• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1834-1845
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• 2018

The lactobacilli associated with a fermented goat milk product from Tajikistan were isolated to characterize their technological properties and antibiotic resistances in order to assess their suitability for development as starter cultures. In this study, twenty three strains were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as typical dairy-associated lactic acid bacterial strains, i.e. L. plantarum, L. pentosus, L. delbrueckii, L. helveticus and L. paracasei. These strains were generally susceptible to most antibiotics tested in this study and this allowed a selection of strains as safe starters. The draft genomes of four representative strains were sequenced and the number of contigs of the four assembled genomes ranged from 51 to 245 and the genome sizes ranged from 1.75 to 3.24 Mbp. These representative strains showed differences in their growth behavior and pH-reducing abilities in in vitro studies. The co-inoculation of these Lactobacillus spp. strains together with a yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus MBT-5698, or together with the yeast and an additional Streptococcus thermophilus MBT-2, led to a pH reduction to 3.4 after 48 h. Only in the case of fermentation inoculated with the co-culture, the viscosity of the milk increased noticeably. In contrast, fermentations with single strains did not lead to gelation of the milk or to a decrease in the pH after 24h. The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the predominant lactobacilli related to Tajikistani fermented milk products.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2007

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the present status of several environmental problems caused by emerging toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and arsenic in various environmental media in Vietnam. Monitoring data reported during the 1990s demonstrated elevated contamination of DDTs in most of these compartments in Vietnam. Studies in frame of the Asia-Pacific Mussel Watch Program revealed that fish, mussels and resident birds from Vietnam contained higher concentrations of DDTs as compared to other countries in region, suggesting the role of Vietnamese environment as a significant emission source of DDT in the Southeast Asian region. The estimated dietary intakes of PCBs and DDTs for Vietnamese were relatively high among Asian developing countries, suggesting potential risk for humans posed by thesechemicals. Widespread contamination of some endocrine active compounds such as alkylphenols and phthalates was observed at various sites along the coasts of northern and middle Vietnam. The presence of significant source of bisphenol-A along Red River estuary was revealed with the concentrations comparable to those reported for developed nations. A case study on seasonal variation of alkylphenols and phthalates in surface water of river delta and estuary of north and middle Vietnam indicated the differences in distribution of these compounds between dry and rainy seasons. Higher concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates were found in dry season in estuary; while the contrasting pattern was observed in the river delta, showing elevated residues in rainy season. This result suggests the different behavior of alkylphenols and phthalates in river delta and coastal environment. From ecotoxicological perspectives, concentrations of bis-phenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates [DEHP] in surface water from some locations in Vietnam exceeded the guideline values for Ecotoxicological Effects and the Environmental Risk Limit, respectively, suggesting potential for toxic implications on aquatic wildlife. Widespread and elevated arsenic contamination was discovered inour recent surveys in groundwater in a large area of suburban areas of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. The most recent investigation in 4 villages showed about more than 50 % of groundwater samples contained As concentrations exceeding 50 g/L (the WHO and Vietnamese standard). In particular, in Son Dong villages, 58 % of samples analyzed contained As concentrations higher than 200 g/L. Good correlations were found in As concentrations in water and hair and urine of peoples in corresponding families, suggesting the chronic exposure to As by people living in As-contaminated ground water areas. In Son Dong village, As levels in hair (mean: 1.7 mg/kg dry wt) and urine (g/g creatinine) exceeding the reference values recommended by WHO, suggesting potential for human risk posed by long term accumulation of As in human body. Future studies should be focused on the time trends of POPs and EDCs in biota in Vietnam in order to predict future trend of contamination and to reveal new clues for understanding possible toxic impacts on aquatic organisms. The issues of arsenic contamination in groundwater and their chronic toxic implications on human health should be systematically investigated in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1111-1114
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• 2016

Opisthorchiasis is a major problem in Thailand particularly in northeast region which also has a high incidence of cholangiocarcinomas. Since health modification is needed, this quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a health education program based on self-efficacy and social support in Tha Tum district, Surin province, Thailand. A total of 70 participants were purposive selected with a history of opisthorchiasis. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups, each with 35 subjects. The experimental group received a health education program composed of: (1) knowledge improvement, lectured with multimedia, demonstration, brochure, and handbook; (2) group discussion about their health beliefs, sharing their ideas and experience; and (3) social support from village health volunteers (VHV), heads of villages (HV), friends, and members of families, and public health officer (PHO). Follow-up was by PHO/VHV/HV, with provision of certificates and flasg for household that did not eat raw fish. Data were collected by predesigned questionnaires after implementation of the program for 3 months. Comparative data was analyzed by paired simple t-test and independent t-test. The results revealed that the experimental group had mean score of knowledge higher more than before the experiment (mean difference=3.1, t=3.915, 95%CI-3.3, -1.8 p-value=0.001), and the control group (mean difference=2.5, t=4.196, 95%CI=1.4, 3.6, p-value=0.001) with statistical significance. The mean scores of practice were higher than before the experiment (mean difference=4.6, t=4.331, 95%CI-5.3, -3.1, p-value=0.001), and control group (mean difference=4.4, t=6.142, 95%CI=4.2, 7.9, p-value=0.001). The mean scores of perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of opisthorchiasis, al well as perceived benefits and perceived barriers to prevention of opisthorchiasis, were also higher than before the experiment and in the control group (p-value <0.001). In conclusion, this was a successful health education program for liver fluke avoidance. Therefore, it may useful for further behavior modification in the other epidemic areas.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2017

To find out the stress response and wound healing of surgical incisions, we analyzed the change of stress hormone and the healing process in far eastern catfish, Silurus asotus. The survival rate of the clove oil (1,000 ppm) anesthesia group after surgery was about 90% in 3~42 days, while no anesthesia group showed about 74%. Thus, the survival rate after anesthesia group was higher than that of the no anesthesia group. The plasma cortisol concentration of the clove oil anesthesia group was higher than that of the no anesthesia group (P<0.05). In addition, the plasma glucose concentration of clove oil anesthesia group was higher than that of the no anesthesia group (P<0.05). The plasma lactic acid concentration of clove oil anesthetized group was higher than that of the not anesthetized group (P<0.05). On the 14 days and 28 days after surgery, there were still stitching fiber of suture and swimming behavior was not active. On the 35 days after surgery, trace of the suture has almost disappeared on the outside of the fish. Finally, 42 days after surgery, stitching fiber was not visible, and the sutured wounds were distinctly recovered. The results of this study showed that the anesthesia group showed higher survival rate and received less postoperative stress than that of the no anesthesia group. Surgical wound healing in the catfish of this study was shown to be successful when using anesthetics.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2012

Importance of behavior factors or environmental factors in visual organization and visual function of fish is treated with great care in visual ecology, and there is no study about initial ocular growth and development on the dark banded rockfish, Sebastes inermis. Thus, this study was performed. The total length, head length, head depth, eye diameter and lens diameter of the dark banded rockfish showed positive allometric relationship between parturition stage and 60 days post-parturition (dpp). The increase in total length relative to head length and head depth, head length growth relative to eye diameter and lens diameter, and head depth growth relative to eye and lens diameter were nearly isometric. The eyes were formed completely at parturtion stage. At this age, the eye has an optic nerve fiber layer, a ganglion cell layer, an inner plexiform layer, an inner nuclear layer, an outer plexiform layer, an outer nuclear layer, an outer limiting membrane, a rod and cone layer and an epithelial layer. Thickness of retina at 60 dpp was higher than that of at parturition stage. During this experiment, the proportion of the rod and cone layer, outer nuclear layer, and optic nerve fiber layer of retina were significantly increased, while the proportion of the outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer of retina were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The essential demands that must be met by the retina in this species pertain to light sensitivity and spatial resolution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1992

Zr-4 used for a cladding and an end plug of reactor component has creep deformation under operation at high temperature. Creep is regarded as the time dependent deformation of a material under constant applied stress. Although the major source of the deformation of zirconium component in water-cooled reactors is irradiation creep, the thermal creep may give a rise to significant deformation in reactor component especially at relatively high temperatures and at various constant stresses, and therefore it must be predicted accurately. Stress relaxation is the time dependent change of stress at constant strain and it is a process related intimately to creep. In this paper, the creep behavior and stress relaxation of Zr-4 is examined at the temperature of 50$0^{\circ}C$ that is 40% of the absolute melting temperature of Zr-4 under the stress below yield stress and under the various constant strains. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) With an increase of stress, the steady state creep rate increases and the creep rupture time decreases. 2) The steady state creep rate $\varepsilon$(%/s) for the stress $\sigma$sub(c) (kgf/mm super(2)) of Zr-4 increases outstandingly. All the empirical equations computed for Zr-4 increases outstandingly. All the empirical equations computed for Zr-4 are in accord with Norton's model equation($\varepsilon$=K$\sigma$ sub(c) super (n)). The constants of materials computed are as follows: K=3.9881$\times$10 super(-5), n=1.9608 3) The rupture time T sub(r) (hr) decreases linearly with the increase of stress on the log-log scaled graph. The empirical equations computed for Zr-4 are in accord with Bailey's model equation (T sub(r)=K sub(1)$\sigma$sub(c) super(m)). The constants of materials computed are as follows: K sub(1)=1.2875$\times$10 super(16), m=-3.467 4) It seems clear that the strain could be quantitatively dependent on the high temperature creep properties such as creep stress, rupture time, steady state creep rate and total creep rate. It is found that these relationships are linear on the log-log graph. 5) In stress relaxation test, as the critical constant strain that can be allowed to the specimen is larger, stress relaxation becomes more rapid, and as the constant strain is smaller, the stress relaxation becomes slower.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.940-955
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the degree nutrient intake, health status and other characteristics of females aged 65 years and over in a longevity area according to family arrangement. For analysis, 585 female elderly were recruited from the Kugoksoondam area (Kurye, Goksung, Soonchang and Damyang counties), known as the longevity-belt region in Jeonla province, Korea. The subjects were categorized into three groups according to family arrangement (living alone, living with spouse only and living with family). Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, health status and health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, consumption frequency of food groups, nutrient intake and mini nutrition assessment. In the group living with their spouse only, the highest education, physical activity, diverse food intake, frequency of eating meats and fish, energy and nutrients intake, and score on the mininutrient status assessment (MNA) were found to be significantly favorable factors. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the group living with their spouse only had relatively superior nutrient intake and the quality of diet. In contrast, the group living alone showed the lowest self-rated economic status, diversity of food intake, and physical activity, with the highest frequency of drinking, smoking and regular exercise for almost everyday compared with the other groups. On the other hand, those living with family demonstrated the lowest intake of supplements or functional foods, and levels of hemoglobin hematocrit MCH, but the highest HBA1c and blood sugar. Therefore, the group living with family was assumed to be at risk of anemia and diabetes. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy of Korean elderly people living in rural areas, according to family arrangement.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.512-525
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• 2003

The relationship between dietary practices and juvenile delinquency was studied using a dietary survey. Subjects were selected from juvenile delinquents who were under the supervision of the Seoul Probation Office of the Ministry of Justice. The study group consisted of 52 male and 52 female delinquents. As a control group, 104 exemplary high school students were selected in Seoul. A questionnaire was designed to find out the subjects' general characteristics, dietary habits, lifestyle, eating behavior, food frequency, and nutrient intake using the 24-hour recall method. Compared to the exemplary students, the juvenile delinquents were significantly different in education level, family status, monthly allowance, residence status, breast fed, parents' education level, parents' concern. In dietary habits, fifty-eight percent of the juvenile delinquents ate 2 or fewer meals per day, preferred to eat with friends, and liked hot tasting foods. The juvenile delinquents consumed more ion drinks (OR = 9.26 CI: 3.83 -22.37), rameon (OR = 7.67 CI: 3.21 - 18.33), cola (OR = 6.75 CI: 2.91 - 15.69), soft drinks (OR = 6.12 CI: 2.53- 14.81), steamed korean sausage (OR = 5.34 CI:2.31 - 12.32), hamburger (OR = 5.15 CI: 1.91 - 13.87), kimbab (OR = 3.63 CI: 1.76-7.46), ddokbokgi (OR = 3.17 CI: 1.58-6.38), candy (OR = 3.08 CI: 1.41-6.73), white rice (OR = 2.59 CI: 1.19-5.64), hotdog (OR = 2.52 CI: 1.31-4.86), and less rice mixed with grains (OR = 0.02 CI: 0.01-0.05), tangerine (OR = 0.06 CI: 0.02 - 0.20), milk (OR = 0.29 CI: 0.14 - 0.60), roasted fish (OR = 0.32 CI: 0.28-0.99, anchovy (OR = 0.35 CI: 0.17 - 0.72), seaweed (OR = 0.37 CI: 0.16 - 0.83), and tofu (OR = 0.48 CI: 0.23-0.99) than the exemplary students. With respect to the juvenile delinquents, the nutrient intakes lower than 75％ of the Korean RDA were for riboflavin (75.0％) and calcium (47.9％) among the boys, and calcium (46.9％) and iron (60.4％) among the girls. To prevent juvenile delinquency, nutritional education and well-balanced school food service meals should be emphasized so as to improve the management of dietary practices. (Korean J Community Nutrition 8(4) : 512∼525, 2003)

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.513-526
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of low sodium diet education program on dietary habits, diet quality, and measures of obesity in overweight or obese middle-aged women. Methods: Subjects were 81 individuals aged 45 years or over, who completed an 8-week nutrition education. The subjects were divided into a normal group (N = 30) and an overweight-obese group (N = 51) according to the BMI. The effects were evaluated by anthropometric measurement, biochemical analysis, questionnaire, and diet records before and after the program. Results: Overweight-obese group showed significant decreases in weight (p < 0.0001), BMI (p < 0.0001), percent of body fat (p = 0.0087), waist circumference (p < 0.0001), systolic (p = 0.0003) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0261). Nutrients intakes were not different between the two groups and only sodium intake was decreased after education. Total score of general dietary habits, dietary behavior related to sodium intake, dietary diversity score (DDS), diet variety score (DVS), and diet quality index-international (DQI-I) were improved in both groups compared to the baseline. Overweight-obese group showed significant improvement in 'having fruits everyday', 'having fish everyday', 'trying to eat many kinds of food', 'eating less broth when eating soup, stew, and noodles', 'eating less kimchi and salt-fermented vegetable', and 'propensity to think that dishes should be pretty seasoned'. In addition, moderation of empty calories food (p = 0.0064) and macronutrient ratio (p = 0.0004) were improved in the overweigh-obese group, but in the normal group, the results did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: These results suggested that low sodium diet education program may contribute to obesity management by improving diet quality and dietary habits in middle-aged women.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3 s.91
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• pp.282-294
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• 2000

The reproductive ecology and the early life history of Macropodus chinensis were investigated in aquarium. Mature male made the bubble nest and spawned with wrapping the female and reverse posture. The parental male protected the offspring until the larvae depart the bubble nest. Egg productivity and egg hatching rate were the highest at water temperature in $28^{\circ}C$ and $26^{\circ}C$ respectivity than any other artificial temperature. The eggs were buoyant, globular and 0.95${\sim}$1.05 mm in diameter. Cleavage was progressed at intervals of 15 minutes. Eggs hatched in 42${\sim}$44hours after fertilization and the newly hatched larvae were 3.0${\sim}$3.2 mm in total length. The lawae were 4.5${\sim}$5.4 mm in 4${\sim}$5 days after hatching and fed on the food with dispersion from the nest. In 40${\sim}$45 days after hatching, all fin rays completely developed, and juveniles reached 18.2${\sim}$23.5 mm in total length. In 90${\sim}$110 days after hatching, body from of young fishes were similar to adult with 37.4${\sim}$48.2 mm and represented secondary sexual characters longer than 45.0 mm in total length, and about 120 days, fishes began spawning(water temperature for ontogenesis: $26.0{\pm} 1^{\circ}C$).