• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2008

Recent studies reveal that the endocrine disrupter nonylphenol can also influence the growth of planktonic organisms. To clarify the effect of nonylphenol on the whole planktonic community, we monitored planktonic abundances after addition of nonylphenol using small-scale microcosms in a laboratory. Nonylphenol was added at final concentrations of 1.25 and $2.5{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, close to the EC50 for the growth of the rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus. Chlorophyll $\alpha$ concentration increased significantly between 2 to 5 days after nonylphenol treatment compared to the control. The abundance of the predominant phytoplankton, Stephanodiscus hantzschii, followed the same pattern as chlorophyll a concentration. While there was no negative effect on the abundance of ciliates and rotifers, crustacean zooplankton abundance was higher in nonylphenol treatments. Although the relationship did not reach significance, the growth rate of rotifers tended to decline with increasing nonylphenol dosing. It is likely that the decreased rotifer grazing on S. hantzschii caused significant increase in their abundance. This study emphasizes the importance of considering indirect effects of environmental pollutants when predicting the response of biological community to toxicant exposure.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2007

To investigate the impacts of transgenic rice on freshwater organisms, we conducted two life table experiments using Daphnia magna for fifteen and twenty days, respectively. We examined life history traits such as population growth rates (r), reproductive rates ($R_0$), generation times, and survivorship. In the first experiment, we used non-drought-stressed transgenic and non-transgenic rice harvested in 2005. In the second study, we used non-transgenic and transgenic rice harvested in 2006 following drought stress. Each experiment involved three treatments in which D. magna neonates were fed with Selenastrum capricornutum (control treatment) and S. capricornutum with 5% aqueous extracts of non-transgenic rice (N-T) and transgenic rice (T). In the first experiment, D. magna showed reduced population growth rates and lowered fecundity in the N-T and T treatments. In the second experiment, D. magna receiving both transgenic and non-transgenic rice extracts showed very high mortality, low population growth rates and reproduction rates. We could not detect any significant negative effects of extracts from transgenic rice on D. magna life history traits at 95%.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.585-595
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• 2019

Analysis of bacterial communities based on their 16S rDNA sequences revealed the predominance of Proteobacteria (Aeromonas sp., Acinetobacter sp. and Thaueraamino aromatica sp.) and uncultured bacterium in activated sludge from the effluent treatment plant (ETP) of Mother Dairy, Calcutta (India). Each isolate was used for bioremediation of dairy wastewater with simultaneous conversion of nitrogenous pollutants into ammonia. A consortium developed using seven of these isolates and three Bacillus strains from different environmental origins could reduce 93% nitrate with simultaneous production of ammonia (626 ㎍/100 ml) within 20 h in non-aerated, immobilized conditions as compared to 82% nitrate reduction producing 2.4 ㎍/100 ml ammonia in 96 h with extensive aeration in a conventional ETP. The treated ammonia-rich effluent could be used instead of freshwater and fertilizer during cultivation of mung bean with 1.6-fold increase in grain yield. The ETP with the surrounding agricultural land makes this process a zero liquid discharge technology for using the biofertilizer generated. In addition, the process requires minimal energy supporting sustained environmental health. This method is thus proposed as an alternative approach for small-scale dairy ETPs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1324-1331
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• 1999

The aim of this paper is to propose the preservation of buffaloes not only as productive livestock, but also as a part of the biodiversity of wetlands and especially of the Greek wetlands. The water buffalo used to be an integral part of the biodiversity of many Greek wetland ecosystems, enriched their landscape, and provided invaluable services and products to the rural people and to the economy in general. Its total population before the 1950s was over 100,000 animals. Presently, it is found only in four wetland sites in Macedonia and Thrace and in the estuaries of Rivers Gallikos and Axios, with a total population of a few hundred animals. These wetlands are Ramsar Sites. Even this small population is threatened with immediate extinction because of the rapidly changing rural socio-economic conditions and the expansion of cultivated fields into wet meadows. Farmers and consumers are rapidly losing contact with this mammal and its products. This species possesses minimum requirements for treatment and is characterized by the ability of utilizing roughage of variable nutritional value. These factors are promising to render buffalo breeding a valuable branch of the Greek livestock sector, which can also contribute to the maintenance of the wetlands.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2005

In this study, the influence of water temperature and salinity on sand ejection of Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, was investigated. The result showed that, under different water temperature, the highest quantity of sand ejection was at $20^{\circ}C$, the value of which was 0.091 g, while the smallest one was only 0.058 g at 0$^{\circ}C$. The highest releasing rate, 95.79%, could be seen in $20^{\circ}C$ group, while $0^{\circ}C$ group was the lowest one, 85.29%. Under different salinity, 30 psu group had the highest value, 0.057 g, and 0 psu (freshwater) group was the lowest one, only 0.026 g. At the same time, the highest releasing rate appeared at 25 psu, which was 90%. 0 psu group was the lowest one in releasing rate, 60.47%. According to these results, we recommend that the clams should be placed into the clear seawater with about 25 psu of salinity at near $20^{\circ}C$ to let the clams perform the self-depuration. Better quality of clams containing less impurity in the aquaculture and commerce could be obtained from this pre-treatment.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2012

Quercus aliena and Q. serrata are both occur as natural vegetation alongside natural freshwater bodies of the southern Korea Peninsula. Q. serrata dominates over Q. aliena as secondary forest vegetation in the present day. In order to explain these natural distributional traits of the oak species, we conducted some experiments with oak seedlings which treated with major important environmental resources, including light, moisture and nutrients, under controlled conditions. We then measured the ecological niche breadths and overlap from 15 eco-morphological characteristics. The ecological niche breadth of Q. aliena and Q. serrata were higher in terms of the nutrient factor applied, but was lower terms of light. The niche breadth of Q. serrata was wider than that of Q. aliena in light and moisture exposure. On the other hand, the niche breadth of Q. aliena was similar with that of Q. serrata in terms of the nutrient factor applied. These results imply that Q. serrata has a broader ecological distribution in over a wider variety of light and moisture environments than that of Q. alien. Ecological niche overlap between two oak species was the widest in terms of the light treatment factor applied, and narrowest in terms of moisture. This response pattern was also verified by cluster and principle component analysis. These results suggest competitive interactions between Q. serrata and Q. aliena seedlings may be higher for light resources than moisture or nutrient resources, and that Q. serrata is more shade tolerant than Q. aliena.

• ALGAE
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2007

The expression of genes responding to cold stress in a freshwater alga, Spirogyra varians, was studied by using differential expression gene (DEG) method. A gene strongly up-regulated in 4°C was isolated and designated as SVCR2 (Spirogyra varians cold regulated) gene. The cDNA encoding SVCR2 was cloned using λZAP cDNA library of Spirogyra varians. The deduced amino acid had a sequence similarity with trans-membrane protein in Arabidopsis thaliana (Q9M2D2, 52.7%). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that transcript level of SVCR2 increased about 10 fold under low temperature (4°C), compared with that cultured at warm (20°C) conditions. The expression of SVCR2 was also affected by light conditions. When the plants were exposed to high light (HL) (1200 μmol photon m–2 s–1), the expression of SVCR2 began within 2 hrs. This gene expression lasted for 4 hrs and decreased afterwards. Under the blue light (470 nm) condition, the expression of this gene was induced in same way as HL treatment, even under less than 100 μmol photon m–2 s–1. But red light (650 nm) and UV-A irradiation did not affect the expression of SVCR2.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2017

Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) is a cyanobacterium species that can form harmful algal blooms in freshwater bodies worldwide. The use of Artemisia asiatica extracts to control M. aeruginosa inhibition will be environmentally friendly and promising. Artemisia asiatica extracts removed successfully upto 88% of M. aeruginosa pH 8 at $25^{\circ}C$ of temperature. These results was indicated that the amount of 2.24 g/L Artemisia asiatica extracts was removed 1g dryweight/L of M. aeruginosa. The kinetic data showed substrate inhibition kinetics and maximum growth rate was obtained when the M. aeruginosa was grown in medium containing 2.5 g/L of initial concentration of Artemisia asiatica extracts. In the various growth control models, Luong model showed the highest correlation coefficient of 0.9916. Therefore, the Luong model was the most suitable control model for the growth control of M. aruginosa using Artemisia asiatica extracts. In conclusion, the growth control of M. aruginosa using Artemisia asiatica extracts can be applied in the field without controlling the temperature and pH of rivers and streams, and it is possible to control the growth of M. aruginosa efficiently in a short time. The natural extract, Artemisia asiatica extracts, can be a promising inhibition due to its high efficiency and low dose requirements.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2010

A paragonimiasis infestation is caused by the paragonimus species. Paragonimiasis mainly occurs by ingestion of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish. In our country, the prevalence of paragonimiasis was high until late 1960s due to eating habits, but after the 1970s the prevalence of the disease has markedly decreased and now the disease is rarely seen. The diagnosis of tuberculosis by Chest X-ray is often confused with pulmonary carcinoma, bacillary and parasitic infections, and chronic mycosis. Pulmonary paragonimiasis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer especially in the appropriate clinical setting because effective treatment with praziquantel can be rewarding. We report a case of a 58-year-old woman with pulmonary paragonimiasis that was suspicious for lung cancer, as detected by biopsy.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-136
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• 2015

Freshwater softshell turtle (Trionyx sinensis) extract has been used traditionally as a tonic soup, and to recover from physical fatigue. To support these claims, the forelimb grip strength of mice was measured after feeding a soft-shell turtle extract for 7 days. The T. sinensis extract significantly increased the grip strength to $1.25{\pm}0.07N$ (P<0.01), which is 16.8% higher than the force on day 0. After exercising, the blood glucose levels in extract-fed mice were 202% higher and urea levels were 73% lower, which were both significantly different than the levels observed after control treatment. Lactate dehydrogenase was significantly higher by 314%, and glutathione peroxidase increased by 165%. In addition, the obesity markers, serum triglyceride and cholesterol, decreased to 62% and 49%, respectively, after mice were fed the extract. These data show that the T. sinensis extract provided more energy for forelimb exercise, prevented protein catabolism and muscle fatigue, and decreased the oxidative stress caused by an exhaustive workout.