• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.210-214
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• 2004

This study was carried out to predict the value of serum ${\beta}$ subunit of humans chorionic gonadotropin(${\beta}$- hCG) in early pregnancy viability. This was performed among 85 women in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET). The serum ${\beta}$-hCG levels were established for 30 normal singleton pregnancies, 10 twin and triplet pregnancies, 10 preclinical abortions, 10 clinical abortions, 20 biochemical abortions and 5 ectopic pregnancies. In comparison to normal singleton pregnancies, multiple pregnancies showed higher ${\beta}$-hCG. But clinical abortions, preclinical abortions and ectopic pregnancies showed lower ${\beta}$-hCG levels than singleton pregnancies. In conclusion, if we predict the value of serum ${\beta}$-hCG of variable early pregnancies and analyze it, we could predict the dilution protocol. Also, it can be useful in other ways.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.566-574
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• 2012

To address the problem of global warming, consumption of cement, the main material of concrete, should be decreased. Unfortunately, when industrial by-products are used in large quantities as admixture, the early age strength of concrete will be decreased, reducing its viability for use in concrete structures. Therefore, in this study, the application of an ionization accelerator and alkaline activator as addition agent of superplasticizer were investigated to secure a similar early age strength to that of normal concrete, thus increasing the viability of low cement concrete. Through the investigation, it was found that specimens that used a combination of Alkaline-activator (Na2Sio3) and ionization accelerator (Amine) had the highest early and long-age compressive strength. From this, we can determine an appropriate range of application of superplasticizer to improve early-age compressive strength of low cement concrete.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2000

This study was carried out to determine the factors on achieving good viability of embryos biopsied fur sexing, to investigate pregnancy rate following embryo transfer(ET) with sexed embryos, and to confirm the accuracy for the calves bort following ET with sexed embryos by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). To investigate viability of Hanwoo embryos after biopsy for sexing, fresh and frozen/thawed embryos were biopsied according to different developmental day of blastocysts, different stage of blastocysts, and different biopsy grade and the embryos themselves were incubated for 2 hours in TCM199 after microsection to be evaluated morphologically for recovery as blastocyst. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The rate of oocytes cleaved in vitro and the rate of blastocyst of the cleaved oocytes were 52.5% and 21.6%, respectively. The rate of blastocyst on day 8 was 11.2%, denoting the highest rate during whole culture period posterior to in vitro fertilization(IVF) 2. After biopsy for sexing, the viability rate of blastocyst on day 7, 8 and 9 was 75.0%, 88.4%, and 100.0%, respectively and the viability of early, mid, and expanded blastocyst after biopsy was 75.0%, 88.9%, and 91.1%, respectively The viability rate of fresh and frozen/thawed embryos was 89.9%, 71.4%, respectively. And the viability of expanded, hatching, and hatched blastocyst of frozen/thawed embryos was : 75.0%, 75.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. The viability of embryos according to biopsy grade of 10∼20%, 21∼30%, and 31∼40% was 85.7%, 91.5%, and 71.4%, respectively. 3. Pregnancy rate after transfer with biopsied embryo between flesh and frozen/thawed embryos was 22.6% and 20.0%, respectively. 4. In comparison between sex by PCR method and sex of calves born after embryo transfer, the accuracy of sex deterimination was 92.3% (12/13).

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.190-193
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• 2007

Viability, early growth and sex ratio of induced gynogenetic diploid bagrid catfish (Leiocassis ussuriensis, Siluriformes) were examined. Survival rates of gynogenetic diploids and normal bi-parental diploids up to 180 days post hatching were not significantly different (P>0.05), and consequently resulted the mean percent survivals of 76% (gynogens) and 78% (bi-parental progeny) at the end of growth trial. Growth in both body weight and total length of gynogenetic diploids was also similar to those of normal diploid controls (P>0.05). Gynogenetic bagrid catfish displayed a similar level of ovarian development when compared to bi-parental diploid females, as judged at 10 weeks post hatching. Sex ratio of bi-parental progeny was normal 1:1 whereas all-femaleness was observed in gynogenetic progeny (P<0.05), suggesting that the genetic sex determination mechanism of this species should be XX-XY based female homogamety.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2010

Effects of different salinity levels on spawning performance, embryonic development and early viability of a euryhaline medaka species, Oryzias dancena, were examined. O. dancena were able to spawn eggs in a wide range of salinity from 0 to 70$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, however, the spawning frequency was lowered in complete freshwater (0$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$) and in highly salted water (70$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$). Fertilization success was negatively affected when the environmental salinity was higher than the salt concentration found in normal seawater. Embryonic viability and hatching success were also inversely related with the salinity levels. Typical abnormality was observed in developing embryos incubated at high salinities (30, 45 and 60$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$). In addition, the time to hatch was significantly delayed with increasing salinities: peak hatching occurred at 12~14 days post fertilization (dpf) in freshwater and at least at 17 to 18 dpf in 60$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$. Mean survival rates of the hatched larvae up to 7 days post hatching (dph) were at least 97% in salinity levels ranging from 0 to 30$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$. However, larvae reared in 45 and 60$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$ experienced significant mortality, especially in the early phase, resulting in only 75% and 64% survival rates up to 7 dph, respectively.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2009

Backcross hybridization between Korean bullhead Pseudobagrus fulvidraco female and Korean bullhead P. fulvidraco $\times$ Ussurian bullhead Leiocassis ussuriensis hybrid male was performed, and early viability and karyotype of the backcross hybrids were examined along with their parental species. Mean fertilization rate (86.8%), hatching success (70.7%) and early survival rate (76.4%) of backcross hybrids were similar with those found in the maternal species, the Korean bullhead. From the chromosome analysis, modal chromosome numbers of Korean bullhead, Ussurian bullhead, their hybrid and backcross hybrid were the same as 2n = 52. However, their karyotypes were different among genotypes. The karyotype of backcross hybrid was 22 metacentric + 18 submetacentacentric + 12 acrocentric chromosomes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 1989

Demi-embryos were successfully produced by bisection of ICR mouse embryos at preimplantation stages. They were microsurgically bisected using a microsurgical blade attached to a micromanipulator after pretreatment with 0.5% pronase in PBS for two minutes or not. Embryos with softened zona pellucida were more easily bisected and less damaged than intact embryos. The highest success rate in bisection has been achieved by selecting blastocysts(94.1% in success rate with intact blastocysts and 100% in success rate with zona softened blastocysts). Demi-embryos without zona pellucida were cultured in D-PBS or M-16 medium at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air for 72 hours for 2-cell stage embryos, 48 hours for 4-to 8-cell stage embryos, 24 hours for morula stage embryos and 6~12 hours for blastocyst stage embryos. For the in vitro culture of 2-cell stage embryos, $100{\mu}M$ 2Na-EDTA was added to the media. M-16 medium was better for the in vitro development of mouse embryos than PBS, and PBS is not considered to be suitable for long-term culture of embryos, especially at early stage of cleavage. In M-16 medium, developing rate of demi-embryos of which pair underwent development to form eublastocysts was 15.8% at 2-cell stage, 16.8% at 4-cell stage, 38% at 8-cell stage, 89.6% at morula stage and 94.4% at blastocyst stage, respectively. The more rapid and efficient production of demi-embryos and higher viability after bisection can be expected by softening zona pellucida with pronase and by selecting morulae or blastocysts rather than embryos at early stage of cleavage.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2014

Objective : This study was conducted to elucidate neuroprotective effect of carnosine in early stage of stroke. Methods : Early stage of rodent stroke model and neuroblastoma chemical hypoxia model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion and antimycin A. Neuroprotective effect of carnosine was investigated with 100, 250, and 500 mg of carnosine treatment. And antioxidant expression was analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot in brain and blood. Results : Intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg carnosine induced significant decrease of infarct volume and expansion of penumbra (p<0.05). The expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed significant increase than in saline group in blood and brain (p<0.05). In the analysis of chemical hypoxia, carnosine induced increase of neuronal cell viability and decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Conclusion : Carnosine has neuroprotective property which was related to antioxidant capacity in early stage of stroke. And, the oxidative stress should be considered one of major factor in early ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1673-1679
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fruit set internode on the germination of watermelon seeds. Generally fruits setted in higher than 20 internode were high percent of germination, fruit setted in low internode(5-10) is low. The higher fruit-set internode, fruit weight was significantly increased, but 1,000 seed weight was decreased the more fruit set internode. However number of seed was about 300 seeds irrespective of fruit-set internode. Investigating viability of seed by BP test, general percent germination was recorded highest at 5 flower cluster above 20 internode of fruit-set internode. In contrast, condition of fruit setted on 3, 4, 6 flower cluster were high percent of germination, regarded as unnormal germination not to be as normal seedling by 2~3%. Seed harvested at 5 flower-cluster had high viability on hypocotyl height and diameter of seedling through early growth test, but were not significant. Therefore 5 flower-cluster was optimum fruit-set internode to obtain high-quality seed.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2020

Pancreatic cancer is among the most difficult-to-treat tumors. More than half of patients with this cancer have very few symptoms at the early stages, allowing the development of distant metastases and resistance to cancer treatment. In this study, we found that Juniperus chinensis extract (JCX) decreased the cell viability and migration activity of PANC-1 and SNU-213 pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. JCX increased caspase-3 activation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). N-acetylcysteine treatment blocked JCX-induced ROS generation and the negative effects on pancreatic cancer cell viability. In addition, JCX down-regulated the levels of phospho-focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK) and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). Together, these results indicate that JCX induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cell lines through ROS production, downregulating FAK/ERK signaling and activating caspase-3. We propose that JCX-derived compounds represent candidates for the development of alternative medicines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.