• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.601-611
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• 2017

Hyperlipidemia is an increase in one or more of the plasma lipids, including triglycerides, cholesterol. Ginseng has been used as a valuable tonic and for the treatment of various diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Jinan red ginseng (JRG) water extract on the blood and serum in rabbits with hyperlipidemia induced by poloxamer 407 when supplied in drinking water. JRG treatment was performed for 20 weeks. We evaluated the effects of the JRG treatment on diabetes through hematological and biochemical analysis before and after JRG treatment were performed. Our results indicate that LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly decreased compared prior JRG supply. CRE, BUN, CK and UA levels indicating renal functions are significantly reduced when compared to those prior to the JRG supply. In addition, AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH were significantly reduced indicating hepatoprotective effect. Blood electrolytes deteriorated in HL rabbits were improved when JRG supplied. In conclusion, Biochemical and hematological analysis demonstrate that the JRG is effective to alleviate the hyperlipidemia signs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1316-1323
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• 2017

Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), responsible for earthy or musty smell, are a major concern for safe drinking water supplies. This study investigated the effects of environmental factors on odorous compound production and cell growth in cyanobacterial strains. Anabaena sp. FACHB-1384, a 2-MIB producer, was sensitive to low temperature (<$20^{\circ}C$). However, geosmin producers, Anabaena sp. Chusori and Anabaena sp. NIER, were sensitive to high light intensity (>$100{\mu}mol/m^2/sec$), but not to low temperature. Geosmin concentrations increased under higher nitrate concentrations, being linearly proportional to cell density. A P-limited chemostat showed that P-stress decreased the geosmin productivity and extracellular geosmin amount per cell in Anabaena sp. NIER. However, only 2-MIB productivity was reduced in Planktothrix sp. FACHB-1374 under P-limitation. The extracellular 2-MIB amount per cell remained constant at all dilution rates. In conclusion, high light intensity and P-stress can contribute to the lower incidence of geosmin, whereas 2-MIB reduction could be attainable at a lower temperature.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.124-127
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• 2016

Carex poculisquama $K{\ddot{u}}k$., recorded only in the literature in Korea, was confirmed to be distributed in limestone zones in the country. Carex poculisquama is most similar to species in the section Occlusae, such as C. ligulata Nees, but it differs in its rhombic-elliptic perigynium and by the presence of short hairs on the veins of its utricles. We provide here a description, illustrations, and photographs of C. poculisquama and a key to the species.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

A new dragonfly species, Nannophya koreana sp. nov., is described from Korea on the basis of morphology and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene sequences. Nannophya materials from Korea and other areas in Southeast Asia were compared. The new species was previously recognized in Korea as the endangered pygmy dragonfly Nannophya pygmaea Rambur, 1842, which is widely distributed in insular and peninsular Southeast Asia. However, male adults of the Nannophya population in Korea could be distinguished from other N. pygmaea populations by the presence of a thick, incomplete black stripe on the lateral synthorax that terminated at half-length (vs. continuous to wing base), light orange (vs. red) anal appendages, and 4-5 (vs. 2-3) black teeth on the ventral superior appendages. In addition, the body length of N. koreana was generally larger (1.2-1.4 times) than that of N. pygmaea, regardless of life stage. COI gene sequences from the two groups exhibited substantial genetic differences (>12%), thereby sufficiently substantiating their differentiation. The taxonomic status, distribution, and habitat of the new species are discussed.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2020

Prunus glandulosa Thunb. [=Cerasus glandulosa (Thunb.) Sokolov] (Rosaceae) is native to the warmtemperate region of China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang Provinces). It is naturalized in the United States (i.e. Alabama, Michigan and North Carolina) and Canada (Ontario). This species, previously only recorded as introduced or cultivated plants on the Korean Peninsula, was confirmed to be naturally distributed in the southwestern coast islands(i.e. Geomun-do, Chuja-do and an uninhabited island in Shinan-gun of Jeollanam-do). Prunus glandulosa Thunb. is distinguished from a related taxon P. japonica var. nakaii (H. Lév.) Rehder by pedicel 8-12 (-16) mm long, linear stipules, glabrous style, and pink petals. The morphological characters and illustration of P. glandulosa Thunb. are provided with line drawings and photographs from the natural habitat. In addition, it is likely that a new habitat will be found by plant biodiversity investigations through the southwestern coast islands. Further research is needed to determine its population size, distribution, and threats, as well as identify appropriate locations for conservation collection of germplasm.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.17-32
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• 2020

Asterochloris is one of the most common genera of lichen phycobionts in Trebouxiophyceae. Asterochloris phycobionts associated with the lichenized fungi Cladonia and Stereocaulon in King George Island (Antarctica) and Morro Chico (Chile), were isolated and then used to establish clonal cultures. To understand the phylogenetic relationships and species diversity of Antarctic Asterochloris species, molecular and morphological data were analyzed by using three microscopy techniques (light, confocal laser and transmission electron) and a multi-locus phylogeny with data from the nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and the actin and plastid-encoded ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain (rbcL) coding genes. Morphological data of three Antarctic strains showed significant species-specific features in chloroplast while molecular data segregated the taxa into distinct three clades as well. Each species had unique molecular signatures that could be found in secondary structures of the ITS1 and ITS2. The species diversity of Antarctic Asterochloris was represented by six taxa, namely, A. glomerata, A. italiana, A. sejongensis, and three new species (A. antarctica, A. pseudoirregularis, A. stereocaulonicola).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.343-353
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• 2016

Oligochaetes distribute widely in freshwater ecosystem, and some species are used as bioindicators for water quality assessment because they are tolerant to organic enrichment. They are acknowledged for potential for environmental health recovery of organic polluted environment. There are a lot of studies on ecology and toxicity assessment using oligochaetes in aquatic environment. In this study, we reviewed literature on ecotoxicology of aquatic oligochaetes. We searched literature from a database 'google scholar' by using keywords such as aquatic, oligochaete, and toxicity. The literature were summarized according to publication years, species, test methods, and chemicals. We obtained 133 articles published from 1953 to 2015 from the database. Among them, 58 papers(43.6% of total) have been published in 1990s. Three species(Lumnbriculus variegatus, Tubifex tubifex, and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) have been used most frequently in the study. Different species displayed different toxicological responses to different toxic chemicals. The results on the ecotoxicological study with aquatic oligochaetes revealed the possibility of the development for early warning system using aquatic oligochaetes to monitor aquatic ecosystem disturbance.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.136-139
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• 2017

The genus Iksookimia (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) is a bottom-dwelling freshwater loaches, which are well-known as their endemism and high geographic variation. However, population genetic relationships among Iksookimia spp. have remained unclear due to a shortage of genetic markers that can be applied generally in the genus. Here, we developed high-resolving microsatellite markers using I. koreensis and I. longicorpa as representatives of Iksookimia species because of their wide distribution range and phylogenetic position. Ten of polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from Iksookimia koreensis and were successfully cross-amplified in I. longicorpa. The mean number of observed alleles per locus was about 10.4 (range, 2-17) for I. koreensis and about 13.2 (range, 2-24) for I. longicorpa. The loci, IK03 and IK08, deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in I. koreensis, after applying the Bonferroni correction. The microsatellite markers obtained in the present study will be useful to evaluate population genetic structure and to establish conservation strategies for I. koreensis and related Iksookimia species.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Coronaviruses are known respiratory pathogens. In the past, most human coronaviruses were thought to cause mild symptoms such as cold. However recently, as seen in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), infectious diseases with severe pulmonary disease and respiratory symptoms are caused by coronaviruses, making research on coronaviruses become important. Considering previous studies, we constructed 'HCoV-IMDB (Human Corona Virus Immune Database)' to systematically provide genetic information on human coronavirus and host immune information, which can be used to analyze the interaction between human coronavirus and host immune proteins. The 'HCoV-IMDB' constructed in the study can be used to search for genetic information on human coronavirus and host immune protein and to download data. A BLAST search specific to the human coronavirus, one of the database functions, can be used to infer genetic information and evolutionary relationship about the query sequence.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.98-101
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• 2022

The genus Tripylina Brzeski, 1963 is a group of terrestrial nematodes that inhabit soil and semi-wet biomes, most of which have been reported from Europe, Asia, America, Africa, and New Zealand. Tripylina stramenti (Yeates, 1971) Tsalolikhin, 1983, belonging to the family Trischistomatidae Andrassy, 2007, is newly discovered from Korea. The specimens were collected from the edge of the valley of Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Tripylina stramenti described herein shows typical morphological characters of the genus Tripylina, including six and four setae in a single whorl, present dorsal tooth and subventral teeth, prodelphic reproductive system of female, absence post-uterine sac, narrow sickle-shaped spicule of male and generally S-shaped tail. The specimens differ in their body width (from the New Zealand populations), outer labial setae length, cuticles thickness(from the West African populations), and nerve ring position (from Indian populations). This species is distinguished from other Tripylina species by its relatively large body, two anterior and subventral teeth, and single cervical seta. In this study, morphological characteristics and morphometric information of the Korean T. stramenti isolate are described, illustrated, and compared with the same species from other geographic origins.