• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.348-356
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• 2018

Most of fires were human-caused fires in Korea, but meteorological factors are also big contributors to fire behavior and its spread. Thus, meteorological factors as well as topographical and forest factors were considered in the fire danger rating systems. This study aims to develop an advanced national integrated daily weather index(DWI) using weather data in the spring and fall to support forest fire prevention strategy in South Korea. DWI represents the meteorological characteristics, such as humidity (relative and effective), temperature and wind speed, and we integrated nine logistic regression models of the past into one national model. One national integrated model of the spring and fall is respectively $[1+{\exp}\{-(2.706+(0.088^*T_{mean})-(0.055^*Rh)-(0.023^*Eh)-(0.014^*W_{mean}))\}^{-1}]^{-1}$, $[1+{\exp}\{-(1.099+(0.117^*T_{mean})-(0.069^*Rh)-(0.182^*W_{mean}))\}^{-1}]^{-1}$ and all weather variables significantly (p<0.01) affected the probability of forest fire occurrence in the overall regions. The accuracy of the model in the spring and fall is respectively 71.7% and 86.9%. One integrated national model showed 10% higher accuracy than nine logistic regression models when it is applied weather data with 66 random sampling in forest fire event days. These findings would be necessary for the policy makers in the Republic of Korea for the prevention of forest fires.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.507-514
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• 2018

Purpose: Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) is a species of brown macroalgae that is common along the coast of Japan and Korea. The present study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of different types of S. horneri extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages. Methods: S. horneri was extracted by three different methods, hot water extraction, 50% ethanol extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Cell viability was then measured by MTT assay, while the production levels of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Griess assay, respectively. The expression and activation levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) were examined by western blot analysis. Results: The three different S. horneri extracts were nontoxic against RAW 264.7 cells up to $50{\mu}g/mL$, among which treatment with hot water extract (HWE) of S. horneri significantly enhanced the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and NO in a dose-dependent manner. Hot water extract of S. horneri also increased the expression level of iNOS, suggesting that up-regulation of iNOS expression by HWE of S. horneri was responsible for the induction of NO production. In addition, treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with HWE of S. horneri increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, the activation and subsequent nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was enhanced upon treatment with HWE of S. horneri, indicating that HWE of S. horneri activates macrophages to secrete TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and NO and induces iNOS expression via activation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPKs signaling pathways. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that HWE of S. horneri possesses potential as a functional food with immunomodulatory activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.580-589
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the food insecurity status and dietary behavior and examine the association between the food insecurity status and consumption of processed beverage for secondary school students in Vientiane, capital city of Lao PDR. Methods: The study subjects are 714 students (boys = 307 and girls = 407) in four secondary schools (Chao_Anouvong, Phiavat, Saysetha, and Chansavang) of Vientiane, Lao PDR. Data on study subject's demographic characteristics, dietary behavior, food insecurity, and Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA) index were collected. A "Self-Administered Food Security Survey Module for Children Aged 12 Years and Older" developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was used for the food insecurity assessment. Results: As a result, 72.7% of the subjects were in a state of food insecurity, and food security was associated with higher socioeconomic status (higher life satisfaction, higher parent's education attainment, higher item ownership, fewer number of siblings, and having more lunches at the school restaurant than at home). Compared to the food insecurity group, the frequency of breakfast, self-rated diet, and the total score of MDA index were higher in the food security group. On the other hand, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that 'food security' was also associated with a higher consumption of processed beverages (OR 1.544; 95% CI 1.078-2.213; p = 0.018). Conclusion: Improving the quality of the diet is essential for adolescents in both the food insecurity and food security groups in Lao PDR. Therefore, it is necessary to provide well organized nutrition education and establish adequate nutrition policy for adolescents in Lao PDR.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2019

A chicken clathrin-associated adaptor protein $3-{\delta}$ subunit 2 (AP3S2) is a subunit of AP3, which is involved in cargo protein trafficking to target membrane with clathrin-coated vesicles. AP3S2 may play a role in virus entry into host cells through clathrin-dependent endocytosis. AP3S2 is also known to participate in metabolic disease developments of progressions, such as liver fibrosis with hepatitis C virus infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chicken AP3S2 (chAP3S2) gene was originally identified as one of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in chicken kidney which was fed with different calcium doses. This study aims to characterize the molecular characteristics, gene expression patterns, and transcriptional regulation of chAP3S2 in response to the stimulation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) to understand the involvement of chAP3S2 in metabolic disease in chicken. As a result, the structure prediction of chAP3S2 gene revealed that the gene is highly conserved among AP3S2 orthologs from other species. Evolutionarily, it was suggested that chAP3S2 is relatively closely related to zebrafish, and fairly far from mammal AP3S2. The transcriptional profile revealed that chAP3S2 gene was highly expressed in chicken lung and spleen tissues, and under the stimulation of poly (I:C), the chAP3S2 expression was down-regulated in DF-1 cells (P<0.05). However, the presence of the transcriptional inhibitors, BAY 11-7085 (Bay) as an inhibitor for nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF{\kappa}B$) or Tanshinone IIA (Tan-II) as an inhibitor for activated protein 1 (AP-1), did not affect the expressional level of chAP3S2, suggesting that these transcription factors might be dispensable for TLR3 mediated repression. These results suggest that chAP3S2 gene may play a significant role against viral infection and be involved in TLR3 signaling pathway. Further study about the transcriptional regulation of chAP3S2 in TLR3 pathways and the mechanism of chAP3S2 upon virus entry shall be needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2018

In this study, we created grassland establishment(paddock No.39), grassland improvement(Paddock No.44), and tall fescue seeding(paddock No.64), and the rate botanical composition, DM yield, nutritive value were examined through 2016 to 2017. The rate of botanical composition was 81% in 2016, 75% in 2017, up to 21% higher than No.39 67%, 60%, No.44 58% and 54%. The annual average DM yield was the highest at 13,234kg/ha in the district, followed by No.39, No.44, followed by 10,636kg/ha and 10,235kg/ha, respectively. The crude protein content was the highest at No.39 12.16%, with No.44 and No.64 showing 10.7%, respectively. NDF content (average for two years) was 55.90% in No.44 and No.39, slightly lower than 58.42% and 57.00%, respectively. The two-year ADF average content was 31.07% for the same trend as the NDF capacity in the No.44, below 31.71% and 32.65%, respectively. To sum up the results, Although there was a high level of incentive sowing plot(No.39) in nutritive value, considering the botanical composition and productivity of the pasture, it is also deemed desirable to have a tall fescue plot(No.64).

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.661-676
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• 2018

Veronica persica (V. persica) is a perennial plant that is broadly distributed in Europe, Asia and so on. V. persica is used for pain about the lower abdomen and low back. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of V. persica ethanol extract in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. To evaluate the anti-oxidant activity, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, and reducing power activity were carried out. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were evaluated as 72.0% and 73.0% at the concentrations of 200 and $500{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of V. persica extracts were measured as 65.22 mg/g and 43.82 mg/g at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. The reducing power activity measurement showed 53.0% activity at 1 mg/mL. The anti-inflammatory effects of the V. persica extract were evaluated in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the evaluation of cell viability by proliferation ＆ cytotoxicity assay kit, the cytotoxicity of the extract was not confirmed at $0{\sim}800{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. And the V. persica significantly inhibited NO production in a concentration dependent manner. The inhibition effects of NO in cell medium of V. persica was over 80% at $800{\mu}g/mL$. The V. persica also suppressed the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and $IkB-{\alpha}$ proteins. These results indicate that the V. persica has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by modulating $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways and can be used as natural functional materials.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.307-323
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• 2018

The Inseong Au-Ag and base metal deposit, located in Chungchengbuk-do, Korea, consists of series of quartz veins filling fissures. The deposit occurs in Hwanggangri meta-sediment formation, a lime pebble-bearing phyllite, in the Okcheon Supergroup. Abundant ore minerals in the deposit are pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. The gangue minerals are quartz, calcite and chlorite. Hydrothermal alteration such as chlorization, silicitication, sericitization and carbonitization can be observed around the quartz veins. 4 vein stages can be distinguished based on its paragenetic sequence, vein structure, alteration features and ore minerals. Microthermometry of the fluid inclusion assemblages occur in the veins are conducted to reconstruct a hydrothermal P-T evolution. Fluid inclusions in clean and barren quartz vein in stage 1 have Th of $270{\sim}342^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 1.7~6.4 (NaCl eqiv.) wt%. Euhedral quartz crystal in stage 2 have Th of $108{\sim}350^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 0.5~7.5 wt%. Barren milky quartz vein in stage 3 have Th of $174{\sim}380^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 0.8~7.5 wt%. Calcite vein in stage 4 have Th of $103{\sim}265^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 0.7~6.4 wt%. Calculated paleodepth about 0.5~1.5 km (hydrostatic pressure) indicate epithermal ore-forming condition. Shallow depth but relatively high-T hydrothermal fluids possibly create a steep geothermal gradient, sufficient for base metal precipitation in the Inseong deposit.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of seeding dates on grassland productivity and botanical composition in oversown pasture located in Cheonan of South Korea. Four treatment groups were established based on the seeding dates: 18th August, 1st September, 15th September and 29th September. Evaluation of seasonal changes in botanical composition of pasture showed that the highest ratios of grass in 18th August and 1st September (pasture species 93% and weeds 7%) and the lowest in 15th September (pasture species 75% and weeds 25%). In the plant length, there is no significantly different in 5% probability level. In the total dry matter yield of grass, 18th August ($13,362kg\;ha^{-1}$) and 1st September ($13,988kg\;ha^{-1}$) were higher than 15th September ($11,883kg\;ha^{-1}$) and 29th September ($11,459kg\;ha^{-1}$). The findings of the this study suggest that seeding by early September the most desirable results for botanical composition and grassland productivity in oversown pasture, Cheonan of South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.260-267
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: In this study, shoots of Aralia elata and Kalopanax pictus which belong to the Araliaceae family were analyzed using UPLC-DAD-ESI(+)-QToF/MS to characterize of individual phenolic acids. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total thirteen phenolic acids were identified, and nine hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives have been identified for the first time in shoots of Aralia elata and Kalopanax pictus. For total phenolic acid content (mg/100g dry weight), shoots of Aralia elata and Kalopanax pictus showed 754.8 and 845.3 mg/100g, respectively. 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid (49%) and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (44%) were found as major phenolic acids in Aralia elata, while 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (91%) was a major component in Kalopanax pictus. CONCLUSION: On comparing the two plants, it was considered that the biosynthesis of 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid can be affected by 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid in Aralia elata.

• Archives of Hand and Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.230-238
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• 2018

Purpose: Metacarpal fractures are common injuries of the hand. They are treated using closed reduction (CR) or open reduction (OR) techniques. The management strategy depends on fracture site characteristic and fixation methods. In this study, we evaluated pre- and postoperative fracture angulation, when metacarpal fractures bad been treated using two different techniques: CR with parallel transverse pinning and OR with plate fixation. Methods: Forty-six patients undergoing anatomic reduction to treat extra-articular metacarpal fractures were recruited. They were included in one of two therapeutic groups: Group 1, CR with parallel transverse pinning (n=21); Group 2, OR with plate fixation (n=25). Fracture angulation values have been measured on pre- and postoperative radiologic images. Values were compared between pre- and postoperative states, and between corresponding measurements of each group. Results: All extra-articular metacarpal fractures were successfully treated without wound related complications or the limit of joint motion. Both groups demonstrated adequate reduction at immediate postoperative period (postoperative angulation of group 1, $20^{\circ}{\pm}7^{\circ}$; group 2, $19^{\circ}{\pm}5^{\circ}$). During the observation at follow-up period, Group 1 exhibited slight recurrence (follow-up angulation of group 1, $24^{\circ}{\pm}10^{\circ}$). Nonetheless, Group 2 showed adequate reduction state in both immediate postoperative and long-term follow-up periods (follow-up angulation of group 2, $18^{\circ}{\pm}6^{\circ}$). Conclusion: Extra-articular metacarpal fractures were successfully restored without functional complications. CR with parallel transverse pinning method exhibited recurrence after pin removal, which necessitates cautious postoperative exercise and monitoring.