• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.773-778
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• 2011

Long-term continuous application of livestock by-products to agricultural land may adversely affect the soil characteristics and the crop yield. Five year term study from 2007 was carried out to assess the effects of repeated application of low-concentration swine slurry on soil chemical properties including phosphate and heavy metal contents and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in a greenhouse. Treatments were conventional chemical fertilizers and three application rates of low-concentration swine slurry (Slurry composting and biofiltration, SCB): 50%, 100%, and 200% of recommended nitrogen fertilization. For swine slurry treatment of 50% nitrogen, deficient nitrogen was supplemented with urea fertilizer. The soil phosphorus and heavy metal contents after five year continuous application of swine slurry were not significantly higher than those of chemical fertilizer use. Repeated application of the swine slurry alone for five years resulted in relatively high soil exchangeable potassium and sodium compared with chemical fertilizer treatment. Contents of heavy metals in leaves of tomato and cucumber did not show significant difference among treatments. Yields of the crops for the swine slurry were not significantly different from that of chemical fertilizer. The results imply that continuous application of the swine slurry may not influence levels of soil phosphate and trace elements in greenhouse soils but could accumulate potassium and sodium in the soil.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen (N) is an important element for turfgrass (Zoysia matrella) growth; however, standard N application rate for turfgrass is not established yet. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of N application rates on the growth and quality of turfgrass for establishment of standard N application rate. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatments were as follows; control (0 N g/m²/month), 1N (1 N g/m²/month), 2N(2 N g/m²/month), 3N (3 N g/m²/month), 4N (4 N g/m²/month), and 5N (5 N g/m²/month). N application improved visual turfgrass quality. Compared with the control, clipping yield of all N treatments increased by 90~194%. The grass shoot weight of 3N, 4N, and 5N treatments increased by 52%, 43%, and 111%, respectively, and the stolon weight of 4N and 5N treatments increased by 412% and 201%, respectively, compared to the control. The N uptake amount and N recovery rate were estimated to be 4.10~6.28 g/m² and 14~58%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): These results indicate that considering visual quality, clipping yield, N uptake amount, and N recovery, the application rate of 2~3 N g/m²/month was suggested to be suitable for Z. matrella production.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2022

Korean medicine has traditionally provided a lot of medical care for the treatment of infertility. The combination treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine can be effective for infertility to improve the problems caused by the extremely low fertility rate and the aging of pregnant women. In relation to female infertility, we reviewed the evidence for Korean medicine treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome, which has recently been increasing interest in female infertility, and the evidence for the collaboration between Korean and Western medicine in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility. Because polycystic ovary syndrome is closely related to metabolic diseases related to endocrine abnormalities, hormone treatment alone has limited therapeutic effects and has side effects. In domestic and international research, herbal medicine and acupuncture in the treatment of infertility have shown good clinical effects based on the hypothesis of various mechanisms of effect, and many cases of successful pregnancy have been reported. Although continuous research through large-scale randomized clinical studies is needed to prove efficacy, the importance of combined treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine in infertility treatment is increasing in order to solve the extremely low fertility rate. Combining artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization with Korean medicine treatment is highly likely to be effective in increasing pregnancy success and fertility rates. In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, which is recognized as a metabolic disease due to endocrine abnormalities among the causes of female infertility, Korean medicine treatment can increase the pregnancy rate with herbal medicines and acupuncture, etc. Although well-designed large-scale clinical studies are currently lacking and meta-analysis has not provided sufficient evidence, the combination treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine is more active to increase the pregnancy rate for solving the problem of low fertility.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.129-129
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• 2022

The production area of Italian ryegrass feed is gradually increasing and labor-saving technologies are being developed. If sowing and fertilization are carried out agricultural drones, working hours and labor are reduced. The purpose of this study is to suggest an appropriate seedling amount for feed production by drone spreading of Italian ryegrass in spring. In addition, we would like to review the productivity of the drone seeding machine that is being developed by Rural Development Administration(RDA) of Korea. Italian ryegrass was sown by a drone in February at the NICS located in Gyehwa-hwa, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. In Experiment 1, 50kg/ha, 60, 70, and 80 seeding rates were sown with a horizontal spreader drone. In Experiment 2, uniform spreaders type drone and horizontal spreader type were sown with the same seeding amount and compared. The drone was sown using the AF-52 aircraft. The higher the seeding amount, the higher the emergence rate. As the seeding amount increased, the plant length increased, but the number of tillers per individual decreased. The dry matter weight of the feed was the highest at 1,326kg/10a at the seeding rate of 70kg/ha, and decreased by 20.5% at the seeding rate of 80kg/ha. The coverage ratio was the highest at 96 at the seeding rate of 70kg/ha, which was the most advantageous for spring sowing. In the comparative experiment according to the spreader type, the uniform spreader had a high emergence rate per unit area. When the uniform spreader was used, the dry matter weight of the feed was 17% higher than that of the horizontal one, and the coverage was about 5% higher.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 2023

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed optimized in vitro culture (OIVC) dish for cultivating preimplantation mouse embryos. This dish minimizes the need for mineral oil and incorporates microwells, providing a stable culture environment and enabling independent monitoring of individual embryos. Methods: Mouse pronuclear (PN) zygotes and two-cell-stage embryos were collected at 18 and 46 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin injection, respectively. These were cultured for 120 hours using potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM) to reach the blastocyst stage. The embryos were randomly allocated into three groups, each cultured in one of three dishes: a 60-mm culture dish, a microdrop dish, and an OIVC dish that we developed. Results: The OIVC dish effectively maintained the osmolarity of the KSOM culture medium over a 5-day period using only 2 mL of mineral oil. This contrasts with the significant osmolarity increase observed in the 60-mm culture dish. Additionally, the OIVC dish exhibited higher blastulation rates from two-cell embryos (100%) relative to the other dish types. Moreover, blastocysts derived from both PN zygotes and two-cell embryos in the OIVC dish group demonstrated significantly elevated mean cell numbers. Conclusion: Use of the OIVC dish markedly increased the number of cells in blastocysts derived from the in vitro culture of preimplantation mouse embryos. The capacity of this dish to maintain medium osmolarity with minimal mineral oil usage represents a breakthrough that may advance embryo culture techniques for various mammals, including human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2023

Objective: This study investigated the clinical and laboratory factors associated with the presence of dysmorphic oocytes in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods: The study involved 200 ICSI cycles, performed from 2020 to 2021, that yielded at least one mature oocyte. Clinical characteristics and ovarian stimulation methods were compared between 68 cycles with at least one dysmorphic oocyte (the dysmorphic group) and 132 cycles with normal-form oocytes only (the non-dysmorphic group). Dysmorphic oocytes were characterized by dark cytoplasm, cytoplasmic granularity, cytoplasmic vacuoles, refractile bodies in the cytoplasm, smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm, an oval shape, an abnormal zona pellucida, a large perivitelline space, debris in the perivitelline space, or an abnormal polar body. Results: The ages of the women, indications for in vitro fertilization, serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels, and rates of current ovarian endometrioma were similar between the dysmorphic and non-dysmorphic groups. In both groups, the three ovarian stimulation regimens, two types of pituitary suppression, and total gonadotropin dose were employed similarly. However, the dual-trigger method was used more frequently in the dysmorphic group (67.6% vs. 50%, p=0.024). The dysmorphic group contained significantly more immature oocytes and exhibited significantly lower oocyte maturity (50% vs. 66.7%, p=0.001) than the non-dysmorphic cycles. Within the dysmorphic group, significantly lower oocyte maturity was found in the cycles using a dual-trigger, but not in those with a human chorionic gonadotropin trigger. Conclusion: ICSI cycles with dysmorphic oocytes are closely associated with reduced oocyte maturity. This association was observed exclusively in dual-trigger cycles.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.273-281
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• 2023

Ammonia (NH₃) emitted from the use of fertilizers during agricultural practice generates particulate matter and odors. The application of carbonized rice husk, an eco-friendly material, is one of the measures used to reduce NH₃. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the application rate and pH of carbonized rice husk on NH₃ emissions and soil quality. An experiment to assess NH₃ emissions was performed in a glasshouse using a static chamber method. The pH of the carbonized rice husk was divided into acidic, neutral, and basic groups, and the carbonized rice husk application rates were 1, 3, and 5% of the soil weight. NH₃ emissions showed a sharp increase within three days after the inorganic fertilizer was applied. Subsequently, NH₃ emissions decreased rapidly after basal fertilization compared to primary and secondary top-dressing. When carbonized rice husks were applied to soil, NH₃ emissions decreased in all treatments, and neutral carbonized rice husk was the most effective in comparison with acidic and basic carbonized rice husk. The application rate of carbonized rice husk and NH₃ emissions showed a negative correlation, and the lowest emissions were found in units with a 5% application rate. Also, there was no statistically significant difference between NH₃ emissions according to the application rate of carbonized rice husk, and when carbonized rice husks were applied at a 5% rate, soil OM increased excessively. Therefore, it is recommended to apply only 1% neutral carbonized rice husk to most effectively reduce NH₃ emissions in the soil.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.239-246
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• 2022

We aimed to investigating the effects of metformin (MET) in combination with alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on hormonal and biochemical parameters, in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This experimental pilot study with a randomized design was carried out on 40 PCOS women in two groups: (1) MET group, administered 1,500 mg/day MET, and (2) MET (1,500 mg/day)+ALA (1,800 mg/day) group. Drugs were administered from the third day of the previous cycle until the day of oocyte aspiration (six weeks of treatment in total). MET+ALA significantly increased the number of maturated oocytes and the rate of fertilization when compared to the MET group. Combination MET+ALA could increase significantly the number of oocytes retrieval and the number of good-quality embryos. Also, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level decreased significantly in the MET+ALA group and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level increased significantly in the MET+ALA group compared to the MET group. Also, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and LH/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were significantly lower in the MET+ALA group. The pregnancy outcomes showed no significant difference in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and live births between the control and study groups. The combination of MET+ALA treatment could moderate the complications of PCOS and subsequently improve oocyte and embryo quality.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 1998

The main experiment related to this report was undertaken to assess the effects of two rates of $Ca(OH)_2$ (0, 250 kg/10a only at establishment) and five rates of $N-P_20_5-K_20$ (0-0-0, 0-10-10, 6-15-15, 12-20-20, 24-25-20 kg/10a/year) on the pasture establishment, forage yield and quality, and vegetation etc. After this 10-year main e experiment pasture had been used to assess the effects of the above treaments on the soil characteristics in oversown hilly pasture of a grass-clover sward. soil properties of mutual ratios of exchangeable cations at d different soil depth, and the visible characteristics of soil conservation obtained are summarized as follows; 1. Compared with the properties of soil fertility and the level for the likelihood grass tetany, the mutual ratios of exchangeable cations in soils; Ca:Mg:K(% of CEC), Ca:Mg:K(K=I), $K/\sqrt{Ca+Mg}$, Mg/K, K/Mg, and Ca/Mg, were discussed at different soil depth. Before and after experiment, these ratios were generally unbalance and unsuitable, and were rather worsened in the order of Mg>Ca>K under the conditions of liming and NPK fertilization without Mg. 2. The ratios of Ca and Ca/Mg were increaby liming, whereas it of $K/\sqrt{Ca+Mg}$ was redused. The ratios of K and $K/\sqrt{Ca+Mg}$ in control and the heavy fertillization of NPK(especially N) were rather lowered than those in the low and medium fertilizations of NPK. 3. The prperties of consevation were closely related with the forage productivity/vegetation rates, as affected by liming and the application rates of NPK. In control of NPK, It was shown to be the worst soil conservation; severly eroded(3rd grade), exporsure of subsoil, redish brown in soil colour, and 18.8% of cobble and stony in covering rate. 4. The improvement of soil conservation was greatly enhanced by increasing the NPK rate. In the medium and heavy fertilizations of NPK, it was shown to be the favorable improvement of soil conservation; slightly eroded(lst grade), covered with humus layer/grass residues in surface soil, dark brown in surface soil colour, under 1% of cobble and stony in covering rate. The increasing of legume yield/vegetation rate by liming rather enhanced the soil conservation of grassland.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 1998

The safety of ICSI as a novel procedure of assisted fertilization may be assessed by the health of the baby born. In order to evaluate the safety of ICSI, perinatal outcome and congenital anomaly of the babies born after ICSI were compared with those of babies born after IVF (control group). We analysed the clinical data from the obstetric and pediatric records, including the information obtained through telephone. The results are as follows; Mean gestational age $({\pm}SEM)$ and birth weight in singleton pregnancy were $38.8{\pm}1.9$ weeks and $3209.7{\pm}501.9gm$ in IVF group, $39.0{\pm}2.2$ weeks and $3289.9{\pm}479.5gm$ in ICSI group, respectively. Mean gestational age and birth weight in twins were $36.8{\pm}2.1$ weeks and $2512.8{\pm}468.0gm$ in IVF group, $36.5{\pm}2.8$ weeks and $2492.7{\pm}537.1gm$ in ICSI group. In IVF group, perinatal mortality rates were 8.5 in singletons and 56.6 in twins; for the ICSI singletons and ICSI twins, the perinatal mortality rates were 11.6 and 49.0, respectively. The incidence of congenital malformations was 3.6% (8/224) in IVF group and 2.1% (4/188) in ICSI group, there was no statistical difference (p>0.05, Fisher's exact test). The incidence of major congenital anomalies was 0.9% (2/224; pulmonary artery hypoplasia, renal cystic dysplasia) in IVF group and 1.1% (2/188; holoprosencephaly, Cri du chat syndrome) in ICSI groups (p>0.05, Fisher's exact test). Similarly, there was no significant difference in incidence of minor congenital anormalies 2.7% (6/224) in IVF group and 1.1% (2/188) in ICSI group respectively (p>0.05, Fisher's exact test). In conclusion, there was no difference in the perinatal outcome and the incidence of congenital anomalies between the babies born after ICSI and those after conventional IVF.