• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.160-166
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• 2003

To examine the evidence that wheat bran is protective against breast cancer development and that its main mechanism of action is by modulating estrogen metabolism. This review explores the role of different experimental factors on the anticancer effects of wheat bran and the relationship of changes to estrogen metabolism by wheat bran on breast cancer risk The timing of the experimental diets in relation to carcinogen administration, the length of feeding of the experimental diets, and the level of dietary fat had an impact on the effectiveness of different doses of wheat bran in reducing breast carcinogenesis. Wheat bran supplementation resulted in significant reductions in human plasma estrogen levels but not in that of animals tested. The change in excretory metabolism of estrogen by wheat bran feeding in animals was not related to any of the tumor indices measured. The protective effect of wheat bran in breast carcinogenesis is greatest at the promotional phase and when supplemented in a high fat diet. Doses of wheat bran in the 9-12% range in diet have been consistently protective. The inconsistency observed with higher doses of wheat bran may be dependent on the animal model used. Although wheat bran's inhibitory effects on tumor growth may involve changes to estrogen metabolism, the fiber and phytochemical components of wheat bran may also act through estrogen-independent mechanisms. For a better understanding of the effect of wheat bran on breast carcinogenesis, studies comparing the effects of different wheat bran components both alone and in combination need to be performed.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.799-804
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• 2006

Ingestion of green tea has been shown to decrease prostaglandin $E_2$ levels in human colorectum, suggesting that tea constituents modulate arachidonic acid metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of four purified green tea catechins, (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), on the catalytic activity of cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$ ($cPLA_2$) and release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites from intact cells. At $50\;{\mu}M$, EGCG and ECG inhibited $cPLA_2$ activity by 19 and 37%, respectively, whereas EC and EGC were less effective. The inhibitory effects of these catechins on arachidonic acid metabolism in intact cells were much more pronounced. At $10\;{\mu}M$, EGCG and ECG inhibited the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites by 50-70% in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) and human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (KYSE-190 and 450). EGCG and ECG also inhibited arachidonic acid release induced by A23187, a calcium ionophore, in both HT-29 and KYSE-450 cell lines by 30-50%. The inhibitory effects of green tea catechins on $cPLA_2$ and arachidonic acid release may provide a possible mechanism for the prevention of human gastrointestinal inflammation and cancers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.195-203
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the level of functional health literacy and its influence on perceived health status in Korean older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Daegu, Kyungpook and Susan province. A total of 103 older adults aged 65 yr or older were interviewed in person between July 1 to August 30, 2007. Results: A high proportion of older adults were unable to read and understand written basic medical instructions. Only 40-50% were able to comprehend directions for taking medication four times a day or on an empty stomach. Only 11-38% were able to understand information regarding treatment procedure, informed consent, or educational material for elderly fall prevention. Individuals who were older, single, and had less education and income were more likely to have lower functional health literacy. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, individuals with lower health literacy had poorly perceived health status. Conclusion: Many Korean older adults have a very low level of fuctional literacy. Low health literacy was independently associated with poorly perceived health status.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.101-114
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to develop a self-report scale measuring dysfunctional communication behaviors that Korean husbands and wives may use during marital fights. Based on the four concepts of criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling proposed by Gottman(1994a), an initial pool of 38 items was developed. Through expert reviews of the 38 items to assess content validity, preliminary 30 items were selected. Using a sample of 89 married couples who were living in Susan, Korea, we conducted item analyses and exploratory factor analyses with the 30 items. These analyses yielded a final 19-item, four-factor scale : criticism(5 items), contempt(5 items), defensiveness(5 items), and stonewalling(4 items). The internal consistency estimates for these subscales were satisfactory. Finally, using another sample of 228 wives, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis to confirm cross validity of the 19-item, four-factor model. The result indicated that this model fitted the data reasonably well. All standardized factor loadings were significant in this model. The results of this study supported reliability and validity of this scale.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2003

Viable interspecific hybrids between yellowtail flounder (Pleuronectes ferrugineus, Store.) and winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus, Walbaum) were produced by artificial insemination of yellowtail flounder eggs with winter flounder sperm. However, mean fertilization rate, hatching success and early survival up to 3 weeks post hatch were significantly lower than those of parental pure cross controls (P<0.01). Overall, cytogenetic traits (karyological analysis and estimation of cellular DNA contents using flow cytometry) of hybrid flounder were intermediate between the two parental species. Microsatellite assay was used to distinguish the parental genomes in the hybrids; in most cases, one allele was specific to each of the parents. Morphometrics assessed by body proportions indicated that hybrids generally displayed a morphology intermediate between the maternal and paternal species. Interspecific hybrids exhibited abnormal and retarded gonad development in both sexes based on histological analysis of gonads from adult fish. The sterility of the hybrids presents a significant advantage for their use in aquaculture, as potential escapees would not be capable of reproducing in the wild and contaminating natural stocks.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2015

The ethnic dress of Germany's Black Forest, called Tracht, dates back to the 16th century. Although most people living within the Black Forest do not presently wear Trachten, some persistence in this tradition exists. This study explored the factors that have supported the persistence of the Trachten tradition, specifically related to the wearing and crafting of Trachten by women, in a contemporary society. A qualitative, ethnographic approach was adopted. Data were collected via observations and interviews in the Black Forest. Thematic analyses revealed that the maintenance of the Trachten tradition was linked to varied factors that revolved around the overarching themes of both persistence and change. Interpretations were supported by theory proposing that ethnic dress is not static, but rather, changes across space and time in ways that enable its persistence. The persistence of the Trachten tradition was linked to formalized practice, meaningful identities, and desires to preserve and promote local culture. Additionally, the persistence of the Trachten tradition was fostered by change in the tradition, including the conceptualization of Trachten as a "lived practice" and the negotiation of Trachten authenticity.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2013

Magnetic nanoparticle based bioseparation in microfluidics is a multiphysics phenomenon that involves interplay of various parameters. The ability to understand the dynamics of these parameters is a prerequisite for designing and developing more efficient magnetic cell/bio-particle separation systems. Therefore, in this work proof-of-concept experiments are combined with advanced numerical simulation to design and optimize the capturing process of magnetic nanoparticles responsible for efficient microfluidic bioseparation. A low cost generic microfluidic platform was developed using a novel micromolding method that can be done without a clean room techniques and at much lower cost and time. Parametric analysis using both experiments and theoretical predictions were performed. It was found that flow rate and magnetic field strength greatly influence the transport of magnetic nanoparticles in the microchannel and control the capturing efficiency. The results from mathematical model agree very well with experiments. The model further demonstrated that a 12% increase in capturing efficiency can be achieved by introducing of iron-grooved bar in the microfluidic setup that resulted in increase in magnetic field gradient. The numerical simulations were helpful in testing and optimizing key design parameters. Overall, this work demonstrated that a simple low cost experimental proof-of-concept setup can be synchronized with advanced numerical simulation not only to enhance the functional performance of magneto-fluidic capturing systems but also to efficiently design and develop microfluidic bioseparation systems for biomedical applications.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.335-342
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• 2018

Micelle-Enhanced Ultrafiltration (MEUF) is a membrane separation processes that improving ultrafiltration process with the formation of micelles of the surface active agents. Surface active agents are widely used to improve membrane processes due to the ability to trap organic compounds and metals in the treatment of industrial waste water. In this study, surface active agents are used to improve micelle-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) to reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solid (TDS), turbidity and clogging the membrane in dairy wastewater treatment. Three important operational factors (anionic surface active agent concentration, pressure and pH) and these interactions were investigated by using response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design. Results show that due to the concentration polarization layer and increase the number of Micelles; the anionic surface active agent concentration has a negative effect on the flux and has a positive effect on the elimination of contamination indices. pH, and the pressure have the greatest effect on flux. On the other hand, it could be stated that these percentages of separation are in the percentages range of Nano-filtration (NF). While MEUF process has higher flux than NF process. The results have been achieved at lower pressure while NF process needs high pressure, thus making MEUF is the replacement for the NF process.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.481-487
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• 2018

Membrane clogging or fouling of the membrane caused by organic, inorganic, and biological on the surface is one of the main obstacles to achieve high flux over a long period of the membrane filtration process. So researchers have been many attempts to reduce membrane fouling and found that there is a close relationship between membrane surface hydrophilicity and membrane fouling, such that the same conditions, a greater hydrophilicity were less prone to fouling. Nanotechnology in the past decade is provided numerous opportunities to examine the effects of metal nanoparticles on the both hydrophilic and antibacterial properties of the membrane. In the present study the improvement of hydrophilic and antimicrobial properties of the membrane was evaluated by adding nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and copper oxide. For this purpose, 4% copper oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a ratio of 0, 30, 50, and 70% of copper oxide added to the polymeric membrane and compare to the pure polymeric membrane. Comparison experiments were performed on E. coli PTCC1998 in two ways disc and tube and also to evaluate membrane hydrophilic by measuring the contact angle and diameter of pores and analysis point SEM has been made. The results show that the membrane-containing nanoparticle has antibacterial properties and its impact by increasing the percentage of copper oxide nanoparticles increases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.185-197
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• 2004

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, features of insulin resistance. In vivo treatment of ob/ob mice with hydrolyzed fibroin reverses these pathological attributes (6). To explore the mechanism underlying this effect, we have used the 3T3-Ll adipocytes as a cell type which would represent the periphery, in vivo. Exposure of 3T3-Ll adipocytes to chronic insulin leads to the a 50% loss of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Chronic exposure to fibroin blocked, in part, the response to chronic insulin but also increased the sensitivity of control cells to the acute action of insulin. The later effect was most robust at physiological concentrations of insulin. Fibroin did not prevent the insulin-induced down-regulation of the insulin receptor or the tyrosine kinase activity associated with the receptor. Further, fibroin had no affect on the loss in activity of the insulin-sensitive down-stream kinase, Akt. Interestingly, fibroin accelerated glucose metabolism and glycogen turnover independent of insulin action. In addition, fibroin up-regulated GLUT1 which increased its expression at the cell surface and caused the redistribution of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. Together, these later effects would lead to an improvement in hyperglycemia in vivo which would in turn reduce the need for insulin.