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Physico-chemical Meat Quality Properties and Nutritional Composition of Hanwoo Steer Beef with 1++ Quality Grade (1++ 등급 거세한우의 부위별 이화학적 육질특성 및 영양성분조성)

  • Cho, S.H.;Kim, J.H.;Seong, P.N.;Cho, Y.M.;Chung, W.T.;Park, B.Y.;Chung, M.O.;Kim, D.H.;Lee, J.M.;Ahn, C.N.
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.422-430
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    • 2008
  • This study was conducted to investigate the nutritional composition and meat quality properties of Hanwoo steer beef by different cut. Ten cuts [Abjin (short plate), Bosup (top sirloin), Cheggt (striploin), Dngsim (loin), Guri (chuck tender), Hongduke (eye of round), Moksim (chuck roll), Sulgit (bottom round), Udoon (top round), Yanaji (brisket)] prepared from 10 Hanwoo steers (28-30 months old) were used for this experiment. The range of pH was 5.46-5.64. In the chemical analysis, Hongduke contained highest protein contents (21.15%) and Dngsim had lowest protein contents (16.94%) (p<0.05). Fat contents were higher in Dngsim whereas those of Guri, Hongduke and Udoon were significantly lower when compared to the other cuts (p<0.05). There were not significantly different in meat color (L, a and b values) properties only except that L values were significantly higher in Dngsim among 10 cuts (p<0.05). Cooking loss (%) was higher in Guri, Hongduke, Udoon and Yangji whereas it was significantly love. in Cheggt (p<0.05). Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) was significantly higher in Abjin $(6.24inch^2/kg)$, whereas Dngsim $(3.45inch^2/kg)$ and Cheggt $(3.50inch^2/kg)$ were significantly lower than the other cuts (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in water-holding capacity (WHC) among 10 cuts (p>0.05). Total amino acid contents were significantly higher in Hongduke (p<0.05). Hongduke was highest in most kinds of amino acids, however, Udoon had the highest methionine and histidine contents among 10 cuts (p<0.05). Glutamate contents were high in all cuts and followed by aspartate, leucine and lysin. With regard to mineral contents, Ca was ranged from 47.63-70.69 mg/kg and Fe was ranged from 15.09-26.68 mg/kg in 10 cuts. Zn was highly contained in Guri (50.56 mg/kg) when compared to the other cuts (p<0.05).

Road-map for Environmental Friendly Integrated Pest Management(IPM) of Insect Pests on the Strawberry Vinyl-houses of Farmer's Field (딸기재배 하우스에서 발생하는 해충의 환경친화적 종합적방제를 위한 로드맵)

  • Lee, D.H.;Jo, C.W.;Park, C.R.;Lee, H.J.;Kang, E.J.;Seok, H.B.;Seo, M.J.;Kim, H.Y.;Kim, Y.H.;Yu, Y.M.;Youn, Y.N.
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.47 no.3
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    • pp.273-286
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    • 2008
  • Road-map for the environmental friendly integrated pest management(IPM) of insect pests was drawn up on the strawberry vinyl-houses of farmer's field. Major insect pests were occurred Tetranychus urticae and Aphis gossypii during the strawberry plant seeding in the vinyl house and open field. Also, same insect pests were occurred in the vinyl house during harvesting season of strawberry. For the control of T. urticae and A. gossypii, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Aphidius colemani as natural enemies were input to the vinyl house, respectively. However, because these natural enemies could not control insect pest populations, acaricide and insecticide were sprayed. Then natural enemies were input again in the vinyl house. Natural enemies could not endure the intense cold and differences of temperature and relative humidity between day and night during strawberry harvesting season. So, their behavior and control activity of pests were more decrease than pests. Firstly, natural enemies are input in the vinyl house during the early breeding season of strawberry, secondly, acaricides and insecticide are sprayed for the control of mites and aphids, respectively, during the middle breeding season in the hard winter. Finally, natural enemies are re-input in the vinyl house during the middle and late breeding season.

Polymorphisms of the Exons 13, 15 and 16 of Transferrin Gene in Cheju Horses (제주마 Transferrin Gene Exon 13, 15 및 16의 다형현상)

  • Kim, N.Y.;Lee, S.S.;Yang, Y.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.391-398
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    • 2002
  • This study was conducted to determine the polymorphism of transferrin exons 13, 15 and 16 by Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism(SSCP) analysis and to compare their genotypes of Cheju horse Group I (Cheju Institute), Cheju horse Group II (farms), and Thoroughbred (KRA). SSCP of transferrin exon 13, 15, and 16 showed two (A, B), three (A, B, C) and three (A, B, C) codominant alleles, respectively. The Group I and Thoroughbred showed the similar frequencies of allele A and B in transferrin exon 13, but only allele A was observed in Group Ⅱ. In transferrin exons 15 and 16, the frequencies of each allele were different in each Groups. The multiple allele frequencies in exons 15 and 16 suggested that the genotyping of this locus could be used to identify an individual and to test the parentage of offspring. The probability for parentage exclusion were 0.46 and 0.374 for exons 15 and 16 for Cheju horse Group I. Among the 13 combined genotypes of exons 13, 15 and 16, the genotype AA-AB-AB (0.372) is the most common in Cheju horse Group I, but genotype AA-AA-AA is common in the Cheju horse Group II (0.366) and Thoroughbred (0.767). The present study showed two new SNP, which was at the cDNA position 1626 (A/G) in B allele of the exon 13 and 2075 (C/T) in C allele of the exon 16 resulting in amino acid change (Threonine $\longrightarrow$ Methionine). Result showed that polymorphism of exons 13, 15 and 16 in Cheju horses was as high as in Thoroughbred and there was a differences of transferrin allele frequencies in Cheju horses.

A Survey on the Usage of Wild Grasses (산채류의 이용실태에 대한 조사)

  • Cho, Eun-Ja
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.59-68
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    • 2000
  • This survey investigated on the degree of acknowledgment, intake frequency and using methods of wild grasses of the residents in Kyeonggi, Kangwon, Chunnam, Chungbook, Kyeongnam & Cheju area. The results were as follows: 1. An answer that impression of wild grasses is 'nature food' was the highest(42.6%). It was founded that interest of nature food has been increasing. 2. It has been shown that the most common method for elimination of astringent taste is to blanch and then wash several times with water.(62.9%) 3. The most common obtaining routes was traditional market. It has been shown that rate of gathering in the fields is higher in rural community and the group of over 60 years old than that of urban community and the other groups. 4. In rural area, people(28.7%) ate wild grasses more frequently than in urban area. Family with the old and the group of over 40 years old eat wild grass often. 5. More than 95% of answerers were familiar with the names of wild grasses, codonopsis lanceolata, chinese bellflower, braken, mugwort, wild rocambole and edible shoots of a fatsia & Korean lettuce are known to them with over 88.6%, 85.1% respectively. Frequently eaten wild grasses were braken, chinese bellflower, wild tocambole, codonopsis lanceolata, mugwort and korean lettuce orderly. But in Chunnam & Kyeongnam, they were braken, chinese bellflower, mugwort, wild rocambole and Korean lettuce orderly. 6. Wild grasses eaten with rice were total 25 species, and mugwort had the highest usage rate with 41.9%. Mugwort was used for $D'{\breve{o}}k$(rice cake)(77.8%), T'wigim $J{\breve{o}}n$(deep fat fried dish swallow fat fried dish)(50.1%) and liquor(4.6%). In the cooking of Guk(soup), Chigae(stew), Sengch'ae(raw vegetable) and kinds of wild grasses for Namul(cooked seasonal vegetable) & Bokkum(saute) are the most various with 58 species, especially braken was most commonly used for saute. Sedum & Korean lettuce were the common ingredients of Kimch and codonopsis lanceolata was used in liquer & Jangachis(pickle) with 40%, 46% each. Chinese bellflower was used with the most variable cooking method. 7. 43 species of wild grasses were stored by blanching and drying, and braken had the highest rate(32.3%) then aster scaber, flowering fern, Pimpinella brachycarpa, mugwort and ligularia orderly.

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Laparoscopic Assisted Total Gastrectomy (LATG) with Extracorporeal Anastomosis and using Circular Stapler for Middle or Upper Early Gastric Carcinoma: Reviews of Single Surgeon's Experience of 48 Consecutive Patients (원형 자동문합기를 이용한 체외문합을 시행한 복강경 보조 위전절제술: 한 술자에 의한 연속적인 48명 환자의 수술성적분석)

  • Cheong, Oh;Kim, Byung-Sik;Yook, Jeong-Hwan;Oh, Sung-Tae;Lim, Jeong-Taek;Kim, Kab-Jung;Choi, Ji-Eun;Park, Gun-Chun
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.27-34
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: Many recent studies have reported on the feasibility and usefulness of laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for treating early gastric cancer. On the other hand, there has been few reports about laparoscopy assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) because upper located gastric cancer is relatively rare and the surgical technique is more difficult than that for LADG, We now present our procedure and results of performing LATG for the gastric cancer located in the upper or middle portion of the stomach. Materials and Methods: From Jan 2005 to Sep 2007, 96 patients underwent LATG by four surgeons at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Among them, 48 consecutive patients who were operated on by asingle surgeon were analyzed with respect to the clinicopathological features, the surgical results and the postoperative courses with using the prospectively collected laparoscopy surgery data. Results: There was no conversion to open surgery during LATG. For all the reconstructions, Roux-en Y esophago-jejunostomy and D1+beta lymphadenectomy were the standard procedures. The mean operation time was $212{\pm}67$ minutes. The mean total number of retrieved lymph nodes was $28.9{\pm}10.54$ (range: $12{\sim}64$) and all the patients had a clear proximal resection margin in their final pathologic reports. The mean time to passing gas, first oral feeding and discharge from the hospital was 2.98, 3.67 and 7.08 days, respectively. There were 5 surgical complications and 2 non-surgical complications for 5 (10.4%) patients, and there was no mortality. None of the patients needed operation because of complications and they recovered with conservative treatments. The mean operation time remained constant after 20 cases and so a learning curve was present. The morbidity rate was not different between the two periods, but the postoperative course was significantly better after the learning curve. Analysis of the factors contributing to the postoperative morbidity, with using logistic regression analysis, showed that the 8MI is the only contributing factor forpostoperative complications (P=0.029, HR=2.513, 95% CI=1.097-5.755). Conclusions: LATG with regional lymph node dissection for upper and middle early gastric cancer is considered to be a safe, feasible method that showed an excellent postoperative course and acceptable morbidity. BMI should be considered in the patient selection at the beginning period because of the impact of the BMI on the postoperative morbidity.

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Study of Antidotes on the Nephrotoxicity of Ochratoxin A (Ochratoxin A의 신장독성감소 방법에 대한 연구)

  • 서경원;김준규;김태완;정세영;김효정
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.121-128
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    • 1998
  • Ochratoxin A (OA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus as well as other molds. It is a natural contaminant of mouldy food and feed. OA has a number of toxic effects, the most prominant being nephrotoxicity. Futhermore, OA is immunosuppressive, genotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. OA inhibits protein synthesis by competition with phenylalanine in the phenylalanine-tRNA aminoacylation reaction. Recently, lipid peroxidation induced by OA has been reported, indicating that the lesion induced by this mycotoxin could be also related to oxidative pathway. Since it seems impossible to avoid contamination of foodstuffs by toxigenic fungi, detoxification and detoxication of OA are needed. In this study we investigated the protective effects of aspartame (Asp), phenylalanine (Phe), polyphenol 70S (PP) and aloe extract (AE) on the nephrotoxicity induced by subacute exposure to the OA. Asp and Phe are structural analogues of OA. PP, an ingredient of Green Tea and AE have been known as antioxidant and radical scavenger. Phe (40 mg/kg, i.p.) and Asp (25 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats simultaneously with OA (2.0 mg/kg, p.o.) for 2 weeks. PP (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and AE (50 mg/kg, i.v.) were pretreated before administration of OA, for 2 weeks and 3 days, respectively. Using enzymuria, BUN level, creatinemia and histophathologic examination as indices of renal damage, we observed that all of four compounds prevented the nephrotoxic effects induced by OA. It seems that structural analogues of OA such as Asp and Phe have better protective effect on the nephrotoxicity of OA than antioxidants. These results indicate that 1) formation of free radical and lipid peroxidation are likely to be involved in the nephrotoxicity of OA in vivo, 2) Asp, PP and AE might be used for prevention of renal lesions in cases of ochratoxicosis.

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Studies on Takju Brewing with Potatoes (감자를 이용(利用)한 탁주제조(濁酒製造)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kim, S.Y.;Oh, M.J.;Kim, C.J.
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.67-81
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    • 1974
  • In order to prepare the mashing materials for "Takju", Korean wine, with potatoes they were steamed, dryed, and pulverized, and their chemical components were analyzed. As a brewing method of Takju with potatoes, general 2nd stage process with Ipkuk and Bunkuk (enzyme sources), commonly used now, was carried out and the effects of preparing conditions of Ipkuk(koji) with potato flour, mashing materials and brewing conditions on the contents of Takju mash and of storing time on the contents of Takju, were investigated and the results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Chemical components of steamed potatoes and potato flour were Moisture; 76.2, 10.8%, Total sugar; 16.1, 69.8%, Reducing sugar; 3.45, 13.4%, Crude protein; 2.1, 11.3%, Total acid; 0.012, 0.023% and Volatile acid; 0.0012, 0.0025% respectively 2. The most effective preparing conditions of Ipkuk with potato flour were to incubate the potato flour added 40-50% of water for 48 hours by general preparing process of Koji, and liquefying and saccharogenic amylase activities of Ipkuk incubated at above conditions were $D_{40^{\circ}}{^{30{\prime}}}$ 128 W.V. and 13.2 A. U. 3. The effects of various brewing conditions on the contents of Takju mashes wereas follows; 1) Optimum ratio of mashing water and materials for Takju brewing with potato flour was 140ml of water to 60g of flour in 1st stage and 260ml to 140g in 2nd stage. 2) Optimum fermentating times and temperatures for Takju brewing were at $25^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours in 1st stage and at $30^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours in 2nd stage. 3) Optimum amounts of enzyme sources for Takju brewing 20-30% of Ipkuk and 0.5% of Bunkuk in 1st stage and 1.0% of Bunkuk in 2nd stage. 4) Methanol content of the Takju mash brewed with raw potato flour was much more than that with steamed potato flour. 5) Alcohol fusel oil and Formal nitrogen contents of the Takju mash brewed with potato flour were less than that with wheat flour, on the contrary, methanol contents and total acidities of them were showed conversely above. 4. The changes of chemical components and microflora in the mashes during the brewing potato flour Takju were as follows; 1) The accumulation of ethanol followed rapidly in early stage, being the highest at 72 hours (11.9%) 2) Total sugar content of the mash was decreased considerably within 48-72 hours, being 2.62% at 72 hours, and thereafter slowly. 3) Reducing sugar of the mash had a tendency of decreasing, being 0.29% at 48 hours. 4) Total acidity, volatile acidity and Formal nitrogen content of the mash were increased slowly, being 7.30, 0.20, 2.55 at 48 hours. 5) Total cells of yeast appeared the highest in 72 hours ($2.1{\times}10^8$) and thereafter decreased slowly. 6) Total cells of bacteria appeared the highest in 48 hours ($2.4{\times}10^8$) and thereafter decreased or increased slightly. 5. Takju was made from the fermented mash mixed with water to be 6% of alcohol content, and the change of alcohol content, total acidity, total cells of yeast and bateria during the storing at $30^{\circ}C$ were as follows; 1) Alcohol content of Takju was increased slightly at 24 hours (6.2%), and thereafter decreased slowly. 2) Total acidity of Takju was increased gradually, being 6.1 at 72 hours 3) Total cells of yeast and bacteria appeared the highest at 48 hours ($2.3{\times}10^8$, $1.5{\times}10^8$) and thereafter decreased slowly. 6. Alcohol content, total acidity and Formol nitrogen content of the Takju brewed with potato flour Ipkuk or wheat flour Ipkuk and steamed potatoes(1:5) were 9.8-11.3%, 5.8-7.4, 2.5-3.3 respectively, and the color of the Takju was similar to commercial Takju. 7. The results of sensory test for various experimental Takju, showed that the Takjues brewed with the materials combined with wheat flour and steamed potatoes (4:5 or 3.5:7.5) were not significantly different in color, taste and flavor from commercial Takju, However, those with potato flour and wheat flour (1:1 or 7:3) were significantly different from commercial Takju.

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Relationship Between Usage Needs Satisfaction and Commitment to Apparel Brand Communities: Moderator Effect of Apparel Brand Image (의류 브랜드 커뮤니티의 이용욕구 충족과 커뮤니티 몰입의 관계: 의류 브랜드 이미지의 조절효과)

  • Hong, Hee-Sook;Ryu, Sung-Min;Moon, Chul-Woo
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.51-89
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    • 2007
  • INTRODUCTION Due to the high broadband internet penetration rate and its group-oriented culture, various types of online communities operate in Korea. This study use 'Uses and Gratification Approach, and argue that members' usage-needs satisfaction with brand community is an important factor for promoting community commitment. Based on previous studies identifying the effect of brand image on consumers' responses to various marketing stimuli, this study hypothesizes that brand image can be a moderate variable affecting the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction with brand community and members' commitment to brand community. This study analyzes the influence of usage-needs satisfaction on brand community commitment and how apparel brand image affects the relationships between usage-needs satisfactions and community commitments. The hypotheses of this study are proposed as follows. H1-3: The usage-needs satisfaction of apparel brand community (interest, transaction, relationship needs) influences emotional (H1), continuous (H2), and normative (H3) commitments to apparel brand communities. H4-6: Apparel brand image has a moderating effect on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and emotional (H4), continuous (H5), and normative (H6) commitments to apparel brand communities. METHODS Brand communities founded by non-company affiliates were excluded and emphasis was placed instead on communities created by apparel brand companies. Among casual apparel brands registered in 6 Korean portal sites in August 2003, a total of 9 casual apparel brand online communities were chosen, depending on the level of community activity and apparel brand image. Data from 317 community members were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, moderated regression analysis, ANOVA, and scheffe test. Among 317 respondents answered an online html-type questionnaire, 80.5% were between 16 to 25 years old. There were a total of 150 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=3) recording higher-than-average brand image scores (Mean > 3.75) and a total of 162 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=6) recording lower-than-average brand image scores(Mean < 3.75). In this study, brand community commitment was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: emotional, continuous and normative commitment. The degree of usage-needs satisfaction (interest, transaction, relationship needs) was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The level of brand image was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: strength, favorability, and uniqueness of brand associations. RESULTS In the results of exploratory factor analysis, the three usage-needs satisfactions with brand community were classified as interest, transaction, and relationship needs. Brand community commitment was also divided into the multi-dimensional factors: emotional, continuous, and normative commitments. The regression analysis (using a stepwise method) was used to test the influence of 3 independent variables (interest-needs satisfaction, transaction-needs, and relationship-needs satisfactions) on the 3 dependent variables (emotional, continuous and normative commitments). The three types of usage-needs satisfactions are positively associated with the three types of commitments to apparel brand communities. Therefore, hypothesis 1, 2, and 3 were significantly supported. Moderating effects of apparel brand image on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and brand community commitments were tested by moderated regression analysis. The statistics result showed that the influence of transaction-needs on emotional commitment was significantly moderated by apparel brand image. In addition, apparel brand image had moderating effects on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and emotional, continuous and normative commitments to apparel brand communities. However, there were not significant moderate effects of apparel brand image on the relationships between interest-needs satisfaction and 3 types of commitments (emotional, continuous and normative commitments) to apparel brand communities. In addition, the influences of transaction-needs satisfaction on 2 types of commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were not significantly moderated by apparel brand image. Therefore, hypothesis 4, 5 and 6 were partially supported. To explain the moderating effects of apparel brand image, four cross-tabulated groups were made by averages of usage-needs satisfaction (interest-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.09, transaction-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.46, relationship-needs satisfaction M=1.62) and the average apparel brand image (M=3.75). The average scores of commitments in each classified group are presented in Tables and Figures. There were significant differences among four groups. As can be seen from the results of scheffe test on the tables, emotional commitment in community group with high brand image was higher than one in community group with low brand image when transaction-needs satisfaction was high. However, when transaction-needs satisfaction was low, there was not any difference between the community group with high brand image and community group with low brand image regarding emotional commitment to apparel brand communities. It means that emotional commitment didn't increase significantly without high satisfaction of transaction-needs, despite the high apparel brand image. In addition, when apparel brand image was low, increase in transaction-needs did not lead to the increase in emotional commitment. Therefore, the significant relationship between transaction-needs satisfaction and emotional commitment was found in only brand communities with high apparel brand image, and the moderating effect of apparel brand image on this relationship between two variables was found in the communities with high satisfaction of transaction-needs only. Statistics results showed that the level of emotional commitment is related to the satisfaction level of transaction-needs, while overall response is related to the level of apparel brand image. We also found that the role of apparel brand image as a moderating factor was limited by the level of transaction-needs satisfaction. In addition, relationship-needs satisfaction brought significant increase in emotional commitment in both community groups (high and low levels of brand image), and the effect of apparel brand image on emotional commitment was significant in both community groups (high and low levels of relationship-needs satisfaction). Especially, the effect of brand image was greater when the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was high. in contrast, increase in emotional commitment responding to increase in relationship-needs satisfaction was greater when apparel brand image is high. The significant influences of relationship-needs satisfaction on community commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were found regardless of apparel brand image(in both community groups with low and high brand image). However, the effects of apparel brand image on continuous and normative commitments were found in only community group with high satisfaction level of relationship-needs. In the case of communities with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, apparel brand image marginally increases continuous and normative commitments. Therefore, we could not find the moderating effect of apparel brand image on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and continuous and normative commitments in community groups with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS From the results of this study, we draw several conclusions; First, the increases in usage-needs satisfactions through apparel brand communities result in the increases in commitments to apparel brand communities, wheres the degrees of such relationship depends on the level of apparel brand image. That is, apparel brand image is a moderating factor strengthening the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and commitment to apparel brand communities. In addition, the effect of apparel brand image differs, depending on the level and types of community usage-needs satisfactions. Therefore, marketers of apparel brand companies must determine the appropriate usage-needs, depending on the type of commitment they wish to increase and the level of their apparel brand image, to promote member's commitments to apparel brand communities. Especially, relationship-needs satisfaction was very important factor for increasing emotional, continuous and normative commitments to communities. However the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was lower than interest-needs and transaction-needs. satisfaction. According to previous study on apparel brand communities, relationship-need satisfaction was strongly related to member's intention of participation in their communities. Therefore, marketers need to develope various strategies in order to increase the relationship- needs as well as interest and transaction needs. In addition, despite continuous commitment was higher than emotional and normative commitments, all types of commitments to apparel brand communities had scores lower than 3.0 that was mid point in 5-point scale. A Korean study reported that the level of members' commitment to apparel brand community influenced customers' identification with a brand and brand purchasing behavior. Therefore, marketers should try to increase members' usage-needs satisfaction and apparel brand image as the necessary conditions for bringing about community commitments. Second, marketers should understand that they should keep in mind that increasing the level of community usage needs (transaction and relationship) is most effective in raising commitment when the level of apparel brand image is high, and that increasing usage needs (transaction needs) satisfaction in communities with low brand image might not be as effective as anticipated. Therefore, apparel companies with desirable brand image such as luxury designer goods firms need to create formal online brand communities (as opposed to informal communities with rudimentary online contents) to satisfy transaction and relationship needs systematically. It will create brand equity through consumers' increased emotional, continuous and normative commitments. Even though apparel brand is very famous, emotional commitment to apparel brand communities cannot be easily increased without transaction-needs satisfaction. Therefore famous fashion brand companies should focus on developing various marketing strategies to increase transaction-needs satisfaction.

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