• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1998

Monthly changes of the gonad follicle index (GFI), reproductive cycle, egg-diameter composition, first sexual maturity of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, were studied based on the samples which have been collected from the intertidal zone of Poryong west coast of Korea, from January to December, 1996. C. gigas, is dioecious, while a few individuals are alternatively hermaphroditic. Monthly variation of gonad follicle index (GFI) used for determination of spawning period, coincided with the reproductive cycle. GFI increased from April when seawater temperatures gradually increased and reached the maximum in May. And then, GFI sharply decreased from June to September due to spawning. Reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: in females, early active stage (March to April), late active stage (April to May), ripe stage (May to August), partially spawned stage (June to September) and spent/inactive stage (September to February); in males, early active stage (February to March), late active stage (April to May), ripe stage (May to September), partially spawned stage (June to September) and spent/ inactive stage (September to February). The diameter of fully mature eggs are approximately 50um. Spawning occurred from June to September, and two spawning peaks were observed in June and August when the seawater temperature was above $20^{\circ}C$. Percentages of the first sexual maturity of males of 20.1-25.0 mm in shell height were over $50\%$, while those of females of 25.1-30.0 mm in shell height were over $50\%$. All the males of > 30.1 mm and all the females of ^gt; 35.1 mm completed their first sexual maturity. The results suggest that C. gigas has a protandry phenomenon. Sex ratios of 919 oysters observed were 453 females $(49.29\%)$, 429 males $(46.68\%)$, 16 hermaphrodites $(1.74\%)$, and 21 indeterminate individuals $(2.29\%)$. In age class I, sex ratio of males were $64.00\%$, thus, a higher percentage than that of females. It was noted that $64.00\%$ of the young males (age class I) were more functional than females in age class I, but 2-3 year-old oysters showed higher percentage of females. Percentages of hemaphrodites in 2-3 year classes were relatively higher than those in other year classes. Histological pattern of hermaphrodites can be divided into two types: Type I (hermaphrodite having a number of newly formed developing oocytes on the oogenic tissues within a degenerating spermatogenic follicle after discharge of numerous spermatozoa) and Type II (hermaphrodite having two separate follicles in the same gonad).

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2012

Objectives This study was designed to find out the relationships between obesity and growth, skeletal maturity among children by analyzing body composition and bone age. Methods Subjects were composed of 577 children from six years to seventeen years of age, without any other diseases related to growth, were measured their body composition and bone age. Results As obesity index was increased, the RH-MPH(%) and skeletal maturity significantly was also increased. The RH-MPH(%) of the obesity group was significantly increased than that of normal weight group; the skeletal maturity was more increased in th obesity group. It means the recent height of obese children was more taller than that of inherited from the parents, while skeletal maturity of obese children was more rapidly progressing. The RH-MPH(%) was increased in children who revealed stage of second sexual character; skeletal maturity was decreased in children who developed secondary sexual character. Conclusions Obesity children might be taller than what it supposed to be. However, obesity could cause the increase of skeletal maturity. It means the growth plate of obese children has been closed early.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.781-790
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• 2011

The effects of seedtime and maturity stage on nutritive value of five maize stover varieties, including conventional maize (Kexiangyu 11, CM), fodder maize (Huqing 1, FM), high oil maize (Gaoyou 115, HOM), sweet maize (Kexiangtianyu 1, SM) and waxy maize (Kexiangluoyu 1, WM), were examined based on chemical composition, in vitro gas production and in situ incubation techniques. Maize stover was sampled at d 17 and d 30 after tasseling, and designated as maturity stage 1 and stage 2, respectively. The average dry matter (DM) organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and fiber contents were the greatest for HOM, SM and FM, respectively. CM had the highest in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. The highest ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) concentration in the incubation solution, and effective degradability of DM ($ED_{DM}$) and neutral detergent fiber ($ED_{NDF}$) were observed in SM. Advanced maturity stage increased (p<0.05) DM content, $ED_{DM}$ and $ED_{NDF}$, but decreased (p<0.05) OM and CP contents, and decreased (p<0.05) b and a+b values, IVOMD and molar proportion of valerate in the incubation solution for maize stover. Maize sown in summer had greater (p<0.05) OM content, but lower DM, CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content compared with maize sown in spring. Maize sown in summer had greater (p<0.001) IVOMD, $NH_3$-N concentration in the incubation solution and $ED_{NDF}$, but lower (p<0.01) ratio of acetate to propionate compared to maize sown in spring. The interaction effect of variety${\times}$seedtime was observed running through almost all chemical composition, in vitro gas production parameters and in situ DM and NDF degradability. The overall results suggested that SM had the highest nutrient quality, and also indicated the possibility of selecting maize variety and seedtime for the utilization of maize stover in ruminants.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.313-323
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• 2013

Gonad development, the reproductive cycle, first sexual maturty and size at 50% of group sexual maturity (the biological minimum size) of Gomphina (Macridiscus) veneriformis were investigated for clams collected from the coastal waters of Donghae City, the East Sea of Korea by histological, and morphometric analysis. Monthly variations of the gonad index showed a pattern similar to that of the reproductive cycle. The reproductive cycle with the gonad developmental stages in female and male G. (M.) veneriformis can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (December to March), late active stage (March to June), ripe stage (June to July), partially spawned stage (June to August), and spent / inactive stage (September to December). The spawning period continued from June to August, with a peak between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds $20^{\circ}C$. The percentages of first sexual maturities of female and male clams ranging from 25.1 to 30.0 mm were 56.3% in females and 61.1% in males, and for clams over 30.1 mm shell length, it was 100%. Shell lengths at 50% of group sexual maturity (biological minimum size, $RM_{50}$) were 27.71 mm in females and 26.31 mm in males. Because harvesting clams < 26.31 mm in shell length could potentially cause a drastic reduction in recruitment, a measure indicating a prohibitory fishing size should be taken for adequate fisheries management.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2004

Two varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L cv. Pioneer and Beaver) and timothy (Phleum pratense L cv. Climax and Joliette), grown at different locations in Saskatchewan (Canada), were cut at three stages [1=one week before commercial cut (early bud for alfalfa; joint for timothy); 2=at commercial cut (late bud for alfalfa; pre-bloom head for timothy); 3=one week after commercial cut (early bloom for alfalfa; full head for timothy)]. The energy values of forages were determined using three approaches, including chemical (NRC 2001 formula) and biological approaches (standard in vitro and in situ assay). The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of forage variety and stage of maturity on energy values under the climate conditions of western Canada, and to investigate relationship between chemical (NRC 2001 formula) approach and biological approaches (in vitro and in situ assay) on prediction of energy values. The results showed that, in general, forage species (alfalfa vs. timothy) and cutting stage had profound impacts, but the varieties within each species (Pioneer vs. Beaver in alfalfa; Climax vs. Joliette in timothy) had minimal effects on energy values. As forage maturity increased, the energy contents behaved in a quadratic fashion, increasing at stage 2 and then significantly decreasing at stage 3. However, the prediction methods-chemical approach (NRC 2001 formula) and biological approaches (in vitro and in situ assay) had great influences on energy values. The highest predicted energy values were found by using the in situ approach, the lowest prediction value by using the NRC 2001 formula, and the intermediate values by the in vitro approach. The in situ results may be most accurate because it is closest to simulate animal condition. The energy values measured by biological approaches are not predictable by the chemical approach in this study, indicating that a refinement is needed in accurately predicting energy values.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2021

In this study, the leaves of aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) across different stages of maturity were collected and their chlorophyll content, antioxidant content, and activity were analyzed. The leaves of the selected aronia cultivars ('Viking', 'McKenzie', and 'Kingstar K1') were harvested in June (young-stage leaf) and in August (old-stage leaf). The antioxidant content and activity of all three aronia cultivar leaves were significantly higher in the young-stage leaves than in the old-stage leaves. The main polyphenols in aronia leaves were catechol and chlorogenic acid, which tended to decrease as maturation progressed. As a result, the young-stage aronia leaves contained more abundant flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and polyphenols with higher antioxidant activity than those in the old-stage leaves. Overall, our findings indicate that aronia leaves contain potential bioactive compounds that could be used to develop functional food ingredients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2004

The effect of eight varieties of grain and forage type whole crop rice (Oryza sativa L Japonica) each harvested at four stages of maturity were investigated for morphology and yield, proportion of botanical fractions, fermentatability and chemical composition in an $8{\times}4$ factorial experiment. All crops were sown in 1997 at Saitama Prefecture, Japan under identical condition and harvested on 10, 22, 34 and 45 days after flowering in 1998. Total DM yield of forage type varieties was similar to that of the highest yield of grain type varieties. However, while yield of forage type varieties was attributed to higher proportion of straw than head, the reverse was in the case of grain type varieties. Yield in line with the proportion of head increased (p<0.001), but in contrast proportion of straw decreased (p<0.001) with the increase in maturity. Silage fermentability of grain type varieties was better than forage type varieties. Fermentability improved with the increase (p<0.001) in maturity suggesting that the moisture content should be reduced to improve fermentation quality. Forage type varieties contained higher (p<0.001) ash, crude fat (EE), organic cell wall (OCW) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), but contained lower crude protein (CP), organic cell content (OCC), CP in OCC and nitrogen-free cell wall extract (NCWFE) than the grain type varieties. The ash, CP, EE, Oa (60% digestible OCW), Ob (40% digestible OCW), OCW, ADF and acid detergent lignin (ADL) decreased (p<0.001), but OCC and NCWFE increased (p<0.001) with the increase in maturity. It is concluded that stage of maturity not only increases yield and proportion of head, but also improved the fermentation quality and increases quality chemical composition (except CP) of whole crop rice. Forage type varieties may be as good as grain type varieties in terms of yield, but fermentation quality and chemical composition may not be as good as that of grain type varieties.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of growth stage and variety on the quality of whole crop rice(WCR) silage at National Institute of Animal Science, RDA from 2004 to 2005. Two types of rice("Chucheong" for food and "Hamasari" for whole crop) were harvested at six different growth stages (heading, flowering, milk, dough, yellow ripen and fully ripen stage) and ensiled each harvest stages. Crude protein(CP) content of all whole crop rice silage was also decreased with progressed maturity at harvest and TDN(total digestible nutrient) content of WCR was increased. The average CP content of whole crop rice was higher than that of food rice. The contents of ADF(acid detergent fiber) and NDF(neutral detergent fiber) decreased with delayed harvest maturity. The content of TDN estimated from ADF content was increased with progressed maturity, but there was not found significant difference between rice varieties(p<0.05). The average pH value was 4.69 and it was increased with delayed harvest maturity. Acetic and butyric acid content were decreased, but lactic acid content was increased with progressed maturity. The experiments presented here show that all rice varieties may give a good quality silage. But some wrong practical method(grain loss, productivity, nutrient value, etc.) will make poor quality of rice silage. Therefore, dough stage of harvest maturity will be recommendable as proper harvest time for making high quality of whole crop rice silage in Korea.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2006

Contents of phenolic compounds in peel, flesh, and core of three Asian pear cultivars, Hosui, Niitaka, and Chuwhangbae, were determined at different stages of maturity. Antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of peels at various fruit maturity stages were also evaluated. Total phenolic content decreased with maturity. Arbutin, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin were major phenolic compounds in young fruits. Catechin, 4-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid, and caffeic acid were detected in peel and core of immature and mature pears. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities of methanol extracts were 16.30 and $15.73\;{\mu}g$ in peel of immature Hosui and Chuwhangbae pears, respectively, and $11.59\;{\mu}g$ in mature Niitaka pears, which was significantly higher than those of other maturity stage in the same cultivar. Inhibitory activities on lipid oxidation of methanol extracts of three cultivars at all maturity stages were similar to that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.36-47
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• 2009

Microbial and related biochemical mass of composts are important for optimization of its process and end-products. This study was carried out to assess the specific microbial and related biochemical mass which could be used as an indicator for compost maturity during composting stages. The samples from five compost plants were collected at three stages (Initial, Thermophilic and Mature) and analyzed for total aerobic bacteria (TAB), Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Actinomycetes and fungi. Significantly, the coliforms and E.coli counts decreased during the thermophilic stage and were completely eliminated during mature stage. However, the other microbial mass were completely eliminated during mature stage. Which disclosed that Coliforms and E.coli communities can be used as compost maturity indicator. Interestingly, the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen ratio (MBC/MBN) were decreased a little during the thermophilic stage due to the decreasing number of coliforms, Ecoli and fungi, while the ratio increased during the mature stage due to increasing fungal and aerobic bacterial counts. In addition the heavy metals were shown strong negative correlation with Actenomycetes. This study provides insight to the evaluation of compost maturity as well as the quality by the metal-microbial interactions.