• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2016

Purpose: This experiment was conducted to detect water stress in terms of the moisture content of cucumber seedlings under water stress condition using a hyperspectral image acquisition system, linear regression analysis, and partial least square regression (PLSR) to achieve a non-destructive measurement procedure. Methods: Changes in the reflectance spectrum of cucumber seedlings under water stress were measured using hyperspectral imaging techniques. A model for estimating moisture content of cucumber seedlings was constructed through a linear regression analysis that used the moisture content of cucumber seedlings and a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). A model using PLSR that used the moisture content of cucumber seedlings and reflectance spectrum was also created. Results: In the early stages of water stress, cucumber seedlings recovered completely when sub-irrigation was applied. However, the seedlings suffering from initial wilting did not recover when more than 42 h passed without irrigation. The reflectance spectrum of seedlings under water stress decreased gradually, but increased when irrigation was provided, except for the seedlings that had permanently wilted. From the results of the linear regression analysis using the NDVI, the model excluding wilted seedlings with less than 20% (n=97) moisture content showed a precision ($R^2$ and $R^2_{\alpha}$) of 0.573 and 0.568, respectively, and accuracy (RE) of 4.138% and 4.138%, which was higher than that for models including all seedlings (n=100). For PLS regression analysis using the reflectance spectrum, both models were found to have strong precision ($R^2$) with a rating of 0.822, but accuracy (RMSE and RE) was higher in the model excluding wilted seedlings as 5.544% and 13.65% respectively. Conclusions: The estimation model of the moisture content of cucumber seedlings showed better results in the PLSR analysis using reflectance spectrum than the linear regression analysis using NDVI.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.272-279
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• 2019

The study was conducted to evaluate the seminal attributes and cryobanking of Achhami (Bos indicus) bull semen. Of two Achhami bulls, 8 ejaculates from each bull were evaluated for seminal attributes. For semen freezing and cryo-banking, 4 ejaculates (having ≥2 mL semen volume, ≥75% of sperm motility and ≥1,000 × 10⁶ cells/mL of sperm concentration) from each bull were used. Semen samples were diluted in egg-yolk-tris-citrate extender using a two-step dilution protocol, and were frozen in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) vapour in a styrofoam box. The mean semen volume, colour, sperm mass activity, motility, viability, concentration, abnormal acrosome, midpiece and tail and, abnormal head of two Achhami bulls were 4.4 ± 0.5 mL vs. 2.5 ± 0.2 mL, 2.5 ± 0.1 vs. 2.4 ± 0.1, 3.5 ± 0.1 vs. 3.5 ± 0.1, 77.0 ± 1.1% vs. 78.3 ± 1.3%, 94.4 ± 0.5% vs. 91.0 ± 0.6%, 1137.7 ± 73.7 × 10⁶ cells/mL vs. 1060.0 ± 44.3 × 10⁶ cells/mL, 10.2 ± 0.5% vs. 10.3 ± 0.5% and 6.7 ± 0.5% vs. 8.2 ± 0.3%, respectively. The post-thawed sperm motility and viability were 53.0 ± 2.0% vs. 50.0 ± 0.0% and 80.2 ± 0.4% vs. 73.2 ± 0.7%, while evaluating by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system, the percentage of the progressive motility, fast motility, slow motility, local motility and immotile sperm were 75%, 68%, 7.4%, 16.6% and 8.6%, respectively. A total number of 620 doses semen straw were cryo-banked. Due to the acceptable post-thawed sperm motility and viability recorded, cryopreservation of Achhami semen is hereby recommended so as to preserve the Achhami breed. For further validation, the fertility will be observed from the produced frozen semen.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.479-483
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of E. coli isolated from porcine semen on sperm viability, motility, and semen pH. Semen samples were prepared using commercial extender, $Seminark^{Pro}$ (Noahbio Tech, Korea) that did not contain antibiotics. And 4 different levels of E. coli were artificially innoculated to semen with following concentrations; 4,000 of sperms with 1 of E. coli (T1), 400 with 1 (T2), 40 with 1 (T3), and 4 with 1 (T4). Semen samples were preserved at $17^{\circ}C$ for 5 days in semen storage box until analyzed by flowcytometer. Aliquots were subjected to measure the sperm viability (Live/$Dead^{(R)}$ stain), motility (mitochondrial function), and semen acidity (pH) from day 0 (day of semen collection) to day 5. Sperm motility and viability were significantly decreased (p<0.05) on day 0 (4 hrs after preservation at $17^{\circ}C$) in T3 and T4 compared to control groups and were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in all groups from day 3. Sample pH was acidic in T3 (6.90~6.86) and T4 (6.86~6.65) from day 3 to day 5 (p<0.05). On the other hand, sample pH was maintained 7.0~7.1 in control, T1, and T2 during the experimental period. Sperm motility and viability were significantly decreased from day 0 to day 5 compared to control in samples contaminated with E. coli above a value of 40:1 ($20{\times}10^6$ sperm cells/ml : $5{\times}10^5$ cfu/ml). Even on day 1 in T4 and on day 3 in T3, semen pH was acidic probably due to the acidification of dead spermatozoa. These results suggest that E. coli contamination has a concentration-dependent detrimental effect on extended porcine semen quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.533-540
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• 2011

The objectives of experiments were to compare directly the effects of synchrony of slowly fermented (corn and corn gluten meal; C-CGM) and of rapidly fermented ingredients (barley and soybean meal; B-SBM) in the rumen on starch disappearances in gastrointestinal tracts (Experiment 1) and growth performance (Experiment 2) of Hanwoo steers in the feedlot barn. In experiment 1, four Hanwoo steers ($288{\pm}21$ kg) fitted with ruminal and "T" shaped duodenal cannula were placed in one pen with Calan gate and assigned randomly to a duplicate $2{\times}2$ Latin square design. In experiment 2, eight intact Hanwoo steers ($311{\pm}8$ kg) were assigned randomly to one of two pens with Calan gate to evaluate the effect of the same diets as like in experiment 1 on growth performance. There were no differences in ruminal pH, ammonia and total VFA concentrations between treatments. Percentage of apparent ruminal starch disappearance was 33.3% unit lower (p<0.05) for steers fed C-CGM than for steers fed B-SBM diets and this difference resulted in 268% higher (p<0.05) in duodenal starch flows for steers fed C-CGM diet than for steers fed B-SMB diet. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in quantity (927 vs. 400 g/d) of corn starch digested post-ruminally compared to barley starch. However, percentage of starch apparently digested post-ruminally was 8% higher (p=0.1) in steers fed fast synchrony diet with B-SBM than in steers fed slow synchrony diets with C-CGM. The differences of percentage and amount of starch apparently digested post-ruminally between C-CGM and B-SBM diets did not affect rice straw DM intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency. In conclusion, there is some uncertainty in regards to the relationship between site of starch digestion and DM intake, ADG, and feed efficiency in this study.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-287
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• 2015

Wolf teeth have been reported with incidence rate of 13% to 31.9% in horses of both sexes. However, there is no report about the incidence of wolf teeth in pony breeds. In order to determine the incidence of wolf teeth in Jeju Ponies and Jeju Pony crossbreds, oral examination and palpation of the interdental space of ponies at the Jeju Race Park were performed from 2006 to 2010. Results of this study showed that a total of 90 (3.4%) of the 2,675 examined Jeju Ponies and Jeju Pony crossbreds had wolf teeth. Among 30 Jeju Ponies that had wolf teeth, 22 were male (73.3%) and 8 were female (26.7%). Among 60 Jeju Pony crossbreds that had wolf teeth, 25 were male (41.7%) and 35 were female (58.3%). In Jeju Ponies, wolf teeth were most common in 3-years-old, followed by ${\geq}4$-years-old, then 2-years-old. For Jeju Pony crossbreds, wolf teeth were most common in 3-years-old, followed by 2-yearsold, then ${\geq}4$-years-old. In conclusion, the incidence of wolf teeth in Jeju Ponies and Jeju Pony crossbreds was considerably lower than what has been reported for horses in other countries.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.433-440
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• 2009

High levels of inflammatory cytokines were proposed contributors to the pathogenesis of a various inflammatory skin disorders. Therefore, investigating the immune response of the inflammatory skin disorder allows a better understanding of pathogenesis of a various inflammatory skin disorders and therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to analyze of the immune response in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease. To this aim, the present study evaluated relative mRNA expression of canine $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, $TGF-{\beta}$ and IL-10 using TaqMan realtime PCR assays and semi-quantitative RT-PCR in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from twenty dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease and ten normal dogs. The relative mRNA expression levels of IL-4 mRNA were significantly higher in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease than those in normal dogs (P < 0.01). The results of present study also showed a tendency towards increased expression of IL-10 transcripts in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease. However, there were no significant differences in the levels $IFN-{\gamma},\;TGF-{\beta}$ between normal and chronically inflammed dogs. In addition, the concentration of serum IgE was significantly increased in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease compared with those in normal dogs (P < 0.01). In histopathological examination, we found that there were markedly increased mast cell counts in chronically inflammed dogs (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin disease might be associated with a T-cell mediated inflammatory responses characterized by a Th2-skewed immune response. Based on these results, the modulation of Th1/Th2 balance may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin disease.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.237-249
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• 1995

To understand the cross-sectional structures of temperature, salinity and current across the Korea Strait, field measurements were carried out for the period of May 2 to 20, 1994. Using the R/V Tam Yang, detailed CTD profiles and ADCP records were obtained and used to examine the mean and variability field on two time scales (15 days and 25 hours). A sharp coastal front in the middle of the Korea Strait exists across which two different water masses, i.e., warm and saline water in the eastern side and cold and less saline water in the western side are neighboring. We observed highly variable field of T and S apparently caused by the westward movement of warm and saline water mass. Short-term fluctuations of T and S in the middle layer are remarkable and their importance was analysed as the first Eigen mode accounting for more than 50% of total variances. The currents in th Korea Strait are strongly influenced by tidal currents with spring and neap variation whose maximum speed ranges 80-90 and 60-70 cm/s respectively near the central portion of the channel. Strong southward tidal current could even mask the Tsushima Current completely. Results of harmonic analysis show that the magnitudes of semidiurnal, diurnal and mean components of currents are comparable to each other at spring and neap tide conditions. The volume transport across the western channel of the Korea Strait were estimated to be 2.1 Sv at neap tide condition and 3.4 Sv at spring tide condition.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1339-1346
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to increase production of carotenoids in recombinant Escherichia coli by Archaea chaperonin. The carotenoids are a widely distributed class of structurally and functionally diverse yellow, orange, and red natural pigments. These pigments are synthesized in bacteria, algae, fungi, and plants, and have been widely used as a feed supplement from poultry rearing to aquaculture. Carotenoids also exhibit diverse biological properties, such as strong antioxidant and antitumor activities, and enhancement of immune responses. In the microbial world, carotenoids are present in both anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria and algae and in many fungi. We have previously reported cloning and functional analysis of the carotenoid biosynthesis genes from Paracoccus haeundaensis. The carotenogenic gene cluster involved in astaxanthin production contained seven carotenogenic genes (crtE, crtB, crtI, crtY, crtZ, crtW and crtX genes) and recombinant Escherichia coli harboring seven carotenogenic genes from Paracoccus haeundaensis produced 400 μg/g dry cell weight (DCW) of astaxanthin. In order to increase production of astaxanthin, we have co-expressed chaperone genes (ApCpnA and ApCpnB) in recombinant Escherichia coli harboring the astaxanthin biosynthesis genes. This engineered Escherichia coli strain containing both chaperone gene and astaxanthin biosynthesis gene cluster produced 890 μg/g DCW of astaxanthin, resulting 2-fold increased production of astaxanthin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1686-1692
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the effects of the chitosan oligosaccharide administration on the improvement of the lipid compositions, blood glucose and enzyme activities in the serum of hypercholesterolemic rats fed the experimental diets for 5 weeks. Concentrations of total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio, triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL) and blood glucose in serum were higher in the hypercholesterolemic group (group CW) and cholesterol+chitosan oligosaccharide administration group (group CCW) than those in the control group (group BW, basal diet+water). But the concentrations of total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio, TG, PL and blood glucose in serum were lower in the group CCW than those in the CW, whereas the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentration in the group CCW were higher than in the group CW. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferase (AST, ALT) in serum were lower in the group CCW than in the hypercholesterolemic group CW. From the above results, it was suggested that chitosan oligosaccharide administration was effective in the prevention and improvement of the lipid level, blood glucose and enzyme activities in serum of hypercholesterolemic rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1794-1801
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of soluble collagen peptides extract supplementation on the improvement of blood glucose, lipid components and enzyme activities in the sera of streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg BW, IP injection)-induced diabetic rats fed on experimental diets for 5 weeks. The concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio, triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids (PL) in serum were remarkably higher in the diabetic group (group SW) and STZ (IP)+collagen peptides extract supplementation group (group SFW) than those in the control group (group CG, basal diet + water). However the concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio, TG and PL in serum were lower in the SFW group than in the SW group, whereas the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentration in the SFW group were higher than in the SW group. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferase (AST, ALT) in serum were lower in the SFW group than in the diabetic SW group. The results shown above suggest that soluble collagen peptides extract supplementation effectively improves blood glucose, lipid compositions and enzyme activities in the sera of STZ induced diabetic rats.