Background: As ways to optimize the mobilization of postural stability muscles for sitting up motions, arm reaching motions and head raising motions have important effects. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of reaching to sit-up training on the trunk muscle activity, postural ability, and balance ability of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was conducted with 18 stroke patients who met the selection criteria divided into two groups: a study group of 9 patents and a control group of 9 patients. The study group carried out reaching to sit-up training, which can promote trunk muscles and improve control through trunk interactions. The control group received general physical therapy intervention Results: The activity of the trunk muscle was significantly different before and after intervention in study and control group. The functional reaching test showed significant changes in both the study group and the control group. The timed up and go test showed a significant change in the study group. Conclusion: Reaching to sit-up training for 4 weeks showed increases in trunk muscle activity in stroke patients and was effective in improving balance ability.

목적: 본 연구는 COVID-19의 대유행 동안 20~30대 성인을 대상으로 컴퓨터시각증후군 (CVS, computer vision syndrome) 관련 눈의 자각증상과 시력 관련 불편감을 파악하고, 눈 건강을 위해 사용하는 예방법을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 2021년 12월부터 2022년 2월까지 안경 또는 콘택트렌즈 처방과 상담을 위해 일개 안경원에 내원 했던 20~30대 성인 중에서 전신질환 및 안질환, 안과적 수술 경험이 없는 150명을 대상으로 하였다. 연구도구는 대상자의 일반적인 특성(3문항), CVS 자각증상(16문항), 시력 관리(2문항), 눈의 조절기능 이상(2문항), 청색광 차단 안경사용(2문항), 근거리교정(1문항)으로 총 26문항으로 구성된 설문지를 이용하였다. 결과 : 전체 대상자들의 CVS 자각증상은 “눈물이 많이 발생한다”가 109명(72.7%)으로 가장 높은 빈도를 보였 고, 그다음은 “눈이 아프다”가 104명(69.3%)으로 나타났다. CVS 자각증상 중 시력 관련 자각증상은 “사물이 흐 려보인다”가 106명(70.7%)으로 가장 많았다. 시력 관리방법으로는 “시력의 저하를 느껴서”가 105명(70.0%)으로 가장 많았고, 청색광 차단 안경 사용하는 대상자는 150명(84.7%)으로 80% 이상의 대상자들이 기능을 넣어서 사 용하고 있다. 결론 : CVS 자각증상 16문항 중 14문항에서 50% 이상으로 나타났다. 청색광 차단 안경을 사용하지 않는 대상 자는 CVS 자각증상 중 시력과 관련된 “시력이 나빠지는 것 같다”가 69.6%로 가장 높게 나타났다. COVID-19 대 유행 동안 자각적인 불편증상과 시력저하를 호소하는 대상자가 높게 나타나고 있다. 따라서 안경처방 시 생활환 경, 사용시간 및 자각적 증상에 대하여 문진이 필요하다고 생각된다.

In 2022, research for native prokaryotic species in Korea reported 10 unrecorded bacterial strains affiliated to phyla Actinomycetota, Bacillota, and Pseudomonadota. The strains formed monophyletic clades with the most closely related species (with ≥98.7% sequence similarity) in the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Among them, four species of the phylum Actinomycetota, two species of the phylum Bacillota, and four species of the phylum Pseudomonadota have not been reported in Korea, suggesting unrecorded species in Korea. Information on strains such as Gram staining reaction, colony and cell morphology, biochemical characteristics, and isolation sources were provided in the species description.

Ischemic stroke leads to severe brain damage and high mortality. Chlorogenic acid is a phenolic compound known to have neuroprotective properties. Bcl-2 family protein plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. We investigated whether chlorogenic acid exerts neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury by modulating Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to induce cerebral ischemia and rats were injected intraperitoneally with phosphate buffered saline or chlorogenic acid (30 mg/kg) for 2 h after MCAO. Cortical tissues were collected 24 h after MCAO injury and reverse transcription-quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were performed to investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. The regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins by chlorogenic acid during glutamateinduced cell damage were examined. Cells were collected at 24 h after administration of glutamate (5 mM) and chlorogenic acid (10, 30, 50 μM). These results showed a decrease in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax expression in MCAO animals, but chlorogenic acid treatment alleviated these changes by MCAO damage. Glutamate significantly reduced cell viability, and chlorogenic acid treatment alleviated this reduction in a dose-dependent manner. Glutamate induced a decrease in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax expression, but chlorogenic acid treatment alleviated these changes. We found that chlorogenic acid alleviates changes in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins induced by brain injury. Therefore, our findings provide an evidence that chlorogenic acid has neuroprotective effects against MCAO damage by modulating Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.

This study was conducted to assess the genetic variability and correlation of phenotypic characteristics in 12 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes including 11 WorldVeg and one commercial variety (Pusa Ruby) in Terai (plain) region of Nepal in 2021–2022. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The phenotypic traits, including days to 50% flowering, plant vigor and height, fruit number/plant, fruit yield, fruit weight and diameter, fruit firmness and fruit pericarp thickness, and total soluble solids (TSS) content of the fruits, were studied. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits except for plant vigor. The genotype of AVTO1705 resulted the highest fruit yield (2.9 kg/plant) than Pusa Ruby, a commercial check (0.5 kg/plant). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits and PCV values were maximum for the number of fruits, fruit yield, and fruit weight. High PCV, GCV, and genetic advance (GA) were observed for yield, fruit weight, and plant height, respectively, indicating the additive gene effect. High heritability for fruit yield/plant and plant height inferred the phenotypic selection for their genetic improvement. Fruit yield was significantly (P<0.05) positively correlated with the fruit number and fruit weight, and direct selection of these traits are reliable for yield improvement in tomato.

In the present investigation, a new electrochemical sensor based on carbon paste electrode was applied to simultaneous determine the tramadol, olanzapine and acetaminophen for the first time. The CuO/reduced graphene nanoribbons (rGNR) nanocomposites and 1-ethyl 3-methyl imidazolinium chloride as ionic liquid (IL) were employed as modifiers. The electrooxidation of these drugs at the surface of the modified electrode was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry. Various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were used to validate the structure of CuO-rGNR nanocomposites. This sensor displayed a superb electro catalytic oxidation activity and good sensitivity. Under optimized conditions, the results showed the linear in the concentration range of 0.08–900 μM and detection limit (LOD) was achieved to be 0.05 μM. The suggested technique was effectively used to the determination of tramadol in pharmaceuticals and human serum samples. For the first time, the present study demonstrated the synthesis and utilization of the porous nanocomposites to make a unique and sensitive electrode and ionic liquid for electrode modification to co-measurement of these drugs.

In this work, we investigated a modern combined processing technique for the synthesis of lightweight superhard composites based on boron–carbon. We used traditional B4C with precipitates of free graphite and Al powder as initial materials. In the first stage, the composites were fabricated by the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) with the subsequent hot pressing of the compound. Further, by the disintegration and attrition milling, the ultrafine-grained powder was obtained. We used HCl and HNO3 acids for the chemical leaching of the powder to remove various impure compounds. At the last stage, a solid composite was obtained by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method under nitrogen pressure. The main feature of this approach is to implement different synthesis techniques and chemical leaching to eliminate soft phases and to obtain superhard compounds from low-cost materials. The phases were studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The composites compacted by the SPS method contained superhard compounds such as B13C2, B11.7C3.3, and c-BN. The fabricated composite has an ultrafine-grained microstructure. Using a Berkovich indenter, the following nanohardness results were achieved: B13C2 ~ 43 GPa, c-BN ~ 65 GPa (all in Vickers scale) along with a modulus of elasticity ranging between ~ 400 GPa and ~ 450 GPa.

There are many types of foam molding methods. The most commonly used methods are the pressure foaming method, in which foam resin is mixed with a foaming agent at high temperature and high pressure, and the normal pressure foaming method, which foams at high temperature without pressure. The polymer resins used for foaming have different viscosities. For foaming under normal pressure, they need to be designed and analyzed for optimal foaming conditions, to obtain resins with low melt-viscosity or a narrow optimal viscosity range. This study investigated how changes in viscosity, molding temperature, and cross-link foaming conditions affected the characteristics of the molded foam, prepared by blending rubber polymer with biodegradable resin. The morphologies of cross sections and the cell structures of the normal pressure foam were investigated by SEM analysis. Properties were also studied according to cross-link/foaming conditions and torque. Also, the correlation between foaming characteristics was studied by analyzing tensile strength and elongation, which are mechanical properties of foaming composites.

Background: In modern society, the use of computers accounts for a large proportion of our daily lives. Although substantial research is being actively conducted on musculoskeletal diseases resulting from computer use, there has been a recent surge in interest in improving the working environment for prevention. Objects: This study aimed to examine the effects of posture correction feedback (PCF) on changes in neck posture and muscle activation during computer typing. Methods: The participants performed a computer typing task in two sessions, each lasting 16 minutes. The participant’s dominant side was photographed and analyzed using ImageJ software to verify neck posture. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to confirm the participant’s cervical erector spinae (CES) and upper trapezius muscle activities. The EMG signal was analyzed using the percentage of reference voluntary contraction and amplitude probability distribution function (APDF). In the second session, visual and auditory feedback for posture correction was provided if the neck was flexed by more than 15° in the initial position during computer typing. A 20-minute rest period was provided between the two sessions. Results: The neck angle (p = 0.014), CES muscle activity (p = 0.008), and APDF (p = 0.015) showed significant differences depending on the presence of the PCF. Furthermore, significant differences were observed regarding the CES muscle activity (p = 0.001) and APDF (p = 0.002) over time. Conclusion: Our study showed that the feedback system can correct poor posture and reduces unnecessary muscle activation during computer work. The improved neck posture and reduced CES muscle activity observed in this study suggest that neck pain can be prevented. Based on these results, we suggest that the PCF system can be used to prevent neck pain.

Background: Office workers experience neck or back pain due to poor posture, such as flexed head and forward head posture, during long-term sedentary work. Posture correction is used to reduce pain caused by poor posture and ensures proper alignment of the body. Several assistive devices have been developed to assist in maintaining an ideal posture; however, there are limitations in practical use due to vast size, unproven long-term effects or inconsistency of maintaining posture alignment. We developed a headphone and necklace posture correction system (HANPCS) for posture correction using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that provides visual or auditory feedback. Objects: To demonstrate the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of neck and upper trunk flexion measurements using a HANPCS, compared with a three-dimensional motion analysis system (3DMAS). Methods: Twenty-nine participants were included in this study. The HANPCS was applied to each participant. The angle for each action was measured simultaneously using the HANPCS and 3DMAS. The data were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = [3,3] with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The angular measurements of the HANPCS for neck and upper trunk flexions showed high intra- (ICC = 0.954–0.971) and inter-day (ICC = 0.865–0.937) values, standard error of measurement (SEM) values (1.05°–2.04°), and minimal detectable change (MDC) values (2.92°–5.65°). Also, the angular measurements between the HANPCS and 3DMAS had excellent ICC values (> 0.90) for all sessions, which indicates high concurrent validity. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the HANPCS is as accurate in measuring angle as the gold standard, 3DMAS. Therefore, the HANPCS is reliable and valid because of its angular measurement reliability and validity.

In this study, the synthesis of nitrobenzene was carried out using sulfated silica catalyst. The study delved into H2SO4/SiO2 as a solid acid catalyst and the effect of its weight variation, as well as the use of a microwave batch reactor in the synthesis of nitrobenzene. SiO2 was prepared using the sol-gel method from TEOS precursor. The formed gel was then refluxed with methanol and calcined at a temperature of 600 °C. SiO2 with a 200-mesh size was impregnated with 98 % H2SO4 by mixing for 1 h. The resulting 33 % (w/w) H2SO4/SiO2 catalyst was separated by centrifugation, dried, and calcined at 600 °C. The catalyst was then used as a solid acid catalyst in the synthesis of nitrobenzene. The weights of catalyst used were 0.5; 1; and 1.5 grams. The synthesis of nitrobenzene was carried out with a 1:3 ratio of benzene to nitric acid in a microwave batch reactor at 60 °C for 5 h. The resulting nitrobenzene liquid was analyzed using GC-MS to determine the selectivity of the catalyst. Likewise, the use of a microwave batch reactor was found to be appropriate and successful for the synthesis of nitrobenzene. The thermal energy produced by the microwave batch reactor was efficient enough to be used for the nitration reaction. Reactivity and selectivity tests demonstrated that 1 g of H2SO4/SiO2 could generate an average benzene conversion of 40.33 %.

Trust is well recognized as a critical component of effective health system processes, as patient trust is known to influence satisfaction and other health-related behaviors. The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected healthcare organizations, leading to the need for reorganizing services, practices, interactions. Particularly, because of COVID-19 pandemic, patient/doctor exchanges have increasingly been mediated by digital technologies, thus leading to potential devaluation of patients trust toward the healthcare system.

Humans turn to other humans for decision making. They don’t know how the algorithm operates but they understand how a human mind operates. Ergo, they would be more likely to follow a human’s recommendation.

Innovative companies after the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic are undergoing significant changes: from new trends in the markets to the growth of remote work in the digital environment. At any stage of development, innovative companies need an adaptive marketing approach to the implementation of the planned strategy. Marketing solutions to the problems of a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment (VUCA) in 2023 can rightfully be considered an emergency aid to innovative transformations in emerging markets. The triad “market orientation – innovation – performance” chain has been extended to various innovation types– from technological and product innovation to innovation orientation and capability. Moreover, the market orientation research agenda has, during last 10 years, highlighted customer orientation as a key component of market orientation that drives innovative activities.

This study investigated which factors impact esports viewership for League of Legends matches through Live and highLight streaming video. This research anaLyzed League of Legends viewership factors' differences between the three Leagues (LCK, LCS, and LEC) where viewership factors infLuence esports viewership demand through LOL’s Live and highLight streaming video. League of Legends not onLy has the highest audience among different various esports, aLso has formed a huge market from diverse countries. In order to soLve each League's unbaLance viewership trend issue between the three Leagues, and facing worLdwide viewership decrease, this study examined viewership impact factors from three Leagues with the highest viewership ratings: Korea's LCK, North America's LCS, and Europe's LEC. After that, differences in viewership impact factors for the research were anaLyzed and compared to each League. SpecificaLLy, this study investigated which factors impact esports viewership for League of Legends (LOL) matches. Data (N=1581) of reguLar season matches from the LCK, LCS, and LEC Leagues (2020 spring to 2021 summer) were coLLected and anaLyzed. This study anaLyzed the average number of visitors per minute of Twitch Live streaming and the number of views on YouTube highLights. Five main viewership factors(the uncertainty of match, consumer preferences, match importance, team attributes, match content, and controL variabLes), and seventeen independent variabLes were verified by muLtipLe regression anaLysis using STATA 15. As a resuLt of the anaLysis, the modeL with the number of reaL-time audience as the dependent variabLe demonstrated different trends between Leagues in terms of the uncertainty of match factors (rank difference, win rate difference, goLd difference, kiLL difference, object difference), and consumer preference factors(fan, operating period of both teams, number of worLd championship wins, the number of championship semifinaL advances). WhiLe the match importance factors(week, top-rank matches) and match content factors (the sum of kiLLs, the sum of assists, the sum of objects) indicated somewhat simiLar tendencies between Leagues. In the modeL with the number of highLights views as the dependent variabLe, consumer preference factors and match importance factors tended to be somewhat simiLar, but match content factors prone to be sLightLy different between Leagues. In addition, the uncertainty of the match factors did not show a significant infLuence across the three Leagues. Findings from this research expand and appLy the variabLes derived from the demand determination theory of traditionaL sports to e-sports demand research. This study heLps stakehoLders understand various esports cuLtures from different regions. Furthermore, it is meaningfuL in that it provides information that wiLL contribute to the growth of the entire League of Legends market through baLanced deveLopment between Leagues.

Today, the ability to engage customers is a key factor of brand competitiveness in global markets. Not surprising, marketers are scrambling to figure how to utilize social media and other digital platforms to motivate customer engagement (CE), defined as brand-focused behavioral manifestations, other than purchases, resulting from individual and group motivational drivers. In this study we adopt consumer investment in trademarks perspective, suggesting that consumers proactively use global brand’s signs to express themselves, affirm values, communicate, and experience pleasure in digital platforms. The brand owners deploy trademarks to protect the symbols, which can distinguish the goods or services of a brand owner from those of other enterprises. We hypothesize that by registering trademarked signs in the host markets, global brands may facilitate CE and achieve superior performance. We empirically test these proposition using data for 125 global brands and trademark finings these brands in the twenty largest economies. The results of model confirm expectations that both trademarking in the host markets and consistency in using protected signs positively affected brand’s market share. The study provides managerial, theoretical, and policy insights in context of global brand protection.

Service encounters increasingly feature AI-powered inputs such as add-ons recommendations or aftercare solutions. These novel forms of customer service, provided by AI rather than humans, can shape customers’ sense of agency throughout the customer journey. Customers find themselves in a form of competitive collaboration with AI, sharing tasks, resources, inputs, and decisions. This research conceptualises and develops a scale to measure shared agency power during customer-AI interactions. Understanding the role of agency in AI- customer interactions is important, as agency represents a source, mechanism, delimiter and effect of a human’s or a machine’s actions. Agency may differ across various service encounters and with it, the type of perceived risks associated with human-AI interactions. Future research may use the shared agency power scale to better understand the nature and impact of customer-AI interactions in a service context on traditional marketing factors.

Gastro-tourism extends beyond what to eat, but also the attractiveness and the environment. It encompasses a tourist experience journey starting from pre, during, until post-travel. Gastro tourism in the new normal engages with traditional vs novel value of experiences. This study aims to answer how Gen Z experiences gastro tourism and the impact of digital technologies using surveys on Tiktok Ads followed by an experiment with an immersive culinary adventure using 3D visual technology.

As ESG (environmental, social, and governance) has become a major business trend, many firms put ESG into their business practice to fulfill market and stakeholders' demands (Wang et al., 2016). With a growing emphasis on ESG, firms must decide how to integrate ESG into their organizational strategy. Although ESG is a popular business trend, it is meaningless if ESG reduces firm value. For successful ESG implementation, ESG strategy must be integral to the business model (Duque-Grisales and Aguilera-Caracuel, 2021). With the integration of ESG into the firm's business process, sustainable activities enable firms to improve their economic and social performance by tapping into the synergies between business and societal agendas (Duque-Grisales and Aguilera-Caracuel, 2021). Core competence refers to an organization's accumulated strength compared to other organizations in the industry (Wheelen, 2019). It is the unique integration of leadership, technologies, specialized skills and knowledge, organizational culture, and the working possesses (Wheelen, 2019). Even though the literature on ESG emphasizes integrating ESG into firms’ core capabilities, there are only a few studies that developed ESG implementation and integration framework in specific dimensions (Fatima & Elbanna, 2022) and the literature shows mixed results. Since previous research presents unclear results regarding ESG implementation and firms' core competencies, this study aims to 1) investigate how ESG strategy could integrate with firms' core competencies and 2) clarify ESG embeddedness drivers. The findings provide significant implications for academics and managers by clarifying how firms can enhance their value through ESG with firms' core competencies.