• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.379-391
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the associations between eating away from home (EAFH) and overweight and obesity among Ugandan adults using the 2014 Uganda non-communicable disease risk factor survey. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 3,025 participants aged 18-69 years were included in the analysis. The frequency of EAFH was assessed by asking participants the number of meals eaten per week that were not prepared at a home. EAFH frequency was categorized as; less than once/week, 1-2 times/week, or ≥ 3 times/week. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between overweight, obesity, and EAFH. We also tested whether sex and age modified these associations. RESULTS: Participants that ate away from home ≥ 3 times/week were 2.13 times more likely to be obese than those that ate away from home less than once/week (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-3.54). However, when the analysis was stratified by sex, women that ate away from home ≥ 3 times/week were 42% less likely to be overweight than those that ate away from home less than once/week (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.36-0.94). Men that ate away from home ≥ 3 times a week were 3.89 times and 2.23 times more likely to be obese and overweight, respectively, than those that ate away from home less than once/week (obesity: OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.50-10.09; overweight: OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.42-3.51). Age-stratified analysis showed that among participants aged 31-50 years, those that ate away from home ≥ 3 times a week were 3.53 times more likely to be obese than those that ate away from home less than once/week (OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.69-7.37). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent EAFH was positively associated with overweight and obesity among men, and obesity among young/middle-aged adults, but negatively associated with overweight in women. Nutritional interventions for obesity reduction in Uganda should include strategies aimed at reducing the frequency of eating meals prepared away from home, and specifically target men and young/middle-aged adults.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2024

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor activated under hypoxic conditions, and it plays a crucial role in cellular stress regulation. While HIF-1α activity is essential in normal tissues, its presence in the tumor microenvironment represents a significant risk factor as it can induce angiogenesis and confer resistance to anti-cancer drugs, thereby contributing to poor prognoses. Typically, HIF-1α undergoes rapid degradation in normoxic conditions via oxygen-dependent degradation mechanisms. However, certain cancer cells can express HIF-1α even under normoxia. In this study, we observed an inclination toward increased normoxic HIF-1α expression in cancer cell lines exhibiting increased HDAC6 expression, which prompted the hypothesis that HDAC6 may modulate HIF-1α stability in normoxic conditions. To prove this hypothesis, several cancer cells with relatively higher HIF-1α levels under normoxic conditions were treated with ACY-241, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor, and small interfering RNAs for HDAC6 knockdown. Our data revealed a significant reduction in HIF-1α expression upon HDAC6 inhibition. Moreover, the downregulation of HIF-1α under normoxic conditions decreased zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 expression and increased E-cadherin levels in lung cancer H1975 cells, consequently suppressing cell invasion and migration. ACY-241 treatment also demonstrated an inhibitory effect on cell invasion and migration by reducing HIF-1α level. This study confirms that HDAC6 knockdown and ACY-241 treatment effectively decrease HIF-1α expression under normoxia, thereby suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These findings highlight the potential of selective HDAC6 inhibition as an innovative therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-67
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• 2014

Due to thermal expansion, the structural behaviour of beams in steel structures subjected to temperature increase will be affected. This may result in the failure of the structural members or connection due to extra internal force in the beam induced by the thermal increase. A method to release some of the thermally generated internal force in the members is to allow for some movements at the end supports of the member. This can be achieved by making the plane of the end-plate of the connection slanted instead of vertical as in conventional design. The present paper discusses the mechanical behaviour of beams with bolted slant end-plate connection under symmetrical gravity loads, subjected to temperature increase. Analyses have been carried out to investigate the reduction in internal force with various angles of slanting, friction factor at the surface of the connection, and allowable temperature increase in the beam. The main conclusion is that higher thermal increase is tolerable when slanting connection is used, which means the risk of failure of structures can be reduced.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.190-200
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• 2023

Skeletal muscle, essential for metabolism, thermoregulation, and immunity, undergoes myogenic differentiation that results in myotube formation. Trans-anethole (TA), the major constituent in essential oil produced by anise, star anise, and fennel, whose function in skeletal muscle has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated whether TA influenced muscle differentiation in mouse C2C12 myoblasts. Cells were induced to differentiate using a differentiation medium with or without TA (50 or 200 mg/mL) daily for 5 days. We measured myotube length and diameter after differentiation days 1, 3, and 5 and analyzed the expression of myogenic markers (myoblast determination protein 1, myogenin, myocyte enhancer factor 2, muscle creatine kinase, and myosin heavy chain) and atrophy-related genes (atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger-1 [MuRF-1]) using quantitative real-time PCR. Additionally, we observed the expression of total protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) using western blotting. Our data showed that TA significantly induced the formation of smaller and thinner myotubes and reduced the myogenic factor expression. Furthermore, the atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression markedly increased by TA. Consistent with these findings, TA significantly decreased the expression of total Akt and p-Akt. Taken together, these results indicate that TA inhibits myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells via reduction of both total Akt and p-Akt. Our findings may provide valuable insights into the impact of PAA on individuals at risk of muscle atrophy.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2017

As the risk of technical leakage is increasing, technology protection support systems for small and medium-sized businesses have gained attention. This paper analyzed the perception gap of the user and policy-maker regarding technology protection support systems. First, to identify key elements of technology protection support systems and construct measurement factors, interviews with experts are conducted. Then, surveys are conducted to analyze the perception differences between the users and policy-makers. Factor analysis and ANOVA have been utilized to analyze survey results. The result shows that the perception gaps exist in the following areas: management system, cost reduction, copyright protection, customer satisfaction, leakage prevention, and awareness. To enhance the effectiveness of technology protection support systems, this paper suggests technology protection support systems should be customized in terms of the company's size and type of busines.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

Purpose : To determine the clinical correlation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of temporomandibular joint internal derangements. Materials and Methods : The MR images of 150 TMJs in 75 patients were analyzed. The clinical symptoms were pain in the preauricular area and masticatory muscles and TMJ sounds. Results : There was a statistically significant relationship between the MRI diagnoses of different types of disc displacements and clinical findings of pain, clicking, and crepitus. The risk of TMJ pain was increased when the disc displacement without reduction occurred at the same time in combination with the osteoarthrosis and effusion. Conclusion : Regardless of the results, the data indicate that each of these MR imaging variables may not be regarded as the unique and dominant factor in defining TMJ pain occurrence.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.49-55
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• 2010

Safety estimation of the pillar between parallel tunnels are very important considering stress concentration in case the piller width is not enough to secure the stability. Pillar width needs to be determined properly because of the progressive failure-risk of pillar due to stress-concentration. In this research, the effect of element size in numerical analysis was evaluated based on that yield pillar's stability and proposed systematic analysis about pilar's stability examination. In consequence of it, element size does not give any effect on intensity stress ratio. On the other hand, the analysis using the smaller element size results in lower safety factor in strength reduction technique. In case of the weathered re.k on the main ground layer, the analysis of result was not reliable. In conclusion, the smaller element size is, the more stable factor is.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.123-131
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• 2016

Process mining in big data environment utilize a number of data were generated from the business process. It generates lots of knowledge and insights regarding implementation and improvement of the process through the event log of the company's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. In recent years, various research activities engaged with the audit work of company organizations are trying actively by using the maximum strength of the mining process. However, domestic studies on applicable sales auditing system for the process mining are insufficient under big data environment. Therefore, we propose process-mining methods that can be optimally applied to online and traditional auditing system. In advance, we propose continuous monitoring information system that can early detect and prevent the risk under the big data environment by monitoring risk factors in the organizations of enterprise. The scope of the research of this paper is to design a pre-verification system for risk factor via practical examples in sales auditing. Furthermore, realizations of preventive audit, continuous monitoring for high risk, reduction of fraud, and timely action for violation of rules are enhanced by proposed sales auditing system. According to the simulation results, avoidance of financial risks, reduction of audit period, and improvement of audit quality are represented.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors predictive of alterations in skin integrity during the intraoperative period. The predictive risk factors were studied for intraoperative pressure sores from December 1998 through January 1999. A sample of 220 patients was selected from the operating room schedule of a University Hospital in Pusan. There were two criteria in including patients : the operation lasted longer than 2 hours and the absence of skin break-down according to NPUAP criteria. The data were analized by SPSS/PC, Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to identify the variables which were predictive of alterations in skin integrity. Of the 220 patients studied, 41 patients (18.6%) developed stage 1 pressure sores in the immediate postoperative period. In relation to skin changes, three independent variables emerged from the stepwise multiple logistic regression as being significant (p<0.05). Factors predictive of pressure sore formation included low serum albumin(p=0.000), prone position while undergoing surgery(p=0.0004), time on the operating table(p=0.0165). Among the intrinsic factors, serum albumin was the most significant causal factor in pressure sores development in the intra-operative period. Pressure and shearing force were the most significant extrinsic factors in pressure sores development. From the results of this study we concluded that the primary nursing goal is the maintenance of the proper patient' position during the intraoperative period. Also imperative for sore prevention is the reduction of surgery time and improving preoperative nutritional status.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2009

Over the last decade, the incidence of overweight and obesity has nearly doubled in many countries and is considered a pandemic. Obesity was identified as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease as the same level as smoking and diabetes. Visceral fat is considered one of the key contributors to outcome and certain ethnic groups such as Asians seem to be more affected than others. Weight reduction through lifestyle changes was found to be impactful to improve overall health, but weight loss and maintenance thereof is limited and difficult to sustain. Surgical intervention demonstrated a greater weight loss in the severely obese and was associated with improved all-cause mortality. Despite numerous pharmacological targets and a high medical need, only few drugs have been successfully developed. Earlier studies with amphetamine-derived compounds showed significant weight loss but their critical safety profiles led to market withdrawals and disappointment. More recent compounds; orlistat - a lipase inhibitor, rimonabant - a cannaboid-1-receptor antagonist, and sibutramine - a combined serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, all demonstrated similar significant efficacy; however, they carry specific safety profiles making them unsuitable for every patient. The main limitation of pharmacotherapy is the absence of clear benefit-risk assessments through outcome studies. Such a study - the SCOUT trial - was designed to compare sibutramine versus placebo and the effect on morbidity and mortality in nearly 10,000 obese patients with additional risk factors. Such studies could provide new scientific evidence for obesity treatment and may support future pharmacological approaches.