• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.579-583
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• 2006

The influence of disinfectant on bacterial concentration and carbon usage patterns by Biolog GN plates were investigated for biofilm on carbon steel pipe. Heterotrophic bacterial concentrations were not different among non-, monochloramine- (1.0, 1.5 mg/l) and free chlorine- (0.5, 1.0 mg/l) treated samples (P = 0.56, ANOVA). However treatment of 1.5 mg/l free chlorine and 2.0 mg/l monochloraime showed significantly lower densities than control (P < 0.01, ANOVA). By the stepwise increasement of disinfectant concentration, the carbon usage activities of biofilm microflora were decreased after increase without the decrease of bacterial concentration, following reduction of cell density. Carbon usage patterns were qualitatively and quantitatively different with similar bacterial concentrations. Principal component analysis suggested that type and concentration of disinfectant were main factors on the usage of carbons. Our result suggest that the differences of bacterial communities were different among the samples and the need of monochloramine for the reduction of biofilm in drinking water.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.451-458
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• 2007

This study was to investigate the effectiveness of pre-weaning injection of gonadotropin and scheduled fixed-time insemination on sow fertility. Sows were randomly assigned to receive gonadotropin 2 days before weaning, 1 day after weaning or none as control. In gonadotropin treated groups, half of sows were inseminated twice at 24 and 36 hours after onset estrus and half of sows were inseminated twice at scheduled fixed-time. Weaning to onset of estrus was the shortest in lactating sows injected with gonadotropin prior to weaning. Liter size was significantly higher in AI groups after detection of estrus, compared to fixed-time AI group. Results of these experiments indicated that injection of gonadotropin in lactating sows could initiate the final follicular development, and has potential to enhance the reintegration of estrus. Further researches are needed to define the relationship between reduced interval of wean to onset estrus and enhanced fertility in lactating sows.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-133
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• 2006

A bacterial disease of small red bean (Phaseolus angularis) was observed on field-grown plants in Suwon in year 2003. Leaf symptoms initially appeared as water-soaked spots that gradually enlarged, became flaccid and necrotic and were often bordered by a small zone of lemon yellow tissue. In the case of severe infection, dead leaves were defoliated. Pod symptoms consisted of the lesions that were generally circular, slightly sunken and dark reddish brown. Isolation made from diseased leaves on yeast extract dextrose calcium carbonate agar yielded nearly pure cultures of a yellow-pigmented bacterium typical of a xanthomonad. Three bacterial strains were purified and used for further tests. Pathogenicity of strains was confirmed on 3-week-old small red bean plants sprayed with bacterial suspensions containing $10^8 cfu/ml$ of phosphate buffered saline. The representative Xanthomonas strains isolated from small red bean were compared with X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli and X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans type strains for fatty acid profiles, biochemical tests and metabolic fingerprints using Biolog GN2 microplate, showing that all outcomes were indistinguishable between our isolates and reference strains. Two of three strains produced a melanin-like brown pigment extracellularly on King's medium B agar. These results suggest that this new small red bean disease observed in Suwon is bacterial fuscous blight caused by X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli and X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.619-625
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• 2015

The present study was performed to determine the infection status of swamp eels with Gnathostoma sp. larvae in Myanmar. We purchased total 37 Asian swamp eels, Monopterus albus, from a local market in Yangon in June and December 2013 and 2014. All collected eels were transferred with ice to our laboratory and each of them was examined by the artificial digestion technique. A total of 401 larval gnathostomes (1-96 larvae/eel) were detected in 33 (89.2%) swamp eels. Most of the larvae (n=383; 95.5%) were found in the muscle. The remaining 18 larvae were detected in the viscera. The advanced third-stage larvae ($AdL_3$) were 2.3-4.4 mm long and 0.25-0.425 mm wide. The characteristic head bulb ($0.093{\times}0.221mm$ in average size) with 4 rows of hooklets, muscular long esophagus (1.025 mm), and 2 pairs of cervical sacs (0.574 mm) were observed by light microscopy. The average number of hooklets in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rows was 41, 45, 48, and 51, respectively. As scanning electron microscopic findings, the characteristic 4-5 rows of hooklets on the head bulb, a cervical papilla, tegumental spines regularly arranged in the transverse striations, and an anus were well observed. Based on these morphological characters, they were identified as the AdL3 of Gnathostoma spinigerum. By the present study, it has been confirmed for the first time that Asian swamp eels, M. albus, from Yangon, Myanmar are heavily infected with G. spinigerum larvae.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2020

Soil-transmitted helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, are important intestinal parasites mostly affecting younger people in developing countries. In 2014-2015, we performed mass fecal examinations targeting a total of 2,227 schoolchildren in 3 districts (South Dagon, North Dagon, and Hlaing-thar-yar) of Yangon Region, Myanmar, using the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. The egg positive children were subjected to a mass drug administration (MDA) using a single oral dose of 400 mg albendazole. The pre-treatment egg positive rate (EPG/person) of A. lumbricoides averaged 17.2% (15,532); it was 25.2% (21,796), 14.2% (11,816), and 12.8% (12,983) in 3 districts, respectively, and that of T. trichiura averaged 19.4% (1,074), and was 24.1% (1,040), 12.3% (852), and 21.2% (1,330) in 3 districts, respectively. Follow-up fecal examinations performed 4 months post-MDA revealed considerable decreases of A. lumbricoides prevalence (EPG/person) to av. 8.3% (12,429), and 13.7% (17,640), 8.0% (7,797), and 4.5% (11,849) in 3 districts, respectively. However, T. trichiura did not show any recognizable decrease in the prevalence (EPG/person) remaining at av. 18.2% (862), and 18.5% (888), 11.5% (812), and 23.3% (887) in 3 districts, respectively. The results demonstrated difficulty in short-term control of T. trichiura by MDA using albendazole and suggested necessity of either a long-term MDA (>10 years) or changing the albendazole regimen into 2~3-day course (total 800 or 1,200 mg), or using an alternative drug/drug combination.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.421-430
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate whether mass drug administration (MDA) intervention has an equivalent effect on reducing the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection regardless of the baseline values. A repeated cross-sectional survey was performed targeting students of 12 primary schools in Al Jabalain and El Salam districts of White Nile State, Sudan, at both 1 week before and 8 months after the MDA. Prior to the baseline survey, schoolaged children in Al Jabalain had received MDA interventions twice in 4 years, while those in El Salam had not. The baseline prevalence was 9.1% in Al Jabalain and 35.2% in El Salam, which were reduced to 1.8% and 5.5% at 8 months after the MDA, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 80.3% and 84.4%, not significant difference between both districts. However, changes in the geometric mean intensity (GMI) of egg counts were significantly different between both districts. The baseline GMIs were 14.5 eggs per 10 ml of urine (EP10) in Al Jabalain and 18.5 EP10 in El Salam, which were reduced to 7.1 and 11.2 EP10 after treatment, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 51.0% and 39.5%. In conclusion, MDA interventions were found to bring about similar relative reduction in prevalence regardless of the baseline value; however, the relative reduction in infection intensity was more salient in the district with a low baseline value for both prevalence and intensity. This clearly points to the importance of repeated MDA interventions in endemic areas, which will eventually contribute to schistosomiasis elimination.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2009

Metallothioneins (MTs) play a key role in metallic homeostasis and detoxification in most living organisms. In an attempt to study the biological functions and significance of MT in a snail, we cloned and partially characterized the MT gene from the left-handed snail, Physa acutawhich has been regarded as a potential biomonitering species for fresh water. The complete cDNA sequence of PaMT cDNA was identified from the expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing project of Physa acuta. The coding region of 180 bp gives 60 amino acid residues including the initiation methionine and termination codon. Clustering and phylogenic analysis of PaMT with other MT amino acid sequences show that it has some identities to Helix pomatia (60%), Arianta arbustorum (58%), Perna viridis (49%), Mytilus edulis (49%), Bathymodiolus azoricus (49%), Bathymodiolus azoricus (48%) and Bathymodiolus sp. FD-2002 (48%). Time dependent induction for PaMT from P. acuta exposed with cadmium (50 ppb) indicated that PaMT was induced at 4-8 hr after exposure. It remains to further develop PaMTas a potential biomarker for water contamination in fresh water.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2019

To elucidate structure-function relationship of polysaccharide from Angelica gigas, the AGE-2c-I was purified by two successive chromatography steps. AGE-2c-I showed a potent anti-complementary activity in a dose-dependent manner. AGE-2c-I with a molecular weight of 140 kDa comprised four monosaccharides and 13 glycosyl linkages, and strongly reacted with ${\beta}$-glucosyl Yariv reagent. For the fine structure analysis of AGE-2c-I, it was sequentially digested by exo-arabinofuranosidase and endo-galactanase. The results indicated that AGE-2c-I was a typical RG-I polysaccharide with side chains such as highly branched ${\alpha}$-arabinan, ${\beta}$-($1{\rightarrow}4$)-galactan and arabino-${\beta}$-3,6-galactan. To characterize the active moiety of AGE-2c-I, the anti-complementary activities of AGE-2c-I and its subfractions were assayed. It was observed that the anti-complementary activity of AGE-2c-I was due to the entire structure that resembled RG-I. In addition, arabino-${\beta}$-3,6-galactan side chain (GN-I) in AGE-2c-I probably plays a crucial role in the anti-complementary activity, whereas ${\alpha}$-arabinan side chain (AFN-I) consisting of 5-linked Araf and 3,5-branched Araf partially contributes to the activity.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2019

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the Seoul area by predicting unhealthy days due to PM2.5 and comparing the regional differences. Methods: The extreme value theory is adopted to model and compare the PM2.5 concentration in each region, and each best model is selected through the goodness of fitness test. The maximum likelihood estimation technique is applied to estimate the parameters of each distribution, and the fitness of each model is measured by the mean absolute deviation. The selected model is used to estimate the number of unhealthy days (above $75{\mu}g/m^3$ PM2.5 concentrations) in each region, with which the actual number of unhealthy days are compared. In addition, the level of PM2.5 concentration in each region is analyzed by calculating the return levels for periods of 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years. Results: The Mapo (MP) area revealed the most unhealthy days, followed by Gwanak (GW) and Yangcheon (YC). On the contrary, the number of unhealthy days was low in Seodaemun (SDM), Songpa (SP) and Gangbuk (GB) areas. The return level of PM2.5 was high in Gangnam (GN), Dongjak (DJ) and YC. It will be necessary to prepare for PM2.5 than other regions. On the contrary, Gangbuk (GB), Nowon (NW) and Seodaemun (SDM) showed relatively low return levels for PM2.5. However, in most of the regions of Seoul, PM25 is generated at a very poor level ($75{\mu}g/m^3$) every 6months period, and more than $100{\mu}g/m^3$ PM2.5 occur every 3 years period. Most areas in Seoul require more systematic management of PM2.5. Conclusion: In this paper, accurate prediction and analysis of high concentration of PM2.5 were attempted. The results of this research could provide the basis for the Seoul Metropolitan Government to establish policies for reducing PM2.5 and measuring its effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2019

In recent times, the number of men with late-onset hypogonadism has increased, and interest on this topic has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate effects of the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus on improve late-onset hypogonadism. The experimental subjects consisted of three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice that had undergone no treatment, an aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone no treatment, and a Mixed herbal extract treatment group (MT group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus treatment (0.1 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After the experiment, the mice from all the experimental groups were dissected, and they were analyzed through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus reduces aging-induced cell damage and oxidative stress and increases the secretion of serotonin and B-endorphin in aged mice, and promotes spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress, and increases androgen receptor, $17{\beta}-HSD$ and GnRH, increases the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum, increases eNOS, decreases PDE-5 and oxidative stress in aged mice, so it improves depression, reproductive, sexual problems caused by Late-onset hypogonadism. the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus inhibits the induction of osteoporosis by increasing decreased bone matrix distribution due to aging, increasing the activities of OPC and OPN, which are produced in osteoblasts, and decreasing RANKL, MMP-3 activity, increasing OPG activity. It also reduces muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of muscle tissue, and increases Myo-D in the sartorius muscle of aged mice for improving muscle atrophy caused by by Late-onset hypogonadism.