• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2018

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has recently emerged with anti-aging properties and suppresses inflammation and oxidation. However, its mechanisms of action on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the potential of spermidine for reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and zebrafish was explored. Our data indicate that spermidine significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 macrophages without any significant cytotoxicity. The protective effects of spermidine accompanied by a marked suppression in their regulatory gene expression at the transcription levels. Spermidine also attenuated the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and reduced LPS-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, spermidine prevented the LPS-induced NO production and ROS accumulation in zebrafish larvae and was found to be associated with a diminished recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Although more work is needed to fully understand the critical role of spermidine on the inhibition of inflammation-associated migration of immune cells, our findings clearly demonstrate that spermidine may be a potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2018

The olfactory organ of Korean endemic fish Microphysogobio yaluensis are described anatomically and histologically, focused on relationship to its habitat and ecology. The paired olfactory organs are located at the dorsal snout, and externally consist of two semicircular nostrils and single nasal flap. They internally have rosette structure with 22 to 24 units of lamellae and the raphe inside the olfactory chamber. The lamella is made up of the sensory and the non-sensory epitheliums. The sensory epithelium has olfactory receptor neurons, supporting cells and basal cells whereas the nonsensory epithelium has stratified epithelial cells, ciliated non-sensory cells and mucous cells with acidic and neutral mucins. These structures might be considered that M. yaluensis has the olfactory organ which corresponds to the high sensitivity for its habitat and ecology, and is usable as a taxonomic key.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 2015

A natural hybrid of a probable intergeneric mating between the striped shiner Pungtungia herzi and the stone morocco Pseudorasbora parva (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) was captured in the Geumho River, a tributary of the Nakdong River basin in Korea. Morphological characters and DNA sequences were analyzed to verify its hybrid state and identify the parentage of its parent species. The hybrid exhibited a phenotypic intermediacy between the two parent species in the number of vertebrae and the mouth shape. Out of 1,488 base pair (bp) positions of the nuclear recombination activating gene 1 gene (rag1), which has a biparental mode of inheritance, 41-bp substitutions were detected between the two parent species, whereas an electropherogram of the hybrid displayed polymorphic double peaks at all of the base positions, along with one additional one, strongly indicating its hybrid state. Meanwhile, sequence comparison of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (mt-cyb) (1,140 bp), which has a maternal mode of inheritance, showed only 5-22-bp differences (97.6-99.5% identities) between the hybrid and Pu. herzi, but as many as 158-168-bp differences (85.2-86.1% identities) between the hybrid and Ps. parva, clearly indicating Pu. herzi as the maternal species. Thus, combined analyses of independent data sets (i.e., morphology and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences) offered convincing evidence for the hybrid state of a naturally occurring hybrid resulting from intergeneric mating between a female Pu. herzi and a male Ps. parva.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2019

Nematode-trapping fungi use various specialized traps to capture nematodes. A fungus that can capture nematodes in three dimensional adhesive networks was isolated from the soil around the root of Cucumis melo L. (Oriental melon) in Seongju, Korea. The conidiophores were found to be septate, hyaline, erect and $290-528(342.8){\mu}m$ high. It produces obovoid shape and 1-3 septate (commonly 2-septate) conidia with a size of $30.5{\times}20.3{\mu}m$. Molecular analysis of 5.8 S rDNA displayed 99% similarity to Arthrobotrys sinensis. On the basis of morphological, morphometric and molecular studies, the fungus was identified as A. sinensis. It is the first report in Korea which can be one of biological control resource of plant-parasitic nematode.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2016

Rhizomes of Kaempferia parviflora (Zingiberaceae) have been used in traditional Thai medicine for health promotion. In this study, the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of K. parviflora against Cronobacter spp. and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) was investigated using paper disc dilution method. The results revealed that the ethanol extract exhibited antibacterial activity against Cronobacter spp. and EHEC. With an increasing concentration of K. parviflora ethanol extract, larger zones of inhibition of Cronobacter spp. and EHEC strains tested were observed. Therefore, its antibacterial activity suggested that K. parviflora could be used as a natural additive to ascertain food safety of various dairy products.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.457-460
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• 2011

Adults of Maritrema obstipum (Digenea: Microphallidae) were found in the intestines of 4 species of migratory birds, including the sanderling (Crocethia alba), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrines), Mongolian plover (Charadrius mongolus), and red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), collected from Yubu Island, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. The worms of were $451{\times}265{\mu}m$ in size, and were easily identifiable as Maritrema species by the presence of the cirrus sac, and the ring-like distribution of the vitellaria. More specifically, the ejaculatory duct curved posteromedially, and the 2 parts of vitelline follicles were found to be distinct at the posterior end. The eggs were brown-colored, and $19.8{\times}12.3{\mu}m$ in size. All these findings implicated M. obstipum as the pertinent species of the worms. Beside these, adult worms of Gynaecotyla squatarolae, Parvatrema duboisi, and Acanthoparyphium sp. were also discovered. This is the first report establishing migratory birds as the natural definitive hosts for M. obstipum.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2016

Ixora auricularis (Rubiaceae), previously recognized as endemic to Yunnan (China), was reported in Vietnam. This plant differs from the closely related species Ixora coccinea in its auriculate shape of the base leaf, greater number of secondary veins, shorter stipules, calyx having more appendices, shorter corolla tube, and the oblanceolata shape of the corolla tip. Detailed information about its description as well as illustrations, color photographs and a species key of related species of Ixora in Vietnam are provided.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.128-138
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• 2018

Background: This study investigated the variation of soil organic carbon in four land cover types: natural and mixed forest, cultivated land, Eucalyptus plantation and open bush land. The study was conducted in the Birr watershed of the upper Blue Nile ('Abbay') river basin. Methods: The data was subjected to a two-way of ANOVA analysis using the general linear model (GLM) procedures of SAS. Pairwise comparison method was also used to assess the mean difference of the land uses and depth levels depending on soil properties. Total of 148 soil samples were collected from two depth layers: 0-10 and 10-20 cm. Results: The results showed that overall mean soil organic carbon stock was higher under natural and mixed forest land use compared with other land use types and at all depths ($29.62{\pm}1.95Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$), which was 36.14, 28.36, and 27.63% more than in cultivated land, open bush land, and Eucalyptus plantation, respectively. This could be due to greater inputs of vegetation and reduced decomposition of organic matter. On the other hand, the lowest soil organic carbon stock under cultivated land could be due to reduced inputs of organic matter and frequent tillage which encouraged oxidation of organic matter. Conclusions: Hence, carbon concentrations and stocks under natural and mixed forest and Eucalyptus plantation were higher than other land use types suggesting that two management strategies for improving soil conditions in the watershed: to maintain and preserve the forest in order to maintain carbon storage in the future and to recover abandoned crop land and degraded lands by establishing tree plantations to avoid overharvesting in natural forests.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2012

Rice paddy fields have been recognized as an alternative habitat for avian wetland foragers, and fish-rice farms have become a new tool in improving the abundance of aquatic animals. However, the use of the habitats by avian foragers, particularly by oriental storks ($Ciconia$ $boyciana$), was not well understood. In the present study, we investigated how a fish-rice farm influenced the abundance of aquatic animals and documented the foraging behavior of the two captive bred oriental storks in a closed semi-natural paddy field. Our results showed that the fish refuge pond (water depth 40 cm) had a higher abundance of fish whereas the areas planted with rice (water depth 20 cm) had more tadpoles and some aquatic insects. The two captive bred oriental storks captured mostly fish and aquatic insects in the rice-planted area and mostly fish in the fish refuge pond. The two oriental storks had higher foraging success and spent more time for foraging in the rice-planted area than in the fish refuge pond. This result suggests that the oriental storks might prefer foraging in the area with fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians under a greater success rate presumably due to shallow water depth in the paddy fields with a fish-rice farm.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.271-282
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• 2016

Objective : In this study, we compared the antioxidant and anticancer properties of four multi-herbal formulas which were recorded in 'Dongeuibogam': Gilgyung-tang (GGT), Mokdanpi-tang (MDPT), Samso-eum (SSE), Samchulbobi-tang (SCBBT). Methods : We checked antioxidant properties of four multi-herbal formula through total phenolic content, radical scavenging activities, protective effects on genomic DNA oxidation. To investigate anticancer effects, we conducted MTT assay and analyzed morphologic change in A549 non-small lung cancer cells. Results : Total phenolic contents of four multi-herbal formulas were in a rich order of MDPT > SSE > GGT > SCBBT. Especially, MDPT revealed the highest activity than others in all antioxidant experiments. Our results indicated that treatment of those multi-herbal formulas induced growth retardation in A549 cells and MDPT also showed the highest anticancer effect ($IC_{50}=1.374mg/ml$) among them. Conclusions : Our data suggested that MDPT would be a powerful ingredient for lung cancer treatment.