• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2020

Sorbus commixta Hedl. has traditionally been used as a remedy for cough, asthma, and other bronchial disorders. In this study, three major triterpenoids-lupeol, β-sitosterol, and ursolic acid and a coumarin, scopoletin, were isolated from a CHCl₃-soluble fragment of the bark of S. commixta. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses, including mass spectrometry (MS), 1D-, and 2D- nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), as well as by comparing the data with data reported in the literature. Scopoletin was isolated from this plant for the first time. It is a nutraceutical compound contained in many plants that has been reported to exert diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects. This study examined the inhibitory effect of scopoletin on TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial inflammation. Unlike the marginal impact of other compounds against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and vascular endothelial inflammation, scopoletin showed remarkable activity on LDL oxidation (IC₅₀ = 10.2 μM) and exerted vascular anti-inflammatory effects in EA.hy926 human endothelial cells activated by TNF-α. It suppressed the expression of adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, and blocked the adhesion between THP-1 monocytes and EA. hy926 endothelial cells. It also inhibited TNF-α-induced NF-κB translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, IκBα phosphorylation, which was increased by TNF-α treatment, was reduced after treatment with scopoletin. Thus, scopoletin inhibited TNF-α-induced vascular inflammation in endothelial cells by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that owing to its anti-inflammatory activity in the vascular endothelium, scopoletin has the potential to inhibit atherosclerosis development.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2018

A recent topic of interest within ecology is ecosystem services that are importantly connected with biodiversity. Biodiversity is a fundamental component of ecological studies and has been the subject of many studies worldwide. However, studies on the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish were not undertaken in earnest until 2000, and the number of internationally available studies is therefore still limited. In this study, we used data from "The Survey and Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health (hereafter SEAEH)" within the framework of which whole water systems on the Korean peninsula are annually monitored to investigate and determine the current status of the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish, as well as to elucidate major factors impacting freshwater fish. A total of 130 species from 28 families were identified at around 953 sites in the SEAEH investigation of 2014. The species Zacco platypus (relative abundance: 28.2%) and Z. koreanus (19.3%) were identified as the most abundant species on the Korean peninsula, and besides these 20 endangered species, 51 endemic species and 4 exotic species were also collected. Highest (96 species) and lowest (72 species) diversity were identified in the Han River Watershed and the Yeongsan/Seomjin River Watershed, respectively. The mean endemic rate was 32.7%, which is higher than the previous rate determined in 1995. The exotic species Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus and Carassius cuvieri were found in the whole river system except north Yeongdong, whereas Oreochromis niloticus occurred only at three sites due to the cold water temperatures in winter. Totally, 28 species were found to be translocated to different water systems not connected with known original habitats, most translocations occurring in the Nakdong River and the Yeongdong region. Among the translocated species, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, and Erythroculter erythropterus were dominantly distributed in the mid- to lower reaches of Nakdong River where they may be harmful to the native fish assemblages due to their strong predation. The construction of weirs in connection with the "4 River Project" generated changes in fish assemblages before, during and after the project, resulting in altered habitat condition. Especially, a decrease in the number of endemic species and an increase in the abundance of lentic species were seen. Human-induced global warming will allow exotic species requiring high water temperatures to adapt to the environmental conditions of the Korean peninsula, which may enhance the diversity of native fishes and create changes in distribution. For the establishment of realistic and efficient management and protection strategies for Korean freshwater fish, SEAEH, which produces fundamental and quantitative data for Korean streams, is an important and necessary tool.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2005

Quality characteristics of curd yoghurt containing loquat extract were evaluated in terms of sensory properties and quality-keeping properties(number of viable cells, pH, titratable acidity). Curd yoghurts were prepared from $10\%(w/v)$ skim milk added with $10\~20\%(v/v)$ loquat extract and fermented by the mixed culture of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus acidophilus(1:1) at $37^{\circ}C$ for 12 hours. The results of sensory evaluation of curd yoghurts indicated that flavor, sweet taste, sour taste, aftertaste and overall acceptability of the curd yoghurts with addition of loquat extract showed higher preference than a curd yoghurt with only skim milk. And the curd yoghurt containing $15\%$ loquat extract added $20\~25\%(w/v)$ oligosaccharide had the higher sensory scores in sweet taste, sour taste, aftertaste and overall acceptability among the treatments. When the curd yoghurts added with $15\%$ loquat extract were kept at $4^{\circ}C\;and\;20^{\circ}C$ for 31 days, the number of viable cell counts of the lactic acid bacteria were slightly higher than those in the curd yoghurt with no addition of loquat extract. And also the pH and titratable acidity of all yoghurts were not significantly changed during the storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 31 days, while the pH and titratable acidity were remarkedly changed during the yoghurts stored at $20^{\circ}C$ for 31 days. The keeping quality of the curd yoghurts with addition of $15\%$ loquat extract was relatively good at $4^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ for 31 days.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.142-161
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• 2013

In order to enhance scientific interest and a sense of affinity about ocean, the programs of the oceanic camp 'oceanic summer school' were developed and applied to $4^{th}$ and $9^{th}$-grade elementary and middle school students for 9 years from 2004 to 2012. It was composed of oceanic training for snorkeling, a tour to oceanic institutes and museums near the camp academy place, experimental learning in oceanic-related field, field trips for ocean and earth sciences, and lectures on various subjects of ocean. We developed and implemented 9-kinds of inquiry surveys to evaluate changes in cognitive and affective characteristics, and ocean literacy of students participated at the present oceanic summer camp. Based on the statistical analysis, affective characteristics such as interest, inquisitiveness, passion, and so on, were enhanced. Analysis of ocean literacy revealed that cognitive characteristics of the students were increased by 40%. We presented parents' responses on the programs of oceanic summer school. Some students with less initial interest of ocean have positively changed to make up their minds to be a oceanographer in several years later. In light of this, the summer school can be evaluated to be successfully functioned as a long-term support system for potentially young-talented students in the field of ocean science. This study addresses that long-term implementation of the summer oceanic camp may trigger students with potential talent toward in-depth science in the near future even though it could not bring positive effect immediately. This addresses the necessity of policy supports in order that various programs like the scientific camp should be more constructively developed and executed for next-generation manpower in oceanographic fields.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2012

In this study, the evaluation of antioxidative activity and componential analysis of C. obtusa leaf extracts was carried out. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of C. obtusa leaf extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction ($OSC_{50}$; 0.22 ${\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction of C. obtusa leaf extracts (0.20 ${\mu}g/mL$) showed about 7 times more prominent ROS scavenging activity than L-ascorbic acid (1.50 ${\mu}g/mL$). The cellular protective effects of fractions obtained from C. obtusa leaf extracts on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction of C. obtusa leaf extracts showed the cellular protective effects in a concentration dependent manner (5~25 ${\mu}g/mL$). The inhibitory effect ($IC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction on tyrosinase exhibited 74.43 and 53.80 ${\mu}g/mL$, repectively. The aglycone fraction showed four times higher tyrosinase inhibitory effect than arbutin (226.88 ${\mu}g/mL$), known as a whitening agent. The aglycone fraction of C. obtusa leaf extracts showed three bands in TLC chromatogram and three peaks in HPLC chromatogram (360 nm). Three compounds were identified as taxifolin, quercetin and kaempferol. These results indicate that the fractions of C. obtusa leaf extracts can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and protect cellular membranes against reactive oxygen species. The fractions of C. obtusa leaf extracts can be applicable to new functional cosmetics for antioxidan and whitening effects.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

This study was carried out to assess the carbon budget of two urban parks and one natural park and to prepare the plan for improving the ecological functions of the park including carbon sink. Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) of those study sites was calculated from the relationship between Net Primary Production (NPP) and soil respiration of each study site. To understand carbon budget of the whole area designated as the park, carbon budget of the urban park was analyzed by classifying the vegetated and the non-vegetated zones. NEP of the Nohae and the Sanggye parks calculated by reflecting areal size that the non-vegetated zones occupy were shown in -1.0 and $0.6\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. On the other hand, NEP of Mt. Bulam natural park as a reference site was in $2.3\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. Based on the result, the Nohae park was assessed as carbon source rather than carbon sink. On the other hand, the Sanggye park was classified as carbon sink but the role was poor compared with natural park. The result is, first of all, due to lower NPP of the vegetation introduced for the parks compared with natural vegetation. The other reason is due to wide arrangement of non-vegetated zone. To solve those problems and thereby to create the urban park with high ecological quality, selection of plant species suitable for the ecological characteristic of the park, their arrangement imitated natural vegetation, and ecological zoning were recommended.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 2008

This study was conducted to provide the fundamental data based on the analysis of phsyco-chemical characteristics of domestic aroma rice and foreign aroma rice for breeding of aroma rice. The average amylose content of domestic aroma rice and widely cultured domestic traditional rice were 18.1% and 19.0% respectively. The Indica and the Japonica types were 25.6% and 25.0%. In the domestic rice of Tongil and Japonica type, the average protein content were 7.6% and 6.4% respectively. And the average protein content of foreign Indica and Japonica type were 7.6% and 7.0% respectively. And the average protein content of widely cultured domestic traditional rice was 5.6%. The Japonica type of rice shown a low protein content compared with Indica type of rice, and the foreign Indica types of rice exhibited a wide range of protein contents. The average alkali digestive value (ADV) of Tongil type of the domestic aroma rice was about 5.0 and the value of Japonica type was about 6.0. The average ADV of foreign Indica and Japonica type were 4.3 and 5.1 respectively. Also the average ADV of widely cultured domestic aroma rice was about 6.0. The foreign aroma rice were distributed a variable range of ADV value and lower than the both domestic aroma rice and widely cultivated domestic rice. In the whole aspect of the amylogram, the highest viscosity, the lowest viscosity and the last viscosity of the total resources, in domestic aroma rice were clearly lower with the next order, Japonica type of foreign aroma rice, Indica type of foreign aroma rice, Japonica type of domestic aroma rice, widely cultured domestic traditional rice, and Tongil type of domestic aroma rice. It shown the difference aspect of amylograms according to the eco-type of the domestic and foreign aroma and the general rice, and it was distinguishable in difference of the aspect of the amylogram of the endosperm of rice as non-glutinous rice, waxy rice, and middle-waxy rice.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2017

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed is an important dietary source of protein, oil, carbohydrates, isoflavones, and other nutrients for humans and animals. Raffinose and stachyose are the main antinutritional factors in soybean seed. They are carbohydrates belonging to the raffinose family of oligosaccharides, which are not readily digested in humans and cause flatulence or diarrhea. The genetic reduction of the raffinose and stachyose contents in mature soybean seeds will improve the nutritional value of soybean. The objective of this research was to evaluate agronomic traits with 10 $F_6$ strains selected from breeding populations derived from a cross among seven parents. The contents of raffinose and stachyose in mature seeds were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. Agronomic traits such as flower color, flowering date, harvesting date, lodging, plant height, seed coat color, hilum color, 100 seed weight, and yield were evaluated. Ten intermediate parents showed low raffinose and stachyose contents. The intermediate parent 883-1 had a small seed size, six intermediate parents (15A1, 15D1, RS-5, RS-33, RS-64, and RS-70) had a medium seed size, and two intermediate parents (14G20 and RS-21) had a large seed size. The intermediate parent RS-21 had a black seed coat and a green cotyledon. Four intermediate parents (883-1, 14G20, RS-5, and RS-21) had elite agronomic traits. The new intermediate parents developed through this study will be used to develop improved soybean cultivars with low contents of raffinose and stachyose.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.534-538
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological benefits of apple peel. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of a 70% ethanol extract of apple peel were examined. The total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents of apple peel were $6.8{\pm}0.5mg$ gallic acid equivalent/g of fresh weight and $3.3{\pm}0.3mg$ catechin equivalent/g of fresh weight, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of apple peel was $18.9{\pm}1.6$, $46.3{\pm}2.3$ and $58.1{\pm}3.9%$ at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively (p<0.05). The anti-inflammatory effect was investigated by measuring the inhibition of inflammatory enzymes. Apple peel significantly inhibited secretory phospholipase, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenase activity by up to $53.5{\pm}2.3$, $13.4{\pm}1.8$, $64.8{\pm}5.4$ and $44.4{\pm}4.5%$, respectively (p<0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that apple peel may act as an antioxidant by radical scavenging and may possess potential anti-inflammatory properties for suppressing the activity of inflammatory enzymes. These results also suggest that apple peel can be utilized as a health functional food ingredient possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

The approval of use of certain food-grade phosphates as food additives in a wide variety of meat products greatly stimulated research on the applications of phosphates in foods. Although phosphates have never been classified as antimicrobial agents, a number of investigators have reported that phosphates have antimicrobial activities. Phytic acid is a natural plant inositol hexaphosphate constituting 1-5% of most cereals, nuts, legumes, oil seeds, pollen, and spores. In this study, we investigated antibacterial activities of sodium phytate(SPT), sodium pyrophosphate (SPP), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) on Escherichia coli O157:H7 on tryptic soy broth and in beef, pork and chicken. In tryptic soy broth, SPT, SPP and STPP at the concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5% effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a concentration-dependent manner. The bactericidal activity of SPT was the stronger than that of SPP or STPP at the same concentrations. In addition, the antibacterial effects of SPT, SPP and STPP at the concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% on Escherichia coli O157:H7 were also investigated in raw or cooked meats including beef, pork and chicken. SPT, SPP and STPP significantly inhibited the bacterial growth in a dose-dependant manner (p<0.05). The bactericidal effect of SPT was stronger than that of SPP or STPP. The addition of SPT, SPP and STPP in meats increased meat pHs. SPP and STPP also increased the levels of soluble orthophosphate in meats but STP did not. These results indicate that SPT is very effective for inhibition of bacterial growth and that can be used as a muscle food additive for increasing functions of meats.