Analysis of the Republic of Korea Food Grain Situation

Two problems for developing economies confronted with food shortages are (1) how to acquire sufficient food and still stabilize food prices in the short-run and (2) how to increase food production and realize food self-sufficiency in the long-run. Solving these two problems is often considered a precondition to achieving steady economic growth and industrialization. This study was concerned with the Republic of Korea, where economic development plans have been initiated during the last two decades under the condition of annual food grain shortages. Efforts to overcome these shortages have resulted in South Korea becoming the fastest growing major market for U.S. farm products in the Far East. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between government food grain policy and the consumption and supply of food grains. Food grains under analysis were limited to rice, barley and wheat (major food grains) which are the main dietary items in Korea

Repurposing E. coli by Engineering Quorum Sensing and Redox Genetic Circuits

Because cells have the extraordinary ability to sense and respond to even subtle environmental changes by intricately regulating their gene expression patterns, their behaviors can be intentionally “tuned” by altering the state of their environments in a prescribed or rational manner. Rational control of both external and internal molecular stimuli provides a basis for many biotechnological applications including the expression of foreign protein products. This is done by coordinately controlling product synthesis while retaining the cell in a productive state. Quorum sensing (QS), a molecular signaling modality that mediates cell-cell communication, autonomously facilitates both inter- and intra-species gene regulation. This process can be rewired to enable autonomously actuated, but molecularly programmed, genetic control. Recently, even electrical signals, which have long been used to control the most sophisticated of man-made devices, are now employed to alter cell signaling processes enabling computer programmed behavior, particularly in cells suitably engineered to accommodate electrical signals. By minimally engineering these genetic circuits, new applications have emerged for the repurposing of Escherichia coli, from creating innovative sensor concepts to stimulating the emerging field of electrogenetics

Electrogenetic actuation of gene expression in bacteria: Towards programmable biological function based on molecular signaling

The ability to interconvert information between electronic and biologic systems has already transformed our ability to record and actuate biological function (e.g., EEG, EKG, defibrillators). In parallel, we have begun to demand biological connectivity from electronic consumer products (fitbitTM, cell phones, etc.). There are significant gaps, however, that must be overcome before biological information can be seamlessly conveyed and before biological function can be electronically “programmed”. A communication gap exists whereby the common vectors for information flow in biology are ions and molecules; they are electrons and photons in electronics. Since there are essentially no “free” electrons in biological systems, there is essentially no direct “translator” of electrons to molecules and vice versa. Gaining access to molecular communication is essential as molecules are the primary vector that drives biological function. There is also a fabrication gap to overcome. It is difficult to construct microelectronic devices that include labile biological components. We are developing tools of “biofabrication” that enable facile assembly of biological components within devices that preserve their native biological function. By recognizing that biological redox active molecules are a biological equivalent of an electron-carrying wire, we have developed biological surrogates for electronic devices, including a biological redox capacitor. We have also turned to synthetic biology to provide a means to sample, interpret and report on biological information contained in molecular communications circuitry. Finally, we have developed synthetic genetic circuits that enable electronic actuation of gene expression. This presentation will introduce the concepts of molecular communication that are enabled by integrating relatively simple concepts in synthetic biology with biofabrication. Our presentation will show how engineered cells represent a versatile means for mediating the molecular “signatures” commonly found in complex environments, or in other words, they are conveyors of molecular communication

Estimating truck transport costs for grain and fertilizer

Cover title.Includes bibliographical references (page 40)