Post-ejaculation of sperms into the female reproductive tract, acquisition of sperm capacitation is an essential step in the fertilization process. Accordingly, during in-vitro fertilization, the successful fertilization requires necessarily induction of capacitation in the retrieved sperms. To date, many candidate substances have been considered as capacitation inducers. However, there were no reports about the comparison of efficiency inducing sperm capacitation among diverse capacitation inducers. Therefore, we tried to determine an inducer showing the best capacitation performance in mouse sperms by comparing the preimplantation development of in-vitro-fertilized embryos using sperms experiencing capacitation by a variety of capacitation inducers. For these, calcium, progesterone, bovine serum albumin (BSA), heparin, lysophosphaticylcholine (Lyso-PC) were used as candidate capacitation inducers. Optimized concentration of each inducer were determined by accessing ratio of sperms experiencing acrosome reaction using coomassie G-250 blue staining. Subsequently, in vitro fertilization was performed using sperms incubated in each optimized concentration inducer. The ratio of fertilized oocytes was observed. As the results, Calcium at 2.7 mM and 0.3% (w/v) BSA showed the highest fertilization rates compared to 15 μM progesterone, 50 mM heparin, and 100 μM Lyso-PC. From these results, we found that 2.7 mM calcium and 0.3% (w/v) BSA were the most effective sperm capacitation inducers of mouse sperm for in vitro fertilization. From these results, we could identify that, among diverse sperm capacitation inducers, 2.7mM calcium and 0.3% (w/v) BSA were the most effective inducers for in vitro fertilization.

This study investigated the effect of dietary lysine and gamma-linolenic acid(GLA) levels on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in finishing pigs. Pigs were provided with feed containing two different levels of lysine(0.45% and 0.75%) with three different levels of gamma-linolenic acid(0.0, 0.3, and 0.6%). Average daily gain(ADG) was significantly lower (p<0.01) in pigs provided with the lower level of lysine. In contrast, feed/gain(p<0.01), diet cost/gain(p<0.05), and intramuscular fat(p<0.01) were all significantly higher in pigs fed the lower level of lysine. Similarly, meat color scores(CIE L*, a*, and b*) and cooking loss were significantly higher(p<0.01) in pigs fed the lower level of lysine, whereas shear force(kg/2.5 inch2)was not affected by dietary lysine. The addition of GLA had no significant effect on any of the parameters measured. The results indicate that providing pigs with 0.45% lysine in their diet may help to increase intramuscular fat content, allowing the industry to produce pork products that meet consumer needs in Korea.

We improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by preparing a working electrode (WE) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by inducing Au thin films with thickness of 0.0 to 5.0 nm, deposited via sputtering. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the blocking layer (BL) of the Au thin films. Micro-Raman measurement was employed to confirm the LSPR effect, and a solar simulator and potentiostat were used to evaluate the photovoltaic properties, including the impedance and the I-V of the DSSC of the Au thin films. The results of the microstructural analysis confirmed that nano-sized Au agglomerates were present at certain thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE reached a value of 5.34% with a 1-nm thick-Au thin film compared to the value of 5.15 % without the Au thin film. This improvement was a result of the increase in the LSPR of the TiO2 layer that resulted from the Au thin film coating. Our results imply that the ECE of a DSSC may be improved by coating with a proper thickness of Au thin film on the BL.

Cross-buying refers to the customer action of buying additional products and/or services from the same provider (Valentin 2004). With the belief that cross-buying enables firms to increase profit from existing customers, firms have steadily placed greater emphasis on cross-selling strategies for profitability. To date, numerous studies show that cross-buying behavior of customers has a positive effect on firm profitability. Business reality, however, offers a different perspective; namely, that high levels of cross-buying may not always be linked to firm profitability. For example, Best Buy (an electronics retailer in the United States) has identified approximately 20% of its customers as unprofitable in spite of them purchasing multiple items (McWilliams 2004). Shah, Kumar, Qu, and Chen (2012) found that customers who persistently exhibit certain types of behavior (e.g., excessive service requests, high levels of returning products, lower levels of revenue growth, promotion maximizers) are unprofitable even though they purchased more than one product category.The aforementioned research implies that cross-buying can exert a negative impact on profitability, thereby calling for further examination of cross-buying behavior. It is conceivable that a repeated purchase propensity (contrasted with a cross-buying propensity) concentrated on a single brand is more profitable. Therefore, our primary objective in this paper is to identify a more beneficial type of customer among those who tend to patronize a limited number of brands versus those who tend to patronize a variety of brands, using a one-dimensional model (brand dispersion index). In addition, the second goal of this research is to investigate the boundary conditions where cross-buying will not lead to an increase in sales (unprofitable cross-buying conditions). As two moderating factors that weaken a customer’s crossbuying propensity and a firm’s sales (frequency and transaction size of firms), we consider (1) promotion dependency and (2) spending limiter condition. We use transaction data that include partners in various industries such as gasoline stations, convenience stores, banks, restaurants, and online shopping malls, covering forty-seven categories. Because multiple partners in many categories are available, this allows us to study whether a customer’s cross-buying level in the current period (t) affects the customer’s purchase frequency and transaction size in the subsequent period (t+1). The observation period for the data set extends over three years. Findings from this study indicate that a high level of cross-buying at period t has a positive impact on increasing customer frequencies and transaction sizes in the subsequent (t+1) period. This means that cross-buying has the potential to increase the firm’s profitability. Customers who show a high level of cross-buying propensity tend to exhibit higher levels of loyalty than customers who concentrated on limited brands. Firms should find ways to induce customers with low cross-buying propensity to increase crossbuying. Regarding moderating effects, promotion dependency and spending growth (decline vs. stagnation), spending growth has a considerable moderating effect on the relationship between cross-buying propensity and a customer’s transaction size. Specifically, the effect of cross-buying on transaction size weakens when spending is shrinking. This result makes an important contribution to cross-buying research. If customers showing a high level of cross-buying do not increase their spending level, they may be merely switching to other brands in the program under a fixed budget. So while the rate of crossbuying seems to increase, profit might not increase. The findings from this study imply that it is crucial to target and motivate customers who tend to use various brands and contribute to sales to do more cross-buying instead of suggesting cross-buying to random customers. The promotion dependency, however, turns out to not have significant moderating effects on the relationship between the customer’s propensity to cross-buying and the customer’s purchase frequency and transaction size. For marketing purposes, it is important to consider which customers are more profitable among those who tend to do cross-buying among multi-brands versus those who tend to purchase repeatedly in a limited number of brands. This research provides a solution with a one-dimensional index, the brand dispersion index. Whether cross-buying is shown to be a positive or negative impact on sales, the results are meaningful in implementing customer relationship management. Regardless of the direction in the level of crossbuying, both directions provide a solution to allocate marketing resources. For instance, if the propensity for cross-buying increases sales, the firm should implement marketing strategies to encourage people to use a variety of brands by adding new brands. If repeat purchases increase sales, the company should concentrate on certain brands that customers use most frequently. In addition, by finding the conditions that do not increase sales (e.g., spending limiter condition), it makes marketing practitioners think that cross-buying does not always bring positive results. Overall, the findings from this study are that it is crucial to motivate and target customers who tend to use various brands and contribute to sales to do crossbuying activity, instead of promoting cross-buying to random customers. Conceptual Framework Figure 1 provides an overview of our framework for the relationship between brand dispersion and visiting frequency and transaction size of customers. Specifically, we hypothesize how customer frequencies and transaction sizes in time t+1 will be influenced by customer brand dispersion levels (the extent that customer transactions occur across a broad range of brands) in time t. In addition, we examine the moderating influence of two customer specific variables: (1) degree of promotion dependency and (2) spending limits.

본 연구는 둘 이상의 기체혼합물에서 높은 이산화탄소 분리성능을 목적으로 하는 복합막의 제조이며 지지체 위에 실리콘 코팅을 하여 SEM 사진으로 복합 막의 코팅층 확인 및 Bubble flowmeter로 기체투과 성능을 조사하였다. 코팅제는 Isocyanate와 Si-PEG, 소량의 촉매를 사용하여 지지체 위에 코팅하였고 고온 에서 가교과정을 거친 후 복합막을 제조 하였다. 코팅층은 3 μm 이하로 고른 분포를 보이고, 50 GPU의 이산화탄소 투과값과 질소에 대한 이산화탄소 선택도 는 15의 결과를 보였다. 또한 코팅 방법과 코팅제의 조성을 다양하게 하여 각각 의 기체(N2, O2, CO2) 투과 성능을 확인하였다.

We prepared polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) beads with a particle size of 80 nm to improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) by increasing the effective surface area and the dye absorption ability of the working electrodes (WEs) in a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). We prepared the TiO2 layer with PMMA beads of 0.0~1.0 wt%; then, finally, a DSSC with 0.45 cm2 active area was obtained. Optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the TiO2 layer with PMMA. UV-VIS-NIR was used to determine the optical absorbance of the WEs with PMMA. A solar simulator and a potentiostat were used to determine the photovoltaic properties of the PMMA-added DSSC. Analysis of the microstructure showed that pores of 200 nm were formed by the decomposition of PMMA. Also, root mean square values linearly increased as more PMMA was added. The absorbance in the visible light regime was found to increase as the degree of PMMA dispersion increased. The ECE increased from 4.91% to 5.35% when the amount of PMMA beads added was increased from 0.0 to 0.4 wt%. However, the ECE decreased when more than 0.6 wt% of PMMA was added. Thus, adding a proper amount of PMMA to the TiO2 layer was determined to be an effective method for improving the ECE of a DSSC.

This study was performed to investigate the content of carotenoid (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, capxanthin, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin) and physicochemical characteristics (size, color, dietary fiber, total tannin content) of unripen and ripen persimmons (Diospyros kaki) by seven cultivars. The length of the unripen and ripen persimmons ranged from 40.87-64.75 and 48.80-80.29 cm, the width were from 44.03 to 66.73 and 57.65 to 91.53 cm, respectively. Ripen persimmons were showed in the highest Hunter’s L, a and b values. Total tannin content were resulted of unripen- and ripen persimmons ranged from 7.58 to 19.80 and 2.36 to 5.85 mg/g. Total carotenoid content were from 1.09 to 6.45 and 7.46 to 29.46 μg/g, respectively. From the above results, unripen- and ripen persimmon fruit could be useful for the health functional food.

직접 메탄올 연료전지(Direct Methanol Fuel Cells)는 액상의 메탄올을 연료로 직접 사용하는 전기 에너지 전환 장치로서 연료의 값이 싸고 취급이 용이하며 초소형화가 가능하다. Montmorillonite (MMT)가 첨가된 고분자 전해질 분리막의 경우 열적⋅물리적 성질이 개선되며 메탄올 투과도가 감소되는 장점을 가지고 있지만 이온전도도는 감소가 되는 단점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 술폰산기(-SO3H)를 포함하는 MMT를 제조하여 Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether sulfone)(SPAES) 고분자와 sulfonated MMT(sulMMT)를 혼합하여 유⋅무기 복합막을 제조하고 특성평가가 이루어졌다.

본 연구는 둘 이상의 기체혼합물에서 높은 이산화탄소 분리성능을 위해 Poly(ethylene glycol)로 개질된 Graft copolymer로 film을 제조 하였다. 높은 기체 선택성을 가져 분리막으로 널리 사용되는 Polysulfone을 클로로메틸화하고, 구조적으로 이산화탄소에 높은 친화성을 가지는 Poly(ethylene glycol)을 사용하였다. 분자량이 5000인 Poly ethylene glycol을 사용하였고 합성된 공중합체는 TGA와 DSC로 고분자의 열적특성을 확인하고 FT-IR 과 1H-NMR을 이용하여 화학구조를 분석하였다. Time lag 기계를 사용하여 Film의 기체투과 성능을 조사하였으며, Poly(ethylene glycol)의 분자량에 따른 효과를 알아보았다.

본 연구는 둘 이상의 기체혼합물에서 높은 이산화탄소 분리성능을 목적으로 하는 복합막의 제조이며 지지체 위에 실리콘 코팅을 하여 SEM 사진으로 복합막의 코팅층 확인 및 Bubble flowmeter로 기체투과 성능을 조사하였다. 코팅제는 Isocyanate와 Si-PEG, 소량의 촉매를 사용하여 혼합 하였고 지지체 위에 코팅하여 오븐에서 가교과정을 거친 후 복합막을 제조하였다. 코팅층은 3㎛이하로 고른 분포를 보이고, 50 GPU의 이산화탄소 투과값과 질소에 대한 이산화탄소 선택도는 15의 결과를 보였다. 또한 코팅 방법과 코팅제의 조성을 다양하게 하여 각각의 기체(N2,O2, CO2) 투과 성능을 확인하였다.

본 연구는 둘 이상의 기체혼합물에서 높은 이산화탄소 분리성능을 위해 Poly(ethylene glycol)로 개질된 Graft copolymer로 film을 제조 하였다. 높은 기체 선택성을 가져 분리막으로 널리 사용되는 Polysulfone을 클로로메틸화하고, 구조적으로 이산화탄소에 높은 친화성을 가지는 Poly(ethylene glycol)을 사용하였다. 분자량이 5000인 Poly ethylene glycol을 사용하였고 합성된 공중합체는 TGA와 DSC로 고분자의 열적특성을 확인하고 FT-IR 과 1H-NMR을 이용하여 화학구조를 분석하였다. Time lag 기계를 사용하여 Film의 기체투과 성능을 조사하였으며, Poly(ethylene glycol)의 분자량에 따른 효과를 알아보았다.

Beta-catenin (CTNNB1, catenin (cadherin-associated protein), beta 1) is involved in various biological processes, including embryogenesis, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and progression of metastasis. CTNNB1, as a multifunctional and oncogenic protein, has important roles in adhesion between Sertoli cells through an N-cadherin-dependent manner and in various cancer types through its over-activation. In addition, CTNNB1 can interact with estrogen/estrogen receptor alpha complex, which regulates the transcription of WNT (wingless-type MMTV integration site family)/CT-NNB1 target genes. Recently, we investigated the functional roles and expression pattern of CTNNB1 during the morphological changes of embryonic gonads of chickens and the estrogen-dependent regulation of CTNNB1 in oviduct development and potential functions as a biomarker of CTNNB1 in human epithelial ovarian cancer using the chicken as a biological research model. Therefore, in this review, we provide a new insight of potential role of CTNNB1 in the development of the female reproductive tract during early embryogenesis and ovarian carcinogenesis of laying hen models.

The effects of environmental and nutritional requirement such as temperature, pH, different media, carbon, nitrogen, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio on the mycelial growth of Cordyceps militaris strain ‘Yedang 3’ were studied. The optimum temperature and pH for the growth of mycelium were 20-25oC and pH 6-7, respectively. Out of ten media tested, mushroom complete media (MCM) was the best medium for fast mycelial growth, and Sabouraud’s dextrose agar yeast extract (SDAY), malt extract yeast extract agar (YMA) also were favored. The color and shape of colonies varied in different media. The best carbon sources for mycelial growth were fructose, mannitol, and sucrose, whereas the best nitrogen sources were tryptone and peptone. However, mycelia grew slowly in inorganic nitrogen compounds such as NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, and NaNO3. The optimum C:N ratio observed on the culture media was 30-40 range. These results provided basic information on cultural characteristics of vegetative growth and might be useful for spawn production in Cordyceps militaris.

The button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is one of the most widely cultivated important edible mushroom species. In the breeding of new button mushroom, ‘Seolgang’ was developed by crossing two monokaryons ‘CM020913-27’ and ‘SSU423-31’. Because of the secondarily homothallism, only a small percentage of the basidia produce 3 or 4 spores, which are mostly haploid (n) and do not fruit. Single spore cultures derived from these types of spores produce a vegetative mycelium that also contain a variable number of genetically identical nuclei per cell called monokaryon. The lack of clamp connections between monokaryon and dikaryon required a series of mycelial culture and fruiting test. After crossing, hybrids were cultivated on a small scale and on a commercial scale at a farm. For this, the spawn was made by a commercial spawn producer and the spawned compost by a commercial compost producer. Mycelial growth of ‘Seolgang’ on CDA was better at 20℃ and 25℃ when it was compared with that of ‘505 Ho’. The mature cap shape of new strain ‘Seolgang’ is oblate spheroid and the immature cap shape is round to oblate spheroid. The cap diameter was 41.2 mm on average. In comparison with white strain ‘505 Ho’, the strain had a yield that was 9% higher. It produced fruiting bodies which had a higher weight on average per fruiting body and were 19% firmer with a good shelf life. Days of fruiting body were 3-4 days later than those of ‘505 Ho’. The physical characteristics such as elasticity, chewiness, adhesiveness were better than that of ‘505 Ho’. Genetic analysis of the new strain ‘Seolgang’ showed different profiles compared to ‘505 Ho’, CM02913-27, SSU413-31, when RAPD primers A02 and O04 were used.

Pleurotus ostreatus ‘Miso’ is a mutant strain showing white color in pileus from the known parent strain ‘Wonhyeong 1’. Shape and several other characters also vary with culture conditions. Mating experiments were performed to understand interstrain mating relationship using monokaryons of the parent and the mutant strains. All monokaryons were grown from single spores isolated from freshly collected fruit bodies. Pairings were performed in 90 mm petri dishes on PDA. They were allowed to grow at 25 until two fronts of the advancing mycelia met and developed a conspicuous contact zone. The contact zone and the outer edges of paired colonies on each plate were examined for clamp connections. The parent and the mutant resulted in tetrapolar incompatibility in intrastrain crosses. In interstrain crosses, each monokaryotic tester strain of the parent strain was out-crossed to monokaryotic tester strains of the mutant. As a result of these crosses it was found that both strains share the same A and B incompatibility factors yielding 25% compatibility.

SERPINB3 (also known Squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1, SCCA1) is involved in apoptosis, immune response, cell migration and invasiveness of cells. It has been investigated in various types of squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore we investigated the functional role of SERPINB3 gene in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using laying hens, the most relevant animal model. In 136 laying hens, EOC was found in 10 (7.4%). We compared the expression and localization of SERPINB3 using RT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, and SERPINB3 activation was detected in chicken and human ovarian cancer cell lines using immunofluorescence microscopy. Thereafter, we examined the prognostic value of SERPINB3 expression in patients with EOC by multivariate linear logistic regression and Cox’ proportional hazard analyses. In present study, SERPINB3 mRNA was induced in cancerous ovaries (p< 0.01), and it was only expressed in the glandular epithelium(GE) of cancerous ovaries of laying hens. SERPINB3 protein was localized predominantly to the nucleus of glandular epithelium in cancerous ovaries of laying hens, and it was abundant in the nucleus of both chicken and human ovarian cancer cell lines. In 109 human patients with EOC, 15 (13.8%), 66 (60.6%) and 28 (25.7%) of those patients showed weak, moderate and strong expression of SERPINB3 protein, respectively. Strong expression of SERPINB3 protein was a prognostic factor for platinum resistance (adjusted OR, 5.94; 95% Confidence Limits, 1.21-29.15). Therefore SERPINB3 may play an important role in ovarian carcinogenesis and be a novel biomarker for predicting platinum resistance and a poor prognosis for survival in patients with EOC. This research was funded by the World Class University (WCU) program (R31-10056), Basic Science Research Program (2010- 0013078) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology and by the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No.PJ008142), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

A new cultivar "KNR11-1" of Pleurotus eryngii was developed by the method of mono-mono crossing between monokaryotic strains derived from KNR2598 and KNR2610. The optimum temperature of mycelial growth was 25℃ and that of fruiting body development was 15 - 16℃. The period of harvesting including primordia formation of "KNR11-1" was one day faster than that of control strain KNR2312. The color of pileus and stipe surface was neutral-brown and pure white, respectively. The shape of pileus was dome and has the teeth of a comb. The yield was 90.4 g/850cc plastic bottle. The fruit body has a longer shelf life than control strain KNR2312 at 4℃. It is able to store up to 67.5 days in a cold room. Analysis of the genetic characteristics of the new commercial strain "KNR11-1" showed a different profile as that of the control strain KNR2312 when Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA primers were used. The new cultivar of Pleurotus eryngii is characterized by the improved storability after harvesting.