• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2010

The first morphogenetic event of preimplantation development, compaction, was required efficient production of porcine embryos in vitro. Compaction of the porcine embryo, which takes place at post 4-cell stage, is dependent upon the adhesion molecule E-cadherin. The E-cadherin through ${\beta}$-catenin contributes to stable cell-cell adhesion. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling was found to support the integrity of E-cadherin based cell contacts. In this study, we traced the effects of ROCK-1 on early embryonic development and structural integrity of blastocysts in pigs. Then, in order to gain new insights into the process of compaction, we also examined whether ROCK-1 signaling is involved in the regulation of the compaction mediated by E-cadherin of cellular adhesion molecules. As a result, real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of ROCK-1 mRNA was presented throughout porcine preimplantation stages, but not expressed as consistent levels. Thus, we investigated the blastocyst formation of porcine embryos treated with LPA and Y27632. Blastocysts formation and their qualities in LPA treated group increased significantly compared to those in the Y27632-treated group (p < 0.05). Then, to determine whether ROCK-1 associates embryonic compaction, we explored the effect of activator and/or inhibitor of ROCK-1 on compaction of embryos in pigs. The rate of compacted morula in LPA treated group was increased compared to that in the Y27632-treated group (39.7 vs 12.0%). Furthermore, we investigated the localization and expression pattern of E-cadherin at 4-cell stage porcine embryos in both LPA- and Y27632-treated groups by immunocytochemical analysis and Western blot analysis. The expression of E-cadherin was increased in LPA-treated group compared to that in the Y27632-treated group. The localization of E-cadherin in LPA-treated group was enriched in part of blastomere contacts compared to that Y27632-treated group. ROCK-1 as a crucial mediator of embryo compaction may plays an important role in regulating compaction through E-cadherin of the cell adhesion during the porcine preimplantation embryo. We concluded that ROCK-1 gene may affect the developmental potential of porcine blastocysts through regulating embryonic compaction.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2009

In mammals, puberty is a dynamic transition process from infertile immature state to fertile adult state. The neuroendocrine aspect of puberty is started with functional activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal hormone axis. The timing of puberty can be altered by many factors including hormones and/or hormone-like materials, social cues and metabolic signals. For a long time, attainment of a particular body weight or percentage of body fat has been thought as crucial determinant of puberty onset. However, the precise effect of high-fat (HF) diet on the regulation of hypothalamic GnRH neuron during prepubertal period has not been fully elucidated yet. The present study was undertaken to test the effect of a HF diet on the puberty onset and hypothalamic gene expressions in immature female rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to female rats from weaning to around puberty onset (postnatal days, PND 22-40). Body weight and vaginal opening (VO) were checked daily during the entire feeding period. In the second experiment, all animals were sacrificed on PND 36 to measure the weights of reproductive tissues. Histological studies were performed to assess the effect of HF diet feeding on the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights of HF group animals tend to be higher than those of control animals between PND 22 and PND 31, and significant differences were observed PND 32, PND 34, PND 35 and PND 36 (p<0.05). Advanced VO was shown in the HF group (PND $32.8{\pm}0.37$ p<0.001) compared to the control (PND $38.25{\pm}0.25$). The weight of ovaries (p<0.01) and uteri (p<0.05) from HF group animals significantly increased when compared to those from control animals. Corpora lutea were observed in the ovaries from the HF group animals but not in control ovaries. Similarly, hypertrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelia was found only in the HF group animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activities of KiSS-1 in HF group animals were significantly higher than those from the control animals (p<0.001). Likewise, the mRNA levels of GnRH (p<0.05) were significantly elevated in HF group animals. The present study indicated that the feeding HF diet during the post-weaning period activates the upstream modulators of gonadotropin such as GnRH and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus, resulting early onset of puberty in immature female rats.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.1 s.118
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• pp.41-62
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• 2007

This paper aims to interpret the changes of the regional inequality between Seoul Metropolitan Area(SMA) and Non-SMA after 1981 on the regulationist approaches that examine institution changes and power dynamics that motivate regional disparities in South Korea. Despite the restrict laws and aims that alms to reduce the concentration into SMA before 1988, the acts were not executed effectively due to the structural selectivity of the bureaucratic authoritarian state of those years. Thus, the regional concentration phenomena of SMA was intensified in the 1980s. However, the democratization in 1987 invoked Non-SMA regions to claim their regional development and it also forced the state to mediate the conflicting interests between the regional agents protesting the SMA concentration and the Capital agents supporting the SMA deregulation. From the early 1990s. the state launched a series of national strategies and policies to diminish regional inequality. They included execution of the existing acts mitigating SMA concentration and construction of industrial complexes in the underdeveloped areas of Non-SMA. Thus, the equalizing polities led the reduction of the concentration of SMA from 1989 to 1997. However, the financial crisis of Korea in 1997 intensified the claims of the Capital agents to deregulate the SMA control. The circumstance also forced the state towards the Capital side that request the deregulation of SMA control. As the result, the regional disparity between SMA and Non-SMA has been enlarged again since 1998.

• The Journal of Small Business Innovation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.51-66
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• 2017

Online and wireless communications have dramatically changed the contents industry marketplace. Content transactions are now instantaneous as distribution channels move from the 'mart' to smart platforms, creating opportunities for content creators large and small. Yet with opportunity comes the threat of imbalance in the industry ecosystem. In order to ensure the health and diversity of an industry that relies so heavily on the welfare of small creative enterprises, it is essential to establish rules for the fair transaction of content rights. Several structural forces may work against such rules: first, the industry consists of a large number of small distributor intermediary businesses (e.g. major publishers); second, end distributors (e. g. platforms) maintain a superior, monopsony position; and third, economic valuation of content is difficult. In terms of acquisition business model, rights transactions can be classified into three general models: (1) license model, (2) original acquisition model, and (3) monopsony model. This study explores the publishing industry in detail, considering key statutes and their operation across the models. From analysis of Korea and the US statutes and case law, and decisions of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) of Korea, we offer evaluation criteria for discerning between fair and unfair content rights transactions. We further recommend industry practice that may enhance the likelihood for fair content rights transactions, and thus a thriving publishing ecosystem.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2013

This This paper investigates the variation of the factors to determinate housing price in Seoul metropolitan area after sub-prime financial crisis, in Korea, using a VAR model. The model includes housing price and housing rent (Jeonse) in Seoul metropolitan area from 1999 to 2011, and uses interest rate, real GDP, KOSPI, Producer Price Index and practices to impulse response and variance decomposition analysis to grasp the dynamic relation between a variable of macro economy and and a variable of housing price. Data is classified to 2 groups before and after the 3rd quater of 2008, when sub-prime crisis occurred; one is from the 1st quater of 1999 to the 3rd quater of 2008, and the other is from the 2nd quater of 1999 and the 4th quater of 2011. As a result, comparing before and after sub-prime crisis, housing price is more influenced by its own variation or Jeonse price's variation instead of interest rate and KOSPI. Both before and after sub-prime financial crisis, Jeonse price is also influenced by its own variation and housing price. While after sub-prime financial crisis, influences of Producer Price Index, KOSPI and interest rate were weakened, influence of real GDP is expanded. As housing price and housing rent are more influenced by real economy factors such as GDP, its own variation than before sub-prime financial crisis, the recent trend that the house prices is declined is difficult to be converted, considering domestic economic recession and uncertainty, continued by Europe financial crisis. In the future to activate the housing business, it ia necessary to promote purchasing power rather than relaxation of financial and supply regulation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Methylophaga aminosulfidovorans SK1 (KCTC 10323 BP) can utilize trimethylamine as a sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy source. The bacterial flavin-containing monooxygenase (bFMO) gene was identified in the strain and the recombinant enzyme expressed in E. coli oxidized trimethylamine. To study the function and regulation of the bfmo, over 8,000 nucleotide sequences of the neighboring regions including the bfmo were determined. Three open reading frames proceeding to the bfmo gene encoded analogues to highly conserved nitrate/nitrite sensing two-component system regulators and a methyl accepting protein. Two small open reading frames just downstream of the bfmo gene showed no similar proteins of known functions but the sequences were conserved among other bacteria. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the six putative genes consisted of three transcription units. The three regulatory genes located upstream of the bfmo gene formed two separate transcription units. The bfmo and the two downstream genes were transcribed from a single promoter.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.73-87
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural relationship among job stress, ego-resilience, social support, and burnout of art therapists. This study verified the relationship and the effect by setting a research model with job stress as independent variable, ego-resilience as mediator variable, social support as control variable, and burnout as dependent variable based on the previous studies. In order to do this study, 300 questionnaires were distributed to art therapists and the 233 questionnaires were used finally for empirical analysis. The results of this study are as follows. First, only career showed significant correlation among personal environmental factors (education, career, treatment time, income per hour, number of supervision). Second, the relationship between job stress and burnout was partially mediated by ego-resilience. Third, social support showed a regulation effect on the relationship between ego-resilience and burnout. Thus, ego-resilience showed a mediation effect in the path that job stress affects burnout, and this mediation effect varies with the level of social support. So the moderated mediation effect was confirmed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.463-472
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among three factors such as the family health, school adjustment and internet addiction, and their subordinated factors. The research is going to clarify if school adjustment has mediating effect in the relationship between the family health and internet addiction. 371 of elementary school students resideing in Dadjeon-city completed questionnaires assessing family health, school adjustment and internet addiction. The sample variance-covariance matrix was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 20.0, the mazimum likelihood minimization function. The goodness of fit was evaluated using the SRMR, RMSEA and its 90% confidence interval, CFI, and TLI. The results are as follows: First, there were significant correlations among family health, school adjustment and internet addiction. Second, the subordinated factors in the family health, school adjustment, and internet addiction regulation are also closely related in the statistically significant positive relationship excepting school adjustment. After conducting the Covariance Structure Analysis to verify the mediating effect of school adjustment in the relationship between the family health and internet addiction, we found that it was appropriate to explain our findings with the structural equation model. when the family health has an effect on internet addiction, the school adjustment partially influences this process. Finally, educational implications and suggestions for future studies are addressed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.335-343
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• 2014

To find out self elasticity of student of dental hygienic, how self elasticity influences life adaptation of college and study satisfaction. To structure analysis the effects that is given from self-elasticity of student of dental hygienic influences life adaptation of college and study satisfaction, from 2013/10/1 to 2013/10/31 due to convenience sampling, 369 students in grade 1,2,3 in Daegu Gyeongbuk were conducted a survey. The sub factors of self elasticity and study satisfaction and correlation of university life adjustment have the highest relevance to optimistic attitude and life adaptation of college. The higher self elasticity, the higher study satisfaction and the higher self elasticity and study satisfaction, the higher life adaptation of college. self elasticity increase the study satisfaction of students, improve adaptation(p<0.001). Therefore to promote the life adaptation of college, the effort and attention to reinforce the abilities of regulation of self elasticity that are an improvement of personal relation, goal setting, anger control and motivation. On this wise, development and management of suitable continuous and gradational educational programs are needed.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.33-56
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• 2012

The purposes of this paper are analysed the relationship between environmental regulation and financial performance in Korea. The financial performance of listed companies and Outside Auditing firms was evaluated by logistic regression. First, R&D investment is proportionally correlated with the ability to comply with environmental regulations. It can be explained increase of investment in R&D causes enhancement of compliance of environmental regulations with development of environmental technology. Second, statistical significance is not observed between financial aspects such as current ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, cash flow, and operating profit margin and the ability to comply with environmental regulations. It indicates high financial performance could not directly lead investment for the ability of that. Third, in terms of structural aspects, firm size and employees have a reliable correlation with compliance with environmental regulations due to high attention of larger firms for PR, and IR, while capital intensity and gravity, and exports do not. Finally, violation of environmental regulations is not affect by the controlling shareholder ownership.