• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in organizational member attitudes by workplace environment and workplace types in dental hygienists working at dental health centers. Methods: A face-to-face survey or online survey was administered to dental hygienists working at dental health centers, and a total of 95 subjects were included. The survey includes 13 items to ask factors affecting employee's job satisfaction. Also, some questions were included to assess perception of organizational member attitude: five about organizational citizenship behavior, two about innovative behavior, and four about organizational commitment. Results: Dental hygienists working at dental clinics were more satisfied with their incomes and numbers of working days, while those from dental university hospitals and general hospitals were more satisfied with education support. In addition, hygienists working at dental hospitals were more satisfied with job autonomy, individual work capability, safe working environment, personal relation, potential for personal development, and positive labor-management relations, compared to those working at general and university hospitals (p<0.05). Among the items about perception of organizational member attitudes, the scores of items about organizational citizenship behaviors were higher, whereas the scores of items about innovative behaviors were relatively lower. Individuals working at dental hospitals than those working at general and university hospitals, chiefs and team and department leaders than team members, and those with increased satisfaction with current workplace had more positive perception of organizational member attitudes. Conclusion: For dental hygienists to have positive attitudes as organizational members, working environment should be improved, and executives of dental healthcare centers should pay attention to improving job satisfaction of organizational members. Moreover, since dental hygienists need to improve their perception of innovative behaviors and citizenship behaviors to strengthen specialty of dental hygienists in a changing dental healthcare, relevant training should be addressed in refresher courses or school programs.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.467-474
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• 2024

This study analyses customer data from a US online lending platform to empirically document the discriminatory treatment that low- and middle-income borrowers face in financial markets. Researchers are using financial data from nearly 2.93 million loans between 2007~2020 of the Lending Club on the open-source Kaggle platform. We find that thin-filers borrowers, especially those with lower credit scores, receive loans at higher interest rates. This discriminatory treatment undermines financial inclusion and has the potential to increase social inequality. The significance of this research is that it sheds substantial light on the problem of inequality in financial markets and, based on the findings, suggests concrete measures to ensure equitable access to finance for all customers and enhance sustainable financial inclusion. In doing so, we propose a shift towards enhancing the social responsibility of institutions.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.227-231
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• 2024

This study purports to examine the potential effects of welfare attitudes of Korean people upon their political orientation. The 17^th Korea Welfare Panel Data(KWPD) in 2022 are used for this purpose. Independent variable include sex, age, education, interest in politics, and employment status. Discriminant analysis show several results. First and foremost, pre-established discriminant function works well for classification of respondents' liberal vs conservative stance. Secondly, except gender and dummy variable for temporary employed, all independent variables contribute significantly for the classification at a given significance level. . Finally, welfare attitudes of respondents', measured by universalism vs selectivism and the attitudes upon increasing tax for welfare expenditures are found to be significant and relatively big impacts upon dependent variable, compard to other variables in the model. The nature of causal relationship between welfare attitudes and political orientation remains for further study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1059-1072
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• 2024

Oxidative stress is a key factor in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that leads to inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract (HLT-101) on BPH through the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. A testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH rat model was orally administered HLT-101 (20, 40, or 80 mg/kg), and its effects on oxidative stress- and inflammation-related gene expression were examined. Further, HLT-101 was assessed for its effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathways in BPH-1 cells. HLT-101 decreased testosterone-induced excessive free radical production and inflammatory factor activation. Moreover, HLT-101 treatment significantly decreased the intracellular ROS level in the TNF-α and IFN-γ treated BPH-1 cells through the activation of Nrf-2. In addition, HLT-101 treatment inhibited the NF-κB pathway and androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which is highly linked to the pathogenesis of BPH. Therefore, HLT-101 has the potential to be an effective treatment reagent for BPH because of its ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress via Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.246-257
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• 2024

Purpose: Administering early parenteral amino acids to very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants (birth body weight [BBW]<1,500 g) is challenging due to factors such as holidays, cost, and access to sterile compounding facilities. Using advance-prepared parenteral nutrition (PN) may address this issue and should be evaluated for its safety and potential benefits. Methods: We extracted data from medical records collected between July 2015 and August 2019. VLBW infants received PN for at least seven days and were split into two groups: the traditional group (n=30), which initially received a glucose solution and then PN on workdays, and the pre-preparation group (n=16), which received advance-prepared PN immediately upon admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Results: The median BBWs of the traditional and pre-preparation groups were 1,180.0 vs. 1,210.0 g. In the initial two days, the pre-preparation group had a significantly higher amino acid intake (2.23 and 2.24 g/kg/d) than the traditional group (0 and 1.78 g/kg/d). The pre-preparation group exhibited greater head circumference growth ratio relative to birth (7th day: 1.21% vs. -3.57%, p=0.014; 21st day: 7.71% vs. 3.31%, p=0.017). No significant differences in metabolic tolerance were observed. Conclusion: Advanced preparation of PN can be safely implemented in VLBW preterm infants, offering advantages such as early, higher amino acid intake and improved head circumference growth within the first 21 days post-birth. This strategy may serve as a viable alternative in settings where immediate provision of sterile compounding facilities is challenging.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1003-1016
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• 2024

This study explores the potential of plant-based decellularization in regenerative medicine, a pivotal development in tissue engineering focusing on scaffold development, modification, and vascularization. Plant decellularization involves removing cellular components from plant structures, offering an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional scaffold materials. The use of plant-derived polymers is critical, presenting both benefits and challenges, notably in mechanical properties. Integration of plant vascular networks represents a significant bioengineering breakthrough, aligning with natural design principles. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of development protocols, scaffold fabrication considerations, and illustrative case studies showcasing plant-based decellularization applications. This technique is transformative, offering sustainable scaffold design solutions with readily available plant materials capable of forming perfusable structures. Ongoing research aims to refine protocols, assess long-term implications, and adapt the process for clinical use, indicating a path toward widespread adoption. Plant-based decellularization holds promise for regenerative medicine, bridging biological sciences with engineering through eco-friendly approaches. Future perspectives include protocol optimization, understanding long-term impacts, clinical scalability, addressing mechanical limitations, fostering collaboration, exploring new research areas, and enhancing education. Collectively, these efforts envision a regenerative future where nature and scientific innovation converge to create sustainable solutions, offering hope for generations to come.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1214-1221
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• 2024

The accumulating evidence substantiates the indispensable role of gut microbiota in modulating the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Uncovering the intricacies of the mechanism is imperative in aiding disease control efforts. Revealing key bacterial species, their metabolites and/or metabolic pathways from the vast array of gut microorganisms can significantly contribute to precise treatment of the disease. With a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Inner Mongolia, China, we recruited volunteers from among the Mongolian population to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and the disease. Fecal samples were collected from the Volunteers of Mongolia with Type 2 Diabetes group and a Control group, and detected by metagenomic analysis and untargeted metabolomics analysis. The findings suggest that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla are the predominant gut microorganisms that exert significant influence on the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in the Mongolian population. In the disease group, despite an increase in the quantity of most gut microbial metabolic enzymes, there was a concomitant weakening of gut metabolic function, suggesting that the gut microbiota may be in a compensatory state during the disease stage. β-Tocotrienol may serve as a pivotal gut metabolite produced by gut microorganisms and a potential biomarker for type 2 diabetes. The metabolic biosynthesis pathways of ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinones could be the crucial mechanism through which the gut microbiota regulates type 2 diabetes. Additionally, certain Clostridium gut species may play a pivotal role in the progression of the disease.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.554-566
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Urban-rural inequities in health and mortality exist in Korea, a highly centralized developed country. The potential impact of multiple health-related lifestyle behaviors on mortality and difference between urban and rural areas is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high-risk health behaviors on all-cause mortality among residents living in urban and rural in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted on 8,298 adults aged 40 yrs and older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015. High-risk behaviors were defined as having poor diet quality, current smoking, high-risk drinking, or insufficient physical activity. Mortality status was linked to the Cause of Death data followed up to December 31, 2019. The associations between all-cause mortality and high-risk behaviors were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, income, and survey year. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated, and effect modification analysis was conducted. Participants were stratified by residential area (urban or rural). RESULTS: During the follow-up (median: 5.4 yrs), 313 deaths occurred. A higher proportion of rural residents than urban residents engaged in multiple high-risk behaviors (28.9% vs. 22.6%; P < 0.0001). As individual factors, a greater risk of mortality was associated with poor diet quality, current smoking, and inadequate physical activity, and these tendencies persisted in rural residents, especially for diet quality. Multiple high-risk behaviors were positively associated with a higher risk of mortality in Koreans living in urban and rural areas. PAF (95% confidence interval) was 18.5% (7.35-27.9%) and 29.8% (16.1-40.2%) in urban and rural residents, respectively. No additive or multiplicative effect of the region was observed. CONCLUSION: The higher prevalence of multiple high-risk lifestyle behaviors in rural residents may explain the higher mortality in rural areas compared to urban areas. Comprehensive public health policies to improve health-related behaviors in rural populations may be needed.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.701-710
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• 2024

This study conducted a survey of companies in the aviation, drone, and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sectors to analyze the educational and workforce needs, identifying essential competencies and technical training required. The study also proposed potential areas for collaboration between universities and industry regarding educational methods. Key findings and implications of the survey were derived. The results indicated that the most critical consideration for hiring was job-specific skills in the respective field. The most essential quality for workforce training was identified as enhancing the ability to use various equipment and software related to the major field. In the UAM sector, there was a high demand for personnel and education related to aircraft and components, with the highest demand being for lightweight manufacturing technology for aircraft. This study can serve as foundational data for addressing the educational needs in this field.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.126-137
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Early detection of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is important for clinical research and effective prevention and management. This study examined if quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) could be used for early detection of AD in SCD. Methods: Participants with SCD from 6 dementia clinics in Korea were enrolled. ¹⁸F-florbetaben brain amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) was conducted for all the participants. qEEG was performed to measure power spectrum and source cortical activity. Results: The present study included 95 participants aged over 65 years, including 26 amyloid PET (+) and 69 amyloid PET (-). In participants with amyloid PET (+), relative power at delta band was higher in frontal (p=0.025), parietal (p=0.005), and occipital (p=0.022) areas even after adjusting for age, sex, and education. Source activities of alpha 1 band were significantly decreased in the bilateral fusiform and inferior temporal areas, whereas those of delta band were increased in the bilateral cuneus, pericalcarine, lingual, lateral occipital, precuneus, posterior cingulate, and isthmus areas. There were increased connections between bilateral precuneus areas but decreased connections between left rostral middle frontal area and bilateral frontal poles at delta band in participants with amyloid PET (+) showed. At alpha 1 band, there were decreased connections between bilateral entorhinal areas after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: SCD participants with amyloid PET (+) showed increased delta and decreased alpha 1 activity. qEEG is a potential means for predicting amyloid pathology in SCD. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.