• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2013

In tissue engineering application, a fibrous structure of scaffolds has been issued as an alternative system to regulate cell survival and tissue regeneration, and electrospinning technique has been popularly used to generate fibrous meshes or sheets mimicking the structure of native extracellular matrix (ECM). However, recent strategy in the scaffold development is expanded to provide the structural property as well as a biological property of native ECM, a variety of surface modification techniques have been used to introduce biological property. In this study, we developed biomimetic poly(L-lactide-co-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PLCL) nano- and micro-fibrous scaffolds as a unique platform with structural and biological properties with native ECM using electrospinning method and gamma-ray irradiation. Surface morphology of the scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and alteration of surface property was evaluated with toluidine blue O staining, water contact angle measurement and ATR-FTIR analysis.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.125-136
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• 2021

Innovation is essential for the survival of a company in the fierce competitive environment of the global era of borders along with rapid technological development and changes from the environment. It is very important to secure your own competitive advantage. In this study, the relationship between internal R&D capability and organizational support as a company internal factor and external R&D capability, external knowledge search, and absorptive capability as a company external factor on performance was examined. As a result of the analysis, it was found that internal R&D capability, organizational support, and external knowledge search had a significant effect on absorptive capability, and innovation performance had a positive effect on new product performance. However, the mediating effect of absorptive capacity has not been verified, suggesting that absorptive capacity has a low correlation between innovation performance and new product performance, or that other important factors act between absorptive capacity and performance variables. The results of this study are expected to be utilized as useful guidelines when establishing R&D strategies in companies.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.48
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• pp.253-287
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the ethnic phenomenon in the multi-layered context, based upon data collected from my fieldwork in Asella Town, Ethiopia. The town has experienced few ethnic conflicts at the collective level because of ecological conditions, the numerical balance between the two major ethnic groups-i.e., the Oromo and the Amhara-, frequent ethnic intermarriages as well as effects of a unique sociocultural practice of 'breast-feeding.' However, despite positive influences of such a practice, the local community has continuously witnessed discrimination and threats by the dominant ethnic group. Most of my informants feel that ethnic intermarriage contributes to: (i) enforcement of bonds among both ethic groups and community members, (ii) acquisition of different ethnic cultures, (iii) cultivation of the spirit of tolerance among people, and (iv) production of the superior second generation that has hybrid/multiple ethnic identities. However, some informants harbor negative attitudes towards ethnic intermarriage because they perceive it as a selfish choice of two parties and damages ethnic identity. Most informants consider ongoing Oromonization as natural, whereas others insist that it should be understood in the context of coercion, superficiality and survival strategy.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2017

Korean solar energy companies are currently suffering bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation of operation, lay-off or other similar event and most of the conglomerate are also downsized or discontinued operations in the industry. This study aims to assist Korean solar energy companies in making decision to overcome the current industrial crisis through looking into the Korean companies' growth, encounter with the crisis and strategies to survive. The main research topic in this study is a comparison between respective effect of M&A and restructuring on corporate value to understand such effects on solar energy companies. In this study, we utilized a variety of research methodologies, including dummy regression analysis, binary analysis of variance, analysis of cross addition to T-test was carried out empirical analysis. As a result, it seems that the companies who chose an M&A are facing a better situation in terms of survival and market share despite the ongoing crisis. Through this study, it could be found that, for a technology company, an M&A would be a better option than restructuring to grow and overcome a crisis.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2021

Due to the fourth industrial revolution and the Corona19, the availability of digital devices such as kiosks is a matter directly related to survival for older adults with digital divide. This paper analyzes the problems of existing information service education for older adults and proposes an IT education strategy tailored to aging and life cycle of older adults. The proposed in this study is an educational application-based IT training method that supports repetitive learning regardless of time and place, developing kiosk function as a functional game-type educational application and experimenting with post-training effectiveness. The research method proposed UI usability evaluation frame for older adults, and developed educational applications based on proposed evaluation frame, and conducted kiosk education. As a result of the experiment, the mission success rate after using the IT application was 80.6%, which is a 55.1%P improvement compared to the pre-use(25.5%). This study confirmed that the proposed education for older adults is a way to overcome the limitations of existing IT education in the current situation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.545-550
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• 2021

In this paper, a university curriculum of Automation Robotics Process(RPA) among several goals for digital transformation of companies was developed. In the process of the development of ICT technology and the 4th industrial revolution, the existing analog information has changed through the stages of digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation. Recently, digital transformation has been cited as an essential survival strategy following a disruptive revolution that changes the paradigm of existing industrial systems and business. It is defined as a continuous process by which a company adapts to or promotes disruptive changes in customers and markets by using digital capabilities to create new business models, products and services. To this end, process automation in companies or organizations is an important factor. Accordingly, the need for a curriculum of robotics processes automation in universities has been raised according to these changes, and the related education contents, which have been centered on companies, have been redesigned to introduce the curriculum for universities. Education contents are composed to help students to attain certificates of essential or advanced of AA.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.494-504
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• 2021

The spread of Over-The-Top (OTT) service, which represents Netflix, and the social distancing caused by COVID-19, acted as an overall bad news for domestic multiplex movie theaters. In addition to this, the phenomenon of digital shifting was added, and the need for domestic offline movie theaters to seek a new market for growth emerged. This study focused on the concept of consumer value perception amid this problem consciousness, and attempted to investigate the relationship between the brand image of multiplex movie theaters and purchase satisfaction according to the type of consumer value perception. After data was sampled through a questionnaire survey to a total of 350 subjects, the results of empirical analysis according to the study model are as follows. Among the types of value perception of offline movie viewers, practicality had the strongest influence on brand image construction, and self-faithfulness had the strongest influence on purchase satisfaction of offline movie watching. In addition, the brand image of offline movie theaters had a positive(+) effect on the purchase satisfaction of moviegoers. Based on this, this study suggested a new survival strategy in the new normal era of offline Multiplex Cinemas.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.454-464
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• 2022

DJ-1 is one of the causative genes of early-onset familial Parkinson's disease (PD). As a result, DJ-1 influences the pathogenesis of sporadic PD. DJ-1 has various physiological functions that converge to control the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on genetic analyses that sought to investigate novel antioxidant DJ-1 downstream genes, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase (PDK) was demonstrated to increase survival rates and decrease dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss in DJ-1 mutant flies under oxidative stress. PDK phosphorylates and inhibits the PDH complex (PDC), subsequently downregulating glucose metabolism in the mitochondria, which is a major source of intracellular ROS. A loss-of-function mutation in PDK was not found to have a significant effect on fly development and reproduction, but severely ameliorated oxidative stress resistance. Thus, PDK plays a critical role in the protection against oxidative stress. Loss of PDH phosphatase (PDP), which dephosphorylates and activates PDH, was also shown to protect DJ-1 mutants from oxidative stress, ultimately supporting our findings. Further genetic analyses suggested that DJ-1 controls PDK expression through hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), a transcriptional regulator of the adaptive response to hypoxia and oxidative stress. Furthermore, CPI-613, an inhibitor of PDH, protected DJ-1 null flies from oxidative stress, suggesting that the genetic and pharmacological inhibition of PDH may be a novel treatment strategy for PD associated with DJ-1 dysfunction.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.376-387
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• 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an essential role in the communication between cells and the tumor microenvironment. However, the effect of tumor-derived EVs on the growth and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains to be explored. This study aimed to elucidate the role of miR-153-3p-EVs in the invasion and migration capabilities of LUAD cells and explore its mechanism through in vivo and in vitro experiments. We found that miR-153-3p was specifically and highly expressed in LUAD and its secreted EVs. Furthermore, the expression of BANCR was negatively regulated by miR-153-3p and identified as a target gene of miR-153-3p using luciferase reporter assays. Through further investigation, we found that the downregulation of BANCR activates the PI3K/AKT pathway and accelerates the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which ultimately leads to the aggravation of LUAD. The orthotopic xenograft mouse model was established to illustrate the effect of miR-153-3p-EVs on LUAD. Animal studies showed that miR-153-3p-EVs accelerated tumor growth in mice. Besides, we found that miR-153-3p-EVs could damage the respiratory ability of mice and produce a mass of inflammatory cells around the lung tissue of mice. Nevertheless, antagomir-153-3p treatment could inhibit the deterioration of respiratory function and inhibit the growth of lung tumors in mice. In conclusion, our study reveals the potential molecular mechanism of miR-153-3p-EVs in the development of LUAD and provides a potential strategy for the treatment of LUAD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2022

Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the NTRK1 gene. TrkA signaling mediates the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neurons and other cells following stimulation by its ligand, the nerve growth factor. Chromosomal rearrangements of the NTRK1 gene result in the generation of TrkA fusion protein, which is known to cause deregulation of TrkA signaling. Targeting TrkA activity represents a promising strategy for the treatment of cancers that harbor the TrkA fusion protein. In this study, we evaluated the TrkA-inhibitory activity of the benzoxazole compound KRC-108. KRC-108 inhibited TrkA activity in an in vitro kinase assay, and suppressed the growth of KM12C colon cancer cells harboring an NTRK1 gene fusion. KRC-108 treatment induced cell cycle arrest, apoptotic cell death, and autophagy. KRC-108 suppressed the phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules of TrkA, including Akt, phospholipase Cγ, and ERK1/2. Furthermore, KRC-108 exhibited antitumor activity in vivo in a KM12C cell xenograft model. These results indicate that KRC-108 may be a promising therapeutic agent for Trk fusion-positive cancers.