• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1120-1128
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• 2016

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogen and starch on the nutritional performance of grazing cattle during the rainy season. Five rumen cannulated Nellore steers, averaging 211 kg of body weight (BW), were used. Animals grazed on five signal grass paddocks. Five treatments were evaluated: control (forage only), ruminal supplementation with nitrogen at 1 g of crude protein (CP)/kg BW, ruminal supplementation with starch at 2.5 g/kg BW, supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and starch (2.5 g/kg BW), and supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and a mixture of corn starch and nitrogenous compounds (2.5 g/kg BW), thereby resulting in an energy part of the supplement with 150 g CP/kg of dry matter (DM). This last treatment was considered an additional treatment. The experiment was carried out according to a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design following a $2{\times}2+1$ factorial arrangement (with or without nitrogen, with or without starch, and the additional treatment). Nitrogen supplementation did not affect (p>0.10) forage intake. Starch supplementation increased (p<0.10) total intake but did not affect (p<0.10) forage intake. There was an interaction between nitrogen and starch (p<0.10) for organic matter digestibility. Organic matter digestibility was increased only by supplying starch and nitrogen together. Nitrogen balance (NB) was increased (p<0.10) by the nitrogen supplementation as well as by starch supplementation. Despite this, even though a significant interaction was not observed (p>0.10), NB obtained with nitrogen plus starch supplementation was greater than NB obtained with either nitrogen or starch exclusive supplementation. Supplementation with starch and nitrogen to beef cattle grazing during the rainy season can possibly improve digestion and nitrogen retention in the animal.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.122-131
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• 1992

An expert system is developed which can design the power transmission involute cylindrical gears on the basis of strength and durability. Bending strength, surface durability, scoring, and wear probability are considered as the basis. The basic components of the expert system are knowledge base, inference engine, and working memory. The knowledges in knowledge base are classified hierarchically into the knowledges used in selection of gear type, selection of materials, and determination of K factor and are represented by rules. In the inference engine two inference methods are implemented with the depth first search method. For-ward chaining method is introduced in the selection of gear type and materials and in the determination of K factor. Backward chaining method is introduced in the detailed design of module and face width in accordance with the validation of strength. And inference efficiency is achieved by constructing the part needing a lot of numerical calculations in strength estimation separately from inference mechanism. The working memory is established to save the results during inference temporarily. In addition, design database of past design results is built for consultation during design and knowledge acquisition facility, explanation facility, and user interface are included for the usefulness of user. This expert system is written with the PROLOG programming language and the FORTRAN language in numerical calculation part which interfaced with PROLOG and can also be executed on IBM-PC compatible computer operated by MS-DOS alone.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.270-278
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• 1996

Response mechanism for the chloride-selective membrane doped with 5, 10, 15, 20-tetraphenyl(porphyrinato)manganase(III) chloride(Mn(TPP)Cl) in PVC/DOS matrix is proposed by examining the visible spectra of the corresponding optode membrane. The visible spectra of Mn(TPP)Cl-doped membrane placed in aqueous solution show that the chloride ligand is easily replaced with water molecule. When other halogen ions, such as $F^-$, $Br^-$ and $I^-$, are added to the sample solution, they replace the water ligand, exhibiting distinctive change in the Soret band of Mn(TPP). On the other hand, bulky anions, such as SCN and salicylate, do not form a bond with the central metal. These results suggests that the potentiometric response of Mn(TPP)-based membrane results either from the ligand exchange (water with halides) at the central metal or from the counter ion exchange (chlorides with bulky lipophilic anions) around the positively charged porphyrin molecule in membrane phase. It was also noted that both hydration enthalpies of anions and their binding constants to Mn(TPP) play critical role in determining the potentiometric selectivity pattern of the membrane.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2010

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine proteases that convert plasminogen to plasmin. The PA/plasmin system has been associated with a number of physiological processes such as fibrinolysis, ovulation and fertilization. Although correlations have been reported between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oocyte maturation, the relationship between PA activity and ROS is unknown. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of cumulus cells on PA activity in matured porcine oocytes under xanthine (X)-xanthine oxidase (XO) system. When oocytes were matured under the X-XO system, the proportion of oocytes remaining GV stage was higher (p<0.05) in oocytes without cumulus cells. The incidence of degenerated oocytes was higher (p<0.05) in the X+XO ($11.1{\pm}6.1$ and $21.6{\pm}3.4%$) than in the control group ($2.9{\pm}1.8$ and $4.0{\pm}1.6%$). The proportion of TUNEL-positive oocytes and activity of caspase-3 were higher (p<0.05) in cumulus-free oocytes and oocytes exposed to ROS. Tissue-type plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor (tPA-PAI) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) activity were detected in oocytes that were separated from cumulus-oocytes complexs (COCs) at 44 h of maturation culture, and only tPA was produced in oocytes that were denuded before the onset of maturation culture. On the other hand, the activities of PA were increased (p<0.05) when oocytes were cultured under the X-XO system. The higher activity of tPA was observed in denuded oocytes (DOs) underwent apoptotic changes by oxidative stress. In COCs, however, tPA-PAI as well as tPA activity was detected and apoptotic changes such as DNA cleavage or caspase-3 activation were not observed. These results suggest that tP A may be relevant to apoptotic cell death in porcine oocytes by oxidative stress.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.343-349
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• 2010

Rapid on-site sensing of nitrate-nitrogen and potassium ions in hydroponic solution would increase the efficiency of nutrient use for greenhouse crops cultivated in closed hydroponic systems while reducing the potential for environmental pollution in water and soil. Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are a promising approach because of their small size, rapid response, and the ability to directly measure the analyte. The capabilities of the ISEs for sensing nitrate and potassium in hydroponic solution can be affected by the presence of other ions such as calcium, magnesium, sulfate, sodium, and chloride in the solution itself. This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of two ISEs consisting of TDDA-NPOE and valinomycin-DOS PVC membranes for quantitative determinations of $NO_3$-N and K in hydroponic solution. Nine hydroponic solutions were prepared by diluting highly concentrated paprika hydroponic solution to provide a concentration range of 3 to 400 mg/L for $NO_3$-N and K. Two of the calibration curves relating membrane response and nutrient concentration provided coefficients of determination ($R^2$) > 0.98 and standard errors of calibration (SEC) of < 3.79 mV. The use of the direct potentiometry method, in conjunction with an one-point EMF compensation technique, was feasible for measuring $NO_3$-N and K in paprika hydroponic solution due to almost 1:1 relationships and high coefficients of determination ($R^2$ > 0.97) between the levels of $NO_3$-N and K obtained with the ion-selective electrodes and standard instruments. However, even though there were strong linear relationships ($R^2$ > 0.94) between the $NO_3$-N and K concentrations determined by the Gran's plot-based multiple standard addition method and by standard instruments, hydroponic $NO_3$-N concentrations measured with the ISEs, on average, were about 10% higher than those obtained with the automated analyzer whereas the K ISE predicted about 59% lower K than did the ICP spectrometer, probably due to no compensation for a difference between actual and expected concentrations of standard solutions directly prepared.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.284-297
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• 1996

A maternity ward in a hospital in Seoul has an educational program for postpartal mothers since its opening, but evaluation on the program has not been done. This study was to find whether the educational program contributed to increase of knowledge and confidence of the post-partal mothers in the area of postpartal self-care and the newborn baby care or not. This study aimed at improvement of the educational program for posrpartal mothers and the newborn babies. Subjects were 40 primiparae who were admitted to the obstetric ward in a general hospitals in Seoul from August 20th to September 10th, 1995. Subjects were those who had no labor pain at the admission time, had no complications during labor and delivery, gave a birth to a healthy baby, and agreed to participate in this study. All subjects were well educated and were in well-to-do group. Most of them received antenatal care adequately. They were tested on knowledge and self-confidence in the area of postpartal self-care and infant care two times, one at the admission time and the other prior to discharge. After the first test, nurses in a maternity ward and nursery taught them on postpartal self-care and infant care. Education consisted of a 1 hour planned program and incident teachings done at bed side. Four tools were developed by authors based literature review. The test tool for knowledge of postpartal self-care consisted of 15 items which included the definition of postpartum, dangerous symptoms in postpartum, lochia, time to begin coitus, postpartum exercise, sitz-bath, and perineal care. The test tool for self-confidence in postpartal self-care included such items as emergency care on dangerous symptoms in postpartum, sexual life and contraception after postpartum, self-confidence in postpartum exercise and perineal care. The test tool for knowledge of newborn baby care consisted of 18 items which included bathing, umbilical cord care, vaccination, breast feeding, abnormal symptoms of neonate. The test tool for self confidence in the newborn baby care included umbilical cord care, vaccination, breast feeding, emergency care for baby. Analysis of demographic data were analyzed with calculation of percentage. Score differences between the first test and the second test were analyzed with paired t-test. SAS / PC (Release 6.04 for DOS) program are as follows. 1. Mothers' knowledge of postpartal self-care increased significantly after education (t=10.04, df=38, p=0.0001). 2. Mothers' self-confidence in postpartal self-care increased significantly after education (t=6.53, df=38, p=0.0001). 3. Mother's knowledge of the newborn abay care increased significantly after education (t=9.74, df=38, p=0.0001). 4. Mothers' self-confidence in the newborn baby care increased significantly after education(t=8.22, df=38, p=0.0001) Suggestions for further studies and nursing practice were as follows. 1. We suggest studies by randomized control-group pretest-posttest design or nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design will be done. 2. We suggest follow-up studies to find if mothers's confidence will last or not after discharge. 3. We suggest general hospitals to establish a phone-counseling system.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.176-196
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• 2016

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of bone substitutes in circumferential periimplant defects created in the rabbit tibia. Methods: Thirty rabbits received 45 implants in their left and right tibia. A circumferential bone defect (6.1 mm in diameter/4 mm depth) was created in each rabbit tibia using a trephine bur. A dental implant ($4.1mm{\times}8.5mm$) was installed after the creation of the defect, providing a 2-mm gap. The bone defect gaps between the implant and the bone were randomly filled according to the following groups: blood clot (CO), particulate Bio-Oss$^{(R)}$ (BI), and Bio-Oss$^{(R)}$ Collagen (BC). Ten animals were euthanized after periods of 15, 30, and 60 days. Biomechanical analysis by means of the removal torque of the implants, as well as histologic and immunohistochemical analyses for protein expression of osteocalcin (OC), Runx2, OPG, RANKL, and TRAP were evaluated. Results: For biomechanics, BC showed a better biological response ($61.00{\pm}15.28Ncm$) than CO ($31.60{\pm}14.38Ncm$) at 30 days. Immunohistochemical analysis showed significantly different OC expression in CO and BC at 15 days, and also between the CO and BI groups, and between the CO and BC groups at 60 days. After 15 days, Runx2 expression was significantly different in the BI group compared to the CO and BC groups. RANKL expression was significantly different in the BI and CO groups and between the BI and BC groups at 15 days, and also between the BI and CO groups at 60 days. OPG expression was significantly higher at 60 days postoperatively in the BI group than the CO group. Conclusions: Collectively, our data indicate that, compared to CO and BI, BC offered better bone healing, which was characterized by greater RUNX2, OC, and OPG immunolabeling, and required greater reversal torque for implant removal. Indeed, along with BI, BC presents promising biomechanical and biological properties supporting its possible use in osteoconductive grafts for filling peri-implant gaps.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.613-619
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• 2014

Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa; Sarcocystidae) is a protozoan that causes abortion in cattle, horses, sheep, and dogs as well as neurological and dermatological diseases in dogs. In the central nervous system of dogs infected with N. caninum, cysts were detected that exhibited gliosis and meningitis. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that exhibit antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of flavonoids in a well-established in vitro model of N. caninum infection in glial cell cultures. Glial cells were treated individually with 10 different flavonoids, and a subset of cultures was also infected with the NC-1 strain of N. caninum. All of the flavonoids tested induced an increase in the metabolism of glial cells and many of them increased nitrite levels in cultures infected with NC-1 compared to controls and uninfected cultures. Among the flavonoids tested, 3',4'-dihydroxyflavone, 3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (luteolin), and 3,3',4',5,6-pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin), also inhibited parasitophorous vacuole formation. Taken together, our findings show that flavonoids modulate glial cell responses, increase NO secretion, and interfere with N. caninum infection and proliferation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.235-238
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• 2008

The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) was initiated in August 1985 to develop new generation water erosion prediction technology for federal agencies involved in soil and water conservation and environmental planning and assessment. Developed by USDA-ARS as a replacement for empirical erosion prediction technologies, the WEPP model simulates many of the physical processes important in soil erosion, including infiltration, runoff, raindrop detachment, flow detachment, sediment transport, deposition, plant growth and residue decomposition. The WEPP included an extensive field experimental program conducted on cropland, rangeland, and disturbed forest sites to obtain data required to parameterize and test the model. A large team effort at numerous research locations, ARS laboratories, and cooperating land-grant universities was needed to develop this state-of-the-art simulation model. The WEPP model is used for hillslope applications or on small watersheds. Because it is physically based, the model has been successfully used in the evaluation of important natural resources issues throughout the United State and in several other countries. Recent model enhancements include a graphical Windows interface and integration of WEPP with GIS software. A combined wind and water erosion prediction system with easily accessible databases and a common interface is planned for the future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1632-1638
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• 2016

A study was conducted to compare the endogenous basal losses of phosphorus (EBLP) in pigs fed diets containing gelatin (GEL) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) as protein sources and to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in SDPP. The trial was carried out at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. Twelve castrated pigs with an initial body weight of 55 kg were individually allotted in metabolic crates during two 12-day periods, each with 7 days of adaptation and 5 days of total fecal collection. The beginning and the end of the collecting periods were determined according to the marker-to-marker approach, using ferric oxide as an indigestible marker. Pigs were submitted to four semi-purified diets, one being a P-free diet with 30% of GEL as the protein source and three were diets with 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion of SDPP respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the model included the effects of period, animal and treatments; the results of the three diets with increased levels of SDPP were subjected to linear regression analysis. The intercept of the relation of between ingested P and absorbed P represented the EBLP, while the slope indicated the STTD of P in SDPP. The EBLP means obtained by P-free diet and regression method were compared with the Student t test. The EBLP were 128.95 mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI) and 153.63 mg/kg DMI (standard error = 77.0; p<0.06) using the P-free diet with GEL as the protein source and the regression method, obtained with diets containing increased levels of SDPP, respectively. The apparent digestibility of P was 87.9%, 94.2%, and 92.9% for the treatments containing 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion of SDPP, respectively. The estimated STTD of P obtained with the linear regression was 97.4%. When the EBLP estimated by the P-free diet was used to corrected the apparent digestibility of P in diets containing SDPP, the STTD of P in SDPP was 96.9%, 98.8%, and 95.9% for 10%, 20%, and 30% SDPP, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that SDPP can replace GEL to estimate the endogenous losses of P. In addition, the STTD of P in SDPP estimated with the P-free diet was 97.2% and it was 97.4% by the regression method, utilizing SDPP.