We estimate the fractal dimension of the ρ Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud Complex, associated with star forming regions. We selected a cube (v, l, b) database, obtained with J = 1−0 transition lines of 12CO and 13CO at a resolution of 22′′ using a multibeam receiver system on the 14-m telescope of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. Using a code developed within IRAF, we identified slice-clouds with two threshold temperatures to estimate the fractal dimension. With threshold temperatures of 2.25 K (3σ) and 3.75 K (5σ), the fractal dimension of the target cloud is estimated to be D = 1.52–1.54, where P / AD/2 , which is larger than previous results. We suggest that the sampling rate (spatial resolution) of observed data must be an important parameter when estimating the fractal dimension, and that narrower or wider dispersion around an arbitrary fit line and the intercepts at NP = 100 should be checked whether they relate to rms noise level or characteristic structure of the target cloud. This issue could be investigated by analysing several high resolution databases with different quality (low or moderate sensitivity).

We present a multi-dimensional reduction method of the surveyed cube database obtained using a single- dish radio telescope in Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO). The multibeam receiver system installed at the 14 m telescope in TRAO was not optimized at the initial stage, though it became more stabilized in the following season. We conducted a Galactic Plane survey using the multibeam receiver system. We show that the noise level of the first part of the survey was higher than expected, and a special reduction process seemed to be definitely required. Along with a brief review of classical methods, a multi-dimensional method of reduction is introduced; It is found that the ‘background’ task within IRAF (Image Reduction and Analysis Facility) can be applied to all three directions of the cube database. Various statistics of reduction results is tested using several IRAF tasks. The rms value of raw survey data is 0.241 K, and after primitive baseline subtraction and elimination of bad channel sections, the rms value turned out to be 0.210 K. After the one-dimensional reduction using ‘background’ task, the rms value is estimated to be 0.176 K. The average rms of the final reduced image is 0.137 K. Thus, the image quality is found to be improved about 43% using the new reduction method.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during the somatic cell transfer nuclear (SCNT) procedures may cause the mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage, which may result in restricts the reprogramming of SCNT embryos and play a key direct role in apoptosis. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of antioxidant treatment during the SCNT procedures on the inhibition of mitochondria and DNA damages in bovine SCNT embryos. The reconstituted oocytes were treated with antioxidants of 25 μM β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) or 50 μM vitamin C (Vit. C) during the SCNT procedures. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed for controls. Mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential (ΔΨ) were evaluated by staining the embryos with MitoTracker Red or JC-1. Apoptosis was analyzed by Caspase-3 activity assay and TUNEL assay, and DNA fragmentation was measured by comet assay at the zygote stage. Mitochondrial morphology of non-treated SCNT embryos was diffused within cytoplasm without forming clumps, while the IVF embryos and antioxidant treated SCNT embryos were formed clumps. The ΔΨ of β-ME (1.3±0.1, red/green) and Vit. C-treated (1.4±0.2, red/green) SCNT embryos were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of non-treated SCNT embryos (0.9±0.1, red/ green), which similar to that of IVF embryos (1.3±0.1, red/green). Caspase-3 activity was not difference among the groups. TUNEL assay also revealed that little apoptosis was occurred in SCNT embryos as well as IVF embryos regardless of antioxidant treatment. Comet tail lengths of β-ME and Vit. C-treated SCNT embryos (337.8±23.5 μm and 318.7 ±27.0 μm, respectively) were shorter than that of non-treated SCNT embryos (397.4± 21.4 μm) and similar to IVF embryos (323.3±10.6 μm). These results suggest that antioxidant treatment during SCNT procedures can inhibit the mitochondrial and DNA damages of bovine SCNT embryos.

Bacterial contamination reduces the semen quality, semen preservation, and cause of disease spread as well. Sperm fertility is essential factor of reproductive performance in swine. Sperm fertility is affected by semen quality such as sperm motility, abnormality, morphology, and rate of bacterial contamination. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between elapsed time after semen preservation on the changes of bacteria and semen quality. Semen was diluted with BTS extender without antibiotic for 7 days and sperm parameter and fertility were measured. Sperm motility was measured by CASA and total bacteria number was counted after 22 24 hr incubation from counting agar plate in which sperm dilute to 10 106 in 0.9% saline solution and inoculate to agar. Acrosomal integrity was measured by Chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. CTC patterns were uniform fluorescence over the whole head (pattern A), characteristic of uncapacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; fluorescence-free band in the post-acrosomal region (pattern B), characteristic of capacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; and almost no fluorescence over the whole head except for a thin band in the equatorial segment (pattern C), characteristic of acrosome reacted spermatozoa. Total number of bacteria was significantly increased (p<0.0001) 3 days after preservation. Sperm motility, viability, and morphological abnormality on elapsed time after preservation were lower from 5 (77.24±6.47, p<0.001) and 7 days (77.24±6.47, p< 0.001) after preservation compared to 1 (15.71±7.18) and 3 days(18.39±7.22) after preservation, respectively. Sperm viability was significantly lower (53.25±35.03, p<0.0001) at 7 days after preservation. Mohological abnormality of sperm was lower (p<0.001) at 1 (15.71±7.18) and 3 (18.39±7.22) days compared to (5 21.84±7.91) and 7 (22.59± 9.93) days after preservation. Acrosomal integrity and capacitation rate (pattern A) were significantly lower (p<0.001) from 5 days after preservation.

본 연구는 착상전 이배체 단위발생 돼지난자를 체외 배양시 우태아혈청 (FBS), 우혈청 알부민 (BSA) 및 상피세포성장인자 (EGF)를 배양액에 첨가하였을 때 배반포, 총 세포수, 세포사멸 및 세포사멸에 관여하는 유전자의 발현을 조사하고자 수행하였다. 0.4% BSA를 배양액에 첨가하였을 때 2세포기 단위발생 난자의 배반포까지의 발달율이 증가되었다(P<0.01). FBS는 배반포의 총세포수를 감소시 켰고 세포사멸을 증가하였다(P<0.01). 그리고 EGF는 BSA가 존재하는 조건하에서 배반포의 총세포수를 증가하였는데 EGF와 BSA가 각각 단독으로 존재할 때는 이런 작용이 없었다. 세포사멸도 이와 이슷한 경향을 보였는데 EGF와 BSA가 각각 존재할 때에는 비처리군과 차이가 없었지만 함께 존재할 때에는 세포사멸을 감소시켰다. RT-PCR의 결과에 의하면 EGF는 BSA가 존재하는 배양액에서 Bcl-xL 유전자의 상대적 발현량을 증가시키고 Bak 유전자의 상대적 발현량에는 영향을 주지 않는 과정을 통하여 세포사멸을 감소시키는것 같다. 반면에 FBS는 Bcl-xL의 발현량을 감소시키고 Bak 유전자의 상대적 발현량을 증가시킨다. 이러한 결과는 세포사멸에 관여하는 유전자의 발현은 배양액의 첨가물에 따라 유의적으로 영향을 받으며, 체외배양시 배아의 초기발달에 관여함을 시사한다.