• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2014

Background: Today, breast cancer is increasing in nearly all societies. Currently, cancers are the third leading cause of death in Iran after cardiovascular diseases and accidents. Of the cancers, breast cancer is spreading particularly rapidly among Iranian women. Negative effects of discontinuation of care on patient survival have been well documented. Inhibiting or facilitating factors affecting continuity of care at different stages of the patient care continuum should be identified. Materials and Methods: The current study implemented a qualitative method that provided tools to examine factors in detail. This study was conducted on 22 women, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Content analysis was the technique adopted. Results: The effective factors in continuity of care from the patients' perception, based on the participant statements, were classified into three categories of evaluation of symptoms, psychological reactions, and care triggers with several subcategories. Conclusions: According to the outcomes of the current study, it can be noted that, the patient experiences can be brought into use by health-care professionals and assist them in providing patient sand their families with adequate consulting services. It can also provide an opportunity for making interventions tailored to the community culture, and closer adherence of patients to the prescribed treatments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.80-87
• /
• 2008

The 3T3-L1 cell line is a well-established and commonly used in vitro model to assess adipocyte differentiation. Over the course of several days, confluent 3T3-L1 cells can be converted to adipocytes in the presence of an adipogenic cocktail. In this study, the effects of chitosan oligosaccharides (CO) on adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells were studied. The CO significantly decreased lipid accumulation, a marker of adipogenesis, in a dose-dependent manner. The low molecular mass CO (1-3 kDa) were the most effective at inhibiting adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of both CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) ${\alpha}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\gamma}$, the key adipogenic transcription factors, were markedly decreased by CO treatments. CO also significantly down regulated adipogenic marker proteins such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin. Our results suggest a role for CO as antiobesity agents by inhibiting adipocyte differentiation mediated through the down regulated expression of adipogenic transcription factors and other specific genes.

• Information Systems Review
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.103-121
• /
• 2004

It is necessary to assess and reap the benefits of integrating BP(Business Planning) and ISP(Information Systems Planning) in creating competitive advantage and ensuring superior financial performance. Securing and maintaining of integration between BP and ISP is frequently cited as a critical concern of IS managers. In general, however, BP and ISP are not integrated, and organization's strategy isn't supported effectively. Therefore, this paper identifies the current stage of BP-ISP integration of Korean insurance industry based on the survey and then reveals inhibiting factors and enabling factors for BP-ISP integration through the interview with IS managers of type 3 and type 4 companies. The results of this paper suggest factors to accomplish BP-ISP integration successfully for companies which are considering BP-ISP integration.

• ETRI Journal
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.64-74
• /
• 2005

Traditional Internet pricing schemes are coming under continual pressure to adapt to, and encourage, a changing mix of Internet applications and consumer usage patterns. Much research effort over the last decade has been focused on developing more efficient and attractive charging schemes. However, none of the proposed models has been widely deployed. This raises questions regarding the inhibiting factors and missing pieces that make pricing the Internet such a challenge. In this paper, we discuss the problems with current Internet pricing schemes, review the history of Internet pricing research over the last ten years, and summarize the key features and motivations of the most significant models. We develop a novel visual approach to comparing and evaluating such schemes using a three-dimensional (3D) metric encompassing technical efficiency, economic efficiency, and social impact. We address and discuss the important factors that have inhibited the deployment of the reviewed models and suggest productive areas of focus for future Internet pricing research.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.7
• /
• pp.4025-4032
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for all US populations including Asian Americans. CRC screening has considerable benefits to prevent CRC and reduce mortality. The purpose of this article was to review the published literature on rates of colorectal cancer screening and factors associated with colorectal cancer screening practice among Asian Americans. Methods: Through searching electronic reference databases from 2000 to 2013, 30 articles were found on Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. Findings: Asian Americans had significantly low ratesfor CRC screening; Korean Americans reported the lowest rates, while higher screening rates were found among Japanese Americans. Older age, longer length of stay in the US, and having a physician's recommendation were the most common facilitators to receiving screening. The common inhibiting factors were financial issues, employment status, and worries/fears about the procedure. Conclusions: Despite a number of Asian Americans being vulnerable to CRC, individual Asian subgroups were underserved with CRC screening and intervention. Further studies should focus on each individual Asian subgroup and culturally proficient CRC screening intervention programs should be developed for each.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.103-113
• /
• 1999

Many in-depth reviews related to regulations of prolactin secretion are available. We will, therefore, focus on controversial aspects using personal opinion in this review. The neuroendocrine control of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary gland involves multiple factors including prolactin-release inhibiting factor (PIF) and prolactin releasing factor (PRF). The PIF exerts a tonic inhibitory control in the physiological conditions. The PIF should be able to effectively inhibit prolactin release or a lifetime, but the inhibitory action of dopamine cannot be sustained for a long period of time. Perifusion of a high concentration of dopamine (l ,000 nM) could not sustain inhibitory action on prolactin release but when a small amount of ascorbic acid (0.1 mM) is added in a low concentration of dopamine (3 nM) solution, prolactin release was inhibited for a long period. Ascorbate is essential for dopamine action to inhibit prolactin release. We have, therefore, concluded that the PIF is dopamine plus ascorbate. The major transduction system for dopamine to inhibit prolactin release is the adenylyl cyclase system. Dopamine decreases cyclic AMP concentration by inhibiting adenylyl cyclase, and cyclic AMP stimulates prolactin release. However, the inhibitory mechanism of dopamine on prolactin release is much more complex than simple inhibition of CAMP production. The dopamine not only inhibits cyclic AMP synthesis but also inhibits prolactin release by acting on a link(s) after the CAMP event in a chain reaction for inhibiting prolactin release. Low concentrations of dopamine stimulate prolactin release. Lactotropes are made of several different subtypes of cells and several different dopamine receptors are found in pituitary. The inhibitory and stimulatory actions induced by dopamine can be generated by different subtype of receptors. The GH$_4$ZR$_7$ cells express only the short isoform (D$_{2s}$) of the dopamine receptor, as a result of transfecting the D$_{2s}$ receptors into GH$_4$C$_1$ cells which do not express any dopamine receptors. When dopamine stimulates or inhibits prolactin release in GH$_4$ZR$_7$ cells, it is clear that the dopamine should act on dopamine D$_{2s}$ receptors since there is no other dopamine receptor in the GH$_4$ZR$_7$. Dopamine is able to stimulate prolactin release in a relatively low concentration while it inhibits in a high concentration in GH$_4$ZR$_7$. These observations indicate that the dopamine D$_2$ receptor can activate stimulatory and/or inhibitory transduction system depending upon dopamine concentrations.

• Knowledge Management Research
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.225-242
• /
• 2015

Cyberbullying, i.e., posting malicious comments online, has been identified as a critical issue in the online and social media context. It has become prevalent on a global scale, which happens across all ages. As a way to reduce and prevent cyberbullying, it is important to promote online prosocial behavior. In line with the concept of online prosocial behavior, we suggest posting benevolent comments against posting malicious comments as a new type of online prosocial behavior, which can combat cyberbullying and facilitate positive online culture. This study thus aims to analyze what motivates people to post benevolent comments in the online context. Based on interview methods, we extracted seven driving factors (self-presentation, pleasure, social contribution, emotional support, reputation, monetary reward, and reciprocity) and two inhibiting factors (social anxiety and effort) of posting benevolent comments online. This study has its theoretical contribution in exploring the motivation factors leading to the posting of benevolent comments by extending the concept of online prosocial behavior. It also has its practical implications by providing guidance for promoting prosocial behavior in the online context.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study amis at proposing strategies on the basis of BIM techniques to promote the spread of industrialized wooden buildings for implementation of sustainable architecture. Method: We employed social network analysis (SNA) technique to identify the mutual influences among factors that hinder popularization of new Hanok as the industrialized wooden building. Four strategies were established to reduce the factors with serious influences on each category and stakeholder using BIM techniques. Result: it was demonstrated that the problems occurred in spreading new Hanoks can be reduced by changing the influence structure of social network according to the proposed strategies.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.37-62
• /
• 2001

This study examined the qualities of an effective teacher needed to accomplish educational reform successfully and prepare for a rapidly changing knowledge-based society. To achieve the purpose of the study, the following specific questions were looked into; (1) knowledge, skills, attitude of an effective teacher. (2) a proposal for staff development programs to improve the effectiveness of teachers. (3) a proposal to support teachers' efforts to improve their effectiveness. (4) the factors inhibiting the improvement of teachers' effectiveness. In this study, 'in-depth interview' was used for data collection because the study deals with the "subjective consciousness" of teachers, and qualitative research methods are useful to such a case. The research was done on teachers from secondary schools in Pusan City. According to the teachers interviewed, an effective teacher needed in the new age has such knowledge, skills, and attitude as; (1) knowledge in their major, general culture and common sense, psychology of educational counselling, social science, and knowledge and information related to curriculum. (2) effective instruction skills, skills to guide student behavior, skills related to administrative clerical work, using the computers, extra curriculum activities, educational evaluation, using teaching materials, developing educational programs, and good communication skills. (3) attitude relevant to willingness to understand and converse with students at their cognitive level, positive expectations and concern toward students, democratic problem solving, continuous self-study and development, thoroughgoing mission and professionalism, will for educational reform and innovation, neat appearance and refined language, and successful interpersonal relationships. The teachers also said that the current staff development system, as a program to provide necessary qualities for teachers, has improved in the last 3 years through diverse curriculum and systematic programs. However, due to the problematic promotion system, the staff development program has turned into just a 'point collecting' game from the role of in-service training program; teachers take training courses as the means just collecting points for promotion purpose. Factors inhibiting the improvement of teachers are (1) overload of formal paperwork over emphasizing outcome, (2) mannerism of teachers not perceiving their lack of professionalism, (3) the general attitude in the teaching profession resisting change and reform, (4) supervisory activities lacking rigid regulation, (5) research just as the means of point-collection only for promotion, and (6) staff development programs lacking efficiency. These factors, interacting each other, inhibited the improvement of teachers.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.47 no.8
• /
• pp.469-474
• /
• 2014

Cell therapies utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a great potential in many research and clinical settings. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSCs have been studied previously and the paracrine effects elicited by their production of various growth factors and cytokines were recognized as being crucial. However, the molecular controls that govern these paracrine effects remain poorly understood. To elucidate the molecular regulators of this process, we performed a global knockdown of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) by inhibiting DGCR8, a key protein in miRNA biogenesis. Global disruption of miRNA biogenesis in hADSCs caused dramatic changes in the expression of subsets of growth factors and cytokines. By performing an extensive bioinformatic analysis, we were able to associate numerous putative miRNAs with these genes. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that miRNAs are essential for the production of growth factors and cytokines in hADSCs.