• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.15-38
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• 2014

This paper explores the influence of pursuing goals on customer channel preference in Chinese rural market. With the rapid change in distribution channels and increase in multi-channels, it is necessary to understand the preference for channel choice as well as product choice. This study empirically validated the conceptual framework of the relationship between the pursuing goals and customer channel choice proposed by Balasubramanian, Raghunathan, and Mahajan (2005). Based on the survey data of 232 fertilizer customers in Chinese rural market, this study explores how economic, social, and psychological pursuing goals can impact customer channel preference by mediating variables of product utility and process utility. The results indicate that pursuing goals positively related with product utility and process utility, and product / process utility can mediate the relationship between pursuing goals and customer channel preference positively. Consequently, we can conclude that customers' economic-social-psychological pursuing goals can directly influence customer channel preference via their purchase process utility and product utility. This result also implies that product utility is effective on process utility during consumer's buying decision making, and process utility and product utility are not mutually independent. Therefore, purchase process utility is a "latent driving force" on customer's channel choice decision.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.255-258
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• 2005

Several commercial yogurt starter cultures (L. acidophilus LA5, L. casei 01, L. acidophilus LA100, L. bulgaricus LB207 and L. rhamnosus GG744) were investigated for antioxidant activity by using in vitro assays. From the results of the present work, all strains tested showed varying degrees of antioxidant activity. L. bulgaricus LB207 showed the highest antioxidant activity, with a linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition of 81.3%. Hydroxy radical scavenging activity, ferrous iron chelating activity, reducing power and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were also studied. L. bulgaricus LB207 showed the highest hydroxy radical scavenging activity and L. casei 01 showed the highest chelating activity. L. bulgaricus LB207 and L. acidophilus LA100 showed good reducing power. All the strains in this study showed low SOD activity. The results of the present work suggest that antioxidant activity of L. bulgaricus LB207 due to its strong hydroxy radical scavenging activity and reducing power.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.262-265
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• 2006

The antioxidative properties of lactobacilli originating from humans (Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3111, Lactobacillus jonsonii KCTC 3141, Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3151, and Lactobacillus brevis KCTC 3498) were investigated using in vitro methods, including inhibition of lipid peroxidation, resistance to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. L. acidophilus KCTC 3111 showed the highest inhibition of lipid peroxidation in both intact cells (49.7%) and cell lysate (65.2%). This strain exhibited resistance to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical, which was viable for 7 h in the concentration of 1.0 mM hydrogen peroxide. In addition, this strain showed high hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In the GPX activity assay, the highest activity was measured in L. brevis 3498. GPX activity of L acidophilus 3111 was lower than that of L. brevis 3498.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1335-1341
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• 2006

We selected a Lactobacillus spp. from Korean healthy infant feces based upon their antioxidant activity. This strain was identified as Lactobacillus gasseri by 16S rDNA sequencing, and named Lactobacillus gasseri NLRI-312. In the present study, we investigate the protective effect of this strain on the $H_2O_2$ induced damage to cellular membrane lipid and DNA in Jurkat cells. To estimate the extent of cellular lipid peroxidation inhibition, MDA (malondialdehyde) was measured, and DNA damage was tested by the comet assay. We also examined probiotic properties including tolerance to acid and bile, antibiotic resistance. From the results obtained, the supplementation of Jurkat cells with NLRI-312 decreased in DNA damage, while no effect was shown on MDA decrease. In probiotic properties, this strain was resistance to both acid and bile, showed considerably higher survival when incubated in pH 2 or 1% bile salts (w/v). We concluded that the NLRI-312 could be used as potential probiotic bacteria, with the effect of reducing DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to consider 1990s fashion design involving the utility of function which is the essence of modernism. First, documentary studies about the aesthetic value of the utility of function throughout the 20th century sociocultural contexts has been done. Second, content analysis of articles in American "Vogue" from 1990 to 2002 has been accomplished to hold the actual proof for the utility of function in postmodernism fashion. As a result, the utility of function has been defined the utility of body activity, the utility of practical use, and the utility of mechanical product. According to contents analysis, new aspects has been introduced in use of high-tech fabrics, ornaments, and mass customization in 1990s. In conclusion, the utility of function in fashion has been improved in accordance with the change of sociocultural contexts and women's wants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1665-1670
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• 2006

The objective of this research was to provide the characterization and method for producing anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibodies in egg-laying hens and to determine if the antibody can restrain the proliferation of E. coli O157:H7 in-vitro. Selected antigenic fractions (whole cell, outer membrane protein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) from E. coli O157:H7 were injected to hens in order to produce anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibodies. The immune response and the egg yolk antibodies of laying hens against the whole cell, outer membrane protein and LPS antigens were monitored by ELISA. The level of antibodies against whole cell antigen monitored through ELISA sharply increased after the initial immunization, and it was found to be maximum on day 49 however, the level was maintained up to day 70. Antibodies (5 mg/ml) directed against the whole cell inhibited E. coli proliferation 10-13 times more than outer membrane protein or LPS. The antibody response against the whole cell antigens appeared to have higher activity in restraining the proliferation of E. coli O157:H7 than antibody against outer membrane protein or LPS. Results reflected that increasing the IgY's in the egg yolk could prevent greater economic losses due to human and animal health from pathogenic bacteria i.e. E. coli O157:H7.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.158-166
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• 2014

Apparel design is an economic activity to create values for users over the value chain of a product. In this paper, the contribution of apparel design is defined as the enhancement of users' perceived values by improving users' experience of products. In this context, the value of a product corresponds to compensation for experience or a promise for experience of a product. Experience can be sensory or psychological benefits to users. To evaluate the value of apparel design, the researcher identified and analyzed the apparel design parameters affecting users' experience and benefits of products such as macro-, micro-environmental factors, value chain factors, apparel designer factors, and user factors. For an analytical modeling of the values of apparel design, this paper introduces the concept of a utility function from economics. In economics, utility is a measure of desirability or satisfaction that can be correlative to need or desire. The measure of value can be found in the price which a user is willing to pay for the fulfillment or satisfaction of need or desire via the experience of a product.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.81-89
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• 2011

In recent business environments, the competition among firms is shifting from the competition based on individual firm only to the competition based on alliance of firms. This is because it is not easy for a firm to perform all functions which consumers want. Thus, it is more effective to combine core competencies of different firms based on a strategic partnership. It is essential to establish a strategic partnership and this strategic partnership is a key success factor in PSS(Product-Service System) which combines products and services. In this paper, we propose a profit sharing model for PSS partnership. We first analyze customer's utility using Cobb-Douglas utility function and then propose the PSS profit sharing ratio considering functionalities and cost structures based on the combination ratio of PSS. This paper helps firms to develop partnership strategies for PSS.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.242-250
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to identify tourist product factor combinations which confer the highest utility to tourists and to establish the relative importance of factors in terms of their contribution to total utility across gender. Among 250 questionnaires, 230 questionnaires were utilized for the analysis. $X^2$ analysis, Conjoint model, Max. Utility model, BTL model, Logit model, K-means cluster analysis, and one-way anova analysis were used for this study. The findings from this study were as follows. First, the Pearson's R and Kendall's tau statistics showed that the model fitted the data well across gender. Second, it was found that total respondents and three clusters regarded taste price as the very important factor across gender. Third, it was found that the male and female tourists most preferred product with light red color, shaped package, and highly pungent taste sold at a cheap price in factory. Fourth, it was found that the male tourists most preferred simulation product with light red color, shaped package, and highly pungent taste sold at a cheap price in factory. The female tourists most preferred simulation product with light red color, shaped package, and mild taste sold at a cheap price in factory. Finally, the results of the study provide some insights into the types of effective product designs that can be successfully developed by marketers.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2013

The paper discusses the problem of how to allocate the fund to a large number of individuals in a higher school so as to bring a higher utility return based on the theory of uncertain set. Suppose that experts can assign each invested individual a corresponding nondecreasing membership function on a close interval I according to its actual level and developmental foreground. The membership degree at the fund $x{\in}I$ is called utility degree from fund x, and product (minimum) of utility degrees of distributed funds for all invested individuals is called united utility degree from the fund. Based on the above concepts, we present an uncertain optimization model, called Maximal United Utility Degree (or Maximal Membership Degree) model for fund distribution. Furthermore, we use nondecreasing polygonal functions defined on close intervals to structure a mathematical maximal united utility degree model. Finally, we design a genetic algorithm to solve these models.