• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2014

As a tumor suppressor homologue during mitosis, Chk2 is involved in replication checkpoints, DNA repair, and cell cycle arrest, although its functions during mouse oocyte meiosis and early embryo development remain uncertain. We investigated the functions of Chk2 during mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Chk2 exhibited a dynamic localization pattern; Chk2 expression was restricted to germinal vesicles at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, was associated with centromeres at pro-metaphase I (Pro-MI), and localized to spindle poles at metaphase I (MI). Disrupting Chk2 activity resulted in cell cycle progression defects. First, inhibitor-treated oocytes were arrested at the GV stage and failed to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD); this could be rescued after Chk2 inhibition release. Second, Chk2 inhibition after oocyte GVBD caused MI arrest. Third, the first cleavage of early embryo development was disrupted by Chk2 inhibition. Additionally, in inhibitor-treated oocytes, checkpoint protein Bub3 expression was consistently localized at centromeres at the MI stage, which indicated that the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) was activated. Moreover, disrupting Chk2 activity in oocytes caused severe chromosome misalignments and spindle disruption. In inhibitor-treated oocytes, centrosome protein ${\gamma}$-tubulin and Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) were dissociated from spindle poles. These results indicated that Chk2 regulated cell cycle progression and spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2001

Temperature-related cleavage rates and mitotic intervals (${\tau}_o$) in the far eastern catfish Silurus asotus were studied by averaging the duration of the second and third embryonic divisions to establish effective procedures for chromosome manipulations. At higher temperatures eggs developed faster and underwent more asynchronous development. Mitotic intervals for far eastern catfish were $21.5{\pm}1.4$ min at $22^{\circ}C$, $18.5{\pm}1.2$ min at $24^{\circ}C$, and $14.0{\pm}2.1$ min at $26^{\circ}C$. There was a strong negative correlation between ${\tau}_o$ and water temperature (Y=-1.85X+21.9, $R^2=0.9868$, where Y is ${\tau}_o$ and X is temperature).

• Survey Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.37-57
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• 2001

Much effort has been made to measure regional difference showing the pattern of regionalism in Korea. Focusing the concept of social distance. this paper examines various election and regional preference data. The paper presets three major findings. First. current election data show clear regional cleavage. Second. regional discrimination and prejudice is often found in one's everyday life. Third, political aspect of regionalism is strongly related to social aspect of regionalism. These findings suggest that regionalism in Korea will survive for the time being. The regionalism is rooted in everyday life . To political elites. it became an attractive and economic way to maintain their power. This tendency will promote the preference for parliamentary system among political elites and the possibility of appearance of regional party

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to produce porcine tetraploid (4N) parthenogenetic embryos using various methods and evaluate their developmental potential. In method 1 (M1), porcine 4N parthenogenetic embryos were obtained by inhibiting extrusion of both first (PB1) and second (PB2) polar bodies; in methods 2 (M2) and 3 (M3), 4N parthenogenetic embryos were obtained by electrofusion of 2-cell stage diploid parthenogenetic embryos derived from inhibition of PB2 or PB1 extrusion, respectively. We found no differences in the rates of cleavage or blastocyst formation or the proportion of 4N embryos among M1, M2, and M3 groups. The different methods also did not influence apoptosis rates (number of TUNEL-positive cells/number of total cells) or expression levels of apoptosis-related BAX and BCL2L1 genes. However, total cell and EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine)-positive cell numbers in 4N parthenogenetic blastocysts derived from M1 were higher (p < 0.05) than those for M2 and M3 groups. Our results suggest that, although porcine 4N parthenogenetic embryos could be produced by a variety of methods, inhibition of PB1 and PB2 extrusion (M1) is superior to electrofusion of 2-cell stage diploid parthenogenetic embryos derived from inhibition of PB2 (M2) or PB1 (M3) extrusion.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.936-948
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• 2024

The Conical 9 well dish (C9 well dish) is characterized by a decreasing cross-sectional area towards the base. This design was hypothesized to enhance embryonic development by emulating the in vivo physical environment through density modulation. Comparative analyses revealed no significant difference in nuclear maturation rates between the C9 well dish and the 5-well dish. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was lower in the C9 well dish compared to the 5-well dish; however, this difference was not statistically significant. On the second day of in vitro culture, the cleavage rate in the C9 well dish was 4.66% higher, although not statistically significant, and the rates of blastocyst development were similar across both dishes. No significant differences were observed in the intracellular levels of glutathione (GSH) and ROS, as well as in the total cell number within the blastocysts between the dish types. The expression of mitogen-related factors, TGFα and IGF-1, in the blastocysts was consistent between the dishes. However, PDGFβ expression was significantly lower in the C9 well dish compared to the 35 mm petri dish. Similarly, the expression of the apoptosis factor Bax/Bcl2l2 showed no significant differences between the two dishes. Despite the marked difference in PDGFβ expression, its impact on blastocyst formation appeared negligible. The study also confirmed the feasibility of culturing a small number of oocytes per donor, collected via Ovum Pick-Up (OPU), with reduced volumes of culture medium and mineral oil, thus offering economic advantages. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the C9 well dish is effective for in vitro development of a small quantity of oocytes and embryos, presenting it as a viable alternative to traditional cell culture dishes.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.311-324
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• 2016

The characteristics of the rock cleavage in Jurassic granite from Geochang were analysed. The evaluation for three quarrying planes and three rock cleavages was performed using the parameters such as (1) reduction ratio between the value of spacing and the value of length, (2) microcrack spacing frequency(N), (3) total spacing($1mm{\geq}$), (4) exponential constant(a), (5) magnitude of exponent(${\lambda}$), (6) mean spacing($S_{mean}$), (7) difference value($S_{mean}-S_{median}$) between mean spacing and median spacing($S_{median}$) and (8) density of spacing. Especially the close dependence between the above spacing parameters and the parameters from the spacing-cumulative frequency diagrams was derived. The discrimination factors representing three quarrying planes and three rock cleavages were acquired through these mutual contrast. The analysis results of the research are summarized as follows. First, the reduction ratios of frequency(N), mean value, median value, the above difference value($S_{mean}-S_{median}$) and density for three rock cleavages are in orders of G(grain, (G1 + G2)/2) < H(hardway, (H1 + H2)/2) < R(rift, (R1 + R2)/2), H < G $\ll$ R, H < G $\ll$ R, H < G < R and H < G $\ll$ R. The values of the above five parameters for three planes show the various orders of R'(rift plane) $\ll$ H'(hardway plane) < G'(grain plane), R' $\ll$ G' < H', R' < H' < G', R' < G' < H' and R' $\ll$ H' < G', respectively. Second, the values of (I) parameters(2, 3, 4 and 5) and (II) parameters(6, 7 and 8) are in orders of (I) H < G < R and (II) R < G < H. On the contrary, the values of the above two groups(I~II) of parameters for three planes show reverse orders. Third, to review the overall characteristics of the arrangement among the six diagrams, these diagrams show an order of R2 < R1 < G2 < G1 < H2 < H1 from the related chart. In other words, above six diagrams can be summarized in order of rift(R1 + R2) < grain(G1 + G2) < hardway(H1 + H2). These results indicate a relative magnitude of rock cleavage related to microcrack spacing. Especially, two parameters for each diagram, the above difference value($S_{mean}-S_{median}$) and mean spacing, could provide advanced information for prediction the order of arrangement among the diagrams. Finally, the general chart for three planes and three rock cleavages were made. From the related chart, three exponential straight lines for three rock cleavages show an order of R(R1 + R2) < G(G1 + G2) < H(H1 + H2). On the contrary, three lines for three planes show an order of H'(R2 + G2) < G'(R1 + H2) < R'(G1 + H1). Consequently, correlation of the mutually reverse order between three planes and three rock cleavages can be drawn from the related chart.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.249-258
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different hexoses in medium with IGF-I and/or EGF on in vitro development of porcine embryos. In first experiment, when the embryos were cultured in medium with concentrations of 5 ng/ml IGF-I and 10 ng/ml EGF, the morula and blastocyst rates were higher than in another culture conditions (P<0.05). In second experiment, the effect of IGF-I in medium with different hexoses during the embryo culture was examined. The higher cleavage rates were obtained in medium with glucose and IGF-I (P<0.05). However, the higher proportion of embryos developed to morula and blastocyst stages in medium with IGF-I were obtained than in medium without IGF-I in medium with glucose, mannose and galactose. In third experiment, the effect of EGF on in vitro development of porcine embryos in medium with different hexoses were examined. In the culture medium was supplemented with glucose, the higher proportions (P<0.05) of embryos developed to molura and blastocyst stages were obtained in medium with that than without EGF. However, the proportions of embryos developed to blastocyst stage were not significantly different between with and without of EGF in medium with different hexoses. In firth experiment, the effects of presence of IGF-I and EGF in medium with different hexoses on in vitro development of porcine embryos were examined. When culture medium was supplemented with IGF-I and EGF, the higher proportions of oocytes cleaved and developed to 8-cell stage were obtained in medium with glucose than mannose, galactose and fructose (P<0.05). These results show that glucose and growth factors, supported the development in vitro of porcine embryos, especially with greater embryo cleavage and development in medium with glucose added to media with IGF-I and/or EGF.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1972

Two-Cell mouse embryos were incubated in the anterior chamber of the rat eye, which has been known as the best place among other animals' for the mouse ovum maturation, in order to observe the capability of their early development. Within 120 hours after incubation, 71.0% of two-cell embryos have developed to the blastocysts in the male rat eye, while only 38.5% in the eye of the same mouse as donated two-cell embryos. Thus, the rat eye chamber provides more favourable environment to the embryos than the mouse itself. The results are consistent with those of the previous studies comparing the maturation of the mouse follicular oocytes in the mouse and the rat eye chamber. Although the aqueous humor which is filled in the anterior chamber of the eye is characterized by its specific properties, being of higher osmolarity, higher concentrations of ascorbic acid, pyruvate and lactate, but lower of proteins and lower temperature than those in blood or lymph serum, The embryos are able to under-take their cleavage as normal as in vivo or in vitro. Concerning with a number of studies in vitro on the development of the mouse embryos which are requiring a very limited condition, the fact that they are able to manage their further development under very different enviroment from our knowledges would provide us a moment to understand their behavior during the early development. The difference of the proportion of the developed blastocysts between in the mouse eye chamber and in the rat can possibly be resulted from the species specific difference in the physicochemical properties between their eye chambers. This assumption is based upon the findings by many investigators who chmpared the nature of the eye chamber of various animals. As a consequence, the rat eye chamber might consist of better properties for the embryonal growth than the mouse eye chamber. The mouse embryos cleaved with a delayed period. In normal development they complete almost the cleavage within 94 hours after fertilization. However, in the present studies, 81.1% of two-cell embryos developed to the blastocysts and the morula in 120 hours in the eye chamber, assumed to be about 154 hours after fertilization. Such delay in development would be caused mainly by the low temperature of the eye chamber. At present we can make two assumptions to explain the capability of the emtryonal development in the eye chambers. One is that the embryos would possess an ability to adapt themselves to the environment which provides unfavourable conditions. The other is that the embryos might remain for a certain duration in the eye chamber, which is filled with a new body fluid produced immediately after the loss of the aqueous humor and the fluid of which becomes similar to blood serum in component. The first assumption is highly reliable since the embryonal cells are mostly at the undifferentiated state and so they probably engage a simple metabolism during their early period. The second assumption is induced by the fact that the rabbit eye chamber produces a plasmoid humor which has mostly similar components to blood serum after loss of aqueous humor through cornea by puncturing. However, the plasmoid humor is substituted by the initial aqueous humor in eight hours. Even though this finding, production of the new fluid, could be applied to the rat eye, it is hardly reliabel that the plasmoid humor remains for such a long period as 120 hours. Consequently, the development of the embryos is more likely due to their adaptability to the new environment during their early developmental stages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.455-461
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• 2017

The Hebei Spirit oil spill incident occurred in December 7, 2007 and caused approximately $12,547k{\ell}$ of crude oil spillage along 370km off the west coast of Korea. Due to the astronomical and irrecoverable damage to the marine ecosystems and the overall living standards of the residents, the oil spill incident has been notoriously named as the "worst oil spill incident" occurred in Korea. Nevertheless, though almost a decade has passed since the tragic incident in Korea, it appears that compensation and recovery efforts seem not close to satisfaction and the local residents are still struggling with various negative impacts incurred by the incident because of critical cleavage among the interests of the relevant parties to the incident. In this paper, the analysis of Hebei Spirit oil spill incident regarding two aspects was carried out; First, meticulously analyze the practical and statistical data of the incident to precisely examine the fundamental causes for its occurrence to further prevent the reoccurrence of such disastrous incident; and the second, comprehensively inspect reasons for the protracted and inefficient damage recovery and victim-oriented compensation. To be specific, this study observed the levels of compensation against damages from the incident, and the adequacy of it in terms of ultimately and inclusively addressing financial, social and ecological aspects based primarily upon the legal verdicts, and statistical and empirical surveys.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.190-206
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• 1998

The microstructures and time-relationship between deformation and growth of metamorphic minerals(metamorphism) of the Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks(Joseon Supergroup and Pyeongan Group) in the Janggunbong area at the central-south part in the North Sobaegsan Massif, Korea, have been analyzed in this paper. The first phase metamorphism (low-pressure type metamorphism), recognized as the crystallization of stack-type chloritoid and biotite and augen-type old andalusite, occurred under non-deformational condition before D1 deformation related to the formation of an E-W trending isocline-synclinal fold(Janggunbong fold) and associated its axial plane S1 foliation, and produced regional mineralogical zoning of E-W trend in the Paleozoic rocks. The second phase metamorphism(medium-pressure type metamorphism), related to the growth of staurolite and garnet porphyroblasts with straight or curved internal foliations(Si), occurred under non-deformational condition after D1 deformation related to the formation of E-W trending thrusts modifying the Janggunbong fold and during D2 deformation related to the formation of E-W trending Yecheon shear zone. This metamorphism also produced regional mineralogical zoning of E-W trend. After D2 deformation occurred the intrusion of Jurassic Chunyang granite and associated its contact metamorphism which crystallized patchy-type young andalusite and prismatic- or fibrous-type sillimanite and coarse-grained garnet. This metamorphism occurred under non-deformational condition before D3 deformation related to the formation of S3 crenulation cleavage and during early phase of D3 deformation, and formed narrow mineralogical zoning of N-S trend near Chunyang granite.