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Urban green spaces have a positive impact on citizens’ mental health and have contributed to improving their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Korea, where more than 50% of all households live in apartments, apartment-complex landscaping space plays the role of urban green space. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among a perceived restorative environment, restorative experience, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being by conducting a survey between residents living in apartments with landscape space. More specifically, an online survey was conducted from 8 to 15 June 2021 among residents in apartment complexes (500 households or more) located in the capital region in South Korea. We applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using 220 samples to test the causal relationship presented in the conceptual model of this study. The results revealed that residents’ perceptions of the restorative environment of landscape space, including fascination, being away, and coherence had positive effects on restorative attention. Among the restorative environmental factors, the higher the “being away”, the greater the effect on restorative attention. Second, the effects of fascination and coherence on life satisfaction were mediated by restorative attention. Third, restorative attention and life satisfaction significantly influenced psychological well-being. Additionally, life satisfaction acts as a mediator in the relationship between restorative attention and psychological well-being. In summary, this study has theoretical implications, in that it explores the effects of apartment complex landscaping space as urban green spaces on residents’ mental health.

Background Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a type of inflammation of the skin, which presents with itchy, red, swollen, and cracked skin. The high global incidence of atopic dermatitis makes it one of the major skin diseases threatening public health. Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) act as pro-inflammatory mediators, as an angiogenesis factor and a mitogen in skin fibroblasts, respectively, both of which are important biological responses to atopic dermatitis. The SPC level is known to be elevated in atopic dermatitis, resulting from abnormal expression of sphingomyelin (SM) deacylase, accompanied by a deficiency in ceramide. Also, S1P and its receptor, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) are important targets in treating atopic dermatitis. Results In this study, we found a novel antagonist of SPC and S1P1, KRO-105714, by screening 10,000 compounds. To screen the compounds, we used an SPC-induced cell proliferation assay based on a high-throughput screening (HTS) system and a human S1P1 protein-based [35S]-GTPγS binding assay. In addition, we confirmed the inhibitory effects of KRO-105714 on atopic dermatitis through related cell-based assays, including a tube formation assay, a cell migration assay, and an ELISA assay on inflammatory cytokines. Finally, we confirmed that KRO-105714 alleviates atopic dermatitis symptoms in a series of mouse models. Conclusions Taken together, our data suggest that SPC and S1P1 antagonist KRO-105714 has the potential to alleviate atopic dermatitis.

This paper studies a job market signaling model with imperfect competition among employers. In our basic model, workers are differentiated in productivity and preference over employers, both of which are workers’ private information. We conclude that if competition is sufficiently strong, a separating equilibrium exists. We also show that stronger competition among employers intensifies competition between workers; workers invest more in costly education to get attractive jobs, and social welfare decreases. When employers can observe worker’s preferences, wage discrimination strengthens competition among employers and makes workers better off.

Fruit trees are a key part of agriculture in rural areas and have recently been a part of ecotourism or agrotourism. This study analyzes user segmentation based on user motivation to determine characteristics of potential customers in fruit tree farms, and thereby develop fruit tree experience and educational programs. We conducted a survey of 253 potential customers of fruit tree experience programs in September 2017. Data were evaluated using factor and cluster analyses. The results of the cluster analysis identified four distinct segments based on potential customers' motivations, that is, activity-oriented, learning-oriented, leisure-oriented, and purchase-oriented. These clusters showed that significant differences in the preference of potential customers exist. Different markets were segmented based on the benefits sought by users. The segments’ characteristics were identified and activities relevant to each segment were proposed for rural tourism. Lastly, this study suggests directions for development of fruit tree farm experience and educational programs.

Microplastic pollution has been recognized as an emerging concern that negatively affects marine ecosystems. Given the situation, the government and environmental groups have emphasized the seriousness of microplastics to the public and encouraged them to reduce the use of microplastics. However, very few studies have examined how individuals perceive microplastics. Thus, this study aims to identify the relationship between peoples' risk perception of microplastic and pro-environmental behavioral intention. To conduct an empirical study, we used a total of 445 samples collected from online survey and adopted the partial least squares path modeling method to test the causal relationship between variables in the conceptual model. The results indicated that risk perception significantly affects pro-environmental behavioral intention and is influenced by knowledge as an environmental trigger. In addition, we highlighted that feelings of guilt and social responsibility play important mediating roles in the relation between risk perception and pro-environmental behavioral intention. This study has meaningful implications for practitioners to encourage the public's eco-friendly behavior by suggesting ways to inform knowledge of microplastics and stimulate individuals' responsibility on environment.

Greenways provide multiple benefits for trail users&rsquo, individual experiences based on users&rsquo, background environment and their perceptions of characteristics such as the trail width, vegetation, water, and facilities. Although greenway trail characteristics are important factors that affect users&rsquo, preferences, only a few studies have examined individuals&rsquo, experiences of greenways based on their perceptions and preferences. The purpose of this study is to examine how greenway trails can be designed to improve users&rsquo, experiences in relation to their perceptions and preferences by considering trail characteristics. We examine the relationship between greenway trail characteristics and likability using t-tests as well as correlation and multiple regression analyses. In the current study, virtual tour surveys of greenway users were conducted, with two urban greenway trails as the study sites: Town Lake Trail in Austin, Texas, and Buffalo Bayou Trail in Houston, Texas. Perceptions of all eight greenway trail characteristics, except for background buildings, were significantly different between the trails, and a significant difference in likability was found for five characteristics (the presence of water, trail facilities, trail width, adjacent automobile traffic, and built structures on the trail). In addition, the results of the correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed that the presence of water, amount of vegetation, automobile traffic, and built structures were correlated with likability. These findings suggest that designing appropriate types of greenway trails can help increase users&rsquo, likeability ratings of urban greenways. This study contributes to the enhancement of trail environments by providing strategies for practitioners to effectively design and manage greenways.

Korean Abstract: 본 연구는 1976-2015년 기간 동안 미국특허청(USPTO)에서 출원된 5백만 개 이상의 실용특허(utility patent) 자료에 기반하여 국가별 혁신 역량의 추세를 비교 분석하였다. 출원한 특허의 양과 질을 동시에 반영한 혁신 역량을 도출하였고, 이에 더해 시대별로 기술 발전이 가장 활발하게 이루어지고 있는 기술분야를 발전 정도와 발전 속도를 기준으로 선별하여 해당 분류에서의 국가별 혁신 역량의 추세를 분석하였다. 전반적으로 미국과 일본이 혁신을 주도하였고, 유럽과 아시아 국가가 그 뒤를 따르는 모양새였다. 한국의 혁신 순위는 꾸준히 상승해오고 있는데, 특히, IT 혁명 또는 3차 산업혁명과 관련한 기술 분야에서 괄목할 만한 성장을 이루었다. 그러나, 한국의 혁신역량은 상대적으로 특정 분야에 집중되어 있고, 다가올 미래에 발전 가능성이 높은 기술 분야에서는 뒤처져 있는 모습을 보이고 있어, 4차 산업혁명이 도래하여 기술 및 산업 구조가 급변할 경우 혁신을 통한 경제발전에 있어 세계시장에서 뒤처질 수 있을 것으로 우려된다. 이러한 점을 고려하여 이미 보유하고 있는 산업역량과 기술 혁신 역량을 분석하고 향후 발전 가능성이 높은 분야에 대한 투자를 아끼지 않음으로써 4차 산업혁명이라는 새로운 패러다임으로의 이행에 자원과 역량을 집중할 필요가 있는 것으로 보인다. English Abstract: This paper purports to scrutinize the evolving trends of major technologies that have shaped the world’s technology frontier, and at the same time, measure relative standings of major industrial nations in their innovative capacity in production of those technologies. We consider all (over 5 million) utility patents granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) over the period of 1976-2015. In analysis, we find the continued dominance of US, the steady performance of Japan, the signs of European decline, and the emergence of new economies that include Korea, Taiwan and Israel. By considering the most popular technologies per each decade, we observe a clear pattern in the evolution of world economic structure, most notably, the IT revolution. Interestingly, it is precisely in these IT-related technologies in which Korea have performed especially well. In the fastest growing technologies of the most recent decade, however, Korea’s performance thus far bucks this rosy trend. Korea’s innovative capacity is not as evenly distributed across all technologies as other advanced nations. US, Japan, Europe, and other Western economies, as well as Israel, all exhibit solid and steady performance in all our rankings.

We develop a model of strategic information transmission from an expert with informational superiority to decision makers who vote on a proposal. We show that an expert's simple cheap talk strategy can be surprisingly effective in persuading decision makers by polarizing or unifying their opinions. After observing the expert's cheap talk message, decision makers may ignore their private information and vote according to the expert's interest, even though they know the expert has her own bias. In other words, the expert's cheap talk prevents a voting procedure from aggregating decision makers' private information. We also discuss how our main results extend to a model of Bayesian persuasion.

The purpose of this study is to (1) measure the change in street networks of islands that are connected by bridges using space syntax and verify the relationships among spatial centrality, traffic volume and tourism facilities (small accommodations) and (2) establish strategies for sustainable tourism management through identifying the impact of this island connection on tourism destinations. Ganghwa County (Ganghwa Island, Seokmo Island and Gyodong Island) in South Korea was chosen as the study area, and we applied the angular segment analysis (ASA) method by metric distance based on space syntax. The results of this study showed that the construction of sea-crossing bridges between islands affected street networks considering metric radii (on a local scale, a mid-scale and a global scale) and areas with high spatial centrality in the study area affected traffic volumes and increased the number of small accommodations following the construction of bridges. The core areas of the whole street network were analyzed, and alternative paths for tourist flow diffusion, tourism development, land use regulation and environmental education for responsible tourism were proposed as key strategies for sustainable tourism. The findings of this study will contribute to reducing the potential for social and ecological damage by providing practical management strategies for island tourism destinations connected by bridges.

Since responsible tourism (RT) emerged as a critical issue in the tourism literature in the early 2000s, the challenge has been how to encourage consumers to practice RT. In this context, the goal of this study is to examine effective ways to promote individuals&rsquo, RT behavior using message framing and appeals. The present study used campaign advertisements as a stimulus and employed a 2 &times, 2 factorial design ((message framing: gain framing vs. loss faming) &times, (appeal: rational appeal vs. emotional appeal)) in the experiment. In addition, the study investigated the moderating impact of involvement on people&rsquo, s attitude towards advertising and intention to participate in RT. Independent-sample t-tests and a two-way analysis of variance were used to verify the hypotheses. The results of the study revealed that gain-framed messages had a greater influence on individuals&rsquo, attitude towards the advertisement and their intention to participate in RT than loss-framed messages in the low-involvement group. Furthermore, rational and emotional appeals had a greater influence on people&rsquo, s attitude towards the advertisement in the high- and low-involvement groups, respectively.

The interaction of stem cell factor (SCF) with its cognate receptor c-Kit is closely associated with the survival and maturation of melanocytes. To investigate novel depigmentation agents, we screened 2,000 plant extracts for c-Kit inhibitors to identify active small molecules by using time-resolved fluorescence enzyme assays. For the active extracts identified as inhibitors of c-Kit enzyme, we evaluated the effects of the active extracts and isolated flavonoids on c-Kit phosphorylation in MO7e/melanocytes. Anti-melanogenic activity was also examined in melanocytes and melanoderm model. The flavonoids such as diosmetin, apigenin, acacetin and luteolin isolated from Chrysanthemum morifolium were found to be active in inhibiting c-Kit both at enzyme and cellular levels. In addition, these flavonoids attenuated SCF-induced proliferation of human primary melanocytes without toxicity and suppressed ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation-mediated melanin synthesis significantly. Among the active flavonoids, diosmetin was found to inhibit SCF-induced melanogenesis in a human melanoderm model. These results strongly suggest that C. morifolium extract and diosmetin have potential to suppress SCF-/UVB-induced melanogenesis, and could be developed as anti-pigmentation agents.

Arylpiperzine-containing pyrrole 3-carboxamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as novel antidepressant compounds. The various analogues were efficiently prepared and bio-assayed for binding to 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(2C) receptor, and 5-HT transporter. Based on their in vitro and in vivo activities as well as selectivity over other neurotransmitter receptors and PK profiles, 33 and 34 were identified as lead compounds. Consequently, this pyrrole series of compounds appears to be promising enough to warrant further investigation.

In search of novel antipigmentation agents, a set of 3,840 compounds with natural-like synthetic or natural origin were screened against Kit (stem cell factor receptor). Emodin from the seed of Cassia tora and baicalin from Scutellariae radix showed potent inhibitory effects (IC(50) = 4.9 and 9.0 microM, respectively) on the phosphorylation of Kit. Emodin also blocked other receptor tyrosine kinase activities, such as epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR-1), platelet-derived growth factor receptor b (PDGFR-b). In contrast to emodin, aloe-emodin did not inhibit Kit activity at all. Emodin also blocked the cellular kinase activities of Kit and its down-stream p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in MO7e cells and human primary melanocytes. Emodin strongly suppressed the melanin synthesis triggered by stem cell factor (SCF) treatment. Also, emodin showed almost no toxicity up to 10 microM on cultured melanocytes as reported previously by other researchers. The results indicate that emodin is a good candidate for the development of antipigmentation agents since it can radically block the differentiation and proliferation of pigment cells by reducing Kit signaling.

A series of dinaphtho[1,2-b;2',3'-d]furan-7,12-dione derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activities against receptor tyrosine kinases. The naphthofuroquinone compounds with dialkylaminoethoxy group at C(5)-position (7, 8, 10, and 11) manifested strong inhibitory activities against epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Docking study of 11 with EGFR was also performed.

KKHA-761, 1-{4-[3-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-isoxazol-5-yl]-butyl}-4-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazine, has a high affinity (Ki=3.85 nM) for human dopamine D3 receptor with about 70-fold selectivity over the human dopamine D(2L) receptor (Ki=270 nM). KKHA-761 also showed high affinity for cloned human 5-HT1A receptor (Ki=6.4 nM). KKHA-761 exhibited D3 and 5-HT1A receptor antagonist activities in vitro, reversing dopamine- or 5-HT-mediated stimulation of [35S]GTPrS binding. The in vivo pharmacological profile of KKHA-761 was compared with both typical and atypical antipsychotics including clozapine and haloperidol. Apomorphine-induced dopaminergic behavior, cage climbing, in mice was potently blocked by a single administration (i.p.) of KKHA-761 (ID50=4.06 mg/kg) or clozapine (ID50=4.0 mg/kg). Cocaine- or MK-801-induced hyperactivity in animals was markedly inhibited by KKHA-761 or clozapine. In addition, KKHA-761 significantly reversed the disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) produced by apomorphine in mice, indicating the antidopaminergic or antipsychotic activity of KKHA-761 in mice. However, KKHA-761 was inactive in the forced swimming behavioral despair model in mice, suggesting lack of antidepressant properties. KKHA-761 attenuated the hypothermia induced by a selective dopamine D3 agonist, 7-OH-DPAT, in mice, whereas clozapine enhanced it. Moderate doses of both KKHA-761 and clozapine did not increase serum prolactin levels in rats. Lower doses of, however, haloperidol significantly increased prolactin secretion. KKHA-761 did not induce cataleptic response up to 20 mg/kg, but significant catalepsy was shown at lower doses of clozapine and haloperidol. Furthermore, KKHA-761 showed a low incidence of rotarod ataxia (TD50=34.4 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. The present results, therefore, suggest that KKHA-761 is a potent antipsychotic agent with combined dopamine D3 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors modulation activity, which may further enhance its therapeutic potential for anxiety, psychotic depression, and other related disorders.

A series of 3-(3-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)methylidene-1-azabicycles synthesized showed different binding characteristics to acetylcholine receptors depending on the substituents on the phenyl ring. Small polar substituents gave preferential binding affinity to nicotinic receptors, and large hydrophobic substituents to muscarinic receptors.

Two series of compounds, 2 and 3, were synthesized and their binding affinities were evaluated for the human recombinant muscarinic M(1) receptor subtype expressed in CHO cells. Comparing their binding affinities for the NMS binding sites and the Oxo-M binding sites, they were assumed as agonists. In particular, compound 2e was a good ligand for the agonist binding sites with an IC(50) of 23 nM, which represents over 1585 times stronger binding than for the antagonist binding sites.

Two series of compounds, 2 and 3, were synthesized and their binding affinities were evaluated for the human recombinant muscarinic M1 receptor subtype expressed in CHO cells. Comparing their binding affinities for the NMS binding sites and the Oxo-M binding sites, they were assumed as agonists. In particular, compound 2e was a good ligand for the agonist binding sites with an IC50 of 23 nM, which represents over 1585 times stronger binding than for the antagonist binding sites.

In search of novel antipigmentation agents, a set of 3,840 compounds with natural-like synthetic or natural origin were screened against Kit (stem cell factor receptor). Emodin from the seed of Cassia tora and baicalin from Scutellariae radix showed potent inhibitory effects (IC(50) = 4.9 and 9.0 microM, respectively) on the phosphorylation of Kit. Emodin also blocked other receptor tyrosine kinase activities, such as epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR-1), platelet-derived growth factor receptor b (PDGFR-b). In contrast to emodin, aloe-emodin did not inhibit Kit activity at all. Emodin also blocked the cellular kinase activities of Kit and its down-stream p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in MO7e cells and human primary melanocytes. Emodin strongly suppressed the melanin synthesis triggered by stem cell factor (SCF) treatment. Also, emodin showed almost no toxicity up to 10 microM on cultured melanocytes as reported previously by other researchers. The results indicate that emodin is a good candidate for the development of antipigmentation agents since it can radically block the differentiation and proliferation of pigment cells by reducing Kit signaling.

1-(2-ethoxy-phenyl)-4-[3-(3-thiophen-2-yl-isoxazolin-5-yl)-propyl]-piperazine (KCH-1110), has a high affinity for human dopamine D3 (hD3) receptor (Ki=1.28 nM) with about 90-fold selectivity over the human dopamine D2L (hD2L) receptor. Antipsychotic or antidopaminergic activity of KCH-1110 was investigated in the models for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, apomorphine-induced climbing and cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, in mice. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) or oral (p.o.) administration of KCH-1110 potently inhibited the apomorphine-induced cage climbing without any rotarod ataxia in mice. Cocaine-induced hyperactivity was also antagonised by KCH-1110. In addition, KCH-1110 attenuated the hypothermia induced by a selective dopamine D3 agonist, 7-OH-DPAT in mice. KCH-1110 did not induce catalepsy in mice, but at much higher doses only a slight catalepsy response was shown. Although high doses of KCH-1110 significantly enhanced serum prolactin secretion in rats, low dose of KCH-1110 did not increase prolactin levels in rats. The present studies, therefore, suggest that KCH-1110 is a potent and relatively selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist with antipsychotic actions.