• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.334-339
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• 2007

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generate during electrical activation of oocytes which has detrimental effects on embryo survival when overwhelmed. The present study was designed to investigate the ability of L-ascorbic acid, a novel water soluble antioxidant, to reduce the ROS level in developing embryos and their subsequent effects on embryo development in vitro. The compact cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 4 IU/ml pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and 10% (v/v) porcine follicular fluid (pFF) for 44 h. After maturation culture, the denuded oocytes were activated with a single DC pulse of 2.0 kV/cm in 0.3 M mannitol solution containing 0.5 mM of HEPES, 0.1 mM of $CaCl_2$ and 0.1 mM of $MgCl_2$ for $30{\mu}s$ using a BTX Electro-cell Manipulator. The activated oocytes were cultured in modified North Carolina State University-23 (mNSCU-23) medium for 168 h. The level of $H_2O_2$ in each embryo was measured by the dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate (DCHFDA) method at 48 h after activation. The blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher when culture medium was supplemented with 50 and $100{\mu}M$ L-ascorbic acid (31.2 and 38.7%, respectively) compared to non-supplemented (16.1%) group. Accordingly, significantly more cells in blastocyst were found for 50 and $100{\mu}M$ L-ascorbic acid (50.0 and 56.4, respectively) compared to 0 and $200{\mu}M$ L-ascorbic acid (36.5 and 39.8, respectively). L-ascorbic acid reduces the $H_2O_2$ level in developing embryos in a dose-dependant manner. The $H_2O_2$ level (pixels/ embryos) was 191.5, 141.0, 124.0 and 163.3 for 0, 50, 100 and $200{\mu}M$ L-ascorbic acid, respectively. So, we recommend to supplement 50 or $100{\mu}M$ L-ascorbic acid in porcine in vitro culture medium.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.710-719
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• 2023

Objective: The present study investigated whether protodioscin (PD), a steroidal saponin mainly found in rhizome of Dioscorea species, alleviates oxidative stress-induced damage of porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation. Methods: Oocytes were treated with different concentrations of PD (0, 1, 10, 100, and 200 µM) in the presence of 200 µM H₂O₂ during in vitro maturation. Following maturation, spindle morphology and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was assessed along with reactive oxygen species level, GSH activity, and mRNA expression of endogenous antioxidant genes at the MII stage. On the day 7 after parthenogenetic activation, blastocyst formation rate was calculated and the quality of embryo and mRNA expression of development-related genes was evaluated. Results: Developmental competence was significantly poorer in the 0 µM PD-treated (control) group than in the non-treated (normal) and 10 µM PD-treated (10PD) groups. Although the reactive oxygen species level did not significantly differ between these three groups, the glutathione level and mRNA expression of antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], SOD2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2], and hemo oxygenase-1 [HO-1]) were significantly higher in the normal and 10PD groups than in the control group. In addition, the percentage of oocytes with defective spindle and abnormal chromosomal alignment was significantly lower and the ratio of phosphorylated p44/42 to total p44/42 was significantly higher in the normal and 10PD groups than in the control group. The total cell number per blastocyst was significantly higher in the 10PD group than in the control group. The percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts was highest in the control group; however, the difference was not significant. mRNA expression of development-related genes (POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1 [POU5F1], caudal type homeobox 2 [CDX2], Nanog homeobox [NANOG]) was consistently increased by addition of PD. Conclusion: The PD effectively improves the developmental competence and quality of blastocysts by protecting porcine oocytes against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.701-710
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate experimentally the effect of low purity methanol (LPM) on performance and smoke emission characteristics by using a four-cycle, four-cylinder, water-cooled, direct injection diesel engine with EGR system. The experiments are performed by the change of engine load in the engine load ranges of 25 to 100% with an interval of 25% under the constant engine speed of 2000 rpm. The LPM in the fuel blends contained 24.88% water by volume. The blended fuel ratios of diesel oil to LPM are maintained at 100/0, 95/5, 90/10 and 85/15% on the volume basis. In this paper, EGR rates are varied in three conditions of 0, 12.8 and 16.5%. The result shows that the brake power of a blended fuel with 15% LPM is reduced more 11.1% than that of the neat diesel oil at the full load with the EGR rate of 16.5%. At this condition, also, the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is increased by 3.2%, the exhaust gas temperature is decreased by 10.7%, the smoke opacity is decreased by 18.7% and the brake thermal efficiency is increased by 7.3%. The sharp reduction of smoke opacity for a blended fuel with the LPM content of 15% at the full load without EGR system is observed by 68.4% compared with that of the neat diesel oil due to the high oxygen content of LPM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.263-269
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• 2018

Objective: Heat stress (HS) triggers oxidative stress and respiratory alkalosis in pigs. The objective of this experiment was to study whether a short-term supranutritional amount of dietary vitamin E (VE) can mitigate oxidative stress and respiratory alkalosis in heat-stressed pigs. Methods: A total of 24 pigs were given either a control diet (17 IU/kg VE) or a high VE (200 IU/kg VE; HiVE) diet for 14 d, then exposed to thermoneutral (TN; $20^{\circ}C$, 45% humidity) or HS ($35^{\circ}C$, 35% to 45% humidity, 8 h daily) conditions for 7 d. Respiration rate and rectal temperature were measured three times daily during the thermal exposure. Blood gas variables and oxidative stress markers were studied in blood samples collected on d 7. Results: Although HiVE diet did not affect the elevated rectal temperature or respiration rate observed during HS, it alleviated (all p<0.05 for diet${\times}$temperature) the loss of blood $CO_2$ partial pressure and bicarbonate, as well as the increase in blood pH in the heat-stressed pigs. The HS reduced (p = 0.003) plasma biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and tended to increase (p = 0.067) advanced oxidized protein products (AOPP) in the heat-stressed pigs, suggesting HS triggers oxidative stress. The HiVE diet did not affect plasma BAP or AOPP. Only under TN conditions the HiVE diet reduced the plasma reactive oxygen metabolites (p<0.05 for diet${\times}$temperature). Conclusion: A short-term supplementation with 200 IU/kg VE partially alleviated respiratory alkalosis but did not reduce oxidative stress in heat-stressed pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2018

Objective: Piglet pre-weaning mortality is an important variable indicating the efficacy of farrowing management and animal well-being during lactation. The present study determined the association of newborn traits measured soon after birth with piglet pre-weaning mortality and growth. Methods: In total, 805 piglets born from 57 multiparous sows were investigated. Their blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose and rectal temperature at 24 h after birth (RT24h) were monitored. Birth order, sex, skin color, integrity of the umbilical cord, attempts to stand and birth intervention were monitored. Piglets were weighed at day 0, 7, and 21 to evaluate average daily gain (ADG). Results: Piglet pre-weaning mortality for lactation period was 12.6% and cumulative mortality during the first 7 days of age was 8.6%. A higher proportion of piglets with pale skin color died compared to piglets with normal skin color (26.7% vs 7.7%, p<0.001). A higher (p<0.001) proportion of piglets that attempted to stand after 5 min (38.5%) died compared to piglets that attempted to stand within 1 min (6.3%) after birth. Piglet body weight at birth ($BW_B$), blood glucose and the number of piglets born alive (BA) were correlated with ADG (p<0.05). Piglets with $BW_B$ <1.30 kg had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate than piglets with $BW_B{\geq}1.80 kg$ (19.0% vs 3.3%) and piglets with $BW_B$ 1.30 to 1.79 kg (4.0%). Piglet with RT24h <$37.0^{\circ}C$ had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate (86.2%) than piglets with RT24h >$38.5^{\circ}C$ (3.9%). Conclusion: Low $BW_B$ and low RT24h compromise piglet survival during the lactation period in the tropical conditions. Piglets in the litters with a high BA, low $BW_B$ and low blood glucose have reduced ADG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.20-24
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• 2017

In this study, we have performed the Cone Calorimeter test in accordance with ISO 5660-1 to check the combustion characteristics of building flooring materials. The fire risk of these materials were evaluated by construction code, KFI criteria and standards of flame retardant performance. When samples exposed to external heat flux, all samples consumed a lot of Oxygen for a long time. So heat release from sample burning continued so long. And also all samples produced so much smoke. Even though a few samples were satisfied with only peak heat release rate criteria, all 8 samples were not satisfied with criteria of peak heat release rate and total heat released together. The results of 5 min total heat released were $15.9MJ/m^2{\sim}5.9MJ/m^2$. It menas the results are more than 2~6 times higher than the criteria. The results of 10 min total heat released were $30.1MJ/m^2{\sim}100.8MJ/m^2$. It means the results are more than 3~12 times higher than the criteria. 6 of 8 samples were not satisfied with Dm.corr.(corrected maximum smoke density) criteria. The building flooring materials which we used for this test ignited very fast and the burning continued so long. It means these samples are susceptible to fire.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.75-82
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• 2008

Two UASB reactors were operated to investigate the effect of high concentration of sulfate on anaerobic digestion of propionate using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. An organic loading rate of $1.2kg\;COD/m^3{\cdot}d$ and a hydraulic retention time of 1.6 d were maintained during this study. In the absence of sulfate, the UASB reactor achieved about 95% removal of chemical oxygen demand whereas in the presence of $2,000\;SO_4^{2-}mg/L$, the COD removal rate decreased to 83% due probably to the inhibition of dissolved sulfide inhibition. Interactions between the methane producing bacteria (MPB) and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) were measured to investigate the competition between MPB and SRB. The MPB consumed average 58% of the available electron donors at $COD/SO_4^{2-}$ ratio of 1. Propionate was consumed mainly by SRB, converting sulfate into sulfide and suppressing the methane production. The specific methanogenic activity (SMA) using acetate and propionate increased as microorganism acclimated to the substrate.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.689-695
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical and adsorptive characteristics of black carbon (BC) materials for cesium in case of severe nuclear accidents. The BC was prepared with a xylem of oak and pine trees incompletely combusted with different ramp rate and final temperature. Carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atomic ratios, BET, pore structure, and zeta potential were characterized for the produced BC. A low cesium concentration ($C_w{\approx}10^{-7}M$) was used for sorption batch experiments. The H/C and O/C ratios of BC decreased with the increase of final temperature, which indicates a carbonization of the wood materials regardless of ramp rate and tree species. However, SEM images showed different pore structures depending on tree species such as steric and plate-like for oak-BC and pine-BC, respectively. The greatest sorption distribution coefficients of $K_{d,Cs}{\approx}1,200{\sim}1,800L\;kg^{-1}$ were observed for the oak-BC produced at $400^{\circ}C$, while comparatively low $K_{d,Cs}$ < $100L\;kg^{-1}$ for pine-BC. In addition, the sorption capabilities of BC declined with the increase of combustion temperature up to $600^{\circ}C$, because high temperature destroyed surface functionalities with the rise of ash components in the BC. Therefore, the sorption processes of BC for radioactive cesium are predominantly controlled by final production temperature of BC as well as raw materials (e.g., tree species).

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.69-83
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• 1974

To elucidate the relationship between chemical structure and biological activity of alantolactone, and also to investigate the relationship between the growth of cells and the respiration of Chlorella pyrenoidosa affected by alantolactone, alantolactone and isoalantolactone were isolated from Inula helenium L., and di-, and tetrahydroalantolactones were prepared by the hydrogenation. At a concentration of 5$\times$10-5M alantolactone, the growth rate of Chlorella was greatly reduced. The viability of cells was also reduced over 50% within 2 hr at a concentration of 2.5$\times$10-4M alantolactone. However, oxygen uptake was increased by 20% over 3 hr. And 14CO2 production from glucose-1-14C, glucose-6-14C and 14C-acetate-U.L. was also increased by alantolactone. Biological activityof alantolactone was significantly reduced by cysteine, reduced glutathione or cystine but not by tryptophan or histidine. It was detected by spectrophotometrically and by TLC that alantolactone was also reacted with thiols except cystine. The solution of alantolactone reached with thiol gave the UV absorption spectrum of $\alpha$-saturated ${\gamma}$-lactone, and most of SH groups were disappeared by the addition reaction. From the reaction mixture of alantolactone and cysteine, a lactone adduct was isolated and purified. Isoalantolactone had shown similar activity as alantolactone, however, it was appeared that di-, and tetrahydroalantolactones were not only inactive biologically but also in vitro. It was concluded that there was no correlationship between increased respiration rate and mortality of Chlorella. During the respiration TCA cycle was activated, however it was uncertain that the activation of EMP or HMP was also appeared. Alantolactone and isoalantolactone were biologically active compounds but others were inactive. The reactivity of $\alpha$-methylene ${\gamma}$-lactone moiety toward SH group was principally responsible for its biological activity in sesquiterpene lactones.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.480-480
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• 2010

In the present work, we studied effect of the deposition parameters on the structure and properties of ZnO films deposited by DC arc plasmatron. The varied parameters were gas flow rates, precursor composition, substrate temperature and post-deposition annealing temperature. Vapor of Zinc acetylacetone was used as source materials, oxygen was used as working gas and argon was used as the cathode protective gas and a transport gas for the vapor. The plasmatron power was varied in the range of 700-1,500 watts. Flow rate of the gases and substrate temperature rate were varied in the wide range to optimize the properties of the deposited coatings. After deposition films were annealed in the hydrogen atmosphere in the wide range of temperatures. Structure of coatings was investigated using XRD and SEM. Chemical composition was analyzed using x-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. Sheet conductivity was measured by 4-point probe method. Optical properties of the transparent ZnO-based coatings were studied by the spectroscopy. It was shown that deposition by a DC Arc plasmatron can be used for low-cost production of zinc oxide films with good optical and electrical properties. Sheet resistance of 4 Ohms cm was achieved after the deposition and 30 min annealing in the hydrogen at $350^{\circ}C$. Elevation of the substrate temperature during the deposition process up to $350^{\circ}C$ leads to decreasing of the film's resistance due to rearrangement of the crystalline structure.