• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.90-95
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• 2019

Camellia pukhangensis (Theaceae), a new species with yellow flowers from Quy Hop District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. Camellia pukhangensis has nearly sessile leaves with an attenuate to caudate apex, cordate base, hirsute abaxial surface, hirsute adaxial midrib, hirsute petiole, deltate to ovate perules hairy on the outer surface, bright yellow orbicular to obovate petals hairy on the outer surface, androecium pubescent to two-thirds from the base, pubescent ovoid ovary with three (or four) locules and three (or four) pubescent styles free to the base. The morphological data support the provisional placement of C. pukhangensis in Camellia sect. Archecamellia Sealy.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2021

Phylotranscriptomics is the study of phylogenetic relationships among taxa based on their DNA sequences derived from transcriptomes. Because of the relatively low cost of transcriptome sequencing compared with genome sequencing and the fact that phylotranscriptomics is almost as reliable as phylogenomics, the phylotranscriptomic analysis has recently emerged as the preferred method for studying evolutionary biology. However, it is challenging to perform transcriptomic and phylogenetic analyses together without programming expertise. This study presents a protocol for phylotranscriptomic analysis to aid marine biologists unfamiliar with UNIX command-line interface and bioinformatics tools. Here, we used transcriptomes to reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of dinoflagellate protists, a diverse and globally abundant group of marine plankton organisms whose large and complex genomic sequences have impeded conventional phylogenic analysis based on genomic data. We hope that our proposed protocol may serve as practical and helpful information for the training and education of novice phycologists.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.106-119
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• 2023

With the increased number of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets in public repositories, integrative analysis of multiple scRNA-seq datasets has become commonplace. Batch effects among different datasets are inevitable because of differences in cell isolation and handling protocols, library preparation technology, and sequencing platforms. To remove these batch effects for effective integration of multiple scRNA-seq datasets, a number of methodologies have been developed based on diverse concepts and approaches. These methods have proven useful for examining whether cellular features, such as cell subpopulations and marker genes, identified from a certain dataset, are consistently present, or whether their condition-dependent variations, such as increases in cell subpopulations in particular disease-related conditions, are consistently observed in different datasets generated under similar or distinct conditions. In this review, we summarize the concepts and approaches of the integration methods and their pros and cons as has been reported in previous literature.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.333-342
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• 2023

Phytophthora species, classified under Oomycota, cause significant damage to various crops and trees. The present study introduced Phytophthora species, P. nagaii and P. tentaculata, new to Korea, which pose notable risks to their respective host plants. Our research provided a comprehensive description of these species taking into account their cultural features, morphological characteristics, and molecular phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer rDNA region and cytochrome c oxidase subunit mtDNA genes (cox1 and cox2) sequences. In addition, this study first evaluated the sensitivity of P. nagaii and P. tentaculata to five anti-oomycete fungicides, finding both species most responsive to picarbutrazox and P. tentaculata resistant to fluazinam. The data can guide targeted treatment strategies and offer insights into effective control methods. The findings expand our understanding of the diversity, distribution, and management of Phytophthora species in Korea.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.369-374
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• 2010

The PC12 is the widely used cell line to study neuronal differentiation. We had extensively investigated the details of protein expression in differentiated PC12 cells by proteomic analysis. The cells were incubated at the presence of nerve growth factor. We had analyzed the expression changes in the differentiating PC12 cells by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and the identification of the proteins using MALDI-TOF MS. By comparing expression pattern in the time course, we identified the candidate genes which are associated with neuronal differentiation. Among these genes, we performed real-time PCR analysis to validate $Idh3{\alpha}$ expression by the time course. To identify the function of $Idh3{\alpha}$ in neuronal differentiation stage, the transfection of $Idh3{\alpha}$ to PC12 cells was performed. As a result, we proved that up-regulation of $Idh3{\alpha}$ causes reduction in neural differentiation of PC12 cells. Based on these data, we suggest that $Idh3{\alpha}$ plays a role to the neuronal differentiation.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent and the nature of biological nursing science education for clinical nurses in general hospital. Methods: Five advanced general hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province were conveniently sampled. Contents of education for nurses conducted by the hospital nursing department from January 1 to December 31 of 2015 were collected. Contents of education included biological nursing science and the scope of inclusion and time of assignment were analyzed. Results: A total of 271 cases of nursing education data were collected and 223 cases were analyzed after excluding 48 cases whose contents were not confirmed. Biological nursing science was included in the contents of education for 117 cases (52.5%), but not for 106 cases (47.5%). Regarding the frequency of the biological nursing science education contents, 'pathophysiology'was the most frequently included (n= 286), followed by 'structure and function of the human body' (n= 191), 'mechanisms and effects of drugs' (n= 114) and 'clinical microbiology' (n= 43). Conclusion: Results of this study confirmed that the education for clinical nurses included a lot of biological nursing science related contents. These results can be used as basis for the development of curriculum and training course for nurses.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2005

Dandelions have been reported to have medicinal properties and bioactive components that impact human health. However, the precise biological properties of dandelions and the parts of the plants possessing bioactive components remain uncertain. In this study, we evaluated 3 different types of dandelions based on their cultivation origin (Songpa, Uiryung, and native Uiryung types) as well as their 4 different plant parts (leaf, flower, root, skin). Each sample was extracted with $80\%$ methanol and then compared for the biological activities (anti-oxidative, immune cell proliferative and tumor cell growth inhibitory activities). All 3 types of dandelions possessed a degree of biological functions including the hydroxyl radical scavenger activity, immune cell proliferative activity and tumor cell growth inhibitory activity. However, there was no significant difference in these activities between the 3 dandelion types. Leaves of all three dandelion types showed the highest levels of all biological activities. To a lesser degree, the flower and root parts displayed biological activities. In the skin parts, anti-oxidative activity was also detected only at higher doses of dandelion extracts. Heating the dandelion leaf extract did not affect the biological activity, suggesting a heat-stable nature of the biological compounds. Taken together, these collective data suggest that dandelions, in particular their leaves, possess a high concentration of heat-resistant biological compounds, which are responsible for anti-oxidative, immune cell proliferative and tumor cell growth-inhibitory activities.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.33.1-33.17
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• 2022

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) have emerged as potential regulators of macrophage function. We have investigated mechanisms of SOCS3 action on type 2 macrophage (M2) differentiation induced by glucocorticoid using human monocytic cell lines and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Treatment of THP1 monocytic cells with dexamethasone (Dex) induced ROS generation and M2 polarization promoting IL-10 and TGF-β production, while suppressing IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 production. SOCS3 over-expression reduced, whereas SOCS3 ablation enhanced IL-10 and TGF-β induction with concomitant regulation of ROS. As a mediator of M2 differentiation, glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) was down-regulated by SOCS3 and up-regulated by shSOCS3. The induction of GILZ and IL-10 by Dex was dependent on ROS and p38 MAPK activity. Importantly, GILZ ablation led to the inhibition of ROS generation and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction by Dex. Moreover, GILZ knock-down negated the up-regulation of IL-10 production induced by shSOCS3 transduction. Our data suggest that SOCS3 targets ROS- and p38-dependent GILZ expression to suppress Dex-induced M2 polarization.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2011

Objectives: In this study, we summarized the External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to toxic chemicals which started in 1995 and continued until a $31^{st}$ round robin in the spring of 2010. The program was performed twice per year until 2009, and this was changed to once a year since 2010. The objective of the program is to ensure the reliability of the data related to biological monitoring from analytical laboratories. Methods: One hundred and eighteen laboratories participated in the $31^{st}$ round robin. The program offers 5 items for inorganic analysis: lead in blood, cadmium in blood, manganese in blood, cadmium in urine, and mercury in urine. It also offers 10 items for organic analysis, including hippuric acid, methylhippuric acid, mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, N-methylformamide, N-methylacetamide, trichloroacetic acid, total trichloro-compounds, trans,trans-muconic acid, and 2,5-hexanedione in urine. Target values were determined by statistical analysis using consensus values. All the data, such as chromatograms and calibration curves, were reviewed by the committee. Results: The proficiency rate was below 70% prior to the first round robin and improved to over 90% for common items, such as PbB and HA, while those for other items still remained in the range of 60-90% and need to be improved up to 90%. Conclusion: The EQAS has taken a primary role in improving the reliability of analytical data. A total quality assurance scheme is suggested, including the validation of technical documentation for the whole analytical procedure.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.422-431
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• 2009

This study was to provide basic data for aquatic ecosystem research using fishes. Field sampling was carried out at five selected sites of Gap Stream, and fish samples, especially for a selection of sentinel species were collected three times in June, September, and October 2007. We analyzed total length distribution of Zacco platypus in relation with the season and the sampling sites, and then compared with total body weight, condition factor (K), and age distribution of the fish. The fish population data were compared with physico-chemical water quality, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Water quality analysis showed a significant nutrient enrichment, based on total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), and organic matter pollution, based on biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the Site 5, which is directly influenced by wastewater disposal plant (WDP). Population analysis of the sentinel species showed that the total number of individuals, age distribution, and the population size-structure were influenced by the effluents from the WDP, and that reproductive failure of young-age population were evident in Site 5. According to the relation analysis of total weight to K, the disturbed population was mainly attributed to combined effects of habitat modifications and chemical degradations. Regression analysis of K values against water quality parameters showed significant (p<0.05) positive relations with nutrient and organic matter contents. Our data suggest that the population structure using a sentinel fish species reflected the ambient water quality in the stream and that diagnosis of aquatic ecosystem health using Z. platypus population may be practical for water resource and ecosystem conservations.