• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.85-96
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• 2023

In a reality where negative perceptions and social prejudices towards individuals with mental illnesses persist, the absence and lack of social support systems acquired through personal intimate social networks can be considered a significant hindrance to the quality of life for those with mental disorders. Therefore, this study examined the impact of the characteristics of social networks and social support on the life satisfaction of individuals with mental illnesses. A survey was conducted with 180 patients from seven mental health treatment facilities in the Daegu area. The data were analyzed using MANOVA, hierarchical multiple regression analysis, and Sobel test for mediation analysis with SPSS 25 software. The key findings of the study revealed that the intimacy aspect of social networks had a positive and significant effect on social support and life satisfaction. On the other hand, the size of the social network showed a negative influence on social support. Furthermore, social support partially mediated the relationship between the intimacy of social networks and life satisfaction, and it fully mediated the relationship between the size of social networks and life satisfaction. Based on these research outcomes, practical and policy-related recommendations are provided to enhance life satisfaction through increased social support for this population.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.288-293
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• 2023

To optimize the process parameters of laser powder bed fusion process to fabricate the high density STS316L alloy, the effect of laser power, scanning speed and hatching distance on the relative density was studied. Tensile properties of additively manufactured STS316L alloy using optimized parameters was also evaluated according to the build direction. As a result of additive manufacturing process under the energy density of 55.6 J/mm³, 83.3 J/mm³ and 111.1 J/mm³, high density STS316L specimens was suitably fabricated when the energy density, power and scan speed were 83.3 J/mm³, 225 W and 1000 mm/s, respectively. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation of STS316L specimens in direction perpendicular to the build direction, show the most competitive values. Anisotropic shape of the pores and the lack of fusion defects probably caused strain localization which result in deterioration of tensile properties.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.323-336
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• 2023

This study was conducted to find out the effect of yeast by-products discarded after beer production as feed additives for carp (Cyprinus carpio). After producing feed by adding high-temperature dried beer yeast by-products (HD), freeze-dried beer yeast by-products (FD), and freeze-dried fermented beer yeast by-products (FF) after lactobacilli fermentation, innate immunity indicators, survival rates, and challenge experiments were evaluated. Both ACH50 and lysozyme activity were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the experimental group of FF 0.2% and 0.5% compared to the control group from day 7 to day 21. In addition, phagocyte activity was significantly increased (p<0.05) in the group of FF 0.5% compared to the control group at all time points. Both IL-1β and TNF-α expression levels increased significantly in the FD and FF groups on day 21 compared to the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the FF 0.5% group showed significantly higher expression levels (p<0.05) at all time points. Similarly, IL-10 expression increased significantly (p<0.05) in FF 0.2% and 0.5% groups at all time points. SOD gene expression was significantly increased in FD 0.5% and all FF groups on day 14 and 21 (p<0.05). The results of a 10-day challenge experiment using Edwardsiella piscicida (E. piscicida) showed a higher relative survival rate than the control group at all concentrations that fed FD and FF. In summary, it is estimated that 0.5% FF can effectively improve the innate immunity, growth rate, and antibacterial properties of carp rather than using discarded beer yeast supernatant alone as a functional feed additive.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.358-368
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• 2023

Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb., also known as the arrow tree in Korea, is a plant in East Asia used in traditional medicine and food. In particular, the wings of E. alatus are rich in phenolic compounds. This study evaluated the antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibition, and anti-cancer activities of E. alatus wing extracts. The radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging acitvities and reducing the power of 1,000 ㎍/mL E. alatus wing extracts, were similar to those of the positive control (0.1% BHT, 0.1% α-tocopherol). In addition, ethanol and methanol extract at 250 ㎍/mL showed 95.70 and 94.99% of α-glucosidase inhibition activity, respectively. The ethanol extract of E. alatus wings had the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents (867.8 mg% and 521.7 mg%, respectively). The E. alatus wing extracts significantly decreased the cell viability of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells (p<0.001), MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells (p<0.001), and HT-29 human colon cancer cells (p<0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was no significant effect on B16 mouse melanoma cells. Notably, the ethanol extracts showed higher cancer cell growth inhibitory activity in LNCaP and HT-29 cells than the other extracts. These results suggest that E. alatus wing extracts could have significant clinical applications, and our results can be used as basic data for future functional food material development.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.526-537
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of aqueous and 60% ethanol extracts of Allium ochotense Prokh. against alcohol-induced cytotoxicity as well as on the activities of alcohol-metabolic enzymes. Antioxidant effects of the extracts were analyzed using 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and malondialdehyde assays, and found that both extracts exhibited considerable antioxidant activities. Additionally, both extracts showed synergistic effects on the activities of alcohol-metabolic enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase, but not on the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase. In addition, 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays revealed that aqueous and 60% ethanol extracts reduced oxidative stress and increased cell viability. Moreover, both extracts regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, namely B-cell lymphoma (BCl-2), BCl-2 associated X (BAX), and pro-caspase-3, in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, aqueous and 60% ethanol extracts of A. ochotense Prokh. might be valuable functional materials derived from natural resources for the prevention of ethanol-induced cytotoxicity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.300-310
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• 2023

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the extraction conditions for persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) leaf tea (PLT) on its color quality and antioxidant properties. The amount of persimmon leaf (PL) powder and pH influenced the PLT's color and antioxidant capacity. As the amount of PL powder in tea increased, lightness decreased while yellowness increased. The PLT with the highest amount of PL (10 mg/mL) exhibited the highest 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). In addition, the PLT with the highest PL showed the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Subsequently, PLT was prepared using 10 mg/mL PL powder under varying pH conditions. As pH increased from 4 to 7, lightness decreased while redness and yellowness increased. Antioxidant capacity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and FRAP assay showed that lower pH exhibited higher antioxidant capacity. The PLT extracted under the lowest pH of 4 showed higher polyphenol and flavonoid contents than that extracted under higher pH conditions. Overall, PLT extraction using a solvent with pH 4.0 showed better antioxidant activities and higher amounts of polyphenolic compounds. Simultaneously, lesser lightness, redness, and yellowness were detected in PLT extracted under pH 4 conditions. In conclusion, to acquire a better functional health benefit in terms of antioxidant capacity, preparing PLT under pH 4 conditions is suggested.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.483-491
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• 2023

This study aimed to compare the bioactive compounds in Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) cultivated in a smart farm and a field and their effects on human keratinocyte cells. C. asiatica was collected in Jeju-do, Korea, and cultured in a smart farm and a field. The main bioactive compounds in the two differentially cultured C. asiatica were identified, and their activation in keratinocytes were assessed. Amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA in the nucleus and psbA-H DNA in the chloroplast were performed for species analysis. A comparison of DNA of plants reported in the NCBI GenBank was performed. The ITS DNA and psbA-H DNA sequences of C. asiatica cultivated in a smart farm and a field were consistent with No. MH768338.1 and No. JQ425422.1, respectively. Analysis of the triterpenes was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and as a result, C. asiatica cultured in a smart farm had more triterpenes than those cultured in a field. The effects of C. asiatica grown in a smart farm on cell proliferation and scratch recovery in HaCaT cells were greater than those grown in a field. These results suggest that C. asiatica cultivated in a smart farm can be effectively utilized as a health functional food.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.122-131
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• 2023

Persimmon peels are mostly discared as a by-product of dried persimmon manufacturing, but effective use is required as it contains various functional constituents. This study covers the preparation of carotenoid-enriched oil by ultrasound treatment of persimmon peel in soybean oil solvent, and the investigation of its physicochemical characteristics. Using the Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology, the optimal extraction conditions (temperature, 62℃; time, 32 min; and persimmon peel to oil ratio, 1:3.1) were determined based on the carotenoid concentration of the extract. The physicochemical characteristics of the extract obtained under optimal conditions and the untreated soybean oil (control) were compared. The total carotenoid content of the extract increased. The carotenoid-enriched soybean oils had a lighter color than the controls, but with high redness and yellowness values. The effect of sonication and a component of the persimmon peel on the oxidation and heating stability of soybean oil was weak. The viscosity and activation energy of carotenoid-enriched soybean oil were slightly higher than those of the control. Thus, it was possible to prepare yellow-red carotenoid-enriched soybean oil by applying ultrasonic-soybean oil solvent extraction to persimmon peel. The oil is expected to be useful as an additive as well as a substitute for general edible oils.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.986-997
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• 2022

Objective: Whether metabolic redistribution occurs in patients with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is unknown. This study aimed 1) to propose a measure of the brain metabolic network for an individual patient and preliminarily apply it to identify impaired metabolic networks in patients with WMHs, and 2) to explore the clinical and imaging features of metabolic redistribution in patients with WMHs. Materials and Methods: This study included 50 patients with WMHs and 70 healthy controls (HCs) who underwent ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/MRI. Various global property parameters according to graph theory and an individual parameter of brain metabolic network called "individual contribution index" were obtained. Parameter values were compared between the WMH and HC groups. The performance of the parameters in discriminating between the two groups was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The correlation between the individual contribution index and Fazekas score was assessed, and the interaction between age and individual contribution index was determined. A generalized linear model was fitted with the individual contribution index as the dependent variable and the mean standardized uptake value (SUV_mean) of nodes in the whole-brain network or seven classic functional networks as independent variables to determine their association. Results: The means ± standard deviations of the individual contribution index were (0.697 ± 10.9) × 10^-3 and (0.0967 ± 0.0545) × 10^-3 in the WMH and HC groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The AUC of the individual contribution index was 0.864 (95% confidence interval, 0.785-0.943). A positive correlation was identified between the individual contribution index and the Fazekas scores in patients with WMHs (r = 0.57, p < 0.001). Age and individual contribution index demonstrated a significant interaction effect on the Fazekas score. A significant direct association was observed between the individual contribution index and the SUV_mean of the limbic network (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The individual contribution index may demonstrate the redistribution of the brain metabolic network in patients with WMHs.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.221-233
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• 2024

Lignin, a prominent constituent of woody biomass, is abundant in nature, cost-effective, and contains various functional groups, including hydroxyl groups. Owing to these characteristics, they have the potential to replace petroleum-based polyols in the polyurethane industry, offering a solution to environmental problems linked to resource depletion and CO₂ emissions. However, the structural complexity and low reactivity of lignin present challenges for its direct application in polyurethane materials. In this study, Kraft lignin (KL), a representative technical lignin, was fractionated with ethanol, an eco-friendly solvent, and mixed with conventional polyols in varying proportions to produce polyurethane films. The results of ethanol fractionation showed that the polydispersity of ethanol-soluble lignin (ESL) decreased from 3.71 to 2.72 and the hydroxyl content of ESL increased from 4.20 mmol/g to 5.49 mmol/g. Consequently, the polyurethane prepared by adding ESL was superior to the KL-based film, exhibiting improved miscibility with petrochemical-based polyols and reactivity with isocyanate groups. Consequently, the films using ESL as the polyol exhibited reduced shrinkage and a more uniform structure. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope observations confirmed that lignin aggregation was lower in polyurethane with ESL than in that with KL. When the hydrophobicity of the samples was measured using the water contact angle, the addition of ESL resulted in higher hydrophobicity. In addition, as the amount of ESL added increased, an increase of 7.4% in the residual char was observed, and a 4.04% increase in Tmax the thermal stability of the produced polyurethane was effectively improved.