• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2013

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the content of phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzyme activity for the extracts from cowpea seed and sprouts. Plant length and weight of cowpea sprouts were significantly increased until 7 days after seeding. Total phenolics level [mg chlorogenic acid equivalents (CAE) $kg^{-1}$ DW] was highest in dry seed (DS) extracts of cowpea ($63.9mg\;kg^{-1}$), followed by imbibed seed (IS) ($56.8mg\;kg^{-1}$) and 1-day-old sprout (1DOS) extracts ($46.4mg\;kg^{-1}$), and significantly reduced with increase of sprout age (p < 0.05). The antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts from all the samples showed same tendency to the results of total phenolics level, and dose-dependently increased. DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical) free radical scavenging activity was higher in DS (87.3%) and IS (41.2%) than in cowpea sprouts from 1DOS to 7DOS, ranging from 17.1 to 30.4%. Antioxidant enzymes, APX, POX, and POX activities were highest in 7DOS and lowest in DS. SOD activity showed much higher activity in sprouts and in seeds. Correlation coefficient between physiological-active substance and the activity was highest between APX and CAT activities ($r^2$= 0.9574). Especially, total phenolics content was more highly correlated with antioxidant or with antioxidant enzyme activities than was total flavonoid level.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8397-8403
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer (BCa) is the most common malignancy in Mexican women. A set of histopathological markers has been established to guide BCa diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Nevertheless, in only a few Mexican health services, such as that of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA for its acronym in Spanish), are these markers commonly employed for assessing BCa. The aim of this study was to explore the association of Ki67, TP53, HER2/neu, estrogenic receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs) with BCa risk factors. Materials and Methods: Clinical histories provided background patient information. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was conducted on 48 tissue samples from women diagnosed with BCa and treated with radical mastectomy. The Chi square test or Fisher exact test together with the Pearson and Spearman correlation were applied. Results: On average, patients were $58{\pm}10.4$ years old. It was most common to find invasive ductal carcinoma (95.8%), histological grade 3 (45.8%), with a poor Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI; 80.4%). ERs and PRs were associated with smoking and alcohol consumption, metastasis at diagnosis and Ki67 expression (p<0.05). PR+ was also related to urea and ER+ (p<0.05). Ki67 was associated with TP53 and elevated triglycerides (p<0.05), and HER2/neu with ER+, the number of pregnancies and tumor size (p<0.05). TP53 was also associated with a poor NPI (p<0.05) and CD34 with smoking (p<0.05). The triple negative status (ER-/PR-/HER2/neu-) was related to smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to biomass, number of pregnancies, metastasis and a poor NPI (p<0.05). Moreover, the luminal B subty was associated with histological type (p=0.007), tumor size (p=0.03) and high cholesterol (p=0.02). Conclusions: Ki67, TP53, HER2/neu, ER and PR proved to be related to several clinical and pathological factors. Hence, it is crucial to determine this IHC profile in women at risk for BCa. Certain associations require further study to understand physiological/biochemical/molecular processes.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 1996

Water potential which is an physical chemistry and thermodynamic indicator expressed water status of plant root, stem and fruit could be use as a useful indicator for growth control of hydroponically grown muskmelon plant. Linear relationship was observed between EC and water potential of nutrient solution, consequently increment of EC related to the decreasing water potential and resulted with the alteration of water potential and solute potential of upper leaves. Rapid reduction in growth was observed in over 5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of Cu concentration in the media and same tendency was recorded in the shoot fresh weight, root dry weight and chlorophyll content. Increment of Cu concentration in the nutrient solution leads to lower the growth rate and then the water potential of upper leaves. Turgor pressure was not affected the growth of hydroponically grown muskmelon and also Cu concentration of nutrient solution was not recognized the direct relationship to the growth characteristics of muskmelon. These results demonstrated that water potential of nutrient solution can be use as an useful indicator for water physiological comparison of plant growth in hydroponically grown muskmelon.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2011

Rice is one of the most important food crops since it is consumed by approximately 60% of the world's population. The most abundant component of rice grain is starch that is an important source of energy. The second abundant component is protein, which is an important protein source for people in many developing countries that rarely take animal protein. However, the rice protein lacks the essential amino acid lysine. Therefore, nutritional improvement in the essential amino acid composition of rice proteins is required. On the other side, rice grain has attracted attention as a diet and health food in developed countries, because its proteins have superior physiological and food processing properties. Thus, nutritional improvements in rice seed proteins by changing amino acid composition or introducing an useful protein or peptide have been studied. This review aims at assessing the current research status of biosynthesis, accumulation, genetic improvement of seed storage proteins by mutation or genetic engineering in rice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1410-1416
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• 2009

The present study aims to examine the effect of turbid water on fishes in streams which branch into a turbid water area (Yeongyang-gun) and a non-turbid water area (Cheongsong-gun), and finally flow into the Imha reservoir. In a comparison of water quality, the chemical status of the water showed higher pH, DO and SS in the turbid water area than in the non-turbid water area. Also, high density of clay minerals such as vermiculite (V) and illite (I), which is from clay mineral leakage during rainfall, was detected in turbid water, resulting in an increase of turbidity. Fishes inhabiting the turbid water showed irregular spaces in gill lamella, cell separation, edema, and clubbing in epithelial tissues. Also, the gill surface showed roughness and plenty of muddy debris substances inside the gills. The Bowman's space was expanded because of contraction of the glomerulus in the Bowman's space of the kidney tissues. Antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, GPX, and GST showed higher activities in the specific tissues, muscles and kidney, of fishes living in turbid water than in the non-turbid area. We suggested that; first, the antioxidant activities were increased due to removal of harmful radicals generated in fish bodies in the turbid water area, second, long-time exposure of these histological changes in the tissues might have induced secondary lesion accompanying the inaccurate physiological constancy of fishes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.44-44
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• 2017

Recently, the occurrences of extreme flooding and drought, often in the same areas, have increased due to climate change. We tested the hypothesis that wetland species could help upland species under flood conditions; that is, the roots of wetland crops may supply $O_2$ to the roots of upland crops by a series of experiments conducted in both humid Japan and semi-arid Namibia (See Iijima et al, 2016 and Awala et al, 2016). Firstly, flooding tolerance of upland-adapted staple crops-pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) mix-cropped with rice (Oryza spp.) was investigated in glasshouse and laboratory experiments in Japan. We found a phenomenon that strengthens the flood tolerance of upland crops when two species-one wetland and one drought tolerant-were grown using the mixed cropping technique that results in close tangling of their root systems, hereinafter referred to "close mixed-planting". This technique improved the photosynthetic and transpiration rates of the upland crops subjected to flood stress ($O_2$-deficient nutrient culture). Oxygen transfer was suggested between the two plants mix-cultured in water, implying its contribution to the phenomenon that improved the physiological status of upland crops under the simulated flood stress. Secondly, we further tested whether this phenomenon would be expressed under field flood conditions. The effects of close mixed-planting of pearl millet and sorghum with rice on their survival, growth and grain yields were evaluated under controlled field flooding in semi-arid Namibia during 2014/2015-2015/2016. Single-stand and mixed plant treatments were subjected to 11-22 day flood stress at the vegetative growth stage. Close Mixed-planting increased seedling survival rates in both pearl millet and sorghum. Grain yields of pearl millet and sorghum were reduced by flooding, in both the single-stand and mixed plant treatments, relative to the non-flooded upland yields, but the reduction was lower in the mixed plant treatments. In contrast, flooding increased rice yields. Both pearl millet-rice and sorghum-rice mixtures demonstrated higher land equivalent ratios, indicating a mixed planting advantage under flood conditions. These results indicate that mix-planting pearl millet or sorghum with rice could alleviate flood stress on dryland cereals. The results also suggest that with this cropping technique, rice could compensate for the dryland cereal yield losses due to field flooding. Mixed cropping of wet and dryland crops is a new concept to overcome flood stress under variable environmental conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1108-1117
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• 2003

In Guadeloupe small ruminants (SR) are reared for meat production under pasture conditions. Intensive rotational grazing systems (irrigated, fertilised and high stocked) allow reasonable levels of production but generate high post-grazing residues. Experiments were designed to control them. A system in which residuals were mown (RM) was tested in comparison to the control system (Residuals Remained, RR). The same design was carried out for two years with Creole goat (G) and Martinik sheep (S). An accelerated reproductive rate (3 parturitions over 2 years) was carried out. Systems were compared at three parturition seasons per year(dry, intermediate and rainy seasons). Each group was composed of 20 goats ($36.0{\pm}2.5kg$) or 20 ewes ($46.8{\pm}2.4kg$). The female body traits did not vary according to pasture management and seasons. The stocking rate averaged 1,400 kg LW/ha. The mean fertility rate for does varied significantly (p<0.05) within the kidding season, from $80.4{\pm}0.5%$ to $93.7{\pm}2.9%$ while the mean litter size was $2.30{\pm}0.07$ total kids born. No effect of pasture system was observed. Corresponding values for ewes were $83.2{\pm}12.8%$ vs. $75.6{\pm}12.5%$ (p<0.05) and $2.43{\pm}0.24$ vs. $2.03{\pm}0.29$ (p<0.01) total lambs born for SRM and SRR ewes, respectively. A seasonal effect was observed upon ewe performances. The preweaning mortality of kids and lambs averaged 16.3% and 14.4%, respectively. It was 7 and 9 percentage points more (p<0.01) for RR than for RM kids and lambs, respectively. For both species, weaning took place at an average age of $81.4{\pm}3.6days$. In Creole kids, live weight at birth and at weaning were $1.9{\pm}0.2kg$ and $8.9{\pm}0.8kg$, respectively. In the Martinik sheep, the traits averaged $2.9{\pm}0.2kg$ and $18.9{\pm}0.9kg$. For both traits in both species, significant (p<0.05) group${\times}$season interactions were recorded. The consequences of elimination of post-grazing residues varied according to the SR species, the environmental conditions and the animal physiological status. The forage characteristics were not limiting factors since forage availability in the RM systems (2,300 and 2,600 kg DM/ha, respectively) and chemical composition were at satisfactory levels (CP content averaged 12 and 10%). It is recommended to develop new grazing system which would allow the use of post-grazing residues instead of mowing the refusals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.6
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• pp.570-575
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• 2008

This study was carried out to provide basic information on physiological changes of 4-year-old seedlings of Pinus thunbergii inoculated with pine wood nematodes by analyzing changes of symptom development, stem and needle water content and nematode populations in stem. Twenty days after inoculation, needles were discolored as an external symptom, and xylem drying and pith browning occurred at the above and below of the inoculation sites as an internal symptom. However, xylem drying began to occur 10 days after inoculation, which was determined by the difference in drying status of xylem and cortex between control and inoculated seedlings. Although population of pine wood nematode increased from 5 to 10 days after inoculation, it has increased dramatically from 10 to 20 days after inoculation when both internal and external symptoms appeared. As the time passed by after inoculation with pine wood nematodes, water content of stem and relative water content in current needles and branch gradually decreased. As the number of nematodes increases, water content of stem and relative water content of current needles and branches decreased significantly. There was a positive relationship between the number of nematodes and xylem drying and/or disease development, but the number of nematodes rapidly decreased as seedlings become severely diseased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.907-915
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• 2014

Alpha-lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) is not only involved in energy metabolism, but is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect against hepatic oxidative stress induced by some drugs, toxins, or under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of ${\alpha}$-LA against liver oxidative damage in broilers exposed to aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$). Birds were randomly divided into four groups and assigned different diets: basal diet, 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in basal diet, diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, and 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA protected against the liver function damage of broilers induced by chronic low dose of $AFB_1$ as estimated by a significant (p<0.05) change in levels of plasma total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the activities of liver glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. The histopathological analysis also showed that liver tissues were injured in the $AFB_1$ diet, but this effect was alleviated by the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA. Additionally, $AFB_1$ induced a profound elevation of oxidative stress in birds, as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde level, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity and a depletion of the glutathione content in the liver. All of these negative effects were inhibited by treatment with ${\alpha}$-LA. Our results suggest that the inhibition of $AFB_1$-induced excess production of lipid peroxides and the maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play important roles in the protective effects of ${\alpha}$-LA against $AFB_1$-induced oxidative damage in the liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the effects of a mixture of pinecone oil, garlic, and brown seaweed extracts (PGBE) on milk production traits as well as physiological and ethological parameters in Holstein cows during the summer season (24 May to 03 July 2015, Korea). Methods: Among the extract combinations tested, we found that the level of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylberzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) cation radical scavenging activity of the 0.16% PBGE complex at ratio of 1:1:1 (vol/vol) was comparable to that of the control (ascorbic acid; 1 mg/mL). Additionally, the PBGE complex reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced COX-2 expression in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Based on these findings, 40 lactating Holstein cows were used to measure the effects of PBGE complex at ratio of 1:1:1 (vol/vol) on milk production, immune response, metabolites, and behavior patterns by dividing the cows into two groups fed diets containing PGBE complex (n = 20; 0.016%/kg feed dry matter basis) or not containing PGBE complex (control, n = 20) for 40 d. Results: Results showed that PGBE complex did not influence milk composition, eating and ear surface temperature patterns, immune response, or metabolic parameters but promoted average milk yield throughout the experimental period. Additionally, a tendency of higher total antioxidant capacity and glutathione in the PGBE group was observed compared to the those in the control. When the temperature-humidity index (THI) exceeded 72 (average THI = 73.8), PGBE complex-fed cows experiencing heat stress showed increased milk yield and a tendency of increased rumination compared to the control. Conclusion: We suggest that incorporation of a combined mixture of 0.016% PGBE (1:1:1 ratio, vol/vol) to diet has the potential to improve milk yield and health status of cows under mild to moderate heat stress, denoting that it might be useful as an alternative anti-stressor in the diet of dairy cows under hot conditions.