• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.634-642
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the influence of career barriers on employment decisions among high school students specializing in beauty-related field. The subjects of this study were 339 students attending beauty-specialized high schools in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeollabuk-do, and a self-written questionnaire was employed for conducting the research. This survey was conducted from April 4 to April 18, 2022. A total of 380 questionnaires were distributed, and 350 responses were collected. Of these, 339 questionnaires were considered for the final analysis, as the remaining 11 had incomplete or insincere responses. The results of this study are summarized as follows. First, the career barriers affecting high school students in beauty-specialized schools were categorized into eight factors: lack of interest, economic difficulties, financial support, interpersonal challenges, job information, anxiety about future, conflict with others, and lack of self-clarity. Second, when assessing the impact of career barriers on employment decision-making, it was observed that the level of employment decision-making had a statistically positive (+) effect, and the lack of interest had a negative (-) effect on the level of employment decision-making. Next, the significance of the regression model, considering the specific factors of career barriers in relation to employment confidence, was established as p<.001. Variables such as a lack of interest, limited access to job information, and lack of self-clarity had a negative (-) effect on the level of employment confidence, with a significance level of 0.05.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.804-817
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• 2023

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of co-dried fish protein hydrolysate (CFPH) on broilers performance, intestinal microbiology, and cellular immune responses. Five hundred one-day-old (Ross 308) male broilers were allocated to four treatments with five replicates of 25 birds in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments included four levels of CFPH (0% as the control, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%) in the isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. During the experiment, body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) were periodically recorded in addition to calculating average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), liveability index, and European broiler index (EBI). In addition, cellular immune responses were evaluated at 30 days of age. On day 42, ileal contents were obtained to examine the microbial population. Based on the findings, Dietary supplementation of 5 and 7.5% CFPH increased the percentage of the thigh while decreasing the relative weight of the gizzard compared to the control group. The highest relative length of jejunum was observed in birds receiving 2.5 and 5% CFPH, and its highest relative weight belonged to birds fed with 5% CFPH. The number of coliforms, enterobacters, and total gram-negative bacteria in the intestines of birds receiving CFPH was less than that of the control group. In general, the application of CFPH in broiler nutrition can decrease the level of soybean meal in diet and it can be considered as a new protein supplement in poultry production. It is suggested to study the incorporation of this new supplement in other livestock's diets.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.883-898
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Probiotics have been suggested as potent modulators of age-related disorders in immunological functions, yet little is known about sex-dependent effects of probiotic supplements. Therefore, we aimed to investigate sex-dependent effects of probiotics on profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, healthy elderly individuals ≥ 65 yrs old were administered probiotic capsules (or placebo) for 12 wk. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. Peripheral immune cells were profiled using flow cytometry for lymphocytes (natural killer, B, CD4⁺ T, and CD8⁺ T cells), dendritic cells, monocytes, and their subpopulations. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, phylum Firmicutes was significantly reduced in the probiotic group in women, but not in men. At the genus level, sex-specific responses included reductions in the relative abundances of pro-inflammatory gut microbes, including Catabacter and unclassified_Coriobacteriales, and Burkholderia and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, in men and women, respectively. Peripheral immune cell profiling analysis revealed that in men, probiotics significantly reduced the proportions of dendritic cells and CD14⁺ CD16^- monocytes; however, these effects were not observed in women. In contrast, the proportion of total CD4⁺ T cells was significantly reduced in women in the probiotic group. Additionally, serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels showed a decreasing tendency that were positively associated with changes in gut bacteria, including Catabacter (ρ = 0.678, P < 0.05) and Burkholderia (ρ = 0.673, P < 0.05) in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may reduce the incidence of inflammation-related diseases by regulating the profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy elders in a sex-specific manner.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.875-882
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• 2024

Objective: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing DL methionine (DL Met) at graded concentrations on performance, carcass variables, immune responses and antioxidant variables in broiler chicken fed folic acid (FA) fortified (4 mg/kg) low-methionine diet. Methods: A basal diet (BD) without supplemental DL Met, but with higher level (4 mg/kg) of FA and a control diet (CD) with the recommended concentration of methionine (Met) were prepared. The BD was supplemented with DL Met at graded concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% supplemental DL Met of CD). Each diet was fed ad libitum to 10 replicates of 5 broiler male chicks in each from 1 to 42 d of age. Results: Body weight gain (BWG) reduced, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased in broilers fed low-Met BD. At 30% and 20% inclusion of DL met, the BWG and FCR, respectively were similar to those fed the CD. Similarly, supplementation of 10% DL Met to the BD significantly increased ready to cook meat yield and breast meat weight, which were similar to those of the CD fed broilers. Lipid peroxidation reduced, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GSHPx and GSHRx) in serum increased and lymphocyte proliferation increased with increased supplemental DL Met level in the BD. The concentrations of total protein and albumin in serum increased with DL Met supplementation to the BD. Conclusion: Based on the data, it can be concluded that supplemental Met can be reduced to less than 50% in broiler chicken diets (4.40, 3.94, and 3.39 g/kg, respectively in pre-starter, starter and finisher phases) containing 4 mg/kg FA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.17
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• 2023

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical immune-response mediators. Although they largely reside in mucosal tissues, the kidney also bears substantial numbers. Nevertheless, kidney ILC biology is poorly understood. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice are known to display type-2 and type-1 skewed immune responses, respectively, but it is unclear whether this extends to ILCs. We show here that indeed, BALB/c mice have higher total ILCs in the kidney than C57BL/6 mice. This difference was particularly pronounced for ILC2s. We then showed that three factors contributed to the higher ILC2s in the BALB/c kidney. First, BALB/c mice demonstrated higher numbers of ILC precursors in the bone marrow. Second, transcriptome analysis showed that compared to C57BL/6 kidneys, the BALB/c kidneys associated with significantly higher IL-2 responses. Quantitative RT-PCR also showed that compared to C57BL/6 kidneys, the BALB/c kidneys expressed higher levels of IL-2 and other cytokines known to promote ILC2 proliferation and/or survival (IL-7, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin). Third, the BALB/c kidney ILC2s may be more sensitive to the environmental signals than C57BL/6 kidney ILC2s since they expressed their transcription factor GATA3 and the IL-2, IL-7, and IL-25 receptors at higher levels. Indeed, they also demonstrated greater responsiveness to IL-2 than C57BL/6 kidney ILC2s, as shown by their greater STAT5 phosphorylation levels after culture with IL-2. Thus, this study demonstrates previously unknown properties of kidney ILC2s. It also shows the impact of mouse strain background on ILC2 behavior, which should be considered when conducting research on immune diseases with experimental mouse models.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.18-34
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• 2024

In what was labeled the "nut rage" incident, the vice president of Korean Air, Hyun-Ah Cho (Heather Cho), demonstrated behavior that exemplifies corporate transgression and deviation from societal moral standards toward a flight attendant aboard a flight. Such behavior instigated the public to express negative sentiment on various social media platforms. This study investigates word-of-mouth network on YouTube in response to the crisis, patterns of co-commenting activities across selected YouTube videos, as well as public responses to the incident by employing social and semantic network analysis. A total of 512 YouTube videos featuring the crisis from December 8, 2014 through November 11, 2018, and 52,772 public comments to the videos were collected. The central videos in the network successfully attracted the public's attention and engagements. The results suggest that the video network was decentralized, with multiple videos acting as hubs in the network. The public commented on various videos instead of focusing on a few. The contents of influential videos uploaded by popular news organizations revealed not only Cho's behaviors related to the nut rage crisis but also unrelated illegal behaviors and the moral violations committed by the family members of Korean Air. The public attached derogatory remarks to Cho and her family, and the comments also addressed ethical concerns, management issues of the company, and boycott intentions. The results imply that adverse public reaction was related to the long-standing problem caused by family ownership and governance in large Korean corporations. This Korean Air scandal illustrates backlash toward a leadership breakdown by the family business conglomerate prevalent in the Korean society. This study provides insights for effective handling of similar crises.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.365-377
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• 2024

Exposure to storage mite (SM) and house dust mite (HDM) allergens is a risk factor for sensitization and asthma development; however, the related immune responses and their pathology have not been fully investigated. The HDMs Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and SM Tyrophagus putrescentiae are potent allergens that induce asthma. Most SM-related studies have focused on the allergic reactions of individuals by measuring their immunoglobulin (Ig)E expression. Considering the limited research on this topic, the present study aims to investigate the differences in the immune responses induced by HDMs and SMs and histologically analyze lung tissues in a mouse asthma model to understand the differential effects of HDM and SM. The results revealed that all mite species induced airway inflammation. Mice challenged with T. putrescentiae had the highest airway resistance and total cell, eosinophil, and neutrophil counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The SM-sensitized groups showed more severe lesions and mucus hypersecretions than the HDM-sensitized groups. Although the degree of HDM and SM exposure was the same, the damage to the respiratory lung tissue was more severe in SM-exposed mice, which resulted in excessive mucin secretion and increased fibrosis. Furthermore, these findings suggest that SM sensitization induces a more significant hypersensitivity response in mucosal immunity than HDM sensitization in asthma models.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.671-676
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• 2008

Forty-eight Naemi lambs (avg. BW 31.7 kg) were transported by truck for a distance of 1,450 km from Al-Jouf to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On arrival day, the lambs were randomly allocated to four groups receiving diets supplemented with 0.0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 ppm organic chromium (Cr). Each group consisted of four separately housed replicates of three lambs each. The animals were fed ad libitum on a grower diet for 84 days. Blood samples were obtained shortly before transportation, upon arrival and at weekly intervals thereafter from all lambs for analysis of plasma and serum. Plasma glucose and serum cortisol, total protein, albumin, urea-N and total cholesterol concentrations were determined. A cursory clinical examination of the lambs, along with rectal temperature, was undertaken at different intervals during the experiment. The lambs were inoculated each with 2 ml i.v. chicken red blood cells (CRBC) on days 0, 21, and 42. Serum total, IgG and IgM antibody titers were determined at weekly intervals post-immunization. An in vivo intradermal hypersensitivity test was carried out on 6 lambs from each group on days 10 and 70. Transportation of the lambs resulted in a significant (p<0.001) elevation of serum cortisol, total protein and albumin levels, as well as increased plasma glucose concentration, with corresponding decrease in total cholesterol, while blood urea-N remained largely unchanged. These constituents returned to normal levels during subsequent weeks, with no significant differences in their concentrations being observed between the Cr-supplemented groups and controls. Rise in rectal temperature after transportation was reduced to a greater extent (p<0.05) in Cr-supplemented versus control lambs. Total, IgG and IgM antibody titers against CRBC rose significantly (p<0.05) during immunizations in all groups, with significantly and linearly higher (p<0.05) total and IgG titers in Cr-supplemented versus control lambs. By contrast, no significant effect due to Cr supplementation was recorded in IgG titers, which increased equally in Cr-fed and control groups. Skin thickness in response to intradermal inoculation of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was also significantly (p<0.01) increased as a result of Cr supplementation. These results indicate that dietary Cr supplementation might be useful during stress especially for enhancing immune responses in transport-stressed lambs.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2004

Changes in the soil bacterial community of a coniferous forest were analyzed to assess microbial responses to wildfire. Soil samples were collected from three different depths in lightly and severely burned areas, as well as a nearby unburned control area. Direct bacterial counts ranged from $3.3­22.6\times10^8\;cells/(g{\cdot}soil).$ In surface soil, direct bacterial counts of unburned soil exhibited a great degree of fluctuation. Those in lightly burned soil changed less, but no significant variation was observed in the severely burned soil. The fluctuations of direct bacterial count were less in the middle and deep soil lay­ers. The structure of the bacterial community was analyzed via the fluorescent in situ hybridization method. The number of bacteria detected with the eubacteria-targeted probe out of the direct bacterial count varied from $30.3\;to\;84.7\%,$ and these ratios were generally higher in the burned soils than in the unburned control soils. In the surface unburned soil, the ratios of $\alpha,\;\beta\;and\;gamma-proteobacteria,$ Cytoph­aga-Flavobacterium group, and other eubacteria groups to total eubacteria were 9.9, 10.6, 15.5, 9.0, and $55.0\%,$ respectively, and these ratios were relatively stable. The ratios of $\alpha,\;\beta\;and\;gamma-proteobacteria,$ and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium group to total eubacteria increased immediately after the wildfire, and the other eubacterial proportions decreased in the surface and middle layer soils. By way of contrast, the composition of the 5 groups of eubacteria in the subsurface soil exhibited no significant fluctuations dur­ing the entire period. The total bacterial population and bacterial community structure disturbed by wildfire soon began to recover, and original levels seemed to be restored 3 months after the wildfire.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.555-565
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was intended to examine job satisfaction in dental hygienists working in the Gwangju Jeonnam area and provide basic materials for the efficient management of dental clinics and the improvement of working conditions in dental hygienists. Methods : In order to achieve this purpose, the questionnaire survey was conducted from August 13 to October 6, 2007. Of a total of 394 questionnaires, 34 was excluded because of poor responses and finally 360(Gwangju 296, Jeonnam 64) were analyzed. Results : For job satisfaction associated with the total career and turnover, satisfaction was increased with the total career. Job satisfaction associated with working conditions became higher as a monthly mean paycheck was increased or when an incentive, in the annual pay system and long-service men preference was provided(p<0.05). Job satisfaction was 3.26. The highest satisfaction at detailed factors was found in patient relation(3.85), colleague relation(3.40), prospects(3.26), dentistry organization(3.17), autonomy(3.10), and pay(2.78). For detailed factors of job satisfaction, the most influential factor was monthly mean paycheck, followed by incentive, age and marriage(p<0.05). Conclusions : When dental hygienists' working environment is planned and improved in the rational and desirable direction, their job satisfaction will be improved. As a result, it will contribute to a decrease in the jobless rate and an increase in the productivity of oral care and the efficiency of hospital management.