• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.121-145
• /
• 2019

This paper investigates the relationship between the oil price and the major petroleum products prices at the trading hubs such as Singapore, North West Europe and the US New York Harbor. We focus on the lead-lag relationship between the weekly petroleum prices from 2009 to 2016 based on the vector error correction model. We find that the oil price leads the prices of petroleum products in the long term, while there is bidirectional causality in the short term. On the other hand, prices of petroleum products in regions with high import dependency, such as Europe gas oil and jet fuel price, are exogenous in the long term. We also present evidence that prices of petroleum products in region with a large global-market share lead prices in other regions. However, if the region is in an over-production situation and low industry concentration, it may lose its price leadership due to intense competition. The result in this study can provide a useful information to petroleum refining companies in forecasting fluctuations of product price, and hence in planning their regional arbitrage trading activities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 1994

Background: The measurement of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity is valuable for diagnosis and management of bronchial asthma. Methacholine or histamine is used for the pharmacologic provocation test. Usually a methacholine bronchial provocation test is performed by a dosing technique with counted number of breaths. A dosimeter is indispensable in the dosing technique. Recently a timed tidal breathing technique which dose not need an expensive dosimeter was introduced. We measured the degree of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine using a simple timed tidal breathing technique. Method: Forty two healthy volunteers, 12 patients with bronchial asthma(BA), 10 patients with rhinitis(RH) and 10 patients with upper respiratory infection(URI) participated in the study. The subject's nose was clipped and inhalation continued during tidal breathing for 2 minutes via a face mask. $FEV_1$ was measured at 30 seconds, 90 seconds after inhalation and inhalation of next solution was continued until there was a fall in $FEV_1$ of 20%. Histamine PC20 was defined as the concentration at 20% fall of $FEV_1$ and it was obtained from the log dose-response curve by linear interpolation. Results: Inhalation of serial dilution of histamine could be performed in all patients without significant side effects. The geometric mean${\pm}$standard deviation of histamine PC20 in healthy volunteers is $8.27{\pm}2.22mg/ml$, BA group $0.33{\pm}3.02mg/ml$, RH group $0.85{\pm}3.24mg/ml$, and URI group $1.47{\pm}1.98mg/ml$. Conclusion: Histamine bronchial provocation test using timed tidal breath method is a simple and suitable tool for management of patients with bronchial hyperreactivity.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.117-121
• /
• 2016

Although piglets have been delivered by embryo transfer (ET) with in vitro produced (IVP) embryos and blastocysts, a success rate has still remained lower level. Unlike mouse, human, and bovine, it is difficult to a production of piglets by in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of an inappropriate in vitro culture (IVC) system in pig. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate whether minimized exposure time in IVC can improve the pregnancy and delivery rates of piglets. Immediately after IVM, the oocytes were denuded and co-incubated with freshly ejaculated boar semen for 3.5 to 4 hours at $38.5^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. To avoid long-term exposure to in vitro state, we emitted IVC step after IVF. After that the presumptive zygotes were transferred into both oviducts of the surrogate on the same day or 1 day after the onset of estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 28 after ET and then was checked regularly every month by ultrasound examination. The 3 out of 4 surrogates were determined as pregnant (75%) and a total of 5 piglets (2 females and 3 males) were delivered at $118.3{\pm}2.5$ days of pregnancy period. In conclusion, a short-term exposure time may be an important factor in the production of IVP-derived piglets. It can be apply to the in vitro production system of transgenic pig by IVF, cloning, and pronuclear microinjection methods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2010

The matching condition at a perforated wall with vertical slits involves the permeability parameter, which can be calculated by two different methods. One expresses the permeability parameter in terms of energy dissipation coefficient and jet length at the perforated wall, being advantageous in that all the related variables are known, but it gives wrong result in the limit of long waves. The other expresses the permeability parameter in terms of friction coefficient and inertia coefficient, giving correct result from short to long waves, but the friction coefficient should be determined on the basis of a best fit between measured and predicted values of such hydrodynamic coefficients as reflection and transmission coefficients. In the present study, an empirical formula for the friction coefficient is proposed in terms of known variables, i.e., the porosity and thickness of the perforated wall and the water depth. This enables direct estimation of the friction coefficient without invoking a best fit procedure. To obtain the empirical formula, hydraulic experiments are carried out, the results of which are used along with other researchers' results. The proposed formula is used to predict the reflection and transmission coefficients of a curtain-wall-pile breakwater, the upper part of which is a curtain wall and the lower part consisting of a perforated wall with vertical slits. The concurrence between the experimental data and calculated results is good, verifying the appropriateness of the proposed formula.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 2014

Implementation of smart embryo technologies in cattle e.g. ovum pick-up followed by in vitro embryo production (OPU-IVP). Seasonal variation is important factor for follicular growth, oocytes quality, quantity and developmental competence. Therefore the aim of present study was carried out to investigated whether the seasons (hot and cool) effect on follicular development, oocyte recovery and subsequent embryo development. Follicular oocytes were aspirated from Korean native cows (Hanwoo) by the ovum pick-up (OPU) method, which was performed 24 times during two different seasons, the hot (July to September) and cool (October to December), from OPU donors. The recovered oocytes were classified according to morphological categories and used for in vitro embryo production (IVEP). The mean number of total follicles was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the hot season ($18.32{\pm}2.26$) compared to cool season ($15.41{\pm}3.34$). Furthermore, seasons did not significantly effect on the number of oocytes recovered (hot season: 41.16% vs. cool season: 46.14%). However, the average number of Grade A oocytes was significantly greater during hot ($1.75{\pm}1.86$) season compared to the cool season ($1.00{\pm}1.46$), but there was no significant difference of other grades oocytes. The cleavage rate (hot: 66.67% vs. cool: 63.3%) and embryo development (hot: 58.95% vs. cool: 56.97%) did not differ significantly between the seasons. In conclusion, the results of present study suggest that the season (hot and cool) does not have effects on the oocyte recovery and embryo developmental competence of in vitro cultured embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2016

Nucleotide metabolism in endothelium is variable between different species. Recent studies demonstrated that this variability could contribute coagulation dysfunction, even though organs of the alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase gene knockout pig were transplanted into the primate. CD73 (ecto-5'-nucelotidase) is an enzyme at cell surface catalyzing the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine, which plays role on a substance for anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant. Thus, overexpression of CD73 in endothelial cells of the pig is considered as an approach to reduce coagulopathy. In this study, we constructed a human CD73 expression vector under control of porcine Icam2 promoter (pIcam2-hCD73), which is expressed specifically at endothelial cells, and of CMV promoter as a control (CMV-CD73). First, we transfected the CMV-CD73 vector into HEK293 cells, and then confirmed CD73 expression at cell surface by flow cytometry analysis. Next, we transfected the pIcma2-CD73 and CMV-CD73 vectors into primary porcine fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Consequence was that the pIcma2-CD73 vector was expressed only at the porcine endothelial cells, meaning that the pIcam2 promoter lead to endothelial cell-specific expression of CD73 in vitro. Finally, we nucleofected the pIcam2-hCD73 vector into passage 3 fibroblasts, and enforced hygromycin selection of 400mg/ml. We were able to obtain forty three colonies harboring pIcam2-CD73 to provide donor cells for transgenic cloned porcine production.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.46-50
• /
• 2014

A 7-year-old spayed female Welsh corgi presented with a mass of the skull. The mass was diagnosed as multilobular bone tumor and surgically removed. To treat a large bone defect after the tumor removal, custom-made artificial bone fabricated by a 3-dimensional ink-jet printer was implanted in the defect. Follow-up computed tomography evaluation was performed for 4.3 years. The implant was well integrated with the skull and had covered the large bone defect during the follow-up period. Gradual degradation of the implant began 6 weeks after surgery. It provides an additional option for the treatment of large bone defect.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.1632-1642
• /
• 1992

When a blind hole of small diameter is drilled in the field of residual stress, strain relieved around the hole is function of magnitude of stress, patterns of stress distribution and hole geometry of diameter and depth. Relieved strain coefficients can be calculated from FEM analysis of relieved strain and actual stress. These relieved strain coefficients make it possible to measure residual stress which vary along the depth in the subsurface of stressed material. In this study, the calibration tests of residual stress measurement are carried out by drilling a hole incrementally on the cantilever or on the tensile test bar. Residual stresses can be determined from measured strains around a shallow hole by application of power series method. For the sake of reliable measurement of residual stress, much efforts should be done to measure relieved strains and hole depth more accurately comparing with conventional procedures of gage subject to the external load. Otherwise linear equations converting strains into stresses may yield erratic residual stresses because of ill-conditions of linear equations. With accurate measurements of relieved strains, residual stress even if varying along the depth can be measured. It is also possible to measure residual stress in the thin film of material by drilling a shallow hole.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.221-228
• /
• 2018

The osmolarity of a medium that is commonly used for in vitro culture (IVC) of oocytes and embryos is lower than that of oviductal fluid in pigs. In vivo oocytes and embryos can resist high osmolarities to some extent due to the presence of organic osmolytes such as glycine and alanine. These amino acids act as a protective shield to maintain the shape and viability in high osmotic environments. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of glycine or/and alanine in medium with two different osmolarities (280 and 320 mOsm) during IVC on embryonic development after parthenogenesis (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pigs. To this end, IVC was divided into two stages; the 0-2 and 3-7 days of IVC. In each stage, embryos were cultured in medium with 280, 320, or 360 mOsm and their combinations with or without glycine or/and alanine according to the experimental design. Treatment groups were termed as, for example, "T(osmolarity of a medium used in 0-2 days of IVC)-(osmolarity of a medium used in 3-7 days of IVC)" T280-280 was served as control. When PA embryos were cultured in medium with various osmolarities, T320-280 showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation (29.0%) than control (22.2%) and T360-360 groups (6.9%). Glycine treatment in T320-280 significantly increased blastocyst formation (50.4%) compared to T320-280 only (36.5%) while no synergistic was observed after treatment with glycine and alanine together in T320-280 (45.7%). In contrast to PA embryonic development, the stimulating effect by the culture in T320-280 was not observed in SCNT blastocyst development (27.6% and 23.7% in T280-280 and T320-280, respectively) whereas the number of inner cell mass cells was significantly increased in T320-280 (6.1 cells vs. 9.6 cells). Glycine treatment significantly improved blastocyst formation of SCNT embryos in both T280-280 (27.6% vs. 38.0%) and T320-280 (23.7% vs. 35.3%). Our results demonstrate that IVC in T320-280 and treatment with glycine improves blastocyst formation of PA and SCNT embryos in pigs.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.78-92
• /
• 1994

Lysozyme has been reported to be present in the secretory granules of the Paneth cell, and lysozyme immunoreactivity has been detected by immunogold method in Paneth cells of the intestine of human, mouse and rat. The present study was aimed at clarifying the intracellular distribution and changes of the lysozyme immunoreactivity in rabbit Paneth cell after common bile duct ligation of rabbit, using the electron microscope immunogold technique. Healthy adult rabbits weighing about 2kg body weight were divided into normal and bile duct ligated groups. Common bile duct ligation was performed aseptically under ether anesthesia. Experimental animals were sacrificed on the 1st, the 3rd, the 5th, the 7th and the 14th day after the operation. Mucosal specimens from the intestinal gland of ileum were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde, followed by 1% osmium tetroxide, embedded in araldite mixture, cut with LKB-V ultratome. Ultrathin sections were placed on parlodion coated nickel grids (200mesh). The section-bearing grids were floated upside down on the added substance in a moist chamber at room temperature except for the primary antibody step, which was at $4^{\circ}C$. Sections were etched with a saturated solution of sodium m-periodate for 60min. After etching, sections were pretreated with 0.02M tris buffered saline (TBS), pH 8.4, with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA, Sigma) for 60min, then treated polyclonal rabbit anti-human lysozyme (Dakipatts) diluted 1 : 50 in TBS with 0.1% BSA for 20hr. Subsequently, grids were incubated 60min in biotinylated goat anti rabbit IgG (Amersham) diluted 1 : 100 in TBS with 0.1% BSA. After this, sections were incubated 60min on streptavidin gold G10 (Amersham) diluted 1 : 50 in TBS with 0.1% BSA. After each step, the grids were briefly rinsed with TBS with 0.1% BSA. After the strepavidin gold step, the sections were jet washed with distilled water. Counterstain of the sections performed by uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and observed with JEM 100 CX II electron microscope. Observed results were as follow; 1. Secretory granules of mouse Paneth cells have a lysozyme immunoreactivity and also eosinophil leucocyte of rabbit applied for the positive-control stain, are well labeld with gold particles. 2. Normal rabbit Paneth cells have a lysozyme immunoreactivity restricted on the secretory granules. 3. Amount lysosomes containing myelin figures in the Paneth cells were significantly increased from 5th day after the common bile duct ligation. 4. Immunoreactivity of Paneth cell secretory granules were more activated on the 3rd day after the common bile duct ligation as compared with those of the normal animal. But the lysozyme immunoreactivity were decreased from the 5th day after the common bile duct ligation. 5. Considering the above finding, lysozyme contained Paneth cell are affected following of common bile duct ligation, whereas lysosomes containing myelin-figure do not exhibit any immunoreactive relationship with those of secretory granules.