• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.473-478
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• 2011

A wide diversity of liquid fertilizers and composts produced from the livestock manure in Korea is commonly applied to agricultural lands as an alternative of chemical fertilizers. However, their effects on the crop production and environmental impacts are still vague. The current study was conducted to understand the effects of the pig manure-based liquid fertilizer on the growth of Zea mays L. and soil properties. Four different liquid fertilizers were treated to each cultivated upland plot located in Gyeong-gi province, Korea while no fertilizer (control A) and a chemical fertilizer (control B) were treated to separate plots for comparison. The liquid fertilizer treatment did not make a significant difference in the fresh weight of Zea mays L. compared to the controls. This is probably due to the nutrient residues carried over from the last year fertilization. Electric conductivity (EC) and organic matter contents in soils were increased right after the liquid fertilizer treatments compared to the controls. However, soil pH was maintained as the same as the level of control A. A long-term effect of the continuous treatment of the manure based liquid fertilizer will be carried out in the successive study.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.214-221
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• 2019

BACKGROUNDS/OBJECTIVES: Cancer treatment may lead to significant body composition changes and affect growth and disease outcomes in pediatric cancer patients. This prospective study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term body compositions changes focused on body fat during the first year of cancer treatment in children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 30 pediatric cancer patients (19 hematologic malignancies and 11 solid tumors) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis using whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 month(s) of cancer treatment. Kruskal-Wallis tests, Wilcoxon paired t tests, and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, no differences in weight, height, body mass index, abdominal circumferences, body fat, and fat-free mass were observed between 30 controls and 30 pediatric cancer patients. Total fat mass (P < 0.001) and body fat percentage (P = 0.002) increased significantly during the first month, but no changes were observed from 1 to 12 months; however, no changes in the total mass were observed during the first year of cancer treatment. Meanwhile, the total fat-free mass decreased during the first month (P = 0.008) and recovered between 6 and 12 months of follow-up (P < 0.001). According to GEE analysis, there was a significant upward trend in body fat percentage during the first year, especially the first month, of cancer treatment in children with hematologic malignancies, but not in those with solid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that cancer treatment is related to significant body composition changes and rapid body fat gain, particularly during the first month after initiating cancer treatment, in children with hematologic malignancies. Therefore, individualized dietary strategies to prevent excessive fat gain are needed in pediatric cancer patients for better outcomes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.545-550
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• 2021

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia and hair loss can be stressful in patients with cancer. The hair grows back, but sometimes the hair tends to stay thin. Therefore, understanding mechanisms regulating hair regeneration may improve the management of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Previous studies have revealed that chemotherapeutic agents induce a hair follicle vascular injury. As hair growth is associated with micro-vessel regeneration, we postulated that the stimulation of angiogenesis might enhance hair regeneration. In particular, mice treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) showed delayed anagen initiation and reduced capillary density when compared with untreated controls, suggesting that the retardation of anagen initiation by 5-FU treatment may be attributed to the loss of perifollicular micro-vessels. We investigated whether the ETS transcription factor ETV2 (aka ER71), critical for vascular development and regeneration, can promote angiogenesis and hair regrowth in a 5-FU-induced alopecia mouse model. Tie2-Cre; Etv2 conditional knockout (CKO) mice, which lack Etv2 in endothelial cells, presented similar hair regrowth rates as the control mice after depilation. Following 5-FU treatment, Tie2-Cre; Etv2 CKO mice revealed a significant reduction in capillary density, anagen induction, and hair restoration when compared with controls. Mice receiving lentiviral Etv2 injection after 5-FU treatment showed significantly improved anagen induction and hair regrowth. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy revealed that enforced Etv2 expression restored normal vessel morphology after 5-FU mediated vessel injury. Our data suggest that vessel regeneration strategies may improve hair regrowth after chemotherapeutic treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.439-448
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• 2023

Tick infestation causes a significant threat to human and animal health, requiring effective immunological control methods. This study aimed to investigate the potential of recombinant Haemaphysalis longicornis enolase protein for tick vaccine development. The exact mechanism of the recently identified enolase protein from the H. longicornis Jeju strain remains poorly understood. Enolase plays a crucial role in glycolysis, the metabolic process that converts glucose into energy, and is essential for the motility, adhesion, invasion, growth, and differentiation of ticks. In this study, mice were immunized with recombinant enolase, and polyclonal antibodies were generated. Western blot analysis confirmed the specific recognition of enolase by the antiserum. The effects of immunization on tick feeding and attachment were assessed. Adult ticks attached to the recombinant enolase-immunized mice demonstrated longer attachment time, increased bloodsucking abilities, and lower engorgement weight than the controls. The nymphs and larvae had a reduced attachment rate and low engorgement rate compared to the controls. Mice immunized with recombinant enolase expressed in Escherichia coli displayed 90% efficacy in preventing tick infestation. The glycolytic nature of enolase and its involvement in crucial physiological processes makes it an attractive target for disrupting tick survival and disease transmission. Polyclonal antibodies recognize enolase and significantly reduce attachment rates, tick feeding, and engorgement. Our findings indicate that recombinant enolase may be a valuable vaccine candidate for H. longicornis infection in experimental murine model.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.554-562
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• 2006

Two lines of mice, M16 selected for rapid growth and a randomly selected control ICR as well as their reciprocal crosses were used to study the effects of genotype on whole-body energetics and intestinal responses to monensin. Six mice, eight weeks of age, from each line or reciprocal cross were assigned to one of two treatments, 1) drinking water containing 20 mmol/L monensin dissolved in 0.5% V/V ethanol, and 2) drinking water containing 0.5% V/V ethanol (control) for two weeks. After 11 days (age of 9 weeks and 4 days), whole-body $O_2$ consumption was measured. At the end of two weeks, jejunal $O_2$ consumption, intestinal tissue composition and histomorphometrics as well as the rate and efficiency of glucose absorption were estimated. In comparison with the control, monensin administration in drinking water resulted in less daily water intake (13.4 vs. 15.5 ml/mouse, p<0.01), less protein to DNA ratio of jejunal mucosa (5.41 vs. 6.01 mg/mg, p<0.05), lower villus width (88 vs. $100{\mu}m$, p<0.05), and less jejunal tissue $O_2$ consumption enhancement by alcohol (7.2 vs. 10.5%, p<0.01) in mice. Other than those changes, monensin had little (p>0.05) effect on variables measured in either line of mice or their reciprocal cross. In contrast, the M16 line, selected for rapid growth, as compared to the ICR controls or the reciprocal crosses, had less initial (pre-monensin treatment) whole-body $O_2$ consumption per gram of body weight (1.68 vs. $2.11-2.34{\mu}mol/min{\cdot}g$ BW, p<0.01) as compared to the ICR and reciprocal crosses. In addition, the M16 mice exhibited greater growth (412 vs. 137-210 mg/d, p<0.05), better feed efficiency (41.7 vs. 19.9-29.3 mg gain/g feed, p<0.05), shorter small intestines adjusted for fasted body weight (1.00 vs. 1.22-1.44 cm/g FBW, p<0.05), wider villi (109 vs. $87-93{\mu}m$, p<0.05), more mature height of enterocytes (28.8 vs. $24.4-25.1{\mu}m$, p<0.05) and a lower rate (91 vs. $133-145{\eta}mol\;glucose/min{\cdot}g$ jejunum, p<0.05) and less energetic efficiency (95 vs. $59-72{\eta}mol$ ATP expended/${\eta}mol$ glucose uptake, p<0.05) of glucose absorption compared to the ICR line and the reciprocal cross. Monensin had little (p>0.05) effect on whole-body $O_2$ consumption and jejunal function, whilst selection for rapid growth resulted in an apparent down-regulation of intestinal function. These data suggest that genetic selection for increased growth does not result in concomitant changes in intestinal function. This asynchrony in the selection for production traits and intestinal function may hinder full phenotypic expression of genotypic growth potential.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to understand differences among three half-sib families of Betula schmidtii seedlings in the effect of three Cd levels on growth and photosynthesis. One-year-old seedlings of B. schmidtii were treated with 0, 0.4 and 0.8 mM CdSO$_4$ㆍ8/3$H_2O$ for two months. Growth and physiological responses to Cd treatment levels of three families determined using dry weight, relative height growth rate(RHGR), apparent quantum yield and carboxylation efficiency. The B. schmidtii seedlings exposed to 0.4 and 0.8 mM Cd showed statisticall significant decrease in dry weight and RHGR relative to controls. In addition, the growth inhibition of B. schmidtii seedlings was accompanied by a significant decrease in net photosynthesis measured as $CO_2$ assimilation. Apparent quantum yield and carboxylation efficiency were also affected by Cd treatment, undergoing a significant and progressive reduction with increasing Cd concentrations in all families. We also found significant difference among three families of B. schmidtii in growth, biomass and photosynthesis when exposed to Cd stress. Therefore the present study showed that the difference in Cd tolerance among families might be attributed to genetic factor in response to Cd stress.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.813-826
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• 1996

The toxic effects of aluminium (Al) on growth, chlorophyll content, $\delta-aminolevulinic$ acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity and anatomy of root and shoot were investigated in 7-day-old azuki bean (Vigna angularis) seedlings. Significant depressions in root elongation was observed in the low concentrations of Al (50, 100 $\muM)$ and increasing Al concentrations caused a sharp decline of root and shoot growth. The degree of inhibition was dependent upon Al supply. Exposure to 50 $\muM$ Al or more inhibited root elongation within 1 day. In the 50 $\muM$ Al treatments, a recovery of root growth was seen after 7 days exposure. In contrast, lateral root initials was little affected by Al exposure. Al toxicity symptoms and growth responses were more well developed in the roots than in the shoots. Analysis of Al localization in root cells by hematoxylin stAlning showed that Al entered root apices and accumulated in the epidermal and cortical cells immeadiately below the epidermis. There was a good positive correlation between the level of chlorophyll and ALAD activity. Increasing Al concentrations caused a decrease in total chlorophyll contents, accompanied by proportional changes in ALAD activity, suggesting a cootr-dinated reduction of a photosynthetic machinery. Al exerted specific influence on the morphology of root ann shoot. At higher concentrations of Al the roots induced drastic anatomical changes. The epidermal cells were disorganized or destructed while the cortical cells exhibited distortion of cell shape and/or disintegration. The diameter of root and transectional area of cortical cells decreased considerably with Al treatment. In the shoot Al also enhanced reduction of diameter of shoot and cell size. Gross anatomy of leaves treated with Al did not differ significantly from the controls, except for fewer and smaller chloroplast. Our results indicate that toxic effect of Al appear to be manifested primarily in roots and secondarily on shoots, and changes in root morphology are related to changes in the root growth patterns. Results are further discussed in re181ion to the findings in other plant species, and it is concluded that Al causes morphological, structural and, presumably, functional damage to the roots of the species investigated.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1 s.102
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Growth, colony formation and microcystin production of 'low-toxic' Microcysits aeruginosa $K{\"{u}}tzing$ were examined in relation to the 'info-chemicals' released by zooplankton. Algae were cultured in a medium with or without filtered water taken from cultures of Daphnia magna Straus (300 ind./L) or Moina macrocopa Straus (500 ind./L), The growth of M. aeruginosa, based on cell number, was also significantly different from populations cultured in the media with and without filtered zooplankton water from the exponential growth phase. In the 6-day experiment, the growth pattern of M. aeruginosa cultured with ZCMF was clearly different to control with-out ZCMF. Mean number of cells/particle and particle bio-volume of M. aeruginosa increased significantly from the day 2 for the Daphnia-CMF or Moina-CMF treat-ments. Microcystin production was promoted showing from 18.7 to 55 ${\mu}g/g$-dry cell in the zooplankton treatments relative to the controls. At peaked level on day 4, the highest level of up to $70.5{\pm}16.8\;{\mu}g/g$-dry cell was observed in the D. magna treatment. This study suggested that 'info-chemicals' from zooplankton might induce the increase of algal growth rates, colony formation and microcystin production, these seem to be advantageous to the alga and thus as a grazing defense mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.385-391
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• 2018

Toxic assessment of PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-209) has carried out using the rates of population growth in marine phytoplankton, Skeletonema costatum. The population growth rate (r) in S. costatum was determined after 96 hours of exposure to BDE-47 (2,2'4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether) and BDE-209 (2,2', 4,4'-Decabromodiphenyl ether). It was observed that r-value in the controls (absence PBDEs) was greater than 0.04 and further a decrease was observed in a dose-dependent manner. BDE-47 reduced population growth rate in a dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction occurred at a concentration greater than $0.31mgL^{-1}$, but BDE-209 had no effect on population growth rate even at concentrations greater than $125mgL^{-1}$. The population growth rate in the presence of BDE-47 and BDE-209, $EC_{50}$ values were $0.55mgL^{-1}$ and >$125mgL^{-1}$, and NOEC values were $0.16mgL^{-1}$ and >$125mgL^{-1}$, respectively. Therefore, BDE-47 is considered to be about over 80 times more harmful than BDE-209. In this study, the ecotoxic assessment based on population growth rate in S. costatum can be used as a baseline data for establishment of environment standard quality of BDE-47 and BDE-209 in the marine environment.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.356-361
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• 2022

Bacillus sp. is a useful strain for agriculture because it promotes plant growth and controls plant pathogens through a variety of mechanisms. In this study, we obtained a microbial preparation with a high number of viable cells by culturing newly isolated soil bacteria on an optimized medium. Subsequently, we applied this preparation to lettuce to enhance its growth and yield. First, B. amyloliquefaciens ISP-5 was isolated from soil. Next, optimization of culture medium was carried out using 5 L scale fermenters. When culturing B. amyloliquefaciens ISP-5 on this optimized medium, the number of viable cells was approximately 1000 times higher than that obtained from culturing on the commercial medium. Afterwards, the plant growth promotion properties of the ISP-5 strain were evaluated using lettuce as a test plant. Foliar spray treatment of lettuce was carried out by inoculating half the standard concentration suspension (0.5 × 10⁷ cfu/ml). As a result, leaf width increased by 8.6% and leaf length increased by 12.9% compared to the control group. Live weight also increased by 24.2% and dry weight by 23.9%. Considering the results from field test, B. amyloliquefaciens ISP-5 showed potential as a plant growth-promoting bacteria.