• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.592-610
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• 2023

The Hippo kinase cascade functions as a central hub that relays input from the "outside world" of the cell and translates it into specific cellular responses by regulating the activity of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). How Hippo translates input from the extracellular signals into specific intracellular responses remains unclear. Here, we show that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-activated TAK1 activates LATS1/2, which then phosphorylates YAP1. Phosphorylated YAP1 (p-YAP1) associates with RUNX3, but not with TEAD4, to form a TGFβ-stimulated restriction (R)-point-associated complex which activates target chromatin loci in the nucleus. Soon after, p-YAP1 is exported to the cytoplasm. Attenuation of TGFβ signaling results in re-localization of unphosphorylated YAP1 to the nucleus, where it forms a YAP1/TEAD4/SMAD3/AP1/p300 complex. The TGFβ-stimulated spatiotemporal dynamics of YAP1 are abrogated in many cancer cells. These results identify a new pathway that integrates TGFβ signals and the Hippo pathway (TGFβ→TAK1→LATS1/2→YAP1 cascade) with a novel dynamic nuclear role for p-YAP1.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.15
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• 2024

Background: Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious disease that causes illness and death in poultry and humans. High pathogenicity AI (HPAI) H5N6 outbreaks commonly occur in Quang Ninh province bordering China. In June 2021, the first HPAI H5N8 outbreak occurred at a Quang Ninh chicken farm. Objectives: This study examined the risk factors associated with HPAI H5N6 and H5N8 outbreaks in Quang Ninh. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Quang Ninh from Nov 2021 to Jan 2022. The cases were households with susceptible poultry with two or more clinical signs and tested positive by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The controls were households in the same village as the cases but did not show clinical symptoms of the disease. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the risk factors associated with HPAI outbreaks at the household level. Results: There were 38 cases with H5N6 clade 2.3.4.4h viruses (n = 35) and H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses (n = 3). Compared to the 112 controls, raising poultry in uncovered or partially covered ponds (odds ratio [OR], 7.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-39.27), poultry traders visiting the farm (OR, 8.66; 95% CI, 2.7-27.69), farms with 50-2,000 birds (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.06-8-51), and farms with ≥ 2,000 birds (OR, 11.35; 95% CI, 3.07-41.94) were significantly associated with HPAI outbreaks. Conclusions: Combining biosecurity measures, such as restricting visitor entry and vaccination in farms with more than 50 birds, can enhance the control and prevention of HPAI in Quang Ninh and its spread across borders.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.985-1000
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• 2005

In vitro anaerobic incubations of timothy (Phleum pretense L.) forage with bovine rumen fluid were conducted at 39℃ for 0, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 36 h in three trials to examine the biohy- drogenation of linolenic (C18:3) and linoleic acids (C18:2) and their bypass from the rumen. The objectives of the first trial was to study the effect of growth stage (stem elongation, early heading, late heading, and early flowering) and N-fertilization (0 and 120 kg N ha－1) on in vitro biohydrogenation of C18:2 and C18:3. The hydrogenable fraction, the effective disappearance and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3 were high in timothy harvested at stem elongation, and decr- ease linearly with maturity. The N-fertilization increased the hydrogenable fraction of C18:3, the effective disappearance and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3. However, the rate of disappearance of C18:2 and C18:3 were not affected by maturity and N-fertilization (P>0.1). In trial 2, the effect of timothy conservation method on in vitro C18:2 and C18:3 biohydrogenation was determined. Silage had the highest effective disappearance of C18:2 and C18:3, and grass hay had lowest one. The amounts of C18:2 and C18:3 biohydrogenated were higher in haylage and silage than in grass hay. Comparative to haylage timothy, the bypass of C18:3 was higher in fresh grass, wilted grass and grass hay. The bypass of C18:2 was higher in fresh grass and silage in comparison to grass hay and haylage. In trial 3, the effects of formic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum inoculum addition to timothy haylage and silage on C18:2 and C18:3 disappearance and bypass were studied. Haylage and silage additives had no effect (P>0.1) on effective disappearance and bypass of C18:2 and C18:3. The addition of formic acid increased the rate of biohydrogenation of C18:3 in haylage and silage, but it decreased the hydrogenable fraction of C18:2 in silage. The results of these three incubation trials show that the hydrogenable fraction and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3 in timothy decreased with maturity and increased with N-fertilization. Higher amount of C18:2 and C18:3 were biohydrogenated in haylage and silage than in grass hay, and C18:3 ruminal disappearance was higher in fresh grass, wilted grass and grass hay than in haylage.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.611-620
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• 2007

The current study was designed to define whether a blend of prunus mume extract(25%) containing lactic acid(75%) and grape seed extract(10ppm) could affect in vitro antimicrobial activity and growth performance, intestinal microflora, plasma biochemical profiles and digestive enzymes activities in broiler chickens. In paper disc agar diffusion test, we clearly observed antimicrobial activity against E. coli in response to prunus mume extract or a blend of prunus mume extract. For in vivo test, a total of ninety six 3-d-old male broiler chicks were assigned to basal diet(CON), basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (ANTI) and 0.5% a blend of prunus mume extract(PRNUS) until 35 days of age. Throughout the entire experimental period(3-35 days), there were no differences in BW and FCR between the birds fed the basal diet with antibiotics and the diet supplemented with a blend of prunus mume. However, ANTI group showed a significant increase in BW and total gain compared to CON group. The weights of digestive organs such as the pancreas and mucosal tissues were not affected by dietary treatments. There was no difference in plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, AST and ALT activity. However, triglyceride in plasma increased(P<0.05) in the birds fed the diet supplemented with 0.5% a blend of prunus mume extract compared to those fed antibiotics supplemented diet. The activities of pancreatic trypsin and amylase, and intestinal hydrolase including disaccharidase were not affected by dietary treatment. The colony forming units(CFU) of lactobacillus in the lower ileal-cecum of the birds fed the diet supplemented with a blend of prunus mume extract was significantly(P<0.05) higher than that of birds fed antibiotic supplemented diet without affecting the CFU of E. coli. In conclusion, the birds fed the diet supplemented a blend of prunus mume as an alternative to antibiotics showed a similar growth performance and an significant increase in lactobacillus population compared with the birds fed basal and antibiotics supplemented diets.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2007

Purpose : Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly identified paramyxovirus that causes a variety of clinical syndromes in children, including upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses. hMPV is considered an ubiquitous virus causing respiratory tract diseases among children especially during late winter and spring seasons. We report clinical features of human metapneumovirus infection in Korean children. Methods : hMPV infection was diagnosed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in respiratory specimens obtained from patients with acute respiratory tract infections from October, 2004 to May, 2005. Medical records of all hMPV-positive patients were reviewed, retrospectively. Results : A total of 15 hMPV were identified from 443 nasopharyngeal aspirations by RT-PCR (3.4%). The range of age of the patients with hMPV infection was from 1 month to 62 months (median age, 31.5 months), with similar numbers of females (8/15) and males (7/15). Among hMPV-positive children, 53.3% (8/15) were aged less than 24 months. Fever, cough, rhinorrhea, vomiting, diarrhea, tachypnea, and chest wall retractions were common findings. Most common clinical diagnosis was pneumonia (60%). Two of the 15 hMPV-positive patients were also positive for adenovirus. Fever persisted from 0 to 10 days (mean 4.9 days). The duration of hospitalization ranged from 4 to 7 days (mean 5.6 days). Conclusion : hMPV accounted for a small but significant proportion of respiratory tract infection in infants and children. Future development and application of diagnostic tools will determine the burden of disease caused by this newly discovered pathogen.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 2016

An investigation was carried out to study the diversity of aquatic insects, functional feeding groups (FFGs), habitat oriented groups (HOGs), and species-specific distribution in the Taean area in Korea from June to August, 2015. As a result, a total of 72 species belonging to 30 families and six orders were identified in all the investigated regions. Odonata (22 spp.: 30.56%) was the largest group in species richness followed by Coleoptera (21 spp.: 29.16%), Hemiptera (17 spp.: 23.61%) and Diptera (8 spp.: 11.11%) while for Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, only two species (2.78%) were found. In addition, Plecoptera and Megaloptera inhabiting clean and flowing waters were not found. In the FFGs, predators (48 spp.: 66.67%) were relatively larger as represented by Odonata, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera, whereas shredders and scrapers were lower in proportion. The dominant groups of HOGs were swimmers (24 spp.: 33.33%), climbers (18 spp.: 25.0%), and sprawlers (12 spp.: 16.67%), which were characterized as aquatic insects community of island. Four species: Cybister lewisianus Sharp, Helophorus auriculatus Sharp, Agrypnia pagetana Curtis, Diplonychus esakii Miyamoto & Lee that are designated as Endangered, Near Threatened, and Vulnerable (Korean Red List) have been found to inhabitthe Taean area. Also, two species belonging to the exportable species group (Ceriagrion auranticum Fraser, Paracercion melanotum (Selys)) and one species belonging to the climate-sensitive biological indicator group (Ischnura elegans (Van der Linden)) were identified. In this study, four significant species including the Endangered are presented on the Korean distribution map based on the information in the national ecosystem survey accumulated for 7 years (2006-2012) by the Ministry of Environment.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.522-532
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• 1985

The reactions of p-nitrophenyldiphenylphosphate (p-NPDPP) with anions of benzimidazole (BI) and its 2-alkyl derivatives (R-BI) are strongly catalyzed by the micelles of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTABr). On the other hand, the first order rate constants $(k'_{R-BI^-})$ and the second order rate constants $(k_{m(R-BI^-)})$ of the reactions mediated by R-$BI^-$in the micellar pseudophase are much smaller than those mediated by $BI^-$. In order to explain the slower rates of the micellar reactions mediated by R-$BI^-$, we compared the concentration-ratios ([R-$BI^-$]/[$BI^-$]) with the first order rate constant-ratios $(k'_{R-BI^-}/k'_{BI^-})$ and the second order constant-ratios $(k_{m(R-BI^-)}/k_{m(BI^-)})$ for the reactions taking place in the micellar pseudophase. The rate constant-ratios were much smaller than the concentration-ratios. For example in a 5 ${\times}10^{-4}$M butyl-BI solution, the two ratios were 0.089 and 0.430 (for the first order) respectively, and in a $10^{-4}$M butyl-BI solution the former was 0.100 (for the second order). This predicts that the reactivities of R-$BI^-$ in the micellar pseudophase are much smaller than that of $BI^-$. Based on the values of several kinetic parameters measured for dephosphorylation of p-NPDPP mediated by R-$BI^-$, a schemetic model is proposed. Due to the hydrophobicity and the steric effect of the alkyl substituents, these groups would penetrate into the core of the micelle for stabilization by van der Waals interaction with long cetyl groups of CTABr. Consequently, the movements of R-$BI^-$ bound to the micelle should be restricted, leading to decreased collison frequencies between the nucleophiles and p-NPDPP. We refer this as an "anchor effect". This effect became more predominent when a larger alky group in R-BI was employed and when a greater concentration of R-BI was used.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.284-284
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• 2016

Topological insulator (TI) is a bulk-insulating material with topologically protected Dirac surface states in the band gap. In particular, $Bi_2Se_3$ attracted great attention as a model three-dimensional TI due to its simple electronic structure of the surface states in a relatively large band gap (~0.3 eV). However, experimental efforts using $Bi_2Se_3$ have been difficult due to the abundance of structural defects, which frequently results in the bulk conduction being dominant over the surface conduction in transport due to the bulk doping effects of the defect sites. One promising approach in avoiding this problem is to reduce the structural defects by heteroepitaxially grow $Bi_2Se_3$ on a substrate with a compatible lattice structure, while also preventing surface degradation by encapsulating the pristine interface between $Bi_2Se_3$ and the substrate in a clean growth environment. A particularly promising choice of substrate for the heteroepitaxial growth is hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), which has the same two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layered structure and hexagonal lattice symmetry as $Bi_2Se_3$. Moreover, since h-BN is a dielectric insulator with a large bandgap energy of 5.97 eV and chemically inert surfaces, it is well suited as a substrate for high mobility electronic transport studies of vdW material systems. Here we report the heteroepitaxial growth and characterization of high quality topological insulator $Bi_2Se_3$ thin films prepared on h-BN layers. Especially, we used molecular beam epitaxy to achieve high quality TI thin films with extremely low defect concentrations and an ideal interface between the films and substrates. To optimize the morphology and microstructural quality of the films, a two-step growth was performed on h-BN layers transferred on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) compatible substrates. The resulting $Bi_2Se_3$ thin films were highly crystalline with atomically smooth terraces over a large area, and the $Bi_2Se_3$ and h-BN exhibited a clear heteroepitaxial relationship with an atomically abrupt and clean interface, as examined by high-resolution TEM. Magnetotransport characterizations revealed that this interface supports a high quality topological surface state devoid of bulk contribution, as evidenced by Hall, Shubnikov-de Haas, and weak anti-localization measurements. We believe that the experimental scheme demonstrated in this talk can serve as a promising method for the preparation of high quality TI thin films as well as many other heterostructures based on 2D vdW layered materials.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide base information that can be utilized in surveying the status of landscape management within apartment complexes and grasping the conditions of the soil for planting plants, as a way to improve the quality of green spaces by repairing poorly vegetated spaces within apartment complexes and remodeling them with diverse species of plants. Considering that trees and shrubs of equal sizes are simultaneously planted upon the completion of apartment complexes, they were divided based on their completion year at the interval of 5 years and differences in the growth of trees and the components of soil over time were analyzed. Out of the species of trees planted in all the 9 apartment complexes surveyed in this study, the growth of 4 species of needleleaf trees and 4 species of broadleaf trees were surveyed. Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka' and Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. out of the needleleaf trees and Malus floribunda Siebold ex Van Houtte out of the broadleaf trees showed the highest growth rate when over 5 years passed after planting and their growth rate decreased when over 10 years passed. Platycladus orientalis and Acer palmatum Thunb. in the apartment complexes that were built over 10 years ago showed the highest growth rate, which indicates that the species require a relatively long period of time for growth. The hardness of the soil at the areas where trees were planted but their soil surface was bare was analyzed. When over 5 years passed after the completion of apartment complexes, over 20 mm of the soil was found to be stamped. The physicochemical properties of soil were also surveyed and the pH level was found to have been continuously high ever since the completion. The organic content in the surveyed soil was about 1/3 of the content in fertile soil, which means that additional fertilization is required. These results indicate that the stamped soil and the health of soil can be restored, when replanting plants in bare areas, by adding plans to improve soil, such as designing drain ways around the planted areas, transporting soil for the 50 cm depth of the ground and mixing organic matters such as chaff, and simply by planting groundcover plants in the lower part of tress and shrubs.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2011

This study investigated the community structure and spatio-temporal variation of macrobenthic assemblages around Gijang Province, East Sea of Korea. Macrobenthos collected seasonally using a modified van Veen grab sampler from March to November 2006. A total of 157 macrobenthic fauna were collected. The overall average macrobenthos density were $552 \;ind/m^2$. The species number of macrobenthos was in the range from 62 in winter and spring to 122 in autumn. On the other hand, abundance fluctuated between 6,540 (in spring) and 17,920 (in autumn) inds./$18m^2$. Cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS) were applied to assess the spatio-temporal fluctuation in the macrobenthic assemblages. Cluster analysis and nMDS ordination analysis based on the Bray-Curtis similarity identified 3 station groups. The group 1 (station 8~10, 12, 13, 17 and 18) was characterized by high abundance of the polychaete Lumbrineris longifolia, the bivalve Ennucula tenuis and the Amphipoda spp., with mean phi range from $6.2{\Phi}$ to $7.1{\Phi}$ (above 50m water depth). The group 2 (station 5~7, 11, 14~16) was numerically dominated by the po1ychaete Ampharete arctica and the bivalve Theorafragilis (mean phi: $6.0{\sim}7.0{\Phi}$; within 40 m water depth). Finally group 3 (station 1~4) was characterized by high density of the polychaetes Magelona japonica and Sternaspis scutata, with mean phi range from $3.5{\Phi}$ to $6.9{\Phi}$ (below 30 m water depth). In conclusion, the Macrobenthic community structure showed a distinct spatial and temporal trend, which seemed to be related to the water depth and sediment composition.