• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2015

Alteration in ion channel or transporter expression levels affects cell volume which is produced by movement of water and ion across the plasma membrane. In particular, aquaporin (AQP) channels among ion channels play a crucial role in movement of water across the cell membrane. This study was performed to identify whether AQP expression is changed in bovine follicular cystic follicles using microarray, RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses. In microarray data, AQP4 expression was decreased, whereas AQP7 was increased in cystic follicles. Additional experiments were focused on the AQP7 expression increased in cystic follicles. The microarray data was confirmed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis. AQP7 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased in the cystic follicles (p<0.05). Application of estrogen ($10{\mu}g/ml$) to bovine ovarian cells showed a trend of increase in AQP7 expression. From these results, we suggest that the increase in AQP7 expression in cystic follicles may play an important role in movement of water in bovine ovary. In addition, AQP7, a aquaglyceroporin permeating water and glycerol, could be a good target in development of methods for the cryopreservation of bovine ovary.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2014

Petroleum a vital commodity affecting every aspect of 21st century. Toxicity and adverse effects of sulphur as catalyst in petroleum products is of great concern required development of techniques for desulphurization in compliance with the International standards. Installation of desulphurizing units costs over $200 million per unit placing economic burden on developing countries like Pakistan. Present study analysis of commercial fuels (station petrol and jet fuel JP8) on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified sulphur concentration of 19.94 mg/L and 21.75 mg/L, respectively. This scenario urged the researcher to attempt synthesis of material that is likely to offer good adsorption capacity for sulphur. Following protocol of sol-gel method, transition metals (Ni, Cu, Zn) solution is gelated with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS; silica precursor) using glycerol. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra revealed bonding of Zn-O, Cu-O, and Ni-O by stretching vibrations at $468cm^{-1}$, $617cm^{-1}$, and $468cm^{-1}$, respectively. Thiophene and Benzothiophene mixed in n-heptane and benzene (4:1) for preparation of Model Fuels I and II, respectively. Each of silica based metal was applied as adsorbent in batch mode to assess the removal efficiency. Results demonstrated optimal desulphurization of more than 90% following efficacy order as Si-Ni > Si-Zn > Si-Cu based adsorbents. Proposed multilayered (Freundlich) adsorption mechanism follows ${\pi}$-complexation with pseudo secnd order kinetics.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2005

Optimal conditions for preparation of starch/PVA blends were investigated with the consideration of factors that may influence mechanical properties of the blends. $L_{27}(3^{13})$ experimental designs based on Taguchi method were performed and then tensile strength, strain at break, Young's modulus and tear strength of films of the blends were measured to determine the optimal conditions for preparation. Interaction effects for each factor were determined from analysis of variables. Results of $L_{27}(3^{13})$ experiments indicated that glycerol and urea were important process factors affecting optimization of the mechanical properties.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.191-209
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• 2022

Very slow degradation of synthetic based polymers has created a severe environmental issue that increased awareness towards research in polymers of biodegradable property. Soy protein isolate (SPI) is a natural biopolymer used as matrix in green composites but it has limitations of low mechanical properties and high water sensitivity. To enhance mechanical properties and reduce water sensitivity of Jute-SPI composites, SPI was modified with pine rosin which is also a natural cross-linking agent. 30% glycerol on the weight basis of a matrix was used as a plasticizer. The fibre volume fraction was kept constant at 0.2 whereas the pine rosin in SPI ranged from 5% to 30% of the matrix. The effects of pine rosin on mechanical, thermal, water sensitivity and surface morphology have been characterized using various techniques. The mechanical properties and water absorbency were found to be optimum for 15% pine rosin in Jute-SPI composite. Therefore, Jute-SPI composite without pine rosin and with 15% pine rosin were chosen for investigation through characterization by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The surface morphology of the composite was influenced by pine rosin which is shown in the SEM image. TGA measurement showed that the thermal properties improved due to the addition of pine rosin. Antimicrobial test showed antimicrobial property in the composite occurring 15% pine rosin. The research paper concludes that the modification of SPI resin with an optimum percentage of pine rosin enhanced mechanical, thermal as well as water-resistant properties of jute fibre reinforced composites.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.715-723
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• 2018

The present study was done to investigate the effect of co-culturing muscle satellite cells (MSCs) and intramuscular preadipocytes (IPs) on the differentiation of adipocytes and muscle cells isolated from Korean native cattle. MSCs and IPs were single-cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum/Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (FBS/DMEM) for 48 h followed by culturing in 5% FBS/DMEM as the growth media. Then, the growth media was replaced by differentiation media composed of 2% FBS/DMEM without any additives for the single- or co-culture of muscle cells and intramuscular adipocytes to induce the differentiation of both cell types. Cell differentiation was measured by morphological investigation and cytosolic enzyme analysis of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) for the adipocytes and creatine kinase (CK) for the muscle cells. In the morphological test, the presence of muscle cells did not stimulate adipocyte differentiation showing more differentiation of the adipocytes in the single-culture compared to the co-culture condition. However, the differentiation of muscle cells was promoted by adipocytes in the co-culture. The results of the enzymatic analysis were highly associated with the morphological results with a statistically higher GPDH activity (p < 0.05) appearing in the single-culture than in the co-culture, whereas the opposite was true for the CK activity of the muscle cells (p < 0.05). By manipulating in vivo the milieu using a co-culture, we could detect the difference in the rate of cell differentiation and suggest that a co-culture system is a more reliable and precise technique compared to a single-culture. Further studies on various co-culture trials including supplementation of differentiating substances, gene expression analysis, etc. should be done to obtain practical and fundamental data.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2014

Asymmetric 1,2-distearoyl-3-oleoyl-rac-glycerol (SSO) triacylglycerol (TAG) is used as a cocoa butter replacer (CBR). In this study, it was produced by lipase-catalyzed interesterification of fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSBO) and oleic ethyl ester (OEE) in a batch type reactor at $75^{\circ}C$, 250 rpm. Different molar ratios (FHSBO : OEE=1:1, 1:2 and 1:3, w/w) and various reaction times (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hr) were also tested. The optimized condition for SSO was a FHSBO : OEE molar ratio of =1:1 at reaction times of 2, 3, 4, and 5 hr. Enzymatic synthesis generated SSO/SOS, as well as the other TAGs (e.g., PSO/POS, SOO/OSO, SSS), ethyl esters, monoacylglycerol (MAG), and diacylglycerol (DAG). After scale-up, fractionation by solvent (methanol and acetone) fractionation and column chromatography was applied. To reduce ethyl esters, high-melting TAGs (e.g., SSS), and SOO/OSO in reactants, solvent fractionation was applied. Using a silica gel column (sample : silica gel=2:1, wt%), MAG and DAG were removed at $25^{\circ}C$. The major fatty acid composition of the final products (with a high SSO/SOS content) was palmitic acid (C16:0, 10.9~12.9 area%), stearic acid (C18:0, 52.2~54.9 area%), and oleic acid (C18:1, 34.2~35.5 area%). In reversed-phase HPLC analysis, the major TAG species of the final product (FHSBO : OEE=1:1, 2 hr) were SSO/SOS (82.31 area%) and PSO/POS (14.51 area%). Based on the $[SS]^+$ : $[SO]^+$ ratio obtained by RP-HPLC/APCI-MS, the final product had a higher SSO (AAB type TAG) content than cocoa butter (CB). The solid fat index (SFI) of CB and the final product obtained were similar with a narrow melting point range around ~32 to $35^{\circ}C$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1068-1076
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• 2020

Objective: In the present study, we determined efficiency of incorporating caffeine, melatonin or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the diluent on mitigating consequences of (a) liquid chilled- and (b) cryo-storage of ram spermatozoa. Methods: In the first experiment, ejaculates (n = 30) were collected from 5 adult rams and were pooled, diluted (1:10) with Tris-citric acid (base diluent) and were split into 4 aliquots assigned for: control (untreated), caffeine (0.1 mM), melatonin (0.3 mM) or omega-3 fatty acids (0.3 mM) (T₀). The diluted specimens were stored at 4℃ for 48 h, during which sperm physical and cytological properties were evaluated along with oxidative stress indices (T₂₄, T₄₈). In the second experiment, 15 ejaculates (3 per male) were pooled, diluted with glycerolized base diluent (4% glycerol, v/v) and were split corresponding to the same previous treatment groups before being processed for cryopreservation. Post-thaw physical and kinematic sperm properties were assessed by a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Results: The results clarified superiority of both melatonin and omega-3 supplementation on maintaining (p<0.05) sperm properties, while reducing (p<0.05) lipid peroxidase reaction and enzymatic activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in preservation medium, compared to caffeine either during liquid-chilled storage or cryopreservation of spermatozoa. Conclusion: Melatonin and omega-3 are regarded efficient alternatives to caffeine when processing ram spermatozoa for application of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluated the efficiency of sperm cryosurvival using each extenders Triladyl and LEY containing egg yolk to the cryopreservation of separated sperm by percoll in miniature pig. The ejaculated semen from miniature pig was separated by 65% percoll and un-separated sperm as a control before freezing. The freezing of diluted semen added with Triladyl containing egg yolk and LEY solution (solution I: 11% Lactose or Triladyl + egg yolk; solution II: solution I + glycerol + OEP). Analysis of sperm ability was estimated by viability, capacitation acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CIC) the morphologic abnormality and hypoosmotic swelling test(HOST). The groups were designed that as separated sperm by Percoll with Triladyl(ST) or LEY(SL) for cryopreservation. And unseparated sperm with Triladyl(UT) or LEY(UL). As a results, the viability was higher significantly(p<0.05) in ST, SL, UT than UL extender. The morphologic abnormality was measured significantly (p<0.05) lower in ST than other extenders. The AR-patterned in CTC analysis was measured significantly(p<0.05) lower in SL and UL than other extenders. In conclusion, using Triladyl extender resulted in viability and morphology of separated sperm by percoll that were effective than using LEY extender, but it resulted in capacitation acrosome reaction was lower than using LEY extender.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.260-263
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• 2015

Epoxy/micro-sized alumina composite was prepared and the effects of alumina content on the electrical and mechanical properties were investigated in order to develop an insulation material for gas insulated switchgear (GIS). Nano-sized alumina (average particle size: 30 μm) was also incorporated into the epoxy/micro-sized alumina composite. An electrical insulation breakdown strength test was carried out in sphere-sphere electrodes and the data were estimated by Weibull statistical analysis. Tensile strength was measured at a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min using a universal testing machine. Alumina content was varied from 0 wt% to 70 wt%.). As micro-sized alumina content increased, insulation breakdown strength increased until 40 wt% alumina content and decreased after that content. The tensile strength of a neat epoxy system was 82.2 MPa and that value for 60 wt% alumina content was 91.8 MPa, which was 111.7% higher than inthe neat epoxy system. The insulation breakdown strength of micro-sized alumina (60 wt%)/nano-sized alumina (1 phr) glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) (1 phr) composite was 54.2 MPa, which was 116% higher than the strength of the system without nano-sized alumina.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.593-602
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• 2013

Biodiesel is an important new alternative transportation fuel and it can be produced by chemically reacting a fat or oil with an alcohol, in the presence of a catalyst. The product of the reaction is a mixture of methyl esters, which are known as biodiesel, and glycerol, which is a high value co-product. The process is known as transesterification. Biodiesel can be used neat and when used as a pure fuel it is known as BD100. However, it is often blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel and when this is done the blend is designated BD5 or BD20(BD20 is a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel). Adherence to a quality standard is essential for proper performance of the fuel in the engine and will be necessary for widespread use of biodiesel. In this study, we analyzed 4,144 papers of biodiesel by category, country, institution, keyword etc. from 2001 to 2013 years.