• Title/Summary/Keyword: understanding levels

Search Result 1,379, Processing Time 0.027 seconds

Expression Profiles of the Insulin-like Growth Factor System Components in Liver Tissue during Embryonic and Postnatal Growth of Erhualian and Yorkshire Reciprocal Cross F1 Pigs

  • Pan, Zengxiang;Zhang, Junlei;Zhang, Jinbi;Zhou, Bo;Chen, Jie;Jiang, Zhihua;Liu, Honglin
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.25 no.7
    • /
    • pp.903-912
    • /
    • 2012
  • In Erhualian and Yorkshire reciprocal cross $F_1$ pig populations, we examined the mRNA expression characteristic of liver-derived IGF-1, IGF-1R, IGF-2, IGF-2R and IGFBP-3 during the embryonic and postnatal developmental periods (E50, E70, E90, D1, D20, D70, D120 and D180). Our results demonstrated that the IGF-system genes mRNA levels exhibited an ontogenetic expression pattern, which was potentially associated with the porcine embryonic development, postnatal growth, organogenesis and even the initiation and acceleration of puberty. The expression pattern of IGF-system genes showed variation in the reciprocal cross ($F_1$ YE and EY pigs). This study also involved the expression features of imprinted genes IGF-2 and IGF-2R. The parent-of-origin effect of imprinted genes was reflected by their differential expression between the reciprocal crosses populations. The correlation analysis also indicated that the regulatory network and mechanisms involved in the IGF system were a complex issue that needs to be more fully explored. A better understanding of IGF system components and their interactive mechanisms will enable researchers to gain insights not only into animal organogenesis but also into somatic growth development and even reproduction.

Management of Neuropathic Pain (신경병성 통증의 치료)

  • Kim, Yeong-In
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
    • /
    • v.7 no.2
    • /
    • pp.274-280
    • /
    • 1999
  • A variety of mechanism may generate pain resulting from injury to the central and peripheral nervous system. None of these mechanism is disease-specific, and several different pain mechanism may be simultaneously present in anyone patient, independent of diagnosis. Diagnosis of neuropathic pain is often easily made from information gathered on neurologic examination and from patient history. Although treatment of neuropathic pain may be difficult, optimum treatment can be achieved if the neurologist has a complete understanding of therapeutic options, the mainstay of which is pharmacotherapy. Selection of an appropriate rharmacologic agent is by trial and error since individual responses to different agents, doses, and serum levels are highly variable. An adequate trial for each agent tried is key to pharmacologic treatment of neuropathic pain. Tricyclic antidepressants are first-line agents, although other drugs, including anticonvulsants, local anesthetic antiarrhythmics, clonidine, opiates, and certain topical agents, also offer pain relief in some patient populations. The novel antidepressants venlafaxine and nefazodone are potentially useful new drugs that are better tolerated than tricyclic antidepressants. Also Gabapentine seems an interesting and promising drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

  • PDF

Organizing knowledge ecosystems: The influence of organizational capabilities of platform leaders on multi-firm collaborations for knowledge creation (지식생태계의 조직화: 플랫폼 리더의 조직역량이 지식창출을 위한 기업간 협력의 확장에 미치는 영향)

  • Jung, Dongil;Park, Sangchan;Kim, Bokyung
    • Knowledge Management Research
    • /
    • v.16 no.2
    • /
    • pp.1-27
    • /
    • 2015
  • This paper presents a knowledge-based view of platform-centered collaborations among multiple organizations. Studies of technological innovation and knowledge creation have broadened beyond their initial emphasis on internal development within an organization or simple exchange of ideas between two parties toward complex collaboration among many organizations at the level of platform-based knowledge ecosystems. Platforms serve as an interface between different groups of producers and consumers in a variety of multi-sided knowledge markets such as smartphone operating systems and video games industries. This study is an exploratory examination to offer theoretical understanding of how the organizational capabilities of platform leaders help expand a network of platform participants. The growth of platform participants is particularly important in the early stage of any platforms as the concept of network effects suggests that the platform with the largest number of participants will capture entire markets. Building upon organization studies and network economics theory on multisided markets, this paper focuses on the role of platform leaders in expanding platform-based collaboration. In our view, platform leaders develop varying levels of three organizational capabilities to discern quality of potential participants, to attract them to actually participate in collaboration, and to maintain long-term exchange relations in the ecosystem. We suggest that the capabilities of platform leaders will have a positive effect on the expansion of platform participants to secure network effects, and also examine several contextual factors that moderate the relationship between a platform leader's capacity and platform expansion.

The association between dietary sodium intake and adiposity, inflammation, and hormone markers: A preliminary study

  • Choi, Jeong-Hwa;Heo, Young-Ran
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
    • /
    • v.50 no.6
    • /
    • pp.578-584
    • /
    • 2017
  • Purpose: Excess intake of sodium is a major diet-related risk factor for human diseases including hypertension and cancer as well as obesity and inflammation. However, findings are still controversial, and evidence is lacking in Koreans. Therefore, for better understanding of the role of dietary sodium intake in disease etiology, this study investigated the effects of dietary sodium intake on adiposity, inflammation, and hormones in Koreans. Methods: A total of 80 males and females joined the study. The general characteristics and dietary intake data were investigated by trained interviewers using a questionnaire and 24-h dietary recall, respectively. For the markers of adiposity, body weight, body mass index, percent of body fat, visceral fat area, and waist and hip circumference were measured. For the inflammation and hormone markers, leptin, adiponectin, insulin, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and interleukin-6 were also analyzed. Results: Multivariate linear regression analyses suggested that dietary sodium intake was not associated with adiposity. However, dietary sodium showed a significant association with insulin level: Plasma insulin concentration increased with sodium intake independent of other dietary intake or percent of body fat (${\beta}=0.296$, adjusted $r^2=0.276$, p < 0.01). Other markers for inflammation and hormonal responses were not associated with dietary sodium intake. Conclusion: Findings suggested that dietary sodium intake may be a critical modifying factor in the level of plasma insulin. However, it showed a limited effect on obesity and other inflammation markers and hormone levels. These findings should be confirmed in larger, well-designed investigations.

Estimation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions from Bioenergy (Biogas, Biomass): A Case Study of South Korea (바이오에너지 (바이오가스, 바이오매스) 기술의 온실가스 감축산정: 국내를 대상으로)

  • Jung, Jaehyung;Kim, Kiman
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
    • /
    • v.33 no.4
    • /
    • pp.393-402
    • /
    • 2017
  • In this study, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from bioenergy (biogas, biomass) have been estimated in Korea, 2015. This study for construction of reduction inventories as direct and indirect reduction sources was derived from IPCC 2006 guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories, guidelines for local government greenhouse inventories published in 2016, also purchased electricity and steam indirect emission factors obtained from KPX, GIR respectively. As a result, the annual GHG reductions were estimated as $1,860,000tonCO_{2eq}$ accounting for 76.8% of direct reduction (scope 1) and 23.2% of indirect reduction (scope 2). Estimation of individual greenhouse gases (GHGs) from biogas appeared that $CO_2$, $CH_4$, $N_2O$ were $90,000tonCO_2$ (5.5%), $55,000tonCH_4$ (94.5%), $0.3tonN_2O$ (0.004%), respectively. In addition, biomass was $250,000tonCO_2$ (107%), $-300tonCH_4$ (-3.2%), $-33tonN_2O$ (-3.9%). For understanding the values of estimation method levels, field data (this study) appeared to be approximately 85.47% compared to installed capacity. In details, biogas and biomass resulting from field data showed to be 76%, 74% compared to installed capacity, respectively. In the comparison of this study and CDM project with GHG reduction unit per year installed capacity, this study showed as 42% level versus CDM project. Scenario analysis of GHG reductions potential from bioenergy was analyzed that generation efficiency, availability and cumulative distribution were significantly effective on reducing GHG.

The Importance of Weathered Crude Oil as a Source of Hydrocarbonoclastic Microorganisms in Contaminated Seawater

  • Sheppard, Petra J.;Simons, Keryn L.;Kadali, Krishna K.;Patil, Sayali S.;Ball, Andrew S.
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
    • /
    • v.22 no.9
    • /
    • pp.1185-1192
    • /
    • 2012
  • This study investigated the hydrocarbonoclastic microbial community present on weathered crude oil and their ability to degrade weathered oil in seawater obtained from the Gulf St. Vincent (SA, Australia). Examination of the native seawater communities capable of utilizing hydrocarbon as the sole carbon source identified a maximum recovery of just $6.6{\times}10^1\;CFU/ml$, with these values dramatically increased in the weathered oil, reaching $4.1{\times}10^4\;CFU/ml$. The weathered oil (dominated by > $C_{30}$ fractions; $750,000{\pm}150,000mg/l$) was subject to an 8 week laboratory-based degradation microcosm study. By day 56, the natural inoculums degraded the soluble hydrocarbons (initial concentrations $3,400{\pm}700mg/l$ and $1,700{\pm}340mg/l$ for the control and seawater, respectively) to below detectable levels, and biodegradation of the residual oil reached 62% ($254,000{\pm}40,000mg/l$) and 66% ($285,000{\pm}45,000mg/l$) in the control and seawater sources, respectively. In addition, the residual oil gas chromatogram profiles changed with the presence of short and intermediate hydrocarbon chains. 16S rDNA DGGE sequence analysis revealed species affiliated with the genera Roseobacter, Alteromonas, Yeosuana aromativorans, and Pseudomonas, renowned oil-degrading organisms previously thought to be associated with the environment where the oil contaminated rather than also being present in the contaminating oil. This study highlights the importance of microbiological techniques for isolation and characterisation, coupled with molecular techniques for identification, in understanding the role and function of native oil communities.

A Comparison of web Searching and Library System Searching: Perceived Difficulty, Self-Efficacy, and Effort (웹과 도서관 시스템에서 이용자 정보탐색 비교연구)

  • Rieh, Soo-Young
    • Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
    • /
    • v.24 no.2
    • /
    • pp.29-44
    • /
    • 2007
  • The purpose of this study was to explore whether the concept of amount of invested mental effort (AIME) developed in the field of educational psychology can help explain why people put so little effort into online searching. In this experimental study, two information retrieval systems - a web search engine and a university library system - were used to make a comparison. The data were collected from 15 undergraduate students through background questionnaires, think-aloud protocols, search logs, post-search questionnaires, and post-task interviews. The findings indicate that perception of the web's "easy-ness" and high levels of self confidence in searching capability led the subjects to put less effort into web searching than they do into library system searching. In addition, the perceived difficulty of search task influenced the extent of mental effort invested. The AIME proved a useful framework for understanding search behavior and user experience for both web search engines and library systems.

Effects of pH, Temperature, and Dissolved Oxygen on Phosphorus Release from Marine Sediment to Seawater (해양퇴적물 인 용출에 미치는 pH, 온도, 용존 산소 농도의 영향)

  • Cheon, Hyo-Chang;Nam, Se-Yong;Kim, Sang-Hyoun
    • Journal of Navigation and Port Research
    • /
    • v.36 no.6
    • /
    • pp.513-519
    • /
    • 2012
  • Understanding the behavior of pollutants in the marine environment is essential for coping with the marine pollution problems such as eutrophication. In this study, the effects of environmental parameters on phosphorus release from marine sediment to sea water were investigated. The environmental parameters such as pH in the range of 7 to 9, temperature from 10 to 20C and dissolved oxygen levels (DO) renging 0.7 to 7.0mg/L were examined. Phosphorus release data were taken from batch tests excluding biotic effects, and analyzed using a first-order kinetic model. The effects of environmental parameters were quantified using a statistical methodology. High pH, high temperature, and low DO increased phosphorus release from the sediment to sea water. pH from 7 to 9, temperature from 10 to $20^{\circ}C$, or DO from 7.0 to 0.7 mg/L magnified the equilibrium phosphorus concentration up to 2~3 times.

Age-related neurocognitive changes and exercise-induced benefits: A review of cognitive neuroscientific research (노화 관련 뇌인지 변화와 운동의 긍정적 영향: 인지신경과학적 연구 개관)

  • Shin, Eunsam
    • Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
    • /
    • v.24 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-24
    • /
    • 2013
  • The elderly population continues to increase in Korea and there has been a growing interest in understanding normal aging. In response to this public interest, the present paper reviewed human aging research focusing on recently published neuroimaging studies. For the first half of the paper, I reviewed the effects of aging on the brain and cognition. In normal aging, structural changes in the brain include atrophy and volume reduction in the prefrontal and temporal cortices. Functional changes are exhibited in the form of overactivation of the brain. Moreover, age-related cognitive decline is particularly observed in inhibition and memory, which are also associated with the age-related structural changes in the brain. For the second half of the paper, I introduced physical exercise studies showing that exercise played a protective role in the age-related neurocognitive decline. More specifically, engaging in physical exercise (particularly, aerobic exercise) for a relatively long period of time (e. g., > 6 mon.) protected older adults from volume loss in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, and induced better inhibition and memory. These exercise-induced benefits appear to be associated with changes in neuronal levels, indicating that the aging brain is still plastic and this plasticity can be enhanced by physical exercise.

  • PDF

The Experiences and Challenges of Caregivers of Frail or Chronically Ill Elderly: An Integrative Review

  • Han, Hae-Ra
    • Perspectives in Nursing Science
    • /
    • v.3 no.1
    • /
    • pp.47-60
    • /
    • 2006
  • BACKGROUND: Social, legal, and economic factors have changed the delivery of care to elderly who are frail and/or chronically ill. Increasing number of the elderly are now treated in the community, while living with or in close proximity to their family. It is evident that families play a major role of support for elderly persons in our society. This paper provides a review and analysis of studies that have investigated informal caregiving issues encompassing physical, psychological, emotional, and social domains. RESULTS OF THE REVIEW: Family caregiving often interfered with workplace and other responsibilities, creating physical, emotional, and financial stress for caregivers. Relatively high volumes of research addressed caregiving issues in the families of Alzheimer patients and in the areas of emotional and psychological impact of caregiving. Few studies explicitly investigated the role of informal caregivers in the management of other chronic conditions such as stroke or depression or physical consequences of long-term caregiving. While most studies were focused on negative aspects of caregiving, a few studies found it rewarding. Often the burden, stress, and socio-economic effects on the family caregiving for an elderly person were not sufficiently appreciated. CONCLUSIONS: Positive outcomes for both the caregiver and the care recipient are more likely to occur when effective levels of collaboration exist between health professionals and caregivers. As a first step, a better understanding of the caregiving experience such as caregiver characteristics, care recipient characteristics, and social stigma is important for nurses to minimize the burden of care so that appropriate interventions can be developed. In addition, further studies are needed to examine the role and needs of informal caregivers in the care of increasing number of frail and/or chronic ill elderly treated in the community.

  • PDF