Diet composition and feeding strategy of John Dory, Zeus faber, in the coastal waters of Korea

Abstract Background Most fish undergo prey switch from juvenile to adult. It is thought that slightly different feeding habits occur among adult fishes due to growth, spawning, habitat change, and so on. Therefore, the diet of the John Dory Zeus faber (≥ 24 cm TL) was studied in the coastal waters of Korea by analysis of stomach contents, with comparison by season and size class of diet composition and prey diversity. Monthly samples were taken from February 2017 to January 2018. Results The results showed that the John Dory was a piscivorous predator, and pisces had occupied 82.3% of IRI%. Trichiurus lepturus and Trachurus japonicus were important preys in all size classes and seasons. Diet composition differed among the size classes and seasons (Chi-square test, P < 0.05). As body size of Z. faber increased, the occurrence of benthic fish (Glyptocephalus stelleri) tended to increase. The seasonal prey composition also changed depending on the abundant species of each season. Conclusions Z. faber is a piscivorous predator. The consumption habits of Z. faber appear to different results by their size and seasons. This study suggests that Z. faber could be considered an opportunistic predator

Inverted organic photovoltaic device with a new electron transport layer

We demonstrate that there is a new solution-processed electron transport layer, lithium-doped zinc oxide (LZO), with high-performance inverted organic photovoltaic device. The device exhibits a fill factor of 68.58%, an open circuit voltage of 0.86 V, a short-circuit current density of −9.35 cm/mA(2) along with 5.49% power conversion efficiency. In addition, we studied the performance of blend ratio dependence on inverted organic photovoltaics. Our device also demonstrates a long stability shelf life over 4 weeks in air

increased Igfbp2 Levels By Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Glucose Metabolism in a Taa-injured Rat Model Via ampk Signaling Pathway

The insulin resistance caused by impaired glucose metabolism induces ovarian dysfunction due to the central importance of glucose as a source of energy. However, the research on glucose metabolism in the ovaries is still lacking. The objectives of this study were to analyze the effect of PD-MSCs on glucose metabolism through IGFBP2-AMPK signaling and to investigate the correlation between glucose metabolism and ovarian function. Thioacetamide (TAA) was used to construct a rat injury model. PD-MSCs were transplanted into the tail vein (2 × 1

Chapter 6 MARINE BIODIVERSITY IN KOREA: A REVIEW OF MACROZOOBENTHIC ASSEMBLAGES, THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS, AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY CHANGES FROM HUMAN IMPACTS

oceanography, climate change, reefs, marine science, marine conservation, marine researc

Stratifying non-small cell lung cancer patients using an inverse of the treatment decision rules: validation using electronic health records with application to an administrative database

To validate a stratification method using an inverse of treatment decision rules that can classify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in real-world treatment records. (1) To validate the index classifier against the TNM 7th edition, we analyzed electronic health records of NSCLC patients diagnosed from 2011 to 2015 in a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea. Predictive accuracy, stage-specific sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, F1 score, and c-statistic were measured. (2) To apply the index classifier in an administrative database, we analyzed NSCLC patients in Korean National Health Insurance Database, 2002–2013. Differential survival rates among the classes were examined with the log-rank test, and class-specific survival rates were compared with the reference survival rates. (1) In the validation study (N = 1375), the overall accuracy was 93.8% (95% CI: 92.5–95.0%). Stage-specific c-statistic was the highest for stage I (0.97, 95% CI: 0.96–0.98) and the lowest for stage III (0.82, 95% CI: 0.77–0.87). (2) In the application study (N = 71,593), the index classifier showed a tendency for differentiating survival probabilities among classes. Compared to the reference TNM survival rates, the index classification under-estimated the survival probability for stages IA, IIIB, and IV, and over-estimated it for stages IIA and IIB. The inverse of the treatment decision rules has a potential to supplement a routinely collected database with information encoded in the treatment decision rules to classify NSCLC patients. It requires further validation and replication in multiple clinical settings

SpiroESTdb: a transcriptome database and online tool for sparganum expressed sequences tags

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sparganum (plerocercoid of <it>Spirometra erinacei</it>) is a parasite that possesses the remarkable ability to survive by successfully modifying its physiology and morphology to suit various hosts and can be found in various tissues, even the nervous system. However, surprisingly little is known about the molecular function of genes that are expressed during the course of the parasite life cycle. To begin to decipher the molecular processes underlying gene function, we constructed a database of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generated from sparganum.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>SpiroESTdb is a web-based information resource that is built upon the annotation and curation of 5,655 ESTs data. SpiroESTdb provides an integrated platform for expressed sequence data, expression dynamics, functional genes, genetic markers including single nucleotide polymorphisms and tandem repeats, gene ontology and KEGG pathway information. Moreover, SpiroESTdb supports easy access to gene pages, such as (i) curation and query forms, (ii) <it>in </it><it>silico </it>expression profiling and (iii) BLAST search tools. Comprehensive descriptions of the sparganum content of all sequenced data are available, including summary reports. The contents of SpiroESTdb can be viewed and downloaded from the web (<url>http://pathod.cdc.go.kr/spiroestdb</url>).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This integrative web-based database of sequence data, functional annotations and expression profiling data will serve as a useful tool to help understand and expand the characterization of parasitic infections. It can also be used to identify potential industrial drug targets and vaccine candidate genes.</p

Developmental Transcriptomic Features of the Carcinogenic Liver Fluke, Clonorchis sinensis

Clonorchis sinensis is the causative agent of the life-threatening disease endemic to China, Korea, and Vietnam. It is estimated that about 15 million people are infected with this fluke. C. sinensis provokes inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia, and periductal fibrosis in bile ducts, and may cause cholangiocarcinoma in chronically infected individuals. Accumulation of a large amount of biological information about the adult stage of this liver fluke in recent years has advanced our understanding of the pathological interplay between this parasite and its hosts. However, no developmental gene expression profiles of C. sinensis have been published. In this study, we generated gene expression profiles of three developmental stages of C. sinensis by analyzing expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Complementary DNA libraries were constructed from the adult, metacercaria, and egg developmental stages of C. sinensis. A total of 52,745 ESTs were generated and assembled into 12,830 C. sinensis assembled EST sequences, and then these assemblies were further categorized into groups according to biological functions and developmental stages. Most of the genes that were differentially expressed in the different stages were consistent with the biological and physical features of the particular developmental stage; high energy metabolism, motility and reproduction genes were differentially expressed in adults, minimal metabolism and final host adaptation genes were differentially expressed in metacercariae, and embryonic genes were differentially expressed in eggs. The higher expression of glucose transporters, proteases, and antioxidant enzymes in the adults accounts for active uptake of nutrients and defense against host immune attacks. The types of ion channels present in C. sinensis are consistent with its parasitic nature and phylogenetic placement in the tree of life. We anticipate that the transcriptomic information on essential regulators of development, bile chemotaxis, and physico-metabolic pathways in C. sinensis that presented in this study will guide further studies to identify novel drug targets and diagnostic antigens

Interactions between algae and nematodes: habitat provision and detrital driven processes

The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate marine nematode-algae interactions using a twofold approach: habitat provision by algae and the role of algal detritus in structuring nematode assemblages. Nematode assemblages living in algae on the south and east coast of Korea were compared using a hierarchical sampling design with those from the south coast of the British Isles in order to investigate nematode diversity and functional traits at different spatial scales (patch, shore, region and biogeographic realm). The cosmopolitan genus Corallina and Sargassum muticum, a native of Korea and an invader in the British Isles were investigated as algal habitat providers for nematodes. The species composition and functional traits of nematode assemblage in both species of macroalgae were significantly different at all spatial scales. The alpha, beta and gamma biodiversity of nematodes in each macroalgae were also measured at all spatial scales. The alpha, beta and gamma diversity of nematodes across four spatial scales in two different habitats are an alpha dominant relationship indicating random colonization and high species turnover at small scales. Nematode species composition and diversity on the wrack-loaded sandy shore were explored using field experiments. Mesh bags filled with three different types of macroalgae (brown, green and red) were used to test the effects of diversity of algal detritus on nematode assemblages involved in decomposition processes. The detrital treatments consisted of 10 combinations of macroalgae (monoculture, two and three species treatments), containing different proportions of algal material in order to test the impacts of detrital diversity on nematode assemblages. The density, diversity and species composition of nematodes in combinations of algae were higher than with single types of macroalgae. This indicated that the combination of two algae mixtures offered more favourable environments than the single species bags. Overall this thesis demonstrated the high diversity of nematodes inhabiting seaweeds and the role of detrital composition in driving nematode assemblages.<br/

Toughness and elasticity from phase separation

A simple one-step method that enables the random copolymerization of two monomers with different solubility in ionic liquids creates phase-separated elastic and stiff domains that result in ultra-tough and stretchable ionogels.11Nsciescopu