• Title/Summary/Keyword: focused treatments

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Development of A Cognitive-Behavioral Anger Control Program and It's Effects on Elementary School Children Under the Anger-inducing Situation (초등학생의 분노유발상황에 초점을 둔 인지행동적 분노조절 프로그램의 효과)

  • Lee, Mi-Gyeong
    • The Korean Journal of Elementary Counseling
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.141-169
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    • 2007
  • One of the most common feelings in everyday life is anger. Anger plays an important role in activating emotional energy and increasing intolerance when confronted with hardships, frustration and improper treatments. And it provides us with controlling interpersonal behavior, organizing internal, physiological, psychological process and various adaptive functions. If anger is not properly expressed, it brings about offensive attitude, leading to not only physical impairment but also anxiety in interpersonal relations and maladaptive to everyday life. For elementary school students, frequent quarrels, abusive words and defiant attitude toward adults are also caused by students' anger. Therefore, students' anger is one of the most difficult problems to be dealt with not only psychologically but also in elementary schools. In this respect, after investigating frequently experienced anger- inducing situations and inventing anger-inducing situation questionnaire, we postulated specific situations changing irrational belief into rational one. Based on these situations, we accounted for how to cope with anger inducing factors and change irrational belief into rational one, introducing several strategies needed to control anger, invented cognitive behavioral anger control program and tried to clarify the relationship between anger inducing experience and anger regulation ability. In order to derive usual anger-inducing situations, we made 180 students with fifth and sixth grade to record the reason why he/she got angry, mood, thought, behavior and result. Through this process, we could derive 47 situations bringing about anger and prepared anger-inducing situation questionnaire. It can be divided into 3 anger inducing situations by using factor analysis into 500 elementary students of fifth and sixth grade. Cognitive behavioral anger control program used in this study consists of 13 sessions. From first to fifth session, it is composed of 10 anger control methods to make students be aware of and control their anger. From sixth through thirteenth session, the relationship between irrational belief and anger inducing is introduced is focused on how irrational belief is changed into rational one. To examine the effects of the program, high anger students and the students lacking anger control are selected. Thirty students through pre-test using anger-inducing questionnaire and anger control ability questionnaire are taught the goals and procedures. Volunteer students and students with parents' consent allocated to experimental group (12 students) and the rest of the students are control group (12 students). Cognitive Behavioral Anger Control Program are applied every 50 minutes twice a week for 7 weeks and 4 weeks before and after this program, anger-inducing situation questionnaire and anger control ability questionnaire are practiced. Data collected in this study analyzed by SPSS and Kwakstat. In the middle of this program, quarterly reports and satisfaction measuratings were evaluated to examine whether there is verbal and non-verbal behavior change and students feel satisfied with the program. The results of this study are as follows: First, Cognitive-behavioral anger control program used in this study effectively reduced anger experience and lasted for 4 weeks. Second, cognitive behavioral anger control program increased students' ability to control anger inducing situations and also effective for 4 weeks. And its effect on verbal and non-verbal behaviour was very impressive Students come to realize that irrational belief is the cause of their anger and actively apply cognitive-behavioral anger control technique to themselves as well. Students became improved in their peer relations and felt confident in everyday life. The overall evaluation of this program can be listed as follows; "very satisfactory (91.67%)", "satisfactory (8.33%)", "very helpful (91.67%)", "helpful (8.33%). In this study we first investigated several anger-inducing situations and invented anger-inducing situation questionnaire and then applied cognitive behavioral anger control program in order to control their. anger and not to experience it. By creating workbooks and manuals this method can easily be used in school education settings.

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Antigenotoxic and Anticarcinogenic Effects of Styela plicata (오만둥이(Styela plicata)의 항유전독성 및 대장암 억제효과에 관한 연구)

  • Seo, Bo-Young;Kim, Jung-Mi;Lee, Seung-Cheol;Park, Eun-Ju
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.38 no.7
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    • pp.839-845
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    • 2009
  • Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant neoplasm in the world. Much attention has been focused on reducing colon cancer risk through medical properties of natural compound that could act as anticarcinogens. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of Styela plicata (S. plicata) from in vitro experiments. S. plicata extracts showed antioxidant activity measured by TRAP assay and antigenotoxic effect in $200{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage in human leukocytes. Especially, freeze-dried S. plicata extracted with methanol showed the highest level of TRAP (0.225 mM) and inhibition of DNA damage (66.8%). Additionally we observed the effect of S. plicata on the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and DMH induced DNA damage (by comet assay) in male SD rats. The animals were divided into three groups and fed high-fat and low fiber diet (100 g lard+20 g cellulose/kg diet) without (normal control and DMH control) or with a 3% (w/w) of lyophilized S. plicata powder (DMH+S. plicata). One week after beginning the diets, rats were treated with DMH (30 mg/kg, s.c.) for 6 weeks except for normal control group, which was treated saline instead; dietary treatments were continued for the entire experiment. Nine weeks after DMH injection, administration of S. plicata resulted in reduction of ACF numbers, to 82.7% of the carcinogen control value ($7.67{\pm}2.04$ vs. $1.33{\pm}0.53$: p<0.01). S. plicata supplementation induced antigenotoxic effect on DMH-induced DNA damage in the blood cell (% tail intensity: $6.79{\pm}0.26$ vs. $6.13{\pm}0.22$). These data indicate that S. plicata extract has antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects from in vitro experiments and S. plicata exerts a protective effect on the process of colon carcinogenesis, possibly by suppressing the DMH-induced DNA damage in blood cell and the development of preneoplastic lesions in colon.

Studies on Early Seedling Establishment and Early Growth Responses of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge with Different Seeding times, Application Conditions, and Green Manure Crops for Developing Organic Agriculture Relating to Cropping System (작부체계 활용 유기재배기술 개발을 위한 녹비작물, 토양투입 조건 및 파종시기에 따른 황기의 입모율과 초기생육 특성 연구)

  • Song, Beom-Heon;Lee, Kyung-A;Chang, Yoon-Kee;Kim, Young-Gook;Ahn, Tae-Jin;Ahn, Young-Sup;Park, Chung-Beom
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.43 no.5
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    • pp.667-673
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    • 2010
  • Organic agriculture of especially medicinal crops has been interested and focused in taking the qualitative and safety agricultural products in order to maintain and improve the health and happiness of people. With respect to the organic agriculture relating to cropping system, objectives of this study were to examine the seedling establishment after seed germination and emergence and to investigate the early seedling growths of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge with treating two green manure crops, hairy vetch of legume and rye of gramineae, two different conditions of green manures, fresh and dry, and different seeding times. When the seeds were planted at once after treating the green manures with the fresh condition into the soil, the ratios of seedling establishment were very poor, less than 10% in hairy vetch and 20% in rye, respectively. They were increased gradually with delaying the seeding times after the treatments. With treating the green manures of dry conditions, the ratios of seedling establishment were up more than 50% in both hairy vetch and rye crops, showing that the damages of seedling establishment were more in hairy vetch than those in rye. The early seedling growths were slower in treating the green manures than those in the control, showing slow growth with fresh green manures compared to the dry. It would be very important and considered more to evaluate and utilize well the seed germination and the seedling establishment in cultivation of the organic agriculture using the green manure crops relating to the cropping system.

Shalf Life Enhancement of Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables

  • Kim, Dong-Man
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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    • 1993.12a
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    • pp.6-9
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    • 1993
  • According to changes in population, economic conditions, life-stile and eating habits, the frui ts and vegetables market wi 11 be shi fted from processed (i. e. , canned) to fresh. Undressed fresh produce, consisting of washed, disinfected and peeled fruits and vegetables that either sliced or grated, are currently increased in demand by retail and institutional market which use them as salad components or in ready-to use foods, Main attributes of minimally processed fruits and vegetables are convenience and fresh-like quality. Minimally processed Products readily deteriorate in quality, especially color and texture, as a result of endogeneous enzyme enhanced respiration and microorganisms which lead to reduced shelf Iife. According to changes in population, economic conditions, life-stile and eating habits, the frui ts and vegetables market wi 11 be shi fted from processed (i. e. , canned) to fresh. Undressed fresh produce, consisting of washed, disinfected and peeled fruits and vegetables that either sliced or grated, are currently increased in demand by retail and institutional market which use them as salad components or in ready-to use foods, Main attributes of minimally processed fruits and vegetables are convenience and fresh-like quality. Minimally processed Products readily deteriorate in quality, especially color and texture, as a result of endogeneous enzyme enhanced respiration and microorganisms which lead to reduced shelf Iife. Thus. to prevent these undesirable changes , val'ious techniques such as controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, modified atmosphere OIA) storage, including vacuum packaging have been receiving considerable attention, Although milch research has been done to find optimal conditions for whole intact frui ts and vegetables, only limi ted information is avai lable on fresh cut. and other minimally processed products. 81 iced frui ts exhibi t increas~d ethylene production and respiration compal'ed to whole f, 'uits during distribution in response to tissue damage. As a result, accelerated senescence and enzymatic browning OCCUI', Recent l'esearch on minimally processed fl'uits and vegetables has mainly focused on methods to inhibit browning, due to ban on use of sulfur dioxide, In order to retard or prevent these physiological changes, val'ious al ternatives, reducing agents. acidulants, chelating agents and inol'ganic sal ts have been evaluated for use on fresh cut fl'ui ts. Al though some agents were effective replacement for sulfur dioxide. consum$\textregistered$I'S demandless use of chemical on such products. Shel~ life of minimally processed products has been extended by inhibition of metabolic reactions associated with loss of quality and by inhibition of aerobic spoilage caused by wide variety of microorganisms. Appl ication of ~I.-\ packaging, including vacuum packaging, retards the rate of respiration, prevents growth of aerobic spoilage organisms, inhibits oxidation and color deterioration. Tissue softening is another major problem in minimally processed products because enzymes re 1 a ted to ce 11 wa 11 degrada t i on are not inactivated. Various treatments have been investigated for retardation of the softening of sliced products. Some studies have concentrated on the application of an active packaging system with ~I, l. packaging and calcium infi 1 tration as possible measures to retain firmness of processed products. In my opinion, one important step for production of minimally processed frui ts wi th favorabl e color of cut surface and firm texture is the selection of better cultivar. As the view, changing tendency of fresh color by apple cultivars and relationship between the tendency and PPO activity will be discussed in the seminar. In addition to the topic, research result on quality enhancement of fresh apple slices by heat shock treatment will be introduced.

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A Baseline Survey on Development of Primary Health Care in the Rural Korea -Sanpuk Village, Kumsa-Myun, Yuju- Gun, Kyunggi-Do- (농촌지역의 일차보건사업 개발을 위한 기초조사 연구 - 경기도 여주군 금사면 산북부락을 중심으로 -)

  • Kim, Myung-Ho;Yun, Suk-Woo;Rhee, Hae-Soak
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.5-27
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    • 1987
  • It is widely recognized that primary health care in the community is one of the most important and effective health measures in these days. However, it is reality that unsatisfactory health care system, ineffective utilization of health care by the community people in the rural area are hampering better understanding for primary health care. Therefore promoting health for the rural people and increasing understanding about primary health care, the baseline survey in the community focused in examination for safe community water supply was carried out. The survey was conducted through August 25-31, 1986 in order to find out health problems and relevant factors and to define the demographic characteristics of $^*$Sanpuk village, Kumsa-Myun, Yuju-Gun, Kyunggi-Do, Korea. Household survey was carried out for every home by trained interviewers. The major results are found out as follows : 1) 84.2%(400 houses) of total households were surveyed because 15.8%(75 houses) were unable to survey due to either refusal against interview or absence of family. These 400 households were composed of 1,697 residents(male:830, female 867). Educational level of respondents showed 34.1% as elementary school graduated. Religion distribution showed Buddism(23.8%) as the most dominant. 50.7% of respondents married in the area. 2) Most households(91.5%) have lived in their own house in Sanpuk area. Average family size showed 4.3. More than half of residents(64.2%) have used public supplied water tap. Only 1.5% of the households had a flush toliet. The rest of households have still used primitive insanitary latrines. 3) 32.5% of residents have used gas burner for cooking and for heating in the house, and the coal briquet were used for boiler. Lack of convenient public transportation was the chief complaint for their day life. 4) Each household occupied 1,990 pyungs of rice paddy and 1,170 pyungs of ordinary field in average. Beside farming products, mushroom was the highest product. 5) Sixth percent of households in the survey area regularly participated in community meeting one hand and on the other hand 39.5% never participated. Most of respondents closely contacted with their neighbours and they seemed very friendly each other. 6) The prevalence rate of illness and injury during recent 15 days showed 48.3 per 1,000. The prevalence rate of chronic illnesses during the past one year showed 74 per 1,000. Injury and accident lead the higher portion(22.0%) in the former and in the latter pain(arthritis, back-pain) showed 27.0% as the dominant sickness. 87.8% of the ill residents in the former received medical treatment. As the most frequently utilized medical facility, the clinic or hospital were counted. Among the residents suffering from chronic illnesses, 77.3% in Sanpuk area get some kind of medical treatments and they rarely utilized the clinic or hospital. The reason why the patient did not receive any medical care was found out the fact that symptoms of illness was light or mild and economic problems was serious. 7) Average age of marriage showed 21.6 years old in the women and the average duration of marital period was shown for 15.1 years. The married woman in reproductive age in Sanpuk area had experienced pregnancies 4 times in the aver-age including 0.7 time of pregnancy in average were interrupted by induced abortion and 0.3 time by spontaneous abortion respectively. The practicing rate of the family planning of the married woman during reproductive ages showed 70.7% and the tuballigation was found out as the most frequently used contraceptives. 8) Among woman who has children under 2 years old, 70.0% had received the prenatal care for the last pregnancy. However, the average number of prenatal care visitis per woman showed 3.3 times. Fifty-two % of woman who received the postnatal care for the last delivery showed only 37.5%. 9) Immunization rate of the children under 2 years old showed relatively high and looked successful. The breast feeding for these children showed dominantly in the most. Most of the mothers in Sanpuk area had started the supplementary diet during weaning period of their infants of 6th and 7th month after birth. * : Sanpuk area is a demstration area for community development which has been supported by the Community Development Foundation during the part 10 years. The village is relatively closer to urban area such as Seoul, However, it has a similar characteristics shown as a remote village because of geographical location and inconvenient transportation at present.

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Effects of Intensive Weight Bearing Treadmill Training and Electrical Stimulation on Skeletal Muscle Properties in Hindlimb Suspended Rats (흰 쥐의 뒷다리 현수 후 집중 체중부하 트레드밀 훈련과 전기자극이 골격근 특성에 미치는 효과)

  • Ahn, Duck-Hyun;Cho, Sang-Hyun;Yi, Chung-Hwi;Kang, Ho-Seok;Kwon, Hyuk-Cheol;Kim, Suhn-Yeop
    • Physical Therapy Korea
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.17-42
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    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment effect of three interventions on the disuse atrophy of rat hindlimb after two weeks suspension. Forty-eight 11~12 weeks old female Sprague-Dawley white rats were divided into four intervention groups: 1) suspension only (S; n=10), 2) intensive weight bearing treadmill (IWBT; n=10), 3) electrical stimulation (ES; n=9), 4) 2)+3) (ES/IWBT; n=9). Another 10 rats received no intervention or hindlimb suspension and served as controls (C). After the interventions, 1) the cross-sectional area (CSA), 2) the ratio of white muscle fiber composition (WMFC), 3) isometric tetanic tension (ITT), and 4) muscle weights (MWs) were measured from the four calf muscle specimens. The results were as follows: 1. In all intervention groups, the CSAs of medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG LG), soleus (SOL), and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) decreased when compared to the control (C) group (p<.05). The CSA increased in FDS and LG for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group (p<.05). 2. The ratios of WMFC in MG, LG, SOL, and FDS increased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The ratios of WMFC decreased in SOL and LG for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group, and decreased in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the IWBT group (p<.05). 3. The ITT in the MG, LG, SOL, and FDS decreased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The ITT increased in MG LG/FDS, SOL, and the whole calf muscles (WCMs) in the IWBT, ES and ES/IWBT groups compared to the S only group (p<.05). 4. The MWs in MG LG/FDS, SOL, WCMs decreased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The MWs increased in MG LG/FDS and WCMs for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES group, and in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group (p<.05). 5. In atrophied muscles, the IWBT group showed the best recovery and the ES/IWBT and ES groups followed in decreasing order. The most susceptible muscle to disuse atrophy was the SOL. But conversely, it showed the best recovery in the ES/IWBT group. After two weeks of hindlimb suspension, the calf muscles of rats atrophied and their isometric tension decreased. These changes were best reversed by hindlimb-focused treadmill activity. The next best results were achieved by electrical stimulation combined with the treadmill followed by only electrical stimulation. These findings indicate that full weight bearing treadmill activity alone or in combination with electrical stimulation are effective treatments for non-weight bearing induced muscle atrophy. Further study of the effect of different intensities of electrical stimulation and variations in the duration period of full weight bearing treadmill activity on disuse atrophy is recommended.

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Factors Affecting on Pregnancy Rate of Recipients Following Transfer of Hanwoo Embryos Produced In Vivo (한우 체내 수정란 이식 후 수태율에 미치는 요인)

  • Son, Gwi-Dong;Song, Sang-Hyun;Jeong, Woo-Jae;Park, Choong-Saeng;Lee, Jung-Gyu;Kong, Il-Keun
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.37-42
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    • 2008
  • This study was performed to improve the pregnancy rates of recipients following transfer of bovine embryos produced in vivo. Superovulation response didn't showe significant differences between each season (4.18 in spring; 4.36 in summer; 5.50 in fall; 4.38 in winter). Pregnancy rate was significantly different (p<0.05) between fresh (43.4%) and frozen embryos (17.2%). In administration of hCG to recipients, the pregnancy rate of fresh embryos (45.7%) was slightly higher than that of control (35.3%), but the pregnancy rates of frozen embryos in control group (25.0%) was higher than that of hCG group (16.0%). When synchrony of recipient and embryo was -2, -1, 0 and 1, the pregnancy rates were 20.0, 45.0, 30.3 and 26.3%, respectively. The pregnancy rates of recipients synchronized by naturally or $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, CIDR/$PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and E/P/CIDR/$PGF_{2{\alpha}}$/E treatments were 35.3, 48.0, 29.0 and 40.0%, respectively. Gestation lengths and birth weights of female and male calf were 288 and 290.5 days, 28.3 and 30.0 kg, respectively. The results were showed that the superovulation response was not affected by seasons, and also pregnancy rate didn't increase by administration of hCG, synchrony of embryo and recipients, synchrony methods. Further study and concern should be focused on improving the embryo freezing and pregnancy rate for commercial embryo transfer.

Crop Growth and Nutrient leaching from Soil with Application of Urea and Compost in Volcanic Ash Soil (화산회토에서 퇴비 및 요소시용에 따른 토양중 $NO_3$-N, 양이온의 용탈)

  • 강봉균;송창길
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.101-115
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    • 2001
  • Nitrogen applied as fertilizer for crop production is partly absorbed by plant , and the remaining nitrogen in soil might be leached out through complicated processes to the subsoil layer Especially, NO$_3$-N in leachate causes environmental pollution. The purpose of this study was focused on understanding of uptake of nutrients by plants, the behaviors of nutrients in soil and the possibility of leaching loss when nitrogen fertilizer and completely decomposed compost were applied. Lysimeters(Volume 0.15㎥, Diameter 62cm, Height 62.8cm) were installed for collecting leachate in the Jeju volcanic ash soils. Lysimeter study consisted of thirteen treatments : fallow, fallow with weeding, cropping without fertilizer and compost, three N fertilizer soil surface applications(16, 32, 64kg/10a), three N fertilizer and compost soil surface applications(16+800, 32+1600, 64+32kg/10a), two water dissolved N fertilizer applications(16, 32kg/10a), and low and high plant densities. N fertilizer was applied as urea. The growth of com(preceding crop) and potatoes(succeeding crop) and leaching loss were determined during the experimental period. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; With Increased N, pH of leachate tended to decrease and NO$_3$-N concentration of leachate increased. NO$_3$-N leaching loss was remarkably greater in soil from the bare plot without fertilization and the weed control than from plots with medium N rate and was least in the cropping plot without fertilization. NO$_3$-N concentration in leachates from the water dissolved N fertilizer application plots was 64% of that from the soil surface application plots. The concentration of Ca and K ions and the leaching loss of these ions were least from the cropping plot without fertilization and were greatest from bare plots(T1 and T2) without fertilization. The proportion of leaching and residual N in soil increased as N rate increased indicting that higher N rates increase the possibility of N leaching to subsoil layer The proportion of N leaching losses was lower at the low N rate and the high plant density. In future, fertilization prescription which can maximize fertilizer use efficiency and minimize the pollution of ground water will be needed for conserving the environments.

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Changes of Nitrogenous Compound According to the Topping Stage and Harvesting Time in Burley Tobacco(Nicotiana tobacum L.) (버어리종 잎담배 순지르기 시기와 수확시기에 따른 질소화합물의 변화)

  • Jang, Soo-Won;Kim, Jae-Hyun;Park, Chang-Jin;Kim, Yoon-Ha;Lee, In-Jung
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.146-150
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    • 2011
  • A large amount of nitrogenous compounds are found in burley tobacco and are responsible for peculiar aroma during smoking. Excess in nitrogen or its compounds such as total nitrogen and proteins in burley tobacco gives a strong pungency and make its taste bad. The present study has focused on improving quality of Burley tobacco by regulating topping and harvesting time of leaf to reduce nitrogen compounds in Burley tobacco. In addition, the early-stage of flower topping had lower level of nitrogenous compound, such as total nitrogen and protein nitrogen, and total tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) contents compared to the button-stage and full flower-stage topping. Also, the contents of nicotine got significantly decreased while the ether extract was increased as the period of topping got delayed. Regarding the brightness among the colors of cured leaves, the color at the full flower-stage topping was the brightest, and there was no particular difference in red and yellow colors. The harvesting amount was decreased as the period of topping got delayed and there was no significant difference between the topping treatments in terms of the exterior quality. As the harvesting time delayed, the total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen were decreased while the nicotine contents got increased. Also, the total TSNA contents were decreased as the harvesting time delayed. However, ether extract was increased. Among the colors of cured leaves, the brightness and degree of yellow color were significantly increased as the harvesting time delayed, and there was no particular difference in the degree of red color. The harvesting amount was decreased along with the delayed harvesting time; however, the harvest of the matured and mellow leaves was higher in terms of price, compared to that of the immature leaves. For the reduction of nitrogenous compound and TSNA contents in Burley tobacco, the topping was examined to be more effective in terms of improvement in chemical contents and quality regardless of the decreased harvesting amount.

Recent Advancement in the Stem Cell Biology (Stem Cell Biology, 최근의 진보)

  • Harn, Chang-Yawl
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.195-207
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    • 2006
  • Stem cells are the primordial, initial cells which usually divide asymmetrically giving rise to on the one hand self-renewals and on the other hand progenitor cells with potential for differentiation. Zygote (fertilized egg), with totipotency, deserves the top-ranking stem cell - he totipotent stem cell (TSC). Both the ICM (inner cell mass) taken from the 6 days-old human blastocyst and ESC (embryonic stem cell) derived from the in vitro cultured ICM have slightly less potency for differentiation than the zygote, and are termed pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells in the tissues and organs of fetus, infant, and adult have highly reduced potency and committed to produce only progenitor cells for particular tissues. These tissue-specific stem cells are called multipotent stem cells. These tissue-specific/committed multipotent stem cells, when placed in altered environment other than their original niche, can yield cells characteristic of the altered environment. These findings are certainly of potential interest from the clinical, therapeutic perspective. The controversial terminology 'somatic stem cell plasticity' coined by the stem cell community seems to have been proved true. Followings are some of the recent knowledges related to the stem cell. Just as the tissues of our body have their own multipotent stem cells, cancerous tumor has undifferentiated cells known as cancer stem cell (CSC). Each time CSC cleaves, it makes two daughter cells with different fate. One is endowed with immortality, the remarkable ability to divide indefinitely, while the other progeny cell divides occasionally but lives forever. In the cancer tumor, CSC is minority being as few as 3-5% of the tumor mass but it is the culprit behind the tumor-malignancy, metastasis, and recurrence of cancer. CSC is like a master print. As long as the original exists, copies can be made and the disease can persist. If the CSC is destroyed, cancer tumor can't grow. In the decades-long cancer therapy, efforts were focused on the reducing of the bulk of cancerous growth. How cancer therapy is changing to destroy the origin of tumor, the CSC. The next generation of treatments should be to recognize and target the root cause of cancerous growth, the CSC, rather than the reducing of the bulk of tumor, Now the strategy is to find a way to identify and isolate the stem cells. The surfaces of normal as well as the cancer stem cells are studded with proteins. In leukaemia stem cell, for example, protein CD 34 is identified. In the new treatment of cancer disease it is needed to look for protein unique to the CSC. Blocking the stem cell's source of nutrients might be another effective strategy. The mystery of sternness of stem cells has begun to be deciphered. ESC can replicate indefinitely and yet retains the potential to turn into any kind of differentiated cells. Polycomb group protein such as Suz 12 repress most of the regulatory genes which, activated, are turned to be developmental genes. These protein molecules keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state. Many of the regulator genes silenced by polycomb proteins are also occupied by such ESC transcription factors as Oct 4, Sox 2, and Nanog. Both polycomb and transcription factor proteins seem to cooperate to keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state, pluripotent, and self-renewable. A normal prion protein (PrP) is found throughout the body from blood to the brain. Prion diseases such as mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) are caused when a normal prion protein misfolds to give rise to PrP$^{SC}$ and assault brain tissue. Why has human body kept such a deadly and enigmatic protein? Although our body has preserved the prion protein, prion diseases are of rare occurrence. Deadly prion diseases have been intensively studied, but normal prion problems are not. Very few facts on the benefit of prion proteins have been known so far. It was found that PrP was hugely expressed on the stem cell surface of bone marrow and on the cells of neural progenitor, PrP seems to have some function in cell maturation and facilitate the division of stem cells and their self-renewal. PrP also might help guide the decision of neural progenitor cell to become a neuron.