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Purpose: Massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are representative metaverse games that are thriving in academia and the industry. This study aims to develop an integrated model based on Yee's motivations and the Proteus effect to explore individuals' intentions of playing MMORPGs. Design/methodology/approach: The data were gathered by conducting an online survey (n = 441) for the players of World of Warcraft, an MMORPG. The collected data were analyzed with a structural equation model. Findings: The outcomes of this research reveal that the Proteus effect positively influenced the intentions of the players to play the game via mediations of social, immersion, achievement motivations and enjoyment. Furthermore, the players influenced by the Proteus effect, which enables avatar embodiment and identification, exhibited a stronger intention to play MMORPGs. Originality/value: This research is one of the first attempts to establish a theoretical framework involving the Proteus effect and Yee's motivations. In addition, the findings of this study imply that the Proteus effect should be considered when investigating the individual experience of metaverse games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disturbance is prevalent in patients with degenerative spinal disease, and recent studies have reported that surgical treatment is more effective for improving sleep quality than conservative treatment. We aimed to investigate the perioperative changes of sleep problems in patients who underwent surgical treatment for degenerative spinal disease with a concurrent sleep disorder, and presented them according to various clinical profiles possibly associated with sleep disturbance. In addition, we identified factors associated with poor sleep improvement after surgery. This study used data from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database from 2016 to 2018. We included 3183 patients aged ≥19 years who underwent surgery for degenerative spinal disease and had a concurrent sleep disorder. Perioperative changes in the two target outcomes, including the use of sleep medication and hospital visits owing to sleep disorders, were precisely investigated according to factors known to be associated with sleep disturbance, including demographics, comorbidities, and spinal regions. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with poor improvement in terms of sleep medication after surgery. All estimates were validated using bootstrap sampling. During the 1-year preoperative period, the use of sleep medications and hospital visits owing to sleep disorder increased continuously. However, they abruptly decreased shortly after surgical treatment, and throughout the 1-year postoperative period, they remained lower than those in the late preoperative period. At the 1-year follow-up, 75.6% (2407 of 3183) of our cohort showed improvement in sleep medication after surgery. Multivariable analysis identified only two variables as significant factors associated with non-improvement in sleep medication after surgery: depressive disorder (odds ratio (OR) = 1.25 [1.06–1.48]; p = 0.008), and migraine (OR = 1.42 [1.04–1.94]; p = 0.028). We could not investigate the actual sleep quality and resultant quality of life; however, our results justify the necessity for further high-quality studies that include such information and would arouse clinicians' attention to the importance of sleep disturbance in patients with degenerative spinal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A contact resistance (${R}_{c}$) becomes a major parasitic resistance in highly scaled modern semiconductor devices. A wrap-around contact (WAC) has been suggested as a promising solution to reduce the ${R}_{c}$ , because its contact area is larger than that for the conventional top contact (TC) structure. Therefore, in this article, the electrical and thermal characteristics are widely investigated in vertically stacked gate-all-around (GAA) MOSFET with a WAC by using a 3-D technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation. First, compared with the TC, the WAC shows 1.74 times higher ON-state current. It is attributed in part to the low ${R}_{c}$ and in part to the low source–drain resistance (${R}_{\text {SD}}$). Furthermore, thermal resistance (${R}_{\text {th}}$) is also reduced by 9.73% in WAC, which improves self-heating effects (SHEs). Considering the results, it is expected that the WAC structure could be an attractive candidate to simultaneously improve device performance and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new approach for dimension reduction of data observed on spherical surfaces. Several dimension reduction techniques have been developed in recent years for non-euclidean data analysis. As a pioneer work, (Hauberg 2016) attempted to implement principal curves on Riemannian manifolds. However, this approach uses approximations to process data on Riemannian manifolds, resulting in distorted results. This study proposes a new approach to project data onto a continuous curve to construct principal curves on spherical surfaces. Our approach lies in the same line of (Hastie and Stuetzle et al. 1989) that proposed principal curves for data on euclidean space. We further investigate the stationarity of the proposed principal curves that satisfy the self-consistency on spherical surfaces. The results on the real data analysis and simulation examples show promising empirical characteristics of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the use of Instagram by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the representative public health authorities in the United States. For this aim, all of the photos uploaded on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Instagram account were crawled and the content of them were analyzed using Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services. Also, engagement was measured by the sum of numbers of likes and comments to each photo, and sentiment analysis of comments was conducted. Results suggest that the photos that can be categorized into "text" and "people" took the largest share in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Instagram photos. And it was found that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's major way of delivering messages on Instagram was to imprint key messages that call for actions for better health on photos and to provide the source of complementary information on text component of each post. It was also found that photos with more and bigger human faces had lower level of engagement than the others, and happiness and neutral emotions expressed on the faces in photos were negatively associated with engagement. The features whose high value would make the photos look splendid and gaudy were negatively correlated with engagement, but sharpness was positively correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we focused on the uniformity of resistance states of Ti/TaO x /ITO devices and the possibility of using them in neuromorphic applications under DC and pulse measurement conditions. The thickness and chemical composition of the devices was verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). First, the I-V curves of the devices were controlled with the compliance current and reset voltage. In addition, the multi-level characteristics were demonstrated through DC sweeps and pulses for high-density memory and neuromorphic systems. The linearity of potentiation and depression was then improved to seek high accuracy of pattern recognition in a neural network. Finally, spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) was performed (including potentiation and depression) to mimic Hebbian learning of the nerve system. • Transparent Ti/TaO x /ITO non-volatile memory devices are fabricated. • Highly uniform resistive switching in multi level states is demonstrated. • Synaptic characteristics such as STDP are emulated. • Pattern recognition accuracy is calculated by neuromorphic simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines a tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) as a promising device for achieving steeper switching and better electrical performances in low-power operation. It features a double-gate TFET with vertical channel sandwiched by lightly doped Si (VS-TFET). The vertical tunnel junction is employed on the source side for the steeper subthreshold swing (SS) and for the higher ON-current (${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$) by restricting tunnel barrier width. The VS-TFET shows 17-mV/dec minimum SS and ${10}^{ {4}}~{ \mathrm{\scriptstyle ON}}/{ \mathrm{\scriptstyle OFF}}$ current ratio (${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}/{I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$) for sub-0.7-V gate overdrive. In addition, the VS-TFET shows sub-60-mV/dec SS in a wide range of ${I}_{D}$ regardless of sweep directions. In conclusion, the work presented here demonstrates that the VS-TFET will be one of the most promising candidates for a next-generation low-power device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive study was done regarding stabilities under simultaneous stress of light and negative gate bias ( V\mathrm{ G} )/positive drain bias ( V\mathrm{ D} ) in amorphous hafnium-indium–zinc-oxide thin-film transistors. Negative threshold voltage ( V\mathrm {\mathbf {th}} ) shift was observed in transfer characteristics after the stress. Through the consecutive stresses of ( V\mathrm{G}= -5 V, V\mathrm{D}= 15 V, and V\mathrm{ S}= 0 V) and ( V\mathrm{G}= -5 V, V\mathrm{D}= 0 V, and V\mathrm{S}= 15 V) under light illumination, it is found that the negative V\mathrm {\mathbf {th}} shift is affected only by V\mathbf {G} , because the drain current is determined by source-side energy barrier though drain-side energy band is locally lowered by V\mathrm{D} -induced drain-side trapped holes. Furthermore, the drain-side trapped holes increase ON-current by reducing channel resistance after channel accumulation. Gate-to-drain capacitance ( C\mathrm {\mathbf {GD}} ) was measured before/after the ( V\mathrm{G}= -5 V, V\mathrm{D}= 15 V, and V\mathrm{S}= 0 V) stress to clarify the presence and distribution of the drain-side trapped holes. From C\mathrm {\mathbf {GD}} stretching out after the stress, it is revealed that the trapped holes introduce an additional capacitance by responding to the accumulated electrons and the capacitance is distributed according to the vertical electric field distribution of the stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive study was done regarding stability under simultaneous stress of light and negative gate dc bias in amorphous hafnium–indium–zinc-oxide ( \alpha -HIZO) thin-film transistors. A negative threshold voltage ( V_{\mathrm{ th}}) shift and an anomalous hump were observed in transfer characteristics after the stress, and it is explained that these phenomena are caused by the hole trapping in the SiO2 gate insulator, not by interface state generation. Furthermore, capacitance–voltage ( C_{G} – VG) measurements were performed with various frequencies to investigate the vertical distribution of the trapped holes in the gate insulator. As a result, the correlation between the vertical location of the trapped holes and the influence on CG – VG characteristics were revealed clearly. First, at the beginning of the stress, photogenerated holes are mainly trapped at the \alpha -HIZO/SiO2 interface and interfacial SiO2 in contact with the interface, which induces the negative V_{\mathrm{ th}} shift. Second, as the stress time increases, the holes start to be trapped in the spatially deeper insulator, which leads to an additional hump in the C_{G}$ – VG characteristics at sufficiently low frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An L-shaped tunnel FET (TFET), which features band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) perpendicular to the channel direction, is experimentally demonstrated for the first time. It is more scalable than other vertical-BTBT-based TFET designs and provides more than $1000\times $ higher ON-current ( $I_{{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}} ) than a conventional planar TFET with the same gate overdrive ( V\mathrm{ov} ) of 0.8 V, due to improved subthreshold swing ( S ) and larger tunnel junction area. Its temperature dependence, constant $S$ , and nonlinear output characteristics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of online comment sections on the news has increased based on the development of collective online behaviors in the digitalized news media era. In this study, we focus on the effect of comment order (e.g., sorting comments by the number of likes or by the time of posting) on the formation of public opinion. We explore whether reading comments sorted by number of likes (a) induces more comments from users, (b) increases the expression of user opinions in response to others' comments through the action of liking or disliking comments and (c) consolidates user opinion. For the empirical verification of the effects of popularity metrics, we chose a common topic (increasing minimum wage), collected actual data (reviewing 3,251 articles and the numbers of associated comments, likes, and dislikes), and compared news categories based on the existence of popularity metrics. Semantic network analysis was conducted with UCINET and python for K-means clustering, and cosine similarity. Our results show how the comment order in the internet news environment affects the commenting behavior of news consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth content analysis of phishing messages and to enhance understanding of them from a persuasive communication perspective. Design/methodology/approach – This study analysed phishing message content in a persuasion mechanism framework including message presentation and content (rational appeal, emotional appeal, reasoning type). It also used semantic network analysis to identify meaning structure. Findings – The results indicate that phishing messages used logical appeals, reasoning from cause, motivational appeals, appealing to safety needs, and emotional appeals to gain compliance. Semantic network analysis showed that two word clusters represent security and privacy. Research limitations/implications – This study applied modern persuasion and deceptive communication theories to interpret phishing e-mails. The findings enhance relevant theories by including phishing e-mail cases. Practical implications – The results of this study can be utilised for developing phishing prevention techniques and phishing detection software. Originality/value – Past phishing detection studies only used a technological approach, whereas the current study provides a more comprehensive content-oriented and persuasion theory-based understanding of phishing messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a comprehensive study is done regarding the stability under simultaneous application of light and gate dc bias in amorphous hafnium–indium–zinc–oxide (\alpha-HIZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). Subthreshold swing (SS) degradation, a negative threshold voltage (Vth) shift, and the occurrence of hump are observed in transfer curves after applying a negative gate bias and light stress. Based on the retention test at room temperature and the hysteresis analysis, it is revealed that all these phenomena result from hole trapping in the gate insulator. Moreover, it is proven that the SS degradation and hump occurrence are mainly attributed to hole trapping in \SiO2 at the edge regions along the channel length/width directions and that a negative Vth shift is derived from hole trapping in the gate insulator far from the \SiO2/\HIZO interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tilt error can affect a serious effect to holographic data storage system using angle(polytopic) multiplexing. Because the tolerance about tilt error is very tight it is important to measure the tilt error and compensate it. In this paper, tilt error measurement system with additional red laser and reflection geometry is suggested and servo control experiments are conducted. A servo controller to compensate tilt error is designed using disturbance observer. Amount of tilt is decreased smaller than 0.01 degree and signal-to-noise ratio is increased with the tilt servo controller when 0.216 degree of tilt disturbance is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Study Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy and related side effects of alfentanil and remifentanil in preventing the withdrawal movement associated with rocuronium injection. Design: Prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Setting: Operating room of a university hospital. Patients: 115 ASA physical status I and II adult patients. Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated to one of three study groups. Group C received saline, Group A received alfentanil 10 μg/kg, and Group R received remifentanil one μg/kg, each in a volume of three mL. Treatments were injected over 30 seconds, followed by thiopental sodium. At 90 seconds after the start of the study drug injection, rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was injected over 10 seconds. Measurements: Cough, breathholding, and thoracic muscle rigidity were observed while injecting the study drug. Each patient''s response to the rocuronium injection was graded on a 4-point scale in a blinded manner. Main Results: During injection of the study drug, Group R showed a significantly higher frequency of cough than Group A (24% vs. 2%; P < 0.05). One Group R patient presented with apnea. Frequency of withdrawal movement in Groups A and R were significantly lower than that in Group C (6% and 0% vs. 63%; P < 0.0001) but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: When administered 90 seconds before rocuronium injection, alfentanil showed a comparable effect to that of remifentanil in attenuating rocuronium-associated withdrawal movement, and a lower frequency of side effects such as cough. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

RNA-binding protein 24 (RBM24) has been shown to play tumor-suppressive functions in various types of cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the role of RBM24 in liver cancers and its downstream mechanisms. The present study demonstrated that RBM24 functioned as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer cells, and inhibited nuclear translocation of β-catenin and tumor protein 63 expression by immunocytochemistry. In addition, RBM24 could suppress sphere formation in a multicellular tumor spheroid model of liver cancer cells. In conclusion, it is hypothesized that RBM24 is a tumor suppressor of liver cancer cells, which could be a potential novel therapeutic target for treatment of patients with liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study describes the structure of international conflict with the tools of network analysis to enhance the understanding of multilateral conflict-communication relations and to predict the conflict structure with existing international relations theories (liberal and realist) plus global communication variables. Using data obtained from the Correlates of War Project (http://cow2.la.psu.edu/), the structure of international conflict is described for the period 1993-2001 for 145 nations. The results indicate that this network is very sparse; 42 nations had no conflict, and 36 only one bilateral disagreement. The network is centered about former Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Russia, the United States, Iraq, and China. Most conflicts are regional. The paper also evaluates both the liberal, expanded liberal (with communication variables included), and realist (including Huntington's Clash of Civilizations Theory) perspectives as predictors of conflict. The results indicate that communication variables substantially enhance explanatory power of a predictive model, but the effects of the communication variables are inconsistent. A multiple regression model including history of colonialism and prior conflict, physical proximity and contiguity, whether or not a nation is a democracy, and the communication variables - international telecommunication, freight, and exports - accounted for 30.0% of the variance in the structure of international conflict and each variable was significantly related to conflict. The need for further research is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects on memory and learning ability of the Korean herbal medicine, Saenhyetang (SHT), which is consisted of nine herbs, were investigated. Hot water extracts (HWE-SHT) and ethanol extracts (EE-SHT) were used for the studies. It was shown that N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor 2B (NR2B) was increased in the forebrains of SHT-administrated mice (HWE-SHT), leading to enhanced activation of NMDA receptors, facilitating synaptic potentiation in response to stimulation at 10–100Hz. These HWE-SHT-treated mice exhibit superior ability in learning and memory in various behavioral tasks, showing that NR2B is enhanced by HWE-SHT treatment and also is critical in gating the age-dependent threshold for plasticity and memory formation. NMDA receptor-dependent modifications, which were mediated in part by HWE-SHT administration, of synaptic efficacy, therefore, represent a mechanism for associative learning and memory. Results suggest that oriental medical enhancement of NR2B attributes such as intelligence and memory in mammals is feasible. On the other hand, to examine the effects of EE-SHT on the learning and memory in experimental mice, the passive and active avoidance responses were studied. The EE-SHT ameliorated the memory retrieval deficit induced by ethanol, but not other memory impairment in mice. EE-SHT (10, 20mg/100g, p.o.) did not affect the passive avoidance responses of normal mice in the step through and step down tests, the conditioned and unconditioned avoidance responses of normal mice in the shuttle box and lever press performance tests, and the ambulatory activity of normal mice in normal condition. However, EE-SHT was shown to significantly decrease the spontaneous motor activity during the shuttle box test, and also to prolong the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital in mice at 20mg/kg. These results suggest that EE-SHT has an ameliorating effect on memory retrieval impairment and a weak tranquilizing action. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A vertical type tunnelling field‐effect transistor (TFET) with a thin tunnel junction based on a bulk Si substrate is presented. In the authors' previously reported L‐shaped TFET, a thin tunnel barrier and a large tunnelling area were employed on the source side to achieve a steep subthreshold swing (SS) and high on‐current, which can lead to the TFET's outstanding performance. The proposed TFET devices demonstrate a SS of 32 mV/decade averaged over five decades and an Ion > 10−5 A/μm. Moreover, the on‐current can be increased easily by adjusting the height of the source. However, since a hump phenomenon in the transfer curves occurred, the hump behaviour in the proposed device was investigated. After investigating it, the hump behaviour was found to have originated from two different tunnelling regions. Moreover, their threshold voltages show different values. Using a capping layer that can be made by gradual doping, the hump behaviour can be suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is crucial in high-voltage applications due to its characteristics, like breakdown voltage (BV) and on-state voltage V CE(sat). However, its slower turn-off time, attributed to hole mobility, restricts its frequency range. Techniques such as the carrier storage layer (CSL) and super-junction (SJ) structures aim to optimize BV and V CE(sat) through hole density and field distribution. Combining CSL and SJ offers advantages, yet challenges remain regarding E-field concentration. In this work, the split CSL concept introduces a solution by optimizing BV and E off through effective field distribution and hole extraction acceleration respectively while maintaining V CE(sat). Split CSL, which is divided into a high doping layer (HDL) and a low doping layer (LDL), reduces the burden on the gate oxide by distributing the E-field evenly when in the off-state due to the difference in doping concentration. During the turn-off, the hole current is concentrated on the LDL, which has relatively low resistance, thereby accelerating hole extraction. Simulation-based results showcase improvements in the proposed structure's properties. Further optimization of HDL and LDL concentrations enhances the structure's performance. It is clear that the split CSL structure presents the potential for advancing IGBT capabilities. The application of the split CSL structure resulted in significant improvements: the turn-off time was reduced by 32.4% and the BV increased by 32.5 V compared to conventional CSL-SJ structures. These enhancements highlight the effectiveness of the split CSL design in optimizing the IGBT's performance attribute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive exploration of topic modeling methods tailored for large language model (LLM) using data obtained from Web of Science and LexisNexis from June 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023. The data collection process involved queries focusing on LLMs, including "Large language model," "LLM," and "ChatGPT." Various topic modeling approaches were evaluated based on performance metrics, including diversity and coherence. latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF), combined topic models (CTM), and bidirectional encoder representations from Transformers topic (BERTopic) were employed for performance evaluation. Evaluation metrics were computed across platforms, with BERTopic demonstrating superior performance in diversity and coherence across both LexisNexis and Web of Science. The experiment result reveals that news articles maintain a balanced coverage across various topics and mainly focus on efforts to utilize LLM in specialized domains. Conversely, research papers are more concise and concentrated on the technology itself, emphasizing technical aspects. Through the insights gained in this study, it becomes possible to investigate the future path and the challenges that LLMs should tackle. Additionally, they could offer considerable value to enterprises that utilize LLMs to deliver services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative bias-induced instability of amorphous hafnium indium zinc oxide (α-HIZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) was investigated at various temperatures. In order to examine temperature-induced effects, fabricated TFTs with different combinations of gate insulator and gate metal were stressed by a negative gate bias at various temperatures. As a result, it is proved that negative bias-induced hole-trapping in the gate insulators and temperature-enhanced electron injection from the gate metals occurs at the same time at all temperatures, and the instability of HIZO TFT is more affected by the dominant factor out of the two mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive study is done regarding stabilities under simultaneous stress of light and dc-bias in amorphous hafnium-indium-zinc-oxide thin film transistors. The positive threshold voltage (Vth) shift is observed after negative gate bias and light stress, and it is completely different from widely accepted phenomenon which explains that negative-bias stress results in Vth shift in the left direction by bias-induced hole-trapping. Gate current measurement is performed to explain the unusual positive Vth shift under simultaneous application of light and negative gate bias. As a result, it is clearly found that the positive Vth shift is derived from electron injection from gate electrode to gate insulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research investigates players’ continuance intentions to play massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) by constructing a model based on the concepts of avatar coolness (i.e., avatar attractiveness, avatar originality, and avatar subculture appeal), social identity theory, and flow theory. Analyzing survey-based data from 375 Korean MMORPG players, we found that avatar attractiveness, avatar originality, and avatar subculture appeal were positively related to avatar coolness. In addition, avatar originality positively affects avatar subculture appeal. Moreover, avatar coolness positively affects the continuance intention to play MMORPGs via avatar identification and flow state. This study is the first to develop avatar coolness and explore its role in affecting the intention to play MMORPGs. To offer “cool” avatars, the implications are those game designers should continually update avatars for freshness based on current trends, provide a variety of skins for personalization for user preferences, and offer avatars that are visually appealing to the gaming population. These require continual assessments of the MMORPG player population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In more than 60 years since the founding of artificial intelligence (AI) as a formal academic discipline, rapid advances in technology have driven an enormous increase in interest in the field of study. AI subfields, including machine learning, neural networks, and the social implications of AI, have initiated new approaches to research and emergent questions. Topics vary from interactions between humans and robots through news representation of artificial intelligence to AI-based news credibility. [Extracted from the article]

The Chinese government's rigorous efforts to enhance its soft power have confronted a major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to look at how the Chinese soft power changed throughout the pandemic using English news articles that covered China. The research took a data science approach to investigate the contents of articles using machine-learning-based sentiment analysis and Dirichlet-Multinomial Regression (DMR) analysis. The results show a gradual downturn in overall sentiment and that the topics related to political issues made the most significant impact. Nevertheless, the major increase in referencing Chinese social media implied that the sources of Chinese soft power have been diversified throughout the pandemic. In addition, this research has aimed to engage in major debates around soft power theory. Providing a multi-disciplinary approach for analyzing soft power, this research has tackled the difficulties in the quantitative conceptualization of soft power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explicates nomophobia by developing a research model that identifies several determinants of smartphone separation anxiety and by conducting semantic network analyses on smartphone users' verbal descriptions of the meaning of their smartphones. Structural equation modeling of the proposed model indicates that personal memories evoked by smartphones encourage users to extend their identity onto their devices. When users perceive smartphones as their extended selves, they are more likely to get attached to the devices, which, in turn, leads to nomophobia by heightening the phone proximity-seeking tendency. This finding is also supplemented by the results of the semantic network analyses revealing that the words related to memory, self, and proximity-seeking are indeed more frequently used in the high, compared with low, nomophobia group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to verify the effects of localized body doping (LBD) on alternating current switching performances of tunnel FETs (TFETs) with vertical structures, The TFET inverter composed of n-/p-type TFET with the localized p+/n+ body doping is simulated with the help of mixed-mode device and circuit simulations. As a result, falling/rising delay is significantly improved due to the locally high channel-to-drain side energy barrier induced by the LBD. Furthermore, LBD conditions, such as doping concentration, depth, and width, are optimized to maximize the improvement of falling/rising delay. Based on the optimization results, it is found that enough wide doping width and deep depth are inevitable to minimize the drain voltage ( V D )-induced lowering of the locally increased barrier and the increase of ambipolar current and too wide doping width cannot be applied due to the ON-current reduction caused by the degraded controllability of gate voltage on channel similarly to short channel effects. Moreover, the doping width and depth should be adjusted according to LBD concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The use of a second screen can enhance information processing and the execution of search tasks within a given period. In this study, we examined the learner's attentional shift (AS) between two screens and controlled secondary tasks (STs) in the media multitasking setting and its effect on the learning process. In particular, we analyzed how cognitive and emotional learning effects can be explored depending on the role of this setting. A between-subject experiment was conducted with 69 participants (simultaneous vs. sequential use of a second screen in terms of open versus closed STs). The findings showed that there was a greater difference in emotional learning effects than in cognitive learning effects for participants who used a second screen. In terms of estimated emotional learning effects of media multitasking, participants engaged in sequential use demonstrated lower anxiety levels and higher competence beliefs during learning compared to participants who were engaged in simultaneous use. Moreover, an interaction effect occurred in the AS between the two screens and in controlled STs of recognition memory. These results indicate that attentional change and controlled STs are key predictors of learning effects in the media multitasking environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the concept of the Metaverse rapidly spread, massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), one of the Metaverse games, received public's attention again. Additionally, MMORPGs have garnered significant academic interest in multidisciplinary fields, including human-computer interaction, computer science, and psychology. This study provides a general overview of the knowledge structures on MMORPGs in various academic fields using a bibliometric approach. To this end, we collected articles on MMORPGs published between 2001 and 2021 from the Web of Science. Then, main research forces in the field of MMORPGs are identified by examining productive authors, institutions, and countries/regions. Additionally, we applied VOSviewer to conduct co-citation analyses for identifying highly cited authors, journals, and literatures on MMORPGs. The results revealed that the USA and South Korea are the most productive countries. In addition, players' motivation, players' demographics, in-game social interaction, and pathological usage are the main research topics in the field. We expect that our results will help researchers and stakeholders to gain a general understanding of the development of the MMORPG academic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using the theoretical framework of ego-centric networks, this study examines the associations between the characteristics of both Facebook-specific and pre-existing personal networks and patterns of Facebook use. With data from an ego-network survey of college students, the study discovered that various dimensions of Facebook-specific network characteristics, such as multiplexity, proximity, density, and heterogeneity in race, were positively associated with usage patterns, including time spent on Facebook, posting messages, posting photos, and lurking. In contrast, network characteristics of pre-existing relationships, such as density and heterogeneity in race, were negatively associated with Facebook usage patterns. Theoretical implications and limitations were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using the theoretical framework of ego-centric networks, this study examines the associations between the characteristics of both Facebook-specific and pre-existing personal networks and patterns of Facebook use. With data from an ego-network survey of college students, the study discovered that various dimensions of Facebook-specific network characteristics, such as multiplexity, proximity, density, and heterogeneity in race, were positively associated with usage patterns, including time spent on Facebook, posting messages, posting photos, and lurking. In contrast, network characteristics of pre-existing relationships, such as density and heterogeneity in race, were negatively associated with Facebook usage patterns. Theoretical implications and limitations were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although (−)-α-bisabolol, a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol, is often used as a cosmetic soothing supplement, little is known about its mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of (−)-α-bisabolol and its mechanisms of action. In this study, we found that (−)-α-bisabolol inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes was reduced, as evidenced by Western blot and luciferase reporter assays for COX-2 and iNOS. To assess the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory property of (−)-α-bisabolol, its effects on the activity of AP-1 and NF-κB promoters were examined. LPS-induced activation of AP-1 and NF-κB promoters was significantly reduced by (−)-α-bisabolol. Consistently, (−)-α-bisabolol reduced LPS-induced phosphorylation of IκBα. In addition, while LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 was attenuated by (−)-α-bisabolol, significant changes in the level of phosphorylated JNK were not observed. Our results indicate that (−)-α-bisabolol exerts anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating expression of iNOS and COX-2 genes through inhibition of NF-κB and AP-1 (ERK and p38) signaling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recognizing policy-making process as a communicative process, this study examines who has subsidized information relating to the net neutrality policy debate. Empirical data has been collected from net neutrality stories published in four national newspapers, as well as from hearings by Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), during the period of February 2004 through January 2009. Study findings reveal that corporate interests have played a significant role in subsidizing information on net neutrality, both to the public through the mainstream media and to legislators through Congressional hearings. Furthermore, study results show that experts played a larger role in defining net neutrality through the mainstream media and FCC hearings than they did through Congressional hearings. Finally, the role of advocacy group representatives was more apparent at Congressional hearings than via the other two available information channels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of the study: The root of Panax notoginseng (PN) is commonly used to treat chronic liver disease with its therapeutic abilities to stop haemorrhage in the circulation, while the PN flower (PN-F) is largely unknown in the biological activities on inflammation and mechanisms of its actions. In this study, the pharmacologic effects of PN-F methanol extract on inflammation were investigated to address potential therapeutic or toxic effects in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cells, RAW264.7 cells. Materials and methods: Production of NO, PGE2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) in supernatant, the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and cytokines, the phosphorylation of MAPK moleduces (ERK1/2, JNK and p38 MAPK), and the activation of NF-κB in PN-F extract were assayed in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Results: PN-F extract significantly inhibited the productions of NO, PGE2, TNF-α and IL-1β on the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, PN-F extract suppressed the mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The molecular mechanism of PN-F extract-mediated attenuation in RAW264.7 cells has close a relationship to suppressing the phosphorylation of MAPK molecules such as ERK1/2, JNK and p38 MAPK, and the translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit into nuclear. Conclusion: These results indicate that PN-F extract inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory response via the blocking of NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages, and demonstrated that PN-F extract possesses anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The anti-thrombic properties of the Korean herbal medicine, Dae-Jo-Hwan (DJW) were investigated. Water extracts, a 70% methanol (MeOH) extract and an ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction (III) from DJW inhibited platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo assays. The extracts of DJW and eleven herbs from which it is derived, except for Panax ginseng Meyer, Angelica sinensis (OLIV.) DIELS and Schisandra chinensis Baill., inhibited AA-induced blood platelet aggregation to various extents. The effects observed with total DJW was synergistic over-additive rather that additive since the sum of single contributions was lower than the effect of the total extract. Fraction III was specially protected against the lethality of PAF, while verapamil did not afford any protection. Exogenously applied arachidonic acid (AA) (100μM) led to a 89% platelet aggregation, the release of 14pmol of ATP, and the formation of either 225pg of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) or 45pg of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), each parameter being related to 106 platelets. An application of DJW 5min before AA, dose-dependently diminished aggregation, ATP-re lease, and the synthesis of TXA2 and PGE2, with IC50 values of 70, 87, 65 and 72μg/ml, respectively. The similarity of the IC50 values suggests the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) by DJW as the primary target, thus suppressing the generation of TXA2, which induces platelet aggregation and the exocytosis of ATP by its binding on TXA2-receptors. These results indicate that DJW shows anti-thrombotic action on human platelets and inhibits the action of PAF in vivo by an antagonistic effect on PAF. Therefore, it may be useful in treating disorders caused by PAF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The anti-thrombic properties of the Korean herbal medicine, Dae-Jo-Hwan (DJW), which is consisted of 11 herbs (indicated as concentrations) of Rehmanniae radix 24%, Hominis placenta 5%, Testudinis carapax 9%, Eucommiae cortex 9%, Asparagi radix 9%, Phellodendri cortex 9%, Achyranthis radix 7%, Liriopis tuber 7%, Angelicae sinensis radix 7%, Ginseng radix 6%, and Schizandrae fructus 3%, were investigated. The extracts of DJW and its 11 herbs, except G. radix, A. sinensis radix and S. Fructus, inhibited the endotoxin-induced hepatic venous thrombosis in high cholesterol diet-treated rats. Also the extract inhibited the endotoxin-induced decrease in blood platelets and fibrinogen, and endotoxin-induced increase in fibrin degradation products (FDP) on disseminated intravascular coagulation in normal rats. In in vitro experiments, the extract was shown to have inhibitory effect on collagen- and ADP-induced blood platelet aggregation, on thrombin-induced conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and on the activity of plasminogen or plasmin. In conclusion, the protection of extracts of Korean herbs on the ischemic infarction induced artificially might be related to their inhibitory effects on DIC, platelet coagulation and thrombic action. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: This in vitro study mainly aimed to compare VARO Guide® to the surgical guide fabricated by CAD/CAM (NAVI Guide®) in terms of accuracy and efficacy of the implant surgery held in the dentiform model. Methods: Twenty surgeons, 10 dentists in the beginner group and 10 dentists in the expert group, participated in the study. Each surgeon conducted fully guided surgery in dentiform models twice, once with VARO Guide® (VG surgery) and the other time with a conventional type of templates, NAVI Guide® (NG surgery). Based on the superimposition of presurgical and postsurgical STL files, the positional deviations between the virtually planned and actually placed implants and the time spent on presurgical preparation and surgical procedures were estimated and compared. Results: All dimensional deviations were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the expert and beginner groups regardless of the guide system. The total procedure time (mean (median)) of the VG surgery (26.33 (28.58) min) was significantly shorter than that of the NG surgery (378.83 (379.35) min; p < 0.05). While the time spent only for the fully guided implant surgery (from the start of the surgical guide sitting onto the dentiform model to the final installation of the implant fixture) was comparable (p > 0.05), the presurgical preparation time spent on virtual implant planning and surgical guide fabrication in the VG surgery (19.63 (20.93) min) was significantly shorter compared to the NG surgery (372.93 (372.95) min; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Regardless of experience, both VG and NG surgery showed reliable positional accuracy; however, the total procedure time and the preparation time were much shorter in the VG surgery compared to the NG surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the accuracy of various intraoral scanners (IOSs) and to investigate the existence of mutual compatibility that affects the accuracy between IOS and 3-dimensional (3D) printing using a scan quadrant model. For clinical implication, crown preparations and cavity design according to prosthetic diagnosis and treatment considerations must be acquired by a digital scanner. The selected typodont model was scanned using a reference scanner, from which reference (Ref) standard tessellation language (STL) data were created. Data obtained by scanning the typodont model with IOSs based on three different technologies were divided into three groups (CS3600, i500, and Trios3). Scanned data from the groups were divided into sub-groups of digital light processing (DLP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and stereolithography apparatus (SLA), based on which 3D printed models (3DP) were fabricated. The 3DP dental models were scanned to obtain a total of 90 3DP STL datasets. The best-fit algorithm of 3D analysis software was used for teeth and arch measurements, while trueness was analyzed by calculating the average deviation among measured values based on superimposition of Ref and IOS and 3DP data. The differences between Ref and IOS (Ref-IOS), Ref and 3DP (Ref-IOS/3DP), and IOS and 3DP data (IOS-3DP) were compared and analyzed, while accuracy within each of the three main groups was assessed. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and repeated measures ANOVA test were used (p < 0.05). The major finding is that the mutual relationships between IOSs and 3D printers vary depending on the combination. However, i500 intraoral scanner and DLP 3D printer was the combination that showed the best trueness value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Performance of computer-assisted implant surgical guides varied among 3D printers. • Guide hole tolerance of metal sleeve-free guides: within clinically acceptable range. • Potential for routine use of in-office 3D printers in clinics is demonstrated. Abstract Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the adaptation and guide hole tolerance of metal sleeve-free computer-assisted implant surgical guides fabricated with 3D printers. Methods An implant surgical guide for full-guided implant placement was designed with a total of eight different guide holes. Ten implant surgical guides (n = 10) were fabricated from the same design with each of five in-office 3D printers (D1, FOR, ONE, PER, and ZEN) using compatible printing materials. Ten surgical guides fabricated by the manufacturer of the implant company were used as the control group (CON). The adaptation of the surgical guides was evaluated by the replica technique. The tolerance of the guide holes was evaluated by measuring the degree of diversion with guide drills. Results CON and D1 showed superior internal adaptation with a gap distance of less than 1 mm. The mean degree of diversion of the guide holes ranged from 3.45° for ZEN to 6.55° for PER. The tolerances of CON (4.70°) and D1 (4.50°) did not differ at the level of statistical significance at α = 0.05. Significance The characteristics of implant surgical guides were evaluated per se. None of the 3D printers fabricated superior implant surgical guides to those produced by the manufacturer with regard to the internal fit and guide tolerance. However, the potential for the routine clinical use of in-office 3D printers was demonstrated. Further studies are required to determine how the guide hole tolerance and the angular deviation between the preplanned and actual implant positions are related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Targeted inactivation of Runx3 in mouse lung induced mucinous and nonmucinous adenomas and markedly shortened latency of adenocarcinoma formation induced by oncogenic K-Ras. RUNX3 was frequently inactivated in K-RAS mutated human lung adenocarcinomas. A functional genetic screen of a fly mutant library and molecular analysis in cultured cell lines revealed that Runx3 forms a complex with BRD2 in a K-Ras-dependent manner in the early phase of the cell cycle; this complex induces expression of p14 ARF /p19 Arf and p21 WAF/CIP . When K-Ras was constitutively activated, the Runx3-BRD2 complex was stably maintained and expression of both p14 ARF and p21 WAF/CIP was prolonged. These results provide a missing link between oncogenic K-Ras and the p14ARF-p53 pathway, and may explain how cells defend against oncogenic K-Ras. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory processes in human keratinocytes, resulting in skin inflammation, photoaging, and photocarcinogenesis. Adequate protection of skin against the harmful effects of UV irradiation is essential. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the protective effects of afzelin, one of the flavonoids, against UV irradiation in human keratinocytes and epidermal equivalent models. Spectrophotometric measurements revealed that the afzelin extinction maxima were in the UVB and UVA range, and UV transmission below 376 nm was <10%, indicating UV-absorbing activity of afzelin. In the phototoxicity assay using the 3T3 NRU phototoxicity test (3T3-NRU-PT), afzelin presented a tendency to no phototoxic potential. In addition, in order to investigate cellular functions of afzelin itself, cells were treated with afzelin after UVB irradiation. In human keratinocyte, afzelin effectively inhibited the UVB-mediated increase in lipid peroxidation and the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Afzelin also inhibited UVB-induced cell death in human keratinocytes by inhibiting intrinsic apoptotic signaling. Furthermore, afzelin showed inhibitory effects on UVB-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and prostaglandin-E2 in human keratinocytes by interfering with the p38 kinase pathway. Using an epidermal equivalent model exposed to UVB radiation, anti-apoptotic activity of afzelin was also confirmed together with a photoprotective effect at the morphological level. Taken together, our results suggest that afzelin has several cellular activities such as DNA-protective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory as well as UV-absorbing activity and may protect human skin from UVB-induced damage by a combination of UV-absorbing and cellular activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, we investigated whether daidzein significantly affects secretion, production and gene expression of mucin from cultured airway epithelial cells. Confluent primary rat tracheal surface epithelial (RTSE) cells were pretreated with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for 5 min and then chased for 30 min in the presence of daidzein to assess the effect on mucin secretion using ELISA. At the same time, confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with daidzein for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF and PMA for 24 h, respectively. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. The results were as follows: (1) daidzein significantly decreased ATP-induced mucin secretion from cultured RTSE cells; (2) daidzein inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF or PMA from NCI-H292 cells; (3) daidzein also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF or PMA from NCI-H292 cells. This result suggests that daidzein can regulate secretion, production and gene expression of mucin, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of KBH-A42 [N-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-1-(3-phenylpropyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-3-yl)propanamide], a novel synthetic histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. KBH-A42 inhibited a variety of HDAC isoforms in enzyme assays and suppressed growth of various cancer cell lines. Among the cell lines examined, colon cancer cells, including SW620, SW480 and HCT-15, were the cell types most sensitive to KBH-A42. KBH-A42 inhibition of cancer cell growth was comparable to or stronger than that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a well-known HDAC inhibitor approved by the FDA to treat cutaneous T cell lymphomas. In SW620 cells, KBH-A42 increased the acetylation of histones, mediated cell cycle arrest (G1 arrest at low doses and G2 arrest at high doses), and induced apoptosis. The cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by KBH-A42 might be mediated through up-regulation of p21Waf1 and activation of caspases, respectively. In addition, KBH-A42 inhibited SW620 tumor growth in a human tumor xenograft model. Taken together, our results indicate that KBH-A42 exerts an anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo and is a promising therapeutic candidate to treat human cancers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It has long been known that water extracts of placenta hominis (Jahage in Korean) are effective for treating immunological and vascular diseases and is a major constituent of traditional oriental medicines. We report herein on the isolation and purification of a new type of anticoagulant protein, PP27, from human placenta. PP27 ran as a single band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular mass (Mr) of 27 kDa under denaturing conditions and chromatography on a calibrated Sepharose 4B column indicated a molecular mass of 23 kDa, a value that is similar to those of other PP4 enzymes reported to date. The isoelectric point of PP27 was pI 5.2. PP27, at doses higher than 10 μg/ml, inhibited platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet activation in a dose-dependent manner. The protein was found to inhibit the coagulation time in a concentration-dependent manner. PP27, which acts as a vascular anticoagulant of annexin type, inhibits the blood clotting process by virtue of its binding of essential lipids, which is dependent on the presence of Ca2+ ions. In the presence of Ca2+ ions, PP27 combines with platelet membranes and neutralizes their procoagulant effect. Coagulation, triggered by the addition of thromboplastin/lipid mixtures, is extinguished by PP27. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Herbal medicine, Herba Taraxaci (Tarazacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.), was administered to mice with Behcet''s disease (BD)-like symptoms induced by herpes simplex virus (HSV). BD is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease. Herba Taraxaci (6 mg) was administered alone or in combination with 2 μg of colchicine to BD-like mice. Colchicine is a drug that is widely used as a medication for BD patients. The water extracts of Herba Taraxaci were administered orally once per day for 20 days. Eighty percent (8 of 10) of mice treated with Herba Taraxaci combined with colchicine showed improvement in mucocutaneous symptoms compared to 0% (0 of 10) of the nontreated group and 30% (3 of 10) treated with colchicine alone. Cytokine expression in spleen tissue collected from treated mice was analyzed by RT-PCR and FACS. Treatment with Herba Taraxaci induced IL-4 mRNA, and spleen from mice receiving the combined treatment (Herba Taraxaci and colchicines) showed an increased number of splenocytes staining with anti-IL-10 (46.8±6.80) compared to Herba Taraxaci (35.4±2.17) (p<0.05) or colchicine alone (26.2±4.47) (p<0.001). These results suggest that the Herba Taraxaci may be an effective complementary agent in the treatment of BD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Since urban problems are increasingly becoming complex and multifaceted due to the rapid urbanization, interest in the development of smart cities as an efficient solution to such problems is growing. The significance of smart cities lies in not having technology itself but using technology with a novel approach to solve urban problems, enhance the quality of life for urban residents, and optimize government performance. Such an approach includes scientifically processing civic query (including complaints, suggestions, and inquiry) data about a city and planning the city such that its policies reflect its residents' voices to ensure "throughput legitimacy." This study introduces a novel approach to analyze diverse informal civic query data for a city and plan the city in a way that its residents want. By analyzing 160,000 civic queries accumulated over 10 years from 2006 to 2017 from the "Oasis of 10 Million Imagination," which is a civic participation platform of Seoul, this study aims to contribute to the sustainable development of Seoul so that it can plan a citizen-centric and smart city that satisfies the demands of its residents. By applying Dynamic Topic Model, the authors intend to specify civic demands and forecast the demands of citizens. • This study introduces a novel approach to analyze diverse civic query data submitted online. • Analyzed 160,000 civic queries accumulated over 10 years from 2006 to 2017 from the online venue of Seoul city, South Korea. • Machine learning/artificial intelligence (AI) would enhance the quality of responsive governance. • Dynamic topic model and Word2vec combined for detecting civic complaints. • City government should provide data-driven insights for its citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]