• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2014

In order to determine the testicular cycle of the Korean brown frog, Rana coreana, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the changes of germ cells in testis for adult males were investigated throughout the year. The study indicated that the spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubule of testis began in August and became most active in the month of September, and the GSI was recorded the highest and the cross area of seminiferous tubule was the widest on this period. Furthermore the seminiferous tubules at the post spawning stage appeared in testis during February, and the spermatogenesis was quiescence period of time from March to July and the GSI and the cross area of seminiferous tubule were found to be the lowest. Based on these observations, we suggest that, GSI of male Korean brown frog changes significantly between July to August, indicating the testicular cycle with discontinuous spermatogenic process, and the breeding season was confirmed to be February.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 1991

Adult eclosion and emergence behavior of the black pine base scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae Miller and Park, was studied in a laboratory. Adult eclosion in males did not appear to be limited to a specific time of the day. Newly molted male adults, at room temperatures, usually remained in the cocoons as pre-emergence adults for 0.5-20. days before emerging; most males emerged within one hour after the onset of photophase, and emergence was faster at higher light intensity. Most females molted into adults within three hours after the onset of photophase, and they were active immediately after molting. Quiescence in males appears to help the scales concentrate their sexual activity within a particular period of the day as well as to protect newly molted adults until sexual and locomotive maturity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have stemness characteristics, including germ cell-specific imprints that allow them to form gametes. Spermatogenesis involves changes in gene expression such as a transition from expression of somatic to germ cell-specific genes, global repression of gene expression, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, highly condensed packing of the nucleus with protamines, and morphogenesis. These step-by-step processes finally generate spermatozoa that are fertilization competent. Dynamic epigenetic modifications also confer totipotency to germ cells after fertilization. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryos do not enter meiosis, remain in the proliferative stage, and are referred to as gonocytes, before entering quiescence. Gonocytes develop into SSCs at about 6 days after birth in rodents. Although chromatin structural modification by Polycomb is essential for gene silencing in mammals, and epigenetic changes are critical in spermatogenesis, a comprehensive understanding of transcriptional regulation is lacking. Recently, we evaluated the expression profiles of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and CP2c in the gonads of E14.5 and 12-week-old mice. YY1 localizes at the nucleus and/or cytoplasm at specific stages of spermatogenesis, possibly by interaction with CP2c and YY1-interacting transcription factor. In the present article, we discuss the possible roles of YY1 and CP2c in spermatogenesis and stemness based on our results and a review of the relevant literature.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.520-525
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• 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline. Several recent studies demonstrated that impaired adult neurogenesis could contribute to AD-related cognitive impairment. Adult subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenesis, which occurs in the lateral ventricles, plays a crucial role in structural plasticity and neural circuit maintenance. Alterations in adult SVZ neurogenesis are early events in AD, and impaired adult neurogenesis is influenced by the accumulation of intracellular Aβ. Although Aβ-overexpressing transgenic 5XFAD mice are an AD animal model well representative of Aβ-related pathologies in the brain, the characterization of altered adult SVZ neurogenesis following AD progression in 5XFAD mice has not been thoroughly examined. Therefore, we validated the characterization of adult SVZ neurogenesis changes with AD progression in 2-, 4-, 8-, and 11-monthold male 5XFAD mice. We first investigated the Aβ accumulation in the SVZ using the 4G8 antibody. We observed intracellular Aβ accumulation in the SVZ of 2-month-old 5XFAD mice. In addition, 5XFAD mice exhibited significantly increased Aβ deposition in the SVZ with age. Next, we performed a histological analysis to investigate changes in various phases of adult neurogenesis, such as quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation, in SVZ. Compared to age-matched wild-type (WT) mice, quiescent neural stem cells were reduced in 5XFAD mice from 2-11 months of age. Moreover, proliferative neural stem cells were decreased in 5XFAD mice from 2 to 8 months of age. Furthermore, differentiations of neuroblasts were diminished in 5XFAD mice from 2-11 months of age. Intriguingly, we found that adult SVZ neurogenesis was reduced with aging in healthy mice. Taken together, our results revealed that impairment of adult SVZ neurogenesis appears with aging or AD progression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.482-487
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• 2023

Hematopoiesis is regulated by crosstalk between long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) and supporting niche cells in the bone marrow (BM). Here, we describe the role of KAI1, which is mainly expressed on LT-HSCs and rarely on other hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs), in niche-mediated LT-HSC maintenance. KAI1 activates TGF-β1/Smad3 signal in LT-HSCs, leading to the induction of CDK inhibitors and inhibition of the cell cycle. The KAI1-binding partner DARC is expressed on macrophages and stabilizes KAI1 on LT-HSCs, promoting their quiescence. Conversely, when DARC+ BM macrophages were absent, the level of surface KAI1 on LT-HSCs decreases, leading to cell-cycle entry, proliferation, and differentiation. Thus, KAI1 acts as a functional surface marker of LT-HSCs that regulates dormancy through interaction with DARC-expressing macrophages in the BM stem cell niche. Recently, we showed very special and rare macrophages expressing α-SMA+ COX2+ & DARC+ induce not only dormancy of LT-HSC through interaction of KAI1-DARC but also protect HSCs by down-regulating ROS through COX2 signaling. In the near future, the strategy to combine KAI1-positive LT-HSCs and α-SMA/Cox2/DARC triple-positive macrophages will improve the efficacy of stem cell transplantation after the ablative chemo-therapy for hematological disorders including leukemia.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.63-76
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• 2022

Dacitic tuffs, 97 to 118 m thick, were recovered from the lower part of the subsurface Seongdongri Formation, Janggi Basin, which was drilled to assess the potential for underground storage of carbon dioxide. The tuffs are divided into four depositional units(Unit 1 to 4) based on internal structures and particle componentry. Unit 1 and Units 3/4 are ignimbrites that accumulated in subaerial and subaqueous settings, respectively, whereas Unit 2 is braided-stream deposits that accumulated during a volcanic quiescence, and no dacitic tuff is observed. A series of analysis shows that mordenite and clinoptilolite mainly fill the vesicles of glass shards, suggesting their formation by replacement and dissolution of volcanic glass and precipitation from interstitial water during burial and diagenesis. Glass-replaced clinoptilolite has higher Si/Al ratios and Na contents than the vesicle-filling clinoptilolite in Units 3. However, the composition of clinoptilolite becomes identical in Unit 4, irrespective of the occurrence and location. This suggests that the Si/Al ratio and pH in the interstitial water increased with time because of the replacement and leaching of volcanic glass, and that the composition of interstitial water was different between the eastern and western parts of the basin during the formation of the clinoptilolite in Units 1 and 3. It is also inferred that the formation of the two zeolite minerals was sequential according to the depositional units, i.e., the clinoptilolite formed after the growth of mordenite. To summarize, during a volcanic quiescence after the deposition of Unit 1, pH was higher in the western part of the basin because of eastward tilting of the basin floor, and the zeolite ceased to grow because of the closure of the pore space as a result of the growth of smectite. On the other hand, clinoptilolite could grow in the eastern part of the basin in an open system affected by groundwater, where braided stream was developed. Afterwards, Units 3 and 4 were submerged under water because of the basin subsidence, and the alkali content of the interstitial water increased gradually, eventually becoming identical in the eastern and western parts of the basin. This study thus shows that volcanic deposits of similar composition can have variable distribution of zeolite mineral depending on the drainage and depositional environment of basins.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.369-375
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• 2009

A commercial egg parasitoid, Trichogramma sp. Nabis101, was released into agricultural cultivating areas in Korea due to its wide host spectrum against insect pests. Moreover, an application technique has been recently developed to enhance its control efficacy by mixture treatment with a microbial control agent. Despite its expansion of commercial availability, any genetic identification on this commercial strain was not determined. Also, to meet inconsistent demands from consumers, the live parasitoids need to be stored without significant loss of their survival and parasitic activity. This study determined nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the wasp species. The identified ITS sequences indicate that this wasp species is most similar to T brasiliensis. Optimal storage condition of this wasp required young parasitized stage at $10^{\circ}C$. Under these conditions, survival, sex ratio, longevity, and parasitic behavior were not much impaired for 5 weeks.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1325-1331
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• 2012

Tumor formation and growth is dictated by a very small number of tumor cells, called cancer stem cells, which are capable of self-renewal. The genesis of cancer stem cells and their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy via mechanisms such as multidrug resistance, quiescence, enhanced DNA repair abilities and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, make it imperative to develop methods to identify and use these cells as diagnostic or therapeutic targets. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is used as a cancer stem cell marker. In this study, we evaluated ALDH1 expression in CaSki, HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells using the Aldefluor method to isolate ALDH1-positive cells. We showed that higher ALDH1 expression correlated with significantly higher rates of cell proliferation, microsphere formation and migration. We also could demonstrate that SiHa-ALDH1-positive cells were significantly more tumorigenic compared to SiHa-ALDH1-negative cells. Similarly, SiHa cells overexpressing ALDH1 were significantly more tumorigenic and showed higher rates of cell proliferation and migration compared to SiHa cells where ALDH1 expression was knocked down using a lentivirus vector. Our data suggested that ALDH1 is a marker of cervical cancer stem cells and expand our understanding of its functional role.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1970

In order to investigate the changes in the temperature regulation mechanism following ingestion of red pepper, twenty healthy man were given 2 gms of powdered red pepper each in 100 ml of water at room temperature, $20^{\circ}C$, Simultaneous recordings of temperature and electrical resistance of the skin of forehead were taken by means of Physiograph, using appropriate transducers. Temperature of various spots such as the cheek, upper tack and the forearm was also measured by the telethermometer at interval of two minutes. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Seventeen out of 20 subjects showed immediate rise in the skin temperature of the forehead, and 11 of them manifested the oscillating pattern of the skin temperature. The average of the largest peak amplitude was $0.58{\pm}0.355^{\circ}C$. 2. Even those who failed to show the immediate rise in the temperature did not keep the quiescence over 9 minutes, and delayed responses were revealed. 3. The rise in tile skin temperature is the favourable sign for the heat discipating mechanism only because the sweat glands are activated with the concomittant rise in the temperature of the skin. 4. There was a preceding or coincide fall in the electrical resistance of the skin, and it was also attributed to the glandular activity. 5. At rather cool room temperature, $20^{\circ}C$, no visible sweat was seen during the period of observation. Nevertheless it was obvious that latent activation of the sweat glands was triggered and the. threshold was lowered. This situation imitates the acclimatized condition in the hot environment, and it is likely to increase the tolerance in tropical climate from the view point of temperature regulation.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.579-585
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• 2008

The time-dependent evolution of disk mass for outburst limit cycle in a black hole microquasar is calculated based on the non-linear hydrodynamic model of thermally unstable accretion disk. The physical parameters such as black hole mass, disk size and mass transfer rate are adopted to reproduce the historical 1975 outburst observed in a prototype black hole X-ray nova A0620-00. The time-dependent effect of irradiation from the central hot region to the disk is considered in two ways: direct irradiation and indirect irradiation reflected from hot accretion flow above the disk. The accretion disk thermal instability model can account for the bolometric luminosity appropriate to typical characteristics of system luminosity observed in X-ray transients during the whole cycle of the outburst evolution. The maximum mass of the accretion disk, ${\sim}4.03{\times}10^{24}g$, is achieved at the ignition of an outburst, and the minimum value, ${\sim}8.54{\times}10^{23}g$, is reached during the cooling decay to quiescence. The disk mass varies ${\sim}5$ times during outburst limit cycle.