• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.92-103
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• 2003

Research and technological advances in the field of remote sensing have greatly enhanced the ability to detect and quantify physical and biological stresses that affect the productivity of agricultural crops. Reflectance in specific visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum have proved useful in detection of nutrient deficiencies. Especially crop canopy sensors as a ground remote sensing measure the amount of light reflected from nearby surfaces such as leaf tissue or soil and is in contrast to aircraft or satellite platforms that generate photographs or various types of digital images. Multi-spectral vegetation indices derived from crop canopy reflectance in relatively wide wave band can be used to monitor the growth response of plants in relation to environmental factors. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), where NDVI = (NIR-Red)/(NIR+Red), was originally proposed as a means of estimating green biomass. The basis of this relationship is the strong absorption (low reflectance) of red light by chlorophyll and low absorption (high reflectance and transmittance) in the near infrared (NIR) by green leaves. Thereafter many researchers have proposed the other indices for assessing crop vegetation due to confounding soil background effects in the measurement. The green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), where the green band is substituted for the red band in the NDVI equation, was proved to be more useful for assessing canopy variation in green crop biomass related to nitrogen fertility in soils. Consequently ground remote sensing as a non destructive real-time assessment of nitrogen status in plant was thought to be useful tool for site specific crop nitrogen management providing both spatial and temporal information.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.427-435
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• 2008

In this review, we discuss the genes and the related signal pathways that regulate aging and longevity by reviewing recent findings of genetic longevity models in rodents in reference to findings with lower organisms. We also paid special attention to the genes and signals mediating the effects of calorie restriction (CR), a powerful intervention that slows the aging process and extends the lifespan in a range of organisms. An evolutionary view emphasizes the roles of nutrient-sensing and neuroendocrine adaptation to food shortage as the mechanisms underlying the effects of CR. Genetic and non-genetic interventions without CR suggest a role for single or combined hormonal signals that partly mediate the effect of CR. Longevity genes fall into two categories, genes relevant to nutrient-sensing systems and those associated with mitochondrial function or redox regulation. In mammals, disrupted or reduced growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 signaling robustly favors longevity. CR also suppresses the GH-IGF-1 axis, indicating the importance of this signal pathway. Surprisingly, there are very few longevity models to evaluate the enhanced anti-oxidative mechanism, while there is substantial evidence supporting the oxidative stress and damage theory of aging. Either increased or reduced mitochondrial function may extend the lifespan. The role of redox regulation and mitochondrial function in CR remains to be elucidated.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.402-409
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• 2006

Although microorganisms are, in fact, the most diverse and abundant type of organism on Earth, the ecological functions of microbial populations remains poorly understood. A variety of bacteria including marine Vibrios encounter numerous ecological challenges, such as UV light, predation, competition, and seasonal variations in seawater including pH, salinity, nutrient levels, temperature and so forth. In order to survive and proliferate under variable conditions, they have to develop elaborate means of communication to meet the challenges to which they are exposed. In bacteria, a range of biological functions have recently been found to be regulated by a population density-dependent cell-cell signaling mechanism known as quorum-sensing (QS). In other words, bacterial cells sense population density by monitoring the presence of self-produced extracellular autoinducers (AI). N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-dependent quorum-sensing was first discovered in two luminescent marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi. The LuxI/R system of V. fischeriis the paradigm of Gram-negative quorum-sensing systems. At high population density, the accumulated signalstrigger the expression of target genes and thereby initiate a new set of biological activities. Several QS systems have been identified so far. Among them, an AHL-dependent QS system has been found to control biofilm formation in several bacterial species, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Burkholderia cepacia, and Serratia liquefaciens. Bacterial biofilm is a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix that adheres to an inert or living surface. Extracellular signal molecules have been implicated in biofilm formation. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain NT1(traR, tra::lacZ749) and Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV026 are used as biosensors to detect AHL signals. Quorum sensing in lactic acid bacteria involves peptides that are directly sensed by membrane-located histidine kinases, after which the signal is transmitted to an intracellular regulator. In the nisin autoregulation process in Lactococcus lactis, the NisK protein acts as the sensor for nisin, and NisR protein as the response regulator activatingthe transcription of target genes. For control over growth and survival in bacterial communities, various strategies need to be developed by which receptors of the signal molecules are interfered with or the synthesis and release of the molecules is controlled. However, much is still unknown about the metabolic processes involved in such signal transduction and whether or not various foods and food ingredients may affect communication between spoilage or pathogenic bacteria. In five to ten years, we will be able to discover new signal molecules, some of which may have applications in food preservation to inhibit the growth of pathogens on foods.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.918-921
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• 2006

The short-term variation of sea surface temperature before and after typhoons and increase of chlorophyll a concentration that accompany with the typhoons during summer in the East/Japan Sea were explored by satellite. Four typhoons (NAMTHEUN, MEGI, CHABA and SONGDA) and a typhoon (NABI) passed over the East/Japan Sea in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Decreasing of SST was observed in the every five typhoons, however the magnitude of SST decreasing were various from 1 to $5^{\circ}C$. Chlorophyll a increases were found after the typhoons (0.1-3 ${\mu}g$ $l^{-1})$ except NAMTHEUN, and the area was approximately included in SST decreasing area by the typhoons. It suggests that chlorophyll a increase was caused by nutrient input from subsurface layer by strong mixing. On the other hand, rarely chlorophyll a increase was observed in northern area of polar frontal zone, which is located in $38-41^{\circ}N$, than northern area, and chlorophyll a increase in coastal area was higher (more than 3 times) than offshore area. It might suggest that chlorophyll a increase in the East/Japan Sea is also related with the depth or nitracline depth that affects the amount of nutrients supply to the upper layer by typhoon mixing.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.491-494
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• 2006

The west coast of Northern Borneo is strongly influenced by Asian monsoon. Present research using the satellite ocean color (OC) remote sensing has identified some interesting oceanographic phenomena in this area that could be related to the harmful algal blooms (HAB). Occurrence of seasonal upwelling event was noticed off the northern tip of Borneo Island that could be related to the northeast monsoon wind. Harmful algal blooms by Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum occurred since 1976. Subsequently, during December 2003, there was a report of new HAB by Cochlodinium polykrikoides in Northern Borneo. Analysis of OC images revealed that the Cochlodinium bloom had very high chlorophyll a signal and strong absorption characteristics. Results showed that the Baram River plume and upwelling at Northern Borneo were the source of nutrient for the Cochlodinium bloom in the offshore region. Ocean color images of 2004 showed that the bloom from Northern Borneo had crossed the Balabac Straits, reaching Palawan Island in Philippine. Due to the possibility of transboundary HAB problem, we propose a regional HAB monitoring network for an effective HAB management.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2010

This paper studies the origin of low back-scattering area appeared on the SAR image taken on the coastal waters off the southeast coast of Korea on July 5, 2000. Cold waters were frequently observed during summer on this coastal waters, and quasi-simultaneously taken AVHRR and SeaWiFS images also showed cold surface waters and high concentration of chlorophyll-a, respectively. By synergetic analysis of multi-sensor satellite images, it is strongly suggested that the cold and nutrient rich upwelling waters caused the high phytoplankton density and high biological activities in the water producing natural films for low back-scattering.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.343-349
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• 2010

Rapid on-site sensing of nitrate-nitrogen and potassium ions in hydroponic solution would increase the efficiency of nutrient use for greenhouse crops cultivated in closed hydroponic systems while reducing the potential for environmental pollution in water and soil. Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are a promising approach because of their small size, rapid response, and the ability to directly measure the analyte. The capabilities of the ISEs for sensing nitrate and potassium in hydroponic solution can be affected by the presence of other ions such as calcium, magnesium, sulfate, sodium, and chloride in the solution itself. This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of two ISEs consisting of TDDA-NPOE and valinomycin-DOS PVC membranes for quantitative determinations of $NO_3$-N and K in hydroponic solution. Nine hydroponic solutions were prepared by diluting highly concentrated paprika hydroponic solution to provide a concentration range of 3 to 400 mg/L for $NO_3$-N and K. Two of the calibration curves relating membrane response and nutrient concentration provided coefficients of determination ($R^2$) > 0.98 and standard errors of calibration (SEC) of < 3.79 mV. The use of the direct potentiometry method, in conjunction with an one-point EMF compensation technique, was feasible for measuring $NO_3$-N and K in paprika hydroponic solution due to almost 1:1 relationships and high coefficients of determination ($R^2$ > 0.97) between the levels of $NO_3$-N and K obtained with the ion-selective electrodes and standard instruments. However, even though there were strong linear relationships ($R^2$ > 0.94) between the $NO_3$-N and K concentrations determined by the Gran's plot-based multiple standard addition method and by standard instruments, hydroponic $NO_3$-N concentrations measured with the ISEs, on average, were about 10% higher than those obtained with the automated analyzer whereas the K ISE predicted about 59% lower K than did the ICP spectrometer, probably due to no compensation for a difference between actual and expected concentrations of standard solutions directly prepared.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major cellular energy sensor and master regulator of metabolic homeostasis. On activation, this cellular fuel sensing enzyme induces a series of metabolic changes to balance energy consumption via multiple downstream signaling pathways controlling nutrient uptake and energy metabolism. This pivotal role of AMPK has led to the development of numerous AMPK activators which might be used as novel drug candidates in the treatment of AMPK related disorders, diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. Consequently, a number of patents have been published on AMPK activators from natural products and other sources. This review covers the patented AMPK activators from natural products and their therapeutic potential in treatment or prevention of metabolic diseases including diabetes and obesity.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Msi1-like (MSIL) proteins, which are eukaryote-specific and contain a series of WD40 repeats, have pleiotropic roles in chromatin assembly, DNA damage repair, and regulation of nutrient/stress-sensing signaling pathways. In the fungal kingdom, the functions of MSIL proteins have been studied most intensively in the budding yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an ascomycete. Yet their functions are largely unknown in other fungi. Recently, an MSIL protein, Msl1, was discovered and functionally characterized in the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete. Interestingly, MSIL proteins appear to have redundant and unique roles in both fungi, suggesting that MSIL proteins may have evolutionarily divergent roles in different parts of the fungal kingdom. In this review, we will describe the current findings regarding the role of MSIL proteins in fungi and discuss future directions for research on this topic.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.728-733
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• 2002

The measurement of river discharge is among the most fundamental observations and is necessary for understanding many water-related issues, such as flooding hazards, sediment transportation, and nutrient movement. Traditionally river discharge is estimated by measuring the water stage and converting the measurement to discharge using a stage-discharge rating curve. The possibility of monitoring river discharge from satellites has been largely ignored, because it is difficult to measure water surface information from space with sufficient precision. In this paper, an efficient approach to discharge estimation using mainly satellite data is developed and described. The proposed method, which focuses on the measurement of water-surface width coupled with river width-stage and stage-discharge relationships, is applied to the Yangtze River with good results.