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Effect of Heating by Nano-Carbon Fiber Infrared Lamps on Growth and Vase Life of Cut Roses and Heating Cost (나노탄소섬유 적외선등 난방이 절화장미의 생육과 수명 및 난방비에 미치는 영향)

  • Lim, Mi-Young;Ko, Chung-Ho;Son, Moon-Sook;Lee, Sang-Bok;Kim, Gil-Ju;Kim, Byung-Soo;Kim, Young-Bok;Jeong, Byoung-Ryong
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2009
  • The greatest and major cost for cut rose production during winter seasons in Korea is cost of heating the greenhouse. A study was conducted on a cost-efficient heating system to reduce expenses of cut rose growers in times of high energy prices. An infrared heating system utilizing radiant energy has an obvious advantage over other heating methods in that the energy is first used to raise temperatures of plants and other objects and subsequently that of the atmosphere, resulting in faster reaching to desired plant temperatures at a reduced heating cost. In this study the heating effect and heating cost saving of a nano-carbon fiber infrared heating system (NCFIHS) installed in cut rose greenhouses in Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province were analyzed comparatively. In addition growth, quality, and vase life of 'Orange Fresh' roses grown in greenhouses heated by NCFIHS against those grown in greenhouses heated by so called an electrical heating system. In greenhouses with a NCFlHS with a set point air temperature of $20^{\circ}C$, plant temperature was maintained at $1{\sim}2^{\circ}C$ higher than the air temperature, and temperatures of growing bed surface and root zone were maintained at $17{\sim}19^{\circ}C$ throughout cold winter nights. The cost for heating in NCFIHS was about 25 and 51% of that of an electrical heating system and a hot water heating system heated by petroleum, respectively. Growth of roses harvested in greenhouses with a NCFIHS was similar to those grown in greenhouses with an electrical heating system. However, cut roses with more intense petal and leaf colors and a longer vase life (fresh weight and amount of water uptake) were harvested in greenhouses with a NCFIHS as compared to those harvested in greenhouses with an electrical heating system.

ON THE EFFECTS CHLORINITIES UPON GROWTH OF EARLIER LARVAE AND POST-LARVA OF A FRESH WATER PRAWN, MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGI(DE MAN) (담수산새우 Macrobrachium rosenbergi (de Man)의 초기유생 및 Post-larva.의 성장에 미치는 염분량에 관하여)

  • KWON Chin Soo;UNO Yutaka;OGASAWARA Yohismitsu
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.97-114
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    • 1977
  • The fresh water prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergi(de Man) is a very common species in Indopacific region, which inhaits both fresh and brackish water in low land area, most of rivers and especially aboundant in the lower reaches which are influenced by sea water. It is one of the largest and commercial species of genus Macrobrachium, which is commonly larger than $18\~21cm$ in body length, from the basis of eye-stalked to the distal of telson. As a part of the researches in order to investigate the possibilities on transplantation and propagation of this species, this work dealt with the problems on the effects of chlorinities upon zoeal larvae and post-larvae 1). metamorphosis rate and optimum chlorinity for metamorphosis to post-larve, 2). tolerance and comparative survival rate on various chlorinties, from fresh water to sea water $(19.38\%_{\circ}\;Cl)$, which reared for six days upon each stage of zoeal larvae, 3). accomodation rate on chlonities which reared for twelve days after transmigration into variant chlorinities of the range from $3.68\%_{\circ}$ Cl to $1.53\%_{\circ}$ Cl in the way of rearing of the range from $3.82\%_{\circ}$ Cl to $11.05\%_{\circ}$ upon each stage of zoea, 4). tolerance on both of fresh and sea water upon zoeal larva and post-larva under the condition of $28^{\circ}C{\pm}1$ in temperature and feeding on Artenia salina nauplii, 5). relationship between various chlorinities and grwth of post-larvae under the condition of $28^{\circ}C$ in tmperature and feeding on meat of clam. Thus these investigations were performed in order to grope for a comfortable method on seedmass production. Up to the present, the study on the effects of chlorinity upon earlier zoeal larvae and post-larvae of Macrobrachium species has been scarcely performed by workers with the exception of Lewis(1961) and Ling (1962,, 1967), even so their works were not so detailed. On the other hand, larvae of several species of this genus were reared at the water which mixed sea water so as to carry out complete metamorphosis to post-larva by workers in order to investigate on earlier 1 arval and earlier post-larval development, such as Macrobrachium lamerrei (Rajyalakshmi, 1961), M. rosenbergi and M. nipponense (Uno and Kwoa, 1969; Kwon and Uno, 1969), M. acanthurs (Choudhury, 1970; Dobkin, 1971), M. carcinus(Choudhury, 1970), M. formosense(Shokita, 1970), M. olfersii (Duggei et al., 1975), M. novaehallandiae (Greenwood et al., 1976), M. japonicum (Kwon, 1974) and M. lar (Shokita, personal communication), and there fore it is regarded that chlorinity is, generally, one of absolute factors to rear zoeal larvae of brackish species of Macrobrachium genus. Synthetic results on this work is summarized as the follwings: 1) Zoeal larvae required different chlorinities to grow according to each stage, and generally, it is regarded that optimum range of living and growing is from $7.63\%_{\circ}Cl\to\;7.63\%_{\circ}Cl$, and while differences of metamorphsis rate, from first zoea to post-larva, is rarely found in this range, and however it occurs apparently in both of situation at $7.63\%_{\circ}Cl$ below and $16.63\%_{\circ}Cl$ above and moreover, metamorphosis rate is delayed somewhat in case of lower chlorinity as compared with high chlorinity in these situations. 2) Accomodation in each chlorinity on the range, from fresh water to sea water, is different according to larval stages and while the best of it is, generally, on the range from $14.24\%_{\circ}Cl$ to $8.28\%_{\circ}Cl$ and favorite chlorinity of zoea have a tendency to remove from high chlorinity to lower chlorinity in order to advance larval age throughout all zoeal stages, setting a conversional stage for eighta zoea stage. 3) Optimum chlorinity of living and growth upon postlarvae is on the range of $4.25\%_{\circ}Cl$ below, and in proportion as approach to fresh water, growth rate is increased. 4) Post-large are able to live better in fresh water in comparison with zoeal larvae, which are only able to live within fifteen hours, and by contraries, post-larvae are merely able to live for one day as compared with ?미 larvar, which are able to live for six days more in sea water $19.38\%_{\circ}Cl\;above$. 5) Also, in case of transmigration into higher and lower chlorinities in the way of rearing in the initial chlorinities $ 3.82\%_{\circ}Cl,\;7.14%_{\circ}Cl\;and\;11.05%_{\circ}Cl$, accoodation rate is a follow: accomodation capacity in ease of removing into higher chlorinities from lower chlorinities is increased in proportion as earlier stages, setting a conversional stage for eighth zoea stage, and by contraries, in case of advanced stages from eighth zoea it is incraesed in proportion as approach to post-larva stage in the case of transmigration into lower chlorinity from higher chlorinity. On the other hand, it is interesting that in case of reciprocal transmigration between two different chlorinitiess, each survival rate is different, and in this case, also, its accomodation in each zoea stage has a tendency to vary according to larval stages as described above, setting a conversional stage for eighth zoea stage. 6) It is likely that expension of radish pigments on body surface is directly proportional to chlorinity during the period of zoea rearing, and therefore it seems like all body surfacts of zoea larvae be radish coloured in case of higher chlorinity. 7) By the differences that each zoeal larvae, postlarvae, juvaniles and adult prawn are required different chlorinity for inhabiting in each, it is regarded that this species migrats from up steam to near the estuary of the river which the prawns inhabits commonly in natural field for spawning and growth migration. 8) It had better maintainning chlorinities according to zoeal stage for a comfortable method on seed-mass production that earlier larva stages than eighth zoea are maintained on the range from $8\%_{\circ}Cl\;to\;12\%_{\circ}Cl$ to rear, and later larva stages than eighth zoea, by contraries, are gradually regula ted-to love chlorininity of the range from $7\%_{\circ}Cl\;to\;4\%_{\circ}Cl$ according to advance for post-larva stage.

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Modeling of Estimating Soil Moisture, Evapotranspiration and Yield of Chinese Cabbages from Meteorological Data at Different Growth Stages (기상자료(氣象資料)에 의(依)한 배추 생육시기별(生育時期別) 토양수분(土壤水分), 증발산량(蒸發散量) 및 수량(收量)의 추정모형(推定模型))

  • Im, Jeong-Nam;Yoo, Soon-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.386-408
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    • 1988
  • A study was conducted to develop a model for estimating evapotranspiration and yield of Chinese cabbages from meteorological factors from 1981 to 1986 in Suweon, Korea. Lysimeters with water table maintained at 50cm depth were used to measure the potential evapotranspiration and the maximum evapotranspiration in situ. The actual evapotranspiration and the yield were measured in the field plots irrigated with different soil moisture regimes of -0.2, -0.5, and -1.0 bars, respectively. The soil water content throughout the profile was monitored by a neutron moisture depth gauge and the soil water potentials were measured using gypsum block and tensiometer. The fresh weight of Chinese cabbages at harvest was measured as yield. The data collected in situ were analyzed to obtain parameters related to modeling. The results were summarized as followings: 1. The 5-year mean of potential evapotranspiration (PET) gradually increased from 2.38 mm/day in early April to 3.98 mm/day in mid-June, and thereafter, decreased to 1.06 mm/day in mid-November. The estimated PET by Penman, Radiation or Blanney-Criddle methods were overestimated in comparison with the measured PET, while those by Pan-evaporation method were underestimated. The correlation between the estimated and the measured PET, however, showed high significance except for July and August by Blanney-Criddle method, which implied that the coefficients should be adjusted to the Korean conditions. 2. The meteorological factors which showed hgih correlation with the measured PET were temperature, vapour pressure deficit, sunshine hours, solar radiation and pan-evaporation. Several multiple regression equations using meteorological factors were formulated to estimate PET. The equation with pan-evaporation (Eo) was the simplest but highly accurate. PET = 0.712 + 0.705Eo 3. The crop coefficient of Chinese cabbages (Kc), the ratio of the maximum evapotranspiration (ETm) to PET, ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 at early growth stage and from 0.9 to 1.2 at mid and late growth stages. The regression equation with respect to the growth progress degree (G), ranging from 0.0 at transplanting day to 1.0 at the harvesting day, were: $$Kc=0.598+0.959G-0.501G^2$$ for spring cabbages $$Kc=0.402+1.887G-1.432G^2$$ for autumn cabbages 4. The soil factor (Kf), the ratio of the actual evapotranspiration to the maximum evapotranspiration, showed 1.0 when the available soil water fraction (f) was higher than a threshold value (fp) and decreased linearly with decreasing f below fp. The relationships were: Kf=1.0 for $$f{\geq}fp$$ Kf=a+bf for f$$I{\leq}Esm$$ Es = Esm for I > Esm 6. The model for estimating actual evapotranspiration (ETa) was based on the water balance neglecting capillary rise as: ETa=PET. Kc. Kf+Es 7. The model for estimating relative yield (Y/Ym) was selected among the regression equations with the measured ETa as: Y/Ym=a+bln(ETa) The coefficients and b were 0.07 and 0.73 for spring Chinese cabbages and 0.37 and 0.66 for autumn Chinese cabbages, respectively. 8. The estimated ETa and Y/Ym were compared with the measured values to verify the model established above. The estimated ETa showed disparities within 0.29mm/day for spring Chinese cabbages and 0.19mm/day for autumn Chinese cabbages. The average deviation of the estimated relative yield were 0.14 and 0.09, respectively. 9. The deviations between the estimated values by the model and the actual values obtained from three cropping field experiments after the completion of the model calibration were within reasonable confidence range. Therefore, this model was validated to be used in practical purpose.

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A Study on the Growth Diagnosis and Management Prescription for Population of Retusa Fringe Trees in Pyeongji-ri, Jinan(Natural Monument No. 214) (진안 평지리 이팝나무군(천연기념물 제214호)의 생육진단 및 관리방안)

  • Rho, Jae-Hyun;Oh, Hyun-Kyung;Han, Sang-Yub;Choi, Yung-Hyun;Son, Hee-Kyung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.115-127
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    • 2018
  • This study was attempted to find out the value of cultural assets through the clear diagnosis and prescription of the dead and weakness factors of the Population of Retusa Fringe Trees in Pyeongji-ri, Jinan(Natural Monument No. 214), The results are as follows. First, Since the designation of 13 natural monuments in 1968, since 1973, many years have passed since then. In particular, despite the removal of some of the buried soil during the maintenance process, such as retreating from the fence of the primary school after 2010, Second, The first and third surviving tree of the designated trees also have many branches that are dead, the leaves are dull, and the amount of leaves is small. vitality of tree is 'extremely bad', and the first branch has already been faded by a large number of branches, and the amount of leaves is considerably low this year, so that only two flowers are bloomed. The second is also in a 'bad'state, with small leaves, low leaf density, and deformed water. The largest number 1 in the world is added to the concern that the s coverd oil is assumed to be paddy soils. Third, It is found that the composition ratio of silt is high because it is known as '[silty loam(SiL)]'. In addition, the pH of the northern soil at pH 1 was 6.6, which was significantly different from that of the other soil. In addition, the organic matter content was higher than the appropriate range, which is considered to reflect the result of continuous application for protection management. Fourth, It is considered that the root cause of failure and growth of Jinan pyeongji-ri Population of Retusa Fringe Trees group is chronic syndrome of serious menstrual deterioration due to covered soil. This can also be attributed to the newly planted succession and to some of the deaths. Fifthly, It is urgent to gradually remove the subsoil part, which is estimated to be the cause of the initial damage. Above all, it is almost impossible to remove the coverd soil after grasping the details of the soil, such as clayey soil, which is buried in the rootstock. After removal of the coverd soil, a pestle is installed to improve the respiration of the roots and the ground with Masato. And the dead 4th dead wood and the 5th and 6th dead wood are the best, and the lower layer vegetation is mown. The viable neck should be removed from the upper surface, and the bark defect should undergo surgery and induce the development of blindness by vestibule below the growth point. Sixth, The underground roots should be identified to prepare a method to improve the decompression of the root and the respiration of the soil. It is induced by the shortening of rotten roots by tracing the first half of the rootstock to induce the generation of new roots. Seventh, We try mulching to suppress weed occurrence, trampling pressure, and soil moisturizing effect. In addition, consideration should be given to the fertilization of the foliar fertilizer, the injection of the nutrients, and the soil management of the inorganic fertilizer for the continuous nutrition supply. Future monitoring and forecasting plans should be developed to check for changes continuously.

Processing of Water Activity Controlled Fish Meat Paste by Dielectric Heating 1. Formulation and Processing Conditions (내부가열을 이용한 보장성어육(고등어) 연제품의 가공 및 제품개발에 관한 연구 1. 원료${\cdot}$첨가물의 배합 및 가공조건)

  • LEE Kang-Ho;LEE Byeong-Ho;You Byeong-Jin;SUH Jae-Soo;JO Jin-Ho;JEONG In-Hak;JEA Yoi-Guan
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.353-360
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    • 1984
  • As an effort to expand the utilization of mackerel which has been thought disadvantageous to processors due to the defects in bloody dark color of meat, high content of lipid, and low stability of protein, and to develope a new type of product, so called, preservative fish meat paste, the processing method was studied in which dielectric heating was applied by means of cooking, pasteurization, dehydration, and control of water activity. The principle of this method is based on that dielectric heating can initiate a rapid dispersion or displacement of moisture in the meat tissue so that the level of water acivity can be controlled by dehydration with hot air meanwhile the product is cooked, pasteurized, and texturized. And the product is finally heated with electric heaters and vacuum sealed to stabilize water activity and storage stability. In present paper, a formula for preparing the fish meat-stach paste, the conditions of dielectric heating and dehydration, shape and size of the product, and other parameters were tested to optimize the process operation. A formula of the fish meat-starch paste to provide proper textural properties and water activity was $10\%$ starch, $1.5\%$ salt, $3\%$ soybean, $0.6\%$ MSG, $2\%$ sucrose, and $3\%$ sorbitol against the weight of fish meat. A proper shape and size of the product to avoid foaming and case hardening during heating was sliced disc of 8 cm $diameter{\times}0.8$ cm thickness or $10{\times}10$ cm square plate with 1.0 cm thickness. The disc shape was recommended because it resulted more uniform heating, minimum foaming and case hardening. And it was also advantageous that disc was simply provided when the fish meat disc was stuffed in the same, solidified in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, and sliced. Condition of dielectric heating was critical to decide the levels of sterility, water activity, and textural property of the product. The temperature at the center of the meat disc slices was raised up to $95^{\circ}C$ in 1.5 minutes so that continuous exposure to microwave caused expanded tissue and hardening ending up with a higher water content. Heating for 5 to 6 minutes was adequate to yield the final water activity of 0.86 to 0.83(35 to $40\%$ moisture). It is important, however, that heating had to be done periodically, for instance, in the manner of 2.0, 1.5, 1.5, and 1.0 minute to give enough time to displace or evaporate moisture from the meat tissue. The product was dehydrated for 2 to 3 minutes by hot air of $60^{\circ}C$, 3 to 5m/sec and finally exposed to electric heaters for 5 to 6 minutes until the surface was roasted deep brown. These conditions of heating and dehydration resulted in a complete reduction of total plate count from an initial count of $5.3{\times}10^6/g$ to less than $3{\times}10^2/g$. General composition of the product was $40.1\%$ moisture, $20.8\%$ protein, $17.4\%$ lipid, $16.2\%$ carbohydrate, and $5.5\%$ ash. Textural properties revealed folding test AA, hardness 42, cohesiveness 0.53, toughness 4.6, and elasticity 0.8.

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Ecophysiological Interpretations on the Water Relations Parameters of Trees(VII) - Measurement of Water Flow by the Heat Pulse Method in a Larix leptolepis Stand - (수목(樹木)의 수분특성(水分特性)에 관(關)한 생리(生理)·생태학적(生態學的) 해석(解析)(VII) - Heat pulse법(法)에 의한 낙엽송임분(林分)의 수액류속(樹液流速) 계측(計測) -)

  • Han, Sang Sup;Kim, Sun Hee
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.82 no.2
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    • pp.152-165
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    • 1993
  • This is the basic study in order to know the amount of transpirational water loss in a Larix leptorepis stand by a heat pulse method. Especially this study has been measured and discussed the diurnal and seasonal trends of heat pulse velocity by changes of radiation, temperature and humidity, differences of heat pulse velocity by direction and depth in stem, differences of heat pulse velocity by dominant, codominant and suppressed trees, diurnal change of heat pulse velocity by change of leaf water potential, sap flow path way in sapwood by dye penetration and amount of daily and annual transpiration in a tree and stand. The results obtained as follows : 1. Relation between heat pulse velocity(V) and sap flow rate(SFR) was established as a equation of SFR=1.37V($r=0.96^{**}$). 2. The sap flow rate presented in the order of dominant, codominant and suppressed tree, respectively. The daily heat pulse velocity was changed by radiation, temperature and vapor pressure deficit. 3. The heat pulse velocity in individual trees did not differ in early morning and in late night, but had some differed from 12 to 16 hours when radiation was relatively high. 4. The heat pulse velocity and leaf water potential showed similar diurnal variation. 5. The seasonal variation of heat pulse velocity was highest in August, but lowest in October and similar value of heat pulse velocity in the other months. 6. The heat pulse velocity in stem by direction was highest in eastern, but lowest in southern and similar velocity in western and northern. 7. The difference of heat pulse velocity in according to depths was highest in 2.0cm depth, medium in 1.0cm depth, and lowest in 3.0cm depth from surface of stem. 8. The sap flow path way in stem showed spiral ascent turning right pattern in five sample trees, especially showed little spiral ascent turning right in lower part than 3m hight above ground, but very speedy in higher than 3m hight. 9. The amount of sap flow(SF) was presented as a equation of SF=1.37AV and especially SF in dominant tree was larger than in codominant or suppressed tree. 10. The amount of daily transpiration was 30.8ton/ha/day and its composition ratio was 83% at day and 17% at night. 11. The amount of stand transpiration per month was largest in August(1,194ton/ha/month), lowest in May (386ton/ha/month). The amount of stand transpiration per year was 3,983ton/ha/year.

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Comparison of Establishment Vigor, Uniformity, Rooting Potential and Turf Qualtiy of Sods of Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue and Cool-Season Grass Mixtures Grown in Sand Soil (모래 토양에서 켄터키블루그라스, 퍼레니얼라이그라스, 톨훼스큐 및 한지형 혼합구 뗏장의 피복도, 균일도, 근계 형성력 및 잔디품질 비교)

  • 김경남;박원규;남상용
    • Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.129-146
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    • 2003
  • Research was initiated to compare establishment vigor, uniformity, rooting potential and turf quality in sods of cool-season grasses (CSG). Several turfgrasses grown under pure sand soil were tested. Establishment vigor, uniformity, rooting potential and turf quality were evaluated in the study. Turfgrass entries were comprised of three blends from Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), respectively and three mixtures among them. Differences by treatments were significantly observed in establishment vigor, uniformity, rooting potential and turf quality. Early establishment vigor was mainly influenced by germination speed, being fastest with PR, intermediate with TF and slowest with KB. In a late stage of growth, however, it was affected more by growth habit, resulting in highest with KB and slowest with TF. There were considerable variations in sod uniformity among turfgrasses. Best uniformity among monostand sods was associated with KB, while poorest one with TF. PR sod produced intermediate uniformity between KB and TF. The uniformity of polystand sods of CSG mixtures was inferior to that of monostands of KB, PR and TF, due to characteristics of mixtures comprised of a variety of color, density, texture and growth habit. The greatest potential of sod rooting was found with PR and the poorest with KB. Intermediate potential between PR and KB was associated with TF. In CSG mixtures, it was variable, depending on turfgrass mixing rates. Generally, the higher the PR in mixtures, the greater the sod rooting potential. At the time of sod harvest, however, turfgrass quality of KB was superior to that of PR. because of its characteristics of uniform surface, high density and good mowing quality. These results suggest that a careful expertise based on turf quality as well as sod characteristics like establishment vigor, uniformity and rooting potential be strongly required for the success of golf course or athletic field in establishment.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Prednisolone Withdrawal Followed by Recombinant ${\alpha}$ Interferon in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B (소아 만성 B형 간염 환자에서 스테로이드 이탈 요법 후 인터페론 병용 투여의 치료 효과)

  • Ryu, Na-Eun;Kim, Byung-Ju;Ma, Jae-Sook;Hwang, Tai-Ju
    • Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.169-177
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    • 1999
  • Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of interferon alpha therapy with or without prednisolone in children with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Twenty-eight children (22 boys, 6 girls, mean age 130 months) had seropositive results for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA; 11 had chronic persistent hepatitis and 17 had chronic active hepatitis. The patients were divided into two groups depending upon their inflammatory activity on liver biopsy, pretreatment serum ALT levels and HBV DNA levels. Fourteen children (group 1: chronic active hepatitis, ALT ${\geq}$ 100 IU/L and HBV DNA ${\leq}$ 100 pg/$300\;{\mu}L$) received interferon alpha 2a 5 $MU/m^2$ of body surface three times weekly for 6 months. Fourteen children (group 2: chronic persistent hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis with ALT < 100 IU/L or HBV DNA > 100 pg/$300\;{\mu}L$) received prednisolone in decreasing daily doses of 60 mg/$m^2$, 40 mg/$m^2$, and 20 mg/$m^2$, each for 2 weeks, followed after 2 weeks by interferon alpha 2a on the same schedule. At the end of therapy, 3 end points were analyzed: HBeAg seroconversion, serum ALT normalization rate and clearance of serum HBV DNA. Results: At the end of treatment, HBe antigen-to antibody seroconversion was higher but not more significant in group 1 than group 2 (71.4% vs. 50.0%). Only one patient in group 2 who lost HBeAg, also cleared HBsAg. ALT normalization was similar in both groups (64.3% in group 1 vs. 55.6% in group 2). Clearance of serum HBV DNA was observed in 78.6% of patients in group 1 and 64.3% in group 2, but no significant differences. Complete response was similarly achieved in both groups (57.1% in group 1 vs. 50.0% in group 2). Interferon alpha therapy with prednisolone priming was well tolerated and all children finished therapy. Conclusion: The combined therapy with prednisolone followed by interferon alpha may be safe and effective in inducing a serological and biochemical remission of the disease in approximately 50% of children with chronic hepatitis B and with a high level of viral replication and less active disease. However, a controlled study should be performed to confirm these results.

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