• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.492-498
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• 2012

To investigate whether phytochemicals affect cancer cell viability, human colorectal HCT116 cells were treated with four different phytochemicals. Among these phytochemicals, curcumin is the strongest inhibitor of cell proliferation. In addition, it decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. To unveil the molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation by curcumin, we carried out oligo DNA microarray analysis. We found that 137 genes were up-regulated more than 2-fold, and 141 genes were down-regulated more than 2-fold by 25 ${\mu}M$ curcumin treatment. Among the up-regulated genes, we selected 3 genes (ATF-3, GADD45A, and NR4A1) to confirm microarray data. The results of RT-PCR strongly agreed with those of the microarray data. Among the phytochemicals used in this study, curcumin is the strongest inducer of ATF3 expression, and increased ATF3 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, FACS analysis showed that the inhibition of cell growth by curcumin was recovered by ATF3-siRNA transfection. Finally, we detected the changes of gene expression by ectopic expression of ATF3. The results indicated that many up-regulated genes were related to apoptosis. Overall, these results suggest that ATF3 may play an important role in the anti-proliferative activity of curcumin in human colorectal cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.376-387
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• 2018

Among a variety of environmental stresses heat, cold, chilling, high salt, drought, and so on exposed to plants, drought stress has been reported as a crucial factor to adversely affect the growth and productivity of plants. Therefore, to understand the mechanism for the drought stress signal transduction pathway in plants is more helpful to develop useful crops that display the enhanced tolerance against drought stress, and to expand crop growing areas. The signal transduction pathway for the drought stress in plants is largely categorized into two types; ABA-dependent pathway and ABA-independent pathway. It has been reported that two transcription factors, AREB/ABF and DREB2, play predominant roles in ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways, respectively. In addition to transcriptional regulation mediated by AREB/ABF and DREB2 transcription factors, post-translational modification (such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination) and epigenetic control are importantly involved in the signal transduction for drought stress. In this paper, we review current understanding of signal transduction pathway on drought stress in plants, especially focusing on the biological roles of a variety of signaling components related to drought stress response. Further understanding the mechanism of drought resistance in plants through this review will be useful to establish theoretical basis for developing drought tolerant crops in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2016

Thin films synthesized by plasma processes have been widely applied in a variety of industrial sectors. The structure control of thin film is one of prime factor in most of these applications. It is well known that the structure of this film is closely associated with plasma parameters and species of plasma which are electrons, ions, radical and neutrals in plasma processes. However the precise control of structure by plasma process is still limited due to inherent complexity, reproducibility and control problems in practical implementation of plasma processing. Therefore the study on the fundamental physical properties that govern the plasmas becomes more crucial for molecular scale control of film structure and corresponding properties for new generation nano scale film materials development and application. The thin films are formed through nucleation and growth stages during thin film depostion. Such stages involve adsorption, surface diffusion, chemical binding and other atomic processes at surfaces. This requires identification, determination and quantification of the surface activity of the species in the plasma. Specifically, the ions and neutrals have kinetic energies ranging from ~ thermal up to tens of eV, which are generated by electron impact of the polyatomic precursor, gas phase reaction, and interactions with the substrate and reactor walls. The present work highlights these aspects for the controlled and low-temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapour disposition (PECVD) of Si-based films like crystalline Si (c-Si), Si-quantum dot, and sputtered crystalline C by the design and control of radicals, plasmas and the deposition energy. Additionally, there is growing demand on the low-temperature deposition process with low hydrogen content by PECVD. The deposition temperature can be reduced significantly by utilizing alternative plasma concepts to lower the reaction activation energy. Evolution in this area continues and has recently produced solutions by increasing the plasma excitation frequency from radio frequency to ultra high frequency (UHF) and in the range of microwave. In this sense, the necessity of dedicated experimental studies, diagnostics and computer modelling of process plasmas to quantify the effect of the unique chemistry and structure of the growing film by radical and plasma control is realized. Different low-temperature PECVD processes using RF, UHF, and RF/UHF hybrid plasmas along with magnetron sputtering plasmas are investigated using numerous diagnostics and film analysis tools. The broad outlook of this work also outlines some of the 'Grand Scientific Challenges' to which significant contributions from plasma nanoscience-related research can be foreseen.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.165-175
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• 2012

Recently, accumulation of technology, transfer, absorption, and commercialization is being significantly recognized as a key factor for sustainable growth of the 21st century global economy. The government established "Technology Transfer and Commercialization Promotion Act" In order that the technology developed at public research institutions can be transferred to the private sector and commercialized; the technology developed in the private sector can be traded and commercialized. Also, the Article 14 of "Technology Transfer and Commercialization Promotion Act" is concerning technology transfer agents' registration, promotion, and support: it introduced the special status system of technology transfer agents and the government registers, manages, and supervises it. In most developed countries, the technology transfer agency is transferred to the private sector and it is referred as a technology transfer agent or technology broker. In the domestic market, despite the introduction of the above special status system and the building a various organization and transfer medium system for boosting the market's revitalization, some problems occurred; because the registration system of a technology transfer agent and legal basis and system about its following-up control fall short. For example, recently technology transfer-related performance exemption has brought the activation of technology transfer agent's registration, but there was the limit of selecting the expert above a certain level. Therefore, some countermeasures for this are urgent, In addition, through a compulsory training completion system before the technology trade agent registration is prepared, a short period of curriculum was not sufficient to provide applicants various specialized knowledge. In this research, it is considered about the reform of technology transfer agent through its comparative study in China and Korea. Some improvements are suggested for expanding the market of technology transfer commercialization, assuring the agents' service and strengthening the competitiveness.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diffusible, multifunctional and transcellular messenger that has been implicated in numerous physiological and pathological conditions. It has been reported that NO induced apoptosis in tumor cells, macrophage cells and inhibited apoptosis in normal cells, endothelial cells. To examine whether NO could induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, cells were treated with SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine), NO donor. Cell viability did not change in SIN-1 treated cells for 48 h and there was no significantly changes in cell cycle progression or growth pattern by FACS analysis. But p53 protein, an apoptosis-related factor, increased SIN-1 treatment time dependently. Bcl-2, MDM2 and p21 were also accumulated. Bax level did not change. A major role of inhibiting apoptosis by NO in MCF-7 cells, cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$) was added to cells preincubated with SIN-1. Whereas $CoCl_2$ treated cells underwent apoptosis, for 24 h SIN-1 preincubated cells were not induced apoptosis. Inactivated proteins, MDM2 and bcl-2, by $CoCl_2$ levels also increased in SIN-1 pre-treated cells. These results suggested that SIN-1 blocked p53 by MDM2 activation and inhibited apoptosis by inducing p21 and bcl-2 expression.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.8
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• pp.341-373
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• 2001

Firms are confronting the age of an infinite competition. In order to respond to the rapidly changing business environment and make a success and survival in the international and domestic securities market, firms must take a consideration on the stockholders value-oriented philosophy which has greatly contributed not only to the maximization of corporate profits but also to the stability of financial markets. To pursue stockholders value-oriented philosophy, a firm should build strong relationship with investors by providing exact information of firm's state, financial statement, management policy. Stockholders value-oriented philosophy contributes to long-term growth and development of the firm as well as efficient equity financing and friendship with stockholder. IR is the key factor to attain successful implementation of company's objective. It should be equipped with the most suitable organization and qualified man-power for IR activities. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between IR and relationship marketing management. Strategic implications of this study are as follows: First, This study provides a new explanations of IR activities in Relationship Marketing Management. Second, IR activities were key determinants of Trust and Commitment. That means the more a firm does IR activities, the more Trust and Commitment a firm has for their investors. Third, The variables of trust and commitment are highly related to marketing and financial success. IR have a positive effect on a company total value and its cost of capital relative to that of the overall market.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.536-543
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• 2015

This study describes on the level of back pain knowledge from a survey that conducted from November 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014 for 82 cement factory workers at C region in Chung-Buk. The survey results showed that 56.1% of workers experienced back pain. Also the number of back pain of workers increased when workers who subjected more stresses from their works, had been growth in urban area and have not satisfied their given works. The survey also show that workers who subjected back pain once, usually they stopped smoking and reduced drinking, and they willing to take education for back pain-reducing. The worker's level of back pain knowledge was relatively low scores as 56.29 points in the 100-point conversion score, specially back pain associated with the posture were the lowest point of 50 points. Knowledge of back pain, a positive correlation was observed. Finally workers experienced back pain and education of back pain had higher willing to receive the education in the future. However, workers were not obtained the knowledge information on back pain indicated lower scores.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.771-781
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf tea(PLT) in hairless mice(SKH-1) exposed to UVB irradiation. The animals were divided into non-treated group (normal, N) and UV-radiated groups. UV-radiated groups were divided into only UV-radiated group(control, C) and UV-radiated and PLT treated experimental groups[first extraction treated group(PLT-I), second extraction treated group(PLT-II), and third extraction treated group(PLT-III)]. Three PLT treated experimental groups of mice were treated with both oral administration(300 mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical application (100 ul of 2% conc./mouse/day) for 4 weeks. Anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf were evaluated by anti oxidative reaction, stereomicroscopic and microscopic observations. The expression of photoaging skin related factors including mast cell tryptase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Treatment of PLT-I, -II, -III prevented the wrinkle formation as well as epidermal hyperplasia, inflammatory cells, disruption of collagen in photoaged skin induced by UVB radiation. It also reduced the PCNA and VEGF expression in the UVB irradiated dorsal skin. Furthermore, it significantly decreased the number of mast cells in the UVB irradiated dermis(p<0.05 and p<0.01). On the effects of oxidative stress and antioxidant function on the treatment with water extract from Persimmon leaf tea(PLT), the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) was significantly increased in PLT-III group(p<0.05), and catalase(CAT) was significantly increased in PLT-I and PLT-III groups(p<0.05), and PLT-II group(p<0.001). These extracts showed relatively antioxidant activity and protective effect on UVB-induced oxidative stress in hairless mice(SKH-1). Our results suggest that Persimmon leaf tea may serve as an useful radical scavenging antioxidant and anti-photoaging skin agents in the UVB irradiated skin.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.11-22
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• 2013

Objectives: The present investigation aimed at examining if post-cancer treatment with a potentized homeopathic drug, Condurango 30C, which is generally used to treat oesophageal cancer, could also show an ameliorating effect through apoptosis induction on lung cancer induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in white rats (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: Lung cancer was induced after four months by chronic feeding of BaP to rats through gavage at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for one month. After four months, the lung-cancer-bearing rats were treated with Condurango 30C for the next one ($5^{th}$), two ($5^{th}-6^{th}$) and three ($5^{th}-7^{th}$) months, respectively, and were sacrificed at the corresponding time-points. The ameliorating effect, if any, after Condurango 30C treatment for the various periods was evaluated by using protocols such as histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), annexinV-FITC/PI assay, flow cytometry of the apoptosis marker, DNA fragmentation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses of lung tissue samples. Results: Striking recovery of lung tissue to a near normal status was noticed after post-cancerous drug treatment, as evidenced by SEM and histology, especially after one and two months of drug treatment. Data from the annexinV-FITC/PI and DNA fragmentation assays revealed that Condurango 30C could induce apoptosis in cancer cells after post-cancer treatment. A critical analysis of signalling cascade, evidenced through a RT-PCR study, demonstrated up-regulation and down-regulation of different pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, respectively, related to a caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway, which was especially discernible after one-month and two-month drug treatments. Correspondingly, Western blot and immunohistochemistry studies confirmed the ameliorative potential of Condurango 30C by its ability to down-regulate the elevated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, a hallmark of lung cancer. Conclusion: The overall result validated a positive effect of Condurango 30C in ameliorating lung cancer through caspase-3-mediated apoptosis induction and EGFR down-regulation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.201-211
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• 2020

Green/climate technology has been emphasized as a growth engine that can boost the global economy via environmentally friendly products. Recently, SMEs in Korea have been recognized as a critical actor in the globalization of green/climate technologies. However, there has been no survey and few studies on the satisfaction level of the support for the overseas expansion of SMEs in the green/climate technology field. Therefore, this study aims to support a policy for the establishment of SMEs' green/climate technology by investigating and analyzing expert opinions on SMEs. Through a literature survey, support policies were classified into four types, and then according to the types, satisfaction factors and obstacle factors for overseas expansion were derived and analyzed. In the results, the SMEs overall showed low levels of awareness and satisfaction and were found to be struggling due to all obstructive factors. In addition, the most important success factor for overseas expansion was found to be the policy related to funding support. Thus, it is necessary to improve the accessibility, advertisement, and support strategies of support policies, and in particular, appropriate budget allocation should be made available by considering the characteristics of companies.