• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2021

Presently, there is an increased demand for livestock products all over the world which has led to more devotion on improving livestock population. Although goats have been bred for a long time in Korea, but there is not much research conducted on traditional Korean black goat (Capra hircus coreanae) compared to other livestock populations. Mutton consumption has been dramatically changing from medicinal use to edible meat and this trend directs the black goat populations declining and also mutton import quantities are increasing consistently. The present study introduced a new estrus synchronizing technique with subsequent artificial insemination (AI) for Korean black goats to enable crossbreeding with non-native breeds for the small or subsistent farmers. Our data highlighted that, the percentage of motile sperm from the electro-ejaculated samples declined significantly after freezing and melting. In addition, the sperm motility significantly declined with regard to sperm incubation period (0, 5, 60, and 120 min at 37℃) and was negatively correlated (64.2 ± 7.9%, 63.3 ± 5.8%, 49.9 ± 6.3%, and 35.9 ± 7.6%, respectively) in frozen-thawed sperm samples. Moreover, the E2 levels were unchanged even 24 h after controlled internal drug releas (CIDR) withdrawal. But, 48 h and 72 h after CIDR removal, E2 levels increased significantly. These data helps us to consider the two time points for AI; CIDR removal after 24 h, at which E2 decreases, and after 48 h, as the time at which progesterone increases. Additionally, the AI after 48 h of CIDR removal group exhibited significantly higher pregnancy and parturition rates (42.9%) compared to AI after 24 h after CIDR removal 28.6% group. In conclusion, these studies will propose an optimal estrus synchronisation process with subsequent timing of AI and also will promote the Korean black goat breeding industry.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.259-267
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• 2021

Recently, the market for personal health care and medical devices based on Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE) has grown rapidly. BLE is being used in various medical data communication devices based on low power consumption and universal compatibility. However, since data errors occurring in the transmission of medical data can lead to medical accidents, it is necessary to analyze the causes of errors and study methods to reduce data error. In this paper, the minimum communication speed to be used in medical devices was set to at least 800 byte/sec based on the wireless electrocardiography regulations of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. And the data loss rate was tested when data was transmitted at a speed higher than 800 byte/sec. The factors that cause communication data error were classified, and the relationship between each factor and the data error rate was analyzed through experiments. When there were two or more activated peripherals connected to the central, data error occurred due to channel hopping and bottleneck, and the data error rate increased in proportion to the communication distance and the number of activated peripherals. Through this experiment, when the BLE is used in a medical device that intermittently transmits biosignal data, the risk of a medical accident is predicted to be low if the number of peripherals is 3 or less. But, it was determined that BLE would not be suitable for the development of a biosignal measuring device that must be continuously transmitted in real time, such as an electrocardiogram.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine residual characteristics of soil-treated metalaxyl-M and dinotefuran in crown daisy and to evaluate the risks from intake of the residual pesticides in the crop. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pesticide granules were treated in soil on two levels, and the plants samples were collected 51 days after seeding. The analytes were extracted and partitioned using the QuEChERS extraction packet (MgSO₄ 4 g, NaCl 1 g). The quantitative methods for metalaxyl-M and dinotefuran were validated in linearity, accuracy, and precision. Risk assessments of the pesticides were performed using Korea national nutrition statistics 2019. CONCLUSION(S): The residual concentrations of metalaxyl-M in crown daisy were 0.09-0.10 mg/kg (for the treatment at 6 kg/10 a) and 0.17-0.19 mg/kg (12 kg/10 a), respectively. The residual concentrations of dinotefuran in the crop were 0.53-0.75 mg/kg (3 kg/10 a) and 1.17-1.26 mg/kg (6 kg/10 a). The amounts of pesticides were less than MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) according to the Korean MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety). The HI (Hazard Index) of metalaxyl-M and dinotefuran for consumers was 0.0075% and 0.2250%, respectively. For females in the age between 50-64, the major consumer group, the HIs of the pesticides were <3%. Considering the consumption of crown daisy, they are not considered to be of toxicological concern.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.300-307
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• 2022

Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography (TR-SFX) is a powerful technique for determining temporal variations in the structural properties of biomacromolecules on ultra-short time scales without causing structure damage by employing femtosecond X-ray laser pulses generated by an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL). The mixing rate of reactants and biomolecule samples, as well as the hit rate between crystal samples and x-ray pulses, are critical factors determining TR-SFX performance, such as accurate image acquisition and efficient sample consumption. We here develop two distinct sample delivery systems that enable ultra-fast mixing and on-demand droplet injecting via pneumatic application with a square pulse signal. The first strategy relies on inertial mixing, which is caused by the high-speed collision and subsequent coalescence of droplets ejected through a double nozzle, while the second relies on on-demand pneumatic jetting embedded with a 3D-printed micromixer. First, the colliding behaviors of the droplets ejected through the double nozzle, as well as the inertial mixing within the coalesced droplets, are investigated experimentally and numerically. The mixing performance of the pneumatic jetting system with an integrated micromixer is then evaluated by using similar approaches. The sample delivery system devised in this work is very valuable for three-dimensional biomolecular structure analysis, which is critical for elucidating the mechanisms by which certain proteins cause disease, as well as searching for antibody drugs and new drug candidates.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.37-42
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• 2023

This study aimed to examine the safety of HemoHIM, a dietary supplement containing methoxsalen. HemoHIM is a dietary supplement marketed globally, and a competitor to ginseng. It has been reported to contain methoxsalen, a plant extract for treating psoriasis and vitiligo. Methoxsalen is known to cause hepatotoxicity, but most of the cases has been reported from ingestion as a drug, not a food. There are no reports of hepatotoxicity from the consumption derived from natural products such as Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, and Paeonia lactiflora, which are the main ingredients in the HemoHIM. However, a recent case of acute hepatitis was reported in Hong-Kong after ingestion of HemoHIM. It is difficult to conclude that hepatitis was caused by HemoHIM, because there was no check of co-occurring medications with a higher risk of hepatotoxicity, no description of the progress, no quantitative comparison of methoxsalen in HemoHIM to it in common foods such as carrots and celery, and no description of the patient's underlying diseases. On the other hand, there was a study that suggest hemoHIM is safe, and that study had adequate number of subjects even though more studies are needed to ensure safety.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.289-294
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• 2023

Background: Artificial sweeteners are chemically synthesized substances used to add sweetness to foods. Representative substances include aspartame and acesulfame-K, which are 200 times sweeter than sugar. Recently, the IARC classified aspartame as class 2B, but Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea announced that it would maintain the current usage standards. Acesulfame-K, which has the potential to cause cancer, was excluded from the list of possible carcinogens, raising questions about its safety. According to a survey by the Consumers Union of Korea, 85% of makgeolli includes artificial sweeteners, but the content labelling is not indicated. It is necessary to accurately determine the intake of artificial sweeteners through makgeolli. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the safety of makgeolli consumption by identifying the content of artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfam-K) and preservatives (sorbic acid). Methods: Twenty makgeolli samples were purchased from large supermarkets and convenience stores by referring to the sales ranking of makgeolli products distributed in South Korea and the purchase ranking from online sites. The sample was sonicated to remove alcohol and carbon dioxide. Nine mL of acetonitrile was mixed with 1 mL of the prepared sample, centrifuged, and the supernatant was filtered and analyzed using HPLC. Results: As a result of the analysis, aspartame was detected in 17 products and acesulfame-K was detected in ten. The ADI of aspartame (40 mg/kg·bw/day) is higher than the EDI based on the maximum concentration 126.5 ㎍/mL. The ADI of acesulfame-K (15 mg/kg·bw/day) is higher than the EDI based on the highest concentration of 82.96 ㎍/mL. Although the health risk is low, IARC has raised the possibility of aspartame causing carcinogenesis, so there is a need to reevaluate the standards and regulations for artificial sweeteners. Conclusions: Through this study, we aimed to determine the content of aspartame and acesulfame-K contained in makgeolli currently distributed in South Korea and the safety of exposure to the human body when consumed.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1567-1579
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• 2023

Sucralose is used as a sucrose alternative in the food sector and is a globally approved pyrogenic, high-intensity artificial sweetener. However, due to the lack of studies on the effects of sweeteners on the brain, this study confirmed whether short-term consumption of sucralose has cognitive and memory protective effects in scopolamine-induced memory-injured animal models. After oral administration of sucralose 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was administered to the control group and the drug group 30 minutes later, and saline was administered intraperitoneally to the normal group, followed by behavioral experiments As a result of the experiment, Y-Maze, passive avoidance, and Morris WaterMaze recovered more than 10% of cognitive function compared to the control group. In addition, as a result of measuring proinflammatory cytokines, sucralose was found to inhibit IL-6 and TNF-α by more than 30%, and we observed that the expression level of ERK-CREB with intracellular signaling mechanisms increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, it suggests that sucralose is associated with functional foods for the prevention of functional food patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7367-7369
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• 2013

Background: Inoperable and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a poor prognosis and low chemotherapeutic efficiency. Sorafenib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor exerting its effects via the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-${\beta}$) tyrosine kinases. Randomized studies have shown a significant contribution of sorafenib to life expectancy and quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of sorafenib therapy in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Data for 103 patients (82 males, 21 females) receiving sorafenib therapy in 13 centers from February 2008 to December 2012 were evaluated. Median age was 61 years and median ECOG performance status was 1 (range: 0-2). 60 patients (58%) had hepatitis B, 15 patients (15%) had hepatitis C infection and 12 patients (12%) had a history of alcohol consumption. All of the patients had Child scores meeting the utilization permit of the drug in our country (Child A). Results: A total of 571 cycles of sorafenib therapy were administered with a median of four per patient. Among the evaluable cases, there was partial response in 15 (15%), stable disease in 52 (50%), and progressive disease in 36 (35%). Median progression-free survival was 18 weeks and median overall survival was 48 weeks. The dose was reduced only in 6 patients and discontinued in 2 patients due to grade 3-4 toxicity, 18 patients (17%) suffering hand-foot syndrome, 7 (7%) diarrhea, and 2 (2%) vomiting. Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated better efficacy of sorafenib therapy in patients with advanced HCC compared to the literature while progression-free survival and overall survival findings were comparable. The side effect rates indicate that the drug was tolerated well. In conclusion, among the available treatment options, sorafenib is an efficient and tolerable agent in patients with inoperable or metastatic HCC.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2011

Assessing human exposure to food-borne hazards requires standardized assessment tools. The objective of this study was to validate a newly developed dietary assessment questionnaire to assess human exposure to food-borne hazards, which include dietary behavior and food consumption patterns such as eating frequency, types of food containers and cooking methods. A total of 216 adults were recruited for two questionnaire surveys (questionnaire 1 and 2) about 1 week apart with a 3 day diet record. Reproducibility was evaluated by comparing responses from questionnaires 1 and 2, and validity was checked by comparing responses from questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record. Comparisons were based on the percent agreement and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The mean exact agreement of food containers at purchase between questionnaires 1 and 2 was 73.5%, for storing containers it was 71.9%, and for cooking methods it was 83.0%. The mean correlation coefficient for food intake frequency between questionnaires 1 and 2 was 0.71 (range, 0.50-0.83). The mean correlation coefficient of the food intake frequency between questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was 0.21 (range, 0.04-0.48). The exact and adjacent agreement of food intake frequency quartile assessed by questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was 65.4% (range, 51.0-82.1%). Although the correlation coefficient for food intake frequency between questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was low, the exact and adjacent food intake frequency agreement was higher than 50% and reproducibility of the dietary behaviors exceeded 70%. Therefore, the questionnaire developed in this study could be applied to assess diets for the human exposure to food-borne hazards as a qualitative assessment in a large population.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.918-926
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• 2008

It is well known non-drug therapy for hypertension patients can reduce blood pressure. These types of therapy include maintaining ones ideal body weight, quitting smoking, consuming large amounts of fruits and vegetables consuming low levels of saturated fat and salt and regular exercise. Fermented milk protein derived biologically active peptides such as isoleucine-proline-proline_(IPP) or valine-proline-proline_(VPP) have been shown to lower blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. This study was conducted to investigate the antihypertensive effects of medical nutritional therapy _(MNT) in accordance with the consumption of fermented milk enriched with IPP and VPP. To accomplish this, we conducted a randomized case-controlled study of 43 subjects who had blood pressure levels greater than 120/80 mmHg. The subjects in the study group were randomly allocated into two groups, an MNT + fermented milk (100mL/day) group (n=21) and an MNT+L. helveticus fermented milk with tripeptides (IPP=2.2mg, VPP=2.6mg/100mL) group (n=22). The MNT included weight management, reduction of sodium, total fat and saturated fat intake, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, and increased intake of low fat dairy products. The treatments were administered for 12 weeks during which time no drug interventions were conducted. The daily intakes of total calories, fats, cholesterol and Na decreased significantly after 12 weeks of MNT in the control and the experimental groups. In addition, the systolic blood pressure de creased significantly in the control and experimental groups; however, the diastolic blood pressure only decreased significantly in the experimental group. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the intake of fermented milk containing IPP and VPP in conjunction with MNT exerted positive effects on the blood pressure of pre- and hypertensive subjects.