• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.75-79
• /
• 2012

Low-melting-temperature agarose gel solution, as a novel porogen was combined with a silk fibroin solution to generate interconnected porous networks. The porosity of the resultant silk fibroin-agarose scaffolds was greater than that of the scaffolds generated with agarose and deionized water. The porosities of silk fibroin scaffolds containing agarose gel at 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% [w/v] were 110.9%, 111.7%, 120.9%, and 123.0%, respectively. Lastly, the internal space generated in scaffolds after dissolution of the agarose gel provides a good environment for cell growth and movement within the scaffold.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 1995

Agricultural extension services in Korea has experienced various system changes and accomplishments. The biggest achievement of extension was rice self-suffiency in the 1970s and abundant vegetable and animal production in the 1980s. The emerging challenges of international competition and localization are contributing to significant changes such as the decentralization of activities and shared responsibilities between the central government and local governments. Change, while it threatens the status quo, is a challenge and an opportunity to review and revamp ensconced and often rigid structures. In this sense, it is time to start a new era in agricultural extension. The development of agricultural extension requires keen appraisals and cogent analysis based on the realities of each specific regional situation. In order to develop agricultural extension services, the various aspects, the synthetic identification of its environments, the clarification of the client, the program development, and the effective mechanisms between research and extension must be considered. Especially, agricultural extension systems should be flexible and adjust to changing environments and the farmers' needs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2017.06a
• /
• pp.160-160
• /
• 2017

Drought stress is a major constraint of crop development and productivity. Plants have evolutionally developed several mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and physiological levels to overcome drought stress. The basic Leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) family members are starting to be concerned about their roles in drought stress responses. In this study, we functionally characterized OsbZIP66, a rice group-E bZIP TF, to be associated with rice drought tolerance mechanisms. Expression of OsbZIP66 was significantly induced upon treatments of rice plants with drought, high salinity, and ABA. These observations and the fact that the OsbZIP66 promoter contains ten ABA-responsive elements suggest that OsbZIP66 is up-regulated by drought stress in an ABA-dependent manner. Overexpression of both OsbZIP66 in a whole plant body and specifically in roots enhanced drought tolerance of rice plants, indicating that the rice drought tolerance positively correlates with the expression levels of OsbZIP66. Thus, our results demonstrated that OsbZIP66 has a potential for use in biotechnological development of high-yielding rice plants under drought conditions.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.345-349
• /
• 2017

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), a member of the genus Crinivirus, has caused an epidemic disease in tomato worldwide. ToCV is phloem-limited and transmitted by whiteflies in a semi-persistent manner, but not by mechanical inoculation. Experimental propagation of ToCV has been performed primarily by using whitefly-mediated inoculation. To develop a simple and convenient method for transmission of ToCV, we investigated grafting single-leaflets from tomato plants infected with ToCV to recipient tomato seedlings. Forty-one of 46 tomato seedlings tested were grafted successfully with single-leaflets infected with ToCV. Among them, 36 seedlings (87.8%) were systemically infected with ToCV and developed typical symptoms. Our results demonstrated that single-leaflet grafting could provide a sufficient amount of inoculum for the transmission of ToCV to the grafted seedlings.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2024

For stable silkworm breeding and high-quality sericulture product production, the detection of Pebrine disease in silkworm eggs is critical. Current diagnostic methods can be timeconsuming and complex. This study aimed to develop a simplified and rapid diagnostic method using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology to detect pebrine infection in silkworm mother moths. Eight primer candidates targeting the ribosomal gene region of microsporidia were designed and evaluated for specificity and detection sensitivity. A simplified nucleic acid extraction method was established, and isothermal amplification was performed using the selected primers. Of these, primers ID30 and ID45 showed no polymerization, while ID5, ID18, and ID76 exhibited nonspecific reactions, making them unsuitable. Primers ID1, ID6, ID45, and ID82 successfully amplified DNA only in the presence of pebrine, with ID82 demonstrating the best reproducibility and sensitivity, detecting as low as 2.5 pg/ul of DNA through electrophoresis and 5 pg/ul via a colorimetric change with phenol red. The entire process, from nucleic acid extraction to detection, was completed within 60 min. The use of the ID82 primer set in LAMP technology offers a promising and efficient approach for the rapid diagnosis of pebrine disease, potentially enhancing quality control in sericulture.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.90-98
• /
• 2023

The human eye, constantly exposed to solar radiation, can be damaged by UV radiation. In particular, ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced damage plays an important role in retinal degeneration and cell aging. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of the methanol extract of Oxya chinensis sinuosa (OCM), an edible insect known for its high protein content (64.2%), and various pharmacological effects, on human retinal pigment epithelial cells. ARPE-19 cells were treated with OCM and subsequently UVB irradiated. Our results showed that OCM effectively attenuates UVB-induced cell damage by reducing MAPK phosphorylation (JNK and p38 MAPK). Additionally, OCM increased the phosphorylation of Akt, and cell cycle regulators, including p21 and p27, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, OCM treatment increased ARPE-19 cell proliferation by activating the S6K1/S6 pathway. This study suggests that OCM prevents UVB-induced retinal cell damage by increasing cell proliferation via ROS reduction, suggesting its potential as a functional therapeutic superfood against retinal cell damage.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.147-163
• /
• 1994

Agricultural extension programs in Korea had focused mainly on increased production, and the biggest pride of extension was the achievement of rice self-sufficency in 1970s and abundant vegetable and animal production in 1980s. Farming in Korea has changed rapidly in recent years and extension system on commercialized crops have not been satisfactorily developed to mete farmers` demands. Facing the emerging challenges of international competition and trade liberalization for agricultural commodities, the goals of extension should be focused on increased income and the welfare of coral communities. The transfering of agricultural extension educator from central government jobs to local ones has emerged recently under the trends of localization which resulted unstable job environment of extension educator. Intensive pre-service and in-service training of extension workers on current and advanced techologies are essential to upgrade the quality of extension services, and the future directions for professional development of agricultural extension educators in Korea were suggested as follows: 1. Establishing a national network on agricultural extension system to promote exchanges of information among counties and provinces, to conduct meetings and to publish information on agricultural extension. 2. Determining the implications of recent national and global trends on agricultural extension, and strenthening communication at local, national and international levels for an effective extension system in the era of localization, internationalization and globalization; 3. Recognizing the effect of number and quality of extension staff on the impact of extension and providing opportunities development and advancement of extension personnel through education, training, incentives and rewards; 4. Giving a higher priority to agricultural extension in national policies in order to ensure the adequacy of budgetary support and recognition of importance of extension by the ministries concerned and mass communications.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.50-53
• /
• 2016

The size of head capsule is one of the most important factors for identifying developmental stage. In order to understand the developmental characteristics of the butterfly Atrophaneura alcinous, we examined fluctuations in larval head capsule size under three different temperature conditions (20, 25, and $30^{\circ}C$) and 60% humidity. As a result, larvae developed to the fifth instar at all three temperatures. The head capsule size of larvae tended to be larger at the lowest temperature and smaller at the highest temperature. The development rate showed a regular change, consistent with Dyar's rule regarding head capsule size development. Furthermore, the development of head capsule size was found to correspond to a second degree polynomial regression better than to a linear regression. On the basis of these results, it would appear to be possible to perform an accurate assessment of instar status during the development of A. alcinous.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.159-163
• /
• 2017

The artificial insemination (AI) is one of the best assisted reproductive technologies for increasing reproductive capacity and facilitating the genetic improvement in farm animals. AI has been used in Uganda for over 60 years, but a small population of the total herd has been used. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of AI with estrus synchronization technique and to propose ways of improving the productivity of dairy farms through AI services in Uganda. In total, 78 cows from 11 dairy farms were selected for timed-AI. Synchronization was performed according to the ovsynch programs followed by AI using frozen semen from Korean Holstein (0.5 ml straws). Pregnancy rate was varying among farms (0-50%) and the overall pregnancy rate was 28.2%. Cows in luteal phase at the time of treatment was 40.0% whereas that in follicular phase was 20.8%. After treatment, cows that showed normal estrus signal were 45.5% (25/55). Abnormal estrus was categorized into pre-estrus (9.1%), cystic ovaries (21.8%), anestrus (18.2%) and delayed ovulation (5.5%), respectively. These results imply that an assured protocol for timed-AI should be developed to improve the productivity of dairy farms through AI services in Uganda.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2022.10a
• /
• pp.34-34
• /
• 2022

Capacity building for bioinformatics could be achieved with the systematic training of research staff and higher degree students in the current best practices for analysis of data from 'omic-type experiments. It is anticipated that the KOICA-University of the Philippines Los Baños - International Rice Research Insitute Agricultural Genomics Research Center activities will focus on the use of next generation sequencing technology for genome sequencing and annotation, genome variant discovery for use in GWAS and QTL mapping, and transcriptome analysis of organisms important to agriculture and food security. Such activities require that researchers have high levels of knowledge and skills in bioinformatics in order to gain insights from the results of the experiments performed. In this talk the bioinformatic tools/solutions and online training materials already available will be presented, as well the upcoming resources under development in support of the project.