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Comparison of Fermentation Characteristics of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and Guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) during the Early Stage of Ensiling

  • Shao, Tao;Zhang, Z.X.;Shimojo, M.;Wang, T.;Masuda, Y.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.18 no.12
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    • pp.1727-1734
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    • 2005
  • The fermentation characteristics and mono- and di-saccharides compositions during the early stage of ensiling were studied with a temperate grass, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and a tropical grass, guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). The laboratory silos were kept in the room set at 25$^{\circ}C$, and then were opened on 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days (14 days in Italian ryegrass) after ensiling, respectively. The Italian ryegrass silage showed a fast and large pH decrease caused by a fast and large production of lactic acid during the first 5 days of ensiling and succeeded to achieve lactic acid type fermentation; high lactic acid/acetic acid and lactic acid content at the end of ensiling (14 days), low values of pH (3.74), acetic acid, ethanol and ammonia-N/total nitrogen, none or only small amounts of Butyric acid, valeric acid and propionic acid. The guineagrass silage showed a slow decrease in pH and a slow increase in lactic acid content during the full ensiling period, causing a high final pH value, low contents of lactic acid, acetic acid, total volatile fatty acids and total organic acids. In Italian ryegrass silage, mono- and di-saccharides compositions decreased largely within the initial 0.5 day (12 h) of ensiling. Sucrose disappeared rapidly within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, but fructose and glucose contents showed an initial rise by the activity of enzymes in plant tissues, and then decreased gradually. On the other hand, the contents of monoand di-saccharides in guineagrass showed the largest decreases due mainly to plant respiration within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, and no initial rises in fructose and glucose contents during the early stage of ensiling because of the absence of fructans which are hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose in temperate grasses. In both silages, the rate of reduction in mono- and di-saccharides compositions within the initial 5 days of ensiling was ranked in the order of glucose>fructose>sucrose, suggesting that glucose and fructose might be more favorably utilized than sucrose by microorganisms and glucose is the first fermentation substrate. It was concluded that the silage made from Italian ryegrass with high moisture content had a good fermentation quality owing to the dominance of lactic acid bacteria and active lactic acid fermentation during the initial stage of ensiling. These results can be explained by rapid plant sap liberation and the high activity of plant enzyme hydrolyzed fructans into fructose and glucose within the initial 2 days of ensiling, which stimulate the homofermentative lactic acid bacteria growth. In ensiling a temperate grass, the physical characteristics may ensure the rapid onset of fermentation phase, which results from the smaller losses of water-soluble carbohydrates during the initial stage of ensiling and providing sufficient water-soluble carbohydrates for lactic acid bacteria. The silage made from guineagrass with intermediate dry matter and high initial mono- and di-saccharides content was stable silage. This could be explained by the higher incorporation of air during the very early stage of ensiling and the restriction of cell breakdown and juice release due to the properties of a tropical grass with coarse porosity and stemmy structures. These physical characteristics delayed the onset of lactic acid bacteria fermentation phase by extending the phases of respiration and aerobic microorganisms activity, causing the higher loss of water-soluble carbohydrates and the shortage of lactic acid bacteria fermentation substrates.

Evaluation of the CO2 Storage Capacity by the Measurement of the scCO2 Displacement Efficiency for the Sandstone and the Conglomerate in Janggi Basin (장기분지 사암과 역암 공극 내 초임계 이산화탄소 대체저장효율 측정에 의한 이산화탄소 저장성능 평가)

  • Kim, Seyoon;Kim, Jungtaek;Lee, Minhee;Wang, Sookyun
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.49 no.6
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    • pp.469-477
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    • 2016
  • To evaluate the $CO_2$ storage capacity for the reservoir rock, the laboratory scale technique to measure the amount of $scCO_2$, replacing pore water of the reservior rock after the $CO_2$ injection was developed in this study. Laboratory experiments were performed to measure the $scCO_2$ displacement efficiency of the conglomerate and the sandstone in Janggi basin, which are classified as available $CO_2$ storage rocks in Korea. The high pressurized stainless steel cell containing two different walls was designed and undisturbed rock cores acquired from the deep drilling site around Janggi basin were used for the experiments. From the lab experiments, the average $scCO_2$ displacement efficiency of the conglomerate and the sandstone in Janggi basin was measured at 31.2% and 14.4%, respectively, which can be used to evaluate the feasibility of the Janggi basin as a $scCO_2$ storage site in Korea. Assuming that the effective radius of the $CO_2$ storage formations is 250 m and the average thickness of the conglomerate and the sandstone formation under 800 m in depth is 50 m each (from data of the drilling profile and the geophysical survey), the $scCO_2$ storage capacity of the reservoir rocks around the probable $scCO_2$ injection site in Janggi basin was calculated at 264,592 metric ton, demonstrating that the conglomerate and the sandstone formations in Janggi basin have a great potential for use as a pilot scale test site for the $CO_2$ storage in Korea.

Overview of Research Trends in Estimation of Forest Carbon Stocks Based on Remote Sensing and GIS (원격탐사와 GIS 기반의 산림탄소저장량 추정에 관한 주요국 연구동향 개관)

  • Kim, Kyoung-Min;Lee, Jung-Bin;Kim, Eun-Sook;Park, Hyun-Ju;Roh, Young-Hee;Lee, Seung-Ho;Park, Key-Ho;Shin, Hyu-Seok
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.236-256
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    • 2011
  • Forest carbon stocks change due to land use change is an important data required by UNFCCC(United Nations framework convention on climate change). Spatially explicit estimation of forest carbon stocks based on IPCC GPG(intergovernmental panel on climate change good practice guidance) tier 3 gives high reliability. But a current estimation which was aggregated from NFI data doesn't have detail forest carbon stocks by polygon or cell. In order to improve an estimation remote sensing and GIS have been used especially in Europe and North America. We divided research trends in main countries into 4 categories such as remote sensing, GIS, geostatistics and environmental modeling considering spatial heterogeneity. The easiest way to apply is combination NFI data with forest type map based on GIS. Considering especially complicated forest structure of Korea, geostatistics is useful to estimate local variation of forest carbon. In addition, fine scale image is good for verification of forest carbon stocks and determination of CDM site. Related domestic researches are still on initial status and forest carbon stocks are mainly estimated using k-nearest neighbor(k-NN). In order to select suitable method for forest in Korea, an applicability of diverse spatial data and algorithm must be considered. Also the comparison between methods is required.

Expressions of transforming growth factor β in patients with rheumatioid arthritis and osteoarthritis (류머티스 관절염과 골관절염 환자에서 Transforming growth factor β의 발현 양상)

  • Kim, Chae-Gi;Yoon, Wern Chan;Song, Yong-Ho;Kim, Sang-Gyung;Choe, Jung-Yoon
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
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    • v.1 no.3
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    • pp.244-249
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    • 2001
  • The transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ ($TGF-{\beta}$) is a multifunctional cytokine modulating the onset and course of autoimmune disease as shown in experimental models. In synovial inflammation, there is a potential role for $TGF-{\beta}$ in repairment, the inhibition of cartilage and bone destruction, and the down-regulation of immune response. The biologic effects of $TGF-{\beta}$ depend on the cell type, the isoform and the availability of active $TGF-{\beta}$. We investigated $TGF-{\beta}$ expression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared to those of osteoarthritis (OA). And we determined a correlation between $TGF-{\beta}1$ and $TGF-{\beta}2$, and also the relationships between each $TGF-{\beta}$ isoform and the parameters for disease activity of RA. Methods: The study population consisted of 20 patients with RA and 20 patients with OA. The commercial ELISA kit was used to study $TGF-{\beta}1$ and $TGF-{\beta}2$ levels in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluids (SF). Results: 1) While PB $TGF-{\beta}1$ level was of no difference between RA and OA patient groups, SF $TGF-{\beta}1$ level was higher in RA group than OA group. Similarly, PB $TGF-{\beta}2$ levels of RA and OA groups was not different, but SF $TGF-{\beta}2$ levels was higher in RA group than OA group. 2) In patients with RA, the $TGF-{\beta}1$ levels were higher than $TGF-{\beta}2$ in both the PB and SF, while in patients with OA, there showed higher readings for $TGF-{\beta}1$ than $TGF-{\beta}2$ in SF but no difference between $TGF-{\beta}1$ and $TGF-{\beta}2$ levels in PB. 3) In patients with RA, there were no correlations between PB $TGF-{\beta}1$ and PB $TGF-{\beta}2$ levels, nor between SF $TGF-{\beta}1$ and SF $TGF-{\beta}2$ levels. At the same way, there was no correlation between PB $TGF-{\beta}1$ and SF $TGF-{\beta}1$ levels, nor between each levels of $TGF-{\beta}2$ in patients with RA. 4) There was also no correlation between each $TGF-{\beta}$ isoform and the parameters for disease activity such as ESR, CRP, tender joint count, swollen joint count, rheumatoid factor, and the duration of morning stiffness except between in PB $TGF-{\beta}1$ and disease duration of RA (r=0.637, p<0.01). Conclusion: Each $TGF-{\beta}$ isoforms were higher in synovial fluid of patients with RA than that of patients with OA. The data from the RA patients demonstrated different patterns of expressions of the isoforms depending on which compartment (PB or SF) was investigated. The quantification of different $TGF-{\beta}$ isoform is thought to be important when $TGF-{\beta}$ is measured under disease conditions of RA.

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The effect of admixture of vitamin $D_3$ and dexamethasone on the activity of osteoblastic cells (Vitamin $D_3$와 Dexamethasone의 복합 투여가 골모세포에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Lim, Na-Won;Park, Young Joo;Kim, Sang-Cheol
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.29 no.3 s.74
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    • pp.383-397
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    • 1999
  • Bone is a dynamic tissue which is constantly remodelled by subsequent cycles of bone resorption and formation. Glucocorticoid and vitamine $D_3$ are known as regulating substances in bone metabolism. In vitro experiments using bone tissue, it was suggested that glucocorticoid inhibits bone resorption, whereas the effect of glucocorticoid on bone formation are complex- increasing or decreasing effect. The active form of vitamin $D_3$, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol[1.25-$(OH)_2D_3$], has been reported to stimulate osteoblastic activities including the production of ALP, type I collagen, and osteoclacin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of admixture of vitamin $D_3$ and dexamethasone, one of glucocorticoids, on osteoblastic cell line(MC3T3-E1). Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and MTT assay were conducted in the cultivated cells with 1, 10, 100nM/ml of 1,25-$(OH)_2D_3$ and/or 10nM/ml, 100nM/ml, $1{\mu}M/ml$ of dexamethasone. The observed results were as follows. 1. The activity of osteoblastic cells with $1{\mu}M/ml$ of dexamethasone was significantly increased at 1-day cultivation with comparison to control group, but was decreased afterwards. But the activity of ALP was greatest in $1{\mu}M/ml$ of dexamethasone and increased with time lapsed. 2. The activity of osteoblastic cells with vitamin $D_3$ was significantly increased dose-dependently at 1-day cultivation, but was significantly decreased in l00nM/.ml at 2-day cultivation, and was a little increased again at 3-day cultivation. The activity of ALP was increased in 10nM/ml or 100nM/ml at 2-day or 3-day cultivation, and was greatest in 100nM/ml at 3-day cultivation. 3. In case of admixture of dexamethasone and vitamin $D_3$, the cellular activity was decreased in any concentration of vitamin $D_3$ at 2-day cultivation, but was increased again at 3-day cultivation, which was greater than that in control or dexamethasone only group. The activity of ALP was decreased at 1-day cultivation, but was increased in the admixture of 10nM/ml or 100nM/ml of dexamethasone with 100nM/ml of vitamin $D_3$ at 2-day cultivation, and was again decreased at 3-day cultivation.

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Nutritional and Organoleptic Evaluations of the By-products from Chlorella vulgaris after Lipid Extraction (Chlorella vulgaris의 지질 추출 후 부산물의 영양학적 및 관능적 평가)

  • Oh, Sung-Ho;Choi, Woon-Yong;Seo, Yong-Chang;Kim, Ga-Bin;Lee, Shin-Young;Jeong, Kyung-Hwan;Kang, Do-Hyung;Lee, Hyeon-Yong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.39 no.6
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    • pp.920-926
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    • 2010
  • Marine alga, Chlorella vulgaris, was extracted by chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) solvents for lipid extraction at $35^{\circ}C$ for five hours (HCM-35) and its process was compared with conventional lipid extraction condition such as chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) at $65^{\circ}C$ for one hour (CM-65). This low temperature extraction process showed that 80% of total lipid was extracted and its residues contained relatively unchanged amounts of intact proteins and other minerals as well as amino acid profiles. Interestingly enough, the weight fraction of carbohydrate in the residues slightly increased due to less denaturation at low process temperature. The biological activities of the residues such as cytotoxicity and immune cell growth activation were not much changed after being extracted. The sensory evaluation were found to be very favorable for being used as a food additive and/or food supplement. This result could also help to maintain the economic feasibility of utilizing marine resources in food and other relevant industries.

Growth of Chinese Cabbage Plug Seedlings as Influenced by Various Pre-planting Nitrogen Concentrations in Inert Media (혼합상토에 기비로 혼합된 질소 농도가 배추 플러그묘 생장에 미치는 영향)

  • Sung, Jwa Kyung;Lee, Nu Ri;Choi, Jong Myung
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.34 no.4
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    • pp.616-625
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    • 2016
  • This research was conducted to investigate the optimum level of nitrogen incorporated during formulation of root media as pre-plant fertilizer on the growth of plug seedlings of 'Bool-am No.3' Chinese cabbage. A root medium was formulated by blending peatmoss:coir dust:perlite at a ratio of 3.5:3.5:3.0 (v/v/v). The nitrogen was incorporated in the seven treatments at a rate of 0, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, and $1,500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ during the root medium formulation. The concentrations of other essential nutrients except nitrogen were controlled to equal in all treatments. Then, the root medium was packed into 72-cell plug trays and seeds were sown. The growth measurements as well as tissue and soil solution analysis for nutrients were conducted 2 and 4 weeks after seed sowing. As seedlings grew, the pH in the extracted solution of all treatments tended to decrease. The decreases in the treatments of high N concentrations were more severe than those with low N, but the differences among treatments were not statistically significant. The differences of EC in extracted solution of root media among treatments were sizable until week 3, but the differences began to lessen and the EC decreased in all treatments after week 4. Growth of the aerial parts of plug seedlings at 2 weeks after sowing were highest in the $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and lowest in the $1,500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ treatments, but those at 4 weeks after sowing were highest in the $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and lowest in the $0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ treatments among all treatments tested. The tissue N content was highest and lowest in the treatments of 250 and $1,000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively, when tissues were harvested at 4 weeks after sowing and analysed based on the dry weight of above-ground tissue. The contents of micronutrients were the highest in the 1,000 and $1,500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ treatments among all treatments. The results shown above indicate that the $250mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of pre-plant N and elevation of post-plant N concentration to above $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ are suitable for raising plug seedlings of Chinese cabbage using inert media.

Biological Functions of N- and O-linked Oligosaccharides of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin and Lutropin/Chorionicgonadotropin Receptor

  • Min, K. S.
    • Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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    • 2000.10a
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    • pp.10-12
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    • 2000
  • Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$-subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was. efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to consist of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t63I or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632-653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agonist-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17-fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

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The Effect of Temperature on the Colony Development of Bombus ignitus Smith (호박벌(Bombus ignitus Smith)의 봉군발육에 미치는 영향)

  • 이상범;마영일;배태웅
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.395-407
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    • 1999
  • The queens of Korean native bumblebee species, Bombus ignitus were collected from the field in the spring of 1997 and reared under the various temperatures as 15$^{\circ}C$$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 2$0^{\circ}C$$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$ $\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 3$0^{\circ}C$$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 60%$\pm$5% of relative humidity and 14L : 10D, to investigate their ecological characteristics, as comparing with control(29$^{\circ}C$$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 60%$\pm$5% of relative humidity and red light). As a result, eggs were laid by foundation queen at 15$^{\circ}C$, but they didn't hatched out while at 2$0^{\circ}C$ eggs were laid by them and they hatched out. When a foundation queen laid eggs at $25^{\circ}C$ and they all were hatched out and normally grown. Finally they were developed to the normal colony. B. ignitus worker survived for 77days at 2$0^{\circ}C$, about 69days at $25^{\circ}C$, about 68days at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and about 63days at 29$^{\circ}C$(control). The first brood workers emerged in 25-27days from the egg which a foundation queen laid. At the various temperatures, the captive queens stand to lay eggs in about 18days at 15$^{\circ}C$, 15days at 2$0^{\circ}C$, 11days at $25^{\circ}C$, 11days at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 4days in control. The first worker and the first drone from the egg cell of the collected queens appeared in about 27days and 72days at 2$0^{\circ}C$, 26days and 88days in $25^{\circ}C$, 24days and 65days at 3$0^{\circ}C$, 25days and 71days in control, respectively. In colony foundation, 33% of the collected queen at 2$0^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, 100% of the disposed queen at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and in control, and 67% of them at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and in control both produced new queens in 66days and 88days, respectively. The life span of the colony founded covered fro about 3 months at $25^{\circ}C$, 3$0^{\circ}C$ and in control. At lower temperatures, the life span of queen is shorter; 2 months at 15$^{\circ}C$ and 3 months at 2$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. A colony which normally developed, varied in size with rearing temperatures; about 20heads at 2$0^{\circ}C$, 482heads at $25^{\circ}C$, 330heads at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 452heads in control. A foundation queen monthly oviposited 1.5egg cells at 15$^{\circ}C$, 3.0egg cells at 2 $0^{\circ}C$, 21.7egg cells at $25^{\circ}C$, 42.3egg cells at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 47.0egg cells in control. As a colony developed in June and July, egg cells as well as daily average cells increased in number, as compared to those in May and August. Also, in June and July, interval(days) of egg laying is shorter than in May and August. Number of nectar pots during the colony development varied with rearing temperatures; 31pots at $25^{\circ}C$, 39pots at 3$0^{\circ}C$, 23pots in control. The emergence of new queen showed a distinctively different two patterns; early emerging type and late emerging type. Workers are rapidly increased from early in July to early in August at $25^{\circ}C$, but at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and in control, emergence of workers are remarkably increased from the middle of June and last until July. No new queen emerged at 15$^{\circ}C$, 2$0^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. New queens at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and in control emerged between late in June and early in July. Thus emergence of new queen was temperature dependent.

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Imaging Neuroreceptors in the Living Human Brain

  • Wagner Jr Henry N.;Dannals Robert F.;Frost J. James;Wong Dean F.;Ravert Hayden T.;Wilson Alan A.;Links Jonathan M.;Burns H. Donald;Kuhar Michael J.;Snyder Solomon H.
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.17-23
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    • 1984
  • For nearly a century it has been known that chemical activity accompanies mental activity, but only recently has it been possible to begin to examine its exact nature. Positron-emitting radioactive tracers have made it possible to study the chemistry of the human mind in health and disease, using chiefly cyclotron-produced radionuclides, carbon-11, fluorine-18 and oxygen-15. It is now well established that measurable increases in regional cerebral blood flow, glucose and oxygen metabolism accompany the mental functions of perception, cognition, emotion and motion. On May 25, 1983 the first imaging of a neuroreceptor in the human brain was accomplished with carbon-11 methyl spiperone, a ligand that binds preferentially to dopamine-2 receptors, 80% of which are located in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Quantitative imaging of serotonin-2, opiate, benzodiazapine and muscarinic cholinergic receptors has subsequently been accomplished. In studies of normal men and women, it has been found that dopamine and serotonin receptor activity decreases dramatically with age, such a decrease being more pronounced in men than in women and greater in the case of dopamine receptors than serotonin-2 receptors. Preliminary studies in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders suggests that dopamine-2 receptor activity is diminished in the caudate nucleus of patients with Huntington's disease. Positron tomography permits quantitative assay of picomolar quantities of neuro-receptors within the living human brain. Studies of patients with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, acute and chronic pain states and drug addiction are now in progress. The growth of any scientific field is based on a paradigm or set of ideas that the community of scientists accepts. The unifying principle of nuclear medicine is the tracer principle applied to the study of human disease. Nineteen hundred and sixty-three was a landmark year in which technetium-99m and the Anger camera combined to move the field from its latent stage into a second stage characterized by exponential growth within the framework of the paradigm. The third stage, characterized by gradually declining growth, began in 1973. Faced with competing advances, such as computed tomography and ultrasonography, proponents and participants in the field of nuclear medicine began to search for greener pastures or to pursue narrow sub-specialties. Research became characterized by refinements of existing techniques. In 1983 nuclear medicine experienced what could be a profound change. A new paradigm was born when it was demonstrated that, despite their extremely low chemical concentrations, in the picomolar range, it was possible to image and quantify the distribution of receptors in the human body. Thus, nuclear medicine was able to move beyond physiology into biochemistry and pharmacology. Fundamental to the science of pharmacology is the concept that many drugs and endogenous substances, such as neurotransmitters, react with specific macromolecules that mediate their pharmacologic actions. Such receptors are usually identified in the study of excised tissues, cells or cell membranes, or in autoradiographic studies in animals. The first imaging and quantification of a neuroreceptor in a living human being was performed on May 25, 1983 and reported in the September 23, 1983 issue of SCIENCE. The study involved the development and use of carbon-11 N-methyl spiperone (NMSP), a drug with a high affinity for dopamine receptors. Since then, studies of dopamine and serotonin receptors have been carried out in over 100 normal persons or patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders. Exactly one year later, the first imaging of opitate receptors in a living human being was performed [1].

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