• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.577-587
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• 2020

Background and objective: Plants in temples are the results of cultural symbolization that embraces the experience and enlightenment of humans about life. As a way to improve the acceptance of the foreign religion, China gave cultural symbolization to plants in temple gardens through integration with traditional cultures and the understanding of the nature of plants themselves. This study aimed to identify cultural symbolism and signs of acculturation associated with Buddhist plants, targeting Bolisu, the most essential and symbolic plant in temple garden forests in China and Korea. Methods: The morphological and ecological characteristics of plants, functions, the texts that contained the history of Buddhism and literary works were examined through literature review, and the relation of Ficus religiosa with its planting conditions and nature, and Buddhist culture was explored. In addition, the cultural value of Buddhist plants themselves in establishing temples and the reason why Bolisu was planted in temples were reviewed through time series analysis. The obtained results were interpreted using an inductive method to identify substitutes for F. religiosa, cultural symbolism and signs of acculturation. Results: F. religiosa as one of the three holy trees and the five trees and six flowers in Buddhism is known as the original Bolisu. Since it grows well and is widely distributed in regions that accepted Indian Buddhism, it became the most representative holy tree in Buddhism. From the perspective of tree shape and nature, F. religiosa is in line with the Buddhist spirit of saving those in need with mercy and redeeming mankind, and figuratively shows that perfection can be attained like the fruit of Bolisu. Chines Buddhism had adopted highly symbolic plants for a long period of time as a means to spread the same belief and doctrines as Indian Buddhism. In China, however, there were only limited areas suitable for the growth of F. religiosa, and for this reason, borrowed Bolisu trees including Tilia. miqueliana, T. mandshurica and T. amurensis and other plants such as F. virens Ait. var. sublanceolata, G. biloba and M. alba were planted as a substitute in most regions, having been given with symbolism and belief as Bolisu. Conclusion: Chinese Buddhism planted the same plants as Indian Buddhism in order to enhance symbolism and also similar substitutes to express the same symbolism. This is a kind of acculturation and its influence and customs were not limited to China, but were introduced to Korea, The difference between China and Korea was that G. biloba was excluded from the substitute for Bolisu in Korea.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2022

Background: In northern Thailand, the longan flower is the principal nectar source for honey production. Microorganisms play a critical function in the agricultural ecology. The morphological characteristics of fungal species found in longan pollen were studied. Aspergillus spp. were found to be invertase-producing strains and were employed in the longan syrup production process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of invertase-added longan syrup on the adult honey bee population numbers that were fed by this syrup for 16 weeks. Results: Different fungal species were found in longan pollen samples. Aspergillus was the main genus, with three predominant sections: Nigri, Flavi, and Terrei. Other isolated species were Trichoderma spp., Rhizopus spp., Neurospora spp., Chaetomium spp., Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. However, Aspergillus spp. is the only fungal species that produces the enzyme invertase. The invertase-producing strains belonging to the Aspergillus section Nigri were found to be A. niger LP5 with an optimum activity at pH 6.0 and 60℃. When A. niger LP5 invertase was used for longan syrup processing, the highest levels of glucose (3.45%) and fructose (2.08%) were found in invertase added longan syrup (C), while fresh (A) and boiled longan syrup (B) had lower contents of both sugars. The sucrose content was detected in (A) at 4.25%, while (B) and (C) were at 4.02% and 3.08%, respectively. An appropriate amount of sugar to feed and maintain the honey bee population was considered. The data showed no statistically significant differences between the two selected forms of longan syrup compared to the sugar syrup examined by the adult honey bee population. Conclusions: The main species of isolated fungi from longan pollen were Aspergillus spp. The discovery of an invertase-producing strain of A. niger LP5 has enabled its application for enzyme utilization in the invert sugar preparation process. The adult worker bee populations fed by longan syrup from both boiled and invertase-added sources showed an increasing trend. Artificial syrup made from longan fruit to feed honey bees when natural food sources are limited can be applied.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.302-316
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• 2023

Objectives: The study aim was to identify changes in the nutritional status of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic according to household income and demographic characteristics. Methods: Study participants were 2,408 adults aged 65 and over who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). To examine changes in nutrient intake levels resulting from COVID-19, data of 2019 and of 2020 were compared. Study participants were divided into three groups based on household income level to compare these changes. The changes were compared according to household income level, age group, and household type. Results: Percentages of recommended intakes for energy, protein, and most micronutrients were the lowest for the low-income group of both males and females in 2020. The Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) score was the lowest for the low-income group in both years. When comparing nutrient density for 2019 and 2020 by income group, the male low-income group experienced a decrease in nutrient densities of vitamin A, thiamine, calcium, and iron. For the same group, a decreased percentage for energy intake from protein was noted. Fruit intake was lowest in the low-income group for both males and females. Low-income males had the lowest intake levels for meat, fish, eggs, and legumes in both 2019 and 2020 and the lowest milk and milk product intake levels in 2020. Older adults living alone or single older adults with children had lower MAR scores than those living with a spouse. Older adults living alone experienced decreases in energy and thiamine and iron intake levels in 2020 compared to their intake levels in 2019. Conclusions: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition intake levels worsened for older adult males in the low-income group and older adults living alone. This finding shows the need for a more systematic nutritional support strategy for the vulnerable older adults population in national disaster situations.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to clarify the background of the plans and the spatial characteristics of the garden at the Anglo-Korean School, an educational institution established in Gaeseong in 1906 by Yun Chi-ho and the American Methodist Church. The time scope of the study is from 1906, when the school was opened, to the early 1920s, when the basic building structure of the school was completed. The spatial scope is the school complex, located in Gaeseong, and its affiliated facilities. The contents of the study include the planning background and purpose, spatial layout, and plants used in the school garden. This study reviewed Yun Ch'i-ho's papers and Warren A. Candler's papers at Emory University, documents, photos, and maps produced in the early 20th century. The results show that the school garden was first mentioned at the school's opening and that with a strong will, Yun Chi-ho insisted on establishing a school garden. The garden was located around the engineering department building and was divided into several sections and lots. Economic plants, such as fruit trees, comprised the garden and were sourced from the Methodist Church of the South, USA. This study reveals that the garden at the Anglo-Korean School functioned as a training ground for agriculture and horticulture education and was differentiated from Seowon, a traditional Korean academy that symbolically spaced Neo-Confucianism and that emphasized the views of the surrounding nature during the Joseon Dynasty.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.509-522
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• 2023

Objectives: This study is intended to develop a curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education aimed at preschool children, reflecting government policy and meeting the demands of preschool settings. Methods: Existing educational materials were analyzed, and key elements of the 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum ("Nuri Curriculum") and Guidelines for Nutrition and Food Education in Kindergartens, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools ("Guidelines") were examined as foundational information for developing the curriculum for food and nutrition education. Results: Basing ourselves on the five domains of the Nuri Curriculum, "Physical Activity and Health," "Communication," "Social Relationships," "Art Experience," and "Natural Science Inquiry," we integrated three areas from the Guidelines, namely "Dietary Habits and Health," "Dietary Habits and Safety," and "Dietary Habits and Culture," to structure the curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education. Three specific domains, "Nutrition and Health," "Food and Culture," and "Safe Dietary Practices," were tailored for preschool children, each comprising core concepts, content elements, and educational materials. In the "Nutrition and Health" domain, core concepts such as "nutrition" were addressed through content elements such as "balanced eating" and "vegetables and fruit," while "health" included elements such as "eating regularly" and "nutrients for disease prevention," each with two educational content components. The "Food and Culture" domain focused on "food" with content on "local foods (vegetable-garden experience)" and "food culture" with content on "our dining table (rice and side dishes)," "our agricultural products," "global cuisine (multiculture)," and "considerate dietary practices," each with four educational content components. The "Safe Dietary Practices" domain included core concepts such as "hygiene" with content on "hand-washing habits" and "food poisoning management," and "safety" with content on "food labeling." Conclusions: The systematized curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education aligns with the Nuri Curriculum and is interconnected with the Guidelines. This curriculum can be used as foundational material for developing educational resources tailored to the characteristics of preschoolers, contributing to effective implementation in early childhood education.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.797-803
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• 2009

The effects of drying methods on the browning and moisture sorption characteristics of Rubus coreanus were studied. Fruits were steamed for 5 min at $100^{\circ}C$, dried by sun drying, infrared drying, or freeze drying, and powdered to a size of 20 mesh. Color values were measured and equilibrium moisture contents (EMC) were determined at $20^{\circ}C$, over a range of water activity ($a_w$) from 0.11 to 0.90. The browning indices $L^*$ and $a^*$ values were higher and lower, respectively, in freeze-dried Rubus coreanus compared with other samples. The $b^*$ value was greatest in freeze-dried Rubus coreanus. EMC tended to increase with increasing $a_w$ values, and a particularly sharp increment was observed above 0.75 $a_w$. The EMC of freeze-dried Rubus coreanus was significantly higher compared with the EMC of sun-dried and infrared-dried fruit at constant aw. The moisture sorption isotherms showed a typical sigmoid shape, and the Halsey, Kuhn, and Oswin models were the best fits for the sun-dried, infrared-dried, and freeze-dried powder isotherms, respectively. With respect to monolayer moisture content, the Guggenheim-Anderson-Boer (GAB) equation showed that the various drying methods yielded very different results, with monolayer moisture contents of 0.005 g $H_2O/g$ dry solid in infrared-dried and 0.019 g $H_2O/g$ dry solid in sun- and freeze-dried powders, respectively. These results indicate that the drying method affects the browning and moisture sorption characteristics of Rubus coreanus.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2002

Fermentation characteristics with/without nitrogen source and quality of the fruit distillate of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten were investigated during the manufacturing process of a Korean traditional liquor. As the fermentation period increased, acidity, brix degree, and alcohol concentration increased, whereas pH and contents of reducing sugar decreased. Acidity, pH, and brix degree were higher, whereas the content of reducing sugar lower, in the nitrogen source-added distillate than in the distillate without nitrogen source. The growth of yeast increased, while that of bacteria decreased; this trend was more prominent with the addition of a nitrogen source. Sojues, distilled from two types of mashes and diluted with $H_2O$ and tails of distillate into 22% alcohol concentration, showed pH $3.7{\sim}4.0$, acidity $0.02{\sim}0.10$, and $5.4{\sim}6.1$ $^{\circ}Brix$. Analysis through GC using direct injection methods revealed common volatile flavor compounds in sojues, including acetaldehyde, acetyl acetone, acetic acid ethyl ester, ethyl alcohol, 2-propyl alcohol, acetone, n-propyl alcohol, butanoic acid methyl ester, 2-phenyl ethanol, thymol, acetic acid phenyl ester, and vanillic aldehyde. As revealed through the sensory evaluation, no significant difference (p>0.05) in overall acceptability was shown among four experimental groups, while color and flavor showed significant differences(p<0.05).

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2014

This study was conducted to develop a salad dressing using jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Miller) puree and to evaluate the processing and quality characteristics of the salad dressing containing various amounts (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) of jujube puree. Jujube puree was prepared by crushing peeled, deseeded and steamed fruit flesh. The dressing ingredients (jujube flesh puree, soy sauce, vinegar, oligosaccharide, olive oil, and water) were mixed, homogenized, and packaged in glass bottles. The quality characteristics (color property, total titratable acidity, soluble solids, viscosity, phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and sensory acceptability) of the dressing were analyzed. The lightness ($L^*$) and redness ($a^*$) of the dressing tended to increase as the amount of the jujube puree increased whereas the hue angle ($h^{\circ}$) decreased. The total titratable acidity, soluble solids, viscosity, phenolic compound content, and antioxidant activity of the dressing increased with the addition of more jujube puree. The sensory acceptability (color, smell, taste, texture, and overall acceptability) were significantly higher in the dressing added with 30% added jujube puree than in the other samples. The results show that jujube flesh puree (approximately 30%) can be utilized as an additive for preparing a dressing with simultaneously high antioxidant activity and acceptability.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2012

The quality characteristics of granules prepared from water and 50% ethanol extracts of mulberry and blueberry were investigated. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of mulberry and blueberry were higher in the 50% ethanol extract than those in the water extract. Total anthocyanin content was highest in the 50% mulberry ethanol extract (470.91 mg/100 g). Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of the mulberry and blueberry extracts was 335.37 ${\mu}moles\;TE/g$ and 238.14 ${\mu}moles\;TE/g$, respectively. Superoxide radical scavenging activity of the mulberry and blueberry extracts increased with an increase in extract concentration. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of granules from the mulberry extract were 4.83 mg/mL and 3.49 mg/mL, respectively. Total anthocyanin content of granules from the mulberry and blueberry extracts was 76.26 mg/100 g and 75.26 mg/100 g, respectively. Electron donating ability and ORAC of granules from the mulberry and blueberry extracts were 45.09% and 24.10%, 87.65 ${\mu}moles\;TE/g$ and 57.59 ${\mu}moles\;TE/g$, respectively. Granules that were stored for 7 weeks at room temperature had low anthocyanin content degradation and Hunter color values (L, a, and b).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.177-201
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• 2022

Following the adoption of the global plant conservation strategies at the Conference of the Parties for Biodiversity Conservation, diligent actions to achieve each targets are actively carried out. In particular, the need for ecological conservation research to achieve targets 2 and 7 of GSPC-2020 has increased. The priority taxa to accomplish the objectives of GSPC-2020 are rare and endemic plants. In particular, endemic plants with limited distribution in specific regions are evaluated to face a high risk of extinction. To address the necessity to preserve endemic plants, we investigated the distribution of Prunus choreiana H. T. Im, a Korean endemic plant. After that, we examined the vegetational environment of the habitat of P. choreiana and evaluated its population structure. The productivity of its fruits and the effects of pollinators on fruit production were evaluated as well. The fruiting ratio was calculated based on the number of flowers produced. Lastly, we observed the annual growth characteristics of P. choreiana. The habitats of P. choreiana did not show a specific type of vegetation. All of them were located in a limestone area of Gangwon-do in the central Korean Peninsula and occupied a site where the coverage of the tree layer and the sub-tree layer was not high or did not exist. The population structure of P. choreiana contained a high proportion of mature plants capable of producing fruits and a low proportion of seedlings and Juvenile plants. We found that the production of fruits required pollinators and was affected by the performance of each plant. Although P. choreiana produces many flowers, only a maximum of 20% and only 2-6% on average bear fruits. These flowering characteristics may be due to pollinators' low abundance and activity during the flowering season (between mid-March and early April), suggesting that many flowers are needed to attract more pollinators. We rarely observed the re-establishment of seedlings in the population of P. choreiana. Despite that, we predict the population to persist owing to its long lifespan and periodic production of numerous fruits. However, if the tree layer and sub-tree layer in competing status with P. choreiana increase their crown density, they are expected to inhibit the growth of P. choreiana and affect the risk of its extinction. Therefore, the current changes in the vegetational environment of the habitats are expected to decrease the number and extent of P. choreiana in the long term. The results of this study may serve as primary and important data necessary for the achievement of GSPC-2020 objectives.