• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.758-765
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• 1999

Comparative studies of the effects of rates and frequency of application of dairy slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of alfalfa and various forage grasses have not previously been conducted. The results being reported here are part of a larger study having a primary objective of comparing the effectiveness of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), various grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures for utilizing nutrients from applied dairy slurry. The objectives of this part of the study were to evaluate the effects of various rates and frequencies of application of slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and alfalfa-orchanrdgreass and alfalfa-reed canarygrass mixtures managed as a 4-cutting management system. A randomized complete block design with treatments in a split plot arrangement with four replicates was used. The main plots consisted of 9 fertility treatments: 7 slurry rate and time of application treatments, one inorganic fertilizer treatment, and an unfertilized control. The sub-plots consisted of the two grasses and two alfalfa-grass mixture mentioned above. Slurry was composed from stored solids scraped from the alleyways of a free-stall housing barn and water added to form a slurry having about 8% solids. Manure was pumped from a liquid spreader tank into 10.4 L garden water cans for manual application to the plots. Herbage yields within species were generally unaffected by various rates of application in the first production year. Herbage yields of grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures the second year were generally not affected by frequency of application for the same rate of slurry applied. Slurry application resulted in greater herbage yield increases in grasses than alfalfa-grass mixtures in the 4-cutting management system. In general, herbage dry matter yields of grasses from the dairy slurry treatments equaled or exceeded yields from the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Stand ratings of grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures were not changed by manure application rates. In this study, the highest rate of slurry ($967kg\;total\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in 1995 plus $2,014kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in 1996) was not detrimental to herbage yields or stand persistence of any of the species. It was concluded that applying dairy slurry to these cool-season grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures managed in a 4-cutting system is an acceptable practice from the standpoint of herbage yield and satnd persistence and by doing so the utilization of inorganic fertilizers can be reduced.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 1995

Though the endometriosis is not always related with infertility, endometriosis causes infertility in some patients. There are many treatment modalities of infertile patients who have endometriosis. In recent years, Assisted Reproductive Technology(ART) have been widely accepted as being a useful tool for the treatment of infertile endometriotic patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of ART in infertile endometriotic patients who have been carried out IVF-ET from Jan, 1992 to Dec, 1994 and to compare the results between COH/IUI and IVF-ET in the patients with endometriosis stage I. Tubal disease only patients were grouped(308 patient, 956 cycles) as a control. Endometriosis group was subdivided into 4 groups according to American Fertility Society classification; endometriosis stage I (45 patients, 61 cycles), stage II (26 patients, 39 cycles), stage III (26 pateitns, 37 cycles), stage IV (33 patients, 50 cycles). The outcomes of IVF-ET in endometriosis patients were as follows; The oocyte recovery rates were significantly lower in stage III, IV endometriosis. In case of stage III endometriosis, the fertilization rate was significantly lower than other stages of endometriosis. Clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were not different between the tubal group(22%) and the endometriosis group(25%). According to endometriosis stage, the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly lower in stage IV (5.6%, 16%) compared with other stages (I; 10.0%, 26%, II;9.8%, 31%, III;12.6%, 32%). It suggests that some factor like autoantibodies may inhibit implantation of embryos in stage IV endometriosis. To evaluate the possibility that simply increasing the number of gametes at the site of fertilization might account for pregnancies attributed to IVF-ET, the authors retrospectively analyzed the outcome of couples undergoing IUI during hMG cycles and CC cycles between 1992 and 1994 in the women with endometriosis stage 1. In case of stage I endometriosis, though the COH/IUI group showed lower FSH level and lesser age profile than IVF-ET group, IUI group has resulted in lower pregnancy rates(19.2%) compared with the IVF-ET group(26.2%). In conclusion, endometriotic infertile patients can get comparable pregnancy rates with the tubal factor infertility patients during IVF-ET program. Moreover even in stage I endometriosis, IVF-ET may be an more effective treatment modality than COH/IUI.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.371-378
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the improvement effect of soil fertility by incorporation of GMC(green manure crops) at rice cropping after cultivation GMC such as the barley for alternative rye in paddy field over the past two years(2006~2007). Plots, which consisted of incorporation time of GMC as rye; heading stage, barley; heading stage, heading stage of rye and 10days after heading stage were divided by amount of applied rates; standard fertilizer fertilization, diagnosis fertilization and non-fertilization. we investigated change of soil physico-chemical properties, degree of decomposition on GMC in soil, growth and yield potential. The obtained results were summarized as follows. The fresh weight of GMC at incorporation time on heading stage of rye, heading stage and 10days after heading stage of barley were $2,715,\;2,352,\;2,867kg\;10a^{-1}$ respectively. Content of total nitrogen at three incorporation times was 1.31, 1.46, 1.38% and the C/N ratio were 33.4, 28.7, and 34.6, respectively. Some soil physical properties, such as soil hardness and bulk density tended to decrease with incorporation of GMC, while surface soil depth and porosity were increased. Some soil chemical properties, such as content of exchangeable cations and cation exchangeable capasity(CEC) were increased with incorporation of GMC compared with before experiment. Rice yields was increased 3~9% in diagnosis application plots on application of barley compared with control($559kg\;10a^{-1}$) and incorporation of barley caused to improve perfect kernel ratio 73.6~78.7% in appearance characteristics of brown rice compared with cotrol(73.0%). It was found that incorporation with 10days after heading stage of barley was more effective to reduce chemical nitrogen fertilizer and to improve soil fertility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1566-1573
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• 2006

The study was conducted on 30 true acyclic Sahiwal cows (15 cows, ${\geq}90$ days postpartum; 15 postpubertal heifers, ${\geq}30$ months of age) and a similar 20 untreated controls (10 cows, 10 heifers). An 'Eazi' breed Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) device (containing 1.38 g progesterone) was inserted intravaginally for 7 days (days 0 to 7) followed by 500 IU eCG i.m. at CIDR removal in all the treated animals. Heifers also received 5 mg oestradiol valerate i.m at CIDR insertion. The reproductive performance of these animals was recorded in terms of oestrus induction response, conception and pregnancy rates. Plasma progesterone ($P_4$) and oestradiol-$17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) profiles of 4 representative animals from each treatment group before, during and after CIDR treatment were also monitored. An oestrus induction response of 100% was observed in treated cows and heifers. The majority of cows (53.3%) and heifers (60%) were induced to oestrus within 24-36 and 36-48 h, respectively after CIDR withdrawal; with mean intervals of $44{\pm}3.18$ and $48{\pm}2.35h$, respectively. The conception rate at induced oestrus was higher in cows (40%) than heifers (20%). The final pregnancy rates after 2 subsequent oestruses were 80 and 60% in cows and heifers, respectively (overall 70% for all treated animals). In comparison, only 10% of control animals (2 cows only, 2/20) showed oestrus and become pregnant (10%) during theentire study period. The pretreatment (day 0) mean plasma P4 levels were statistically (p>0.05) similar in cows and heifers ($0.40{\pm}0.04$ and $0.49{\pm}0.11ng/ml$, respectively). The peak $P_4$ levels were observed on day 1 in cows ($13.94{\pm}1.41ng/ml$) and day 2 in heifers ($19.15{\pm}3.30ng/ml$) with a progressive decline up to the day of CIDR withdrawal ($3.35{\pm}0.92$ and $8.79{\pm}1.71ng/ml$, respectively). Mean $P_4$ levels on day 9 and 10 in cows and heifers did not differ significantly from their respective day 0 values and the lowest values were recorded on day 10 both in cows and heifers ($0.13{\pm}0.03$ and $0.14{\pm}0.02ng/ml$, respectively). Wide variations in individual pretreatment $E_2$ levels were observed both in the cows (range = 4-26, mean = $13.00{\pm}4.65pg/ml$) and heifers (range = 10-14, mean = $11.50{\pm}0.96pg/ml$). Thereafter also, $E_2$ levels in cows showed variation and reached a peak level ($53.50{\pm}2.99pg/ml$) on day 8. In heifers, peak mean $E_2$ level ($111.25{\pm}39.81pg/ml$) was recorded on day 1, followed by a non-significant decline on day 2, a significant fall on day 6 and a non-significant increase on day 9 and 10. However, mean $E_2$ levels on days 7 (p<0.05), 8 and 9 (p<0.01) were significantly higher in cows compared to heifers. The post-CIDR withdrawal mean highest $P_4$ and lowest $E_2$ levels coincided with the period when the majority of animals were induced to oestrus. CIDR and eCG treatment resulted in effective induction of oestrus with satisfactory pregnancy rates in true acyclic Sahiwal cows and heifers.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1990

The effect of preincubation on in vitro maturation and fertility were investigated using preovulatory oocytes with and without cumulus cells obtained from superovulated ouot-bred ICR mice. Oocytes were recovered from fully grown folicle at 10 hr after hCG administration. A part of oocytes recovered were treated with the solution of 0.1% hyaluronidase to remove cumulus cells. Both intact and treated oocytes were then incubated for 0 to 6hr in mT6 medium containing 0.3% BSA. After incubation for various times, a part of oocytes were subjected to the investigation of nuclear maturation and the remaining oocytes were used fro the induction of in vitro fertilization by adding them into medium containing capacitated mice epididymal spermatozoa. Above all, the percentage of preovulatory oocytes at the stage of metaphase II after preincubation for 0, 2, 4 and 6hr was 15.8, 36.4, 47.5 and 66.7%, respectively, suggesting the in vitro maturation of oocytes during their incubation. On the other hand, fertilizatin rate of oocytes preincubated for 0, 2, 4 and 6hr with and without cumulus cells were 41.0, 58.7, 68.7 and 75.6%, and 50.0, 45.1, 37.8 and 39.2%, respectively. No significant differences in fertilization rate between preovulatory oocytes preincubated for 6hr with cumulus cells and naturally ovulated were observed. These results suggest that cumulus cells take very important role in maturtion of oocytes in vitro. The precentage of preovulatory oocytes developed to 2-cell stage in vitro fertilization following preincubation for 0 to 6hr with and without cumulus cells ranged from 48.5 to 82.4% and 36.9 to 56.1%, respectively. Also, the rates of oocytes developed to blastocyst in vitro fertilization after preincubation for 0 to 6hr with and without cumulus cells were 28.1, 39.3, 42.5 and 44.0% and 12.5, 32.6, 24.4 and 15.5%, respectively. From these results, it could be said that fertility of preovulatory oocytes with cumulus cells could be improved to the level of that of naturally ovulated oocytes by adquate preincubation in vitro. Cumulus cells may, therefore, affect in vitro maturation, fertilization and following development of oocytes by influencing zona hardening.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.50-61
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• 1973

Despite the intensive family Planning program of the government, which has reduced the :average population growth to 2.0 percent in 1970, the continuing high fertility rates and poor family planning services in urban slum areas has been continually pointed out by various evaluation seminars. Thus, it was felt that a study of the current status of family planning in an urban slum population was needed. The aims of the study were to: (1) delineate the general characteristics of the urban slum population (2) discover the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of family planing. (3) determine what was felt to be the ideal number of children. (4) determine the status of induced abortion. A random stratified sample of 200 women was selected from a population of 3, 118 married women, 20-49 years of age, living in the Yonsei Community Health Project area and registered at the Yonhee Community Health Service Institute. The respondents were interviewed by the investigates, using a pretested questionary, from the period of October 1 to October 30, 1972. The findings of the Study were as follows: 1. Afore than half of the respondents were in the high fertility age group (25-34): of lower educational level (under primary School) : from rural areas: and with unstable sources of income. 2. The average respondent had 3.6 living children. 3. Most of the respondents had knowledge of contraceptive methods such as the Loop(78, 5%) and Oral pill (87.0%). 4. Seventy seven percent of the respondents recognized the Health Center as an available source for family planning. 5. About seventy percent of the respondents approved of family planning. 6. Eighty four point five percent of all the respondents answered that using contraceptives is harmful to maternal health. 7. Currently, 21.0 percent of the respondents were using contraceptives, while 40.0 percent of the respondents were current users or had used contraceptives. 5. Of the respondents who had ever stopped using contraceptives, 78.0 percent gave side effects as the reason they discontinued the method. 9. The average number of ideal children reported by the respondents was 3.5. 10. If they had only 2 daughters, 85.5 Percent of the respondents thought they must have more children. 11. Sixty nine point five percent of the respondents approved of induced abortion for unwanted pregnancies, while 34.5 percent of the respondents had experienced induced abortion for unwanted pregnancies. The mean number of induced abortion for unwanted pregnancies was 0.7. 12. The result of this study showed that such urban slum population would be one of the most important target of the family planning services, therefore further social-psychological researches with technical development on this area are recommended.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.586-593
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• 2014

Newly reclaimed tidal land is known to be in low status of soil fertility. The incorporation of crop residue is an effective method to improve soil properties and fertility in reclaimed saline soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of rice straw (RS) application to improve physico-chemical properties of saline-sodic soil and its contribution to productivity of whole crop barley. Increasing rate of rice straw improved growth parameter related to yield of whole crop barley, which increased tiller number significantly (p<0.05).The yield increased by 15% (F.W) and 9% (D.W) in rice straw-amended plots. The content of soil organic matter (SOM) in the surface soil (0-20cm) with rice straw incorporation increased by 5~9% (RS 2.5~RS 7.5) compared to RS 0, in which the content of SOM decreased after two consecutive cultivations. Rice straw incorporation promoted soil physico-chemical properties and nutrient-availability of the test crop, as indicated in change in soil bulk density, porosity and increased nutrient uptake of plant. Especially, the P content and uptake of whole crop barley increased with increasing the rate of rice straw application. In conclusion, the rice straw application at rates of $5.0-7.5ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ in reclaimed saline soils effectively improved soil properties and crop productivity, which has potentials to reduce the loss of chemical fertilizers and facilitate the favorable condition for crop growth under adverse soil condition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.193-202
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• 2011

Objective: We found previously that $interferon$ $regulatory$ factor ($Irf$)-1 is a germinal vesicle (GV)-selective gene that highly expressed in GV as compared to metaphase II oocytes. To our knowledge, the function of $Irf-1$ in oocytes has yet to be examined. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between retinoic acid (RA) and RA-mediated expression of $Irf-1$ and the mouse oocyte maturation. Methods: Immature cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were collected from 17-day-old female mice and cultured $in$ $vitro$ for 16 hours in the presence of varying concentrations of RA (0-10 ${\mu}M$). Rate of oocyte maturation and activation was measured. Gene expression was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cytokine secretion in the medium was measured by Bio-Plex analysis. Apoptosis was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results: The rates of oocyte maturation to metaphase II and oocyte activation increased significantly with RA treatment (10 nM-1 ${\mu}M$). With 100 nM RA treatment, lowest level of $Irf-1$ mRNA and cumulus cell's apoptosis was found. Among 23 cytokines measured by Bio-Plex system, the substantial changes in secretion of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\beta}$, eotaxin and interleukin-12 (p40) from COCs in response to RA were detected. Conclusion: We concluded that the maturation of oocytes and $Irf-1$ expression are negatively correlated, and RA enhances the developmental competence of mouse immature oocytes $in$ $vitro$ by suppressing apoptosis of cumulus cells. Using a mouse model, results of the present study provide insights into improved culture conditions for $in$ $vitro$ oocyte maturation and relevant cytokine production and secretion in assisted reproductive technology.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 1985

Three field experiments were conducted to define the optimum levels, yield responses and fertilization efficiencies of NPK fertilizers on peanut and survey on fertility status of 150 farmers` peanut fields was carried out for 3 years. The range of optimum rates of N, $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ fertilizers on peanut were 5.2-9.0, 6.4-21.0, 8.5-15.0kg/10a, respectively. The effect of NPK application were 23, 8, 16% and production efficiencies of each kg of NPK fertilizers were 6.0, 1.8, 3.4 kg, respectively. The optimum nutrient contents in soil were 250 ppm for available $P_2O_5$ and 0.8 me/100g for exchangeable K including applied ones. Available soil nutrient contents of farmers' peanut fields were mostly below the optimum range for upland soil.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.308-312
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The nutrient balance in Korea during 1985-2006 had continually increased and maintained the highest levels among OECD countries. The use of green manure crops such as barley and hairy vetch is common practice for reducing chemical fertilizer application and maintaining soil fertility. However, green manure crops can also be used as a livestock feeding material which may reduce nutrient balance in the national scale. We calculated nitrogen and phosphate balance under green manure-rice cultivating system where all green manure was removed and used for feeding livestock. METHODS AND RESULTS: The barley and hairy vetch grown in pure stands or in mixtures with different sowing rates were tested for rice cultivation without chemical fertilization. The conventional fertilization (NPK) for rice cultivation was selected to compare nutrient balance with green manure-rice cultivation. Nitrogen and phosphate balance were calculated according to the surface balance method of the PARCOM guidelines. Total aboveground biomass of mixture (barley and hairy vetch) was higher compared to that of pure barley or hairy vetch. Among the mixture with barley and hairy vetch, the highest aboveground biomass was observed in B75H25 (barley 75%+hairy vetch 25%). The nitrogen and phosphate balance in the B75H25 mixture was-104 kg N/ha and-50.3 kg P/ha, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): The barley and hairy vetch mixture proved to be a very effective strategy for biomass production of green manure. The amount of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer to be applied is estimated to be 104 kg N/ha and 50.3 kg P/ha in order to maintain soil fertility if all green manure and rice straw were removed from rice field for livestock feeding.