• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.363-376
• /
• 2010

Vegetative communities of created wetlands often display lower species richness, less cover, higher occurrence of non-native or invasive species, and fewer obligate wetlands species than those in natural wetlands, thus failing to meet basic success criteria for wetland mitigation. This study examined the effects of two design elements, disking-induced microtopography and hydrologic regime, on the first year vegetation development pattern of a mitigation wetland newly created in the Virginia piedmont. Elevation and species cover were measured along replicate multiscale circular transects in two adjacent wetland sites that are different in their hydrologic regime. Two microtopographic indices, tortuosity (T) and limiting elevation difference (LD), were calculated from the elevation measurements. Both indices were higher in disked plots than non-disked plots, showing the effect of disking on microtopography. Out of forty-one vegetation taxa observed in the wetland, 29 taxa were naturally colonized and 12 taxa were seeded. All plots except one non-disked plot were dominated by wetland vegetation. Species richness and diversity were higher in disked than in non-disked plots. Vegetation community development seemed also influenced significantly by hydrologic regime of the site. The effect of microtopography on species richness and diversity was more pronounced in a relatively dry site compared to a wet site. In addition, percent cover, species richness and diversity of vegetation were positively correlated with microtopographic indices such as T and LD. Two design elements, microtopography and hydrologic regime, should be considered and incorporated in wetland creation to enhance plant community development.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.245-250
• /
• 2003

An efficient procedure was developed for adventitious shoot bud induction and plantlet regeneration from various explants of the ten genotypes of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) using Thidiazuron (TDZ). Among various treatments at 1.0-3.0 mg/L TDZ Induced maximum number of adventitious shoots depending upon the explant type and genotype compared to other treatments. Among the explants tested, leaf induced maximum number of adventitious shoots than the cotyledons. TDZ-mediated organo-genesis was possible in 10 pepper cultivars, the extent of the response being genotype-dependent. Of the ten genotypes tested, C. annuum cvs CA960, $G_4$ and X-235 were produced maximum number of adventitious shoots and Sell was the least, and all other genotypes gave moderate response. Elongation of multiple shoots was observed on medium supplemented with SA (0.05 mg/L) in combination of IAA (0.05 mg/L). Differences in ability for in vitro shoot regeneration and elongation depend upon the variety and explant type. The elongated shoots were success. Fully rooted on MS medium containing at 1.0 mG/L IAA. Plantlets regenerated from different explants of ten genotypes were found to be diploid (2n=24) and were devoid of any chromosomal aberrations. Regenerated plants were successfully established in soil where 85-90% of them developed into morphologically normal and fertile plants.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 2009

Geothermal energy is the heat contained in the earth and its internal fluids. Geothermal energy is stored as sensible or latent heat. Supplied by both internal and external sources, it represents a vast supply which is only started to be tapped for generation of electric power. In general, this is natural dry or wet medium to high enthalpy steam at temperatures above $150^{\circ}C$. For some time, binary systems employing substances with a lower boiling point than water in a secondary circuit have been used to generate vapor for driving turbines at a lower temperature level. The utilization of binary plants and the possibility of production from enhanced geothermal systems can expand its availability on a worldwide basis. The geothermal electricity installed capacity is approaching the 10,000GW threshold. Geothermal energy is not present everywhere, but its baseload capability is a very important factor for its success.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.193-197
• /
• 2004

In vitro multiplication of Curculigo orchioides was achieved by direct somatic embryogenesis in young leaf segments. Immature leaf segments of about 0.5 cm in length were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP (2-10 $\mu{M}$) or Kin (2-10 $\mu{M}$). Optimum response in terms of per cent cultures responding (89%) and the number of embryos per explant (16) were observed on MS medium supplemented with 8 $\mu$M BAP. The emergence of several somatic embryos on the adaxial side of the leaf segments was observed one month after the culture. Germinated somatic embryos were grown up to about 1.5 cm length before transferring to maturation medium. For maturation, the individual embryos were isolated and transferred to MS medium supplemented with BAP (5 $\mu{M}$) and NAA (0.5 $\mu{M}$). The plantlets emerged from the embryos were transferred to soil containing 1 peat: 1 sand with 90% success. The embryos were formed directly on the leaf segments without any callus phase. Direct regeneration of somatic embryos is important for the conservation of this endangered species, as rare somaclonal variants are likely to arise than from indirect regeneration.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2011

The renewed global interest in nuclear power has arisen from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to provide sufficient electricity for a growing global population before the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan. In spite of the safety issues of nuclear power plants raised by the ongoing Japanese nuclear crisis, many countries with nuclear power plants (NPPs) are still implementing license extensions of 10~20 years, and even consideration is being given to the concept of life-beyond-60, a further period of license extension from 60 to 80 years. To solving the materials aging problem is integral to its success. To evaluate the plant aging phenomena, a lot of background information such as materials and environment of the parts of the reactor and plant systems is needed by the experts. Information on degradation mechanisms is also used. In this paper, a materials degradation evaluation program called OnMDE-SYS (On-line Materials Degradation Evaluation System) is introduced. The developed program provides a variety of information on the materials and stressors as well as operational experience to the experts. It is also anticipated that the experts can perform materials degradation assessment on the web directly by referring to domestic and international information about the degradation of a nuclear power plants through OnMDE-SYS.

• Plant Resources
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.211-218
• /
• 2000

Intraspecific genetic relationship of 19 variation types of the Yam (Dioscorea alata) classified by their external morphological characteristics such as leaf and tuber shape were assessed by DNA using random and specific primer. Twenty two out of 113 primers (100 random[10-mer] primers, two 15 mer [M13 core sequence, and (GGAT)$_4$ sequence]) had been used in PCR-amplification. Only 12 primers, however, were success in DNA amplification in all of the analyzed plants, resulting in 93 randomly and specifically amplified DNA fragments. The analyzed taxa showed very high polymorphisms(69 bands, 71.0 %), allowing individual taxon to be identified based on DNA fingerprinting. Monomorphic bands among total amplified DNA bands of each primer was low under the 50%. Similarity indices between accessions were computed from PCR(polymerase chain reaction) data, and genetic relationships among intraspecific variations were closely related at the levels ranging from 0.66 to 0.90. These DNA data were not matched well with those of morphological characters since they were divided into two major groups at the similarity coefficient value of 0.70. Therefore, Grouping of species into variation types by mainly morphological charactistics was suggested unreasonable.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.506-512
• /
• 2009

To study the effect of genotype of donor plants on anther culture, anthers of nine hybrid cultivars (Derby, Special, Bossanova, Minipaprika, Fiesta, Boogie, Phenlene, Kufrah, and Clarity) of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were cultured in a petridish containing C medium (Sibi, Dumas De Vaulx medium) supplemented with 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L kinetin, 3% sucrose and 0.32% Phytagel. The cultures were incubated in the dark at $35^{\circ}C$ for seven days, and then cultured at $25^{\circ}C$ with a photoperiod of 16 hr. daylength for 40 days. Frequency of callus formation and plant regeneration was varied among cultivars. Callus formation was ranged from 6% in Phenlene to 69.8% in Kufrah. The highest percentage of regenerated plantlets was obtained in cv. Phenlene (2.67%) followed by Bossanova (2.41%). Result of ploidy analysis; chromosome number observation and flowcytometry analysis, showed that haploid plants could be developed from all of these hybrid cultivars except cv. Fiesta, where highest percentage of haploid plants were obtained in Minipaprika (40%) followed by cv. Bossanova (36.1%). Haploid plants derived from these hybrid cultivars contained single set of chromosome (12 in numbers), higher stomata density (numbers), and smaller sized stomata as compare to diploid plants. The mean length of stomata was 26.9 ${\mu}m$ in haploid plants and 35.7 ${\mu}m$ in diploids.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.199-207
• /
• 2002

The tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine (its racemic form being atropine) and scopolamine are used medicinally as anticholinergic agents that act on the parasympathetic nerve system. Because they differ in their actions on the central nervous system, currently there is a 10-fold higher commercial demand for scopolamine, in the N-butylbromide form, than there is for hyoscyamine and atropine combined. Several solanaceous species have been used as the commercial sources of these alkaloids, but the scopolamine contents in these plants often are much lower than those of hyoscyamine. For this reason there has been long-standing interest in increasing the scopolamine contents of cultivated medicinal plants. Naturally occurring and artificial interspecific hybrids of Duboisia have high scopolamine contents and are cultivated as a commercial source of scopolamine in Australia and other countries. Anther culture combined with conventional interspecific hybridization also has been used to breed high scopolamine-containing plants in the genera Datura and Hyoscyamus, but without much success. The use of recombinant DNA technology for the manipulation of metabolic processes in cells promises to provide important contributions to basic science, agriculture, and medicine. In this review, I introduce on the enzymes and genes involved in tropane alkaloid biosynthesis and current progress in metabolic engineering approaches for tropane alkaloid, especially scopolamine, production.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.212-226
• /
• 2002

North American ginseng production may have been maximized in the traditional growing areas in the last decade and further increases may be in woods grown root, for niche markets. The marketplace demands high quality roots. Most problems leading to low quality roots start with the grower and can be avoided. These include poor site selection, inadequate soil drainage, untimely and poorly applied pesticides, and neglect of good sanitary practices. Selection of low lying sites increased the plant damage from frost in Ontario in May 2002. Seeding is still the major method of propagation of ginseng in spite of some success in culturing different parts of the plant. Opportunities exist for shortening the stratification period of North American ginseng seed to allow spring planting. This may reduce disease incidence. Since only one-third of ginseng seed sown ultimately produces plants harvested after 3 years any approach that reduces disease incidence and improves seed germination, seedling emergence and crop stand must be pursued. Disease is the major problem in ginseng cutivation from seed stratification, soil preparation prior to planting, right through to drying of the roots. Replant disease remains as an unresolved problem and needs full characterization and new approaches for control. Much progress has been made in research and related extension activities in disease control although challenges will arise such as with Quintozene and its replacement with Quadris for control of diseases caused by Rhizoctonia. Decreased labor populations and increased associated costs for ginseng production are causing rapid mechanization in every aspect of the ginseng industry. Engineers, machinery dealers, and fabricators, and growers are being challenged to increase efficiency by mechanization.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.3277-3290
• /
• 2023

Nuclear power plant (NPP) operations with multiple objectives and devices are still performed manually by operators despite the potential for human error. These operations could be automated to reduce the burden on operators; however, classical approaches may not be suitable for these multi-objective tasks. An alternative approach is deep reinforcement learning (DRL), which has been successful in automating various complex tasks and has been applied in automation of certain operations in NPPs. But despite the recent progress, previous studies using DRL for NPP operations have limitations to handle complex multi-objective operations with multiple devices efficiently. This study proposes a novel DRL-based approach that addresses these limitations by employing a continuous action space and straightforward binary rewards supported by the adoption of a soft actor-critic and hindsight experience replay. The feasibility of the proposed approach was evaluated for controlling the pressure and volume of the reactor coolant while heating the coolant during NPP startup. The results show that the proposed approach can train the agent with a proper strategy for effectively achieving multiple objectives through the control of multiple devices. Moreover, hands-on testing results demonstrate that the trained agent is capable of handling untrained objectives, such as cooldown, with substantial success.