• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effects of root zone cooling using air duct on air temperature distribution and root zone and leaf temperatures of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L. 'Veyron') grown on coir substrate hydroponic system in a greenhouse. When the air duct was laid at the passage adjacent the slab, the direction of air blowing was upstream at $45^{\circ}$. The cooling temperature was set at $20^{\circ}C$ for day and $18^{\circ}C$ for night. For cooing timing treatments, the cooling air was applied at all day (All-day), only night time (5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Night), or no cooling (Control). The air temperature inside the greenhouse at a height of 40 and 80cm above the floor, and substrate and leaf temperatures, fruit characteristics, and fruit ratio were measured. Under the All-day treatment, the air temperature was decreased about $4.4{\sim}5.1^{\circ}C$ at the height of 40cm and $2.1{\sim}3.1^{\circ}C$ at the height of 80cm. Under the Night treatment, the air temperature was decreased about $3.4{\sim}3.8^{\circ}C$ at the height of 40cm and $2.2{\sim}2.7^{\circ}C$ at the height of 80cm. The daily average temperature in the substrate was in the order of the Control ($27.7^{\circ}C$) > Night ($24.1^{\circ}C$) > All-day ($22.8^{\circ}C$) treatment. Cooling the passage with either upstream blowing at $45^{\circ}$ or horizontal blowing at $180^{\circ}$ was effective in lowering the air temperature at a height of 50cm; however, no difference at a height of 100cm. Cooling the passage with perpendicular direction at $90^{\circ}$ was effective in lowering the air temperature at the height between 100 and 200cm above the floor; however, no effect on the temperature at the height of 50cm. A greater decrease in leaf temperature was found at 7 p.m. than that at 9. a.m. under both All-day and Night treatments. Fresh weight partitioning of fruit was in the order of the All-day (48.6%) > Night (45.6%) > Control (24.4%) treatment. A higher fruit production was observed under the All-day treatment, in which the accumulated average temperature was the lowest, and it may have been led to a higher proportion of photosynthate distributed to fruit than other treatments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.756-766
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• 2011

In order to investigate the degree of apartment parking lot dust contamination, total 72 samples of parking lot dust (36 from ground parking lots and 36 from the underground parking lots) were collected in Daegu city from the end of March to the early June 2010. The dust samples were sieved below $100{\mu}m$, and analysed by ICP for 14 elements after an acid extraction. Results obtained from the source assessment of trace element using enrichment factor showed that Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and V were influenced by natural sources, while Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were influenced by anthropogenic sources in both the ground parking lot and the underground parking lot. And results showed that Ca were influenced by natural sources in the ground parking lot, but influenced by anthropogenic sources in the underground parking lot. The measured values were remarkably higher in components from natural sources than in components from anthropogenic sources. Underground parking lot dust was more affected by anthropogenic sources and contaminated compared with the ground parking lot dust. Pollution index of heavy metals revealed that underground parking lot dust was 5.5 times more contaminated with heavy metal components than the ground parking lot dust. The results of correlation analysis among trace elements indicated that components in the ground parking lot were more correlated than those in the underground parking lot, and especially more correlated with natural sources-natural sources. Analysis for correlations between components and influencing factors in the underground parking lot showed that concentrations of heavy metals were higher with smaller number of parking spaces and no ventilation system, and older apartments in last paint and cleaning had relatively higher contents of heavy metals than those of recently painted and cleaned.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.263-270
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• 2011

Boknae Bio-park is a free water surface constructed wetlands to remove non-point source pollution. Boknae Bio-park constructed wetlands (CWs) consist of forebay, wetlands ($1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, and $3^{rd}$ wetlands), and micropool. The concentrations of BOD, SS, T-N and T-P in inflow were 1.87-4.23, 5.2-24.0, 4.94-15.59 and $0.10-0.75mg\;L^{-1}$ in Boknae Bio-park CWs from April to December in 2008, respectively. The removal rates of BOD, SS, T-N and T-P in Boknae Bio-park CWs were 26, 43, 62 and 83%, respectively. The removal rates of BOD and SS in the spring and summer were higher than those in other seasons. The removal rates of T-N and T-P on spring were slightly higher than those in other seasons. The amounts of pollutants removal in Boknae Bio-park CWs were higher in the order of forebay > wetlands > micropool for BOD, wetlands > forebay > micropool for SS and wetlands > forebay > micropool for T-N. The amount of T-P removal was not significant different in all areas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.384-389
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• 2009

This study was carried out to elucidate the relation between expression levels of three melanin synthesis genes (Tyrosinase, Tyrosinase-related protein 1 and Dopachrome tautomerase) according to the Melanocortin-1 receptor genotypes with coat color patterns in Hanwoo cattle, Jeju black cattle and Holsteins. Using real-time semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay (RT-PCR), the expression levels of these three genes were analyzed in skin tissues from four representative coat colored areas: yellowish-brown from MC1R e/e Hanwoo, wild type black from $E^+/E^+$ Jeju black cattle (JBC), and dominant black and white pied regions from $E^D/E^D$ Holstein. The TYR, TYRP1 and DCT genes showed higher expression levels of 4.5, 2.3 and 2.5 times higher in the black skin area of Holsteins than those of from JBC, respectively (p<0.001). In addition, the expression levels of these three genes from JBC were significantly higher than those from Hanwoo cattle (p<0.001). These results show that coat color phenotypes in Hanwoo cattle, JBC and Holsteins is directly correlated with TRY, TYRP1 and DCT transcription levels, which probably reflected involvement with MC1R genotypes; e/e in Hanwoo, $E^+/E^+$ in JBC and $E^D/E^D$ in Holsteins. Consequently, this study suggested that the status of MC1R protein may not only induce the transcription activities of a series of TYR and its related genes responsible for melanin synthesis, but also determine the levels of total melanin contents in bovine skin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1993

Background: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very sensitive method for the detecting of mycobacterial DNA. There are many reports revealing the efficacy of PCR for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis, but there are many different methods for DNA extraction from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Bead beater method is a very useful method for DNA extraction from clinical spectimens, but its procedures are relatively complicated and time-consuming. So we studied other methods for the DNA extraction from Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Rv$ and some clinical specimens (5 smear positive sputa and 5 smear negative CSF). Method: We extracted the mycobacterial DNA with 6 different methods from H37Rv strain and clinical specimens. The methods included SDS-microwave oven method, NaOH lysis method, Triton X-100-Proteinase K method, Lysis buffer method, SDS-proteinase K method and bead beater method. The target DNA was 123bp of IS6110 and was detected by examination of ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. Results: Among 6 methods, SDS-proteinase K method, bead beater method, lysis buffer method and triton X-100-proteinase K method were excellent, but SDS-proteinase K method was the best method in the aspect of simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: We suggest that SDS-porteinase K method is a simple and convinient method and might be the best method for the extraction of mycobacterial DNA.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2010

In this experiment, the effects on the growth and the quality of cut flowers of chrysanthemum 'Jinba' were mainly concerned depending on cultural methods between the pinching and the non-pinching. According to the results, the sufficient period of the vegetative growth was necessary to enter the flower bud differentiation in case of the non-pinching cultivation whereas it was not the case on the pinching. As compared with the pinching, the non-pinching showed 10% higher in the flowering ratio after flower bud differentiation. The flowering ratio of the non-pinching exceeded more than 95% but the pinching showed below 95% of the flowering ratio after flower bud differentiation. Comparing the number of cutting flowers between pinching and non-pinching, it was the non-pinching that showed the production of the first grade cutting flowers about 5 weeks faster than that of the pinching. It seem to be possible that harvesting time and growing period could be shortened. In the non-pinching growing region, above third-grading marketable cut flowers was 100% regardless of planting time. On the contrary, the pinching method showed 84.7% of marketable cutting flowers at first week from the planting, followed by 64.3% at second week, 18.8% at third week, and 2.6% at fourth week. Marketability of cutting flowers indicates that were planted by the pinching is very poor. When draw a comparison between the fourth-week planting of the non-pinching with the first-week planting of the pinching, the non-pinching could cut the growing period 38 days shorter than the pinching and the marketability was better. These results indicate that the non-pinching method can shorten the growing period and harvesting time compared to the pinching and it also resulted in reduction of cost and rapid production of the cutting flowers.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2009

For the purpose of reducing the cost for greenhouse operation by acquiring the electric power necessary for it, this study installed a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the building adjacent to green-houses and experimentally examined the quantity of power generation based on weather conditions. The results of the study are as per the below: The maximum, average and minimum temperature while the experiment was conducted was $0.4{\sim}34.1,\;-6.1{\sim}22.2$, and $-14.1{\sim}16.7^{\circ}C$ respectively, and the solar radiation was $28.8MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ (maximum), $14.9MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ (average), and $0.6MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ (minimum). The quantity of electric power didn't increase in proportion to the quantity of solar radiation and instead, it was almost consistent around 750W. Daily maximum, average and minimum consumption of electric power was 5.2kWh, 2.5kWh and 0kWh respectively. Based on the average electric power consumption of the system used for this experiment, it was sufficient in case the capacity and the working time of a hot blast heater are small, but it was short in case they are big. In case the capacity of the hot blast heater is big, the average electric power quantity will be sufficient for array area $21m^2$, about three times of the present area. In summer when the temperature of the array becomes high, the generation of electric power didn't increase in proportion to the quantity of solar radiation, but this experiment result shows a high correlation between two factors (coefficient of correlation 0.84).

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2008

To determine suitable composition of nutrient solution according to soil textures in fertigation culture of cucumber using three strengths (S) of Yamasaki cucumber recipe, chemical changes of soil, growth characteristics and yield of cucumber were investigated. Electric conductivity of drainage solution was risen in all treatments, pH of loam soil was generally optimum level and that of sandy soil was high level. Photosynthetic rate in loam soil supplied the 1/2 S and transpiration rate in sandy soil supplied the 1.0 S were most low. Diffusive resistance in sandy soil supplied the 1.0 S was high. Chlorophyll contents was higher concentrations by the kinds of soil. Amount of drainage solution in sandy loam soil supplied the 1/2 S and loam soil supplied the 1.0 S were most much and little, respectively. Water absorption rate was the opposition to amount of drainage solution. Nutrient contents in soil except calcium were most high in the 1.0 S by the kinds of soil. Nutrient contents in leaves, nitrogen in sandy soil supplied 1.0 S, phosphorus in loam soil supplied 1/2 S, potassium in two soil supplied 1.0 S, calcium in loam supplied 1/2 S and sandy loam soil supplied 1.0 S, magnesium in loam soil supplied the 1/2 S was high. The growth and yield of fruit were more in loam than in sandy loam soil. Therefore, the suitable compositions of macro-nutrients for fertigation culture of cucumber were determined in loam and sandy loam soils as follows: In loam soil, they were $NO_3$-N 12.3, $NH_4$-N 1.0, P 3.0, K 5.9, Ca 5.7, Mg $3.5\;me{\cdot}L^{-1}$, whereas in sandy loam soil $NO_3$-N 11.7, $NH_4$-N 1.0, P 3.0, K 5.9, Ca 4.9, Mg $3.2\;me\;L^{-1}$.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] grows well in harsh environmental conditions, and is cultivated as one of the top seven food crops in the world. Recently, sweetpotato is drawing interest from people as a healthy food because it is high in dietary fiber, vitamins, carotenoids and overall nutrition value. However, few studies have been conducted on sweetpotato genome sequencing in spite of its importance. This review is aimed at increasing the efficiency of sweetpotato genome sequencing research as well as establishing a base for gene utilization in order to control useful traits. Recently, animal and plant genome sequencing projects increased significantly. However, sweetpotato genome sequencing has not been performed due to polyploidy and heterogeneity problems in its genome. Meanwhile research on its transcriptome has been conducted actively. Recently, a draft of the diploid sweetpotato genome was reported in 2015 by Japanese researchers. In addition, the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Research Association of Sweetpotato (TRAS) has conducted research on gene map construction and genome sequencing of the hexaploid sweetpotato Xushu 18 since 2014. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the 'sweetpotato genomic sequencing to develop genomic tools for Sub-Sahara Africa breeding program'. The chloroplast genome sequence acquired during sweetpotato genome sequencing is used in evolutionary analyses. In this review, the trend of research in the sweetpotato genome sequencing was analyzed. Research trend analysis like this will provide researchers working toward sweetpotato productivity and nutrient improvement with information on the status of sweetpotato genome research. This will contribute to solving world food, energy and environmental problems.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.435-443
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• 2018

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a metabolic master through regulating and restoring cellular energy balance. In skeletal muscle, AMPK increases myofibril protein degradation through the expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases. Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb with various pharmacological functions; however, the effects associated with muscle atrophy have not been fully identified. In this study, we confirmed the effects of AMPK activation by examining the effects of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, on the induction of atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes in C2C12 myotubes. We also investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of Mori Folium (EEMF) on the recovery of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. It was found that exposure to AICAR resulted in the stimulation of Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a); an up-regulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases such as Muscle Atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF1), and a down-regulation of muscle-specific transcription factors, such as MyoD and myogenin; with the activation of AMPK. In addition, AICAR without cytotoxicity indicated a decrease in diameter of C2C12 myotubes. However, treatment with EEMF significantly suppressed AICAR-induced muscle atrophy of C2C12 myotubes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in myotube diameter, which is associated with a reversed stimulation of FOXO3a by the inhibition of AMPK activation. These results indicate that the activation of AMPK by AICAR induces muscle atrophy, and EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy through the AMPK signaling pathway.