The objective of this study was to determine the effects of E. coli isolated from porcine semen on sperm viability, motility, and semen pH. Semen samples were prepared using commercial extender, SeminarkPro (Noahbio Tech, Korea) that did not contain antibiotics. And 4 different levels of E. coli were artificially innoculated to semen with following concentrations; 4,000 of sperms with 1 of E. coli (T1), 400 with 1 (T2), 40 with 1 (T3), and 4 with 1 (T4). Semen samples were preserved at 17℃ for 5 days in semen storage box until analyzed by flowcytometer. Aliquots were subjected to measure the sperm viability (Live/Dead® stain), motility (mitochondrial function), and semen acidity (pH) from day 0 (day of semen collection) to day 5. Sperm motility and viability were significantly decreased (p<0.05) on day 0 (4 hrs after preservation at 17℃) in T3 and T4 compared to control groups and were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in all groups from day 3. Sample pH was acidic in T3 (6.90～6.86) and T4 (6.86～6.65) from day 3 to day 5 (p<0.05). On the other hand, sample pH was maintained 7.0～7.1 in control, T1, and T2 during the experimental period. Sperm motility and viability were significantly decreased from day 0 to day 5 compared to control in samples contaminated with E. coli above a value of 40:1 (20×106 sperm cells/ml : 5×105 cfu/ml). Even on day 1 in T4 and on day 3 in T3, semen pH was acidic probably due to the acidification of dead spermatozoa. These results suggest that E. coli contamination has a concentration-dependent detrimental effect on extended porcine semen quality.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of handicraft activities on hand promptness and grasp in the elderly. Subjects were comprised of 14 senior citizens between the ages of 70-85, with 7 subjects in the experiment group and 7 in the control group. Subjects in the experiment group practiced various handicrafts twice a day, while those in the control group did not participate in any special activity. The Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test was used to evaluate the results, while a dynamometer and pinch gauge were used to measure hand promptness and grasp. The 7 senior citizens in the experiment group were able to increase their hand promptness and grasping skills. Conclusively, handicrafts can help improve hand promptness and grasp in the elderly. Furthermore, the development and improvement of such skills can have a positive influence on the daily lives of senior citizens. Such skills are expected to improve the overall neuro-function in the elderly population.

칼슘이 존재하고 있을 때 분리대두단백질의 유화 안정에 대한 인산(Na_2HPO_4)과 구연산염(sodium citrate)의 효과를 염농도와 첨가순서에 관하여 연구하였다. 인산과 구연산염을 첨가하였을 때 단백질 용액의 pH는 증가하였으나 용해도는 감소하였다. 칼슘(CaCl_2)을 첨가하였을 때 에멀젼의 유화 안정도는 크게 감소하였으며, 3mM 이상의 농도에서 유화 안정도는 거의 나타나지 않았다. CaCl_2가 5mM 존재하고 있을 때 Na_2HPO_4를 첨가하면 20mM 농도까지는 유화안정도가 증가하나 그 이상의 농도에서는 유화 안정도가 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 또한 Na_2HPO_4를 먼저 첨가한 후 CaCl_2를 가한 경우가 그 반대의 경우보다 전체적으로 더 높은 유화 안정도를 보였다. CaCl_2의 존재하에서 구연산염을 첨가한 경우에도 인산염과 거의 비슷한 경향을 보였다. 본 연구에서는 분리대두단백질의 용해도는 유화 안정성과 밀접한 관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다.