• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2024

One of the serious modern environmental problems is pollution caused by highly toxic pesticides. Only small amounts of applied pesticides reach their target, and the rest ends up in soil and water. Chlorpyrifos is a toxic, broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide. In humans, chlorpyrifos inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the peripheral and central nervous system, and particularly in children, small amounts of this pesticide cause neurotoxic damage. As the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and its persistence in the environment require its removal from contaminated sites, it is essential to study the biological diversity of chlorpyrifos-degrading microorganisms. In this study, we sought to determine the chlorpyrifos-degrading ability of the bacterial strain Ochrobactrum intermedium PDB-3. This strain was isolated from soil contaminated with various pesticides and identified as PDB-3 based on morpho-cultural characteristics, MALDI-TOF MS, and 16S rRNA. Studies were conducted for 30 days in sterile soils containing initial concentrations of 50, 75, 100, and 125 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos. To determine the degradation of chlorpyrifos, a liquid culture of the strain was added to the soil at three optical densities: 0, and after 24 and 48 h (OD = 0.03, 0.2 and 0.32). Using GX-MS, we determined that chlorpyrifos was converted to 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP). We also found that with increasing optical density, rapid degradation of the initial concentration of chlorpyrifos occurred. Sterile soil without strain PDB-3 was used as a control sample.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.316-326
• /
• 2014

Determination of the late marginal heading date (LMHD), which would allow estimation of the late marginal seeding date and the late marginal transplanting date, would help identification of potential double cropping areas and, as a result, establishment of cropping systems. The objective of this study was to determine the LMHD at 51 sites in Korea. For these sites, weather data were obtained from 1971 to 2000 and from 1981 to 2010, which represent past and current normal climate conditions, respectively. To examine crop productivity on the LMHD, climatic yield potential (CYP) was determined to represent the potential yield under a given climate condition. The LMHD was calculated using accumulated temperature for 40 days with threshold values of $760^{\circ}C$, $800^{\circ}C$, $840^{\circ}C$ and $880^{\circ}C$. The value of CYP on a given LMHD was determined using mean temperature and sunshine duration for 40 days from the LMHD. The value of CYP on the LMHD was divided by the maximum value of CYP (CYPmax) in a season to represent the relative yield on the LMHD compared with the potential yield in the season. Our results indicated that the LMHD was delayed at most sites under current normal conditions compared with past conditions. Spatial variation of the LMHD differed by the threshold temperature. Overall, the minimum value of CYP/CYPmax was 81.8% under all of given conditions. In most cases, the value of CYP/CYPmax was >90%, which suggested that yield could be comparable to the potential yield even though heading would have occurred on the LMHD. When the LMHD could be scheduled later without considerable reduction in yield, the late marginal transplanting date could also be delayed accordingly, which would facilitate doublecropping in many areas in Korea. Yield could be affected by sudden change of temperature during a grain filling period. Yet, CYP was calculated using mean temperature and sunshine duration for 40 days after heading. Thus, the value of CYP/CYPmax may not represent actual yield potential due to change of the LMHD, which suggested that further study would be merited to take into account the effect of weather events during grain filling periods on yield using crop growth model and field experiments.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.238-243
• /
• 2009

To investigate the characteristics of moisture content (MC), moisture distribution and starting point of drainage in a rockwool slab culture, time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors were used in a drip irrigation system. MC values ($0{\sim}100%$) measured by TDR sensors in a slab were compared to those by loadcells. Seventy two seedlings of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) were cultured for $5{\sim}6$ months in a green-house and the starting point of irrigation was determined by the average value of three TDR sensors which were inserted diagonally across the slabs under the plants. MCs as a standard for starting point of irrigation by TDR were determined with 40%, 50%, and 60%. Distribution of MCs in a slab measured with five TDR sensors equally spaced from two irrigation points were not much different when the MC in the slab increased from zero to saturation point. The saturated MCs in the slab were presented at $58{\sim}65%$ and the drain was started when the MC became around $50{\sim}55%$. At the saturated MC in the slab, TDR sensors presented 100% but the values from the loadcell showed 90% at the same time. However, measurement errors between two methods for MC remarkably decreased with a decrease in the MC in a slab. Especially when the MC was maintaining below 60%, the errors between TDR and loadcell methods for measuring MC in the rock-wool slab were less than 5%. There were no significant differences in number of fruits and fresh and dry weights of fruits when they were cultured under the different MC conditions with three irrigation regimes (40%, 50%, and 60%). These results indicated that the MC control by TDR sensors in a rock-wool based paprika culture can be suggested as a method to determine the starting point of irrigation for a soilless culture system.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.475-488
• /
• 2018

This study evaluates geothermal system efficiency in terms of input power and heat exchange volume on the heat-source and load sides, by applying a combined open-closed type loop system comprising a geothermal system and a groundwater well to a cultivation site. In addition, this study analyzes the effects of heating and cooling for a complex geothermal system, by evaluating the temperatures of an external site and a cultivation site during operation. During cooling operations the heat exchange volume on the heat source side, average 90.0kW/h for an open type system with an input of 235L/minute groundwater, and 40.1kW/h for a closed type system with an input of 85L/minute circulating water, for a total average heat exchange volume of 130.1kW/h. The actual heat exchange volume delivered on the load side averages 110.4kW/h. The average EER by analysis of the geothermal system's cooling efficiency is 5.63. During heating operation analysis, the heat exchange volume on the heat source side, average 60.4kW/h in an open type system with an input of 266L/minute groundwater, and 22.4kW/h in closed type system with an input of 86L/minute circulating water, for a total average heat exchange volume of 82.9kW/h. The actual heat exchange volume delivered on the load side averages 112.0kW/h in our analysis. The average COP determined by analysis of the geothermal system's heating efficiency is 3.92. Aa a result of the tradeoff between the outside temperature and the inside temperature of the production facility and comparing the facility design with a combined well and open-closed loops geothermal(CWG) system, we determine that the 30RT-volume CWG system temperature are lower by $3.4^{\circ}C$, $6.8^{\circ}C$, $10.1^{\circ}C$ and $13.4^{\circ}C$ for ouside temperature is of $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. Based on these results, a summer cooling effect of about $10^{\circ}C$ is expected relative to a facility without a CWG system as the outside temperature is generally ${\geq}30^{\circ}C$. Our results suggest that a complex geothermal system provides improvement under a variety of conditions even when heating conditions in winter are considered. Thus It is expected that the heating-cooling tradeoffs of complex geothermal system are improved by using water screen.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.117-121
• /
• 2016

Although piglets have been delivered by embryo transfer (ET) with in vitro produced (IVP) embryos and blastocysts, a success rate has still remained lower level. Unlike mouse, human, and bovine, it is difficult to a production of piglets by in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of an inappropriate in vitro culture (IVC) system in pig. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate whether minimized exposure time in IVC can improve the pregnancy and delivery rates of piglets. Immediately after IVM, the oocytes were denuded and co-incubated with freshly ejaculated boar semen for 3.5 to 4 hours at $38.5^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. To avoid long-term exposure to in vitro state, we emitted IVC step after IVF. After that the presumptive zygotes were transferred into both oviducts of the surrogate on the same day or 1 day after the onset of estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 28 after ET and then was checked regularly every month by ultrasound examination. The 3 out of 4 surrogates were determined as pregnant (75%) and a total of 5 piglets (2 females and 3 males) were delivered at $118.3{\pm}2.5$ days of pregnancy period. In conclusion, a short-term exposure time may be an important factor in the production of IVP-derived piglets. It can be apply to the in vitro production system of transgenic pig by IVF, cloning, and pronuclear microinjection methods.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.141-149
• /
• 2009

The sexual incompatibility system was investigated in the new strain Pleurotus ostreatus 'Miso'. Matings among monosporous progeny collected from fruiting bodies revealed that the new oyster mushroom is heterothallic and has a tetrapolar mating system. Single basidiospore isolates that did not have clamp connections were determined to be monokaryotic. Compatible parings of monokaryons were distinguishable macroscopically by the rapid growth and gross morphology to some extent but they were distinguished obviously by the presence of clamp connections from incompatible pairings under microscopic examination. Rarely dikaryotization was unidirectional with clamp connections only at the margin of one side of mating. In tetrapolarity of matings, four kinds of patterns, A1B1, A1B2, A2B1, and A2B2, were decided depending on compatibility tests in a parental strain with a mating factor of A1A2B1B2. The mating tests with the tester strains were performed for the detection of mating types on the rest of selected monokaryons.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.185-191
• /
• 2010

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine protease that cleave plasminogen to form the active protease plasmin and may participate in mammalian fertilization. Although correlations have been reported between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sperm function, the relationship between PA activity and ROS is unknown. We determined the effects of ROS on sperm function and PA activities in boar spermatozoa preincubated under the X-XO system. When spermatozoa were treated with the X+XO group, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa compared with that of the control group. However, when antioxidants were added to the medium with X+XO, the rate of acrosome reaction tended to decrease. Also, a significantly lower percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa was observed in the X+XO+catalase group at 6 hr of incubation compared with that of X+XO group. The density of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher in the X+XO group than in different treatment groups. In another experiment, incubation of spermatozoa in medium with X+XO was associated with a significant (p<0.05) increase in activity of tPA-PAI and tPA compared with the control group. Antioxidants decreased the increased activity of tPA-PAI and tPA by preincubation in the X-XO system. Also, a significantly lower (p<0.05) activities of tPA-PAI and tPA were observed in the X+XO+catalase group compared with the X+XO group. No significant differences, however, were observed in the activity of uPA. These results suggest that the increase of acrosome reaction by the X-XO system resulted in increase of PAs activity in the sperm incubation medium.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.245-252
• /
• 1993

Amiloride is a potassium sparing duretic which specifically inhibits $Na{^+}$ channels. In the present study, we investigated the possible interaction of amiloride with $A_1$ adenosine receptors-adenylyl cyclase system in crude adipocytic plasma membrane fractions prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats. When the function of $G_i$ protein (inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein) was assessed by determining the effects of GTP on isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, the inhibitory effect of high concentrations of GTP was not observed in the presence of amiloride. In contrast, the adenosine receptor-mediated inhibition of the enzyme activity, as determined empolying 2-chloroadenosine, was either unchanged or even more enhanced by amiloride depending on the concentrations of 2-chloroadenosine. Thus, it appears that GTP- and receptor-mediated inhibitory function of $G_{i}$ proteins can be separated from one another. Receptor-mediated function of $G_{s}$ protein did not appear to be significantly affected by amiloride, since the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by propranolol under the same conditions was not significantly altered by amiloride. The enhancement of 2-chloroadenosine-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by amiloride was maintained in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. In summary, these results suggest that amiloride interacts both with $A_{l}$ adenosine receptors and with $G_i$ proteins in adipocytic membranes. Its binding to the $A_1$ adenosine receptors appears to facilitate the coupling of the receptors with $G_i$ proteins thereby enhancing the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by $A_1$ adenosine agonist, and the direct interaction with $G_i$ proteins appears to remove the GTP-dependent inhibitory effect on adenylyl cyclase activity.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.131-140
• /
• 2012

The hawthorn spider mite, Tetranychus viennensis, is a pest of apples and a quarantine pest from some countries that import apples from Korea. A controlled atmosphere and temperature treatment system (CATTS) was developed as an alternative disinfestation method to methyl bromide fumigation treatment, and has been applied to control various insects and other arthropod pests on fruits. We applied CATTS to disinfect T. viennensis under conditions that were previously developed to control the peach fruit moth, Carposina sasakii. First, T. viennensis was sampled from Japanese apricot, Prunus mume, and identified by its morphological characters. In addition, both cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences supported the morphological identification. Second, the heat-tolerant developmental stage was determined in T. viennensis. When a $46^{\circ}C$ heat treatment was applied to egg, nymph, and adult stages of T. viennensis, adults were the most tolerant stage. Third, when heat temperature was used along with 1% $O_2$ and 15% $CO_2$, the mites showed a significant increase in susceptibility to the heat treatment. Finally, CATTS at $46^{\circ}C$ with 15% $CO_2$ and 1% $O_2$ for 30 min resulted in 100% mortality of all T. viennensis development stages. These results indicated that CATTS isapplicable to disinfest T. viennensis in post-harvest apples.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.38 no.8
• /
• pp.547-551
• /
• 1994

A series of samples in the $Nd_{1-x}Ba_xFeO_{3-y}$ system has been prepared by heating the reactants to$1200^{\circ}C$ under an ambient atmosphere, and the solid solutions were identified by X-ray power diffraction analysis. The crystal systems of samples with x = 0.00 and 0.25 were found to be orthorhombic whose local symmetry is similiar to the distorted octahedral with orthoferrite type one, whereas those with x = 0.50 and 0.75 to be the cubic system. Since Fe ions in the solid solutions are a mixed valence state between $Fe^{3+}\;and\;Fe^{4+}$ ions, the nonstoichiometric chemical formulas could be determined from the mole ratio of $Fe^{4+}$ ion and oxygen vacacies. According to the Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis, the presence of 5-coordinated $FeO_5$ was evidenced only in the barium compounds along with $FeO_6,\;and\;FeO_4$, but not in the strontium and calcium compounds. The samples with x = 0.25 and 0.50 show a spectrum of superparamagnetism, which might be due to the formation of a domain of the ferromagnetic interaction between the $Fe^{3+}\;and\;Fe^{4+}$ ions. The electrical conductivities of all samples are within semiconducting range. Since the $Fe^{4+}$ ion acts as an electron acceptor level during the electron transfer between the Fe through intermediate $O^{2-}$ ions, the activation energy of the compounds decreases with the increment of $Fe^{4+}$ content.