• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.766-772
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• 1999

In order to improve funtionality of kochujang, red ginseng powder(1, 2 and 5% red ginseng on the total weight basis) was added to the raw material of kochujang. Changes in moisture content, microflora and enzyme activities were investigated in control kochujang(Sunchang kochujang) and red ginseng added kochujang during fermentation at 25oC for 120 days. Kochujang samples fremented for 90 and 120 days were subjected to sensory evaluation test. As the fermentation progressed, the moisture content and titratable acidity were gradually increased whereas pH was decreased. However, red ginseng had no effects on those changes. Bacterial count was maintained at the level of 107 CFU/g during fermentation. The level of yeast count was 104 CFU/g at the early stage of fermentation and increaed to 107 CFU/g after 60 days of fermentation and then maintained at 107 CFU/g. Red-ginseng had no effects on bacterial and yeast counts of kochujang. Amylase activity was gradually reduced during fermentation. Amylase activity was increased until 60 days of fermentation and then reduced by 90 days of fermentation. Acidic protease activity was slightly reduced at the initial stage of fermentation and then rapid increased. Acidic protease activity was at the highest level after 120 days of fermentation. Red ginseng did not alter those enzyme activities of kochujang. There were no differences in sensory properties between kochujang samples fermented for 90 and 120 days of fermentation. The addition of red-ginseng did not affect such sensory properties of kochujang as color, odor, hot taste and salty taste, but overall preference appeared to be improved by red ginseng addition.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2000

To enlarge applicable field of electrolyzed acid-water(EAW) on food industry, quality changes of agaricus mushroom(Agaricus blazei Mui1l) washed with cooled EAW were investigated during storage at 5$\^{C}$. Total count and coliform count were decreased to 1/88 level and l0$^1$cfu/g respectively by immersion washing with EAW for 5 min. Agaricus mushroom washed with EAW had showed better quality properties such as weight loss, pH, acidity, browning, organoleptic properties after 3∼4 days of storage at 5$\^{C}$ except firmness of the trunk parts of agaricus mushroom comparing with non-treated one. △E values of agaricus mushroom showed lower increasement than those of non-treated ones after 3∼4 days of storage. Considering organoletpic and quality characteristics of stored agaricus mushroom synthetically, it was showed that EAW could be applicable to shelf life extension of argaricus mushroom.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2020

Objective: The strong antioxidant activity of Commiphora mukul prompted us to conduct the present study to explore whether treatment with C. mukul extract (CME) would have any protective influence on sperm parameters, testosterone levels, and plasma glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, control animals treated with CME, diabetic animals, and diabetic animals treated with CME. CME extract (300 mg/kg) was administered for 60 days by daily gavage. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg STZ. The epididymal sperm count, weight, motility, morphology, viability, and serum testosterone and glucose levels were determined. Results: In the diabetic animals, CME decreased blood glucose levels (p< 0.05), increased the total sperm count (p< 0.05), and decreased the proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology (p< 0.05). Diabetes reduced sperm motility (p< 0.001), and CME supplementation partially reversed this effect of diabetes (p= 0.003). Furthermore, in diabetic animals, CME decreased the proportion of immotile sperm (p< 0.001). In rats, diabetes caused a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in serum testosterone levels (F[3, 28] = 3.283, p= 0.035), but treatment of diabetic animals with CME increased serum testosterone levels. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that C. mukul possesses proandrogenic activity and exerts a beneficial effect on sperm parameters in diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.27-49
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to suggest an appropriate index for evaluating preferences of Web contents by examining the h-index and its variants. It focuses on how successfully each index represents relative user preference towards topical subjects. Based on data obtained from a popular IT blog (engadget.com), subject values of the h-index and its variants were calculated using 53 subject categories, article counts and the 'Likes' counts aggregated in each category. These values were compared through critical analysis of the indices and Spearman rank correlation analysis. A PFNet (Pathfinder Network) of subjects weighted by $h_T$ values was drawn and cluster analysis was conducted. Based on the four criteria suggested for the evaluation of Web contents, we concluded that the $h_T$-index is a relatively appropriate tool for the Web contents preference evaluation. The $h_T$-index was applied to visually represent the relative weight (topic preference by user 'Likes' count) for each subject category of the real online contents after suggesting the relative appropriateness of the $h_T$-index. Applying scientometric indicators to Web information could provide new insights into, and potential methods for, Web contents evaluation. In addition, information on the focus of users' attention would help online informants to plan more effective content strategies. The study tries to expand the application area of the h-type indices to non-academic online environments. The research procedure enables examination of the appropriateness of the index and highlights considerations for applying the indicators to Web contents.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2021

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Bifidobacteria growth promoter BE0623 and a dietary fiber supplement, which included Bifidobacterium lactis BB12, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bifidobacterium lactis. In fermented milk containing BE0623, the viable cell count of Bifidobacteria significantly increased by about 45 to 75 times compared to the control, and the titratable acidity increased, whereas the pH decreased. All fractions obtained by isolating BE0623 had Bifidobacteria growth effect. Acacia dietary fiber is a pale yellow powder. It has a viscosity of 60 to 100 cPs and a pH between 4.1 and 5.0. Its general components are less than 10% moisture, more than 90% dietary fiber, and less than 4% ash. The optimal addition ratio of Bifidobacteria growth promoting material was determined to be 0.05%. The general components of the manufactured fermented milk were carbohydrate 17.85%, protein 3.63%, fat 3.00%, and dietary fiber 2.95%. During storage of the fermented milk for 24 days, its titratable acidity, viscosity, and sugar content all met the criteria. In addition, the viable cell counts of Bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria in the fermented milk were 1.7 × 10⁸ CFU·mL^-1 and 1.5 × 10⁷ CFU·mL^-1, respectively, and Escherichia coli was negative. There was no significant difference between the control group and the treatment group in the sensory evaluation of sweet, sour, weight, and flavor, and the preference for the treatment group was excellent. The acceptability of the fermented milk of the treated group according to the storage period was excellent in terms of color, flavor, and appearance.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of omega-3 fatty acid on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. Rabbits were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group received intravenous infusion of saline only, saline and Escherichia coli endotoxin, omegaven infuison (0.5 mL/kg/hr) and endotoxin, lipoven (0.5 mL/kg/hr) and endotoxin respectively. Infusion of saline was started 0.5 hr before the infusion of saline or endotoxin, and omegaven and lipoven were started 2 hours after endotoxin infusion for 4 hours. The lungs of rabbits were ventilated with 40% oxygen. Mean blood pressure, heart rate, arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), and peripheral blood leukocyte were recorded. The wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio of lung and lung injury score were measured, and analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was done. Endotoxin decreased PaO2, and peripheral blood leukocyte and platelet count. And it increased W/D ratio of lung, lung injury score and leukocyte count, percentage of PMN cells, concentration of IL-8 in BALF. Omegaven attenuated all these changes except for peripheral blood leukocyte counts. Omegaven attenuated endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rabbits mainly by inhibiting neutrophil and IL-8 responses, which may play a central role in endotoxin-related lung injury.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2022

The reinforcement learning algorithm has proven its potential in solving sequential decision-making problems under uncertainties, such as finding paths to route data packets in wireless sensor networks. With reinforcement learning, the computation of the optimum path requires careful definition of the so-called reward function, which is defined as a linear function that aggregates multiple objective functions into a single objective to compute a numerical value (reward) to be maximized. In a typical defined linear reward function, the multiple objectives to be optimized are integrated in the form of a weighted sum with fixed weighting factors for all learning agents. This study proposes a reinforcement learning -based routing protocol for wireless sensor network, where different learning agents prioritize different objective goals by assigning weighting factors to the aggregated objectives of the reward function. We assign appropriate weighting factors to the objectives in the reward function of a sensor node according to its hop-count distance to the sink node. We expect this approach to enhance the effectiveness of multi-objective reinforcement learning for wireless sensor networks with a balanced trade-off among competing parameters. Furthermore, we propose SDN (Software Defined Networks) architecture with multiple controllers for constant network monitoring to allow learning agents to adapt according to the dynamics of the network conditions. Simulation results show that our proposed scheme enhances the performance of wireless sensor network under varied conditions, such as the node density and traffic intensity, with a good trade-off among competing performance metrics.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.43.1-43.8
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• 2023

Background: Meloxicam is used widely for exotic animal analgesia, but its toxicity in common raptor species in Thailand is unclear. Objectives: This study evaluated the single-dose effect of intramuscular meloxicam in common raptor species in Thailand for short-term and long-term periods. Methods: Twenty-two raptors were administered a single 1 mg/kg dose of meloxicam individually via intramuscular injection. The following were evaluated: clinical appearance, body weight, body condition score, body temperature, fecal appearance, complete blood cell count, and biochemistry panel before (day 0) and after the injection (1, 7, and 30 days). The collected samples were categorized into three groups: Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) (n = 10), adult Barn owl (Tyto javanica) (n = 4), and juvenile Barn owl (n = 8). Results: None of the raptors in the study groups showed any abnormalities. The hematological profiles were significantly different in the short-term period (day 1 and day 7). The creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine kinase increased in several groups. On the other hand, the packed cell volume decreased in the Brahminy kite and juvenile Barn owl groups. According to the findings, an intramuscular injection of 1 mg/kg meloxicam affected the blood biochemistry panel of the muscle, but the affected raptors recovered within one week. Conclusions: An intramuscular injection of meloxicam at a single 1 mg/kg dose in Brahminy kites and Barn owls was not associated with the morbidity, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and nephrotoxicity in the short- and long-term periods.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2024

Disseminated tuberculosis (TB), resulting from the hematogenous spread of tubercle bacilli, typically affects immunocompromised individuals, such as those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. However, risk factors in immunocompetent populations are not well understood. Here, we report a rare case of disseminated TB with CD4+ T-cell depletion in a previously healthy 35-year-old man. The patient presented with a 2-month history of intermittent gross hematuria, dysuria, loose stools, and weight loss. His medical history was unremarkable except for a herpes zoster infection 4 years prior to presentation. Laboratory tests revealed microscopic hematuria and pyuria; however, the urine culture was negative. Urine specimens tested positive for TB-polymerase chain reaction. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a focal filling defect in the left kidney, segmental wall thickening of the terminal ileum, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes with central necrosis. Chest computed tomography revealed active pulmonary TB. Colonoscopy confirmed intestinal TB in the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve, with positive TB-polymerase chain reaction results from sputum and ileal ulcer tissue. The patient was diagnosed with disseminated TB and was treated with standard anti-TB drugs. Although the human immunodeficiency virus test results were negative, the patient's CD4+ T-cell count was significantly low (278/μL). Follow-up tests after 1 month showed negative TB cultures; however, the patient's CD4+ T-cell depletion persisted, with counts remaining low after 1 year. This case highlights the rare occurrence of disseminated TB in immunocompetent individuals with CD4+ T-cell depletion and emphasizes the importance of CD4+ T-cell assessment in healthy patients presenting with disseminated TB.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2017

4-Nonylphenol (NP) is a surfactant that is a well-known and widespread estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). Although it has been known that the affinity of NP to ERs is low, it has been suggested that low-dose NP has toxicity. In the present study, the endocrine disrupting effects on reproduction, and the weight of gonads, epididymis, and uterus were evaluated with the chronic lower-dose NP exposing. This study was designed by following the OECD test guideline 443 and subjected to a complete necropsy. In male, NP had an effect on the weight of the testis and epididymis in both $F_0$ and $F_1$. In females, NP decreased the weight of ovary and uterus in $F_0$ but not in pre-pubertal $F_1$ pubs. Fertility of male and female in $F_0$ or $F_1$ was no related with NP administration. The number of caudal-epididymal sperm by body weight (BW) was not different between groups in both $F_0$ and $F_1$. Besides, the difference of the sperm number between generations was not detected. The number of ovulated oocytes was similar between groups in $F_0$, but significantly decreased in NP 50 group of $F_1$. The litter size and sex ratios of offspring in $F_1$ and $F_2$ were not different. The accumulated mating rate and gestation period were not affected by the NP administration. Those results shows that chronic lower-dose NP administration has an effect of endocrine disruptor on the weight of gonads and epididymis of $F_0$ and $F_1$ but not in reproduction. Based on the results, it is suggested that chronic lower-dose NP exposing causes endocrine disruption in the weight of gonad and epididymis but not in the reproductive ability of next generations.