• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2019

Melanin is a mixture of pigmented biopolymers synthesized by epidermal melanocytes that determine the skin, eye, and hair colors. Melanocytes produce two different kinds of melanin, eumelanin (dark brown/black insoluble pigments found in dark skin and dark hair and pheomelanin (lighter red/yellow). The biological role of melanin is to prevent skin damage by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, the overproduction or deficiency of melanin synthesis could lead to serious dermatological problems, which include melasma, melanoderma, lentigo, and vitiligo. Therefore, regulating melanin production is important to prevent the pigmentation disorders. Myanmar has a rich in natural resources. However, the chemical constituents of these natural resources in Myanmar have not been fully investigated. In the effort to search for compounds with anti-melanin deposition activity from Myanmar natural resources, five plants were collected in Myanmar. Extracts of these collected five plants were tested for anti-melanin deposition activity against a mouse melanoma cell line (B16-F10) induced with ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and their anti-melanin deposition activities were compared with the positive control, arbutin. Among the tested extracts, the CHCl3 extracts of the Premna serratifolia (syn: P. integrifolia) wood showed anti-melanin deposition activities with IC50 values of $81.3{\mu}g/mL$. Hence, this study aims to identify secondary metabolites with anti-melanin deposition activity from P. serratifolia wood of Myanmar. P. serratifolia belongs to the Verbenaceae family and is widely distributed in near western sea coast from South Asia to South East Asia, which include India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. People in Tanintharyi region located in the southern part of Myanmar utilize the P. serratifolia, Sperethusa crenulata, Naringi crenulata, and Limonia acidissima as Thanaka, traditional cosmetics in Myanmar. Thanaka is applied in the form of paste onto skins to make it smooth and clear, as well as to prevent wrinkles, skin aging, excessive facial oil, pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. However, the chemical constituents responsible for their cosmetic properties are yet to be identified. Moreover, the chemical constituents of P. serratifolia was almost uncharacterized. Investigation of the P. serratifolia chemical constituents is thus an attractive endeavor to discover new anti-melanin deposition active compounds. The investigation of the chemical constituents of the active CHCl3 extract of P. serratifolia led to isolation of four new lignoids, premnan A (1), premnan B (2), taungtangyiol C (3), and 7,9-dihydroxydolichanthin B (4), together with premnan C (5) (assumed to be an artifact), one natural newlignoid,(3R,4S)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylcarbonyl)-3-[(R)-1-(1,3-benzo dioxol-5-yl)-1-hydroxy methyl]tetrahydro-2-furanone (6), and five known compounds (7-11)1,2). The structures of all isolated compounds were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data and by comparison with the reported literatures. The absolute configurations of 1-3 and 5 were also determined by optical rotation and circular dichroism (CD) data analyses1). The anti-melanin deposition activities of all the isolated compounds were evaluated against B16-F10 cell line. 7,9-Dihydroxydolichanthin B (4) and ($2{\alpha},3{\alpha}$)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (11) showed strong anti-melanin deposition activities with IC50 values of 18.4 and $11.2{\mu}M$, respectively, without cytotoxicity2). On the other hand, compounds 1-3, 5, and 7 showed melanogenesis enhancing activities1). To better understand their anti-melanin deposition mechanism, the effects of 4 and 11 on tyrosinase activities were investigated. The assay indicated that compounds 4 and 11 did not inhibit tyrosinase. Furthermore, we also examined the mRNA expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2). Compounds 4 and 11 down-regulated the expression of Tyr and Mitf mRNAs, respectively. Although the P. serratifolia wood has been used as traditional cosmetics in Myanmar for centuries, there are no scientific evidences to support its effectiveness as cosmetics. Investigation of the anti-melanin deposition activity of the chemical constituents of P. serratifolia thus provided insight into the effectiveness of the P. serratifolia wood as a cosmetic agent.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.78-86
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to delineate clinical spectrum and short-term effects after enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for 5 mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II). Methods: Five patients were diagnosed with MPS II by clinical findings, enzyme activity, and genetic testing. Idursulfase was administered by intravenous infusion at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg every week. Observational chart analysis of patients, who underwent systematic investigations more than 12 months after initiation of ERT was done retrospectively. Results: Three patients were classified as having the attenuated type, and 2 patients were classified as having the severe type. The median age at the diagnosis was 9.6 years (range 3.4-26 years). Four different mutations in 5 Korean patients (4 families) with MPS II were identified, among which two were novel mutations (1 small insertion mutation: p.Thr409Hisfs*22, and 1 missense mutation: p.Gly134Glu). Two severe type sibling patients with the same mutation had different clinical manifestation. Urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion decreased within the twelve months of ERT (P=0.043). Liver and spleen volumes showed reductions that were maintained in all patients (P=0.043 and P=0.043, respectively). Improvements were also noted in left ventricular mass index (P=0.042), shoulder flexion (P=0.043), shoulder abduction (P=0.039), knee flexion (P=0.043), elbow flexion (P=0.042), and respiratory distress index (P=0.041). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Korean patients with MPS II are clinically heterogeneous and indicates that idursulfase is relatively effective in several clinical parameters including heart size and respiratory distress index without infusion-related reactions in patients with MPS II.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.152-171
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• 2019

In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of the cold air generated in Hannamgeumbuk and Geumbuk-Jeongmaek and proposed their management strategies. We also suggested management strategies after analyzing detailed cold airflows for Cheongju located Hannamgeumbuk-Jeongmaek and we compared the degree of nighttime temperature reduction of the Jeongmaek by using data obtained from observatories located on Cheongju. We used KALM(Kaltluftabflussmodell), a cold air simulation model developed in Germanay and identified both cold airflows and altitude of cold air layers generated during 360minutes at night. As a result, the cold airflow generated in the Jeongmaek became strong and the cold air was appeared clearly in the western part of the Hannamgeumbuk-Jeongamek and in the northern part of the Geumbuk-Jeongmaek. The average velocity of cold airflow was recorded at 0.45m/s, and the maximum speed of cold airflow was recorded at 2.70m/s. The average height of the cold air layer was 104.27m/s and the maximum thickness was 255.0m. The average velocity of cold airflows in Cheongju was 0.51m/s and the average height of cold air layer was 48.87m high. The highest degree of nighttime temperature reduction appeared in the Cheongnamdae observatory($-3.8^{\circ}C$), where the altitude of the cold air layer is high. The results showed that cooling effect of Jeongmaek actually affected the temperature reduction during nighttime. Based on the results, we designated the main mountain area of the Jeongmaek with active cold air generation as "cold air conservation areas" and proposed the current forest and topography conservation. We also proposed to designate areas that facilitate the cold airflows as "cold air management areas" and to complement the function of Jeongmaek. This study could support the establishment of systematic management plans of the Jeongmaek. In addition, it is expected that the results can be applied as basic data for ventilation paths of Cheongju.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.747-753
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• 2019

Cognitive decline is characterized by reduced long-/short-term memory and attention span, and increased depression and anxiety. Such decline is associated with various degenerative brain disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The increases in elderly populations suffering from cognitive decline create social problems and impose economic burdens, and also pose safety threats; all of these problems have been extensively researched over the past several decades. Possible causes of cognitive decline include metabolic and hormone imbalance, infection, medication abuse, and neuronal changes associated with aging. However, no treatment for cognitive decline is available. In neurodegenerative diseases, changes in the gut microbiota and gut metabolites can alter molecular expression and neurobehavioral symptoms. Changes in the gut microbiota affect memory loss in AD via the downregulation of NMDA receptor expression and increased glutamate levels. Furthermore, the use of probiotics resulted in neurological improvement in an AD model. PD and gut microbiota dysbiosis are linked directly. This interrelationship affected the development of constipation, a secondary symptom in PD. In a PD model, the administration of probiotics prevented neuron death by increasing butyrate levels. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been identified in AD and PD. Increased BBB permeability is also associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, which led to the destruction of microtubules via systemic inflammation. Notably, metabolites of the gut microbiota may trigger either the development or attenuation of neurodegenerative disease. Here, we discuss the correlation between cognitive decline and the gut microbiota.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the differences of demographic and clinical characteristics between child-adolescents who received medical inpatient care and non-hospitalized adolescents after suicide attempts. Methods : The study included 35 child-adolescents who were hospitalized (Admission group) and 114 child-adolescents who were not hospitalized (Non-Admission group) as a result of a suicide attempt from 2009 to 2015. We compared sociodemographic, clinical, and suicide attempt-related characteristics through a chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to evaluate the differences between the two groups. Results : Child-adolescents of this study most commonly attempted suicide by poisoning, and for motivation of interpersonal problems. Admission group had significantly fewer attempts through injury by sharp objects (${\chi}^2=4.374$, p=0.037) and attempted suicide with a higher chance of actually dying when compared to Risk-Rescue Rating Scale (t=1.981, p=0.049). In addition, Admission group had relatively common motivation for academic problems (${\chi}^2=12.082$, p=0.001) and less motivation for interpersonal difficulties. (${\chi}^2=9.869$, p=0.002) Psychiatric diagnosis at the time of visiting the emergency department showed higher rates of depression in the admission group than Non-Admission group (${\chi}^2=8.649$, p=0.003). The results of logistic regression showed that depression affects hospitalization (OR=2.783, 95% CI 1.092-7.089, p=0.032). Conclusions : This study is meaningful in that it revealed the social and clinical characteristics of all child-adolescents who were hospitalized at a university hospital after attempting suicide. This study identified differences in motivation, methods, and psychiatric diagnosis of hospitalized adolescents and those who were not. Therefore, the results may help adolescent suicide attempters to get a discriminatory approach based on their admission.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.14
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• pp.153-190
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• 2006

Externally, business environment in public institution has being changed as government business reference model(BRM) appeared and business management systems for transparency of a policy decision process are introduced. After Records Automation System started its operation, dissatisfaction grows because of inadequacy in system function and the problems about authenticity of electronic records. With these backgrounds, National Archives and Records Service had carried out 'Information Strategy Planning for Reform to Records Management System' for 5 months from September, 2005. As result, this project reengineers current records management processes and presents the world-class system model. After Records and Archives Management Act was made, the records management in public institution has propelled the concept that paper records are handled by means of the electric data management. In this reformed model, however, we concentrates on the electric records, which have gradually replaced the paper records and investigate on the management methodology considering attributes of electric records. According to this new paradigm, the electric records management raises a new issue in the records management territory. As the major contents of the models connecting with electric records management were analyzed and their significance and bounds were closely reviewed, the aim of this paper is the understanding of the future bearings of the management system. Before the analysis of the reformed models, issues in new business environments and their records management were reviewed. The government's BRM and Business management system prepared the general basis that can manage government's whole results on the online and classify them according to its function. In this points, the model is innovative. However considering the records management, problems such as division into Records Classification, definitions and capturing methods of records management objects, limitations of Records Automation System and so on was identified. For solving these problems, the reformed models that has a records classification system based on the business classification, extended electronic records filing system, added functions for strengthening electric records management and so on was proposed. As regards dramatically improving the role of records center in public institution, searching for the basic management methodology of the records management object from various agency and introducing the detail design to keep documents' authenticity, this model forms the basis of the electric records management system. In spite of these innovations, however, the proposed system for real electric records management era is still in its beginning. In near feature, when the studies is concentrated upon the progress of qualified classifications, records capturing plans for foreign records structures such like administration information system, the further study of the previous preservation technology, the developed prospective of electric records management system will be very bright.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1003-1024
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• 2016

The human rights of older people have gotten more attention recently in South Korea, a country that is in transition to a super-aged society. This study aimed to systematically review studies on elder abuse and related factors among community-dwelling older adults in South Korea over twenty years (1994-2016). We searched major databases (Riss, DBpia, KISS, KMbase, and PubMed) and identified published studies relevant to the topic. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria related to study quality, a total of 31 studies were selected for this review. We examined types, measurements, and risk factors of elder abuse as well as study designs in the selected studies, guided by Johannesen's theoretical framework on elder abuse. All of the reviewed studies on elder abuse in Korea were cross-sectional studies, most of which focused on older people living in urban areas, using a non-random sampling method. All of the studies focused on certain types of elder abuse only. Some adopted elder-abuse instruments that were not validated, and others used self-developed instruments without psychometric tests. As for the risk factors of elder abuse in South Korea, the physical and mental health of the victims and aggressors impacted the risk of elder abuse, but general sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, and education were less likely to be related to the risk. In addition, decreasing caregiver burden and building elder-friendly communities are important for the prevention of elder abuse. Needed are further empirical studies on elder abuse with a theoretical framework that gives consideration to the unique sociocultural contexts of Korea. It is also recommended to develop instruments to measure elder abuse reflecting the sociocultural contexts of Korea, and to examine the multi-dimensional risk factors of elder abuse.

• (The) Korean Journal of Educational Psychology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.767-794
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• 2017

Creativity is a social byproduct formed in a specific sociocultural context. Although creativity differs according to the level of culture ranging from supranational, national, professional to organizational levels, research studies documented in literature have mainly dealt with creativity in the (super)national level. For example, differences in personal creativity in the East and the West led by collectivism and individualism, respectively have been dominating in the studies about cultural differences in creativity. Consequently, the domain specificity of creativity and the effects of a more micro level of culture, such as domains, occupations, and organizations, on creative outcomes have been dismissed. Understanding the characteristics of domains, and sociocultural and environmental factors leading to creative products is worth investigating considering that the conception of creativity today highly relies on the nature of domains valued in a certain sociocultural environment. This study reviewed a wide range of literature regarding creativity and sociocultural and environmental factors in order to explore how culture and/or cultural factors inspired creative thinking and generating ideas for creative performance and products. Cultural factors were identified either as a value or a practice (custom) and examined on the supernational, national, professional, and organizational levels. For supernational and national cultures, issues on individualism, collectivism, artistic social atmosphere, and multi-cultural experiences were discussed, while the professional and organizational cultures delved topics on the domain of architecture in which both originality and functionality are greatly valued for creativity. The authors concluded that the impact of culture on creative thinking and idea generation varied according to the levels of culture although issues on multifactorial aspects of culture, differences between personal and collective creativity, and the identification of culture either as a value or a practice (custom) should be discussed further for future studies.

• (The) Korean Journal of Advertising
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.59-90
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• 2016

Consumers demand that corporates fulfill their social responsibility by exerting influence over not only economical values but also social values in markets. Given such a social mood, most corporates are actively engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) activities, and marketing scholars continue to study the effects of such CSR activities. Numerous such studies examined the relationship between CSR activity and brand equity. Moreover, virtually, a majority of these studies focused on consumer responses to CSR activity from an individual brand perspective. In a situation in which brand management must consider the spillover effects of brands, firms holding various brands should consider these spillover effects when they establish CSR activity strategies. Therefore, we examine the effects of CSR activity using a comprehensive approach that considers the hierarchy of brands. Additionally, we develop a new perspective on fit that has been used as a major influence on the effects of CSR activity. We argue that the mixed results of the impact of fit regarding the effect of CSR activities is attributed to the influence of connections among brands based on the hierarchy of brands. We then examine the effect of two types of CSR activity strategies that reflect the relativity of fit. The results reveal that there was no difference in impact of the two strategies based on unique roles and traits of corporate brand and effects of low fit. Also, we found that the corporate brand focused strategy creates a greater change in consumers' attitudes than does an individual brand focused strategy in the case of a particular brand. This finding is meaningful because it indicates that a hierarchy of brands may relatively reduce the impact of the role of fit, unlike general arguments from previous related research. Second, the spillover effects from the CSR activities of individual sub-brands belonging to the same corporate brand were confirmed. Therefore, we clearly verified the role of the hierarchy of brands. Although both strategies cause changes in consumer attitude toward brands engaged in CSR activity, overall, a corporate brand focused strategy turned out to be more effective than an individual brand focused strategy because of the spillover effects of brands. Third, this study verified the effect of a corporate brand focused strategy through a moderating effect analysis of the degree of association between individual brands and corporate brand. Given these results, we identified a moderating role in the degree of association and the changes in consumer attitudes toward both main brands engaged in CSR activities and other different individual brands, which were caused by the spillover effects of brands. Finally, this study addresses implications and limitations.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.42
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• pp.505-524
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• 2016

This study examines the ways District 9, a film released in 2009, reworks the sci-fi genre to explore the human encounter with "other" alien populations. Like Avatar, released in the same year, District 9 addresses the tropes of conflict over land and human-alien hybridity and introduces non-humans and aliens, not as invaders, but as objects of human oppression and cruelty. Unlike many other science fiction films where the encounter between humans and non-humans occurs in an unidentifiable future time and location, District 9 crosses genre barriers to engage with urban realism, producing a social critique of contemporary urban population problems. The arrival of aliens in District 9 occurs as part of the recorded human past and the film's action is carried out in the present time in the specifically identified city of Johannesburg. A distinctly anti-Hollywood film that locates the action at the street level, District 9 plays out human anxieties about contact with others by referencing the divisions and conflicts historically attached to South Africa's sprawling metropolis and its current problems of urban poverty and illegal immigrants. Focusing on how this particular urban setting frames the film, the study investigates the ways Blomkamp's sci-fi film about extra-terrestrials presents a curious postcolonial mix of aliens and immigrants surviving in abject conditions in an urban slum and forces a realistic examination of the contemporary social problems faced by South Africa's largest city and by extension other major global cities. The paper also examines the film's representation of the human-alien hybrid and its potential as a force to resist human exploitation of the other. It also claims that though the setting is highly local, District 9 speaks to a wider global audience by making obvious the exploitative practices of profit-seeking multinationals. A sci-fi film that is keen on making a social commentary on urban population conflicts, District 9 resonates with the wider sense of insecurity and fear of others that form the horizon of the uncertain and potentially violent contemporary human world.