• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2009

This study was carried out to examine the antimicrobial effects of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and processed sulfur solution (PSS) against human skin pathogens: Malassezia furfur, M. restricta, Propionibacterium arnes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. The antimicrobial effects of GSE and PSS were tested by agar diffusion method and micro broth dilution method. As the results, the MIC values of GSE against M. furfur, M. restricta, P. acnes, T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum were 3.91, 3.91, 0.004, 0.024, and $0.012{\mu}l/ml$, respectively. The MIC values of PSS were 0.03, 0.03, 0.156, 0.003, and $0.012{\mu}l/ml$, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of skin care emulsion products containing 0.5% GSE and 0.5% PSS against human skin pathogens were 5.2, 4.3, 8.0, 9.5 and 12.8 mm, respectively. Refractive index, pH, viscosity and color value of skin care emulsions containing GSE and PSS were measured. According to these results, it was concluded that the GSE and PSS were the promising sources of antibacterial agent which could be useful for skin and hair care products as well as for the alternative medicine development in treatment of certain types of skin ailments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.605-612
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• 2012

Spore-forming bacteria are being used as probiotic supplements for human and animal use, due to their low pH stability and ability to survive the gastric barrier. In this study, the BCNU 9028 strain was screened from meju, a Korean fermented soybean food starter. Biochemical and physiological characteristics, as well as 16S rDNA sequence analyses, indicate that this strain belongs to the genus $Bacillus$. $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 showed a 92% survivability at pH 2.5 and could also withstand 0.3% ox bile. Furthermore, it was postulated that $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 could prevent biofilm formation and adherence of food-borne pathogens such as $Listeria$ $monocytogenes$, $S.$ $aureus$ and $E.$ $coli$ on the basis of its autoaggregation and coaggregation capacity with food-borne pathogens. It was shown that BCNU 9028 has good abilities to adhere to the intestinal tract from its hydrophobic character (63.3%). The $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 strain especially elicited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and -negative pathogens. These findings suggested that the $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 strain could be used as a potential probiotic.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.283-288
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• 1984

This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of exothermic heat and compost generated from decomposition of organic wastes composts were piled up with various sources of raw materials of rice straw, rice husk, human and animal wastes. The duration of generated exothermic heat during compositing process was longer in mixture piles of rice straw/rice husk ratio of 1:1 compared to rice straw alone. Temperature in compost piles added with phosphate as fused superphosphate fertilizer was rapidly increased at the earlier stage of composting and gradually decreased in 30 days compared to the check. pH of compost showed 5.5 at initial piling, however, its peak appeared 8.8 in 10 days with rapidly increasing temperature of compost and maintained around 8.3 after one month. Compost of mixture of rice straw and chicken droppings maintained temperature ranges of 30 to $65^{\circ}C$ for 39 days, compost of rice straw, rice husk and chicken droppings for 69 days, piles of rice straw, rice husk and hog manure for 56 days, mixture of rice straw, rice husk and cow manure for 66 days and compost of rice straw, rice husk and human wastes for 21 days.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2004

02PS15 extracts (BuOH, $H_2O$, and crude extracts) significantly inhibited IL-4 and IL-6 secretion from the phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cleas (P<0.05). 02PS15 extracts (BuOH and crude extracts) also significantly inhibited the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (P<0.05). Significant reduced levels (P<0.05) of PMA- and A23187-induced IL-8 were observed in the human mast cell line, HMC-1, with O2PS15 extracts (BuOH and crude extracts). 02PS15 extracts (BuOH and crude extract) downregulated the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in the activated HMC-1. These results suggest that O2PS15 has the inhibitory effect of atopic allergic reaction anil this might be useful for clinical application to treat several allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2013

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of caffeine on lipid accumulation in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Significant decreases in the accumulation of hepatic lipids, such as triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol were observed when HepG2 cells were treated with caffeine as indicated. Caffeine decreased the mRNA level of lipogenesis-associated genes (SREBP1c, SREBP2, FAS, SCD1, HMGR and LDLR). In contrast, mRNA level of CD36, which is responsible for lipid uptake and catabolism, was increased. Next, the effect of caffeine on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway was examined. Phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were evidently increased when the cells were treated with caffeine as indicated for 24 h. These effects were all reversed in the presence of compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. In summary, these data indicate that caffeine effectively depleted TG and cholesterol levels by inhibition of lipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis through modulating AMPK-SREBP signaling pathways.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.414-422
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• 2013

This study identifies the foot shapes of elderly men by classifying foot types according to the shapes of sole of foot and analyzing individual characteristics. The subjects were 269 elderly men over 60 years of age. Their right feet were measured indirectly with a 2D scanner. The anthropometric measuring items consisted of 38 items that were estimated on the right foot of each subject. The 2D scan data were analyzed by various statistical methods such as factor analysis, ANOVA and cluster analysis using the statistical program SPSS 19.0. A total of 8 factors were extracted through a factor analysis and these factors represent 77.83% of total variance. The 8 factors were: ball and lateral foot protrusion, ball gradient, medial foot protrusion, anterior and posterior foot length ratio, lateral ball length, heel size, toes breadth, and foot length, that explained 77.83% of the total variance. A total of 4 clusters (as their sole type) were categorized using 8 factor scores by cluster analysis. Type 1 was classified as H-type(toes width, foot width, heel width uniform and medial malleolus and lateral malleolus almost no protrusion). Type 2 was classified as V-type(foot width and toes width, wide and heel width narrow). Type 3 was classified as A-type(foot width and heel width, wide but toes width narrow, protruded inside). Type 4 was classified as D-type(protruded outside).

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.207-223
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• 2015

In this paper a method for simultaneous swift non-linear analysis and optimal design/posture of mechanical/biomechanical systems is presented. The method is developed to get advantages of iterations in non-linear analysis and/or generations in genetic algorithm (GA) for the purpose of efficient analysis within the optimal design/posture. The method is applicable for both size and geometry optimizations wherein material and geometry non-linearity are present. In addition to established mechanical systems, the method can solve biomechanical models of human musculoskeletal system. Optimization-based procedures are popular methods for resolving the redundancy at joints wherein the number of unknown muscle forces is far more than the number of equilibrium equations. These procedures involve optimization of a cost function(s) which is assumed to be consistent with the central nervous system's strategy when activating muscles to assure equilibrium. However, because of the complexity of biomechanical problems (i.e., due to non-linear biomaterial, large deformation, redundancy of the problem and so on) efficient analysis are required within optimization procedures as suggested in this paper.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-118
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• 2008

Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some ROS, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are normally produced in cells as by-products of biochemical reactions or as signaling molecules. When ROS-generating reactions are activated excessively, pathological quantities of ROS are released to create an imbalance between antioxidants and ROS, called as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which may result in cellular damage, has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative conditions. In humans the first line of antioxidant defence are the antioxidant enzymes, especially SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and to a lesser extent catalase, as well as the tripeptide glutathione(GSH). These enzymes will help destroy ROS(reactive oxygen species) such as hydroxyl radical, $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxides, while GSH protects against oxidized protein. Many herbal medicines possess antioxidant properties. Herbal antioxidants may protect against these diseases by contributing to the total antioxidant defense system of the human body. Here, many herbal medicines including Ginseng, Licorice, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Ginkgo biloba and many others was reviewed in terms of anti-oxidant efficiency related to their components.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to determine the dominance effects of environmental factors such as Illuminance, humidity and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) on the operators' productivity at Malaysian electronic industry. A case study was carried out at an electronic components assembly factory. The environmental factors examined were the Illuminance (lux), humidity and WBGT of the surrounding workstation area. Two sets of representative data including the illuminance, humidity and WBGT level and production rate were collected during the study. The production rate data were collected through observations and survey questionnaires while the illuminance level was measured using photometer model RS 180-7133, the humidity and WBGT level were measured by using Quest Temp apparatus and humidity. Taguchi Method was utilized to find the sequence of dominant factors that contributed to the productivity of operator at that specified production workstation. The study reveals that the dominant factor contributed to the productivity was WBGT, followed by illuminance and humidity.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2016

The current study was carried out to determine the effects of the seed, flesh (seedless fruit), and leaf of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindle.) on antioxidative activity and anti-proliferation in human cancer cells. Total polyphenol contents of loquat seed, flesh, and leaf ethanol extracts were found to be 17.77, 32.32, and 28.08 mg/g, respectively. Also, total flavonoid contents of loquat seed, flesh, and leaf ethanol extracts were found to be 18.77, 28.73, and 21.35 mg/g, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ values of DPPH hydroxyl scavenging of loquat seed, flesh, and leaf ethanol extracts were 0.049, 0.063, and 0.042 mg/mL, respectively. Antioxidative indexes of loquat leaf and seed ethanol extracts was highly and it was similar to the BHA and BHT. The antioxidative activities in loquat seed and leaf ethanol extracts were higher in loquat flesh. The antiproliferation effect of loquat seed and leaf ethanol extracts on liver cancer cell line (H460), stomach cancer cell line (AGS) and lung cancer cell line (A549) showed higher values compared with the flesh ethanol extracts. These results indicate that loquat ethanol extracts may play a positive role in antioxidative properties and cancer prevention.