• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.228-232
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• 2003

For effective management of atopic dermatitis, it is important to introduce a therapeutic agent although having the fewest side effects, has the greatest anti- inflammatory effect. In the course of screening anti-inflammatory agents, we obtained BSASM composed of several plant extracts. This study was designed to investigate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of BSASM. As a first step, $NF-{\kappa}B$ luciferase reporter assay was performed to know the involvement of BSASM in the production of proinflammatory cytokines because $NF-{\kappa}B$ element has been known to play a major role in expression of cytokine genes such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) or tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$. LPS (lipolysaccharide)-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation was inhibited by BSASM. In addition, we found the fact that BSASM inhibits LPS-induced produced production of IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ proinflammatory cytokines, indicating BSASM has anti-inflammatory effect. In interleukin-2 (IL-2) luciferase reporter assay in Jurkat T cells, BSASM reduced PHA (Phytohemagglutinin)-induced IL-2 luciferase activity, suggesting the possibility that BSASM might also have an immunomodulatory function in T cell-mediated immune response. Based on these results, we suggest the possibility that BSASM can be introduced to improve symptom of immune-related skin diseases, namely, atopic dermatitis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2013

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder, which can affect different organs or systems of the body, including the cardiovascular system. One of the more serious aspects of the disease relates to arterial involvement. In particular, renal artery stenosis is one of the most common vascular abnormalities in patients with NF-1, and the manifestations vary, ranging from no symptoms to end-stage renal failure. Treatment usually consists of antihypertensive drugs, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or surgery. Other causes of hypertension should be ruled out and the patient followed up for close monitoring and proper management. We report a case of bilateral renal artery stenosis and hypertension in a patient with moyamoya disease associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. This report discusses the literature available on the current subject, its clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.117-126
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• 2019

This research examined whether and how prior customer participation and the relationship commitment of the brand enhance experiential behaviors of offline stores such as Apple, Huawei, MI, Oppo, Samsung, Vivo. A structured self-report questionnaire was administered to collected 258 survey responses and structural equation modeling was applied using SPSS and AMOS. The results of this study are as follows: First, customer participation increased normative commitment, emotional commitment, and persistent commitment. Second, the relationship commitment of consumers enhanced various experiential behaviors such as entertainment experience, educational experience, escapist experience, and aesthetic experience. Third, consumers with high brand fanship reported more positive aesthetic and escapist experience. The results of this study are expected to provide effective marketing strategies for companies setting up offline experience stores by understanding customer participation and involvement that should be considered for consumers targeted.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.10
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• pp.531-537
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• 2021

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new hyperinflammatory variant that evolved during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Although the precise pathophysiology of MIS-C is uncertain, it is thought to be due to immune dysregulation occurring after recovery from acute infection. Purpose: Our study aimed to analyze the clinical spectrum, laboratory parameters, imaging characteristics, treatment strategies, and short-term outcomes of children with a diagnosis of MIS-C. Methods: This retrospective and prospective observational study included children less than 16 years of age who were admitted to the pediatric unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in south India between August 2020 to January 2021 with a diagnosis of MIS-C according to World Health Organization criteria. Results: Twenty-one children were included in the analysis; all had fever with variable combinations of other symptoms. The mean age was 6.9 years; 71.4% were male. Gastrointestinal (80.9%) and cardiovascular (80.9%) systems were the most commonly affected. The majority of children had elevated inflammatory markers, and 16 (76.2%) had echocardiographic abnormalities mimicking Kawasaki disease. Eleven children (52.4%) required intensive care admission, 3 (14.3%) required supplemental oxygen, and 4 (19%) required inotropes. Nine (42.9%) were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin alone, 6 (28.6%) with steroids alone, and 3 (14.3%) with steroids and immunoglobulin. The median hospital stay was 6 days; there were no fatalities. Overweight/obesity, elevated ferritin, and mucocutaneous involvement were significantly associated with a prolonged hospital stay (≥7 days). Sixteen children (76.2%) were followed up till now and all of them had no clinical concerns. Conclusion: MIS-C is an emerging disease with variable presentation. A high index of suspicion is necessary for its early identification and appropriate management. Further research is essential for developing optimal treatment strategies.

• Annals of Coloproctology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.312-316
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• 2018

Purpose: Anemia is associated with poor treatment results for a variety of cancers. The effect of low hemoglobin levels on long-term outcomes after the treatment of patients with an anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. For that reason, this study aimed to investigate the effect of anemia on treatment outcomes following chemoradiation for an anal SCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent curative treatment for an anal SCC between 2009 and 2015 at 2 trusts in the United Kingdom. Data were collated from prospectively collected cancer databases and were cross-checked with operating-room records and records in the hospitals' patient management systems. Results: We identified 103 patients with a median age of 63 years (range, 36-84 years). The median overall survival was 39 months (range, 9-90 months), and the disease-free survival was 36 months (range, 2-90 months). During the follow-up period, 16.5% patients died and 13.6% patients developed recurrence. Twenty-two people were anemic prior to treatment, with a female preponderance (20 of 22). No differences in disease-free survival (P = 0.74) and overall survival (P = 0.12) were noted between patients with anemia and those with normal hemoglobin levels. On regression the analysis, the combination of anemia, the presence of a defunctioning colostomy, lymph-node involvement and higher tumor stage correlated with poor overall survival. Conclusion: In this study, anemia did not influence disease-free survival or overall survival. We suggest that the interaction between anemia and survival is more complex than previously demonstrated and potentially reliant on other coexisting factors.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-291
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• 2014

The purpose of this article is to analyze the tendency and characteristics in armed conflict in post-Cold War era on the basis of Uppsala conflict data program(UCDP) datasets. The collapse of bipolarity and the end of cold War proved a watershed in the dynamics of international conflict. The major shift in the nature of conflict has been away from interstate conflict, leaving intrastate conflict. Major powers have acted carefully against each other and been willing to understand the interests of other to avoid military confrontation and crash. As the means of termination for armed conflict, there is a stronger emphasis on the peace settlement like peace agreement and ceasefire agreement than military victory. Many intrastate conflicts become internationalized, through the involvement of diaspora communities, or regionalized through a spillover effect into neighboring countries. Since the end of the Cold War, the UN has taken a much more active role in conflict management and conflict resolution.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.605-611
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• 2018

This study examines the effects of recovery-oriented practices on psychiatric symptoms of people with mental disorder and further explores the impact of recovery-oriented practices in each subcategories on psychiatric symptoms, thereby demonstrating the intent of restoring the community mental health rehabilitation center. For this, a survey was conducted on 378 people with mental disorder who used community mental health rehabilitation center and correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. The study found that among the five subcategories of recovery, including age and duration of illness, 'Life Goal,' 'Involvement,' and 'diversity of treatment options' alleviate symptoms of people with mental disorder. Based on these findings, community mental health rehabilitation center has presented the combined significance of psychiatry and social welfare programs to facilitate the recovery of the mentally handicapped by reflecting the value and factors of recovery-oriented practice.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.407-420
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of measuring advertising effectiveness through the ad evaluation text. The 384 university students were asked to evaluate the positive and negative evaluation ads of high and low involvement products by self-report method and to write ad evaluation text online. The written ad evaluation text were analyzed by KLIWC and to examine the difference between the comment of positive and negative advertising. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, there were differences between positive and negative ads in 17 psychosocial variables. Second, there were differences between positive and negative ads in 9 linguistic variables. Third, there was a significant correlation between KLIWC variables(Positive & negative emotions, inhibition, conviction, physical condition & function and sleep/dreams) and advertising effect variables. This study suggests that the advertising evaluation comment reflects the consumer's psychological reaction to advertising and the possibility of measuring the advertising effectiveness using advertising evaluation text.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2021

This study analyzed the relationship between the characteristics of learners and the achievement level according to the language they learn in programming education for non-major students. The learner's characteristics were set as mastery goal, situaltional interest, cognitive engagement, and self-efficacy for performance, and path analysis was conducted to understand the relationship between the language used and the learning achievement. Situaltional interest and cognitive engagement were found to have an effect on self-efficacy for performace, and self-efficacy for performance had an effect on academic achievement. At this time, the type of programming language to be studied showed a moderating effect on learning achievement. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that appropriate instruction is needed for each language used in programming lessons for software non-majors.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2021

Moving toward an aged society, traffic accidents involving elderly drivers have also attracted broader public attention. A rapid increase of senior involvement in crashes calls for developing appropriate crash-severity prediction models specific to senior drivers. In that regard, this study leverages machine learning (ML) algorithms so as to predict the severity of vehicle-pedestrian collisions induced by elderly drivers. Specifically, four ML algorithms (i.e., Logistic model, K-nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)) have been developed and compared. Our results show that Logistic model and SVM have outperformed their rivals in terms of the overall prediction accuracy, while precision measure exhibits in favor of RF. We also clarify that driver education and technology development would be effective countermeasures against severity risks of senior driver-induced collisions. These allow us to support informed decision making for policymakers to enhance public safety.