• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.320-327
• /
• 2022

Neurodevelopmental disorders are complex conditions that pose difficulty in the modulation of proper motor, sensory and cognitive function due to dysregulated neuronal development. Previous studies have reported that an imbalance in the excitation/inhibition (E/I) in the brain regulated by glutamatergic and/or GABAergic neurotransmission can cause neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric behavioral deficits such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). NMDA acts as an agonist at the NMDA receptor and imitates the action of the glutamate on that receptor. NMDA however, unlike glutamate, only binds to and regulates the NMDA receptor subtypes and not the other glutamate receptors. This study seeks to determine whether NMDA administration in mice i.e., over-activation of the NMDA system would result in long-lasting behavioral deficits in the adolescent mice. Both gender mice were treated with NMDA or saline at early postnatal developmental period with significant synaptogenesis and synaptic maturation. On postnatal day 28, various behavioral experiments were conducted to assess and identify behavioral characteristics. NMDA-treated mice show social deficits, and repetitive behavior in both gender mice at adolescent periods. However, only the male mice but not female mice showed increased locomotor activity. This study implies that neonatal exposure to NMDA may illicit behavioral features similar to ASD. This study also confirms the validity of the E/I imbalance theory of ASD and that NMDA injection can be used as a pharmacologic model for ASD. Future studies may explore the mechanism behind the gender difference in locomotor activity as well as the human relevance and therapeutic significance of the present findings.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2023

Objectives We aimed to compare the bone age (BA) estimation by a deep learning-based program and by a specialist in pediatrics of Korean medicine using the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) technique for the cases of children who visited a Korean medicine hospital for growth, and to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment. Methods For three children who visited the Korean medicine hospital for growth, BA estimation by the deep learning program and by the specialist in pediatrics of Korean medicine using the TW3 technique was compared, and the time required for estimation was investigated. The change of height, BA, and predicted adult height (PAH) using deep learning program after Korean medicine treatment was observed. Results BA estimation of the left hand bone X-ray by the specialist using the TW3 technique showed a difference of -0.03 to +0.15 years from the estimation by the deep learning program. The mean estimation time was 5 minutes and 49 seconds per one for the specialist and 48 seconds for the deep learning program. During the treatment period, the height percentile and PAH estimated by deep learning program were increased after Korean medicine treatment compared to baseline while acceleration of BA was suppressed compared to chronological age. Conclusions BA estimation using the deep learning program and the TW3 technique showed a difference of less than 0.15 years, and in three cases of patients with growth as the chief complaint, Korean medicine treatment increased height percentile and PAH without accelerating BA maturation.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2024

Light is a major external environmental factor that influences the circadian rhythm of photosynthetic organisms and various physiological phenomena, such as growth, maturation, and behavior. The number of light-reaching organisms changes depending on the season and atmospheric conditions, and the intensity and wavelength of light differ depending on the organisms inhabiting the environment. Altered light changes the circadian rhythm of fish, which is controlled by clock genes, such as period 2 (Per2), cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), and melatonin. In this study, we set the zeitgeber time (ZT; 14 light-10 dark, LD) based on the actual sunrise and sunset times and examined Per2 and Cry1 activities, levels of aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), and melatonin in Pholis nebulosa, a drifting seaweed species exposed to irregular light. Per2 and Cry1 levels increased during the daytime and decreased after sunset. The AANAT levels decreased during the daytime and increased during the night. Melatonin concentration was highest around midnight (ZT21, 23:30), but exhibited similar concentrations during the daytime. While the activity of Per2, Cry1, and AANAT levels exhibited a typical circadian rhythm observed in most vertebrates, melatonin concentrations did not show a significant difference between the daytime and nighttime. These findings provide insights into the circadian rhythm patterns of organisms exposed to irregular light environments, such as P. nebulosa, which differ from those of typical fish species.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.331-338
• /
• 2008

Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) of wild river puffer Takifugu obscurus, and water quality environment in spawning area during breeding season were investigated from March 1995 to February 1996. Monthly changes in GSI and HSI of T. obscurus, that was cultured in low salinity, were calculated. The external morphology of the gonads, germ cell differentiation during gametogenesis and the reproductive cycle with the gonad developmental phases were investigated by histological analysis. The optimum water quality environment in Ganggyung, Choongcheongnam-do, where is spawning ground of wild T. obscurus, was $15-20^{\circ}C$ (water temperature) and 0 psu (salinity). Monthly changes in the GSI in females and males reached a maximum in May, and then rapidly decreased. Therefore, it is assumed that in the natural condition the spawning period of wild T. obscurus is May to June. In females and males, it showed a negative correlationship between the GSI and HSI. The external morphology of the gonads in female and male T. obscurus, that was cultured in low salinity, is composed of a pair of saccular structure. Based on monthly changes in the GSI, it is assumed that in female T. obscurus, that was cultured in low salinity, spawn from March through May. Therefore, it showed a negative correlationship between changes in the GSI and HSI. On the whole, in females and males, it showed a similar pattern between wild and cultured T. obscurus. The reproductive cycle with the gonad developmental phases can be classified into successive five stages in females: the early growing stage, late growing stage, mature stage, ripe and spent stage, and recovery and resting stage. In males, that can be divided into successive four stages: the growing stage, mature stage, ripe and spent stage, and recovery and resting stage. In case of wild T. obscurus, the spawning period has once a year, however, those cultured in the high water temperature ($20-27^{\circ}C$) - low salinity (under 3.3 psu) condition have reproductive characteristics having possibilities of discharge of eggs and sperms year-round as a multiple spawner.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.77 no.1
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 1988

The dark respiration, photosynthesis($CO_2$ refixation), $CO_2$ balance and chlorophyll content of 1st-year conelets and 2nd-year cones of Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis S.et.Z.) were investigated after pollination up to the end of maturation. The results obtained are as follows : 1. The growth of 1st-year conelet was 3.6cm in length. 2.4cm in diameter and 3.058 in dry weighs during the first year. The growth of 2nd-year mature cone was 13.5cm in length, 9.3cm in diameter and 141.0g in dry weight in the late of 2nd-year. 2. The refixation of carbon dioxide released from a cone by the dark respiration was less than 50 percent at light saturation through the growing period. The refixation of carbon dioxide released by dark respiration for one year was 7.3 percent in 1st-year conelets and 8.7 percent in 2nd-year cones. 3. The dark respiration rate of cones by increasing temperature was rapidly increased with increasing temperature up to $25^{\circ}C$. The dark respiration rate of cones was much higher in non-growing season than that in growing season at the same temperature. 4. The rates of dark respiration and $CO_2$ refixation, based on the dry weight, were much higher in 1st-year conelet than that in 2nd-year cone. 5. The $CO_2$ balance for a cone was negative from pollination to the end of maturation. The net dark respiration loss for a cone was 7.23g $CO_2$/year in 1st-year conelet and 164.8g $CO_2$/year in 2nd-year cone. 6. The respiratory loss efficiency for a cone(=$CH_2O$ weight calculated by net dark respiration/dry weight of cone) for one year was 1.61 in 1st-year conelet and 0.81 in 2nd-year cone for one year. 7. The total chlorophyll content of surface scale of the cone was lower than 2mg/g dw through the growing period, and chl. a/b ratio was 2 to 3.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2006

To understand the changes in plasma levels of sex steroids in the wild Japanese eel Anguilla japonica during artificially maturing process, eels received weekly intraperitoneal injections of a water-in-oil (W/O) type emulsion with Freund`s incomplete adjuvant containing salmon pituitary extract (SPE; 20 mg pituitary powder/fish) were examined. In the weekly Eel's Ringer-treated control wild eels, the body weight (BW) changes of fish decreased slowly during the experiment period. Plasma testosterone (T), $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(E_2)$ and $17a,20{\beta}-dihydroxyprogesterone$ (DHP) levels did not change significantly at the end of the experiment. In the weekly SPE-treated silver eels, however, rapid increase in BW changes occurred after 6 to 10 weeks, and the oocytes of all fish were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage. Furthermore, significant increase in sex steroid hormones (T and $E_2$) levels occurred from 6 weeks. In the weekly SPE-treated yellow eels, the BW changes of fish increased slowly at 6 weeks and then increased. In these fish, the oocytes were at the tertiary yolk globule stage even at the end of the experiment. Plasma sex steroid hormones profiles revealed individual variability in SPE-treated yellow eels. Plasma T and $E_2$ levels significantly increased at 8 weeks and after 6 weeks, respectively, in SPE-treated yellow eels. In the weekly SPE-treated wild eels (silver and yellow eels), however, plasma DHP levels did not change significantly during the experiment period. In silver eel, final maturation could be induced by weekly administration of SPE using W/O type emulsion.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.226-231
• /
• 2010

The objective of this experiment was determined to investigate the effect of the planting ratio of Male Sterility (MS) to Restorer Line (RL) and harvesting time on fatty acid compositions under $F_1$ seed production of Brassica napus L. For rapeseed seed production, two experiments were conducted in the open fields. One experiment studied planting ratios of MS to RL (4:2, 10:2, or 10:1) were planted and investigated fatty acid composition at 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 days after flowering, the other $F_2$ seeds were analyzed on fatty acid compositions of harvested seeds at five sequential stages. The results showed that fatty acid compositions of developing seeds were influenced by MS:RL planting ratios and $F_2$ hybrid treatments and contaminated level of fatty acid compositions, erucic acid, were unaffected by planting ratio of MS to RL. Fatty acid compositions such as palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2) contents decreased during seed maturation period in $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ experiments. In contrast, oleic acid (C18:1) content relatively increased up to 55days after flowering. At day 60 after flowering, oleic acid content was unaffected by MS:RL planting ratios and $F_2$ seeds treatments. Aspects of related gene expression of fatty acid synthesis such as SAD, FAD1 and FAD2 were followed exactly to changes of fatty acid composition during seed maturation. These results suggest that MS ratio may be enlarged and RL may be reduced, indicating this ratio will be useful for rape seed production.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive ecology of the Korean Mandarin Fish, Siniperca scherzeri in Seomjin River and Imjin River from April to October 2008. After have investigating the relationship between standard length (SL) and Gonadosomatic index (GSI) of Siniperca scherzeri, we can conclude that the body length of maturation was over 200mm SL in case of females and over 180mm SL in males. The GSI of the females that were from Seomjin river was the highest in April (7.43%), and gradually decreased after May (5.55%) and June (3.58%). The GSI was decreased sharply in August and indicated the lowest value in September (0.44%). The GSI of the females that were from Imjin river showed similar tendency of females' GSI from Seomjin river. The GSI of males from Imjin river was totally higher than that of females, it was 5.96% in April, and 8.03% in May. It was lowered in early June, and late June, it indicated 2.12%. In September, it was the lowest value (0.20%), and increased after October (0.54%). The result of histological study of ovary presented similar result of the study of GSI in Seomjin river and Imjin river. The ratio that fishes constitute in stomach contents of Siniperca scherzeri was 92% in Seomjin river and 90% in Imjin river. Digestion of food organisms and the ratio of unidentifiable fishes in stomach contents was fairly high, and it was 50% in Seomjin river and 72.2% in Imjin river. In the period of study, eating ratio was very low 38.3% (36 ind.) in Seomjin river and 21.8 (53 ind.) in Imjin river.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.66 no.2
• /
• pp.120-129
• /
• 2021

Securing a range of wheat resources is of particular importance with respect to wheat breeding, as it provides a broad genetic foundation. Although wheat breeders have used different wheat germplasms as material resources in current breeding systems, the traits of most germplasms collected from foreign countries differ from the unique traits that have evolved in the Korean environment. In this study, conducted over a 2-year period (2018 and 2019), we therefore evaluated the agricultural traits 1,967 wheat germplasms collected not only in Korea but also worldwide. During the period from sowing to February, the average temperature in 2019 was greater than 1℃, whereas from March to June, the average temperature was approximately 0.9℃ higher in 2018. Compared with the growth recorded in 2018, the stem length in 2019 increased by approximately 20 cm in 2019, and there were notable differences heading date and maturation between 2018 and 2019. In 2019, the heading dates of 973 and 713 wheat resources were earlier and later than those in 2018, respectively. Moreover, stem length was found to be highly correlated with the heading date and maturation. In Korea, where the rainy season and tine of rice transplantation overlap with the time of wheat harvest, early flowering time with high grain yield has been the most important selection target with respect to wheat breeding. We anticipate that the findings of this study will provide would use a foundation for the selection of elite materials and the development of resource core-sets for Korean wheat breeding programs.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.109-122
• /
• 2022

Currently, most of the pig manure generated from pig farms in Korea is in the form of a slurry with a moisture content of about 97%. Pig manure slurry is a mixture of pig manure and cleaning water in the pig house. In this study, changes in properties of pig manure liquid fertilizer according to whether air was supplied or not and with the passage of storage period were analyzed for 120 days. During the experimental period, the degree of maturity of the pig manure liquid fertilizer was higher in the experimental closed batch reactors supplied with air than in the same type reactors not supplied with air. As the liquid fertilizer storage period elapsed, there was a tendency that liquid fertilizer was converted to a state of complete maturity. In the batch reactor in which air was supplied, the moisture content of pig manure slurry, which had a moisture content of 97.90%, was reduced to 96.82% at the end of the experiment. On the other hand, the moisture content in the reactor without air was reduced to 97.33%. The pH of the liquid fertilizer, which was 8.82 at the start of the experiment, changed to 7.57 in the reactor with air supplied and 8.75 in the reactor without air at the completion of the experiment. The nitrogen content in the liquid fertilizer was 0.198 mg/L on average at the start of the experiment and it was lowered to 0.076 mg/L in the air supplied reactor at the end of the experiment. On the other hand, the nitrogen content of the liquid fertilizer was lowered to 0.121 mg/L in the reactor to which air was not supplied. The phosphoric acid (P₂O₅) concentration in the liquid decreased higher in the liquid fertilizer filled in the reactor without air than the liquid fertilizer filled in the reactor with air supplied as the storage period elapsed. Considering the experimental results, it is considered that the quality of pig manure liquid fertilizer is improved when air is supplied to pig manure slurry and the storage period of pig manure slurry is longer.