• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

Specific protocols to increase the differentiation of neuronal cells from embryonic stem (ES) cells have been well established, such as retinoic acid induction and lineage selection of neuronal cells. For the neuropathological studies, ES-derived neurons (ES neurons) must show normal physiological characteristics related to cell death and survival and should be maintained in vitro for a sufficient time to show insults-specific cell death without spontaneous death. When mouse ES cells were plated onto astrocytes monolayer after retinoic acid induction, most ES cells differentiated into neuronal cells, which were confirmed by the presence of specific neuronal markers, and the cultures were viable for at least four weeks. When these cultures were examined for vulnerability to glutamate excitotoxicity, ES neurons were vulnerable to excitotoxic insults mediated by agonist-specific receptors. The vulnerability to excitotoxic death increased with developmental age of ES neurons in vitro. Specific receptors for Neurotrophin and GDNF family ligands were present in ES neurons. GDNF and NT-3 could modulate the survival and excitotoxic vulnerability of ES neurons. The vulnerability and resistance to toxic insults, which are essential requirements of model culture systems for neuropathological studies, make ES neurons to a useful model culture system. Especially ES cell are highly amenable to genetic modification unlikely to primary neuronal cells, which will give us a chance to answer more complicated neurophysiological questions. Recently there was an outstanding attempt to explore the cellular toxicity using human ES cells (Schrattenholz & Klemm, 2007) and it suggested that ES cells could be a new model system for neurophysiological studies soon and go further a large-scale screening system for pharmacological compounds in the future.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2004

This study was performed to examine the correlations among dog sperm viabilities evaluated by flow cytometry, by microscopic evaluation (ME), by carbo-xifluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide (CFDA/PI) and by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. Semen were collected from 5 dogs ranging in age from 2 to 4 years. Each ejaculate was divided into 3 aliquots and different proportions of freeze-killed cells were added to each aliquot (1:0, 1:1 and 1:3). In the other experiment, semen was extended with Sweden extender containing 5% glycerol and equex STM paste, and frozen using liquid nitrogen vapor. Fresh and frozen-thawed dog sperm viability were assessed by flow cytometry using PI staining method. The accuracy of flow cytometry was evaluated by comparing with other classic assessments, microscopic evaluation, epifluorescence microscopic analysis using CFDA/PI, and HOS test. High correlations of sperm viabilities were found among flow cytometry, epifluorescence evaluation, HOS test (p<0.01) in fresh semen. Especially, sperm viability assessed by HOS test was highly correlated with viability by flow cytometry in all the ratios of live and dead spermatozoa, 1:0, 1:1 and 1:3 (p<0.01). The viability evaluated by ME were significantly correlated with that by flow cytometry in ratios of 1:0 and 1:3 (p<0.05) however, there was no significance in ratio of 1:1. The viability evaluated by C/p were highly correlated with that by flow cytometry in ratio of 1:0 and 1:1 (p<0.01) and significantly correlated in ratio of 1:3 (p<0.05). In frozen-thawed spermatozoa, the viability determined by HOS test was considerably correlated with that by flow cytometry (p<0.01). There was significant correlation between the viabilities by ME and by flow cytometry (p<0.05). But the viability evaluated by CFDA/PI was not correlated with viability by flow cytometry. The result from this study validate the use of flow cytometry as a precise method for assessing the viability of fresh and frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2016

Through literature review and on-site survey of Gimcheon Bangcho pavilion(芳草亭), the features of garden design(庭園意匠) including geographic conditions, landscape modeling of Nujeong(樓亭) and Jidang(池塘, Pond), and scenic interpretations in Nujeong Jeiyoung poetry(樓亭題詠詩) have been carefully researched and the findings are presented below. Bangcho pavilion is located in a village called Wonteomaeul, which belongs to the feng shui state of golden hairpin and floating lotus. It has long been the cultural hub of communication and social interactions among the villagers. The Head House of Jeongyanggong(靖襄公宗宅), the main house(本第) of the Yeonan Yi Clan(延安李氏), is about 150m away from Bangcho pavilion, an artistic space whose landscape modeling is of the form called Nujeong. The name 'Bangcho' reflects the noble man(君子)'s determination: "I yearn for the place where honey parrots fly and the fragrant grass grow." From the two story structure of the pavilion where there is an additional floor installed to the central ondol room by a four-sided subdivision door, one can detect the aspiration of the men for pursuing an open view. One can also observe the efforts in designing the room to be used for multiple purposes from a private place to an office for periodic publication of a family lineage document called "Garyejunghae(家禮增解)". Bangcho pavilion's main sight of interest is Mrs Choi's Pond(崔氏潭), the one and only garden structure that comprises the twin round island of square pond(方池雙圓島) among the existing Jidangs in Korea. In this special Jidang, there are two coexisting islands that represent a well thought out garden facility for symbolizing conjugal affection and unyielding fidelity between master and servent(主從). In addition, the three inflows and one outflow facing the Ramcheon valley is regarded as an ideal garden design optimized for performing the function of a village bangjuk which is the site for undercurrent creation and ecological reprocessing. At present, Giant pussy willow is the only circular vegetation identified in the area of Bangcho pavilion, although this plant species is about to wither away judging from the signs of decrepitude that seems to persist for two out of three weeks. The old pine tree that appears in the 1872 Jeiyoung poetry of Byeongseon Song(宋秉璿) no longer exists. Anjae(安齋) Jang Yoo(張瑠)'s "Eight Scenary on Bangcho pavilion(芳草亭八詠)" and its expansive reproduction "Ten Scenary on Bangcho pavilion(芳草亭十景)" from Gwagang(守岡) Lee Manyoung(李晩永) depict vividly the pastoric scenery of an idyll(田園景) that stretches throughout the natural and cultural landscape of the province of Gimcheon and Guseong surrounding the Bangcho pavilion. The Bangcho pavilion sutra aims to establish Bangcho pavilion and the village of Wonteomaeul as the centre of microcosmos by dividing and allocating its scenic features according to the four seasons and times(四季四時), the eight courses(八方) and the meteorological phenomena, and it is the incarnation(顯現) of landscape perception upon the Byeol-seo Scenic site of Bangcho pavilion, the cultural hub of the region.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2000

Estrogen can influence on the expression of behaviors not associated directly with reproduction, including learning and memory. Recently estrogen has received considerable attention for its effects on neuroprotection and neural circuits in brain areas associated with cognition. Although estrogen replacement therapy may be helpful to postmenopausal women, it also results in a number of harmful side effects. Ginseng also has steroidal qualities and contains several ginsenoside components which have similar backbone structure to estrogen. The objectives of this experiment were 1) to examine the effects of estrogen and 2) to investigate the effects of ginsenosides as estrogenic agent on learning and memory using the Morris water maze, a traditional experimental task for spatial memory. In the experiments designed here, ovariectomized mice were implanted subcutaneously with Sila, itic capsules containing 17${\beta}$-estradiol (100∼250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), panaxadiol (PD) and panaxatriol (PT) saponins (15∼100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) diluted with sesame oil. In the first set of experiment, the effects of estradiol on learning and memory during the Morris water maze was examined. When estradiol was delivered via Silastic capsules following training improved spatial memory performance in ovariectomized female mice. In the second set of experiment, three different PD and PT saponin concentrations were delivered via Silastic implants to ovariectomized female mice and their effects were compared with estrogenic effects. Results of three separate experiments demonstrated that estradiol, PD and PT administrated by Silastic implants for 2 weeks prior to water maze training significantly improved spatial memory performance compared to ovariectomized (OVX) mice, as indicated by lower escape latency over trial. The positive effect of estradiol suggests that estrogen can affect performance on learning and memory. In addition, the positive effect of PD and PT saponins suggest that ginsenosides have an estrogen-like effects in mediating learning and memory related behavior action.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the correlations between steroids and TGF-${\beta}_1$ levels and delayed parturition in SCNT clone calving. The recipients pregnant by AI were used as control (AI-R). All AI-R were labored by natural delivery (n=5, day $284{\pm}0.71$ of pregnancy). The recipients pregnant by SCNT embryo (SCNT-R) showing no signs of delivery about 10 days after expected date were operated by Caesarean section (n=5, day 292). The blood and placentome samples were obtained and weighed at parturition. The concentrations of plasma progesterone (P4) and Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of plasma and placental TGF-${\beta}_1$ levels were examined by ELISA. The placentomes from SCNT-R were overweight (p<0.05) compared to those of AI-R. The plasma P4 (p<0.01) level in SCNT-R at parturition was significantly higher compared to that of AI-R. In contrast, the plasma E2 level in the SCNT-R was significantly lower compared to that of AI-R (p<0.05). The plasma and placental TGF-${\beta}_1$ protein levels in the SCNT-R were significantly higher than those of AI-R at parturition, respectively (p<0.01). Based on these results, aberrant expressions of steroid hormones and high levels of plasma and placental TGF-${\beta}_1$ protein at parturition may be one of the key indicators on delayed parturition of SCNT clone calving.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2016

Deutzia paniculata is an endemic species to the Korean Peninsula. Despite of importance for conservation, the population structure and habitat characteristics of D. paniculata have not been determined yet. We analyzed the ecological characteristics of the species based on the literature review and field survey. Field survey was conducted on May to October 2014 during which 11 quadrats of size $15{\times}15m$ were studied in six regions. Each of the quadrats were further divided into $5{\times}5m$ small quadrats and population characteristics were recorded. The population and habitat characteristics were analyzed, including species abundance (density and coverage), demographic attributes (flowering rates and fruiting plants), vegetation (structure, species composition), light availability (transmitted light and canopy openness) and soil characteristics (temperature and humidity). We found that D. paniculata mainly distributed in Gyeongsangdo (including Taebaek in Gangwondo) along a broad elevational range of 290~959 m (mean: 493 m) above sea level. In preferred habitat the species grows within the slope range of $7^{\circ}$ and $35^{\circ}$ with the average of $16^{\circ}$. D. paniculata was generally distributed on talus deposits and low adjacent slopes. The average number of individual plants per small quadrat was 12.5 with the mean density $0.5stems\;m^{-2}$. The vegetative reproduction was frequent in D. paniculata and mean flowering rate was as low as 15%. Altogether 138 taxa were found in whole observation area with the dominant tree species mainly spring ephemerals, such as Cornus controversa (importance value: 25.5%) and Fraxinus rhynchophylla (importance value: 15.8%). Although, C. controversa usually grows on steep slopes and F. rhynchophylla mostly distributed at high-altitudes, however, both species distributed in disturbed environments and among talus deposits. Thus based on our results, we concluded that D. paniculata is a disturbance-prone species, primarily existing in habitats subjected to natural disturbances, such as floods. The species occurs less at anthropogenically disturbed sites, thus there is no apparent threat to the populations and habitat of D. paniculata.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 1998

Development and life table statistics of indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella, Hiibner)on brown rice (Sativa oryzae L., var 'Ilpum' ) were tested under five different temperatures (17, 20, 25,28 and 3 2 f 0.5"C). The developmental response of females to the temperature was not significantlydifferent from that of males. In the tested temperature range, developmental period and life span of adultmoth decreased as the temperature increased and ranged from 149.9f30.4 to 38.1 k5.6 days and from19.4f 5.1 to 6.9k2.0 days at 17$^{\circ}$C and 32"C, respectively. Emergence rate increased with the increaseof temperature and ranged from 13.0f 6.2% at 17$^{\circ}$C to 49.2f 25.9% at 32$^{\circ}$C. However, hatching ratecurve in relation to the temperature was dome shape with the peak of 73.8 k5.37~a t 25"C, suggesting thathatching is inhibited by high temperature above that temperature. As the temperature increased, femalesconcentrated their oviposition on the second day after emergence. In the temperature range of 17 SIM 25"C, the number of eggs laid per female were not related to the temperature and ranged from 133.4f 37.6to 154.3k57.4. But the number of eggs laid per female decreased at 32$^{\circ}$C which suggests closerelationship with hatching ability. The net reproduction rate was highest at 28$^{\circ}$C and followed by those at25$^{\circ}$C and 20$^{\circ}$C. However intrinsic rate of natural increase of the moth population on brown rice wasestimated to be highest at 32$^{\circ}$C (0.065 per day), probably due to the short developmental period, highemergence rate and the concentrated oviposition of females on earlier days of the emergence.ition of females on earlier days of the emergence.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.303-320
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• 2019

Plants interact with various biotic and abiotic environmental factors. It requires much information to understand the traits of a plant species. A shortage of information would restrict the assessment, especially in the evaluation of what kind of factors influence a plant species to face extinction. Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. is one of the northern plants of which Korea is the southern distribution edge. The Korean Ministry of Environment had designated it to be the endangered species until December 2015. Although it is comparatively widespread, and a large population has recently been reported, it is assessed to be vulnerable due to the low population genetic diversity. This study evaluated the current distribution of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. We investigated the vegetational environment, population structures, phenology, soil environment, and self-incompatibility based on the results. Lastly, we evaluated the current threats observed in the habitats. The habitats tended to be located in the areas where the masses at the edge of the stream accumulated except for those that were located on slopes of some mountainous areas. Most of them showed a stable population structure and had re-established or recruited seedlings. Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. had the difference in time when the shoots appeared above the ground depending on the depth of the rhizome located in the underground. In particular, the seedlings and juveniles had their rhizome located shallow in the soil. Visits by pollinator insects and success in pollination were crucial factors for bearing of fruits by Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. The threats observed in the habitat of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. included the expansion of cultivated land, construction of new buildings, and construction of river banks and roads. Despite such observed risk factors, it is not likely that there would be rapid population reduction or extinction because of its widespread distribution with the total population of more than 2.7 million individuals and the new populations established by the re-colonization.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.422-439
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• 2019

The rear edge population is considered to have low genetic diversity and high risk of extinction according to a highly isolated distribution. However, the rear edge population is observed to have persisted for an extended period despite the low genetic diversity. As such, it is necessary to understand the ecological process involved in the persistence of the population. Viola mirabilis L. in Korea is considered the rear edge population from the perspective of the worldwide distribution. We surveyed the distribution range of V. mirabilis, which shows the isolated distribution in the central area of Korea, to find out the factors of its persistence. Next, we investigated and accessed the vegetational pattern of habitats, soil environment, phenology, self-compatibility, population structure, and extinction risk factors observed in the distribution area. V. mirabilis was distributed in the understory of the deciduous forest, planted forest of the deciduous conifer and deciduous broad-leaved trees, shrubland, and grassland in the limestone area. We also observed the re-establishment of seedlings in the population, and most of them showed a stable population structure. For chasmogamous flowers, the visit by pollinators has a significantly positive relationship with the production of fruits. However, we found that the production of the cleistogamous flowers was more numerous in all studied populations and that only the cleistogamous flowers were produced despite a more substantial plant size in some populations. The plant size was more related to the production of the cleistogamous flowers than that of the chasmogamous flowers. Accordingly, the cleistogamous flowers significantly contributed to seedling recruitment in the population. We found that the production of the chasmogamous flowers and the cleistogamous flowers did not have a correlation with the factors of the soil analysis except for phosphoric acid. V. mirabilis showed the self-incompatibility characteristics most likely due to the production capability of the cleistogamous flowers. Potential extinction risk factors observed in the distribution area was included the development of limestone mine, the expansion of agricultural fields, and the construction of houses. Although V. mirabilis showed an isolated distribution in the limestone area in the Korean peninsula, it showed a diverse distribution in a wide habitat environment ranging from the grassland to the understory of the trees with relatively low canopy closure rate. Moreover, we concluded that the persistence of the population was possible if we can maintain the current state of multiple populations and stable population structure.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.32
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• pp.309-336
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• 2011

There were various linking points that connect Li xue(Neo-Confucianism) to aesthetics in Song Dynasty as following. 1. The traditional moral as "pursuing pleasure of Kong-zi and Yan Hui" 2. Esteem of "life and vitality". Scholars of Li xue in Song regarded the pleasure of acting up to "benevolence" as a beauty, and this benevolence originated in the "heaven and earth; the universe". "Benevolence", that is to say, is name of the nature that continuous reproduction breed in an endless succession by "Yin-Yang the universe", thus the natural "life and vitality" of the "heaven and earth" as the matter of course is the perfect beauty. 3. An idea of "serene contemplation". Originally the "serene contemplation" belongs to discipline of "Li xue", however simultaneously this conception was entirely applicable to aesthetic point of view. 4. Cosmological consciousness. In the same manner, the "pleasure" which is moralistic and moreover aesthetic is indivisible from cosmic contemplation itself. Because of this point, the art and aesthetics of Song Dynasty self-consciously had the cosmological consciousness in its fullness. 5. Respect of beauty of nature. Scholars of "Li xue" considered as : no matter what "Li" or "Qi" that producing all things is "coming of itself", that is by no means artificially operated or prearranged in advance. Such standpoint was applied to creative art and made art of Song Dynasty esteem beauty of nature (coming of itself) exceedingly. 6. Laying stress on "disposition". Scholars of "Li xue" ordinarily valued much of "disposition of a sage", consequently this tendency influenced on aesthetics. "disposition" indicates the whole impression that one who has appearance and the inside(personality, temper, thought, etc.) gives to others. By putting that impression into practice of art and literature, it is to materialize the works of art as a unity of form and subject, also as an expression of human existence that breathed into one's sensibility on the whole. 7. Principles of "completing inquiry", "study the laws of nature by close access" of "Li xue". These principles made art and literature of Song Dynasty take a serious view of "Li" of all over the universe, so made them close investigate things, and after all have achieved very remarkable characteristic in art and literature, especially in paintings of Song Dynasty. Theory of painting in Song Dynasty had occupied considerably high position in Chinese aesthetic history. It was positively superior to former generations no matter what in quantity or in theoretical minuteness and its systematic level. Undoubtedly the Chinese theory of painting had been achieving development time after time since Song Dynasty. However if we could make a comparison it with every single period (ex. Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties), there is no prominent period than Song Dynasty in theory of paintings. Song period had number of essays of Landscape painting.