• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1428-1433
• /
• 2012

Longevity is an exciting but difficult subject to study because it is determined by complex processes that require the coordinated action of several genetic factors as well as physiological and environmental influences. Genetic approaches have been applied to animal models to identify the molecular mechanism responsible for longevity. Several experimental model organisms obtained over the last decades suggest that the complete deletion of a single gene by gene targeting has proven to be an invaluable tool for the discovery of the mechanisms underlying longevity. The first discovery of long-lived mutants came from Caenorhabditis elegans research, which identified the insulin/IGF-1 pathway as responsible for longevity in this worm. IGF-1 is a multifunctional polypeptide that has sequence similarity to insulin and is involved in normal growth and development of cells. Several factors in the IGF-1 system have since been studied by gene targeting in the control of longevity in lower species, including nematode and fruit fly. In addition, significant progress has been made using mice models to extend the lifespan by targeted mutations that interfere with growth hormone/IGF-1 and IGF-1 signaling cascades. A recent finding that IGF-1 is involved in aging in mice was achieved by using liver-specific knockout mutant mice, and this clearly demonstrated that the IGF-1 signal pathway can extend the lifespan in both invertebrates and vertebrate models. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms for the control of longevity are not fully understood, it is widely accepted that reduced IGF-1 signaling plays an important role in the control of aging and longevity. Several genes involved in the IGF-1 signaling system are reviewed in relation to longevity in genetically modified mice models.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.114-123
• /
• 2015

Plants can respond and adapt to cold stress through regulation of gene expression in various biochemical and physiological processes. Cold stress triggers decreased rates of metabolism, modification of cell walls, and loss of membrane function. Hence, this study was conducted to construct coexpression networks for time-based expression pattern analysis of genes related to cold stress in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). B. rapa cold stress networks were constructed with 2,030 nodes, 20,235 edges, and 34 connected components. The analysis suggests that similar genes responding to cold stress may also regulate development of Chinese cabbage. Using this network model, it is surmised that cold tolerance is strongly related to activation of chitinase antifreeze proteins by WRKY transcription factors and salicylic acid signaling, and to regulation of stomatal movement and starch metabolic processes for systemic acquired resistance in Chinese cabbage. Moreover, within 48 h, cold stress triggered transition from vegetative to reproductive phase and meristematic phase transition. In this study, we demonstrated that this network model could be used to precisely predict the functions of cold resistance genes in Chinese cabbage.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.5A
• /
• pp.433-442
• /
• 2010

A control of chloride diffusion coefficient is very essential for service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures exposed to chloride attack so that much studies have been focused on this work. The purpose of this study is to derive the intended diffusion coefficient which satisfies intended service life and propose a technique for optimum concrete mixture through genetic algorithm(GA). For this study, 30 data with mixture proportions and related diffusion coefficients are analyzed. Utilizing 27 data, fitness function for diffusion coefficient is obtained with variables of water to binder ratio(W/B), weight of cement, mineral admixture(slag, flay ash, and silica fume), sand, and coarse aggregate. 3 data are used for verification of the results from GA. Average error from fitness function is observed to 18.7% for 27 data for diffusion coefficient with 16.0% of coefficient of variance. For the verification using 3 data, a range of error for mixture proportions through GA is evaluated to 0.3~9.3% in 3 given diffusion coefficients. Assuming the durability design parameters like intended service life, cover depth, surface chloride content, and replacement ratio of mineral admixture, target diffusion coefficient, where exterior conditions like relative humidity(R.H.) and temperature, is derived and optimum design mixtures for concrete are proposed. In this paper, applicability of GA is attempted for durability mixture design and the proposed technique would be improved with enhancement of comprehensive data set including wider range of diffusion coefficients.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.148-156
• /
• 2024

Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, a plant pathogenic bacterium that can survive for a long time in soil and water, causes lethal wilt in the Solanaceae family. Sigma S is a part of the RNA polymerase complex, which regulates gene expression during bacterial stress response or stationary phase. In this study, we investigated the role of sigma S in R. pseudosolanacearum under stress conditions using a rpoS-defective mutant strain of R. pseudosolanacearum and its wild-type strain. The phenotypes of rpoS-defective mutant were complemented by introducing the original rpoS gene. There were no differences observed in bacterial growth rate and exopolysaccharide production between the wild-type strain and the rpoS mutant. However, the wild-type strain responded more sensitively to nutrient deficiency compared to the mutant strain. Under the nutrient deficiency, the rpoS mutant maintained a high bacterial viability for a longer period, while the viability of the wild-type strain declined rapidly. Furthermore, a significant difference in pH was observed between the culture supernatant of the wild-type strain and the mutant strain. The pH of the culture supernatant for the wild-type strain decreased rapidly during bacterial growth, leading to medium acidification. The rapid decline in the wild-type strain's viability may be associated with medium acidification and bacterial sensitivity to acidity during transition to the stationary phase. Interestingly, the rpoS mutant strain cannot utilize acetic acid, D-alanine, D-trehalose, and L-histidine. These results suggest that sigma S of R. pseudosolanacearum regulates the production or utilization of organic acids and controls cell death during stationary phase under nutrient deficiency.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.564-577
• /
• 2017

We investigated whether external environmental factors acted as a trigger for flowering in the draft bamboo (Sasa borealis (Hack.) Makino) blooming area of Mt. Baekwoon located in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province. We then considered the cause for flowering, flowering patterns and life history strategies of the draft bamboo based on the investigation. There were no differences in soil, physical conditions, and light amount between the draft bamboo flowering and non-flowering areas. The precipitation and temperature of the areas in Korea and Japan where it blossomed from 2014 to 2017 were similar to the normal year values (for the past 30 years). Moreover, most of the draft bamboo died after flowering on a large scale, but some did not, or some culms were developed again. In other words, the draft bamboo bloomed simultaneously regardless of external environmental factors, and most of the culms were dead, but some were left alive. Therefore, it is considered that the flowering is triggered by the specific genes (referred as to clock genes) expressed periodically by a biological clock rather than the external environmental factors. Meanwhile, the draft bamboos generally bloom on a large scale by synchronizing with other ones in the distance but may also bloom several times separately on a small scale. It may be a kind of an insurance system established to disperse the risk of failed sexual propagation when flowering once in a lifetime. The results reveal that the long-period monocarpy of the draft bamboo has been strengthened to optimize the sexual propagation to overcome the increased environmental instability caused by the expansion of distribution of tropical bamboos and bamboo species to the temperate regions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.724-732
• /
• 2020

Phytophthora capsici is the organism that causes Phytophthora blight which infects red pepper plants prolifically, ultimately leading to crop loss. A previous study revealed that Enterobacter asburiae ObRS-5 suppresses Phytophthora blight in both red pepper and Ligularia fischeri plants. In order to determine whether the induced systemic resistance (ISR) was triggered by pre-infection with the ObRS-5 strain, we conducted quantitative PCR using primers for PR1, PR4, and PR10, which correlate with systemic resistance in red-pepper plants. In our results, red pepper plants treated with the ObRS-5 strain demonstrated increased expression of all three systemic resistance genes when compared to controls in the glasshouse seedling assay. In addition, treatment of red peppers with the ObRS-5 strain led to reduced Phytophthora blight symptoms caused by P. capsici, whereas all control seedlings were severely affected. Perhaps most importantly, E. asburiae ObRS-5 was shown to induce the ISR response in red peppers without inhibiting growth. These results support that the defense mechanisms are triggered by ObRS-5 strain prior to infection by P. capsici and ObRS-5 strain-mediated ISR action are linked events for protection to Phytophthora blight.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2023

eDNA, an abbreviation for environmental DNA, means DNA derived from organisms inhabiting in a specific environment. The utilization of eDNA extracted from environmental samples allows for efficient and accurate monitoring of organisms inhabiting the respective environment. Specifically, eDNA obtained from seawater samples can be used to analyze marine biodiversity. After collecting seawater samples and extracting eDNA, metagenome analysis enables the taxonomic and diversity analysis among marine organisms inhabiting the sampled area. This review proposed an overall process of marine biodiversity analysis by utilizing eDNA from seawater. Currently, the application of eDNA for analyzing marine biodiversity in domestic setting is not yet widespread. This review can contribute to establishment of marine eDNA research methods in Korea, providing valuable assistance in standardizing the use of eDNA in marine biodiversity studies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.335-338
• /
• 2005

로봇 에이전트는 변화하는 환경에서 센서정보를 바탕으로 적절한 행동을 선택하며 동작하는 것이 중요하다. 행동 선택 네트워크는 이러한 환경에서 변화하는 센서정보에 따라 실시간으로 행동을 선택할 수 있다는 점에서, 장시간에 걸친 최적화보다 단시간 내 개선된 효율성에 초점을 맞추어 사용되어 왔다. 하지만 행동 선택 네트워크는 초기 문제에 의존적으로 설계되어 변화하는 환경에 유연하게 대처하지 못한다는 맹점을 가지고 있다. 본 논문에서는 행동 선택 네트워크의 연결을 LCS를 기반으로 진화 학습시켰다. LCS는 유전자 알고리즘을 통해 만들어진 규칙들을 강화학습을 통해 평가하며, 이를 통해 변화하는 환경에 적합한 규칙을 생성한다. 제안하는 모델에서는 LCS의 규칙이 센서정보를 포함한다. 진화가 진행되는 도중 이 규칙들이 모든 센서 정보를 포함하지 못하기 때문에 현재의 센서 정보를 반영하지 못하는 경우가 발생할 수 있다. 본 논문에서는 이를 해결하기 위해 센서정보 별로 개체를 따로 유지하는 방법을 제안한다. 제안하는 방법의 검증을 위해 Webots 시뮬레이터에서 케페라 로봇을 이용해 실험을 하여, 변화하는 환경에서 로봇 에이전트가 학습을 통해 올바른 행동을 선택함을 보였고, 일반LCS를 사용한 것보다 조건별 개체 유지를 통해 더 나은 결과를 보이는 것 또한 확인하였다.

• The Microorganisms and Industry
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.40-43
• /
• 1990

미생물을 이용하여 광석더미에서 광물을 침출하고 금속을 선광하는 방법(microbial leaching)은 자원고갈현상에 대한 대비책으로 1950년 이후 각광을 받고 있다. Microbial leaching은 hydrometallurgy의 한 분야로 저렴한 비용및 간단한 기술로도 순도가 낮은 광석에서 금속을 여과해낼 수 있고 또 recycling system이라 환경을 오염시키지 않는다는 등의 많은 장점을 지니고 있다. 현재에는 생물공학의 발달과 함께 금속선광에 중요한 미생물의 유전자를 전이시켜 다양한 광석및 금속에 대한 선광능력을 증가시킬 수도 있다. 본 고에서는 선광에 적합한 미생물의 생태, 생리학적 특이성과 leaching에 있어서의 생물공학의 상업적 중요성에 대해 간단히 논의하고자 한다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
• /
• 2003.04c
• /
• pp.49-51
• /
• 2003

성공적인 소프트웨어 개발을 위해서는 프로젝트 계획 수립단계에서 정확한 예측 모델을 연구하는 것이 중요하다. 소프트웨어 개발의 중요성이 대두됨에 따라 현재에는 많은 기존의 프로젝트 데이터를 보관하게 되었다. 기존의 예측모델에서는 개발환경에 따라 서로 다른 형태의 모델을 만들어 개발비용을 예측하였다. 모델의 형태에 따른 신뢰도 또한 주요 이슈로 작용하였다. 이 논문에서는 이러한 많은 프로젝트 데이터와 현재 개발하고자 하는 프로젝트에 대하여 과거의 데이터 중 가장 유사한 최적의 프로젝트를 찾아내기 위해 FP(Function Point)를 이용하는 많은 프로젝트 데이터에 유전자 알고리즘을 적용하여 최적의 유사 모델을 찾아내는 방법에 대하여 제안하고자 한다.