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Role of Citrate Synthase in Acetate Utilization and Protection from Stress-Induced Apoptosis

  • Lee, Yong-Joo;Kang, Hong-Yong;Maeng, Pil Jae
    • Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2008.05a
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    • pp.39-41
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    • 2008
  • The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown to contain three isoforms of citrate synthase (CS). The mitochondrial CS, Cit1, catalyzes the first reaction of the TCA cycle, i.e., condensation of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate to form citrate [1]. The peroxisomal CS, Cit2, participates in the glyoxylate cycle [2]. The third CS is a minor mitochondrial isofunctional enzyme, Cit3, and related to glycerol metabolism. However, the level of its intracellular activity is low and insufficient for metabolic needs of cells [3]. It has been reported that ${\Delta}cit1$ strain is not able to grow with acetate as a sole carbon source on either rich or minimal medium and that it shows a lag in attaining parental growth rates on nonfermentable carbon sources [2, 4, 5]. Cells of ${\Delta}cit2$, on the other hand, have similar growth phenotype as wild-type on various carbon sources. Thus, the biochemical basis of carbon metabolism in the yeast cells with deletion of CIT1 or CIT2 gene has not been clearly addressed yet. In the present study, we focused our efforts on understanding the function of Cit2 in utilizing $C_2$ carbon sources and then found that ${\Delta}cit1$ cells can grow on minimal medium containing $C_2$ carbon sources, such as acetate. We also analyzed that the characteristics of mutant strains defective in each of the genes encoding the enzymes involved in TCA and glyoxylate cycles and membrane carriers for metabolite transport. Our results suggest that citrate produced by peroxisomal CS can be utilized via glyoxylate cycle, and moreover that the glyoxylate cycle by itself functions as a fully competent metabolic pathway for acetate utilization in S. cerevisiae. We also studied the relationship between Cit1 and apoptosis in S. cerevisiae [6]. In multicellular organisms, apoptosis is a highly regulated process of cell death that allows a cell to self-degrade in order for the body to eliminate potentially threatening or undesired cells, and thus is a crucial event for common defense mechanisms and in development [7]. The process of cellular suicide is also present in unicellular organisms such as yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae [8]. When unicellular organisms are exposed to harsh conditions, apoptosis may serve as a defense mechanism for the preservation of cell populations through the sacrifice of some members of a population to promote the survival of others [9]. Apoptosis in S. cerevisiae shows some typical features of mammalian apoptosis such as flipping of phosphatidylserine, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and margination, and DNA cleavage [10]. Yeast cells with ${\Delta}cit1$ deletion showed a temperature-sensitive growth phenotype, and displayed a rapid loss in viability associated with typical apoptotic hallmarks, i.e., ROS accumulation, nuclear fragmentation, DNA breakage, and phosphatidylserine translocation, when exposed to heat stress. Upon long-term cultivation, ${\Delta}cit1$ cells showed increased potentials for both aging-induced apoptosis and adaptive regrowth. Activation of the metacaspase Yca1 was detected during heat- or aging-induced apoptosis in ${\Delta}cit1$ cells, and accordingly, deletion of YCA1 suppressed the apoptotic phenotype caused by ${\Delta}cit1$ mutation. Cells with ${\Delta}cit1$ deletion showed higher tendency toward glutathione (GSH) depletion and subsequent ROS accumulation than the wild-type, which was rescued by exogenous GSH, glutamate, or glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Beside Cit1, other enzymes of TCA cycle and glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs) were found to be involved in stress-induced apoptosis. Deletion of the genes encoding the TCA cycle enzymes and one of the three GDHs, Gdh3, caused increased sensitivity to heat stress. These results lead us to conclude that GSH deficiency in ${\Delta}cit1$ cells is caused by an insufficient supply of glutamate necessary for biosynthesis of GSH rather than the depletion of reducing power required for reduction of GSSG to GSH.

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The Weather Representativeness in Korea Established by the Information Theory (정보이론에 의한 한국의 일기대표성 설정)

  • Park, Hyun-Wook
    • Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.49-73
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    • 1996
  • This study produces quantitatively weather entropy and information ratio using information theory about frequency in the appearance of precipitation phenomenon and monthly change, and then applies them to observation of the change of their space scale by time. As a result of these, this study defines Pusan, Chongju and Kwangju's weather representativeness and then establishes the range of weather representativeness. Based on weather entropy (statistical parameter)-the amount of average weather information-and information ratio, we can define each area's weather representativeness, which can show us more constant form included topographical, geographical factors and season change. The data used for this study are the daily precipitotion and cloudiness during the recent five years($1990{\sim}1994$) at the 69 stations in Korea. It is divided into class of no precipitation, that of precipitation. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) The four season's mean value of information ratio is the highest value. as 0.641, on the basis of Chongju. It is the lowest as 0.572, on the basis of Pusan. On a seasonal basis, the highest mean value of information rate is April's (spring) in Chongju, and the lowest is October's(fall) in Pusan. Accordingly weather representativeness has the highest in Chongju and the lowest in Pusan. (2) To synthesize information ratio of decaying tendancy and half-decay distance, Chonju's weather representativeness has the highest in April, July and October. And kwangju has the highest value in January and the lowest in April and July. Pusan's weather representativeness is not high, that of Pusan's October is the lowest in the year. (3) If we establish the weather representative character on the basis of Chongju-Pusan, the domain of Chongju area is larger than that of Pusan area in October, July and April in order. But Pusan's is larger than Chongju's in January. In the case of Chongju and Kwangju, the domain of Chongju area is larger than that of Kwangju in October, July and April in order, but it is less than that of Kwangju area in January. In the case of Kwangju-Pusan, the domain of Kwangju is larger than that of Pusan in October, July in order. But in April it is less than Pusan's.

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A Social Economic Comparative Study on Appearance Background of Design -for Native Settlement of Design in Korea - (우리 나라 디자인 도입에 관한 사회경제사적 고찰 - 디자인의 한국적 개념의 정착을 위한 시론 -)

  • 이인자
    • Archives of design research
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    • v.11
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    • pp.130-139
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    • 1995
  • The dictionary defines the word 'Design' as planning and designing. Though this is a meaning confined to decorative function, the conception of modern design in this capitalist society of mass production and mass consumption can be said to have reached a new stage of the meeting of industry and the arts. This means the two sides of design' the side of beauty and usefulness The side of beauty should be understood in view of the sense of beauty, and usefulness should also be considered from the viewpoint of consumer's taste and preference This is thought to be the natural problems of design The origin of design can be understood from the background of capitalism. But the capitalism can be said to be the mode of Western thought and action developed based on Western thinking. The capitalism is an economic system derived from the society of industrial capitalism through commercial capitalism. but this economic thinking has been resulted from a mature social system of democracy and civic society. The civic society and democracy are derived from polis of ancient Greece and Rome. and the ancient Greek and Roman society was a society developed from the social system of the nobility and slaves. Polis continued to develop based on the positive territorial expansionism centering around the Mediterranean on the basis of Hellenism. and European countries achieved the intergration of religion. society and politics based on this. thus accomplishing the spirit of capitalism Our design is believed to have been derived from the direct import of Western capitalism. Accordingly. as the original form of Western capitalism has become our economic system. so our design copied that of th West. And our traditional culture and sensitivity which are different in the original form and root of racial disposition seem to breed discord between them. It is. therefore. very important and meaningful for us to exert all possible efforts to seek the root of our disposition and tradition and grope for the appropriate thought and style of design.

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Relationship between Damage by Herbivore and Leaf Production of Oaks in the Burnt Area of the East Coastal Region, Korea (동해안의 산불피해지역에서 참나무 잎 생산량과 초식 피해의 관계)

  • Lee, Kyoung Sin;Hong, Bo Ram;Lee, Kyu Song
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.206-216
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    • 2018
  • We analyzed the effects of spatio-temporal variation in the leaf production of oaks on the density and species richness of herbivores, as well as the consumption by herbivores in the east coastal region of Korea, which is an area that has been damaged by forest fires. The main herbivore that feeds on oak leaves was moth larvae. In mid-August the insect larvae showed the highest density and species richness. Approximately 60.5% of total plant-eating insect larvae were present from August to September 2011. Oak leaf production was at its peak from July to August, and the peak damage caused by herbivores was from August to September. Depending on the investigation timing and site of the survey, oak leaf production, larval densities, and species richness showed large variations. The average production of oak leaves between July and August was estimated to be $0.96ton\;ha^{-1}$. The production of oak leaves during this period also showed spatial variations ranging from 0.34 to $1.89ton\;ha^{-1}$. In August, the consumption of oak leaves by the herbivores showed spatial variations ranging from 0.15 to $1.51ton\;ha^{-1}$. Where oak leaves had a higher yield, they tended to increase in density and species richness of the herbivores. As the production of oak leaves increased, so did the overall consumption and consumption rate by the herbivores. This means that the production of oak leaves is highly related to time and space, and there is a concentration response in which the new individuals gather. Research into the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the food sources and their effects on the higher levels of the food web can help us quantitatively understand and evaluate the structure and functions of the burnt ecosystem that is caused by forest fires.

Biological Stream Health and Physico-chemical Characteristics in the Keum-Ho River Watershed (금호강 수계에서 생물학적 하천 건강도 및 이화학적 특성)

  • Kwon, Young-Soo;An, Kwang-Guk
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.39 no.2 s.116
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    • pp.145-156
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    • 2006
  • The objective of this study was to evaluate biological health conditions and physicochemical status using multi-metric models at five sites of the Keum-Ho River during August 2004 and June 2005. The research approach was based on a qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI), index of biological integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage, and long-term chemical data (1995 ${\sim}$ 2004), which was obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea. For the biological health assessments, regional model of the IBI in Korea (An,2003), was applied for this study. Mean IBI in the river was 30 and varied from 23 to 48 depending on the sampling sites. The river health was judged to be "fair condition", according to the stream health criteria of US EPA (1993) and Barbour et al. (1999). According to the analysis of the chemical water quality data of the river, BOD, COD, conductivity, TP, TN, and TSS largely varied epending on the sampling sites, seasons and years. Variabilities of some parameters including BOD, COD, TP, TN, and conductivity were greater in the downstream than in the upstream reach. This phenomenon was evident in the dilution by the rain during the monsoon. This indicates that precipitation is a very important factor of the chemical variations of water quality. Community analyses showed that species diversity index was highest (H=0.78) in the site 1, while community dominance index was highest in the site 3, where Opsariichthys uncirostris largely dominated. In contrast, the proportions of omnivore and tolerant species were greater in the downstream reach, than in the upstream reach. Overall, this study suggests that some sites in the downstream reach may need to restore the aquatic ecosystem for better biological health.

Negative apparent resistivity in dipole-dipole electrical surveys (쌍극자-쌍극자 전기비저항 탐사에서 나타나는 음의 겉보기 비저항)

  • Jung, Hyun-Key;Min, Dong-Joo;Lee, Hyo-Sun;Oh, Seok-Hoon;Chung, Ho-Joon
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.33-40
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    • 2009
  • In field surveys using the dipole-dipole electrical resistivity method, we often encounter negative apparent resistivity. The term 'negative apparent resistivity' refers to apparent resistivity values with the opposite sign to surrounding data in a pseudosection. Because these negative apparent resistivity values have been regarded as measurement errors, we have discarded the negative apparent resistivity data. Some people have even used negative apparent resistivity data in an inversion process, by taking absolute values of the data. Our field experiments lead us to believe that the main cause for negative apparent resistivity is neither measurement errors nor the influence of self potentials. Furthermore, we also believe that it is not caused by the effects of induced polarization. One possible cause for negative apparent resistivity is the subsurface geological structure. In this study, we provide some numerical examples showing that negative apparent resistivity can arise from geological structures. In numerical examples, we simulate field data using a 3D numerical modelling algorithm, and then extract 2D sections. Our numerical experiments demonstrate that the negative apparent resistivity can be caused by geological structures modelled by U-shaped and crescent-shaped conductive models. Negative apparent resistivity usually occurs when potentials increase with distance from the current electrodes. By plotting the voltage-electrode position curves, we could confirm that when the voltage curves intersect each other, negative apparent resistivity appears. These numerical examples suggest that when we observe negative apparent resistivity in field surveys, we should consider the possibility that the negative apparent resistivity has been caused by geological structure.

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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Interpretation of Soil Catena for Agricultural Soils derived from Sedimentary Rocks (퇴적암 유래 농경지 토양에 대한 카테나 해석)

  • SONN, Yeon-Kyu;LEE, Dong-Sung;KIM, Keun-Tae;HYUN, Byung-Keun;JUN, Hye-Weon;JEON, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.1-14
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    • 2017
  • In Korea, the soil series derived from sedimentary rocks are classified into seven soil series of coarse loamy soil such as Dain, Danbug, Dongam, Imdong, Jeomgog, Maryeong, and Yonggog; seventeen soil series of fine loamy soil such as Angye, Anmi, Banho, Bigog, Deoggog, Dogye, Dojeon, Gamgog, Gugog, Jincheon, Maji, Mungyeong, Oggye, Samam, Yanggog, Yeongwol, and Yulgog; six soil series of fine silty soil such as Goryeong, Bonggog, Juggog, Gyeongsan, Yuga, and Yugog; and four soil series of clayey soil such as Mitan, Pyeongan, Pyeongjeon, and Uji. All thirty-four soil series have different drainage rates and topography. However, the soil texture depends on the parent rock. The buffer functions in GIS (Geographic Information System) techniques were used to calculate adjacent soil series from a soil series. The length of the adjacent soil series was adjusted because a side of the buffer area was one meter long. The cluster analysis was conducted using the CCC (Cubic Clustering Criterion) method, in which the number of clusters is calculated based on the individual soil series ratio. Soil survey has been carried out since 1964 as "The reconnaissance soil survey", and 1:5,000 detailed soil survey was completed in 1999 with a five-years plan in Korea. Today, all the soil survey information has been computerized. GIS techniques were used to establish a digital soil map; however, there have not been any studies to interpret pedogenesis using the GIS technique. In this study, the area of the adjacent soil series were obtained using the GIS technique. The area of the adjacent soil series can be calculated based on the information area. The similarities of soil originated from sedimentary rocks were estimated using the length. As a result, the distribution of grain size was different based on the types of sedimentary rocks and the location. The clusters were distinguished into limestone, sandstone, and shale. In addition, the soil derived from shale was divided into red shale and gray shale. This means that quantitative interpretation of the catena and this established method can be used to interpret the relationship between soil series.

On the Improvement of Precision in Gravity Surveying and Correction, and a Dense Bouguer Anomaly in and Around the Korean Peninsula (한반도 일원의 중력측정 및 보정의 정밀화와 고밀도 부우게이상)

  • Shin, Young-Hong;Yang, Chul-Soo;Ok, Soo-Suk;Choi, Kwang-Sun
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.205-215
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    • 2003
  • A precise and dense Bouguer anomaly is one of the most important data to improve the knowledge of our environment in the aspect of geophysics and physical geodesy. Besides the precise absolute gravity station net, we should consider two parts; one is to improve the precision in gravity measurement and correction of it, and the other is the density of measurement both in number and distribution. For the precise positioning, we have tested how we could use the GPS properly in gravity measurement, and deduced that the GPS measurement for 5 minutes would be effective when we used DGPS with two geodetic GPS receivers and the baseline was shorter than 40km. In this case we should use a precise geoid model such as PNU95. By applying this method, we are able to reduce the cost, time, and number of surveyors, furthermore we also get the benefit of improving in quality. Two kind of computer programs were developed to correct crossover errors and to calculate terrain effects more precisely. The repeated measurements on the same stations in gravity surveying are helpful not only to correct the drifts of spring but also to approach the results statistically by applying network adjustment. So we can find out the blunders of various causes easily and also able to estimate the quality of the measurements. The recent developments in computer technology, digital elevation data, and precise positioning also stimulate us to improve the Bouguer anomaly by more precise terrain correction. The gravity data of various sources, such as land gravity data (by Choi, NGI, etc.), marine gravity data (by NORI), Bouguer anomaly map of North Korea, Japanese gravity data, altimetry satellite data, and EGM96 geopotential model, were collected and processed to get a precise and dense Bouguer anomaly in and around the Korean Peninsula.

A Study on the Legal Issues in Space Tourism (우주여행의 법적문제에 대한 고찰)

  • Kim, Jong-Bok
    • The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.215-239
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    • 2011
  • We are now entering the era of Commercial Space Transportation with the rapid commercialization of space. Commercial Space Tourism will be realized first of all in the commercial space transportation and the spacecraft is developing for it led by private enterprise such as Virgin Galatic and XCOR Aerospace. The spacecraft for space tourism is developed as Reusable Launch Vehicle(RLV). RLV Spaceship I & II manufactured by the Scaled Composites for Virgin Galatic had completed experimental flight successfully and is going to put to the operation for space travel around the year 2012. In our country, Yecheon Astro-Space Center located in Yecheon, Kyungbuk Province, signed a binding-MOU with XCOR Aerospace and going to start space travel in the year 2013 with the spacecraft LYNX MARK-II. Thus, now space travel has become a reality to us. But it is also reality that there's no study by legal basis preparing for the space tourism domestically and internationally. In this regards, this thesis dealt with legal issues related to space tourism. These are as follows : (1) the applicabe law issue that is which law between air law and space law will apply, (2) the status of space tourist issue that is space tourist can be considered as personnel of a spacecraft and/or space flight participant and has the duty to obey the order of the captain of spacecraft, (3) the responsibility of the government for the non-governmental entities such as private enterprise which involved in space tourism in case space accident occurs during the space travel, (4) license permit and supervision issue by the government (In this point, for activating the market of the space tourism, I think it is essential to guarantee the safety of the spacecraft by the government authority, though U. S. government declared that it has not certified the launch vehicle as safe for carrying crew or space flight participants), (5) registration issue, (6) space insurance issue. For all the issues mentioned above, I have studied the existing international treaties and several country's domestic law to the space by referring U.S's Commercial Space Launch Amendment Act of 2004 and New IGA of 1998 and concluded that uniform legal regime to govern these issues should be established domestically and internationally in the near future.

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