• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine immature oocytes, and on subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and development (IVD). COCs were collected from antral follicles of porcine ovaries collected from abattoir, and were maturated in modified NCSU-23 (mNCSU-23) with 10% pFF, 0.6 mM cysteine, 50 ${\mu}mM{\beta}-mercaptoethanol$, 1 mM dbcAMP, 10 IU/mL PMSG and 10 IU/mL hCG, which was supplemented with or without 10 ng/mL EGF and into which 50 or 15 COCs per droplet was put. Oocytes matured in vitro, were fertilized in vitro in modified Tris-buffered medium (mTBM) with the final motile sperm concentration of 1${\times}$105 sperm/mL, and subsequently putative embryos were developed in vitro in NCSU- 23. The results are as follows. 1.In the result of IVM, 10 ng/mL EGF supplement duplicated the percentage of C4 group of COCs(41% vs 81%). But the rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and of nuclear maturation were not significantly different between control and EGF supplemented, or between the number of COCs per culture droplet, and there was not a significant interaction between the two factors, either. 2. In the result of IVF, there was not significantly different between control and EGF supplemented, or between the number of COCs per culture droplet, or was not a significant interaction between the two factors, in the rate of sperm penetration, in the percentage of oocytes with male pronucleus (MPN), and in the rate of polyspermy. 3. In the result of IVD, there was not significantly different between control and EGF supplemented, or between the number of COCs per culture droplet in the percentage of cleaved oocytes. There was not significantly different between the number of COCs per culture droplet, but between control and EGF supplemented (p<0.01) in the percentage of blastocysts, the number of inner cell mass (ICM), trophectoderm (TC) and total cells. There was no significant interaction between the two factors anywhere. These results suggested that 10 ng/mL EGF supplement into mNCSU-23 for IVM was effective in the production of more as well as better blastocysts during IVD through increasing the number of cells in those.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.403-409
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• 1997

To obtain information on the accumulation of (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucans during kernel maturation, (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucan contents and (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucanase activities were determined in developing kernels of the two Korean cooking barley varieties, Neulssalbori and Saessalbori. (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-Glucan contents in kernels at 5 and 10 days after anthesis(DAA) were very low and the contents increased rapidly in kernels at 15 to 25 DAA. (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-Glucan content in kernels at harvest was about 3.5 to 4% of kernel dry matter. (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-Glucanase activities were relatively higher in younger kernels but the levels of the activity were very low compared with those in germinating kernels. A significant negative correlation was observed between (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucan contents and (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucanase activities. Low levels of (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucanase activites in kernels at 15 to 30 DAA, however, may indicate that (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucanases have little effect on the final content of (1-3, 1-4)-$\beta$-glucans in barley kernels. Starch contents and $\alpha$-amylase activities were also determined in developing barley kernels. Starch contents increased rapidly as kernels matured and the content at harvest was about 60% of kernel dry matter. Relativley higher levels of $\alpha$-amylase activities in kernels at the earlier developmental stage decreased rapidly as kernels matured.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.1016-1027
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• 2015

This study collected 120 figs, classified them into six degrees of maturity according to hardness values, and analyzed contents of organic acids and free sugars. Volatile compounds in figs were investigated using the solid-phase microextraction method of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. For measurement of texture, elasticity increased up to stage 4 and decreased again. Cohesiveness and brittleness increased with maturation. Organic acids in figs were mainly composed of citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the final stage. Fructose and glucose were the major sugar components of figs. Fructose content decreased from stage 1 to stage 4 and then increased significantly. One hundred and nineteen volatile compounds were identified in figs, and classes were 14 acids, 15 alcohols, 23 aldehydes, 10 esters, 33 hydrocarbons, 11 ketones, four aromatics, six miscellaneous, and five terpenes. The dominant volatile components in figs were hexadecanoic acid, hexane, dodecanal, DL-limonene, 2-hexanal, nonanal, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.373-381
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• 2007

Seed storage proteins (SSPs) are important for seed germination and early seedling growth. We studied the accumulation and degradation profiles of four major Arabidopsis 12S SSPs using a 2-DE scheme combined with mass spectrometric methods. On the 2-DE map of 23 dpa (days post anthesis) siliques, 48 protein spots were identified as putative full-length or partial $\alpha$, $\delta$ subunits. Only 9 of them were found in 12 dpa siliques with none in younger than 8 dpa siliques, indicating that the accumulation of 12S SSPs started after the completion of cell elongation processes both in siliques and in developing seeds. The length and strength of transcription activity for each gene determined the final contents of respective SSP. At the beginning of imbibition, 68 SSP spots were identified while only 2 spots were found at the end of the 4 d germination period, with $\alpha$, subunits degraded more rapidly than the $\alpha$ subunits. The CRC $\delta$ subunit was found to degrade from its C-terminus with conserved sequence motifs. Our data provide an important basis for understanding the nutritional value of developing plant seeds and may serve as a useful platform for other species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Language and Information Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.237-257
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• 2001

This paper investigates the idiosyncratic understanding of universal quantifiers such as every, each or all by young children at the ages of 4 to 7, and argues that the phenomenon is explicable in terms of the maturation of both the cognitive system and the linguistic system. Evidence for this dual explanation comes from the fact that the visual input, a picture, plays a key role in determining the children’s conceptual representation, suggesting the need for the central integration of visual and linguistic elements; and from the fact that a quantifier in the linguistic input has an intrinsic property, i.e. a <+focus> feature. I have tried to explain the nature of the cognitive factors in terms of the function of the central system, suggesting a modified form of Smith & Tsimpli’s (1995) version of Fodor’s (1983) modularity hypothesis. Conceptual representations of two kinds are in competition with each other and they are integrated into a neutral LOT (Language of Thought) representation at some point . In the process of this integration, the representations from the visual input predominate over those from the auditory input, though the quantize. (treated as new information provided by the latter) is salient in the final representations. When visual conceptual representations predominate over purely linguistic ones, quantifier spreading errors occur. By contrast, when the relevant grammatical knowledge has developed sufficiently to counteract the conceptual representations, this peculiar behaviour by children should disappear. It is argued that children have to learn two kinds of grammatical fact with regard to universal quantification: (i) they have to learn the status of the quantifier as a functional head of DP so that it has to be positioned inside DP; and (ii) they have to learn the Left-Branch Condition which specifies that movement of an element in the left-branch position is possible only by pied-piping the entire phrase.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Puberty is the developmental period which animals obtain the ability of reproducing sexually for the first time in life. In commercially important aquaculture fish species, the onset of puberty is a matter of major interest due to controlling of sexual maturation to improve broodstock management. To investigate pubertal characteristics of female longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), specimens were classified into three groups by the bodyweight, including 1, 2, and 3 kg group. Thereafter, we focused on ovarian development and level changes of endocrine regulation factors (GnRH, GTHs, steroid hormone). In the non-breeding season (April), the levels of endocrine regulation factors showed increasing trends in accordance with bodyweight gaining; nevertheless, the oocytes were growth phase belongs to almost peri-nucleous stages in all groups. In the breeding season (June), the levels of endocrine regulation factors were fluctuated that decreases in levels of sbGnRH and $FSH{\beta}$ mRNA expressions along with serum $E_2$ concentrations in 3 kg of group. However, $LH{\beta}$ mRNA expression levels sustained increasing trends by the bodyweight. Moreover, the oocytes developed that 2 kg and 3 kg groups obtained plentiful vitellogenic oocytes while 1 kg group was still composed with greater part of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. Especially, the oocytes of 3 kg group reached over 450 ${\mu}m$ of diameters that indicating possibility to enter the final maturations. These results suggest that the progress of pubertal development in female E. bruneus could be classify into three phases via bodyweight, including pre-puberty (1 kg), early-puberty (2 kg) and puberty (3 kg).

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-82
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• 2012

Our Team Approach consists of following five stages; (1) Peri-natal care until lip repair After ultrasound diagnosis, some obstetricians recommend the mother with CL/P fetus to undergo prenatal counseling in our CLP clinic. On the day the CL/P baby was born, our oral surgeon, nurse, and pedodontist visit the maternity clinic, and take counseling and take impression for a feeding plate. The cheiloplasty is performed in three months old. (2) From lip repair to palatal repair At one year of age, Otorhinolaryngologist checks middle-ear disease. Palatoplasty is carried out at 1.5 - 2 years old. (3) In deciduous and early mixed dentitions Speech is the most important issue in social life for the CL/P subjects, therefore the training of velopharyngeal function is essential. Orthodontist monitors dentofacial development from 5 years of age. In the case of severe maxillary under-growth or severe collapse, maxillary protractor or lateral expansion is indicative, respectively. In early mixed dentition, upper central incisor on the cleft area erupts with some torsion, and then the traumatic occlusion with tooth torsion must be corrected. (4) In mixed dentition Right before the eruption of upper canines, secondary bone grafting is performed. One year prior to the operation, maxillary fan-type expansion is carried out to correct the collapse of maxillary segments. Following the surgical operation, the erupted canine will be moved into the transplanted bone to avoid alveolar resorption. (5) In permanent dentition Final tooth alignment is carried out after eruption of second molars. Some cases may require orthognathic surgery after physical maturation. Prosthetic oral rehabilitation including the dental-implant is carried out after age eighteen.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2004

Plasma steroid hormone levels in the viviparous rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) were examined in relation to gonadal histology under controlled photoperiods and water temperatures. To investigate those effects in S. schlegeli the photoperiod was maintained at 15L:9D in June and then it was gradually decreased to 9L: 15D in October. It was then gradually increased to 12L:12D in January, followed by 14L:I0D in February. The water temperature was $19-20^{\circ}C$ in July. From August to October, it was from $18^{\circ}C\;to\;12^{\circ}C$. Then, it was dropped to a low of $19-11^{\circ}C$ in November to December and then gradually increased to $14-15^{\circ}C$ in February. In females, both plasma $estradiol-l7\beta\;$ (E2) and testosterone (T) levels from August to February showed a similar pattern in both the treatment and the control groups. In the treatment group, the peaks of plasma E2 and T were observed in November, and the peaks were closely correlated to histological observations. Oocytes contained many yolk globules (final vitellogenic oocytes), and oocytes at the migratory nucleus stage increased in size. Plasma levels of progesterone did not change much throughout the experimental period. However, in the control group, the peaks of E2, T, and progesterone were observed in February. These results indicate that the controlled photoperiod and water temperature accelerated sexual maturity, corresponding to the advancement of plasma E2 and T peaks by approximately 3 months. In males, plasma T levels showed a similar pattern from August to October in the treatment and control groups, though levels in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group. From histological observations, the treatment group copulated one month earlier.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2004

In plants, nitrogen is the major component for growth and development. Leaf growth is based on the division, elongation and maturation of cells, which are used for making of epidermis, mesophyll, bundle sheath, xylem, phloem and so on. Dynamics of these tissues with respect to nitrogen are required for better understanding. This experiment was conducted to evaluate effect of nitrogen on the elongation of epidermal and guard cell of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, Seoanbyeo and Dasanbyeo on May 2000 at Chungbuk national university in Cheongju. After transplaning the 20-day-old seedlings into a/5000 pots, the main characteristics related with cell elongation were investigated and evaluated. A maximum. leaf length reached at 7 or 8 days after emerging from the collar, and also the leaf elongation rates were greatly affected by the increase of N application rate. The initial and final cell length were about $17\mu\textrm{m}$ and $130\mu\textrm{m}$, respectively. Cell divisions occurred within 1.0mm from leaf base. With die higher nitrogen application rate of 22 kg-N $10\textrm{a}^{-1}$, cell division per hour was greater 1.5 to 1.9 and 1.2 to 1.3 fold as compared to the N application rate of 0 and 11 kg-N $10\textrm{a}^{-1}$, respectively. Cell enlargement of epidermal and guard cell under higher N application rate (22kg-N $10\textrm{a}^{-1}$) was finished within about 20 (Seoanbyeo) and 15 hours (Dasanbyeo), while it took much time, about 30 hours.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.215-225
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• 2006

Precocious puberty is defined as the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before age 8 years in girls (or menarche before age 9 years) and before 9 years in boys. The age of onset of puberty is progressing to younger age. The pubertal activation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) release requires coordinated changes in excitatory or inhibitory amino acids, growth factors, and a group of transcriptional regulators. A number of factors affecting precocious puberty were explored, including the role of genetic factors, nutrition(body fat) and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In addition to the psychosocial disturbances associated with precocious puberty, the premature pubertal growth spurt and the accelerated bone maturation result in reduced adult height. Precocious puberty may be gonadotrophin-dependent premature activation of the GnRH pulse generator or gonadotrophin-independent. In rapidly progressing central precocious puberty, GnRH agonists appear to increase final height. However more data on the effect and long-term safety of GnRHa are needed.