Recent progress of coherent beam combining Kumgang Laser (0.4J@10kHz/10ns)

A coherent beam combining is the most promising technique to achieve a high output energy and a high repetition rate laser system with a good beam quality [1]. It has been demonstrated experimentally that the coherent beam combination using self-phase-controlled stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugate mirror (SC-SBS-PCM) is the simplest coherent beam combination method [2-3]. For an average output power of a kW range, the experimental verification of coherent beam combination is now underway by the Kumgang laser [4-5]..

The Korean Mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) Extract Has an Antiobesity Effect and Protects against Hepatic Steatosis in Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

This study investigates the inhibitory effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) on adipogenic factors in 3T3-L1 cells and obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice fed a high-fat diet. Male C57Bl/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with KME (3 g/kg/day) for 15 weeks for the antiobesity and NAFLD experiments. Body weight and daily food intake were measured regularly during the experimental period. The epididymal pad was measured and liver histology was observed. The effects of KME on thermogenesis and endurance capacity were measured. The effects of KME on adipogenic factors were examined in 3T3-L1 cells. Body and epididymal fat pad weights were reduced in KME-treated mice, and histological examination showed an amelioration of fatty liver in KME-treated mice, without an effect on food consumption. KME potently induces mitochondrial activity by activating thermogenesis and improving endurance capacity. KME also inhibited adipogenic factors in vitro. These results demonstrate the inhibitory effects of KME on obesity and NAFLD in mice fed a high-fat diet. The effects appear to be mediated through an enhanced mitochondrial activity. Therefore, KME may be an effective therapeutic candidate for treating obesity and fatty liver caused by a high-fat diet

Heme metabolism genes Downregulated in COPD Cachexia.

IntroductionCachexia contributes to increased mortality and reduced quality of life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and may be associated with underlying gene expression changes. Our goal was to identify differential gene expression signatures associated with COPD cachexia in current and former smokers.MethodsWe analyzed whole-blood gene expression data from participants with COPD in a discovery cohort (COPDGene, N = 400) and assessed replication (ECLIPSE, N = 114). To approximate the consensus definition using available criteria, cachexia was defined as weight-loss > 5% in the past 12 months or low body mass index (BMI) (< 20 kg/m2) and 1/3 criteria: decreased muscle strength (six-minute walk distance < 350 m), anemia (hemoglobin < 12 g/dl), and low fat-free mass index (FFMI) (< 15 kg/m2 among women and < 17 kg/m2 among men) in COPDGene. In ECLIPSE, cachexia was defined as weight-loss > 5% in the past 12 months or low BMI and 3/5 criteria: decreased muscle strength, anorexia, abnormal biochemistry (anemia or high c-reactive protein (> 5 mg/l)), fatigue, and low FFMI. Differential gene expression was assessed between cachectic and non-cachectic subjects, adjusting for age, sex, white blood cell counts, and technical covariates. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed using MSigDB.ResultsThe prevalence of COPD cachexia was 13.7% in COPDGene and 7.9% in ECLIPSE. Fourteen genes were differentially downregulated in cachectic versus non-cachectic COPD patients in COPDGene (FDR < 0.05) and ECLIPSE (FDR < 0.05).DiscussionSeveral replicated genes regulating heme metabolism were downregulated among participants with COPD cachexia. Impaired heme biosynthesis may contribute to cachexia development through free-iron buildup and oxidative tissue damage

Comparison of sleep quality based on direction of shift rotation in electronics workers

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported the effects of direction of shift rotation on sleep, however, the findings are inconsistent. In this study, we investigated sleep quality related to direction of shift rotation using large-scale data from shiftwork-specific health examinations of electronics workers. METHODS: This study included 4750 electronics workers working in a rotating 3-shift system who completed a medical examination for shift workers survey from January 1 to December 31, 2014, at a general hospital. The subjects were categorized into one of two groups according to direction of shift rotation. We compared sleep quality index between the subjects who worked in forward rotation and backward rotation systems. RESULTS: Backward rotation was positively associated with prevalence of poor sleep quality. In the multivariable-adjusted model, when comparing backward rotation to forward rotation, the odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) for poor sleep quality was 1.95 (1.58–2.41). After stratifying by gender, the ORs (95 % CIs) for poor sleep quality in male and female was 1.92 (1.47–2.49) and 2.13 (1.47–3.08), respectively. In subgroup analyses, backward rotation was significantly associated with poor sleep quality in workers ≥30 years of age compared with workers <30 years of age (adjusted OR 2.60 vs. 1.89, respectively; P for interaction <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports that a backward rotation system is associated with poor sleep quality. Forward rotation systems should be considered to reduce sleep problems

Ühe osanikuga äriühingute juhtimise lihtsustamine

http://www.ester.ee/record=b5140575*es

SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION OF ALLELIC REGULATORY ACTIVITY OF GENETIC VARIANTS ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous genomic regions implicated in the risk of psychiatric disorders. However, discerning the causal variant(s) remains challenging due to linkage disequilibrium, necessitating further experimental validation. To address this challenge, a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) has been developed to functionally validate the allelic regulatory effects of thousands of variants in a single experiment by utilizing next-generation sequencing technology. In the first part of this study, we performed a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) on 5,173 fine-mapped schizophrenia-associated common variants in primary human neural progenitors (HNPs), identifying 439 variants with allelic regulatory effects (MPRA-allelic variants). Existing strategies for prioritizing causal variants, such as GWAS summary statistics, fine-map posterior inclusion probability, and enhancer overlap, proved inadequate in predicting MPRA-allelic variants. Notably, 64% of MPRA-allelic variants did not exhibit expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) signatures, indicating that MPRA can uncover previously unexplored variants with regulatory potential. Since many psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) show comorbidity among other psychiatric disorders, scientists have hypothesized that there is underlying pleiotropy at play. To understand the genetic basis of pleiotropy, the Psychiatric Genomic Consortium (PGC) has conducted a meta- genome-wide association study (meta-GWAS) across eight psychiatric disorders and identified 136 loci, of which 109 were associated with multiple psychiatric disorders, underscoring the need to investigate the mechanisms underlying pleiotropic effects. In the second part of this study, we conducted MPRA on 15,902 variants associated with single or multiple psychiatric disorders to elucidate the regulatory logic of variants with disorder-specific and pleiotropic effects in HNPs. We identified 683 expression-modulating variants (emVars) that exhibit allelic regulatory effects in enhancers. Subsequent bioinformatic analyses revealed that disease-specific and pleiotropic emVars alter binding motifs for transcription factors (TFs) with minimal overlap, and that pleiotropic TFs exhibit higher connectivity in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Lastly, linking our emVars with eQTL resources showed that 62% of our emVars overlapped with eQTLs. This overlap was higher for emVars than the MPRA-allelic variants identified by the same study, highlighting the higher biological relevance of emVars compared to MPRA-allelic variants.Doctor of Philosoph

Methodology to Develop and Test an Easy-to-use Procedure for the Preliminary Selection of High-performance Systems for Office Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates

A procedure has been developed for the preliminary selection of high-performance systems for office buildings in hot and humid climates. High-performance building systems and components were surveyed for buildings in the U.S., which were applicable for office buildings in hot and humid climates. This research developed a calibrated DOE-2.1e simulation model of a prototypical large office building. In addition, a Simplified Geometry DOE-2.1e (SGDOE-2.1e) model, was also developed, which used a simplified geometry to demonstrate the use of a proposed easy-to-use tool. The calibrated DOE-2.1e simulation model and the SGDOE-2.1e were compared and showed a good match with each. The SGDOE-2.1e model was then further modified based on the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 commercial building energy code. A code-compliant (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999) SGDOE-2.1e simulation model was then used as a baseline for the evaluation of the high-performance measures. A total of 14 high-performance measures were implemented including the energy savings, while the comfort level was maintained based on the ASHRAE comfort zone. In addition to the 14 high-performance measures, solar thermal and solar PV system analysis were integrated with the SGDOE-2.1e simulation model to further reduce the annual energy use. Finally, specifications of the proposed easy-to-use simulation tool were developed. This tool includes options to choose systems from the 14 high-performance measures and solar systems. The proposed easy-to-use systems selection tool can be used for new building practitioners and existing building owners as well to evaluate the performance of their new buildings compared to the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 code-compliant building, and to assess the feasibility of implementing high-performance measures to their existing buildings in terms of energy and cost savings

A missionary task for the impoverished and the homeless in Pusan area

Abstract onlyThe rate of urban population in the world has increased from 29% (1950) to 45% (1990). It is now expected that about 65% of the world population will center around urban area in 2025. In particular, the urbanization in the third world countries including Korea has been prompted by industrial policies, devastating rural villages and producing an increasing number of poor urban dwellers. This group of poor urban dwellers has been denigrated as social outcasts as they were deprived of their economic ground and social stability in the midst of the current colonizing capitalism and unequal social hierarchy. Consequently, they suffered from unemployment, alcohol addiction, impoverishment, and family dissolution. The national policies for them, however, do not go beyond the superficial level on which they are recognized as the chief target to be watched over. The social outcasts are produced by the disintegration of one's personal life and family life, as well as by unfair social structure. Since they are dropped off from the center of our society, they are to be protected on the national level. But no legal protection is granted for the sake of those people. Only arbitrary governmental order is all in practice. This system is like a husk without kernel. Once the issues on human right have been raised for them, the government has sought to protect them passively without being able to restore their humanity and social relationship. To make it worse, many of them are guarded in ill- conditioned mental health care centers and rehabilitation centers, yet their rehabilitation programs turn out unproductive. In this midst, there came to be an increasing number of voluntary groups to manage rehabilitation programs with a view to caring for the alienated social outcasts in a community life, in order that they restore their family role and social role. The 'House of Resurrection' which I managed for the past four years with eight years of program coordination is one of the examples in this regard. Out of my experiences, I could realize anew the theological significance and missionary task of social welfare in response to their need. I am now confident that the diakonia mission for the social outcasts and the poor is the major part of the mission in the Korean church in face of the 21st century. The practical alternative plan proposed in this thesis is to nourish their faith, to improve their human right, and to prompt their rehabilitation. The gospel for the poor is now more urgent as a hope for healthy social welfare since the whole globe has been turning into a big market with limitless competition.Includes bibliographical referencesMaster of Theolog

The Persistence of Savings Obtained from Commissioning of Existing Buildings

The objective of this study is to investigate the reasons why the performance of mechanical systems degrades over time after commissioning and to recommend intervals at which testing should be performed to maintain the integrity of the commissioning process. The initial phase of this study investigated the energy savings in ten buildings commissioned between 1996 and 1997. The results of this study show that hot water, chilled water and electric savings have all degraded. Aggregate annual cost savings for the ten buildings decreased by 17% from 1998 to 2000 from $1,192,884 to$985,626. The investigation has found that the decreased savings are due to numerous changes in control settings since the commissioning and to significant control malfunctions in two buildings

Hydrogen peroxide production in a pilot-scale microbial electrolysis cell

The final publication is available at Elsevier via https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00276 © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/A pilot-scale dual-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) equipped with a carbon gas-diffusion cathode was evaluated for H2O2 production using acetate medium as the electron donor. To assess the effect of cathodic pH on H2O2 yield, the MEC was tested with an anion exchange membrane (AEM) and a cation exchange membrane (CEM), respectively. The maximum current density reached 0.94–0.96 A/m2 in the MEC at applied voltage of 0.35–1.9 V, regardless of membranes. The highest H2O2 conversion efficiency was only 7.2 ± 0.09% for the CEM-MEC. This low conversion would be due to further H2O2 reduction to H2O on the cathode or H2O2 decomposition in bulk liquid. This low H2O2 conversion indicates that large-scale MECs are not ideal for production of concentrated H2O2 but could be useful for a sustainable in-situ oxidation process in wastewater treatment.Ontario Early Researcher Awar