• Title/Summary/Keyword: Environmental Factors

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Calibration of Hargreaves Equation Coefficient for Estimating Reference Evapotranspiration in Korea (우리나라 기준증발산량 추정을 위한 Hargreaves 공식의 계수 보정)

  • Hwang, Seon-ah;Han, Kyung-hwa;Zhang, Yong-seon;Cho, Hee-rae;Ok, Jung-hun;Kim, Dong-Jin;Kim, Gi-sun;Jung, Kang-ho
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.238-249
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    • 2019
  • The evapotranspiration is estimated based on weather factors such as temperature, wind speed and humidity, and the Hargreaves equation is a simple equation for calculating evapotranspiration using temperature data. However, the Hargreaves equation tends to be underestimated in areas with wind speeds above 3 m s-1 and overestimated in areas with high relative humidity. The study was conducted to determine Hargreaves equation coefficient in 82 regions in Korea by comparing evapotranspiration determined by modified Hargreaves equation and the Penman-Monteith equation for the time period of 2008~2018. The modified Hargreaves coefficients for 50 inland areas were estimated to be 0.00173~0.00232(average 0.00196), which is similar to or lower than the default value 0.0023. On the other hand, there are 32 coastal areas, and the modified coefficients ranged from 0.00185 to 0.00303(average 0.00234). The east coastal area was estimated to be similar to or higher than the default value, while the west and south coastal areas showed large deviations by area. As results of estimating the evapotranspiration by the modified Hargreaves coefficient, root mean square error(RMSE) is reduced from 0.634~1.394(average 0.857) to 0.466~1.328(average 0.701), and Nash-Sutcliffe Coefficient(NSC) increased from -0.159~0.837(average 0.647) to -0.053~0.910(average 0.755) compared with original Hargreaves equation. Therefore, we confirmed that the Hargreaves equation can be overestimated or underestimated compared to the Penman-Monteith equation, and expected that it will be able to calculate the high accuracy evapotranspiration using the modified Hargreaves equation. This study will contribute to water resources planning, irrigation schedule, and environmental management.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Cutting Management on the Carbohydrate Reserves, Regrowth, and Dry Matter Yeild of Sorghum-Sudangrass Hybrid[Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench] II. Effect of nitrogen fertilization and cutting height on the dead stubble and carbohydrate reserves in stubble of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (질소시비수준과 예취관리가 수단그라스계 잡종 [Sarghum Bicolor (L.) Moench]의 저장탄수화물함량, 재생 및 수량에 미치는 영향. II. 질소시비수준과 예취높이가 수단그라스계 잡종의 그루터기 고사와 저장탄수화물함량에 미치는 영향)

  • Seo, Sung;Kim, Dong-Am
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.67-76
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    • 1983
  • This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of the different nitrogen rates and cutting heights on the dead stubble after cutting, and the carbohydrate reserved in stubble of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Pioneer 988. The experiment was undertaken in the Experimental Livestock Farm of Agriculture Coll., Seoul Nat'l Univ. In Suweon, 1981 and 1982. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The dead stubble after cutting was found to be great with high rate of nitrogen fertilizer and low cutting height. It was also learned that the rainfall during forage cutting period made the dead stubble increased. 2. A significant higher (p<0.05) carbohydrate reserves in the stubble was observed in the high stubble height at the first cutting time and 6th through 7th day after the first cutting. The results indicate that the high stubble height reserves more carbohydrate for the early regrwoth stage after the first cutting when comparing with the low stubble. 3. The content of carbohydrate reserves was influenced by climete. Drought is caused to high content of carbohydrate, whereas, rain is caused to low content of that. The critical soluble carbohydrate content causing the death of stubble supposed to be 3 to 6% at least. 4. It is suggest that carbohydrate reserves in plant do not play a distinctive role for the regrowth in a summer annual forage like sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, but it might be rather influenced by the other factors, for example, environmental conditions at harvest and new bud.

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Quantitative Measurement of Carbon Dioxide Consumption of a Whole Paprika Plant (Capsicum annumm L.) Using a Large Sealed Chamber (대형 밀폐 챔버를 이용한 파프리카(Capsicum annumm L.) 개체의 이산화탄소 소비량 측정 및 정량화)

  • Shin, Jong-Hwa;Ahn, Tae-In;Son, Jung-Eek
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.211-216
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    • 2011
  • This study was carried out to clarify precise $CO_2$ demands of paprika plants (Capsicum annumm L.) by measuring photosynthesis rates of the leaves in high, low positions, and the $CO_2$ consumption of a whole plant in a large sealed chamber. A photosynthesis measuring system (LI-6400) was used to measure the photosynthetic rates of the leaves located in different positions. A large sealed chamber that can control inside environmental factors was developed for measuring $CO_2$ consumption by a whole paprika plant. With increase of radiation, photosynthetic rates of the leaves in higher position became larger than those in lower position. The $CO_2$ consumption by the plant was estimated by using decrement of $CO_2$ concentration from initial level of 1500 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}$ in the chamber with increase of integrated radiation. A regression model for estimating $CO_2$ consumption by the plant (leaf area = 7,533.4 $cm^2$) was expressed with integrated radiation (x) and was suggested as $y=-0.06234+3.671^*x/(2.589+x)$ ($R^2=0.9966^{***}$). The photosynthetic rate of the whole plant measured in the chamber was 3.4 ${\mu}mol\;CO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ under 300 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ light intensity, which is in-between photosynthetic rates of the leaves in high and low positions. For this reason, some differences between required and supplied $CO_2$ amounts in greenhouses might occur when depending too much on photosynthetic rates of leaves. Therefore, we can estimate more accurately $CO_2$ amount required in commercial greenhouses by using $CO_2$ consumption model of a whole plant obtained in this study in addition to leaf photosynthetic rate.

Developmental Stage and Temperature Influence Elongation Response of Petiole to Low Irradiance in Cyclamen persicum (저광도에 대한 시클라멘 엽병의 발육 단계 및 온도 조건별 신장 반응)

  • Oh, Wook;Kim, Ki-Sun
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.28 no.5
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    • pp.719-727
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    • 2010
  • Reduced irradiance promotes shoot elongation depending on developmental stage and environmental factors and decreases plant quality in $Cyclamen$ $persicum$ Mill. To determine the petiole elongation responses to low irradiance, 'Metis Scarlet Red' cyclamen at different developmental stages [juvenile (5-6 unfolded leaves), transitional (1-3 visible flower buds), or mature (1-3 elongating peduncles)] was grown in growth modules at 60 (low light, LL) or 240 (high light, HL) ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD within the growth chambers at different temperatures [16/12 (low temperature, LT), 22/18 (medium temperature, MT), or 28/$24^{\circ}C$ (high temperature, HT) (day/night)]. In Experiment I, juvenile plants were either kept in an LL or HL module during the entire treatment of 4 weeks or were transferred to the other module at 1, 2, or 3 weeks after treatment in an MT chamber. In Experiment II, juvenile, transitional, or mature plants were moved to the HL module at 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12 days after being placed in the LL module at the MT chamber and grown for 21 days. In Experiment III, transitional plants were moved to the HL module at 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12 days after being placed in the LL module at the LT, MT, or HT chambers. As the exposure duration to LL increased from 0 to 4 weeks or from 0 to 12 days, petiole length and plant height increased at all temperatures and developmental stages. In Experiment I, the exposure to LL during the latter period, rather than the early period, increased elongation rate. In Experiment II, petiole elongation in transitional plants was more sensitive to LL than juvenile or mature plants during the early period of the treatment for 12 days. In Experiment III, petiole length increased with increasing temperature and exposure duration to LL. Petiole elongation rate at HT increased rapidly from the beginning of LL exposure as compared to LT. Increase of $6^{\circ}C$ in temperature had the similar effect to LL exposure for 3 days in petiole elongation. To conclude, transitional cyclamen under higher temperatures responds more immediately to low irradiance and elongates its petioles.

Eutrophication and Freshwater Red-tide Algae on Early Impoundment Stage of Jeolgol Reservoir in the Paikryeong Island, West Sea of South Korea (백령도 절골저수지의 부영양화와 담수적조)

  • Lee, Heung-Soo;Hur, Jin;Park, Jae-Chung;Shin, Jae-Ki
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.39 no.2 s.116
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    • pp.271-283
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    • 2006
  • A systematic water quality survey was conducted in August, 2005 for a drinking water supply reservoir (the Jeolgol reseuoir located in an island), which is at an early stage of impoundment, to investigate the causes of water color deterioration of the reservoir and the clogging of filter beds of a water treatment plant. The reservoir shape was simple and its average depth was 5.5 m, increasing from upreservoir toward the downreservoir end near the dam. Dissolved oxygen (DO) and chloropllyll-a (chi-a) showed a large variation while water temperature had a smaller range. Transparency ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 m (average 0.7 m). The average value of turbidity was 9.3 NTU, ranging from 8.0 ${\sim}$ 12.1 NTU. The transparency and the turbidity appear to be affected by a combination of biological and non-biological factors. The poor transparency was explained by an increase of inorganic colloids and algal bloom in the reservoir. The blockage of the filter bed was attributed to the oversupply of phytoplanktons from the reservoir. The range and the average concentration of chi-a within the reservoir were 31.6 ${\sim}$ 258.9 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, 123.6 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ for the upper layer, and 17.0 ${\sim}$ 37.4 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, 26.5 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ for the bottom layer, respectively. A predominant species contributing the algal bloom was Dinophyceae, Peridinium bipes f. occultatum. The distribution of Peridinium spp. was correlated with chi-a concentrations. The standing crop of phytoplankton was highest in the upreservoir with $8.5\;{\times}\;103\;cells\;mL^{-1}$ and it decreased toward the downresevoir. Synedra of Bacillariophyceae and Microcystis aeruginosa of Cyanophyceae appeared to contribute to the algal bloom, although they are not dominated. It is mostly likely that sloped farmlands located in the watershed of the reservoir caused water quality problems because they may contain a significant amount of the nutrients originated from fertilizers. In addition, the aerators installed in the reservoir and a shortage of the inflowing water may be related to the poor water quality. A long-term monitoring and an integrated management plan for the water quality of the watersheds and the reservoir may be required to improve the water quality of the reservoir.

Distribution of Fish in Paddy Fields and the Effectiveness of Fishways as an Ecological Corridor between Paddy Fields and Streams (소규모 어도 설치에 따른 논 주변 생태계의 연계성 평가)

  • Kim, Jae-Ok;Shin, Hyun-Sang;Yoo, Ji-Hyun;Lee, Seung-Heon;Jang, Kyu-Sang;Kim, Bom-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.44 no.2
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    • pp.203-213
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    • 2011
  • Agriculture modern environments can vary due to factors such as land consolidation and ditch enhancement projects. But, these improvements projects can include cover-ing-up of irrigation ditches with concrete, increasing the drop between paddy field and drainage ditches, which might decrease the abundance and diversity of fish fauna around paddy fields. In this study, for the management of agrobiodiversity on fish in paddy fields, we installed a small-scale fishways between paddy fields and drainage ditches, and evaluated the effects on the eco-connection of the paddy fields, ditches and stream. Five fish species were recovered at the drainage ditches. The species exhibited characteristics spawning and growth based on the paddy field. The results indicate that the five fish species could ascend the paddy fields through the small-scale fishways. There are no difference of species numbers at ditches of environment-friendly agriculture paddy fields (A) and good agricultural practices (B) region, but individual numbers were higher at the B region. This result could be interpreted as indicating that ditch diversity was affected by positional properties rather than farming practices because the water flow and connection to adjacent stream of B region were better than A region. After ascertaining the fish species capable of ascending in a pre-survey of the drainage ditches, we set up small-scale fishways at the drop between paddy fields and drainage ditches. Three species of fish (Aphyocypris chinensis, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, M. mizolepis) arrived at the paddy fields via small-scale fishways. The main movement time was from 18:00~24:00 and 00:00~06:00, indicating a preference for the night time period rather than the day period for migration. Concentrating the operation time from night to dawn seems prudent for effective management of small-scale fishways.

Disease Incidences in Radish and Chinese Cabbage. I. Major Diseases in Radish and Chinese Cabbage grown in Alpine Areas in Jeonbug Province (고냉지단경기채소(무우. 배추) 및 평야지 추작채소단지에 발생하는 주요병해조사 I. 전북고냉지단경기 무우, 배추 주요병해)

  • So I.Y.;Lee S.H.;Kim H.M.;Lee W.H.
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.20 no.3 s.48
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    • pp.135-145
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    • 1981
  • Vegetables including Chinese cabbage and radish have been grown in alpine areas such as Muju, Namweon, Jinan and Jangsu during the shortage period of vegetables. The incidence of various diseases, environmental factors such as temperatures and rainfalls, and aphid populations as virus vector were observed at 10-day intervals from July to September in those areas. Disease incidence showed no significant difference among locations. Major diseases in Chin ese cabbage were bacterial soft rot, white spot, downy mildew, mosaic virus, Alternaria leaf spot and Fusarium seedling blight. Major diseases in radish were virus, white rust, black rot, root rot, leaf spot and Fusarium seedling blight. Disease incidence reached peak on Aug. 20 with $27\%$ infection in radish and with $20\%$ infection in Chinese cabbage during the growing season, and declined thereafter. Percentage of infection in each growth stage showed $25\%$ at root thickening stage and $26\%$ at the harvest time in radish; and the head formation stage, $24\%$ at the harvest time. The data indicate that disease incidence in radish increased rapidly at late growing stage and progressively increased in Chinese cabbage Seedling blight caused by Fusarium sp. and root rot caused by Aphanomyces sp. were also observed in those areas. Cool and wet weather appeared to be favorable for disease incidences during the rainy period of growing season although average temperature was about $25^{\circ}C$. Populations of aphids were lower in the alpine vegetable growing area than that of flat areas. Aphids as virus vectors from total aphids collected were $73.5\%$ or 289 virus vectors /993 total aphids in Namweon and $18.1\%$ or 31 virus vectors/171 total aphids in Muju. The most prerevalent species of aphids was Myzus persicae Sulz.

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Spatio-temporal Distributions of Organic Matter in Surface Sediment in the Central Part of the South Sea, Korea (남해 중부해역 표층퇴적물 유기물의 시.공간 분포특성)

  • Noh, Il-Hyeon;Yoon, Yang-Ho;Park, Jong-Sick;Soh, Ho-Young;Kim, Dae-Il
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.203-215
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    • 2006
  • Field observations on the spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter of the surface sediment were carried out at 15 stations in the central parts of the South Sea of Korea from April 2002 to January 2003. The range of water temperature and salinity in bottom waters, mud content and water content of surface sediment were $8.06{\sim}23.35^{\circ}C,\;29.20{\sim}34.51\;psu,\;71.2{\sim}99.9%$ and $38.7{\sim}68.9%$, respectively. Measured parameters on the surface sediments of ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (CODs), phaeopigment, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) also ranged in $3.9{\sim}l2.5%,\;9.60{\sim}44.05\;mgO_2/g-dry,\;1.58{\sim}29.51\;{\mu}g/g-dry,\;3.12{\sim}13.01\;mgC/g-dry$ and $0.49{\sim}2.00\;mgN/g-dry$, respectively. The spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter demonstrated higher concentrations offshore than at lesions near the coastal line. Higher concentrations occurred in the summer and spring. The results indicated that the origin of organic matter in surface sediments in the central part of the South Sea was autochthonous rather than allocthonous because the organic matter had an average C/N ratio of 6.44 (${\pm}0.51$). However, the composition of autochthonous organic matter was mainly derived from detritus rather than living phytoplankton, which was Indicated by the results of the POC/phaeopigment ratio. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that 73.2% of the variability in the data was described by two factors: 1) an 'environmental factor concerning the accumulation of materials (57.3%)' and 2) 'origin of organic matter and the composition by primary production (15.9%)'. The sedimentary environment in the central part of the South Sea was divided into four regions from the factor score of the PCA by the concentrations of organic matter and the composition ratio of organic matters from phytoplankton in surface sediments.

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A Stduy on the Microflora of the Han River -Taxonomy of Phytoplankton for the South Han River and Estimation of Water Pollution Levels on the Central Area of the Han River- (한강의 Microflora에 관한 연구 (제6보) -남한강의 식물성플랑크톤에 대한 분류와 한강중심수역의 수질오탁판정-)

  • 정영호
    • Journal of Plant Biology
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    • v.15 no.s
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    • pp.1-32
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    • 1972
  • In order to utilize for the prevention and preservation of the Han River from the environmental pollution the present studies were carried out to clarify the microflora and estimation of the water pollution levels of the Han River. In addition to the above regional and seasonal fluctuation of the phytoplankton was also examined. Samples of phytoplankton were collected from 6 stations in the South Han River during the period from December, 1971 to October, 1972. The results obtained during the present studies are as follows: 1. The phytoplankton samples collected from 6 stations, Yeoju, Hajapo-ri, Yangpyeong, Daruraegi, Giduwon and Paldang were identified and classified by Engler's classification system(1954). It resulted in 2 phylum, 2 classes, 7 orders, 10 families, 29 genera, 137 species, 1 sub-species, 49 varieties, 6 forma and 2 variety-forma. The total numbers of phytoplankton identified were 195 species, of which 7 families, 27 species, 26 varieties, 4 forma and 2 variety-forma are new to Korea, that of 54 species are first described in Korea. 2. In lower area of the Han River it is found 53 species from Paldang and in middle area it is found 114 species from Giduwon, 95 species from Daruraegi, 66 species from Yangpyeong, 71 species from Hajapori and 81 species from Yeoju. In standpoint of seasonal fluctuation of phytoplankton, the total numbers of the plankton is more abundant in summer than in winter season and it shows bimodal pattern. 3. As compared with previous data which obtained from 30 stations covering estuary to upper area, both South and North Han River, during the period from 1965-1972 it is shown that 10 species of the South Han River and 11 species of the North Han River are found throughout all seasons. Among the above species two are common in both area. In the other hand it is found that 9 species in spring season and 6 species in fall season in the South Han River and 10 species in spring, 23 species in summer, 4 species in fall and 15 species in winter season in the North Han River shows their seasonal fluctuation in this area. Among the seasonal occurrence of phytoplankton 10 species were consider to be indicator for the estimation of biological water pollution levels. 4. According to Fjerdingstad's water pollution level system (1963) the total numbers of 1, 230 species which have been collected from the Han River since 1965 includes 27 species of phytoplankton as indicator; 3 species of blue-green algae, 20 species of diatom, and 4 species of green-algae. 5. With 27 indicator species new estimation of water pollution level system was arranged for water pollution in the Han River. 6. The lower part of the central area of the Han River indicates mesosaprobic. In central area of the Han River shows mesosaprobic and oligosaprobic, but predominant in mesosaporobic. And it is indicated that mesosaprobic, oligosaprobic, and polysaprobic factors mixed up in the North Han River. Compare with their water pollution level in the South and North Han River, with author's new system, it is estimated that North Han River is more polluted than South Han River. 7. The reason why North Han River is more polluted suggested that the selfpurification action was limited by their circulation speed. The rapid speed of water in the North Han River is mainly caused by their topography and water-drainage from waterpower plant. In conclusion the central area of the Han River consist of mesosaprobe zone, as a part with oligosaprobe zone. But the presence of polysaprobe zone in the North Han River gives us many problems in future for the nationa development programme and natural conservation in this area.

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Induction of Phase I, II and III Drug Metabolism/Transport by Xenobiotics

  • Xu Chang Jiang;Li Christina YongTao;Kong AhNg Tony
    • Archives of Pharmacal Research
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.249-268
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    • 2005
  • Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in the metabolism, elimination and detoxification of xenobiotics and drugs introduced into the human body. Most of the tissues and organs in our body are well equipped with diverse and various DMEs including phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters, which are present in abundance either at the basal unstimulated level, and/or are inducible at elevated level after exposure to xenobiotics. Recently, many important advances have been made in the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these drug metabolism genes. Various nuclear receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), orphan nuclear receptors, and nuclear factor-erythoroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) have been shown to be the key mediators of drug-induced changes in phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes as well as phase III transporters involved in efflux mechanisms. For instance, the expression of CYP1 genes can be induced by AhR, which dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) , in response to many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Similarly, the steroid family of orphan nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), both heterodimerize with the ret-inoid X receptor (RXR), are shown to transcriptionally activate the promoters of CYP2B and CYP3A gene expression by xenobiotics such as phenobarbital-like compounds (CAR) and dexamethasone and rifampin-type of agents (PXR). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), which is one of the first characterized members of the nuclear hormone receptor, also dimerizes with RXR and has been shown to be activated by lipid lowering agent fib rate-type of compounds leading to transcriptional activation of the promoters on CYP4A gene. CYP7A was recognized as the first target gene of the liver X receptor (LXR), in which the elimination of cholesterol depends on CYP7A. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as a bile acid receptor, and its activation results in the inhibition of hepatic acid biosynthesis and increased transport of bile acids from intestinal lumen to the liver, and CYP7A is one of its target genes. The transcriptional activation by these receptors upon binding to the promoters located at the 5-flanking region of these GYP genes generally leads to the induction of their mRNA gene expression. The physiological and the pharmacological implications of common partner of RXR for CAR, PXR, PPAR, LXR and FXR receptors largely remain unknown and are under intense investigations. For the phase II DMEs, phase II gene inducers such as the phenolic compounds butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), green tea polyphenol (GTP), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the isothiocyanates (PEITC, sul­foraphane) generally appear to be electrophiles. They generally possess electrophilic-medi­ated stress response, resulting in the activation of bZIP transcription factors Nrf2 which dimerizes with Mafs and binds to the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE) promoter, which is located in many phase II DMEs as well as many cellular defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with the subsequent induction of the expression of these genes. Phase III transporters, for example, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) are expressed in many tissues such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain, and play crucial roles in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. The orphan nuclear receptors PXR and GAR have been shown to be involved in the regulation of these transporters. Along with phase I and phase II enzyme induction, pretreatment with several kinds of inducers has been shown to alter the expression of phase III transporters, and alter the excretion of xenobiotics, which implies that phase III transporters may also be similarly regulated in a coordinated fashion, and provides an important mean to protect the body from xenobiotics insults. It appears that in general, exposure to phase I, phase II and phase III gene inducers may trigger cellular 'stress' response leading to the increase in their gene expression, which ultimately enhance the elimination and clearance of these xenobiotics and/or other 'cellular stresses' including harmful reactive intermediates such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), so that the body will remove the 'stress' expeditiously. Consequently, this homeostatic response of the body plays a central role in the protection of the body against 'environmental' insults such as those elicited by exposure to xenobiotics.