• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제27권12호
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• pp.1195-1203
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• 2018

Many consumers intend to make environmentally purchase. However, this is not always what occurs. A gap exists between consumer intentions to purchase environmentally friendly products and their actual purchase behavior. In this study, we examined the effect of situational factors such as price sensitivity, product quality perception, and label trust on the relationship between purchase intention and purchase behavior for environmentally friendly products. First, we conducted a theoretical consideration through a review of literature on price sensitivity, product quality perception, label trust, purchase intention and purchase behavior. Based on the literature review, we designed a structural model and developed the hypotheses. Next, we collected data using a survey and processed them statistically in order to verify the hypotheses. A total of 213 samples were collected and the data were analyzed using a structural equation model (LISREL 8.70). The results suggest that the situational factor of label trust has a moderating effect on the relationship between purchase intention and purchase behavior for environmentally friendly products. However, price sensitivity and product quality perception have no moderating effect. This means that trust in labels is important when consumers want to buy environmentally friendly products. Although this study has some limitations, it is expected that it will positively trigger follow-up research.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1412-1423
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• 2019

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus tubingensis that belongs to the black Aspergillus section has the capacity to produce high-value metabolites, for instance, naphtho-gamma-pyrones (NGPs). For these fungal secondary metabolites, numerous biological properties of industrial interest have been demonstrated, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-cancer capacities. It has been observed that production of these secondary metabolites is linked with fungal sporulation. The aim of this research was to apply osmotic and oxidative environmental stresses to trigger the production of NGPs in liquid cultures with CYB (Czapek Dox Broth). In addition, numerous parameters were tested during the experiments, such as pH value, incubation time, container geometry, and static and agitation conditions. Results demonstrate that the produced amount of NGPs can be enhanced by decreasing the water activity ($a_w$) or by adding an oxidative stress factor. In conclusion, this study can contribute to our knowledge regarding A. tubingensis to present an effective method to increase NGP production, which may support the development of current industrial processes.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권8호
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• pp.425-430
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in lung cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of mucin 1 (MUC1) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung epithelial cancer cell line Calu-3. MUC1 is a major constituent of the mucus layer in the respiratory tract and contributes to pathogen defense. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) expression in a STAT3 activation-dependent manner. Inhibition of MUC1-C signaling increased apoptosis-related protein levels and reduced proliferation-related protein levels; however, SARS-CoV-2 replication was not affected. Together, these results suggest that increased MUC1-C expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger the growth of lung cancer cells, and COVID-19 may be a risk factor for lung cancer patients.

• 천문학회보
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.43.2-43.2
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• 2021

Ram-pressure stripping (RPS) is known as the main driver of quenching the star formation (SF) activity in cluster galaxies. However, galaxies undergoing RPS in galaxy clusters often show blue star-forming knots in their disturbed disks and tails. The existence of these "jellyfish galaxies" implies that RPS can temporarily boost the SF activity of cluster galaxies. Thus, jellyfish galaxies are very unique and interesting targets to study the influence of RPS on their SF activity, in particular with integral field spectroscopy (IFS). While there have been many IFS studies of jellyfish galaxies in low-mass clusters (e.g., the GASP survey), IFS studies of those in massive clusters have been lacking. We present an IFS study of five jellyfish galaxies in massive clusters at intermediate redshifts using the Gemini GMOS/IFU. Their star formation rates (SFRs) are estimated to be up to 15 Mo/yr in the tails and 50 Mo/yr in the disks. These SFRs are by a factor of 10 higher than those of star-forming galaxies on the main sequence in the M*-SFR relation at similar redshifts. Our results suggest that the SF activity of jellyfish galaxies tends to be more enhanced in massive clusters than in low-mass clusters. This implies that strong RPS in massive clusters can trigger strong starbursts.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.533-542
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• 2013

Fashion products are frequently purchased on impulse and are also one of the most popular product categories sold online. Online environment attributes can facilitate flow experiences that are described as an optimal psychological state reached during an engagement in activities (e.g., games and e-shopping). This study estimated the path model to examine the causal relationships among shopping mall attributes, flow, e-impulse buying, and consumer satisfaction for fashion products. A total of 598 usable questionnaires were obtained from college students who had purchased fashion products through the Internet. Data were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and path analysis using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. The results showed that e-shopping mall attributes (visual attributes and product attributes) significantly influenced e-impulse buying (fashion-oriented impulse buying and promotion-oriented impulse buying) which was mediated by the consumer flow experience and then influenced by consumer satisfaction. In the path model, the flow was stimulated by shopping mall attributes, the e-impulse buying was influenced by flow, and the consumer satisfaction was influenced by e-impulse buying. Flow was the most highly related to the fashion-oriented impulse buying, and followed by the relationship of the flow and promotion-oriented impulse buying in the context of e-shopping for fashion products. A managerial implication was discussed for fashion product e-retailers to develop strategies on visual attributes and product attributes that could stimulate and increase the consumer flow to trigger impulse buying as well as consumer satisfaction.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.11.1-11.14
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• 2023

Background: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are commonly used to assess in vitro immune responses. However, PBMC isolation is a time-consuming procedure, introduces technical variability, and requires a relatively large volume of blood. By contrast, whole blood assay (WBA) is faster, cheaper, maintains more physiological conditions, and requires less sample volume, laboratory training, and equipment. Objectives: Herein, this study aimed to develop a porcine WBA for in vitro evaluation of immune responses. Methods: Heparinized whole blood (WB) was diluted (non-diluted, 1/2, 1/8, and 1/16) in RPMI-1640 media, followed by phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. After 24 h, cells were stained for interferon (IFN)-γ secreting T-cells followed by flow cytometry, and the supernatant was analyzed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In addition, diluted WB was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), reference strain KCTC3557 (RS), field isolate (FI), of heat-killed (HK) Streptococcus suis, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Results: The frequency of IFN-γ⁺CD3⁺ T-cells and concentration of TNF-α in the supernatant of WB increased with increasing dilution factor and were optimal at 1/8. WB TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-10 cytokine levels increased significantly following stimulation with LPS or poly I:C. Further, FI and RS induced IL-10 production in WB. Additionally, PRRSV strains increased the frequency of IFN-γ⁺ CD4^-CD8⁺ cells, and IFN-γ was non-significantly induced in the supernatant of re-stimulated samples. Conclusions: We propose that the WBA is a rapid, reliable, and simple method to evaluate immune responses and WB should be diluted to trigger immune cells.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.191-197
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• 2013

방사선 치료 시 방사선이 조사되는 동안 환자의 움직임을 모니터링하는 것은 치료의 성공을 결정 하는 중요한 요인이다. 따라서 방사선이 조사되는 동안 환자의 움직임을 실시간으로 감시하고 움직인 치료위치를 자동으로 보정 할 수 있는 시스템을 개발 하였다. 원점을 중심으로 직교하게 위치한 2개의 CCD 카메라를 이용하여 3차원적 환자의 위치를 확인 하고, 틀 맞춘 상호교차 비교법(normalized cross-correlation method)을 이용한 영상 본 맞춤(image pattern matching) 방법을 이용한 환자위치 모니터링 시스템을 개발하였다. CCD카메라로부터 촬영된 영상을 컴퓨터로 전달하여 위치 변화를 정량적으로 분석 하여 빔 켜고 끔(beam on and off)를 위한 방아쇠신호(trigger signal)를 발생시키고, 이동치료대(moving couch)의 모터를 제어할 수 있는 시스템을 개발하였다. 이 시스템은 0.5 mm 이하의 분해능으로 환자의 위치를 자동으로 보정할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.1446-1451
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• 2016

Clostridium difficile toxin A causes acute gut inflammation in animals and humans. It is known to downregulate the tight junctions between colonic epithelial cells, allowing luminal contents to access body tissues and trigger acute immune responses. However, it is not yet known whether this loss of the barrier function is a critical factor in the progression of toxin A-induced pseudomembranous colitis. We previously showed that NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) KO (knockout) mice spontaneously display weak gut inflammation and a marked loss of colonic epithelial tight junctions. Moreover, NQO1 KO mice exhibited highly increased inflammatory responses compared with NQO1 WT (wild-type) control mice when subjected to DSS-induced experimental colitis. Here, we tested whether toxin A could also trigger more severe inflammatory responses in NQO1 KO mice compared with NQO1 WT mice. Indeed, our results show that C. difficile toxin A-mediated enteritis is significantly enhanced in NQO1 KO mice compared with NQO1 WT mice. The levels of fluid secretion, villus disruption, and epithelial cell apoptosis were also higher in toxin A-treated NQO1 KO mice compared with WT mice. The previous and present results collectively show that NQO1 is involved in the formation of tight junctions in the small intestine, and that defects in NQO1 enhance C. difficile toxin A-induced acute inflammatory responses, presumably via the loss of epithelial cell tight junctions.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2003

Human ovarian cancerous cells survive in a way that they trigger the nucleotide excision repair (NER) or double-strand DNA repair (dsDNA) repair mechanism to show resistance to anticancer drugs and activate many kinds of repair protein, thus removing damaged DNAs. Two experiments on the PA-1 human ovarian teratocareinoma cell line that hardly has any expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were conducted in the study; first, EGF-R was transfected and its receptor was obtained. The receptor was investigated in terms of its mutual relations with many kinds of protein concerning NER or dsDNA repair. Second, it was examined what kind impact cisplatin and adriamycin had on the effects of EGF-R over the PA-1 cell line lacking EGF-R. When being administered with cisplatin and adriamycin, Hey and Hey C2 cell lines showed a high level of resistance while PA-1 cell line a high level of sensitivity. Hey and Hey C2 cell lines that are resistant against anticancer drugs exhibited a high level of EGF-R expression while PA-1 cell line that is sensitive to them did a much lower level of the expression. When PA-1 cell line was transfected for the expression of DNA adduct and EGF-R, it showed a higher level of resistance compared to the control group. There was no difference in the expression of DNA repair proteins (DNA- dependent protein kinase, Ku70, and Ku80) between Hey and the PA-1 cell lines. The results indicate that the Hey cell line that is resistant against cisplatin and adriamycin works along the signaling system responding to the changes of EGF-R while the PA-1 cell line that is sensitive to both of them does to the lack of EGF-R.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1043-1050
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• 2015

신경과흥분은 신경세포의 수지돌기 말단부에 있는 흥분성 수용체에 대한 과도한 자극에 의해서 신경세포가 손상을 받는 현상으로 transcription factor의 발현을 유도하여 통증을 유발하는 자극, 학습, 발작, 흥분, 신경변성, 저산소성 국소빈혈, 뇌신경손상, 신경절제, 약제내성 등의 원인이 된다. 신경과흥분은 정상농도 이상의 NMDA에 의해서도 유발되는데 본 논문에서는 mouse의 복강으로 과량의 NMDA를 투여하여 소뇌에서 RT-PCR 방법으로 Inducible transcription factors (Egr-1, c-jun, JunB, FosB) mRNAs의 상대적 발현량을 비교하였다. NMDA를 투여한 군에서 inducible transcription factors (Egr-1, C-Jun, JunB, FosB)가 투여량과 시간의 경과에 따라 다양한 발현의 변화를 보였으며, NMDA투여 후 일정한 시간에서 투여한 양에 대한 변화는 체중 g 당 5 μg의 NMDA투여한 경우에 현저한 변화가 나타났다. 조사한 transcription factor 중에서 JunB의 발현 변화가 다른 transcription factor보다 두드러지게 나타났다. NMDA 투여량이 일정할 때 투여 후 경과 시간에 따른 발현양상은 투여 후 24시간이 경과한 후에 발현의 변화가 두드러지게 증가하는 경향을 나타내었고 대부분 이 48시간 경과 후 발현이 최고치에 도달하였다. 이러한 결과는 과흥분이 유도된 소뇌에서의 유전자 발현의 변화를 2D-gel 또는 microarray와 같은 방법을 이용하여 세포 내의 전체 단백질 혹은 유전자의 변화를 관찰함으로써 NMDA 수용체의 과흥분에 의한 뇌세포의 사멸에 관련된 기전을 밝힐 수 있는 좋은 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.