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Semi-quantitative Procalcitonin Assay in Critically ill Patients with Respiratory infections (중환자 호흡 감염에서 반정량적 Procalcitonin 분석)

  • Kim, Ji-Youn;Kim, Cheol-Hong;Park, Sunghoon;Lee, Chang-Youl;Hwang, Yong Il;Choi, Jeong-Hee;Shin, Taerim;Park, Yong-Bum;Jang, Seung-Hun;Lee, Jae Young;Park, Sang Myeon;Kim, Dong-Gyu;Lee, Myung-Goo;Hyun, In-Gyu;Jung, Ki-Suck
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.67 no.3
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    • pp.205-211
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    • 2009
  • Background: Serum procalcitonin level has been considered prognostic during sepsis and septic shock. We investigated the significance of procalcitonin in critically ill patients with respiratory infections. Methods: The patients who had radiographically diagnosed diffuse lung infiltrations were enrolled on a prospective basis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for the purpose of quantitative cultures (${\geq}10^4$ cfu/mL) was obtained from all patients. Serum procalcitonin levels determined by PCT-Q kit were measured on BAL day and classified as follows; <0.5 ng/mL, 0.5~2.0 ng/mL, 2.0~10.0 ng/mL and >10.0 ng/mL. We analyzed the patient's characteristics according to outcome; favorable or unfavorable, defined as death. Results: Patients from the following categories were included: medical 17 (47.2%), surgical 9 (25%), and burned 10 (27.8%). APACHE II scores on admission to intensive care unit were 11.5${\pm}$6.89 and 11 (30.6%) had unfavorable outcomes. A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was in 17 (47.2%) of all. On univariate analysis, the frequencies of burn injury, mechanical ventilation, multiple organ failure, and a procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL were more often increased in patients with unfavorable outcomes than in those with favorable outcomes (p<.05). Also, a higher procalcitonin range and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were more closely associated with an unfavorable outcome (p<.05). However in multivariate analysis, a strong predictor of unfavorable outcome was burn injury (p<.05). A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was more sensitive in predicting VAP than unfavorable outcome. Conclusion: A higher procalcitonin level seems to be associated with VAP, but further study is required to know that procalcitonin would be a prognostic marker in critically ill patients with respiratory infections.

The Effects of Environment-Friendly Diets on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Fecal Excretion, Nitrogen Excretion and Emission Gases in Manure for Growing Pigs (환경친화적인 사료의 급여가 육성돈의 성장 능력, 영양소 소화율, 분 배설량, 분뇨내 질소배설량 및 악취 가스에 미치는 영향)

  • Yoo, J.S.;Cho, J.H.;Chen, Y.G.;Kim, H.J.;Wang, Q.;Hyun, Y.;Ko, T.G.;Park, C.S.;Kim, I.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.491-500
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    • 2007
  • Two experiments were used to determine the effects of environment-friendly diets on growth performance, fecal excretion, nitrogen excretion and emission gases in manure for growing pigs. In experiment 1, ninety six crossed pigs(Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) were allocated into four treatments. Treatments were AME(adequate ME diet, 3,265 kcal/kg), LME(lower ME diet, 3,100 kcal/kg), LME 0.05(lower ME diet+α- galactosidase & β-mannanase 0.05%) and LME 0.10(lower ME diet+α-galactosidase & β-mannanase 0.10%). Pigs fed AME diet had lower ADFI(Average Daily Feed Intake) than pigs fed other diets(p<0.05). DM(Dry Matter) digestibility in pigs fed AME and LME 0.10 diets had greater than pigs fed LME diet(p<0.05). Energy digestibility is higher in pigs fed AME and LME 0.10 diets than other treatments(p<0.05). In experiment 2, twenty four crossbred pigs(33.71 kg average BW) were used in a 14-d metabolism experiment. The pigs were housed in individual cages equipped with plastic bed flooring. Treatments were CP(Crude protein) 18% without Bacillus sp., CP 18% diet+Bacillus sp. 0.05%, CP 14% without Bacillus sp. and CP 14% diet+Bacillus sp. 0.05%. Nitrogen intake was higher for CP 18% diets than CP 14% diets(p<0.05). DM, N(Nitrogen) and energy digestibility were affected by probiotics(p<0.05). With the high CP in diets, Energy and N digestibility, urine N percent, urine N excretion and total N excretion were increased significantly compared to low CP in diets(p<0.05). Among the treatments, DM and N digestibilities, feces N excretion, N absorption were decreased significantly(p<0.05), however, feces excretion, feces N, urine N percent, urine N excretion and total N excretion were increased significantly(p<0.05) when pigs fed without probiotics diets compare to pigs fed with probiotics diets. DM and N digestibility, feces excretion, feces N excretion, urine N percent, urine N excretion, total N excretion, N absorption and N adsorption ratio were CP×probiotic interactions in p<0.05. Ammonia(p<0.01) and H2S(p<0.05) in manure were lower in CP 14% diets than CP 18% diets. Also, ammonia and H2S in manure were CP×probiotic interactions in p<0.05. In conclusion, low energy and reduction of CP dietary added enzyme and probiotics improved nutrient digestibility and reduced odors emission in manure for growing pigs.

Antibacterial Activity of Artemisa Capillaris THUNB on Oral Bacteria (인진쑥의 구강세균에 대한 항균작용)

  • Chae, Gyu-Chang;Auh, Q-Schick;Chun, Yang-Hyun;Hong, Jung-Pyo
    • Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.169-177
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    • 2009
  • Recently it is very interesting that the plant extracts use to prevent or treat the oral diseases. The present study was performed to observe the antibacterial effect on S. gordonii Challis, S. gordoii G9B, S. mutans GS5, S. sobriuns 6715, E. faecalis ATCC 4083, A. actinomycetem Y4, P. gingivalis A7A1-28, P. gingivalis W83, Pr. intermedia ATCC 25611, F. nucleatum KTCT 2488, C. albicans ATCC 18804 of Artemisa capillaris THUNB employing the viable cell counts. The results were as follows: 1. Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) of extracts of Artemisa capillaris THUNB for P. gingivalis A7A1-28, P. gingivalis W83, and Pr. intermedia ATCC 25611, which are the pathologic bacteria of periodontal diseases, was observed under 2%. 2. MIC of extracts of Artemisa capillaris THUNB for P. gingivalis A7A1-28 was determined to be 1.2% and MBC was determined to be 2.0% respectively. 3. MIC of extracts of Artemisa capillaris THUNB for P. gingivalis W83 was determined to be 1.4% and MBC was determined to be 2.0% respectively. 4. MIC of extracts of Artemisa capillaris THUNB for Pr. intermedia ATCC 25611 was determined to be 1.2% and MBC was determined to be 2.0% respectively. The overall results indicate that Artemisa capillaris THUNB used for this study has a strong antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis A7A1-28, P. gingivalis W83, and Pr. intermedia ATCC 25611, which are the periodontopathic bacteria. Therefore, the extracts of Artemisa capillaris THUNB can be used as a candidate for prevention and therapeutic agent against periodontal diseases.

Effects of Refrigerated Storage Temperature and Duration on the Seedling Quality of Bare Root Plants and Container Seedlings of Quercus variabilis and Zelkova serrata (저장 온도 및 기간이 굴참나무와 느티나무 노지묘 및 용기묘의 묘목품질에 미치는 영향)

  • Cho, Min Seok;Yang, A-Ram;Noh, Nam Jin
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.110 no.3
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    • pp.406-418
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    • 2021
  • This study was conducted to evaluate optimal storage techniques for bare root plants and container seedlings of Quercus variabilis and Zelkova serrata in order to maintain high quality of seedlings until planting. Refrigerated storage treatments were given at two temperatures (-2℃ [freezing] and 2℃ [cooling]) for nine different durations (0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days after storage). We analyzed total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) content and measured shoot moisture content (SMC) during the storage stage and survival rate (SR) and dry weight during the planting stage of seedlings. The TNC content and SMC of the seedlings of the two species decreased with an increase in storage duration. The TNC content of seedlings rapidly decreased after 180~240 days of storage. The TNC reduction rate in the freezing treatment was lower than that in the cooling treatment. Also, with an increase in the storage duration of the two species, the SMC reduction rate in the cooling treatment increased in comparison with that in the freezing treatment. In both the species, the SR after planting decreased rapidly after 60 days of cooling storage and 180 days of freezing storage, respectively. The SR after planting was less than 60% when the TNC content for both the species dropped below 20 mg g-1. In addition, the SR was lower than 80% when SMC measured before storage decreased by approximately 30% and 20% for Q. variabilis and Z. serrata, respectively. Our results suggest that cooling (1~2℃) storage is recommended for a short-term period (2 months or less), whereas freezing (-2~-4℃) storage is suitable for longer periods (2~6 months). These optimal storage techniques, allied with seedling harvesting and handling systems, will improve the quality of seedling production in nursery stages and increase seedling growth performances in plantations.

The Quantity and Pattern of Leaf Fall and Nitrogen Resorption Strategy by Leaf-litter in the Gwangneung Natural Broadleaved Forest (광릉숲 천연활엽수림의 수종별 낙엽 현상과 질소 재전류 특성)

  • Kwon, Boram;Kim, Hyunseok;Yi, Myong Jong
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.208-220
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    • 2019
  • The seasonality of leaf fall has important implications for understanding the response of trees' phenology to climate change. In this study, we quantified the leaf fall pattern with a model to estimate the timing and speed of leaf litter according to species and considered the nutrient use strategy of canopy species. In the autumns of 2015 and 2016, leaf litter was collected periodically using 36 litter-traps from the deciduous forests in Gwangneung and sorted by species. The seasonal leaf fall pattern was estimated using the non-linear regression model of Dixon. Additionally, the resorption rate was calculated by analyzing the nitrogen concentration of the leaf litter at each collection time. The leaf litter generally began in early October and ended in mid-November depending on the species. At the peak time (T50) of leaf fall, on average, Carpinus laxiflora was first, and Quercus serrata was last. The rate of leaf fall was fastest (18.6 days) for Sorbus alnifolia in 2016 and slowest (40.8 days) for C. cordata in 2015. The nitrogen resorption rates at T50 were 0.45% for Q. serrata and 0.48% for C. laxiflora, and the resorption rate in 2015 with less precipitation was higher than in 2016. Since falling of leaf litter is affected by environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, photoperiod, and $CO_2$ during the period attached foliage, the leaf fall pattern and nitrogen resorption differed year by year depending on the species. If we quantify the fall phenomena of deciduous trees and analyze them according to various conditions, we can predict whether the changes in leaf fall timing and speed due to climate change will prolong or shorten the growth period of trees. In addition, it may be possible to consider how this affects their nutrient use strategy.

Influence of Land Cover Map and Its Vegetation Emission Factor on Ozone Concentration Simulation (토지피복 지도와 식생 배출계수가 오존농도 모의에 미치는 영향)

  • Kyeongsu Kim;Seung-Jae Lee
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.48-59
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    • 2023
  • Ground-level ozone affects human health and plant growth. Ozone is produced by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. In this study, two different land cover and emission factor datasets were input to the MEGAN v2.1 emission model to examine how these parameters contribute to the biogenic emissions and ozone production. Four input sensitivity scenarios (A, B, C and D) were generated from land cover and vegetation emission factors combination. The effects of BVOCs emissions by scenario were also investigated. From air quality modeling result using CAMx, maximum 1 hour ozone concentrations were estimated 62 ppb, 60 ppb, 68 ppb, 65 ppb, 55 ppb for scenarios A, B, C, D and E, respectively. For maximum 8 hour ozone concentration, 57 ppb, 56 ppb, 63 ppb, 60 ppb, and 53 ppb were estimated by scenario. The minimum difference by land cover was up to 25 ppb and by emission factor that was up to 35 ppb. From the modeling performance evaluation using ground ozone measurement over the six regions (East Seoul, West Seoul, Incheon, Namyangju, Wonju, and Daegu), the model performed well in terms of the correlation coefficient (0.6 to 0.82). For the 4 urban regions (East Seoul, West Seoul, Incheon, and Namyangju), ozone simulations were not quite sensitive to the change of BVOC emissions. For rural regions (Wonju and Daegu) , however, BVOC emission affected ozone concentration much more than previously mentioned regions, especially in case of scenario C. This implies the importance of biogenic emissions on ozone production over the sub-urban to rural regions.

The Study of Attributes of Immune Changes during the Convalescence Temperature Period in Holstein Dairy Cows Exposed to High-Temperature Stress (고온 스트레스 환경에 노출된 홀스타인종 젖소의 회복기 면역 변화 특성 규명)

  • Eun Tae Kim;Sangjin Lee;Ye Eun Kim;Dong-Hyun Lim;Dong Hyeon Kim;Seong Min Park;Jun Sik Eom;Ji Hoo Park;Sang Bum Kim;Sung Sill Lee;Myunghoo Kim
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.206-215
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    • 2023
  • This study was performed to investigate immune changes by comparing the proportion and function of immune cells in the blood under high-temperature period and convalescence temperature period in Holstein dairy cows. The experiment was conducted using Holstein dairy cows of five animals per group (60 ± 20 months old, 175 ± 78 non-day) from the National Institute of Animal Science at high-temperature period (THI: 76 ± 1.2) and convalescence temperature period (THI: 66 ± 1.3). Complete blood count results showed no change in the number of immune cells between groups. In the analysis using Flow Cytometry of PBMCs, no significant differences were observed among B cells, Helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and γδ T cells between groups. However, there was an increase in Th17 cells producing IL-17a, while Th1 cells decreased during the convalescence temperature period. The results of gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR in PBMCs revealed an increase in IL-10 during the convalescence temperature period, while a decrease in HSP70 and HSP90 was observed. In conclusion, the increased expression of IL-10 and the decrease in HSP expression suggest the possibility of a weak recovery from heat stress. However, the lack of observed changes in B cells, T cells, and other immune cells indicates incomplete recovery from heat stress during the convalescence temperature period.

Brief Introduction of Research Progresses in Control and Biocontrol of Clubroot Disease in China

  • He, Yueqiu;Wu, Yixin;He, Pengfei;Li, Xinyu
    • 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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    • 2015.05a
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    • pp.45-46
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    • 2015
  • Clubroot disease of crucifers has occurred since 1957. It has spread to the whole China, especially in the southwest and nourtheast where it causes 30-80% loss in some fields. The disease has being expanded in the recent years as seeds are imported and the floating seedling system practices. For its effective control, the Ministry of Agriculture of China set up a program in 2010 and a research team led by Dr. Yueqiu HE, Yunnan Agricultural University. The team includes 20 main reseachers of 11 universities and 5 institutions. After 5 years, the team has made a lot of progresses in disease occurrence regulation, resources collection, resistance identification and breeding, biological agent exploration, formulation, chemicals evaluation, and control strategy. About 1200 collections of local and commercial crucifers were identified in the field and by artificiall inoculation in the laboratories, 10 resistant cultivars were breeded including 7 Chinese cabbages and 3 cabbages. More than 800 antagostic strains were isolated including bacteria, stretomyces and fungi. Around 100 chemicals were evaluated in the field and greenhouse based on its control effect, among them, 6 showed high control effect, especially fluazinam and cyazofamid could control about 80% the disease. However, fluzinam has negative effect on soil microbes. Clubroot disease could not be controlled by bioagents and chemicals once when the pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae infected its hosts and set up the parasitic relationship. We found the earlier the pathogent infected its host, the severer the disease was. Therefore, early control was the most effective. For Chinese cabbage, all controlling measures should be taken in the early 30 days because the new infection could not cause severe symptom after 30 days of seeding. For example, a biocontrol agent, Bacillus subtilis Strain XF-1 could control the disease 70%-85% averagely when it mixed with seedling substrate and was drenching 3 times after transplanting, i.e. immediately, 7 days, 14 days. XF-1 has been deeply researched in control mechanisms, its genome, and development and application of biocontrol formulate. It could produce antagonistic protein, enzyme, antibiotics and IAA, which promoted rhizogenesis and growth. Its The genome was sequenced by Illumina/Solexa Genome Analyzer to assembled into 20 scaffolds then the gaps between scaffolds were filled by long fragment PCR amplification to obtain complet genmone with 4,061,186 bp in size. The whole genome was found to have 43.8% GC, 108 tandem repeats with an average of 2.65 copies and 84 transposons. The CDSs were predicted as 3,853 in which 112 CDSs were predicted to secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport and catabolism. Among those, five NRPS/PKS giant gene clusters being responsible for the biosynthesis of polyketide (pksABCDEFHJLMNRS in size 72.9 kb), surfactin(srfABCD, 26.148 kb, bacilysin(bacABCDE 5.903 kb), bacillibactin(dhbABCEF, 11.774 kb) and fengycin(ppsABCDE, 37.799 kb) have high homolgous to fuction confirmed biosynthesis gene in other strain. Moreover, there are many of key regulatory genes for secondary metabolites from XF-1, such as comABPQKX Z, degQ, sfp, yczE, degU, ycxABCD and ywfG. were also predicted. Therefore, XF-1 has potential of biosynthesis for secondary metabolites surfactin, fengycin, bacillibactin, bacilysin and Bacillaene. Thirty two compounds were detected from cell extracts of XF-1 by MALDI-TOF-MS, including one Macrolactin (m/z 441.06), two fusaricidin (m/z 850.493 and 968.515), one circulocin (m/z 852.509), nine surfactin (m/z 1044.656~1102.652), five iturin (m/z 1096.631~1150.57) and forty fengycin (m/z 1449.79~1543.805). The top three compositions types (contening 56.67% of total extract) are surfactin, iturin and fengycin, in which the most abundant is the surfactin type composition 30.37% of total extract and in second place is the fengycin with 23.28% content with rich diversity of chemical structure, and the smallest one is the iturin with 3.02% content. Moreover, the same main compositions were detected in Bacillus sp.355 which is also a good effects biocontol bacterial for controlling the clubroot of crucifer. Wherefore those compounds surfactin, iturin and fengycin maybe the main active compositions of XF-1 against P. brassicae. Twenty one fengycin type compounds were evaluate by LC-ESI-MS/MS with antifungal activities, including fengycin A $C_{16{\sim}C19}$, fengycin B $C_{14{\sim}C17}$, fengycin C $C_{15{\sim}C18}$, fengycin D $C_{15{\sim}C18}$ and fengycin S $C_{15{\sim}C18}$. Furthermore, one novel compound was identified as Dehydroxyfengycin $C_{17}$ according its MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, which molecular weight is 1488.8480 Da and formula $C_{75}H_{116}N_{12}O_{19}$. The fengycin type compounds (FTCPs $250{\mu}g/mL$) were used to treat the resting spores of P. brassicae ($10^7/mL$) by detecting leakage of the cytoplasm components and cell destruction. After 12 h treatment, the absorbencies at 260 nm (A260) and at 280 nm (A280) increased gradually to approaching the maximum of absorbance, accompanying the collapse of P. brassicae resting spores, and nearly no complete cells were observed at 24 h treatment. The results suggested that the cells could be lyzed by the FTCPs of XF-1, and the diversity of FTCPs was mainly attributed to a mechanism of clubroot disease biocontrol. In the five selected medium MOLP, PSA, LB, Landy and LD, the most suitable for growth of strain medium is MOLP, and the least for strains longevity is the Landy sucrose medium. However, the lipopeptide highest yield is in Landy sucrose medium. The lipopeptides in five medium were analyzed with HPLC, and the results showed that lipopeptides component were same, while their contents from B. subtilis XF-1 fermented in five medium were different. We found that it is the lipopeptides content but ingredients of XF-1 could be impacted by medium and lacking of nutrition seems promoting lipopeptides secretion from XF-1. The volatile components with inhibition fungal Cylindrocarpon spp. activity which were collect in sealed vesel were detected with metheds of HS-SPME-GC-MS in eight biocontrol Bacillus species and four positive mutant strains of XF-1 mutagenized with chemical mutagens, respectively. They have same main volatile components including pyrazine, aldehydes, oxazolidinone and sulfide which are composed of 91.62% in XF-1, in which, the most abundant is the pyrazine type composition with 47.03%, and in second place is the aldehydes with 23.84%, and the third place is oxazolidinone with 15.68%, and the smallest ones is the sulfide with 5.07%.

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Expression Profiling of MLO Family Genes under Podosphaera xanthii Infection and Exogenous Application of Phytohormones in Cucumis melo L. (멜론 흰가루병균 및 식물 호르몬 처리하에서 MLO 유전자군의 발현검정)

  • Howlader, Jewel;Kim, Hoy-Taek;Park, Jong-In;Ahmed, Nasar Uddin;Robin, Arif Hasan Khan;Jung, Hee-Jeong;Nou, III-Sup
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.419-430
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    • 2016
  • Powdery mildew disease caused by Podosphaera xanthii is a major concern for Cucumis melo production worldwide. Knowledge on genetic behavior of the related genes and their modulating phytohormones often offer the most efficient approach to develop resistance against different diseases. Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) genes encode proteins with seven transmembrane domains that have significant function in plant resistance to powdery mildew fungus. We collected 14 MLO genes from ‘Melonomics’ database. Multiple sequence analysis of MLO proteins revealed the existence of both evolutionary conserved cysteine and proline residues. Moreover, natural genetic variation in conserved amino acids and their replacement by other amino acids are also observed. Real-time quantitative PCR expression analysis was conducted for the leaf samples of P. xanthii infected and phyto-hormones (methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) treated plants in melon ‘SCNU1154’ line. Upon P. xanthii infection using 7 different races, the melon line showed variable disease reactions with respect to spread of infection symptoms and disease severity. Three out of 14 CmMLO genes were up-regulated and 7 were down-regulated in leaf samples in response to all races. The up- or down-regulation of the other 4 CmMLO genes was race-specific. The expression of 14 CmMLO genes under methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid application was also variable. Eleven CmMLO genes were up-regulated under salicylic acid treatment, and 7 were up-regulated under methyl jasmonate treatments in C. melo L. Taken together, these stress-responsive CmMLO genes might be useful resources for the development of powdery mildew disease resistant C. melo L.

Why A Multimedia Approach to English Education\ulcorner

  • Keem, Sung-uk
    • Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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    • 1997.07a
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    • pp.176-178
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    • 1997
  • To make a long story short I made up my mind to experiment with a multimedia approach to my classroom presentations two years ago because my ways of giving instructions bored the pants off me as well as my students. My favorite ways used to be sometimes referred to as classical or traditional ones, heavily dependent on the three elements: teacher's mouth, books, and chalk. Some call it the 'MBC method'. To top it off, I tried audio-visuals such as tape recorders, cassette players, VTR, pictures, and you name it, that could help improve my teaching method. And yet I have been unhappy about the results by a trial and error approach. I was determined to look for a better way that would ensure my satisfaction in the first place. What really turned me on was a multimedia CD ROM title, ELLIS (English Language Learning Instructional Systems) developed by Dr. Frank Otto. This is an integrated system of learning English based on advanced computer technology. Inspired by the utility and potential of such a multimedia system for regular classroom or lab instructions, I designed a simple but practical multimedia language learning laboratory in 1994 for the first time in Korea(perhaps for the first time in the world). It was high time that the conventional type of language laboratory(audio-passive) at Hahnnam be replaced because of wear and tear. Prior to this development, in 1991, I put a first CALL(Computer Assisted Language Learning) laboratory equipped with 35 personal computers(286), where students were encouraged to practise English typing, word processing and study English grammar, English vocabulary, and English composition. The first multimedia language learning laboratory was composed of 1) a multimedia personal computer(486DX2 then, now 586), 2) VGA multipliers that enable simultaneous viewing of the screen at control of the instructor, 3) an amplifIer, 4) loud speakers, 5)student monitors, 6) student tables to seat three students(a monitor for two students is more realistic, though), 7) student chairs, 8) an instructor table, and 9) cables. It was augmented later with an Internet hookup. The beauty of this type of multimedia language learning laboratory is the economy of furnishing and maintaining it. There is no need of darkening the facilities, which is a must when an LCD/beam projector is preferred in the laboratory. It is headset free, which proved to make students exasperated when worn more than- twenty minutes. In the previous semester I taught three different subjects: Freshman English Lab, English Phonetics, and Listening Comprehension Intermediate. I used CD ROM titles like ELLIS, Master Pronunciation, English Tripple Play Plus, English Arcade, Living Books, Q-Steps, English Discoveries, Compton's Encyclopedia. On the other hand, I managed to put all teaching materials into PowerPoint, where letters, photo, graphic, animation, audio, and video files are orderly stored in terms of slides. It takes time for me to prepare my teaching materials via PowerPoint, but it is a wonderful tool for the sake of presentations. And it is worth trying as long as I can entertain my students in such a way. Once everything is put into the computer, I feel relaxed and a bit excited watching my students enjoy my presentations. It appears to be great fun for students because they have never experienced this type of instruction. This is how I freed myself from having to manipulate a cassette tape player, VTR, and write on the board. The student monitors in front of them seem to help them concentrate on what they see, combined with what they hear. All I have to do is to simply click a mouse to give presentations and explanations, when necessary. I use a remote mouse, which prevents me from sitting at the instructor table. Instead, I can walk around in the room and enjoy freer interactions with students. Using this instrument, I can also have my students participate in the presentation. In particular, I invite my students to manipulate the computer using the remote mouse from the student's seat not from the instructor's seat. Every student appears to be fascinated with my multimedia approach to English teaching because of its unique nature as a new teaching tool as we face the 21st century. They all agree that the multimedia way is an interesting and fascinating way of learning to satisfy their needs. Above all, it helps lighten their drudgery in the classroom. They feel other subjects taught by other teachers should be treated in the same fashion. A multimedia approach to education is impossible without the advent of hi-tech computers, of which multi functions are integrated into a unified system, i.e., a personal computer. If you have computer-phobia, make quick friends with it; the sooner, the better. It can be a wonderful assistant to you. It is the Internet that I pay close attention to in conjunction with the multimedia approach to English education. Via e-mail system, I encourage my students to write to me in English. I encourage them to enjoy chatting with people all over the world. I also encourage them to visit the sites where they offer study courses in English conversation, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, reading, and writing. I help them search any subject they want to via World Wide Web. Some day in the near future it will be the hub of learning for everybody. It will eventually free students from books, teachers, libraries, classrooms, and boredom. I will keep exploring better ways to give satisfying instructions to my students who deserve my entertainment.

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