• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2016

Recently, food industries are increasingly interested in launching ethnic foods in the global market, but communicating sensory information to target consumers has been complicated due to the ambiguity and complexity of Korean sensory descriptors. This study was conducted to elicit various multidimensional sensory descriptors and their definitions using focus group interviews (FGI). Two consumer groups, consisting of 10 panelists in their 20s and 10 panelists in their 30-40s respectively, participated in the FGI. A total of 14 commonly used multidimensional sensory descriptors, including gamchilmat (감칠맛), gaeun (개운), goso (고소), gusu (구수), kkal-kkeum (깔끔), neu-kki (느끼), dambaek (담백), birin (비린), siwon (시원), sikeum (시큼), ssapssarae (쌉싸래), eolkeun (얼큰), jjapjoreum (짭조름), and kalkal (칼칼), were elicited. Their definitions showed that these descriptors not only were constructed using several sensory elements but also contained hedonic connotations. Descriptors such as gaeun, siwon, and kkal-kkeum were more closely associated with overall sensory impressions, including aftersensations and post-ingestive effects rather than sensory concepts. As individuals tend to weigh different elements to construct the concept for each multidimensional descriptor, further studies are required to identify elements consisting of these descriptors to develop better test methods and gain a clearer understanding of the sensory profiles of Korean foods.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.55-63
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• 2024

Purpose: This study focuses on the golden banana (Kluai Hom Thong) from the Ban Khok Banana Community Enterprise Group in Sang Khom District, Udon Thani Province, Thailand. Despite its potential as an export crop and minimal disease or insect management issues, the group's products struggled to reach international markets due to lack of marketing opportunities, distribution channels, and proper packaging. The research aims to analyze and develop packaging and logos to test market potential for the group's products. Research design, data and methodology: Data was collected through questionnaires developed in conjunction with three printing and packaging design experts. Market testing involved 100 randomly sampled consumers of the group's products. Results: The new packaging design was perceived as more international, modern, and suitable as a souvenir for adults. Conclusions: Integrating ethnic elements and local materials into packaging design can enhance product appeal. For example, creating cloth bags from fabric scraps for carrying local woven products can impress consumers. This approach could help overcome market barriers and improve prospects for golden banana products in international markets while maintaining the intact ecosystem and environment of the production area. The study highlights the importance of effective packaging and branding in addressing market access challenges for local agricultural enterprises, potentially opening new opportunities for community-based businesses.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.661-670
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• 2007

To investigate the market potential for developing Gochujang(a traditional Korean hot pepper soybean paste) products in the UK including the European market, a qualitative consumer study utilizing focus groups was conducted on the $23rd{\sim}25^{th}$ of May, 2005. The focus group approach utilizes small groups of consumers and is very effective in determining the ways in which a product can be used, by examining consumer perceptions on the overall sensory properties of a product as well as variations in taste, flavour, and texture. A series of six consumer group studies were carried out in three different locations around the UK. Each group involved approximately eight respondents(a total of 48 respondents) and ran for at least 90 minutes. The respondents were recruited by specific criteria to achieve a cross-section of ages and genders. All respondents purchased, prepared, and ate home-cooked Oriental/Far Eastern cuisine. Consumer reactions to Gochujang in its traditional form, and in manufactured products, were explored in terms of appearance, texture, flavour, and taste the consumers' perceived uses and applications for products were also examined. Many consumers were familiar with ethnic cuisines such as Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, and Tex/Mex, already preparing these foods using various convenience products at home at least twice a week. However, Korean cuisine was not mentioned by any of the respondents. The Gochujang sauce presented during the interview had broad based appeal mainly as a dipping sauce, and to a lesser degree as a marinade. Traditional Gochujang has the potential to inspire consumers who are looking for novel and authentic world cuisine products. From the sensory evaluations of various prototypes developed according to consumer reactions during the focus group interviews, three prototypes(a sauce for chicken, dipping sauce type, and BBQ sauce type) were determined for further consumer preference studies.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.37
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• pp.243-266
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• 2004

This paper is based on fieldwork conducted from July 6, 2003 to July 24 of 2003 among the Tungusgroups Hezhe, Daur, Oloqun, Owenke, and Mongolian in the areas of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia Provinces. Recognizing the need for more in-depth study among these groups, the present research shows that the Tungus people are archeologically, historically, and linguistically different from Korean Han ethnic group and challenges the link between Korean and Tungus groups since the Bronze Age. The comparison between the "House Spirit" belief of the Tungus people and Koreans reveals certain commonalities in the "Maru," "Kitchen," and "Samshin Spirit" practices. There are two possible reasons for such commonalities. Historically, the Korean Han ethnic group and the Tungus people were geographically intimate, and contact or transmission between the two groups occurred naturally. Also, immigration of refugees from the fallen Koguryo and Puyo to the Tungus region added another dimension of cultural contact. In contrast to the common features shared between the two groups, there also exists differences between the two groups House Spirit blief. The Korean Han group's "House Spirit" belief is based on the agricultural practices that separates the inside sacred and outside secular world of the houses, whereas the Tungus ethnic group's "House Spirit" belief is based on mobile herding life style with a less distinction between in and outside of house. Additionally, each Korean "House Spirit" has its own distinctive personality, and each spirit is placed and worshipped according to its function. In the Tungus group, all the "House Spirits" are located and worshipped in "malu," and some of the spirits are non-conventional house spirits. Moreover, Korean "House Spirits" form a kinship structure, placing Songju, the highest spirit, at the center. In the Tungus practice, such structure is not found. The tight cohesive family formation among the house spirits in the Korean "House Spirit" belief is also the most distinctive feature in its comparison with Chinese belief. In China, the highest spirit is Jiang Taigong or Qiwu, and the house spirits do not have kinship relations. Korean's Outhouse Spirit and Chowangshin are related to the Han Chinese's counterpart on certain levels? however, their basic structures are different. It is clear that the correlation of "Malu" "Chowangshin" and "Samshin" between Korea and Tungus indicate important role of Tungus cultural elements within Korea's "House Spirit" belief.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to suggest the most appropriate design concepts for sportive fashion product based on the analysis of consumers' acceptance of the recent sportive fashion trends according to their lifestyle. The subjects consisted of 295 males and females, between 17 and 35 year-old. A self-report questionnaire with 4 stimuli was employed for data gathering, and the data were analyzed by the methods of frequency, factor analysis, cluster analysis, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results of this study were summarized as follows: For the First, the recent sportive fashion trends were categorized into four groups; 'street- sportive' trend, 'futuristic-sportive' trend, 'ethnic-sportive' trend and 'urban-utility sportive' trend. Secondly, based on the result of cluster analysis on consumers' lifestyle, total four consumer groups were identified; 'pursuing sense' group, 'pursuing culture' group, 'pursuing utility' group, and 'indifference' group. Thirdly, the consumers relatively preferred two sportive styles among the four groups, typically representing 'urban-utility' trend and 'street' trend. The typical 'urban-utility' style was particularly preferred by the consumers who desired to express themselves as urban, modern, and luxurious. The typical 'street' style was preferred by the consumers who tried to express themselves as active and fashionable. Finally, preferences of the sportive trends according to consumers' lifestyle were interpreted as follows: the 'pursuing sense' group relatively preferred 'urbanutility' style and 'street' style, the 'pursuing culture' group preferred 'street' style and the 'pursuing utility' group preferred 'urban-utility' style, meaningwhile the 'indifference' group preferred 'street' style and 'urban- utility' style.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5439-5444
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• 2012

Objective: To explore the correlation of human papillomavious (HPV) infection with expression of p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in patients with different ethnicity in Xinjiang, China. Methods: 166 biopsy specimens from 83 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC), 63 laryngeal papillomas (LP), and 20 laryngeal inflammatory polyps (LIP) were included in this study. HPV infection was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific types of HPV primers. Expression of p53 and PCNA was assessed using immunohistostaining. Results: The frequency of HPV 6/11 was higher in LP (33.3%) than in LSCC (9.6%) (P<0.0005), whereas the frequency of HPV 16/18 was higher in LSCC (37.3 %) than in LP (6.3%) (P<0.0005). Patients of the Han ethnic group with LSCC had a higher infection rate with HPV 6/11 or HPV 6/11 and HPV 16/18 coinfection than those of Uygur and Kazak ethnicity (P<0.05). Overexpression of p53 and PCNA were higher in LSCC (62.7%, 57.8%) than in LP (38%, 33.3%) (P<0.005, and P<0.005, respectively). That of p53 was not associated with lymph-node metastases and clinical stages, but overexpression of PCNA closely correlated with clinical stage. Conclusions: These results strongly implicate HPV6/11 infection in the carcinogenesis of LSCC and LP, respectively. There was a higher coincidence of increased malignancy of laryngeal tumors with overexpression of p53 and PCNA. Overexpression of p53 may serve as an early risk marker for malignant transformation in HPV infected cells while the overexpression of PCNA may serve as a late marker for progression of LSCC.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.199-214
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• 2020

The study investigates Atlas fabrics, the Ikat weaving method used by the Uygur People in Xinjiang, China. Based on domestic and foreign papers and other literature, different cultural characteristics of Ikat fabrics from various regions are compared. Following a theoretical investigation, characteristics of fabrics from the Indian Patola, Indonesian Ikat, Japanese Kasuri, and Uzbekistan Adras are summarized and compared with the characteristics of pattern, color, and manufacturing process of Atlas silk from Xinjiang China (also an Ikat fabric). The results are as follows. First, although the weaving process used for Ikat fabrics differs from country to country according to different national cultures, lifestyles, colors, patterns, and usage methods, they are all Ikat dyed fabrics. Therefore, they are all regarded as precious objects symbolizing a certain social status, and are used as a gift for special occasions, such as weddings. Second, the form of the pattern varies. Indian Patola has clear outlines and regular patterns, while the patterns of Japanese Kasuri are mainly inspired by folk life ideas. Indonesian Ikat contains influences from indigenous tribes, and Uzbekistan's and China's Atlas textiles are influenced by geography, religion, and national culture, including bright colors and pattern designs inspired by plants, musical instruments, and geometric figures. Finally, the patterns and colors of Xinjiang Atlas fabrics present strong ethnic characteristics. Unlike the Uzbekistan fabric which is mostly influenced by Islam, human and animal patterns would not feature in Xinjiang Atlas patterns, which mostly consist of long strips, repeated in a neat and orderly form.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2012

Large-scale copy number variants (CNVs) in the human provide the raw material for delineating population differences, as natural selection may have affected at least some of the CNVs thus far discovered. Although the examination of relatively large numbers of specific ethnic groups has recently started in regard to inter-ethnic group differences in CNVs, identifying and understanding particular instances of natural selection have not been performed. The traditional $F_{ST}$ measure, obtained from differences in allele frequencies between populations, has been used to identify CNVs loci subject to geographically varying selection. Here, we review advances and the application of multinomial-Dirichlet likelihood methods of inference for identifying genome regions that have been subject to natural selection with the $F_{ST}$ estimates. The contents of presentation are not new; however, this review clarifies how the application of the methods to CNV data, which remains largely unexplored, is possible. A hierarchical Bayesian method, which is implemented via Markov Chain Monte Carlo, estimates locus-specific $F_{ST}$ and can identify outlying CNVs loci with large values of FST. By applying this Bayesian method to the publicly available CNV data, we identified the CNV loci that show signals of natural selection, which may elucidate the genetic basis of human disease and diversity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3287-3291
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• 2014

Background: The interesting preponderance of Chinese with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) amongst the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia prompted a study to determine DNA mismatch repair (MMR) status in our CRC and attempt correlation with patient age, gender and ethnicity as well as location, grade, histological type and stage of tumour. Histologically re-confirmed CRC, diagnosed between $1^{st} $January 2005 and $31^{st}$ December 2007 at the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya Medical Centre, were immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies to MMR proteins, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 on the Ventana Benchmark XT autostainer. Of the 142 CRC cases entered into the study, there were 82 males and 60 females (M:F=1.4:1). Ethnically, 81 (57.0%) were Chinese, 32 (22.5%) Malays and 29 (20.4%) Indians. The patient ages ranged between 15-87 years (mean=62.4 years) with 21 cases <50-years and 121 ${\geq}50$-years of age. 14 (9.9%) CRC showed deficient MMR (dMMR). Concurrent loss of MLH1 and PMS2 occurred in 10, MSH2 and MSH6 in 2 with isolated loss of MSH6 in 1 and PMS2 in 1. dMMR was noted less frequently amongst the Chinese (6.2%) in comparison with their combined Malay and Indian counterparts (14.8%), and was associated with right sided and poorly differentiated tumours (p<0.05). 3 of the 5 (60.0%) dMMR CRC cases amongst the Chinese and 1 of 9 cases (11.1%) amongst the combined Malay and Indian group were <50-years of age. No significant association of dMMR was noted with patient age and gender, tumour stage or mucinous type.

• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.367-402
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• 2017

The current study seeks to understand the multi-faceted desires of language learners through the theoretical lens of imagined communities (Norton, 2001). Particularly, the study focuses on the learners of Korean language-one of the less commonly taught languages in the U.S. that has received relatively less attention in previous literature on second language motivation. The study analyzed and compared the narratives told by eleven Korean language learners in a post-secondary language program, and identified four types of imagined communities: Communities of K-pop Culture, Communities of Professionals, Communities of Korean Family and Relatives, and Communities of ethnic Koreans. The study found that these imagined communities were not restricted to a specific region or an ethnic group but encompassed various populations connected through the use of Korean language. The study also found variability within what has been readily labelled as heritage motivation (or motivation related to heritage), as well as striking differences between heritage language learners and non-heritage language learners in terms of their scope of imagination.