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Abstract The lack of an appropriate preclinical model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) that recapitulates the whole disease spectrum impedes exploration of disease pathophysiology and the development of effective treatment strategies. Here, we develop a mouse model (Streptozotocin with high-fat diet, STZ + HFD) that gradually develops fatty liver, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), hepatic fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the context of metabolic dysfunction. The hepatic transcriptomic features of STZ + HFD mice closely reflect those of patients with obesity accompanying type 2 diabetes mellitus, MASH, and MASLD-related HCC. Dietary changes and tirzepatide administration alleviate MASH, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatic tumorigenesis in STZ + HFD mice. In conclusion, a murine model recapitulating the main histopathologic, transcriptomic, and metabolic alterations observed in MASLD patients is successfully established.

Abstract Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are valuable in predicting response to cancer therapy. PDOs are ideal models for precision oncologists. However, their practical application in guiding timely clinical decisions remains challenging. This study focused on patients with advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer and employed a cancer organoid-based diagnosis reactivity prediction (CODRP)-based precision oncology platform to assess the efficacy of EGFR inhibitor treatments. CODRP was employed to evaluate EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) drug sensitivity. The results were compared to those obtained using area under the curve index. This study validated this index by testing lung cancer-derived organoids in 14 patients with lung cancer. The CODRP index-based drug sensitivity test reliably classified patient responses to EGFR-TKI treatment within a clinically suitable 10-day timeline, which aligned with clinical drug treatment responses. This approach is promising for predicting and analyzing the efficacy of anticancer, ultimately contributing to the development of a precision medicine platform.

Extracting informative local features in point clouds is crucial for accurately understanding spatial information inside 3D point data. Previous works utilize either complex network designs or simple multi-layer perceptrons (MLP) to extract the local features. However, complex networks often incur high computational cost, whereas simple MLP may struggle to capture the spatial relations among local points effectively. These challenges limit their scalability to delicate and real-time tasks, such as autonomous driving and robot navigation. To address these challenges, we propose a novel 3D Directional Encoding Network (3D-DENet) capable of effectively encoding spatial relations with low computational cost. 3D-DENet extracts spatial and point features separately. The key component of 3D-DENet for spatial feature extraction is Directional Encoding (DE), which encodes the cosine similarity between direction vectors of local points and trainable direction vectors. To extract point features, we also propose Local Point Feature Multi-Aggregation (LPFMA), which integrates various aspects of local point features using diverse aggregation functions. By leveraging DE and LPFMA in a hierarchical structure, 3D-DENet efficiently captures both detailed spatial and high-level semantic features from point clouds. Experiments show that 3D-DENet is effective and efficient in classification and segmentation tasks. In particular, 3D-DENet achieves an overall accuracy of 90.7% and a mean accuracy of 90.1% on ScanObjectNN, outperforming the current state-of-the-art method while using only 47% floating point operations.

Abstract Background Recently, cancer organoid-based drug sensitivity tests have been studied to predict patient responses to anticancer drugs. The area under curve (AUC) or IC50 value of the dose-response curve (DRC) is used to differentiate between sensitive and resistant patient‘s groups. This study proposes a multi-parameter analysis method (cancer organoid-based diagnosis reactivity prediction, CODRP) that considers the cancer stage and cancer cell growth rate, which represent the severity of cancer patients, in the sensitivity test. Methods On the CODRP platform, patient-derived organoids (PDOs) that recapitulate patients with lung cancer were implemented by applying a mechanical dissociation method capable of high yields and proliferation rates. A disposable nozzle-type cell spotter with efficient high-throughput screening (HTS) has also been developed to dispense a very small number of cells due to limited patient cells. A drug sensitivity test was performed using PDO from the patient tissue and the primary cancer characteristics of PDOs were confirmed by pathological comparision with tissue slides. Results The conventional index of drug sensitivity is the AUC of the DRC. In this study, the CODRP index for drug sensitivity test was proposed through multi-parameter analyses considering cancer cell proliferation rate, the cancer diagnosis stage, and AUC values. We tested PDOs from eight patients with lung cancer to verify the CODRP index. According to the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement status, the conventional AUC index for the three ALK-targeted drugs (crizotinib, alectinib, and brigatinib) did not classify into sensitive and resistant groups. The proposed CODRP index-based drug sensitivity test classified ALK-targeted drug responses according to ALK rearrangement status and was verified to be consistent with the clinical drug treatment response. Conclusions Therefore, the PDO-based HTS and CODRP index drug sensitivity tests described in this paper may be useful for predicting and analyzing promising anticancer drug efficacy for patients with lung cancer and can be applied to a precision medicine platform.

The rapid depletion of fishery resources has led to the global implementation of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) systems. However, the current manual survey methods employed by land-based inspectors show limitations in accuracy and efficiency. This study proposes an automated system for fish species recognition and body length measurement, utilizing the RT-DETR (Real-Time Detection Transformer) model and ARCore technology to address these issues. The proposed system employs smartphone Time of Flight (ToF) functionality to measure object distance and automatically calculates the weight of 11 TAC-managed fish species by measuring their body length and height. Experimental results reveal that the RT-DETR-x model outperformed the YOLOv8x model by achieving an average mAP50 value 2.3% higher, with a mean recognition accuracy of 96.5% across the 11 species. Furthermore, the ARCore-based length measurement technique exhibited over 95% accuracy for all species. This system is expected to minimize data omissions and streamline labor-intensive processes, thereby contributing to the efficient operation of the TAC system and sustainable management of fishery resources. The study presents an innovative approach that significantly enhances the accuracy and efficiency of fishery resource management, providing a crucial technological foundation for the advancement of future fisheries management policies.

This study proposes a deep learning-based long short-term memory (LSTM) model to predict the state of charge (SOC) of lithium-ion batteries. The purpose of the research is to accurately model the complex nonlinear behavior that occurs during the charging and discharging processes of batteries to predict the SOC. The LSTM model was trained using battery data collected under various temperature and load conditions. To evaluate the performance of the artificial intelligence model, measurement data from the CS2 lithium-ion battery provided by the University of Maryland College of Engineering was utilized. The LSTM model excels in learning long-term dependencies from sequence data, effectively modeling temporal patterns in battery data. The study trained the LSTM model based on battery data collected from various charge and discharge cycles and evaluated the model’s performance by epoch to determine the optimal configuration. The proposed model demonstrated high SOC estimation accuracy for various charging and discharging profiles. As training progressed, the model’s predictive performance improved, with the predicted SOC moving from 14.8400% at epoch 10 to 12.4968% at epoch 60, approaching the actual SOC value of 13.5441%. Simultaneously, the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) decreased from 0.9185% and 1.3009% at epoch 10 to 0.2333% and 0.5682% at epoch 60, respectively, indicating continuous improvement in predictive performance. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the LSTM model for predicting the SOC of lithium-ion batteries and its potential to enhance the performance of battery management systems.

Modern aquaculture utilizes computer vision technology to analyze underwater images of fish, contributing to optimized water quality and improved production efficiency. The purpose of this study is to efficiently perform underwater fish detection and tracking using multi-object tracking (MOT) technology. To achieve this, the FairMOT model was employed to simultaneously implement pixel-level object detection and re-identification (Re-ID) functions, comparing two backbone models: FairMOT+YOLOv5s and FairMOT+DLA-34. The study constructed a dataset targeting the popular black porgy in Korean aquaculture, using underwater video data from five different environments collected from the internet. During the training process, the FairMOT+YOLOv5s model rapidly reduced train loss and demonstrated stable performance. The FairMOT+DLA-34 model showed better results in ID tracking performance, with an accuracy of 44.1%, an IDF1 of 11.0%, an MOTP of 0.393, and an IDSW of 1. In contrast, the FairMOT+YOLOv5s model recorded an accuracy of 43.8%, an IDF1 of 14.6%, an MOTP of 0.400, and an IDSW of 10. The results of this study indicate that the FairMOT+YOLOv5s model demonstrated higher IDF1 and MOTP scores compared to the FairMOT+DLA-34 model, while the FairMOT+DLA-34 model showed superior performance in ID tracking accuracy and had fewer ID switches.

Objectives This study aimed to establish clinical evidence for acupuncture by analysing data from trials that demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture for whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) with the following research question: Is acupuncture treatment effective for symptom alleviation in patients with WAD compared with other usual care?Design A systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, ScienceOn, KMBASE, Korean Studies Information Service System, Korea Med, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System and Research Information Sharing Service were searched from their inception to 1 October 2023.Eligibility criteria We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture on patients with WAD. The outcomes were the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score or numerical rating scale score for neck pain, the range of motion (ROM) of the neck, the Neck Disability Index and safety.Data extraction and synthesis Two independent researchers analysed and extracted data from the selected literatures. The risk of bias and the quality of evidence were assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method, respectively.Results A total of 525 patients with WAD from eight RCTs were included in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that the outcomes showed significant differences in the pain VAS score (standard mean difference (SMD): −0.57 (–0.86 to –0.28), p

Urban areas consist of various land cover types, with a high proportion of artificial surfaces among them. This leads to unfavorable thermal environments in urban areas. Continuous research on the thermal environment, specifically on the sensible heat flux (Qh), has been conducted. However, previous research has faced temporal, spatial, and resolution limitations when it comes to detailed analysis of sensible heat flux in urban areas. Therefore, in this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model combined with the LDAPS and the VUCM was developed to simulate Qh at one-hour intervals over a 1-month period in an urban area with various land cover types. Model validation was performed by comparing it with measurements, confirming the suitability of the model for simulating Qh. The land cover was categorized into five types: building, road, bare land, grassland, and tree areas. Qh exhibited distinct patterns depending on the land cover type. When averaging the Qh distribution over the target period, buildings, roads, and bare land areas showed a predominance of upward Qh values, while grassland and tree areas displayed dominant downward Qh values. Additionally, even within the same land cover types, slight Qh variations were identified based on their surroundings. The averaged Qh value for building areas was the highest at 36.79 W m−2, while that for tree areas was −3.04 W m−2. Moreover, during the target period, the time-averaged Qh showed that building, road, and bare land areas peaked at 14 LST, while grassland and tree areas exhibited very low Qh values. Notably, buildings reached a maximum Qh of 103.30 W m−2 but dropped to a minimum of 1.14 W m−2 at 5 LST.

Background and Purpose We investigated the impact of comorbidity burden on troponin elevation, with separate consideration of neurological conditions, in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods This prospective, observational cohort study consecutively enrolled patients with AIS for 2 years. Serum cardiac troponin I was repeatedly measured, and disease-related biomarkers were collected for diagnosis of preassigned comorbidities, including atrial fibrillation (AF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial hypertrophy (MH), heart failure (HF), renal insufficiency (RI), and active cancer. The severity of neurological deficits and insular cortical ischemic lesions were assessed as neurological conditions. Adjusted associations between these factors and troponin elevation were determined using a multivariate ordinal logistic regression model and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the prognostic significance of comorbidity beyond neurological conditions. Results Among 1,092 patients (66.5±12.4 years, 63.3% male), 145 (13.3%) and 335 (30.7%) had elevated (≥0.040 ng/mL) and minimally-elevated (0.040–0.010 ng/mL) troponin, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, AF, MH, HF, RI, active cancer, and neurological deficits were associated with troponin elevation. The multivariate model with six comorbidities and two neurological conditions exhibited an AUC of 0.729 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.698–0.759). In Cox regression, AF, IHD, and HF were associated with adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events, whereas HF and active cancer were associated with mortality. Conclusion Troponin elevation in patients with AIS can be explained by the burden of comorbidities in combination with neurological status, which explains the prognostic significance of troponin assay.

Abstract Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare genetic condition characterized by uncontrolled insulin secretion, resulting in hypoglycemia. Although glucagon has lately been regarded as a therapeutic option for CHI, its use is severely hampered by its poor solubility and stability at physiological pH, as well as its short duration of action. To address these constraints, we developed HM15136, a novel long-acting glucagon analog composed of a glucagon analog conjugated to the Fc fragment of human immunoglobulin G4 via a polyethylene glycol linker. In this study, we established that HM15136 was more soluble than natural glucagon (≥ 150 mg/mL vs 0.03 mg/mL). Next, we confirmed that HM15136 activated glucagon receptor in vitro and induced glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in rat primary hepatocytes. Pharmacokinetics (PK)/Pharmacodynamics (PD) analysis of HM15136 shows that HM15136 has a markedly longer half-life (36 h vs.

Background and PurposeCardiac biomarkers including, elevated troponin (ET) and prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (PQTc) interval on electrocardiography are known to frequent and have a prognostic significance in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, it is still challenging to practically apply the results for appropriate risk stratification. This study evaluate whether combining ET and PQTc interval can better assess the long-term prognosis in AIS patients.MethodsIn this prospectively registered observational study between May 2007 and December 2011, ET was defined as serum troponin-I ≥ 0.04 ng/ml and PQTc interval was defined as the highest tertile of sex-specific QTc interval (men ≥ 469 ms or women ≥ 487 ms).ResultsAmong the 1,668 patients [1018 (61.0%) men; mean age 66.0 ± 12.4 years], patients were stratified into four groups according to the combination of ET and PQTc intervals. During a median follow-up of 33 months, ET (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.94–6.53) or PQTc interval (HR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.16–2.01) alone or both (HR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16–2.71) was associated with increased all-cause mortality. Furthermore, ET, PQTc interval alone or both was associated with vascular death, whereas only ET alone was associated with non-vascular death. Comorbidity burden, especially atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, and stroke severity gradually increased both with troponin value and QTc-interval.ConclusionsIn patients with AIS, combining ET and PQTc interval on ECG enhances risk stratification for long-term mortality while facilitating the discerning ability for the burden of comorbidities and stroke severity.

Background and Objectives: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of acupotomy combined with epidural steroid injection (ESI) in lumbosacral radiculopathy and examine its feasibility for the main study. Materials and Methods: This randomized, controlled, two-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, pragmatic study included 50 patients with severe lumbosacral radiculopathy who had insufficient improvement after an ESI. Patients were randomized (1:1 ratio) into a combined treatment (acupotomy + ESI, experimental) and an ESI single treatment (control) group. Both groups underwent a total of two ESIs once every 2 weeks; the experimental group received eight additional acupotomy treatments twice a week for 4 weeks. Types of ESI included interlaminar, transforaminal, and caudal approaches. Drugs used in ESI comprised a 5–10 mL mixture of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (2.5 mg), mepivacaine (0.3%), and hyaluronidase (1500 IU). The primary outcome was the difference in changes from baseline in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores between the groups at weeks 4 and 8. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) was calculated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness between the groups. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed at all visits. Results: Mean ODI scores for the experimental and control groups were −9.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −12.71, −6.17) and −2.16 (95% CI: −5.01, 0.69) at week 4, and −9.04 (95% CI: −12.09, −5.99) and −4.76 (95% CI: −7.68, −1.84) at week 8, respectively. The difference in ODI score changes was significant between the groups at week 4 (p = 0.0021). The ICUR of the experimental group versus the control group was as economical as 18,267,754 won/quality-adjusted life years. No serious AEs were observed. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the potential clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupotomy combined with ESI for lumbosacral radiculopathy and its feasibility for a full-scale study. Larger, long-term follow-up clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of resistance exercise with intermittent blood flow restriction (BFR) on the muscle thickness, maximal strength, and isokinetic muscular function (strength, power, endurance) in high school field hockey athletes. METHODS The BFR group (n=10, 16.1±1.1 years, 172.8±3.9 cm, 66.2±3.9 kg) and the control (CON) group (n=10, 16.60±1.17 years, 172.5±2.3 cm, 65.7±2.9 kg) participated in the same nonlinear periodic training program, however different weight loading (%RM) was applied depending on whether or not BFR was applied. In this study, the systolic blood pressure was set as the blood flow compression strength, and a BFR prop belt was used. After the 8-week training period was over, the degree of improvement in body composition, 1 repetition maximum (1RM), and isokinetic muscle function among groups was compared to determine the effect of training by blood flow restriction. RESULTS The cross-sectional area of the thighs of athletes who applied BFR was significantly increased than that of the CON (p.05). In the results of improving the muscle strength (1RM and 60º/sec) of the athletes who applied the BFR, there was no significant difference between the groups in muscle power and muscular endurance. CONCLUSIONS Non-linear strength training with BFR might be considered to be an effective method for improving muscle hypertrophy and maximum strength of athletes. The muscle endurance and muscle power method once a week, which was not effective in improving the muscle power and muscular endurance of high school male hockey players.

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of a 4-week training using a laboratory index on the competition record of elite female middle-distance runners. METHODS A female, middle-distance, trained runner with the following characteristics: age, 20 years; height, 168.7 cm; weight, 64.3 kg; 27.2% fat; and VO2max, 56.4 VO2 mL/kg/min; volunteered to participate in this study. Before the training program, the participant took part in a 1,500-m track and field national event in April and the onset of blood lactate threshold was analyzed using (OBVA/ vOBLA), VO2max/vVO2max, and tVO2max tests. After completing the 4-week training program, the participant again took part in the 1,500-m track and field national event in May and her parameters were reassessed using the OBVA/vOBLA, VO2max/vVO2max, and tVO2max tests. RESULTS Pre- and post-training indicate that vVO2max did not improve; however, tVO2max (206 seconds pre-training vs. 251.51 seconds post-training) and VO2max (56.4 vs. 59.3 VO2 mL/kg/min)significantly. However, this improvement in relative VO2 was due to weight loss, and the absolute value of VO2 (3.63 vs. 3.62 L/min) did not change. The 1,500-m race record in track and field events decreased significantly from a pre-training value of 5 minutes 03 seconds to a post-training value of 4 minutes 52 seconds. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that utilizing laboratory indicators including vOBLA, vVO2max, and tVO2max may be extremely valuable when prescribing training programs for middle-distance runners.

In this study, we identified the different causes of odor problems and their associated discomfort. We also recognized the significance of public health and environmental concerns. To address odor issues, it is vital to conduct precise analysis and comprehend the root causes. We suggested a hybrid model of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Transformer called the CNN–Transformer to tackle this challenge and assessed its effectiveness. We utilized a dataset containing 120,000 samples of odor to compare the performance of CNN+LSTM, CNN, LSTM, and ELM models. The experimental results show that the CNN+LSTM hybrid model has an accuracy of 89.00%, precision of 89.41%, recall of 91.04%, F1-score of 90.22%, and RMSE of 0.28, with a large prediction error. The CNN+Transformer hybrid model had an accuracy of 96.21%, precision and recall of 94.53% and 94.16%, F1-score of 94.35%, and RMSE of 0.27, showing a low prediction error. The CNN model had an accuracy of 87.19%, precision and recall of 89.41% and 91.04%, F1-score of 90.22%, and RMSE of 0.23, showing a low prediction error. The LSTM model had an accuracy of 95.00%, precision and recall of 92.55% and 94.17%, F1-score of 92.33%, and RMSE of 0.03, indicating a very low prediction error. The ELM model performed poorly with an accuracy of 85.50%, precision and recall of 85.26% and 85.19%, respectively, and F1-score and RMSE of 85.19% and 0.31, respectively. This study confirms the suitability of the CNN–Transformer hybrid model for odor analysis and highlights its excellent predictive performance. The employment of this model is expected to be advantageous in addressing odor problems and mitigating associated public health and environmental concerns.

PURPOSE Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a potential indicator of cellular senescence. However, its relationship with the type and volume of regular exercise is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the type and volume of long-term regular exercise on the LTL in middle-aged men (N=109, mean age=44.7±4.1 years [range: 40-56 years]). METHODS For all participants, the volume of physical activity (PA) was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire, and blood samples were collected simultaneously. We cross-sectionally examined the associations among the type and volume of PA, LTL, telomerase activity (TA), mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA), and body composition in three groups: 1) bodybuilders (BBs) with at least 5 years of athletic experience (n=36, mean age: 42.3±3.3 years [40-51 years]), 2) cyclists (CCs) with an athletic career similar to that of the BBs (n=37, mean age: 45.4±4.4 years [range: 40-53 years]), and 3) healthy ordinary people (CON; n=36, mean age: 46.3±3.3 years [range: 40-56 years]). RESULTS The LTL showed a significant positive correlation with the volume of PA (r=.285, p=.003), regardless of the type of PA. Furthermore, the LTLs were longer in the BB (p=.007) and CC (p=.003) groups (who performed moderate-to-vigorous PA for 150 minutes or more per week) than in the CON group. Conversely, the TA was significantly higher in the BB group (p=.009) than in the CON group; however, it only tended to be high in the CC group (p=.115). There were no intergroup differences in both the mtDNA (p=.127) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (p=.289) levels. CONCLUSIONS The TA was found to increase, and thus prevent telomere loss, in middle-aged men who performed PA of moderateto-vigorous intensity, regardless of the PA type.

Typhoons, which are a common natural disaster in Korea, have seen a rapid increase in annual economic losses over the past decade. The objective of this study was to utilize historical crop insurance records to predict fruit drop rates caused by typhoons from 2016 to 2021. A total of 1848 datasets for the fruit drop rate were generated based on the impact of 24 typhoons on 77 cities with typhoon damage histories. Three different types of measures—the average value, the maximum or minimum value, and the value at a specific point during the typhoon—were applied to four meteorological factors, yielding a total of twelve variables used as model inputs. The predictive performance of the proposed models was compared using five evaluation metrics, and SHAP analysis was employed to assess the contribution of predictor variables to the model output. The most significant variable in explaining the vulnerability to typhoons was found to be the maximum wind speed. The categorical boosting model outperformed the other models in all evaluation metrics, except for the mean absolute error. The proposed model will assist in estimating the potential crop loss caused by typhoons, thereby aiding in the establishment of mitigation strategies for the main crop-producing areas.

The Pivot Mandu is an innovative device featuring a leak-tight adjustable 3D balloon spacer, incorporating inner mesh support, an outer e-PTFE layer, and a compliant balloon in the middle layer with a specialized detachable system. To assess its feasibility, proof of concept was rigorously evaluated through bench testing and survival porcine animal experiments. The results demonstrated successful remote inflation of the balloon system, with the balloon spacer exhibiting sustained patent and functional integrity over an extended observation period of up to 6 months. A noteworthy feature of the newly designed 3D balloon spacer is its capability for easy size adjustment during procedures, enhancing its adaptability and practicality in clinical settings. This three-layered 3D balloon spacer, with its established long-term patency, exhibits highly encouraging outcomes that hold promise in overcoming the current limitations of spacer devices for heart valve diseases. Given the compelling results from preclinical investigations, the translation of the Pivot Mandu into human trials is strongly warranted.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and energy storage devices due to their high power and light weight. The goal of this study is to predict the remaining capacity of a lithium-ion battery and evaluate its performance through three machine learning models: linear regression, decision tree, and random forest, and two deep learning models: neural network and ensemble model. Mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), coefficient of determination (R-squared), and root mean squared error (RMSE) were used to measure prediction accuracy. For the evaluation of the artificial intelligence model, the dataset was downloaded and integrated with measurement data of the CS2 lithium-ion battery provided by the University of Maryland College of Engineering. As a result of the study, the RMSE of the linear regression model was 0.045, the decision tree model was 0.038, the random forest model was 0.034, the neural network model was 0.032, and the ensemble model was 0.030. According to the measured values, the ensemble model showed the best predictive performance, followed by the neural network model. Decision tree and random forest models also showed very good performance, and the linear regression model showed relatively poor predictive performance compared to the other models.

African swine fever (ASF), a viral disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), is associated with high mortality rates in domestic pigs and wild boars. ASF has been spreading since its discovery in wild boars in Korea in October 2019. Genomic analyses have provided insights into the genetic diversity of the ASFV isolated from various regions, enabling a better understanding of the virus origin and transmission patterns. We conducted a genome analysis to evaluate the diversity and mutations of ASFV spreading among wild boars in Korea during 2019–2022. We compared the genomes of ASFV strains isolated from Korean wild boars and publicly available ASFV genomes. Genomic analysis revealed several single-nucleotide polymorphisms within multigene families (MGFs) 360-1La and 360-4L in Korean ASFV. MGF 360-1La and 360-4L variations were not observed in other ASFV strains, including those of genotype II. Finally, we partially analyzed MGFs 360-1La and 360-4L in ASFV-positive samples between 2019 and 2022, confirming the geographical distribution of the variants. Our findings can help identify new genetic markers for epidemiological ASFV analysis and provide essential information for effective disease management.

Wind barriers play a vital role in protecting saplings until maturity when planted as vegetative windbreak forests. Most previous studies have focused on the porosity of wind barriers, but no studies have simultaneously examined the effects of the porosity and inclination, despite the potential of the inclination to decrease wind speed. We tested three wind barrier cases in wind tunnel experiments: (1) Case A (porosity of 0% with inclinations (90°, 80°, and 70°)), (2) Case B (porosity of 25% with inclinations (90°, 80°, and 70°)), and (3) Case C (porosity of 50% with inclinations (90°, 80°, and 70°)). The vertical and horizontal wind velocities were measured at three vertical and seven horizontal points behind the barriers. The results demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the correlation between the distance and mean wind velocity for all cases, with up to a six-fold wind protection effect. The wind barrier with 0% porosity and a 90° inclination provided the highest degree of wind protection. However, the wind protection range was limited downwind, and recirculation of wind flow could occur in the leeward direction, potentially damaging saplings. A wind barrier with 50% porosity and 70° inclination sufficiently decreased the wind velocity and prevented recirculation of wind flow, demonstrating that both porosity and inclination considerably impacted the wind protection effect by reducing wind velocity. Our findings offer novel insights into the influence of wind barriers with varying porosities and inclinations and can provide valuable guidance for constructing efficient windbreak forests.

One major challenge associated with lung cancer organoids (LCOs) is their predominant derivation from surgical specimens of patients with early-stage lung cancer. However, patients with advanced lung cancer, who are in need of chemotherapy, often cannot undergo surgery. Therefore, there is an urgent need to successfully generate LCOs from biopsy specimens. Conventional lung biopsy techniques, such as transthoracic needle biopsy and forceps biopsy, only yield small amounts of lung tissue, resulting in a low success rate for culturing LCOs from biopsy samples. Furthermore, potential complications, like bleeding and pneumothorax, make it difficult to obtain sufficient tissue. Another critical issue is the overgrowth of normal lung cells in later passages of LCO culture, and the optimal culture conditions for LCOs are yet to be determined. To address these limitations, we attempted to create LCOs from cryobiopsy specimens obtained from patients with lung cancer (n = 113). Overall, the initial success rate of establishing LCOs from cryobiopsy samples was 40.7% (n = 46). Transbronchial cryobiopsy enables the retrieval of significantly larger amounts of lung tissue than bronchoscopic forceps biopsy. Additionally, cryobiopsy can be employed for peripheral lesions, and it is aided via radial endobronchial ultrasonography. This study significantly improved the success rate of LCO culture and demonstrated that the LCOs retained characteristics that resembled the primary tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing confirmed high cancer cell purity in early passages of LCOs derived from patients with advanced lung cancer. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure and intracellular components of LCOs were characterized using three-dimensional holotomography. Finally, drug screening was performed using a specialized micropillar culture system with cryobiopsy-derived LCOs. LCOs derived from cryobiopsy specimens offer a promising solution to the critical limitations of conventional LCOs. Cryobiopsy can be applied to patients with lung cancer at all stages, including those with peripheral lesions, and can provide sufficient cells for LCO generation. Therefore, we anticipate that cryobiopsy will serve as a breakthrough strategy for the clinical application of LCOs in all stages of lung cancer.

Abstracts PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effect of turmeric intake alone or in combination with resistance training on liver enzymes in adult men who regularly consumed alcohol at least twice a week. METHODS Twelve men (age: 36.0±5.26 years, weight: 99.9±17.9 kg, and height: 184.0±6.5 cm) were randomly assigned to the turmeric intake (2-3 g/day) alone (TI, n=6) group or the TI plus resistance training (60 minutes of RT 3 times a week) (TI+RT, n=6) group for 8 weeks. Blood was collected before and after 8 weeks of treatment. The analyzed variables included glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GTP), and GOT/GPT ratio. RESULTS There was no significant interaction effect in all variables, but the main effect was found in all variables only in TI+RT group. The Cohen's d effect size on the main effects of the TI+RT group on GOT (d=0.548), GPT (d=0.835), γ-GTP (d=0.623), and GOT/ GPT ratio (d=0.800) ranged from 0.548-0.835, respectively. However, body composition such as percent body fat (%, p>.05) and muscle mass (kg, p>.05) did not show the main effect on time points as well as the interaction effect (p>.05). CONCLUSIONS Although the 8-week TI treatment did not show any statistically significant change, TI treatment showed a tendency to decrease in GOT, GPT, and γ-GTP, and the GOT/GPT ratio tends to increase. Therefore, there was a synergic effect of the TI plus RT treatment or the sum of the two treatments for 8 weeks.

Verifying pollen germination using microscopic images is a difficult task. It is usually time-consuming and may entail reduced accuracy and reproducibility. Therefore, in this study, we used random forest (RF) and convolutional neural network (CNN) models to perform image classification on raw data corresponding to pollens with different germination rates; the data were obtained via flow cytometry. A heat map, which was based on the RF analysis results, showed that the variables that significantly influenced the classification decision between NG and 60G categories were mainly located in the center and top-right regions of the $30\times30$ pixel image. Additionally, a variable importance plot showed that among the 900 input variables, pixel_316 was the variable that contributed the most toward prediction. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping was used to visualize the class activation maps of the CNN model. The bottom-left region of the activation map was activated in the NG image. However, the 60G image showed that not only the bottom-left region but also the top-right region was activated. Both the models classified the input images into NG and 60G categories with high accuracy. However, considering that the RF model does not reflect the characteristics of adjacent variables, the CNN model is more appropriate for classifying pollen germination images corresponding to pollen with various germination rates into distinct classes. Taken together, these results suggest that the CNN model can provide a reliable method for verifying the pollen performance.

Abstract Background Anchoring filament protein ladinin-1 (LAD1) was related to the aggressive progression of breast, lung, laryngeal and thyroid cancers. However, the association of LAD1 with colorectal cancer remained unknown. Here, to determine the relationship of LAD1 with colorectal cancer progression, we explored the effect of LAD1 loss on the malignant features of colorectal cancer cells. Methods We constructed LAD1-depleted cell lines and examined the effect of LAD1 deficiency on the phenotypic and molecular features of colorectal cancer cells in vitro. The function of LAD1 in metastasis in vivo was examined by establishing a spleen-to-liver metastasis mouse model. LAD1 protein expression in colorectal cancer patient specimens was assessed by immunohistochemistry of tumor microarrays. Results We found that LAD1 was abundant in most colorectal cancer cells. In addition, high expression of LAD1 significantly correlated with poor patient outcome. LAD1 depletion inhibited the migration and invasion of two different colorectal cancer cell lines, SW620 and Caco-2, without affecting their proliferation. In addition, LAD1 loss led to defects in liver metastasis of SW620 cells in the mouse model. Immunohistochemistry of colorectal cancer tissues revealed LAD1 enrichment in metastatic tissues compared to that in primary tumor and normal tissues. Conclusion These results suggest that LAD1 expression is associated with the metastatic progression of colorectal cancer by promoting the migration and invasion of cancer cells.

To provide a basis for the effective and efficient design of windbreak forests, wind tunnel tests were conducted to analyze the protection against wind afforded by the use of various species and various structures of planted trees. Various row-based planting structures were used in an attempt to find the most effective arrangement of a windbreak forest. Four types of structures were studied: a simple structure of coniferous trees (1, 2, or 3 rows of Pinus thunbergii), a simple structure of broadleaf trees (1, 2, or 3 rows of Quercus acutissima), mixed structure 1 (3 rows: P. thunbergii, Q. acutissima and P. thunbergii) and mixed structure 2 (3 rows: Q. acutissima, P. thunbergii and Q. acutissima). The testing materials were 3-year-old P. thunbergii and 8-year-old Q. acutissima. As the height of the testing part was 2.0 m, the height of trees was cut to make it 1.5 m based. The trees were fixed in a vase of 30 cm (Width) × 30 cm (Height). The experimental simulation model was designed 3meter (Width) × 2meter (Height) × 9 meter (Length). Putting porosity between trees aside, it was appropriate with the 7.5% of black ratio. All arrangements of P. thunbergii rows decreased the wind speed at every measurement point; especially, the 3-row structure of P. thunbergii showed a wind speed reduction of more than 15% greater than the two single-row structures studied. The wind speed reduction of P. thunbergii was maximized at a distance 1 m downwind from the last row, with wind speed increasing further downwind. Also, comparing the effect of decreasing wind speed according to the height in one-layered structure, middle-height marked the best decrease and lowered as it goes far from the middle-height. This can be explained with the cone-shaped water pipe. However, observing that the same phenomenon does not happen in three-layered structures, it was found that the difference due to different shapes of the water pipe can be offset by adding a row of plants. Therefore, using the alternating structure of coniferous, broadleaf, and coniferous rows would be a better choice, offering a similar effect with less risk of loss to disease and insects.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in physique and physical fitness factors affecting exercise performance according to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) FokI gene polymorphism in athletic gifted children. Methods FokI VDR polymorphisms were genotyped in 82 boys (9.1±0.9 years) and 55 girls (9.3±0.9 years). Basic physical fitness (basketball throw, half-squat jump, standing long jump, 15m pacer, 50m run, handgrip strength, side-step, trunk forward flexion, sit-up) and physique were measured and analyzed using one-way ANOVA with bonferroni’s correction. Results No association was found between the VDR FokI genotypes and all the physical fitness variables as well as physique variables in boys and girl. However, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium results for VDR polymorphism distribution showed significant differences (χ2= 6.516, df=2, p=.038). Conclusion Although there was no significant difference in the fitness variables according to the VDR Fok1 genotype, it was difficult to exclude the potential for predicting fitness in that the H-W equilibrium test showed a significant difference. Therefore, in order to confirm the true potential of the VDR Fok1 gene to predict physical fitness, it is considered that additional studies on general children should be conducted.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to induce sufficient fatigue through the Jiu-Jitsu game imitation exhaustion treatment that reflects the characteristics of Jiu-Jitsu competition, and then fatigue-related indicators according to the self-healing treatment method performed during the break between each treatment and to examine the effect on Jiu-Jitsu exercise performance. METHODS Eight Jiu-Jitsu athletes (28.3±3.62 years, 24.6±2.5 kg/m2, 14.6±4.6% fat) participated in the study, and their exercise performance, RPE, lactate, CK, and CRP were measured after inducing exhaustion using the Jiu-Jitsu Fight Gone Bad (JFGB; 4 rounds×6 minutes JFGB, 12 minutes of recovery between rounds) test. These variables analyzed using two-way ANOVA with bonferroni’s correction. RESULTS All the exercise performance, lactate level, and RPE showed only the difference over time according to JFGB treatment, and there was no significant difference according to recovery methods (passive recovery; PR, active recovery; AR, cryotherapy; CTR, oxygen inhalation; OIR). On the other hand, in the case of CRP, there was no significant difference in interaction effect, group, and time main effects. CK showed a significant difference only before and after JFGB treatment, but similarly, there was no difference according to recovery methods. CONCLUSIONS Regardless of the recovery method, all variables showed a significant difference only over time according to the JFGB test, and the AR, CTR, and OIR methods were similar to the PR. However, it was observed that in the case of CK, immediately after the JFGB test, it increased significantly regardless of recovery measures.

Tar spots have been observed on Ilex cornuta in Korea since 2015. Based on morphological and molecular analyses, the fungus responsible was determined to be a Rhytisma species, with characteristics similar to R. ilicis-latifoliae observed on Ilex latifolia from Japan. Herein, we document the first report of Rhytisma sp. on I. cornuta.

In September 2017, a heavy damage by premature defoliation with the zonate leaf spots was observed in several shrubs of Lespedeza cyrtobotryagrowing at Mt. Obongsan in Chuncheon, Korea. Numerous cone-shaped, white sporophores of a fungus were observed on lesions of the abaxial leaf surface. A similar fungus was isolated in September 2019 from the leaves of L. cyrtobotrya growing at Mt. Taegisan in Hoengseong, Korea. The morphological characteristics of the sporophores were consistent with those of Grovesinia moricola. The species identification was confirmed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA from the two isolates (KACC48417 and KACC48934). The fungal pathogenicity was determined by an artificial inoculation in conditions of relative humidity and temperature of 100% and 15±2℃, respectively. This is the first report of association of G. moricola with L. cyrtobotrya in Korea.

Abstract Background Medication is generally recommended to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients. However, considering the difficulties and economic factors associated with long-term medication, interest in taichi as an exercise treatment method has increased recently in Korean medical practice. Numerous studies have suggested that taichi can be used to treat various diseases and that is can affect psychosomatic factors such as anxiety. This study aims to evaluate the effect of taichi in reducing blood pressure among grade 1 hypertensive patients. Methods/design In this randomized, active-controlled, assessor-blinded, two parallel-armed trial, 80 grade 1 hypertension patients will be recruited and randomly assigned to the usual care group or to the taichi group (n = 40 in each group). Subjects who voluntarily sign a study agreement will be educated in managing their own blood pressure by restricting salt intake, losing weight, moderating alcohol consumption, performing exercise, and regulating dietary intake at their first visit. In addition to self-management, the taichi group will perform two 60-min taichi sessions per week for a total of 8 weeks. Blood pressure will be measured as the primary outcome. In addition, body composition, heart rate, and the perceived intensity and difficulty of the exercise will be measured as secondary outcomes. Discussion This study is a randomized controlled trial of taichi, which is not widely practiced in Korea. It may provide valuable data on the effects of taichi on hypertension, which will inform non-pharmaceutical treatment options for this disorder. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0003632. Registered on 18 March 2019.

Pine trees are more vulnerable to diseases and pests than other trees, so prevention and management are necessary in advance. In this paper, two models of deep learning were mixed to quickly check whether or not to detect pine pests and to perform a comparative analysis with other models. In addition, to select a good performance model of artificial intelligence, a comparison of the recall values, such as Precision (AP), Intersection over Union (IoU) = 0.5, and AP (IoU), of four models including You Only Look Once (YOLOv5s)_Focus+C3, Cascade Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks (Cascade R-CNN)_Residual Network 50, Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks, and Faster R-CNN_ResNet50 was performed, and in addition to the mixed model Swin Transformer_Cascade R-CNN proposed in this paper, they were evaluated. As a result of this study, the recall value of the YOLOv5s_Focus+C3 model was 66.8%, the recall value of the Faster R-CNN_ResNet50 model was 91.1%, and the recall value of the Cascade R-CNN_ResNet50 model was 92.9%. The recall value of the model that mixed the Cascade R-CNN_Swin Transformer proposed in this study was 93.5%. Therefore, as a result of comparing the recall values of the performances of the four models in detecting pine pests, the Cascade R-CNN_Swin Transformer mixed model proposed in this paper showed the highest accuracy.

Background Patient-derived malignant pleural effusion (MPE) samples can be used to identify a patient-specific drug combination since MPE samples are readily available and cost-effective tumor cell sources. However, the isolation of target cancer cells from MPE has been inefficient because MPE samples contain a complex mixture of immune cells, non-cancerous cells, and cancer cells. Hence, new methods need to be developed to effectively isolate target cancer cells from MPE samples that can be used for 3-dimensional (3D) cell culture. Patient-derived in vitro 3D tumor models are expected to facilitate more precise drug treatment. Methods MPE samples were obtained from Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea with consent from patients previously diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. We isolated target cells from MPE samples using 2 different Percoll-gradient centrifugation methods. Results The use of 40% and 75% Percoll-gradient centrifugation led to a clearer separation of CD45-positive (CD45pos) and CD45-negative (CD45neg) cells than the traditional 44% and 67% Percoll-gradient centrifugation method. Conclusion Our findings strongly suggest that the 40% and 75% Percoll-gradient centrifugation method is more useful for the isolation of CD45pos or CD45neg cells than the previously described Percoll-gradient centrifugation method. Furthermore, our novel method was useful for the isolation of MPE-derived target cancer cells that can be used to construct in vitro patient-specific 3D tumor models.

In this study, we introduce a metal-wire Kagome truss damper and investigate its mechanical properties through theoretical analyses and experimental tests. The Kagome damper had high resistance to plastic buckling and low anisotropy. We propose an equation to estimate the yield strength of the damper, which was dependent on the geometric shape and thickness of the metal wire. We conducted cyclic shear loading tests to investigate the energy dissipation capacity and stiffness/strength degradation of the damper through repeated loading. Based on the hysteretic properties revealed by the tests, we found that modification of the ideal truss model with a hinged connection could predict the yield strength and stiffness of the damper. We present a numerical example to improve the seismic performance of a five-story reinforced concrete structure by installing Kagome dampers.

PURPOSE To assess the agreement between maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) measured directly when performing the maximal graded exercise test (GXT) and estimated VO2max from two different equations in Korean male and female youths aged 13-18 years. METHODS Sixty-six adolescents (15.3±1.7 years, 166.0±7.8 cm, 58. 7±10.0 kg, BMI 21.2±2.7) performed GXT on a treadmill and Astrand-Ryhming step test (AR test) to measure VO2max and VO2max estimates, respectively. The participants wore a portable device (Polar CS300) to measure heart rate (HR) during the tests. RESULTS Correlation coefficients (r) between VO2max of the equations and VO2max of the measured value were 0.321 (p

Abstract Background Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are widely used for biosensing and diagnostics, and for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. Safety concerns about the biomedical and clinical applications of SiNPs have been raised, necessitating analysis of the effects of their intrinsic properties, such as sizes, shapes, and surface physicochemical characteristics, on human health to minimize risk in biomedical applications. In particular, SiNP size-associated toxicological effects, and the underlying molecular mechanisms in the vascular endothelium remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the detailed mechanisms underlying the cellular response to exposure to trace amounts of SiNPs and to determine applicable size criteria for biomedical application. Methods To clarify whether these SiNP-mediated cytotoxicity due to induction of apoptosis or necrosis, human ECs were treated with SiNPs of four different non-overlapping sizes under low serum-containing condition, stained with annexin V and propidium iodide (PI), and subjected to flow cytometric analysis (FACS). Two types of cell death mechanisms were assessed in terms of production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction, and autophagy activity. Results Spherical SiNPs had a diameter of 21.8 nm; this was further increased to 31.4, 42.9, and 56.7 nm. Hence, we investigated these effects in human endothelial cells (ECs) treated with these nanoparticles under overlap- or agglomerate-free conditions. The 20-nm SiNPs, but not SiNPs of other sizes, significantly induced apoptosis and necrosis. Surprisingly, the two types of cell death occurred independently and through different mechanisms. Apoptotic cell death resulted from ROS-mediated ER stress. Furthermore, autophagy-mediated necrotic cell death was induced through the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling axis. Together, the present results indicate that SiNPs within a diameter of

Abstract Independent component analysis is one of the linear transformation methods based the techniques for separating blind sources from the output signals of the system. Recently, the method has been analytically applied to the identification of mode shapes and modal responses from the output signal of structures. This study aims to experimentally validate the blind source separation using ICA method and propose a novel method for identification of the modal parameters from the decomposed modal responses. The result of the experimental testing on the three-story steel scale model shows that the mode shapes obtained by ICA method are in good agreement with those by the analytical and peak-picking method in the frequency domain. Based on the robust mathematical model, ICA can calculate the natural frequency and damping ratio effectively using the probability distribution function of the instantaneous natural frequency determined by Hilbert transform of the decomposed modal responses and the change in the output covariance. Finally, the validity of the proposed method paves the way for more effective output-only modal identification for assessment of existing steel-concrete buildings.

This study was conducted to establish reasonable forest management plan by developing site index curves about Pinus densiflora stands that is major species growing in Jeolla-do in Republic of Korea. A total of 613 Pinus densiflora plots and 20m × 20m sampling plot was installed for each stand. The altitude height, slope, orientation bearing, soil type, the height and diameter at breast height (1.2 m from the ground) of a dominant tree, and the age of trees were measured. After developing site index curves using Chapman-Richards, Schumacher and Gompertz models, top three geographical factors were added to asymptote and shape parameters. In results, Gompertz model for Pinus densiflora stands was chosen for best model of height and site index model. Also, soil type, parent rock and topography were added into Gompertz model for Pinus densiflora stand as the independent variables, using the random forest analysis method. As result of adding geographical factors to asymptote and shape of Gompertz model for Pinus densiflora stand, the precision of the model has increased with decreasing MSE. As hybrid site index model including geographical factors indicated influence growth of Pinus densiflora, reasonable forest management plan is determined.

Aim. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) can adversely affect cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes by increasing the intrathoracic pressure. Continuous flow insufflation of oxygen (CFIO) has been investigated as a potential alternative, but evidence supporting its superiority over intermittent positive pressure ventilation in cases of cardiac arrest is scant. The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of continuous flow insufflation of oxygen using a one-way valve during cardiopulmonary-resuscitation with intermittent positive pressure ventilation in a rat model of respiratory arrest. Methods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 400∼450 g (from minimum to maximum) were randomly assigned to either a sham, IPPV, or CFIO group (n = 10 per group). Respiratory arrest was induced by blocking the endotracheal tube. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed during cardiopulmonary resuscitation to compare the oxygenation levels. Tissues were then harvested to compare the degrees of pulmonary barotrauma and ischemic brain injury. Results. Return of spontaneous circulation was observed in 6/10 rats in the IPPV group and 5/10 in the CFIO group. During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the mean PaO2 was significantly higher in the CFIO group (83.10 mmHg) than in the IPPV group (56.10 mmHg). Lung biopsy revealed more inflammatory cells and marked thickening of the alveolar wall in the IPPV group; the group also exhibited a higher frequency of neuroglial cells and apoptotic bodies of pyramidal cells, resulting from ischemic injury. Conclusion. In a rat model of respiratory arrest, CFIO using a one-way valve resulted in a greater level of oxygenation and less lung and brain injuries than with IPPV.

Inflammatory markers are susceptible to changes over time. Thus, we observed changes in inflammatory markers correlating with age-related increases in blood pressure (BP) through a prospective study. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in inflammatory markers that correlate with age-related increases in BP. The study included 1,500 nondiabetic and normotensive healthy subjects at baseline. Of these, 121 individuals who developed hypertension (defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) after 2 years formed the hypertension group. For each incident hypertension case, 2 age- and sex-matched control subjects were selected among those who did not develop hypertension (control group, n = 242). After baseline adjustment, the hypertension group exhibited greater increases in body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic BP, triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose, Lp-PLA2 activity, and urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2α) levels compared to the control group. In the hypertension group, changes in (Δ) systolic BP correlated positively with Δ Lp-PLA2 activity, which correlated positively with Δ low-density lipoprotein (LDL−) cholesterol and Δ urinary 8-epi-PGF2α levels. Moreover, multiple linear regression revealed baseline systolic BP and Δ Lp-PLA2 activity to be independent predictors of Δ systolic BP in the hypertension group. Our results suggest that age-related increases in systolic BP may correlate strongly with elevated Lp-PLA2 activity and that Lp-PLA2 can be considered a biomarker for systolic BP elevation.

In this study, the Kagome truss damper, a metallic wire structures, was introduced and its mechanical properties were investigated through theoretical analyses and experimental tests. The yield strength of the Kagome damper is dependent on the geometric shape and diameter of the metallic wire. The Kagome damper has higher resistance to plastic buckling as well as lower anisotropy. Cyclic shear loading tests were conducted to investigate the energy dissipation capacity and stiffness/strength degradation by repeated loadings. The hysteretic properties obtained from the tests suggest that a modification of the ideal truss model with a hinged connection could be used to predict the yield strength and stiffness of the damper. For seismic retrofitting of a low-rise RC moment frame system, a wall-type Kagome damping system (WKDS) was proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed system was verified by conducting cyclic loading tests using a RC frame with/without the WKDS (story drift ratio limit 1.0%). The test results indicated that both the strength and stiffness of the RC frame increased to the target level and that its energy dissipation capacity was significantly enhanced. Nonlinear static and dynamic analyses were carried out to validate that the existing building structure can be effectively retrofitted using the proposed WKDS.

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used in Asia for its various biological effects, but no studies have investigated the safety of its long-term intake. Therefore, the present study evaluated the safety of KRG intake for 24 weeks. Methods: We randomized 1,000 participants in a 1:1 ratio into two groups, which were treated daily with 2 g of KRG or a placebo for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was all adverse events and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that occurred after KRG or placebo administration, which were reported at week 4, 12, and 24 after the baseline visit. Results: In total, 192 and 211 participants experienced adverse events in the KRG and placebo groups (39.2% and 42.0%, respectively; p = 0.361), and 59 and 57 KRG- and placebo-treated individuals reported ADRs (12.0% and 11.4%, respectively; p = 0.737). The frequently occurring ADRs were pruritus (2.0%), headache (1.6%), diarrhea (1.4%), and dizziness (1.2%) in the KRG group and pruritus (2.0%), headache (1.8%), dizziness (1.6%), rash (1.4%), and diarrhea (1.2%) in the placebo group. Discontinuation of drug administration due to ADRs was reported in 13 participants, six (1.2%) and seven (1.4%) in the KRG and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.814). No significant abnormal changes were revealed by anthropometric, laboratory, and vital sign measurements in the KRG group compared with those in the placebo group. Conclusion: The present study confirms the safety and tolerability of daily intake of 2 g of KRG for 24 weeks by healthy adults. Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, Adverse event, Korean Red Ginseng, Safety, Tolerability

In this study, we aimed to develop site index curves and a height growth model using forest data with the measured height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and age targeting a Larix kaempferi stand located on Mt. Deogyu in Muju, Jeollabuk-do. The site index estimation was calculated using Chapman-Richards equation. The coefficients were found to be α = 20.7837, β = 0.0566, γ = 1.6607, and MSE = 1.2034. The height growth model of the dominant trees depending on the DBH was determined to be α = 0.4872, β = 0.3687, and MSE = 1.8212 using the Petterson growth model. The Mean residual values for above two models were analyzed as 0.00004 and −0.00007, respectively. When comparing the skewness and kurtosis of the residual, the skewness values were 0.1659 and −0.1272, and the kurtosis values were −0.2310 and −0.5543. Therefore, the fitness was considered to be good because they were close to the normal distribution. The results of Shapiro-Wilk test showed P-values (0.77 for the height growth model and 0.62 for the height-DBH model) significantly higher than the alpha level of 0.05, and the residual form of the estimated values for the measured values showed uniform distribution indicating that the fitness of the two models was excellent.

Summary: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) represent the most promising clinical source for regenerative medicine. However, given the cellular heterogeneity within cultivation and safety concerns, the development of specific and efficient tools to isolate a pure population and eliminate all residual undifferentiated PSCs from differentiated derivatives is a prerequisite for clinical applications. In this study, we raised a monoclonal antibody and identified its target antigen as desmoglein-2 (DSG2). DSG2 co-localized with human PSC (hPSC)-specific cell surface markers, and its expression was rapidly downregulated upon differentiation. The depletion of DSG2 markedly decreased hPSC proliferation and pluripotency marker expression. In addition, DSG2-negative population in hPSCs exhibited a notable suppression in embryonic body and teratoma formation. The actions of DSG2 in regulating the self-renewal and pluripotency of hPSCs were predominantly exerted through the regulation of β-catenin/Slug-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Our results demonstrate that DSG2 is a valuable PSC surface marker that is essential for the maintenance of PSC self-renewal. : DSG2 is a desmosomal cadherin molecule. In this article, Min and colleagues show that DSG2 is a valuable PSC surface marker that is essential for the maintenance of PSC self-renewal and pluripotency and the acquisition of pluripotency during somatic cell reprogramming through the regulation of β-catenin-mediated EMT signaling. keywords: desmoglein-2, cell surface marker, pluripotent stem cells, monoclonal antibody, EMT

This study was carried out to investigate the potential of timber production in private forest that is typically small in size, and to schedule timber yield for sustainable forest management. The study target areas were 1424 ha of Jinan-gun pioneer forest management sites in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. To schedule the timber yield, analysis and statistical processing were conducted based on materials obtained from the Forest Resources Inventory Center of the National Forestry Cooperatives Federation. The timber yield schedule, which induced legal forest state using the concept of maturity based on resource analysis, showed that total maturity level of Quercus species was 2108.5. The total maturity level of Pinus densiflora at that time was 1335.4, which was higher than 1316, the total maturity level under legal state. By suggesting solutions of systematic management through private forest management scaling, for private forest promotion equivalent to 68.1% of Korean forest, the economic feasibility on timber yield simulation was developed. In the economic analysis, the net present value (NPV) of Quercus species was 1410 billion KRW. The benefit–cost ratio (BCR) was 2.0 and Pinus densiflora was 3150 billion KRW in NPV and had a BCR of 4.0, showing economic feasibility.

Abstract Background Laminarin is a potential biomass feedstock for the production of glucose, which is the most preferable fermentable sugar in many microorganisms by which it can be converted to biofuels and bio-based chemicals. Also, laminarin is a good resource as functional materials because it consists of β-1,3-glucosidic linkages in its backbone and β-1,6-glucosidic linkages in its branches so that its oligosaccharides driven from laminarin have a variety of biological activities. It is industrially important to be able to produce laminarioligosaccharides as well as glucose from laminarin by a single enzyme because the enzyme cost accounts for a large part of bio-based products. In this study, we investigated the industrial applicability of Bgl1B, a unique β-glucosidase from Saccharophagus degradans 2-40T, belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) by characterizing its activity of hydrolyzing laminarin under various conditions. Results Bgl1B was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli from S. degradans 2-40T, and its enzymatic activity was characterized. Similar to most of β-glucosidases in GH1, Bgl1B was able to hydrolyze a variety of disaccharides having different β-linkages, such as laminaribiose, cellobiose, gentiobiose, lactose, and agarobiose, by cleaving β-1,3-, β-1,4-, and β-1,6-glycosidic linkages. However, Bgl1B showed the highest specific activity toward laminaribiose with a β-1,3-glycosidic linkage. In addition, it was able to hydrolyze laminarin, one of the major polysaccharides in brown macroalgae, into glucose with a conversion yield of 75% of theoretical maximum. Bgl1B also showed transglycosylation activity by producing oligosaccharides from laminarin and laminaribiose under a high mass ratio of substrate to enzyme. Furthermore, Bgl1B was found to be psychrophilic, exhibiting relative activity of 59–85% in the low-temperature range of 2–20 °C. Conclusions Bgl1B can directly hydrolyze laminarin into glucose with a high conversion yield without leaving any oligosaccharides. Bgl1B can exhibit high enzymatic activity in a broad range of low temperatures (2–20 °C), which is advantageous for establishing energy-efficient bioprocesses. In addition, under high substrate to enzyme ratios, Bgl1B can produce high-value laminarioligosaccharides via its transglycosylation activity. These results show that Bgl1B can be an industrially important enzyme for the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals from brown macroalgae.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of low-load resistance exercise (RE) with intermittent blood flow restriction (BFR) on the muscle thickness, blood lactate, creatine kinase (CK) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels in male. METHODS The study included 10 male college students aged 23.5 ± 1.0 years who underwent the following experimental protocols in random order on separate days (72 hour): 3 sessions at a 30% one-repetition maximum (1RM) RE with BFR (individual systolic blood pressure, 150% systolic blood pressure and 200% systolic blood pressure); 1 session at 60% 1RM RE without BFR (CON). The thigh circumference, TBARS and CK levels were measured before exercise (pre-exercise) and post-exercise and lactate, heart rate (HR), systolic (SP) and diastolic blood pressure were measured pre-, post-exercise, 5-, 15- and 30-minutes recovery. RESULTS Thigh circumference significantly increased following 30% 1RM with SP (p=.10) and SP 200% (p=.36) BFR compared to 60% 1RM without BFR but there was an increasing tendency in 30% 1RM with SP 150% (p = .83) BFR. Additionally, there were significant increases in TBARS (p

PURPOSE To develop and validate regression models to estimate maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) from the new estimation formula based on Astrand-Ryhming step test protocol (AR protocol) in Korean male and female youths aged 13-18 years. METHODS One hundred twenty participants performed maximal graded exercise test (GXT) on a treadmill and Astrand-Ryhming step test (AR test) to measure VO2max and VO2max estimates, respectively. Participants in the validation study performed the GXT with the stationary metabolic cart and the Astrand-Ryhming step test twice for test-retest reliability. All tests were conducted at least three days apart and in a random order. RESULTS Mean calculated VO2max (40.43±11.57 mL/kg/min) from the Astrand-Ryhming step test equation was significantly low from that measured during the GXT from stationary metabolic cart (47.32±8.75 mL/kg/min, p