• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.1370-1376
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• 2009

Purpose:Treatment of precocity with gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) might theoretically exert a detrimental effect on the bone mass during pubertal development. We investigated the short-term changes in bone mineral density (BMD) during GnRHa treatment and the enhancement in the changes with the co-administration of GnRHa and human growth hormone (hGH). Methods:Forty girls with precocious or early puberty who were using GnRHa for more than 1 year were enrolled. Of them, 14 concurrently received hGH. Lumbar bone mineral density was measured before and after the treatment, and bone mineral density-standard deviation scores (BMD-SDSs) were compared according to chronologic age (CA) and bone age (BA), as well as according to the administration of GnRHa alone (Group I) or the co-administration of hGH and GnRHa (Group II). Results:BMDs before and after treatment were in the normal range according to CA but were significantly lower according to BA (P<0.05). During treatment, BMD-SDSs did not change according to CA but significantly increased according to BA (P<0.05). BMD-SDSs in group I did not change during treatment according to CA or BA, while those in group II increased significantly according to BA (P<0.05), but not according to CA. Conclusion:Lumbar BMD was adequate according to CA at initial manifestation of precocity but was lower if compared to BA, that is, BMD did not increase with BA. Because co-treatment with hGH significantly increased BMD-SDSs according to BA, hGH co-treatment could be considered during GnRHa therapy.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.248-255
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• 2013

This study examined an automated irrigation technique by a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor for scheduling irrigation for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Starbuck F1') cultivation aimed at avoiding effluent from an open hydroponic system with coir substrate containing different ratios of chip-to-dust (v/v) content. Specifically, the objectives were to undertake preliminary measurements of irrigation volumes, leachate volume, volumetric water content and electrical conductivity (EC) in the substrate, plant growth, fruit yield, and water use efficiency resulting from variation in chip content as an initial experiment. Commercial coir substrates containing different percentages of chips and dust (0 and 100%, 30 and 70%, 50 and 50%, or 70 and 30%), two-story coir substrates with different percentages of chips in the lower layer and dust in the upper layer (15 and 85%, 25 and 75%, or 35 and 65%), or rockwool slabs were used. The results showed that a negligible or no leachate was found for all treatments when plants were grown under a technique for scheduling non-drainage irrigation using a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor. Daily irrigation volume was affected by chip content in both commercial and two-story slabs. The highest plant growth, marketable fruit weight, and water-use efficiency were observed in the plants grown in the commercial coir slab containing 0% chips and 100% dust, indicating that the FDR sensor-auto-mated irrigation may be more useful for tomato cultivation in coir substrate containing 0% chips and 100% dust using water efficiently and minimizing or avoiding leachate and thus increasing yield and reducing pollution. Detailed experiment is necessary to closely focus on determining appropriate irrigation volume at each of irrigation as well as duration of each individual irrigation cycle depending on different physical properties of substrates using an automated irrigation system operated by the FDR sensor.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

This study was conducted to compare the physicochemical properties of newly developed artificial medium and conventional plug medium and to investigate the proper irrigation interval to produce the high quality tomato seedlings. The five existing artificial media (organic medium coir, mixed medium Tosilee and Q plug, and inorganic medium LC and rockwool) and four newly developed artificial medium (mixed medium TP-S1 and inorganic medium PU 14-S1, PU-7B, and PU 15-S1) were used to grow tomato 'Yegwang' with irrigation interval of one-day (14 times), two-day (7 times), and three-day (5 times) for 14 days. The pH was the significantly highest in the PU 15-S1. All growing medium measured were in the range of pH 5.17-6.90. EC was the highest in the Q plug. The initial germination rate was the highest in the PU 15-S1. The final germination rate and mean daily germination were not significantly different in all growing medium except for the PU 14-S1. Growth of tomato seedlings at 15 days after sowing was the greatest in the Q plug. At 29 days after sowing, seedlings were also the greatest in the Q plug, followed by rockwool and PU-7B. Also, growth was better in the one-day interval treatment. As a result, we confirmed the applicability of the artificial medium to tomato plug seedlings in this experiment, and seedlings were the greatest in the Q plug. Therefor, it is considered that adding nutrients to the artificial medium of the newly developed medium PU-7B, and applying the irrigation one-day interval can produces high quality tomato seedlings similar to using Q plug.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.569-576
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial phytase (Natuphos$^{\circledR}$) supplementation, individually and in combination with carbohydrase enzyme complex (composed of enzymes targeted to SBM dietary components such as $\alpha$-galactosides and galactomannans; ENDO-POWER$^{\circledR}$) to corn-soy basis diet with low nutrient levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 48 crossbred weaned pigs (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc), 29.1$\pm$0.14 kg of initial body weight, were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, based on weight and age, according to a Randomized Complete Block Design. There were three pens per treatment and 4 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were 1) CON (control diet with 3,380 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy, 18.96% of crude protein, 1.10% of lysine, 0.75% of calcium and 0.35% of available phosphorus), 2) LP+NTPS (CON diet with 0.15% unit lower available P levels+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg; Natuphos$^{\circledR}$)), 3) LEL+ENP (CON diet with 3.0% unit lower ME and lysine levels + 0.1% carbohydrase enzyme complex (ENDO-POWER$^{\circledR}$), and 4) LPEL+ENZ (CON diet with 0.15% unit lower available P levels and 3.0% unit lower ME and lysine levels+0.1% ENDO-POWER$^{\circledR}$ and 0.1% Natuphos$^{\circledR}$ (500 FTU/kg). There was no significant difference (p〉0.05) in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 4 weeks). Apparent digestibility of gross energy was greater in LP+NTPS and LPEL+ENZ groups than in the LEL+ENP (p<0.05). Apparent digestibility of phosphorus was greater in LP+NTPS than in LEL+ENP (p<0.05). Dry matter excretion was lowest in LPEL+ENZ and phosphorus excretion was lowest in LP+NTPS (p<0.05). Overall, pigs fed on LPEL+ENZ group tended to have better nutrient digestibility (dry matter, gross energy, crude protein and phosphorus) than pigs fed on control group. All dietary enzyme treatment groups showed lower feed cost/body weight gain of pigs than control group. In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest that the simultaneous inclusion of phytase and carbohydrase enzyme complex to diets is advantageous with respect to reducing nutrient excretion of growing pigs and may contribute to increased economic return when added to corn-soy based growing pig diets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Lactobacillus brevis (3.4×108 CFU/g) supplementation on growth performance, DM and N digestibilities, blood cell counts and fecal odor emission compounds in growing pigs. Ninety six crossbred [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] pigs with an initial BW of 24.60±1.28kg were used for 42-d feeding trial according to a completely randomized design. Three corn- soybean meal based dietary treatments included: 1) CON (basal diet); 2) LB1 (basal diet + Lactobacillus brevis 0.2%) and 3) LB2 (basal diet+Lactobacillus brevis 0.4%). There were three dietary treatments with eight replicate pens per treatment and four pigs per pen. Through the entire experimental period, ADG, ADFI and gain/feed had no significant differences among treatments(P>0.05). Nitrogen digestibility was increased in LB1 and LB2 treatments compared to CON treatment (linear effect, P<0.05), however, DM digestibility had no significant difference among all the treatments (P>0.05). The WBC, RBC and lymphocyte concentrations in whole blood were not affected by treatments (P>0.05). Fecal NH3N and H2S concentrations were significant decreased in LB2 treatment compared to CON treatment (linear effect, P<0.05). Fecal VFA (acetic acid and propionic acid) concentration was also reduced in LB2 treatment compared to CON treatment (linear effect, P<0.05). In conclusion, Lactobacillus brevis (3.4×108 CFU/g) supplementation at the level of 0.4% can improve nitrogen digestibility and decrease the concentrations of fecal odor emission compounds in growing pigs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.247-265
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• 2008

Objectives: Many types of liver diseases can damage regenerative potential of mature hepatocytes, hepatic progenitor cells or oval cells. In such cases, a stem cell-based therapy can be an alternative therapeutic option. We examined whether human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAM) and human umbilical cord-derived stem cells (HUC) could differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells as therapeutic cells for the liver diseases. Methods: HAM and HUC were isolated from the amnion and umbilical cord of the volunteers after a caesarean section with informed consent. In order to differentiate these cells into hepatocyte-like cells, cells were cultivated in hepatogenic medium using culture plates coated with fibronectin. Effects of hepatocyte growth factor, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, insulin premixture fibroblast growth gactor 4, dimethylsulfoxide, oncostatin M and/or dexamethasone were examined on the hepatic differentiation. After differentiation, the cells were analyzed by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, albumin ELISA, urea assay and periodic acid-schiffs staining. Results: Initial fibroblast-like appearance of HAM and HUC changed to a round shape during culture in the hepatogenic medium. However, in all hepatogenic conditions examined, HUC secreted more amounts of albumin or urea into medium than HAM. Expression of some of hepatocyte-specific genes increased and expression of new genes were observed in HUC following cultivation in hepatogenic medium. Results of immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting analyses demonstrated that HUC secreted albumin into the culture medium. PAS staining further demonstrated that HUC could store glycogen inside of the cells. Conclusions: Both HUC and HAM could differentiate into albumin-secreting, hepatocyte-like cells. Under the same hepatogenic conditions examined, HUC more efficiently differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells compared with the HAM. The results suggest that HUC and HAM could be used as sources of stem cells for the cell-based therapeutics such as in liver diseases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1584-1592
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• 2000

Three hundred nursery pigs were used in two growth assays (avg initial BW of 6.5 and 6.0 kg, respectively) to determine the effects of sodium sulfite ($Na_2SO_3$) as an extrusion aid for soy products used in diets for weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, treatments were arranged as $3{\times}2$ factorial with main effects of soy product [soybean meal (SBM), extruded SBM, and dry-extruded whole soybeans (DEWS)] and concentration of $Na_2SO_3$ (0 and 10 g/kg of soy product). The extruded SBM and DEWS treatments were processed in a dry extruder ($Insta-Pro^{(R)} $, Triple F Nutrition, Des Moines, IA) with barrel temperatures and throughputs of $169^{\circ}C$ and 578 kg/h, and $147^{\circ}C$ and 598 kg/h, respectively. All diets were formulated to 3.5 Mcal/kg DE, with 0.92% lysine for d 0 to 14, and 0.76% lysine for d 14 to 28. For d 0 to 14, there was a tendency for pigs fed diets with $Na_2SO_3$ to have greater ADG (p<0.08), and pigs fed SBM to have greater ADFI (p<0.02), thus pigs fed the extruded soy products has 15% greater gain/feed than those fed SBM (p<0.007). For d 14 to 28, there were no differences in ADG or gain/feed among pigs fed diets with SBM and those fed diets with the extruded soy products (p>0.15). However, pigs fed DEWS had greater ADG than pigs fed extruded SBM, and pigs fed $Na_2SO_3$ had greater ADG and ADFI compared to those not fed $Na_2SO_3$ (p<0.02 and 0.08, respectively). The positive response in ADG and gain/feed to the addition of $Na_2SO_3$ resulted with SBM and extruded SBM treatments, and not with DEWS (interaction effect, p<0.04). Overall (d 0 to 28), pigs fed DEWS had greater ADG (p<0.01) and gain/feed (p<0.08) than pigs fed extruded SBM. Also pigs fed diets with $Na_2SO_3$ had greater ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed compared to those fed diets without $Na_2SO_3$ (p<0.002, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). Exp. 2 was designed as a $2{\times}3$ factorial with main effects of soy product (SBM and DEWS) and concentration of $Na_2SO_3$ (none, 7.5, and 15.0 g/kg of soy product). As in Exp. 1, all diets were formulated to 3.5 Mcal/kg DE, with 0.92% lysine for d 0 to 13, and 0.76% lysine for d 13 to 53. At a constant processing temperature (148 to $149^{\circ}C$, $Na_2SO_3$ increased throughput of the extruder (578, 595, and 602 kg/h for the 0, 7.5, and 15.0 g/kg additions, respectively). For d 0 to 13, treatment had no effect on ADG or ADFI, but gain/feed decreased for pigs fed SBM with increasing concentrations of $Na_2SO_3$, and increased for pigs fed DEWS with increasing concentrations of $Na_2SO_3$ (SBM vs DEWS sulfite quadratic interaction, p<0.03). For d 13 to 35, pigs fed DEWS had greater ADG (p<0.01) and gain/feed (p<0.001) than pigs fed SBM. Also, ADFI decreased and gain/feed increased with increasing concentrations of $Na_2SO_3$ (linear effects, p<0.04 and 0.01, respectively). Overall, pigs fed the diets with DEWS had greater ADG and gain/feed than pigs fed SBM (p<0.003 and 0.002, respectively), and $Na_2SO_3$ tended to decrease ADFI and increase gain/feed (linear effects, p<0.07 and 0.06, respectively). In conclusion, pigs fed DEWS had greater rate and efficiency of gain than pigs fed SBM. Also, adding $Na_2SO_3$ prior to extrusion increased yield and feed efficiency.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.266-270
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• 2005

The effect of the weight ratio of carbon source to nitrogen source on the growth and the composition change of fatty acids of Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304 was investigated. The cell concentration of 5 days' culture increased and then decreased according to the increase of C/N, The ratioes for the maximum biomass were unique respectively and distributed between 1 and 4 with the initial sugar concentration in the range of 5 g/L to 25 g/L. The biomass yield, $Y_{x/s}$ decreased along with the increase of C/N, but maintained a constant value 0.35 between 10 and 20. The composition of myristic acid $(C_{14:0})$, one component of the lipid synthesized by T. aureum, was not affected with the change of C/N, but the composition of palmitic acid $(C_{16:0})$ was around $20\%$ below 4 of C/N and decreased to $15\%$ according to C/N about 4. The compositions of oleic acid $(C_{18:1})$ and linoleic acid $(C_{18:2})$ increased from 0 to $20\%\;and\;7\%$ respectively. The composition of $\gamma-linoleic$ acid $(C_{18:3})$, however, reduced from $5\%\;to\;2\%$. EPA $(C_{20:5})$ and DPA $(C_{22:5})$ showed a tendency of reduction in the weight composition according to the increase of C/N, but DHA $(C_{22:6})$ had a trend maintaining an approximately constant value, around $40\%$, irrespective of the change of C/N.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.97-113
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• 2014

An actual proof experiment was carried out to establish the production of high quality organic rice at farm household in Gwangjin, Junnam, Korea 2011. Experimental plot was designed with conventional organic cultivation and manual organic cultivation in both Hopeongbyeo and Onnuri varities. Experimental field was consisted with suitable drainage loam soil, anryong series, and normal paddy field. Chemical characteristics of the soil were investigated from initial soil and soil after harvest in experimental sites. Seed disinfection was treated with hot water dipping method at $60^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. Rice transplanting was carried out at 17 June with 25 days seedling using machine transplanting. Golden apple snail was used to prevent weed growth as middle size (1.5~1.7 kg/10a) at one week after rice transplanting. Amount of applied fertilizer in experimental plot was supplied with organic fertilizer for the shortage after harvest of hairy vetch (1,100 kg/10a). Bordeaux mixture was used to control of sheath blight and neck blast disease in all experimental plot at 19 Aug. Application of chitin culture solution was treated in manual organic cultivation at 2 and 15 Aug. At late growth stage, incidence rate of neck blast was the highest level at Hopyeongbyeo in conventional organic cultivation. Incidence rate of sheath blight in both Hopyeongbyeo and Onnuri was higher in conventional organic cultivation than in manual organic cultivation. Incidence of rice leaf folder was the highest level at Onnuri in conventional organic cultivation. Yield index in manual organic cultivation was increased by 13% and 38% at Onnuri and Hopyeongbyeo, respectively, compared with conventional organic cultivation. Head rice percentage in both Hopyeongbyeo and Onnuri was slightly increased in manual organic cultivation. These results indicate that high quality production of rice organic cultivation could be depending on management of safe fertilization with nutrient content in soil.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2007

Sex differentiation of the brown croaker Miichthys miiuy (Basilewsky) is described from hatching to the 120th day post-hatching (dph) (water temperature $24^{\circ}C$). Primordial germ cells (PGCs) were observed on the 20th dph (10.4 mm total length (TL), 0.14 g body weight (BW), and began to protrude into the peritoneal cavity from the 40th dph (19.4 mm TL, 0.39 g BW). On the 65th dph (31.3 mm TL, 0.93 g BW, $1,560D^{\circ}$ (degree-days)), initial ovarian differentiation was identified by the PGCs with condensed chromatin, and their transformation into meiotic oocytes. By the 120th dph (4.60 mm TL, 1.38 g BW, $2,880D^{\circ}$), the oocytes were in the perinucleolus stage and had increased from 20 to $40{\mu}m$ in diameter. While ovaries gradually grew after sex was differentiated, testes continued to multiply from the 65th dph. On the 80th dph (37.9 mm TL, 1.39 g BW, $1,920D^{\circ}$), the beginning of testis lobule formation was indicated by the occurrence of spermatogonial cysts enveloped by somatic cells in some of the testes. On the 120th dph, the testis lobules of some of the fish contained all germ cell stages through to the spermatocytes. Therefore, the sex differentiation type of the brown croaker is identified as gonochoristic.