• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1007-1012
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• 2010

The aim of the present study was to describe whether abnormal cervical mucus discharge (A-CMD) or pathogens in cervical mucus discharge (CMD) have effects on reproductive performance of cows and heifers in estrus. Animals having clear discharges (68 cows, 38 heifers) with normal viscosity and without bad odor were grouped as normal cervical mucous discharge (N-CMD) group. The other animals (84 cows, 32 heifers) were grouped as A-CMD group. Microorganisms isolated from samples were divided into three groups as uterine pathogens (UP), potential uterine pathogens (PUP) or opportunistic uterine pathogens (OUP). Presence of PUP was associated with A-CMD for both cows (p<0.01) and heifers (p<0.02). First service conception rates (FS-CR) were lower in cows positive for PUP (p<0.01). Moreover, presence of PUP and OUP affected FS-CR in heifers (p<0.01). Although A-CMD significantly affected FS-CR in cows (p<0.04), it did not affect FS-CR in heifers. Differences in average open day for cows (p<0.02) and first service age for heifers (p<0.01) were significant between N-CMD and A-CMD groups, respectively. The current study suggested that CMD should be evaluated more carefully when there are infertility problems. In addition to the known microorganism that causes sterility and infertility in the UP group, pathogens in the PUP group should be considered for their potential to cause infertility.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.451-456
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• 1998

To find out the repeated application effect of chicken and pig manure composts on tomato growth and soil physico-chemical properties, different rates of the composts were applied to greenhouse soils with low fertility for 3 years and tomato was grown annually. As application rate of compost increased, the growth and fruit yield of tomato increased markedly, and there are also a little increase in sugar content in fruit juice and weight per fruit. When only compost was applied, however, physical and chemical properties in soil showed to be unbalanced such as significantly low bulk density and hardness, and high porosity as well as high organic matter and exchangeable K content, and low exchangeable Ca content than those of optimum range for soil diagnosis. Therefore mixed use of compost and chemical fertilizer is more promising way than the only use of compost to make suitable physico-chemical properties for tomato growth.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2008

Production of transgenic animals for studying specific gene has been limited due to a low efficiency, lack of skilled researchers and the need for expensive equipment. Currently, the boar spermatozoa as a vector to deliver exogenous DNA into the oocyte were used to improve the efficiency of transfection rate. In this study, we revealed that the optimal conditions for DNA uptake in spermatozoa by liposome were to 90 min of incubation, $17^{\circ}C$, $10^5$ spermatozoa, 4 ng/ml of exogenous DNA and 0.5% (v/v) liposome, without damage to fertility. In addition, the developmental rate to the blastocyst stage of embryo in control group was significantly higher than those embryos with exogenous DNA and liposome, whereas there were no significant differences in embryo development between the liposome and type of DNA. The transfection rates of embryo using treated spermatozoa with both liposome and circular DNA were higher than those using linear DNA. These findings raise the possibility thattreated spermatozoa with liposome/DNA complexes could be used in in vitro fertilization, and the exogenous DNA transferred into the oocytes. Taken together, we demonstrated that liposome a vector for the uptake of exogenous DNA in boar spermatozoa could improve the efficiency of sperm-mediated gene transfer in creating transgenic pig and the other domestic transgenic animals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.637-647
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• 2018

Extra-hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plays an important role in reproduction. To study the treatment effect of Grin (a novel hGHRH homodimer), the infertility models of 85 male Chinese hamsters were established by intraperitoneally injecting 20 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide once in a week for 5 weeks and the treatment with Grin or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) as positive control was evaluated by performing a 3-week mating experiment. 2-8 mg/kg of Grin and 200 U/kg of hMG showed similar effect and different pathological characteristics. Compared to the single cyclophosphamide group (0%), the pregnancy rates (H-, M-, L-Grin 26.7, 30.8, 31.3%, and hMG 31.3%) showed significant difference, but there was no difference between the hMG and Grin groups. The single cyclophosphamide group presented loose tubules with pathologic vacuoles and significant TUNEL positive cells. Grin induced less weight of body or testis, compactly aligned tubules with little intra-lumens, whereas hMG caused more weight of body or testis, enlarging tubules with annular clearance. Grin presented a dose-dependent manner or cell differentiation-dependentincrease in testicular GHRH receptor, and did not impact the levels of blood and testicular GH, testosterone. Grin promotes fertility by proliferating and differentiating primitive cells through up-regulating testicular GHRH receptor without triggering GH secretion, which might solve the etiology of oligoasthenozoospermia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2011

Heavy metal remediation in shooting range soil is a challenge over the world. The excessive Pb accumulation in the soil can deteriorate soil quality and fertility. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the efficiency of biochar (BC) in improving the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil and to evaluate its effect on Pb availability in a military shooting range soil. Sandy loam soil was collected from shooting range of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and was incubated for 30 days with different application rates (0-30% w $w^{-1}$) of BC. The results showed that the addition of BC increased aggregate stability, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, and enzyme activities in soil. Sequential extraction showed that residual and organic bound fractions in the soil amended with BC increased by 33.1 and 16.7%, respectively, and the exchangeable fraction decreased by 93.7% in the soil amended with BC, compared to the unamended soil. We concluded that the application of BC could not only improve physicochemical and biological soil qualities but also stabilize Pb in a shooting range soil.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2007

The present study demonstrates the changes in body weight (BW) and plasma sex steroid hormone profiles during artificial maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or salmon pituitary extract (SPE) injections in cultured eel, Anguilla japonica, kept in seawater for 3 months. In the weekly SPE-injected female group, BW was relatively stable during vitellogenesis. Following induction of vitellogenesis, females exhibited a rapid increase of BW, and the oocytes were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage at the end of the experiment. Plasma testosterone (T) and $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and peaked at an average of 5.82 ng/mL and 4.76 ng/mL, respectively, at the end of the experiment. In the weekly control and HCG-injected female groups, BW slowly decreased during the experimental period, and the oocytes of the two groups were observed to be at the primary yolk globule stage. In the weekly HCG-injected female group, plasma T and $E_2$ levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and decreased afterward. In the control female group, however, plasma T and $E_2$ levels were not altered during the experimental period. Furthermore, plasma $17{\alpha},20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$ (DHP) was not detected in all experimental groups. Fertility and hatching rates of SPE-injected females were significantly higher in those that ovulated 15 h after DHP injection than 18 h. These results indicate that long rearing in seawater increases responsiveness to SPE in ovarian maturation of the Japanese eel, resulting in shortened period from completion of vitellogenesis by sex steroid hormone production.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.234-237
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• 2011

Objective: During stimulated IVF cycles, up to 15% of oocytes are recovered as immature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trend of oocyte maturity in repeated ovarian stimulation for IVF. Methods: One hundred forty-eight patients were selected who underwent two consecutive IVF cycles using same stimulation protocol during 2008 to 2010. Ovarian stimulation was performed with FSH and human menopausal gonadotropin and flexible GnRH antagonist protocol in both cycles. Oocyte maturity was assessed according to presence of germinal vesicle (GV) and the first polar body. Immature oocyte was defined as GV stage or metaphase I oocyte (GV breakdown with no visible polar body) and cultured up to 48 hours. If matured, they were fertilized with ICSI. Results: Percentages of immature oocytes were 30.8% and 32.9% ($p$=0.466) and IVM rates of immature oocytes were 36.2% and 25.7% ($p$=0.077), respectively. A significant correlation was noted between percentage of immature oocytes in the two cycles (R=0.178, $p$=0.03). Women with >40% immaturity in both cycles (n=21) showed lower fertilization rate of $in$ $vivo$ matured oocytes (56.4% vs. 72.0%, $p$=0.005) and lower pregnancy rate (19.0% vs. 27.1%, $p$=0.454) after the second cycle when compared with women with <40% immaturity (n=70). In both groups, female age, number of total retrieved oocyte and embryos transferred were similar. Conclusion: In repeated ovarian stimulation cycles for IVF, the immature oocyte tended to be retrieved repetitively in consecutive IVF cycles.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.197-202
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• 2018

The world's ageing population continues to rise rapidly while fertility levels have dropped to low rates in many developed and developing countries, and life expectancy is expected to extend compared to previous decades. Because of demographic changes, a new concept of technology should be introduced. Ambient Assisted Living(AAL) is an innovative form of technology that can be used to provide elderly people with quality of life, to live longer and independently, to monitor and assist elderly, and improve social communication. As far as an AAL system are working, however, the dataset size is continuously increasing. As the AAL data increases in size, therefore, the problem of effectively managing it becomes more difficult. In this paper, therefore, we propose a data management scheme for AAL system on the characteristics of the collected AAL data. Simulation results show that the proposed data management scheme allows achieving space efficiencies higher.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.203-224
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• 2011

This study explored the tendencies of public perception and countermeasures on an aging society by the content analysis of Korea's four major daily newspapers since 2000. Results showed distinguishing growth of the public interest on an aging society. Articles were categorized into five domains - demographic structure, family and individual domain, health domain, economic and financial domain, and social domain. Economic and financial aspects occupied the highest frequency in the total number of articles. The analysis of public perception revealed both negative and positive perspectives on an aging society. In addition, the analysis of the newspaper articles identified particular phenomenon of Korean aging society as distinct rapid aging population, declining fertility rates caused by higher educational expenses, national security problems. Consequently, when we prepare for the alternatives of the aging society, we should pay attention to more various aspects of society based on the understanding of practical problems and needs. Furthermore, researches and discussions focusing on a particular phenomenon of Korea would be required.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.871-879
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• 2017

Levels of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) in oocytes decline after vitrification, and this decline has been suggested as one of the main causes of low developmental competence resulting from cryoinjury. Here, we evaluated MPF activity in vitrified mouse eggs following treatment with caffeine, a known stimulator of MPF activity, and/or the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Collected MII oocytes were vitrified and divided into four groups: untreated, 10 mM caffeine (CA), $10{\mu}M$ MG132 (MG), and 10 mM caffeine + $10{\mu}M$ MG132 (CA+MG). After warming, the MPF activity of oocytes and their blastocyst formation and implantation rates in the CA, MG, and CA+MG groups were much higher than those in the untreated group. However, the cell numbers in blastocysts did not differ among groups. Analysis of the effectiveness of caffeine and MG132 for improving somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology using cryopreserved eggs showed that supplementation did not improve the blastocyst formation rate of cloned mouse eggs. These results suggest that maintaining MPF activity after cryopreservation may have a positive effect on further embryonic development, but is unable to fully overcome cryoinjury. Thus, intrinsic factors governing the developmental potential that diminish during oocyte cryopreservation should be explored.