• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.472-478
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of blood lead and cadmium in urban and rural populations. Blood samples were collected from 100 urban (Busan) residents and 150 rural residents (Jinju-84, Gijang-66) from July 1 to August 30, 2007. The blood lead and cadmium levels were analyzed using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry and were compared by age, gender and smoking status. The mean levels of blood lead in urban-Busan, rural-Jinju and rural-Gijang residents were $6.38{\pm}2.86{\mu}g/dl$, $5.41{\pm}2.16{\mu}g/dl$ and $4.50{\pm}2.87{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. There was a significant difference in the level of blood lead between urban-Busan residents and rural-Gijang residents. The mean levels of blood cadmium in urban-Busan, rural-Jinju and rural-Gijang residents were $0.85{\pm}0.44{\mu}g/l$, $1.57{\pm}0.78{\mu}g/l$ and $0.95{\pm}0.54{\mu}g/l$, respectively. There was a significant difference in the level of blood cadmium between urban-Busan residents and rural-Jinju residents. This study showed that the levels of blood lead and cadmium were significantly different between urban and rural populations. The level of blood lead was highest in urban-Busan residents, but the level of blood cadmium was highest in rural-Jinju residents. Further studies are needed to define the cause of high levels of blood lead and cadmium related to area of residence and personal habits.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Many edible mushrooms are known to accumulate high levels of heavy metals. This research was focused on health risk assessment to investigate the mushrooms in Korea, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) contaminations in edible mushrooms in cultivated areas were investigated, and health risk was assessed through dietary intake of mushrooms. METHODS AND RESULTS: The heavy metals in mushrooms were analyzed by ICP/MS after acid digestion. Probabilistic health risk were estimated by Monte-Carlo simulation techniques. The average contents of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg were $0.035{\pm}0.042$ mg/kg, $0.017{\pm}0.020$ mg/kg, $0.043{\pm}0.013$ mg/kg, and $0.004{\pm}0.004$ mg/kg, respectively. The results showed that contents of Cd and Pb did not exceed maximum residual levels established by European Uion regulation (Cd 0.20 mg/kg and Pb 0.30 mg/kg). For health risk assessment, estimated intakes in all age populations did not exceed the provisional tolerable daily intake of As and Hg, provisional tolerable monthly intake of Cd, provisional tolerable weekly intake of Pb. The Hazard Index (HI) were ranged from $0.03{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}0.01{\times}10^{-3}$ for As, $0.02{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}0.81{\times}10^{-3}$ for Cd, $0.06{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}0.38{\times}10^{-3}$ for Pb, and $0.08{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}0.14{\times}10^{-3}$ for Hg at general population. CONCLUSION: The HI from the ratio analysis between daily exposure and safety level values was less than 1.0. This results demonstrated that human exposure to heavy metals through dietary intake of mushrooms might not cause adverse effect.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.351-360
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• 2012

Background: Identification of reliable predictors of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) will enable healthcare providers to intervene and change the patterns of LTPA in the population to improve community health. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine prevalence and pattern of LTPA among adult Saudis aged 18-65 years, and to define the socio-demographic determinants that correlate with LTPA in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2176 adult Saudis attending urban and rural primary health care centers were selected using a multistage proportionate sampling method. Participants were personally interviewed to gather information regarding socio-demographics, physical activity pattern using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Physical activity (PA) in each domain was expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs). Results: The median total METs minutes/week for LTPA for both genders was 256, higher for men (636 METs minutes/week) compared to women (249METs minutes/week). Overall, only 19.8% of the total PA was derived from LTPA. Of the sampled population 50.0% reported doing no leisure activity. Using the cut off of 600 METs-minutes/day or 150 minutes of moderate intensity over 5 or more days/week, only 21.0% of the included sample were considered as being sufficiently active and 10.4% were in the high active category with beneficial health effects. Multivariate regression analysis showed that male, younger age (<35 years), absence of chronic disease conditions and moderate level of total PA were significant predictors for being active in the LTPA domain. Conclusion: The prevalence and intensity of LTPA among the included sample demonstrated low levels. Nearly 80% of the included sample population did not achieve the recommended LTPA level with beneficial health effects. Female gender, urban residence and associated chronic diseases correlated with a low LTPA.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.293-305
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• 2007

This study examined the distribution, population and vegetation structure of Corylopsis coreana in South Korea. C. coreana is distributed around the Suncheon area, Jeollanam-do, on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, but the species is also found in Pocheon and Gangneung, on the central and central east parts of the peninsula. This discontinuous pattern of distribution is coupled with the unusual feature of only growing on northern exposed slopes. The mean density of C. coreana populations is 35 individuals per 100 $m^2$, ranging up to a maximum of 92 individuals per 100 $m^2$. Cut specimens sprouted a maximum of 38 stems per plant. Based on DCA analysis, the species' habitats was divided into three types by species composition and stratification structure. These types include: habitats affected strongly by human activities, valley and mantle communities which are affected relatively little by human activities, and stable forests. Populations affected by artificial intervention have actually flourished, while some populations in the stable forest system have declined. We conclude that the species, now endangered, should be maintained by means of specific external interventions such as cutting or removal of the canopy. To this end, further ecological data should be collected through monitoring and research to identify appropriate interventions to support threatened C. coreana populations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 1999

Objectives: To construct basic data to develop strategies for achieving higher Pap test coverage rate by evaluating factors associated with the use of Pap test through population-based survey. Methods: 16.4%(671) of the 4,090 women, who were eligible population for this study, in 3 Myens of Chung-ju City participated in this study voluntarily from July 21 to 26, 1997. After basic physical examination by trained doctors, they were interviewed with structured questionnaire by well-educated interviewers. Results: It shows that only 54.3% of study participants experienced Pap test. The strongest factor which is related with the use of Pap test was the history of having breast screening tests(aOR=8.71, 95% CI=4.25-17.84). Probability of ever having Pap test was also higher in married women(aOR of single=0.46, 95% CI=0.29-0.72), younger(Ptrend<0,051, more educated (Ptrend<0.001), non-smoker (aOR of smoker=0.25, 95% CI=0.12-0.55), women of ever having Hepatitis test(aOR=2.60, 95% CI=1.73-3.88) in multiple lineal logistic analysis. Conclusions : This study suggests that several factors significantly associated with the use of Pap test, and especially, high-risk population for cervical cancer such as women of older ages, less educated, living alone are less likely to have the Pap test. We should concentrate on encouraging high-risk women in the use of Pap test to improve Pap test coverage rate.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1644-1649
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• 2009

This study investigates the buffering effects of calcium salts in kimchi on the total acidity, microbial population, and dextransucrase activity. Calcium chloride or calcium carbonate was added to dongchimi-kimchi, a watery radish kimchi, and the effects on various biochemical attributes were analyzed. The addition of 0.1% calcium chloride produced a milder decrease in the pH after 24 days of incubation, which allowed the lactic acid bacteria to survive longer than in the control. In particular, the heterofermentative Leuconostoc genus population was 10-fold higher than that in the control. When sucrose and maltose were also added along with the calcium salts, the dextransucrase activity in the kimchi was elevated and a higher concentration of isomaltooligosaccharides was synthesized when compared with the control. Calcium chloride was determined as a better activator compound of dextransucrase than calcium carbonate, probably because of its higher solubility. Therefore, the results of this study confirm the ability of the proposed approach to modulate the kimchi fermentation process and possibly enhance the quality of kimchi based on the addition of dietary calcium salts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes related to pig IMF and estimate the heritability of intramuscular fat content (IMF). Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 704 inbred Berkshires was performed for IMF. To consider the inbreeding among samples, associations of the SNPs with IMF were tested as random effects in a mixed linear model using the genetic relationship matrix by GEMMA. Significant genes were compared with reported pig IMF quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions and functional classification of the identified genes were also performed. Heritability of IMF was estimated by GCTA tool. Results: Total 365 SNPs were found to be significant from a cutoff of p-value <0.01 and the 365 significant SNPs were annotated across 120 genes. Twenty five genes were on pig IMF QTL regions. Bone morphogenetic protein-binding endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator, forkhead box protein O1, ectodysplasin A receptor, ring finger protein 149, cluster of differentiation, tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 1, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9), MYC proto-oncogene, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor were related to mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, which regulates the differentiation to adipocytes. These genes and the genes mapped on QTLs could be the candidate genes affecting IMF. Heritability of IMF was estimated as 0.52, which was relatively high, suggesting that a considerable portion of the total variance of IMF is explained by the SNP information. Conclusion: Our results can contribute to breeding pigs with better IMF and therefore, producing pork with better sensory qualities.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.215-221
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• 2020

The paradigm of agriculture is also changing to address the problem of food shortages due to the increase of the world population, climate conditions that are increasingly subtropical, and labor shortages in rural areas due to aging population. With the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT), our daily lives are changing rapidly and heralds a major change in agricultural management. In a hyper-connected society, the introduction of high-tech into traditional Agriculture of the past is absolutely necessary. In the development process of Agriculture, the first generation produced by hand, the second generation applied mechanization, and the third generation introduced automation. The fourth generation is the current ICT operation and the fifth generation is artificial intelligence. This paper investigated Smart Farm that increases productivity through convergence of Agriculture and ICT, such as smart greenhouse, smart orchard and smart Livestock. With the development of sustainable food production methods in full swing to meet growing food demand, Smart Farming is emerging as the solution. In overseas cases, the Netherlands Smart Farm, the world's second-largest exporter of agricultural products, was surveyed. Agricultural automation using Smart Farms allows producers to harvest agricultural products in an accurate and predictable manner. It is time for the development of technology in Agriculture, which benchmarked cases of excellence abroad. Because ICT requires an understanding of Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence as predicting the future, we want to address the status of theory and actual Agriculture and propose future development measures. We hope that the study of the paper will solve the growing food problem of the world population and help the high productivity of Agriculture and smart strategies of sustainable Agriculture.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4811-4814
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• 2013

Background: To assess the significance of social factors as risk factors for carcinoma cervix and to determine the significance of blood group to prevalence of carcinoma cervix in a semi-urban population of Kolar, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: One hundred cases of carcinoma cervix were included in the study, along with 200 females of the same ages considered as controls. Case details were collected from the hospital record section regarding social factors and blood groups and the data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods. Results: Blood group B showed the highest number of cases (55 cases) followed by blood group O (29 cases) in carcinoma cervix which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Age of marriage between 11 to 20 years showed highest number of carcinoma cervix cases (77 cases) and this also was statistically significant (p<0.001). Patients with rural background were 75 (p=0.112, odds ratio: 1.54), parity of more than or equal to two constituted 96 cases (p=0.006, odds ratio: 4.07) and Hindu patients were 95 in number (p=0.220, odds ratio: 1.89). Conclusions: Blood group B and age of marriage between 11 and 20 years were significantly associated with carcinoma cervix in our population. Region of residence, parity and religion presented with a altered risk for carcinoma cervix.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10683-10690
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• 2015

The big gap between efficacy of population level prevention and expectations due to heterogeneity and complexity of cancer etiologic factors calls for selective yet personalized interventions based on effective risk assessment. This paper documents our research protocol aimed at refining and validating a two-stage and web-based cancer risk assessment tool, from a tentative one in use by an ongoing project, capable of identifying individuals at elevated risk for one or more types of the 80% leading cancers in rural China with adequate sensitivity and specificity and featuring low cost, easy application and cultural and technical sensitivity for farmers and village doctors. The protocol adopted a modified population-based case control design using 72, 000 non-patients as controls, 2, 200 cancer patients as cases, and another 600 patients as cases for external validation. Factors taken into account comprised 8 domains including diet and nutrition, risk behaviors, family history, precancerous diseases, related medical procedures, exposure to environment hazards, mood and feelings, physical activities and anthropologic and biologic factors. Modeling stresses explored various methodologies like empirical analysis, logistic regression, neuro-network analysis, decision theory and both internal and external validation using concordance statistics, predictive values, etc..