• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3471-3476
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• 2014

Background: Aberrant expression of the microRNA-29 family is associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression. As transport carriers, tumor-derived exosomes are released into the extracellular space and regulate multiple functions of target cells. Thus, we assessed the possibility that exosomes could transport microRNA-29c as a carrier and correlations between microRNA-29c and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 cancer and adjacent tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect BCL-2 and MCL-1 expression. Disease was Ta-T1 in 12 patients, T2-T4 in 16, grade 1 in 8, 2 in 8 and 3 in 12. The expression of microRNA-29c in cancer tissues was detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (QRT-PCR). An adenovirus containing microRNA-29c was used to infect the BIU-87 human bladder cancer cell line. MicroRNA-29c in exosomes was measured by QRT-PCR. After BIU-87 cells were induced by exosomes-derived microRNA-29c, QRT-PCR was used to detect the level of microRNA-29c. Apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry and BCL-2 and MCL-1 mRNA expressions were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression of BCL-2 and MCL-1. Results: The expressions of BCL-2 and MCL-1 protein were remarkably increased in bladder carcinoma (p<0.05), but was found mainly in the basal and suprabasal layers in adjacent tissues. The expression of microRNA-29c in cancer tissues was negatively correlated with the BCL-2 and MCL-1. The expression level of microRNA-29c in exosomes and BIU-87 cells from the experiment group was higher than that in control groups (p<0.05). Exosome-derived microRNA-29c induced apoptosis (p<0.01). Although only BCL-2 was reduced at the mRNA level, both BCL-2 and MCL-1 were reduced at the protein level. Conclusions: Human bladder cancer cells infected by microRNA-29c adenovirus can transport microRNA-29c via exosomes. Moreover, exosome-derived microRNA29c induces apoptosis in bladder cancer cells by down-regulating BCL-2 and MCL-1.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and its association with psychosocial factors including self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and social support in a sample of medical students. Methods : A total of 405 medical students were included in this study. Subjects were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire, measures of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Ego-Resiliency Scale (ERS), and the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (DUFSS). The SAD and non-SAD group were defined using the SPIN score of 25 as a cut-off. The multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the association of self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and social support with SAD symptoms. Results : A total of 79 subjects (19.5%) were identified with SAD. The total RSES score, ERS score, and DUFSS score were significantly lower in the SAD group than the non-SAD group. The total SPIN score negatively correlated with the total RSES score (r=-0.481, p<0.001), the ERS score (r=-0.417, p<0.001), and the DUFSS score (r=-0.406, p<0.001). In the multiple regression, SAD symptoms were associated with self-esteem (β=-0.549, p<0.001), ego-resiliency (β=-0.395, p<0.001), and social support (β=-0.346, p<0.001). Conclusion : This study revealed the prevalence of SAD and its negative association with self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and social support among medical students. Our findings indicate that improving self-esteem and ego-resiliency as well as perceived social support may contribute to the management of SAD symptoms among medical students.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.45-70
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to validate the Korean version of RESPECT-Music, which measures personal, social and cultural function of music, and to examine the correlation between the measured RESPECT data and the data measured from other scales for emotions. A survey was conducted with two separate groups of undergraduate students. Exploratory factor analysis with sample A (N=212) and confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analyses with sample B (N=296) were conducted. The result of exploratory factor analysis generated 10 factors as influential factors in music use, which was the similar results to the original scale: background, values, focus, dancing, family bonding, cultural identity, political attitudes, venting, emotional expression and social bonding. In the confirmatory factor analysis, this 35-item measurement was found to obtain adequate internal consistency and reliability. In addition, the correlations were found with other scales measuring emotional adjustment. Specifically, RESPECT showed a positive correlation with scales for positive affect, reappraisal, negative mood regulation and repair. Among the generated factors as music function, dancing was highly correlated with emotional adjustment, while political attitudes was negatively correlated with emotional adjustment. The results indicate that music use in our everyday lives is intercorrelated with the intrapersonal and interpersonal motives and emotional adjustment, while the function of music that influences cultural identity was not associated with the level of emotional adjustment. Implications for future studies were also suggested.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.401-412
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• 2017

This study was conducted to examine the effects of depression, sleep and self-esteem on quality of life of elders living at home. A descriptive survey study was conducted based on a survey of 285 older people in person at five senior welfare centers in J city from May 20, 2016 to 9. The data were analyzed by at-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression using SPSS WIN 21.0. The mean scores were depression $7.27{\pm}3.80$, sleep $30.75{\pm}9.35$, self-esteem $36.40{\pm}5.30$ and quality of life $8.05{\pm}2.53$. Depression(r=0.491, p<0.001) and sleep(r=0.590 p<0.001) were positively correlated with quality of life and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r=-0.234, p<0.001). The results of the regression indicated that depression, sleep, and self-esteem explained 39.9% of the variance in quality of life. Overall, these results suggest that depression, sleep and self-esteem were associated with quality of life. Therefore it is necessary to develop strategies to reduce depression and sleep disorders for community dwelling elders to improve quality of life.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the overall changes in dietary intake and metabolic syndrome risk parameters in Vietnamese marriage-based female immigrants over time. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects of this study were 581 Vietnamese marriage-based female immigrants, who were recruited from local clinical centers in Korea. Baseline data were collected from 2006-2011 and the follow-up data were collected from 2012-2014. Dietary food intake was assessed by a 1-day 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline, the mean body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure increased while the fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased at follow-up. The total consumption of foods such as vegetables/fruits/seaweeds/mushrooms, oil and fat, and eggs decreased during the follow-up period, whereas the consumption of sugars, beverages and meats increased. Partial correlation between the rate of change [(Follow-up - Baseline) / Baseline ${\times}100$] in metabolic syndrome risk parameters and food intake after controlling for confounding factors showed that the waist circumference was positively correlated with either the total plant food intake (r = 0.1042, P = 0.0129) or the total food intake (r = 0.0880, P = 0.0359). The plasma levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.1918, P = 0.0289) and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.1424, P = 0.0007) were negatively correlated with the percentage of total intake from plant food, and HDL-cholesterol levels were positively correlated with the intake of total animal food (r = 0.0980, P = 0.0217). The serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the total intake of animal food (r = 0.2374, P < 0.0001) or the percentage of total intake from animal food (r = 0.1346, P = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the change rate of dietary intake such as total plant food or animal food is associated with the change rates of metabolic syndrome risk parameters.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.296-303
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• 2020

This study examined the factors affecting the emergency nursing performance of nursing students during a simulation. The variables related to the simulation were the objective and subjective emergency nursing performance, critical thinking, program outcome, simulation satisfaction, simulation confidence, and simulation immersion. The participants were 92 senior students who provided informed consent with an explanation about attending the study. The general characteristics and simulation-related data were obtained from the students before and after the simulation. An assessor evaluated the objective emergency nursing performance during the simulation and program outcome through a report reviewed after the simulation. Data analysis was performed using the number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, X²-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and progressive regression through the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. Emergency nursing performance by the assessor was negatively associated with the satisfaction of clinical practice (r=-.31, p=.005) and positively related to the subjective clinical performance (r=.23, p=.036). The affecting rate was just 12%, which was low for explaining the objective emergency nursing performance during the simulation. Further studies will be needed to explore other factors affecting the emergency nursing performance.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.47-53
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• 2013

Purpose - Six months have passed since the amendment of the SSM regulation law; however, as yet, there is no confirmed research or report on the effects of this amendment, which are indefinite. Further, there have been no attempts to study the effects of the SSM regulation law from the consumers' viewpoint, which is important because consumers are the main agents that are greatly influenced by the amendment law. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the consumers' attitude toward the SSM regulation law as well as the effects of the SSM regulation law on the changes in purchase behavior. Research design, data, and methodology - This study was initiated from four research problems that are linked to consumer reaction to the SSM regulation law. Research problem 1: What is the consumers' reaction (perception, attitude, and perceived fairness) to the SSM regulation law? Research problem 2: How do the consumers' reactions to the SSM regulation law differ by consumers' characteristics? Research problem 3: Could the SSM regulation law change a consumer's purchase behavior? Research problem 4: Is it necessary to amend the SSM regulation law? This study collected the data through the interview and survey of housewives for the purpose of solving the research problems. The interview was conducted as a pilot study for the field survey. We interviewed three housewives, who were: an employed housewife, a full-time homemaker, and a manager of a housewife club, respectively. We then conducted a field survey of 232 housewives who were housewife club members or elementary school parents in Chunghcheong-do. Results - We verified the reliability and validity of the data, and analyzed it to solve the research problems. The main findings of this study were as follows. First, consumers still have a positive attitude toward large discount chains and SSM, which has been the case since the law was introduced. Second, perceived risk of consumers associated with traditional markets and small neighborhood shops was low. Third, consumers think that amendments of the SSM regulation law are important, and they positively assess the satisfaction, necessity, and propriety of the law. Fourth, although the SSM regulation law caused inconvenience to consumers, this law did not have any influence on the usage frequency and the use-behavior of large discount chains. Finally, consumers reacted very negatively to the toughening up of the SSM regulation law. Conclusions - In short, consumers still have a positive attitude toward the SSM regulation law. However, this act did not have any influence on the use-behavior of large discount chains (General Super Market). Thus, policy making authorities require active communication and promotions to enhance the effect of the SSM regulation law. This study was of the nature of exploratory research, which did not focus on hypothesis testing, but on finding solutions to the research problems. Therefore, this study is no more than a simple data analysis. Future studies should attempt to investigate the actual effects of the SSM regulation law, on the basis of sufficient literature review and real sales data.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.119-127
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• 2009

It has been known that bus route and company related characteristics have influences on punctuality, but fewer research have been conducted. Independent variables used in this study were selected using correlation analysis, and OLS(Ordinary Least Square) and HLM(Hierarchical Linear Model) were employed to identify factors affecting bus punctuality(headway deviation). The results showed that ICC(intraclass Correlation Coefficient) is 0.10, indicating that hierarchical linear models are more adequate for these data because there is effective variation in the subjects between companies. Punctuality was found to be negatively associated with the number of vehicles, the number of persons per vehicle, and total travel time. On the other hand, average headway and company size have a positive relationship with punctuality. Therefore, the number of vehicles per route, average headway, and the number of vehicles managed by a company should be considered for more accurately evaluating the management of piunctuality.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-73
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• 2012

In this paper, we analyse empirically the effects of financial characteristics on the relationship between R&D investment and market value of firms listed on Korea Exchange. The main results of this study can be summarized as follows. Firm size increase the market valuation of R&D investment because it provides economies of scale, easier access to capital market, and R&D cost spreading. Market share also positively effects the relationship between R&D investment and firm value. Alternatively, free cash flow has a negative effect on the relationship between R&D investment and firm value because firms with high free cash flow could be tempted to use the free cash flow to undertake negative NPV projects. The dependence on external finance is a handicap negatively assessed by the market when firms undertake R&D projects due to the higher information asymmetry associated with this kind of project. Labor intensity has a negative effect on the relationship between R&D investment and firm value because the abnormal profits arising from R&D investment are diluted among employees. Capital intensity also has a negative effect on the relationship between R&D investment and firm value due to the greater financial constraints faced by capital intensive firms. In conclusion, several financial characteristics(firm size and market share) positively effect the relationship between R&D investment and firm value, while others(free cash flow, dependence on external finance, labor intensity, and capital intensity) exert a negative effect. Therefore, we conclude that the effectiveness of R&D investment depends on these financial characteristics.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.120-130
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• 2018

Improvement in rice grain yield has been approached by means of genetic amendment, cultural management, and environmental adaptation. Subjecting the plant during the grain filling period to an appropriate environment plays a key role in achieving a high grain yield in temperate rice. Field experiments were conducted for two consecutive years with two planting times to assess the relations among grain filling traits, loss of leaf activity during the ripening period, and the grain yield of temperate japonica rice with wide environmental variation. Higher grain yields were attained in 2017 than in 2016 and with late planting than with early planting. The high grain yield accompanied a comparatively lesser increase in grain weight at the early filling stage but more gain in grain weight occurred during the late filling stage. Final grain weight correlated positively with grain filling duration but negatively with grain filling rate. Extended grain filling duration was associated with higher cumulative temperature and cumulative solar radiation for an effective grain filling period. The reduction in SPAD value ${\times}$ leaf dry weight from heading to harvest significantly correlated with final grain dry weight in a positive manner. No significant relation was found between grain filling duration and the decrease in SPAD value ${\times}$ leaf dry weight during the grain filling period. The results suggest that grain filling duration and loss of leaf activity during ripening independently contribute to environmentally induced yield improvement in temperate japonica rice.