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As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued for a couple of years, the long-term effects of the pandemic and the subsequent school curriculum modification on the mental health of children and parents need to be investigated. To clarify the changes that can occur during one school year and to predict the risk factors for vulnerable groups, this study identified parameters relative to children's screen time, their problematic behavior, and parental depression.A total of 186 participants were analyzed who were parents of elementary schoolchildren in South Korea. These parents were required to complete a web-based questionnaire twice. The questionnaires were conducted in June 2020 and September 2021. Participants' general demographics including family income, children's screen time, sleep patterns, problematic behavior, and parental depression were assessed via the parental questionnaire that included various measurement tools.Children's body mass index (BMI) increased significantly in 2021 (18.94 ± 3.75 vs. 18.14 ± 3.30,This study suggested that children's smartphone screen time and BMI increased during COVID-19 because of the school curriculum modification following school closures in South Korea. The increased children's problematic behaviors and parental depression were predicted by lower-income households and the previous psychiatric history of children. These results indicate that multiple social support systems to the vulnerable group are needed during the ongoing pandemic and that a modified school setting is required.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Koreans, and eating habits, including diet quality, are among the etiologies of these diseases. Recently, various studies on regional health disparities have been conducted. However, there are limited studies on their relationship with nutritional factors. This study aimed to identify the magnitude of regional disparities in diet quality and prevalence of CVD in Korean adults.This study included 17,646 participants aged ≥ 20 years from the 7In terms of demographic characteristics, age (This study provides useful information and data in identifying and resolving the regional health disparities related to CVD prevalence and implementation of public health nutrition systems.

This study analyzed purchasing characteristics of local agricultural products and processed products as well as evaluated operation programs for Changnyeon festival participants. The purchasing rates of local agricultural products and processed products at this festival were 63.6% and 49.1%, respectively, and the main purchased crops were onion (42.6%) and garlic (20.7%). Drinks (43.6%) were highly purchased processed products. The recognition (95.3%) and preferences (98.4%) for Changyeong local agricultural products were high at this festival. Subjects (72.5%) responded that public relations were effective for sale at this festival, and evaluation of the operation program for the festival was (total score 5 points). Satisfaction with the experience event (37.7%) and exhibition event (33.6%) were high at this festival program, whereas participants gave low rates for art exhibition and sale events of local agricultural products (16.2%), cooking education (14.7%), direct education program (12.9%), and games (12.1%). This festival was an effective means of public relations, although purchase effects were not significant. This result suggests that the festival is necessary for planning a program to increase purchasing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among recognition, preference, and purchasing characteristics for Changnyeong onions and garlic as well as festival satisfaction among participants at agricultural product festivals in the Changnyeong region. Results showed that festival satisfaction of `place of festival` was highest while `convenience facility & event contents` earned the lowest scores. Most subjects (90.5%) had purchased Changnyeong agricultural and processed products. A major purchasing type was fresh agricultural products (66.7%). The pathways to recognize Changnyeong agricultural products were mostly `promotion by related institutions` (22.0%), `family relatives` (20.8%), `mass media` (16.6%), and `festivals and events` (16.1%). The most considered factors for purchasing regional products were `geographical origin` and `ingredients`. Changnyeong onion showed higher scores for recognition and preference and rate of purchase experience and intention than for garlic. The correlation coefficients of recognition and preference for onion and galic were 0.603 (p) of related variables for purchase of Changnyeong onions was 0.258. The regression coefficients () for `recognition`, `preference` and `convenient facility & event contents` were positive, whereas the regression coefficient for `price` was negative. Recognition, preference, and convenient facility & event contents with garlic purchase showed a positive relationship (

This study investigated the interrelations among acculturative stress, recognition, preference and eating frequency of Korean traditional food by Chinese students in Korea. The acculturative stress score was 3.06±0.32, ‘homesickness’ score was the highest (3.92±0.62) and ‘guiltscore’ score was the lowest (2.28±1.04). The rate of preferred for Korean food was low (20.5%). The places for eating Korean food were ‘restaurant’ (49.6%) and ‘school cafeteria’ (41.1%). The cooking experience regarding Korean food was 45.0% and they had cooked ‘Bulgogi’ (26.7%) and ‘Bibimbap’ (21.9%). The recognition score for Korean traditional food was 0.70±0.27. The preference score for Korean traditional food was 3.14±0.54, and the favorite foods were ‘Galbi’ and ‘Galbitang’ while ‘Ggakdugi’ was the lowest. The eating frequency for Korean traditional food was 2.15±0.82, and ‘Baechukimchi’ and ‘Bibimbap’ were comparatively high. The acculturative stress showed no correlation with the recognition, preference and eating frequency of Korean traditional food. The recognition of Korean traditional food correlated positively with the eating frequency (r=0.175, p

To investigate neural processes underlying temporal credit assignment in the striatum, we recorded neuronal activity in the dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum (DMS and DLS, respectively) of rats performing a dynamic foraging task in which a choice has to be remembered until its outcome is revealed for correct credit assignment. Choice signals appeared sequentially, initially in the DMS and then in the DLS, and they were combined with action value and reward signals in the DLS when choice outcome was revealed. Unlike in conventional dynamic foraging tasks, neural signals for chosen value were elevated in neither brain structure. These results suggest that dynamics of striatal neural signals related to evaluating choice outcome might differ drastically depending on the requirement for temporal credit assignment. In a behavioral context requiring temporal credit assignment, the DLS, but not the DMS, might be in charge of updating the value of chosen action by integrating choice, action value, and reward signals together.

Inhibitory interneurons are thought to play crucial roles in diverse brain functions. However, roles of different inhibitory interneuron subtypes in working memory remain unclear. We found distinct activity patterns and stimulation effects of two major interneuron subtypes, parvalbumin (PV)- and somatostatin (SOM)-expressing interneurons, in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice performing a spatial working memory task. PV interneurons showed weak target-dependent delay-period activity and were strongly inhibited by reward. By contrast, SOM interneurons showed strong target-dependent delay-period activity, and only a subtype of them was inhibited by reward. Furthermore, optogenetic stimulation of PV and SOM interneurons preferentially suppressed discharges of putative pyramidal cells and interneurons, respectively. These results indicate different contributions of PV and SOM interneurons to prefrontal cortical circuit dynamics underlying working memory.

This study was conducted to provide basic data for development of a dietary education textbook and guidebook by investigating and analyzing eating behavior, nutrition knowledge and educational needs in elementary school students. Most of the subjects were eating three meals a day (71.5%) and breakfast (75.3%). The percentage of students who consumed proper amount of meals (49.2%) was low. The percentage of students consuming salty food and fatty foods was 28.6% and 42.1%, respectively. The consumption of meat, fish, egg, bean and tofu was high, while the consumption of vegetables, fruits and seaweed was low. The percentage of students consuming processed food was high, but the percentage reading nutrition labels (34.9%) and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) mark (26.9%) when buying processed foods was very low. Total scores of eating behavior and nutrition knowledge were significantly higher in female students than in male students (p < 0.05-p < 0.001). The desirable frequency of the education was once a week (60.5%). The most preferred educational method was ‘experiment and cooking practice’ (40.1%). The students wanted dietary information as ‘cooking’ (39.0%). As a result of this study, many problems were found in the eating behavior of students and nutritional knowledge was observed to be low as well. On the other hand, the demand for dietary education was very high. The findings of this study suggested the need for developing dietary education programs in order to encourage proper eating habits of students. (Korean J Community Nutr 18(1) : 11~24, 2013)