• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2009

The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated with a xanthine (X) and xanthine oxidase system (XO) on sperm function and DNA fragmentation in porcine spermatozoa. ROS were produced by a combination of $1,000{\mu}M$ X and 50 mU/ml XO. The ROS scavengers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) (200 U/ml) and catalase (CAT) (500 U/ml) were also tested. Spermatozoa were incubated for 2 hours in BWW medium with a combination of X-XO supplemented with or without antioxidants at $37^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ incubator. Ca-ionophore-induced acrosome reaction, the proportion of swollen spermatozoa under hypo-osmotic condition, malondialdehyde formation for the analysis of lipid peroxidation, and the proportion of DNA fragmentation were determined after 2 hours incubation. The action of ROS on porcine spermatozoa resulted in decreased Ca-ionophore-induced acrosome reaction and membrane integrity, increased the formation of malondialdehyde, and the proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation(p<0.05). The toxic effects caused by ROS were completely alleviated by CAT in terms of sperm function and characteristics, however SOD did not serve the same scavenger effect as CAT. To conclude, the ROS can cause significant damage to porcine sperm functions and characteristics, which can be minimized by the use of antioxidants.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2011

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones that play essential roles in growth and development. Mutations in BR-signaling pathways cause defective in growth and development like dwarfism, male sterility, abnormal vascular development and photomorphogenesis. Transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is a critical phase change in the development of a flowering plant. In a screen of activation-tagged Arabidopsis, we identified a mutant named abz126 that displayed longer hypocotyls when grown in the dark on MS media containing brassinazole (Brz), an inhibitor of BRs biosynthesis. We have cloned the mutant locus using adapter ligation PCR walking and identified that a single T-DNA had been integrated into the ninth exon of the GIGANTEA (GI) gene, involved in controling flowering time. This insertion resulted in loss-of-function of the GI gene and caused the following phenotypes: long petioles, tall plant height, many rosette leaves and late flowering. RT-PCR assays on abz126 mutant showed that the T-DNA insertion in GIGANTEA led to the loss of mRNA expression of the GI gene. In the hormone dose response assay, abz126 mutant showed: 1) an insensitivity to paclobutrazole (PAC), 2) an altered response with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 3) insensitive to Brassinolide (BL). Based on these results, we propose that the late flowering and tall phenotypes displayed by the abz126 mutant are caused by a loss-of-function of the GI gene associated with brassinosteroid hormone signaling.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2017

Objective: To investigate the differences in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-reported jaw function between patients with hyperdivergent and normodivergent facial types. Methods: Eighty patients with a distinctively hyperdivergent facial type (mandibular plane angle greater than 2 standard deviations, or $42^{\circ}$) and 80 controls were individually matched according to age, sex, ethnicity, and treatment stage. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires such as the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS-8). Results: The mean age of the patients was $17.2{\pm}4.6years$ (range, 12-49 years), with most (65.0%) being female and of New Zealand European origin (91.3%). Individuals with hyperdivergent facial types had higher overall and social domain scores on the OHIP-14 (p < 0.05) than did the ones with normodivergent facial types. However, the intergroup differences in JFLS-8 scores were not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Jaw function appears to be similar in individuals with hyperdivergent and normodivergent facial morphologies. However, those with hyperdivergent facial types are more likely to self-report poorer OHRQoL than are those with normal faces, especially in relation to social aspects.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Interleukin-24 (IL-24) belongs to the IL-10 family of cytokines and is well known for its tumor suppressor activity. This cytokine is released by both immune and nonimmune cells and acts on non-hematopoietic tissues such as skin, lung and reproductive tissues. Apart from its ubiquitous tumor suppressor function, IL-24 is also known to be involved in the immunopathology of autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although the cellular sources and functions of IL-24 are being increasingly investigated, the molecular mechanisms of IL-24 gene expression at the levels of signal transduction, epigenetics and transcription factor binding are still unclear. Understanding the specific molecular events that regulate the production of IL-24 will help to answer the remaining questions that are important for the design of new strategies of immune intervention involving IL-24. Herein, we briefly review the signaling pathways and transcription factors that facilitate, induce, or repress production of this cytokine along with the cellular sources and functions of IL-24.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Golden hamsters reproduce in a limited time of a year. Their sexual activities are active in summer but inactive in winter during which day length does not exceed night time and environmental conditions are severe to them. The reproductive activities are determined by the length of light in a day (photoperiod). Melatonin is synthesized and secreted only at night time from the pineal gland. Duration of elevated melatonin is longer in winter than summer, resulting in gonadal regression. The present study aimed at the influences of continuous melatonin treatments impinging on the gonadal function in male golden hamsters. Animals received empty or melatonin-filled capsules for 10 weeks. They were divided into long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP). All the animals maintained in LP (either empty or melatonin-filled capsules) showed large testes, implying that melatonin had no effects on testicular functions. Animals housed in SP displayed completely regressed testes. But animals kept in SP and implanted with melatonin capsules exhibited blockage of full regression by SP. These results suggest that constant release of melatonin prohibits the regressing influence of SP.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.257-261
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• 2010

While it's been shown that arsenic impairs male reproductive function, it remains unclear whether the mechanism involves an effect on testosterone (T) production. We examined plasma T and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in mice given water containing either 20 or 40 mg/L sodium arsenite (SA). The plasma T levels were lower in SA-treated mice than in controls and correlated well with testicular T levels within individuals. However, SA treatment did not significantly affect plasma LH levels. The ratio of plasma T to LH was reduced by the treatment with 40 mg/L SA. These results suggest arsenic-induced defect in testicular testosterone production in mice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.147-147
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• 2001

To establish a test protocol for the rodent 20-day thyroid/pubertal assay, we dosed flutamide(fl), a non-steroidal androgen antagonist to intact male SD rats from postnatal day 33 for 20 days, and examined several reproductive endpoints for assessing the sensitivity of a list of parameters for detecting endocrine-related effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.(omitted)

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2011

The population dynamics of Pandalus gracilis was investigated in the southeastern coastal area of Korea between May 1998 and April 2000. Of the 4,127 specimens, 57% were identified as females, 39% as males, and 4% as transitional hermaphrodites. The number of females was greater than that of males and transexuals. A significant correlation was observed between the number of transitional hermaphrodites and ambient seawater temperature. Growth parameters were estimated using the modified von Bertalanffy growth function model incorporating seasonal variation in growth using the program ELEFAN. Females grew faster and reached a larger size-at-age than males (K=0.65/y and $L_{\infty}$=17.86 mm carapace length [CL] for females; K=0.51/y and $L_{\infty}$=14.70 mm CL for males). Mean size and age (95% confidence limits) at sex transition, calculated from growth parameters, were 7.07 mm carapace length and 1.05 years, respectively. The reproductive strategies of pandalid shrimps are discussed in terms of the type of sex transition.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.173-180
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• 2004

This study analyzed Korean adults' perceptions of family functions and qualities needed for strong families. The sample consisted of 806 adults living in Seoul. Among different family functions, love and emotional support were considered the most important for family strength, while religion and consumption as family functions were not perceived as important. The surveyed adults thought that the function of socialization was the most essential among the family functions according to Murdock's(1949) theory, which were, sexual, reproductive, socialization, and economic functions. They responded that the most needed qualities for strong families were commitment, followed by appreciation and affection, positive communication, ability to cope with stress and crisis, enjoyable time together, and spiritual wellbeing. Adults' perceptions of family functions needed for strong families explained 27% of the variance in perceptions of qualities needed for family strengths. Finally, this study provides recommendations for future research.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.650-654
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• 2000

Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) is becoming one of essential methods to measure velocity fields of fluid flows. In this paper, a genetic algorithm capable of tracking same particle pairs on two separated images is introduced. The fundamental of the developed technique is based on that on-to-one correspondence is found between two tracer particles selected in two image planes by taking advantage of combinatorial optimization of the genetic algorithm. The fitness function controlling reproductive success in the genetic algorithm is expressed by physical distances between the selected tracer particles. The capability of the developed genetic algorithm is verified by a computer simulation on a farced vortex flow.