We have demonstrated the feasibility of using electrospinning method to fabricate long and continuous composite nanofiber sheets of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO). Such PAN/ZnO composite nanofiber sheets represent an important step toward utilizing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as materials to achieve remarkably enhanced physico-chemical properties. In an attempt to derive these advantages, we have used a variety of techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) to obtain quantitative data on the materials. The CNFs produced are in the diameter range of 100 to 350 nm after carbonization at 1000℃. Electrical conductivity of the random CNFs was increased by increasing the concentration of ZnO. A dramatic improvement in porosity and specific surface area of the CNFs was a clear evidence of the novelty of the method used. This study indicated that the optimal ZnO concentration of 3 wt% is enough to produce CNFs having enhanced electrical and physico-chemical properties.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of vitrification procedure for the cryopreservation of porcine oocytes and the utilization of vitrified oocytes as recipient cytoplasts for somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT), and observed that porcine oocytes are evaluated by pronuclear formation, and parthenogenetic development. Single fetal donor cells were deposited into the perivitelline space of vitrified enucleation oocytes, followed by electrical fusion and activation. NT embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 5% FBS, at in 5% and air. 1. When the developmental rates of the oocytes after being culture for hours vitrified with EDS and ETS were 42.0%, 38.0%, respectively. This results were lower than the control group(62.2%). 2. When the developmental rates of the oocytes after being culture for hours vitrified-thawed with sucrose and glucose, 5% PVP, NCSU-23 supplemented with 10% FBS were 33.3%, 25.9%, respectively. This results were lower than the control group(55.6%). 3. The fusion and development to the blastocyst stage between the NT embryos constructed with the vitrified and non-vitrified oocytes were significant differences. Developmental rate of oocytes and NT embryos constructed with the vitrified or non-vitrified oocytes were , respectively.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of morphology of oocytes, kinds of media, cysteine and myo-inositol supplementation on IVM rate of porcine oocytes. Cumulus- enclosed oocytes were incubated in maturation NCSU-23 and TCM-199 medium with supplementation with 3, 5, 10, 20 mM myo-inositol and 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 mM cysteine. 1. When classified by morphology, excellent, good and fair of cumulus-enclosed oocytes were incubated for 48 hrs and the IVM rate were , respectively. The rate were greater in oocytes with excellent cumulus cells than those without cumulus cells. 2. The IVM rate of oocytes cultured in TCM-199 and NCSU- 23 medium supplementation or non-supplementation with 1.0 mM myo-inositol were , respectively. Supplementation with myo-inositol significantly increased the IVM rate of oocytes. 3. The IVM rate of oocytes cultured in NCSU-23 medium supplementation of 3, 5, 10, 20 mM myo-inositol for 48 hrs were , respectively. The IVM rate of oocytes in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 10 mM myo-inositol were significantly increased compared to control (). 4. The IVM rate of oocytes cultured for 48 hrs in NCSU-23 media supplement with 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mM myo-inositol were , respectively. The IVM rate of oocytes in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 10 mM cysteine were significantly increased compared to control ().

These study was carried out to investigate the effects of the collection time, culture time and activation of canine oocytes on in vitro maturation rates. The activated oocytes were cultured in 10% FCS+TCM-199 media containing hormonal supplements (10 IU/ml HCG, 10 IU/ml PMSG, 10 ug/ml gonadotropin) at 5% , 95% air, . 1. IVM rate of in vitro cultured cumulus-attached oocytes recovered from ovaries that collected at follicular and luteal stages of the reproductive cycles were 11.4% and 5.7%, respectively. IVM rate of oocytes recovered from ovaries that collected at follicular stages of the reproductive cycles was significantly higher than that of luteal stage (p<0.05). 2. When IVM was carried out at different periods of 40, 48, and 70 hrs, the IVM rates of oocytes matured in vitro were 2.9%, 8.6%, 5.7%, respectively. These results indicate that the IVM time between hrs gives the highest maturation rate for the oocytes matured at the different stages. 3. IVM rate of oocytes matured in vitro for 10 hrs after single and combined activation treatment by ET, IP and CH and Ca+DMAP, CH+DMAP, ET+CH were respectively. This was higher than that in both single and combined stimulated groups compared to control group ().

The magnetic inductance of nanocrystalline Fe73Si16B7Nb3Cu1 and an amorphous FeSiB powder sheet has been investigated to identify RFID performance. The powder was mixed with binder and solvent and tape-casted to form films. Results show annealing significantly influenced on the inductance of the material. The surface oxidation of the particles was the main reason for the reduced inductance. The maximum inductance of Fe73Si16B7Nb3Cu1 alloy was about 88μH at 17.4 MHz, about 65% greater compared to the FeSiB alloy. The higher inductance in the nanocrystalline alloy indicates it may be used as a potential replacement of current RFID materials.

Silver nitrate (AgNO3) powder was mixed into a reformed pitch precursor. Then, the silver-containing pitch was melt spun to form round and "C" shape fibers. A wire mesh was inserted prior to the nozzle to improve the spinnability of the silvercontaining precursor pitch. Silver particles in the carbon fibers (CFs) were detected by XRD and TEM. These tests showed that silver particles were uniformly distributed and the total amount of silver remained constant during stabilization and carbonization. Next, the silver-containing CFs were activated by steam diluted in nitrogen gas. Silver particles accelerated the activation rate, but the specific surface areas of the silver-containing ACFs were similar to those of non-silver containing ACFs at the same burn-off levels. The specific surface area of the C-shaped activated carbon fibers was larger than that of the round activated carbon fibers. The likely reason is that the surface area of a C-shaped CF is about two times larger than that of a round CF when equivalent cross-sectional areas are compared. A small amount of silver particles in the periphery of the CFs was removed during the activation, but the remainder of silver was stayed within the ACFs.

We examined the role of SR 144528 (N-[-(1S-endo-1,3,,3-trimethyl-bicycle[2, 2, 1 ] heptan-2-y1]-5-(-4-chloro-3-mothyl-phenyl)-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3- carboxamide) in the modulation of certain AC isoforms in transiently transfected COS-7 cells. We found that CB2 in COS cells has a constitutive activity, and thus leading to inhibition of AC-V activity even in the absence of agonist. In addition, this constitutive modulation of AC is reversed by SR144528. It is now well established that several G protein-coupled receptors can signal without agonist stimulation(constitutive receptors). Inverse agonists have been shown to inhibit the activity of such constitutive G protein-coupled receptor signaling. Agonist activation of the Gi/o/-coupled peripheral cannabinoid receptor CB2 normally inhibits adenylyl cyclase type V and stimulates adenylyl cyclase type II. Using transfected COS cells, we show here that application of SR144528, an inverse agonist of CB2, leads to a reverse action (stimulation of adenylyl cyclase V and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase II). This inverse agonism of SR144528 is dependent on the temperature, as well as on the concentration of the cDNA of CB2 transfected. Pertussis toxin blocked the regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity by SR 144528.

Coal tar pitch was chemically modified with 10 wt% benzoquinone (BQ) to raise the softening point of isotropic pitch precursor and the precursor was melt-spun into pitch fibers, stabilized, carbonized and activated with steam at 900℃. The weight loss of carbon fiber-benzoquinone (CF-BQ) increased with the increase of activation time like other fibers, but was lower than those of Kureha fiber at the same activation time in spite of larger geometric surface area. Those adsorption isotherms fitted into 'Type I' according to Brunauer, Deming, Deming and Teller classification. However, there was very thin low-pressure hysteresis that lower closure points of the hysteresis are about 0.42-0.45. From the pore size distribution curves, there might be some micropores having narrow-necked bottle; a series of interconnected pore is more likely than discrete bottles. FT-IR studies showed that the functional groups such as carboxyl, quinone, and phenol were introduced to ACFs-BQ surface after steam activation. Methylene blue decolorization and iodine adsorption capacity of ACF-BQ increased linearly with the increase of specific surface area and was larger than that of ACF-Kureha at the same specific surface area.

Effect of some physical and chemical factors on germination of conidia of Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler causing fruit rot of apple was investigated. The germination was maximum at , 100 per cent RH and at 5.5 pH Syllit, amongst the 11 fungicides and Planofix, amongst the 5 growth regulators caused maximum inhibition of conidial germination.