• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1208-1214
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• 2011

Caffeine, a psychoactive stimulant, has been implicated in the modulation of learning and memory functions due to its action as a non-selective adenosine receptors antagonist. On the contrary, some side effects of caffeine have been reported, such as an increased energy loss and metabolic rate, decrease DNA synthesis in the spleen, and increased oxidative damage to exerted on LDL particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a safe stimulant from natural plants mixture (Aralia elata, Acori graminei Rhizoma, Chrysanthemum, Dandleion, Guarana, Shepherd's purse) that can be used as a substitute for caffeine. Thirty SD rats were divided into three groups; control group, caffeine group (15.0 mg/kg, i.p.), and natural plants mixture group (NP, 1 mL/kg, p.o.). The effect of NP extract on stimulant activity was evaluated with open-field test (OFT) and plus maze test for measurement of behavioral profiles. Plasma lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation in LDL (conjugated dienes), total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and DNA damage in white blood, liver, and brain cells were measured. In the OFT, immobility time was increased significantly by acute (once) and chronic (3 weeks) supplementation of NP and showed a similar effect to caffeine treatment. Three weeks of caffeine treatment caused plasma lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver cells, whereas there were no changes in the NP group. NP group showed a higher plasma HDL cholesterol concentration compared to the caffeine group. The results indicate that the natural plants mixture had a stimulant effect without inducing oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2008

This study was performed to reveal nutritional excellency of popular Korean dishes, which were intended to distribute as a take-out type food suited for Americans. Four Korean dishes were selected due to their high preference from American sensory panels: Jeyuk-bokkeum (B), Kimchi-bokkeum (C), Dubu-jorim (D) and Namul (E). Nine weeks of the experimental periods were composed of two parts. In phase 1(5 weeks of the first half), high fat diets were fed to all treatments including the control group (A). In phase 2 (4 weeks of the last half), freeze-dried four Korean dishes were fed to the treatments except for the control. There was no significant difference in the final body weights among the groups as well as daily body weight gains and FER. Organ weights of the control group tended to be smaller than those of the treatment groups. For visceral fats, perirenal fat pad (RFP) and epidydimal fat pad (EFP) of the groups C and D were decreased by 20% compared with those of the group A. Total cholesterol level of the group C (94.13 mg/dL) was significantly lower than any other groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in triglyceride(TG) level. HDL-cholesterol level of group B(20.38 mg/dL) was significantly higher than that of group D (17.25 mg/dL), but no significant differences were seen in groups C and E (p<0.05). In LDL-cholesterol level, the highest level was seen in group D, the lowest level in group E (p<0.05). From the findings, Kimchi-bokkeum, Dubu-jorim and Namul were superior to those of the control and jeyukbokkeum in terms of the blood lipid profiles. It might be a good Korean style take-out items suited for the Americans’ taste along with a good nutritional quality in the near future.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.352-358
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enterococci in cheese samples and to characterize their antimicrobial resistance profiles as well as the associated resistance genes. A total of 139 enterococci were isolated from 99 cheese samples, the isolates were identified as E. faecalis (61.2%), E. faecium (15.1%), E. gallinarum (12.9%), E. durans (5.0%), E. casseliflavis (2.9%) and E. avium (2.9%). The most frequent antimicrobial resistance observed in enterococci isolates was to lincomycin (88.5%), followed by kanamycin (84.2%), gentamycin (low level, 51.1%), rifampin (46.8%) and tetracycline (33.8%). Among the isolates, the frequencies of high level gentamycin and streptomycin resistant enterococci strains were 2.2% and 5.8%, respectively. Apart from the mentioned antibiotics, low levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol were found. Moreover no resistance was observed against penicillin and ampicillin. The antimicrobial resistance genes including tetM, tetL, ermB, cat, aph(3’)-IIIa, ant(6)-Ia and aac(6’)-Ieaph(2”)-Ia were found in enterococci from Turkish cheese samples. In the current study, we provided data for antibiotic resistance and the occurrence of resistance genes among enterococci. Regulatory and quality control programs for milk and other dairy products from farms to retail outlets has to be established and strengthened to monitor trends in antimicrobial resistance among emerging food borne pathogens in Turkey.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2599-2605
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• 2013

The study aimed to evaluate immune-stimulating effects of a well-known Thai folkloric remedy when used for adjuvant therapy with conventional chemotherapeutics for treatment of breast cancer. Immunostimulating influence of the remedy (215 mg/kg body weight per day) on NK cell activity and TNF-${\alpha}$ release from the monocytes/macrophages were investigated in a total of 15 healthy women and 13 female patients with breast cancer (Group 1). The effect of breast tumor surgery on NK cell activity was further investigated in 18 female patients with breast cancer (Group 2). NK cell cytotoxic activity was determined by chromium release cytotoxic assay using K562, an erythroleukemic cell line. TNF-${\alpha}$ release from monocytes/macrophages separated from blood samples was determined through a biological assay using actinomycin D-treated L929 mouse fibroblast cells in the presence and absence of LPS. Baseline NK cell activity of the monocytes/macrophages separated from Group 2 patients expressed as %cytotoxicity was significantly lower than in the healthy subjects at E:T ratios of 100:1 and 25:1. In healthy subjects, there was no change in NK cell cytotoxic activity (%cytotoxicity or LU) following 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with the remedy compared with the baseline at various E:T ratios but the binding activity (%binding) was significantly increased after 2 weeks of treatment. The addition of one or two conventional chemotherapeutic regimens did not significantly reduce the NK cytotoxic activity but did affect release of TNF-${\alpha}$ in both unstimulated and LPS-stimulated samples. Surgery produced a significant suppressive effect on NK cell activity. The use of the remedy as an adjunct therapy may improve therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles of conventional chemotherapeutic regimens through stimulation of the immune system in cancer patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.545-555
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• 2011

The diversity elucidation by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing of 96 associative diazotrophs, isolated from the feeder roots of tea on enriched nitrogen-free semisolid media, revealed the predominance of Gram-positive over Gram-negative bacteria within the Kangra valley in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Gram-positive bacteria observed belong to two taxonomic groupings; Firmicutes, including the genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus; and Actinobacteria, represented by the genus Microbacterium. The Gram-negative bacteria included ${\alpha}$-Proteobacteria genera Brevundimonas, Rhizobium, and Mesorhizobium; ${\gamma}$-Proteobacteria genera Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas; and ${\beta}$-Proteobacteria genera Azospira, Burkholderia, Delftia, Herbaspirillum and Ralstonia. The low level of similarity of two isolates, with the type strains Paenibacillus xinjiangensis and Mesorhizobium albiziae, suggests the possibility of raising species novum. The bacterial strains of different phylogenetic groups exhibited distinct carbon-source utilization patterns and fatty acid methyl ester profiles. The strains differed in their nitrogenase activities with relatively high activity seen in the Gramnegative strains exhibiting the highest similarity to Azospira oryzae, Delftia lacustris and Herbaspirillum huttiense.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Glucosinolates are one of the important plant secondary metabolites that are produced mainly in Brassicaceae plants. The compounds are primarily involved in defense responses to biotic and abiotic resistance in plants and play important biological roles during plant growth and development. In this study, the glucosinolate profiles in leaves of two different Brassica oleracea populations were compared using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The nine major glucosinolates compounds in cabbage leaves were identified as belonging to the aliphatic and indolic groups. Among them, sinigrin, which belongs to the aliphatic group, was recorded to be 41% whereas glucobrassicin and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, which belong to the indolic group, were recorded to be 53.8%. In addition, we performed a genetic analysis to identify regions of the genome regulating glucosinolates biosynthesis in the $F_3$ population of Brassica oleracea. A total of 9 glucosinolates were used for the quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Out of 9, a total of 3 QTLs were identified and they were associated with sinigrin, glucobrassicin, and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin synthesis located in Chromosome 1 and Chromosome 8, respectively. The results of this study will provide valuable information for the breeding of cabbage containing high glucosinolate content, and our next target is to develop component-specific and tightly linked markers for various glucosinolates.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model in intra-abdominal infected rats, and extrapolate it to human to predict moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics profiles in various tissues in intra-abdominal infected human. 12 male rats with intra- abdominal infections, induced by Escherichia coli, received a single dose of 40 mg/kg body weight of moxifloxacin. Blood plasma was collected at 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480, 1440 min after drug injection. A PBPK model was developed in rats and extrapolated to human using GastroPlus software. The predictions were assessed by comparing predictions and observations. In the plasma concentration versus time profile of moxifloxcinin rats, $C_{max}$ was $11.151{\mu}g/mL$ at 5 min after the intravenous injection and $t_{1/2}$ was 2.936 h. Plasma concentration and kinetics in human were predicted and compared with observed datas. Moxifloxacin penetrated and accumulated with high concentrations in redmarrow, lung, skin, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle tissues in human with intra-abdominal infection. The predicted tissue to plasma concentration ratios in abdominal viscera were between 1.1 and 2.2. When rat plasma concentrations were known, extrapolation of a PBPK model was a method to predict drug pharmacokinetics and penetration in human. Moxifloxacin has a good penetration into liver, kidney, spleen, as well as other tissues in intra-abdominal infected human. Close monitoring are necessary when using moxifloxacin due to its high concentration distribution. This pathological model extrapolation may provide reference to the PK/PD study of antibacterial agents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 1998

Effect of oral taurine supplementation on plasma total and phospholidpid -fatty acid profiles and their metabolism were evaluated in healthy female adults. Among twenty five female volunteers(23.6$\pm$0.3 years old ) participated in the taruine supplementation program(6g taurine /day), twenty four subjects succesfully completed the 2 week program , and only nine subjects continued to take taurine for another 2 weeks. Levels of plasma fatty acids and taruine were measured by gas-liquid chromatobraphy and an automated amino acid analyzer based on ion exchange chromatography, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration s of the subjects were 108. 7$\pm$3.4 , 184.2$\pm$8.2 and 235.9$\pm$77.0$\mu$emol/L at 0 , 2 and 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. Fatty acid compositions and elongation and desaturation indices of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma total lipids were not influenced by oral taurine supplementation. However, fatty acid compositions and their metabolism in plasma phospholipids were significantly affected by taurine supplementation in female adults. Compared to the values for 0 week, the percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in plasma phospholipid was significantly lowered at 2 weeks, but elevated at 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. In contrast , the percentage of phospholipid PUFA significantly increased at 2 weeks and decreased at 4 weeks of taurine supplementation from to the values for 0 weeks. Foru weeks of oral taurine supplementation signifinatly elevated the eongation index(20 : 4$\omega$6 ⇒22 : 4 $\omega$6, p<0.01), and decreased the desaturation index (20 : 3 $\omega$6 ⇒20 : 4 $\omega$6 , p<0.01) of $\omega$6 fatty acids in plasma phospholipids. Plasma taurine concentration was positively correlated with the percentage of 14 : 0 fatty acids and the enlongation index o f$\omega$3 fatty acids(20 : 5 $\omega$3 ⇒22 : 5 $\omega$3), and thenegatively correlated with the percentage of 20 : 0 in plasma phospholipids. These results indicate that oral taurine supplementation for 4 weeks signidicantly elelvated the percentage of SFA, and lowered the percentage of PUFA in plasma phospholipids with no influence on plasm total fatty aicd composition in healthy female adults.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.213-219
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• 2003

As the 2-D hydraulic experimental results for the submerged rubble-mound structure, we have concerned with their stability/function characteristics of structures by the effects of wave force, scour/deposition at the toe and wave transmission ratio at the lee-side sea. And as to investigate the variation characteristics of wave transmission ratio which depended to a geometrical structure of the submerged breakwater profiles, the critical conditions for the depth of submergence and crest width obviously presented. In summary, there results lead us to the conclusions that the wave control capabilities of submerged breakwaters by the variation of the submergence depth is high about 4 time degrees at the efficiency than the that of crest width. The destruction of covering block at the crest generated at the region which located between maximum damage curve, it maximum damage/failure station from the toe of the structure were 0.2L. As the wave transmission coefficient and the slope of the structure increase, the damage/failure ratio and the maximum scour depth at the toe was extended, respectively. When maximum scour depth happened. The destruction of covering block which located at the toe generated at the front slope destruction. Finally, it was found from the results that the optimization of structure may be obtained by the efficiently decision of the submergence depth and crest width in the permissible range of wave transmission ratio.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2015

The Youngsan Lake was constructed to supply agricultural water to the extensive rice fields in the basin of the lake in 1981. Hypoxia has often developed in the bottom water of the lake during the warm season although the water depth is relatively shallow (< 16 m). We investigated the spatial and temporal variations of dissolved oxygen (DO) and physical properties such as water temperature, salinity and turbidity to elucidate the effects of change in physical properties on DO dynamics in the lake. Vertical profiles of DO, temperature, salinity, and water density were also explored to verify the development of stratification in relation to DO variation in the water column. Hypoxia (DO < $2mg\;L^{-1}$) was not observed in the upper regions whereas hypoxia was detected in the lower regions during the warm season. Thermocline generally developed in the lower regions during the warm season unlike the previous studies in which no thermocline was observed. However, water column was well mixed when freshwater water was discharged from the reservoir through the sluice gate of the dike. DO concentrations also decreased when halocline or pycnocline developed during the dry season suggesting that the vertical stratification of water column affects DO dynamics although the water depth is shallow in the Youngsan lake.