• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2018

Laguna Lake is the largest inland fresh water body in the Philippines. It primarily serves as a site for aquaculture, hydropower, transportation, and water supply industries. Due to Laguna Lake's diverse functionalities, competition among water users became prominent. Water quality began to deteriorate due to various pollutant contributions in this process, thereby affecting the soundness of the aquatic ecosystem. This study was conducted to evaluate the current water quality management policy from the viewpoint of ecological environment through the evaluation of the water quality of Laguna Lake. Concentrations of water pollutants such as ammonia ($NH_3$), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chloride ($Cl^-$), pH, and total suspended solids (TSS) exceeded the water quality standards of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The water quality of the lake was also affected by the pollutant load due to agriculture and urban stormwater runoff in the watershed. The salinity and contaminated water from Pasig River also affected the water quality of Laguna Lake. Long-term water quality analysis showed that the water quality of Laguna Lake is also influenced by rainfall-related seasonal variations. The results of the water quality analysis of Laguna Lake indicated that the environmental management techniques of the Philippines should be changed from the conventional water management into an integrated watershed management scheme in the future. It is therefore necessary to study and introduce advanced watershed management measures in the Philippines based from the policies of other developed countries.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2013

This retrospective study reviewed the clinical and diagnostic features, therapeutic outcome and compilations of interventional ductal occlusion in 37 dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Malteses and female dogs were over-presented. Bounding pulse and left basal continuous murmur were most common findings in physical examination, while the differential cyanosis was rarely observed. Left ventricular (LV) enlargement patterns and sinus tachycardia were common in the ECG. Typical radiographic findings included LV elongation and triple bumps indicating left atrial (LA), aortic and pulmonary dilation. Echocardiographic features were typical shunt flow at the ductus arteriosus and marked LV dilation with mild to moderate mitral regurgitation (MR). The 32 of 37 dogs were interventionally treated with either thromboemolic coils (TCE) or Amplatz canine ductal occluder (ACDO). Transient hemoglobinuria caused by incomplete closure was occurred in 2 dogs treated with TCE, although the hemoglobinuria was disappeared within a week of intervention. The dislodgement of occlusion device was occurred in 2 dogs with TCE and 1 dog with ACDO. However there were no significant complications associated with this dislodgement, since those were dislodged at the lower pulmonary vasculature. We also found that no serious complications and no further medical intervention in 29 dogs having long-term follow-ups.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2007

This paper reports the amount of $^{222}Rn$ and $^{238}U$ in 18 sites of ground water and 30 sites of surface water. The instrument used to count $^{222}Rn$ activity was the liquid scintillation counter (LSC) which could resolute ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ radiations. And $^{238}U$ was analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Radon and Uranium were not detected in raw and treated water which were sampled in a water treatment plant. However, radon ($^{222}Rn$) was high concentration in ground water from Jeon-la, Gang-won. So was uranium ($^{238}U$) in case of ground water from Gang-won, Choong-chung. Radon ($^{222}Rn$) activities were detected less than 15 pCi/L at 5 sampling points, 15~300 pCi/L at 7 sampling points, 300~4000 pCi/L at 6 sampling points. However, Radon ($^{222}Rn$) activities of all ground water samples were less than 4,000 pCi/L, which was bellow American Alternative Maximum Contamination Level (AMCL). Uranium ($^{238}U$) concentrations were less than $0.1{\mu}g/L$ at 5 sampling points, from $0.1{\mu}g/L$ to $20{\mu}g/L$ at 13 sampling points. Uranium was not detected in about 30% of the whole samples, but the concentration ranged from relatively low to high concentrations depending on the sampling point. The minimum detectable activity (MDA) of radon was 15 pCi/L. and the detection limit of uranium was $0.1{\mu}g/L$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 1993

Functionally Gradient Materials(FGM) of 4.5Pb($Ni_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3$-55PZT and PLZT(lO/70 /30, 11/60/40) were prepared. Its dielectric and piezoelectric strain properties were investigated. The FGM were pressed into A/B/ A configuration using two kinds of films, one layer(A) was eliminated from FGM by polishing after sintering at $l250^{\circ}C$, 2 hrs. The acrylic binder system was successfully applied for crack free film through doctor blade method. The thickness of gradent layer in FGM was about 30${\mu}$m. Dielectric properties of FGM show the average value of each side layer. The strain-electric field characteristics of FGM were significantly improved comparison with the other single compositions. The prepared FGM piezoelectric actuator shows about 3${\mu}$m/IOOV displacement.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.144-147
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• 2006

Egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) is much widely used in medical fields, but its use in serology of plant viruses is much limited. We produced an IgY against pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and applied it to several serological tests. Polyclonal antibodies were obtained from the egg yolk of chicken immunized with a total of 2mg of purified PMMoV over 2 months. The titers of antibodies were measured with the ring-test over six months after the first injection. The highest.titers of IgY was 1/2,560 at 2 months after the first injection. Approximately 60-80 mg of IgY were obtained from one egg yolk. Using the IgY, 1ng/ml of purified PMMoV was detected with the indirect ELISA. Gelrite gel double diffusion test, ELISA and tissue immuno-binding assay employing IgY gave similar sensitivity and specificity to those of IgG developed in rabbit. Therefore, the IgY which can be obtained in large quantities from a chicken, might be useful for the antibody production and the serology of plant viruses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2015

Cordyceps species including Cordyceps bassiana are a notable anti-cancer dietary supplement. Previously, we identified several compounds with anti-cancer activity from the butanol fraction (Cb-BF) of Cordyceps bassiana. To expand the structural value of Cb-BF-derived anti-cancer drugs, we employed various chemical moieties to produce a novel Cb-BF-derived chemical derivative, KTH-13-amine-monophenyl [4-isopropyl-2-(1-phenylethyl) aniline (KTH-13-AMP)], which we tested for anti-cancer activity. KTH-13-AMP suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and C6 glioma cells. KTH-13-AMP also dose-dependently induced morphological changes in C6 glioma cells and time-dependently increased the level of early apoptotic cells stained with annexin V-FITC. Furthermore, the levels of the active full-length forms of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. In contrast, the levels of total forms of caspases-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and Bcl-2 were decreased in KTH-13-AMP treated-cells. We also confirmed that the phosphorylation of STAT3, Src, and PI3K/p85, which is linked to cell survival, was diminished by treatment with KTH-13-AMP. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that this compound can be used to guide the development of an anti-cancer drug or serve as a lead compound in forming another strong anti-proliferative agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2017

A diversity of synthetic cathinones has flooded the recreational drug marketplace worldwide. This variety is often a response to legal control actions for one specific compound (e.g. methcathinone) which has resulted in the emergence of closely related replacement. Based on recent trends, the nitrogen atom is one of the sites in the cathinone molecule being explored by designer type modifications. In this study, we designed and synthesized two new synthetic cathinones, (1) ${\alpha}-piperidinopropiophenone$ (PIPP) and (2) ${\alpha}-piperidinopentiothiophenone$ (PIVT), which have piperidine ring substituent on their nitrogen atom. Thereafter, we evaluated whether these two compounds have an abuse potential through the conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice and self-administration (SA) in rats. We also investigated whether the substances can induce locomotor sensitization in mice following 7 days daily injection and challenge. qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to determine their effects on dopamine-related genes in the striatum. PIPP (10 and 30 mg/kg) induced CPP in mice, but not PIVT. However, both synthetic cathinones were not self-administered by the rats and did not induce locomotor sensitization in mice. qRT-PCR analyses showed that PIPP, but not PIVT, reduced dopamine transporter gene expression in the striatum. These data indicate that PIPP, but not PIVT, has rewarding effects, which may be attributed to its ability to affect dopamine transporter gene expression. Altogether, this study suggests that PIPP may have abuse potential. Careful monitoring of this type of cathinone and related drugs are advocated.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2006

We have established three immortal bovine muscular epithelial (BME) cell lines, one spontaneously immortalized (BMES), the second SV40LT-mediated (BMEV) and the third hTERT-mediated (BMET). The morphology of the three immortal cell lines was similar to that of early passage primary BME cells. Each of the immortal cell lines made cytokeratin, a typical epithelial marker. BMET grew faster than the other immortal lines and the BME cells, in 10% FBS-DMEM medium, whereas neither the primary cells nor the three immortal cell lines grew in 0.5% FBS-DMEM. The primary BME cells and the immortal cell lines, with the exception of BMES, made increasing amounts of p53 protein when treated with doxorubicin, a DNA damaging agent. On the other hand, almost half of the cells in populations of the three immortal cell lines may lack $p16^{INK4a}$ regulatory function, compared to primary BME cells that were growth arrested by enforced expression of $p16^{INK4a}$. In soft-agar assays, the primary cells and immortal cell lines proved to be less transformed in phenotype than HeLa cells. The three immortal epithelial-type cell lines reported here are the first cell lines established from muscle tissue of bovine or other species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2017

Insulin signaling is coordinated by insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Many insulin responses, especially for blood glucose metabolism, are mediated primarily through Irs-1 and Irs-2. Irs-1 knockout mice show growth retardation and insulin signaling defects, which can be compensated by other IRSs in vivo; however, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Here, we presented an Irs-1 truncated mutated mouse ($Irs-1^{-/-}$) with growth retardation and subcutaneous adipocyte atrophy. $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice exhibited mild insulin resistance, as demonstrated by the insulin tolerance test. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity and phosphorylated Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT) expression were elevated in liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipocytes in Irs-1 deficiency. In addition, the expression of IRS-2 and its phosphorylated version were clearly elevated in liver and skeletal muscle. With miRNA microarray analysis, we found miR-33 was down-regulated in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) of $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice, while its target gene Irs-2 was up-regulated in vitro studies. In addition, miR-33 was down-regulated in the presence of Irs-1 and which was up-regulated in fasting status. What's more, miR-33 restored its expression in re-feeding status. Meanwhile, miR-33 levels decreased and Irs-2 levels increased in liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipocytes of $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice. In primary cultured liver cells transfected with an miR-33 inhibitor, the expression of IRS-2, PI3K, and phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT) increased while the opposite results were observed in the presence of an miR-33 mimic. Therefore, decreased miR-33 levels can up-regulate IRS-2 expression, which appears to compensate for the defects of the insulin signaling pathway in Irs-1 deficient mice.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2000

National plant quarantine inspector of exporting country should inspect agricultural products according to the quarantine requisites of counterpart country when the commodities are shipped. Export of pear fruits was held because quarantine pests including Conogethes punctiferalis were found at the point of entry in Canada. In order to examine the problems in detail, the inspected pear fruits were stored at a low temperature for 43 days, almost the same period necessary for fruit sorting, quarantine procedures, and transportation by ship. Dead larvae of fruit moths, C. punctiferalis and Grapholita molesta were found during cold storage. Quarantine pathogens were not found, but non-quarantine ones such as Penicillium sp. was infected through wounds by bruises and stabs resulted from sorting procedures. Because of the wounding problem during export procedures, pear fruits with thin exocarp, such as fruits of P. pyrifolia Nakai cv. Whangkeumbae, are required more careful handling during fruit sorting and conveyance.