• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2013

Maintenance of adequate soil tension or content during the period of crop growth is necessary to support optimum plant growth and yields. A better understanding of soil tension and content for precision irrigation would allow optimal soil water condition to crops and minimize the adverse effects of water stress on crop growth and development. This research reports on a comparison of soil water tension and content variations in differently textured soils over time under drip irrigation using two different water management methods, i.e. pulse time and required water irrigation methods. The pulse time-based irrigation was performed by turning the solenoid valve on and off for preset times to allow the wetting front to disperse in root zone before additional water was applied. The required water estimation method was a new water control logic designed by Rural Development Administration that applies the amount of water required based on a conversion of the measured water tension into water content. The use of the pulse time irrigation method under drip irrigation at a high tension of -20 kPa and high temperatures over $30^{\circ}C$ was not successful at maintaining moisture tensions within an appropriate range of 5 kPa because the preset irrigation times used for water control could not compensate for the change in evapotranspiration during day and night. The response time and pattern of water contents for all of the tested soils measured with capacitance-based sensor probes were faster and more direct than those of water tensions measured with porous and ceramic cup-based tensiometers when water was applied, indicating water content would be a better control variable for automatic irrigation. The required water estimation-based irrigation method provided relatively stable control of moisture tension, even though somewhat lower tension values were obtained as compared to the target tension of -20 kPa, indicating that growers could expect to be effective in controlling low tensions ranging from -10 to -20 kPa with the required water estimation system.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.256-263
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• 2013

The field lysimeter study was undertaken to investigate influence of agricultural practice and topography on runoff and erosion loss of fluazinam from the sloped land grown pepper. The WP type formulation was applied on July in 2003~2005. The wash-off rates were from 1.4% to 8.4% of the applied fluazinam. The runoff losses of fluazinam from a series of pepper grown-lysimeter plots were 0.14~0.90% in the first year, 0.01~0.04% in the second year and 0.16~0.37% in the third year for the mulched contour ridge plots, 0.47~1.59% for the mulched up-down direction ridge plots and 0.07~1.05% for the no-mulched contour ridge plots as the control, and they increased with slope degree. Concentrations of fluazinam in runoff water ranged mostly to 10 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$ at the first runoff event. Erosion rates from plots except the mulched up-down direction ridge plots was 0.00~0.21% for 10% and 20% slope-plots and 0.15~1.05% for 30% slope-plots with different slope degrees. Erosion rates from the mulched up-down direction ridge plots were 0.47~1.59% for 10% slope-plots and 0.75~1.05% for 20% slope-plots. Residues of fluazinam in soil at ten days after the application ranged from 0.007 mg $kg^{-1}$ to 0.059 mg $kg^{-1}$ except the soil under the mulch. After then the fluazinam residue in soil was dissipated at the rate of 20 days of half-life to below 0.01 mg $kg^{-1}$ at 60 days after the application.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7825-7829
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• 2015

Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection in the world (~14.7%). Around 10-15% of HCV-infected persons will advance to cirrhosis within the first 20 years. The incidence of HCC is expected to grow in the next two decades, largely due to HCV related cirrhosis, and detection of HCC at an early stage is critical for a favorable clinical outcome. No simple reliable non-invasive marker has been available till now. B2M, a non-glycosylated polypeptide composed of 99 amino acids, is one of the components of HLA class I molecules on the surfaces of all nucleated cells. It has been reported that the level of serum B2M is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-related HCC when compared to HCV-negative patients or healthy donors. Determining the clinical utility of serum B2M as a marker for disease progression in Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was the aim of the present study. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross sectional study 92 participants were included in 4 equal groups: Group (1) non cirrhotic chronic HCV; Group (2) HCV related liver cirrhosis; Group (3) HCC on top of HCV,; and Group (4) healthy controls. History taking, clinical examination, routine labs and abdominal ultrasound were conducted for all patients, PCR and Metavir scores for group (1) patients, and triphasic CT abdomen and AFP for Group (3) patients. B2M levels were measured in serum with a fully-automated IMX system. Results: The mean serum B2M level of Group (1) was $4.25{\pm}1.48{\mu}g/ml$., Group (2) was $7.48{\pm}3.04$, Group (3) was $6.62{\pm}2.49$ and Group (4) was $1.62{\pm}0.63$. Serum B2M levels were significantly higher in diseased than control group (p<0.01) being significantly higher in cirrhosis ($7.48{\pm}3.04$) and HCC groups ($6.62{\pm}2.49$) than the HCV group ($4.25{\pm}1.48$) (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between B2M Level and ALK, total and direct bilirubin and INR (p<0.05), and a significant inverse correlation between B2M level and albumin, total proteins, HB andWBCS values (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between B2M level and viral load or Metavir score, largest tumour size or AFP (p>0.05). The best B2M cut-off for HCV diagnosis was 2.6 with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. The best B2M cut-off for HCC diagnosis was 4.55 which yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values of 74%, 62%, 39.5, 87.8% respectively (p-value <0.01) while best cut-off for cirrhosis was 4.9, with sensitivity 74 % and specificity 74%.The sensitivity for HCC diagnosis increased upon B2M and AFP combined estimation to 91%, specificity to 79%, NPV to 95% and accuracy to 83%. Conclusions: Serum B2M level is elevated in HCV related chronic liver diseases and may be used as a marker for HCV disease progression towards cirrhosis and carcinoma.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2002

Purpose : 3D conformal radiotherapy, the optimum dose delivered to the tumor and provided the risk of normal tissue unless marginal miss, was restricted by organ motion. For tumors in the thorax and abdomen, the planning target volume (PTV) is decided including the margin for movement of tumor volumes during treatment due to patients breathing. We designed the respiratory gating radiotherapy device (RGRD) for using during CT simulation, dose planning and beam delivery at identical breathing period conditions. Using RGRD, reducing the treatment margin for organ (thorax or abdomen) motion due to breathing and improve dose distribution for 3D conformal radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : The internal organ motion data for lung cancer patients were obtained by examining the diaphragm in the supine position to find the position dependency. We made a respiratory gating radiotherapy device (RGRD) that is composed of a strip band, drug sensor, micro switch, and a connected on-off switch in a LINAC control box. During same breathing period by RGRD, spiral CT scan, virtual simulation, and 3D dose planing for lung cancer patients were peformed, without an extended PTV margin for free breathing, and then the dose was delivered at the same positions. We calculated effective volumes and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) using dose volume histograms for normal lung, and analyzed changes in doses associated with selected NTCP levels and tumor control probabilities (TCP) at these new dose levels. The effects of 3D conformal radiotherapy by RGRD were evaluated with DVH (Dose Volume Histogram), TCP, NTCP and dose statistics. Results : The average movement of a diaphragm was 1.5 cm in the supine position when patients breathed freely. Depending on the location of the tumor, the magnitude of the PTV margin needs to be extended from 1 cm to 3 cm, which can greatly increase normal tissue irradiation, and hence, results in increase of the normal tissue complications probabiliy. Simple and precise RGRD is very easy to setup on patients and is sensitive to length variation (+2 mm), it also delivers on-off information to patients and the LINAC machine. We evaluated the treatment plans of patients who had received conformal partial organ lung irradiation for the treatment of thorax malignancies. Using RGRD, the PTV margin by free breathing can be reduced about 2 cm for moving organs by breathing. TCP values are almost the same values $(4\~5\%\;increased)$ for lung cancer regardless of increasing the PTV margin to 2.0 cm but NTCP values are rapidly increased $(50\~70\%\;increased)$ for upon extending PTV margins by 2.0 cm. Conclusion : Internal organ motion due to breathing can be reduced effectively using our simple RGRD. This method can be used in clinical treatments to reduce organ motion induced margin, thereby reducing normal tissue irradiation. Using treatment planning software, the dose to normal tissues was analyzed by comparing dose statistics with and without RGRD. Potential benefits of radiotherapy derived from reduction or elimination of planning target volume (PTV) margins associated with patient breathing through the evaluation of the lung cancer patients treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.811-818
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different herb resource powders on meat quality and sensory properties in Korean native black goat for 500 d. The experimental treatment was arranged with 24 heads (3 treatment/8 heads) by control group, T1 and T2 group respectively (Control, not added herb powders; T1, 1% added herb powders; T2, 2% added herb powders). Total weight gain for the Korean native black goat was the highest in T2 group feeding for 500 days, and daily gain tended to be similar to the total weight gain. The total feed intake were the highest as 519.20 kg in T2 group, although feed conversion showed 18.35 in the T2 group, which means it had the best feed efficiency compared to the other treatment groups. The carcass rate was higher in the T1 group (51.10%) than in the other groups (p<0.05). The cooking loss and drip loss of Korean native black goat was the highest as 34.72% and 3.83% in the control group (p<0.05). However, total cholesterol amounts in the treatment group were not significantly different from, although tended to be higher than, the control group (p>0.05). Also, the overall sensory evaluation of the treatment group revealed low scores, meaning more meat flavor than those of the control in tenderness, flavor, texture, and black goat off-flavor and overall evaluation (p<0.05). Total synthesis evaluation was higher for the treatment group (3.71, 3.90 point) than that of the control group (4.82 point) (p<0.05). The MUFA/SFA ratio of the treatment group was not significantly different from, although tended to be higher than, the control group

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2005

One of the critical problems to be solved in transgenic animal production is uncontrollable constitutive expression of foreign genes, which usually results in serious physiological disturbances in the transgenic animal. To circumvent this problem, we constructed and tested two retrovirus vectors designed to express the GFP(green fluorescent protein) gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoters. To maximize the GFP gene expression at turn-on state, WPRE(woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element) sequence was introduced into the retrovirus vectors at downstream region of either the GFP gene or the sequence encoding rtTA(reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator). Transformed cells were cultured in the medium supplemented with or without doxycycline(tetracycline derivative) for 48 hours, and induction efficiency was measured by comparing the GFP gene expression level using fluorometry and western blotting. Higher GFP expression was observed from the vector carrying the WPRE sequence at 3' side of the GFP gene, while tighter expression control(up to 20 fold) was obtained from the vector in which the WPRE sequence was placed at 3' side of rtTA sequence. The resulting tetracycline inducible vector system may be used in transgenic animal production and gene therapy.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of high a)z pre-treatment (60, $100\%$ for 3, 6, 12 hr) on quality of 'Hikawa Hakuho' peach fruits. High a)z treatment inhibited the respiration and ethylene production, especially with long tenn treatment for more than 6 hr. Discoloration of peel, softening and decay were reduced by high $CO_2$ treatment $CO_2$ concentration of $60\~100\%$ did not affect soluble solids content and titratable acidity of fruits. $CO_2$ treated fruits, however, showed higher sweetness score compared with control. As the $CO_2$ concentration and treatment duration increased from 60 to $100\%$ and from 3 to 12 hr, respectively, the efficacy on quality increased. Fruits treated with $100\%\;CO_2$ for 3 hr and $60\%\;CO_2$ for 12 hr, however, showed very low flavor score due to the residual $CO_2$ in flesh. High $CO_2$ injury was not noted at any $CO_2$ levels tested in this study. Above results suggest that $60\%\;CO_2$ treatment for 6 hr resulted in as good control of respiration, ethylene production, decay, discoloration and softening without off-order.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2008

This study was carried out to elucidate the effects of adjuvants on physicochemical properties and pest control efficacy of pesticide spray solution. Spray droplet sizes of pesticide solution decreased by addition of adjuvants even though its effect varied according to the pesticides. The adhesive effect of pesticides sprayed on target crops by addition of adjuvants varied according to the properties, the application methods, and the spray volume of pesticides. Wash-off of the deposited amount of active ingredients of the solution of tricyclazole WP and fenobucarb EC by simulated rainfall after spraying on rice plants dramatically reduced by adding adjuvants. The retained amount of active ingredients of the pesticides were $1.5{\sim}4.1$ times higher than those without adjuvants when subjected to simulated rainfall 6 hours after spraying. Addition of adjuvants to the propanil EC spray solution enhanced the control efficacy in barnyard grass, Echinocloa crus-galli Beauv. by $8{\sim}30%$, which showed a potential to reduce pesticide use.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.3-13
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• 2009

90 wild Agaricus strains from China, including 44 Agaricus bisporus strains identified preliminarily by isozyme electrophoresis, were studied by the techniques of SRAP and ISSR. 18 special SRAP bands and 12 special ISSR bands were analyzed, the strains were clustered and a demdrogram was obtained. The results showed that the strains were divided into 2 groups, wild A. bisporus group and the other Agaricus group. It is similar to the result of isozyme electrophoresis. 41 wild A. bisporus strains from Sichuan and Tibet were divided into 4 groups based on their growing places, suggesting the regionally difference of the strains to be quite obvious. Some white wild A. bisporus strains from Xinjiang and Tibet had special patterns, resulting in lower coefficient values with other wild A. bisporus strains. The biological characteristics of three wild A. bisporus strains were analyzed, and the results showed: 1. The wild strains grew slowly on PDA medium with weak appressed mycelia, and grew normally in kernel or fermented cottonseed shell substrate. 2. They grew faster than control strain As2796 under lower temperature of $16^{\circ}C$, and higher temperature of $32^{\circ}C$, with optimum growing temperature of $20-24^{\circ}C$, which was $4^{\circ}C$ lower than that of control strain. 3. In the cultivation with manure compost via twice fermentation, the mycelia grew normally in compost and quite slowly in casing soil, and the fruitbodies occurred less and late with easily opening and low production. 4. The fruitbody was off-white with flat and scaled cap, long stipe and dark gill. The bisporus basidia occupied 70-80% and trisporus basidia 20-30% of the total basidia. 5. Heterokaryotic monospore isolates could fruit in cultivation, and the homokaryotic isolates could cross with those derived from overseas wild A.bisporus strains. 6. The electrophoresis phenotype of isozymes such as esterase etc. belonged to high production type (H type). 7. The RAPD patterns made much difference from those of high production, good quality or hybrid strains, which indicated that the wild strains produce a new kind of RAPD type.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of horizontal air flow produced by circulation fans on horizontal and vertical profiles of meteorological factors. The three-dimensional distributions of air speed, air temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide $(CO_2)$ concentration were measured with and without the fans in operation. The uniformity of the spatial distribution of meteorological factors decreased as the outside air temperature decreased. In "fans off" condition, spatial variations of $4.7^{\circ}C$ in air temperature, 19% in relative humidity were detected. When the fans were operated, these variations were reduced to 2.2 and 6.3%, respectively. As the fan capacity increased, the difference in air temperature among sampling points decreased. The fan capacity of $0.0104m^3{\cdot}s^{-1}{\cdot}m^{-2}$ was enough to obtain a reasonable air flow in greenhouse. The vertical profiles of air temperature and $CO_2$ concentration were reasonably uniform regardless of measurement height and fan capacity. Further researches on the position of fans to reduce the difference in air temperature along the width and the effects of using a larger number of smaller fans are required.