• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.476-481
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• 2007

A polymorphic fungus, Candida albicans, causes various forms of infections such as disseminated candidiasis and vaginitis. Recent reports indicate that the fungus is a main etiological agent for the arthritis. In search of new sources for treatment of the fungal arthritis, we examined $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid ($18{\beta}$-GA) against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis. The compound is isolated from Glycyrrhizae Radix that is known to have various immunomodulating activities and is one of the most popular herbal medicines. For induction of animal model of a septic arthritis, mice were given an emulsion form of C. albicans cell wall mixed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) via footpad-injection. To determine prophylactic and therapeutic effects, the component was given to the animals before or after the induction of the arthritis, respectively. Data showed that intraperitoneal administration of $18{\beta}$-GA resulted in reduction of the inflammation, indicating the component had both prophylactic and therapeutic activities. For investigation of mechanism of the $18{\beta}$-GA, inhibitory effects on NO (nitiric oxide) and on T-lymphocyte proliferation were determined. Results demonstrated that $18{\beta}$-GA suppressed NO production from LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-treated macrophages and also inhibited proliferation of Con A (concanavalin A)activated T-cells. Taken together, $18{\beta}$-GA, a pentacyclic triterpene, has anti-arthritic activity against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis, possibly by blocking NO production and T-cell suppression.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.29-37
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• 2016

In this paper, we evaluated educational effects of H-STEAM group play contents(a course) and tried to suggest a convergent model for college liberal art curriculum. We opened a mixed course(math, art, engineering, and humanities) with team teaching for this purpose. For the test, we collected data from survey, K-W-L sheet, and reflection paper from 23 students who enrolled in this course. Students should do a team project during the course, propose a new group game, and write K-W-L sheet at the end of each session and reflection paper at the final stage. As a result, it is said that H-STEAM group contents had an effect on students' satisfaction and achievement. During the course, students made academic efforts and were able to construct convergent knowledge from the four fields. From this study, we are sure that H-STEAM contents can play a substitute role for the traditional liberal arts program and innovate the curriculum for the knowledge convergence society.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.635-641
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• 2021

This paper aims to find out the main factors that are important in determining the size of investment in the Jordanian productive sectors. For this purpose, the study used panel data for four Jordanian productive sectors over the period 2000-2017. Also, fixed-effects modeling was carried out to identify the relationship between investment and its potential determinants. Empirical investigations of the four productive sectors reveal the following results: The real value of sector's production and the real value of credit facilities have a positive and significant impact on investment, while the real interest rate has a negative effect on investment in the Jordanian productive sectors. Also, at the sector level, agriculture was more responsive to changes in the real value of credit facilities, while other sectors were more responsive to changes in the real value of sector's production. According to these results, it seems that some policy actions should be taken to enhance the size and the role of investment in the economy. For example, policymakers should adopt a mixed policy and expand the provision of credit facilities, especially to the agricultural sector, to enhance agricultural activity in a manner that ensures the improvement of infrastructure and land reclamation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.192-205
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• 2023

Objectives: Previous studies have evaluated the association between mercury exposure and obesity but have yielded mixed conclusions. The aim of this study was to systematically review and summarize scientific evidence regarding the association between mercury exposure and obesity in the human population. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct for articles related to mercury exposure and obesity. Meta-analyses of the highest and lowest categories of mercury levels were evaluated using a random effects model. Begg's test was used to detect publication bias. Results: A total of 9 articles were included. The pooled random effects odds ratio (OR) for mercury exposure and obesity of all 9 studies was 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-2.38). This positive association was evident in adults (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.02-2.54) and among studies with Asian populations (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.53-2.59), but not among those with North America/African populations (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.50-1.65). Conclusions: The present meta-analysis identified a positive association between mercury exposure and obesity. These findings suggest that toxic environmental metals such as mercury may be an important risk factor for obesity along with dietary habits and lifestyles.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 2024

Background: In today's modern world, longer working hours, shift work, and working at night have become major causes of the disruption of our natural circadian rhythms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the type of shift work (rotating vs. fixed day), duty period (on-duty vs. off-duty), and working period within each shift (nighttime vs. daytime) on the circadian rhythm characteristics of nurses who provide direct patient care. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sampling method. Cosinor analysis was applied to analyze the actigraphy data of nurses providing direct patient care for seven consecutive days. The linear mixed effects model was then used to determine any variances between shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift for the nurses. Results: The mesor value did not differ according to nurses' shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift. The amplitude was statistically higher in on-duty nurses and in daytime working hours. The acrophase was significantly delayed in nighttime working hours. As well as nurses in rotating shift had experience. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the peak activity of nurses occurs significantly later at night while working and nurses working during nighttime hours may have a weaker or less distinct circadian rhythm. Thus, this study suggests that limits be placed on the number of rotating nighttime shifts for nurses.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.664-671
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• 2006

Modeling the growth kinetics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), one of the most valuable microbial groups in the food industry, has been actively pursued in order to understand, control, and optimize the relevant fermentation processes. Most modeling approaches have focused on the development of single population models. Primary single population models provide fundamental kinetic information on the proliferation of a primary LAB species, the effects of biological factors on cell inhibition, and the metabolic reactions associated with cell growth. Secondary single population models can evaluate the dependence of primary model parameters, such as the maximum specific growth rate of LAB, on the initial external environmental conditions. This review elucidates some of the most important single population models that are conveniently applicable to the LAB fermentation analyses. Also, a well-defined mixed population model is presented as a valuable tool for assessing potential microbial interactions during fermentation with multiple LAB species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.468-474
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• 2006

Real time ultrasound data was generated on 10,596 live Hanwoo cows to study genetic variation on ultrasonic beef quality traits and to assess the best model to estimate genetic parameters on these traits. Pedigree stacking and data validation was done using the SAS statistical software and the genetic parameter estimates were obtained by EM-REML algorithm. Out of the five different multi-trait mixed animal models constructed, the optimal model included fixed effects of herd, year-season-appraisal, body condition score, linear and quadratic covariates for chest girth, the linear covariate effect of age and the random animal and residual effect of the five models studied. The heritability of longissimus muscle area (LMA), $12^{th}$ rib measurement of back fat thickness (BF) and marbling score (MS) was 0.11, 0.17 and 0.15, respectively. Genetic correlation of LMA vs. BF, LMA vs. MS and BF vs. MS was -0.15, 0.06 and 0.61, respectively. The results showed presence of genetic variation in these ultrasonic beef quality traits in Hanwoo cows and suggest that the selection of Hanwoo cows may be possible by performing ultrasonic scans on live animals, which will ultimately be helpful in reducing the generation interval and the cost of selection procedure.

• IE interfaces
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2011

Manufacturing enterprises have been doing their best endeavors to obtain competitiveness using various methodologies, such as information technology. In order to achieve competitiveness, they are adopting manufacturing execution system (MES). MES is a total management system that manages from the beginning of the production by product order until the quality inspection of the finished product. And MES is an inter-mediator for supplementation of information gap between ERP and inspection machine and equipment. This paper describes on establishment of effective strategy based on BPR methodology and implementation of MES small and medium PCB manufacturing company with multiple-types of products and mixed process flows. And then we proposed evaluation model based on balanced score card (BSC) for considering non-finance elements as well as finance elements. With evaluation model, we analyzed benefits and effects of MES.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2012

An empirical predictive relationship correlating bracketed duration to earthquake magnitude, site-to-source distance, and local site conditions (i.e. rock vs. stiff soil) for stable continental regions of North America is presented herein. The correlation was developed from data from 620 horizontal motions for central and eastern North America (CENA), consisting of 28 recorded motions and 592 scaled motions. The bracketed duration data was comprised of nonzero and zero durations. The non-linear mixed-effects regression technique was used to fit a predictive model to the nonzero duration data. To account for the zero duration data, logistic regression was conducted to model the probability of zero duration occurrences. Then, the probability models were applied as weighting functions to the NLME regression results. Comparing the bracketed durations for CENA motions with those from active shallow crustal regions (e.g. western North America: WNA), the motions in CENA have longer bracketed durations than those in the WNA. Especially for larger magnitudes at far distances, the bracketed durations in CENA tend to be significantly longer than those in WNA.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2018

The dynamic responses of a rocking wall-moment frame (RWMF) with a post-tensioned cable are investigated. The nonlinear equations of motions are developed, which can be categorized as a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model. The model is validated through comparison of the rocking response of the rigid rocking wall (RRW) and displacement of the moment frame (MF) against that obtained from Finite Element analysis when subjected ground motion excitation. A comprehensive parametric analysis is carried out to determine the seismic performance factors of the RWMF systems under near-fault trigonometric pulse excitation. The horizontal displacement of the RWMF system is compared with that of MF structures without RRW, revealing the damping effect of the RRW. Frame displacement spectra excited by trigonometric pulses and recorded earthquake ground motions are constructed. The effects of pulse type, mass ratio, frame stiffness, and wall slenderness variations on the displacement spectra are presented. The paper shows that the coupling with a RRW has mixed results on suppressing the maximum displacement response of the frame.