The slaughter of livestock is inevitably required to obtain meat products from livestock. Since slaughter means pain and death for animals, reducing the pain and distress of animals during slaughter is very important from a perspective of animal welfare based on the principle of respect for life. Generally, two stunning methods, CO2 stunning and electrical stunning, are used for slaughter. When the carotid arteries of the lungs are cut off for bleeding, the bronchial tubes are also severed. To determine the degree of blood inflow into the lungs through the severed bronchial tubes, the prevalence rates of pulmonary diseases and pulmonary congestion in slaughtered pigs were analyzed. In this study, the prevalence of pneumonia was 24.9% in Slaughterhouse A using the gas method, but it was decreased by about 10% to 15.7% and 12.6%, respectively, in Slaughterhouses B and C using the electric method. On the other hand, the prevalence of pulmonary congestion in Slaughterhouses A, B, and C was 4.24%, 14.10% and 16.40%, respectively. In other words, the prevalence of pulmonary congestion was higher by about 10% in the groups of pigs slaughtered by the electric method (Slaughterhouses B and C) than in the group of pigs slaughtered by the gas method (Slaughterhouse A). These results indicate that blood inflow into the pulmonary alveoli led to a diagnosis of pulmonary congestion instead of pneumonia in some pigs with pneumonia. In short, it was found that about 10% of pigs stunned by the electric method were not in a state of complete unconsciousness but in a partially conscious state during slaughter. It is suggested that slaughterhouses should be equipped with gas stunning equipment instead of applying the electric method due to lower costs.

RADTRAN is a code that assesses the radiation risk of radioactive material transportation. RADTRAN assumes that the package is a point source or a line source regardless of package type and corrects the external dose rate using a shape factor which depends on the critical dimension of the package. However, the external dose rate calculated using a shape factor may be different from the actual external dose rate. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the effect of the shape factor on the external dose rate. In this study, the effect of the shape factor on the external dose rate in RADTRAN was analyzed by comparison with MCNP. This study analyzed change in external dose rate depending on the distance from the package and the critical dimension. The distance from the package was in the range of 1–800 m. The shape of the package was assumed to be cylindrical with a radius of 1 m, and the critical dimensions of the package were assumed to be 2, 4, and 8 m. Attenuation and build-up in the air were not considered to consider only the effect on the shape factor. When simulating the exposure situation using MCNP, the package was assumed to be a volume source, and flux by distance from the package was calculated using F5 tally. The dose rate at 1 m from the package was normalized to 2 mSv·hr−1. As a result of the analysis, the external dose rates of the package were higher in RADTRAN than in MCNP. For the critical dimension of 2, 4, and 8 m, when the distance from package is 1–10 m, the RADTRAN was 1.83, 4.08, and 5.27 times higher on average than MCNP, respectively. And when the distance from the package was 10–100 m and 100–800 m, RADTRAN was 1.10, 2.02, 3.01 times and 1.04, 1.92, 2.43 times higher than MCNP, respectively. It was found that the larger the distance from the package is and the smaller the critical dimension of the package is, the less conservatively RADTRAN assessed. It is because the shape of the package gets closer to the point source as the distance from the package increases, and the shape factor decreases as the critical dimension of the package decreases. The result of this study can be used as the basis for radiation risk assessment when transporting radioactive materials.

Non-destructive estimation of leaf area is a more efficient and convenient method than leaf excision. Thus, several models predicting leaf area have been developed for various horticultural crops. However, there are limited studies on estimating the leaf area of strawberry plants. In this study, we predicted the leaf areas via nonlinear regression analysis using the leaf lengths and widths of three-compound leaves in five domestic strawberry cultivars (‘Arihyang’, ‘Jukhyang’, ‘Keumsil’, ‘Maehyang’, and ‘Seollhyang’). The coefficient of determination (R2) between the actual and estimated leaf areas varied from 0.923 to 0.973. The R2 value varied for each cultivar; thus, leaf area estimation models must be developed for each cultivar. The leaf areas of the three cultivars ‘Jukhyang’, ‘Seolhyang’, and ‘Maehyang’ could be non-destructively predicted using the model developed in this study, as they had R2 values over 0.96. The cultivars ‘Arihyang’ and ‘Geumsil’ had slightly low R2 values, 0.938 and 0.923, respectively. The leaf area estimation model for each cultivar was coded in Python and is provided in this manuscript. The estimation models developed in this study could be used extensively in other strawberry-related studies.

The objective of this study was to verify the effect of pig slurry application with acidification and biochar on feed value, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of maize forage, and ammonia (NH3) emission. The four treatments were applied: 1) non-pig slurry (only water as a control, C), 2) only pig slurry application (P), 3) acidified pig slurry application (AP), 4) acidified pig slurry application with biochar (APB). The pig slurry and biochar were applied at a rate of 150 kg N ha-1 and 300 kg ha-1, respectively. The AP and APB treatments enhanced all feed values compared to C and P treatments. The NUE for plant N was significantly increased 92.1% by AP and APB treatment, respectively, compared to the P treatment. On the other hand, feed values were not significantly different between AP and APB treatments. The acidification treatment with/without biochar significantly mitigated NH3 emission compared to the P treatment. The cumulative NH3 emission throughout the period of measurement decreased by 71.4% and 74.8% in the AP and APB treatments. Also, APB treatment reduced ammonia emission by 11.9% compared to AP treatment. The present study clearly showed that acidification and biochar can reduce ammonia emission from pig slurry application, and pig slurry application with acidification and biochar exhibited potential effects in feed value, NUE, and reducing N losses from pig slurry application through reduction of NH3 emission.

The early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD/ FAD), the less common type of Alzheimer's disease (AD) currently affects a vast number of individuals worldwide. This type is being inherited as an autosomal dominant fashion. Missense mutations on Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Presenilins 1 and 2 (PSEN1 & PSEN2) are known as major genetic factors in FAD. Conversely, missense mutations on microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) are also thought to involve. Up to date, several triple-transgenic animal models with muted forms of the human APP, PSENs and MAPT have been reported. Compared to other animals, canines are more emotional and their disease signs can be easily diagnosed. This attempt was to develop a triple transgenic canine model for the AD. We have obtained the coding sequences of APP, PSEN1 and MAPT from Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center DNA resource core at HMS and incorporated several common AD mutations. The transgenic construct is composed of hNSE (ENO2) promoter-driven three AD genes fused together with modified 2A sequences. It was transfected into the canine fetal fibroblasts which were then used to perform somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The viable transgenic embryos were obtained after in vitro culture and the GFP was detected. In this study, we have successfully produced viable triple transgenic canine cloned embryos using SCNT technique. These transgenic canine embryos will be further developed into canines with FAD. The transgenic canines will be a good candidate in the AD research field.

국내 판매되고 있는 사슴벌레종[넓적사슴벌레(Dorcus titanus), 참넓적사슴벌레(Serrognathus consentaneus), 남방넓적사슴벌레(D. titanus jejuensis, 가칭), 애사슴벌레(D. rectus) 및 왕사슴벌레(D. hopei)]과 부산 지역에서 채집한 넓적사슴벌레 12개체와 경남 의령군에서 채집한 1개체의 미토콘드리아 DNA 중 cytochrome oxidase I(COI) 를 이용하여 계통을 비교분석하였다. 아울러 NCBI에 기등록된 북한, 일본, 대만, 필리핀, 인도네시아 및 태국의 넓적사슴벌레의 COI 서열을 이용하여 추가 분석하였다. 먼저 판매되고 있는 사슴벌레종은 넓적사슴벌레, 남방넓적사슴벌레 및 참넓적사슴벌레의 group I과 애사슴벌레 및 왕사슴벌레의 group II로 구분되었다. 부산지역 및 의령에서 채집한 넓적사슴벌레의 경우 COI 및 COII로 분석 결과 북한에서 기보고 된 3개체를 포함해 유전적 변이에 있어 큰 차이가 나타내지 않았다. 또한 한반도와 일본 일부지역에서 높은 상동성을 확인하였는데 그 외 아시아 지역에 서식하는 넓적사슴벌레와는 다른 그룹을 형성함을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과들은 국내 서식 사슴벌레 종의 유전적 분석과 함께 외래 유입종을 판별하는 근거자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

Oocyte is the central factor in the bi-directional communication axis in the ovarian follicles. It controls the cumulus or granulosa cells to perform functions which are beneficial for its own development via secreting paracrine growth factors, including GDF9 and BMP15. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the recombinant GDF9 and BMP15 are able to promote meiotic resumption and cumulus expansion of canine COCs during IVM, as well as to demonstrate the actions of GDF9 and BMP15 in regulating the expression of connexin transcripts in the ovarian granulosa cells. As results, GDF9 and BMP15 significantly improved the meiotic resumption rate and cumulus expansion by activating ERK1/2 signaling. Treatments with GDF9 significantly improved the expression of CyclinB1 but inhibited the expression of Cx43 transcripts. In addition, cumulus expansion genes (MAPK1, Ptgs2, Tnfaip6 and Ptx3) were differentially improved by GDF9 and BMP15. In the ovarian granulosa cells, GDF9 suppressed the expression of Cx43 transcripts by binding ALK4/5/7 receptors and activation Smad2/3 signaling, whereas, BMP15 stimulated the expression of Cx43 transcripts by binding ALK2/3/6 receptors and activating Smad1/5/8 signaling. In conclusion, by regulating functions of granulosa/cumulus cells, oocyte has the potential to enhance the growth and maturation of itself.

Oocyte is the central factor in the bi-directional communication axis in the ovarian follicles. It controls the cumulus or granulosa cells to perform functions which are beneficial for its own development via secreting paracrine growth factors, including GDF9 and BMP15. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the recombinant GDF9 and BMP15 are able to promote meiotic resumption and cumulus expansion of canine COCs during IVM, as well as to demonstrate the actions of GDF9 and BMP15 in regulating the expression of connexin transcripts in the ovarian granulosa cells. As results, GDF9 and BMP15 significantly improved the meiotic resumption rate and cumulus expansion by activating ERK1/2 signaling. Treatments with GDF9 significantly improved the expression of CyclinB1 but inhibited the expression of Cx43 transcripts. In addition, cumulus expansion genes (MAPK1, Ptgs2, Tnfaip6 and Ptx3) were differentially improved by GDF9 and BMP15. In the ovarian granulosa cells, GDF9 suppressed the expression of Cx43 transcripts by binding ALK4/5/7 receptors and activation Smad2/3 signaling, whereas, BMP15 stimulated the expression of Cx43 transcripts by binding ALK2/3/6 receptors and activating Smad1/5/8 signaling. In conclusion, by regulating functions of granulosa/cumulus cells, oocyte has the potential to enhance the growth and maturation of itself.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of music therapy and ball exercise on women experiencing menstrual discomforts, thereby identifying the validity of these methods as interventions against menstrual discomforts, with a particular goal of presenting basic data for clinical use. Twenty university students in their 20s were assigned to two therapy groups in a sequence via simple random sampling; ten subjects attended a ball exercise combined with music therapy group and the other ten subjects attended a music therapy group. Ball exercises were conducted 3 times per week for a total of 12 times, starting from 3 weeks before the expected first day of the menstrual period and ending on the last day of the menstrual period. Similarly, the subjects participated in music therapy by listening to music for 35 minutes per session and 3 sessions per week, starting from 3 weeks before the expected first day of the menstrual period and ending on the last day of the menstrual period. Five out of six categories of menstrual discomforts were significantly decreased in both music therapy and ball exercise, the exception being changes in the autonomic nervous system, while those in the music therapy group showed a significant difference only in the category of behavioral changes. The results of the present study demonstrate that the ball exercise combined with music therapy more effective in improving menstrual discomforts than the music therapy group.