Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness is an Independent Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome in Young Korean Adults

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cardio/respiratory fitness (CRF) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in young Korean men. Design: In a cross-sectional study, we examined 909 young Korean men (mean±SD age, 24.0±2 years) who were healthy and not taking any medications affecting blood pressure, glucose, or lipids concentrations. Body fatness, resting blood pressures, and fasting blood levels of lipids, glucose, and insulin were measured with our standardized laboratory protocols. CRF was quantified as the maximum volume of minute oxygen consumption measured during a graded treadmill test. Metabolic syndrome was defined with the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and a modified cut-off value of waist circumference from the Asia-Pacific Perspective: Redefining Obesity and its Treatment. Results: Group analyses showed significant and inverse dose-response trends between the metabolic syndrome markers and CRF levels such that men with high and moderate CRF levels had more favorable profiles in body fatness, resting blood pressures, mean values in fasting lipids, glucose, and insulin, and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance than men with low CRF level. After adjusting for several potential confounders such as age, smoking, and body fatness variables, the low and moderate CRF groups had odds of 4.64 (95% CI, 2.00 to 10.79) and 2.57 (95% CI, 1.04 to 6.34) for having metabolic syndrome than the high CRF group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that low CRF is a significant and independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome in young Korean men

Deagil Presbyterian Church Renovation: Another Opportunity at a Crisis, as a Traditional Church in Korea

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material exists concerning the renovation of traditional churches. The purpose of this project is to illuminate leaders of traditional churches in Korea regarding renovation. Based on the surveys and questionnaires sent to Daegil Presbyterian Church members, to the neighbors in the community, and to other church leaders in the synod, the project reviews the historical perspectives, the present conditions, and the future vision. There are two kinds of crises in Korea: one is the stagnation of church growth; and the other is an IMF economic crisis. This project was developed using two pastoral approaches: 1) renovation, and 2) digital paradigm. The author will show the detail presentations which have begun within Daegil Presbyterian Church

Thermoeconomic Analysis of Organic Rankine Cycle Using Zeotropic Mixtures

The selection of the working fluid is an important part of design and optimization of ORC system as it effects the systems efficiency, design of ORC components, stability, safety and environmental impact. Present study aims to investigate the performance of ORC system using pure working fluids and zeotropic mixtures for low temperature geothermal heat source on the basis of thermodynamic and economic parameters of ORC system. Evaporator, expander, condenser and feed pump models are developed in MATLAB. The control volume approach is adopted for evaporator and condenser model with appropriate database of heat transfer and pressure drop correlations. For comparison, pure working fluids are taken as the base case. The ORC system with pure working fluid and zeotropic mixture under same heat and sink source conditions are optimized using multi objective genetic algorithm for maximum exergy efficiency and minimum specific investment cost. The exergy efficiency of ORC system with zeotropic mixture is improved by 14.33% compared to pure working fluid. The exergy destruction in evaporator and condenser is reduced by 24~30%. The fraction of more volatile component in zeotropic mixture effected the thermal and economic performance of ORC system, for current study the mass fraction of 40% of R245fa corresponds to optimum exergy efficiency and specific investment cost. For same condensing pressure and expander power, area of evaporator for pure working fluids and zeotropic mixture is also calculated. The required heat transfer area for zeotropic mixture is approximately 13% less than required for pure working fluid

First characterisation of the populations and immune-related activities of hemocytes from two edible gastropod species, the disk abalone, Haliotis discus discus and the spiny top shell, Turbo cornutus.

International audienceThe disk abalone Haliotis discus discus and the spiny top shell Turbo cornutus are edible gastropod species of high economic value, mainly in Asia. Mortality outbreaks and variations in worldwide stock abundance have been reported and suggested to be associated, at least in part, with pathogenic infections. Ecology, biology and immunology of both species are currently not well documented. The characterisation of the immune systems of these species is necessary to further assess the responses of H. discus discus and T. cornutus to environmental, chemical and disease stresses. In the present study, we investigated the morphology and immune-related activities of hemocytes in both species using light microscopy and flow cytometry. Two types of hemocytes were identified in the disk abalone hemolymph, blast-like cells and hyalinocytes; whereas four main hemocyte types were distinguished in the spiny top shell, blast-like cells, type I and II hyalinocytes, and granulocytes. Flow cytometric analysis also revealed differences between cell types in immune-related activities. Three subsets of hemocytes, defined by differing lysosomal characteristics, were observed in the hemolymph of the spiny top shell, and only one in the disk abalone. Phagocytic activity was higher in H. discus discus hemocytes than in T. cornutus hemocytes, and the kinetics of PMA-stimulated oxidative activity was different between hemocytes of the disk abalone and the spiny top shell. Finally our results suggest for the first time a predominant mitochondrial origin of oxidative activity in gastropod hemocytes

Linking Authentic Leadership With Employee Initiative Behavior and Task Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotional Sharing and Communication Satisfaction

Our study aims to explore the process through which authentic leadership leads to employees’ initiative behavior and task performance. In particular, we focused on the mediating roles of emotional sharing and communication satisfaction. Based on data collected from 242 employee-supervisor dyads, we found that authentic leadership was significantly related to emotional sharing, which was sequentially significantly related to communication satisfaction. Communication satisfaction was significantly associated with initiative behavior and task performance. In addition, emotional sharing and communication satisfaction played significant mediating roles not only in the relationship between authentic leadership and initiative behavior, but also in the relationship between authentic leadership and task performance. The limitations and implications for future research and practice are discussed

Cellular energy stress induces AMPK-mediated regulation of YAP and the Hippo pathway.

YAP (Yes-associated protein) is a transcription co-activator in the Hippo tumour suppressor pathway and controls cell growth, tissue homeostasis and organ size. YAP is inhibited by the kinase Lats, which phosphorylates YAP to induce its cytoplasmic localization and proteasomal degradation. YAP induces gene expression by binding to the TEAD family transcription factors. Dysregulation of the Hippo-YAP pathway is frequently observed in human cancers. Here we show that cellular energy stress induces YAP phosphorylation, in part due to AMPK-dependent Lats activation, thereby inhibiting YAP activity. Moreover, AMPK directly phosphorylates YAP Ser 94, a residue essential for the interaction with TEAD, thus disrupting the YAP-TEAD interaction. AMPK-induced YAP inhibition can suppress oncogenic transformation of Lats-null cells with high YAP activity. Our study establishes a molecular mechanism and functional significance of AMPK in linking cellular energy status to the Hippo-YAP pathway