• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.566-571
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• 2011

Although the phospholipase C (PLC)${\beta}$-1 isoform is associated with spontaneous seizure and distinctively expressed in the telencephalon, the distribution of PLC${\beta}$-1 expression in the epileptic gerbil hippocampus remains controversial. Therefore, we determined whether PLC${\beta}$-1 is associated with spontaneous seizure in an animal model of genetic epilepsy. In the present study, PLC${\beta}$-1 immunoreactivity was down-regulated in seizure-sensitive (SS) gerbils more than in seizure-resistant (SR) gerbils. The expression of PLC${\beta}$-1 within calretinin (CR)-positive neurons was rarely detected within the dentate hilar region of SS gerbils. PLC${\beta}$-1 immunoreactivity in the hippocampus was significantly elevated as compared to that in pre-seizure SS gerbil 3 h post-ictal. These findings suggest that alterations in PLC${\beta}$-1 immunoreactivity in the SS gerbil hippocampus may be closely related to the epileptic state of the gerbil brain and transiently elevated PLC${\beta}$-1 protein levels following seizure episodes. Such alterations may be compensatory responses in the SS gerbil hippocampus.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 1992

This study was conducted to evaluate physical property change of asphalt cement chromatograms (by HP-GPC) were experimentally obtained from 3 types of AC-20 virgin ACs, 5 and 24-hour artificially aged ACs, and naturally aged 4 ACs that were recovered from 4 different roads. Absolute viscosity, kinematic visoosity and penetration were the physical properties tested. THF was used for mobil phase and RI detector was used as a detector for Hp-GPC testing. Correlation between each physical property change and the chromatogram variation was evaluated. Each chromatogram was divided into ten-equal-time slices. The percentage areas of 10 slices and each physical property were used for statistical correlation evaluation. Statistical analysis results showed that eaoh physical property had a strong correlation with the chromatogram characteristics. Aging was identified as a mechanism of change of molecular size distribution - increasing large size molecules and reducing coresponding samll size molecules.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.174-178
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• 2016

Simple sequence repeats (SSR), also referred to "microsatellites" consist of tandemly repeated short DNA sequence motifs and have been applied in various marker-based studies. SSRs were isolated and characterized from 'Heuktari' and 'Miso', which are major oyster mushroom cultivars in Korea, by genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The genome sizes of 'Heuktari' and 'Miso' were estimated to be 40.8 and 40.3 Mb, respectively, which are larger than those of other P. ostreatus species (PC9 and PC10) and smaller than those of P. eryngii (KNR2312P5). In total, 949 and 968 SSRs were found in the 'Heuktari' and 'Miso' genomes, respectively. Comparative analysis of five mushrooms including P. ostreatus var. florida (PC9 and PC15) and P. eryngii revealed that the number of SSRs in 'Heuktari' and 'Miso' were the highest among them. All mushrooms studied showed similar SSR distribution patterns. Tri-, hexa-, and octanucleotide motifs accounted for the top three fractions of all SSRs.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.374-380
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• 2000

Dissolved aliphatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the surface seawater were investigated to describe their distribution and elucidate their sources in the Cheju-Korea Straits region (33$^{\circ}$30‘-34$^{\circ}$N 125$^{\circ}$-128$^{\circ}$E). Seawater sampling was made in spring and autumn in 1998. A large temporal and spatial variability were observed in the dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations in the region. The sources of dissolved hydrocarbons in seawater were elucidated based on the molecular concentrations of n-alkanes and pristane. Dissolved hydrocarbons in the surface water appears to be largely originated from phytoplankton and petroleum in the southern Yellow Sea (125$^{\circ}$), and terrigenous and petrogenic in the Cheju-Korea Straits region in April 1998. In September 1998, dissolved hydrocarbons in the surface waters were largely derived from phytoplanktons and terrestrial material in the Cheju-Korea Soaits region.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.167-171
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• 2001

The introduction of genetically modified crops has raised concerns regarding safety issues over the insertion of foreign genes into plant genomes using recombinant DNA technology. Since 1991 in Japan, 29 foods and 6 food additives have been evaluated, based on the "Guideline for Safety Assessment", before these foods were marketed. The MHW, however, decided that safety assessment of such foods and food additives should be legally imposed. because soon such foods and food additives are expected to circulate globally and a new system for assessing safety of such foods and food additives at a pre-market stage is necessary, in order to avoid the distribution of any genetically modified foods that have had no safety assessment. The MHW published relevant announcements to amend existing regulations on 1 May 2000. "Standards for safety assessment of seed plant" is established based on a concept of substantial equivalence, and applicable to the products which are regarded as equivalent to the existing products used as foods and food additives. The characterization of the food products entails consideration of the molecular characterization. phenotypic and compositional characteristics, key nutrients and toxicants, and toxicity and allergenicity of the introduced proteins, and if there are indications of unintended effects of the modification, whether further safety testing (animal studies etc.) is needed should be considered. Safety and wholesomeness studies with whole foods should be care fully designed in order to avoid nutritional imbalances causing artifacts and uninterpretable results as was the case of Dr. Pusztaiis report. A case study of genetically modified soybeans (glyphosate-tolerant soybeans) on the immune system of rats and mice is shown. Chemical compositions were also compared with those of the non-GM soybeans. The studies failed to detect any differences in immuno-toxic activity.muno-toxic activity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2009

Genomic DNA samples isolated from four geographical freshwater crab (Eriocheir sinensis) populations collected in the inland of the Korean Peninsula (Gunsan, Paju, and Nampo) and a Chinese site, were used for PCR amplification. Seven decamer primers generated 19 specific loci (19/243 loci, 7.81%) in the Gunsan population, 32 (32/215 loci, 14.88%) in the Paju population, 19 (19/231 loci, 8.23%) in the Nampo population and 62 (62/340 loci, 18.24%) in a Chinese population. The average 8.9 specific loci exhibited inter-individual-specific characteristics, thus revealing DNA polymorphisms in the Chinese population. The number of unique shared loci to each population and number of shared loci by the four populations were generated by molecular analysis using seven primers in four populations. 35 unique shared loci to each population, with an average of 5.0 per primer, were observed in the Gunsan population, and 50 loci, with an average of 7.1 per primer, were observed in the Chinese population. The hierarchical dendrogram indicates three main branches: cluster 1 (GUNSAN 01$\sim$GUNSAN 05, PAJU 06$\sim$PAJU 10 and NAMPO 11$\sim$NAMPO 15) and cluster 2 (CHINESE 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20). Conclusively individual no. 20 of the PAJU 10 freshwater crab was most distantly related to CHINESE no. 20 (genetic distance = 0.667). Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential of RAPD analysis to identify diagnostic markers for the identification of four freshwater crab populations.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2012

In this study, we characterized the physical form of allergenic Cry j 1 in the urban atmosphere. Through an immunofluorescence antibody method, we showed that allergenic Cry j 1 exists as fine particles (${\leq}1.1{\mu}m$). To determine Cry j 1 concentrations and its particle size distribution, we used the ELISA method to confirm that most Cry j 1 exists as fine particles in the urban atmosphere and is found at high concentrations on fine day next to rainy day. Furthermore, we evaluated Cry j 1 denaturation by using the Biacore J system based on the surface plasmon resonence (SPR) principle and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). We showed that the dissociation constant ($K_D$) of Cry j 1 that has been exposed to urban polluted air is lower ($1.76{\times}10^{-14}$ M) than that of Cry j 1 ($1.32{\times}10^{-9}-3.37{\times}10^{-9}$ M) of original pollen grains that has not been exposed to air pollutants. Cry j 1 turns into low molecular weight proteins by reacting with various acidic solutions. In sum, we showed that allergenic Cry j 1 exists as fine particles that can deposit in the lower respiratory tract. This finding clarifies the relationship between Japanese cedar pollinosis and air pollutants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.223-226
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• 2001

Acetanilide is a High Production Volume Chemical, which is produced about 2,300 tons/year in Korea as of 1998 survey. Most is used as an intermediate for synthesis of pharmaceuticals and dyes. The chemical is one of seven chemicals, which are under the frame of OECD SIDS program sponsored by National Institute of Environmental Research of Korea. Regarding the information on the environmental fate. bioconcentration is one of important factor to estimate the environmental tranfer. However, measurement of bioconcentration needs high expense and time. For this reason, OECD recommends to use BCFWIN model to estimate bioconcentration of organic chemicals, BCFWIN estimates the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of an organic compound using the log octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) of the compound. Structures are entered into BCFWIN through SMITES (Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System) notations. The BCFWIN method classifies a compound as either ionic or non-ionic. ionic compounds include carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids and salts of sulfonic acids, and charged nitrogen compounds (nitrogen with a + 5 valence such as quaternary ammonium compounds). All other compounds are classified as non-ionic. In this study, bioaccumulation of acetanilide was estimated using BCFWIN model based on SMIIES notation, chemical name data and partition coefficient as one of environmental fate/distribution of the chemical elements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1221-1225
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• 2005

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of a superfamily of nuclear hormone receptors. Lots of studies in rodents and humans have shown that PPARs were involved in lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation. The main objective of this work was to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in whole coding regions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-$\alpha$) and gamma (PPAR-$\gamma$) genes with approach of single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) in the chicken population of Arber Acres broiler, Hyline layer and three Chinese native breeds (Shiqiza, Beijing You, Bai'r). Two SNPs of C1029T and C297T were found in chicken PPAR-$\alpha$ and PPAR-$\gamma$ genes respectively and each SNP found three genotypes in the experimental populations. The results showed that the distribution frequency of 3 genotypes in Arber Acres broiler, Hyline layer and Chinese native breeds had significant differences on the PPAR-$\alpha$ and PPAR-$\gamma$ gene respectively (p<0.01). Furthermore, in the PPAR-$\alpha$ gene, the results of least square estimation for genotypes and body composition traits showed the BB genotype birds had higher abdominal fat weight (AFW) and percentage of abdominal fat (AFP) than AA genotype birds (p<0.05). From these we conjecture the PPAR-$\alpha$ and PPAR-$\gamma$ genes were suffered intensive selection during the long term commercial breeding and the PPAR-$\alpha$ gene may be a major gene or linked to the major genes that impact chicken fat metabolism and the SNPs could be used in molecular assistant selection (MAS) as a genetic marker for the chicken fatness traits.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.704-715
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• 2006

Oil spill was found in 1999 from a diesel storage facility located near the top of Baekun Mountain in Uiwang City. Application of bioremediation techniques was very relevant in removing oil spills in this site, because the geological condition was not amenable for other onsite remediation techniques. For efficient bioremediation, bacterial communities of the contaminated site and the uncontaminated control site were compared using both molecular and cultivation techniques. Soil bacterial populations were observed to be stimulated to grow in the soils contaminated with diesel hydrocarbon, whereas fungal and actinomycetes populations were decreased by diesel contamination. Most of the dieseldegrading bacteria isolated from contaminated forest soils were strains of Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and Rhodococcus species. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed that the profiles were different among the three contaminated sites, whereas those of the control sites were identical to each other. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences of dominant isolates and clones showed that the bacterial community was less diverse in the oil-contaminated site than at the control site. Sequence analysis of the alkane hydroxylase genes cloned from soil microbial DNAs indicated that their diversity and distribution were different between the contaminated site and the control site. The results indicated that diesel contamination exerted a strong selection on the indigenous microbial community in the contaminated site, leading to predominance of well-adapted microorganisms in concurrence with decrease of microbial diversity.