Personalized probiotic strategy considering bowel habits: impacts on gut microbiota composition and alleviation of gastrointestinal symptoms via Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome

Personalized probiotic regimens, taking into account individual characteristics such as stool patterns, have the potential to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders and improve gut health while avoiding the variability exhibited among individuals by conventional probiotics. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of personalized probiotic interventions in managing distinct stool patterns (constipation and diarrhea) by investigating their impact on the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal symptoms using a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial design. This research leverages the multi-strain probiotic formulas, Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome, which have previously demonstrated efficacy in alleviating constipation and diarrhea symptoms, respectively. Improvement in clinical symptoms improvement and compositional changes in the gut microbiome were analyzed in participants with predominant constipation or diarrhea symptoms. Results indicate that tailored probiotics could improve constipation and diarrhea by promoting Erysipelotrichaceae and Lactobacillaceae, producers of short-chain fatty acids, and regulating inflammation and pain-associated taxa. These findings suggest the potential of tailored probiotic prescriptions and emphasize the need for personalized therapeutic approaches for digestive disorders.Clinical trial registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index/index.do, identifier KCT0009111

Long-Term Increases and Recent Slowdowns of CO2 Emissions in Korea

Korea is one of the fastest-growing CO2-emitting countries but has recently experienced a dramatic slowdown in emissions. The objective of the study is to examine the driving factors of long-term increases (1990–2015) and their slowdown (2012–2015) in emissions of Korea. This study uses an extended index decomposition analysis model that better fits Korea’s emission trends of the last 25 years by encompassing 19 energy end-use sectors (18 economic sectors and a household sector) and three energy types. The results show that emission increases in the long term (1990–2015) come from economic growth and population growth. However, improvements in energy intensity, carbon intensity, and economic structure offset large portions of CO2 emissions. The recent slowdown (2012–2015) mainly resulted from a decline in energy intensity and carbon intensity in the economic sectors. Among the different energy types, electricity has played a significant role in decreasing emissions because industries have reduced the consumption of electricity per output and the source of electricity generation has shifted to cleaner energies. These results imply that the Korean government should support strategies that reduce energy intensity and carbon intensity in the future to reduce CO2 emissions and maintain sustainable development

Microstructure and Piezoelectricity of (Na,K,Li)(Nb,Sb)O3–(Bi,Na)(Sr)ZrO3–BaZrO3 Ceramics

In this paper, (Na,K)1−xLi.x(Nb,Sb)O3–(Bi,Na)(Sr)ZrO3–BaZrO3 ceramics were fabricated with x(= Li) substitution by two-step sintering method, and their physical characteristics were investigated. When Li substitution was added to the ceramics, piezoelectric constant (d33) and electromechanical coupling factor (kp) were rapidly reduced. However, mechanical quality factor (Qm) was enhanced. For the KNN-BNZ((K,Na)(Nb)O3–(Bi,Na)(Sr)ZrO3) ceramics with Li(x) = 0 substitution, the best physical properties of d33 = 300 [pC/N], kp = 0.40, Qm = 33 and dialectic constant (εr) = 2430 were shown, respectively. Additionally, the KNN-BNZ ceramics with Li(x) = 0.02, the d33 of 246[pC/N], the kp of 0.37, the Qm of 42 and the εr of 2090 appeared, which were suitable for the low-loss piezoelectric actuator

Biodiversity Agenda Congruent with ‘One Health’: Focusing on CBD, FAO, and WHO

The decrease in biodiversity occurs across national borders and has mutual influences on food and health. In this study, we analyzed the links and relationships between the decisions made by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—the highest decision-making bodies in each field—from 1994 to 2018. We aimed to determine how each regime related to the decisions of others and identify the critical agendas that mediate the three regimes. Consequently, critical agendas, including agricultural biodiversity, taxonomy, traditional knowledge, access and benefit sharing, antimicrobial resistance, and marine biodiversity, were observed. In the order of degree centrality, the top six agendas were discussed in terms of the cooperation history of ‘One Health’ and its implications

Estimating Electric Power Requirements for Mechanically Shredding Massage Chairs and Treadmills at a Recycling Plant

South Korea has operated under laws to collect and recycle the waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) utilizing a system based on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system since 2003. In 2020, the number of products managed by the EPR increased from 27 to 50. Among the 50 products, massage chairs and treadmills are recognized as the items avoided in recycling centers or by recyclers due to their large volume, large weight, and long disassembly times. This study was a preliminary study in which the physical shredding process for massage chairs and treadmills could be introduced, and the electrical power requirements calculated. In the methodology, Vickers hardness was measured by sampling two actual products, and the tensile and shear strength were calculated from the hardness. Based on the shear strength, the force affecting the cutter was calculated and converted into torque and horsepower. In particular, the actual specifications of the crusher, designed and operated in the recycling center, were applied to the study, and the design was based on the treatment capacity of 10 tons per hour. Conclusively, the proper electrical power for crushing the massage chair and treadmill was analyzed as 719.5 and 459.7 HP, respectively

Assessing the Suitability of the Flood Defense Policy of Republic of Korea for Risk Reduction in Local Rivers

This study examines whether the fluvial flood defense system of Korea is appropriate for risk reduction. Using spatial socioeconomic data and remote sensing, we estimated the potential economic damage that can be caused by the flooding of local streams and rivers along the Nakdong River (the longest river in Korea). For the analysis, a river risk map including return periods (50, 80, 100, and 200 years) and spatial inventories (residential, agricultural, industrial assets, and human lives) was employed to determine flood-prone areas and assess the damage within the inundation areas. A quantitative flood analysis was conducted using an object-based method to estimate the expected annual damage. We then compared the estimated damage for each tributary within the designed return periods and found no correlation. Numerous tributaries with low-defense targets were considered high-risk, while those with high-defense targets were assessed as low-risk. The dataset used in this study covered four damage categories. Among them, flood damage to residential assets appeared to have the highest value, whereas flood damage to industrial assets had the lowest value. The results demonstrate that the Korean government needs to tailor its flood defense policy based on quantitative risk assessments to effectively manage flood risks, especially given the increasing risk of climate change