• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.560-563
• /
• 2020

Cold plasma has been applied to improve quality of food product; however, studies on its effects on microbial and physicochemical qualities of rice noodles are rarely conducted. In this study, changes in the quality characteristics of rice noodles treated by cold plasma were determined. Cold plasma was generated in a square-shaped plastic container (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air), and dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatments were applied to rice noodle samples for 0, 10, or 20 min. Rice noodles inoculated with either Bacillus cereus or Escherichia coli O157:H7 were subjected to plasma treatment for 20 min, and the approximate bacterial count reduction were 4.10 and 2.75 log CFU/g, respectively. The Hunter color values of the sample were increased after cold plasma treatment. Peroxide values and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were increased with an increase in cold plasma treatment time. Futhermore, lipid oxidation was enhanced. Although further studies are warranted to evaluate changes in chemical qualities, such as lipid oxidation of rice noodles, induced by cold plasma, the results suggest that cold plasma can improve the microbial and physical qualities of rice noodles.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2004

Background : The cun measurement system, an essential and convenient method in locating acupoints, has been widely used in the practice of acupuncture. However, traditional cun measurement has been criticized for its lack of reliability. Objectives : The purposes of this study are to determine if one cun measured by the directional methods have a consistency with that of proportional methods and to investigate which factors are related with these differences, especially in forearm. Methods : The distance between the elbow crease and the wrist crease of forearm was compared to a reference value of one cun obtained by the directional method. In this method, one cun is one third of the distance between index finger and small finger of a subject, measured at proximal interphalangeal joint. In addition, to investigate the factors influencing the differences between these two methods, we measured the height and body weight and calculated body mass index (BMI). Finally we analyzed the factors correlated with these lengths by linear regression test. Results : The results showed that one cun obtained by the directional methods were significantly different from one cun by the proportional methods in forearm. It was demonstrated that the length acquired with the directional method was more correlated with body weight and body mass index, while the length obtained by the proportional method was more correlated with the height. Conclusion : These findings suggest that the directional method is less likely dependable in locating acupoints than the proportional method because the influencing factors are different.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.1851-1858
• /
• 2010

Estrogen deficiency in peri- and postmenopausal women results in variety of neurovegetative, psychic and somatic symptoms, and may contribute to severe diseases within the aged female population. Ecklonia stolonifera (ES) is an edible brown algae traditionally used in fishery towns in Far East Asia. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ES extracts on blood flow and serum lipid concentration in ovariectomized rats. Weight-matched female Sprague-Dawley strain rats were assigned to four groups. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-CON), ovariectomized rats supplemented with ES extract at 50 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-ES50) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with ES extract at 200 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-ES200). Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in the sham group compared to the OVX-CON group. Six weeks feeding of ES extract resulted in a significant (p<0.05) lowering of serum triglyceride and a lowering tendency of total cholesterol level. The level of Hdl-cholesterol in serum increased by supplementation of ES extracts at 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg bw/day (p<0.05). Blood passage time of the ES extracts-supplemented group was higher than the OVX-CON group. The ability of platelet aggregation of groups treated with ES extracts was less than that of the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of ES extract may be used to possibly improve on the metabolic syndrome of menopausal women.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.1313-1319
• /
• 2016

Cancer is a complex disease heterogeneously composed of various types of cells including cancer stem-like cells responsible for relapse and chemoresistance in the tumor microenvironment. The conventional two-dimensional cell culture-based platform has critical limitations for representing the heterogeneity of cancer cells in the three-dimensional tumor niche in vivo. To overcome this insufficiency, three-dimensional cell culture methods in a scaffold-dependent or -free physical environment have been developed. In this study, we improved and simplified the HCT-8 colon cancer cell-based spheroid culture protocol and evaluated the relationship between cancer stemness and responses of chemosensitivity to 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU), a representative anticancer agent against colon cancer. Supplementation with defined growth factors in the medium and the culture dish of the regular surface with low attachment were required for the formation of constant-sized spheroids containing $CD44^+$ and $CD133^+$ colon cancer stem cells. The chemo-sensitivities of $CD44^+$ cancer stem cells in the spheroids were much lower than those of $CD44^-$ non-stem-like cancer cells, indicating that the chemoresistance to 5-FU is due to the stemness of colon cancer cells. Taken together, the inflammation and oncogenic gut environment-sensitive HCT-8 cell-based colon cancer spheroid culture and comparative evaluation using the simplified model would be an efficient and applicable way to estimate colon cancer stemness and pharmaceutical response to anticancer drugs in the realistic tumor niche.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2012

Using calli of $Muscari$ $armeniacum$ cv. 'Early Giant' that is monocotyledonous ornamental bulb crop with increasing demand in Korea, we carried out current studies to establish an in vitro multiple propagation protocol via somatic embryogenesis. We found that soft pale yellow green calli were induced from leaf explants cultured on all media containing 0.1~3.0 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ auxins such as 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). However, induced calli showed vigorous growth only when they further transferred on same media containing 2,4-D, 4-amino-3,5,6-tri-chloropicolinic acid (picloram), or 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba). Although frequency of somatic embryo induction depended on callus source and PGR composition in somatic embryo induction media, somatic embryogenesis was initiated on surface of proliferated calli after transferring on media with no PGR or 0.01 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA co-supplemented with various cytokinins such as $N^6$-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Highest number of embryo at 9.3 per callus clump was obtained when calli which were grown under 0.1 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ picloram supplementation were sub-cultured on medium with 0.01 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA and 0.5 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BAP. In addition, morphological characteristics of somatic embryo were categorized into following nine phases: globular, biased heart, biased torpedo, early cotyledonary, middle cotyledonary, late cotyledonary, early sprouting, middle sprouting, and late sprouting embryos.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.304-311
• /
• 1999

This experiment was conducted to find out the optimum condition of aeration rates for removal of malodor and to improve the compost quality. The aspect of ammonia emission and amounts of volatilization were investigated in the enclosed composting reactor of 242 liters piled with mixed materials of dairy manure and rice straw, which adjusted to 65% of initial moisture content and controlled by four different aeration rates. Mature temperature increased suddenly in initial composting time and decreased with Increasing aeration rates. The treatment of $1.79l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$ results in overcooling and rapid drying of composting materials because of too much aeration. The average concentration of ammonia emitted from composting for 24 days was the range of 25.3 to $239.8mg\;l^{-1}$ and was highest in the treatment of $0.09l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$, followed by 0.90. 0.18 and $1.79l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$. The range of maximum concentration by different aeration rates was $335{\sim}2279mg\;l^{-1}$ and it wan highest in the treatment of $0.09l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$, followed by 0.18, 0.09 and $1.79l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$. Relationship between the ammonia concentration emitted and temperature matured under different aeration rates showed an exponential positive correlation with 1% significance and had a trend of clear increase in ammonia concentration with increasing temperature over $50^{\circ}C$. Most of ammonia volatilized within plays after composting. The volatilization rate of ammonia ranged from 0.056 to 0.453 per dry solids of materials and it was highest in the treatment of $0.09l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$, followed by 0.18, 0.09 and $1.79l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$. Amounts of ammonia volatilized under composting condition of this experiment was estimated to be highest in the aeration range of 0.9 to $1.0l\;min^{-1}kg\;dry-solids^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.55-64
• /
• 2013

The generation of staurolite from the mixed-phase muscovite and the metamorphic environment of shales in the Baekunsa formation, Hongsan, Buyeo, were studied using electron probe micro analysis (EPMA). The average chemical composition of mica-type mineral is $(K_{1.11}Na_{0.26}Ca_{0.04})(Al_{3.93}Fe_{0.21}Mg_{0.07})(Si_{6.08}Al_{1.92})O_{20}(OH)_4$, and shows a characteristics of the so-called illite with a low content of interlayer cations and Fe, Mg in octahedral sites. The mica-type mineral shows a typical chemical composition of the mixed-phase among muscovite, pyrophyllite, and chlorite (mixed-phase muscovite, $Mu_{70.5}Py_{23.5}Ch_{6.0}$). The staurolite, in general, occurs with the mixed-phase muscovites, pyrophyllites, and aluminosilicates in the rock. We consider that staurolite can be formed by a reaction involving pyrophyllite such as pyrophyllite+chloritoid. The chloritoid is formed by a reaction between pyrophyllite and chlorite and is supposed to be used up in the process of staurolite formation. As a result, the mixed-phase muscovite, formed during the transition of illite to muscovite, plays an important role for the generation of the staurolite. Considering that the reaction occurs at the temperature higher than $300^{\circ}C$ and pyrophyllites transform into aluminosilicates at $350^{\circ}C$, the shale in the Baekunsa formation can be considered to have been experienced a metamorphic temperature between $300{\sim}350^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.39 no.12
• /
• pp.1769-1775
• /
• 2010

Menopause is often associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The purpose of this study was designed to evaluate the possibility of osteoporosis prevention in postmenopausal women. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ecklonia stolonifera (ES) extracts on bone turnover markers in ovariectomized rats. For this study, the following four groups of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated over 6 weeks: normal rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with ES extracts. We measured the osteocalcin and C-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (CTx) content, enzyme ALP activity in serum and collagen content in the cartilage, bone, skin and lungs. We found that the levels of indicators of bone metabolism such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin and CTx were lower in rats in the ES extract group than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the collagen contents in the bone, cartilage, skin and lungs decreased in response to ovariectomy, but the levels of collagen were greater in the bone of rats that were treated with ES extract than in the bone of rats in the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the ES may be an effective functional food to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.179-187
• /
• 2010

The Theory of Island Biogeography describes that the number of species on an island affected by island area and distance from the mainland. This study was performed to compare and analyze the community structure of the macro-invertebrates in three isolated islands, around Korean waters in terms of the Theory of Island Biogeography. Macrobenthic animals were collected using a modified underwater quadrat in August 2009. A total of 104 macrobenthic species were sampled with a mean density of 399 individuals $m^{-2}$ and biomass of 1,506.70 g $m^{-2}$. Based on the abundance and biomass data, there were 10 dominant species accounting for approximately 67.17% of total individuals. The highest densities were found in the amphipoda Amphipoda spp., the bivalvia Modiolus agripetus and Mytilus coruscus, the Sipunculida Phascolosoma scolops and the polychaeta Syllidae unid.. On the contrary, the top ten species made up 95.66% of the total biomass while the three most abundant, the bivalves M. coruscus, Streostria circumpicta and M. agripetus. The conventional multi-variate statistics (cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling) applied to assess spatial variation in macrobenthic assemblages. Cluster analysis and nMDS ordination analysis based on the Bray-Curtis similarity identified 2 station groups. The group 1 was consisted with Gageodo (except for lower station at Transect 2) and Dokdo station and was numerically dominated by the polychaetes Eunice antennata and Syllidae unid., the cirripedia Megabalanus rosa and the bivalvia M. coruscus. However, group 2 was associated with Sohwado station and was characterized by high abundance of the anomura Petrolisthes japonicus, the gastropoda Lirularia pygmaea and the brachiopoda Coptothyris grayi. In conclusion, these results suggested that the species diversity and community structure of macrobenthos in three isolated island seemed slightly related to island area and distance from the mainland.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.672-676
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Low dose aspirin is used due to its antiplatelet effect for the subacute phase of Kawasaki disease(KD). It is usually used for 6-8 weeks, then various hematologic laboratory tests and follow up echocardiography for evaluating coronary abnormalities are performed. Our review investigated the usefulness of various follow up laboratory tests performed at 6 weeks after the onset of KD. Methods : Two hundred eighty-two children diagnosed and hospitalized with KD were identified by reviewing patient's charts. Cases which were diagnosed between January 1997 and December 2004 were included in this study. We reviewed laboratory data including leukocytes, platelet counts, antistreptolysin O(ASO), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), urinalysis, and echocardiograms performed at admission and 6 weeks after the onset of KD. Paired t-test and Fisher's exact test, as well as logistic regression tests, were used for the statistical analysis. Results : At 6th week data, ESR and CRP were still elevated in 35(12.4 percent) and 12(4.3 percent) patients, respectively. Sterile pyuria were all normalized. But, 36 patients(12.8 percent) showed thrombocytosis, 22(7.8 percent) elevated AST, 15(5.3 percent) leukocytosis, and 6(2.1 percent) coronary abnormalities. Coronary abnormalities at the 6th week were only shown in patients with initial abnormalites. Younger age and initial thrombocytosis were risk factors for thrombocytosis at the 6th week. Conclusion : All children with initial coronary abonormalites should have an echocardiogram at 6 weeks after the onset of fever. In view of case-effectiveness, additional echocardiographic studies are justified only if abnormalities are present at admission. ESR, CRP, and urinalysis performed at the 6 weeks after onset of KD is not significant for clinical information of progression. Platelet count should be estimated at 6th week for a judgement of continuous antiplatelet therapy.