• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2001

The success of nuclear transplantation with mammalian oocytes depends critically on the potential of oocytes activation, which mainly caused to prevent the re-accumulation of maturation promoting factor (MPF). This study was conducted to compare the effect of combined treatment of lonomycin with a Hl-histone kinase inhibitor (dimethylaminopurine, DMAP) or cdc2 kinase inhibitor (sodium pyrophosphate, SPP) on activation of bovine oocytes. In vitro matured bovine oocytes with the first polar body (PB) and dense cytoplasm were assigned to 3 experimental groups. For activation treatment, oocytcs were exposed to 5 $\mu$M lonomycin for 5 min (Group 1), and followed by 1.9 mM dimethylaminopurine (DMAP) for 3 h (Group 2) or followed by 2 mM sodium pyrophosphate (SPP) for 3 h (Group 3). The activation effects in the three treatments and the control group (untreated) were judged by the extrusion of the second PB and formation of a pronucleus (PN). Differences among groups were analysed using one-way ANOVA after arc-sine transformation of proportional data. All three treatments led to high activation rates (90% to 95%), with significant difference from the control. However, the extrusion of the second PB and the rate of PN formation differed remarkably among treatments. In Group I and 3, about 95% of the oocytes had extruded the second polar body, but one PN had formed in a higher proportion of oocytes in Group 3 than in Group 1 (90% vs. 5%). In experiment 2, the rates of cleavage and development into blastocysts in Group 1 were significantly lower than those of Group 2 and 3 (8.7% and 0% vs. 50.5% and 11.6%, and 44.6% and 7.2%, respectively, P<0.05). In experiment 3, ~80% of parthenotes in Group 1 were developed with haploid chromosomal sets. However, when ionomycin was followed immediately by DMAP (Group 2). only 20% of parthenotes were haploid. In Group 3, combined treatment with ionomycin and SPP, the appearance of abnormal chromosomal tracts was significantly (P〈0.05) reduced and the proportion of haploid parthenotes was increased to 85% (17/20) than in Group 2. These results demonstrate that SPP acted as a cdc2 kinase inhibitor and formed the haploidy in oocyte activation. Thus, the present study suggests that cdc2 kinase inhibitor, such as sodium pyrophosphate, may have an effective role in oocyte activation for the production of cloned embryos/animals by nuclear transplantation.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.13-27
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• 2023

This study aims to contribute to the reduction of the failure rate and social costs resulting from business failures by analyzing factors that affect the insolvency of social enterprises, as the role of social enterprises is increasing in our economy. The data used in this study were classified as normal and insolvent companies among social enterprises (including prospective social enterprises) that were established between 2009 and 2018 and received credit guarantees from credit guarantee institutions as of the end of June 2022. Among the collected data, 439 social enterprises with available financial information were targeted; 406 (92.5%) were normal enterprises, and 33 (7.5%) were insolvent enterprises. Through a literature review, eight non-financial factors commonly used for insolvency prediction were selected. The cross-analysis results showed that four of these factors were significant. Logistic regression analysis revealed that two variables, including corporate credit rating and the personal credit rating of the representative, were significant. Financial factors such as debt ratio, sales operating profit rate, and total asset turnover were used as control variables. The empirical analysis confirmed that the two independent variables maintained their influence even after controlling for financial factors. Given that government-led support and development policies have limitations, there is a need to shift policy direction so that various companies aspiring to create social value can enter the social enterprise sector through private and regional initiatives. This would enable the social economy to create an environment where local residents can collaborate to realize social value, and the government should actively support this.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2023

In addition to causing direct feeding damage to a variety of greenhouse crops, Frankliniella occidentalis also inflicts indirect harm by facilitating the transmission of the tomato spotted wilt virus. Historically, the prevention of F. occidentalis infestations has relied heavily on pesticide use. However, this approach has led to significant side effects in agricultural ecosystems, including the development of pest resistance and challenges in effective prevention. In response to these issues, research has been directed towards identifying alternative substances that circumvent the tolerance developed against chemical pesticides. Extracts from sixty-seven medicinal plants were prepared by soaking them in water for 24 hours at room temperature. These extracts were then applied to adult F. occidentalis, with particular attention to moutan extract treatment. This treatment demonstrated a 100% insecticidal effect on the first day. The moutan extract, specifically, was prepared using 50% ethanol, after which the ethanol and water were removed via a rotary evaporator. The resultant product was then lyophilized into a powder and used after being diluted with water. In indoor experiments, a 40% diluted solution was sprayed onto F. occidentalis, exhibiting a 100% insecticidal effect 24 hours post-treatment. Furthermore, a pot test indicated a 78% insecticidal effect on the first day of application. Ongoing research includes the analysis of active substances that demonstrate exceptional insecticidal properties and the conduct of on-site validation tests. The application of the aforementioned extract is anticipated to be effective in the prevention of F. occidentalis infestations.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of 0.96(K_0.456Na_0.536)Nb_0.95Sb_0.05-0.04Bi_0.5(Na_0.82K_0.18)_0.5ZrO₃ (KNNS-BNKZ) ceramics based on one-step and two-step sintering processes. One-step sintering led to significant abnormal grain (AG) growth at temperatures above 1,085 ℃. With increasing sintering temperature, piezoelectric and dielectric properties were enhanced, resulting in a high d₃₃ = 506 pC/N for one-step specimen sintered at 1,100 ℃ (one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen). However, for one-step 1,115 ℃ specimen, a slight decrease in d₃₃ was observed, emphasizing the importance of a high tetragonal (T) phase fraction for superior piezoelectric properties. Achieving a relative density above 84 % for samples sintered by the one-step sintering process was challenging. Conversely, two-step sintering significantly improved the relative density of KNNS-BNKZ ceramics up to 96 %, attributed to the control of AG nucleation in the first step and grain growth rate control in the second step. The quantity of AG nucleation was affected by the duration of the first step, determining the final microstructure. Despite having a lower T phase fraction than that of the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen, the two-step specimen exhibited higher piezoelectric coefficients (d₃₃ = 574 pC/N and k_p = 0.5) than those of the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen due to its higher relative density. Performance evaluation of magnetoelectric composite devices composed of one-step and two-step specimens showed that despite having a higher g₃₃, the magnetoelectric composite with the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen exhibited the lowest magnetoelectric voltage coefficient, due to its lowest k_p. This study highlights the essential role of phase fraction and relative density in enhancing the performance of piezoelectric materials and devices, showcasing the effectiveness of the two-step sintering process for controlling the microstructure of ceramic materials containing volatile elements.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.51-70
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• 2023

This study employed driving simulation to examine how takeover request (TOR) information modalities (visual, auditory, and visual + auditory) in Level-3 automated vehicles, and road types (straight and curved) influence the driver's control takeover time (TOT) and mental workload, assessed through subjective workload and heart rate variations. The findings reveal several key points. First, visual TOR resulted in the quickest TOT, while auditory TOR led to the longest. Second, TOT was considerably slower on curved roads compared to straight roads, with the greatest difference observed under the auditory TOR condition. Third, the auditory TOR condition generally induced lower subjective workload and heart rate variability than the visual or visual + auditory conditions. Finally, significant heart rate changes were predominantly observed in curved road conditions. These outcomes indicate that TOT and mental workload levels in drivers are influenced by both the TOR modality and road geometry. Notably, a faster TOT is associated with increased mental workload.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1236-1245
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• 2024

Objective: The object of this study was to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) in broiler diets on growth performance, blood indicators, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. Methods: A total of 180 Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into three treatments, each treatment with six replicates and 10 broilers per replicate for a 42-day feeding trial. The control group (CON) was fed corn-soybean meal based diet. The CAP-1 and CAP-2 groups were considered to use CAP to replace 25% or 50% of soybean meal in the diet, respectively. The average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broilers at 1 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d, and 1 to 42 d were measured, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the 42nd day of age, two broilers with similar weights and fasted for 12 h were selected in each replicate for blood collection from the brachial wing vein. The blood routine indicators, serum biochemical indicators, serum antioxidant capacity, and immunoglobulin content of broiler chickens were measured. Results: Replacement of soybean meal with 25% (CAP-1) and 50% (CAP-2) CAP significantly increased the average daily gain of 22 to 42 d and 1 to 42 d and decreased the average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate (p<0.05). The CAP-1 group, and CAP-2 group significantly increased hemoglobulin in the blood of broilers, while the CAP-2 group increased hematocrit content (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the contents of superoxide dismutase and immunoglobulin A in serum of the CAP-2 group were significantly increased, while the contents of malondialdehyde in CAP group were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: Replacing soybean meal with CAP led to significant improvements in the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunoglobulin content of broilers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.310-325
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• 2024

Glyconutrients help in the body's cell communication. Glyconutrients and synbiotics are promising options for improving immune function. Therefore, we hypothesized that combining synbiotics and glyconutrients will enhance pig nutrient utilization. 150 pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), initially weighing 58.85 ± 3.30 kg of live body weight (BW) were utilized to determine the effects of synbiotics-glyconutrients (SGN) on the pigs' performance, feed efficiency, gas emission, pork traits, and composition of fatty acids. The pigs were matched by BW and sex and chosen at random to 1 of 3 diet treatments: control = Basal diet; TRT1 = Basal diet + SGN 0.15%; TRT2 = Basal diet + SGN 0.30%%. The trials were conducted in two phases (weeks 1-5 and weeks 5-10). The average daily gain was increased in pigs fed a basal diet with SGN (p = 0.036) in weeks 5-10. However, the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy did not differ among the treatments (p > 0.05). Dietary treatments had no effect on NH₃, H₂S, methyl mercaptans, acetic acids, and CO₂ emissions (p > 0.05). Improvement in drip loss on day 7 (p = 0.053) and tendency in the cooking loss were observed (p = 0.070) in a group fed basal diets and SGN at 0.30% inclusion level. The group supplemented with 0.30% of SGN had higher levels of palmitoleic acid (C16:1), margaric acid (C17:0), omega-3 fatty acid, omega-6 fatty acid, and ω-6: ω-3 ratio (p = 0.034, 0.020, 0.025, 0.007, and 0.003, respectively) in the fat of finishing pigs. Furthermore, group supplemented with 0.30% of SGN improved margaric acid (C17:0), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), arachidic acid (C20:0), omega 6 fatty acid, omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, unsaturated fatty acid, and monounsaturated fatty acid (p = 0.037, 0.05, 0.0142, 0.036, 0.033, 0.020, and 0.045, respectively) in the lean tissues of finishing pigs compared to pigs fed with the control diets. In conclusion, the combination of probiotics, prebiotics, and glyconutrients led to higher average daily gain, improved the quality of pork, and more favorable fatty acid composition. Therefore, these results contributed to a better understanding of the potential of SGN combinations as a feed additive for pigs.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2024

Due to the miniaturization and multifunctionality of electronic devices, a surface mount technology in the form of molded interconnect devices (MID), which directly forms electrodes and circuits on the plastic injection parts and mounts components and parts on them, is being introduced to overcome the limitations in the mounting area of electronic components. However, when using plastic injection parts with low thermal stability, there are difficulties in mounting components through the conventional reflow process. In this study, we developed a process that utilizes induction heating, which can selectively heat specific areas or materials, to melt solder and mount components without causing any thermal damage to the plastic. We designed the shape of an induction heating Cu coil that can concentrate the magnetic flux on the area to be heated, and verified the concentration of the magnetic flux and the degree of heating on the pad part through finite element method (FEM). LEDs, capacitors, resistors, and connectors were mounted on a polycarbonate substrate using induction heating to verify the mounting process, and their functionality was confirmed. We presented the applicability of a selective heating process through magnetic induction that can overcome the limitations of the reflow method.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.431-438
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• 2024

Hops enhance beer flavor and bitterness, acting as a preservative. In recent years, the booming trend of craft beer has prompted the introduction of foreign hop varieties for cultivation and production in South Korea. This study focuses on developing efficient in vitro culture condition of the hop (Humulus lupulus L.) variety 'Cascade' for treatments of plant growth regulators, i.e. IAA and Cytokinin. Using Auxin IAA and Cytokinin 2iP, Zeatin, BAP, and TDZ on MS medium as plant growth regulators, the experiment involved removing three nodes from the shoot apex. In vitro hop culture showed the highest shoot proliferation rate when only IAA was added, with approximately 21% higher compared to the combination with Cytokinin. Notably, IAA 0.1 mg/L + BAP 1 mg/L resulted in a superior shoot proliferation rate of around 91%. IAA 0.1 mg/L + BAP 1 mg/L was advantageous for shoot elongation. Callus induction occurred with TDZ, while control or IAA-only conditions exhibited shoot and root growth. Cytokinin addition led to callus formation and increased weight. Assessing survival and soil adaptation during in vitro hop seedling acclimatization involved maintaining near 100% humidity initially, gradually reducing it over three weeks. When transferred outdoors, 9 out of 10 seedlings acclimated successfully, confirming a 90% acclimatization rate.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the growth and phenol content changes of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under five different light intensities and photoperiods, maintaining the same Daily Light Integral (DLI) conditions in a plant factory. Basil seeds were sown on a rockwool medium for four weeks and then transplanted. To maintain a DLI 17mol·m^-2·d^-1, light intensity and photoperiod were set at 16h-295, 18h-260, 20h-235, 22h-215, and 24h-200μmol·m^-2·s^-1 and cultivated for four weeks. The harvested results showed that basil plant height, number of lateral branches, and leaf number tended to decrease from the 16h-295 treatment to the 24h-200 treatment. Shoot fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area, leaf width, and leaf length were significantly higher in the 18 h-260 treatment. The total phenolic contents in the 18h-260 treatment was significantly higher by 51.3%, 172.7%, 111%, and 119.7% compared to the 16h-295, 20h-235, 22h-215, and 24h-200 treatments, respectively. Therefore, it is anticipated that cultivating basil under the condition of 18h-260 treatment could yield enhanced growth quality and an increase in total phenolic contents.