• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2010

This study was conducted to monitor aflatoxins in various medicinal herbs, providing available data for the safety of those products. To monitor aflatoxins in medicinal herbs, a total of 400 samples of 40 different herbs were collected in commercial retailers in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan from March to August, 2008. The samples that passed the sensory evaluation were tested for aflatoxins. Aflatoxins in samples were analyzed by HPLC-florescence coupled with photochemical enhancement. Samples were extracted with 70% methanol and then diluted to the appropriate concentration. A refining process was performed using an immunoaffinity column. The analytical method used in this study was validated. The $R^2$ value for aflatoxin $B_1$ was 0.99946, and the detection range was from 0.25 to 10.0 ng/mL. The accuracy of the analysis was ranged from 83.2% to 101.8%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) in the aflatoxin $B_1$ analysis was 3.4%, demonstrating the precision of this method. In addition, the detection limit and quantitative analysis limit of aflatoxin $B_1$ was $0.53\;{\mu}g/kg$ and $1.76\;{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. These results indicated that the analytical method used in this study was appropriate. The results of HPLC showed that 1% (4 samples) of the samples may contain aflatoxins. The concentration of quantified aflatoxin was $2.3\;{\mu}g/kg$ for both Quisqualis fructus and Remotiflori radix samples. The other samples were below the limit of quantification. Moreover, the concentration of aflatoxin $B_1$ which is made by specific fungi were below the level of regulation. Only 20% of aflatoxin $B_1$ were transferred to hot water. Therefore, the levels of aflatoxins in medicinal herbs were considered to be safe especially considering the aflatoxin transfer ratio.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.292-300
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• 2013

In this study, we examine the palatability and physicochemical properties of rice in the year, when there was 10% increase in yield compared to normal year due to daily temperature range and sunshine hours. The results of the analysis of rice yield over the last 20 years (1993-2012) showed 10% difference between the yield in 2000, which was normal, and that in 2001. With regard to the crop weather condition during the ripening period in 2001 compared to 2000, the daily range and sunshine hours were higher, but the mean temperature was similar. The rice yield in 2001 was 9.8% higher than that in 2000 due to the increased number of spikelets per panicles and ratio of ripened grain. In terms of chemical traits, protein, Mg, and K contents decreased in 2001 compared to 2000, but amylose content increased. Trough and final viscosity assessed with a Rapid Visco Analyser were significantly higher in 2001 than 2000. The quality of cooked rice was measured through the Toyo Mido Meter Glossiness Value (TGV) instead of a palatability score because a sensory test produces relative comparison values rather than absolute values. The correlation coefficients between the sensory evaluation parameters and the TGV in several rice materials harvested in two years showed a highly significant positive correlation ($r=0.81^{**}-0.89^{**}$, n=27-47). TGV was also significantly higher in 2001 than in 2000. The results suggested that the palatability of cooked rice was good in 2001 with about 10% increase in rice yield compared to normal year in 2000 due to daily temperature range and sunshine hours.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.1013-1022
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• 2004

This study investigated the effects of silkworm droppings(SWD) added diet feeding on chemical composition of pork loin meat. Pigs were divided into 7 treatment groups(10 pigs/group) and subjected to one of seven treatment diets(O, 1 0/0, 2 0/0, 3% SWD for 4 weeks, 1 0/0, 2 0/0, 3% SWD for 8 weeks, SWD diets; total fed diets) before slaughter. Pork loin were collected from the animals(1l0 kg body weight) slaughtered at a commercial slaughter house. Pork loin meat were aerobic packaged and then stored at$4^{\circ}C$ for 2, 5, 8, or 12 days. Samples were analyzed for TBARS, sensory evaluation, myoglobin content, fatty acid composition, amino acid and mineral content. TBARS value was not significantly different between the control and SWD treatment groups. Myoglobin content of SWD fed group pork was significantly increased than that of control group(P<0.05). Marbling score and acceptability were increased in SWD fed pork compared to those in control pork. Na, Mg, Ca, Mn and Fe content of SWD fed group pork was significantly decreased than those of control group(P<0.05). P content was significantly increased than that of control group(P< 0.05). In the change of amino acid composition, the contents of aspartic acid, serine and tyrosine were decreased by dietary SWD-supplementation, whereas the SWD-supplementation resulted in the higher glutamic acid, alanine and isoleucine. As dietary SWD was increased in feed, the content of oleic acid was significantly increased, but stearic acid was significantly decreased(P<0.05).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2013

AprE51 from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CH51 is a 27 kDa subtilisin-like protease with fibrinolytic activity. AprE51-6 showing increased catalytic activity was produced previously. To enhance the thermostability of AprE51-6, 2 residues, Gly-166 and Asn-218 based on B. subtilis subtilisin E were mutated by site-directed mutagenesis. The results of the mutational analysis showed that substitution of arginine for Gly-166 (AprE51-7) increased the fibrinolytic activity 1.8-fold. An N218S mutant (AprE51-8) also increased the fibrinolytic activity up to 4.5-fold in a fibrin plate assay. Purified AprE51-7 and AprE51-8 mutants had a 1.9- and a 2.5-fold higher $k_{cat}$, respectively, and a 2.1-1.9-fold lower $K_m$, respectively. This resulted in a 3.8- and a 4.7-fold increase in catalytic efficiency ($k_{cat}/K_m$), respectively, relative to that of wild-type AprE51. AprE51-8 had a broader pH range than AprE51-6 and nattokinase, especially at an alkaline pH value. In addition, AprE51-8 showed higher thermostability than AprE51-6 at $60^{\circ}C$. The half-lives of AprE51-7 and AprE51-8 at $50^{\circ}C$ were 21.5 and 27.3 min, respectively, which are 2.0 and 2.6 times longer, respectively, than that of the wild-type AprE51.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.239-276
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• 2009

The paper investigates the possible relationship between earnings prediction by security analysts and special ownership ties that link security companies those analysts belong to and firms under analysis. "Security analysts" are known best for their role as information producers in stock markets where imperfect information is prevalent and transaction costs are high. In such a market, changes in the fundamental value of a company are not spontaneously reflected in the stock price, and the security analysts actively produce and distribute the relevant information crucial for the price mechanism to operate efficiently. Therefore, securing the fairness and accuracy of information they provide is very important for efficiencyof resource allocation as well as protection of investors who are excluded from the special relationship. Evidence of systematic distortion of information by the special tie naturally calls for regulatory intervention, if found. However, one cannot presuppose the existence of distorted information based on the common ownership between the appraiser and the appraisee. Reputation effect is especially cherished by security firms and among analysts as indispensable intangible asset in the industry, and the incentive to maintain good reputation by providing accurate earnings prediction may overweigh the incentive to offer favorable rating or stock recommendation for the firms that are affiliated by common ownership. This study shares the theme of existing literature concerning the effect of conflict of interests on the accuracy of analyst's predictions. This study, however, focuses on the potential conflict of interest situation that may originate from the Korea-specific ownership structure of large conglomerates. Utilizing an extensive database of analysts' reports provided by WiseFn(R) in Korea, we perform empirical analysis of potential relationship between earnings prediction and common ownership. We first analyzed the prediction bias index which tells how optimistic or friendly the analyst's prediction is compared to the realized earnings. It is shown that there exists no statistically significant relationship between the prediction bias and common ownership. This is a rather surprising result since it is observed that the frequency of positive prediction bias is higher with such ownership tie. Next, we analyzed the prediction accuracy index which shows how accurate the analyst's prediction is compared to the realized earnings regardless of its sign. It is also concluded that there is no significant association between the accuracy ofearnings prediction and special relationship. We interpret the results implying that market discipline based on reputation effect is working in Korean stock market in the sense that security companies do not seem to be influenced by an incentive to offer distorted information on affiliated firms. While many of the existing studies confirm the relationship between the ability of the analystand the accuracy of the analyst's prediction, these factors cannot be controlled in the above analysis due to the lack of relevant data. As an indirect way to examine the possibility that such relationship might have distorted the result, we perform an additional but identical analysis based on a sub-sample consisting only of reports by best analysts. The result also confirms the earlier conclusion that the common ownership structure does not affect the accuracy and bias of earnings prediction by the analyst.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2014

This study was performed in order to investigate the functional components of 5 kinds of marine algae. We have collected 5 samples of marine algae, such as the sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), sea tangle (Laminaria iaponice), sea weed fusiforme (Hizikia fusiforme), green laver (Entetomotpha), laver (Phophyratenera), which have been harvested in Jeollanam-do. In order to examine the functional effects, 5 kinds of marine algae were extracted with hot water ($80^{\circ}C$, 4 hr), ethanol and methanol (R.T., 4 hr), and subcritical water extract (SWE, 3 MPa, $90^{\circ}C$, $150^{\circ}C$, $210^{\circ}C$). A higher yield of extract was obtained through SWE method (3 MPa, $210^{\circ}C$) in all of the samples obtained. The highest total sugar content was 427.4 mg/g in green laver extracted with SWE (3 MPa, $210^{\circ}C$). The content of the SWE total phenolic compounds was higher than that of the water and solvent (methanol, ethanol) extracts. The anti-oxidative activities of the extracts from 5 kinds of marine algae were examined through the DPPH radical scavenging activity test. The SWE (3 MPa, $150^{\circ}C$ and $210^{\circ}C$) of the marine algae was the highest among all of the extracts. As per the results, the SWE of the marine algae contained more functional components and it had a higher antioxidant activity than those of the other extracts. The $IC_{50}$ value of tyrosinase in seaweed fusiforme and laver were higher than those of the other samples. These results strongly support the possible use of marine algae as functional materials.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2014

RNA interference (RNAi) is the method which controls phenotypes of gene in live cells. Chitinase is the enzyme helping digestion and absorption of old cuticles during the ecdysis of insects. In order to investigate molting-inhibition effect with the chitinase related gene in Spodoptera litura, RNA was extracted from the $5^{th}$ instars. cDNA was synthesized and then we obtained about 700 bp size chitinase. After PCR products were cloned into a pGEM T-easy vector, colonies were picked. DNA was extracted from the colony cultures. EcoR I enzyme was used to check whether PCR products were inserted or not. And then we confirmed vector band of about 3 kb and insert band of about 700 bp. To synthesize the dsRNA, each DNA was cut with Spe I and Nco I enzymes (Circular DNA became lineared DNA). After synthesis of dsRNA, approximately 5 ul dsRNA was injected into the $3^{rd}$ abdominal segment of S. litura $4^{th}$ larvae. The concentration of dsRNA was about $10{\mu}g/{\mu}l$. We confirmed larval-larval molting : there were phenotypically abnormal individuals - for instance malformation, molting inhibition and change of integument color. Pupaadult molting : there were phenotypically abnormal individuals - for instance molting inhibition, change of wings and malformation. Also we could investigate the pupation, emergence and variation about noninjection, treated with DW and dsRNA. Each pupation was non-injection 83.3%, DW 78.3% and dsRNA 66.7%. Each emergence was non-injection 90.0%, DW 72.3% and dsRNA 65.0%. So we considered that chitinase dsRNA induced molting inhibition effect. But each variation was non-injection 8.9%, DW 2.9% and dsRNA 19.2%. Therefore dsRNA group showed the highest variation value. When 18 hours after injecting dsRNA, we could obtain abnormal individual.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.393-407
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• 1997

A survey of biological and chemical characteristics in the middle-northern East Sea of Korea was carried out at 28 stations in October, 1995 on board R/V Tam-Yang. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 5 major groups; (1) Low Saline Surface Water (LSSW), (2) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), (3) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), (4) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW), (5) last Sea Porper Water (ESPW). Other 4 mixed water masses were also observed. It is highly possible that the LSSW which occured at depths of $0\~30m$ in the most southern part of the study area is originated from the Yangtze River (Kiang) of China due to very low salinity $(<32.0\%_{\circ})$ relatively high concentration of dissolved silicate and no sources of freshwater input into that area. Oxygen maximum layer in the vertical profile was located near surface at northern cold waters and became deeper at the warm southern area. Oxygen minimum layer af depths $50\~100m$, which is TMW, were found in only southern area. In the vortical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased drammatically near the thermocline. The highest concentration occurred in the ESPW. The relatively low value of Si/P ratio in the ESPW (13.63) compared to other reports in the East Sea was due to continuous increase of P with depth as well as Si. The N : P ratio was about 6.92, showing that nitrogenous nutrient is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. The exponential relationship between Si and P, compared to the linear relationship between N and P, indicates that nitrate and phosphate have approximately the same regenerative pattern, but silicate has delayed regenerative pattern.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.729-733
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• 2005

This study was conducted to sanitize fried-frozen cheese ball by gamma irradiation. Total aerobic bacteria and yeasts and molds counts were 4.4 and 2.8 log CFU/g in non-irradiated sample, respectively. Microorganisms were decreased with increase of irradiation dose $(D_{10}=1.25\;kGy)$, and were not detected in samples irradiated at 3 kGy or more $(<10^2\;CFU/g)$. $D_{10}$ value for Escherichia coli (KCTC 1682) was 0.25 kGy. TBA (2-thiobarbituric acid) values were increased as irradiation dose was increased, but there was no significant difference between non-irradiated and irradiated samples at 3 kGy or less (p<0.05). The results of sensory evaluation showed that there was no significant difference between non-irradiated and irradiated samples at 3 kGy or less, the sensory scores were decreased with irradiation at 5 kGy or more (p<0.05). These results indicated that gamma irradiation at 3 kGy was considered to be an effective treatment to ensure the microbiological safety of fried-frozen cheese balls without any sensorial change, even though further studies should be investigated to reduce detrimental effects induced by irradiation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1977

In the analysis of variance between population and between individual trees (families), the fluctuation of values of variances due to sample size, (number of family) was analysed by two different designs, i.e. 2-level nested design with equal sample size and randomized complete block design. The variables were seedling heights and root calipers of 1-0 and 1-1 seedlings of Pinus densiflora S. et Z. The details of three natural stands and their progeny characters were presented in previous reports. 1. In nested design analysis. increase of sample size resulted the decrease of F-values among families in general, however, the F-values among populations showen the increasing tendency. The smaller the sample size, the larger the F-values fluctuation was resulted in general. At the point of beyond sample size 10, however, the fluctuation become to be stabilized. The F-value fluctuation seemed to be more in the case of analysis with random sampling method than with sequentially accumulated sampling method. And also such a tendency was more obvious in smaller sample size than in large one. 2. In R.C.B.D. analysis, the sample size to affirm the family variation was smaller than that for population variations.