Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have detrimental effects on human health. Among these EDCs, bisphenol A (BPA) binds to estrogen receptors (ERs) to stimulate estrogen-mediated responses. BPA is assumed to disrupt the reproductive and developmental system of humans. In addition, BPA has recently been suspected as a risk of carcinogenesis. Because BPA can cause abnormal estrogen-mediated response in the organism, exposure to BPA may stimulate growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancers in human. In breast cancer, cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 are important in G1/S phase transition during cell cycle progression. In this study, using an MTT assay, we investigated the effect of BPA on proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. In addition, we also analyzed the transcriptional levels of cyclin E and p27 following treatment with BPA using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. As a result, treatment with BPA resulted in significant induction of breast cancer cell growth, compared to a vehicle. BPA caused alterations of cyclin E and p27 mRNA expression. Expression of cyclin E was increased by BPA, while p27 was decreased at 24 h after treatment with BPA in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Taken together, these collective results suggest that exposure to BPA induced breast cancer cell proliferation with deregulation of the cell cycle. A further study is required in order to determine the effects of BPA on the carcinogenic process in in vivo models.

The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro production of bovine embryos in Hanwoo. Oocytes were collected by ovum pick up (OPU) from ovaries of genetically high-value Hanwoo or by needle puncture from ovaries of slaughtered cattle. OPU was done every 3 4 days duing experimental period and collected oocytes were fertilized in vitro in both OPU and needle puncture groups. First, We compared the in vitro maturation rate in two groups (Experiment 1). 545 oocytes were recoverd from 4 females by 32 trials of OPU and then 433 oocytes were shown MⅡ stage after in vitro maturation (79.4%). In case of needle puncture group, 1905 oocytes were collected and then 1420 oocytes were matured to MⅡ stage during in vitro culture(74.5%). Second, we compared the developmental rate to blastocyst in two groups (Experiment 2). 1420 oocyte by needle puncture were fertilized with frozen-thawing semen; the cleavage rate 24 48 h after in vitro fertilization (IVF) was 88.6% and blastocyst development rate was 20.5% in needle puncture group. Even though there is lower cleavage rate after IVF in OPU group (84.8%), blastocyst development rate was higher compared with needle puncture group (26.4%). In conclusion, Blastocyst developmental rate could be increased by OPU than classical method of needle puncture. Improvement of bio-technique in collecting oocytes could be applied to understand the reproductive physiology in cattle, expecially Hanwoo. Therefore, further investigation should be done to clarify the efficiency and advantage of OPU involved in reproduction in animals and human being. This research was suppoted by Imsil-gun agricultural technology service center.

Twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae was collected from the rose greenhouse in Gimhae, Gyeongnam province in Jan, 2001. Resistant strain was reared over nine years treated with Acequinocyl (over 400 times), and increased 614 folds as compared to susceptible strain (S). Cross resistance of acequinocylresistant strain adults to eight acaricide was showed high in Cyflumetofen (108 folds) and expressed low in Abamectin (16 folds), Tebufenpyrad (7.6 folds), Fenpyroximate (6.1 folds). Against Chlorfenapyr (0.5 folds), however, showed negatively correlated cross resistance. Synergistic effects with PBO (piperonyl butoxide), an oxygenase inhibitor, DEF (S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate), an esterase inhibitor, and DEM (diethymaleate), an inhibitor of glutathion S-transferase were also investigated. Synergistic effect showed low in DEM (4.2 folds) but showed high in PBO (12 folds) and DEF (23 folds).

Alginate-chitosan blend containing coconut-based activated carbon was prepared as a drug delivery carrier in order to improve the loading and releasing capacity of the drug. The activated carbon was incorporated as effective adsorbent for drug due to the extremely high surface area and pore volume, high adsorption capacity, micro porous structure and specific surface activity. Alginate-chitosan blend containing coconut-based activated carbon showed the sustained release for a longer period. Alginate-chitosan blend showed higher release of drug as the pH increased and higher release of drug as the content of chitosan decreased due to the pH-dependent solubility of blend components.

Activated carbon (AC) is one of the most effective adsorbents for organic compounds because of their extended surface area, high adsorption capacity, microporous structure and special surface reactivity. The composites of pH-sensitive hydrogel and activated carbon were prepared in order to improve the loading capacity of drug. The pH-sensitive hydrogel matrix swelled well in the basic condition to release the drug loaded in AC. The release of drug was controlled depending on both the pH due to the ionization of the carboxylic acid group and the AC due to the surface properties.

The e-CALLISTO is a global network of frequency-agile solar radio spectrometers that was constructed in a collaboration between Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and local host institutes. It is intended to monitor solar radio bursts 24 hours a day in frequency range between 45 MHz and 870 MHz. One of e-CALLISTO spectrometer was installed at Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) in 2007 October. The spectrometer gets signals from a horizontally polarized log-periodic antenna mounted on an automatic Sun-tracking system. Tracking status and data are monitored in Space Weather Monitoring Laboratory (SWML) of KASI in real time, and flare time data are transferred to ETH Zurich data archive daily. Using this spectrometer we obtained a couple of type II solar radio bursts on 2007 December 31, and found that these bursts are associated with a CME which occurred on the east limb.

This study was conducted to explore the possibility and potential of developing a new EFL (English as a Foreign language) curriculum which aims to promote foreign language learning and enhance students’ understanding of the world. For this purpose, the study examined the integration of poetry and dialogue journal writing within an EFL curriculum. The Data collection consisted of a survey, interviews, samples of dialogue journal writing, a classroom video recording, the classroom teacher’s journal and the researcher’s field note and journal. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to address the research question: What happens when EFL students read poetry within a response-oriented framework? Data analysis revealed that: 1) The students showed positive attitudes and beliefs toward using poetry through response-based instruction, 2) Students perceived that poetry and dialogue journal writing were a good resource for promoting English language, and 3) Students extended their learning experiences through their transactional readings of poetry. The study suggests that poetry and dialogue journal writing hold the potential to develop EFL curricula.

This study investigates the implementation of a new EFL course, English Practice. This is designed to enhance English reading and writing skills, and increase literary experiences among university students. For this study, literature for young adults and e-mail writing were introduced to change teaching/learning conventions in an EFL setting. The research framework was practitioner research. Data collection consisted of a survey, students’ writing in the classroom, and the instructor’s field notes and journal. Data were analyzed to address the following research question: What happens when university EFL students read and write English for real purposes? Data analysis revealed that: 1) the students viewed literature and e-mail writing as a new experience of language learning, 2) the students showed changes in their learning, and 3) the students’ experiences with the literature went beyond language learning. The author concludes that the unique course program provided students with new ways of developing understanding English as a foreign language and provided opportunities to express individual experiences of the texts they read.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)의 표면 형태가 생분해성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 용융 상태의 PHB를 서냉 (-0.5℃/min)시켰을 때 PHB의 결정화도는 액체질소 속으로 급냉한 후 90℃에서 2시간 동안 숙성한 PHB의 결정화도보다 높게 나타났으나 전자의 PHB 시료는 미세 균열의 존재로 인하여 후자의 PHB 시료보다 더 빠르게 생분해되었다. 거친 표면을 가진 평판 위에서 hot press하여 표면을

In order to avoid the high cost and high risk of demonstration mission of rendezvous-docking technology, missions using nanosatellites have recently been increasing. However, there are few successful mission cases due to many limitations of nanosatellites like small size, power limitation, and limited performances of sensor, thruster, and controller. To improve the probability of rendezvous-docking mission success using nanosatellite, a rendezvous-docking phase analysis tool for nanosatellites is developed. The tool serves to analyze the relative position and attitude control of the chaser satellite at the docking phase. In this tool, the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) is implemented as a controller, and Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is adopted as a filter for noise filtering. To verify the performance and effectiveness of the developed tool for nanosatellites, simulation study was conducted. Consequently, we confirmed that this tool can be used for the analysis of relative position and attitude control for nanosatellites in the rendezvous-docking phase.