrient-solution control system for small-scale growers. The nutrient-solution control system consisted of a low-cost and precise metering device and a personal computer. The system controlled electric conductivity(EC) and pH of nutrient-solution based on the time-based feedback control method with the information about temperature, EC, and pH of the nutrient-soIution. The performance of the nutrient-solution control system was evaluated through the control of EC and pH while compared with those of commercial nutrient-solution control system. Also an experimental cultivation of tomato was conducted to verify and to improve the developed system. Results of this study were as follows. 1. An automatic nutrient-solution control system based on a low-cost and precise metering device was developed. 2. The developed system controlled EC and pH within $\pm$0.05 mS/cm and $\pm$0.2 pH full scale error respectively at $24^{/circ}C$. 3. When using the commercial system, the controlled values of EC and pH of the 500l of water were 1.29 mS/cm and 6.1 pH for the setting points of 1.4 mS/cm and 6.0 pH respectively at $22^{/circ}C$. 4. The developed nutrient-solution control system showed $\pm$0.05 mS/cm of deviation from the setting EC value over the experimental cultivation period. 5. The deviation from the average values of Ca and Mg mass content in the several nutrient-solution were 0.5% and 1.8% respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9831-9834
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• 2014

Background: The prevalence of esophageal cancer (EC) with second primary cancers (SPC) is increasing worldwide. This study was aimed to understand the clinical features of EC patients with SPC in the Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods: Clinical and laboratory data for 180 EC patients with or without SPC were collected between January 2009 and December 2013. Information on treatment approaches, location of SPCs and ABO blood type were also collected and stratified. Results: The most common SPC in EC patients was hypopharyngeal cancer, followed by laryngeal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma in our study. Malignancies of colon, prostate and lung were also found. There was a significant higher portion of blood type A in the EC patients with SPC compared with those without (42.4% vs 19.5%, P=0.006). Conclusions: The frequency and SPC site distribution and blood type A should be considered in clinical evaluation of EC patients with a high risk of developing SPC in the Taiwanese population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.475-483
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• 2015

Genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) have important roles in human oncology. However, most of the biological factors are reported in disperse form which makes it hard to discover the pathology. In this study, genes and miRNAs involved in human endometrial cancer(EC) were collected and formed into regulatory networks following their interactive relations, including miRNAs targeting genes, transcription factors (TFs) regulating miRNAs and miRNAs included in their host genes. Networks are constructed hierarchically at three levels: differentially expressed, related and global. Among the three, the differentially expressed network is the most important and fundamental network that contains the key genes and miRNAs in EC. The target genes, TFs and miRNAs are differentially expressed in EC so that any mutation in them may impact on EC development. Some key pathways in networks were highlighted to analyze how they interactively influence other factors and carcinogenesis. Upstream and downstream pathways of the differentially expressed genes and miRNAs were compared and analyzed. The purpose of this study was to partially reveal the deep regulatory mechanisms in EC using a new method that combines comprehensive genes and miRNAs together with their relationships. It may contribute to cancer prevention and gene therapy of EC.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2018

Elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) mass concentrations in PM2.5 were measured from March through October 2015 in Taehwa Research Forest (TRF). The concentration of carbon in the TRF was $3.4{\mu}g/m^3$ and the concentration of EC was $1.4{\mu}g/m^3$. Also the concentration of $OC_{sec}$ was the highest at $2.84{\mu}g/m^3$ in the summer and the lowest at 1.66 in the spring. The ratio of the secondary generation OC in the total OC was the highest at 62% in the summer. Monthly OC concentration was the lowest at $2.38{\mu}g/m^3$ in April and the highest at $6.60{\mu}g/m^3$ in July. In case of EC concentration was the lowest in April ($0.98{\mu}g/m^3$) and the highest in July ($3.41{\mu}g/m^3$). The OC/EC ratio showed the lowest ratio in March and the highest rate in September. It is suggested that the secondary generation reaction of OC component was active due to sufficient irradiation amount in summer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6517-6521
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• 2012

To analyze the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness and chemotherapy sensitivity of EC9706 cells after K-Ras gene silencing, an expression carrier pSilencer-siK-Ras was constructed, and the EC9706 cell line was transfected using a liposome technique. Six groups were established: Control, siRNA NC (transfected with empty vector pSilencer2.1); Ras siRNA (transfected with pSilencer-siK-Ras2); Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel + siRNA NC; and Ras siRNA + Paclitaxel. After the treatment, RT-PCR, Western blotting, MTT assay, flow cytometry and the Transwell technique were used to assess expression of K-Ras mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells, as well as cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and invasiveness. The effect of Paclitaxel chemotherapy was also tested. pSilencer-siK-Ras2 effectively down-regulated expression of K-Ras mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells, growth being significantly inhibited. Flow cytometry indicated obvious apoptosis of cells in the experimental group, with arrest in the G1 phase; cell migration ability was also reduced. After pSilencer-siK-Ras2 transfection or the addition of Paclitaxel, EC9706 cells were suppressed to different extents; the suppressive effect was strengthened by combined treatment. The results suggested that RNAi-induced K-Ras gene silencing could enhance chemotherapy sensitivity of esophageal cancer.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.9-17
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• 2011

Positive effect of multiple-PGPR (Plan Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria), isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil, on the germination of Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) was quantitatively estimated in 5 heavy metal (Cd, As, Ni, Cu, and Pb) contaminated liquid medium. The $EC_{50}$ value for respective heavy metal was estimated by TSK (Trimmed Speraman-Karber) model based on germination rate. The results showed overall increase in $EC_{50}$ with PGPR inoculation. The $EC_{50}$ value increased 1.4% from 96.0 mg/L (control) to 97.4 mg/L (PGPR-treated) in As contaminated medium. In Ni contaminated medium, the $EC_{50}$ value increased 31.9% from 148.0 mg/L (control) to 195.2 mg/L (PGPR-treated), while the $EC_{50}$ showed 4.8% increase from 63.4 mg/L (control) to 66.5 mg/L (PGPR-treated) in Cu medium. Overall seedling growth was stronger in the PGPR treated seeds than that in the control, but positive effect on seedling growth was not conspicuous. At effective concentration of 100 mg/L, the average seedling length of the PGPR treatment in As, Cd, Cu, and Ni medium, respectively, was 1.13, 0.14, 0.40, and 0.06 cm longer than that in the control. However, the increase of seedling growth was statistically insignificant (p < 0.05). These results suggest that inoculation of the isolated-PGPR exerts positive effects on seed germination by reducing heavy metal toxicity and can be an effective tool for application of phytoremediation on heavy metal contaminated soils.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.297-302
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• 2002

The effects of eggshell pigmentation and egg size (medium and large) on the spectral properties and characteristics of eggshells were examined in eggs from two genetic groups of breeder flocks. Birds from meat (Hybro, pigmented eggshell, PES) and layer (Leghorn, non-pigmented eggshell, NPES) at 40 and 46 weeks of age, respectively, were used. Measurements of per cent shell (PS), shell thickness (ST), shell volume (SV), shell density (SD), egg shell conductance (EC) and physical dimensions of eggs were made. The spectral properties of eggshells were measured over the wavelength (WL) range of 200 to 1,100 nm. Eggshell absorbed approximately 99.8 percent of the light and transmitted only about 0.12 percent with a maximum light transmission at the near-infra-red region of about 1075 nm. It attenuated shorter WL and transmitted longer WL. Eggshell pigmentation and egg size influenced light transmission into the egg. The NPES had higher EC and transmission of light and lower PS and SD than those of the PES. Large size eggs had higher EC, SD, SV, transmission of light and egg physical dimensions than those of medium size eggs. It is concluded that genetic make up of birds and egg size influenced eggshell characteristics including EC and that, as a consequence, the difference in the spectral properties of eggshells. The pigmentation of eggshell influenced the amount and WL transmitted into the egg. The size and EC of eggs influenced the amount of light transmitted through the eggshell. EC is a good indicator for the ability of eggshell to transmit light.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.825-833
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• 2002

The effects of dietary supplementation of Eleutherococcus senticosus, taurine and carnitine on maximal endurance exercise performance along with other related parameters were evaluated in rats that underwent aerobic exercise training for 6 weeks. Thirty-two male rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups, and fed experimental diets and/or aerobic exercise trained according to the protocol: SC (sedentary control group), EC (exercise-trained control group), EE (exercise-trained Eleutherococcus senticosus-supplemented group), and EETC (exercise-trained Eleutherococcus senticosus, taurine and carnitine-supplemented group). The food efficiency ratio of EC rats was significantly lower than the value for SC rats (p < 0.01). Exercise-trained control animals (92 $\pm$ 8.8 min) could run significantly longer until exhausted on the treadmill than sedentary control rats (11 $\pm$ 0.8 min) (p < 0.001). Animals fed an Eleutherococcus senticosus-supplemented diet, and an Eleuthherococcus sonticosus, taurine and carnitine- supplemented diet while undergoing aerobic exercise training for 6 weeks exhibited, respectively, 8 and 5 minutes longer running performance until exhausted than the rats fed the control diet. The gastrocnemius muscle glycogen concentration of the rats, measured at 48 hours post maximal exercise performance test, was 43% higher in EC rats than the value for SC rats (p < 0.05), but was not different among EC, EE, and EETC rats. The mitochondrial citrate synthase activity of the soleus muscle was significantly higher in EC rats compared to the value for SC rats (p < 0.01), and showed a tendency to increase, without statistical significance, in EE or EETC rats compared to the value for EC rats. These results indicate that aerobic exercise training for 6 weeks significantly improved maximal exercise performance, muscle glycogen content along with citrate synthase activity, which are important in the energy metabolism of muscle under aerobic exercise. Dietary supplementation of Eleutherococcus senticosus in rats while undergoing aerobic exercise training improved maximal endurance exercise performance without significantly affecting muscle glycogen content and enzyme activities involved in energy metabolism during exercise. Taurine and carnitine supplementation failed to show an additive effect on maximal endurance exercise performance when consumed along with Eleutherococcus senticosus.