• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2022

This study aimed to prepare basic data for protecting the habitat of Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha and coping with climate change by detecting songs with bio-acoustic recording technology and identifying phenological characteristics in protected areas in Korea. The study sites were 36 protected areas nationwide. Data were collected between January and December 2019, and the analysis period was from May 1 to August 31, 2019. The main results are described as follows. Firstly, songs were detected in 22 out of 36 study sites. Frequency analysis results of songs show that high frequency was observed in southern inland, including Jeju island, and the area with the highest latitude was Seoraksan National Park. Secondly, the first song was observed in Hallyeohaesang National Park Geumsan on May 14, 2019, and the last song was observed in Ungok wetland in Gochang on August 6, 2019. Thirdly, circadian rhythm analysis results of songs show that the frequency rapidly increased at five o'clock in the morning, peaked at six o'clock, and then decreased afterward. Fourthly, seasonal cycle analysis results of songs show that they were observed from May 14, 2019 to August 6, and the day with the highest accumulated frequency of songs was June 3, 2019 (Julian date: 154). The average temperature of the day the songs were detected was 17.4℃, the average precipitation was 0.02mm, and the average humidity was 82.6%. Fifthly, a correlation analysis result between Fairy Pitta's songs and meteorological factors shows that temperature indicated a negative correlation with Fairy Pitta's songs (p<0.001), but precipitation (p=0.053) and humidity (p=0.077) did not indicate a statistical significance (df=471). This study is significant in that it confirmed the distribution of Fairy Pitta's songs using bio-acoustic recording technology in protected areas nationwide and identified their ecological characteristics by precisely analyzing the relationship between the song period and meteorological factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7169-7174
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• 2014

Background: NPAS2 is a product of the circadian clock gene. It acts as a putative tumor suppressor by playing an important role in DNA damage responses, cell cycle control and apoptosis. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) appears to be an apoptosis related disorder and alteration in the NPAS2 gene might therefore be directly involved in the etiology of CLL. Here, the Ala394Thr polymorphism (rs2305160:G>A) in the NPAS2 gene was genotyped and melatonin concentrations were measured in a total of seventy-four individuals, including thirty-seven CLL cases and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls in order to examine the effect of NPAS2 polymorphism and melatonin concentrations on CLL risk in a Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: Genotyping of rs2305160:G>A polymorphism at NPAS2 locus was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Melatonin concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Results: Our results demonstrated no association of the variant Thr genotypes (Ala/Thr and Thr/Thr) with risk of CLL. Similarly, no association of rs2305160 with CLL was observed in either females or males after stratification of study population on a gender basis. Moreover, when the subjects with CLL were further stratified into shift-workers and non-shift-workers, no association of rs2305160 with CLL was seen in either case. However, significantly low serum melatonin levels were observed in CLL patients as compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). Also, lower melatonin levels were seen in shift-workers as compared to non-shift-workers (p<0.05). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the melatonin levels across NPAS2 genotypes in all subjects, subjects with CLL who were either shift workers or non-shift-workers. General Linear Model (GLM) univariate analysis revealed no significant association (p>0.05) of the rs2305160 polymorphism of the NPAS2 gene with melatonin levels in any of the groups. Conclusions: While low melatonin levels and shift-work can be considered as one of the risk factors for CLL, the NPAS2 rs2305160 polymorphism does not appear to have any association with risk of CLL in our Pakistani population.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.559-565
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• 2008

Members of the TGA family of basic domain/leucine zipper transcription factors regulate defense genes through physical interaction with NON-EXPRESSOR OF PR1 (NPR1). Of the seven TGA family members, TGA4/octopine synthase (ocs)-element-binding factor 4 (OBF4) is the least understood. Here we present evidence for a novel function of OBF4 as a regulator of flowering. We identified CONSTANS (CO), a positive regulator of floral induction, as an OBF4-interacting protein, in a yeast two-hybrid library screen. OBF4 interacts with the B-box region of CO. The abundance of OBF4 mRNA cycles with a 24 h rhythm under both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions, with significantly higher levels during the night than during the day. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that OBF4 binds to the promoter of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, a direct target of CO. We also found that, like CO and FT, an OBF4:GUS construct was prominently expressed in the vascular tissues of leaf, indicating that OBF4 can regulate FT expression through the formation of a protein complex with CO. Taken together, our results suggest that OBF4 may act as a link between defense responses and flowering.