• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Along with the surplus rice production, introduction of upland crop cultivations into newly reclaimed tidal areas has gained public attentions in terms of farming diversification and farmers income increase. However, its impacts on the surroundings have not been well studied yet, especially associated with nutrient balance from reclaimed upland cultivation. The objective of this study was to investigate water and nutrient balance during winter barley cultivation as affected different fertilization methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: TN and TP balance for three different plots treated by livestock compost, chemical fertilizer, and no application were monitored during winter green barley cultivation (2010-2011) at the NICS Kyehwa experimental field in Jeonbuk, Korea. Nutrient content in soil and pore water near soil surface appeared to increase, while sub-soil layer remained similar with no fertilization plot. Livestock compost application appeared to increase organic matter content in surface soil compared to chemical fertilization. Crop yield was the greatest with livestock compost application (10.6 t/ha) followed by chemical fertilization (6.9 t/ha) and no application (1.8 t/ha). The nitrogen uptake rate was also greater with livestock compost (52.4%) than chemical fertilizer (48.1%). Phosphorus uptake rate was much smaller (about 7.0%) compared to nitrogen. Nutrient loss by surface and subsurface runoff seemed to be minimal primarily due to small rainfall amount during the winter season. Most of the remaining nutrients, particularly phosphate seemed to be stored in soil layer. Phosphate accumulation appeared to be more phenomenal in the plot applied by livestock compost with higher phosphorus content. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that livestock compost application to tidal upland may increase barley crop production and also improve soil fertility by supplying organic content. However, excessive phosphorus supply with livestock compost seems likely to cause a phosphate accumulation problem, unless the nitrogen-based fertilization practice is adjusted.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2011

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in children and adults and is a major risk factor for the development of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). Recent studies have provided significant insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of epilepsy. Although the link between brain trauma and epilepsy is well recognized, the complex biological mechanisms that result in PTE following TBI have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study investigated in order to identify whether or not the abnormal expression of calcium-binding proteins in the lesioned hippocampus plays a role in neuronal damage by brain trauma and whether or not the expressions may change in the contralateral hippocampus during the adaptive stage as early time point following TBI. During early time point following TBI, both parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin D-28k (CB) immunoreactivities were decreased with in the lesioned hippocampus. However, these expressions were recovered to control levels as depend on time courses. On the other hand, PV immunoreactivity in contralateral hippocampus was transiently reduced as compared to the control levels, whereas CB expression was unchanged. These findings indicate that the alterations of the calcium-binding proteins, especially PV and CB, may contribute to the neuronal death and/or damage induced by abnormal inhibitory neurotransmission at early time period following brain trauma and the development of epileptogenesis in patients with traumatic brain injury.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of melengesterol acetate (MGA) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ administrations on serum progesterone level, synchrony of estrus and conception rates in Han-woo. Firstly, ten heifers and one freematin were fed 0.5 mg MGA/day for 14 days in a grain carrier, and after 19 days of MGA feeding, a single injection of 25 mg $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were treated. Blood samples were collected to evaluate serum progesterone concentrations from the start of feeding of MGA until the end of feeding and subsequent estrous detection and artificial insemination (AI) at 3 days intervals, and on days of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection, estrous detection, AI, and 15th and 60th days after AI. The level of progesterone in the blood began to increase from 7 days after MGA feeding, and 9 days after feeding it became 5.4 ng/ml and maintained that level thereafter. On the 33th day when the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was injected, it reached the peak level of 7.6 ng/ml. However, 2-3 days after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection, it dropped to 1.4 ng/ml drastically (p<0.05). Secondly, one hundred and ninety four Hanwoo heifers or cows were divided into two groups to compare estrous induction and conception rates: the one treated with MGA and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, (n=104) and the other with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (two injections at 11 days interval, n=90). The heifers or cows treated with MGA and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were identical to those used as above. The percentages of heifers or cows showed estrus were higher in the $MGA+PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (91.3%) than in the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (72.2%, p<0.05). Conception rates were also higher in the $MGA+PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (94.2%) than in the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment (88.9%, p<0.05). The results of this experiment indicate that estrus synchronization using $MGA+PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ is more effective than that using $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ (two injections) in Hanwoo.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2008

This experiment was carried out to show a reform measures by grouping for problems by the survey of TMR plants. Twenty total mixed ration (TMR) plants (10 cooperation and 10 private plants) were surveyed, of which 13 plants, 65% of total TMR plants, committed TMR formulae to a outside nutrition specialist (TMR formulator). With respect to consulting fee for TMR formulae, $500{\sim}900$ thousands Won was paid monthly. On the basis of dry matter 1kg, the prices of TMR products were $325.6{\sim}347.0$Won, whereas those of wet TMR products $365.7{\sim}375.0$Won, which was appeared to be factors to increase management cost. And also, because the TMR plants did not provide TDN (total digestible nutrient) value on their products, nutritional balance feeding for cows could not be managed in farms. It was calculated, based on ADF (acid detergent fiber) value, that TDN value in dry type TMR was 63.0% and 73.2% fur private and cooperation TMR plants, respectively and that the corresponding figure in wet type TMR was 64.9% and 67.2%. According to TMR plant employee's opinion, a prier items to enlarge TMR utilization were TMR education, TMR advertisement, and improvement of ability to make TMR formula. Therefore, for the purpose of further development of TMR, special education of persons related to TMR should be supported.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.864-870
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• 2010

This study was conducted to determine the effects of foliage plants on reducing indoor carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). Five foliage plants such as $Hedera$ $helix$ L., $Ficus$ $benjamina$ L., $Pachira$ $aquatica$, $Chamaedorea$ $elegans$, and $Ficus$ $elastica$ were selected and cultivated in two different growth medium (peatmoss and hydroball). Each plant was placed in an airtight chamber and then treated with the combinations of two different $CO_2$ concentrations (500 or 1,000 ppm) and two different light intensities (50 or $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$). The change of $CO_2$ concentration (ppm) in the airtight chamber during day and night was measured and then converted into the photosynthetic rate (${\mu}mol\;CO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$). As the results, each foliage plant reduced $CO_2$ level in the airtight chamber for one hour by photosynthesis. $Pachira$ $aquatica$ and $Ficus$ $elastica$ absorbed $CO_2$ more effectively compared to the other plants. The plants exposed to higher $CO_2$ concentration (1,000 ppm) and higher light intensity ($200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$) showed more effective $CO_2$ elimination rate and photosynthetic rate. The plants that have wide leaves and big leaf areas such as $Pachira$ $aquatica$, $Hedera$ $helix$ L.,and $Ficus$ $elastica$ showed higher photosynthetic rate than the other plants that have smaller leaves. Released $CO_2$ concentration by respiration of the plants during the night was very low compared to the absorbed $CO_2$ concentration by photosynthesis during the day. There was no significant difference between peatmoss and hydroball medium on reducing $CO_2$ concentration and increasing photosynthetic rate. In conclusion, this study suggested that foliage plants can effectively eliminate indoor $CO_2$. Optimum environmental control in relation to photosyntheis and usage of right indoor foliage plants having lots of leaves and showing active photosynthesis even under low light intensity like indoor light condition would be required to increase the elimination capacity of indoor $CO_2$.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.403-414
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• 2004

In the accompanying paper, we proposed a real. time volumetric imaging method using a cross array based on receive dynamic focusing and synthetic aperture focusing along lateral and elevational directions, respetively. But synthetic aperture methods using spherical waves are subject to beam spreading with increasing depth due to the wave diffraction phenomenon. Moreover, since the proposed method uses only one element for each transmission, it has a limited transmit power. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new real. time volumetric imaging method using cross arrays based on synthetic aperture technique with linear wave fronts. In the proposed method, linear wave fronts having different angles on the horizontal plane is transmitted successively from all transmit array elements. On receive, by employing the conventional dynamic focusing and synthetic aperture methods along lateral and elevational directions, respectively, ultrasound waves can be focused effectively at all imaging points. Mathematical analysis and computer simulation results show that the proposed method can provide uniform elevational resolution over a large depth of field. Especially, since the new method can construct a volume image with a limited number of transmit receive events using a full transmit aperture, it is suitable for real-time 3D imaging with high transmit power and volume rate.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.4 s.118
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• pp.462-470
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• 2006

The zooplankton community dynamics and grazing experiments was evaluated along a 40 km section of the lower Seomjin river system. Zooplankton was sampled twice a month from January 2005 to June 2006 at three sites (River mouth; RKO, Seomjin bridge: RK12 and Gurae bridge: RK36) in the main river channel. During the study period, the values of most limnological parameters in the three sites were fairly similar, except for conductivity. Annual variation of conductivity in River mouth and Seomjin bridge was more dramatic than which of the other site. There were statistically significant spatial and seasonal differences in zooplankton abundance (ANOVA, P<0.01). Total abundance of major zooplankton groups at both stations was much higher than in Gurae bridge. Among the macrozooplankton, cladocerans abundance was negligible in study sites during study periods. Community filtering rates (CFRs) for phytoplankton and bacteria varied from 0 to 50 mL $L^{-1}\;D^{-1}$ and from 0 to 45 mL $L^{-1}\;D^{-1}$, respectively. The spatial variation of CFRs for phytoplankton was significant (ANOVA, P<0.05). The CFRs of copepods for phytoplankton and bacteria was much higher than that of cladocerans at study sites. Total zooplankton filtering rates on bacteria were slightly lower than filtering rates on phytoplankton. The CFRs of microzooplankton (MICZ) for bacteria were much higher than for macrozooplankton (MACZ) at all sites. Considering the total zooplankton community, MICZ generally were more important than MACZ as grazers of bacteria and phytoplankton in freshwater zone, while MACZ were more important than MICZ as grazers of phytoplankton in brackish zone.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2 s.98
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• pp.92-102
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• 2002

This study was conducted to compare filtering abilities of three species of freshwater mussels (Cobicula fluminea, Corbicula leana and Unio douglasiae) and to evaluate their filter feeding effects on water quality change in experimental enclosure systems. Mussel feeding in both laboratory and enclosure resulted in decrease of particulate material, such as chlorophyll, total P, SS. In the treatment with 600 individuals of mussels, chllorophyll concentration and net primary productivity decreased from $87.3{\pm}4.5\;{\mu}g/L$ and $106.3{\pm}8.8\;{\mu}gC\;L^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$ to nearly the same level as the mussel-free enclosure ($25.0{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}g/L$ and $15.6{\pm}13.3\;{\mu}gC\;L^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$, respectively)(P< 0.05, n = 6, ANOVA). In concert with the decrease of chlorophyll concentration, not only was the transparency enhanced from 0.48 m to 1.2m but also the suspended solids and total phosphorus decreased from $22.0{\pm}1.0\;mg/L$ to $7.5{\pm}0.5\;mg/L$ and $133{\pm}0.8\;{\mu}g/L$ to $70{\pm}0.0\;{\mu}g/L$, respectively (P<0.001, $r^2$>0.71, n = 11). Although slight decrease of SRP concentration and the increase of inorganic nitrogen ($NH_3-N$ and $NO_2-N$) were observed in the mussel addition enclosure, there was no statistical difference between two enclosures. Based on the filtering rate on phytoplankton and nutrient release rate in forms of feces and pseudofeces, Corbicula leana appeared to be the most efficient filter-feeder among three mussel species. These results inidicate that Cobicula play an important role in controlling particulate sestons and thus it could be applied as a biocontroler for the water quality management in lakes and reservoirs with algal blooms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1541-1548
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• 2011

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the addition of different levels of CFP (Cordyceps with fly pupa) on growth performance in broiler chickens. 400 broiler chicks (Ross 308, 1 day old) were sorted randomly into 4 treatment groups and fed experimental diets for 35 days. The treatment groups were divided into a control group not fed with CFP (T1), and treatment groups fed with CFP 2.0% (T2), CFP 3.5% (T3), and CFP 5.0% (T4). Although the broilers' weight gain and feed efficiency were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the T3 group throughout the entirety of the test period, no statistically significant differences were noted among the T1 and T2, T4 groups. Triglyceride in the blood, total cholesterol, and LDL-C were significantly lower in the CFP treatment groups than in the control group (p<0.05). The blood lipid reduction rate ranged from 5.32 to 10.63% for triglycerides, from 9.23 to 12.62% for total cholesterol, and from 44.67 to 53.81% for LDL-C in the CFP treatment groups relative to the control group. The abdominal fat weight ratio was reduced significantly in the CFP treatment groups (p<0.05) compared with the control group, with a reduction rate range of 17.67-21.68%. Broiler carcass weight, carcass rate, and ratios of breast muscle, skin and thigh muscle weights to carcass weight were significantly higher in the T3 group, and statistically significant differences were noted among the T1 and T2, T4 groups (p<0.05). Enteropathogenic E.coli and Salmonella were lower in the CFP treatment groups than in the control group, whereas the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacteria were significantly higher in the CFP treatment groups than in the control group (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the Cordyceps with fly pupa can improve the carcass characteristics and body weight gain in broiler chickens.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.825-830
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• 2010

Two diallelic markers at candidate gene loci, the prolactin receptor 3 (PRLR3) gene and the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) gene were evaluated for their association with growth and litter size traits in Berkshire. Genetic evaluation was conducted for 5,919 pigs with pedigree information, which included 3,480 growth performance records and 775 litter size records of 224 sows. From the same herd, genotyping was carried out on 144 and 156 animals for PRLR3 and RBP4, respectively. After assigning a genotype to subjects in which both parents had a homozygous genotype, numbers of genotyped animals increased to 474 and 338, for the PRLR3 gene and RBP4 gene, respectively. The genotype effects of two markers were estimated with breeding values of the genotyped animals. The additive effects of total number of piglets born and number of piglets born alive in the PRLR3 locus were -0.28 and -0.13, respectively. The dominance effect of the RBP4 locus on average daily gain was -10.58 g. However, the polymorphism of the RBP4 locus in total number of piglets born and number of piglets born alive has shown -0.34 and -0.33 of the additive genetic effects. In view of the results, MAS (marker-assisted selection) favoring B alleles of RBP4 and PRLR3 loci could potentially accelerate the rate of the genetic improvement in the litter size traits.