• 한국환경복원기술학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.23-38
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• 2015

The study was initiated with Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.) to investigate germination and early establishment characteristics of new cultivars for a practical application to turfgrass establishment such as parks, athletic field and golf course etc. Fifteen cultivars were evaluated in different experiments. An alternative condition for a KB germination test required by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) was applied in Experiment I, consisting of 8-hr light at $25^{\circ}C$ and 16-hr dark at $15^{\circ}C$ (ISTA conditions). Experiment II was conducted under a room temperature condition of 5 to $25^{\circ}C$ (natural conditions). Seed germinating vigor, germination speed and germination peak time were measured in both experiments. Significant differences were observed in seed germinating vigor, germination speed and germination peak time. Seed germinating vigor was variable with different environments and cultivars. It was 75.25 to 89.50% under ISTA conditions and 75.75 to 90.25% under natural conditions. There were considerable variations in early germination characteristics among KB cultivars according to different environments. Early germination characteristics showed that all cultivars were 3 to 5 days faster in germination under ISTA conditions, when compared with natural conditions. The germination speed, measured as days to seed germination of 50% to 80%, was much faster with 'Midnight II', 'Excursion' and 'Midnight' under ISTA conditions. But it was faster with 'Midnight II', 'Excursion' and 'Odyssey' under natural conditions. Differences was also observed in germination peak time with cultivars and growing conditions. It ranged 5.94 to 14.88 days under ISTA conditions and 4.71 to 13.06 days under natural conditions. Regardless of the environment conditions, the shortest cultivars were 'Odyssey' and 'Midnight II'. The longest ones were 'Nuglade' under ISTA condition and 'Moonlight' under natural conditions. Considering germinating vigor, germination speed and germination peak time, 'Midnight II', 'Excursion', 'Midnight', and 'Odyssey' were regarded as excellent cultivars under ISTA conditions in terms of early establishment characteristics, while 'Midnight II', 'Excursion', 'Odyssey', and 'Courtyard' under natural conditions. These results suggest that an intensive germination test be needed prior to planting, for investigating the early germinating vigor, germination speed and germination peak time. Also, a proper cultivar selection and comprehensive site analysis for the growing environmental conditions should be done before turfgrass establishment such as golf course construction.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.441-449
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• 2017

Citrus canker is an important bacterial disease of citrus in several regions of the world. Strains of Xanthomonas citri type-A (Xc-A) group are the primary pathogen where citrus canker occurs. After Xc-A entered the Northeast of Argentina in 1974, the disease spread rapidly from 1977 to 1980 and then slowed down and remained moving at slow pace until 1990 when it became endemic. Citrus canker was detected in Northwest Argentina in 2002. This paper presents the main steps in the fight of the disease and the management strategies that have been used to control citrus canker at this time. We think the process might be usefull to other countries with the same situation. Results from more than 40 years of research in Northeast (NE) Argentina indicate that we are at the limit of favorable environment for the disease. The severity of citrus canker is greatly affected by the environment and El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon which causes cyclic fluctuations on the disease intensity in the NE region. Weather-based logistic regression models adjusted to quantify disease levels in field conditions showed that the environmental effect was strongly modulated by the distance from a windbreak. Production of healthy fruits in citrus canker endemic areas is possible knowing the dynamics of the disease. A voluntary Integrated Plan to Reduce the Risk of Canker has been in place since 1994 and it allows growers to export unsymptomatic, uninfested fresh fruit to countries which are free of the disease and require healthy, pathogen free fruits. The experience from Argentina can be replicated in other countries after appropriate trials.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.303-308
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• 2013

Subfertility problems are encountered frequently in the cattle and buffalo bulls commercially maintained for semen production in dairy farms and under field conditions for natural insemination. Reports are scarce on the incidence of subfertility in breeding bulls, especially in India. The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of the male reproductive anomalies leading to disposal of bovine bulls at GADVASU dairy farm, Ludhiana, Punjab (India). Data on frequency of various subfertility and disposal pattern of bulls maintained at the dairy farm, GADVASU, were collected for 12 yrs (1999 to 2010) and compiled from different record registers. Percentage of bulls that produced freezable semen (out of reserved ones) was less in cattle (25.641%) as compared to that of buffalo (30.4%). Various subfertility traits like poor libido and unacceptable seminal profile were found to be the significant reasons (p<0.01) for culling of the breeding bulls. Inadequate sex drive and poor semen quality were the main contributing factors for bull disposal in cattle whereas poor semen freezability was most frequently observed in buffalo bulls. All the male reproductive traits were significantly different (p<0.05) for the periods of birth, except for semen volume, initial motility (IM), age at last semen collection (ALSC) and age at disposal. The ages at first and last semen collection as well as freezing (i.e. AFSC, ALSC and AFSF, ALSF, respectively) and age at disposal (AD) were higher in buffalo. The spermatological parameters and semen production period (SPP) were higher in cattle. The age at first semen donation and breeding period could be reduced by introducing the bulls to training at an early age. The results revealed an increasing trend in individual motility (IM) while semen volume, AFSC, AFSF, AD, FSPP, SPP, ALSC and ALSF showed a decreasing, however, not a definite trend, over the periods. The semen donation traits like, AFSF, of the cattle and buffalo bulls could be predicted from the AFSC, using prediction equation derived in the present study.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권1호
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• pp.65-79
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• 2024

Background: Exhaled condensates contain inflammatory biomarkers; however, their roles in the clinical field have been under-investigated. Methods: We prospectively enrolled subjects admitted to pulmonology clinics. We collected exhaled breath condensates (EBC) and analysed the levels of six and 12 biomarkers using conventional and multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: Among the 123 subjects, healthy controls constituted the largest group (81 participants; 65.9%), followed by the preserved ratio impaired spirometry group (21 patients; 17.1%) and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group (21 patients; 17.1%). In COPD patients, platelet derived growth factor-AA exhibited strong positive correlations with COPD assessment test (ρ=0.5926, p=0.0423) and COPD-specific version of St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-C) score (total, ρ=0.6725, p=0.0166; activity, ρ=0.7176, p=0.0086; and impacts, ρ=0.6151, p=0.0333). Granzyme B showed strong positive correlations with SGRQ-C score (symptoms, ρ=0.6078, p=0.0360; and impacts, ρ=0.6007, p=0.0389). Interleukin 6 exhibited a strong positive correlation with SGRQ-C score (activity, ρ=0.4671, p=0.0378). The absolute serum eosinophil and basophil counts showed positive correlations with pro-collagen I alpha 1 (ρ=0.6735, p=0.0164 and ρ=0.6295, p=0.0283, respectively). In healthy subjects, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity demonstrated significant correlation with CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3)/macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (ρ=0.3897 and p=0.0068). FEV₁ exhibited significant correlation with CCL11/eotaxin (ρ=0.4445 and p=0.0017). Conclusion: Inflammatory biomarkers in EBC might be useful to predict quality of life concerning respiratory symptoms and serologic markers. Further studies are needed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.113-120
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• 2009

Embryonic lethal abnormal visual (elav) is a lethal gene in Drosophila inducing the abnormal development and function of nervous system. We cloned a Bm-elav gene by bioinformatics and biological experiment, based on sequence of ELAV protein and dbEST of Bombyx mori. The full-length of Bm-elav cDNA is 1498 bp, contains a 906 bp open read frame (ORF) encoding a precursor of 301 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 34 kDa and pI of 8.99. Bm-ELAV protein precursor contains three RNA recognition motifs (RRM) in $24{\sim}91$, $110{\sim}177$ and $222{\sim}295$ bit amino acid residues respectively, and belongs to RNA-binding protein family. Bm-ELAV shared varying positives, ranging from 56% to 60% (Identities from 41% to 45%), with RRM from other species of Xenopus tropicalis, Apis mellifera, Tribolium castaneum, Branchiostoma belcheri and Drosophila. Gene localization indicated that Bm-elav is a single-copy gene, gene mapping within 12-chromosome from 7916.68 knt to 7918.16 knt region of nscaf2993. Spatiotemporal expressions pattern analysis revealed that Bm-elav expressed higher in most tested tissues and developmental stages in whole generation, such as silk gland, fat body, midgut, hemopoietic organ and ovary, but almost no expression in terminated diapause eggs. This suggested that the expression of Bm-elav in early developmental embryonic stages might induce abnormal development like in Drosophila. Cloning of the Bm-elav gene enables us to test its potential role in controlling pests by transferring the gene into field lepidopteran insects in the future.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.328-333
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• 2005

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are widely distributed, and their function and diversity of structure have been much studied in the field of molecular chaperones. In plants, which frequently have to cope with hostile environments, sHSPs are much more abundant and diverse than in other forms of life. In response to high temperature stress, sHSPs of more than twenty kinds can make up more than 1% of soluble plant proteins. We isolated a genomic clone, NtHSP18.3, from Nicotiana tabacum that encodes the complete open reading frame of a cytosolic class I small heat shock protein. To investigate the function of NtHSP18.3 in vitro, it was overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified NtHSP18.3 had typical molecular chaperone activity as it protected citrate synthase and luciferase from high temperature-induced aggregation. When E. coli celluar proteins were incubated with NtHSP18.3, a large proportion of the proteins remained soluble at temperatures as high as $70^{\circ}C$. Native gel analysis suggested that NtHSP18.3 is a dodecameric oligomer as the form present and showing molecular chaperone activity at the condition tested. Binding of bis-ANS to the oligomers of NtHSP18.3 indicated that exposure of their hydrophobic surfaces increased as the temperature was raised. Taken together, our data suggested that NtHSP18.3 is a molecular chaperone that functions as a dodecameric complex and possibly in a temperature-induced manner.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제19권spc호
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• pp.263-266
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• 2011

Crop protection strategies in organic horticulture aim to prevent insect pest and plant disease problems through utilization of non-chemical based control means. In order to develop a model for management of plant diseases and insects in organic cucumber cultivation, we compared efficacies between chemical pesticide spraying system and biological control means in semi-forcing and retarding cucumber cultivation during 2005 and 2006. Conventional chemical spray program using various chemical pesticides was applied 5 - 10 days intervals, while two different non-chemical pesticide application programs using two formulated biopesticides Topseed$^{TM}$ and Q-fect$^{TM}$, Suncho$^{TM}$, and Sangsungje$^{TM}$ (biocontrol agents 1) and using egg-yolk and cooking oil(EYCO), Bordeaux mixture, Suncho$^{TM}$, and Sangsungje$^{TM}$ (biocontrol agents 2) were applied 5 - 7 days intervals during entire cucumber cultivation period. Efficacy of both biocontrol agents programs was effective to comparable to conventional chemical pesitice spray program to control plant diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew as well as insect pests such as aphids and thrips which are known as major threats in cucumber organic cultivation. In this study, we established and evaluated an effective and economic crop protection strategy using various biological resources can be used to control plant diseases and pests simultaneously in organic cucumber cultivation field.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권7호
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• pp.2444-2452
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• 2022

The field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is gaining popularity in industrial automation such as nuclear power plant instrumentation and control (I&C) systems due to the benefits of having non-existence of operating system, minimum software errors, and minimum common reason failures. Separate functions can be processed individually and in parallel on the same integrated circuit using FPGAs in comparison to the conventional microprocessor-based systems used in any plant operations. The use of FPGAs offers the potential to minimize complexity and the accompanying difficulty of securing regulatory approval, as well as provide superior protection against obsolescence. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are a new technology for acquiring and processing plant data wirelessly in which sensor nodes are configured for real-time signal processing, data acquisition, and monitoring. ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) is an open worldwide standard for minimum power, low-cost machine-to-machine (M2M), and internet of things (IoT) enabled wireless network communication. It is always a challenge to follow the specific topology when different Zigbee nodes are placed in a large network such as a plant. The research article focuses on the hardware chip design of different topological structures supported by ZigBee that can be used for monitoring and controlling the different operations of the plant and evaluates the performance in Vitex-5 FPGA hardware. The research work presents a strategy for configuring FPGA with ZigBee sensor nodes when communicating in a large area such as an industrial plant for real-time monitoring.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.67.1-67.8
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• 2024

Importance: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are emerging as a global public health risk. Therefore, assessing the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRE) in both humans and animals is important. Objective: We aimed to ascertain the occurrence and characteristics of CRE isolated from companion animals, dogs and cats. Methods: E. coli strains were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using the broth microdilution technique. Antimicrobial resistance genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis. The molecular characteristics of CRE were determined using multi-locus sequence typing, replicon typing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: In total, 13 CRE isolates (0.13%) were identified from dogs possessing bla_NDM-5 along with β-lactamase genes, mostly blaCMY-2 (92.2%) and blaTEM-1 (53.8%). The commonly observed mutations were S83L and D87N in gyrA, S80I in parC, and S458A in parE. CRE carried non-beta-lactam resistance genes, with the majority being tet(B) (100%), sul (84.6%), and aac(3)-II (53.8%). Nine different PFGE patterns (P1-P9), IncX3-type plasmids (69.2%), and ST410 (84.6%) were predominantly detected. Conclusions and Relevance: This investigation provides significant insight into the prevalence and molecular characteristics of bla_NDM-5-carrying E. coli in dogs. The co-existence of bla_NDM-5 and other antimicrobial resistance genes in E. coli potentially poses severe health hazards to humans.

• 한국건설순환자원학회논문집
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2012

프리캐스트 콘크리트 공법은 건식공법으로서 현장에서의 작업량을 최소화할 수 있으며 품질관리가 쉽고, 조립으로 공기단축이 가능하지만, 공기상 조기에 콘크리트 강도를 확보하기 위하여 콘크리트의 강도발현속도를 촉진시키는 증기양생법에 의존하여 왔다. 그러나 최근에 나타나고 있는 중동에서의 정치적 불안이나 국제 경제의 불안정으로 인해 지속적으로 유류비는 상승되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 프리스트레스트용 프리캐스트 콘크리트 제품 생산을 위해 저온의 조건에서 증기양생을 사용하지 않고 1일 압축강도 14MPa 이상, 설계기준압축강도 40MPa를 확보하는 콘크리트 개발을 목표로 하였다. 1종 포틀랜드시멘트와 3종 조강포틀랜드시멘트, 특수목적의 조강혼합시멘트 등 3종류의 시멘트에 대해 굳지 않은 콘크리트의 물성과 압축강도를 실험을 통해 평가하였다. 실험결과, 조강용 시멘트들은 슬럼프와 슬럼프경시변화, 공기량 확보 측면에서 불리하였지만 강도 측면에서는 목표값 이상을 확보하였으며 특히, 조강혼합시멘트가 가장 우수한 것으로 나타났다.