• Title/Summary/Keyword: Eastern Asia

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Allozyme Diversity in Korean Populations of Calystegia soldanella and C. japonica (Convolvulaceae): Implications for Conservation

  • Chung, Myong Gi
    • Journal of Plant Biology
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    • v.38 no.2
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    • pp.173-180
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    • 1995
  • We investigated levels and distribution of genetic variation in Korean populations of Calystegia soldanella and C. japonica, clonally reproducing herbaceous perennials. Calystegia soldanella is one ofecologically important beach plants growing only on sand and beach dunes in Europe, East Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the west coast of North America. In contrast, C. japonica usually grows on small mounds of paddy fields, roadsides, and waste places with patchy distribution. Starch gel electrophoresis was conducted on leaves collected from 13 populations of C. soldanella and eight populations of C. japonica. The levels of genetic variation of the two species are very comparable; means of expected heterozygosity (Hep) were 0.100 and 0.099 for C. soldanella and C. japonica, respectively. These values were also very similar to those for species with similar life-history and ecological traits. However, the proportion of total genetic diversity partitioned among populations (GST) of C. soldanella (0.146) was considerably lower than that of C. japonica (0.383). In addition, means of Nei's genetic identity (Ⅰ) for C. soldanella and C. japonica were 0.985 and 0.900, respectively, which supports a restricted gene flow resulting from obligate clonal reproduction of C. japonica. Significant differences in allele frequency were detected among populations at eight and nine of nine polymorphic loci for C. soldanella and C. japonica (P<0.01), respecitvely. Considering the ecological importance of C. soldanella, the isolated beach populations coupled with present destruction of natural habitats of the species may result in erosion of genetic diversity in the near future. In this respect, conservation efforts should be focused on those populations that currently maintain the most genetic diversity such as those populations in the eastern and southeastern Korean Peninsula and Hamduck Beach, Cheju Island.

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Inhibitory Effects of 12 Ginsenosides on the Activities of Seven Cytochromes P450 in Human Liver Microsomes

  • Jo, Jung Jae;Shrestha, Riya;Lee, Sangkyu
    • Mass Spectrometry Letters
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.106-110
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    • 2016
  • Ginseng, a traditional herbal drug, has been used in Eastern Asia for more than 2000 years. Various ginsenosides, which are the major bioactive components of ginseng products, have been shown to exert numerous beneficial effects on the human body when co-administered with drugs. However, this may give rise to ginsenoside-drug interactions, which is an important research consideration. In this study, acassette assay was performed the inhibitory effects of 12 ginsenosides on seven cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms in human liver microsomes (HLMs) using LC-MS/MS to predict the herb-drug interaction. After incubation of the 12 ginsenosides with seven cocktail CYP probes, the generated specific metabolites were quantified by LC-MS/MS to determine their activities. Ginsenoside Rb1 and F2 showed strong selective inhibitory effect on CYP2C9-catalyzed diclofenac 4'-hydroxylation and CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylation, respectively. Ginsenosides Rd showed weak inhibitory effect on the activities of CYP2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4, and compound K, while ginsenoside Rg3 showed weak inhibitory effects on CYP2B6. Other ginsenosides, Rc, Rf, Rg1, Rh1, Rf, and Re did not show significant inhibitory effects on the activities of the seven CYPs in HLM. Owing to the poor absorption of ginsenosides after oral administration in vivo, ginsenosides may not have significant side effects caused by interaction with other drugs.

Long-range Transport Mechanisms of Asian Dust associated with the Synoptic Weather System

  • Kim, Yoo-Keun;Lee, Hwa-Woon;Moon, Yun-Seob;Song, Sang-Keun
    • Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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    • v.10 no.S_4
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    • pp.197-206
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    • 2001
  • The long-range transport mechanisms of Asian dust were analyzed based on the synoptic weather system and numerical simulation by using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and TOMS data during the periods of 1996-2001. We classified the whole weather types of eastern Asia during spring and created the representative weather types during the yellow sand events using cluster analysis and weather charts for the last 6 years(1996~2001). These long-range transport mechanisms were related to various pressure patterns including high and low, trough and ridge, and upper-level fronts. Case studies of the yellow sand events have performed by the simulation of MM5 with meteorological elements such as the horizontal wind of u and v component, potential temperature, potential vorticity, and vertical circulation during the episodic days(2~8 March 2001). In addition, the origin of the long-range transport was examined with the estimation of backward trajectory using HYSPLIT4 Model. In this paper, we concluded that three weather types at 1000 hPa, 850 hPa, 500 hPa, and 300 hPa levels were classified respectively. The dominant features were the extending continental outflow from China to Korea at 1000 hPa and 850 hPa levels, the deep trough passage and cold advection at 500 hPa and 300 hPa levels during the yellow sand events. And also, we confirmed the existence of pola $r_tropical jets in the upper-level, the behavior of potential vorticity over Korea, the estimation of potential vorticity through vertical cross section, and the transport of yellow sand through backward trajectories.es.

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East Asian Precipitation and Circulation Response to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (매든-줄리안 진동의 위상에 따른 동아시아 지역의 강수와 순환의 변동성)

  • Han, Sang-Dae;Seo, Kyong-Hwan
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.282-293
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    • 2009
  • This study examines the effects of the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) or the Intraseasonal Oscillation (ISO) on precipitation, temperature and circulation anomalies over East Asia according to the eight different MJO phases during the winter and summer seasons. A nonlinear response appears the wintertime precipitation pattern during the phase of 3 (where the MJO center is located over the Eastern Indian Ocean) and 8 (where the MJO center is located over the Western Hemisphere) over the Korean Peninsula. That is, for these phases, the positive precipitation anomalies appear for the MJO intensity less than 2 standard deviations while the negative precipitation anomalies appear in the case of the MJO intensity greater than 2 standard deviations. The negative precipitation anomaly in the latter case is duandard d stronger anomalous anticyclone formed over the Korean Peninsula and cold and dry advection by northerly winds. The response of precipitation and circulation to the boreal summer ISO is also investigated.

North Korea's sudden change scenario 2 : Focusing on the cases of Jasmine revolution countries (북한의 급변사태 시나리오 2 : 재스민혁명 국가들의 사례분석을 중심으로)

  • Lee, Dae Sung
    • Convergence Security Journal
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.47-52
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    • 2017
  • The wave of democratization that started in southern Europe spread to South America and Asia, dismantling the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries and appeared as a Jasmine revolution in countries of North Africa and the Middle East. As a result, many scholars have actively carried out researches related to the sudden change of North Korea, while taking a cautious view that the Jasmine Revolution might occur in North Korea. The focuses of the studies were on the cause and timing of the sudden change and the main forces of the revolution in North Korea. There weren't enough discussions on how the process will be developed and whether there will be a system change. In this study, based on the results of analyzing the systematic changes of the Jasmine revolution nations, it suggested five scenarios that can be developed after the sudden change of North Korea. Scenario type I: Relatively peaceful and the possibility of regime change, Scenario type II: Reunification and then civil war, Scenario type III: Regime changed but one of Kim Il Sung family grabbing the power, Scenario type IV: Successful regime change but civil war happening, Scenario type V: Regime change failed and civil war continuing.

Association of Breast Cancer with Sleep Pattern - A Pilot Case Control Study in a Regional Cancer Centre in South Asia

  • Datta, Karabi;Roy, Asoke;Nanda, Durgaprasad;Das, Ila;Guha, Subhas;Ghosh, Dipanwita;Sikdar, Samar;Biswas, Jaydip
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.20
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    • pp.8641-8645
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    • 2014
  • The rising trend of breast cancer both in developed and developing countries is a real threat challenging all efforts to screening, prevention and treatment aspects to reduce its impact. In spite of modern preventive strategies, the upward trend of breast cancer has become a matter of great concern in both developed and developing countries. Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute is a premier regional cancer institute in eastern region of India catering to a large number of cancer patients every year. A pilot case control study of fifty breast cancer patients and 100 matched controls was conducted during 2013 to evaluate the effects of habitual factors like working in night shift, not having adequate sleep, and not sleeping in total darkness on breast cancer of women. The study revealed that not sleeping in total darkness was associated with higher odds of outcome of breast cancer of women. This positive correlation can play a vital role in formulation of preventive strategies through life style modification.

List of Korean Names for the Vascular Plants in Spitsbergen Island, in the Arctic Region (북극권 스피츠베르겐 섬의 관속식물 국명 목록)

  • Lee, Kyoo;Han, Dong-Uk;Hyun, Jin-Oh;Hwang, Young-Sim;Lee, Yoo-Kyung;Lee, Eun-Ju
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.101-110
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    • 2012
  • In this study, we attempted to provide Korean names to the arctic vascular plants observed around the Dasan Korean Arctic Station and Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen Island, in the Arctic region. To obtain recognizable results, plants were named according to the following naming rules. (1) When Korean names already existed, those names were used. (2) When there was no Korean name for a plant species, a scientific name for the plant was translated into a Korean name. (3) If the meaning of the scientific name was unclear, an English common name was translated into Korean name. (4) If the scientific names had meaning to the Arctic inhabitation, the Korean names included the word 'Buk-geuk'. (5) If the distribution of the plant was limited to the Arctic area or the original species lived in the polar region, the Korean name included the word 'Buk-geuk'. (6) If the plant had no Korean generic name, a particular suffix '~a-jae-bi' was added to the closely related genus name of the plant species, or a new Korean genus name was used by translating a common English name. (7) If the same generic name had two or more Korean names, a generic name that better reflected the characteristics of the plant was selected. In this paper, we reported Korean names for 46 plants species belonging to 15 families and 28 genera. Eight plants had an existing Korean name and the other species were given new Korean names based on the criteria outlined above. We also made new Korean generic names for three genera, Braya, Micranthes and Cassiope.

A Study on sleep and sleep-related-dysfunctions(I) -Based on the traditional medical classic- (수면이론(睡眠理論)의 발전사(發展史)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)(I) (춘추시기이전(春秋時期以前)~남북조대(南北朝代)까지))

  • Yi, Yeong-Seok;Ha, Hong-Ki;Kim, Ki-Wook
    • Journal of Korean Medical classics
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.9-21
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    • 2011
  • Mankind spends a third of it's lifetime sleeping. Sleep deficiency can cause several psychological and physical complications - as well as death - if prolonged over extended periods. Therefore, sleep is a substantial part of life and essential to the preservation of human-life. In modern society, human-beings are having more difficulty with sleep than ever before. Consequently, the need for medical research on sleep has increased as well. There are no studies in current western medicine that focuses entirely on sleep alone. However, there have been ongoing research by traditional eastern medicine on sleep and sleep-related-dysfunctions since ancient times which has yielded diverse results. Undertaken a study of the sleep and sleep-related-dysfunction in traditional medicine of East-asia, I have summarized my studies into the following. 1. From ancient china to the age of the warring state(戰國時代) - ground on few data that we can get - humans have a simple and rough cognizance of sleep and sleep-related- dysfunction. But people are little removed from shamanism yet. 2. After Han(漢) dynasty, in "Huang Di Nei Jing(黃帝內經)" and "Shang Han Lun(傷寒論)" and "Jin Gui Yao Lue(金匱要略)", people present a basic physiology and pathology of sleep. 3. The theory has improved repeatedly in quality and quantity through "Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing(針灸甲乙經)" of Huang Fu Mi(皇甫謐) of Jin(晉) dynasty, "Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang(備急千金要方)" of Sun Si Miao(孫思邈) of Tang(唐) dynasty to "Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang(太平聖惠方)" of Song(宋) dynasty.

Antioxidant Effects of Gamma-oryzanol on Human Prostate Cancer Cells

  • Klongpityapong, Papavadee;Supabphol, Roongtawan;Supabphol, Athikom
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.9
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    • pp.5421-5425
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    • 2013
  • Background: To assess the antioxidant effects of gamma-oryzanol on human prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cytotoxic activity of gamma-oryzanol on human DU145 and PC3 prostate cancer cells was determined by proliferation assay using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol, 2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reagent. mRNA levels of genes involved in the intracellular antioxidant system, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GSR) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cancer cell lysates were used to measure lipid peroxidation using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). Glutathione contents of the cell lysates were estimated by the reaction between sulfhydryl group of 5, 5'-dithio (bis) nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) to produce a yellow-color of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid using colorimetric assay. Catalase activity was also analysed by examining peroxidative function. Protein concentration was estimated by Bradford's assay. Results: All concentrations of gamma-oryzanol, 0.1-2.0mg/ml, significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent fashion in both prostate cancer cell lines, DU145 and PC3. Gene expression of catalase in DU145 and PC3 exposed to gamma-orizanol at 0.5mg/ml for 14 days was down regulated, while mRNA of GPX was also down regulated in PC3. The MDA and glutathione levels including catalase activity in the cell lysates of DU145 and PC3 treated with gamma-oryzanol 0.1 and 0.5mg/ml were generally decreased. Conclusions: This study highlighted effects of gamma-oryzanol via the down-regulation of antioxidant genes, catalase and GPX, not cytotoxic roles. This might be interesting for adjuvant chemotherapy to make prostate cancer cells more sensitive to free radicals. It might be useful for the reduction of cytotoxic agents and cancer chemoprevention.

Effective Leadership in Public Organizations: The Impact of Organizational Structure in Asian Countries

  • Valero, Jesus N.
    • Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.69-79
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    • 2015
  • Among public organizations, does variation in organizational structure explain variation in public managers' leadership styles (e.g., transformational and transactional leadership)? The study of leadership in public organizations is increasingly an area of scholarly interest partly sparked by movements to reform public organizations, particularly in the context of emergency management. There is, for example, a need for effective leadership that can help organizations respond to disasters (Kapucu et al. 2010; Van Wart and Kapucu 2011; Stern 2013). There are numerous documented cases where the lack of leadership skills has been linked to major social and economic losses as a result of poor disaster response (e.g., Hurricane Katrina in the U.S.). Yet, leadership is a complex concept and numerous theoretical frameworks have been developed to help explain it (Van Wart 2005). Practically speaking, the existence of different theories of leadership suggests that public managers can decide to exercise various styles of leadership. The style of leadership that a public manager exhibits matters because some styles are perceived to be more effective than others (Trottier et al. 2008). While the effects of leadership have been extensively studied, antecedents or predictors of leadership style have received little scholarly attention (Wright and Pandey 2009; Nielsen and Cleal 2011). The purpose of this research note then is to explore the potential causal relationship between the structure of an organization and the ability of a public manager to exercise transformational leadership in the context of emergency management in two Asian countries: South Korea and Japan. This research note consists of three main sections. The following section explores the relationship between leadership and organizational structure. The second section examines how certain concepts of leadership and organizational structure were applied in two case studies of disaster response. The final section presents some directions for future research.