• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2000

Ultrastructure of the zona radiata the micropyle and fertilization process in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were examined by light, scanning and transmission microscopes . The egg micropyle of rainbow trout consists of a funnel-shaped vestibule and a tapered canal transversing the zona radiata. The micropyle showed the type with a flat pit leading into a long canal and the micropylar wall showed the clockwise spiral structure. There were a great number of microvilli secreting adhesive materials having trapping function attracting the spermatozoa in the vicinity of micropyle. It was apparent that ridges extended between the projections. In the initial stages of penetration, the spermatozoon still within the micropylar canal attached perpendicularly at its apical tip to the egg surface, then the sperm head was rapidly engulfed by the folded egg surface with its many microvilli. The spermatozoon disappeared from the outer surface of the egg before the fertilization cone completely retracted 250 seconds after insemination. No interconnecting ridges was present in the egg surface. In short, the block to polyspermy to permit entry of a single sperm is considered to be mechanical by the morphological design of the micropyle and fertilization cone.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.510-516
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• 2013

Fly ash is one of the aluminosilicate sources used for the synthesis of geopolymers. The particle size distribution of fly ash and the content of unburned carbon residue are known to affect the compressive strength of geopolymers. In this study, the effects of particle size and unburned carbon content of fly ash on the compressive strength of geopolymers have been studied over a compositional range in geopolymer gels. Unburned carbon was effectively separated in the $-46{\mu}m$ fraction using an air classifier and the fixed carbon content declined from 3.04 wt% to 0.06 wt%. The mean particle size ($d_{50}$) decreased from $22.17{\mu}m$ to $10.79{\mu}m$. Size separation of fly ash by air classification resulted in reduced particle size and carbon residue content with a collateral increase in reactivity with alkali activators. Geopolymers produced from carbon-free ash, which was separated by air classification, developed up to 50 % higher compressive strength compared to geopolymers synthesized from raw ash. It was presumed that porous carbon particles hinder geopolymerization by trapping vitreous spheres in the pores of carbon particles and allowing them to remain intact in spite of alkaline attack. The microstructure of the geopolymers did not vary considerably with compressive strength, but the highest connectivity of the geopolymer gel network was achieved when the Si/Al ratio of the geopolymer gel was 5.0.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.291-301
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• 2019

Nematophagous fungi can capture, kill, and digest nematodes using a specific capturing organ. Of the nematophagous fungi, while Arthrobotrys flagrans and A. superba have been described previously, certain characteristics have not been described. For a detailed description of the two nematophagous fungi, the fungi were isolated from soil samples and produced in a pure culture. Morphological characteristics, such as predatory ability (according to the nematode species), shape, and size of predatory organ, conidia, and chlamydospore were investigated and they were used for identification of the fungal isolates along with molecular phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, this study provides the classification key for 21 nematophagous species.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2008

The free-living photoheterotrophic Gram-negative bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides possesses a quorum-sensing (QS) regulatory system mediated by CerR-CerI, a member of the LuxR-LuxI family. To identify the genes affected by the regulatory system, random lacZ fusions were generated in the genome of R. sphaeroides strain 2.4.1 using a promoter-trapping vector, pSG2. About 20,000 clones were screened and 23 showed a significantly different level of ${\beta}$-gal activities upon the addition of synthetic 7,8-cis-N-tetradecenoyl-homoserine lactone (RAI). Among these 23 clones, the clone showing the highest level of induction was selected for further study, where about a ten-fold increase of ${\beta}$-gal activity was exhibited in the presence of RAI and induction was shown to be required for cerR. In this clone, the lacZ reporter was inserted in a putative gene that exhibited a low homology with catD. A genetic analysis showed that the expression of the catD homolog was initiated from a promoter of another gene present upstream of the catD. This upstream gene showed a strong homology with luxR and hence was named qsrR (quorum-sensing regulation regulator). A comparison of the total protein expression profiles for the wild-type cells and qsrR-null mutant cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and a MALDI-TOF analysis allowed the identification of sets of genes modulated by the luxR homolog.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.766-771
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• 2005

We evaluated the effects of newly developed functional food containing Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD as the main material on the lipid and antioxidant metabolisms of hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty male SD rats were divided into three groups after a 1-week adaptation period and were fed with a high fat-cholesterol diet (control), or with a high fat-cholesterol diet supplemented with low or high doses ($3.1\;{\times}\;10^6\;cfu/day$ or $3.1\;{\times}\;10^8\;cfu/day$) of B. polyfermenticus SCD and other physiological active materials for 6 weeks. Both doses of B. polyfermenticus SCD significantly reduced hepatic total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing the fecal excretion rates of total lipid, total cholesterol and triglycerides. B. polyfermenticus SCD increased the total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP). The erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase activity in the B. polyfermenticus groups was significantly lower than that in the control group. Plasma TRAP levels exhibited a highly significant negative correlation with hepatic total cholesterol while a significant positive correlation was detected between fecal total cholesterol and plasma TRAP. This hypolipidemic and antioxidative effect of B. polyfermenticus SCD seemed to be unrelated to its dosage. These results suggest that functional food containing B. polyfermenticus SCD can improve oxidative stress and hepatic lipid profiles by enhancing the excretion of cholesterol and triglycerides in feces of rats fed with high fat-high cholesterol diet.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2013

Most natural river reach are approximately balanced with respect to sediment inflow and outflow. Dam construction dramatically alters this balance, creating an impounded river reach characterized by extremely low flow velocities and efficient sediment trapping. The impounded reach will accumulate sediment and lose storage capacity until a balance is again achieved, which would normally occur after the impoundment has become "filled up" with sediment and can no longer provide water storage and other benefits. This paper aims to investigate the sediment removal process in dam reservoir using simultaneously pressure flushing operation and vibrator machine. The main objective of this study is to identify the effect of vibrator in flushing cone dimensions. To achieve the objectives of present study, laboratory test have conducted under different hydraulic conditions such as two bottom outlets with diameter equal to 2" and 3", five discharges 0.23, 0.53, 1.21, 1.53 and 2.1 lit/s and only one water depth above the center of bottom outlets. Using the vibrator machine mounted into the reservoir and close to the bottom outlet, different frequency e.g. 20, 35 and 50 HZ, have been introduced to the deposited sediment at the vicinity of outlet. The results indicate that the volume and width of flushing cone are strongly affected by frequency of vibrations. The results indicate that the volume and width of flushing cone are strongly affected by frequency of vibrations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.126-136
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• 2013

This study was conducted in order to investigate the association between hypertension and oxidative stress-related parameters and to evaluate these parameters in subclinical hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects living in Korea. We attempted to determine whether oxidative stress-related parameters would differ between two groups of 227 newly-diagnosed, untreated (systolic blood pressure (BP) ${\geq}$ 130 mmHg and diastolic BP ${\geq}$ 85 mmHg) and 130 normotensive subjects (systolic BP < 120 mmHg and diastolic BP < 80 mmHg). General characteristics of the subjects were collected using a simple questionnaire. From subjects' blood, degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes, the activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, level of plasma total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), glutathione, and anti-oxidative vitamins, as well as plasma lipid profiles and conjugated diene (CD) were analyzed. Evaluation of the associations of oxidative stress-related parameters with blood pressure of the subjects was performed using Pearson partial correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors. Several oxidative stress-related parameters were higher in subclinical hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects. Plasma levels of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, ${\beta}$-carotene, TRAP, and activity of GSH-px were significantly lower in subclinical hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects. Increased levels of DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were observed in subclinical hypertensive patients. These results confirm an association between blood pressure and oxidative stress-related parameters and suggest that the pathogenic role of oxidative stress in hypertension might be significant.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.51-70
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• 2023

The flow of an incompressible Ellis fluid in an inclined asymmetric channel, driven by peristaltic waves was studied under low Reynolds number and long wavelength assumptions. The wave on each side of the channel are assumed to be an infinite train of sinusoidal waves, both having the same constant wave speed and wavelength however, they vary in wave amplitude, channel half width and phase angle. We derived expressions for the axial and transverse velocities, volume flow rate, pressure rise per unit wavelength and streamlines. The effects of varying the wave amplitudes, the phase angle, the channel width, the angle of inclination of the channel as well as the fluid parameters on the flow were analyzed. Trapping conditions were determined and the presence of reflux highlighted using the streamlines for the necessary channel and fluid conditions. By varying the fluid parameters, changes in the fluid that deviated from the Newtonian case resulted in a reduction in the axial velocity in the neighborhood of the center of the channel and a simultaneous increase in the velocity at the periphery of the channel. A nonlinear relation was observed with the pressure rise and the volume flow rate. This nonlinear relation is more pronounced with an increase in the absolute value of the volume flow rate. For Newtonian fluids a linear relation exists between these two variables. The fluid parameters had little effects on the streamlines. However, variations of the wave amplitudes, volume flow, channel width and phase angle had greater effects on the streamlines and hence the trapped region.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.357-364
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• 2008

For the purpose of possibility study on development of an acoustic tweezer using standing waves and very high frequency ultrasound focused beams, a system which can manipulate the position of particles in water has been constructed. It can move the particles to near focal point of a focused beam by the radiation force of standing waves, and then the particles would be trapped by the radiating force of the focused beam. The results show that micro sphere particles were trapped well at nodes of the standing waves and their position can be easily manipulated by frequency control. And, even though the radiation force by single focused beam pushes a particle away from the transducer, two focused confronted beams can trap it at near center.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2024

Objective: To review the characteristics of distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm treated by microsurgery, the detailed surgical options, and the clinical result. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cerebral aneurysm in the M2 and M3 segments of the MCA surgically treated between January 2015 and December 2022. The demographic data, aneurysm-related findings, type of surgical approach, surgical technique, and clinical outcomes of the enrolled patients were analyzed. Results: Sixteen distal MCA aneurysms were treated with microneurosurgery (incidence, 1.0%; female, 12; mean age, 58.1 years; ruptured, three). Twelve aneurysms were in the M2 segment (insular segment), two aneurysms at the M2-M3 junction, and two aneurysms in the M3 segment (opercular segment). Twelve aneurysms were saccular (average size, 4.9 mm; multiplicity, 50%; average aneurysms, 3.0; partially thrombosed, 1; sidewall aneurysm, 2). Three aneurysms were fusiform, of which two were ruptured. Of the ruptured aneurysms, one was a ruptured dissecting aneurysm. The trans-sylvian and trans-sulcal approaches were used in fourteen and two patients, respectively. Neck clipping, wrap clipping, and surgical trapping were performed in twelve, one, and one patient, respectively. Proximal occlusion was performed in one patient. Bypass technique was required in two patients (neck clipping and proximal occlusion). The modified Rankin Score was 6 in the two patients with ruptured aneurysms. The remaining patients did not show further neurological deterioration after microneurosurgery. Conclusions: Distal MCA aneurysms had a high incidence of being diagnosed with multiple other aneurysms and were relatively non-saccular.