• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 2021

The solubilization of isolated proteins into the adequate buffer containing of surfactants is primary step for proteomic analysis. Particularly, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is the most widely used surfactant, however, it is not compatible with mass spectrometry (MS). Therefore, it must be removed prior to MS analysis through rigorous washing, which eventually results in inevitable protein loss. Recently, photocleavable surfactant, 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo), was reported which can be easily degraded by UV irradiation and is compatible with MS during proteomic approach using animal tissues. In this study, we employed comparative label-free proteomic analysis for evaluating the solubilization efficacies of the Azo and SDS surfactants using rice leave proteins. This approach led to identification of 3,365 proteins of which 682 proteins were determined as significantly modulated. Further, according to the subcellular localization prediction in SDS and Azo, proteins localized in the chloroplast were the major organelle accounting for 64% of the total organelle in the SDS sample, while only 37.5% of organelle proteins solubilized in the Azo were predicted to be localized in chloroplast. Taken together, this study validates the efficient solubilization of total protein isolated from plant material for bottom-up proteomics. Azo surfactant is suitable as substitute of SDS and promising for bottom-up proteomics as it facilitates robust protein extraction, rapid washing step during enzymatic digestion, and MS analysis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.3367-3378
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• 2021

The design phase and safety assessment of Generation IV liquid metal-cooled fast reactors calls for the improvement of fuel pin performance codes, in particular the enhancement of their predictive capabilities towards uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuels and stainless-steel cladding under irradiation in fast reactor environments. To this end, the current capabilities of fuel performance codes must be critically assessed against experimental data from available irradiation experiments. This work is devoted to the assessment of three European fuel performance codes, namely GERMINAL, MACROS and TRANSURANUS, against the irradiation of two fuel pins selected from the SUPERFACT-1 experimental campaign. The pins are characterized by a low enrichment (~ 2 wt.%) of minor actinides (neptunium and americium) in the fuel, and by plutonium content and cladding material in line with design choices envisaged for liquid metal-cooled Generation IV reactor fuels. The predictions of the codes are compared to several experimental measurements, allowing the identification of the current code capabilities in predicting fuel restructuring, cladding deformation, redistribution of actinides and volatile fission products. The integral assessment against experimental data is complemented by a code-to-code benchmark focused on the evolution of quantities of engineering interest over time. The benchmark analysis points out the differences in the code predictions of fuel central temperature, fuel-cladding gap width, cladding outer radius, pin internal pressure and fission gas release and suggests potential modelling development paths towards an improved description of the fuel pin behaviour in fast reactor irradiation conditions.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1663-1673
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• 2021

Objective: Pork belly is considered as the most commercially important and preferable primal cut by consumers worldwide. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of fat levels on the meat quality characteristics of pork bellies. Methods: Seventy-eight growing-finishing pigs collected from different commercial pig farms were slaughtered and used in the present study. After slaughter 24 h, bellies were fabricated according to the Korean Pork Cutting Specification, and immediately sampled for analysis of their fat content. Based on the fat levels, the bellies were segregated into three different groups: low fat (LF, fat ≤20%, n = 15), medium fat (MF, fat 21% to 30%, n = 30), and high fat (HF, fat ≥31%, n = 33). The bellies were then analyzed for meat quality traits, fatty acids, flavor compounds and eating quality properties. Results: The HF group had lower moisture and cooking loss levels compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The LF group presented higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The LF group showed higher amounts of the Maillard reaction-derived flavor compounds (e.g., 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl, and 4-methylthiazole) associated with meaty and roasty flavors whereas, the HF group showed higher amounts of oleic acid- derived compounds (e.g., nonanal and octanal) associated with the fatty and oily flavors. Interestingly, significantly higher scores for all the eating quality attributes (flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and overall acceptance) were found in the HF group compared to those in the LF or MF group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The high-fat bellies (fat ≥31%) had a better technological quality and eating quality compared to the low-fat bellies (fat ≤20%). Thus, increasing the fat content may improve the technological quality and eating quality traits of pork bellies, however, this increase may also result in more trimmed loss due to excessively deposited body fat.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.65
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• pp.29-54
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• 2021

In Europe, the diversity in religions, cultures, languages and historical backgrounds is enormous. World War II and the Soviet Regime have played a large part in this and the flow of refugees from other continents increases the pluralism. How can religious education add to bridging between differences? The language across European countries is different, literally between countries, but also figuratively speaking and even inside individual countries. These differences occur in cultural sense and across age groups as well. Secondary education has the task to form young people to become firmly rooted people who can hold their own in society. It is essential that they learn to examine their own core values and their roots. Recognising their values should be a main focus of religious education. However, schools are currently accommodating increasing numbers of non-religious pupils. What role do religious values still play in this situation? How do pupils feel about active involvement in religious institutions, and about basing life choices on religious beliefs? Can other, non-religious values be detected which could form the basis for value-oriented personal formation? Research of these subjects has been ongoing in the Netherlands for more than twenty years and is currently being expanded to the Czech Republic and(former East) Germany. These are also secularized countries but have a very different history. Does the history and context of these countries play a role, and does this show in the values that are important to pupils? A comparative pilot study is being conducted as start of this broadening perspective geared towards greater insight into the values of pupils in these three European countries. This information helps to design appropriate new forms of religious value-oriented worldview education.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.47
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• pp.163-190
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• 2017

This paper studies the recent surge in the number of faith-based films in Hollywood, with the aim to explore the context and implications of this new trend. By using the theoretical framework of the study of the Tilich and Van der Leeuw, who have explored the relationship between religion, culture and art, this article discusses the meaning of the spiritual theme in the film. A couple of common points can be found among the faith-based films that have been produced since the 2010s. While these films attempt a universal approach to the fundamental theme of spirituality through popular narratives familiar to the audience, they also stress 'historical truthfulness and credibility' by representing the reality, such as a featuring real person or a true story in the film. The main characters are depicted as "victorious losers" that are distinguished from the typical Hollywood superhero and the films repeatedly show the human being constantly 'asking' questions to God. By analyzing these characteristics, the paper demonstrates that recent Hollywood faith-based films have successfully differentiated themselves from existing religious films while symbolizing the universal beliefs and values beyond the religious message so as to attract more audiences to this field. The paper also suggests that despite the advances in modern science and knowledge, the public will always yearn for a spiritual recovery and salvation through the film medium, serving as a potential source that provides an outlet for spiritual experience.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 2010

This study was carried out to confirm the chromosome constitution and homoeologous recombination of progenies derived from various cross combination using tetraploid OA interspecific hybrid originated from mitotic chromosome doubling. Based on the chromosome analysis of progenies crossed reciprocally, there were only triploid progenies when crossed with diploid Asiatics as male or female parent. While only tetraploid progenies were produced when crossed tetraploid Asiatics or tetraploid OA hybrid with tetraploid OA hybrid, respectively. However, two types of progenies, that is, diploid and triploid plants, were produced from cross combinations between diploid Oriental hybrid and tetraploid OA hybrid. From the GISH analysis of OA hybrid, it was confirmed that diploid $F_1$ OA hybrid was consisted of 24 chromosomes (12 Oriental and 12 Asiatics) showing authentic OA hybrid. On the other hand, it was notified that triploid plants (3x=36) were consisted of 24 Asiatics lily chromosomes and 12 Oriental lily chromosomes by analysis of backcross progenies derived from either $A{\times}OA$ or $OA{\times}A$ crosses. In cross between tetraploid OA and OA, all the progenies were tetraploid with equal number of chromosomes without any homoeologous recombination, i.e. each 24 chromosomes of Oriental and Asiatics. In 2x-4x ($O{\times}OA$) cross combination, some progenies had 2x=24 chromosomes originated from only Oriental hybrid, and other progenies had 3x=36 chromosomes derived from 24 chromosomes of Oriental hybrid and 12 chromosomes of Asiatic hybrid. Only tetraploid Asiatics chromosomes without any Oriental one were produced in all the progenies from 4x-4x ($AA{\times}OA$) cross combination.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

Reversible solid oxide fuel cell (ReSOC) system was integrated with waste steam for electrical energy storage in distributed energy storage application. Waste steam was utilized as external heat in SOEC mode for higher hydrogen production efficiency. Three system configurations were analyzed to evaluate techno-economic performance. The first system is a simple configuration to minimize the cost of balance of plant. The second system is the more complicated configuration with heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The third system is featured with HRSG and fuel recirculation by blower. Lumped models were used for system performance analyses. The ReSOC stack was characterized by applying area specific resistance value at fixed operating pressure and temperature. In economical assessment, the levelized costs of energy storage (LCOS) were calculated for three system configurations based on capital investment. The system lifetime was assumed 20 years with ReSOC stack replaced every 5 years, inflation rate of 2%, and capacity factor of 80%. The results showed that the exergy round-trip efficiency of system 1, 2, 3 were 47.9%, 48.8%, and 52.8% respectively. The high round-trip efficiency of third system compared to others is attributed to the remarkable reduction in steam requirement and hydrogen compression power owning to fuel recirculation. The result from economic calculation showed that the LCOS values of system 1, 2, 3 were 3.46 ¢/kWh, 3.43 ¢/kWh, and 3.14 ¢/kWh, respectively. Even though the systems 2 and 3 have expensive HRSG, they showed higher round-trip efficiencies and significant reduction in boiler and hydrogen compressor cost.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1397-1406
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• 2019

Objective: Feed energy required for pigs is first prioritized to meet maintenance costs. Additional energy intake in excess of the energy requirement for maintenance is retained as protein and fat in the body, leading to weight gain. The objective of this study was to estimate the metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance ($ME_m$) by regressing body weight (BW) gain against metabolizable energy intake (MEI) in growing pigs. Methods: Thirty-six growing pigs ($26.3{\pm}1.7kg$) were allotted to 1 of 6 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were 6 feeding levels which were calculated as 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of the estimated ad libitum MEI ($2,400kJ/kg\;BW^{0.60}\;d$). All pigs were individually housed in metabolism crates for 30 d and weighed every 5 d. Moreover, each pig from each treatment was placed in the open-circuit respiration chambers to measure heat production (HP) and energy retained as protein ($RE_p$) and fat ($RE_f$) every 5 d. Serum biochemical parameters of pigs were analyzed at the end of the experiment. Results: The average daily gain (ADG) and HP as well as the $RE_p$ and $RE_f$ linearly increased with increasing feed intake (p<0.010). ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate concentration of serum tended to increase with increasing feed intake (p = 0.080). The regression equations of MEI on ADG were MEI, $kJ/kg\;BW^{0.60}\;d=1.88{\times}ADG$, g/d+782 ($R^2=0.86$) and $ME_m$ was estimated at $782kJ/kg\;BW^{0.60}\;d$. Protein retention of growing pigs would be positive while REf would be negative at this feeding level via regression equations of $RE_p$ and $RE_f$ on MEI. Conclusion: The $ME_m$ was estimated at $782kJ/kg\;BW^{0.60}\;d$ in current experiment. Furthermore, growing pigs will deposit protein and oxidize fat if provided feed at the estimated maintenance level.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2019

Streptococcosis caused by Streptococcus parauberis is a very important disease in farmed olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. For most fish pathogens, including S. parauberis, there are no analytical criteria to distinguish antibioticsusceptible strains from antibiotic-resistant strains. In this study, epidemiological cut-off ($CO_{WT}$) values were generated to classify 75 strains of S. parauberis isolated from 1999 to 2018 as wild type (WT) and non-wild type (NWT) using disc diffusion data and normalized resistance interpretation (NRI) analysis. The susceptibility of the isolates to 16 antibiotics was evaluated using CLSI guideline M42-A. The wild-type cut-off values for amoxicillin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, and florfenicol for S. parauberis were ${\geq}35$, 31, 28, and 27 mm, respectively. The NWT ratios of S. parauberis strains to treatment with GEN, FFC, ENR, SXT, EFT, VAN, and CHL were 17% or less, indicating that these antibiotics may be used to treat streptococcosis caused by S. parauberis. For recent S. parauberis isolates, the NWT ratios for AMX, ERY, OTC and FFC are much higher than for strains isolated from 1999-2007. The $CO_{WT}$ data from this study will assist aquatic animal disease professionals in prescribing appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of streptococcosis caused by S. parauberis, which will help reduce the misuse and abuse of antibiotics in the aquaculture sector.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the dietary patterns (DPs) of women during pregnancy. The present study aimed to identify the DPs of pregnant Malaysian women and their associations with socio-demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 737 participants enrolled in Seremban Cohort Study between 2013 and 2015. Food consumption was assessed using a validated 126-food item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) at four time-points, namely, pre-pregnancy and at each trimester (first, second, and third). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify DPs. RESULTS: Three DPs were identified at each time point and designated DP 1-3 (pre-pregnancy), DP 4-6 (first trimester), DP 7-9 (second trimester) and DP 10-12 (third trimester). DP 1, 4, and 7 appeared to be more prudent diets, characterized by higher intakes of nuts, seeds & legumes, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, eggs, fruits, and milk & dairy products. DP 2, 5, 8, and 11 had greater loadings of condiments & spices, sugar, spreads & creamer, though DP 2 had additional sweet foods, DP 5 and 8 had additional oils & fats, and DP 11 had additional tea & coffee, respectively. DP 3 and 6 were characterized by high protein (poultry, meat, processed, dairy, eggs, and fish), sugars (mainly as beverages and sweet foods), and energy (bread, cereal & cereal products, rice, noodles & pasta) intakes. DP 9 had additional fruits. However, DP 12 had greater loadings of energy foods (bread, cereal & cereal products, rice, noodles & pasta), sugars (mainly as beverages, and sweet foods), and good protein sources (eggs, nuts, seeds & legumes). Malays were more likely to have lower adherence (LA) for DP 1 and 10 than non-Malays. DP 2, 8, and 11 were more prevalent among Malays than non-Malays. Women with a higher education were more likely to have LA for DP 10, and women with a greater waist circumference at first prenatal visit were more likely to show LA for DP 11. CONCLUSIONS: DPs observed in the present study were substantially different from those reported in Western populations. Information concerning associations between ethnicity, waist circumference and education with specific DPs before and throughout pregnancy could facilitate efforts to promote healthy dietary behavior and the overall health and well-being of pregnant women.