• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2011

Optimization study of the hot water extraction for enhancing antioxidative activity from Auricularia auricula was performed by Taguchi approach using orthogonal matrix $L_9(3^4)$ method. The correlation between DPPH radical scavenging activity and the components of samples extracted from different extraction conditions were also analyzed. The correlation coefficient between DPPH radical scavenging activity and melanin content of A. auricula were 0.93, indicating 'good correlation'. The optimum extraction conditions was obtained at the extraction time of 1 hr. temperature of $85^{\circ}C$, solid: water ratio of 1: 40(w/v) and frequency of 2 times. Under these conditions, values of maximum DPPH free radical scavenging activity and melanin contents of A. auricula were $67.21{\pm}2.17$ and $52.94{\pm}2.10 mg/g$, respectively. Melanin content of 1.6 times and DPPH free radical scavenging effect of 130% were enhanced by optimization.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.2019-2028
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• 2018

Natural astaxanthin mainly derives from a microalgae producer, Haematococcus pluvialis. The induction of nitrogen starvation and high light intensity is particularly significant for boosting astaxanthin production. However, the different responses to light intensity and nitrogen starvation needed to be analyzed for biomass growth and astaxanthin accumulation. The results showed that the highest level of astaxanthin production was achieved in nitrogen starvation, and was 1.64 times higher than the control group at 11 days. With regard to the optimization of light intensity utilization, it was at $200{\mu}mo/m^2/s$ under nitrogen starvation that the highest astaxanthin productivity per light intensity was achieved. In addition, both high light intensity and a nitrogen source had significant effects on multiple indicators. For example, high light intensity had a greater significant effect than a nitrogen source on biomass dry weight, astaxanthin yield and astaxanthin productivity; in contrast, nitrogen starvation was more beneficial for enhancing astaxanthin content per dry weight biomass. The data indicate that high light intensity synergizes with nitrogen starvation to stimulate the biosynthesis of astaxanthin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1361-1368
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• 2019

Codium fragile is an edible seaweed in Asian countries that has been used as a thrombolytic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulatory agent. Ginseng has also been known to maintain immune homeostasis and to regulate the immune system via enhancing resistance to diseases and microorganisms. In this study, anionic macromolecules extracted from C. fragile (CFAM) were orally administered with red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg body weight) to cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed male BALB/c mice to investigate the immune-enhancing cooperative effect of Codium fragile and red ginseng. Our results showed that supplementing CFAM with red ginseng extract significantly increased spleen index, T- and B-cell proliferation, NK cell activity, and splenic lymphocyte immune-associated gene expression compared to those with red ginseng alone, even though a high concentration of CFAM with red ginseng decreased immune biomarkers. These results suggest that CFAM can be used as a co-stimulant to enhance health and immunity in immunosuppressed conditions.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.247-255
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• 2019

In this paper, we propose the effect of project-based robot education program on the interest toward robots and the computational thinking of elementary school students. Software education is being actively carried out around the world in order to cultivate software talents in accordance with the 4th industrial revolution. As a result, the importance of robots in education has increased, and education using robots has been actively introduced. However, the activities of simply assembling and repeating robots in schools were not effective in enhancing elementary school students' interest toward robots and computational thinking. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome traditional teaching-learning methods and to develop robot education. So, in this study, the robot education program that introduces project-based learning was developed for improvement of interest toward robots and computational thinking of elementary school students. In order to verify the developed education program, 114 elementary six grade students were selected as research subjects and the traditional teaching-learning method and project-based learning were applied to the experimental and control group. As a result, project-based learning was more effective for elementary school students' interest toward robot than traditional teaching-learning method. In computing thinking, the experimental group showed a significant improvement, but there was no statistically significant difference in the post-test.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2359-2364
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• 2021

Background: Patients with stroke have limited ankle range of motion (ROM) due to soft tissue abnormalities around the ankle and thus experience functional impairment. Increased muscle tension and reduced ankle ROM impair gait and hinder the activities of daily living. Joint mobilization and stretching are effective interventions that improve gait performance by enhancing the ankle ROM. Objectives: To investigate the effects of ankle joint mobilization and calf muscle stretching on gait speed and gait performance in patients with stroke. Design: This was a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty patients with stroke patients were randomized into two groups. The joint mobilization group (JMG) underwent anteroposterior mobilization of the talocrural joint and the joint mobilization stretching group (JMSG) underwent calf muscle stretching in addition to joint mobilization. Gait speed and gait parameters were measured using the 10-meter walk test and the GAITRite. Results: Both the JMG and JMSG groups showed significant improvements in gait speed, affected-side step length, and cadence after the intervention (P<.05). Conclusion: Joint mobilization and stretching were effective interventions for improving gait performance by enhancing ankle function in patients with stroke.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.5-13
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• 2021

Purpose: The sporting field is one of the most lucrative industries that most producers would want to share and drive-in sales towards its direction. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate how sports psychology has become a useful discipline in enhancing consumer purchase intentions. Research design, data, and methodology: This study employs a qualitative coding method to analyze and interpret the data obtained with a PRISMA declaration for analytical purposes. Using Web QDA (Qualitative Data Analysis) online tools, the current study coded the data obtained. Results: According to the prior studies, marketers should go the extra mile of looking for what sports customers are looking for. They understand that one way to increase the customers' willingness to purchase their products is by looking into the specific things that the customers look for and enjoy in sports. Conclusions: After all, the present study concludes that most marketers need to apply the concepts of sports psychology to understand consumer purchase intentions in particular retail stores. Consumers are likely to be influenced by their peers or groups to make decisions driven towards purchasing given sports apparel and the retail store to purchase a product.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2022

The effect of basalt and polypropylene fibers on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is investigated in this paper. The compressive and tensile behaviors of the basalt concrete and polypropylene concrete cylinders are also investigated. Eight beams and 28 cylinders were made with different percentages of basalt and polypropylene fibers. The dosages of fiber were selected as 0.6%, 1.3%, and 2.5% of the total cement weight. Each type of fiber was mixed solely with the concrete mix. Basalt and polypropylene fibers are modern and cheap materials that can be used to improve the structural behavior of RC members. This research is designed to find the optimum percentage of basalt and polypropylene fibers for enhancing the flexural behavior of RC beams. Test results showed that the addition of basalt and polypropylene fibers in any dosage (0.6%, 1.3%, and 2.5%) can increase the flexural strength and displacement ductility index of the beams where the maximum enhancement was measured with 1.3% fibers. The maximum increments in the flexural strength and the displacement ductility index were 30.39% and 260% for the basalt fiber case, while the maximum improvement for the polypropylene fibers case was 55.5% and 230% compared to the control specimen. Finite element (FE) models were then developed in ABAQUS to predict the numerical behaviour of the tested beams. The FE models were able to predict the experimental behaviour with reasonable accuracy. This research confirms the efficiency of basalt and polypropylene fibers in enhancing the flexural behavior of RC beams, and it also suggests the optimum dosage of fibers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.374-379
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• 2021

Tetranectin (TN), an adipogenic serum protein, enhances adipocyte differentiation, however, its functional mechanism has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the adipogenic function of TN by using medium containing TN-depleted fetal bovine serum (TN-del-FBS) and recombinant mouse TN (mTN). The adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells was significantly enhanced by mTN supplementation essentially at differentiation induction, which indicated a potential role of the protein in the early differentiation phase. The adipogenic effect of mTN was more significant with insulin in the differentiation induction cocktail, implicating their close functional relationship. mTN enhanced not only the proliferation of growing cells, but also mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) that is a prerequisite for adipocyte differentiation in the early phase. Consistently, mTN increased the phosphorylation of ERK in the early phase of adipocyte differentiation. Results of this study demonstrate that the adipogenic function of mTN is mediated by enhancing MCE via ERK signaling.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.29-52
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• 2023

Objective: This research aims to examine the effect of a young children's engineering-focused STEAM program based on the project approach - a program that constructs components aligned with children's interests in their play through an engineering design process - on their scientific inquiry ability, mathematical problem-solving ability, and creativity. Methods: In this research, 42 five-year-old children from a public kindergarten in S district, I city, were randomly divided into experimental and comparative groups, each with 21 children. The engineering-focused STEAM program was conducted from April 18 to June 10, 2022, with the experimental group exploring the 'car' theme and the comparison group focusing on a different theme. The study employed an independent sample t-test and analysis of covariance(ANCOVA), using the pretest as a covariate to control variables. Results: The children-selected 'cars' themed engineering-focused STEAM program was effective in enhancing their scientific inquiry ability, mathematical problem-solving ability and creativity. Conclusion/Implications: The engineering-focused STEAM program, which emerges from young children's interesting daily play, had positive effects on enhancing their scientific inquiry ability, mathematical problem-solving ability, and creativity. This research can serve as fundamental data for developing education programs focused on engineering within the STEAM framework, guided by children's emergent play.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.165-171
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• 2009

Objectives : In the present study, we assessed the effects of the ethanolic extract of Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine using the passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tasks in mice. Methods : The cognition-enhancing effect of C. pinnatifida was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Results : The ethanolic extract of C. pinnatifida (100, and 200 mg/kg) significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance test (p < 0.05). Moreover, C. pinnatifida (200 mg/kg) also improved escape latencies in training trials and increased swimming times and distances within the target zone of the Morris water maze (p < 0.05). On the Y-maze test, C. pinnatifida (100, and 200 mg/kg) also significantly reversed scopolamine- induced cognitive impairments in mice (p < 0.05). Conclusions : The ethanolic extract of Crataegus pinnatifida dramatically possesses the anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and these activities were parallel to treatment duration and dependent on the learning models.