Smart Tourism of the Korea: A Case Study

The utilization of Information Technology (IT) is spreading in tourism industry with explosive growth of Internet, Social Network Service (SNS) through smart phone applications. Especially, since intensive information has high value on tourism area, IT is becoming a crucial factor in the tourism industry. The smart tourism is explained as an holistic approach that provide tour information, service related to travel, such as destination, food, transportation, reservation, travel guide, conveniently to tourists through IT devices. In our research, we focus on the Korea Tourism Organization’s (KTO’s) smart tourism case. This research concentrates on the necessity and effectiveness of smart tourism which delivers travel information in real-time base. Also, our study overview how KTO’s IT operation manages each channel, website, SNS, applications and finally suggests the smart tourism’s future direction for the successful realization

Negative regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signalling cascade by lupeol inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background: Constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling 3 (STAT3) has been linked with survival, proliferation and angiogenesis in a wide variety of malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We evaluated the effect of lupeol on STAT3 signalling cascade and its regulated functional responses in HCC cells. Results: Lupeol suppressed constitutive activation of STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 residue effectively in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of Janus-activated kinases (JAKs) 1 and 2 and Src was also suppressed by lupeol. Pervanadate treatment reversed the downregulation of phospho-STAT3 induced by lupeol, thereby indicating the involvement of a phosphatase. Indeed, we observed that treatment with lupeol increased the protein and mRNA levels of SHP-2, and silencing of SHP-2 abolished the inhibitory effects of lupeol on STAT3 activation. Treatment with lupeol also downregulated the expression of diverse STAT3-regulated genes and decreased the binding of STAT3 to VEGF promoter. Moreover, the proliferation of various HCC cells was significantly suppressed by lupeol, being associated with substantial induction of apoptosis. Depletion of SHP-2 reversed the observed antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of lupeol. Conclusions: Lupeol exhibited its potential anticancer effects in HCC through the downregulation of STAT3-induced pro-survival signalling cascade

Ruxolitinib for Glucocorticoid-Refractory Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease

BACKGROUND: Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major limitation of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation; not all patients have a response to standard glucocorticoid treatment. In a phase 2 trial, ruxolitinib, a selective Janus kinase (JAK1 and JAK2) inhibitor, showed potential efficacy in patients with glucocorticoid-refractory acute GVHD. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial comparing the efficacy and safety of oral ruxolitinib (10 mg twice daily) with the investigator's choice of therapy from a list of nine commonly used options (control) in patients 12 years of age or older who had glucocorticoid-refractory acute GVHD after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. The primary end point was overall response (complete response or partial response) at day 28. The key secondary end point was durable overall response at day 56. RESULTS: A total of 309 patients underwent randomization; 154 patients were assigned to the ruxolitinib group and 155 to the control group. Overall response at day 28 was higher in the ruxolitinib group than in the control group (62% [96 patients] vs. 39% [61]; odds ratio, 2.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65 to 4.22; P<0.001). Durable overall response at day 56 was higher in the ruxolitinib group than in the control group (40% [61 patients] vs. 22% [34]; odds ratio, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.43 to 3.94; P<0.001). The estimated cumulative incidence of loss of response at 6 months was 10% in the ruxolitinib group and 39% in the control group. The median failure-free survival was considerably longer with ruxolitinib than with control (5.0 months vs. 1.0 month; hazard ratio for relapse or progression of hematologic disease, non-relapse-related death, or addition of new systemic therapy for acute GVHD, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.60). The median overall survival was 11.1 months in the ruxolitinib group and 6.5 months in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.15). The most common adverse events up to day 28 were thrombocytopenia (in 50 of 152 patients [33%] in the ruxolitinib group and 27 of 150 [18%] in the control group), anemia (in 46 [30%] and 42 [28%], respectively), and cytomegalovirus infection (in 39 [26%] and 31 [21%]). CONCLUSIONS: Ruxolitinib therapy led to significant improvements in efficacy outcomes, with a higher incidence of thrombocytopenia, the most frequent toxic effect, than that observed with control therapy

Quality of Life Subjective Expectations and Exchange from Hosting Mega-Events

This study examined residents’ quality of life contexts due to the mega-events (F1 Korean Grand Prix 2010 and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics) based on an insider’s perspective (emic approach). The study investigated the residents’ quality of life contexts due to hosting the mega-events, which are suitable for understanding changes in social patterns among residents. Specifically, the study investigated diverse phenomena surrounding two mega-events and their relation to the quality of life with qualitative methods of participant observation and in-depth interviews. The phenomenon for the quality of life represented socioeconomic effect, educational impact on the local community, infrastructure development, recreational and cultural experience, emotional use of life, community spirit, and direct economic exchange. The subject phenomenon of quality of life examined the Residents’ Perception of Quality of Life, Subjective Expectations and Exchange, and the Relationship Model. The relationship model shows that the mega-event host community residents’ daily life experience from the individual or collective social exchanges influences their perception of the quality of life and the areas of life. Meanwhile, the factors, including individual social interaction, recreational and cultural experience, and the emotional use of life, positively or negatively influence the residents’ perception of the quality of life. Finally, the standards and procedures of the perception of the quality of life appear different depending on the type of residents and whether they have direct economic exchange experience

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Leisure Participation through the Perspective of Leisure Inequalities in Later Life

This study examined the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and leisure involvement in various meaningful activities under the political economy of aging and life course. The stepwise multiple and ordinal regression model revealed that the individual factors of older adults were significantly associated with leisure involvement: age (younger adults), gender (men), education level (higher education), perceived economic satisfaction (higher satisfaction with their financial condition), and perceived health (higher satisfaction with their health) variables were significantly related to more frequent participation in domestic leisure travel. Additionally, gender and education level were associated with leisure-time exercise; the four variables (gender, education level, economic activity, and perceived financial satisfaction) were related to leisure-time social activities. Contrary to our expectation, older adults who are older and with lower education were more likely to participate in volunteering activities. The results suggested that older adults’ sociodemographic characteristics play an essential role in leisure behavior. The extent to which these characteristics affect leisure participation varies with different types of activities and cultural contexts

Developing a Cooperative Model Converging Both Convention and Medical Tourism Stakeholders: Based on Deutsch’s Cooperation Theory

This study aimed to develop the cooperative model converging stakeholders in both the convention and medical tourism sectors. It was to derive factors representing collaboration toward common goals and values recognized by both sectors from the stakeholders&rsquo; perspectives through qualitative research methods. The study applied Deutsch&rsquo;s cooperation theory, which states that cooperation is directed toward group goals and selected due to rational decision-making. For a systematic and reliable analysis of the collected data, Spradley&rsquo;s 12-stage technique was modified into seven stages, such as the domain, taxonomic, and component analyses, to fit this study&rsquo;s context. The convention-medical tourism cooperation model was aptly named &ldquo;CON-MED&rdquo; cooperation model

Sustainable Aging and Leisure Behaviors: Do Leisure Activities Matter in Aging Well?

A substantial portion of the gerontological literature has been directed towards the relationship between leisure and aging, particularly with the healthy life of older adults. The concept of leisure conveys varied meanings to persons, including identifying the leisure itself, the activity’s frequency, and its value to the participant. With increased longevity, the concept of aging well and related terms (e.g., “active aging”, “successful aging”, “productive aging”, “positive aging”, “healthy aging”, and “sustainable aging”) have been emerging themes for academic fields related to gerontology, exercise promotion, health care, and leisure activities. Thus, the aging population and human leisure activities must be considered sustainable as sustainability is primarily human-centered. This study explores older adults’ perceptions of leisure and aging well and their leisure behavior at senior welfare centers using qualitative data collection and methodology. Findings suggest that four main themes emerge: unfamiliarity with the concept of leisure and leisure engagement; evolving perceptions of senior centers and leisure benefits; limited physical functioning as a major leisure constraint; perceptions of major factors for aging well. Implications for researchers and policymakers are discussed