• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2024

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the main global health problems. Chronic exposure to hyperglycemia can lead to cellular dysfunction that may become irreversible over time, a process that is termed glucose toxicity. Our perspective about glucose toxicity as it pertains to the pancreatic β-cell is that the characteristic decreases in insulin secretion are caused by regulated apoptotic gene expression. In this study, we examined whether ferulic acid protects INS-1 pancreatic cells against high glucose-induced apoptosis. High glucose concentration (30 mM) induced glucotoxicity and death of INS-1 pancreatic β cells. However, treatment with 1, 5, 10, or 20 μM ferulic acid increased the cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with ferulic acid dose-dependently decreased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and nitric oxide in INS-1 pancreatic β cells pretreated with high glucose. These effects influence the apoptotic pathway, increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and reducing the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins, including Bax, cytochrome C, and caspase 9. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining indicated that ferulic acid significantly reduced high glucose-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrate that ferulic acid is a potential therapeutic agent to protect INS-1 pancreatic β cells against high glucose-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2024

Against the backdrop of IMO's stricter environmental regulations due to global warming, Europe's Fit for 55 plan, and other initiatives, the establishment of infrastructure for the supply of environmentally friendly marine fuels and policy analysis are more critical than ever. This study comprehensively analyzes existing research and policies on the supply of environmentally friendly marine fuels, as well as trends in regulations, industry responses, and the current status of infrastructure for the supply of environmentally friendly fuels, to draw insightful conclusions. The results show that the establishment of infrastructure for the supply of environmentally friendly fuels is as important as the introduction of environmentally friendly ships, due to the strengthening of environmental regulations. LNG is a viable option in the short term, but a transition to carbon-free fuels is necessary in the long run. In this regard, a strategic approach is needed to focus support on fuels that are advantageous to produce, considering domestic industrial conditions from a long-term perspective. Therefore, the government should actively promote infrastructure development through measures such as supporting the development and supply of environmentally friendly fuels, improving regulations and providing incentives, attracting private investment, and strengthening international cooperation. This study is expected to serve as a valuable resource for setting policy directions for the transition to an environmentally friendly maritime industry. Future research will include a comparative analysis of the economic viability of environmentally friendly fuels and basic research on the selection of fuels that are advantageous to Korea.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.155-171
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• 2016

Today's organizations make a large investment in information technology (IT) that supports knowledge management. The perceived importance of transactive memory systems (TMS) is increasing in the aspect of team performance. This study aims to understand the mediating effect of knowledge sharing and usage from the perspective of the relationship between IT support for knowledge management and TMS for team performance. To this end, this study analyzes the survey responses obtained from 224 members of 37 different teams using IT support for knowledge management. The results are as follows. First, the effect of IT support on knowledge management was significant in TMS. Second, the mediating effect of IT support on knowledge management through TMS was higher than its direct effect on knowledge sharing and usage. Third, IT support for knowledge management had a greater effect on knowledge sharing than on knowledge usage. Fourth, the effect of TMS appeared to be ordered by tacit knowledge sharing, explicit knowledge sharing, tacit knowledge usage, and explicit knowledge usage. Fifth, the relationship of team performance with knowledge sharing and usage was significant in the order of tacit knowledge usage, tacit knowledge sharing, and explicit knowledge usage.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2017

Since the development of information communication technologies, social networking sites (SNSs) have been diffused to the world with benefits such as building and maintaining relationships among people. SNSs have become more popular with the development of mobile devices. Despite this advantage, SNSs also present unexpected effects on people, such as cyberbullying and identity theft. Cyberbullying has emerged as one of the most serious issues among people who use SNSs. In fact, almost 20% of teenagers confessed that they have been cyberbullied on SNSs. In consideration of this serious social issue, this study investigates the influences of self-disclosure and self-control on the cyberbullying victimization experience from the perspective of Social Exchange Theory. Self-disclosure is a basic characteristic of SNSs. It is classified into self-disclosure for access to SNS and self-disclosure for relationship building and maintaining on SNSs. The cyberbullying victimization experience is classified into being cyber-excluded and being cyber-attacked. We examine how two types of self-disclosure and self-control affect two types of cyberbullying victimization experience based on the survey data of people who are in their 20s and are greatly familiar with SNSs.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2024

Carbon dioxide capture utilization and storage (CCUS) techniques have received significant global attention as they are part of efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Large-scale carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) projects are being actively pursued in North America, the North Sea, the Middle East, and Oceania. Considering the current situation in South Korea, identifying large-scale CCS sites that can secure an annual domestic carbon storage capacity of 30 million tons by 2050 is crucial Therefore, this study analyzed the formation process and geological characteristics of overseas large-scale CCS projects in terms of plate tectonics. We utilized the GPlates program to interpret the formation processes of large-scale CCS projects in North America, the North Sea, Middle East, and Oceania from the perspective of plate tectonics. Additionally, we investigated the geological structure of the CO₂ storage layer and interpreted seismic imaging results obtained from each CCS site. This study will help identify a domestic large-scale CCS site.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.71-81
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• 2024

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global airport industry is actively introducing 4th Industrial Revolution technology-based systems for quarantine and passenger safety, and test bed construction and prior verification using airport infrastructure and resources are actively being conducted. Analysis of recent cases shows that despite the changing travel patterns of airport users and the diversification of airport service demands, most testbeds construction studies are still focused on suppliers, and task prioritization is also determined by decision makers. There is a tendency to rely on subjective judgment. In order to find practical ways to become a first mover that leads innovation in the aviation industry, this study selected tasks and derived priorities to build testbeds from a service perspective that reflects various customer service needs and changes. Research results using the AHP analysis method resulted in priorities in the order of access transportation and parking services (29.2%), security screening services (23.4%), and departure services (21.8%), and these analysis results were tested in the airport industry. It shows that innovation in testbeds construction is an important factor. In particular, the establishment of smart parking and UAM transportation testbeds not only helps strengthen airports as centers of technological innovation, but also promotes cooperation with companies, research institutes, and governments, and provides an environment for testing and developing new technologies and services. It can be a foundation for what can be done. The results and implications produced through this study can serve as useful guidelines for domestic and foreign airport practitioners to build testbeds and establish strategies.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.17-22
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• 2024

The war that broke out on October 7, 2023 is prolonging and expanding into the Middle East. Although the damage from war is increasing, humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has been halted due to UNRWA's deviant actions. Powerful countries have suspended support, and the UN is appealing for support for the Gaza Strip. All damage is borne by civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially women, children, and the elderly. Israel has selected an evacuation zone and evacuation route in the Gaza Strip and established a humanitarian aid route in the border area. However, Hamas's resistance in underground tunnels, using civilian-dense areas and civilian facilities such as hospitals and schools as shields, further amplified civilian casualties. This Israel-Hamas war requires the international community to approach it from a human security perspective. We must strengthen the UN's functions and roles to ensure that humanitarian supplies reach the field and humanitarian intervention forces ensure human dignity and basic rights. We must restore the credibility of the UN's role through the Israel-Hamas war. In addition, Korea should urge the introduction of humanitarian aid and goods, and provide humanitarian goods such as daily necessities and medicine. We must also prepare for deployment as a member of the UN peacekeeping force in the future. These activities will help Korea develop into a model country that fulfills its role as a 'global pivotal nation' and will have a virtuous cycle of international support in the event of a future crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.57-63
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• 2009

With an exponential increase in electronic commerce (e-commerce), marketers are attempting to gain a competitive advantage by emphasizing service quality and post interaction service aspects, which leads to customer satisfaction or behavioral consequence. Particularly for apparel, service quality is one of the key determinants in encouraging customer e-loyalty, and hence the success of apparel retailing in the context of electronic commerce. Therefore, this study explores e-service quality (E-SERVQUAL) factors and their unique effects on e-loyalty for apparel online shopping based on Parasuraman et al' s (2005) framework. Specific objectives of this study are to identify underlying dimension of E-SERVQUAL, and analyze a structural model for examining the effect of E-SERVQUAL on e-loyalty for online apparel shopping. For the theoretical framework of service quality in the context of online shopping, literatures on traditional and electronic service quality factors were comparatively reviewed, and two aspects of core and recovery services were identified. This study hypothesized that E-SERVQUAL has an effect on e-loyalty; customer satisfaction has a positive effect on e-service loyalty for apparel online shopping; and customer satisfaction mediates in the effect of E-SERVQUAL on e-loyalty for apparel online shopping. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on literatures. A total of 252 usable questionnaires were obtained from online consumers who had purchase experience with online shopping for apparel products and reside in standard metropolitan areas, in the United States. Factor analysis (e.g., exploratory, confirmatory) was conducted to assess the validity and reliability and the structural equation model including measurement and structural models was estimated via LISREL 8.8 program. Findings showed that the E-SERVQUAL of shopping websites for apparel consisted of five factors: Compensation, Fulfillment, Efficiency, System Availability, and Responsiveness. This supports Parasuraman (2005)'s E-S-QUAL encompassing two aspects of core service (e.g., fulfillment, efficiency, system availability) and recovery related service (e.g., compensation, responsiveness) in the context of apparel shopping online. In the structural equation model, there are five exogenous latent variables for e-SERVQUAL factors; and two endogenous latent variables (e.g., customer satisfaction, e-loyalty). For the measurement model, the factor loadings for each respective construct were statistically significant and were greater than .60 and internal consistency reliabilities ranged from .85 to .88. In the estimated structural model of the e-SERVEQUAL factors, the system availability was found to have direct and positive effect on e-loyalty, whereas efficiency had a negative effect on e-loyalty for apparel online shopping. However, fulfillment was not a significant predictor for explaining consequences of E-SERVQUAL for apparel online shopping. This finding implies that perceived service quality of system available was likely to increase customer satisfaction for apparel online shopping. However, it was not supported that e-loyalty was determined by service quality, because service quality has an indirect effect on e-loyalty (i.e., repurchase intention) by mediating effect of value or satisfaction in the context of online shopping for apparel. In addition, both compensation and responsiveness were found to have a significant impact on customer satisfaction, which influenced e-loyalty for apparel online shopping. Thus, there was significant indirect effect of compensation and responsiveness on e-loyalty. This suggests that the recovery-specific service factors play an important role in maximizing customer satisfaction levels and then maintaining customer loyalty to the online shopping site for apparel. The findings have both managerial and research implications. Fashion marketers can establish long-term relationship with their customers based on continuously measuring customer perceptions for recovery-related service quality, such as quick responses to problem and returns, and compensation for customers' problem after their purchases. In order to maintain e-loyalty, recovery services play an important role in the first choice websites for consumers to purchase clothing. Given that online consumers may shop anywhere, a marketing strategy for improving competitive advantages is to provide better service quality, maximize satisfaction, and turn to creating customers' e-loyalty for apparel online shopping. From a researcher's perspective, there are some limitations of this research that should be considered when interpreting its findings. For future research, findings provide a basis for the further study of this important topic along both theoretical and empirical dimensions. Based on the findings, more comprehensive models for predicting E-SERVQUAL's consequences can be developed and tested. For global fashion marketing, this study can expand to a cross-cultural approach into e-service quality for apparel by including multinational samples.

• Archives of design research
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• v.18 no.4 s.62
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• pp.105-118
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• 2005

Housing environment for human beings has been diversified and more convenient due to the development of high technology and civilization brought by industrialization in the 20th century. In the 21st century, how to overcome the ecological limit of biased development-centered advancement, that is, how to preserve and hand over a clean and healthy 'sustainable environment' to our next generations has been one of the most-talked about issues. Environmental symbiosis means a wider range of environmental harmony from micro-dimensional perspective to macro one. The three goals of a environmentally friendly house are to preserve global environment, to harmonize with the environment around, and to offer a healthy and comfortable living environment. From the point of view of environmental symbiosis, houses should be designed to save energy and natural resources for preservation of global environment, to collect such natural energy resources as solar heat and wind force, to recycle waste water, and recycle and reduce the amount of the waste matter. Now, the environmentally-friendly house became a new social mission that is difficult to not only challenge but also realize without conversion to a new paradigm, ecologism.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-22
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• 2007

Customer satisfaction is important in an increasingly competitive and global marketplace. This implies that customer service is a critical factor for many organizations. In service encounter context, customer satisfaction is affected by employees' attitudes and behaviors. Accordingly, service firms have been focusing on selecting high quality of service employees, which resulted the ability to identify and select quality service- or customer- oriented employees to become critical for an organization's success. It was suggested that customer service orientation links to performance and subsequent organizational revenue. Moreover, it was found that service encounter failures were among the major reasons for customers' service switch. Therefore, the selection of customer service oriented employees is a key factor in establishing customer service - a potential source of sustained competitive advantage. However, the measurement of employee service orientation is more confusing than that of definitive answers. The difficulty of measuring service orientation is attributed to the use of broad versus narrow measures of personality. Advocates for the broad perspective prefer using basic personality constructs, such as the Big Five personality traits. On the contrary, the latter prefer a construct-oriented approach of personality research that provides a better measure of job performance because it requires the specification of the relationship of the personality traits with multiple dimensions of job performance. The customer service orientation was defined as "a set of basic individual predispositions and an inclination to provide service, to be courteous and to be helpful in dealing with customers and associates." Similarly, it is a fact that the Big five personality traits are predictors of customer orientation, and employee's self- and supervisor performance. They propose that basic personality traits may be too far removed from focal service behaviors to be able to predict specific service behaviors (customer orientation) and service worker performance. Also, customer orientation is defined as "an employee's tendency or predisposition to meet customer needs in an on-the-job context." This means that people who have job-relevant personality traits such as concern, empathy, and conscientiousness will be more adept at customer service than people who do not possess these traits. However, little attention has been given to the exploration of the service orientation of customer-contact employees who play a key role in creating satisfactory service encounters in the hospitality industry except for Kim, McCahon, & Miller (2003)'s study, especially in family restaurants context. Thus, the purposes of this study are to examine and validate the customer service orientation of customer-contact employees using the instrument developed by Donavan (1999) in Korean family restaurants, because the scale was developed to measure the personality traits related job behaviors. And this study explores the relationships between customer service orientation, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and self service performance using structural equation modeling (SEM). And this study explores the relationships between customer service orientation, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and self service performance using structural equation modeling (SEM). For these purposes the author developed several hypotheses as follows: H1: Employee's service orientation is associated with service performance. H2: Employee's service orientation is positively associated with job satisfaction. H3: Employee's service orientation is positively associated with organizational commitment. H4: Service performance is positively associated with job satisfaction. H5: Service performance is positively associated with organizational commitment. H6: Job satisfaction is negatively associated with organizational commitment. The data were collected from 278 employees in 5 deluxe hotels located in Pusan, Korea. The researcher contacted the manager of the restaurants, and managers consented to administer surveys to their employees. The survey was executed during one month period in the October of 2007. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling with LISREL 8.7 W. The result of the overall model analysis appeared as follows: $X^2$=122.638 (p = 0.00), df=59, GFI=.936, AGFI=.901, NFI=.948, CFI=.971, RMSEA=.0625. Since the result of the overall model analysis demonstrated a good fit, we could further analyze our data. The findings can be summarized as follows: First, the greater the employee service orientation, the greater the service performance. Second, the greater the employee service orientation, the greater the job satisfaction. Third, the greater the employee service orientation, the greater the organizational commitment. Fourth, the greater the service performance, the greater the job satisfaction. Fifth, the greater the service performance, the greater the organizational commitment. Finally, the greater the job satisfaction, the greater the organizational commitment. Seventh, the greater the customer satisfaction, the greater the customer loyalty.