• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.228-240
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cocoa consumption is associated with health benefits due to its high content of polyphenols. However, the effects of short-term cocoa consumption remain unclear. We aimed to determine the effects generated by cocoa consumption (for 7 days) in young adults in normoweight and class II obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Before-and-after study was carried out in normoweight (NW) (n = 15) and class II obesity (CIIO) (n = 15) young adults. The NW and CIIO participants consumed 25 and 39 g of cocoa, respectively, per day for 7 days. The effect of cocoa consumption was evaluated on the lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation. Oxidative damage was also examined by assessing the biomarkers of oxidative damage in plasma. In addition, recombinant human insulin was incubated with blood obtained from the participants, and the molecular damage to the hormone was analyzed. RESULTS: Cocoa consumption resulted in decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in both groups (P = 0.04), while the total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were maintained at the recommended levels. Initially, IR was detected in the CIIO group (homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] = 4.78 ± 0.4), which is associated with molecular damage to insulin. Interestingly, intervention with cocoa resulted in improved IR (HOMA = 3.14 ± 0.31) (P = 0.0018) as well as molecular damage to insulin. Finally, cocoa consumption significant decreased the arginase activity (P = 0.0249) in the CIIO group; this is a critical enzymatic activity in the inflammatory process associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term consumption of cocoa improves the lipid profile, exerts anti-inflammatory effects, and protects against oxidative damage. Results of this study indicate that cocoa consumption can potentially improve IR and restore a healthy redox status.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.570-583
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• 2023

Objective: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play critical roles in embryo development, and immune responses to infectious diseases. In this study, to investigate the roles of FGFs, we performed genome-wide identification, expression, and functional analyses of FGF family members in chickens. Methods: Chicken FGFs genes were identified and analyzed by using bioinformatics approach. Expression profiles and Hierarchical cluster analysis of the FGFs genes in different chicken tissues were obtained from the genome-wide RNA-seq. Results: A total of 20 FGF genes were identified in the chicken genome, which were classified into seven distinct groups (A-F) in the phylogenetic tree. Gene structure analysis revealed that members of the same clade had the same or similar exon-intron structure. Chromosome mapping suggested that FGF genes were widely dispersed across the chicken genome and were located on chromosomes 1, 4-6, 9-10, 13, 15, 28, and Z. In addition, the interactions among FGF proteins and between FGFs and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins are limited, indicating that the remaining functions of FGF proteins should be further investigated in chickens. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis showed that FGF gene interacts with MAPK genes and are involved in stimulating signaling pathway and regulating immune responses. Furthermore, this study identified 15 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in 21 different growth stages during early chicken embryo development. RNA-sequencing data identified the DEG of FGFs on 1- and 3-days post infection in two indigenous Ri chicken lines infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 (HPAIV). Finally, all the genes examined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and RNA-Seq analyses showed similar responses to HPAIV infection in indigenous Ri chicken lines (R² = 0.92-0.95, p<0.01). Conclusion: This study provides significant insights into the potential functions of FGFs in chickens, including the regulation of MAPK signaling pathways and the immune response of chickens to HPAIV infections.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2023

Increased nitrogen in the water system has become an important environmental problem around the world, as it causes eutrophication, algae bloom, and red tide, destroys the water system, and undermines water's self-purification. The most common form of nitrogen in the water system is ammonium ion (NH₄⁺), and the largest portion of ammonium ions comes from wastewater. NH₄⁺ is a major contributor to eutrophication, which calls for appropriate treatment and measures for ammonium removal. This study produced biochar by applying Sorghum × drummondii, a type of biomass with a great growth profile, analyzed the adsorption capacity of Sorghum × drummondii biochar produced from the changing carbonization temperature condition of 200 to 400℃ in the ammonium ion range of 10 to 100 ppm, and used the results to evaluate its potential as an adsorbent. Carbonization decomposed the chemical structure of Sorghum × drummondii and increased the content of carbon and fixed carbon in the biochar. The biochar's pH and electrical conductivity showed high adsorption potential for cations due to electrical conductivity as its pH and electrical conductivity increased along with higher carbonization temperature. Based on the results of an adsorption experiment, the biochar showed 54.5% and 17.4% in the maximum and minimum NH₄-N removal efficiency as the concentration of NH₄-N increased, and higher carbonization temperature facilitated the adsorption of pollutants due to the biochar's increased pores and specific surface area and subsequently improved NH₄-N removal efficiency. FT-IR analysis showed that the overall surface functional groups decreased due to high temperature from carbonization.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.141-156
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• 2023

Background: As the population rapidly ages, older adults are increasingly likely to experience mobility problems. This study aims to explore the characteristics related to an elderly person's willingness to live in a nursing home if they have mobility problems Methods: This study analyzed data from 9,917 older adults (5,976 young-old and 3,941 old-old) obtained from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. The dependent variable was the intended place of residence for older adults with mobility problems. Independent variables included various characteristics: (1) sociodemographic and social support, (2) health and functional status, and (3) residential environment. Rao-Scott chi-square tests and survey logistic regression analyses were performed for the young-old and old-old, respectively. Results: The intention to live in a nursing home was significantly different between the young-old (30.4%) and the old-old (34.7%) (p=0.009). According to fully adjusted multivariable analyses, for the young-old, the odds ratio of intending to live in a nursing home was significantly higher in social security benefit recipients (1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.97) compared to other individuals. The odds ratio was higher in unmarried (divorced, separated, widowed, or never-married) individuals for both young-old (1.41; 95% CI, 1.22-1.63) and old-old (1.34; 95% CI, 1.09-1.65) age groups, compared to their respective married counterparts. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that in an aging society, health and social policies should be designed considering the different characteristics of the elderly to improve their health, function, and quality of life.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

Object : This is a study of ischemic stroke patients designed for comparison Combination therapy of western medical treatment and oriental medical treatment. and western medical treatments alone. Methods : 45 patients were diagnosed by Br-MRI scan as having suffered ischemic stroke. They had entered Kyung-Hee Medical hospital within ten days of attack, between March 2011 and October 2012. Patients were divided into two groups; a group treated with Combination therapy of western medical treatment and oriental medical treatment and other group treated with Western medical treatments. Scandinavian stroke scale and Motricity Index score was checked at admission, 2 weeks or 3 weeks later to assess neurologic improvement and motor function recovery. Results : Comparing the Scandinavian stroke scale and Motricity Index score between baseline and 2 or 3 weeks later, the combination therapy group and western medical treatment group had improved but there was no significance. Conclusions : Combination therapy have more beneficial effect on acute stage of stroke.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.74
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• pp.209-225
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• 2023

The demand for lifelong education is increasing. Individuals, organizations, and groups are creating an environment where anyone can learn anytime, anywhere while conducting educational and learning activities. The propagation of Christianity in Korea began with education. For churches that own various human and material resources, their functions and roles in the region are more important. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the role and function of church lifelong education in the community to view church lifelong education as a mission tool. It examines the significance of church lifelong education, the biblical basis for church lifelong education, and the history of church lifelong education. It also examines the role of the church in the community and its functional basis for lifelong education. I would like to present the meaning of church lifelong education as a community mission tool. Through the practice of church lifelong education, local residents have a positive perception of the church, and it can be seen that the church provides an opportunity for evangelism. It is now necessary for churches with various advantages to implement lifelong education to revitalize church lifelong education as a missionary tool for local missionary work.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2007

We have studied a method for the preparation of $ACF/TiO_2$ composites involving the penetrationof titanium n-butoxide (TNB) solution into activated carbon fiber. It was focused on the characterization of $TiO_2$ formed in prorous carbon was which increased with surface functional groups by hydrochloric acid treatment. The conversion of TNB to $TiO_2$ for the acid treatment effect must be important for the preparationof $ACF/TiO_2$ composites. From the characterization of surface properties, both the BET surface area and the total pore volume decreased as the distribution of $TiO_2$ on the activated carbon fiber surfaces after acid treatments.The changes in XRD pattern showed the typical anatase type on $ACF/TiO_2$ composite for the sample named FT, FT1 and FT2 treated with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 M, respectively. However, XRD patern of FT3 treated with 0.5M showed mixed amatase-rutile structure. According to the results of SEM micrographs, the titanium complexe particles were irregularly distributed around carbon. And some large clusters were found when an amount of acid treatment increased. The EDX results of $ACF/TiO_2$ composites showed the presence of C, O and P with strong Ti peaks. Finally, the excellent photocatalytic activity of the $ACF/TiO_2$ composites between relative concentration($c/c_o$) of MB (methylene blue) and UV irradiation time could be attributed to the both effects between photocatalysis of the formation of titania complexes and adsorptivity of the activated carbon fiber.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.326-331
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• 2008

Distribution coefficients (Kd) of uranyl ion onto divinylbenzene amidoxime resins were measured in sodium carbonate solution and the Kd values were increased up to about 70 as the resin bead size was decreased. At a condition of 0.0044 M $Na_2CO_3$, the adsorption capacity for uranium was $3.4{\mu}mole$ U/g-resin. The Kd values in the 0.5 M $Na_2CO_3-NaHCO_3$ solution, ranging from pH 9 to pH 11, revealed that they were increased as the pH increased and revealed lower values than those in the pure sodium carbonate solution. The amidoxime resins were characterized by FTIR-ATR showing the absorption bands of the amidoxime functional groups. A species of the uranyltricarbonate complex, $UO_2(CO_3)_3^{-4}$, was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, revealing four absorption peaks between 400 and 500 nm. Uranium was separated from some fission products by a column operation. However, most of the uranium and fission products were eluted before an adsorption and only a small amount of uranium was adsorbed onto the resin due to the low capacity of the resin.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2023

In this study, a mixed matrix membrane was prepared by varying the contents of PEI-GO@ZIF-8 synthesized in PEBAX 2533, and the permeation characteristics of N₂ and CO₂ were studied. The N₂ permeability of the PEBAX/PEIGO@ZIF-8 mixed matrix membrane decreased as the PEI-GO@ZIF-8 content increased, and the CO₂ permeability showed different trends depending on the PEI-GO@ZIF-8 content. The CO₂ permeability increased in pure PEBAX membrane up to PEBAX/PEI-GO@ZIF-8 0.1 wt%, but decreased at the subsequent content. The PEI-GO@ZIF-8 0.1 wt% mixed matrix membrane had a CO₂ permeability of 221.9 Barrer and a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 60.0, showing the highest permeation properties with improved CO₂ permeability and CO₂/N₂ selectivity among the prepared mixed matrix membrane and we obtained a result that reached the Robeson upper-bound. This is due to the -COOH, -O-, and -OH functional groups of GO and the amine group bonded to PEI, which interact friendly with CO₂, and the effect of ZIF-8, which causes gate-opening for CO₂ while the fillers are evenly dispersed in PEBAX.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1512-1523
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• 2022

Objective: The growth of pigs involves multiple regulatory mechanisms, and modern molecular breeding techniques can be used to understand the skeletal muscle growth and development to promote the selection process of pigs. This study aims to explore candidate lncRNAs and mRNAs related to skeletal muscle growth and development among Duroc pigs with different average daily gain (ADG). Methods: A total of 8 pigs were selected and divided into two groups: H group (high-ADG) and L group (low-ADG). And followed by whole transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs. Results: In RNA-seq, 703 DE mRNAs (263 up-regulated and 440 down-regulated) and 74 DE lncRNAs (45 up-regulated and 29 down-regulated) were identified. In addition, 1,418 Transcription factors (TFs) were found. Compared with mRNAs, lncRNAs had fewer exons, shorter transcript length and open reading frame length. DE mRNAs and DE lncRNAs can form 417 lncRNA-mRNA pairs (antisense, cis and trans). DE mRNAs and target genes of lncRNAs were enriched in cellular processes, biological regulation, and regulation of biological processes. In addition, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was used to detect the functions of DE mRNAs and lncRNAs, the most of DE mRNAs and target genes of lncRNAs were enriched in QTLs related to growth traits and skeletal muscle development. In single-nucleotide polymorphism/insertion-deletion (SNP/INDEL) analysis, 1,081,182 SNP and 131,721 INDEL were found, and transition was more than transversion. Over 60% of percentage were skipped exon events among alternative splicing events. Conclusion: The results showed that different ADG among Duroc pigs with the same diet maybe due to the DE mRNAs and DE lncRNAs related to skeletal muscle growth and development.