• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.114-114
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• 2003

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces well-documented mitogenic and differentiating effects on murine and bovine preimplantation embryos. However, the effects of EGF on apoptosis and implantation-related gene expression in bovine embryos developing in vitro have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous EGF in the presence and absence of BSA on the preimplantation development of bovine embryos. In addition, we measured cell number, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis and implantation-related genes of the blastocysts that developed in these culture conditions. In vitro produced bovine embryos were randomly cultured in the same medium containing 0 or 10 ng/ml EGF in the presence and absence of 0.8% BSA. More 2-cell embryos developed into blastocysts at day 7 when BSA was present than when BSA was absent. The addition of 10 ng/$m\ell$ EGF into the medium did not significantly increase the developmental rate and the cell numbers per blastocyst. However, addition of EGF in the presence of 0.8% BSA significantly reduced the degree of apoptosis in the blastocysts (P<0.01). To investigate whether EGF modulates mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, mRNA was prepared from single blastocysts and each preparation was subjected to RT-PCR for Bcl-2 and Bax transcripts. EGF did not alter the relative abundance of Bax gene expression in the presence of BSA, but increase Bcl-2 (P<0.01) The relative abundance of Interferon tau expression was increased by EGF treatment in the presence of BSA. These results suggest that EGF and BSA synergistically enhance Bcl-2 and interferone tau gene expression, which may result in a net increase in viability in bovine embryos.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.99-99
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• 2003

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces well-documented mitegenic and differentiating effects on murine and bovine preimplantation embryos. However, the effects of EGF on apoptosis and implantation-related gene expression in bovine embryos developing in vitro have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous EGF in the presence and absence of BSA on the preimplantation development of bovine embryos. In addition, we measured cell number, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis and implantation-related genes of the blastocysts that developed in these culture conditions. In vitro produced bovine embryos were randomly cultured in the same medium containing 0 or 10 ng/$m\ell$ EGF in the presence and absence of 0.8% BSA. More 2-cell embryos developed into blastocysts at day 7 when BSA was present than when BSA was absent. The addition of 10 ng/$m\ell$ EGF into the medium did not significantly increase the developmental rate and the cell numbers per blastocyst. However, addition of EGF in the presence of 0.8% BSA significantly reduced the degree of apoptosis in the blastocysts (P< 0.01). To investigate whether EGF modulates mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, mRNA was prepared from single blastocysts and each preparation was subjected to RT-PCR for Bcl-2 and Bax transcripts. EGF did not alter the relative abundance of Bax gene expression in the presence of BSA, but increase Bcl-2 (P < 0.01). The relative abundance of Interferon tau expression was increased by EGF treatment in the presence of BSA. These results suggest that EGF and BSA synergistically enhance Bcl-2 and interferone tau gene expression, which may result in a net increase in viability in bovine embryos.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2012

This study conducted a comparative analysis of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Fosu and Benya lagoons in Ghana, based on the anthropogenic effect on the two lagoons. Salinity, oxygen, temperature, conductivity, turbidity and pH were measured, invertebrate richness and species densities were determined. The AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate statistics were used to determine the different responses of fauna to pollution. The fauna were categorized into five ecological groups based on the degree of tolerance of the different species to pollution: disturbance-sensitive species; disturbance-indifferent species, disturbance-tolerant species, second-order opportunistic species; and first-order opportunistic species. The Fosu Lagoon supported more pollution tolerant species, whereas the Benya Lagoon had more species that were sensitive to organic enrichment under relatively unpolluted conditions. Chironomus sp., which is adapted to virtually anoxic conditions, was the most abundant in the Fosu Lagoon whereas Nemertea sp. was the most abundant in the Benya Lagoon. The numerical and relative abundance (%) of all 7 taxa in the Fosu Lagoon was 1,359 and 92.35%, respectively. The numerical and relative abundance (%) of all 34 taxa in the Benya Lagoon was 2,459 and 87.52%, respectively. Expectedly, the level of dissolved oxygen in the less saline Fosu Lagoon was higher than that in the more saline Benya Lagoon. The reduced photoperiod and photosynthetic activities of aquatic plants might account for this trend. There is a need to implement comprehensive monitoring and management initiatives for sustaining the ecological health of coastal lagoons in Ghana in order to support the many people that depend upon these ecosystems for their livelihood.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the effects of soil properties on the soil fungal community in first and continuous cultivation areas of Cnidium officinale Makino. Methods and Results: The soil fungal community was analyzed for relative abundance and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was conducted using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The correlation between the soil chemical properties and the soil fungal community was assessed with distance-based linear models (DISTLM). The soil fungal community showed distinct clusters consisting in the continuous cultivation area of C. officinale Makino. PCoA and DISTLM indicated that soil pH, calcium, and available P₂O₅ significantly affected the soil fungal community in the cultivation area of C. officinale Makino. In addition, considering 5 different pathogenic fungi the relative abundance of Fusarium in the continuous cultivation area was significantly higher compared to that in the first cultivation area of C. officinale Makino. Conclusions: This study is important because it has determinined the effects of soil properties on the soil fungal community in both first and continuous cultivation areas of C. officinale Makino. Moreover, these results will be helpful to investigate the cause of continuous cropping obstacle in C. officinale Makino by examining the changes of soil fungal community.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.297-305
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• 2003

Fish fauna of mountain streams in the Jirisan National Park area of S. Korea (total area: 440.45 $\textrm{km}^2$, height: 1,915 m) was investigated at 33 sites from May 1997 to September 1999. A total of 4,670 individuals of fishes were collected and classified into 30 species and 12 families. Zacco temmincki (relative abundance (RA), 63.9%) was found to be the most abundant inhabitant. Subdominant species were Pungtungia hem (RA 6.2%), Zacco platypus (RA 6.1 %) and Coreoleusiscus splendidus (RA 4.8%). Among the total species, 13 species were identified as the Korean endemic species (7 families, 17.2% of 802 individuals). Dominant Korean endemic species was C. splendidus (relative abundance endemics (RAE), 27.8%). Superiors were Coreoperca heizi (RAE 21.8%) and Liobagrus mediadiposalis (RAE 19.8%). One exotic species (Oncorhynchus mykiss, a site and 5 ind.) and translated species (Hypmesus niponensis, two sites and 174 ind.) were collected in this survey. The proportion of Korean endemic species in the park (43.3%) was higher than the average of Korean Peninsular (25.9%). From this study, we conclude that the Jirisan National Park area in Korea would be very important for fish diversity and conservation, especially for the Korean endemic and endangered species.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

Background: The present study aimed to compare the relative abundance of proteins and amino acid metabolites to explore the mechanisms underlying the difference between wild and cultivated ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) at the amino acid level. Methods: Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation were used to identify the differential abundance of proteins between wild and cultivated ginseng. Total amino acids in wild and cultivated ginseng were compared using an automated amino acid analyzer. The activities of amino acid metabolism-related enzymes and the contents of intermediate metabolites between wild and cultivated ginseng were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometric methods. Results: Our results showed that the contents of 14 types of amino acids were higher in wild ginseng compared with cultivated ginseng. The amino acid metabolism-related enzymes and their derivatives, such as glutamate decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine, all had high levels of accumulation in wild ginseng. The accumulation of sulfur amino acid synthesis-related proteins, such as methionine synthase, was also higher in wild ginseng. In addition, glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related enzymes as well as their intermediates had high levels of accumulation in wild ginseng. Conclusion: This study elucidates the differences in amino acids between wild and cultivated ginseng. These results will provide a reference for further studies on the medicinal functions of wild ginseng.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.310-315
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• 2014

Cellular retinol-binding protein II (CRBP II) belongs to the family of cellular retinol-binding proteins and plays a major role in absorption, transport, and metabolism of vitamin A. In addition, because vitamin A is correlated with reproductive performance, we measured CRBP II mRNA abundance in erlang mountainous chickens by real-time PCR using the relative quantification method. The expression of CRBP II showed a tissue-specific pattern and egg production rate-dependent changes. The expression was very high (p<0.05) in jejunum and liver, intermediate in kidney, ovary, and oviduct, and lowest (p<0.05) in heart, hypothalamus, and pituitary. In the hypothalamus, oviduct, ovary, and pituitary, CRBP II mRNA abundance were correlated to egg production rate, which increased from 12 wk to 32 wk, peaked at 32 wk relative to the other time points, and then decreased from 32 wk to 45 wk. In contrast, the expression of CRBP II mRNA in heart, jejunum, kidney, and liver was not different at any of the ages evaluated in this study. These data may help to understand the genetic basis of vitamin A metabolism, and suggest that CRBP II may be a candidate gene to affect egg production traits in chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

Objective: The present study explored the effects of grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) on rumen fermentation, methane production and archaeal communities in vitro. Methods: A completely randomized experiment was conducted with in vitro incubation in a control group (CON, no GSPE addition; n = 9) and the treatment group (GSPE, 1 mg/bottle GSPE, 2 g/kg dry matter; n = 9). The methane and volatile fatty acid concentrations were determined using gas chromatography. To explore methane inhibition after fermentation and the response of the ruminal microbiota to GSPE, archaeal 16S rRNA genes were sequenced by MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. Results: The results showed that supplementation with GSPE could significantly inhibit gas production and methane production. In addition, GSPE treatment significantly increased the proportion of propionate, while the acetate/propionate ratio was significantly decreased. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Methanomassiliicoccus was significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter decreased significantly in the GSPE group. Conclusion: In conclusion, GSPE is a plant extract that can reduce methane production by affecting the structures of archaeal communities, which was achieved by a substitution of Methanobrevibacter with Methanomassiliicoccus.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2010

The pathogens and community structure of the fishes in Taehwa river were investigated from March 2007 to January 2009. During the study period, 3,504 individuals belonging to 35 species, 17 families and 9 orders were collected. The numerically dominant and subdominat species were Opsarichthys uncirostris (relative abundance 39.7%) and Hemibarbus labeo (relative abundance 30.9%). There were five Korean endemic species (20.8%) including Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae, Zacco koreanus, Cobitis hankugensis, Coreoperca herzi, Odontobutis platycephala. The large fishes like Hemibarbus labeo or Opsarichthys uncirostris were gathered around the Samho bridge, sampling site 2 according to a season. The reaction to which two kinds of fish pathogenic virus is all negative and no fish pathogenic bacteria was isolated from 220 individuals. The fish pathogenic parasite not present variously with 7 species. Especially, Trichodina sp. was detected monthly and the infective density was high. But it is cosidered that temporary overcrowding of fish is not influenced mass mortality causing diseases in the specific site of river.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3 s.91
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• pp.274-281
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• 2000

The dynamic of fish community was investigated in the Wonju stream from March 1998 to February 1999. The collected species during the surveyed period were 24 species belonging to eight families. Eight species (33%) of them were endemic species of Korea. According to relative abundance in the studied areas, Moroco oxycephalus (30.7%), Zacco platypus (29.6%), Carassius auratus (10%), Pseudogobio esocinus (9.4%) and Rhinogobius brunneus (3.6%) dominated. Hemibarbus longirostris, Pungtungia herzi, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Zacco temmincki, Cobitis rotundicaudata, Silurus asotus, Silurus microdorsalis and Micropterus salmoides were rare to the areas, which occupied less than 0.1% in relative abundance. Dominant species was M. oxycephalus (Kumda-ri, Kwanseol-dong, Hanggu-dong, heongyang-ri), Z. platypus (Gaeun-dong) and C. auratus (Jusan-ri). It was revealed by the analysis of community that St. 3 was the most diverse among all study stations. Coreoleuciscus splendidus and Coreopera herzi have been assumed vanished in the Wonju stream. The species occurring in suddenly decreasing trend were Microphysogobio yaluensis, Liobagrus andersoni, Cottus poecilopus and R. brunneus. The species occurring in representative increasing trend were Cyprinus carpio, C. auratus, P. esocinus, M. oxycephalus, and Z. platypus.