• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
• /
• 2011.06a
• /
• pp.117-127
• /
• 2011

The paper outlines farming systems, including organic, in the UK, and provides a context for the use of biological nitrogen (N) from legumes, especially clovers, and manure in organic grassland systems. As N is dynamic within organic ruminant/grassland systems its pathway is described, including its loss and resultant environmental impact. Improvements in the predictability of response to biological N, its role in reducing the carbon footprint of ruminant products and potential to improve its efficiency are discussed.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 2022

The decommissioning of a nuclear power plant generates large amounts of radioactive waste, which is of several types. Radioactive concrete powder is classified as low-level waste, which can be disposed of in a landfill. However, its safe disposal in a landfill requires that it be immobilized by solidification using cement. Herein, a safety assessment on the disposal of solidified radioactive concrete powder waste in a conceptual landfill site is performed using RESRAD. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses of certain selected input parameters are conducted to investigate their impact on exposure doses. The exposure doses are estimated, and the relative impact of each pathway on them during the disposal of this waste is assessed. The results of this study can be used to obtain information for designing a landfill site for the safe disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated from the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.475-482
• /
• 2020

Background: Active natural ingredients, especially small molecules, have recently received wide attention as modifiers used to treat neurodegenerative disease by promoting neurogenic regeneration of neural stem cell (NSC) in situ. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), one of the bioactive ingredients in ginseng, possesses neuroprotective properties. However, the effect of PPD on NSC proliferation and differentiation and its mechanism of action are incompletely understood. Methods: In this study, we investigated the impact of PPD on NSC proliferation and neuronal lineage differentiation through activation of the Wnt/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β/β-catenin pathway. NSC migration and proliferation were investigated by neurosphere assay, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and EdU assay. NSC differentiation was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Involvement of the Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway was examined by molecular simulation and Western blot and verified using gene transfection. Results: PPD significantly promoted neural migration and induced a significant increase in NSC proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a remarkable increase in anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 expression and decrease in nestin protein expression were induced by PPD. During the differentiation process, PPD targeted and stimulated the phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser9 and the active forms of β-catenin, resulting in activation of the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. Transfection of NSCs with a constitutively active GSK-3β mutant at S9A significantly hampered the proliferation and neural differentiation mediated by PPD. Conclusion: PPD promotes NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro via activation of the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway by targeting GSK-3β, potentially having great significance for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.550-558
• /
• 2023

Hair loss is a common condition that can have a negative impact on an individual's quality of life. The severe side effects and the low efficacy of current hair loss medications create unmet needs in the field of hair loss treatment. Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan Link Protein 1 (HAPLN1), one of the components of the extracellular matrix, has been shown to play a role in maintaining its integrity. HAPLN1 was examined for its ability to impact hair growth with less side effects than existing hair loss treatments. HAPLN1 was predominantly expressed in the anagen phase in three stages of the hair growth cycle in mice and promotes the proliferation of human hair matrix cells. Also, recombinant human HAPLN1 (rhHAPLN1) was shown to selectively increase the levels of transforming growth factor-β receptor II in human hair matrix cells. Furthermore, we observed concomitant activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway following treatment with rhHAPLN1. Our results indicate that rhHAPLN1 elicits its cell proliferation effect via the TGF-β2-induced ERK1/2 pathway. The prompt entering of the hair follicles into the anagen phase was observed in the rhHAPLN1-treated group, compared to the vehicle-treated group. Insights into the mechanism underlying such hair growth effects of HAPLN1 will provide a novel potential strategy for treating hair loss with much lower side effects than the current treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.50-58
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of self-perception on the relationship between body image and depressive symptoms in middle school adolescents. Methods: This study performed a pathway analysis with a sample of 284 adolescents recruited from three middle schools. Self-reported questionnaires consisted of items regarding body image, self-perception, and depressive symptoms. Results: Body image, self-perception, and depressive symptoms showed a significant correlation. Self-perception was directly affected by body image and depressive symptoms were not affected by body image. The mediating effect of self-perception on body image's impact on depressive symptoms was confirmed. Self-perception had a significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms, which means that self-perception has a full mediating effect on body image's impact on depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The effect of body image on depressive symptoms was fully mediated by self-perception in early adolescents. It suggests that self-perception needs to be considered when providing nursing interventions for adolescents.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.11-22
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how brand-related user-generated content (UGC) influences consumers' brand attitude and behavioral intention in the context of the Metaverse, and the mediating role of virtual brand experience, perceived information usefulness, perceived interactivity, and attitude toward advertising. Research design, data and methodology: The study was conducted using a survey with 239 questionnaires from frequent social media users in China and hypothesis testing through AMOS 26.0 structural equation modeling. Results: The findings suggest that (1) brand-related UGC positively influences brand attitude and behavioral intention through virtual brand experience, perceived information usefulness, perceived interactivity, and attitude toward advertising. (2) The study identified the fully-mediated effects of virtual brand experience, perceived information usefulness, perceived interactivity, and attitude toward advertising in the impact of brand-related UGC on brand attitude and behavioral intention. (3) The mediating pathway with the most significant impact on behavioral intention was the virtual brand experience and attitude toward the advertising, followed by the effect of the virtual brand experience, perceived information usefulness, and perceived interactivity on brand attitude. Conclusions: This study presents UGC as a new type of digital promotion that can positively impact the effectiveness of brand advertising in the Metaverse.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.465-470
• /
• 2011

Liquid fertilizer and composted cattle manure were applied to an agricultural land. This study was conducted to find the pathway of the nutrients transport. Nitrogen concentration was decreased by the repeatable precipitation in surface runoff, but the nitrate concentration in ground water was gradually increased by biological metabolism, especially with pig liquid fertilizer. Phosphorus was mostly adsorbed into the soil, and its reduction was affected by the soil drain by surface runoff in the summer. Averaged adsorption capacity of the phosphorus via Jar-test was determined as 21.5 mg P/kg of soil.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.295-308
• /
• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this quasi-experimental research is to develop the CP for primary THR patients and verify its effectiveness. Method: The CP is designed for both patients and medical employees to meet the 14-day-long hospitalization with an expert and clinical validity test, and the standardized orders are also created. 21 eligible subjects for the control group(with common care plan) and 27 subjects for the experimental group(with CP service) were assigned. Data were collected from questionnaires to evaluate patients' satisfaction level of nursing care and CP, investigation of physical complications, inspection of LOS(length of hospital stay) and hospital charges from April 2000 to February 2001 at K-hospital in Daegu. The collected data were analyzed by using the SAS program. Results: After implementation of CP, there was a statistically significant reduction in mean length of stay. The hospital charges have no considerable difference between two groups. Frequency of physical complications is reduced considerably. The experimental group scored much higher than the control group on the satisfaction level toward nursing care. And in the analysis of CP satisfaction questionnaires, many subjects have high satisfaction in items of 'I see the treatment process and hospital life', 'I feel that I am participating in my treatment process with health care staff'. The analysis of variances which cause a prolonged LOS supports that it's necessary to strengthen an evaluation of pre-operative outpatients' condition and link the home nursing care system in discharge for more shortening of LOS. Conclusion: The above results show that CP can have a positive impact on satisfaction level of inpatients with primary THR and the hospital.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.13
• /
• pp.5389-5393
• /
• 2014

Background: A clinical pathway (CP) can standardize and improve perioperative care for a number of interventions. In hepatic surgery, however, pertinent evidence is very limited. This study was conducted to implement a CP for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy, and to evaluate its effects on hospital costs, length of hospital stay (LOHS) and early clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Medical records for HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy were retrospectively reviewed before implementation of a CP (the non-CP group) from March 2012 to August 2012. This information was compared with the data collected prospectively from patients after implementation of the CP (the CP group) between September 2012 and April 2013. Hospital costs, LOHS and early clinical outcomes were evaluated and compared between groups. Results: There were no significant differences in terms of patient clinical characteristics between the two groups. For clinical outcome measures, no significant differences were found in postoperative complications, mortality and readmission rate. The hospital costs were significantly reduced from 24,844 RMB in the non-CP group to 19,761 RMB in the CP group (p<0.01). In addition, patients of the CP group also had shorter LOHS compared with the non-CP group (8.3 versus 12.3 days, p<0.001). Conclusions: The CP proved to be an effective approach to minimize hospital costs and LOHS with hepatectomy for HCC without compromising patient care.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2009

Periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue is a connective tissue that is interposed between the roots of the teeth and the inner wall of the alveolar bone socket. PDL is always exposed to physiologic mechanical force such as masticatory force and PDL cells play important roles during orthodontic tooth movement by synthesizing and secreting different mediators involved in bone remodeling. The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway was recently shown to play a significant role in the control of bone formation. In the present study, we applied cyclic tensile stress of 20% elongation to cultured human PDL cells and assessed its impact after six days upon components of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. RTPCR analysis showed that Wnt1a, Wnt3a, Wnt10b and the Wnt receptor LRP5 were down-regulated, whereas the Wnt inhibitor DKK1 was up-regulated in response to these stress conditions. In contrast, little change was detected in the mRNA expression of Wnt5a, Wnt7b, Fz1, and LRP6. By western blotting we found decreased expression of the ${\beta}$-catenin and p-GSK-3${\beta}$ proteins. Our results thus show that mechanical stress suppresses the canonical Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway in PDL cells.