Porcine oviduct epithelial cells (POEC) are widely used in co-culture experiments to improve early embryonic development, in vitro fertilization in embryo transfer programs for domestic animals and in vitro maturation of immature germ cells. POEC were mechanically isolated and cultured in tissue culture medium 199. Cells grew continuously, and confluent monolayers were formed after 7 days. After forming confluent monolayer of epithelial cells, supernatant was collected as the condition medium for maturing round spermatids in vitro. Round spermatids were also separated mechanically and cultured in the POEC condition medium. In this study we observed that 20% of round spermatid cultured were matured into elongating spermatid after 24 h, and about 10% of round spermatid cultured showed complete elongation (elongated spermatid) within 24~48 h of in vitro culture. No further development was observed within 50~72 h and transformed cells lost their viability after 72 h. These preliminary findings suggest that the condition medium from POEC may be possible to overcome the round spermatid block by improving the milieu of culture system.

Using a developed high-frequency induction heated combustion method. the simultaneous synthesis and densification of WC-xvol.%Co() hard materials was accomplished using elemental powders of W, C and Co. A complete synthesis and densification of the materials was achieved in one step within a duration of 1min. The final relative densities of the composite were over 98.5% for all cases, under the applied pressure of 60 MPa and the induced current. The hardness of the composites decreases and the fracture toughness increases with increasing cobalt content. As the carbon to tungsten ration increases, the hardness increase, but the fracture toughness decreases. The maximum values for the fracture toughness and hardness are 15.1 (at 20vol.%Co, W:C=1:1), and 1928 (at 5vol.%Co, W:C=1:1.3), respectively. Therefore we concluded that the HFIHCS method. which can produce WC-xvol.%Co within 1 minute in one step is superior to conventional ones.

1) Using a developed high-frequency induction heated sintering method, the rapid densification of WC-Co hard materials was accomplished using ultra fine powders with 260 nm size within 1 minute. 2) The relative density of the composite was 99.5% for the applide pressure of 60MPa and the induced current for 90% output of total capacity. 3) The grain size of WC-Co hard materials is about 260nm and the average thickness of the binder phase determined is about 11nm. The fracture toughness and the hardness of this work 12 , respectively. 4) Using pressureless sintering, we produced dense WC-Co hard materials with a relative density of 97% without applying pressure.

Recently, we have set up a new digital CCD camera system, MicroMax YHS-1300 manufactured by Roper Scientific for Hα observation by Solar Flare Telescope at Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory. It has a 12 bit dynamic range, a pixel number of 1300×1030, a thermoelectric cooler, and an electric shutter. Its readout speed is about 3 frames per second and the dark current is about 0.05 e-/p/s at -10°. We have made a system performance test by confirming the system linearity, system gain, and system noise that its specification requires. We have also developed a data acquisition software which connects a digital camera con-troller to a PC and acquires Hα images via Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 under Windows 98. Comparisons of high quality Hα images of AR 9169 and AR 9283 obtained from SOFT with the corresponding images from Learmonth Solar Observatory in Australia confirm that our Hα digital observational system is performed properly. Finally, we present a set of Hα images taken from a two ribbon flare occurred in AR 9283.

We have analyzed infrared (IR) images of Jupiter which was observed at the McDonald Observatory, Texas, U.S.A., during the P/SHoemaker-LEvy 9 (SL9) impact period and about one week after the last impact. The IR images were obtained on the 2.7m telescope using a NICMOS array with filters to isolate the 1.5 μm NH3 band, the 2.3 μm CH4 band, the 2.12 μm H2 S(0) pressure-induced absorption, and the continua at 1.58 μm and 2.0 μm (short K-band). All images except those with the 1.58 μm continuum filter show bright impact sites against the relatively dark Jovian disk near the impact latitude of about 45° S. This implies that dusts originated from the impacts reflect the solar radiation at high altitudes before absorbed by stratospheric CH4, NH3 or H2. The impact sites observed with the 2.3 μm filter are conspicuously bright against a very dark background. The morphology of impact sites, G, L, and H at 2.3 and 2.12 μm filters shows clearly an asymmetric structure toward the incident direction of the comet fragments, in agreement with the studies of visible impact images obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope. Comparisons of reflectances of G, L, and H sites with simple radiative transfer models suggest that optically thick dust layers were formed at high altitudes at which methane absorption attenuates incoming sunlight only by about 1%. The dust layers in these sites seem to form at about the same altitude regardless of the magnitude of the impacts, but they appear to descend gradually after the impacts. The dust layers have optical depths of 2-5, according to the models.

A first step review is completed on the suitability of European designed wind turbines in an East Asia climate. Six parameters are chosen for detailed analysis of proper meteorological measures from flat, hilly, forested, coastal and offshore sites in West Europe and East Asia: mean wind speed, 10 minute mean wind speed distribution, turbulence intensity, wind shear, 3 second extreme wind speed and 10 minute direction change. All six parameters are assessed with a view for contrast with the wind turbine design standard IEC61400. The diurnal and seasonal variation, average and extreme values of each parameter are calculated where appropriate. Industry standard software and analysis techniques have been employed to assess the applicability of existing wind turbine design standards and design guidelines for the East Asian market.

This study was conducted to determine the optimum number of inter-rows according to distance of drainage furrow (DF) for running-off excessive-water stress (EWS) in paddy field. The most soil water potential was shown in high ridge (distance of DF by 70 cm) cultivation and the soil water potential showed increasing tendency in over four inter-rows cultivation by DF. The growth of soybean reduced by extended inter-row and its reducing level was high, especially, over four inter-rows (DF distance by 2.8 m) because of EWS. The photosynthetic rate decreased in the more extensive field by distance of DF at V5 and R2 stages, especially, in over four interrows cultivation. Also, root activity decreased at wider DF. The yield was reduced with wider distance of DF more extensively, the highest yield of 270 g per m2 at the every row, but yield showed decreasing tendency at over the 4th row (2.8 m) cultivation. Soybean cultivation in paddy field could be founded with DF of every other or 4th row.