• Title/Summary/Keyword: International Agricultural Development

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The Influence of Challenge on Cathepsin B and D Expression Patterns in the Silkworm Bombyx mori L.

  • Wu, Feng-Yao;Zou, Feng-Ming;Jia, Jun-Qiang;Wang, Sheng-Peng;Zhang, Guo-Zheng;Guo, Xi-Jie;Gui, Zhong-Zheng
    • International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.129-135
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    • 2011
  • Cathepsins are well-characterized proteases that are ubiquitously expressed in lysosomes. Previous work revealed that $Bombyx$ $mori$ cathepsins B and D are expressed in the fat body and undergo decomposition during larval-pupal metamorphosis. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect cathepsin gene expression at the transcription level when challenged by $B.$ $mori$ nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), temperature and hormones (20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone analogue (JHA)). mRNAs encoding cathepsins B and D were significantly enhanced after the larvae were infected with BmNPV, and the peak of the induction appeared at 1 day before spinning. This attenuated the inducing effect on cathepsin expression caused by infection. Temperature shock induced cathepsin expression at the later stage of the $5^{th}$ instar, and transcription levels varied with development stage and temperature. Cathepsin B and D mRNA expression in the fat body were significantly induced by JHA at the day before spinning, and with 20E, the expression reached a peak at the last day of the $5^{th}$ instar. Cathepsin B and D mRNA expression exhibited detectable changes post-treatment, without significant differences between or among the hormone concentrations.

Functional analysis of the antioxidant activity of immune-challenged Bombyx mori hemolymph extracts in the human epithelial Caco-2 cell line

  • Kim, Seong Ryul;Kim, Kee-Young;Kim, Seong-Wan;Park, Seung-Won
    • International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.16-21
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    • 2020
  • Humans use insects as food and traditional medicine for many years. Hemolymph is the circulating fluid of insects and is a key component of their immune system. However, limited information is available regarding hemolymph identification, development, and differentiation, as well as the related cellular immune responses. In a previous study, hemolymph extracts prepared from Bombyx mori larvae were found to exert anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare the antioxidant activity of immune-challenged and unchallenged B. mori hemolymph extracts in vitro. For this purpose, human epithelial Caco-2 cells were first exposed to oxidative stress and then treated with various concentrations and incubation times of either immune-challenged or unchallenged B. mori hemolymph extracts. Next, we determined the effect of treatment on the relative expression of GPX-1, SOD-1, and SOD-2 antioxidant marker genes. We found that the expression rates of the three marker genes were markedly higher at a immune-challenged hemolymph extract concentration of 80 ppm compared to those at other concentrations, and the antioxidant effects were enhanced after treatment for 48 hr. Thus, B. mori hemolymph extracts showed antioxidant activity within the limited time and dose. Especially, the immune-challenged B. mori hemolymph extracts showed higher the antioxidant activities than unchallenged one. The activity of silkworm hemolymph extracts could facilitate the development of new types of functional foods, feed additives, and biomaterials with antioxidant properties.

Distribution Characteristic and Assessment of Soil Organic Matter, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Soils of New born River Mouth Wetlands

  • Chen, Weifeng;Ann, Seoung-Won;Shi, Yanxi ;Mi, Qinhua
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.111-117
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    • 2003
  • This paper investigates preliminarily spatial distribution soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and its environmental influence in wetland soil of different vegetation landscape in the Yellow River Mouth. The result shows the SOM and total nitrogen (TN), efficient N, efficient P in top layer soils of different vegetation district have significantly different content, The SOM is shown as Calamagrostis epigeios wetlands > Phragmites cmmunis wetlands > Tamarix chinensi wetlands above tidal > Suaeda salsa wetlands in high tidal > Tamarix chinensi wetlands in high tidal > tidal flats, the arrange of the TN and efficient N content is the same except that the content in Suaeda salsa wetlands in high tidal is heavier than Tamarix chinensi wetlands in high tidal. In different vegetation landscape wetland types the vertical change of soil nutrients are obvious except for p, gradually decrease from the upper to the lower. This case reflects the function of the vegetation on the wetland development of soil and proves the wetland soil has the characteristic of new born and bad degree of development. SOM, TN, efficient N and efficient P content in wetland soils have significantly positive correlation, but TP have no correlation with them but efficient p. The contents of TN in wetland soils range from 58~1480 mg/kg, total average content 408 mg/kg, average content of above 30 cm is 625 mg/kg. The range of TP content in the soil is 372~1042 mg/kg, total average is 569 mg/kg, average content of above 20 cm is 611 mg/kg. According the P it occurs mainly as calcium phosphates, and the validity is lower, therefore, N and P in the new born wetlands cannot produce serious impact on the environments at present.

Long-Term Trend of Groundwater Recharge According to Urbanization (도시화에 의한 장기 지하수 함양량 변화)

  • Lee, Seung-Hyun;Bae, Sang-Keun
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.19 no.6
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    • pp.779-785
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    • 2010
  • To solve a problem of water supply on urban areas, groundwater recharge has to be assessed not only for evaluating the possibility of groundwater development but also for identifying a sustainable aquifer system for water resource development. The assessment of groundwater recharge has been challenged since the land use has been changed constantly. In this study, the groundwater recharge and its ratio were assessed from 1961 to 2007 in Su-yeong-gu, Busan, South Korea by analyzing precipitation, land use, and soil characteristics. For land use analysis, the urbanization change was considered. The land use areas for the residential, agricultural, forest, pasture, bare soil, and water in 1975 occupy 18.6 %, 30.0%, 48.8%, 0.1%, 2.0%, and 0.5% of total area, respectively. The land use ratios were sharply changed from 1980 to 1985; the agricultural area was decreased to 18.3%, and the residential area was increased to 15.0%. From 1995 to 2000, the agricultural area was decreased to 5.5%, and the residential area was increased to 5.4%. The annual averages of precipitation, groundwater recharge, and its ratio were 1509.3 mm, 216.0 mm, and 14.3% respectively. The largest amount of the groundwater recharge showed in 1970 as 408.9 mm, comparing to 2138.1 mm of annual rainfall. Also, the greatest ratio of the groundwater recharge was 19.8% in 1984 with 1492.6 mm of annual rainfall. The lowest amount and ratio of the groundwater recharge were 71.9 mm and 8.0% in 1988, relative to 901.5 mm of annual precipitation. As a result, it is concluded that rainfall has increased, whereas groundwater recharge has decreased between 1961 and 2007.

Land Cover Change and Urban Greenery Prediction in Jabotabek by using Remote Sensing

  • Zain, Alinda-Medrial;Takeuchi, Kazuhiko;Tsunekawa, Atsushi
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture International Edition
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    • no.1
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    • pp.59-66
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    • 2001
  • The tremendous growth of population and physical development in the largest urban agglomeration in Indonesia -the Jakarta Metropolitan Region, also known as Jabotabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Tanggerang, Bekasi)- has created many environmental problems, such as land use conversion, increasing urban temperature, water and air pollution, intrusion of seawater, and flooding. These problems have become more serious as the urban green space (trees, shrubs, and groundcovers) has decreased rapidly with the urbanization process. Urban green space directly benefits the urban environment through ameliorating air pollution, controlling temperature, contributing to the balance of the hydrological system, and providing space for recreation and relaxation. Because there is little hard data to support the claim of decreasing greenery in Jabotabek, it is necessary to measure the amount of urban green space. The paper describes the spatial analysis of urban green space within Jabotabek through the use of a geographical information system (GIS). We used GIS and remote sensing to determine land cover change and predicted greenery percentage. Interpretation of Landsat data for 1972, 1983, 1990, and 1997 showed that Jabotabek has experiences rapid development and associated depletion of green open space. The proportion of green open space fell by 23% from 1972 to 1997. We found a low percentage of urban green space in the center of Jakarta but a high percentage in fringe area. The amount of greenery is predicted by the Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI) model: predicted greenery (%) = [146.04] RVI - 134.96. We consider that our result will be useful for landscape planning to improve the environment of Jabotabek.

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Factors affecting the estimation of antler production in elk deer (Cervus canadensis)

  • Jeon, Dayeon;Lee, Sang-Hoon;Lee, Jinwook;Lee, Yong-Jae;Lee, Sung-Soo;Roh, Hee-Jong;Kim, Dong-Kyo;Dang, Chang-gwon;Kim, Sang-Woo;Kim, Kwan-Woo
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.46 no.3
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    • pp.497-506
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    • 2019
  • The aim of this study was to estimate the factors that can be used as a predictive indicator of antler productivity in elk. Body weight and antler data from 115 stags raised at the Animal Genetic Resources Research Center in Korea were used in this study. The function for the average antler weight was derived by age, which was $y=-3.4693+5.3747x-0.8x^2+0.0424x^3$, and $R^2$ was 0.991. The analysis of the relationship between body weight at birth and the 1st and 2nd year and the antler weight after the 2nd year showed a correlation between them. There was a correlation between the antler weight of 1 and 2 year old stags and the weight of 2 year old stags as well; especially, both antler weights for the 1st and 2nd year were highly correlated with the antler weight of the 4th year. However, there was no relationship between the antler main beam length for the 1st and 2nd year and the antler weight after the 3rd year. Therefore, it is expected that a large amount of antler will be obtained in the future if proper management is carried out for young deer from birth to 2 years old. Additionally, the results of this study are expected to be useful for the development of a deer breeding program and the deer industry.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Modern Transnational Corporations

  • Vitalii Nahornyi;Alona Tiurina;Olha Ruban;Tetiana Khletytska;Vitalii Litvinov
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.172-180
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    • 2024
  • Since the beginning of 2015, corporate social responsibility (CSR) models have been changing in connection with the trend towards the transition of joint value creation of corporate activities and consideration of stakeholders' interests. The purpose of the academic paper lies in empirically studying the current practice of social responsibility of transnational corporations (TNCs). The research methodology has combined the method of qualitative analysis, the method of cases of agricultural holdings in emerging markets within the framework of resource theory, institutional theory and stakeholders' theory. The results show that the practice of CSR is integrated into the strategy of sustainable development of TNCs, which determine the methods, techniques and forms of communication, as well as areas of stakeholders' responsibility. The internal practice of CSR is aimed at developing norms and standards of moral behaviour with stakeholders in order to maximize economic and social goals. Economic goals are focused not only on making a profit, but also on minimizing costs due to the potential risks of corruption, fraud, conflict of interest. The system of corporate social responsibility of modern TNCs is clearly regulated by internal documents that define the list of interested parties and stakeholders, their areas of responsibility, greatly simplifying the processes of cooperation and responsibility. As a result, corporations form their own internal institutional environment. Ethical norms help to avoid the risks of opportunistic behaviour of personnel, conflicts of interest, cases of bribery, corruption, and fraud. The theoretical value of the research lies in supplementing the theory of CSR in the context of the importance of a complex, systematic approach to integrating the theory of resources, institutional theory, theory of stakeholders in the development of strategies for sustainable development of TNCs, the practice of corporate governance and social responsibility.

Biological Resources Potential and the Recent State of International Cooperation in Indonesia

  • Park, Chang-Ho;Junaedi, Ahmad;Lee, Mi-Ra;Lee, Yeon-Hee
    • Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.11.1-11.8
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    • 2010
  • Indonesia is a mega-biodiversity country having at least one trillion US Dollars value of biological resources per year over the next 20 years. Indonesia is home to 11 percent of the world's flowering plant species and 12 percent of all mammals. Many of Indonesia's species and more than half of the archipelago's endemic plant species are found nowhere else on the Earth. This information is just a small portion of all higher plants and animals being found in Indonesia. Former studies described that total number of species in Indonesia is estimated more than 1,000,000 and most of them remain unknown scientifically. Most of lower plants and animals have not been studied yet, so that greatest portion of Indonesia's biological resources has never been assessed with respect to its economic value or conservation status. Many developed countries are building cooperation with Indonesia on resources, mainly in the fields of grant aid, socio-economic services, R & D, researcher exchange, technology transfer, infrastructure, education/training, finance, etc. Indonesia will obtain greater benefits and management of its biological richness via increasing its international capacity to add value and information to its biological diversity. These goals can be achieved by close international collaboration on search of important biological resources and other bioactive products that have potential economic values. Development of biological resource-based technology stands as the industry of the $21^{st}$ century and, therefore, Indonesia has a unique opportunity to lead the process in the world.

Screening of Specific Genes Expressed in the Swine Tissues and Development of a Functional cDNA Chip

  • Kim, Chul Wook;Chang, Kyu Tae;Hong, Yeon Hee;Kwon, Eun Jung;Jung, Won Yong;Cho, Kwang Keun;Chung, Ki Hwa;Kim, Byeong Woo;Lee, Jung Gyu;Yeo, Jung-Sou;Kang, Yang Su;Joo, Young Kuk
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.18 no.7
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    • pp.933-941
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    • 2005
  • To develop a functional cDNA chip, specific genes expressed in the tissues of swine Kagoshima Berkshire were screened. A total of 4,434 ESTs were obtained by constructing a cDNA library from total RNA isolated from the muscle and fat tissues, affirming their functions by investigating similarity of nucleotide sequences with the database at the NCBI. Among them, 1,230 ESTs were confirmed as novel genes, which, to date, have not been identified. Attaching the genes to a cDNA microarray slide revealed expression patterns of genes in muscle and fat according to the growth stages of swine. As specific genes expressed in the muscle tissues of swine with body weight of 30 kg, 60 genes including actin, myosin, tropomysin, transfer RNA-trp synthetase, Kel-like protein 23, KIAA0182 and COI, Foocen-m, etc were obtained. In addition, 18 novel genes were obtained. As specific genes expressed in fat tissues of swine with body weight of 30 kg, 47 genes including annexin II, Collagen, Fibronectin, Pleckstrin homology domain, serine protease, etc were obtained. 21 novel genes were also obtained. The genes specifically expressed in the muscle and fat tissues of swine affect contraction and relaxation of the muscle and the fat. However, studies on the expression mechanisms of the genes are insufficient. To reveal species of structural genes in swine muscle and fat tissue, interrelation studies in expression and function of genes by using the cDNA chip should be conducted.

Development of Individual Residue Analysis Method for Cyanazine in Agricultural Commodities as an Unregistered Herbicide in Korea (국내 미등록 제초제 cyanazine의 농산물 중 개별 잔류분석법 개발)

  • Choung, Myoung-Gun;Im, Moo-Hyeog
    • Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.339-346
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    • 2018
  • Cyanazine is a member of the triazine family of herbicides. Cyanazine is used as a pre- and post-emergence herbicide for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. This experiment was conducted to establish a determination method for cyanazine, as domestic unregistered pesticide, residue in major agricultural commodities using HPLC-DAD/MS. Cyanazine was extracted with acetone from representative samples of five raw products which comprised apple, green pepper, Kimchi cabbage, hulled rice and soybean. The extract was diluted with saline water and partitioned to dichloromethane for remove polar extractive in the aqueous phase. For the hulled rice and soybean samples, n-hexane/acetonitrile partition was additionally employed to remove non-polar lipids. The extract was finally purified by optimized florisil column chromatography. On a $C_{18}$ column in HPLC, cyanazine was successfully separated from co-extractives of sample, and sensitively quantitated by diode array detection at 220 nm. Accuracy and precision of the proposed method was validated by the recovery experiment on every major agricultural commodity samples fortified with cyanazine at 3 concentration levels per agricultural commodity in each triplication. Mean recoveries were ranged from 83.6 to 93.3% in five major representative agricultural commodities. The coefficients of variation were all less than 10%, irrespective of sample types and fortification levels. Limit of quantitation(LOQ) of cyanazine was 0.02 mg/kg as verified by the recovery experiment. A confirmatory method using LC/MS with selected-ion monitoring(SIM) technique was also provided to clearly identify the suspected residue.