• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.939-944
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• 2016

Background: Cell-free DNA circulating in blood is a candidate biomarker for malignant tumors. Unlike uniformly truncated DNA released from apoptotic non diseased cells, DNA released from necrotic cancer cells varies in size. Objectives: To measure the DNA integrity index in serum and the absolute DNA concentration to assess their clinical utility as potential serum biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to CEA and CA19-9. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with CRC, 10 with benign colonic polyps and 20 healthy sex and age matched volunteers, were investigated by real time PCR of ALU repeats (ALU q-PCR) using two sets of primers (115 and 247 bp) amplifying different lengths of DNA fragments. The DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio of q-PCR results of ALU 247/ALU 115bp. Results: Serum DNA integrity was statistically significantly higher in CRC patients compared to the benign and control groups (p<0.001). ROC curves for differentiating CRC patients from normal controls and benign groups had areas under curves of 0.90 and 0.85 respectively. Conclusions: The DNA integrity index is superior to the absolute DNA concentration as a potential serum biomarker for screening and diagnosis of CRC. It may also serve as an indicator for monitoring the progression of CRC patients. Combining CEA and CA19-9 with either of the genetic markers studied is better than either of them alone.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2012

The silica-silica interaction parameter (${\alpha}_F$) of the silane treated silica filled natural rubber (NR) compound was investigated. The measured ${\alpha}_F$ values using mass fraction method following Wolff's theory were compared with volume fraction method. As silica concentration increased, the ${\alpha}_F$ value increased for both methods. The value of ${\alpha}_F$ expressed as volume fraction was higher than that of mass fraction, which resulted in large gaps between ${\alpha}_F$ values. The effect of accelerator (MBT) concentration on ${\alpha}_F$ values was compared.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng has been studied various biological activities such as immune, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, and anticancer activities but antiviral mechanism needs further studies. In this study, we aimed to examine the antiviral effects of Korea red ginseng extract and ginsenosides on norovirus surrogate, including murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV). We evaluated the pre-, co-, and post-treatment effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG), ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$. To measure the antiviral effect and cytotoxicity of KRG extract, and ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$, we treated Crandell-Reese Feline Kidney for FCV or RAW264.7 cells for MNV with concentrations of 0, 5, 6.7, 10, 20 ug/mL total saponin. There was cytotoxic effect in the highest concentration 20 ug/mL of KRG extract so this concentration was excluded in this study. The FCV titer was significantly reduced to 0.23-0.83 $log_{10}$ 50% tissue culture infectious dose ($TCID_{50}$)/mL in groups pre-treated with red ginseng extract or ginsenosides. The titer of MNV was significantly reduced to 0.37-1.48 $log_{10}$ $TCID_{50}$/mL in groups pre-treated with red ginseng extract or ginsenosides. However, there was no observed antiviral effect in groups co-treated or post-treated with KRG and its constituents. Our data suggest that KRG extract has an antiviral effect against norovirus surrogates. The antiviral mechanisms of KRG and ginsenosides should be addressed in future studies.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.258-263
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• 2001

This experiment was conducted to measure the physiological qualities and the chemical compositions of garlic bulb (Allium sativum L) stored in air and controlled atmosphere at 0$\^{C}$ for 4months. There were no significant differences in physiological qualities such as soluble solid, dry weight and firmness by O$_2$ and CO$_2$ concentrations during 4 months of storage. The surface color of garlic cloves changed toward more dark direction in Hunter color surface with storage. CA storage inhibited the sprout growth by 50% and had no significant difference in root growth. Garlic stored in CA showed lower level of pungency, especially CA of low oxygen concentration (1%) showed the lowest level of pyruvate. Garlic stored in high CO$_2$ concentration(20%) showed the lowest level of fructan concentrations and the highest free sugar concentrations.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.520-527
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• 2016

Phycocyanin (PC) is one of the water-soluble accessory pigments of cyanobacteria species, and its concentration is used to estimate the presence and relative abundance of cyanobacteria. In laboratory experiments, PC content of field data were determined using Sarada's freeze-thaw method in algal bloom season. The effectiveness of three selected extraction methods (repeated freeze-thaw method, homogenization, power control) for PC were determined. The extraction efficiency of phycocyanin was the highest (of the methods compared) when a single freezing-thawing cycle was followed by pre-sonication. Applying this optimized method to surface water of Korean inland waters, the average concentration distribution was estimated at $2.9{\sim}51.9mg/m^3$. It has been shown that the optimized pre-sonication method is suitable to measure cyanobacteria PC content for the characterization of inland waters. The approach and results of this study indicates the potential of effective methods for remote monitoring and management of water quality in turbid inland waters using hyperspectral remote sensing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of varying levels of photobiostimulation treatment dosage on plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin concentration in humans. The subjects of this study were 21 healthy men and women, who were students of the Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Seonam University. This study was performed from October 26, 1998 to November 5, 1998. All subjects were assigned to one of three groups: a 2.0 $J/cm^2$ laser group, a 4.0 $J/cm^2$ laser group, an 6.0 $J/cm^2$ laser group. He-Ne laser (632.8 nm wave length) and infrared laser (820 nm wave length) of three different energy densities (2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 $J/cm^2$) were applied on the Su-Sam-Ri (L I 10) and Hab-Gog (L I 4) of acupuncture points. Blood samples were taken at pre-treatment, 30 min's post-treatment and 60 min's post-treatment. The level of ${\beta}$ endorphin was measured by radio immuno assay. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and repeated measure two-way ANOVA. The results of this study were as follows: 1) The human plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin concentrations were noted to significantly increase due to the energy densities of laser photobiostimulation (p<0.05). 2) The human plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin concentrations were noted to significantly increase during the period after laser photobiostimulation (p<0.05).

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2016

The Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Tongi canal is situated on the north of the city, which connected the Turag river to the west and the Balu river to the east. A total of 26 water samples were collected from the canal to measure irrigation water quality on the basis of their trace metal and major ionic constituents. Trace metals concentrations in water samples were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The amount of Fe, Mn, Zn and Pb in water samples ranged from 0.01-0.80, trace-1.02, trace-0.054 and $0.43-0.64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, respectively. The mean concentration of Ca, Mg, Na, K, $HCO_3{^-}$, $Cl^-$, $BO{_3}^{3-}$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ in water samples were 45.32, 15.33, 151.65, 11.98, 516.06, 94.69, 0.33, 14.02 and $56.21{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, respectively. In respect of $HCO_3{^-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and K contents, most of the water samples were found problematic for irrigation. In context of RSC and hardness, 96 and 92% of water samples were graded as unsuitable and hard class, respectively. The study concluded that Pb content in canal water was comparatively high, so it is desirable to take necessary initiative to minimize the contamination level and to monitor its concentration in water routinely.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.864-873
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• 2013

In developing countries, biogas energy production is seen as a technology that can provide clean energy in poor regions and reduce pollution caused by animal manure. Laboratories in these countries have little access to advanced gas measuring equipment, which may limit research aimed at improving local adapted biogas production. They may also be unable to produce valid estimates of an international standard that can be used for articles published in international peer-reviewed science journals. This study tested and validated methods for measuring total biogas and methane ($CH_4$) production using batch fermentation and for characterizing the biomass. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) ($CH_4$ NL $kg^{-1}$ VS) of pig manure, cow manure and cellulose determined with the Moller and VDI methods was not significantly different in this test (p>0.05). The biodegradability using a ratio of BMP and theoretical BMP (TBMP) was slightly higher using the Hansen method, but differences were not significant. Degradation rate assessed by methane formation rate showed wide variation within the batch method tested. The first-order kinetics constant k for the cumulative methane production curve was highest when two animal manures were fermented using the VDI 4630 method, indicating that this method was able to reach steady conditions in a shorter time, reducing fermentation duration. In precision tests, the repeatability of the relative standard deviation (RSDr) for all batch methods was very low (4.8 to 8.1%), while the reproducibility of the relative standard deviation (RSDR) varied widely, from 7.3 to 19.8%. In determination of biomethane concentration, the values obtained using the liquid replacement method (LRM) were comparable to those obtained using gas chromatography (GC). This indicates that the LRM method could be used to determine biomethane concentration in biogas in laboratories with limited access to GC.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

Objectives: In order to investigate the relationship of Radix Trichosanthis components and the melanin synthesis, the author has analyzed the cell viability and tyrosinase activity, melanin content and morphologic changes in n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O fraction. Methods: At first, in order to determine the concentration of the Radix Trichosanthis component, the author investigated the viability of B16 melanoma cell. To measure the effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii extracts (n-BuOH, n-Hexane, EtOAc, H2O fractions) on the viability of A549 cells, A549 cells were treated with various concentrations (from 0.5 to $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) of components of Trichosanthes kirilowii. After 24hrs, the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The EtOAc components of Trichosanthes kirilowii decreased the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. H2O and n-BuOH components had no cell toxicity till $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$, the n-hexane component showed minor cell toxicity at $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and the EtOAc component cell toxicity was revealed at $5{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ concentration. Results: 1. The results of tyrosinase activity and the Radix Trichosanthis component; n-hexane and EtOAc components controlled it effectively; the n-BuOH components were less effective. 2. The results of melanin content analysis showed that the n-hexane and EtOAc components effectively inhibited, the n-BuOH fraction inhibited less, and H2O component didn't inhibit the terminal melanin formation. 3. In the n-BuOH and H2O component there were no changes, but in the n-hexane component the melanin content was effectively inhibited. 4. In the EtOAc fraction, although the melanin content was inhibited, the cell count was evidently suppressed, Of all of the Radix Trichosanthis components, the n-Hexane and EtOAc fractions inhibited the melanin synthesis best, but owing to its toxicity, the EtOAc components inhibited the cell count. Conclusion: The above results demonstrated that Radix Trichosanthis n-hexane fraction efficiently inhibited the tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.274-278
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• 2002

A culture system for lactating rat mammary acini was evaluated, where the primary indicator of performance was lactose secretion, measured by a sensitive bioluminescence assay. Lactose secretion was reduced by half (p<0.01) over the first 6 h of culture by overnight feed withdrawal (FW) from tissue donors but was sensitive to increased glucose concentration in the culture media (p<0.001) up to 30 mM. Lactose production of cells from fed donors over the first 6 h in culture in 30 mM glucose was 8.9 fmol/cell/h - a rate calculated to be about half that in vivo. No significant difference was shown in lactose secretion by cells from fed or FW rats over 6-24 h. Lactose secretion was 3.6 fmol/cell/h by cells from fed animals in 40 mM glucose concentration media over the 6-24 h culture period. Addition of insulin to the culture media had no effect on rates of lactose secretion while addition of prolactin and hydrocortisone, with or without insulin, significantly (p<0.001) decreased lactose production over both 0-6 h and 6-24 h culture periods. Lactose synthesis in vitro was significantly enhanced by aeration of the media during collagenase digestion of mammary tissue (p<0.05). No improvement in lactose secretion was effected by shaking of cells during culture, Matrigel coating of culture dishes or change in cell density over a range up to 2.5 million cells per ml.