• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.87-99
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• 2009

Medical tourism is a contemporary phenomenon which has its root in both tourism and health service. Especially, Korea's medical tourism market has grown dramatically after activation of foreign patient attraction law. The purpose of this study is to find out which is the most influential factors among political, economic, relative and national image in case of Japanese tourists when they purchase Korean medical tourism. This study estimates the Japanese tourists' Trust in the Korean health service quality and tourism service quality. It means perception of medical tourism. The results are as follows; The political, relative and economic image not have any significant influences on tourism service and trust in health service quality. And just the national image has a positive influence on tourism service and trust in health service quality. Tourism service quality is related with trust in the health service quality. Trust in health service quality is only related with purchase intention of medical tourism. The implications of this study are: First, the national image factors such as thoughtfulness, high education and polite attitude should be utilized as a Korea medical tourism marketing strategy to differentiate itself from the other foreign country in Japan. Next, the differentiated national image in Japan will be the most important factors for Korean hospital and tourism companies to attract medical tourists.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.465-472
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• 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant type of cancers and its incidence is steadily increasing, due to life style factors that include western diet. Abnormal activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Therefore, targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been considered a crucial strategy in the discovery of small molecules for CRC. In the present study, we found that Nodosin, an ent-kaurene diterpenoid isolated from Isodon serra, effectively inhibits the proliferation of human colon cancer HCT116 cells. Mechanistically, Nodosin effectively inhibited the overactivated transcriptional activity of β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) determined by Wnt/β-catenin reporter gene assay in HEK293 and HCT116 cells. The expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes such as Axin2, cyclin D1, and survivin were also suppressed by Nodosin in HCT116 cells. Further study revealed that a longer exposure of Nodosin induced the G₂/M phase cell cycle arrest and subsequently apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These findings suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of Nodosin in colorectal cancer cells might in part be associated with the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3477-3485
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• 2012

This research focused on the cluster analysis for the vitalization of the innovation cluster, Gwanggyo Technovalley. The study was performed based on both theoretical study and quantitative and qualitative study approaches. Particularly, questionnaire survey was performed for the cluster analysis of the innovation cluster. The major determinants for vitalization of the innovation cluster, Gwanggyo Technovalley can be summarized as follows; the strategy formulation for the development of the innovation cluster, the enhancement of the host institution capability and gradual enlargement of the role of the host institution. In terms of the needs of times, this study regarding the cluster analysis for the vitalization of the innovation cluster, Gwanggyo Technovalley is anticipated to be a good reference for the R&D organizations and technology cluster participants in coming years.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.12.1-12.12
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• 2018

Drugs targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), such as cetuximab and panitumumab, have been prescribed for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), but patients harboring KRAS mutations are insensitive to them and do not have an alternative drug to overcome the problem. The levels of ${\beta}$-catenin, EGFR, and RAS, especially mutant KRAS, are increased in CRC patient tissues due to mutations of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), which occur in 90% of human CRCs. The increases in these proteins by APC loss synergistically promote tumorigenesis. Therefore, we tested KYA1797K, a recently identified small molecule that degrades both ${\beta}$-catenin and Ras via $GSK3{\beta}$ activation, and its capability to suppress the cetuximab resistance of KRAS-mutated CRC cells. KYA1797K suppressed the growth of tumor xenografts induced by CRC cells as well as tumor organoids derived from CRC patients having both APC and KRAS mutations. Lowering the levels of both ${\beta}$-catenin and RAS as well as EGFR via targeting the $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin pathway is a therapeutic strategy for controlling CRC and other types of cancer with aberrantly activated the $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin and EGFR-RAS pathways, including those with resistance to EGFR-targeting drugs attributed to KRAS mutations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.695-705
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenosides have beneficial effects on several airway inflammatory disorders primarily through glucocorticosteroid-like anti-inflammatory activity. Among inflammatory cells, eosinophils play a major pathogenic role in conferring a risk of severe refractory diseases including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, the role of ginsenosides in reducing eosinophilic inflammation and CRS pathogenesis is unexplored. Methods: We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of ginsenoside F1 (G-F1) in comparison with those of dexamethasone, a representative glucocorticosteroid, in a murine model of CRS. The effects of G-F1 or dexamethasone on sinonasal abnormalities and infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells were evaluated by histological analyses. The changes in inflammatory cytokine levels in sinonasal tissues, macrophages, and NK cells were assessed by qPCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Results: We found that G-F1 significantly attenuated eosinophilic inflammation, mast cell infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, and mucosal thickening in the sinonasal mucosa of CRS mice. Moreover, G-F1 reduced the expression of IL-4 and IL-13, as well as hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase required for prostaglandin D2 production. This therapeutic efficacy was associated with increased NK cell function, without suppression of macrophage inflammatory responses. In comparison, dexamethasone potently suppressed macrophage activation. NK cell depletion nullified the therapeutic effects of G-F1, but not dexamethasone, in CRS mice, supporting a causal link between G-F1 and NK cell activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that potentiating NK cell activity, for example with G-F1, is a promising strategy for resolving eosinophilic inflammation in CRS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-93
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• 2019

Archive exhibitions are one of the important tasks of archives that promote the value of archives and contribute to increasing users' interest and positive image but have not yet been activated. Recently, there has been a shift from a one-way archive exhibition to a new way to draw attention and understanding from users by using archival contents. This study aims to propose ways to activate archive exhibitions by utilizing archival contents by analyzing the exhibits of domestic cultural heritage institutions. Focusing on ways to improve the understanding and utilization of records through archival contents, the proposed strategy for developing archive exhibition programs is a three-way contents-based exhibition, experiential exhibition, and digital environment-based exhibition. The results of this study are expected to help develop archival exhibition programs that will enhance users' interest and understanding of records.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2018

Rice is the staple food of more than 50% of the world population. Cultivated rice has the AA genome (diploid, 2n = 24) and small genome size of only 430 megabase (haploid genome). As the sequencing of rice genome was completed by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP), many researchers in the world have been working to explore the gene function on rice genome. Insertional mutagenesis has been a powerful strategy for assessing gene function. In maize, well characterized transposable elements have traditionally been used to clone genes for which only phenotypic information is available. In rice endogenous mobile elements such as MITE and Tos have been used to generate gene-tagged populations. To date T-DNA and maize transposable element systems have been utilized as main insertional mutagens in rice. The Ac/Ds system offers the advantage of generating new mutants by secondary transposition from a single tagged gene. To enhance the efficiency of gene detection, advanced gene-tagging systems (i.e. activation, gene or enhancer trap) have been employed for functional genomic studies in rice. Internationally, there have been many projects to develop large scales of insertional mutagenized populations and databases of insertion sites has been established. Ultimate goals of these projects are to supply genetic materials and informations essential for functional analysis of rice genes and for breeding using agronomically important genes. In this report, we summarize the current status of Ac/Ds-mediated gene tagging systems that has been conducted by collaborative works in Korea.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.9-23
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• 2019

The artificial intelligence speaker market is in a new age of mounting displays. This study aimed to analyze the difference of experience using artificial intelligent speakers in terms of usage context, according to the presence or absence of displays. This was achieved by using semantic network analysis to determine how the online review texts of Amazon Echo Show and Echo Plus consisted of different UX issues with structural differences. Based on the physical context and the social context of the user experience, the ego network was constructed to draw out major issues. Results of the analysis show that users' expectation gap is generated according to the display presence, which can lead to negative experiences. Also, it was confirmed that the Multimodal interface is more utilized in the kitchen than in the bedroom, and can contribute to the activation of communication among family members. Based on these findings, we propose a user experience strategy to be considered in display type speakers to be launched in Korea in the future.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2019

Objectives : Hyperthermia is a widely used therapeutic tool for cancer therapy and a well-known inducer of apoptosis. Although the Cinnamomi cortex (CC) is a potent anticancer agent for several human carcinomas, it is less potent in the human U937 cell line. To explore any enhancing effects of CC with hyperthermia induced apoptosis, this study investigated the combined effects and apoptotic mechanisms of hyperthermia and CC in U937 cells. Methods : U937 cells were heat treated at $43^{\circ}C$ for 30 min with or without pre-treatment for 1h with CC and then incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay and Trypan blue assay. Morphological changes reflecting apoptosis were visualized under microscope. Synergy effect of CC combined with hyperthermia were calculated by Compusyn software. The expression of proteins related to apoptosis and signaling pathways was determined by western blotting. Results : Hyperthermia with CC reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis. Combined hyperthermia and CC treatment markedly augmented apoptosis by upregulating proapoptotic proteins and suppressing antiapoptotic proteins, culminating in caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, the combined treatment, decreased the expression of in Bcl-2 family, cyclin D1, VEGF, MMP2 and MMP9 expression. Conclusion : This study provides compelling evidence that hyperthermia, in combination with CC, is a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancement of apoptosis and suggests a promising therapeutic approach for cancer.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.243-248
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• 2019

As digital media technology continues to evolve, media arts are being created using new technologies. Among them, interactive media provides new experience and interest to the audience in that the audience is completed only by participating in the works. The use of these characteristics as a marketing strategy has led to an increase in sales and a positive image of the company. Through this study, we analyze the case of interactive media contents and infer the usage plan and elements. In addition, we propose a prototype of interactive media contents that can be used as a strategic marketing element by exploring ways to utilize interactive media as a marketing element of the film industry. This suggests the development direction of interactive media that provides a continuous and new sense of immersion to the audience, and suggests subsequent research on effective use of the industry as well as movie marketing.