• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.941-952
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• 2023

The metabolites of agrichemicals, such as organophosphorus pesticides, are known to be more hazardous than their parent pesticides. 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) is a major degradation product of chlorpyrifos, one of the organophosphate insecticides widely used in agriculture. In vivo or in vitro exposure to chlorpyrifos has been known to interfere with male reproductive functions, leading to reduced fertility in mammals. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the changes in the fertilization competence of boar spermatozoa exposed to TCP. Sperm samples were subjected to varying concentrations of TCP (10, 50, 100, 200 µM) and different periods of incubation. Sperm motility, motion kinematics, viability, acrosome integrity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and gene expression levels (ODf2, ZPBP2, AKAP3 and AKAP4) were evaluated after exposure of the sperm to TCP. A significant dose-dependent reduction in motility was observed in sperm samples incubated with TCP compared to the controls after both incubation periods. Sperm viability was significantly decreased in samples incubated with 50, 100, and 200 µM TCP in both incubation periods. A significantly lower percentage of normal acrosomes and gene expression levels were observed in sperm samples exposed to 50, 100, and 200 µM TCP after both incubation periods, compared to the controls. There was a significant increase in the ROS production in spermatozoa incubated with 100 - 200 µM TCP after both incubation periods. Consequently, the direct exposure of boar spermatozoa to TCP interferes with sperm functions and leads to decreased fertilization. In order to identify and address the various causes of reproductive decline, the impact of chemical metabolites needs to be discussed in depth.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 1996

The assessment of acrosomal status is important in evaluating the ability of sperm to fertilize the egg. The acrosomal status of sperm from 47 normal volunteers with proven fertility and 167 subfertile men with not to achieve pregnancy for at least 1 year were evaluated with Acrobeads test(FUSO Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd, Japan) using immunobeads coated with MH61 monoclonal antibody, which is specific for acrosome-reacted sperm. The mean${\pm}$SD of acrobeads score in 47 volunteer group was $2.8{\pm}0.7$, of which 46(97.9%)cases were ${\geq}$ 2. The mean${\pm}$SD of acrobeads score in 167 subfertile group was $1.7{\pm}0.8$, of which 73(79.3%)cases were ${\leq}$ 1. The aerobe ads score in subfertile group were significantly lower(r=0.294, p<0.05) than those in volunteer group. In subfertile group, acrobeads score were well correlated with the sperm density and motility(r=0.275, r=0.281, p<0.01), but not with semen volume(r=0.16) and serum hormone level(FSH r=0.084, LH r=0.036, testosterone r=0.058, prolactin r=0.006 and estradiol r=0.060)(p>0.05). Of 63 subfertile cases with normozoospermia, 22(34.9%)cases showed 0 or 1 of acrobeads score, which means to accompany with a functional defect in spite of normal morphology. As a results, Acrobeads test is not only a technically simple sensitive procedure with good reproducibility in evaluating the sperm fertilizing capacity but also an useful in the evaluation of effectiveness in the treatment of infertility and the separation of acrosome-reacted sperm in the assisted reproductive technique.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2019

The government has proposed a development model for universities to strengthen the capacity of the College of Humanities as part of the university restructuring policy in line with the trend of the times, and encouraged each university to voluntarily induce the establishment of the humanities development plan through financial support under their own individual conditions. With the decline in the school-age population due to the declining fertility rate, the rapid change in the industrial structure has highlighted the decline in the employment rate of the students of the humanities. Therefore, the government is implementing university grading based on the results of the university structural reform evaluation, and pressing low-grade universities through reduction of capacity and reduction of support. In the course of this change, universities have designated the College of Humanities as the primary target of integration with other majors or and its disintegration. This study examines the direction of the government's attempt to change the humanities in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and suggests a precedent example during the reform of the humanities college. If the humanities college is integrated with practical studies such as management, design, IT, CT, and engineering, the strengths of the humanities can be highlighted. However, the results of this study suggest that many variables such as consideration of students' aptitudes and interests in the integration process of majors, autonomy in major selection, understanding between departments integrated, and demand for a single major before integration or disintegration should be considered. In addition, an example of a local private university shows that the hasty attempt to integrate or disintegrate the humanities can rather lead to various educational harms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.944-950
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• 1999

Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) was fed to one day old chicks of Gallus domesticus in the form of different concentrations (250 and 500 mg/kg feed) of potassium dichromate mixed with the feed, ad libitum, for 32 weeks. After 20 weeks of feeding, the total body weight was higher in the low dose (260 mg/kg (feed) group and lower in the high dose (500 mg/kg feed) group, as compared with the control chicks. After 32 weeks of feeding, however, the total body weight was significantly decreased in both the treated groups. Egg laying was enhanced. Fertility remained unaffected, whereas hatchability was considerably decreased after CrVI-treatment. The egg shell thickness increased significantly (13%). Cr was deposited in a dose dependent manner in the liver and lungs. Some structural derangements in liver were also noted in treated chicks. The results of this study i.e., rapid ageing, excessive Cr deposition, decreased hatchability and hepatotoxicity indicate toxic effects of CrVI.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 2010

Much of the coal ash by thermal power plant has gradually been increased, however researches on the recycling of bottom ash has not been investigated enough so far. In this research, the lysimeter test was conducted to find out the possibilities of bottom ash as soil amendment to improve the physiochemical properties of sandy topsoil of turfgrass in golf course. The turfgrass growth test and leaching test were conducted on the lysimeter. The lysimeter columns were manufactured with various topsoil mixing ratios of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 50% of bottom ash with sand. As a result of leachate analysis through the lysimeter column, the higher ratios of bottom ash mixed affect significantly on water holding capacity of topsoil sand media with decreasing of the percolation rate. The results of leachate analysis in every three days interval, the pH of leachate increased with the bottom ash ratios, but the volume of $NO_3$-N, $NH_4$-N and K decreased significantly. However, the level of EC of leachate had constantly maintained. These results indicate that the application of bottom ash may improve turfgrass growth with water holding capability and fertility of sandy topsoil. However, the negative effects of the bottom ash also evaluated by reducing water permeability and solubility of $PO_4$-P by adsorption into soil particles. The results indicates that the reasonable mixing ratio of the bottom ash as soil amendment should be less than 20% (v/v) with sand which has a low water-holding and fertility in golf course topsoil layers.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1047-1050
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• 2010

This study was to investigate the effects of rice straw incorporation by cutting height on paddy soil fertility. The average residual amount of rice straw by cutting height were showed 1,420 kg $ha^{-1}$, 1,850 kg $ha^{-1}$, and 2,400 kg $ha^{-1}$ for depths of 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm, respectively. For soil physical properties, soil hardness and bulk density were decreased while porosity was increased by rice straw incorporation. But soil organic matter (SOM), available silicate content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly decreased when rice straw was removed from the field. These results indicated that the SOM as residual amount of rice straw was influenced by level of cutting height. Milled rice yield was increased by 28% and 32% for cutting heights of 15 cm and 20 cm, compared with that of control, respectively. The number of spikelets per square meter and the percentage of ripeness were increased with increasing incorporation by lower level of cutting height of rice straw. Therefore, incorporation of rice straw practices under cutting method influenced soil improvement and rice yield in paddy field.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2005

Objective: Rebamipide is a propionic acid derivative that has an action of the inhibition of superoxide production and removal of hydroxyl radical with the sperm incubation and cryopreservation. In the present study, to investigate whether rebamipide is useful to treat male infertility and sterility, the author observed the antioxidative effects in patient with male infertility and also examined its absorption and distribution in rat genital organ. Methods: To measure the distribution of rebamipide in reproductive organ in the rat, carbon indicated rebamipide, $^{14}C-OPC-12759$, was orally administered to 10 Spraque-Dawley rats and its organ concentration in serum, liver, kidney, stomach, duodenum, colon, urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, epididymis and testicle were measured each time after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours by using HPLC fluorescent method. The concentrations in semen were measured by HPLC fluorescent method in a sample of 50 infertile males who took 900 mg of rebamipide daily for 3 months. To measure the antioxidative effect and fertility rate for 3 months, each month before and after the treatment, sperm motility, vitality, the oxygen free radical formation, level of peroxidation, fetilizing capacity of semen sample which were obtained from infertile male patients by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid method and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Simultaneously in a sample that wanted baby, both pregnancy and delivery were researched. Results: The $^{14}C-OPC-12759$ concentration in the body of white rats was highest in gastrointestinal organ like stomach, smal intestine and duodenum and followed by genital organ like seminal vesicle, testis and epididymis. The rebamipide concentration in semen of infertile males was $220.77{\pm}327.84ng/mL$ (SD) which showed a large deviation but it was higher than serum which was $126{\pm}76ng/mL$ (SD). In the infertile males, after the treatment with rebamipide, the level of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation have significantly decreased in duration of the treatment (p<0.05) and sperm vitality and fertilizing capacity except sperm motility significantly improved on post treatment of 2~3 months (p<0.05). Out of the 41 cases who hoped for pregnancy, 15 cases (36.6%) became pregnant and 12 cases had childbrith, 2 cases had miscarriage and one case is ongoing. The side effect was observed in 1 case (2%) which experienced diarrhea but it was lost spontaneously. Conclusions: We conclude from this study that rebamipide showed relatively high tendancy of absorption and excretion in the genital organ. In infertile males who had elevated ROS in semen, by specifically inhibiting the cell damage from the antioxidation, a way to preserve sperm motility, vitality and fertilizing capacity was confirmed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. But, the adverse effects of oxidative biomarkers on sperm quality remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the levels of nitric oxide (NO), 8-hydroxydesoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) oxidative biomarkers in seminal plasma and their relationship with sperm parameters. Methods: A total of 77 volunteers participated in the study, including fertile (n = 40) and infertile men (n = 37). NO, 8-OHdG, and TAC levels were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma, Griess reagent method and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, respectively. Results: The mean values of sperm parameters in the infertile group were significantly lower than those in the fertile group (p< 0.001). The mean 8-OHdG in the seminal plasma of infertile men was significantly higher (p= 0.013) than those of controls, while the mean TAC was significantly lower (p= 0.046). There was no significant difference in NO level between the two groups. The elevated seminal 8-OHdG levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p< 0.001, p= 0.001 and p= 0.052, respectively). NO levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p= 0.014, p= 0.020 and p= 0.060, respectively). Positive correlations between TAC and both sperm count and morphology (p= 0.043 and p= 0.025, respectively) were also found. Conclusion: These results suggested that increased levels of NO and 8-OHdG in seminal plasma could have a negative effect on sperm function by inducing damage to the sperm DNA hence their fertility potentials. Therefore, these biomarkers can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1977

Forest soil fertility was evaluated through the approach of numerical method. In this study, the soil chemical properties analyzed for 35 different soil series as table 2 were cited in numerical analysis. Minimum contents of essential nutrients in the surface soil for a satisfactory growth of tree in the plantation were evaluated by comparing with Wild's standard as table 1. Demanding level of fertilization were evaluated by using the formula 1 as table 5. Similar relation of soil chemical properties between soil series were calculated through formula 2, and then classified into 5 groups in soil chemical properties. 1. General chemical properties of surface soil in case of 35 soil series. About 40 percent of 35 different soil series are less than 2 percent in organic matter, 10 ppm in available phosphorus, 1.25m.e/l00g in exchangeable calcium and 0.5m.e/l00g in exchangeable magnesium. Generally, shortage of exchangeable potash are not found. CEC less than 10m.e/l00g are in two thirds and strong acid soil less than PH 5.5 are in about four fifths. 2. Soil series requested or not the fertilization are indirectly evaluated from the formula 1 using the relative figure of chemical components of CEC, OM and MgO. Through this analysis, 8 different soil series have very poor quality in soil chemical capacity so that demands highly the fertilization. On the other hand, other 13 different soil series group have not been thought to need the fertilization according to chemical guality. 3. By the results comparing the similarity of chemical properties of forest soil, it is thought to be suitable that the forest soil fertility are divided into 5 groups as follows: 1. Low CEC soil 1-1 Low organic matter soil less than 2 percent 1-2 Medium organic matter soil less than 4 percent 2. High CEC and organic matter soil 2-1 Low magnesium soil 2-2 High magnesium soil 3. High magnesium and calcium soil as lime stone.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.287-291
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• 2016

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility (MOT) is an important parameter because the movement of spermatozoa indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Estrogen receptors 2(ESR2) is involved in estrogen related apoptosis in cell cycle spermatogenesis, but their functions have not been confirmed in pig until now. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 105 Duroc pigs with records of semen motility and kinematic characteristics [Total motile spermatozoa (MOT), Curvilinear velocity(VCL), Straight-line velocity(VSL), the ratio between VSL and VCL(LIN), Amplitude of Lateral Head displacement(ALH)] were analyzed. A SNP in coding region of ESR2 g.35547A > G in exon 5 was associated with MOT (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the porcine ESR2 gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effects were not defined yet. These results might shed new light on the roles of ESR2 in spermatogenesis as candidate gene for boar fertility, but still the lack of association across populations should be considered.