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Effects of Gestation Housing and Parity on the Farrowing Performance and Behaviour of Sows during the Pregnancy, Farrowing and Lactation (임신돈의 수용형태와 산차가 임신, 분만 및 비유기간 중 모돈의 행동과 분만성적에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, D.H.;Park , J.Y.;Woo, J.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.45 no.6
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    • pp.1067-1078
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    • 2003
  • This study was designed to determine the effect of gestation housing and parity on the farrowing performance and behaviour of sows during pregnancy, farrowing and lactation periods. Total 18 Duroc sows were randomly assigned after 4 weeks of gestation to either an individual gestation stall or a groups of three with pen gestation system for three parities(1st, 2nd${\sim}$3rd, and 4th${\sim}$5th). Approximately 7 days before predicted farrowing date, sows were transferred to farrowing crates where they remained until 21 days post-partum. Behaviour was recorded on day 60 and 90 of pregnancy for 24 hours, on day of farrowing for farrowing duration and on day 10 of lactation for 2.5 hours in the farrowing crate. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows: On 60 and 90 day of pregnancy, all sows in both groups made attempts for ventral lying more than for other postures. Sows in the group gestation pen spent more time on walking than those in individual gestation stall(p<0.01); however, the group housed sows were spent less time on drinking than the individually housed sows(p<0.01). There was no significant difference between gestation housings in the occurrence of stereotypy of pregnant sows. On day 60 of pregnancy, sows in the individual gestation stall showed the highest frequency of vacuum chewing and head weaving. However, floor licking and bar licking behaviours were highest in day 90 pregnant sows individually housed. The sows individually housed during the gestation period spent more time on sitting and eating on the day of farrowing in the farrowing crate than the sows group housed. On day 10 of lactation in the farrowing crate, the group housed sows during the gestation period made significantly more attempts for ventral lying than sows individually housed. In conclusion, the occurrence of stereotypy of sows during the gestation and lactation did not differ between gestation housings and farrowing performance of sows during the gestation period was not affected by gestation housing. Thus, the group housing for pregnant sows is a feasible means to improve welfare of sows and to increase the normal behaviour of sows.

Effect of Feeding Whole Crop Barley Silage- or Whole Crop Rye Silage based-TMR and Duration of TMR Feeding on Growth, Feed Cost and Meat Characteristics of Hanwoo Steers (청보리 사일리지 TMR 또는 청호밀 사일리지 TME 급여 및 급여기간이 거세 한우의 증체, 사료비 및 육질특성에 미치는 효과)

  • Jin, Guang Lin;Kim, Jong-Kyu;Qin, Wei-Ze;Jeong, Jun;Jang, Sun-Sik;Sohn, Yong-Suk;Choi, Chang-Won;Song, Man-Kang
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.54 no.2
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    • pp.111-124
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    • 2012
  • Feeding trial was conducted with 80 Hanwoo steers (7.5 months of age, 204.4 kg body weight) for 680 days from growing period to late fattening period to examine the feeding value of whole crop barley silage TMR (BS-TMR) and whole crop rye silage TMR (RS-TMR) on body gain, feed cost, slaughter characteristics and quality characteristics of $longissimus$ $dorsi$ muscle. Dietary treatments were conventional separate feeding of concentrate and rice straw (control), feeding BS TMR up to middle fattening period and same diet as for control during late fattening period (BS-TMR I), feeding BS-TMR for whole experimental period (BS-TMR II), feeding RS TMR up to middle fattening period and same diet as for control during late fattening period (RS-TMR I) and RS TMR for whole experimental period (RS-TMR II). Sixteen castrated calves were assigned to each treatment (4 pens, 4 heads per pen). Pens in each treatment were randomly distributed. Feeding both BS silage TMR and RS silage TMR slightly increased body gain of Hanwoo steers at the stages of growing and early fattening, and increased (P<0.0001) at middle fattening compared to feeding control diet while control diet tended to increase body gain at late fattening stage compared to feeding BS-TMR I, BS-TMR II and RS-TMR I diets. Total body gain was slightly increased in Hanwoo steers fed both I and II for BS and RS TMR compared to that in control diet. Feed cost per kg gain per head was relatively low in the Hanwoo steers fed silage TMRs to that fed control diet. Carcass weight, back fat thickness and $longissimus$ $dorsi$ area of Hanwoo steers tended to increase but lowered (P<0.047) yield index by feeding silage TMRs. Feeding BS TMR slightly decreased marbling score but no difference was found in the number of head over grade 1 between diets. Control diet tended to improve yield grade compared to silage TMRs. Chemical composition, water holding capacity, drip loss, cooking loss and pH, color and fatty acid composition of $longissimus$ $dorsi$ were not affected by experimental diets and feeding duration of silage TMRs. Shear force, however, was increased (P<0.046) by silage TMRs without difference between them compared to control diet. Based on the results of the current study, BS TMR and RS TMR could improve body gain and reduce feed cost without deteriorating meat quality compared to separate feeding of concentrate and rice straw. Overall feeding value was similar between BS TMR and RS TMR.

Studies on Soil Conservation Effects of the Straw-mat Mulchings (I) - Vegetation Establishment and Erosion Control Effects - (볏짚거적덮기공의 사방효과(砂防効果)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)(I) - 사면지피조성(斜面地被造成) 및 침식방지(浸蝕防止) 효과(効果) -)

  • Woo, Bo Myong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.67-78
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    • 1971
  • The measures of contour-terracing with sod has been executed as a major measures for hillside erosion control works for a long time in Korea. It is, however, recognized that pair terracings make a new slope-face having the more steeper degree of slope between the upper and the lower terraces on hillsides and it also does not contribute for establishing the natural vegetation-cover by penetration of pioneer seeds on the slope faces or cut-faces of hillsides. The study was therefore conducted in connection with the above problems on the cut-face having slope of $40^{\circ}$ and 1.6 meter in slope length with clay soils. Plot allocation for the experiment consists of 3 kinds of 3 replica plots having each $1.6m^2$ of slope area, i. e., the control plot with direct seeding on slopes only ($T_1$), the covering plot with the straw-mats after seeding on slopes ($T_2$) and the seeding plot after covering with the straw-mats. ($T_3$). The main results obtained may be summarized as follows : 1. Effects of the straw-mat mulchings on surface soil loss control:-The total amount of soil losses from each treatments are measured as 4,651 gr from $T_1$, 163 gr. from $T_2$ and 2,891 gr. from $T_3$ treatment respectively. (Refer to table No. 2, 3 and 4). In short, it is recognized that effect of $T_2$ treatment is compared as 28.5 times than that of $T_1$ treatment and 17.7 times than that of $T_3$ treatment respectively. Effect of $T_3$ treatment compared with $T_1$ treatment is also such recognizable as 1.6 times in control of surface soil losses on a slope face. 2. Effect of the straw-mat mulchings on soil moisture content on slopes; -Average per cent of surface soil moisture content by treatments show as 21.60 at the $T_1$, 23.04 at the $T_2$ and 22.21 at the $T_3$ treatment respectively and that of subsurface soil moisture content by treatment show as 23.81 at the $T_1$, 26.16 at the $T_2$ and 24.81 at the $T_3$ treatment respectively. The variance of soil moisture content by treatments was highly significant (Refer table No. 7, 8 and 9). 3. Effect of the straw-mat mulchings on vegetation establishment;-Average numbers of germination by treatments are counted as 237 Nos. at the $T_1$, 246 Nos. at the $T_2$ and 262 Nos. at the $T_3$ treatment plots and the vegetation coverage on ground was almost same as about 90% of covers in all treatments. This effect is more or less lower than that of surface soil erosion control. 4. Regarding the effect on surface soil erosion control, the straw-mat mulchings would be effective as a new measures for control of soil erosion on erosion susceptible lands such slope-faced bare-lands as cut-fill faces, mass-movement faces and bare hillsides.

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A Study on the Properties of Plywoods Constructed by Sycamore and Lauan Veneer (푸라타누스와 나왕단판(羅王單板)을 구성(構成)한 합판(合板)의 성질(性質)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Lee, Phil Woo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.8-18
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    • 1976
  • This study was carried out to exploit and utilize the exotic American Sycamore(Platanus occidentalis) grown in Korea as a veneer species for plywood manufacture. At present most parts of veneer Legs used in Korea were depended entirely upon the gonus Shorea woods(lauan logs) imported from Southeast Asia region. To decrease manufacturing cost and save imported lauan veneer logs, the effects on properties affecting to the six types of plywood made from proper veneer constructions composed by domestic American Sycamore and imported lauan veneers were compared and discussed. The study has important meanings for the promotion of plywood manufacture by domestic materials. Important items dealt with this study were dry and wet shear strength, moisture contents, specific gravties, and bending strength. By the results and discussions it may be summarized as follows: 1) In dry shear strength platanus(sycamore) core lauan plywood was shown most excellent strong results, and next orders were all lauan plywood, platanus faced lauan plywood, lauan core platanus plywood, lauan faced platanus plywood, and all platanus plywood. There was no difference between platanus core lauan plywood and all lauan plywood, but the differences between those plywoods and the other types of plywood were recognized. 2) In wet shear strength platanus core lauan plywood was shown excellent result the same as dry strength. The difference between platanus core lauan plywood and the other types of plywood was shown, but among the other types of plywood except platanus core lauan plywood were not recognized. 3) The differences among moisture contents according to the veneer construction were not recognized. 4) The plywood constructed by two or more sheets of lauan veneer was shown lower specific gravities than the plywood constructed by two or more sheets of platanus veneer. It is believed that this tendency due to the original specific gravities of veneer before construction. 5) The differences among specific gravities of lauan core platanus plywood, all platanus plywood and lauan faced platanus plywood were not recognized, and like this analyzed result among platanus core lauan plywood, all lauan plywood and platanus faced lauan plywood were not recognized. Accordingly it is believed that the differences are not shown among the plywood constructed by two or more veneers of same species. 6) In bending strength platanus core lauan plywood was shown most excellent values. Next orders were all lauan plywood, platanus faced lauan plywood and the other types of plywood. The differences among the plywood constructed by two or veneers of lauan were shown, but not shown among the plywood constructed by tow or more veneers of platanus.

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In vitro Antioxidant, Anti-allergic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extracts from Korean Sweet Potato Leaves and Stalks (한국산 고구마잎과 고구마줄기 에탄올 추출물의 in vitro 항산화, 항알레르기 및 항염증효과)

  • Kwak, Chung Shil;Lee, Kun Jong;Chang, Jin Hee;Park, June Hee;Cho, Ji Hyun;Park, Ji Ho;Kim, Kyung Me;Lee, Mee Sook
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.42 no.3
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    • pp.369-377
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    • 2013
  • In order to increase the utilization of sweet potato leaves and stalks as much as roots, it is necessary to study their beneficial potential. In this study, the antioxidant, antiallergic and anti-inflammatory effects of sweet potato leaves and stalks were evaluated by measuring total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging effects, the reducing power and inhibition effects on xanthine oxidase (XO), 5-lipoxygenase (LOX), and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 activities. Blanched sweet potato leaves (SL), raw whole purple stalks (ST) and peeled stalks (PST) were freeze-dried and extracted with 95% ethanol. Total polyphenol content was highest in SL (11.03 mg/g), followed by ST (0.87 mg/g), and PST (0.37 mg/g). Total flavonoid content was highest for SL (9.01 mg/g), followed by ST (0.50 mg/g) and PST (0.25 mg/g). The $IC_{50}$ for DPPH radical scavenging effects was highest for SL ($43.6{\mu}g/mL$), followed by ST ($308.4{\mu}g/mL$) and PST ($1,631.3{\mu}g/mL$). The reducing power was highest for SL ($59.72{\mu}g$ ascorbic acid eq./mL), followed by ST ($12.56{\mu}g$ ascorbic acid eq./mL) and PST ($2.18{\mu}g$ ascorbic acid eq./mL) with $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ of ethanol extract. The inhibition rate on XO activity was highest for SL (13.06%), followed by ST (5.05%) and PST (0.0%) at $250{\mu}g/mL$ extract treatment. The inhibition rate on COX-2 activity was highest for SL (55.34%), followed by ST (2.18%) and PST (0.0%) at $250{\mu}g/mL$ extract treatment. The inhibition rate on 5-LOX activity was highest for SL (91.16%), followed by ST (33.38%) and PST (14.93%) at $50{\mu}g/mL$ treatment. Taken together, sweet potato leaves showed high antioxidative, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities, especially with very strong inhibition effects on 5-LOX activity. These beneficial effects of sweet potato leaves might be mainly caused by the high content of polyphenols and flavonoids.

Establishment of Analytical Method for Dichlorprop Residues, a Plant Growth Regulator in Agricultural Commodities Using GC/ECD (GC/ECD를 이용한 농산물 중 생장조정제 dichlorprop 잔류 분석법 확립)

  • Lee, Sang-Mok;Kim, Jae-Young;Kim, Tae-Hoon;Lee, Han-Jin;Chang, Moon-Ik;Kim, Hee-Jeong;Cho, Yoon-Jae;Choi, Si-Won;Kim, Myung-Ae;Kim, MeeKyung;Rhee, Gyu-Seek;Lee, Sang-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.214-223
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    • 2013
  • BACKGROUND: This study focused on the development of an analytical method about dichlorprop (DCPP; 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid) which is a plant growth regulator, a synthetic auxin for agricultural commodities. DCPP prevents falling of fruits during their growth periods. However, the overdose of DCPP caused the unwanted maturing time and reduce the safe storage period. If we take fruits with exceeding maximum residue limits, it could be harmful. Therefore, this study presented the analytical method of DCPP in agricultural commodities for the nation-wide pesticide residues monitoring program of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: We adopted the analytical method for DCPP in agricultural commodities by gas chromatograph in cooperated with Electron Capture Detector(ECD). Sample extraction and purification by ion-associated partition method were applied, then quantitation was done by GC/ECD with DB-17, a moderate polarity column under the temperature-rising condition with nitrogen as a carrier gas and split-less mode. Standard calibration curve presented linearity with the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) > 0.9998, analysed from 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L concentration. Limit of quantitation in agricultural commodities represents 0.05 mg/kg, and average recoveries ranged from 78.8 to 102.2%. The repeatability of measurements expressed as coefficient of variation (CV %) was less than 9.5% in 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 mg/kg. CONCLUSION(S): Our newly improved analytical method for DCPP residues in agricultural commodities was applicable to the nation-wide pesticide residues monitoring program with the acceptable level of sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility.

One-stop Evaluation Protocol of Ischemic Heart Disease: Myocardial Fusion PET Study (허혈성 심장 질환의 One-stop Evaluation Protocol: Myocardial Fusion PET Study)

  • Kim, Kyong-Mok;Lee, Byung-Wook;Lee, Dong-Wook;Kim, Jeong-Su;Jang, Yeong-Do;Bang, Chan-Seok;Baek, Jong-Hun;Lee, In-Su
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.33-37
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    • 2010
  • Purpose: In the early stage of using PET/CT, it was used to damper revision but recently shows that CT with MDCT is commonly used and works well for an anatomical diagnosis. This hospital makes the accuracy and convenience more higher in the diagnosis and evaluate of coronary heart disease through concurrently running myocardial perfusion SPECT examination, myocardial PET examination with FDG, and CT coronary artery CT angiography(coronary CTA) used PET/CT with 64-slice. This report shows protocol and image based on results from about 400 coronary heart disease examinations since having 64 channels PET/CT in July 2007. Materials and Methods: An Equipment for this examination is 64-slice CT and Discovery VCT (DVCT) that is consisted of PET with BGO ($Bi_4Ge_3O_{12}$) scintillation crystal by GE health care. First myocardial perfusion SPECT with pharmacologic stress test to reduce waiting time of a patient and get a quick diagnosis and evaluation, and right after it, myocardial FDG PET examination and coronary CTA run without a break. One-stop evaluation protocol of ischemic heart disease is as follows. 1)Myocardial perfusion SPECT with pharmacologic stress: A patient is injected with $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI 10 mCi and does not have any fatty food for myocardial PET examination and drink natural water with ursodeoxcholic acid 100 mg and we get SPECT image in an hour. 2)Myocardial FDG PET: To reduce blood fatty content and to increase uptake of FDG, we used creative oral glucose load using insulin and Acipimox to according to blood acid content. A patient is injected with $^{18}F$-FDG 5 mCi for reduction of his radiation exposure and we get a gated image an hour later and get delay image when we need. 3) Coronary CTA: The most important point is to control heart rate and to get cooperation of patient's breath. In order to reduce a heart rate of him or her below 65 beats, let him or her take beta blocker 50 mg ~ 200 mg after a consultation with a doctor about it and have breath-practices then have the examination. Right before the examination, we spray isosorbide dinitrate 3 to 5 times to lower tension of bessel wall and to extension a blood wall of a patient. It makes to get better the shape of an anatomy. At filming, a patient is injected CT contrast with high pressure and have enough practices before the examination in order to have no problem. For reduction of his radiation exposure, we have to do ECG-triggered X-ray tube modulation exposure. Results: We evaluate coronary artery stenosis through coronary CTA and study correlation (culprit vessel check) of a decline between stenosis and perfusion from the myocardial perfusion SPECT with pharmacologic stress, coronary CTA, and can check viability of infarction or hibernating myocardium by FDG PET. Conclusion: The examination makes us to set up a direction of remedy (drug treatment, PCI, CABG) because we can estimate of effect from remedy, lesion site and severity. In addition, we have an advantage that it takes just 3 hours and one-stop in that all of process of examinations run in succession and at the same time. Therefore it shows that the method is useful in one stop evaluation of ischemic heart disease.

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Status and Prospect of Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Rice Field of Korea (한국 논에서 제초제 저항성잡초 발생 현황과 전망)

  • Park, Tae-Seon;Lee, In-Yong;Seong, Ki-Yeong;Cho, Hyeon-Suk;Park, Hong-Kyu;Ko, Jae-Kwon;Kang, Ui-Gum
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.119-133
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    • 2011
  • Sulfonylurea (SU)-resistant weeds include seven annual weeds such as Monochoria vaginalis, Scirpus juncoides and Cyperus difformis, etc., and three perennial weeds of Scirpus planiculmis, Sagittaria pigmaea and Eleocharis acicularis as of 2010 since identification Monochoria korsakowii in the reclaimed rice field in 1998. The Echinochloa oryzoides resistant to acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors has been confirmed in wet-direct seeding rice field of the southern province, Korea in 2009. In the beginning of occurrence of SU-resistant weeds the M. vaginalis, S. juncoides and C. difformis were rapidly and individually spreaded in different fields, however, theses resistant weeds have been occurring simultaneously in the same filed as time goes by. The resistant biotype by weed species demonstrated about 10- to 1,000-fold resistance, base on $GR_{50}$ (50% growth reduction) values of the SU herbicides tested. And the resistant biotype of E. oryzoides to cyhalofop-butyl, pyriminobac-methyl, and penoxsulam was about 14, 8, and 11 times more resistant than the susceptible biotype base on $GR_{50}$ values. In history of paddy herbicides in Korea, the introduction of SU herbicides including besulfuron-metyl and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl that control many troublesome weeds at low use rates and provide excellent crop safety gave farmers and many workers for herbicide business refreshing jolt. The products and applied area of SU-included herbicides have been rapidly increased, and have accounted for about 69% and 96%, respectively, in Korea. The top ten herbicides by applied area were composed of all SU-included herbicides by 2003. The concentrated and successive treatment of ACCase and ALS inhibitors for control of barnyardgrass in direct-seeded rice led up to the resistance of E. oryzoides. Also, SU-herbicides like pyrazosulfuron-ethyl and imazosulfuron which are effective to barnyardgrass can be bound up with the resistance of E. oryzoides. The ALS activity isolated from the resistant biotype of M. korsakowii to SU-herbicides tested was less sensitive than that of susceptible biotype. The concentration of herbicide required for 50% inhibition of ALS activity ($I_{50}$) of the SU-resistant M. korsakowii was 14- to 76-fold higher as compared to the susceptible biotype. No differences were observed in the rates of [$^{14}C$]bensulfuron uptake and translocation. ALS genes from M. vaginalis resistant and susceptible biotypes against SU-herbicides revealed a single amino acid substitution of proline (CCT), at 197th position based on the M. korsakowii ALS sequence numbering, to serin (TCT) in conserved domain A of the gene. Carfentrazone-ethyl and pyrazolate were used mainly to control SU-resistant M. vaginalis by 2006, the early period, in Korea. However, the alternative herbicides such as benzobicyclone, to be possible to control simultaneously the several resistant weeds, have been developing and using broadly because the several resistant weeds have been occurring simultaneously in the same filed. The top ten herbicides by applied area in Korea have been occupied by products of 3-way mixture type including herbicides with alternative mode of action for the herbicide resistant weeds. Mefenacet, fentrazamide and cafenstrole had excellent controlling effects on the ACCase and ALS inhibitors resistant when they were applied within 2 leaf stage.

Studies on the Properties of Populus Grown in Korea (포플러재(材)의 재질(材質)에 관(關)한 시험(試驗))

  • Jo, Jae-Myeong;Kang, Sun-Goo;Lee, Yong-Dae;Jung, Hee-Suk;Ahn, Jung-Mo;Shim, Chong-Supp
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.68-87
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    • 1982
  • In Korea, this is the situation at moment that the total demand of timber in 1972 is more than 5 million cubic meters. On the other hand, however, the available domestic supply of timber at the same year is only about, 1 million cubic meters. A great unbalancing between demand and supply of timber has been prevailing. To solve this hard problem, it has been necessitiated to build up the forest stocks as early as possible with fast grown species such as poplar. Under circumstances, poplar plantations which have been carryed on government and private have reached to large area of 116,603 hectors from 1962 up to date. It has now be come a principal timber resources in this country, and required the basic study on various properties of wood for it's proper utilization, since it has not been made of any systematic study on the properties of Populus grown in Korea. In order to investigate the properties such as anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of nine different species (P. euramericana Guiner I-214. P. euramericana Guiner I-476, P. deltoides Marsh, P. nigra var. italica (Muchk) Koeme, P. alba L.,P. alba $\times$ glandulosa P. maximowiczii Henry, P. koreana Rehder, P. davidiana Dode) of poplar for their proper use and development of new ways of grading processing and quality improving, this study has been made by the Forest Research Institute.

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Tc-99m ECD Brain SPECT in MELAS Syndrome and Mitochondrial Myopathy: Comparison with MR findings (MELAS 증후군과 미토콘드리아 근육병에서의 Tc-99m ECD 뇌단일 광전자방출 전산화단층촬영 소견: 자기공명영상과의 비교)

  • Park, Sang-Joon;Ryu, Young-Hoon;Jeon, Tae-Joo;Kim, Jai-Keun;Nam, Ji-Eun;Yoon, Pyeong-Ho;Yoon, Choon-Sik;Lee, Jong-Doo
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.490-496
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    • 1998
  • Purpose: We evaluated brain perfusion SPECT findings of MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy in correlation with MR imaging in search of specific imaging features. Materials and Methods: Subjects were five patients (four females and one male; age range, 1 to 25 year) who presented with repeated stroke-like episodes, seizures or developmental delay or asymptomatic but had elevated lactic acid in CSF and serum. Conventional non-contrast MR imaging and Tc-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) brain perfusion SPECT were Performed and imaging features were analyzed. Results: MRI demonstrated increased T2 signal intensities in the affected areas of gray and white matters mainly in the parietal (4/5) and occipital lobes (4/5) and in the basal ganglia (1/5), which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. SPECT demonstrated decreased perfusion in the corresponding regions of MRI lesions. In addition, there were perfusion defects in parietal (1 patient), temporal (2), and frontal (1) lobes and basal ganglia (1) and thalami (2). In a patient with mitochondrial myopathy who had normal MRI, decreased perfusion was noted in left parietal area and bilateral thalami. Conclusion: Tc-99m ECD SPECT imaging in patients with MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy showed hypoperfusion of parieto-occipital cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and temporal cortex, which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. There were no specific imaging features on SPECT. The significance of abnormal perfusion on SPECT without corresponding MR abnormalities needs to be evaluated further in larger number of patients.

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