• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2020

Objectives: Some animal studies have reported that methyl mercury causes developmental toxicities such as placental and fetal weight loss, but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the developmental toxicities of methyl mercury, focusing on placental endocrine function and fetal growth retardation in rats. Methods: Positively same-time-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased on gestational day (GD) eight and treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm of methyl mercury (n=5) dissolved in tap water from GD eight through 19. During treatment, the drinking water (methyl mercury) intake and body weight of each pregnant rat was measured daily. On day 19, caesarean sections were performed and blood samples were collected. Developmental data such as placental and fetal weights, fetus numbers, and placental efficiency (fetal weight/placental weight) were also collected. Placental prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) family, such as placental lactogen (PL) -Iv, II, and prolactin-like protein (PLP) -B, levels in serum were analyzed by ELISA. Also, placental tissues were assigned to histochemistry. Results: The mean cumulative methyl mercury exposure for the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 2.37, 4.63, and 9.66 mg, respectively. The mean daily exposure of the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 0.24, 0.47, and 0.97 mg, respectively. Maternal body weight increased in accordance with GD. There was no significant difference in weight gain among the experimental groups. Histopathologic changes were not observed in placental tissues among the experimental groups. However, mean placental and fetal weights were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Placental efficiency was also lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Serum PL-Iv and II levels were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups than the control, in accordance with the changing pattern of placental and fetal weights and placental efficiency. Conclusion: The inhibitory effects of methyl mercury on the serum levels of placental PRL-GH family such as PL-Iv and II may be secondary leads to the reduction of placental efficiency and fetal growth retardation in rats.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.465-474
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• 2023

The chemical composition and molecular weight characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exert a profound influence on the efficiency of organic matter removal in water treatment systems, acting as efficiency predictive indicators. This research evaluated the primary chemical and molecular weight properties of DOM derived from diverse sources, including rivers, lakes, and biomasses, and assessed their relationship with the efficiency of coagulation/flocculation treatments. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal efficiency through coagulation/flocculation exhibited significant correlations with DOM's hydrophobic distribution, the ratio of humic-like to protein-like fluorescence, and the molecular weight associated with humic substances (HS). These findings suggest that the DOC removal rate in coagulation/flocculation processes is enhanced by a higher presence of HS in DOM, an increased influence of externally sourced DOM, and more presence of high molecular weight compounds. The results of this study further posit that the efficacy of water treatment processes can be more accurately predicted when considering multiple DOM characteristics rather than relying on a singular trait. Based on major results from this study, a predictive model for DOC removal efficiency by coagulation/flocculation was formulated as: 24.3 - 7.83 × (fluorescence index) + 0.089 × (hydrophilic distribution) + 0.102 × (HS molecular weight). This proposed model, coupled with supplementary monitoring of influent organic matter, has the potential to enhance the design and predictive accuracy for coagulation/flocculation treatments targeting DOC removal in future applications.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding probiotics (gene modified yeast) on the growth performances in pigs. In pigs, this study investigated the effects of dietary probiotics which contained antibacterial probiotics (OR-7, bacteriocin, gene modified yeast) on growth performances and feed efficiency in pig farm. A total of 150 pigs were studied. The treatments are probiotics yeast (PY) 0.3% (basal diet + 0.3% plasmid modified probiotics), PY 0.5% (basal diet + 0.5% plasmid modified probiotics), yeast (Y) 0.3% (basal diet + 0.3% probiotics), Y 0.5% (basal diet + 0.5% probiotics) and control (basal diet). Weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency were periodically recorded for 90 days. The treatment group trended higher weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency than control. And, the PY group trended higher weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency than Y group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.747-755
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• 2009

The feed resource for animals is a major cost determinant for profitability in livestock production enterprises, and thus any effort at improving the efficiency of feed use will help to reduce feed cost. Feed conversion ratio, expressed as feed inputs per unit output, is a traditional measure of efficiency that has significant phenotypic and genetic correlations with feed intake and growth traits. The use of ratio traits for genetic selection may cause problems associated with prediction of change in the component traits in future generations. Residual feed intake, a linear index, is a trait derived from the difference between actual feed intake and that predicted on the basis of the requirements for maintenance of body weight and production. Considerable genetic variation exists in residual feed intake for cattle and pigs, which should respond to selection. Phenotypic independence of phenotypic residual feed intake with body weight and weight gain can be obligatory. Genetic residual feed intake is genetically independent of its component traits (body weight and weight gain). Genetic correlations of residual feed intake with daily feed intake and feed conversion efficiency have been strong and positive in both cattle and pigs. Residual feed intake is favorably genetically correlated with eye muscle area and carcass weight in cattle and with eye muscle area and backfat in pigs. Selection to reduce residual feed intake (excessive intake of feed) will improve the efficiency of feed and most of the economically important carcass traits in cattle and pigs. Therefore, residual feed intake can be used to replace traditional feed conversion ratio as a selection criterion of feed efficiency in breeding programs. However, further studies are required on the variation of residual feed intake during different developmental stage of production.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Objectives: To find out the effects GGT1, an antiobestic drug widely used clinics, has on the amount of feed intake, the amount of change in the body weight and the food efficiency ratio using the data from the hGHTg obese male rats. Also, to evaluate in terms of antiobestic effects, the difference between GGT1 and reductil (sibutramine), which has been approved by the FDA of the United States. Methods: We measured the change in body weight and the amount of feed intake for 8 weeks by categorizing the hGHTg obese male rats into three groups: the control group, the GGT1 group, and the reductil (RD) group. We also evaluated the antiobestic effect by calculating the food efficiency ratio, which is the increase of bodyweight divided by the amount of feed intake. Results: In case of body weight, moderate slope of the curve in the graph of GGT1 group could mean that the weight is decreasing as time flows. In case of food efficiency ratio, the p-value was 0.745 in a test for determining if an interaction exists between the group and the point of measurement, meaning that it does not exist; also, the p-value in a test for the effect of level of repetition in food efficiency ratio according to the point of measurement equaled 0.002. Conclusion: The drug-treated groups had a greater inhibitory effect in feed intake than the control group. The results showed the food efficiency ratio had a tendency to decrease. The GGT1 group in particular was under a greater effect than the RD group.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.52-61
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• 2020

The AHP method was used in 30 provinces of China to construct the index system of creative space efficiency evaluation and determine the weight of each index. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was further used to score the indexes at all levels, and then the total efficiency score was sorted. The purpose of this study is to adjust the regional layout of creative space reasonably and implement financial policies accurately through the evaluation of the efficiency of creative space. The results is ranking top in weight of several indicators, which include the number of incubated Startups, the number of innovation and entrepreneurship mentors, the survival rate of incubator, the innovative training activities, etc. It was also found that Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Zhejiang ranked first in the score of creative space efficiency. This study is meaningful in that it was In order to effectively solve the problem of the imbalance of the creative space efficiency in China's province, by coordinating the regional pattern, establishing a sound service system and improving the efficiency evaluation system.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.43-48
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• 2001

Terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol resulting form the weight-reduction process of polyester make trouble in the operation of activated sludge process. Also, polyester weight loss wastewater shows high pH, high organic strength and wide variation of organic loading. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to improve treatment efficiency by activated sludge process with Pseudomonas sp degrading components of polyester weight loss wastewater. The CO $D_{Mn}$ and BO $S_{5}$ of the waste wastewater were 560~3,000 mg/$\ell$ and 8000~3,000 mg/$\ell$, respectively. pH was 11.8~12.3. COD removal efficiency by activated sludge-coagulation process with Pseudomonas sp was 94.1~95.8% for 35 hr of hydraulic retention time. Total organic carbon removal efficiency was 97.1%. Ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid in the wastewater were completely degraded during 32 hr of hydraulic retention time.e.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.830-840
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• 2017

Excessive body weight gain during the growth period of early life may predispose individuals towards obesity and metabolic disorder in later life. We investigated the possibility of using the food efficiency ratio as an early indicator for predicting susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Four-week-old, prepubertal, male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into obesity-prone and obesity-resistant groups based on food efficiency ratio values after five days on a high-fat diet. Metabolic parameters measured after 2, 6, and 10 weeks, and specific phenotypes were compared with each group. Obesity-prone rats had higher increases in body weight and fat mass compared to obesity-resistant rats over the study period. Obesity-prone rats became glucose intolerant early in this study and remained so throughout the experimental period, with increases in fat weight and leptin levels occurring first, followed by increases in insulin level. Gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance significantly increased in obesity-prone groups in which activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were increased and glucokinase activity decreased. Higher food efficiency ratio at an early age was closely correlated with body fat accumulation, hyperleptinemia, and hyperinsulinemia of middle and elderly age. We suggest a high food efficiency ratio in prepubertal subjects may be a useful predictor of future obesity and insulin resistance.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2005

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been used as cationic polymers for efficient gene transfer without the need for endosomolytic agents. Various kinds of PEIs with different molecular weight were tested in order to investigate the effects of the molecular weight of PEI on the transfection efficiency and cell cytotoxicity. The ${\beta}-galactosidase$ expression $(pCMV-{\beta}-gal)$ plasmid was used as a model DNA. Complex formation between PEI and pDNA was assessed by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis method. Particle size and zeta-potential of complexes were determined by electrophoretic light scattering spectrometer. In vitro transfection efficiency was assayed by measuring ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. Cell cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. Particle sizes of the complexes became smaller on increasing molecular weights of PEI and N/P ratios. Surface potential of complexes was increased as the molecular weight of PEI increased. Transfection efficiency of $pCMV-{\beta}-ga1$ on the HEK 293 cells was greatest with PEI 25 K system but having the lowest cell viability. PEI with high molecular weight showed higher transfection efficiency and cell viability than PEI with low molecular weight.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the changes in hematologic indices after plateletpheresis and to identify the preapheresis platelet count and clinical factors (age, gender, height, and weight) that showed some influence on the percentage of platelet decrement, yield and efficiency. Plateletpheresis was performed on 101 healthy donors in Bundang CHA general hospital. The data was analyzed using the SAS program with t-test, ANOVA test and Multiple regression. The mean percentage decrease after plateletpheresis was 2.0% in hemoglobin, 1.8% in hematocrit, and 29.7% in the platelet count, while a WBC count showed an increase of 2.6%. The mean percentage decrease of hemoglobin and hematocrit were 1.7% and 1.4%, in males and 3.6% and 3.7% in females, respectively. Particularly the percentage decrease of platelet count was significantly higher in females (40.0%) than in males (27.2%). The platelet decrementage and yield were significantly higher in females, but the efficiency did not differ significantly between males and females. The yield showed the lowest levels in subjects who were 40 years old or over but the platelet decrement and efficiency did not change according to age. The platelet decrement increased as height and weight increased. Also, the platelet decrement and yield increased as the initial platelet counts increased, but the efficiency did not. From multiple regression analysis, the platelet decrement was associated with gender, weight, and initial platelet count. The yield was related to the initial platelet count, but the efficiency was not related to gender, age, weight, height or initial platelet counts. This study has a limitation of the generality of the study results since this study was conducted only in a single university hospital. Further study would be necessary to find out a subpopulation that is sensitive to the hematologic change after plateletpheresis, and to determine the standard criteria for blood donation based on the subpopulation.