• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.896-908
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• 2022

As a part of probabilistic risk (or safety) assessment (PRA or PSA) of nuclear power plants (NPPs), the primary role of human reliability analysis (HRA) is to provide credible estimations of the human error probabilities (HEPs) of safety-critical tasks. In this regard, it is vital to provide credible HEPs based on firm technical underpinnings including (but not limited to): (1) how to collect HRA data from available sources of information, and (2) how to inform HRA practitioners with the collected HRA data. Because of these necessities, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute independently developed two dedicated HRA data collection systems, SACADA (Scenario Authoring, Characterization, And Debriefing Application) and HuREX (Human Reliability data EXtraction), respectively. These systems provide unique frameworks that can be used to secure HRA data from full-scope training simulators of NPPs (i.e., simulator data). In order to investigate the applicability of these two systems, two papers have been prepared with distinct purposes. The first paper, entitled "SACADA and HuREX: Part 1. The Use of SACADA and HuREX Systems to Collect Human Reliability Data", deals with technical issues pertaining to the collection of HRA data. This second paper explains how the two systems are able to inform HRA practitioners. To this end, the process of estimating HEPs is demonstrated based on feed-and-bleed operations using HRA data from the two systems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.397-404
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• 2022

Natural killer (NK) cell activity is more attenuated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients than normal. Hypoxic-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is highly expressed in tumors to maintain their metabolism in a hypoxic environment. The expression of HIF-1α in cancers can lead to cell growth, proliferation, invasion/metastasis and immune escape. Although apigenin, a flavonoid, is known to have various biological activities, it has not been demonstrated in NK cell immune activity in HCC cells. In this study, NK-92 cells were directly cocultured with HCC SK-Hep1 cells for 24 h to evaluate NK cell activity in HCC cells or HCC cells expressing HIF-1α by apigenin. NK cell cytotoxicity to HCC cells expressing HIF-1α was significantly increased, and NK cell-activating receptors, NKG2D, NKp30 and NKp44 were highly expressed. The activating effect of apigenin on NK cells substantially induced apoptosis in HCC cells expressing HIF-1α through high expression of CD95L on the surface of NK-92 cells. Moreover, apigenin excellently inhibited the level of TGF-β1 in a coculture of NK cells and HCC cells. In conclusion, apigenin seems to be a good compound that increases NK cell cytotoxicity to HCC cells by controlling HIF-1α expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1003-1010
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the phytochemical compounds and antibacterial activity of Coffea robusta leaf extract (RLE). The results indicated that chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a major component of RLE. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of RLE against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium were 6.25, 12.5, 12.5, and 12.5 mg/ml, respectively. RLE effectively damages the bacterial cell membrane integrity, as indicated by the high amounts of proteins and nucleic acids released from the bacteria, and disrupts bacterial cell membrane potential and permeability, as revealed via fluorescence analysis. Cytotoxicity testing showed that RLE is slightly toxic toward HepG2 cells at high concentration but exhibited no toxicity toward Caco2 cells. The results from the present study suggest that RLE has excellent potential applicability as an antimicrobial in the food industry.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.368-375
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• 2021

The performance time of human operators has been recognized as a key aspect of human reliability in socio-complex systems, including nuclear industries. Because of the importance of the time factor, most existing human reliability assessment methods provide ways to quantify human error probabilities (HEPs) that are associated with the performance time. To quantify such kinds of HEPs, it is crucial to rationally predict the length of time required and time available and compare them. However, there have not been detailed guidelines that identify the critical cue presentation time or initial time of human performance, which is important to calculate the time information. In this paper, we introduce a time-related HEP calculation technique with a decision algorithm that determines the critical cue and its timing. The calculation process is presented with the application examples. It is expected that the proposed algorithm will reduce the variability in the time-related reliability assessment and strengthen the scientific evidence of the assessment process. The detailed description is provided in the technical report KAERI/TR-7607/2019.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2021

This study evaluated the biological activity and cytoprotective effect of guava (Psidium guajava L.) branch against oxidative stress. The contents of vitamin C, beta-carotene, total carotenoids, quercetin and catechin determined were 26.783, 43.676, 65.083, 58.245, and 8.309 mg/100 g, respectively. To measure antioxidant activity, the guava branch was extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (60, 80, or 100%) and water. The highest content of polyphenols (0.245 mg gallic acid equivalent/mg residue) and flavonoids (0.128 mg cathechin equivalent/mg residue) was found in the 100% ethanol extract of the branch (E100). Moreover, E100 also possessed the highest radical scavenging activities and showed the highest inhibition rate of α-glucosidase (77.692%). E100 was the most effective extract to impart cytoprotectant activity against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results determine the promising antioxidant activity of guava branch, and indicate the potential to be applied as a natural antioxidant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.308-316
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• 2021

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of roasting temperature on the quality characteristics and biological activity of quinoa. Quinoa was roasted at 160, 200, and 220℃ for 20 min. The lightness (L^*) of quinoa decreased, however, the redness (a^*) increased as the roasting temperature increased. The yellowness (b^*) was the highest at 160℃ and decreased at 200 and 220℃. The highest contents of total polyphenol, flavonoid, and quercetin were observed at 220℃, the highest roasting temperature. The highest radical scavenging activities of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (73.65%) and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl free radicals (47.82%) were found in roasted quinoa at 220℃. The α-glucosidase activity was inhibited by 62.13% at this temperature. The roasted quinoa at 220℃ also showed a significant cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. These results could be useful in the development of food products using quinoa.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.567-575
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• 2022

This study was carried out to elucidate bioacive effects of three domestic cherry tomato cultivars. Total polyphenol and flavonoid of Summerking, Qutiquti, and Minichal cultivar were 12.56±1.88, 12.50±1.92, 11.65±1.85 mg/g and 4.58±1.03, 4.19±0.40, 4.30±0.49 mg/g(dry weight) respectively. Domestic cherry tomatoes showed antioxidative activity(DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities). All of the cherry tomatoes had no cytotoxicity for normal liver cell, but showed strong inhibitory effect against cervical cancer cell(HeLa) growth. These results revealed that domestic cherry tomatoes can be used as a bioactive food material.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2023

Objectives : Raphani Semen (Raphanus sativus L.) is known for the various beneficial effects in Korean medicine. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Raphani Semen extract (RSE) against arachidonic acid (AA)+iron-induced oxidative stress in cells. Methods : Ingredients, their target information, oxidative stress liver injury-related proteins was obtained from various network pharmacology databases and software. A hypergeometric test and enrichment analysis were conducted to evaluate associations between protein targets of RSE. The cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and immunoblot analysis was used to confirm the molecular mechanisms. Results : A compound-target network of RSE was constructed, which consisted of 336 edges between 18 ingredients and 123 protein targets. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and AMPK signaling pathway was significantly associated with protein targets of RSE. RSE protected HepG2 cells against AA+iron-induced oxidative stress as mediated with AMPK signaling. Conclusion : RSE was found to protect the cells against oxidative stress via the AMPK signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.425-433
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• 2023

During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells can differentiate into myofibroblast-like structures, which are more susceptible to proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix generation, leading to liver fibrosis. Anaerobic glycolysis is associated with activated stellate cells and glyceraldehyde (GA) is an inhibitor of glucose metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in human stellate LX-2 cells. In this study, we used cell viability, morphological analysis, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), western blotting, and qRT-PCR techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in LX-2 cells. The results showed that GA significantly reduced cell density and inhibited cell proliferation and lactate levels in LX-2 cells but not in Hep-G2 cells. We found that GA prominently increased the activation of caspase-3/9 for apoptosis induction, and a pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, attenuated the cell death and apoptosis effects of GA, suggesting caspase-dependent cell death. Moreover, GA strongly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and notably increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Interestingly, it dramatically reduced α-SMA and collagen type I protein and mRNA expression levels in LX-2 cells. Thus, inhibition of ERK and JNK activation significantly rescued GA-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis in LX-2 cells. Collectively, the current study provides important information demonstrating the anti-fibrotic effects of GA, a glycolytic metabolite, and demonstrates the therapeutic potency of metabolic factors in liver fibrosis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.321-331
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• 2022

Egg yolk is widely used to extract lecithin, which is utilized in the food and cosmetics industry. After lecithin is removed, the rest of egg yolk is generated as a by-product. Thus, it is necessary to properly utilize it. In this study, egg yolk protein extracts were produced using ethanol (EYE-E) and water (EYE-W). Their antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects were then evaluated. Antioxidant activities of EYE-E and EYE-W were determined using cellular antioxidant capacity (CAC) assay and comet assay. EYE-E and EYE-W showed significant (p<0.05) scavenging effects on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 50 ㎍/mL, EYE-W showed higher (p<0.05) antioxidant activity than EYE-E. EYE-E and EYE-W also exhibited protective effects against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. After treatment with EYE-E and EYE-W, DNA damage level of 48.7% due to oxidative stress was decreased to 36.2% and 31.8% levels, respectively. In addition, EYE-E and EYE-W showed immunomodulatory effects by regulating Th1 cytokines (TNF-α and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) in Balb/c mouse splenocytes. These data suggest that EYE-E and EYE-W could be used as functional food ingredients with excellent antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities in the food industry.