• Journal of the Korean Academic Society of Industrial Cluster
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.14-27
• /
• 2008

Ousters have become a key focus of interest and analysis over the last decade or so, informed by the work of the Harvard business economist Michael Porter. Recent research, however, suggests that the classic Porterian conception of clusters needs to be rethought. In particular, the idea that clusters are geogaphically bounded and integrated units whose primary link to the outside world is through the export of goods and services to global markets is highly Questionable, if not untenable. Relational approaches to clusters and regional development stress the importance of the wider networks and 'pipelines' through which knowledge is exchanged with key partners and collaborators located outside of the particular cluster in question. Rather than the main external links being those between leading firms and global markets, firms may engage in a range of global relations with collaborators and suppliers. This paper address the challenge of rethinking clusters in the light of the recent emphasis on global networks md connections, drawing on experience from m old industrial region in Western Europe Scotland. In assessing cluster experiences and initiatives in Scotland, I examine the development of the oil and gas and electronics clusters. In conclusion, I suggest that cluster initiatives me only likely to generate lasting benefits for the region in question if there is significant local ownership md control of key industries and clusters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1121-1126
• /
• 2006

In the present study, the potential hepatoprotective effects of poly herbal formulation, Hepa-1000, against oxidative damages induced by t-BHP were evaluated in HepG2 cells in order to relate in vitro antioxidant activity with cytoprotective effects. The t-BHP induced considerable cell damage in HepG2 cells was shown by significant glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and increased lipid peroxidation. Hepa-1000-treated cells showed an increased resistance to oxidative challenge, as revealed by higher survival capacity than the one of control cells against t-BHP induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. In addition, the Hepa-1000 had hepatoprotective effects lowering the activity of GOT and LDH, simultaneously. That is, it could inhibit the cell membrane damages resulting in the increased activities of GOT and LDH in the cell culture media. Furthermore, the Hepa-1000 could reduce t-BHP enhanced lipid peroxidation, which was evaluated by measuring the production of malonedialdehyde. Based on the data described above, it could be suggested that the Hepa-1000 has significant hepatoprotective effects and plays a protective role against lipid peroxidation by free radicals.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.133-155
• /
• 2019

The economic growth has made our lives more prosperous than the past, and the development of science fueled the era of 100-year lifespan. It is now distinct to us that preparation for life after retirement is not a choice but an imperative. In the meantime, outplacement programs have driven many to challenge and start a new chapter in life. This paper measures the characteristics of outplacement programs based on the self-determination factors; empirically examines how those characteristics influence on learning performance through self-efficacy and psychological well-being; concludes by proposing effective and productive ways for young adults and senior employees who are in search for new jobs. To test the research hypothesis, a survey was conducted among job searchers who have been previously provided with outplacement programs. The results are as follows: First, self-perceived autonomy has significant influences on self-efficacy and psychological well-being. Second, self-perceived competency has significant influences on self-efficacy and psychological well-being. Third, perceived relationship has no significant influence on self-efficacy and psychological well-being. Fourth, self-efficacy showed significant influences on psychological well-being, while not showing on learning performance. Fifth, psychological well-being has no significant influence on learning performance. This paper finds its academic significance in its theory-based approach to outplacement service program; research variables and examination are not based on researcher's arbitrary choice. This paper is also practically significant in that it discovered that outplacement service alleviates psychological stress caused by job relocation, and guarantees stable life after retirement.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.276-284
• /
• 2022

The research aims to study the dynamics of academic procrastination and its impact on the mental health of students during the transition to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was identified a declining tendency of overall rates of academic procrastination and at the same time increase in the number of carriers of mid and high levels of academic procrastination. The decline in the general rates of academic procrastination at the beginning of 2021 testifies to the adaptation processes experienced by students to the conditions of distance learning. It was documented that students' academic procrastination is accompanied by a steady negative emotional tension. During the transition to distance learning, the intensity of students' learning activity has increased, which altogether causes stress as one of the main reasons for the academic procrastination among future psychologists. The study identified a risk of academic procrastination manifestation among students for their mental health, which provides a basis for developing and testing a program to prevent the phenomenon of academic procrastination among degree-seeking students.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.117-133
• /
• 2022

Determination of the mechanical behaviour of jointed rock masses has been a challenge for rock engineers for decades. This problem is more pronounced for non-persistent jointed rock masses due to complicated interaction of rock bridges on the overall behaviour. This paper aims to study the effect of a non-persistent joint set configuration on the mechanical behaviour of rock materials under both uniaxial and biaxial compression tests using a discrete element code. The numerical simulation of biaxial compressive strength of rock masses has been challenging in the past due to shortcomings of bonded particle models in reproducing the failure envelope of rock materials. This problem was resolved in this study by employing the flat-joint contact model. The validity of the numerical model was investigated through a comprehensive comparative study against physical uniaxial and biaxial compression experiments. Good agreement was found between numerical and experimental tests in terms of the recorded peak strength and the failure mode in both loading conditions. Studies on the effect of joint orientation on the failure mode showed that four zones of intact, transition to block rotation, block rotation and transition to intact failure occurs when the joint dip angle varies from 0° to 90°. It was found that the applied confining stress can significantly alter the range of these zones. It was observed that the minimum strength occurs at the joint dip angle of around 45 degrees under different confining stresses. It was also found that the joint orientation can alter the post peak behaviour and the lowest brittleness was observed at the block rotation zone.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 2022

Caring for patients with cancer is highly stimulating and rewarding, attracting health professionals to the field who enjoy the challenge of managing a complex illness. Health professionals often form close bonds with their patients as they confront ongoing disease or treatment impacts, which may be associated with multiple losses involving function and/or eventual loss of life. Ongoing exposure to patient loss, along with a challenging work setting, may pose significant stress and impact health professionals' well-being. The prevalence rates of burnout and compassion fatigue (CF) are significant, yet health professionals have little knowledge on these topics. A 6-week continuing education program consisting of weekly small-group video-conferencing sessions, case-based learning, and an online community of practice was delivered to health care providers providing oncology care. Program content included personal, organization and team-related risk and protective factors associated with CF, grief models, and strategies to mitigate against CF. Content analysis was completed as part of the program evaluation. In total, 189 participants (93% nurses) completed the program, which was associated with significant improvements in confidence and knowledge of CF and strategies to support self and team resilience. Qualitative themes and vignettes from experiences with the program are presented. Key themes included knowledge gaps, a lack of support related to CF and strategies to support resilience, organization-and team-based factors that can inhibit expression about the impacts of clinical work, the health professional as a "person" in caregiving, and the role of personal variables, self-skill practices, and recommendations for education and support for self and teams.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.12
• /
• pp.1371-1377
• /
• 2014

Superoxide dismutase is a family of important antioxidant metalloenzymes and catalyzes the dismutation of toxic superoxide anions into dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide. A recent study identified the partial superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The same study reported that it strongly induced benzo[a]pyrene and that it was an indicator of aquatic oxidative stress responses. However, its transcriptional response against viral infection has not been investigated. In the present study, the spatial and temporal expression profiles were analyzed to investigate the function of Of-SOD in the antiviral response. The Of-SOD transcripts were ubiquitously detected at various levels in diverse tissues in a real-time PCR. The expression of Of-SOD was significantly higher in the muscles, liver, and brain but extremely low in the stomach and spleen. Following a VHSV challenge, the expression of Of-SOD increased within 3 h in the kidneys and decreased to the original level 2 days postchallenge. In muscle, liver, and brain, Of-SOD mRNA was similarly up-regulated at 3-6 h postchallenge and then decreased to the basal level. Although the expression pattern and induction time differed slightly depending on the tissue, the transcript of Of-SOD consistently increased in the acute infection response, but the expression was low in the chronic response. The expression of Of-SOD was induced after the VHSV infection, and Of-SOD was probably involved in the immune response against the viral challenge. These results suggest that SOD may play important roles in the immune defense system of P. olivaceus and perhaps contribute to the protective effects against oxidative stress in olive flounder.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2011

This study analyzed effects of different sound treatments in frequencies and intensities on digestion and immune physiological processes of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua larvae. Without effect on egg hatch, sound treatments with 100-5,000 Hz at 95 dB suppressed feeding behavior and inhibited a digestive enzyme activity. In addition, two dimensional electrophoresis of midgut luminal proteins indicated a marked difference of the sound-treated larvae. In response to 5,000 Hz at 95 dB, larvae showed a significant decrease in hemocyte nodule formation against fungal challenge along with significant suppression in phospholipase $A_2$ activity in hemocyte and plasma. With increase of sound frequencies, the treated larvae showed an enhanced susceptibility to insecticides. Such sound frequency effect was significantly modulated with different sound intensities. These results suggest that sound treatment may give adverse stress to physiological processes of S. exigua larvae and may be applied to a nonchemical insect pest control.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.327-335
• /
• 2019

As the elderly population is increasing, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a global issue and many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate treatments for AD. As these clinical trials have been conducted and have failed, the development of new theraphies for AD with fewer adverse effects remains a challenge. In this study, we examined the effects of Theracurmin on cognitive decline using 5XFAD mice, an AD mouse model. Theracurmin is more bioavailable form of curcumin, generated with submicron colloidal dispersion. Mice were treated with Theracurmin (100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg) for 12 weeks and were subjected to the novel object recognition test and the Barnes maze test. Theracurmin-treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memories compared those of the vehicle-treated controls. In addition, the antioxidant activities of Theracurmin were investigated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. The increased MDA level and decreased SOD and GSH levels in the vehicle-treated 5XFAD mice were significantly reversed by the administration of Theracurmin. Moreover, we observed that Theracurmin administration elevated the expression levels of synaptic components, including synaptophysin and post synaptic density protein 95, and decreased the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), a marker of activated microglia. These results suggest that Theracurmin ameliorates cognitive function by increasing the expression of synaptic components and by preventing neuronal cell damage from oxidative stress or from the activation of microglia. Thus, Theracurmin would be useful for treating the cognitive dysfunctions observed in AD.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.278-287
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The performance of nitroglycerin-challenged Tc-99m-MIBI quantitative gated SPECT for the detection of viable myocardium was compared with rest/24-hour redistribution Tl-201 SPECT Materials and Methods: In 22 patients with coronary artery disease, rest Tl-20l/ dipyridamole stress Tc-99m-MIBI gated/24-hour redistribution Tl-201 SPECT were peformed, and gated SPECT was repeated on-site after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin (0.6 mg). Follow-up gated SPECT was done 3 months after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. For 20 segments per patient, perfusion at rest and 24-hour redistribution, and wall motion and thickening at baseline and nitroglycerin-challenged state were quantified. Quantitative viability markers were evaluated and compared;(1) rest thallium uptake, (2) thallium uptake on 24-hour redistribution SPECT, (3) systolic wall thickening at baseline, and (4) systolic wall thickening with nitroglycerin-challenge. Results: Among 100 revascularized dysfunctional segments, wall motion improved in 66 segments (66%) on follow-up gated myocardial SPECT after bypass surgery. On receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of rest and 24-hour delayed redistribution Tl-201 SPECT were 79%, 44% and 82%, 44%, respectively, at the optimal cutoff value of 50% of Tl-201 uptake. The sensitivity and specificity of systolic wall thickening at baseline and nitroglycerin-challenge were 49%, 50% and 64%, 65% at the optimal cutoff value of 15% of systolic wall thickening. Area under the ROC curve of nitroglycerin-challenged systolic wall thickening was significantly larger than that of baseline systolic wall thickening (p=0.004). Conclusion: Nitroglycerin-challenged quantitative gated Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was a useful method for predicting functional recovery of dysfunctional myocardium.