• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2022

In this study, the marine medaka Oryzias javanicus was exposed to two concentrations of non-toxin-producing red tide dinoflagellate C. polykrikoides (1,000 and 2,000 cells ml^-1) for 96 h, and the time-course biochemical responses of antioxidant and immunity parameters were analyzed in the liver tissue. Significant ichthyotoxicity with increasing cell concentrations of C. polykrikoides and exposure period was observed for 96 h. Opercular respiratory rate was lowered in marine medaka exposed to 2,000 cells ml^-1 of C. polykrikoides. Intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) content significantly elevated in response to both cell concentrations. In the case of glutathione (GSH) content, the levels were significantly elevated by 1,000 cells ml^-1 of C. polykrikoides, but the contents significantly depleted upon exposure to 2,000 cells ml^-1 of C. polykrikoides. Similarly, enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased by 1,000 cells ml^-1 of C. polykrikoides, whereas their activities were lowered by 2,000 cells ml^-1 of C. polykrikoides. Analysis of the two immunity parameters, alternative complement pathway and lysozyme, showed significantly lowered activities in 2,000 cells ml^-1 of C. polykrikoides-exposed liver tissue. These biochemical effects of C. polykrikoides on marine medaka would be helpful for understanding its acute effects in marine fish.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.603-615
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• 2022

Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr.) provides plant-derived proteins, soy vegetable oils, and various beneficial metabolites to humans and livestock. The importance of soybean is highly underlined, especially when carbon-negative sustainable agriculture is noticeable. However, many diseases by pests and pathogens threaten sustainable soybean production. Therefore, understanding molecular interaction between diverse cultivated varieties and pathogens is essential to developing disease-resistant soybean plants. Here, we established a pathosystem of the Korean domestic cultivar Kwangan against Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a. This bacterial strain caused apparent disease symptoms and grew well in trifoliate leaves of soybean plants. To examine the disease susceptibility of the cultivar, we analyzed transcriptional changes in soybean leaves on day 5 after P. syringae pv. syringae B728a infection. About 8,900 and 7,780 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in this study, and significant proportions of DEGs were engaged in various primary and secondary metabolisms. On the other hand, soybean orthologs to well-known plant immune-related genes, especially in plant hormone signal transduction, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and plant-pathogen interaction, were mainly reduced in transcript levels at 5 days post inoculation. These findings present the feature of the compatible interaction between cultivar Kwangan and P. syringae pv. syringae B728a, as a hemibiotroph, at the late infection phase. Collectively, we propose that P. syringae pv. syringae B728a successfully inhibits plant immune response in susceptible plants and deregulates host metabolic processes for their colonization and proliferation, whereas host plants employ diverse metabolites to protect themselves against infection with the hemibiotrophic pathogen at the late infection phase.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2022

The galloping of iced conductors has long been a severe threat to the safety of overhead transmission lines. Compared with normal transmission lines, the ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission lines are more prone to galloping, and the damage caused is more severe. To control the galloping of UHV lines, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis of galloping characteristics. In this paper, a large-span 1000-kV UHV transmission line in China is taken as a practical example where an 8-bundled conductor with D-shaped icing is adopted. Galerkin method is employed for the time history calculation. For the wind attack angle range of 0°~180°, the galloping amplitudes in vertical, horizontal, and torsional directions are calculated. Furthermore, the vibration frequencies and galloping shapes are analyzed for the most severe conditions. The results show that the wind at 0°~10° attack angles can induce large torsional displacement, and this range of attack angles is also most likely to occur in reality. The galloping with largest amplitudes in all three directions occurs at the attack angle of 170° where the incoming flow is at the non-iced side, due to the strong aerodynamic instability. In addition, with wind speed increasing, galloping modes with higher frequencies appear and make the galloping shape more complex, indicating strong nonlinear behavior. Based on the galloping amplitudes of three directions, the full range of wind attack angles are divided into five galloping regions of different severity levels. The results obtained can promote the understanding of galloping and provide a reference for the anti-galloping design of UHV transmission lines.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.29-49
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• 2022

Consumers are now no longer satisfied with using a single channel to shop and then desire a smooth and consistent purchasing experience across channels. By integrating different channels and services, an omni-channel strategy allows consumers to choose their preferred channel to complete their shopping tasks. Therefore, large retailers in China have recently been transforming into omni-channel retail formats to secure their competitive advantage. To better implement this strategy and optimize its effectiveness, it is important to understand how consumers respond to the quality of channel integration. Based on social exchange theory (SET), the main purposes of this study are to explore the impact of channel integration quality on consumer engagement in the Chinese omni-channel retailing environment and to further examine whether there is a moderating effect of consumer empowerment on this relationship. To test this research model, we collected data from 330 respondents by conducting an online questionnaire in China. The results indicated that the two dimensions of channel integration (breadth of channel-service choice and transparency of channel-service configuration) positively affected two dimensions of customer engagement (conscious attention and enthusiastic participation), respectively. The findings also show that consumer empowerment only positively moderates the relationship between breadth of channel service choice and conscious attention, whereas it negatively moderates the relationship between transparency of channel-service configuration and conscious attention/enthusiastic participation. Given these results, this study deepens our understanding of the impact of the quality of channel integration on customer engagement in the context of omni-channel retailing in China and sheds light on how retailers can attract consumers with different levels of empowerment.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.263-275
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• 2022

Purpose: The present international survey among healthcare providers aimed to collect data on theoretical knowledge and clinical practices in the diagnosis and management of cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and lactose intolerance (LI) in infants. Methods: A global survey was conducted in several countries with diverse health care settings. The survey consisted of multiple-choice questions in 3 main domains: (1) understanding and clinical practices around CMPA and LI; (2) case scenarios; and (3) disease-specific knowledge and potential educational needs. Results: Responses were available from 1,663 participants. About 62% of respondents were general practitioners or general pediatricians, and the remainder were pediatric allergists/gastroenterologists (18%) or other health practitioners (20%). The survey identified knowledge gaps regarding the types of CMPA (IgE-mediated vs. non-IgE-mediated) and the clinical overlap with LI. The survey suggested diverse clinical practices regarding the use of hypoallergenic formulas, as well as misconceptions about the prebiotic benefits of lactose in extensively hydrolyzed formulas in non-breastfed infants with CMPA. Responses to the two case scenarios highlighted varying levels of awareness of the relevant clinical practice guidelines. While respondents generally felt confident in managing infants with CMPA and LI, about 80% expressed an interest for further training in this area. Conclusion: The current survey identified some knowledge gaps and regional differences in the management of infants with CMPA or LI. Local educational activities among general and pediatric healthcare providers may increase the awareness of clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of both conditions and help improve clinical outcomes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Understanding the mechanism of chewing and swallowing food is important when creating a proper diet for older adults. This study investigated whether texture-modified model foods can reduce the difference in chewing and swallowing parameters between healthy community-living young and older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 35 older and 20 young adults (mean age: 75 and 25 years, respectively), matched for sex and number of teeth, were recruited and their unstimulated salivation and tongue pressure were measured. Simultaneous assessment of chewing and swallowing characteristics was conducted using surface electromyography and a videofluoroscopic swallowing study while the participants ingested 8 g of model food with one to four levels of hardness. RESULTS: The average tongue pressure and salivation among older adults were 61% and 49.7%, respectively, of the corresponding values observed in young adults. The older adult group used significantly (P < 0.05) increased muscle force with more chewing cycles (P < 0.05) than the young adult group, which was maintained even when consuming foods with the lowest hardness, although without chewing. However, the age effect on oral processing time existed only for the hardest foods. Swallowing difficulties among older adults were demonstrated by the significant increase in vallecula aggregation time. The total food intake duration was significantly (P < 0.05) longer in older adults than in young adults, regardless of food hardness. CONCLUSIONS: There were measurable differences in the process of chewing and swallowing food between young and older adults, which can be improved with food hardness control. Adjusting food hardness may help food intake in healthy older adults.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.255-259
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• 2022

The new social reality emerging amid the global rise of communication links and integration processes acutely emphasizes the problems of communication in large and small social systems. The method of their communication becomes one of the keys to ensuring global security. It has become the mission of humanitarian education to prepare the younger generations for life in a changing world with no image of the future and increasing uncertainty. In psychological and pedagogical research, there is a growing scientific interest in the problems of interaction of the individual with the social environment. The mental trace of a person's practice in society shapes the experience of social interaction, which constitutes simultaneously the source, tool, and condition for the emergence and development of personality. The study outlines the methodological foundations for the study of individual experiences of social interaction. A hypothesis about the productivity of the functional matrix method is tested. Materials for the training of specialists in the humanities include interdisciplinary approaches to the study and transformation of the experience of social interaction and systematic methodology for the study of complex objects. Fundamental to the study is the systematic-dialectical method, and the matrix method is employed as the instrumental-technological method. The paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary overview of scientific literature concerning the essential characteristics and functions of social interaction and the respective experience. The overview points to the fragmented nature of scientific understanding of the elements of experience outside its integrity and systemic properties. Based on the formula "personality interacts with the social environment", the study presents an algorithm for the application of a systematic methodology for the study of complex objects, which made it possible to identify the system parameters of experience at three levels of cognition and develop the reference structural and functional matrices for the didactic system of its pedagogical enrichment.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.281-286
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health burden, and though various treatments through much research are available, difficulties in early diagnosis and drug resistance to chemotherapy-based treatments render several ineffective. Cancer stem cell model has been used to explain formation of heterogeneous cell population within tumor mass, which is one of the underlying causes of high recurrence rate and acquired chemoresistance, highlighting the importance of CSC identification and understanding the molecular mechanisms of CSC drivers. Extracellular CSC-markers such as CD133, CD90 and EpCAM have been used successfully in CSC isolation, but studies have indicated that increasingly complex combinations are required for accurate identification. Pseudogene-derived long non-coding RNAs are useful candidates as intracellular CSC markers - factors that regulate pluripotency and self-renewal - given their cancer-specific expression and versatile regulation across several levels. Here, we present the use of microarray data to identify stemness-associated factors in liver cancer, and selection of sole pseudogene-derived lncRNA ZNF204P for experimental validation. ZNF204P knockdown impairs cell proliferation and migration/invasion. As the cytosolic ZNF204P shares miRNA binding sites with OCT4 and SOX2, well-known drivers of pluripotency and self-renewal, we propose that ZNF204P promotes tumorigenesis through the miRNA-145-5p/OCT4, SOX2 axis.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

Backgrounds: Pain management is one of the most important factors affecting the success of pediatric dentistry. Therefore, new needle- and pain-free local anesthesia techniques have been developed in parallel with technological advancements. The purpose of this study is to compare the pain perception and dental anxiety levels associated with a needle-free injection system (Comfort-in^TM) and the classic needle method during treatment-required infiltration anesthesia in children. Methods: This randomized controlled crossover split-mouth clinical study included 94 children who required dental treatment with local anesthesia using a dental needle or needle-free injection system for the bilateral primary molars. The Wong-Baker Scale (WBS) was used to measure pain perception at different times, and the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) was used to measure the anxiety level of the child. A statistical software package was used to process the data. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference between the needle-free injection system and dental needle method during the induction stage for filling and pulpotomy (P > 0.05). "Pain on postoperative 1st day" was similar in both types of anesthesia (P = 0.750). Conclusions: The needle-free injection system was as effective as the dental needle method. The Comfort-in^TM system was an acceptable alternative for patients during the postoperative period. Understanding how pain management may be provided during local anesthesia administration and a child's fear and anxiety regarding the dentist may lead to better dental compliance.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.183-183
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• 2023

Smart water cities (SWC) are urban municipalities that utilizes modern innovations in managing and preserving the urban water cycle in the city; with the purpose of securing sustainability and improving the quality of life of the urban population. Understanding the different urban water characteristics and management strategies of cities situate a baseline in the development of evaluation scheme in determining whether the city is smart and sustainable. This research herein aims to develop measurements and evaluation for SWC Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and set up a unified global standard and certification scheme. The assessment for SWC is performed in technical, as well as governance and prospective aspects. KPI measurements under Technical Pillar assess the cities' use of technologies in providing sufficient water supply, monitoring water quality, strengthening disaster resilience, minimizing hazard vulnerability, and maintaining and protecting the urban water ecosystem. Governance and Prospective Pillar on the other hand, evaluates the social, economic and administrative systems set in place to manage the water resources, delivering water services to different levels of society. The performance assessment is composed of a variety of procedures performed in a quantitative and qualitative manner, such as computations through established equations, interviews with authorities in charge, field survey inspections, etc. The developed SWC KPI measurements are used to evaluate the urban water management practices for Busan Eco Delta city, a Semulmeori waterfront area in Gangseo district, Busan. The evaluation and scoring process was presented and established, serving as the basis for the application of the smart water city certification all over the world. The established guideline will be used to analyze future cities, providing integrated and comprehensive information on the status of their urban water cycle, gathering new techniques and proposing solutions for smarter measures.