• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 2016

Background: Microfluidics is of considerable importance in food and agricultural industries. Microfluidics processes low volumes of fluids in channels with extremely small dimensions of tens of micrometers. It enables the miniaturization of analytical devices and reductions in cost and turnaround times. This allows automation, high-throughput analysis, and processing in food and agricultural applications. Purpose: This review aims to provide information on the applications of microfluidics in the agro-food sector to overcome limitations posed by conventional technologies. Results: Microfluidics contributes to medical diagnosis, biological analysis, drug discovery, chemical synthesis, biotechnology, gene sequencing, and ecology. Recently, the applications of microfluidics in food and agricultural industries have increased. A few examples of these applications include food safety analysis, food processing, and animal production. This study examines the fundamentals of microfluidics including fabrication, control, applications, and future trends of microfluidics in the agro-food sector. Conclusions: Future research efforts should focus on developing a small portable platform with modules for fluid handling, sample preparation, and signal detection electronics.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1096-1106
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• 2014

This study was conducted to figure the usage status and satisfaction of food-related smartphone applications by generic characteristics and food purchase attributes of Seoul area workers. The results show that health vitality-oriented group, married compared to single, those with higher eating-out expenses possess more food-related applications (p<0.05). The primary reason for the usage of food-related applications was the need for food-related information (53.7%). The highest application subjects in use were restaurant-related information and recipe information. The real-life aid food-related applications utilized most were also restaurant information (60.7%) and recipe information (28.3%). Health vitality-oriented respondents especially turned out to use nutrition information and food functionality information often (p<0.01), and recipes or calories & diet information usage frequency was higher in women than in men (p<0.001). Restaurant-related information were more frequently used by singles, highly educated, and those with high income and eating-out expenses (p<0.05). Satisfaction of food-related applications was normal (3.06), showing that the satisfactory level is not yet high. Satisfaction regarding purchase attributes showed that the health vitality-oriented group (3.19) was more satisfied compared to other groups (p<0.05), and women (3.16) were more satisfied that men (2.89) were (p<0.05). Inconveniences of food-related applications were highest in usage fee (3.29), simplicity of information (3.28), lack of reliability of information and need for update (3.10). The results of this study implies that various subdivisions of food-related applications users should be implemented; at the same time, food-related applications covering diverse subjects that regard each group's characteristics should be developed in order to utilize food-related knowledge and information as a marketing tool in the food industry; this can efficiently be done by paying attention to the quality of information and updates within applications.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.202-215
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• 2018

Objectives: We conducted a qualitative study to explore the feasibility of mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. Methods: We conducted in-depth and focus group interviews with eight laymen who had used mobile dietary applications and eight experts. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using an open coding method. Results: The qualitative data of our study revealed two key themes: (1) perceptions, opinions and attitudes towards mobile applications of self-monitoring of diet and (2) future directions to improve mobile applications. Conclusions: Our qualitative study suggested the potential use of mobile applications as a food-tracking and dietary monitoring tool and the need for improved mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. The results of our study may provide insights into how to technically improve mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet, how to utilize dietary data generated through mobile applications, and how to improve individual's health though mobile applications.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.350-359
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• 2015

This review focuses on the enhanced functional characteristics of enzymatic hydrolysates of whey proteins (WPHs) in food applications compared to intact whey proteins (WPs). WPs are applied in foods as whey protein concentrates (WPCs), whey protein isolates (WPIs), and WPHs. WPs are byproducts of cheese production, used in a wide range of food applications due to their nutritional validity, functional activities, and cost effectiveness. Enzymatic hydrolysis yields improved functional and nutritional benefits in contrast to heat denaturation or native applications. WPHs improve solubility over a wide range of pH, create viscosity through water binding, and promote cohesion, adhesion, and elasticity. WPHs form stronger but more flexible edible films than WPC or WPI. WPHs enhance emulsification, bind fat, and facilitate whipping, compared to intact WPs. Extensive hydrolyzed WPHs with proper heat applications are the best emulsifiers and addition of polysaccharides improves the emulsification ability of WPHs. Also, WPHs improve the sensorial properties like color, flavor, and texture but impart a bitter taste in case where extensive hydrolysis (degree of hydrolysis greater than 8%). It is important to consider the type of enzyme, hydrolysis conditions, and WPHs production method based on the nature of food application.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.91-101
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• 2019

With about 600 officially licensed food additives now living in modern people's lives, consumers' interest in the additives, food safety and harmfulness in food products is also increasing, and mobile services for consumers who want to properly recognize and purchase the safety of food they want to consume are being implemented at home and abroad. In this study, six major applications that provide food safety information were analyzed for functions and designs, evaluated by design experts and evaluated for usability to actual users. Through the function and design analysis results, three similar domestic applications were selected, and the design experts were evaluated for UI and usability, and two of the most similar applications were selected for usability testing. The test results showed that the two applications were similar in usability, but considering the overall results, it was found that the strictest available food safety application. After this study, we propose improvements in the design of food safety applications and existing designs and functions to help improve the convenience of food application developers and users, and thus to ensure the safe and correct eating habits of the people.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.348-357
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• 2006

Nano is a unit that designates a billionth; accordingly nanotechnology could be described as the study and applications of the unique characteristics and phenomena of nanometer size materials. Applications of nanotechnology fall into two categories (one is top-down and the other is bottom-up). Currently, most products are the results of the top-down approach. Nanofoods have distinct functional characteristics stemming from the size, mass, chemical combinations, electrolytic features, magnetic properties of food sources at the nano level and which can be applied for safe absorption and delivery into the body. The greatest advantage of nanofood is that it permits the efficient use of small quantities of nutritional elements by increasing digestive absorption ability and by delivering natural elements without any change in their original characteristics. On the other hand, there are still unsolved problems, such as questions about safety and introduction of harmful material. The demand for new commercial food products is increasing, and commercial food producers are gradually combining nanotechnology and traditional food preparation methods. Nanofoods will improve our eating habits remarkably in the future. Tomorrow we will design nanofoods by shaping molecules and atoms. It will have a big impact on the food and food-processing industries. The future belongs to new products and new processes with the goals of customizing and personalizing consumer products. Nanotechnology is expected to be applied to not only foods themselves, but also to food packaging, production, safety, processing and storage. Also, it is believed that nanotechnology will be applied tracking finished products back to production facilities and even to specific processing equipment in those facilities. The aim of this study is the introduction of technology, applications, products, markets, R&D, and perspectives of nanofoods in the food industry.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.346-357
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• 2019

In recent years, starch nanoparticles (SNPs) have been received much attention due to their unique characteristics different from native starch. Also, SNPs have economic and environmental advantages because they are prepared from starch, a cheap and safe natural polymer. It can be used in various industrial applications such as food additives, drug carriers, etc. SNPs have been prepared using different methods and their physiochemical, functional properties and possible industrial applications have been reported. Based on these studies, SNPs are expected to be the promising food materials and expand their utilization in many industries in the future. This review covered the overall researches on SNPs, including preparation, physicochemical and functional properties, and discussed their current and future applications including resistant starch materials.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.330-338
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• 2017

Purpose: The smartphone is actively being used in many research fields, primarily in medical and diagnostic applications. However, there are cases in which smartphone-based systems have been developed for agriculture, environment, and food applications. The purpose of this review is to summarize the research cases using smartphone cameras in agriculture, environment, and food. Methods: This review introduces seventeen research cases which used smartphone cameras in agriculture, food, water, and soil applications. These were classified as systems involving "smartphone-camera-alone" and "smartphone camera with optical accessories". Results: Detecting food-borne pathogens, analyzing the quality of foods, monitoring water quality and safety, gathering information regarding plant growth or damage, identifying weeds, and measuring soil loss after rain were presented for the smartphone-camera-alone system. Measuring food and water quality and safety, phenotyping seeds, and soil classifications were presented for the smartphone camera with optical accessories. Conclusions: Smartphone cameras were applied in various areas for several purposes. The use of smartphone cameras has advantages regarding high-resolution imaging, manual or auto exposure and focus control, ease of use, portability, image storage, and most importantly, programmability. The studies discussed were achieved by sensitivity improvements of CCDs (charge-coupled devices) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) on smartphone cameras and improved computing power of the smartphone, respectively. A smartphone camera-based system can be used with ease, low cost, in near-real-time, and on-site. This review article presents the applications and potential of the smartphone and the smartphone camera used for various purposes in agriculture, environment, and food.

• Bulletin of Food Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-124
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• 2011

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1465-1480
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• 2021

Violacein, a purple pigment first isolated from a gram-negative coccobacillus Chromobacterium violaceum, has gained extensive research interest in recent years due to its huge potential in the pharmaceutic area and industry. In this review, we summarize the latest research advances concerning this pigment, which include (1) fundamental studies of its biosynthetic pathway, (2) production of violacein by native producers, apart from C. violaceum, (3) metabolic engineering for improved production in heterologous hosts such as Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Yarrowia lipolytica, (4) biological/pharmaceutical and industrial properties, (5) and applications in synthetic biology. Due to the intrinsic properties of violacein and the intermediates during its biosynthesis, the prospective research has huge potential to move this pigment into real clinical and industrial applications.