• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.618-626
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• 2014

The physicochemical characteristics and consumer perceptions of two Fuji cultivars (Fuji and Royal Fuji) with six different size groups (3D: 30~39, 4D: 40~49, 5D: 50~59, 6D: 60~69, 7D: 70~79, and 8D: 80~89 apples/15 kg) were investigated to identify the ideal size and the drivers of consumer acceptability of apples. For the physicochemical characteristics, the weight, volume, specific volume, L, a, and b colors, hardness, pH, acidity, and brix of apples were measured. A total of 100 consumers were asked to mark the intensity of the characteristics (size, redness, glossiness, surface roughness, apple odor, apple flavor, sweetness, sourness, hardness, crunchiness, and toughness) to determine the ideal characteristics of apples before they were asked to taste the apple products. The consumers evaluated the apple samples in terms of their appearance, odor, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability; the consumers' intent to purchase such apples and willingness to pay for them; and the intensity of the aforementioned characteristics. Compared to the ideal characteristics of apples, the actual apple samples were rated low in their apple odor, apple flavor, acidity, sweetness, hardness, and crispness. The ideal size of the apples was between 4D and 5D. Their overall acceptability was highly affected by their flavor, followed by their texture, odor, and appearance. The acceptability of the appearance was highly correlated with the glossiness (r = 0.80), volume, weight, redness (r = 0.73), and size (r = 0.72). The consumer acceptability of the apples increased with the decreased pH and the increased Brix, hardness, and color b values of the peeled apples. The apple flavor, sweetness, hardness, crispiness, juiciness, and toughness during mastication were noted as sensory drivers of consumer acceptability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2014

The leaves of Peatasites japonicus are a traditional oriental medicine with diverse biological activities. A simple and specific analytical method for the quantitative determination of bakkenolide B constituents from methanolic extract of the leaves of P. japonicus was developed. Bakkenolide B was isolated from the leaves of P. japonicus, and its structure was elucidated based on 1D, 2D NMR, and GC-MS spectral data. A liquid chromatographic method was developed to evaluate the quality of P. japonicus through determination of major active compound, bakkenolide B. The wavelengths at 254 and 215 nm were chosen to determine bakkenolide B. The recovery of the method was in the range of 98.6 to 103.1%, and bakkenolide B showed good linearity ($r^2$=0.999) within test ranges. The developed method was applied to the determination of bakkenolide B in the plant part and seasonal changes. The results showed that the content of bakkenolide B in the leaf was higher than in the petiole and rhizome. In this study, a simple, rapid, and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the percentage and composition of bakkenolide B in P. japonicus procured from different Petasites species plants in South Korea. The method can be employed in routine quantitative analysis and quality control of different products in the market.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2015

Probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic substances as well as microorganisms were added to infant formula in an attempt to influence the intestinal microflora with an aim to stimulate the growth of lactic acid bacteria, especially bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Over the last 10 years, new synbiotic infant formulas containing probiotics and prebiotics have been proposed in order to simulate the effect of breast-feeding on the intestinal microflora. Owing to their synergistic effect, the new synbiotics are expected to be more helpful than using probiotics and prebiotics individually. Maintenance of the viability of the probiotics during food processing and the passage through the gastrointestinal tract should be the most important consideration, since a sufficient number of bacteria ($10^8cfu/g$) should reach the intended location to have a positive effect on the host. Storage conditions and the processing technology used for the manufacture of products such as infant formula adversely affect the viability of the probiotics. When an appropriate and cost-effective microencapsulation methodology using the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and substances with high biological value are developed, the quality of infant formulas would improve. The effect of probiotics may be called a double-effect, where one is an immunomodulatory effect, induced by live probiotics that advantageously alter the gastrointestinal microflora, and the other comprises anti-inflammatory responses elicited by dead cells. At present, a new terminology is required to define the dead microorganisms or crude microbial fractions that positively affect health. The term "paraprobiotics" (or ghost probiotics) has been proposed to define dead microbial cells (not damaged or broken) or crude cell extracts (i.e., cell extracts with complex chemical composition) that are beneficial to humans and animals when a sufficient amount is orally or topically administered. The fecal microflora of bottle-fed infants is altered when the milk-based infant formula is supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics. Thus, by increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, prebiotics modify the fecal microbial composition and accordingly regulate the activity of the immune system. Therefore, considerable attention has been focused on the improvement of infant formula quality such that its beneficial effects are comparable to those of human milk, using prebiotics such as inulin and oligosaccharides and potential specific probiotics such as bifidobacteria, which selectively stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the microflora and the indigenous intestinal metabolic activity of the microflora.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2006

Iron manufacturing process involves production of various by-product including slag, sludge, sintering and EAF(Electric Arc furnace dust). Some of the by-products such as EAF and sintering dust are disposed of as waste due to their high heavy metal contents. It has been notice for many years that the EAF dust also contain about 65% of Fe(0) and Fe(II) and then the possible utilization of the iron. One possibility is to apply the EAF as a lining material in conjunction with clay or HDPE liners, in waste landfill. The probable reaction between the leachate containing toxic elements such as TCE, PCE dioxine and $Cr^{6+}$ is reduction of the toxic materials in corresponding to the oxidation of the reduced iron and therefore diminishing the toxicity of the leachate. It is, however, prerequisite to evaluate the leaching characteristics of the EAF dust before application. Amelioration of the leachate would be archived only when the level of toxic elements in the treated leachate is less than that of in the untreated leachate. Several leaching techniques were selected to cover different conditions and variable environments including time, pH and contact method. The testing methods include availability test, pH-stat test and continuous column test. Cr and Zn are potentially leachable elements among the trace metals. The pH of the EAF dust is highly alkaline, recording around 12 and Zn is unlikely to be leached under the condition. On the contrary Cr is more leachable under alkaline environment. However, the released Cr should be reduced to $Cr^{3+}$ and then removed as $Cr(OH)_3$. Removal of the Cr is observed in the column test and further study on the specific reaction of Cr and EAF dust is underway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.416-425
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vegetarian (lacto-ovo vegetarian) and non-vegetarian diets on dietary habits, nutrient intake, and health status. The vegan subjects were 22 children. Among them, 54.5% of the subjects had a specific religion, 36.4% had been vegetarian since weaning, and 9.1% had become vegetarian to prevent obesity or atopy. The percentages of excessive eating by the vegetarian children were lower compared to the non-vegetarian children. The rates of intake of vegetables (42.2%) and fruits and fruit juice (55.9%) by the vegetarian children were higher compared to non-vegetarian subjects. Non-vegetarian children consumed more milk, dairy products, as well as meat, fish, eggs, soybean, and tofu than the vegetarian subjects. Vegetarian children ate more bread, potato, and fruits as snacks than non-vegetarian children. Furthermore, non-vegetarian children consumed more carbonated beverages and ice cream than the vegetarian subjects (p<0.05). Generally, the subjects' energy intake was lower than standard values, and vegetarian children's calcium intake was deficient. Non-vegetarian children's fiber intake was deficient, and they consumed fat, vitamin $B_2$, calcium, and cholesterol excessively (p<0.05). Nutrition tablet intake was higher among non-vegetarian children; however, the rate of fatigue among subjects was higher among vegetarian subjects than non-vegetarian subjects. Among the vegetarian subjects, 19.6% reported that they had a cold. Consequently, for the purpose of attaining balanced physical development and growth among children, an education program that emphasizes complete diets should be prepared.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1929-1936
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• 2014

This study investigated purchasing behaviors of processed foods in high school students (male 94 and female 85) in the Yongin region. Frequency of eating processed foods was generally once (36.9%) or twice (32.4%) a day. Frequency according to processed food items was in the following order: confectionary (31.3%)> beverages (17.3%)> breads (12.3%)> instant noodles (11.7%) and milk or dairy products (11.7%)> frozen desserts (10.6%). The places for purchasing were a big mart (30.7%), convenience store (28.5%), and school cafeteria (26.8%). The reasons for purchasing were 'tasty' at 43.6% and 'hungry' at 35.2%. Main factors affecting purchasing were 'taste' at 70.9%, followed by price (16.2%)> quantity (5.6%)> nutrition (4.5%). The most important parts of food and nutrition labels were 'shelf-life' (67.0%) and 'calories' (57.5%). Degrees of confirmation of food and nutrition labeling were 'always' (12.3%), 'rarely' (28.5%), and 'sometimes' (59.2%). The reasons for not reading labels were 'unconcerned' (27.9%), 'too tiny lettering' (28.5%), 'hard to understand' (16.2%), and 'habitually' (15.1%). These results reflect low attention of high school students towards healthy food choices using food and nutrition labeling during purchasing. In conclusion, a specific education program for providing accurate product information as well as leading healthy purchasing behaviors should be required.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.857-862
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• 2002

Porous ceramic supports with immobilized microorganisms for the water purifier were synthesized by firing green compacts of mixed powder comprising of fly ash, bentonite and an additive of yeast powder at 800∼1,000$^{\circ}C$ for 1h and the pore and mechanical properties of specimens were investigated. The compressive strength was increased in FB (Fly Ash + Bentonite) specimens while pore properties was decreased with increasing the bentonite content and sintering temperature. The compressive strength, bulk density, apparent density, porosity, mean pore size, pore volume and specific surface area of FB specimens at 800∼1,000$^{\circ}C$ were 89.6∼128.9 kgf/$cm^2$, 1.25∼1.43, 1.61∼1.78, 27.2∼62.2%, 7.9∼25.6 ${\mu}m$, 8.9∼$22.2{\times}10^{-5}\;cm^3/g$ and 35.2∼134.3 $m^2/g$, respectively. The pore properties of FBY (FB+yeast powder) specimens were superior to that of FB specimens, however compressive strength was decreased with increasing yeast powder content. The overall properties of 9F1B1Y (9F1B+10% of yeast powder) specimens at 900$^{\circ}C$ for 1 h were 98.7 kgf/$cm^2$, 1.20, 1.67, 68.1%, 48.9 ${\mu}m$, $29.5{\times}10^{-5}\;cm^3/g$ and 152.2 $m^2/g$, respectively. In this study, it was revealed that 9F1B1Y specimen demonstrated better S. saprophyticus adherence properties n their surface pores. Consequently, the microorganisms immobilized on porous ceramic supports showed better water purifying performance with many pores and adequate strength.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.453-458
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• 2001

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) of Korea now operates a system called Rice Variety Selection Tests (RVST), which are now being implemented in eight Agricultural Research and Extension Services located in eight province RVST's objective is to provide accurate yield estimates and to select well-adapted varieties to each province. Systematic evaluation of entries included in RVST is a highly important task to select the best-adapted varieties to specific location and to observe the performance of entries across a wide range of test sites within a region. The rice yield data in RVST for ordinary transplanting in Kangwon province during 1997-2000 were analyzed. The experiments were carried out in three replications of a random complete block design with eleven entries across five locations. Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model was employed to examine the interaction between genotype and environment (G$\times$E) in the biplot form. It was found that genotype variability was as high as 66％, followed by G$\times$E interaction variability, 21％, and variability by environment, 13％. G$\times$E interaction was partitioned into two significant (P＜0.05) principal components. Pattern analysis was used for interpretation on G$\times$E interaction and adaptibility. Major determinants among the meteorological factors on G$\times$E matrix were canopy minimum temperature, minimum relative humidity, sunshine hours, precipitation and mean cloud amount. Odaebyeo, Obongbyeo and Jinbubyeo were relatively stable varieties in all the regions. Furthermore, the most adapted varieties in each region, in terms of productivity, were evaluated.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.199-247
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• 2012

According to the review and analysis of medical cases that are assigned to the Supreme Court and all local High Court in 2011 and that are presented in the media, it was found that the following categories were taken seriously, medical and pharmaceutical product liability, the third principle of trust between medical institutions, negligence and causation estimation, responsibility limit, the meaning of medical records and related judgment of disturbed substantiation, Oriental doctors' duties to explain the procedures, IMS events, whether one can claim for each medical care operated by non-physician health care institutions to the nonmedical domain in the National Health Insurance Corporation, and the basis of norms for each claim. In the cases related to medical pharmaceutical product liability, Supreme Court alleviated burden of proof for accidents with medical and pharmaceutical products prior to the practice of Product Liability Law and onset the point of negative prescription as the time of damage strikes to condition feasibility of the specific situation. In the cases related to the 3rd principle of trust between medical institutions, the Supreme Court refused to sentence the doctor who has trusted the judgment of the same third-party doctors the violations of the care duty. With respect to proof of a causal relationship and damages in a medical negligence case, the Supreme Court decided that it is unjust to deny negligence by the materials of causal relationship rejecting the original verdict and clarified that the causal relationship shall not deny the reasons to limit doctors' responsibilities. In order not put burden on patients with disadvantages in which medical records and the description of the practice or the most fundamental and important evidence to prove negligence and causation are being neglected, the Supreme Court admitted in the hospital's responsibility for the case of the neonate death of suffocation without properly listed fetal heart rate and uterine contraction monitor. On the other hand, the Seoul Western District Court has admitted alimony for altering and forging medical records. With respect to doctors' obligations to description, the Supreme Court decided that it is necessary to explain the foreseen risks by the combination of oriental and western medicines emphasizing the right of patient's self-determination. However, questions have arisen whether it is realistically feasible or not. In a case of an unlicensed doctor performing intramuscular stimulation treatment (IMS), the Supreme Court put off its decision if it was an unlicensed medical practice as to put limitation of eastern and western medical practices, but it declared that IMS practice was an acupuncture treatment therefore the plaintiff's conduct being an illegal act. In the future, clear judgment on this matter should be made. With respect to the claim of bills from non-physical health care institutions, the Supreme Court decided to void it for the implementation of the arrangement is contrary to the commitments made in the medical law and therefore, it is invalid to claim. In addition, contrast to the private healthcare professionals, who are subject to redemption according to the National Healthcare Insurance Law, the Seoul High Court explicitly confirmed that the non-professionals who receive the tort operating profit must return the unjust enrichment and have the liability for damages. As mentioned above, a relatively wide range of topics were discussed in medical field of 2011. In Korea's health care environment undergoing complex changes day by day, it is expected to see more diverse and in-depth discussions striding out to the development in the field of health care.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.103-128
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• 2013

When a consumer needs a product or service and multiple sellers are available online, the process of selecting a seller to buy online from is complex since the process involves many behavioral dimensions that have to be taken into account. As a part of this selection process, consumers may set minimum trust expectation that can be used to screen out less trustworthy sellers. In the previous research, the level of consumers' trust expectation has been anchored on two important factors: product involvement and perceived risk. Product involvement refers to the extent to which a consumer perceives a specific product important. Thus, the higher product involvement may result in the higher trust expectation in sellers. On the other hand, other related studies found that when consumers perceived a higher level of risk (e.g., credit card fraud risk), they set higher trust expectation as well. While abundant research exists addressing the relationship between product involvement and perceived risk, little attention has been paid to the integrative view of the link between the two constructs and their impacts on the trust expectation. The present paper is a step toward filling this research gap. The purpose of this paper is to understand the process by which a consumer chooses an online merchant by examining the relationships among product involvement, perceived risk, trust expectation, and intention to buy from an e-tailer. We specifically focus on the mediating role of perceived risk in the relationships between enduring product involvement and the trust expectation. That is, we question whether product involvement affects the trust expectation directly without mediation or indirectly mediated by perceived risk. The research model with four hypotheses was initially tested using data gathered from 635 respondents through an online survey method. The structural equation modeling technique with partial least square was used to validate the instrument and the proposed model. The results showed that three out of the four hypotheses formulated were supported. First, we found that the intention to buy from a digital storefront is positively and significantly influenced by the trust expectation, providing support for H4 (trust expectation ${\rightarrow}$ purchase intention). Second, perceived risk was found to be a strong predictor of trust expectation, supporting H2 as well (perceived risk ${\rightarrow}$ trust expectation). Third, we did not find any evidence of direct influence of product involvement, which caused H3 to be rejected (product involvement ${\rightarrow}$ trust expectation). Finally, we found significant positive relationship between product involvement and perceived risk (H1: product involvement ${\rightarrow}$ perceived risk), which suggests that the possibility of complete mediation of perceived risk in the relationship between enduring product involvement and the trust expectation. As a result, we conducted an additional test for the mediation effect by comparing the original model with the revised model without the mediator variable of perceived risk. Indeed, we found that there exists a strong influence of product involvement on the trust expectation (by intentionally eliminating the variable of perceived risk) that was suppressed (i.e., mediated) by the perceived risk in the original model. The Sobel test statistically confirmed the complete mediation effect. Results of this study offer the following key findings. First, enduring product involvement is positively related to perceived risk, implying that the higher a consumer is enduringly involved with a given product, the greater risk he or she is likely to perceive with regards to the online purchase of the product. Second, perceived risk is positively related to trust expectation. A consumer with great risk perceptions concerning the online purchase is likely to buy from a highly trustworthy online merchant, thereby mitigating potential risks. Finally, product involvement was found to have no direct influence on trust expectation, but the relationship between the two constructs was indirect and mediated by the perceived risk. This is perhaps an important theoretical integration of two separate streams of literature on product involvement and perceived risk. The present research also provides useful implications for practitioners as well as academicians. First, one implication for practicing managers in online retail stores is that they should invest in reducing the perceived risk of consumers in order to lower down the trust expectation and thus increasing the consumer's intention to purchase products or services. Second, an academic implication is that perceived risk mediates the relationship between enduring product involvement and trust expectation. Further research is needed to elaborate the theoretical relationships among the constructs under consideration.