Long-term evaluation of the BMPs scenarios in reducing nutrient surface loads from paddy rice cultivation in Korea using the CREAMS-PADDY model

Curbing nutrient loads from rice cultivation has been an issue for the water quality management of surface water bodies in the Asian monsoon region. The objectives of this study were to develop paddy BMP scenarios and to evaluate their effectiveness on nutrient loads reduction using long-term model simulation. Totally five BMP scenarios were developed based on the three paddy farming factors of drainage outlet height, fertilizer type, and application amount and were compared with conventional practices. CREAMS-PADDY model was chosen for the paddy nutrient simulation, and two-year field experimental data were used for the model calibration and validation. The validated model was used to evaluate the developed BMP scenarios for the 46 years of simulation period. The observed nutrient loads were 15.2 and 1.45 kg/ha for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, and mainly occurred by early season drainage and rainfall runoff in summer. The long-term simulation showed that the soil test-based fertilization and drainage outlet raising practice were the two most effective methods in nutrient loads reduction. The combination of these two resulted in the greatest loads reduction by 29 and 37 % for T-N and T-P, respectively (p value < 0.001). Overall the effectiveness of the BMP scenarios was decreased in the wet season. As the conclusion, outlet height control and soil nutrient-based fertilization were suggested as the effective practices in paddy loads reduction and their combination can be a practicable BMP scenario for the paddy nutrient management.     

Catch performance and fuel consumption of LED fishing lamps in the Korea hairtail angling fishery

Angling for hairtail Trichiurus lepturus using lights is common around the Korean Peninsula. Typically, metal halide (MH) lamps are used to attract fish during the fishing process. We investigated the fishing performance and fuel consumption using light-emitting diode (LED) lamps instead of MH lamps off the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. We conducted a total of 19 fishing trips using LED lamps, at a depth of 100–145 m during the winter fishing season of 2012–2013. The catch by the LED-lamp vessel (21.6 kW) was similar to the catch by the MH-lamp vessels of similar sizes (9.77 GT) but higher light power (45–84 kW). Fuel consumption per trip for the LED-lamp vessel was 454.2 l, and fuel consumption per hour for fishing operations (excluding steaming) was 9.2–11.3 l, with an average of 10.3 l. Catch intensity, defined as catch per kW of light power (kg kW^?1) of LED-lamp vessel was significantly higher than MH-lamp vessels of all size classes. The break-even point for the vessels to install LED lamps instead of MH lamps is 109 trips per year when the fuel price is at the 2012 level of USD 0.82 l^?1. In addition, through the reduction of fuel use, CO₂ emission can be reduced by approximately 27,553.0 kg for each vessel in the fishery.     

Pathogenicity comparison of high- and low-virulence strains of Vibrio scophthalmi in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Vibrio scophthalmi, a bacterial pathogen of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, exhibits strain-dependent virulence. No information is available on the comparative pathogenicity of different strains of V. scophthalmi toward olive flounder. In this study, high- and low-virulence strains (HVS and LVS, respectively) were compared in terms of their pathogenic characteristics, including adhesion and survival, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and extracellular products (ECP) of bacterial cells. The cell-mediated defense of macrophages from olive flounder against V. scophthalmi infection in vitro was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the SOD activity of the HVS was higher than that of the LVS. The number of viable cells of the HVS in serum increased by two log units after 18 h, whereas that of the LVS decreased. The number of cells of the HVS in skin mucus increased significantly while that of the LVS remained constant. The LD₅₀ values of the HVS and LVS ECP toward olive flounder were 10.14 and 15.99 μg protein/g fish, respectively. The ECP were positive for naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, lipase, gelatinase, and leucine arylamidase. The extracellular O₂ ^? overflow and intracellular O₂ ^? concentration of macrophages induced by the HVS were lower than those induced by the LVS. Significantly more nitric oxide was produced by the HVS than by the LVS.     

Social dialogue and industrial relations in South Korea: Has the tripartite commission been successful?

This paper analyses the sweeping changes in industrial relations in South Korea that have taken place since democratisation in 1987, which gave workers the right to organise themselves, and critically reviews the development of social dialogue since the financial crisis of 1997. A number of international labour specialists have maintained that social dialogue plays an important role in enhancing economic restructuring and the stability of industrial relations in order to compete in a global economy. Contrary to the positive assessment of social dialogue, the paper argues that the Korean Tripartite Commission has not reduced the antagonism between unions and employer organisations due to the influence of embedded, state‐led economic development. The financial crisis of 1997 merely provided a catalyst to propel the ‘historic compromise’ of February 1998, without creating effective institutional arrangements to maintain social dialogue. It is worth noting that the uncertainty of social dialogue results from the inability of the Korean Tripartite Commission to encourage employers and workers to trade off wage restraint for job security in the context of a lack of social welfare protections. The paralysed Korean Tripartite Commission provides fertile ground for reflecting on the complex relationship between social dialogue and institutional arrangements.     

Application of SSR markers and real-time PCR for variety identification in azuki-bean [Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi and Ohashi]

The azuki bean in Korea consists of seven domestic varieties which have been developed and registered for the public during last 25 years. Here, we present a simple but reliable method to screen and identify Korean azuki bean varieties. A method based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers is widely used for prominent gene identification and variety discrimination. In molecular biology, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory technique based on the polymerase chain reaction that is used to amplify and simultaneously quantify a targeted DNA molecule. It enables easy detection of a specific sequence in a DNA sample without performing electrophoresis and further processes. For separation of seven Korean azuki bean varieties, 110 unique azuki bean SSR markers from an (AG)n-enriched library were selected, synthesized and used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were taken through acrylamide gel electrophoresis and automated multi-capillary electrophoresis system for selection of specific markers and then changed into proper formats for data mining analysis. Ten primer pairs that showed high polymorphism were chosen for the indepth study. These ten primers were re-amplified with real-time PCR and checked the cycle threshold (Ct) and temperature (Tm) for comparison of amplification sequence in seven varieties. Consequently, a total of 20 alleles and 6 SSR primers were detected from the standard PCR amplification. Within these 6 primers, 7 alleles of 3 SSR primers were isolated for variety identification. From real-time PCR results, 3 SSR primers were selected as efficient markers for discrimination of seven Korean azuki bean varieties. The approach described here could be applied in monitoring our varieties and can be adapted in the azuki bean breeding program.     

Compatibilizing effects of polypropylene-g-itaconic acid on the polypropylene composites

We prepared long carbon fiber (LCF)-reinforced thermoplastic composites using a compatibilizer of itaconic acid grafted polypropylene (PP-g-IA). We confirmed the structure of PP-g-IA and investigated the compatibilizing effects of PPg- IA on LCF/polypropylene composites. The tensile strength, tensile moduli, flexural strength, and flexural moduli of the composites increased with increasing PP-g-IA content in the thermoplastic composites. Using single pull-out analyzing system, we found PP-g-IA improved interfacial strength between the carbon fiber and PP matrix. The thermal properties of the composites were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). We could observe that LCF enhanced the mechanical properties and thermal decomposition temperature of the polypropylene (PP) composites, compared with neat PP. The fractured surfaces of PP/PP-g-IA/LCF composites showed that PP-g-IA was effective for improving the interfacial adhesion between LCF and PP matrix.     

Synthesis and application of alkyl-substituted red dyes for unmodified polypropylene fibers

Following the previous studies regarding blue and yellow dyes, a series of new red dyes having different length of alkyl substituents on the same chromophore were synthesized in order to dye unmodified polypropylene fiber. The affinity of the dyes onto unmodified polypropylene fiber was increased with the increase of the length of alkyl substituents. Therefore, the longest hexyl-substituted dye showed very deep shade of dyeing with K/S value of around 30 at maximum absorption wavelength. Within the range below 2 % o.w.f., the exhaustion (%) showed more than 80 %. The color fastnesses to washing, rubbing, and light of the dyeings were also improved greater for the dyes having longer alkyl substituents than the shorter ones. Since color hue of the dyes exhibited very strong red, they could be considered to be used as the primary red color dyes for unmodified polypropylene fibers.     

Assessment of visceral organ growth in pigs from birth through 150 kg

Visceral organs (VO) are essential for their role in the metabolism and distribution of consumed nutrients as well as other life functions in animals. Two experiments were conducted to assess the natural longitudinal changes that the VO undergo from birth through 150 kg body weight (BW). In Experiment 1, a total of 96 crossbred pigs were euthanized at birth (pre-suckle), d 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 (weaning), 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 42, 49, and 63 of age. In Experiment 2, a total of 48 crossbred pigs were euthanized at 30, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 kg of BW. The absolute weight of VO, and the volume and length of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were measured. In both experiments, the absolute weight of VO, GIT length, and their volume increased (linear, quadratic, and/or cubic, P < 0.05) as BW and age increased. In Experiment 1, the relative weight of VO (liver, kidney, heart, and lung) decreased after initially increasing within the first week of life (linear, quadratic, and/or cubic, P < 0.05), whereas the relative weight of all VO decreased as BW increased in Experiment 2 (linear and/or quadratic, P < 0.05). The relative length of small intestine decreased and that of large intestine increased as age increased in Experiment 1 (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05), whereas the relative length of the small and large intestine in Experiment 2 were relatively constant at 80% and 20% of the total length of the intestine, respectively. As age and BW increased, the relative volume of the large intestine to the total volume of the GIT increased (linear and/or quadratic, P < 0.05), while the relative volume of the small intestine decreased (linear and/or quadratic, P < 0.05). In conclusion, results showed that both absolute and relative measurements (weight, volume, and length) of VO were dependent on the BW (age) of the pig.     

Effect of Bacillus-based direct-fed microbials on Eimeria maxima infection in broiler chickens

The effect of dietary Bacillus-based direct-fed microbials (DFMs; eight single strains designated as Bs2084, LSSAO1, 3AP4, Bs18, 15AP4, 22CP1, Bs27, and Bs278, and one multiple-strain DFM product [AVICORR™]) on growth performance, intestinal lesions, and innate and acquired immunities were evaluated in broiler chickens following Eimeria maxima (EM) infection. EM-induced reduction of body weight gain and intestinal lesions were significantly decreased by addition of 15AP4 or Bs27 into broiler diets compared with EM-infected control birds. Serum nitric oxide levels were increased in infected chickens fed with Bs27, but lowered in those given Bs2084, LSSAO1, 3AP4 or 15AP4 compared with the infected controls. Recombinant coccidial antigen (3-1E)-stimulated spleen cell proliferation was increased in chickens given Bs27, 15AP4, LSSAO1, 3AP4, or Bs18, compared with the infected controls. Finally, all experimental diets increased concanavalin A-induced splenocyte mitogenesis in infected broilers compared with the nonsupplemented and infected controls. In summary, dietary Bacillus subtilis-based DFMs reduced the clinical signs of experimental avian coccidiosis and increased various parameters of immunity in broiler chickens in a strain-dependent manner.     

Lectin histochemistry of the olfactory mucosa of Korean native cattle,Bos taurus coreanae

BackgroundThe olfactory mucosa (OM) is crucial for odorant perception in the main olfactory system. The terminal carbohydrates of glycoconjugates influence chemoreception in the olfactory epithelium (OE).ObjectivesThe histological characteristics and glycoconjugate composition of the OM of Korean native cattle (Hanwoo, Bos taurus coreae) were examined to characterize their morphology and possible functions during postnatal development.MethodsThe OM of neonate and adult Korean native cattle was evaluated using histological, immunohistochemical, and lectin histochemical methods.ResultsHistologically, the OM in both neonates and adults consists of the olfactory epithelium and the lamina propria. Additionally, using periodic acid Schiff and Alcian blue (pH 2.5), the mucus specificity of the Bowman’s gland duct and acini in the lamina propria was determined. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that mature and immature olfactory sensory neurons of OEs express the olfactory marker protein and growth associated protein-43, respectively. Lectin histochemistry indicated that numerous glycoconjugates, including as N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, complex type N-glycan, and fucose groups, were expressed at varied levels in the different cell types in the OMs of neonates and adults at varying levels. According to our observations, the cattle possessed a well-developed olfactory system, and the expression patterns of glycoconjugates in neonatal and adult OMs varied considerably.ConclusionsThis is the first study to describe the morphological assessment of the OM of Korean native cattle with a focus on lectin histochemistry. The findings suggest that glycoconjugates may play a role in olfactory chemoreception, and that their labeling properties may be closely related to OM development and maturity.