Psychological, Social Environmental, and Physical Environmental Variables in Explaining Physical Activity in Korean Older Adults

The current study investigated the direct and indirect paths of psychological, social environmental, and physical environmental variables in explaining physical activity among Korean older adults. A total of 401 adults aged 65 years old or older (Mage = 75.17 years, SD = ±7.24) were recruited from the Nowon district of northern Seoul. Standardized scales were used to measure physical activity and its related social ecological variables. The results indicated that physical activity was significantly correlated with self efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, family support, friend support, availability of facilities, and quality of facilities. All of psychological, social environmental, and physical environmental variables had a significant direct path to explain physical activity. In addition, self-efficacy and perceived benefits significantly mediated the relationship between family support and physical activity, and while the relationship between availability of facilities and physical activity was substantially mediated by perceived barriers. The current study implies that application of the social ecological model is warranted to provide a more concrete association of the contextual factors to explain physical activity and to design a more effective intervention for promoting physical activity among older adults.El presente estudio investigó los efectos directos e indirectos de las variables psicológicas, socioambientales y físicoambientales para explicar la actividad física entre los adultos mayores de Corea. Un total de 401 adultos de 65 años de edad o más (Medad = 75,17 años, DT = ± 7,24) fueron reclutados del distrito de Nowon, en el norte de Seúl. Se utilizaron escalas estandarizadas para medir la actividad física y sus variables sociales y ecológicas. Los resultados indicaron que la actividad física estaba significativamente correlacionada con la autoeficacia, los beneficios percibidos, las barreras percibidas, el apoyo familiar, el apoyo a los amigos, la disponibilidad de instalaciones y la calidad de las instalaciones. Todas las variables ambientales psicológicas, sociales, ambientales y físicas tenían un efecto directo significativo para explicar la actividad física. Además, la autoeficacia y los beneficios percibidos mediaron de forma significativa la relación entre el apoyo familiar y la actividad física, y mientras que la relación entre la disponibilidad de instalaciones y la actividad física estaba sustancialmente mediada por las barreras percibidas. El presente estudio implica que la aplicación del modelo socio-ecológico se justifica para proporcionar una asociación más concreta de los factores contextuales para explicar la actividad física y diseñar una intervención más eficaz para promover la actividad física entre los adultos mayores.O presente estudo investigou os caminhos diretos e indiretos das variáveis ambientais psicológicas, sociais, ambientais e físicas na explicação da atividade física entre idosos coreanos. Um total de 401 adultos com 65 anos de idade ou mais (Mage = 75,17 anos, DP = ± 7,24) foram recrutados no distrito de Nowon, no norte de Seul. Escalas padronizadas foram utilizadas para medir a atividade física e suas variáveis sociais e ecológicas. Os resultados indicaram que a atividade física estava significativamente correlacionada com auto-eficácia, benefícios percebidos, barreiras percebidas, apoio familiar, apoio amigo, disponibilidade de instalações e qualidade das instalações. Todas as variáveis ambientais psicológicas, sociais, ambientais e físicas tiveram um caminho direto significativo para explicar a atividade física. Além disso, a auto-eficácia e os benefícios percebidos mediaram significativamente a relação entre apoio familiar e atividade física, e enquanto a relação entre a disponibilidade de instalações ea atividade física era substancialmente mediada por barreiras percebidas. O presente estudo implica que a aplicação do modelo sócio-ecológico é justificada para proporcionar uma associação mais concreta dos fatores contextuais para explicar a atividade física e para projetar uma intervenção mais efetiva para promover a atividade física entre os adultos mais velhos

Pseudo-gap features of intrinsic tunneling in (HgBr_2)-Bi2212 single crystals

The c-axis tunneling properties of both pristine Bi2212 and its HgBr$_2$ intercalate have been measured in the temperature range 4.2 - 250 K. Lithographically patterned 7-10 unit-cell heigh mesa structures on the surfaces of these single crystals were investigated. Clear SIS-like tunneling curves for current applied in the $\it c$-axis direction have been observed. The dynamic conductance d$I/$d$V(V)$ shows both sharp peaks corresponding to a superconducting gap edge and a dip feature beyond the gap, followed by a wide maximum, which persists up to a room temperature. Shape of the temperature dependence of the {\it c}-axis resistance does not change after the intercalation suggesting that a coupling between $\rm CuO_2$-bilayers has little effect on the pseudogap.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; presented at the Second Int Conf. New3Sc-1999 (Las Vegas, NV

Nailing of Intertrochanteric Fractures: Review on Pitfalls and Technical Tips

AbstractThe authors describe the advantages and drawbacks of nailing over the dynamic hip screw for the fixation of hip fractures. The technical pitfalls of nailing and the tips to avoid failure of fixation in nailing have been discussed

Feasibility experiments of seismic concrete block walls without joint mortar

The authors developed two types of block systems consisting only of main block and key block without joint mortar in consideration of seismic performance and workability. Two types of block systems have different key block shapes: One is the peanuts shape and the other is the dumbbell shape. In this study, the proposed two types of block walls as well as a typical block wall were experimentally investigated to evaluate the seismic performance. In the tests, full-scale, single-story specimens were tested under static cyclic in-plane loading, and failure patterns and cracks were carefully observed. In this paper, the loading bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity and reuse ratio of block walls are discussed in detail. As a result, the deformability, energy absorption capacity and reuse ratio of the proposed block systems were considerably higher than those of typical block system

Use of signal sequences as an in situ removable sequence element to stimulate protein synthesis in cell-free extracts

This study developed a method to boost the expression of recombinant proteins in a cell-free protein synthesis system without leaving additional amino acid residues. It was found that the nucleotide sequences of the signal peptides serve as an efficient downstream box to stimulate protein synthesis when they were fused upstream of the target genes. The extent of stimulation was critically affected by the identity of the second codons of the signal sequences. Moreover, the yield of the synthesized protein was enhanced by as much as 10 times in the presence of an optimal second codon. The signal peptides were in situ cleaved and the target proteins were produced in their native sizes by carrying out the cell-free synthesis reactions in the presence of Triton X-100, most likely through the activation of signal peptidase in the S30 extract. The amplification of the template DNA and the addition of the signal sequences were accomplished by PCR. Hence, elevated levels of recombinant proteins were generated within several hours

Comparison of the Plasma Metabolome Profiles Between the Internal Thoracic Artery and Ascending Aorta in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Using Gas Chromatography Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

BackgroundThe left internal thoracic artery (LITA) has been used as the first conduit of choice in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) because of excellent long-term patency and outcomes. However, no studies have examined substances other than nitric oxide that could be beneficial for the bypass conduit, native coronary artery or ischemic myocardium. This study was conducted to evaluate differences in metabolic profiles between the LITA and ascending aorta using gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS).MethodsTwenty patients who underwent CABG using the LITA were prospectively enrolled. Plasma samples were collected simultaneously from the LITA and ascending aorta. GC-TOF-MS based untargeted metabolomic analyses were performed and a 2-step volcano plot analysis was used to identify distinguishable markers from two plasma metabolome profiles. Semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses were performed using GC-TOF-MS and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, after selecting target metabolites based on the metabolite set enrichment analysis.ResultsInitial volcano plot analysis demonstrated 5 possible markers among 851 peaks detected. The final analysis demonstrated that the L-cysteine peak was significantly higher in the LITA than in the ascending aorta (fold change = 1.86). The concentrations of intermediate metabolites such as L-cysteine, L-methionine and L-cystine in the 'cysteine and methionine metabolism pathway' were significantly higher in the LITA than in the ascending aorta (2.0-, 1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively). Quantitative analysis showed that the concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) was significantly higher in the LITA.ConclusionThe plasma metabolome profiles of the LITA and ascending aorta were different, particularly higher plasma concentrations of L-cysteine and H₂S in the LITA

Future development strategies for KODISA journals: overview of 2016 and strategic plans for the future

Purpose – With the rise of the fourth industrial revolution, it has converged with the existing industrial revolution to give shape to increased accessibility of knowledge and information. As a result, it has become easier for scholars to actively pursue and compile research in various fields. This current study aims to focus and assess the current standing of KODISA: the Journal of Distribution Science (JDS), International Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business (IJIDB), the East Asian Journal of Business Management (EAJBM), the Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business (JAFEB) in a rapidly evolving era. Novel strategies for creating the future vision of KODISA 2020 will also be examined. Research design, data, and methodology – The current research will analyze published journals of KODISA in order to offer a vision for the KODISA 2020 future. In part 1, this paper will observe the current address of the KODISA journal and its overview of past achievements. Next, part 2 will discuss the activities that will be needed for journals of KODISA, JDS, IJIDB, EAJBM, JAFEB to branch out internationally and significant journals will be statistically analyzed in part 3. The last part 4 will offer strategies for the continued growth of KODISA and visions for KODISA 2020. Results – Among the KODISA publications, IJIDB was second, JDS was 23rd (in economic publications of 54 journals), and EAJBM was 22nd (out of 79 publications in management field journals). This shows the high quality of the KODISA publication journals. According to 2016 publication analysis, JDS, IJIDB, etc. each had 157 publications, 15 publications, 16 publications, and 28 publications. In the case of JDS, it showed an increase of 14% compared to last year. Additionally, JAFEB showed a significant increase of 68%. This shows that compared to other journals, it had a higher rate of paper submission. IJIDB and EAJBM did not show any significant increases. In JDS, it showed many studies related to the distribution, management of distribution, and consumer behavior. In order to increase the status of the KODISA journal to a SCI status, many more international conferences will open to increase its international recognition levels. Second, the systematic functions of the journal will be developed further to increase its stability. Third, future graduate schools will open to foster future potential leaders in this field and build a platform for innovators and leaders. Conclusions – In KODISA, JDS was first published in 1999, and has been registered in SCOPUS February 2017. Other sister publications within the KODISA are preparing for SCOPUS registration as well. KODISA journals will prepare to be an innovative journal for 2020 and the future beyond

Manufacturing method of photonic crystal

A manufacturing method of a photonic crystal is provided. In the method, a high-refractive-index material is conformally deposited on an exposed portion of a periodic template composed of a low-refractive-index material by an atomic layer deposition process so that a difference in refractive indices or dielectric constants between the template and adjacent air becomes greater, which makes it possible to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal having a superior photonic bandgap. Herein, the three-dimensional structure may be prepared by a layer-by-layer method

A Study on Estimating the Next Failure Time of Compressor Equipment in an Offshore Plant

The offshore plant equipment usually has a long life cycle. During its O&M (Operation and Maintenance) phase, since the accidental occurrence of offshore plant equipment causes catastrophic damage, it is necessary to make more efforts for managing critical offshore equipment. Nowadays, due to the emerging ICTs (Information Communication Technologies), it is possible to send health monitoring information to administrator of an offshore plant, which leads to much concern on CBM (ConditionBased Maintenance). This study introduces three approaches for predicting the next failure time of offshore plant equipment (gas compressor) with case studies, which are based on finite state continuous time Markov model, linear regression method, and their hybrid model

Establishment of an experimental model of ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis in canines

IntroductionA reliable standard model is required to evaluate the efficacy of new drugs for companion animals, especially dogs. Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD), also known as allergic inflammatory skin disease, is a common condition. Currently, the house dust mite animal model is used in the research of cAD; however, this model exhibits significant individual variation and is difficult to standardize. In this study, we used ovalbumin as an antigen to sensitize and stimulate dogs, thereby establishing a stable model mimicking the T-helper 2 (Th2) response seen in cAD. Our objective was to create a cAD model that could be employed to evaluate the efficacy of novel drugs and mimic the Th2 dominant allergic response observed in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis of dogs.MethodsIn this study, six beagles were used. Normal saline was applied to two animals, and ovalbumin to four, on their dorsal skin.ResultsThe ovalbumin-treated groups exhibited clinical cAD symptoms, such as pruritus and erythema. Moreover, plasma levels of the cAD markers immunoglobulin E and CCL17 chemokine were higher in the ovalbumin-treated group than in the vehicle control group. The skin thickness of the epidermis was significantly increased in the ovalbumin-treated group, with infiltration of inflammatory cells observed in the thickened dermis region. In conclusion, treatment of canine skin with an optimal concentration of ovalbumin induced typical cAD-like symptoms, and histological and molecular analyses confirmed an enhanced Th2-related immune response.ConclusionTherefore, we successfully established a suitable Th2-dominant response mimicking cAD, which will facilitate targeted research of atopic dermatitis in dogs