• Title/Summary/Keyword: System Response Time

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On the Biological Functions of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (말의 융모성 성선자극 호르몬의 생화학적 기능)

  • 민관식;윤종택
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.299-308
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    • 2002
  • In horse, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ subunits. The difference between eCG and eLH lies in the structure of their glycoresidues, which are both sialylated and sulfated in LH and sialylated in CG eCG consists of highly glycosyiated $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits and is an unique member of the gonadotropin family because it elicits response characteristics of both FSH and LH in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of gonadotropin structure-function relationships and the understanding of the molecular bases of the specific interactions of these hormones with their receptors. Thus, eCG is a dintinct molecule from the view points of its biological function and glycoresidue structures. The oligosaccharide at Asn 56 of the $\alpha$-subunit plays an indispensable role, whereas the carboxyl-terminal extension of the eCG $\beta$-subunit with its associated O-linked oligosaccharides is not improtant for, the in vitro LH-like activity of eCG. In contrast, both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides play important roles for FSH-like activity and increase FSH-like activity by removal of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. Therefore, the dual LH- and FSH-like activities of eCG can be clearly separated by removal of either the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides from its $\beta$-subunit. The glycoresidues seem to play crucial roles fer biological activities. The tethered-eCG was effciently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG $\alpha$/ $\beta$ and native eCG. FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was also shown similarly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG $\alpha$/ $\beta$. Our data for the first time suggest that the tethered-eCG can be expressed efficiently and the produced product by the CHO-Kl cells is fully LH- and FSH-like activities in rat in vitro bioassay system. Our results also suggest that this molecular can imply particular models ot FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG. Taken together, these data indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion.

A New Understanding on Environmental Problems in China - Dilemma between Economic Development and Environmental Protection - (중국 환경문제에 대한 재인식 -경제발전과 환경보호의 딜레마-)

  • Won, Dong-Wook
    • Journal of Environmental Policy
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.45-70
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    • 2006
  • China has achieved great economic growth above 9% annual since it changed to more of a market economy system by its reform and open-door policy. At the same time, China has experienced severe ecological deterioration, such as air and water pollutions caused by its rapid urbanization and industrialization. China is now confronted with environmental pollution and ecological deterioration at a critical point, at which economic development in China is limited. Moreover, environmental problems in China have become a lit fuse for social fluctuation beyond pollution problems. The root and background of environmental problems in China, firstly, are its government's lack of understanding of these problems and incorrect economic policies affected by political and ideological prejudice. Secondly, the plundering of resources, 'the principle of development first' which didn't consider environmental sustainability is another source of environmental deterioration in China. In addition, a huge population and poverty in China have increased the difficulty in solving its environmental problems, and in fact have accelerated them. The Chinese government has established many environmental laws and institutions, increased environmental investments, and is enlarging the participation of NGOs and the general public in some limited scale to solve its environmental problems. However, it has not obtained effective results because of the lack of environmental investments owing to the government's limit of the development phase, a structural limit of law enforcement and local protectionism, and the limit of political independency in NGOs and the lack of public participation in China. It seems that China remains in the stage of 'economic development first, environmental protection second', contrary to its catch-phrase of 'the harmony between economic development and environmental protection'. China is now confronted with dual pressure both domestically and abroad because of deepening environmental problems. There are growing public's protests and demonstrations in China in response to the spread of damage owing to environmental pollution and ecological deterioration. On the other hand, international society, in particular neighboring countries, regard China as a principal cause of ecological disaster. In the face of this dual pressure, China is presently contemplating a 'recycling economy' that helps sustainable development through the structural reform of industries using too much energy and through more severe law enforcement than now. Therefore, it is desirable to promote regional cooperation more progressively and practically in the direction of building China's ability to solve environmental problems.

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The Effect of 2Hz vs. 120Hz Frequency Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Motor Recovery after Stroke by Motor Evoked Potential Study (뇌경색(腦硬塞) 환자(患者)의 운동장애(運動障碍)에 대(對)한 2Hz와 120Hz 전침(電鍼) 치료(治療)의 효과(效果) 비교(比較) : 운동유발전위검사를 통한 비교)

  • Hong, Jin-Woo;Choi, Chang-Min;Park, Young-Min;Shin, Won-Jun;Jeong, Dong-Won;Park, Seong-Uk;Jung, Woo-Sang;Park, Jung-Mi;Moon, Sang-Kwan;Go, Chang-Nam;Cho, Ki-Ho;Bae, Hyung-Sup;Kim, Young-Suk
    • The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.265-275
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    • 2006
  • Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation(EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subject of this study were forty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction in Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials(MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, the number of patients who showed MEP responses after two weeks among those who had no previous response was checked. Also measured were latency, central motor conduction time(CMCT), amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, 4 out of 15 patients(27%) in the 2Hz EAS group and lout of 19 patients(5%) in the 120Hz group showed potential responses. Yet there was no significant difference between the two groups. When MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group was compared, the former showed more significant improvement than the latter in latency, CMCT and amplitude(P=0.040, 0.019,0.021). When the proportion of the affected side and unaffected side in MEP data was examined, the 2Hz group showed improvement on only latency and CMCT with significant differences(P=0.040, 0.014). Conclusions : These results show that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency. This suggests that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS.

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Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Fermented Garlic Powder on Immune Responses, Blood Components, and Disease Resistance against Principal Fish Disease of Juvenile Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus in Low Temperature Season (저수온기 넙치 치어에 있어서 발효마늘분말의 사료 내 첨가가 면역반응, 혈액성분 및 주요 어병세균에 대한 질병저항성에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Sung-Sam;Song, Jin-Woo;Lim, Se-Jin;Jeong, Joon-Bum;Jeon, You-Jin;Yeo, In-Kyu;Lee, Kyeong-Jun
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.52 no.4
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    • pp.337-346
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    • 2010
  • We report non-specific immune responses and disease resistance against Vibrio anguillarum, Streptococcus iniae and Edwardsiella tarda by dietary supplementation of fermented garlic powder (FGP) in olive flounder for the first time. Four isonitrogenous (45% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.1 MJ/kg) diets were formulated to have 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% of the FGP (G-0, G-0.5, G-1 and G-2). The experimental diets were fed to juvenile olive flounder averaging 23.4 g in triplicate groups (90 fish/group) in a flow-through system. After a five-week feeding trial, healthy fish with similar sizes from each tank were selected and injected with 1 ml of three bacteria each to evaluate disease resistance of the fish. During the 5-week feeding trial, the weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and survival of the fish were not significantly affected by the experimental diets. However, feed intake was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the fish fed the G-2 diet compared with the control group. Hemoglobin, myeloperoxidase activity, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were not different between the dietary groups. However, hematocrit, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) activity, and lysozyme activity were increased (P<0.05) with an increment of dietary FGP. Plasma triglyceride of the fish fed the G-0.5 diet was significantly lower than that of fish fed the control diet. The cumulative mortality was lower in the fish fed diets containing FGP compared with the control group in the challenge test except for the bacteria Edwardsiella tarda. The results in this study indicate that dietary supplementation of FGP can enhance the non-specific immune responses and disease resistance of olive flounder against V. anguillarum and S. iniae.

The Sympathetic Skin Responses after Thoracic Sympathicotomy for Patients with Palmar Hyperhidrosis (수장부 다한증환자의 흉부 교감신경절단술후 교감신경 피부반응)

  • 김오곤;홍종면;이석재;홍장수;이광래;김상규
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.579-583
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    • 1999
  • Background: Thoracic sympathicotomy has been used safely and successfully to manage palmar hyperhidrosis. The preoperative and postoperative recording of Sympathetic Skin Responses(SSR) was performed for objective evaluation and follow-up of thoracic sympathicotomy in hyperhidrosis patients, and also for ascertaining the clinical usefullness of SSR. Material and Method: The recording of SSR was performed on 15 patients suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis with Medelec Sapphire Plus electromyogragh before and after thoracic sympathicotomy. Eletrical stimuli on the right median nerve was made in patients in supine position and results were recorded on right and left palms with soles at the same time by 4 channels. Skin temperatures were also monitored simultaneously. T2,3 sympathicotomy was performed with VATS in every patients. SSR was done in 2 patients one month later. Result: Clinically, all patients had symptomatic improvement with satisfaction. Postoperative complication was small amount of residual pneumothorax in 5 patients but it was absorbed sponteneously. There was no recurrence during follow-up period and ten patients(66%) complained compensatory hyperhidrosis. After operation, SSR change was shown in every 15 patients. Abolition of SSR on both palms was achieved in 12 patients(80%) and on both soles in 6 patients. In the other 3 patients, the latencies were significantly delayed and the amplitudes were significantly reduced at both palms and soles. In two patients who were examined at one month later after operation, similar results with postoperative SSRs were shown. The skin temperature on preoperative both palm and sole were lower than normal temperature, and those on postoperative both palm and sole were increased. Those had statistical significance(p<0.05), and the temperature on the palm was increased higher that than on the sole. Conclusion: After thoracic sympathicotomy was performed on palmar hyperhidrosis patients, an increment of skin temperatures and SSR changes were achieved at both palms and soles of all patients. Palmar SSRs were completely abolished in 12 patients(80%), and similar results of postoperative SSRs were achieved. The recording of SSR may be useful to easily and objectively assess the completeness of sympathicotomy and the follow-up of recurrence in hyperhidrosis patients.

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The Role of Lymphocyte Compartment and Cytokine in Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (진폐증환자에서의 임파구 분획 및 싸이토카인의 역할)

  • Lee, Jung-Yeon;Yoo, Kwang-Ha;Ahn, Hae-Ryon;Kim, Sung-Ryul;Lee, Hae-Woon;Ahn, Cheol-Min;Kim, Hyung-Joong
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.241-250
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    • 2002
  • Background : Coal-worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory lung reaction associated with macrophage accumulation in the alveolar spaces. CWP is usually divided into two stage : simple pneumoconiosis(SP) where there are a limited number of fibrotic lesions remain limited, with radiological opacities smaller than 1cm and progressive massive fibrosis(PMF), which is characterized by the development of a perifocal extensive fibrotic response of the lung and severe alterations in pulmonary function. In this study, the lymphocyte compartment and cytokine were evaluated by measuring the serum levels in the control, SP and PMF groups. Materials and Methods : The coal workers selected for this study were employees(patients?) of the Tae-Baek and Dong-Hae hospital. All were men, 45-76 years old and the mean duration of their exposure to coal dust was 23.2 years in the lymphocyte compartment and 24.3 years in the cytokine checked group. According to X-ray examination results, the patients were classified into either one of the SP, PMF categories. The normal controls examined were 26-70 years old men. The serum cytokine levels were estimated by using an end point enzyme immunoassay technique. Results : T lymphocyte, helper and suppressor T cells were highly related to pneumoconiosis in this study. A statistically significant decrease in the number of suppressor T lymphocytes was observed in the simple pneumoconiosis patients and at the same time, there was an increase in the lymphocyte index. Howevere, there was no statistically difference in the serum cytokines levels among the SP, PMF and control groups. Conclusion : T lymphocyte, helper T, and suppressor T cells may be highly related to the development of CWP compared to the control group particularly in the early stage of pneumoconiosis. The changes observed in the immunological system in patients with pneumoconiosis may lie at the bottom of the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Further study is needed to evaluate the lymphocyte compartment as a marker for pneumoconiosis development in the early stage.

Morphologic Response of Gravel Beach to Typhoon Invasion - A Case Study of Gamji Beach Taejongdae in Busan (태풍 내습 시 자갈 해빈의 지형반응 - 부산 태종대 감지 해빈의 사례)

  • Lee, Young Yun;Chang, Tae Soo
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.41 no.1
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    • pp.19-30
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    • 2020
  • To understand the impact of typhoons on Gamji gravel beach Taejongdae in Busan, we carried out beach profiling using a VRS-GPS system and a Drone photogrammetry for the typhoons 'Kong-rey' invaded in October 2018 and 'Danas' in July 2019. In addition, grain sizes are analyzed to investigate the overall distribution pattern of gravels on the beach, and the beach topography is surveyed periodically to confirm the recovery rate of the beach. Grain-size analysis reveals that mean gravel sizes, in general, become finer from -6.2Φ to -5.4Φ towards the east in the seashore line direction. Variation in mean sizes is obviously observed in the cross-shore direction. Gravels in the swash zone are relatively fine about -4.5Φ in size and equant in shape, whereas the coarse and oblate gravels ranged from -5Φ to -6Φ are found in the berm. Gamji gravel beach particularly has two lines of berms: a lower berm situated facing beach and an upper berm about 10 m landward. After the typhoon Kong-rey passed by, about 1.4 m of severe erosion in upper berm occurred, and the berm eventually disappeared. On the backshore of the upper berm about 50 cm of erosion took place so that the elevation became lower. However, tangible erosion was not observed in the lower berm. When typhoon Danas hit, rated as mild storm, both upper and lower berm were eroded out. However, about 50 cm of deposition occurred only in the backshore. Only three days later, the new lower berm was formed, meaning that sedimentation rate must be high. This result indicates that Gamji gravel beach is recovered very fast from erosion caused by the typhoons when it is under the fair-weather condition even though beach morphology changes dramatically in a short period of time. Gravel beach is estimated to be or evaluated very resilient to typhoon erosion.

Growth and Physiological Adaptations of Tomato Plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in Response to Water Scarcity in Soil (토양 수분 결핍에 따른 토마토의 생육과 생리적응)

  • Hwang, Seung-Mi;Kwon, Taek-Ryun;Doh, Eun-Soo;Park, Me-Hea
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.266-274
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    • 2010
  • This study aim to investigate fundamentally the growth and physiological responses of tomato plants in responses to two different levels of water deficit, a weak drought stress (-25 kPa) and a severe drought stress (-100 kPa) in soil. The two levels of water deficit were maintained using a micro-irrigation system consisted of soil sensors for the real-time monitoring of soil water content and irrigation modules in a greenhouse experiment. Soil water contents were fluctuated throughout the 30 days treatment period but differed between the two treatments with the average -47 kPa in -25 kPa set treatment and the -119 kPa in -100 kPa set treatment. There were significant differences in plant height between the two different soil water statuses in plant height without differences of the number of nodes. The plants grown in the severe water-deficit treatment had greater accumulation of biomass than the plants in the weak water-deficit treatment. The severe water-deficit treatment (-119 kPa) also induced greater leaf area and leaf dry weight of the plants than the weak water-deficit treatment did, even though there was no difference in leaf area per unit dry weight. These results of growth parameters tested in this study indicate that the severe drought could cause an adaptation of tomato plants to the drought stress with the enhancement of biomass and leaf expansion without changes of leaf thickness. Greater relative water content of leaves and lower osmotic potential of sap expressed from turgid leaves were recorded in the severe water deficit treatment than in the weak water deficit treatment. This finding also postulated physiological adaptation to be better water status under drought stress. The drought imposition affected significantly on photosynthesis, water use efficiency and stomatal conductance of tomato plants. The severe water-deficit treatment increased PSII activities and water use efficiency, but decreased stomatal conductance than the weak water-deficit treatment. However, there were no differences between the two treatments in total photosynthetic capacity. Finally, there were no differences in the number and biomass of fruits. These results suggested that tomato plants have an ability to make adaptation to water deficit conditions through changes in leaf morphology, osmotic potentials, and water use efficiency as well as PSII activity. These adaptation responses should be considered in the screening of drought tolerance of tomato plants.

Preliminary Results of Management for Primary CNS Lymphoma (원발성 중추신경계 림프종의 치료에 관한 예비적 결과)

  • Ahn, Seung-Do;Chang, Hye-Sook;Choi, Eun-Kyong
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.79-82
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    • 1993
  • From October 1989 to March 1992, ten patients diagnosed as primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma were treated with radiation therapy at Asan Medical Center. To obtain pathologic diagnosis, five patients had stereotactic biopsy and the others underwent craniotomy & tumor removal. According to the classification by International Working Formulation, seven of 10 patients showed diffuse large cell types and the remaining 3 had diffuse mixed cell types. Computed tomographic scans of the brain disclosed solitary (6 cases) or multiple (4 cases) intracranial lesions. All patients received 4000 cGy/20 fx to the whole brain followed by an additional 2000 cGy/10 fx boost to the primary lesion. Six patients with initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF involvement were treated with whole brain irradiation and intrathecal Methotrexate (IT-MTX) chemotherapy. One of them received an additional spinal irradiation after 3 cycles of IT-MTX chemotherapy because of MTX induced arachnoiditis. One patient received 3 cycles of systemic chemotherapy prior to rodiation therapy and one received 5 cycles of salvage chemotherapy for recurrence. With a median follow up time of 8 months, all patients were followed from 7 to 26 months. Radiologically seven patients showed complete remission and the remaining three showed partial remission at one month after radiotherapy. The 1 and 2 year survival rate was $86{\%}\;and\;69{\%}$ respectively. Until now, two patients expired at 7 and 14 months. These patients developed extensive CSF seeding followed by local failure. Considering initial good response to radiation therapy and low incidence of extraneural dissemination in primary CNS lymphoma, we propose to increase total tumor dose to the primary lesion by hyperfractionated radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery. For the patients with CSF involvement at diagnosis, we propose craniospinal irradiation with IT MTX chemotherapy.

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Photosynthesis and Growth of Southern-type Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Response to Elevated Temperatures in a Temperature Gradient Tunnel (온도구배터널 내 상승온도에 의한 난지형 마늘(Allium sativum L.)의 광합성 및 생육 특성의 변화)

  • Oh, Seo-Young;Moon, Kyung Hwan;Song, Eun Young;Shin, Minji;Koh, Seok Chan
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.250-260
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    • 2019
  • This study assessed clove germination, shoot growth, photosynthesis and bulb development of southern-type garlic (Allium sativum L.) in a temperature gradient tunnel (TGT), to examine the impacts of increases in temperature on the growth of garlic and find a way to minimize them. The temperatures in the middle and outlet of the TGT were 3.2℃ and 5.8℃ higher, respectively, than the ambient temperature at the tunnel inlet. The germination of garlic cloves was late at temperatures of ambient+3℃ (in the middle of the TGT) and ambient+6℃ (at the outlet) than at ambient temperature (at the inlet). However, bolting and the timing of maximum leaf number per plant were faster at ambient+3℃ or +6℃ than at ambient temperature. Shoot growth was generally greater at ambient temperature. Bulb growth did not significantly differ according to cultivation temperatures, but fresh and dry weights were slightly higher at ambient temperature and ambient+3℃ in the late growth stage. The photosynthesis rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E) were higher at ambient+3℃ than at ambient temperature. Furthermore, at ambient+3℃, the net photosynthetic rate (Amax) was high, while the dark respiration rate (Rd) was low. At ambient temperature and ambient+3℃, bulb development was healthier, resulting in better productivity and more commercial bulbs, while at ambient+6℃, the bulbs were small and secondary cloves developed, resulting in low commercial value. Therefore, at elevated temperatures caused by global warming, it is necessary to meet the low-temperature requirements before clove sowing, or to delay the sowing time, to improve germination rate and increase yield. The harvest should also be advanced to escape high-temperature stress in the bulb development stage.