• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1507-1515
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• 2018

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by prostatic hypertrophy mainly in the elderly. Corni Fructus is reportedly effective in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, but its efficacy on BPH has not been previously studied. In the present study, we investigated whether or not a Corni Fructus water extract (CF) could prevent testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. To induce BPH, castrated rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (TP). CF was administered daily by oral gavage, along with the TP injections, and finasteride, a selective inhibitor of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2, was used as a positive control. The results show that CF significantly reduces prostate weight and histopathologic changes while also decreasing levels of serum dihydrotestosterone, similar to the finasteride-treated group. CF also suppresses TP-induced $5{\alpha}$-reductase expression and concentration in prostate tissue and serum, respectively. Furthermore, CF markedly inhibited TP-induced expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and the steroid receptor coactivator 1, an AR coactivator, which was associated with a decrease in prostate-specific antigen levels in both serum and prostate tissue. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that CF weakens BPH status by inactivation of $5{\alpha}$-reductase and AR.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2019

This study investigated the physiochemical properties, the anti-oxidant and alcohol metabolism enzyme activities, and the anti-inflammatory effects of three muskmelon vinegars prepared under different fermentation conditions, namely MV-1, MV-2, and MV-3. The total acidity of each vinegar was 4.00%, 4.32%, and 4.35%, respectively. Organic acid analysis showed that malic acid (58.37 mg/ml) was the most prevalent in MV-1 and that acetic acid was most prevalent in both MV-2 (46.95 mg/ml) and MV-3 (66.70 mg/ml). The total phenolic content of the muskmelon vinegars was highest at $129.74{\mu}g$ tannic acid equivalents (TAE)/ml in MV-3. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the vinegars increased in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05) and was 89.28% at MV-3 40% concentration. Similarly, SOD activitity increased in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05) so that levels for MV-1, MV-2, and MV-3 at 60% concentrations were 40.84%, 52.17% and 72.55%, respectively (p<0.05). Moreover, the ADH and ALDH activities of muskmelon vinegar were seen to increase in a concentration-dependent manner; ADH activity at 60% concentration was highest at 136.58% in MV-1 and ALDH activity at 60% concentration was highest at 100.25% in MV-2. The nitrite scavenging activities of MV-1, MV-2, and MV-3 at pH 1.2 were found to be 81.58%, 94.72%, and 87.75%, respectively. Anti-inflammatory effects were also examined, using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and nitric oxide production was reduced to 25.93%, 10.01%, and 79.75% by addition of MV-1, MV-2, and MV-3 at 1% concentration, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggest that the MV-3 muskmelon vinegar has great potential as an ingredient for high quality functional health beverages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.354-361
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• 2019

The red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetables in traditional Korean food, containing vitamins A, C, and E, polyphenol, and flavonoids. In addition, red peppers have high anti-oxidant ability and are known to be effective in preventing obesity, diabetes, hypertension, digestive disorders, stress, and aging. In this study, we investigated the effects against obesity and diabetes of both fermented and non-fermented red pepper. C57BL/6N mice with induced obesity from an eight-week 45% high fat diet (HFD) were then fed either an HFD or diets containing 2.5% non-fermented red pepper marc (NRM), 1.25% fermented red pepper marc (FRM), or 2.5% FRM for a further eight weeks. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed seven weeks after dietary intake, and body weight, liver, epididymal fat weight, serum insulin level, and HOMA-IR were measured and a lipid content test performed at eight weeks. The results show that the 2.5% FRM diet reduced body and tissue weight, lipid content, serum insulin levels, and HOMA-IR compared to the 2.5% NRM and HFD diets. These results suggest that fermented red pepper is effective against obesity and diabetes. We will use this information as the basic data for the development of health food materials using red pepper.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.155-166
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of self-efficacy of SMEs' organization members on job engagement and job performance, and to analyze the difference between gender and marital status by applying SEM-ANN analysis. To accomplish the study purpose, 285 valid samples were collected from 400 SMEs' organization members and analyzed. In this study, self - efficacy consisted of three sub-dimensions: self-confidence, self-regulation efficacy, and task difficulty preference. As a result of the analysis, self - efficacy such as self-confidence, self-regulation efficacy, and task difficulty preference had a positive direct effect on job engagement. In addition, self-efficacy and self-control efficacy have a positive effect on job performance, but the preference of task difficulty has no significant effect. In addition, job engagement has a positive(+) effect on job performance, and has a mediating role in the relationship between self-efficacy and job performance. Also, married males preferred self-regulation efficacy, while females preferred self-regulation and self-control efficacy regardless of marital status. The purpose of this study is to present the framework of self-efficacy-job engagement-job performance of SMEs by measuring the self-efficacy related researches mainly in education and service industries, and is meaningful that companies can help to find the basis of management of organization members by gender and marital status of organization members. In addition, the SEM-ANN analysis process of this study is different in that it explains the nonlinear (nonobservative) relationship that can analyze the influence or the combination of the reference variables in the linear (compensatory) relation using the SEM.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2019

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been known as one of the representative special and healthful products originating from Korea for 4500 to 5000 years. The word of ginseng was first mentioned in JiJuZhang(急就章), written by ShiYou during the reign of King Yuah Di of the Chien Han Dynasty, China (33-48 BC). It has been known that wild Korean ginseng grows in Korean peninsula including Manchuria and the ginseng is found only between the $33^{rd}$ and $48^{th}$ parellels of north latitude. Since the times of three kingdom in Korea at 4-7 century, which is Kokuryo, Baekje and Shila, Korea has been the chief ginseng producing country. A large quantity of ginseng was exported from Korea to China for medicinal use at that times. That was written in SamGukSaGi(三國史記) by BuSik Kim of Koryeo Dynasty in Korea in 1145. The cultivation of Korean ginseng was also recorded in Bencaogangmu(本草綱目) written by LiShi Zen during the regin of the Ming Dynasty in 1596, China. The ginseng seedling, which was known as an original method invented by imitating the method of rice transplantation, appeared in the SeungJeongWon Ilgi(the diaries of the royal secretariat, 承政院日記), 1687 in the regin of King SukJong in Korea. It was suggesting that ginseng cultivation was firstly established in the early 1600s in Korea. On the other hand, red ginseng(written as 熟參) was reported firstly in GoRyeoDoGyeong(高麗圖經)(a record of personal experience in Korea, written in 1123) by SeoGung in Song Dynasty, China. The names of Pansam(written as 板蔘) and Pasam(written as 把蔘), which were the another types of red ginseng products, were came on in the JoSeon Dynasty Annals in 1552 and 1602, respectively. Although the term of red ginseng(Hongsam in Korean) was firstly appeared in the JoSeon Dynasty Annals in 1797, it is believed to have been developed a little earlier periods from the King Jungjong(1506~1545) to the King SeonJo(1567~1608) in Korea. Then, the Korean red ginseng has begun production on a large scale in SamJeong Department of NaeJangWon(內藏院 蔘政課) in the Korean Empire(大韓帝國) in 1899. More detailed records about red ginseng production method were written in the SohoDanag Miscellany(韶濩堂集) by Taekyoung Kim at 1916 year in Korea. On the while, the efficacy of ginseng was first recorded in Shennongbencaojing(神農本草經) written in China(BC 83-96) and the efficacy has been continuously inherited.

• The Korean journal of helicobacter and upper gastrointestinal research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.247-257
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the trend of the prevalences of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) from 2011 to 2016~2017 in Korea. And, the risk factors of AG and IM were compared between 2011 and 2016~2017. Materials and Methods: A total of 4,023 subjects in 2011 and 2,506 subjects in 2016~2017 were enrolled. AG and IM were diagnosed on the basis of endoscopic findings. Multivariate analysis was performed for risk factors of AG and IM. Seventeen factors were analyzed. Results: The seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori decreased from 2011 (59.8%; 2,407/4,023) to 2016~2017 (51.6%; 1,293/2,506; P<0.001). The prevalence of AG decreased from 2011 to 2016~2017 (P=0.018), but that of IM increased (P<0.001). The risk factors of AG in 2011 were male sex, old age, H. pylori immuoglobulin G (IgG) positivity, family history of gastric cancer (GC), and high-salt diet. For IM in 2011, the risk factors were male sex, old age, H. pylori IgG positivity, and family history of GC. Risk factors of AG in 2016~2017 were old age, H. pylori IgG positivity, and country of residence. For IM in 2016~2017, the risk factors were male sex, old age, family history of GC, high fasting glucose level (${\geq}126mg/dL$), H. pylori IgG positivity, and low income level. Conclusions: The difference in prevalence trends of AG and IM between 2016~2017 and 2011 could be the result of the different risk factors of AG and IM, such as decreased prevalence of H. pylori infection.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.34-48
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• 2019

Naeseong Stream is a natural sand-bed river that flows through mountainous and cultivated area in northern part of Gyeongbuk province. It had maintained its inherent landscape characterized by white sandbars before 2010s. However, since then changes occurred, which include construction of Yeongju Dam and the extensive vegetation development around 2015. In this study, long-term monitoring was carried out on Naeseong Stream to analyze these changes objectively. This paper aims to provide a dataset of the investigation on channel morphology and vegetation for the period 2012-2018. Methods of investigation include drone/terrestrial photography, LiDAR aerial survey and on-site fieldwork. The main findings are as follows. Vegetation development in the channel of Naeseong Stream began around 1987. Before 2013 it occurred along the downstream reach and since then in the entire reach. Some of the sites where riverbed is covered with vegetation during 2014~2015 were rejuvenated to bare bars due to the floods afterwards, but woody vegetation was established in many sites. Bed changes occurred due to deposition of sediment on the vegetated surfaces. Though Naeseong Stream has maintained its substantial sand-bed characteristics, there has been a slight tendency in bed material coarsening. Riverbed degradation at the thalweg was observed in the surveyed cross sections. Considering all the results together with the hydrological characteristics mentioned in the precedent paper (I), it is thought that the change in vegetation and landscape along Naeseong Stream was mainly due to decrease of flow. The effect of Yeongju Dam on the change of the riverbed degradation was briefly discussed as well.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.567-579
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the mediation effects of dietary habits, nutrient intake, daily life in the relationship between the working hours of Korean shift workers and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Data were collected from the sixth (2013-2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The stochastic regression imputation was used to fill missing data. Statistical analysis was performed in Korean shift workers with metabolic syndrome using the SPSS 24 program for Windows and a structural equation model (SEM) using an analysis of moment structure (AMOS) 21.0 package. Results: The model fitted the data well in terms of the goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.939, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.025, normed fit index (NFI) = 0.917, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.984, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.987, and adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.915. Specific mediation effect of dietary habits (p = 0.023) was statistically significant in the impact of the working hours of shift workers on nutrient intake, and specific mediation effect of daily life (p = 0.019) was statistically significant in the impact of the working hours of shift workers on metabolic syndrome. On the other hand, the dietary habits, nutrient intake and daily life had no significant multiple mediator effects on the working hours of shift workers with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The appropriate model suggests that working hours have direct effect on the daily life, which has the mediation effect on the risk of metabolic syndrome in shift workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.486-496
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• 2018

Pine wilt disease (PWD) in Gyeonggi province was first detected in Gwangju in 2007, and ever since has caused extensive damage. Insect vector and host tree in Gyeonggi province are Monochamus saltuarius and Pinus koraiensis, respectively, which are different from the southern region that consist of Monochamus alternatus and Pinus densiflora. Consequently, spread and mortality characteristics may be different, but our understanding is limited. In this research, we utilized the spatial data of newly infected trees in Gyeonggi province from 2008 to 2015 to analyze how it is related to various environmental and human factors, such as elevation, forest type, and road network. We also analyzed the minimum distance from newly infected tree to last year's closest infected tree to examine the dispersal characteristics based on new outbreak locations. Annual number of newly infected trees rapidly increased from 2008 to 2013, which then stabilized. Number of administrative districts with infected trees was 5 in 2012, 11 in 2013, and 15 in 2014. Most of the infected trees was Pinus koraiensis, with its proportion close to 90% throughout the survey period. Mean distance to newly infected trees dramatically decreased over time, from 4,111 m from 2012 to 2013, to approximately 600 m from 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015. Most new infections occurred in higher elevation over time. Distance to road from newly infected trees continuously increased, suggesting that natural diffusion dispersal is increasingly occurring compared to human-influenced dispersal over time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.456-477
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• 2018

We analyzed the data on medicinal plants and related traditional knowledge in Korea and China using data analysis method. There are 108 families 214 genera 542 species, and 202 families 660 genera 1,261 species were found in Korea and China respectively. Total of 86 families (79.6%) and 130 genera (60.7%) were in common both countries. More than one information were recorded in many species, however, there was only one information from some species (32.7% of genera in Korea, and 58.8% of genera in China). The most frequent appeared plant family was Compositae (Asteraceae) in both countries (8.4% in Korea and 10.7% in China) and followed by Rosecease and Leguminocae (Fabaceae). Plant parts were classified 11 parts and roots were mostly used in Korea and whole plants in China. Usages were described in different terms of ailments or symptoms. There are 120 usage in Korea and 230 in China. Plant uses for the ailment or symptoms are pain, digestive system disorder, cold and etc. in Korea. In China, plants were mostly used for clear heat, digestive system disorder, cough and etc. Relation between the plant and ailment(symptom) of the top 10 plants in Korea and China was different although from same plant family. We also analyzed the relations between plant species and part used, and plants parts and ailment(symptom). With the data analysis method, we were able to collect the medicinal plant resources data and found the differences in plant resources, usage, and plant part for use. The result provide important information of the plant resources and related traditional knowledge of Korea for use of plant resources in industry and facilitate to plan a strategy to cope with Nagoya Protocol in the future.