• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for treating thin endometrium. Methods: Data from 88 infertile women with thin endometrium (<7 mm) aged 23 to 40 years were evaluated retrospectively over a period of 1 year. In group 1, subcutaneous infusion of G-CSF (300 ㎍/mL) was administered to 44 women along with other supplemental treatments. If the lining did not exceed 7 mm within 72 hours, a second infusion was administered. In group 2, which also had 44 women, only estradiol valerate and sildenafil were administered, while subcutaneous G-CSF infusion was not. Embryo transfers were performed once the lining exceeded 7.5 mm. The efficacy of G-CSF was evaluated by assessing the thickness of the endometrium before embryo transfer, pregnancy rates, and clinical pregnancy rates. Results: There were no differences between the groups regarding demographic variables, egg reserves, sperm parameters, the number of embryos transferred, and embryo quality. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group 1 (60%, 24 of 40 cases) than in group 2 (31%, 9 of 29 cases) (p<0.001). The clinical pregnancy rate was also significantly higher in group 1 (55%) than in group 2 (24%) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Subcutaneous G-CSF infusion improved the thickness of the endometrium when it was thin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented study to clearly demonstrate the benefits of subcutaneous G-CSF infusion for treating thin endometrium.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2020

Rice is very sensitive to high temperatures during the reproductive stage, particularly during the flowering and anthesis periods. To determine how high temperatures result in sterility during the flowering period in Korean rice cultivars, groups of 11 cultivars were subjected to different temperature regimes (24, 28, 30, and 33℃) during the flowering stage using sunlit phytotrons. At an average of 33℃, all 11 rice cultivars reached anthesis earlier than at the other temperatures. Microscopy analyses revealed significant differences in pollen germination and pollen viability in cultivars grown at 33℃ compared to those cultured at lower temperatures. At 33℃, the cultivars had significantly lower fertility rates (47% reduction) than cultivars grown at 24℃. These findings are important as rice pollination and fertility depend on the pollen viability and germination. The present study shows that rice fertility is negatively affected by excessively high temperatures.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2018

Background: To evaluate whether ${\geq}3$ adjunct acupuncture sessions accompanying embryo transfer, increases the chance of pregnancy amongst post-myomectomy women aged ${\geq}35$ years. Methods: This was a prospective study carried out at Nordica Fertility Center. Following written informed consent, 75 patients undergoing assisted reproduction therapy and who had good quality embryos, were age-matched and grouped into post-myomectomy (n = 24) and normal women who had no evidence of fibroids or previous myomectomy (n = 51). Between 1 and 3 sessions of acupuncture were performed on 6 post-myomectomy and 19 infertile women who had not undergone myomectomy, while > 3 acupuncture sessions were performed on 18 post-myomectomy and on 32 normal patients, approximately 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. Results: A positive pregnancy test was defined as ultrasonographic evidence indicating presence of a fetal sac 6 weeks after embryo transfer. Of the 5 post-myomectomy women who were pregnant, only 1 (20.0%) received 1-3 adjunct acupuncture sessions whilst the remaining 4 (80.0%) received > 3 acupuncture sessions. Of the 11 normal pregnant women, 5 (45.4%) received 1-3 adjunct acupuncture sessions while 6 (54.5%) received > 3 adjunct acupuncture sessions. Conclusion: Pregnancy rates in infertile post-myomectomy women may be improved by > 3 adjunct acupuncture sessions.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.229-263
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• 2019

The Korean fertility rate has been declining rapidly since 2000 with the fertility rate among provinces following a uniform tendency. In particular, the province-specific fertility rate is an essential tool for local governments to prepare local policies for low fertility aging policy, education and welfare policies. However, there is limitation on how to reflect different trends on the province-specific fertility rate because the KOSTAT's (2017) province-specific fertility rate projection estimates information use the national average birth rate date of vital statistics for the last 10 years (5 years). In this study, we propose an improvement plan that simultaneously considers important stable pattern maintenance and provincial fertility rate differentiation for an annual birth rate estimation. The method proposed in this study (proposal 1 and 2) can reflect birth rate changes from past to present and national and provincial differences by age that use time series data of the annual fertility rate. Proposal 3 also reflects the unique fertility rate trend from the past to the present by age according to province regardless of the relationship with the national trend. Therefore, it is preferable to use a relationship to the national rate when predicting the birth rate, as in proposals 1 and 2 because the national and the provincial fertility rate pattern are similar. These proposals show improved stability in terms of age-specific fertility rates.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2008

Objective: To evaluate efficacy of assisted hatching by laser (AHL) and acidified Tyrode solution (AHA) in selected groups of IVF-ET patients who have a poor prognosis. Methods: From February 2006 to September 2006, total of 328 IVF-ET cycles with advanced female age (${\geq}38$ years), recurrent implantation failure (${\geq}3$ cycles), thick zona (${\geq}17{\mu}m$), and/or poor quality of embryo were randomly divided into assisted hatching by acidified Tyrode solution (AHA, n=180) and the assisted hatching using the ZILOS-tk laser (AHL, n=148) groups. Clinical outcomes were analyzed and compared between AHA and AHL group based on the patient characteristics. Results: In all AHL and AHA group, there were no significant differences in pregnancy (42.6%, 63/148 vs. 33.3%, 60/180) and implantation rates (17.4%, 82/470 vs. 16.0%, 89/556) However, in advanced female age group (Group 1), pregnancy (37.0%, 20/54 vs. 18.7%, 14/75) and implantation rates (14.4%, 23/160 vs. 7.1%, 15/210) in AHL group were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of AHA, although there was no difference in patient parameters of both groups. And, the clinical outcome of groups with recurrent implantation failure (Group 2), thick zona pellucida (Group 3) and poor quality embryo (Group 4) were improved in AHL compared to those of AHA: 43.8% (21/48) and 31.6% (25/79) in Group 2, 43.8% (32/73) and 34.1% (28/82) in Group 3, 25.0% (7/28) and 14.6% (6/41) in Group 4, but no significance. Conclusion: The AHL improved the pregnancy and implantation rates in patients with advanced female age and recurrent implantation failure when compared to outcomes achieved from AHA. Therefore, this AHL technique may be a efficient and safe method for patients with poor prognosis.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.77-99
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• 2012

This study aimed at developing a model for estimating fertility rates for Korea under some conditions. The model is expected to provide the basic information for establishing and evaluating the polices in prompt and adequate response to low fertility and population ageing. The model was established on the basis of experiences by some OECD countries in Europe, having experienced the fertility increase trend and being economically well-developed, because Korea has never experienced the steady increase in fertility rate since 1960. This study collected about 20 years' time series data for each of selected countries and applied to the regression model, which is called a 'panel analysis' to take into considerations both cross-sectional and longitudinal aspects of fertility change simultaneously. Simulation of the model for Korea and some panel countries showed a very small difference, less than 0.1, between the estimated rate and the observed rate for each year during 2006~2010. Thus, the model, as established in this study, is evaluated as accurate or well-fitted to a considerable extent.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.143-177
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• 2020

This paper investigates how the provision of full child care subsidy to infants and toddlers differently affected female labor supply and fertility rate depending on the level of supply of child care centers in the place of residence. Our results on labor supply show that the higher the supply rate of childcare centers in residential areas, the higher the probability of career maintenance for multi-child mothers who are more likely to be admitted to a childcare facility. The results on the fertility rate show that the first child's fertility rate has increased since the support of childcare expenses in areas with higher rates of childcare centers. In the places where the supply rate of publicly-funded childcare centers is high, the second child's fertility rate has also increased significantly since the support of childcare expenses. This suggests that the quality of child care is an essential factor in determining the birth rate. Our results suggest that the effects of child care support on women's labor supply and fertility rate may differ depending on the priority of entering child care centers according to birth order and the degree of quantitative and qualitative supply of child care centers in the place of residence.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.203-209
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• 1974

This study is intended to comparison of the recent ideal number of children and atrial approach for analyzing value system for children that form attitude affecting birth control with earlier study conducted 10 years ago. In general the traditional fertility pattern of Korea may be considered as 'early marriage and high fertility' backed by the confucian value system of a farming-oriented country. A selective attitude favoring sons contributes substantially to fertility. But Korea is now moving toward a late marriage and fertility pattern. This has been due to the repid introduction of western culture and a partial acceptance of western value systems, a relative weakening of traditional value systems, a gradual increase in infant and child servival rates thresh medicines, and a desire to avoid having too many children because of economic poverty. This study showed following results: Ideal number of sons and daughters in urban area was decreased by 0.2 respectively compared to earlier study. In rural area, the number of decrease of sons and daughters was 0.5 and 0.2 respectively. The conception concerning Happiness has changed to wealth from health in previous opinion. Regarding attitude toward having sons, 98 percent of them wanted to have sons positively, moreover 10 percent of them wanted two or more sons. Regarding reasons for the wanting sons, we see that economic and traditional considerations, such as dependance in old age, and inheritance of the family line, are a principle concern of about 56 percent in both areas. The rate of dependence in old age was decreased conspicuously compare to previous study while the rate of helding rituals was increased remarkably in rural area. Among reasons for limiting family size. 'for better living and for better education for their children were main rasons reted 46 percent in urban, 51 percent in rural areas. The rates were not changed compare to previous study. Regarding attitude of those who have no son or children, the rate of re-marriage with second wife was decreased remarkably in rural area and the rate of living without special behaivor for having son was increased compare to previous study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.630-635
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• 2000

Previous research has not evaluated the effects of various rates and frequencies of manure application and frequencies of cutting on yield and stand persistence of cool-season grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures. The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of cutting management systems on herbage yield and stand persistence of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-orchardgrass mixture from various rates and frequencies of dairy slurry application. A randomized complete block design with treatments in a sub-subplot arrangement with four replicates was used. The main plot consisted of 2 cutting management systems (4 and 5 annual cuttings). The subplots were 9 fertility treatments: 7 slurry rate and frequency of application treatments, one inorganic fertilizer treatment, and an unfertilized control. The split-split-plots were the two forage species: orchardgrass and alfalfa-orchardgrass mixture. The study was initiated after 1st cutting in 1995. Cumulative yields of the 2nd and subsequent cuttings of both orchardgrass and alfalfa-orchardgrass in 1995 were higher for the 5-cutting system than the 4-cutting system. The 1995 growing season was abnormally dry. In 1996, an abnormally wet year, the reverse was true, total herbage yields being higher for the 4-cutting system than the 5-cutting system. Species response to fertility rate/frequency treatments was different in both years. Higher application rates early in the season and carryover of nutrients from late season applications the previous year appear to be responsible for the yield increases of those fertility treatments having significant yield differences between the cutting management systems. The stand ratings of orchardgrass were not affected by cutting management. In the spring of 1997, however, the stand ratings of alfalfa-orchardgrass in the 4-cutting management system were significantly greater than the 5-cutting management system. The very high manure application rate significantly reduced the stand ratings of alfalfa-orchardgrass in the 5-cutting system.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.139-164
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• 2009

The first demographic transition refers to the historical decline in mortality and fertility, as shown from the 18th Century in several European populations, and continuing present in most developing countries. The end point of the first demographic transition(FDT) was supposed to be a stationary and stable population corresponding with replacement fertility and zero population growth. In addition, households in all parts of the world would converge toward the nuclear and conjugal types, composed of married couples and their offspring. The second demographic transition(SDT), on the other hand, sees no such equilibrium as the end-point. Rather, new developments bring sub-replacement fertility, a multitude of living arrangements other than marriage, and the disconnection between marriage and procreation. Populations would face declining sizes if not complemented by new migrants. Over the last decades birth rates have been on the decline in all countries of the world, and it is estimated that already more than half of he world's population has below replacement level fertility. Measured in terms of the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), currently 34 countries have fertility levels of 1.5 or less. Similarly, Korea has been below lowest-low fertility for eight consecutive years since 2001 and below the replacement level for more than twenty years. In explaining the low fertility in Korea, some researchers explain the low fertility as revenge against a male-dominated society and institution, while others focus the impact of the employment instability. These studies share the basic ideas (spread of individualism, delayed marriage and childbearing, high divorce rate etc.) of a second demographic transition in order to explain the low fertility in Korea.