• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.361-365
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• 2012

Anti-tumor activity of the proteins from Gecko (GP) on cervical cancer cells, and its signaling mechanisms were assessed by viable cell counting, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Western blot analysis. GP induced the cell death of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner while it did not affect the viability of normal cells. Western blot analysis showed that GP decreased the activation of Akt, and co-administration of GP and Akt inhibitors synergistically exerted anti-tumor activities on HeLa cells, suggesting the involvement of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in GP-induced cell death of the cancer cells. Indeed, the cytotoxic effect of GP against HeLa cells was inhibited by overexpression of constituvely active form of Akt in HeLa cells. The candidates of the functional proteins in GP were analyzed by Mass-spectrum. Taken together, our results suggest that GP elicits anti-tumor activity against HeLa cells by inhibition of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.332-340
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• 2019

Background: Studies of morphological variation within and among populations provide an opportunity to understand local adaptation and potential patterns of gene flow. To study the evolutionary divergence patterns of Schlegel's Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) across its distribution, we analyzed data for 15 morphological characters of 324 individuals across 11 populations (2 in China, 4 in Japan, and 5 in Korea). Results: Among-population morphological variation was smaller than within-population variation, which was primarily explained by variation in axilla-groin length, number of infralabials, number of scansors on toe IV, and head-related variables such as head height and width. The population discrimination power was 32.4% and in cluster analysis, populations from the three countries tended to intermix in two major groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that morphological differentiation among the studied populations is scarce, suggesting short history for some populations after their establishment, frequent migration of individuals among the populations, and/or local morphological differentiation in similar urban habitats. Nevertheless, we detected interesting phenetic patterns that may predict consistent linkage of particular populations that are independent of national borders. Additional sampling across the range and inclusion of genetic data could give further clue for the historical relationship among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean populations of G. japonicus.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Objectives : ROS are involved in a wide spectrum of diseases including chronic inflammation and cancer. S.chinensis Baill, a perennial herb commonly called Chinese lizard's tail or Sam-baek-cho in Korea, is used for the treatment of edema and inflammatory diseases in the Oriental folk medicine. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of the two extracts, water(WE) and ethyl acetate(EAE) from S.chinensis Baill. Methods : Anti-oxidant activity was evaluated using Fe2+ chelating and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. DNA cleavage assay, and western blot and immunostaining for phospho-p65 were performed to evaluate anti-oxidative effect. Anti-inflammatory effect was performed using NO generation assay and western blot in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. Results : In Fe2+ chelating activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, WE showed more strong scavenging activity for hydroxyl radical than EAE. WE scavenged hydroxyl radical by 12% at 3.2 ${\mu}g/ml$, 21% at 16 ${\mu}g/ml$, 32% at 80 ${\mu}g/ml$, 66% at 400 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 82% at 2000 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In addition, WE showed more strong chelating activity than EAE. WE chelated Fe2+ ion by 1.1% at 3.2 ${\mu}g/ml$, 8.2% at 16 ${\mu}g/ml$, 26.3% at 80 ${\mu}g/ml$, 72% at 400 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 89% at 2000 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Also, WE inhibited oxidative damage via its anti-oxidant activity. In anti-inflammatory effect, EAE inhibited NO production and iNOS expression. In addition EAE suppressed the NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions : Together, these data indicate that S. chinensis Baill, shows anti-oxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2020

Background: Understanding the geographical distribution of a species is a key component of studying its ecology, evolution, and conservation. Although Schlegel's Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) is widely distributed in Northeast Asia, its distribution has not been studied in detail. We predicted the present and future distribution of G. japonicus across China, Japan, and Korea based on 19 climatic and 5 environmental variables using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) species distribution model. Results: Present time major suitable habitats for G. japonicus, having greater than 0.55 probability of presence (threshold based on the average predicted probability of the presence records), are located at coastal and inland cities of China; western, southern, and northern coasts of Kyushu and Honshu in Japan; and southern coastal cities of Korea. Japan contained 69.3% of the suitable habitats, followed by China (27.1%) and Korea (4.2%). Temperature seasonality (66.5% of permutation importance) was the most important predictor of the distribution. Future distributions according to two climate change scenarios predicted that by 2070, and overall suitable habitats would decrease compared to the present habitats by 18.4% (scenario RCP 4.5) and 10.4% (scenario RCP 8.5). In contrast to these overall trends, range expansions are expected in inland areas of China and southern parts of Korea. Conclusions: Suitable habitats predicted for G. japonicus are currently located in coastal cities of Japan, China, and Korea, as well as in isolated patches of inland China. Due to climate change, suitable habitats are expected to shrink along coastlines, particularly at the coastal-edge of climate change zones. Overall, our results provide essential distribution range information for future ecological studies of G. japonicus across its distribution range.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.815-833
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• 2016

This study investigated children's (grade 3 to 9) responses to assessment items on energy as a cross-cutting concept in order to get basic information for a learning progression. The assessment consisted of 8 ordered multiple-choice items at the contexts of electric circuit, mechanical energy of falling objects, phase change of matter, dissolution, biological phenomena of a lizard, food chain, radiative equilibrium between Sun and Earth, and the system of water cycling. Children's responses to each item were analyzed with using cross-tabulations in terms of grades and item option levels and Wright map and Differential item functioning based on Rasch modeled item response analysis. The results offered empirical evidence of children's development of understanding energy from relation between energy and its phenomena, types of energy, transfer and conversion of energy, towards conservation and equilibrium of energy for all of eight contexts. Children of each grade did not fully understand energy conservation. As grade goes up, their understandings of energy transfer and conversion were differentiated across the contexts and topics of energy. According to Rasch analysis, children had easier understanding of energy on dissolution and poorer understanding of energy on water cycling than that on other contexts. It was discussed and suggested that the results of this study help us organize science topics with regard to energy when developing new national science curriculum.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.12 no.1_2
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• pp.1-15
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• 1968

The levels of activities of amylase, lipase and trypsin in both the pancreatic tissue and serum of 18 species of vertebrate animals were measured and enzymologically compared with each other. 1) The value of amylase in the pancreas of experimental mammalia has been found decreasing in the order pig, rat, dog, cat, rabbit and cow; that of pancreatic lipase has been found decreasing in the order of pig, dog, cat, rat, rabbit and cow; and that of trypsin has been found decreasing in the order of pig, cow, dog, rat, rabbit. Thus the value of all the above three kinds of enzymes were observed highest in pig, but in cow amylase and lipase were observed lowest while trypsin were observed considerably high. 2) In view of diets, the comparatively high values of pancreatic enzyme were observed in the ommivorous animals such as pig, rat, dog, while the values observed low in the herbivorous animals, such as cow and rabbit. 3) In the bovine, the values were observed moderately high except lipase which were found comparatively low. 4) In the Reptilia and Amphibia such a mud turttle and frog, the values were shown in similar measure with each other, that is, the pancreatic amylase and trypsin were observed considerably high while the lipase was found low. 5) In the species of Reptilia such as a viper and snake, the activities of pancreatic enzymes were not detected. But in the tissue of liver, stomach, activities of the enzymes were found considerably high. Lacertilia animals such as lizard the values of pancreatic enzymes were little observed. 6) In the fish in which the pancreatic tissue is scattered in the liver, the pancreatic enzymes were found in the liver tissue considerably higher than in the other tissues but lower than in the warm-blooded animals, especially the lipase was lower. 7) In generally the values of serum amylase and lipase were observed higher than those of man; and even in the cold-blooded animals in which the values of pancreatic enzymes were shown low or none, the values were also observed high. 8) The above three kinds of pancreatic enzyme values of those experimental animals have shown a tendency of higher degree in higher taxa than in lower taxa according to taxonomical order. 9) In view of tissue, the pancreatic cell was observed large in the mammalian animals such as rat and pig and cytoplasm was also abundantly contained in the acinous cell; and the bovine and the snake haave the pancreatic cells of the similar rosette form the comparatively large acinous cells of long rhombic form in the comparatively large acinous cells of long rhombic form in which the spindle shaped neucleus and the abundant cytoplasm were contained. In the fish the pancreatic cell were found scattered in the liver in which the very large pancreatic islet were found.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2002

Effects of medicinal herb extract on nonspecific immune responses, hematology and disease resistance against Edwardsiella tarda in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus were evaluated. Wormwood, Artemisia asiatica NAKAI and barrenwort, Epimedium koreanum NAKAI were mixed at a ratio of 7 : 3 (w/w) for 2-herbs extract and wormwood, barrenwort, Korean forsythia, Forsythia koreana NAKAI, chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum KITAMURA, peppermint, Mentha arvensis L. var, piperascens MALINV., great burnet, Snaguisorba afficinalis L., Lizard tail. Saururus chinensis BAILL., mulberry, Morus alba L., and star anise, Illicium varum HOOK, f, at the same weight for 9-herbs extract. Two-herbs of 9-herbs extract were prepared by heating after adding 10㎖ of distilled water per g of the herb mixtures. Fish (10.3$\pm$2.5g) were fed the experimental diets supplemented with the 2-herbs or 9-herbs extract at the different concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% per kg diet for 12 weeks. Lysozyme and bactericidal activities of serum, and hematological characteristics were examined during experimental period. After feeding test period, all experimental groups were challenged with E. tarda. Lysozyme activity from the fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.1% or 0.5% of 2-herbs extract was significantly higher than the control. But there was no difference both in bactericidal activity and hematology among each group. Sixty seven % of relative percent survival values (RPS) in the group fed the diet supplemented with 0.1% of 2-herbs was higher than the other group and the control. These results suggest that supplenmentation of 0.1% of 2-herbs extract to a commercial diet may enhance disease resistance in olive flounder. Although both 0.1% and 0.5% 9-herbs extract did not improve non-specific immune reponses, they could enhance disease resistance of 53% RPS, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the selected chemical properties of soils in Saururus chinensis Baill (Chinese lizard's tail) cultivation fields to provide optimal fertilizer application rates and to examine the growth and pharmaco-consitituents of Saururus chinensis Baill as influenced by different amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications. Based on the results of selected soil chemical properties in 37 cultivation sites of the plant, soil pH, organic matter content, and exchangeable $K^{+}$ concentration were lower than optimal values for cultivating general medicinal crops even though relatively high standard deviations were found in some of the values. At the harvesting stage of the plant aerial parts, soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), available $P_2O_5$, and exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^{+}$ decreased as comparing with those before transplanting the plant, whereas the concentration of exchangeable $K^{+}$ increased in the plot treated with N 100% and compost. Fresh weight of the plant aerial parts were highest, 492.5kg/10, in the N 100% treatment plot. Correlation equation between N levels treated (X) and yield of the plant aerial parts (Y) presented as $Y=-2.1609X^2+30.082X+344.12$($R^2= 0.7113$) and the optimal rate of N fertilizer application for the plant was 6.6kg/10a. Carbon concentrations in the plant were not different among the different N levels applied. N and K concentrations in the plant were highest in the plot of N 100% with compost applications, the highest P concentration was in N 100% plot, and the highest Ca and S concentrations were in N 200% plot. Quercetin and quercitrin were highest in the N 150% plot and tannin was highest in N 100% or N 100% with compost application plot.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.130
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• pp.23-45
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• 2014

It can be said that Scheler's theory of perception is the theory of drive-conditioned perception, in more detail the theory of drive-motoric conditions of perception. Scheler tells us that Immanuel Kant and Ernst Mach were mistaken in their assumption that sensations are purely receptive and primary in all experience. He claims that sensations are not primary but subsequent to a subliminal attention of vital drives(called 'Vor-Liebe und Vor-Interesse' by him). And because sense perception cannot take place without a vital energy of drives that account for the ongoing activity of perception, no object can be perceived unless it stimulates movement in an organism which exercises a count-movement against objects and thereby resisting objects. According to Scheler, an order of foundation such as the preexistence of images prior to perception; the priority of perception with regard to functions of senses; the priority of sense functions with regard to sensations has to be kept in mind. And it has to be kept in mind that the essence of life is pre-empirical, is pure becoming(Werden) and unbecoming(Entwerden), a process in which its two empirical sides are not yet separated. Then it is easy to see that perception is conditioned by vital drives. The drive-conditioned theory of perception is also supported by the fact that the motility of an organism determines its sensory apparatus, an organism has an alphabet of senses that can serve as signs of luring and noticing objects that are meaningful for its drive-motoric behavior. For example a lizard remains undisturbed by a gun shot but runs away from the slightest noise in the grass.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.657-663
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the difference in feeding habits of Red-Tongued Viper Snakes, according to available foods sources and areas. The effects of differences in food sources were found on Red-Tongued Viper Snake inhabited in the Jeju Island and its islet Gapado, from May 2006 to Nov. 2010. The food sources for the Red-Tongued viper snake population in the Jeju Island were found to be as follows: Chinese red-headed centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), Jeju Salamanders (Hynobius quelpaertensis), Japanese tree Frogs (Hyla japonica), Narrow-mouthed Toad (Kaloula borealis), Dybowski's Brown Frogs (Rana dybowskii), Black-spotted Pond Frogs (Rana nigromaculata), Smooth Skinks (Scincella vandenburghi), Asian Keelback Snakes (Amphiesma vibakari), Lesser White-toothed Shrews (Crosidura shantungensis), Hallasan Shrews (Sorex caecutiens hallamontanus), and Jeju Striped Field Mice (Apodemus chejuensis). This implies that Red-Tongued Viper Snakes mainly feed on amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Among these, amphibians occupied the highest portion at 55.2% followed by mammals at 20.7%, centipedes at 13.8%, and reptiles at 10.3%. On the contrary, Red-tongued viper snake population in Gapado only feed on Chinese red-headed centipedes and Smooth Skinks (S. vandenburghi). Since only a small amount of nutrient can be obtained from Chinese red-headed centipeds or Smooth Skinks, this feeding habit for Red-tongued viper snake would adversely effect on the growth or regeneration. The reason why Red-Tongued viper snake population in the Gapado mainly feed on Lizard and Centipedes in spite of relatively various available food sources, might be due to the low density of other food sources in the Gapado. Red-Tongued viper snake could be feeding on foods that are low in quality but are easily accessible, to minimize energy consumption on searching for other more nutritious foods. A snake tends to select the size of its food depending on the size of its own head. The positive correlation was found between the size of the heads of Red-Tongued viper snakes from the Jeju island and the diameter of their foods. The head size was larger in the males than females in viper snake population from the Jeju Island, which might effect on their selection of foods. However, no significant difference was found between the sizes of the head and the food in the Red-Tongued viper snake population from the Gapado. The findings of this study would provide meaningful data, which directly shows that even within the same viper species they choose different available food sources according to their inhabitance. This leads to their growth and adaptation to their environment which is beneficial for sustaining of its population.