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Insulin-like growth factor가 소장 점막 세포 증식에 미치는 영향

  • 윤정한
    • Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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    • 1995.11b
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    • pp.11-34
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    • 1995
  • Growth hormone (GH) plays a key role in regulating postnatal growth and can stimulate growth of animals by acting directly on specific receptors on the plasma membrane of tissues or indirectly through stimulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I synthesis and secretion by the liver and other tissues. IGF-I and IGF-Ⅱ are polypeptides with structural similarity with proinsulin that stimulate cell proliferation by endocrine, paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. The initial event in the metabolic action of IGFs on target cells appears to be their binding to specific receptors on the plasma membrane. Current evidence indicates that the mitogenic actions of both IGFs are mediated primarily by binding to the type I IGF receptors, and that IGF action is also mediated by interactions with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). Six distinct IGFBPs have been identified that are characterized by cell-specific interaction, transcriptional and post-translational regulation by many different effectors, and the ability to either potentiate or inhibit IGF actions. Nutritional deficiencies can have their devastating consequence during growth. Although IGF-I is the major mediator of GH's action on somatic growth, nutritional status of an organism is a critical regulator of IGF-I and IGFBPs. Various nutrient deficiencies result in decreased serum IGF-I levels and altered IGFBP levels, but the blood levels of GH are generally unchanged or elevated in malnutrition. Effects of protein, energy, vitamin C and D, and zinc on serum IGF and IGFBP levels and tissue mRNA levels were reviewed in the text. Multiple factors are involved in the regulation of intestinal epithelial cell growth and differentiation. Among these factors the nutritional status of individuals is the most important. The intestinal epithelium is an important site for mitogenic action of the IGFs in vivo, with exogenous IGF-I stimulating mucosal hyperplasia. Therefore, the IGF system appears to provide and important mechanism linking nutrition and the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells. In order to study the detailed mechanisms by which intestinal mucosa is regulated, we have utilized IEC-6 cells, an intestinal epithelial cell line and Caco-2 cells, a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. Like intestinal crypt cells analyzed in vivo or freshly isolated intestinal epithelial cells, IEC-6 cells and Caco-2 cells possess abundant quatities of both type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ IGF receptors. Exogenous IGFs stimulate, whereas addition of IGFBP-2 inhibits IEC-6 cell proliferation. To investigate whether endogenously secreted IGFBP-2 inhibit proliferation, IEC-6 cells were transfected with a full-length rat IGFBP-2 cDNA anti-sense expression construct. IEC-6 cells transfected with anti-sense IGFBP-2 protein in medium. These cells grew at a rate faster than the control cells indicating that endogenous IGFBP-2 inhibits proliferation of IEC-6 cells, probably by sequestering IGFs. IEC-6 cells express many characteristics of enterocyte, but do not undergo differentiation. On the other hand, Caco-2 cells undergo a spontaneous enterocyte differentiation. On the other hand, Caco-2 cells undergo a spontaneous enterocyte differentiation after reaching confluency. We have demonstrated that Caco-2 cells produce IGF-Ⅱ, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, and an as yet unidentified 31,000 Mr IGFBP, and that both mRNA and peptide secretion of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 increased, but IGFBP-4 mRNA and protein secretion decreased after the cells reached confluency. These changes occurred in parallel to and were coincident with differentiation of the cells, as measured by expression of sucrase-isomaltase. In addition, Caco-2 cell clones forced to overexpress IGFBP-4 by transfection with a rat IGFBP-4 cDNA construct exhibited a significantly slower growth rate under serum-free conditions and had increased expression of sucrase-isomaltase compared with vector control cells. These results indicate that IGFBP-4 inhibits proliferation and stimulates differentiation of Caco-2 cells, probably by inhibiting the mitogenic actions of IGFs.

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Traumatic Contusion of ICR Mouse Brain by FPI : $^{1}\textrm{H}$ MR Spectroscopic Study (유체타진손상기법에 의한 ICR 쥐의 뇌손상: 자기공명분광법)

  • Park, Chi-Bong;Kim, Hwi-Yool;Jeun, Sin-Soo;Han, Young-Min;Han, Duk-Young;Kang, Young-Woon;Choe, Bo-Young
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.259-267
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    • 2003
  • In vivo $^1$H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 4.7 T was applied to investigate the cerebral metabolite changes of mice brain before and after experimental brain trauma. In vivo $^1$H MR spectra were acquired from a voxel covering right parietal cortex in normal brain, used as control subjects. After experimental brain trauma using the fluid percussion injury (FPI) method, $^1$H MR spectra were acquired from the same lesion three days after trauma. Metabolite ratios of the injured lesion were compared to those of controls. After trauma, N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio, as a neuronal marker was decreased significantly versus controls, indicating neuronal loss. The ratio of NAA/Cr in traumatic brain contusion was 0.90$\pm$0.11, while that in normal control subjects was 1.13$\pm$0.12 (P=0.001). Choline (Cho)/Cr ratio had a tendency to rise in experimental brain contusion (P=0.02). Cho/Cr ratio after trauma was 0.91$\pm$0.17 while that before traumas was 0.76$\pm$0.15. Cho/Cr ratio was increased and this might indicate a inflammatory activity. However, no significant difference of [(glutamate+glutamine) (Glx)]/Cr was established between experimental traumatic brain injury models and normal controls. Lactate (Lac)/Cr ratio was appeared as a sign of shifted posttraumatic energy metabolism and increased versus controls. These findings strongly suggest that in vivo $^1$H MRS may be a useful modality for clinical evaluation of traumatic contusion and could aid in better understanding the neuropathologic process of traumatic contusion induced by FPI. In the present study, in vivo $^1$H MRS was proved to be a useful non-invasive method for in vivo diagnosis and monitoring of posttraumatic metabolism in models of brain contusion.

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Power Generating Performance of Photovoltaic Power System for Greenhouse Equipment Operation (온실설비 작동용 태양광발전시스템의 발전 성능 분석)

  • Yoon, Yong-Cheol;Bae, Yong-Han;Ryou, Young-Sun;Lee, Sung-Hyoun;Suh, Won-Myung
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.177-184
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    • 2009
  • For the purpose of reducing the cost for greenhouse operation by acquiring the electric power necessary for it, this study installed a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the building adjacent to green-houses and experimentally examined the quantity of power generation based on weather conditions. The results of the study are as per the below: The maximum, average and minimum temperature while the experiment was conducted was $0.4{\sim}34.1,\;-6.1{\sim}22.2$, and $-14.1{\sim}16.7^{\circ}C$ respectively, and the solar radiation was $28.8MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ (maximum), $14.9MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ (average), and $0.6MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ (minimum). The quantity of electric power didn't increase in proportion to the quantity of solar radiation and instead, it was almost consistent around 750W. Daily maximum, average and minimum consumption of electric power was 5.2kWh, 2.5kWh and 0kWh respectively. Based on the average electric power consumption of the system used for this experiment, it was sufficient in case the capacity and the working time of a hot blast heater are small, but it was short in case they are big. In case the capacity of the hot blast heater is big, the average electric power quantity will be sufficient for array area $21m^2$, about three times of the present area. In summer when the temperature of the array becomes high, the generation of electric power didn't increase in proportion to the quantity of solar radiation, but this experiment result shows a high correlation between two factors (coefficient of correlation 0.84).

Effects of Feeding Induced Molting on the Performance, Egg Quality, and Visceral Organs in Laying Hens (산란계에서 급이환우가 산란계의 생산성과 계란의 품질 및 주요 장기에 미치는 영향)

  • Hong, E.C.;Na, J.C.;You, D.C.;Jang, B.G.;Kim, H.K.;Choi, Y.H.;Park, H.D.;HwangBo, J.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.197-205
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    • 2007
  • This study was conducted to compare the effect of feeding molting and fasting molting on the performance, egg quality, and visceral organs in laying hens for animal welfare. Eighty one 62-wk-old White Leghorn hens that egg production was over 80% and average weight was $1.6{\pm}0.3\;kg$ were used in this study. Treatments were control (non-molt treatment), feeding molt treatment, and fasting molt treatment. The three treatments were administered to three replicate group of nine hens wherein each group. All treatment groups were fed the basal diet (CP 15%, ME 2,700 kal/kg) for two weeks as the adaptation period. Induced molt diets contains low CP (6.7%) and low energy (2,200 kal/kg). Test periods were 14 days for feeding molting and 10 days for fasting molting. Egg production decreased to be 0% at 10 days of feeding molting treatment, but at 2 or 3 days of fasting molting treatment. Egg production restarted after 19 days ending molt at feeding molting treatment, while after 24 days at fasting molting treatment. On the egg quality was improved at molting treatments (p<0.05) except egg yolk. Egg shell tissue was crowded at molting treatment to compare to control. Liver weights, heart weight, and oviduct weight of laying hens decreased at molting treatments (p<0.05). Finally, feeding molting might could be replaced fasting molting on the welfare and further studies were needed about molting program.

History of the Korean Society of Applied Entomology for its First Fifty Years (한국응용곤충학회의 첫 50년 역사)

  • Boo, Kyung-Saeng
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.51 no.2
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    • pp.171-190
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    • 2012
  • The Korean Society of Applied Entomology (KSAE) celebrates its First 50 years history this year, 2011. It began in the year 1962, as the Korean Society of Plant Protection (KSPP) to discuss all aspects of plant protection including entomology and plant pathology. At that time it was one of the earliest scientific ones among agricultural societies in Korea. Before liberation from the Japanese colonial rule there were a few scientific societies for Japanese scientists only in the Korean Peninsula. It seemed that there was a single exception, in medical field, formed by and operated for Korean ethnics. Right after the liberation, Korean scientists rushed to form new scientific societies in the fields of mechanical engineering, architecture, textile, internal medicine, biology, etc. in 1945, mathematics, chemistry, metallurgy, etc. in 1946, and so on. But agricultural scientists had to wait for more time before setting up their own scientific society, Korean Agricultural Society(韓國農學會), comprising all agricultural subfields, in 1954. They had annual meetings and published their own journal every year until 1962. Then those working in the plant protection field established their own KSPP, right after their section meeting in 1962. At that time the total number of participants for KSPP were only around 50. KSPP scientists were interested in plant pathology, agricultural chemicals, weed science, or bioclimate, besides entomology. They had annual meetings once or twice a year until 1987 and published their own journal, Korean Journal of Plant Protection (KJPP), once a year at the earlier years but soon gradually increasing the frequency to four times a year later. Articles on entomology and plant pathology occupied about 40% each, but the number of oral or posters were a little bit higher on plant pathology than entomology, with the rest on nematology, agricultural chemicals, or soil microarthropods. There also had a number of symposia and special lectures. The presidentship lasted for two years and most of president served only one term, except for the first two. The current president should be $28^{th}$. In the year 1988, KSPP had to be transformed into the applied entomology society, Korean Society of Applied Entomology (KSAE), because most of plant pathologists participating left the society to set up their own one, Korean Society of Plant Pathology in 1984. Since that time the Society concentrates on entomology, basic and applied, with some notes on nematology, acarology, soil microarthropods, agricultural chemicals, etc. The Society has been hosting annual meetings at least twice a year with special lectures and symposia, from time to time, on various topics. It also hosted international symposia including binational scientific meetings twice with two different Japanese (applied entomology in 2003 and acarology in 2009) societies and the Asia-Pacific Congress of Entomology in 2005. The regular society meeting of this year, 2011, turns out to be the 43rd and this autumn non-regular meeting would be the 42nd. It has been publishing two different scientific journals, Korean Journal of Applied Entomology (KJAE) since 1988 and the Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology (JAPE) since 1998. Both journals are published 4 times a year, with articles written in Korean or English in the first, but those in English only in the latter with cooperation from the Taiwan Entomological Society and the Malaysian Plant Protection Society since 2008. It is now enlisted as one of those SCI(science citation index) extended. The highest number of topics discussed at their annual meetings was on ecology, behavior, and host resistance. But at the annual meetings jointly with the Korean Society of Entomology, members were more interested in basic aspects, instead of applied aspects, such as physiology and molecular biology fields. Among those societies related to entomology and plant protection, plant pathology, pesticide, and applied entomology societies are almost similar in membership, but entomology and plant pathology societies are publishing more number of articles than any others. The Society is running beautifully, but there are a few points to be made for further improvement. First, the articles or posters should be correctly categorized on the journals or proceedings. It may be a good idea to ask members to give their own version of correct category for their submissions, either oral or poster or written publication. The category should be classified detailed as much as possible (one kind of example would be systematics, morphology, evolution, ecology, behavior, host preference or resistance, physiology, anatomy, chemical ecology, molecular biology, pathology, chemical control, insecticides, insecticide resistance, biocontrol, biorational control, natural enemies, agricultural pest, forest pest, medical pest, etc.) and such scheme should be given to members beforehand. The members should give one or two, first and second, choices when submitting, if they want. Then the categories might be combined or grouped during editing for optimal arrangement for journals or proceedings. Secondly the journals should carry complete content of the particular year and author index at the last issue of that year. I would also like to have other information, such as awards and awardees in handy way. I could not find any document for listing awards. Such information or article categorization may be assigned to one of the vice presidents. I would rather strongly recommend that the society should give more time and energy on archive management to keep better and more correct history records.

Irradiation Preservation of Korean Fish 1. Kadurization of croaker, yellow corvenia and roundnose flounder (방사선조사에 의한 한국산어류의 품질보존에 관한 연구 1. 민어, 참조기 및 물가자미의 감마선 조사 후의 보존특성)

  • CHUNG Jong Rak;KIM Su Ill;LEE Min Chul
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.129-142
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    • 1976
  • Optimum doses The optimum dose that may be defined as the dose below the maximum permissible dose, yet would bring about a significant storage life extension at refrigerated temperatures, varied with species of fish as well as with the postirradiation storage temperatures. Thus the dose of 0. 1 Mrad was considered to be optimum for the croaker and yellow corvenia at $0^{\circ}C$, while at $5^{\circ}C$ the dose of 0.2 Mrad would be suitable for both species. The roundnose flounder was more radiosensitive and even at the dose of 0.1 Mrad a slight irradiation odor was detected immediately after the radiation treatment. Such degree of irradiation odor disappeared upon storage, therefore, the dose of 0.1 Mrad was considered to be optimum for the roundnose flounder at both $0^{\circ}\;and\;5^{\circ}C$. Storage life extension The croaker meats irradiated at 0.1 Mrad could be held at $0^{\circ}C$ as long as 5 weeks in good acceptable conditions, while the unirradiated control became unacceptable within 2 weeks-3-4 for extension of storage life at $0^{\circ}C$. At the storage temperature of $5^{\circ}C$, the storage life of 0.2 Mrad irradiated samples was extended from less than one week to 4 weeks--4-5 fold extension. The storage life extension of 0.1 Mrad irradiated yellow corvenia at $0^{\circ}C$ was from less than 2 weeks for the unirradiated to 4 weeks-approximately a-s folds and that of 0.2 Mrad irradiated samples stored at $5^{\circ}C$ was from 5 days to 3 weeks 4-5 folds. The roundnose flounder meats irradiated at 0.1 Mrad could held at $0^{\circ}C$ for 3-4 weeks as compared to less than 1 week for the unirradiated and at $5^{\circ}C$ the storage life could be extended from less than 3 days to up to 3 weeks. Thus the storage life extension by 4-5 folds and by 6-7 folds was possible at $0^{\circ}C\;and\;5^{\circ}C$ storage, respectively. Postirradiation storage microbiology and biochemistry In general 10 fold reduction of initial microflora was realized as a result of irradiating fish samples at 0.1 Mrad. The extent of microflora reduction increased with increasing doses applied, but not proportionately dependent. The microbial growth in the irradiated was severely retarded during the subsequent storage period, lagging far behind that of the irradiated control samples except in the late storage phase, when the levels of microflora of the irradiated either approached to or rose above the levels of the unirradiated. The microbiological changes caused by irradiation was reflected in the pronounced suppression of TVB and TMA accumulation during the storage period. This suggests that irradiation treatment brought about both quantitative and qualitative changes in microflora initially present and it is reasonable to suggest that the microflora removed by irradiation in fact represent most of the flora capable of producing TVB and TMA in normal fish spoilage process.

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Effect of Microbial Phytase on Performance, Nutrient Absorption and Excretion in Weaned Pigs and Apparent Ileal Nutrient Digestibility in Growing Pigs

  • Zeng, Z.K.;Piao, X.S.;Wang, D.;Li, P.F.;Xue, L.F.;Salmon, Lorraine;Zhang, H.Y.;Han, X.;Liu, L.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.24 no.8
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    • pp.1164-1172
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    • 2011
  • Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma reesei derived phytase for pigs fed diets with fixed calcium to total phosphorus ratios (1.5:1). In Exp. 1, 280 weaned pigs (initial BW of $10.32{\pm}1.94$ kg) were allocated to one of five dietary treatments on the basis of weight and gender in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were the low phosphorus (0.6% Ca, 0.4% total P and 0.23% available P) diets supplemented with 0, 250, 1,000, or 2,000 FTU phytase/kg of diet and a positive control diet (PC; 0.85% Ca, 0.58% total P and 0.37% available P). The treatments were applied to seven pens with eight pigs per pen, half male and half female. In Exp. 2, six barrows fitted with ileal T-cannula (initial BW = $35.1{\pm}1.6$ kg) were assigned to three dietary treatments with a double $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were the low-phosphorus diet (0.53% Ca, 0.34% total P and 0.14% available P), the low phosphorus diet plus 1,000 FTU phytase/kg and a positive control diet (0.77% Ca, 0.50% total P and 0.30% available P). In Exp. 1, there were linear increases (p<0.01) in weight gain, phosphorus absorption, bone strength, calcium and phosphorus content of fat-free dried bone and plasma phosphorus concentrations with increasing dose rate of phytase. The performance of pigs fed the diets with 250, 1,000, or 2,000 FTU of phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet. Pigs fed diets with 1,000 or 2,000 FTU of phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet in bone characteristics. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ash and energy was not affected by dietary treatment. However, pigs fed the PC diet excreted more fecal phosphorus (g/d, p<0.01) and fecal phosphorus per BW gain (g/kg) than pigs fed the diets with phytase. Phytase linearly decreased (p<0.01) fecal phosphorus excreted per BW gain (g/kg), plasma calcium concentration as well as plasma and bone alkaline phosphatase activity. In Exp. 2, phytase supplementation in the low-P diet increased (p<0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Ca, P, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, alanine and cysteine, tended to AID of crude protein, isoleucine, threonine, asparagine and serine. In conclusion, the novel phytase originated from Trichoderma reesei is effective in releasing Ca, P, and amino acids from corn soy based diet for pigs.

Weight Reduction Effect of Extract of Fermented Red Pepper on Female College Students (비만여대생을 대상으로 고추발효추출물의 체중감량 효과에 대한 연구)

  • 장은재;김동건;김진만;서형주;오성훈
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.479-484
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    • 2003
  • This study was attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of extract of fermented red pepper The extract of fermented red pepper was prepared from fermented red pepper puree and polydextrose. Sixteen female college students were participated in this 8 weeks weight control program. All subjects were randomly assigned to the Internet Diet (ID) group or Internet I, fermented red pepper (IR) group. Mean energy intake of ID group was 1,279.9$\pm$112.0 kcal (carbohydrate: 66.9%, protein: 17.4%, fat: 15.6%) and IR group consumed 1,223.8$\pm$57.1 kcal (carbohydrate: 66.3%, protein: 19.3%, fat: 14.4%) during program. The ID group lost 2.5$\pm$1.0 kg of body weight, 0,9$\pm$0,7 kg of fat mass and 1.6$\pm$0.7 kg of lean body mass, and the IR group lost 2.7$\pm$0.3 kg of body weight, 1.8$\pm$0.6 kg of fat mass and 0.9$\pm$0.7 kg of lean body mass. There was no significant differences in the loss of total body weight & lean body mass between two groups, however, the fat mass and the abdominal fat were significantly decreased in the IR group compared to the IC group (p<0.05) The ID group experienced a significantly reduced Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), however, IC group slightly increased. The change of RMR between groups were significantly different (p<0.05) . There were no differences in the change of blood glucose, total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride between groups. Therefore, the intake of fermented red pepper doting the weight control program might decreased the body fat especially abdominal fat and prevent the decline of RMR during weight reduction period.

Prediction of Concrete Temperature and Its Effects on Continuously Reinforcement Concrete Pavement Behavior at Early Ages (초기재령에서 연속철근콘크리트포장 거동에 콘크리트 온도의 영향과 예측)

  • Kim Dong-Ho;Choi Seong-Cheol;Won Moon-Cheol
    • International Journal of Highway Engineering
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    • v.8 no.2 s.28
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    • pp.55-62
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    • 2006
  • Transverse cracks in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) occur at early ages due to temperature and moisture variations. The width and spacing of transverse cracks have a significant effect on pavement performance such as load transfer efficiency and punchout development. Also, crack widths in CRCP depend on 'zero-stress temperature,' which is defined as a temperature where initial concrete stresses become zero, as well as drying shrinkage of concrete. For good long-term performance of CRCP, transverse cracks need to be kept tight. To keep the crack widths tight throughout the pavement life, zero-stress temperature must be as low as practically possible. Thus, temperature control at early ages is a key component In ensuring good CRCP performance. In this study, concrete temperatures were predicted using PavePro, a concrete temperature prediction program, for a CRCP construction project, and those values were compared with actual measured temperatures obtained from field testing. The cracks were also surveyed for 12 days after concrete placement. Findings from this study can be summarized as follows. First, the actual maximum temperatures are greater than the predicted maximum temperature in the ranges of 0.2 to 4.5$^{\circ}C$. For accurate temperature predictions, hydration properties of cementitious materials such as activation energy and adiabatic constants, should be evaluated and accurate values be obtained for use as input values. Second, within 24 hours of concrete placement, temperatures of concrete placed in the morning are higher than those placed in the afternoon, and the maximum concrete temperature occurred in the concrete placed at noon. Finally, from the 12 days of condition survey, it was noted that the rate of crack occurrence in the morning placed section was 25 percent greater than that in the afternoon placed section. Based on these findings, it is concluded that maximum concrete temperature has a significant effect on crack development, and boner concrete temperature control is needed to ensure adequate CRCP performance.

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Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Betaine on Performance, Lipid Metabolic Parameters, and Blood and Ileal Osmolality in Laying Hens (비태인의 급여가 산란계의 생산성과 지질대사 관련인자, 소화물의 삼퉁성에 미치는 영향)

  • Ryu, Myeong-Seon;Park, Jae-Hong;Shin, Ki-Hyeong;Na, Jong-Sam;Ryu, Kyeong-Seon
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.259-267
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    • 2003
  • Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of betaine on egg production, lipid metabolism, and osmoregulation in 18-to 42-week-old ISA Brown laying hens. In experiment 1, three hundred and sixty one hens were fed a com-soy basal diet contailing 16% crude protein (CP), 2800 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), 0.33% methionine, and 0, 300, 600, or 1200 mg betaine per kg diet. Egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, and egg quality were measured every eight weeks. Betaine concentration in live and egg were determined along with serum cholesterol, abdominal fat, total serum protein and albumin levels. In experiment 2, twenty thirty-three-week-old laying hens were fed the same diets as those used in experiment 1 in individual cages and the amount of feed and water consumption were measured for two weeks. At the end of experiment 2, all birds were killed to determine blood plasma and ileal osmopressure, arginine vasotocin (AVT), and liver moisture content. In experiment 1, egg production between the treatments during the first eight weeks were not different, whereas the significant increment of egg production were noticed in the birds fed more than 600 ppm betaine after reaching the peak egg production stage (p<0.05). The egg weight was reduced significantly by the betaine supplementation for the first 8 weeks (p<0.05). Feed conversion tended to improve by betaine supplement. Egg quality was not enhanced by betaine supplementation. Liver betaine level increased with betaine feeding compared to the control but betaine concentration in eggs decreased with betaine supplementation. Betaine supplementation elevated the level of serum total cholesterol and triglyeerides compared to the control. Abdominal fat content was increased by betaine supplementation, whereas liver fat content decreased. In experiment 2, water consumption significantly increased in hens fed diets containing 300 and 600 mg betaine/kg (p<0.05) and osmotic pressure of ileal digesta increased with betaine supplement. Liver moisture content was not affected by betaine, but AVT increased in hens fed betaine. The overal results suggested the possibility of using betaine as a feed additives in the laying hens beacuse of its positive contribution to improving egg production and other metabolic parameters related to lipid metabolism.