• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

This study examined the growth, fatty acid (FA) content, and carotenoids of a newly isolated freshwater microalga, Mychonastes sp. 246, in various culture media. The appropriate temperature and light intensity for culturing Mychonastes sp. 246 were determined as 18℃-22℃ and 200-250 µmol/m²/s using a high throughput photobioreactor. The microalgal cells were cultivated in 0.5 L bubble column photobioreactors using BG11, Bold's Basal media, and f/2 media. According to the growth results of the microalgae, BG11, among the tested media, showed the highest biomass concentrations (3.5 ± 0.1 g/L in 10 d). To enhance the biomass growth of the microalgae, the N:P ratio in BG11 was manipulated from 45:1 to 7:1 based on the stoichiometric cell composition. The biomass concentrations of Mychonastes sp. 246 grown on the manipulated BG11 (MBG) increased to 38% (4.6 ± 0.3 g/L in d) compared with the original BG11 (3.3 g/L). The FA content of the microalgae grown on the MBG was lower (8.4%) than that of the original BG11 (10.1%) while the FA compositions did not exhibit any significant differences. Furthermore, three kinds of carotenoids were identified in Mychonastes sp. 246, zeaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene. These results suggest an effective strategy for increasing biomass concentrations, FA content, and carotenoids of microalgae by performing a simple N:P adjustment in the culture media.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.303-313
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• 2011

Field observations and culture experiments have been carried out during the rainy season (on the 6th, 8th and 27th July 2009) to examine changes in the primary productivity and associated plant pigments in the estuary of the Seom-jin River. Primary productivity was determined at four sampling stations along the salinity gradient. On 6th July (before heavy rain) primary productivity ranged from 689~1,169 mgC $m^{-2}$ $d^{-1}$. On the 8th, just after more than 216.5 mm of precipitation, euphotic layers at all stations were reduced to very shallow water because of the high concentration of suspended solids in the water. This resulted in dramatically decreased primary productivity down to as low as 12~32 mg C $m^{-2}$ $d^{-1}$. However, after the rain, primary productivity on the 27th ranged from 266~999 mgC $m^{-2}$ $d^{-1}$, demonstrating a fast recovery in the upper stream water to similar productivity levels to those before the rainy season. Concentration of fucoxanthin in the water was highest on the 6th July. Before the rain, concentration of the zeaxanthin, increased as the salinity decreased. Immediately after the heavy rain, the Chl b (Chlorophytes) concentration was higher at all sites than before the rainy season. The concentration of fucoxanthin decreased after the heavy rain. At the downstream site, peridinin (Dinoflagellates) were found. During the rainy season, the diatoms contributed to the primary productivity at all sites. However, after the rainy season, Chl b (Chlorophytes) and Peridinin (Dinoflagellates) increased, demonstrating the enhanced contribution of those species in addition to diatoms.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.258-268
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate dietary vitamin A intake and examine major food sources of vitamin A in Korean adults. Methods: Using data from the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 33,069 subjects over 19-years-old were included in this study. We estimated individual daily intakes of retinol, carotenoids such as ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene, and vitamin A by linking food consumption data with the vitamin A database of commonly consumed foods. We compared individual vitamin A intakes with the reference value of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. Results: Average dietary vitamin A intakes of study subjects were $864.3{\mu}g$ retinol equivalent/day ($495.7{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalent/day) in men and $715.0{\mu}g$ retinol equivalent/day ($403.6{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalent/day) in women. Exactly 42.9% and 70.6% of total subjects consumed less vitamin A than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) based on retinol equivalent and retinol activity equivalent, respectively. The major food sources of vitamin A were Korean radish leaves, carrot, red pepper, and laver, and the top 20 foods provided about 80% of total vitamin A intake. Conclusion: This study provides basic data for estimation of vitamin A intake in Korean adults. Further research will be needed to analyze the association of insufficient or excess intakes of vitamin A and health problems in the Korean population.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.767-776
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate key properties of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OFI) ie, levels of key chemicals (carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds as well as phenolic acid) and its antioxidative potential, depending on where the plant had been cultivated in Korea. The levels of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds in OFI were 55.45~65.32 mg (+)-catechin/g and 149.00~181.15 mg gallic acid/g, respectively. Protocatechuic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid in the ON1 and ON2 (161.90 and $196.25{\mu}g/g$ DW (dry weight)). Nineteen flavonoids were identified and analyzed by LC-ESI-MS in cladodes from OFI. Narcissin was the most abundant flavonoid in all of the samples ($1,241.89{\sim}1,775.10{\mu}g/g$ DW). Capxanthin and zeaxanthin were the most abundant carotenoids in OFI (64.88~128.08 and $48.10{\sim}93.82{\mu}g/g$ DW). The level of DPPH radical and ABTS radical scavenging activities in OFI were 10.78~25.35 and 16.85~34.16 mg AA eq/100 g, respectively. OFI by cultivar has different kind of phenolic acid, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Therefore, dietary intake of cladodes from OFI may be helpful for improving human health.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.269-289
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• 2010

In Summer 2008, a multidisciplinary survey was conducted onboard R/V Haeyang 2000 to understand plankton response to the three distinct physico-chemical settings that developed in the Ulleung Basin of the East Sea. Baseline settings of hydrographic conditions included the presence of the thin (<20 m) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW) on top of the Tsushima Middle Water (TMW). It extends from the Korea Strait to $37^{\circ}N$ along the $130^{\circ}E$ and then turns offshore and encompasses the relatively saline (T>$26^{\circ}C$, S>33.7) Ulleung Warm Eddy surface water centered at $36.5^{\circ}N$ and $131^{\circ}E$. A relatively colder and saline water mass appeared off the southeastern coast of Korea. It was accompanied by higher nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations, suggesting a coastal upwelling. Most of the offshore surface waters support low phytoplankton biomass (0.3 mg chl-a $m^{-3}$). A much denser phytoplankton biomass (1-2.3 mg $m^{-3}$) accumulated at the subsurface layer between 20-50 m depth. The subsurface chlorophyll-a maximum (SCM) layer was closely related to the nutricline, suggesting an active growth of phytoplankton at depth. The SCM developed at shallow depth (20-30 m) near the coast and deepened offshore (50-60 m). A fucoxanthin/zeaxanthin ratio was high in coastal waters while it was low in offshore waters, which indicated that diatoms dominate coastal waters while cyanobacteria dominate offshore waters. The community structure and biomass of phytoplanktonare closely related to nitrogen availability. Zooplankton biomass was higher in the coastal region than in the offshore region while species richness showed an opposite trend. Zooplankton community structure retained a coastal/offshore contrast. These suggest that summer hydrography is a stable structure, lasting long enough to allow a hydrography-specific plankton community to evolve.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1152-1159
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• 2018

Purpose: We prospectively investigated clinical changes and long-term outcomes after administration of the drugs recommended by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study-2 to patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This prospective multicenter study enrolled 79 eyes of 55 patients taking lutein and zeaxanthin. The primary endpoint was contrast sensitivity; this was checked every 12 months for a total of 36 months after treatment commenced. The secondary endpoints were visual acuity, central macular thickness, and drusen volume; the latter two parameters were assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Results: The mean patient age was $72.46{\pm}7.16years$. Contrast sensitivity gradually improved at both three and six cycles per degree. The corrected visual acuity was $0.13{\pm}0.14logMAR$ and did not change significantly over the 36 months. Neither the central macular thickness nor drusen volume changed significantly. Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity markedly improved after treatment, improving vision and patient satisfaction. Visual acuity, central retinal thickness, and drusen volume did not deteriorate. Therefore, progression of AMD and visual function deterioration were halted.