• Title/Summary/Keyword: Innovation Cycle

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Production of Fructose 6-Phoschate from Starch Using Thermostable Enzymes (내열성 효소를 이용한 전분으로부터 6-인산과당의 제조)

  • Kwun, Kyu-Hyuk;Cha, Wol-Suk;Kim, Bok-Hee;Shin, Hyun-Jae
    • KSBB Journal
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    • v.22 no.5
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    • pp.345-350
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    • 2007
  • Phosphosugars are found in all living organisms and are commercially valuable compounds with possible applications in the development of a wide range of specialty chemicals and medicines. In carbohydrate metabolism, fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) is an essential intermediate formed by phosphorylation of 6' position of fructose in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway and Calvin cycle. In glycolysis, F6P lies within the glycolysis metabolic pathway and is produced by isomerisation of glucose 6-phosphate. For large-scale production, F6P could be produced from starch using many enzymes such as pullulanase, starch phosphorylase, isomerase and mutase. In enzymatic reactions carried out at high temperatures, the solubility of starch is increased and microbial contamination is minimized. Thus, thermophile-derived enzymes are preferred over mesophile-derived enzymes for industrial applications using starch. Recently, we reported the production of glucose 1-phosphate (G1P) from starch by Thermus caldophilus GK24 enzymes. Here we report the production of F6P from starch through three steps; from starch to glucose 1-phosphate (glucan phosphorylase, GP), then glucose 6-phosphate (phosphoglucomutase, GM) and then F6P (phosphoglucoisomerase, GI). Using 200 L of 1.2% soluble starch solution in potassium phosphate buffer, 1,253 g of G1P were produced. Then, 30% yields of F6P were attained at the optimum reaction conditions of GM : G1 (1 : 2.3), 63.5$^{\circ}C$, and pH 6.85. The optimum conditions were found by response surface methodology and the theoretical values were confirmed by the experiments. The optimum starch concentrations were 20 g/L under the given conditions.

Effects of Sasa quelpaertensis Extract on mRNA and microRNA Profiles of SNU-16 Human Gastric Cancer Cells (SNU-16 위암 세포의 mRNA 및 miRNA 프로파일에 미치는 제주조릿대 추출물의 영향)

  • Jang, Mi Gyeong;Ko, Hee Chul;Kim, Se-Jae
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.501-512
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    • 2020
  • Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai leaf has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer, dipsosis, and hematemesis based on its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic characteristics. We have previously reported the procedure for deriving a phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) from S. quelpaertensis and how PRE and its ethyl acetate fraction (EPRE) exhibits an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in various gastric cancer cells. To explore the molecular targets involved in this apoptosis, we investigated the mRNA and microRNA profiles of EPRE-treated SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells. In total, 2,875 differentially expressed genes were identified by RNA sequencing, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses indicated that the EPRE-modulated genes are associated with apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinase, inflammatory response, tumor necrosis factor signaling, and cancer pathways. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction network analysis confirmed interactions among genes associated with cell death and apoptosis, and 27 differentially expressed microRNAs were identified by further sequencing. Here, GO and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that EPRE modified the expression of microRNAs associated with the cell cycle and cell death, as well as signaling of tropomyosin-receptor-kinase receptor, transforming growth factor-b, nuclear factor kB, and cancer pathways. Taken together, these results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of EPRE.

Mechanistic Analysis of Taxol-induced Multidrug Resistance in an Ovarian Cancer Cell Line

  • Wang, Ning-Ning;Zhao, Li-Jun;Wu, Li-Nan;He, Ming-Feng;Qu, Jun-Wei;Zhao, Yi-Bing;Zhao, Wan-Zhou;Li, Jie-Shou;Wang, Jin-Hua
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.9
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    • pp.4983-4988
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    • 2013
  • Objectives: To establish a taxol-resistant cell line of human ovarian carcinoma (A2780/Taxol) and investigate its biological features. Methods: The drug-resistant cell line (A2780/Taxol) was established by continuous stepwise selection with increasing concentrations of Taxol. Cell morphology was assessed by microscopy and growth curves were generated with in vitro and in vivo tumor xenograft models. With rhodamine123 (Rh123) assays, cell cycle distribution and the apoptotic rate were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Drug resistance-related and signal associated proteins, including P-gp, MRPs, caveolin-1, PKC-${\alpha}$, Akt, ERK1/2, were detected by Western blotting. Results: A2780/Taxol cells were established with stable resistance to taxol. The drug resistance index (RI) was 430.7. Cross-resistance to other drugs was also shown, but there was no significant change to radioresistance. Compared with parental cells, A2780/Taxol cells were significantly heteromorphous, with a significant delay in population doubling time and reduced uptake of Rh123 (p<0.01). In vivo, tumor take by A2780 cells was 80%, and tumor volume increased gradually. In contrast, with A2780/Taxol cells in xenograft models there was no tumor development. FCM analysis revealed that A2780/Taxol cells had a higher percentage of G0/G1 and lower S phase, but no changes of G2 phase and the apoptosis rate. Expression of P-gp, MRP1, MRP2, BCRP, LRP, caveolin-1, PKC-${\alpha}$, Phospho-ERK1/2 and Phospho-JNK protein was significantly up-regulated, while Akt and p38 MARK protein expression was not changed in A2780/Taxol cells. Conclusion: The A2780/Taxol cell line is an ideal model to investigate the mechanism of muti-drug resistance related to overexpression of drug-resistance associated proteins and activation of the PKC-${\alpha}/ERK$ (JNK) signaling pathway.

The Impacts of Education Service Quality in the Traditional Market Merchant College on Business Performance (전통시장 상인대학 교육서비스 품질이 경영성과에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Dong-Gyu;Hwang, Hee-Jung;Song, In-Am
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.11 no.10
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    • pp.81-92
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    • 2013
  • Purpose - This study empirically analyzes the effect of improvements in the quality of service management performance of college education on traders' conscious change of business management innovation and diverse sales expertise for a year. The use of traders' conscious changes and sales expertise as variables for the verification of the effects of parameters related to the active trader's traditional education market is a desirable direction. The method of research reflects the quality of education service, management result, traders' conscious changes, and sales expertise to understand the precise essence and definition of teaching quality at merchant colleges through theoretical consideration. Moreover, its impact on traders' conscious changes and sales expertise in empirical analysis acts as an intermediary. Research design, data, methodology - The hypothesis of this study leverages the SPSS statistical program. To gather actual proof, sample survey for theoretical research examined 262 valid papers of the 300 papers written by 10 merchants who graduated from merchant's university. First, using the SERVQUAL model, Parasuraman et al. (1996) indicated that for quality of education service, the configuration of factors is the same as the sympathetic performance, that is, responsiveness and empathy, and traders are aware of these elements. However, our preliminary investigation revealed that traders' university education has been excluded as a component of quality of service in the earlier studies. Moreover, we found that certainty of knowledge, reliability, and sympathy are influenced by challenges and by the changing intentions of merchant consciousness. In addition, our study confirms that improvements in convincing abilities and sales technique have a positive impact. Second, merchants' and traders' expertise are proven to affect business performance. In other words, university education of traders and merchants affects the consciousness of consumers, and changes patterns of sales. Third, the quality of service management education and change in the consciousness has a considerable impact on the trader, thereby maximizing business performance and acting as an intermediary for verification. Fourth, the quality of service management education affects the trader's sales expertise to maximize business performance. Results - To summarize, the quality of college educational services relates to the improvement of business performance and the role of the resulting virtuous cycle. Consequently, we can look for suggestions in the traditional markets, where the Government pays attention to the exterior environmental factors as well as to the changing business environment. However, the most important aspect is the merchant awareness. That is, a merchant should understand the distribution environment. Several competitor and trend analyses should be conducted to meet customers' expectations positively and proactively cope with any challenges related to changes. Further, expertise in sales and marketing skills need to be acquired to improve customer convincing abilities and develop a customer-oriented mindset. Conclusions - According to the changes in consumption trends of business enterprises, new management techniques are required to survive competition by improving traditional markets, which will necessitate more competitive education programs in merchant universities.

A study on the Composition of the Production Rates System to Prepare Standards for Calculating the Construction Cost of PC Structure Apartments Based on Off-Site Construction (OSC) (OSC 기반 PC구조 공동주택 공사비 산정기준 마련을 위한 품셈 체계 구성에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Hansoo;Lee, Chiho;Lee, Jeongwook;Noh, Hyunseok
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.22 no.6
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    • pp.96-106
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    • 2021
  • The PC structure based on the OSC (Off-Site Construction) is mentioned as a representative method of innovation in the construction industry that converts the existing construction environment from site-centered to factory production-transportation-site assembly. However, recent research on PC method has focused on improving the functions of subsidiary materials and improving the production system to increase productivity and institutional / policy R&D that can be universally applied to the life-cycle stage of ordering / design /construction is insufficient. In particular, the absence of standardized cost calculation standards makes it difficult to calculate and verify of objectified appropriate construction cost. So which is an obstacle to the activation of the PC method. In this study, the standards for construction costs of domestic and foreign PC method were surveyed and similar Construction Standard Production Rates were analyzed to confirm the product structure suitable for PC method. Subsequently, the construction procedures and input resources for each PC subsidiary materials were identified through on-site surveys to derive component for subsidiary materials, and the factors of change in the product according to the construction characteristics(height, weight of subsidiary material) were verified. As a result the standard product calculation system suitable for the site installation of the PC method for apartment was presented.

Anti-proliferative Properties of p-Coumaric Acid in SNU-16 Gastric Cancer Cells (SNU-16 위암 세포주에서 p-coumaric acid의 세포성장 억제 효과)

  • Jang, Mi Gyeong;Ko, Hee Chul;Kim, Se-Jae
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.29 no.7
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    • pp.809-816
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    • 2019
  • The ubiquitous plant metabolite p-coumaric acid (p-CA) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its anti-cancer activity has not been established in gastric cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the effects of p-CA on the proliferation and transcriptome profile of SNU16 gastric cancer cells. Treatment with p-CA induced apoptosis of the SNU-16 cells by regulating the expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Bax, procaspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-3. The genes differentially expressed in response to p-CA treatment of the SNU-16 cells were identified by RNA sequencing analysis. Genes regulated by p-CA were involved mainly in the inflammatory response, apoptotic processes, cell cycle, and immune response. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-Akt and cancer signaling pathways were altered by p-CA. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis also revealed that p-CA treatment was correlated with differential expression of genes associated with the inflammatory response and cancer. Collectively, these results suggest that p-CA has potential utility in gastric cancer prevention.

20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 induces caspase-dependent promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor A degradation in NB4 cells via Akt/Bax/caspase9 and TNF-α/caspase8 signaling cascades

  • Zhu, Sirui;Liu, Xiaoli;Xue, Mei;Li, Yu;Cai, Danhong;Wang, Shijun;Zhang, Liang
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.45 no.2
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    • pp.295-304
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    • 2021
  • Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematopoietic malignancy driven by promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion gene. The therapeutic drugs currently used to treat APL have adverse effects. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is an anticancer medicine with high effectiveness and low toxicity. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of GRh2-induced PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in human APL cell line (NB4 cells) remain unclear. Methods: Apoptosis-related indicators and PML-RARA expression were determined to investigate the effect of GRh2 on NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK, LY294002, and C 87, as inhibitors of caspase, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) pathways were used to clarify the relationship between GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. Results: GRh2 dose- and time-dependently decreased NB4 cell viability. GRh2-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 activation in NB4 cells after a 12-hour treatment. GRh2-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells was accompanied by massive production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage and upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression. GRh2 also induced PML/PML-RARA degradation, PML nuclear bodies formation, and activation of the downstream p53 pathway in NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK inhibited caspase activation and significantly reversed GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. GRh2 also upregulated TNF-α expression and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, enhanced the antitumor effects of GRh2, and C 87, an inhibitor of the TNF-α pathway, reversed NB4 cell viability, and GRh2-mediated apoptosis in a caspase-8-dependent manner. Conclusion: GRh2 induced caspase-dependent PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in NB4 cells via the Akt/Bax/caspase9 and TNF-α/caspase8 pathways.

Prospect of Sustainable Organic Tea Farming in Lwang, Kaski, Nepa (네팔 르왕지역의 지속적 유기농차 재배 방향)

  • Chang, K.J.;Huang, D.S.;Park, C.H.;Jeon, U.S.;Jeon, S.H.;Binod, Basnet.
    • Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.137-150
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    • 2010
  • Traditionally, like many people in mountain region of the Himalaya, the Lwang communities depend on mix of subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and seasonal migrant labor for their livelihoods. These traditional systems are characterized by low productivity, diverse use of available natural resources (largely for home consumption), limited markets, and some aversion for innovation. The potential to generate wealth through commerce has largely been untapped by these mountain residents and thus is undervalued in local and national economies. Introduction of organic tea farming is a part of Lwang community's several initiatives to break the vicious poverty cycle Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) played facilitating roles in all their efforts since beginning. In five years, the tea plantation emerged as a new means for secured a livelihood. This study aims to analyze the current practices in tea farming both in terms of farm management and soil nutrient status(technical) and the prosperity of the tea farmers (social). The technical aspect covers the soil and tea leaf analysis of various nutrients contents in the soil and tea leaf. Originally, the technical aspect of the study was not planned but later during the consultation with the advisor it was taken into consideration which added value to the research study. The sample were collected from different locations and analyzed on the field itself. The other part of the study i.e. the social aspect was done through questionnaire survey and focus group discussion. the tea farming provided them not only a new opportunity but also earned an identity in the region. This initiative was undertaken as a piloting measure. Now that the tea is in production with processing unit established locally, more serious consideration has to be given for better yield and economic prosperity. This research finding will help the community to analyze their efforts and make correction measures in tea garden management and application of fertilizer. It is also expected to fill up the gaps of knowledge and information required to reduce economic stresses and enhance capacity of farmers to make the tea farming a sustainable and beneficial business. The findings are expected to Sustainability of organic tea farming has direct impacts on biodiversity conservation compared to the other traditional farming practices that are more resource intensive. The study will also contribute to identify key action points required for reducing poverty while conserving environment and enhancing livelihoods

A Study on the case of Application of Women's Personnel in the New Zealand Defence Force (뉴질랜드 군 여성인력의 활용과 우리 군에 주는 시사점)

  • In-Chan Kim;Jong-Hoon Kim;Jun-Hak Sim;Kang-Hee Lee;Sang-Keun Cho;Sang-Hyuk Park;Myung-Sook Hong
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.9 no.5
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    • pp.415-419
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    • 2023
  • The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) began using female manpower from World War II. After making various efforts to secure excellent manpower, the proportion of female manpower has risen to 24%, higher than that of Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia, which have a longer history of female military personnel than New Zealand. This is the result of NZDF efforts to open combat roles to women and allow female personnel to advance to high-ranking military positions such as generals and consular officers. In addition, policy alternatives to address women's realistic concerns such as pregnancy and childbirth, childcare, and vertical organizational culture were presented. In particular, Operation "Respect" was implemented to overcome the problem of not leaving or joining the army due to inappropriate sexual behavior and bullying. The operation respect established the role of the leader, emphasized the support of the victim, and accumulated data of the accident to prevent similar accidents. In addition, through the "Wāhine Toa" program, excellent female manpower could be introduced into the military through customized support considering the military life cycle (attract-recruit-retain-advance) of female personnel. South Korea is also considering expanding the ratio and role of female manpower as one of the ways to overcome the shortage of troops and leap into an advanced science and technology group. Implications were derived from the use of female manpower in the NZDF and the direction in which the Korean military should proceed was considered.

The Influential Factor Analysis in the Technology Valuation of The Agri-Food Industry and the Simulation-Based Valuation Analysis (농식품 산업의 기술평가 영향요인 분석과 시뮬레이션 기반 기술평가 비교)

  • Kim, Sang-gook;Jun, Seung-pyo;Park, Hyun-woo
    • Journal of Technology Innovation
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.277-307
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    • 2016
  • Since 2011, DCF(Discounted Cash Flow) method has been used initiatively for valuating R&D technology assets in the agricultural food industry and recently technology valuation based on royalties comparison among technology transfer transactions has been also carried out in parallel when evaluating the technology assets such as new seed development technologies. Since the DCF method which has been known until now has many input variables to be estimated, sophisticated estimation has been demanded at the time of technology valuation. In addition, considering more similar trading cases when applying sales transaction comparison or industry norm method based on information of technology transfer royalty, it is an important issue that should be taken into account in the same way in the Agri-Food industry. The main input variables used for technology valuation in the Agri-Food industry are life cycle of technology asset, the financial information related to the Agri-Food industry, discount rate, and technology contribution rate. The latest infrastructure building and data updating related to technology valuation has been carried out on a regular basis in the evaluation organization of the Agri-Food segment. This study verifies the key variables that give the most important impact on the results for the existing technology valuation in the Agri-Food industry and clarifies the difference between the existing valuation result and the outcome by referring the support information that is derived through the latest input information applied in DCF method. In addition, while presenting the scheme to complement fragment information which the latest input data just influence result of technology valuation, we tried to perform comparative analysis between the existing valuation results and the evaluated outcome after the latest of reference data for making a decision the input values to be estimated in DCF. To perform these analyzes, it was first selected the representative cases evaluated past in the Agri-Food industry, applied a sensitivity analysis for input variables based on these selected cases, and then executed a simulation analysis utilizing the key input variables derived from sensitivity analysis. The results of this study is to provide the information which there are the need for modernization of the data related to the input variables that are utilized during valuating technology assets in the Agri-Food sector and for building the infrastructure of the key input variables in DCF. Therefore it is expected to provide more fruitful information about the results of valuation.