• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2007

Compound K (CK), a protopanaxadiol ginsenoside metabolite, was previously shown to have immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we isolated the CK rich fractions (CKRF) from Korean Red Ginseng and investigated the regulation of CKRF-mediated inflammatory signaling during Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated cellular activation. Among various TLR ligands, CKRF considerably abrogated TLR4- or TLR9-induced inflammatory signaling. Both LPS and CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) stimulation rapidly activates mitogen-activated protein kinases [MAPKs; extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and p38], NF-${\kappa}B$, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and interleukin-6 in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Of interest, pre-treatment of CKRF in either LPS/TLR4- or CpG-ODN/TLR9-stimulated macrophages substantially attenuated the LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine production and mRNA expressions, as well as MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the inhibitory roles for CKRF in TLR4- or TLR9-associated signaling in BMDMs. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CKRF specifically modulates distinct TLR4 and TLR9-mediated inflammatory responses, and further studies are urgently needed for their in vivo roles for potential therapeutic uses, such as in systemic inflammatory syndromes.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-124
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• 2015

The 'Imjin System' (or Rimjin System) was established in 1962 as a new stratigraphic unit separated from the Upper Paleozoic Pyeongan System based on the discovery of brachiopods and echinoderms of possible Devonian age. Subsequent discoveries of the Middle Devonian charophytes confirmed the Devonian age of the system. The Imjin System is distributed in the Imjingang Belt between the Pyongnam Basin and the Gyeonggi Massif, spans from the eastern areas including Cholwon-gun of the Gangwon Province, Gumchon-gun, Phanmun-gun, and Tosan-gun of the Hwanghaebuk Province, to the western areas of Gangryong-gun and Ongjin-gun of the Hwanghaenam Province, and includes the Yeoncheon Group (metamorphic complex) to the south. Unlike the lower Paleozoic strata in the Pyongnam Basin which solely produce marine invertebrate fossils, the Imjin System yields diverse non-marine plant and algal fossils. Brachiopods of the system are similar to those from the Devonian of the South China Block and include taxa endemic to the platform, implying a close paleogeographic affinity to the South China Block. The Imjin System is generally considered as of Middle to Late Devonian in age, although there have been suggestions that the system is of the Middle Devonian to Carboniferous in age. North Korean workers postulated that the Imjin System was deposited in the current geographic position, where the "Imjin Sea" (an extension of the South China Platform) was located during the Devonian. The Imjin System displays strong local variations in stratigraphy and its thickness. It has recently been reported that the strata are repeated and overturned by thrust faults in many exposures. The Yeoncheon Group a southward extension of the Imjin System, also experienced intense tight folding and contractional deformation. Northward decrease in metamorphic grade within the system suggests that the northern part of the Gyeonggi Massif and the Imjingang Belt are probably an extension of the Dabie-Sulu Belt between the South China and Sino-Korean blocks, and the Imjin System is an remnant of accretion resulted from the collision between the two blocks. In order to understand tectonic evolution and Paleozoic paleogeography of eastern Asia, further studies on stratigraphic, sedimentologic and tectonic evolution of the Imjin System involving scientists from the two Koreas are urgently needed.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.546-553
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the antioxidant activity of the Sumaeyaksuk (Artemisia argyi) tea extracts from different pre-treatment and extraction methods. Sumaeyaksuk was sun-dried for 3.5 days (control, RC) and aged at a temperature of $60^{\circ}C$ for 3.5 days (HA), 7 days (HB), and 14 days (HC), respectively. Each sample was extracted in $60^{\circ}C$ and $95^{\circ}C$ hot water for 2 minutes. The soluble solids content of HA from the $60^{\circ}C$and $95^{\circ}C$ hot water extraction were $0.52{\pm}0.18%$ and $0.92{\pm}0.18%$, respectively. The soluble solids content was increased by the higher extraction temperature. The reducing sugar content of RC was $9.55{\pm}0.18mg/g$ in the $95^{\circ}C$ extraction, which was significantly higher than in the $60^{\circ}C$ extracted sample. However, the reducing sugar content did not show a remarkable difference based on aging periods. The total phenolic compound content of the $95^{\circ}C$ extracted samples was $3.36{\pm}0.13{\sim}9.88{\pm}0.23mg/g$, which was significantly higher than that of the $60^{\circ}C$ extracted sample. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of the $60^{\circ}C$ extracted RA and HA samples were 35.63% and 95.10%, respectively. Moreover, the radical scavenging activity increased to 63.35% and 96.78%, respectively, in the $95^{\circ}C$ extracted samples. As a result of the high temperature, the extracted sample showed an increase in the FRAP. In the RC sample, the FRAP was two times higher in the $95^{\circ}C$ extracted sample ($181.28{\pm}2.90{\mu}M$) than in the $60^{\circ}C$ extracted sample ($83.88{\pm}0.43{\mu}M$).

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.461-468
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• 2008

To obtain basic da1a on the preparation of Cudrania tricuspidata leaves tea, the quality and anti-oxidative characteristics of dried raw leaves (RT), pan-fired leaves tea (PT) and fermented leaves tea (FT) were investigated. General characteristics of RT, PT and FT, respectively, were: moisture content 18.47, 6.23 and 8.50%; crude protein content 17.77, 20.46 and 19.13%; and carbohydrate content 54.42, 62.52 and 61.96%. The crude lipid and ash contents were in the range 0.05 - 0.07% and 9.27 -10.74% respectively; the water soluble solid content was in the order FT > PT > RT and ranged from 23.10 - 37.38%; there were no significant differences in the total polyphenol content (815.24 - 835.16 mg%). Although $L^*$ values of PT (20.94) and FT (20.85) were lower than those of RT (34.71), the $a^*$ value in PT and the $b^*$ value in FT were highest. In all ethanol extracts the reducing power, electron-donating ability and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the activity in FT was higher than in PT or RT. The total free amino-acid content was higher in FT (1429.93 mg%) than RT (1108.94 mg%) or PT (833.13 mg%). The major amino acids were L-asparagine and L-valine in RT, L-cysteine and L-glutamic acid in PT and L-proline in FT. In a sensory evaluation of PT and FT, bitter and astringent tastes were decreased relative to RT, while sweet and savory tastes, flavor, color and overall acceptability were increased. These results indicate that FT bas a higher antioxidant effect and free-amino-acid content than PT, while the sensory quality of FT is similar to that of PT.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1103-1112
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the effects of different cooking methods (boiling, roasting, stir-frying, and deep-frying) on folate retention in 6 kinds of mushrooms (Beech-, button-, Juda's ear-, oak-, oyster-, and winter-mushrooms) frequently consumed in Korea. In order to assure reliability of analytical data, trienzyme extraction-L casei method was verified and analytical quality control was also evaluated. Folate contents of mushrooms varied by 6.04-64.82 g/100 g depending on the type of mushrooms. and were significantly affected by cooking methods. Depending on cooking methods, folate contents of mushrooms decreased by 22-48%, 2-31%, and 17-56% for Juda's ear-, oak- and oyster-mushrooms, respectively, while 17-90% of folate was increased in Beech mushroom. Overall, the largest weight loss was found in boiled mushrooms, but the lowest one in deep-fried samples. True folate retention rates considering processing factor were less than 100% for all cooked mushrooms except for Beech samples. Overall, folate loss was the largest by boiling with water but the smallest by deep-frying. Both accuracy and precision of trienzyme extraction-L-casei method were excellent based on a recovery close to 100% and coefficient variations less than 3%. Quality control chart of folate analysis (n=26) obtained during the entire study and an international proficiency test (z-score=-0.5) showed that trienzyme extraction-L casei method is reliable enough for production of national folate database.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.475-480
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• 2017

A new Gomchwi cultivar 'Damogy ' was bred by crossing between Gomchwi (Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb.) Turcz.) and Handaeri-gomchwi (Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai). The selection and investigation of growth and yield characteristics were conducted from 2006 to 2011 in field and greenhouse of Highland Agriculture Research Institute, NICS, Rural Development Administration, Korea. On a newly developed cultivar 'Damogy', Color of petiole ear was purple, petiole trichome was exist, light of leaf back was not exist, and density of leaf vein was degree 4. Plant height, leaf length, leaf width and petiole length were 45.9, 16.9, 21.1 and 29.0 cm, respectively in the $3^{rd}$ year in growth characteristics. Plant size was also higher than that of Gondalbi. Bolting and flowering time were Aug. $23^{th}$ and Sept. $10^{th}$, respectively. In contrast, Gondalbi showed quite earlier bolting time more than 38 days compared with 'Damogy' and consequently earlier flowering time more than 26 day. 'Damogy' showed similar leaf number (129) per plant compared to 'Gondalbi' (130). Furthermore, yield was higher 'Damogy' (1,889 g/plant) than in 'Gondalbi' (798 g/plant). 'Damogy' showed higher leaf thickness (0.71 mm) than 'Gonalbi' (0.46 mm), and consequently showed more hardness in leaf characteristics ($28.3kg/cm^2$) compared with 'Gondalbi' ($23.0kg/cm^2$). 'Damogy' showed higher resistance in the susceptibility of powdery mildew disease compared to 'Gondalbi'. 'Damogy' variety was registered plant variety protection right as a No. 89 on December 2015.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2003

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the pesticide exposure status and acute pesticide poisoning symtoms among agricultural workers at Gangwon-do province alpine area. Alpine area was defined as the area higher than 400m. Methods: We analyzed 257 interviwed questionnaire about pesticide exposure, acute pesticide poisoning symptoms and other variables. Results: The result was shown that agricultural workers at alpine area used more pesticide than general agricultural workers for annual usage days(35.9 days vs 14.4 days), daily usage hours(6.7 hrs vs 2.8hrs, p<0.05). But there was no difference between general and alpine agricultural worker's herbicide exposure. Moreover, the alpine agricultural worker's acute pesticide poisoning symtom score was higher than general agricultural worker's. These difference was also found at result of regression analysis, under control the age, sex, monthly income. Most frequently suffered symptom was headache and dermatological problems. The symptom prevalence of dermatological problem, headache, general weakness, eye irritation, nausea were higher among alpine agricultural workers than general agricultural workers. Conclusions: As a result, agricultural workers at alpine area were more exposed to pesticide and suffered from pesticide poisoning symptoms. To prevent the symptoms and disease from pesticide exposure among agricultural workers at alpine area, more research and political effort will be needed.

• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2016

Caesium radioisotopes, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs which come from the atmospheric nuclear tests and discharges from nuclear power plants, are very important to study artificial radioactivity. In this work, in order to lower the minimum detection activity (MDA) we investigated environmental radioactivity according to the Environment Measurement Laboratory procedure by ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs which is similar to chemical and environmental behaviors of ¹³⁷Cs. The environmental soils in high mountain areas near nuclear power plant were collected, and an Ammonium Molybdophosphate (AMP) precipitation method, which showed high selectivity toward Cs⁺ ions, was applied to chemically extract and concentrate Caesium radioisotopes. Radioactivity was estimated by a gamma-ray spectrometry. In gamma energy spectrum, with an increasing of ⁴⁰K radioactivity, it increased the MDA of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs. Therefore, if the natural radionuclides were removed from the soil samples, the MDA of Caesium may be reduced, and the contents of ¹³⁷Cs of in the environmental soils can effectively be estimated. In the standard soil sample of Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, radioactivity of ⁴⁰K was removed more than 84% on average, and the MDA of ¹³⁴Cs was reduced 2 times. The content of ¹³⁷Cs was recovered over 84%. On the other hand, in environmental soils, AMP precipitation method showed removal ratio of ⁴⁰K up to 180 times, which reduced the MDA about 5 times smaller than those of Direct method. ¹³⁷Cs recovery ratio showed from 54.54% to 70.06%. When considering the MDA and recovery ratio, AMP precipitation method is effective for detection of Caesium radioisotopes in low concentration.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.135-145
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• 1983

This study was conducted to obtain the fundamental data for the processing of carrot juices and know the effects of blanching conditions, acid and alkali treatments and sterilization on the quality factors of carrot juices. The result obtained was as follows. 1. Blanching condition, $100^{\circ}C$, 5min. was the most effective for the Brix, amino-N content, suspended solid, light transmittance and yield of carrot juices among $90^{\circ}C$, 15min., $95^{\circ}C$, 10 min., and $100^{\circ}C$, 5min. 2. 0.05N-acetic acid solution was the most effective blanching solution for the suspended solid, light transmittance, viscosity and yield of the juices compared to 0.05N-citric acid and 0.03N-hydrochloric acid solution. 3. The color changes during the processing of carrot juices caused by blanching process rather than sterilization process. 4. The ${\beta}$-carotene in carrot juices was very stable and about 80 % of it was remained in the carrot juice which had been blanched, extracted and sterilized at $115^{\circ}C$ for 30min. 5. Alkali treatment for the juice from acid - blanched carrots formed discoloration after sterilization. 6. Relative content (%) of sugars in raw carrot juice we re ribose, 8.51%; fructose. 10.15%; glucose, 12.25%; sucrose, 49.53% and oligosaccharide, 19.56%. When the carrots were blanched in boiling water, the contents of monosaccharide and disaccharide decreased slightly but that of oligosaccharide increased slightly, however, when the carrots were blanched in acid solution, and then neutralized and sterilized, relative contents of ribose and sucrose decreased remarkably but that of oligosaccharide increased considerably and those of glucose and fructose increased slightly. 7. Nineteen sorts of free amino acid were detected from the carrot juices and the mains of them were threonine+asparagine, alanine, serine+glutamine, aspartic acid, arginine, and glutamic acid.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.605-616
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• 2004

Subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) refer to concentrations below minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The antimicrobial agents may be present at relatively high concentration, at least higher than bacterial MIC and thereafter be deserted off a surface and function at sub-MICs, perhaps by interfering with bacterial metabolism. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of growth, in the presence of sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents, on the cell surface properties and virulence factors of mutans streptococci and to investigate the efficacy of a chemical approach in vitro. Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715-7 were used. Eight antimicrobial agents (Sanguinaria extract;SG, Chlorhexidine digluconate;CHX, Fluoride;F, Propolis;PP, Hydrogen peroxide;HP, Triclosan;TC, Sodium dodecyl sulfate;SDS Cetylpyridinium chloride; CC) were diluted serially in broth to determine MICs and to compare the growth rate, acid production, hydrophobicity, adhesion activity to saliva coated hydroxyapatite, glucan synthesis and cellular aggregation of experiment groups (in the presence of sub-MICs) with those of control (in the absence of antimicrobial agents). Sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents affected the growth of cells, hydrophobicity, and adhesion of bacteria to saliva coated hydroxyapatite and glucan synthesis. They also resulted in a significant reduction in pH after 12 hours (p<0.05). By cells pretreated with proteinase K, either the aggregation induced by antimicrobial agents was completely inhibited or the aggregation titers were markedly increased. According to the results of the present study, each antimicrobial agent at sub-MICs could affect similar as its known action mechanism and could continually inhibit cariogenic bacteria at such concentrations. Thus, the use of these antimicrobial agents would be one of the effective methods to prevent dental caries.