• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.79.1-79.12
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• 2020

Background: Recently, the pork industry of Thailand faced an epidemic of highly virulent strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which spread throughout Southeast Asia, including the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia. Hence, the rapid and on-site screening of infected pigs on a farm is essential. Objectives: To develop the new aptamer as a biosensor for detection PRRSV which are rapid and on-site screening of infected pig. Methods: New aptamers against PRSSV were identified using the combined techniques of capillary electrophoresis, colorimetric assay by gold nanoparticles, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Results: Thirty-six candidate aptamers of the PRRSV were identified from the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) by capillary electrophoresis. Only 8 out of 36 aptamers could bind to the PRSSV, as shown in a colorimetric assay. Of the 8 aptamers tested, only the 1F aptamer could bind specifically to the PRSSV when presented with the classical swine fever virus and a pseudo rabies virus. The QCM was used to confirm the specificity and sensitivity of the 1F aptamer with a detection limit of 1.87 × 10¹⁰ particles. Conclusions: SELEX screening of the aptamer equipped with capillary electrophoresis potentially revealed promising candidates for detecting the PRRSV. The 1F aptamer exhibited the highest specificity and selectivity against the PRRSV. These findings suggest that 1F is a promising aptamer for further developing a novel PRRSV rapid detection kit.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.108-131
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• 2021

The increase of international trade across countries and borders results in increased risks associated with the inflow of new pests and diseases. These risks are likely to be increased more rapidly due to climate change. Some countries implement strict regulations on imports to prevent these risks and protect biosecurity, food safety, and public health. However, the problems arise when the diseases and pests are found in a country where their economic structure largely depends on agricultural exports and cause ripple effects on other industries and ecosystems. Therefore, establishing an effective quarantine system is essential to protect and recover from the damage caused by non-native diseases and pests. This study's objectives are 1) analyzing the agricultural policies relate to the quarantine system on diseases and pests in Korea, 2) evaluating the Korea plant quarantine system's value, and 3) simulating plant quarantine policy strategies. We estimated the Korean quarantine system's benefits on diseases and pests to reach these objectives. The benefits are measured with a willingness to pay from respondents surveyed by the contingent valuation method (CVM). The CVM approach directly asks people how much they would willingly pay for food security. Finally, the Korean quarantine system's values are simulated with several policy scenarios and different scales of infection at the regional level. The results of this study can deliver policy implications on the quarantine system innovation in developing countries including Asia.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.87-115
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• 2021

Purpose - Brand equity has emerged as an indispensable marketing tool for firms engaging their business in developing nations. This study proposes that the country of origin image and advertising will affect the Korean brand equity formation, which leads to repurchase intention of Korean brands. In the study, attitude factors are applied in brand equity theory to predict repurchase intention of Korean brands. Cognitive brand equity, such as brand awareness, brand association, brand image and attitudinal brand equity, such as perceived quality and brand loyalty are considered with regards to their attitude towards the Korean brand. Design/methodology - A total of 178 Myanmar consumers out of 200 participants who have used Korean brands answered the survey and data were analyzed through SmartPLS 3.3.2 version. PLS-SEM is considered a more suitable analysis to pin down and evaluate the cause-effect relationship among all of the constructs with relatively complex models. Findings - Our results substantiate that the country of origin image positively affects brand awareness, brand associations, and brand image and advertising awareness positively affects brand awareness. Brand awareness gives positive effect only on brand association, which sustains a positive effect on brand image and brand loyalty. Brand image only has a positive effect on perceived quality, which again affects repurchase intention and brand loyalty. Brand loyalty also shows a positive effect on repurchase intention. Originality/value - Brand equity dimensions were viewed as cognitive and attitudinal outcomes of brand equity which affects repurchase intention. The drivers of brand equity were considered from the perspective of country of origin image that firms cannot control or mange, and advertising awareness which firms can control and manage. The findings also explored the relationships between cognitive and attitudinal brand equity.

• Journal of East Asia Management
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.21-41
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• 2022

This study aims to analyze the characteristics of the management situation of the Korea Railroad Corporation(KORAIL) through the management innovation process of the KORAIL and to suggest its implications for military application. Despite stable demand, the railway passenger industry had the limitation of not being able to abolish deficit routes due to public service obligations. In addition, the launch of the Suseo High-Speed Line has introduced a competitive system, posing a threat to corporate management. KORAIL wanted to overcome this crisis by innovating its management through the utilization of big data, improvement of the freight business, decentralization of demand, the introduction of tourism railroads, and development of station influence areas. By utilizing big data, KORAIL was able to optimize the railway fare system while reducing fixed costs spent on railway maintenance. It also drastically reduced the station of cargo and created a base station to pursue economies of scale. On the other hand, the existing exclusive station system was abolished to solve the chronic saturation of the downtown area, and the railway demand was moved to Gwangmyeong Station and Suwon Station to optimize the passenger supply. In particular, it developed a new business model called the tourism railway by developing the mountain Byeokjin Line, which was a chronic deficit line, and sought to improve liquidity through the development of the station influence area. Such a process of innovation at KORAIL suggests an appropriate direction in seeking ways to innovate the military medical institutions. First of all, the necessity of improving organizational immersion through the development of a personnel structure suitable for the compulsory organization, while expanding the facilities of the division and corps, and reducing the time required for medical treatment and waiting through the establishment of a data-based medical system was suggested. Next, it was also discussed to integrate the National Health Medical College, which received accreditation as a medical facility through the designation of advanced general hospitals and is ultimately under discussion with the Medical Institution. Through this, we hope that the military medical institutions, which are facing various challenges, will overcome existing limitations and be re-lighted as innovative institution that provides comprehensive public health services.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2022

Background: The growing prevalence of overweight and/or obese children is an important public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Although the association of obesity between parents and their children is well known, its underlying mechanisms are not well established. Purpose: This meta-analysis examined parent-child (PC) relationships in obesity and identified factors such as world region and country income level that may influence this relationship. Methods: We identified all related studies published between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2020 by conducting a literature search using the MeSH terms "obesity," "overweight," "body mass index," "parent," "child," "associate," and "relate" in the PubMed database in English. Results: The meta-analysis of 23 studies that reported an odds ratio (OR) for parent and child obesity associations found a significant association between parents and children who were overweight or obese (pooled OR, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-2.10). A meta-regression analysis was used to examine the sources of interstudy heterogeneity. The association between parent and child obesity was higher in Asia than in Europe and the Middle East and higher in high-income countries than in middle-or low-income countries. In addition, a higher association between parent and child obesity was found when both parents were obese than when only the father or mother was obese. This study from multiple countries indicates a significant PC relationship in weight status that varies according to PC pair type, parent and child weight statuses, world region, and country income level. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the risk of childhood obesity is greatly influenced by parental weight status and indicate that parents could play an important role in preventing child obesity.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1-36
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• 2021

Purpose - This empirical study, aims to identify the determinants of adoption and acceptance of mobile payment as to understand why it is successful in some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa but failing in others. A comparative study of a successful mobile payment service and a purported failed one was done as to have some insights to the factors affecting acceptance of the technology. Design/methodology/approach - The strength of three notable theories: theory of diffusion of innovation (DOI), the extended unified theory of user acceptance of information technology (UTAUT2) and self-efficacy theory were use. The self-efficacy of government support inclusion as, a moderating variable in the form of infrastructure, securing transaction and price value revealed the relevance of government in the success of mobile payment service. By means of a field survey of 705 subjects in two separate regions of Africa (East and West), the data was collected and use to test the research model. Findings - The study result shows the importance of the moderating factor of government support to the success of mobile payment of any nation. The result also shows the importance of the perception of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, social influence as already revealed by other studies. Research implications or Originality - Mobile payment success in some part of Sub-Saharan Africa is well known but also suggested to fail in some Sub-Saharan African countries. Buttressing the need for understanding of the factors affecting mobile payment acceptance. This article empirically examined the factors influencing the success of mobile payment, and we implicated that if the implementation of mobile payment is to be successful for mobile commerce in any nation, adoption, acceptance and use by its citizen is imperative.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.173-173
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• 2023

The Mekong River Basin (MRB) is a crucial watershed in Asia, impacting over 60 million people across six developing nations. Accurate satellite-based precipitation products (SPPs) are essential for effective hydrological and watershed management in this region. However, the performance of SPPs has been varied and limited. The APHRODITE product, a unique gauge-based dataset for MRB, is widely used but is only available until 2015. In this study, we present a novel framework for correcting SPPs in the MRB by employing a deep learning approach that combines convolutional neural networks and encoder-decoder architecture to address pixel-by-pixel bias and enhance accuracy. The DLF was applied to four widely used SPPs (TRMM, CMORPH, CHIRPS, and PERSIANN-CDR) in MRB. For the original SPPs, the TRMM product outperformed the other SPPs. Results revealed that the DLF effectively bridged the spatial-temporal gap between the SPPs and the gauge-based dataset (APHRODITE). Among the four corrected products, ADJ-TRMM demonstrated the best performance, followed by ADJ-CDR, ADJ-CHIRPS, and ADJ-CMORPH. The DLF offered a robust and adaptable solution for bias correction in the MRB and beyond, capable of detecting intricate patterns and learning from data to make appropriate adjustments. With the discontinuation of the APHRODITE product, DLF represents a promising solution for generating a more current and reliable dataset for MRB research. This research showcased the potential of deep learning-based methods for improving the accuracy of SPPs, particularly in regions like the MRB, where gauge-based datasets are limited or discontinued.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.298-313
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of natural compounds in improving athletic ability has attracted attention in both sports and research. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) leaves are used to make traditional herbal medicines in Asia. The active components of G. pentaphyllum, dammarane saponins, or gypenosides, possess a range of biological activities. On the other hand, the anti-fatigue effects from G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its effective compound, gypenoside L (GL), remain to be determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: This study examined the effects of GPE on fatigue and exercise performance in ICR mice. GPE was administered orally to mice for 6 weeks, with or without treadmill training. The biochemical analysis in serum, glycogen content, mRNA, and protein expressions of the liver and muscle were analyzed. RESULTS: The ExGPE (exercise with 300 mg/kg body weight/day of GPE) mice decreased the fat mass percentage significantly compared to the ExC mice, while the ExGPE showed the greatest lean mass percentage compared to the ExC group. The administration of GPE improved the exercise endurance and capacity in treadmill-trained mice, increased glucose and triglycerides, and decreased the serum creatine kinase and lactate levels after intensive exercise. The muscle glycogen levels were higher in the ExGPE group than the ExC group. GPE increased the level of mitochondrial biogenesis by enhancing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein and the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial DNA, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ, superoxide dismutase 2, and by decreasing the lactate dehydrogenase B level in the soleus muscle (SOL). GPE also improved PGC-1α activation in the SOL significantly through AMPK/p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that GPE supplementation enhances exercise performance and has anti-fatigue activity. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated. Therefore, GPE is a promising candidate for developing functional foods and enhancing the exercise capacity and anti-fatigue activity.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.6 no.10
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• pp.145-153
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is to draw competencies of faculty members at graduate school faculty to implements the NCS-based curriculum. A set of competency was deductively derived from a total of three professors and consultants with more than ten-year experiences and has been involved in developing the college curriculum. The political endeavors of the Korean government toward the competency-based education have been implemented as a movement to the NCS-based curriculum. The requirements for the reorganization of curriculum and education system as well as cooperation among faculty, industry, region and development part of NCS were suggested for the activation of NCS based education and the operation of NCS. However, one of the most critical factors in introducing and implementing the NCS-based curriculum is the role of faculty members. Therefore, it is an urgent issue to equip the faculties with required competencies. Result showed that the competencies required professors at graduate school for the NCS-based curriculum implementation were classified into four areas: marco-level curriculum development; micro-level course design; knowledge across areas; and attitude across areas.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.861-870
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• 2017

In this paper, we propose the roles of social robots in educational environments. This proposal becomes an extension of R-learning. The purpose of social robots is the communication and interaction with human. Social robots have two roles. One is similar to the role of educational service robot and the other is communication role with people in education environments. We make an scenario to explain how to operate the roles of social robots using robot jibo SDK. The scenario was designed for mild interaction with the user in the educational environment. And it was made using jibo animation part to control the external reaction of jibo and behaviors part to control the internal reaction in jibo SDK. Social robots collect data effectively, based on grafting technologies and interaction with people in educational environments. Concludingly, various data collected by social robots contribute to solving problems, developing and establishing of educational environments.