As markets and industries continue to evolve rapidly, technology opportunity discovery (TOD) has become critical to a firm's survival. From a common consensus that TOD based on a firm’s capabilities is a valuable method for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and reduces the risk of failure in technology development, studies for TOD based on a firm’s capabilities have been actively conducted. However, previous studies mainly focused on a firm's technological capabilities and rarely on business capabilities. Since discovered technologies can create market value when utilized in a firm's business, a firm’s current business capabilities should be considered in discovering technology opportunities. In this context, this study proposes a TOD method that considers both a firm's business and technological capabilities. To this end, this study uses patent data, which represents the firm's technological capabilities, and trademark data, which represents the firm's business capabilities. The proposed method comprises four steps: 1) Constructing firm technology and business capability matrices using patent classification codes and trademark similarity group codes; 2) Transforming the capability matrices to preference matrices using the fuzzy function; 3) Identifying a target firm’s candidate technology opportunities using the collaborative filtering algorithm; 4) Recommending technology opportunities using a portfolio map constructed based on technology similarity and applicability indices. A case study is conducted on a security firm to determine the validity of the proposed method. The proposed method can assist SMEs that face resource constraints in identifying technology opportunities. Further, it can be used by firms that do not possess patents since the proposed method uncovers technology opportunities based on business capabilities.

The aim of this study was to compare the appearance rate of vaginal cytology during estrous cycle in small pet bitches. A characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were the high proportion of superficial cell in proestrus, anuclear cell in estrus, small intermediate cell in diestrus, and small intermediate cell in anestrus, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences of appearance rate of vaginal cytology among small pet bitches in the each phase of estrous cycle. These results indicated that the vaginal cytology was useful method for estimating estrous cycle and optimal breeding time in small pet bitches.

This study was operated to establish induction using ultrasonography by estimating the relation of follicle size and estrus manifestation. Clinical estrus symptoms were observed 97.4% in cows and 87.5% in heifers when overall 55 cows were induced to estrus in a single dose of after verifying CL through ultrasonography, which means estrus hours among those 52 cows showing the clinical estrus symptoms were estimated 2.39 days on cows and for 2.37 days on heifers which showed no differences (p>0.05). The estrus manifestation hours according to the follicle size in cows didn't have any significance each other (p>0.05), though estrus hours was 54 hours (the shortest) with follicle size bigger than 10 mm and were made up within 69 hours. The estrus manifestation hours according to the follicle size in heifers didn't have any significance each other (p>0.05) and took around 42 hours (the shortest) with follicle size of 5mm (the smallest) and were made up within 66 hours. Follicles after injection were ovulated and assigned to many phases as follows; Group 1 (growing phase) - continuously growing into ovulation, Group 2 (growing and static phase) - delaying in growth after the growth of follicles, Group 3 (static and growing phase) - growing after growth delay, Group 4 (regressing and new growing phase) - the follicle is closed and a new follicle grows. In addition, the process of follicle development and estrus hours had no significance each other (p>0.05), though estrus manifestation hours in Group 1 and 2 was relatively short, and in Group 3 and 4 for a relatively long time. In the result of all above, the estrus manifestation hours after injection has no differences accoring to the follicle size in cows and heifers. Therefore, High pregnancy rate is obtained when practicing artificial insemination within 3 days in estrus or TAI in 72 to 80 hours after adminitrating .

This study was carried out to develop the useful inducing method of estrus for Korean native cows. Under the condition of estrus induction by administering for the cows in which corpus luteum (CL) in ovaries was detected by ultrasonography, ovarian responses and the changes of progesterone () concentration against compared with conception rate were observed in cows and heifers. In inducing estrus administering . to the cows which has corpus luteum in ovaries, ovarian reponses, the changes of progesterone concentration, and conception rate were identified and compared. The results attained from the studies were as follows. Significant decreases of CL in size over time after administration were detected in both cow and heifer groups (p<0.001), but not different between groups in the CL regression rate (p>0.05). In addition, the percentage changes relative to the plasma concentration on day 1 after treatment were decreased to below 1ng/ml. The growth rate of follicle was observed as 31% on day 1 and 42% on day 2 in cows, and 34% on day 1 and 97% on day 2 in heifers, resulting that growth of heifers are faster than that of cows (p<0.05). The conception rate after treatment were 60.5% and 64.2% in cows and heifers, respectively. It also indicated that the conception rate after estrus observation with injection was as high as 66.6% while that with timed-artificial insemination (TAI) regardless of the estrus observation was 56%, which means the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination after estrus observation was higher than that of TAI (p<0.05). In the result of all above, there were significant decreases in CL size and the plasma concentration by days but rapid growth in follicles, which has no differences in cows and heifers. The conception rate was commonly high after estrus observation and more than 50% under TAI.

This study investigated potential relationship between fetal deaths and plasma progesterone concentrations of bitches. Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on small-pet 23 dogs from gestation day (GD) 15 through parturition. The dogs were 3 non-pregnant bitches, 9 spontaneous delivery bitches, 6 partial early embryonic death bitches, 2 whole early embryonic death bitches, and 3 aborted bitches. The late pregnancy (GD 51-54) appeared in 2 of the 3 aborted bitches and the hypoluteoidism appeared in 1 of the 3 aborted bitches. The plasma progesterone concentrations of partial early embryonic death bitches (n=6) showed no significant difference when compared with the spontaneous delivery bitches. We observed that plasma progesterone concentrations were dramatic decrease before the onset of embryonic death in whole early embryonic death bitches that plasma progesterone concentrations of aborted bitches at late pregnancy were significantly decreased when compared with those of spontaneous delivery bitches. The plasma progesterone concentrations of the hypoluteoidism bitch were lower than those of spontaneous delivery bitches. At the hypoluteoidism bitch, fetuses were resorbed in early pregnancy and aborted in late pregnancy. On the basis of the results, the diagnosis of partial early embryonic death could not be confirmed without ultrasonographic examination. The partial early embryonic death was considered a spontaneous phenomenon and uncorrelated with plasma progesterone concentration. However, aborted bitches and whole early embryonic death bitches were related to plasma progesterone concentrations and that of bitches gradually decreased before fetal death. These findings suggest that administration of progesterone may be a useful preventing agent against fetal death.

A total 5,946 cows from 24 dairy farms were carried out for the improvement of reproductive performance. Dairy cows in post-parturition 30 day were performed periodic reproductive examination to check for recovery of post-parturition ovary and uterus and for the early diagnosis of reproductive disease. The results obtained from this studies were as follow. The result of 1,126 cows with ovario-uterine disease were 579 slient heat and error of estrus detection (51.4%), 296 ovarian disease (26.3%), 248 uterine disease (22%), mummification and freematin were each 1 head (0.1%), respectively. Hormonal therapeutic effects were follicular cyst 81.5%, luteal cyst 90.7%, endometritis 86.9%, mucometra 90.1%, pyometra 60.9%, respectively. In cows, even if the 1st treatment fails, 2nd, 3rd treatment were performed. Therapeutic effect of 2nd, 3rd were reduced, but the number of cured cows were gradually increased. The cured cows after hormonal treatment were performed service repeatedly and the cumulative conception rate were increased. The cows treated with hormones at first service, the conception rate were follicular cyst 26%, luteal cyst 64.1%, endometritis 38.7%, mucometra 40%, pyometra 20.5%, respectively. The cumulative conception rates were increased by repeated service follicular cyst 57.3%, luteal cyst 84.6%, endometritis 67%, mucometra 75%, pyometra 64.1%, respectively.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between conception rate and other parameters (body condition score; BCS, progesterone concentrations and follicle size) before estrus induction with CIDR(intravaginal progesterone-releasing controlled internal drug release). The conception rate in cows with < 2.75, 2.75 to 3.25, and 3.25 <, BCS regardless of AI (artificial insemination) time was 46.6%, 63.3%, and 46.6% at CIDR insertion, respectively. The conception rate regardless of BCS was 54.9% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 48.7% in cows inseminated at 72 to 80 hours (timed artificial insemination, TAI) after removal of CIDR. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 40.0% in cows with low progesterone concentrations (less than 1.0 ng/ml), and 56.6% in cows with high progesterone concentrations (more than 1.0 ng/ml) at CIDR injection. The conception rate regardless of progesterone concentrations was 53.8% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 38.0% in cows of TAI after removal of CIDR. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 43.3% in cows with small follicle (less than 5 mm), 53.3% in cows between 5 mm to 10 mm of follicle, and 63.3% in cows with large folliclc (more than 10 mm) at CIDR injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of follicle size was 58.4% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 45.9% in cows of TAI after removal of CIDR. These results indicated that if the cows with BCS 2.75 to 3.25, active corpus luteum, and/or large dominant follicle (more than 10 mm) are used for estrus induction, the conception rate will be greater.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between conception rate and other parameters (body condition score; BCS, progesterone concentrations and follicle size) before estrus induction with . The conception rate in cows with (2.75, 2.75 to 3.25 and 3.25), BCS regardless of AI (artificial insemination) time was 47.5, 67.5% and 48.5% at injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of BCS was 59.0% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 46.2% in cows inseminated at 72 to 80 hours (timed artificial insemination, TAI) after injection. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 43.0% in cows with low progesterone concentrations (less than 1.0 ng/ml), and 67.5% in cows with high progesterone concentrations (more than 1.0 ng/ml) at injection. The conception rate regardless of progesterone concentrations was 59.9% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 48.1% in cows of TAI after injection. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 36.0% in cows with small dominant follicles (less than 5 mm), 56.0% in cows between 5 mm to 10 mm of follicle size, and 65.5% in cows with large dominant follicles (more than 10 mm) at injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of follicle size was 57.3% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 47.6% in cows of TAI after injection. These results indicated that if the cows with BCS 2.75 to 3.25, active corpus luteum, and/or large dominant follicle (more than 10 mm) are used for estrus induction, the conception rate will be greater.

This study was carried out the normal serial ultrasonographic appearance of the postpartum uterine involution with small pet bitches. Postpartum changes in uterine shape, architecture, echogenicity and diameter were monitored with ultrasonography in small pet bitches (Miniature Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel and Shih-tzu). In the Miniature Schnauzer bitches, uterine diameter of the placental sites and interplacental sites were decreased from at 1 day to at 7 day, and at 1 day to at 7 day postpartum. In the Cocker Spaniel, the placental sites and interplacental sites were decreased from at 1 day to at 7 day, and at 1 day to at 7 day postpartum. In the Shih-tzu, the placental sites and interplacental sites were decreased from at 1 day to at 7 day, and at 1 day to at 7 day postpartum. And uterine diameter was no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). At 67 days, the uterine diameter in Miniature Schnauzer bitches were 6~7 mm both placental and interplacental sites, and the uterine horns showed uniform hypoechoic, tubular structures without enlargement. In present study, the involution of the uterus was completed at 67 days after parturition in Miniature Schnauzer, and 65 days in Cocker Spaniel and the Shih-tzu. There were no significant differences of normal postpartum uterine involution between small pet bitches (p>0.05). In conclusion, the postpartum involution of small pet bitches appeared to be completed normally at 65~67 days after parturition and could be identified by gross findings such as vaginal discharges and ultrasonographic findings of uterine shape and echogenicity.

To investigate the change of vaginal epithelial cell in estrus-induced Shih-tzu bitch, estrus was induced by PMSG (50 IU/kg, for 10 days) and hCG (1,000 IU, on Day 10) in 12 anestrus Shih-tzu bitches. Day-changes of vaginal epithelial cells during the whole period of hormone treatment were investigated in each experimental bitches. The first day of vulvar bleeding and the first day of male acceptant was on days (), and days after the first PMSG treatment. The duration of proestrus and estrus was days, and days. Characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were the high proportion of large intermediate cell, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in proestrus, superficial cell and anuclear cell in estrus, and parabasal cell, small and large intermediate cell, and leukocyte in diestrus, respectively. When it was timed from the first day of PMSG administration (Day 0), the cornification index (CI) was the high proportion in proestrus and estrus. The CI peak was maintained above 80% between Day 11~14 (4 days) and CI showed a peak at Day 12. These results indicated that the 12 Shih-tzu bitches showed positive estrus induction by vaginal smear test and observation of clinical estrus sign.

The specimens from 32 aborted fetus and 274 aborted cows were collected in 168 farms of Chonnam province from 2005 to 2008 and were tested the brucellosis. The results obtained are summarized as follows. In the 32 aborted fetus, bovine brucellosis was detected in 12 heads (37.5%), bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease was detected in 7 heads (19%), ainovirus infection was detected in 1 head (3.1%), and multi-infection of BVD and brucellosis was not detected, respectively. In the 306 cases of aborted fetus and cows, bovine brucellosis was detected in 44 heads (14%). Status of abortion were confirmed in 63 farms (38%) out of 168 farms from June to August. From the point of raising scale, studies found that 128 farms (76%) out of all raised under 20 heads. The incidence of abortion by brucellosis was mainly showed in 30 heads (68.1%) about 151~250 days of gestation. In the result of the 18 farms survey, the causes of infections were detected movement of infected cattle in 5 farms (28%), unknown cause in 12 farms (67%), and recurrence in 1 farm (5%). The results of this study suggest to take an advantage of the prevention and fundamental research for bovine brucellosis in Chonnam province.

Ultrasonographic examination was performed to observe the ultrasonographic image of Korean native cows' normal uterus in condition of in vitro and in vivo. The experiment was done 28 slaughtered cows' uterus using immersed in water in vitro, and 41 healthy breeding cows taken rectal ultrasonography in vivo. Ultrasonographic examination of uterine was taken on the reference of cross section of intercornual ligaments' cranial. Each uterus on the experiments was compared by estrous cycle and ultrasonographic frequency. The uterine structure using ultrasonography was 5 layers of uterine horn in vivo as well as in vitro. Uterine horn was observed to be distinguished from inside to outside as endometrium to inner echogenic layer, circular muscle layer to slightly echogenic elliptical layer, stratum vasculare to central echogenic layer, longitudinal muscle layer to slightly echogenic arched layer, and perimetrium to outer echogenic layer, respectively. According to the observation of uterus related to estrous cycle and ultrasonographic examination, uterine endometrium in vitro was constantly founded irrespective of estrous cycle and ultrasonographic frequency. On the low frequency, endometrium and circular muscle layer in estrus were prone to distinguished than in diestrus. On the high frequency, endometrium and circular muscle layer were always distinguished regardless of estrous cycle. In vivo, uterine endometrium and circular muscle layer were observed regardless of estrus and ultrasonographic frequency. On the low frequency, stratum vasculare and longitudinal muscle layer were not likely to be distinguished in diestrus, but estrus. On the high frequency, stratum vasculare and longitudinal muscle layer were observed regardless of estrous cycle. Also, every uterine structure was easily distinguished on high frequency than low frequency owing to precision of distinction in layers. The difference of results followed by the experiments conditions between in vitro and in vivo was that uterine endometrium and circular muscle layer in diestrus in vitro were difficult to be distinguished and uterine lumen was observed during whole estrous cycle. In vivo, It was founded that the distinction of stratum vasculare and logitudinal muscle layer in diestrus was complicated and uterine lumen was observed during only estrus. In view of the result so far achieved, normal uterine structure divided in 5 layers on ultrasonography was accorded with microscopic organization, uterine structure was likely to be observed during estrus than diestrus, high frequency checkup than low frequency, and uterine endometrium, circular muscle, stratum vasculare was easily observed regardless of estrous cycle and ultrasonographic frequency.

Serial ultrasonography was conducted on Miniature Schnauzer bitches, on purpose to observe the ultrasonographic appearance of normal ovaries and ovarian structures during the estrous cycle. The size of ovaries was increased from on Day-12 (Day-0=ovulation day) to on Day-8 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The ovaries were recognized by its proximity to the caudal renal pole and appeared moderately echogenic oval shape with a smooth contour. The size of follicles was increased from on Day-12 to on Day-0 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The number of follicles was increased from on Day-12 to on Day-0 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The follicles were small anechoic fluid-filled structures in early of proestrus, more increased, and indistinguished from each follicles in late of proestrus. The size of corpora lutea was increased from on Day-0 to on Day-8 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The number of corpora lutea was increased from on Day-0 to on Day-38 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The corpora lutea were small anechoic cavity and thin hyperechoic wall in early of diestrus, became more hyperechoic, and increased homogenous structures. The results of this study would be useful for differential diagnosis between normal and abnormal structures of ovaries.

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed to establish a prediction table of parturition date in pregnant Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih-tzu and Miniature Schnauzer bitches. The inner chorionic cavity diameter and fetal head diameter in 45 pregnant bitches were converted retrospectively based on the day of parturition. The data of inner chorionic cavity diameter obtained from Day-44 to Day-25 and fetal head diameter obtained from Day-25 to Day-1 were used to compile a equations of prediction of parturition date. The 70 pregnant bitches with unknown mating time were examined to assess an accuracy of the equations established in this study. And these results were applied to the prediction of parturition date and compared to actual parturition date. The accuracy for parturition date within 0, 1, and 2 days interval using the equations of prediction of parturition date were 64.3%, 22.8% and 12.8%, respectively. The overall accuracy of prediction table of parturition day based on the ICCD and HD was 100% accurate within 2 days. Therefore, the prediction table seems to be a useful tool of the prediction of parturition day in practice.

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the growth curve of gestational structures in pregnant Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, Shih-tzu, and Miniature Schnauzer bitches, respectively. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. The inner chorionic cavity diameter were significantly and linearly relative to gestational age especially days 20 to 40, and the fetal head diameter were significantly and linearly relative to gestational age especial1y day 40 to parturition. These results indicate that inner chorionic cavity diameter were the most accurate for estimating gestational age before day 38 of gestation and the fetal head diameter were after day 38 of gestation.

Vaginal cytology with behavioral observation was performed in 34 estrous cycles in 16 Miniature Schnauzer dogs to evaluate the its usefulness. The mean duration of proestrus and estrus in Miniature Schnauzer based on behavioral observation and vaginal cytology was (Mean S.D., range: ) and days for proestrus, and and days for estrus, respectively. The duration of each phase of the estrous cycle was not significantly different based on between behavioral observation and vaginal cytology. The gestational length from the first day of male acceptance was days, days from the first male refusal, and days from the onset of cytologic diestrus, respectively. Vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were significantly characteristic of large intermediate cells in proestrus, anuclear cells in estrus, small intermediate cells in diestrus, and parabasal cells and small intermediate cells in anestrus (p<0.001), respectively. Cornification index (CI) by vaginal cytology was higher in proestrus () and estrus (), then it was decreased in diestrus () and anestrus ().