• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-131
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• 2005

This paper has discussed several issues regarding the barriers and opportunities for technological catch-up by the late-comer countries and firms. As one of the barriers to technological catch-up, the paper emphasizes the uncertainty involved with the third stage of learning how to design. The barriers arise because as the forerunner firms refuse to sell or give license to successful catching-up firms who thus have to design the product by themselves. The paper discusses how to overcome this barrier. It also notes that if the crisis of design technology is a push factor for leapfrogging, arrival of new techno-economic paradigm can serve as a pull factor for leapfrogging, serving as a winder of opportunity. The, it emphasized the two risks with leapfrogging, namely the risk of choosing right technology or standards and the risk of creating initial markets, and how to overcome these risks. It discusses how to overcome these risks in leapfrogging, and differentiates diverse forms of knowledge accesses. Then, the paper takes up the issue of whether there can be a single common or several models for catch-up. A common element of catching-up is to enter new markets segments quickly, to manufacture with high levels of engineering excellence, and to be first-to-market by means of the best integrative designs. This observation is supported by the fact that Korea and Taiwan has achieved higher levels of technological capabilities in such sectors as featured by short cycle time of technology. The possibility of two alternative models for catch-up is also discussed in terms of the key difference between Korean and Taiwan, especially in the position toward the source of foreign knowledge and the paths taken toward the final goal of OBM. Taiwan followed the sequential steps of OEM, ODM and OBN, in collaboration or integration with the MNCs. Korean chaebols jumped from OEM directly to OBM even without consolidating design technology.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-35
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• 2017

This study conducted comparative study on autonomous car's industry policy and corporate strategy of US, China, Germany, Japan and Korea. By analyzing core technologies and industry paradigm shifts of autonomous car industry, I was able to figure out autonomous car has high potential to be dominant transportation in the future and it is important to construct core competency in technology area. The meaningful findings by analyzing various primary and secondary data are as followings: First, in case of US, Google was leading autonomous car industry by developing its own OS and Platform. US government has been actively supporting and interacting with private firms and Universities for stimulating industry/technology convergence and establishing standard. Second, in case of Germany, autonomous car development was leading by several auto makers such as Mercedes, BMW in Hardware and manufacturing area, and German government was focusing on deregulations for private company. Third, in case of Japan which quite similar with German situation, they were both independently developing technology and expanding alliances with MNCs. And Japanese government was supporting triple helix system construction between local companies and universities. Fourth, in case of China, autonomous car industry was leading by IT companies, and various cooperations between IT companies and automakers were established. Chinese government was regulating foreign companies and supporting domestic companies both in market and technologies Last, in Korean case, the active and extensive alliances were lacking in Korean companies while strategic and strong government supports were missing in public sector. For competing with other countries and players, more active collaboration between different countries and strong policy supports are needed in Korean auto industry.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2012

Poncirus trifoliata fruit (PTF) affects the digestive and cardiovascular systems, and kidney function. The authors studied the effects of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of PTF on the activities of osteoblasts and in an animal model. The main compounds of the EtOAc extract, naringin and poncirin have been confirmed by HPLC and NMR analysis. Effects of osteoblastic differentiation were measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteopontin (OPN) protein expression and osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. Also, osteoclast differentiation was measured by multinucleated cells (MNCs) formation through tartrate resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive staining. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured before and after treatment with EtOAc extract of PTF in prednisolone-induced osteoporotic mice. Dexamethasone (DEX) decreased OPN and OPG expression level in MC3T3-E1 cells and ALP activity was decreased by DEX dose-dependently. EtOAc extract of PTF recovered the levels of ALP activity, and the expression of OPN and OPG in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with DEX. In osteoclast differentiation, multinucleated TRAP-positive cell formation was significantly suppressed by the EtOAc extract of PTF. Total body BMD was restored by EtOAc extract of PTF in prednisolone-induced osteoporotic mice. In conclusion, EtOAc extract of PTF recovered DEX-mediated deteriorations in osteoblastic and osteoclastic functions, and increased BMD in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.301-306
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• 1994

This study was planned to estimate the activity of bovine circulating blood lymphocytes using phytohemagglutinin-M(PHA) known as T cell mitogen. Bovine circulating blood mononuclear cells(MNCs) was separated, and cultured with or without macrophage($PHA^+/M{\phi}^+$ or $PHA^+/M{\phi}^-$) in conditioned medium which stimulated with various concentration of PHA(0, 5, 10, 15 and $20{\mu}g/ml$ in medium), and then investigated the blastogenic response and rosette formation of lymphocytes. Blastogenic rate(BR) was especially increased in PHA concentration(10 and $15{\mu}g/ml$) of $PHA^+/M{\phi}^+$ group and their BR were $41.5{\pm}6.8%$ and $44.4{\pm}8.9%$, respectively and BR in PHA concentration(15 and $20{\mu}g/ml$) of $PHA^+/M{\phi}^-$ group was $32.8{\pm}6.2%$ and $31.4{\pm}4.6%$, respectively. BR of lymphocytes was more increased in $PHA^+/M{\phi}^+$ than $PHA^+/M{\phi}^-$ group when these cells were stimulated by PHA. Rosette forming rate(RFR) of lymphocytes to SRBC highly increased when SRBC was treated with AET and/or dextran, respectively. On the orther hand, RFR significantly increased more in $PHA^+/M{\phi}^+$ and $PHA^+/M{\phi}^-$ group than in control group, but when compared with two groups, statistical significancy was recognized only in PHA concentration($15{\mu}g/ml$, p<0.026) of $PHA^+/M{\phi}^+$ group.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2007

Ecdysteroids are known as insect molting hormone. At the same time, ecdysteroids and plant ecdysteroids (phytoecdysteorids) reveal beneficial effects on mammal. The present study was undertaken to determine the possible cellular mechanism of action of phytoecdysteroids in bone metabolism. The effects on the osteoblasts were determined by measuring cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and gelatinase activity. The effects on the osteoclasts were investigated by measuring tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)(+) multinucleated cells (MNCs) formation after culturing osteoclast precursors. Phytoecdysteroid treatment showed a increase in ALP activity of osteoblasts. Phytoecdysteroid increased the activity of gelatinase. In addition, phytoecdysteroid decreased the osteoclast generation induced by macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) in (M-CSF)-dependent bone marrow macrophage (MDBM) cell cultures. Taken these results, phytoecdysteroid may be a regulatory protein within the bone marrow microenvironment.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2004

Marginal Zn deficiency is prevalent through the world and yet human zinc status has not been properly assessed due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic indicator. One potential possibility for zinc status assessment using Zn-binding protein, metallothionein (MT)-mRNA, has been proposed. The purpose of the present study was aimed to show whether measurement of mononuclear cell (MNC) MT mRNA, using a competitive-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (competitive-RT-PCR) assay, could indicate zinc status in human subjects. In this study, MNC MT-mRNA expression was measured using a competitive-RT-PCR to compare before and after 14 days of zinc supplementation (50 mg Zn/das zinc gluconate). RT-PCR oligonucleotide primers which were designed to amplify both a 278 bp segment of the human MT-2A cDNA and a 198 bp mutant competitor cDNA template from MNCs, were prepared. MT-2A mRNA was normalized by reference to the housekeeping gene, $\beta$-actin, mRNA for which was also measured by competitive-RT-PCR. There was considerable inter-individual variation in MT-mRNA concentration and yet, the mean MT-2A mRNA level increased 4.7-fold after Zn supplementation, as compared to before Zn supplementation. This MT-2A mRNA level was shown as the same pattern and, even more sensitive assay, compared to the conventional plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) Zn assessment in which plasma and RBCs zinc levels increased 2.3- and 1.2-fold, respectively (p<0.05). We suggest that MT competitive-RT-PCR can be a useful assessment tool for evaluating human zinc status.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2006

The present study was undertaken to determine the possible cellular mechanism of action of angiopoietin-2 in bone metabolism. The effects on the osteoblasts were determined by measuring 1) cell viability, 2) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, 3) gelatinase activity, and 4) nitric oxide production. The effects on the osteoclasts were investigated by measuring 1) tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)(+) multinucleated cells (MNCs) formation, and 2) resorption areas after culturing osteoclast precursors. Angiopoietin-2 treatment showed a significant increase in both the viability and ALP activity of osteoblasts. Angiopoietin-2 increased the activity of gelatinase and nitric oxide production. In addition, angiopoietin-2 decreased the osteoclast generation induced by macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL), and inhibited osteoclastic activity in (M-CSF)-dependent bone marrow macrophage (MDBM) cell cultures. Taken these results, angiopoietin-2 may be a regulatory protein within the bone marrow microenvironment.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.251-274
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• 2008

This article investigated competitiveness evaluation of Korean product in German market that it is the most difficult to entry among EU countries in order to gain the upper hand against other MNCs. Specially, this empirical study analyzed product evaluation by using country image, corporate image and purchase experience. As the empirical results, Korean economy image and general image are significant. This means that German consumers have good image for economic, social and cultural image, so these factors influence product evaluation through halo effect. Also, we analyzed the effect of brand purchase experience and knowledge for Korea on product evaluation of German consumer. The results that country competitiveness and image play a role into product evaluation provide implication that we should make not only country image but also developed political, cultural image.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine factors of FDI inflows which positively influence economic development. While MNCs ultimately decide on which country to engage in FDI, it can be affected by the general investment environment of host countries. Thus, it may be closely linked to national macro socio-economic factors. In the fixed-effect panel regression analysis using 30 years of data of 13 developed countries and 15 developing countries, results indicate that labor redemption exerts the greatest influence on global FDI inflows; this implies that FDI decisions are based on locations featuring higher productivity by the reduction of labor costs. According to the level of economic development, the motive of FDI inflows differs. In developed countries, GDP, government expenditure and consumer expenditure exert the greatest influence on FDI inflows; which shows characteristics of market seeking and horizontal investment. However, in developing countries, labor redemption and human capital exert the greatest influence on FDI inflows; which shows characteristics of efficiency seeking and vertical investment.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2024

Purpose: South Korea is a close ally of the US and an important partner of China. Caught between the two most powerful countries, South Korea's strategic directions are critical. This article emphasizes that the deeper core of the US-China trade war is to improve the business environment to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to boost the economy, rather than engaging in the trade war. Research design, data, and methodology: Considering the complexity of this issue, this article applies a systematic analytical tool, the ABCD (Agility, Benchmarking, Convergence, and Dedication) model, to provide strategic guidance for inducing investments into South Korea in the context of the ongoing US-China trade war. Results: Specifically, South Korea needs to provide a more attractive business environment along the four points: expedite commercial activities through deregulation (Agility); adopt global standards of the flexible labor markets and technological developments (Benchmarking); integrate various industries and connect them to global value chains (Convergence); and create more economy-friendly policies rather than politics-oriented ones such as protectionism (Dedication). Conclusion: This study stands out not just by utilizing the ABCD model but, also by providing more systematic analysis and practical implications, particularly within the context of the escalating US-China competition. Unlike many existing studies that analyze the broader impacts of this geopolitical rivalry, this research delves into specific strategic guidelines for South Korea to attract FDI. The findings also provide implications for multinational corporations (MNCs) in choosing the locations for their overseas operations, particularly in South Korea.