Lack of Association between Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Polymorphism of Mannose-Binding Lectin Gene in Korean Population

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) plays an important role in immune defense. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between hepatitis B virus infection and polymorphisms of MBL gene. We assessed the single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 54 in exon 1 of MBL in patients with hepatitis B virus infection and HBsAg negative controls in Korean population. A total of 498 enrolled subjects was classified into four groups. Group 1; Clearance, Group 2; Inactive healthy carrier, Group 3; Chronic hepatitis, Group 4; Liver cirrhosis. MBL gene polymorphisms at codon 54 led to three genotypes (G/G, G/A, A/A). When we divided subjects into clearance group (group 1) and persistence group (group 2-4), G/G genotype and A-allele carrier were observed in 55.6% and 44.4% in clearance group, 64.8% and 35.2% in persistence group (p=0.081), respectively. When hepatitis B virus persistent cases were divided into inactive healthy carrier (group 2) and disease progression group (group 3 and 4), MBL gene polymorphisms at codon 54 were not related to disease progression (p=0.166). MBL gene polymorphism at codon 54 was not associated with the clearance of hepatitis B virus infection nor progression of disease in chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Multi-strain probiotics alleviate loperamide-induced constipation by adjusting the microbiome, serotonin, and short-chain fatty acids in rats

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders worldwide. The use of probiotics to improve constipation is well known. In this study, the effect on loperamide-induced constipation by intragastric administration of probiotics Consti-Biome mixed with SynBalance® SmilinGut (Lactobacillus plantarum PBS067, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH020, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL050; Roelmi HPC), L. plantarum UALp-05 (Chr. Hansen), Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 (Chr. Hansen), and Streptococcus thermophilus CKDB027 (Chong Kun Dang Bio) to rats was evaluated. To induce constipation, 5 mg/kg loperamide was intraperitoneally administered twice a day for 7 days to all groups except the normal control group. After inducing constipation, Dulcolax-S tablets and multi-strain probiotics Consti-Biome were orally administered once a day for 14 days. The probiotics were administered 0.5 mL at concentrations of 2 × 108 CFU/mL (G1), 2 × 109 CFU/mL (G2), and 2 × 1010 CFU/mL (G3). Compared to the loperamide administration group (LOP), the multi-strain probiotics not only significantly increased the number of fecal pellets but also improved the GI transit rate. The mRNA expression levels of serotonin- and mucin-related genes in the colons that were treated with the probiotics were also significantly increased compared to levels in the LOP group. In addition, an increase in serotonin was observed in the colon. The cecum metabolites showed a different pattern between the probiotics-treated groups and the LOP group, and an increase in short-chain fatty acids was observed in the probiotic-treated groups. The abundances of the phylum Verrucomicrobia, the family Erysipelotrichaceae and the genus Akkermansia were increased in fecal samples of the probiotic-treated groups. Therefore, the multi-strain probiotics used in this experiment were thought to help alleviate LOP-induced constipation by altering the levels of short-chain fatty acids, serotonin, and mucin through improvement in the intestinal microflora

Pengaruh Kualitas Produk, Harga, Dan Saluran Distribusi Terhadap Loyalitas Pelanggan Majalah Swa Melalui Variabel Kepuasan Pelanggan (Studi Kasus Pada Pelanggan Majalah Swa Di DKI Jakarta)

Customer loyalty is a goal that has to be achieved by a company. To be able to get loyal customers, SWA magazine needs to pay attention on the factors that influence customers\u27 loyalty. Moreover, business and economy themed magazines are mushrooming, leading to the opportunity for the readers to move from one magazine to another.This research aimed to ascertain the effect of product quality, price, and distribution channel on customer loyalty of SWA magazine in Jakarta through customer satisfaction variable both simultaneously and partially. The hypothesis was there was an effect of product quality, price, and distribution channel on customer loyalty of SWA magazine in Jakarta through customer satisfaction variable both simultaneously and partially. The type of this research was explanatory research with 97 respondents with multi stage sampling technique through questionnaire and interview. The data was analyzed using linear regression method with the assistance of SPSS 16.0.The result of this research showed that product quality, price and distribution channel variables had significant and positive effect partially on customer satisfaction. Product quality variable did not have partially significant effect on customer loyalty. Price and distribution channel variables had partially significant and positive effect on customer loyalty. Product quality and price variables had simultaneously positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction while distribution channel had simultaneously negative effect on customer satisfaction. Simultaneously, product quality, price, and distribution channel variables had positive effect and not significant effect on customer loyalty. Partially, customer satisfaction had positive and significant effect on customer loyalty.Based on the result of this research, a conclusion was drawn that customers\u27 perception on product quality, price, and distribution channel was good. Customers\u27 satisfaction and loyalty of SWA magazine were also good. The company was suggested to improving the product quality, adjusting the price and boosting the distribution channel of SWA magazine in accordance with customers\u27 needs and expectation, so that, customers can feel the satisfaction and decided to be loyal customers

Genetic Traceability of Black Pig Meats Using Microsatellite Markers

Pork from Jeju black pig (population J) and Berkshire (population B) has a unique market share in Korea because of their high meat quality. Due to the high demand of this pork, traceability of the pork to its origin is becoming an important part of the consumer demand. To examine the feasibility of such a system, we aim to provide basic genetic information of the two black pig populations and assess the possibility of genetically distinguishing between the two breeds. Muscle samples were collected from slaughter houses in Jeju Island and Namwon, Chonbuk province, Korea, for populations J and B, respectively. In total 800 Jeju black pigs and 351 Berkshires were genotyped at thirteen microsatellite (MS) markers. Analyses on the genetic diversity of the two populations were carried out in the programs MS toolkit and FSTAT. The population structure of the two breeds was determined by a Bayesian clustering method implemented in structure and by a phylogenetic analysis in Phylip. Population J exhibited higher mean number of alleles, expected heterozygosity and observed heterozygosity value, and polymorphism information content, compared to population B. The FIS values of population J and population B were 0.03 and −0.005, respectively, indicating that little or no inbreeding has occurred. In addition, genetic structure analysis revealed the possibility of gene flow from population B to population J. The expected probability of identify value of the 13 MS markers was 9.87×10−14 in population J, 3.17×10−9 in population B, and 1.03×10−12 in the two populations. The results of this study are useful in distinguishing between the two black pig breeds and can be used as a foundation for further development of DNA markers

The genome landscape of indigenous African cattle

Background: The history of African indigenous cattle and their adaptation to environmental and human selection pressure is at the root of their remarkable diversity. Characterization of this diversity is an essential step towards understanding the genomic basis of productivity and adaptation to survival under African farming systems. Results: We analyze patterns of African cattle genetic variation by sequencing 48 genomes from five indigenous populations and comparing them to the genomes of 53 commercial taurine breeds. We find the highest genetic diversity among African zebu and sanga cattle. Our search for genomic regions under selection reveals signatures of selection for environmental adaptive traits. In particular, we identify signatures of selection including genes and/ or pathways controlling anemia and feeding behavior in the trypanotolerant N’Dama, coat color and horn development in Ankole, and heat tolerance and tick resistance across African cattle especially in zebu breeds. Conclusions: Our findings unravel at the genome-wide level, the unique adaptive diversity of African cattle while emphasizing the opportunities for sustainable improvement of livestock productivity on the continent

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Code for ESS publication - Quantifying the uncertainty of ice-crystal-related parameters to simulated winter precipitation over the Korean Peninsula

<p>In this repository, we include the source codes used in the ESS publication "Quantifying the uncertainty of ice-crystal-related parameters to simulated winter precipitation over the Korean Peninsula"</p><p>There are WDM6 codes and parameter sets in "Model_codes" for WRF simulation, model output files in "Model_outputs", AWS datas in "AWS", Scripts for calculating statistical values in a table in "Table", and "Figures" has a scripts for the figure of the manuscript.</p><p>In "Model_codes", the text file starting with LHS is 50 parameters sets generated by the Latin hypercube sampling method, and the text files starting with the case are the set of parameters used for the SEN experiment for each case. There are two WDM6 codes, the CTL code uses the parameter set in Table 1 as CTL, and the LHS code uses the 50 parameters set in the text file.</p><p>In "Figures", there is a script corresponding to each figure of the paper.</p&gt

Characteristics of regional scale atmospheric dispersion around Ki-Jang research reactor using the Lagrangian Gaussian puff dispersion model

The Ki-Jang research reactor (KJRR), a new research reactor in Korea, is being planned to fulfill multiple purposes. In this study, as an assessment of the environmental radiological impact, we characterized the atmospheric dispersion and deposition of radioactive materials released by an unexpected incident at KJRR using the weather research and forecasting–mesoscale model interface program–California Puff (WRF–MMIF–CALPUFF) model system. Based on the reproduced three-dimensional gridded meteorological data obtained during a 1-year period using WRF, the overall meteorological data predicted by WRF were in agreement with the observed data, while the predicted wind speed data were slightly overestimated at all stations. Based on the CALPUFF simulation of atmospheric dispersion (χ/Q) and deposition (D/Q) factors, relatively heavier contamination in the vicinity of KJRR was observed, and the prevailing land breeze wind in the study area resulted in relatively higher concentration and deposition in the off-shore area sectors. We also compared the dispersion characteristics between the PAVAN (atmospheric dispersion of radioactive release from nuclear power plants) and CALPUFF models. Finally, the meteorological conditions and possibility of high doses of radiation for relatively higher hourly χ/Q cases were examined at specific discrete receptors

Development of Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emission Factors for the Biomass Fired Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion Power Plant

This study makes use of this distinction to analyze the exhaust gas concentration and fuel of the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler that mainly uses wood biomass, and to develop the emission factors of Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O). The fuels used as energy sources in the subject working sites are Wood Chip Fuel (WCF), RDF and Refused Plastic Fuel (RPF) of which heating values are 11.9 TJ/Gg, 17.1 TJ/Gg, and 31.2 TJ/Gg, respectively. The average concentrations of CH4 and N2O were measured to be 2.78 ppm and 7.68 ppm, respectively. The analyzed values and data collected from the field survey were used to calculate the emission factor of CH4 and N2O exhausted from the CFB boiler. As a result, the emission factors of CH4 and N2O are 1.4 kg/TJ (0.9–1.9 kg/TJ) and 4.0 kg/TJ (2.9–5.3 kg/TJ) within a 95% confidence interval. Biomass combined with the combustion technology for the CFB boiler proved to be more effective in reducing the N2O emission, compared to the emission factor of the CFB boiler using fossil fuel