• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2017

Porcine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) prefer three-dimensional (3D) culture systems to 2D ones for the maintenance of self-renewal. Of the many 3D culture systems, agar-based hydrogels are candidates for supporting porcine SSC self-renewal, and there are various types of agar powder that can be used. In this study, we sought to identify an agar-based 3D hydrogel system that exhibited strong efficacy in the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. First, 3D hydrogels with different mechanics were prepared with various concentrations of Bacto agar, lysogeny broth (LB) agar, and agarose powder, and the 3D hydrogel with the strongest alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and greatest increase in colony size was identified for the different types of agar powder. Second, among the porcine SSCs cultured in the different 3D hydrogels, we analyzed the colony formation, morphology, and size; AP activity; and transcription and translation of porcine SSC-related genes, and these were compared to determine the optimal 3D hydrogel system for the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. We found that 0.6% (w/v) Bacto agar-, 1% (w/v) LB agar-, and 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogels showed the strongest maintenance of AP activity and the most pronounced increase in colony size in the culture of porcine SSCs. Moreover, among these hydrogels, the strongest transcription and translation of porcine SSC-related genes and largest colony size were detected in porcine SSCs cultured in the 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel, whereas there were no significant differences in colony formation and morphology. These results demonstrate that the 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel can be effectively used for the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

Anatomical properties of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) planted in a reclaimed-land of Korea were examined to understand the growth characteristics by an optical and scanning electron microscopy. The samples of kenaf were taken from four positions of the stem (3, 35, 70, 105 cm above from the ground) in four growth periods (July. August, September, October) from seeding planted in the middle of May. Bast fiber, phloem rays, cortex parenchyma cells and sieve tube members were observed in phloem, and vessel elements, fibers and rays in xylem. Solitary and multiple radial pores existed in xylem. The cell types of ray parenchyma in radial section were procumbent, upright, and square. The intervascular pitting showed an alternate type. Xylem proportion, the number of bast fibers and dimension of phloem rays increased with increasing growth period, and decreased with increasing stem height. The proportion of multiseriate rays was higher than that of uniseriate and biseriate rays in xylem with increasing growth period. On the other hand, The proportion of multiseriate rays was lower than that of uniseriate and biseriate rays in xylem with increasing stem height.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 1989

Alunite occurs as massive, cavity-filling and veinlets in the Cretaceous Hwangsan Formation in the Sungsan mine, Korea. It is a hydrothermal alteration product of rhyolitic tuffs, and associated with dickite, quartz and barite. The average chemical formula of alunite in the mine is $(K_{0.93}Na_{0.07})_{1.00}Al_{3.00}(SO_4)_{2.00}(OH)_6$. Atomic percentage of Na substituting for K in A site of the alunite structure varies from 5.9 to 9.2. Unit-cell volume and c dimension decrease with increasing Na atomic percentage. On the basis of thermal and high temperature XRD analyses, the decomposition of alunite into $KAl(SO_4)_2$ and $NaAl(SO_4)_2$ concomitant with the liberation of structural water (12.86%) occurs at about $550^{\circ}C$. The reconstruction of $KAl(SO_4)_2$ and $NaAl(SO_4)_2$ to $Al_2(SO_4)_3$, arcanite and thenardite, and the crystallization of ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ take place at about $720^{\circ}C$. The destruction of $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ structure takes place at about $760^{\circ}C$ removing 3/4 of total $SO_3$ (27.32%).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 1983

A Gymnophallid cercaria was found in the gonadal tissue of Tapes philippinarum, and was described as a new species, Cercaria tapes n. sp. The host clams were collected from the intertidal zone of Seo-myon, Seo-chon gun, Korea from September 1980 to August 1981. The size of sporocysts was $380-650{\times}130-160{\mu}m$. The anterior part of the cercaria bears a subterminal opening and pharynx. The sporocyst bears ca. 30 cercariae and germ balls. The cercaria is elliptical in shape. The dimension of body is $160-187{\times}62-77{\mu}m$. the tail stem is $47-52{\times}17{\mu}m$, and the tail furcae is $67-72{\times}12-15{\mu}m$. Excretory bladder is Y-shaped, and the flame cell formula is 2(1)+(1)=4. The infection rate of the cercaria to the host clam was $2.01\%$ (42 infected/2,086 short-necked clams observed). The highest infection rate ($5.74\%$) was found in March, and the lowest one ($0.4\%$) observed in January. No infection was detected in May and June. The infection rates varied with the size of the short-necked clam. It was the clams of host of 2.1-3.0 cm, 3.1-4.0 cm and 4.1-5.0 cm in shell length are $0.38\%,\;15.3\%$ and $0.09\%$ respectively. The cercaria was not observed in the specimens smaller than 2.0 cm in shell length.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2008

Ceramides, a constituent of stratum corneum lipids, play a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of the epidermal permeability barrier. As in many other skin disorders, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis show decrease and transformation of the ceramides. The application of ceramide has been demonstrated to be efficient in the repair of these skin disorders. Nevertheless, natural ceramides are still too expensive and small in quantity to be used as a cosmetic ingredient. Although a lot of pseudo-ceramides have been developed and on the market until now, those pseudo-ceramides did not fully meet the consumer's needs, therefore, there is still a demand for a novel pseudo-ceramides. We synthesized a novel pseudo-ceramide BPC-16 from 2-(2-amino-ethylamino)-ethanol(AEEA), which was characterized by structures having both amide bonds and hydroxyl groups as hydrophilic units, as well as two long alkyl chains. We formulated emulsion with BPC-16, cholesterol, stearic acid, and other components to make an emulsion. These emulsion showed a typical optical anisotropy on cross-polarized microscopy. This 'Maltese cross' appearance is a characteristic figure observed in concentric lamellar emulsion under cross-polarized microscopy. In cytotoxicity assay using MTT in monolayer and three dimension(3D) cell culture, a BPC-16 showed only negligible cytotoxicity up to the effective concentration for barrier repair and moisturization(less than 10 mM). In the measurement of TEWL, this BPC-16 showed significant recovery of water-retaining properties when it was topically applied to either SDS-induced dry skin or normal skin compared to that of base cream. This novel pseudo-ceramide BPC-16 showed as effective in skin barrier repair and moisturization as natural ceramides.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify Radiosensitivity of proteins in tissues with different radiosensitivity. Materials and Methods: C3H/HeJ mice were exposed to 10 Gy. The mice were sacrifiud 8 hrs after radiation. Their spleen and liver tissues were collected and analyzed histologicaly for apoptosis. The expressions of radiosusceptibillty protein were analyzed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Resilts: The Peak of apoptosis levels were $35.3{\pm}1.7{\%}$ in spleen and $0.6{\pm}0.2{\%}$ in liver at 8 hrs after radiation. Liver, radioresistant tissues, showed that the levels of ROS metabolism related to proteins such as cytochromm c, glutathione S transferase, NADH dehydrogenase, riken cDNA and peroxiredoxin Vl increased after radiation. The expression of cytochrome c increased significantly in spleen and liver tissues after radiation. In spleen, radiosensitivity tissue, the identified proteins showed a significantly quantitative alteration following radiation. It was categorized as signal transduction, apoptosis, cytokine, Ca signal related protein, stress-related protein, cytoskeletal regulation, ROS metabolism, and others. Conclusion: Differences of radiation-induced apoptosis by tissues specifted were coupled with the induction of related radiosensitivity and radioresistant proteins. The result suggests that apoptosis relate protein and redox proteins play important roles in this radiosusceptibility.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.315-324
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• 1991

Each of SPF chicken(Hi-Line strain, 2-day-old males) was inoculated with 2.5 or $5\times10^4$ oocysts by stomach tube. The oocyst was the medium type of Cryptosporidium previously isolated from Korean chicken origin, and passed in 2-day-old SPF chicken. The patterns of oocyst discharge were monitored daily, and in order to observe the ultrastructure of the developmental stages, the bursa of Fabricius of the chicken was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on the 12th day postinoculation. The prepatent period for 8 chicken was 5.9 days postinoculation on the average, and the patent period was 12.9 days. The number of oocysts discharged per day for the chicken was reached peak on day 12 postinoculation on the average. A large number of oocysts was found in fecal samples obtained from inoculated chicken on days 8~14 postinoculation. The ultrastructural feature of almost every developmental stage of the medium type from chicken was very similar to that of Cryptosporidium previously isolated from mammalia including human and birds except for the attachment site of C. tsuris to the mucus cell from mammalia, but dimension of the oocysts from fecal samples of the medium type was different from those of C. meleagridis and mammalia origin. The above results reveal that the medium type of Cryptosporidium of Korean chicken origin is identified as Cryptosporidium baileyi.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.29 no.6 s.77
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• pp.673-688
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• 1999

This study was conducted in order to analyze the mechanical characteristics of multiloop edgewise archwire (MEAW). The purposes were 1) to compare load deflection rate (LDR) of MEAW with that of various other arch wires in the individual interbracket span, 2) to compare the wire stiffness in the interbracket span with that in the multi-L-loop region (the span from distal border of the bracket of the lateral incisor to the mesial border of the buccal tube of the second molar), and 3) to verify the experimental results with theoretically derived formula. The single L-loops of five different horizontal lengths and multi-L-loops for the upper and lower arches were made out of .$016\times.022$ permachrome stainless steel wire. Straight segment of plain stainless steel, TMA and NiTi wire of the same dimension were prepared. The LDR was measured using Instron model 4466 with the load cell of 50N capacity at cross head speed of 1.0mm/min, and maximum deflection of 1.0mm. Five specimens were tested under each experimental condition. The wire stiffness number for each interbracket region and multi-L-loop region was calculated from the LDR and the interbracket spans. By dividing the theoretical model of multi-L-loop into 35 linear segments, the energy stored in each segment was obtained. Then the LDR and wire stiffness of single L-loop and multi-L-loop were calculated and compared. The findings were as follows : 1) The average LDR of MEAW in the individual interbracket region was 1/1.53 of that of the NiTi,1/2.47 of TMA and 1/5.16 of the plain stainless steel wire. 2) The wire stiffness of MEAW in the multi-L-loop region was 1.53 times larger than that in the interbracket region, and the LDR was almost twice as large as that of NiTi in that region. 3) According to the theoretically derived equation, the wire stiffness of the single L-loop was lower than that of multi-L-loop. The results of this study suggest that MEAW has the unique mechanical Property which could allow individual tooth movement and transmit elastic force effectively through the entire arch wire.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-268
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• 1996

It has been known for a long time that gonadotropins and steroid hormones play a pivotal role in a series of reproductive biological phenomena including the maturation of ovarian follicles and oocytes, ovulation and implantation, maintenance of pregnancy and fetal growth & development, parturition and mammary development and lactation. Recent investigations, however, have elucidated that in addition to these classic hormones, multiple growth factors also are involved in these phenomena. Most growth factors in reproductive organs mediate the actions of gonadotropins and steroid hormones or synergize with them in an autocrine/paracrine manner. The insulin-like growth factor(IGF) system, which is one of the most actively investigated areas lately in the reproductive organs, has been found to have important roles in a wide gamut of reproductive phenomena. In the present communication, published literature pertaining to the intrauterine IGF system will be reviewed preceded by general information of the IGF system. The IGF family comprises of IGF-I & IGF-II ligands, two types of IGF receptors and six classes of IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs) that are known to date. IGF-I and IGF-II peptides, which are structurally homologous to proinsulin, possess the insulin-like activity including the stimulatory effect of glucose and amino acid transport. Besides, IGFs as mitogens stimulate cell division, and also play a role in cellular differentiation and functions in a variety of cell lines. IGFs are expressed mainly in the liver and messenchymal cells, and act on almost all types of tissues in an autocrine/paracrine as well as endocrine mode. There are two types of IGF receptors. Type I IGF receptors, which are tyrosine kinase receptors having high-affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II, mediate almost all the IGF actions that are described above. Type II IGF receptors or IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptors have two distinct binding sites; the IGF-II binding site exhibits a high affinity only for IGF-II. The principal role of the type II IGF receptor is to destroy IGF-II by targeting the ligand to the lysosome. IGFs in biological fluids are mostly bound to IGFBP. IGFBPs, in general, are IGF storage/carrier proteins or modulators of IGF actions; however, as for distinct roles for individual IGFBPs, only limited information is available. IGFBPs inhibit IGF actions under most in vitro situations, seemingly because affinities of IGFBPs for IGFs are greater than those of IGF receptors. How IGF is released from IGFBP to reach IGF receptors is not known; however, various IGFBP protease activities that are present in blood and interstitial fluids are believed to play an important role in the process of IGF release from the IGFBP. According to latest reports, there is evidence that under certain in vitro circumstances, IGFBP-1, -3, -5 have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. This may add another dimension of complexity of the already complicated IGF system. Messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins of the IGF family members are expressed in the uterine tissue and conceptus of the primates, rodents and farm animals to play important roles in growth and development of the uterus and fetus. Expression of the uterine IGF system is regulated by gonadal hormones and local regulatory substances with temporal and spatial specificities. Locally expressed IGFs and IGFBPs act on the uterine tissue in an autocrine/paracrine manner, or are secreted into the uterine lumen to participate in conceptus growth and development. Conceptus also expresses the IGF system beginning from the peri-implantation period. When an IGF family member is expressed in the conceptus, however, is determined by the presence or absence of maternally inherited mRNAs, genetic programming of the conceptus itself and an interaction with the maternal tissue. The site of IGF action also follows temporal (physiological status) and spatial specificities. These facts that expression of the IGF system is temporally and spatially regulated support indirectly a hypothesis that IGFs play a role in conceptus growth and development. Uterine and conceptus-derived IGFs stimulate cell division and differentiation, glucose and amino acid transport, general protein synthesis and the biosynthesis of mammotropic hormones including placental lactogen and prolactin, and also play a role in steroidogenesis. The suggested role for IGFs in conceptus growth and development has been proven by the result of IGF-I, IGF-II or IGF receptor gene disruption(targeting) of murine embryos by the homologous recombination technique. Mice carrying a null mutation for IGF-I and/or IGF-II or type I IGF receptor undergo delayed prenatal and postnatal growth and development with 30-60% normal weights at birth. Moreover, mice lacking the type I IGF receptor or IGF-I plus IGF-II die soon after birth. Intrauterine IGFBPs generally are believed to sequester IGF ligands within the uterus or to play a role of negative regulators of IGF actions by inhibiting IGF binding to cognate receptors. However, when it is taken into account that IGFBP-1 is expressed and secreted in primate uteri in amounts assessedly far exceeding those of local IGFs and that IGFBP-1 is one of the major secretory proteins of the primate decidua, the possibility that this IGFBP may have its own biological activity independent of IGF cannot be excluded. Evidently, elucidating the exact role of each IGFBP is an essential step into understanding the whole IGF system. As such, further research in this area is awaited with a lot of anticipation and attention.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.57-79
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• 1993

Chuncheon nephrite, which was formed by the polymetasomatic alteration of dolomitic marble, can be classified into pale green, green, dark green, and grey types on the basis of their occurrence, mineralogical and textural characteristics. The nephrites consist obiefly of fibrous or hairlike(length/width ratio>10) cryptocrystalline(crystal width < $2{\mu}m$) tremolite, and include less amounts of micro-crystalline diopside, calcite, clinochlore, and sphene as impurities. The oriented and rather curved crystal aggregate, of nephritic tremolite are densely interwoven, resulting in a massive-fibrous texture which may explain the characteristic toughness of nephritic jade. The characteristic greenish color of the nephrite may be preferably related to Fe rather than Cr and Ni. However, the variation of color and tint in the Chuncheon nephrite also depends on the mineralogical and textural differences such as crystallinity, texture, and impurities. The chemical composition of the nephritic tremolite is not stoichiometric and rather dispersed especially in the abundances of Al, Mg, and Ca. Al content and Mg/Ca ratio for the nephritic tremolite are slightly increased with deepening in greenish color of the nephrite. Fe content in the nephritic tremolite is generally very low, but comparatively richer in the dark green nephrite. In nephritic tremolite, wide-chain pyriboles are irregularly intervened between normal double chains, forming a chain-width disorder. Most nephritic tremolites in the Chuncheon nephrite show various type of chain-width defects such as triple chain(jimthompsonite), quintuple chain (chesterite), or sometimes quadruple chain in HRTEM observations. The degree of chain-width disorder in the nephritic tremolite tends to increase with deepening in greenish color. Triple chain is the most common type, and quadruple chain is rarely observed only in the grey nephrite. The presence of pyribole structure in the nephritic tremolite is closely related to the increase of Al content and Mg/Ca ratio, a rather dispersive chemical composition, a decrease of relative intensity in (001) XRD reflection, and an increase in b axis dimension of unit cell. In addition, the degree and variation of chain-width disorder with nephrite types may support that an increase of metastability was formed by a rapid diffusion of Mg-rich fluid during the nephrite formation.