• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1007-1020
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• 2024

Objective: We increased the nuclear maturation rate of antral follicle derived oocytes by using a pre-in vitro maturation (IVM) culture system and improved the developmental potential of these porcine pathenotes by supplementing with melatonin. Furthermore, we investigated the expression patterns of genes involved in cumulus expansion (HAS2, PTGS2, TNFAIP6, and PTX3) derived from small and medium antral follicles before and after oocyte maturation. Methods: Only the cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs) derived from small antral follicles were induced with [Pre-SF(+)hCG] or without [Pre-SF(-)hCG] the addition of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the last 7 h of the pre-IVM period before undergoing the regular culture system. The mature oocytes were investigated on embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Melatonin (10^-7 M) was supplemented during in vitro culture (IVC) to improve the developmental potential of these porcine pathenotes. Results: A pre-IVM culture system with hCG added during the last 7 h of the pre-IVM period [Pre-SF(+)hCG] effectively supported small antral follicle-derived oocytes and increased their nuclear maturation rate. The oocytes derived from medium antral follicles exhibited the highest nuclear maturation rate in a regular culture system. Compared with oocytes cultured in a regular culture system, those cultured in the pre-IVM culture system exhibited considerable overexpression of HAS2, PTGS2, and TNFAIP6. Porcine embryos treated with melatonin during IVC exhibited markedly improved quality and developmental competence after PA. Notably, melatonin supplementation during the IVM period can reduce and increase the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the Pre-SF(+)hCG culture system increases the nuclear maturation rate of small antral follicle-derived oocytes and the expression of genes involved in cumulus expansion. Melatonin supplementation during IVC may improve the quality and increase the blastocyst formation rate of porcine embryos. In addition, it can reduce and increase the levels of ROS and GSH, respectively, in mature oocytes, thus affecting subsequent embryos.

• Agribusiness and Information Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

Cameroon, with her numerous resources, still depends on foreign aid while the rate of poverty remains high. Thus, even though historical evidence gives impetus to the impasse over role of developmental aid, from the top down approach through to development as a springboard raising states from the doldrums of poverty, it is still very difficult to draw a substantial relationship between developmental aid and poverty reduction. Against this backdrop of controversy, I find it apt to put Cameroon on a balance scale. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to critically assess the implications of developmental aid on poverty reduction and agro-rural development in Cameroon, using the RUMPI Area Development Project in the South West region of Cameroon as a case study. The study will situate and contextualize the top-down and bottom-up approaches to development within the basis of a Cameroonian perspective, using the Sachs-Easterly debate. The RUMPI Project was introduced with the objective of improving agriculture and empowering the rural woman; thereby fighting poverty within the South West region of Cameroon. Despite its criticism of the barriers to development created by corruption, political pressure and limited use of local and grass-root partnerships, the study, in assessing these failures also tries to outline vital ways in which the project can be improved upon.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 1993

The studies on the carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with uterine fluids and uterine epithelial cells on the in-vitro fertilization and developmental rate of porcine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered swine. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluids from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones and 10% ECS for 46~48 hrs in a incubator with 5% $CO_2$ in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation of heparin. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows ; 1.The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with uterine fluids in TCM-199 medium were 68.0% arid 55.7%, the rates were higher than of control, 56.5% arid 38.7%. 2. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with porcine uterine epithelial cells, the fertilization rate was 60.3%, the rates were higher than that of control, 35.7%. 3. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with porcine uterine epithelial cells, the development rate to be blastocyst was 12.4%, the rates were higher than that of control, 9.2%(p<0.05).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.143-146
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• 2014

Antioxidants, as reactive oxygen species scavengers, are one of the beneficial additives in serum-free defined culture medium. In this study, three separate experiments were performed to determine the effects of 3-hyroxyflavone added to the culture medium on the developmental competence of follicular bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) and/or in vitro culture (IVC). The rate of blastocyst developed from oocytes cultured in IVM medium with 3-hyroxyflavone was significantly higher than that from control oocytes (39.0% vs. 26.3%, p<0.001), respectively. However, oocytes cultured in the medium with addition of 3-hyroxyflavone only at IVC period did not show significance in the blastocyst development when compared with control. When 3-hyroxyflavone was added to both IVM and IVC media, the rate of blastocyst formation was even significantly lower (21.1%) than control (26.5%; p<0.05). The present findings suggested that antioxidative activity of 3-hydroxyflavone added to only IVM medium beneficially affected the developmental competence of follicular bovine.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2010

Embryonic compaction is essential for normal preimplantation development in mammals. The present study was to investigate the effects of compaction patterns on developmental competence of pig embryos. The proportion of blastocyst formation derived from compacted morula was higher than those of compacting and pre-compacting morula (P<0.01). Nuclei numbers of inner cell mass (ICM), trophectoderm (TE), and total of blastocysts derived from compacted group were also superior to those of compacting and pre-compacting groups (P<0.05). Then, compaction patterns, developmental ability and structural integrity were compared between mono- and poly-spermic embryos. The rate of compacted morula in mono-spermic embryos was higher than that of poly-spermic embryos (P<0.05). Especially, the rate of blastocyst formation derived from compacted embryos in mono-spermic embryo group was higher than that of poly-spermic embryo group (P<0.05), although no difference was detected between the two groups in the structural integrity. Finally, we confirmed that beta-catenin was differentially expressed according to compaction patterns in morula and blastocyst stage embryos. In conclusion, our results suggest that the compaction patterns during preimplantation development play a direct role in developmetal competence and quality of pig embryos.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.171-178
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• 1993

The present study was carried out to investigate the developmental potency to blastocyst after freezing and thawing of nuclear transplanted 2-cell embryos. The nuclei from 2-, 4- and 8-cell mouse embryos were transferred into enucleated 2-cell embryos, and the reconstituted embryos were submitted to direct current(DC) pulse at output voltage of 2.0 kV/cm for $100{\mu}$ sec to induce cell fusion. The recovery rate and developmental potency to blastocyst after freezing and thawing of nuclear transplanted 2-cell embryos was investigated. 1. The recovery rate of nuclear transplanted 2-cell embryos in normal morphology after freezing and thawing was significantly higher in rapid freezing(DMSO 4.5M) than in slow cooling(p<0.01). 2. When the recovered embryos in normal morphology were cultured in vitro, there were no significant differences in the developmental potency to blastocyst between the freezing methods and the concentrations of cryoprotectant. In summary, these experiments have proved that rapid freezing method(DMSO 4.5M) is effective in nuclear transplanted 2-cell mouse embryos. If improved micromanipulation techniques and freezing are combined, nuclear transplantation technique will contribute to the improvement of productivity in livestock animals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the effects of processed tobacco leaves on the development, adult emergence and body weight of the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) is serious insect pest of tobacco leaves and cigarette during storage. Developmental time, adult emergence rate and adult weight of the cigarette beetle, were evaluated on the cured tobacco and burley tobacco leaves at $30{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ with $70{\pm}5$ % RH under 12L:12D. The developmental time on all of the flue-cured tobacco leaves was about 61 days, but in the only CD3W and CD4TR grade burley tobacco, the developmental times ranged from 70 days to 74 days. Among the flue-cured tobacco leaves, the highest beetle emergence rate was 123 % on the CD3L grade, and the lowest was on the AB4OR grade. Adult body weights of the cigarette beetle reared on flue-cured tobacco were about 2.11~2.46 mg, and on the only CD3W and CD4TR grade burley tobacco were about 1.86~1.96 mg. Among the flue-cured tobacco leaves, the highest adult body weight(2.46 mg) of cigarette beetle was observed on the B1O grade flue-cured tobacco, whereas the lowest adult weight(2.11 mg) was observed on the CD4L grade flue-cured tobacco. The adult weight of cigarette beetle reared on whole meal was 2.04mg.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.367-402
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• 2018

This study analyzed the relationship between the act on the guarantee of rights of and support for persons with developmental disabilities(Act for PWDD) and the similar ordinance of the local governments based on this law and focused on the correspondence(the rate of reflection) and the autonomy(differentiation). As of October 2017, 63 local government regulations and Act for PWDD were analyzed in this study. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, the rate of reflection in the ordinance of Act for PWDD was different according to the clause. In the aspect of emphasizing welfare support, the agreement between local ordinance and rate was high. While the Act for PWDD emphasized the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, there was little information about their right in the ordinance of local governments. This is evidence that current ordinance is based on the protective point of view for people with developmental disabilities. In the future, policy measures will be needed to ensure that respect for decision-making by persons with developmental disabilities and rights guarantees are included in the bylaws. Second, there is a provision that the rate of ordinance reflection is 0%, which may be guaranteed by other laws in the area, so it does not mean the absence of related system in the region, but there is possibility of institutional blind spot. In the future, consideration should be given to the complementarity of other legal systems in the area with developmental disabilities, so that persons with developmental disabilities should not be placed in institutional blind spots. Third, the autonomy(differentiation) of local ordinance was examined from the contents aspect and the administrative aspect to help practical implementation. The differentiation between the ordinances vary. Emphasizing the responsibilities of the head of the organization, emphasizing the fact-finding survey, setting up the welfare committee, or adding local needs were included to the ordinance. Local governments considering the enactment of ordinances in the future should refer to these cases and establish enactable local ordinances that take advantage of the characteristics of local autonomy.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

It has been claimed that artificial insemination (AI) of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with commercially produced kits, Wholemom (in favour of female gender) increases the birth chance of calves with desired sex ratio by approximately 85% without decrease of pregnancy rates. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of wholemom kits as combined with frozen-thawed bovine semen during in vitro fertilization on the in vitro fertilization and developmental efficiency and sex ratios such as some reproductive parameters in bovine. For this, 1,737 oocytes were in vitro fertilized and developed. Agglutination effects on bovine after treatment of Wholemom kit were observed by time passage and dose respectively. To determine sex of embryos, Bovine embryo Y-specific gene primers(ConEY) and Bovine specific universal primer(ConBV) were used as multiple PCR method. Fertilization rate of wholemom-treated group was significantly lower than its of control group[66.9% (1,156/1,737) in Wholemom-treated group; 75.0% (610/813) in control group]. However, developmental rate after fertilization of both wholemom-treated and control groups were not significantly different [26.1% (404/1,156) in Wholemom-treated group; 27.4% (224/610) in control group]. Sex ratio of in vitro fertilized embryo with frozen-thawed semen treated with wholemom kit was determined by multi PCR. Female ratio in wholemom-treated group [85.4% (173/201)] was significantly higher than its of control group [47.2% (66/141)]. In conclusion, wholemom treatments of semen used in the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine oocytes provided increase in female ratio with decrease of fertilization rate.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1445-1454
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effects of a sensory stimulation program on the growth (weight, height, head circumference, and chest circumference), behavioral development, behavioral states, and the heart rate of the infants. A total of 23 infants of 2 weeks old were divided into sensory stimualtion group (11 infants) and control group (12 infants). The infants of sensory stimulation group had received sensory stimulation for 6 weeks. Sensory stimulation program was composed of tactile and kinesthetic stimulation. We assessed growth, behavioral state and heart rate every week and behavioral development every 2 weeks. The results were as follows: 1. Body weight in sensory stimulation group, from two weeks after the sensory stimulation program, was significantly increased more than control group, but there was no significant difference in height, head circumference, and chest circumference between the two groups. 2. Behavioral developmental score of sensory stimulation group was significantly higher than that of control group from two weeks after the sensory stimulation program. Developmental states of sensory stimulation group showed more 'high average developmental state' than the control group from 4 weeks after sensory stimulation program. 3. Behavioral states of sensory stimulation group after the sensory stimulation program, the 'sleeping state' was significantly increased more than control group. The 'awakening state' and the state of fuss or crying were significantly less than those of the control group. 4. The heart rate of the sensory stimulation group after the sensory stimulation was significantly lower than the control group. These results indicate that the sensory stimulation program decreases heart rate and improves the sleeping state to be effective on promoting the growth and development of the infants. In view of these experiments, we suggest sensory stimulation program might be considered as a nursing intervention for growth and development of the infants not only in clinical settings but also at homes and in the communities.