Kangwon National University

About: Kangwon National University is a education organization based out in Chuncheon, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 9836 authors who have published 20002 publications receiving 393562 citations. The organization is also known as: KNU.

Current trends and perspectives of bioactive peptides.

Abstract: The remarkable growth of therapeutic peptide development in the past decade has led to a large number of market approvals and the market value is expected to hit $25 billion by 2018. This significant market increase is driven by the increasing incidences of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and technological advancements in peptide synthesis. For this reason, the search for bioactive peptides has also increased exponentially. Many bioactive peptides from food and nonfood sources have shown positive health effects yet, obstacles such as the need to implement efficient and cost-effective strategies for industrial scale production, good manufacturing practices as well as well-designed clinical trials to provide robust evidence for supporting health claims continue to exist. Several other factors such as the possibility of allergenicity, toxicity and the stability of biological functions of the peptides during gastrointestinal digestion would need to be addressed.

Vaccine adjuvants: smart components to boost the immune system

Abstract: Vaccination is an effective approach to prevent the consequences of infectious diseases. Vaccines strengthen immunity and make individuals resistant to infections with pathogens. Although conventional vaccines are highly immunogenic, they are associated with some safety issues. Subunit vaccines are safe, but they require adjuvants to stimulate the immune system because of their weaker immunogenicity. Adjuvants are entities incorporated into vaccines to increase the immunogenic responses of antigens. They play a crucial role in increasing the potency and efficacy of vaccines. Different adjuvants have different modes of action; therefore, a better understanding of their immunology could provide guidance for the development of novel adjuvants. Numerous studies have been conducted using different types of adjuvants to characterize their potency and safety; however, in practice, only few are used in human or animal vaccines. This review aims to introduce the different modes of action of adjuvants and give insight into the types of adjuvants that possess the greatest potential for adjuvanticity.

Ion-induced FRET on-off in fluorescent calix[4]arene.

Abstract: A novel calix[4]arene bearing one 2,3-naphthocrown-6 and two coumarin amide units at the lower rim in partial-cone conformation was synthesized as a colorimetric and FRET-based fluorometric sensor for F(-) and Cs(+) ions. Intramolecular FRET from the naphthalene emission to the coumarin absorption affords high fluorescence selectivity toward F(-) and Cs(+) ions.

The effects of advertising spending on brand loyalty in services

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to model the effect of advertising spending on brand loyalty by examining the simultaneous effects of advertising spending, store image, perceived quality and satisfaction on brand loyalty.Design/methodology/approach – A proposed model is compared with three competing models of the relationships amongst, and impact of, independent variables on brand loyalty. Data from the banking and discount store services in South Korea are used to examine the indirect effects of customer perceptions of advertising spending on brand loyalty.Findings – Results elucidate the complexity of advertising spending effects on brand loyalty, with mediating roles played by store image, perceived quality and satisfaction. Significant results obtained in both banking and retail services differing in firm‐customer relationships suggest that the findings are robust.Research limitations/implications – Future research might test the proposed research model in other cultures and conduct cross‐cultural compariso...

Gintonin, a Ginseng-Derived Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor Ligand, Attenuates Alzheimer's Disease-Related Neuropathies: Involvement of Non-Amyloidogenic Processing

Abstract: Ginseng extracts show cognition-enhancing effects in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients However, little is known about the active components and molecular mechanisms of how ginseng exerts its effects Recently, we isolated a novel lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-activating ligand from ginseng, gintonin AD is caused by amyloid-β protein (Aβ) accumulation Aβ is derived from amyloid-β protein precursors (AβPPs) through the amyloidogenic pathway In contrast, non-amyloidogenic pathways produce beneficial, soluble AβPPα (sAβPPα) Here, we describe our investigations of the effect of gintonin on sAβPPα release, Aβ formation, Swedish-AβPP transfection-mediated neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and Aβ-induced neuropathy in mice Gintonin promoted sAβPPα release in a concentration- and time-dependent manner Gintonin action was also blocked by the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA, α-secretase inhibitor TAPI-2, and protein-trafficking inhibitor brefeldin Gintonin decreased Aβ1-42 release and attenuated Aβ1-40-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells Gintonin also rescued Aβ1-40-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice Moreover, in a transgenic mouse AD model, long-term oral administration of gintonin attenuated amyloid plaque deposition as well as short- and long-term memory impairment In the present study, we demonstrated that gintonin mediated the promotion of non-amyloidogenic processing to stimulate sAβPPα release to restore brain function in mice with AD Gintonin could be a useful agent for AD prevention or therapy