• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.493-503
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• 2021

The study was designed to analyze raw and auxiliary materials of Korean traditional cookies such as Yugwa and Gangjeong, equipment and tools, personal hygiene of workers and microbial contamination of materials by each manufacturing process. In addition, it looked at washing method for reducing microorganisms at the site and reduction effect of microorganisms by frequency in the manufacturing processes of Yugwa. In the process of producing Korean traditional cookies, the level of total aerobic bacteria (TAB) in popped rice was 1.2 Log CFU/g and the level of TAB in finished products increased to 3.7 Log CFU/g. In the process of producing Yugwa, the level of TAB increased to a maximum of 6.5 Log CFU/g in the soaking process but decreased to 1.3 Log CFU/g in the frying process. However, the level of TAB increased again to 1.3 Log CFU/g in finished products that proves its recontamination. It is estimated that he manufacturing process causes cross-contamination that comes from the work tools, equipment or workers. In particular, the spatula, one of the work tools, was found to have 4.4 Log CFU/g of aerobic bacteria and 4.2 Log CFU/g of colon bacillus that show they are highly contaminated. In the soaking process of Yugwa that lasts seven days, the level of TAB was a maximum of 10 Log CFU/g and the level of total colon bacillus was 6.8 Log CFU/g. When compared with washing methods, using hands and tools or running water, it is confirmed that the level of both TAB and total colon bacillus decreased to 5.0 Log CFU/g and 2.8 Log CFU/g respectively when hands were washed with running water 10 times. The above result shows that it's required for workers to wash their hands as well as wash and disinfect work tools and equipment in the process of producing Korean traditional cookies at small-scale companies. In addition, to reduce the level of microbial contamination in finished products, workers are required to apply their reduction method at the site.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.218-223
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• 2022

This study, conducted during 2018-2021 in Gangseo, Seoul, monitored residual pesticides in 14 types of fresh-cut produce, including lettuce, tomato, and celery, in wholesale market and supermarkets. A total of 589 cases (2.9%) were inspected; 17 cases (2.9%) were detected within the criteria, and 2 cases (0.3%) exceeded the maximum residual limit (MRL). When assessing the distribution stage of the pesticide violation, there were two violations in the wholesale market (before distribution), which differed from the supermarkets (during distribution). The detected pesticides, mainly insecticides and fungicides, appeared in the order of flubendiamide, flufenoxuron, and diazinon. A violation rate of 0.3% was found for wholesale market, which is collection area dedicated to fresh-cut produce, and this was lower than that for general agricultural products (1.4-2.5%). Since fresh-cut produce are consumed immediately after simple processing, residual pesticides significantly affect the human body; therefore, continuous monitoring of pesticide residues is required.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2021

Purpose In ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, the absorption of ¹⁸F-FDG due to the activation of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) greatly interferes with the discrimination of lymph node malignant metastasis. Warming the patient's body temperature before and after injection of ¹⁸F-FDG to prevent FDG absorption by BAT is a safe and non-pharmacological approach. The purpose of this study was to identify and select patients with a high potential for BAT activation in advance, and to investigate whether BAT can inhibit FDG absorption when the body temperature is raised for a short time by directly applying heat to the target patient. Materials and Methods Among the patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT at the National Cancer Center from January 2020 to December 2020, 825 female patients (415 in the thermal group, 410 in the non-thermal group) under 50 years old were included. The thermal group was administered heat for 10 minutes before injection of ¹⁸F-FDG. For statistical analysis, the Z test comparing the ratios between the two groups was used, and logistic regression analysis was performed to correct for important variables (BMI, outdoor temperature, blood sugar) according to the results of the previous retrospective study. Results Among 825 patients, 19 patients with BAT activated (Thermal group: 5(1.2%), Non-thermal group: 14(3.41%)) accounted for 2.3% of the total. As a result of performing the Z test to compare the ratios between the two groups, the activation of BAT in the thermal group was significantly decreased (P=0.034). In the univariate logistic regression analysis, the activation of BAT was also decreased in the thermal group (OR: 0.34, P<0.05). In the multivariate results, BAT activation increased in patients younger than 45 years old (OR: 4.46, P<0.05) and outdoor temperature less than 13.2 degrees (OR: 9.97, P<0.05). BAT activation tended to decrease in the thermal group, but there was no significant difference (OR: 0.37, P=0.066). Conclusion We confirmed that the activation of BAT tends to decrease by 62.5% in the group subjected to the thermal method, and it will be of great help in preventing FDG absorption of BAT more effectively in the future.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.300-309
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• 2021

This study was conducted to develop food and medicinal products containing useful components of Lentinula edodes in Codonopsis lanceolata and Platycodon grandiflorus for use as herbal medicine. We manufactured C. lanceolata (FCLM) and P. grandiflorus (FPLM) extract fermented with L. edodes mycelium. The effect of the two fermented products on proximate composition, free sugar, organic acid, 𝛽-glucan, ergothioneine, ergosterol, and vitamin D₂ levels, and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell growth were studied. The proximate composition analysis results showed that the crude fiber and crude fat content in FCLM was higher than that in FPLM, and the crude protein and soluble nitrogen content in FPLM was higher than that in FCLM. Free sugar analysis detected arabinose, glucose, and sucrose in both FCLM and FPLM, and the total free sugar content was high in FPLM. The organic acid content was lower in FCLM and FPLM compared to C. lanceolata and P. grandiflorus before fermentation. The 𝛽-glucan content was higher than that of L. edodes used as a control in both fermented products, FCLM and FPLM. The content of ergothioneine, an antioxidant, was higher in FCLM than in FPLM. Ergosterol content was highest in L. edodes which was used as a control, and the two fermented products showed similar content. Vitamin D₂ was detected only in FCLM and FPLM, and FPLM (0.58±0.01 mg%) showed a higher vitamin D₂ content than FCLM (0.47±0.01). FCLM and FPLM showed a higher level of cell viability for 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes compared to non-fermented C. lanceolata and P. grandiflorus. In addition, FCLM and FPLM inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation more than C. lanceolata and P. grandiflorus before fermentation, which may exert an anti-obesity effect.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.318-326
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• 2022

The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) recommends that 17% of the land be designated as a protected area to counter global environmental problems. Korea also realized a need to designate protected areas according to the international level and explain the significance of designating protected areas. Accordingly, studies on ecosystem services are required. In Korea, the protected areas are designated as national parks, provincial parks, and county parks by hierarchy under the Natural Parks Act. However, as priority was on political and administrative aspects, research on ecosystem service value evaluation and habitat management were concentrated in national parks, and provincial and county parks were relatively neglected. Therefore, more studies on provincial and county parks are necessary. In this study, habitat quality for Gajisan Provincial Park, where there were few studies on habitat management and ecosystem service valuation, was evaluated using the InVEST Habitat Quality model among the InVEST models. The analysis results were compared with 16 mountainous national parks. The results showed that the habitat quality value of Gajisan Provincial Park was 0.83, higher than that of the surrounding areas. The analysis of habitat quality in three districts showed 0,84 for the Tongdosa and Naewonsa districts and 0.83 for the Seoknamsa district. By use district, the nature conservation district, the natural environment district, the cultural heritage district, and the park village district had the highest habitat quality value in that order. Compared with the existing habitat quality analysis results of national parks, Gajisan Provincial Park showed naturalness at the level of Mudeungsan National Park. These results can be used as objective data for establishing policies and management plans to preserve biodiversity and promote ecosystem services in provincial parks.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2022

Carbonate green rust (CGR) and sulfate green rust (SGR) commonly occur in nature. In this study, CGR and SGR were synthesized through co-precipitation, and their formation mechanisms and physicochemical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement showed both CGR and SGR with layered double hydroxide structure were successfully synthesized without any secondary phases under each synthetic condition. Refined structural parameters (unit cell) for two green rusts were a (=b) = 3.17 Å and c = 22.52 Å for CGR and a (=b) = 5.50 Å and c = 10.97 Å for SGR with the crystallite size 57.8 nm in diameter from (003) reflection and 40.1 nm from (001) reflections, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) results showed that both CGR and SGR had typical hexagonal plate-like crystal morphologies but their chemical composition is different in the content of C and S. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis revealed that carbonate (CO₃^2-) and sulfate (SO₄^2-) molecules were occupied as interlayer anions of CGR and SGR, respectively. These SEM/EDS and FT-IR results were in good agreement with XRD results. Changes in the solution chemistry (i.e., pH, Eh and residual iron concentrations (Fe(II):Fe(III)) of the mixed solution) were observed as a function of the injection time of hydroxyl ion (OH^-) into the iron solution. Three different stages were observed in the formation of both CGR and SGR; precursor, intermediator, and green rust in the formation of both CGR and SGR. This study provides co-precipitation methods for CGR and SGR in a way of the stable synthesis. In addition, our findings for the formation mechanisms of the two green rusts and their physicochemical properties will provide crucial information with researches and industrials in utilizing green rust.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.37
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• pp.1-52
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• 2021

The Naejeong, the inner court, which is one of the structures found in the temple complexes of Daesoon Jinrihoe. It serves the function of leading and controlling the operation and direction of Korean religions in general. Considering that the dictionary meaning of 'Naejeong' is 'a place to manage the affairs of the state from inside a palace,' the name and function of the structure appear to be in harmony. However, in the Daesoon Jinrihoe context, it is said that the name 'Naejeong (內庭 'Neiting' in Chinese)' is related to a verse from a Daoist scripture. It has not been revealed whether or not the scripture is historical, and what contents or contextual meanings it contains. This study tries to pursue this matter and introduce the original source of the Naejeong in Daesoon Jinrihoe as likely coming from Qianbapinxianjing (前八品仙經, The Former Scripture of the Eight Phases That Reveal the Means to Acquire Immortality). This scripture was compiled in Lüzu-quanshu(呂祖全書, The Entire Collection of Ancestor Lü). This text and its contextual meanings will also be examined. The origin of Qianbapinxianjing dates back to either the late Ming Dynasty or the early Qing. In those days, there existed a group of literati who worshipped Ancestor Lü because he had saved people and taught the art of immortality. The group organized Daoist Spirit-Writing Altars (鸞壇道敎) and invoked the spirit of Ancestor Lü. They were said to have been taught through messages received from spirit-writing sessions (降乩) with Ancestor Lü and several Daoist scriptures were composed by them in this manner. At Immortals-Gathering Pavilion (集仙樓) of Wandian (萬店) in Guangling (廣陵), China, some literati in that group conducted a spirit-writing session with Ancestor Lü between 1589 and 1626, and they produced a scripture which contained the passage, "A crow and a rabbit gather in the middle valley (烏兎結中谷) while a turtle entwined with a snake is in the inner court (龜蛇盤內庭)." They titled the scripture, The Five Movements and Filial Piety (五行端孝). This passage symbolically expresses the accomplishment of immortality in Neidan (internal alchemy) which, within the human body, combines the two energies of yin and yang which are Water and Fire in the Five Movements scheme. This kind of cultivation is said to be achieved only by maintaining the highest possible degree of filial piety. In this context, the Naejeong where a turtle is entwined with a snake (龜蛇合體) was a term that symbolically depicted a place wherein one transforms into an immortal through cultivation. The Five Movements and Filial Piety was included in Qianbapinxianjing after it had been compiled with the other scriptures containing Ancestor Lü's teachings. In 1744, Qianbapinxianjing was included in Lüzu-quanshu, the entire 32-volume collection of Ancestor Lü and printed for the first time. This underlies the belief in Ancestor Lü (呂祖信仰) which embraces the idea of the redemption of people, teaches the arts of immortality, and features Daoist Spirit-Writing Altars, filial piety, the art of Neidan, and the combination of Water and Fire.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.398-403
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• 2021

Purpose: A biopsy is needed to diagnose soft tissue tumors. However, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the site of a tumor due to the heterogeneity of sarcomas. Thus, even when an open biopsy is conducted, it is difficult to diagnose a soft tissue tumor. In such cases, an ultrasound (US)-guided biopsy is used to improve the diagnostic accuracy. This study evaluated the accuracy of US-guided biopsy for a diagnosis of soft tissue tumors found initially in a magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion and assessed the availability of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for a diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. Materials and Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, the US-guided biopsy was performed on 152 patients with a suspected soft tissue tumor found in an MR perfusion and 86 cases were definitively diagnosed with a soft tissue tumor. The accuracy of the US-guided biopsy was assessed retrospectively. Among the 86 cases, only MR perfusion was used before the biopsy in 50 cases, while both MR perfusion and PET-CT was conducted on 36 cases. The accuracy was analyzed to determine if the PET-CT could improve the precision of a biopsy. Results: From 86 cases, 34 out of 50 cases, in which only MR perfusion had been conducted, matched the result of the definitive diagnosis and the US-guided biopsy. 32 out of 36 cases, in which both PET-CT and MR perfusion were conducted, matched the definitive diagnosis and the US-guided biopsy. These results show significant differences in the accuracy of US-guided biopsy. In the case of soft tissue sarcomas, 6 out of 12 cases, in which only MR perfusion had been conducted, matched the result of the definitive diagnosis and the US-guided biopsy. 17 out of 18 cases, in which both PET-CT and MR perfusion were conducted, matched the definitive diagnosis. Moreover US-guided biopsy also showed significant differences in the accuracy of US-guided biopsy. Conclusion: In diagnosing soft tissue tumors, a US-guided biopsy is a well-known tool for its high accuracy. However, the heterogeneity of sarcoma makes it difficult to locate the exact site for a biopsy using only MR perfusion. Thus, the use of PET-CT will meaningfully improve the accuracy of a diagnosis by precisely targeting the site for the US-guided biopsy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.38-41
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• 2022

Purpose Testosterone is a steroid hormone synthesized by the Leydig cells of the testes in men, and by the adrenal cortex and ovaries in women. Testosterone production is regulated by luteinzing hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In this experiment, the effectiveness of testosterone radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits produced by three companies was evaluated and compared in case the production of testosterone kits was stopped or supply problems occurred. Materials and Methods In October 2021, samples were collected from the patients (n=49) who requested the testosterone RIA test. The experiment was conducted by dividing the patient's sample into low concentration (1.0 ng/mL or less), medium concentration (2.0-4.0 ng/mL) and high concentration (6.0 ng/mL or more). The Testosterone RIA test compared and evaluated the validity of Company A kits used in this hospital and those of Company B and C used in other hospitals. The precision, sensitivity, recovery, linearity and correlation were evaluated for each kit. The testosterone RIA test was carried out in accordance with the insert kit manual for each manufacturer. Results As a result of measuring the precision of the intra assay, the Coefficient of Variation (CV) value of the company A kit was high at 11.4% only in the low concentration sample, and in the case of the company B and C kits, the CV value was less than 10% at low, medium, and high concentrations. In the inter-assay precision measurement, the CV value was less than 15% in both A and C kits, but in the case of the B kit, the CV value exceeded 15% at low and medium concentrations. Sensitivity was 0.13 ng/mL for company A, 0.01 ng/mL for company B, and 0.01 ng/mL for company C, and the linearity of all three kits showed excellent linearity. In the case of recovery rate, all of the A, B, and C company kits showed results that were out of 90-110%. In the case of correlation test, when compared with the company A kit currently use in here, the correlation coefficient (R²) value for the company B kit was 0.9508, and for the company C kit was 0.9352 Conclusion As a result, there was a slight difference in precision at the low concentration sample. The correlation test showed an excellent correlation coefficient. However, it was difficult to secure samples of various concentrations because there were not many tests of testosterone requested at this hospital. So, additional experiments should be carried out by acquiring samples of various concentrations on each laboratory later.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2022

Purpose In the meantime, there have been not many samples that require dilution, and it has been difficult for the examiner to set an appropriate dilution multiple for RIA test item and report the results. Accordingly, it was judged that it was necessary to set the maximum dilution multiple for each test and to verify the upper limit of the clinical reportable range. Therefore, in this study, the maximum dilution multiple for each RIA test was set and the upper limit of the clinical reportable range was verified accordingly Materials and Methods Among all RIA tests conducted at Asan Medical Center, the study treated on 30 types of tests which also conduct the dilution test. Data from March to July 2021 were collected and analyzed. The study was conducted on samples subjected to serial dilutions such as X2, X4 or X10, X10², X10³, X10⁴, X10⁵. Results Among a total of 30 test types, 18 test types have more than 5 N values in the tolerance range of 80~120%. As a result of the verification of maximum dilution multiples, the test set to 10⁴ is 𝛼-fetoprotein and thyroglobulin, and the test set to 10³ is CA-125, CEA, and 𝛽-hCG, and the test set to 10² is Free PSA, PSA, CA15-3, SCC, Ferritin, PTH, Cortisol, and Calcitonin. Tests set to 10 include three categories: 𝛽2-Microglobulin, C-peptide, and Testosterone. Conclusion It is expected that it will contribute to improving the quality of nuclear medicine blood tests as the results of dilution experiments can be reported quickly and accurately through the verification of the clinical reportable range.