• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1095-1106
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• 2023

This study investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Aster glehni (AG) extract in RAW 264.7 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were higher in the ethanol extracts than in the hot water extracts. As a result of measuring the moisture contents (%) and extraction yields (%) of AG and drying A. glehni for processing (DAG), 70% ethanol, which has the highest percentage of extraction yield, was selected as the final solvent. DPPH radical scavenging activity showed higher antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of DAG than AG. The cytotoxicity assay of the AG or DAG ethanol extracts was treated at different concentrations (25, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL), and cell viability rates were higher than 80% at all concentrations. The LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 was significantly reduced at all concentrations of AG and DAG groups. As a result of measuring the gene expression of iNOS, which induces NO production, the AG or DAG group decreased by 33% and 32%, compared with the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group. Under inflammatory stress conditions, the survival rate of C. elegans treated with AG or DAG ethanol extract with LPS showed concentration-dependent improvement in survival rate compared with the PBS group. Considering these results, AG could potentially be developed as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functional food material.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.203-212
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of Hidden Stems (支藏干) in the Four Pillars of Destiny with regard to the use of human governance periods in the hidden stems (人元用事). First, there is a theory of assigning period of governance for designated constituents (司令論) in the Hidden Stems of the Earthly Branch. Second, there is a theory that determines the structure of the Four Pillars by the Exposed Constituent from the Hidden Stems (透出論) in the Month Earthly Branch. Since these two theories conflict with each other and cause confusions, this study examined the theory of Hidden Stems in the Four Pillars Classics and examined the historical development of governance period for constituent hidden stems and their validity. The results of the study are as follows: Firstly, the number of dates assigned to respective constituents does not correspond to the calendarical principle, and the assignment of the governance dates for each constituent does not correspond to the principles proposed in ancient books of Four Pillars. Second, though it is said in the Classics that 72 days are equally assigned to each of the Five Elements, actual distributed days for the five elements was 65 days for Wood, 55 days for Fire, 100 days for Earth, 65 days for Metal, and 65 days for Water. Third, though it is said that 7 days should be designated to Yang Earth Mu for the months of Tiger 寅, Monkey, Snake, and Pig, it is logically more legitimate to assign those days to Yin Earth Ki since the month before Tiger is Ox, and the month before Monkey is Goat. Lastly, rationale behind assigning Ki Earth only to Horse Oh as constituting Hidden Stem while disregarding months of Rat, Rabbit, and Rooster is considered not reasonable. Looking at these results comprehensively, it is concluded that the Exposed Constituent theory is logically more appropriate than Assigned Governance theory.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.102-111
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• 2022

Purpose To evaluate the correlation between Lee's grades and surgical intervention for central lumbar spinal stenosis (CLSS) and to assess whether this grading system can be used as a decision-making tool for the surgical treatment of this condition. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 290 patients (M:F = 156:134; mean age, 46 ± 16 years). Radiologists assessed the presence and grade of CLSS at the stenosis point according to Lee's grading system, in which CLSS is classified into four grades according to the shape of the cauda equina. Correlation coefficients (r_s) between Lee's grades and the operation were calculated with Spearman rank correlation. Results Among the operated patients, grade 2 was the most commonly assigned grade (50%-58%), grade 3 was less common (35%), and grade 0 was the least common (2%-3%). Among the non-operated patients, grade 1 was the most common (63%-65%), grade 0 was less common (15%-16%), and grade 3 was the least common (8%). The distribution of grades differed between the operated and non-operated groups (p < 0.001). Less than 25% of patients who underwent surgery were assigned grades 0 and 1, and more than 88% were assigned grades 2 and 3. A moderate correlation was found between the grade and surgical intervention (r_s = 0.632 and r_s = 0.583). Conclusion Lee's grade was moderately correlated with surgical intervention. Lee's grading system can be a decision-making tool for the surgical treatment of CLSS.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.287-297
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• 2024

It was confirmed that complex fermentation (CF) was more efficient than single-strain fermentations in inducing changes in the contents of phenolic compounds of Maclura tricuspidate and Pyrus Montana Nakai. A mixture of Maclura tricuspidata, Pyrus montana Nakai, Platycodon grandiflorum and Codonopsis lanceolata were fermented in CF using Aspergillus shirousamii (koji), yeast, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for 24 days, and the pH, °Brix, total acidity, anti-oxidant activity, polyphenol content, nitric oxide (NO), and Western blotting of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-𝛼 (TNF-𝛼) of the sample were determined. There was no significant change in pH and total acidity. °Brix significantly decreased from day 6 onwards. HPLC confirmed that the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, 4-hydrobenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and caffeic acid significantly increased from day 18 during the fermentation. Additionally, DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, total phenol, and total flavonoid were confirmed to be increased until 18 days. NO was significantly inhibited from day 6, along with significant inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-a. In conclusion, this study confirmed that CF of low-use (or underutilized) wild vegetables enhances phenolic compounds. It effectively suppresses NO, iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-𝛼, markers of inflammation-related pathogenesis. Altogether, our results suggest that CF of the above plants has a potential anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.57-75
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the current state and educational needs of risk education related to science and technology as perceived by secondary science teachers. A survey was conducted with a total of 366 secondary science teachers. The results are as follows. First, There were more teachers who had not provided education on risks arising from science and technology in terms of risk perception, risk assessment, and risk management than those who had not. Global warming was the most common risk taught by teachers, followed by earthquakes, artificial intelligence, and traffic accidents. Second, teachers recognized that they lacked understanding that the achievement standards of the 2022 revised science curriculum include risks that may occur due to science and technology, but they thought they were prepared to teach. Third, teachers recognized that their understanding of risk perception was higher than that of risk management and risk assessment. Fourth, the experience of teachers in training on risk was very limited, with fewer having training in risk assessment and risk management compared to risk perception. The most common training experienced was in laboratory safety. Fifth, teachers recognized that their capabilities for the 10 goals of risk education were not high. Middle school teachers or teachers majoring in integrated science education evaluated their capabilities relatively highly. Sixth, many teachers thought it was important to address risks in school science education. They prioritized 'information use', 'decision-making skills', and 'influence of mass media', in that order, for importance and called for urgent education in 'action skills', 'information use', and 'influence of risk perception'. Seventh, as a result of deriving the priorities of education needs for each of the 10 goals of risk education, 'action skills', 'influence of risk perception', and 'evaluate risk assessment' were ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2024

Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizer application on yield, soil chemical properties and soil organic carbon (SOC) in Korean cabbage cultural field. The experimental treatments consisted of none fertilizer (NF), NPK (inorganic fertilizer, N-P₂O₅-K₂O : 320-78-198 kg ha^-1), Organic fertilizer (OF 50, 100, 150% on application rate of standard 110 kg ha^-1 as N, topdressing: 210 kg ha^-1 as inorganic fertilizer). In experimental results, the growth characteristics and yields were not significantly different among the treatments. There was no significant difference in soil pH, available phosphate, ammonium nitrogen and exchangeable potassium, while organic matter, electrical conductivity and nitrate nitrogen were increased when organic fertilizer application. Also, SOC was increased with the application of organic fertilizers. These results showed that pre-application of organic fertilizer might be effective in a carbon storage in the field soil cultivating Korean cabbage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.1094-1109
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• 2023

Purpose To investigate whether CT-based tumor regression grade (ctTRG) can be used to predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in colon cancer. Materials and Methods A total of 53 patients were enrolled. Two radiologists independently assessed the ctTRG using the length, thickness, layer pattern, and luminal and extraluminal appearance of the tumor. Changes in tumor volume were also analyzed using the 3D Slicer software. We evaluated the association between pathologic TRG (pTRG) and ctTRG. Patients with Rödel's TRG of 2, 3, or 4 were classified as responders. In terms of predicting responder and pathologic complete remission (pCR), receiver operating characteristic was compared between ctTRG and tumor volume change. Results There was a moderate correlation between ctTRG and pTRG (ρ = -0.540, p < 0.001), and the interobserver agreement was substantial (weighted κ = 0.672). In the prediction of responder, there was no significant difference between ctTRG and volumetry (Az = 0.749, criterion: ctTRG ≤ 3 for ctTRG, Az = 0.794, criterion: ≤ -27.1% for volume, p = 0.53). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two methods in predicting pCR (p = 0.447). Conclusion ctTRG might predict the response to NAC in colon cancer. The diagnostic performance of ctTRG was comparable to that of CT volumetry.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2024

Pesticide residues were monitored in dried red pepper and pepper powder samples purchased in Northern Gyeonggi-do and from domestic online markets. The QuEChERS method was used to prepare 88 samples. GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS were used to analyze 338 pesticide residues. In the study, pesticide residues were detected in 70 samples (79.5%), with residues exceeding the maximum residue limits (MRL) in 4 samples (4.5%). Pesticide levels exceeded the MRL in imported samples, with two samples of dried red pepper and two samples of pepper powder showing elevated levels. Among the 61 pesticides detected, tebuconazole, a fungicide was most frequently detected (52 times). Tricyclazole, which is used to control the main disease affecting rice, exceeding the MRL in 3 of 12 Vietnam-origin samples. Ethion exceeded the MRL in one Indian-origin sample. Both tricyclazole and ethion are banned for use in pepper products in Korea and are regulated under the positive list system (PLS). Conversely, pesticides detected in domestic samples were within the MRLs. Therefore, authorities should monitor pesticide residues in imported red pepper products.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-66
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: Dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's dementia (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), pose diagnostic challenges. This review examines the effectiveness of ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) in differentiating these subtypes for precise treatment and management. Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted using databases like PubMed and Embase to identify studies on the diagnostic utility of ¹⁸F-FDG PET in dementia. The search included studies up to November 16, 2022, focusing on peer-reviewed journals and applying the goldstandard clinical diagnosis for dementia subtypes. Results: From 12,815 articles, 14 were selected for final analysis. For AD versus FTD, the sensitivity was 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.98) and specificity was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). In the case of AD versus DLB, ¹⁸F-FDG PET showed a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.98) and specificity of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). Lastly, when differentiating AD from non-AD dementias, the sensitivity was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.91) and the specificity was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.91). The studies mostly used case-control designs with visual and quantitative assessments. Conclusions: ¹⁸F-FDG PET exhibits high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating dementia subtypes, particularly AD, FTD, and DLB. This method, while not a standalone diagnostic tool, significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy in uncertain cases, complementing clinical assessments and structural imaging.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.392-400
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• 2024

This study was conducted to find the flowering and growth characteristics according to the different altitudes (plains and mid-mountain regions) and cultivation methods (field and plastic houses cultivation) of Elsholtzia splendens. Experimental regions located at 12 meters and 500 meters above sea level were selected for the plains and the mid-mountain, respectively, and the same method was applied for cultivation management by different altitudes and cultivation methods. In the mid-mountain region, flower bud emergence (2-3 days), flowering (9 days), and full bloom (6-7 days) stages of Elsholtzia splendens were earlier than in the plains, and field cultivation was earlier than plastic house cultivation. The plant height, the main stem diameter, and the number of branches tended to increase gradually after an initial rapid growth at 59 to 69 days after planting date. The days of duration of sunshine (less than 8 hours) from the rainy season (June 20) to the period when vegetative growth increases gradually (59 to 69 days after planting) was 22 to 29 days and 26 to 35 days in the plains and the mid-mountain regions respectively, and this period was estimated time of transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The spikes growth of Elsholtzia splendens by cultivation altitudes was higher in the mid-mountain region than in the plains, and there were no statistically significant differences in growth characteristics except for the main stem diameter, the number of branches, and the dry matter. Also, the amount of flowering and growth was higher in the plastic house cultivation compared to the field cultivation. As a result, some differences in flowering amount were observed when cultivating Elsholtzia splendens for landscaping purposes, but it was considered possible to cultivate in both plains and mid-mountain regions. This study therefore provides ecological information for understanding the relationship between weather characteristics and growth of Elsholtzia splendens.