• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1123-1133
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• 2021

Objective: Shandong indigenous pig breeds are important Chinese pig resources. Their progressive population decline in recent decades has attracted attention towards their conservation. Conservation genetics of these indigenous breeds are essential for developing a conservation and utilization scheme. Methods: A high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (HD-SNP) chip-based comparative analysis of genetic characteristics was performed for seven Shandong indigenous pig breeds in the context of five Western commercial breeds. Results: The results showed that Shandong indigenous pig breeds varied greatly in genetic diversity, effective population size, inbreeding level, and genetic distance with the Western commercial breeds. Specifically, Laiwu and Dapulian displayed low genetic diversity, and had a genetically distant relationship with the Western commercial breeds (average F statistics [F_ST] value of 0.3226 and 0.2666, respectively). Contrastingly, the other five breeds (Yantai, Licha, Yimeng, Wulain, and Heigai) displayed high genetic diversity within breed and had some extent of mixture pattern with the Western commercial breeds, especially Duroc and Landrace (F_ST values from 0.1043 to 0.2536). Furthermore, intensive gene flow was discovered among the seven Shandong indigenous breeds, particularly Wulian, Licha, and Heigai, as indicated by the large cluster formed in the principal component analysis scatterplot and small population differentiation (average of 0.1253) among them. Conclusion: Our study advances the understanding of genetic characteristics of Shandong indigenous breeds and provides essential information for developing an appropriate conservation and utilization scheme for these breeds.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.339-348
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible use of the Boehmeria nivea var. nipononivea extract and fractions for the development of natural cosmetic ingredients. The leaves of B. nivea var. nipononivea, extracted by 70% ethanol, were sequentially fractionated with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and n-butanol. As a result of DPPH and ABTS test, ethyl acetate fractionation was shown to be excellent in radical scavenging activity. For the antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes and antibiotic resistant strains, MIC and birth control rate were observed by paper disc method. In the antibacterial activity by the disc diffusion assay against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and C. acnes, the dichloromethane and ethylacetate fraction showed stronger antibacterial activity than the other fractions and extract. Moreover, the ethylacetate fraction showed strong nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. In conclusion, we found that B. nivea var. nipononivea extract was not cytotoxic and showed antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. These results suggest that the Boehmeria nivea var. nipononivea extract and fractions could be applied as an effective cosmetic material with antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.153-160
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• 2021

Nitrous oxide is a global warming substance and is known as the main cause of the destruction of the ozone layer because its global warming effect is 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide, and it takes 120 years to decompose. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the characteristics of NOx emission from N2O reduction by thermal decomposition of N2O. Bunsen premixed flames were adopted as a heat source to form a high-temperature flow field, and the experimental variables were nozzle exit velocity, co-axial velocity, and N2O dilution rate. NO production rates increased with increasing N2O dilution rates, regardless of nozzle exit velocities and co-axial flow rates. For N2O, large quantities were emitted from a stable premixed flame with suppressed combustion instability (Kelvin Helmholtz instability) because the thermal decomposition time is not sufficient with the relatively short residence time of N2O near the flame surface. Thus, to improve the reduction efficiency of N2O, it is considered effective to increase the residence time of N2O by selecting the nozzle exit velocities, where K-H instability is generated and formed a flow structure of toroidal vortex near the flame surface.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.605-612
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• 2021

Supply electrical conductivity (EC) concentration of the nutrition solution is an important factor in the absorption of nutrients by plants and the management of the root zone, as it can control the vegetative/reproductive growth of a plant. Paprika usually undergoes its reproductive and vegetative growth simultaneously. Therefore, ensuring proper growth of the plant leads to increased yield of paprika. In this study, growth characteristics of paprika were examined according to the EC concentration of a coir and a rockwool substrate. The supply EC was 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mS·cm^-1 applied at the initial stages of the growth using the rockwool (commonly used by paprika farmers) and the coir substrate with a chip and dust ratio of 50:50 and 70:30. For up to 16 weeks of paprika growth, EC concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 mS·cm^-1 were found to have a greater effect on the growth than EC at 4.0 mS·cm^-1. The normality (marketable) rate of fruit, the soluble solid content, and paprika growth showed that the coir was generally better than the rockwool regardless of the supply EC concentration. The values of the yield per plant at an EC concentration of 4.0 mS·cm^-1 was mostly similar at 1.6 kg (coir 50:50), 1.5 kg (coir 70:30) and 1.5 kg (rockwool), but the yield of the rockwool was 88%, which was lower than 98% and 94% yield of the coir substrate. Therefore, this concludes that coir substrate is more effective than rockwool at improving paprika productivity. The results also suggest that the use of coir substrate for paprika has many benefits in terms of reducing production costs and preventing environmental destruction during post-processing.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.237-260
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• 2021

This study aims to make suggestions for more effective budget utilization and R&D project investment through verification of the efficiency of research results for the government's R&D projects. Efficiency was analyzed using Data Envelope Analysis(DEA) and 'Malmquist Index analysis' for the research results of convergence research projects organized by the National Science and Technology Research Association. The analysis targets were convergence research projects organized by the National Science and Technology Research Association and general entrusted research projects by government-funded research institutes, and dynamic analysis was conducted using DEA and Malmquist Index analysis. As a result of the analysis, the convergence research project showed high efficiency from the static perspective of DEA. On the other hand, from a dynamic perspective through the Malmquist Index analysis method, the efficiency of the general consignment project gradually declined, while the efficiency of the convergence research project improved every year. This suggests that convergence studies have higher results than general studies. Through the results of this study, we intend to present objective standards for performance evaluation of government R&D investment and provide objective implications for rational investment policies and research project planning of research personnel and research funds to improve efficiency for government-funded research institutes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.418-425
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• 2022

Background: Sorafenib is effective in treating hepatoma, but most patients develop resistance to it. STAT3 signaling has been implicated in sorafenib resistance. Artesunate (ART) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have anti-hepatoma effects and can inhibit STAT3 signaling in cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Rg3 in combination with ART (Rg3-plus-ART) in overcoming sorafenib resistance, and to examine the involvement of STAT3 signaling in these effects. Methods: Sorafenib-resistant HepG2 cells (HepG2-SR) were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-hepatoma effects of Rg3-plus-ART. A HepG2-SR hepatoma-bearing BALB/c-nu/nu mouse model was used to assess the in vivo anti-hepatoma effects of Rg3-plus-ART. CCK-8 assays and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining were used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Immunoblotting was employed to examine protein levels. ROS generation was examined by measuring DCF-DA fluorescence. Results: Rg3-plus-ART synergistically reduced viability of, and evoked apoptosis in HepG2-SR cells, and suppressed HepG2-SR tumor growth in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rg3-plus-ART inhibited activation/phosphorylation of Src and STAT3 in HepG2-SR cultures and tumors. The combination also decreased the STAT3 nuclear level and induced ROS production in HepG2-SR cultures. Furthermore, overactivation of STAT3 or removal of ROS diminished the anti-proliferative effects of Rg3-plus-ART, and removal of ROS diminished Rg3-plus-ART's inhibitory effects on STAT3 activation in HepG2-SR cells. Conclusions: Rg3-plus-ART overcomes sorafenib resistance in experimental models, and inhibition of Src/STAT3 signaling and modulation of ROS/STAT3 signaling contribute to the underlying mechanisms. This study provides a pharmacological basis for developing Rg3-plus-ART into a novel modality for treating sorafenib-resistant hepatoma.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.137-162
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• 2021

This study aimed to examine the perception and experience of researchers in the field of mechanical engineering on research data creation and management, and suggest implications for research data management and services in the field. Research data management and services of domestic and foreign research institutes were investigated, and in-depth interviews were conducted with researchers belonging to domestic mechanical engineering research institutes to analyze the perception and conduction of research data creation and management according to four major categories: "research data, accountable conducting of research and compliance with research ethics, utility and effectiveness of research data management, and the value of sharing research data." To ensure effective research data management and services in mechanical engineering, it is necessary to conduct a data investigation on the process, type, and form of production to collect explicit metadata and implicit contextual information. It is also necessary to propose a plan to recognize research results using the publication of data journals and to prepare infrastructure such as a cloud-based system that supports safe data management and communication between researchers. In addition, it suggests that it is important for various officials in the research field to allocate roles and responsibilities for research data management and services at the organizational level.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the feeding value, meat nutrients and associative effects of a diet comprised of various corn silages inclusion with peanut vine or wheat straw in finishing beef cattle. Methods: One hundred and eighty Simmental crossbred beef steers were blocked and assigned to the follow treatments: i) whole plant corn silage-based diet (control, WPCS), ii) mixed forages-based diet (replacing a portion of corn silage with wheat straw, WPCSW), iii) corn stalklage-based diet (CS), and iv) sweet corn stalklage-based diet (SCS). Each group consisted of 5 repeated pens with 9 steers/pen. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic with same forage to concentrate ratio. Experimental diets were fed for 90 d. Results: The effective ruminal degradability of dry matter and crude protein were highest for WPCS diet (p<0.05), for neutral detergent fiber was highest in SCS diet (p<0.05). The average daily gain was greater for cattle offered the WPCS diet, intermediate with WPCSW and SCS and lowest with CS (p<0.001). The concentration of non-esterified fatty acid in serum was higher for steers fed with CS and SCS diets than those offered WPCS and WPCSW steers (p<0.001). The treatments did not affect the general nutritional contents and amino acids composition of Longissimus dorsi of steers (p>0.05). Conclusion: The corn silage-based diet exhibited the highest feeding value. The sweet corn stalklage and wheat straw as an alternative to corn silage offered to beef cattle had limited influence on feeding value and meat nutrients. However, the value of a corn stalklage-based diet was relatively poor. To sum up, when the high quality forage resources, such as corn silage, are in short supply, or the growth rate of beef cattle decreases in the later finishing period, the sweet stalklage and wheat straw could be used as a cheaper alternative in feedlot cattle diet without sharp reducing economic benefits.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.33-39
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• 2022

For a slag-cement-bentonite (slag-CB) cut-off wall, GGBS replaces a part of the cement mixed to build a CB cut-off wall, which is used to block the flow and leakage of pollutants or groundwater; prevent seawater infiltration; and repair or reinforcement an aged embankments. Slag-CB cut-off walls are used in various applications in different fields where groundwater control is required due to its excellent characteristics. Such properties include high strength, low permeability, high durability and chemical resistance. However, despite these advantages, slag-CB cut-off walls are not extensively studied in Korea and thus are not applied in many cases. Particularly, GGBS, which replaces cement in a mixture, has different properties depending on its country of production. Consequently, it is necessary to perform various studies on slag-CB cut-off walls that use GGBS produced in Korea in order to increase its usability. This study has evaluated the bleeding rate, setting time, strength, and permeability in relation to the cement replacement rate of GGBS produced in Korea for slag-CB cut-off walls, with the aim to increase its usability. The evaluation found that slag-CB cut-off walls, made of a mixture containing GGBS produced in Korea, have a lower bleeding rate and permeability, and higher strengththan CB cut-off walls. It was also analyzed that such improved performance is more effective with a higher cement replacement rate of GGBS.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of feeding starch sugar byproducts (SSBs) on in situ disappearance rate, performance, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers in the late finishing stage. Methods: To determine the in situ disappearance rate, nylon bags filled with 5 g of SSB were inserted into the ventral sac of two cannulated Holsteins cows and incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. A total of 30 Hanwoo steers were fed the experimental diets, which were basal diet (control) and 7% SSB on an as-fed basis (4.35% dry matter [DM]), formulated according to requirements of the Korean Feeding Standard for Hanwoo. The experiment was conducted over 80 days using a completely randomized block design. Results: Soluble fraction a of DM and organic matter (OM) was 44.20% and 64.60% DM, fraction b was 23.00% and 19.40% DM, and c values (the rate of degradation of fraction b) were 0.04 and 0.04/h, respectively. The effective degradability of DM at rumen solid outflow rates of 0.02, 0.05, and 0.08/h was 59.83, 54.75, and 52.16, respectively, and for OM was 77.78, 73.52, and 71.34, respectively. Initial and final body weight, average daily gain, DM intake, and gain:feed did not differ significantly between control and SSB groups during the entire experimental period. Carcass traits of Hanwoo steers with SSB supplementation were not significantly different between treatments except for dressing percentage, which was greater with SSB treatment. The content of saturated fatty acid (SFA) was greater and that of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) was lower in the SSB group than in the control group. The ratio of UFA to SFA was significantly lower in the SSB group than in the control group. Conclusion: A total mixed ration containing less than 4.0% DM of SSBs can be used in Hanwoo steers without a decrease in productivity and carcass traits.