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BackgroundThe two-dimensional (2D)-based left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder (LAAO) size determination by using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is limited by the structural complexity and wide anatomical variation of the LAA.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the accuracy of the LAAO size determination by implantation simulation by using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed model compared with the conventional method based on TEE.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients with anatomically and physiologically properly implanted the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug and Amulet LAAO devices between January 2014 and December 2018 by using the final size of the implanted devices as a standard for size prediction accuracy. The use of 3D-printed model simulations in device sizing was compared with the conventional TEE-based method.ResultsA total of 28 cases with the percutaneous LAA occlusion were reviewed. There was a minimal difference [−0.11 mm; 95% CI (−0.93, 0.72 mm); P = 0.359] between CT-based reconstructed 3D images and 3D-printed left atrium (LA) models. Device size prediction based on TEE measurements showed poor agreement (32.1%), with a mean difference of 2.3 ± 3.2 mm [95% CI (−4.4, 9.0)]. The LAAO sizing by implantation simulation with 3D-printed models showed excellent correlation with the actually implanted LAAO size (r = 0.927; bias = 0.7 ± 2.5). The agreement between the 3D-printed and the implanted size was 67.9%, with a mean difference of 0.6 mm [95% CI (−1.9, 3.2)].ConclusionThe use of 3D-printed LA models in the LAAO size determination showed improvement in comparison with conventional 2D TEE method.

Purpose – It is well known that chemyon, referred to by Westerners as face, naturally penetrates the daily life of Asians and influences their cognition, emotion, and behavior. Studies related to chemyon have been conducted in marketing and consumer behavior fields (e.g., luxury products or brands, service failure and recovery, brand preferences, consumer decision making, wedding ceremony, gift giving). A bulk of studies demonstrate that chemyon influences consumption behavior in Asian consumers. Although chemyon significantly influences consumption behavior of Asian consumers, it is also a cultural phenomenon that is not completely explained within the Western viewpoint. Whereas a number of researchers have approached cross-cultural studies of Asian and Western consumers, a limited number of studies have examined it from the perspective of chemyom. The purpose of this study is to compare the phenomenon that chemyon (face) not only affects the consumption behavior of Asia and the West universally (pan-culturally), but also distinctively (culture-specifically). That is, the purpose of this study is to describe that chemyon (face) is not only a culture-specific phenomenon but also a universal phenomenon in the consumption behavior of Asian and Western consumers, even though the extent that chemyon (face) impacts consumption behavior is differentiated. This study aims to understand commonalities and differences between Asian and Western consumption behavior in terms of chemyon (face), and to suggest how to enhance marketing effectiveness in a global market based on understanding the consumption behavior of Asia and the West. Research design, data, and methodology – Using systematic literature review and meta-analysis, this study investigates consumption behavior of Asian and Western consumers from the perspective of chemyon (face). Systematic literature review was used to compare face (chemyon) consumption of Western consumers with that of Asian consumers. To verify systematic literature review, meta-analysis was also accomplished. Results – First, the influence of face (chemyon) on consumption behavior is observed in Western consumers as well as Asian consumers. Second, Asian consumers are more influenced by face (chemyon) than Western consumers. Conclusions – Overall, chemyon (face) can affect the consumption behavior of Asians as well as the consumption behavior of Westerners.

Proteinopathy in neurodegenerative diseases is typically characterized by deteriorating activity of specific protein aggregates. In tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), tau protein abnormally accumulates and induces dysfunction of the affected neurons. Despite active identification of tau modifications responsible for tau aggregation, a critical modulator inducing tau proteinopathy by affecting its protein degradation flux is not known. Here, we report that anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a receptor tyrosine kinase, is crucial for the tau-mediated AD pathology. ALK caused abnormal accumulation of highly phosphorylated tau in the somatodendritic region of neurons through its tyrosine kinase activity. ALK-induced LC3-positive axon swelling and loss of spine density, leading to tau-dependent neuronal degeneration. Notably, ALK activation in neurons impaired Stx17-dependent autophagosome maturation and this defect was reversed by a dominant-negative Grb2. In a Drosophila melanogaster model, transgenic flies neuronally expressing active Drosophila Alk exhibited the aggravated tau rough eye phenotype with retinal degeneration and shortened lifespan. In contrast, expression of kinase-dead Alk blocked these phenotypes. Consistent with the previous RNAseq analysis showing upregulation of ALK expression in AD [1], ALK levels were significantly elevated in the brains of AD patients showing autophagosomal defects. Injection of an ALK.Fc-lentivirus exacerbated memory impairment in 3xTg-AD mice. Conversely, pharmacologic inhibition of ALK activity with inhibitors reversed the memory impairment and tau accumulation in both 3xTg-AD and tauC3 (caspase-cleaved tau) transgenic mice. Together, we propose that aberrantly activated ALK is a bona fide mediator of tau proteinopathy that disrupts autophagosome maturation and causes tau accumulation and aggregation, leading to neuronal dysfunction in AD.

A validation study for primary formaldehyde gas standards was performed at three National Metrology Institutes: the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the National Institute of Metrology of China (NIM). The studied materials had a nominal amount fraction of 2 μmol/mol formaldehyde in nitrogen balance and were prepared in 10-L aluminum cylinders by KRISS. The impurities in the materials were analyzed using a gas chromatograph/atomic emission detector and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The stability of the materials was assessed for 1 year by KRISS using paraformaldehyde as a source for the primary standard gas and a cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS) instrument as the measurement method. The amount fraction of formaldehyde in the materials decreased linearly by 0.74 % each month. The studied materials that exhibited similar linear rates of decline were distributed to the participants. After the measurement was completed by the participants, the materials were returned to KRISS and the stability analysis based on the primary standard maintained at KRISS was repeated. NMIJ analyzed the materials using paraformaldehyde as the source of the primary standard of formaldehyde and FTIR analysis, whereas NIM used trioxane as the primary standard gas source and CRDS analysis. The results of the comparison revealed good agreement between the results and were within the expanded uncertainty of 2 % although each of them used different combinations of methods in the generation of primary gas standards and measurements.

This study invesigated the physicochemical properties of rice flours from conventional and high-yielding rice varieties in order to enhance usability processing of high-yielding rice varieties. Moisture content was not remarkably different among rice flours by cultivar. The highest content of total free sugars was detected in Hopum rice. Apparent amylose content of Anda was higher than that of other rice varieties. The total amount of amino acids was highest in Anda rice among the rice cultivars. Contents of vitamin B 1 in Hanarum were highest among the rice cultivars. Initial pasting temperature was lowest in Anda rice (60.10 o C). Hanarum rice showed the lowest setback values among the rice flours.

This experiment was carried out to determine the optimum planting density for rice pot seedling cultivation in wheat-rice double cropping system in Honam plain area. A mid-late maturing rice variety 'Chinnong' was raised in pot seedling tray and conventional tray for 30 days, and then transplanted on June 25 in 2012 and 2013. Four different planting densities (15.2, 18.9, 21.6, and 25.3 hills per m 2 ) in pot seedlings were applied as treatment. Conventional tray seedling was implicated as control at a single planting density of 27.8 hills per m 2 . In this experiment, the number of effective tillers was increased as planting density increasing, but stem diameter was decreased. Pot seedling showed higher stem diameter and effective tillers than the control. Heading dates of pot seedling plots were not significantly different between the planting densities but 2 days faster than the control. Culm length, number of panicles, panicle length, and ripening grain ratio were higher in pot seedling compared to the control, but 1000-grain weight showed no significant difference. Milled rice yields in pot seedlings ranged from 5.19 to 5.43 t ha -1 , and the highest yield was observed in 21.6 hills per m 2 . Head rice ratios in pot seedlings and the controls were not significantly different. Above results on planting density of rice pot seedling cultivation would be applicable to wheat-rice double cropping and also to late transplanting cultivation of rice single cropping.

Light intensity is one of the most important requirements for plant growth, affecting growth, development, survival, and crop productivity. Sunlight is the main energy source on Earth which is energy used by photosynthesis to convert light energy to chemical energy. In this study, the light use efficiency and photosynthetic characteristics of high-quality rice cultivars were evaluated after shading on ripening stage. For the study, we treated of three levels of shade (0, 50 and 70%) on rice at ripening stage and two levels of nitrogen (9 and 18 kg/10a) used three high yielding rice cultivars, such as Boramchan, Hopum, and Honong. The shade was given for the respective plots from heading up to harvesting. We were performed to determine growth survey, SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence every 10 days interval after shading on ripening stage. At harvest stage, grain yield and yield components were determined. Results of analysis of the results representing the maximum photosynthetic efficiency of PSII, Fv/Fm, and SPAD were decreased by depending on the time at full sunlight. But shade treatments were not changed and a significant difference among cultivars did not appear. Compared with the full sunlight, shade treatments significantly delayed ripening rate and decreased rice quality of cultivated rice. Therefore, rice yield, can be reduced in proportion to the shading density is apparent, the rate of decrease was not observed difference between varieties, when protected from light 70%, and decreased to less than 50%. The adverse effects of low light intensity on the yield and yield components were not able to significantly minimize by the nitrogen level.

Korean Abstract: 금융소비자들이 자산관리를 함에 있어서 자산배분에 관한 의사결정은 금융소비자들의 복리를 결정하는 중요한 요인 중 하나라고 할 수 있다. 금융소비자들의 자산배분과 관련된 기존 연구들은 사회 및 인구통계학적 요인, 사회문화적 요인, 심리적 요인을 중심으로 이루어져 온 반면 본 연구는 불확실성 회피 성향 및 성과물 평가와 관련된 금융소비자들의 자기해석(self-construal)이 금융상품 간 자산배분에 어떻게 영향을 미치는지를 살펴보았다. 연구 방법으로는 대학생들을 대상으로 실험 설문 방식을 활용하였고, 자산배분 대상은 확정이자형 금융상품과 투자형 금융상품으로 구분하였으며, 계층적 회귀분석 방법을 활용하여 자기해석에 따라 저축상품과 투자형 상품에 어떻게 자산배분을 하는지를 살펴보았다. 대학생들을 대상으로 실시한 본 연구에서 발견된 사항을 요약해 보면 독립적 자기해석을 하는 사람에 비해 상호의존적 자기해석을 하는 사람의 경우 저축상품에 대한 자산배분 비중이 높은 경향이 있는 반면 상호의존적 자기해석을 하는 사람에 비해 독립적 자기해석을 하는 사람의 경우 투자형 상품에 대한 자산배분 비중이 높은 경향이 있음을 발견하였다는 점이다. 이상에서 발견된 사항과 관련된 이론적 및 실무적 시사점을 금융마케팅, 금융소비자행동, 금융 정책적 관점에서 기술하여 놓았다. English Abstract: For financial consumers, decision making regarding asset allocation plays an important role in financial consumers' well-being. While prior research on asset allocation with respect to financial products focused on socio-demographic, socio-cultural, or psychological factors, this study investigates the influence of financial consumers' self-construal on asset allocation among a given set of financial products. Financial products were divided into two types: saving product and investment products. Experimental study was conducted and the resulting data was analyzed using hierarchical regression. The findings are summarized as follows: self-construal impacts asset allocation. More specifically, the stronger the interdependent self-construal participants held, compared to independent self-construal participants, the more assets allocated to saving product. In contrast, the stronger the independent self-construal participants held, compared to interdependent self-construal participants, the more assets allocated to investment products. Theoretical and practical implications were described in perspective of financial marketing, financial consumer behavior and financial policy.