• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.165-172
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• 2019

Innovation activities represented by Six Sigma (6σ) led to improvements not only in manufacturing industries but also in various business fields. In the aviation industry, Six Sigma has been used as a tool of innovation since the beginning of 2000, and it has developed into a comprehensive form of innovation activity that includes various improvement tools. In this study, the innovation activities in K company that is a representative company of aviation industry are summarized in the last 10 years, and the effectiveness of the innovation tools and the performance of the tasks are also analyzed. The results of 2,091 projects over the past decade have been analyzed from various perspectives. First, we found out the tools that were used frequently at each DMAIC step, showed their frequency, and analyzed the evaluation results for the project. The project was evaluated from grade 1 (highest level) to grade 7 (lowest level) with an average grade of 4.1 for the overall project. The evaluation grades of the projects were compared and analyzed in terms of the qualifications of the leader, the roadmap for the implementation of the project, the financial effect, the size of the financial effect, the business classification, and the project execution period. These results may suggest new perspectives for companies considering or adopting innovation programs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.838-845
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• 2024

Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious negative consequences on health, including addiction, liver damage, and other long-term effects. The causes of hangovers include dehydration, alcohol and alcohol metabolite toxicity, and nutrient deficiency due to absorption disorders. Additionally, alcohol consumption can slow reaction times, making it more difficult to rapidly respond to situations that require quick thinking. Exposure to a large amount of ethanol can also negatively affect a person's righting reflex and balance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to alleviate alcohol-induced effects and behavioral responses. Two LAB strains isolated from kimchi, Levilactobacillus brevis WiKim0168 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides WiKim0172, were selected for their ethanol tolerance and potential to alleviate hangover symptoms. Enzyme activity assays for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were then conducted to evaluate the role of these bacteria in alcohol metabolism. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, these strains were assessed for their ability to reduce blood alcohol concentrations and protect against alcohol-induced liver damage. The results indicated that these LAB strains possess significant ethanol tolerance and elevate ADH and ALDH activities. LAB administration remarkably reduced blood alcohol levels in rats after excessive alcohol consumption. Moreover, the LAB strains showed hepatoprotective effects and enhanced behavioral outcomes, highlighting their potential as probiotics for counteracting the adverse effects of alcohol consumption. These findings support the development of functional foods incorporating LAB strains that can mediate behavioral improvements following alcohol intake.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.577-610
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• 2014

Although service innovation is not a new concept, innovation research in general tends to focus on technological innovation by manufacturing firms. With this view, innovation studies focus on product(e.g., goods) and process(e.g., product systems) innovation, ignoring service innovation and its inherent opportunities. Since major economy has been transformed to service economy, service innovation is considered a new effective way to sustain and gain a competitive advantage. Service innovation is no longer regarded merely as a side activity to product innovation; it has become a main research topic in its own right, accompanied by an increasing focus on services. While the number of service innovation studies has increased dramatically in the past 30 years in international research, few studies have been performed in domestic studies because domestic service innovation research began from the middle of 2000. In addition, there are no comprehensive literature reviews describing the evolution of service innovation research in both international and domestic studies because of the heterogeneities of service industry and multidiscipline characteristics of service innovation studies. To bridge this research gap, the purpose of this paper is to perform an extensive literature review and synthesis to enable a critical review of extant research on service innovation and trace its evolution, which will establish a foundation for further studies. By reviewing 169 articles (136 international papers; 33 domestic papers) published between 2000 and 2014 (in past 15 years), primarily in leading service, innovation and management information systems journals, this study analyzes the progression of service innovation research according to the four aspects such as number of studies, topics, methodologies and target industries. Overall, the view of service innovation has evolved, from a complement of traditional product innovation to a multidimensional, all-encompassing concept that entails several functions, both within and outside the firms. The results showed that domestic research still stays at the formation phase of service innovation studies although international research is in the maturity or multidimensional phase. We found increasing recent activities pertaining to service innovation, resulting from the increasing interest in services innovation across various industries and the links of new topics to the service innovation concept in both international and domestic studies. However, the main focus of service innovation research showed a different propensity between international and domestic studies: the former mainly focuses on a much more diversified pattern, emphasizing the linkages between service innovation and business strategy while the latter mainly focuses on the service innovation process(system) and service design. In addition, there are many case studies in domestic studies while many empirical studies in international studies. Domestic studies should increases the understanding of the interplay between service innovation and product innovation within manufacturing firms. Furthermore, rather than focusing on intrinsic distinctions between service innovation and product innovation, researchers should strive to develop and conceptualize service innovation in domestics studies. The present research also provides useful implications for practitioners. First, this study contributes to expand the current understanding of service innovation research by performing an extensive literature review. Second, tracing and comparing the progression and trends of service innovation research between international and domestic studies, this study showed the similarities and differences between them, which provide practical guidance on future research directions and research agenda. Third, this study performed literature review establishing the analysis system in the initial stage and using them to analyze articles, which is leading to explain the research review of service innovation more systematically and objectively. Finally, this study suggests the domestic researchers their future interests and topics of service innovation research.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.579-590
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Petasites japonicus Maxim (P. japonicus) has been used as an edible and medicinal plant and contains many bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of P. japonicus on osteogenesis. MATERIALS/METHODS: The leaves and stems of P. japonicus were separated and extracted with hot water or ethanol, respectively. The total phenolic compound and total polyphenol contents of each extract were measured, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of each extract was evaluated to determine their effect on bone metabolism. To investigate the effect on osteoblast differentiation of the aqueous extract of P. japonicus leaves (AL), which produced the highest ALP activity among the tested extracts, collagen content was measured using the Sirius Red staining method, mineralization using the Alizarin Red S staining method, and osteocalcin production through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. Also, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate the mRNA expression levels of Runt-related transcriptional factor 2 (Runx2) and Osterix. RESULTS: Among the 4 P. japonicus extracts, AL had the highest values in all of the following measures: total phenolic compounds, total polyphenols, and ALP activity, which is a major biomarker of osteoblast differentiation. The AL-treated MC3T3-E1 cells showed significant increases in induced osteoblast differentiation, collagen synthesis, mineralization, and osteocalcin production. In addition, mRNA expressions of Runx2 and Osterix, transcription factors that regulate osteoblast differentiation, were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AL can regulate osteoblasts differentiation, at least in part through Runx2 and Osterix. Therefore, it is highly likely that P. japonicus will be useful as an alternate therapeutic for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.536-542
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• 2022

Background: In aged skin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to visible aging signs. Collagens in the ECM are cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Syringaresinol (SYR), isolated from Panax ginseng berry, has various physiological activities, including anti-inflammatory action. However, the anti-aging effects of SYR via antioxidant and autophagy regulation have not been elucidated. Methods: The preventive effect of SYR on skin aging was investigated in human HaCaT keratinocytes in the presence of H₂O₂, and the keratinocyte cells were treated with SYR (0-200 ㎍/mL). mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2 and -9 were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Radical scavenging activity was researched by 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. LC3B level was assessed by Western blotting and confocal microscopy. Results: SYR significantly reduced gene expression and protein levels of MMP-9 and -2 in both H₂O₂-treated and untreated HaCaT cells. SYR did not show cytotoxicity to HaCaT cells. SYR exhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities with an EC₅₀ value of 10.77 and 10.35 ㎍/mL, respectively. SYR elevated total levels of endogenous and exogenous LC3B in H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, counteracted the inhibitory effect of SYR on MMP-2 expression. Conclusion: SYR showed antioxidant activity and up-regulated autophagy activity in H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells, lowering the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 associated with skin aging. Our results suggest that SYR has potential value as a cosmetic additive for prevention of skin aging.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.283-288
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• 2015

We found that resveratrol enhances interferon (IFN)-γ-induced tryptophanyl-tRNA-synthetase (TTS) expression in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Resveratrol-induced TTS expression is associated with glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. In addition, we found that resveratrol regulates naive CD8⁺ T-cell polarization by modulating GSK-3β activity in IFN-γ-stimulated BMDCs, and that resveratol induces upregulation of TTS in CD8⁺ T-cells in the in vivo tumor environment. Taken together, resveratrol upregulates IFN-γ-induced TTS expression in a GSK-3β-dependent manner, and this TTS modulation is crucial for DC-mediated T-cell modulation. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 283-288]

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.903-911
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• 2020

Addition of probiotics to yogurt with desired health benefits is gaining increasing attention. To further understand the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum on the quality and function of fermented milk, probiotic fermented milk (PFM) made with probiotic L. plantarum K25 and yogurt starter (L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) was compared with the control fermented milk (FM) made with only the yogurt starter. The probiotic strain was shown to survive well with a viable count of 7.1 ± 0.1 log CFU/g in the PFM sample after 21 days of storage at 4℃. The strain was shown to promote formation of volatiles such as acetoin and 2,3-butanediol with milk fragrance, and it did not cause post-acidification during refrigerated storage. Metabolomics analysis by GC-MS datasets coupled with multivariate statistical analysis showed that addition of L. plantarum K25 increased formation of over 20 metabolites detected in fermented milk, among which γ-aminobutyric acid was the most prominent. Together with several other metabolites with relatively high levels in fermented milk such as glyceric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, glycine, alanine, ribose, and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, they might play important roles in the probiotic function of L. plantarum K25. Further assay of the bioactivity of the PFM sample showed significant (p < 0.05) increase of ACE inhibitory activity from 22.3% at day 1 to 49.3% at day 21 of the refrigerated storage. Therefore, probiotic L. plantarum K25 could be explored for potential application in functional dairy products.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Even though Korea has lost its important modern era due to Japanese colonialism, it is in the rank of advanced nation today. It is common to think that there was no creative and innovative design activity because it was highly constrained by design activities. Is there no creative idea or innovative design in this period of design activity? As a result of analyzing the various products of modern design left in the question, I was able to find a new and unique Innovation in 10 fields. In other words, today, we can confirm that we have utilized innovative strategies in the field of design such as brand family, new sign system, modernism style, localization, star marketing, one source multi use, private brand, nature friendly, fusion and parody strategy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.268-274
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• 2015

${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, is involved in sleep physiology. Caffeine is widely used psychoactive substance known to induce wakefulness and insomnia to its consumers. This study was performed to examine whether GABA extracts from fermented rice germ ameliorates caffeine-induced sleep disturbance in mice, without affecting spontaneous locomotor activity and motor coordination. Indeed, caffeine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) delayed sleep onset and reduced sleep duration of mice. Conversely, rice germ ferment extracts-GABA treatment (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg, p.o.), especially at 100 mg/kg, normalized the sleep disturbance induced by caffeine. In locomotor tests, rice germ ferment extracts-GABA slightly but not significantly reduced the caffeine-induced increase in locomotor activity without affecting motor coordination. Additionally, rice germ ferment extracts-GABA per se did not affect the spontaneous locomotor activity and motor coordination of mice. In conclusion, rice germ ferment extracts-GABA supplementation can counter the sleep disturbance induced by caffeine, without affecting the general locomotor activities of mice.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.946-950
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• 2015

Recently, it has become a struggle to treat tuberculosis with the current commercial antituberculosis drugs because of the increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis. We evaluated here the antimycobacterial activity of tamoxifen, known as a synthetic anti-estrogen, against eight drugsensitive or resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), and the active intracellular killing of tamoxifen on TB in macrophages. The results showed that tamoxifen had antituberculosis activity against drug-sensitive strains (MIC, 3.125-6.25 µg/ml) as well as drugresistant strains (MIC, 6.25 to 12.5 µg/ml). In addition, tamoxifen profoundly decreased the number of intracellular TB in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.