• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.17-26
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• 2010

Recently concerns have been raised due to the unbalanced supply of crops: the price of crops has been unstable and at one point the price went up so high that the word Agflation(agriculture+ inflation) was coined. Korea, in particular, is a small-sized country and needs to secure the stable supply of crops by investing in the produce importation at a national level. Investment in foreign produce importation is becoming more important as a measure for sufficient supply of crops, limited supply of domestic crops, weakened farming conditions worldwide, as well as recent changes in the use of crops due to the development of bio-fuels, influence of carbon emission on crops, the price increase in crops, and influx of foreign hot money. However, there are many problems with investing in foreign produce importation: lack of support from the government; lack of farming information and technology; difficulty in securing the capital; no immediate pay-off from the investment and insufficient management. Although foreign produce is originally more price-competitive than domestic produce, it loses its competiveness in the process of importation (due to high tariffs) and poor distribution system, which makes it difficult to sell in Korea. Therefore, investment in foreign produce importation is being questioned for feasibility; to make it possible, foreign produce must maintain the price-competitiveness. Especially, harvest of agricultural products depends on natural and geographical conditions of each country and those products have indigenous properties, so distribution system according to import and export of agricultural products should be treated more carefully than that of other industries. Distribution costs are differentiated into each item and include cost of sorting and wrapping, cost of wrapping materials, cost of domestic transport, cost of international transport and cost of clearing customs for import and export. So transporting and storing agricultural products generates considerable costs compared with other products. Also, due to upgrade of dietary life, needs for stability, taste and visible quality toward food including agricultural products are being raised and wrong way of storage causes decomposition of food and loss of freshness, making the storage more difficult than that in room temperature, so storage and transport in distribution of agricultural products needs specialty. In addition, because lack of specialty in distribution and circulation such as storage and wrapping does not solve limit factors in distance, the distribution and circulation has been limited to a form of import and export within short-distant region. Therefore, need for distribution out-sourcing which can satisfy specialty in managing distribution and circulation and it is needed to establish more effective distribution system. However, existing distribution system of agricultural products is exposed to various problems including problems in distribution channel, making distribution and strategy for distribution and those problems are as follows. First, in case of investment in overseas agricultural industry, stable supply of the products is difficult because areas of production are dispersed widely and influenced by outer factors due to including overseas distribution channels. Also, at the aspect of quality, standardization of products is difficult, distribution system is quite complicated and unreasonable due to long distribution channels according to international trade and financial and institutional support is not enough. Especially, there are quite a lot of ineffective factors including multi level distribution process, dramatic gap between production cost and customer's cost, lack of physical distribution facilities and difficulties in storage and transport due to lack of wrapping containers. Besides, because import and export of agricultural products has been manages under the company's own distribution according to transaction contract between manufacturers and exporting company, efficiency is low due to excessive investment in fixed costs and lack of specialty in dealing with agricultural products causes fall of value of products, showing the limit to lose price-competitiveness. Especially, because lack of specialty in distribution and circulation such as storage and wrapping does not solve limit factors in distance, the distribution and circulation has been limited to a form of import and export within short-distant region. Therefore, need for distribution out-sourcing which can satisfy specialty in managing distribution and circulation and it is needed to establish more effective distribution system. Second, among tangible and intangible services which promote the efficiency of the whole distribution, a function building distribution environment which includes distribution information, system for standard and inspection, distribution finance, system for diversification of risks, education and training, distribution administration and tax system is wanted. In general, such a function building distribution environment is difficult to be changed and supplement innovatively because its effect compared with investment does not appear immediately despite of its necessity. Especially, in case of distribution of agricultural products, as a function of collecting and distributing is performed individually through various channels, the importance of distribution information and standardization is getting more focus due to the problem of repetition of work and lack of specialty. Also, efficient management of distribution is quite difficult due to lack of professionals in distribution, so support to professional education is needed. Third, though effort to keep self-sufficiency ratio of staple food, rice is regarded as important at the government level, level of dependency on overseas of others crops is high. Therefore, plan for stable securing food resources aside from staple food is also necessary. Especially, governmental organizations of agricultural products distribution in Korea are production-centered and have unreasonable structure whose function at the aspect of distribution and consumption is quite insufficient. And development of new distribution channels which can deal with changes in distribution environment and they do not achieve actual results of strategy for distribution due to non-positive strategy for price distribution. That is, it implies the possibility that base for supply will become vulnerable because it does not mediate appropriate interests on total distribution channels such as manufacturers, wholesale dealers and vendors by emphasizing consumer protection excessively in the distribution of agricultural products. Therefore, this study examined fundamental concept and actual situation for our investment to overseas agriculture, drew necessities, considerations, problems, etc. of overseas agricultural investment and suggested improvements at the level of distribution for price competitiveness of agricultural products cultivated in overseas under five aspects; government's indirect support, distribution's modernization and distribution information function's strengthening, government's political support for distribution facility, transportation route, load and unloading works' improvement, price competitiveness' securing, professional manpower's cultivation by education and training, etc. Here are some suggestions for foreign produce importation. First, the government should conduct a survey on the current distribution channels and analyze the situation to establish a measure for long-term development plans. By providing each agricultural area with a guideline for planning appropriate production of crops, the government can help farmers be ready for importation, and prevent them from producing same crops all at the same time. Government can sign an MOU with the foreign government and promote the importation so that the development of agricultural resources can be stable and steady. Second, the government can establish a strategy for an effective distribution system by providing farmers and agriculture-related workers with the distribution information such as price, production, demand, market structure and location, feature of each crop, and etc. In order for such distribution system to become feasible, the government needs to reconstruct the current distribution system, designate a public organization for providing distribution information and set the criteria for level of produce quality, trade units, and package units. Third, the government should provide financial support and a policy to seek an efficient distribution channel for foreign produce to be delivered fresh: the government should expand distribution facilities (for selecting, packaging, storing, and processing) and transportation vehicles while modernizing old facilities. There should be another policy to improve the efficiency of unloading, and to lower the cost of distribution. Fourth, it is necessary to enact a new law covering exceptional cases for importing produce in order to maintain the price competitiveness; currently the high tariffs is keeping the imported produce from being distributed domestically. However, the new adjustment should be made carefully within the WTO regulations since it can create a problem from giving preferential tariffs. The government can also simplify the distribution channels in order to reduce the cost in the distribution process. Fifth, the government should educate distributors to raise the efficiency and to modernize the distribution system. It is necessary to develop human resources by educating people regarding the foreign agricultural environment, the produce quality, management skills, and by introducing some successful cases in advanced countries.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1727-1734
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• 2005

The fermentation characteristics and mono- and di-saccharides compositions during the early stage of ensiling were studied with a temperate grass, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and a tropical grass, guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). The laboratory silos were kept in the room set at 25$^{\circ}C$, and then were opened on 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days (14 days in Italian ryegrass) after ensiling, respectively. The Italian ryegrass silage showed a fast and large pH decrease caused by a fast and large production of lactic acid during the first 5 days of ensiling and succeeded to achieve lactic acid type fermentation; high lactic acid/acetic acid and lactic acid content at the end of ensiling (14 days), low values of pH (3.74), acetic acid, ethanol and ammonia-N/total nitrogen, none or only small amounts of Butyric acid, valeric acid and propionic acid. The guineagrass silage showed a slow decrease in pH and a slow increase in lactic acid content during the full ensiling period, causing a high final pH value, low contents of lactic acid, acetic acid, total volatile fatty acids and total organic acids. In Italian ryegrass silage, mono- and di-saccharides compositions decreased largely within the initial 0.5 day (12 h) of ensiling. Sucrose disappeared rapidly within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, but fructose and glucose contents showed an initial rise by the activity of enzymes in plant tissues, and then decreased gradually. On the other hand, the contents of monoand di-saccharides in guineagrass showed the largest decreases due mainly to plant respiration within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, and no initial rises in fructose and glucose contents during the early stage of ensiling because of the absence of fructans which are hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose in temperate grasses. In both silages, the rate of reduction in mono- and di-saccharides compositions within the initial 5 days of ensiling was ranked in the order of glucose>fructose>sucrose, suggesting that glucose and fructose might be more favorably utilized than sucrose by microorganisms and glucose is the first fermentation substrate. It was concluded that the silage made from Italian ryegrass with high moisture content had a good fermentation quality owing to the dominance of lactic acid bacteria and active lactic acid fermentation during the initial stage of ensiling. These results can be explained by rapid plant sap liberation and the high activity of plant enzyme hydrolyzed fructans into fructose and glucose within the initial 2 days of ensiling, which stimulate the homofermentative lactic acid bacteria growth. In ensiling a temperate grass, the physical characteristics may ensure the rapid onset of fermentation phase, which results from the smaller losses of water-soluble carbohydrates during the initial stage of ensiling and providing sufficient water-soluble carbohydrates for lactic acid bacteria. The silage made from guineagrass with intermediate dry matter and high initial mono- and di-saccharides content was stable silage. This could be explained by the higher incorporation of air during the very early stage of ensiling and the restriction of cell breakdown and juice release due to the properties of a tropical grass with coarse porosity and stemmy structures. These physical characteristics delayed the onset of lactic acid bacteria fermentation phase by extending the phases of respiration and aerobic microorganisms activity, causing the higher loss of water-soluble carbohydrates and the shortage of lactic acid bacteria fermentation substrates.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.159-170
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• 2009

Backgrounds and Objectives: A fracture means a loss of continuity in the substance of bone. Bone differs from other musculoskeletal tissue due to its ability to repair and heal itself without leaving a scar. The cutter head has multinucleated osteoclast cells to resorb the dead bone. The tail, with its conical surface, is lined with osteoblast cells laying down new bone. The conjugation of fracture is a unique biological process regulated by a complex array of signaling molecules and proinflammatory cytokines. Pyritum, one of the important prescriptions in the oriental medicine, has been used for conjugation fracture. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of administration of Pyritum on activation of osteoblast cells in human body & on tibia bone fracture in mice. Materials and Methods : Four weeks aged 30 female DBA mice were used for this study. They were divided three groups, normal group, control group(fracture elicitate mice: FE group) and experimental group(Pyritum administered mice group after fracture elicitation : PA group). Left tibia bones of mice in FE and PA groups were fractured by bone cutters. MG-63 cells in human body th Pyritum in the ratio of 1 mg/m${\ell}$, and the cells were further incubated for 24 hours. Activation of osteoblast was identified using osteopontin, FGF in vitro test. In vivo test, regeneration of fractured tibia through the morphological changes was observed, and also activation of inflammation through NF-${\kappa}$B p65, iNOS, COX-2, osteoblast through osteopontin, FGF and osteoblast's proliferation in each group was measured. Results and Conclusions : 1. In vitro test for activation of osteoblast cells in human body by Pyritum, osteopontin and FGF production were remarkably increased in Pyritum treated MG-63 cells. 2. In regeneration of fractured tibia by Pyritum, fractured area in external tibia morphology was decreased more in the PA group than that of the FE group. Osteogenesis in fractured area was increased more in the PA group than that of the FE group. Also, endochodrial ossification in central area of fracture and osteoid in lateral area of fracture were increased more in the PA group than those of the FE group. 3. In activation of inflammation by Pyritum administered, activation of NF-${\kappa}$B p65, increase of iNOS and COX-2 production were higher in the PA and the FE groups than those of the control group. Especially, the PA group showed higher activation and increase than those of the FE group. 4. In activation of osteoblast by Pyritum, increase of osteopontin, FGF and osteoblast's proliferation were higher in the PA and the FE groups than those of the control group. Especially, the PA group showed higher increase and proliferation than those of the FE group.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.27
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• pp.47-55
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• 1984

The results of series studies on the ratio of supplements, out-door composting and out-door fermentation induced by using the rice straw as a main substrates at the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus, and the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus using the rice straw bundles on its compost are as follows; When rice straw for cultivation of A. bisporus was used as the main substrates in synthetic compost as a carbon source, yields were remarkably high. Fermentation was more rapid than that of barley straw or wheat straw and the total nitrogen content was high in rice straw compost. Use of barley straw compost for cultivation of A. bisporus was shown of low yield compared with rice straw, but when a 50% barley straw and 50% rice straw mixture was used, the yield was almost the same as that using only rice straw. The total organic nitrogen on the compost were shown the positive relation to the yield of A. bisporus, but the ammonium nitrogen negative relation to the mycelial growth and yield of A. bisporus. When rice straw was used as the main substrate for compost media, urea was the most suitable source of nitrogen. Poor results were obtained with calcium cyanamide and ammonium sulfate. When urea was applied three separate times, nitrogen loss during composting was decreased and the total nitrogen content of compost was increased. The supplementation of organic nutrient activated compost fermentation and increased yield of A. bisporus. The best sources of organic nutrients selected were as follows: perilla meal, sesame meal, wheat bran and poultry manure, etc. Soybean meal, tobacco powder and glutamic acid fermentation byproducts which were industrial wastes, could be substituted for perilla meal, sesame meal and wheat bran as organic nutrient sources for compost media. During out door composing of rice straw for cultivation of A. bisporus, using of tuner, composter and tunnel system increased up to 13% of its yield, and also cut down 34% of production Cost. The cultivation of P. ostreatus and utilizing of rice straw and wheat straw was established and its yield was high on the rice straw pots. When the substrates 'Rice straw' was heated by steam at $60^{\circ}C$ for 6 hr. mycelial growth of P. ostreatus was moderately rapid and its yield was high.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 1988

Data on egg number from time of first lay to 71 week of age were obtained from samples of single comb white leghorn breeder and brown layer breeder populations which were raised at manny breeding Co. These data were used to estimate the heritabilities of age at sexual maturity, early egg number, residual egg number and annual egg number. Also, the genetic correlation coefficients between these traits were estimated and selection efficiencies of each segment in early part record were estimated by use of the heritabilities and generic correlations. The estimated heritabilities and standard errors in two lines(W and B) were $0.30\pm0.07$ and $0.33\pm0.08$ at early records, $0.19\pm0.06$ and $0.18\pm$0.05 at residual records and $0.37\pm0.09$ and $0.49\pm0.10$ at time of first lay. Those at annual records were $0.24\pm0.06$ equally. The estimated correlation coefficients and standard errors between early record and annual record were $0.76\pm0.08$ and $0.77\pm0.07$. Those between early record and residual record were $0.46\pm0.15$ and $0.39\pm0.16$ respectively. At improving annual egg production per year, selection based on early part record(SM to 40 week of age) would be 69% more efficient than on annual record in line W and 80% more efficient than on annual record in line B. But, if it were considered that egg weight decreased due to sexual maturity and cost for data collection, use of selected segment from 35~40week of age in line W and from 31~40 week of age in line B would be desired in spite of a. small loss in relative selection efficiency. The generation interval would not be shortened.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2013

The present study was performed to assess the worth of using the by products for seaweed (Eucheuma spinosum) ethanol production process (SEPPB) as broiler feeds. For this purpose, 225 broiler chicks (white mini broilers) were used as experimental animals. The control (Control group) was fed with the broiler feeds. 5% mixture (5% SEPPB group) was fed with a 5% SEPPB mixture feeds, and the 10% mixture (10% SEPPB group) was fed with a 10% SEPPB group mixture feeds. The experiment was repeated for five times and 15 birds were assigned in each experiment and the experimental period was five weeks. There was no difference in the rate of weight gain until the second week of the 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group. However, the weight gain rate was increased to 6.2% for the 5% SEPPB group and 11.4% for the 10% SEPPB group as compared to the Control group at the third weeks of the experimental period. There was no statistical significant difference in terms of feed FCR and feed intake. Analyses of the quality of chicken breasts showed that pH was 2.5% higher in the 5% SEPPB group and 2.3% higher in the 10% SEPPB group. Shearing force was 31.3% lower in the 5% SEPPB group and 14.7% lower in the 10% SEPPB group, while heating loss was 14.4% lower for 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group when compared to the Control group. No significant differences were observed in terms of moisture, protein, and crude ash components in chicken breast analyses. However, crude fat was 36.8% higher in the 5% SEPPB group when compared to the Control group (P<0.05). Analyses of fatty acid in chicken breast meat showed that stearic acid was significantly higher in the 10% SEPPB group (P<0.05) and linolenic acid was significantly higher in 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group in comparison to the Control group (P<0.05). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in blood serum was 44% higher in the 5% SEPPB group and 36% higher in the 10% SEPPB group (P<0.05). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was similar in both the Control and the 5% SEPPB group, but it was 62% higher in the 10% SEPPB group in comparison to the Control group (P<0.05). Analyses of serum chemical values revealed that albumin was the highest in the 5% SEPPB group, followed by the Control group and then 10% SEPPB group.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 1992

Studies were conducted to determine the combined effect of uniconazole [(E) -1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4, 4-demethyl 2-(1,2,4 triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol] and silver thiosulfate $[Ag {(S_2O_3)}^3\;_2-]$ (STS) on reduction of ozone injury in tomato plants(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Pink Glory'). Plants were given a 50ml soil drench of uniconazole at concentrations of 0, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg/pot at the stage of emerging 4th leaf. Two days prior to ozone fumigation, STS solution contained 0.05% Tween-20 was also sprayed at concentrations of 0, 0.3 and 0.6 mM. Uniconazole at 0.01 mg/pot and STS at 0.6 mM were effective in providing protection against ozone exposure(20h at 0.2ppm) without severe retardation of plant height and chemical phytotoxicity, respectively. Combined treatment with uniconazole, STS significantly reduced ozone injury at the lower concentration than a single treatment with uniconazole or STS. Uniconazole treatment reduced plant height, stem elongation and transpiration rate on a whole plant level and increased chlorophyll concentration. STS did not give any effect on plant growth and chlorophyll content but increased transpiration rate in non-ozone-fumigated plants. Ethylene production in the leaves of ozone-fumigated plants was decreased by uniconazole and STS pretreatment, but there was no protective effect on epinasty of leaves in uniconazole-treated plants. STS increased ethylene production in non-ozone-fumigated plants, but it significantly reduced the degree of epinasty and defoliation of cotyledons when plants were exposed to ozone. Uniconazole slightly increased superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities. But STS showed little or no effects on such free radical scavengers. Day of flowering after seeding was shortened and percentages of fruit set were increased by uniconazole treatment. STS was highly effective on protecting reduction of fruit set resulting from ozone fumigation. These results suggest that combined use of uniconazole and STS should provide miximum protection against ozone injury without growth retardation resulting in yield loss.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.39-42
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• 1972

A field experiment was conducted in a moderately well drained paddy field doveloped in a narrow strip of a valley in order to observe changes of potassium requirement in paddy production when lime is applied. The results obtained are as follows; 1. The response of paddy to potassium (K) and lime (L) is represented mathematically as follow; $Y=462.78+11.582K-0.058L-0.768K^2-0.000015L^2+0.2204KL$. It is considered that the increase of potassium reqirement when slaked lime is applied, is partially due to the increased growth of plant accomplished by the improvement of soil conditions such as the reduction of respiration inhibitors and cationic balance in soil solution. 2. An economic analysis of the use of potassium and slaked lime applying the costs, 80 won per kg of paddy, 19 won per kg of potassium and 4 won per kg of slaked lime to the response function above, showed that the slaked lime without potssium brought a large loss, whereas the use of the lime together with potassium increased the profit remarkably. The profit increased when 10kg of potassium per 10 a is applied in addition to 200kg slaked limn, per 10kg is amounted 4,685 won. 3. A linear relationship between the economic optimum dose of potassium (y) and the amount of slaked lime (x) in paddy production, is obtained as follow; $$y=7.48+\frac{2.77}{200}x$$ It is, however, considered that the amount of potassium to he used might differ according to the soil conditions such as the potassium content and cation exchange capicity of the soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 1993.12a
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• pp.6-9
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• 1993

According to changes in population, economic conditions, life-stile and eating habits, the frui ts and vegetables market wi 11 be shi fted from processed (i. e. , canned) to fresh. Undressed fresh produce, consisting of washed, disinfected and peeled fruits and vegetables that either sliced or grated, are currently increased in demand by retail and institutional market which use them as salad components or in ready-to use foods, Main attributes of minimally processed fruits and vegetables are convenience and fresh-like quality. Minimally processed Products readily deteriorate in quality, especially color and texture, as a result of endogeneous enzyme enhanced respiration and microorganisms which lead to reduced shelf Iife. According to changes in population, economic conditions, life-stile and eating habits, the frui ts and vegetables market wi 11 be shi fted from processed (i. e. , canned) to fresh. Undressed fresh produce, consisting of washed, disinfected and peeled fruits and vegetables that either sliced or grated, are currently increased in demand by retail and institutional market which use them as salad components or in ready-to use foods, Main attributes of minimally processed fruits and vegetables are convenience and fresh-like quality. Minimally processed Products readily deteriorate in quality, especially color and texture, as a result of endogeneous enzyme enhanced respiration and microorganisms which lead to reduced shelf Iife. Thus. to prevent these undesirable changes , val'ious techniques such as controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, modified atmosphere OIA) storage, including vacuum packaging have been receiving considerable attention, Although milch research has been done to find optimal conditions for whole intact frui ts and vegetables, only limi ted information is avai lable on fresh cut. and other minimally processed products. 81 iced frui ts exhibi t increas~d ethylene production and respiration compal'ed to whole f, 'uits during distribution in response to tissue damage. As a result, accelerated senescence and enzymatic browning OCCUI', Recent l'esearch on minimally processed fl'uits and vegetables has mainly focused on methods to inhibit browning, due to ban on use of sulfur dioxide, In order to retard or prevent these physiological changes, val'ious al ternatives, reducing agents. acidulants, chelating agents and inol'ganic sal ts have been evaluated for use on fresh cut fl'ui ts. Al though some agents were effective replacement for sulfur dioxide. consum$\textregistered$I'S demandless use of chemical on such products. Shel~ life of minimally processed products has been extended by inhibition of metabolic reactions associated with loss of quality and by inhibition of aerobic spoilage caused by wide variety of microorganisms. Appl ication of ~I.-\ packaging, including vacuum packaging, retards the rate of respiration, prevents growth of aerobic spoilage organisms, inhibits oxidation and color deterioration. Tissue softening is another major problem in minimally processed products because enzymes re 1 a ted to ce 11 wa 11 degrada t i on are not inactivated. Various treatments have been investigated for retardation of the softening of sliced products. Some studies have concentrated on the application of an active packaging system with ~I, l. packaging and calcium infi 1 tration as possible measures to retain firmness of processed products. In my opinion, one important step for production of minimally processed frui ts wi th favorabl e color of cut surface and firm texture is the selection of better cultivar. As the view, changing tendency of fresh color by apple cultivars and relationship between the tendency and PPO activity will be discussed in the seminar. In addition to the topic, research result on quality enhancement of fresh apple slices by heat shock treatment will be introduced.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2004

The human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as ultraviolet, smoke, chemicals. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental facts play critical roles in cellular damage. These irritants are in themselves damaging to the skin structure but they also participate the immensely complex inflammatory reaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Juniperus chinensis xylem extract on the UV and SLS-induced skin cell damages. We tested free radical and superoxide scavenging effect in vitro. We found that Juniperus chinensis xylem extracts had potent radical scavenging effect by 98％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Fluorometric assays of the proteolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase-l(MMP-1, collagenase) were performed using fluorescent collagen substrates. UV A induced MMP-1 synthesis and activity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gelatin-based zymography in skin fibroblasts. The extract of Juniperus chinensis showed strong inhibitory effect on MMP-1 activities by 97％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL and suppressed the UVA induced expression of MMP-1 by 79％ at 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. This extract also showed strong inhibition on MMP-2 activity in UVA irradiated fibroblast by zymography. We also examined anti-inflammatory effects by the determination test of proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 in HaCaT keratinocytes. In this test Juniperus chinensis decreased expression of interleukin 6 about 30％. Expression of prostaglandin E$_2$, (PGE$_2$) after UVB irradiation was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using PGE$_2$ monoclonal antibody. At the concentrations of 5-50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the extracts, the production of PGE$_2$ by HaCaT keratinocytes (24 hours after 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ UVB irradiation) was significantly inhibited in culture supernatants (p〈0.05). The viability of cultured HaCaT keratinocytes was significantly reduced at the doses of above 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of UVB irradiation, but the presence of these extracts improved cell viability comparing to control after UVB irradiation. We also investigated the protective effect of this extract in sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritant skin reactions from 24 hour exposure. Twice a day application of the extract for reducing local inflammation in human skin was done. Irritant reactions were assessed by various aspects of skin condition, that is, erythema (skin color reflectance) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). After 5 days the extract was found to reduce SLS-induced skin erythema and improve barrier regeneration when compared to untreated symmetrical test site. In conclusion, our results suggest that Juniperus chinensis can be effectively used for the prevention of UV and SLS-induced adverse skin reactions such as radical production, inflammation and skin cell damage.