• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

We investigated the serum cholesterol and visceral fat lowering effects of Momordica charanatia (MC) and Withania somnifera (WS) extracts in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Combination of fermented MC and WS extracts (FMCWS) as well as that of non-fermented extracts (MCWS) were orally administered to HFD-induced obese mice along with the HFD supplementation for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight, food intake, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Body weight and the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased in the HFD-fed mice compared with the normal control (NC) group. However, supplementation of the extracts showed a tendency to reduce body weight gain and suppressed the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride with the increment of HDL-cholesterol levels. Abdominal fat weight was significantly increased in the HFD group, and the size of adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue was markedly expanded compared with the NC group. However, in the FMCWS and MCWS groups, the abdominal fat weight was significantly reduced and the sizes of the adipocytes were noticeably diminished compared with those of the HFD-fed mice. Moreover, the deposition of giant vesicular fat cells observed in the liver tissue of the HFD group was prominently reduced in these groups. These results indicate that the combination of extracts from MC and WS tends to have potent synergic effects in reducing body weight gain as well as significantly lowering the visceral fat and the serum lipid levels, and thus improving anti-obesity efficacy in HFD-induced obese mice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.353-364
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• 2022

The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of increasing the slaughter weight (SW) of non-lean finishing pigs to improve their meat quality. A total of 36 (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc gilts and barrows were slaughtered at 115 (Av), 125 (Hi), or 135 (XHi) kg, followed by physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluation on their longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Backfat thickness was greater (p < 0.05) for the XHi (31.2 mm) and Hi (29.3 mm) groups than for Av (25.0 mm). Dressing percentage and yield of the belly per whole carcass were also slightly greater for XHi and Hi vs. Av. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of SM was greater for XHi (2.64%) than for Av (1.83%) and Hi (2.04%) and also was correlated with SW (r = 0.55). The pH value, lightness, redness, drip loss, shear force, and moisture and protein contents of LD and SM, as well as IMF content of LD, were unaffected by SW. Percentages of 14:0, 16:0, and total saturated fatty acids (FA) were less for Hi and XHi vs. Av in SM, those of total unsaturated FA, 18:2, 20:4, and n-6 being opposite; FA composition of LM was not influenced by SW except for a reduced 18:0 percentage for XHi vs. Av. The sensory score was less for XHi vs. Av for odor in fresh LD and SM, and less for Hi and XHi vs. Av for aroma in fresh LM; scores for color, drip loss, marbling, and acceptability were unaffected by SW. As for cooked muscles, none of the scores for color, aroma, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and acceptability was affected by SW, except for a greater LD color score for Hi and XHi vs. Av. Collectively, the results suggested that the increased yield of the carcass and belly due to increased SW is outbalanced negatively by excessive backfat deposition in production efficiency, whereas the SW increase exerts little influence on overall sensory quality of fresh or cooked meat. Production of non-lean market pigs overweighing 115 kg therefore will be uneconomical unless consumers pay a substantial premium for the over-fattened pork.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 2010

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of calcium phosphate coated titanium implant surface on bone response and implant stability at early stage of healing period of 3 weeks and later healing period of 6 weeks. Material and methods: A total of 24 machined, screw-shaped implants (Dentium Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) which dimensions were 3.3 mm in diameter and 5.0 mm in length, were used in this research. All implants (n = 24), made of commercially pure (grade IV) titanium, were divided into 2 groups. Twelve implants (n = 12) were machined without any surface modification (control). The test implants (n = 12) were anodized and coated with thin film (150nm) of calcium phosphate by electron-beam deposition. The implants were placed on the proximal surface of the rabbit tibiae. The bone to implant contact (BIC) ratios was evaluated after 3 and 6 weeks of implant insertion. Results: The BIC percentage of calcium phosphate coated implants ($70.8{\pm}18.9%$) was significantly higher than that of machined implants ($44.1{\pm}16.5%$) 3 weeks after implant insertion (P = 0.0264). However, there was no significant difference between the groups after 6 weeks of healing (P > .05). Conclusion: The histomorphometric evaluation of implant surface revealed that; 1. After 3 weeks early healing period, bone to implant contact (BIC) percentage of calcium phosphate coated implants (70.8%) was much greater than that of surface untreated machined implants (44.1%) with P = 0.0264. 2. After 6 weeks healing period, however, BIC percentage of calcium phosphate coated implants group (79.0%) was similar to the machined only implant group (78.6%). There was no statistical difference between two groups (P = 0.8074). 3. We found the significant deference between the control group and experimental group during the early healing period of 3 weeks. But no statistical difference was found between two groups during the later of 6 weeks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.84-95
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• 1996

Environmental pollution has recently been progressed in the metropolitan and industrial areas of Korea and concerns have been evolved against the chronic effects of the pollution on natural ecosystem. This study was carried out to investigate the environmental pollution impacts on ion input into forest ecosystems and soil environmental changes. Study plots were established at Seoul, Ulsan, Yeochon, and Seosan for pollution sites and at Pyungchang for a non-pollution site. Atmospheric deposition was measured with rain, throughfall, and stem flow samples collected in the forest areas. Soil chemical properties were investigated to compare the pollution impacts on the sites. Precipitation acidity in the metropolitan and industrial areas ranged from pH 4.5 to 5.5, showing the levels lower than pH 5.8 of mountain area. Ion concentrations in the precipitation had increased significantly while passing the crown layer in the metropolitan and industrial areas, showing the increase by 4 times at the maximum. Total ion input in the metropolitan and industrial areas was greater than that in mountain area by approximately 2-3 times. Soil acidification caused by acidic ion input seemed to be greatest at Seoul, showing pH 1 decrease compared to that of Pyungchang. Soil canon contents were relatively high in the metropolitan and industrial areas. Although the canon leaching loss was not apparent, soil acidification process seemed to be continued by acidic ion input. Environmental pollution in the metropolitan and industrial areas exerted changes in ion input into the forest ecosystems and soil conditions. The chronic effects of environmental pollution should be monitored and investigated further to explain the processes of ecosystem change and the impacts on plant growth.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.799-810
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine effects of spent composts of Se-enriched mushrooms (Se-SMC) as the dietary selenium source on carcass characteristics, plasma glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activity and Se deposition in finishing Hanwoo steers. In combination with both Se-SMC and normal SMC, experimental treatment diets were formulated to contain 0.1, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 ppm of Se on a dry matter basis. A total of 20 finishing Hanwoo steers (average BW = 613 kg, average age = 20 to 24 mo) were allotted to treatments in four groups of five steers per pen for 12 wk preceding slaughter. While the experiment is employed, blood samples were taken to analyze Se concentration and GSH-Px activity, and muscle and liver samples were collected for analyses of Se contents in their tissues after slaughter. DMl and BW gain were not affected by dietary Se level and any toxic symptoms in treatments with a higher level of Se were not observed. No differences were noted for carcass characteristics. Se concentration in whole blood and plasma GSH-Px activity were linearly increased with the increasing level of dietary Se (P < 0.01). Se content in the hind leg for Se-SMC supplemented groups significantly increased (P < 0.05) upon dietary Se level, with 0.27, 0.37, 0.40 and 0.46 !1g1g dry, respectively. However, Se content in the loin was not affected by dietary Se levels. Se content in the liver was significantly increased(P < 0.05) as dietary Se increased, with 0.79, 1.40, 2.39 and 3.10 !1g1g dry, respectively. These results suggested that Se in the Se-SMC was highly bioavailable, and Se-SMC might be used not only as an inexpensive way of providing Se for ruminants but also as another way of producing Se-fortified beef.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2024

This study investigated the growth performance and fat deposition in Woorimatdag2 (WMD2) breeder pullets in response to dietary levels of apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn). A total of 144 four-week-old WMD2 breeder pullets were weighed and equally divided into four dietary groups, each with four replications until 16 weeks of age. The dietary groups were fed diets formulated with AMEn levels; 2,600, 2,700, 2,800, and 2,900 kcal/kg. The results showed that birds fed 2,800 and 2,900 kcal/kg were higher (P<0.05) in body weight and weight gain compared to those fed 2,600 kcal/kg. Feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) improved in 2,900 kcal/kg-fed group compared to 2,600 and 2,700 kcal/kg-fed groups. The laying ages of first egg were earlier (P<0.05) in 2,600 and 2,700 kcal/kg-fed pullets than 2,900 kcal/kg-fed those. Meanwhile, the higher (P<0.05) fat (%) into both liver and abdomen was confirmed in groups fed 2,700, 2,800, and 2,900 kcal/kg compared to group fed 2,600 kcal/kg. Furthermore, blood concentrations of AST and ALT were significantly (P<0.05) increased in group fed 2,900 kcal/kg compared to groups fed 2,600, 2,700, and 2,800 kcal/kg. Accordingly, we suggest that 2,600 kcal AMEn/kg is appropriate for WMD2 breeders during growing phase, which may improve their productivity and health of those during laying phase.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2010

Although the usage of nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has increased in various fields, scientific researches on workers' exposures and controls of these materials are very limited. The purpose of this study was to compare the airborne nanoparticles concentrations from two university laboratories conducting experiments of CNTs growth based on containment of thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Airborne nanoparticle concentrations in three metrics (surface area concentration, particle number concentration, and mass concentrations) were measured by task using three direct reading instruments. In a laboratory where CVD was not contained, the surface area concentration, number concentration and mass(PM$_1$) concentration of airborne nanoparticles were 1.5 to 3.5 times higher than those in the other laboratory where CVD was confined. The ratio of PM$_1$ concentration to total suspended particles(TSP) in the laboratory where CVD was not confined was about 4 times higher than that in the other laboratory. This indicates that CVD is a major source of airbone nanoparticles in the CNTs growth laboratories. In conclusion, researchers performing CNTs growth experiments in these laboratories were exposed to airborne nanoparticles levels higher than background levels, and their exposures in a laboratory with the unconfined CVD were higher than those in the other laboratory with the confined CVD. It is recommended that in the CNTs growth laboratories adequate controls including containment of CVD be implemented for minimizing researchers' exposures to airborne nanoparticles.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.131-154
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of essay writing-centered mathematics instruction on problem solving and mathematical deposition in the elementary school. For the present study, two 6th grade classes with equivalent achievement in terms of problem solving and mathematical disposition based on the pretest. A total of 15 mathematics lessons focused on writing activities were administered to the experiment group for two months, while the textbook-based traditional lessons were given to the comparison group. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted to analyze the data. The results of the present study showed that essay writing-centered mathematics teaching is statistically superior that the textbook-based mathematics teaching with respect to students' problem solving and mathematical disposition. In addition, it was evidenced that essay writing-centered mathematics instruction makes an influence on students' perceptions toward essay-based assessment in a positive way.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2003

The study on magnetic field combined radiation therapy, as a new technique to modify the dose distributions using external magnetic field, has been investigated. The goal of the study is to develop the techniques for dose localization, as a particle beam, from the strong magnetic fields. In this study, in order to study the principle of dose deposition in external fields, as a basic approach, we have calculated approximately the paths of traveling electrons in water under external magnetic fields with numerical methods. The calculations are performed for a primary particle by cumulating the steps which are defined as small path lengths which energy loss can be ignored. In this calculation, the energy loss and direction change for a step was calculated by using total stopping power and Lorentz force equation respectively. We have examined the deflected paths of the electron through water as a function of external magnetic field and incident electron s energy. Since we did not take account of the multiple scattering effects for electrons through water, there are errors in this calculation. However, from the results we can explain the principle of dose variation and dose focusing for electron beams under strong magnetic fields in water.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2017

The variable density phantom fabricated with varying the infill values of 3D printer to provide more accurate dose verification of radiation treatments. A total of 20 samples of rectangular shape were fabricated by using the $Finebot^{TM}$ (AnyWorks; Korea) Z420 model ($width{\times}length{\times}height=50mm{\times}50mm{\times}10mm$) varying the infill value from 5% to 100%. The samples were scanned with 1-mm thickness using a Philips Big Bore Brilliance CT Scanner (Philips Medical, Eindhoven, Netherlands). The average Hounsfield Unit (HU) measured by the region of interest (ROI) on the transversal CT images. The average HU and the infill values of the 3D printer measured through the 2D area profile measurement method exhibited a strong linear relationship (adjusted R-square=0.99563) in which the average HU changed from -926.8 to 36.7, while the infill values varied from 5% to 100%. This study showed the feasibility fabricating variable density phantoms using the 3D printer with FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)-type and PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) materials.