• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2012

Genus of Gambierdiscus, Ostrepsis, Prorocentrum, Coolia and Amphidinium are epiphytic ciguatoxin-producing armored dinoflagellate, often attached on macroalgae. These organisms are the primary causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning which occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. However, regardless of the fact that population of epiphytic dinoflagellates have expanded to such temperate areas from sub-trophic and trophic areas, monitoring of the epiphytic dinoflagellates was greatly lacked in coastal water of Korean Peninsula. This study was performed in the Korean Peninsula in November, 2011. Cell densities of Gambierdiscus spp. on macroalgae ranged from zero to 10 cells $g^{-1}$ and the maximum density was recorded at St.18 (Pohang guryongpo). The abundance of Ostreopsis spp. was highest on macro-algaes Chondrus ocellatus, Lomentaria catenata and Plocamium telfairiae (140 cells $g^{-1}$). The maximum abundance of Prorocentrum, Coolia and Amphidinium were 52, 3 and 1 cells $g^{-1}$, respectively. Of these, Prorocentrum lima was observed at most stations of East Sea. Therefore, our results suggest that the epiphytic armored dinoflagellates may have adapted to Korean coastal water of temperate areas (i.e., East Sea) and those abundances may be related to the macroalgal species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1993

ELISA-inhibition test using Paragonimus westermani specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) was investigated to improve the diagnostic specificity of paragonimiasis. By cell fusion, one hybridoma clone secreting un-n westemanl specific Mab was selected (Pwa-14), which reacted on bands of 28 kDa, 42.5 kDa, 89 kDa and 120.5 kDa. IFA showed Pwa-14 was located at the vitelline follicles. By micro-ELISA, 100% of 22 paragonimiasis cases were found positive, but 5 of 40 clonorchlasls cases (12.5%),3 of 26 cystlcercosis cases (7.7%) showed false positive. None of 10 sparganosis patients or 28 normal controls reacted positively. On the other hand, by ELISA-Inhibition test using a R westermcni specific Mab, 100% of patagonimlasls cases were found positive, and there were no positive in cysticercosis, sparganosis cases or normal controls, except 2 (5.0%) false-positive sera of 40 clonorchiasis cases. The ELISA-Inhlbltlon test using a Mab showed higher specificity in comparison with macro-ELISA for serodlgnosis of human paragonimlasis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2011

Balneotherapy has been widely used for the treatment of skin diseases in the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the bath effect of the alkaline reduced spring water with the properties of high pH and low oxidation reduction potential (ORP) on the skin injury induced by ultra violet (UV) irradiation. For this purpose, hairless mice were irradiated with UV-B to cause skin injury, and individually taken a bath in spring water (experimental group) and tap water (control group) once a day for 40 min during 21 days. We observed histological changes of the back skin through macro- and microscopic methods compared to the control group. We found that skin injury of the experimental group was more quickly recovered than that of the control group. Under the light microscope, the experimental group showed that epidermal thickening (p<0.01) and the mast cell activation (p<0.001) were lower compared with the control group, in addition infiltration of inflammatory cells and degranulation of mast cells were less observed. These results suggest that regular bath in the spring water with the properties of high pH and low ORP has a positive effect on the skin injury induced by UV irradiation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.134-143
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• 2017

Background: The prevalence of allergic inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and allergic rhinitis worldwide has increased and complete recovery is difficult. Korean Red Ginseng, which is the heat-processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, is widely and frequently used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. In this study, we investigated whether Korean Red Ginseng water extract (RGE) regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in allergic inflammation. Methods: Compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-induced AD-like skin lesion mice models were used to investigate the antiallergic effects of RGE. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mast cells (HMC-1) were also used to clarify the effects of RGE on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Results: Anaphylactic shock and DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions were attenuated by RGE administration through reduction of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in mouse models. RGE also reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines including $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8, and expression of chemokines such as IL-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in HaCaT cells. Additionally, RGE decreased the release of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as expressions of chemokines including macro-phage inflammatory protein $(MIP)-1{\alpha}$, $MIP-1{\beta}$, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that these inhibitory effects occurred through blockage of the MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway. Conclusion: RGE may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases such as AD-like dermatitis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.499-509
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• 1995

PU.1, a tissue-specific transcription activator, binds to a purine-rich sequence(5'-GAGGAA-3') called PU box. The PU.1 cDNA consists of an open reading frame of 816 nucleotides coding for 272 amino acids. The amino terminal end is highly acidic, while the carboxyl terminal end is highly basic. Transcriptional activation domain is located at the amino terminal end, while DNA binding domain is located at the carboxyl terminal end. Activation of PU.1 transcription factor is supposed to be accomplished by the phosphorylation of serine residue(s). There exist 22 serines in the PU.1. Five(the 41, 45, 132$.$133, and 148th) of the serines(plausible phosphorylation site by casein kinase II), are the primary targets of interest in elucidating the molecular mechanism(s) of the action of the PU.1 gene. In this study, PU.1 cDNA coding for the five serine residues(41th AGC, 45th AGC, 132$.$133th AGC$.$TCA, and 148th TCT), was mutated to alanine codon(41th GCC, 45th GCC, 132$.$133th GCC$.$GCA, and 1481h GCT), respectively, by Splicing-Overlapping-Extension(SOE) using Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR). And each mutated cDNA fragments was ligated into pBluescript KS＋ digested with HindIII and Xba I, to generate mutant clones named pKKS41A, pRKS45A, pMKS132$.$133A, and pMKS148A. The clones will be informative to study the "Structure and Function" of the immu-nologically important gene, PU.1.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.164-170
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• 2007

The concept of innate immunity in insects which refers to the first line of host defense constitutes the humoral and cellular components which are involved in recognition and actively participate in the elimination of the intruding foreign micro- or macro-organisms. Several recent studies suggest that juvenile hormone (JH) modulates the cellular immune reactions in response to pathogen. In this study, pyriproxyfen (a JH agonist as an insect growth regulator) was tested in its any inhibitory effect on the immune reactions of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. To this end, five different hemocyte morphotypes of final instar S. exigua were identified by phase contrast microscopy. Plasmatocytes and granular cells, which constitute about 90% of the total hemocyte count, were prominently distinguished based on their basophilic/acidophilic nature using Giemsa stain. The role of pyriproxyfen on the functional ability of hemocytes was analyzed using FITC-labeled Providencia vermicola for the phagocytic potential of the hemocytes. Both granular cells and plasmatocytes exhibited phagocytosis behavior. Pyriproxyfen significantly inhibited the phagocytosis of both cell types, proposing its novel action as an immunosuppressant.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.103-111
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• 2008

Soils naturally contain grains of different minerals which may be dissolved under chemical or physical processes. The dissolution leads changes in microstructure of particulate media, such as an increase in local void or permeability, which affects the strength and deformation of soils. This study focuses on the small strain stiffness characteristics of vanishing mixtures, which consist of sand and salt particles at different volume fractions. Experiments are carried out in a conventional oedometer cell (Ko-loading) integrated with bender elements for the measurement of shear waves. Dissolutions of particles are implemented by saturating the mixtures at various confining stresses. Axial deformation and shear waves are recorded after each loading stage and during dissolution process. Experimental results show that after dissolution, the vertical strain and the void ratio increase, while the shear wave velocity and small strain shear modulus decrease. The decrease of the velocity results from the void ratio increase and particle contact decrease. The process monitoring during dissolution of the particles shows that the vertical strain dramatically increases at the beginning of the saturation process and converges after vanishing process finishes, and that the shear wave velocity decreases at the beginning and increases due to the particle reorientation. Specimens prepared by sand and salt particles are proved to be able to provide a valuable insight in macro structural behaviors of the vanishings mixtures.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2018

Investigation of the optimum levels of pre-plant nitrogen for raising of hot pepper (cv. Nokkwang) plug seedlings was the objective of this research. To achieve this, the pre-plant nitrogen levels were varied to 0, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, and $1,500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and the other essential nutrients were controlled to equal concentrations in all treatments. All the fertilizers were added during the formulation of the mixed medium of coir dust, peatmoss, and perlite with the ratio of 35, 35, and 30% (v/v/v). The root medium containing pre-plant fertilizer was packed into 50-cell plug trays and seeds were sown. The measurement of pH and EC in every week, soil solution analysis for nutrients in week 0, 3, and 7 and growth measurements as well as tissue analysis for nutrient contents in week 7 were conducted. The pHs measured before seed sowing did not show significant differences, but the differences among treatments became significant as seedlings grow bigger. The soil solution ECs were significantly different among treatments in week 0 and these differences were diminished by degrees after week 3, resulting in no significant differences among treatments in week 7. The trends in changes of $NH_4-N$, $NO_3-N$, and other the macro-element concentrations in soil solution of root media were similar to those of ECs. The treatments of 500 and $750mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ N were more effective than other treatments on seedling growth. The seedling growths in the treatments containing higher N than $1,000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and control were severely suppressed. The elevated pre-plant N concentrations in the root medium resulted in the increase of tissue N contents. The treatments of 500 and $750mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ N shown the highest seedling growths had 5.13% and 5.31%, respectively, in tissue N contents based on the dry weight of above ground tissue at week 7. The results of this study indicated that the optimum level of pre-plant N is 500 to $750mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for the raising of hot pepper plug seedlings.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with the effective microorganism (EM) on the growth performance, blood parameter, small intestinal microflora, and noxious gas emission of broilers. A total 720 1-d old ROSS 308 was randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatment groups: control, virginiamycin (6 mg/kg), 0.1% PB 0.1% EM, 0.5% EM, and 1.0% EM. Each treatment was fed to 4 replicates of 30 birds per diet for d 35. Two-phase feeding program with a starter diet from 0 to 3 wk, and a finisher diet from 4 to 5 wk was used in the experiment. Within each phase, a diet was formulated to meet or exceed NRC requirements of broilers for macro- and micronutrients. The diet and water were available ad libitum. Result indicated that during overall periods of the experiment, final weight, body weight gain, and feed intake were not different among dietary treatments. Feed conversion ratio was less (P<0.05) for EM treatments than control, antibiotics, and PB. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TRG), glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), calcium (CA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were not different among dietary treatments. White blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), heterophils (HE), lymphocyte (LY), monocytes (MO), and eosinophils (EO) were not different among dietary treatments. HE:LY was less (P<0.05) for EM0.5 treatments than control, antibiotics, and PB. Lactobacillus was greater (P<0.05) for EM treatments than control and antibiotics. E. coli and Salmonella were not different among dietary treatments. $NH_3$ and $CO_2$ wereless (P<0.05) for EM treatments than control. These results indicated that EM treatments were effective feed conversion ratio, noxious gas emission and micro flora population on the cecum in broilers.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2020

A new silicate coating technology was developed which reduces the impact of dust and loosening during seeding compared to existing silicate-coatings (Seed/Si/Zeolite), and therefore can lower the production costs of rice cultivation. In this method, 100 g of rice seed is coated with 18 mL of liquid silicic acid and then dressed with a mixture containing 80 g of dolomite and 5 g of iron. To determine the most effective method of application and ensure that seedlings developed healthily, a series of experiments were carried out. Infected seeds scattered in seedling boxes and pots (soil and hydroponic) were coated dry, without disinfection. In comparison to the seed which were not treated with the silicate-coating, the new seed (A) were 1.84 times heavier in weight, and were also improved in terms of coating strength and coating color. Compared to the seedlings grown from the non-coated seed, those grown from the new silicate-coated seed were of significantly higher quality (weight/length) and had erect, dark greenish leaves, which are ideal plant characteristics. This was most likely due to increased silicate uptake. The symptoms of bakanae disease in the non-coated seed peaked after 38 days to 54.2%, whereas the control value was 68.8% in the new silicate-coated seed (A). In the infected seedlings grown from the new silicate-coated rice seed, subnormal macro-conidia, namely, a sickle shape spore without a septum; a straight oblong shape spore without a septum and with a thick cell wall; and inter-septal necrosis of a normal spore were detected. It is believed that the strong alkalinity of silicic acid have acted as unfavorable conditions for pathogenicity. In seedlings grown from the new silicate coated rice seed under hydroponic conditions without nutrients, normal root activity and growth was maintained without leaf senescence. Therefore, it was possible to reduce the rate of fertilization. In the future, a new silicate-coated rice seed was required for the study of minimal nutrition for anti-aging of seedlings.