This study was performed to identify the effect of synovium graft on conjunctiva in rabbits after dry eye induction. Six New Zealand White rabbits were used as dry eye models. Both eyes were divided to two groups as control and synovium graft group. The synovium graft was performed in fourth week after dry eye modeling. Quantitative change of tears through Schirmer tear test (STT), qualitative change of tear film through tear film break up time (TFBUT), and damage of cornea through fluorescein staining were observed for 10 weeks at intervals of two weeks. Histological examination was performed to evaluate cornea and conjunctiva at tenth week. In both groups, STT and TFBUT were significantly decreased in 4 weeks after modeling compared to 0 weeks (p < 0.05) . After synovium graft, there were increases in STT value at 4 weeks and TFBUT at 4 and 6 weeks in graft group (p < 0.05). Corneal fluorescein staining showed no significant difference between the two groups. In histopathological examination, grafted synovium was detected as round to ovoid ingression folds, well attached to grafted regions with 0.11 ± 0.04 mm2 (range, 0.05- 0.16 mm2). These results indicated that the synovium graft on the conjunctiva had an effect on the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the tear film even though there was no histological change.

We report the discovery of a giant exoplanet in the microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-1049, with a planet―host star mass ratio of q = 9.53 ± 0.39 × 10-3 and a caustic crossing feature in Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) observations. The caustic crossing feature yields an angular Einstein radius of θE = 0.52 ± 0.11 mas. However, the microlens parallax is not measured because the time scale of the event, tE ≃ 29 days, is too short. Thus, we perform a Bayesian analysis to estimate physical quantities of the lens system. We find that the lens system has a star with mass Mh = 0.55+0.36 -0.29 M⊙ hosting a giant planet with Mp = 5.53+3.62 -2.87 MJup, at a distance of DL = 5.67+1.11 -1.52 kpc. The projected star{planet separation is aㅗ = 3.92+1.10 -1.32 au. This means that the planet is located beyond the snow line of the host. The relative lens{source proper motion is μrel ~ 7 mas yr-1, thus the lens and source will be separated from each other within 10 years. After this, it will be possible to measure the flux of the host star with 30 meter class telescopes and to determine its mass.

This work reports the syntheses of an inexpensive and efficient asphalt-derived mesoporous carbon (AdMC) as an adsorbent. The adsorbent was activated with potassium hydroxide to increase its surface area and then characterized by SEM–EDS, FT-IR, and BET. The adsorption properties of AdMC were evaluated for the adsorptive removal of eleven Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and diesel from water samples. The prepared AdMC showed very high surface areas and high micropore volumes equal to 2316 m2/g and 1.2 cm3/g, respectively. Various experimental conditions influencing the adsorption capacity of eleven PAHs and diesel were investigated. At high concentrations, PAHs and diesel solubility in water is very low. Hence, samples were emulsified with a surfactant, and then maximum adsorption capacity was investigated. Adsorption profile of individual PAHs was examined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis followed by liquid–liquid extraction. Total hydrocarbon removal was studied using a total organic analyzer. Asphalt-derived mesoporous sorbent showed an extreme ability to remove PAHs and diesel (average adsorption capacity of 166 mg/g for individual PAHs and diesel (maximum capacity of 1600 mg/g). The experimental results fitted the Langmuir model with a correlation efficiency of 0.9853. The results obtained for both adsorbents also matched to pseudo-second-order kinetics, suggesting that the adsorption of PAHs and diesel is chemical, monolayer, and homogeneous process.

The objective of the present study was to determine the best model to describe and quantify the changes in live body weight, height at withers, height at rump, body length and chest girth of Holstein cows raised under Korean feeding conditions for 50 months. The five standard growth models namely polynomial linear regression models, regression of growth variables on the first and second-order of ages in days (model 1) and regression of growth variables on age covariates from first to the third-order (model 2) as well as non-linear models were fitted and evaluated for representing growth pattern of Holstein cows raised in Korean feeding circumstances. Nonlinear models fitted were three exponential growth curve models; Brody, Gompertz, and von Bertalanffy functional models. For this purpose, a total of 22 Holstein cows raised in Korea used in the period from April 2016 to May 2020. Each model fitted to monthly growth curve records of dairy cows by using PROC NLIN procedure in SAS program. On the basis of the results, nonlinear models showed the lower root mean square of error (RMSE) for live body weight, height at withers, height at rump, body length and chest girth (12.22, 1.95, 1.55, 4.04, 2.06) with higher correlation coefficiency (R2) values for live body weight, height at withers, height at rump, body length and chest girth (0.99, 0.99, 0.99, 1.00, 1.00). Overall, the evaluation of the different growth models indicated that the Gompertz model used in the study seemed to be the most appropriate one for standard growth of Holstein cows raised under Korean feeding system.

Food and agricultural production sector, especially livestock production is vital for Mongolia’s economic and social development. Domestic sheep play key roles for Mongolians, providing food (meat, milk) and raw materials (wool, sheepskin), but genetic diversity, origin of sheep populations in Mongolia have not been well studied. Studies of population genetic diversity is important research field in conservation and restoration of animal breeds and genetic resources. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate genetic characteristics and estimate origin through the analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region D-loop and Cytochrome b of Mongolian indigenous sheep (Mongolian native, Orkhon and Altanbulag) and one Europe sheep (Suffolk). As a result of there were found, 220 SNPs (Single nucleotide polymorphism) in the D-loop region, 28 SNPs in the Cytochrome B region, furthermore, 77 Haplotypes. The nucleotide diversity was only found in D-loop region (n = 0.0184). Phylogenetic analysis showed that 3 (A, B, and C) of 5 haplogroups of sheep have been identified in our research. Haplogroup C was only found in Mongolian indigenous sheep. Haplogroup D and E were not observed. As a result of haplogroups, haplogroup A was dominant (n = 46 of 94 sheeps), followed by haplogroup B (n = 36) and haplogroup C (n = 12). Sequence analysis showed that T deletion, insertion and heteroplasmy in D-loop region occurred at a high rate in Mongolian indigenous sheep population (T insertion = 47, T deletion = 83). The heteroplasmy, which has never been found in Mongolian sheep, has been newly discovered in this study. As a result, the Mongolian sheep varieties, which mainly derived from Asia, were in hybridization with European sheep varieties.

The effects of the number of frozen-thawed ram sperm per single and double intra-cervical artificial insemination (AI) on fertility in ewes were studied. A total of 89 non-pregnant ewes were synchronized for oestrus with two doses of 100 μg PGF2α (Cloprostenol) 9 days apart. The ewes were randomly assigned to one of four groups; D200 (n = 23; double AI with 200 × 106 sperm), S200 (n = 24; single AI with 200 × 106 sperm), D100 (n = 24; double AI with 100 × 106 sperm) and S100 (n = 18; single AI with 100 × 106 sperm). Ewes were inseminated within 12 to 18 h for single AI and, within 10 to 12 h and 16 to 18 h for double AI after the onset of oestrus. The onset of oestrus ranged from 28 to 76 h (54.33 ± 1.28 h). The high percentage (29.2%) of ewes showed oestrus between 51 to 60 h. The non-return rates were highest in group D200 (56.5%) and differed significantly (p < 0.05) from group S100 (11.1%). No ewes were pregnant in group S100, and the pregnancy rates among the remaining groups did not differ. The mean gestation period was 152.8 ± 0.5 days and no difference was observed among the groups. The lambing and multiple birth rates were 100% in group D200. The single and twin lambing was highest in group D100 (33.3%) and group D200 (83.3%), respectively. Only one triplet lambing and the highest lambing size (2.2 ± 0.2) was recorded in group D200. In conclusion, double AI with 200 × 106 sperm showed comparatively most practical for achieving high pregnancy rates and lambing performances in Bangladeshi ewes under field conditions.

The pregnancy rate in indigenous ewes inseminated with frozen-thawed Suffolk semen following natural and synchronized estrus was determined. The serum Progesterone and Estrogen concentration and vaginal electrical resistance (VER) of ewes at the time of Artificial Insemination (AI) were observed as successful pregnancy determinants. 21 healthy ewes were selected for this experiment during January-April, 2017. 10 ewes were inseminated in natural estrus. Whereas, 11 ewes were inseminated after estrus synchronization using intravaginal sponges containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate. Trans-cervical Al (TCAI) was performed in all ewes within 12-16 hours of observed heat. Prostaglandin E1 analogue impregnated vaginal sponge was used for cervical relaxation 6-8 hours before insemination. Pregnancy was diagnosed through trans-abdominal ultrasonography after 40 days of AI. The pregnancy rate of ewes in synchronized estrus was higher (54.5%) than in natural estrus (30%). Higher serum Progesterone level (0.90 ± 0.02 ng/mL) and significantly (p < 0.001) lower VER (257.78 ± 10.11 ohm) were observed at the time of AI in ewes becoming pregnant. Results suggest that higher Progesterone concentration and lower VER could be considered as pregnancy indicators. Oestrous synchronization could be implemented to increase the pregnancy rate in ewes.

The culture of the intestinal epithelium into three dimensional (3D) structures typically termed organoid culture. Organoid culture is based on the ability of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), at the base of the crypt, perpetually to divide and produce a fully differentiated, polarized epithelium. Leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) positive ISCs isolated from the intestine can form organoids in long-term culture. Thus, when cultured under the appropriate 3D conditions, single Lgr5+ ISCs undergo cycles of self-renewal, differentiation and morphogenesis, and self-organize into crypt-villus domains that house cycling ISCs and differentiated intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). In this study, we performed isolation, characterization and consecutive subculture of small intestinal crypts from BALB/c-nude mouse. Briefly, isolated mouse crypts were embedded in matrigel, cast into 40 μL droplets at the bottom of well in a 48-well plate. Following polymerization, the gels were overlaid with ISCs expansion medium containing B27, N2, N-acetylcysteine, epidermal growth factor, noggin, and R-spondin 1. As a result, mouse crypt-derived ISCs had enteroids and spheroid morphologies. We also confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR that expression of ISCs-related specific genes (Lgr5, sox9) and IECs-related specific genes (chromogranin A, defensin-5, mucin-1, mucin-2, and villin) was maintained at eight passages or more. Thus, we observed that expression of specific markers and consecutive self-renewing in the mouse small intestinal crypt-derived organoids.

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that aid in the protection of the host from infectious diseases and cancer. Regulation of cytotoxicity in NK cells is mediated by inhibitory receptors that bind major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules on target cells. Human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells are readily attacked by NK cells, because K562 cells expressed very low levels of MHC-I molecules for inhibitory NK cell receptors. In this study, we compared the ability of γ-irradiated- or mitomycin C (MMC)-treated K562 feeder cells to support expansion and activation of canine NK cells. We isolated CD5 negative cells from canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells by immunomagnetic separation and co-cultured with γ-irradiated (100 Gy)- or MMC (20 μg/mL)-treated K562 cells in the presence of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-15 and IL-21 for 21 days. As a result, number of CD5 negative cells, co-cultured with γ-irradiated- or MMC-treated K562 cells (56.72 ± 13.77 fold or 32.99 ± 10.83 fold), was increased than those of CD5 negetive cells (2.99 ± 1.42 fold). Also, we found that gene expression markers of activated NK cells such as NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, Ly49, NKG2D, CD244, perforin, and granzyme B and production of interferon gamma were similarly upregulated in NK cells co-cultured with γ-irradiated- or MMC-treated K562 cells, respectively. Next, we observed that cytotoxicity of NK cells co-cultured with γ-irradiated K562 cells was more sensitively reacted to canine mammary carcinoma cells than those of MMC-treated K562 cells. These results revealed that γ-irradiated K562 cells are more efficient feeder cells than MMC-treated K562 cells for enhancing NK cells expansion and activation.