• Title/Summary/Keyword: Quantitative characters

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The Impacts of Social Support and Psychological Factors on Guild Members' Flow and Loyalty in MMORPG (MMORPG에서 길드 구성원들의 사회적 지지와 심리적 요인들이 플로우 및 충성도에 미치는 영향)

  • Kang, Ju-Seon;Ko, Yoon-Jung;Ko, Il-Sang
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.69-98
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    • 2009
  • We investigated what factors motivate gamers to participate in a guild and why they continue to be engaged as members of the guild. We find that, based on the result of focus group interviews with MMORPG gamers, social support and self-esteem factors play important roles. Considering both prior research and the focus group interviews we have conducted, we define social support and character control as independent variables. Character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem are proposed as mediating variables while guild flow and game loyalty as dependent variables. Accordingly, we develop the research model and hypotheses, and verify them empirically. Based on our experiences of playing the WoW game, we proposed a research model and conducted focus-group interviews (FGIs). FGIs involve formulating a hypothesis and then collecting some relevant data. FGIs were conducted face-to-face with students of C University in Korea. We formulated structured interview schedules, and the questions were based on our research variables and personal experiences. The questions for the interviews encompassed the following areas: (a) the demographic characteristics of the focus group; (b) the number of years for which respondents had played online games; (c) the motive for starting a game; (d) the number of game-characters assumed by each gamer; (e) the type of game played; and (f) other issues such as the reasons for involvement in the play, the willingness to reuse the game in case new versions were released, etc. On average, it took two hours to interview each of three groups. A primary set of FGIs was conducted with three groups on the premise that there would be some differences caused by character race (Horde vs. Alliance) or by playable server (Normal vs. Combat). With respect to the manner of playing, we found that guild members shared information, felt a sense of belonging, and played computer games for quite a long time through the guild; however, they did not undergo these experiences when playing alone. Gamers who belonged to a specific guild helped other players without expecting compensation for that, freely shared information about the game, gave away items for free, and more generous with other members who made mistakes. The guild members were aware of the existence other members and experienced a sense of belonging through interactions with, and evaluations from, other players. It was clear that social support was shown within the guild and that it played an important role as a major research variable. Based on the results of the first FGIs, a second set of in-depth FGIs was carried out with a focus on the psychology of the individual within the guild and the social community of the guild. The second set of FGIs also focused on the guild's offline meetings. Gamers, over all, recognize the necessity of joining a community, not only off-line but also online world of the guild. They admit that the guild is important for them to easily and conveniently enjoy playing online computer games. The active behavior and positive attitudes of existing guild members can motivate new members of the guild to adapt themselves to the guild environment. They then adopt the same behaviors and attitudes of established guild members. In this manner, the new members of the guild strengthen the bonds with other gamers while feeling a sense of belonging, and developing social identity, thereby. It was discovered that the interaction among guild members and the social support encouraged new gamers to quickly develop a sense of social identity and increase their self-esteem. The guild seemed to play the role of socializing gamers. Sometimes, even in the real world, the guild members helped one another; therefore, the features of the guild also spilled over to the offline environment. We intend to use self-esteem, which was found through the second set of FGIs, as an important research variable. To collect data, an online survey was designed with a questionnaire to be completed by WoW gamers, who belong to a guild. The survey was registered on the best three domestic game-sites: 'WoW playforum,' 'WoW gamemeca,' and 'Wow invent.' The selected items to be measured in the questionnaire were decided based on prior research and data from FGIs. To verify the content of the questionnaire, we carried out a pilot test with the same participants to point out ambiguous questions as a way to ensure maximum accuracy of the survey result. A total of 244 responses were analyzed from the 250 completed questionnaires. The SEM analysis was used to test goodness-of-fit of the model. As a result, we found important results as follows: First, according to the statistics, social support had statistically significant impacts on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Second, character control had significant effects on character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity shows its clear impact on self-esteem and game loyalty. Fourth, guild identity affected self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Fifth, self-esteem had a positive influence on the guild flow. These days, the number of virtual community is rising along with its significance largely because of the nature of the online games. Accordingly, this study is designed to clarify the psychological relationship between gamers within the guild that has been generally established by gamers to play online games together. This study focuses on the relationships in which social support influences guild flow or game loyalty through character control, character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem, which are present within a guild in the MMORPG game environment. The study results are as follows. First, the effects of social support on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem are proven to be statistically significant. It was found that character control improves character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Among the seven variables, social support, which is derived from FGIs, plays an important role in this study. With the active support of other guild members, gamers can improve their ability to develop good characters and to control them. Second, character identity has a positive effect on self-esteem and game loyalty, while guild identity has a significant effect on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Self-esteem affects guild flow. It was found that the higher the character and guild identities become, the greater the self-esteem is established. Contrary to the findings of prior research, our study results indicate that the relationship between character identity and guild flow is not significant. Rather, it was found that character identity directly affects game players' loyalty. Even though the character identity had no direct effect on increasing guild flow, it has indirectly affected guild flow through self-esteem. The significant relationship between self-esteem and guild flow indicates that gamers achieve flow, i.e., a feeling of pleasure and excitement through social support. Several important implications of this study should be noted. First, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to conduct this study. Through FGIs, it was observed that both social support and self-esteem are important variables. Second, because guilds had been rarely studied, this research is expected to play an important role in the online community. Third, according to the result, six hypotheses (H1, H5, H6, H7, H8, and H11) setup based on FGIs, were statistically significant; thus, we can suggest the corresponding relationships among the variables as a guideline for follow-up research. Our research is significant as it has following implications: first, the social support of the guild members is important when establishing character control, character identity, guildidentity and self-esteem. It is also a major variable that affects guild flow and game loyalty. Second, character control when improved by social support shows notable influence on the development of character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity and guild identity are major factors to help establish gamers' own self-esteem. Fourth, character identity affects guild flow through self-esteem and game loyalty. The gamers usually express themselves through characters; the higher character identity is, the more loyalty a gamer has. Fifth, guild identity, established within the guild, has clear effects on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Sixth, qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to conduct this study. Based on the results of focus group interviews and SEM analysis, we find that the social support by guild members and psychological factors are significant in strengthening the flow of guild and loyalty to the game. As such, game developers should provide some extra functions for guild community, through which gamers can play online games in collaboration with one another. Also, we suggest that positive self-esteem which is built up through social support can help gamers achieve higher level of flow and satisfaction, which will consequently contribute to minimizing the possibility for the players to develop negative attitude toward the guild they belong to.

Validation Study for Image Performance of I-131 Using GATE Simulation Program (GATE 시뮬레이션 프로그램을 이용한 I-131의 영상 특성의 타당성에 관한 연구)

  • Baek, Cheol-Ha;Kim, Dae Ho;Lee, Yong-Gu;Lee, Youngjin
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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    • v.54 no.5
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    • pp.133-137
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    • 2017
  • The purpose of this study was to validate for GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) simulation by comparing the results of GATE simulation and experiment in real SPECT system. Futhermore, we want to prove that it is possible that the quantitative research of gamma camera/SPECT imaging for therapeutic radio isotope by using GATE simulation. In this study, the SPECT system on simulation referred to the parameters of Stream-R Forte version 1.2 (Philips Medical System, Best and Heerlen, Netherlands). To understand the I-131 image of gamma camera/SPECT system, we acquired the energy spectrum and measured the full width at half maximum (FWHM) which comes from line spread function (LSF) with and without scatter material in real SPECT system. And to compare with experiment, we also measured the FWHM and acquired the energy spectrum without scatter material in GATE simulation. As a result, without scatter material, the energy peak was almost same location, which are located nearby 364 keV, and other spectrum factors are same tendency in both cases. The FWHM was increased by increasing the distance of source to detector, and the error rate was approximately 3.8%. When we used the line source with scatter material, energy spectrum also indicated similar tendency in both cases. As you confirmed earlier, GATE simulation included real instrument and radioisotope characters for therapeutic radioisotope. Therefore this result that it was possible that various quantitative study for therapeutic radioisotope imaging in gamma camera/SPECT using GATE simulation.

Analysis of Morphological Characteristics for Normal Maize Inbred Lines (종실옥수수 자식계통들에 대한 형태적 특성 연구)

  • Park, Jong Yeol;Sa, Kyu Jin;Park, Ki Jin;Lee, Ju Kyong
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.59 no.3
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    • pp.312-318
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    • 2014
  • We evaluated the morphological characteristics of 156 maize inbred lines, which were developed to breeding normal maize variety at Maize Experiment Station, Gangwon Agricultural Research and Extension Services, by examining 11 quantitative and three qualitative characteristics. On the evaluation of three qualitative traits for 156 maize inbred lines, most inbred lines showed yellow (85 and 84 inbred lines) at tassel color (QL1) and silk color (QL2), and showed semi erect (105 inbred lines) at plant type (QL3). While, the evaluation of 11 quantitative traits for 156 maize inbred lines, they showed the morphological variation in days of tasseling (QN1, 56.5 to 76.0 days), days of silking (QN2, 59.0 to 85.5 days), stem thickness (QN3, 12.7 to 42.9 mm), plant height (QN4, 111.8 to 239.8 cm), ear height (QN5, 48.2 to 126.5 cm), 100 kernel weight (QN6, 14.9 to 36.4 g), ear length (QN7, 10.0 to 79.0 cm), setted kernel length (QN8, 8.0 to 70.5 cm), ear thickness (QN9, 4.0 to 22.0 cm), total kernel weight (QN10, 22.0 to 490.0 kg) and water content (QN11, 9.3 to 11.9%), respectively. As a result, 11 inbred lines (00hf3, 00hf19, 00hf30, 00hf36, 02S8069, 02S8072, 02S8090, 02S8099, 05S10011, 06S8085-6, 07S8011) in the 156 normal maize inbred lines have showed comparatively high values. While, the results of PCA (principal component analysis) indicated that the ear length (QN7), setted kernel length (QN8), ear thickness (QN9) and total kernel weight (QN10) greatly contributed in positive direction on the first principal components. And also, days of tasseling (QN1), days of silking (QN2), plant height (QN4) and ear height (QN5) contributed in negative direction on the second principal component. Thus these morphological characters, which were greatly contributed in the first and second principal components, might be considered to be useful for discrimination among 156 normal inbred lines. Specifically, this study's assessment of morphological characteristics of 156 normal inbred lines will be helpful useful for normal maize breeding programs such activities as planning crosses for hybrid and line development at Maize Experiment Station, Gangwon Agricultural Research and Extension Services.

Morphological Characteristics and Classification Criteria for Azalea Cultivars for Landscaping in Korea (조경용 철쭉재배품종의 형태적 특성 및 분류기준)

  • Choi, Jae-Jin;Park, Seok-Gon
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.42 no.2
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    • pp.77-85
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    • 2014
  • This study was conducted to examine the morphological characteristics of those Azalea Cultivars(hereinafter, Azalea Cultivars) that are mainly used for landscaping in Korea in order to prepare classification criteria. As testing materials, major Azalea Cultivars cultivated in large quantities by its producing companies were collected. Thereafter, the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the traits of Azalea Cultivars were investigated in the way of characteristic investigation for new cultivars of azalea used by the Korea Seed and Variety Service in order to classify them and prepare the classification criteria. Since cultivar names have not been established for Azalea Cultivars for landscaping thus far, the data were compiled using the names used by cultivating companies. According to the results, Azalea Cultivars cultivated in Suncheon, Jeonnam mainly for landscaping were 10 in number; Beni, Daewang, Three, Zasanhong, Hancheol, Sancheoljuk, Gyeobsancheoljuk, Baekcheoljuk, Akado, and Seok-am. Among them, the cultivars Beni, Daewang, and Three could not be easily distinguished from each other because they are commonly called Yeongsanhong by cultivating companies and the shapes of their leaves and flowers are similar to each other. In particular, the flower color of Beni was 'bright red', that of Daewang was 'vivid purple', and that of Three was 'bright purple'. In addition, Zasanhong and Hancheol were similar to each other in shape the degree of expression of spots on the flowers and the gloss on the front side of the leaves of Hancheol were higher and stronger compared to that of Zasanhong. Sancheoljuk flowered in early April, earlier compared to other Azalea Cultivars. Gyeobsancheoljuk is an elementary species of Sancheoljuk and it had double flowers although all other traits were similar to those of Sancheoljuk. Although Baekcheoljuk was easily distinguished because it had white flowers, its leaves were similar to those of Akado the reason why these two cultivars could not be easily distinguished from each other. The cultivar Akado flowered early May later compared to other Azalea Cultivars and its flowers were relatively large in diameter as with Baekcheoljuk and Sancheoljuk. Finally, the cultivar Seok-am was easily distinguished because it had smaller leaves compared to other cultivars and it flowered late as with the cultivar Akado.

Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Characters of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) by Diallel Cross (이면교배(二面交配)에 의한 수도량적(水稻量的) 형질(形質)의 유전분석(遺傳分析)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Jo, Jae-seong
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.254-282
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    • 1977
  • To obtain information on the inheritance of the quantitative characters related with the vegetative and reproductive growth of rice, the $F_1$ seeds were obtained in 1974 from the all possible combinations of the diallel crosses among five leading rice varieties : Nongbaek, Tongil, Palgueng, Mangyeong and Gimmaze. The $F_1$'s including reciprocals and parents were grown under the standard cultivation method at Chungnam Provincial Office of Rural Development in 1975. The arrangement of experimental plots was randomized block design with 3 replications and 12 characters were used for the analysis. Analytical procedure for genetic components was followed the Griffing's and Hayman's methods and the results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. In all $F_1$'s of Tongil crosses, the longer duration to heading was due to dominant effect of Tongil and each $F_1$ showed high heterosis in delaying the heading time. It was assumed that non-allelic gene action besides dominant gene effect might be involed in days to heading character. However, in all $F_1$'s from the crosses among parents excluding Tongil the shorter duration was due to dominant gene action and the degree of dominance was partial, since dominance effects were not greater than the additive effect. The non-allelic gene interaction was not significant. Considering the results mentioned above, it was regarded that there were two kinds of Significantly different genetic systems in the days to heading. 2. The rate of heterosis was significantly different depending upon the parents used in the crosses. For instance, the $F_1$'s from Togil cross showed high rate of heterosis in longer culm. Compared to short culm, longer culm was due to recesive gene action and short culm was due to recesive gene action. The dominant gene effect was greater than the additive gene effect in culm length. The narrow sense of heretability was very low and the maternal effects as well as reciprocal effects were significantly recognized. 3. The lenght of the of the uppermost internode of each $F_1$ plant was a little lorger than these of respective parental means or same as those of parents having long internodes, indicating partial dominance in the direction of lengthening the uppermost internodes. The additive gene effects on the uppermost internode was greater than the dominance gene effect. The narrow as well as broad sense of heritabilities for the character of the uppermost internode were very high. There were significant maternal and reciprocal effect in the uppermost internode. 4. The gene action for the flag leaf angle was rather dominance in a way of getting narrower angle. However, in the Palgueng combinations, heterosis of $F_1$ was observed in both narrow and wide angles of the flag leaf. The dominant effects were greater than the additive effects on the flag leaf angle. There were observed also a great deal of non-allelic gene interacticn on the inheritance of the flag leaf angle. 5. Even though the dominant gene action on the length and width of flag leaf was effective in increasing the length or width of the flag leaf, there were found various degrees of hetercsis depending upon the cross combination. Over-dominant gene effect were observed in the inheritance of length of the flag leaf, while additive gene effects was found in the inheritance of the width of the flag leaf. High degree of heretabilities, either narrow or broad sense, were found in both length and width of the flag leaf. No maternal and reciprocal effect were found in both characters. 6. When Tongil was used as one parent in the cross, the length of panicle of $F_1$'s was remarkedly longer than that of parents. In other cross comination, the length of panicle of $F_1$'s was close to the parental mean values. Rather greater dominent gene effect than additive gene effect was observed in the inheritance of panicle length and the dominant gene was effective in increasing the panicle length. 7. The effect of dominant genes was effective in increasing the number of panicles. The degree of heterosis was largely dependent on the cross combination. The effect of dominant gene in the inheritance of panicle number was a little greater than that of additive genes, and the inheritance of panicle number was assumed to be due to complete dominant gene effects. Significantly high maternal and reciprocal effects were found in the character studied. 8. There were minus and plus values of heterosis in the kernel number per panicle depending upon the cross combination. The mean dominant effect was effective in increasing the kernel number per panicle, the degree of dominant effect varied with cross combination. The dominant gene effect and non-allelic gene interaction were found in the inheritance of the kernel number per panicle. 9. Genetic studies were impossible for the maturing ratio, because of environmental effects such as hazards delaying heads. The dominant gene effect was responsible for improving the maturing ratio in all the cross combinations excluding Tongil 10. The heavier 1000 grain weight was due to dominant gene effects. The additive gene effects were greater than the dominant gene effect in the 1000 grain weight, indicating that partial dominance was responsible for increasing the 1000 grain weight. The heritabilites, either narrow or broad sense of, were high for the grain weight and maternal or reciprocal effects were not recognized. 11. When Tongil was used as parent, the straw weight was showing high heterosis in the direction of increasing the weight. But in other crosses, the straw weight of $F_1$'s was lower than those of parental mean values. The direction of dominant gene effect was plus or minus depending upon the cross combinations. The degree of dominance was also depending on the cross combination, and apparently high nonallelic gene interaction was observed.

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Occurrence and Molecular Phylogenetic Characteristics of Benthic Sand-dwelling Dinoflagellates in the Intertidal Flat of Dongho, West Coast of Korea (서해안 동호 사질 조간대에 서식하는 저서성 와편모류의 출현양상 및 분자계통학적 특성)

  • KIM, SUNJU;YOON, JIHAE;PARK, MYUNG GIL
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.141-150
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    • 2015
  • Dinoflagellates are ubiquitous and important primary producers in the oceans. They have diverse trophic modes, i.e., phototrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic modes and thereby, play important ecological role in marine microbial food-web. While many studies have been focused on planktonic dinoflagellates in pelagic ecosystems, benthic, sand-dwelling dinoflagellates that inhabit in intertidal zone have been very poorly documented worldwide. We investigated biodiversity, occurrence, and molecular phylogeny of benthic, sand-dwelling dinoflagellates from the intertidal flat of Dongho, west coast of Korea during low-tide, monthly from November 2012 to February 2014. About 27 species of 13 genera in orders Gonyaulacales, Gymnodiniales, Peridiniales, Prorocentrales have been identified, of which members in the genus Amphidinium constituted a major part of the sand-dwelling dinoflagellates in this area. A total of 34 isolates from 16 species of the sand-dwelling dinoflagellates were isolated from Dongho, Mohang, Gamami, and Songho in the west coast and Hyupjae in Jeju of Korea, their 28S rDNA sequences were successfully amplified, and applied for molecular phylogenetic analyses. In the 28S rDNA phylogeny, Amphidinium species diverged across three major clusters within the order Gymnodiniales and formed polyphyletic group. Based on the unambiguously aligned partial 28S rDNA sequences including variable D2 region, the genotypes of Amphidinium mootonorum Korean strains greatly differed from that of Canadian strain with 19.2% of pairwise nucleotide difference, suggesting that further ultrastructural studies may provide additional characters to clearly separate these genotypes. Two potential toxic species, Amphidinium carterae and A. operculatum appeared occasionally during this study. Quantitative assessment and toxicity of those species should be addressed in the future.

The Effect of Nicotine-Contaminated Mulberry Leaf in the Vicinity of Tabacco Drying Plant on Cocoon Crop (연초건조장 부근의 뽕잎이 잠작에 미치는 영향)

  • 양성열;이상풍;김계명;이상욱
    • Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.26-31
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    • 1978
  • The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of nicotine-contaminated mulberry-leaf, which was grown in the vicinity of tobacco drying plant (TDP), on cocoon crop. Mulberry-leaf harvested from the field at Sericultural Experiment Station (SES), Suweon, Korea, was used as control, supposedly nicotine-free leaf. Leaf harvested from the field in the distances of 30-50m, 300-400m and 700-800m from TDP was fed during the whole larval stage of the silkworm at. SES. The effect of leaf in each treatment level on the quantitative characters of the silkworm was summarized as follows; 1. Larval duration from 4th instar on was significantly longer in the TDP-leaf treatments than for the control. 2. Duration of matured silkworm appearance became longer as the distance of the mulberry-field from TDP got shorter, because the larval duration and growth of the silkworm were not uniform in the TDP-leaf treatments. 3. Mortality rates during the late larval, cocoon spinning, and pupal stages were highest for the 30-50m leaf, especially mortality rates during the late larval and pupal stage were serious. 4. Pupation rate was lowest for the 30-50m leaf and those for the 300-400m and the 700-800m leaf were not significantly different from that of the control. 5. Nicotine damage to cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight was significant in each TDP-leaf level. Cocoon shell ratio was reduced at the same extent in each level, compared with the control. 6. The ratio among cocoon-classes was significantly different between treatments, compared with best-cocoon ratio of 87.1% for the control. Cocoons were not uniform for the 30-50m leaf, and those for the 300-400m and the 700-800m leaf were as almost uniform as those for the control. 7. Loss of fresh cocoon yield became greater as the distance of the mulberry-field from the TDP-got shorter. In conclusion, the critical distance of mulberry-field, which influences larval health, cocoon quality and yield, appeared to be 800m from the TDP. Such other factors as wind direction and topographic location may be involved in the critical distance. 8. From the present experiment, we could obtain only the effect of nicotine on the silkworm through digestive system, since the silkworm was raised at SES in Suweon. If the silkworm.. were raised in the vicinity of the TDP, poison effect of nicotine on the silkworm could beo expected through exoskeleton and tracheal system as well as through digestive system.

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Studies on the Environmental Factors Affecting the Cocoon Crops in Summer and Autumn in Korea (한국의 하추잠작 안정을 위한 환경요인에 관한 연구)

  • 이상풍
    • Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.1-34
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    • 1974
  • These experiments pertain to various factors influencing the quantitative characters of cocoon crops in summer and early autumn seasons. Initially, in order to establish the possible ways of the silkworm rearing more than three times a year in Korea, the author attempted to get further information about the various factors affecting the cocoon crop in every silkworm rearing season. The trials were conducted eleven times a year at four places for three years. The field trial was conducted with 19 typical sericultural farmers who had been surveyed. At the same time the author statistically analyzed the various factors in close relation to tile cocoon crop in autumn season. The effect of guidance on 40 sericultural farmers was analyzed, comparing higher level farmers with lower level farmers ; and the author surveyed 758 non-guided farmers near the guided farmers during both spring and autumn seasons. In addition, another trial on the seasonal change of leaf quality was attempted with artificial diets prepared with leaves grown in each season. It was found that related factors to cocoon crops in summer and early autumn seasons appeared to be leaf quality, and temperature for young and grown larvae. A 2$^4$ factorial experiment was designed in summer season, and another design with one more level of varied temperature or hard leaf added to a 24 factorial experiment was conducted in early autumn. The experimental results can be summarized: 1. Study on the cocoon crops in the different rearing seasons 1) It was shown that earlier brushing of silkworm generally produced the most abundant cocoon crop in spring season, and earlier or later than the conventional brushing season, especially earlier brushing was unfavorable for the abundant cocoon crop in autumn season. 2) The cocoon crop was affected by the rearing season, and decreases in order of sire with spring, autumn, late autumn, summer and early autumn seasons. 3) It was Proved that ordinary rearing and branch rearing were possibles 4 times a year ; in the 1st, 3rd, 8th, and 10th brushing season. But the 11th brushing season was more favorable for the most abundant cocoon crop of branch rearing, instead of the 10th brushing season with ordinary rearing. 2. Study on the main factors affecting the cocoon crop in autumn season 1) Accumulated pathogens were a lethal factor leading to a bad cocoon crop through neglect of disinfection of rearing room and instruments. 2) Additional factors leading to a poor cocoon crop were unfavorable for rearing temperature and humidity, dense population, poor choice of moderately ripened leaf, and poor feeding techniques. However, it seemed that there was no relationship between the cocoon crop and management of farm. 3) The percentage of cocoon shell seemed to be mostly affected by leaf quality, and secondarily affected by the accumulation of pathogens. 3. Study on the effect of guidance on rearing techniques 1) The guided farms produced an average yearly yield of 29.0kg of cocoons, which varied from 32.3kg to 25.817g of cocoon yield per box in spring versus autumn, respectively. Those figures indicated an annual average increase of 26% of cocoon yield over yields of non-guided farmers. An increase of 20% of cocoon yield in spring and 35% of cocoon yield in autumn were responsible. 2) On guided farms 77.1 and 83.7% of total cocoon yields in the spring and autumn seasons, respectively, exceeded 3rd grade. This amounted to increases of 14.1 and 11.3% in cocoon yield and quality over those of non-guided farms. 3) The average annual cocoon yield on guided farms was 28.9kg per box, based on a range of 31.2kg to 26.9kg per box in spring and autumn seasons, respectively. This represented an 8% increase in cocoon yield on farms one year after guidance, as opposed to non-guided farms. This yield increase was due to 3 and 16% cocoon yield increases in spring and autumn crops. 4) Guidance had no effect on higher level farms, but was responsible for 19% of the increases in production on lower level farms. 4. Study on the seasonal change of leaf quality 1) In tests with grown larvae, leaves of tile spring crop incorporated in artificial diets produced the best cocoon crop; followed by leaves of the late autumn, summer, autumn, and early autumn crops. 2) The cocoon crop for young larvae as well as for grown larvae varied with the season of leaf used. 5. Study on factors affecting the cocoon crops in summer and early autumn A. Early autumn season 1) Survival rate and cocoon yield were significantly decreased at high rearing temperatures for young larvae 2) Survival rate, cocoon yield, and cocoon quality were adversely affected by high rearing temperatures for grown larvae. Therefore increases of cocoon quantity and improvement of cocoon quality are dependent on maintaining optimum temperatures. 3) Decreases in individual cocoon weight and longer larval periods resulted with feeding of soft leaf and hard leaf to young larvae, but the survival rate, cocoon yield and weight of cocoon shell were not influenced. 4) Cocoon yield and cocoon quality were influenced by feeding of hard leaf to grown larvae, but survival rate was not influenced by the feeding of soft leaf and hard leaf. 5) When grown larvae were inevitably raised at varied temperatures, application of varied temperature in the raising of both young and grown larvae was desirable. Further research concerning this matter must be considered. B. Summer season 1) Cocoon yield and single cocoon weight were decreased at high temperatures for young larvae and survival rate was also affected. 2) Cocoon yield, survival rate. and cocoon quality were considerably decreased at high rearing temperatures for grown larval stages.

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