• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.97-103
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• 2023

Objectives : These days many people tend to prefer spicy taste. The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between prefer spicy and physical symptoms. Methods : We examined the subjective physical condition of patients who visited L/C clinic during the period between January and June 2023 by conducting a survey. The survey was completed voluntarily, and the anonymity and confidentiality of the research data were strictly protected, and it was stated that patients could withdraw at any time if they did not want to participate. Patients who refused to complete the survey and patients with limited capacity to give consent were excluded. The survey took about 10 minutes to complete. We analyzed 248 cases who answered the survey and found that 66 patients had a high spicy preference. Results : As a result, participants with high spicy taste preference tended to have general body symptoms such as fever, sweat, and thirst; digestive symptoms such as belching, constipation, bloody stools, and abdominal distension; genitourinary symptoms such as yellowish urine, urinary retention, white fluor albus, and premenstrual tension; and neuromuscular symptoms such as edema, blepharospasm, and cold hands. Conclusion : People who have general body symptoms, digestive symptoms, genitourinary symptoms and neuromuscular symptoms described above should try to eat as little spicy food as possible and make sure they get a good balance of the five flavors.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.317-329
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• 2022

Carotenoids are effective antioxidants that are found in various photosynthetic organisms. Marine microalgae are an advantageous bioresource for carotenoid production because they do not compete with other crops for freshwater and arable land. This study reports a newly isolated Dunaliella strain from the Geumhong Saltpan on Yeongjong Island, West Sea, Korea. The new strain was isolated and classified as Dunaliella salina through phylogenetic analysis and was named the OH214 strain (Deposit ID: KCTC14434BP). The newly isolated strain can survive in a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0.3-5.0 M NaCl), but grows well in 0.6 to 1.5 M NaCl culture medium. Under high-light conditions (500 ± 10 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1), the cells accumulated three times more β-carotene than under low-light conditions (50 ± 5 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1). The cells accumulated 2.5-fold more β-carotene under nitrogen-deficient (1 mM KNO₃) conditions (3.24 ± 0.36 ㎍ 10⁶ cells^-1) than in nitrogen-sufficient conditions (>5 mM KNO₃). The lutein content under nitrogen-deficient conditions (1.73 ± 0.09 ㎍ 10⁶ cells^-1) was more than 24% higher than that under nitrogen-sufficient conditions. Under the optimized culture condition for carotenoid induction using natural seawater, D. salina OH214 strain produced 7.97 ± 0.09 mg g DCW^-1 of β-carotene and 4.65 ± 0.18 mg g DCW^-1 of lutein, respectively. We propose that this new microalga is a promising strain for the simultaneous production of β-carotene and lutein.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.935-944
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• 2021

It has been suggested that bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, interferes with the endocrine system, causing reproductive dysfunction. Recently, BPA has been found in waste water due to incomplete sewage purification, possibly threatening health through its ingestion via tap water. In this study, young male mice (6 - 7 weeks old) were administered water containing BPA (50 mg·kg^-1) for four weeks, while control mice consumed water without BPA. Serum, epididymal spermatozoa and testicular sections were assessed after sacrificing the mice on day 28. No significant differences were obtained between the groups in the body, testis and seminal vesicle weights. However, the epididymal sperm motility and count levels were significantly reduced in BPA-fed mice. Significantly higher hepatotoxicity levels were also observed in mice ingesting BPA as compared to the control mice. The level of serum testosterone was reduced, and testicular sections revealed incomplete and irregular spermatogenesis in BPA-ingested mice. The sperm proteasomal-proteolytic activity level has been implicated in sperm function and is measured in motile spermatozoa using fluorometric substrates. High ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase activity levels were observed in the control mice without BPA. During a mating trial, a low pregnancy rate (71.4%) was observed in females mated with males who had consumed BPA (100% in the control mice). Overall, BPA adversely affected spermatogenesis and quality, as indicated by decreased sperm motility, concentration and serum testosterone levels, resulting in reduced fertility competence.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13.1-13.8
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• 2023

Importance of accurate molecular diagnosis and quantification of particular disease-related pathogenic microorganisms is highlighted as an introductory step to prevent and care for diseases. In this study, we designed a primer/probe set for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) targeting rgpA gene, known as the specific virulence factor of periodontitis-related pathogenic bacteria 'Porphyromonas gingivalis', and evaluated its diagnostic efficiency by detecting and quantifying relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis within saliva samples collected from clinical subjects. As a result of qRT-PCR, we confirmed that relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis was detected and quantified within all samples of positive control and periodontitis groups. On the contrary, negative results were confirmed in both negative control and healthy groups. Additionally, as a result of comparison with next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based 16S metagenome profiling data, we confirmed relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis, which was not identified on bacterial classification table created through 16S microbiome analysis, in qRT-PCR results. It showed that an approach to quantifying specific microorganisms by applying qRT-PCR method could solve microbial misclassification issues at species level of an NGS-based 16S microbiome study. In this respect, we suggest that P. gingivalis-specific primer/probe set introduced in present study has efficient applicability in various oral healthcare industries, including periodontitis-related microbial molecular diagnosis field.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is one of the major bacterial disease of apple and pear, causing enormous economic losses worldwide. Several control measures against E. amylovora have been reported till date, however, none of them have proved to be effective significantly against the pathogen. In this study, mechanisms of the copper-based control agents (CBCAs): copper oxychloride (COCHL), copper oxide (COX), copper hydroxide (CHY), copper sulfate basic (CSB), and tribasic copper sulfate (TCS) and their disease severity reduction efficacy against E. amylovora were analyzed. Bis-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid trimethine oxonol, carboxyl fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester, and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride staining were used to check the damage of membrane potential, cytoplasmic pH_in, and respiration of CBCAs-treated E. amylovora, respectively. High disturbance in the membrane potential of E. amylovora was found under COX and COCHL treatments. Similarly, higher significant changes in the inner cytoplasmic pH_in were observed under COX, COCHL, and TCS treatment. CHY and COCHL-treated E. amylovora showed a significant reduction in respiration. In vitro bioassay results revealed that CHY, CSB, and TCS at 2,000 ppm reduced the severity of fire blight both in pre- and post-treatment of CBCAs in immature apple fruits and seedlings. Overall, the most effective CBCAs against E. amylovora could be CHY at 2,000 ppm as its showed inhibition mechanisms and disease severity reduction.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.388-392
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• 2023

A yeast strain, designated as JAF-11^T, was isolated from flower of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. in Gwangyang, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain JAF-11^T was closely related to Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T with 2.07 % sequence divergence (12 nucleotide substitutions and three gaps in 581 nucleotides) in the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79^T with 4.66 % sequence divergence (25 nucleotide substitutions and five gaps in 535 nucleotides) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Further analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the ITS region confirmed that strain JAF-11^T was well-separated from Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T. In addition to the phylogenetic differences, strain JAF-11^T was distinguished from its closest species, Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79^T belonging to the family Dothioraceae by its phenotypic characteristics, such as assimilation of carbon sources. Hence, the name Neodothiora pruni sp. nov. is proposed with type strain JAF-11^T (KACC 48808^T; MB 850034).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1727-1734
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• 2005

The fermentation characteristics and mono- and di-saccharides compositions during the early stage of ensiling were studied with a temperate grass, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and a tropical grass, guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). The laboratory silos were kept in the room set at 25$^{\circ}C$, and then were opened on 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days (14 days in Italian ryegrass) after ensiling, respectively. The Italian ryegrass silage showed a fast and large pH decrease caused by a fast and large production of lactic acid during the first 5 days of ensiling and succeeded to achieve lactic acid type fermentation; high lactic acid/acetic acid and lactic acid content at the end of ensiling (14 days), low values of pH (3.74), acetic acid, ethanol and ammonia-N/total nitrogen, none or only small amounts of Butyric acid, valeric acid and propionic acid. The guineagrass silage showed a slow decrease in pH and a slow increase in lactic acid content during the full ensiling period, causing a high final pH value, low contents of lactic acid, acetic acid, total volatile fatty acids and total organic acids. In Italian ryegrass silage, mono- and di-saccharides compositions decreased largely within the initial 0.5 day (12 h) of ensiling. Sucrose disappeared rapidly within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, but fructose and glucose contents showed an initial rise by the activity of enzymes in plant tissues, and then decreased gradually. On the other hand, the contents of monoand di-saccharides in guineagrass showed the largest decreases due mainly to plant respiration within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, and no initial rises in fructose and glucose contents during the early stage of ensiling because of the absence of fructans which are hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose in temperate grasses. In both silages, the rate of reduction in mono- and di-saccharides compositions within the initial 5 days of ensiling was ranked in the order of glucose>fructose>sucrose, suggesting that glucose and fructose might be more favorably utilized than sucrose by microorganisms and glucose is the first fermentation substrate. It was concluded that the silage made from Italian ryegrass with high moisture content had a good fermentation quality owing to the dominance of lactic acid bacteria and active lactic acid fermentation during the initial stage of ensiling. These results can be explained by rapid plant sap liberation and the high activity of plant enzyme hydrolyzed fructans into fructose and glucose within the initial 2 days of ensiling, which stimulate the homofermentative lactic acid bacteria growth. In ensiling a temperate grass, the physical characteristics may ensure the rapid onset of fermentation phase, which results from the smaller losses of water-soluble carbohydrates during the initial stage of ensiling and providing sufficient water-soluble carbohydrates for lactic acid bacteria. The silage made from guineagrass with intermediate dry matter and high initial mono- and di-saccharides content was stable silage. This could be explained by the higher incorporation of air during the very early stage of ensiling and the restriction of cell breakdown and juice release due to the properties of a tropical grass with coarse porosity and stemmy structures. These physical characteristics delayed the onset of lactic acid bacteria fermentation phase by extending the phases of respiration and aerobic microorganisms activity, causing the higher loss of water-soluble carbohydrates and the shortage of lactic acid bacteria fermentation substrates.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.280-287
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• 2008

We investigated the effect of dietary mulberry leaf powder (MP) on loperamide-induced constipation in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given MP in their diets at a concentration of 0% 5% and 10% for 33 days. Rats were divided into 4 groups: normal diet group (NOR), normal diet and loperamide treated group (MPL0), 5% MP and loperamide treated group (MPL5), and 10% MP and loperamide treated group (MPL10). Constipation was induced by subcutaneous injection of loperamide (1.5 mg/kg body weight/day) for the final 5 days of the experiment Supplemental MP had no effect on the food efficiency ratio, but it reduced body weight gain and food intake in a concentration dependent manner. Administration of loperamide decreased food intake. MP had a concentration-dependent effect on decreasing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and on increasing HDL-cholesterol. Loperamide had no significant effect on serum lipid profiles. Loperamide decreased the number and wet weight of fecal pellets and fecal water content MP increased the number and wet weight of fecal pellets and fecal water content in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, MP increased gut transit time and transit speed, and the guts of mts treated with MP plus loperamide were longer than those of mts treated with loperamide alone. These results indicate that MP is an effective treatment for constipation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.501-510
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the onset and release of endo-dormancy under natural conditions by observing bud break characteristics in 'Fuji' apple trees using water cuttings. Through examinations of bud break rate and days to bud break, we found that the endo-dormancy of 'Fuji' apple tree continues for 70 d from 165 to 255 d after full bloom (DAFB), from late October to early January of the following year. In addition, within 20 d of first bud break, based on a final bud break rate of 60% or more, we able to identify the timing of the changeover from para-dormancy to endo-dormancy, and endo-dormancy to eco-dormancy. Analysis of the chilling requirement during the endo-dormancy period revealed that chilling accumulation up to 255 DAFB to release endo-dormancy amounted to 666 and 517 h based on the CH and Utah models, respectively. Observation of internal changes in the bud during endo-dormancy showed that flower bud differentiation begins from mid-July, and t ime of inflorescence o f the disk f lower is a vailable to f ind. The f lower buds subsequently developed slowly but steadily during endo-dormancy and in the following year in February, the developmental stage of each organ had progressed. Moreover, the flower buds of 'Fuji' apples were mostly healthy during the dormancy period, but some exhibited necrosis of flower primordium, due partial cell damage from the formation of ice crystals rather than a direct effect of the low temperature. Flower buds were formed in both the axillary buds of bourse shoots and terminal buds of spurs, but lower bud differentiation was observed for the terminal buds of spurs at rate of about 65% of total buds, which was directly related to the bud size and shoot diameter.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.255-262
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• 2002

This experiment was performed to improve the stability of Lactobacillus fermentum YL-3 as a poultry probiotics. The culture conditions that improve acid tolerance of L. fermentum YL-3 were investigated by changing several factors such as medium composition, temperature, anaerobic incubation and culture time. Also, L. fermentum YL-3 was encapsulated with alginate, calcium chloride and chitosan. The stable culture conditions of L. fermentum YL-3 were obtained in anaerobic incubation using MRS media without tween 80 for 20 hour at $42^{\circ}C$. The capsule after treatment with 1% chitosan was formed close membrane by a bridge bond. Immobilization of L. fermentum YL-3 in capsule was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and cell viability was $2.0{\times}10^9\;CFU/g$ above the average. L. fermentum YL-3 capsule after acid treated at pH 2.0 for 3 hour survived about 40%, but those encapsulated with 1% chitosan survived about 65%. Survival rate of capsule stored at room temperature decreased about $2{\sim}3$ log cycle during 3 weeks, but viability of capsule stored at $4^{\circ}C$ during 3 weeks maintained almost $10^8\;CFU/g$ levels.