• Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.416-419
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• 2018

We describe a case of a 61-year-old Korean man who was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma that was discovered on abdominopelvic computed tomography obtained after the patient complained of back pain. A radical nephrectomy was performed, and the surgical specimen showed a relatively well-circumscribed and yellowish lobulated hard mass. Microscopically, the tumor showed sheets and nests of hypercellular pleomorphic cells with thick fibrous septation, frequent mitoses, and areas of adrenal cortical-like tissue. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were positive for inhibin-${\alpha}$, vimentin, synaptophysin, and melan A. It also revealed that the tumor cells were negative for pan-cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, paired box 8, ${\alpha}$-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, CD10, cytokeratin 7, carbonic anhydrase 9, c-Kit, renal cell carcinoma, transcription factor E3, human melanoma black 45, desmin, smooth muscle actin, S-100, chromogranin A, CD34, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and integrase interactor 1. Based on these histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, we diagnosed the tumor as intrarenal adrenocortical carcinoma arising in an adrenal rest. Several cases of intrarenal adrenocortical carcinoma have been reported, although they are very rare. Due to its poor prognosis and common recurrence or metastasis, clinicians and pathologists must be aware of this entity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 2018

During a survey of marine algal flora, a red algal species was collected from Giseong, Uljin located on the eastern coast of Korea. This species has the generic features of Cryptonemia belonging to Halymeniaceae, and is characterized by the presence of erect foliose thalli arising from a discoid holdfast, somewhat fan-shaped blade with an evanescent midrib at the base, narrow main axes with blade-like wings of slightly undulate margin, a perennial stalk, and entwined filamentous medulla with refractive stellate cells. In a phylogenetic tree based on rbcL sequence, the Korean alga nests in the same clade with C. lomation from France and C. seminervis from Spain. Genetic divergence among the sequences within the clade was not recognized thus suggesting that both the species are conspecific. The name C. lomation considered to be valid nomenclaturally is accepted for the entity. Based on the morphological and molecular analyses, the Korean alga is identified as C. lomation, originally described from Italy. This confirms the occurrence of C. lomation in Korea. The species appears to be distributed in the temperate region influenced more or less by the North Korea Cold Current.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.282-288
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• 2019

We investigated the changes in the population size and inter-specific space usage for breeding in mixed breeding sites of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), great egret (Ardea alba modesta) and intermediate egret (Egretta intermedia) in Gammul-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, in 2016-2017. These species bred in two adjacent habitats (site A and site B). The number of breeding pairs of all species and the size of the breeding area at site B increased in 2017. In 2017, great cormorants at site B occupied the breeding sites previously occupied by the other species in 2016, while the grey heron and great egret occupied the sites around the great cormorant breeding site. The heights of nest trees and nests of great cormorant and grey heron did not differ temporally, but these heights in site B were significantly higher than those in site A for great cormorants. For great egrets, these greatly decreased in site B in 2017. Thus, the great cormorant either moved to favourable nest sites for breeding success or selected nest sites used by the herons in the previous year. Further studies of these two possibilities are necessary.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.383-389
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• 2021

The Erythropeltidales are a common group of small, mostly epiphytic, marine red algae. However, they are little known in Korea. Many of the described species of Erythropeltidales differ subtly in morphology, and often the morphological differences are due to the substrate or environmental changes. Integration of molecular data with standardized culture conditions has been recommended to account for these algae. A Madagascaria species was first collected from the western coast of Korea and was identified as Madagascaria erythrocladioides based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphological characteristics conformed well with its original description, and the phylogenetic analysis based on rbcL sequence showed Korean M. erythrocladioides nests in the same clade with the original species described in Japan with a genetic distance of 0.0-0.1%. This species was isolated from a red alga, Pterocladiella capillacea, in laboratory culture. The thallus ontogeny and host preference were examined by a co-culture with 13 different species of algae. Results showed a relatively broad host preference in mono-spore attachment and epiphyte development of Madagascaria erythrocladioides. Mono-spores of M. erythrocladioides attached to most of the red algal hosts' surfaces but no crustose thalli developed on some of the algal hosts even after one month of co-culture.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2022

A green alga specimen was collected from the eastern coast of Korea. This species shared the typical features of genus Ulva and was characterized by irregularly shaped thalli, relatively small and thick thallus, entire undulate margins without serrations, and one or two pyrenoids per cell. In a phylogenetic tree, based on sequences of the nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer region, it nests as a sister clade to a few species including Ulva ohnoi, which has a relatively large thallus. This Korean algal specimen differs from the species forming the same subclades, including U. ohnoi, Ulva fasciata, Ulva reticulata, and Ulva gigantean, and has a relatively small (3-8 cm) and thick (60-100 ㎛) thallus. Of these species, U. ohnoi, originally described from Japan, is similar to the Korean alga as it had a thick thallus of 30-90 ㎛, but it has microscopic serrations on the thallus margin, unlike the Korean alga. The genetic distance between the Korean alga species and the aforementioned species was determined to be 1.8%-4.8%, indicating an inter-specific divergence level at the genus Ulva. Herein, Ulva grossa sp. nov. (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) from Korea is described based on the morphological and molecular analyses.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.73-76
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• 2022

Most of ants seem to be beneficial, whereas some of them are annoying or harmful. Among harmful creatures red imported fire ants have been notorious for not only destroying farm plants and domestic animals but also biting and killing human beings. The red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richiteri Forel, will feed on the buds and fruits of numerous crop plants. Large nests located in fields interfere with and damage equipment during cultivation and harvesting. They respond rapidly and aggressively to disturbances, and ant attacks inhibit field worker activities. A single fire can sting its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals as well as humans are especially susceptible to the stings' venom. These pests can damage the environment by displacing native ant species and reducing food sources for wildlife. In Korea Solenopsis invicta Buren were found for the first time in Busan Gamman port in 2017. Then they were found in Incheon port, Pyongtaek port, North Daegu, Ansan in 2018 and Gwangyang in 2021. Once they invaded and occupied the terrestrial area, we have no proper solution to prevent them. I can assume that they have been successfully enlarging their colonies toward inland since they can move freely by flight. Therefore, I strongly suggest that we need to study ants in order not only to control harmful ants properly but also to preserve and use beneficial ants in this country.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

Solitary bees, such as Osmia cornifrons, O. pedicornis, O. satoi, and O. taurus (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), have the potential for cost-effective and sustainable pollination, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their ecological traits to implement effective fertilization strategies for various crops. This study investigated the nesting rate of Osmia spp. in different regions and altitudes, using various trap types, and found that the highest nesting rate occurred at altitudes of 300-399 m a.s.l. and showing a preference for bamboo-type traps, with the Andong region having the highest nesting rate overall, indicating the influence of altitude, habitat area, and trap type on the density of Osmia spp. nests. The distribution and diversity of the four Osmia spp. in different regions and altitudes revealed variations in their occurrence, with O. pedicornis having the broadest distribution rate, particularly at altitudes above 300 m a.s.l.. The present study found significant differences between species in the cocoon masses of O. cornifrons, O. pedicornis, and O. taurus, with region and altitude influencing the masses of each species too.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.445-451
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• 2023

An 8-year-old female pet rabbit presented at the veterinary clinic for mammary gland palpation due to the presence of a mass. Upon physical examination, a mass was identified in the left fourth mammary gland. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a 3 × 2 cm mass in the right uterus and general thickening of the endometrium, suggesting uterine sinusitis. Multiple pulmonary nodules suspected to be metastatic lesions were identified on chest radiography. Surgery was performed to mastectomy and ovariohysterectomy (OHE). The histopathological examination of the tumor revealed mammary gland adenocarcinoma (simple-type) with multiple nodules consisting of the proliferation of tumor cells forming tubules containing secretory materials, cellular debris, and solid nests with a central area of necrosis. Metronomic chemotherapy was performed with cyclophosphamide and lomustine (CCNU) based on the histopathological findings. The quality of life has been well maintained, with no specific clinical symptoms observed for 8 months after metronomic chemotherapy. To the best of authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effects of metronomic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and lomustine in a pet rabbit.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2012

Yellow bitterns (Ixobrychus sinensis) are a small wetland bird common to Asian countries including South Korea, Japan, and China. The aim of this study is to describe diet of yellow bitterns during the breeding season in artificial wetland of northeastern South Korea between May to August 1999-2001. For the purposes of this paper, we observe the frequency of nest visiting by parents during the chick rearing period. A total of 98 boluses regurgitated by 52 chicks aged 1 day to 11 days after hatching form the sample and are shown to contain 323 food items. A bolus contained mean 3.8 items and weighs 0.2 g to 7.7 g. The most regularly occurring food items recorded are fish (63%) and insets (33%). In terms of fish, top mouth minnows (Pseudorasbora parva) and crucian carps (Carassius auratus) are frequently observed. In terms of insects, there are mosquitoes (Diptera), instars of dragonfly (Libelluidae), damselflies (Coenagrinonidae) and water bugs (Diplonychus japonicus). Yellow bitterns were also shown to feed on bull frogs (Rana catesbeiana), shrimp (Palaemonidae), and spiders (Araneae). The size of fish in a bolus ranged from 15.56 mm to 93.73 mm (mean, 37.08 mm). The amount of food can be observed to increase with the age of chicks (r = 0.279, P = 0.025, N = 64) but parents did not provide larger fish as chicks grew. Parent birds visited nests more frequently when they have a larger brood ($F_{1,21}$ = 14.529, P = 0.001). Our results suggest that fish is the most important prey during the breeding season and that age of chicks is related to amount of diet in yellow bitterns.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2018

Observations and video documentation of interactions between animals living in dens, cavities, and other enclosed spaces are difficult, but they play an important role in field biology, ecology, and conservation. For example, bird parents visiting nests and feeding their nestlings may provide crucial information for testing of ecological hypotheses and may easily attract attention of participants of citizen-science ecological and conservation projects. Because of the nest concealment of cavity-nesting birds, their behaviors in the nest can only be studied by using video surveillance. Professional wildlife surveillance systems are extremely expensive. Here, we describe an inexpensive video setup that can be constructed with relatively little effort and is more affordable than any previously described system. We anticipate that the relatively low cost of about 250 USD for a battery-operated system is an important feature for citizen-science type of projects and for applications in heavily populated areas where the potential for theft and vandalism may be high. Based on our experiences, we provide methodological advice on practical aspects of using this system in the field for ecological research on birds. We highlight the low cost, easiness of construction, and potential availability to a large number of observers taking part in wildlife monitoring projects, and we offer technical help to participants of such research projects.