• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.187-196
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• 2010

Recently, people have been suffering from stress-related fatigue and psychological disorders. Most people depend on medicine for pain relief; many treat pain also through alternative medicine or replacement therapy. However, drug therapy has many side effects, including increased stress after the therapy. In comparison, alternative therapies such as massage and foot reflexology are less damaging to the body, and such therapies can be provided without physical or psychological discomfort. In this regard, the author had previously co-developed color foot reflexology, which combines the merits of color therapy and foot reflexology; color foot reflexology has been shown to have beneficial effects without undue pain. This study investigates the effects of color foot reflexology on the physiological response of the body by comparing the body’s response to the signal with that to the placebo. Healthy adult subjects were selected for the experiment, which was conducted under optimal experimental conditions and design. The results indicated that when stimulated, parasympathetic nerves increased in HRV and that blood pressure, pulse, body heat, peripheral blood flow were dramatically activated. However, the results for the placebo indicated minimal changes or irregular outcomes. The results provide strong evidence for the beneficial effects of the color foot reflexology instrument on the autonomic nervous system and on the physiological response of the body. Future research is warranted to verify the results of the current study by examining patients suffering from diseases and disorders arising from irregular physiological functions in the context of the foot.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

The greatest and major cost for cut rose production during winter seasons in Korea is cost of heating the greenhouse. A study was conducted on a cost-efficient heating system to reduce expenses of cut rose growers in times of high energy prices. An infrared heating system utilizing radiant energy has an obvious advantage over other heating methods in that the energy is first used to raise temperatures of plants and other objects and subsequently that of the atmosphere, resulting in faster reaching to desired plant temperatures at a reduced heating cost. In this study the heating effect and heating cost saving of a nano-carbon fiber infrared heating system (NCFIHS) installed in cut rose greenhouses in Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province were analyzed comparatively. In addition growth, quality, and vase life of 'Orange Fresh' roses grown in greenhouses heated by NCFIHS against those grown in greenhouses heated by so called an electrical heating system. In greenhouses with a NCFlHS with a set point air temperature of $20^{\circ}C$, plant temperature was maintained at $1{\sim}2^{\circ}C$ higher than the air temperature, and temperatures of growing bed surface and root zone were maintained at $17{\sim}19^{\circ}C$ throughout cold winter nights. The cost for heating in NCFIHS was about 25 and 51% of that of an electrical heating system and a hot water heating system heated by petroleum, respectively. Growth of roses harvested in greenhouses with a NCFIHS was similar to those grown in greenhouses with an electrical heating system. However, cut roses with more intense petal and leaf colors and a longer vase life (fresh weight and amount of water uptake) were harvested in greenhouses with a NCFIHS as compared to those harvested in greenhouses with an electrical heating system.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2020

Governments and private companies have established various local entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions in most regions in order to reduce youth unemployment, and boost youth entrepreneurship and regional employment. However, previous studies has been limited to explore the impact of the entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions on the willingness of start-up entrepreneurs. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to fill in the gaps of the research, identify the effect of the entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions on regional employment focusing on the Partner Squares which are entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions in several regions and established by N company, and set a foundation for further research regarding the effectiveness of the entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions. In order to verify the effectiveness of the Partner Squares on the local employment, we use the raw data of the Economically Active Population Survey (Statistics Korea) and analyze the effectiveness by using the Difference-in-Differences model. The main findings are as follows. While the Partner Square Seoul has not statistically influenced on the employment of local youth workers, the Partner Square Busan has increased about 3% of the average number of employees (575 thousand) from May 2017 to July 2019, increasing the number of local youth workers by 17,000. Also, after the establishment of the Partner Square Gwangju, the institution has increased 4,500 local employees, which is about 1.7% of the average number of employees (267,000) from September 2018 to July 2019. This implies that the Partner Squares provide a variety of effective start-up education programs and networks for pre-starters and founders in the region, thereby helping them to grow and boosting the local employment. An important implication is that by using government statistical data, we find roles of entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions to revitalize local economy and employment. In future studies, studies need to be conducted considering various exogenous variables that can affect local employment, such as the government industrial policies and entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions other than the Partner Squares.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2011

Hepatoprotective effects of Monascus pilosus mycelial ethanol extract (MPME) were examined in high-fat diet induced-obese rats. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups; normal control (NC) and a high-fat and high cholesterol diet group (HFC). The HFC diet group was fed a 5L79 diet supplemented with 15% lard and 1% cholesterol for 3 weeks for induction of obesity. And then, the rats were divided into 4 groups (n=5); the NC, a HFC diet obesity control group (HF), 0.5% MPME supplemented HFC diet group (MPM), and 2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplemented HFC diet group for 7 weeks. Whereas the daily weight gain of NC and HFC groups were 3.48 g and 4.48 g, respectively, those of MPM and CLA were 3.09 g and 4.38 g, respectively. Furthermore, activity of serum alanine and aspartic aminotransferase in HF was markedly higher than those of NC group, but, the activity in MPM and CLA was significantly lower than HF. Hepatic reduced glutathione content in MPM and CLA was higher than HF. On the contrary, hepatic lipid peroxide content in MPM and CLA was significantly lower than HF. In conclusion, although the precise mechanisms of the hepatoprotective effects of the MPME in this study are unknown, our study provides experimental evidence that MPME may prevent obesity and hepatic damage by high-fat and high cholesterol diet via inhibition of lipid absorption and induction of reactive oxygen spices scavenging enzyme such as superoxide dismutase.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.603-612
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the replacing fish meal or soybean meal effect of with feather meal or Bacillus sp. inoculated feather meal in broiler diets on the performances and nutrient utilization. One hundred and eighty broilers were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments(1) control, basal diet; (2) BFMl00, Fish meal replacing at 100% level with bacillus sp. inoculated feather meal; (3) BSM20, Soybean meal replacing at 20% level with bacillus sp. inoculated feather meal; (4) BFMl00+BSM20, Fish meal and soybean meal replacing at 100% level and 20% level with bacillus sp. inoculated feather meal, respectively; (5) GFMl00, Fish meal replacing at 100% level with general feather meal; and (6) GSM20, Soybean meal replacing at 20% level with general feather meal) in a 5 week feeding trial. In overall period, body weight gain of control was the highest(1,623g) and those of BFM 100, BFM 100+ BSM 20 and GFM 100 were 1,572g, 1,564g, and 1,078g, respectively. And that of GFM 100(1,078.3g) was the lowest(p<0.05) among treatments. Digestibility of dry matter for BFM 100+BSM 20(81.46%) was higher(p<0.05) than that for other treatments, and that of crude protein was the lowest (p<0.05). Digestibilities of organic matter were significantly(p<0.05) improved when Bacillus sp. inoculated feather meal was replaced at 100% level with fish meal in the basal diet. Methane and hydrogen sulfide gases from the feces were significantly(p<0.05) decreased in chicks fed the control, BFM 100 and GFM 100 diets, when observed after 3 weeks of feeding trials. Feed costs of the control and BFM 100 were 417 and 384 won, respectively but that of BSM 20 was 558 won. Therefore, replacement of fish meal with Bacillus sp. inoculated feather meal in the diets for chicks could be useful for economic production.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2012

In this study, the evaluation of antioxidative activity and componential analysis of C. obtusa leaf extracts was carried out. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of C. obtusa leaf extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction ($OSC_{50}$; 0.22 ${\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction of C. obtusa leaf extracts (0.20 ${\mu}g/mL$) showed about 7 times more prominent ROS scavenging activity than L-ascorbic acid (1.50 ${\mu}g/mL$). The cellular protective effects of fractions obtained from C. obtusa leaf extracts on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction of C. obtusa leaf extracts showed the cellular protective effects in a concentration dependent manner (5~25 ${\mu}g/mL$). The inhibitory effect ($IC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction on tyrosinase exhibited 74.43 and 53.80 ${\mu}g/mL$, repectively. The aglycone fraction showed four times higher tyrosinase inhibitory effect than arbutin (226.88 ${\mu}g/mL$), known as a whitening agent. The aglycone fraction of C. obtusa leaf extracts showed three bands in TLC chromatogram and three peaks in HPLC chromatogram (360 nm). Three compounds were identified as taxifolin, quercetin and kaempferol. These results indicate that the fractions of C. obtusa leaf extracts can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and protect cellular membranes against reactive oxygen species. The fractions of C. obtusa leaf extracts can be applicable to new functional cosmetics for antioxidan and whitening effects.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.620-626
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity and cellular protective effects against oxidative stress on human skin cells in 50% ethanol extract and its fractions of Calendula officinalis (C. officinalis) flowers. We measured the antioxidant effects of 50% ethanol extract and its fractions of C. officinalis flowers on the free radical scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$), the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) and the inhibition of intracellular ROS generation in human skin cells. These results showed that the antioxidant effect of the ethyl acetate and aglycone fraction was more than the 50% ethanol extract of C. officinalis flowers. We also investigated the cellular protective activity and the results showed that treatment of the ethyl acetate fraction ($0.05-3.13{\mu}g/mL$) protects human skin cells in a concentration-dependent manner when the skin cell damages were induced by treating them with $H_2O_2$. In addition, the aglycone fraction ($1.56-3.13{\mu}g/mL$) shows cellular protective effects on the UV-induced cell damages in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the fractions of C. officinalis flowers can function as a natural antioxidant agent of cosmetics in human skin cells exposed to oxidative stress by ROS scavenging effects.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.411-420
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• 2007

This study was conducted to increase sweetpotato utilization and to determine the vegetative value of sweetpotato tips by investigating the phenolic compounds, antioxidative effect in oil, electron donating ability, nitrite scavenging effect and ACE inhibition activities. The phenolic compounds present in sweetpotato tips are the gallic, chlorogenic, gentisic, caffeic, couramic and ferulic acid, which are 16-122 times higher compared to other vegetables such as spinach, soybean sprout, and perilla leaves. In each solvent extract, the total phenolic compounds(175.8 mg/g) was composed of 55% EtOAc extraction and 39% BuOH extract, respectively. The results of induction period using the Rancimat method showed that the antioxidant activity of SP tips was higher than the tocopherol or BHT. The relative levels of each solvent extract in SP tips were as follows: EtOAc>BHT>BuOH>Tocopherol>Water>$CHCl_3$>Hexane. The peroxide value was measured every 5 days for 25 days during storage and results showed that the peroxide value, the tips, tuberous root and tocopherol were lower compared to spinach, soybean sprout and perilla leaves. Nitrite scavenging effects were excellent in sweetpotato tips, perilla leaves and soybean sprout, especially, inhibition rate of perilla leaves(72%) were superior to the others. In process of solvent extraction, activity of BuOH and water extractions were the best. ACE inhibition activity in sweetpotato tips was 1.5 times higher than in tuberous roots and $1.9{\sim}3.7$ times higher than in spinach, soybean sprout, perilla leaves.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.274-283
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• 2020

This study focused on the in vitro investigation of antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities, along with neuroprotection against high glucose-induced cytotoxicity, in order to evaluate the physiological effects of Zanthoxylum piperitum and Zanthoxylum schinifolium. The highest total phenolic content was measured in the 40% ethanolic extracts of Zanthoxylum piperitum (EZP) and Zanthoxylum schinifolium (EZS). The in vitro EZP antioxidant activity showed a relatively higher ABTS/DPPH radical scavenging activity and malondialdehyde inhibitory effect than that of EZS. The EZP inhibited carbohydrate hydrolysis (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) more efficiently than EZS in anti-diabetic tests. However, EZS showed a more efficient inhibition of advanced glycation end-products formation than EZP. In addition, both EZP and EZS effectively protected human-derived neuronal cells from high glucose-induced cytotoxicity. Finally, the physiological compounds were analyzed using UPLC IMS-QTOF/MS^E, and the main EZP (quercetin-3-O-glucoside and 3-caffeoylquinic acid) and EZS (5-caffeoylquinic acid) compounds were identified as phenolic compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.13 no.1 s.28
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• pp.9-20
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• 2007

PAHs(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) are widespread contaminants in the marine environment. They are of mainly anthropogenic origin from urban runoff, oil spill and combustion of fossil fuels. Some PAHs are potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic to aquatic organism The contamination of PAHs in the coastal environments has not been well known yet in Korea. This study was carried out to survey the contamination of PAHs in sediments around Gwangyang bay. The Yeosu petrochemical industrial complex, POSCO(Pohang steel company) and Gwangyang container harbor are located around the bay. PAHs in sediment samples were extracted in soxhlet extractor and were identified and quantified by GC-MS(Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) TOC(Total Organic carbon) and textural parameters in sediment samples were also analyzed 13 species of PAHs were detected at all of the surface sediments. Total PAHs concentrations in the surface sediments ranged from 171.40 to $1013.54{\mu}g/kg$ dry wt.. In most of the surface sediments, Naphthalene was the highest in the range of 14.08 to $691.39{\mu}g/kg$ dry wt. and Anthracene was the lowest in the range of 0.49 to $22.66{\mu}g/kg$ dry wt.. The correlation coefficients between individual PAHs and Total PAHs in the surface sediments were relatively higher in the low molecular compounds such as Naphthalene and Phenanthrene. In the relationship of the P/A(Phenanthrene/Anthracene) ratio and F/P(Fluoranthene/Pyrene) ratio, P/A ratio was generally above 10 and F/P ratio was shown to be above 1 in all sediment samples. These data indicate that PAHs in sediments around Gwangyang bay seem to be of both pyrolytic and petrogenic origin. Total PAHs in the surface sediments were correlated with TOC and textural parameters. The values of PAHs in the surface and core sediments were lower than the biological effect guidelines.