In this study, we investigated the vertical distribution and vascular plants on Joryeongsan Mountain in Baekdudaegan, Korea. The results of four field surveys from April to September 2023 identified a total of 552 taxa, representing 491 species, ten subspecies, 43 varieties, six forms, and two hybrids in 314 genera and 101 families. The elevational distribution ranges of 360 taxa of vascular plants were also identified. Among them, 19 taxa were endemic to Korea, and two taxa were rare plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 100 taxa, specifically two taxa of grade V, seven taxa of grade IV, 25 taxa of grade III, 33 taxa of grade II, and 33 taxa of grade I. Seventy-eight taxa were northern lineage plants. In all, 29 taxa of alien plants were recorded in the investigated area, with a naturalized index of 5.3% and an urbanization index of 7.4%. Two plants disturbed the ecosystem. Species richness along the elevation showed a reversed doublehump shape with peaks at low, mid, and high elevations. The results of a cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between adjacent elevation sections, except in lowlands. Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination also supported distinct groups by elevation. Warmth index values ranged from 62.1ºC·month to 92.9ºC·month on Joryeongsan Mountain. Our results provide primary data on vascular plants and valuable information on the current distribution ranges of plant species on Joryeongsan Mountain. These data could serve as a baseline for comparing species shifts at elevations under future climate changes.

To increase industrial applicability of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) as immunostimulating materials, hot-water extract (AME) was prepared from AM and fermented with Kimchi-lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus sakei & Leuconostoc mesenteroides) to prepare fermented AM-postbiotics (FAME). Although FAME prepared from AM-postbiotics did not show a significant enhancement in macrophage stimulating activity compared to non-fermented AME, crude polysaccharide (FAME-CP) fractionated by EtOH precipitation from FAME showed significantly higher macrophage stimulating activity than AME-CP. Compared to AME-CP, FAME-CP showed dramatic changes in component sugar and molecular weight distribution. FAME-CP was a polysaccharide with a major molecular weight distribution of 113.4 kDa containing Man (44.2%), Glc (19.3%), Gal (10.2%), GalA (10.2%), and Ara (7.4%) as sugar components. FAME-CP with enhanced macrophage stimulatory activity not only increased expression levels of mRNA genes encoding macrophage-activated factors (iNOS, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, and COX-2), but also led the nuclear translocation of activated p65 and c-Jun. In conclusion, crude polysaccharide from AM-postbiotics fermented with lactic acid bacteria could increase industrial applicability as a functional material with enhanced immunostimulating activity than AME-CP.

To produce an intestinal immunomodulatory beverage containing Centella asiatica extract (CAE), three types of CAE-added beverage prototypes were prepared, and their immunomodulatory activities and marker compounds were analyzed. As a result of the cytotoxicity assessment, all the beverages did not show significant toxicity compared to the control group. Next, the immunomodulatory activities of the beverage prototype were evaluated using the inflammatory model of IL-1β-induced intestinal epithelial cell line. All the samples significantly reduced the production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in a CAE concentration-dependent manner. In addition, CAE-added beverages inhibited NO, IL-6, and IL-12 production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. When the major triterpenoids, as marker compounds for the production of CAE-added beverages, were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, only asiaticoside was detected beyond the limit of quantification, while madecassoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid were not detected. The amounts of asiaticoside in CAE-added beverage prototypes were confirmed in No. 1 (19.39 μg/mL), 2 (19.25 μg/mL), and 3 (19.98 μg/mL). In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that CAE-added beverage prototypes induced immunomodulatory effects in the intestinal inflammatory cell line models and asiaticoside could be used as a marker compound for CAE-added beverage production.

우리나라는 초고령화 사회진입에 전세계적으로 보기드문 급속한 추세에 있다. 또한 코로나19로 인해 대 면적인 사회서비스 제한이 장기화된 상황에서 우리나라 서울보다 1.4배 넓은 소농·도시형인 포천시에 거주 하는 재가노인의 가장 우선시되는 욕구는 먼저 육체적으로 면역력 강화를 위한 영양섭취이고 다음으로는 사회관계를 통한 정신적인 스트레스 해소로 나타났다. 이에 포천시에 위치한 포천노인복지센터는 2004년부터 ‘재가노인지원서비스사업’을 수행하면서 집안에 서 적용 가능한 현관문 개폐와 노인 움직임 감지 등 IOT(Internet Of Things)를 실행하였다. 본 연구에서는 포천시에 거주하는 재가노인을 대상으로 경기도 특화사업인 ‘재가노인 건강기능강화를 위한 맞춤형영양지원사업’을 사회복지사 한명이 식재료와 조리방법을 직접 전달, 설명하는 ‘대면그룹 7명’ 과 수행했다. 그리고 자원봉사자와 재가노인이 일대일 재택대면매칭에 추가하여 ICT를 기반으로 원격화상 을 통해 조리사와 실시간 동시접속 하는 ‘비대면그룹 10명’으로 구분하였다. 8개월 동안 총17명의 대상자에게 음식요리와 섭취를 통해 ‘노인의 영양상태 간이조사’, ‘영양이 노인의 정서· 심리에 미치는 상관관계’ 설문조사와 인바디/혈압측정 등으로 정량적인 결과를 도출함으로써 재가노 인의 건강이 강화됨을 알 수 있었다.

본 연구에서는 순례명상자의 참여 특성에 따른 영성적 웰빙, 삶의질, 회복 경험의 차이를 살펴봄으로써 각 참여 특성에 따라 순례명상자들의 경험을 세 분화하고 향후 순례명상 프로그램 구성에 필요한 정보를 제공하는 것을 목적 으로 한다. 본 연구의 연구대상은 인도 순례명상에 참여한 순례명상자 85명으로 영성 적 웰빙, 삶의질, 회복경험 척도로 구성된 설문지를 활용하여 서면조사를 실 시하였다. 수집한 데이터는 SPSS 18.0을 활용하여 빈도분석, 기술통계, 독립표 본 t-검정의 방법으로 분석하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 순례명상자의 영성적웰빙, 삶의질, 회 복경험에 대한 기술통계 분석을 실시한 결과, 영성적웰빙의 하위요인인 종교적웰빙, 영성적웰빙의 척도 전체, 실존적웰빙과 회복경험, 삶의질 순으로 평 균이 높게 나타났다. 둘째, 순례명상자의 연령에 따른 영성적 웰빙, 삶의질, 회복경험의 차이는 유의미하지 않았다. 셋째, 순례명상자의 참여계기에 따른 영성적 웰빙, 삶의질, 회복경험의 차이는 유의미하지 않았다. 넷째, 순례명상 자의 참여목적에 따른 영성적 웰빙, 삶의질, 회복경험의 차이에서는 영성적웰 빙의 하위요인인 실존적웰빙, 회복경험, 삶의질의 평균이 참여목적에 따라 차 이가 없었으며, 불교신행이 참여목적인 경우가 심리적인 도움이 참여목적인 경우에 비해 영성적웰빙의 하위요인인 종교적웰빙과 척도 전체의 평균이 유 의미하게 높은 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 순례명상을 경험한 참여자를 대상으로 그들의 심리적 변인에 대 해 경험적으로 확인이고 순례명상의 의미에 대해서 고찰하였다는데 그 의의 가 있다. 주제어: 순례명상자, 참여 특성, 영성적 웨빙, 삶의질, 회복경험.

본 연구는 여성들의 천연 에센셜 오일에 대한 인식 및 사용실태 정도를 연구하 고자 2023년 3월 23일부터 4월 24일까지 대전광역시, 세종특별자치시, 충청남·북 도 지역에 거주하는 10-50대 이상의 여성 300명을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였 다. 수집된 자료는 통계 프로그램 SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Science) 28.0를 사용하여 분석하였으며, 이에 따른 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 연구 대상자 의 일반적 특성으로 연령대로는 50대 이상(39.7%), 결혼 유무별로는 기혼(81.7%), 직업별로는 전문직(27.0%)이 가장 많았다. 최종학력별로는 대학교 재/졸(47.3%) 가 정의 월평균 소득별로는 300-400만원 미만(34.0%)이 가장 많았다. 천연 에센셜 오 일에 대한 인식으로 천연 에센셜 오일에 대한 인식수준은, 천연 에센셜 오일은 직사광선을 피하고 서늘한 곳에 보관해야 한다.’는 정답(98.0%), 천연 에센셜 오일에 대한 지식수준은 연령별로는 50대 이상(M=8.66), 아로마테라피에 대한 인지도는 30대(M=3.23)가 가장 높게 나타났다. 천연 에센셜 오일의 사용 실태에서 처음 사 용한 시기는 40-49세(27.7%), 사용하게 된 계기는 주위의 권유(39.0%), 사용하는 주된 이유는 스트레스 완화(42.7%), 사용하는 시기는 기분 전환이 필요할 때 (40.0%), 주로 사용하는 형태는 블렌딩 오일(43.7%), 사용하는 정도는 2-3일에 한 번(37.3%), 이용하는 주요 부위는 얼굴/목(34.4%), 현재 사용하는 오일은 라벤더 (11.6%)로 나타났다. 이의 결과는 추 후 아로마테라피 분야 연구에 따른 기초자료 로 활용 가능성이 높은 것으로 사료되어진다.

The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant activities and functional contents of Korean conventional and Chinese seed gingers from the Jeollabuk-do Wanju and Chungcheongnam-do Seosan regions. Ginger samples were subjected to steaming treatments for different durations (2–8 h) at 121oC using an autoclave. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, while functional ingredient contents were analyzed for gingerols and shogaols. The results showed that Wanju conventional seed ginger (WO-2) had the highest total polyphenol (85.24 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (98.14 RE/100 g) contents, surpassing that of the control in all steamed groups at 6 h. ABTS radical scavenging activity showed a strong correlation with total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. The control groups indicated that Korean conventional seed ginger had 1.0–1.3 times higher gingerol contents compared to Chinese seed ginger. Furthermore, the content of shogaols, considered major functional ingredients, increased significantly with longer steaming durations, reaching the highest content (1,793 mg/kg) at 8 h, which was 1.0–1.8 times higher in Korean conventional seed ginger than that in Chinese seed ginger. These experiments provide valuable data supporting the excellence of Korean conventional seed ginger in the future.

This study investigated the awareness and consumption behavior of 118 vegetarians and omnivores toward plant-based dairy alternatives. The preference and choice attribute questionnaires were compared. Significant differences were obtained between the two groups when considering the purchase experience, preference, and selection attributes of plant-based dairy alternatives. Vegetarians had more experience purchasing plant-based dairy alternative products. In both groups, environmental and animal protection were the major factors that influenced the highest response rate for purchasing plantbased dairy alternatives. The preference score of vegetarians for plant-based dairy alternative products was high, indicating that vegetarianism had a significant effect on their preference for plant-based dairy alternative products. Analysis of selection attributes revealed that price, product weight, appearance, and manufacturer were considered important by vegetarians, whereas nutritional components and labeling, manufacturing environment, composition of ingredients, and taste and texture were considered more important by the omnivores. Results of this study can be used as basic data for the future development of the fast-growing industry producing plant-based dairy alternative products.

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) has been widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry as a functional material. In a previous study, we have investigated not only pharmacological effects such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, but also analyzed various functional ingredients. In this study, triterpenoids were analyzed using HPLC-DAD to determine marker compounds among functional ingredients. When triterpenoids were analyzed, asiaticoside from C. asiatica was determined as an optimal marker compound. Next, specificity, linearity, limited of detection (LOD), limited of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy, and range were evaluated using HPLC-DAD to determine asiaticoside contents in C. asiatica juice and extracts. The specificity was elucidated by chromatogram and retention time using an established analytical method. The coefficient of correlation obtained was 0.9996. LOD was 4.99 μg/mL and LOQ was 15.12 μg/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision of asiaticoside were determined to be 0.48~1.68% and 0.08~1.09%, respectively. Furthermore, the recovery rate of asiaticoside was 98.88% and the analytical range of Field-70E was determined to be 0.625~10 mg/mL. As a results of evaluating ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP antioxidative effect, Field-70E showed potent antioxidant activities. Results of this study could be used as basic data for quality standardization of C. astiatica juice and extracts.

This study was conducted to investigate the vertical distribution and vascular plants in the Gakho mountain. Form the results of three field surveys from May 2022 to September 2022, a total of 478 total taxa, representing 426 species, 11 subspecies, 35 varieties, four forms, and two hybrids were identified, which were categorized in 282 genera and 94 families. We identified the elevational distribution ranges of 398 taxa of vascular plants. Among them, 19 taxa were endemic to Korea, one taxon was identified as a rare plant. The floristic target plants amounted to 72 taxa, specifically two taxa of grade V, two taxa of grade IV, 16 taxa of grade III, 27 taxa of grade II, and 25 taxa of grade I. Further, 71 taxa were identified as northern lineage plants. A total of 19 taxa of alien plants were identified, with a Naturalized Index of 4.0%, an Urbanization Index of 6.6%, and three plants that disturbed the ecosystem. The result of analyzing the pattern of species richness showed a reversed hump shape with minimum richness at midhigh elevation. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between adjacent elevation sections that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Warmth index in the Gakho mountain ranged from 57.2°C · month to 84.2°C · month. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants and valuable information on elevational distribution ranges of current plant species in the Gakho mountain, which could serve as a baseline for comparison of the shifts in elevation under future climate change.

Following the social requirement to strengthen field supervision of the asbestos containing materials (ACM) abatement process with regard to asbestos school buildings, this study was conducted to understand the status and characteristics of airborne asbestos that may potentially occur after the ACM abatement process is completed. In the area where a series of asbestos abatement processes were finally completed, comprehensive area air sampling was performed. For sample analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used according to The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) method and Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) analysis was also performed. Airborne asbestos was detected in 29.5% of the total samples, and the average concentration was 0.0039 ± 0.0123 s/cc (12.3 ± 38.9 s/mm2). 4.5% of the total samples exceeded the AHERA standard (70.0 s/mm2) and the average concentration was 0.0528 ± 0.0256 s/cc (167.2 ± 82.0 s/mm2). Airborne asbestos was no longer detected at the point when AHERA is exceeded after re-cleaning. Most of the detected asbestos was chrysotile (94.4%) and the structure types of asbestos were Matrix (41.4%), Fiber (39.9%), Bundle (10.8%), and Cluster (7.8%). Among the asbestos structures detected through transmission electron microscope analysis, the asbestos structures satisfying PCM-equivalent structures were found to be 6% of the detected asbestos, indicating that there is a limitation of the PCM analysis to check the airborne asbestos in that area. As a result of reviewing the status of airborne asbestos that may potentially occur and the type and dimensions of asbestos structure detected in the area, since the airborne asbestos exposure caused by poor field supervision for the ACM abatement process could not be ruled out, thorough management is necessary. In addition, the result of this study could be used as scientific evidence for establishing and strengthening policies related to ACM abatement, including cases of school buildings.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of submerged culture using Cordyceps militaris mycelium, culture-including mycelia was extracted and lyophilized into postbiotics (hot-water extract; CM-HW). HW was fractionated into crude polysaccharide (CM-CP) by ethanol precipitation, and CM-CP was further dialyzed into CM-DCP by dialysis with running water using 12~14 kDa dialysis tube. When the cytotoxicity of subfractions against cells was assessed, no subfraction had a cytotoxic impact that was substantially different from the control groups. In an inflammatory model using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, CM-DCP significantly decreased IL-6 and MCP-1 production levels compared to the LPS-control group. CM-DCP also inhibited IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in HaCaT keratinocytes stimulated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. In the meanwhile, the neutral sugar content and mannose ratio of anti-inflammatory CM-DCP were higher than the other fractions, and CM-DCP contained β-1,3/1,6-glucan of 216.1 mg/g. High pressure size exclusion chromatography revealed that CM-DCP contained molecules with a molecular weight range of 5.6 to 144.0 kDa. In conclusion, postbiotics of C. militaris mycelium significantly promoted anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting that neutral polysaccharides including Glc and Man contribute to the anti-inflammation in RAW 264.7 or HaCaT cells.

In hospitals, numerous deaths are reported. Healthcare providers who witness death feel a sense of loss and sadness, and experience a cumulative sense of loss as another loss overlaps before recovery after one person's death. Due to these cumulative feelings of loss, health care personnel experience despair, anxiety, helplessness, exhaustion, guilt, depression, and discontent with their jobs, which can result in job turnover and resignation. Various attempts are being made at the organizational level as a way to alleviate the feeling of loss after end-of-life care by healthcare providers, but the reality is that it is very difficult to provide systematic support within the organization. Therefore, the emotion coaching program for healthcare providers who experience loss and mourning, which started in 2017 at a tertiary general hospital, is a program designed and operated at the organizational level to share and talk about the various emotions experienced after the death of the patient

This study investigated the potential role of dietary factors associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Koreans. The scoping review method was used to evaluate the studies that utilized the secondary data sets comprising the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Articles published between 2012 and 2022 were identified using RISS, KISS, DBpia, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. In all, there were 32 published articles on obesity and 119 on MetS. Obesity research included eight articles on nutrients, 12 on food items/food groups, two on dietary patterns, nine on dietary behavior/eating habits, and one on the dietary index. MetS studies comprised 34 articles on nutrients, 43 on food items/food groups, seven on dietary patterns, 25 on dietary behavior/eating habits, and 10 on the dietary index. Carbohydrates, alcohol, and coffee consumption were the most frequently studied dietary factors for obesity and MetS. The primary areas of study were largely focused on nutrients and food items/food groups. Thus, to overcome the paucity of information on the relationship of dietary patterns and dietary indexes with obesity and MetS, there is a need for further research using the KNHANES and KoGES data sets.

After liquid culture of Phellinus baumii (P. baumii) mycelium (LPBM) was prepared, LPBM was fractionated into A∼E fraction (A; hot-water extract of liquid culture including mycelia, B; crude polysaccharide of A, C; hot-water extract of mycelia, D; crude polysaccharide of C, and E; crude polysaccharide of culture broth) to evaluate for possibility as functional materials with immunostimulatory activity. In macrophage stimulatory activity, E fraction as postbiotics significantly increased secretion of NO and IL-12 from RAW 264.7 cells. Next, when the splenocytes of C3H/HeN mice were primary cultured, E fraction showed significantly mitogenic activity with enhancing mitogen-related cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-α) production from splenocyte. E fraction also potently stimulated GM-CSF production from Peyer’s patch cells as well as Peyer’s patch-mediated bone marrow cell proliferation. In addition, the immunostimularoy E fraction contained neutral sugar (73.8%), uronic acid (10.6%), protein (7.8%), and polyphenol (7.5%), and mainly consisted of glucose (39.1%), galactose (21.7%), mannose (11.1%), galacturonic acid (9.9%), and arabinose (8.9%) as component sugars. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that postbiotics including exopolysaccharide fractionated from liquid culture of the P. baumii mycelium could enhanced immunostimulatory activity.

한-아프리카 농식품기술협력 협의체 KAFACI(Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative)는 2010년 7월 아프리카 16개국과 한국을 포함하여 17개 회 원국으로 출범하였다. KAFACI는 농촌진흥청(농진청) 주도의 농업연구개발 다자간 협력 사업으로 아프리카의 공통 농업현안 해결을 목표로 한다. 그러나 출범 당시 농진청은 아프리카 농업연구개발에 대한 경험이 부족하였고, 아프리카 국가들도 한국 농업연구에 대해서 아는 바가 거의 없었다. 따라서 농진청-아프리카 농업연 구소 간 상호이해와 협력관계 구축이 시급하였으며, 이를 위하여 출범 후 5년 동 안은 각 회원국이 희망하는 분야의 농업기술을 개발하는 국별과제에 집중하였다. 이를 통하여 구축된 협력관계를 바탕으로 2015년 3차 총회에서 국별과제를 다자 협력에 적합한 분야별 사업으로 개편하고, 기초·식량·원예·축산·농촌지도 5개 분야 협력과제를 착수하였다. 이러한 분야별 공통현안 발굴 및 추진 체계는 현재 까지 지속되고 있다. KAFACI는 분야별 협력체계 구축과 병행하여 성과의 조기 도 출을 위한 중점 분야 발굴을 시도하였다. 세네갈, DR콩고, 카메룬이 추진한 벼 관 련 국별과제와 아프리카녹색혁명동맹(AGRA)과의 협력으로 추진한 약배양기술 적 용 벼 품종 개발을 통하여 아프리카 벼 육종 사업의 필요성과 가능성을 확인하고 본격적인 벼 개발 협력사업을 기획하여 예산을 확보하였다. 2016년 아프리카벼연 구소(AfricaRice)와 공동으로 9년간의 ‘아프리카 벼 개발 파트너십‘ 과제를 착수 하였다. 2017년에 세네갈 생루이 소재 AfricaRice 사헬센터에 약배양연구실을 설 치하고 벼 육종전문가를 파견하였다. KAFACI는 한국의 통일형 벼와 각 회원국의 유전자원을 활용하고, 약배양기술을 적용하여 우수계통을 선발하고 있으며, 현재 까지 회원국에 총 1,547 계통을 제공하였다. 이와 병행하여 회당 4~5명의 연구원 을 사헬센터로 초청하여 벼 재배 전기간에 걸친 벼 육종훈련을 연 2회, 총 5회 추 진하여 회원국 벼 육종역량 강화에 기여하였다. 회원국에서는 제공받은 우수계통 에 대한 지역적응시험 및 농민참여선발을 추진하여, 현재까지 5국에서 11품종을 등록하였다. 이러한 성과와 추진방식은 유튜브 동영상 ’한국 통일벼와 사랑에 빠 진 아프리카‘을 통하여 국내에서 주목을 받았으며(2022.8.10 기준 132만회 조회), 2021년 OECD 공공부분 혁신 우수사례(OPSI, Observatory of Public Sector Innovation)로 채택되었다. KAFACI 벼 사업이 조기에 품종등록 성과를 도출할 수 있었던 주 요인 중 하나는 단순 양자 또는 다자협력을 틀을 넘어 농진청-국제연 구기관-회원국의 삼각협력으로 추진되었다는 점이다. 한국이 보유하고 있는 기술 을 현장이해도가 낮은 상황에서 개발도상국에 직접 전달하기보다는 국제기관의 경험 및 인프라와 결합하여 전수하는 삼각협력 방식은 다른 분야 국제개발협력 사업에도 적용가능한 모델이다.