• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2023

Fiber content in the storage roots of sweetpotato varies between different varieties. For examples, the high fiber content of certain types has a poor texture when steamed or roasted. This study was conducted to evaluate the optimal sieve mesh size for separating fibers, the chemical composition of fibers and differences in fiber content among different varieties. We found that the separated fiber content (dry weight) of mashed and steamed sweetpotato was higher after washing three times (143.3 mg/100 g) compared with that washed five times (128.4 mg/100 g). The Hogammi variety remained 85.9% of total fiber content at 10 mesh (2,000 ㎛) and 9.6% of total fiber content at 30 mesh (600 ㎛), and Jinyulmi remained 74.9 and 16.7% of total fiber content , respectively. Therefore, a 30 mesh sieve was considered the most suitable for fiber separation. Among the 10 studied cultivars, Jinhongmi showed the lowest amount of fiber (24.8 mg/100 g) and Hogammi had the highest amount (111.4 mg/100 g), which was 4.5 times larger than that of Jinhongmi. Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content of separated fibers showed no difference between the viscous-type Hogammi and powdery-type Jinyulmi varieties, with averages of 32.5, 22.3 and 29.6%, respectively. Correlation results using the Image J program showed a significant correlation between the distribution of the stained area and the fiber content (R = 0.74, p < 0.05). Staining distribution differed among varieties, suggesting that a simple fiber content test could be performed using the staining method on raw sweetpotato. These results provide useful information to help inform farmers on the fiber content of different sweetpotato varieties.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.349-355
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• 2022

In this study, we sought to identify a soil stabilizer that can be applied to paddy fields vulnerable to arsenic (As) pollution. To this end, we conducted a pot experiment in which we evaluated the effects of different stabilizers on the bioavailability of As in paddy soil. As candidate stabilizers, we assessed calcium superphosphate (CSP), sulfur, and steel slag, which were applied at the rates of 0.7 and 1.4, 0.1 and 0.2, and 7.0 and 14.0 Ma ha^-1, respectively. On day 67 after rice transplantation, we detected significantly lower concentrations of As in the solutions of paddy soil treated with 1.4 Ma ha^-1 CSP (96.9 ㎍ L^-1) and 0.2 Ma ha^-1 sulfur (207.2 ㎍ L^-1) compared with the As concentrations in control (314.5 ㎍ L^-1) and steel slag-treated (268.6-342.4 ㎍ L^-1) soil. Compared with the As concentrations in control brown rice (0.16 mg kg^-1), concentrations in brown rice were lowest in the pots treated with 1.4 Ma ha^-1 CSP (0.09 mg kg^-1). Furthermore, in response to CSP treatments, we detected increases in the weight of rice grains (50.0-50.4 g/pot) compared with the control (40.4 g/pot) and other treatments (26.9-48.1 g/pot), which we speculate could be attributed to the reduction in As toxicity to rice owing to a decline in soil solution As contents and the fertilization effect of the CSP treatment. Collectively, our findings indicate a high-level application of CSP (1.4 Ma ha^-1) to paddy soil has a comparatively beneficial effect in mitigating the bioavailability of As.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1105-1121
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of frequently used clinical herbal medicines (Yijung-tang [Lizhong-tang, LJT], Pyeongwi-san [Pingwei-san, PWS], and Shihosogan-tang [Chaihu Shugan-tang, SST]) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) when administered according to herbal medicine and Korean medicine pattern identification. The results of this study will be used to standardize the diagnostic instrument used in Korean medicine and to investigate biomarkers of Korean medicine pattern identification. Methods: This study will be a randomized, assessor-blind, 3-arm, parallel, open-label, multi-center clinical trial. A total of 300 FD participants will be recruited from 3 Korean medical hospitals and assigned to the LJT (n=100), PWS (n=100), and SST (n=100) groups according to FD pattern identification. The patients will take the medication for 8 weeks, 3 times a day, before or between meals. The primary outcome will be total dyspepsia symptom (TDS) and the secondary outcomes will be adequate relief (AR) for dyspepsia, overall treatment effect (OTE), visual analogue scale (VAS), functional dyspepsia-related quality of life (FD-QoL), gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS), and pattern identification questionnaires. For the exploratory outcomes, we will analyze blood and fecal metabolome profiles, microbiota from fecal and saliva samples, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and results of Korean medicine diagnosis device measurements (heart rate variability, and tongue, pulse, and abdominal diagnosis). Conclusions: The results of this study will prove objectivity for Korean medicine pattern identifications, and the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for the population with FD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Intracellular cargo transport is mediated by molecular motor proteins, such as kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein. Kinesins make up a large subfamily of molecular motors. Kinesin-1 is a plus-end-directed molecular motor protein that moves various cargoes, such as organelles, protein complexes, and mRNAs, along a microtubule track. It consists of the kinesin superfamily protein (KIF) 5A, 5B, and 5C (also called kinesin heavy chains) and kinesin light chains (KLCs). Kinesin-1 interacts with many different binding proteins through its carboxyl (C)-terminal region of KIF5s and KLCs, but their binding proteins have not yet been fully identified. In this study, a yeast two-hybrid assay was used to identify the proteins that interact with the KIF5A specific C-terminal region. The assay revealed an interaction between KIF5A and glutamate-rich 4 (ERICH4). ERICH4 bound to the KIF5A specific the C-terminal region but did not interact with the C-terminal region of KIF5B or KIF3A (a motor protein of kinesin-2). In addition, KIF5A did not interact with another isoform, ERICH1. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-downs showed that KIF5A interacts with GST-ERICH4 and GST-ERICH4-amino (N)-terminal but not with GST-ERICH4-C or GST alone. When co-expressed in HEK-293T cells, ERICH4 co-localized with KIF5A and co-immunoprecipitated with KIF5A and KLC but not KIF3B. Together, our findings suggest that ERICH4 is capable of binding to KIF5A and that it may serve as an adaptor protein that links kinesin-1 with cargo.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.642-655
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• 2022

Purpose: We examined the effects of the 8-week moderate-intensity Pilates exercise program on body composition, balance ability, metabolic parameters, arterial condition, and eating habits among overweight and obese women. Methods: From the general sample of overweight or obese Korean women (body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m² ), those who had not been diagnosed with any chronic degenerative diseases were enrolled in the study (n = 39). After 8 weeks of the Pilates exercise program, the participants were subdivided into adherence and non-adherence groups. Among the study participants, 24 women were matched for age and menopausal status to reduce the bias, and then finally included for the comparison (Pilates-adherence, n = 12; Pilates-non-adherence, n = 12). Results: The body balance measured by the Y-balance test, body mass index, and subcutaneous fat areas were significantly improved in both groups. However, the Pilate-sadherence group showed more positive changes in body balance and had significant improvement in body composition parameters such as waist size, visceral fat area, systolic blood pressure, arterial aging index, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin than the Pilates-non-adherence group. In addition, the nutrition quotient for Korean adults (balance, moderation, and behavior except diversity) were significantly improved in both groups after dietary education. However, the participants did not show dramatic improvement in the metabolic parameters, because all the study subjects were in relatively good health and did not have any diagnosed diseases. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that higher adherence to the Pilates exercise program together with a modification of eating habits may effectively improve body balance, body composition, and obesity-related parameters among overweight and obese women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.656-669
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between sleep duration, sleep quality, time use, and dietary quality of adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 423 high school students (112 male and 311 female students) in Chungnam using a questionnaire comprising general characteristics, sleep status, use of time, and Nutrition Quotient for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A). Results: On weekdays, male students reported getting 6.6 hours of sleep, which was significantly higher than the 5.8 hours reported by female students. The sleep quality score between male and female students was not significantly different on weekdays and weekends. Comparing the students categorized as getting 6 hours of sleep duration on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends, a significantly higher total NQ-A score was obtained for the long sleep duration group of female students on weekdays. In male students who reported increased screen time on weekdays and study time on weekends, there was a greater frequency of short sleep duration. Our data also revealed that the longer the sleep duration higher the NQ-A score. In addition, higher NQ-A scores were determined with shorter screen time and more prolonged exercise time. Conclusion: Our results suggest that intense study time and excessive use of smartphones have a negative effect on sleep in high school students. In addition, poor sleep quality and lack of sleep are likely to affect eating habits and nutritional status. Therefore, there is a need to provide nutritional education to adolescents imparting knowledge that associates desirable sleep habits and the correct use of time.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.670-683
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• 2022

Purpose: To provide the primary data on dietary guidelines for the management of obesity, we analyzed the intake rate of food groups and dish groups according to obesity and age. Data were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANSE, 2013-2018). Methods: This study analyzed the data of 21,184 adults aged 19-64 years, obtained from the KNHANSE 2013-2018. The 24-hour recall was performed and the food groups were classified into six representative food groups (grains, meat·fish·eggs·legumes, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy, and oil and sugar), and 'alcohol' and 'others'. The dish groups were classified into a total of twenty-four types. Results: The normal group included 9,004 subjects (42.5%), while the obese group had 12,180 subjects (57.5%). The food groups showing significant differences according to obesity were grains (p < 0.001), meat/fish/egg/legumes (p < 0.001), and vegetables (p < 0.001); similar results were obtained in both male and female. Comparing the intake rate of food groups and dish groups targeting only the obese group according to age, the food groups showing significance between the obese group and the normal group were grains (p < 0.001) and vegetables (p < 0.001), with significantly increased intake in both genders. Considering the dish groups, significant increases were determined for stews (p < 0.001), seasoned vegetables (p < 0.001), and kimchi (p < 0.001) in male, and for rice (p < 0.001), seasoned vegetables (p < 0.001), kimchi (p < 0.001), and rice cakes (p < 0.001) in female. Conclusion: The results of this study determined that the intake ratio of food and dish groups differs by age in obese adults. We believe that our results can be used as primary data for forming dietary guidelines for obese adults in the future.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.62-90
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• 2023

This study was conducted to study the vascular plants of Balbaeksan, located on the border between Gyeongsan-si and Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It was performed 13 times from September 2020 to November 2021, and the investigated vascular plants were identified as a total of 93 families, 302 genera, 485 species, 10 subspecies, 40 varieties, 13 varieties, and 545 taxa. Endemic plants were investigated in 18 taxa, 9 taxa of rare plants; Vulnerable (VU) 5 taxa, Least concerned (LC) 3 taxa, Data Deficient (DD) 1 taxa, Red List plants 5 taxa; 3 taxa of least concerned (LC), 2 taxa of Not Evaluated (NE), 183 taxa of biological resources subject to export approval, 78 taxa of specific taxonomy; There were 9 taxa of grade IV, 20 taxa of grade III, 20 taxa of grade II, and 28 taxa of grade I. 4 taxa of plants subject to climate change adaptation; 2 taxa of endemic plants, 1 taxa of southern plants, 1 taxa of northern plants, 4 taxa of climate change biomarker species, 2 taxa of candidate species of climate change biomarker, 65 taxa of exotic plants, and 3 taxa of ecosystem disturbance species. Plants 235 taxa (43.1%), medicinal plants 257 taxa (47.2%), ornamental plants 148 taxa (27.2%), woody plants 54 taxa (9.9%), herbaceous plants 37 taxa (6.8%), industrial plants 15 Taxa (2.8%), 11 taxa (2.0%) of fiber-bearing plants, and plants of unknown use were identified as 73 taxa (13.4%). The flora of Mt. Balbaek was investigated for the first time, and plants to be preserved in order to secure useful plant resources and biological sovereignty were identified. So continuous monitoring is necessary to prevent the introduction of foreign plants that may be caused by the recent increase in the number of people coming and going.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.spc
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• pp.1-69
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• 2023

This study aims to establish a comprehensive, synthetic inventory system for the fauna and flora of Dokdo Island, Republic of Korea, which has been conducted by a specialized research group consisting of more than 50 experts. The research was conducted over five years(2015-2019) and supported by the National Institute of Biological Resources, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea. All possible publications on the fauna and flora of Dokdo Island over the last 68 years from 1952 to 2020 were reviewed. As a result, 1,302 species were found on Dokdo Island during the study period. An updated list of 1,963 species was created. This is expected to be of great help for the conservation and national publicity of important indigenous biological resources of Dokdo Island.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.391-396
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• 2023

Milk is an emulsion, improving texture of surimi mixture and able to suppress off flavors and abnormal tastes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the effective properties of milk in the preparation of a surimi mixture for 3D printing. The sensory and physical properties of surimi mixtures containing 0%, 20 wt%, and 40 wt% milk were evaluated, where the unheated surimi mixture with added milk demonstrated increased firmness and adhesiveness compared to the negative control group. In addition, the hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of the mixture containing 40% milk were highest, but springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience were lowest. In the sensory evaluation, as the amount of milk increased, a fishy smell, abnormal taste and texture improved, hardness and preference increased as well. From these results, it was confirmed that a surimi mixture can be prepared with milk to improve its physical and sensory properties for 3D printing when compared to the negative control mixture. In particular, it was revealed that the physical properties and preference of the surimi mixture are best when prepared with 40% milk.