• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.33-63
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• 2016

This paper compares and contrasts the concept of nature and the theory of evolution held by leading synthetic biologists and transhumanists in the post-genomic era. Synthetic biology, which emerged in the early 2000s, aims to design biological systems that perform specific functions with the two key concepts of "rational design" and "directed evolution". However, synthetic biology has also raised serious concerns about the creation of man-made biological materials and the manipulation of the direction and speed of evolution. It is no wonder that transhumanists, who dream of creating new, enhanced human species, have welcomed the arrival of synthetic biology. How, then, can we deal with the nature reinvented by synthetic biology? By what means can one justify research that may affect the process of evolution? What intellectual resources do synthetic biology and transhumanism share in common? What influence would the new trend of commercialization of science and technology exert upon the development of synthetic biology? Addressing those questions, this paper argues that the moral authority of nature can be restored in this post-genomic era.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.28-47
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• 2022

Rapid development of information and communication technology is leading the digital transformation (hereinafter, DT) of various industries. At this point in rapid online transition, fashion manufacturers operating offline-oriented businesses have become highly interested in DT and artificial intelligence (hereinafter AI), which leads DT. The purpose of this study is to examine the development status and application case of AI-based digital technology developed for the fashion industry, and to examine the DT stage and AI application status of domestic fashion manufacturers. Hence, in-depth interviews were conducted with five domestic IT companies developing AI technology for the fashion industry and six domestic fashion manufacturers applying AI technology. After analyzing interviews, study results were as follows: The seven major AI technologies leading the DT of the fashion industry were fashion image recognition, trend analysis, prediction & visualization, automated fashion design generation, demand forecast & optimizing inventory, optimizing logistics, curation, and ad-tech. It was found that domestic fashion manufacturers were striving for innovative changes through DT although the DT stage varied from company to company. This study is of academic significance as it organized technologies specialized in fashion business by analyzing AI-based digitization element technologies that lead DT in the fashion industry. It is also expected to serve as basic study when DT and AI technology development are applied to the fashion field so that traditional domestic fashion manufacturers showing low growth can rise again.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.23-41
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• 2022

This case research investigates on how hearing aids, which is one of disability aids, is becoming a smart device, focusing on the case of Starkey Hearing Technologies(Starkey Inc.). Starkey, founded in 1967, has been a leader in innovating forms and functions of hearing aids, and has recently introduced the world's first hearing aid implemented with AI and biological sensors. In this study, history of disability aids, hearing aids(especially Starkey Inc.'s), smart wearable devices and smart earphones are compared. It has been found that recently, there has been a breakdown of boundaries between hearing aids and smart wearable devices in terms of their functions, since entertainment and life assistant functions are added to hearing aids. Based on this trend, the development model of disability aids and smart wearable devices are derived, and according social changes are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.358-371
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• 2020

As climate change is expected to lead to a severe reduction of biodiversity, studies to investigate the reasons for habitat loss, growth decline, and death of Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson), endangered alpine/subalpine species in Korea, have been conducted for years but found no clear answer yet. This study reviewed previous studies on Korean fir published in the journals in the past 40 years, 1980 through 2020, into 10-year units, examined the study trend by period, region, and subject with a focus on ecological studies, and analyzed the study results. The ecological studies were categorized into evolutionary ecology, physiological ecology, population ecology, and landscape ecology. Based on the results, we suggested the required research fields in the future. We found a total of 73 papers published in the past 40 years and 48 (65.8%) of them published in the past 10 years. In terms of region, Mt. Halla accounted for the most as 41 papers were on it. In terms of ecological subjects, the physiological ecology accounted for the most with 38, and the evolutionary ecology accounted for the least with 10. The review of the study results showed that many studies identified water stress caused by the water resource imbalance due to temperature increase and spring precipitation reduction following climate change as the main reason for the decline and habitat loss of Korean fir. However, recent studies suggested other factors, such as soil environment, disturbing organisms, and climatic events. The cause of the decline and death of the Korean fir not yet being clearly identified is that most of the studies dealt with the basic content, were carried out intermittently, and were concentrated in some regions. Therefore, we need long-term studies with advanced technology in each study subject at a local scale to find the cause of Korean fir decline and present sustainable management and conservation. Moreover, it is necessary to extend our study subjects to ecosystem ecology and systems ecology to integrate the results from various study subjects for a comprehensive understanding of the reason for Korean fir declines. The results of comprehensive studies could provide clearer answers for Korean fir's declines and the alternatives of conservation management and practices.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.211-238
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• 2005

Korea is far behind other OECD countries in economy-wise productivity: Korea's labor productivity in terms of GDP per hour worked is the lowest among OECD countries. Against the existing productivity gap, there is a worrying sign in Korea's investment trend - rapid fall in machinery and equipment investment with slow increase in R&D investment. The challenge facing Korea is how to transform her economy from catching-up model to a knowledge-based one. The paper shows that, in tandem with the structural changes that today's Korean industries are experiencing, industry's innovation system is also changing. Innovation networks are emerging as the result of economy-wise restructuring since the financial crisis of 1997 and, though still not a dominant force, the newly emerging innovation networks will be the main threads of industry's innovation activities in the future. The changes in industrial innovation system would positively contribute in raising the productivity of the Korean economy. The paper contains a case study on Korea's automobile industry in order to highlight some of main characteristics of the structural changes, in addition to a chapter that gives an overview of the evolutionary paths of the Korea's industrial innovation. The paper assesses that changes can be considered as a positive sign of future growth perspective; but there are further challenges to make the Korea's industrial innovation system effective. The list of such challenges includes strengthening upstream sectors of currently leading industries, expanding the innovation base to SME and promoting technological co-operation between domestic firms and foreign firms.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.83-101
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• 2019

Blockchain is considered as an innovative technology along with Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Internet of Things. However, since the inception of the genesis of blockchain technology, the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, the technology is not utilized widely, not let alone disruptive applications. Most of the blockchain research deals with the cryptocurrency, general descriptions of the technology such as trend, outlook of the technology, explanation of component technology, and so on. There are no killer applications like Facebook or Google, of course. Reflecting on the slow adoption by businesses, we wanted know about the current status of the research on blockchain in Korea. The main purpose of this paper is to help business practitioners to identify the application of blockchain to enhance the competitiveness of their organization. To do that, we first use the framework by Iansiti et al (2017) and categorize the blockchain related articles published in Korea according to the framework. This is to provide a benchmark or cases of other organizations' adoption of blockchain technology. Second, based on the value proposition of blockchain applications, we suggest evolutionary paths for adopting them. Third, from the demand pull perspective of technology adoption for innovation, we propose applicable areas where blockchain applications can be introduced. Fourth, we use the value chain model to find out the appropriate domains of blockchain applications in the corporate value chains. And the five competitive forces models is adopted to find ways of lowering the power of forces by incorporating blockchain technology.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] grows well in harsh environmental conditions, and is cultivated as one of the top seven food crops in the world. Recently, sweetpotato is drawing interest from people as a healthy food because it is high in dietary fiber, vitamins, carotenoids and overall nutrition value. However, few studies have been conducted on sweetpotato genome sequencing in spite of its importance. This review is aimed at increasing the efficiency of sweetpotato genome sequencing research as well as establishing a base for gene utilization in order to control useful traits. Recently, animal and plant genome sequencing projects increased significantly. However, sweetpotato genome sequencing has not been performed due to polyploidy and heterogeneity problems in its genome. Meanwhile research on its transcriptome has been conducted actively. Recently, a draft of the diploid sweetpotato genome was reported in 2015 by Japanese researchers. In addition, the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Research Association of Sweetpotato (TRAS) has conducted research on gene map construction and genome sequencing of the hexaploid sweetpotato Xushu 18 since 2014. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the 'sweetpotato genomic sequencing to develop genomic tools for Sub-Sahara Africa breeding program'. The chloroplast genome sequence acquired during sweetpotato genome sequencing is used in evolutionary analyses. In this review, the trend of research in the sweetpotato genome sequencing was analyzed. Research trend analysis like this will provide researchers working toward sweetpotato productivity and nutrient improvement with information on the status of sweetpotato genome research. This will contribute to solving world food, energy and environmental problems.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.1 no.1_2
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• pp.73-82
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• 1989

The development of eggs and larvae, and minute scale-like tubercles on the skin surface of the larval Acanthorthodeus asmussi from Korea were observed in the laboratory. The egg was nearly ovoid-shaped. The number of egg averaged 195 per an oviposition. The morphological character of larval development was relatively similar to those of Acheilognathus tabira tabira, A. tabira subsp. (a), A. yamatsutae, A. moriokae, A. cyanostigma and A. rhombeus. The larvae of this species had many scale-like tubercles ellipsoided in a diagonal cross section on the skin surface of the body. And also this species moved like incessant wiggly movement pattern as that of fly maggot duing the larval development. As regards the tubercles and larval movement pattern, the larvae of A. asmussi shared similar characters with those of Acheilognathus rhombeus, A. longipinnis and Pseudoperilampus typos. Hence A. asmussi may be closely related to these species. The latter three species are autumn-spawning bitterlings and the larval development always retard in a certain stage, while A. asmussi is a spring-summer spawning species and the larval development never retards. Judging from these facts, it should be considered that there are close relations in evolutionary trend between the two spawning species.