• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1420-1430
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• 2018

Objective: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major ingredient of catechin polyphenols and is considered one of the most promising bioactive compounds in green tea because of its strong antioxidant properties. However, the protective role of EGCG in bovine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of EGCG on IVM of bovine oocytes. Methods: Bovine oocytes were treated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$), and the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, cumulus cell expansion, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity, the early apoptosis and the developmental competence of in vitro fertilized embryos were measured. The mRNA abundances of antioxidant genes (nuclear factor erythriod-2 related factor 2 [NRF2], superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase 4 [GPX4]) in matured bovine oocytes were also quantified. Results: Nuclear maturation which is characterized by first polar body extrusion, and cytoplasmic maturation characterized by peripheral and cortical distribution of cortical granules and homogeneous mitochondrial distribution were significantly improved in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated group compared with the control group. Adding $50{\mu}M$ EGCG to the maturation medium significantly increased the cumulus cell expansion index and upregulated the mRNA levels of cumulus cell expansion-related genes (hyaluronan synthase 2, tumor necrosis factor alpha induced protein 6, pentraxin 3, and prostaglandin 2). Both the intracellular ROS level and the early apoptotic rate of matured oocytes were significantly decreased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG group, and the total antioxidant ability was markedly enhanced. Additionally, both the cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes after in vitro fertilization than in the control oocytes. The mRNA abundance of NRF2, SOD1, CAT, and GPX4 were significantly increased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes. Conclusion: In conclusion, $50{\mu}M$ EGCG can improve the bovine oocyte maturation, and the protective role of EGCG may be correlated with its antioxidative property.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.40-52
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• 2001

The ratio of the elderly population is rapidly growing due to socio-economic development and better medical services. As the average life-span of the Korean elderly becomes longer, the proportion of the elderly is increasing. Therefore, the elderly need to sustain a high quality of life. However, all these factors, such as sensory loss, decreased endurance, mobility limitation, and a loss of independence, act to diminish the quality of life among the elderly. It is necessary for elders to adapt themselves to aging, to maintain their physical functions and especially, it is important to keep their independence in activity of daily living and self care. Therefore, this study was designed to identify the degree of activity in daily living and exercise of a self-care agency and to investigate the relationship between activity of daily living and self-care agency. Also, this research aimed to contribute to nursing interventions that maintain and promote quality of life of the elderly and to enable themselves to live independently. The subject of this study were 160 elders, over age 65, who were sampled in C city. Data were collected by observation and questionnaires from May,1999 to December, 1999. The measurement tools were Barthel Index(1979), Lawton & Brody(1969) for activity of daily living and Kearney & Fleischer(1979) for self-care agency. Data were analyzed by SAS PC+ package and included descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha. The conclusions of this study are summarized as follows; 1. The mean of ADL and IADL was 96.09 and 16.38, respectively. The score described activity of daily living among the elders in C province as moderate. Particularly, in the items of IADL, the item of medication was the highest score. 2. The mean for exercise of self-care agency was 76.48, a moderate degree. 3. The degree of ADL and IADL according to demographic characteristics was significantly different statistically in pocket money, the presence of disease, perceived health status and in occupation, pocket money, family type, the presence of disease, and perceived health status, respectively. 4. The dagree of selt-care agency according to demographic characteristics was significantly different statistically in gender, education level, economic status, and pocket money. 5. There was a significant positive correlation between activity in daily living and self-care agency. Based on these results, further research is suggested to discover the variables influencing the activity of daily living and self-care agency to develop nursing strategies for improving self-care and activity of daily living among the elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.530-540
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• 2020

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a method that captures the current experience and behavior of subjects in real time in a natural environment. The data collected by EMA reveals alterations according to the time and context of experience and action. The Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS) is a tool that measures momentary stress, and is capable of measuring stress experienced in real life. This study was undertaken to verify the validity and reliability after translating the short form TICS into a Korean version. Totally, 89 police officers working at the police station in the capital participated in this study. The mobile application developed for this study was installed on their smartphones, and data were collected four times a day for seven consecutive days. Confirmatory factor analysis and content validity index (CVI) was applied to test the validity, and concurrent validity was evaluated by correlating with the occupational stress score. The model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis, and we obtained good reliabilities (I-CVI=0.83-1, RMSEA=0.104, SRMR=0.104, CFI=0.948, TLI=0.919, Cronbach's alpha=0.839). Our findings indicate the reliability, and validate use of the Korean tool for measuring momentary stress.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2016

Purpose: This experiment was conducted to detect water stress in terms of the moisture content of cucumber seedlings under water stress condition using a hyperspectral image acquisition system, linear regression analysis, and partial least square regression (PLSR) to achieve a non-destructive measurement procedure. Methods: Changes in the reflectance spectrum of cucumber seedlings under water stress were measured using hyperspectral imaging techniques. A model for estimating moisture content of cucumber seedlings was constructed through a linear regression analysis that used the moisture content of cucumber seedlings and a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). A model using PLSR that used the moisture content of cucumber seedlings and reflectance spectrum was also created. Results: In the early stages of water stress, cucumber seedlings recovered completely when sub-irrigation was applied. However, the seedlings suffering from initial wilting did not recover when more than 42 h passed without irrigation. The reflectance spectrum of seedlings under water stress decreased gradually, but increased when irrigation was provided, except for the seedlings that had permanently wilted. From the results of the linear regression analysis using the NDVI, the model excluding wilted seedlings with less than 20% (n=97) moisture content showed a precision ($R^2$ and $R^2_{\alpha}$) of 0.573 and 0.568, respectively, and accuracy (RE) of 4.138% and 4.138%, which was higher than that for models including all seedlings (n=100). For PLS regression analysis using the reflectance spectrum, both models were found to have strong precision ($R^2$) with a rating of 0.822, but accuracy (RMSE and RE) was higher in the model excluding wilted seedlings as 5.544% and 13.65% respectively. Conclusions: The estimation model of the moisture content of cucumber seedlings showed better results in the PLSR analysis using reflectance spectrum than the linear regression analysis using NDVI.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.719-729
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• 1996

To investigate changes of estrus signs and genital organs in the bitch by hormonal induction of estrus, fourteen bitches of nulliparous and multiparous(2nd-5th) were grouped into diestrus and anestrus according to their estrus cycle. The hormonal treatments were divided into four groups: group A($PGF_2{\alpha}+PMSG+hCG$) and group B(PMSG+hCG) in diestrus bitches and group C(GnRH+FSH+hCG) and group D(PMSG+hCG) in anestrus bitches. The external signs of proestrus and estrus as well as the vaginal smear findings and natural breeding as estrus detection were investigated in all the experimental groups. Also, genital organs were examined at two months after the hormone treatment. The bitches in anestrus showed 100% of male attraction, vaginal bleeding and vulvar swelling as proestrus signs after the hormonal treatment for estrus induction and they showed higher numerical value of signs than the bitches in diestrus. The group A showed the lowest value in proestrous signs of all the groups. The bitches in anestrus treated with GnRH+FSH showed 100% of positive estrus by vaginal smear findings and 75% of natural breeding as estrus detection index and these values were the highest of all the groups. Pregnancy was recognized in only group C and the conception rate was 7.14% in al the experimental animals. Of the side effects after the hormone treatment, external findings of continous male attraction, continous external swelling and purulent exudate were recognized in all the experimental groups and the bitches in diestrus showed higher value of the findings than the bitches in anestrus. Of the changes of genital organs after the hormone treatment, hypertrophy of uterine horn, sanguineous exudate and purulent exudate as uterine findings were recognized in all the groups and these findings were shown more in the bitches in diestrus than in those in anestrus. These results indicated that group C showed the highest value of all the experimental groups in external signs of estrus and estrus detection and also pregnancy was recognized only in that group, consequently, that the hormonal treatment of group C would be the most effective for estrus induction, and also indicated that bitches in anestrus were more suitable than bitches in diestrus for the induction of estrus. In addition, side effects in external genital organs and uteri after hormone treatment were shown more in the bitches in diestrus than in those in anestrus, indicating that bitches in anestrus would be of choice for estrus induction.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.318-322
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• 2008

Obesity is an increasing worldwide health problem that is strongly related to the imbalance of food intake and energy metabolism. It was well-known that several substances in the hypothalamus regulate food intake and energy metabolism. We planned an integrative study to elucidate the mechanism of the development of obesity. Firstly, to find candidate genes with the marvelous effect, the different expression in the hypothalamus between ob/ob and 48-h fasting mice was investigated by using DNA microarray technology. As a result, we found 3 genes [peroxisome proliferator activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha (Ppargc1a), calmodulin 1 (Calm1), and complexin 2 (Cplx2)] showing the different hypothalamic expression between ob/ob and 48-h fasting mice. Secondly, a genetic approach on PPARGC1A gene was performed, because PPARGC1A acts as a transcriptional coactivator and a metabolic regulator. Two hundred forty three obese female patients with body mass index (BMI)${\geq}$25 and 285 control female subjects with BMI 18 to<23 were recruited according to the Classification of Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Among the coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) of PPARGC1A, 2 missense SNPs (rs8192678, Gly482Ser; rs3736265, Thr612Met) and 1 synonymous SNP (rs3755863, Thr528Thr) were selected, and analyzed by PCR-RFLP and pyrosequencing. For the analysis of genetic data, chi-square ($X^2$) test and EH program were used. The rs8192678 was significantly associated with obese women (P<0.0006; odds ratio, 1.5327; 95% confidence interval, 1.2006-1.9568). Haplotypes also showed significant association with obese women ($X^2$=33.28, P<0.0008). These results suggest that PPARGC1A might be related to the development of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.492-502
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• 2010

The study objects were to analyze long-term and seasonal variations of nutrients (N, P), suspended solids, N:P ratios, algal chlorophyll, and trophic state along with general water quality parameters in four sampling sites including two intake tower sites supplying drinking water in Daechung Reservoir. For the analysis, we used water quality long-term data sampled during 1998~2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Interannual and seasonal trends in inflow and discharge near the intake tower facilities over the ten years were directly influenced by rainfall pattern. The distinct difference between wet year (2003) and dry year (2001) produced marked differences in water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, organic matter contents, nutrients, and these variables influenced algal biomass and trophic state. Values of TP varied depending on the year and locations sampled, but monthly mean TP always peaked during July~August when river inflow and precipitation were maxima. In contrast, TN varied little compared to TP, indicating lower influence by seasonal flow compared to phosphorus. The number of E. coli were highest in Site 2 (Chudong intake tower) and varied largely, whereas at other sites, the numbers were low and low variations. Contents of chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ (CHL), as an estimation of primary productivity, varied largely depending on the year and season. The maximum of CHL occurred at Muneu intake tower (S4) during 2006 when the precipitation and inflow were lowest. In contrast, another CHL peak was observed in Site 2 (Chudong intake tower) in 2006 when one of the largest typoons (Ewinia) occurred and river runoff were maximum. So the CHL maxima were associated with both wet year (high flow, high nutrient supply) and dry year (low flow, nutrient supply by littoral zone). Such conditions influenced trophic states, based on Trophic State Index of nutrients and CHL. Based on all analyses, we can provide some clues for management and protection strategies of two intake tower sites.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.119-133
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• 1998

Attentional processes facilitate cognitive and behavioral performance in several ways. Attention serves to reduce the amount of information to receive. Attention enables humans to direct themselves to appropriate aspects of external environmental events and internal operations. Attention facilitates the selection of salient information and the allocation of cognitive processing appropriate to that information. Attention is not a unitary process that can be localized to a single neuroanatomical region. Before the cortical registration of sensory information, activation of important subcortical structures occurs, which is called as an orienting response. Once sensory information reaches the sensory cortex, a large number of perceptual processes occur, which provide various levels of perceptual resolution of the critical features of the stimuli. After this preattentional processing, information is integrated within higher cortical(heteromodal) systems in inferior parietal and temporal lobes. At this stage, the processing characteristics can be modified, and the biases of the system have a direct impact on attentional selection. Information flow has been traced through sensory analysis to a processing stage that enables the new information to be focused and modified in relation to preexisting biases. The limbic and paralimbic system play significant roles in modulating attentional response. It is labeled with affective salience and is integrated according to ongoing pressures from the motivational drive system of the hypothalamus. The salience of information greatly influences the allocation of attention. The frontal lobe operate response selection system with a reciprocal interaction with both the attention system of the parietal lobe and the limbic system. In this attentional process, the search with the spatial field is organized and a sequence of attentional responses is generated. Affective, motivational and appectitive impulses from limbic system and hypothalamus trigger response intention, preparation, planning, initiation and control of frontal lobe on this process. The reticular system, which produces ascending activation, catalyzes the overall system and increases attentional capacity. Also additional energetic pressures are created by the hypothalamus. As psychophysiological measurement, skin conductance, pupil diameter, muscle tension, heart rate, alpha wave of EEG can be used. Event related potentials also provide physiological evidence of attention during information process. NI component appears to be an electrophysiological index of selective attention. P3 response is developed during the attention related to stimulus discrimination, evaluation and response.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.469-477
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two dentin desensitizers and Er,Cr:YSGG laser for dentinal tubule occlusion. Twenty recently extracted single-rooted human teeth were used to obtain root dentinal fragments. The crowns were cut approximately 1mm below the cementum enamel junction(CEJ). A second cut was used to remove the apex of the root. Subsequently, a longitudinal cut was made in order to obtain 2 fragments from each root sample. The cementum from the cervical portion was removed using a high-speed diamond-coated bur in order to expose the dentin. To open dentinal tubules, forty samples were treated with 50% citric acid for 2 min and then rinsed under distilled water for 1 min. These were divided into four groups of ten samples each. The first group served as a control group. In group 2, the samples were irradiated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser(Waterlase MD, Biolase, USA). In group 3, the samples were treated with Bisblock and ONE-STEP PLUS(Bisco, USA). In group 4, the samples were treated with Gluma comfort bond & Desensitizer(Heraeus Kulzer, Germany). All the samples were examined using Scanning electron microscopy(Hitachi, S-4700, Japan) with two different magnifications(X2000, X5000). These images were assessed by one examiner who was blind to the experimental procedure, using the index of smear layer removal. The distribution of smear layer removal grades was tested using Fisher's exact test. On the order hand, in order to evaluate the occluding effect of two dentin desensitizers and Er,Cr:YSGG laser, the number of exposed dentinal tubules was counted in each group. These were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test with significance predetermined $\alpha$=0.05. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups(Er,Cr:YSGG laser, Bisblock+ONE-STEP PLUS, Gluma comfort bond & Desensitizer) and control group.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a well-known natural product with anticarcinogenic and antioxidant effects. We evaluated the antifatigue effect of KRG in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Eighty patients with NAFLD were prospectively randomized to receive 3 wk of KRG or placebo in addition to counseling on healthy eating and regular exercise. Liver function test, proinflammatory cytokines, adiponectin, antioxidant activity, and fatigue score were measured and compared according to the body mass index between the KRG and placebo groups. Results: The liver function tests were significantly improved after 3 wk of treatment in both groups. The mean levels (at baseline and after treatment) of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ were $108.0pg/mL{\pm}54.8pg/mL$ and $92.7pg/mL{\pm}39.0pg/mL$ (p = 0.018) in the KRG group and $123.1pg/mL{\pm}42.1pg/mL$ and $127.5pg/mL{\pm}62.2pg/mL$ (p = 0.694) in the placebo group, respectively. There was a significant difference in change of adiponectin levels between the KRG ($7,751.2pg/mL{\pm}3,108.1pg/mL$ and $8,197.3pg/mL{\pm}2,714.5pg/mL$) and placebo groups ($7,711.6pg/mL{\pm}3,041.3pg/mL$ and $7,286.1pg/mL{\pm}5,188.7pg/mL$, p = 0.027). In patients with overweight, the fatigue score was significantly decreased in the KRG group ($35.0{\pm}13.2$ and $24.5{\pm}8.9$, p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results show that KRG might be effective in reducing proinflammatory cytokine and fatigue in overweight patients with NAFLD, in addition to improvements in adiponectin levels.