• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.967-977
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• 2023

Rubus crataegifolius (RC) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits of RC are known to prevent adult diseases through antioxidants. In this study, the effects of RC extract (RCex) on obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in animal models. Twenty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become obese for 8 weeks and then the extract was orally administered for 8 weeks. RCex reduced body weight, adipose tissue, liver weight. RCex improved biochemical biomarkers including lipid metabolism (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reduced the expression of adipogenesis genes (liver × receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and the effect of enhancing carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity by RCex was verified. RCex also influence on plasma production of hormones (adiponectin & leptin) related on energy expenditure and metabolism. In addition, we confirmed that RCex improved glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese rats. RCex was first demonstrated to have anti-obesity as well as anti-NAFLD effects by regulating fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of AMPK. This suggests that RCex could be a good supplement for the prevention of obesity and related NAFLD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.714-725
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• 2023

Background: Our previous investigation indicated that the preparation of Panax ginseng Meyer (P. ginseng) inhibited melanogenesis. It comprised salicylic acid (SA), protocatechuic acid (PA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), vanillic acid (VA), and caffeic acid (CA). In this investigation, the regulatory effects of P. ginseng phenolic acid monomers on melanin production were assessed. Methods: In vitro and in vivo impact of phenolic acid monomers were assessed. Results: SA, PA, p-CA and VA inhibited tyrosinase (TYR) to reduce melanin production, whereas CA had the opposite effects. SA, PA, p-CA and VA significantly downregulated the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), cycle AMP (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cycle AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) pathway, reducing mRNA and protein levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and TYRP2. Moreover, CA treatment enhanced the cAMP, PKA, and CREB pathways to promote MITF mRNA level and phosphorylation. It also alleviated MITF protein level in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells, comparable to untreated B16F10, increasing the expression of phosphorylation glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β), β-catenin, p-ERK/ERK, and p-p38/p38. Furthermore, the GSK3β inhibitor promoted p-GSK3β and p-MITF expression, as observed in CA-treated cells. Moreover, p38 and ERK inhibitors inhibited CA-stimulated p-p38/p38, p-ERK/ERK, and p-MITF increase, which had negative binding energies with MC1R, as depicted by molecular docking. Conclusion: P. ginseng roots' phenolic acid monomers can safely inhibit melanin production by bidirectionally regulating melanin synthase transcription. Furthermore, they reduced MITF expression via MC1R/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and enhanced MITF post-translational modification via Wnt/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.142-148
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• 2023

The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education plays a crucial role in education in Ukraine, as an independent entity creates and ensures quality standards of higher education, which allow to properly implement the educational policy of the state, develop the economy and society as a whole.The purpose of the article: to reveal the crucial role of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education to create quality management of higher education institutions, to show its mechanism as an independent entity that creates and ensures quality standards of higher education. and society as a whole. The mission of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education is to become a catalyst for positive changes in higher education and the formation of a culture of its quality. The strategic goals of the National Agency are implemented in three main areas: the quality of educational services, recognition of the quality of scientific results, ensuring the systemic impact of the National Agency. The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education exercises various powers, which can be divided into: regulatory, analytical, accreditation, control, communication.The effectiveness of the work of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education for 2020 has been proved. The results of a survey conducted by 183 higher education institutions of Ukraine conducted by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education are shown. Emphasis was placed on the development of "Recommendations of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education regarding the introduction of an internal quality assurance system." The international activity and international recognition of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education are shown.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.10 no.spc
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• pp.87-115
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• 2004

This paper examines the influence of interpersonal relationship on delinquent behavior among adolescents. The role that parent-child relationship, teacher-student relationship, and relationship with friends play on delinquent behavior is reviewed. Review of empirical studies reveal the following results. First, adolescents who perceive their parents as being hostile and rejecting are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Second, those adolescents with parents, who have low expectations and who are less likely pressure them to succeed academically, are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Third, adolescents who feel that they have been abandoned by their parents are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Fourth, those adolescents with low social support from parents and teachers and high social support from their friends are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Fifth, those students who feel hostility from their teachers, have negative relationship with teachers, and experience greater punishment are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. The results indicate that punishment can have adverse effect on some adolescents, further damaging the teacher-student relationship. Punishment can further reinforce the existing negative cycle that can increase the likelihood of adolescents engaging in delinquent behavior. The results indicate that a lack of support from parents and teacher leads to low academic and self-regulatory efficacy, which leads to low academic performance, which can results in punishments that could further damage their relationship with their parents and teachers and bring them closer to their friends. Adolescents caught up in this negative cycle are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. These results indicate the need to reform the relational, social, and cultural environment of adolescents who are engaged in delinquent behavior.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1775-1784
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal the role and regulatory mechanism of miR-188-5p in the proliferation and differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells. Methods: Goat skeletal muscle satellite cells isolated in the pre-laboratory were used as the test material. First, the expression of miR-188-5p in goat muscle tissues at different developmental stages was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, miR-188-5p was transfected into goat skeletal muscle satellite cells by constructing mimics and inhibitors of miR-188-5p, respectively. The changes of differentiation marker gene expression were detected by qPCR method. Results: It was highly expressed in adult goat latissimus dorsi and leg muscles, goat fetal skeletal muscle, and at the differentiation stage of muscle satellite cells. Overexpression and interference of miR-188-5p showed that miR-188-5p inhibited the proliferation and promoted the differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells. Target gene prediction and dual luciferase assays showed that miR-188-5p could target the 3'untranslated region of the calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II beta (CAMK2B) gene and inhibit luciferase activity. Further functional studies revealed that CAMK2B promoted the proliferation and inhibited the differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells, whereas si-CAMK2B restored the function of miR-188-5p inhibitor. Conclusion: These results suggest that miR-188-5p inhibits the proliferation and promotes the differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells by targeting CAMK2B. This study will provide a theoretical reference for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle development in goats.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.171-190
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• 2002

Counterfactual thinking refers to a mental simulation of "What might have been," a cognitive process of once-possible-but-unrealized alternatives to facts, Counterfactuals have been reported to produce intensive emotional experiences, specifically regret. The present research reviewed and tried to integrate the previous inconsistent findings in the view of functional value of counterfactuals. Social psychologists proposed that counterfactuals could be categorized into upward(thoughts of better alternatives) versus downward(thoughts of worse alternatives) and additive versus subtractive. Counterfactual processes are more likely to occur following negative or unexpected rather than positive expected outcome, consistent with the minimization-mobilization hypothesis. Downward counterfactuals serve affective functions(to make one feel better) through contrast effects. Upward counterfactuals serve preparative functions(to prepare and improve performance in the future similar tasks) through causal inferences. Also, upward counterfactuals have been demonstrated in several studies to be followed by success-related attitudes and intentions and actual performance improvement. Furthermore, in terms of regulatory focus, downward counterfactuals were related with the prevention focus(to maintain the current status and upward counterfactuals were related with the promotion focus(to improve the current status). Those findings from numerous studies support that counterfactuals are functional to serve human ongoing motives. In conclusion, applicability and limitation of functional value of counterfactual thinking were discussed.

• Journal of Cadastre & Land InformatiX
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.19-37
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• 2023

This study empirically analyzed the determinants of the assessment ratio (hereinafter 'AR') based on a total of 2,129 sales cases of forests in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do. The main findings of this study through multiple regression analysis are summarized as follows. First, this study shows that regional characteristics have significantly different effects on the AR of forest land prices. Specifically, there was a significant difference in the AR depending on the location of the parcel by sub-region and the ratio of residential area, and the higher the number of development plans in progress, the more likely the officially assessed land price will be formed close to the sale price. Second, this study analyzed that location characteristics such as the proximity of the inner and outer center of the jurisdiction and traffic accessibility had a significant influence on the determination of the AR. Third, this study identified significant differences in AR depending on detailed factors such as planning management areas, production management areas, conservation areas for mountain, conservation areas for nature, and restricted development areas as land use and regulatory characteristics of forest lands. Fourth, this study found that land characteristics are a significant factor influencing the AR as an individual factor in forest land.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.237-250
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• 2022

On September 28, 2020, the Korea Fair Trade Commission introduced a proposed bill entitled the "Fair Online Platform Intermediary Transactions Act." We quantify the impact of this proposed act on Naver, Korea's major digital platform. Finding a proper control unit is not an easy task in social science studies. We overcome this caveat by constructing a synthetic version of Naver using Abadie & Gardeazabal's (2003) synthetic control method. It appears that the economic cost of the proposed act is not negligible at all. Naver's opportunity loss amounted to 16.18% of its market capitalization (approximately 8.5 trillion won in comparison with its pre-regulation market capitalization). Any regulation-based approaches to resolving digital platform issues have both promises and pitfalls. The results highlight that regulatory bodies should carefully gauge the impact of such regulations, as we have seen with Naver's case.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.509-521
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• 2024

Objective: It was shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in milk protein synthesis. However, the post-transcriptional regulation of casein expression by exogenous miRNA (xeno-miRNAs) in ruminants remains unclear. This study explores the regulatory roles of alfalfa xeno-miR162 on casein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs). Methods: The effects of alfalfa xenomiR-162 and G protein subunit gamma 11 (GNG11) on proliferation and milk protein metabolism of bMECs were detected by 5-Ethynyl-2'-Deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between GNG11 and xenomiR-162. Results: Results showed that over-expression of xenomiR-162 inhibited cell proliferation but promoted apoptosis, which also up-regulated the expression of several casein coding genes, including CSN1S1, CSN1S2, and CSN3, while decreasing the expression of CSN2. Furthermore, the targeting relationship between GNG11 and xenomiR-162 was determined, and it was confirmed that GNG11 silencing also inhibited cell proliferation but promoted apoptosis and reduced the expression of casein coding genes and genes related to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Conclusion: Alfalfa xenomiR-162 appears to regulate bMECs proliferation and milk protein synthesis via GNG11 in the mTOR pathway, suggesting that this xeno-miRNA could be harnessed to modulate CSN3 expression in dairy cows, and increase κ-casein contents in milk.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.106-119
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• 2024

Drug shortage is a persistent phenomenon that poses a public health risk worldwide and occurs due to a range of causes. The purpose of this study is to review key policies to prepare for and respond to drug shortages in selected countries, such as the United States, Canada, and some European countries in order to draw implications. This study reviewed the reports and articles derived from search engines and Google Scholar by using keywords such as drug shortage and stock-out. Over the last decade or so, the United States have strengthened requirements on advance notification for disruption and interruption of drug manufacturing, established the Inter-agency Drug Shortages Task Force to promote the communication and coordination of responses, and expedited drug regulatory processes. Similarly, Canada established the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on drug shortages by involving representatives from central and local governments and private sectors. Canada also adopted a tiered approach to the communication of drug shortages based on the assessment of the severity of the shortage problem and released a detailed information guide on communication. In 2019, the joint task force between the European Medicines Agency and the Heads of Medicines Agencies issued guidelines on drug shortage communication in the European Economic Area. The countries reviewed in this paper focus on communication across different stakeholders for the monitoring of and timely response to drug shortages. The efforts to protect public health from the negative impact of the drug shortage crisis would require multi-sectorial and multi-governmental coordination and development of guidelines.