• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.137-141
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• 2002

Taurine, amino acid, chemically known as 2-amino ethane sulphonic acid was discovered more than two hundred years ago from ox bile. it is widely distributed in both mammals and nonmammals. It is found in considerably high amount in hUl11an: a normal adult of 70 kgs contains about 70 grams of taurine. Taurine with this much concentration, is involved in almost all life processes. Its deficiency causes several abnormalities in major organs like brain, eye and heart. Taurine-bone interaction is latest addition to its long list of actions. In bone cells, taurine is also found in high concentration. Taurine is found to help in enhancing the bone tissue formation which is evidenced by increased matrix formation and collagen synthesis. Besides stimulating the bone tissue formation, it also inhibits the bone loss through inhibiting the bone resorption and osteoclast formation. Thus, taurine acts as a double agent. In addition to these two major actions of taurine in bone, it also has beneficial effect in wound healing mld bone repair. Taurine possess radioprotective properties, too. As it is a naturally available molecule, it can be used as a preventive agent. Taurine has a potential to replace bisphosphonates which are currently in use for the inhibition of bone loss but this needs in depth study. As taurine is involved in bone formation and inhibition of bone loss, a detailed study can make it a single marker of bone metabolism. All these taurine-bone interaction is a symbol of their deep involvement but still require further extension to make taurine as a choice for tile sound bone health.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.205-217
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to identify land resources because food production and supply in North Korea have been at risk due to variations in its seasonal climate. More than three-fifths of the soils are locally derived from the weathering of granitic rocks or various kinds of schists developed from crystalline rocks. Well-developed reddish brown soils derived from limestone are found in the North Hwanghae province and in the southern part of the South Pyeongan province. Additionally, a narrow strip of similarly fertile land runs through the eastern seaboard of the Hamgyong and Kangwon Provinces. The loss of clay particles and organic matter are major causes of degradation in the soil physical and chemical properties in North Korea. 75% of the areas converted from forests became croplands, and 69% of the land converted to croplands came from forests. The net forest loss was quite small from the 1990s to the 2000s. However, deforestation in areas with a slightly lower elevation and gentler slope between 1997 and 2014 led to severe soil erosion resulting in a drastic change in the physical and chemical properties of the soil which influenced cropland stability and productivity. Therefore, the drastic changes in land cover as well as in the physical and chemical properties of the soil caused by various geographical features have seriously influenced the productivity of crops in North Korea.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.114-120
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• 2015

The aim of this research was to compare the bioactive compound content and quality traits of breast meat from male and female Korean native ducks (KND) and commercial ducks (CD, Cherry Valley). Meat from three 6-wk old birds of each sex from KND and CD were evaluated for carcass and breast weights, pH, color, cooking loss, shear force, and bioactive compound (creatine, carnosine, anserine, betaine, and L-carnitine) content. KND showed significantly higher carcass weights than CD whereas no such difference (p>0.05) was found between male and female ducks. The breed and sex had no significant effects on the breast weight, pH value, and shear force. However, KND had significantly lower cooking loss values than did CD. Creatine, anserine, and L-carnitine contents were significantly higher in KND than in CD and were predominant in female ducks compared to males. The results of this study provide rare information regarding the amounts and the determinants of several bioactive compounds in duck meat, which can be useful for selection and breeding programs, and for popularizing indigenous duck meat.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.58-67
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• 2012

Objective: Previously, we identified that transketolase (Tkt), an important enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, is highly expressed at 2 hours of spontaneous maturation in oocytes. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the function of Tkt in meiotic cell cycle regulation, especially at the point of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Methods: We evaluated the loss-of-function of Tkt by microinjecting Tkt double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) into germinal vesicle-stage oocytes, and the oocytes were cultured in vitro to evaluate phenotypic changes during oocyte maturation. In addition to maturation rates, meiotic spindle and chromosome rearrangements, and changes in expression of other enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway were determined after Tkt RNA interference (RNAi). Results: Despite the complete and specific knockdown of Tkt expression, GVBD occurred and meiosis was arrested at the metaphase I (MI) stage. The arrested oocytes exhibited spindle loss, chromosomal aggregation, and declined maturation promoting factor and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities. The modified expression of two enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway, Prps1 and Rbks, after Tkt RNAi and decreased maturation rates were amended when ribose-5-phosphate was supplemented in the culture medium, suggesting that the Tkt and pentose phosphate pathway are important for the maturation process. Conclusion: We concluded that Tkt and its associated pentose phosphate pathway play an important role in the MI-MII transition of the oocytes' meiotic cell cycle, but not in the process of GVBD.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.372-382
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• 2014

In this study, the chloroplast (cp) genome sequences from three early diverged leptosporangiate ferns were completed and analyzed in order to understand the evolution of the genome of the fern lineages. The complete cp genome sequence of Osmunda cinnamomea (Osmundales) was 142,812 base pairs (bp). The cp genome structure was similar to that of eusporangiate ferns. The gene/intron losses that frequently occurred in the cp genome of leptosporangiate ferns were not found in the cp genome of O. cinnamomea. In addition, putative RNA editing sites in the cp genome were rare in O. cinnamomea, even though the sites were frequently predicted to be present in leptosporangiate ferns. The complete cp genome sequence of Diplopterygium glaucum (Gleicheniales) was 151,007 bp and has a 9.7 kb inversion between the trnL-CAA and trnV-GCA genes when compared to O. cinnamomea. Several repeated sequences were detected around the inversion break points. The complete cp genome sequence of Lygodium japonicum (Schizaeales) was 157,142 bp and a deletion of the rpoC1 intron was detected. This intron loss was shared by all of the studied species of the genus Lygodium. The GC contents and the effective numbers of codons (ENCs) in ferns varied significantly when compared to seed plants. The ENC values of the early diverged leptosporangiate ferns showed intermediate levels between eusporangiate and core leptosporangiate ferns. However, our phylogenetic tree based on all of the cp gene sequences clearly indicated that the cp genome similarity between O. cinnamomea (Osmundales) and eusporangiate ferns are symplesiomorphies, rather than synapomorphies. Therefore, our data is in agreement with the view that Osmundales is a distinct early diverged lineage in the leptosporangiate ferns.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.54-64
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• 2019

Wet and dry aging methods were applied to improve the quality of three different beef cuts (butt, rump, and sirloin) from Hanwoo cows (quality grade 2, approximately 50-mon-old). After 28 d of wet aging (vacuum packaged; temperature, $2{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) and dry aging (air velocity, 2-7 m/s; temperature, $1{\pm}1^{\circ}C$; humidity, $85{\pm}10%$), proximate composition, cooking loss, water holding capacity, shear force, color, nucleotides content, and sensory properties were compared with a non-aged control (2 d postmortem). Both wet and dry aging significantly increased the water holding capacity of the butt cuts. Dry aging in all beef cuts induced lower cooking loss than that in wet-aged cuts. Shear force of all beef cuts was decreased after both wet and dry aging and CIE $L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$ color values in butt and sirloin cuts were higher in both wet and dry aging (p<0.05) groups than those in the non-aged control. Regardless of the aging method used, inosine-5'-monophosphate content among beef cuts was the same. The sensory panel scored significantly higher values in tenderness, flavor, and overall acceptability for dry-aged beef regardless of the beef cuts tested compared to non- and wet-aged cuts. In addition, dry-aged beef resulted in similar overall acceptability among the different beef cuts, whereas that in wet-aged meat was significantly different by different beef cuts. In conclusion, both wet and dry aging improved the quality of different beef cuts; however, dry aging was more suitable for improving the quality of less preferred beef cuts.

• 한국방재안전학회논문집
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.59-74
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• 2020

본 연구는 참여적 연구방법인 포토보이스 방법을 적용하여 대학생들의 인터넷 중독에 대한 주관적 인식에 대해 심층적으로 탐색해 보고자 하였다. 연구대상은 G대학의 대학생 9명이며, 일반적인 포토보이스 연구절차에 따라 오리엔테이션, 연구 참여자들의 사진촬영을 통한 자료수집, 사진 선정, 맥락화, 범주화 과정으로 자료를 분석하였다. 연구결과 인터넷 중독의 의미, 인터넷 중독이 삶에 미치는 영향, 인터넷 중독에서 벗어나는 방안이라는 주제에 따라 15개의 하위범주가 도출 되었다. 인터넷 중독의 의미에 대한 인식은 '자기조절 능력상실', '출구 없는 습관', '세상과의 단절', '나를 잃어버림', '자발적 감옥'이라는 5가지 범주로 나타났다. 인터넷 중독이 삶에 미치는 영향은 5가지 범주로 '건강 악화, '사회적 고립, '망가진 일상', '익명으로 인한 폭력성', '나의 발견과 삶의 확장'이었다. 인터넷 중독에서 벗어나는 방법에 대해서는 '자기바라보기', '새로운 취미생활', '주변의 도움', '현실속의 만남', '강제적 차단'이 도출되었다. 대학생의 시선으로 바라본 인터넷 중독에 대한 논의와 올바른 인터넷 사용을 조력할 수 있는 상담 프로그램 구성에 대한 시사점을 제언하였다.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.161-168
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Biochar has ability to reduce N loss, increase crop yield, and sequestrate carbon in the soil However, there is still limited study concerning the interactive effects of various biochars on NH₃ loss and plant growth. This study, therefore, was conducted to investigate the NH₄⁺ adsorption characteristics of biochar derived from rice and maize residues. METHODS AND RESULTS: By-products were pyrolyzed under oxygen-limited conditions at 300-700℃ for 1 hour and used for experiment of NH₄⁺ adsorption in aqueous solution. The adsorption characteristics of biochar were studied using Langmuir isotherm. Biochar yield and hydrogen content decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperatures, whereas pH, EC, and total carbon content increased. The biochar pyrolyzed at lower temperatures was more efficient at NH₄⁺ adsorption than those produced at higher temperatures. In addition, the R_L values, indicating equilibrium coefficient were between 0 and 1, confirming that the result was suitable for Langmuir isotherm. CONCLUSION: The maize stalk biochar pyrolyzed at 300℃ was the most efficient to adsorb NH₄⁺ from the aqueous solution. Furthermore, the adsorption results of this experiment were lower than those of other prior studies, which were ascribed to different experimental conditions such as ingredients, and pyrolysis conditions.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.245-253
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• 2012

Collagen tripeptide (CTP) is a functional food material with several biological effects such as improving dry skin and wound and bone fracture healing. This study focused on the anti-photoaging effects of CTP on a hairless mouse model. To evaluate the effects of CTP on UVB-induced skin wrinkle formation in vivo, the hairless mice were exposed to UVB radiation with oral administration of CTP for 14 weeks. Compared with the untreated UVB control group, mice treated with CTP showed significantly reduced wrinkle formation, skin thickening, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Skin hydration and hydroxyproline were increased in the CTP-treated group. Moreover, oral administration of CTP prevented UVB-induced MMP-3 and -13 activities as well as MMP-2 and -9 expressions. Oral administration of CTP increased skin elasticity and decreased abnormal elastic fiber formation. Erythema was also decreased in the CTP-treated group. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that CTP has potential as an anti-photoaging agent.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제62권5호
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• pp.753-760
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of increasing carcass weight (CW) on meat quality traits including meat color, water-holding capacity (WHC), tenderness, backfat thickness and intramuscular fat (IMF) content of pork loin. A total of 96 pork carcasses (48 LYD [Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc] barrows and gilts) were selected at a commercial slaughterhouse. Each gender had commercial CW (≤ 90 kg), heavy CW (91-100 kg) and very heavy CW (> 100 kg) (16 carcasses from each CW group). Loin cuts (Longissimus lumborum) were excised to investigate meat color (CIE L*a*b*), drip loss, cooking loss, released water, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and IMF content. Backfat thickness and IMF content of pork loin samples were significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing CW, although there was no significant difference in ultimate pH (pHu). CIE a* increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing CW, while there were no significant differences in CIE L* or CIE b* among CW groups. Although all WHC measures showed no significant differences among CW groups, WBSF increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increasing CW. Sensory flavor score was significantly increased while panel score for tenderness was decreased significantly (p < 0.001) with increasing CW. Consequently, CW had a positive correlation with flavor but negative correlation with tenderness. These results indicate that the increased IMF content improves flavor, juiciness and palatability, although tenderness deteriorates with increasing CW.