• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.465-475
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• 2024

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K9 is a probiotic strain that can be utilized from various bioactive substances isolated from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae. In this study, a genetic analysis of L. plantarum K9 revealed the existence of a bacterial chromosome and three plasmids. The glycolysis pathway and pentose phosphate pathway were examined for their normal functioning via an analysis of the core metabolic pathways of L. plantarum K9. Since the key enzymes, fluctose-1,6-bisphospatase (EC: 3.1.3.11) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase (EC: 4.2.1.12)/2-keto-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase (EC: 4.2.1.55), of gluconeogenesis and the ED pathway were not identified from the L. plantarum K9 genome, we suggest that gluconeogenesis and the ED pathway are not performed in L. plantarum K9. Additionally, while some enzymes, related to fumarate and malate biosyntheses, involved in the TCA cycle were identified from L. plantarum K9, the enzymes associated with the remaining TCA cycle were absent, indicating that the TCA cycle cannot proceed. Meanwhile, based on our findings, we propose that the oxidative electron transport system performs class IIB-type (bd-type) electron transfer. In summary, we assert that L. plantarum K9 performs homolactic fermentation, executes gluconeogenesis and the pentose phosphate pathway, and carries out energy metabolism through the class IIB-type oxidative electron transport system. Therefore, we suggest that L. plantarum K9 has relatively high lactic acid production, and that it has excellent antibacterial activity, as a result, compared to other lactic acid bacterial strains. Moreover, we speculate that L. plantarum K9 has an oxidative electron transport capability, indicating that it is highly resistant to oxygen and suggesting that it has fine cultivation characteristics, which collectively make it highly suitable for use as a probiotic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.509-519
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• 2024

A previous study showed that krill oil improved recognition and memory through anti-oxidative effects in an amyloid β model, but the authors noted that further investigations are necessary of alterations to neurotransmitters' states and of serum lipid profile improvements related to serum lipid peroxidation. Accordingly, in this study, ICR mice were pre-treated intraperitoneally with scopolamine prior to induced neurotransmission impairment, and the effects of krill oil provision on their capabilities of cognition were tested by performing a passive avoidance test (PAT), water maze test (WMT), and novel object recognition test. Then, parameters including the acetylcholine (ACh) concentration, acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE), lipid peroxidation, serum lipid levels, and nerve cell proliferation were investigated. The results showed that krill oil improved the mice's abilities in recognition and memory as the times taken to complete the PAT and WMT were reduced compared to the mice in a comparison scopolamine-treated group. Krill oil produced an increased concentration of Ach, and this was accompanied by a decrease in AChE. As shown in a scopolamine-treated SH-SY5Y cell line, krill oil reduced the activity of AChE. Moreover, the suppression of lipid peroxidation-reflected in the finding that malondialdehyde was decreased with krill oil provision-is speculated to affect the recorded serum triglyceride and cholesterol decreases and LDL cholesterol increase. The intake of krill oil was also found to produce an improvement in brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression by stimulating the activation of cyclic AMP response element binding protein in the brain tissue. Overall, the current results imply that the provision of krill oil raises the cognition and memory by elevating neurotransmitters and by improving the serum lipid profile and nerve cell proliferation, which occur as lipid peroxidation is suppressed in the brain tissue.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.272-286
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• 2023

Garlic sprouts can provide data on functional and food processing materials. This study compared the leaves, bulbs, and roots of garlic sprouts grown on smart farms during two growth periods (20 and 25 days). In addition, data for garlic bulbs grown in open fields were presented as reference materials. All garlic sprouts' total free sugar content decreased as the growth period increased. All plant parts' total organic acid content decreased as the growth period progressed, except for the root section. Potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur content increased during growth in all parts of the garlic sprouts. Alliin content decreased in all parts of the plant over time, whereas thiosulfinate content increased in the roots but decreased in the leaves and bulbs. Total polyphenol content increased in all parts of the plant during the growth period, except for the bulb, whereas the flavonoid content did not change significantly over time. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylben-zothiazoline 6-sulfonate) (ABTS) free radical scavenging activities, as well as the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of garlic sprouts were 37.45-65.47%, 59.12-89.81%, and 89.52-98.59%, respectively. These activities tend to decrease during the growth period. Here, we showed that garlic sprouts have higher levels of functional substances and physiological activities than general garlic sprouts. It was also determined that a growth period of 20 days was suitable for garlic sprouts. Data for research on functional and food-processing materials can be obtained by analyzing garlic sprouts produced by smart farms.

• Bulletin of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.16-29
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• 2024

2014년 4월 18일 오전 8시 48분경 전라남도 병풍도 인근 해역에서 세월호는 전복된 후 침몰하였다. 사고 당시 이 배에는 승객 443명과 선원 및 승무원 33명 모두 476명이 타고 있었고, 이 중 미수습자 5명을 포함하여304명이 생명을 잃었다. 그 동안 공식적인 사고원인 규명활동이 꾸준히 진행되어 이 사고의 원인을 규명하기 위한 조사가 네 차례 있었다. 하지만 아직까지 사고 원인이 무엇인지 명쾌하게 밝혀지지 않고 있다. 이 글에서는 먼저 그동안 있었던 네 차례의 공식적인 세월호 사고원인 규명활동을 정리하였다. 가장 먼저 사고원인 규명활동을 전개한 해양안전심판원 특별조사부는 2014년 사고 직후부터 그해 12월까지 활동하였다. 특별조사부 최종보고서에는 화물의 과적과 평형수 적재 부족으로 인한 선박복원성 기준 미달, 타각의 대각도 조타와 장시간 유지로 인한 부적절한 조타, 화물의 부실한 고박으로 인한 화물의 이동, 수밀문의 관리 부실로 인한 조기 침수와 비상대피장소(muster station)로의 승객대피 조치 미이행을 사고의 원인으로 들고 있다. 2015년 3월부터 2016년 6월까지 활동한 4·16세월호참사 특별조사위원회(특조위)는 '4·16 세월호 참사 특별 조사위원회 청산 백서'만을 간행하고 최종보고서를 제출하지 못한 채 활동을 종료하였다. 세월호 선체조사위원회(선조위)는 2017년 4월부터 2018년 8월까지 활동하였다. 선조위는 세월호 사고원인 규명을 위한 다른 기구에 비해 위원의 구성도 균형이 있었고, 직권사건 위주의 조사방법도 적절하였다. 또한 조타기와 조타 과실 여부, 급선회 항적 및 횡경사와 핀안정기의 물리적 손상에 관한 용역을 국내 여러 기관에 발주하였다. 뿐만 아니라 다양한 해양사고 원인규명 용역에 참여한 실적이 있는 영국의 기술용역회사인 Brookes Bell에 급선회와 빠른 침몰의 원인 조사를 요청하였다. 아울러 세계에서 가장 활발히 수조실험을 수행하고 있는 상업 연구소인 네덜란드의 MARIN에 수조시험과 시뮬레이션도 의뢰하였다. 하지만 아쉽게도 선조위는 서로 다른 사고 원인을 주장하는 두 권의 종합보고서를 간행하였다. 종합보고서로 '내인설' 종합보고서[6]는 타기 솔레노이드 밸브의 고착으로 시작된 급선회를 사고의 직접 원인으로 지목하고 있다. 하지만 '열린안' 종합보고서[7]에서는 수중체와의 충돌을 직접적인 사고 원인으로 밝히고 있다. 마지막으로 가습기살균제 사건과 4·16세월호 참사 특별조사위원회(사참위)가 2019년 3월부터 2022년 9월까지 활동하였다. 사참위는 위원으로 조선해양공학과 항해학 전문가가 포함되어 있지 않아 세월호의 사고원인 규명활동을 효과적으로 수행하기에는 적절하지 못하였다. 사참위는 주로 조타장치 고장에 따른 세월호 전타 선회현상 검증, 세월호 변형 손상부의 확인 및 원인 조사와 세월호 횡경사 원인과 침수과정 분석을 직권 과제로 추진하였다. 또한 네덜란드 MARIN에 자유항주시험을 추가로 의뢰하였으며, 핀란드의 NAPA group에도 복원성 계산과 침수해석을 의뢰하였다. 사참위는 선조위의 두 가지 사고원인에 대해 '내인설'의 솔레노이드 밸브 고착은 사고원인일 가능성이 매우 낮고, '열린안'의 수중체와의 충돌 시나리오는 근거가 부족함을 확인하였다. 이상에서 정리한 바와 같이 규명활동이 진행됨에 따라 사고원인이 수렴되어야 함에도 불구하고 아직까지 원인을 시원하게 밝히지 못하고 있다. 이 글에서는 사고원인 규명활동을 수행한 네 개 기구의 구성과 활동 내용을 비교하고, 사고조사 위원회의 바람직한 구성과 위원회의 운영 방법을 제시하고 있다. 또한 Brookes Bell 보고서에 수록된 출항 당시의 흘수에 근거한 배수량과 선미 램프의 폐쇄 전후의 횡경사각으로부터 도출한 GoM도 소개하고 있다. 아울러 출항 당시의 GoM값으로 추정한 사고 당시의 GoM값도 소개하고 있고, 수중체와의 충돌 시나리오를 후보 사고 시나리오에서 제외시켜야 할 이유도 열거하고 있다. 끝으로 해양사고 원인규명 활동이 보다 과학적으로 그리고 보다 합리적으로 이루어질 수 있기 위해 그리고 우리 사회의 안전문화 제고를 위한 몇 가지의 방안을 제시하고 있다. 또한 세월호 사고로 치른, 아직도 치르고 있는 희생을 딛고 해양안전문화가 한 걸음 더 나아가기 위해서는 세월호 사고의 원인을 반드시 규명해야 한다는 말씀으로 글을 마무리하고 있다.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 2023

Background: This study was conducted to determine the association with dual jobbing on dental hygienists' job satisfaction and to identify the factors that lead to dual jobs. Methods: This study was an online survey of 110 currently employed dental hygienists conducted during the month of May 2022. To determine job satisfaction, we used the 20-item Korea-Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (K-MSQ). Survey questions related to dual job were adapted and supplemented from the dual job survey instrument for dental hygienists to identify intention to dual job and future intention to dual job. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe's post hoc analysis, and multiple logistic regression were performed. Results: The dual job rate and future dual job rate of the participants in this study were about 27% and 47%, respectively. The means for Intrinsic job satisfaction, Extrinsic job satisfaction, and job satisfaction were 3.44, 3.15, and 3.36, respectively. It was statistically significant that extrinsic job satisfaction increased with increasing position, and intrinsic job satisfaction, extrinsic job satisfaction, and job satisfaction increased with increasing salary. Those currently working dual jobs cited "self-actualization" as a reason for doing so, and those who intended to work dual jobs in the future cited "not being paid enough in their primary job" as a reason. We found that a one-unit increase in intrinsic job satisfaction and job satisfaction increases the odds of future intention to dual job by about 1.07 and 1.05 times, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study confirmed the influence of dental hygienists' job satisfaction on intention to dual job and future intention to dual job, and self-actualization was found to be the main factor. Therefore, the consideration of dual jobs in the future will affect the improvement of dental hygienists as professionals and the reduction of turnover through better working conditions.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2023

Background: This study was conducted to determine the level of job satisfaction and patient safety cultural activities for dental hygienists and to determine the relationship between job satisfaction and patient safety cultural activities. Methods: A survey was conducted on 214 dental hygienists, and data from the final 180 were analyzed. Job satisfaction consisted of a total of 20 questions, and patient safety cultural activities included a total of 25 questions. The survey was conducted on a 5-point scale. Results: The average job satisfaction score of the study subjects was 3.44 points. Among patient safety cultural activities, infection control had the highest average score (4.12 points) and radiation safety management had the lowest average score (3.10 points). Patients with less than 3 years of clinical experience (4.01 points) had higher patient safety culture activity scores than those with 3 to 10 years of clinical experience (3.72 points) and those with more than 10 years of clinical experience (3.69 points). The level of patient safety cultural activities was statistically significantly higher as age, less clinical experience, and job satisfaction increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: In the case of dental hygienists, patient safety cultural activities must be carried out throughout the entire work, so an active will to practice patient safety cultural activities is necessary. In order to improve the performance of patient safety cultural activities, it is necessary to adjust the workload of dental hygienists to improve job satisfaction and create a work environment in which they can focus on patient safety cultural activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.160-169
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• 2024

In this study, Abies nephrolepis MAX. was divided into A. nephrolepis MAX. stem (AS) extract and A. nephrolepis MAX. leaf (AL) extract. Their anti-inflammatory abilities and applicability as cosmetic materials were determined. Tests of the cell survival rate measured using RAW 264.7 cells and extracts of AS and AL showed 97.8% and 95.6% cell viability at a 500 ㎍/ml concentration. To determine anti-inflammatory activity, we examined the inhibitory effects on the production of LPS-induced NO in RAW 264.7 cells by Griess assay. The results showed that the AS and AL extracts presented a concentration-dependent inhibition of NO production. The protein expression inhibitory effects of AS and AL extracts were measured by western blot at 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. β-actin was used as a positive control. The results of western blot of extracts from AS showed that the expression inhibition rate of the iNOS protein was decreased by 50.1% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration. Additionally, the results of western blot of AL extracts showed that the expression inhibition rate of COX-2 and iNOS protein was decreased by 66% and 8.2% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration. The mRNA inhibitory effect was measured by RT-PCR at 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. GAPDH was used as a positive control. Consequently, the iNOS mRNA expression effect by RT-PCR of AS extract demonstrated by RT-PCR decreased by 27.9% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration, and the iNOS and IL-6 mRNA expression effect of AL extract measured by RT-PCR decreased by 48.6% and 48.7% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.82-108
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• 2024

With the transition of archaeological recording method's transition from analog to digital, the 3D scanning technology has been actively adopted within the field. Research on the digital archaeological digital data gathered from 3D scanning and photogrammetry is continuously being conducted. However, due to cost and manpower issues, most buried cultural heritage organizations are hesitating to adopt such digital technology. This paper aims to present a digital recording method of relics utilizing open-source software and photogrammetry technology, which is believed to be the most efficient method among 3D scanning methods. The digital recording process of relics consists of three stages: acquiring a 3D model, creating a joining map with the edited 3D model, and creating an digital drawing. In order to enhance the accessibility, this method only utilizes open-source software throughout the entire process. The results of this study confirms that in terms of quantitative evaluation, the deviation of numerical measurement between the actual artifact and the 3D model was minimal. In addition, the results of quantitative quality analysis from the open-source software and the commercial software showed high similarity. However, the data processing time was overwhelmingly fast for commercial software, which is believed to be a result of high computational speed from the improved algorithm. In qualitative evaluation, some differences in mesh and texture quality occurred. In the 3D model generated by opensource software, following problems occurred: noise on the mesh surface, harsh surface of the mesh, and difficulty in confirming the production marks of relics and the expression of patterns. However, some of the open source software did generate the quality comparable to that of commercial software in quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Open-source software for editing 3D models was able to not only post-process, match, and merge the 3D model, but also scale adjustment, join surface production, and render image necessary for the actual measurement of relics. The final completed drawing was tracked by the CAD program, which is also an open-source software. In archaeological research, photogrammetry is very applicable to various processes, including excavation, writing reports, and research on numerical data from 3D models. With the breakthrough development of computer vision, the types of open-source software have been diversified and the performance has significantly improved. With the high accessibility to such digital technology, the acquisition of 3D model data in archaeology will be used as basic data for preservation and active research of cultural heritage.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.335-341
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• 2024

Objectives: Patients with cancer eventually fail to respond to therapy when malignant cells develop effective ways to evade immunosurveillance. Conventional cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, aim to cure the disease or prolong the patient's life. However, the toxicity and side effects of conventional treatments limit their efficacy. Herbal medicine is a typical complementary and integrative form of medicine for cancer treatment in Asia. This protocol evaluates the effectiveness of herbal medicines in improving the immune function of patients with cancer. Methods: The following electronic databases will be searched: MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE via Elsevier, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Korean databases including Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS), National Digital Science Library (NDSL), and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS). Additionally, prospective randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effectiveness of herbal medicines on immune function in patients with cancer will be included in this review. All outcomes related to the immune function of patients with cancer (e.g., CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, CD19 (B cells), dendritic cells (CD11), CD56 (NK cells), and macrophages) will be included in this review. Results: This review is expected to provide data on the effectiveness of herbal medicines on improving immune functions in patients with cancers. Conclusion: This systematic review will help patients and clinicians establish new management options for cancer treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.558-566
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• 2024

The potential therapeutic effects of Kaempferia Parviflora ethanol extract (KPE) on osteoarthritis were investigated using the human chondrocyte cell line (CHON-001) to explore its application in functional foods. The CHON-001 cells were pre-treated with either 1 ㎍/ml or 5 ㎍/ml of KPE before exposure to 10 ng/ml of IL-1β to induce osteoarthritis. Results showed that KPE treatment significantly suppressed IL-1β-induced TNF-α production by 66% and 50% at concentrations of 1 ㎍/ml and 5 ㎍/ml KPE, respectively. In addition, COX-2 protein expression was reduced by 26% and 34% compared to control levels. The preservation of chondrocyte-specific matrix proteins, aggrecan, and collagen type II, was notable, with aggrecan and mRNA levels maintained by 5% and 8%, and collagen II levels preserved by 62% and 47% at the same KPE concentrations. This preservation is likely due to the reduced expression of MMP1 and MMP13, enzymes responsible for matrix protein degradation. Overall, the current results suggest that KPE may protect chondrocytes from IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis by suppressing TNF-α production and COX-2 expression while preserving critical matrix proteins like aggrecan and collagen II by suppressing the expressions of their degrading enzymes (MMP-1 and MMP-13). Therefore, KPE holds promise as a candidate for developing functional foods aimed at reducing osteoarthritis.