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The present study investigated the effects of supplementing a low protein (LP) diet supplemented with key essential amino acids (AA) to broilers on growth performance, intestinal tract function, blood metabolites, and nitrogen excretion when the animals were maintained under various sanitary conditions for 35 D after hatching. Three hundred eighty-four one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to groups that received one of 6 dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (i.e., 2 environmental conditions and 3 dietary treatments) to give 8 replicates per treatment. Broilers were challenged with 2 environmental conditions (sanitary vs. poor sanitary). The dietary treatments were (1) high protein (HP) diet, (2) LP diet, and (3) LP diet with synthetic key essential AA (LPA): the LP diet was supplemented with synthetic AA up to the required levels for broilers. On day 14, birds consumed the LP diet impaired growth performance compared with those fed the HP diet, while the average daily weight gain-to-feed conversion ratio of birds fed the LPA diet improved to the level of birds fed the HP diet under poor sanitary conditions (P < 0.05). Broilers raised under poor sanitary conditions and fed the LP diet displayed higher (P < 0.05) zonula occludens (ZO-1) expression on day 14 than broilers fed either the HP or LPA diet. Under sanitary conditions, birds fed HP and LPA diets showed higher villus height and crypt depth compared with those of broilers fed the LP diet on day 35. Moreover, broilers raised in the poor sanitary environment had higher (P < 0.05) serum endotoxins than those raised in the sanitary environment. Broilers fed the LPA diet showed reduced (P < 0.05) nitrogen excretion on days 14 and 35 compared with those fed the LP and HP diets independent of the environment. In conclusion, the LPA diet did not impair growth performance under poor sanitary conditions for 14 D after hatch while resulting in lower nitrogen excretion in any environment conditions throughout the experiment.

The γ-secretase complex represents an evolutionarily conserved family of transmembrane aspartyl proteases that cleave numerous type-I membrane proteins, including the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the receptor Notch. All known rare mutations in APP and the γ-secretase catalytic component, presenilin, which lead to increased amyloid βpeptide production, are responsible for early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. β-amyloid protein precursor-like (APPL) is the Drosophila ortholog of human APP. Here, we created Notch- and APPL-based Drosophila reporter systems for in vivo monitoring of γ-secretase activity. Ectopic expression of the Notch- and APPL-based chimeric reporters in wings results in vein truncation phenotypes. Reporter-mediated vein truncation phenotypes are enhanced by the Notch gain-of-function allele and suppressed by RNAi-mediated knockdown of presenilin. Furthermore, we find that apoptosis partly contributes to the vein truncation phenotypes of the APPL-based reporter, but not to the vein truncation phenotypes of the Notch-based reporter. Taken together, these results suggest that both in vivo reporter systems provide a powerful genetic tool to identify genes that modulate γ-secretase activity and/or APPL metabolism.

The Drosophila transmembrane semaphorin Sema-1a mediates forward and reverse signaling that plays an essential role in motor and central nervous system (CNS) axon pathfinding during embryonic neural development. Previous immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Sema-1a is expressed on most commissural and longitudinal axons in the CNS and five motor nerve branches in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). However, Sema-1a-mediated axon guidance function contributes significantly to both intersegmental nerve b (ISNb) and segmental nerve a (SNa), and slightly to ISNd and SNc, but not to ISN motor axon pathfinding. Here, we uncover three cis-regulatory elements (CREs), R34A03, R32H10, and R33F06, that robustly drove reporter expression in a large subset of neurons in the CNS. In the transgenic lines R34A03 and R32H10 reporter expression was consistently observed on both ISNb and SNa nerve branches, whereas in the line R33F06 reporter expression was irregularly detected on ISNb or SNa nerve branches in small subsets of abdominal hemisegments. Through complementation test with a Sema-1a loss-of-function allele, we found that neuronal expression of Sema-1a driven by each of R34A03 and R32H10 restores robustly the CNS and PNS motor axon guidance defects observed in Sema-1a homozygous mutants. However, when wild-type Sema-1a is expressed by R33F06 in Sema-1a mutants, the Sema-1a PNS axon guidance phenotypes are partially rescued while the Sema-1a CNS axon guidance defects are completely rescued. These results suggest that in a redundant manner, the CREs, R34A03, R32H10, and R33F06 govern the Sema-1a expression required for the axon guidance function of Sema-1a during embryonic neural development.

The transmembrane semaphorin Sema-1a acts as both a ligand and a receptor to regulate axon-axon repulsion during neural development. Pebble (Pbl), a Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor, mediates Sema-1a reverse signaling through association with the N-terminal region of the Sema-1a intracellular domain (ICD), resulting in cytoskeletal reorganization. Here, we uncover two additional Sema-1a interacting proteins, varicose (Vari) and cheerio (Cher), each with neuronal functions required for motor axon pathfinding. Vari is a member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family of proteins, members of which can serve as scaffolds to organize signaling complexes. Cher is related to actin filament cross-linking proteins that regulate actin cytoskeleton dynamics. The PDZ domain binding motif found in the most C-terminal region of the Sema-1a ICD is necessary for interaction with Vari, but not Cher, indicative of distinct binding modalities. Pbl/Sema-1a-mediated repulsive guidance is potentiated by both vari and cher Genetic analyses further suggest that scaffolding functions of Vari and Cher play an important role in Pbl-mediated Sema-1a reverse signaling. These results define intracellular components critical for signal transduction from the Sema-1a receptor to the cytoskeleton and provide insight into mechanisms underlying semaphorin-induced localized changes in cytoskeletal organization.

This study proposed the new method of discerning the assembled parts and presuming the position of central point in a Cowl Cross Bar (CCB) using a Charge-Couple Device (CCD) camera attached to a robot in the auto assembly line. Three control points of an ellipse were decided by three reference points, which were equally distanced. The radii of these reference points were determined by the size of the object, and the repeated presumption secured the precise determination. The comparison of the central point of ellipse presumed by Randomized Hough Transform (RHT) with the part information stored in a database was used for determining the faulty part in an assembly. The method proposed in this study was applied for the real-time inspection of elliptical parts, such as bolt, nut hole and so on, connected to a CCB using a CCD camera. The findings of this study showed that the precise decision on whether the parts are inferior or not can be made irrespective of the lighting condition of industrial site and the noises of the surface of the part. In addition, the defect decision on the individual elliptic parts assembled in a CCB showed more than 98% accuracy within a 500-millisecond period at most.

This study was conducted to develop a robust navigator which could be in positioning for precision farming through developing a plural GPS receiver with 4 sets of GPS antenna. In order to improve positioning accuracy by integrating GPS signals received simultaneously, the algorithm for processing plural GPS signal effectively was designed. Performance of the algorithm was tested using a simulation program and a fixed point on WGS 84 coordinates. Results of this study are aummarized as followings. 1. 4 sets of lower grade GPS receiver and signals were integrated by kalman filter algorithm and geometric algorithm to increase positioning accuracy of the data. 2. Prototype was composed of 4 sets of GPS receiver and INS components. All Star which manufactured by CMC, gyro compass made by KVH, ground speed sensor and integration S/W based on RTOS(Real Time Operating System)were used. 3. Integration algorithm was simulated by developed program which could generate random position error less then 10 m and tested with the prototype at a fixed position. 4. When navigation data was integrated by geometrical correction and kalman filter algorithm, estimated positioning erros were less then 0.6 m and 1.0 m respectively in simulation and fixed position tests.

Introduction No matter how often evangelism is emphasized in church growth, it is never too much. Donald McGavran originally used the term "church growth" as a synonym for evangelism and mission. He said that mission is proclaiming Christ and making people Christ's disciples and members of the church that Christ had established. McGavran also emphasizes that evangelism and church growth have an inseparable relationship: Evangelization intends the redemption of individuals and the multiplication of Christ's churches. Concern for evangelism and church growth is an essential part of the Christian faith and an irreplaceable part of the work of the church. The church is the Body of Christ and brings persons and nations to faith and obedience as it proclaims the gospel effectively in every people and incorporates believers from every people into ongoing churches (1) In order to evangelize effectively, what strategies are needed? Vaguely applying the same strategy to every walk of life does not bring about big results. Just as Paul became a Jew to a Jew, and a Greek to a Greek (1 Cor. 9:20), using different methods in approaching each individual is an important strategy. In other words, with a thorough research of non-believers as the basis for it, a customized approach is necessary. McGavran emphasizes it in this way: It is essential, therefore, not only in the United States but around the world to realize that carrying out eternal God's command can be done only by exact knowledge as to these different segments, their responsiveness or resistance to gospel, and other factors related to their discipling. Exact knowledge is essential (2) When dealing with evangelism, having such research as a foundation is necessary for effectiveness. Without accurate facts and information, it is hard to give an exact diagnosis. Without an exact diagnosis, any effort made in church growth will be unproductive. Scholars of church growth have already used social scientific methods to research the differences between growing churches and non-growing churches. In order to determine the laws of church growth, scholars not only get help from theology but also from sociology, anthropology, psychology and statistics. Scientific method is also a God-given gift. As president of the Institute for Church Growth in Korea, I want to present the results of the experiential research that has been carried out on the non-believers of Korea. I was able to learn new insights through the thinking and values of non-believers, and with that as a source, a new evangelizing method could be established. I call this method the "Diamond Evangelistic System". I will present in order the results of the research on non-believers in the Korean context, and the Diamond Evangelistic System. Research on non-believers for an evangelizing strategy in the Korean church This research concerned 1,500 non-believers from a total of nine different provinces throughout Korea, and was carried out from March 2004 to May 2004. From those researched, an effective sample of 1,059 people were chosen for the analysis. This research dealt with demographic and sociological features such as gender, age, scholarly attainments, etc., and the main research contents concerned the lifestyle of the non-believers, plus their past church life, experience of being evangelized, perspectives on churches, and religious tendencies. In this research, after examining the basic statistical data, an in-depth analysis was done by putting the demographic and sociological features of the population, the religious preference of the non-believers and the life styles of the non-believers as the independent variable. The confidence interval of this research is 95%, and the significance level was [+ or -] 3.1%. Here, I would like to present some important points. Basic statistical analysis 1. …

The key feature of Christianity in the twentieth century is its decline in the western and upsurge in the non-western parts of the world. At the beginning of the twentieth century, European Christianity dominated the Christendom constituting approximately 70.6 per cent of the world's Christian population. By the end of the twentieth century, the European percentage of world Christianity had dropped to 28 per cent (Robert, 2000, p. 50). It is a commonly observable fact that the centre of gravity of Christianity has moved from the western to the non-western world. For

How are the Korean mega-churches growing? What distinguishes them from smaller size of churches? To understand the phenomenal growth of the Korean mega-churches, the survey was taken in 1998 to measure the perceptions of members about their pastor, view of church growth, and religious characteristics, based on 1,260 samples (750 for the mega-churches, 265 for the large churches, and 245 for the small/middle-sized churches). The results showed that the members of the mega-churches are more likely to perceive their senior pastor as charismatic, are more likely to attribute the factors of church growth to their senior pastor, and are more likely to exhibit religious commitment than are the members of the smaller size of churches. This paper argues that charismatic pastoral leadership has an immense impact on religious commitment of the members, thereby leading to church growth.

This chapter examines how evangelicals affected South Korean democratization. After two-and-a-half decades of military-dominated authoritarianism, Korea had a rapidly growing economy but no democracy, until mass protests led to electoral democracy and civil and political rights in 1987. Scholars have given scant attention to the role of the evangelicals in Korea's democratization and democratic consolidation. The chapter reviews the useful though sparse scholarly literature, but relies principally on observation, interviews, documents, and the writings of pastors, theologians, and civil society activists. It argues that Korean Christians have significantly boosted democratization.

In this paper, a tunable inter-digital capacitor (IDC) using the bismuth zinc niobate (BZN) pyrochlore thin film dielectrics is presented for microwave applications. In order to reduce the DC bias voltage and to increase the tunability of the IDC, its electrodes are fully embedded into the tunable BZN dielectrics. At 20 V DC applied, the IDC yields 75 % tunability at 5.8 GHz. This tunability is the highest at microwave frequencies, as far as authors know