• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2024

Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, a plant pathogenic bacterium that can survive for a long time in soil and water, causes lethal wilt in the Solanaceae family. Sigma S is a part of the RNA polymerase complex, which regulates gene expression during bacterial stress response or stationary phase. In this study, we investigated the role of sigma S in R. pseudosolanacearum under stress conditions using a rpoS-defective mutant strain of R. pseudosolanacearum and its wild-type strain. The phenotypes of rpoS-defective mutant were complemented by introducing the original rpoS gene. There were no differences observed in bacterial growth rate and exopolysaccharide production between the wild-type strain and the rpoS mutant. However, the wild-type strain responded more sensitively to nutrient deficiency compared to the mutant strain. Under the nutrient deficiency, the rpoS mutant maintained a high bacterial viability for a longer period, while the viability of the wild-type strain declined rapidly. Furthermore, a significant difference in pH was observed between the culture supernatant of the wild-type strain and the mutant strain. The pH of the culture supernatant for the wild-type strain decreased rapidly during bacterial growth, leading to medium acidification. The rapid decline in the wild-type strain's viability may be associated with medium acidification and bacterial sensitivity to acidity during transition to the stationary phase. Interestingly, the rpoS mutant strain cannot utilize acetic acid, D-alanine, D-trehalose, and L-histidine. These results suggest that sigma S of R. pseudosolanacearum regulates the production or utilization of organic acids and controls cell death during stationary phase under nutrient deficiency.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.176-182
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• 2023

Plant regeneration protocols for adventitious shoot organogenesis from apple (Malus domestica 'Fuji') leaf explants were developed in the present study. The effects of dark incubation periods in the early stages of culture, pre-treatment methods, the number of explants per culture container, the type of culture containers, and the orientation of the explants on culture media were evaluated to determine the optimal shoot regeneration conditions for 'Fuji' apple leaf explants. Light incubation of explants produced minimal response. However, dark incubation of explants for 4 weeks during the initial culture period enhanced shoot regeneration frequency. Comparing the number of explants per container, a higher percentage of shoot regeneration was obtained with nine explants per container compared with four explants per container. Pre-treatment, before culture, by dipping explants in a liquid regeneration medium containing 40 g/L of sorbitol for 2 hours produced the highest shoot formation rate, and the time of shoot formation was accelerated. The percentage of shoot regeneration and number of shoots per regenerating explant reached a maximum of 87.5% and 4.7, respectively. The regenerated shoots were elongated and rooted on a rooting medium of 1/4 MS with 0.2 mg/L IBA. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized, and the regenerated plants produced normal phenotypes.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1102-1113
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• 2023

Objective: To elucidate the use of radiological studies, including nuclear medicine, and biopsy for the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer (PCA) in clinical practice and understand the current status of PCA in Asian countries via an international survey. Materials and Methods: The Asian Prostate Imaging Working Group designed a survey questionnaire with four domains focused on prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), other prostate imaging, prostate biopsy, and PCA backgrounds. The questionnaire was sent to 111 members of professional affiliations in Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan who were representatives of their working hospitals, and their responses were analyzed. Results: This survey had a response rate of 97.3% (108/111). The rates of using 3T scanners, antispasmodic agents, laxative drugs, and prostate imaging-reporting and data system reporting for prostate MRI were 21.6%-78.9%, 22.2%-84.2%, 2.3%-26.3%, and 59.5%-100%, respectively. Respondents reported using the highest b-values of 800-2000 sec/mm² and fields of view of 9-30 cm. The prostate MRI examinations per month ranged from 1 to 600, and they were most commonly indicated for biopsy-naïve patients suspected of PCA in Japan and Singapore and staging of proven PCA in Korea and Taiwan. The most commonly used radiotracers for prostate positron emission tomography are prostate-specific membrane antigen in Singapore and fluorodeoxyglucose in three other countries. The most common timing for prostate MRI was before biopsy (29.9%). Prostate-targeted biopsies were performed in 63.8% of hospitals, usually by MRI-ultrasound fusion approach. The most common presentation was localized PCA in all four countries, and it was usually treated with radical prostatectomy. Conclusion: This survey showed the diverse technical details and the availability of imaging and biopsy in the evaluation of PCA. This suggests the need for an educational program for Asian radiologists to promote standardized evidence-based imaging approaches for the diagnosis and staging of PCA.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the growth and physiological responses of Iris laevigata Fisch. to shading treatments in order to suggest optimal light conditions for ex-situ conservation of the northern lineage plants. For this purpose, a control plant receiving full sunlight and different shading treatments (50%, 75%, 95%) were installed, and leaf mass per area, chlorophyll content and fluorescence response, and photosynthetic characteristics were investigated. I. laevigata developed leaves with higher photosynthetic efficiency to adapt to lower light intensity as shading levels increased. Chlorophyll content increased with increasing shading levels, and leaf mass per area decreased with increasing leaf area. The chlorophyll fluorescence responses Fv/Fm and NPQ did not change with shading, and the activity of the carbon fixation system did not differ between treatments. I. laevigata exhibited a light-saturation point equivalent to that of sun plants and maintained photosynthetic capacity similar to that of controls up to 75% shading. The apparent quantum yield of I. laevigata decreased significantly at 95% shading, indicating adaptation to lower light conditions. It seems that the photosynthetic capacity of I. laevigata decreases when grown under 95% shading level compared to full sunlight, and it is judged that the longer the light is restricted by continuous shading, the more unfavorable the growth will be.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2024

This study attempted to elucidate the ecological niches and influencing environmental factors of Quercus variabilis and Quercus acutissima, which are representative deciduous broad-leaved trees in Korean forests, taxonomically close and genetically similar, under climate change conditions. Under climate change conditions induced by increased CO₂ and temperature, soil moisture and nutrient environments were manipulated in four gradients. At the end of the growing, plants were harvested to measure growth responses, calculate ecological niches, and compare them with those of the control. Eperimental plants were grown for 180 days in a glass greenhouse designed with four gradients each for soil moisture and nutrient environments under climate change conditions induced by increased CO₂ and temperature. After harvesting, growth responses of leaf traits were measured, ecological niches were calculated, and these were compared with those of the control groups. Furthermore, the responses of the two species' populations were interpreted using principal component analysis(PCA) based on leaf trait measurements. As a result, under climate change conditions, the ecological niche breadth for moisture environment was broader for Quercus variabilis than Quercus acutissima, whereas for the nutrient environment, Quercus acutissima exhibited a broader niche breadth than Quercus variabilis. And the rate of change in ecological niche breadth due to climate change decreased for Quercus variabilis in both moisture and nutrient environments, while for Quercus acutissima, it increased in the moisture environment but decreased in the nutrient environment. Additionally, in terms of group responses, both Quercus variabilis and Quercus acutissima expanded their ecological niches under climate change conditions in both soil moisture and nutrient conditions, with Quercus acutissima exhibiting a broader niche than Quercus variabilis under nutrient conditions. These results indicate that the changes in leaf morphological characteristics and the responses of individuals reflecting them vary not only under climate change conditions but also depending on environmental factors.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.157-172
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• 2024

Autonomous driving technology, when commercialized, has the potential to improve the safety, mobility, and environmental performance of transportation networks. However, safe autonomous driving may be hindered by poor sensor performance and limitations in long-distance detection. Therefore, cooperative autonomous driving that can supplement information collected from surrounding vehicles and infrastructure is essential. In addition, since HDVs, AVs, and CAVs have different ranges of perceivable information and different response protocols, countermeasures are needed for mixed traffic that occur during the transition period of autonomous driving technology. There is a lack of research on traffic flow optimization that considers the penetration rate of autonomous vehicles and the different characteristics of each road segment. The objective of this study is to develop weights based on safety, operational, and environmental factors for each infrastructure control use case and autonomous vehicle MPR. To develop an integrated evaluation index, infra-guidance AHP and hybrid AHP weights were combined. Based on the results of this study, it can be used to give right of way to each vehicle to optimize mixed traffic.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

We used actual field data to analyze from a traffic engineering perspective how AI and edge computing technologies affect the reduction of traffic accidents. By providing object information from 20m behind with AI object recognition, the driver secures a response time of about 3.6 seconds, and with edge technology, information is displayed in 0.5 to 0.8 seconds, giving the driver time to respond to intersection situations. In addition, it was analyzed that stopping before entering the intersection is possible when speed is controlled at 11-12km at the 10m point of the intersection approach and 20km/h at the 20m point. As a result, it was shown that traffic accidents can be reduced when the high object recognition rate of AI technology, provision of real-time information by edge technology, and the appropriate speed management at intersection approaches are executed simultaneously.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.62-77
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• 2024

In the maritime shipping industry, imbalance between supply and demand has persistently increased, leading to the utilization of blank sailings by major shipping companies worldwide as a key means of flexibly adjusting vessel capacity in response to shipping market conditions. Traditionally, blank sailings have been frequently implemented around the Chinese New Year period. However, due to unique circumstances such as the global pandemic starting in 2020 and trade tensions between the United States and China, shipping companies have recently conducted larger-scale blank sailings compared to the past. As blank sailings directly impact freight transport delays, they can have negative repercussions from perspectives of both businesses and consumers. Therefore, this study employed Poisson regression models and negative binomial regression models to analyze the influence of maritime freight rate determinants on shipping companies' decisions regarding blank sailings, aiming to proactively address potential consequences. Results of the analysis indicated that, in Poisson regression analysis for 2M, significant variables included global container shipping volume, container vessel capacity, container ship scrapping volume, container ship newbuilding index, and OECD inflation. In negative binomial regression analysis, ocean alliance showed significance with global container shipping volume and container ship order volume, the alliance with container ship capacity and interest rates, non-alliance with international oil prices, global supply chain pressure index, container ship capacity, OECD inflation, and total alliance with container ship capacity and interest rates.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.199-205
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aims to improve the recognition rate of Auto People Counting (APC) in accurately identifying and providing information on remaining evacuees in disaster-vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes to firefighting and other response agencies in the event of a disaster. Methods: In this study, a baseline model was established using CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) models to improve the algorithm for recognizing images of incoming and outgoing individuals through cameras installed in actual disaster-vulnerable facilities operating APC systems. Various algorithms were analyzed, and the top seven candidates were selected. The research was conducted by utilizing transfer learning models to select the optimal algorithm with the best performance. Results: Experiment results confirmed the precision and recall of Densenet201 and Resnet152v2 models, which exhibited the best performance in terms of time and accuracy. It was observed that both models demonstrated 100% accuracy for all labels, with Densenet201 model showing superior performance. Conclusion: The optimal algorithm applicable to APC among various artificial intelligence algorithms was selected. Further research on algorithm analysis and learning is required to accurately identify the incoming and outgoing individuals in disaster-vulnerable facilities in various disaster situations such as emergencies in the future.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.156-168
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• 2024

Purpose: The trend of highway traffic accidents shows a repeating pattern of increase and decrease, with the fatality rate being highest on highways among all road types. Therefore, there is a need to establish improvement measures that reflect the situation within the country. Method: We conducted accident severity analysis using Random Forest on data from accidents occurring on 10 specific routes with high accident rates among national highways from 2019 to 2021. Factors influencing accident severity were identified. Result: The analysis, conducted using the SHAP package to determine the top 10 variable importance, revealed that among highway traffic accidents, the variables with a significant impact on accident severity are the age of the perpetrator being between 20 and less than 39 years, the time period being daytime (06:00-18:00), occurrence on weekends (Sat-Sun), seasons being summer and winter, violation of traffic regulations (failure to comply with safe driving), road type being a tunnel, geometric structure having a high number of lanes and a high speed limit. We identified a total of 10 independent variables that showed a positive correlation with highway traffic accident severity. Conclusion: As accidents on highways occur due to the complex interaction of various factors, predicting accidents poses significant challenges. However, utilizing the results obtained from this study, there is a need for in-depth analysis of the factors influencing the severity of highway traffic accidents. Efforts should be made to establish efficient and rational response measures based on the findings of this research.