• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.362-367
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• 1997

A field experiment was conducted to determine an optimum control time of water foxtail(Alopecurus aequalis var. amurensis Ohwi), a most troublesome weed, in no-tillage dry seeded rice. Paraquat, a non-selective herbicide, was applied at 1.5 days interval from March 15 to May 15 at a concentration of 3,000ml per hectar and its control efficacy to A. aequalis was recorded before and after seed sowing. In addition. other characters such as decayed injury of A. aequalis to rice seedling, and its influence of seedling stand were also investigated in relation to rice grain yield. Dry weight of A. aequalis was rapidly increased with delay in control time from 42g/$m^2$at March 15 to 237g/$m^2$ at May 15. The amount of its regrowth at seeding time was highest with 68.3g, when paraquat was applied at March 15, then decreased thereafter and it was less than 6.2g when paraquat was applied after April 15 which indicates above 98% control rate. The control rate of A. aequalis, at 30 days after paraquat application way likewise similar to that the seeding time. Rice seedling stands in the plot treated with paraquat before April 15 were not affected by decayed injury of A. aequalis while decayed injury of 3 to 4 degree for those after April 30 application was noted. Dwarf virus disease on rice seedling due to occurrence of A. aequalis was not observed when A. aequalis was controled from March 30 to May 15 while it was occurred in the plot of March 15 application and the untreated control. The control plot of A. aequalis at April 15 had the highest grain yield with 4.79ton/10a. Based on control rate of A. aequalis, seedling stands of rice, virus disease, and rice grain yield, the most suitable control time of A. aequalis in no-tillage dry seeded rice is considered to be about April 15.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-87
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• 1981

The study is aimed at exploring concept held by clinical nurses of nursing. The data were collected from 225 nurses conviniently selected from the population of nurses working in Kang Won province. Findings include. 1) Nurse's Qualification. The respondents view that specialized knowledge is more important qualification of the nurse. Than warm personality. Specifically, 92.9% of the respondents indicated specialized knowledge as the most important qualification while only 43.1％ indicated warm personality. 2) On Nursing Profession. The respondents view that nursing profession as health service oriented rather than independent profession specifically. This suggests that nursing profession is not consistentic present health care delivery system nor support nurses working independently. 3) On Clients of Nursing Care The respondents include patients, family and the community residents in the category of nursing care. Specifically, 92.0％ of the respondents view that patient is the client, while only 67.1％ of nursing student and 74.7％ of herself. This indicates the lack of the nurse's recognition toward their clients. 4) On the Priority of Nursing care. Most of the respondents view the clients physical psychological respects as important component of nursing care but not the spiritual ones. Specially, 96.0% of the respondents indicated the physical respects, 93% psychological ones, while 64.1% indicated the spiritual ones. This means the lack of comprehensive conception on nursing aimension. 5) On Nursing Care. 91.6% of the respondents indicated that nursing care is the activity decreasing pain or helping to recover illness, while only 66.2% indicated earring out the physicians medical orders. 6) On Purpose of Nursing Care. 89.8% of the respondents indicated preventing illness and than 76.6% of them decreasing 1;ai of clients. On the other hand, maintaining health has the lowest selection at the degree of 13.8%. This means the lack of nurses' recognition for maintaining health as the most important point. 7) On Knowledge Needed in Nursing Care. Most of the respondents view that the knowledge faced with the spot of nursing care is needed. Specially, 81.3% of the respondents indicated simple curing method and 75.1%, 73.3%, 71.6% each indicated child nursing, maternal nursing and controlling for the communicable disease. On the other hand, knowledge w hick has been neglected in the specialized courses of nursing education, that is, thinking line among com-w unity members, overcoming style against between stress and personal relation in each home, and administration, management have a low selection at the depree of 48.9%,41.875 and 41.3%. 8) On Nursing Idea. The highest degree of selection is that they know themselves rightly, (The mean score measuring distribution was 4.205/5) In the lowest degree,3.016/5 is that devotion is the essential element of nursing, 2.860/5 the religious problems that human beings can not settle, such as a fatal ones, 2,810/5 the nursing profession is worth trying in one's life. This means that the peculiarly essential ideas on the professional sense of value. 9) On Nursing Services. The mean score measuring distribution for the nursing services showed that the inserting of machine air way is 2.132/5, the technique and knowledge for surviving heart-lung resuscitating is 2.892/s, and the preventing air pollution 3.021/5. Specially, 41.1% of the respondents indicated the lack of the replied ratio. 10) On Nurses' Qualifications. The respondents were selected five items as the most important qualifications. Specially, 17.4% of the respondents indicated specialized knowledge, 15.3% the nurses' health, 10.6％ satisfaction for nursing profession, 9.8% the experience need, 9.2% comprehension and cooperation, while warm personality as nursing qualifications have a tendency of being lighted. 11) On the Priority of Nursing Care The respondents were selected three items as the most important component. Most of the respondents view the client's physical, spiritual: economic points as important components of nursing care. They showed each 36.8%, 27.6%, 13.8% while educational ones showed 1.8%. 12) On Purpose of Nursing Care. The respondents were selected four items as the most important purpose. Specially,29.3% of the respondents indicated curing illness for clients, 21.3% preventing illness for client 17.4% decreasing pain, 15.3% surviving. 13) On the Analysis of Important Nursing Care Ranging from 5 point to 25 point, the nurses' qualification are concentrated at the degree of 95.1%. Ranging from 3 point to 25, the priorities of nursing care are concentrated at the degree of 96.4%. Ranging from 4 point to 16, the purpose of nursing care is concentrated at the degree of 84.0%. 14) The Analysis, of General Characteristics and Facts of Nursing Concept. The correlation between the educational high level and nursing care showed significance. (P < 0.0262). The correction between the educational low level and purpose of nursing care showed significance. (P < 0.002) The correlation between nurses' working yeras and the degree of importance for the purpose of nursing care showed significance (P < 0.0155) Specially, the most affirmative answers were showed from two years to four ones. 15) On Nunes' qualification and its Degree of Importance The correlation between nurses' qualification and its degree of importance showed significance. (r = 0.2172, p< 0.001) 0.005) B. General characteristics of the subjects The mean age of the subject was 39 ; with 38.6% with in the age range of 20-29 ; 52.6% were male; 57.9％ were Schizophrenia; 35.1% were graduated from high school or high school dropouts; 56.l％ were not have any religion; 52.6% were unmarried； 47.4% were first admission; 91.2% were involuntary admission patients. C. Measurement of anxiety variables. 1. Measurement tools of affective anxiety in this study demonstrated high reliability (.854). 2. Measurement tools of somatic anxiety in this study demonstrated high reliability (.920). D. Relationship between the anxiety variables and the general characteristics. 1. Relationship between affective anxiety and general characteristics. 1) The level of female patients were higher than that of the male patient (t = 5.41, p < 0.05). 2) Frequencies of admission were related to affective anxiety, so in the first admission the anxiety level was the highest. (F = 5.50, p < 0.005). 2, Relationship between somatic anxiety and general characteristics. 1) The age range of 30-39 was found to have the highest level of the somatic anxiety. (F = 3.95, p < 0.005). 2) Frequencies of admission were related to the somatic anxiety, so .in first admission the anxiety level was the highest. (F = 9.12, p ＜ 0.005) 0. Analysis of significant anxiety symptoms for nursing intervention. 1. Seven items such as dizziness, mental integration, sweating, restlessness, anxiousness, urinary frequency and insomnia, init. accounted for 96％ of the variation within the first 24 hours after admission. 2. Seven items such as fear, paresthesias, restlessness, sweating insomnia, init., tremors and body aches and pains accounted for 84% of the variation on the 10th day after admission.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2016

Purpose: This study analyzed job importance, job performance, and job satisfaction in 38 dietitians working at geriatric hospitals and elderly healthcare facilities in Jeju surveyed from September 15-24, 2014 with the aim of providing basic data for improving the quality of meals and nutrition management for elderly patients. Methods: Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients using the SPSS Win program (version 12.0). Results: Regarding job importance, the average score was 4.29 (out of 5), indicating that hygiene and safety management scored the highest at 4.77 (out of 5), and nutrition management scored the lowest at3.86. In terms of job performance of subjects, the average score was 2.87 (out of 5), indicating that cooking operation management scored the highest at 4.42 (out of 5). Regarding the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) of job importance and job performance, hygiene and safety management and cooking operation management scored high for importance and performance (B quadrant) menu management, human resource management, and nutrition management scored low for importance and performance (C quadrant) and purchasing management and financial management were included inD quadrant and A quadrant, respectively. For the level of job satisfaction of subjects, the average score was 3.37 (out of 5), indicating that relationships with colleagues scored the highest at 3.72, and improving professionalism scored the lowest at 2.95. Additionally, job importance and performance of subjects were positively correlated withjob satisfaction (r = 0.395, r = 0.386, both p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, scores for job importance and job performance of nutrition management were low, and job satisfaction of improving professionalism scored low. Therefore, continuous training and education programs of nutrition management should be provided to improve professionalism of dietitians at geriatric hospitals and elderly healthcare facilities.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-88
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• 2008

Since the implementation of economic reforms in 1978, the Chinese economy grows rapidly at an average annul growth rate of 9% over the post two decades. Franchising has been widely recognized as an important source of entrepreneurial activity. Trust is important in that it facilitates relational exchanges by permits partners to transcend short-run inequities or risks to concentrate on long-term profits or gains. In the relationship between the franchisors and franchisees, trust has been described as an important source of competitive advantage. However, little research has been done on the factors affecting trust in Chinese franchisor-franchisee relationships. The purpose of this study is to investigate what factors affect the trust in the franchise system in China, and to provide guidelines and insights to franchisors which enter Chinese market. In this study, according to Morgan and Hunt (1994), trust is defined as the extending when one party has confidence in an exchange partner's reliability and integrity. We offered a conceptual model of the empirical study. The model shows that the factors affecting the trust include franchisor's supports, communication, satisfaction with previous outcome and conflict. We also suggested the franchisor's supports and communication like to enhance the franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome, and the franchisor's supports, communication and he franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome tend to decrease conflict. Before the formal study, a pretest involving exploratory interviews with owners from three franchisees was conducted to make sure the questionnaire was relevant and clear to the respondents. The data were collected using trained interviewers to carry out personal interviews with the aid of an unidentified, muti-page, structured questionnaire. The respondents comprised of owners, managers, and owner managers of franchisee-owned food service franchises located in Beijing, China. Even though a total of 256 potential franchises were initially contacted, the finally usable sample consisted of 125 respondents. As expected, the sampling method was successful in soliciting respondents with waried personal and firm characteristics. Self-administrated questionnaires were used for all measures. And established scales were used to measure the latent constructs in this study. The measures tapped the franchisees' perceptions of the relationship with the referent franchisor. Five-point Likert-type scales ranging from "strongly disagree" (=1) to "strongly agree" (=7) were used throughout the constructs (trust, eight items; support, five items; communication, four items; satisfaction, six items; conflict, three items). The reliability measurements traditionally employed, such as the Cronbach's alpha, were used. All the reliabilities were greater than.80. The proposed measurement model was estimated using SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 5.0 analysis package. We conducted A series of exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the convergent validity, discriminant validity, and reliability. The results indicate reasonable overall fits between the model and the observed data. The overall fit of measurement model were $X^2$= 159.699, p=0.004, d.f. = 116, GFI =.879, NFI =.898, CFI =.969, IFI =.970, TLI =.959, RMR =.058. The results demonstrated that the data reasonably fitted the model. We also examined construct reliability and reliability and average variance extracted (AVE). The construct reliability of each construct was greater than.80 and the AVE of each construct was greater than.50. According to the analysis of Structure Equation Modeling (SEM), the results of path model indicated an adequate fit of the model: $X^2$= 142.126, p = 0.044, d.f. = 115, GFI =.892, NFI =.909, CFI =.981, IFI =.981, TLI =.974, RMR =.057. As hypothesized, the results showed that it is strategically important to establish trust in a franchise system, and the franchisor's supports, communication and satisfaction with previous outcome tend to reinforce franchisee's trust. The results also showed trust seems to decrease as the experience of conflict episodes increases. And we also noticed that franchisor's supports and communication tend to enhance the franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome, and communication tend to decrease conflict. If the trust between the franchisor and franchisee can be established in a franchise system, franchising offers many benefits and reduces many costs. To manage a mutual trust of relationship with their franchisees, franchisor's should provide support effectively to their franchisees. Effective assistant services have direct effect on franchisees' satisfaction with previous outcome and trust in franchisor. Especially, franchise sales process, orientation, and training in the start-up period are key elements for success of the franchise system. Franchisor's support is an accumulated separate satisfaction evaluation with different kind of service provided by the franchisor. And providing support definitely can improve the trustworthy image of the franchisor. In the franchise system, conflicts of interests and exertions of different power sources are very common. The experience of conflict episodes seems to negatively relate to trust. Therefore, it is important to reduce the negative side of the relationship conflicts. Communication actually plays a broader role in reducing conflict and establish mutual trust in franchisor-franchisee relationship. And effective communication between franchisors and franchisees can improve franchisees' satisfaction toward the franchise system. As the diversification of Chinese markets, both franchisors and franchisees must keep the relevant, timely, and reliable communication. And it is very important to improve the quality of communication. Satisfaction with precious outcomes seems to positively relate to trust. Franchisors and franchisees that are highly satisfied with the previous outcomes that flow from their relationship will perceive their partner as advancing their goal achievement. Therefore, it is necessary for both franchisor and their franchisees to make the welfare of partner with effort. Little literature has focused on what factors affect the trust between franchisors and their franchisees in China. This study developed the hypotheses regarding the factors affecting trust in the transaction relationship. The results of data analysis supported the hypotheses strongly. There are certain limitations in this study. First, we may point out that some other factors missed in this study could be significantly important. Second, the context of this study, food service industry, limits its potential generalizability for all franchise systems. More studies in different categories of franchise system are needed to broaden its generalizability. Third, the model was tested empirically in a sample in Beijing, more empirical tests of the proposed model in other Chinese areas are needed. Finally, the analysis in this study was solely based on the perception of franchisees and the opinions of franchisors were not included.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 1985

This study was carried out in order to prevent the devaluation of wood itself and wood products causing by anisotropy, hygroscopicity, shrinkage and swelling - properties that wood itself only have, in order to improve utility of wood, by emphasizing the natural beautiful figures of wood, to develop the dimensional stabilization techniques of wood with PEG that it is a cheap, non-toxic and the impregnation treatment is not difficult, on the effects of PEG molecular weights (200, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 4000, 6000) and species (Pinus densiflora S. et Z., Larix leptolepis Gordon., Cryptomeria japonica D. Don., Cornus controversa Hemsl., Quercus variabilis Blume., Prunus sargentii Rehder.). The results were as follows; 1) PEG loading showed the maximum value (137.22%, Pinus densiflora, in PEG 400), the others showed that relatively slow decrease. The lower specific gravity, the more polymer loading. 2) Bulking coefficient didn't particularly show the correlation with specific gravity, for the most part, indicated the maximum values in PEG 600, except that the bulking coefficient of Quercus variabilis distributed between the range of 12-18% in PEG 400-2000. In general, the bulking coefficient of hardwood was higher than that of softwood. 3) Although there was more or less an exception according to species, volumetric swelling reduction was the greatest in PEG 400. That is, its value of Cryptomeria japonica was the greatest value with 95.0%, the others indicated more than 80% except for Prunus sargentii, while volumetric swelling reduction was decreased less than 70% as the molecular weight increase more than 1000. 4) The relative effectiveness of hardwood with high specific gravity was outstandingly higher than softwood. In general, the relative effectiveness of low molecular weight PEG was superior to those of high molecular weight PEG except that Quercus variabilis showed more than 1.6 to the total molecular weight range, while it was no significant difference as the molecular weight increase more than 4000. 5) According to the analysis of the results mentioned above, the dimensional stabilization of hardwood was more effective than softwood. Although volumetric swelling reduction was the greatest at a molecular weight of 400. In the view of polymer loading, bulking coefficiency reduction of swelling and relative effectiveness, it is desirable to use the mixture of PEG of molecular weight in the range of 200-1500. To practical use, it is recommended to study about the effects on the mixed ratio on the bulking coefficient, reduction of swelling and relative effectiveness.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.729-741
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• 1997

Background : We have recently reported that airway epithelial cells can produce RANTES and IL-8 in response to the stimulation of tubercle bacilli suggesting a certain role of airway epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The pathogenesis of tuberculosis is determined by several factors including phagocytosis, immunological response of host, and virulence of tubercle bacilli. Interestingly, there have been reports suggesting that difference in immunological response of host according to the virulence of tubercle bacilli may be related with the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. We, therefore, studied the expressions and productions of RANTES and IL-8 in airway epithelial cells in response to tubercle bacilli(H37Rv, virulent strain and H37Ra, avirulent strain), in order to elucidate the possible pathophysiology of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from normal volunteers. Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) were stimulated with LPS($10{\mu}g/ml$), H37Rv, or H37Ra($5{\times}10^5$ bacilli/well) along with normal control for 24 hours. A549 cells were stimulated with supernatants of cultured PBM for 24 hours. ELISA kit was used for the measurement of $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production in supernatants of cultured PBM and for the measurement of RANTES and IL-8 in supernatants of cultured A549 cells. Northern blot analysis was used for the measurement of RANTES and IL-8 mRNA expression in cultured A549 cells. Results : $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ productions were increased in cultured PBM stimulated with LPS or tubercle bacilli(H37Rv or H37Ra) compared with the control. There was, however, no difference in $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production between cultured PBM stimulated with H37Rv and H37Ra. RANTES and IL-8 expressions and productions were also increased in cultured A549 cells stimulated with LPS or tubercle bacilli compared with the control. RANTES and IL-8 mRNA expressions were significantly increased in cultured A549 cells stimulated with H37Ra-conditioned media(CM) compared with A549 cells stimulated with H37Rv-CM (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in RANTES and IL-8 productions between A549 cells stimulated with H37Rv-CM and H37Ra-CM. Conclusion : Airway epithelial cells can produce the potent chemokines such as RANTES and IL-8, in response to the stimulation of tubercle bacilli. These results suggest that airway epithelial cells may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the role of airway epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis according to the virulence of tubercle bacilli was not clear in this study.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.66-80
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• 1983

As a part of the epidemiological studies of clonorchiasis in Korea, this study was conducted to evaluate the current endemicity and the natural transition of the Clonorchis infection in Goyang Gun a low endemic area in recent years, prior to the introduction of praziquantel which will eventually influence to the status of the prevalence. The data obtained in this study in 1983 were evaluated for natural transition of the infection in comparison with those obtained 16 years ago in 1967 by the author (Kim, 1974). The areas of investigation, villages and schools surveyed, methods and techniques used in this study were the same as in 1967, except for the contents of the questionnaire for raw freshwater fish consumption by the local inhabitants. 1) The current prevalence rate of Clonorchis infection among the inhabitants was 7.5% on the average out of a total of 479 persons examined. The prevalence rate was 9.0% in the riverside area and 4.2% in the inland area. Among the schoolchildren, the prevalence rate was 1.1% out of a total of 1 319 examined. By area, it was 1.4% in the riverside area and 0.7% in the inland area. By sex, the prevalence rate was 13.3% in the male and 1.3% in the female in the inhabitants and no difference was seen in the schoolchildren. 2) In the natural transition of the infection, the prevalence rate in the inhabitants has decreased from 22.5% in 1967 to 7.5% in 1983, and in the schoolchildren, from 9.5% in 1967 to 1.1% in 1983. The reduction rate was higher in the riverside area than in the inland area. 3) In the prevalence rate by age, 1.2% was seen in the 10-14 age group and gradually increased to 8.1% in the 30-39 age group and reached peak 18.1% in the 40-49 age group. By sex, in the male, the prevalence rates have increased to 31.9% and 33.3% in the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups, respectively and decreased thereafter. In the female, the prevalence rate less than 5% was seen only in between the 10-14 and 30-39 age groups. 4) In the natural transition of the prevalence rate by age, sharp decrease was seen in the male from around 50% in 1967 between 15-19 and 30-39 age groups. The generation over 40s showed less decrease. In the female, the prevalence rate has decreased from 13% in 1967 to 5% in 1983 in the middle age groups and dropped to 0% in the rest of the age groups. 5) The intensity of the infection among clonorchiasis cases by mean EPmg (number of eggs per mg feces) value was 1.4. In the inhabitants, the value was 2.0 in the riverside area and 0.4 in the inland area. While in the schoolchildren, the value was 0.2 in both riverside and inland areas. 6) In the transition of the intensity of the infection, EPmg among the inhabitants has decreased from 3.9 in 1967 to 2.0 in 1983 in the riverside area, and from 2.9 to 0.4 in the inland area. In the schoolchildren, the reduction was similar in both riverside and inland areas resulting from 1.0-1.1 in 1967 to 0.2 in 1983. 7) In the intensity of the infection by age, EPmg 3.4 was peak at the 40-49 age group and 0.2-1.0 was seen in the rest of the age groups. The mean value was 1.5 in the male and 0.6 in the female. 8) In the natural transition of the intensity of the infection, the EPmg has decreased from 2.7 in 1967 to 1.4 in 1983. By age, reduction was seen in all of the age groups, particularly in the young and the old age groups of 50s and over, except in the 40-49 age group in which reverse phenomenon was seen. By sex, it has decreased from 3.5 in 1967 to 1.5 in 1983 in the male and from 1.0 to 0.6 in the female. 9) In the distribution of the clonorchiasis cases by the range of EPmg value, 70.3% of the cases were placed in the range of 0.1-0.9 as the most and 16.2% in 1.0-4.9 as the next. With such figures, those included in the range less than 0.9 as light infection were 78.4% and under 5.0-9.9 up to moderate infection 99.3% of the cases were covered. The cases were distributed up to 20.0-39.9 in the male and to 1.0-4.9 in the female. 10) In the transition of the distribution of the clonorchiasis cases by EPmg, the highest intensity reached up to 60.0-79.9 in 1967 and to 20.0-39.9 in 1983. In the range of light infection, under 0.1-0.9, the distribution in rate was 64.5% in 1967 and 78.4% in 1983. Up to the range of moderate infection, under 5.0-9.9, 91.7% in 1967 and 97.3% in 1983 were seen respectively. 11) In a survey for raw freshwater fish consumption among the local inhabitants,78.3 of the clonorchiasis cases interviewed admitted their experience of the raw consumption. However, those who practised in the past two years were 34.8% 55.6% of those who have such experience in the past professed that they did not practise raw freshwater fish consumption in the past two years. 12) The major cause of the reduction of the raw freshwater fish consumption among the inhabitants were the wide spread water pollution in the locality. The most common reason professed for stopping raw freshwater fish consumption among the inhabitants was the risk of the fluke infection. 13) In animal survey, 3.1% of dogs were found infected with Clonorchis, decreasing from 21.6% in 1967. 14) The distribution of the first intermediate host, Parafossarulus manchouricus has greatly diminished in this locality and found only in two localized ponds. No Clonorchis infection was found from the snails examined. 15) The second intermediate freshwater fish host has been further limited by extended water pollution. No susceptible fish host could be examined. 16) In conclusion, the endemicity of Clonorchis infection in Croyang Gun, low endemic area, has significantly decreased during the past 16 years. The major cause of the regressive transition of the infection was the water pollution of the freshwater system of this locality. This has upset the ecosystems of the intermediate host of Clonorchis sinensis in many areas of waterbodies and further discouraged to a significant extent the local inhabitants from raw freshwater fish consumption.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.275-289
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro assessment of sperm fertilizing capacity of bulls and investigate the factors influencing sperm function and characteristics of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa. in vitro fertilization (IVF), the evaluation of motility and normal morphology, HOST (hypoosmotic swelling test), Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction, luminol and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence for the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the measurement of malondialdehyde formation for the analysis of lipid peroxidation (LPO), and the evaluation of DNA fragmentation using the method of 747-mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) by flow cytometry were performed in frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa. Correlations between the rates of fertilization, blastocyst formation after IVF and the values of respective assays were investigated. 1. IVF rate and blastocyst formation rate averaged 64.4% and 34.3% for spermatozoa from high -fertility bull group and averaged 18.5% and 6.2% for spermatozoa from low-fertility bull group, respectively. There were significantly different between two bull groups. Sperm motility and percentage acrosome reaction averaged 79.0% and 66.2% for spermatozoa from high-fertility bull group and averaged 40.7% and 22.9% for spermatozoa from low-fertility bull group, respectivitely. There were not different between two bull groups. 2. Luminol depenent chemiluminescence, LPO and DNA fragementation averaged 6.4, 2.0 nmol and 2.6% from spermatozoa from high-fertility bull group and averaged 6.5, 3.1 nmol and 7.4% for spermatozoa from low-fertility bull group, respectively. There were significantly different between two bull groups. There was no significant difference in lucigenin dependent chemiluminescence between two bull groups. 3. Fertilization rate was positively correlated with motility and the rate of Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction, but negatively correlated with the frequency of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, the rate of LPO, and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. There was no correlation between fertilization rate and the percentage of swollen spermatozoa, normal morphology, and the frequency of lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. 4. Blastocyst formation rate was positively correlated with the rate of Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction, but negatively correlated with the frequency of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, the rate of LPO, and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. There was no correlation between blastocyst formation rate and motility, the percentage of swollen spermatozoa, normal morphology, and the frequency of lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. In conclusion, these data suggest that ROS significantly impact semen quality. The assays of this study may provide a basis fur improving in vitro assessment of sperm fertilizing capacity.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2004

The aims of this study are 1) to test oocytes and embryos collected from in-vitro to achieving the valuable protocol by culturing, vitrifying and thawing of oocytes/embryos, and 2) to transfer them to recipient, and finally have resulted in pregnancies from recipient females after surgical or nonsurgical transfer. In vitro maturation and fertilization were performed according to Funahashi et al (1994). Glucose-free NCSU 23 supplemented with 5 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.5 mM sodium lactate and 4 mg/ml bovine serum albumin for 2 days at $39^{\circ}C$, and 10% fetal bovine serum albumin was added to the culture medium thereafter. Embryos were treated with 7.5 ${\mu}g/ml$ cytochalasin-B for 30 min, centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 13 min and then exposed sequentially to an ethylene glycol(EG) vitrification solution, aspirated into OPS, and plunged/thawed into/from liquid nitrogen. In vivo embryos were surgically collected from three dornors after AI for control group. Forty-nine embryos were washed 3 times in mPBS + 10% FBS, followed treatments : cultured, centrifuged, vitrified, recovered and transferred to recipients as in vitro prepared embryos. Three recipients were transferred individually with 100, 100 frozen embryos derived from abattoir and 34 fresh embryos by surgically, and another three recipients were transferred individually with 150, 150 frozen embryos and 100 fresh embryos by nonsurgically, respectively. all recipient sows exhibited delayed returns to estrus. To our knowledge, theses results suggest that required an improved techniques, more vigorous embryos preparation and substitute to gilt with cleaner uterous condition.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2005

This study was comducted to examine the effects of culture medium, and the osmolarity and osmotic change of the culture medium on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes and developement of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. In Experiment 1, cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in NCSU-23, mWM and mKRB, respectively, There was no difference in maturation rate($62.1\~71.3\%$) among groups. In Experiment 2, matured oocytes in each medium were activated and cultured for 6 days in the same media. Blastocyst formation rate was higher in NCSU-23($22.9\%$) than those of others($0\~0.6\%$, P<0.05). In Experiment 3, parthenogenetic embryos were cultured for 6 days in NCSU-23 with different osmolarity(300, 280 and 256 mOsmols) adjusted by NaCl. There were no differences in development rates to the blastocyst stage($11.0\~14.4\%$) among groups. In Experiment 4, activated oocytes were cultured for 2 days in NCSU-23 with 300, 280 and 256 mOsmols and then transferred to increased or decreased osmotic condition. Blastocyst formation rate was higher in a group which was transferred from the higher osmotic condition to the lowe. osmotic condition($21.0\%$) than a contrary group( $11.8\%$, (P<0.05). This result shows that the culture medium and the osmolarity of the culture medium affect the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos, and the change of osmolarity from the higher condition to the lower condition at a certain developmental stage can enhance the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos.