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Based on the analysis results that can further enhance organizational satisfaction and response to changes in the employment environment of cosmetic employees and workers through organizational commitment and turnover intention of cosmetic.This research paper empirically analyzed changes in employment environment due to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic and 4th industrial revolution and the effect of employees and job satisfaction on turnover intention in the cosmetic industry, and sought measures necessary for conflict management in industrial sites.A self-report questionnaire was conducted on 508 cosmetic implementers. Statistical processing of the data collected by the data analysis method was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) WIN23.0 statistical package program through data coding and data organizing process.Changes in the employment environment were found to have a significant effect on job satisfaction (t = -11.728, p 0.05). Changes in the employment environment were found to have a significant effect on organizational commitment, which is a dependent variable (t = -9.476, p 0.05). Changes in the employment environment and job satisfaction were found to have a significant effect on organizational commitment, and this regression model was found to be statistically significant (F = 67.703, p 0.05). Job satisfaction showed a significant positive (+) effect on organizational commitment rather than the employment environment (t = 6.235, p 0.05). As a result, it was found that the organizational commitment and job satisfaction of cosmetic employees and workers affected their turnover intentions due to changes in the employment environment due to the 4th industrial revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic.This study focused on the relationship between employment environment changes in the cosmetic industry due to the recent 4th industrial revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects of job satisfaction and organizational commitment of cosmetic employees on turnover intention. Based on the results of the analysis that can further increase the organizational commitment and search for job satisfaction of cosmetic employers and workers, we intend to establish the identity of cosmetic industry organizations nationwide and raise community awareness. This study will help the development and growth of the cosmetic industry by providing basic data that can be reborn as a better cosmetic service organization.

Purpose: The study aims to identify the theme list and priority criteria of patient safety theme reports in South Korea.Methods: The survey was conducted twice, and the importance of each criterion and theme was measured on a nine-point scale using the Delphi technique by a panel of 19 patient safety experts. The criteria included severity, universality, preventability, and organizational-social impact. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median, and interval quartile range were used to analyze the data.Results: The parameters were assigned a weighted average of 35% for severity, 20% for universality, 30% for preventability, and 15% for organizational-social impact, respectively. The final top three rankings were surgery safety, blood transfusion safety, and medication safety. In addition to expert opinion, for the theme that is selected based on the priority ranking, one to five sub-topics can be derived from the theme based on the priority ranking, societal demands, or the yearly priority list of patient safety incidents.Conclusion: It is recommended that the official patient safety center distribute the report in the form of a summary that can be utilized nationwide at medical institutions, government institutions, and other places. Updates, as well as accumulated theme reports, will serve as the baseline data for the proposal of the system and for the policy designed to implement and improve institutions’ safety practices as a standard of domestic patient safety practice guidelines.

To help korean fashion brands establish CSR activities in the chinese market in the future, this study investigated the influence of korean fashion brands’ CSR fit with Chinese Consumers on Consumer Satisfaction and brand attitude, with the moderating effect of ethnocentrism. An online survey was conducted with 20-39 year-old consumers in China from April 18 to April 30, 2021. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0 and Amos 24.0. The results of this paper are as follows. First, environmental CSR fit had the greatest impact on consumer satisfaction, followed by financial CSR fit and social contribution CSR fit. Second, environmental CSR fit and social contribution CSR fit had positive effects on brand attitude, while financial CSR fit did not have a positive effect on brand attitude. Third, as customer satisfaction has a favorable effect on brand attitude, it can be inferred that the greater the satisfaction customers feel for a Korean fashion brand in China, the more positive the attitude they develop toward Korean brands. Fourth, there was no significant difference between groups that had a high and low degree of ethnocentrism, confirming that ethnocentrism does not have a moderating effect on consumer satisfaction. On the other hand, in the relationship between environmental and social contribution CSR fit and brand attitude, there was a greater impact in the low ethnocentrism group compared with the high ethnocentrism group, which verifies the moderating effect of ethnocentrism.

The “genderless fashion” style adopted by 20 to 30-year-olds in Korea cannot be ignored in the consumer fashion code. This study investigated self-images of Korean genderless fashion consumers through in-depth interviews. Interview analyses confirmed that Korean genderless fashion consumers express their self-image through clothing. As the theoretical framework, this study used Lacan''s concept of desire to classify the types of self-image consumers want to express. The results are classified into three subject types: those who pursue self-fulfillment, those who pursue fulfillment from others, and those who pursue endless fulfillment through a self-image. This reflects various factors and the subjects'' desires. Further, a subject''s desire to present a specific self-image was an important factor in understanding the genderless fashion style. The study results revealed that modern fashion is an “unconscious” field of self-expression that crucially reflects individual desires. The study also contributes to the understanding of the concept of self-image at large.

The purpose of this paper was to review the literature focusing on the scalp health of the Korean people in the COVID-19 blue era and the possibility of significant development as an academic.This review paper is a literature review, and the method is a narrative review.It was found that the higher the awareness of hair loss, the better the scalp and hair management behavior. South Korea needs to develop systematic customized management methods, scalp programs, and products due to the development of the COVID-19 era and the development of the 4th industry.South Korea still needs to improve the expertise of tricolologists and national social security insurance and research along with the growth of the beauty and healthcare service industry in the COVID-19 blue era.

In this study, we investigate the effect of Al/N source ratios and growth rates on the growth and structural properties of AlN films on c-plane sapphires by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Both growth rates and Al/N ratios affect crystal qualities of AlN films. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of (1015) X-ray rocking curves (XRCs) change from 0.22 to 0.31° with changing of the Al/N ratios, but the curves of (0002) XRCs change from 0.04 to 0.45° with changing of the Al/N ratios. This means that structural deformation due to dislocations is slightly affected by the Al/N ratio in the (1015) XRCs but affected strongly for the (0002) XRCs. From the viewpoint of growth rate, the AlN films with high growth rate (HGR) show better crystal quality than the low growth rate (LGR) films overall, as shown by the FWHM values of the (0002) and (1015) XRCs. Based on cross-sectional transmission electron microscope observation, the HGR sample with an Al/N ratio of 3.1 shows more edge dislocations than there are screw and mixed dislocations in the LGR sample with Al/N ratio of 3.5.

This study identified the characteristics of fashion rental service users as well as analyzed their purchase decisionmaking processes. A qualitative investigation was conducted through in-depth interviews with 13 women in their 20s-30s who have experienced renting fashion items due to a high interest in fashion. The results of the study are summarized as follows. The need recognition stage analyzed ventilation by mass media, SNS impact, curiosity, saving shopping time and money, awareness of situational necessity, and creation of various styles. The information search stage analyzed how users obtained information from 2 different sources of nonmarketer-dominated sources and marketer-dominated sources. The pre-purchase stage analyzed the evaluation of alternatives in which study participants used 2 evaluation criteria for fashion rental services and fashion rental items. The purchase stage analyzed how participants wait and select desired items (when receiving the notification of rentable items) or select alternative products. The consumption stage examined the usage frequency and usage method. The study divided the post-consumption evaluation stage into 2 categories for evaluation: personal feelings and service. The post-consumption behavior stage analyzed how participants displayed WOM, eWOM and purchase rental product behavior. Clothing shopping orientation of study participants is displayed in 5 dimensions of brand-seeking propensity, individuality-seeking propensity, economic efficiency-seeking propensity, rationality-seeking propensity, and pleasure-seeking propensity. This study identified three main characteristics in the study participants: interest in the fashion, favorable attitude toward used fashion items, consciousness of others.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective and potent α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, has anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative stress effects in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats. The underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of diabetic cardiomyopathy remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of DEX on cardiac function in DM rats. Eight-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 5), diabetes (DM, n = 7), and diabetes + DEX (DM + DEX, n = 10). DM was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (70 mg/kg); at 3 days later, DEX (1 µg/kg/h) was administered for 4 weeks. Cardiac function was evaluated using pressure–volume loop analysis and echocardiography. Left ventricular (LV) histological sections were used to analyze the interstitial collagen fraction. Using the LV samples, we performed a western blot analysis to evaluate signaling pathways and autophagic markers. The DM group had lower body weight and higher blood glucose level and heart weight/body weight ratio than the control group. However, metabolic changes did not differ between the DM and DM + DEX groups. Pressure–volume loop analysis and echocardiography showed impaired cardiac function, evidenced by a decrease in systolic and diastolic function, in both DM groups. DEX treatment in DM rats was associated with increased LV end-systolic pressure, LV contractility, cardiac output, and relaxed LV function compared with that in non-treated DM rats. LC3B and autophagy-related gene (ATG) proteins increased in the hearts of DM rats compared with the hearts of control rats. However, DEX reduced the expression of LC3B and ATG proteins in the hearts of DM rats. Increased p-ERK and decreased p-AKT were reduced in the hearts of DEX-treated DM rats. DEX reduces cardiac dysfunction and impaired autophagy in DM rats. This study reinforces our understanding of the potential anti-autophagic effect of DEX in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Even after recovery from acute kidney injury, glomeruli remain vulnerable to further injury by way of interstitial fibrosis. This study is aimed at elucidating the effects of post ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) treatment with trimetazidine on the progression to renal fibrosis as well as short- and intermediate-term aspects. Trimetazidine 3 mg/kg or 0.9% saline was given intraperitoneally once upon reperfusion or daily thereafter for 5 d or 8 w. Renal histologic changes and related signaling proteins were assessed. After 24 h, post I/R treatment with trimetazidine significantly reduced serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels and tubular injury accompanied with upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor- (HIF-) 1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Bcl-2 expression. After 5 d, post I/R treatment with trimetazidine reduced renal tubular cell necrosis and apoptosis with upregulation of HIF-1α-VEGF and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase activities, attenuation of matrix metalloproteinase activities, and alteration of the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 levels. After 8 w, however, post I/R treatment with trimetazidine did not modify the progression of renal fibrosis. In conclusion, post I/R treatment with trimetazidine allows ischemic kidneys to regain renal function and structure more rapidly compared to nontreated kidneys, but not enough to resolute renal fibrosis in long-term aspect.

Aim This study aimed to investigate sensitive factors involved in left ventricular mass reduction in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Methods Thirty-five subjects on peritoneal dialysis were enrolled. Two successive echocardiographic and clinical data for each subject were obtained. Blood pressure and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were indexed through a division with the normal 95th percentile value. Differences in numeric data between two datasets were calculated. Results The mean age was 12.9 ± 4.6 years. Predictors of left ventricular hypertrophy and its persistence were systolic blood pressure index (P = 0.019 and P = 0.046) and E' velocity (P = 0.035 and P = 0.031) in univariate analysis. However, differences in these predictors between the datasets were not related to the change in indexed LVMI. Reduction in indexed LVMI was correlated to a reduction of indexed left atrial volume (R = 0.638, P = 0.001), trans-mitral A velocity (R = 0.443, P = 0.011), and serum blood urea nitrogen level (R = 0.372, P = 0.028) and an elevation of haemoglobin level (R = -0.374, P = 0.027). Conclusion The extent of circulating volume expansion is potentially the main predictive factor for change of LVMI, because the volume dependent diastolic functional variables correlate to the change of LVMI. Further study with a large number of ESRD children including a group under fluid volume control is needed to investigate the role of volume expansion on the change of LVMI.

본 연구는 예비유아교사의 놀이 교수 효능감 증진을 위한 방안을 모색하고자 예비유아교사의 유머감각이 놀이 교수 효능감에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 이를 위해 대구 경북 지역에 소재한 전문대학 유아교육과에 재학 중인 예비유아교사 347명을 대상으로 유머감각과 놀이 교수 효능감에 대한 설문을 실시하여 자료를 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS 18.0 프로그램을 사용하여 기술통계, Pearson 상관분석, 위계적 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 예비유아교사의 유머감각과 놀이 교수 효능감은 ‘보통이다’ 이상으로 나타났으며, 놀이 교수 효능에 대한 신념보다 놀이 교수 결과에 대한 기대가 더 높게 나타났다. 그리고 예비유아교사의 놀이교수 효능감은 학년과 ‘놀이지도’ 강의 수강여부 및 유머감각과 통계적으로 유의한 정적 상관이 있었다. 둘째, 예비유아교사의 유머감각은 학년과 ‘놀이지도’ 수강 여부의 영향력을 통제한 후에도 놀이 교수 효능감에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과를 토대로 예비유아교사의 놀이 교수 효능감을 향상시키기 위해 유아교사 양성과정에서의 유머감각 증진 방안에 대해 논의하였다.

Background Hyperglycemia (HG) exacerbates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and renders protective strategies ineffective by amplified inflammatory response via enhanced high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) release. This study investigated the role of ethyl pyruvate (EP) against myocardial I/R injury under a clinically relevant HG condition. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats (n=76) were randomly assigned to 6 groups: normoglycemia (NG)-Sham, NG-I/R-control (C, saline), NG-I/R-EP treatment (50mg/kg) upon reperfusion, HG-Sham, HG-I/R-C, and HG-I/R-EP treatment upon reperfusion. HG was induced by 1.2g/kg dextrose. I/R was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending artery for 30min followed by 4h of reperfusion. Results HG resulted in exacerbation of myocardial infarct size by 19% with amplified activation of HMGB1–receptors of advanced glycation end products/toll like receptors–NF-κB pathway compared to NG following I/R, which all could be attenuated by EP. EP treatment was associated with diminished tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 expressions. It also served to normalize the increase in pro-apoptotic Bax and the decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels. These effects were associated with decreased myocardial apoptosis and infarct size (by 30% and 36% in the NG and HG groups, respectively) regardless of the glycemic condition. Conclusion HG exacerbated myocardial I/R injury through amplified inflammatory response via increased HMGB1 level. EP treatment upon reperfusion conveyed significant myocardial protection against the I/R injury under both NG and HG conditions. Common to both glycemic conditions, associated mechanisms involved attenuated increase in HMGB1 level and suppression of its down-stream pathways.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by selective degeneration of the nigral dopaminergic neurons, and neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are believed to be involved in its pathogenesis. In the present study, we provide data that the synthetic steroid exemestane, which is currently being used to treat breast cancer, may be useful for PD therapy. In BV-2 microglial cells, exemestane activated the transcription factor Nrf2 and induced expression of the Nrf2-dependent genes that encode the antioxidant enzymes NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1, haem oxygenase-1, and glutamylcysteine ligase. It also downregulated gene expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase, lowered the levels of NO and reactive oxygen species, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α in lipopolysaccharide-activated microglial cells. In CATH.a dopaminergic neuronal cells, exemestane also induced the same set of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant enzyme genes and provided neuroprotection against oxidative damage. In vivo, the drug protected the nigral dopaminergic neurons, decreased microglial activation, and prevented motor deficits in C57Bl/6 male mice that had been administered with the dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP. Taken together, the results suggested a utility of repositioning exemestane towards disease-modifying therapy for PD.

Purpose The present study aimed to identify the physiological characteristics of cells by investigating the change in gene expression and protein levels during extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in the intervertebral disc (IVD) under hypoxic conditions. Materials and methods To test the effect of oxygen on cell growth and ECM synthesis of chondrocyte-like cells, the cells from IVD were separated and cultured in two hypoxia-mimicking systems: chemical hypoxic conditions using deferoxamine (DFO), and physiological hypoxic conditions using a hypoxic chamber for 7 days. Chondrocyte like cells cultured without DFO and under the normal oxygen concentration (21% O₂ and 5% CO₂, 37°C) served as the controls. Results Chondrocyte-like cells cultured in the presence of 6% oxygen demonstrated a 100% increase in cellular proliferation compared to the control. The cells treated with chemical hypoxic conditions demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in the mRNA expression of glucose transporter-1, GAPDH, aggrecan, and type II collagen on Day 1. When treated with 100 µM DFO, the cells showed a 50% increase in the levels of proteoglycan protein on Day 7. The cells treated with chemical hypoxic condition demonstrated increase in sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) protein levels on Day 7. Moreover, the cells cultured in the presence of 6% oxygen showed a 120% increase in sulfated GAG levels on Day 7. Conclusion The oxygen concentration had an important role in the viability, proliferation, and maturation of chondrocyte-like cells in IVD. In addition, chondrocyte-like cells are sensitive to the concentration of oxygen.

This study investigated the application of a blockchain for promoting the sustainable development of non-profit organizations (NPOs). Transparency and good governance are important for operating NPOs in addition to building trust with relevant stakeholders. NPOs consume a large amount of resources (including funds) to monitor their operations and present their transparency and soundness of governance to interested stakeholders. Blockchain technology can fulfill an NPO&rsquo, s requirements at a lower cost and with a higher efficiency. We reviewed the existing research on NPO governance and blockchain applications. In addition, through case studies, we identified sustainable development strategies for NPOs involving blockchain technologies to increase donation, reduce cost, enhance transparency, and improve governance structure.

The 2018 Sustainable Ethical Fashion Global Forum predicted that ethical fashion would outpace fast fashion by expanding its market base through a reasonable value-for-money policy forum (2018 Sustainable ethical fashion global forum, 2018). Most ethical consumption-related research conducted has primarily analyzed the characteristics of ethical consumers through surveys and interviews. This study aims to identify and analyze consumption values and perceptions on social media using big data analytics. This research uses Korean representative search sites to collect and analyze the data about the keywords “Ethical Consumption” from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, using the social matrix program Textom (by IMC Inc.). We then analyze and visualize the network by using UCINET 6. This study examines the lower dimensions of ethical consumption and the perception of ethical consumption in social media, and the consumption value related to each lower dimension, comparing and analyzing changes over time.

Emerging evidence indicates the pronounced role of inflammasome activation linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the sterile inflammatory response triggered by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is an antioxidant and conveys myocardial protection against I/R injury, while the exact mechanisms remain elusive. We aimed to investigate the effect of EP on myocardial I/R injury through mechanisms related to ROS and inflammasome regulation. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) sham, (2) I/R-control (IRC), (3) EP-pretreatment + I/R, and (4) I/R + EP-posttreatment. I/R was induced by a 30 min ligation of the left anterior descending artery followed by 4 h of reperfusion. EP (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at 1 h before ischemia (pretreatment) or upon reperfusion (posttreatment). Both pre- and post-EP treatment resulted in significant reductions in myocardial infarct size (by 34% and 31%, respectively) and neutrophil infiltration. I/R-induced myocardial expressions of NADPH oxidase-4, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) were mitigated by EP. EP treatment was associated with diminished inflammasome activation (NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, and caspase-1) and interleukin-1β induced by I/R. I/R-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 were also mitigated with EP treatments. In H9c2 cells, hypoxia-induced TXNIP and NLRP3 expressions were inhibited by EP and to a lesser degree by U0126 (MEK inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) as well. EP’s downstream protective mechanisms in myocardial I/R injury would include mitigation of ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome upregulation and its associated pathways, partly via inhibition of hypoxia-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38.

This study examined the effects of nursing information provision using a booklet on the patients' anxiety and uncertainty with an endoscopic submucosal dissection before the procedure, which is a non-equivalent controlled pre-post test designed study. Twenty three patients in a control group received the existing intervention, which is the general education prior to the procedure without standardized format as well as an oral explanation, and 23 patients in the experimental group received nursing information with a booklet developed by the investigator of this study. The collected data were analyzed using a χ 2 test and Fisher's exact t-test on SPSS 21.0. The experimental group reported significantly lower anxiety (t=3.319, p=.002) and anxiety behavioral responses (t=3.508, p=.001) than those in the control group. There were no significant differences in uncertainty between the groups (t=.745, p=.460). Nursing information using the booklet is a useful nursing intervention to reduce the anxiety of patients with endoscopic submucosal dissection before the procedure.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare tumors of intermediate malignant potential that can occur anywhere in the body. We describe an interesting case of a hypervascular IMT in the mediastinum that could be resected completely following em- bolization of the feeding vessels. A 17-month-old girl with complaints of cough and fever for 3 months was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large mass in the right hemithorax that shifted the mediastinum to the left. Primary excision was considered but not performed because there was very active capsule wall bleeding due to the hypervascular tumor. After embolization of the feeding vessels, suc- cessful complete resection was carried out. Approximately 6 weeks after the operation, follow-up CT scan showed no evidence of recurrent disease. Preoperative embolization is a good option for performing complete resection of hypervascular IMTs that could reduce the recurrence rate.

Postharvest diseases cause considerable losses to harvested crops. Among them, gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is a major problem of exporting to cut rose flowers into Korea. Irradiation treatment is an alternative to phytosanitary purposes and a useful nonchemical approach to the control of postharvest diseases. Gamma irradiation was evaluated for its in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity against B. cinerea on cut rose varieties, ‘Shooting Star’ and ‘Babe’. The irradiating dose required to reduce the population by 90%, D10, was 0.99kGy. Gamma irradiation showed complete inhibition of spore germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea, especially 4.0kGy in vitro. Antifungal activity of gamma irradiation on rose B. cinerea is a dose-dependent manner. A significant phytotoxicity such as bent neck in cut rose quality was shown from gamma irradiation at over 0.4kGy (p

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is one of the most important postharvest fungal pathogens of cut flowers. Here, gamma irradiation, an alternative for phytosanitary purposes, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) were used to control B. cinerea in a cut chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cultivar, ‘Baekma’, one of the cultivars susceptible to B. cinerea. Spore germination and mycelium growth of B. cinerea were inhibited by gamma irradiation in an inversely dose-dependent manner. A dose of 4 kGy completely inhibited the mycelium growth of B. cinerea. A significant change in flower quality (physical properties) on chrysanthemum was shown from gamma irradiation at over 0.2 kGy (p

Chronic periodontitis involves subsequent loss of teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to adjacent teeth drifting and supraeruption of the rest dentition. Careful consideration has to be given when deciding extraction of remaining teeth in treatment of periodontally compromised dentitions. For tooth-supported fixed partial dentures or removable partial dentures, periodontally compromised teeth are extracted due to possible early failure from functional overload, but for implant restoration, the teeth could be used as supports for fixed partial dentures because implants can reduce overload on teeth. The remaining natural teeth can help clinicians restoring vertical dimension and normal occlusal plane in full mouth rehabilitation because it conserves patients' proprioceptive response. This clinical report describes treatment of a patient who has a few remaining teeth and supraeruption of the rest dentition from severe chronic periodontitis. Satisfactory clinical result was achieved with full mouth rehabilitation using a few teeth and implants.

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the statistical properties of four previously developed pediatric coronary artery z score models in healthy Korean children. Methods The study subjects were 181 healthy Korean children, whose age ranged from 1 month to 15 years. The diameter of each coronary artery was measured using 2-dimensional echocardiography and converted to the z score in the four models (McCrindle, Olivieri, Dallaire, and Japanese model). Descriptive statistical analyses and 1-sample t tests were performed. Results All calculated z scores had P values of ≥0.050 using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The one sample t test showed that the mean z scores did not converge to zero except in 1 model, and the mean right coronary artery (RCA) z score was less than zero in all 4 models. The smaller RCA diameter in this study could be associated with the more distal measuring point used to avoid the conal branch. The percentage of subjects with extreme z score values (≥2.0 and ≥2.5) for the left main coronary artery (LMCA) seems to be higher in the Dallaire (4.9% and 3.3%) and Japanese models (7.1% and 3.8%). Conclusion All 4 models showed statistical feasibility of normal distribution. More precise instructions would be needed for the measurement of the RCA. The higher percentage of extreme z scores for the LMCA is compatible with the basic understanding of anatomic variation in the LMCA.

Background Hyperglycemia (HG) is common in cardiovascular surgeries due to diabetes, inflammation, and the neuroendocrine stress response. HG aggravates renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury through an increased inflammatory response, and blunts the protective effect of various measures. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) provides anti-inflammatory effects against I/R injury via inhibition of high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) release. This study aimed to determine the renoprotective effect of EP against I/R injury under HG. Methods Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned at random to 8 groups: normoglycemia (NG)-sham, NG-I/R-control, NG-EP-I/R (pretreatment), NG-I/R-EP (posttreatment), HG-sham, HG-I/R-control, HG-EP-I/R, and HG-I/R-EP. Renal I/R was induced by 45 minutes of ischemia (clamping of renal arteries), followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. EP (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at 1 h before ischemia (pretreatment) or on reperfusion (posttreatment). Results I/R injury under HG significantly aggravated the degree of renal tubular apoptosis and damage compared with the NG groups, which could be attenuated by both pretreatment and posttreatment of EP. I/R-induced increases in HMGB1 and Toll-like receptors (TLRs), activation of NF-kB, and resultant alterations in interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, proapoptotic Bax, and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 were all favorably modulated by EP treatment in both the NG and HG groups compared with their corresponding control groups. Conclusions Despite aggravation of renal I/R injury by HG through amplified inflammation, EP administration showed similar suppression of the HMGB1-TLR-NF-kB pathway in the HG and NG groups. EP retained anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and renoprotective effects in the HG groups, whether administered before ischemia or on reperfusion.

Erythropoietin (EPO), an essential hormone for erythropoiesis, provides protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Hyperglycemia during acute myocardial infarction aggravates organ damage and attenuates the efficacies of various protective measures. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of EPO against myocardial I/R injury under a clinically relevant moderate hyperglycemic condition and its associated mechanisms. Eighty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups: normoglycemia-Sham, normoglycemia-I/R-control-saline (IRC), normoglycemia-I/R-EPO (IRE), hyperglycemia-Sham, hyperglycemia-IRC, and hyperglycemia-IRE. The rats received 1.2 g/kg dextrose or same volume of normal saline depending on the group. I/R was induced by a 30 min period of ischemia followed by reperfusion for 4 h. For 1 h before I/R injury, intravenous 4000 IU/kg of EPO was administered. EPO pretreatment significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells and the infarct size compared with those of the control groups. EPO increased GATA-4 phosphorylation and acetylation against I/R in hyperglycemic myocardium. It also enhanced ERK induced GATA-4 post-translational modifications such as increased GATA-4 phosphorylation and acetylation, and decreased GATA-4 ubiquitination following hypoxia-reoxygenation in H9c2 cells in hyperglycemic medium. Increased GATA-4 stability by EPO diminished I/R-related down-regulation of Bcl-2 and reduction of caspase-3 activities in hyperglycemic myocardium. In conclusion, EPO pretreatment before I/R injury conveyed significant myocardial protection under moderate hyperglycemic condition through mechanisms involved in reduction of caspase-3 activity and up-regulation of Bcl-2 in association with enhanced ERK-induced GATA-4 stability.

Neuroinflammation is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Our novel synthetic compound 2-acetyl-1-ethyl-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (AETIQ) was tested for its anti-inflammatory properties in activated microglial BV-2 cells. AETIQ attenuated nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species generation. It also downregulated the production of the proinflammatory enzymes inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-3 at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, AETIQ suppressed generation of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α as determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA assays. AETIQ attenuated NFκB signaling by downregulating NFκB nuclear translocation. The compound was stable against the liver enzymes in the microsomal and S9 fractions, indicative of good bioavailability. These results suggested that AETIQ might be utilized towards development of a therapy for neuroinflammation-related diseases.

InGaN layers with controlled In composition up to 30 at.% are grown on c-plane sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. By considering the growth rate differences in GaN and InN caused by different vapor pressure and sticking coefficient, factors of the Ga and In source fluxes for the targeted In composition are determined. By applying the factors, InGaN layers with the almost same In compositions are grown. Before the growth the substrates were nitrided by rf-nitrogen plasma, which resulted in the formation of epitaxial AlN layer. The growth of thin GaN on this AlN surface shows strong streaky reflection high energy electron diffraction pattern with a specular spot, however, InGaN layers on the GaN layer show spotty patterns. Surface morphology of the InGaN layers shows island-like granules and the granule-like morphology is getting clear as the In composition and roughness are increased, too. The InGaN layers with In composition up to 30 at.% do not show formation of InN and only InGaN peaks are detected from the X-ray diffraction. Crystal quality of the InGaN layer with In composition of 15 at.% is worse than that of 30 at.%-In layer as addressed by larger broadening of X-ray rocking curves.

The growth of high-quality indium (In)-rich InXGa1−XN alloys is technologically important for applications to attain highly efficient green light-emitting diodes and solar cells. However, phase separation and composition modulation in In-rich InXGa1−XN alloys are inevitable phenomena that degrade the crystal quality of In-rich InXGa1−XN layers. Composition modulations were observed in the In-rich InXGa1−XN layers with various In compositions. The In composition modulation in the InXGa1−XN alloys formed in samples with In compositions exceeding 47%. The misfit strain between the InGaN layer and the GaN buffer retarded the composition modulation, which resulted in the formation of modulated regions 100 nm above the In0.67Ga0.33N/GaN interface. The composition modulations were formed on the specific crystallographic planes of both the {0001} and {0114} planes of InGaN.

This paper describes an environmentally friendly process for the recovery of LiFePO4 cathode materials from scrap electrodes by a simple thermal treatment method. The active materials were easily separated from the aluminum substrate foil and polymeric binders were also decomposed at different temperatures (400 o C, 500 o C, 600 o C) for 30 min under nitrogen gas flow. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The electrochemical properties of the recycled LiFePO4 cathode were evaluated by galvanostatic charge and discharge modes. The specific charge/discharge capacities of the recycled LiFePO4 cathode were similar to those of the original LiFePO4 cathode. The LiFePO4 cathode material recovered at 500 o C exhibits a somewhat higher capacity than those of other recovered materials at high current rates. The recycled LiFePO4 cathode also showed a good cycling performance.

This study aimed to investigate sensitive factors involved in left ventricular mass reduction in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing peritoneal dialysis.Thirty-five subjects on peritoneal dialysis were enrolled. Two successive echocardiographic and clinical data for each subject were obtained. Blood pressure and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were indexed through a division with the normal 95The mean age was 12.9 ± 4.6 years. Predictors of left ventricular hypertrophy and its persistence were systolic blood pressure index (P = 0.019 and P = 0.046) and E' velocity (P = 0.035 and P = 0.031) in univariate analysis. However, differences in these predictors between the datasets were not related to the change in indexed LVMI. Reduction in indexed LVMI was correlated to a reduction of indexed left atrial volume (R = 0.638, P = 0.001), trans-mitral A velocity (R = 0.443, P = 0.011), and serum blood urea nitrogen level (R = 0.372, P = 0.028) and an elevation of haemoglobin level (R = -0.374, P = 0.027).The extent of circulating volume expansion is potentially the main predictive factor for change of LVMI, because the volume dependent diastolic functional variables correlate to the change of LVMI. Further study with a large number of ESRD children including a group under fluid volume control is needed to investigate the role of volume expansion on the change of LVMI.

Erythropoietin (EPO), an essential hormone for erythropoiesis, can provide protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and hypoxic apoptosis. GATA-4 is a zinc finger transcription factor, and its activation and post-translational modification are essential components in the transcriptional response to hypoxia. GATA-4 has also been reported to play a role in the cellular mechanisms of EPO-induced myocardial protection against I/R injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of EPO on GATA-4 protein stability and post-translational modification under hypoxic conditions without reperfusion. EPO induced cell viability under long-term hypoxia. EPO significantly increased phosphorylation of GATA-4 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway and reduced hypoxia-induced GATA-4 ubiquitination, which enhanced GATA-4 stability under hypoxia. ERK activation by over-expression of constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MEK1) strongly increased GATA-4 phosphorylation and its protein levels and decreased GATA-4 ubiquitination under hypoxia. Despite ERK activation, GATA-4 ubiquitination was not affected under hypoxia in a GATA-4-S105A mutant. Under hypoxic condition without reperfusion, EPO-induced ERK activation was associated with post-translational modification of GATA-4, mediated by enhancement of phosphorylation of GATA-4 at Ser-105. Subsequent attenuation of GATA-4 ubiquitination led to increases in GATA-4 protein stability, which resulted in increased cell viability under hypoxia.

Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are particularly vulnerable, and their degeneration leads to Parkinson's disease. We have previously reported that matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) activity is involved in dopaminergic neurodegeneration by multiple mechanisms and that this requires activation of MMP-3 from proMMP-3 by an intracellular serine protease. HtrA2/Omi is a mitochondrial serine protease that has been shown in non-dopaminergic cells to translocate into the cytosol where it triggers apoptosis. In the present study we sought to determine whether HtrA2/Omi might cause activation of MMP-3 in dopaminergic neuronal cells using CATH.a cell line. Mitochondrial stress induced by rotenone led to MMP-3 activation and HtrA2/Omi translocation into the cytosol. The MMP-3 activation involved HtrA2/Omi, because both pharmacological inhibition and siRNA-induced knockdown of HtrA2/Omi attenuated the activation induced by rotenone or MPP+. Overexpression of mature HtrA2/Omi, but not mutant HtrA2/Omi, resulted in MMP-3 activity increase and cell death. Addition of recombinant and catalytically active HtrA2/Omi to lysate of untreated cells led to activation of the endogenous MMP-3, and incubation of the HtrA2/Omi with recombinant proMMP-3 caused cleavage of proMMP-3 to a 48kD protein, corresponding to the active form, which was accompanied by an increase in MMP-3 activity. Taken together, the data indicate that HtrA2/Omi, which normally exists in the mitochondria, can cause MMP-3 activation in the cytosol under a cell stress condition, which can ultimately lead to demise of dopaminergic neuronal cells.

The composition modulation of in In-rich InxGa1−xN layers with an indium content as high as ∼67% was suppressed in plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on c-sapphire substrates. It was found that the higher nitrogen plasma flow rate was very effective in suppression of composition modulation in In-rich InGaN layers. X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopic images clearly showed disappearance of composition modulation with increasing the nitrogen flow rate.

In the present study, overexpression, purification, and characterization of Aeropyrum pernix K1 chaperonin B in E. coli were investigated. The chaperonin beta-subunit gene (ApCpnB, 1,665 bp ORF) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon A. pernix K1 was amplified by PCR and subcloned into vector pET21a. The constructed pET21a-ApCpnB (6.9 kb) was transformed into E. coli BL21 Codonplus (DE3). The transformant cell successfully expressed ApCpnB, and the expression of ApCpnB (61.2 kDa) was identified through analysis of the fractions by SDS-PAGE (14% gel). The recombinant ApCpnB was purified to higher than 94% by using heat-shock treatment at 90 degrees C for 20 min and fast protein liquid chromatography on a HiTrap Q column step. The purified ApCpnB showed ATPase activity and its activity was dependent on temperature. In the presence of ATP, ApCpnB effectively protected citrate synthase (CS) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from thermal aggregation and inactivation at 43 degrees C and 50 degrees C, respectively. Specifically, the activity of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) at 85 degrees C was greatly stabilized by the addition of ApCpnB and ATP. Coexpression of procarboxypeptidase B (pro-CPB) and ApCpnB in E. coli BL21 Codonplus (DE3) had a marked effect on the yield of pro-CPB as a soluble and active form, speculating that ApCpnB facilitates the correct folding of pro-CPB. These results suggest that ApCpnB has both foldase and holdase activities and can be used as a powerful molecular machinery for the production of recombinant proteins as soluble and active forms in E. coli.

In this study, we report that the recombinant α subunit chaperonin protein (ApCpnA) from Aeropyrum pernix K1 can efficiently prevent the thermal aggregation and inactivation of foreign model proteins, such as citrate synthase (CS) from= porcine heart, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (four 37.5 kDa subunits), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) from Thermus flavus (two 67 kDa subunits)K=In the presence of ApCpnA and ATP, the thermal aggregation of CS and ADH were prevented by 90 and 65%, respectively, at each 43 and 50°C. Also, the activities of CS, ADH, and MDH under the thermal inactivation conditions were stably maintained at higher than 80% by addition of ApCpnA and ATP, while the activities of those enzymes in the absence of ApCpnA and ATP were dramatically inactivated and decreased below 20% within 30 min. Based on these results, we propose that the α subunit chaperonin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon, A. pernix K1 can be utilized to enhance the durability and cost effectiveness of high-temperature biocatalysts.