• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.742-753
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate risk factors of pre-hypertension and hypertension in rural residents. Nine hundred and ninety four subjects aged 40-70 yrs in Chungnam-do participated in this study. The subjects (n = 824) were classified into three groups of hypertensive, pre-hypertensive, and normotensive according to the Joint National Committee (JNC)-7 criteria. The weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and serum total protein, albumin, BUN, and triglyceride (TG) were positively correlated with SBP and DBP. After adjusted by age, sex and BMI, the total protein, albumin and TG were significantly correlated with SBP and DBP (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in eating habits according to the level of blood pressure. The serum albumin, creatinine, Glu-FBS, Glu-PP l20, and triglyceride were higher in both prehypertensive and hypertensive group than in the normotensive group. However, mean serum cholesterol was not different among three blood pressure groups. In this study, the common risk factors of pre-hypertension and hyper-tension were male, age of fifties, lower education level, ex-smoking, higher drinking frequency, higher BMI, body fat %, waist circumference, WHR, serum albumin and diabetes, even though the degree of risks in these variables were higher in the hypertensive group. The higher BUN was a risk factor of prehypertension, while the family history, prediabetes, serum total protein, Glu-PP l20 and higher alcohol drinking amount were the risk factors of hypertension. This result suggests that maintaining good health habit and normal range of blood parameters as well as controlling body weight have to be paid attention in order to prevent hypertention, and further reseasch on the relationship of blood pressure and BUN are needed.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.33-61
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• 2015

The global economy is rapidly changing by technological innovation and diffusion of knowledge across nations. Therefore it is still important issue to find a major variables for convergence and divergence of economic development. The studies up to present on the relationship between innovation and institution has limitations that they have dealt with this issue only in term of cross-sectional study or mathematical research models. This paper aims at analyzing the impact of innovation capabilities and institutional quality on the economic growth. Empirically this paper will explore the relationship among human capital capacity and FDI, R&D expenditures and innovation capabilities and institutional quality. This paper analyzes 64 countries, which were divided into 4 groups depending on the level of economic development. Based on the data from 1995 to 2011 and by using a panel model, we look at the structural implications of the research questions. According to our analysis, the weight of R&D and the innovation capabilities were identified as important determinants of economic growth, and FDI was significant factor for economic growth in the upper middle group countries. In case of the innovation capabilities of countries, the diffusion and openness of innovation were most meaningful variables for economic growth. Also, institutional quality has a significantly positive impact. However, in the low-level economic group, innovation capabilities and institutions have a negative impact on economic growth. This paper identifies an important policy implications that of national innovation and institutional factors should be properly invested in accordance with the level of a country's economic growth.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2000

This study was conducted to compare probiotic activities and physiological functions of Bifidobacterium longum Mk-G7 with weveral commercial and type strains of bifidobacteria. bif. longum MK-G7 showed the highest acid tolerance against HCl and acetic acid, whereas bif. infantis Y-1 showed the lowest acid tolerance and more than 4 log cycles of viable cell count decreased due to acid injuty. Viable cell counts of bifidobacteria strains decreased more than 1.5 log cycles owing to oxygen toxicity, with the exception of Bif. longum MK-G7, Bif. infantis Y-2, Bif. longum Y-3, Bif. longum Y-6, and Bif. longum RD-13 showed the highest bile tolerance, whereas Bif. longum MK-G7 showed a medium level of bile tolerance. Only Bif. longum MK-G7 howed much higher antibiotic resistance against both tetracycline and penicillin-G in the MIC(minimum inhibitory concentration) level of 24.8 mg/I and 0.52mg/I, respectively. Bif longum Y-6, and Bif. bifidum ATCC 29539 showed more than 80% of anti-mutagenicity against NQO(4-nitroquinolinel-oxide). Since the production of cytokines such as $TNF(tumor necrosis factor)-{\alpha}$ and IL (interleukin)-6, and NO(nitric oxide) in the macrophage cell line Raw 264.7 cells increased as Bif. longum MK-G7 cell concentration increased, ti was suggested that Bif. longum MK-G7 is able to enhance immunopotentiating activity in vitro. When freeze-dred Bif. longum MK-G7 was administered to mice at the dose of 1,2,4, and 6 g/kg of body weight, all of the mice survived in all feeding groups, proving the GRAS(generally recognized as safe) status of Bif. longum MK-G7. When fermented milk containing Bif. longum MK-G7 was administered to human volunteers, viable cell count of total bifidobacteria and anaerobes in the feces increased up to 0.5 log cycles more than before the administration. In particular, Bif. logum MK-G7 ingibited the growth of Bacteroides at the level of 1.0-1.5 log cycles.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.663-668
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• 2015

hBMSCs are multipotent cells that are useful for tissue regeneration to treat degenerative diseases and others for their differentiation ability into chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, hepatocytes and neuronal cells. In this study, biodegradable elastic hydrogels consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds were evaluated for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and the ability to control the release of bioactive peptides. The primary cultured cells from human bone marrow are confirmed as hBMSC by immunohistochemical analysis. Mesenchymal stem cell markers (collagen type I, fibronectin, CD54, $integrin1{\beta}$, and Hu protein) were shown to be positive, while hematopoietic stem cell markers (CD14 and CD45) were shown to be negative. Three different hydrogel scaffolds with different block compositions (PEG:PCL=6:14 and 14:6 by weight) were fabricated using the salt leaching method. The hBMSCs were expanded, seeded on the scaffolds, and cultured up to 8 days under static conditions in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Media (IMDM). The growth of MSCs cultured on the hydrogel with PEG/PCL= 6/14 was faster than that of the others. In addition, the morphology of MSCs seemed to be normal and no cytotoxicity was found. The coating of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) containing scaffold with Matrigel slowed down the release of VEGF in vitro and promoted the angiogenesis when transplanted into BALB/c nude mice. These results suggest that hBMSCs can be supported by a biode gradable hydrogel scaffold for effective cell growth, and enhance the angiogenesis by Matrigel coating.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.337-342
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• 2009

Background : Many previous studies have shown that elevated homocysteine in the serum is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and this is associated with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but any Korean data on this is limited. Objectives : This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and to analyze the relation between elevated homocysteine and the lifestyle factors of Korean adults. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional survey that included 650 men and 743 women (age range, 20 to 79 years) who were residents of Gwangju City in Gyeonggi-do. These subjects participated in the health interview and examination survey from November to December 2005. The total homocysteine, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride in the serum were measured. All the participants had their body composition measured such as height and weight, and we obtained health-related behavioral information through the self-entry questionnaire. Results : Very right-handed skewed distributions of homocysteine were shown in men and women. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 22.6% in men and 13.7% in women in Gwangju city. On the multiple logistic regression analysis, hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with age (OR=1.02, 95% CI=1.01-1.04), male gender (OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.02-2.52), severe general physical activity (OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.15-0.69) and nutrient consumption (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.31-0.76). Conclusions : There is a great prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in adults of Gwangju City, Korea and it was associated with both genetic factors and lifestyle risk factors. This study can suggest that comprehensive lifestyle modification is needed in order to diminish the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and to prevent CVD.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2010

The breakwaters are designed by considering the cost optimization because a human risk is seldom considered. Most breakwaters, however, were constructed without considering the cost optimization. In this study, the optimum return period, target failure probability and the partial safety factors were evaluated by applying the cost optimization to the rubble mound breakwaters in Korea. The applied method was developed by Hans F. Burcharth and John D. Sorensen in relation to the PIANC Working Group 47. The optimum return period was determined as 50 years in many cases and was found as 100 years in the case of high real interest rate. Target failure probability was suggested by using the probabilities of failure corresponding to the optimum return period and those of reliability analysis of existing structures. The final target failure probability is about 60% for the initial limit state of the national design standard and then the overall safety factor is calculated as 1.09. It is required that the nominal diameter and weight of armor are respectively 9% and 30% larger than those of the existing design method. Moreover, partial safety factors considering the cost optimization were compared with those calculated by Level 2 analysis and a fairly good agreement was found between the two methods especially the failure probability less than 40%.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 1995

The plywoods commonly used as decorative interior materials for the construction are inflammable and so it is a causative factor for making fire accidents, resulting in the destruction of human life and personal properties. Indeed, it is, therefore, required to produce fire-retardant plywoods. In this study, a special grade of defect-free, Kapur plywood was used. Specimens were cut into 3- by 20cm dimensions from 120- by 240- by 0.33-cm panels(thin panel) or 120- by 240- by 0.5-cm panels(thick panel). Some specimens were treated with diammonium phosphate(DAP), but some were not treated with diammonium phosphate to use as control panels. Chemical absorption, drying curves, drying rates and dynamic Young's modulus were investigated. The results were summaries as follows; 1. The specimens were soaked into 19% diammonium phosphate solution by a full cell pressure process and the diammonium phosphate retained in the thin and thick plywoods was 1.409kg/$(30cm)^3$, 1.487kg/$(30cm)^3$, respectively. 2. Diammonium phosphate-treated plywoods were redried with press-drying process at one of either condition dried on the platen($115^{\circ}C$) for a period of time or dried on the platen($50^{\circ}C$) for 3 hrs plus in a dry-oven($30^{\circ}C$) for 24 hrs. or dried on the platen($60^{\circ}C$) for 2 hrs plus in a dry-oven($30^{\circ}C$) for 24 hrs. The drying rate of treated thin specimens dried at $60^{\circ}C$ plus $30^{\circ}C$ and $115^{\circ}C$ only was found to be 0.04 %/min. and 8.53 %/min. Similarly, the drying rate of treated thick specimens were 0.03 %/min. and 6.77 %/min. respectively. 3. It was evident that highly-significantly different drying rate of treated plywoods was observed between plywood thicknesses and platen temperatures and the rate was increased by elevating the platen temperature up to $115^{\circ}C$. Based on the two-way variance analysis, highly significant drying rate was observed from the interaction between plywood thicknesses and platen temperatures. 4. After redrying, the specimens were weighed and reconditioned to a constant weight in a facility maintained temperature ($20^{\circ}C$) and relative humidity(65%) prior to test dynamic Young's modulus. The test revealed that the thin specimens dried at the platen temperature of $50^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $115^{\circ}C$ and untreated specimens showed 1.070E+09 dyne/$cm^2$, 1.156E+09 dyne/$cm^2$, 1.243E+09 dyne/$cm^2$, and 1.052E+09 dyne/$cm^2$, respectively. Likewise, the thick specimens revealed 5.647E+09 dyne/$cm^2$ 5.670E+09 dyne/$cm^2$, 6.395E+09 dyne/$cm^2$ and 5.415E+09 dyne/$cm^2$, respectively. 5. It was evident that significantly different dynamic Young's modulus was observed between the plywood thickness and the platen temperature, but not in the two-way interaction between the plywood thickness${\times}$the platen temperature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.433-443
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• 2020

Objective : Osteoporosis is a disease of unbalanced bone metabolism that results in low bone mineral density with increased bone fragility and propensity for fractures. The increased rate of bone fracture due to osteoporosis places a significant burden on public health care expenditures. Therefore, numerous studies have been designed and performed to identify the drugs or health foods that can improve the bone quality or quantity. This study was designed to evaluate and analyze the therapeutic effects of rutin on histomorphometric values of the spine and femur in an osteoporotic mouse model induced by bilateral ovariectomy. Methods : Thirty female ICR mice (8 weeks old) underwent either a sham operation (only abdominal incision, sham group, n=10) or bilateral ovariectomy (n=20). The ovariectomized (OVX) animals were randomly divided into two groups : untreated OVX group (OVX-C, n=10), or rutin-administered group (OVX-R, n=10). The OVX-C group received weight-adjusted doses of saline vehicle and the OVX-R group received 50 mg/kg of rutin intraperitoneally, starting 1 day after surgery. At 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, serum estrogen, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the telopeptide fragment of type I collagen C-terminus (CTX-1) were analyzed. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were also analyzed. Bone histomorphometric parameters of the 4th lumbar vertebra and femur were determined by micro-computed tomography. Results : In OVX-C group, ALP, osteocalcin, CTX-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly increased at 4 and 8 weeks compared to sham operation group. Rutin administration after OVX statistically significantly reduced ALP, CTX-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels at 4 and 8 weeks. Rutin administration also improves bone histomorphometric parameters including trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number. Trabecular separation was also decreased in OVX-R group compared to OVX-C group. Conclusion : The present study demonstrated that rutin has therapeutic effects on improving bone histomorphometric values in an OVX mouse model. The improvement in histomorphometric values may be associated with the reduction of osteoclastic activity via inhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. In future studies, the mechanism for the effect of rutin on osteoporosis should be demonstrated more clearly to use rutin in human osteoporosis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 2010

Domestic studies for identification of causality between children exposure to toxic chemicals, such as arsenic (As) and resulted hazardous effects were not implemented. This study was conducted to probabilistically estimate dietary As intake and health risk assessment for young children and all age-specific populations from the consumption of As-contaminated rice of Korea. Arsenic intakes for young children (1 to 6 years old) from As-contaminated rice were higher than other age-specific groups, based on a dose-per-body weight basis. Based on the current EPA cancer slope factor for As, estimated cancer risks (to the skin cancer) associated with dietary intake of As-contaminated rice for 1 to 2 years old group and 3 to years old group are 1.76 per 10,000 and 3.16 per 10,000, respectively, at the 50th percentile. Based on possible reference levels (0.005 mg/kg/day) for children, mean and $95^{th}$ percentile value of HQ from rice for young children are very below 1.0, which is a regulatory limit of non-carcinogenic risks for human.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.148-154
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• 2015

Onion (Allium cepa) is one of the flavonoids-rich materials in human diet and onion peel, which is the onion by-products, contains over 20 times more quercetin than the flesh. In this study, to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of onion peel hot water extract (OPHWE), the cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interluekin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and IL-$1{\beta}$, were measured using the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells. The Balb/c mice were used for an in vivo acute toxicity test and ICR mice were used for measurement of inhibition effects of croton oil-induced mouse ear edema. As a result, NO levels decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The production of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ was suppressed by 38%, 41%, and 34% respectively, compared with that of the LPS only group, without any cytotoxicity. The edema formation in the ICR mouse ear was also reduced compared to that in control. Moreover, there were no mortalities occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of OPHWE. These results suggest that OPHWE has considerable anti-inflammatory activities and can be regarded as a potent candidate material to treat inflammatory diseases.