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Autoantibodies against type I interferons (IFNs) occur in approximately 10% of adults with life-threatening COVID-19. The frequency of anti-IFN autoantibodies in children with severe sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown.To quantify anti-Type I IFN autoantibodies in a multi-center cohort of children with severe COVID-19, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections.Circulating anti-IFNa2 antibodies were measured by a radioligand binding assay. Whole exome sequencing (WES), RNA-sequencing, and functional studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used to study any patients with levels of anti-IFNα2 autoantibodies exceeding the assay's positive control.Among 168 patients with severe COVID-19, 199 with MIS-C, and 45 with mild SARS-CoV-2 infections, only one had high levels of anti-IFNα2 antibodies. Anti-IFNα2 autoantibodies were not detected in patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin prior to sample collection. WES identified a missense variant in the ankyrin domain of NFKB2, encoding the p100 subunit of NF-kB essential for non-canonical NF-kB signaling. Her peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibited impaired cleavage of p100 characteristic of NFKB2 haploinsufficiency, an inborn error of immunity with a high prevalence of autoimmunity.High levels of anti-IFNα2 autoantibodies in children and adolescents with MIS-C, severe COVID-19, and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections are rare, but can occur in patients with inborn errors of immunity.Anti-IFNα2 autoantibodies should prompt diagnostic evaluation for inborn errors of immunity if identified in children or adolescents.

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting container terminal worker`s recovery experience from job stress. Methods: The subjects were 299 workers from one S dock in P city. Data were collected from April 5 to June 5, 2015 and analyzed by SPSS/WIN 18.0 program using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, test, Pearson`s correlation coefficients, and logistic regression. Results: The mean scores of job stress, ego-resilience, and recovery experience from job stress were 47.18, 46.90, and 49.17 respectively. Recovery experience according to the general characteristics showed significant correlation between daily exercise. There was a significant negative correlation between recovery experience and job stress, and a positive correlation between recovery experience and ego-resilience. Recovery experience was 2.54 times higher for a high ego-resilience group than for a low ego-resilience group, and the group that exercised was 2.25 times higher, than the non-exercising group. The group with a low level of interpersonal conflict was 1.97 times higher, than a group with a high level of interpersonal conflict. Conclusion: Based on this study, intervention programs to increase ego-resilience, decrease interpersonal conflict, and encourage over 30-minute-daily exercise for in container terminal workers should be developed to improve recovery experience of job stress.

Anti-diabetic effects of wild Korean ginseng extracts on multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Rats were administered extracts at rates of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg of body weight for 8 weeks. Body weight was significantly (p 0.05) affected; however alanine aminotransaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels were reduced significantly (p

The purpose of this study is to investigate the total polyphenol and antioxidant activities of radish buds (Raphanus sativus L.) based on sprouting periods and extraction solvents in order to present basic data that are needed for using the radish buds as functional food material. The antioxidant activities were assessed by using various antioxidant models (DPPH, TBARS, Rancimat method, POV). The total polyphenol contents according to the extraction solvents were 84.11 and 296.51 mg/g, and the ethanol extract on day 4 of showed the highest value as 296.51 mg/g. As for DPPH radical-scavenging activity, on the day 4 of sprouting, water extracts indicated the highest scavenging activity by 86.67%, and the acetone extracts indicated a rather low scavenging activity as 77.23%. As for TBARS measurement of the radish bud extracts on day 4 of sprouting the extract of 70% ethanol was highest (71.48%). On day 8 of sprouting the TBARS value was increased and the methanol extract was highest (78.99%). As for the oxidative induction period on day 4 of sprouting in Rancimat measurement, the methanol extract was highest (6.07 hours) on day 4 and the antioxidant index was 1.16. On day 12 of sprouting, the general oxidative induction period tended to be reduced to 5.25 to 5.91 hours. In the peroxide value measurement on day 4 of sprouting and beginning of the storage, the extracts showed no difference between 3.02 meq/kg oil and 4.12 meq/kg oil, and on the day 60 of storage, the water extract (43.83 meq/kg oil) and the methanol extract (45.42 meq/kg oil) were lowest with higher antioxidant effect. In conclusion, the radish bud extract with higher total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities may serve as functional material for food additives, such as natural antioxidants and food preserving agents.

A microbiological quality evaluation on cooked food, food materials and cooking equipment was conducted in 14 school food services in Changwon area, South Korea for Ojingeochaesomoochim (vegetable salad with blanched squid) which went through cooking process after heating treatment. Only 5 schools out of the 14 (35.7%) observed the sanitization criteria of the Korean School Meals Sanitization Management for raw vegeta bles (concentration of chlorine solution: 100ppm, immersion time of sanitizing: 5 m in). The acceptance rates regarding the microbial standards for Korean school meals showed improvement before and after of sanitizat ion: for onions 57.1% vs 71.4%; cucumb er 42.9% vs. 78.6%. However, garlic showed a dverse sanitizing effect as the acceptance rate we nt down from 42.9% to 35.7%. Blanch ed squid and red pepper paste was acceptable in a ll 14 schools (100%), while squid seasoned wit h red pepper powder was acceptable in only 42.9% of the schools. Microbial results for knives, cutting boards, mixing bowls were satisfactory, however 35.7% of sanitary glov es that were put on right before the seas oning showed poor sanitization, and this i ndicated high probability of cross-contamination from the gloves. We calculated that 57.1% of th e cooked foods were in accordance with t he microbial standards for Korean school meals. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to have verification process, especially on the effectiveness of sanitization of raw vegetables, in cooking foods through cooking process after heating treatment in HACCP syst em of school food service.Key words: school food service, microbiological quality evaluation, after-heating process, HACCP system

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mulberry juice on the quality characteristics of mulberry jelly. Samples of mulberry jelly were divided into four groups by adding different mulberry juice. The four groups were divided into MJ-0 (mulberry jelly without mulberry juice), MJ-30 (mulberry jelly with 30% mulberry juice), MJ-50 (mulberry jelly with 50% mulberry juice) and MJ-70 sample (mulberry jelly with 70% mulberry juice). The moisture content in all MJ samples decreased with an increase in the addition of mulberry juice. The highest crude ash content, brix and pH in MJ-70 sample were 0.66%, 25.00 °Brix and 4.84, respectively. No significant crude fiber changes were observed in all MJ samples. In the case of Hunter`s value, `L` values in all MJ samples decreased with an increase in the addition of mulberry juice. Turbidity, brown degree, total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging activity and content increased with an increase in mulberry juice. Levels of Ca, K, Na, and Mg contents in all samples were higher than those of the other minerals. Texture in all MJ samples on the whole decreased with an increase in mulberry juice added. However, no significant texture charges were observed in all samples. The highest scores for the overall acceptance (4.52) were found in the MJ sample with 50% mulberry juice.

The purpose of this study was the improvement and modification of the HACCP verification checklist in school foodservices. For this, the HACCP verification checklist was modified on the basis of an existing school foodservice format. The modified checklist was composed of 28 items, including CCPs (critical control points), microbial test, and other components of the HACCP system than CCPs. To confirm the suitability of the modified checklist, comparisons were made based on the microbiological quality of cooked foods, utensils, and number of aerial microbes in the working area. In this study, the applicability of the modified checklist was determined by focusing on cooked squid with seasoned fresh vegetables (Ojingeochaesomoochim). The following results were obtained from 14 schools in Changwon. The checklist scores for maintaining hot foods over or serving within 2 hours, microbial tests of drinking water, food contact surfaces and cooking utensils, monitoring tools, and usage of suitable sanitizers were 2 points each (The possible highest score is 2 points). On the contrary, the checklist score for microbial test of cooked foods was the lowest of all the items. The correlation coefficient (r) between the improved checklist and microbiological quality of cooked foods was 0.699 (P

A total of 262 dietitians (in 97 college foodservices nationwide, 86 elementary school foodservices, and 79 middle & high school foodservices in the Changwon area) were given a survey questionnaire composed of 18 GMP and 29 SSOP items from May to July, 2011. As a whole, total usage level of GMP facilities (3.65/5 points) and total management level of SSOP (3.86) in college foodservices showed no significant differences compared to those in elementary school foodservices (GMP 3.74, SSOP 4.02) and middle & high school foodservices (GMP 3.75, SSOP 3.95). However, the results of this study suggest that seven items of the GMP facilities and five items of the SSOP should be improved for the development of the HACCP facility model in college foodservices. Those items that showed considerably lower points in GMP were as follows: `Drain pipes from sinks of the cooking area are connected directly to the drain (3.74)` (P

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Gastrodia elata Blume concentrate on quality characteristics of Gastrodia elata Blume jelly. The Gastrodia elata Blume jelly samples were divided into five groups by adding different Gastrodia elata Blume concentrates. The five groups were divided into GBJ-0, GBJ-5, GBJ-10, GBJ-15, and GBJ-20 (Gastrodia elata Blume jelly with 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% Gastrodia elata Blume concentrate). The highest contents of crude protein and crude ash, and the brix in the GBJ-20 sample were 0.34 and 0.59%, and 22.28°Brix, respectively. The crude fiber and pH change (4.65-4.76) were not significantly observed in any of the GBJ samples. Turbidity, degree of brownness, and total phenolics increased with an increasing the amount of extract. A significant difference was observed between samples with and without the extracts in terms of hardness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness, as well as K, Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn contents. Hardness, gumminess, and chewiness increased in all GBJ samples with an increase the amount of extract added, whereas adhesiveness decreased. The highest tartaric acid content in th e GBJ-0 sample and malic acid in the GBJ-20 jelly sample were 15.58 mg/100 g and 137.45 mg/100 g, respectively. The levels of Ca, K, and Mg increased with an increase in the amount of added extract. The highest score for overall acceptance (4.13) was in the GBJ-10 sample with 10% Gastrodia elata Blume concentrate.

Vacuum drying was conducted for a steamed pumpkin-sweet potato slab to improve its quality, convenience and preference as snack. Steamed sweet potato was dried from 30 to for 12 hr, after which moisture contents, colors, and taste were evaluated. The lowest moisture content was 0.22% upon vacuum drying at for 12 hr. Lightness decreased while other color values (a, b and ) increased with increasing drying temperature and drying time. Reducing sugar and soluble solid contents ranged from 98.7~268.11 mg/g and , respectively. Sensory score of the sample was the highest when dried at for 6 hr. The optimum drying conditions were predicted to be and 5.1~7.1 hr by response surface methodology.

This study was performed to investigate physicochemical properties of cold-air dried persimmon and traditional dried persimmons. Moisture contents and water activity were lower at cold-air dried persimmon than traditional persimmons. Crude protein and crude fat were not significant differences, Crude ash and N-free extracts of cold-air dried persimmon were, relatively, high as comparing to the traditional dried persimmons. Brix in cold-air dried persimmon was the highest. In the hunter's color values, L, a and b values of cold-air dried persimmon were lowed than traditional dried persimmons. There was not significant differences at the texture of semi-dried persimmons, but cold -air dried persimmon were relatively high than the traditional dried persimmons in hardness, gumminess, chewiness. Free sugars contents were only glucose and fructose in an sample. Free amino acids contents were seventeen sorts, glutamic acid and alanine were high in order of contents.

The photothermal therapy using nanomaterials has been recently attracted as an efficient strategy for the next generation of cancer treatments. Single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) is an upcoming potent candidate for the photothermal therapeutic agent since it generates significant amounts of heat upon excitation with near-infrared light (NIR, lambda = 700-1100 nm) which is transparent to biological systems including skins. Such a photothermal effect can be employed to induce thermal cell death in a noninvasive manner. Here, we demonstrate in vivo obliteration of solid malignant tumors by the combined treatments of SWNTs and NIR irradiation. The photothermally treated mice displayed complete destruction of the tumors without harmful side effects or recurrence of tumors over 6 months, while the tumors treated in other control groups were continuously grown until the death of the mice. Most of the injected SWNTs were almost completely excreted from mice bodies in about 2 months through biliary or urinary pathway. These results suggest that SWNTs may potentially serve as an effective photothermal agent and pave the way to future cancer therapeutics.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the application of different concentrations of grape extract on the physicochemical properties of natural seasonings. The results show that increase in concentration of grape extract (0 to 20%) significantly reduced the lightness (34.75 to 28.3) and yellowness (15.33 to 10.64), however increased the redness (0.98 to 1.5) values of natural seasonings. The mineral contents of zinc and iron were raised by the addition of grape extracts but potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium were reduced. The antioxidant activity, as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), of seasonings increased by up to 6.21% with the addition of 20% grape concentration extract. Total phenolic content was also significantly increased with the addition of concentrated grape extract. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical were significantly reduced with the addition of grape extract. The amino acids analysis showed that concentration of few amino acids like aspartic acid, proline, alanine, cysteine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, and lysine were elevated, conversely while threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, and arginine were found declined with higher proportion of grape extract in the seasoning. Results suggest that addition of grape extract may enhance the physicochemical properties as well as health potential of natural seasonings. Keywords: Grape extracts, natural seasonings, physicochemical properties, quality characteristics. African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(15), 1638-1644

Li-doped Gd2O3:Eu3+ phosphor was developed by the conventional solid state and sol-gel methods. The effect of lithium concentration on the emission behavior of Gd2−x−yLixEuyO3−δ was investigated by photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence measurements. At 500 V, a cathodoluminescent efficiency of ∼180 % compared to that of commercial red-phosphor Y2O3:Eu3+, was observed with the nominal composition of (Gd1.84Li0.08Eu0.08)O3−δ. Such a brightness is the highest among the previously reported red-emission in the electron voltage range of 0.5 − 1 kV. This material would be a potential candidate for application in field emission display.

The phototherapy is one of the widely accepted noninvasive clinical methodologies to eradicate cancer cells owing to its minimal side effects and high selectivity to the light of specific wavelength. As represented by photodynamic (PD) and photothermal (PT) therapy, the phototherapy requires light and photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species and heat, respectively. Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) is one of the promising photosensitizers as it has a strong absorption cross-section in the spectral range of 650–900 nm that guarantees maximum tissue penetration. One critical issue in using Pc molecule, including ZnPc as a biocompatible sensitizer is the poor water solubility. To increase water solubility, various chemical modifications inducing hydrophilicity have been widely attempted to introduce various functional groups in the ZnPc backbone. We report that ZnPc nanowires (NWs) directly grown from ZnPc powder by vaporization–condensation–recrystallization process show surprisingly increased water dispersibility without any functionalization. The ZnPc NW solution exhibits highly efficient dual PD and PT effects upon the irradiation of near infrared (808 nm) laser. The dual phototherapeutic effect of ZnPc NW is proven to enhance cytotoxic efficiency according to both in vitro and in vivo experimental results. Hee Cheul Choi, Sang Ho Lee and co-workers have devised a way to improve the dispersibility of light-sensitive molecules in water. Using light to treat medical conditions, including tumours, can be less invasive and toxic than other approaches. Such photodynamic and photothermal therapies rely on a light-sensitive molecule — a photo-sensitizer — that is excited under irradiation to release either reactive oxygen species or heat, respectively, which in turn can destroy targeted cells. Most photo-sensitizers, however, suffer from poor solubility in aqueous physiological media, which hinders their applications in the body. This is the case for zinc phthalocyanine, a macrocyclic compound hosting a zinc atom in its central cavity. Rather than trying to alter its chemical composition, the researchers have now observed that converting the powder form into crystalline nanowires significantly increased its dispersibility in water. Furthermore, the nanowires were found to be promising for both photothermal and photodynamic therapies. Water-dispersed nanowires for phototherapy: Without passivation of any water-friendly functional groups in its backbone, one-dimensional zinc phthalocyanine nanowires show remarkably increased dispersibility in water. Upon irradiation with near infrared light, the zinc phthalocyanine nanowires exhibit dual photodynamic and photothermal properties, which enhance the cytotoxic efficiency against tumor cells.

A red phosphor, Li-doped Gd2O3:Eu3+ with high cathodoluminescent brightness was developed. In contrast to Gd2O3:Eu3+ which showed an irregular shape of agglomerated fine particles (the mean particle size

The antiobesity effect of wild ginseng (WG; Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) in male obese leptin-deficient (B6.V-Lepob, 'ob/ob') mice was evaluated. WG was administered orally to mice at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks. The WG-treated ob/ob mice showed a loss of body weight and a decrease in blood glucose levels compared with control mice. WG regulated the mRNA expression level especially, it increased peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in adipose tissue, as well as glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and insulin receptor (IR) in the skeletal muscle and liver. Taken together, these results suggest that WG may play a vital role in the antiobesity effect in ob/ob mice; this has importance in insulin sensitivity. This may prove to be of clinical importance in improving the management of obesity and related metabolic syndromes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts of job stress and job embeddedness on presenteeism among container terminal workers. Methods: The participants were 299 workers at the S Harbor in P City. Data were collected from April 22 to June 5, 2015. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe’s test, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and logistic regression. Results: These workers on presenteeism were affected by the department of work, annual pay, and exercise of more than 30 minutes per day, revealing a statistically significant difference according to these variables. In other words, when job stress was high, job embeddedness was less, the extent of work impairment was higher, and in turn perceived productivity was lower. Work impairment was 3.11 times higher in workers with above-average job stress than those with lower job stress. Perceived productivity was 2.31 times higher in workers with above-average job embeddedness than those with lower job embeddedness. Conclusion: To reduce work impairment and increase productivity among container terminal workers, it is necessary to decrease their job stress, to increase their job embeddedness, and especially to do exercise for more than 30 minutes a day.

A reproducible negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior with symmetric peaks was observed from the planar-type metalloproteins (ferritins) devices utilizing metallic single walled carbon nan...

The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that dietary antioxidants protect DNA damage induced by peroxynitrite, a potent physiological inorganic toxin. The present study showed that dietary antioxidants such as (−)-epigallocatechin, gallate, quercerin, rutin, resveratrol, and ursolic acid inhibit single strand breaks in supercoiled plasmid DNA induced by 3-morpholinosyndromine N-ethylcarbamide (SIN-1), a generator of peroxynitrite, through the reaction between nitric oxide and superoxide anion. The formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) in calf thymus DNA by SIN-1 was also inhibited by dietary antioxidants. When U937 cells were incubated with 1 mM SIN-1 bolus, a significant increase of 8-OH-dG level was observed. However, oxidative DNA damage was significantly lower in the cells pre-treated with dietary antioxidants when cells were exposed to SIN-1.

Nuclease effects on the cell internalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalized with fluorescent-labeled DNA in serum containing cell growth media were examined. When Cy3-labeled DNA-functionalized SWNT conjugates (Cy3DNA-SWNTs) were incubated with HeLa cells in a fatal bovine serum (FBS) medium, a high fl uorescence intensity was obtained from the cells, indicative for the high level inclusion of Cy3DNA-SWNTs. However, the fluorescence intensity was remarkably reduced if Cy3DNA-SWNTs were incubated with cells in the FBS-free medium. Further systematic control experiments revealed that Cy3 dye molecules were released from Cy3DNA-SWNT conjugates by nuclease, and the free Cy3 dyes penetrate into HeLa cell with high efficiency. Although the actual amounts of SWNTs internalized in the cells were almost identical for both cells incubated in the FBS-present and FBS-absent media according to the Raman measurements, one should be cautious to determine the degree of SWNT internalization based on the fluorescence intensities especially when the coloring dye molecules were linked to oligonucleotides in nuclease containing media.