• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.241-263
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• 2010

KoFlux is a Korean network of micrometeorological tower sites that use eddy covariance methods to monitor the cycles of energy, water, and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the key terrestrial ecosystems in Korea. KoFlux embraces the mission of AsiaFlux, i.e. to bring Asia's key ecosystems under observation to ensure quality and sustainability of life on earth. The main purposes of KoFlux are to provide (1) an infrastructure to monitor, compile, archive and distribute data for the science community and (2) a forum and short courses for the application and distribution of knowledge and data between scientists including practitioners. The KoFlux community pursues the vision of AsiaFlux, i.e., "thinking community, learning frontiers" by creating information and knowledge of ecosystem science on carbon, water and energy exchanges in key terrestrial ecosystems in Asia, by promoting multidisciplinary cooperations and integration of scientific researches and practices, and by providing the local communities with sustainable ecosystem services. Currently, KoFlux has seven sites in key terrestrial ecosystems (i.e., five sites in Korea and two sites in the Arctic and Antarctic). KoFlux has systemized a standardized data processing based on scrutiny of the data observed from these ecosystems and synthesized the processed data for constructing database for further uses with open access. Through publications, workshops, and training courses on a regular basis, KoFlux has provided an agora for building networks, exchanging information among flux measurement and modelling experts, and educating scientists in flux measurement and data analysis. Despite such persistent initiatives, the collaborative networking is still limited within the KoFlux community. In order to break the walls between different disciplines and boost up partnership and ownership of the network, KoFlux will be housed in the National Center for Agro-Meteorology (NCAM) at Seoul National University in 2011 and provide several core services of NCAM. Such concerted efforts will facilitate the augmentation of the current monitoring network, the education of the next-generation scientists, and the provision of sustainable ecosystem services to our society.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.989-998
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• 2004

The objectives of this work was to investigate the effects of feeding type of concentrates during growing period and slaughter age on growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics in growing-fattening Holstein steers. Treatments were two concentrates feeding types(ad libitum or restricted 1.9% of BW) and three slaughter ages(at 19, 22 or 25 mo). Body weight at slaughter was numerically higher(approx. 8.3%) for the restricted than the ad libitum feeding groups. TDN intake rate was higher(8.4%) for the restricted than the ad libitum feeding groups. One mo slaughter delay increased TDN intake by 4%. Despite the lack of significances, higher back fat thickness and rib-eye area appeared in the restricted feeding or the late slaughter groups compared with the ad libitum feeding or the early slaughter groups. Marbling score(mean 2.46) numerically increased when the steers were restrictively fed concentrates compared with the ad libitum feeding groups. In addition, significant increases in the marbling score were associated with the slaughter age delay. In economic analysis, increases in total income were associated with the restricted feeding and the slaughter age delay. Whereas the highest monthly income appeared in the restricted feeding-and-slaughter at 22 mo group. In conclusion, the optimal feeding system may be 1) the restricted concentrates feeding(1.9% of BW) during growing period and 2) the late slaughter age(22${\sim}$25 mo of age) in growing-fattening Holstein steers fed rice straw.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2011

This study was conducted to study the environment effects on live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, and marbling score, which are the carcass traits of Hanwoo, based on the estimates and all the possible regression for the selection of variable and significance test for 231,382 heads that underwent the carcass measurements. The average and standard deviation for the live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, and marbling score were 654.79${\pm}$91.61 kg, 362.30${\pm}$67.15 kg, 59.52${\pm}$0.03%, 81.79${\pm}$12.21 $cm^2$, 11.39${\pm}$5.40 mm, 4.38${\pm}$2.29, respectively. The live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, and marbling score for cow were 532.79${\pm}$78.38 kg, 313.40${\pm}$44.90 kg, 56.50${\pm}$0.03%, 75.24${\pm}$10.69 $cm^2$, 11.82${\pm}$5.10 mm, 4.30${\pm}$2.06, respectively, while for bull were 619.74${\pm}$93.27 kg, 376.89${\pm}$48.62 kg, 58.61${\pm}$0.02%, 85.61${\pm}$10.46 $cm^2$, 5.64${\pm}$2.71 mm, 1.41${\pm}$0.83, respectively, and for steer were 681.78${\pm}$70.72 kg, 415.23${\pm}$49.43 kg, 60.19${\pm}$0.02%, 88.29${\pm}$10.27 $cm^2$, 12.71${\pm}$5.23 mm, 5.42${\pm}$1.99, respectively. In the environmental variables selection based on the variables selection method, the examination by carcass traits suggested that the most appropriate model could be determined when five variables were selected for the live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, eye muscle area, and four variables for backfat thickness, and marbling score. When they were considered at a time altogether based on multiple traits, it was deemed to be desirable to insert all five variables into the variables for analysis. In addition, high significance was found by carcass traits.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2015

As information technology fusion is accelerated, the researches to improve the quality and productivity of crops inside a plant factory actively progress. Advanced growth environment management technology that can provide thermal environment and air flow suited to the growth of crops and considering the characteristics inside a facility is necessary to maximize productivity inside a plant factory. Currently running plant factories are designed to rely on experience or personal judgment; hence, design and operation technology specific to plant factories are not established, inherently producing problems such as uneven crop production due to the deviation of temperature and air flow and additional increases in energy consumption after prolonged cultivation. The optimization process has to be set up in advance for the arrangement of air flow devices and operation technology using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) during the design stage of a facility for plant factories to resolve the problems. In this study, the optimum arrangement and air flow of air circulation fans were investigated to save energy while minimizing temperature deviation at each point inside a plant factory using CFD. The condition for simulation was categorized into a total of 12 types according to installation location, quantity, and air flow changes in air circulation fans. Also, the variables of boundary conditions for simulation were set in the same level. The analysis results for each case showed that an average temperature of 296.33K matching with a set temperature and average air flow velocity of 0.51m/s suiting plant growth were well-maintained under Case 4 condition wherein two sets of air circulation fans were installed at the upper part of plant cultivation beds. Further, control of air circulation fan set under Case D yielded the most excellent results from Case D-3 conditions wherein air velocity at the outlet was adjusted to 2.9m/s.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2003

This study was peformed to evaluate physico-chemical and textural properties, and shelf-life effect of low-fat functional sausages(LFFS) manufactured with sodium lactate(SL), lac color and various molecular weights of chitosans(low=1.5 kDa, medium=30∼40 kDa and high=200 kDa) during storage at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks. LFFS had a pH range of 6.39∼6.50, 76∼78% moisture, <2% fat, 14∼15% protein. The combination of SL and low molecular weight(MW) of chitosan improved water holding capacity(WHC), however those of SL and medium MW of chitosan reduced WHC. Vacuum purge(VP) reduced with increased MW of chitosans during refrigerated storage. The addition of chitosans reduced the lightness and yellowness, but increased the redness values, which was comparable to the sodium nitrite concentration between 75 and 150 ppm. LFFS containing SL and medium MW of chitosan increased most texture profile analysis(TPA) values, as compared to controls with 75 and 150 ppm. The addition of SL in LFFS retarded the microbial growth for Listeria monocytogenes, however no synergistic effect with the addition of chitosans were observed. E coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium reduced during refrigerated storage, regardless of SL and chitosan treatments. Increased storage time increased values for VP, yellowness and textural properties. These results indicated that the combination of SL and various MW of chitosans affected the functional and textural properties, and inhibited the microbial growth for LM effectively. In addition, 0.5% lac color as a replacer for sodium nitrite improved the color development, resulting in similar hunter color values, which was comparable to the sodium nitrite concentration between 75 and 150 ppm.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2004

Stress-susceptible pigs have been known as the porcine stress syndrome (PSS), swine PSS, also known as malignant hyperthermia (MH), is characterized as sudden death and production of poor meat quality such as PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat after slaughtering. PSS and PSE meat cause major economic losses in the pig industry. A point mutation in the gene coding for the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) in porcine skeletal muscle, also known calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) release channel, has been associated with swine PSS and halothane sensitivity. We used the PCR-RFLP(restriction fragment length polymorphism) and PCR-SSCP (single strand conformation polymorphism) methods to detect the PSS gene mutation (C1843T) in the RYR1 gene and to estimate genotype frequencies of PSS gene in Korean pig breed populations. In PCR-RFLP and SSCP analyses, three genotypes of homozygous normal (N/M), heterozygous carrier (N/n) and homozygous recessive mutant (n/n) were detected using agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. The proportions of normal, carrier and PSS pigs were 57.1, 35.7 and 7.1％ for Landrace, 82.5, 15.8 and 1.7％ far L. Yorkshire, 95.2, 4.8 and 0.0％ for Duroc and 72.0, 22.7 and 5.3％ for Crossbreed. Consequently, DNA-based diagnosis for the identification of stress-susceptible pigs of PSS and pigs producing PSE meat is a powerful technique. Especially, PCR-SSCP method may be useful as a rapid, sensitive and inexpensive test for the large-scale screening of PSS genotypes and pigs with PSE meat in the pork industry.y.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.241-249
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• 2011

This study was conducted to analyze ash content, mineral composition, hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF) content, stable carbon isotope ratio, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns to investigate the quality characteristics of various honeys harvested from different sources and to identify differences useful for distinguishing honey sources. Ash content was 0.046-0.012% in acacia honey, 0.565-1.318% in chestnut honey, 0.06-0.582% in polyfloral honey, and 0.237-0.893% in native bee honey. Potassium content was high in order of chestnut honey>native bee honey>polyfloral honey>acacia honey. The Na/K ratio was 0.92-1.97 in acacia honey, 0.02-1.59 in chestnut honey, 0.02-5.30 in polyfloral honey, and 0.22-0.51 in native bee honey. The HMF content was 9.60-12.85, 10.15-25.75, 9.7-33.5, and 6.25-21.5 mg/kg in acacia, chestnut, native bee, and polyfloral honeys, respectively. HMF content was the highest in native bee honey. A 59 kDa protein band was revealed in all samples by SDS-PAGE analysis. Protein bands of 32.1, 31.9, and 33.5 kDa were revealed in some chestnut honeys, and protein bands of 32.3 and 32.5 kDa were shown in native bee honeys. A protein band of 72 kDa was also confirmed in some chestnut honeys.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.651-659
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• 2008

This study aimed to develop polyclonal antibodies to regional inedible adipocytes of Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and investigate cross-reactivity of the antibodies. Patterns in plasma membrane proteins (PMPs) from abdominal and subcutaneous adipocytes of Hanwoo isolated by collagenase digestion were investigated using SDS-PAGE. As antigens, abdominal and subcutaneous adipocyte PMPs of Hanwoo were injected to sheep 3 times at 3 wk intervals for passive immunization, and non-immunized serum and antisera were collected before and after the injections. Titers of the antisera obtained from sheep and their cross-reactivities with heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, and spleen of Hanwoo were determined by ELISA. Isolation and culture of abdominal and subcutaneous adipocytes of Hanwoo were performed for analysing LDH concentration. Based on the SDS-PAGE analysis, specific proteins of PMPs in abdominal and subcutaneous adipocytes appeared despite rather similar patterns between both adipocytes. At the level of 1:1,000 dilution, little antibody reactivity appeared in non-immunized serum whereas the antisera had relatively strong reactivity up to the level of 1:128,000 and 1:64,000 dilution. These findings may indicate that strong antibodies against adipocyte PMPs can be developed using an immunological approach. Extremely low reactivities of abdominal and subcutaneous adipocyte antisera were detected with PMPs of the organs. Both antisera strongly reacted with each adipocyte PMPs and showed statistically (p<0.01) higher cross-reactivities compared with non-immunized serum. In conclusion, these results may indicate that the present polyclonal antibodies against regional inedible adipocyte PMPs are well developed and have safety in cross-reactivities with body organs. Further studies on in vivo cross-reactivity and fat reduction of the antibodies against abdominal and subcutaneous adipocytes PMPs of Hanwoo should be required for inedible fat-reduced high quality beef production.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.270-279
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• 2005

It is important to understand and evaluate the environmental impacts of rice cultivation for developing environmentally-friendly agriculture because rice is main crop in Korea and rice cultivation have both functions of water pollution and purification with environmental and cultivation conditions. This paper presents the evaluation of nitrogen impact by rice cultivation on water system. A simple protocol was proposed to assess the potential amount of nitrogen outflow from paddy field and most of parameters affect on the nitrogen outflow from paddy field such as the amount of fertilizer application, water balance, the quality and quantity of irrigation water, soil properties, nitrogen turnover in the soil and cultivation method were considered. To develop the protocol, coefficients for parameters affected nitrogen turnover and outflow were gotten and summarized by comparison and analysis of all possible references related, and by additional experiments at field and laboratory. And potential amount of nitrogen input and output by water in paddy field were estimated with the protocol at the conditions of the nitrogen contents of irrigation water, amount of fertilizer application, and irrigation methods. Where irrigation water was clean, below 1.0 mg $L^{-1}$ of nitrogen concentration, rice cultivation polluted nearby watershed. At the conditions of 2.0 mg $L^{-1}$ of nitrogen concentration, 110 kg $ha^{-1}$ of nitrogen fertilizer application and flooding irrigation, rice cultivation had water pollution function, but it had water purification function with intermittent irrigation. At the conditions of 3.0 mg $L^{-1}$ of nitrogen concentration and 110 kg $ha^{-1}$ of nitrogen fertilizer application, rice cultivation had water purification function, but that had water pollution function with 120 kg $ha^{-1}$ of nitrogen application. Where irrigation water was polluted over 6.0 mg $L^{-1}$ of nitrogen, it was evaluated that rice cultivation had water purifying effect, even though the amount of nitrogen application was 120 kg $ha^{-1}$.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.152-159
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• 2003

This study was conducted to analyze the water consumption in closed transplants production system (CTPS) for the production of quality transplants and to investigate the effect of relative humidity on the water balance in CTPS. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dejima) plug seedlings were grown for 15 days at air temperature of 20$^{\circ}C$, relative humidity of 70%, photoperiod of 16/8 h, and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 200 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-l}$ following rooting for 5 days in CTPS. Amount of humidified, dehumidified, irrigated and evapotranspirated water were 67.9 kg${\cdot}m^{-2},\;196.9{\cdot}m^{-2},\;44.3\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2},\;33.5\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. Water content of media and plants were 1.2 kg${\cdot}m^{-2},\;6.9\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. Three relative humidity levels of 60, 70, and 80% were provided to analyze the effect of humidity on the water balance in CTPS. Amount of humidified, dehumidified, irrigated, evapotranspiratad water and water contents of media and plants increased with increasing relative humidity. Since the water consumption required to produce plug seedlings in CTPS dec1eased with decreasing relative humidity, the available water utilization efficiency of CTPS increased with decreasing relative humidity. CTPS showed high available water utilization efficiency of 0.92 - 0.97 if dehumidified water in CTPS was recycled. The development of CTPS with recycling system of dehumidified water will not only reduce the water consuming for the production of transplants but contribute to the establishment of plant production economizing in water consumption.