• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1996

For evaluating the suitability of human follicular fluid(HFF) as protein supplement in ART, this preliminary study was performed to examine the maturation promoting activity of HFF on mouse follicular oocytes in vitro. Mouse follicular oocytes were collected from ovaries of 21-28 day old ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with fine needle at 48 hours after PMSG injection. The oocytes were rinsed and cultured in modified Whittingham's $T_6$ medium containing purines or dbcAMP to maintain meiotic arrest, and different concentrations of HFF were added into the culture medium to examine the effect of HFF on releasing the oocytes from the suppressive influence of the meiotic inhibitors. As a control for HFF, the maturation promoting activity of human fetal cord serum(HFCS) was investigated and compared with the activity of HFF. While HFF was separated, by molecular weight(M.W), into high M.W. fraction(M.W>30,000) and low M.W. fraction(M.W<30,000) and the effects of the fractions on meiotic resumption were investigated in the presence of the meiotic inhibitors. Also hormone analysis was performed to compare the content of hormones in HFF with that in HFCS. Same concentrations of HFF and HFCS induced similar germinal vesicle break down(GVBD) rates of the oocytes meiotic arrested by purines(4mM hypoxanthine+0.75mM adenosine), but the extrusion rate of 1st polar body(PB) of the oocytes cultured in HFF(65.0%, P<0.05) was significantly higher than that(51.6%) in HFCS. While, in the presence of 200 M dbcAMP, the maturation promoting activity of HFF (GVBD: 70.5%, $p<10^{-6}$; 1st PB extrusion: 67.1%, $p<10^{-3}$) was significantly greater than that of HFCS(GVBD: 35.2%; 1st PB extrusion: 41.1%). The oocytes cultured in the fraction of HFF containing high M.W. components showed higher meiotic maturation rates than the oocytes cultured in the low M.W. fraction of HFF. Gonadotropins and $E_2$ were known to improve the completion of maturation changes, and the levels of these hormones were higher in HFF than in HFCS. Therefore, HFF was more effective than HFCS to use for promoting meiotic resumption of mouse oocytes in vitro.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 1995

The effects of allelochemicals from medicinal plants have been studied as photo-synthetic inhibitor for photoautotrophic(PA) cultured cells. The extracts from 9 plant species were used for measuring the physiological effects on the liverwort cultured cell in following areas; germination inhibition, chlorophyll contents, hill activity, cell viability, photosynthetic oxygen evolution,and protein pattern changes on SDS PAGE. Germination inhibitions were detected in all plant after treating with 10% extract. Especially, treatment with 10% extract from Pulsatilla koreana and Aconitum carmichael inhibited germinations completely. Chlorophyll fornation was inhibited completely by treating PA cells with extract of Pulsatilla koreana, whose effect was similar to that of DCMU 10-3M, inhibitor for photosynthetic electron trans-fer. The treatment with extract from Pulsatilla koreana on PA cell showed the highest hill activity and the lowest cell viability among extracts studied. Oxygen releasing has been decreased down to 14-77% after treating with extracts from Pinellia ternata, Araliacont inentaila, Pulsatilla koreana and Vitex rotundifolia. Especially, 60$\mu$l of Pulsatilla koreana extract into 2ml mixture of PA cell inhibit-ed oxygen release up to 50%. Protein bands on SDS-PAGE, 14kD, 31kD, 41kD, 53kD, and 73kD, were not detected after treating Pulsatilla koreana extract on PA cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.409-414
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• 2006

Molecular chaperones and folding enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associate with the newly synthesized proteins to prevent their aggregation and help them fold and assemble correctly. Chaperone function of BiP, which is a Hsp70 homologue in ER, is controlled by the N-terminal ATPase domain. The ATPase activity of the ATPase domain is affected by regulatory factors. BAP was identified as a nucleotide exchange factor of BiP (Grp78), which exchanges ADP with ATP in the ATPase domain of BiP This study presents whether BAP can influence folding of a protein, immunoglobulin heavy chain that is bound to BiP tightly. We first examined which nucleotide of ADP and ATP affects on BAP binding to BiP The data showed that endogenous BAP of HEK293 cells prefers ADP for binding to BiP in vitro, suggesting that BAP first releases ADP from the ATPase domain in order to exchange with ATP. Immunoglobulin heavy chain, an unfolded protein substrate, was released from BiP in the presence of BAP but not in the presence of ERdj3, which is another regulatory factor for BiP accelerating the rate of ATP hydrolysis of BiP The ADP-releasing function of BAP was, therefore, believed to be responsible for immunoglobulin heavy chain release from BiP. Grp170, another Hsp70 homologue in ER, did not co-precipited with BAP from $[^{35}S]$-metabolic labeled HEK293 lysate containing both overexpressed Grp170 and BAP. These data suggested that BAP has no specificity to Grp170 although the ATPase domains of Grp170 and BiP are homologous each other.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.141-144
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• 2010

In vivo embryo produced from Hanwoo donor cows were collected and transferred to Hanwoo recipients. Cows, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received Progesterone Releasing Intravaginal Device (CIDR-plus, InterAg, New Zealand) together with injection of 1 mg estradiol benzoate and 50 mg progesterone, and gonadotropin treatment began 4 day later. For superovulation, a total of 28 mg FSH was intramuscularly injected twice a day in the way of decreasing doses 4 day (5, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2 and 2 mg). Twenty one Hanwoo donor cows were flushed on day 7 of estrus cycle with same FSH and artificial insemination by the same technicians. Embryos were recovered 7 days after the second insemination by flushing the uterus with Embryo Collection Medium. The results obtained were as follows: The rates of transferable embryos were 50.3%, and 78 fresh embryos at morulae and blastocysts stage were transferred into Hanwoo recipients on day 7 of estrus cycle. The pregnancy rates were first embryo transfer 55.6%, 2nd 62.9% and 3rd 57.9%, respectively. In conclusion, These results suggest that CIDR-based superovulation protocol may be effectively used for production of superior Hanwoo embryos. Also, since it seems the condition of recipient cows greatly affect pregnancy rate, it is very important to evaluate recipient for effective cattle production.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1991

Seven formulations of oxyfluorfen selected from the previous studies(4. 5) were tesed to evaluate crop injury and herbicidal efficacy on two rice cultivars and several annual and perennial weeds in a greenhouse. Each formulation at two different rates was applied to rice transplanted with 8-, 22- and 32-day old seedlings and to direct-seeded rice. Among the formulations, Elvan, Bentonite B. Chitosan and Coal Slag gave lower injury than a control formulation, Sand-coated oxyluorfen, and they did not have a problem with excessive release if active ingredient at once. Especially, the formulations of Elvan, Chitosan and Bentonite B controlled annual weeds (Echinochloa crus-galli, Monochoria vaginalis, Cyperus difformis., and Scirpus juncoides) and perennial weeds (Sagittaria pygmaea, and Cyperus serotinus). The surface structure of the formulations indicate the different possibilities of releasing of oxyfluorfen by different cracking and hole sizes, namely retention capacity.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 1991

Various formulations of oxyfluorfen were tested to evaluate effect of weed control efficacy and rice injury as affected by different degrees of water leakages. Rice injury was increased with increased water leakages. The formulations of Elvan, Coal slag and Chitosan gave slight injury to rice under all conditions included in terms of visual ratings, plant height and fresh weight production. However, weed control of most formulations was decreased and increased with increased water leakages for annual weeds and perennial weeds, respectively, Annual weeds were controlled greater than 90~ by all treatments, but perennial weed control was relatively low. Scirpus juncoides was the most tolerant annual weed to Oxyfluorfen. Elvan formulation showed somewhat decreased control of barnyardgrass with increased water leakages. The promising formulations of Oxyfluorfen were Chitosan, Coal slag, Bentonite B and Elvan (if the first releasing rate increased), which injured rice slightly and controlled annual weeds excellently regardless of degrees of water leakages.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.158-164
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• 2014

Objective: To assess whether an early GnRH antagonist start leads to better follicular synchronization and an improved clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Methods: A retrospective cohort study. A total of 218 infertile women who underwent IVF between January 2011 and February 2013. The initial cohort (Cohort I) that underwent IVF between January 2011 and March 2012 included a total of 68 attempted IVF cycles. Thirty-four cycles were treated with the conventional GnRH antagonist protocol, and 34 cycles with an early GnRH antagonist start protocol. The second cohort (Cohort II) that underwent IVF between June 2012 and February 2013 included a total of 150 embryo-transfer (ET) cycles. Forty-three cycles were treated with the conventional GnRH antagonist protocol, 34 cycles with the modified early GnRH antagonist start protocol using highly purified human menopause gonadotropin and an addition of GnRH agonist to the luteal phase support, and 73 cycles with the GnRH agonist long protocol. Results: The analysis of Cohort I showed that the number of mature oocytes retrieved was significantly higher in the early GnRH antagonist start cycles than in the conventional antagonist cycles (11.9 vs. 8.2, p=0.04). The analysis of Cohort II revealed higher but non-significant CPR/ET in the modified early GnRH antagonist start cycles (41.2%) than in the conventional antagonist cycles (30.2%), which was comparable to that of the GnRH agonist long protocol cycles (39.7%). Conclusion: The modified early antagonist start protocol may improve the mature oocyte yield, possibly via enhanced follicular synchronization, while resulting in superior CPR as compared to the conventional antagonist protocol, which needs to be studied further in prospective randomized controlled trials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

To investigate the effects of sediments on the water quality of an estuary reservoir, Asan reservoir, we analyzed physical and chemical characteristics of the sediments and estimated nutrients release rate from the sediments. The sediments characterized as sandy loam are mainly composed of Nonapatite-P(64.7%) which has strong influence on the eutrophication of the reservoir by releasing from the sediments under the condition of increasing pH and anaerobic environment. High nutrient release rates was observed in April. Negative release rates in June show that there is no significant nutrient release from the sediments. The nutrient release was active at the Site B around the confluence of tributary compared to the Site A near the embankment. Based on the information of nutrient release rates and sediments surface area, daily average nutrient release rates of Asan reservoir are estimated; TN 6,609 kg/d, TP 3,877 kg/d. Since the amount of N and P released from the sediments corresponds to the 7.06% of N and 22.04% of P incoming from the watershed, it can be concluded that there is little influence of sediments on the water quality of Asan reservoir.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.273-280
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• 1988

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the medial amygdaloid nucleus on the pancreatic exocrine secretion and plasma secretin concentration in 44 male albino rats. Twenty-three rats in which the medial amygdaloid nucleus was damaged bilaterally by radio frequency a.c. through stereotaxically inserted electrodes (medical amygdaloid group, MA) and twenty-one rats which received the same operation without damage (operated control, OC), were prepared. Under urethan anesthesia, 0.01 N hydrochloric acid (HCl) or physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) was infused at a rate of 0.18 ml/min into the duodenum for 20 minutes. Pancreatic jucie was collected for the 20 min infusion period. After collection of pancreatic juice, blood was sampled from the abdominal aorta for the radioimmunoassay of plasma secretin concentration. In the MA group, the exocrine pancreatic secretory response to 0.01 N HCI as well as saline infusion was significantly inhibited compared with that in the OC group. The pancreatic protein output of the MA group significantly decreased after the saline infusion and tended to decrease after the 0.01 N HCI infusion, compared with that of the OC group. However, there was no significant difference in plasma secretin concentration between the two groups. Therefore it is strongly suggested that the rat medial amygdaloid nucleus has a facilitatory influence on both basal and acid-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion, but the releasing mechanism of secretin appears not to be involved in the influence.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2015

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the surface treatment and shape of the dental alloy on the composition of the prosthetic work and its metallic ion release in a corrosive medium after casting. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Orion Argos (Pd-Ag) and Orion Vesta (Pd-Cu) were used to cast two crowns and two disks. One of each was polished while the other was not. Two as-received alloys were also studied making a total of 5 specimens per alloy type. The specimens were submersed for 7 days in a lactic acid/sodium chloride solution (ISO standard 10271) and evaluated for surface structure characterization using SEM/EDAX. The solutions were quantitatively analysed for the presence of metal ions using ICP-MS and the results were statistically analysed with one-way ANOVA and a Tukey post-hoc test. RESULTS. Palladium is released from all specimens studied (range $0.06-7.08{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$), with the Pd-Cu alloy releasing the highest amounts. For both types of alloys, ion release of both disk and crown pairs were statistically different from the as-received alloy except for the Pd-Ag polished crown (P>.05). For both alloy type, disk-shaped pairs and unpolished specimens released the highest amounts of Pd ions (range $0.34-7.08{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$). Interestingly, in solutions submerged with cast alloys trace amounts of unexpected elements were measured. CONCLUSION. Shape and surface treatment influence ion release from dental alloys; polishing is a determinant factor. The release rate of cast and polished Pd alloys is between $0.06-0.69{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$, which is close to or exceeding the EU Nickel Directive 94/27/EC compensated for the molecular mass of Pd ($0.4{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$). The composition of the alloy does not represent the element release, therefore we recommend manufacturers to report element release after ISO standard corrosion tests beside the original composition.