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The purpose of this study was to reveal the effects of sales services and organizational member relationships of fashion brand salespersons on job performance and job satisfaction, as well as how job performance, job satisfaction, salesperson services, and organizational member relationships differ according to the sales career and job position. The data were collected by administering a questionnaire to fashion brand salespeople in Gwangju from September to October 2020. Using 235 responses, the data were analyzed with SPSS 27.0 for frequency analysis, reliability analysis, t-test, factor analysis, and regression analysis. The research results were as follows. First, the basic services of the salesperson comprised factors such as ‘consideration and convenience’, ‘appearance and dress’, and ‘kindness and greeting’, which are considered better variables to explain job performance than job satisfaction. Second, the salesperson’s professional service consisted of ‘fashion product knowledge’, ‘professional self-management’, and ‘store display technology’ factors, which are good variables to predict job performance. Third, the relationship between the members of a salesperson’s organization consists of factors such as ‘headquarters relations’, ‘colleague relations’, and ‘emotional labor’, which was better for explaining job satisfaction than job performance. Fourth, depending on the position, professional salespeople exhibited significantly higher values in job performance, basic and professional services of salespersons, and ‘headquarters relations’ factors, whereas there were no significant differences in job satisfaction, ‘colleague relations’ and ‘emotional labor’. Lastly, the more sales career, the higher the job performance, and the basic services, professional services, and ‘headquarters relations’ factors of salespeople were also good.

The purpose of this study was to reveal the effects of internal characteristics, such as fashion involvement, personality characteristics, and customer orientation of fashion brand salespeople on the core sales tasks, and how the core sales tasks and internal characteristics differ depending on differences in the way salespeople are remunerated. The data were collected as a questionnaire to fashion brand salespeople in Gwangju from September to October 2020. Using 235 responses, the data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 for frequency analysis, reliability analysis, t-test, factor analysis, and regression analysis. The research results were as follows. First, fashion involvement comprises factors such as ‘fashion passion and sense’and ‘fashion trend interest’, and the greater the ‘fashion passion and sense’, the better the ‘sales management’and ‘customer relationship management’jobs. Second, 'esthetic openness', 'responsibility' and 'extroversion' of the big five personality characteristics have a positive impact on 'sales management' and 'customer relationship management' tasks. Third, customer orientation comprises factors such as ‘customer-centric understanding’and ‘gain customer trust’, the greater the customer-orientation, the better the ‘sales management’and ‘customer relationship management’tasks. Fourth, according to the position of the salesperson, the group of professional salespeople at manager level had high responses in core sales tasks, fashion involvement, customer orientation, and characteristics such as ‘agreeableness’, 'esthetic openness', and 'responsibility'.

Shift work that interferes with normal sleep patterns, is known to be a cause of sleep disturbance and has been studied through various occupational groups. However, it is not known which shift type is better for sleep health.This study included 568 firefighters. Sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Sleep quality was categorized into 2 groups; good quality (≤ 5 points) and poor quality (≥ 6 points). Demographic variables, depression, anxiety, type of shift, and job were collected by self-reported questionnaires. The χThree hundred thirty-seven firefighters (59.3%) have poor sleep quality. Compared to day workers, the odds ratios (ORs) of poor sleep quality were 2.169 (95% confidence interval: 1.137-4.134) in 6-day cycle, 2.161 (1.150-4.062) in 9-day cycle, 1.805 (1.087-2.997) in 21-day cycle, and 1.485 (0.718-3.069) in 3-day cycle. The ORs of poor sleep quality were 1.697(1.021-2.823) in fire suppression and 2.325 (1.213-4.455) in emergency medical service compared to administration.All shift work type except for the 3-day cycle was associated with poor sleep quality compared to day work.

Tumors, unlike normal tissue, have vascular anomalies and create interstitial flow (IF), which allows soluble substances from cancer cells to be transported directionally toward the tumor stroma. In the stroma, IF activates fibroblasts. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are formed from stimulated cells and aid cancer growth. A microfluidic device was designed to generate a one-directional flow of a small volume mimicking IF from donor cells to recipient at steady-state conditions only based on the medium evaporation from reservoirs with different diameter. The IF carried substances from donor cells, which stimulated the activation of fibroblasts on the receiving side, as well as their migration and stellate formation. Matrix metallopeptidases 9 and 14 as well as CAF markers such as fibroblast activation protein alpha, vimentin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin are abundantly expressed in the migrating fibroblasts. The created platform mimicked one-directional delivery in tumor stroma. This will allow researchers to investigate how cancer cells activate and differentiate stromal cells. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We show how to provide continuous one-directional interstitial flow (IF) in a microfluidic device without using any power source and instrumentation. This microfluidic technology was used to simulate the tumor microenvironment. Fibroblasts in the tumor stroma are activated and migrated toward cancer cells, as recapitulated by co-culture of cancer cells as donor and fibroblasts as recipient under the one-directional IF. We believe that soluble substances from cancerous cells delivered by the one-directional IF efficiently regulated the development of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as shown by increasing roundness and decreased circularity, taking on a stellate morphology, and by enhanced invasion into a type I collagen hydrogel. Migrating fibroblasts into the hydrogel had significant levels of MMP-9, MMP-14, FAP, vimentin, and αSMA, all of which are CAF markers, bearing a capacity to form hot stroma affecting tumor malignancy.

Graphene-oxide (GO) quenching-based molecular beacon was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of RNAs in living cells and tissues. Here, we applied GO quenching-based molecular beacon sensor to visualize neurogenic miR-193a levels delivered via exosomes during cell-non-autonomous neurogenesis in neural progenitor cells on a microfluidic platform. Exosomal transport was visualized using CD63-RFP plasmid vector, and FAM-labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe for the miR-193 sequence was designed to detect endogenous miR-193 expression. Fluorescence signals of FAM-PNA193a-GO were recovered in dibutyryl-cAMP-induced F11 cells, resulting from increased expression of miR-193a after neuronal differentiation. We observed delivery of miR-193a-containing exosomes released from differentiated donor F11 cells to recipient undifferentiated F11 cells. Fluorescence recovery was evident in exosome-stimulated recipient individual F11 cells in the microfluidic system. We propose molecular beacon imaging using PNA-GO complex for visualization of individual cellular expression of mature microRNAs. This system reveals the precise spatial localization and temporal sequences of mature miRNAs by intercellular exosomal delivery of messages for processes such as cell-non-autonomous neurogenesis.

In drug delivery to the human brain, blood vessels are a significant hurdle because they restrict the entry of most solutes to protect brain. To overcome this hurdle, an in vitro 3D model for brain endothelial barrier is developed using a microfluidic device with hydrogel providing a 3D extracellular matrix scaffold. Using the model, peptides known to utilize receptor-mediated transcytosis are verified, which has been one of the most promising mechanisms for brain-specific penetration. The cytotoxicity and cellular damage to the peptide are investigated and the receptor-mediated transcytosis and brain endothelial specific penetrating abilities of the peptides in a quantitative manner are demonstrated. As a preclinical test, applying the quantification assays conducted in this study are suggested, including the penetrating ability, cytotoxicity, endothelial damage, and receptor specificity. Using this microfluidic device as an in vitro platform for evaluating various brain targeting drugs and drug carrier candidates is also proposed.

The effective role of exosome delivering neurogenic microRNA (miRNA) enables to induce efficient differentiation process during neurogenesis. The microfludic system capable of visualizing the exosomal behavior such as secretion, migration, and uptake of individual exosomes can be used as a robust technique to understand the exosome-mediated change of cellular behavior. Here, we developed the exosome-tracing microfluidic system to visualize exosomal transport carrying the neurogenic miRNA from leading to neighboring cells, and found a new mode of exosome-mediated cell-non-autonomous neurogenesis. The miR-193a facilitated neurogenesis in F11 cells by blocking proliferation-related target genes. In addition to time-lapse live-cell imaging using microfluidics visualized the convective transport of exosomes from differentiated to undifferentiated cells. Individual exosomes containing miR-193a from differentiated donor cells were taken up by undifferentiated cells to lead them to neurogenesis. Induction of anti-miR-193a was sufficient to block neurogenesis in F11 cells. Inhibition of the exosomal production by manumycin-A and treatment of anti-miR-193a in the differentiated donor cells failed to induce neurogenesis in undifferentiated recipient cells. These findings indicate that exosomes of neural progenitors and neurogenic miRNA within these exosomes propagate cell-non-autonomous differentiation to neighboring progenitors, to delineate the roles of exosome mediating neurogenesis of population of homologous neural progenitor cells.

Blood vessels in central nervous system act as a great hurdle for drug delivery to the human brain. They only allow passage of water, some gases, lipid molecules, glucose and amino acid by selective transporter while restricting most of solutes and pathogens to protect brain. A lot of studies have tried to overcome this hurdle by discovering and optimizing brain deliverable drugs however the platforms used for preclinical stage are still limited. In this study, we constructed an in vitro 3-dimensional model for brain endothelial monolayer using hydrogel incorporated microfluidic device that provides an 3D extracellular matrix scaffold. We confirmed the stable endothelial barrier by staining a tight junction marker, VE-Cadherin, and strong block ability by comparing permeability with normal endothelial cells. Also, we succeed in verifying the strong permeability of angiopep-2 using our device that is known as a brain permeable peptide by utilizing receptor-mediated transcytosis. We propose our microfluidic device as an in vitro platform for evaluating various brain drugs or drug carrier candidates.

Background Shift work has well-known adverse effects on health. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between shift work and hepatic disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association between shift work and abnormal level of liver enzymes. Methods The aggregated data from the 2007-2009, 2010-2012, and 2013-2015 cycles of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for this study. The χ2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to assess relationship between shift work and abnormal level of liver enzymes stratified by gender. Results The odds ratio (OR) of abnormal serum level of alanine aminotransferase (abnormal ALT) in female shift workers was higher with 1.31 (95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.71) compared with day workers after adjusting for covariates. After dividing into subgroups of the shift work pattern, the ORs of abnormal liver enzymes for each pattern compared with day work were not significantly higher. Conclusions This study provides limited support for the hypothesis that shift work is related to liver enzyme abnormalities, but offers some evidence in favor of the idea that shift work affects female workers more than males on abnormal ALT. Further studies are needed to define the relationship between shift work and abnormal liver enzymes to be carried out as well as the gender difference in the association.

Nanoparticles have an extensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. However, their current clinical translation is slow, mainly due to the failure to develop preclinical evaluation techniques that can draw similar conclusions to clinical outcomes by adequately mimicking nanoparticle behavior in complicated tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Microfluidic methods offer significant advantages over conventional in vitro methods to resolve these challenges by recapitulating physiological cues of the TME such as the extracellular matrix, shear stress, interstitial flow, soluble factors, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. The methods are capable of de-coupling microenvironmental features, spatiotemporal controlling of experimental sequences, and high throughput readouts in situ. This progress report highlights the recent achievements of microfluidic models to reconstitute the physiological microenvironment, especially for nanomedical tools for cancer treatment.

This phenomenological study is to understand the meaning and essence of experience from the perspec-tive of a New Yorker. Participants were 11 Korean single women around 30 years old who work as fashiondesigners or advertising designers living and working in New York. Data were collected from November,2013 to February, 2014, and one-to-one in-depth interviews were performed for data collection. Data ana-lysis used the descriptive phenomenological method proposed by Giorgi. Phenomenological research is use-ful to understand the meaning of the experience for select cases and is used as an epoch and free variationmethod. The study results were identified from 70 common meanings to 14 exposed themes and 4 essen-tially themes from a gentile New Yorker's experience. The 4 essential themes were as follows. 1) Self-reali-zation at the highest stage, 2) Indulge in the advanced culture of affluence and freedom, 3) Collapsing everyday in depressed foreign workers, and 4) Becoming a rootless gentile New Yorker.Key words: New Yorker, Essence, Meaning, Phenomenological study, Qualitative study; 뉴요커, 본질,의미, 현상학 연구, 질적 연구

Microfluidic immunoassays have gained immense importance as a point-of-care testing (POCT) platform owing to their low reagent volume requirements, low cost, portability, and rapid reaction. However, they are characterized by inconsistency and lack of reproducibility. In this study, we developed a microfluidic immunoassay platform with a simple signal enhancement technique using fluid vent control. The components of this fluorescence-based immunoassay were successfully pre-loaded in the microfluidic device. The analytes reacted with the detection antibody conjugated on fluorescence beads, and bound to capture the antibody immobilized zone during channel flow. The fluid vent was closed using a small PC-connected equipment when the fluid reached the target displacement. The pausing of the fluid provided sufficient time for the immune reaction, and this addition of the fluid pausing significantly enhanced the immune reaction and increased the limit of detection (LOD) of the immunoassay. The LOD of the developed assay was the same as that of the sandwich fluorescence immunoassay in terms of quantity. Furthermore, the LOD was significantly higher than that of the commercial rapid kits. Therefore, our simple technique could be employed for cost-effective and accurate immunoassays in the field of POCT.

A microRNA (miR-193a) was found to be transferred in the exosomes of differentiated neural progenitors to undifferentiated clones. Graphene-oxide (GO) quenching-based molecular beacon was developed to detect RNAs in living cells and tissues quickly and sensitively. Here, we applied GO quencher-based molecular beacon sensor to visualize neurogenic miR-193a levels delivered via exosome during cell-non-autonomous neurogenesis of neural progenitor cells on microfluidic platform. Fluorescence signals of FAM-labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA) against miR-193a quenched by GO nanosheets (FAM-PNA193a-GO) were recovered in undifferentiated recipient cells differentiated to the neuronal lineage by exosome-mediated neurogenesis 3 days after co-culture with differentiated donor cells. We propose that molecular beacon imaging using PNA-GO complex can be used to visualize individual cellular expression of mature microRNAs revealing their precise spatial localization and temporal sequences by the intercellular exosome delivery of messages to undergo processes such as cell-non-autonomous neurogenesis.

We investigated whether changes in MetS status over two years modify the 10-year risk of CKD and proteinuria. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 7,251 subjects without CKD at baseline. We categorized subjects according to MetS status over two years: non-MetS (no MetS at either visit), intermittent MetS (positive for MetS at one assessment), and persistent MetS (positive for MetS at two assessments). The hazard ratio (HR) of new-onset CKD over 10-year was calculated using Cox models. During the 10-year follow-up period, 923 (12.7%) developed CKD. Compared to the non-MetS group, the fully adjusted HR for new-onset CKD was the highest in the persistent MetS group (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.23–1.90), followed by the intermittent MetS group (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04–1.59) (P for trend

This qualitative case study examined the experience of middle-aged homemakers with buying and wearing clothes. Clothing benefits and clothing purchase types were observed in the homemakers` daily clothing-related behavior. This study aims to understand clothing consumption values in light of clothing benefits and to determine purchasing methods, purchasing mental states, and personal characteristics according to the clothing purchase types of middle-aged homemakers. The participants of this study were four full-time homemakers and four homemakers with a job outside the home, all in middle age. This study was conducted through in-depth interviews based on an unstructured questionnaire, and the data were collected from January 2010 to October 2010. The results were as follows: first, the clothing benefits were identified as a social stereotype, aesthetic taste, economy, wearing situation, and age perception. The most important clothing consumption values to the middle-aged homemakers based on the observed clothing benefits were, in order: social value, emotional value, epistemic value, functional value, and conditional value. Second, the type of clothing purchase was observed to be planned buying, followed by impulse buying, and compensatory buying. Even when a homemaker planned to shop regularly, when they were exposed to an attractive retailer promotion, they seized on the opportunity on impulse or made a compensatory purchase to divert oneself. Even though homemakers prefer primarily impulse buying, when they went shopping for clothing with their mother-in-law or husband, they made planned purchase also.

Facilitation of the ability of neuronal lineages derived from transplanted stem cells to differentiate is essential to improve the low efficacy of neuronal differentiation in stem cell therapy in vivo. Neurogenin 1 (Ngn1), a basic helix-loop-helix factor, has been used as an activator of neuronal differentiation. In this study, we monitored the in vivo activation of neuronal differentiation by Ngn1 in neuronal precursor cells using neuron-specific promoter-based optical reporters. The NeuroD promoter coupled with the firefly luciferase reporter system (pNeuroD-Fluc) was used to monitor differentiation in F11 neuronal precursor cells. In vitro luciferase activity was measured and normalized by protein content. The in vivo-jetPEITM system was used for in vivo transgene delivery. The IVIS 100 imaging system was used to monitor in vivo luciferase activity. The Ngn1-induced neuronal differentiation of F11 cells generated neurite outgrowth within 2 days of Ngn1 induction. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that early and late neuronal marker expression (βIII-tubulin, NeuroD, MAP2, NF-M, and NeuN) was significantly increased at 3 days after treatment with Ngn1. When Ngn1 and the pNeuroD-Fluc vector were cotransfected into F11 cells, we observed an approximately 11-fold increase in the luciferase signal. An in vivo study showed that bioluminescence signals were gradually increased in Ngn1-treated F11 cells for up to 3 days. In this study, we examined the in vivo tracking of neuronal differentiation induced by Ngn1 using an optical reporter system. This reporter system could be used effectively to monitor the activation efficiency of neuronal differentiation in grafted stem cells treated with Ngn1 for stem cell therapy.

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of fruit bearing type with leafy (LY) and leafless (LS) fruits on fruit growth, sugar, and acid characteristics in satsuma mandarin. Fruit growth including fruit length, diameter, shape index (diameter/length), weight, and size distribution was not different between LY and LS fruits at ripening time. Total soluble solids (TSS) concentration of the fruit juice increased and acidity decreased continuously and then TSS:acidity ratio increased with fruit development from 100 days after anthesis to ripening time. Soluble sugar was continuously increased, whereas organic acid decreased. Theses tendencies were related to the increase of sucrose and decline of citric acid, respectively. However, there was no effect of fruit bearing type on TSS, acidity, and TSS:acidity ratio, and soluble sugar and organic acid composition in fruit juice. Also, photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll index with SPAD value were not different between leaves adjacent to LY and LS fruits. The results indicated that fruit growth and sugar and acid characteristics were not affected by fruit bearing type with leafy and leafless fruits in satsuma mandarin.

Background The primary cause of treatment failure in medulloblastomas (MB) is the development of leptomeningeal dissemination (seeding). For translational research on MB seeding, one of the major challenges is the development of reliable experimental models that simulate the seeding and growth characteristics of MBs. To overcome this obstacle, we improved an experimental mouse model by intracisternal inoculation of human MB cells and monitoring with in vivo live images. Methods Human MB cells (UW426, D283 and MED8A) were transfected with a firefly luciferase gene and a Thy1.1 (CD90.1) marker linked with IRES under the control of the CMV promoter in a retroviral DNA backbone (effLuc). The MB-effLuc cells were injected into the cisterna magna using an intrathecal catheter, and bioluminescence images were captured. We performed histopathological analysis to confirm the extent of tumor seeding. Results The luciferase activity of MB-effLuc cells displayed a gradually increasing pattern, which correlated with a quantitative luminometric assay. Live imaging showed that the MB-effLuc cells were diffusely distributed in the cervical spinal cord and the lumbosacral area. All mice injected with UW426-effLuc, D283-effLuc and MED8A-effLuc died within 51 days. The median survival was 22, 41 and 12 days after injection of 1.2 × 106 UW426-effLuc, D283-effLuc and MED8A-effLuc cells, respectively. The histopathological studies revealed that the MB-effLuc cells spread extensively and diffusely along the leptomeninges of the brain and spinal cord, forming tumor cell-coated layers. The tumor cells in the subarachnoid space expressed a human nuclei marker and Ki-67. Compared with the intracerebellar injection method in which the subfrontal area and distal spinal cord were spared by tumor cell seeding in some mice, the intracisternal injection model more closely resembled the widespread leptomeningeal seeding observed in MB patients. Conclusion The results and described method are valuable resources for further translational research to overcome MB seeding.

This qualitative case study examined what type of clothing image middle aged housewives strive for, and how toclassify the preferred clothing style. Secondly, we examined how their clothing image corresponded to age andobserved the meaning of such changes over time. The participants of this study were eight middle aged housewives.This study was conducted through in-depth interviews that were based on an unstructured questionnaire, and thedata were collected from January to October 2010. The results were as follows: First, result related to preferredclothing image implicated fashion, esthetic sense, and clothing concerns. Preferred clothing image fell into‘intelligent-colorful’ and ‘urban-neat’ categories. The preferred clothing style types of the participants were labeled as‘trendy’, ‘classic’, ‘conservative’, and ‘unique’. Second, the clothing image that participants thought to be of greatervalue in middle age included ‘graceful’ and ‘elegant’ allowing for the expression of age-appropriate style, high quality,and mind of plenty.± ¯ ,FZ 8PSET o ™ ݱ (middle aged housewife), D L(clothing style), D I ·N(clothingimage), Ox E ³(qualitative study)

The objectives of this study were to investigate differences in shopping style and consumption value of apparel product type, and to establish the effects of consumption value on shopping style. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 263 women aged between 20 to 49 in Gwangju on their shopping style and consumption value according to formal and casual product type. Collected data were subjected to frequency analysis, factor analysis, ANOVA, t-test and multiple regression analysis using statistical program SPSS(version 17.0). Results showed that shopping style could be influenced by six factors: fashion-recreational, quality-brand, impulsive, confused, brand-loyal, and price conscious consumer. Clothing consumption value was influenced by five factors: emotional, functional, epistemic, social, and situational value. Shopping style and clothing consumption value were significantly different between a formal product purchaser and a casual product purchaser. Consumption value had a significant influence on shopping style of the formal product purchaser and also the casual product purchaser.

Flavonoids are abundant in plants as secondary metabolites where they have antioxidant activities. The diverse and non-specific inhibition of several enzymes, including avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase (RT), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RT, murine leukemia virus RT, HIV-1 protease, trypsin and elastase, were tested for by observing the effects of several flavonoid compounds. Some of the flavonoids were reconfirmed as antiretroviral agents as previously shown by others. Flavonoids belonging to the flavonol or flavone group simultaneously inhibited reverse transcriptases and proteases. On the contrary, flavonoids belonging to the flavanol, isoflavone or flavanone group were less likely to inhibit reverse transcriptase or protease. Vegetables and fruits rich in flavonoids have become integral and even necessary in the animal diet, suggesting that flavonoids may have developed to play beneficiary roles for not only the plants themselves but also the predator animals.

Arabidopsis CYP51A2 (AtCYP51A2) mediates the sterol 14α-demethylation step inde novo sterol biosynthesis, and is constitutively and highly expressed in all plant tissues (Kim et al., 2005). We exploited the molecular features of its expression and the fundamental role of sterol biosynthesis in cells to develop a plant-derived promoter. Our GUS expression analysis between transgenicArabidopsis lines forAtCYP51A2::GUS and35S::GUS revealed that activity of theAtCYP51A2 promoter was comparable to that of the35S promoter, based on enzymatic activities and protein levels. TheAtCYP51A2 promoter was also constitutively active in transgenic tobacco, indicating that 5′ regulatory elements could be conserved amongCYP51 promoters in dicot plants. A homologue ofAtCYP51A2 was identified from rape seed, a crop species closely related toArabidopsis. Its constitutive tissue expression pattern implies that the application of thisAtCYP51A2 promoter is possible for that species. Based on these results, we present a new binary vector system with the plant-derivedAtCYP51A2 promoter, which is able to constitutively and ectopically drive a transgene in various dicotyledonous plants.

The purposes of this study were to reveal the relation of consumer value variables and to identify the difference of clothing information exploration behaviors on consumer value variables. The data were collected from 267 college women residing in Gwangju using a Questionnaire to general value, clothing value, consumption value and clothing information exploration behaviors. It were analyzed with factor analysis, cluster analysis, T-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis using statistical program SPSS 10.0. The results of this research were as follows: 1. Only one factor of general value had a significant influence on `practical` of clothing value. All of general value and clothing value had a significant influence on the whole consumption value. 2. Clothing information search behaviors was divided into three factors: `variety pursuit` `active information collection` and `uniqueness pursuit`. General value group had a significant difference in `variety pursuit` and `active information collection` behavior. Clothing value and consumption value group had a significant difference in all factors of clothing information search behaviors. By implication, this study could be explain each contributions of consumer values and suggest useful variable of consumer values in future clothing behaviors research.

Exosomes known as nano-sized extracellular vesicles attracted recent interests due to their potential usefulness in drug delivery. Amid remarkable advances in biomedical applications of exosomes, it is crucial to understand in vivo distribution and behavior of exosomes. Here, we developed a simple method for radiolabeling of macrophage-derived exosome-mimetic nanovesicles (ENVs) with 99mTc-HMPAO under physiologic conditions and monitored in vivo distribution of 99mTc-HMPAO-ENVs using SPECT/CT in living mice. ENVs were produced from the mouse RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and labeled with 99mTc-HMPAO for 1 hr incubation, followed by removal of free 99mTc-HMPAO. SPECT/CT images were serially acquired after intravenous injection to BALB/c mouse. When ENVs were labeled with 99mTc-HMPAO, the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO-ENVs was higher than 90% and the expression of exosome specific protein (CD63) did not change in 99mTc-HMPAO-ENVs. 99mTc-HMPAO-ENVs showed high serum stability (90%) which was similar to that in phosphate buffered saline until 5 hr. SPECT/CT images of the mice injected with 99mTc-HMPAO-ENVs exhibited higher uptake in liver and no uptake in brain, whereas mice injected with 99mTc-HMPAO showed high brain uptake until 5 hr. Our noninvasive imaging of radiolabeled-ENVs promises better understanding of the in vivo behavior of exosomes for upcoming biomedical application.

Background Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism that results from a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). We demonstrated PAH mutational spectrum from patients with PKU, including 10 novel and 3 tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-responsive mutations. In this study, 11 PAH missense mutations, including 6 novel mutations (P69S, G103S, L293M, G332V, S391I, A447P) found in our previous study, 2 mutations common in east Asian patients with PKU (R243Q, R413P), and 3 tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-responsive mutations (R53H, R241C, R408Q) have been functionally and structurally analyzed. Methods A transient protein overexpression system and an in vitro BH4-responsiveness study were used. The effects of PAH missense mutations on the PAH protein structure were also analyzed. To determine the conservation of 12 mutated residues, PAH was aligned using BLAST against full genomic sequences of 221 different species. Model structures of PAH protein and the composite tetramer were constructed using the software program, SHEBA. Results No PAH activity was detected for some mutants. However, the residual activities associated with other mutants ranged over a wide spectrum. The missense mutations responsive to BH4 were not highly conserved throughout the 43 species in the multiple sequence alignment that encode PAH. The composite model structure of PAH revealed that dimer stability was reduced in the BH4-responsive mutants, whereas tetramer stability remained normal. Conclusion This expression study analyzed PAH mutations and model structures of mutant PAH proteins are proposed. Correlation between the proposed mutant PAH structures and functions are suggested.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency. Accumulation of phenylalanine leads to severe mental and psychomotor retardation, and hypopigmentation of skin and hair. We have demonstrated the cognitive outcome of biochemical and phenotypic reversal by the adeno-associated virus vector-mediated gene delivery of a human PAH transgene. In this study, we identified the expression of genes related to pathologic abnormalities of the PKU-affected brain, in which the symptoms of PKU are mainly manifest, and transcriptional changes in effective gene therapy treatment using oligonucleotide array. Therapeutic effectiveness was verified by change in enzyme activity (15+/-5.84%), phenylalanine plasma level (261+/-108 microM), and coat color. Our data indicated that 12 genes were significantly up-regulated in PKU. Four are involved in defense and inflammatory responses of neutrophils (NE, MPO, NGP, and CRAMP), three other overexpressed genes are related to extracellular matrix organization and degradation (COL1A1, COL1A2, and MMP13); the remainder were a nociceptor in sensory neurons (MrgA1), a structural gene of P lysozyme (Lzp-s), an immunoglobulin alpha heavy chain constant region gene (Igh-2), an osteocalcin-related protein precursor (Bglap-rs1), and a membrane-spanning 4 domain, subfamily A, member 3 (Ms4a3). Data demonstrated that elevated genes in the PKU-affected brain could be normalized by human PAH gene delivery. Although we could not precisely link transcript level changes and neurologic pathogenesis, this study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the PKU-affected brain at the molecular level, possibly resulting in better therapeutic approaches.

The bioconversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to soluble sugars is important for global stabilization and a sustainable human society. Here, hundreds of cellulolytic bacteria were screened and isolated from soil, compost, and animal waste slurry in Jeju Island, South Korea. Among the isolates, three strains, SL9-9, C5-16, and S52-2, showing higher potential for practical uses were purified on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar plates and identified as Bacillus subtilis strains by morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The production patterns of cellulose or hemicellulose-degrading enzymes were investigated during cell culture. All three isolated strains produced CMCase, Avicelase, β-glucosidase, and xylanase enzymes, which suggested synergic cellulolytic systems in Bacillus subtilis. The enzymes showing CMCase, Avicelase, and xylanase activities existed in cell-free culture supernatant, meanwhile β-glucosidase activity was detected in cell debris suggesting that three of the enzymes, including CMCase, Avicelase, and xylanase, were extracellular, and β-glucosidase was cell membrane bound. The three isolates, SL9-9, C5-16, and S52-2, were not the same strains, presenting slight differences in biochemical characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequences, and cellulolytic enzyme activities.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessively inherited metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). The accumulation of phenylalanine leads to severe mental and psychomotor retardation, and the fetus of an uncontrolled pregnant female patient presents with maternal PKU syndrome. We have reported previously on the cognitive outcome of biochemical and phenotypic reversal of PKU in a mouse model, Pahenu2, by the AAV serotype 2-mediated gene delivery of a human PAH transgene. However, the therapeutic efficacy had been limited to only male PKU mice. In this study, we generated a pseudotyped recombinant AAV2/8-hPAH vector and infused it into female PKU mice through the hepatic portal vein or tail vein. Two weeks after injection, complete fur color change to black was observed in female PKU, as in males. The PAH activity in the liver increased to 65-70% of the wild-type activity in female PKU mice and to 90% in male PKU mice. Plasma phenylalanine concentration in female PKU mice decreased to the normal value. In addition, the offsprings of the treated female PKU mice can rescue from the harmful effect of maternal hyperphenylalaninemia. These results indicate that recombinant AAV2/8-mediated gene therapy is a potential therapeutic strategy for PKU.

Homocystinuria is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS). The major clinical symptoms of this disease are mental retardation, lens dislocation, vascular disease with life-threatening thromboembolisms, and skeletal deformities. The major treatments for CBS deficiency include pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine or dietary restriction of methionine. There is currently no effective long-term treatment to lower the elevated plasma levels of homocysteine. However, gene therapy could be an effective novel approach for the treatment of homocystinuria. A recombinant adeno- associated virus vector carrying human CBS cDNA (rAAV-hCBS) was constructed and administered to CBS-/- mice by intramuscular (IM) and intraperitoneal (IP) injections. Serum homocysteine concentrations significantly decreased in treated mice compared with age-matched controls two weeks after treatment. The treated CBS-/- mice had life spans 3-7 days longer compared with untreated CBS-/- mice. In CBS-/- mice treated with rAAV-hCBS via IP injection, the vector was detected in all organs examined including liver, spleen, and kidney, and CBS gene expression was observed by immunohistochemical staining in the liver. These results indicate the efficacy of gene delivery and demonstrate the possibility of gene therapy mediated by AAV gene transfer in this mouse model of homocystinuria.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). The accumulation of phenylalanine leads to severe mental and psychomotor retardation, and hypopigmentation of skin and hair. Low-phenylalanine diet therapy can prevent irreversible damage if instituted from birth. However, poor compliance with the strict lifelong dietary therapy leads to various neurologic and behavioral problems. To develop a safe and promising gene therapy method for PKU, we investigated whether a recombinant adeno-associated virus could be used as a PAH gene transfer vector to reduce the excessive phenylalanine level in the PKU mouse model. A recombinant adeno-associated virus vector encoding the human PAH gene (rAAV-hPAH), driven by EF1-alpha promoter, was infused into PAH-deficient mice, Pah(enu2), via the hepatic portal vein. Two weeks after injection, the plasma phenylalanine level dramatically decreased to 360 microM in male PKU mice, accompanied by the coat color changing to black. The mean plasma phenylalanine level of untreated PKU mice was 1800 microM. The PAH enzyme activities of treated mice increased to 10-17% of wild-type mice. No signs of liver toxicity were observed after gene transfer. The biochemical and phenotypic corrections were sustained for up to 25 wk (25-wk detection period). In contrast, the treatment was less effective in female PKU mice. These results indicate that recombinant adeno-associated virus vector-mediated gene therapy can be a useful therapeutic candidate for patients with PKU. Further studies are needed to clarify the differences in PKU pathogenesis in males and females, and to explore alternative administration routes besides hepatic portal vein injection.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism that results from a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). We characterized the PAH mutations of 79 independent Korean patients with PKU or hyperphenylalaninemia. PAH nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 39 different mutations, including ten novel mutations. The novel mutations consisted of nine missense mutations (P69S, G103S, N207D, T278S, P281A, L293M, G332V, S391I, and A447P) and a novel splice site variant (IVS10−3C>G). R243Q, IVS4−1G>A, and E6−96A>G were the most prevalent mutations, as they accounted for 32% of the total mutant alleles in this study. Although some common characteristics of allele frequency and distribution were identified among oriental populations, several distinctive characteristics were revealed in Korean patients. Although the R413P allele is the most prevalent form (30.5%) in Japanese, we detected it in only five chromosomes from 158 independent chromosomes (3.2%). The A259T allele, which has not yet been found in oriental populations, was frequently found in this study. We also observed that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) responsiveness was associated with specific genotypes (R53H, R241C, and R408Q), suggesting there are some correlations between phenotype and genotype.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been regarded as a powerful resource for cell replacement therapy. In recent reports mouse ES cells have been successfully applied in the treatment of spinal cord injury, hereditary myelin disorder of the central nervous system, and diabetes mellitus. Another type of disease that could benefit from the availability of stem cell therapy is liver disease. However, for this potential to be realized, it is necessary to demonstrate the differentiation of ES cells into hepatocytes. To demonstrate the in vivo differentiation potential of mouse ES cells, we injected ES cells into the spleen of immunosuppressed nude mice. Histological analysis of teratomas derived from injected ES cells revealed that some areas contained typical hepatocytes arranged in a sinusoidal structure. The hepatic nature of these cells was further confirmed by showing that transcripts of liver-specific genes were present in the differentiated teratoma using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry using several liver-specific antibodies including HEP-PAR, phenylalanine hydroxylase, and mouse N-system aminotransferase to identify the respective proteins in the differentiated hepatocytes. This is the first demonstration that mouse ES cells can differentiate in vivo into a mixed population of hepatocytes of varying maturity. This finding extends the potential use of ES cells in the cell replacement therapy by including its possible application for treating liver diseases.