10 research outputs found
Impact of Induced Seismicity on the Housing Market: Evidence from Pohang
In this study, we analyze the case of induced seismicity in Pohang, South Korea, in 2017 to investigate the effect of seismic risk perception on the local residential property market. Based on a hedonic pricing model with a difference-in-differences method, we examine the geographic distribution of the effects of unexpected earthquake hazards. Our results indicate an overall reduction in local property values, but the magnitudes of negative externality for housing prices decrease with respect to the distance from the epicenter. In areas within 3 km of the epicenter, the asset value reduced by approximately 20% after an earthquake event, but if the distance from the epicenter was higher than 12 km, the negative effect on the price was not significant. In addition, we examine how the experience of seismic events affect the preference on the anti-seismic building structure. The results show that the market valuation on the anti-seismic system significantly escalated after the earthquake
Impact of Induced Seismicity on the Housing Market: Evidence from Pohang
In this study, we analyze the case of induced seismicity in Pohang, South Korea, in 2017 to investigate the effect of seismic risk perception on the local residential property market. Based on a hedonic pricing model with a difference-in-differences method, we examine the geographic distribution of the effects of unexpected earthquake hazards. Our results indicate an overall reduction in local property values, but the magnitudes of negative externality for housing prices decrease with respect to the distance from the epicenter. In areas within 3 km of the epicenter, the asset value reduced by approximately 20% after an earthquake event, but if the distance from the epicenter was higher than 12 km, the negative effect on the price was not significant. In addition, we examine how the experience of seismic events affect the preference on the anti-seismic building structure. The results show that the market valuation on the anti-seismic system significantly escalated after the earthquake
Effect of Fermented Red Ginseng Concentrate Intake on Stool Characteristic, Biochemical Parameters, and Gut Microbiota in Elderly Korean Women
Fermented red ginseng (FRG) has been used as a general stimulant and herbal medicine for health promotion in Asia for thousands of years. Few studies have investigated the effects of FRG containing prebiotics on the gut microbiota. Here, 29 Korean women aged ≥ 50 years were administered FRG for three weeks to determine its effect on stool characteristics, biochemical parameters, and gut microbiome. Gut microbial DNA was subjected to 16S rRNA V3–V4 region sequencing to assess microbial distribution in different stages. Additionally, the stool consistency, frequency of bowel movements, and biochemical parameters of blood were evaluated. We found that FRG intake improved stool consistency and increased the frequency of bowel movements compared to before intake. Biochemical parameters such as glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased with FRG intake. Gut microbiome analysis revealed 20 specific bacteria after three weeks of FRG intake. Additionally, 16 pathways correlated with the 20 specific bacteria were enhanced after red ginseng intake. In conclusion, FRG promoted health in elderly women by lowering blood glucose levels and improving bowel movement frequency. The increase in bacteria observed with FRG ingestion supports these findings
Quantum Artificial Neural Network Approach to Derive a Highly Predictive 3D-QSAR Model for Blood–Brain Barrier Passage
A successful passage of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is an essential prerequisite for the drug molecules designed to act on the central nervous system. The logarithm of blood–brain partitioning (LogBB) has served as an effective index of molecular BBB permeability. Using the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) as the numerical descriptor, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model termed AlphaQ was derived to predict the molecular LogBB values. To obtain the optimal atomic coordinates of the molecules under investigation, the pairwise 3D structural alignments were conducted in such a way to maximize the quantum mechanical cross correlation between the template and a target molecule. This alignment method has the advantage over the conventional atom-by-atom matching protocol in that the structurally diverse molecules can be analyzed as rigorously as the chemical derivatives with the same scaffold. The inaccuracy problem in the 3D structural alignment was alleviated in a large part by categorizing the molecules into the eight subsets according to the molecular weight. By applying the artificial neural network algorithm to associate the fully quantum mechanical ESP descriptors with the extensive experimental LogBB data, a highly predictive 3D-QSAR model was derived for each molecular subset with a squared correlation coefficient larger than 0.8. Due to the simplicity in model building and the high predictability, AlphaQ is anticipated to serve as an effective computational screening tool for molecular BBB permeability
(ππ*/πσ*) Conical Intersection Seam Experimentally Observed in the S–D Bond Dissociation Reaction of Thiophenol‑<i>d</i><sub>1</sub>
Surface
crossing of bound (S<sub>1</sub>, ππ*) and
continuum (S<sub>2</sub>, πσ*) states has been observed
in the ultrafast S–D bond dissociation reaction of thiophenol-<i>d</i><sub>1</sub>. It is manifested by an unanticipated variation
of fragment angular distribution as a function of the excitation energy.
The anisotropy parameter (β) of +0.25 at the S<sub>1</sub> origin
decreases to −0.60 at ∼600 cm<sup>–1</sup> above
the S<sub>1</sub> zero-point level, giving a broad peak in β
with a bandwidth of ∼200 cm<sup>–1</sup>. The peak in
β is ascribed to the in-plane S-D bending mode excitation by
which the nuclear configuration in the proximity of the S<sub>1</sub>/S<sub>2</sub> conical intersection seam is directly accessed, showing
a mixed character of parallel (S<sub>1</sub>–S<sub>0</sub>)
and perpendicular (S<sub>2</sub>–S<sub>0</sub>) transition
dipole moments at the same time. As a result, the dynamic aspect of
the conical intersection is experimentally revealed here through direct
access to the nuclear configuration on the multidimensional conical
intersection seam
Dynamic Role of the Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Nonadiabatic Chemistry Revealed in the UV Photodissociation Reactions of 2‑Fluorothiophenol and 2‑Chlorothiophenol
The
dynamic interplay between the intramolecular hydrogen bonding
and intramolecular vibrational redistribution is found to be critical
in nonadiabatic reaction dynamics. Herein, it has been demonstrated
that the molecular planarity, directed by the intramolecular hydrogen
bonding, plays an important role in the nonadiabatic passage of the
reactive flux at the conical intersection in the photodissociation
reactions of 2-fluorothiophenol and 2-chlorothiophenol. As the internal
energy increases in the excited state, the intramolecular hydrogen
bonding of 2-fluorothiophenol loosens. The floppiness brought into
the molecular structure then modifies the dynamic path of the reactive
flux, leading to the diminishment of the nonadiabatic transition probability
at the conical intersection. On the contrary, for 2-chlorothiophenol
having the relatively stronger intramolecular hydrogen bonding, the
reactive flux seems to retain the molecular planarity even with the
increase of the internal energy as manifested by the constant nonadiabatic
transition probability over the wide range of the S<sub>1</sub> internal
energy. The effect of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the molecular
structure and its relation to the nonadiabatic dynamics along the
tunneling path has been experimentally demonstrated
Individual Identification with Short Tandem Repeat Analysis and Collection of Secondary Information Using Microbiome Analysis
Forensic investigation is important to analyze evidence and facilitate the search for key individuals, such as suspects and victims in a criminal case. The forensic use of genomic DNA has increased with the development of DNA sequencing technology, thereby enabling additional analysis during criminal investigations when additional legal evidence is required. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to facilitate the generation of complementary data in order to analyze human evidence obtained through short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. We examined the applicability and potential of analyzing microbial genome communities. Microbiological supplementation information was confirmed for two of four failed STR samples. Additionally, the accuracy of the gargle sample was confirmed to be as high as 100% and was highly likely to be classified as a body fluid sample. Our experimental method confirmed that anthropological and microbiological evidence can be obtained by performing two experiments with one extraction. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using these techniques, explore prospects in the forensic field, and highlight suggestions for future research
Intake of MPRO3 over 4 Weeks Reduces Glucose Levels and Improves Gastrointestinal Health and Metabolism
Human gut microbiota are involved in different metabolic processes, such as digestion and nutrient synthesis, among others. For the elderly, supplements are a major means of maintaining health and improving intestinal homeostasis. In this study, 51 elderly women were administered MPRO3 (n = 17), a placebo (n = 16), or both (MPRO3: 1 week, placebo: 3 weeks; n = 18) for 4 weeks. The fecal microbiota were analyzed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 super-variable region. The dietary fiber intake increased, and glucose levels decreased with 4-week MPRO3 intake. Reflux, indigestion, and diarrhea syndromes gradually improved with MPRO3 intake, whereas constipation was maintained. The stool shape also improved. Bifidobacterium animalis, B. pseudolongum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and L. paracasei were relatively more abundant after 4 weeks of MPRO3 intake than in those subjects after a 1-week intake. Bifidobacterium and B. longum abundances increased after 1 week of MPRO3 intake but decreased when the intake was discontinued. Among different modules and pathways, all 10 modules analyzed showed a relatively high association with 4-week MPRO3 intake. The mineral absorption pathway and cortisol biosynthesis and secretion pathways correlated with the B. animalis and B. pseudolongum abundances at 4 weeks. Therefore, 4-week MPRO3 intake decreased the fasting blood glucose level and improved intestinal health and metabolism
Spatial Isolation of Conformational Isomers of Hydroquinone and Its Water Cluster Using the Stark Deflector
Conformational isomers
of hydroquinone and their 1:1 clusters with
water have been spatially separated using a Stark deflector in a supersonic
jet. <i>trans</i>-Hydroquinone (HyQ) conformer with zero
dipole moment is little influenced by inhomogeneous electric fields,
whereas <i>cis</i> conformer with nonzero dipole moment
(2.38 D) is significantly deflected from the molecular beam axis into
the direction along which the strong field gradient is applied. Resonant
two photon ionization carried out by shifting the laser position perpendicular
to the molecular beam axis after the Stark deflector then gives an
exclusive S<sub>1</sub>–S<sub>0</sub> excitation spectrum of
the <i>cis</i> conformer only, making possible immaculate
conformer-specific spectroscopy and dynamics. As the spatial separation
is apparently proportional to the effective dipole moment strength,
conformational assignment could be absolute in the Stark deflector,
which contrasts with the hole-burning spectroscopic technique where
identification of a conformational isomer is intrinsically not unambiguous. <i>trans</i>- and <i>cis</i>-HyQ–H<sub>2</sub>O clusters have also been spatially separated according to their
distinct effective dipole moment strengths to give absolute spectroscopic
identification of each cluster isomer, nailing down the otherwise
disputable conformational assignment. This is the first report for
the spatial separation of conformational cluster isomers