• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 1997

Except for a cosmopolitan and major pest of apples, Tetranychus urticae Koch, Tetranychus mites in Korea such as T. viennensis Zaher, T. kanzawai Kishida, and T. truncams Ehara have been considered as quarantine pests by Canada and United States. Even though these mites are not feeders on apples, they are suspected to attach accidentally on apple h i t s in autumn as females enter the diapause. The characters used to identify Tetranychus mites have been confined to the shape of aedeagus in adult male. To develope a fast and accurate alternative identification protocol applied to hibernating female mites on apples, their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were examined to find out any polymorphisms to discriminate each species from the other ones. Three pairs of primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to amplify cytochrome oxidase subunit I (CO-I) coding region in mitochondrial DNA5 of four species of Tetranycus mites. The longest amplified product was estimated its size as about 680 bp. Digestion with restriction enzymes, AluI, Ddel, and Sau3A, showed length polymorphisms, which will he useful as diagnostic markers to identify Tetranychus mites. Schematic restriction maps in amplified region were shown for each species.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4517-4520
• /
• 2012

Introduction: Northeastern Iran is known as a high risk area of upper gastrointestinal cancers. Recent reports have suggested a declining trend for these cancers as well as an increase in the incidence of other malignancies including breast cancer. Our present aim was to describe the epidemiological pattern of breast cancer in this region during 2004-2009. Methods: All new cancer cases from public and private diagnostic and therapeutic centers of Golestan province were registered. A structured questionnaire was prepared and used based on the standerds of the International Association of Cancer Registries. The international classification of diseases for oncology was considered for coding. Age standardized incidence rates (ASR) of breast cancer were calculated. Results: A total of 11,038 new cancer cases were registered during 2004-2009, of which, 1,101 (10%) were females with breast cancer. The median age of the breast cancer patients was 46 years. The ASR for breast cancer was 28 per 100,000 person-years. We found an unusual rapid increase in breast cancer rate at the age of 25 years. The ASR of breast cancer was significantly lower in females from Turkmen ethnicity and those from rural areas(P value <0.01). Conclusion: Our study showed high rate of breast cancer in Golestan province of Iran. We found an unusual peak of breast cancer in young women. So, the age of starting screening programs may need to be revised in this area. The rate of breast cancer was significantly lower in women from Turkmen ethnicity. Further studies are warranted to clarify the role of important determinants, especially regarding the ethnic disparity, on breast cancer in this region.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.164-168
• /
• 2014

The ecosystem of the Arctic region has been increasingly affected by global warming. Archaeal ammonia monooxygenase alpha subunit coding gene (amoA) which is a key enzyme for nitrification was used to investigate the effect of runoff water of ice melt on microbial community of nitrogen cycle. The archaeal amoA genes at coastal area of Svalbard, Arctic region were PCR-amplified and sequenced after clone library construction. Analysis of archaeal amoA gene clone libraries suggested that the station 188 which is in the vicinity to the area of runoff water harbor lower ammonia-oxidizing archaeal diversity than the station 176 and 184. The average amino acid sequence identity within all archaeal amoA gene clones was 94% (with 91% nucleotide sequence identity). While all the clones of the station 188 were affiliated with Nitrosoarchaeaum clade containing strains isolated from low-salinity and terrestrial environments, about 45% of total clones of the station 176 and 184 were related to marine Nitosopumilus clade. Interestingly, other typical archaeal amoA gene clones of thaumarchaeal I.1b clade frequently retrieved from terrestrial environments was identified at station 188. Microbial community of nitrogen cycle in marine sediment might be affected by input of sediments caused by runoff glacier melt waters.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.293-297
• /
• 2016

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility is an important parameter because the movement of sperm indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) is important enzyme in spermatogenesis, but the effect has not been confirmed in pigs yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 124 Duroc pigs with records of sperm motility and kinematic characteristics [total motile spermatozoa (MOT), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), the ratio between VSL and VCL (LIN), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH)] were subjected. A SNP in non-coding region of PLCz g.158 A > C was associated with MOT (p < 0.05), VCL (p < 0.01), LIN (p < 0.01) and ALH (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the intron region of the porcine PLCz gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effect was not defined yet. Whether the association is due to the candidate gene or not require further verification. Thus, it will be of interest to continue association studies in the regions surrounding those genes.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.109-140
• /
• 2011

Taylor's (1960) floristic treatment of the benthic marine algae of the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic and Wynne's (2011) "checklist: third revision" serve as benchmarks in a review of changes made in the past half-century period. There has been a great increase in the number of recognized taxa of red, brown and green algae at all taxonomic ranks: from 758 to 1,393 species, an increase of 84%; from 231 to 406 genera, an increase of 75%; and from 63 to 106 families, an increase of 68%. In regard to recognized infraspecific taxa, the increase was less dramatic, from 140 to 185, thus a 32% change in the 50-year period. This review addresses the question: What factors were responsible for this proliferation of taxa that are now recognized in this domain of the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic? The answer is that many reasons contributed to these changes. Foremost among these causes have been the advances in gene-sequencing technologies. Revised phylogenetic relationships have led to many genera being divided into more than one genus, as well as new families and orders being delineated. Numerous examples of cryptic species have been discovered by gene-sequence and DNA-bar coding studies. This trend is depicted by case studies. Examples of genera being divided are Galaxaura, Liagora and Laurencia. Tricleocarpa and Dichotomaria have been segregated from Galaxaura. Trichogloeopsis, Ganonema, Izziella, Yamadaella, and Titanophycus have been segregated from Liagora. Chondrophycus, Osmundea, Palisada, and Yuzurura have been segregated from Laurencia. Examples are given of other genera present in this region of the western Atlantic that have been split up. Many genera have increased in terms of the number of species now assigned to them. Taylor's (1960) treatment recognized only two species in Hypoglossum, whereas Wynne's (2011) checklist contained a total of 9 species of Hypoglossum. Taylor's account included only two species of Botryocladia, but this number had grown to 15 in Wynne's checklist. Examples of new genera and species occurring in the region of the western Atlantic are given, and examples of taxa being newly reported for this domain are provided. An increase in the number of phycologists in Latin and South America, exploration of previously unexplored regions, and the increasing use of SCUBA for collecting and at greater depths have all contributed to the increase in the number of algal taxa that are now recognized as occurring in the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.80-89
• /
• 2007

Two endogenous endo-${\beta}$-1,4-D-glucanase (EGase, EC 3.2.1.4) cDNAs were cloned from the midgut of the earthworm Eisenia anderi, and named EaEG2 and EaEG3, respectively. A sequence of 1,368 bp was determined and the coding region is composed of 456 amino acid residues including the initiation methionine. The N-terminal region of 20 residues in the deduced sequence was regarded as the signal peptide. These EGases belong to glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GHF9) and showed high levels of identity(51-55%) with selected termite, cockroache, crayfish and mollusc EGases. The EGases of earthworm consist of three consensus catalytic domains found in most microbial cellulases. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the deduced amino acid sequence data matched through the BLASTX program and showed that GHF9 families could be divided into five groups of arthropoda, bacteria, plant, annelida and mollusc.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.638-647
• /
• 2010

The genetic relationships in 5 species of $Ligularia$ were investigated using RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) and ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) sequences analyses. In RAPD analysis, sixty three of 196 arbitrary primers showed polymorphism. The amplified fragments ranged from 0.2 to 1.6 kb in size. The dendrogram was constructed by the UPGMA clustering algorithm based on genetic similarity of RAPD markers. A total of 16 accessions were classified into 5 major groups corresponding each species at the similarity coefficient value of 0.77. In the ITS sequence analysis, the size of ITS 1 was varied from 248 to 256 bp, while ITS 2 was varied from 220 to 222 bp. The 5.8S coding region was 164 bp in lengths. Forty nine sites (10.2%) of the 478 nucleotides were variable, and the G+C content of ITS region ranged from 49.4 to 53.5%. In the ITS tree, five species of $Ligularia$ were monophyletic, and $L.$ $taquetii$ was the first branching within the clade. $Ligularia$ $intermedia$ formed a clade with $L.$ $fischeri$ var. $spiciformis$ (BS=79), and $L.$ $stenocephala$ and $L.$ $fischeri$ were also claded. Two data sets were congruent, except of the position of $L.$ $fischeri$ var. $spiciformis$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.72-77
• /
• 2001

Expression of f3 ~agarase Gene and Catabolite Repression in Escherichia coli by the Promoter of Alginate Lyase Gene Isolated from Marine Pseudomonas sp. Jin, Cheal~Ho, J~Hyeon Park, Jeong-Hyun Han, YoonM Hyeok Chae, Jong~Hee Lee, Jung-Kee Lee!, and In-800 Kong*. Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, Pukyong National UniversitYt Pusan 608-737, Korea, llnBioNet Co. 1690-3 Taejon 306-230, Korea - Promoter is a key factor for expression of the recombinant protein. There are many promoters for overexpression of protein in various organisms. The aly promoter of Pseudomonas sp. W7 isolated from marine environment was known to be a constitutive expression promoter of the alginate lyase gene, and it's promoter activity is repressed by glucose in Escherichia coli. To investigate the catabolite repression of the aly promoter ~md association between the promoter mutants, f3 agarase gene, which was also cloned from Pseudomonas sp. W7 was connected to the aly promoter with the sequence the coding 46 N-terminal amino acids ofthe alginate lyase gene. The constructed plasmid was introduced into E. coli and the agarase activity was measured. Fourty six amino acids of the alginate lyase gene was serially deleted using peR to the direction of 5' upstream region and subcloned. The agarase was overexpressed by the aly promoter and the production of agarase was repressed by the addition of glucose into culture media. Fourty six amino acids of alginate lyase did not affect the production of agarase at all. The deletion of a putative stem-loop structure in the aly promoter induced the decrease of f3 -agarase productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.1023-1029
• /
• 2007

Inhibins participate in the regulation of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis and secretion, follicular maturation and steroidogenesis in the female. Inhibin ${\beta}_A$ gene (INHBA) was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of sheep. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the entire coding region and partial 3' untranslated region of INHBA were detected by PCR-SSCP in two high fecundity breeds (Small Tail Han and Hu sheep) and six low fecundity breeds (Dorset, Texel, German Mutton Merino, South African Mutton Merino, Chinese Merino and Corriedale sheep). Only the PCR products amplified by primers 3, 4 and 5 displayed polymorphisms. For primer 3, genotype CC was only detected in Chinese Merino sheep, genotype AA was detected in the other seven sheep breeds. Genotype BB was only detected in Hu sheep. Only Hu sheep displayed polymorphism. Eight or four nucleotide mutations were revealed between BB or CC and AA, respectively, and these mutations did not result in any amino acid change. For primer 4, genotypes EE, EG and GG were detected in Dorset and German Mutton Merino sheep, genotypes EE, EF and FF were detected in Chinese Merino sheep, only genotype EE was detected in the other five sheep breeds. Only Dorset, German Mutton Merino and Chinese Merino sheep displayed polymorphism. Sequencing revealed one nucleotide mutation ($114G{\rightarrow}A$) of exon 2 of INHBA gene between genotype FF and genotype EE, and this mutation did not cause any amino acid change. Another nucleotide change ($143C{\rightarrow}T$) was identified between genotype GG and genotype EE, and this mutation resulted in an amino acid change of $serine{\rightarrow}leucine$. For primer 5, genotypes KK and KL were detected in German Mutton Merino and Corriedale sheep, genotypes KK, LL and KL were detected in the other six sheep breeds. Genotype MM was only detected in Hu sheep. All of these eight sheep breeds displayed polymorphism. Sequencing revealed one nucleotide mutation ($218A{\rightarrow}G$) of exon 2 of the INHBA gene between genotype LL and genotype KK, and nine nucleotide mutations between genotype MM and genotype KK. These mutations did not alter amino acid sequence. The partial sequence (395 bp for exon 1 and 933 bp for exon 2) of the INHBA gene in Small Tail Han sheep (with genotype KK for primer 5) was submitted into GenBank (accession number EF192431). Small Tail Han sheep displayed polymorphisms only in the fragment amplified by primer 5. The Small Tail Han ewes with genotype LL had 0.53 (p<0.05) or 0.63 (p<0.05) more lambs than those with genotype KL or KK, respectively. The Small Tail Han ewes with genotype KL had 0.10 (p>0.05) more lambs than those with genotype KK.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.110-122
• /
• 2014

As multimedia technologies develop, three-dimensional (3D) technologies are attracting increasing attention from researchers. In particular, video quality assessment (VQA) has become a critical issue in stereoscopic image/video processing applications. Furthermore, a human visual system (HVS) could play an important role in the measurement of stereoscopic video quality, yet existing VQA methods have done little to develop a HVS for stereoscopic video. We seek to amend this by proposing a 3D visual attention (3DVA) model which simulates the HVS for stereoscopic video by combining multiple perceptual stimuli such as depth, motion, color, intensity, and orientation contrast. We utilize this 3DVA model for pooling on significant regions of very poor video quality, and we propose no-reference (NR) stereoscopic VQA (SVQA) method. We validated the proposed SVQA method using subjective test scores from our results and those reported by others. Our approach yields high correlation with the measured mean opinion score (MOS) as well as consistent performance in asymmetric coding conditions. Additionally, the 3DVA model is used to extract information for the region-of-interest (ROI). Subjective evaluations of the extracted ROI indicate that the 3DVA-based ROI extraction outperforms the other compared extraction methods using spatial or/and temporal terms.