Vendors as Environmental Stakeholders: Lessons from a Regional Sports Event event

This paper examines the impact of vendor management on the recycling programme of a regional sports event. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the norm activation model (NAM), the organizer's leverage strategies were qualitatively assessed for their effectiveness in promoting vendor recycling behaviour. The findings identified vague selection criteria, unclear expectations, limited engagement, the lack of communication and poor coordination as weaknesses in the organizer's leverage strategies. In particular, the altruistic strategy of information dissemination "“ deployed infrequently and unaided by utilitarian measures such as economic incentives and formal sanctions "“ did not encourage recycling behaviour. The impact of social influence showed that subjective norms were not merely a predictor of behaviour (as per the TPB), they influenced the NAM's dual-criteria, namely, awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility. The absence of back-of-house disposal facilities, inconsistent bin system, poor labelling of the recycling bins and infrequent bin clearance significantly lowered the vendors' recycling rate. More importantly, convenience was found to influence norm activation, in that inefficient recycling logistics furnished the vendors with an excuse not to recycle. Thus, convenience was not merely as an aspect of TPB's perceived behavioural control, this determinant influenced personal norms. Where weak environmental norms prevail, it may be necessary to impose formal sanctions to enforce recycling, even though formal sanctions cannot ensure lasting recycling behaviour

Scopariadulcis (SDF7) endowed with glucose uptake properties on L6 myotubes compared insulin.

Aim of the study Insulin stimulates glucoseuptake and promotes the translocation of glucose transporter 4 (Glut 4) to the plasma membrane on L6myotubes. The aim of this study is to investigate affect of Scopariadulcis Linn water extracts on glucoseuptake activity and the Glut 4 translocation components (i.e., IRS-1, PI 3-kinase, PKB/Akt2, PKC and TC 10) in L6myotubescompared to insulin. Materials and methods Extract from TLC fraction-7 (SDF7) was used in this study. The L6myotubes were treated by various concentrations of SDF7 (1 to 50 μg/ml) and insulin (1 to 100 nM). The glucoseuptake activities of L6myotubes were evaluated using 2-Deoxy-D-glucoseuptake assay in with or without fatty acid-induced medium. The Glut 4 translocation components in SDF7-treated L6myotubes were detected using immunoblotting and quantified by densitometry compared to insulin. Plasma membrane lawn assay and glycogen colorimetry assay were carried out in SDF7- and insulin-treated L6myotubes in this study. Results Here, our data clearly shows that SDF7 possesses glucoseuptakeproperties on L6myotubes that are dose-dependent, time-dependent and plasma membrane Glut 4 expression-dependent. SDF7 successfully stimulates glucoseuptake activity as potent as insulin at a maximum concentration of 50 μg/ml at 480 min on L6myotubes. Furthermore, SDF7 stimulates increased Glut 4 expression and translocation to plasma membranes at equivalent times. Even in the insulin resistance stage (free fatty acids-induced), SDF7-treated L6myotubes were found to be more capable at glucose transport than insulin treatment. Conclusions Thus, we suggested that Scopariadulcis has the potential to be categorized as a hypoglycemic medicinal plant based on its good glucose transport properties

Status of MgB2 superconducting wires at Sam Dong

MgB2 superconducting wires have remarkable potential as cost-effective materials for transformers, generators, power transmission, and superconducting magnetic energy storage to enable highly efficient power-grid networks for sustainable development. Herein, we report multifilamentary MgB2 wires with variously designed architectures that have been developed by Sam Dong Co., Ltd. The customized manufacturing process can also produce long-length pieces up to 3 km in length, indispensable in constructing large-scale devices, including cables. Based on this progress, we will continue to develop high-performance MgB2 wires and related superconducting technologies

Bioactivity-guided isolation of anticancer agents from Bauhinia kockiana Korth

Background: Flowers of Bauhinia kockiana were investigated for their anticancer properties. Methods: Gallic acid (1), and methyl gallate (2), were isolated via bioassay-directed isolation, and they exhibited anticancer properties towards several cancer cell lines, examined using MTT cell viability assay. Pyrogallol (3) was examined against the same cancer cell lines to deduce the bioactive functional group of the phenolic compounds. Results: The results showed that the phenolic compounds could exhibit moderate to weak cytotoxicity towards certain cell lines (GI50 30 - 86 µM), but were inactive towards DU145 prostate cancer cell (GI50 > 100 µM). Conclusion: It was observed that pyrogallol moiety was one of the essential functional structures of the phenolic compounds in exhibiting anticancer activity. Also, the carboxyl group of compound 1 was also important in anticancer activity. Examination of the PC-3 cells treated with compound 1 using fluorescence microscopy showed that PC-3 cells were killed by apoptosis

A case of McKusick-Kaufman syndrome

McKusick-Kaufman syndrome (MKS) is an autosomal recessive multiple malformation syndrome characterized by hydrometrocolpos (HMC) and postaxial polydactyly (PAP). We report a case of a female child with MKS who was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of Seoul National University Children's Hospital on her 15th day of life for further evaluation and management of an abdominal cystic mass. She underwent abdominal sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, genitography and cystoscopy which confirmed HMC with a transverse vaginal septum. X-rays of the hand and foot showed bony fusion of the left third and fourth metacarpal bones, right fourth dysplastic metacarpal bone and phalanx, right PAP and hypoplastic left foot with left fourth and fifth dysplastic metatarsal bones. In addition, she had soft palate cleft, mild hydronephroses of both kidneys, hypoplastic right kidney with ectopic location and mild rotation, uterine didelphys with transverse vaginal septum and low-type imperforated anus. She was temporarily treated with ultrasound-guided transurethral aspiration of the HMC. Our patient with HMC and PAP was diagnosed with MKS because she has two typical abnormality of MKS and she has no definite complications of retinal disease, learning disability, obesity and renal failure that develop in Bardet-Biedl syndrome, but not in MKS until 33 months of age. Here, we describe a case of a Korean patient with MKS

Misdiagnosis of fetus-in-fetu as meconium peritonitis

Fetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a fetiform mass is detected in the host abdomen and also in other sites such as the intracranium, thorax, head, and neck. This condition has been rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we report the case of a fetus presenting with abdominal cystic mass and ascites and prenatally diagnosed as meconium pseudocyst. Explorative laparotomy revealed an irregular fetiform mass in the retroperitoneum within a fluid-filled cyst. The mass contained intestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and finger. Fetal abdominal cystic mass has been identified in a broad spectrum of diseases. However, as in our case, FIF is often overlooked during differential diagnosis. FIF should also be differentiated from other conditions associated with fetal abdominal masses

Selective area epitaxy of ultra-high density InGaN quantum dots by diblock copolymer lithography

Highly uniform InGaN-based quantum dots (QDs) grown on a nanopatterned dielectric layer defined by self-assembled diblock copolymer were performed by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The cylindrical-shaped nanopatterns were created on SiNx layers deposited on a GaN template, which provided the nanopatterning for the epitaxy of ultra-high density QD with uniform size and distribution. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements were conducted to investigate the QDs morphology. The InGaN/GaN QDs with density up to 8 × 1010 cm-2 are realized, which represents ultra-high dot density for highly uniform and well-controlled, nitride-based QDs, with QD diameter of approximately 22-25 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) studies indicated the importance of NH3 annealing and GaN spacer layer growth for improving the PL intensity of the SiNx-treated GaN surface, to achieve high optical-quality QDs applicable for photonics devices

Risk Factors for Periventricular-Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Premature Infants

Periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PV-IVH) is a major cause of neurological disabilities in preterm newborns. This study aimed to determine the perinatal factors associated with PV-IVH. We conducted a retrospective case-control study from preterm infants born at ≤34 weeks of gestation and admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between June 2003 and December 2007. Neonates with no cranial sonographic data or infants transferred from other centers after three days of age were excluded. Of 1,044 eligible subjects, 59 infants with PV-IVH grade 2, 3, and 4 were allocated to the case group. The control group consisted of 118 infants without PV-IVH who were matched for gestational age and birth weight to each case of PV-IVH. At the multivariate logistic regression model, metabolic acidosis (odds ratio [OR]: 6.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-43.23) and use of inotropes (OR: 3.70; 95% CI: 1.16-11.84) were associated with an increased risk of PV-IVH. Maternal use of antenatal corticosteroids decreases the risk of PV-IVH (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.92)