• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 2020

This research developed an approach to identify ecologically important areas at local scales and explained how the results of this approach could contribute to extend the protected areas in the Republic of Korea (ROK). While most developed countries have considered various biotic and abiotic factors, ecological processes, migration routes, habitat connectivity, ecosystem services, and etc. to determine the protected areas, ROK has considered a few factors focusing on biodiversity, landscape, and the habitats of endangered organisms. However, for sustainable management of our nature, we need comprehensive understanding of various ecosystem factors and interactions among them at local scales in designating protected areas. Forthis, we developed a conceptual model based on the ecological engineering approach and then explained how the results of this approach could contribute to extend the protected areas. In particular, we considered future land-use and climate change in determining the priority areas for novel protected areas. Our research suggested an effective methodology 1) to include various ecosystem factors and 2) to consider future environmental changes as well as current environmental conditions in finding the ecologically important areas and prioritizing these areas. However, our approach has limitations on the real-world applications due to the lack of fundamental information and data on our ecosystems. To improve the effectiveness of our approach in the real-world applications, we need various long-term ecological research results, environmental and ecological monitoring data, and both current and future spatial environmental data.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.135-160
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• 2014

Most Social Network Service (SNS) provide online chat, video and file sharing, blogging and others. Because of this advantage, people depend on SNS to communicate with others. However, recently SNS encourage people to reveal too much information broadly so SNS users are concerned about privacy invasion and data spill. They also feel fatigue in process of touching people they don't know while using SNSs. That is the reason why they attempt to switch from opened SNS to Closed SNS. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to empirically investigate and analyze the effect of the factors on the SNS users' switching behavior when using SNS. To accomplish this purpose, this research adopted "Push-Pull-Mooring (PPM)" framework. The PPM is proposed by population geologist, who used it to explain the incentives of demographic migration. Following PPM model, this research empirically examines the three categories of antecedents for SNS switching intention toward closed SNS: push (i.e., weak connection, privacy concern, relative complexity), pull (i.e., enjoyment, belongingness, peer influence), mooring (i.e., SNS fatigue, user resistance) factors. The survey was conducted for 285 users on SNS communities in Korea. The results of this study are as follows; First, wear connection and privacy concern are significantly related to SNS switching intention. Second, enjoyment and belongingness are significantly related to SNS switching intention. Finally, the results show that SNS fatigue has a moderating effect on the links between push factors and SNS switching Intention. Also, user resistance has a moderating effect on the links between pull factors and SNS switching Intention. These findings contribute to the SNS literature both theoretically and practically.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.112-120
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• 2012

A numerical model considering the internal vaporization and the creep effect, in the form of a analytical program, for tracing the behavior of high strength concrete(HSC) members exposed to fire is presented. The two stages, i.e., spalling procedure and fire resistance time, associated with the thermal, moisture flow, creep and structural analysis, for the prediction of fire resistance behavior are explained. The use of the analytical program for tracing the response of HSC member from the initial pre-loading stage to collapse, due to fire, is demonstrated. Moisture evaporates, when concrete is exposed to fire, not only at concrete surface but also at inside the concrete to adjust the equilibrium and transfer properties of moisture. Finite element method is employed to facilitate the moisture diffusion analysis for any position of member, so that the prediction method of the moisture distribution inside the concrete members at fire is developed. The validity of the numerical model used in this program is established by comparing the predictions from this program with results from others fire resistance tests. The analytical program can be used to predict the fire resistance of HSC members for any value of the significant parameters, such as load, sectional dimensions, member length, and concrete strength.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.507-520
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in the housing instability of low-income households through their residential mobility. The concept of housing instability is measured by taking into consideration of housing types, number of moves, period of homelessness, and housing affordability index. The result of this study shows that housing instability of low-income households owned their homes is mainly caused from their old housing built in at least 1980, and that of tenant households is due to the heavy burden of rent-to-income ratio. By using multinominal logit model, the study finds that low-income tenant households are more likely to move upwards as they are man-headed, aged and relatively high-income if we categorize residential mobility into four types: upwards, equivalent, trade-off, and downwards migration. Considering that the share of homeowners moving downwards increases while the share of tenants moving upwards decreases as they reside increasingly nearby Seoul, the study finds that low-income households living in big cities are no better off to improve their residential instability for themselves than the low-incomes in local small and midium cities. Furthermore, both low-income owners and tenants are less likely to move downwards as the ratio of single-family housing in former residence increases. Such finding has a policy implication that government needs to maintain affordable single-family housing stock rather than supplying excessive unaffordable multi-family housing in order to enhance residential instability of low-incomes households.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.887-911
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• 2016

The empirical law that transverse dunes migrate inversely with their heights leads logically to the prediction that multiple dune ridges will converse to a single huge dune by merging. This contradicts the existence of the steady state dune fields on the Earth. The recent studies have emphasized dune collisions as a key mechanism to the stability of dunefield. The roles of wind shadow aspect ratio, however, have yet to be fully explored. This research aims to investigate the potential roles of wind shadow aspect ratio in the dynamical behaviors of transverse dune field. The simplified model is established for this, based upon allometric properties of transverse dunes, wind speedup on the stoss slope and sand trapping efficiency. The derived governing equations can be transformed to the zoning criteria and vector field for dune evolution. The dynamics analysis indicates that wind shadow aspect ratios do not produce convergent areas on the behavior space; rather, they just act as one of the factors that affect the trajectories of dune evolution. Though the model cannot represent the stability of dune field, but seem to produce a reasonable exponent for dune spacing-height relations.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2023

This study seeks to find a way to induce users to expand their direct participation in sports through the acceptance of digital technology. From July 1 to August 30, 2022, a survey was conducted targeting home training users who applied the Internet of Things (IoT). 129 people participated in the survey through non-face-to-face self-administration method. For data processing, frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and 3-step mediation regression analysis were conducted using IBM's SPSS 21.0 program. The results of the study are as follows. First, in the relationship between the home training PPM model and direct participation in sports, ease appeared to have a mediating effect. In the factors of push, simple functionality showed a complete mediating effect, and inefficiency showed a partial mediating effect. Among pull factors, enjoyment and possibility of experience showed a complete mediating effect. In the mooring factors, individual innovativeness showed a complete mediating effect. Second, in the relationship between home training PPM model and direct participation in sports, usefulness showed a mediating effect. In the factors of push, simple functionality showed a complete mediating effect, and inefficiency showed a partial mediating effect. Among pull factors, enjoyment and possibility of experience showed a complete mediating effect. Among the mooring factors, individual innovativeness showed a partial mediating effect. Through this research, it is expected that the sports industry will contribute to the expansion of consumption expenditure and economic growth through the expansion of digital technologies such as NFT, Metaverse, and virtual/augmented reality.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.66-77
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: We compared the efficacy and safety of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC), delivered at different doses and via different injection routes in an animal model of chronic kidney disease. Methods and Results: A total of ninety 12-week-old rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy and randomized among nine groups: sham, renal artery control (RA-C), tail vein control (TV-C), renal artery low dose (RA-LD) (0.5×10⁶ cells), renal artery moderate dose (RA-MD) (1.0×10⁶ cells), renal artery high dose (RA-HD) (2.0×10⁶ cells), tail vein low dose (TV-LD) (0.5×10⁶ cells), tail vein moderate dose (TV-MD) (1.0×10⁶ cells), and tail vein high dose (TV-HD) (2.0×10⁶ cells). Renal function and mortality of rats were evaluated after hBMSC injection. Serum blood urea nitrogen was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 2 weeks (p<0.01), 16 weeks (p<0.05), and 24 weeks (p<0.01) than in the TV-C group, as determined by one-way ANOVA. Serum creatinine was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 24 weeks (p<0.05). At 8 weeks, creatinine clearance was significantly higher in the TV-MD and TV-HD groups (p<0.01, p<0.05) than in the TV-C group. In the safety evaluation, we observed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the efficacy and safety of high dose (2×10⁶ cells) injection of hBMSC via the tail vein.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.368-378
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• 2024

Cordycepin, a valuable bioactive component isolated from Cordyceps militaris, has been reported to possess anti-cancer potential and the property to enhance the effects of chemotherapeutic agents in various types of cancers. However, the ability of cordycepin to chemosensitize cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells to gemcitabine has not yet been evaluated. The current study was performed to evaluate the above, and the mechanisms associated with it. The study analyzed the effects of cordycepin in combination with gemcitabine on the cancer stem-like properties of the CCA SNU478 cell line, including its anti-apoptotic, migratory, and antioxidant effects. In addition, the combination of cordycepin and gemcitabine was evaluated in the CCA xenograft model. The cordycepin treatment significantly decreased SNU478 cell viability and, in combination with gemcitabine, additively reduced cell viability. The cordycepin and gemcitabine co-treatment significantly increased the Annexin V+ population and downregulated B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, suggesting that the decreased cell viability in the cordycepin+gemcitabine group may result from an increase in apoptotic death. In addition, the cordycepin and gemcitabine co-treatment significantly reduced the migratory ability of SNU478 cells in the wound healing and trans-well migration assays. It was observed that the cordycepin and gemcitabine cotreatment reduced the CD44^highCD133^high population in SNU478 cells and the expression level of sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox-2), indicating the downregulation of the cancer stem-like population. Cordycepin also enhanced oxidative damage mediated by gemcitabine in MitoSOX staining associated with the upregulated Kelch like ECH Associated Protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression ratio. In the SNU478 xenograft model, co-administration of cordycepin and gemcitabine additively delayed tumor growth. These results indicate that cordycepin potentiates the chemotherapeutic property of gemcitabine against CCA, which results from the downregulation of its cancer-stem-like properties. Hence, the combination therapy of cordycepin and gemcitabine may be a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of CCA.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.96-109
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• 2024

Background: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government initiated the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project including regeneration and afforestation approaches. An effort was made to assess the distribution characteristics of afforested species under present and future climatic scenarios using ecological niche modelling. For sustainable forest management, landscape ecology can play a significant role. A significant change in the potential distribution of tree species is expected globally with changing climate. Ecological niche modeling provides the valuable information about the current and future distribution of species that can play crucial role in deciding the potential sites for afforestation which can be used by government institutes for afforestation programs. In this context, the potential distribution of 8 tree species, Cedrus deodara, Dalbergia sissoo, Juglans regia, Pinus wallichiana, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Senegalia modesta, Populus ciliata, and Vachellia nilotica was modeled. Results: Maxent species distribution model was used to predict current and future distribution of tree species using bioclimatic variables along with soil type and elevation. Future climate scenarios, shared socio-economic pathways (SSP)2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 were considered for the years 2041-2060 and 2081-2100. The model predicted high risk of decreasing potential distribution under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate change scenarios for years 2041-2060 and 2081-2100, respectively. Recent afforestation conservation sites of these 8 tree species do not fall within their predicted potential habitat for SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios. Conclusions: Each tree species responded independently in terms of its potential habitat to future climatic conditions. Cedrus deodara and P. ciliata are predicted to migrate to higher altitude towards north in present and future climate scenarios. Habitat of D. sissoo, P. wallichiana, J. regia, and V. nilotica is practiced to be declined in future climate scenarios. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is expected to be expanded its suitability area in future with eastward shift. Senegalia modesta habitat increased in the middle of the century but decreased afterwards in later half of the century. The changing and shifting forests create challenges for sustainable landscapes. Therefore, the study is an attempt to provide management tools for monitoring the climate change-driven shifting of forest landscapes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.454-463
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• 2024

Background: Panax quinquefolius L, widely recognized for its valuable contributions to medicine, has aroused considerable attention globally. Different from the extensive research has been dedicated to the root of P. quinquefolius, its berry has received relatively scant focus. Given its promising medicinal properties, this study was focused on the structural characterizations and anti-inflammatory potential of acidic polysaccharides from the P. quinquefolius berry. Materials and methods: P. quinquefolius berry was extracted with hot water, precipitated by alcohol, separated by DEAE-52-cellulose column to give a series of fractions. One of these fractions was further purified via Sephadex G-200 column to give three fractions. Then, the main fraction named as AGBP-A3 was characterized by methylation analysis, NMR spectroscopy, etc. Its anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by RAW 264.7 cell model, zebrafish model and molecular docking. Results: The main chain comprised of α-L-Rhap, α-D-GalAp and β-D-Galp, while the branch consisted mainly of α-L-Araf, β-D-Glcp, α-D-GalAp, β-D-Galp. The RAW264.7 cell assay results showed that the inhibition rates against IL-6 and IL-1β secretion at the concentration of 625 ng/mL were 24.83 %, 11.84 %, while the inhibition rate against IL-10 secretion was 70.17 % at the concentration of 312 ng/mL. In the zebrafish assay, the migrating neutrophils were significantly reduced in number, and their migration to inflammatory tissues was inhibited. Molecular docking predictions correlated well with the results of the anti-inflammatory assay. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the structure of acidic polysaccharides of P. quinquefolius berry and their effect on inflammation, providing a reference for screening anti-inflammatory drugs.