• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.216-225
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the associations between obesity and the children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ) and to further examine the relationships between NQ and mini dietary assessment (MDA) of their parents. Methods: The subjects were 355 children aged 3 to 5 years and their parents in Dongducheon. We collected parental-reported NQ questionnaires for children and MDA of parents. Anthropometric measurements, height, weight and BMI by BIA were measured in children. Overweight and obesity were determined according to age- and sex-specific BMI percentile from the 2007 Korean national growth chart. Statistical analyses consisted of the chi-squared test, ANOVA, partial correlations and logistic regression analysis adjustments for parents BMI. Results: Approximately 20.8% of preschool children were classified as overweight or obese. Underweight children showed a significantly higher score for balance than overweight children. The NQ of the children was $61.9{\pm}11.6$, and NQ scores and their parents' MDA did not exhibit any significant differences according to degree of obesity. After adjusting for parent's BMI, children's BMI was significantly correlated with balance and moderation among NQ factors. Parent's MDA showed significant correlation with their children's NQ, balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, practice and NQ grade, except for diversity of father. Additionally, NQ grade had a significantly increased (150.1%) odds ratio (OR) of being overweight (95% CI 1.008-2.234). Conclusions: These results show that NQ for children is influenced by their parents' MDA and BMI. Furthermore, our findings support the association between overweight prevention and improvement of NQ grade among preschool children.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2023

This study investigated the correlation between parents' nutrition quotient (NQ) and the nutrition quotient of Korean preschoolers (NQ-P) of picky eaters (PE) aged five years living in Dobong-gu, Seoul. The questionnaire was conducted online by parents of 187 preschoolers between May 25 and June 5, 2020. PE was defined as an average score of 3 or more on the picky eating questionnaires; non-picky eaters (NPE, n=120) and PE (n=67). The correlation between preschoolers and their parents was assessed using the NQ-P and NQ, respectively. Compared to the NPE, picky eating (p<0.001) was significantly higher, and vegetable preference (p<0.001), NQ-P (p<0.05), moderation dimension (p<0.05), frequency of vegetable intake (p<0.05) of balance dimension, and processed beverages (p<0.01) of moderation dimension were significantly lower in the PE. The correlation between the NQ and NQ-P was related to the diversity (p<0.05), moderation (p<0.05), and environment (p<0.01) of NQ in the NPE and not related to the PE. PEs should increase their frequency of vegetable intake and reduce their intake of processed beverages. To increase the NQ-P of PE, parents should eat a balanced diet. Future studies on the NQ-P of preschoolers aged 3 to 5 are needed.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2016

We developed a biologically-derived substance naphthoquinone (NQ) derivate for the eco-safe mitigation of harmful cyanobacteria blooms such as Microcystis and Dolichospermum. NQ was reacted with various substituents ($R_n$) to produce different NQ derivatives. We tested a total of 92 algicidal compounds based on the algicidal activity of Microcystis and Dolichospermum. 22 compounds of NQ were selected as candidates (algicidal activity >80% at $1{\mu}M$). Among them, NQ 40 compound showed the highest algicidal activity of 99.6% and 100% at the optimal concentration of $1{\mu}M$ on Microcystis and Dolichospermum, respectively. No algicidal effects of NQ 40 ($1{\mu}M$) were observed against non-target algae such as Stephanodiscus, Cyclotella and Peridinium. According to the results of acute eco-toxicity assessment, the $EC_{50}$ values of NQ 40 compound for Selenastrum capricornutum and Daphnia magna were 3.2 and $14.5{\mu}M$, respectively, and the $LC_{50}$ for Danio rerio was $15.7{\mu}M$. In addition, for D. magna chronic eco-toxicity assessment, no toxicity toward survival, growth and reproduction was observed. Therefore, we suggested the NQ 40 ($1{\mu}M$) compound as an alternative eco-safe algicidal substance to effectively mitigate harmful cyanobacteria blooms.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrition quotient (NQ) by gender and understand which factors influence NQ in preschool children. Methods: Subjects were 245 children (110 boys, 135 girls) aged 4-6 years and their parents. The questionnaire composed of demographic characteristics, eating behavior factors and the NQ questions. The NQ consisted of 19 food behavior checklist items and all items were grouped into 5 factors: balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, and practice. Inbody J05, a measurement device that measures individual's body composition was used to measure children's anthropometric data. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS program (Ver. 20) and the statistical differences in variables were evaluated by Student t-test, ${\chi}^2-test$, One-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. Results: The total NQ score of the subjects was 65.3. The NQ score of girls (67.0) was significantly higher than that of the boys (63.2) (p<0.01). The girls' average scores of NQ factors including diversity (p<0.01) and practice (p<0.05) were higher than those of the boys. The analysis of related-factors influencing NQ scores showed that there was a significant difference among the groups according to feeding methods during infancy (p<0.05), breast feeding group being the highest. Furthermore, the NQ score showed a significant difference depending on how to correct children's unbalanced diet as well as parents' nutrition knowledge. The NQ score of obesity group tended to be lower than that of underweight group although there was no significant difference. Conclusions: Overall results indicated that the girls had better quality of diet and eating habits than the boys. Children and their parents need proper nutrition education and counseling to correct children's eating habits and to improve diet quality in kindergartens and in children care centers.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2017

The objectives of this study were to assess food intake frequency and food behavior of infants and toddlers by using the Nutrition Quotient (NQ). A total of 368 subjects (infants 111, toddlers 257) in Ganghwa county were analyzed in this study. The NQ was examined using an NQ questionnaire, which consisted of 19 food behavior checklist items. The items were grouped into five categories: balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, and practice. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 20, and significant difference was evaluated by Student's t-test and $x^2-test$. The BMIs of infants and toddlers were $16.54kg/m^2$ and $16.01kg/m^2$, respectively. The frequencies of consumption of vegetables and fruits were higher (p<0.001) in girls and toddlers compared to boys and infants, respectively. Food behavior of meal regularity (p<0.001), breakfast eating (p<0.001), and chewing well (p<0.001) were also higher in toddlers compared to infants. Total NQ score of infants and toddlers were 62.05 and 64.91, respectively, which were within medium grade. The NQ score of toddlers was higher than that of infants (p<0.0.5). NQ score was positively correlated with parent's education, monthly income, age, and exercise. Therefore, children and their parents need proper nutrition education and counseling to correct their eating habits and improve their nutritional status.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2023

In this study, we identified the differences in food content watching habits and nutrition quotient in adolescent (NQ-A). A total number of 811 subjects were surveyed to establish their general characteristics, food content watching habits, and NQ-A using a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, the mediating effect of watching motivation between the type of food content watched and the NQ-A score was determined. The classification by the type of the food content mainly watched showed that 405 participants (49.9%) watched the Mukbang content, 244 (30.1%) the Cookbang content, and 162 (20.0%) another contents. Among the content watching motives in the Cookbang content group, information acquisition and enjoyment were predominant, whereas emotional satisfaction had the lowest frequency. Compared to the Mukbang content group, when the Cookbang content group mediated information acquisition motivation, the scores of the total, diversity, balance, and practice of NQ-A score areas increased. Compared to the Mukbang content group, the score in the moderation area decreased when the Cookbang content group mediated enjoyment motivation. If food content with accurate information and interesting content are produced and used for adolescent nutrition education, the education will be highly effective.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.440-446
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• 2013

The purposes of this study are to assess the diet and nutritional states of elementary and middle school students in the Daegu area by using nutrition quotient (NQ) for children. A survey was conducted with 366 elementary school students and 364 middle school students. Elementary school students showed higher total NQ scores (66.2) than middle school students (58.3), without gender difference. Elementary school students showed higher NQ scores in all 5 domains (balance, diversity, abstinence, regularity, practice) than middle school students. As for gender difference, boys showed higher scores than girls in balance and diversity, and girls showed higher scores in abstinence than boys. When scores of 5 domains were evaluated as good or bad, the percentage of good was highest in abstinence (63.4%) and lowest in diversity (22.9%). The percentage distribution of NQ of 1st (excellent) to 5th (bad) grades were 8.4%, 13.6%, 44.5%, 19.3%, 14.2%, respectively. In the 1st grade, there were 9.5%p more elementary school students, and in the 5th grade, there were 11.6%p more middle school students. No gender differences were found in the distribution of the NQ grades. Since NQ for children presents a convenient method of evaluating the diet and nutritional states of many subjects simply and simultaneously, a follow-up study will hopefully revise and supplement the question items and standards of judgement by the age groups.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.224-236
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• 2015

We conducted the algicidal activity screening tests using 10 L microcosm to investigate the possibility of the field application of naphthoquinone derivative Nq 4-6 compound as an algicide. We determined its application range to assess its algicidal effects on the phytoplankton and to evaluate the response of the planktonic community and the water environment to this chemical. From results of the microcosm experiments, Nq 4-6 compound showed high algicidal activity on the centric diatoms such as Stephanodiscus hantzschii and Cyclotella meneghiniana, but it had no effect on other phytoplankton. The abundance of S. hantzschii continuously increased in the control, but its cell density decreased 1 day after the Nq 4-6 treatment. In particular, Nq 4-6 showed algicidal activity of 94.4% against S. hantzschii 7 days after the treatment. The dominance index of phytoplankton community was lower in the treatment than in the control. The diversity index, richness index and evenness index of phytoplankton community was higher in the treatment. Environmental factors and biological factors did not show specific changes after the Nq 4-6 compound treatment. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrates that Nq 4-6 is an effective agent for the control of S. hantzschii blooms, and that the microcosm tests play a crucial role when assessing field application.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.278.1-278.1
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• 2002

In the previous study, we reported that NQ12, a vitamin K antagonist. showed a potent antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities. In order to elucidate the antiplatelet activity of NQ12. we investigated the effect of NQ12 on arachidonic acid cascade parameters such as cPLA2. cyclooxygenase (COX), and the downstream production such as TxA2, PGD2 and 12-HETE. N012 inhibited COX activity in a concentration-dependent manner in U937 cells. (omitted)

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.130-141
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• 2017

We evaluated the field application feasibility that biologically derived substances (Naphthoquinone derivate: NQ 2-0) can be used for the eco-friendly mitigation of natural harmful cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater. We conducted a 30 ton scale mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of NQ 2-0 on biotic and abiotic factors in water collected from Gi-heung reservoir. In the mesocosm experiments, the abundance of Microcystis sp. was continuously increased in the control. However, the Microcystis sp. cell density was sharply decreased on the $10^{th}$ day. In the treatment, NQ 2-0 showed the strong and selective algicidal activity toward the target cyanobacteria (Microcystis sp.). Accordingly, the algicidal activity of NQ 2-0 compound increased gradually until $10^{th}$, $15^{th}$ days and algal biomass was decreased to 99.4 and 100 %, respectively. NQ 2-0 compound was not only selective algicidal activity but also the growth of other phytoplankton and increased the Shannon-Wiener diversity index of phytoplankton. In the mesocosm experiments, the dynamics of biotic (bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellate, ciliates, zooplankton) and abiotic (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrients) factors remained unaffected. These results suggest that NQ 2-0 could be a selective and ecologically safe algicide to mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms. In addition, it is believed that NQ 2-0 will play a major role in forming a healthy aquatic ecosystem by facilitating habitat and food supply of aquatic organisms.