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Effect of Okadaic Acids (OA) on Nuclear Maturation and Mitochondrial Activity of Hanwoo COCs during in vitro Maturation (소 난구복합체의 체외성숙시 Okadaic Acid (OA)가 핵성숙 및 Mitochondria 활성에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi S. H.;Han M. H.;Cho S. R.;Kim H. J.;Choe C. Y.;Son D. S.;Kim Y. K.;Lee M. H.;Jeoung Y. G.;Chung Y. H.
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.303-309
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    • 2005
  • This study was conducted to examine the effects of OA on metaphase of meiosis II and the mitochondrial activity of cytoplasm in bovine cumulus oocytes complexes(COCs) during in vitro maturation. Hanwoo COCs were collected from the slaughterhouse cow ovaries and matured in TCM199 supplemented with $0.1\%$ PVA, 0.2 uM, 2 uM, 20 uM OA for the maturation rate of OA concentration. For the maturation effects between OA and cycloheximide(CX), COCs were matured in TCM199 with 25 ug/mL CX, 25 ug/mL CX (6 hrs culture) plus 2 uM OA or 2 uM OA only at a atmosphere $5\%\;CO_2,\;95\%$ air $39^{\circ}C$ for 6, 12, 24 hrs. To evaluate the nuclear types of matured COCs, cumulus cells were removedby $0.5\%$ hyaluronidase sol. and oocytes were fixed in 1:3 acetic acid ethyl alcohol for 30 sec. and then stained with $0.1\%$ basic Fuchsin sol. For the detection of fluoriscent intensity (FI) of matures oocytes, cumulus cells were removed same as performed above and were stained with 20 nM mite tracker for 20 min. at $39^{\circ}C$. Mitochondrial activity of FI in matured oocytes was imaged by laser conforcal microscopy (Fluoview, Olympus, Japan) and were measured scanned face on 5 um from median to endpoint of oocytes. Statical analysis of nuclear types observed the three replicates was carried out with ANOVA and Fisher's protected least significant difference test using the STATVIEW program. FI of matures oocytes was compared the multiples of the least intensity among the measured oocytes. Maturing in TCM199 supplemented with $0.1\%$ PVA, 0.2 uM, 2 uM, 20 uM OA, metaphase B were showed 72.0, 50.0, 70.0, $68.8\%$, respectively and there were different significant(p<0.05). In the case of treatment with OA and CX, metaphase were $73.8\%,\;8.2\%,\;45.5\%,\;73.7\%$ in $0.1\%$ PVA-TCM199, 25 ug/mL CX, 25 ug/mL CX plus OA or 2uM OA only, respeclively. FI was revealed the increasing tendency during the process of maturation. Whereas FI in CX was decreased about 3 times compared to the other treatments of 6 hrs maturation. We conclude that OA regulates bovine COCs maturation and induces the mitochondrial activity during the process of maturation.

The Effect of Creative Problem-Solving Instruction Model on the Creativity and Environment-Awareness in Elementary Practical Arts Environmental Education (초등실과 환경단원의 창의적 문제해결수업이 아동의 창의성 및 환경의식에 미치는 효과)

  • 최청림;정미경
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.115-132
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    • 2003
  • The purpose of this study is aimed at giving proof that helps the elementary practical arts education system accomplish as the effects are turned out experimentally. Two classes of the sixth grade of J elementary school in Dae-gu have been selected in order to be experimented. One was chosen as an experimental group, the other was done as a comparative group. The creative-problem-solving learning-model was applied to the experimental group, and the traditional way of teaching was applied to the comparative group. For four classes of the sixth grades, ‘chapter 8: Making with recycled materials’ was proceeded as the content. Then. tests about the way of environmental awareness and creativity were carried out twice. After that, the results of pre and after-test in the comparative and experiment groups were compared using the t-test method. Following the analysis of the data collected in this study. the following major observations were obtained: First, children who were educated the creative problem-solving in a practical arts education achieved higher scores than before. Therefore, it turns out that the CPS method is an effective way to improve the environmental awareness in children. It showed that it included lots of daily habits connected with daily life and it made the intention to carry out the environment-preservation stronger and children´s attitude towards the environment improved. Moreover, making with recycled materials was used to solve an environmental problem, affecting in a positive way in our life. It also made the positive recognition about the environment. Second. the application of the creative problem-solving class of the practical arts education can make positive results to children. It helped children to have more interest in the environment around them. Children´s fluency, flexibility and originality in their ideas were improved as much as possible while they were solving problems. Consequently, the application of the creative problem-solving class model of elementary practical arts environmental education lets children expand environment consciousness and creativity.

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Effects of 1 keV $Ar^+$ ion irradiation on Au films on glass (1 keV $Ar^+$ 이온의 조사가 유리기판위의 금 박막의 미치는 영향)

  • Jang, H. G.;Kim, H. S.;Han, S.;Choi, W. K.;Koh, S. K.;Jung, H. J.
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.371-376
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    • 1996
  • Au films with a thickness around 1600 $\AA$ were deposited onto glass at room temperature by ion beam sputtering with a 5 cm cold-hollow ion gun at pressure $1\times 10^{-6}-1\times 10^{-5}$ Torr. Irradiation of the Au deposited samples was carried out at pressure of $7\times 10^{-6}$ Torr. For the sputter depositions, $Ar^+$ ion energy was 1 keV, and the current density at the substrate surface was 15 $\mu$A/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Effects of 1 keV $Ar^+$ ion dose($I_d$) between $1\times 10^{16}\; and\;2\times 10^{17}\;Ar^+\textrm{cm}^{-2}$on properties such as crystallinity, surface roughness and adhesion, etc. of the films have been investigated. The Au films sputtered by $Ar^+$ ion beam had only (111) plane and the X-ray intensity of the films decreased with increase of $I_d$. The thickness of Au films reduced with Id. $R_{ms}$ surface roughness of the films increased from 16 $\AA$ at as-deposited to 1118 $\AA$ at ion dose= $2\times 10^{17}\;Ar^+\textrm{cm}^{-2}$. Adhesion of Au film on sputtered at $I_d$= $2\times 10^{17}\;Ar^+\textrm{cm}^{-2}$ was 9 times greater than that of Au film with untreated, as determined by a scratch test.

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A Study on the IADL Affecting Subjective Health Index of the Aged in Some Area (일부지역(一部地域) 노인(老人)들의 주체적(主體的) 건강수준(健康水準)에 영향을 미치는 IADL에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Kim, Keun-Jo;Park, Heung-Ki;Koon, Hyeok-Su;Bae, Soo-Chan
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.29-50
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    • 2001
  • This research have been made to define how the IADL (Instrumental Activity of Daily Living) performance and the subjective health index of the Aged are affected by their residential circumstance, gender and age, and how deeply these two factors are related and interact. For the period of June 1 to July 31, 2000, we had conducted a questionnaire and direct interview with 693 persons over age sixty-five (65) in Daejon and in other adjacent area, grouping into three different residential types The Aged living at home, The Aged living at welfare facilities and The Aged living alone, and studied on how the IADL performance and the subjective health index of the Aged are influenced and interact as per their characteristics, daily activity and mentality. We had analyzed all the data obtained through this research by the method of : - analysis of frequency as per specific factors by SPSS 1O.0/PC+, - $x^2$ test, - t-test, - ANOVA, - multiple regression analysis by factors. The research concludes followings : a. It appears that the three (3) factors such as gender, age and residential circumstance of the Aged deeply affect the IADL performance and subjective health index of the Aged. (p<0.01) b. With regard to IADL performance of the Aged by the gender, it was analyzed that the female-Aged gains 23.8 point on average, which shows the performance of the female-Aged is less independent. (p<0.01). In addition, it was also found that the IADL performance is becoming less and less independent following their age increasing. In analyzing IADL performance by the residential type, it appears that the Aged living at welfare facilities gains the lowest 21.5 points and is least independent. It was also found that the Aged living at welfare facilities need some assistances from others for their performing IADL. (20-24 point) (p<0.001) c. With regard to the subjective health index of the all-Aged participated in this research, the analysis indicates 8.8 point and this is considered as a point of general standard (7-10 point). In analyzing this index by the gender, the female-Aged gains only 8.6 point which explains a lot of female-Aged consider they are not really healthy. (p<0.001) In analyzing this index by the residential type, the Aged living at welfare facilities and the Aged living alone gain the comparatively lower point, - respectively 8.4 point for the Aged living at welfare facilities and 8.8 point for the Aged living alone. The Aged living at these two residential types express they are obviously in a bad situation of health. (p<0.001) d. With regard to the factors affecting the IADL performance and the subjective health index of the Aged, it was analyzed that the IADL performance can largely be affected by the factors such as depression, frequency of going-out and age rising, and that the subject health index can also deeply be affected by depression, pain and by how much they are satisfied with their current living conditions. e. It was analyzed that the interacting between the IADL performance and the subjective health index is not that strong but even weak. As a result, we were able to conclude that the IADL performance is less independent in case of the female-Aged, the Aged living at welfare facilities, and following the age rising. As for the subjective health state the Aged themselves are aware of, we concluded that the female-Aged, the Aged living at welfare facilities and the Aged living alone, are more critical about their health. From this research, we were able to realize that, when the OMT (Orthopedic Manual Therapy) needed, the physical therapists are really required to have a correct and cautious understanding of the situation in which the aged persons are, and take care of them with more concerns and more improved treatment.

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EFFECT OF ROTATIONAL SPEED OF PROTAPERTM ROTARY FILE ON THE CHANCE OF ROOT CANAL CONFIGURATION (ProTaperTM로 근관성형시 회전 속도 변화가 근관형태에 미치는 영향)

  • Seo, Min-Chul;Jeon, Yoon-Jeong;Kang, In-Chol;Kim, Dong-Jun;Hwang, Yun-Chan;Hwang, In-Nam;Oh, Won-Mann
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.179-185
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    • 2006
  • This study was conducted to evaluate canal configuration after shaping by $ProTaper^{TM}$ with various rotational speed in J-shaped simulated resin canals. Forty simulated root canals were divided into 4 groups, and instrumented using by $ProTaper^{TM}$ at the rotational speed of 250, 300, 350 and 400 rpm. Pre-instrumented and post-instrumented images were taken by a scanner and those were superimposed. Outer canal width, inner canal width, total canal width, and amount of transportation from original axis were measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mm from apex. Instrumentation time, instrument deformation and fracture were recorded. Data were analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe's test. The results were as follows 1. Regardless of rotational speed, at the $1{\sim}2mm$ from the apex, axis of canal was transported to outer side of a curvature, and at 3~6 mm from the apex, to inner side of a curvature. Amounts of transportation from original axis were not sienifcantly different among experimental groups except at 5 and 6 mm from the apex. 2. Instrumentation time of 350 and 400 rpm was significantly less than that of 250 and 300 rpm (p<0.01). In conclusion the rotational speed of $ProTaper^{TM}$ files in the range of $250{\sim}400rpm$ does not affect the change of canal configuration, and high rotational speed reduces the instrumentation time. However appearance of separation and distortion of Ni-Ti rotary files can occur in high rotational speed.

A Statistical model to Predict soil Temperature by Combining the Yearly Oscillation Fourier Expansion and Meteorological Factors (연주기(年週期) Fourier 함수(函數)와 기상요소(氣象要素)에 의(依)한 지온예측(地溫豫測) 통계(統計) 모형(模型))

  • Jung, Yeong-Sang;Lee, Byun-Woo;Kim, Byung-Chang;Lee, Yang-Soo;Um, Ki-Tae
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.87-93
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    • 1990
  • A statistical model to predict soil temperature from the ambient meteorological factors including mean, maximum and minimum air temperatures, precipitation, wind speed and snow depth combined with Fourier time series expansion was developed with the data measured at the Suwon Meteorolical Service from 1979 to 1988. The stepwise elimination technique was used for statistical analysis. For the yearly oscillation model for soil temperature with 8 terms of Fourier expansion, the mean square error was decreased with soil depth showing 2.30 for the surface temperature, and 1.34-0.42 for 5 to 500-cm soil temperatures. The $r^2$ ranged from 0.913 to 0.988. The number of lag days of air temperature by remainder analysis was 0 day for the soil surface temperature, -1 day for 5 to 30-cm soil temperature, and -2 days for 50-cm soil temperature. The number of lag days for precipitaion, snow depth and wind speed was -1 day for the 0 to 10-cm soil temperatures, and -2 to -3 days for the 30 to 50-cm soil teperatures. For the statistical soil temperature prediction model combined with the yearly oscillation terms and meteorological factors as remainder terms considering the lag days obtained above, the mean square error was 1.64 for the soil surfac temperature, and ranged 1.34-0.42 for 5 to 500cm soil temperatures. The model test with 1978 data independent to model development resulted in good agreement with $r^2$ ranged 0.976 to 0.996. The magnitudes of coeffcicients implied that the soil depth where daily meteorological variables night affect soil temperature was 30 to 50 cm. In the models, solar radiation was not included as a independent variable ; however, in a seperated analysis on relationship between the difference(${\Delta}Tmxs$) of the maximum soil temperature and the maximum air temperature and solar radiation(Rs ; $J\;m^{-2}$) under a corn canopy showed linear relationship as $${\Delta}Tmxs=0.902+1.924{\times}10^{-3}$$ Rs for leaf area index lower than 2 $${\Delta}Tmxs=0.274+8.881{\times}10^{-4}$$ Rs for leaf area index higher than 2.

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A STUDY ON THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES OF BONE TISSUES DURING IMPLANT SITE PREPARATION (임플랜트 식립부위 형성시 골조직의 온도변화에 관한 연구)

  • Kim Pyung-Il;Kim Yung-Soo;Jang Kyung-Soo;Kim Chang-Whe
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.1-17
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    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of thermal injury to bone tissues during an implant site preparation under the same condition as a typical clinical practice of $Br{\aa}nemark$ implant system. All the burs for $Br{\aa}nemark$ implant system were studied except the round bur The experiments involved 880 drilling cases : 50 cases for each of the 5 steps of NP, 5 steps of RP, and 7 steps of WP, all including srew tap, and 30 cases of 2mm twist drill. For precision drilling, a precision handpiece restraining system was developed (Eungyong Machinery Co., Korea). The system kept the drill parallel to the drilling path and allowed horizontal adjustment of the drill with as little as $1{\mu}m$ increment. The thermocouple insertion hole. that is 0.9mm in diameter and 8mm in depth, was prepared 0.2mm away from the tapping bur the last drilling step. The temperatures due to countersink, pilot drill, and other drills were measured at the surface of the bone, at the depths of 4mm and 8mm respectively. Countersink drilling temperature was measured by attaching the tip of a thermocouple at the rim of the countersink. To assure temperature measurement at the desired depths, 'bent-thermocouples' with their tips of 4 and 8mm bent at $120^{\circ}$ were used. The profiles of temperature variation were recorded continuously at one second interval using a thermometer with memory function (Fluke Co. U.S.A.) and 0.7mm thermocouples (Omega Co., U.S.A.). To simulate typical clinical conditions, 35mm square samples of bovine scapular bone were utilized. The samples were approximately 20mm thick with the cortical thickness on the drilling side ranging from 1 to 2mm. A sample was placed in a container of saline solution so that its lower half is submerged into the solution and the upper half exposed to the room air, which averaged $24.9^{\circ}C$. The temperature of the saline solution was maintained at $36.5^{\circ}C$ using an electric heater (J. O Tech Co., Korea). This experimental condition was similar to that of a patient s opened mouth. The study revealed that a 2mm twist drill required greatest attention. As a guide drill, a twist drill is required to bore through a 'virgin bone,' rather than merely enlarging an already drilled hole as is the case with other drills. This typically generates greater amount of heat. Furthermore, one tends to apply a greater pressure to overcome drilling difficulty, thus producing even greater amount heat. 150 experiments were conducted for 2mm twist drill. For 140 cases, drill pressure of 750g was sufficient, and 10 cases required additional 500 or 100g of drilling pressure. In case of the former. 3 of the 140 cases produced the temperature greater than $47^{\circ}C$, the threshold temperature of degeneration of bone tissue (1983. Eriksson et al.) which is also the reference temperature in this study. In each of the 10 cases requiring extra pressure, the temperature exceeded the reference temperature. More significantly, a surge of heat was observed in each of these cases This observations led to addtional 20 drilling experiments on dense bones. For 10 of these cases, the pressure of 1,250g was applied. For the other 10, 1.750g were applied. In each of these cases, it was also observed that the temperature rose abruptly far above the thresh old temperature of $47^{\circ}C$, sometimes even to 70 or $80^{\circ}C$. It was also observed that the increased drilling pressure influenced the shortening of drilling time more than the rise of drilling temperature. This suggests the desirability of clinically reconsidering application of extra pressures to prevent possible injury to bone tissues. An analysis of these two extra pressure groups of 1,250g and 1,750g revealed that the t-statistics for reduced amount of drilling time due to extra pressure and increased peak temperature due to the same were 10.80 and 2.08 respectively suggesting that drilling time was more influenced than temperature. All the subsequent drillings after the drilling with a 2mm twist drill did not produce excessive heat, i.e. the heat generation is at the same or below the body temperature level. Some of screw tap, pilot, and countersink showed negative correlation coefficients between the generated heat and the drilling time. indicating the more the drilling time, the lower the temperature. The study also revealed that the drilling time was increased as a function of frequency of the use of the drill. Under the drilling pressure of 750g, it was revealed that the drilling time for an old twist drill that has already drilled 40 times was 4.5 times longer than a new drill The measurement was taken for the first 10 drillings of a new drill and 10 drillings of an old drill that has already been used for 40 drillings. 'Test Statistics' of small samples t-test was 3.49, confirming that the used twist drills require longer drilling time than new ones. On the other hand, it was revealed that there was no significant difference in drilling temperature between the new drill and the old twist drill. Finally, the following conclusions were reached from this study : 1 Used drilling bur causes almost no change in drilling temperature but increase in drilling time through 50 drillings under the manufacturer-recommended cooling conditions and the drilling pressure of 750g. 2. The heat that is generated through drilling mattered only in the case of 2mm twist drills, the first drill to be used in bone drilling process for all the other drills there is no significant problem. 3. If the drilling pressure is increased when a 2mm twist drill reaches a dense bone, the temperature rises abruptly even under the manufacturer-recommended cooling conditions. 4. Drilling heat was the highest at the final moment of the drilling process.

Lung Clearance of Inhaled $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA by Urine Excretion Ratio (소변내 방사능배설량비를 이용한 $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA 폐청소율에 관한 연구)

  • Suh, G.Y.;Park, K.Y.;Jung, M.P.;Yoo, C.G.;Lee, D.S.;Kim, Y.W.;Han, S.K.;Jung, J.K.;Lee, M.C.;Shim, Y.S.;Kim, K.Y.;Han, Y.C.
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.357-366
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    • 1993
  • Background: Lung clearance of inhaled $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA reflects alveolar epithelial permeability and it had been reported as more sensitive than conventional pulmonary function tests in detecting lung epithelial damage. However, measuring lung clearance of inhaled $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA by gamma camera may not always reflect alveolar epithelial permeability exactly because it is influenced by mucociliary clearance depending on the site of particle deposition. Moreover, this method takes much time and patient's effort because he has to sit or lie still in front of the camera for a prolonged period. Most of the absorbed DTPA is excreted in urine within 24 hours and the amount of excreted DTPA in urine during the first few hours after inhalation is influenced by absorption rate which is correlated with the alveolar-epithelial permeability suggesting that the urinary excretion, especially in first few hours, may be an alternate index for lung clearance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ratio of excreted $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA in 2 hour and 24 hour urine as an index of alveolar-epithelial damage. Methods: Pulmonary function tests including diffusing capacity and lung clearance of $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA measured by gama camera ($T_{1/2}$) and 2hr/24hr urine excretion ratio (Ratio) of inhaled $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA in 8 normal subjects and 14 patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease were compared. Results: 1) In the normal control, there was significant negative correlation between the $T_{1/2}$ and the Ratio (r=-0.77, p<0.05). In patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease, there also was significant negative correlation between $T_{1/2}$ and Ratio(r=-0.63, p<0.05). 2) In diffuse interstitial lung disease patients, the $T_{1/2}$ was $38.65{\pm}11.63$ min which was significantly lower than that of normal control, $55.53{\pm}11.15$ min and the Ratio was $52.15{\pm}10.07%$ also signifantly higher than that of the normal control, $40.43{\pm}5.53%$ (p<0.05). 3) There was no significant correlations between $T_{1/2}$ or Ratio and diffusing capactiy of lung in both patients and controls (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggests that 2hr/24hr urine excretion ratio of inhaled $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA is a useful simple bedside test in assessing alveolar epithelial permeability and that it may be used as an additive follow-up test in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease complementing conventional pulmonary function tests.

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Studies on the Efficacy of the Newly Developed Automatic Liquid Feeder for 7-day Old Early Weaned Piglets (7일령 조기 이유자돈에 대한 액상사료 자동급이기 이용효과)

  • Yoo, Y.H.;Chung, I.B.;Jang, B.G.;Moon, H.K.;Kim, T.I.;Han, J.D.;Park, H.S.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.45 no.6
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    • pp.1079-1088
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    • 2003
  • This study was conducted to test the efficacy of the automatic liquid feeder(designated as NLRI) developed by National Livestock Research Institute, Korea for 7-day old early-weaning piglets. The other automatic liquid feeder imported from USA(designated as IALF) was used for a comparative purpose. A total of sixty piglets of 7 days of age were allotted to three treatments. The control group of 20 piglets was raised by their own sows until 21 days of age, while others were shifted to automatic liquid feeders of either NLRI or IALF on 7 days of age and reared during 14 days post-weaning. After then, all the piglets were fed nutritionally identical mash diets until 70 days of age. Compared with control group, body weight of piglets reared on automatic liquid feeders were lighter(P〈0.05) at 21 days of age [5.55kg (control) vs 4.97 (NLRI) and 4.98kg (IALF)], while heavier(P〈0.05) at 70 days of age(24.82kg vs 30.17 and 29.42kg). The results indicated that pigs reared on liquid feeding showed higher(P〈0.05) average daily gain than control pigs during the whole experimental period [346.7g (control) vs 425.8 (NLRI) and 416.1g (IALF)], while no difference was found in feed/gain (1.67 vs 1.78 and 1.84). There was no difference in growth performance and incidence of diarrhea between two automatic liquid feeders, NLRI and IALF. Compared with control group, intestinal villi tended to be shorter in liquid feeding group during the first week, but were recovered within two weeks. The results suggest that the automatic liquid feeder newly developed by National Livestock Research Institute, Korea can be successfully used for rearing young piglets weaned at very early age.

Development of a Device for Estimating the Optimal Artificial Insemination Time of Individually Stalled Sows Using Image Processing (영상처리기법을 이용한 스톨 사육 모돈의 인공수정적기 예측 장치 개발)

  • Kim, D.J.;Yeon, S.C.;Chang, H.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.49 no.5
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    • pp.677-688
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    • 2007
  • 돼지를 포함한 대부분의 동물은 일정한 발정주기를 가지고 일정한 시기에 배란을 하는 자연배란동물이지만, 토끼, 고양이, 밍크 등의 암놈은 교미자극에 의해 배란이 일어나는 유기배란동물이다. 또한 1년에 한 번만 발정하는 단발정동물과 1년에 수차례 발정하는 다발정동물이 있다. 이 중에서 모돈은 1년에 수차례 발정하는 다발정 동물로서 발정기에 들면 비발정기와는 다른 행동을 나타낸다(Diehl 등, 2001). 양돈가의 수익을 최대화하기 위해서는 비생산일수를 최소로 줄여야 한다. 모돈의 비생산일수를 줄일 수 있는 한 가지 방법은 성공적으로 교배를 시키는 것이다. 이처럼 성공적으로 교배를 시키기 위해서는 수정적기를 정확히 예측해야 한다. 만약 수정적기를 정확히 판단하지 못하여 수태가 되지 않으면, 비생산일수가 늘어나 손실을 입게 된다. 따라서 수정적기를 정확히 판단하는 것은 모돈의 성공적인 인공수정에 있어서 중요한 요소이다. 수정적기는 배란이 일어나기 전 10시간에서 12시간 사이이며, 발정이 시작되는 시점을 기준으로 하였을 때 경산돈의 경우 26시간에서 34시간 사이이고 미경산돈의 경우는 18시간에서 26시간 사이이다(Evans 등, 2001). 현재 하루에 두 번 모돈의 발정을 확인하는 것이 일반화되어 있으며, 이 때 웅돈을 접촉시키거나 육안관찰을 통하여 발정 유무를 판단한다. 이러한 방법에는 숙련된 기술과 풍부한 경험이 요구될 뿐만 아니라 총 소요노동력의 30% 정도가 요구된다(Perez 등, 1986). 하루에 두 번밖에 발정을 감지하지 않기 때문에 발정이 언제 시작되었는지를 정확히 알 수 없으며, 또한 발정의 대부분이 새벽에 시작되므로 수정적기를 정확히 판단하기란 매우 어렵다. 만약 발정을 감지했더라도 적기에 인공수정을 하지 못한다면, 수태율이 낮아지므로 경제적 손실이 초래된다. 현재 이러한 문제점 때문에 2회에서 3회에 걸쳐 인공수정을 하고 있으나 이에 따른 소요비용과 소요노동력 등은 양돈가의 부담을 가중시키는 요인이 되고 있다. 돼지는 발정기가 되면 비발정기에 나타내지 않던 외음부의 냄새를 맡는 행동, 귀를 세우는 행동 및 승가허용 행동 등을 나타낸다(Diehl 등, 2001). 또한 돼지는 비발정기에 비하여 발정기에 더 많은 활동량을 나타낸다(Altman, 1941; Erez and Hartsock, 1990). Freson 등(1998)은 스톨에서 개별적으로 사육되고 있는 모돈의 활동량을 적외선센서를 이용하여 측정함으로써 발정을 86%까지 감지하였다고 보고하였다. 그러나 이 연구는 단지 모돈의 발정을 감지하였을 뿐 번식관리에 있어서 가장 중요한 수정적기의 판단 기준을 제시하지 못하였다. 따라서, 본 연구는 스톨에서 사육되는 모돈의 활동량을 측정함으로써 발정시작시각을 감지하고 이를 기준으로 인공수정적기를 예측할 수 있는 인공수정적기 예측 장치를 개발한 후 이의 성능을 농장실증실험을 통하여 시험하고자 수행되었다.