Eun-ju Ko

The impact of quick response technologies on retail store attributes

In the competitive business environment, retailers can obtain profit by strategic planning and delivering consumer satisfaction. Quick response (QR) is a new business strategy to maximize consumer satisfaction by implementing new technologies (e.g. barcoding, scanner). Reports on research which aimed to identify the use of quick response technologies (QRT) and to identify store attributes that are improved by QRT. A convenience sample of 32 apparel retailers participated in this survey research; 26 retailers were selected at a QR trade conference and six small individual retailers were also selected from a south‐east city. Finds that the most frequently cited store attributes that are improved by QRT were fast turnaround of goods and reduced stockouts. Both the use of QRT and improvement level of store attributes differed by store type.

Product Line Characteristics as Determinants of Quick Response Implementation for U.S. Apparel Manufacturers

The purpose of this study was to identify the implementation of QR technologies by a broad spectrum of U.S. apparel manufacturers and to examine relationships between organizational characteristics and implementation of QR technologies. Conceptual framework for the study was based on the environmental interpretation model in the business domain (Daft & Weick, 1984, p. 284). The implementation level of selected QR technologies was the dependent variable, and the independent variables were product category, fashion change, and seasonal change. A better understanding of QR is needed to increase implementation of this approach to environmental change. A random sample of 306 U.S. apparel manufacturers was selected from a purchased list. A mail questionnaire was pilot tested, and the revised survey questionnaire was sent to plant managers. Adjusted response rate was 47% (n = 103). Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. The most frequently used QR technologies were small lot orders, production planning with customer, computerized inventory, and short cycle cut planning. Fashion change was significantly related to implementation of QR technologies. This study contributes to the knowledge of the fashion change variable and has implications for strategic planning by U.S. apparel manufacturers.

The role of K+ conductances in regulating membrane excitability in human gastric corpus smooth muscle

Changes in resting membrane potential (RMP) regulate membrane excitability. K+ conductance(s) are one of the main factors in regulating RMP. The functional role of K+ conductances has not been studied the in human gastric corpus smooth muscles (HGCS). To examine the role of K+ channels in regulation of RMP in HGCS we employed microelectrode recordings, patch-clamp, and molecular approaches. Tetraethylammonium and charybdotoxin did not affect the RMP, suggesting that BK channels are not involved in regulating RMP. Apamin, a selective small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel (SK) blocker, did not show a significant effect on the membrane excitability. 4-Aminopyridine, a Kv channel blocker, caused depolarization and increased the duration of slow wave potentials. 4-Aminopyridine also inhibited a delayed rectifying K+ current in isolated smooth muscle cells. End-product RT-PCR gel detected Kv1.2 and Kv1.5 in human gastric corpus muscles. Glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) blocker, did not induce depolarization, but nicorandil, a KATP opener, hyperpolarized HGCS, suggesting that KATP are expressed but not basally activated. Kir6.2 transcript, a pore-forming subunit of KATP was expressed in HGCS. A low concentration of Ba2+, a Kir blocker, induced strong depolarization. Interestingly, Ba2+-sensitive currents were minimally expressed in isolated smooth muscle cells under whole-cell patch configuration. KCNJ2 (Kir2.1) transcript was expressed in HGCS. Unique K+ conductances regulate the RMP in HGCS. Delayed and inwardly rectifying K+ channels are the main candidates in regulating membrane excitability in HGCS. With the development of cell dispersion techniques of interstitial cells, the cell-specific functional significance will require further analysis.

Nitrergic Pathway Is the Major Mechanism for the Effect of DA-9701 on the Rat Gastric Fundus Relaxation.

Background/Aims DA-9701 significantly improved gastric accommodation by increasing the postprandial gastric volume. In this study, we investigated how DA-9701 affects the rat gastric fundus relaxation. Methods Gastric fundus muscle strips (9 longitudinal and 7 circular muscles) were obtained from rats. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) was performed at various frequencies (1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz) and train durations (1, 5, 10 and 20 seconds) to select optimal condition for experiments. Isometric force measurements were performed in response to EFS. Peak and nadir were observed during the first 1 minute after initiation of EFS in control state and after sequential addition of atropine (1 μM), DA-9701 (0.5, 5, 25 and 50 μg), N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 μM), MRS2500 (1 μM) and tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 μM) to the organ bath. Results The optimal frequency and duration of EFS to evoke nerve-mediated relaxation was determined as 5 Hz for 10 seconds. Addition of L-NNA in the presence of atropine and DA-9701 (50 μg) decreased nadir by inhibiting relaxation from −0.054 ± 0.021 g to −0.022 ± 0.015 g (P = 0.026) in longitudinal muscles. However, subsequent application of MRS2500 in the presence of atropine, DA-9701 (50 μg) and L-NNA did not affect nadir. In circular muscles, subsequent addition of L-NNA and MRS2500 in the presence of atropine and DA-9701 (50 μg) did not show significant change of nadir. Conclusions Our data suggest that the effect of DA-9701 on the rat gastric fundus relaxation is mainly mediated by nitrergic rather than purinergic pathway.

Impairment of the proximal to distal tonic gradient in the human diabetic stomach

Little has been known about the contractile characteristics of diabetic stomach. We investigated spontaneous contractions and responses to acetylcholine in the gastric muscle in diabetic patients and non‐diabetic control subjects according to the region of stomach.

Impaired neural pathway in gastric muscles of patients with diabetes

To explore the pathogenic mechanism of diabetic gastropathy, we investigated differences in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) of gastric muscles from diabetic and non-diabetic (control) patients. Gastric specimens were obtained from 34 patients and 45 controls who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Using organ bath techniques, we examined peak and nadir values of contraction under EFS. To examine responses to purinergic and nitrergic inhibition without cholinergic innervation, atropine, MRS2500, and N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) were added sequentially to the organ bath. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was used to confirm that the responses to EFS were mediated via neural stimulation. In the absence of pharmacological agents, peak contraction amplitude was greater in non-diabetic controls compared to diabetics only in the distal longitudinal gastric muscles. However, the nadir was greater in controls than in patients in both proximal and distal gastric circular muscles. Addition of MRS2500 could not decrease the nadir in both controls and patients, both in the proximal and distal stomach. However, L-NNA completely reversed the relaxation. TTX had no further effect on nadir. In conclusion, impaired inhibitory nitrergic neural pathway in both proximal and distal stomach and impaired excitatory cholinergic neural pathway in the distal stomach may contribute to the pathogenic mechanism underlying diabetic gastropathy.

Increased Tone of the Human Colon Muscle by Bisacodyl In Vitro

Background/Aims Although bisacodyl is a widely administered laxative, its underlying mechanism of action remains generally unknown. This study focuses on investigating the effects of bisacodyl on the human colon muscle contraction, and elucidating its mechanism of action. Methods Sigmoid colon muscle strips (20 longitudinal and 18 circular muscles) were obtained from 20 subjects who underwent colectomy for colon cancer. Isometric force measurements were calculated in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS, 0.3 milliseconds in trains of 10 Hz for 20 seconds, 150 V). Peak and nadir (tone) during and after EFS, were measured in a controlled state, and after sequential addition of bisacodyl (1 μM), atropine (1 μM), N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 μM), MRS2500 (1 μM), and tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 μM) to the organ bath. Results Transient phasic contractions were observed during EFS, and after cessation of EFS. In the longitudinal muscles, nadir during EFS, and tone after EFS, significantly increased after addition of bisacodyl, and persisted after sequential addition of atropine, L-NNA, MRS2500, and TTX, indicating a direct action of bisacodyl on the smooth muscle. In the second experiment, pretreatment of TTX abolished EFS-induced phasic contractions. Although no phasic contraction was produced after perfusion of bisacodyl, tone was increased, thereby supporting evidence of a direct mechanism of action of bisacodyl on the colon smooth muscle. Conclusions Bisacodyl increases the tone of longitudinal muscle in the human sigmoid colon through a direct action on the smooth muscle. Further study is warranted to investigate the neural mechanism of action of bisacodyl.