• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

Objectives : Rosa laevigata Michx. has been used for the treatment of renal disease in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, we investigated cytoprotective effect of R. laevigata water extract (RLE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron.Methods : To evaluate the protective effects of RLE against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cell, cell viability and changes on apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by MTT and immunoblot analyses. The effects of RLE on reduced glutathione level, production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential were also monitored. Furthermore, to verify underlying molecular mechanism, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was examined by immunoblot analysis. Additionally, Nrf2 transactivation and its downstream target genes expression were also determined by reporter gene and realtime RT-PCR analyses.Results : RLE pretreatment (30-300 μg/ml) prevented cells from AA + iron-mediated cell death in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, 100 μg/ml RLE inhibited AA + iron-induced glutathione depletion, reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction. RLE accumulated nuclear Nrf2 and also transactivated Nrf2, which was evidenced by antioxidant response element- and glutathione S-transferase A2-driven luciferase activities and mRNA level of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and sestrin 2. Moreover, protective effect of RLE against AA + iron was abolished in Nrf2 knockout cells.Conclusions : These results indicate that RLE has the ability to protect hepatocyte against oxidative stress through Nrf2 activation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2009

The myosin light chain kinase (MYLK) gene encodes both smooth muscle and nonmuscle cell isoforms. Recently, polymorphisms in MYLK have been reported to be associated with several diseases. To examine the genetic effects of polymorphisms on the risk of asthma and related phenotypes, we scrutinized MYLK by re-sequencing/genotyping and statistical analysis in Korean population (n = 1,015). Seventeen common polymorphisms located in or near exons, having pairwise $r^2$ values less than 0.25, were genotyped. Our statistical analysis did not replicate the associations with the risk of asthma and log-transformed total IgE levels observed among African descendant populations. However, two SNPs in intron 16 (+89872C> G and +92263T> C), which were in tight LD (|D'| = 0.99), revealed significant association with log-transformed blood eosinophil level even after correction multiple testing ($P=0.002/P^{corr}=0.01$ and $P=0.002/P^{corr}=0.01$, respectively). The log-transformed blood eosinophil levels were higher in individuals bearing the minor alleles for +89872C> G and +92263T> C than in those bearing other allele. In additional subgroup analysis, the genetic effects of both SNPs were much more apparent among asthmatic patients and atopic asthma patients. Among atopic asthma patients, the log-transformed blood eosinophil levels were proportionally increased by gene-dose dependent manner of in both +89872C> G and +92263T> C(P = 0.0002 and P = 0.00007, respectively). These findings suggest that MYLK polymorphisms might be among the genetic factors underlying differential increases of blood eosinophil levels among asthmatic patients. Further biological and/or functional studies are needed to confirm our results.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2012

This paper proposes a Image retrieval system that searches the closest images to the user's emotional need and displays images with higher ratings of color harmony from Moon-Spencer's Color Harmony Theory first. Once an emotional adjective is placed, the system searches for images with colors that contain more elements derived from Aesthetic Measure results and displays in such order. In order to test reliability of the proposed emotion retrieval method based on Moon-Spencer's Color Harmony Theory, this study compared the order of Aesthetic Measure results with the user satisfaction ratings using 200 sample images. The analysis demonstrated that the participants' average satisfaction on 15 emotion adjectives selected for the study was 5.0 on a 7-point Likert scale. Correlation analyses were performed to test the consistency the orders between Aesthetic Measure values and user satisfaction ratings. Positive correlations above R=.5 were observed in all 14 emotion words except "Clear". These findings prove the potential of the proposed emotion retrieval system based on Moon-Spencer's Color Harmony Theory to effectively reflect user emotion in such visual stimulus search as image database.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.501-508
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• 2007

In order to develop a new starter for fermented milk, Lactobacillus plantarum M23 was isolated from raw milk and investigated for physiological characteristics. It showed good tyrosinase inhibitory activity compared with commercial lactic acid bacteria. The optimum growth temperature of Lactobacillus plantarum M23 was $40^{\circ}C$ and cultures took 17 hr to reach pH 4.3. Lactobacillus plantarum M23 showed more sensitivity to Penicillin-G, Oxacillin, Novobiocin, Chloramphenicol in a comparison of 12 different antibiotics, and showed most resistance to Vancomycin. It showed higher leucine arylamidase and ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activities compared to 16 other enzymes. It was comparatively tolerant to bile juice and able to survive at pH 2 for 3 hours. It showed high resistance to Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus with rates of 77.8%, 86.5% and 83.8%, respectively. Based on these and previous results, Lactobacillus plantarum M23 could be an excellent starter culture for fermented milk with high resistance to melanin.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.126-131
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• 2019

The estimation of available solar energy at particular locations is critical to find and assess suitable locations of PV sites. The amount of PV power generation is however affected by various geographical factors (e.g., weather), which may make it difficult to identify the complex relationship between affecting factors and power outputs and to apply findings from one study to another in different locations. This study thus undertakes a regression analysis using data collected from 172 PV plants spatially distributed in Korea to identify critical weather conditions and estimate the potential power generation of PV systems. Such data also include solar radiation, precipitation, fine dust, humidity, temperature, cloud amount, sunshine duration, and wind speed. The estimated PV power generation is then compared to the actual PV power generation to evaluate prediction performance. As a result, the proposed model achieves a MAPE of 11.696(%) and an R-squred of 0.979. It is also found that the variables, excluding humidity, are all statistically significant in predicting the efficiency of PV power generation. According, this study may facilitate the understanding of what weather conditions can be considered and the estimation of PV power generation for evaluating and determining suitable locations of PV facilities.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.371-378
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to develop mathematical models for describing the kinetic behavior of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in seasoned beef jerky. Seasoned beef jerky was cut into 10-g pieces. Next, 0.1 mL of S. aureus ATCC13565 was inoculated into the samples to obtain 3 Log CFU/g, and the samples were stored aerobically at $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, and $35^{\circ}C$ for 600 h. S. aureus cell counts were enumerated on Baird Parker agar during storage. To develop a primary model, the Weibull model was fitted to the cell count data to calculate Delta (required time for the first decimal reduction) and ${\rho}$ (shape of curves). For secondary modeling, a polynomial model was fitted to the Delta values as a function of storage temperature. To evaluate the accuracy of the model prediction, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated by comparing the predicted data with the observed data. The surviving S. aureus cell counts were decreased at all storage temperatures. The Delta values were longer at $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $25^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. The secondary model well-described the temperature effect on Delta with an $R^2$ value of 0.920. In validation analysis, RMSE values of 0.325 suggested that the model performance was appropriate. S. aureus in beef jerky survives for a long period at low storage temperatures and that the model developed in this study is useful for describing the kinetic behavior of S. aureus in seasoned beef jerky.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.717-726
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• 2022

The study evaluated different molt-inducing methods to achieve the main goal of molting in commercial layers during molting and post-molting periods. A total of 400 60-week-old Lohmann Brown layers were randomly divided into five groups (eight replicates of 10 birds for each group). Laying hens in the fasting control group received no diet from day 1 to day 10. The second group received a molt-inducing diet recommended by the breeding company. The third group received a wheat bran-based diet. The fourth group received a commercial layer diet with 8,000 ppm zinc (as zinc oxide, ZnO). The fifth group received an induced molting diet given to the second group with 8,000 ppm zinc, respectively. Egg production in the fasting control group and groups fed a diet with ZnO were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those in groups fed the molt-inducing and wheat bran-based diets without ZnO during molting. Egg laying in the fasting control group was rapidly reduced and stopped on the 5.9th day of molting. In both groups having molt treatment with ZnO, egg production was similarly reduced and ceased on the 6.9th day and 7.0th day of molting, respectively, none of them differed significantly from the control. Layers fed molt-inducing diet or wheat bran-based diet did not reach the cessation of laying even on the 28th d of molting period. Relative weights of the ovary and growing oocytes of layers subjected to fasting or fed diets with ZnO were significantly lower than those of other groups. During the first two weeks of post molting, layers fed molt-inducing diet with ZnO showed higher egg production than the other two groups (p < 0.01). The eggshell strength in the group fed the commercial diet with ZnO was significantly higher than those fed the molt-inducing diet or wheat bran-based diets at 6 weeks of post molting (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the non-feed withdrawal molting using ZnO is more effective in inducing molting and increasing post-molt egg production and egg quality than other methods using a molt-inducing diet alone or wheat bran-based diet without ZnO.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.46.1-46.18
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• 2020

Background: High concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 ㎛ in diameter (PM2.5) in poultry houses is an important cause of respiratory disease in animals and humans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can induce severe respiratory disease in animals under stress or with abnormal immune functions. When excessively high concentrations of PM2.5 in poultry houses damage the respiratory system and impair host immunity, secondary infections with P. aeruginosa can occur and produce a more intense inflammatory response, resulting in more severe lung injury. Objectives: In this study, we focused on the synergistic induction of inflammatory injury in the respiratory system and the related molecular mechanisms induced by PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa in poultry houses. Methods: High-throughput 16S rDNA sequence analysis was used for characterizing the bacterial diversity and relative abundance of the PM2.5 samples, and the effects of PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa stimulation on inflammation were detected by in vitro and in vivo. Results: Sequencing results indicated that the PM2.5 in poultry houses contained a high abundance of potentially pathogenic genera, such as Pseudomonas (2.94%). The lung tissues of mice had more significant pathological damage when co-stimulated by PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa, and it can increase the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α through nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway in vivo and in vitro. Conclusions: The results confirmed that poultry house PM2.5 in combination with P. aeruginosa could aggravate the inflammatory response and cause more severe respiratory system injuries through a process closely related to the activation of the NF-κB pathway.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.353-364
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• 2022

The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of increasing the slaughter weight (SW) of non-lean finishing pigs to improve their meat quality. A total of 36 (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc gilts and barrows were slaughtered at 115 (Av), 125 (Hi), or 135 (XHi) kg, followed by physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluation on their longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Backfat thickness was greater (p < 0.05) for the XHi (31.2 mm) and Hi (29.3 mm) groups than for Av (25.0 mm). Dressing percentage and yield of the belly per whole carcass were also slightly greater for XHi and Hi vs. Av. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of SM was greater for XHi (2.64%) than for Av (1.83%) and Hi (2.04%) and also was correlated with SW (r = 0.55). The pH value, lightness, redness, drip loss, shear force, and moisture and protein contents of LD and SM, as well as IMF content of LD, were unaffected by SW. Percentages of 14:0, 16:0, and total saturated fatty acids (FA) were less for Hi and XHi vs. Av in SM, those of total unsaturated FA, 18:2, 20:4, and n-6 being opposite; FA composition of LM was not influenced by SW except for a reduced 18:0 percentage for XHi vs. Av. The sensory score was less for XHi vs. Av for odor in fresh LD and SM, and less for Hi and XHi vs. Av for aroma in fresh LM; scores for color, drip loss, marbling, and acceptability were unaffected by SW. As for cooked muscles, none of the scores for color, aroma, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and acceptability was affected by SW, except for a greater LD color score for Hi and XHi vs. Av. Collectively, the results suggested that the increased yield of the carcass and belly due to increased SW is outbalanced negatively by excessive backfat deposition in production efficiency, whereas the SW increase exerts little influence on overall sensory quality of fresh or cooked meat. Production of non-lean market pigs overweighing 115 kg therefore will be uneconomical unless consumers pay a substantial premium for the over-fattened pork.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.563-575
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• 2022

Maruca vitrata is one of important pests in leguminous crops, especially red bean. We investigated the effects of temperature on development of each life stage, adult longevity and fecundity of M. vitrata for understanding the biological characteristics of the insect species at eight constant temperatures of 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34℃. Eggs hatched successfully at all temperature subjected and larvae successfully developed to the adult stage from 16℃ to 31℃. The developmental period of egg decreased up to 31℃ and after then increased. The developmental period of larva and pupa, and adult longevity of M. vitrata decreased with increasing temperature. Lower and higher threshold temperature (TL and TH) were calculated by the Lobry-Rosso-Flandrois (LRF) and Sharpe-Schoolfield-Ikemoto (SSI) models. The lower developmental threshold (LDT) and thermal constant (K) from egg hatching to adult emergence of M. vitrata were estimated by linear regression as 12.8℃ and 280.8DD, respectively. TL and TH from egg hatching to adult emergence using SSI model were 14.2℃ and 31.9℃. Thermal windows, i.e., the range in temperature between the minimum and maximum rate of development, of M. vitrata was 17.7℃. In addition, we constructed the oviposition models of adult, using the investigated adult traits including survival, longevity, oviposition period and fecundity. Temperature-dependent development models and adult oviposition models will be helpful to understand the population dynamics of M vitrata and to establish the strategy of integrated pest management in legume crops.