• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2019

Flavonoids are widely distributed secondary metabolites in plants that have a variety biological functions, as well as beneficial biological and pharmacological activities. In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), for example, high levels of saponarin accumulate during primary leaf development. However, the effect of saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes on the accumulation of saponarin in barley is poorly understood. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to examine the saponarin contents and expression levels of saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes [chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and UDP-Glc:isovitexin 7-O-glucosyltransferase (OGT)] during early seedling developmental and under several abiotic stress conditions. Interestingly, the upregulation of HvCHS, HvCHI, and HvOGT during early development was associated with saponarin accumulation during later stages. In addition, exposure to abiotic stress conditions (e.g., light/dark transition, drought, and low or high temperature) significantly affected the expression of HvCHS and HvCHI but failed to affect either HvOGT expression or saponarin accumulation. These findings suggested that the expression of HvOGT, which encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the final step of saponarin biosynthesis, is required for saponarin accumulation. Taken together, the results of the present study provide a basis for metabolic engineering in barley plants, especially in regards to enhancing the contents of useful secondary metabolites, such as saponarin.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2018

In the multicellular tissue, cell-cell interaction is important for a precise control of its function. The exchange of signaling molecules between adjacent cells via connexon allows the functional harmony of cells in the tissue. The present research was to determine the presence and expressional patterns of connexin (Cx) isoforms in the rat epididymal fat during postnatal development using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Of 13 Cx isoforms examined, expression of 11 Cx isoforms in the epididymal fat during postnatal development was detected. These Cx isoforms include Cx26, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx33, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx50. Expressional levels of all Cx isoforms at 1 and 2 years of age were significantly higher than those at the early postnatal ages, such as 7 days, 14 days, and 24 days of ages. Except Cx33 and Cx43, the transcript levels of rest Cx isoforms at 1 year of age were significantly lower than that at 2 years of age. In addition, expressional patterns of Cx isoforms between 7 days and 5 months of ages generally varied according to the isoform. The existence of various Cx isoforms in the rat epididymal fat has been identified and expression of each Cx isoform in the epididymal fat during postnatal development has shown a particular pattern, distinguishable from the others. To our knowledges, this is the first report showing expressional patterns of Cx isoforms at transcript level in the epididymal fat at various postnatal ages.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.971-980
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• 2019

We profiled the health-promoting bioactive components in nine types of soybean seeds with different seed coat colors (yellow, green, brown, and black) and investigated the effects of different extraction solvents (methanol, ethanol, and water) on their antioxidant activities. The carotenoid and anthocyanin compositions varied greatly by seed color, and the phenolic acids, total phenol, and total flavonoid contents differed by genotype. The carotenoid content was relatively higher in soybean seeds with green and black seed coats than in those with a yellow seed coat while lutein was the most plentiful. The anthocyanin content was considerably higher in the soybean seed with the black seed coat. The results of the DPPH assay showed strong antioxidative activities in the methanol- and water-extracts compared to the ethanol-extract, irrespective of the seed coat colors. Moreover, the soybean seeds with the black seed coat exhibited the highest antioxidant activity among the samples, regardless of the extraction solvent used. Eighteen bioactive compounds were subjected to data-mining processes including principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Multivariate analyses showed that brown and black seeds were distinct from the yellow and green seeds in terms of the levels of carotenoids and anthocyanins, respectively. These results help our understanding of the compositional differences in the bioactive components among soybean seeds of various colors, providing valuable information for future breeding programs that seek to enhance the levels of compounds with health benefits.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2021

We examine the effect of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitor treatment time on the in vitro development of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Porcine SCNT embryos were classified by four groups following treatment time of ER stress inhibitor, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA; 100 µM); 1) non-treatment group (control), 2) treatment during micromanipulation process and for 3 h after fusion (NT+3 h group), 3) treatment only during in vitro culture after fusion (IVC group), and 4) treatment during micromanipulation process and in vitro culture (NT+IVC group). SCNT embryos were cultured for six days to examine the X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1) splicing levels, the expression levels of ER stress-associated genes, oxidative stress-related genes, and apoptosis-related genes in blastocysts, and in vitro development. There was no significant difference in Xbp1 splicing level among all groups. Reduced expression of some ER stress-associated genes was observed in the treatment groups. The oxidative stress and apoptosis-related genes were significantly lower in all treatment groups than control (p<0.05). Although blastocyst development rates were not different among all groups (17.5% to 21.7%), the average cell number in blastocysts increased significantly in NT+3 h (48.5±2.3) and NT+IVC (47.7±2.4) groups compared to those of control and IVC groups (p<0.05). The result of this study suggests that the treatment of ER stress inhibitor on SCNT embryos from the micromanipulation process can improve the reprogramming efficiency of SCNT embryos by inhibiting the ER and oxidative stresses that may occur early in the SCNT process.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.555-565
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• 2004

The objective of this study was conducted to investigate growth and development status of infants fed soy-based formulas over 3 months. The height and weight were measured and Z-scores were calculated by using standard of the same age groups. Their mothers were interviewed using questionnaires including general and environmental characteristics, total food intakes, soy based formula intakes and Ewha infant development screening test. Main results were as follows: 1) Nutrient intake levels of subjects were similar to or more than the level of Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances except for intakes of vitamin E (79.89% RDA), and the average status of nutrient intakes of infants were fairly good. 2) Z-scores of height for age (HAZ) and Z-scores of weight for age (WAZ), Kaup index, WLI and Ewha Infant Developmental Screening Test score of subjects were in the normal growth range. 3) There were no significant differences among soy based formula intake percentile groups in HAZ, WAZ, Kaup index, WLI and Ewha Infant Developmental Screening Test score. 4) Total energy intake was positively correlated with HAZ (p < 0.00, WAZ (p <0.00, and WLI (p < 0.05) in infants less than 12 month. Also, soy based formula energy intake was positively correlated with HAZ (p < 0.05) in infants less than 12 month. However, energy and soy based formula intake levels of infants over 12 month were not significant among variables. Considering results of this study, infants fed soy-based formulas over 3 months showed normal growth and development status. Further studies are needed to evaluate longterm growth and development in infants fed soy based formulas.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.21-28
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• 2013

This study conducted a survey 361 immigrants by Cheongju Yullyang II Land Development Projects of Chungbuk, Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Projects and analyzes the factor which affects their residential satisfaction. The result of study is as follows. The level of subjects' residential satisfaction is 5.35(SD=1.33) which is average. By looking the level of related factors which affect residential satisfaction, the levels of facilities region and residential environment region are normal. The levels of housing environment and trust of development are lower than the normal. To figure out the factor which affects residential satisfaction, a regression analysis is conducted. The result showed that age of research subject, family type, residence period, physical status, owner or renter, housing environment region, facilities region, residential environment region, and trust of development among factors related to residential satisfaction affect the residential satisfaction. Based on these results, several ways are suggested to improve residential satisfaction of the immigrants.

• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2018

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as the dilation of a segment of a coronary vessel to at least 1.5 times the diameter of its normal adjacent segment. Mean platelet volume (MPV) plays a role in acute coronary syndromes, with high MPV correlating to poor prognosis for acute thrombotic events and CAE. Several studies investigated the relationship between MPV and CAE, resulting in conflicting results. These results led us to systematically review all studies investigating the relationship between MPV and ectatic heart diseases by performing a meta-analysis study in order to report a unified result. This meta-analysis study investigated all case-control articles examining the relationship between MPV and CAE. All studies in the following databases published until January 31, 2018, were investigated: Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Following a quality control evaluation, 14 articles, all of which were published following studies performed in Turkey from 2007 to 2016, met the criteria for study inclusion. After pooling the results from all of the articles, a total standardized mean difference (SMD) value of 0.584 (95% CI, 0.219, 0.95) was obtained using the D+L pooled SMD, indicating a significant difference (P=0.002) between the two groups, with higher MPV values in ectatic patients when comparing to healthy individuals. Therefore, increased MPV levels were significantly related to CAE, suggesting that platelets, with their inflammatory and thrombotic activities, play a role in this disease. Therefore, anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory therapies may be effective in treating CAE.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2012

The biochemical composition of muscle from three deep-sea animals, Tanaka's eelpout Lycodes tanakae magistrate armhook squid Berryteuthis magister, and ocean sunfish Mola mola caught in the East sea in South Korea was determined. The moisture (81.4-93.8 g/100 g), crude protein (5.0-15.6 g/100 g), crude lipid (0.1-1.5 g/100 g), and ash (1.0-1.1 g/100 g) contents of the two fishes were analyzed. The proximate composition of magistrate armhook squid was: moisture 84.0 g/100 g, crude protein 12.4 g/100 g, crude lipid 0.7 g/100 g, and ash 1.5 g/100 g. There was little difference in the proximate compositions of the three animals. The total amino acid contents of Tanaka's eelpout, magistrate armhook squid, and ocean sunfish were 14.64, 10.75, 3.10-9.95 g/100 g, respectively. High levels of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, leucine, and arginine were found, while low levels of histidine, glycine, and cysteine were detected in the animals. A survey of the free amino acid contents of the animals revealed large amounts of alanine and glycine. Significant differences were found in the fatty acid composition among the three species. Specially, different saturated fatty acids (17.14-40.49%) such as C16:0, and C18:0, monounsaturated fatty acids (19.19-46.88%) such as C16:1, and C18:1, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (35.41-57.08%) such as EPA, and DHA was identified. Our results suggest that each of these deep sea animals possesses nutritional value and should be considered as a foodstuff.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.35-46
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• 2009

This paper presents an evaluation index for the supply levels of pedestrian facilities in residential area planning. The pedestrian facility supply levels reveal the quality of a residential area, and can be associated with the resident living standards and satisfaction, pedestrian safety levels, and the effectiveness of the construction cost. This research conducted multifaceted procedures for the index development, and these procedures start first by identifying dominant influencing factors on pedestrian travel demand by reviewing the final reports of site planning in more than eight already-completed residential development sites. Second, based on the Space Syntax model, which was initially developed in the UK by establishing statistical relationships among an integration index, population size (persons/day), and the total development area, this research formulated a set of pedestrian demand estimation models. Then these models were utilized in forming a pedestrian facility supply index by integrating the new models and their results with the available accepted practice in the residential planning sector. This was necessary because planners want to understand the total supply level of pedestrian facilities in a residential area during the initial design stage. Finally, to test the model validity in satisfying pedestrian satisfaction, the research included a resident satisfaction interview, and it was revealed that the evaluation index developed in this research could provide planners and engineers with more promising results. It is therefore anticipated that this research can be of service when designing pedestrian facilities in future residential area planning and design activities.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2001

The present study examines the expression and regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor (GnRH-R) mRNA levels during mouse ovarian development. A fully processed, mature GnRH mRNA together with intron-containing primary transcripts was expressed in the immature mouse ovary as determined by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The size of ovarian GnRH mRNA was similar to that of hypothalamus, but its amount was much lower than that in the hypothalamus. Quantitative RT-PCR procedure also revealed the expression of GnRH-R mRNA in the ovary, but the estimated amount was a thousand-fold lower than that in the pituitary gland. We also examined the regulation of ovarian GnRH and GnRH-R mRNA levels during the follicular development induced by pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Ovarian luteinizing hormone receptor (LH-R) mRNA was abruptly increased st 48 h after the PMSG administration and rapidly decreased to the basal level thereafter. Ovarian GnRH mRNA level was slightly decreased at 48 h after the PMSG administration, and then returned to the basal value. GnRH-R mRNA level began to increase at 24 h after the PMSG treatment, decreased below the uninduced basal level at 48 h, and gradually increased thereafter. HCG administration did not alter ovarian GnRH mRNA level, while it blocked the PMSG-induced increase in GnRH mRNA level. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that the expression of GnRH and GnRH-R mRNA are regulated by gonadotropin during follicular development, suggesting possible intragonadal paracrine roles of GnRH and GnRH-R in the mouse ovarian development.