• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.39-48
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• 2003

The ornamental industry encompasses cut flower, pot plant, turfgrass and nursery stock production and is an important part of the agricultural sector. As internationally traded commodities, cut flowers and plants are an integral part of the economy of a number of developing countries in South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Genetic modification (GM) is a tool with great potential to the ornamental horticulture industry. The rapid progress in our knowledge of plant molecular biology can accelerate the breeding ornamental plants using recombinant DNA technology techniques. Not only is there the possibility of creating new, novel products the driver of the industry but also the potential to develop varieties requiring less chemical and energy inputs. As an important non-food agricultural sector the use of genetically modified (GM) ornamental crops may also be ideal for the intensive farming necessary to generate pharmaceuticals and other useful products in GM plants. To date, there are only a few ornamental GM products in development and only one, a carnation genetically modified for flower colour, in the marketplace. International Flower Developments, a joint venture between Florigene Ltd. in Australia and Suntory Ltd.of Japan, developed the GM carnations. These flowers are currently on sale in USA, Japan and Australia. The research, development and commercialisation of these products are summarised. The long term prospects for ornamental GM products, like food crops, will be determined by the regulatory environment, and the acceptance of GM products in the marketplace. These critical factors will be analysed in the context of the current legislative environment, and likely public and industry opinion towards ornamental genetically modified organisms (GMO's).

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.192-203
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• 2020

Although the market demand for cold-chain logistics of agricultural products in China is growing rapidly, the technology and scale of cold-chain logistics in China still lag behind the developed countries, resulting in large energy consumption. In our country, many authors have studied the efficiency of cold-chain logistics by using analytic hierarchy process and data envelopment method, but they haven't eliminated the influence of environmental factors and random error factors on the efficiency of cold-chain logistics, and most of them are limited to regional research. Therefore, in this paper, the three-stage DEA method is used. Based on the green logistics idea, firstly, the efficiency of 29 listed logistics enterprises in China is analyzed. Secondly, this paper uses SFA model to exclude the influence of environment and error factors on the analysis results, taking the enterprise's operating years, local GDP and the proportion of cold chain assets as environmental variables. Finally, this paper estimates the efficiency value again by adjusting the input value. The results are as follows: the main reason of high efficiency enterprises is to achieve scale efficiency. So the scale of assets should be maintained or appropriately expanded. At the same time, the economic development and the number of years of enterprise establishment will significantly affect the efficiency of cold-chain logistics. The influence of these environmental variables on the accuracy of the analysis conclusion should be fully considered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.2008-2020
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary corn resistant starch (RS) on the intestinal morphology and barrier functions of broilers. Methods: A total of 320 one-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments: one normal corn-soybean (NC) diet, one corn-soybean-based diet supplementation with 20% corn starch (CS), and 3 corn-soybean-based diets supplementation with 4%, 8%, and 12% corn resistant starch (RS) (identified as 4% RS, 8% RS, and 12% RS, respectively). Each group had eight replicates with eight broilers per replicate. After 21 days feeding, one bird with a body weight (BW) close to the average BW of their replicate was selected and slaughtered. The samples of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum digesta, and blood were collected. Results: Birds fed 4% RS, 8% RS and 12% RS diets showed lower feed intake, BW gain, jejunal villus height (VH), duodenal crypt depth (CD), jejunal VH/CD ratio, duodenal goblet cell density as well as mucin1 mRNA expressions compared to the NC group, but showed higher concentrations of cecal acetic acid and butyric acid, percentage of jejunal proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and delta like canonical Notch ligand 4 (Dll4), and hes family bHLH transcription factor 1 mRNA expressions. However, there were no differences on the plasma diamine oxidase activity and D-lactic acid concentration among all groups. Conclusion: These findings suggested that RS could suppress intestinal morphology and barrier functions by activating Notch pathway and inhibiting the development of goblet cells, resulting in decreased mucins and tight junction mRNA expression.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.21-32
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• 2021

This study analyzed investment effects for Practical Field Studies conducted by the KOPIA (Korea Program on International Agriculture) centers, which are part of the ODA project operated by the Rural Development Administration. Focusing on the productivity and effectiveness factors of each project, a questionnaire survey was sent to each KOPIA center associated with each project. The results demonstrated the production and profitability of farms participating in the pilot project were significantly improved compared to those of farms that did not participate in the project. Also, in the satisfaction results of taste, nutrition, and freshness, the participating firms could significantly improve them when being compared to those of non-participating farms. It is highly expected to contribute to improving the operational effectiveness of Practical Field Projects conducted in Africa based on the results of each project's performance and economic feasibility. This study also can lead to a change in the social perception of ODA projects by raising people's awareness of ODA projects.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.2171-2180
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• 2019

Pistacia weinmannifolia (Anacardiaceae) has been used in herbal medicine for the treatment of influenza, dysentery and enteritis in China. It was recently observed that P. weinmannifolia root extract (PWRE) exerts anti-inflammatory effects both in in vitro and in vivo models. Based on the results from previous studies, the present study investigated the protective effect of PWRE on airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion. Treatment with PWRE significantly decreased the number of eosinophils and the levels of Th2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13, in the bronchialveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of OVA-exposed mice. PWRE decreased the high serum levels of total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E. PWRE also effectively inhibited the influx of inflammatory cells into the lung, as well as airway mucus hypersecretion. In addition, the increased level of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 was significantly decreased with the PWRE treatment in the BALF of OVA-exposed mice and in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. These protective effects of PWRE on OVA-induced pulmonary inflammation were accompanied by the downregulation of mitogen associated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB activation. Thus, the results from the present study indicate that PWRE could be valuable adjuvant for the treatment of asthma.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.949-959
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• 2019

Pistacia weinmannifolia (PW) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat headaches, dysentery, enteritis and influenza. However, PW has not been known for treating respiratory inflammatory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present in vitro analysis confirmed that PW root extract (PWRE) exerts anti-inflammatory effects in phorbol myristate acetate- or tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-stimulated human lung epithelial NCI-H292 cells by attenuating the expression of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6 and Mucin A5 (MUC5AC), which are closely associated with the pulmonary inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of COPD. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of PWRE on pulmonary inflammation induced by cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatment with PWRE significantly reduced the quantity of neutrophils and the levels of inflammatory molecules and toxic molecules, including tumor TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, neutrophil elastase and reactive oxygen species, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice with CS- and LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation. PWRE also attenuated the influx of inflammatory cells in the lung tissues. Furthermore, PWRE downregulated the activation of nuclear factor-κB and the expression of phosphodiesterase 4 in the lung tissues. Therefore, these findings suggest that PWRE may be a valuable adjuvant treatment for COPD.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.87-92
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• 2021

Analysis of current state of construction industry functioning in Ukraine allows us to identify a number of problems having negative impact on sustainable development of construction industry, especially in terms of its organization. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to study existing methods of organization system supplying construction sites with necessary material resources. Companies can develop their own logistics departments, which independently solve logistics issues related to transportation organization and management, accounting and inventory management, acquisition and warehousing, intercommunication (ability to obtain both final and intermediate information during transporting materials). Using a complex of methods is substantiated: the hierarchy analysis method (Saati's method), the network method, the defect elimination algorithm DEA, the transportation problem that finds optimal problem solutions for construction sector with the purpose of rational supplying uninterrupted construction with building resources in the designed model "provider-transportation-costs".

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2017

Foodborne disease outbreaks associated with produces have been increasing in occurrence worldwide. This study investigated microbial contamination levels on thirteen kinds of agricultural products from farms stage to evaluate potential hazards associated with foodborne illness. A total of 1,820 samples were collected in major cultivating area from 2013 through 2015, and analyzed to enumerate aerobic bacterial counts, coliforms/E. coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the prevalence study for four kinds of microorganisms (Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) was performed on each sample. Aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 0.01 to 7.18 log CFU/g, with the highest bacterial cell counts recorded for watermelon. Coliforms were detected in 651 samples (35.8%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of more than 5 log CFU/g. B. cereus was detected in 169 samples (9.3%) ranging from < 0.01 to 2.48 log CFU/g among total samples analyzed. S. aureus was detected in 14 samples (0.7%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of 1.69 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected in 101 samples (5.5%) among 1,820 samples. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels of several agricultural products determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbiological risk assessment (MRA).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the measurement uncertainty associated with determination of cadmium and lead from tomato paste by ICP/MS. The sources of measurement uncertainty (i.e. sample weight, final volume, standard weight, purity, molecular weight, working standard solution, calibration curve, recovery and repeatability) in associated with the analysis of cadmium and lead were evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The guide to the expression of uncertainty was used for the GUM (Guide to the expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) and Draft EURACHEM/CITAC (EURACHEM: A network of organization for analytical chemistry in Europe/Co-Operation on International Traceability in Analytical Chemistry) Guide with mathematical calculation and statistical analysis. The uncertainty components were evaluated by either Type A or Type B methods and the combined standard uncertainty were calculated by statistical analysis using several factors. Expected uncertainty of cadmium and lead was $0.106{\pm}0.015$ mg/kg (k=2.09) and $0.302{\pm}0.029$ mg/kg (k=2.16), on basis of 95% confidence of Certified Reference Material (CRM) which was within certification range of $0.112{\pm}0.007$ mg/kg for cadmium (k=2.03) and $0.316{\pm}0.021$ mg/kg for lead (k=2.01), respectively. CONCLUSION(s): The most influential components in the uncertainty of heavy metals analysis were confirmed as recovery, standard calibration curve and standard solution were identified as the most influential components causing uncertainty of heavy metal analysis. Therefore, more careful consideration is required in these steps to reduce uncertainty of heavy metals analysis in tomato paste.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2003

Sericulture is a traditional agro-industry, which involves mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, has made great contributes to the human civilization. With the development of national economy and modem technology, mulberry and silkworm are being used to develop products with functionality besides the traditional cocoon production in China. In this paper, we brief the current developing situation of sericultural byproducts with functionality in the following aspects. (1) Functional products from silkworm larvae: silkworm powder, white muscardine silkworm, isolation and purification of anti-bacterial proteins from the larvae and production of medically valuable substances by Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) vector. (2) Utilization of silkworm feces: for pillow and for isolation of chlorophyll etc. (3) Production of valuable Chinese traditional medicine like Cordyceps sinensis with pupae, functional utilization of pupa protein and chitin. (4) Silk as additives to cosmetics, silk food and medical materials. (5) Functional utilization of mulberry: cultivation of edible fungus on mulberry shoots as medium, mulberry fruit drinks, mulberry tea, etc. The prospect of sericultural byproduct industry in China is also discussed.