• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

Purpose: Recent observational studies have found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with respiratory tract infections. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the efficacy of vitamin D in childhood respiratory tract infection (RTI) have yield inconsistent results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between vitamin D supplementation and the risk of RTI. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial. Randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation for prevention of RTI in children were included for the analysis. Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias was used to assess the quality of the studies. Pooled risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were meta-analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. Results: A total of seven RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. According to a random-effects model, the risk ratio for vitamin D supplementation was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.69-0.98) and $I^2=62%$ for heterogeneity. On subgroup analysis, heterogeneity decreased in the subgroup with follow-up less than 1 year, participants ${\geq}5years$ of age, patients subgroup, and subgroup with dosing daily. Funnel plot showed that there might be publication bias in the field. Conclusions: The present meta-analysis supports a beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of RTI in children. However, the result should be interpreted with caution due to limitations including a small number of available RCTs, heterogeneity among the studies, and potential publication bias.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 1985

In the previous papers (Kim and Park, 1984 a, b; 1985 a), we have reported on alginic acid from Ecklonia cava and Sargassum ringgoldianum. The seasonal variation in the composition of uronic acids and their block structures of alginic acid from Myagropsis myagroides Fensholt and Sargassum horneri C. Agardh (collected from Iee Chun village on the coast of Ilgwang-myon, Yansan-gun, Kyungnam, Korea, in the period of January to December in 1982) are investigated, and their relationship between the chemical composition and some related properties are discussed in this study. One year average contents of alginic acid were $25.2\%$ in the M. myagroides and $26.5\%$ in the S. horneri, and one year average values of M/G ratios were 1.97 in the M. myagroides and 1.38 in the S. horneri. The value of M. myagroides was largest in the period of December to April, and smallest in May to June and October to November. The value of S. horneri was largest in January and smallest in March to April. The proportion of alternating, M and G block in M. myagroides were $18.4\%,\;40.4\%$, and $41.2\%$, and those in S. horneri $9.8\%,\;33.3\%$ and $56.9\%$, respectively. The higher viscosity showed the value of 45.3 cP in M. myagroides (in November), and 26.0 cP in S. horneri(in January), respectively. Furthermore, the dependence on temperature of M. myagroides alginic acid was also larger in November, that of S. horneri alginic acid in June. Ion exchange ability of M. myagroides alginic acid was highest in November and the exchange amounts were $Pb^{2+}\;4.4,\;Cu^{2+}\;1.8,\;Zn^{2+}\;2.5$ and $Co^{2+}\;2.0\;meq/g$. Na-Alg., and the ability of S. horneri alginic acid was highest in June and the amounts were $Pb^{2+}\;4.5,\;Cu^{2+}\;2.2,\;Zn^{2+}\;2.4$ and $Co^{2+}\;2.1\;meq/g.$ Na-Alg. The affinity with metallic ions appeared higher in order of $Pb^{2+}>Cu^{2+}>Zn^{2+}>Co^{2+}$, and the exchange ability assumed to relate with the block ratio of uronic acid.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2003

Effects of various combinations of corn oil (CO) and perilla oil (PO) as respective dietary sources of ${\omega}$-6 and ${\omega}$-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on fatty acid profiles of immune organs were studied in young chicks. Seventy-five 1-day-old male (ISA Brown) chicks were assigned to five treatments with three replications. Semi-purified-type diets containing glucose and soybean meal as major ingredients were added with 8% CO, 6% CO+2% PO, 4% CO+4% PO, 2% CO+6% PO and 8% PO and fed for 7 weeks. There were no significant differences in body weight gain, feed intake and relative weights of liver and immune organs (g/100g weight) among dietary groups. Dietary fatty acid patterns were generally reflected in the fatty acid compositions of all immune organs such as spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius. The levels of a-linolenic acid(LNA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid in various immune organs increased with increasing levels of perilla oil in the diets, whilet the levels of linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) decreased. Thymus appeared to have capacity to retain remarkably higher (P<0.05) levels of LA and LNA up to 37 and 22%, respectively, compared to the other organs. Thymic tissue contained ${\omega}$-3 fatty acid and ${\omega}$-6 fatty acid 10~36 times and 3~5 times higher than the other organs, respectively. Spleen tissue was specifically higher (P<0.05) in the levels of AA and EPA and the ratios of AA/LA and EPA/LNA, compared to the other organs, suggesting that the tissue might have high desaturase activity to convert LA or LNA to AA or EPA, respectively. BSA antibody production tended to increase by 18 ~ 32% with higher levels of perilla oil in diet, although the increase was not statistically significant. In conclusion, fatty acid compositions of immune organs very depending on the lipid composition of the diets and each organ appears to respond differently for its fatty acid profile to dietary lipids. Considering AA and EPA are precursors of many important eicosanoids, further studies are required to clarify the responses of the immune organs to the dietary fatty acids.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.576-584
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• 2000

Background : With the increase of cigarette consumption by women and the young, the incidence of lung cancer is expected to increase during the next three or four decades in Korea. The purpose of this study was to analyze the smoking habits in patients with lung cancer and to identify the gender differences in terms of their susceptibility to cigarette related carcinogens. Method : This investigation was a hospital-based case control study, which included the data of 178 case subjects (72 females, 106 males) with lung cancer and 218 control subjects (97 females, 121 males) with diseases unrelated to smoking. The information was obtained through a direct personal interview and a questionnaire related to personal smoking history. Results : The relative frequency of the squamous cell carcinoma was substantially higher in males than in females (61.3% in males, and 29.2% in females), while adenocarcinoma including bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma was higher in females(31.9% in females, 18.9% in males). Kreyberg I lung cancer was of relatively higher frequencies in males and smokers, while Kreyberg II lung cancer was higher in females and never smokers. The odds ratios (ORs) at each exposure level were consistently higher in females than males. For all cell types, the risk of lung cancer was increased with the quantity of smoked cigarettes, duration of smoking, and depth of inhalation. Odds ratio was distinctly higher in Kreyberg I lung cancer than in total lung cancer and a steeper gradient of risk with increased smoking was observed in females. Conclusion : The relative risk for lung cancer was consistently higher in females than in males at every level of exposure to cigarette smoke. This is believed to be due to the higher susceptibility of females to tobacco carcinogens, such as gender associated differences of carcinogen activation and/or the elimination of smoking related metabolites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.441-445
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• 2005

Researches on estimating national-scaled forest biomass are being carried out to quantify the carbon stock of forests with the Kyoto Protocol. In general, estimates of national-scaled forest biomass are based on forest inventory data which provides estimates of forest area, stem volume, and growth of stem by age classes. Estimates of forest biomass are, however, obtained by converting stem volumes to dry weight with stem density and thereafter to whole tree biomass with biomass expansion factors (ratios of whole tree dry weight to stem dry weight). Pinus densiflora is widely distributed and one of the most economically important timber species in Korea. The species are largely grouped into two ecotypes of Geumgang and Jungbu. Stems of Geumgang type trees are straight and high compared to those of Jungbu type trees. The objective of this study was to determine and compare stem density and biomass expansion factors fore two ecotypes of Pinus densiflora according to stand age. Stem density of both ecotypes of Pinus densora increased and biomass expansion factors of them decreased with increasing tree age. In he same age class, stem density and biomass expansion factor of Geungang type Pinus densiflora were lower than those of Jungbu type Pinus densiflora. There were statistically significant differences in stem density and biomass expansion factors between Geumgang type and Jungbu type Pinus densiflora in 0-20-year-old stands and 40-60-year-old stands. Our results suggested that the reliability of the national forest biomass inventory could be improved by applying the ecotype- and age-dependent stem density and biomass expansion factors.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.449-457
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• 2010

This study investigated the effects of three kinds of water extract mixtures each with different ratios of A. capillaris, C. sinensis, S. chinensis, and V. coloratum on laying performance, egg quality, blood characteristics, and egg storage stability in laying hens. One hundred and sixty 35-wk-old laying hens (Hy-line brown) were divided into four groups of 10 birds each replicated times four. The treatments involved a basal diet (C, control) or diets containing three kinds of water extract mixtures at 200 ppm (T1, water extract mixture A; T2, water extract mixture B; T3, water extract mixture C). The egg production rate, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved in all treatments compared to those of control (p<0.05). Haugh unit and egg yolk color in all treated groups were significantly improved in comparison with control (p<0.05), but no significant differences were observed for egg shell quality. The content of total cholesterol in blood serum was significantly decreased in all treatments compared to that of control (p<0.05). The blood biochemical parameters of liver and kidney damage were significantly decreased in all treatments compared to those of control (p<0.05). Total antioxidant activity in the blood serum of all treated groups was increased as well. The Haugh unit and malondialdehyde content in the egg yolk during storage were significantly decreased in all treated groups compared to control (p<0.05). Consequently, the dietary supplementation of water extract mixtures of A. capillaris, C. sinensis, S. chinensis, and V. coloratum improved laying performance and egg quality but decreased egg quality deterioration with increased storage. These results suggest that medicinal plant extracts could be used as a feed additive in feed for laying hens.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 2000

The geostatistical analyses for the chemical components of pH, TS, KMnO4 Demand, Cl, SO$_4$ and NO$_3$-N are carried out to understand the groundwater contamination in Pusan. The average values of each component are 7.2 for pH, 336.4mg/$\ell$ for TS, 2.3mg/$\ell$ for KMnO$_4$ Demand, 44.3mg/$\ell$ for Cl, 36.0mg/$\ell$ for SO$_4$, and 4.6mg/$\ell$ for NO$_3$-N. The ratios over the drinking standard of each component are 0.34% for pH, 2.27% for TS, 1.55% for KMnO$_4$ Demand, 1.59% for Cl, 0.57% for SO$_4$, and 3.7% for NO$_3$-N. The highest ratio of NO$_3$-N results from the municipal sewage and exhaust gas of vehicles. The isopleth maps of 6 chemical components show that the high values of groundwater contamination come from the inland of Pusan, and that some high values appear at the coastal area. The isopleth maps of Cl and SO$_4$ related with seawater intrusion also show that the high values appear only at the particular coastal area, not at the whole area. On the isopleth maps of Cl and SO$_4$, the anomalies of the concentration contours were compared with the directions of two large fault zones, the Ilkwang Fault and the Dongrae Fault. Apparently, they don't have the particular correlation. Therefore, it is concluded that the main source of groundwater contamination in Pusan is not the seawater, but the municipal sewage and other sources such as the exhaust gas of vehicles, the contaminated surface water, the waste water of factories, and the leachate of waste landfills.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2004

The effects of liquid culture of Coriolus versicolor on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, serum and hepatic lipid concentrations, serum protein levels and serum enzyme activities, were studied in growing male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were given four different types of diets for a succeeding period of 5 weeks, respectively: a normal diet group (7% corn oil), a high fat diet group (7% corn oil＋15% lard), a 20% or 30% C. versicolor diet groups (high fat diet＋20% or 30% C. versicolor in water) according to the levels of C. versicolor supplementation. The body weight gains of the rats fed the 30% C. versicolor diets were lower than those in the rats fed high fat diet. The epididymal fat pad weight of the rats fed high fat diet and 20% or 30% C. versicolor diets were significantly higher than that of the rats fed normal diet. The concentrations of triglyceride in the serum and the liver of the rats fed the 30% C. versicolor diets were more significantly decreased compared to rats on the high fat diet. The concentrations of total cholesterol in the serum and the liver of rats fed the high fat diet, 20% and 30% C. versicolor diets were similar to those of rats fed the normal diet. The HDL-cholesterol concentration and the HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratio of the rats fed 20% and 30% C. versicolor diets were significantly lower than those of the rats fed high fat diet. But the antherogenic index of the rats fed 20% or 30% C. versicolor diets were significantly higher than those of the rats fed high fat diet. There were no differences in the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum among the experimental groups. These results showed that the 30% C. versicolor diet feeding decreased the triglyceride in serum and liver of the rats.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2013

To estimate the effect of algae to particulate organic matter in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa, temporal and spatial variations of particulate organic carbon (POC) and phytoplankton pigments (chlorophyll a; Chl-a, pheophytin-a; Pheo-a), and their relationships were studied at seven sites of the brackish regions from March to October 2005 and 2006. POC concentration varied from 1.0 to $76.6mgL^{-1}$ (mean $7.4mgL^{-1}$), with maximal concentrations occurring in the middle parts of the study area in spring of 2005 and 2006. Concentrations of Chl-a and Pheo-a varied from 1.3 to $942.9{\mu}gL^{-1}$ (mean $71.0{\mu}gL^{-1}$) and $1.4{\sim}1,545.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$ (mean $59.9{\mu}gL^{-1}$), respectively, and corresponded closely with variation in POC. During the study period Pheo-a concentration was 44.2% of total Chl-a, implying that non-living or inactive phytoplankton is also the important part of phytoplankton-derived POC in brackish regions of Lake Sihwa. From the positive linear relationships between POC and phytoplankton pigments (POC with Chl-a (r=0.93), total Chl-a (r=0.88), and Pheo-a (r=0.81)), it is suggested that phytoplankton was a significant component of POC in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa. On the other hand, the ratios of POC/Chl-a and POC/total Chl-a (Chl-a+Pheo-a) were 82.9 and 35.9, respectively. The ratio of POC/total Chl-a is similar to those reported in previous studies, including 40~60 in estuaries. This study suggests that Pheo-a concentration is considered in estimation of POC concentration from phytoplankton pigments in aquatic systems with high content of Pheo-a, like an upper region of blackish Lake Sihwa.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.696-704
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• 2015

This study was carried out to evaluate the optimum operational condition of Semi-continuously Fed and Mixed Reactor (SCFMR) to treat the dairy cow manure and saw dust mixture. Step-wise increase in organic loading rates (OLRs) or decrease in hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were utilized until the biogas volume became significantly decreased at mesophilic temperature ($35^{\circ}C$). The optimum operating condition of the SCFMR fed with TS 13% dairy cow manure and saw dust mixture was found to be an HRTs of 25 days and its corresponding OLRs of $4.45kg\;VS/m^3-day$. At this condition the biogas and methane production rates were 1.44 v/v-d and 1.12 v/v-d (volume of biogas per volume of reactor per day), respectively and the TVS removal efficiency of 37% was achieved. The successful operation with such a high OLR was due to the high reactor alkalinity concentration of 14,500~15,600 mg/L as $CaCO_3$ as a result of the characteristic of the original substrate, dairy cow manure and saw dust mixture whose alkalinity was more than 8,000 mg/L as $CaCO_3$. The parameters for the reactor stability, the ratios of volatile acids and alkalinity concentrations (V/A) and the ratio of propionic acid and acetic acid concentrations (P/A) appeared to be 0.11 and 0.43, respectively, that were greatly stable in operation. Free ammonia toxicity was not experienced due to the long term acclimation by the reactor TS content ranged 7.2~10.4% during the entire operational period.