• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

This study investigated cut-off values of body mass index (BMI) and body fat measures for metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly Koreas. Questionnaire surveys, anthropometric measurements, medical examinations, and body composition analyses were conducted for 10,077 subjects aged 40-65 years in the health examinee cohort in Korea between 2004 and 2006. Cut-off values were identified using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for both men and women. Stratified analyses by weight range (<60, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89, ${\geq}90\;kg$ for men; <50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, ${\geq}80\;kg$ for women) were conducted. Among male subjects, the cut-off points were $25.5\;kg/m^2$ for BMI with a sensitivity of 70.0% and a specificity of 72.0%, and 26.1% for body fat percentage with a sensitivity of 60.6% and a specificity of 76.4%. Among female subjects, the cutoff points were $24.1\;kg/m^2$ for BMI with a sensitivity of 73.3% and a specificity of 68.8%, and 31.5% for body fat percentage with a sensitivity of 76.7% and a specificity of 65.6%. Stratified analysis by weight range showed that the cutoff points of BMI and body fat measures tended to higher as weight level increased. The results of our study suggest cut-off values of BMI and body fat measure for MS were similar to the general obesity criteria in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.86-91
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• 2014

Trichoplusia ni cells are used as a host permissive cell line in the baculovirus expression system, which is useful for large-scale production of human sugar transport proteins. However, the activity of endogenous sugar transport systems in insect cells is extremely high. Therefore, the transport activity resulting from the expression of exogenous transporters is difficult to detect. Furthermore, very little is known about the nature of endogenous insect transporters. To exploit the expression system further, the effect of D-fructose on 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2dGlc) transport by T. ni cells was investigated, and T. ni cell-expressed human transporters were photolabeled with [$^3H$] cytochalasin B to develop a convenient method for measuring the biological activity of insect cell-expressed transporters. The uptake of 1 mM 2dGlc by uninfected- and recombinant AcMPV-GTL infected cells was examined in the presence and absence of 300 mM of D-fructose, with and without $20{\mu}M$ of cytochalasin B. The sugar uptake in the uninfected cells was strongly inhibited by fructose but only poorly inhibited by cytochalasin B. Interestingly, the AcMPV-GTL-infected cells showed an essentially identical pattern of transport inhibition, and the rate of 2dGlc uptake was somewhat less than that seen in the non-infected cells. In addition, a sharply labeled peak was produced only in the AcMPV-GTL-infected membranes labeled with [$^3H$] cytochalasin B in the presence of L-glucose. No peak of labeling was seen in the membranes prepared from the uninfected cells. Furthermore, photolabeling of the expressed protein was completely inhibited by the presence of D-glucose, demonstrating the stereoselectivity of labeling.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.796-804
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• 2017

This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of Houttuynia cordata (HCME) and to identify a compound having antioxidant effect. The ethyl acetate fraction of HCME showed the highest antioxidant effect in organic solvent fractions. The fraction was then separated into 12 fractions by open column chromatography. Among these fractions, the fraction 10 (Fr. 10) with the highest antioxidant activity was isolated, and its antioxidant effect was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, TBARS, cell viability, DNA oxidation and DCF fluorescence. The Fr. 10 at a $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed 60% of inhibitory effect similar to that of vitamin C at $10{\mu}g/ml$, compared with blank group. The Fr. 10 at $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed 264% of reducing power, compared with blank group. TBARS assay showed that the Fr. 10 at $64{\mu}g/ml$ had 35.5% of inhibitory effect similar to that of vitamin E at $1,000{\mu}g/ml$, compared with blank group. The Fr. 10 above $32{\mu}g/ml$ displayed cytotoxicity. However, it was observed that the Fr. 10, above $1{\mu}g/ml$ reduced DNA damage. DCF fluorescence assay showed that the Fr. 10 inhibited oxidative stress by $H_2O_2$ in a dose dependent manner. The compound of Fr. 10 was identified to be rutin whose molecular weight is 610 by the IR and LC-MS analyses. Therefore, these results suggest that the rutin of Fr. 10 could use as a natural antioxidant for development of cosmetics and functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 2017

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa (CL)) of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. A yellow-pigmented fraction isolated from the rhizomes of CL contains curcuminoids belonging to the dicinnamoyl methane group. Curcumin is an important active ingredient responsible for the biological activity of CL. However, CL is not usually used as a food source due to its bitter taste. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the CL fermented by Rhizopus oryzae (FCL) on pro-inflammatory factors such as nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cell line. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of FCL 80% EtOH extracts, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA kit. Also, the amount of $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured using the $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ detection kit and the iNOS/COX-2 expression was measured by Western blotting. The results showed that the FCL reduced NO, $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that FCL extracts may be a developed the functional food related to anti-inflammation due to the significant effects on inflammatory factors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 2018

We introduced the physiological responses of aging, active aging and also suggest the impact of physical exercise on body health status and elderly immunity. In this purpose, we searched the Pub Med data base for the articles (include our experimental papers) and review papers having the terms 'Aging', 'Active aging' and 'Physical activity and elderly' in the title, published from 1999 until 2018. The results were as follows: Exercise training has been extensively studied about the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, and aging in syndrome X patients and elderly. Combined and aerobic or resistance exercise training could reduce obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Exercise training has been extensively studied in cancer settings as part of prevention or treatment strategies. From this research, regular exercise has the potential to target tumor growth through regulation of inflammation and immune responses such as lactate clearance, NK cell activation (innate immunity), activation of cytotoxic immune cells, T cell activation (adaptive immunity), and immune surveillance. However, Endurance physical activity not only induces thermogenesis and diverse sports injuries but also elicits mobilization and functional enhancement of monocytes, neutrophils (which is caused by the cytokine changes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1) whereas it suppresses cell mediated immunity causing to increased susceptibility to inflammation and infections like cough and URTIs (upper respiratory track infections) in young and especially in elderly people. Therefore, Strategies to prevent physical fatigue, sports injuries include avoid overtraining, Adequate recovery and various type of rest during and after physical activity and assuring adequate nutrition supplementation such as glutamine, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrate, ion or berry-contain sports beverages is helpful in physically active elderly.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2013

This study was aimed to evaluate the masticatory efficiency after botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection during 12 weeks using objective and subjective test. Also, we compared the difference of masticatory efficiency between group that injected into the masseter muscle only (M-group) and group that injected into the masseter and temporalis muscle (M-T group). The mixing ability index (MAI) was used as the objective indicator, and visual analogue scale (VAS) and food intake ability (FIA) index were used as the subjective indicators. It was concluded that masticatory efficiency was significantly lowered after a BTX-A injection into the masticatory muscle, but it gradually recovered in a predictable pattern by the 12 weeks. The disturbance of subjective masticatory efficiency was lasted longer than objective masticatory efficiency. The masticatory efficiency was lower in M-T group than M group. It was statistically significant in the VAS and FIA at 4 weeks, but the MAI showed no significancy. After 4weeks, there was rapid recovery of muscle function in M-T group, and the difference between two groups was not significant. It could be concluded that there will be no serious disturbance of mastication compared to injection is done only into the masseter muscle, even if injection is done into the masseter and temporalis muscle in dose of this study. According to the food properties, it was confirmed that people feel more discomfort on taking hard and tough foods after BTX-A injection and not only hard foods, but also intake of soft and runny foods were influenced by botulinum toxin injection.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.273-285
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• 2009

Statement of problem: The aim of dental research is to advance scientific knowledge and leads to improvement in the treatment and prevention of dental disease. Utilizing an effective research design and adequate statistical methods are essential procedures ensuring that the results of researches are based on evidences. A research should utilize proper statistical methods without statistical errors; Otherwise, it could adversely affect clinical practice and future research. Purpose: This study was made to investigate the statistical methods used in the Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics (JKAP) and then to assess them for the statistical errors. Material and methods: Among the total of 399 articles in the JKAP published from 2000 to 2006, 292 articles using statistics were reviewed. The validity of the statistical methods used in them were assessed using a checklist based on the guideline for statistical reporting in the uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The checklist consisted of three categories of statistical errors: 1) Unspecified computer statistical packages, 2) Inadequate description of statistical methods, 3) Misuse of statistical terms. Then, the results were compared between the Korean version and the English version in the JKAP. Results: Among the 212 articles using statistics in the Korean version, 115 articles (54%) and among the 80 articles using statistics in the English version, 47 articles (59%) were shown to have unspecified computer statistical packages without statistically significant difference (P = .66). Likewise, 101 articles (48%) in the Korean version and 25 articles (31%) in the English version were shown to have the inadequate description of statistical methods without statistically significant difference (P = .09). However, 114 articles (54%) in the Korean version and 19 articles (24%) in the English version were shown to have the misuse of statistical terms with statistically significant difference (P = .01). Conclusion: Some of the articles in the JKAP had inadequate statistical validity, given the statistical errors identified in this assessment. Hence, dental researchers should be more careful when it comes to describing and applying statistical methods.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.542-561
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among elementary school teachers' high school and college backgrounds in science, their attitudes toward teaching science, their science teaching efficacy beliefs, and their instructional strategies. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, were utilized in this study. This paper, however, presents only the results of the quantitative data analysis while expecting to report the qualitative data analysis outcomes afterwards. Four instruments were used to ascertain information concerning teachers' backgrounds in science(the number of high school science courses they took and the grades of courses, the number of college science courses and grades, the number of college science methods courses and grades), attitudes toward teaching science, science teaching self-efficacy beliefs(personal science teaching efficacy and science teaching outcome expectancy), and their instructional strategies(indirect, direct, and mixed methods). A sample of 340 practicing elementary school teachers participated in this study. To determine statistically significant results, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to relate teachers' backgrounds in science, attitudes toward teaching science, science teaching self-efficacy beliefs and their instructional strategies. The correlation coefficients were statistically significant regarding four variables, teachers' backgrounds in science, attitudes toward teaching science, science teaching self-efficacy beliefs, and instructional strategies investigated in this study. These results can be interpreted that programs of teacher preparations and trainings which include science and science methods courses should help prospective and practicing teachers change in their attitudes and beliefs toward science teaching. It is expected that future studies concerning teachers' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward teaching science can help to improve science teacher education in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.902-915
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• 2004

Science drama can be an useful tool for understanding the nature of science, Science-Technology-Society relationship by providing indirect experiences to young students. Specific science concept and knowledge can also be learned with high interests. In this study, to explore the usefulness of science drama in elementary science lessons, two scripts of science drama and lesson plans were developed and implemented. Six step model for science drama lessons was also suggested. One was 'Manhattan Project' which dealt with social, ethical responsibility in using science & technology (science argument drama), and the other was 'Mom, My blood type is O' which explained the heredity of blood type (science concept drama). Two teachers were asked to write their journals during preparation and implementation of science drama lessons, and the lessons were observed by the researcher and video taped for analysis. Some students were interviewed just after the lessons by the teacher and all students were asked to write their impressions, change of their thought, what is leant etc. Overall responses of students and teachers on the two science drama lessons were very positive, 'Mom, My blood type is O' got more positive responses, and girls were more positive than boys. Some students anticipated another science drama even suggest topics for it. 'Mom, My blood type is O' was successful in making students (grade 3) understand the knowledge related with heredity of blood type (71% of the students got perfect answer). In 'Manhattan Project' students (grade 5) perceived more diverse location of responsibility after the lesson, but the danger and harmfulness of atomic power was embossed. This implied the need of more careful planning for the relevant learning activities before and after the play of science drama.Two teachers perceived the science drama as a new, useful tool for some subject which is hard to deal with by other teaching method. They were also satisfied with students' high interest and engagement during the science drama lessons but the extra time and effort for the lessons were pointed out as a main difficulties.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.231-251
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• 2016

This study examined the effect of brand experience and personality on customer-brand relationships, brand attachment, and brand loyalty in domestic and global coffee shop brands. By comparing inter-structural relationships among factors between domestic brands and global brands, this study also provided strategic implications and directions for the effective marketing strategy of coffee shop brands. Data were collected through a self-administered survey of the consumers aged 20's to early 40's who used domestic and global brand coffee shops in Seoul and Kyunggi between August 1, 2014 and August 30, 2014. 500 surveys were distributed and 495 surveys were returned. Among them, data from 493 surveys were used for the analysis. The results from this study are as follows. First, it was found that the Think of experiences in coffee shop had a greater effect on consumer-brand relationship than the Sense-Feel. Second, the Sophistication of brand personality in coffee shop had a greater effect on consumer-brand relationship than the Excitement. Third, only Think of experience in coffee shop significantly impacted brand attachment, but Sense-Feel did not impact brand attachment. Fourth, only Excitement of brand personality in coffee shop significantly impacted brand attachment, but Sophistication did notact on brand attachment. Fifth, the consumer-brand relationship had a greater effect on brand loyalty than did brand attachment. Finally, the differences from a comparison analysis of domestic brands and global brands of coffee shop are as follows. In domestic brands, only the Sophistication of brand personality in coffee shop significantly impacted consumer-brand relationship. In global brands, the brand personality in coffee shop did not impact on consumer-brand relationship.