• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2021

The mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (CFRPs) are greatly dependent on the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix. Introducing nanomaterial reinforcements into the interface is an effective approach to enhance the interfacial adhesion of CFRPs. The main purpose of this work was to introduce graphitic nanofiber (GNFs) between an epoxy matrix and carbon fibers to enhance interfacial properties. The composites were reinforced with various concentrations of GNFs. For all of the fabricated composites, the optimum GNF content was found to be 0.6 wt%, which enhanced the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and fracture toughness (KIC) by 101.9% and 33.2%, respectively, compared with those of neat composites. In particular, we observed a direct linear relationship between ILSS and KIC through surface free energy. The related reinforcing mechanisms were also analyzed and the enhancements in mechanical properties are mainly attributed to the interfacial interlocking effect. Such an effort could accelerate the conversion of composites into high performance materials and provide fundamental understanding toward realizing the theoretical limits of interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

Purpose: This study explores the distinctive characteristics of virtual influencers compared to human influencers and examines how parasocial relationships with human consumers affect brand attitude. The hypothesis suggests that virtual influencers can overcome social distance barriers, emphasizing their role in fostering engagement. Research design, data and methodology: A structural model based on the source credibility model and unique traits of virtual influencers analyzes these dynamics. An online survey conducted in April 2024 garnered responses from 286 participants. Results: Findings reveal that virtual influencers positively impact parasocial interactions, which in turn enhance parasocial relationships and brand attitudes. However, the proposed effect of novelty on brand attitude through parasocial interaction was not statistically supported. Conclusions: This study highlights the unique attributes of virtual influencers, such as anthropomorphism, empathy, and novelty, which enhance consumer engagement through parasocial interactions and influence brand attitude. It provides a comprehensive framework for leveraging virtual influencers in marketing, offering significant advantages in maintaining consistent brand messaging and reducing risks associated with human influencers.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.156-169
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• 2024

This study leverages group-based control theory to explore how fresh starts reinvigorate consumers with low motivation to engage in collective environmental efforts. Typically, individuals with low control over their circumstances show less inclination toward collective goals. However, fresh starts can enhance the influence of perceived control on collective environmental engagement, with global identity mediating this relationship. This hypothesis was supported by two empirical studies. The first study analyzed data from 10,430 corporate participants in an energy-saving initiative, revealing that smaller organizations, which likely experience lower levels of control, made substantial energy-saving efforts early in the year, although this effect diminished over time. The second study of 108 college students found that a fresh start mindset and desire for control, mediated by global identity, enhance environmentally responsible behaviors. These findings suggest that fresh starts can effectively connect control perceptions with proactive environmental actions, underscoring their potential to foster collective environmental efforts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.175-177
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• 2001

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.528-543
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• 1993

Vitamin E, which has its advocates in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. autoimmune disease, cancer and peripheral vascular and thromboembolic disease, has now been alleged to have a powerful antioxident effect and to affect various biological activities such as fertility factor, inhibition of human platelet aggregation and stabilization of biological membranes. The present study was designed to test whether vitamin I(alpha-tocopherol) can : (1) enhance the hemagglutinin response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), (2) modulate Arthus and delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) to SRBC and contact hypersensitivity to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). (3) enhance the mitogenic response of murine splenocyte, (4) decrease the recovery of Cryptococcus neoformans from brain, lung, liver, spleen and kidney of infected mice and (5) have an inhibitory or enhancing effect on the induction of active systemic anaphylaxis(ASA) induced by chicken-gamma globulin (CGG) in mice. Mice were given either intramuscular injections of 0.3ml (300mg) of vitamin I before immunization or were infection for 10 consecutive days or were given by vitamin I esophageal intubation, 0.1ml(100mg), for 20 days before sacrifice for the mitogenic response experiments. It was found that vitamin E treated mice showed a significant enhancement in hemagglutinin response, Arthus reaction and DTH to SRBC and contact hypersensitivity to DNFB. There was no significant difference in the mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin(PHA), but the response to concanavalin A(ConA) or pokeweed mitogem(PWM) was increased in vitamin E-treated mice. Interestingly, the vitamin E administration before C. neoformans infection decreased significantly the recovery of C. neoformans from brain lung, liver, spleen and kidney of the infected mice as compared with that of the control mice, strongly suggesting that vitamin E pretreatment may increase the resistance of mice to the fungal infection. Unexpectedly, vitamin E administration enhanced the production of CGG -induced ASA. Taken together, it can be concluded that vitamin I administration may in-crease the humoral and cellular immune response and resistance. to C. neoformans infection, but enhance the induction of ASA to CGG. Further studies are necessary to clarify the underlying mechanism accounting for these effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to clarify the effect of addition of green tea powder(0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%) to Yackwa on quality and preservation. Addition of 4% green tea powder turned out to give positive effect on expansion. In test of physical characters, addition of green tea powder had a tendency to lower hardness, cohesiveness, springness and gumminess but to enhance brittleness. Considering the rancidity of oil within Yackwa, addition of green tea powder tended to show lower acid value and peroxide value than non-added treatment but its difference was slight. At the sensory test, surface color, bitterness and green tea flavor were strong but sweet and savory taste weak when green team powder was added(p<0.05). Overall quality appeared to have improved to 5.55 points which is compared to non-addition when the powder was added 4%(p<0.05). In conclusion, 4% addition of green tea powder would be the usefull method to enhance preference and quality of Yackwa.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1147-1153
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• 2004

Bladder cancer is a common cancer with high risk of recurrence and mortality. Intravesicle chemotherapy after trans-urethral resection is required to prevent tumor recurrence and progression. It has been known that antioxidants enhance the antitumor effect of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the most effective intravesical bladder cancer treatment. Capsaicin, the major pungent ingredient in genus Capsicum, has recently been tried as an intravesical drug for overactive bladder and it has also been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in many cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect and alterations in the cellular redox state of capsaicin in MBT-2 murine bladder tumor cells. Capsaicin induced apoptotic MBT-2 cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The capsaicin-induced apoptosis was blocked by the pretreatment with Z-VAD-fmk, a broad-range caspase inhibitor, or Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor. In addition to the caspase-3 activation, capsaicin also induced cytochrome c release and decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression with no changes in the level of Bax. Furthermore, capsaicin at the concentration of inducing apoptosis also markedly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, implying that capsaicin may enhance the antitumor effect of BCG in bladder cancer treatment. These results further suggest that capsaicin may be a valuable intravesical chemotherapeutic agent for bladder cancers.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1093-1100
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• 2004

Numerical analysis of the heat transfer associated with droplet impact on a hot solid surface is performed by solving the equations governing conservation of mass, momentum and energy in the liquid and gas phases. The deformed droplet shape is tracked by a level set method which is modified to achieve volume conservation and to include the effect of contact angle at the wall. The numerical method is validated through the calculations for the cases reported in the literature. Based on the numerical results, the heat transfer rate is found to depend strongly on the droplet spread radius. Decreased advancing/receding contact angles enlarge the splat radius and in turn enhance the wall heat flux. The effect of impact velocity on the droplet spread is reduced as the droplet size decreases. Also, droplet atomization is observed to significantly enhance the heat transfer rate and the effect is pronounced for a smaller size of droplet. An existing model equation to predict the maximum spread radius is improved for application to a micro droplet.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2008

Reparative dentine formation requires newly differentiated odontoblast-like cells. Therefore, identification of the molecule that stimulates the odontogenic differentiation of precursor cells in the tooth pulp will be helpful for the development of strategies to repair damaged pulp. In this study, we examined the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the odontogenic differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, a mouse odontoblast-like cell line derived from dental papilla, and primary cultured rat dental papilla cells (RDPCs). NAC (1-30 mM) suppressed production of reactive oxygen species in MDPC-23 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Although 5 to 20 mM NAC did not alter MDPC-23 cell proliferation, 1 or 30 mM NAC significantly inhibited it. NAC enhanced mineralized nodule formation and the expression of several odontoblast differentiation-associated genes in both RDPCs and MDPC-23. This NAC stimulatory effect was significant, even at concentrations lower than 1 mM. However, NAC did not stimulate expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2, -4, or -7, which are known to enhance odontogenic differentiation. Since reactive oxygen species are also involved in the pulp toxicity of resin-based restorative materials, these results suggest that NAC may be a promising candidate for supplementation of dental restorative materials in order to enhance reparative dentine formation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 1982

Mutants of plasmid pKM101 modified to enhance mutagenesis were induced and characterized in Salmonella typhimurium. The pKM101 mutant plasmid were transferred normally and stably maintained in cells. They had modified in their ability (i) to enhance the reversion of both point and frameshift mutations, (ii) to protect the cell against UV-irradiation and chemical mutagen treatment, (iii) of ampicillin resistance. A similar modification in enhancement of reversion was also observed in a $uvrB^-$ strains. These results indicated that mutator effect of pKM101 was coded by one plasmid gene.