• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.16
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• 2023

Background: In vitro culture of preantral follicles is a promising technology for fertility preservation. Objectives: This study aims to investigate an optimized three-dimensional (3D) fetal bovine serum (FBS)-free preantral follicle culture system having a simple and easy operation. Methods: The isolated follicles from mouse ovaries were randomly divided in an ultra-low attachment 96-well plates supplement with FBS or bovine serum albumin (BSA) culture or encapsulated with an alginate supplement with FBS or BSA culture. Meanwhile, estradiol (E₂) concentration was assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatants. The diameter of follicular growth was measured, and the lumen of the follicle was photographed. Spindle microtubules of oocytes were detected via immunofluorescence. The ability of oocytes to fertilize was assessed using in vitro fertilization. Results: The diameters were larger for the growing secondary follicles cultured in ultra-low attachment 96-well plates than in the alginate gel on days 6, 8, and 10 (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the E2 concentration in the BSA-supplemented medium was significantly higher in the alginate gel than in the other three groups on days 6 and 8 (p < 0.05), and the oocytes in the FBS-free system could complete meiosis and fertilization in vitro. Conclusions: The present study furnishes insights into the mature oocytes obtained from the 3D culture of the preantral follicle by using ultra-low attachment 96-well plate with an FBS-free system in vitro and supports the clinical practices to achieve competent, mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

Growing environmental concerns regarding pollution caused by conventional plastics have increased interest in biodegradable polymers as alternative materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a 100% biodegradable nanocomposite material by introducing organic nucleating agents into the biodegradable and thermoplastic resin, poly(lactic acid), to improve its properties. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibers, an eco-friendly material, were adopted as a substitute for inorganic nucleating agents. To achieve a uniform dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) within PLA, the aqueous solution of nanofibers was lyophilized to maintain their fibrous shape. Then, they were subjected to primary mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Test specimens with double mixing were then produced by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to confirm the reinforced physical properties, and it was found that the addition of 1 wt% CNFs acted as a reinforcing material and nucleating agent, reducing the cold crystallization temperature by approximately 14℃ and increasing the degree of crystallization. This study provides an environmentally friendly alternative for developing plastic materials with enhanced properties, which can contribute to a sustainable future without consuming inorganic nucleating agents. It serves as a basis for developing 100% biodegradable green nanocomposites.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.391-400
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• 2004

Xenotransplantation in discordant species results in immediate and irreversible hyperacute rejection due to natural antibodies, IgM. With this, antibody depletion is one option to reduce hyperacute rejection, we investigated the effect of PCPP (postcentrifugal plasmapheresis) on the depletion of natural antibodies and the effect of antibody titer on xenograft survival. Material and Method: Outbred swines (n=4) weighing 10∼20 kg were used as donors and mongrel dogs (n=4) weighing 25∼30 kg were used as recipients. Recipient canines underwent plasmapheresis (COBE TPE Laboratories, Lakewood. CO, USA). Pre-transplantation PCPP was peformed on day －2 and day 0. There were three groups (Group 0: no PCPP, Group 1: 1 pla sma-volume (PV) at day －2 and 2 PV at day 0, Group 2: 2 PV at day －2 and 2 PV at day 0). A swine heart was heterotopically transplanted into a recipient's abdominal infrarenal aorta and inferior vena cava. Mean percent depletion of total IgM and IgG in plasma of the recipients was calculated. Serum albumin, electrolyte, complement activity and coagulation factors were measured. Histopathologic examination of heart specimens was performed. Result: Mean percent depletion of IgM and IgG were 95.7$\pm$1.2%, 80.5$\pm$2.4% in the group 2 at the end of PCPP. The percent depletion of serum albumin concentration was decreased from 2.8 to 1.4 g/㎗ in the group 1 and 3.0 to 1.5 g/㎗ in the group 2. Complement hemolytic activity was decreased in group 1 and 2, but returned to normal level within 24 hours. Complement hemolytic activity was reduced to 10% of pre-PCPP level in group 2. Serum fibrinogen decreased to 20% or less and was recovered within 24 hours in group 2. Antithrombin III decreased but less than fibrinogen. PT and aPTT were sometimes but not always prolonged during plasmapheresis. After plasmapheresis, PT and aPTT were prolonged beyond the measurable level. D-dimer was not found during PCPP, but appeared and maintained from 10 minutes after trasplantation. Graft Survival time was 5 min in group 0, and it was 90$\pm$0 min in the group 2. Histopathologic changes were more typically characterized by edema, hemorrhages, thrombosis in all groups at the end of experiment. Conclusion: PCPP effectively removed immuoglobulins and reduced the titer of natural antibodies, as a result, significantly prololonged swine heart xenograft survival.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.775-783
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• 2013

Changes in the various quality characteristics of hamburg steak depending on the packaging methods were investigated during storage at $5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for up to 15 days. Three packaging treatments including vacuum packaging (VAP), air-containing packaging (AC), and oxygen scavenger packaging (OS) were applied in this experiment. The initial total aerobe bacteria counts were identical at 2.3 log CFU/g in all treatments, but the growth rate of total aerobe bacteria in the AC samples was significantly faster than the VAP and OS samples during storage. The changes in the TBA and VBN values over the storage time showed that lipid oxidation and protein spoilage developed fastest in the AC sample, followed by OS and then VAP samples. The instrumental color and texture profiles were not significantly differ between treatments during storage (p>0.05). After 12 days of storage at $5^{\circ}C$, evaluation of the samples' sensory attributes showed that the AC samples had become unmarketable with a score of less than 5.0 points for all sensory properties, whereas the VAP and OS samples were still marketable.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the packaging status of the $Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms and the benefits of storing them after precooling to improve their distribution system using small packages. The packaging status of the $Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms was surveyed at a farm, a department store, a wholesale market, and a supermarket from May to September 2011. The packaging materials that were used were PS, carton, PP, LDPE, PLA, and PVC. The harvested $Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms were precooled at $4^{\circ}C$ for three hours and were then stored at $20^{\circ}C$ for three days. The weight loss rate of the precooled sample was slightly lower than that of the unprecooled sample; conversely, the L value of the precooled sample was higher than that of the unprecooled sample. The ${\Delta}E$ value was lowest in the precooled sample after packaging. The precooling process effectively prolonged the shelf life and enhanced the quality of the$Agaricus$ $bisporus$ mushrooms.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.534-538
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological benefits of apple peel. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of a 70% ethanol extract of apple peel were examined. The total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents of apple peel were $6.8{\pm}0.5mg$ gallic acid equivalent/g of fresh weight and $3.3{\pm}0.3mg$ catechin equivalent/g of fresh weight, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of apple peel was $18.9{\pm}1.6$, $46.3{\pm}2.3$ and $58.1{\pm}3.9%$ at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively (p<0.05). The anti-inflammatory effect was investigated by measuring the inhibition of inflammatory enzymes. Apple peel significantly inhibited secretory phospholipase, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenase activity by up to $53.5{\pm}2.3$, $13.4{\pm}1.8$, $64.8{\pm}5.4$ and $44.4{\pm}4.5%$, respectively (p<0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that apple peel may act as an antioxidant by radical scavenging and may possess potential anti-inflammatory properties for suppressing the activity of inflammatory enzymes. These results also suggest that apple peel can be utilized as a health functional food ingredient possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1552-1559
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• 2013

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) has been used as one of the Korean traditional medicines for prostate health. In addition, recent studies have reported that RCM reduced chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of unripe and ripe RCM on inflammationrelated gene expressions in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Mice were fed with 2% unripe RCM (U2), 10% unripe RCM (U10), 2% ripe RCM (R2), and 10% ripe RCM (R10) for 8 weeks. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated and stimulated with LPS then proinflammatory mediators (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) productions were assessed. Moreover, gene expression profiles were analyzed by cDNA microarray method. Unripe and ripe RCM significantly reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ production but only unripe RCM decreased IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production. RCM intake significantly reduced inflammatory-related gene expressions such as arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, interleukin 11, and nitric oxide synthase 2. Furthermore, unripe and ripe RCM significantly decreased ceruloplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, thrombospondin 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A expression which modulates symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases. RCM intake also significantly increased hypoxia inducible factor 3, alpha which is the negative regulators of hypoxia-inducible gene expression. Furthermore, only unripe RCM reduced chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14, and phospholipase A2 expression. In this study, we showed that RCM had anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of pro-inflammatory mediator expressions and may reduce chronic inflammatory disease progress through regulation of gene expressions. These findings suggest that RCM might be used as a potential functional material to reduce chronic inflammatory responses.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.233-246
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to suggest the possibility of utilizing the wildflower pasture for promoting public interest. Growth characteristics, botanical composition, fauna distribution on wildflower pastures were observed. The experimental design included two treatments: native wildflower pasture(NWP, turf grasses 6 species + native wildflower 11 species) and introduced wildflower pasture(lWP, turf grasses 6 species + introduced wildflower 9 species). The field trials were carried out on the experimental pasture plots at Chungnam National University from 1997 to 2000. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The flowering of wildflower was maintained continuously from May to September, and the colors of wildflowers; varied seasonally during this period. With native flowers, however, Hemerocallis fulva, Belamcanda chinenis and Aster koraiensisi showed problems in lately germination and early establishment. Meanwhile, Introduced wildflower showed not only excellent germination and early establishment compared to native flowers species but also maintained brighter colors. But Coreopsis tinctoria, Achillea mi/lefolium and Rudbeckia bicolor had colonized at a higher height or possessed stronger rhizome. 2. The appropriate species of turf grass which maintained continuous seasonal distribution are thought to be tall fescue, perennial ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass in NWP and IWP. 3. Botanical composition of wild flower in NWP was arranged in the order of Achillea sibirica > Lotus corniculatus var. Japonicus > Dianthus chinensis > Plantago asiatica > Taraxacum pla~ycarpum > Viola mandshurica > Aster koraiensis > Vicia tetasperma > Lespedeza stipulacea > Hemerocallis fulva, respectively. The highest seasonal distribution of native wildflower, Achillea sibirica was in spring and summer, Lotus corniculatus var. Japonicus was in autumn. Botanical composition of wild flower in IWP was arranged in the order of Achillea millefolium Coreopsis tinctoria > Silene armeria > Coreopsis lanceolata > Rudbeckia bicolor > Sanguisorba oficinalis > Centaurea cyanus > Chrysanthemum leucanthemum > Dianthus petraeus, respectively. The highest seasonal distribution of introduced wildflower, Silene armeria was in spring, Achillea millefolium was in summer, and Coreopsis tinctoria was in autumn.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.347-355
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• 1999

Background: Phospholipase C(PLC) plays a central role in cellular signal transduction and is important in cellular growth, differentiation and transformation. There are currently ten known mammalian isozymes of PLC reported to this date. Hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate($PIP_2$) by PLC produces two important second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate($IP_3$) and diacylglycerol. PLC-${\gamma}1$, previously, was known to be activated mainly through growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. Other mechanisms of activating PLC-yl have been reported such as activation through tau protein in the presence of arachidonic acid in bovine brain and activation by $IP_3$, phosphatidic acid, etc. Very recently, another PLC-${\gamma}1$ activator protein such as tau has been found in bovine lung tissue, which now is considered to be AHNAK protein. But there has been no report concerning AHNAK and its associated disease to this date. In this study, we examined the expression of the PLC-${\gamma}1$ activator, AHNAK, in lung cancer specimens and their paired normal. Methods: From surgically resected human lung cancer tissues taken from twenty-eight patients and their paired normal counterparts, we evaluated expression level of AHNAK protein using immunoblot analysis of total tissue extract Immunohistochemical stain was performed with primary antibody against AHNAK protein. Results: Twenty-two among twenty-eight lung cancer tissues showed overexpression of AHNAK protein (eight of fourteen squamous cell lung cancers, all of fourteen adenocarcinomas). The resulting bands were multiple ranging from 70 to 200 kDa in molecular weight and each band was indistinct and formed a smear, reflecting mobility shift mainly due to proteolysis during extraction process. On immunohistochemistry, lung cancer tissues showed a very heavy, dense staining with anti-AHNAK protein antibody as compared to the surrounding normal lung tissue, coresponding well with the results of the western blot Conclusion: The overexpression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ activator protein, AHNAK in lung cancer may provide evidence that the AHNAK protein and PLC-${\gamma}1$ act in concerted manner in carcinogenesis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.17
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• pp.45-78
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• 1974

To provide useful information for developing new high yielding soybean varieties and for improving cultural practices, an investigation was made on variation of dry matter production and on relationship among several agronomic characters of soybean plants grown under different planting times and densities as well as under different fertilizer levels, using Kwang-kyo, Dong puk-tae, and Suke ＃ 51 as determinate types and Shelby, SRF-300 and Harosoy as indeterminate types at the Crop Experiment Station during the period of 1972 and 1973. The results obtained were summarized as follow: 1. The dry weight, CGR and LAI at the initial flowering stage were high in the high plant population irrespective of varieties, planting times, and fertilizer levels. However, those characters of the indeterminate type were lower than those of the determinate types. The same characters of the indererminate type at the terminal leaf stage were either same or higher than those of the determinate types. 2. The dry weight of the determinate type at the initial flowering stage was similar to the indeterminate, type, when planting times were May 21 or June 15. The dry weights of both types of varieties were low when planted on July 10. When fertilizer levels were increased, the CGR, dry weight and LAI at the initial flowering stages were also increased. 3. Even though significant differences of LAI were obtained among the varieties within the same plant type, the indeterminate type was in general lower than that of the determinate type regardless of planting time and densities, or fertilizer levels, while the yield of the indeterminate type was comparable to the yield of the determinate type. 4. The high degree of leaf- and petiole-fall at the greenbean stage was highly associated with early planting and high levels of fertilizers. However, less amount of leaf- or petiole-fall was found when planted on July 10 or under low plant population. 5. The percent of stem weight was high under higher plant population, while the percent of leaf weight was high under lower plant population. When planting time was late, the percent of stem and petiole weight were reduced, while the leaf weight was increased. 6. The percent of pod weight of the determinate type at the terminal leaf stage was about 2% when planted on May 21, about 8% when planted on June 15, and about 9% when planted on July 10. The percent of pod weight of the indeterminate type at the terminal leaf stage were about 6 % when planted on May 21, 14% when planted on June 15 and 21% when planted on July 10. 7. Kwang kyo showed less degree of leaf-fall even when lodged due to high levels of fertilizer applied, while SRF-300 showed great damage due to lodging. 8. High yields were obtained when planted on May 21, but there were little yield differences between yields from May 21 and June 15 plantings. The reduction of yield due to late planting of July 10 was less apparent in the determinate type of varieties, while it was high in the indeterminate type. 9. The optimum plant population per are for high yield was 1, 250 to 2, 500 plants when planted on May 21, 2, 500 plants when planted on June 15, and 3, 333 plants when planted on July 10. 10. High correlation coefficients were obtained between dry matter weight and LAI at the terminal leaf stages, and between the dry matter weight and yield at the greenbean stages. The optimum dry weight for high yield in the determinate type was expected to be 25 kg. per are at the initial flowering stage and 50 kg. per are at the terminal leaf stage. In the indeterminate type the LAI and dry weight at the greenbean stage were 4 to 5 and 80 kg. per are, respectively. 11. Under the high plant population plant height was increased, while the stem diameter and the number of nodes and branches were reduced. Consequently, the percent of mainstem to main stem plus branches were increased, and the length of internode was also elongated. The ratios of stem weight, number of nodes and pods, and yield of main stem were increased when high plant population was associated with the early planting. The percent of main stem to branches for the indeterminate type was higher than that of the determinate type. 12. Under the high plant densities and late planting, the percent of the pod number and yields of main stem were increased, indicating that varieties with no or less branches were better adaptable under such conditions. 13. High degree of simple correlation coefficients was obtained between the LAI at the initial flowering stage and terminal leaf stage, and the total node number, dry matter and dry stem weight of both determinate and indeterminate types. Even though no significant correlation was found between the LAI at the initial flowering stage of the determinate type and the stem length and pod number per are, highly significant correlation coefficients were obtained between such characters in the indeterminate type of varieties. 14. The dry matter was positively correlated with the LAI, CGR, stem length, and pod number, node number and dry stem weight per are, while no significant correlation was found between the dry matter and stem diameter. 15. The correlation coefficients between lodging index and the LAI, dry weight, stem length and dry stem weight were highly significant. Negative correlation was obtained for the indeterminate type between the stem diameter and lodging index. The correlation coefficient between the stem diameter and lodging index was non-significant for the determinate type, while positive correlation was obtained between the yield and lodging index in the determinate type. The lodging index was also positively correlated with average length of internode of main stem. 16. The 100 seed weight appeared to be lowered under the high plant population and no fertilizer condition, and when planted late. Apparent differences of 100 seed weight were found between main stem and branches, being higher for the main stem than for the branches. 17. No variation of protein content was found due to different cultural practices. However, the oil content was apparently reduced when planted late.