Young-Hun Jung

Inflammatory cytokine concentrations in uterine flush and serum samples from dairy cows with clinical or subclinical endometritis.

The objective of this study was to compare the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in uterine flush and serum from healthy postpartum dairy cows and cows with clinical or subclinical endometritis. Clinical endometritis was diagnosed by observation of vaginal discharges (>50% pus) and subclinical endometritis was diagnosed by evaluation of uterine cytology (neutrophils >18%) at 4 weeks postpartum. Uterine flush was obtained from 48 cows at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum for evaluation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations. Serum samples were obtained from 34 cows just after calving and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum for evaluation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations. Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were greater (P < 0.05) in cows with clinical endometritis than in cows with subclinical endometritis and healthy controls, whereas concentrations of IL-8 in both cows with clinical and subclinical endometritis were greater (P < 0.005) than in controls. Overall, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations decreased during the postpartum period. IL-1β concentrations in cows with clinical endometritis decreased (P < 0.0005) during the postpartum, whereas concentrations in cows with subclinical endometritis and controls did not change significantly with time; at 4 weeks postpartum, concentrations were greater (P < 0.0001) in cows with clinical endometritis. There were no significant effects of group, sampling time, or interaction on serum cytokine concentrations. In conclusion, cows with endometritis have greater inflammatory cytokine concentrations in uterine flush than healthy cows, but no differences were observed in serum.

Relationships among ketosis, serum metabolites, body condition, and reproductive outcomes in dairy cows

We determined the relationships among ketosis, serum metabolites, body condition, and reproductive disorders and performance in dairy cows. Blood samples from 213 dairy cows were collected at 4 and 2 weeks prepartum, just after calving, and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum to measure serum β-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), glucose, total cholesterol, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and progesterone concentrations. Cows were grouped on the basis of the β-hydroxybutyrate concentration at 1 and/or 2 weeks postpartum into two groups: the ketotic group (≥1200 μmol/L, n = 59) and the nonketotic group (<1200 μmol/L, n = 154). The body condition score (BCS) was assessed simultaneously with blood collection. Clinical endometritis was diagnosed by observation of vaginal discharges (>50% pus), and subclinical endometritis was diagnosed by evaluation of uterine cytology (>18% neutrophils) at 4 weeks postpartum. Ovarian cysts were diagnosed by ultrasonography, and resumption of postpartum cyclicity was evaluated by progesterone concentrations (≥1 ng/mL) at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum. In the ketotic group, NEFA levels were higher (P ≤ 0.0005), whereas glucose (P < 0.05-0.0005) and urea nitrogen levels (P < 0.05-0.01) were lower than those in the nonketotic group during the postpartum period. Aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher (P < 0.01) in the ketotic group than those in the nonketotic group at 2 weeks postpartum. The BCS of the ketotic group was higher than the nonketotic group during the prepartum (P < 0.001) and postpartum (P < 0.05-0.001) periods. The probabilities of clinical endometritis (odds ratio = 2.55) and ovarian cysts (odds ratio = 2.80) were higher (P < 0.05) in the ketotic group than those in the nonketotic group. The hazards of resumption of postpartum cyclicity by 8 weeks postpartum (hazard ratio = 0.67) and pregnancy by 360 days postpartum (hazard ratio = 0.68) were lower (P < 0.05) in the ketotic group. In conclusion, a higher BCS during prepartum and postpartum period and increased NEFA and aspartate aminotransferase levels, along with decreased glucose and urea nitrogen levels during postpartum, were associated with ketosis, increased reproductive disorders, and decreased reproductive performance in dairy cows.

Lactoferrin protects against prion protein-induced cell death in neuronal cells by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction

Prion disorder-related neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of prion protein (PrP) scrapie isoform (PrPsc) within the central nervous system. PrPsc induces neuronal cell death by increasing intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Lactoferrin (LF) is an 80 kDa protein, which has antioxidant abilities due to the scavenging of ROS. The effects of LF treatment on PrP (106-126)-mediated neurotoxicity and ROS generation were the focus of this study. LF treatment protected against PrP (106-126)-induced neuronal cell death and decreased ROS generation. The reduced ROS generation prevented PrP (106-126)-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, PrP (106-126)-induced protein activation including c-Jun N-terminal kinase and caspase-3 were blocked by LF treatment. These results demonstrated that LF protects neuronal cells against PrP (106-126)-mediated neurotoxicity through the scavenging of ROS and provide evidence that LF treatment prevents neuronal cell death caused by PrP (106-126).

Identification of BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and Holstein populations using a next generation sequencer

Bovine leucocyte antigen (encoded by BoLA) has been widely studied to identify the association with many traits related to immunity. Exon2 of BoLA-DRB3 is extremely polymorphic, and more than 100 alleles have been identified. We investigated polymorphisms of BoLA-DRB3.2 in Korean native cattle and Holstein populations using a next generation sequencer of the GS-FLX Titanium system. We found 38 alleles including 11 new alleles (BoLA-DRB3*1303, *4702, *7101, *7501, *7201, *7301, *7601, *1104, *7701, *7401 and *50021) in Hanwoo, and nine alleles including one new allele (BoLA-DRB3*7601) in Holstein. The 454 sequencing method is a promising alternative technology for high throughput genotyping of BoLA-DRB3.2 because of its technical advantages that allow it to overcome the disadvantages of sequence-based typing methods.

Assessment of Future Climate Change Impact on Groundwater recharge, Baseflow and Sediment in Steep Sloping Watershed

RegionalInfrastructureEngineering,KangwonNationalUniversity,Korea*EnvironmentalResearchCenter,KangwonNationalUniversity,Korea**DepartmentofAgriculturalandBiologicalEngineering,PurdueUniversity***DepartmentofCivilEngineering,Inhauniversity,Korea요 약기후변화로인해폭우및재해들이일어나고있다. 특히강우강도가커짐에따라토사유출도심해지고있다. 이에따라효율적인수자원및수질관리를위해지하수함양량과기저유출, 그리고토사유출현황을평가하는것이필요하다. 이에본연구에서는대표적인급경사지유역인양구해안면유역에미래기후변화시나리오를적용하여지하수함양량, 기저유출량, 유사량을전망하였으며, 또한유역의경사도를완만하게줄임으로서지하수함양량, 기저유출량, 유사량의변화를분석하였다. 모의기간을2013~2040년, 2041~2070년, 2071~2100년으로나누었으며, 급경사지유역보다유역의경사도를완만하게줄인경우가지하수함양량이평균50% 증가되었으며, 기저유출량도약42% 증가되었다. 유사량은급경사지유역보다경사도를완만하게줄였을경우가72% 유사량이줄어드는것으로나타났다. 본연구의결과에서보이는바와같이경사도를완만하게적용하면유역내지하수함양량및기저유출량이증가하고, 유사량을저감시킬수있는것으로분석되어향후탁수에긍정적인영향을미칠것으로판단된다.핵심용어:SWAT, 유사량, 기저유출, 지하수함양량, 기후변화AbstractClimate change has caused detrimental phenomena such as heavy rainfall which could aggravate soil erosion. Accordingly, itis needed to evaluate the groundwater recharge, baseflow, and soil erosion for the efficient management of water resourcesand quality. In this study, future climate change scenarios were applied to the Haean-myeon watershed which is a steepsloping watershed in South Korea to analyze groundwater recharge, baseflow, sediment. Also, the variation of groundwaterrecharge, baseflow, sediment was analyzed according to the change of slope (5 %). Simulated periods were divided intothree terms (2013 ~ 2040 years, 2041 ~ 2070 years, 2071 ~ 2100 years). As a result of this study, average groundwaterrecharge and baseflow increased by 50 %, 42 %, and sediment decreased by 72 %, respectively. In these regards, thesuggested method will positively contribute to hydro-ecosystem and reduction of muddy water at a steep sloping watershed.Keywords:SWAT, Sediment, Baseflow, Groundwater recharge, Climate Change+ Corresponding Author: jung.younghun@gmail.com

Estimation of baseflow considering recession characteristics of hydrograph

Recession of hydrograph gives a significant contribution to estimation of baseflow using rainfall-runoff models and baseflow separation methods, because recession affects baseflow. This study attempted to enhance the accuracy of streamflow predictions using a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and to separate baseflow from the predicted streamflow. For this, this study used two scenarios: 1) to calibrate eleven parameters using an auto-calibration tool with the alpha factor obtained from RECESS (S1); and 2) to calibrate twelve SWAT parameters including alpha factor (one of SWAT parameters) using an auto-calibration tool (S2). Then, baseflow spearation from the predicted streamflow was conducted by using Web-based Hydrograph Analysis Tool (WHAT). The results show that there is no significant difference between Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values of S1 and S2 for calibrations to streamflow. However, calibrations to baseflow showed that NSEs are 0.777 for S1 and 0.844 for S2, which means a significant difference. Quantitatively compared to the observed streamflow, relative errors were 20.78 % for S1 and 6.59 % for S2. Finally, this study showed the importance of recession in baseflow separated from the predicted streamflow using a rainfall-runoff model.

A Study on Relationship between Streamflow Variability and Baseflow Contribution in Nakdong River Basin

More severe and frequent flood and drought have increased the attentions on the river management. In particular, baseflow is an important element among many streamflow characteristics because streamflow is mainly consisted of direct runoff and baseflow. In this regard, this study attempted to analyze the relationship between streamflow variability and baseflow contributions on Nakdong river basin. For this, two Streamflow Variability Indices (SVI) were used: Coefficient of Variation (CV) and Coefficient of Flow Regime (CFR). Furthermore, baselow separation was individually conducted by three methods (PART, WHAT and BFLOW), and based on this, Baseflow Index (BFI) was calculated. Also, we used the daily streamflow data retrieved from 27 gauge stations in Nakdong river basin for baseflow separation. The results showed that BFI calculated by three models ranges from 0.14 to 0.90 for 27 gauge stations. For SVI, BFI has much higher correlation with CV than with CFR. Also, the inversely proportional relationship between BFI and CV showed that higher baseflow contribution, less streamflow variability.

Development of Desktop-Based LDC Evaluation System for Effectiveness TMDLs

Load Duration Curve (LDC) can be used as a method for load management of point and non-point pollution source because the LDC easily assesses the water quality corresponding to hydrological changes in a watershed. Recently, the application of LDC to total pollution load management is a growing interest in Korea. In this regard, A desktop-based LDC assessment system was developed in this study to provide convenience to users in water quality evaluation. The developed system can simply produce the LDC by using streamflow and water quality data involved in its database. Also, The system can quantitatively inform the success or failure of the achievement for a target water quality at monthly scale. Furthermore, seasonal water quality and point/non-point pollution load in a watershed can be estimated by this system. We expect that the developed system will contribute to establish local and national policies regarding water management and total pollution load management because of its advantages such as the pollution tracking investigation and the analysis of water quality and pollution loading amount in an ungauged watershed.

Effect of DEM Resolution in USLE LS Factor

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have been used to represent the effects of topography on soil erosion. A DEM of 30 m resolution is frequently used in hydrology and soil erosion studies because the National Water Management Information System (WAMIS) provides a 30 m resolution DEM at national scale on its web site. However, the Ministry of Environment recommends the use of a DEM with 10 m resolution for evaluation of soil erosion due to the fact that soil erosion estimation is to some degree affected by the spatial resolution of DEM. In this regard, a DEM with 5 m resolution was resampled for 10 × 10 m, 20 × 20 m, 30 × 30 m, 50 × 50 m, 70 × 70 m, and 100 × 100 m resolutions, respectively. USLE LS factors and soil erosion values were evaluated using these datasets. Use of a DEM with at least 30 m resolution provided reasonable LS factors and soil erosion values at a watershed.

A Study of Total Nitrogen Pollutant Load through Baseflow Analysis at the Watershed

It has been well known that it is not easy to quantify pollutant loads driven by non-point source pollution due to various factors affecting generation and transport mechanism of it. Especially pollutant loads through baseflow have been investigated by limited number of researchers. Thus in this study, the Web-based WAPLE (WHAT-Pollutant Load Estimation) system was developed and applied at study watersheds to quantify baseflow contribution of pollutant. In YbB watershed, baseflow contribution with WWTP discharge is responsible for 49.5% of total pollutant loads at the watershed. Among these, pollutant loads through baseflow (excluding any WWTP discharge) is responsible for 61.7% of it. In GbA watershed, it was found that 58.4% is contributed by baseflow with WWTP discharge 2.9% and 97.1% is by baseflow. For NbB watershed (without WWTP discharge), 52.3% of pollutant load is transported through baseflow. As shown in this study, it was found that over 50.0% of TN (Total Nitrogen) pollutant loads are contributed by non-direct runoff. Thus pollutant loads contributed by baseflow and WWTP discharge as well as direct runoff contribution should be quantified to develop and implement watershed-specific Best Management Practices during dry period.