During PIV (Physical Inventory Verification), the IAEA has been inspecting the CANDU-Type spent fuels using an optical fiber-based scintillation detector. KINAC has developed a new verification instrument to deal with problems of the existing one such as low sensitivity, heavy and large dimension, and inconvenience-in-use. Our previous studies focused on how to develop the new instrument and had not included its performance tests. Field tests were carried out recently at Wolsung unit 4 to evaluate performance of the existing and new instruments. The objective of this paper is to discuss background noise produced in the optical fiber signal cable itself. The verification equipment for the CANDU-type Heavy Water Reactor spent fuels uses a scintillation detector to bond a scintillation material to the end of an optical signal cable. At this time, the radiation signal obtained by a data acquisition system is the signal generated from the scintillator (p-terphenyl organic scintillator) and the optical signal cable ; The signal produced in the optical cable itself is background noise to degrade the spent fuel verification equipment. To characterize the background radiation noise, the spent fuel bundles at Wolsung Unit 4 were measured using the optical fiber cable without the radiation scintillator. This signal is generated by reaction of the optical cable and the radiation emitted from the spent fuel. From experimental results, it was observed that the background noise signal of the optical cable increased as the optical cable went down in the downward direction, because the cable length irradiated by the radiation increased with the optical cable area in the spent fuel storage pool. Difference in the background noise signal was dependent on the location of the vertical direction and the signal of the new optical cable was up to about 5 times higher than that of the existing cable. While, the new cable has the cross-section area about 3.2 times larger than the old cable. Our past studies showed that total signal amplitude – sum of signals generated from the scintillator and optical fiber - of the new verification instrument was at least about 15 times greater than that of the existing one. Considering the total signal and background noise signal, from this measured results, it was confirmed that the scintillator characteristics – in particular, light output and decay time – has a dominant impact on the signal sensitivity of the newly developed instrument. More details will be discussed at the conference.

엘크 수사슴의 체중 성장곡선 및 일당증체량을 추정하기 위하여 국립축산과학원 가축유전자원센터에서 사육중인 엘크 수사슴 183두의 체중-일령 자료 1,509개에 대해 비선형 회귀식인 Gompertz와 Logistic 모형을 적용하였다. 추정된 엘크 수사슴 성장곡선 모수인 성숙체중(A), 성장비율(b)과 성숙률(ｋ)은 Gompertz 모형의 경우 각각 335.5±1.415kg, 2.18±0.045와 0.0025±0.00005였고, Logistic 모형에서는 330.5±1.337kg, 5.46±0.209와 0.0355±0.00009였다. 적합도 검정을 위한 결정계수(R2)는 두 모형에서 큰 차이가 없어 두 모형 다 적합한 것으로 나타났다. 다만, 실제 측정값과 추정값에 대한 차이인 평균제곱근 오차 값이 엘크 암사슴에 비해 크게 나타났으며 따라서 엘크 수사슴의 낙각 및 번식기 체중 증감을 고려한 성장곡선 모형에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 엘크 수사슴에서 Gompertz 모형으로 추정된 함수식은 f(t)=335.5Xe^-2.18e^-0.0025t였고, Logistic 모형의 경우 F(t)=330.5X(1+5.465e^-0.00355t)^-1였다. 각 모형에서 제1차 도함수로 유래된 일당증체량 곡선은 Gompertz 모형의 경우 F'(t)=0.0025Xf(t)X1n(335.5/f(t)), Logistic 모형의 경우f'(t)=0.0036Xf(t)X[1-f(t)/330.5]였다. 이 함수식을 통해 도출된 엘크 수사슴에서 최대 증체량을 나타내는 시기인 315~478.3일령, 123.4~165.3㎏ 도달 전후에는 보다 세심한 사양관리가 필요할 것으로 보인다. 본 연구에서 도출된 엘크 수사슴의 성장곡선 모수 추정값, 변곡점 및 변곡점 도달일령 등은 사슴산업 종사자들이 사양관리 및 육종계획을 수립하는 데에 도움이 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

The objective of this study was to estimate the growth curve parameters of body weight for female Elk. Weight and age data from 115 does raised at the Animal Genetic Resources Research Center in Korea were used in this study. The growth curve parameters were estimated from a nonlinear regression using Gompertz and Logistic models. Mature weight (A), growth ratio (b) and maturing rate (k) of female Elk were 214.1±2.17 kg, 2.12±0.0045 and 0.0043±0.00011, respectively, according to the Gompertz model. They were 208.3±2.17 kg, 5.56±0.234 and 0.0065±0.00017, respectively, according to the Logistic model. The goodness of fit determined by R2 was higher in the Gompertz model than that in the Logistic model. The growth curve functions obtained from the Gompertz and Logistic models in female Elk were f(t)=214.1×e-2.124×e-0.00484×t and f(t)=208.3×(1+5.561×e-0.00651×t)-1, respectively. The absolute growth rate functions from the Gompertz and Logistic models in female Elk were f'(t)=0.0043×f(t)×1n(214.1/f(t)) and f'(t)=0.0065×f(t)×[1-f(t)/208.3]respectively. The growth pattern of female Elk generated from this study can be useful in determining the most appropriate feeding plans and the best breeding strategies for deer.

The susceptibility of the Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella intonsa was evaluated using 46 commercial insecticides. There were 10 kinds of insecticides as benfuracarb, chlorfenapyr, spinetoram, spinosad, abamectin + chlorfenapyr, abamectin + emamectin benzoate, chlorfenapyr + clothianidin, chlorfenapyr + imidacloprid, clothianidin + spinetoram and dinotefuran + spinetoram, which showed more than 90% mortality against both thrips, F. occidentalis and F. intonsa. Since the F. intonsa is more susceptible than F. occidentalis, it is considered that both thrips can be controlled by insecticides that show insecticidal activity on the F. occidentalis. The effect by the elapsed time after treatment of 10 kinds of insecticides was analyzed as LT50 and LT95 values. Benfuracarb was the fastest in 4.3 h (LT50) and 14 h (LT95), and spinetoram showed the most late time at 13.5 h (LT50) and 62.3 h (LT95), respectively.

산업이 발전함에 따라 전 세계적으로 환경오염에 대한 문제가 대두되고 있으며, 자동차 배출가스 규제도 점점 강화되고 있다. 하지만, 배출가스는 단순한 자동차만의 문제가 아닌 연료물성성분에 따른 영향도 받는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 특히, 디젤엔진의 경우 CRDI 엔진이 개발 및 상용화되면서 고성능 엔진은 고성능 연료를 필요로 하고, 그 중 대표적인 것이 연료의 윤활성으로 밝혀진바, 이에 본 연구에서는 연료물성변화가 자동차 주요부품 및 배출가스에 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 하였다. 윤활성이 취약한 연료 (651㎛/품질기준 400㎛이하)를 차량에 사용하여 고압펌프 및 인젝터, 매연저감장치 등의 파손이 발생하며, 매연 및 배출가스, 연비가 악화되는 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 파손된 매연저감장치(DPF)를 확인한 결과 철분성분이 다량 검출되었으며 이는 연료에 철분성분이 많이 함유되어 있어, 배출가스에 영향을 미쳐 매연저 감장치(DPF)의 처리능력을 초과한 입자상물질의 배출로 인한 파손으로 추정 및 확인하였다.

The objective of this study was to investigate the result of in vivo embryo collection and pregnancy rate after embryo transfer using sex-sorted sperm of Korean brindle cattle. Donor Korean brindle cattle superovulation treated by decreasing dose of FSH injection. Embryos were recovered on 7 days after the third artificial insemination. Control group semen straw used artificial insemination contained 20 million sperm. Sex-sorted semen straws contained 4 million sperm or 10 million sperm. As for the result of the recovery of the in vivo embryos derived from sex-sorted sperm, the number of transferable embryos was significantly highly recovered to be 6.20±2.28/donor from the control group and was significantly lowly recovered to be 1.57±1.72/donor from the group treated at a sperm concentration of 10×106 (p<0.05). The number of unfertilized embryo was 0.8±1.30/donor in control group which was significantly lower than the group treated at a sperm concentration of 4×106 (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of undeveloped ova between control and treatment groups. Pregnancy rate after embryo transfer was shown to be 35.00% in control group and 12.50% in treatment group. The karyotype analysis of the calf derived from sex-sorted sperm resulted in a similar chromosomal distribution pattern (2n=60, XX) compared to those of common Korean native cattle.

체세포 복제기술을 이용한 복제가축 생산 기술은 1997년 전 세계적으로 이슈가 되었던 복제 면양 “Dolly”의 탄생을 계기로 여러 나라에서 소, 돼지, 말, 고양이, 개 등 많은 포유류에서 산자 생산에 성 공하였으며 우리나라의 체세포 복제 기술은 기술 선진국 대열에 들어서고 있다. 그러나 복제기술은 아 직까지 높은 유산율과 폐사율 등 해결해야 할 많은 근본적인 문제점 등이 있어 연구해야 할 분야는 적 지 않다고 하겠다. 체세포 복제 동물 생산기술은 당초에는 능력이 우량가축의 생산과 확대 및 조기증식 을 목적으로 이용되고 왔으나, 체세포 내로 우리가 원하는 유전자를 도입시키거나 없애는 기술 (knock-in과 knock-out)의 발달로 바이오장기 생산용 형질전환 복제 돼지의 생산을 목적으로 널리 이 용되고 있다. 또한, 최근에는 멸종위기에 있는 희소동물 유전자원을 멸실 이전에 동결 보존된 체세포를 이용하여 복원에 활용할 뿐 아니라 마약탐지견 생산 등 특수한 목적으로 활용되는 동물을 생산하는 기 술로서 기여하게 된다면 산업적으로 활용할 수 있는 분야가 더욱 확대될 것으로 기대된다. 따라서 체세 포 복제기술은 식용보다는 오히려 다양한 목적으로 복제동물을 생산하게 되면 산업적으로 활용할 수 있 는 가능성이 높을 것으로 기대되고 있다.

Reproductive disorders in cows cause economic loss in livestock farms. Reproductive diseases, such as follicular cyst, luteal cyst, endometritis, pyometra, and repeat breeding cause infertility. Among these diseases, endometritis and pyometra are uterine infections that are leading causes of infertility. This study was performed to investigate the causative agents of uterine diseases using bacterial culture. Bacteria were obtained from the reproductive organs (vagina, uterine cervix, and uterine horn) of dairy cow diagnosed with endometritis or pyometra, and cultured on blood agar. The colonies obtained from cultivation for 24 hours were passaged. To identify the bacteria, the colonies grown in passaged culture Gram stained and applied to an automatic biochemical microbial identification system. Escherichia coli were commonly detected in vagina, uterine cervix, and uterine horn of dairy cows diagnosed to pyometra. The cows having endometritis showed not only Escherichia coli but also Pantoea spp. and Klebsiella spp. strains. Dairy cows that were infected with Escherichia coli in uterus caused mastitis or digestive disease. These results suggest that sanitary feeding and management beforehand are needed to prevent bacterial infections.

Oxygen consumption is a useful parameter for evaluating mammalian embryo quality, since individual bovine embryos was noninvasively quantified by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Recently, several approaches have been used to measure the oxygen consumption rates of individual embryos, but relationship between oxygen consumption and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo following embryo transfer has not yet been reported. In this study, we measured to investigate the correlation between oxygen consumption rate and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo embryo using a SECM. In addition to, the expression of pluripotent gene and anti-oxidant enzyme was determined using real-time PCR by extracting RNA according to the oxygen consumption of in vivo embryo. First, we found that the oxygen consumption significantly increased in blastocyst-stage embryos (blastocyst) compared to early blastocyst stage embryos, indicating that oxygen consumption reflects the embryo quality (Grade I). Oxygen consumption of blastocyst was measured using a SECM and total cell number of in vitro blastocyst was enumerated by counting cells stained by propidium iodide. The oxygen consumption or GI blastocysts were significantly higher than those of GII blastocysts (10.2 × 1015/mols—1 versus 6.4 × 1015/mols—1, p<0.05). Total cell numbers of in vitro blastocysts were 74.8, 90.7 and 110.2 in the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0∼12.0 and over 12.0∼1015/mols—1, respectively. Pregnant rate in recipient cow was 0, 60 and 80% in the transplantation of embryo with the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0∼12.0 and over 12.0 × 1015/mols—1, respectively. GPX1 and SOD1 were significantly increased in over —10.0 group than below 10.0 groups but in catalase gene, there was no significant difference. On the other hand, In OCT-4 and Sox2, pluripotent gene, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the below-10.0 (0.98 ± 0.1) and over 10.0 (1.79 ± 0.2). In conclusion, these results suggest that measurement of oxygen consumption maybe help increase the pregnant rate of Hanwoo embryos.

핵이식(NT) 기술을 이용하여 여러 동물 종에서 성공적으로 복제산자가 보고되고 있지만, 아직까지 비효율적인 기술로 남아있다. 본 연구에서는 돼지 체세포 복제 생산 효율성을 증진시키기 위한 방안으로 수핵난자의 품질에 초점을 맞추어 Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) 염색을 통하여 발육능이 우수한 미성숙 난자를 선발하고, 난자의 감수분열 재개에 관여하는 단백질 합성을 비특이적으로 억제하는 cycloheximide (CHXM)을 이용하여 돼지 난자의 감수분열 재개를 억제시켜 난자의 성숙 동기화를 유도하였다. 또한 핵초기화에 밀접한 영향을 주는 핵막붕괴(NEBD)와 조기염색체응축 (PCC)을 유도하는 MPF의 활성화를 높이기 위하여 단백질 phosphatase 억제제인 caffeine을 첨가하여 수핵난자의 품질을 향상시키고자 하였다. 실험 방법으로는 13 mM BCB 첨가된 배양액에 90분 동안 미성숙난자를 배양하여 BCB 용액의 착색 여부를 구분하여 선발하고, 5 ㎍/ml CHXM를 체외 성숙액에 첨가하여 난자성숙 동기화를 유도하였다. 또한 탈핵 후 탈핵난자를 caffeine을 처리하여 세포주기 관련 단백질의 활성화를 인위적으로 조절하여 체세포복제 수핵난자로 사용하였다. 실험 결과로서 BCB 염색 돼지 미성숙 난자를 대조구와 비교할 때 제2 감수분열 중기(MII)에 도달하는 체외성숙율과 단위발생란의 배반포기까지의 체외 발육율이 유의적으로 증가하는 것이 관찰되었다. 또한 미성숙 돼지 난자의 초기 성숙 (12∼16시간)에 CHXM를 처리하였더니 난자 감수분열 재개가 억제되어 GV기에 핵 성숙이 정지되어 동기화가 유도되었다. GV기에 세포주기 동기화된 난자들은 CHXM를 제거하였을 때 난자 성숙의 진행속도도 일치하는 것이 관찰되었다. 이런 결과는 가장 적합한 탈핵시기인 제1 감수분열 후/말기(AI/TI)에 난자들이 다수 분포하여 대조구에 비하여 높은 탈핵율 (87.9%)을 얻을 수 있었다 (P < 0.05). 덧붙여 5 mM의 caffeine을 돼지 난자에 12시간 처리하였을 때 난자 MPF의 활성화가 증가하는 것이 관찰되었지만 (P < 0.05), 10 mM caffeine 농도를 처리하였을 때 MPF의 활성화가 오히려 감소되어 단위발생란의 배반포기까지의 체외발육에도 악영향을 주는 것이 관찰되었다.

The study was conducted to investigate the comparison of pregnancy rate and transferable embryos produced by genetically superior Korean cows (Hanwoo) of livestock farms. Eighteen Hanwoo donors were superovulated with gonadotropin for 4 days combined with Progesterone Releasing Intravaginal. Embryos were recovered 7 days after the second insemination by flushing the uterus with embryo collection medium. No differences were observed in the efficiency of rate of superovulation in groups A (low nutrition) and B (highnutrition) it was observed to be 100.0% and 87.5%, respectively. The mean numbers of total embryos were 10.8±3.4 and 8.9±2.5, and transferable embryos were 7.5±3.3 and 4.0±1.5 in groups A and B, respectively. The pregnancy rates after embryo transfer were 23.5%, 20.0%, C 80.0% and 55.6% in farm A, B, C, and D, respectively. In conclusion, results suggest that superovulation could be used quite effectively to raise superior Hanwooembryos. However, physical and biological condition of recipients greatly affects the rate of pregnancy.

Body condition score (BCS) is a useful management tool for distinguishing differences in nutritional needs of cows in the herd. Although it is not always possible to quantify the nutrient content of the feed supplied to the donor cow, the nutritional status can be determined by the BCS. The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo embryo production, return to estrous of donor and pregnancy rate of recipients following BCS in Hanwoo superovulation. Sixty nine Hanwoo donor cows were flushed on day 7 of estrus cycle with same FSH and artificial insemination by the same technicians. Embryos were recovered on 7 days after the third insemination by flushing the uterus with Embryo Collection Medium. The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates regardless of BCS (≦2.0, 2.5 to 3.0, and ≧3.5). The mean number of total embryos was each 5.20±0.86, 11.56±1.04, and 6.23±1.07. The mean number of transferable embryo from ≦2.0, 2.5 to 3.0, and ≧3.5 of BCS was 2.60±0.87, 7.94±0.89, and 4.75±1.32, respectively (p<0.05). Return to estrous regardless of donor BCS was no difference. The pregnancy rates of recipient were BCS ≦2.0 11.76%, 2.5 to 3.0 40.79%, and ≧3.5 11.11%, following transfer of fresh embryos produced in vivo, respectively. These results indicate that if the Hanwoo with BCS 2.5 to 3.3 are used for donor and recipient, the embryo production and the conception rate will be greater.

Embryo reconstruction by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been used to demonstrate that mammalian somatic cells can dedifferentiate into a totipotent nucleus when introduced into an oocyte. This process of dedifferentiation of somatic cells after nuclear transplantation is defined as nuclear reprogramming, although this terminology gives little information on the molecular events that characterize this process. When planning on strategies for nuclear reprogramming by nuclear transfer (NT) one may suggest that converting the somatic nuclear configuration into an embryonic state is highly desirable, so this may promote a succession of events similar to those occurring during early embryo development. In the following part of this overview we will discuss the results of many studies that have investigated different aspects of nuclear remodelling after SCNT.

The technique of SCNT is now well established but still remains inefficient. The in vitro development of SCNT embryos is dependent upon numerous factors including the recipient cytoplast and karyoplast. Above all, the metaphase of the second meiotic division (MII)　oocytes have typically become the recipient of choice. Generally high level of MPF present in MII oocytes induces the transferred nucleus to enter mitotic division precociously and causes NEBD and PCC, which may be the critical role for nuclear reprogramming. In the present study we investigated the in vitro development and pregnancy of White-Hanwoo SCNT embryos treated with caffeine (a protein kinase phosphatase inhibitor). As results, the treatment of 10 mM caffeine for 6 h significantly increased MPF activity in bovine oocytes but does not affect the developmental competence to the blastocyst stage in bovine SCNT embryos. However, a significant increase in the mean cell number of blastocysts and the frequency of pregnant on 150 days of White-Hanwoo SCNT embryos produced using caffeine treated cytoplasts was observed. These results indicated that the recipient cytoplast treated with caffeine for a short period prior to reconstruction of SCNT embryos is able to increase the frequency of pregnancy in cow.

The objective of this study was to investigate the comparison of transferable embryos and pregnancy rate between Hanwoo and Chickso. The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates on Hanwoo 78%, and Chickso 85%, respectively. The mean number of total embryos are each 14.76± 2.16 and 6.23±1.07. So the mean number of transferable embryos are each 10.94±1.91 and 4.58±1.05. In addition, the mean number of total Hanwoo embryo from <10 and 10≤ of corpora luteum was 0.50±0.50, 11.56±1.92, respectively. In case of Chickso, The mean number of transferable embryo from <10 and 10≤ of CL was 2.75±1.39, 6.00±1.00, respectively. The pregnancy rates were Hanwoo 40%, and Chickso 37% following transfer of fresh embryos produced in vivo. Also, the pregnancy rates of Chickso 60% were significantly greater (p<0.05) than the Hanwoo 42.48% following transfer of following transfer of frozen embryos, respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that Chickso may be effectively used for transferable embryos production in Hanwoo. Although the transferable embryos number was not enough, it seems the Chickso greatly affect pregnancy rate. The results indicated that the possibility of transferable embryos from Chickso for embryo transfer could be confirmed in this study. Based on the present findings, it was suggested that it is very important to evaluate in vivo embryo production and pregnancy rate of embryo transfer following superovulation for effective Hanwoo and Chickso production.

After spermatogenesis, spermatozoa come in contact with fluids in the epididymis where they mature. During ejaculation, spermatozoa are mixed with secretions from prostate gland, vesicular glands, and bulbourethral glands. During natural mating, seminal plasma is deposited in the female reproductive tract eliciting various physiological and immunological responses. With the advances in proteomics, the components of seminal plasma have been identified and the information may be valuable in identifying markers for fertility. Components of seminal plasma that affect fertility have been discovered and the mechanism of action of these factors has been determined. The objective of this study was to determine the specific seminal plasma proteins from Korean native cattle, Hanwoo, and Korean native brindle cattle (KNBC) with the long term goal of improving fertilization rate. After SDS-PAGE and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, proteins were identified by Q -ToF analysis. They include plasma serine protease inhibitor precursor and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase after SDS-PAGE. Number and density of the spots in 2-dimensional gels were higher in KNBC than Hanwoo. Proteins identified from the paired spots of both breeds include chain A, bull seminal plasma PDC-109 Fibronectin Type II module, BSP-30 kDa precursor, and Spermadhesin Z13 or its precursor. Interestingly, some proteins were identified from multiple spots. The functional differences of these diverse forms of the proteins may require further studies. With their previously reported roles in sperm capacitation by these proteins, the studies on the mechanism of action, ligand interaction and the variation in the genome may help improving fertility in cattle.