• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.570-582
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• 2020

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for various adult diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and cancer. With an increasing obesity population worldwide, the prevention of obesity with natural components has emerged as an alternative health care strategy. Ramulus mori (Sangzhi, RM) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. It contains various phytochemicals, including stilbenes and 2-arylbenzofurans. In this study, we compared the anti-obesity effects of RM extracts and its major stilbene components (mulberroside A [MSA] and oxyresveratrol [ORT]) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. Methods: Five week-old, male C57BL/6J mice were grouped into 7 experimental groups: normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD + 1% RM water extracts (MW), HFD + 0.1% MSA, HFD + 1% RM ethanol extracts (ME), HFD + 0.1% ORT, and HFD + 1% Garcinia cambogia extracts (GC) as a positive control. All mice were fed experimental diet for 13 weeks. Results: Compared to the HFD group, total body weight and weekly body weight gain were significantly decreased in the ME, ORT, and GC groups. Glucose tolerance level was significantly decreased in all experimental groups, whereas plasma insulin level was decreased in MSA, ME, ORT and GC groups. Plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased in the MSA, ORT, and GC groups. Hepatic TG accumulation was also significantly decreased in the MSA, ME, ORT, and GC groups. Adipose tissue weight and size of adipocytes were significantly decreased in the MSA, ME and ORT groups, and were comparable to values obtained in the GC group. The levels of adiponectin and SREBP1c mRNA expressions were increased in the ORT and GC groups. Conclusion: These results indicate that ME, ORT and MSA exert significant anti-obesity effect, and have the potential to be developed as a weight control ingredient of functional foods.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

As a result of population growth and economic growth, household and industrial wastes continue to rapidly increase every year. Especially, sewage sludge produced at final stage is increasing with the constant construction and putting in good order of the sewage plant. In addition to the government's prohibition for filling up the sludge, it became more and more difficult to discharge wastes to the sea as London Dumping Convention '96 came into effect. And sewage sludge and the livestock wastes are expected to be thoroughly prohibited from discharging to the sea from 2012. So we need desperately economical and useful alternatives to compact and reuse these wastes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utilization of solidified sludge-soil mixture as an enhancement and covering material. To determine the proper mixed ratio of solidified sludge, this study conducted basic physical properties tests, compaction tests, uniaxial compression tests, and permeability test. It was found that the higher the ratio of solidified sludge, the lower the coefficient of permeability. Upon the results of particle size distribution, the mixed ratio of solidified sludge that meet the enhancement material condition was 59% or lower for SP granite soil and 48% or lower for SM granite soil respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2021

This study surveyed the ecological characteristics of Squalidus gracilis majimae at Nakdong River tributary Sinan Stream from January to December 2020. The species inhabited the riverbed that was mostly covered with gravel and sand. The water depth was 27-158 cm, and the average was rather deep at 54 cm. The stream velocity was slow at 0.41±0.19 (0.24-0.86) m/sec. The gender ratio of females to males was 1:0.73. According to the total length-frequency distribution, the age indicated that the group with less than 50 mm in total length was one year old, the group with 70-69 mm was two years old, and the group over 70 mm was three years old. The total length of sexually mature fishes was 50 mm for females and 60 mm for males. The spawning season was from June to July, and the water temperature was 20.9-23.4℃ during the period. The prosperous spawning season was July. The average number of eggs in the ovaries was 1,009 (595-1,630) per matured female, and the matured eggs were yellowish and spherical with a mean diameter of 0.78±0.08 (0.57-0.83) mm. The live foods were S. gracilis majimae Protozoa, attached algae, zooplankton, and aquatic insects. The feeding habits of S. gracilis majimae are omnivorous, but more than 80% of the stomach content was aquatic insects, Chironomidae spp. The larger the size of this species, the greater the amount and frequency of eating aquatic insects, which are animal feeds. The population that ate aquatic insects did not eat vegetable food.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.537-542
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• 2021

Schisandra nigra Max., a dioecious plant native to Jeju Island in Korea, is cultivated on a small scale for fruit production. As fruit-producing female individuals are generally considered to be more valuable than male, early identification of plant sex at the seedling stage is important. In this study, a sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker associated with a female-specific region in the genome of S. nigra was investigated. Of 120 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers, one primer (OPB-03) consistently amplified a 749 bp band in female plants. The female-specific PCR product was isolated and cloned, and the nucleotide sequences were then determined. Southern hybridization performed using the female-specific fragment as a probe produced positive signals only in genomic DNA from the female plants. This result revealed that the 749 bp segment of DNA was present in the genome of female plants but absent in the genome of male plants. A SCAR primer pair was designed based on the RAPD marker to amplify a 436 bp fragment in the genomic DNA of female plants. This primer pair amplified the expected size of DNA fragment in female plants and four monoecious individuals collected from a natural population. The SCAR marker identified in this study can be used to distinguish female-flowering individuals at the seedling stage.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.601-608
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• 2021

This study surveyed the ecological characteristics of Squalidus multimacultus at Taehwa River tributary Cheokgwa Stream from January to December 2020. The species inhabited the riverbed that was mostly covered with sand. The water depth was 25-164 cm, and the average was rather deep at 68 cm. The stream velocity was slow at 0.21±0.26 (0.16-0.43) m/sec. The gender ratio of females to males was 1:0.99. The age according to the total length-frequency distribution indicated that the group with less than 50 mm (29.4 - 49 mm) in total length was one year old, the group with 50 - 69 mm was two years old, the group with 70 - 89 mm was three years old, and the group over 90 mm was four years old. The total length of sexually mature fishes was 40 mm for both males and females. The spawning season was from July to August, and the water temperatures was 23.8 - 25.4℃ during the period. The prosperous spawning season was August. The average number of eggs in the ovaries was 1,395 (648 - 2,201) per matured female, and the matured eggs were yellowish and spherical with a mean diameter of 0.67±0.24 (0.62 - 0.83) mm. The live foods were of S. multimacultus attached algae, zooplankton, aquatic insects, and Mollusca. The feeding habits of S. multimacultus were omnivorous, but more than 95% of the stomach content was plant-attached algae. The larger the size of this species, the greater the amount and frequency of eating aquatic insects, which were animal feeds. The population that ate aquatic insects did not eat vegetable food.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.632-643
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to examine vegetation community structure and distribution of Fraxinus chiisanensis in Mt.Minjuji of Chungcheongbuk-do by setting up and surveying 8 plots (400 m² each). Mean Importance Value (MIV) of Fraxinus chiisanensis in 8 plots was 35.19% in average (ranging from 26.07~42.74%). Since it is the dominant species in all plots, it is expected to maintain the present vegetation structure. The analysis of the DBH (diameter at breast height) showed that the diameter of Fraxinus chiisanensis in Mt.Minjuji ranges from 2 to 43cm. The majority of Fraxinus chiisanensis is expected to maintain current state unless disturbance or rapid environmental change occurs. The Species Diversity (H') was 0.8498~1.0261, Evenness (J') was 0.8160~0.9256, Dominance Index (D) was 0.0789~0.1840, Maximum Diversity (H'max) was 1.0414~1.2041. The analysis of annual ring and radial growth showed that the average age of Fraxinus chiisanensis in Mt.Minjuji was 29.1years(ranging from 22~58years). The average annual radial growth of Fraxinus chiisanensis was the highest in community G with 5.84mm and the lowest in community B with 2.80mm. The similarity index analysis revealed that the similarity index between community B and E, C and F, H was the highest with 69.0%, and the similarity index between community E and F was the lowest with 29.6%. Both the area of Fraxinus chiisanensis community of Mt.Minjuji and its population size are very small. Therefore, this area needs to be designated as Forest Genetic Resource Reserve.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2021

Distribution status, habitat characteristics, and extinction threat evaluation of the endangered species, Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis were investigated in 2015 and 2019. Historical distribution reports of B. l. tsinlingensis were divided into before 1990, 1997~2006, 2000~2011, and 2010~2019. Among the 150 sampling sites investigated during the study period, number of individuals of B. l. tsinlingensis were collected 542 individuals from 67 sites. The streams inhabited of B. l. tsinlingensis were Naerincheon (11 stations), Odaecheon (11 stations), Bukcheon (10 stations), Bangtaecheon (8 stations), Songjeongricheon (4 stations), Suipcheon (3 stations), Inbukcheon (3 stations), Hyeondongcheon (3 stations) etc. The main habitat of B. l. tsinlingensis was upstream of the river with a high altitude of more than 400 m, 4~20 m water flow width, 1~2 m water depth, and high ratio (70~80%) boulder bottoms. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed as river works, construction of reservoirs and bridges, discharge of contaminated water into the river, the inflow of summer vacationers, and weir. Compared to our results there exists evidence that states a 20.7% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, in a small appearance range (7,732 km²) and occupancy area (268 km²), number of disconnected locations (15 locations), and a decline in habitat quality. Therefore, B. l. tsinlingensis is now considered as Near Threatened (NT) based on the results (Near meets VU A2acd, B1b(i,ii,iii)+B2b(i,ii,iii)) of IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2022

A distribution survey was conducted from March to August 2021 to evaluate the distribution status, habitat characteristics, and threat of extinction of the Korean cold-water fish Ladislabia taczanowskii Dybowski (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). Historical distribution reports were divided into 1997~2005, 2006~2012, 2013~2019, and distribution surveyed 169 sampling sites, and 1,040 individuals were collected from 72 sites. Areas where the habitat was confirmed were Namhan River (27 stations), Han River (17 stations), Bukhan River (16 stations), Samcheok Osipcheon (4 stations), Yeongokcheon (3 stations), Gangneung Namdaecheon (2 stations), Jeoncheon (1 station), Chucheon (2 stations). The main habitat of L. taczanowskii was upstream of the river with a high altitude of more than 300 m, 2~30 m water flow width, 0.3~1.5 m water depth, and high ratio (50~90%) boulder bottoms. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed as river works, construction of reservoirs and bridges, discharge of contaminated water into the river, the inflow of summer vacationers, and weir. Compared to our results there exists evidence that states a 36.1% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, in a small appearance range (7,820 km²) and occupancy area (288 km²), number of disconnected locations (19 locations), and a decline in habitat quality. Therefore, L. taczanowskii is now considered as Vulnerable (VU) based on the results (VU A2ac, Near meets B1b (i, ii, iii)+B2b (i, ii, iii)) of IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Lastly, the conservation plan of Ladislabia taczanowskii was discussed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.937-949
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• 2022

Health concern of dogs is the most important issue for pet owners. People who have companied the dogs long-term provide the utmost cares for their well-being and healthy life. Recently, it was revealed that the population and types of gut microbiota affect the metabolism and immunity of the host. However, there is little information on the gut microbiome of dogs. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus; HE) is one of the well-known medicinal mushrooms and has multiple bioactive components including polyphenol, β-glucan, polysaccharides, ergothioneine, hericerin, erinacines, etc. Here we tested a pet food that contained H. erinaceus for improvement in the gut microbiota environment of aged dogs. A total of 18 dogs, each 11 years old, were utilized. For sixteen weeks, the dogs were fed with 0.4 g of H. erinaceus (HE-L), or 0.8 g (HE-H), or without H. erinaceus (CON) per body weight (kg) with daily diets (n = 6 per group). Taxonomic analysis was performed using metagenomics to investigate the difference in the gut microbiome. Resulting from principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) to confirm the distance difference between the groups, there was a significant difference between HE-H and CON due to weighted Unique fraction metric (Unifrac) distance (p = 0.047), but HE-L did not have a statistical difference compared to that of CON. Additionally, the result of Linear discriminate analysis of effect size (LEfSe) showed that phylum Bacteroidetes in HE-H and its order Bacteroidales increased, compared to that of CON, Additionally, phylum Firmicutes in HE-H, and its genera (Streptococcus, Tyzzerella) were reduced. Furthermore, at the family level, Campylobacteraceae and its genus Campylobacter in HE-H was decreased compared to that of CON. Summarily, our data demonstrated that the intake of H. erinaceus can regulate the gut microbial community in aged dogs, and an adequate supply of HE on pet diets would possibly improve immunity and anti-obesity on gut-microbiota in dogs.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.188-196
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate pediatric emergency department visits patterns and characteristics of children and adolescents under the age of 20 in South Korea from 2002 to 2015 due to dental conditions. This study used a stratified sample of approximately 1 million people from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database. The age, region, household income, and treatment cost were included for the patient characteristic analysis. Pediatric patients were compared to the adult group (over 20 years old). In children and adolescents, the rate of emergency department visits due to dental conditions was higher for traumatic conditions than for non-traumatic conditions. Children and adolescents with higher household income visited the emergency department more often than those with lower household income. The region with the highest number of children and adolescents visiting the emergency department for dental conditions was Busan (per 100,000 population). Although this study could not confirm the annual trend of children and adolescents' dental emergency visits due to the sample size limitation, the characteristics of children and adolescents' dental emergency visits were compared with those of adults using a stratified sample.