• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the effective genetic resources preservation system using the frozen boar semen. The porcine oocytes were matured for 44 hours in NCSU-23 medium with or without 10% Porcine Follicle Fluid (PFF), 0.5 ${\mu}g/ml$ porcine FSH, 0.5 ${\mu}g/ml$ equine LH, 1.0 ${\mu}g/ml$ 17 $\beta$-estradiol ($E_2$) and 10 ng/ml Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) under mineral oil at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air. After 44 h of culture, the oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen and fresh semen prepared with mTBM medium for 6 h. Later, set of 50 presumptive zygotes were transferred into 4-well dish (500 ${\mu}l$) of IVC medium. for embryos freezing, slow-freezing and vitrification methods were used as a cryopreservation. Differences among treatments were analyzed using General Linear Model Procedure by SAS Package (version 6.12) differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Following IVF and IVC, the rates of cleavage and blastocysts formation were significantly higher (p<0.05) in hormone supplemented group than that of hormone-free group (25.7 vs, 12.1). The development rates to cleavage and blastocysts were significantly higher in PZM-5 group than NCSU-23 group (60.3%, 46.6% vs 27.4%, 11.1%). Further improvement was achieved when PZM-5 was supplemented with FBS. Cleavage rates was significantly higher in fresh semen source group than frozen semen (66.7% vs 43.7%). However in blastocysts rates was similar two groups. Post-thaw survival rates of embryos were 1.2% and 2.2% in slow-frezing and vitrification groups, respectively. The results of our study suggest that it is still possible to improve the culture conditions and boar semen cryopreservation for enhance reproductive technology and animal genetic resources conservation.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2023

Groundwater-surface water interaction was evaluated using water quality parameters (temperature and electrical conductivity), distributions of stable water isotopes (δ²H and δ ¹⁸O), and Rn-222 in lagoon water, groundwater, and seawater at three coastal lagoons (Songji (SJ), Youngrang (YR), and Sunpo (SP) Lagoon) in South Korea. From the results of composition and distributions of δ²H and δ¹⁸O, it was found that groundwater fraction of lagoon water in YR Lagoon (76%) was slightly higher than those of SJ (42%), and SP (63%) Lagoon. Based on Rn-222 mass balance model, groundwater discharge into SJ Lagoon in summer 2020 was estimated to be (3.2±1.1)×10³ m³ day^-1, which showed a similar or an order of magnitude higher than the results of previous studies conducted in coastal lagoons. This study can provide advanced techniques to evaluate groundwater-surface water interaction in coastal lagoons, wetlands, and lakes, and help to determine the effects of groundwater on coastal ecosystems.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.371-378
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to develop mathematical models for describing the kinetic behavior of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in seasoned beef jerky. Seasoned beef jerky was cut into 10-g pieces. Next, 0.1 mL of S. aureus ATCC13565 was inoculated into the samples to obtain 3 Log CFU/g, and the samples were stored aerobically at $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, and $35^{\circ}C$ for 600 h. S. aureus cell counts were enumerated on Baird Parker agar during storage. To develop a primary model, the Weibull model was fitted to the cell count data to calculate Delta (required time for the first decimal reduction) and ${\rho}$ (shape of curves). For secondary modeling, a polynomial model was fitted to the Delta values as a function of storage temperature. To evaluate the accuracy of the model prediction, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated by comparing the predicted data with the observed data. The surviving S. aureus cell counts were decreased at all storage temperatures. The Delta values were longer at $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $25^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. The secondary model well-described the temperature effect on Delta with an $R^2$ value of 0.920. In validation analysis, RMSE values of 0.325 suggested that the model performance was appropriate. S. aureus in beef jerky survives for a long period at low storage temperatures and that the model developed in this study is useful for describing the kinetic behavior of S. aureus in seasoned beef jerky.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.88-101
• /
• 2013

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments was adopted at 2004 and then various BWMS (ballast water management system) have been developed. In this study, WET (whole effluent toxicity) test with algae (diatom) Skeletonema costatum as primary producer, invertebrate (rotifera) Brachionus plicatilis as 1st consumer and fish (olive flounder) Paralichthys olivaceus as predator, chemical analysis and ERA (environmental risk assessment) were conducted to assess the unacceptable effect on marine ecosystem by emitting the discharge water treated with AquaStar$^{TM}$ BWMS using electrolysis as main treatment equipment for removing the marine organisms in the ship's ballast water. The most sensitive test organism on discharge water treated with AquaStar$^{TM}$ BWMS was S. costatum that gave the NOEC value of 25.00%, LOEC value of 50.00% and 72hr-$EC_{50}$ value of 69.97% from WET test result for 20 psu salinity treated discharge water. NOEC and LOEC value of B. plicatilis and P. olivaceus exposed at 20 psu salinity treated discharge water were 50.00% and 100.00%, respectively. In the chemical analysis results, total number of substances produced by AquaStar$^{TM}$ BWMS was 18 which were bromate, 7 volatile halogenated organic compounds, 7 halogenated acetic acids, 3 halogenated acetonitriles and chloropicrin. Eighteen substances did not consider as persistence and bioaccumulative chemicals. Uncertainty of toxic property of 18 substances was high. PECs of 18 substances calculated by MAMPEC model were ranged from $4.58{\times}10^{-4}$ to $4.87{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, PNECs of them were ranged from $1.6{\times}10^{-2}$ to $3.2{\times}10^2{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. And, the PEC/PNEC ratio of 18 substances did not exceed 1. Therefore, ERA for produced substances indicate that the discharge water treated with AquaStar$^{TM}$ BWMS does not pose unacceptable effect on marine life. And $EC_{50}$ value of S. costatum on discharge water treated by BWMS using the electrolysis had positive correlation with initial TRO concentration, concentration and kind & level of HAAs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2016

Objectives : Mori Follium (Morus alba L. leaf) has been cultivated in many Asian countries. Especially, mulberry leaf has been used as an anti-diabetic remedy in oriental medicine. However, anti-obesity effect of mulberry has not been unknown. In this study, our objectives of study is to investigate the anti-adipogenic effect of mulberry water extract (MLE) and to reveal potential molecular anti-obesity mechanism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes differentiation model.Methods : The cytotoxicity of MLE in 3T3-L1 was examined by MTT assay. Anti-adipogenic effect of MLE was evaluated by Oil Red O (ORO) staining. To elucidate the molecular mechanism, inhibitor assay was employed. The mRNA expression levels of adipogenic transcriptional factors such as PPARγ and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.Results : The MLE treatment for 24 h did not affect to the 3T3-L1 cells at concentrations of 1, 10, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,000 ㎍/㎖. Thus, non-toxic concentration rages of MLE were used during adipogenesis period (day -2 to 7). Intracellular lipid accumulation in MLE-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (day 6) were quantitatively evaluated by ORO staining. The MLE treatment significantly and dose-dependently suppressed 3T3-L1 adipogenesis by 60.42%, 38.24%, and 5.97% at 10, 100, and 200 ㎍/㎖, respectively. In addition, our inhibitor assay and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the MLE-inhibited 3T3-L1 adipogenesis through inhibition of PPARγ mediated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Conclusions : In conclusion, these findings indicate that the MLE could be used in prevent and/or treatment of obesity-related diseases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.428-434
• /
• 2020

Background Three-dimensional (3D) model printing improves visualization of anatomical structures in space compared to two-dimensional (2D) data and creates an exact model of the surgical site that can be used for reference during surgery. There is limited evidence on the effects of using 3D models in microsurgical reconstruction on improving clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing reconstructive breast microsurgery procedures from 2017 to 2019 who received computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans only or with 3D models for preoperative surgical planning were performed. Preoperative decision-making to undergo a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) versus muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (MS-TRAM) flap, as well as whether the decision changed during flap harvest and postoperative complications were tracked based on the preoperative imaging used. In addition, we describe three example cases showing direct application of 3D mold as an accurate model to guide intraoperative dissection in complex microsurgical reconstruction. Results Fifty-eight abdominal-based breast free-flaps performed using conventional CTA were compared with a matched cohort of 58 breast free-flaps performed with 3D model print. There was no flap loss in either group. There was a significant reduction in flap harvest time with use of 3D model (CTA vs. 3D, 117.7±14.2 minutes vs. 109.8±11.6 minutes; P=0.001). In addition, there was no change in preoperative decision on type of flap harvested in all cases in 3D print group (0%), compared with 24.1% change in conventional CTA group. Conclusions Use of 3D print model improves accuracy of preoperative planning and reduces flap harvest time with similar postoperative complications in complex microsurgical reconstruction.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.65-76
• /
• 2023

Given the limited water resources and the presence of multiple decision makers with different and usually conflicting objectives in the exploitation of water resources systems, especially dam's reservoirs; therefore, the decision to determine the optimal allocation of reservoir water among decision-makers and stakeholders is a difficult task. In this study, by combining a fuzzy VIKOR technique or fuzzy multi-criteria decision making (FMCDM) and the Young's bilateral bargaining model, a new method was developed to determine the optimal quantitative and qualitative water allocation of dam's reservoir water with the aim of increasing the utility of decision makers and stakeholders and reducing the conflicts among them. In this study, by identifying the stakeholders involved in the exploitation of the dam reservoir and determining their utility, the optimal points on trade-off curve with quantitative and qualitative objectives presented by Mojarabi et al. (2019) were ranked based on the quantitative and qualitative criteria, and economic, social and environmental factors using the fuzzy VIKOR technique. In the proposed method, the weights of the criteria were determined by each decision maker using the entropy method. The results of a fuzzy decision-making method demonstrated that the Young's bilateral bargaining model was developed to determine the point agreed between the decisions makers on the trade-off curve. In the proposed method, (a) the opinions of decision makers and stakeholders were considered according to different criteria in the exploitation of the dam reservoir, (b) because the decision makers considered the different factors in addition to quantitative and qualitative criteria, they were willing to participate in bargaining and reconsider their ideals, (c) due to the use of a fuzzy-logic based decision-making approach and considering different criteria, the utility of all decision makers was close to each other and the scope of bargaining became smaller, leading to an increase in the possibility of reaching an agreement in a shorter time period using game theory and (d) all qualitative judgments without considering explicitness of the decision makers were applied to the model using the fuzzy logic. The results of using the proposed method for the optimal exploitation of Iran's 15-Khordad dam reservoir over a 30-year period (1968-1997) showed the possibility of the agreement on the water allocation of the monthly total dissolved solids (TDS)=1,490 mg/L considering the different factors based on the opinions of decision makers and reducing conflicts among them.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.149-165
• /
• 1993

Nowadays, the field hydraulic test is still an only method to evaluate groundwater characteristics in subsurface. The results of hydraulic test are very important for the concept model of fracture hydrogeology as well as the geometric pattern of fractures. The hydraulic tests performed in Korea are generally analysed under such assumption as steady radial flow in homogeneous aquifer or along simple geometry of fractures. Also the transmissivity measured in a fixed interval length is equivalent to a sum of individual fracture transmissivities in test legth. The boundary effects of weH hydraulics and the geometry of flow paths are hardly obtained from the test results analysed by a steady flow method. To circumvent this problem, the flow dimensional analysis was attempted from the results of constant pressure injection test carried out in a fractured granite area. A comparison of the hydraulic conductivity values from the transient and steady analysis shows that the latter is about a factor of 2~3 higher than the former. However, it was possible to analyse a flow dimension of each test interval from flow rate variation with time. The upper part of the bedrock(<10m deep) indicates an open boundary and the flow dimension shows nearly steady states, while the lower part of the bedrock(>25m deep) is characterized as sublinear flow dimension with a dosed boundary. In one of the test sections(15m deep), the flow dimension was changed from linear flow to spherical flow. From the experience of this study, one of the immediate problems to be solved is to enhance the field testing equipments, i.e., an accurate flowmeter with autorecording and a pressure detecting device to be able to install in the test section.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.328-336
• /
• 1999

A green microalga, Chlorella vulgaris UTX 259, was cultivated in a bench-scale raceway pond. During the culture, 15%(v/v) $CO_2$ was supplied and industrial wastewater discharged from a steel-making plant was used as a culture medium. In a small scale culture bottle, the microalga grew up to 1.8 g $dm^{-3}$ of cell concentration and ammonia was completely removed from the wastewater with an yield coefficient of 25.7 g dry cell weight $g^{-1}\;NH_3-N$. During the bottle-culture, microalga was dominant over heterotrophic microorganisms in the culture medium. Therefore, the amount of carbon dioxide fixation could be estimated from the change of dry cell weight. In a semi-continuous operation of raceway pond with intermittent lighting (12 h light and 12 h dark), increase of dilution rate resulted in increase of the ammonia removal rate as well as the $CO_2$ fixation rate but the ammonia removal efficiency decreased. Ammonia was not completely removed from the medium (wastewater) of raceway pond which was operated in a batch mode under a light intensity up to 20 klux. The incomplete removal of ammonia was believed due to insufficient light supply. A mathematical model, capable of predicting experimental data, was developed in order to simulate the performance of the raceway pond under the light intensity of sun during a bright daytime. Simulation results showed that the rates of $CO_2$ fixation and ammonia removal could be enhanced by increasing light intensity. According to the simulation, 80 mg $dm^{-3}$ of ammonia in the medium could be completely removed if the light intensity was over 60 klux with a continuous lighting. Under the optimal operating condition determined by the simulation, the rates of carbon dioxide fixation and ammonia removal in the outdoor operation of raceway pond were estimated as high as $24.7 g m^{-2} day^{-1}$ and $0.52 g NH_3-N m^{-2} day^{-1}$, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4809-4813
• /
• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a representative EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells, used as a tumor model, were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, was also down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated diseases.