Designing interactive digital installation for human-human interaction in live music events

In the 21st century, there is a strong trend of the audience’s personal technology-dependent behavior in live music events, specifically music concerts and music festivals. This project, Interplaying, investigates the way technology is used to encourage the audience’s human-human interaction in such events in order to allow audience members to better engage in live-music-listening experience’s benefits such as socialization. My paper finds a lesson from human-human interaction in cultural/community festivals. Also, it does not criticize the presence of technology itself in the events. The project rather provides the way technology can bring the audience back to real environment from virtual communication. The prototype of Interplaying tangibly embodies the possibility of technology encouraging live social interaction amongst audience members

Health Behaviors and Academic Performance Among Korean Adolescents

SummaryPurposeThis study aimed to examine the most prominent health-related behaviors impacting the academic performance of Korean adolescents.MethodsThe 2012 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey data were analyzed using an ordinal regression analysis after adjusting for general and other health behaviors.ResultsBefore adjustment, all health behaviors were significantly associated with academic performance. After adjustment for other health behaviors and confounding factors, only smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 2.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.98, 2.16), p < .001], alcohol consumption [OR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.18, 1.27), p < .001], and physical activity [OR = 1.09, 95% CI (1.06, 1.13), p < .001] were associated with lower academic performance, and engaging in a regular diet [OR = 0.65, 95% CI (0.65, 0.62), p < .001] was associated with higher academic performance.ConclusionsRegular diet, reducing smoking and alcohol drinking, and physical activity should be the target when designing health interventions for improving academic performance in Korean adolescents

Toll-like Receptors and Antimicrobial Peptides Expressions of Psoriasis: Correlation with Serum Vitamin D Level

To evaluate the association of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and vitamin D receptors (VDRs) in psoriasis, lesional (PP) and perilesional skin (PN) from psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy controls (NN) were studied by immunohistochemistry. Compared with PN, AD and NN skin, dysregulated expression of TLRs, AMPs and VDR was detected in PP skin. Noteworthy, our results showed altered correlation between TLR2 and VDR expression in PP and PN skin. Human beta defensin 2 (HBD2) and cathelicidin (LL-37) expressions in the PP skin were higher in serum vitamin D sufficient (VDS) groups than serum vitamin D deficient (VDD) groups. Negative correlation was found between TLR2 and VDR expression in the PP skin of VDD groups. However, positive correlation was noted in the PP skin of VDS groups. Based on the present results, therapies targeting the activity of TLRs, AMPs and vitamin D, including modulation of the TLR-VDR pathways, might provide new therapeutic approaches to the psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases

Impact of Pavilion Quality on Exhibitor Performance at an International Trade Exhibition

AbstractThis study aimed to determine how the quality of a pavilion affects participating exhibitors at an overseas trade exhibition and to suggest strategies for an organizer of pavilions to operate more effectively so as to increase exhibitors’ positive outcomes. We constructed a research model and presented some hypotheses. To assess these hypotheses, questionnaires were distributed to exhibitors who had participated in a Korean pavilion at an international trade exhibition. SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data. First, the factors that determined the quality of a pavilion were analyzed to assess their effect on participant outcome. The only two factors that were found to influence the quality of a pavilion were the conditions of an exhibitor's booth and the support activities by the organizers. These had positive effects on participating exhibitors’ outcomes and anticipated future behaviors. To increase the positive outcomes of exhibitors, various changes should be made to improve the conditions of exhibitors’ booths. The pavilion organizer should also develop other ways to increase the positive outcomes of exhibitors such as local advertising and promotional activities, on-site support activities, invitations to buyers’ luncheons, promotional catalogs for exhibitors, and activities to attract potential buyers

Integrative metabolomics of plasma and PBMCs identifies distinctive metabolic signatures in Behçets disease

Background Behçets disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disease that involves various organs. The clinical manifestation-based diagnosis of BD is a time-consuming process, which makes it difficult to distinguish from patients with similar symptoms. Moreover, an authentic biomarker has not been developed for accurate diagnosis yet. Our current study investigated the unique metabolic signatures of BD and explored biomarkers for precise diagnosis based on an untargeted metabolomic approach. Methods Integrative metabolomic and lipidomic profiling was performed on plasma samples of BD patients (n = 40), healthy controls (HCs, n = 18), and disease controls (DCs, n = 17) using GC-TOF MS and LC-Orbitrap MS. Additionally, the lipid profiles of 66 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed from 29 BD patients, 18 HCs, and 19 DCs. Results Plasma metabolic dysfunction in BD was determined in carbohydrate, hydroxy fatty acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolisms. A plasma biomarker panel with 13 compounds was constructed, which simultaneously distinguished BD from HC and DC (AUCs ranged from 0.810 to 0.966). Dysregulated PBMC metabolome was signatured by a significant elevation in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and ether-linked lysophosphatidylethanolamines (EtherLPEs). Ten PBMC-derived lipid composites showed good discrimination power (AUCs ranged from 0.900 to 0.973). Correlation analysis revealed a potential association between disease activity and the metabolites of plasma and PBMC, including sphingosine-1 phosphate and EtherLPE 18:2. Conclusions We identified metabolic biomarkers from plasma PBMC, which selectively discriminated BD from healthy control and patients with similar symptoms (recurrent mouth ulcers with/without genital ulcers). The strong correlation was determined between the BD activity and the lipid molecules. These findings may lead to the development for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers based on a better understanding of the BD pathomechanism.This research was supported by the Bio & Medical Technology Develop‑ment Program of the NRF funded by the Korean government, MSIP [grant number 2014M3A9B6069341], and by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and Korea Dementia Research Center (KDRC), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare and Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea [grant numbers HU20C0187]

A Case of Graves' Disease Combined with Hantaan Virus Infection

Graves' disease (GD) is generally presented by thyrotoxicosis with hyperthyroidism, and it is an organ-specific autoimmune disease induced by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor autoantibodies. However, among diverse etiologies, viral infections have been suggested to trigger or to be involved in the pathogenesis of GD. Hantaan virus infection causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is common in South Korea and its pathogenesis is suggested to be an immunologic mechanism. We have experienced a patient who was diagnosed as HFRS with thyrotoxicosis. So we herein report the case as GD combined with the hantaan virus infection

'Clues' for the histological diagnosis of tinea: how reliable are they?

Dermatophyte infections of the skin surface (tinea corporis and tinea faciei) mostly present as erythematous scaly papules that gradually progress to annular or nummular red patches or plaques, frequently with central clearing and peripheral scales1. Although less common, pustules, vesicles, or large blisters may be clinical features. Many histological clues for the diagnosis of dermatophyte infection have been proposed, including neutrophils in the stratum corneum, compact orthokeratosis, papillary dermal edema, and the presence of fungal hyphae between 2 zones of cornified cells (called the sandwich sign)1,2. This study was performed to evaluate the reliability and clinical value of the clues for the histological diagnosis of tinea corporis and tinea faciei. Eighteen skin biopsy samples were retrieved from histologically confirmed cases of tinea on the body and face of patients treated between September 2010 and March 2012 in the Department of Dermatology at the SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center. The hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained slides of the 18 periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS)-positive biopsy specimens were reviewed by 2 dermatologists.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2014-01/102/2008000790/4SEQ:4PERF_CD:SNU2014-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:2008000790ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A079501DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:.611FILENAME:clues for histo dx of tinea.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:YCONFIRM:

Idiopathic severe hypermagnesemia in an extremely low birth weight infant on the first day of life

A preterm female infant born at 27 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 990 g developed acute hypotonia, apnea, hypotension and bradycardia mimicking septic shock syndrome at 14h after birth. Laboratory tests indicated a severe hypermagnesemia of 45 mg/dL. The renal function, complete blood count and maternal blood concentrations of magnesium were normal, and the blood cultures were negative. The patient recovered with treatment including exchange transfusion. However, the etiology of the severe hypermagnesemia remains unknown

A Case of Diabetic Neuropathy Combined with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

A 59-year-old man was admitted with numbness, pain, and a tingling sensation in both lower legs. He was initially diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy based on a symptom questionnaire and a quantitative sensory test. Despite symptomatic treatment of diabetic neuropathy, he complained of worsening sensory symptoms and additional motor weakness in both lower extremities. As the motor weakness of both extremities became more aggravated over time, brain and spine imaging tests and a nerve conduction test were performed. The nerve conduction study revealed motor and sensory axonal neuropathy. In his cerebrospinal analysis, albumino-cytologic dissociation, which is compatible to the Gillian-Barre syndrome, was found. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed albumino-cytologic dissociation. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and his neurologic deficits were gradually improved