• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2017

Alcoholic steatosis is a fundamental metabolic disorder and may precede the onset of more severe forms of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we isolated enzymatichydrolysate from Semisulcospira libertine by alcalase hydrolysis and investigated the protective effect of Semisulcospira libertine hydrolysate on liver injury induced by alcohol in the mouse model of chronic and binge ethanol feeding (NIAAA). In an in vitro study, the hydrolysate protects HepG2 cells from ethanol toxicity. Liver damage was assessed by histopathological examination, as well as by quantitating activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). After the administration of S. libertina hydrolysate, fat accumulation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver tissues were significantly decreased in the NIAAA mouse model. The elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities, along with the lipid contents of a damaged liver, were recovered in experimental mice administrated with S. libertina hydrolysate, suggesting its role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged liver tissues. Moreover, treatment with S. libertine hydrolysate reduced the expression rate of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6, which accelerate inflammation and induces tissue damage. All data showed that S. libertine hydrolysate has a preventive role against alcohol-induced liver damages by improving the activities of blood enzymes and modulating the expression of inflammation factor, suggesting S. libertine hydrolysate could be a commercially potential material for the restoration of hepatotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.387-395
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• 2018

This study was conducted to identify DNA markers related to resistance to herbicide containing mesotrione in Tongil type rice. Two Tongil type elite lines; Milyang154 and Suweon382, showed resistance to mesotrione, whereas the others were susceptible at 20 days after mesotrione application, and severe growth inhibition was observed in the remaining 13 lines. As a result of analysis of mesotrione resistance using 190 $F_2$ populations derived from a cross of Hanareum2 (susceptible) and Milyang154 (resistant), the mesotrione resistance locus was shown to be a single dominant gene with a 3:1 segregation ratio ($X^2=1.19$, P=0.31). To identify a DNA marker closely linked to the mesotrione resistance gene, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was adopted. The DNA marker RM3501 was identified on chromosome 2 with a recombinant value of 0.53 to the mesotrione resistance gene. Mst1(t) was located between SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers RM3501 and RM324 with a physical map distance of 10.2 Mb-11.4 Mb on chromosome 2. The band pattern of agarose gel electrophoresis of the SSR marker RM3501 showed the same segregation pattern with respect to mesotrione treatment in 20 Tongil type varieties and a $BC_2F_2$ segregation population derived from a cross between Unkwang (resistant) and Hanareum2 (susceptible). Thus, the RM3501 DNA marker could be used in breeding programs for Marker Assisted Selection in mesotrione resistant rice breeding.

• Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.100.1-100.13
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate survival outcomes in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) patients with single vs. multiple positive pelvic lymph nodes. Methods: We performed a retrospective evaluation of all consecutive patients with histologically proven International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC1 EEC who underwent primary surgical treatment between 2004 and 2014 at seven Italian gynecologic oncology referral centers. Patients with pre- or intra-operative evidence of extra-uterine disease (including the presence of bulky nodes) and patients with stage IIIC2 disease were excluded, in order to obtain a homogeneous population. Results: Overall 140 patients met the inclusion criteria. The presence of >1 metastatic pelvic node was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence and mortality, compared to only 1 metastatic node, at both univariate (recurrence: hazard ratio [HR]=2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2-3.99; p=0.01; mortality: HR=2.8; 95% CI=1.24-6.29; p=0.01) and multivariable analysis (recurrence: HR=1.91; 95% CI=1.02-3.56; p=0.04; mortality: HR=2.62; 95% CI=1.13-6.05; p=0.02) and it was the only independent predictor of prognosis in this subset of patients. Disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were significantly longer in patients with only 1 metastatic node compared to those with more than 1 metastatic node (p=0.008 and 0.009, respectively). Conclusion: The presence of multiple metastatic nodes in stage IIIC1 EEC represents an independent predictor of worse survival, compared to only one positive node. Our data suggest that EEC patients may be categorized according to the number of positive nodes.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2021

This study sought to investigate the distribution, antimicrobial resistance rate, and bacterial co-infection frequency of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in a single center in Incheon, South Korea. A total of 8,258 specimens submitted for tuberculosis (TB)/NTM real-time PCR tests during the years 2015 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 296 specimens (3.6%) were NTM positive, and the positivity increased from 2.5% (30/1,209) in 2015 to 3.8% (66/1,740) in 2020. Of 296 NTM specimens, 54.7% (162/296) were identified as the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) followed by the Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) 20.9% (62/296), M. fortuitum 6.4% (19/296) and M. flavescens 3.4% (10/296). Of the NTM-positive specimens, 76.7% (227/296) were tested for drug resistance. The results showed multidrug-resistant NTM in 40.1% (91/227) and extensively drug-resistant NTM in 59.9% (136/227) of these specimens. Of the 145 isolates taken for bacterial culture, bacteria/fungi co-infection with NTM accounted for 43.4% (63/145), in which the most common bacterial species was Klebsiella pneumonia (23.8%, 15/63). This study is the first report on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of NTM in Incheon. As the proportion of NTM infections increases, active treatment and thorough infection control are required for effective management.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2021

This study was conducted to determine the degree of reduction in the yield of sweetpotato subjected to different shading treatments according to the growing season of the typical viscous sweetpotato 'Hogammi' and the powdery sweetpotato 'Jinyulmi'. Shading was provided using commercially available shading nets (55% and 75% shading level), and the treatments were applied at the following stages of storage root growth: SFS: the storage root formation stage (planting-50^th day), SSS: the storage root swelling stage (50-90^th day), and SAS: the storage root actively swelling Stage (90-120^th day). The growth characteristics according to shading treatments during each growth period, the number of tubers obtained at harvest, and sugar contents were investigated. For both assessed cultivars, there was no significant difference between the control group and the 55% shading treated group with respect to the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of photosystem II under different shading treatments, whereas the 75% shading group showed slightly higher values than the control group. In both cultivars, the contents of chlorophyll a and b tended to increase in plants subjected to shading treatments compared with the control plants, particularly that of chlorophyll b. Compared with the control group, the chlorophyll b content of 'Hogammi' subjected to 55% and 75% shading increased by 47% and 41%, respectively, whereas that of 'Jinyulmi' increased by 39% and 34%, respectively. We also detected reductions in the dry weights of the above- and belowground parts of the two varieties in response to shading compared with the control, with the reduction in the dry weight of belowground parts being significant. Furthermore, in both varieties, the T/R rate tended to increase in response to shading treatment. Owing to the lack of sunlight, both cultivars tended to suppress the formation and enlargement of tuber roots. Consequently, post-harvest yield analysis revealed that under shading treatments, both cultivars were characterized by poor tuber root growth according to growing season, with the yield of 'Hogammi' showing a greater reduction compared with that of 'Jinyulmi'. In addition, we found that the higher shading level also significantly reduced yields. Compared with the storage root formation and storage root actively swelling stages, shading treatments during the storage root swelling stage significantly affected yield reduction in both varieties.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.299-308
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• 2021

Fe(II) released from mining activities is precipitated as various Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides when exposed to an oxidizing environment including mine drainage. Ferrihydrite, one of the representative precipitated Fe(III) minerals, is easy to adsorb heavy metals and other pollutants due to the large specific surface area caused by very low crystallinity. Ferrihydrite is transformed to thermodynamically more stable goethite in the natural environment. Hence, information on the transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite and the related mobility of heavy metals in the acid mine drainage is important to predict the behaviors of those elements during ferrihydrite to goethite transition. The behaviors of heavy metals during the transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite were investigated for core samples collected from an AMD treatment system in the Heungjin-Taemaek coal mine by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical analysis, and statistical analysis. XRD results showed that ferrihydrite gradually transformed to goethite from the top to the bottom of the core samples. Chemical analysis showed that the relative concentration of As was significantly high in the core samples compared with that in the drainage, indicating that As was likely to be adsorbed strongly on or coprecipitated with iron oxyhydroxide. Correlation analysis also indicated that As can be easily removed from mine drainage during iron mineral precipitation due to its high affinity to Fe. The concentration ratio of As, Cd, Co, Ni, and Zn to Fe generally decreased with depth in the core samples, suggesting that mineral transformation can increase those concentrations in the drainage. In contrast, the concentration ratio of Cr to Fe increased with depth, which can be explained by the chemical bond of iron oxide and chromate, and surface charge of ferrihydrite and goethite.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether enzyme-hydrolyzed poultry by-product meal (EHPBM) is more effective as a protein source than poultry by-product meal (PBM) and soybean meal (SBM) for broiler chickens. A group of 300 one-day-old broiler chicks was randomly allocated to three treatments with five replicates (20 birds/replicate) for five weeks. The treatments consisted of basal diets containing 1) SBM, 2) PBM, and 3) EHPBM. The EHPBM-fed group (1,853 g±125.60) showed the highest final body weight (P<0.05) when compared to the PBM-fed group (1,723 g±76.81) and SBM-fed group (1,545 g±62.31). The feed conversion ratio of the EHPBM treatment group (1.740±0.104) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the SBM (1.653±0.056) and PBM groups (1.674±0.072). It can be speculated that the increased feed intake in the EHPBM group led to higher body weight gain and FCR. There was no significant effect of treatments on internal organ weight except for the bursa of Fabricius. Blood biochemical characteristic analysis showed that aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels were higher in the EHPBM and PBM groups (P<0.05), probably due to the strained liver caused by the rapid growth of birds. In conclusion, EHPBM may partly replace conventional dietary protein sources such as soybean meal or poultry by-product meal and can be used to improve the productivity of broilers.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.492-506
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• 2019

Heavy metal contaminants in the shooting range are mostly present in a warhead circle or a metal fragment present as a particle, these fine metal particles are weathered for a long period of time is very likely that the surface is present as an oxide or carbon oxide. In particular, lead which is a representative contaminant in the shooting range soil, is present as more fine particles because it increases the softness and is stretched well. Therefore, by physical washing experiment, we conducted a degree analysis, concentration of heavy metals by cubic diameter, composition analysis of metallic substances, and assessment of applicability of gravity, magnetism and floating selection. The experimental results FESEM analysis and the measurement results lead to the micro-balance was confirmed thatthe weight goes outless than the soil ofthe same size in a thinly sliced and side-shaped structure according to the dull characteristics it was confirmed that the high specific gravity applicability. In addition, the remediation efficiency evaluation results using a hydrocyclone applied to this showed a cumulative remediation efficiency of 71%,twice 80%, 3 times 91%. On the other hand, magnetic sifting showed a low efficiency of 17%,floating selection -35mesh (0.5mm)target soil showed a relatively high efficiency to 39% -10mesh (2mm) efficiency was only 16%. The target treatment diameter of soil washing should be 2mm to 0.075mm, which is applied to the actual equipment by adding an additional input classification, which would require management as additional installation costs and processes are constructed. As a result, it is found that the soilremediation of shooting range can be separately according to the size of the warhead. The size is larger than the gravel diameter to most 5.56mm, so it is possible to select a specific gravity using a high gravity. However, the contaminants present in the metal fragments were found to be processed by separating using a hydrocyclone of the soil washing according to the weight is less than the soil of the same particle size in a thinly fragmented structure.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.674-691
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils extracted from the wood of Chamaecyparis obtusa, Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, and Larix kaempferi. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation, and their chemical components were determined by GC/MS. Major chemical components of these essential oils were ${\alpha}$-cadinol (19.25%), ${\tau}$-muurolol (14.20%), and ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.74%) in C. obtusa; ${\alpha}$-pinene (47.16%), longifolene (14.31%), ${\beta}$-phellandrene (11.78%), and ${\beta}$-pinene (11.02%) in P. densiflora; ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.49%) and longifolene (10.79%) in P. koraiensis, and geranyl linalool (23.58%) and ${\alpha}$-pinene (18.57%) in L. kaempferi. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RBL-2H3 mast cells were treated with these essential oils; then, the changes in the mRNA expression level of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 were examined. Further, degranulation was evaluated by measuring ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release. After LPS-induced RBL-2H3 mast cells were exposed to $10^{-7}%$ of all types of essential oils, the gene expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13 within the cells remarkably decreased. The relative mRNA expression level of IL-4 was 69.6% in P. densiflora, 63.2% in P. koraiensis, 55.1% in C. obtusa, and 45.8% in L. kaempferi compared with that in the group treated with LPS. The mRNA expression level of L-13 should a similar trend. The inhibitory rate of IL-13 mRNA expression of P. densiflora, P. koraiensis, C. obtusa, and L. kaempferi was 57.8%, 57.1%, 51.1%, and 34.5%, respectively. ${\beta}$-Hexosaminidase release significantly decreased following the treatment with the four types of essential oils. The rate of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release were 38.1% C. obtusa; 33.0% P. densiflora; 27.4% P. koraiensis; and 9.1% L. kaempferi. Among all types of essential oils, that extracted from P. densiflora wood showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. These results show that the tested essential oils exert an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of degranulation and expression of cytokines.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.278-286
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• 2019

Sesbania, an annual herb, is known for its high forage value and salt tolerance. It has merits as a forage crop that is adaptable to reclaimed land in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, we collected Sesbania genetic resources from the Republic of Korea and other countries, and conducted experiments to evaluate their potential as a forage crop in Korean climate and soil conditions. In the preliminary experiments, 15 genetic resources which were able to set seeds in Korean environment were selected out of a total of 46 collected genetic resources. Among 15 genetic resources, SL13 was the tallest and it was followed by that of SC04, SR01 and SE07. The accessions with the earliest flowering started flowering 101 days after sowing and set seed in early August. Fifteen accessions were evaluated for their salt tolerance at germination stage based on germination rate and growth of germinated seedlings at 0 mM, 150 mM and 300 mM NaCl concentrations. Five genetic resources like SC04, SL13, SS20, SS24 and SR01 were selected to be tolerant to NaCl treatment. Forage value was evaluated based on crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The forage value of leaves was significantly higher than that of stems, and the forage value of the stem was slightly better than that of rice straw. The forage value of leaves of all the genetic resources was higher than grade 1 by the American Forage and Grassland Council grade. Among five selected genetic resources, the relative feed value of SC04 was the highest and it was followed by that of SS20, SL13, SS24 and SR01.