• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2009

This study was performed to develop a prediction model of sugar content for strawberry. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been prevailed for on-line and portable applications for non-invasive quality assessment of intact fruit. This work presents effects of illumination method and coating of reflection surface of light source on prediction result of sugar content. Effect of preprocessing methods was also examined. A low-cost commercially available VIS/NIR spectrometer was used for estimation of total soluble solids content (Brix). To predict sugar contents of strawberry, the best results were obtained with the spectrum data measured under intensive illuminations at three locations induced from the light source with fiber optic bundles. Gold coating of reflection surface of light source lamp gave favorable effect to prediction result. The best results in validation of PLSR model were $r_{SEP}$ = 0.891 and SEP = 0.443 Brix under OSC preprocessing and those of PCR were $r_{SEP}$ = 0.845, SEP $r_{SEP}$= 0.520 Brix, under no preprocessing.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.478-483
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• 2019

The use of fermented soy curd as a functional substance has been actively studied due to the anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activity of soybean protein hydrolyzate by enzymes of lactic acid bacteria. The present study investigated the potential of soy curd as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). Pediococcus inopinatus Y2 (P. inopinatus Y2) lactic acid bacteria were inoculated into soy milk and fermented ($30^{\circ}C$, 24 hr). Changes in body weights, ear thicknesses, IgE concentrations, and weights of immune organs in ICR female mice were quantified. Moderate weight gain occurred in most of the groups. The ear thickness was lowest in the untreated group (no group), and it was allergic and thickened in the phthalic anhydride (PA) treatment group. Based on visual observations, as compared with the skin condition of the PA-induced AD group, the skin condition of the animals in the fermented soy curd (FSC) group was improved. Therefore, FSC by lactic acid bacteria seemed to improve AD. Based on the comparison of the weights of the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, as well as the results of the IgE analysis, soy milk, in addition to FSC, had a therapeutic effect. However, the antiallergy effects of FSC in terms of AD were far superior to those of soy milk. These results indicated that FSC can be used as a treatment for AD.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.367-373
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• 2018

The consumption of beverages among children is rising. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of kid's drink on dental resin-based pit and fissure sealant. Pororo, I-kicker, Sunkist kids were included in the experimental groups, and Samdasu was included in the control group. A conventional dental sealant material ($Clinpro^{TM}Sealant^{(R)}$) was selected for this study. Resin specimens (8 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness) were prepared according to manufacturers' instructions and the initial roughness (Ra) was then measured. The pH of all the four groups was measured using a pH meter. The specimens were individually immersed in 5 ml of the experimental solutions and stored at $37^{\circ}C$ for 72 hours. Following this, the surface roughness of the resin specimens was measured by Surftest. The concentration of residual monomer released was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The surface morphology of the resin specimen was evaluated before and after storage by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Duncan's test. The results showed that all the children's beverages examined in this study contained citric acid. The pH of I-kicker was the lowest ($3.03{\pm}0.01$), followed by that of Sunkist kids ($3.26{\pm}0.02$) and Pororo ($3.47{\pm}0.02$). We observed an increase in the surface roughness of resin specimens after 72 h of immersion in all the beverages tested (p<0.05). There was matrix degradation after immersion, visualized on SEM image, in all the beverage groups. Bisphenol-A-glycidyl methacrylate was not detected after 72 hours, but triethylene glycol dimethacrylate levels were increased in all the beverages tested during the 72 hours by HPLC. These results suggest that intake of beverages containing acid can cause degradation of the resin-based pit and fissure sealants in children.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2018

Regenerative orthopedics needs significant devices to transplant human stem cells into damaged tissue and encourage automatic growth into replacements suitable for the human skeleton. Soft biomaterials have similarities in mechanical, structural and architectural properties to natural extracellular matrix (ECM), but often lack essential ECM molecules and signals. Here we engineer mineralized polysaccharide beads to transform MSCs into osteogenic cells and osteoid tissue for transplantation. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMP-2) and indispensable ECM proteins both directed differentiation inside alginate beads. Laminin and collagen IV basement membrane matrix proteins fixed and organized MSCs onto the alginate matrix, and BMP-2 drove differentiation, osteoid tissue self-assembly, and small-scale mineralization. Augmentation of alginate is necessary, and we showed that a few rationally selected small proteins from the basement membrane (BM) compartment of the ECM were sufficient to up-regulate cell expression of Runx-2 and osteocalcin for osteoid formation, resulting in Alizarin red-positive mineral nodules. More significantly, nested BMP-2 and BM beads added to a non-union skull defect, self-generated osteoid expressing osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) in a chain along the defect, at only four weeks, establishing a framework for complete regeneration expected in 6 and 12 weeks. Alginate beads are beneficial surgical devices for transplanting therapeutic cells in programmed (by the ECM components and alginate-chitosan properties) reaction environments ideal for promoting bone tissue.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.425-441
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• 2019

In this study, sound absorption capability and sound transmission loss of several kinds of target densities and thickness for six species of wood bark particle were estimated by the transfer function and transfer matrix methods. Resultantly, the mean sound absorption coefficient of a 100-mm thick Hinoki wood bark particle mat was 0.90 in the frequency range of 100-6400 Hz, whereas the mean sound absorption rate of a 50-mm thick Hinoki wood bark particle mat was 0.84 in the same frequency range. Particularly, at a thickness of 100 mm, it reached almost up to 100% in the frequency range of 1 KHz. The sound transmission losses of 100-mm thick Hinoki wood bark particle mat with a target density of 0.16 at 500 and 1000 Hz were 15.30 and 15.73 dB, respectively. When a 10-mm thick plywood was attached to the back of the wood particle mat, the sound transmission losses was increased by 20-30 dB. Wood bark can be used as an acoustical material owing to its high sound absorption rate and transmission loss.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.185-192
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• 2019

The introduction of smart technology provides accuracy, safety, and efficiency to both physicians and patients. Although interest in a clear aligner is increasing among users worldwide, the current clear aligner requires a visit to the hospital every one or two weeks for replacement, which is a very cumbersome process. There is also confusion among dentists and patients because about 40 to 80 devices are made, and calibration is done based on the order and duration of the clear aligner. Therefore, this study designed and developed a clear aligner management system so that communication between the patient and dentist can be smoothly performed by inserting the QR code into the transparent correction device. As a result, the size of the QR code was recognized as $6{\ast}6mm^2$ which can be used in the oral and the recognition distance was 100% within 12 cm. Since the dentist can remotely manage the patient with the proposed system and improve the correction effect, it is possible to manage patients abroad, as well as domestically.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.360-372
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• 2018

Purpose: It has been suggested that resonance frequency analysis (RFA) can measure changes in the stability of dental implants during osseointegration. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate dental implant stability at the time of surgery (primary stability; PS) and secondary stability (SS) after ossseointegration using RFA, and to investigate the relationship between implant stability and cortical bone thickness. Methods: In total, 113 patients who attended the Tohoku University Hospital Dental Implant Center were included in this study. A total of 229 implants were placed in either the mandibular region (n=118) or the maxilla region (n=111), with bone augmentation procedures used in some cases. RFA was performed in 3 directions, and the lowest value was recorded. The preoperative thickness of cortical bone at the site of implant insertion was measured digitally using computed tomography, excluding cases of bone grafts and immediate implant placements. Results: The mean implant stability quotient (ISQ) was $69.34{\pm}9.43$ for PS and $75.99{\pm}6.23$ for SS. The mandibular group had significantly higher mean ISQ values than the maxillary group for both PS and SS (P<0.01). A significant difference was found in the mean ISQ values for PS between 1-stage and 2-stage surgery (P<0.5). The mean ISQ values in the non-augmentation group were higher than in the augmentation group for both PS and SS (P<0.01). A weak positive correlation was observed between cortical bone thickness and implant stability for both PS and SS in all cases (P<0.01). Conclusions: Based on the present study, the ISQ may be affected by implant position site, the use of a bone graft, and cortical bone thickness before implant therapy.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.101-110
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the microstructural properties and mineralization quality of mesiodens with permanent and primary central incisors. Fifteen mesiodens, permanent and primary central incisors were collected. The enamel rod diameter and enamel thickness were observed and measured using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Chemical composition of the enamel was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). The measurements were then assessed using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. There was no statistically significant difference in the enamel rod diameter between mesiodens and permanent central incisors. However, enamel rods of primary central incisors were smaller than remaining two groups. The thickness of enamel was thick in order of permanent central incisors, mesiodens, primary central incisors. In the composition analysis using EDS, there was no difference in the Ca/P ratio and Ca/C ratio between mesiodens and permanent central incisors, but small in primary central incisors. In conclusion, the microstructural properties of mesiodens were more similar to those of permanent central incisors compared to primary central incisors. Futher, the mineralization quality of mesiodens did not differ significantly from that of permanent central incisors.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.735-750
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: The major challenge of tissue engineering is to develop constructions with suitable properties which would mimic the natural extracellular matrix to induce the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL, PCEC), chitosan (CS), nano-silica ($n-SiO_2$) and nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) are biomaterials successfully applied for the preparation of 3D structures appropriate for tissue engineering. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of n-HA and $n-SiO_2$ incorporated PCEC-CS nanofibers on physical properties and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle and mechanical test were applied to evaluate the physicochemical properties of nanofibers. Cell adhesion and proliferation of hDPSCs and their osteoblastic differentiation on nanofibers were assessed using MTT assay, DAPI staining, alizarin red S staining, and QRT-PCR assay. RESULTS: All the samples demonstrated bead-less morphologies with an average diameter in the range of 190-260 nm. The mechanical test studies showed that scaffolds incorporated with n-HA had a higher tensile strength than ones incorporated with $n-SiO_2$. While the hydrophilicity of $n-SiO_2$ incorporated PCEC-CS nanofibers was higher than that of samples enriched with n-HA. Cell adhesion and proliferation studies showed that n-HA incorporated nanofibers were slightly superior to $n-SiO_2$ incorporated ones. Alizarin red S staining and QRT-PCR analysis confirmed the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs on PCEC-CS nanofibers incorporated with n-HA and $n-SiO_2$. CONCLUSION: Compared to other groups, PCEC-CS nanofibers incorporated with 15 wt% n-HA were able to support more cell adhesion and differentiation, thus are better candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

Deterioration of the immune function weakens the body's resistance to various infections, leading to a series of diseases. Immunomodulatory biomaterials have been used to reduce the side effects of immunosuppressants or to enhance immunity. Agarwood is the aromatic resinous portion of Aquilaria trees that has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases. Although previous studies have shown that agarwood can improve the body's immunity, evidence for this claim is still lacking. In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of the agarwood methanol extracts of Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk were evaluated in a RAW 264.7 macrophage model. Based on the results, the agarwood extracts markedly enhanced phagocytosis in the absence of cytotoxicity. The agarwood extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells exhibited the typical morphology of activated macrophages, which are spindle-shaped with elongated filopodia. Agarwood extract also significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase. Moreover, the secretion and expression levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were increased by agarwood treatment. Notably, these are also associated with a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide scientific evidence that agarwood has potential immune-enhancing effects in vitro.