• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of embryonic stage, cryoprotectant, and freezing-thawing method on the rates of survival and development of the cryopreserved mouse early embryo and finally to establish the cryopreservation method of surplus embryos obtained during assisted reproductive technology (ART). Two to eight cell embryos were obtained from oviducts of mated $F_1$ hybrid female mice superovulated by PMSG and hCG. Two-step EG, DMSO and 4-step EG, DMSO were used as cryoprotectant and dehydration and rehydration method of embryos, and slow-cooling or rapid-cooling method was used as frozen program. The survival rates of embryos were measured after thawing and rehydration, and the developmental rates of embryos were compared and observed during culturing embryos for 24, 48, 72, 96 hrs. As for the survival and development rates of embryos according to embryonic stage, the survival rate of 2 cell stage in EG and DMSO was significantly higher than 4~8 cell (65.4% versus 61.2%, 81.1% versus 72.5%) (p<0.01, p<0.01), but the development rates of 4~8 cell embryos in EG and DMSO were significantly higher than 2 cell embryos for whole culture period (p<0.01) and the development rates of 4~8 cell embryos in EG were significantly higher than 2 cell embryos in DMSO (p<0.01). As for the survival and development rates of embryos according to cryoprotectant, the survival rate of 2 cell embryo in DMSO was significantly higher than that in EG(77.0% versus 64.4%) (p<0.01), whereas the development rate of embryos was not differ till 24 hrs. The development rate from morular to hatching blastocyst, however, was sinificantly higher in EG than in DMSO during 48 hr (p<0.01). The survival rate of 4~8 cell embryo was 62.5% in EG and 73.3% in DMSO. The development rates of embryo in EG were significantly higher for whole culture periods (p<0.01, 0.05). In respect to the effect of freezing and thawing program on the survival and development rates of embryos, method of slow cooling and rapid thawing was more effective than that of rapid cooling and rapid thawing. The survival rate of embryo in 2 cell stage was higher than in 4~8 cell stage, and EG appears more effective cryoprotectant than DMSO because EG showed better development rates of embryos in 2 and 4~8 cell stage. Moreover, slow cooling and rapid thawing method was considered as the best cryopreservation program.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.666-672
• /
• 1997

Twenty years' daily mean air temperature data was used to calculate the critical early seeding date(CESD), the optimum heading date(OHD), the critical late heading date for stable ripening(CHDR) and the critical late ripening date(CLRD) for rice seeded on dry paddy in different agroclimatic zones in Korea. The CESD was defined as the first day with mean air temperature of 13$^{\circ}C$, and the OHD as the first day of the 40 consecutive days with mean air temperature of 22$^{\circ}C$ or above after heading. The CHDR was defined as the date after which the cumulative daily mean air temperature would be at least 76$0^{\circ}C$. Lastly, the CLRD was defined as the last day when daily mean air temperature remains above 15$^{\circ}C$. This information was used for the estimation of periods from the earliest date of seeding to optimum heading date, the latest possible date of heading and the latest possible date of ripening in respective regions. For instance, in Suwon, those respective periods mentioned were found to be 104days, 124days, and 165days.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2012

This study's aim was to isolate microorganisms producing agarase with a high activity, with possible applications in improving the performance of the pretreatment processes for bioethanol production. Marine algaes were collected from the south coast of Korea, from which three kinds of microorganisms were isolated. After a 4-day culture of these strains at $25^{\circ}C$, crude enzymes were obtained from culture supernatant or cell-free extract by ammonium sulfate precipitation and membrane dialysis. Agarase activity was observed in these crude enzymes. Notably higher specific activity was observed in the crude enzyme obtained from the culture supernatant rather than that from the cell-free extract. This indicates that a secreted enzyme has a much greater activity than a cellular enzyme. Crude enzymes from the GNUM08122 strain were inferred to have ${\alpha}$-agarase activity because release of p-nitrophenol was observed, possibly due to the cleavage of p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranoside. The 16S rRNA sequence of GNUM08122 showed a close relationship to Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549 (99.8%) and Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis IMA 14160 (99.7%), which led us to assign it to the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Biochemical and physiological study revealed that this strain can grow well at $40^{\circ}C$ under a wide range of pH (pH 4~8) in high-salt conditions (10% NaCl).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.58-66
• /
• 2014

In the course of study for a use for non-edible parts of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L), and the development of processed food utilizing these parts, edible floret and non-edible stalk were extracted with ethanol and different organic solvent fractions were prepared. With 10 different extracts and fractions, their useful components and various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-proliferation activity, were investigated. The stalk has more abundant water soluble carbohydrate when compared with the floret, and floret has higher hexane-soluble pigments. Analysis of total flavonoid and total polyphenol contents showed that the floret has 1.5~1.99 times higher concentrations than the stalk. Among the fractions, ethylacetate (EA) fractions have the highest amount of total flavonoid and total polyphenol. The stalk and floret possessed 9.45 and 42.01 mg-total flavonoid/g, respectively. In the antioxidation activity assay, the EA fraction of floret showed strong radical scavenging activity and reducing power, while the n-hexane fraction of the stalk exhibited nitrite scavenging activity. In the antimicrobial activity assay, the EA fraction of floret showed a strong and broad-range of antibacterial activity, irrespective of gram positive or gram negative bacteria. In a while, the hexane and EA fractions revealed anti-proliferative effects against the human colorectal cancer cell HCT-116. Strong anti-proliferative activities were found in the hexane fraction of stalk (18.4% of cell viability), and the n-butanol fraction of floret (6.9% of cell viability). Our results suggest that the further study of the characterization of active fractions and the identification of active components from different parts of broccoli are needed to develop functional foods or novel plant-derived medicines.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.205-214
• /
• 2020

Cyanobacteria are microorganisms which have important roles in the nitrogen cycle due to their ability to fix nitrogen in water and soil ecosystems. They also produce valuable materials that may be used in various industries. However, some species of cyanobacteria may limit the use of water resources by causing harmful algal blooms in water ecosystems. Many culture collection depositories provide cyanobacterial strains for research, but their systematic preservation is not well-developed in Korea. In this study, we developed a method for the cryopreservation of the cyanobacteria Trichormus variabilis (syn. Anabaena variabilis), using alginate microcapsules. Two approaches were used for the experiments and their outputs were compared. One of the methods involved the cryopreservation of cells using only a cryoprotectant and the other used the cryoprotectant within microcapsules. After cryopreservation for 35 days, cells preserved with both methods were successfully regenerated from the initial 1.0 × 10⁵ cells/ml to a final concentration of 6.7 × 10⁶ cells/ml and 1.1 × 10⁷ cells/ml. Irregular T. variabilis shapes were found after 14 days of regeneration. T. variabilis internal structures were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing that lipid droplets were reduced after cryopreservation. The expression of the mreB gene, known to be related to cell morphology, was downregulated (54.7%) after cryopreservation. Cryopreservation using cryoprotectant alone or with microcapsules is expected to be applicable to other filamentous cyanobacteria in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2011

$SF_6$ (Sulfur hexafluoride) possesses high GWP (Global Warming Potential) as sepcified by the IPCC (Intergonvernmental Panel of Climate Change). Recently, the recovery-separtion of $SF_6$ research area, including permeation properties studies using various membrane's materials and the practical operation of recovery-separtion using membrane of waste $SF_6$ gas is in the initial state. The separation efficiency of a single $SF_6$ and waste $SF_6$ mixture was evaluated using a PSF (polysulfone), PC (tetra-bromo polycarbonate) and PI (polyimide) hollow fiber membranes. According to the results of single gases permeation properties, PI membrane has the highest permselectivity of $N_2$ gas in $N_2/SF_6$ gas. Under the condition of P=0.5 MPa, the highest concentration of recovered $SF_6$ is 95.6 vol % in the separation experiment of $SF_6/N_2$ mixture gas by PC membrane. Under the operation pressure of P=0.3 MPa at a fixed retentate flow rate fixed of 150 cc/min, the maximum recovery efficiency of $SF_6$ is up to 97.8% by PSF membrane. From the results above, it is thought that the separation and recovery technique of $SF_6$ gas using membrane will be used as the representative eco-technology in the $SF_6$ gas treatment in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2011

In this study, model-based $NH_4-N$ predictive control algorithm by using influent pattern was developed and evaluated for effective control application in $A^2/O$ process. A pilot-scale $A^2/O$process at S wastewater treatment plant in B city was selected. The behaviors of organic, nitrogen and phosphorous in the biological reactors were described by using the modified ASM3+Bio-P model. A one-dimensional double exponential function model was selected for modeling of the secondary settlers. The effluent $NH_4-N$ concentration on the next day was predicted according to model-based simulation by using influent pattern. After the objective effluent quality and simulation result were compared, the optimal operational condition which able to meet the objective effluent quality was deduced through repetitive simulation. Next the effluent $NH_4-N$ control schedule was generated by using the optimal operational condition and this control schedule on the next day was applied in pilot-scale $A^2/O$ process. DO concentration in aerobic reactor in predictive control algorithm was selected as the manipulated variable. Without control case and with control case were compared to confirm the control applicability and the study of the applied $NH_4-N$control schedule in summer and winter was performed to confirm the seasonal effect. In this result, the effluent $NH_4-N$concentration without control case was exceeded the objective effluent quality. However the effluent $NH_4-N$ concentration with control case was not exceeded the objective effluent quality both summer and winter season. As compared in case of without predictive control algorithm, in case of application of predictive control algorithm, the RPM of air blower was increased about 9.1%, however the effluent $NH_4-N$ concentration was decreased about 45.2%. Therefore it was concluded that the developed predictive control algorithm to the effluent $NH_4-N$ in this study was properly applied in a full-scale wastewater treatment process and was more efficient in aspect to stable effluent.

• Archives of design research
• /
• v.19 no.2 s.64
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2006

The main purpose of this study is to help develop the productional system of the three dimensional digital animation domestically. Many 30 digital animation projects are being developed and finished with foreign computer graphics technology. However, the 3D animation market in Korea is not as good as the ones in other countries. One of the most significant problems is the lack of a program of study in Korea concerning productional systems used to create 3D animation. We previously imported an advanced productional system from the U.S., which was adaptable to big projects, and consequently, expanded the international digital animation market. Now, we need to develop a new production system which is fully adaptable to the Korean market. A non-sequential system of 3D digital animation tailored for small projects is more adaptable to domestic industry than the sequential system known as the 'Pipeline system.' A non-sequential system is good for small productions that are trying to create animation on a limited budget. The workers in this system can learn to make animation fast and effectively. They can also learn how to discuss with the others in order to avoid duplication of action. In contrast, in the Pipeline System, many workers repeat confirmation steps during the process for the same animations. The benefit of the non-sequential system is that the worker's interest and education can speed up production, because he/she can quickly learn every step of the animation process instead of just doing a particular job which does not allow him/her to observe the other steps involved. The 'animatic' step is the most important in the non-sequential system. The final animation is produced from the animatic. It is developed from scratch through to the final product but only after the agreement of all the workers, including a director.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.252-260
• /
• 2011

BACKGROUND: Currently, national biomass inventory are being established for efficient management of the potential energy sources. Among the various types of biomass, agricultural wastes are considered to take the biggest portion of the total annual biomass generated in Korea, implying its importance. However, the currently estimated amount is not reliable because the old reference data are still used to estimate total annual amount of agricultural wastes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Therefore, to provide reliable estimation data, a correct conversion factor obtained by taking into account the current situation is required. For this, the current study was conducted to provide the conversion factors for each representative 8 crop through a field cultivation study. Also conversion factors for 18 crops were calculated using the average amount of each crop produced during 2004 and 2008, subsequently; total amount of agricultural wastes generated in 2009 was estimated using these conversion factors. The total biomass of rice straw and rice husk generated in 2009 were 6.5 and 1.1 million tons, respectively, which consist 75% of the total agricultural based wastes, while the total biomass of pepper shoots and apple pruning twigs were 1.0 and 0.6 million tons, respectively. Despite the high amount of rice-based biomass, their applicability for bio-energy production is low due to conventional utilization of these materials for animal feeds and beds for animal husbandry. In addition to exact estimation of the total biomass, temporal variations in both generated amount and the type of agricultural biomass materials are also important for efficient utilization; fruit pruning twigs (January to March); barley-, been-, and mustard-related waste materials (April to June); rice-related waste (September to October). CONCLUSION(s): Such information provided in this study can be used to establish a master plan for efficient utilization of the agricultural wastes on purpose of bio-energy production.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.247-253
• /
• 2012

Ultrasound measures of back fat thickness (UBF), eye muscle area (UEMA) and marbling score (UMS) and carcass measures of carcass weight (CW), backfat thickness (BF), eye muscle area (EMA) and marbling score (MS) were available on 26,129 Hanwoo steers. Statistically significant differences by regions of the farms location and birth years-seasons for the steers taken ultrasound measures and their carcass measures (p<0.01) were found. Steers in Gyeonggi province showed the highest values in ultrasound measures and carcass traits except in BF compared to steers in the other provinces. Comparing between ultrasound and carcass measures, UBF was thicker in general than BF in all regions except in Daejeon city. UEMA was higher than EMA in all regions except in Gyeonggior in Jeju provinces. Especially, the difference in Jeonnam province between UEMA and EMA was $7cm^2$ while the differences between UMS and MS ranged from 0.9 to 2.26 depending on the regions of steers located. Steers born in spring showed greater ultrasound or carcass values than those born in autumn. However, carcass measures of steers born in autumn were greater than those born in spring, 2009 except MS. The pearson and residual correlations were 0.63 and 0.65 between UBF and BF, 0.31 and 0.32 between UEMA and EMA and 0.56 and 0.56 between UMS and MS, respectively.