In response to the 2008 global financial crisis, many of the world’s largest central banks initiated unconventional monetary policies such as quantitative easing when standard open market operations became ineffective. The Bank of Japan, the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Community Bank were among those that aggressively increased their respective monetary bases to purchase specified financial assets from commercial banks and financial institutions in order to lower interest rates interest rates for specific debt securities and stimulate their economies. Japan, which has long suffered from years of debilitating deflationary cycles, has targeted and committed to open-ended purchases until a stable two percent rate of consumer price inflation is achieved. Several of Japan’s chief exporting rivals, in particular China, have publicly criticized the Bank of Japan for using its current monetary policy to intentionally devalue its currency and thereby benefit from an unfair trade practice. This criticism is unwarranted and Japan’s policy complies with international law.

The aim of this study was to compare the activity of the upper trapezius (UT) and serratus anterior (SA) and ratio of UT to SA during shoulder elevations. Ten subjects with UT pain (UTP) and 13 subjects without UTP participated in this study. Subjects with a UTP of over five in a pain intensity visual analogue scale (0-10 ㎝) for more than 2 months and latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the UT muscle were included in the UTP group. Electromyography (EMG) data of UT and SA at 1st and 10th elevations were analyzed. Two-way repeated analyses of variance were used to compare the EMG activity of UT and SA and the ratio of UT to SA during shoulder elevations between groups with and without UTP. There was a significant increase in UT/SA ratio in the group with UTP compared to the group without UTP (p=.01). The activity of UT and SA measured at the 10th elevation was significantly greater than that in the first elevation (p<.05). The activity of SA was significantly greater in the group without UTP than the group with UTP (p=.03). However, there was no significant difference between groups with and without UTP in terms of UT activity (p=.28). These results indicate that UTP may have relevance to the increased muscle activity ratio of UT to SA during shoulder elevations.

Isotropic synthetic graphite scrap and phenolic resin were mixed, and the mixed powder was formed at 300 MPa to produce a green body. New bulk graphite was produced by carbon-izing the green body at 700°C, and the bulk graphite thus produced was impregnated with resin and re-carbonized at 700°C. The bulk density of the bulk graphite was 1.29 g/cm3, and the porosity of the open pores was 29.8%. After one impregnation, the density increased to 1.44 g/cm3 while the porosity decreased to 25.2%. Differences in the pore distribution before and after impregnation were easily confirmedby observing the microstructure. In addition, by using an X-ray diffractometer, the degrees-of-alignment (Da) were obtained for one side perpendicular to the direction of compression molding of the bulk graphite (the “top-face”), and one side parallel to the direction of compression molding (the “side-face”). The anisot-ropy ratio calculated from the Da-values obtained was 1.13, which indicates comparatively good isotropy.

Three dimensional self-assembled graphene hydrogels were easily fabricated by electron beam irradiation (EBI) using an aqueous solution of wool/poly(vinyl alcohol) and graphene oxide (GO). After exposure to various levels of EBI radiation, the highly porous, self-assembled, wool-based graphene hydrogels were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; to determine the gel fraction, degree of swelling, gel strength, kinetics-of-swelling analyses and removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from the aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction results confirmed that EBI played a significantly important role in reducing GO to graphene. The adsorption equilibrium of Cr(VI) was reached within 80 min and the adsorption capacity was dramatically increased as the acidity of the initial solution was decreased from pH 5 to 2. Changes in ionic strength did not exert much effect on the adsorption behavior.

MYC (v-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homologue) is a regulator gene that encodes for a nuclear phosphoprotein. Porcine MYC gene was mapped on chromosome SSC 4p13 and is associated with a variety of functions such as cell proliferation and cell growth. MYC expression is coupled to a multitude of physiological processes and is regulated by hormones, growth factors, cytokines, lymphokines, nutritional status, development and differentiation. MYC is also involved in myogenesis, muscle hyperplasia and adipogenesis. In this study, we investigated SNPs in MYC gene and their association with economic traits in Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire populations. We detected a single point mutation in exon 3 of porcine MYC gene as a change of T to C at 906 base (amino acid position 302, nonsynomous mutation of alanine) in MYC-N domain. MYC mutation (T906C) was significantly associated with age at 90 kg in these breeds, signifying that this mutation can serve as a selection marker for growth traits in pigs.

The 304 stainless steel powders were prepared by high energy ball milling and subsequently sintered byspark plasma sintering, and the microstructural characteristics and micro-hardness were investigated. The initial size ofthe irregular shaped 304 stainless steel powders was approximately 42 µm. After high energy ball milling at 800 rpmfor 5h, the powders became spherical with a size of approximately 2 µm, and without formation of reaction compounds.From TEM analysis, it was confirmed that the as-milled powders consisted of the aggregates of the nano-sized particles.As the sintering temperature increased from 1073K to 1573K, the relative density and micro-hardness of sintered sampleincreased. The sample sintered at 1573K showed the highest relative density of approximately 95% and a micro-hard-ness of 550 Hv.

We report the detection of an exoplanet candidate in orbit around σ Persei from a radial velocity (RV) survey. The system exhibits periodic RV variations of 579.8 ± 2.4 days. The purpose of the survey is to search for low-amplitude and long-period RV variations in giants and examine the origin of the variations using the fiber-fed Bohyunsan Observatory Echelle Spectrograph installed at the 1.8- m telescope of Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory in Korea. We present high-accuracy RV measurements of σ Per made from December 2003 to January 2014. We argue that the RV variations are not related to the surface inhomogeneities but instead a Keplerian motion of the planetary companion is the most likely explanation. Assuming a stellar mass of 2.25 ± 0.5 M⊙, we obtain a minimum planetary companion mass of 6.5 ± 1.0 MJup, with an orbital semi-major axis of 1.8 ± 0.1 AU, and an eccentricity of 0.3 ± 0.1 around σ Per.

The purpose of this study is to suggest ways to utilize increasing immigrants to Jeju as a growth engine for local development at a time when a low birth rate and becoming an aging society are emerging as serious social problems. For this purpose, we reviewed the current conditions of people' s moving in and out of Jeju Island and analyzed immigrants opinions on settling in Jeju. Based on these reviews and analysis, we suggest ideas of short-term and long-term projects to enhance the satisfactory levels of settlers. Policy of attracting migration to Jeju is very important and also in line with establishing a free international city which Jeju Special Self-governing Province has aimed for. In order to maintain the influx of the population continuously, it is needed to have concrete and lasting pIans which reflect various types, timing and length of migration.