• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.885-897
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• 2021

Schisandrae Fructus (SF) and Corni Fructus (CF) have been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Although reports have highlighted the possibility of inhibiting the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), studies on related mechanisms are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the potential of SF and CF in improving BPH by using a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced in vitro BPH model using LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells. According to our results, water and ethanol extracts of SF and CF significantly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells by DHT treatment and markedly downregulated the expression of DHT-induced BPH biomarkers and growth factors. They also regulated the expression of apoptosis regulatory factors and significantly reduced DHT-mediated oxidative stress. In addition, the protective effect on major factors involved in the pathogenesis of BPH was more effective in the ethanol extract treatment group than in the water extract group. Furthermore, the improvement effect on BPH was higher in the 1:1 combined treatment group than in the ethanol extract alone treatment group of SF and CF, and 60% ethanol extracts showed a better effect than 40% ethanol extracts. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that SF and CF can protect against BPH by preventing the hyperproliferation of prostate cells through the inhibition of the androgen signaling pathway, which was correlated with their antioxidant activities. Therefore, SF and CF extracts may be useful in the clinical treatment of BPH, and the combination of these two extracts can be synergistic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.550-558
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• 2021

Fructus Corni, the fruit of Cornus officinalis, has long been used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. We recently suggested that it was effective against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Corni Fructus (CF) water extract on BPH induced by testosterone propionate (TP) in noncastrated and castrated animal models. BPH was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by an intramuscular injection of TP in castrated or noncastrated rats. Finasteride (FINA) treatment was used as a positive control for inhibition of BPH. According to our results, CF administration inhibited excessive enlargement of development of the prostate in both the noncastrated and castrated groups compared to the control and FINA-treated groups. The inhibitory effect of CF on BPH was associated with inhibition of expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, 5α-reductase type 2, steroid receptor coactivator-1, androgen receptor (AR), and prostate-specific antigen. Serum levels of the stress hormone cortisol increased during BPH induction by TP in both the noncastrated and castrated groups, but they were attenuated significantly by CF administration. However, insulin and IGF-1 levels were not increased in the BPH-induced groups and CF, and no effective results were found by CF administration. These results point to a beneficial effect of CF on BPH through inhibition of AR signaling pathway activity and imply that CF shows excellent potential as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of BPH.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and biological function of tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves. The antioxidant activities of tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves were determined by measuring their electron-donating ability based on their DPPH and nitrite-scavenging ability. The electron-donating abilities of tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves (500 and 1,000 ppm) as determined by DPPH assay were 45.6 and 85.1%, respectively. The nitrite scavenging ability of tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves (500 and 1,000 ppm) at pH 6.0 were 32.8 and 51.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the nitrite scavenging activity increased in a dose-dependent manner at all pH values. The effects of tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves on Male Sprague-Dawley rats were also evaluated. To accomplish this, the rats were divided into three groups (A: normal diet group, B: high fat diet group and C: high fat diet supplemented with tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves group). The anti-obesity effects of tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves were then evaluated. The serum total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride contents in C group were lower than those of B group; however, these differences were not statistically significant. The HDL-cholesterol content was significantly higher in the C group than in the other groups. Taken together the results of this study suggest that tea made from mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves possesses antioxidant activity and improves lipid metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.222-227
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• 2008

This study examined the chemical composition of lotus root and functionally evaluated a fermented lotus root drink. Electron-donating ability using DPPH along with nitrite-scavenging ability were used to compare the antioxidative activities of unfermented and fermented lotus root drinks. The electron-donating abilities of the unfermented lotus root drink (1%) and fermented lotusroot drink (1%) were 22.55% and 23.88%, respectively. At pH 6.0, the nitrite-scavenging abilities of the unfermented lotus root drink and the fermented lotus root drink (100%) were 27.64% and 40.3%, respectively, and their scavenging ability increased in a dose-dependent manner at all pH values. In order to study the anti-obesity effects of the two drinks, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (A: basal diet, B: high fat diet, C: high fat diet+unfermented lotus root drink, D: high fat diet+fermented lotus root drink). Net weight gains were not significantly different among the four groups. Plasma total cholesterol concentrations significantly decreased in the groups receiving the unfermented and fermented lotus root drinks. Also, plasma total lipid and triglyceride contents were lower in the groups receiving the unfermented and fermented lotus root drinks as compared to the high fat diet group; however, the differences among the three groups were not significant.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.35-46
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• 2017

This study analyzed the role of innovation intermediaries on the performance of technology-based firms in Korea. Technology-based firms are important to the economy because they contribute to regional economic development and national competitiveness. In Korea, various types of intermediaries, such as Techno-parks and incubators have been established to foster technology-based firms. Researchers analyzed various factors influencing the performance of technology-based firms. On the other hand, there have been few studies on the relationship between the innovation intermediaries and the performance of technology-based firms in Korea. This study identified the firms' capabilities, institutional and environmental factors in the light of the literature. A total of 2,313 technology-based firms in Techno-parks, business incubator of public institutes and universities were surveyed. Of these, 110 respondents were used for empirical analysis. OLS techniques were applied to analyze the data. The empirical results showed that the marketing competence, R&D capacity, which is a firms' innovation capacity, have a positive effect on the performance. The support of intermediaries positively affects the performance of technology-based firms. The economic aspects of regional innovation infrastructure, and cooperation with the customer has a positive effect on the performance of technology-based firms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.955-963
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• 2019

This study evaluated the characteristics and antioxidant properties of cookies prepared with different amounts (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) of Lentinus edodes water extract (LEWE). The baking loss rate of cookies increased as the amount of LEWE increased (p<0.05). The pH of cookies significantly decreased when amounts of LEWE increased (p<0.05), but spread factor, leavening rate, and moisture content showed no significant difference among the samples. L value and b value of cookies significantly decreased when amounts of LEWE increased (p<0.05), but a value of cookies significantly increased when amounts of LEWE increased (p<0.05). Hardness was higher in the 7% LEWE cookies. Chewiness and brittleness increased with increasing LEWE concentration, but cohesiveness and springiness showed no significant differences among the samples. Total polyphenol content and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity significantly increased upon the addition of LEWE (p<0.05). In a sensory evaluation, the appearance, color, and taste of the cookies were rated higher in groups containing 0% LEWE, but the flavor, texture, and overall acceptability scores were highest for cookies with 1% LEWE added. These results suggest that cookies prepared by adding 1-3% LEWE achieve the best sensory evaluation and antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.301-319
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• 2011

This research focused on the strategy consulting of the 'Pankyo Technovalley' for the formation of the innovation clusters The study was performed based on both theoretical study and related qualitative study approaches. Particularly, 'scenario planning' as a foresight method was used for the strategy formulation of the innovation clusters. The major determinants for the success of the formation of the innovation clusters can be summarized as follows; the enhancement of the service of the host institution of clusters, the alignment of the national cluster policy with the strategy of the host institution and the networks of the clusters. In terms of the needs of times, this study regarding the strategy for the formation of the innovation clusters is anticipated to be a good reference for the R&D organizations and technology cluster participants in coming years.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.497-512
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• 2012

Purpose: Most major countries have their own set of qualifications called national quality awards to measure the quality of companies and organizations. This study analyzes 3 different national quality awards and compare with the result from Korean quality awards conducted by Ministry of knowledge and Economy and Korea institute for advancement of technology. Methods: We tested 17 technoparks out of 18 technoparks in Korea and see how different the results can be depends on the value weights. We closely looked at each qualifications and tables of different countries' awards and compared with one used in Korea. Finally we proposed some suggestions to use not only domestic model but also international ones to be objective and add efficiency to organizations. Results: Depend on similarity of qualifications and weights, there were countries with different results and these caused score and ranking changes. Nevertheless, there was a comparison that did not make any changes on both score and ranking. Conclusion: We recognized the limitation that a standardized quality variation cannot be enough sources to test and analyze technoparks with different size and criteria. Integrating global standards and flow would be the first step to help grow technoparks and organizations placed in Korea in days to come.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.115-140
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• 2011

The fact that innovation activities of venture firms and start-ups play crucial role in driving industrial development and economic growth has significantly increased the importance of business incubator and techno-park which promote new businesses creations. This review paper aims at not only generating performance measurement index of business incubators but also categorizing performance determinants in accordance with three different theoretical perspectives of resource-based view, strategy patterns, and social networks. Futhermore, as future direction of research, this paper emphasizes structured research efforts on the critical effects of incubator's governance patterns, external and regional contexts, and analysis of government incubator policy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3371-3380
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• 2012

This paper finds the selecting evaluation index of technical development supporting business, applied to determine its validity. Measuring the new evaluation index for selection against the existing select evaluation index, it shows which index has accurately estimated the ranking of the companies with good performance. Using the BSC and AHP method, this study developed the select evaluation index of technology development supporting business.