Nd-Fe-B type powder was sintered using spark plasma sintering method. Fabricated compact sintered at the temperature of , is found to be a composite magnet with Nd-Fe-Co-B and . The compact sintered at shows slightly low coercivity and large remanent magnetization comparing to the compact sintered at due to the formation of phase, resulting in the large maximum energy product. Maximum energy product tends to decrease with decreasing thickness of sintered compacts below 0.5 mm in thickness.

Densification behavior of iron powder under cold stepped compaction was studied. Experimental data were also obtained for iron powder under cold stepped compaction. The elastoplastic constitutive equation based on the yield function of Shima and Oyane was implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to simulate compaction responses of iron powder during cold stepped compaction. Finite element results were compared with experimental data for densification, deformed geometry and density distribution.

The purpose of this study was to assess sperm quality during in vitro storage of miniature-pig semen in order to determine which extender should be used and how extender can be diluted for in vitro storage of miniature-pig semen. Freshly ejaculated miniature-pig's semen was diluted with same volumes of Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS), Androhep, Modena, Mulberry III and modified-Modena extenders. Sperm quality was evaluated by examining viability, motility, abnormality, acrosome intactness, intensity and capacitation status by chlorotetracycline (CTC) staining. Sperm motility decreased with storage period prolonged and differences among BTS, Androhep, Modena and Mulberry III were apparent On Day 1, approximately 80% of the sperm were motile, but motility decreased to 40% at Day 7. During the 7 days of storage, sperm survival in modified-Modena B extender was higher than another extenders. However, it was not differ significantly among other extenders. The percentage of F and B patterns were not differ significantly among the extenders. However, F pattern in modified-Modena B extender was slightly higher until 3 days of storage than that of Modena extender, modified-Modena A extender and modified-Modena C extender. The percentage of AR patterns in modified-Modena B extender was slightly lower, but did not differ significantly among other extenders. The results of present study suggest that modified-Modena B was effective as new extender for in vitro storage of miniature-pig semen.

Bending and tensile properties of 2D cross-ply C/C composites with processing heat treatment temperature (HTT) are evaluated. C/C composites used are made from two types of PAN based T700 and M40 carbon fibers with phenolic resin as carbon matrix precursor. Both the types of composites are heat treated at different temperatures (ranging from 750 to 2800℃) and characterized for bending and tensile properties. It is observed that, real density and open porosity increases with HTT, however, bulk density does show remarkable change. The real density and open porosity are higher in case T-700 carbon fiber composites at 2800℃, even though the density of M40 carbon fiber is higher. Bending strength is considerably greater than tensile strength through out the processing HTT due to the different mode of fracture. The bending and tensile strength decreases in both composites on 1000℃ which attributed to decrease in bulk density, thereafter with increase in HTT, bending and tensile strength increases. The maximum strength is in T700 fiber based composites at HTT 1500℃ and in M40 fiber based composites at HTT 2500℃. After attending the maximum value of strength in both types of composite at deflection HTT, after that strength decreases continuously. Decrease in strength is due to the degradation of fiber properties and in-situ fiber damages in the composite. The maximum carbon fiber strength realization in C/C composites is possible at a temperature that is same of fiber HTT. It has been found first time that the bending strength more or less 1.55 times higher in T700 fiber composites and in M40 fiber composites bending strength is 1.2 times higher than that of tensile strength of C/C composites.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of genotypes on in vitro maturation and fertilization in porcine fresh/frozen-thawed oocytes. The porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were divided into four groups according to whether they were: (1) in vitro matured; (2) cryopreserved and in vitro matured; (3) in vitro fertilized and (4) cryopreserved, and in vitro fertilized. Maturation of porcine COCs was accomplished by incubation in NCSU23 medium. Immature oocytes were cryopreserved by Open Pulled Straws (OPS) method according to Vajta et al., (1998). Oocytes stained by Acetic-Orcein method were observed under the microscope. DNA extracted from the ovaries was analyzed by RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and SSCP (single strand conformational polymorphisrrt) method. The rates of oocytes maturation and fertilization were significantly high in AA genotype. The results indicated that in vitro maturation and fertilization in porcine fresh/frozen-thawed oocytes may be affected by genotypes in pigs.

The purpose of this study was the analysis of sperm ability in Specific Pathogen Free (SPE) miniature pig for production of bio-organ. The collected semen was diluted with extender and stored at 17℃ for up to 7 days. The semen samples were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage for analysis of sperm ability. Sperm ability was evaluated by examining viability, progressive motility, sperm abnormality and intensity of the sperm membrane. Also, the semen was processed according to the convenient freezing method, and frozen-thawed sperm was evaluated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Motility of spermatozoa of SPF miniature pig was significantly (P<0.05) lower on 3 days or later compared to the Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace in domestic boar. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of Landrace were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in SPF miniature pig, Duroc and Yorkshire that had a similar percentage on 5 or 7 days of sperm storage. The percentage of spermatozoa with coiled tail decreased during the storage period but there were no significant difference. On the other hand, viability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa had a significantly (P<0.05) lower in SPF miniature pig than in other domestic boars. CTC patterns had no significant difference, but SPF miniature pig had higher percentage of capacitated spermatozoa and lower percentage of acrosome-reacted it than domestic boars. Therefore, this study suggest that it is necessary to develop the suitable extender and freezing methods methods for the high viable rate and fertilizing ability in vitro.

The Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) is a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) treasury project. The COSMOS aims to perform a 2 square degree imaging survey of an equatorial field in I(F814W) band, using the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Such a wide field survey, combined with ground-based photometric and spectroscopic data, is essential to understand the interplay between large scale structure, evolution and formation of galaxies and dark matter. In 2004, we have obtained high-quality, broad band images of the COSMOS field (B, V, r', i', and z') using Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope, and we have started our new optical multi-band program, COSMOS-21 in 2005. Here, we present a brief summary of the current status of the COSMOS project together with contributions from the Subaru Telescope. Our future Subaru program, COSMOS-21, is also discussed briefly.

The present study was performed to determine the ability of canine oocytes to achieve nuclear maturation according to oocyte diameter and different culture environments. All of the collected oocytes were classified by grade 1 to 3 and by their diameters such as <100㎛, <100㎛ to <110㎛, <110㎛ to <120㎛, >120㎛. Oocytes were cultured in culture medium supplemented with 10%FBS, 0.4%BSA,10% porcine follicular fluid (pFF), 10% canine serum (CS), or 10% canine estrus serum (CES). The mean number of oocytes recovered from estrus status ovaries was significantly higher than that of anestrus status ovaries (p<0.01). The maturation rate of grade 1 oocytes (>120㎛) was significantly higher than that of the other groups (p<0.05). Nuclear maturation to MI to MII in diameter of >110㎛ groups was significantly higher than that in <100㎛ group (p<0.05). The oocytes cultured in 10% FBS­supplemented group were significantly higher rate of GVBD compared to the other supplemented groups (p<0.05), and oocytes maturation to MI to MII in 10% FBS-, 0.4% BSA-, and 10% pFF-supplemented groups were significantly higher than those in 10% CS-supplemented group (p<0.05). Based on these results, the estrus status and the size of oocyte affect positively to improve nuclear maturation of canine immature oocytes in vitro. Among several protein sources, porcine follicular fluid was the most effective supplementation to culture medium to achieve higher in vitro maturation rate.

This study were examined whether plasminogen activators (PAs) are produced by porcine fresh or frozen-thawed cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) and cumulus cell free-oocytes. In fresh or frozen-thawed COCs and oocytes for 0 hour cultured, no activity of PAs was detected. However, at 24 hours of culture urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was detected in COCs and denuded oocytes. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 24 hours, no PAs were observed. After COCs were cultured for 48 hours, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and tPA-PAI were observed in COCs only. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 48 hours, no PAs were observed. These results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by porcine COCs, but only uPA by oocytes during maturation for 24 hours. Only tPA, and tPA-PAI are produced by COCs cultured for 48 hours, and no PAs are produced by denuded-oocytes cultured for 48 hours. In all of the frozen-thawed groups, no PAs are observed by COCs and denuded-oocytes.