• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.173-183
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• 2011

Gabensis village is one of the biggest village In the Wampar Local Level Government area within the Huon Gulf District of Morobe Province with a population of around 3,000. The major staple food is banana which is well complemented by minor staples yam, cassava, Singapore/Chinese taro and sweet potato. Apart from gardening for own consumption, the villagers engage in selling of vegetables, garden staples, cocoa beans, coconuts, timber, chicken, fish and pig meat to supplement their livelihood. Livestock like pigs and chickens are also kept for meat and for commercial purpose. Bettlenut which was once one of the main cash crops has now been overtaken by cocoa due to a disease that had attacked almost the entire bettlenut tree population in the area. Even though the Wau-Bulolo highway cuts through the village and all have access to transport infrastructure, the majority of the population still encounter problems in communication due to poor telecommunication coverage. On average most people earn not more than K50 per week due to constrains in production and marketing among others. Gabensis village has the potential to develop a tourism industry given its natural attraction of Lake Wanam. Beside there is also the natural eel farming and the fish pond at the nearby Potsie village. These natural attractions pose huge tourism potential for the community. As part of government services delivery and development, education and health issues is very much important in the community however there is lack of infrastructural development and poor service delivery especially in the area of health. However, the responsibility is on the community to organize themselves to realize that potential. A well developed agro-ecotourism investments would have positive spillover effects to the community thus contributing towards improving the livelihoods of the many farming families.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.39-50
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• 2009

Objectives : Smilacis glabrae rhizoma (SG) has been traditionally used as a herbal medication of musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis, pain, convulsions, and syphilis in traditional Korean medicine. This study was investigated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of fractionated extracts of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC). Methods : SG extract prepared with methanol, and then fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water. Inhibitory effect of SG onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH, superoxide anions and nitric oxide scavenging activities in vitro. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymethoxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. Intracelluar oxidation was analysed by DCF-DA assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. The levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were confirmed by western blot. And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. Results : Our results indicated that fractionated extracts, especially ethyl acetate (EA) extract, significantly inhibited free radical generation, the TNF-$\alpha$-induced intracellular oxidation. Furthermore, the EA extract protected TNF-$\alpha$-induced adhesion to THP-1, expression of adhesion molecules accompanied by an attenuation of IL-6 and IL-8 formation in HUVEC. Conclusions : These results indicate that EA extract of SG have potential as an agent of atherosclerosis and other chronic inflammatory diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.720-730
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• 2023

Objective: This study investigated the effects of corn silage as a source of microbial inoculant containing antifungal and carboxylesterase-producing bacteria on fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutrient digestibility of fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) with different energy levels. Methods: Corn silage was used as a bacterial source by ensiling for 72 d with an inoculant mixture of Lactobacillus brevis 5M2 and L. buchneri 6M1 at a 1:1 ratio. The corn silage without or with inoculant (CON vs MIX) was mixed with the other ingredients to formulate for low and high energy diets (LOW vs HIGH) for Hanwoo steers. All diets were ensiled into 20 L mini silo (5 kg) for 40 d in quadruplicate. Results: The MIX diets had lower (p<0.05) acid detergent fiber with higher (p<0.05) in vitro digestibilities of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber compared to the CON diets. In terms of fermentation characteristics, the MIX diets had higher (p<0.05) acetate than the CON diets. The MIX diets had extended (p<0.05) lactic acid bacteria growth at 4 to 7 d of aerobic exposure and showed lower (p<0.05) yeast growth at 7 d of aerobic exposure than the CON diets. In terms of rumen fermentation, the MIX diets had higher (p<0.05) total fermentable fraction and total volatile fatty acid, with lower (p<0.05) pH than those of CON diets. The interaction (p = 0.036) between inoculant and diet level was only found in the immediately fermentable fraction, which inoculant was only effective on LOW diets. Conclusion: Application of corn silage with inoculant on FTMR presented an antifungal effect by inhibiting yeast at aerobic exposure and a carboxylesterase effect by improving nutrient digestibility. It also indicated that fermented feedstuffs could be used as microbial source for FTMR. Generally, the interaction between inoculant and diet level had less effect on this FTMR study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.627-637
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• 2023

Background: Damage to the healthy intestinal epithelial layer and regulation of the intestinal immune system, closely interrelated, are considered pivotal parts of the curative treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Plant-based diets and phytochemicals can support the immune microenvironment in the intestinal epithelial barrier for a balanced immune system by improving the intestinal microecological balance and may have therapeutic potential in colitis. However, there have been only a few reports on the therapeutic potential of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PENs) and the underlying mechanism in colitis. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of PENs from Panax ginseng, ginseng-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (GENs), in a mouse model of IBD, with a focus on the intestinal immune microenvironment. Method: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of GENs on acute colitis, we treated GENs in Caco2 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and analyzed the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Furthermore, we further examined bacterial DNA from feces and determined the alteration of gut microbiota composition in DSS-induced colitis mice after administration of GENs through 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Result: GENs with low toxicity showed a long-lasting intestinal retention effect for 48 h, which could lead to effective suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 production through inhibition of NF-κB in DSS-induced colitis. As a result, it showed longer colon length and suppressed thickening of the colon wall in the mice treated with GENs. Due to the amelioration of the progression of DSS-induced colitis with GENs treatment, the prolonged survival rate was observed for 17 days compared to 9 days in the PBS-treated group. In the gut microbiota analysis, the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota was decreased, which means GENs have therapeutic effectiveness against IBD. Ingesting GENs would be expected to slow colitis progression, strengthen the gut microbiota, and maintain gut homeostasis by preventing bacterial dysbiosis. Conclusion: GENs have a therapeutic effect on colitis through modulation of the intestinal microbiota and immune microenvironment. GENs not only ameliorate the inflammation in the damaged intestine by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines but also help balance the microbiota on the intestinal barrier and thereby improve the digestive system.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1970

The experiment was conducted at the salt concentration of 0.5% and 1% end of April, respectively, in low and high-salty and the non-salty areas of silt loam with the Nongkwang, rice variety. The factorial design with confounding blocks of 3 levels each of 10, 15 and 20 kg of N, 8, 12 and 16kg of phosphate and potash, respectively, per 10a was applied. 1. N applications increased by 1.5 and 2 times with the fixed amount of $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ (8kg/10a each) increased the proportion absorbed to the applications of N in both non salty and low-salty areas. It was observed that the absorption of Ca and Si was inhibited by either an increased treatment of N alone or combination with the other nutrients in the salty area. 2. In the non-salty area, an increased applications of standard amount of N, $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ respectively did not increased the yields. Doubling the application of $K_2O$ resulted in a decreased yield. 3. Applications of additional of 1.5 and 2 times the 10 kg of N per 10a increased the rice yields 12% and 21% respectively, in the low-salty area. An increased application of $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ failed to bring about an increased yield. 4. Increasing the application of N gave a significant increased in the yield of rice grain and 1.5 times of N applications were seemed profitable on the high-salty area. Although an increased applications $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ seemed to increase the yields of grain, no significant increase was observed. 5. An increased application of N increased the number of panicles up to 1.5 times the standard amount in the non-salty area, but no further increase resulted by doubling the application. The number of panicles was increased in proportion to the increased application of N in both low and high-salty areas. An increased application of $P_2O_5$ increase the number of panicles per unit area in each experimental plot while that of $K_2O$ had no effect but rather decreased the number. 6. The effect of an increased application of N decreased the weight of panicle in the non-salty area, but when the application was increased to 1.5 times or more an increased weight of panicle resulted in both salty areas. Doubling the application had approximately the same effect as 1.5 times the application. Increasing the applications of $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ had no effect on the panicle weight in the experimental plots. Increasing the applications of N, $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ did not effect the weight of 1,000 grains produced in the non-salty and salty areas. Increasing the application of N decreased the number of grains per panicle in the non-salty area but increased the number of grains per panicle in either salty areas. 7. The ratio of matured grains was highest in the low-salty area and the lowest in the high-salty area. An increased N applications decreased the ratio of matured grains in the non-salty area. No effect was observed in both low and high-salty areas. Increased the $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ application showed no effect on the ratio of matured grains in the experimental plots. 8. Increased applications of N, $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ was observed not to change the percentage of milling recovery in any experimental plots. Broken rice was increased equally by an increased application of N in the non-salty and salty areas but more remarkably so in the former. 9. Increased applications of N increased the straw production equally in the non-salty, low and high-salty areas. However, no increased production was observed from heavier applications of $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$. Additional N applications reduced the rate of rough grain weight v.s. straw weight in the non-salty area but increased the ratios in both low and high-salty areas. Additional $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$ had no effect with the ratio.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary Agariemycetes on egg quality and fecal noxious gas concentration in laying hens. A total of two hundred forty laying hens were randomly allocated to four treatments with five replicates of twelve chicks per pen. The experiment lasted 42 days with a 7-day adjustment period. Dietary treatments were as follows: 1) CON (basal diet), 2) A1 (basal diet + Agariemycetes 0.1%), 3) A3 (basal diet + Agariemycetes 0.3%) and 4) A5 (basal diet + Agariemycetes 0.5%). There was no significant difference in egg production and egg weight between CON and Agariemycetes treatments. During the second week of the experiment, eggshell breaking strength was higher in A3 and A5 treatments than that in CON treatment (P<0.05). Besides, eggshell breaking strength in P5 treatment was higher when compared with that in CON treatment (P<0.05) in the sixth week. During the second week of the experiment, eggshell thickness was higher in Agariemycetes treatments than CON treatment (P<0.05). Also, A5 treatment was higher than other treatments in the fourth week of the experiment (P<0.05). At the end of the second week, yolk color unit in A5 treatment was lower compared with CON treatment (P<0.05). During the fourth week of the experiment, CON treatment was higher than A3 treatment (P<0.05). During the second week of the experiment, Haugh unit in A3 treatment was greater than that in CON treatment (P<0.05). At the end of six weeks, Haugh unit in CON treatment was lower than other treatments (P<0.05). Fecal ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were increased in Agariemycetes treatments when compared with CON treatment (P<0.05). Compared with CON and A5 treatments, fecal mercaptans was higher than in other treatments in first of the experiment (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study indicated that the addition of Agariemycetes in the diet improved the egg quality and decreased the feacal noxious gas concentration in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1620-1632
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• 2017

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) on muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs and the effects of the formula's extract (distilled water, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extraction) on porcine cell proliferation and isoforms of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene expression in myocytes. Methods: In a completely randomized design, ninety pigs were assigned to three diets with five replications per treatment and six pigs per pen. The diets included the basal diet (control group), TCMF1 (basal diet+2.5 g/kg TCMF) and TCMF2 (basal diet+5 g/kg TCMF). The psoas major muscle was obtained from pigs at the end of the experiment. Muscle fiber characteristics in the psoas major muscle were analyzed using myosin ATPase staining. Cell proliferation was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye and cytometry. Isoforms of MyHC gene expression were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The final body weight and carcass weight of finishing pigs were increased by TCMF1 (p<0.05), while the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area was increased by TCMF (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and diameter of psoas major muscle fiber Ι, IIA, and IIB were increased by TCMF2 (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and fiber diameter of psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB were increased by diet supplementation with TCMF1 (p<0.05). Psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF1 diet and the type IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF2 diet were lower compared to pigs fed the control diet (p<0.05). Pigs fed TCMF2 had a higher composition of type Ι fiber and a lower percentage of type IIB fiber in the psoas major muscle (p<0.05). The expression levels of MyHC Ι, MyHC IIa, and MyHC IIx mRNA increased and the amount of MyHC IIb mRNA decreased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF2, whereas MyHC Ι and MyHC IIx mRNA increased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF1 (p<0.05). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ $coactivator-1{\alpha}$ and CaN mRNA expression in the psoas major muscle were up-regulated by TCMF (p<0.05). Porcine skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation was promoted by $4{\mu}g/mL$ and $20{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Both $1{\mu}g/mL$ and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of TCMF water extraction increased MyHC IIa, MyHC IIb, and MyHC IIx mRNA expression in porcine myocytes (p<0.05), while MyHC Ι mRNA expression in porcine myocytes was decreased by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Porcine myocyte MyHC Ι and MyHC IIx mRNA expression were increased, and MyHC IIa and MyHC IIb mRNA expression were down-regulated by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). MyHC Ι and MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were increased, and the MyHC IIb mRNA expression was decreased by $1{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). Four isoforms of MyHC mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were reduced by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes increased and MyHC IIb mRNA expression decreased by $1{\mu}g/mL$ in a TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that TCMF amplified the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area through changing muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs. This effect was confirmed as TCMF extraction promoted porcine cell proliferation and affected isoforms of MyHC gene expression in myocytes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate natural distribution of aquatic plane and to find out natural aquatic plants which highly absorb nutrient N and P. We surveyed vegetation within ${\pm}2m$ from streamside in 12 tributaries of the West Nakdong river watershed during May to October in 2003. Hydrophytes surveyed in tributaries of the West Nakdong river watershed were 27 families, 61 genera, 76 species, 3 varieties. Major dominance species of aquatic plants were Z. latifolia, P. communis, P. thunbergii, P. arundinacea, P. japonica, and P. distichum var. indutum. Aquatic plants having high production ability of biomass were Z. latifolia, P. communis, P. arundinacea, P. japonica, and E. crus-galli var. echinata. In the vertical distribution of hydrophytes within streams, dominant species were P. thunbergii and P. japonica in the upper stream, but dominant species in the downstream were P. communis and Z. latifolia. Species diversity or aquatic, plants was reduced, but their biomass and nutrient (T-N and T-P) content per the natural area unit $(m^2)$ were increased in the downsteaam. Nutrient N and P content of aquatic plants per the natural area unit were high at Joman river, Pyeonggangcheon, Bulam drainage canal, and Hogyecheon. Fifty-seven species of aquatic plants having high biomass were grounped into 4 categories $(I{\sim}IV)$ according to their nutrient content per dry weight unit. I group $(T-N,\;\geqq20gkg^{-1}\;&\;P_2O_5,\;\geqq7gkg^{-1})$ was comprised of 3 submerged plants (H. verticillata, P. crispus, and C. demersum), e emergent plants (O. javanica, P. distichum var. indutum, and R. sceleratus), 1 suspended plant (T. japonica), and 1 riparian plant (A. lobatum). Otherwise, in classification of natural hydrophytes according to their nutrient content per natural area unit, Z. latifolia, P. communis, P. longiseta, P. arundinacea, and P. distichum var. indutum possessing great biomass productivity as emergent plants were included in I group $(T-N,\;\geqq1gm^{-2}\;&\;P_2O_5,\;\geqq0.7gm^{-2})$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.382-390
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• 2021

In this study, solubilized yuzu pulp powder (EYP) was produced using enzyme treated yuzu pulp powder (YP) and used to manufacture yuzu granules (0-20% EYP content). The physicochemical, product stability, and functional properties of Yuzu granules were compared among five enzyme treatments. Among the five treatments, CL had the highest YP solubilization yield (48.68%). Microstructural observation of EYP using FE-SEM revealed that its surface became irregular and porous after enzymatic treatment. Compared to YP, EYP had 2 times lower insoluble dietary fibers and 3 times lower hemicellulose and cellulose content. Among the yuzu granules, IV (yuzu granules with 15% EYP) had an excellent water and oil holding capacity and flowability. IV granule had the highest narirutin and hesperidin content of 3.4 mg and 2.2 mg/g DW, respectively and the highest antioxidant (68.4%) and tyrosinase inhibitory activities (82.5%). Therefore, EYP or granule with EYP can be used as a functional component in food industry or pharmaceutical field.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.896-910
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• 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible and potentially fatal virus. So far, most comprehensive analyses encompassing clinical and transcriptional manifestation have concentrated on the lungs. Here, we confirmed evident signs of viral infection in the lungs and spleen of SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice, which replicate the phenotype and infection symptoms in hospitalized humans. Seven days post viral detection in organs, infected mice showed decreased vital signs, leading to death. Bronchopneumonia due to infiltration of leukocytes in the lungs and reduction in the spleen lymphocyte region were observed. Transcriptome profiling implicated the meticulous regulation of distress and recovery from cytokine-mediated immunity by distinct immune cell types in a time-dependent manner. In lungs, the chemokine-driven response to viral invasion was highly elevated at 2 days post infection (dpi). In late infection, diseased lungs, post the innate immune process, showed recovery signs. The spleen established an even more immediate line of defense than the lungs, and the cytokine expression profile dropped at 7 dpi. At 5 dpi, spleen samples diverged into two distinct groups with different transcriptome profile and pathophysiology. Inhibition of consecutive host cell viral entry and massive immunoglobulin production and proteolysis inhibition seemed that one group endeavored to survive, while the other group struggled with developmental regeneration against consistent viral intrusion through the replication cycle. Our results may contribute to improved understanding of the longitudinal response to viral infection and development of potential therapeutics for hospitalized patients affected by SARS-CoV-2.