• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2002

In most mammals, mature oocyte-cumulus complexer(OCCs) ovulate into the oviduct where fertilization by sperm takes place. However, the complex that fail to fertilize eventually undergoes degeneration while they reside in the oviduct. Yet there is no blown mechanism how both oocyte and cumulus cells degenerate. Using human follicular fluid (hFF), bovine oviductal tissue extract (BOX) and mouse OCC, the present study aimed to find how the oviduct influence the viability of the oocyte and cumulus cells in vitro. There was no difference of oocyte maturation rate between the control and BOX-treated groups. However, there was a significant difference in the survival of cumulus cells between two groups. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of hFF alone underwent initially expansion and then they formed monolayer in the culture dish. Even after 72 hr, they proliferated well and showed fibroblast-like morphology. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of both hFF and BOX also expanded after 24 hr, however, after 72 hr culture, they eventually detached and degenerated. Cumulus cells cultured in the BOX alone gave a similar drastic result. When the cumulus cells cultured in the presence of BOX were stained with DAPI, their nuclei showed partial condensation and fragmentation. After detailed analysis of these cells by TUNEL assay, many nuclei of them exhibited well stained spots indicating the signs of apoptosis. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that BOX might possess a factor that leads mouse cumulus cells to undergo apoptosis in vitro.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2015

The characteristics of frozen soils are one of most important factors for foundation design in cold region. The objective of this study is to evaluate the shear strength and stiffness of frozen soils according to the confining conditions during the freezing and shearing phase. A direct shear box is constructed for the frozen specimens and bender elements are mounted on the wall of the shear box to measure shear wave velocities. Specimens are prepared by mixing sand and silt with a silt fraction of 30% in weight and the degree of saturation of 10%, giving a relative density of 60% for all tests. The temperature of the specimens in the freezer is allowed to fall below -5℃, and then direct shear tests are performed. A series of vertical stresses are applied during the freezing and shearing phase. Shear stress, vertical displacement, and shear wave along the horizontal displacement are measured. Experimental results show that in all the tests, shear strength increases with increasing vertical stress applied during the freezing and shearing phases. The magnitude of the increase in shear strength with increasing vertical stress during shearing under fixed vertical stress in the frozen state is smaller than the magnitude of the increase in vertical stress during freezing and shearing. In addition, the change in shear wave velocities varies with the position of the bender elements. In the case of shear waves passing through the shear plane, the shear wave velocities decrease with increasing horizontal displacement. This study provides an evaluation of the properties of shear strength and stiffness of frozen soils under varied confining condition.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.197-213
• /
• 2012

This study was performed to know the community structure of macrobenthos and environmental factors at each 16 stations in the subtidal sandy bottoms of the southern coastal water of Jeju Island from July to November, 2011. Mean temperature and mean salinity were $20.2-22.7^{\circ}C$, 33.7-34.9 psu which shows stable water messes. Chlorophyll a concentrations of phytoplankton ranged from 0.71 to 1.71 mg/L (1.11 mg/L), showing higher July than September and November with a blooming in summer. The mean concentration values (the ranges in parentheses) of nitrate, phosphate, and silicate are 0.029-0.206 mg/L (0.101 mg/L), 0.001-0.027 mg/L (0.007 mg/L), 0.024-0.682 mg/L (0.454 mg/L), respectively. However, the values higher coastal zone due to influxes from the land. A total of 37 species was identified. of these mollusca comprised 29 secies (78.4%); Echinodermata 5 (13.5%); Arthropoda 3 (8.1%). density and biomass were estimated to be 550 ind./$m^2$ and 20,951.8 gwwt/$m^2$, respectively. Mollusca were the most dominant faunal group in terms of abundance (481 ind./$m^2$) and number of species as well, whereas bivalves were predominant in biomass (16,647.6 gwwt/$m^2$). The dominant species were Vasticardium burchardi, Oblimopa japonica, Mactar achatina, Bornatemishistrioiw akawai, Paphia vernicosa, Amusium japonicum, Glycymeris albolineata, Astriclypeus manni in 15-30 m. The seasonal variation appeared as distinct, Mollusca of individual and biomass. When summer was make a slow increase, after the highest decrease in autumn. The abundance of macrobenthic invertebrates showed significant correlation with environmental factors (Chlorophyll a, DIN, $SiO_2$, Fine sand, Very fine sand) in almost all sampling depths. The biodiversity, evenness richness index were appeared 1.56-2.50 (H'), 0.49-0.80 (E'), 4.12-4.67 (R) in each stations. The dominace index were appeared Highest in November and lowest in September.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.253-258
• /
• 2004

Purpose: Chitosan has been studied as a non-viral gene delivery vector, drug delivery carrier, metal chelator, food additive, and radiopharmaceutical, among other things. Recently, galactose-graft chitosan was studied as a non-viral gene and drug delivery vector to target hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of nuclear imaging for in vivo evaluation of targeting the hepatocyte by galactose grafting. Methods and Materials: Galactosyl methylated chitosan (GMC) was produced by methylation to lactobionic acid coupled chitosan. Cytotoxicity of $^{99m}Tc$-GMC was determined by MTT assay. Rabbits were injected via their auricular vein with $^{99m}Tc$-GMC and $^{99m}Tc$-methylated chitosan (MC), the latter of which does not contain a galactose group, and images were acquired with a gamma camera equipped with a parallel hole collimator. The composition of the galactose group in galactosylated chitosan (GC), as well as the tri-, di-, or mono-methylation of GMC, was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Results: The results of MTT assay indicated that $^{99m}Tc$-GMC was non-toxic. $^{99m}Tc$-GMC specifically accumulated in the liver within 10 minutes of injection and maintained high hepatic uptake. In contrast, $^{99m}Tc$-MC showed faint liver uptake. $^{99m}Tc$-GMC scintigraphy of rabbits showed that the galactose ligand principally targeted the liver while the chitosan functionalities led to excretion through the urinary system. Conclusion: Bioconjugation with a specific ligand endows some degree of targetability to an administered molecule or drug, as in the case of galactose for hepatocyte in vivo, and evaluating said targetabililty is a clear example of the great benefit proffered by nuclear imaging.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.23-32
• /
• 2003

The spectroe-ellipsometric constant $\Delta$, Ψ and the ellipsometric growth curves at the wavelength of 632.8 nm are collected. These are critically examined to find out the optimum growth condition of phase change $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5(GST)$ thin films as an optical recording medium. GST films are prepared using DC magnetron sputtering technique, under the selected experimental conditions of Ar gas pressure (5 mTorr, 7 mTorr and 10 mTorr), DC power of sputtering gun (15 W, 30 W and 45 W), and substrate temperature (from room temperature to 18$0^{\circ}C$). Based on the three film model, the density distribution of deposited GST films are obtained versus Ar gas pressure and DC power by analyzing spectro-ellipsometric data. The calculated evolution curves at the wavelength of 632.8 nm, are fit into the in situ observed ones to get information about the evolution of density distribution during film growth. The density distribution showed different evolution curves depending on deposition conditions. The GST films fabricated at DC power of 30 W or 45 W, and at Ar gas pressure of 7 mTorr turned out to be the most homogeneous one out of those prepared at room temperature, even though the maximum density difference between the dense region and the dilute region of the GST film was still significant (~50%). Finally, in order to find the optimum growth condition of homogeneous GST thin films, the substrate temperature is varied while Ar gas pressure is fixed at 7 mTorr and DC power at 30 W and 45 W respectively. A monotonic decrease of void fraction except for a slight increase at 18$0^{\circ}C$ is observed as the substrate temperature increases. Decrease of void fraction indicates an increase of film density and hence an improvement of film homogeneity. The optimum condition of the most homogeneous GST film growth turned out to be 7 mTorr of Ar gas pressure, 15$0^{\circ}C$ of substrate temperature. and 45 W of DC power. The microscopic images obtained using scanning electron microscope, of the samples prepared at the optimum growth condition, confirmed this conclusion. It is believed that the fabrication of homogeneous GST films will be quite beneficial to provide a reliable optical recording medium compatible with repeated write/erase cycles.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.212-228
• /
• 1993

A chenier, about 860 m long, 30 to 60 m wide and 0.6∼1.6 m high, occurs on the upper muddy tidal flat in the Gomso bay, western coast of Korea, It consists of medium to fine sands and shells with small amounts of subangular gravels. Vertical sections across the chenier show gently landward dipping stratifications which include small-scale cross-bedded sets. the most probable source of the chenier is considered to be the intertidal sandy sediments. Vibracores taken along a line transversing the tidal flat reveal that the intertidal sand deposits are more than 5 m thick near the low-water line and become thinner toward the chenier. The most sand deposits are undertrain by tidal muds which occur behind the chenier as salt marsh deposits. C-14 age dating suggests that the sand deposits and the chenier are younger than about 1,800 years B.P. The chenier has originated from the intertidal sand shoals at the lower to mid sand flat, and has continuously moved landward. A series of aerial photographs (1967∼1989) reveal that intertidal sand shoals (predecessor of the western part of chenier) on the mid flat have continuously moved landward during the past two decades and ultimately attached to the eastern part of the chenier already anchored at the present position in the late 1960s. Repeated measurements (four times between 1991 and 1992) of morphological changes of the chenier indicate that the eastern two thirds of the chenier, mostly above the mean high water, has rarely moved whereas the western remainder below the mean high water, has moved continuously at a rate of 0.5 m/mo during the last two years (1991∼1992). This displacement rate has been considerably accelerated up to 1.0 m/mo in winter, and during a few days of typhoon in the summer of 1992 the displacement amounted to about 8∼11 m/mo for the entire chenier. these facts suggest that macro-tidal currents, coupled with winter-storm waves and infrequent strong typhoons, should play a major role for the formation and migration of chenier after 1,800 B.P., when the sea level already rose to the present position and thereafter remained constant.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.440-447
• /
• 2020

The demand for large-scale horticultural complexes utilizing reclaimed lands is increasing, and one of the pending issues for the construction of large-scale facilities is to establish foundation design criteria. In this paper, we tried to review previous studies on the method of reinforcing the foundation of soft ground. Target construction methods are spiral piles, wood piles, crushed stone piles and PF (point foundation) method. In order to evaluate the performance according to the basic construction method, pull-out resistance, bearing capacity, and settlement amount were measured. At the same diameter, pull-out resistance increased with increasing penetration depth. Simplified comparison is difficult due to the difference in reinforcement method, diameter, and penetration depth, but it showed high bearing capacity in the order of crushed stone pile, PF method, and wood pile foundation. In the case of wood piles, the increase in uplift resistance was different depending on the slenderness ratio. Wood, crushed stone pile and PF construction methods, which are foundation reinforcement works with a bearing capacity of 105 kN/㎡ to 826 kN/㎡, are considered sufficient methods to be applied to the greenhouse foundation. There was a limitation in grasping the consistent trend of each foundation reinforcement method through existing studies. If these data are supplemented through additional empirical tests, it is judged that a basic design guideline that can satisfy the structure and economic efficiency of the greenhouse can be presented.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.1285-1297
• /
• 2020

In this study, we report the results of a study on the clinical evaluation of wrinkle improvement by developing a method for liposome of high-purity Centella asiatica extract used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and a cream using the same. In order to make Centellasome-10EX stabilizing centella asiatica extract in liposome lamella vesicle, it could be completed using 5% hydrogenated lecithin and 2% sucrose distearate. The appearance of Centellasome-10EX was a creamy form of low viscosity, the color was pale yellow, and the odor had the inherent odor of the raw material. The pH was about 6.12, the specific gravity was 1.09, and the acid value was about 0.35. The content of the main constituents of centella asiatica extract contained in the liposome vesicle contains 10,800 ppm of asiatic acid, 10,900 ppm of asiaticoside, 6,000 ppm of madecasic acid, and 1,600 ppm of madecassoside, and long-term storage. There was no discoloration even at the time, and it was found that the main component remained stable thermodynamically. To mechanistically analyze the structure of the liposome vesicle of Centellasome-10EX, as a result of observation with a transmission electron microscope (Cryo-TEM), the multilayer vesicles are formed and filled with moisture, and there are 10 to 60 multilayers around it. It was confirmed that the liposome lamella vesicle was formed. As a clinical trial (in-vivo) test, the moisturizing effect of centellasome cream after application for 5 weeks was 28.3%, which was significantly increased compared to placebo. The skin elasticity effect was 13.6%, which significantly increased the moisturizing power than the placebo. The effect of improving fine wrinkles around the eyes was improved by 23.52% compared to placebo cream. Through the results of this study, it was possible to study the formulation and manufacturing method for encapsulation and stabilization of the developed Centellasome-10EX in the liposome vesicle. It is expected that the results obtained through clinical research on the wrinkle improvement effect of the cream using this can be widely used to study skin science in the cosmetic industry and to develop high-quality cosmetics with high efficacy.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.72-81
• /
• 2013

The objective of this study was to verify whether SCB(Slurry Composting & Bio-filtration) system can be applied for the treatment of anaerobic digestion(AD) wastewater and also, to identify the most effective set among three filtration compost beds tested. Results can be summarized as these; (a) When AD wastewater was sprayed on the top of beds which were mainly composed of sawdust and/or other media and, subsequently, filtrates collected and analyzed, there were large drop in the values of Electric Conductivity(EC), Total Suspended Solid(TSS), Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD), and Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD). In contrast, Total Nitrgen(T-N) and Total Phosphorus(T-P) were progressively elevated. We consider these changes as positive if the filtrate are to be utilized as liquid fertilizer. (b) When three sets of filtration beds (T1, T2, T3) were compared for their effectiveness, no significant difference was found among them. These indicate that expensive sawdust can be replaced in part with cheaper media such as woodchip, rice husks, or others. (c) At early stage of operation (within 20 days), BOD in filtrates were maintained at high level probably due to the lack of microbial activity. During the same stage, T-N, T-P was at low level but, were elevated to higher levels thereafter. These data, when combined, indicate that the filtration system needs at least a couple of weeks for the optimized microbial functioning. (d) The temperatures of the experimental beds were progressively dropped as the experiment continued through the fall season, although filtration effectiveness was not noticeably influenced.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.33 no.4 s.99
• /
• pp.235-245
• /
• 2003

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PNAM appliance and cheiloplasty on alveolar molding. Samples consisted of 16 unilateral cleft lip and palate infants (10 males and 6 female, mean age=37.0 days after birth, average alveolar cleft gap=10.46m), who were treated with PNAM appliances by one orthodontist and rotation- advancement cheiloplasty by one surgeon in Seoul National University Hospital. Average duration of alveolar molding treatment was 13.10 weeks and these patients were recalled at average 8.31 weeks after cheiloplasty. These patients' models were obtained at initial visit (T0, mean age : $37.0\pm27.89$ days after birth), after successful alveolar molding (T1, mean age : $119.25\pm40.18$ days after birth), and after cheilopasty (T2, mean age : $190.81\pm42.78$ days after birth). Seven linear and five angular variables were measured using 1 : 1 photometry and soft ware program(V-ceph. Cybermed. Seoul, Korea). Paired t-test was performed to investigate statistical significance at p<0.05 level. 1 The posterior parts of alveolar segments were the stable structures during alveolar molding treatment period and after cheiloplasty in infants. 2. The closure of cleft gap during alveolar molding was usually due to backward bending of the whole part of the greater segment. 3. Although forward growth of the greater segment was hindered by alveolar molding, it resumed after cheiloplasty. 4. Increase of anterior inter-segment angle after cheiloplasty was due to the molding effect of the lip scar pressure.