• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-127
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• 1991

This paper investigates the roles and the limitations of the Korean antitrust agencies-the Office of Fair Trade (OFT) and the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) during the making of the major industrial policies of the 1980's. The Korean antitrust agencies played only a minimal role in three major industrial policy-making issues in the 1980's- the enactment of the Industrial Development Act (IDA), the Industrial Rationalization Measures according to the IDA, and the Industrial Readjustment Measures on Consolidation of Large Insolvent Enterprises based on the revised Tax Exemption and Reduction Control Act. As causes for this performance bias in the Korean antitrust system, this paper considers five factors according to the current literature on implementation failure: ambiguous and insufficient statutory provisions of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act (MRFTA); lack of resources; biased attitudes and motivations of the staff of the OFT and the FTC; bureaucratic incapability; and widespread misunderstanding about the roles and functions of the antitrust system in Korea. Among these five factors, bureaucratic incompetence and lack of understanding in various policy implementation environments about the roles and functions of the antitrust system have been regarded as the most important ones. Most staff members did not have enough educational training during their school years to engage in antitrust and fair trade policy-making. Furthermore, the high rate of staff turnover due to a mandatory personnel transfer system has prohibited the accumulation of knowledge and skills required for pursuing complicated structural antitrust enforcement. The limited capability of the OFT has put the agency in a disadvantaged position in negotiating with other economic ministries. The OFT has not provided plausible counter-arguments based on sound economic theories against other economic ministries' intensive market interventions in the name of rationalization and readjustment of industries. If the staff members of antitrust agencies have lacked substantive understanding of the antitrust and fair trade policy, the rest of government agencies must have had serious problems in understanding the correst roles and functions of the antitrust system. The policy environment of the Korean antitrust system, including other economic ministries, the Deputy Prime Minister, and President Chun, have tended to conceptualize the OFT more as an agency aiming only at fair trade policy and less as an agency that should enforce structural monopoly regulation as well. Based on this assessment of the performance of the Korean antitrust system, this paper evaluate current reform proposals for the MRFT A. The inclusion of the regulation of conglomerate mergers and of business divestiture orders may be a desirable revision, giving the MRFTA more complete provisions. However, given deficient staff experties and the unfavorable policy environments, it would be too optimistic and naive to expect that the inclusion of these provisions alone could improve the performance of the Korean antitrust system. In its conclusion, this paper suggests several policy recommendations for the Korean antitrust system, which would secure the stable development and accumulation of antitrust expertise for its staff members and enough understanding and conformity from its environments about its antitrust goals and functions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2015

Objectives : In this study, the anti-stress effects of ethanolic extract of Opuntiaficus-indica (OF70E) were investigated. Methods : To determine the effects of OF70E on physical stress, changes in whole-body cortisol level or behavior were monitored in zebrafish. After treatment with 0.9% saline or OF70E for 6 min, all fish underwent net handling stress (NHS), which induced physical stress. And then, we conducted open field test (OFT) or sacrificed fish for collecting body fluid from whole-body. We used the cortisol enzyme-linked immunoassay kit to measure the amount of cortisol in each zebrafish sample. Results : In result, compared with normal group which were not treated by NHS, whole-body cortisol levels were significantly increased in stressed-control group. Compared with control group, pretreatment with OF70E at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 mg/L for 6min significantly inhibited the increase of whole-body cortisol levels induced by NHS(p<0.05). To anti-stress effects of OF70E on behavior, we conducted OFT after the induction of NHS following pretreatment of OF70E. As results of OFT, compared with unstressed-normal group, distance moved was significantly decreased by induction of NHS in stressed-control group (p<0.05). OF70E-pretreatment blocked decreases of distance moved increased by NHS (p<0.05). And meandering movement, immobility and turn angle were significantly increased by NHS in stressed-control group compared with unstressed-normal group (p<0.05). OF70E-pretreatment prevented the increases of meandering movement immobility and turn angle by NHS (p<0.05). Conclusions : In conclusion these results suggest that OF70E-pretreatment may prevent stress responses.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.113.2-113
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• 2001

In this paper, we present a robot off-Line programming system with collision detection. The collision detection is a very important factor of robot oft-line programming system for collision avoidance, path planning, and so on. The System developed in this paper, basically using an algorithm for the minimum distance calculation between general polyhedra. The proposed system shows an exact and interactive result in static and dynamic environments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2002

The noise and vibration of rolling piston-type compressors used in the most of the airconditional system is a serious and important problem occurred during turning on and off as well as during operating. To analyze the vibration occurred during turning on and oft, the vibration analysis of motor-compressor coupling is required. In this paper, through modeling of the motor, solving the force from the equations of motion of the moving parts and considering the stiffness of the rubber mounts, the analysis of vibration was performed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2013

Objectives : The Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat a variety of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. The purpose of present study is to observe the changes which take place in the body in stressful situations and to compare the anti-depressive, anxiolytic and anti-stress effect of Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam in different doses. Methods : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam in the immobilization stress model in rats. Twenty-five rats were divided into 5 groups of 5: control, stress, low dose administration (75 mg/kg), medium dose administration (150 mg/kg) and high dose administration (225 mg/kg). The four groups other than the control group were placed in an immobilization stress test, and distilled water (control) or Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam extract was administration orally for 2 weeks. After treatment, the despair and anxiety behavior of rats were measured by open field test, forced swimming test, weight gain, contents of 5-HT in raphe nucleus and adrenal gland weight. Results & Conclusions : As a result of evaluation by measuring five aspects, FST, OFT, weight gain, 5-HT contents and adrenal gland weight, Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam has significant antidepressant, anxiolytic, anti-stress effects.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2007

The roots of the plant Korean ginseng have been extensively used in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The effects of chronic administration of Korean ginseng extract (KGE) were investigated on two different anxiety models: the elevated T-maze (for inhibitory avoidance and escape measurements) and the open field test (OFT). Diazepam (1 mg/kg), KGE (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) were administered orally for 15 days. On the 14th day, mice were previously exposed for 30 min to one of the open arms of the T-maze, 24 h before the test. On 15th day, mice had two exposures to the enclosed and open arm of the elevated T-maze followed by exposure to the open field apparatus. The number of line crossings in the apparatus was used to assess locomotor changes. Cumulative Concentration Response Curve of 5-HT was plotted using rat fundus which were pre-treated in a similar way. Treatment with Diazepam (1 mg/kg) and KGE (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) impaired inhibitory avoidance performance but did not impair escape latency. In OFT, diazepam facilitated locomotion as compared to vehicle and other treatment groups. KGE at any of the selected doses did not impair locomotion. Concentration response curve of 5-HT was shifted towards the right with suppression of maxima in rats treated with KGE. The results suggest that KGE exerts anxiolytic like behaviour in a specific subset of defensive behaviour, particularly those related to generalized anxiety disorder.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.13-17
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• 2015

Objectives : Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlstedt has been reported to have several biological properties such as skin hydration and antiinflammation. The purpose of this study was to examine the antidepressive effects of water extract of T. platycarpum (WTP) on an animal model of depression. Methods : In the present study, normal ICR mice (4 weeks) were used, and orally administered with WTP (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Depression-like behavior was monitored the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice. The locomotor activity was evaluated to eliminate the false-positive activity in the open field test (OFT). Fluoxetine, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as a positive control was intraperitoneally administered at a dose of 15 mg/kg at 30 min before starting the behavioral test. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of WTP on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/ cyclic AMP response-element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus using Western blot. Results : The administration of WTP (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05, respectively) reduced the immobility time during FST and TST without accompanying changes in locomotor activity by OFT. Furthermore, WTP at dose of 100 mg/kg increased the BDNF expression and the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB in the hippocampus region. Conclusions : These results suggest that WTP has a useful anti-depressant effect through the regulation of BDNF/ERK/CREB signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2013

Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) induces dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and results in depression and anxiety. The current study sought to verify the impact of catechin (CTN) administration on chronic CORT-induced behavioral alterations using the forced swimming test (FST) and the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Additionally, the effects of CTN on central noradrenergic systems were examined by observing changes in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in rat brains. Male rats received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg CTN (i.p.) 1 h prior to a daily injection of CORT for 21 consecutive days. The activation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily CTN administration significantly decreased immobility in the FST, increased open-arm exploration in the EPM test, and significantly blocked increases of TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC). It also significantly enhanced the total number of line crossing in the open-field test (OFT), while individual differences in locomotor activities between experimental groups were not observed in the OFT. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of CTN prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improves helpless behaviors, possibly by modulating the central noradrenergic system in rats. Therefore, CTN may be a useful agent for the treatment or alleviation of the complex symptoms associated with depression and anxiety disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2020

Objectives Ketamine has been reported to have antidepressant effects or psychotomimetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral effects of ketamine treatment at various sub-anesthetic doses in adolescent and adult naïve mice. Methods In each experiment for adolescent and adult mice, a total of 60 male Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, which were intraperitoneally treated with physiological saline, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg ketamine for consecutive 3 days. At 1 day after last injection, the locomotor and depressive-like behaviors were evaluated in mice, using open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST), respectively. Results In case of adolescent mice, ketamine dose was negatively correlated with total distance traveled in the OFT (Spearman's rho = -0.27, p = 0.039). In case of adult mice, we found significant positive correlation between ketamine dose and duration of immobility in the FST (Spearman's rho = 0.45, p < 0.001). Immobility time in the 50 mg/kg ketamine-treated mice was significantly higher compared to the saline-treated mice (Dunnett's post-hoc test, p = 0.012). Conclusions We found that the repeated treatment with ketamine could decrease the locomotor or prolong the duration of immobility in mice as the dose of ketamine increased. Our findings suggest that sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine might induce schizophrenia-like negative symptoms but not antidepressant effects in naïve laboratory animals.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-136
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• 2019

Objective : To investigate the effect of sihogayonggolmoryeotang (SY) on Single Prolonged Stress(SPS)-induced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). Method : To confirm the effects of SY on SPS-induced PTSD, Changes in body weight, sucrose intake open field test(OFT) and forced swimming test(FST)were observed. After behavioral tests, the plasma corticosterone(CORT) from the abdominal aorta, serotonin(5-HT) from prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and striatum, norepinephrine(NE) and dopamine(DA) from hippocampus was measured by ELISA. mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and cAMP response element-binding protein(CREB) in hippocampus was measured by RT-PCR. Result : Weight change and sucrose intakes of rats in 14th day after the administration of SY were significantly increased in the SPS + SY450 group compared to the SPS group (p<0.05). Numbers of crossing in the central zone in the OFT were significantly increased in the SPS + SY450 group (p<0.05) compared with the SPS group. The immobility time of FST was significantly decreased in SPS + SY450 group compared with SPS group (p<0.05). The change of plasma CORT concentration was significantly decreased in SPS + SY450 group compared with that in SPS group (p<0.05). The change of 5-HT concentration was significantly increased in the SPS + SY450 group at hippocampus and amygdala compared with the SPS group (p<0.05). The concentration of DA was significantly increased in the SPS + SY450 group compared with the SPS group (p<0.05). The expression of BDNF and CREB were significantly increased in SPS + SY450 group compared with the SPS group (p<0.05). Conclusion : SY administration lowered the increase of CORT caused by PTSD and increases the 5-HT concentration and reversed the decreased expression of NE and DA and BDNF and CREB by PTSD. It is postulated that SY is effective in treating PTSD by restoring cognitive function, memory impairment, unstable emotional disturbances.