• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.65-77
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• 2023

Background: The shortage of dental hygienists as assistant is a great concern to dental clinics, while dental hygienists are rather pursuing the role of oral hygiene control and preventive treatments which is the main role for dental hygienists in the United States. The dental hygienist and dental assistant system in the United States can be a reference in these discussions. Methods: Educational requirements for licensure and work areas for dental hygienists and dental assistants were investigated through the information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), American Dental Hygienists Association, National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), Dental Assistants Association of America (ADAA), and Dental Assistants National Board (DANB). Results: In the United States, each state has different systems, but in general, dental hygienists obtain licenses after completing 2~3 years of associate degree programs in dental hygiene after obtaining basic learning skills, and mainly perform tasks related to patient screening procedures, oral hygiene management and preventive care. Dental assistants can take the license test after completing a training course of 9~11 months to obtain a dental assistant certification. Additional expanded work typically requires passing state qualification tests, completing a training program, obtaining a degree, or gaining clinical experience for a certain period of time, depending on the state Conclusion: The scope of work of dental hygienists designated by the Medical Engineer Act and the Enforcement Decree in Korea includes both the work of dental hygienists and dental assistants in the United States, and if a dental assistant system like the United States is introduced to address the current shortage of dental assistants, institutional supplementation such as adjustment of the scope of work and expansion of the role of dental hygienists in oral hygiene management and prevention work is needed and in-depth discussion is necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 1976

The studies were carried out to examine the effects of supplementation of nutritional substances and physical conditions in substrate on the mycelial growth and yield of fresh sporophores of winter mushroom, Flammulina velutipes(Curt. ex Fr.) Sing. and to obtain further informations on the nutritional requirements of the fungus with reference to improvement of substrate through [analysis of chemical composition of the substrates during the cultivation period. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The best yield of fresh sporophores, 84.4 g per 280 g substrate in a bottle, was obtained from the mixture of poplar sawdust 10 and rice bran 3 by volume when Flammulina velutipes was cultivated on the poplar sawdust supplemented by rice bran, wheat bran, cattle manure and various combinations of these materials as nutrient sources. The substrates of poplar sawdust 10 plus rice bran 3 and 2 or wheat bran 3 with a higher yield of fresh sporophores showed a comparatively higher content of total nitrogen. total sugar, and potassium. 2. The mycelial growth of the fungus was compared on the substrates of poplar sawdust supplemented by the several nutrient sources and poplar sawdust alone. The fastest linear growth occurred on substrates of poplar sawdust alone and poplar sawdust plus cattle manure deficient in sugar and nitrogen sources, but mycelial density was more sparse on the substrates. Also, growth in a solution extracted from these substrates was very meager. 3. In the substrates which varied with bulk density and moisture content optimum bulk density and moisture content for mycelial growth was 0.2g/cc and 72% on a dry weight basis, respectively, but the highest yield of fresh sporophores was obtained at the bulk density of 0.3g/cc and moisture content of 67%. 4. By increasing the ratio of rice bran in poplar sawdust the loss of total weight and ash, content at each stage was increased, and during the cultivation period of 75 days, loss of total weight of the substrates at inoculation was 17.8 to 28.8% and ash content increased about 12%. 5. 11 to 14% of the cellulose and 3 to 4% of the lignin content per original substrate were decreased without a great difference depending of the mixing ratio of rice bran. The soluble glucose concentration in the substrates was increased during the same period. 6. In the process of vegetative and reproductive growth of the fungus upon the substrates, the total nitrogen was increased in quantity per dry weight of sample but was reduced in absolute quantity to a minute extent. There is no great changes in content of organic nitrogen including amino acid nitrogen, and hydrolysable ammonium nitrogen during the vegetative growth period, but occurrence of sporophores resulted in a decrease in the nitrogen content of these forms. On the one hand, by an increase of additive amounts of rice bran, nitrogen contents of these forms were higher and the reduction range during the reproductive growth period became wider. 7. Mycelial growth of the fungus was accelerated in various liquid media supplemented with organic nitrogen sources such as peptone and yeast extract in comparison with addition of inorganic nitrogen sources. Furthermore, mycelial growth was mere vigorous in the media with higher content of organic nitrogen sources.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.621-633
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• 2008

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-established independent risk factor for cerebral infarction (CI). Additionally, the DM as well as CI are influenced significantly by health-related behaviors and diets. The aim of this study was to compare the food habits, nutrient intakes, and dietary patterns and quality in DM patients with CI (DM-CI) and without CI. This study was accomplished with 68 subjects (DM-CI group = 28, DM group = 40). Health-related behaviors, food habits, nutrient intakes and dietary quality were investigated. As a result, the mean ages and durations of diabetes in DM-CI and DM groups were $65.6{\pm}9.2$, $10.9{\pm}8.5$ and $69.2{\pm}3.0$, $9.7{\pm}8.4$ years, respectively. The health-related behaviors such as, smoking, alcohol drinking, and regular exercising in both groups were significantly different (p < 0.05) showing the number of subjects who were smoking and drinking alcohol was significantly higher in DM-CI group and the opposit result was seen for exercise. In male subjects, the intake of carbohydrate and sodium of DM-CI group were significantly higher than those of DM group (p < 0.05). In female subjects, the intake of calorie, carbohydrate, fat, sodium, and cholesterol were significantly higher in the DM-CI group (p < 0.05). Daily intake of vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, folate, vitamin C, and calcium were significantly higher in DM group (p < 0.05). In the comparison with the dietary reference intake for Koreans (KDRI), vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, folate, and calcium intakes were lower in DM-CI group whereas calcium and zinc intakes were in DM group. Moreover, index of nutritional quality (INQ) of vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin C, folate, and calcium were lower significantly in DM-CI group (p < 0.05). Dietary quality including dietary diversity score (DDS), GMVDF (grain, meat, vegetable, dairy, fruit), and dietary quality index (DQI) was significantly lower in DM-CI group (p < 0.05). According to the results, diabetic mellitus patients accompanied by cerebral infarction had poorer eating patterns and dietary quality in accordance with poorer health-related behaviors compared with the DM patients without CI.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 1999

Background : Generally $VO_2$ max is higher in treadmill exercise than cycle ergometer exercise. According to Hassen and Wasserman, $VO_2$ max with treadmill exercise is higher at ratio of 1.11 than that with cycle ergometer. $VO_2$ max also is influenced by race, sociocultural background, exercise habit In this study, $VO_2$ max and AT were evaluated between Treadmill and cycle exercise in male Korean college students. Method: Study subjects were 44 male college students. We randomized them into 2 groups; 24 students did treadmill exercise at first and 1 week later did cycle ergometer. Another 20 students did in opposite method. They made symptom limited maximal exercise. Author defined maximal exercise as followings: 1) respiratory exchange ratio(RER)> 1.1, 2) plateau>30 sec, 3) heart rate reserve(HRR) <15%, or 4) breathing reserve (BR)<30%. Otherwise their results are excluded as submaximal exercise. Anaerobic threshold(AT) was estimated by V-slope method. Results: $VO_2$ max and AT was $45.1{\pm}6.66m\ell$/kg/min and $26.0{\pm}6.78m\ell$/kg/min in treadmill and $34.9{\pm}5.89m\ell$/kg/min, $19.5{\pm}4.77m\ell$/kg/min in Cycle Ergometer. The measured-$VO_2max$/pred-$VO_2max$ was $98.8{\pm}13.24%$ in treadmill; $84.4{\pm}13.42%$ in cycle ergometer. Comparing $VO_2$ max in treadmill with that obtained by Hassen's method, there were significant differences.(p<0.01). At maximal exercise there were differences in HRR, $O_2$/pulse, BR, $V_E$/MVV, $V_E/VCO_2$ between treadmill and cycle but not in $V_E/VO_2$, Vd/Vt, Ti/Ttot. At AT there were differences in $O_2$/pulse, BR, $V_E$/MVV, Ti/Ttot between treadmill and cycle, otherwise not. Conclusion: According to the result of this study, there are larger gap between treadmill and cycle ergometer in normal Korean adults than foreign data, and it needs further study to obtain reference value of Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.50-60
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• 2013

The aims of this study were to estimate daily intake of macrominerals from beverages, liquid teas, and liquid coffees and to evaluate their potential health risks for Korean children and adolescents (1-to 19 years old). Assessment of dietary intake was conducted using the actual level of sodium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in non-alcoholic beverages and (207 beverages, 19 liquid teas, and 24 liquid coffees) the food consumption amount drawn from "The Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009)". To estimate the dietary intake of non-alcoholic beverages, 6,082 children and adolescents (Scenario I) were compared with 1,704 non-alcoholic beverage consumption subjects among them (Scenario II). Calculation of the estimated daily intake of macrominerals was based on point estimates and probabilistic estimates. The values of probabilistic macromineral intake, which is a Monte-Carlo approach considering probabilistic density functions of variables, were presented using the probabilistic model. The level of safety for macrominerals was evaluated by comparison with population nutrient intake goal (Goal, 2.0 g/day) for sodium, tolerable upper intake level (UL) for calcium (2,500 mg/day) and phosphorus (3,000-3,500 mg/day) set by the Korean Nutrition Society (Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, KDRI). For total children and adolescents (Scenario I), mean daily intake of sodium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium estimated by probabilistic estimates using Monte Carlo simulation was, respectively, 7.93, 10.92, 6.73, 23.41, and 1.11, and 95th percentile daily intake of those was, respectively, 28.02, 44.86, 27.43, 98.14, and 3.87 mg/day. For consumers-only (Scenario II), mean daily intake of sodium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium estimated by probabilistic estimates using Monte Carlo simulation was, respectively, 19.10, 25.77, 15.83, 56.56, and 2.86 mg/day, and 95th percentile daily intake of those was, respectively, 62.67, 101.95, 62.09, 227.92, and 8.67 mg/day. For Scenarios I II, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus did not have a mean an 95th percentile intake that met or exceeded the 5% of Goal and UL.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2010

Due to the globalization across various industries and cultural trade among many countries, oriental concepts have been attracting world’s attentions. In fashion industry, one's traditional culture is often developed as fashion theme for designers' creation and became strong strategies to stand out among competitors. Because of the increase of preferences for oriental images, opportunities abound to introduce traditional fashion goods and expand culture based business to global fashion markets. However, global fashion brands that include Korean traditional culture are yet to be developed. In order to develop a global fashion brand with Korean taste, it is very important for native citizen to accept their own culture in domestic apparel market prior to expansion into foreign market. Loungewear is evaluated to be appropriate for adopting Korean traditional details into clothing since this wardrobe category embraces various purposes which will easily lead to natural adaptation and wide spread use. Also, this market is seeing an increased demand for multipurpose wardrobes and fashionable underwear (Park et al. 2009). Despite rapid growth in the loungewear market, specific studies of loungewear is rare; and among research on developing modernized-traditional clothing, fashion items and brands do not always include the loungewear category. Therefore, this study investigated the Korean loungewear market and studied consumer evaluation toward loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Relationship among antecedents of purchase intention for Korean traditional fashion design elements were analyzed and compared between lifestyle groups for consumer targeting purposes. Product quality, retail service quality, perceived value, and preference on loungewear with Korean traditional design elements were chosen as antecedents of purchase intention and a structural equation model was designed to examine their relationship as well as their influence on purchase intention. Product quality and retail service quality among marketing mixes were employed as factors affecting preference and perceived value of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Also effects of preference and perceived value on purchase intention were examined through the same model. A total of 357 self-administered questionnaires were completed by female consumers via web survey system. A questionnaire was developed to measure samples' lifestyle, product and retail service quality as purchasing criteria, perceived value, preference and purchase intention of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Also, loungewear purchasing and usage behavior were asked as well in order to examine Korean loungewear market status. Data was analyzed through descriptive analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA and structural equation model was tested via AMOS 7.0. As for the result of Korean loungewear market status investigation, loungewear was purchased by most of the consumers in our sample. Loungewear is currently recognized as clothes that are worn at home and consumers are showing comparably low involvement toward loungewear. Most of consumers in this study purchase loungewear only two to three times a year and they spend less than US$10. A total of 12 items and four factors of loungewear consumer lifestyle were found: traditional value oriented lifestyle, brand-affected lifestyle, pursuit of leisure lifestyle, and health oriented lifestyle. Drawing on lifestyle factors, loungewear consumers were classified into two groups; Well-being and Conservative. Relationships among constructs of purchasing behavior related to loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements were estimated. Preference and perceived value of loungewear were affected by both product quality and retail service quality. This study proved that high qualities in product and retail service develop positive preference toward loungewear. Perceived value and preference of loungewear positively influenced purchase intention. The results indicated that high preference and perceived value of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements strengthen purchase intention and proved importance of developing preference and elevate perceived value in order to make sales. In a model comparison between two lifestyle groups: Well-being and Conservative lifestyle groups, results showed that product quality and retail service quality had positive influences on both preference and perceived value in case of Well-being group. However, for Conservative group, only retail service quality had a positive effect on preference and its influence to purchase intention. Since Well-being group showed more significant influence on purchase intention, loungewear brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements may want to focus on characteristics of Well-being group. However, Conservative group's relationship between preference and purchase intention of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements was stronger, so that loungewear brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements should focus on creating conservative consumers' positive preference toward loungewear. The results offered information on Korean loungewear consumers' lifestyle and provided useful information for fashion brands that are planning to enter Korean loungewear market, particularly targeting female consumers similar to the sample of the present study. This study offers strategic and marketing insight for loungewear brands and also for fashion brands that are planning to create highly value-added fashion brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Considering different types of lifestyle groups that are associated with loungewear or traditional fashion goods, brand managers and marketers can use the results of this paper as a reference to positioning, targeting and marketing strategy buildings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.698-707
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• 2006

Precise and correct assessment of nutrient intake using appropriate dietary intake method is necessary to improve the nutritional status of the target people group. It is more likely so in elderly people since their dietary habits and inadequate nutrient intakes are of special concern even worse in rural areas. Two popular methods of gathering dietary intake are 24-hour recall and food frequency method (or food frequency questionnaire). In the present study, we conducted both 24-hour recall and food frequency method on 120 rural elderly people $(aged\;65{\sim}74\;years)$, 62 male and 58 female. The dietary intakes were analyzed and the correlation of the dietary intake between 24-hour recall and food frequency method to determine the reliability between two methods. Also each nutrient intake was compared to recommended dietary allowance (RDA) or nutrient reference value (NRV) as appropriate. Even correlation did not show significance between the two methods except for dietary fiber intake (0.65 at p<0.01) and energy-yielding nutrients which mostly showed similar results with nutrient intake level. These support the possible reliability between 24-hours record and food frequency method that is also shown on the cases of most mineral and vitamin intakes. Thus, the food frequency method used in this study for the assessment of nutrient intakes of the elderly people would be reliable for the assessment of the nutrient intake along with the 24-hour recall. Also, the present study results suggested that rural female elderly people would be under optimal nutriture status due to the lower food intake measured by 24-hour recall. The optimal food frequency method would be considered to be developed for the precise nutrient assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.17
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• pp.11-47
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• 1989

This study intends to examine the background and the procedure of the carving of the tablets of the second edition of Dae-Jang-Mock­Lock(재조대장목록). the time and the route of the moving of the tablets. into Haein-sa, and the contents and the system of it. This study is mainly based on the second edition of Dae-Jang-Mock-Lock. But the other closely related materials such as restored first. edition of the Dae- Jang-Mock-Lock, Koryo Sin-Jo-Dae-Jang-Byeol-Lock (고려신조대장교정별록). Kae-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock (개원석교록). Sok-Kae­Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock (속개원석교록). Jeong-Won-Sin-Jeong-Seok-Kyo­Lock(정원신정석교록), Sok-Jeong-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock(속정원석교록), Dea-Jung-Sang-Bu-Beob-Bo-Lock(대중상부법보록), and Kyeong-Woo-Sin-Su-Beob-Bo-Lock(경우신수법보록), are also analysed and closely examined. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. The second edition of Tripitaka Koreana(고려대장경) was carved for the purpose of defending the country from Mongolia with the power of Buddhism, after the tablets of the first edition in Buin-sa(부이사) was destroyed by fire. 2. In 1236. Dae-Jang-Do-Gam(대장도감) was established, and the preparation for the recarving of the tablets such as comparison between the content, of the first edition of Tripitalk Koreana, Gal-Bo-Chik-Pan-Dae­Jang-Kyeong and Kitan Dae- Jang-Kyeong, transcription of the original copy and the preparation of the wood, etc. was started. 3. In 1237 after the announcement of Dae-Jang-Gyeong-Gak-Pan-Gun­Sin-Gi-Go-Mun(대장경핵판군신석고문), the carving was started on a full scale. And seven years later (1243), Bun-Sa-Dae-Jang-Do-Gam(분사대장도감) was established in the area of the South to expand and hasten the work. And a large number of the tablets were carved in there. 4. It took 16 years to carve the main text and the supplements of the second edition of Tripitaka Koreana, the main text being carved from 1237 to 1248 and the supplement from 1244 to 1251. 5. It can be supposed that the tablets of the second edition of Tripitaka Koreana, stored in Seon-Won-Sa(선원사), Kang-Wha(강화), for about 140 years, was moved to Ji-Cheon-Sa(지천사), Yong-San(용산), and to Hae-In-Sa(해인사) again, through the west and the south sea and Jang-Gyeong-Po(장경포), Go-Ryeong(고령), in the autumn of the same year. 6. The second edition of Tripitaka Koreana was carved mainly based on the first edition, comparing with Gae-Bo-Chik-Pan-Dae-Jang-Kyeong(개보판대장경) and Kitan Dae-Jang-Kyeong(계단대장경). And the second edition of Dae-Jang-Mock-Lock also compiled mainly based on the first edition with the reference to Kae-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock and Sok-Jeong-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock. 7. Comparing with the first edition of Dae-Jang-Mock-Lock, in the second edition 7 items of 9 volumes of Kitan text such as Weol-Deung­Sam-Mae-Gyeong-Ron(월증삼매경론) are added and 3 items of 60 volumes such as Dae-Jong-Ji-Hyeon-Mun-Ron(대종지현문논) are substituted into others from Cheon chest(천함) to Kaeng chest(경함), and 92 items of 601 volumes such as Beob-Won-Ju-Rim-Jeon(법원주임전) are added after Kaeng chest. And 4 items of 50 volumes such as Yuk-Ja-Sin-Ju-Wang-Kyeong(육자신주왕경) are ommitted in the second edition. 8. Comparing with Kae-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock, Cheon chest to Young chest (영함) of the second edition is compiled according to Ib-Jang-Lock(입장록) of Kae-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock. But 15 items of 43 vol­umes such as Bul-Seol-Ban-Ju-Sam-Mae-Kyeong(불설반주삼매경) are ;added and 7 items of 35 volumes such as Dae-Bang-Deung-Dae-Jib-Il­Jang-Kyeong(대방등대집일장경) are ommitted. 9. Comparing with Sok-Jeong-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock, 3 items of the 47 volumes (or 49 volumes) are ommitted and 4 items of 96 volumes are ;added in Caek chest(책함) to Mil chest(밀함) of the second edition. But the items are arranged in the same order. 10. Comparing with Dae- Jung-Sang-Bo-Beob-Bo-Lock, the arrangement of the second edition is entirely different from it. But 170 items of 329 volumes are also included in Doo chest(두함) to Kyeong chest(경함) of the second edition, and 53 items of 125 volumes in Jun chest(존함) to Jeong chest(정함). And 10 items of 108 volumes in the last part of Dae-Jung-Sang-Bo-Beob-Bo-Lock are ommitted and 3 items of 131 volumes such as Beob-Won-Ju-Rim-Jeon(법원주임전) are added in the second edition. 11. Comparing with Kyeong-Woo-Sin-Su-Beob-Bo-Lock, all of the items (21 items of 161 volumes) are included in the second edition without ;any classificatory system. And 22 items of 172 volumes in the Seong­Hyeon-Jib-Jeon(성현집전) part such as Myo-Gak-Bi-Cheon(묘각비전) are ommitted. 12. The last part of the second edition, Joo chest(주함) to Dong chest (동함), includes 14 items of 237 volumes. But these items cannot be found in any other former Buddhist catalog. So it might be supposed as the Kitan texts. 13. Besides including almost all items in Kae-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock and all items in Sok-Jeong-Won-Seok-Kyo-Lock, Dae-Jung-Sang-Bo­Beob-Bo-Lock, and Kyeong-Woo-Sin-Su-Beob-Bo-Lock, the second edition of Dae-Jang-Mock-Lock includes more items, at least 20 items of about 300 volumes of Kitan Tripitaka and 15 items of 43 volumes of traditional Korean Tripitake that cannot be found any others. Therefore, Tripitaka Koreana can be said as a comprehensive Tripitaka covering all items of Tripitakas translated in Chinese character.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1972

The trend and achievements of forest genetics research in abroad were investigated through observation tours and reference work and following facts were found to be important aspects which should be adopted in the forest genetics research program in Korea. Because of world wide recognization on the urgency of taking a measure to reserve some areas of the representative forest type on the globe before the extingtion of such forest type as the results of continuous exploitations of the natural forests to meet the timber demand all over the world, it is urgently needed to take a measure to reserve certain areas of natural stand of Pinus koraiensis, Pinus parviflora, Pinus densiflora f. erectra, Abies koreana, Quercus sp., Populus sp., etc. as gene pool to be used for the future program of forest tree improvement. And the genetic studies of those natural forest of economic tree species are also to be performed. 1. Increase of the number of selected tree for breeding purpose. Because of the fact that the number of plus tree at present is too small to carry out selection program for tree improvement, particularly for the formation of source population for recurrent selection of parent trees of the 2nd generation seed orchard it is to be strongly emphasized to increase the number of plus tree by alleviating selection criteria in order to enlarge the population size of plus trees to make the selection program more efficient. 2. Progeny testing More stress should be placed on carrying out progeny testing of selected trees with open pollinated seeds. And particular efforts are to be made for conducting studies on adult/juvenile correlation of important traits with a view to enable to predict adult performances with some traits revealed in juvenile age thus to save time for progeny testing. 3. Genotype-environment interaction Studies on genotype and environment interaction should be conducted in order to elucidate whether the plus trees selected on the good site express their superiority on the poor site or not and how the environment affect the genotype. And the justification of present classification of seed distribution area should be examined. 4. Seed orchard of broad leaf tree species. Due to the difficulty of accurate comparison of growth rate of neighbouring trees of broad leaf tree species in natural stand, it is recommended that for the improvement of broad leaf trees a seedling seed orchard is to be made by roguing the progeny test plantation planted densely with control pollinated seedlings of selected trees. 5. Breeding for insect resistant varieties. In the light of the fact that the resistant characteristics against insect such as pine gall midge (Thiecodiplosis japonensis U. et I.) and pine bark beetle (Myelophilus pinipera L.) are highly correlated with the amount and quality of resin which are known as gene controlled characteristics, breeding for insect resistance should be carried out. 6. Breeding for timber properties. With the tree species for pulp wood in particular, emphasis should be placed upon breeding for high specific gravity of timber. 7. Introduction of Cryptomeria and Japanese Cypress In the light of the fact that the major clones of Cryptomeria are originated from Yoshino source and are being planted up to considerably north and high elevation in Japan, those species should be examined on their cold resistance in Korea by planting them in further northern part of the country.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.247-269
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• 2007

In recent years, one of the major reasons for the fierce competition amongst firms is that they strive to increase their own market shares and customer acquisition rate in the same market with similar and apparently undifferentiated products in terms of quality and perceived benefit. Because of this change in recent marketing environment, the differentiated after-sales service and diversified promotion strategies have become more important to gain competitive advantage. Price promotion is the favorite strategy that most retailers use to achieve short-term sales increase, induce consumer's brand switch, in troduce new product into market, and so forth. However, if marketers apply or copy an identical price promotion strategy without considering the characteristic differences in product and consumer preference, it will cause serious problems because discounted price itself could make people skeptical about product quality, and the changes of perceived value might appear differently depending on other factors such as consumer involvement or brand attitude. Previous studies showed that price promotion would certainly increase sales, and the discounted price compared to regular price would enhance the consumer's perceived values. On the other hand, discounted price itself could make people depreciate or skeptical about product quality, and reduce the consumers' positivity bias because consumers might be unsure whether the current price promotion is the retailer's best price offer. Moreover, we cannot say that discounted price absolutely enhances the consumer's perceived values regardless of product category and purchase situations. That is, the factors that affect consumers' value perceptions and buying behavior are so diverse in reality that the results of studies on the same dependent variable come out differently depending on what variable was used or how experiment conditions were designed. Majority of previous researches on the effect of price-comparison advertising have used consumers' buying behavior as dependent variable. In order to figure out consumers' buying behavior theoretically, analysis of value perceptions which influence buying intentions is needed. In addition, they did not combined the independent variables such as brand loyalty and price discount rate together. For this reason, this paper tried to examine the moderating effect of brand loyalty on relationship between the different levels of discounting rate and buyers' value perception. And we provided with theoretical and managerial implications that marketers need to consider such variables as product attributes, brand loyalty, and consumer involvement at the same time, and then establish a differentiated pricing strategy case by case in order to enhance consumer's perceived values properl. Three research concepts were used in our study and each concept based on past researches was defined. The perceived acquisition value in this study was defined as the perceived net gains associated with the products or services acquired. That is, the perceived acquisition value of the product will be positively influenced by the benefits buyers believe they are getting by acquiring and using the product, and negatively influenced by the money given up to acquire the product. And the perceived transaction value was defined as the perception of psychological satisfaction or pleasure obtained from taking advantage of the financial terms of the price deal. Lastly, the brand loyalty was defined as favorable attitude towards a purchased product. Thus, a consumer loyal to a brand has an emotional attachment to the brand or firm. Repeat purchasers continue to buy the same brand even though they do not have an emotional attachment to it. We assumed that if the degree of brand loyalty is high, the perceived acquisition value and the perceived transaction value will increase when higher discount rate is provided. But we found that there are no significant differences in values between two different discount rates as a result of empirical analysis. It means that price reduction did not affect consumer's brand choice significantly because the perceived sacrifice decreased only a little, and customers are satisfied with product's benefits when brand loyalty is high. From the result, we confirmed that consumers with high degree of brand loyalty to a specific product are less sensitive to price change. Thus, using price promotion strategy to merely expect sale increase is not recommendable. Instead of discounting price, marketers need to strengthen consumers' brand loyalty and maintain the skimming strategy. On the contrary, when the degree of brand loyalty is low, the perceived acquisition value and the perceived transaction value decreased significantly when higher discount rate is provided. Generally brands that are considered inferior might be able to draw attention away from the quality of the product by making consumers focus more on the sacrifice component of price. But considering the fact that consumers with low degree of brand loyalty are known to be unsatisfied with product's benefits and have relatively negative brand attitude, bigger price reduction offered in experiment condition of this paper made consumers depreciate product's quality and benefit more and more, and consumer's psychological perceived sacrifice increased while perceived values decreased accordingly. We infer that, in the case of inferior brand, a drastic price-cut or frequent price promotion may increase consumers' uncertainty about overall components of product. Therefore, it appears that reinforcing the augmented product such as after-sale service, delivery and giving credit which is one of the levels consisting of product would be more effective in reality. This will be better rather than competing with product that holds high brand loyalty by reducing sale price. Although this study tried to examine the moderating effect of brand loyalty on relationship between the different levels of discounting rate and buyers' value perception, there are several limitations. This study was conducted in controlled conditions where the high involvement product and two different levels of discount rate were applied. Given the presence of low involvement product, when both pieces of information are available, it is likely that the results we have reported here may have been different. Thus, this research results explain only the specific situation. Second, the sample selected in this study was university students in their twenties, so we cannot say that the results are firmly effective to all generations. Future research that manipulates the level of discount along with the consumer involvement might lead to a more robust understanding of the effects various discount rate. And, we used a cellular phone as a product stimulus, so it would be very interesting to analyze the result when the product stimulus is an intangible product such as service. It could be also valuable to analyze whether the change of perceived value affects consumers' final buying behavior positively or negatively.