• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2006

Rodents and many other mammals have two chemosensory systems that mediate responses to pheromones, the main and accessory olfactory system, MOS and AOS, respectively. The chemosensory neurons associated with the MOS are located in the main olfactory epithelium, while those associated with the AOS are located in the vomeronasal organ(VNO). Pheromonal odorants access the lumen of the VNO via canals in the roof of the mouth, and are largely thought to be nonvolatile. The main pheromone receptor proteins consist of two superfamilies, V1Rs and V2Rs, that are structurally distinct and unrelated to the olfactory receptors expressed in the main olfactory epithelium. These two type of receptors are seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled proteins(V1R with $G_{{\alpha}i2}$, V2R with $G_{0\;{\alpha}}$). V2Rs are co-expressed with nonclassical MHC Ib genes(M10 and other 8 M1 family proteins). Other important molecular component of VNO neuron is a TrpC2, a cation channel protein of transient receptor potential(TRP) family and thought to have a crucial role in signal transduction. There are four types of pheromones in mammalian chemical communication - primers, signalers, modulators and releasers. Responses to these chemosignals can vary substantially within and between individuals. This variability can stem from the modulating effects of steroid hormones and/or non-steroid factors such as neurotransmitters on olfactory processing. Such modulation frequently augments or facilitates the effects that prevailing social and environmental conditions have on the reproductive axis. The best example is the pregnancy block effect(Bruce effect), caused by testosterone-dependent major urinary proteins(MUPs) in male mouse urine. Intriguingly, mouse GnRH neurons receive pheromone signals from both odor and pheromone relays in the brain and may also receive common odor signals. Though it is quite controversial, recent studies reveal a complex interplay between reproduction and other functions in which GnRH neurons appear to integrate information from multiple sources and modulate a variety of brain functions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2014

The outdoor mass cultivation is not possible for microalgae in Korea all year round, due to cold winter season. It is not easy to maintain proper level of productivity of microalgae even in winter. To prevent a drastic decrease of temperature in a greenhouse, two layers were covered additionally, inside the original plastic layer of the greenhouse. The middle layer was made up of plastic and the inner layer, of non-woven fabric. Acrylic transparent bioreactors were constructed to get more sunlight, not only from the upper side but also from the lateral and bottom directions. In winter at freezing temperatures, six different culture conditions were compared in the triply covered, insulated greenhouse. Wastewater after anaerobic digestion was used for the cultivation of microalgae to minimize the production cost. Water temperature in the bioreactors remained above $10^{\circ}C$ on average, even without any external heating system, proving that the triple-layered greenhouse is effective in keeping heat. Algal biomass reached to 0.37g $L^{-1}$ with the highest temperature, in the experimental group of light-reflection board at the bottom, with nitrogen and phosphorus removal rate of 92% and 99%, respectively. When fatty acid composition was analyzed using gas-chromatography, linoleate (C18 : 3n3) occupied the highest proportion up to 61%, in the all experiment groups. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), however, did not decrease during the cultivation, but rather increased. Although the algal biomass productivity was not comparable to warm seasons, it was possible to maintain water temperature for algae cultivation even in the coldest season, at the minimum cost.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.144-157
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• 1992

The study was conducted to compare the interprete methods and examine the feasibility of mixture use of oxyfluorfen and bensulfuron in controlling principal Paddy weeds, annuals and perennials. Application ratio of both chemicals were obtained from the combinations of 5 levels(0, 5, 10, 15, 20 g ai/ha) of each chemicals, respectively. All the treatments were applied at 5 days after transplanting and water was maintained at 3.0cm in depth. Shoot fresh-weight of weeds was assessed at 35 days after treatments. Data obtained was analysed by Colby, Isobole, Calculus, Regression and EQM method, respectively. The results from the analysis of variance on the principal weeds treated with oxyfluorfen and bensulfuron showed significant interactions at 1% level on both Echinochloa crus-galli and Eleocharis Kuroguwai, and total species at 0.5% level on both Potamogeton distinctus and Cyperus serotinus, but non significant on Scirpus juncoides and Sagittaria pygmaea. Thereafter, the results of the models applied to Echinochloa crus-galli, Eleocharis kuroguwai and total species were as follows ; 1. The Colby method gave values nearly identical to regression estimate method (both multiplicative models) as provided by Akobundu et al. The Colby method and Regression method indicated synergistic toward Echinochloa curs-galli, and total species, but antagonistic toward Eleocharis kuroguwai. 2. The Isobole method shows synergism on Echinochloa crus-galli at $ID_{50}$, and total species at $ID_{60}$ on Eleochari kuroguwai. 3. The Calculus method gave positive signs for the first differentiation and negative signs for the second differentiation except for some rates on Echinochloa crus-galli and total species, but reverse on Eleocharis kuroguwai. These result does not agree with the observed values. 4. ${\theta}$ value from the EQM method was greater than one at all combinations. This result was quite different from those of other methods. 5. The various models did not show the same results, but mixture of oxyfluorfen and bensulfuron tend to have synergistic effect. Weeding effect also was high. Treatment in terms of two chemical combination was expected to reduce rates, and to enhence weeding efficacy compared with single treatment.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2011

The use of green manure crop is one of the methods for alternative of chemical fertilizer as well as maintain of soil sustainability, therefore we evaluated the effect of green manure crops on rice growth and weed occurrence in rice-green manure crop double cropping system. The treatments consisted of incorporation of hairy vetch, barley or combined hairy vetch and barley without any agrochemical or fertilizer. In hand weeding, rice yield in hairy vetch only or hairy vetch and barley incorporated fields was attained by 90% and 93% of the conventional practice, respectively, while the value in barley incorporated fields was just 79%. Although the rice yields were lower than the hand weed control, similar trends in non-weed control were observed among all treatments. At maximum tillering stage, occurred weeds in hairy vetch, barley or hairy vetch and barley incorporated fields were five, five and two species, respectively, while those in conventional practice were six species. Also, the dry weight of weeds in hairy vetch and barley incorporated fields was decreased by 33% and 53% compared to it of conventional practice, while the value in hairy vetch and barley incorporated field was increased by 34%. Among all treatments, although occurrence density of Echinochloa crus-galli was lower than another weed species, the dry weight of it significantly increased. These results suggested that although continuous incorporation of proper amount of legume green manure crops was possible to productivity insurance of crop, but to attain it was essential to the effective management of weeds.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2002

Much of the plastic film house soils in the southern part of the Korean peninsula are managed using a upland-paddy rotation culture system (hereafter, RS) to prevent salt accumulation in soil. However, information on the effects of RS on soil properties and environmental conservation is limited. In order to determine the effects of RS on soil properties, 22 fields under RS and 20 fields under a non-rotation system (hereafter, NRS) in plastic film houses were selected in Chinju, in southern Korea, and the P distribution characteristics were investigated, including the chemical properties. The RS contributed to the removal of water-soluble salts in the surface layer and to the redistribution of organic matter evenly in the soil profile. In the AP horizon, available phosphorus levels were $1,611mg\;kg^{-1}$ in RS and $1,789mg\;kg^{-1}$ in NRS, which markedly exceeds the optimum range for plant cultivation. Total P was lower in RS (average $4,593mg\;kg^{-1}$) than in NRS (average $5,440mg\;kg^{-1}$) and this decrease was taken to be an effect of RS. Inorganic P was the predominant form of P in both systems, followed by organic P and residual P. A soil profile showed that total and inorganic P concentrations decreased with depth in both systems. However, organic P increased withdepth in RS, which was in contrast to that noted in NRS. The increase in organic P with depth in RS implied that organically rather than inorganically derived phosphate moved through the soil. The concentrations of water-soluble P, Ca-P and Al-P were higher in NRS than in RS soil profiles, but the Fe-P concentration was higher in RS than in NRS, which might be affected by the anaerobic conditions found in paddy soils. In both systems, the Al-P form of extractable P predominated in the surface layer, followed by Ca-P, Fe-P and water-soluble P. With increasing depth, the composition rate of Ca-P to extractable P decreased to less than 10% in the 60-70cm depth, as Fe-P dominated at this level. The content of water-soluble P, potentially the main source of eutrophication, was higher in NRS than in RS. These results indicated that the RS used in plastic film houses contributed to the removal of water-soluble salts but only slightly decreased the phosphate concentration.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding seleniferous whole crop barley silage (WCBS) on the growth performance, blood and carcass characteristics, and tissue selenium deposition infinishing Hanwoo steers. A total of 20 growing Hanwoo steers were selected and assigned to one of the following feed groups: control (0.1 ppm Se), T1 (0.3 ppm Se), T2 (0.9 ppm Se), and T3 (0.9 ppm of inorganic Se). Five steers were allocated to each treatment group, and the trial lasted for 90 days. All experimental diets combined seleniferous and/or non-seleniferous WCBS up to a ratio of 30%. For the T3 diet, 0.9 ppm Se in the form of sodium selenite was added to the control diet. Dietary level and type of selenium did not affect feed intake and body weight gain. Blood total lipid and triglyceride concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the T2 group than in control. Blood immunoglobulin G concentration increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary selenium; concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T2 and T3 than in control. Blood selenium concentration was the highest (p<0.05) in T2. No significant difference was observed in dressing rate, ribeye area, marbling score, meat color and fat color. Further, no association was found between levels and chemical form of dietary selenium and quality and quantity of meat. To the contrary, tissue selenium content in kidney, liver, and hind leg increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of selenium; however, feeding inorganic selenium did not introduce a significant increase in tissue selenium content of finishing Hanwoo steers. The results indicated that the selenium present in seleniferous WCBS was an effectively absorbable selenium source, suitable for increasing tissue selenium content in beef. Approximately 100 g of hind leg muscle from steers fed on the T2 diet met approximately 69% of the recommended daily selenium requirements.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.603-608
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• 2003

In approximate composition, crude protein, lipid, ash, crude fiber, and N-free extract constituted 14.70%, 3.10%, 6.90%, 18.20%, and 57.10%, respectively, in Korean safflower flowers, compared to 12.60%, 2.70%, 5.80%, 16.40% and 62.50%, respectively, in Chinese safflower flowers. This indicated that Korean safflower flowers surpassed their Chinese counterparts except in terms of N-free extract. Free sugars such as fructose, glucose, and sucrose were proven to be dominant in both domestic and Chinese safflower flowers, while little xylose was contained. For content of polyphenolic compound, Korean safflower flowers contained 13.85% water soluble extract and 9.70% MeOH extract, compared to 9.39% and 7.04%, respectively, for the Chinese variety, confirming the higher levels in the Korean variety. For fatty acids, (Ed- the following results are not presented in ratio form) saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids comprised 6.80% and 93.20% in Korean safflower flowers and 16.0% and 84.0% in Chinese safflower flowers, respectively. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitoleic acids comprised 75.30%, 11.60%, and 3.40% in Korean safflower flowers, and 66.70%, 11.20%, and 6.10% in the Chinese variety, respectively. Of amino acids, essential amino acids comprised 46.67% in Korean safflower flowers and 36.79% in the Chinese variety. Moreover, total essential amino acids in Korean safflower flowers were higher than those of their counterparts. Non-essential amino acid comprised 65.17% in the Korean variety and 54.49% in the Chinese. In terms of mineral content, Korean safflower flowers contained more Ca, Cu, Fe and Mn than those of China, while Chinese safflower flowers contained more A1, Ba, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Sr and P.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.386-395
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• 2016

To develop a functional fermentation food from Rubus coreanus Miquel (Bokbunja) and chlorella mixtures, optimal lactic acid fermentation conditions were established, and quality properties based on physicochemical evaluation such as chemical compositions, free sugars, organic acids, and antibacterial activities were investigated. Regarding optimal fermentation strain selection, formation of lactic acid was best in Lactobacillus plantarum among the experimental strains (10 kinds), and the optimal fermentation temperature was $37^{\circ}C$. In addition, overall acceptability in the sensory evaluation was highest in the 5% chlorella mixture sample. Therefore, quality properties of the prepared sample under the established optimal fermentation conditions were investigated. Moisture, total sugar (dry basis), crude fiber (dry basis), and pH of fermented Rubus coreanus Miquel juice (RCM) with 5% chlorella mixture (RCM-C5) were reduced by 4.90%, 14.15%, and 0.32%, respectively, as compared with non-fermented RCM. Meanwhile, crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash (dry basis) of RCM-C5 were elevated by 13.75%, 0.18%, and 0.73%, respectively, as compared with RCM. The yellowness (b value) of color values was greater in RCM-C5 compared to RCM. The free sugar and organic acid contents of RCM-C5 were elevated by 0.97% and 616.30 mg%, respectively, as compared with RCM. In addition, the gram positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was elevated by 5.83% while gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium were elevated by 2.94% and 4.67%, respectively, as compared with RCM. In conclusion, the quality properties of RCM and chlorella lactic acid fermentation mixtures were improved compared with the general RCM product. Consequently, it is possible to apply fermented RCM as a functional fermentation food.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1607-1623
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• 2019

Sediment bioelectrochemical systems (SBESs) can be integrated into brackish aquaculture ponds for in-situ bioremediation of the pond water and sediment. Such an in-situ system offers advantages including reduced treatment cost, reusability and simple handling. In order to realize such an application potential of the SBES, in this laboratory-scale study we investigated the effect of several controllable and uncontrollable operational factors on the in-situ bioremediation performance of a tank model of a brackish aquaculture pond, into which a SBES was integrated, in comparison with a natural degradation control model. The performance was evaluated in terms of electricity generation by the SBES, Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and nitrogen removal of both the tank water and the tank sediment. Real-life conditions of the operational parameters were also experimented to understand the most close-to-practice responses of the system to their changes. Predictable effects of controllable parameters including external resistance and electrode spacing, similar to those reported previously for the BESs, were shown by the results but exceptions were observed. Accordingly, while increasing the electrode spacing reduced the current densities but generally improved COD and nitrogen removal, increasing the external resistance could result in decreased COD removal but also increased nitrogen removal and decreased current densities. However, maximum electricity generation and COD removal efficiency difference of the SBES (versus the control) could be reached with an external resistance of $100{\Omega}$, not with the lowest one of $10{\Omega}$. The effects of uncontrollable parameters such as ambient temperature, salinity and pH of the pond (tank) water were rather unpredictable. Temperatures higher than $35^{\circ}C$ seemed to have more accelaration effect on natural degradation than on bioelectrochemical processes. Changing salinity seriously changed the electricity generation but did not clearly affect the bioremediation performance of the SBES, although at 2.5% salinity the SBES displayed a significantly more efficient removal of nitrogen in the water, compared to the control. Variation of pH to practically extreme levels (5.5 and 8.8) led to increased electricity generations but poorer performances of the SBES (vs. the control) in removing COD and nitrogen. Altogether, the results suggest some distinct responses of the SBES under brackish conditions and imply that COD removal and nitrogen removal in the system are not completely linked to bioelectrochemical processes but electrochemically enriched bacteria can still perform non-bioelectrochemical COD and nitrogen removals more efficiently than natural ones. The results confirm the application potential of the SBES in brackish aquaculture bioremediation and help propose efficient practices to warrant the success of such application in real-life scenarios.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.605-619
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze eutrophication characteristics, empirical model analysis, and variation of water quality according to monsoon intensity in Hapcheon Reservoir for 16 years from 2002 to 2017. Long-term annual water quality analysis showed that Hapcheon Reservoir was in a meso-nutrition to eutrophic condition, and the eutrophic state intensified after the summer monsoon. Annual rainfall volume (high vs. low rainfall) and the seasonal intensity in each year were the key factors that regulate the long-term water quality variation provided that there is no significant change of the point- and non-point source in the watershed. Dry years and wet years showed significant differences in the concentrations of TP, TN, BOD, and conductivity, indicating that precipitation had the most direct influence on nutrients and organic matter dynamics. Nutrient indicators (TP, TN), organic pollution indicators (BOD, COD), total suspended solids, and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), which was an estimator of primary productivity, had significant positive relations (p<0.05) with precipitation. The Chl-a concentration, which is an indicator of green algae, was highly correlated with TP, TN, and BOD, which differed from other lakes that showed the lower Chl-a concentration when nutrients increased excessively. Empirical model analysis of log-transformed TN, TP, and Chl-a indicated that the Chl-a concentration was linearly regulated by phosphorus concentration, but not by nitrogen concentration. Spatial regression analysis of the riverine, transition, and lacustrine zones of $log_{10}TN$, $log_{10}TP$, and $log_{10}CHL$ showed that TN and Chl-a had significant relations (p<0.005) while TN and Chl-a had p > 0.05, indicating that phosphorus had a key role in the algal growth. Moreover, the higher correlation of both $log_{10}TP$ and $log_{10}TN$ to $log_{10}CHL$ in the riverine zone than the lacustrine zone indicated that there was little impact of inorganic suspended solids on the light limitation in the riverine zone.