• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.240-249
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• 2020

Despite the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in ischemic diseases, pathophysiological conditions, including hypoxia, limited nutrient availability, and oxidative stress restrict their potential. To address this issue, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the bioactivities of MSCs. Treatment of MSCs with melatonin increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α). Melatonin treatment enhanced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in MSCs in a PGC-1α-dependent manner. Melatonin-mediated PGC-1α expression enhanced the proliferative potential of MSCs through regulation of cell cycle-associated protein activity. In addition, melatonin promoted the angiogenic ability of MSCs, including migration and invasion abilities and secretion of angiogenic cytokines by increasing PGC-1α expression. In a murine hindlimb ischemia model, the survival of transplanted melatonin-treated MSCs was significantly increased in the ischemic tissues, resulting in improvement of functional recovery, such as blood perfusion, limb salvage, neovascularization, and protection against necrosis and fibrosis. These findings indicate that the therapeutic effect of melatonin-treated MSCs in ischemic diseases is mediated via regulation of PGC-1α level. This study suggests that melatonin-induced PGC-1α might serve as a novel target for MSC-based therapy of ischemic diseases, and melatonin-treated MSCs could be used as an effective cell-based therapeutic option for patients with ischemic diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.198-207
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• 1983

The dry-matter production, the litter decomposition and the nutrient cycle were studied on Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora forests at Piagol in Mt. Jiri. With the growth curves of the annual ring, the time schedules for the maximum productivities and maximum yields were measured. In Q.serrata forest, the maximum productivity was 11.36 tons $ha^-1 yr^-1$ at the 49th year and the maximum yield was 115.78 tons $ ha^-1$ at the 73th year, and in C. laxiflora 7.24 tons $ha^-1 yr^-1$at the 35th year and 82.5 tons $$ha^-1 $$at the 53th year, respectively. The maximum productivities and the maximum yields of the leaves, stems and roots of the trees were calculated. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon were measured.. While inorganic materials were the most abundant in the leaves, organic materials in stems. The maximumproductivities and the maximum yields of the constituents of the trees were calculated, assuming that the constituents of the trees increase allometrically. The decomposition rates were as follows: k = 0.301 for Q.serrata forest, and k = 0.364 for C. laxiflora forest. The litter of the former was decayed more slowly than that of the latter. The halftimes for decomposition were 3.2 and 1.9 years, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권12호
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• pp.1885-1895
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• 2020

Vitamins and minerals categorized as micronutrients are the essential components of animal feed for maintaining health and improving immunity. Micronutrients are important bioactive molecules and cofactors of enzymes as well. Besides being cofactors for enzymes, some vitamins such as the fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A and D have been shown to exhibit hormone-like functions. Although they are required in small amount, they play an influential role in the proper functioning of a number of enzymes which are involved in many metabolic, biochemical and physiological processes that contribute to growth, production and health. Micronutrients can potentially have a positive impact on bone health, preventing bone loss and fractures, decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone formation. Thus, micronutrients must be provided to livestock in optimal concentrations and according to requirements that change during the rapid growth and development of the animal and the production cycle. The supply of nutrients to the animal body not only depends on the amount of the nutrient in a food, but also on its bioavailability. The bioavailability of these micronutrients is affected by several factors. Therefore, several technologies such as nanoparticle, encapsulation, and chelation have been developed to improve the bioavailability of micronutrients associated with bone health. The intention of this review is to provide an updated overview of the importance of micronutrients on bone health and methods applied to improve their bioavailability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.347-354
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• 2017

Objective: The effects of the pre- and postpartum supplementation of cows with Se on their plasma P4 concentrations after calving were investigated. Methods: Thirty-four Holstein cows were used to investigate the effects of dietary selenium supplementation on the postpartum recovery of the luteal function in cows. Selenium-rich yeast (containing 300 ppm selenium) was mixed with total mixed ration fed to 17 pregnant cows from 30 days before they were due to calve (10 g yeast daily) to 100 days after calving (20 g yeast daily). The control cows (n = 17) were fed the same amount of ordinary yeast. The cows' plasma progesterone concentrations were determined every two days using an enzyme immunoassay after calving. Results: Feed intake (total digestive nutrient, crude protein), milk production, body weight and the biochemical properties of blood plasma did not differ between the two groups; however, the plasma selenium concentrations of the supplemented animals were significantly greater than those of the controls at and after calving. The postpartum plasma progesterone concentrations of the selenium-yeast-supplemented group increased earlier than those of the control group. Moreover, during the estrus cycle after the 3rd ovulation or ovulation with estrus between 60 to 80 days after calving, the selenium-supplemented cows exhibited greater progesterone concentrations than the control cows. Conclusion: Selenium supplementation promotes the postpartum progesterone production of cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.569-582
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• 2004

Current growth in the deer industry is 20% per annum as the demand increases for venison in Europe, including the increased use in Asia of antlers as a natural medicine by humans. The deer industry in Australia has developed rapidly, but farm profitability has fluctuated markedly. The knowledge on deer farming has largely been adopted from New Zealand (NZ) and the United Kingdom (UK) although the environmental conditions in these deer growing countries differ markedly from Australia. The practice used for weaning is one of the key factors influencing the profitability of the industry. However, a wide range in weaning dates are practised by farmers leading to the question of whether deer should be weaned after mating to reduce the stress during weaning or should they be weaned in the pre-rut period to allow does to recover their body condition for the next reproduction cycle. This review examines the effect of weaning time on the performance of does and hinds and the subsequent growth rate of the fawns and calves. Gaps in knowledge of weaning procedures and nutritional management for early weaned deer are identified.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.291-301
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• 2002

In this study, nutrients treatment by sequencing batch reactors(SBR) was performed. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were evaluated by changing SRT and mixing/aeration ratio. Not only nitrogen but also phosphorus removal patterns were investigated through track studies on 1 cycle. As SRT was fixed and mixing/aeration ratio was changed, maximum nitrogen removal efficiency was 87.6% at mixing/aeration ratio 0.67. Phosphorus removal efficiencies were more than 85.5% except no mixing condition. As mixing/aeration ratio was fixed and SRT was changed, nitrogen removal efficiencies were 70.5~79.8%, which represented slight changes, while phosphorus removal efficiencies were 49.0~97.3%, which represented sharply decreasing tendency at less than 20 day. Both phosphorus release rate k and maximum phosphorus release rate $P_{max}/M$ were are decreased as SRT was decreased, but they were not affected by mixing/aeration ratio. It was found that there is a linear relationship between ortho-phosphate uptake and maximum ortho-phosphate release.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.291-297
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• 2010

In the summer of 2008 (August 4-14), vertical and horizontal distributions of inorganic nutrients and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured in the southwestern East Sea. Concentrations of DOC were determined for the first time in the southwestern East Sea using the high-temperature combustion oxidation (HTCO) method, and results were compared with those measured by another laboratory. Concentrations of DOC ranged from 58 to 104 ${\mu}M$ in the upper 200 m, showing a typical decreasing pattern with depth. Generally, concentrations of DOC were relatively lower, with higher nutrient concentrations, in the upper layer of the coastal upwelling zone. Concentrations of DOC ranged from 54 to 64 ${\mu}M$ in the deep Ulleung Basin (200-1500 m), and were higher than those in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. In association with rapid vertical ventilation of the euphotic, this difference indicates a larger accumulation of semi-labile DOC in the deep East Sea than in the major oceans. A correlation between apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) and DOC in the deep ocean of the East Sea revealed that only a small portion (<10%) of the sinking DOC, relative to the sinking particulate organic carbon (POC), contributes to microbial degradation. Our results present an important data set of DOC in the East Sea, which plays a critical role in carbon cycle modeling and sequestration.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.566-571
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• 2006

A sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) operated with a cycle of anaerobic - aerobic - anoxic - aerobic has been evaluated for the nutrient removal characteristics. The sponge-like moving media was filled to about 10% of reactor volume. The sewage was the major substrate while external synthetic carbon substrate was added to the anoxic stage to enhance the nitrogen removal. The operational results indicated that maximum T-N and T-P removal efficiencies were 97% and 94%, respectively were achieved, while COD removal of 92%. The observations of significant nitrogen removal in the first aerobic stage indicated that nitrogen removal behaviour in this SBBR was different to conventional SBR. Although the reasons for aerobic nitrogen removal has speculated to either simultaneous nitrification and denitrification or anoxic denitrification inside of the media, further researches are required to confirm the observation. The specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) test with biofilm and suspended growth sludge indicated that biofilm in SBBR played a major role to remove substrates.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.179-189
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• 2021

Plants need essential mineral elements to favorably develop and to complete their life cycle. Despite the irreplaceable roles of microelements, they are often ignored due to the relative importance of macroelements with their influence on crop growth and development. We focused on the changes in primary metabolites in the leaves and roots of bell pepper plants under 6 microelements-deficient conditions: Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B) and Molybdenum (Mo). Bell pepper plants were grown in hydroponic containers, and individual elements were adjusted to 1/10-strength of Hoagland nutrient solution. A remarkable perturbation in the abundance of the primary metabolites was observed for the Fe and B and the Mn and B deficiencies in the leaves and roots, respectively. The metabolites with up-accumulation in the Fe-deficient leaves were glucose, fructose, xylose, glutamine, asparagine and serine. In contrast, the Mn deficiency also resulted in a higher accumulation of glucose, fructose, xylose, galactose, serine, glycine, β-alanine, alanine and valine in the roots. The B deficiency noticeably accumulated alanine, valine and phenylalanine in the roots while it showed a substantial decrease in glucose, fructose and xylose. These results show that the primary metabolism could be seriously disturbed due to a microelement deficiency, and the alteration may be either the specific or adaptive responses of bell pepper plants.

• ALGAE
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.265-279
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• 2022

The primary production (PP) by phytoplankton in marine ecosystems is essential for carbon cycling and fueling food webs. Hence, estimating the PP in the territorial sea of each country is a necessary step to achieving carbon neutrality. To estimate the PP in the territorial sea of the Republic of Korea from 2005 to 2021, we analyzed various physiochemical parameters, such as sea surface temperature (SST), Secchi depth, and concentrations of chlorophyll-a and nutrients in the seas of five regions, including the East Sea, West Sea, western South Sea, eastern South Sea, and the waters off Jeju Island. During the 17-year study period, the SST tended to increase, while the nutrient concentrations declined, except in the Jeju area. Overall, the PP did not show a specific temporal trend, but daily PP in the western South Sea was the highest among the five regions. Moreover, the maximum PP in the Korean territorial waters (76,450 km²) was estimated at 11,227 Gg C y^-1, which accounts for 0.03% of the global PP. The results may give insights into a better understanding of the PP, further resource utilization, and environmental sustainability in the studied region.