Fast pyrolysis experiments of corn stalk were performed to investigate the optimal pyrolysis conditions of temperature and bed material for maximum bio-oil production under flue gas atmosphere. Under the optimized pyrolysis conditions, furfural residue, xylose residue and kelp seaweed were pyrolyzed to examine their yield distributions of products, and the physical characteristics of bio-oil were studied. The best flow rate of the flue gas at selected temperature is obtained, and the pyrolysis temperature at 500 degrees C and dolomite as bed material could give a maximum bio-oil yield. The highest bio-oil yield of 43.3% (W/W) was achieved from corn stalk under the optimal conditions. Two main fractions were recovered from the stratified bio-oils: light oils and heavy oils. The physical properties of heavy oils from all feedstocks varied little. The calorific values of heavy oils were much higher than that of light oils. The pyrolysis gas could be used as a gaseous fuel due to a relatively high calorific value of 6.5-8.5 MJ/m3.
Biofuels ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Furaldehyde ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Kelp ; Temperature ; Xylose ; chemistry ; Zea mays

Anaphylaxis is a life - threatening syndrome elicited in a hypersensitive individual on subsequent exposure to a sensitizing antigen with, reactions ranging widely in severity from mild pruritus and criteria to shock and death. Anaphylaxis occurs in the United States at rates estimated to be as high as one in every 3000 inpatients and may account for more than 500 deaths annually. Preparations of kelp Laminaria digitata are used as tents in gynecologic procedures to dilate the cervix, and the kelp consists principally of a glucagon carbohydrate called laminarin. Laminarin is thought to function as the active ingredient in dilatation by changing osmotic pressure or uterine prostaglandin metabolism. The tent is inserted into the cervix several hours before the procedure. As the cervix desiccates and dilates, the tent develops an hourglass shape. Recently, we experienced one patient with anaphylaxis to laminaria diagnosed by skin test and showing good response to treatment.
Anaphylaxis* ; Cervix Uteri ; Dilatation ; Female ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Kelp ; Laminaria* ; Metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Pruritus ; Shock ; Skin Tests ; United States

The purpose of this study was to conduct nutrition education using animations for the establishment of proper eating habits among elementary school students and to evaluate its effectiveness. The subjects of this study were two classes of fourth grade students in an elementary school located in Daegu-city. There were 29 students in each class. One class, the "nutrition-education" group, received nutrition education; the other class, the "no-education" group, did not receive the education. After completing the eight nutrition lessons, the effectiveness of the education was analyzed by measuring changes in the nutrition knowledge, eating habits and food preferences of the nutrition-education group vs. the no-education group. Before nutrition education, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of nutrition knowledge. However, after the nutrition education, the nutrition-education group's nutrition knowledge was significantly improved, compared to that of the no-education group (p < 0.001). Following education, the nutrition-education group's responses to the "eating habit" item, "I eat fruits every day," were significantly more positive, compared to the responses of the no-education group (p < 0.01). However, for the ten food groups listed as food preferences, except for fish and shellfish (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in the responses of the two groups. Following the education, the nutrition-education group showed significantly increased preferences for 12 food items (red beans, mackerels, yellow corvinas, dried laver, kelps, radish, lettuce, pears, kiwi fruits, plums, grapes and sweet drinks made from fermented rice) out of 112 items, compared to the selected preferences of the no-education group. After education, 75.9% of the students in the nutrition-education group indicated changes in their eating habits, and 89.6% of them answered that the nutrition education helped them change their eating habits. The most helpful medium for changing their eating habits was animations (31.0%), followed by songs (20.7%) and lectures (17.2%). As a result of this study, after completing the nutrition education, students in the nutrition-education group showed significant changes in food preferences, and their level of nutrition knowledge was significantly increased. However, their eating habits did not actively change. Therefore, in order to establish proper eating habits, a longer period of consistent education is required, using various educational media and learning methods such as extracurricular activities and discretionary activity programs.
Eating ; Fabaceae ; Food Preferences ; Fruit ; Humans ; Kelp ; Learning ; Lectures ; Lettuce ; Perciformes ; Prunus domestica ; Pyrus ; Raphanus ; Shellfish ; Singing ; Vitis

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the single and mixed decoction of Thallus laminariae (kelp) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) on the metabolism and their difference. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice and the single decoction were made and intragastrically administered to the SD rats. The effect on system metabolism, the toxicity of liver and kidney were assessed by GC-MS profiling of the endogenous molecules in serum, routine biochemical assays and histographic inspection of tissues from SD rats, separately. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice induced more obvious pathological abnormalities in SD rats than a single decoction of kelp, while the extracts of licorice did not show any pathological change. Neither the mixed, nor the single decoction showed abnormal histopathology. After intragastric administration of extracts for 5 days, the mixed decoction induced a decrease of ALT (no significant change in the groups of single decoction) and an increase of BUN (so did the single decoction of kelp). Metabolomic profile of the molecules in serum revealed that the metabolic patterns were all obviously affected for the three groups, i.e., the mixed and single decoction of kelp and licorice. The rats given with the single decoction of kelp showed a similar pattern to that of the mixed decoction, indicating that the kelp primarily contributed the perturbation of metabolism for the mixed decoction. All three groups induced a decrease of branched chain amino acids, TCA cycle intermediates and glycolysis intermediates (e.g., pyruvic acid and lactic acid) and an increase of 3-hydroxybutyric acid. Kelp decoction showed stronger potential in reducing TCA cycle intermediates and glycolysis intermediates than the other two groups, while the levels of branched chain amino acids were the lowest after licorice extracts were given. These results suggested that the effect of the mixed decoction on metabolism was closely associated with both kelp and licorice. The continuous administration of single decoction of kelp and the mixed decoction of licorice and kelp resulted in pathological abnormalities in kidney of SD rats. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice distinctly perturbed sera molecules and hence system metabolism, which showed associated with those of kelp and licorice. Although the metabolic effect was associated with both kelp and licorice, the results suggested kelp contributed to it primarily.
Animals ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Kelp ; chemistry ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Metabolomics ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study was conducted to improve the nutritional status of high school girls via lunch menu intervention. Surveys were carried out twice to evaluate basal status and status after lunch menu intervention. In the first survey nutrient intakes of 24-hour and school lunch were each estimated by 24-hour recall dietary survey and self-recording, respectively. Calcium intake was the lowest among nutrients, and stir-frying was the most preferred cooking method. Five dishes of school lunch menus which were included in the first survey were replaced with recipes containing foods with higher calcium level; anchovy stir-fried with red pepper paste, anchovy stir-fried with almond, pork stir-fried with shredded kelp, crab meat soup, and tteokbokki with cheese. In the second survey calcium intake from school lunch was significantly (p < 0.001) increased from 45.5% to 50.2% of one thirds of recommended intake (RI) after calcium enriched lunch menu intervention. Intakes of vitamin A and E were also significantly increased, whereas those of energy, thiamin, and vitamin C were decreased. Index of nutritional quality values of nutrients of 24-hour intakes (except thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C) is increased by intervention; however, those of calcium, folic acid, iron are still very low. Even though this study shows a possibility of improving nutrient intakes of students through school lunch menu intervention, lunch intervention by itself is not enough action to improve nutritional status of micronutrient for adolescents.
Adolescent ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Capsicum ; Cheese ; Cooking ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Iron ; Kelp ; Lunch ; Meat ; Micronutrients ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritive Value ; Prunus dulcis ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: This study analyzed iodine intake by establishing an iodine database of general Korean foods eaten by Korean adults based on the data from the 1998 ~ 2014 KNHANES (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). METHODS: Data on 56,818 subjects aged 19 years and older were obtained from health behavior interviews and a 24-hour dietary recall survey. Iodine intake of subjects was analyzed according to general characteristics, dietary lifestyle, food groups, and cooking method. RESULTS: An iodine database was established for 312 food items. The mean iodine intake of Korean adults decreased from 641.6 μg in 1998 to 236.2 μg in 2014 per day. Iodine intake of women was higher than that of men. For age distribution, those aged 30 ~ 49 years constituted more than 39 ~ 46% of subjects by survey year. Regarding iodine intake according to dietary lifestyle, the highest iodine intake was 29.4 ~ 34.4% for lunch while that of breakfast decreased. The highest iodine contribution by food group was seaweed such as kelp, sea mustard, and laver. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that iodine intake of Korean adults has been decreasing, and iodine intake is associated with the prevalence of thyroid disease. This study provides basic data for the estimation of iodine intake in Korean adults.
Adult* ; Age Distribution ; Breakfast ; Cooking ; Female ; Functional Food ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Iodine* ; Kelp ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Lunch ; Male ; Methods ; Mustard Plant ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Prevalence ; Seaweed ; Thyroid Diseases

We report the case of a middle aged woman who was previously diagnosed with hypertension. She had been drinking a kelp concentrate solution daily for her hypertension instead of taking the prescribed medicine due to her personal beliefs about the kelp solution. As a consequence, she experienced vasospastic angina complicated by myocardial infarction and cardiogenic syncope resulting from iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis. Complementary medicine is widely used by the general population. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding their efficacy and safety. This case shows that inadequate use of complementary medicine could have no effect and may even be harmful. In patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, self-care in the form of life style modification, home blood pressure monitoring and medial adherence are important for disease management.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Arteries* ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Chronic Disease ; Complementary Therapies ; Disease Management ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kelp ; Life Style ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; Self Care ; Syncope ; Thyrotoxicosis*