As platforms become primary decision making tools, platforms for decision have been introduced to improve quality of decision results. Because, decision platforms applied augmented decision-making process which uses experiences and feedback of users. This process creates a variety of alternatives tailored for users’ abilities and characteristics. However, platform users choose alternatives before considering significant quality factors based on securing decision quality. In real world, platform managers use an algorithm that distorts appropriate alternatives for their commercial benefits. For improving quality of decision-making, preceding researches approach trying to increase rational decision -making ability based on experiences and feedback. In order to overcome bounded rationality, users interact with the machine to approach the optional situation. Differentiated from previous studies, our study focused more on characteristics of users while they use decision platforms. This study investigated the impact of quality factors on decision-making using platforms, the dimensions of systematic factors and user characteristics. Systematic factors such as platform reliability, data quality, and user characteristics such as user abilities and biases were selected, and measuring variables which trust, satisfaction, and loyalty of decision platforms were selected. Based on these quality factors, a structural equation research model was created. A survey was conducted with 391 participants using a 7-point Likert scale. The hypothesis that quality factors affect trust was proved to be valid through path analysis of the structural equation model. The key findings indicate that platform reliability, data quality, user abilities, and biases affect the trust, satisfaction and loyalty. Among the quality factors, group bias of users affects significantly trust of decision platforms. We suggest that quality factors of decision platform consist of experience-based and feedback-based decision-making with the platform's network effect. Through this study, the theories of decision-making are empirically tested and the academic scope of platform-based decision-making has been further developed.

Prolactin is an anterior pituitary hormone involved in various physiological phenomenon including reproduction. The prolactin receptor (PRLR) is detected in diverse tissues such as brain, ovary, placenta and uterus in several mammalian species. A total of 227 pigs [Korean native pigs (KNP) 27; Landrace pigs 29; Korean native pigs x Landrace F1 91; Nanchuckmacdon pigs 80] were used to investigate the allele frequency difference of the prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene among the four pig lines. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with Alu I restriction enzyme was used to determine the genotypes of PRLR. Frequencies of PRLR alleles among the four different pig lines were not significantly different (Chi-square=3.94, DF=3, P=0.27). A total of 40 Nanchuckmacdon pigs were used to investigate the effect of the prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene on total number of piglets born (TNB), number of piglets of alive (NBA) using general linear model implemented in MINITAB software. For TNB, the AB genotype had higher genotypic value (10.61) than the values of AA (9.83) and BB (10.30). Likewise, the AB genotype had higher genotypic value (8.96) than the values of AA (8.18) and BB (8.90) for NBA. However, these associations of the PRLR gene with TNB and NBA were not statistically significant. In conclusion, it is necessary to increase the sample size for investigating the effect of the PRLR gene on TNB and NBA in pigs.

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Microsatellite loci are increasingly used as markers in the human, animal and plant genomes. Being highly mutable, microsatellite regions are able to differentiate between related taxa, even at the level of individual isolates in a single species. Studies on mushroom population structure, gene flow and dispersal between natural and cultivated species have become central in breeding programmes and the knowledge of new polymorphic, codominant markers will be a promising avenue to exploit wild genetic resources. The molecular phylogeny in 50 different commercial cultivated strains of Pleurotus eryngii using PCR amplification with URP primers and mitochondrial microsatellite primer was studed. The sizes of the polymorphic fragments obtained were in the range of 200 to 2000 bp. RAPD analysis techniques were able to detect genetic variation among the tested strains. With these isolated PCR amplification with URP primers we intend to analyse the population structure of the P. eryngii species complex and investigate the structure of the basidiomycete genome which deserves. A few single-locus microsatellite markers have been isolated in Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus ferulae. This technique is useful in those species where microsatellite loci are rare in the mitochondria.

The mating-type genes control formation of the dikaryon from two haploid strains. These genes are now used in mating-type-assisted breeding programs for economically important mushrooms, especially the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, aiming at high-yield and high-quality standard mushroom production. However, it improves the breeding program when the breeder is able to quickly identify compatible strains in a given set of progeny. The two mating factors with their mating-type loci are used as markers for breeding and have been incorporated in a chromosome mapping investigation. The linkage maps include not only genetic markers such as the mating types that can be cored, but also molecular markers such as PCR-assisted approaches, e.g. RAPD analyses, or RFLP markers. Once mating-type genes within progeny may be more easily identified by the use of PCR-directed cloning of partial mating-type genes. We analyzed homeodomain (HD1 and HD2) and pheromone receptor(rcb1, 2 and 3) genes as molecular markers for breeding using mating type A and B of Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus ferulae by direct PCR.

The fragile X mental retardation (FMR) syndrome is the largest source of inherited mental retardation. The syndrome is usually caused by the transcriptional silencing of fragile X mental retardation gene (FMR-1). An 18 years old male wascompla띠ing of multiple toαh missing and abnormal facial profùe, of which signs were matemally dominant in his family. In the C)π。gene디c analysis the pa디ent and his parents did not show any discontinuity in the long arm end of X chromosome, but in the PCR produαs targeω19 the CGG repeat sequence in the 5' untranslated region of FMR gene both the patient'’ s and his mother' s gDNAs produced a normal and an extra bands, sized about 400 and 800 bps, respectively, while the his father' s gDNA produced only one normal band, sized about 400 bps. 까1US ， we suppose that the pa디.ent has heterozygotic alleles of FMR gene inherited matemally, and that the patient s FMR gene was in a premutated state relevant to the dentofacial abnormalities.

English is one of the major factors that impede the success of North Korean refugees’ adaptation to South Korea in terms of pursuing college education and getting a job. This article attempts to illustrate North Korean refugee college students’ hopes and anxieties about learning English through a reflective process. To examine comprehensive qualitative data about their perceptions toward English education, North Korean refugee college students were invited to English classes in private institutes in South Korea. After experiencing English classes for six months, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-four students ranging in age from twenty-one to forty-eight. Based on Gibbs’ reflective process framework that promotes meta-thinking about their own learning experience, the refugees’ reflections on English education were categorized into the following themes: education and meaning of life, importance of post-caring, determinants of motivation for class attendance, and ambivalent view on English education. Suggestions are made from the findings regarding North Korean refugee college students’ hopes and anxieties about education in Korea and future English programs.

Rice is a staple food crop for more than half of the world population. Severe losses of rice production was caused by various environmental conditions such as cold, heat and flooding annually. Rice is a highly sensitive to low temperature below 15-20 ℃ because of originating from tropical or subtropical climates. Especially, seedling of rice is easily damaged to low temperature and result in seedling yellowing, growth retardation, reduced tillering and yield losses at last. We used a recombinant inbreeding lines (RIL) population of 384 individuals derived from a cross between Hanareum 2, a highly cold sensitive variety and Unkwang, a cold tolerant variety for molecular mapping of QTLs related to cold tolerance. Seedling discoloration of each lines and parents caused by cold response were investigated in field condition after transplanting. And leaf samples of RIL population were collected for evaluation of chlorophyll content using 80% acetone extraction. The seedling of each lines and parents was subjected to low temperate by 5~13 ℃ during 14 days. The cold recovery score (CRS) of RILs was recorded after 4 days recovery period according to standard evaluation system (SES, IRRI). Total of eight QTLs were detected on chromosome 1, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 using cold tolerance traits, chlorophyll content, seedling discoloration and cold recovery score in 384 RILs. The qCRS12, which detected on chromosome 12 between two flanking markers id12002113, id12002563 (1.1 Mbp) showed 25 LOD score with 26% of phenotypic variation of cold recovery score in RILs population. The positive allele contributing to cold tolerance came from the cold tolerant parent Unkwang. The result may provide useful information for a marker-assisted breeding program to improve cold tolerant in rice.

Next Generation Small Satellite-1 (NEXTSat-1) is scheduled to launch in 2017 and Instruments for the Study of Space Storm (ISSS) is planned to be onboard the NEXTSat-1. High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) is one of the equipment comprising ISSS and the main objective of HEPD is to measure the high energy particles streaming into the Earth radiation belt during the event of a space storm, especially, electrons and protons, to obtain the flux information of those particles. For the design of HEPD, the Geometrical Factor was calculated to be 0.05 to be consistent with the targets of measurement and the structure of telescope with field of view of 33.4° was designed using this factor. In order to decide the thickness of the detector sensor and the classification of the detection channels, a simulation was performed using GEANT4. Based on the simulation results, two silicon detectors with 1 mm thickness were selected and the aluminum foil of 0.05 mm is placed right in front of the silicon detectors to shield low energy particles. The detection channels are divided into an electron channel and two proton channels based on the measured LET of the particle. If the measured LET is less than 0.8 MeV, the particle belongs to the electron channel, otherwise it belongs to proton channels. HEPD is installed in the direction of 0°,45°,90° against the along-track of a satellite to enable the efficient measurement of high energy particles. HEPD detects electrons with the energy of 0.1 MeV to several MeV and protons with the energy of more than a few MeV. Thus, the study on the dynamic mechanism of these particles in the Earth radiation belt will be performed.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) family is well known to induce the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). However, the precise signal transduction pathways and underlying factors are not well known. Thus the present study aims to evaluate the possible role of C2 domain in the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. To this end, 145 C2 domains in the adenovirus were individually transfected to hMSC, and morphological changes were examined. Among 145 C2 domains, C2 domain of protein kinase C eta (PKCη) was selected as a possible chondrogenic differentiation factor for hMSC. To confirm this possibility, we treated TGFβ3, a well known chondrogenic differentiation factor of hMSC, and examined the increased-expression of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), collagen type II (COL II) as well as PKCη using PT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. To further evaluation of C2 domain of PKCη, we examined morphological changes, expressions of GAG and COL II after transfection of PKCη -C2 domain in hMSC. Overexpression of PKCη-C2 domain induced morphological change and increased GAG and COL II expressions. The present results demonstrate that PKCη involves in the TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation of hMSC, and C2 domain of PKCη has important role in this process.

The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased due to their economic and agronomic advantages. Before commercialization of GM crops, however, we must assess the potential risks of GM crops on human health and environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of Bt rice on the soil microbial community. Microbial communities were isolated from the rhizosphere soil cultivated with Bt rice and Nakdong, parental cultivar and were subjected to be analyzed using both culture-dependent and molecular methods. The total counts of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the rhizosphere of transgenic and conventional rice were not significantly different. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed that the bacterial community structures during cultural periods were very similar each other. Analysis of dominant isolates in the rhizosphere cultivated with Bt and Nakdong rice showed that the dominant isolates from the soil of Bt rice and Nakdong belonged to the Proteobacteria, Cloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. These results indicate that the Bt rice has no significant impact on the soil microbial communities during cultivation period. Further study remains to be investigated whether the residue of Bt rice effect on the soil environment.