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Weakly supervised learning attempts to construct predictive models by learning with weak supervision. In this paper, we concentrate on weakly supervised object localization and semantic segmentation tasks. Existing methods are limited to focusing on narrow discriminative parts or overextending the activations to less discriminative regions even on backgrounds. To mitigate these problems, we regard the background as an important cue that guides the feature activation to cover the entire object to the right extent, and propose two novel objective functions: 1) contrastive attention loss and 2) foreground consistency loss. Contrastive attention loss draws the foreground feature and its dropped version close together and pushes the dropped foreground feature away from the background feature. Foreground consistency loss favors agreement between layers and provides early layers with a sense of objectness. Using both losses leads to balanced improvements over localization and segmentation accuracy by boosting activations on less discriminative regions but restraining the activation in the target object extent. For better optimizing the above losses, we use the non-local attention blocks to replace channel-pooled attention leading to enhanced attention maps considering the spatial similarity. Finally, our method achieves state-of-the-art localization performance on CUB-200-2011, ImageNet, and OpenImages benchmarks regarding top-1 localization accuracy , MaxBoxAccV2 , and PxAP . We also demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in improving segmentation performance measured by mIoU on the PASCAL VOC dataset.

The anti-glycation effects of polysaccharides from Ecklonia cava were examined according to extraction method-hot buffer (HP), ultrasound (UP), enzyme (EP), or a combination of ultrasound and enzyme (UEP). The physicochemical properties, monosaccharide compositions, and structural characteristics of the polysaccharides were determined. UP, EP, and UEP had higher fucose and galactose compositions than HP. The FT-IR spectra of samples showed the presence of sulfate esters and 4-sulfate galactose. 1H NMR indicated that alginate was removed by purification. UP, EP, and UEP possessed higher sulfate contents than HP. UEP presented with the highest extraction yield and lowest protein and uronic acid contents. The levels of AGE formation, as well as fructosamine, α-dicarbonyl, and protein carbonyl contents were determined during a 3-week incubation in a BSA/fructose system. UEP and UP effectively inhibited AGE, although the inhibition effect was lower than that of aminoguanidine. However, UP and UEP showed higher inhibition of fructosamine, α-dicarbonyl, and protein carbonyl than aminoguanidine. AGE formation was negatively correlated with sulfate content and some monosaccharide compositions (fucose, galactose, and glucose), but positively correlated with molecular weight. Overall, the present study suggests that UEP is a suitable extraction method for obtaining anti-glycation agents from E. cava.

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFC) based on a state-of-the-art electrolyte and cathode materials with extremely low ohmic resistance and high surface exchange rate in the intermediate temperature range (500–650 °C) have demonstrated exceptional power output in recent studies. However, reliable long-term operation remains a challenging issue in the development of PCFCs for practical applications. In particular, the water generated at the cathode has been reported to accelerate cation segregation and phase destruction of materials, thereby resulting in significant performance degradation. In this study, we investigate the underlying mechanism of the rapid chemical and electrochemical degradation of thin film PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+δ model electrodes in a water atmosphere. The electrochemical degradation, concurrent with the formation of Ba- and Sr-enriched surface clusters, was more significant in the water atmosphere than a dry atmosphere. Water adsorption onto the electrode surface was found to substantially alter the chemical states of the electrodes. In particular, the increased oxygen vacancies caused an increase in the electrostatic attraction, in turn, facilitating the cation segregation and phase destruction of the electrodes.

High lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the association between Lp(a) and fatty liver disease (FLD) remains controversial. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between FLD and serum Lp(a) levels in Korean adults.A total of 22,534 participants who underwent a routine health screening program at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in 2010 and 2014 were enrolled. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including Lp(a), were measured. The presence of FLD was assessed using abdominal ultrasonography. Odds ratios (ORs) for the presence of FLD were analyzed in quartile groups of serum Lp(a) levels using logistic regression. We divided the participants into four groups according to the median values of Lp(a) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).Among the total study population, 3030 (13.4%) participants had fatty liver disease. The mean Lp(a) level was lower in subjects with FLD than in those without (70.0 vs 73.8 nmol/L, p 0.001). The OR for FLD was the lowest in the fourth Lp(a) quartile group, using the first quartile group as the reference group after adjusting for confounding factors [0.815; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.725-0.916]. When the OR for FLD was analyzed in four groups divided by the median values of Lp(a) and HOMA-IR, the low Lp(a)-high HOMA-IR group had the greatest OR for FLD, using the high Lp(a)-low HOMA-IR group as the reference (1.903; 95% CI 1.679-2.158).Serum Lp(a) levels were inversely associated with the presence of FLD. Subjects with low Lp(a) and high insulin resistance (IR) showed higher risk of FLD than those with high Lp(a) and low IR, suggesting the opposite associations of Lp(a) and IR with FLD.

Oxygen vacancies are important charged defects in oxide ion conductors for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). They are important reaction sites because of their high oxygen exchange, incorporation ability, and ionic transport reactivity. Herein, to control the defect concentration on the Gd0.1Ce0.9O2-δ (GDC) scaffold, the interface between the electrolyte and the electrode was engineered by a wet-chemical-based infiltration technique which constructed the conformal thin-film-like GDC interlayer (10 nm thickness) with smaller grain size than that of the GDC scaffold. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the enriched oxygen vacancies in the infiltrated GDC interlayer with a reduced valence state of Ce. ORR kinetics was substantially improved with the infiltrated GDC interlayer, exhibiting a ∼2-fold decrease in polarization resistance and ∼1.41-fold increase in peak power density (0.072 Ωcm2 and ∼780 mW/cm2, respectively) at 650 °C. The defect structures at the interfaces and enhanced performance remained unchanged for 200 h at 650 °C.

Younger gestational age (GA) is known to be associated with worse outcomes after congenital cardiac surgery. We sought to determine the impact of GA on surgical outcomes of single-ventricle palliation.Among the 284 patients with functionally single ventricle who were born between January 2005 and December 2014, 50 neonates were born prematurely (GA37 weeks) and 113 neonates in the early term period (37 weeks ≤ GA39 weeks). Initial palliation was required in 251 patients, whereas 33 patients received primary bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis (BCPA).BCPA and the completion Fontan operation were performed in 200 and 169 patients, respectively. Overall survival at 5 years were 62.5% ± 2.9%. On Cox regression younger GA (hazard ratio, 1.14 per 1-week decrease; P = .007) was identified as a risk factor for increased interstage mortality (ISM) between initial palliation and BCPA. On subgroup analysis of the preterm or early-term patients with initial palliation (n = 145), younger postmenstrual age at initial palliation was associated with increased ISM before BCPA (hazard ratio, 1.18; P = .005). After BCPA, however, younger GA did not increase the risk of ISM between BCPA and the Fontan operation (P = .47).Younger GA is a risk factor for ISM between initial palliation and BCPA. Deferral of initial palliation may be beneficial to decrease the risk of ISM in patients who were born at preterm or early term. Adverse effects of younger GA on survival disappeared once BCPA was performed.

Considering the dominant loss associated with surface oxygen exchange reactions among other complex electrochemical processes, the design of an electrode structure for the reasonable operation of solid oxide fuel cells is challenging. The surface oxygen exchange reaction can be considerably facilitated using composite nanofibers containing the electrode, electrolyte, and catalyst. The composite nanofiber electrodes containing Pd show the smallest polarization resistance of 0.031 Ωcm2 and the maximum power density of 0.7 W/cm2 at 650 °C, which are 39.2% and 12.5% improved values compare to the catalyst-free composite nanofiber electrodes, respectively. These results provide an facile fabrication strategy for developing high-performance electrodes for use in solid oxide fuel cells.

In this study, we investigate the possibility of using Ni-based anodes as alternatives to the Pt-based anodes for thin-film solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at low temperatures. Anodes, electrolytes, and cathodes are sequentially sputtered onto a nanoporous substrate. The pure Ni anodes with modified nanostructures exhibit comparable performance as that of the optimized Pt anodes. Furthermore, a Ni/Ni-YSZ bilayer anode fabricated via a co-sputtering method exhibits approximately 37% higher peak power density than does the optimized Pt anode at 500 °C, demonstrating that noble metal anodes can be replaced by Ni-based anodes in low-temperature SOFCs by optimizing the anode nanostructure.

Mammalian testes are maintained at a relatively lesser temperature than the abdominal region so that normal spermatogenesis can occur. Germ cell apoptosis has resulted in heat-damaged testes that occurs as a result of cryptorchidism, but the mechanism is not yet fully understood. To elucidate the cause of germ-cell death by cryptorchidism, cryptorchidism was surgically induced in dog testes and histological and molecular analyses were performed. Histological data indicated that the seminiferous tubules of cryptorchid testes and epididymis contained fewer germ cells. Total RNA sequencing was performed to screen for overexpressed genes in cryptorchid dog testes. Clusterin RNA was in greater abundance (approximately 12.8-fold) in cryptorchid testes than in normal testes. In addition, cleaved caspase-3 and -8 were detected in greater abundance in cryptorchid dog testes. Real time RT-PCR and western blotting analysis indicated there was a greater abundance of clusterin in cryptorchid dog testes. Furthermore, clusterin was detected in extracellular regions of cryptorchid dog testes during the 4 weeks after surgery. Thus, germ-cell specific apoptosis and expression of clusterin genes occur with a resulting presence of this protein in extracellular regions of cryptorchid dog testes. This result will facilitate further study of spermatogenesis and the specific mechanisms by which cryptorchidism results in male infertility.

Insulin resistance and inflammation play an important role in a variety of chronic diseases.We investigated the influence of systemic inflammation on the relationship between insulin resistance and mortality risk in apparently healthy adults.This study examined the mortality outcomes for 165,849 Koreans enrolled in a health-screening program. The subjects were divided into four groups according to their homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels: group 0, HOMA-IR75% and hs-CRP2.0mg/L; group 1, HOMA-IR ≥75% and hs-CRP2.0mg/L; group 2, HOMA-IR75% and hs-CRP ≥2.0mg/L; and group 3, HOMA-IR ≥75% and hs-CRP ≥2.0mg/L. The Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer-related mortality.During the follow-up period of 1,417,325.6person-years, a total of 1316 deaths (182 from cardiovascular disease) occurred. The multivariate-adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were significantly higher in groups 2 (HR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.19-1.64) and group 3 (HR 1.68; 95% CI: 1.34-2.10) than that in group 0. For cardiovascular mortality, the sex-adjusted hazards were also significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than that in group 0; however, this increased risk disappeared during multivariate analysis. Groups 2 and 3 had significantly higher risk for cancer-related mortality than group 0, with multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.18-1.86) and 1.84 (95% CI: 1.35-2.51), respectively.Systemic inflammation can be used to stratify the subjects according to the all-cause and cancer-related mortality risks, irrespective of the insulin-resistance status. And this tendency is most pronounced in cancer-related mortality.

The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) involves T helper 2 (Th2) cells, and effective therapies remain elusive due to the paucity of animal models. We aimed to develop a mouse model of an immune system aberration caused by allergen. Experiments were conducted in two phases. In experiment 1, BALB/c mice were sensitized with one of four chemical allergens - toluene diisocyanate (TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), trimellitic anhydride (TMA), or 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) - for 3 weeks. Based on results of experiment 1, immunological features were compared between TMA-sensitized BALB/c mice and NC/Nga mice, after exposure to mite extracts, harmful chemicals and detergents in experiment 2. Sensitization by allergen caused a large number of pathological changes in the skin, and an increase in mast cell number. TMA-sensitized BALB/c mice models showed higher sensitivity to an environmental allergen than NC/Nga mice did. Overall, the initial sensitization with TMA leads to disturbances in Th2-mediated immunity.

Spermatogenesis begins with spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which are located in the basement membrane of the adult testes. Previous studies have described specific biomarkers for undifferentiated porcine spermatogonia or SSCs; however, these markers are not sufficient to understand spermatogenesis at different developmental stages. The objective of this study was characterize the expression of DEAD-Box polypeptide 4 (DDX4, also known as VASA) and tyrosine-protein kinase kit (c-kit), as potential markers of male germ cells in the porcine testis. In porcine testis tissue at prepubertal stages (5, 30, and 60 days), DDX4 and c-kit protein expression was detected in the most undifferentiated spermatogonia, which also express protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5). However, in porcine testis tissues from pubertal and postpubertal stages (90, 120, and 150 days), DDX4 and c-kit were not detected in PGP9.5-positive undifferentiated spermatogonia. The DDX4 expression pattern was similar to that of c-kit in the porcine testis. In adult porcine testes, DDX4-expressing cells were located on the lumenal side, compared to synaptonemal complex protein 3-positive primary spermatocytes, but DDX-4 was not co-expressed with acrosin, a known acrosome marker. In addition, DDX4 was detected in PGP9.5-expressing porcine SSCs in culture. Based on our results, we suggest that DDX4 and c-kit are putative markers of undifferentiated spermatogonia in the prepubertal porcine testis. While in the postpubertal porcine testis, they are markers of differentiated spermatocytes. These findings may facilitate future studies of porcine spermatogenesis.

The use of edible coating/film to improve fresh produce's quality and shelf life is an old but reliable and popular method of preservation. Recently, plant-derived mucilages have been extensively used to prepare edible packages (MEPs). This review focuses on recent studies that characterize mucilages from different plants, and examine their specific applications as edible packages in preserving fruits and vegetables. Structure–function relations and corresponding influence on film-forming properties are discussed. This review also surveys the additive-modifications of MEPs techno-functional properties. MEPs from a range of plant sources are effective in preventing quality loss and improving the storability of various fruits and vegetables. The preservative mechanisms and essential techno-functional properties of MEPs required for fruit and vegetable packaging were summarized. The key findings summarized in this study will help promote the utilization of mucilages and draw attention to other novel applications of this valuable polymer.

Rapid environmental changes can dramatically and durably affect the animal's foraging behavior. In the Ross Sea (Antarctica), calving of the Nansen Ice Shelf in 2016 opened a newly accessible marine area of 214 km2. In this study, we examined the foraging behavior of Adelie penguins from the nearby Inexpressible Island in December 2018, by tracking 27 penguins during their at-sea trips using GPS, depth and video loggers. The penguins mainly foraged within 88.2 ± 42.9 km of their colony, for 23.4 ± 6.8 h. Five penguins headed south to the newly exposed habitat along the Nansen Ice Shelf, whereas 22 penguins exploited previously available foraging areas. There was no significant difference in any of the foraging trip or diving parameters between the two penguin groups; however, in the calved region the penguins were diving into shallow areas more often than did the other penguins. These results show that Adelie penguins on Inexpressible Island had explored the newly exposed area after calving. We conclude that the penguins respond to newly available habitat following stochastic environmental events, either through information sharing at the colony, and/or by balancing prey availability per capita across the foraging sites. Considering that this penguin breeding area is under investigation for the establishment of an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA), the results of this study may provide insights for evaluating the ecological importance of this area and formulating an ASPA management plan for conservation.

Engineering the anion defect, especially oxygen vacancy, at the electrolyte surface is important because the concentration and distribution of defects at this surface often determine the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics and, in turn, the electrochemical performance of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (

Drastic sea ice retreats in the Antarctic Peninsula, and the consequent environmental changes have brought about the consequences of biological adaptation and food competition. The isotopic niche is reflected by the ecological position and functional role of a species, which can be altered depending on these environmental changes. We assessed the isotopic niche and trophic positions (TP) of 3 seabirds on the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, to understand ecological interaction among the species. The average TP of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) (hereafter “krill”) (2.6 ± 0.1) was estimated by using the compiled published data of the compound-specific nitrogen isotope ratio of glutamic acid and phenylalanine in the Southern Ocean, and TP values of the seabirds based on that of krill to be reliable according to ecological knowledge. Our results on the overlap of the isotopic niches of seabirds suggests potential diet competition among the consumers, such as the brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) and south polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki), whereas the distinct and broad isotopic niche width of kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) suggesting that their adaptation through generalization was related to their extended habitat and various food sources. Our research indicates that isotopic niche of seabirds reflects their survival strategy for food competition. Consequently, these seabirds can be easily influenced by alternative food sources, including terrestrial and human-derived sources, by rapid environmental changes, indicating that they are valuable as key environmental species and require long-term monitoring in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Polysaccharides have been isolated from okra pods (Abelmoschus esculentus), with little focus on the leaves. This study characterized a water-soluble polysaccharide isolated from okra leaves (OLP), and investigated its functional properties, for their potential applications. FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy were used to describe structural characteristics and the influence on functional properties was examined. The result revealed OLP as a low-molecular-weight polysaccharide (26.9 × 103 g/mol−1) consisting of galactose (~54 mol%), galacturonic acid (~29 mol%), rhamnose (~9mol%) and arabinose (~5mol%) as the primary sugars, and rhamnogalacturonan-I as the predominant structural unit. OLP was found to be an extensively-branched, highly acetylated, and unmethylated polysaccharide. OLP exhibited non-Newtonian flow behavior and showed comparable or superior functional properties such as thermal stability and emulsifying capacity, and higher antioxidant capacity than polysaccharide previously obtained from okra pods. This study presents a means of utilizing okra leaves as a new polysaccharide source, with potential applications in food-related industries.

Spermatogenesis begins after puberty and continues throughout a male's life, and is regulated by spermatogonial stem cells in the seminiferous tubules. Markers of male germ cells, including undifferentiated spermatogonia to fully developed spermatozoa have been identified in rodents, but not in dogs. In this study, to characterize the markers of undifferentiated spermatogonia, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on pre-pubertal (1-month-old), early pubertal (4-month-old), and post-pubertal (7-month-old) dog testes. Expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), LIN28, and Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) genes was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. In pre-pubertal and early pubertal dog testes, CXCR4, IGFBP4, and LIN28 genes were expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia, whereas the SALL4 gene was not expressed in the pre-pubertal stage. In adult dog testes, CXCR4 and IGFBP3 gene expression was detected in undifferentiated spermatogonia and co-localized with protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) near the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. The LIN28 and SALL4 genes were expressed in synaptonemal complex protein 3-positive spermatocytes. The CXCR4 and IGFBP3 gene expression is conserved among other species, while LIN28 and SALL4 gene expression varies. Based on results of the present study, it is suggested that undifferentiated spermatogonia markers detected in other species are conserved in dogs. These results may facilitate further studies of the cellular mechanisms of spermatogenesis in dogs.

We report a 3.5-fold improvement in the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at 450 °C with the introduction of electrospun yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanofiber interlayers between the electrolyte and cathode. YSZ nanofibers with diameters of 150–200 nm were uniformly deposited with various thicknesses on a single-crystal YSZ substrate. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses revealed a drastically reduced polarization resistance, which was mainly attributed to the high specific surface area and high porosity of the YSZ nanofiber interlayers. Our results demonstrate the possibility of using YSZ nanofibers for the development of high-performance SOFCs at low temperature.

We demonstrate the Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ (SSC) nanofiber-based composite cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs), showing a cathode area-specific resistance (ASR) value of 0.024 Ωcm2 at 650 °C. The hollow and porous SSC nanofiber layer, fabricated by electrospinning, is sintered at low temperatures to preserve the high specific surface area for facile oxygen surface exchange reactions. The low sintering temperature is enabled by additional SSC powder layer, providing sufficient adhesion between the electrolyte and the nanofiber layer. Our results can provide a design guideline to fully utilize the nanostructured electrodes by engineering the structural properties of the surface and the interface, and hence high-performance IT-SOFCs can be achieved by structural modification with conventional materials.

Background and Aim Previous studies reported that many patients are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) despite achieving recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Therefore, we investigated whether the association between LDL-C and the risk for incident CVD differed according to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels using coronary artery calcium score (CACS) progression as a surrogate marker for predicting CVD. Methods We investigated 2132 Korean men in a health screening program, in which CACS was measured at baseline and after 4 years. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression was defined as a change in CACS ≥0 over 4 years. We divided the subjects into nine groups according to baseline HDL-C and LDL-C levels and compared their risks for CAC progression. Results After 4 years, 475 subjects (22.3%) exhibited CAC progression. We identified a positive relationship between baseline LDL-C levels and the risk for incident CAC. However, this association was attenuated by high baseline HDL-C levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, smoking, and exercise status revealed that the odds ratios for incident CAC in the lowest HDL-C tertile were 3.08 for LDL-C tertile 3 and 2.02 for LDL-C tertile 2 compared to LDL-C tertile 1. However, these differences disappeared in the highest HDL-C tertile (HDL-C ≥54.0 mg/dL). Conclusions In this longitudinal study, we found that the positive relationship between LDL-C and the relative risk for incident CAC was attenuated by higher HDL-C levels. Therefore, HDL-C levels should be considered when estimating CVD risk.

Backgrounds and aims Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of ischemic stroke in Asians. Decreased muscle mass is one of the major causes of chronic disease in adults. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between muscle mass and ICAS in Korean adults. Methods For this study, we selected a total of 10,530 participants (mean age, 43.3 years; 8558 men) in a health screening program, for whom transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound was used to detect >50% ICAS based on criteria modified from the stroke outcomes and neuroimaging of intracranial atherosclerosis trial. Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated with muscle mass/weight (kg) * 100. Results Among the total patient population, 322 (3.1%) subjects had ICAS. Subjects with ICAS were older, and had higher mean values for fasting glucose, body mass index and blood pressure compared with those without ICAS. Subjects with ICAS had significantly lower muscle mass, SMI and higher percent body fat compared with those without ICAS. In logistic regression analysis, the subjects in the highest tertile of muscle mass had the lowest odds ratio for ICAS with the lowest tertile group of muscle mass as the reference group even after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, sex, smoking and exercise (OR 0.650, 95% CI 0.442–0.955). Conclusions Subjects with ICAS had significantly decreased muscle mass compared with those without ICAS in Korean adults. The risk for ICAS was lower in subjects with higher muscle mass.

In this study, 50% (v/v) ethanolic extracts from 12 brown algae species were investigated for their antiglycation effects. Three glycation models, namely (bovine serum albumin with fructose [Fru-BSA], glyoxal [BSA-GO], and methylglyoxal [BSA-MGO]) were used for screening. Ecklonia cava (Ec), Leathesia difformis (Ld), and Dictyota dichotoma (Dd) exhibited the highest levels of advanced glycation end-product (AGE) inhibition in the Fru-BSA model. Ec exhibited the highest levels of advanced glycation end-product (AGE) inhibition in the BSA-MGO and BSA-GO models. Further, Ec extract exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity and phenolic content. The phenolic compounds in the extracts were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The AGE inhibition effects of the identified phenolic compounds (dieckol, phlorofucofuroeckol-A, gallic acid, catechin, and quercetin) were measured to evaluate the predominant AGE inhibitor among the phenolic compounds. Among the standard phenolic compounds, phlorofucofuroeckol-A and dieckol exhibited lower IC50 values in the BSA-GO and BSA-MGO models. Pearson's correlation analyses showed that dieckol, phlorofucofuroeckol-A, and quercetin in the extracts were positively correlated with BSA-MGO (r > 0.90, p 0.84, p

This study aimed to develop efficient adsorption and desorption processes to purify phenolic compounds from Ecklonia cava. We compared the adsorption and desorption properties of five resins. HP2MG showed the highest adsorption and desorption capacities and adsorption rate; hence, it was selected for phenolic compound purification. Adsorption isotherm parameters indicated favorable adsorption between HP2MG and phenolic compounds. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the absorption process physically proceeded. In the dynamic adsorption process, adsorption property was assessed based on bed length (4–10 cm) and flow rate (1.64–3.27 mL/min). The breakthrough point increased with increased bed length and decreased adsorption flow rate. However, the high desorption flow rate shortened the processing time. The phenolic contents, anti-glycation activity and antioxidant activity of the extract were measured before and after purification. The dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol-A increased three times after purification. The purified extract showed higher anti-glycation and antioxidant activities than the extract.

We demonstrate the chemochromic sensor, which is used to detect hydrogen leaks at room temperature. The structure of the sensor is fabricated via electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) of a solution of Pd and WO3 nanoparticles. ESD enables the uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles on WO3, with droplets of sub-micron size being generated during the process. With 1% of hydrogen diluted in N2, the optimized sensor shows a rapid color change at room temperature that can be recognized with the naked eye within 15 s. The sensor exhibits a deep blue color in the presence of hydrogen, and this change is quantified by a color difference value of 18.5 in 10 min. The developed sensor is reversible, implying that it can recover its original color when exposed to air, and its reversibility is maintained over 20 cycles. Moreover, the sensor exhibits long-term stability for 40 d. The sensor is also fabricated on adhesive tape, which enables it to demonstrate prompt color change at the hydrogen leakage site.

We report the advantages of atomic layer deposition (ALD) for the fabrication of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte. The reactivity and stability of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)-based thin-film solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are improved by applying ALD YSZ electrolyte. The fuel cell fabricated by ALD shows a peak power density of 154.6 mW cm −2 at 450 °C, whereas the fuel cell fabricated by sputtering demonstrates a peak power density of 66.2 mW cm −2 . The amorphous and nanogranular microstructure of the ALD YSZ film is ascribed for a significant improvement in the cathodic reactivity of the AAO-based thin-film fuel cells. Moreover, the smooth and uniform surface of the ALD YSZ electrolytes mitigates the agglomeration of the Pt cathode layer, and thus the thermal stability of the thin-film fuel cell is remarkably improved at 450 °C.

Results from previous studies support the association of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels and coronary artery disease risk. In this study, we analyzed the association between baseline Lp(a) levels and future progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in apparently healthy Korean adults.A total of 2611 participants (mean age: 41years, 92% mend) who underwent a routine health check-up in 2010 and 2014 were enrolled. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) were measured by multi-detector computed tomography. Baseline Lp(a) was measured by high-sensitivity immunoturbidimetric assay. Progression of CAC was defined as a change in CACS0 over four years.Bivariate correlation analyses with baseline Lp(a) and other metabolic parameters revealed age, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and CACS to have a significant positive correlation, while body weight, fasting glucose level, blood pressure and triglyceride level were negatively correlated with baseline Lp(a) level. After four years of follow-up, 635 subjects (24.3%) had CAC progression. The participants who had CAC progression were older, composed of more men, more obese, and had higher fasting glucose levels and worse baseline lipid profiles compared to those who did not have CAC progression. The mean serum Lp(a) level was significantly higher in subjects who had CAC progression compared to those who did not (32.5 vs. 28.9mg/dL, p0.01). When the risk for CAC progression according to baseline Lp(a) was calculated, those with Lp(a) level≥50mg/dL had an odds ratio of 1.333 (95% CI 1.027-1.730) for CAC progression compared to those with Lp(a)50mg/dL after adjusting for confounding factors.In this study, the subjects who had higher Lp(a) were at significantly higher risk for CAC progression after four years of follow-up, suggesting the role of high Lp(a) in CAC progression.

Objective Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is considered a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic burden. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of incident CAC associated with diabetes development in non-diabetic subjects with zero CAC score (CACS) at baseline. Methods 2076 non-diabetic participants (mean age 40 years) in a health screening program in whom CACS were repeatedly measured by multi-detector computed tomography in four years of intervals and with zero CACS at baseline, were retrospectively analyzed. Glycemic status was assessed in both years, with subjects divided into three groups: subjects with ‘no progression’, ‘normal to impaired fasting glucose (IFG)’ and ‘progression to diabetes’. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. Results Over 4 years, 204 subjects (9.8%) developed CAC. Subjects who developed diabetes showed the highest proportion of subjects with incident CAC among the three groups (21.0% vs. 9.3 and 10.4% in non-progressors and subjects from normal to IFG). The subjects with HOMA-IR level in higher half at baseline showed significantly increased risk for incident CAC in subjects who progressed from normal to IFG and in subjects who developed diabetes (1.740; 95% CI 1.014–2.985, 2.449; 95% CI 1.159–5.174) even after adjustment for confounding variables, whereas subjects with HOMA-IR level in lower half at baseline showed no significantly increased risk for incident CAC even in subjects who developed diabetes. Conclusions In this non-diabetic population, we found that increased risk for incident CAC in relation to diabetes development over 4 years was pronounced only in subjects with insulin resistance at baseline.

Objective Diabetes and prediabetes subjects have increased risk for mortality. We analyzed the mortality risk due to all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer in Korean subjects participating in a health-screening program according to baseline glycemic status and HbA1c levels. Materials/methods Among 241,499 participants of a health-screening program between 2005 and 2012, the risk of death from all causes, CVD, and cancer was calculated based on the baseline glycemic status (normoglycemia, prediabetes, and diabetes) and HbA1c levels. Uncontrolled diabetes was defined as HbA1c ≥ 7.0%. Vital status and confirmation of the cause of death were based on the analysis of death certificate records from the National Death Index. Results During 923,343.1 person-years of follow-up, 877 participants died. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of subjects with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes to normoglycemic subjects for all-cause mortality were 1.58 (95% CI 1.24–2.03) and 2.26 (95% CI 1.78–2.86), respectively. The HRs of subjects with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes to normoglycemic subjects for mortality due to cancer were 1.75 (95% CI 1.23–2.48) and 1.67 (95% CI 1.13–2.45). However, glycemic status was not significantly associated with the risk of mortality due to CVD. The subjects with HbA1c higher than 6.5% showed more than 2-fold increased risk for all-cause mortality and the subjects with HbA1c lower than 5.2% showed increased HR (1.45, 95% CI 1.06–1.97) compared with those with HbA1c of 5.5% in subjects not taking anti-diabetic medications. Conclusions Mortality risk from all causes and cancer significantly increased in diabetes subjects regardless of the glucose control status. In subjects not taking anti-diabetic medications, both high and low HbA1c resulted in increased risk for all-cause mortality.

This work offers new insights pertaining to an optimistic techno-commercial future for lanthanum ferrite perovskite-based oxygen sensors. A nanoparticle assimilated nanofiber architecture-based oxygen sensor is realized using LaFeO3 as a functional material. Such chemiresistive oxygen sensor prototypes based on p-type LaFeO3 are fabricated through the simple screen-printing of functional powders on an alumina substrate with prepatterned interdigitated Pt electrodes. The functional powders are produced using sol-gel and electrospinning. The chemical composition and morphology of the functional powders and their films sintered at 1050 °C are examined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, and Raman analysis. The oxygen gas sensing measurements demonstrate that the morphology has a significant effect on the ultimate sensor performance. An assembly of the mixed structure is the most effective for oxygen sensing at partial pressures in the range of 0–50 % in a harsh atmosphere at 650 °C. The highest response observed for the mixed morphology is 2.62 times that of its sol-gel powder counterpart. The long-term stability of the mixed morphology sample at 650 °C reveals excellent performance, with a minimum variation of ± 2 Ω over 100 h. These observations can be elucidated by a twofold mechanism involving ionosorption by an enhanced hole-accumulation layer and contact between connecting nanoparticles and nanofibers.

We fabricate intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with infiltrated film-like yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) interlayers at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces, achieving improved electrochemical performances. A thin and conformal nanocrystalline YSZ interlayer is deposited at the interface between the infiltrated La0.8Sr0.2MnO3-δ nanoparticles and the YSZ scaffold using an infiltration process. The grain sizes of the infiltrated YSZ interlayers are controlled to be in the range of 8–40 nm with the sintering temperature for the infiltrated YSZ interlayer in the range of 800–1200 °C. The infiltrated YSZ interlayer provides 3.18 times reduced polarization resistance and 2.08 times increased maximum power density of 0.1 Ωcm2 and 1.54 Wcm−2 at 750 °C compared to those of an untreated cell, respectively. The substantially improved oxygen reduction reactions are attributable to the increased grain boundary densities in the infiltrated YSZ interlayer, which provide an increased number of reaction sites with a relatively low reaction barrier. Our results demonstrate that modifying the microstructures of the SOFC components at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces using conventional materials can improve electrode performances.

This study was conducted to identify effective CA (Controlled Atmosphere) gas compositions for the storage of white mushrooms. We analyzed the quality characteristics of mushrooms inside argon-based and nitrogen-based CA storage. Mushrooms were stored under 5 different gas compositions in a chamber for 9 days at 4℃. The CO2 production, weight loss and color change in 90% argon gas was lower than that of all other samples at the end of the storage period. Further, the samples in a CA retained their hardness during the 9-day storage time, unlike the control. The viable count of aerobic bacteria showed the highest value under the control condition. The smallest viable count of Pseudomonas spp. was detected under 75% nitrogen condition. Polyphenol oxidase activity was lowest under 75% argon condition. In summary, a 90% argon gas was shown to be the most effective at preventing deterioration in mushroom quality.

Here we present toxic gas fiber-based sensor, operating at room temperature, which is important in wearable electronics for monitoring the environment and human health. Continuous strong and flexible graphene oxide (GO) fibers, with aligned GO sheets are synthesized by transforming a prealigned liquid crystalline GO solution using a wet spinning assembly. GO fibers are chemically reduced (rGO) for imparting resistance-based gas sensing. ZnO decorated rGO fibers (ZrGO) are synthesized by hydrothermal-assisted chemical reduction of GO fibers. ZnO nanoparticles and flowers, grown on ZrGO fibers, provided more surface area for adsorption of gas molecules compared to rGO fibers. Furthermore, ZrGO fibers provided more catalytic sites for gas interactions to enhance the sensing performance. The fiber-sensor can detect minimum levels of 1.5 and 8 ppm of NO2 and H2S gas, respectively. Interestingly, the sensing performance of ZrGO fiber-sensor is increased by 8 and 24-fold for NO2 and H2S, respectively, compared to rGO. The fiber-sensor shows fast recovery for H2S compared to NO2 gas. This work opens a new way for the application of robust, lightweight, cheap, and room temperature chemical sensors, that can detect hazardous gases.

Background: Higher waist circumference (WC) is positively associated with increased mortality; therefore, we examined the relationship between WC and mortality in Korean populations with the interaction of body mass index (BMI) and WC for mortality. Methods: A total of 23,263,878 subjects who were older than 20 years and underwent the National Health Insurance Service health checkup were included. WC was divided into six categories by 5 cm increments and level 3 (85-90 cm in men and 80-85 cm in women) was referenced. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to obtain the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for all-cause mortality according to the six levels of WC. Findings: WC in 5 cm increments showed a positively increased all-cause mortality after adjusting for all covariates including BMI. Men showed higher HRs for mortality than women as WC increased, and the HRs were higher in the lower WC levels, but lower in the higher WC levels among the subjects aged 65–85 years than subjects aged 40–65 years. Even in subjects with normal weight and overweight, increased WC (levels 4, 5, and 6) showed increased HRs for mortality (HRs = 1·156, 1·412, and 1·614 in normal BMI and 1·145, 1·401, and 1·909 in overweight, respectively). Interpretation: This study provides evidence of the need to lose WC in the subjects with normal or overweight BMI categories. The importance of assessing WC routinely should be raised and the guidelines to keep proper WC are stressed. Funding Statement: We would like to thank the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation and all the participants of the study and health check-up. This study was supported by grant HC16C2285 from the Korean Health Technology and Research and Development project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea. This research was also supported by a grant of the Development of an Interactive Medical History Taking Software (2017-0-00588), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea Declaration of Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose. Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Korea University Anam Hospital (ED17115) and permission for the use of health checkup data was granted by the NHIS (NHIS-2018-1-035).

Identifying marine features that support high foraging performance of predators is useful to determine areas of ecological importance. This study aimed to identify marine features that are important for foraging of chinstrap penguins ( Pygoscelis antarcticus ), an abundant upper-trophic level predator in the Antarctic Peninsula region. We investigated the foraging locations of penguins breeding on King George Island using GPS-depth loggers. Tracking data from 18 birds (4232 dives), 11 birds (2095 dives), and 19 birds (3947 dives) were obtained in 2007, 2010, and 2015, respectively. In all three years, penguins frequently visited an area near a seamount (Orca Seamount) in Bransfield Strait. The percentage of dives (27.8% in 2007, 36.1% in 2010, and 19.1% in 2015) and depth wiggles (27.1% in 2007, 37.2% in 2010, and 22.3% in 2015) performed in this area was higher than that expected from the size of the area and distance from the colony (8.4% for 2007, 14.7% for 2010, and 6.3% for 2015). Stomach content analysis showed that the penguins fed mainly on Antarctic krill. These results suggest that the seamount provided a favorable foraging area for breeding chinstrap penguins, with high availability of Antarctic krill, possibly related to local upwelling.

A novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP) was identified from the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans by RNA sequencing, and the amino acid sequences predicted from the sequenced mRNAs were compared with those of known AMPs. We named this peptide scolopendin, according to its origin, and investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying its antimicrobial activity. Our findings showed that scolopendin had antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic microorganisms, but did not produce hemolysis of human erythrocytes. In addition, disturbances in the cell membrane potential, induction of potassium release from the cytosol, and increased membrane permeability of the microbes Candida albicans and Escherichia coli O157 were detected by the use of 3,3'-dipropylthiacarbocyanine iodide [DiSC3(5)] dye, potassium leakage assay, and propidium iodide influx assay, respectively, following scolopendin treatment. Further evidence to support the membrane-targeted action of scolopendin was obtained using artificial liposomes as models of the cell membrane. Use of calcein and FITC-labeled dextran leakage assays from scolopendin-treated giant unilamellar vesicles and large unilamellar vesicles showed that scolopendin has a pore-forming action on microbial membrane, with an estimated pore radius of 2.3-3.3 nm. In conclusion, scolopendin is a novel and potent AMP with a membrane-targeted mechanism of action.

We report systematic investigation of the surface properties of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes with the control of the grain boundary (GB) density at the surface, and its effects on electrochemical activities. The GB density of thin surface layers deposited on single crystal YSZ substrates is controlled by changing the annealing temperature (750–1450 °C). Higher oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) kinetics is observed in samples annealed at lower temperatures. The higher ORR activity is ascribed to the higher GB density at the YSZ surface where ‘mobile’ oxide ion vacancies are more populated. Meanwhile, oxide ion vacancies concurrently created with yttrium segregation at the surface at the higher annealing temperature are considered inactive to oxygen incorporation reactions. Our results provide additional insight into the interplay between the surface chemistry, microstructures, and electrochemical activity. They potentially provide important guidelines for engineering the electrolyte–electrode interfaces of solid oxide fuel cells for higher electrochemical performance.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in protein quality control, cellular signalings, and cell differentiation through the regulated turnover of key transcription factors in cardiac tissue. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Fbxo25-mediated ubiquitination of cardiac transcription factors remains elusive. We report that an Fbxo25-mediated SCF ubiquitination pathway regulates the protein levels and activities of Tbx5 and Nkx2-5 based on our studies using MG132, proteasome inhibitor, and the temperature sensitive ubiquitin system in ts20 cells. Our data indicate that Fbxo25 directly interacts with Tbx5 and Nkx2-5 in vitro and in vivo. In support of our findings, a dominant-negative mutant of Fbxo25, Fbxo251-236, prevents Tbx5 degradation and increases Tbx5 transcriptional activity in a Tbx5 responsive luciferase assay. Therefore, Fbxo25 facilitates Tbx5 degradation in an SCF-dependent manner. In addition, the silencing of endogenous Fbxo25 increases Tbx5 and Nkx2-5 mRNA levels and suppresses mESC-derived cardiomyocyte differentiation. Likewise, the exogenous expression of FBXO25 downregulates NKX2-5 level in human ESC-derived cardiomyocytes. In myocardial infarction model, Fbxo25 mRNA decreases, whereas the mRNA and protein levels of Tbx5 and Nkx2-5 increase. The protein levels of Tbx5 and Nkx2-5 are regulated negatively by Fbxo25-mediated SCF ubiquitination pathway. Thus, our findings reveal a novel mechanism for regulation of SCFFbox25-dependent Nkx2-5 and Tbx5 ubiquitination in cardiac development and provide a new insight into the regulatory mechanism of Nkx2-5 and Tbx5 transcriptional activity.

The present study was investigated the effects of biochanin A (BCA) on arsenic toxicity in rats. For this purpose, rats were orally treated with arsenic in the form of sodium meta-arsenite alone (10mg/kg body weight (bw)/day) and co-administered selenium (10mg/kgbw/day) and BCA at different doses (10, 20 and 40mg/kgbw/day) for 6 weeks. Arsenic altered the oxidative stress indices in both renal and cardiac tissues. There was an increase in plasma renal markers, triglyceride, lipoproteins with no alterations in cholesterol levels were noted in arsenic-intoxicated rats. Non-significant changes of phospholipids and free fatty acids levels in the tissues of arsenic-exposed rats. The biochemical disturbances were well correlated with the histological findings in the kidney, but not in the heart. The administration of BCA and selenium significantly reversed the alterations in the above-mentioned parameters in arsenic-intoxicated rats. Our findings revealed the beneficial effects of BCA against arsenic toxicity.

Objective Ezetimibe is known as a Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) inhibitor and has been used as an agent for hypercholesterolemia. In our previous study, ezetimibe administration improved glycemic control and increased glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone with anti-diabetic properties. However, the mechanisms by which ezetimibe stimulates GLP-1 secretion are not fully understood. Thus, the specific aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) by which ezetimibe stimulates GLP-1 secretion. Materials/methods Male KK/H1J mice were divided into following groups: AIN-93G (NC), NC with ezetimibe (10mg/kg/day), 45% high fat (HF) diet, and HF diet with ezetimibe. To investigate the role of ezetimibe in glucose homeostasis and GLP-1 secretion, an insulin tolerance test was performed and serum and intestinal GLP-1 levels and intestinal mRNA expression involved in GLP-1 synthesis were measured after 6weeks of ezetimibe treatment. In vivo and in vitro dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition assays were employed to demonstrate the association between ezetimibe-induced GLP-1 change and DPP-4. The molecular mechanism by which ezetimibe affects GLP-1 secretion was evaluated by using human enteroendocrine NCI-H716 cells. Results Ezetimibe supplementation significantly ameliorated HF-increased glucose and insulin resistance in the type 2 diabetic KK/H1J mouse model. Serum and intestinal active GLP-1 levels were significantly increased by ezetimibe in HF-fed animals. However, mRNA expression of genes involved in intestinal GLP-1 synthesis was not altered. Furthermore, ezetimibe did not inhibit the activity of either in vivo or in vitro dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). The direct effects of ezetimibe on GLP-1 secretion and L cell secretory mechanisms were examined in human NCI-H716 intestinal cells. Ezetimibe significantly stimulated active GLP-1 secretion, which was accompanied by the activation of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Ezetimibe-increased GLP-1 secretion was abrogated by inhibiting the MEK/ERK pathway with PD98059. Conclusion These findings suggest a possible novel biological role of ezetimibe in glycemic control to stimulate intestinal GLP-1 secretion via the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Bac8c (RIWVIWRR-NH 2 ) is an analogue peptide derived through complete substitution analysis of the linear bovine host defense peptide variant Bac2A. In the present study, the antifungal mechanism of Bac8c against pathogenic fungi was investigated, with a particular focus on the effects of Bac8c on the cytoplasmic membrane. We used bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol [DiBAC 4 (3)] staining and 3,3’-dipropylthiacarbocyanine iodide [DiSC 3 (5)] assays to show that Bac8c induced disturbances in the membrane potential of Candida albicans . An increase in membrane permeability and suppression of cell wall regeneration were also observed in Bac8c-treated C . albicans . We studied the effects of Bac8c treatment on model membranes to elucidate its antifungal mechanism. Using calcein and FITC-labeled dextran leakage assays from Bac8c-treated large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we found that Bac8c has a pore-forming action on fungal membranes, with an estimated pore radius of between 2.3 and 3.3 nm. A membrane-targeted mechanism of action was also supported by the observation of potassium release from the cytosol of Bac8c-treated C . albicans . These results indicate that Bac8c is considered as a potential candidate to develop a novel antimicrobial agent because of its low-cost production characteristics and high antimicrobial activity via its ability to induce membrane perturbations in fungi.

Background and Aims We undertook this study to compare the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) across glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in nondiabetic males and to evaluate the impact of insulin resistance on CAC in relation to HbA1c levels. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 18,504 adult males without diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CAC scores were measured by multidetector computed tomography; CAC was defined as a CAC score >0. Insulin resistance was estimated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Subjects were grouped by HbA1c quartile (≤5.4%, 5.4–5.6%, 5.7%, 5.8–6.4%). Results Thirteen percent of subjects ( n = 2,406) had a CAC score >0. The prevalence of CAC increased with increasing HbA1c quartile (9.4%, 11.1%, 14.1%, 17.3%). Crude odds ratios (ORs) for CAC were 1.2, 1.58 and 2.01 for the HbA1c quartiles 2, 3, and 4 when compared with the first quartile. Mean HOMA-IR levels were different among HbA1C categories and CAC status. HOMA-IR levels were higher in subjects with CAC than in those without, except in the third HbA1c quartile. Stratification by HbA1c showed a significant association between CAC and insulin resistance only in the first (OR 1.67) and fourth (OR 1.33) HbA1c quartile. After adjustment for CV risk factors, insulin resistance remained an independent predictor of CAC only in the first HbA1c quartile. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that not only glucose status represented by HbA1c but also insulin resistance might be associated with CAC in non-diabetic Korean men. The magnitude of association of CAC with insulin resistance was greater in the lowest HbA1c quartile group.

Spermatogenesis is initiated from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which are derived from gonocytes. Although some rodent SSC markers have been investigated, other species- and developmental stage-specific markers of spermatogonia have not been identified. The objective of this study was to characterize the expression of undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor 1 (UTF1) gene as a potential marker for spermatogonia and SSCs in the boar testis. In boar testis tissue at pre-pubertal stages (tissues collected at 5, 30, and 60 days of age), UTF1 gene expression was detected in almost all spermatogonia cells that expressed a protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), and immunocytochemical analysis of isolated total testicular cells showed that 91.14% of cells staining for PGP9.5 also stained for UTF1. However, in boar testis tissue at pubertal and post-pubertal stages (tissues collected at 90, 120, 150, and 180 days of age), UTF1 was not detected in all PGP9.5-positive cells in the basement membrane. While some PGP9.5-positive cells stained for UTF1, other cells stained only for PGP9.5 or UTF1. PGP9.5, UTF1, and NANOG was assessed in in vitro cultures of pig SSCs (pSSCs) from testes collected at 5 days of age. The relative amounts of PGP9.5, NANOG, and UTF1 mRNA were greater in pSSC colonies than in testis and muscle tissue. Thus, the UTF1 gene is expressed in PGP9.5-positive spermatogonia cells of pigs at 5 days of age, and its expression is maintained in cultured pSSC colonies, suggesting that UTF1 is a putative marker for early-stage spermatogonia in the pre-pubertal pig testis. These findings will facilitate the study of spermatogenesis and applications in germ cell research.