• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.21-42
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• 2016

Purpose: Social influence has a decisive role in shaping a person's cognition and behavior. Chinese face consciousness, including moral component, is an important part of Chinese traditional culture, which influences people to implement moral behavior. With both eye-tracking technology and traditional questionnaire, this research aims to explore people's moral psychology and the psychological processing mechanisms of Chinese face consciousness, as well as the impact of Chinese face consciousness on the preference for the ecological product. Method and Data: 75 college and MBA students' eye movement data were collected when they read different kinds of moral materials, as well as data from the subsequent questionnaires. To test the hypothesis, ANOVA analysis and Heat Map analysis were performed. Besides, the PROCESS of bootstrap was used to test mediation effect. Findings: The results reveal that: 1. Compared to the moral-situation reading, when subjects read immoral situations, they need more processing time due to the moral dissonance and cognitive load. 2. Compared to the control condition, when threatened moral self is primed, subjects prefer to choose ecological product. 3. Protective face orientation is the mediator between threatened moral self and preference to ecological product. Key Contributions: First, this study broadens the use of eye-tracking technology in marketing and demonstrates a better understanding of the relationship between morality and consumer behavior in a more scientific way. Second, this study not only distinguishes the meanings between "protective face orientation" and "acquisitive face orientation", but also innovatively validates that when moral self is threatened, consumers tend to choose ecological product as moral compensation in order to protect their face. It can shed light on the promotion of ecological product in practical applications.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.155-170
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• 2023

Purpose: Nowadays, the risk assessment system is widely used in many industrial and public areas to reduce the possible risks. The system is used to determine the priorities of the government quality assurance works in Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. However, as the risk assessment system is used for other purposes, there are some items that need improvement, and in this study, we propose improvement plans by benchmarking the risk assessment systems of other institutions. Methods: In this paper, first, the procedures of risk assessment system used in many industrial sites were reviewed, and how each institution specialized and applied the system. Afterwards, by benchmarking various risk assessment systems, an improvement plan on how to operate the risk assessment system in the case of government quality assurance for centrally procured military supplies was presented, and practical application cases were presented to prove the usefulness of the improvement plan. Results: The proposed risk assessment system differs from the existing system in five major aspects. First, inputs, outputs, and key performance indicators were specified from the systematic point of view. Second, risk analysis was analyzed in four dimensions: probability of occurrence, impact, detection difficulty. Third, risk mitigation measures were classified, control, transfer, and sharing. Fourth, the risk mitigation measures were realized through document verification, product verification, process verification, and quality system evaluation. Finally, risk mitigation measures were implemented and the effectiveness of the risk mitigation measures was evaluated through effectiveness evaluation. Conclusions: In order for the risk assessment procedure proposed in this study to be applied to actual work, it is necessary to obtain the consent of the person involved in the work due to the increased time for risk identification and preparation of the government quality assurance log, and a change in the information system that performs the actual work is required. Therefore, the authors of this study plan to actively perform internal seminar presentations and work improvement suggestions to apply these research outputs to actual work.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.167-188
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• 2013

In today's society with its emphasis on unlimited information access, control of available information about high-technology products is often vital to their success. When a product is released, consumers may initially be attracted through information about its remarkable internal and external features. They may also perceive a degree of congruence between their own personalities and the product image as more information becomes available over time. Consumers' changing impressions of the product may influence personality congruence negatively or positively. These changes and their effects on preference for high-technology products are the focus of this paper. A survey was given to a sample of 206 students at K University to investigate the degree to which consumer behavior can be influenced by personality congruence. The need for clear and definite product knowledge in this process and the effect of product information on preference were also investigated. Three analyses were conducted. The results of Analysis 1 showed the influence of personality congruence on preference for high-technology products. Judgments about personality congruence were based on non-compensatory rather than compensatory information processing. The respondents considered certain aspects of a product's personality rather than the product as a whole when making preference decisions. The results of Analysis 2 indicated that when less information was available about a product, consumers who perceived high personality congruence with the product tended to have higher preference for it compared to those who perceived low personality congruence with the product. On the other hand, when consumers were given more information, no difference was observed in the impact of personality on preference between perceived high and low personality congruence. Lastly, the results of Analysis 3 showed that when consumers with high need for closure (NFC) perceived high congruence between their own personalities and a product, objective information regarding the product was not used in decision-making: instead, judgments about the product were based on perceived personality congruence. On the other hand, high-NFC consumers who perceived low personality congruence between themselves and the product tended to require more information about the product in order to give it a positive evaluation. In contrast, low-NFC consumers who perceived high personality congruence felt comfortable with large amounts of information. For low-NFC consumers who perceived low congruence, the level of information had no influence on preference.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.287-287
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• 2022

In this study, we analyze RNA-seq data from OxF3Hand WT at several points (Oh, 3 h, 12 h, and 24 h) after WBPH infection. A number of the genes were further validated by RT-qPCR. Results revealed that highest number of DEGs (4,735) between the two genotypes detected after 24 h of infection. Interestingly, many of the DEGs between the WT and OsF3H under control conditions were also found to be differentially expressed in OsF3H in response to WBPH infestation. These results indicate that significant differences in gene expression between the "OxF3H" and "WT" exist as the infection time increases. Many of these DEGs were related to oxidoreductase activity, response to stress, salicylic acid biosynthesis, metabolic process, defense response to pathogen, cellular response to toxic substance, and regulation of hormones level. Moreover, genes involved in salicylic acid (SA) and Ethylene (Et) biosynthesis were upregulated in OxF3H plants while jasmonic acid (JA), Brassinosteroid (Br), and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways were found downregulated in OxF3H plant during WBPH infestation. Interestingly, many DEGs related to pathogenesis such as OsPR1, OsPR1b, NPR1, OsNPR3 and OsNPR5 were found significantly upregulated in OxF3H plants. Additionally, genes related to MAPKs pathway, and about 30 WRKY genes involved in different pathways were found upregulated in OxF3H plants after WBPH infestation. This suggests that overexpression of the OxF3H gene leads to multiple transcriptomic changes and impact plant hormones, pathogenic related and secondary metabolites related genes and enhancing the plant resistance to WBPH infestation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.541-547
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• 2023

The effect of temperature and influent alkalinity/ammonia (K/A) ratio on the start-up of the partial nitrification (PN) process for an activated sludge-based domestic wastewater treatment was studied. Two different sequence batch reactors (SBR) were operated at 26 ℃ and 32 ℃. The relationship between temperature and the concentration of free ammonia (FA) and free acid nitrite (FNA) was investigated. A stable PN process was achieved in the 32 ℃ reactor when the influent ammonium concentration was lower than 150 mg-N/L. In contrast, the PN process in the 26 ℃ reactor had a higher nitrite accumulation rate (NAR) and ammonium removal efficiency (ARE) when the influent ammonia concentration was increased to more than 150 mg-N/L. Then three different ranges of the K/A ratio were applied to an SBR reactor. In the K/A range of 2.48~1.65, the SBR reactor achieved the highest NAR ratio (75.78%). This ratio helps to achieve the appropriate level of alkalinity to maintain a stable pH and provide a sufficient amount of inorganic carbon source for the activity of microorganisms. At the same time, FA and FNA values also reached the threshold to inhibit nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) without a significant effect on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Results showed that the control of temperature and K/A ratio during the start-up period may be important in establishing a stable and steady PN process for the treatment of domestic wastewater.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2024

Purpose: Immunosuppressive therapy is frequently administered to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which may make them more susceptible to infections like hepatitis B. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged 5-18 years diagnosed with IBD who visited a gastroenterology clinic along with controls who were the same age as the patients with IBD and were healthy overall. A logistic regression analysis using the independent variables of age, sex, race, disease phenotype, surgery, and medications and the dependent variable of adequate hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titers (>10 mIU/mL) was performed on quantitative serum HBsAb titers. Results: The study enrolled 62 patients, including 37 males and 25 females. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis were diagnosed in 16, 22, and 24 patients, respectively. Thirty-nine patients were taking corticosteroids at the time of the study, 42 were taking immunomodulators, and four were taking biologics. Compared to 44.7% of the control group, 9.3% of the patients had protective titers. Only 12 out of 62 patients had HBsAb titers greater than 10 million IU/mL. None of the patients who received biologics or corticosteroids and 3.2% of those who received immunomodulators were found to be seroimmuned. Conclusion: The younger patients had the highest titers. Patient-specific factors that may impact these low titers include the length of the patient's illness and the use of immunosuppressants.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.25-34
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• 2024

The long-term monitoring of the Soyang Lake's water quality, covering 25% of the North Han River watershed, is crucial for effective management of both lake water quality and pollution sources in the broader region. This study utilized continuous monitoring data from the front of the Soyang Dam spanning 2003 to 2022, aiming to analyze trends and provide foundational insights for water quality management. Results revealed a slightly poor grade (IV) for total nitrogen (T-N) in both surface and mid-depth layers, indicating a need for concentrated T-N management. Trend analyses using the Mann-Kendall test and Sen's Slope depicted a decreasing trend in total phosphorus (T-P) for both layers, attributed to non-point source pollution reduction projects initiated after the Soyang Lake's designation as a pollution control area in 2007. The LOWESS analysis showed a T-P increase until 2006, followed by a decrease, influenced by the impact of Typhoon Ewiniar in that year. This 20-year overview establishes a comprehensive understanding of the Soyang Lake's water quality and trends, allowing for a seasonal and periodical analysis of water quality changes. The findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and management strategies to address evolving water quality issues in the Soyang Lake over time.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.475-487
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• 2024

As today's "ninth art", role-playing games recognized by most players due to their surreal themes and sustained reflection on social diseases. Through precise control of story-telling and game visuals, players develop an avatar identification during role-playing game. Based on Lacan's mirror stage theory, a new self-identity mechanism is established under the guidance of role-playing games. As a "player", the subject's interpretation of himself is shifted by the game order, and the subject identifies with the role-playing game while at the same time being structured by the desire of role-playing game. The immersive experience and emotional guidance of role-playing games all point to the most instinctive human desires. The psychoanalytic theory from Lacan's perspective explains the source of players' desire, and the expression of players' desire in the game. It also plays an important role in the emotional rendering and identity aspects of role-playing games. This paper is to establish that role-playing games do have an impact on the player's self-identity through a Lacanian psychoanalytic reading of role-playing games.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.36-43
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• 2024

The yield is basic and necessary information in precision agriculture that reduces input resources and enhances productivity. Yield information is important because it can be used to set up farming plans and evaluate farming results. Yield monitoring systems are commercialized in the United States and Japan but not in Korea. Therefore, such a system must be developed. This study was conducted to develop a yield monitoring system that improved performance by correcting a previously developed flow sensor using a grain tank-weighing system. An impact-plated type flow sensor was installed in a grain tank where grains are placed, and grain tank-weighing sensors were installed under the grain tank to estimate the weight of the grain inside the tank. The grain flow rate and grain weight prediction models showed high correlations, with coefficient of determinations (R2) of 0.9979 and 0.9991, respectively. A main controller of the yield monitoring system that calculated the real-time yield using a sensor output value was also developed and installed in a combine harvester. Field tests of the combine harvester yield monitoring system were conducted in a rice paddy field. The developed yield monitoring system showed high accuracy with an error of 0.13%. Therefore, the newly developed yield monitoring system can be used to predict grain weight with high accuracy.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.105-118
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• 2024

The world has witnessed tremendous advancements in nano-base applications. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZON) are widely used in food industry and medicine. Although their application is of important value, they may cause toxicity to body tissues. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) proved its efficacy in tissue regeneration especially when it is preconditioned by activated platelet supernatant (APS). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ZON on the gastric mucosa and the therapeutic role of the PBMCs preconditioned by APS in rats. Ten rats were donors and fifty rats were recipients. The recipients were divided into; control group, ZON group (10 mg/kg/day orally for five days) and preconditioned PBMCs group (1×10⁷ once intravenously 24 hours after ZON). Gastric specimens were processed for histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction studies. ZON group showed marked structural changes in the gastric mucosa. There was desquamation or deep ulceration of the epithelium. Cytoplasmic vacuoles and pyknotic nuclei were in glandular cells. Reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen and increased tumor necrosis factor-α were in epithelial cells. There were significant elevation in malondialdahyde and reduction in glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Enhancement in mRNA expression of nuclear factor kappa-B and cyclooxygenase-2 was detected. The preconditioned PBMCs group showed significant improvement of all parameters. So, ZON had cytotoxic effects on the gastric mucosa and the preconditioned PBMCs had a therapeutic effect on gastric mucosal damage after ZON.