Search

Socioeconomic inequality is a persistent societal problem affecting various aspects of adolescent development. Existing studies have revealed that low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with a higher prevalence of internalizing symptoms. However, little is known about the underlying factors that may mediate this relationship. The current study conducted path analyses to examine the role of academic performance and cyberbullying victimization as mediators of the association between family SES and internalizing symptoms (depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation). The sample consisted of 7333 middle and high school students (age 12 to 19 years) (50.8% female) participating in the Korean Children and Youth Rights Study. Findings indicated that SES was directly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. There were indirect associations between SES and internalizing symptoms through academic performance and cyberbullying victimization. The findings suggest low family SES is significantly related to adolescents' internalizing symptoms, and academic performance and cyberbullying victimization are key mediators of the negative association between family SES and internalizing symptoms. Further longitudinal studies exploring the roles of family SES, academic performance, and cyberbullying victimization are suggested.

This study investigated the effectiveness of floating covers (FCs) in mitigating ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from lab-scale swine slurry pits. Lab experiments were conducted over 125 days, comparing a treatment setup with FCs covering approximately 51.6% of the slurry surface to a control setup without covers. The results showed a significant reduction in NH3 emissions by 54.4% with FCs (p < 0.05), which was attributed to their ability to limit NH3 volatilization and promote crust formation. Although H2S emissions were also reduced by 22.7%, this decrease was not statistically significant, likely due to the complex factors influencing H2S production. These findings highlight the role of floating covers (FCs) in improving air quality within swine barns and reducing environmental pollution. By minimizing nitrogen loss as ammonia (NH3), FCs enhance nitrogen recycling into agricultural land, supporting sustainable nutrient management. This aligns with broader sustainability goals by addressing air quality concerns, reducing odors, and improving resource efficiency in livestock systems. This study offers an effective method to mitigate air pollution, providing a foundation for practical and sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated contributions of pre-service teachers' endogenous and exogenous instrumentalities, their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, and their use of self-regulation strategies to explain the extent to which they used strategies to purposefully integrate their knowledge across courses (extensive knowledge integration). With a total of 254 pre-service teachers' survey-responses, results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that their endogenous instrumentality of their current coursework (i.e. seeing their course work as instrumentally connected to their future careers), their use of metacognitive strategies and their use of deeper cognitive learning strategies (e.g. elaboration and critical thinking) contributed to explaining their use of extensive knowledge integration strategies for completing coursework. Our results suggest that to develop pre-service teachers' teaching expertise, they may need to (a) have a strong understanding that the current course content and their future goals are instrumentally linked, (b) be able to initiate planning and self-monitoring for learning and (c) use strategies for deep learning that integrates their knowledge across courses.

This study investigated the influence of pre-service teachers' (n = 142) perceived endogenous/exogenous instrumentality, goal commitment, and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation on their use of self-regulation strategies (effort regulation, management of time and study environment) for their teacher-education courses. Data were drawn from a customised survey and were statistically analysed using hierarchical multiple regressions. Results demonstrated that pre-service teachers' endogenous instrumentality was a significant contributor for explaining their use of self-regulation strategies. To facilitate pre-service teachers' use of self-regulation strategies for learning, our findings suggest that, in addition to having intrinsic motivation for learning in their teacher-education courses, they need to have appropriate understandings of how their current course content connects to their future goals to be teachers in order to promote their use of strategies for self-regulation and learning.

This study was performed to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of green tea and java pepper mixture (GJ) on energy expenditure and understand the regulatory mechanisms of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), microRNA (miR)-34a, and miR-370 pathways in the liver. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups depending on the following diets given for 14 weeks: normal chow diet (NR), 45% high-fat diet (HF), HF + 0.1% GJ (GJL), and HF + 0.2% GJ (GJH). The results revealed that GJ supplementation reduced body weight and hepatic fat accumulation, improved serum lipids, and increased energy expenditure. In the GJ-supplemented groups, the mRNA levels of genes related to fatty acid syntheses, such as a cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) were downregulated, and mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), carnitine/palmitoyl-transferase 1 (CPT1), and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), which participate in fatty acid oxidation, were upregulated in the liver. GJ increased the AMPK activity and decreased the miR-34a and miR-370 expression. Therefore, GJ prevented obesity by increasing energy expenditure and regulating hepatic fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, suggesting that GJ is partially regulated through AMPK, miR-34a, and miR-370 pathways in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of decoding schemes have recently been proposed to perform maximum-likelihood (ML) detection for multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems. In this paper, employing a 'breadth-first' search algorithm for closet points in a lattice, we propose a novel ML decoding scheme called the breadth-first signal decoder (BSIDE). Through analysis and computer simulations, it is shown that the BSIDE has the same bit-error-rate performance as the conventional ML decoders while allowing significantly lower computational complexity. In addition, we introduce a simple tuning scheme that allows the BSIDE to have a performance--complexity tradeoff capability as necessary. Index Terms--Breadth-first searching, maximum-likelihood (ML) detection, multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems, sphere decoder (SD).

In most previously reported studies on locally optimum detection of signals, independent observations have been assumed in various noise environments. The use of an independent observation model may cause a considerable performance degradation in detection applications of modern high data-rate communication systems exhibiting dependence among interference components. In this paper, the detection of weak known and random signals is addressed in observations corrupted by multiplicative and first-order Markov additive noises. The asymptotic and finite sample-size performance of several detectors are obtained and compared: it is confirmed that the dependence of noise components need to be taken into account to maintain detection performance appropriately. Index Terms--Known signal, locally optimum detector, Markov noise, multiplicative noise, nonadditive components, random signal, signal detection, weak signal.

In this paper, the detection of weak signals in additive noise described by the first-order moving average (FOMA) of an impulsive process is considered. Specifically, decision regions of the maximum likelihood (ML) and suboptimum ML (S-ML) detectors are derived in the FOMA noise model, and specific examples of the ML and S-ML decision regions are obtained. The ML and S-ML detectors are employed in the antipodal signaling system and compared in terms of bit error rate in an impulsive noise environment. Numerical results show that the S-ML detector, despite its reduced complexity and simpler structure, exhibits practically the same performance as the optimum ML detector. It is also observed that the performance gap between detectors for FOMA and independent and identically distributed noise becomes larger as the degree of noise impulsiveness increases. Index Terms--Dependent noise, detection, first-order moving average (FOMA), impulsive noise, suboptimum scheme, weak signal.

In this correspondence, we address the derivation of joint distributions and correlation coefficients for seven pairs of statistics used commonly in a number of signal detection schemes. The upper and lower bounds of the correlation coefficients are obtained, and relationships among the correlation coefficients are derived. Explicit values of the correlation coefficients evaluated for some specific noise distributions are shown for easy reference. Index Terms--Correlation coefficient, magnitude, magnitude rank, rank, sign.

A truncated adaptive transmission scheme for the hybrid multicarrier CDMA/FDM system is considered in forward link. In the proposed scheme, a data substream is transmitted over the subchannels of which the channel gains are greater than a given threshold, based on the feedback information from the mobile station. We analyze the performance of the proposed system when orthogonal and random signature sequences are used in single- and multiple-cell environment. In the single-cell environment, when orthogonal signature sequences are used, the proposed scheme outperforms the adaptive FH/DS system as well as the conventional MC DS/CDMA system, and accommodates more users than the adaptive FH/DS system while maintaining the orthogonality between users. In the multiple-cell environment also, the proposed scheme has better performance characteristics than the adaptive FH/DS system when orthogonal or random codes are used as spreading sequences. Index Terms--Adaptive transmission, code division multiple access (CDMA), FDM, multicarrier, truncation.

In this paper, a fast acquisition scheme of pseudonoise (PN) sequences for direct-sequence spread-spectrum systems is proposed. The scheme exploits a new decision logic not only to estimate chip values, but also to check the reliability of the chip estimates. As a result, the internal state of a PN sequence generator is estimated more accurately. We derive the probability of finding a correct state estimate and show that the proposed scheme can reduce the average number of chips for acquisition when compared with the conventional scheme. It is also shown that the performance improvement is more noticeable in the moderate signal-to-noise-ratio range. Index Terms--Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DS/SS), pseudonoise (PN) sequence, code acquisition, sequential estimation.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of green tea extract containing Piper retrofractum fruit (GTP) on dextran-sulfate-sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, the regulatory mechanisms of microRNA (miR)-21, and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. Different doses of GTP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were administered orally once daily for 14 days, followed by GTP with 3% DSS for 7 days. Compared with the DSS-treated control, GTP administration alleviated clinical symptoms, including the disease activity index (DAI), colon shortening, and the degree of histological damage. Moreover, GTP suppressed miR-21 expression and NF-κB activity in colon tissue of DSS-induced colitis mice. The mRNA levels of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), were downregulated by GTP. Colonic nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were also lowered by GTP. Taken together, our results revealed that GTP inhibits DSS-induced colonic inflammation by suppressing miR-21 expression and NF-κB activity, suggesting that it may be used as a potential functional material for improving colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the mediating effect of workplace incivility on the relationship between nursing organizational culture and turnover intention among nurses. Design: A descriptive survey was used to collect data. The participants were 170 nurses with more than six months of clinical experience at university hospitals or hospitals with over 500 beds in South Korea. Methods: Data were collected using self‐report questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t‐test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, and Pearson's correlation. Baron and Kenny's three‐step hierarchical regression analysis and the Sobel test were used to determine the mediating effect of workplace incivility on the relationship between nursing organizational culture and nurses' turnover intention. Results: This study found a full mediating effect of workplace incivility on the association between relationship‐oriented culture and turnover intention (Z = −3.02, p = 0.003) and a partial mediating effect of workplace incivility on the association between hierarchy‐oriented culture and turnover intention (Z = 2.36, p = 0.018). Conclusion: This study empirically confirmed that nursing organizational culture and workplace incivility directly or indirectly influenced turnover intention, which highlights the seriousness of workplace incivility. Clinical relevance: This study suggests that there is a need to establish a concrete strategy to avoid a hierarchy‐oriented culture and create a relationship‐oriented culture. It is important to develop a variety of intervention programs to reduce workplace incivility in order to prevent nurses' turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that two chronic respiratory diseases, nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM)-pulmonary disease (PD) and allergic asthma, are frequently present together and that they likely influence the disease development and progression of each other. However, their precise interactions regarding the pathogenesis of comorbid diseases versus that of individual diseases are not well understood. In this study, comorbid diseases (i.e., Mycobacteria avium (Mav) pulmonary infection (PI) (Mav-PI) and ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma) were established in mice in different orders and at different time periods. Individual disease-specific characteristics, including alterations in immune cell populations and antigen-specific immune responses, were analyzed and compared. To assess Mav-PI pathogenesis, lung inflammation and bacterial burden levels were also determined. Allergic asthma induction in the presence of Mav-PI markedly aggravated Mav-PI pathogenesis by increasing the bacterial burden and the severity of lung inflammation. Interestingly, the general outcome of allergic asthma with goblet cell hyperplasia was alleviated at a chronic stage in the comorbid mouse model. Overall, the increase in the number of Mav CFUs was inversely correlated with the Mav-specific Th17 response, as confirmed by comparing BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice. Overall, the pathogenesis of existing Mav-PI is more severely affected by allergen exposure than vice versa. This Mav-PI exacerbation is associated with disruption of Mav-specific Th17 responses. This study provides the first evidence that the Mav-specific Th17 response plays an important role in the control of Mav pathogenesis in the presence of allergic asthma, indicating that targeting the Th17 response has therapeutic potential for NTM-PD accompanied by allergic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to verify whether deprivation is experienced differently across different age groups and whether these differences change the effect of deprivation on depression. In this study, the CES‐D 11 scale was used to measure depression. Additionally, to verify the relationship between deprivation and depression by age group, logistics analysis was conducted. This study analyzed the survey data of 4,000 individuals from Korea; respondents were classified into four age groups: ≤34, 35–49, 50–64, and ≥65 years old. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between deprivation and depression and that specific areas of deprivation affected depression differently for each age group. The deprivation ratios of older individuals were higher in all areas. Further, the deprivation ratio of the ≤34 group in housing and living conditions was higher than that of the other groups. Additionally, respondents in the 50–64 and the ≥65 groups were alienated from the social security network, which poses an increased risk for chronic deprivation or poverty. The results of this study suggest that policies and practical interventions are needed, taking into account that the effects of absolute and relative deprivation on depression vary by age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A molecular explosive was crystallized inside the polymer matrix by quenching while simultaneously applying ultrasound. We found that the resulting nanoparticles were 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than those produced by an identical method without ultrasonication. We found that synergy exists between ultrasonication and polymer matrix in reducing the size of particles crystallized by quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid plasmonic nanostructures comprising gold nanoparticle (AuNP) arrays separated from Au substrate through a temperature-sensitive poly(Nisopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) linker layer are constructed, and unique plasmonic-coupling-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing properties are investigated. The optical properties of the model system are investigated by in situ and scan-mode SPR analysis. The swelling-shrinking transitions in the polymer linker brush are studied by in situ contact-mode atomic force microscopy at two different temperatures in water. It is revealed that the thickness of the PNIPAM layer is decreased from 30 to 14 nm by increasing the temperature from 20 to 32 °C. For the first time the dependence of the coupling behavior in AuNPs is investigated with controlled density on the temperature in a quantitative manner in terms of the change in SPR signals. The device containing AuNPs with optimized AuNP density shows 3.2-times enhanced sensitivity compared with the control Au film-PNIPAM sample. The refractive index sensing performance of the Au film-PNIPAM-AuNPs is greater than that of Au film-PNIPAM by 19% when the PNIPAM chains have a collapsed conformation above lower critical solution temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which considered an analysis of an adaptive rate convolutionally coded multicarrier direct sequence code division multiple-access system. Effect of time-varying multipath fading in radio links for portable and vehicular units; Results; Conclusion.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of a green tea and java pepper mixture (GTP) on the gut microbiome and microRNA (miR)-221/222 expression in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: DSS-, DSS+, GTP50, and GTP100. In the GTP50 and GTP100 groups, GTP was orally administered to mice at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively, every day for 2 weeks, and colitis was induced in the DSS+, GTP50, and GTP100 groups by adding 3% DSS to their drinking water for 1 week. GTP was found to mitigate the severity of inflammation and the damage to goblet cells caused by DSS-induced colitis. The results showed that compared with the DSS- group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was increased and that of Proteobacteria and Candidatus Melainabacteria was decreased in the GTP100 group. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was also reduced in the GTP100 group. However, GTP administration did not modulate the microbial diversity. GTP administration upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of occludin and zonula occludens 1. In addition, GTP effectively downregulated the expression of miR-221 and miR-222. Overall, GTP altered the gut microbiota composition and downregulated colonic miR-221/222 expression in mice with DSS-induced colitis., Competing Interests: AUTHOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition.)

Langmuir monolayers of amphiphilic molecules at an air-water interface can be compressed laterally to achieve high surface density. However, compression beyond a certain threshold causes the monolayer to become unstable, which may lead to the formation of collapsed states with topographical differences that are associated with the structures and mechanical properties of the constituent molecules of the monolayer. The mechanisms and collapsed structures can differ owing to differences in experimental conditions, i.e., temperature, ion-content, the pH of subphase, or compression rate; in addition, the type of constituent molecules, i.e., biological lipids or chemical surfactants, has an effect. In this review, we compare studies concerning several aspects of collapse, from basic concepts and theoretical mechanisms to experimental visualization of the monolayer topography. In addition, techniques often employed to study this subject are discussed in this review.