• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1330-1338
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) as a dietary additive on gut microflora in weaned piglets. A total of sixty pigs were weaned at 21 d of age (BW = $5.64{\pm}0.23kg$) and allocated on the basis of BW and litter to three dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were: control group (basal diet), antibiotics group (basal diet+0.02% colistin), and ASE group (basal diet+0.1% ASE). On d 7, 14 and 28 after consuming the experimental diets, five piglets per group were sacrificed and then the contents from the jejunum, ileum and cecum were collected to determine changes in the microbial community by using a polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) technique and estimating the contents of Lactobacillus and E. coli by in vitro culturing methods. The results showed that the ASE promoted the microflora diversity in the cecum. Enumeration of bacteria in the gut contents showed that the number of Lactobacillus increased (p<0.05), while that of E. coli decreased (p<0.05) when compared with the other 2 groups as the days of age progressed post-weaning. These findings suggested that the ASE, as a substitute for dietary antimicrobial products, could improve the development of the normal gut microflora and suppress bacterial pathogens, and effectively promote a healthy intestinal environment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.490-498
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate how many kindergarten parents use after-school programs and specialization activities and to suggest effective policy improvement plans based on the results. After 693 parents were interviewed by the investigators, the collected data were presented by calculating the percentages, averages, and standard deviations. First of all, the results of after-school are presented. First, about 38.2% of the surveyed parents spent additional expenses to use after - school program, and the average of additional costs was about 62,850 won. When the cost burden and satisfaction were evaluated as 5 points, it was rated as normal. Second, the main reason for participating in the after-school program was both parents were working, followed by the parents' wishes for their children to spend time with their friends. Next, the results for specialization activities at kindergartens are presented. First, the proportion of children using after-school specialization activities was 68.2%, of which 79% were expenditures, the number of activities was 2.69, and the average cost was 83,540 won. Second, the most preferred after-school specialization activity by age group was English, and the most common reason for this was that the children liked to participate. Improvement of the educational contents suggested as the most important thing to improve after-school specialization activities. Lastly, the results showed that after-school specialization activities reduced parents' spending on private education. On the basis of the results, some discussions are presented included the development after-school programs focusing on the different needs of children and parents accordingly.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Objective: A 14-d trial was conducted to determine the effects of feeding corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) on growth performance, apparent ileal digestibility, serum hormones levels and gene expression of $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ in ducklings. Methods: A total of 704 ducklings were blocked on the basis of sex and body weight (BW), and then allocated randomly to one of the following two treatments: i) CON, basal diet and ii) $AFB_1$, diets with 100% of normal corn replaced with $AFB_1$ contaminated corn. There were 22 pens per treatment and 16 birds per pen. The concentration of $AFB_1$ was 195.4 and $124.35{\mu}g/kg$ in the contaminated corn and $AFB_1$ diet, respectively. Results: The $AFB_1$ decreased average daily gain, average daily feed intake, d 7 BW, final BW in the whole trial, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during d 8 to 14 and d 1 to 14 by 10% to 47% (p<0.05), while FCR during d 1 to 7 was increased (p<0.05). $AFB_1$ did not affect mortality to 7 d of age, and then increased to 5.8% from 8 to 14 d of age (p<0.01). Apparent ileal gross energy digestibility was reduced by $AFB_1$, whereas apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and amino acid was improved (p<0.01). Feeding $AFB_1$ diets increased serum concentration of leptin and insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) (p<0.05), but had no effect on neuropeptide Y, ghrelin, cholecystokinin-8 or insulin (p>0.05). Dietary treatments did not influence relative expression of jejunal $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ gene (p>0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, feeding corn naturally contaminated with $AFB_1$ reduced growth performance, improved apparent ileal digestibility, and affected serum leptin and IGF-1 in ducklings from d 1 to 14.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

While the rusty-colored root is common in ginsengs culture and, often results in a severe economic loss, the major factors have not been found. This study was focused on the determination of a potential relationship between rusty root and endophytic bacteria. The number of endophytes was $9.6\;{\times}\;10^1{\sim}1.5\;{\times}\;10^2\;cfu/g$ fw in normal ginseng roots compared to $3.7\;{\times}\;10^6{\sim}5.1\;{\times}\;10^7\;cfu/g$ fw in rusty ones. Of 31 isolates from rusty ginseng roots, twenty-four isolates repeatedly induced severe to moderate rust on root while seven isolates induced slight rust. The bacteria responsible for rusty ginseng roots were mainly Gram negative aerobic. Rust inducing bacteria were identified as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, A. rhizogenes, Burkholderia phenazinium, Ensifer adharens, Lysobacter gummosus, Microbacterium luteolum, M. oxydans, Pseudomonas marginalis, P. veronii, Pseudomonas sp., Rhizobium leguminosarum, R. tropica, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Rh. globerulus, Variovorax paradoxus on the basis of bacteriological characters and 16S rDNA sequences analysis. The results in this study strongly suggested that the rusty ginseng roots were produced by infection and growth of endophytic bacteria.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2011

The purpose of this research aims to evaluate the emergence of new business mode in the Chinese water market since the mid-2000s - Transfer-Operate-Transfer(TOT) Projects. The study pays special attention to the case of the Hefei Wangxiaoying Wastewater Treatment TOT Project, which was awarded to the consortium of Berlin Water International and its Chinese partner in late 2004. The consortium secured an exclusive operating right for 23 years on the basis of a TOT scheme and would take responsibility of all the profits and losses in the operation of the plant. The total investment for the transfer amounted to RMB 491 million(US$70 million). The price was more than 288% of the original value, RMB 170 million (US$24 million). The project can be regarded as a successful case because of the following three causes. First, the Hefei government followed a series of standardized procedures in the international bidding, which ignited best-performed international players' competition for the project. Second, the project will bring in cutting-edge operation skills and management know-how. Third, the government succeeded in raising public asset values, and thanks to this, the government is able to consider other similar projects not only in the water sector but also other sectors in public utility services. Nevertheless, Berlin Water's point of view, there are several challenges. First, the company took a risk to pay such a large amount of cash to the Hefei government. Although such premium can be recouped in the operation period of 23 years, whether or not the company would be able to recover the initial investment and realize profits is in question due to an uncertainty of socio-political circumstances in China. Second, Berlin Water should expect a steep rise of water tariffs over the contract period in order to get the investment back. Water pricing is still a sensible matter to Chinese authorities, and therefore, it is uncertain if such rise of water tariffs would be possible. Third, the TOT mode leads to creation of a large amount of cash to government officials, which might have caused corruption between those who are involved in TOT deals. Then, the final contract fee would soar, which often results in the burden of normal customers. As discussed, the TOT mode has drawn much attention of foreign investors as a new alternative to enter into the Chinese water market. But it is important to note that foreign investors should be aware of possible risks in water TOT projects, which reflects some features of the Chinese political economy landscape and social norms. The Hefei case indicates that benefits can overshadow risks in TOT projects, which will continue to attract foreign investors that are dedicated to establishing their strongholds in the Chinese water market.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.305-316
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• 2005

This study was conducted to determine the total amount and type of seleniwn (Se) in the Se-enriched mushroom and its spent mushroom composts (SMC), and to investigate the metabolism in relation to Se accwnulation in the mushroom. Mushrooms, Flammulina velutipes, used in this study were grown for 60 days by adding 2 rng of inorganic Se (Na2Se03) per kg of mushroom composts (MC) on as-fed basis and were compared with normal mushrooms grown on the non Se-supplemented Me. Total Se contents for Se-treated mushrooms were significantly increased (P < 0.0001) by 20-fold (4.51 $\mu$/ g of dry) compared to Se-untreated (0.23 $\mu$/ g of dry). On the contrary, organic Se ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in the Se-treated mushroom (72.3 %) than the Se-untreated one (100 %, not analytically detected of inorganic Se). Se distribution upon a length in the Se-treated mushrooms was the highest in the bottom part (6.86 $\mu$/ g of dry) near to MC, and top and middle parts were significantly lower (3.71 and 3.01 $\mu$/ g of dry, respectively; P < 0.001) than the bottom. In the SMC from Se-treated mushrooms, the significant amount of Se (5.04l1g/g of dry) was remained, but that from the Se-untreated mushrooms was significantly low (P$\mu$ / g of dry. Se-treated SMC showed a high ratio of organic Se (65.67 %), suggesting that the significant amount of inorganic Se in the SMC was converted to organic Se by mushroom mycelia. Prior to mycelia inoculation in the mushroom culture, the sterilization of MC brought approximately 18% of Se loss in the MC. Apparent and net accumulation rates (%) for Se into mushrooms were 14.81 and 10.14 %, respectively, resulting from the Se volatilization into the air via metabolic process of mushroom itself. The result of this study shows that inorganic Se addition to MC for mushroom improved the organic Se contents in the mushroom and SMC. This study showed the possibility that Se in Se-enriched mushroom and SMC could be utilized as Se sources of food for human as well as feed for livestock.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.575-582
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• 2016

BACKGROUNG/OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of high maysin corn silk extract on body weight and fat deposition in experimental animals. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of 30 male C57BL/6J mice, 4-weeks-old, were purchased and divided into three groups by weight using a randomized block design. The normal-fat (NF) group received 7% fat (diet weight basis), the high-fat (HF) group received 25% fat and 0.5% cholesterol, and the high-fat corn silk (HFCS) group received high-fat diet and high maysin corn silk extract at 100 mg/kg body weight through daily oral administration. Body weight and body fat were measured, and mRNA expression levels of proteins involved in adipocyte differentiation, fat accumulation, fat synthesis, lipolysis, and fat oxidation in adipose tissue and the liver were measured. RESULTS: After experimental diet intake for 8 weeks, body weight was significantly lower in the HFCS group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05), and kidney fat and epididymal fat pad weights were significantly lower in the HFCS group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). In the HFCS group, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}1$ (PPAR-${\gamma}1$), and PPAR-${\gamma}2$ mRNA expression levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the epididymal fat pad, whereas cluster of differentiation 36, lipoprotein lipase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme-4, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in liver and adipose tissues (P < 0.05). In the HFCS group, mRNA expression levels of AMP-activated protein kinase, hormone-sensitive lipase, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 were elevated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that high maysin corn silk extract inhibits expression of genes involved in adipocyte differentiation, fat accumulation, and fat synthesis as well as promotes expression of genes involved in lipolysis and fat oxidation, further inhibiting body fat accumulation and body weight elevation in experimental animals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.63-76
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• 2009

On the basis of a Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA), this paper analyses revenue efficiencies for the same sample of Korean and Japanese railways in the papers which analyze cost efficiencies using a generalized translog functional form. The paper also compares the results of revenue efficiencies with cost efficiencies and evaluates the effects of managerial autonomy and privatization on the firm-specific efficiencies. The results show that the average estimate of revenue inefficiency is 7.02% when the term of inefficiency is assumed to be distributed as a half-normal and 6.98% as a exponential for the total sample. Also, standardized inefficiencies in revenues (7.5%) are greater than those in costs (2.1%). JR East and JR West are found to be most efficient on the revenue side and on the cost side respectively while JNR and JR Kyushu are worst efficient on the both sides. Finally, the correlations between efficiencies in revenues and costs also between efficiencies and privatization are positively correlated. The results suggest that the most independent companies, with increased managerial autonomy via privatization, are the most efficient in both revenues and costs.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.264-272
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• 2016

This study was carried out to evaluate the preventive effect of the Corni Fructus (SSU) 50 % EtOH extract (SSU-E50) against bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity in Leydig cells and improving testosterone deficiency syndrome in orchidectomized Sprague-Dawly (SD) rats. Antioxidant properties were measured by radical scavenging activity of SSU-E50 in ABTS assay and DPPH assay. Also, real-time polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR) was performed to quantify the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzyme. SD rats were divided into eight group: normal, sham operation (Sham), orchidectomized (ORX), ORX treated with testosterone 1 mg/kg (Tes. 1), ORX treated with SSU water extract 100 mg/kg (SSU-A 100) and 300 mg/kg (SSU-A 300), ORX treated with SSU 50 % EtOH extract 100 mg/kg (SSU-E 100) and 300 mg/kg (SSU-E 300). On a comparative basis, the SSU showed better activity quenching ABTS with an IC50 value of 0.29 mg/ml and DPPH with an IC50 value of 0.33 mg/ml. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS assay as described not cytotoxic at the highest concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$. Cytotoxicity of BPA showed in $200{\mu}M$, but definitely survived by treatment with SSU in Leydig cells. In addition, SSU increased the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzyme in BPA induced Leydig cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was slightly increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was decreased with SSU-A 100 in in-vivo. These results suggest that Corni Fructus extracts have the greatest property as a natural anti-oxidative and improves testosterone deficiency syndrome source.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 1993

The evaluation of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (DSB) was made following irradiation of human lymphocytes, murine lymphocytes and EL-4 leukemia cells over a wide dose range of $^{60}Co\;{gamma}-rays.$ In lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated murine lymphocytes, the slopes of the stand scission factor (SSF) revealed that lymphocytes with LPS increased DNA DSB formation by a factor of 1.432 (p<0.005). Furthermore, strand break production was relatively inefficient in the T lymphocytes compared to the B lymuhocytes. And EL-4 leukemia cells were found to form significantly more DNA DSB to a greater extent than normal lymphocytes (p<0.005). The in vitro studies of the intrinsic radiosensitivity between human lymphocytes and murine lymphocytes showed similar phasic kinetics. However, murine lymphocytes were lower in DNA DSB formation and higher in the relative radiation dose of 10 percent DNA strand breaks at 3.5 hours following ${gamma}-irradiation$ than human lymphocytes. Though it is difficult to interpret these results, these differences may be result from environmental and genetic factors. From our data, if complementary explanations for this difference will be proposed, the differences in the dose-effect relationship for the induction of DSB between humans and mice must be related to interspecies variations in the physiological condition of the peripheral blood in vitro and not to differences in the intrinsic radiation sensitivity of the lymphocytes. These results can be estimated on the basis of dose-effect correlation enabling the interpretation of clinical response and the radiobiological parameters of cytometrical assessment.