• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.103-115
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate the consumers′ cognition and buying behavior on sports brand character. Since the character industries are booming, this study focused on the source and the expression method of sports brand characters that are already known to consumers. Subjects of this study were university students who were interested in sports brand characters, living in Seoul and Kyenggi-do. The questionnaire were developed based on the previous studies. Data were analysed by Frequency analysis, ANOVA, Duncan Test, and Spearman′s Rho. The results were as follows: 1. The most preferred source of sports brands character was "illustrated human figure"(i.e. a famous athlete like Michael Jordan). And the most favorite expression method of character was the combination of letter and symbol as the character of ASICS and NIKE. 2. The important design factors of sports brand character were the symbolism and aesthetics. The consumer recognized NIKE as the most well-designed character design. 3. Consumers′ preference of sports brand was found to be NIKE, REEBOK, ADIDAS, and FILA, in order. The reasons for preference were the design, the brand image, and the quality. On the other hand, the most frequently purchased brand was NIKE, FILA, and ADIDAS in order. Most of the purchase took place in the brand outlet store, and the consumers usually came with their friends for purchase of sports brand. The display of store was the consumers′ major source of information. 4. The preference group of sports brand character recognized more importantly color, design, brand, and especially fashionability than the non-preference group. And the most important criteria for brand selection were design, price, and comfort orderly. 5. Female consumers recognized more importantly color, design, brand, and others′ recommendations than male consumers. The aged consumers recognized importantly durability, comfort, and quality.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.475-485
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• 2007

Methamphetamine is an illicit drug that is often abused and can cause neuropsychiatric and neurotoxic damage. Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as methamphetamine induces a behavioral sensitization. According to a previous study, Bax was involved in neurotoxicity by methamphetamine, but the function of Bax in rewarding effect has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we have studied the function of Bax in a rewarding effect model. In the present study, we treated chronic methamphetamine exposure in a Bax-deficient mouse model and examined behavioral change using a conditioned place preference (CPP) test. The CPP score in Bax knockout mice was decreased compared to that of wild-type mice. Therefore, we screened for Bax-related genes that are involved in rewarding effect using microarray technology. In order to confirm microarray data, we applied the RT-PCR method to observe relative changes of Bcl2, a pro-apoptotic family gene. As a result, using our experiment microarray, we selected genes that were associated with Bax in microarray data, and eventually selected the Tgfbr2 gene. Expression of the Tgfbr2 gene was decreased by methamphetamine in Bax knockout mice, and the gene was overexpressed in Bax wild-type mice. Additionally, we confirmed that Creb, FosB, and c-Fos were related to rewarding effect and Bax using immunohistochemistry.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.995-1001
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• 2005

Morphine-induced analgesia has been shown to be antagonized by ginseng total saponins (GTS), which also inhibit the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. GTS is involved in both of these processes by inhibiting morphine-6-dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the synthesis of morphinone from morphine, and by increasing the level of hepatic glutathione, which participates in the toxicity response. Thus, the dual actions of ginseng are associated with the detoxification of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contractions in guinea pig ileum (I-L-receptors) and mouse vas deferens $(\delta-receptors)$ are not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting the involvement of non-opioid mechanisms. GTS also attenuates hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (behavioral sensitization), and conditioned place preference induced by psychotropic agents, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and morphine. These effects of GTS may be attributed to complex pharmacological actions between dopamine receptors and a serotonergic/adenosine $A_{2A}1\delta-opioid$ receptor complex. Ginsenosides also attenuate the morphine-induced cAMP signaling pathway. Together, the results suggest that GTS may be useful in the prevention and therapy of the behavioral side effects induced by psychotropic agents.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.41-63
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• 2005

Ginseng has been useful for the treatment of diverse disease in oriental countries for thousands of years. In addition, a folk medicine prescribed by seven herbal drugs including Panax ginseng has been antinarcotics in the treatment of morphine-dependent patients. Many articles have been reported on these works. Therefore, we review the protective effects of Panax ginseng on the neurotoxicity induced by abuse drugs. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) extracted and isolated by Panax ginseng antagonized morphine-induced analgesia, and inhibited the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. CTS inhibited morphine-6 dehydrogenase, which catalyzes production of mophinone from morphine, and increased hepatic glutathione level responsible to toxicity. Therefore, wehypothesized that these dual actions of ginseng can be associated with the detoxication of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contraction in guinea pig ileum (${\mu}$-receptors) and mouse vas deferens(${\delta}$-receptors) were not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting non-opioid mechanisms. On the hand, antagonism of U-50,488H (${\kappa}$-agonist)-induced antinociception is mediated by serotonergic mechanisms. GTS also inhibited hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (sensitization) and conditioned place preference-induced by psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and morphine. On the other hand, GTS reduced the dopamine levels induced by methamphetamine. Moreover, GTS blocked the development of dopamine receptor activation, showing antidopaminergic effect. We suggest that GTS prevent the methamphetamine-induced striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity. In addition, Ginsenoside also attenuates morphine-induced CAMP signaling pathway. These results suggested that GTS might be useful for the therapy of the adverse actions of drugs with abuse liability.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.238-245
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• 2022

Previous reports have demonstrated that genetic mechanisms greatly mediate responses to drugs of abuse, including methamphetamine (METH). The circadian gene Period 2 (Per2) has been previously associated with differential responses towards METH in mice. While the behavioral consequences of eliminating Per2 have been illustrated previously, Per2 overexpression has not yet been comprehensively described; although, Per2-overexpressing (Per2 OE) mice previously showed reduced sensitivity towards METH-induced addiction-like behaviors. To further elucidate this distinct behavior of Per2 OE mice to METH, we identified possible candidate biomarkers by determining striatal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in both drug-naïve and METH-treated Per2 OE mice relative to wild-type (WT), through RNA sequencing. Of the several DEGs in drug naïve Per2 OE mice, we identified six genes that were altered after repeated METH treatment in WT mice, but not in Per2 OE mice. These results, validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, could suggest that the identified DEGs might underlie the previously reported weaker METH-induced responses of Per2 OE mice compared to WT. Gene network analysis also revealed that Asic3, Hba-a1, and Rnf17 are possibly associated with Per2 through physical interactions and predicted correlations, and might potentially participate in addiction. Inhibiting the functional protein of Asic3 prior to METH administration resulted in the partial reduction of METH-induced conditioned place preference in WT mice, supporting a possible involvement of Asic3 in METH-induced reward. Although encouraging further investigations, our findings suggest that these DEGs, including Asic3, may play significant roles in the lower sensitivity of Per2 OE mice to METH.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.63.1-63.12
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• 2024

Importance: Glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis enzyme associated with the function of other neurotransmitter receptors, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and cannabinoid receptor 1. However, the role of GAD67 in the development of different abused drug-induced reward behaviors remains unknown. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of substance use disorder, it is crucial to study changes in biomarkers within the brain's reward circuit induced by drug use. Objective: The study was designed to examine the effects of the downregulation of GAD67 expression in the dorsal striatum on reward behavior development. Methods: We evaluated the effects of GAD67 knockdown on depression-like behavior and anxiety using the forced swim test and elevated plus maze test in a mouse model. We further determined the effects of GAD67 knockdown on ketamine- and JWH-018-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Results: Knockdown of GAD67 in the dorsal striatum of mice increased depression-like behavior, but it decreased anxiety. Moreover, the CPP score on the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine was increased by GAD67 knockdown, whereas the administration of JWH-018, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, did not affect the CPP score in the GAD67 knockdown mice group compared with the control group. Conclusions and Relevance: These results suggest that striatal GAD67 reduces GABAergic neuronal activity and may cause ketamine-induced NMDA receptor inhibition. Consequently, GAD67 downregulation induces vulnerability to the drug reward behavior of ketamine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Synthetic cannabinoids (CBs) such as the JWH series have caused social problems concerning their abuse liability. Because the JWH series produces euphoric and hallucinogenic effects, they have been distributed illegally under street names such as "Spice" and "Smoke". Many countries including Korea have started to schedule some of the JWH series compounds as controlled substances, but there are a number of JWH series chemicals that remain uncontrolled by law. In this study, three synthetic CBs with different binding affinities to the $CB_1$ receptor (JWH-073, 081, and 210) and ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (${\Delta}^9$-THC) were evaluated for their potential for psychological dependence. The conditioned place preference test (unbiased method) and self-administration test (fixed ratio of 1) using rodents were conducted. $K_i$ values of the three synthetic cannabinoids were calculated as supplementary data using a receptor binding assay and overexpressed $CB_1$ protein membranes to compare dependence potential with $CB_1$ receptor binding affinity. All mice administered JWH-073, 081, or 210 showed significantly increased time spent at unpreferred space in a dose-dependence manner in the conditioned place preference test. In contrast, all tested substances except ${\Delta}^9$-THC showed aversion phenomenon at high doses in the conditioned place preference test. The order of affinity to the $CB_1$ receptor in the receptor binding assay was JWH-210 > JWH-081 >> JWH-073, which was in agreement with the results from the conditioned place preference test. However, no change in self-administration was observed. These findings suggest the possibility to predict dependence potential of synthetic CBs through a receptor binding assay at the screening level.

• KIISE Transactions on Computing Practices
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.403-411
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• 2015

Nowadays, in the so-called 'smart era', people are likely to feel more comfortable in on-line meetings than in off-line meetings. However, on-line meetings are often considered unimportant and it is difficult for participants to share their feelings. This paper suggests a mobile application that can revitalize off-line meetings to address these problems. Wecok Application, which suggests the best meeting place by applying users' preferences and their locations, provides a function-oriented user interface and simple touch flow. Wecok consists of a client/server software, and currently supports only three users simultaneously. It enables exchange of off-line and on-line communication by expanding meetings from on-line to off-line. By using Wecok, users can easily decide on an off-line meeting place.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.597-606
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• 2014

The preference of general adult on the forest and forest road was surveyed and analyzed for the development of forest therapy program. This study was conducted for the purpose of providing a basis for the development of more targeted-and differentiated-forest therapy program by analyzing the preference of general adult on the forest and forest road from 19 April 2014 to 30 June 2014 through on-line survey. The sample group of 613 adults has been used in practical analysis. Using SPSS 21.0, We looked at the preference differences of the forest and forest road according to the demographic characteristics(sex, age, education level, occupation and monthly income) through descriptive statistics analysis, frequency analysis, cross tabulation analysis, multiple response analysis. The seasonal preference was spring, autumn, any season, summer, winter in order and there was a significant difference according to one's sex, age, occupation and monthly income. There was a significant difference in the configuration of forest according to one's monthly income. The favorite type of forest as a place of forest healing program was natural recreational forest, healing forest, urban forest, park, school forest in order. There was no significant difference in the favorite forest type regarding to the distance to the healing place from one's residence in all cases. There was a significant difference in the type of forest according to one's monthly income. The most favorite configuration of forest road was gentle sloped road. Once walking into the forest for the purpose of healing, the favorite forest road length was 1.5~3 km, less then 1.5 km, more than 3 km in order and there was a significant difference in preference according to one's sex, age, education level and monthly income. We believe that the healing program should be differentiated from the general form of it according to one's sex, age, education level, occupation and monthly income as a result of this investigation of preference of general adult on the forest and forest road for the development of forest therapy program. In particular, we believe that the differentiated program should be offered according to one's age. We expect this analysis to be used as a basis for the development of forest therapy program.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.88-96
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• 2000

The objective of this study is to evaluate the preference and visual characteristic of users according to the location of benches at urban community parks. The types of benches are separated into four patterns and located in four representative places at urban community parks. Each relations between visual preference and adjective related factors are calibrated by the estimated results of Pearson correlation coefficient. Moreover, the factors which affect the visual preference are obtained by multiple regression analysis and to calibrate the each factors significant level, the method of multivariate variance analysis is applied. The results of this study are summzrized as belows: 1. Four types of factors which consist the visual characteristic are classified as emotional factor of visual images(aesthetic factor(F1), texture related factor(F2)) and physical factor(physical factor(F3), transformable factor(F4)). Each factor's eigenvalue is appears as 5.27∼1.78 and the eigenvalue of emotional factor of visual images is more higher than the physical factor. 2. The correlation coefficient between visual preference according to the location of benches(X21) and aesthetic factor(f1) is estimated as 0.79, which is highest value among the four factors. And the correlation coefficient of texture related factor(f2), physical factor(F3) and transformable factor(F4) is estimated as 0.14, 0.04 and 0.08 respectively. 3. The visual preference of users according to the location of benches is greatly affected by the emotional factor of visual images(F1, F2) and the physical factor(F3, F4) are poorly related. The results of this study suggest the effective guidelines for the location of leisure facilities. Moreover the design and planning of leisure facilities at the urban community park have to be reexamined. What must be examined from now on is as follows: First, the preference research of rest facilities in the urban park through the multiple approach must be carried out continuously. Second, the research about the visual quality of the environmental sight observed in sitting on the bench as well as the visual quality of the showed object and place needs to be supported. Nevertheless, through this study the utilization into the useful data of the plan and the design for the systematic disposition of landscape architecture equipments centered on the users can be expected.