• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 2020

The Asian crested ibis Nipponia nippon is one of the world's most endangered species. Except for the Sanxii population from China, it is known that all of the crested ibis populations from East Asia have been extinguished. In these days, most of them are being inbred as captive populations in China, South Korea, and Japan, which caused their low expected genetic diversity. Microsatellite markers are well known as a suitable DNA marker for exploring genetic diversity among captive populations of a variety of endangered species. In the present study, ten microsatellite markers were developed for the captive populations of the South Korean crested ibis, which were employed to examine the level of genetic diversity with the two founders from Sanxii, China and the 70 descendants of them. As a result, the mean number of gene diversity, observed heterozygosity, and expected heterozygosity of the captive population were 0.70, 0.84, and 0.70 respectively. It revealed that the captive population of South Korea is as genetically more stable than we expected. In addition, the principal coordinates analysis and genetic structure analyses showed that the captive population of N. nippon can be divided into the two different genetic groups. The developed microsatellite markers here could be helpful for crested ibis conservation in East Asian countries such as China and Japan as well as South Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1904-1915
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• 2019

Resistant starch (RS) is metabolized by gut microbiota and involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are related to a variety of physiological and health effects. Therefore, the availability of RS as a prebiotic is a topic of interest, and research on gut bacteria that can decompose RS is also important. The objectives in this study were 1) to isolate a human gut bacterium having strong degradation activity on non-gelatinized RS, 2) to characterize its RS-degrading characteristics, and 3) to investigate its probiotic effects, including a growth stimulation effect on other gut bacteria and an immunomodulatory effect. Bifidobacterium adolescentis P2P3 showing very strong RS granule utilization activity was isolated. It can attach to RS granules and form them into clusters. It also utilizes high-amylose corn starch granules up to 63.3%, and efficiently decomposes other various types of commercial RS without gelatinization. In a coculture experiment, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29148, isolated from human feces, was able to grow using carbon sources generated from RS granules by B. adolescentis P2P3. In addition, B. adolescentis P2P3 demonstrated the ability to stimulate secretion of Th1 type cytokines from mouse macrophages in vitro that was not shown in other B. adolescentis. These results suggested that B. adolescentis P2P3 is a useful probiotic candidate, having immunomodulatory activity as well as the ability to feed other gut bacteria using RS as a prebiotic.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.732-738
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• 2018

Novel carbon-based solid acid catalysts were synthesized through a sustainable route from lipid-extracted microalgal residue of Dunaliella tertiolecta, for biodiesel production. Two carbon-based solid acid catalysts were prepared by surface modification of bio-char with sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) and sulfuryl chloride ($SO_2Cl_2$), respectively. The treated catalysts were characterized and their catalytic activities were evaluated by esterification of oleic acid. The esterification catalytic activity of the $SO_2Cl_2$-treated bio-char was higher ($11.5mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.\;^{-1}$) than that of commercial catalyst silica-supported Nafion SAC-13 ($2.3mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.^{-1}$) and $H_2SO_4$-treated bio-char ($5.7mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.^{-1}$). Reusability of the catalysts was examined. The catalytic activity of the $SO_2Cl_2$-modified catalyst was sustained from the second run after the initial activity dropped after the first run and kept the same activity until the fifth run. It was higher than that of first-used Nafion. These experimental results demonstrate that catalysts from lipid-extracted algae have great potential for the economic and environment-friendly production of biodiesel.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2011-2015
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• 2015

Ginsenoside Rb2 (Gin-Rb2) was purified from the fruit extract of Panax ginseng. Its chemical structure was measured by spectroscopic analysis, including HR-FAB-MS, ¹H-NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Gin-Rb2 decreased potent melanogenesis in melan-a cells, with 23.4% at 80 μM without cytotoxicity. Gin-Rb2 also decreased tyrosinase and MITF protein expression in melan-a cells. Furthermore, Gin-Rb2 presented inhibition of the body pigmentation in the zebrafish in vivo system and reduced melanin contents and tyrosinase activity. These results show that Gin-Rb2 isolated from P. ginseng may be an effective skin-whitening agent via the in vitro and in vivo systems.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.180-194
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• 1985

The author investigated the history of oyster culture in Korea through examining old books and reports dealing with the fishery. Oysters have been produced in the all coastal areas in Korea, especially the center areas of production were the Hwangupo (Hamkyongbuk-do), Younghungman (Hamkyongnam-do), the estuary of Nakdonggang (Kyongsangnam-do), Kwangyangman, Haechangman, the estuary of Yongsangang (Chollanam-do), Yonghoto (Hwanghae-do) and the estuary of Uprockgang, where the large size oyster (more than 40cm in shell height) inhabited in form of groups. It was called by nine different names in the old times, Gul, Seukhwa and Moryeo were the most common names. The oyster was used as 46 kinds of medicinal stuff. The habitat forms of natural oyster can be distinguished to two types; one is that oyster is exposed to the air during the period of low tide (A-type), another is that oyster is not (B-type). The first oyster culture by the old books in Korea was started about 530 years ago as the bottom culture method derived from the A-type of oyster. After long years, the hanging culture method might have been started from the hint of the habitat form of B-type. The oyster culture in Korea developed based on the habitat forms of natural oyster at the biginning of 1900s. After World War II, the Korean government strongly recommded the laver farmers to culture oyster as relief measures. At that time, the stone culture method was mainly adopted. The quantity of oyster production is now about $15{\times}10^6{\sim}19{\times}10^6\;\frac{M}{T}$, and the half of oyster production including seed oyster is exported to the foreign countries.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.961-970
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• 2009

This paper has attempted to improve the quality of urban environment in terms of the management of urban green tract and suggest a way of coexistence between human and nature by proposing a plan to establish green network using an urban green zone based on 'linear concept' instead of point and plane concepts. The results have turned out as follows: 1. According to current status of forest functions, forest recreation area has reached 39.6%, satisfying citizens' needs. However, the space for living environment is just about 20% with a lack of a green zone. Therefore, it's been necessary to establish green network using roadside trees and take advantage of them as sustainable living space along with existing green tract. 2. With forest in the suburbs and Geumhogang which is the tributary to the Nakdonggang, Sincheon (stream) flows through the downtown. It connects mountains including Waryongsan from the south to the north around Duryu Park and Dalseong Park. Therefore, the water system that passes through Palgongsan (Mt.) and Biseulsan (Mt.) would make it possible to connect with the parks in the downtown. 3. According to this paper, it appears that it's necessary to establish green network through roof or wall greening by focusing on the existing green tract in the urban parks and suburbs and taking advantage of roadside trees and water system.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.314-322
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• 2020

Interplay between histone acetylation and deacetylation is one of the key components in epigenetic regulation of transcription. Here we report the requirement of MoHDA1-mediated histone deacetylation during asexual development and pathogenesis for the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Structural similarity and phylogenetic analysis suggested that MoHDA1 is an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hda1, which is a representative member of class II histone deacetylases. Targeted deletion of MoHDA1 caused a little decrease in radial growth and large reduction in asexual sporulation. Comparison of acetylation levels for H3K9 and H3K14 showed that lack of MoHDA1 gene led to significant increase in H3K9 and H3K14 acetylation level, compared to the wild-type and complementation strain, confirming that it is a bona fide histone deacetylase. Expression analysis on some of the key genes involved in asexual reproduction under sporulation-promoting condition showed almost no differences among strains, except for MoCON6 gene, which was up-regulated more than 6-fold in the mutant than wild-type. Although the deletion mutant displayed little defects in germination and subsequent appressorium formation, the mutant was compromised in its ability to cause disease. Wound-inoculation showed that the mutant is impaired in invasive growth as well. We found that the mutant was defective in appressorium-mediated penetration of host, but did not lose the ability to grow on the media containing H₂O₂. Taken together, our data suggest that MoHDA1-dependent histone deacetylation is important for efficient asexual development and infection of host plants in M. oryzae.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.331-335
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• 2016

Two newly recorded alien plants, Lepidium pinnatifidum Ledeb. (Brassicaceae) and Oxalis dillenii Jacq. (Oxalidaceae), were found on Wolmido Island, Incheon-si and in Gyeongseo-dong, Incheon-si, of South Korea, respectively. Lepidium pinnatifidum is distinguished from other related Korean taxa by leaves that are not amplexicaul and four stamens. Oxalis dillenii is distinguished from other related Korean taxa by having bristles which are dense on peduncles and pedicels and by having white ridges on the seed. We provide descriptions of the morphological characters, photographs and a key to allied taxa in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.326-330
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• 2016

Two naturalized species, Polygonum ramosissimum Michx. (Polygonaceae) and Spergularia bocconi (Scheele) Graebn. (Caryophyllaceae) were found along the southwest seashore of the Korean Peninsula. Polygonum ramosissimum is distinguished from other species in the same genus taxa as follows: not granular achens, lanceolate or oblanceolate leaves. Spergularia bocconi is distinguished from other species in the same genus taxa by having glandular hairs on stems, leaves, peduncles, and outer surfaces of sepals. We provide here a description and photographs of two species and a key to related taxa in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.43-51
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• 2013

This study aims to examine the presence of non-stationary relationship between water quality and land use in watersheds. In investigating the relationships between land use and water quality, most previous studies adopted OLS method which is assumed stationarity. However, this approach is difficult to capture the local variation of the relationships. We used 146 sampling data and land cover data of Korean Ministry of Environment to build conventional regressions and GWR models for BOD, TN and TP. Regression model and GWR models of BOD, TN, TP were compared with $R^2$, AICc and Moran's I. The results of comparisons and descriptive statistics of GWR models strongly indicated the presence of Non-Stationarity between water quality and land use.