• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2023

Background: Among various pollutants, fine particle (PM_2.5, defined as particle less than 2.5 nm in aerodynamic diameter) shows the most consistent association with adverse health effects. There is scientific evidence documenting a variety of adverse health outcomes due to exposure to PM_2.5. Objectives: This study aims to assess the health benefits of that would be achieved by meeting the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM_2.5 using AirQ+ and BenMAP. Methods: We estimated PM_2.5 related health benefits in Korea from implementing the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines (annual average 5 ㎍/m³ and 10 ㎍/m³) and Korea's National Ambient Air Quality Standard (annual average 15 ㎍/m³). We used World Health Organization's AirQ+ and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program. Results: The annual number of avoided PM_2.5 related premature deaths exceeding WHO guideline levels was assessed using both AirQ+ and BenMAP. We estimated that the health benefits of attaining the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM_2.5 (annual average 5 ㎍/m³) would suggest an annual reduction of 26,128 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17,363~34,024) and 26,853 (95% CI: 18,527~34,944) premature deaths. Conclusions: Our study provided useful information to policy makers and confirms that the reduction of PM_2.5 concentration would result in significant health benefits in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.33-33
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• 2022

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a widely studied domesticated model plant. Seed awning is an unfavorable trait during rice harvesting and processing. Hence, awn was one of the target characters selected during domestication. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying awn development in rice are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the genes for awn development using a mapping population derived from a cross between the Korean indica cultivar 'Milyang23' and NIL4/9 (derived from a cross between 'Hwaseong' and O. minuta). Two quantitative trait loci (QTLs), qAwn4 and qAwn9 were mapped on chromosome 4 and 9, respectively, increased awn length in an additive manner. Through comparative sequencing analyses parental lines, LABA1 was determined as the causal gene underlying qAwn4. qAwn9 was mapped to a 199-kb physical region between markers RM24663 and RM24679. Within this interval, 27 annotated genes were identified, and five genes, including a basic leucine zipper transcription factor 76 (OsbZIP76), were considered candidate genes for qAwn9 based on their functional annotations and sequence variations. Haplotype analysis using the candidate genes revealed tropical japonica specific sequence variants in the qAwn9 region, which partly explains the non-detection of qAwn9 in previous studies that used progenies from interspecific crosses. This provides further evidence that OsbZIP76 is possibly a causal gene for qAwn9. The O. minuta qAwn9 allele was identified as a major QTL associated with awn development in rice, providing an important molecular target for basic genetic research and domestication studies. Our results lay the foundation for further cloning of the awn gene underlying qAwn9.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2007

Karstic features and mining-related cavities not only lead to severe restrictions in land utilizations, but also constitute serious concern about geohazard and groundwater contamination. A microgravity survey was applied for detecting, mapping and monitoring karstic cavities in the test site at Muan prepared by KIGAM. The gravity data were collected using an AutoGrav CG-3 gravimeter at about 800 stations by 5 m interval along paddy paths. The density distribution beneath the profiles was drawn by two dimensional inversion based on the minimum support stabilizing functional, which generated better focused images of density discontinuities. We also imaged three dimensional density distribution by growing body inversion with solution from Euler deconvolution as a priori information. The density image showed that the cavities were dissolved, enlarged and connected into a cavity network system, which was supported by drill hole logs. A time-lapse microgravity was executed on the road in the test site for monitoring the change of the subsurface density distribution before and after grouting. The data were adjusted for reducing the effects due to the different condition of each survey, and inverted to density distributions. They show the change of density structure during the lapsed time, which implies the effects of grouting. This case history at the Muan test site showed that the microgravity with accuracy and precision of ${\mu}Gal$ is an effective and practical tool for detecting, mapping and monitoring the subsurface cavities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.704-711
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• 2020

Objective: Muscle fiber types, numbers and area are crucial aspects associated with meat production and quality. However, there are few studies of pig muscle fibre traits in terms of the detection power, false discovery rate and confidence interval precision of whole-genome quantitative trait loci (QTL). We had previously performed genome scanning for muscle fibre traits using 183 microsatellites and detected 8 significant QTLs in a White Duroc×Erhualian F₂ population. The confidence intervals of these QTLs ranged between 11 and 127 centimorgan (cM), which contained hundreds of genes and hampered the identification of QTLs. A whole-genome sequence imputation of the population was used for fine mapping in this study. Methods: A whole-genome sequences association study was performed in the F₂ population. Genotyping was performed for 1,020 individuals (19 F₀, 68 F₁, and 933 F₂). The whole-genome variants were imputed and 21,624,800 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified and examined for associations to 11 longissimus dorsi muscle fiber traits. Results: A total of 3,201 significant SNPs comprising 7 novel QTLs showing associations with the relative area of fiber type I (I_RA), the fiber number per square centimeter (FN) and the total fiber number (TFN). Moreover, one QTL on pig chromosome 14 was found to affect both FN and TFN. Furthermore, four plausible candidate genes associated with FN (kinase non-catalytic C-lobe domain containing [KNDC1]), TFN (KNDC1), and I_RA (solute carrier family 36 member 4, contactin associated protein like 5, and glutamate metabotropic receptor 8) were identified. Conclusion: An efficient and powerful imputation-based association approach was utilized to identify genes potentially associated with muscle fiber traits. These identified genes and SNPs could be explored to improve meat production and quality via marker-assisted selection in pigs.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.464-472
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• 2012

To assess the space-time clustering of FMD(Foot-and-Mouth Disease) epidemic occurred in Korea between November 2010 to April 2011, geographical information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis technique was used. Farm address and geographic data obtained from a commercial portal site were integrated into GIS software, which we used to map out the color-shading geographic features of the outbreaks through a process called thematic mapping, and to produce a visual representation of the relationship between epidemic course and time throughout the country. FMD cases reported in northern area of Gyounggi province were clustered in space and time within small geographic areas due to the environmental characteristics which livestock population density is high enough to ease transmit FMD virus to the neighboring farm, whereas FMD cases were clustered in space but not in time for southern and eastern area of Gyounggi province. When analyzing the data for 7-day interval, the mean radius of the spatial-time clustering was 25km with minimum 5.4km and maximum 74km. In addition, the radius of clustering was relatively small in the early stage of FMD epidemic, but the size was geographically expanded over the epidemic course. Prior to implementing control measures during the outbreak period, assessment of geographic units potentially affected and identification of risky areas which are subsequently be targeted for specific intervention measures is recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1998

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) experiments were performed in a sand tank to study the ability of detection of buried pipes and to characterize the signal of the reflection wave. The ratios of diameter of buried pipes to the depth were set 4 up to 24 % and materials were metal, synthetic resin, and wood. In case of groundwater table below buried materials, strong reflection signals were observed irrespective of diameter and depth except for wood. While it is very difficult to detect the reflection signals in case that the groundwater table is set to higher than buried materials. The reflection signals from the bottom of the sand tank, however, were clearly observed even in case of higher groundwater table. This implies that the weak reflection signals from the buried materials are not all due to the wave attenuation. The vertical reflection profiling method is recommended in case that the object of the survey is to find horizontal position of buried material because this method has the advantage in cost and time of survey. However, the full or partial CMP gather method is recommended in case that the objects of the survey are to get the detailed subsurface information, i.e. the depth to buried material, interval velocity of geological layer, and mapping the groundwater table.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.423-428
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• 2004

Soybean seeds contain high amounts of isoflavones that display biological effects and isoflavone content of soybean seed can vary by year, environment, and genotype. Objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci that underlie isoflavone content in soybean seeds. The study involved 85 $F_2$ populations derived from Korean soybean cultivar 'Kwangkyo' and wild type soybean 'IT182305' for QTL analysis associated with isoflavone content. Isoflavone content of seeds was determined by HPLC. The genetic map of 33 linkage groups with 207 markers was constructed. The linkage map spanned 2,607.5 cM across all 33 linkage groups. The average linkage distance between pair of markers among all linkage groups was 12.6 cM in Kosambi map units. Isoflavone content in $F_2$ generations varied in a fashion that suggested a continuous, polygenic inheritance. Eleven markers (4 RAPD, 3 SSR, 4 AFLP) were significantly associated with isoflavone content. Only two markers, Satt419 and CTCGAG3 had F-tests that were significant at P<0.01 in $F_2$ generation for isoflavone content. Interval mapping using the $F_2$ data revealed only two putative QTLs for isoflavone content. The peak QTL region on linkage group 3, which was near OPAG03c, explained $14\%$ variation for isoflavone content. The peak QTL region on linkage group 5, which was located near OPN14 accounted for $35.3\%$ variation for isoflavone content. Using both Map-Maker-QTL $(LOD{\geq}2.0)$ and single-factor analysis $(P{\leq}0.05)$, one marker, CTCGAG3 in linkage group 3 was associated with QTLs for isoflavone content. This information would then be used in identification of QTLs for isoflavone content with precision

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.98-98
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• 2017

Leaf senescence is the process of aging in plants. Chlorophyll degradation during leaf senescence has the important role translocating nutrients from leaves to storage organs. The functional stay-green with slow leaf yellowing and photosynthesis activity maintenance has been considered one of strategy for increasing crop productivity. Here, we have identified two QTLs on chromosome 9 and 10 for leaf senescence with chlorophyll content of RIL population derived from a cross between Hanareum 2, early leaf senescence Indica-type variety, and Unkwang, delayed leaf senescence Japonica variety. Among these QTLs, we chose qPLS1 QTL on chromosome 9 for further study. qPLS1 was found to explain 14.4% of the total phenotypic variation with 11.2 of LOD score. Through fine-mapping approach, qPLS1 QTL locus was narrowed down to about 25kb in the marker interval between In/del-4-7-9 and In/del-5-9-4. There are 3 genes existed within 25kb of qPLS1 locus: LOC_Os09g36200, LOC_Os09g36210, and LOC_Os09g36220. Among these genes, transcript level of LOC_Os09g36200 was increased during the leaf senescence stage and the expression level of LOC_Os09g36200 in Indica was higher than in Japonica. Finally, we chose LOC_Os09g36200 as candidate gene and renamed it as OsPLS1-In and OsPLS1-Jp from Indica- and Japonica-type rice, respectively. OsPLS1-In and OsPLS1-Jp overexpressing transgenic plants showed both early leaf senescence phenotype. These results indicate that OsPLS1 functions in chlorophyll degradation and the difference of expression level of OsPLS1 cause the difference of leaf senescence between Indica and Japonica in rice.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2003

Mapping of salinity distribution in the reclaimed lands was attempted by using the electromagnetic inductance technique. Field study was conducted to monitor ground conductivity with an electromagnetic inductance, EM 38 (Geonics), and electrical conductivity of the saturated extract, ECe of the soils, at the Daeho reclaimed land. EM values of horizontal mode, EMh, and vertical mode, EMv, mode were recorded at the interval of $2m{\times}2m$ from the ground. Soil samples were taken through the profile down to 100cm for calibration. ECe of poor drained area of Daeho, were in the range of $19.50-91.50ds\;m^{-1}$, while ECe of well-drained area ranged from $1.10-34.40ds\;m^{-1}$. Multiple regression equations for the measured EMv, EMh, and ECe were highly significant. The EMh showed higher correlation with ECe than EMv. With the multiple equation, ECgM could be calculated. Correlation between ECe and ECgM was the highest ($r=0.753^{***}$), when EMI readings were taken on the ground. The relationships were highly significant below 30 cm height of measurement, With the EM38 measurement, the salinity distribution was effectively expressed for the experimental filed in Daeho reclaimed land.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1990

A DNA sequence encoding the adr subtype preS2 region of hepatitis B virus envelope protein was fused to 5' end of lacZ gene yielding a plasmid pTSZ, in order to produce a preS2-$\beta$-galactosidase fusion protein. Serial deletions from 3' and 5' end of preS2 were constructed in plasmids, which were expressed and their antigenicities were examined with the monoclonal antibody H8. Deletions from amino and carboxy terminal to certain points did not affect the antigenicity, but the longer deletions destroyed the antigenicity. End points of deleted preS2 sequence were determined by DNA sequencing. As a result, each end of preS2 epitope was located in the region of amino acid residue 130-132 and 140-142, respectively. Residue 143 may be supplementary for antigenic epitope since the deletion from carboxy terminal to residue 143 revealed partial defect of antigenicity. In the interval of antigenic epitope the amino acid differences between adr and adw2 subtype occurred ar residue 130, 132, and 141. This result indicated that one or more of the three residues are responsible for the binding specificity of monoclonal antibody H8 to adr subtype preS2 fusion protein.