• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2018

Objective: In this study, we investigated the adverse effects of dietary zearalenone (ZEA) (0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg diet) on the localization and expression of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) in the uteri of post-weaning gilts and explored alternative mechanism of the reproductive toxicity of ZEA on piglets. Methods: A total of forty healthy piglets (Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White) aged 28 d were selected for study. Piglets were transferred to single cages after 10 days' adaptation on an obstetric table. The animals were allocated to one of four treatments: a normal basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 0.5 (ZEA0.5), 1.0 (ZEA1.0), or 1.5 (ZEA1.5) mg/kg purified ZEA, and fed for 35 d after the 10-d adaptation. Analyzed ZEA concentrations in the diets were 0, $0.52{\pm}0.07$, $1.04{\pm}0.03$, and $1.51{\pm}0.13mg/kg$, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, piglets were euthanized after being fasted for 12 h. Two samples of uterine tissue from each pig were rapidly collected, one of which was stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ for analysis of the relative mRNA and protein expression of GHR, and the second was promptly fixed in Bouin's solution for immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The relative weight of the uteri and thickness of the myometrium and endometrium increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.001) with an increasing level of ZEA. The results of immunohistochemical analysis indicated that GHR immunoreactive substance was mainly localizated in the cytoplasm of uterine smooth muscle, glandular epithelial, luminal epithelial, stromal, and vascular endothelial cells. In contrast, nuclear staining was rarely observed. The immunoreactive integrated optic density of GHR in the myometrium, luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, and whole uteri of weaning gilts increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.05) with an increasing level of ZEA. The mRNA and protein expression of GHR in the uteri of weaning gilts increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.05) with an increasing level of ZEA. Conclusion: In conclusion, ZEA at a concentration of 0.5 mg/kg was sufficient to significantly thicken the myometrium and endometrium, and at a concentration of 1.0 mg/kg induced a high level of GHR expression to promote growth and development of the uteri. This revealed an alternative molecular mechanism whereby ZEA induces growth and development of the uteri and provides a theoretical basis for the revision of Chinese feed hygiene standards.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.1-26
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• 2017

In the meantime, research on corporate informatization focuses on the completeness of information technology itself and its financial effects, so there is insufficient research on whether information technology can support business strategy. It is necessary to verify whether the management strategy implementation of the company can be led through the informatization of the enterprise and the relation between the main mechanism factors and the informatization performance. In this study, what a mechanism factor is applied in the process of result creation of informatization from three mechanism perspectives such as selecting mechanism, learning mechanism and coordinating mechanism with cases of representative domestic IT company and what an importance mechanism factors have been ascertained. This study results in 8 propositions. For a main agent of companies, securement of information capability of organizations has been selected to realize informatization results and investment of informatization has been selected to solve organizational decentralization problems as the most important factor. Additionally, as competition in the industry gets fierce, investment on informatization has been changed to a utility way of implementation of strategies and decision on investment has been made through the official process and information technology. Differentiated company capability has been made based on acquisition of technical knowledge and company information has been expanded to its whole employees through the information system. Also, informatization change management and outside subcontractor management have been acknowledged as an important adjustment factor of company. The first implication of this study is that since case studies on mechanism factors that preceding studies on informatization results did not empirically cover have directly been dealt with based on experiences of executives in charge of business and in charge of informatization, this study can provide practical views about factors that should be mainly managed for informatization results of IT companies. Secondly, since ser-M framework has been applied for IT companies for the first time, this study can academically contribute to companies in other fields about main mechanism factors for result creation of informatization based on deeper understanding and empirical cases.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.180-190
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• 2014

It has been customary to exclude top 10-20% of velocity profiles in the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurement due to side lobe effects at the boundary. To better understand the mixing in the Yeongsan estuary, the freshwater advection speed (FAS) was recovered from highly contaminated ADCP data near the surface. The velocity profiles were measured by using ADCP at two stations in the Yeongsan estuary during August 2011: one was located in front of the Yeongsan estuarine dam and the other was deployed near Goha Island. The FAS was recovered from the ADCP data set by applying rigorous post-processing methods and compared with the sediment advection speed (SAS). The SAS was determined by the peak time difference of suspended sediment concentration between two stations in the channel, divided by the distance of two stations. The FAS and the SAS showed very similar value when the freshwater discharge was greater than $2.0{\times}10^7$ ton and the SAS was a bit greater when the freshwater discharge was smaller. Since the FAS was on average about 0.8 m/s greater than the velocity at 0.8 of water depth from the bottom, the net discharge, estimated with recovered FAS and integrated over water depth and tidal cycle, was directed seaward during the high discharge contrary to the onshore direction of the net discharge estimated with 0.8 of water depth from the bottom. Moreover, the velocity shear and Richardson number changed when the FAS was used. Thus, the importance of the true FAS is appreciated in the investigation of the surface layer stability. If currents, temperature and salinity were observed for longer time in the future, it could be possible to more accurately understand the formation and decay of stratification as well as the suspended sediment transport processes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.4
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• pp.710-721
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• 2012

This study is to find out the search of the desirable tree cutting permit system by investigating and analyzing timber logger's consciousness in Korea. A sample group, including 64 officers in 5 Regional Forest Services and 27 National Forest Stations, 161 local government of 322 officers and team leaders with cutting permits, and 308 tree loggers was surveyed. The survey results showed that the ongoing harvest year plan for national, public and private-type forests, which was applied differently, could be integrated as 3.73 points, which was not significant among the groups. A total of 95.1% of the national forest officers stated that the environmentally friendly harvesting system could be improved and that it is exempted from bad broadleaf trees and renewal of forest type (4.14 points). An environmentally friendly harvesting system including the type of forest and location status (slide, soil, etc) is needed (3.87 points). Additionally, the round timber purchased from tree loggers managed in 2009 was about 10.6% of the domestic timber supply ($3,176,000m^3$) and round timber sales were about 50.1%. A total of 72% of the loggers suggested that a environmentally friendly harvesting system is needed (4.11 points). These results show that a new system for harvesting timber is needed to replace the current environmentally unfriendly harvesting system, and that tree loggers should be registered for management.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2006

To understand the status of water quality and work out a suitable countermeasures in Seonakdong watershed which has poor agro- environmental condition because of severe point and non-point source pollution by popularized city and near sea, we investigated the pollution sources and water quality from '03 and '05 and the result were mapped with GIS and RS for end-users's convenient comprehense and conjunction of water quality and geological data. The most degraded tributary was Hogeo stream which was affected directly by highly popularized Gimhae city, the main pollution source of the watershed. The pollution of tributaries in watershed increased the T-N of main body that reached over 4 mg/L during dry season. Pyeonggang stream and the lower part of main water way were suffered from high salt contents induced near sea and the EC value of those area were increased to 2.25 dS/m. The delivered loads of T-N and T-P were largest in Joman river as 56% and 61% of total delivered loads 1mm tributaries because of lots of stream flow. When Management mandate for irrigation water in Seonakdong river watershed was mapped for estimating integrated water quality as the basis of classification of EC and T-N contents in water, Hogeo and Shineo catchments were showed the requiring countermeasures none against nutrients hazard and Pyeonggang catchment was the vulnerable zone against nutrients and salts hazard. As the result, Seonakdong watershed had very various status of water quality by characteristics of catchments and countermeasures for improving water quality and crop productivity safely should changed depend on that.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Individual ion concentrations and ionic contributions to EC reading in the circulated nutrient solution are the important factors to be considered for stable EC-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to determine appropriate ion-analysis intervals of the circulated nutrient solutions based on ion concentration, ion balance, and ion electrical conductivity under different renewal intervals in EC-based nutrient control systems for sweet peppers (Capsicum annum L. 'Fiesta') in early growth stage. Average node numbers of the plants were 13 and 18 when the experiment started and finished, respectively, and three plants were grown in each rockwool slab. Four different renewal intervals of circulated nutrient solutions such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were used as treatment. Nutrient solutions were supplied to the plants based on integrated radiation. Drainage was collected into drain tanks after irrigation ended in the day and then mixed with fresh water until the EC reaches 2.69 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The replenished nutrient solution was supplied to the plants in the next day. Ion concentrations of the individual ions periodically analyzed in the circulated nutrient solutions showed no significant differences among the treatments during the experimental period. Ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, and $Cl^-$ varied within 5-8, 11-14, 2.0-2.7, 0.5-0.6, 14-19, 4-5, 1-4, and 0.3-0.5 $meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance showed a consistent tendency over all the treatments and especially $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ : ${PO_4}^{3-}$ played great roles in the cation and anion balances in the nutrient solutions, respectively. Activity coefficients of ions such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ varied within 0.8-0.9 and those of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ varied within 0.5-0.6, showing little changes with time. Ionic contributions of $K^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$ to EC reading were the greatest followed by $Ca^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ in the order. From the results, we thought that allowable ranges in ion concentration, ion balance, and subsequent individual ionic contributions to EC reading would be obtained within 4-week renewal interval of nutrient solution in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

The study aimed to determine effects of light emitting diode (LED) and the ultraviolet radiation (UVA) light of plant factory on plant growth and ascorbic acid content of spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv. Shusiro). Plants were grown in a NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system for 28 days after transplanting with fluorescent light (FL, control), LEDs and UVA (Blue+UVA (BUV), Red and Blue (R:B(2:1)) + UVA (RBUV), Red+UVA (RUV), White LED (W), Red and Blue (R:B(2:1)), Blue (B), Red (R)) under the same light intensity ($130{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$) and photoperiod (16/8h = day/night). All the light sources containing the R (R, RB, RUV, and RBUV) showed leaf epinasty symptom at 21 days after transplanting (DAT). Under the RUV treatment, the lengths of leaf and leaf petiole were significantly reduced and the leaf width was increased, lowering the leaf shape index, compared to the R treatment. Under the BUV, however, the lengths of leaf and leaf petiole were increased significantly, and the leaf number was increased compared to B. Under the RBUV treatment, the leaf length was significantly shorter than other treatments, while no significant difference between the RBUV and RB for the fresh and dry weights and leaf area. Dry weights at 28 days after transplanting were significantly higher in the R, RUV and BUV treatments than those in the W and FL. The leaf area was significantly higher under the BUV treatment. The ascorbic acid content of the 28 day-old spinach under the B was significantly higher, followed by the BUV, and significantly lower in FL and R. All the integrated data suggest that the BUV light seems to be the most suitable for growth and quality of hydroponically grown spinach in a plant factory.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2011

Animal manure is produced annually 43.7 million tonnes in Korea. Among them, about 85.6 % are used as compost or liquid fertilizer to the agricultural land. The animal manure can be effectively utilized by mixing with organic byproducts that result in generation of biogas from anaerobic co-digestion process. This study aimed to optimize the content of total solid materials (TS) and determine the effect of organic byproduct on the co-digestion process. Prior to the byproduct treatments, determination of proper content of TS was conducted by controlling at 5 or 10 %. For the byproduct treatments, swine manure without adding the byproduct was used for control treatment, and swine manure mixed with either corn silage or kitchen waste was used for other treatments. Volume of biomethane ($CH_4$) generated from digested materials was quantified before and after byproduct treatments. In result, a 1.4-fold higher biomethane, about 0.556 L/$L{\cdot}d$, was produced when the content of TS was controlled at 10 %, compared at 5 %, about 0.389 L/$L{\cdot}d$. When the swine manure was mixed with the corn silage or kitchen waste, a two-fold higher biomethane was produced, about 1.theand 1.0heL/$L{\cdot}d$, respectively, compared to the control treatment. Biogas production from organic dry matter (odm) was a3, 362eand 2h6 L/kg odm${\cdot}$d for control, corn silage, and kitchen waste treatment, respectively. The lower biogas production in the treatment of kitchen waste than that of corn silage is associated with its relatively high odm contents. The methane concentration during the whole process ranged from 40 at the beginning to 70 % at the end of process for both the control and kitchen waste treatments, and ranged from 52 to 70 % for the corn silage treatment. Hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) concentration ranged between 350 and 500 ppm. All the integrated results indicate that addition of organic byproduct into animal manure can double the generation of biogas from anaerobic fermentation process.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2007

By using DEM and digital actual vegetation map with MGE GIS software program, topographic features (altitude, slope, latitude, etc.) quantitatively were analysed and their data integrated as the index of climatic conditions (WI, CI, air temperature, etc.) in South Korea. Warmth Index (WI) decreases $5.27^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ with latitudinal $1^{\circ} degree, and $3.41^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ with attitudinal 100 m increase. The relationship between CI and WI values is expressed as a linear regression, $WI=116.01+0.96{\times}CI,\;R^2=0.996$. The distributional peaks of different plant communities along Warmth Index gradient showed the sequence of Abies nephrolepis, Taxus cuspidata, Abies koreana, Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora, Q. dentata, C. tschonoskii, Q. serrate, Pinus densiflora, Q. aliena, Q. variabilis, Q. acutissima, P. thunbergii, Q. acute, Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii, Camellia japonica, Machilus thunbergii community from lower to higher values. The Quercus mongolica forest occurred frequently on E-NW and SE slope aspect within WI $70{\sim}80^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ optimal range at mesic sites, NW and SE slope than xeric sites S and SW slope. The Q. serrata forest showed the most distributional frequency in NW and W slope aspect within WI $90{\sim}100^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ range, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima forest showed the high frequency of distribution in SE slope in WI $95{\sim}100^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ range. By the slope gradient analysis, five groups were found: 1. Abies nephrolepis, Machilus thunbergii, 2. Taxus cuspidata, Abies koreana, Quercus mongolica, Q. dentata, Q. serrata, Q. variabilis, Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii 3. Pinus densiflora, Q. aliena, Q. acutissima, P. thunbergii, Q. acuta 4. Carpinus laxiflora, Camellia japonica 5. C. tschonoskii from steep slope to gentle slope sequence.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.509-516
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• 2017

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts (PFS) is a plant of the labiatae family. The purpose of this work was to assess the preventive effects of PFS ethanolic extracts (PFSEs) on cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage. Cytokines, which are released by the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the pancreatic islets, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The combination of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-1), interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of intracellular ROS led to ${\beta}$-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. PFSEs possess antioxidant activity and thus lead to downregulation of ROS generation. Cytokines decrease cell viability, stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and induce the production of nitric oxide (NO). PFSEs prevented cytokine-induced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with PFSE resulted in significant reduction in cytokine-induced NO production that correlated with reduced levels of the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, PFSE significantly decreased the activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. In summary, our results suggest that the protective effects of PFSE might serve to counteract cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell destruction. Findings indicate that consumption of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage and thus has beneficial anti-diabetic effects.