• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.943-954
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• 2009

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step of triglyceride synthesis. Both DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes code proteins with DGAT activity. Studies have shown DGAT1 polymorphisms associate with intramuscular fat deposition in beef cattle, but fewer associations between DGAT2 and beef cattle economic traits have been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in intron3 of bovine DGAT2 and evaluate the associations of that with carcass, meat quality, and fat yield traits. Test animals were 157 commercial feedlot steers belonging to 3 Chinese native breeds (22 for Luxi, 24 for Jinnan, and 23 for Qinchuan), 3 cross populations (20 for Charolais${\times}$Fuzhou, 18 for Limousin ${\times}$Luxi, and 17 for Simmental${\times}$Jinan) and 1 Taurus pure breed population (16 Angus steers). In the current study, 15 SNP were discovered in intron3 and exon4 of DGAT2 at positions 65, 128, 178, 210, 241, 255, 270, 312, 328, 334, 365, 366, 371, 415, and 437 (named as their positions in PCR amplified fragments). Only 7 of them (128, 178, 241, 270, 312, 328, and 371) were analyzed, because SNP in three groups (65-128-255, 178-210-365 and 241-334-366) were in complete linkage disequilibrium within the group, and SNP 415 was a deletion and 437 was a null mutation. Frequencies for rare alleles in the 3 native breed populations were higher than in the 3 cross populations for 178 (p = 0.04), 270 (p = 0.001), 312 (p = 0.03) and 371 (p = 0.002). A general linear model was used to evaluate the associations between either SNP genotypes or allele substitutions and the measured traits. Results showed that SNP 270 had a significant association with the fat yield associated with kidney, pelvic cavity, heart, intestine, and stomach (KPHISY). Animals with genotype CC and CT for 270 had less (CC: -7.71${\pm}$3.3 kg and CT: -5.34${\pm}$2.5 kg) KPHISY than animals with genotype TT (p = 0.02). Allele C for 270 was associated with an increase of -4.26${\pm}$1.52 kg KPHISY (p = 0.006) and $-0.92{\pm}0.45%$ of retail cuts weight percentage (NMP, Retail cuts weight/slaughter body weight) (p = 0.045); allele G for 312 was associated with an increase of -5.45${\pm}$2.41 kg KPHISY (p = 0.026). An initial conclusion was that associations do exist between DGAT2 gene and carcass fat traits. Because of the small sample size of this study, it is proposed that further effort is required to validate these findings in larger populations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1818-1827
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of the pathologies that caused the condemnation of pig carcasses in an area of intensive pig farming and Mediterranean climatology and to evaluate their influence in a risk-based inspection procedure for slaughterhouses. Methods: A retrospective observational investigation was carried out from 2002 to 2016 into the pathological processes that caused the condemnation of pig carcasses in a slaughterhouse from South-eastern Spain. The seasonal effect on the causes of condemnation carcass was reported. Negative binomial model was used to evaluate the effect of season on the rate of antemortem rejections and post-mortem condemnations. Histopathological examinations were performed to confirm the diagnosis. Results: The risk of antemortem rejections (0.0564%) was significantly greater in summer (risk ratio [RR] = 1.57). Autumn was associated with higher rate (RR = 1.69) of the total postmortem condemnations (0.1046%). Significantly higher rates of pronounced anaemia (0.0111%) were observed in summer (RR = 3.20). The main causes of anaemia were observed gastroesophageal ulcers and haemorrhagic enteropathies. Significantly highest risk of erysipelas (0.0074%) were observed in autumn (RR = 5.485). About other zoonosis, only eight cases (0.0013%) of carcasses were declared unfit due to tuberculosis lesions. Porcine muscular cysticercosis was not detected. Nevertheless, nonspecific causes such as generalized infections and emaciation represented the half of the condemned carcasses (50.90%). Conclusion: The pathologies leading to the condemnation of carcasses in this study can be considered representative of the pathologies that affect the pig population from a region with a high intensive production and Mediterranean climatology because this slaughterhouse receives a lot of animals from many farms of different size in a high intensive pig production zone (Mediterranean region). Increased knowledge of environmental factors that may foment the appearance of the diseases is essential for implementing inspection programs based on risk assessment in pig's slaughterhouses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5011-5016
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• 2013

Background: Several epidemiological studies have shown associations between colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and type 2 diabetes and obesity. Any effects would be expected to be mediated through the insulin pathway. Therefore it is possible that variants of genes encoding components of the insulin pathway play roles in CRC susceptibility. In this study, we hypothesized that polymorphisms in the genes involving the insulin pathway are associated with risk of CRC. Materials and Methods: The associations of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IGF-I (rs6214), IGFBP-3 (rs3110697), INSR (rs1052371), and IRS2 (rs2289046) genes with the risk of CRC were evaluated using a case-control design with 167 CRC cases and 277 controls by the PCR-RFLP method. Results: Overall, we observed no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the cases and controls for the IGF-I, IGFBP-3, INSR, IRS2 gene variants and CRC before or after adjusting for confounders (age, BMI, sex, and smoking status). However, we observed that the IRS2 (rs2289046) GG genotype compared with AA+AG genotypes has a protective effect for CRC in normal weight subjects (p=0.035, OR=0.259, 95%CI= 0.074-0.907). Conclusions: These findings do not support plausible associations between polymorphic variations in IGF-I, IGFBP-3, INSR, IRS2 genes and risk of CRC. However, the evidence for a link between the IRS2 (rs2289046) variant and risk of CRC dependent on the BMI of the subjects, requires confirmation in subsequent studies with greater sample size.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.358-368
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• 2011

Responses of plankton populations to nutrient enrichment in mesocosm experiments in Shihwa lake were simulated using FVCOM. Dissoloved oxygen module was added to the FVCOM to simulate impacts of its decreased levels. The ecological model included the major components of the pelagic ecosystem including nutrients, phytoplankton (pico-, nano-, micro-), zooplankton (two groups of protozoa, mesozooplankton), particulate organic matter, dissolved organic matter and bacteria, and was calibrated using trophodynamic data collected from Gyeonggi Bay and Shihwa Lake. The model was able to reproduce major responses of plankton populations to nutrient enrichment, including phytoplankton of different size groups, change of dominance of protozoa from < 20 ${\mu}m$ oligotrichs to scuticociliates, and reponses to bacteria and low levels of dissolved oxygen in water column of the mesocosms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.75-87
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• 2009

This paper tries to explore the local uniqueness and evolutionary characteristics of the spatial structure of the rural dwelling houses of China's Korean Ethnic. For this purpose, the paper selected 51 typical samples in each district, analyzing their ancestral home, building age, size, construction method, family composition etc. Moreover, the paper classified the pattern of the samples and analyzed the characteristic and evolutionary process of each pattern. Conclusions based on the analysis of the ancestral homes are as follows: 1.The house pattern of these China's Korean ethnics who are originally from the Hamkyung province is mainly jeongji- access type (A-type). A-type is mainly distributed along the Tumen River and Yalu River, in the Sino-Russian borders and the inland areas of Heilongjiang province. With the migration of the China's Korean ethnics, in Sino-Russian borders and the inland areas of Heilongjiang province, A-type with the 'badang' space, vestibule-access type (C-type) and living-centered type (D-type) appeared. 2. House patterns of Korean ethnics who are originally from the Pyongan province include three types: A-type, kitchen type (B-type) and C-type. A-type is mainly distributed along the Yalu River while B-type and C-type are mainly in the inland areas of these three Northeast provinces. With the decrease of population, the merger of rooms happened in A-type; while in the B-type and C-type, bathroom and storage came to exist in the north of the room. 3. The house pattern of Korean ethnics who are originally from the Gyeongsang province is mainly B-type, which is distributed in the inland areas of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces. Besides, C-type and D-type also exist. They are in Jilin and Liaoning provinces. In the process of evolution, storage was set in the north part of the room or the window was cancelled in order to defend the coldness in Heilongjiang area, while in Jilin and Liaoning provinces, living room came into existence, which is gradually developing to D-type.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.115-124
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• 2010

In order to find out the short-term phytoplankton dynamics during summer season in Jinhae Bay, we investigated the environmental factors and phytoplankton population densities at 16 stations. A total of 66 phytoplankton species were appeared, diatoms occupied more than 80% of total species, and the others were dinoflagellates and raphidophyceaes. The dominant species were diatoms Chaetoceros affinis, C. didymus, C. pseudocurvisetus, Leptocylindrus danicus, Pseudonitzchia pungens, Skeletonema costatum and dinoflagellates Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gymnodinium impudicum, Karenia mikimotoi, Prorocentrium minimum, Protoperidinium bipes and Scrippsiella trochoidea. According to multidimensional scaling (MSD) and cluster analysis based on phytoplankton community data from each station, the Jinhae bay was divided into two groups. The first group included stations in the inner part of Masan Bay, which is strongly influenced by high nitrogen loading and low salinity by river discharge. The second group included the other remained stations. Based on canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), small-size dinoflagellates K. mikimotoi, P. minimum, P. bipes and S. trochoidea and centric diatom C. pseudocurvisetus and S. costatum, which is dominanted in the inner area of bay, were related with DIN (ammonium, nitrate, nitrite). These results imply that the study area was grouped into the two water masses (inner and outer water of Masan Bay) and inner waters had higher phytoplankton abundances and Chl.a concentration than outer waters. As a result, summer phytoplankton peaks in the inner shallow bay were stimulated by increases in nitrogen and temperature.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2007

Crop loss and damage by wildlife are becoming more serious to residents inside and around National Parks of Korea annually. It could be caused by small size of Parks, which is couples of ten $km^2$ only, and more than a third of total parks' areas are belonging to privates. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is one of the most harmful pests in nationwide. Treading down crop field using as bedding or resting site are major damaged types and foraging behavior is following. Besides of boars, Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis), racoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and badger (Meles meles) are another serious pests. Mainly, farm products planted in upland, such as corns, sweet potatoes, cabbages, etc. are harmed easily, a rate reaches up to 76.9% of whole losses. 92.4% (n=187) of interviewees, who are mostly seniors, cultivate small crop fields smaller than 1 ha. Crop damage would be started from June to late November, time differences are happened due to latitude, climate condition, and crop differences of National Parks. Dusting animal repellents are easier and widespread methods to prevent animal foraging to crop fields and installing noisy makers using gun powder and setting up scarecrows are traditional methods for repelling animals. Nevertheless, effects of these self-defence are turned out to be useful soon after labors done only. Since legal compensation for crop damages by wildlife are not prepared systematically so far, crop loss are rarely reported to local government by most farmers. Systematic and objective methods for quantifying of crop loss by wildlife and population managements system should be offered urgently to well-managed animals habitat and residents' living inside National Parks.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

Rice is the staple food of more than 50% of the worlds population. Cultivated rice has the AA genome (diploid, 2n=24) and small genome size of only 430 megabase (haploid genome). As the sequencing of rice genome was completed by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP), many researchers in the world have been working to explore the gene function on rice genome. Insertional mutagenesis has been a powerful strategy for assessing gene function. In maize, well characterized transposable elements have traditionally been used to clone genes for which only phenotypic information is available. In rice endogenous mobile elements such as MITE and Tos (Hirochika. 1997) have been used to generate gene-tagged populations. To date T-DNA and maize transposable element systems has been utilized as main insertional mutagens in rice. A main drawback of a T-DNA scheme is that Agrobacteria-mediated transformation in rice requires extensive facilities, time, and labor. In contrast, the Ac/Ds system offers the advantage of generating new mutants by secondary transposition from a single tagged gene. Revertants can be utilized to correlate phenotype with genotype. To enhance the efficiency of gene detection, advanced gene-tagging systems (i.e. activation, gene or enhancer trap) have been employed for functional genomic studies in rice. Internationally, there have been many projects to develop large scales of insertionally mutagenized populations and databases of insertion sites has been established. Ultimate goals of these projects are to supply genetic materials and informations essential for functional analysis of rice genes and for breeding using agronomically important genes. In this report, we summarize the current status of Ac/Ds-mediated gene tagging systems that has been launched by collaborative works from 2001 in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.234-244
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• 2018

The roadkill that animals die after bumping by vehicles on the roads is acting as a factor to decrease the size of various animal populations. It has also been known to be the biggest artificial causations of Vertebrata deaths not only in urban areas but also protected areas such as national parks. Nevertheless, in the national park areas which are major protected national areas for conservation of national biodiversity and ecological diversity, snake roadkills occur frequently. Up to date, related studies are rare. Therefore, in this study, we described snake roadkill patterns on the roads in six national parks between 2006 and 2015. We identified total 736 snake roadkills compromising 10 different species. Five species, Rhabdophis lateralis, Elaphe dione, Gloydius ussuriensis, Lycodon rufozonatus, Gloydius brevicaudus occupied more than 91.7% of total roadkill cases. Active forager snakes were killed by roadkills more than ambush foragers, and the snake roadkill frequency was the highest in September, a migration period and in August when the young individuals dispersed at between 100 and 799 m altitude areas. Roads where roadkills were frequent lie between forest and hydrosphere or between forest and crop field road sides. Our results could be used to identify the trend of snake roadkills on the roads in national parks, and to establish effective roadkill mitigation measures and policies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2002

Objectives : To identify the relationship between the use of medical services by workers with three types of respiratory diseases(total respiratory diseases, acute upper respiratory infections and chronic lower respiratory diseases) and exposure to hazardous agents after controlling for other factors affecting medical services use, such as characteristics of the enterprises(scale, industry type) and employee demographics (sex, age). Methods : The study population comprised 28,882 workers who had undergone general or special medical examinations at the industrial health center at least once between Jan 1995 and Dec 1997 and had possessed medical insurance during the period. We combined medical examination data with medical insurance data in order to analyze the relationship between exposure to hazardous agents and respiratory diseases, Results : Among the 28,882 study subjects, 17,454 employees(60.4%) used medical services more than once during 3-year study period, owing to more than one kind of respiratory diseases. In logistic regression analysis, sex, age and the size of the enterprises proved to be significant variables on the use of medical services for all three types of respiratory disease; The use of medical services increased with employee age. Women used more medical services than men and the employees in the large-scale enterprises used more services than employees in small-scale enterprises. However, exposure to dust or organic solvents did not affect medical service use due to total respiratory diseases or acute upper respiratory infections. Only in the case of chronic lower respiratory diseases did workers exposed to dusts(OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) or organic solvents(OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.35) use more medical services than those not exposed. Conclusions : Workers exposed to dusts or organic solvents are particularly apt to suffer from chronic lower respiratory diseases and use medical services more often than those not exposed. That is, chronic exposure to hazardous agents such as dusts and organic solvents is believed to be harmful and to cause respiratory symptoms and diseases.