[Structural Equation Modeling of Health Promotion Behavior on Migrant Workers: A Multi-Group Analysis Based on the Period of Residence].

PURPOSE: This study developed and tested a hypothetical model of health promotion behavior on migrant workers based on the Health Promotion Model and the Health Literacy Skills Framework. METHODS: Data were collected from 298 migrant workers in 9 regions across the country from December 2020 to March 2021. The exogenous variables were e-health literacy, occupational stress, acculturation, and social support. The endogenous variables were perceived benefits of action, self-efficacy, and health promotion behavior. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, AMOS 20.0, and R-4.0.3 program. RESULTS: The model fit was appropriate. Social support had the most significant direct impact on the health promotion behavior of migrant workers. Perceived benefits of action and self-efficacy played a mediating role in the relationship among e-health literacy, social support, and health promotion behavior. Based on multi-group analysis, the migrant worker group with less than 5 years of residency had a more statistically significant effect on the relationship between perceived benefits of action and health promotion behavior than those with over 5 years. CONCLUSION: Providing social support as a critical administrative strategy to enhance the health promotion behavior of migrant workers is necessary. Furthermore, when developing an intervention program utilizing the internal mechanism between social support and health promotion behavior, a self-efficacy-enhancing strategy is considered to be more effective. Additionally, educating migrant workers with short-term residence of less than 5 years about the benefits of health behaviors is essential.

Monitoring, exposure and risk assessment of formaldehyde in alcoholic beverages in Korea.

Formaldehyde occurs naturally in food and alcoholic beverages. Formaldehyde and alcoholic beverages can cause various health problems, including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, respiratory problems, and skin rashes. Alcoholic beverage samples (N = 236) were collected and analyzed for formaldehyde by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The highest average concentrations were detected in fruit wines (1.71 µg/g), followed by wines (1.15 µg/g), cheongju (0.95 µg/g), soju (0.85 µg/g), takju (0.64 µg/g) and beers (0.61 µg/g). We assessed the exposure and risk assessment to formaldehyde from alcoholic beverages based on the monitoring data for the general population and consumers in Korea using various schemes for point estimation. The daily intakes of formaldehyde for the general population and consumers were estimated to be 83 µg and 1202 µg, respectively. The mean hazard indexes (HI) for the general population and consumers in Korea were 0.009 and 0.132, respectively. On the other hand, the mean hazard indexes (HI) for the general population and consumers in Korea were 0.009 and 0.132, respectively. The exposure to formaldehyde in these alcoholic beverages for the Korean population was shown to be of low concern, but it is necessary to monitor the level of formaldehyde in alcoholic beverages and continuously conduct exposure assessment for consumers.

Cinnamyl Alcohol Attenuates Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Cells by Arresting the Cell Cycle.

Cinnamyl alcohol (CA) is an aromatic compound found in several plant-based resources and has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities. However, the anti-adipogenic mechanism of CA has not been sufficiently studied. The present study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of CA on the regulation of adipogenesis. As evidenced by Oil Red O staining, Western blotting, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyses, CA treatment (6.25-25 µM) for 8 d significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner and downregulated adipogenesis-related markers (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), adiponectin, fatty acid synthase (FAS)) in 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin(MDI)-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In particular, among the various differentiation stages, the early stage of adipogenesis was critical for the inhibitory effect of CA. Cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry and Western blotting showed that CA effectively inhibited MDI-induced initiation of mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) by arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and downregulating the expression of C/EBPß, C/EBPδ, and cell cycle markers (cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), cyclin E1, CDK2, and cyclin B1). Moreover, AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), markers of upstream signaling pathways, were phosphorylated during MCE by CA. In conclusion, CA can act as an anti-adipogenic agent by inhibiting the AMPKα and ERK1/2 signaling pathways and the cell cycle and may also act as a potential therapeutic agent for obesity.

Comparing the Effects of Static Stretching Alone and in Combination with Post-Activation Performance Enhancement on Squat Jump Performance at Different Knee Starting Angles.

We aimed to investigate the impact of isolated static stretching (4 sets of 30 seconds) and its combined form with 10 repetitive drop jumps on lower limb performance during squat jumps at different knee joint starting angles (60°, 90°, and 120°). Thirteen participants completed three randomly ordered experimental visits, each including a standardized warm-up and squat jumps at three angles, apart from the intervention or control. Information was gathered through a three-dimensional movement tracking system, electromyography system, and force platform. The electromyography data underwent wavelet analysis to compute the energy values across the four wavelet frequency bands. The average power (Pavg), peak power (Ppeak), peak ground reaction force (GRFpeak), peak center of mass velocity (Vpeak), and force-velocity relationship at peak power (SFv) were extracted from the force and velocity-time data. The results revealed no significant influence of isolated static stretching, or its combined form with drop jumps, on the energy values across the frequency bands of the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris and rectus femoris, or the Pavg or Ppeak (P > 0.05). However, at 120°, static stretching reduced the GRFpeak (P = 0.001, d = 0.86) and SFv (P < 0.001, d = 1.12), and increased the Vpeak (P = 0.001, d = 0.5). The GRFpeak, Pavg, Ppeak, and SFv increased with an increase in the joint angle (P < 0.05), whereas the Vpeak decreased (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that static stretching does not diminish power output during squat jumps at the three angles; however, it alters GRFpeak, Vpeak, and the relative contributions of force and velocity to peak power at 120°, which can be eliminated by post-activation performance enhancement. Moreover, compared to 60° and 90°, 120° was more favorable for power and peak force output.

Uncovering Nitrosyl Reactivity at N-Heterocyclic Carbene Center.

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have garnered much attention due to their unique properties, such as strong σ-donating and π-accepting abilities, as well as their transition-metal-like reactivity toward small molecules. In 2015, we discovered that NHCs can react with nitric oxide (NO) gas to form radical adducts that resemble transition metal nitrosyl complexes. To elucidate the analogy between NHC and transition metal NO adducts, here we have undertaken a systematic investigation of the electron- and proton-transfer chemistry of [NHC-NO]⋅ (N-heterocyclic carbene nitric oxide radical) compounds. We have accessed a suite of compounds, comprised of [NHC-NO]+ , [NHC-NO]- , [NHC-NOH]0 , and [NHC-NHOH]+ species. In particular, [NHC-NO]- was isolated as potassium and lithium ion adducts. Most interestingly, a monomeric potassium [NHC-NO]- compound was isolated with the assistance of 18-crown-6, which is the first instance of a monomeric alkali N-oxyl compound to the best of our knowledge. Our results demonstrate that [NHC-NO]⋅ exhibits redox behavior broadly similar to metal nitrosyl complexes, which opens up more possibilities for utilizing NHCs to build on the known reactivity of metal complexes.

Effect of Polycan, a ß-Glucan from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001, on Inflammatory Response and Intestinal Barrier Function in DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease with unclear etiology and pathophysiology. Herein, we determined the effects of extracellular polysaccharides purified from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 (Polycan) on tight junction protein expression, inflammation, and apoptosis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis model. Fifty mice were divided into normal, DSS, DSS + Polycan 250 mg/kg (Polycan 250), DSS + Polycan 500 mg/kg (Polycan 500), and DSS + 5-aminosalicylic acid 100 mg/kg (5-ASA) groups. Their body weights, colon lengths, histological changes in colon tissue, and tight junction function were observed. Results showed that Polycan 250, Polycan 500, and 5-ASA significantly inhibited body weight loss compared with DSS. Similar to 5-ASA, Polycan 500 exhibited preventive effects on colon length shortening and histological changes in colon tissues. Polycan inhibited the DSS-induced decrease in fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran permeability and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover, Polycan significantly recovered serum cytokine (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß) or mRNA expression in colon tissue compared with DSS. Polycan also inhibited apoptosis by reducing caspase-3 activity and the Bcl-2 associated X/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio. Additionally, DSS treatment significantly reduced microbial abundance and diversity, but the administration of Polycan reversed this effect. Collectively, Polycan protected intestinal barrier function and inhibited inflammation and apoptosis in DSS-induced colitis.

Simultaneous determination of the free and total forms of nonylphenol, nonylphenol monoethoxylate, and nonylphenol diethoxylate in human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) are widely used in various daily products and have been cataloged as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Due to their high lipophilicity and low biodegradability, these compounds remain in the environment and enter the human body through the food chain. Growing concerns regarding the potential negative effects of NP, NP1EO, and NP2EO on human health have raised the need for biomonitoring to investigate human exposure to these compounds. In this study, a simultaneous analysis method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was established by controlling the background contamination of NP, NP1EO, and NP2EO, which are ubiquitous in laboratory environments. The proposed method showed proper linearity of over 0.999 and a recovery greater than 85.8% for all analytes. Accuracy and precision were verified in ranges of 92.97-116.30% and 0.65-9.29%, respectively. The detection limits for NP, NP1EO, and NP2EO were 0.0363 µg L-1, 0.0401 µg L-1, and 0.0364 µg L-1, respectively, which were suitable for determining the trace analytes in human urine. Therefore, this simple and integrated analytical method was applied to measure the free and total forms of the target analytes in 25 human urine samples collected in Korea. Overall, free NP, NP1EO, and NP2EO were detected with average contents of 3.94 ± 4.14 µg L-1, 4.63 ± 2.62 µg L-1, and 0.293 ± 0.638 µg L-1, respectively, and with total NP, NP1EO, and NP2EO contents of 6.14 ± 8.24 µg L-1, 5.99 ± 2.91 µg L-1, and 0.806 ± 1.10 µg L-1, respectively. These data showed that these compounds are prevalent in human urine, and indicate the need for further studies.

Integrated-Omics Study on the Transcriptomic and Metabolic Changes of Bacillus licheniformis, a Main Microorganism of Fermented Soybeans, According to Alkaline pH and Osmotic Stress.

Bacillus licheniformis has been widely utilized in the food industry as well as various agricultural industries. In particular, it is a main microorganism of fermented soybeans. In this study, the changes of the metabolome and transcriptome of B. licheniformis KACC15844, which had been isolated from fermented soybeans, were investigated depending on alkaline pH (BP) and a high salt concentration (BS) using an integrated-omics technology, focusing on leucine metabolism. Overall, carbohydrate (glycolysis, sugar transport, and overflow) and amino acid (proline, glycine betaine, and serine) metabolisms were strongly associated with BS, while fatty acid metabolism, malate utilization, and branched-chain amino acid-derived volatiles were closely related to BP, in both gene and metabolic expressions. In particular, in leucine metabolism, the formation of 3-methylbutanoic acid, which has strong cheesy odor notes, was markedly increased in BP compared to the other samples. This study provided information on how specific culture conditions can affect gene expressions and metabolite formations in B. licheniformis using an integrated-omics approach.

Effects of Cha-Cha Dance Training on Physical-Fitness-Related Indicators of Hearing-Impaired Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: The physical fitness (PF) of hearing-impaired students has always been an international research hotspot since hearing-impaired students have difficulty in social interactions such as exercise or fitness programs. Sports interventions are proven to improve the fitness levels of hearing-impaired students; however, few studies evaluating the influence of Cha-cha (a type of Dance sport) training on the PF levels of hearing-impaired students have been conducted. (2) Purpose: This study aimed to intervene in hearing-impaired children through 12 weeks of Cha-cha dance training, evaluating its effects on their PF-related indicators, thus providing a scientific experimental basis for hearing-impaired children to participate in dance exercises effectively. (3) Methods: Thirty students with hearing impairment were randomly divided into two groups, and there was no difference in PF indicators between the two groups. The Cha-cha dance training group (CTG, n = 15) regularly participated in 90-min Cha-cha dance classes five times a week and the intervention lasted a total of 12 weeks, while the control group (CONG, n = 15) lived a normal life (including school physical education classes). Related indicators of PF were measured before and after the intervention, and a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed. (4) Results: After training, the standing long jump (CONG: 1.556 ± 0.256 vs. CTG: 1.784 ± 0.328, p = 0.0136, ES = 0.8081), sit-and-reach (CONG: 21.467 ± 4.539 vs. CTG: 25.416 ± 5.048, p = 0.0328, ES = 0.8528), sit-ups (CONG: 13.867 ± 4.912 vs. CTG: 27.867 ± 6.833, p < 0.0001, ES = 2.4677) and jump rope (CONG: 52.467 ± 29.691 vs. CTG: 68.600 ± 21.320, p = 0.0067, ES = 0.6547) scores showed significant differences. (5) Conclusions: After 12 weeks of Cha-cha dance training for hearing-impaired students, the PF level of hearing-impaired students in lower-body strength, flexibility, core strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance were effectively improved; however, there was no significant change in body shape, upper-body strength, vital capacity, and speed ability.

Executive Functions and Morphological Awareness Explain the Shared Variance Between Word Reading and Listening Comprehension.

Purpose: A large body of literature showed that word reading and listening comprehension-two proximal predictors of reading comprehension according to the simple view of reading-are related. Grounded on the direct and indirect effects model of reading (Kim, 2020a, 2020b, 2023), we examined the extent to which the relation is explained by domain-general cognitions or executive functions (working memory and attentional control) and emergent literacy skills (language and code-related skills including morphological awareness, phonological awareness, orthographic pattern recognition, letter naming fluency, and rapid automatized naming). Method: Data were from English-speaking children in Grade 1 (N = 372; 52% boys; 60% White children, 26% African American children, 6% multiracial children, 6% Hispanic children, and 2% Asian American children). Results: Results from structural equation models showed that word reading and listening comprehension were moderately related (.54). When working memory and attentional control were included as predictors, the relation became weaker (.39). When morphological awareness was additionally included, they were no longer related (.05). The other emergent literacy skills did not add explanatory power beyond executive functions and morphological awareness. Conclusion: These results indicate that executive functions and morphological awareness largely explain the shared variance between word reading and listening comprehension for English-speaking beginning readers.

Application of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus in makgeolli fermentation and its brewing characteristics.

Recently, unconventional yeasts have become popular as fermentation starters in the brewing industry due to the growing consumer demand for aromatic diversity. Specifically, Schizosaccharomyces japonicus has been explored as a potential starter culture for beer and wine production because of its distinct brewing characteristics; however, its application in makgeolli fermentation has not been tested. Therefore, in the present study, two Sz. japonicus strains (SZJ-1 and SZJ-2) were isolated from natural sources, and their brewing characteristics for makgeolli fermentation were compared with those of commercial S. cerevisiae strain. Although the tested isolates showed a lower fermentation and carbon source consumption rate than control-, their overall alcohol fermentation characteristics were suitable for makgeolli production. Regarding flavor composition, Sz. japonicus-fermented makgeolli possessed more ester compounds (e.g., 2-phenylethyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and ethyl decanoate) than S. cerevisiae-fermented makgeolli. Therefore, Sz. japonicus can be used as an alternative culture starter in makgeolli fermentation. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01265-6.

Gender Differences in Lower Extremity Stiffness during a Single-Leg Landing Motion in Badminton.

In general, at the same level of exercise, female athletes are three to six times more likely to injure an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than male athletes. Female athletes also had higher rates of ACL injury than males in a single-leg landing task after a backcourt backhand side overhead stroke in badminton. In many previous studies, stiffness of the musculoskeletal system in the lower limbs has been reported as a potential factor contributing to differences in ACL injury rates between genders. The purpose of this study was to describe the differences between genders in leg and knee stiffness in male and female athletes during a single-leg landing action after the backhand side overhead shot in the backcourt. Eight male athletes and eight female athletes participated in this test. Leg stiffness and knee stiffness were calculated separately for male and female athletes during the landing phase. The results showed that both absolute and normalized leg stiffness were lower in female athletes than in male athletes (p < 0.05). And both absolute and normalized knee stiffness were also lower than male athletes (p < 0.05). The low leg stiffness and knee stiffness demonstrated by females in this single-leg drop task compared to male athletes may indicate that females have lower dynamic leg stability than males during the drop, which may lead to hypermobility of the knee joint and may put females at a higher risk of injury in this high-risk maneuver for non-contact cruciate ligament injuries.

Gender Differences in Neuromuscular Control during the Preparation Phase of Single-Leg Landing Task in Badminton.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the biomechanical mechanisms of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury have been extensively studied, but studies on the neuromuscular control-related risk factors for an ACL injury in specific maneuvers have not been reported for badminton players. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Sixteen badminton players (8 male, 8 female) performed a single-leg badminton ball landing task, and lower limb muscle activity, kinematic data, and ground reaction force were measured during this procedure using marker-based movement analysis, force plates, and electromyography (EMG). Gender differences in the lower limb kinematic data, mean values of normalized lower limb muscle activation (MVC%), and co-contraction values during the landing preparation phase (100 ms before initial contact) were analyzed using MANOVA. RESULTS: In the badminton landing task, the knee valgus angle was greater in females than in males (6.27 ± 2.75 vs. 1.72 ± 3.20) in the pre-landing preparation position. Compared to male badminton players, females exhibited greater gluteus maximus (44.92 ± 18.00 vs. 20.34 ± 11.64), rectus femoris (41.56 ± 9.84 vs. 26.14 ± 10.46), and medial gastrocnemius (37.39 ± 17.31 vs. 19.11 ± 11.17) lateral gastrocnemius (36.86 ± 17.82 vs. 13.59 ± 2.71) muscle activity (MVC%). CONCLUSION: Female badminton players exhibit neuromuscular control strategies that may be inadequate for ACL protection and may be a potential risk factor for a high incidence of ACL injury In the future, when devising injury prevention plans for female badminton players, optimizing neuromuscular control during the pre-landing phase can be targeted.

Oral discourse skills: Dimensionality of comprehension and retell of narrative and expository texts, and the relations of language and cognitive skills to identified dimensions.

We examined the dimensionality of oral discourse skills (comprehension and retell of texts) and the relations of language and cognitive skills to the identified dimensions. Data were from 529 English-speaking second graders (Mage = 7.42; 46% female; 52.6% Whites, 33.8% African Americans, 4.9% Hispanics, 4.7% two or more races, .8% Asian Americans, .6% American Indians, .2% Native Hawaiians, 2.5% unknown; data from 2014-2015 to 2016-2017). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that oral discourse skills are best described as four related but dissociable dimensions of narrative comprehension, narrative retell, expository comprehension, and expository retell (rs = .59-.84). Language and cognitive skills had different patterns of relations to the identified dimensions and explained larger amounts of variance in comprehension than in retell.

Effect of slope change on kinematics of amateur golfers' full swing.

BACKGROUND: Golf courses are designed with uneven terrain. These factors are especially important when facing (slope), players need to straighten the posture of each part of the body in order to complete the swing on an inclined surface such as flat ground. Amateur players may be more likely to change the movement patterns of their shots due to uneven terrain. Therefore, it may be necessary to clarify the shot characteristics of amateur players and provide reference materials for technical improvement. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of slope on amateur golfers' swing kinematics by analyzing the variation of time variables, body center of gravity (COG), and shot parameters of amateur golfers' swing at different ground slopes. METHODS: Six male amateur golfers participated in the experiment. The 7-iron was used for 5 swings each at three slopes: flat ground (FG, 0∘), ball below foot (BBF, +10∘), and foot below ball (FBB, -10∘). The OptiTrack-Motion capture system was used to collect kinematic data, and the three-dimensional motion data will be transmitted to Visual3D software for subsequent data analysis such as golf swing division and body COG changes. Shot parameters (carry, swing speed, ball speed, and smash factor) were recorded for each swing using the Caddie SC300 radar monitoring device. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no difference in the overall swing time and the time required for each interval at different slopes (p> 0.05) there is no significant difference in the change of the COG of the body in the forward and backward directions (p> 0.05). The three slopes of swing speed, ball speed, carry and smash factor were not significantly different (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rhythm of the amateur golfer's swing was not affected by the slope, but the slope restricts the movement of the body's COG, which may affect the weight movement, and ultimately cause the performance parameters to not reach the level of the FG.

Comparative Analysis of Volatile and Non-Volatile Metabolites Derived from Bacillus subtilis Strains Producing Different Levels of Biogenic Amines.

Biogenic amines (BAs), which are mainly generated by the microbial decarboxylation of amino acids, are important nitrogen compounds in fermented foods because of their toxicology. However, amino acids, the precursors of BAs, also play an important role in generating volatile and non-volatile metabolites, which are strongly associated with quality indicators for foods. Bacillus subtilis is one of dominant fermentative microorganism in various fermented foods and is well known as a BA-producing bacterium. In this study, B. subtilis strains which have different BAs-producing capacities, higher level of BAs production strain (BH) and lower level of BAs production strain (BL), were applied to compare the formations of volatile and non-volatile metabolite profiles according to cultivation times. In this study, histamine, putrescine, and spermidine were detected in all strains, however, 2-phenylethylamine was detected only in BH. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was applied to investigate the difference of metabolic profiles according to strains. In BH, some amino acids (phenylalanine, leucine, and threonine) and related volatile metabolites (3-methylbutanoic acid, pyrazines, styrene, and 1H-indole) were produced higher levels. On the other hand, BL produced significantly higher contents of metabolites associated with metabolism of fatty acids and nucleotides. It is necessary to consider the formation of metabolites in terms of quality as well as that of BAs during fermentation.

Study on volatile compounds formed from the thermal interaction of hydrolyzed vegetable proteins with reducing sugars.

Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins (HVPs) are widely used food flavorings. This study investigated the volatiles formed in thermally reacted model systems containing HVPs (made from defatted soy, corn gluten, and wheat gluten) and reducing sugars (glucose and fructose). Three types of HVPs, which had different free amino acid compositions, generated qualitatively and quantitatively different volatile compounds. In the results of principal component analysis, each thermally reacted system could be distributed according to type of HVPs and sugars. Aldehydes and pyrazines highly correlated with glucose- and fructose-containing model systems, respectively. In particular, model systems containing soy HVPs showed higher contents of sugar-degraded compounds, such as maltol, furfuryl alcohol, and cyclotene. However, some Strecker aldehydes and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, whose formation required amino acids, were more abundant in model systems containing corn and wheat HVP. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01194-w.

Do Second Graders Adjust Their Language by Discourse Context?

PURPOSE: Children's ability to adjust one's language according to discourse context is important for success in academic settings. This study examined whether second graders vary in linguistic and discourse features depending on discourse contexts, that is, when describing pictures in contextualized (describing the picture to an examiner while looking at it together) and decontextualized (pretending to describe the picture to a friend while sitting in front of the examiner) conditions. METHOD: A total of 330 English-speaking second graders in the United States (M age = 7.33 years; 53% boys; 55% Caucasian children, 35% African American children) described three pictures in contextualized and decontextualized conditions. Children's picture descriptions were transcribed verbatim and coded for linguistic (e.g., elaborated noun phrase) and discourse (e.g., proper character introduction, degree of decontextualization) features. RESULTS: Type-token ratio was higher in the contextualized condition than in the decontextualized condition, whereas certain types of elaborated noun phrases (e.g., simple descriptive noun phrase, noun phrase with postmodification), coordinating conjunctions, and nonclauses occurred more frequently in the decontextualized condition, controlling for total productivity and student demographics. The proportion of proper character introduction was higher in the decontextualized condition, whereas higher degrees of decontextualization and complex perspective-taking were found in the contextualized condition. CONCLUSION: Various linguistic and discourse cues illustrated the extent to which primary grade students employ their discourse knowledge when producing oral language.

Analysis of Endocrine Disrupting Nonylphenols in Foods by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Nonylphenols (NPs) are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are known to cause disorders in the endocrine systems of organisms. Due to their high lipophilicity and low degradability, these harmful substances are known to accumulate and persist in the environment, and even enter into the food chain. Analytical methods of liquid-liquid extraction using solid-phase extraction for sample clean-up combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were established to determine the presence of NPs in foods. This study aimed to develop and validate these methods using four food matrices representing high-fat and low-fat solid food, as well as high-fat and low-fat liquid food, groups. The single linear isomer 4-n-NP was used to validate the quantification of NPs, which exist in complex isomer mixtures. Our results showed good linearity, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.998 for all four matrices. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.37-1.79 and 1.11-5.41 µg/kg, respectively. Recovery rates were 86.8-108.6% and 92.6-101.9% for intraday and interday assays, respectively, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were below 12% for both assays. The method was applied to analyze 1185 domestic food samples consumed by Koreans, with NPs detected at concentration ranges of 2.57-269.07 µg/kg. Results for each food type over wide concentration ranges indicated that these compounds are highly dependent on the area of cultivation, and are affected by the levels of those contaminants in different environments. The contents of NPs in foods from animal sources were generally higher than those from plant sources, in particular being higher in the intestines than in lean tissue. The present findings could form the basis for determining the level of dietary exposure to NPs and how each food source contributes to it in South Korea.

A Comparative Study of the Fatigue of the Lower Extremities According to the Type of Shoes Worn When Firing a 10 m Air Pistol.

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in shooting performance, physical stability, and lower extremity muscle fatigue in high-level shooters wearing shooting shoes and sports shoes, and to determine the causes. Eight high-level 10 m air pistol shooters wore shooting shoes and sports shoes in a simulated shooting qualification experiment (60 rounds in 75 min) and we recorded shooting scores, pressure centers (COP), and median frequency of muscle fatigue index (MDF). All the data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and are compared using a paired t-test. Athletes in shooting shoes scored higher than those in sports shoes (p < 0.05); COP moved less in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions for athletes wearing shooting shoes rather than sports shoes; and fewer muscles experienced fatigue, with fatigue also occurring later, for athletes wearing shooting shoes rather than sports shoes. Shooting shoes may reduce the sway of athletes' center of pressure in the anterior−posterior and left−right directions, enhance postural stability, and result in higher shooting scores. In addition, they may make shooters feel more comfortable and relaxed during long training sessions and competitions.