• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.13-28
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• 2019

This study analyzed precipitation environment, heavy metal contamination, and mineral composition of white, reddish brown and mixed precipitates occurring at the Osip stream drainage, Gangwondo. Furthermore, spectral characteristics of the precipitates associated with heavy metal contamination and mineral composition was investigated based on spectroscopic analysis. The pH range of the precipitates was 4.43-6.91 for white precipitates, 7.74-7.94 for reddish brown precipitates, and 7.59-7.9 for the mixed precipitates, respectively. XRF analysis revealed that these precipitates were contaminated with Ni, Cu, Zn, and As. The white precipitates showed high Al concentration compared to reddish brown precipitates as much as 3.3 times, and the reddish brown precipitates showed high Fe concentration compared to white precipitates as much as 15 times. XRD analysis identified that the mineral composition of the white participates was aluminocoquimbite, gibbsite, quartz, saponite, and illite, and that of reddish brown precipitates was aluminum isopropoxide, kaolinite, goethite, dolomite, pyrophyllite, magnetite, quartz, calcite, pyrope. The mineral composition of the mixed precipitates was quartz, albite, and calcite. The spectral characteristics of the precipitates was manifested by gibbsite, saponite, illite for white precipitates, goethite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite for reddish brown precipitates, and albite for the mixed precipitates, respectively. The spectral reflectance of the precipitates decreased with increase in heavy metal contamination, and absorption depth of the precipitates indicated that the heavy metal ions were adsorbed to saponite and illite for white precipitates, and goethite and magnetite for reddish brown precipitates.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.6-16
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• 2019

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Pine needles (Pinus densiflora seib et Zucc) are a traditional medicine used to treat dyslipidemia in clinical settings. This study examined the potential effects of sulgidduk, a Korean traditional rice cake containing pine needle juice to protect against dyslipidemia induced by a high-fat/sugidduk diet in a rat model. Methods: Twenty one male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups: normal control (NC), Sulgidduk diet (SD), Sulgidduk diet containing pine needle juice (PSD). The blood lipid levels, production of lipid peroxide in the plasma and liver, total cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver and feces, antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma and erythrocytes were measured to assess the effects of PSD on dyslipidemia. Results: A high-fat/Sulgidduk diet induced dyslipidemia, which was characterized by significantly altered lipid profiles in the plasma and liver. The food intake was similar in the three groups, but weight gain and food efficiency ratio (FER) were reduced significantly in the PSD group compared to those in the SD group. The level of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TBARS in the plasma showed tendencies to decrease in the PSD group compared to those in the SD group. The levels of high-fat/Sulgidduk diet-induced sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) gene expression were reduced significantly in the PSD group. The supplementation of PSD reduced the hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels significantly, and enhanced the fecal excretion of triglyceride and hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the SD group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the addition of 0.4% pine needle juice to Sulgidduk may be an alternative snack to control dyslipidemia.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2019

In recent years, the deterioration of fruit quality caused by poor coloration and sunburn disorder has become serious problems in apple market, which is a result of the increase of surface temperature due to the abnormal temperature increase during summer season. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of wind net shading and fine water spray using sprinkler on fruit coloration, sunburn damage and overall fruit quality of 'Fuji' and 'Hongro' apples. Fifteen sprinklers (7L/hr) were installed at the orchard of the Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, located in Sinam-myeon Chungcheongnam-do Korea, at a height of 3m above the apple tree of $1.5m{\times}3.5m$ north-south direction. Fine water spraying treatment was divided into day time spray (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) and all day spray (10:00 am to 10:00 pm) from early July to 10 days before harvest in 2017 and 2018 season, respectively. Temperature of the surface of apple fruit, characteristic of fruit, and degree of sunburn damage were investigated. In 'Fuji', the fruit surface temperature checked at 2 pm on August 10 was decreased considerably in the day time spray ($35.6^{\circ}C$) and wind net ($39.0^{\circ}C$) when compared with the untreated control ($44.4^{\circ}C$). Similarly, the fruit surface temperature also decreased considerably in the all day spray ($35.1^{\circ}C$) and wind net ($36.9^{\circ}C$) treatments when compared with the untreated control ($46.5^{\circ}C$) in 'Hongro' apples. The incidence of sunburn disorder was significantly decreased with day time spray (5.0%), all day spray (5.8%) and wind net (7.0%) when compared with untreated control (23.4%) in 'Fuji' apples. As a results, the treatment of fine water spray and wind net consequently showed 26% and 34% increase of redness ($a^*$) value in the skin color difference, respectively, in 'Fuji' apples.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.607-613
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to predict the exact time of parturition from analysis and classification of preliminary behavior based on parturition signals in sows. This study was conducted with 12 crossbred sows (with an average of 3.5 parities). Behavioral characteristics were analyzed for duration and the frequency of different behaviors on a checklist, which includes the duration of the basic behaviors (feeding, standing, lying down, and sitting). The frequency of specific behaviors (investigatory behavior, shame-chewing, scratching, and bar-biting) was also recorded. Image information was collected every two minutes for 24 hours before the first piglets were born. As a result, the basic behavior of a sows' standing time (22.6% of the time after 24 h, 24.9% after 12 h) and time lying down (55.9% after 24 h, 66.3% after 12 h) increased over the 12 h period before parturition, compared with the 24 h period before parturition (p<0.01). Feeding (13.42% after 24 h, 4.38% after 12 h) and sitting (8.2% after 24 h, 4.5% after 12 h) tended to decrease during the 12 h before parturition (p>0.05). The sows' investigatory behavior ($11.44{\pm}1.80$ after 24 h, $55.97{\pm}6.13$ after 12 h), scratching ($3.75{\pm}1.92$ after 24 h, $20.99{\pm}5.81$ after 12 h), and bar-biting ($0.69{\pm}0.15$ after 24 h, $3.71{\pm}1.53$ after 12 h) increased in the 12-hour period before parturition, compared with the 24-hour period before parturition (p<0.01). On the other hand, shame-chewing ($2.20{\pm}1.67$ after 24 h, $0.07{\pm}0.01$ after 12 h) decreased compared to the 12-hour period before parturition (p>0.05). Thus, standing, investigatory behavior, scratching, and bar-biting could be used as behaviors indicative of parturition in sows.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2017

Alcoholic steatosis is a fundamental metabolic disorder and may precede the onset of more severe forms of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we isolated enzymatichydrolysate from Semisulcospira libertine by alcalase hydrolysis and investigated the protective effect of Semisulcospira libertine hydrolysate on liver injury induced by alcohol in the mouse model of chronic and binge ethanol feeding (NIAAA). In an in vitro study, the hydrolysate protects HepG2 cells from ethanol toxicity. Liver damage was assessed by histopathological examination, as well as by quantitating activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). After the administration of S. libertina hydrolysate, fat accumulation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver tissues were significantly decreased in the NIAAA mouse model. The elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities, along with the lipid contents of a damaged liver, were recovered in experimental mice administrated with S. libertina hydrolysate, suggesting its role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged liver tissues. Moreover, treatment with S. libertine hydrolysate reduced the expression rate of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6, which accelerate inflammation and induces tissue damage. All data showed that S. libertine hydrolysate has a preventive role against alcohol-induced liver damages by improving the activities of blood enzymes and modulating the expression of inflammation factor, suggesting S. libertine hydrolysate could be a commercially potential material for the restoration of hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

This study is to derive a design alternative to the FECC (Forest Experience Center for Children) that meets the preschooler's preferences. For this purpose, preschooler participation is included in each phase of the FECC, the site perception phase, the deriving design elements phase, and the deriving design alternative phase. In this study, the process of the deriving design alternative phase was carried out with kindergarteners and preschoolers (6, 7 years olds; all 41 students) at Songsan-mulbit FECC in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. In order to derive the design alternatives, three detailed design processes (preschooler participation 2 times, researcher analysis 1 time), tool construction, and a preschooler participation workshop were conducted. The results of this study are as follows. First, as a result of the preschooler's design process, 41 designs were drawn, and an average of 7.66 spaces were drawn by each preschooler. The 6-year-old males designed the least (average 6.80 spaces) and the 7-year-old females designed the most (9.0 spaces). The physical and adventure play spaces were most common (38.9% to 48.7%) regardless of gender or age. To analyze the feasibility of the preschooler's design using a base map, the appearance of the physical environmental characteristics (7 items) in the site were analyzed in each of the 41 designs. As a result, the environmental characteristics were apparent a total 72 times overall. Similar environmental characteristics appearing more than once were apparent in 87.8% (26 designs) of designs. Second, three design alternatives were derived: APS- types (intensive planning of active play facility spaces) was presented in 15 designs, NS-types (planning focused on nature spaces) was presented in 14 designs, and SPS-types (planning focused on static play facility spaces) were presented 12 designs. Third, NS-type, which were finally selected through a preference assessment (5-point scale) and a comparative assessment of the three alternatives, has mainly natural spaces (forest space, forest path, shelter, natural exploration space, and ecological pond) and active play facility spaces, water play space and soil (sand) play spaces was appropriately designed. Therefore, the NS-type was analyzed as the design alternative that can fully accomplish all types of cognitive development through developed through play (functional play, constructive play, dramatic(symbolic) play).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.431-438
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• 2021

To prepare more stringent regulations for USCG Phase II ballast water management, this study investigated the staining efficiency of SYBR Green I(SGI) and SYBR Gold(SG) on the virus-like particle (VLP). A dye with high staining efficiency was applied to the treated water that was passed through the ballast water treatment system (BWTS). VLP staining was observed most clearly under the 100-fold and 200-fold dilution of the stock solution when the volume of filtered samples was 0.5 mL to 2 mL. The staining efficiency of SGI and SG did not show a significant difference. On the other hand, the green fluorescence of viruses in the sample stained with SGI was more pronounced than in the samples stained with SG (expressed yellow fluorescence), making it easier to observe. The abundance of VLP in the test water and control water treatments that did not pass through the two types of BWTS (electrolysis type, UV + electrolysis type) was approximately 109 - 1010 VLP 100 mL-1. In contrast, no stained VLP was observed in the treated water treatments. Moreover, SGI was confirmed to be effectively stained under various salinity conditions, including seawater, brackish water, and freshwater. Further verification tests and development of staining methods under various BWTS are required, but the SGI staining method is believed to be a good alternative to the VLP live/dead determination of the USCG Phase II type approval test.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2021

The biological activities of non-edible extracts of asparagus stems and roots were investigated using hot water and ethanol. The highest contents of rutin and total polyphenol were 31.74 mg/g and 20.14 mg GAE/g, respectively, in the stem hot water extract. ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities were 541.1±21.0 and 649.5±6.6 ㎍/mL, respectively, in stem hot water extract. All extracts were non-cytotoxic in HepG2 cells, but 200 ㎍/mL stem extracts tended to decrease the viability of RAW 264.7 cells. The highest xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was 43.68% in the root hot water extract at 200 ㎍/mL. The expression level of MMP-9 was significantly decreased in the asparagus extracts. The highest GGT, AST, and LDH activities showed a concentration-dependent decrease in the stem ethanol extract. In conclusion, the presence of bioactive substances in the non-edible extracts of asparagus was confirmed for the development of extracts with antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-gout activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of Cudrania tricuspidata leaf extract in the order of leaf development on the shoot (L0, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5). The leaves at the apex of a Cudrania tricuspidata shoot were classified as L0; the next leaves of the apex were classified as L1, L2, L3, and L4 from highest to lowest; and the lowest leaf was classified as L5. A series of 70% ethyl alcohol leaf extracts were screened for the inhibitory effects of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We found that the apical leaf extract of Cudrania tricuspidata (CTL0) was the most effective. Next, a study was conducted on the inhibitory action mechanism of CTL0. Treatment with CTL0 significantly suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by the decrease in lipid droplet content observed with Oil Red O staining. Treatment with 12.5 ㎍/ml, 25 ㎍/ml, and 50 ㎍/ml of CTL0 significantly reduced the lipid droplet content. Glucose and cellular triglyceride concentrations were reduced in the 3T3-L1 cells on the CTL0-treated medium compared to the differentiation medium (DM control, DMEM + insulin + dexamethasone + rosiglitazone). Compared with DM, CTL0 significantly inhibited the expression of key pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), LPL, A-FABP, and Glut4. These findings show that CTL0 extract has potent anti-obesity effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1078-1084
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• 2020

Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis is an insect belonging to the order Coleoptera. This insect is reported to contain large amounts of physiologically active substances useful for liver protective effect and improvements in blood circulation as well as a broad source of edible protein. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found in a variety of species, from microorganisms to mammals, and play an important role in the innate immune systems of living things. Microglia are the main source of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in the central nervous system. Activated microglia secrete large amounts of neuroinflammatory mediators (e.g., TNF-α, NO, and ROS), which are the main cause of neuronal cell death. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Protaetiamycine 6 (PKARKLQKLSAYKTTLRN-NH2), an AMP derived from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis, on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglia. Protaetiamycine 6 significantly inhibited NO production without cytotoxicity and decreased the expression levels of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, Protaetiamycine 6 also reduced the production of neuroinflammatory cytokines on activated BV-2 microglia. These results suggest that Protaetiamycine 6 could be a good source of functional substance to prevent neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.