ON SEMIDEFINITE LINEAR FRACTIONAL OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS (Study on Nonlinear Analysis and Convex Analysis)

Recently, semidefinite optimization problems have been intensively studied since many optimization problems can be changed into the problems and the problems are very tractable ([5]). In this paper, we review the duality results for semidefinite linear fractional optimization problems in the paper ([3] On duality theorems for semidefinite linear fractional optimization problems, Journal of Nonliner and Convex Analysis, volume 20, 2019, 1907-1912)

Real-time detection of an airborne microorganism using inertial impaction and mini-fluorescent microscopy

To achieve successful real-time detection of airborne pathogenic microorganisms, the problem must be considered in terms of their physical size and biological characteristics. We developed an airborne microorganism detection chip to realize the detection of microorganisms, ensuring compactness, sensitivity, cost-efficiency, and portability, using three key components: an inertial impaction system, a cartridge-type impaction plate, and a mini-fluorescent microscope. The inertial impaction system was used to separate microorganisms in terms of their aerodynamic particle size, and was fabricated with three impaction stages. Numerical analysis was performed to design the system; the calculated cutoff diameter at each impaction stage was 2.02 (first stage), 0.88 (second stage), and 0.54 μm (third stage). The measured cutoff diameters were 2.24, 0.91, and 0.49 μm, respectively. A cartridge-type impaction plate was used, composed of molded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and an actual impaction region made of a SYBR green I dye-stained agar plate. A mini-fluorescent microscope was used to distinguish microbes from non-biological particles. Images of the microorganisms deposited at the impaction zone were obtained via mini-fluorescent microscopy, and fluorescent intensities of the images were calculated using in-house image-processing software. The results showed that the developed system successfully identified aerosolized biological particles from non-biological particles in real time

Effect of Mineral-Balanced Deep-Sea Water on Kidney Function and Renal Oxidative Stress Markers in Rats Fed a High-Salt Diet

This study investigated the effect of mineral-balanced deep-sea water (DSW) on kidney health using an animal model of kidney injury due to a high-sodium diet. High magnesium/low sodium (HMLS) and high magnesium/high calcium (HMHC) DSW samples with different mineral contents were prepared. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed an 8% sodium chloride (NaCl) diet for four weeks to induce kidney injury, and each group was supplied with purified water or mineral water. Kidney injury was observed in the NaCl group according to increased kidney injury markers and malondialdehydes, providing evidence of oxidative stress. However, the kidney injury was repaired by the intake of mineral-balanced DSW. It was confirmed that the HMLS and HMHC groups showed improved Na+ excretion through the urine. Kidney injury markers in urine decreased and upregulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein2 mRNA expression was observed in the HMLS and HMHC groups. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity was increased in the HMHC groups. The gene expression patterns of the RNA sequencing were similar between the CON and HMLS groups. These results suggest that DSW has beneficial effects on kidney health due to the balanced magnesium and calcium levels in models of kidney injury caused by excessive sodium intake

Characterization of Nutritional Composition, Antioxidative Capacity, and Sensory Attributes of Seomae Mugwort, a Native Korean Variety of Artemisia argyi H. Lév. & Vaniot

Few studies have investigated Seomae mugwort (a Korean native mugwort variety of Artemisia argyi H. Lév. & Vaniot), exclusively cultivated in the southern Korean peninsula, and the possibility of its use as a food resource. In the present study, we compared the nutritional and chemical properties as well as sensory attributes of Seomae mugwort and the commonly consumed species Artemisia princeps Pamp. In comparison with A. princeps, Seomae mugwort had higher contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, total phenolic compounds, vitamin C, and essential amino acids. In addition, Seomae mugwort had better radical scavenging activity and more diverse volatile compounds than A. princeps as well as favorable sensory attributes when consumed as tea. Given that scant information is available regarding the Seomae mugwort and its biological, chemical, and sensory characteristics, the results herein may provide important characterization data for further industrial and research applications of this mugwort variety