• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.842-850
• /
• 2018

Objective: Several studies have reported the development of new molecular methods for the prognosis and diagnosis of male fertility based on biomarkers aimed at overcoming the limitations of conventional male fertility analysis tools. However, further studies are needed for the field application of these methods. Therefore, alternative methods based on existing semen analysis methods are required to improve production efficiency in the animal industry. Methods: we examined the possibility of improving litter size in various pig breeds using combined Hoechst 33258/chlortetracycline fluorescence (H33258/CTC) staining. The correlation between field fertility and capacitation status by combined H33258/CTC staining in different ejaculates spermatozoa (n = 3) from an individual boar (20 Landrace, 20 Yorkshire, and 20 Duroc) was evaluated as well as overall accuracy. Results: The acrosome reacted (AR) pattern after capacitation (%) was positively correlated with the litter size of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs and the overall accuracy was 75%, 75%, and 70% in Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs, respectively. The difference (${\Delta}$) in AR pattern before and after capacitation was positively correlated with the litter size of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs and the overall accuracy was 80%, 65%, and 55% in Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs, respectively. However, the difference (${\Delta}$) in capacitated (B) pattern before and after capacitation was negatively correlated with the litter size of Landrace pigs and the overall accuracy was 75%. Moreover, average litter size was significantly altered according to different combined H33258/CTC staining parameters. Conclusion: These results show that combined H33258/CTC staining may be used to predict male fertility in various breeds. However, the selection of specific efficiency combined H33258/CTC staining parameters requires further consideration. Taken together, these findings suggest that combined H33258/CTC staining may constitute an alternative method for predicting male fertility until such time as fertility-related biomarkers are further validated.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.472-477
• /
• 2017

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is one of the worst weeds in rice (Oryza sativa), but there are few reports about the genetic diversity and herbicide resistance of barnyardgrass in Vietnam. In this study, we used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and greenhouse testing to study the genetic diversity and quinclorac resistance levels of 15 Echinochloa crus-galli populations in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, and the state of Arkansas, U.S. The quinclorac resistance of Echinochloa crus-galli populations in Vietnam was confirmed; 9 populations were resistant to quinclorac with R/S ratios ranging from 1.9 to 6.3. Six oligonucleotide primers produced a total of 55 repeatable bands of which 46 were polymorphic (83.3% average) among the 15 populations. Genetic distance was calculated, and cluster analysis separated the 15 populations into 2 main clusters with the genetic distances within the clusters ranging from 0.09 to 0.39. The two main clusters were divided into 7 subclusters, and the quinclorac resistant and susceptible populations were located randomly within each subcluster. Six out of 13 weed populations from Vietnam belonged to one cluster and a single Echinochloa species. The remaining 7 populations were identified as potentially different species in the Echinochloa genus. Nine Echinochloa populations from Vietnam were tested and identified as quinclorac resistant. The connection between quinclorac resistance levels and weed groups defined by RAPD analysis in the study is unclear; the quinclorac resistance of each resistant population could have evolved individually, regardless of differences in genetic diversity and location of the sampled populations.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2014

Three heat-treatment schedules were applied to $90{\times}90mm$ dimension square lumber of Pinus koraiensis, one of major domestic species, and their colors and physical properties were investigated for obtaining an optimum schedule. Each square lumber was heat-treated three times. The temperatures of $170^{\circ}C$ and $190^{\circ}C$, and the time of 9 hours and 13 hours were used for the first heat-treatment. The schedule of $190^{\circ}C$ and 7 hours were used for the next two heat-treatments. The averages of brightness $L^*$ decreased linearly as the heat-treatment repeated and its standard deviations also decreased slightly. While the averages of color difference ${\Delta}E^*$ increased linearly as the heat-treatment repeated and its standard deviations also increased slightly. The average compressive strength of the heat-treated specimen was higher than that of the control by 9%, which deviates from previous reports. ASE and WPG of the heat-treated specimens were measured to confirm that heat-treatment improved dimensional stability significantly.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.579-587
• /
• 2010

To investigate the properties of PET films, PET films were extruded at various temperature above $T_m$ and quenched at $18^{\circ}C$ for amorphous sheet, and stretched along a direction defined as the machine direction (MD) with a transverse direction (TD) above $T_g$ at various stretching ratios and then annealed at various temperatures produced by SKC PET line. Thermal shrinkage of MD and TD increased with decreasing annealing temperature and extruding temperature, and increasing stretching ratio. The degree of crystallinity, density, heat of fusion (${\Delta}H$) and pre-melting point ($T_m'$) increased with increasing annealing temperature and extruding temperature. Number average molecular weight ($M_n$) and intrinsic viscosity decreased with increasing extruding temperature. Tensile strength and modulus increased with increasing stretching ratio, however decreased with increasing annealing temperature. Reflective index of both stretching and thickness direction increased with increasing stretching ratio and annealing temperature.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2010

Manure recycling as fertilizer is one of solutions for the environmental problem related with livestock manure treatment as well as the ocean dumping ban act prohibiting manure disposal to the ocean. For the manure disposal, forest area can be a candidate place because the area has a wide range of applicable sites. However, the manure application to the forest has a possibility of causing environmental impacts including water quality problems due to nutrient loading. Therefore it is necessary to investigate water quality impact from manure disposal to the forestry plantation. In this study, ground and soil water quality had been monitored in the bio-circulation experimental forest where low concentration liquid manure (LCLM) was applied. Soil and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed weekly from April to October in 2008 and 2009. The mean and variation of NO3-N concentration in soil water of LCLM treatment places showed higher concentration than the reference places declining during growing season. In the case of groundwater from monitoring well in the downstream of disposal site, the $NO_3$-N concentration was 3.59 mg/L in 2008 and 3.26 mg/L in 2009 in average showing higher concentration than the reference well although the concentration was not exceed the national drinking water standard. To investigate the source of nitrate, $\delta^{15}N$ isotope analysis was also implemented. Its result showed that the LCLM application could be the nitrate source requiring further long-term monitoring soil and water quality.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.18 no.9
• /
• pp.815-820
• /
• 2005

ZnO varistor ceramics were fabricated with variation of addition of glass-frit amount and the sintering temperature was $1100^{\circ}C$. The average grain sizes were showed increased from $8.6{\mu}m\;to\;10{\mu}m$, and varistor voltages were decreased from 506V to 460V by added amount of glass-frit. Nonlinear coefficient $\alpha$, of all were with increasing the amount of glass-frit more than 70, in case of added on $0.03wt\%$ glass-frit was 83. And leakage current were less than $1{\mu}A$ with applied at $82\%$ of varistor voltage. The clamping voltage ratio of the specimens added $0.03wt\%$ glass-frit was 1.41 at applied 25A $[8/20\;{\mu}s]$. In the specimen added $0.03wt\%$ glass-frit, endurance of surge current and deviation of varistor voltage were $6200A/cm^2,\;\Delta-1.67\%$, respectively and clamping voltage ratio was 2.33. In the Specimen added $0.03wt\%$ glass-frit were superior to any other compositions on High Temperature Load Test(HTLT) for 1000 hr at $85^{\circ}C$, and deviation of the varistor voltage were $\Delta-1.29\%$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2002.07b
• /
• pp.625-628
• /
• 2002

The electrical properties of the praseodymium-based ZnO varistor ceramics, which are composed of Zn-Pr-Co-Cr-Dy oxides were investigated with $Dy_2O_3$ amount. The average grain size of varistor ceramics was greatly decreased from 18.2 to 4.6 pm with increasing $Dy_2O_3$ amount. The calculated nonlinear exponent$({\alpha})$ in varistor ceramics without $DY_2O_3$ was only 4.9, whereas the a value of the varistors with $DY_2O_3$ was abruptly increased in the range of 48.8 to 58.6. In particular, the maximum value of a was obtained by doping of 1.0 mol% $DY_2O_3$, reaching 58.6. The measured leakage current$(I_l)$ value in varistors without $DY_2O_3$ was $85.45{\mu}A$, whereas the $I_{\ell}$ value of the varistors with $DY_2O_3$ was very abruptly decreased in the range of 1.10 to $0.12{\mu}A$. In particular, the minimum value of $I_{\ell}$ was obtained by doping of 0.5 mol% $DY_2O_3$, reaching $0.12{\mu}A$. The tan $\delta$ varied in V-shape, with minimum 2.28% at 0.5 mol% $DY_2O_3$. The donor concentration and the density of interface states were decreased in the range of $(4.66{\sim}0.25){\times}10^{18}cm^3$ and $(5.70{\sim}1.39){\times}10^{12}/cm^2$, respectively, as $DY_2O_3$ amount is increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society Of Semiconductor Equipment Technology
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.68-71
• /
• 2006

Multi-component $ZnO-In_2O_3-SnO_2$ thin films have been prepared by RF magnetron co-sputtering using targets composed of $In_3Sn_4O_{12}$(99.99%) [1] and ZnO(99.99%) at room temperature. $In_3Sn_4O_{12}$ contains less In than commercial ITO, so that it lowers cost. Working pressure was held at 3 mtorr flowing Ar gas 20 sccm and sputtering time was 30 min. RF power ratio [RF1 / (RFI + RF2)] of two guns in sputtering system was varied from 0 to 1. Each RF power was varied $0{\sim}100W$ respectively. The thickness of the films was $350{\sim}650nm$. The composit ion concentrations of the each film were measured with EPMA, AES and XPS. The low resistivity of $1-2\;{\times}\;10^3$ and an average transmittance above 80% in the visible range were attained for the films over a range of ${\delta}\;(0.3\;{\leq}\;{\delta}\;{\leq}\;0.5)$. The films also showed a high chemical stability with time and a good uniformity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8467-8471
• /
• 2016

Background: One of the major mechanisms for drug resistance is associated with altered anticancer drug transport, mediated by the human-adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily proteins. The overexpression of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette, sub-family B, member 1 (ABCB1) by multidrug-resistant cancer cells is a serious impediment to chemotherapy. In our study we have studied the possibility that structural single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are the mechanism of ABCB1 overexpression. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 gastric cancer multidrug resistant cases and 100 controls were genotyped with sequence-specific primed PCR (SSP-PCR). Gene expression was evaluated for 70 multidrug resistant cases and 54 controls by real time PCR. The correlation between the two groups was based on secondary structures of RNA predicted by bioinformatics tool. Results: The results of genotyping showed that among 3 studied SNPs, rs28381943 and rs2032586 had significant differences between patient and control groups but there were no differences in the two groups for C3435T. The results of real time PCR showed over-expression of ABCB1 when we compared our data with each of the genotypes in average mode. Prediction of secondary structures in the existence of 2 related SNPs (rs28381943 and rs2032586) showed that the amount of ${\Delta}G$ for original mRNA is higher than the amount of ${\Delta}G$ for the two mentioned SNPs. Conclusions: We have observed that 2 of our studied SNPs (rs283821943 and rs2032586) may elevate the expression of ABCB1 gene, through increase in mRNA stability, while this was not the case for C3435T.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.21-26
• /
• 2008

We fabricated nano-particles of ZnO, $In_2O_3$ and $SnO_2$ by using the chemical reaction between metal thin films and polyamic acid. The average size and density of these ZnO, $In_2O_3$ and $SnO_2$ nano-particles was approximately 10, 7, and 15 nm, and $2{\times}10^{11},\;6{\times}10^{11},\;2.4{\times}10^{11}cm^{-2}$, respectively. Then, we fabricated nano-floating gate memory (NFGM) devices with ZnO and $In_2O_3$ nano-particles embedded in the devices' polyimide dielectrics and silicon dioxide layers as control and tunnel oxides, respectively. We measured the current-voltage characteristics, endurance properties and retention times of the memory devices using a semiconductor parameter analyzer. In the $In_2O_3$ NFGM, the threshold voltage shift (${\Delta}V_T$) was approximately 5 V at the initial state of programming and erasing operations. However, the memory window rapidly decreased after 1000 s from 5 to 1.5 V. The ${\Delta}V_T$ of the NFGM containing ZnO was approximately 2 V at the initial state, but the memory window decreased after 1000 s from 2 to 0.4 V. These results mean that metal-oxide nano-particles have feasibility to apply NFGM devices.