• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.467-479
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• 2013

This study was conducted to find out characterization of spatial distribution of birds observed in river areas. Our bird survey was carried out 4 times at 31 sites from January to September in 2011. A total of 1,609 accumulated individuals belonging to 59 species, 28 families and 11 orders were observed. In the result of spatial autocorrelation analysis using the richness index of the maximum counts of each sites, we confirmed that the distribution of birds in Namdaecheon river was clustered and the tendency of spatial autocorrelation was apparent. The area of each sites within a 200m radius was classified in four biotope categories such as agricultural land, forest, residential area and water area, and the spatial autocorrelation was analysed about four types. In the result of spatial autocorrelation analysis for four biotope categories, all types were showed the positive spatial autocorrelation, but the type of water area was higher than other types. The positive correlation was found between the water area and water birds in statistical significance. However, the forest birds had non-significance values. Therefore, it is appropriate to focus on water birds except for forest birds, when researches of bird distribution in river ecosystem is conducted. The number of bird species and individuals increased as the riverside of water area was to widen. Thus, if the areas of riverside offering the feeding and roosting area increase, it will be accommodated many birds. Also, the areas of riverside should be maintained naturally because it is an important habitats of birds. Our study area is on the outskirts the city of higher rates of forest and agricultural land, it may be unreasonable to apply our results to the whole rivers. If the research about the river flowing around the city will be conducted, it is expected to be useful to the relation study area such as ecological river's restoration.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 2012

Raphanus sativus (Cruciferaceae), commonly known as radish is widely available throughout the world. From antiquity it has been used in folk medicine as a natural drug against many toxicants. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of radish (Raphanus sativus) enzyme extract (REE) in vitro and in vivo test. The $IC_{50}$ values of REE in human liver derived HepG2 cells was over 5,000 ${\mu}g/ml$ in tested maximum concentration. The effect of REE to protect tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. REE showed their hepatoprotective activities on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity and the $EC_{50}$ value was 1,250 ${\mu}g/ml$. Silymarin, an antihepatotoxic agent used as a positive control exhibited 59.7% hepatoprotective activity at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. Moreover, we tested the effect of REE on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver toxicity in rats. REE at dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg and silymarin at dose of 50 mg/kg were orally administered to $CCl_4$-treated rats. The results showed that REE and silymarin significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum enzyme markers induced by $CCl_4$. The biochemical data were supported by evaluation with liver histopathology. These findings suggest that REE, can significantly diminish hepatic damage by toxic agent such as tacrine or $CCl_4$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.344-353
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• 2020

This study aims to develop new potential therapeutic moracin M prodrugs acting on lung inflammatory disorders. Potential moracin M prodrugs (KW01-KW07) were chemically synthesized to obtain potent orally active derivatives, and their pharmacological activities against lung inflammation were, for the first time, examined in vivo using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury model. In addition, the metabolism of KW02 was also investigated using microsomal stability test and pharmacokinetic study in rats. When orally administered, some of these compounds (30 mg/kg) showed higher inhibitory action against LPS-induced lung inflammation in mice compared to moracin M. Of them, 2-(3,5-bis((dimethylcarbamoyl)oxy)phenyl)benzofuran-6-yl acetate (KW02) showed potent and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the same animal model of lung inflammation at 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg. This compound at 10 mg/kg also significantly reduced IL-1β concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the inflamed-lungs. KW02 was rapidly metabolized to 5-(6-hydroxybenzofuran-2-yl)-1,3-phenylene bis(dimethylcarbamate) (KW06) and moracin M when it was incubated with rat serum and liver microsome as expected. When KW02 was administered to rats via intravenous or oral route, KW06 was detected in the serum as a metabolite. Thus, it is concluded that KW02 has potent inhibitory action against LPS-induced lung inflammation. It could behave as a potential prodrug of moracin M to effectively treat lung inflammatory disorders.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is evaluated scatter radiation in digital radiological condition by using photo-stimulated luminescence (BaFBr:$Eu^{2+}$). Experiment condition changed kVp (from 50 kVp to 120 kVp), filed size (from $4{\times}4cm^2$ to $26{\times}26cm^2$) and phantom thickness (from 1 cm to 15 cm). This method was analysed ImageJ and characteristic curve of CR. This results was scatter radiation to primary radiation ratio increased from 50 kVp to 70 kVp, and it was fixed at over 80 kVp. The scatter radiation to primary radiation ratio are increased according to increasing the ratio of field size. Scatter radiation is also increased by increasing the phantom thickness.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to investigate the antioxidative activity of crackers made with a guava(Psidium guajava Linn.) leaf extract harvested in Korea. Guava leaf extraction using boiling water showed significantly higher antioxidative activities than extracting using 70% ethanol based on the higher total phenolic contents, FRAP, and ABTS assays(p<0.05). The crackers containing 1% guava leaf extract, and 0.075% BHT were stored at $63^{\circ}C$ for 7 days for the Schaal oven test, and the oxidative stability(AV, POV), antioxidative activity(DPPH, FRAP, ABTS assay), and sensory evaluation were compared. The crackers containing 1% guava leaf extract were found to have a higher oxidative stability than the control due to a lower acid value and peroxide value after 7 days of storage. The antioxidative activities of the crackers containing 1% guava leaf extract was the highest after 7 days as determined in the DPPH and ABTS assay, and was lower than crackers containing 0.075% BHT after 4 days as assessed by the FRAP assay. In the sensory evaluation, the crackers containing the 1% guava leaf extract had the highest scores in terms of taste, texture, and overall palatability than others at increasing storage time. As a result, the addition of 1% guava leaf extract harvested in Korea increased the antioxidative effect as well as the sensory acceptability of crackers.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2007

Zinc is essential metal and plays a role in a wide variety of physiological and biochemical processes. Prostate gland contains high level of zinc, generally 3-10 folds higher than other organs. Prostatic zinc uptake is resulted from the existence of zinc transporter (ZnT) protein families in membrane. In this study, we investigated the difference of zinc uptake efficiency of zinc-aspartate complex (Zn-Asp) into various organs compared with $ZnSO_4$. We observed that Plasma zinc concentration in both $ZnSO_4$ and Zn-Asp administrated group was increased progressively following administration, and reached a peak level at 2 hr. The increasing pattern of zinc concentration was similar to each groups, however the zinc concentration of Zn-Asp administrated group was higher than that of $ZnSO_4$ administrated group. We found that prostatic zinc level of Zn-Asp administrated group was higher than $ZnSO_4$ administrated group, and was increased approximately $\sim$2.7 fold and $\sim$4.2 fold at 4 and 8 hr after administration. From these observations, we suggest than Zn-Asp has high uptake efficiency of zinc into the prostate gland. Therefore, Zn-Asp is potentially useful treatment of many prostatic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2010

Soil physico-chemical properties and microbial densities are affected by organic sources and soil amendment applied to improve soil environments or quality. Generally organic fertilizer effects on forage crops yield and soil properties are partly due to changes of soil composition. We investigated the effects of swine slurry (SS), swine slurry composting-biofilteration(SCB) and chemical fertilizer(F) with gypsum(G) combinations on soil physico-chemical properties and yields of summer forage crop in the Sukmoon reclaimed tidal land in Korea. The forage crops used in this experiment were corn and sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid(hereafter sorghum). Our results showed that the soil physico-chemical properties in the combined (F+G, SS+G, SCB+G) treatments increased contents of organic matter and exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$, but exchangeable $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Mg^{2+}$ reduced to 1-10% for two forage crops, compared to non-combined (F, SS, SCB) treatment. The density of soil microorganism such as bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi, increased significantly by SS+G and SCB+G treatments. This means that treatment of combined organic fertilizer with G lowered salinity levels and improved with microbial growth. The combined treatments also increased the total yields 2.3-6.2% for corn and 2.0-8.7% for sorghum, compared with non-combined treatment. This experiment suggests the combined treatments could increase the total yields of summer forage crops and change of soil physico-chemical properties in the Sukmoon reclaimed tidal land in Korea.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to determine whether inoculation with Bacillus licheniformis MH48 as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) could promote nutrient uptake of seedlings of the ornamental plant Camellia japonica in the Saemangeum reclaimed coastal land in Korea. B. licheniformis MH48 inoculation increased total nitrogen and phosphorus content in soils by 2.2 and 20.0 fold, respectively, compared to those without bacterial inoculation. In addition, B. licheniformis MH48 produced auxin, which promoted the formation of lateral roots and root hairs, decreased production of growth-inhibiting ethylene, and alleviated salt stress. Total nitrogen and phosphorus uptake of seedlings subjected to bacterial inoculation was 2.3 and 3.6 fold higher, respectively, than the control. However, B. licheniformis MH48 inoculation had no significant effect on the growth of seedlings. Our results suggest that inoculation with B. licheniformis MH48 can be used as a PGPR bio - enhancer to stimulate fine root development, promote nutrient uptake and alleviate salt stress in ornamental plant seedlings grown in the high-salinity conditions of reclaimed coastal land.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.133-143
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• 2009

Pivotal roles of steroid hormones in uterine endometrial function are well established from the mouse models carrying the null mutation of their receptors. Literally androgen belongs to male but interestingly it also detected in female. The fluctuations of androgen levels are observed during reproductive cycle and pregnancy, and the functional androgen receptor is expressed in reproductive organs including uterus. Using high throughput methodology, the downstream genes of androgen have been isolated and revealed correlations between other steroid hormones. In androgen-deficient mice, uterine responses to exogenous gonadotropins are impaired and the number of pups per litter is reduced dramatically. As expected androgen has important role in decidual differentiation through AR. It regulates specific gene network during those cellular responses. Recently we examined the effects of steroid hormonal complex containing high level of androgen. Interestingly, on the contrary to the androgen-alone administration, the hormonal complex did not disturb the decidual reaction and the pubs did not show any morphological abnormality. It is suspected that the complexity of communication between other steroid hormone and their receptors are the reasons. In summary, androgen exists in female blood and it suggests the importance of androgen in female reproduction. However, the complex interactions with other hormones are not fully understood compared with estrogen and progesterone. The further studies to evaluate the possible role of androgen are needed and important to provide the in vivo rational for the prevention of associated pregnancy complications and help human's health.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2012

DNA barcoding has been widely used in species identification and biodiversity research. A short fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence serves as a DNA bio-barcode. We collected DNA barcodes, based on COI sequences from 156 species (529 sequences) of fish, insects, and shellfish. We present results on phylogenetic relationships to assess biodiversity the in the Korean peninsula. Average GC% contents of the 68 fish species (46.9%), the 59 shellfish species (38.0%), and the 29 insect species (33.2%) are reported. Using the Kimura 2 parameter in all possible pairwise comparisons, the average interspecific distances were compared with the average intraspecific distances in fish (3.22 vs. 0.41), insects (2.06 vs. 0.25), and shellfish (3.58 vs. 0.14). Our results confirm that distance-based DNA barcoding provides sufficient information to identify and delineate fish, insect, and shellfish species by means of all possible pairwise comparisons. These results also confirm that the development of an effective molecular barcode identification system is possible. All DNA barcode sequences collected from our study will be useful for the interpretation of species-level identification and community-level patterns in fish, insects, and shellfish in Korea, although at the species level, the rate of correct identification in a diversified environment might be low.