• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2016

Isotocin (IT), a nonapeptide homolog of oxytocin in mammals, has been suggested to be involved in physiological processes including social behaviors, stress responses, and osmoregulation in teleost fish. To study its structure and function, the gene encoding the IT precursor was cloned from the genomic DNA and brain cDNA of the cinnamon clownfish, Amphiprion melanopus. The IT precursor gene consists of three exons separated by two introns, and encodes an open reading frame of 156 amino acid (aa) residues, comprising a putative signal peptide of 19 aa, a mature IT protein of 9 aa, a proteolytic processing site of 3 aa, and 125 aa of neurophysin. Tissue-specific analysis of the IT precursor transcript indicated its expression in the brain and gonads of A. melanopus. To examine its osmoregulatory effects, the salinity of the seawater (34 ppt) used for rearing A. melanopus was lowered to 15 ppt. Histological analysis of the gills indicated the apparent disappearance of an apical crypt on the surface of the gill lamella of A. melanopus, as pavement cells covered the surface upon acclimation to the lower salinity. The level of Na⁺/K^+-ATPase activity in the gills was increased during the initial stage of acclimation, followed by a decrease to its normal level, suggesting its involvement in osmoregulation and homeostasis. The only slight increase in the level of IT precursor transcript in the A. melanopus brain upon low-salinity acclimation suggested that IT played a minor role, if any, in the process of osmoregulation.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2018

The relationship between the body size of species and the environment has been an active research subject for many years. Until recently, studies had focused on the relationship between the body size and environment based on the ecogeographic rule for various animal groups. In this study, we examined the relationship between body size of Hyla japonica and the habitat environment in Jeju island located at the southernmost part of the Korean peninsula. We collected H. japonica from three breeding sites, Cheonji, Bonggae, and Aewol, and measured SVL, BW, and HW of the species. We also measured the altitude, longitude, latitude, annual mean temperature, and annual mean precipitation of each site to analyze the relationship between the body size and the habitat environment. The analysis results showed that there was the clear difference of the body size according to the habitat and the body size in Aewol was significantly bigger than others, while the body size in Cheonji was the smallest. The altitude was the most important environmental variable and showed a positive correlation with body size. The body size of H. japonica increased as the altitude increased, and this results were consistent with Bergmann's rule, one of the biological laws related to body size. In conclusion, the environment could affect the body size of H. japonica, and the body size has a certain direction according to the environment.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.35
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• pp.284-303
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• 2002

The purpose of this research paper is to examine, from an ethnological viewpoint, the traditional practice of using sacrificial game and domestic livestock as is often seen at communal rites in Korea. This paper also examine how the more convenient use of livestock sacrifice developed from that in which wild game were once offered, and how this change in the type of animals used affected the significance of the sacrifice. It also looks at how the use of animal sacrifice for ceremonies eventually influenced the practice of meat consumption on the part of the participants in their daily life, and how it contributed to the eventual establishment and development of livestock breeding for the purpose of meat consumption. The practice of catching wild game in the mountains for sacrificial purposes eventually gave way to the use of pasturage cattle, but it should be understood that these domesticated livestock were raised primarily for ceremonial rather than meat consumption purpose. When used for sacrifice, these cattle were not castrated, as is normally done when they are slaughtered for meat consumption, but it should not be assumed that this was done for purposes of simplification. In addition, not only rice farmers but also when enterpreneurs set up a new enterprise, animal sacrifice was viewed not only as a form of on-site purification of evil, but also served the dual purpose of enhancing their business through the traditional custom of serving meat to those invited guests in attendance. In the large-scale village communal rite of Hwaghae Province located in the northwestern part of Korea, animal sacrifice was carried out in the ritual for the Mountain God in a highly dramatic style, and suggests that it originated with the agrarian rites of the "fire-field" farmers of East Asia, which were utilized to foretell whether the coming year would be one of abundance or famine, and to the royal ceremony held on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar, as well as that held for the God of the Mountains and Streams. The dramatic-style hunting rite, included in the large-scale communal ritual of Hwanghae Province mentioned previously, as well as in the Ritual of the Cow from Pyungsan, also located in Hwanghae Province, in which wild game were used as sacrifice, is significant in that it points up the changes that have occurred in ceremonial animal sacrifice. However, more research on ritualistic animal sacrifice is still called for in rites for good farming, fishing, and the variety of others that are held throughout Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2022

Brown rats (Rattus norvegicusBerkenhout, 1769) were eradicated from Sasudo Island (33°55'13.04" N, 126°38'19.98" E), an uninhabited island designated as Natural Monument No. 333 and the largest breeding site for the streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelasTemminck, 1835) in South Korea. Twelve eradication studies were conducted from November 2015 to February 2021. The survey was conducted using a line census method that entailed slow wandering throughout the island and identifying starting and returning points. Capture traps were installed around traces of Rattus norvegicus,such as excrement and identified holes. As a result, 2 to 6 individuals were captured at each instance, except for the last time, when no individuals were captured. It is hypothesized that brown rats arrived at Sasudo Island via vessels arriving at the island for leisure and fishing. After the damage to streaked shearwater caused by brown rats was confirmed in 2006, entry to Sasudo Island was strictly prohibited through security measures, and marine clean-up programs that began in 2013 and continuous capturing since 2015 have been successful in eradicating brown rats. To maintain and manage the condition in Sasudo Island, preservation and management measures, such as strict visitor control, are necessary to prevent the inflow of new brown rats in the future.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.376-381
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• 2008

Anthocyanin contents of black soybean were analyzed for development of superior breeding lines with high anthocyanin contents. Total 292 genotypes of black soybean collected through the whole country were analyzed by HPLC in which C3G (Cyanidin-3-Glucoside), D3G (Delphinidin-3-glucoside), and Pt3G (Petunidin-3-Glucoside) were detected main anthocyanin pigments and each pigment contents were significantly different according to genotypes. C3G content showed the highest value in all materials and its variation was also wide, whereas D3G and Pt3G were not detected in 4 and 24 genotypes. Mean value of C3G, D3G, and Pt3G contents were $8.05{\pm}4.225$, $1.80{\pm}0.854$, and $1.15{\pm}0.781\;mg/g$, respectively. In case collected sites, genotypes collected in Chungnam region were higher the anthocyanin contents than other collections, which was $13.75{\pm}3.861\;mg/g$. It might be concluded that it takes more than 36 days for anthocyanin accumulation since beginning of seed-coat pigments formation, in that case it showed $13.09{\pm}4.190\;mg/g.$. Also total anthocyanin contents were present higher concentration in seed coat as maturation period was longer from flowering stage.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 2018

Inland wetlands in the Republic of Korea provide key breeding and wintering habitats, while coastal wetlands provide nutrient-rich habitats for stopover sites for East Asia/Australasia Flyway(EAAF) migrants. However, since the 1960's, Korea has reclaimed these coastal wetlands gradually for agriculture and urban expansion. The habitat loss has rippled across global populations of migrant shorebirds in EAAF. To protect a similar loss, the United States, specifically Missouri, developed the moist-soil management technique. Wetland impoundments are constructed from levees with water-flow control gates with specific soils, topography, available water sources, and target goals. The impoundments are subjected to a combination of carefully timed and regulated flooding and drawdown regimes with occasional soil disturbance. This serves a dual purpose of removing undesirable vegetation, while maximizing habitat and forage for wildlife. Flooding and drawdown schedules must be dynamic with constantly shifting climate conditions. Korea's latitude ($N33^{\circ}25^{\prime}{\sim}N38^{\circ}37^{\prime}$) is comparable to Missouri ($N36^{\circ}69^{\prime}{\sim}N40^{\circ}41^{\prime}$); as such, moist-soil management could prove to be an effective wetland restoration technique for Korea. In order to meet specific conservation goals (i.e. shorebird staging site restoration), it is necessary to test the proposed methodology on a site that can meet the required specifications for moist-soil management. Moist-soil management has the potential to not only create key habitat for endangered wildlife, but also provide valuable ecosystem services, including water filtration.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-35
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• 1997

Fertilized egg, by successive cell divisions, differentiates into different tissues and organs with various structures and functions. Different cells and tissues contain different proteins, products of selective gene expression. Not all the genes in any genomes are equally active, temporal and spatial gene expression being the general rule. Present paper attempts to review the tanscriptional mechanisms or the initiations of transcription from several angles. In some of the organisms the genes in the process of transcription or the genes in the inactive state can be seen under the light microscope. Some bands of Drosophila polytene chromosomes may exhibit a swollen or puff appearance under certain conditions. A puff, unfolded or decondensed form of chromomere, represents sets of intense transcriptional activity or RNA synthesis. The heterochromatic X chromosome whose genes remain inactive in the female mammals can be visualized as a dark staining structure called Barr body, Configuration of chromatin differs between transcribed and nontranscribed chromatin. Modification to the chromatin facilitates RNA synthesis. The movement of large polymerase molecule along the DNA would probably be facilitated if some modifications of the chromatin configuration is effected. Methylation of cytosines in CG sequences is associated with inactive genes. Methylation can play a role in determination of mammalian cells during embryogenesis. Demethylation is necessary for the gene to be expressed during development A histone modification that is also known to be correlated with transcriptional capacity of chromatin is acetylation of the lysine residues of the core histones. Chromatin containing a high level of histone acetylation is very sensitive to DNase 1. For the transcription to occur TBP must first bind to the TATA box. Another TF, TF IIB, then binds to the promoter-TBP complex, facilitating the access of RNA polymerase to the transcription initiation site. As recently as eight years ago researchers assumed that histones were irrelevant to the regulation of gene expression. Histones combine with the DNA to form nucleosome of the chromatin. Histones are vital participant in gene regulation. Histone and basal factors compete for access to TATA box. When DNA is exposed to basal factors before histones are introduced, the basal factors assemble on TATA boxes preventing the access of histones, allowing transcription to occur, for transcription to begin, activator protein at the upstream activation sequence or enhancer must interact with the tail of histone H4 at TATA box and cause the histone role particle to dissociate from the TATA box leading to partial breakup of the histone core particle and allowing the basal factors to bind to the TATA box. New concept of genomic flux in contrast to the old concept of static genome has been developed based on the powerful new molecular techniques. Genomic changes such as repetitive DNAs and transposable elements, it is assumed but not yet proved, may affect some of the developmental patterns that characterize particular cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. In the last decade or so remarkable achievement have been made in the researches of the structures and functions of TFs and the specific target sequences located in promoters or enhancers where these TFs bind. TFs have independent domains that bind DNA and that activate transcription. DNA binding domain of TFs serves to bring the protein into the right location. There are many types of DNA binding domains. Common types of motifs can be found that are responsible for binding to DNA. The motifs are usually quite short and comprise only a small part of the protein structure. Steroid receptors have domains for hormone binding, DNA binding, and activating transcription. The zinc finger motif comprises a DNA binding domain. Leucine zipper consist of a stretch of amino acids with a leucine residue in every seventh position Two proteins form a dimer because they interact by means of leucine zippers on similar α-helical domain. This positions their DNA binding basic domains for interaction with the two halves of a DNA sequence with dyad symmetry of TGACTCA, ACTGAGT.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.125-142
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• 2000

13). Analysis of a purified preparation of eCG revealed that its $\beta$ -subunit consists of 149 amino acids, which was confirmed by the molecular cloning of its cDNA. There seem to be at least four to six, or even as many as 11, O-glycosylation sites on the extended C-tenninal region of the eCG $\beta$-subunit. Interestingly, eCG is a unique member of this family, as it appear to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities. Using the cDNA prepared from mRNA extracted from equine placental and pituitary tissues, we cloned the cDNA of eCG $\alpha$- and $\beta$ -subunits and eFSH $\beta$ -subunit. The mRNA expression of each subunit seems to be independently regulated, which may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. Thus, eCG is a distinct molecule from the view points of its biological function and glycoresidue structures. Recombinant eCGs including the mutants which lack oligosaccharides will be useful tools for analyzing the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins in the horse as well as other species. Similar experiments will also clarify the proposed structure and biological functions for the glycoprotein hormones. These experimental are now possible, and hopefully a resolution of the existing controversy will be forthcoming in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.724-729
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• 2016

Environmental factors that affect the singing of cicadas have not been studied extensively, especially those affecting the cicadas' singing during the nighttime. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the effects of tropical night and light pollution on the cicadas' singing in a downtown area. The study sites were an apartment complex in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and the Chiaksan National Park in Wonju-si. The study subjects were Hyalessa fuscata and Cryptotympana atrata, which are the dominant species in Korea during summer. Cicada songs were recorded 24 hours a day, every day. The recording period was between July and August, lasting 25 days at the Seoul site and 14 days at the Chiaksan National Park. Temperature, precipitation, humidity, and amount of sunshine were selected as the environmental factors that potentially affect the cicadas' singing. Statistical analyses included correlations of meteorological factors with the cicadas' singing per hour, per 24 hours, and at nighttime (21:00~04:00). The results showed that: 1) H. fuscata began singing during the dawn hours, and the singing increased in intensity early in the morning. C. atrata's singing reached its peak in the morning and afternoon, ceased during sunset hours, thereby exhibiting a difference in the singing pattern of the two species. 2) The frequency of singing by H. fuscata decreased when C. atrata began to sing intensively in numbers, thereby exhibiting interspecific influence. 3) The results of the correlation analysis between meteorological factors and the singing of H. fuscata and C. atrata showed that both species tended to sing more when the temperature was higher and sang less on rainy days. 4) When limited to nighttime only, C. atrata showed a tendency of singing when the nighttime temperature was high ($24-30^{\circ}C$, average $27^{\circ}C$), whereas H. fuscata did not show a correlation with meteorological factors. However, since H. fuscata sang during the night in areas with artificial lighting, it was concluded that its singing was due to light pollution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.8-9
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• 2017

Soybean yield has been low and unstable in Japan and other areas in East Asia, despite long history of cultivation. This is contrasting with consistent increase of yield in North and South America. This presentation tries to describe perspective of breaking stagnation of soybean yield in East Asia, considering the factors of the different yields between regions. Large amount of rainfall with occasional dry-spell in the summer is a nature of monsoon climate and as frequently stated excess water is the factor of low and unstable soybean yield. For example, there exists a great deal of field-to-field variation in yield of 'Tanbaguro' soybean, which is reputed for high market value and thus cultivated intensively and this results in low average yield. According to our field survey, a major portion of yield variation occurs in early growth period. Soybean production on drained paddy fields is also vulnerable to drought stress after flowering. An analysis at the above study site demonstrated a substantial field-to-field variation of canopy transpiration activity in the mid-summer, but the variation of pod-set was not as large as that of early growth. As frequently mentioned by the contest winners of good practice farming, avoidance of excess water problem in the early growth period is of greatest importance. A series of technological development took place in Japan in crop management for stable crop establishment and growth, that includes seed-bed preparation with ridge and/or chisel ploughing, adjustment of seed moisture content, seed treatment with mancozeb+metalaxyl and the water table control system, FOEAS. A unique success is seen in the tidal swamp area in South Sumatra with the Saturated Soil Culture (SSC), which is for managing acidity problem of pyrite soils. In 2016, an average yield of $2.4tha^{-1}$ was recorded for a 450 ha area with SSC (Ghulamahdi 2017, personal communication). This is a sort of raised bed culture and thus the moisture condition is kept markedly stable during growth period. For genetic control, too, many attempts are on-going for better emergence and plant growth after emergence under excess water. There seems to exist two aspects of excess water resistance, one related to phytophthora resistance and the other with better growth under excess water. The improvement for the latter is particularly challenging and genomic approach is expected to be effectively utilized. The crop model simulation would estimate/evaluate the impact of environmental and genetic factors. But comprehensive crop models for soybean are mainly for cultivations on upland fields and crop response to excess water is not fully accounted for. A soybean model for production on drained paddy fields under monsoon climate is demanded to coordinate technological development under changing climate. We recently recognized that the yield potential of recent US cultivars is greater than that of Japanese cultivars and this also may be responsible for different yield trends. Cultivar comparisons proved that higher yields are associated with greater biomass production specifically during early seed filling, in which high and well sustained activity of leaf gas exchange is related. In fact, the leaf stomatal conductance is considered to have been improved during last a couple of decades in the USA through selections for high yield in several crop species. It is suspected that priority to product quality of soybean as food crop, especially large seed size in Japan, did not allow efficient improvement of productivity. We also recently found a substantial variation of yielding performance under an environment of Indonesia among divergent cultivars from tropical and temperate regions through in a part biomass productivity. Gas exchange activity again seems to be involved. Unlike in North America where transpiration adjustment is considered necessary to avoid terminal drought, under the monsoon climate with wet summer plants with higher activity of gas exchange than current level might be advantageous. In order to explore higher or better-adjusted canopy function, the methodological development is demanded for canopy-level evaluation of transpiration activity. The stagnation of soybean yield would be broken through controlling variable water environment and breeding efforts to improve the quality-oriented cultivars for stable and high yield.