• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

Governments and industry have a growing interest in the harmonization of environmental test methods and risk assessment procedures. OECD are currently producing a set of harmonised test guidelines for studying the environmental fate and ecological effects of pesticides. FAO has published an environmental risk assessment procedure. This procedure, which is similar to those used in US and Europe, is based on calculating the ratio of the toxicity of a pesticide to indicator organisms to their level of exposure to the pesticide. The exposure depends on both the concentration of the pesticide and its bioavailability. Ratios which indicate a pesticide will not produce a harmful effect have been established using ecological field studies. Examples are presented for assessing the risk to aquatic ecosystems, earthworms and honeybees. Long-term field studies(up to 20 years) have also shown that pesticides can be used indefinitely without harming soil fertility. Herbicides can be used to avoid the ecologically damaging effects of using soil cultivations excessively for weed control.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2014

As a result of the rapid economic growth and birth control policy, China is experiencing low fertility rates and increasing life expectancy, which makes Chinese population aging very quickly and unprepared for their retired life. The reverse mortgage may be an attractive option for the elderly because it is a loan against a house that they do not have to pay back as long as they live there. In this paper, in order to introduce the reverse mortgage scheme in China the factors that could influence the demand of reverse mortgage are reviewed and the Chinese market environment is analyzed. Then the principal component analysis is performed in order to recommend the regions or cities that have higher potential for successful implementation of a reverse mortgage than any other ones in China.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 2022

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are very rare and genetically transmitted diseases and have man y different symptoms related with multisystemic involvement. More rarely, endocrinopathies can be an early and first symptom of IEM, but presents with signs of later complications in adolescent or adulthood. The mechanisms of endocrine dysfunction in IEM are poorly understood. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is common in hemochromatosis, adrenoleukodystrophy, galactosemia, and glycogen storage disease. Many girls with classic galactosemia are at high risk for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), despite an early diagnosis and good control. Mitochondrial diseases are multisystem disorders and are characterized by hypo- and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, thyroid dysfunction and insulin dysregulation. Glycogen storage disorders (GSDs), especially type Ia, Ib, III, V are assocciated with frequent hypoglycemic events. IEM is a growing field and is not yet well recognized despite its consequences for growth, bone metabolism and fertility. For this reason, clinicians should be aware of these diagnoses and potential endocrine dysfunction.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2013

Cynomorium songaricum (CS) has been used in traditional Korean medicine in treating male impotence and sexual dysfunction. We investigated the effects of aqueous CS extract on the reproductive activity of golden hamsters whose spermatogenetic capacity is active in summer and inactive in winter. The animals were divided into 5 groups: long photoperiod (LP) control, short photoperiod (SP) control, and SP animals treated with low, middle, or high concentrations of CS. The animals were orally ingested with low (0.5 g/kg), middle (1.0 g/kg), or high (2.5 g/kg) concentrations of the aqueous extracts for 8 weeks on the daily basis. The control animals received the vehicle. As results, the LP control animals showed active testicular function but SP control animals displayed remarkably reduced testicular weights. The outcomes of the reproductive activity from low and middle concentrations of CS treatments were identical and marked as low dose. The consequences were a partial blocking of regressing activity by SP. On the other hand, the animals treated with high dose of CS extract showed remarkable significance in comparison to the SP control, indicative of a complete blocking effect of the CS on the regressing testes by SP. There were a dose-dependent effects of the CS on the sexual function. These results suggest that the CS extract promotes the male fertility by strengthening the spermatogenesis in the golden hamsters.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.142-155
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• 2005

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the dose dependent effects of Epimedii Herba extract solution on the spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis, and the activities of spermhyaluronidase and antioxidants. Materials and Method: We choose the 2-month-old mice, and administered the extract powder of Epimedii Herba in the different concentration once in a day for 60 days. The control group was administerde to normal water in the isolated testis tissue. Also we observed changes of isolated testis at the before and after administration of Epimedii Herba extracts in the mice. And we compared to the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and treated group by histochemical methods. Results: The significant dose dependent differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa of the Epimedii Herba extract administered groups compared than that of control group, respectively. In the histological analysis of the testicular lobes were observed in the Epimedii Herbaextract administered groups than control group, respectively. Also, the activity hyluronidase was significantly increased in the Epimedii Herba extract administered groups than that of the control group. In case of antioxidant activity analysis, the activity of peroxidase and catalase were significantly increased in the Epimedii Herba extract administered groups than that of control group, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that Epimedii Herba can effect the count and motility of sperm, the important ractor in male fertility and also promote the activity of antioxidants, catalase and peroxidase, which is the important factor in spermatogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.375-379
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• 1994

A teratogenicity test of 'folpet' was carried out in the developing chick embryos to investigate and validate the safety of rural environmental hazardous materials. Folpet was administered to chick embryos' yolk sac at a rate of 0.1mg and 0.01mg per SPF eggs at 96 hours of incubation. The morphological changes were examined. Fertility ratio of SPF eggs used was 94.9%. Hatching rate of untreated control group was 74.4% and the group dosed with 100ul of corn oil into the yolk sac was 70.0%. The $LD_{50}$ of folpet was 0.663mg/100ul/egg. After hatching, mean body weight, body length, claw length and beak length of high and low dose administered groups were not significantly different from untreated and vehicle control group. There was no abnormal appearence in all the groups. Therefore it seems that, within the doses applied, folpet dose not induce potential teratogenicity in the developing chick embryos.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2002

Double cropping system in a year in Kyoho grapes (Vitis labruscana L.) has currently been attempted in the plastic greenhouse. One of the problems in double cropping system is the promotion of bud break in summer season and shoot fertility. Effects of the control of soil moisture tension near the root zone and treatments of bud dormancy breaking agents on bud breaking in summer were examined to promote the bud break for the second fruiting. The lignification of shoots was induced in July or August by the control of soil moisture tension in root zone environment. The first shoot growth was almost the same as that in common plastic greenhouses. The highest bud break value appeared in the plot of cyanamide chemicals mixed with merit blue as over 75% bud break rate. The bud break rate in the discontinuing plot in irrigation showed significantly higher in bud break than that in the continuing plot in irrigation. Despite of the final high bud break rate, the time of bud break was irregular.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2021

Objective: The present study evaluated the preservation of ram semen at 0℃ using soybean lecithin with a Tris-fructose extender. Methods: Semen was collected by artificial vagina ejaculation from six rams with proven fertility. High quality ejaculates were diluted by soybean lecithin (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.25%) using Tris-fructose extender and control (Tris-fructose egg yolk extender), respectively. The ejaculates were diluted to a concentration of 5×108 sperm/mL, followed by cooling to 0℃ in 90 min and maintaining the temperature for 12 days. The diluted semen samples were examined and recorded for sperm progressive motility, acrosome integrity at 0, 24, 72, 144, 216, 288 h, respectively. Two hundred and twenty-three ewes were inseminated for 216 h with optimal soybean lecithin concentrated semen or control via trans-cervical insemination. Results: The results showed that there were no differences in sperm progressive motility at 0, 24, 72, and 144 h (p>0.05). After 216 h, the sperm progressive motility in the control group and 0.5% concentration groups was significantly higher when compared to 0.25% concentration (p<0.05). The 0.5% concentration group demonstrated the highest survival rate and had no difference with the control group (p>0.05). At 216 h, the sperm progressive motility of all groups was still above 50%. The acrosome integrity of all groups was decreased with prolongation of storage time, but there was no difference at each time point (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in the lambing rate and pregnancy rate between the 0.5% concentration group and the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that ram sperm is capable of fertilization after preservation at 0℃ with 0.5% of soybean lecithin in Tris-based extender substituted for egg yolk and produce normal offspring after insemination.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-315
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• 2001

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and influencing factors of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with failed pregnancy after microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilization. Materials and Methods : From January, 1997 to December, 2000, IVF-ET was performed in two groups; the study TR (tubal reanastomosis) group consisted of 147 cycles in 66 patients with failed microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilization, and the control group of 115 cycles in 67 patients with bilateral tubal occlusion (BTO). The two groups were evaluated and compared for clinical characteristics, clinical pregnancy rates, and factors influencing the outcomes of IVF-ET. Results: Compared with the control BTO group, age and the previous parity were significantly higher ($36.3{\pm}2.7$ vs. $33.6{\pm}2.0$ years, p<0.05; $1.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $0.2{\pm}0.4$, p<0.05), and the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was significantly lower (23.8% (35/147) vs. 29.3% (34/115), p<0.05) in the TR group. Difference in the clinical pregnancy rates was age-related, since there was no significant difference between the two groups, except for the previous parity ($1.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $0.1{\pm}0.3$, p<0.05), when the patients aged 37 years or older were excluded. No difference was found in terms of the following: the proportion of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles with GnRH agonist ultrashort protocol, the duration of COH, the dosage of gonadotropins used, and the numbers of oocytes retrieved and of embryos transferred, irrespective of age correction. Conclusions: The outcomes of IVF-ET following the failed microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilization depend upon patient age. The previous fertility of patients does not seem to be a factor of better IVF-ET prognosis.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2002

Causes of infertility include a wide range of physical, as well as emotional factors. In Oriental medicine, women's infertility is believed to be caused by the deficiency of the Chung and Ren vessel. Then the Kidney Qi is collapsed and cold. Many infertility women complain the cold hypersensitivity and/or body coldness, especially on the lower abdomen, back and knee. The aim of this study is to examine the interrelationship between infertility and body surface temperature. The 25 infertility women were allocated as infertility group and 25 fertility women (experienced delivery or pregnancy), as control group at the Kangnam Korean Hospital, KyungHee University, Seoul, Korea, from April to December 2000. Thermographic observations for this study were made using the Dorex DITI on 3 different areas's cold hypersensitivity: lower abdomen, back and knee. All data were coded for computer analysis and significances were tested by Mann-Whitney Test. The mean ${\Delta}T$ for abdomen cold hypersensitivity was $0.25{\pm}1.77^{\circ}C$ On control group and $1.00{\pm}0.39^{\circ}C$, infertility group. The mean ${\Delta}T$ for back cold hypersensitivity was $1.75{\pm}0.40^{\circ}C$ on control group and $1.21{\pm}0.58^{\circ}C$, infertility group. The mean ${\Delta}T$ for knee cold hypersensitivity was $0.65{\pm}0.70^{\circ}C$ on control group and $1.32{\pm}0.58^{\circ}C$, infertility group. It was revealed that the cold hypersensitivity on the lower abdomen, back and knee are significantly inter-related to the women infertility. These results do not conflict with the view of Oriental medicine. According to the above results, it is concluded that the body surface temperature, cold hypersensitivity and/or body coldness, have a great effect on women infertility.