• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

Leaves of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai are used in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic properties. To ensure efficient utilization of S. quelpaertensis leaf, we previously reported a preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) using the leaf residue, which was produced after hot water extraction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypouricemic potential of S. quelpaertensis leaf PRE in potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemic mice. The administration of PRE significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels and increased urine UA and creatinine levels in the PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. It also reduced liver UA levels and xanthine oxidase (XA) activity. A histological analysis revealed that PRE administration protected against PO-induced liver damage, pointing to anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. We analyzed the transcriptome response to PRE administration in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in kidney tissues. The administration of PRE mainly enriched genes involved in mediating immune and inflammatory responses and the metabolic pathway. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the metabolic pathway, purine metabolism, and antibody biosynthesis were the major pathways altered in the PRE and PO groups. These results suggest a potential role for PRE in the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia with inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.344-352
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of ammonia on physiological responses in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). Interestingly, no mortality were observed when the specimens ($301.1{\pm}8.0g$) were exposed to five levels of un-ionized ammonia ($NH_3$) (control, 1, 2, 4, $8mg\;L^{-1}$) for 3 hours. Furthermore, a significantly higher increase in gill $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase (NKA) pump activity with was detected due to the ammonia exposure. The activity of the fishes were found to be 4 and $8mg\;L^{-1}$ $NH_3$, which was significantly high compared to normal $1mg\;L^{-1}$ $NH_3$. Although ammonia exposure had no effect on plasma $Cl^-$, exposure to both 4 and $8mg\;L^{-1}$ $NH_3$, however it led to increase in the plasma $Na^+$, $K^+$ and osmolality levels. Also, prolong ammonia exposure cause increase of plasma cortisol and glucose levels. The increase in glucose was accompanied by an increase in cortisol. The fish exposed to 4 and $8mg\;L^{-1}$ $NH_3$ showed significantly higher hematocrit than control group than those exposed to 1 and $2mg\;L^{-1}$ $NH_3$. The intensity of cell damage increased with the increase concentration and exposure to ammonia. Furthermore, hyperplasia, separation and epithelial necrosis were also observed in gill tissues. Taken together, the results showed that direction of changes to the investigated parameters can be used to determine the physiological responses of Korean rockfish to ammonia.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.17-22
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• 2013

Purpose - This dissertation is based on previous research, and analyzes processing trade, which constitutes a major section of foreign trade in Shandong Province. Research design, data, and methodology - The study uses the survey data on polarization, which is a vital index reflecting the unbalanced growth of regional economic development. The article introduces the processing trade polarization index, and the processing trade polarization fluctuation rate, to predict the geographical polarization posture and development trends in Shandong Province. Results -The development of processing trade in Shandong Province shows the level of gradient from east to west. The first-line growth pole has been formed and developed, and the initial formation of the diffusion mechanism has taken place. However, coordination problems in accompanying regional development have become increasingly prominent. Conclusions - This study focuses on the development of processing trade strategy and suggests overall coordination of development objectives, using non-balanced development goals. According to regional characteristics and development objectives of the processing trade in Shandong Province, the region around the city is divided into innovation diffusion region, enhanced growth areas, areas expected to undertake development, and areas to upgrade in four levels, given the different policy proposals.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.14-32
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) has a central role in regulating muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism. PGC-1α stimulates muscle growth and muscle fiber remodeling, concomitantly regulating lactate and lipid metabolism and promoting oxidative metabolism. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thumb.) has been widely employed as a traditional herbal medicine and possesses antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, hypolipemic, hypoglycemic, and anticancer properties. We investigated whether G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its active compound, gypenoside L (GL), affect muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism via activation of the PGC-1α pathway in murine C2C12 myoblast cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were treated with GPE and GL, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels. Myh1 was determined using immunocytochemistry. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation was measured using the 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. RESULTS: GPE and GL promoted the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes and elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of Myh1 (type IIx). GPE and GL also significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of the PGC-1α gene (Ppargc1a), lactate metabolism-regulatory genes (Esrra and Mct1), adipocyte-browning gene fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 gene (Fndc5), glycogen synthase gene (Gys), and lipid metabolism gene carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b gene (Cpt1b). Moreover, GPE and GL induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, p38, sirtuin1, and deacetylated PGC-1α. We also observed that treatment with GPE and GL significantly stimulated the expression of genes associated with the anti-oxidative stress response, such as Ucp2, Ucp3, Nrf2, and Sod2. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that GPE and GL enhance exercise performance by promoting myotube differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism through the upregulation of PGC-1α in C2C12 skeletal muscle.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.618-627
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• 2015

Soil salinity is the most critical factor for crop production at reclaimed tidal saline soil. Subsurface drainage system is recognized as a powerful tool for the process of desalinization in saline soil. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of subsurface drainage systems on soil salinity and corn development at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal saline soil. The field experiments were carried out between 2012 and 2014 at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land, Buan, Korea. Subsurface drainage was installed with four treatments: 1) drain spacing of 5 m, 2) drain spacing 10 m, 3) double layer with drain spacing 5 m and 10 m, and 4) the control without any treatment. The levels of water table showed shorter periods above 60 cm levels with the deeper installation of subsurface drainage system. Water soluble cations were significantly greater than exchangeable forms and soluble Na contents, especially in surface layer, were greatly reduced with the installation of subsurface drainage system. Subsurface drainage system improved biomass yield of corn and withering rate. Thus, the biomass yield of corn was improved and the shoot growth was more affected by salinity than was the root growth. The efficiency of double layer was not significant compared with the drain spacing of 5 m. The economic return to growers at reclaimed tidal saline soil was the greatest by the subsurface drainage system with 5 m drain spacing. Our results demonstrated that the installation of subsurface drainage system with drain space of 5 m spacing would be a best management practice to control soil salinity and corn development at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal saline soil.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 1985

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.385-398
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• 2022

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the influence of different dietary crude protein (CP) levels during the growth phase on reproductive characteristics and reproductive efficiency as well as the body development of adult male Japanese quail. Methods: Three hundred one-day-old male quails were distributed into five treatments with diets containing different CP levels (18%, 20%, 22%, 24%, and 26%) in a completely randomized design, with six replicates of ten birds each. The CP diets were applied only during the growth phase (1 to 35 days). At 36 days of age, the birds were transferred to 30 laying cages with three males and nine females each, and all birds received the same diet formulated to meet production-phase requirements until 96 days of age. Results: The growth rate of the birds increased linearly (p<0.01) with increasing dietary CP, but the age of maximum growth decreased (p<0.05). At growth maturity, all birds had the same body weight (p>0.05). At 35 days of age, higher weight gain was obtained (p<0.05) with diets containing 22% CP or higher. No effects on feed conversion were observed in this phase. The increase in dietary CP enhanced (p<0.01) nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion but did not affect (p>0.05) nitrogen retention. Testis size, seminiferous tubular area, number of spermatogonia, and germinal epithelial height at 35 days of age increased linearly (p<0.05) with dietary CP, while the number of Leydig cells decreased (p<0.01). The Sertoli cell number at 60 days of age increased linearly (p<0.01) with dietary CP. Dietary CP levels did not affect cloacal gland size, foam weight, foam protein concentration, semen volume, or flock fertility at 90 days of age. Conclusion: Dietary CP concentration affected body and testicular development in male Japanese quails but did not affect reproductive efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.431-438
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• 2000

To clarify the annual reproductive cycle in a rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, monthly changes in gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and histological feature of gonads and plasma levels of sex steroid hormones ($estradiol-l7{\beta},\;17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one,\;testosterone\;and\;11-ketotestosterone$) were investigated. The annual reproductive cycle in females could be divided into 5 periods as follows: 1) recovery period (June to September): serum level of $estradiol-l7{\beta}$ increased gradually; 2) vitellogenesis period (Septemer to february) : vitellogenic oocytes were obsewed, GSI sustained high value, and serum level of $estradiol-l7{\beta}$ increased; 3) gestation period (February-April): developing larva showed in the ovary, and serum levels of $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$ and testosterone increased; 4) partrition period (April to May) : larva were delivered, and value of GSI and serum levels of hormones decreased rapidly; 5) resting period (May to June) : value of GSI and serum levels of $estradiol-l7{\beta}$ and testosterone remained low. The annual reproductive cycle in males could be divided into 6 periods; 1) early maturation period (April to June): value of GSI and serum levels of hormones incresed gradually, cyst of spermatogonia incresed in number, and a small number of cyst of spermatocyte was observed; 2) mid-maturation perid (June to September); value of GSI and serum levels of hormones increased, and germ cells in many cysts were undergoing active sperrnatogenesis; 3) late maturation period (September to November) : value of GSI and serum levels of hormones remained high and spermatozoa were released into the lumina of the seminal lobules; 3) spermatozoa dischaging period (Nobember to December) : the lumina of the seminal lobules were enlarged and filled with mature spermatozoa; 4) degeneration period (December to Februauy)i value of GSI decresed and cyst of spermatocyte were decresed in number; 5) resting period (December to April) : no histological changes of testes were observed, and value of GSI and serum levels of hormones remained low. In November, the lumina of the seminal lobules were filled with mature spermatozoa and sperm masses were present in the ovarian cavity. Thus, copulation in this species occurred in November and December.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.799-815
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• 2015

The gifted Education has been grown up a lot although it has several problems in terms of the quality of the gifted education programs after legislated the Promotion of Education for the Gifted and Talented Law during the last ten-year period. So the purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of the national standards gifted education program and the problems in managing of the gifted education program. The conclusions according to the analysis are as follows. First, it has analyzed that gifted teachers recognize the lack of teaching and learning materials, regional level difference of the gifted children, Redundancy of program in the grade and school levels in managing of the gifted education as the problems. Second, it was found that perception of most gifted teachers about necessity of the National Standards Gifted Education Program development was very positive. Also, it has shown that gifted teachers expect the education with the overlapped contents and teaching methods would be managed differently, the difficulty of the topic selection could be resolved, and the quality of the gifted education by the programs development of various aspects would be increased. Especially, gifted teachers expect that the problem from the lack of gifted education continuity of school levels could be resolved by development of the National Standards Gifted Education Program. Therefore, for the improving quality of gifted education with resolving the problem from the Contents Redundancy and the lack of gifted education continuity of school levels, the national standards gifted education program should be studied developed as soon as possible.

• Safe Food
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2006