The current status of dog meat industry in south korea and recommendations for animal welfare and public health

Yebin Han(Yebin Han),Sookyung Park(Sookyung Park),Hyojin Song(Hyojin Song),NongHoon Choe(NongHoon Choe) 한국예방수의학회 2023 예방수의학회지 Vol.47 No.1

South Korea, one of the representative countries known for consuming dog meat, is experiencing a gradual decline in its consumption, and it is expected to be eradicated soon as there is no influx of new consumers. However, the cultural aspect of dog meat consumption is strong as it is deeply rooted in social traditions, and there is inadequate agreement on banning it legally. This article examines the laws related to dog meat and how it is currently managed. It also scrutinizes the animal welfare and food safety aspects of the process of dog meat breeding and distribution. The current legal management system for dog meat is inadequate, which poses risks in terms of food safety. In addition, the dogs used for food consumption are exposed to coarse environments from an animal welfare perspective. Until dog meat consumption is naturally eradicated, establishing a temporary hygiene management system to ensure food safety and improve animal welfare could be one solution.

Microwave Sounder Cloud Detection Using a Collocated High-Resolution Imager and Its Impact on Radiance Assimilation in Tropical Cyclone Forecasts

Han, Hyojin,Li, Jun,Goldberg, Mitch,Wang, Pei,Li, Jinlong,Li, Zhenglong,Sohn, B.-J.,Li, Juan AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016 Monthly weather review Vol.144 No.10

<P>Accurate cloud detection is one of the most important factors in satellite data assimilation due to the uncertainties associated with cloud properties and their impacts on satellite-simulated radiances. To enhance the accuracy of cloud detection and improve radiance assimilation for tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts, measurements from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) on board the Aqua satellite and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) are collocated with high spatial resolution cloud products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board Aqua and the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the Suomi-National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP) satellite. The cloud-screened microwave radiance measurements are assimilated for Hurricane Sandy (2012) and Typhoon Haiyan (2013) forecasts using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR)-based Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data assimilation system. Experiments are carried out to determine the optimal thresholds of cloud fraction (CF) for minimizing track and intensity forecast errors. The results indicate that the use of high spatial resolution cloud products can improve the accuracy of TC forecasts by better eliminating cloud-contaminated microwave sounder field-of-views (FOVs). In conclusion, the combination of advanced microwave sounders and collocated high spatial resolution imagers is able to improve the radiance assimilation and TC forecasts. The methodology used in this study can be applied to process data from other pairs of microwave sounders and imagers on board the same platform.</P>

Does health insurance always increase medical spending? Evidence from the affordable care act dependent mandate

( Hyojin Han ),( Kanghyock Koh ) 한양대학교 경제연구소 2022 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH Vol.27 No.3

The Affordable Care Act Dependent Mandate (ACA-DM) has increased young adults’ health insurance coverage through parents’ employer-sponsored health insurance. This could have increased employers’ labor costs and thus reduced parents’ wages. In this study, we examine the effects of the ACA-DM on family income and medical spending. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find evidence that the ACA-DM decreased family income but did not increase young adults’ medical spending. The results imply that expansion of health insurance coverage does not necessarily increase medical spending if it is achieved through labor markets and decreases family income.

Oxidative stress-induced inflammatory responses and effects of N-acetylcysteine in bovine mammary alveolar cells

Bae, Hyojin,Jeong, Chang Hee,Cheng, Wei Nee,Hong, Kwonho,Seo, Han Geuk,Han, Sung Gu Cambridge University Press 2017 The Journal of dairy research Vol.84 No.4

<P>Bovine mastitis, an inflammation of the udder, results in reduced milk production and poor milk quality. Mastitis is usually, but not always, a response to pathogen infection. High milk yield can produce oxidative stress in the mammary tissue. High milk yield is also known to be associated with bovine mastitis. Thus, in the current study, we hypothesised that oxidative stress increases inflammatory responses in bovine mammary cells. To examine the hypothesis, we produced cellular oxidative stress and investigated resulting inflammatory responses in bovine mammary alveolar cells (MAC-T). To produce oxidative stress, cells were treated with the reactive oxygen species (ROS; e.g., superoxide anion)-producing agent, menadione (MD; 0-10 µm; 6 h). To ensure the ROS-induced responses, cells were pretreated with an antioxidant NAC (0-10 mm; 1 h). Results showed that MD elevated intracellular ROS levels and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a biomarker of inflammation. Pretreatment of cells with NAC attenuated MD-induced COX-2 expression by scavenging intracellular ROS and enhancing intracellular glutathione levels. MD-induced COX-2 expression was mediated by activation of extracellular signal receptor-activated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), Akt, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). NAC attenuated activation of these intracellular signalling molecules. Treatment of cells with pharmacological inhibitors for ERK1/2, Akt, and NF-κB confirmed the association of these signalling pathways in MD-induced COX-2 expression. These results support our hypothesis that oxidative stress, which is found in high-yielding dairy cows, can produce cellular inflammation in bovine mammary alveolar cells and prevention of oxidative stress can attenuate such pathological responses. This may be relevant for cases of clinical mastitis for which no pathogen can be isolated.</P>

Prognostic effects of abnormal DNA damage response protein expression in breast cancer

Suh, Koung Jin,Ryu, Han Suk,Lee, Kyung-Hun,Kim, Hyojin,Min, Ahrum,Kim, Tae-Yong,Yang, Yaewon,Lee, Han-Byoel,Moon, Hyeong-Gon,Han, Sae-Won,Oh, Do-Youn,Han, Wonshik,Park, In Ae,Noh, Dong-Young,Im, Seock Springer-Verlag 2019 Breast cancer research and treatment Vol.175 No.1

Bee Venom Decreases LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

( Chang Hee Jeong ),( Wei Nee Cheng ),( Hyojin Bae ),( Kyung Woo Lee ),( Sang Mi Han ),( Michael C. Petriello ),( Hong Gu Lee ),( Han Geuk Seo ),( Sung Gu Han ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2017 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.27 No.10

The world dairy industry has long been challenged by bovine mastitis, an inflammatory disease, which causes economic loss due to decreased milk production and quality. Attempts have been made to prevent or treat this disease with multiple approaches, primarily through increased abuse of antibiotics, but effective natural solutions remain elusive. Bee venom (BV) contains a variety of peptides (e.g., melittin) and shows multiple bioactivities, including prevention of inflammation. Thus, in the current study, it was hypothesized that BV can reduce inflammation in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). To examine the hypothesis, cells were treated with LPS (1 μg/ml) to induce an inflammatory response and the antiinflammatory effects of BV (2.5 and 5 μg/ml) were investigated. The cellular mechanisms of BV against LPS-induced inflammation were also investigated. Results showed that BV can attenuate expression of an inflammatory protein, COX2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α. Activation of NF-κB, an inflammatory transcription factor, was significantly downregulated by BV in cells treated with LPS, through dephosphorylation of ERK1/2. Moreover, pretreatment of cells with BV attenuated LPS-induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (e.g., superoxide anion). These results support our hypothesis that BV can decrease LPS-induced inflammatory responses in bovine mammary epithelial cells through inhibition of oxidative stress, NF-κB, ERK1/2, and COX-2 signaling.

Comparative study of the linkage disequilibrium of an ENCODE region, chromosome 7p15, in Korean, Japanese, and Han Chinese samples

Lim, Jiyoung,Kim, Young Joo,Yoon, Yongsook,Kim, Soon Ok,Kang, HyoJin,Park, Jungsun,Han, A. Reum,Han, Bokghee,Oh, Burmseok,Kimm, Kyuchan,Yoon, Bangwon,Song, Kyuyoung Elsevier 2006 Genomics Vol.87 No.3

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>The extent and pattern of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the human genome provide important information for disease gene mapping. Previous studies have shown that LDs vary depending on chromosomal regions and populations. As the Asian samples of the International HapMap Project consisted of Japanese and Chinese populations, it was of interest whether we could use the HapMap data as a reference to carry out association studies of common complex diseases in a closely related population, such as Koreans. We have compared the LD and recombination patterns defined by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ENCODE region ENm010, chromosome 7p15.2, in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese samples and further tested the robustness of tagSNPs among the Asian samples. We genotyped 792 SNPs in 500 kb (chromosome 7: 26699793–27199792, NCBI build 34) from 90 unrelated Koreans by fluorescence polarization detection and compared the data with Asian data from the HapMap project. Despite some differences in the position of high LD region boundaries, the overall patterns of LD were remarkably similar across the three samples, reflecting strong genetic affinities among them. Furthermore, the haplotype tag SNP transferability across the three samples was greater than 90%. Our results support the initial suggestion that the populations genotyped in the HapMap project might serve as reference populations for the selection of tagSNPs in association studies [The International HapMap Consortium, The International HapMap Project, Nature 426 (2003) 789–796. <ce:cross-ref refid='bib1'>[1]</ce:cross-ref>].</P>

Synergistic effects of urban tributary mixing on dissolved organic matter biodegradation in an impounded river system

Begum, Most Shirina,Jang, Inae,Lee, Jung-Min,Oh, Han Bin,Jin, Hyojin,Park, Ji-Hyung Elsevier 2019 The Science of the total environment Vol.676 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Dams and wastewater may greatly perturb riverine fluxes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and CO<SUB>2</SUB>, yet little is known about the relationships between altered DOM quality and CO<SUB>2</SUB> emission in eutrophic impounded river systems. A basin-wide field survey of surface water CO<SUB>2</SUB> and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was combined with laboratory incubations to examine how dams and urban tributaries delivering treated wastewater influence longitudinal patterns in DOM properties and CO<SUB>2</SUB> along the impounded Han River traversing Seoul metropolitan area. Fluorescent DOM indices including parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) components were used to characterize DOM in relation to biodegradable DOC (BDOC). Compared with distinct downstream increases in DOC and CO<SUB>2</SUB>, BDOC concentration and its proportion in DOC (%BDOC) were highly variable along the mainstem and peaked at urban tributaries. Longitudinal increases in fluorescence index (FI), biological index (BIX), and two PARAFAC components (C2 and C3) contrasted with general decreases in humification index (HIX) and C1, reflecting increasing downstream inputs of anthropogenic DOM. During a 5-day incubation employing continuous CO<SUB>2</SUB> measurements, the cumulative production of CO<SUB>2</SUB> in the mainstem water mixed with urban tributary water was significantly higher than the level expected for conservative mixing of the two samples, indicating a synergistic enhancement of DOM biodegradation. Molecular formulas identified by Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) revealed more consumed molecules in the mainstem water and more newly produced molecules in the tributary water over the 5-day incubation, implying abundant labile components in the mainstem water discharged from the upstream dam and highly processed tributary DOM limited in immediately biodegradable organic materials. Downstream increases in CO<SUB>2</SUB> and DOC along the Han River, combined with the synergistic effect observed in the mixed water, suggest that mixing wastewater-derived DOM with labile autochthonous DOM can enhance CO<SUB>2</SUB> production in the river system perturbed by impoundment and wastewater.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Field survey was combined with lab incubations to study human impact on river carbon. </LI> <LI> Dissolved organic matter and CO<SUB>2</SUB> vary along impounded river with wastewater influence. </LI> <LI> Urban tributary mixing enhances organic matter degradation and CO<SUB>2</SUB> in impounded river. </LI> <LI> FT-ICR-MS detects organic matter degradation in impounded river and urban tributary. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Genetic heterogeneity of liver cancer stem cells

Minjeong Kim(Minjeong Kim),Kwang-Woo Jo(Kwang-Woo Jo),Hyojin Kim(Hyojin Kim),Myoung-Eun Han(Myoung-Eun Han),Sae-Ock Oh(Sae-Ock Oh) 대한해부학회 2023 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.56 No.1

Cancer cell heterogeneity is a serious problem in the control of tumor progression because it can cause chemoresistance and metastasis. Heterogeneity can be generated by various mechanisms, including genetic evolution of cancer cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and niche heterogeneity. Because the genetic heterogeneity of CSCs has been poorly characterized, the genetic mutation status of CSCs was examined using Exome-Seq and RNA-Seq data of liver cancer. Here we show that different surface markers for liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) showed a unique propensity for genetic mutations. Cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133)-positive cells showed frequent mutations in the IRF2, BAP1, and ERBB3 genes. However, leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-positive cells showed frequent mutations in the CTNNB1, RELN, and ROBO1 genes. In addition, some genetic mutations were frequently observed irrespective of the surface markers for LCSCs. BAP1 mutations was frequently observed in CD133-, CD24-, CD13-, CD90-, epithelial cell adhesion molecule-, or keratin 19-positive LCSCs. ASXL2, ERBB3, IRF2, TLX3, CPS1, and NFATC2 mutations were observed in more than three types of LCSCs, suggesting that common mechanisms for the development of these LCSCs. The present study provides genetic heterogeneity depending on the surface markers for LCSCs. The genetic heterogeneity of LCSCs should be considered in the development of LCSC-targeting therapeutics.

Chemical Strain-Relaxation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Plastic Substrates for Enhanced Conductivity

Han, Joong Tark,Kim, Jun Suk,Lee, Seung Goo,Bong, Hyojin,Jeong, Hee Jin,Jeong, Seung Yol,Cho, Kilwon,Lee, Geon-Woong American Chemical Society 2011 The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part C Vol.115 No.45

<P>We have demonstrated that the conductivity of single-walled nanotube network films on plastic substrates is enhanced by a simple solvent treatment via chemical welding with aromatic hydrocarbons. The welding effect on the conductivity was confirmed by welding over a surface, the properties of which were controlled by deposition of reduced graphene oxide sheets on the substrate before deposition of the SWCNTs. The correlation between the sheet resistance and the interfacial structure of nanotubes on polyester substrates is further discussed in conjunction with a solvent-induced strain-relaxation of nanotubes and the geometrical change of nanotubes confirmed by atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy after introducing solvents. We observe a clear reversible shift to higher energies in the G-mode band after chemical welding, indicating relaxation of the strain induced by the interface structure at the substrate and network junction.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jpccck/2011/jpccck.2011.115.issue-45/jp207666w/production/images/medium/jp-2011-07666w_0005.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/jp207666w'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>