Gene Expression Profile Changes in the Stimulated Rat Brain Cortex After Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Hwang Wonjae,Choi Joong Kyung,방문석,Park Woong-Yang,Oh Byung-Mo 대한뇌신경재활학회 2022 뇌신경재활 Vol.15 No.3

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is gaining popularity as a research tool in neuroscience; however, little is known about its molecular mechanisms of action. The present study aimed to investigate the rTMS-induced transcriptomic changes; we performed microarray messenger RNA, micro RNA, and integrated analyses to explore these molecular events. Eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a single session of unilateral rTMS at 1 Hz (n = 4) or sham (n = 4). The left hemisphere was stimulated for 20 minutes. To evaluate the cumulative effect of rTMS, eight additional rats were assigned to the 1-Hz (n = 4) or sham (n = 4) rTMS groups. The left hemisphere was stimulated for 5 consecutive days using the same protocol. Microarray analysis revealed differentially expressed genes in the rat cortex after rTMS treatment. The overrepresented gene ontology categories included the positive regulation of axon extension, axonogenesis, intracellular transport, and synaptic plasticity after repeated sessions of rTMS. A single session of rTMS primarily induced changes in the early genes, and several miRNAs were significantly related to the mRNAs. Future studies are required to validate the functional significance of selected genes and refine the therapeutic use of rTMS.

Trilateral Trade and Taking a Side Between the U.S. and China

( Wonjae Hwang ),( Randy Willemain ),( Sang-hwan Lee ) 한국국방연구원 2020 The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis Vol.32 No.4

Does China’s growing economic power generate political influence over its economic partners’ foreign policies? Does this tendency, if it exists, occur at the expense of U.S. interests on those issues? Since China and the U.S. maintain extremely opposing positions over diverse foreign policy issues, it is important to explore these questions. In the analysis of panel data on trilateral trade for China and the U.S. between 1991 and 2014, our empirical results show that China’s trade partners are likely to vote alongside it but against the U.S., even on human rights or important issues identified by the U.S. government in the UN General Assembly. In both cases, as the relative size of trade with China in comparison to the size of trade with the U.S. increases, a state tends to vote alongside China rather than the U.S. The findings imply that growing policy cooperation between China and its trade partners comes at the expense of U.S. national interests and its leadership to a great extent.

Geopolitical Economy The South Korean FTA Strategy: By Jonathan Kriechkaus, University of Michigan Press, 2018

Wonjae Hwang 한국학술연구원 2019 Korea Observer Vol.50 No.2

Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A (NABOTA) for Post-stroke Upper Extremity Spasticity: A Multicenter Phase IV Trial

Wonjae Hwang,Seong Min Kang,Sang Yoon Lee,Han Gil Seo,박윤길,Bum Sun Kwon,Kwang Jae Lee,김덕용,김형섭,Shi-Uk Lee 대한재활의학회 2022 Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol.46 No.4

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Daewoong botulinum toxin type A (NABOTA) after its launch in South Korea.Methods This prospective, multicenter, open-label phase IV clinical trial included 222 patients with stroke. All patients visited the clinic at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after injection of upto 360 units of NABOTA into the wrist, elbow, and finger flexor muscles at the first visit. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score for the wrist flexor muscles between baseline and week 4. The secondary outcomes were the changes in MAS, Disability Assessment Scale (DAS), and Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) scores between baseline and each visit, and the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) score at week 12.Results There was a statistically significant decrease in the MAS score for the wrist flexors between baseline and week 4 (-0.97±0.66, p<0.001). Compared with baseline, the MAS, DAS and CBS scores improved significantly during the study period. The GAS was rated as very good or good by 86.8% of physicians and by 60.0% of patients (or caregivers). The incidence of adverse events was 14.4%, which is smaller than that in a previous trial.Conclusion NABOTA showed considerable efficacy and safety in the management of upper limb spasticity in stroke patients.

Economic Integration and Political Cooperation Between South Korea and China: Implications for Korea-US Relations

( Wonjae Hwang ),( Junhan Lee ) 경남대학교 극동문제연구소 2017 ASIAN PERSPECTIVE Vol.41 No.1

South Korea has traditionally maintained close ties with the United States, especially for external security, while more recently it has become closer to China, mainly for economic reasons. In this article we examine whether growing economic ties between South Korea and China promote their cooperation and common policy preferences and simultaneously weaken Korea-US relations. We examine the voting congruence of South Korea and China in the United Nations General Assembly between 1991 and 2012 and find no clear evidence that economic integration promotes congruence. Rather, South Korea`s policy preferences are usually determined by independent consideration of issues.

The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Income Inequality and Growth in South Korea

Hwang, Wonjae,Jo, Jungin Korea Consensus Institute(KCI) 2021 Analyses & alternatives Vol.5 No.2

Does Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) exacerbate income inequality in South Korea? If so, does rising income inequality come for the sake of economic growth? This study explores the impact of FDI on income inequality and growth in South Korea. To this end, we collect data on FDI and income inequality/economic growth at both national and provincial levels and empirically test their relationships in South Korea. The empirical results confirm our expectation that FDI magnifies income inequality. Furthermore, we fail to find a positive relationship between FDI and economic growth, implying that income inequality as a consequence of FDI does not come for the sake of economic growth in Korea. Findings suggest that more systematic research and nuanced policy design is necessary to circumvent the mechanisms at play that link the surge of FDI inflows and the exponential expansion of economic inequality.

Power Transition, Preference, and Conflict in East Asia

Wonjae Hwang 한국평화연구학회 2008 한국평화연구학회 학술회의 Vol.2008 No.1

Economic Integration, Trade Blocs, and Preferences Convergence

Wonjae Hwang 한국평화연구학회 2010 한국평화연구학회 학술회의 Vol.2010 No.1

Do Korean-Japanese Historical Disputes Generate Rally Effects?

Hwang, Wonjae,Cho, Wonbin,Wiegand, Krista Cambridge University Press 2018 The Journal of Asian Studies Vol.77 No.3

<P>Does ongoing animosity between South Korea and Japan over the disputed Dokdo Islands and other issues that originated from historical disputes generate rally effects in Korean domestic politics? This article argues that the Dokdo Islands dispute-and related disputed issues rooted in the colonial experience of Korea under Japan's rule historically-strongly influence Korean presidents’ abilities to effectively mobilize domestic support for not only the issues, but particularly the public opinion of presidents. Using data on Korean presidents’ approval ratings between 1993 and 2016, this article shows that Korea's bilateral disputes with Japan tend to promote Korean presidential popularity. The findings suggest that external crises with Japan related to historical disputes have positive political effects on leadership ratings in Korea.</P>

급경사 복원 농경지 토양 유실 저감을 위한 개량제 효율 및 현장 적용성 평가

황원재(Wonjae Hwang),박민석(Minseok Park),현승훈(Seunghun Hyun),지원현(Won hyun Ji),이상환(Sang-Hwan Lee) 응용생태공학회 2017 Ecology and resilient infrastructure Vol.4 No.3

광산 활동에 의해 오염된 농경지의 복원은 개량제 처리와 복토를 기반의 미량원소 안정화 기법으로 진행되고 있다. 최근 복원된 부지 중 경사 농경지에서 토양 유실 문제가 대두되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 4종의 개량제 (벤토나이트, 석회, 유기물, 제강슬래그)를 다양한 비율로 단일 또는 복합처리 한 후 입단 형성의 효율을 평가했다. 복토재는 점토함량이 다른 3가지 토양 (A 토양=9.4%, B토양=14.7%, C 토양=21.2%)을 대상으로 했다. 단일처리 결과, A 토양은 유기물 5%, B와 C 토양은 석회 5%가 각 토양의 대조구에 비해 입단 형성이 가장 효과적이었다. 9가지 복합처리구 중에서 A 토양은 유기물 3% + 석회 1%, B와 C 토양은 유기물 1% + 석회 3% 처리구의 입단 형성이 가장 높았다 (A 토양=30.4%, B 토양=25.0%, C 토양=36.5%). 현장처리를 위해 각 복토재 (A 토양=0.045, B 토양=0.051, C 토양=0.054)와 국내 농경지의 평균 (0.032) 토양침식인자 차이만큼을 개량제에 의한 목표 입단 형성량으로 설정하였다(29.1% 입단형성). 비용편익을 고려한 최적 개량제 선정한 결과 A와 B 토양은 석회 3%, C 토양은 석회 5%가 가장 적합 했으며, 이를 통한 경사진 복원된 경사 농경지에서 토양 유실을 효과적이고 경제적으로 저감할 것으로 예측된다. 본 연구에서 석회 처리에 의한 토양 알칼리도 상승은 고려하지 않았다. Restoration of min-impacted arable land is often performed through stabilization of trace elements by amendment treatment combined with (clean) soil covering on the surface. Recently, soil loss problem from sloping remediated agricultural lands has risen as an emerging concern. In this study, efficacy of aggregation formation was assessed by single and binary treatments of four potential amendments (bentonite, lime, organic matter, and steel slag) applied on three cover soils having different clay contents (9.4, 14.7, and 21.2% for A, B, and C soils respectively). In results of single treatments, 5% organic matter for A soil and 5% lime for B and C soils were found most effective for the aggregation formation compared to the respective controls (without amendments). Among nine binary treatments, 3% organic matter + 1% lime for A soil and 1% organic matter + 3% lime for both B and C soils led to the highest formation of aggregation (30.4, 25.0, and 36.5% for A, B, and C soils). For a site-application, the soil erodibility difference between the cover soils (0.045, 0.051, and 0.054 for A, B, and C soils, respectively) and the national average of arable land (0.032) was assumed to be compensated by amendment addition, which is equivalent to 29.1% aggregation formation. To achieve the aggregation goal, 5% lime for A and B soils and 3% lime for C soil were best in the consideration of benefit/cost, thereby effectively and economically reducing soil loss from sloping remediation site. Soil alkalinity induced by lime treatment was not considered in this work.