Parthenogenesis is maternally uniparental reproduction through the embryonic development of oocytes without fertilization. Artificial activation of mature oocytes could generate homozygous haploid embryos with the extrusion of the second polar body. However, the haploid embryos showed low embryo development in preimplantation embryos. In this study, we investigated whether the electronic fusion of the haploid embryos could enhance embryo development and ESC establishment in mice. Haploid embryos showed the developmental delay from 4-cell to the blastocyst stage. The haploid blastomeres of the 2-cell stage were fused electronically, resulting in that the fused embryos showed a significantly higher rate of blastocysts compared to non-fused haploid embryos (55% vs. 37%). Further, the embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the fused embryos were confirmed to be diploid. The rate of ESC establishment in fused embryos was significantly higher compared to non-fused ones. Based on the results, we concluded that the electronic fusion of haploid embryos could be efficient to generate homozygous ESCs.

The prevalence of cancer in companion dogs is growing nowadays with the increasing worldwide population of domestic dogs. Since there is a less established standard of care in veterinary medicine, investigational treatments, such as the development of biomarkers can be considered as a therapeutic intervention for early diagnosis. Despite the enormous efforts that have been invested in the search of biomarkers, still, there is a need for easy detection of significant biological markers for predicting canine cancers at an early stage. In this study, we have analyzed the expression pattern of previously reported 46 canine cancer-associated candidate genes in blood specimens using real-time qPCR. We hypothesized that analysis of gene expression in blood would provide preliminary evidence of local or systemic immunogenic response which further contribute to the easy and early diagnosis of canine cancer from blood specimen as an analytical tool. The datasets included a total of 22 blood samples collected from different breeds of dogs diagnosed with cancer and five from healthy normal dogs. RT-qPCR analysis was performed by employing the SYBR Green PCR mix to assess the expression of these 46 genes in a total of 27 samples. From our result, a total of nine genes (ROS1, C1QA, CD48, IL1b, TLR2, IL2R, CHI3L1, CTSS, and TLR7) were found to be significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in the cancer samples compared to non-cancer samples. The relative expression level of ROS1, C1QA, CD48, IL1b, TLR2, IL2R, CHI3L1, CTSS, and TLR7 genes was 5.74, 4.78, 3.94, 2.94, 2.57, 2.53, 2.50, 2.04, and 2.57, respectively, in cancer samples compared to non-cancer samples. Thus, our results reveal several highly expressed cancer genes that can be therapeutic target genes for further testing in canine cancers.

Silicon oxide (SiOx) has been considered one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to having a higher capacity than the commercial graphite anodes. However, its practical application is hampered by very large volume variations. In this work, pyrolysis fuel oil is the carbon coating precursor, and physical vapor deposition (PVD) is performed on SiOx at 200 and 400 °C (SiOx@C 200 and SiOx@C 400), followed by carbonization at 950 °C. SiOx@C 200 has a carbon coating layer with a thickness of ~ 20 nm and an amorphous structure, while that of SiOx@C 400 is approximately 10 nm thick and has a more semigraphitic structure. The carbon-coated SiOx anodes display better charge–discharge performance than the pristine SiOx anode. In particular, SiOx@C 200 shows the highest reversible capacity compared with the other samples at high C-rates (2.0 and 5.0 C). Moreover, SiOx@C 200 exhibits excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 90.2% after 80 cycles at 1.0 C. This result is ascribed to the suppressed volume expansion by the PFO carbon coating on SiOx after PVD.

본 연구에서는 국내산 돌미나리에서 GABA생성능이 있 는 신규 유산균을 분리, 동정한 결과, Enteroccoccus casseliflavus로 확인되었다. 최근까지 Lactobacillus속과 같 은 GABA 생성 유산균에 대한 보고는 많이 되고 있고, 일 부 Enterococcs속 유산균도 보고되고 있으나 E. casseliflavus 종에 대한 보고는 없었다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 E. casseliflavus PL05 균주에 대한 GABA 생성 최적 조건을 찾기 위하여 배지의 유형, 생육 온도, 초기 pH 조건, 배양 시간, MGS 농도 및 탄소원을 포함한 다양한 조건을 테스 트하였다. PL05 균주는 MRS 혹은 TSB 배지보다 BHI 배 지에서 생육이 잘 되었으며, 배지의 초기 pH는 7-9 조건 에서 가장 생육이 왕성하였고, GABA 생성 조건 역시 유 사한 결과로 확인되었다. GABA의 기질에 해당하는 MSG 의 농도별 GABA 생성량을 조사한 결과, 7%에서 가장 높 은 생성량을 나타내었으나 5%에서도 유사한 수준으로 확 인되어 효율적인 측면에서 5%가 적합할 것으로 판단된다. 탄소원에 따른 생육 및 GABA 생성량은 말토오스를 사용 하였을 때 가장 높은 것으로 확인되었고, 이러한 최적의 조건들로 최종 테스트를 진행한 결과, 24시간째 140.06±0.71 mM의 GABA가 생성되었고, 전환율은 78.95%로 확인되 었다. 또한 반코마이신을 포함한 10개의 항생제에 대한 감 수성을 조사한 결과 내성이 없는 것을 확인하였다.

연구는 참외 재배 지에서 흰가루병, 담배가루이 및 두점박이응애가 동시에 발생하였을 때 45, 40, 35°C (대조구)의 온도에서 측창으로 환기 처리 시, 온실 내 온 ․ 습도의 변화, 병충해 발생과 잎말림, 그리고 개화조절에 미 치는 효과를 검토하였다. 3월 3일 ‘히든파워’ 대목에 접붙여진 ‘알찬꿀’ 참외를 40cm 간격으로 격리상에 심었고, 위 에 언급한 병해충이 모든 처리구에서 발생한 6월 18일부터 7월 13일까지 처리하였다. 온실의 온도는 맑은 날에는 설정 온도 지점까지 증가되었고, 45°C 환기 처리에서 고온 고습이 약 9시간 동안 유지되었다. 주간 최고 기온과 최 저 상대습도 차이는 45°C 환기 처리에서 가장 높았다. 환기 처리 11일 후에는 흰가루병과 두점박이응애 피해가 45°C 환기 처리에서 거의 회복되었지만 40°C와 35°C에서는 그렇지 않았다. 처리 14일 후, 담배가루이와 두점박이 응애 밀도는 45°C에서 유의하게 감소하였으나 흰가루병 증상은 유의하게 감소하지는 않았다. 잎말림은 고온에서 유발되었으나 45°C에서도 심하지 않았다. 처리 26일 후, 새로 나온 줄기의 15 마디의 개화수를 조사한 결과, 45°C에 서 암꽃이 전혀 나오지 않았고 수꽃은 1.2개로 나타났다. 이상의 결과는, 고온기에 45°C의 고온에서 2－3주간 환기 처리는 온실 내부의 고온 고습을 유도하여 흰가루병, 담배가루이, 두점박이응애를 통제하고, 개화를 억제하여 참외 의 영양 생장을 회복할 수 있는 방법으로 사료되었다.

Artificial graphites have been used in various applications, for example, as anode materials for Li-ion batteries, C/C composites, and electrodes for aluminum smelting, due to their unique mechanical strength and high thermal and electrical conductivity. Artificial graphites can be manufactured by a series of kneading, molding, carbonization and graphitization processes with an additional impregnation process. In this study, the influence of the process variables in the kneading and carbonization/graphitization process on the properties of the resulting carbon block was systemically investigated. During the kneading process, the optimum kneading temperature was 90 °C higher than the softening point of the binder pitch; thus, the binder pitch reached its maximum fluidity. On the other hand, during the carbonization and graphitization process, the structural properties of carbon blocks prepared at different heat treatment temperatures were examined and their structural change and evolution were closely described according to the temperature and divided into low-temperature carbonization and high-temperature carbonization/graphitization. Based on this study, we expect to provide a better understanding of setting the parameters for thermally conductive carbon block manufacturing.

Because sows are industrially vital for swine production, monitoring for their health or disorder status is important to ensure high reproductive performance. Especially, ambient temperature changes in different season, especially during summer, are directly influenced to the reproductive performance of sows. Although the serum biochemical parameters are widely applied in the veterinary medicine with wide ranges for the physiological process, the values are also influenced by several factors such as age, breed, gender, and stress. In addition, domestic sows in Koreaspecific reference interval (RI) for serum biochemistry has not been established yet. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate seasonal variation of RIs in the serum biochemistry in domestic sows in Korea at different seasons and to establish normal RIs using a RI finding program (Reference Value Advisor). Significant difference (p < 0.05) on the different seasons were identified in several serum biochemical parameters including BUN, CRE, GGT, GLU, ALB, TP, LDH and Na in sows. Therefore, we further established RIs, specific in domestic sows in Korea regardless of season. The established RIs based on the serum biochemical values provide a baseline for interpreting biochemical results in the domestic sows in Korea, regardless of seasonal effect. It may contribute to develop a strategy for better reproductive performance by improving breeding management practice and evaluating health of pig herds, which facilitate to avert the economic loss in summer infertility in sows.

A solid-phase competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), recombinant VP2 (rVP2) protein, and monoclonal antibody (mAb) were developed for the specific and sensitive detection of porcine parvovirus (PPV) antibodies in pig sera. A total of 1,544 sera samples were collected from breeding pig farms located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do Province in the Republic of Korea. The optimal operating conditions of SC-ELISA were as follows. The concentration of rVP2 proteins coated on the wells was 4 μg/mL, the swine sera were diluted 1:2, and the HRP-conjugated PPV VP2 mAb (9A8 clone) was used at 500 ng/mL. These results suggest that the SC-rVP-ELISA assay may be a valuable alternative to the current diagnostic tools used to detect PPV-specific monoclonal antibodies and broadly monitor PPV infections in domestic pigs at different breeding stages.

뇌 3차원 T1 관상면 검사 시 ENCASE를 적용했을 때 CS 계수의 증가 시 영상획득 시간 변화와 영상의 질의 변화에 따른 유용성에 관하여 알아보고자 한다. 연구 대상은 본원을 내원한 30명의 환자를 대상으로 하였고, 1.5T MRI 장치로 진행하였으며, 24채널 두경부 코일을 사용하였다. 획득한 영상의 상대적신호강도비(rSI)와 상대적대조도비(rC)를 구하였으 며, MIPAV로 뇌실질과 뇌실의 체적을 측정하여 One-way Anova를 사용하여 정량적 분석을 하였고, p<0.05일 때 통계 적으로 유의한 것으로 해석하였다. 또한, 5점 리커트 척도를 이용하여 영상의 질에 대하여 정성적 분석을 하였고, 측정자 내 신뢰도를 확인하기 위해 ICC가 0.75 이상 나오면 측정자간 신뢰성이 높은 것으로 간주하였다. rSI와 rC 모두 p<0.05로 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 보였고, 급내 상관계수가 0.75이상(p<0.05)으로 통계적으로 매우 높은 신뢰도를 나타냈다. MIPAV를 이용한 체적측정에서는 뇌실질과 뇌실의 체적의 차이는 p=1.000으로 통계학적으로 유의미한 차이는 없었고, 사후분석결과 또한 유의미한 차이를 보이지 않았으며. 급내 상관계수가 0.75이상(p<0.05)으로 통계적으로 매우 높은 신뢰도를 나타냈다. 또한, 정성적 평가에서는 CS 계수가 증가함에 따라 유의미한 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다(p<0.001). 따라 서 ENCASE 기법을 이용한 3차원 T1 TFE 관상면 검사 시 CS 계수를 증가시킨다면 뇌의 체적 변화 없이 3차원 T1 시상면 영상보다 짧은 150초로 기존의 뇌 3차원 시상면 T1 기본 검사시간 260초 보다 짧은 영상획득 시간으로 진단적 가치가 높은 영상을 제공할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

한약재로 사용되는 더덕과 도라지에 표고의 유용성분을 함유한 소재를 개발하고자 더덕표고균사발효물(FCLM)과 더덕도라지균사발효물(FPLM)을 제조하였다. 두 가지 발효물의 일반성분, 유리당, 유기산, β-glucan, ergothioneine, ergosterol, vitamin D2 함량 및 3T3-L1 지방전구세포의 분화에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 일반성분 분석결과, FCLM에서 조섬유와 조지방함량이 FPLM에 비하여 높게 나타났으며, FPLM은 조단백질과 가용성무질소물의 함량 이 FCLM에 비하여 높게 나타났다. 유리당은 FCLM과 FPLM 모두 arabinose, glucose, sucrose 3종이 검출되었으며, 총 유리당 함량은 FPLM에서 높게 나타났다. 유기 산 함량은 발효 전 더덕과 도라지에 비하여 발효 후 FCLM과 FPLM에서 낮게 나타났다. β-Glucan 함량은 FCLM과 FPLM 두 발효물에서 대조구로 사용한 표고보다 높은 함량을 보였다. 항산화 물질로 알려진 ergothioneine의 함량은 FCLM이 FPLM보다 높게 나타났다. Ergosterol 함량은 대조구로 사용한 표고에서 가장 높게 나타났으며, 발효물들은 비슷한 함량을 나타내었다. Vitamin D2는 발효물들에서만 검출되었으며, FPLM (0.58±0.01 mg%)가 FCLM (0.47±0.01 mg%)보다 높은 함량을 보였다. 더덕과 도라지 표고균사발효물인 FCLM과 FPLM는 3T3-L1 지방전구세포에 대하여 발효 전 더덕과 도라지에 비하여 높은 수준의 세포 생존율을 나타내었다. 또한 FCLM과 FPLM은 3T3-L1 지방전구세포 분화를 발효 전 더덕과 도라지에 비하여 높은 수준으로 억제하여, 비만 억제 효과 가 있는 것으로 기대된다.

To investigate the perceptions and attitudes of dental hygienists toward radiation safety management in Korea. A total of 800 dental hygienists were randomly selected for an anonymous survey, and 203 of them participated. The questionnaire items included the following: sex, career period, type of installed radiographic equipment, recognition of the diagnostic reference level (DRL), participation in radiation safety education, and attitudes toward radiation protection for both patients and dental hygienists. The participants were divided into two groups according to their years of experience (< 10 years versus ≥ 10 years). The difference between the groups was investigated according to frequency distribution. Fisher’s exact test or Pearson’s chi-square (χ2) test was used as appropriate. A regression analysis was performed to investigate the impact of wearing a thyroid collar for personnel protection during patient radiation exposure. The types of installed radiographic equipment included panoramic radiography (96.1%), cephalometric radiography (76.9%), intraoral radiography (72.9%), and cone-beam computed tomography (69.5%). Significant differences were observed in the learning pathway for the DRL (Fisher’s exact test, p < 0.05), satisfaction with radiation safety education (Pearson’s χ2 test = 5.3975, Pr = 0.02), and use of personnel radiation monitoring systems (Pearson’s χ2 test = 18.1233, Pr = 0.000) between the groups. Significant differences were also observed in personnel protection using a thyroid collar and patient protection during panoramic radiography (odds ratio = 14.2). Dental hygienists with more than 10 years of experience were more satisfied with radiation safety education and more interested in radiation monitoring. Considering career experience, customized, continuous, and effective radiation safety management education should be provided.

The growth characterization and enzyme productivity of halotolerant microorganisms isolated from the Nakdong River estuary wetland in Korea were investigated in this study. The isolation of halotolerant microorganisms was carried out through their cultivation at 37oC for several days using a marine agar medium. After a single-colony isolation, 16 pure colonies were obtained, and phylogenetic analysis was done using 16S-based ID service in the EzBioCloud database. The isolated strains were divided into 3 phyla, 5 families, 7 genera, and 13 species. Possible industrial applications of the strains were confirmed upon testing for amylolytic, lipolytic, and proteolytic activity to confirm the possible production of hydrolytic enzymes, growth at a pH range of 5 to 9, and various salt concentrations being tested. Thirteen strains possessed at least one enzyme activity, and 5 strains possessed 2 enzyme activities. Eight strains could tolerate up to 10% NaCl concentration. This result indicated that isolated strains had shown the possible application in food and cosmetic industries. Therefore, this study would contribute to securing domestic biological resources and improving hydrolytic enzyme activity using these strains.