• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.52-67
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• 2019

Purpose - This study analyzes the effect of the authorized economic operator-mutual recognition arrangement (AEO-MRA) on the performance of Korean exporters and importers. The effect of the import-export companies' characteristics, such as annual sales, the number of foreign markets, and overseas experience, on the AEO-MRA is deduced; the relationship between this effect and firm performance is analyzed. Design/methodology - An empirical research model was constructed and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The effect of AEO-MRA on logistics and operational performance was derived from the aforementioned characteristics as leading factors of the AEO-MRA. The regulatory influence of cooperation with logistics companies was analyzed in the AEO-MRA effect on logistics performance. Thus, 172 valid samples were obtained from import-export companies certified by the AEO-MRA. Findings - Among the aforementioned characteristics, only "annual sales" has a positive effect on the AEO-MRA, whose effect enhances logistics and operational performances. The AEO-MRA effect did not directly affect operational performance. Owing to the adjustment effect analysis, the AEO-MRA effect and logistics performance relationship is strengthened if the cooperative relationship with the logistics company is higher than a certain level. If this cooperation falls below a certain level, the AEO-MRA effect on logistics performance reduces. Thus, logistics cooperation is an important factor in the AEO-MRA effect and logistics performance relationship. Originality/value - Hinging on the resource-based theory and relational viewpoint, an empirical model that explains the relationship between the AEO-MRA effect and firm performance is established.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2023

Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) integrates both immunological and non-immunological inputs to control cell survival and death. Small GTPases are versatile functional switches that lie on the very upstream in signal transduction pathways, of which duration of activation is very transient. The large number of homologous proteins and the requirement for site-directed mutagenesis have hindered attempts to investigate the link between small GTPases and IRF3. Here, we constructed a constitutively active mutant expression library for small GTPase expression using Gibson assembly cloning. Small-scale screening identified multiple GTPases capable of promoting IRF3 phosphorylation. Intriguingly, 27 of 152 GTPases, including ARF1, RHEB, RHEBL1, and RAN, were found to increase IRF3 phosphorylation. Unbiased screening enabled us to investigate the sequence-activity relationship between the GTPases and IRF3. We found that the regulation of IRF3 by small GTPases was dependent on TBK1. Our work reveals the significant contribution of GTPases in IRF3 signaling and the potential role of IRF3 in GTPase function, providing a novel therapeutic approach against diseases with GTPase overexpression or active mutations, such as cancer.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.679-691
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• 2023

The fat deposition is an important factor affecting chicken meat quality, which is closely related to lipid metabolism of chickens. Therefore, it is important to regulate the lipid metabolism of chickens to improve the chicken meat quality. Plant extracts have special regulatory effects on animal's growth and health and have been widely used in chicken breeding. Some plant extracts have been reported to have functions of changing the fatty acid composition, reducing abdominal fat percentage, and enhancing the intramuscular fat content of chickens by improving the antioxidant capacity, regulating the expression of genes, enzymes, and signaling pathways related to lipid metabolism, modulating intestinal microbiota, affecting hormones level, and regulating DNA methylation. This paper reviewed the application and mechanism of plant extracts on regulating lipid metabolism of chickens to provide a reference for the further application of plant extracts in chicken breeding.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how to apply socially responsible corporate management and public policy to perceive awareness and adoption of electric vehicles for global sustainability. This study examined i) how perceived factors such as economic, environment, convenience, uncertainty, and efficiency factors differ based on experiences of electric vehicles, ii) how actual and potential customers perceive management and policy issues on electric vehicles differently, iii) how proposed factors including policy planning for the management of electric vehicle, prospect of electric vehicles, and socially responsible corporate activities affect overall attitudes toward electric vehicles? iv) how overall attitudes affect growth of electric vehicle industry and development of automobile industry? Research design, data and methodology: This study conducted an online survey and applied t-test, ANOVA, factor and regression analysis. Results: This study found that policy planning for the management of electric vehicles, prospect of electric vehicles, and corporate activities affect overall attitudes toward electric vehicles and actual and potential customers showed mean differences on management and policy on electric vehicles. Conclusions: This study provides managerial and policy implications. This study suggests promoting policies for better adoption of electric vehicles and regulatory policies to enhance global sustainability and prospect of electric vehicles.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the application of Augmented Reality (AR) technology to enhance interactivity and decision making via technology-enabled experience particularly, in the context of COVID-19. This study investigated effects of perceived utilitarian value, hedonic value, social value, and perceived risk on customer satisfaction with AR technology that are rarely examined in previous studies. Research design, data and methodology: Online survey data was used in the study. This study applied factor analysis and regression analysis to test the hypotheses and employed ANOVA and mediation effect analysis to explore additional findings. Results: The results suggested that customers' perceived usefulness, arousal, social preference, innovativeness, financial risk, and performance risk have statistically significant effect on customer satisfaction. Conclusions: The findings of the study provided managerial and policy implications to develop and advertise the introduction of AR technology with the emphasis on the practical and utilitarian benefits of the technology. The result of this study highlighted the importance of customer relationship management by providing advanced services to customers through AR technology. This study contributes to technology-enabled CRM literature by providing the empirical result to verify the assumption that AR technology can be an effective tool of firms' CRM strategy

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2023

Sargassum horneri (SH), a brown macroalgae, has medicinal properties. The present study investigated the immune-enhancing effects of SH extract on peritoneal macrophages (PM). The SH significantly increased the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) in PM. It was confirmed that SH significantly increased NO expression through the increase of iNOS protein expression, which is the up-regulation pathway. Additionally, it was determined if SH activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, an upper regulatory mechanism that influences TNF-α, IL-6, and NO expression. Consequently, SH significantly increased the phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), all of which are MAPK pathway proteins. Moreover, the immune-enhancing effects of SH on another macrophage cell line, bone marrow-derived macrophages were investigated. It was observed that SH significantly enhanced TNF-α, IL-6, and NO production. Overall, this study demonstrates the immune-enhancing effects of SH on macrophages via activated MAPK pathway. Therefore, it suggests that SH has the potential to improve immunological activity in various macrophage cell lines and can be useful as an immune-enhancing treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.40.1-40.8
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• 2022

The concepts of phylogeny and floral genetics play a crucial role in understanding the origin and diversification of flowers in angiosperms. Angiosperms evolved a great diversity of ways to display their flowers for reproductive success with variations in floral color, size, shape, scent, arrangements, and flowering time. The various innovations in floral forms and the aggregation of flowers into different kinds of inflorescences have driven new ecological adaptations, speciation, and angiosperm diversification. Evolutionary developmental biology seeks to uncover the developmental and genetic basis underlying morphological diversification. Advances in the developmental genetics of floral display have provided a foundation for insights into the genetic basis of floral and inflorescence evolution. A number of regulatory genes controlling floral and inflorescence development have been identified in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Antirrhinum majus using forward genetics, and conserved functions of many of these genes across diverse non-model species have been revealed by reverse genetics. Transcription factors are vital elements in systems that play crucial roles in linked gene expression in the evolution and development of flowers. Therefore, we review the sex-linked genes, mostly transcription factors, associated with the complex and dynamic event of floral development and briefly discuss the sex-linked genes that have been characterized through next-generation sequencing.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2017

An increasing number of researchers are finding that 'poor' CG is a leading factor in dismal performance, manipulated financial reports, and unhappy stakeholders. Undoubtedly, qualified, trained and mature Chartered Forensic Accountants (CFA's) can prove to be a valuable asset to the corporate sector, and gradually help to improve their CG system. The fundamental objective of this study is to find out "how can we integrate the expertise of the FA to improve the overall CG scenario prevalent in India?" This is a preliminary investigation of the necessary skills, educational and training requirements for CFA's to improve CG system. During 2011-12, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted in the NCR of India using a sample size of 120 practicing chartered accountants, accounting academics, and potential users of FA services. Results indicate that potential practitioners, academics and users agree that "critical thinking, written & oral communication, legal knowledge, auditing skills, deductive analysis, investigative flexibility, analytical proficiency and unstructured problem-solving are the most important skills required for the CFAs." Moreover, we found that all of the skills investigated in this study are 'potentially' important for the CFAs, which the educators at the Universities should use as an overall guide while designing their FA curriculum."

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.660-669
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect and regulatory mechanism of resveratrol supplementation on the mitochondrial energy metabolism of rats with exercise-induced fatigue. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided randomly into a blank control group (C), resveratrol group (R), exercise group (E), and exercise and resveratrol group (ER), with 12 rats in each group. Group ER and group E performed 6-wk swimming training with 5% wt-bearing, 60 min each time, 6 days a wk. Group ER was given resveratrol 50 mg/kg by gavage one hour after exercise; group R was only given resveratrol 50 mg/kg by gavage; group C and group E were fed normally. The same volume of solvent was given by gavage every day. RESULTS: Resveratrol supplementation could reduce the plasma blood urea nitrogen content, creatine kinase activity, and malondialdehyde content in the skeletal muscle, increase the total superoxide dismutase activity in the skeletal muscle, and improve the fatigue state. Resveratrol supplementation could improve the activities of Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase, and citrate synthase in the skeletal muscle. Furthermore, resveratrol supplementation could up-regulate the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)-proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)-nuclear respiratory factor 1 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol supplementation could promote mitochondrial biosynthesis via the SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, increase the activity of the mitochondrial energy metabolism-related enzymes, improve the antioxidant capacity of the body, and promote recovery from exercise-induced fatigue.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.238-243
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• 2024

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into endothelial cells in an inflammatory microenvironment. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying this process are not entirely understood. Here, we found that TIE2 in BM-MSCs was upregulated at the transcriptional level after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), a major pro-inflammatory cytokine. Additionally, the STAT-binding sequence within the proximal region of TIE2 was necessary for TNFα-induced TIE2 promoter activation. TIE2 and STAT3 knockdown reduced TNFα-induced endothelial tube formation in BM-MSCs. Among the major TNFα-activated MAP kinases (ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK) in BM-MSCs, only inhibition of the p38 kinase abrogated TNFα-induced TIE2 upregulation by inhibiting the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. These findings suggest that p38 MAP contributes to the endothelial differentiation of BM-MSCs by activating the JAK-STAT-TIE2 signaling axis in the inflammatory microenvironment.