• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.25-31
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• 2023

Horizontal drainage, which are representative dewatering method of domestic and foreign slope, are applied to reducing pore water pressure. Accordingly, several previous studies have been conducted, but horizontal drainage are standardized which is an unclean standard for a quantity calculation in filed. Therefore, this study presents field soil and laboratory model box to identify a drainage performance and influencing factors of various horizontal drainage. Furthermore, this study verifies the performance comparison of drainage shape or size according to different particle size distributions. In the outflow results for steady state, the study found that all samples are drained at a constant rate after a minimum of 3 minutes to maximum of 15 minutes. In the case of comparing the outflow per hour (Unit flux) in coarse grained soils, it found that drainage shape and size affect drainage performance. In the result, the future expected to be used basic data that experiment of drainage performance on fine grained soils and determine the quantity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.827-843
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mitochondrial DNA leakage leads to inflammatory responses via endosome activation. This study aims to evaluate whether the perennial grass water extract (Pogonatherum panicum) ameliorate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage. MATERIALS/METHODS: The major bioactive constituents of P. paniceum (PPW) were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography, after which their antioxidant activities were assessed. In addition, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, resulting in mitochondrial damage. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to examine the gene expression and cytokines. RESULTS: Our results showed that PPW extract-treated activated cells significantly decrease reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide levels by reducing the p2^phox and iNOS expression and lowering cytokine-encoding genes, including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, PG-E2 and IFN-γ relative to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Furthermore, we observed that LPS enhanced the mtDNA leaked into the cytoplasm, increasing the transcription of Tlr9 and signaling both MyD88/Irf7-dependent interferon and MyD88/NF-κb p65-dependent inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression but which was alleviated in the presence of PPW extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that PPW extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by facilitating mtDNA leakage and lowering the Tlr9 expression and signaling activation.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2023

This investigation delves into the adverse repercussions stemming from the impact of arsenic on steel pipes concealed within soil designated for rice cultivation. Simultaneously, the study aims to ascertain effective techniques for detecting arsenic in the soil and to provide strategies for mitigating the corrosion of steel pipes. The realm of nanotechnology presents promising avenues for addressing the intricate intersection of renewable energy, oil, and environmental pollution from a novel perspective. Nanostructured materials, characterized by distinct chemical and physical attributes, unveil novel pathways for pioneering materials that exert a substantial impact across diverse realms of food production, storage, packaging, and quality control. Within the scope of the food industry, the scope of nanotechnology encompasses processes, storage methodologies, packaging paradigms, and safeguards to ensure the safety of consumables. Of particular note, silver nanoparticles, in addition to their commendable antibacterial efficacy, boast anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory prowess, environmental compatibility, minimal irritability and allergenicity, resilience to microbial antagonism, thermal stability, and robustness. Confronting the pressing issue of arsenic contamination within both environmental settings and the food supply is of paramount importance to preserve public health and ecological equilibrium. In response, this study introduces detection kits predicated upon silver nanoparticles, providing an expeditious and economically feasible avenue for identifying arsenic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3 ppm within rice. Subsequent quantification employs Hydride Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (HG-AAS), which features a detection threshold of 0.05 ㎍/l. A salient advantage inherent in the HG-AAS methodology lies in its capacity to segregate analytes from the sample matrix, thereby significantly reducing instances of spectral interference. Importantly, the presence of arsenic in the soil beneath rice cultivation establishes a causative link to steel pipe corrosion, with potential consequences extending to food contamination-an intricate facet embedded within the broader tapestry of renewable energy, oil, and environmental pollution.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.70-81
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• 2024

Objectives: Cognitive impairments, ranging from mild to severe, adversely affect daily functioning, quality of life, and work capacity. Despite significant efforts in the past decade, more than 200 promising drug candidates have failed in clinical trials. Herbal remedies are gaining interest as potential treatments for dementia due to their long history and safety, making them valuable for drug development. This review aimed to examine the mechanisms behind the effect of Polygonum multiflorum on cognitive function. Methods: This study focused primarily on the effects of Polygonum multiflorum and its chemical constituents on cognitive behavioral outcomes including the Morris water maze, the passive avoidance test, and the Y maze, as well as pathogenic targets of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD) like amyloid deposition, amyloid precursor protein, tau hyperphosphorylation, and cognitive decline. Additionally, a thorough evaluation of the mechanisms behind Polygonum multiflorum's impact on cognitive function was conducted. We reviewed the most recent data from preclinical research done on experimental models, particularly looking at Polygonum multiflorum's effects on cognitive decline and AD. Results: According to recent research, Poligonum multiflorum and its bioactive components, stilbene, and emodin, influence cognitive behavioral results and regulate the pathological target of cognitive impairment and AD. Their mechanisms of action include reducing oxidative and mitochondrial damage, regulating neuroinflammation, halting apoptosis, and promoting increased neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Conclusion: This review serves as a comprehensive compilation of current experiments on AD and other cognitive impairment models related to the therapeutic effects of Polygonum multiflorum. We believe that these findings can serve as a basis for future clinical trials and have potential applications in the treatment of human neurological disorders.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.277-290
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• 2023

In order to study the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced ultra-fine fly ash concrete (BFUFARC), the effects of ultra-fine fly ash (UFA) content, basalt fiber content, basalt fiber length and water reducing agent content on the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of the composite material were studied through experimental and theoretical analysis. Also, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to analyze the mesoscopic structure in the fracture surface of composite material specimens at magnifications of 500 and 3500. Besides, the energy release rate (G_c) and surface free energy (γ_s) of crack tip cracking on BFUFARC in different basalt fiber content were studied from the perspective of fracture mechanics. Further, the cracking resistance, reinforcement, and toughening mechanisms of basalt fibers on concrete substrate were revealed by surface free energy of BFUFARC. The experimental results indicated that basalt fiber content is the main influence factor on the splitting tensile strength of BFUFARC. In case that fiber content increased from 0 to 0.3%, the concrete surface free energy at the tip of single-sided crack showed a trend of increased at first and then decreased. The surface free energy reached at maximum, about 3.59 × 10^-5 MN/m. During the process of increasing fiber content from 0 to 0.1%, G_C-2_γS showed a gradually decreasing trend. As a result, an appropriate amount of basalt fiber can play a preventing cracking role by increasing the concrete surface free energy, further effectively improve the concrete splitting tensile performance.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.5-11
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• 2023

This study was conducted to improve energy efficiency and problems such as clumping and fouling in the glue zone that occur in the moisture content range of 40 to 60% when sewage dehydration residue is directly fed into the dryer. The temperature of the hot air is low at 270~300℃, and the paddle-type flotation method and dehydrated residue are applied to the circulated heat storage media to increase the contact area with the hot air, thereby reducing energy recovery and gas emissions. The water content of the dried residue is 2.7. ~7 .5%, the heat of evaporation of moisture was 608.0~690.6 kcal/kg·H₂O, which confirmed an energy saving effect of about 8.8% compared to the heat of evaporation of moisture of 714.5 kcal/kg·H₂O when no heat storage media was used.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.697-711
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• 2023

The global waste crisis has been escalating and its consequent impact on soil, water, air pollution, and eventually climate change acceleration has shed light on the importance of reducing waste. Amidst COVID-19 and the following surge in single-use plastics for food delivery, waste generation is on the incline. Companies and governments have embarked on developing various eco-friendly packaging technologies, but their effectiveness on the consumers is vague as definitions of eco-friendly packaging are vague, and research on its link to purchase intention remains scarce. Thus, the adoption of eco-friendly packaging has been slow. To address this issue, this study analyzes the awareness and purchase intention of four visual attributes of eco-friendly packaging-material, verbal statement, eco-label, and color-along with the environmental consciousness among undergraduate university students in Korea through online surveys and the ordered logit regression model. The study distinguished the attributes into evidence-based and conjectural categories. The findings revealed that eco-friendly visual attributes had a positive effect on purchase intention amongst undergraduate students in Korea; however the level of environmental consciousness had marginal effect on the purchase intention of eco-friendly visual attributes. The level of effectiveness also varied with each visual element. Analyses revealed that visual attributes to eco-friendly material had marginal effect on purchase intention; color was deemed not an "Eco-friendly attribute" by most students, and although eco-friendly labels were deemed as an eco-friendly attribute, trust in the labels varied according to environmental consciousness. These findings have implications for businesses and policymakers aiming to promote eco-friendly consumption within packaged food products.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.684-698
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• 2024

We investigated Cissus quadrangularis L. powder (C) use as a natural additive to Tteokgalbi, a traditional Korean meat-based dish. Five distinct Tteokgalbi samples were treated: one without any additives (negative control, NC), one with 1.00% C (C1), 2.00% C (C2), 4.00% C (C3), and 0.10% ascorbic acid (positive control, PC). C addition resulted in changes in composition, quality, and sensory attributes. Moisture content decreased with higher C levels; crude protein varied among the groups, with C1 having the highest crude protein levels and C3 the lowest. Crude fat decreased with increasing C concentration, whereas the carbohydrate content increased. The water-holding capacity notably decreased in the C3 group, resulting in increased cooking loss with higher C concentrations. C treatment altered color and texture, reducing CIE L^* and increasing CIE a^* before cooking and increasing CIE L^* and CIE a^* after cooking. CIE b^* decreased before cooking but increased thereafter. C-treated Tteokgalbi was less cohesive, chewy, and brittle compared to the NC. The C treatment increased the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and enhanced radical scavenging capacities. It also affects storage characteristics, lowers pH, and increases 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values. The microbial counts were lower in C2 and C3 after 11 days. These findings suggest the potential use of C as a natural meat additive.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.464-478
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic alcohol consumption causes oxidative stress in the body, which may accumulate excessively and cause a decline in memory; problem-solving, learning, and exercise abilities; and permanent damage to brain structure and function. Consequently, chronic alcohol consumption can cause alcohol-related diseases. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, the protective effects of Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz (PE) against alcohol-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment were evaluated using a mouse model. Alcohol (16%, 5 g/kg/day for 6 weeks) and PE (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days) were administered intragastrically to mice. RESULTS: PE showed a protective effect against memory deficits and cognitive dysfunction caused by alcohol consumption, confirmed through behavioral tests such as the T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze tests. Additionally, PE attenuated oxidative stress by reducing lipid oxidation, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species levels in the mice's brains, livers, and kidneys. Improvement of neurotrophic factors and downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins were confirmed in the brains of mice fed low and medium concentrations of PE. Additionally, expression of antioxidant enzyme-related proteins GPx-1 and SOD-1 was enhanced in the liver of PE-treated mice, related to their inhibitory effect on oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: This suggests that PE has both neuroregenerative and antioxidant effects. Collectively, these behavioral and histological results confirmed that PE could improve alcohol-induced cognitive deficits through brain neurotrophic and apoptosis protection and modulation of oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.81-90
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• 2024

With the discovery of energy resources such as water ice on the Moon's surface, the Moon is attracting attention as an outpost for deep space exploration. As the concept of in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for establishing sustainable deep space exploration outposts gains traction, there is an increasing demand for technology to solidify lunar regolith as an in situ resource. In this study, sintered blocks were manufactured using a hybrid microwave sintering furnace. The effects of system configuration and dwell time on the microwave sintering efficiency were assessed. The results indicated that the composition of the SiC susceptor and its distance from the magnetron influenced the manufacturing of homogeneous sintered blocks. Additionally, varying the dwell time at a sintering temperature of 1,080℃ under optimal conditions revealed that exceeding the threshold dwell time caused the sintered blocks to become heterogeneous, thereby reducing the sintering efficiency.