In this study, we built on our previous research that discovered that autophagy activated the metaphase I stage during porcine oocytes in vitro maturation. We investigated the relationship between autophagy and oocyte maturation. First, we confirmed whether autophagy was activated differently by different media (TCM199 and NCSU-23) during maturation. Then, we investigated whether oocyte maturation affected autophagic activation. In addition, we examined whether the inhibition of autophagy affected the nuclear maturation rate of porcine oocytes. As for the main experiment, we measured LC3-II levels using western blotting after inhibition of nuclear maturation via cAMP treatment in an in vitro culture to clarify whether nuclear maturation affected autophagy. After autophagy inhibition, we also counted matured oocytes by treating them with wortmannin or a E64d and pepstatin A mixture. Both groups, which had different treatment times of cAMP, showed the same levels of LC3-II, while the maturation rates were about four times higher after cAMP 22 h treatment than that of the 42 h treatment group. This indicated that neither cAMP nor nuclear status affected autophagy. Autophagy inhibition during in vitro oocyte maturation with wortmannin treatment reduced oocyte maturation rates by about half, while autophagy inhibition by the E64d and pepstatin A mixture treatment did not significantly affect the oocyte maturation. Therefore, wortmannin itself, or the autophagy induction step, but not the degradation step, is involved in the oocyte maturation of porcine oocytes. Overall, we propose that oocyte maturation does not stand upstream of autophagy activation, but autophagy may exist upstream of oocyte maturation.

Lack of understanding the effects of single- and multiple-weed interference on soybean yield has led to inadequate weed management in Primorsky Krai, resulting in much lower average yield than neighboring regions. A 2 yr field experiment was conducted in a soybean field located in Bogatyrka (43.82°N, 131.6°E), Primorsky Krai, Russia, in 2013 and 2014 to investigate the effects of single and multiple interference caused by naturally established weeds on soybean yield and to model these effects. Aboveground dry weight was negatively affected the most by weed interference, followed by number of pods and seeds. Soybean yield under single-weed interference was best demonstrated by a rectangular hyperbolic model, showing that common ragweed and barnyardgrass were the most competitive weed species, followed by annual sowthistle, American sloughgrass, and common lambsquarters. In the case of multiple-weed interference, soybean yield loss was accurately described by a multivariate rectangular hyperbolic model, with total density equivalent as the independent variable. Parameter estimates indicated that weed-free soybean yields were similar in 2013 and 2014, i.e., estimated as 1.72 t and 1.75 t ha−1, respectively, and competitiveness of each weed species was not significantly different between the two years. Economic thresholds for single-weed interference were 0.74, 0.66, 1.15, 1.23, and 1.45 plants m−2 for common ragweed, barnyardgrass, annual sowthistle, American sloughgrass, and common lambsquarters, respectively. The economic threshold for multiple-weed interference was 0.70 density equivalent m−2. These results, including the model, thus can be applied to a decision support system for weed management in soybean cultivation under single and multiple-weed interference in Primorsky Krai and its neighboring regions of Russia.

Anthropogenic land use within watersheds has substantial effects on aquatic habitats and biological communities. From September 2006 to December 2008, we investigated the effects of land use on benthic macroinvertebrate communities by comparing Song Stream and Odae Stream, two adjacent mountain streams in Korea whose watersheds have different land use patterns. Song Stream is significantly disturbed by agricultural activities in the watershed, whereas Odae Stream is relatively undisturbed and is surrounded by a well-conserved forest area. Song Stream had significantly higher levels of all nutrients and sediment-related factors due to the adjacent agricultural area. As a result, Song Stream had markedly lower species community indices, such as taxa richness and abundance. In Song Stream, macroinvertebrate scrapers and predators were most adversely affected, whereas collector-gatherers became a dominant group. Based on correlation and multivariate analyses, total dissolved solids had the strongest negative relationship with macroinvertebrate assemblages, followed by electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and pH. The proportion of cobble in stream substrate was positively related to the richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates. Our results indicate that disturbances caused by agricultural land use, particularly sand deposition, had significant adverse effects on macroinvertebrate habitats and on the biotic integrity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities.

The sap of Acer mono has been called ‘bone-benefit-water’ in Korea because of its mineral and sugar content. In particular, the calcium concentration of the sap of A. mono is 37·5 times higher than commercial spring water. In the current study, we examined whether A. mono sap could improve or prevent osteoporosis-like symptoms in a mouse model. Male mice (3 weeks old) were fed a low-calcium diet supplemented with 25, 50 or 100 % A. mono sap, commercial spring water or a high calcium-containing solution as a beverage for 7 weeks. There were no differences in weekly weight gain and food intake among all the groups. Mice that were given a low-calcium diet supplemented with commercial spring water developed osteoporosis-like symptoms. To assess the effect of sap on osteoporosis-like symptoms, we examined serum calcium concentration, and femur density and length, and carried out a histological examination. Serum calcium levels were significantly lower in mice that received a low-calcium diet supplemented with commercial spring water (the negative control group), and in the 25 % sap group compared to mice fed a normal diet, but were normal in the 50 and 100 % sap and high-calcium solution groups. Femur density and length were significantly reduced in the negative control and 25 % sap groups. These results indicate that a 50 % sap solution can mitigate osteoporosis-like symptoms induced by a low-calcium diet. We also examined the regulation of expression of calcium-processing genes in the duodenum and kidney. Duodenal TRPV6 and renal calbindin-D9k were up-regulated dose-dependently by sap, and the levels of these factors were higher than those attained in the spring water-treated control. The results demonstrate that the sap of A. mono ameliorates the low bone density induced by a low-calcium diet, most likely by increasing calcium ion absorption.

We report a new Iridium(III) complex and the study of its optical, electrochemical and electroluminescence properties. The crystal structure shows an octahedral environment around Ir(III) center. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate the contribution of the d-orbitals of Ir and the π-orbitals of the cyclometalating and ancillary ligands toward HOMO, whereas LUMO is concentrated on only the cyclometalating ligand. These complexes emit in the sky blue color region from an admixture of triplet metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (3MLCT) and ligand π-π* states. A maximum external (ηex) quantumefficiency and luminance efficiency of 2.4% and 5.5 cd/A at 0.12 mA/cm2 was obtained from the device consisting of a 5% doped polymeric and low molecular host. A maximum brightness of 10,200 cd/m2 at 14.8 V was obtained from the device.

SiC nanowire was grown by APCVD using single precursors. Grown SiC nanowires had 10∼60nm diameters and lengths of several micrometers. Nanowire's diameters and lengths were varied with kind of catalysts. Nanowire's growth scheme was divided by two regions with diameter of nanowire. At first region, nanowire was grown by VLS (vapor-liquid-solid) mechanism, but at the second region, nanowire growth was made by VS (vapor-solid) reaction. These differences were made from limitations of growth rate and deactivation effects. Growth temperature, time and flow rates of source gases were affected nanowire's diametesr and its lengths. And kind of catalysts, coating methods and precursors were affected growth direction and microstructures too.

SiOx nanowire were synthesized using VLS (vapor-liquid-solid) and SLS (ssolid-liquid-solid) growth mechanism. Grown nanowires had a different shapes by the kind of substrates and kind of catalysts. Diameters and lengths of grown nanowires were varied with growth conditions. By vapor evaporation method, used substrates effected growth scheme and density of nanowires because of differences of catalyst nucleation characteristics. Grown nanowires showed different microstructures and optical properties. By catalyst evaporation method, various shapes of SiOx nanowires were grown. These shapes of nanowire were formed by the typical reaction of catalyst and Si source. Measured optical properties show blue luminescence about 430nm because of oxygen defects in the nannowire.

Characteristics of Cu/C:H films on the PET substrate prepared by ECR-MOCVD coupled with a DC bias under Cu(hfac)2-Ar-H2 was investigated with special attention to process parameters. Our results showed that the Cu/C:H film has strongly adhere with the polymer substrate by chemical bonding and exhibited wide range of electrical conductivity that could be controlled by process parameters. The increase in H2/Ar ratio, microwave power and negative DC bias voltage brought on the higher pulling strength between Cu/C:H films and PET substrate. The effects of surface pretreatments of polymer substrate on pulling strength were insignificant in the range of our experimental range.

Cu/C films were prepared at room temperature under Cu(hfac)2-Ar-H2 atmosphere in order to obtain metallized polymer by using ECR-MOCVD (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) coupled with periodic DC bias system. Room temperature MOCVD was possible when periodic negative voltage was applied on the polymer substrate. The periodic negative voltage induces ions and radicals to have nucleation reaction on the surface of the substrate. Formation of Cu/C films strongly depends on the periodic negative pattern of DC bias and the electric sheet resistance of the films was controlled from 108 to 100ohm/sq ranges by process parameters such as microwave power and magnet current. The increase in microwave power and magnet current brought on copper-rich film formation with low electric resistance. On the other hand carbon-rich films with high sheet electric resistance were prepared with decreased values for process parameters aforementioned.

We are developing a robust Multi-CCD control system for wide-field surveys of various kinds. Our design concept and possible application modes are introduced.

We have studied the growth of undoped and n+ μc-Si:H (:CI) films by Remote Plasma CVD using SiH4/SiH2Cl2/H2/He mixtures. It was found that the μc-Si film can be fabricated by increasing flow rate of SiH2Cl2 and/or H2. The deposited undoped μc-Si film exhibited a maximum crystalline volume fraction of 85 %, obtained from Raman spectroscopy. The n-type μc-Si film, deposited with SiH4/SiH2Cl2/H2/PH3/He mixtures, shows a room temperature conductivity of 2 S/cm, conductivity activation energy of 29.8 meV and optical band gap of-2.0 eV. The optical band gap of n-type μc-S1 deposited using SiH2Cl2 is much higher compared to conventional μc-Si film.

Self-aligned silicide (salicide) formation of epitaxial CoSi2, using a Co/Ti bilayer, on linear oxide (SiO2) patterned (100)Si substrate has been investigated. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 550°C resulted in the lateral encroachment of silicide in the Si under the edge of the oxide. After RTA at 900°C, even though an epitaxial CoSi2 layer was formed on the Si substrate, defects such as lateral encroachment and voids were generated under the edge of the oxide. It was found that such defects lead to device failure due to the deterioration of the gate oxide and the shallow junction.