The hotel industry vs. online travel agencies: forever foe? The rise of Online Travel Agency (OTA) conglomerates such as Expedia and Priceline has forced the hotel industry to find ways of working with, or avoiding, an increasingly powerful channel for room distribution, and an increasingly relevant set of brands for consumers (Zhang, Denizci Guillet, & Kucukusta, 2015; Lee, Denizci Guillet, & Law, 2013). Although strategizing how to work with different electronic distribution channels has been studied, very few of them have addressed hoteliers‘ perceptions of OTAs, and how OTAs are affecting the industry. In this exploratory research, we sought to investigate the state of current and possible future relationships between OTAs and the hotel industry, from the perspective of diverse hoteliers in the U.S. Using a grounded theory method (Charmaz, 2014; Corbin, Strauss, & Strauss, 2014) that advises to maximize variety to increase the chances of finding new distinctions through a method of ‗constant comparison‘ between data sources, we interviewed eight highly accomplished hotel industry professionals in the U.S., mostly executives, across a variety of roles. Two of our informants were owners/operators of a large hotel management group (Interviewees 1 and 2), one was a former C-level executive at a major hotel brand (Interviewee 3), one was a senior executive at a midlevel regional hotel brand (Interviewee 4), one was the owner/operator to two family-run independent hotels (Interviewee 5), one was the owner of an independent, luxury hotel online services provider (Interviewee 6), one was the manager of a mid-level major brand hotel (Interviewee 7), and one was the owner of a hotel real estate investment company (Interviewee 8). The interviews were semi-structured on: the influence of OTAs on their business, and the hotel industry in general and current strategies for working with, or competing against, OTAs. The interviewees were guaranteed full anonymity, and the resulting 60-75 minute conversations were fully transcribed. Based on the grounded theory design, we followed gradual phases of data analysis: a preliminary open coding phase where concepts are associated with a line-by-line reading of transcripts; a focused coding phase where a limited number of concepts are chosen for further analysis; and an ‗axial‘ coding phase where concepts are systematically related to each other. During the open coding phase, this study‘s authors individually did initial code generation. They then came together to select the primary themes that emerged during focused coding, and worked together to relate the chosen themes to each other, and to key contextual variables such as industry role, hotel size, and hotel category. The impact of OTAs The first consistent perception of OTAs from every corner of the hotel industry is that they ―are not going away‖ (Interviewees 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8). The interviewees noted that OTAs first came into the picture post 9-11 when the market was down. Back then, hoteliers ―signed up for OTAs without thinking about any future impacts‖ (Interviewee 5), and ―did not anticipate how disruptive they were going to be, because the original OTA model was to sell distressed or unusable inventory‖ (Interviewee 1). The negative perceptions of OTAs were widespread, with the use of terms such as ―necessary evils‖, ―evil empires‖, and ―Frankenstein‖ (Interviewees 4 and 5). The hotel industry ―sold its soul‖ to OTAs (Interviewee 1), we [hoteliers] are idiots‖ (Interviewee 8) and ―we hate them all.‖ (Interviewee 5). The interviewees expressed that OTAs have had an unexpectedly significant and negative impact on the hotel industry and their business, ―dramatically changing the landscape of hotel business‖ (Interviewee 8). With a marketing budget far larger than that of many hotels, OTAs have successfully convinced consumers to book on their websites for speed, convenience, choice, and loyalty points, and made them believe – incorrectly, according to the interviewees – that they can get the cheapest rates there. The negative view of OTAs has led to a predominantly zero-sum view of the hotel- OTA relationship. OTAs have consolidated to develop a large network of suppliers, and they have been taking more direct business away from hotels, according to the interviewees. As such, the main impact of OTAs on the interviewees‘ hotel bookings was increasing costs due to commission fees to the OTAs, which ―drive up the customer acquisition cost, [which is why] profit hasn‘t gone up in proportion to the revenue increase‖ over the years (Interviewee 6). All but one interviewee mentioned the term ―rate parity,‖ whereby hotels and OTAs have to offer the same room rates on their respective websites. Nonetheless, one interviewee expressed discontent about OTAs‘ practices of rate parity, because hoteliers have ―no clue what they‘re selling [my inventory] for, especially when hotels are packaged with other travel products‖ (Interviewee 5). To minimize this negative financial impact, hotels try to increase direct bookings as much as possible from their members by offering extra features such as mobile check-in, or better rates available only to them. This ‗closed group‘ offering is also practiced by OTAs through which their loyalty program members can also be offered more favorable pricing or terms. The interviewees mentioned that the impact of OTAs is larger for independent than for chain hotels because independent hotels have no ―big distribution channel, and it‘s a way for [them] to be visible‖ (Interviewee 8). However, OTAs are more expensive for independent than for chain hotels, as the latter can leverage their large size to negotiate better terms with OTAs. The OTA commission rates at the interviewees‘ hotels ranged between 6% and 28%, with the highest rate being for independent hotels. Four interviewees pointed out that hotel location and service/price level influence the degree to which OTAs are utilized. That is, OTAs‘ booking volume is higher at resorts, and at hotels at or near airports with a high guest turnover. OTAs‘ booking volume is also higher for hotels with limited service (economy or budget hotels) than those with higher levels of service/price (luxury or upper scale hotels). The former, as compared to the latter, are akin to ―soap on a shelf‖ (Interviewee 8) because they are not distinctive in the consumer‘s mind, and consumers who choose to stay at the former are typically price-elastic. Although the majority of bookings at major chain hotels are still generated by direct bookings, what concerns the hoteliers most is that the percentage of bookings by OTAs has been ―growing at a double-digit rate for many years‖ (Interviewee 3). This makes the interviewees feel that ―OTAs take customers away‖ from their hotels (Interviewee 8). Strategic response of the hotel industry Although all the interviewees acknowledged and worried about the negative financial impact of OTAs, the only consistent strategy for coping with OTAs was to divert bookings to more cost-effective channels such as direct booking, or ―limit visibility over premium dates as much as possible‖ (Interviewee 8). They responded that they use or have to use most or all major OTAs (e.g., Expedia, Priceline), simply because these are prevalent and most familiar to consumers today. The response to the perceived OTA threat varied, depending on the respondent‘s role in the hotel industry. The REIT investor (Interviewee 8) and the major brand executive (Interviewee 3) displayed the purest zero-sum view of the relationship. The REIT investor believed the best response is to strengthen the bargaining position of hotels and win back lost revenue, expressing that hotels are ―letting other people take all this money…we‘re stupid.‖ From the major brand perspective, the best response was consolidation (getting bigger) to have better leverage in complex OTA negotiations, and to have more capital for marketing campaigns and technology development. For the more ―independent‖ respondents there was more scope to react by working with OTAs at some level. The single hotel manager and the independent hotel owner both used the metaphor of ―playing the game‖ to survive in the new era: ―You‘d better play ball with them if you want a presence online‖ (Interviewee 5). For an independent hotel, ―Expedia is my franchise website‖ (Interviewee 7) because OTAs are ―doing things that I could never do as an independent‖ (Interviewee 5). In particular, they emphasized the necessity to understand and master the digital marketing landscape of social media, review sites, search engine optimization, daily deal sites, and a good online presence on their own websites, expressing ―You gotta fish where the fish are‖ (Interviewee 4). Independent and small hotels do suffer from higher OTA commissions, but can also work in their favor in terms of preferred placement in hotel searches and referrals from OTAs. The technology service company‘s, (Interviewee 6) key strategic response was to gain control over customer data, because customer email addresses are particularly important for ―retargeting and email marketing to get guests back for zero costs‖ but is difficult to obtain when receiving bookings from OTAs. Some interviewees were able to see other potential strategic responses that were promising, but not yet pursued widely. One example was ‗bundling‘ products and services along with hotel rooms in new ways (Interviewees 1, 2, 4, 5, 6), similar to Airbnb‘s recent pivoting of offerings. Recognizing that part of the success of OTAs comes from customer convenience, some interviewees thought that innovations such as eliminating check-in (Interviewee 4) would help hotels cope with the new pressures. The regional hotel chain executive and the hotel management company owners perceived that changes to the physical product offered by hotels were needed to compete with Internet providers, especially Airbnb, saying that hotels need to ―rethink the long hallway‖ and the ―300 square-foot rooms‖ (Interviewee 4). This same executive saw significant barriers to innovation in the hotel industry. ―We [hotel industry] are definitely trying…but we are capital heavy, labor heavy, slow to innovate‖ (Interviewee 4). Discussion Our exploratory findings suggest that hoteliers, across a variety of hotel industry roles, had an almost uniformly profoundly negative, zero-sum view of the OTA relationship. While not dismissing the very real concerns and profitability pressures of the hotel industry, we are concerned that these perceptions may lead hotel industry players to not pursue or develop the relationship between them and OTAs in more mutually beneficial ways. The strategy of choice right now is to simply compete directly with OTAs, which is not a strategy that has necessarily worked for other traditional industries when digital intermediaries have entered their space, especially highly fragmented ones with many service providers such as the media and retail industries (Grossman, 2016). This view of the relationship does explain the relative lack of innovation about how to maximize the benefits of this relationship for both sides. In contrast to the zero-sum view, we would point to an alternative theory such as coopetition (Brandenburger & Nalebuff, 2011). The theory of co-opetition points to two simultaneous processes: the cooperation required to ‗create the pie‘, or create value for all parties; and the competition to ‗divide up the pie‘ or capture the value created. Success in co-opetition comes from ‗changing the game‘ by developing new partnerships with four related parties: customers, suppliers, competitors, and complementors that offer ancillary services. In our data, we saw some tentative recognition of co-opetition possibilities in each of these four categories. For new customer relationships, we saw some desire by hoteliers to improve customer convenience and value, beyond simply increasing loyalty rewards. Some hoteliers recognized that OTAs have succeeded in part because of the consumer convenience and value proposition is a superior one. For new supplier relationships, there is limited recognition that new kinds of hotel products might be needed, supplied by non-traditional sources as in the Airbnb case, or by construction partners when building new hotels. Hotels have traditionally worked with complementors by bundling rooms with various travel services such as gaming or meals, but OTAs and Airbnb now offer similar services, making it difficult for hoteliers to differentiate themselves. Thus, there is an opportunity for hoteliers to creatively rethink their relationship with complementors, which none of our respondents mentioned. Despite the negative perceptions, our respondents reported some possibilities for new relationships with their OTA competitors, by using digital marketing techniques to their own advantage. To take an example, instead of having a booking war against OTAs, Red Lion Hotels strategically decided it would partner with Expedia in 2016. When customers see Red Lion hotel rates on Expedia sites, they see both a loyalty member rate, which is lower, and a non-member rate. Even if they are not part of Red Lion‘s loyalty program, customers can still book the loyalty rate and are then automatically enrolled as Red Lion members – thus enjoying member benefits while at the same time also earning points with Expedia. To complete the enrollment, the customer‘s email address is then sent to Red Lion ―which is a big deal because the online travel agencies don‘t normally share such information with partners‖ (Schaal, 2016b, p. 1). Looking across all four categories of new co-opetition relationships, however, we see little evidence of coordinated, systematic strategies for pursuing them in the hotel industry. For the hotel industry to respond to the rise of today‘s OTAs, and the other technology companies that might enter the industry in the future, we suggest that hotels will need to transcend their negative, zero-sum views of the OTA relationship and actively experiment with new co-opetition relationships. In addition, the hotel industry should also continue to improve the effectiveness of its traditional responses to OTAs, including their loyalty programs and brand loyalty initiatives. Several interviewees acknowledged that consumer behavior is changing and consumers today are not as brand loyal at they used to be. Research results echo the same phenomenon. For example, Wollan, Davis, De Angelis, and Quiring (2017) found that 71% of 25,426 respondents in 33 countries said ‗loyalty programs do not engender loyalty‘; 77% ‗retract their loyalty more quickly than they did three years ago‘; and 61% said they ‗switched one brand to another in the last year.‘ Decreasing brand loyalty is also apparent for hotels. MBLM (2017) found that consumers have the least ‗brand intimacy‘ (emotional bond with a brand) with hotel brands compared to those of other industries such as automotive and retail. Similarly, Oracle Hospitality (2017) found that 58.7% of survey participants (8,000 in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, France, Germany, Japan, U.K. and U.S.) stated that they do not belong to any hotel program. The Global Traveler Study (2014) also found the diminishing meaning of ‗loyalty to one hotel,‘ as 66% of their 4,618 respondents in the U.S., U.K., Germany and China are members of 1-4 hotel loyalty programs, while 15% are members of 5 or more programs. Despite the decreasing numbers and the questioned value of such programs, hoteliers are still trying to make consumers loyal to their own brand by enticing them to join their loyalty program. This effort is to increase direct bookings and compete with OTAs by offering ‗member-only‘ incentives such as member discounts, or additional perks such as free late check-outs, free meals, or free upgrades. However, these incentives may exacerbate the already increasing costs for hoteliers, particularly if they are attracting consumers who are price sensitive and would not book directly unless they get something back. While the interviewees mentioned their efforts to increase direct bookings through loyalty programs, none referred to the cost of those programs. Given the changing consumer behavior toward becoming less loyal to brands, it stands to reason for hoteliers to re-consider their loyalty programs. Conclusion Hoteliers are fighting intermediation and trying to push direct bookings. This is nothing new for them since they have been doing it with traditional travel agencies for years. Yet, bookings with traditional agencies remain strong, and OTA bookings continue to grow. It seems that it might be time for hoteliers to quit fighting intermediation, and embrace the ―good‖ that it can bring by adopting a co-opetition mindset, while also creatively thinking about brand loyalty programs and what they might bring to that mindset – if anything. In the zero-sum perception of OTAs, however, we found little space for innovative thinking about how to create new offerings through new partnerships, or loyalty programs. While existing OTAs, and emerging OTAs such as Airbnb, are personalizing services for customers, offering new services that are bundled with rooms, and new products with a new population of room suppliers, the hotel industry‘s response is to simply copy what the OTAs are doing and apply it to their own online bookings. We urge the hotel industry to move beyond this response, and be equally creative in finding new co-opetition opportunities that speak to the traditional strengths of the hospitality industry and its experienced professionals.

Different strategies are studied to incorporate lipid-soluble bioactive molecules into water-based food systems. However, these systems solely cannot protect the core compound through the storage period, especially when the core is exposed to environmental stress factors. Water soluble fraction of the crude extract from Enteromorpha prolifera was analyzed for its physicochemical characteristics including chemical composition, structure, rheological and thermal properties. The extract was added to O/W emulsion system containing retinol and stabilized with Tween 20, WPI and sodium caseinate to improve storage stability through different modes of action; as a chelator of metal ions and as a scavenger of radicals. Storage stability was mainly determined by zeta potential, particle size distribution, and retinol retention. The water-soluble extract of E.prolifera mainly consisted of anionic polysaccharide, while impurities of protein, mineral and other pigments were present. Mode of action analysis showed that the extracts had both ferrous ion chelating ability(EC50=0.67%) and free radical scavenging ability(EC50=0.23%), indicating a multifunctioning mechanism of the heterogeneous extract. Addition of extract (0.1%~1% in total emulsion) did not affect the physical stability during 1 week storage. Protective materials are often added to food systems to improve the stability of core materials but excessive use of additives may be repulsive to consumers. In contrast, the optimum concentration range of E.prolifera extract is much lower compared to that of conventional usage of other materials and has lower toxicity to that of strong chelators while providing effective protection.

O/W emulsion is usually adopted to incorporate lipid-soluble bioactive molecules into water-based food systems. However, the emulsion system solely cannot protect the core compound through the storage period, especially in cases when the core is unstable to environmental stress factors. Wall materials such as maltodexrin and chelators such as EDTA-Na are added to improve the stability of core materials but excessive use of additives may be repulsive to consumers. In this study, water soluble fraction of the crude polysaccharide extracted from Enteromorpha prolifera, a type of green algae commonly found in the southern coast of Korean sea, was added to an O/W emulsion system containing retinol to improve storage stability through different modes of action; as a chelator of metal ions, as a scavenger of free radicals and as a wall material. The radical scavenging ability and chelating ability of E.prolifera polysaccharide were determined in solution state. Particle size, zeta potential and retinol retention rate were measured as stability markers in emulsion. Emulsion stability increased and then decreased as the amount of polysaccharide increased from 1 to 5 mg. This optimum concentration is much lower compared to that of conventional usage of wall materials, therefore less affecting the physical characteristics of emulsion while providing effective protection.

Many information sources have reported that celebrity endorsements of luxury fashion brands are considered one of the success factors that enhance the growth of luxury markets. Yet two contrasting views are held as to whether or not celebrity endorsements are necessary for luxury brands. One view in support of celebrity endorsements for luxury brands insists that the use of celebrities generally provides many beneficial advantages, serving as a good communication tool. Specifically, the celebrity endorsements are effective in increasing ad viewers’ attention, polishing brand images, introducing new brands, and repositioning existing brands (Erdogan, 1999), enhancing message recall (Friedman & Friedman, 1979), and generating favorable attitudes toward ads and brands (Atkin & Block, 1983). Above all, brands endorsed by celebrities often obtain high brand awareness, resulting in a rapid sales increase (Ruiz, 2008). In contrast, the other view is more concerned with the diminished luxuriousness that is overshadowed by celebrities, rather than realizing an immediate increase in sales (Dubois, Laurent, & Czellar, 2001). Celebrity endorsements in ads are expected to increase brand awareness and simultaneously reduce the brand rarity impacting a qualification for status, which is central to brand luxuriousness in particular (Berry, 1994). The publicly recognized brand names would draw more attention from average consumers than from rich consumers, as the wealthier are the less influenced by celebrity endorsements (Gaudoin, 2013). In addition, considering that luxury brands are already constructed with well-defined brand meaning and personalities, using non-celebrity endorsers with luxurious images would be as effective as using celebrity endorsers in terms of improving brand luxuriousness (Okonkwo, 2007). As such, celebrity-endorsed luxury branding strategies seem to be questionable, though they are popularly being adopted. The current study aims to reveal the overall effectiveness of the use of celebrity versus non-celebrity endorsers on consequential consumer evaluations and highlight the importance of congruence between the brand and the endorser (match-up).

광환경에 따라 외형과 엽색의 특징이 잘 변화하는 다육식물 ‘황금화월’, ‘우주목의 동계기간동안 겨울철 관상가치를 높이고, 고품질 연중재배를 할 수 있도록 인공광원별 효과를 구명하고자 보광광원에 따른 다육식물의 생육과 잎의 특성을 조사하였다. LED램프 보광이 황금화월(Crassula ovata ‘Hummel’s Sunset’)의 생육을 촉진하였고, HPS램프 보광이 생육을 억제시켰다. 경도와 최대응력에서는 MH + HPS 혼합보광이 크게 나타났다. 황금화월의 생육특성을 고려해보면, 초장이 짧고 염수와 분지수가 많은 MH + HPS 혼합광이 생육에는 효과적일 것으로 사료된다. 하지만, 엽색의 관상가치는 적색광의 비율이 높고 상대적으로 강광인 MH램프와 HPS램프 보광이 우수하였다. 우주목(Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’)은 외형 특성상 초장이 짧고 엽수와 마디수가 많았던 HPS램프 보광이 생육특징을 잘 유지할 것으로 보이고, 엽색의 관상가치는 청색광 비율이 높은 MH램프의 보광이 짙은 녹색에 잎 선단에 강한 적색을 나타내고 있어 효과적일 것으로 사료된다. 우주목에서 HPS보광이 초장은 비교적 짧으나 다른 생육이 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 즉 겨울철 인공보광이 다육식물의 품종에 관계없이 전반적으로 대조구보다 생육이 양호하였으며, 품질유지에도 좋은 것으로 나타났다.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect on quality characteristics of grass-fed cow’s milk (GM) and conventional feed-fed cow’s milk (CM) with various conditions of non-thermal high-pressure processing (HPP) sterilization process. The sterilized GM and CM stored at 5℃ and 10℃ for 14 days and their quality characteristics during storage was evaluated. The pH and titratable acidity changes of HPP sterilized milk were maintained acceptable level 6.7-6.8, 0.14-0.16%, respectively. HPP sterilization was efficient in the reduction of total bacterial population to decrease the level of 4-7 Log CFU/ml compare to those of unsterilized control milk, and coliform bacteria was not detected in the HPP sterilized milk. Non-thermal HPP sterilization processing was not affected milk fatty acid composition compare to those of low temperature long time process (LTLT) sterilized milk. GM has lower ratio of n-3:n-6 unsaturated fatty acid level than those of CM. In the sensory evaluation of GM and commercial milk products, overall consumer acceptance of HPP sterilized GM was higher than CM and LTLT commercial product. In conclusion, the effects of HPP was comparable with conventional LTLT sterilization process to control undesirable microorganism in the milk products with minumal nutritional and chemical changes.

김치 과숙에 관여하는 균주와 대장균의 성장을 억제하는항균활성을 지닌 균주를 김치로부터 선발하고자 하였다. 전국 6개도의 배추김치 10종으로부터 분리한 500여개의 균주를 대상으로 김치의 과도한 산생성에 관여할 것으로 예상되는 P. pentosaceus, Lb. sakei, Lb. plantarum과 원·부재로로부터 초기에 유입되는 대장균군의 저감화를 위하여 E.coli에 대한 항균활성을 살펴본 결과, 2-7 30 균주가 모든지시균주에 대해 뚜렷한 생육저지환을 나타내었다. 지시균주들에 대해 일부 항균활성을 나타낸 15균주를 최종적으로선발하여 동정한 결과, Lb. sakei, Lb. plantarum, Lb. brevis,Lb. paraplantarum, Leu. citreum으로 각각 동정되었다.

This study aimed to explore companion planting to improve vegetable productivity on extensive green roofs through urban agriculture with limited substrate depth. From May to July 2021, the study conducted on the rooftop to evaluate the effects of marigold (Tagetes patula) planting ratio on the growth and pest control of cabbage (Brassica campestris). The experiment plot measured 1 m in width × 1 m in length × 0.25 m in height and 0.2 m in substrate depth. Fifteen plots were planted in varying proportions of cabbage and marigold for three repetitions per treatment: cabbage control (CC), 2:1(C2M1), 1:1(C1M1), 1:2(C1M2), and marigold control (MC). We found that companion planting marigolds with cabbage significantly increased cabbage growth and reduced pest infestation. The study revealed that C1M1, when cabbage and marigold have the same proportion, is an efficient companion planting ratio. Companion planting, in which non-crop vegetation manages pests and increases crop productivity, improves natural pest control and preserves biodiversity on rooftop urban agriculture.

This study aimed to evaluate the growth of Cichorium intybus, Brassica juncea, and Lactuca sativa at varying seed ratios, and to suggest an efficient management plan for sustainable indoor agriculture systems. It was treated with mixed sowing as follows: 30 chicory seeds (chicory alone: CC), 22 chicory seeds + 8 lettuce seeds (C3L1), 20 chicory seeds + 10 lettuce seeds (C2L1), 15 chicory seeds + 15 lettuce seeds (C1L1) as intraspecies, and 30 mustard seeds (mustard alone: MC), 22 mustard seeds + 8 lettuce seeds (M3L1), 20 mustard seeds + 10 lettuce seeds (M2L1), 15 mustard seeds + 15 lettuce seeds (M1L1) as interspecies. The study identified the competitive response in seed germination between Cichorium intybus and Lactuca sativa, and in the C3L1 experimental group, Lactuca sativa had the highest leaf length, root length, chlorophyll content, and fresh weight. Therefore, the higher the ratio of Cichorium intybus, the higher the growth and productivity of Lactuca sativa; however, higher the ratio of Lactuca sativa, the lower the growth of Cichorium intybus. Furthermore, the nitrogen and potassium content in the substrate was the highest in the C3L1 experimental grorp which had the highest seeding rate of the Cichorium intybus. Comparing the groups Brassica juncea and Lactuca sativa, the higher the seeding ratio of Lactuca sativa, the higher the growth and productivity of Brassica juncea. Therefore, a companion seeding of Brassica juncea and Lactuca sativa is beneficial; this could be effective in having a high seeding ratio of Lactuca sativa.

This study was conducted to investigate the growth of Dendranthema zawadskii in damaged soils when they are treated with improvement agents. The treatments consisted of a control (unamended field soil) and the application of a loess ball of 1 cm to the field soil. According to the degree of damage the de-icing agent had caused, the soils were divided into 3 areas (based on the yellowing of Pinus densiflora for. multicaulis in soil surveys): H (high saline), M (medium saline), and L (low saline). A total of six treatments were performed: D. zawadskiia plant without soil amendment (H; high saline soil, M; medium saline soil, L; low saline soil), and a D. zawadskiia plant with loess ball on the soil surface (H.L; high saline soil with loess ball, M.L; medium saline soil with loess ball, L.L; low saline soil with loess ball). The results showed that D. zawadskiia growth went from highest to lowest in the order: M.L > L.L > M > L > H.L > H. Plant growth results showed that soils treated with soil amendments (loess ball) were better for D. zawadskii growth than untreated soils.

This study was conducted to analyze seasonal variations of de-icing salt ions harvested from soils and plants according to salt damage of Pinus densiflora f. multicaulis, a evergreen conifer, on roadsides. Pinus densiflora f. multicaulis was divided into three groups referred to SD, ND, and WD (serious salt damage (SD) = 71 100%, normal salt damage (ND) = 31 70%, and weak salt damage (WD) = 0 30%) based on the degree of visible foliage damage, and measured acidity (pH), electrical conductivity(EC), and de-icing salt ions (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+) harvested from soils and plants. The results indicated that acidity, electrical conductivity, and de-icing salt ions of soils and plants were significantly affected by seasonal variation and salt damage. In addition, a strong positive liner relationship was observed in plants between the concentration of de-icing salts and salt damage in spring, while the relationship among seasonal variation and salt damage in soil were not significant. The results from this study has important implications for the management of conifer species in relation to salinity and roadsides maintenance.

This study aims to identify the most tolerant species under salinity stress from amongst Asteraceae and Poaceae. The seeds of six species were exposed to different concentrations of CaCl2 (0, 9, 18, 45, 90 mM) and NaCl (0, 17, 34, 85, 170 mM), and germination was measured once every two days. The results indicated that percent germination of the six species of Asteraceae and Poaceae seeds were affected differently by changes in salinity concentration. Seed germination was reduced as salinity levels increase, and longer mean germination times correlated to lower percent germination and earlier germination cessation. Both Asteraceae and Poaceae seeds had the highest germination rates at 18 mM CaCl2 and 34 mM NaCl, and seed germination and growth were severely reduced at salinities greater than 90 mM CaCl2 and 170 mM NaCl. In the seeds of Poaceae, salt resistance was strong in the order of Miscanthus sinensis Andersson, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng., and Phragmites communis Trin. In the seeds of Asteraceae, salt resistance was strong in the order of Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam, Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda, and Dendranthema boreale (Makino) Ling ex Kitam.. Overall, the germination rate was higher in Asteraceae than in Poaceae. This study demonstrated that Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam. is the most tolerant species and that a relationship exists between the salt tolerance of percent germination and the mean germination time in the leaves.

최근 미세먼지, 내분비장애, 환경 호르몬등에 의해 피부 염증 질환 환자들이 증가함에 따라 화장품 소재 개발 연구는 스테로이드, 항히스타민제 등의 피부염 치료 합성화합물 보다 이를 대체할 수 있는 천연물 기반의 보다 안전한 소재 발굴에 관심이 더 증가되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 여러 가지 천연 약재 스크리닝을 거쳐 피부 효능 효과가 검증된 두충, 익지인, 백강잠의 한방추출물(Mix)을 선정하고, 이들의 새로운 피부 효능을 규명하여 천연 화장품 소재를 개발하고자 하였다. 우선 한방추출물(Mix)의 항산화 효능을 검증하기 위해 DPPH assay를 수행한 결과 400 μg/mL 농도 조건에서 약 98.8% DPPH radical 소거 활성을 확인하였다. 한방추출물(Mix)의 미백효능을 확인하기 위해 B16F10 세포주를 활용하여 한방추출물에 의한 멜라닌 합성량을 측정하였다. 400 μg/mL 농도 조건에서 α-MSH 처리군 대비 27.1% 수준까지 멜라닌 합성량이 감소하여 미백 효능 활성에 대해 유의성 있는 결과를 확인하였다. 또한 한방추출물(Mix)의 항염증 효능을 확인하기 위해 LPS 자극으로 활성화된 RAW264.7 대식세포에서 NO(nitric oxide) 합성 및 iNOS, COX-2의 유전자 발현을 관찰한 결과 모두 유의적으로 감소되는 것을 확인하였다. 염증성 사이토카인으로 알려진 IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α의 mRNA 발현을 분석한 결과에서도 한방추출물에 의해 효과적으로 억제되는 것을 확인하였다. 마지막으로 피부장벽 기능 강화를 확인하기 위해 인간 각질형성세포인 HaCaT을 이용해 tight junction 구성 단백질 인 claudin 1 유전자의 발현 변화를 관찰한 결과 한방추출물에 의해 mRNA 발현이 농도 의존적으로 증가되는 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 우리는 두충, 익지인, 백강잠을 함유한 한방추출물(Mix)이 항산화, 항염, 미백, 그리고 피부장벽 강화 등에 유효한 소재임을 확인하였고, 향후 피부 임상시험 등이 이뤄진다면 피부염 환자에 효과적인 천연 화장품 소재로 개발될 수 있을 것이다.

The present study examined the relation between land cover condition and temperature in various types of urban green spaces. The diagram of temperature distribution showed that high-temperature zones are formed around paved areas, and low temperature zone around planted areas and grassy areas. Even in planted areas where low-temperature zones were formed, temperature was different according to hierarchical structure. That is, temperature was relatively low in areas covered with arbor + sub-arbor. With regard to land cover ratio, the increase of planted areas and grassy areas had an effect on the fall of temperature and the effect was higher in order of planted areas and grassy areas. On the contrary, paved areas and bare areas had an effect on the rise of temperature. According to the results of factor analysis, in case of the highest temperature, planted area and grassy area were put together into a factor lowering temperature, paved area and temperature into a factor raising temperature, and bare area alone into a factor of low significance. In case of the lowest temperature, grassy area and bare area were put together into a factor, and the validity of the factor analysis was proved by the analysis of urban heat islands. An increase in the number of trees by height was effective in lowering temperature, and the effect was high in order to arbor and sub-arbor, and the source of coldness in planted area was tall trees.