• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the bull, sperm type and sperm pretreatment on the pronuclear formation and in vitro development after injection of spermatozoa into in vitro matured bovine oocytes. 1. Spermatozoa derived room four bulls(A, B, C and D) were used for ICSI. The male pronuclear formation and developmental rates were 73.9∼87.0% and 33.3∼60.9%, respectively. 2. The effects of sperm type were examined. Male pronuclear formation rates by using fresh-and frozen-sperm, tail-cutting and tail-scoring sperm were 82.0%. 78.0%. 42.2% and 51.1% (p<0.05) while development rates were 56.0%. 42.0%, 17.8% and 22.2%, respectively. Fresh sperm achived a high mail pronuclear- and development rates than those of other groups. 3. Cheroical pretreatments were tested and compared. When sperm were pretreated with heparin, BFF(bovine follicula fluid), His, Ca Ionophore(I) and I + caffeine, mate pronuclear formation and developmental rates were 66.7∼82.2% and 33.3∼60.6%. respectively. and these values of treatment of I + caffeine were higher than that of other methods. 4. The male pronuclear formation and developmental rates of oocytes obtained by ICSI treated with or without zona pellucida were 80.0%. 72.0% and 46.0%, 36.0%, respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.291-300
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• 1998

This study was carried out to elucidate the effect of progesterone, estradiol 17 beta and cholesterol in follicular fluid on sperm chemotaxis for fertilization. By inducing swim-up migration through sucrose layer into bMSS containing progesterone, estradiol 17 beta and/or cholesterol, their effects on sperm migration and sperm movement were examined. And the results obtained were as follows; 1. Progesterone inhibited sperm migration and movement, but significantly attracted capacitated-sperm at the level of 50 $\mu$g/ml. 2. Estradiol 17 beta inhibited sperm migration and movement, but didn＇t significantly inhibit migration of capacitated-sperm at the level of 10$\mu$g/ml. 3. Cholesterol significantly stimulated sperm migration and movement at the level of 50$\mu$g/ml, but didn＇t attact capacitated-sperm. 4. Progesterone and estradiol 17 beta reduced the effect of cholesterol stimulating sperm migration and movement. But estradiol 17 beta and cholesterol didn＇t reduce the effect of progesterone attracting capacitated-sperm. In conclusion, progesterone of 50$\mu$g/ml in bMSS attracted the capacitated-sperm, cholesterol of 50$\mu$g/ml stimulated sperm migration and movement, but estradiol 17 beta of 10$\mu$g/ml didn＇t affect sperm swim-up separation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 1998

In this study, we investigated the effects of three kinds of culture medium (Charles and Rosenkrans; CRlaa, Tyrode's; TALP, synthetic oviduct fluid: SOF), insulin transferrin + selenium complex (ITS), macromolecules(polyvinyl alcohol: PVA, fetalb-ovine serum: FBS) and NaCl on the development of early bovine embryos. In experiment 1, there were no differences in embryo development among three kinds of embryo culture medium (CR $l_{aa}$ , TALP, SOF). In experiment 2, BSA, FBS and PVA were added each in TALP as macromolecule sources. The developmental rates of embryos in BSA or FBS added TALP were significantly higher than in PVA added one (p〈0.01), but there was no difference between BSA and FBS added groups. In experiment 3, bovine embryos were cultured in TALP with the following supplements: BSA alone(1, 3 or 8 mg/ml, each) or BSA(1, 3 or 8 mg/ml, each)+ITS (10$\mu\textrm{g}$/m1 insulin, 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml transferrin, 5 ng/ml selenium). In higher concentration of BSA and ITS supplemented groups, the developmental rates over compacted morula were higher than others, but there was a significant effect of ITS only in 1 mg/ml of BSA added group (p〈0.05). In experiment 4, the effect of reduced concentration of NaCl was evaluated. The developmental rate over compacted morula in the medium containing 90 mM of NaCl was higher than in 114 mM group (p〈0.05). In conclusion, BSA could be used as a macromolecule source in bovine embryo culture, and ITS, as a serum substitute, could be used for improving of embryonic development. Also, reduction of NaCl concentration from 114 mM to 90 mM may improve the development of bovine embryos.bryos.

• Transactions of the KSME C: Technology and Education
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2015

In this paper, we performed the design optimization dual-shell and tube heat exchanger on exhaust waste heat recovery for gas heat pump using CFD and RSM. CFD analysis is useful to design the complex structure such as double shell and tube heat exchanger. By computer simulation, engineers can assess the feasibility of the given design factors and change them to get a better design. But if one wishes to perform complex analysis on the simulation, such dual-shell and tube heat exchanger for GHP, the computational time can become overwhelming. CFD is powerful but it takes a lot of time for complex structure. Therefore, the CFD analysis is minimized by the optimization using the RSM method. As a result, the number of baffle and tube are optimized by 6 baffles and 25 tubes for heat transfer and flow friction. And then pressure drop and heat transfer is improved about 12.2%. We confirm the design optimization using CFD and RSM is useful on complex structure of heat exchanger.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 1999

The beneficial effect of glucose and phosphate ions in culture medium on the development of human embryos in vitro has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of fertilization and culture of embryos in glucose/phosphate-free m-TALP medium on pregnancy rates in IVF-ET program. The patients in 244 IVF-ET cycles received GnRH agonist + HMG regimens. A does of 10,000 IU HCG was administered when two or more dominent follicles reached 18mm in diameter. Thirty-six hours after HCG, oocytes were recovered transvaginally using ultrasound guidance. Aspirated oocytes were matured for 4 to 6 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% follicular fluid (FF). Insemination was carried out with 50,000 motile spermatozoa in TCM-199 + 10% FF or m-TALP + 5% FF + 5% fetal cord serum (FCS) according to experimental design. After 6 h, oocytes were washed 3 to 4 times and cultured in each fresh medium. After 20 h, oocytes were freed from cumulus/corona cells and examined for the presence of pronuclei. Fertilized oocytes were transferred into each co-culture drops and cultured for further incubation. On day 3, embryo transfer was performed with grade 1 and 2 embryos. Monolayers for co-culture of embryos were prepared by plating $1{\times}10^5$ cumulus cells/ml in 10ul drop of TCM-199 + 10% FF or m-TALP + 5% FF + 5% FCS media 24 h prior to the onset of co-culture. Development to 4 to 16 cell stage was observed at 70x magnification following two days of incubation. Pregnancy was confirmed by detecting increasing serum ${\beta}$-hCG concentrations for 11 days following embryo transfer. Data were analyzed by ${\chi}^2$-test. Oocytes from 244 IVF-ET cycles were randomized. The number of cycles and mean age of patients were 97 and 147, 31.3 yrs and 31.2 yrs for TCM-199 (control) and m-TALP groups, respectively. The mean number of retrieved oocytes/cycle, fertilization rates, number of embryos transferred/ET and pregnancy rates were 11.1 and 10.3, 65.1% and 67.3%, 4.1 and 4.7, 28.9% and 43.8% for TCM-199 and m-TALP groups, respectively. Differences in the pregnancy rates were found between control and m-TALP groups (p<0.05). The pregnancy rate of patients divided according to maternal age groups of ${\leq}30$, 31-35, $36{\leq}$ were 44.4% and 49.0%, 26.1% and 41.3%, 29.2% and 41.2% for control and m-TALP groups, respectively. These data indicate that culture of human embryos in glucose/phosphate-free m-TALP medium improves pregnancy rates.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-246
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• 1997

Implantation is a most important biological process during pregnancy whereby conceptus establishes its survival as well as maintenance of pregnancy. During the periimplantation period, both uterine endometriurn and conceptus synthesize and secrete a host of growth factors and cytokines which mediate the actions of estrogen and /or progesterone and also exert their steroid-independent actions. Growth factors expressed by the materno-conceptal unit en masse have important roles in cell migration, stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, maintenance of pregnancy and materno-conceptal communications in an autorcrine /paracrine manner. The present review focuses on the role of the intrauterine IGF system during periimplantation conceptus development. The IGF system comprises of IGF- I and IGF- II ligands, types I and II IGF receptors and six or more IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFs and IGFBPs are expressed and secreted by uterine endometrium with tissue, pregnancy stage and species specificities under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and other growth factor(s). Conceptus also synthesizes components of the IGF system beginning from a period between 2-cell and blastocyst stages. Maternal IGFs are utilized by both maternal and conceptal tissues; conceptus-derived growth factors are believed to be taken up primarily by conceptus. IGFs enhance the development of both maternal and conceptal compartments in a wide range of biological processes. They stimulate proliferation and differentiation of endometrial cells and placental precursor cells including decidual transformation from stromal cells, placental formation and the synthesis of some steroid and protein hormones by differentiated endometrial cells or placenta. It is also well-documented in a number of experimental settings that both IGFs stimulate preimplantation embryo development. In slight contrast to these, prenatal mice carrying a null mutation of IGF and /or IGF receptor gene do not exhibit any apparent growth retardation until after implantation. Reason (s) for this discrepancy between the knock-out result and the in vitro ones, however, is not known. IGFBPs, in general, are believed to inhibit IGF action within the materno-conceptal unit, thereby allowing endometrial stromal cell differentiation as well as dampening ex cessive placental invasion into maternal tissue. There is evidence, however, indicating that IGFBP can enhance IGF action depending on environrnental conditions perhaps by directioning IGF ligand to the target cell. There is also a third possibility that certain IGFBPs and their proteolytic fragments may have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. In addition to IGFBPs, IGFBP proteases including those found within the uterine tissue or lumen are thought to enhance IGF bioavailability by degrading their substrates without affecting their bound ligand. In this regard, preliminary results in early pregnant pigs suggest that a partially characterized IGFBP protease activity in uterine luminal fluid enhances intrauterine IGF bioavailability during conceptus morphological development. In summary, a number of in vitro results indicate that IGFs stimulates the development of the rnaterno-conceptal unit during the periimplantation period. IGFBPs appear to inhibit IGF action by sequestering their ligands, whereas IGFBP proteases are thought to enhance intrauterine bioavailability of IGFs. Much is remaining to be clarified, however, regarding the roles of the individual IGF system components. These include in vivo evidence for the role of IGFs in early conceptus development, identification of IGF-regulated genes and their functions, specific roles for individual IGFBPs, identification and characterization of IGFBP proteases. The intrauterine IGF club house thus will be paying a lot of attention to forthcoming results in above and other areas, with its door wide-open!

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2014

The objectives of the study were to determine an effective culture dish, culture duration and protein supplementation in medium for in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes of native zebu cows in Bangladesh. The ovaries of cows were collected from local slaughterhouse followed by aspiration of follicular fluid. The cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) with more than 3 compact cumulus cell layers were cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 for maturation. The maturation of oocytes was determined by observing polar body under microscope. To determine an effective culture dish, 130 COCs derived from 48 ovaries in a well of 4-well dish and 102 COCs derived from 36 ovaries in drops covered with mineral oil within 35 mm petri dish were cultured for 24 hours. The rate of maturation of oocytes did not vary between 4-well dish ($51.3{\pm}15.0%$) and drops in petri dish ($52.4{\pm}11.6%$). To determine the effective culture duration, 185 COCs derived from 62 ovaries were cultured in drops for 18, 21, 24 and 27 hours. The rate of maturation of occytes ranged from $51.9{\pm}9.4%$ (18 hours) to $59.0{\pm}17.1%$ (27 hours) and the difference in maturation rate among different culture durations was not significant (P>0.05). To determine an effective protein supplementation, 63 oocytes from 19 ovaries were cultured separately in TCM 199 supplemented with either fetal bovine serum (FBS) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). The rate of maturation was significantly (P<0.01) higher in medium supplemented with FBS ($55.63{\pm}16.19%$) than that of BSA ($14.82{\pm}9.36%$). In conclusion, COCs of native zebu cows can be cultured for IVM either in 4-well culture dish or droplets in petri dish for 18 to 27 hours in medium supplemented with FBS.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fructose that was supplemented to a chemically defined in vitro maturation (IVM) medium on oocyte maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenesis in pigs. The base medium for in vitro maturation (IVM) was porcine zygote medium (PZM) that was supplemented with 0.05% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or 10% (v/v) porcine follicular fluid (pFF). In the first experiment, when immature pig oocytes were matured in a chemically defined medium that was supplemented with 5.5 mM glucose or with 1.5, 3.0 and 5.5 mM fructose, 3.0 mM fructose resulted in a higher nuclear maturation (91.5%) than 1.5 and 5.5 mM fructose (81.9 and 81.9%, respectively) but showed a similar result with 5.5 mM glucose (94.2%). However, there was no significant differences among groups in the embryo cleavage (89.4-92.4%), blastocyst formation (37.5-41.1%), and mean cell number of blastocyst (30.8-34.2 cells). Fructose at the concentration of 3.0 mM (1.08 pixels/oocyte) resulted in a higher intra-oocyte glutathione (GSH) content than 1.5 and 5.5 mM fructose (1.00 and 0.87 pixels/oocytes, respectively) while the cumulus cell expansion was not influenced. In the second experiment, effect of individual and combined supplementation of a chemically defined maturation medium with 5.5 mM glucose or 3.0 mM fructose was examined. No significant effect was found in the nuclear maturation (86.3-92.6%). Embryo cleavage was significantly increased by the combined supplementation with glucose and fructose (95.2%) compared to that with 3.0 mM fructose only (85.7%) while blastocyst formation (37.3-42.8%) and embryonic cell number (33.3-34.1 cells) were not altered. Effect of supplementation of pFF-containing medium with glucose and fructose + glucose was examined in the third experiment. No significant effect by the supplementation with glucose and fructose or glucose alone was observed in the nuclear maturation of oocytes (90.7-94.1%) and blastocyst formation (51.0-56.5%). Our results demonstrate that 3.0 mM fructose was comparable to 5.5 mM glucose in supporting in vitro oocyte maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenesis and could be used as an alternative energy source to glucose for in vitro maturation of pig oocytes.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.241-259
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• 2013

A packed bed thermal energy storage (TES) consisting of solid storage medium of rock or concrete through which the heat transfer fluid is circulated is considered as an attractive alternative for high temperature sensible heat storage, because of the economical viability and chemical stability of storage medium and the simplicity of operation. This study introduces the technologies of packed bed thermal energy storage, and presents a numerical model to analyze the thermal energy balance and the performance efficiency of the storage system. In this model, one dimensional transient heat transfer problem in the storage tank is solved using finite difference method, and temperature distribution in a storage tank and thermal energy loss from the tank wall can be calculated during the repeated thermal charging and discharging modes. In this study, a high temperature thermal energy storage connected with AA-CAES (advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage) was modeled and analyzed for the temperature and the energy balance in the storage tank. Rock cavern type TES and above-ground type TES were both simulated and their results were compared in terms of the discharging efficiency and heat loss ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

POGO is a dynamic axial instability phenomenon that occurs in liquid-propelled rockets. As the natural frequencies of the fuselage and those of the propellant supply system become closer, the entire system will become unstable. To predict POGO, the propellant (oxidant and fuel) tank in the first stage is modeled as a shell element, and the remaining components, the engine and the upper part, are modeled as mass-spring, and structural analysis is performed. The transmission line model is used to predict the pressure and flow perturbation of the propellant supply system. In this paper, the closed-loop transfer function is constructed by integrating the fuselage structure and fluid modeling as described above. The pogo suppressor consists of a branch pipe and an accumulator that absorbs pressure fluctuations in a passive manner and is located in the middle of the propellant supply system. The design parameters for its design optimization to suppress the decay phenomenon are set as the diameter, length of the branch pipe, and accumulator. Multiple-objective function optimization is performed by setting the energy minimization of the closed loop transfer function in terms of to the mass of the pogo suppressor and that of the propellant as the objective function.