The impact of blowflies on pig cadaver decomposition on Yeongdo Island, Busan, South Korea

Park Sang‐Hyun,Baek Seung‐Ho,Moon Tae‐Young 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.11

The decomposition process is an important factor in forensics, and flies play a crucial role in the decomposition of animals and humans. However, there remains limited information on the effect of flies that attend death scenes. This study assesses the effect of the presence or absence of blowflies on the rate and process of cadaver decomposition in the spring, summer, and autumn from 2016 to 2020 on Yeongdo Island, Busan, South Korea. Nine blowfly species belonging to four genera in two subfamilies were sampled. The blowflies that approached the cadavers differed between seasons, but Chrysomya pinguis (Walker) was the dominant species regardless of the season. Blowfly presence on cadavers significantly affected the duration of the decomposition stage and the pattern of weight loss in nearly all scenarios. With the presence of blowflies, the decomposition rate was four times faster in spring, three times faster in summer, and nine times faster in autumn. These results show that the presence or absence of blowflies is an essential factor in the decomposition process of cadavers. Therefore, it should be taken into account when estimating postmortem intervals in medicolegal forensic entomology.

Distribution and mitochondrial DNA tracing of the invasive Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in South Korea

Park Sang‐Hyun,Ha Young‐Ho,Kim Dong Eon,Kim Chang‐Jun,Choi Moon Bo 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.3

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) are one of the world’s most invasive species and were first reported in South Korea, near Busan Port in 2019. The distribution of their initial spread was investigated here from April to July 2020. In the invasion area, numerous nests and individuals were identified, indicating that they had settled and successfully invaded the habitat. To track the invasion of the Argentine ants we conducted haplotype analysis using COI, COII, and Cytb sequences of their mitochondrial DNA. The invasive ants had the same mitochondrial haplotype (H3) as Argentine ants from America (Chile, Ecuador, Bermuda) and East Asia (Japan). When comparing the import trade volumes at Busan port with the Argentine ant haplotypes from other countries, it was determined that the invasive ants may have originated from the United States or Japan. Numerous ecological and economic impacts due to their invasion and spread in other countries has previously been reported. Therefore, prompt control measures for the Argentine ants found at Busan port, at this relatively early stage of settlement, is required.

Consistency of seasonal patterns of insect succession on pig cadavers at Yeongdo Island in Busan, Korea

Park Sang‐Hyun,Moon Tae‐Young 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.1

Cadaver insects cause dead bodies to break down in ecological processes. Still, the knowledge has been accumulated slowly about the structure and role of the insect assemblages attending to death scenes. This study analysed the successional patterns of insects on pig cadavers in the spring, summer, and autumn from 2016 to 2019 at Yeongdo Island, Busan, South Korea. A sum of 71 insect species belonging to four orders and 21 families were sampled. Predominant insects were largely Diptera and Coleoptera. The majority of the flies were the calliphorids as Chrysomya pinguis (Walker) and Lucilia porphyrina (Walker). The most common beetles were Creophilus maxillosus (L.), Omosita japonica (Reitter), and Staphylinidae sp. regardless of seasons. Occurrence matrices were made from the successional patterns of insect species during 42 sampling intervals in the spring, 38 sampling intervals in the summer, and 26 sampling intervals in the autumn. Permutation analyses of the occurrence matrices showed that the patterns of succession were similar between spring 2016 and 2017 (P = 0.019), between summer 2016 and 2017 (P = 0.003), and between autumn 2016 and 2019 (P = 0.002). The result shows that there are clear patterns in succession between seasons, and provides the reference data to presume the death time, at least in the southeast part of South Korea.

Forensic implication of cadaveric behaviors of the Japanese pavement ant (Tetramorium tsushimae Emery) attending to rabbit cadavers

Park Sang‐Hyun,Moon Tae‐Young 한국곤충학회 2020 Entomological Research Vol.50 No.4

It is noticed by some researchers that ants may cause some forensic confusion in understanding death scenes. In the aspect of relationship between the ant-animal decomposition, we observed the behavior of ants congregating on dead animals. Amongst various species of ants visiting dead rabbits, Tetramorium tsushimae Emery was noticeable in producing scratched scars, mounds, and nests around dead rabbits and covering them with soils. The behaviors are likely to interfere or to disturb the usual process of decomposition succession lead by maggots. We discussed that a series of cadaveric behaviors of T. tsushimae may be used as a potential forensic hint not to misunderstand death scenes disturbed by the species.

Mosapride Improves Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Esophageal Body Function in Patients With Minor Disorders of Esophageal Peristalsis

( Sung Eun Kim ),( Moo In Park ),( Seun Ja Park ),( Won Moon ),( Jae Hyun Kim ),( Kyoungwon Jung ),( Hye Jung Kwon ),( Gyung Mi Kim ),( Hee Kyoung Joo ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2020 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.26 No.2

Background/Aims High-resolution manometry (HRM) has broadened the awareness of minor esophageal peristaltic disorders. However, the treatments for these minor disorders are limited and the role of prokinetics has been controversial. This study evaluates the effect of mosapride in patients with minor peristaltic disorders. Methods This study prospectively enrolled 21 patients with esophageal symptoms who were diagnosed with minor peristaltic disorders by gastroscopy and HRM using the Chicago classification version 3.0. Patients received mosapride 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Symptoms were assessed using the abbreviated World Health Organization quality of life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and a HRM study was performed before and after 2 weeks of treatment. Results HRM metrics of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) respiratory mean pressure (median 14.6 mmHg vs 17.3 mmHg; interquartile range [IQR] 8.7-22.5 mmHg vs 12.5-25.9 mmHg; P = 0.004) and distal contractile integral (median 343.8 mmHg·sec·cm vs 698.1 mmHg·sec·cm; IQR 286.5-795.9 mmHg·sec·cm vs 361.0-1127.6 mmHg·sec·cm; P = 0.048) were significantly increased after treatment. Complete response (≥ 80.0%), satisfactory response (≥ 50.0%), partial response (< 50.0%), and refractory response rates were 19.0%, 52.4%, 14.3%, and 14.3%, respectively. However, there was no statistical difference in all WHOQOL-BREF scores before and after treatment. Univariate analysis showed LES respiratory mean pressure (P = 0.036) was associated with symptom improvement (complete + satisfactory group). However, no statistical difference was found in other factors after multivariate analysis. Conclusions Mosapride improved esophageal symptoms and significantly increased LES respiratory mean pressure and distal contractile integral. Therefore, mosapride could enhance LES and esophageal body contraction pressures in patients with minor peristaltic disorders. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020;26:232-240)

Channel Quantization for Block Diagonalization with Limited Feedback in Multiuser MIMO Downlink Channels

Moon, Sung-Hyun,Lee, Sang-Rim,Kim, Jin-Sung,Lee, Inkyu The Korea Institute of Information and Commucation 2014 Journal of communications and networks Vol.16 No.1

Block diagonalization (BD) has been proposed as a simple and effective technique in multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) broadcast channels. However, when channel state information (CSI) knowledge is limited at the transmitter, the performance of the BD may be degraded because inter-user interference cannot be completely eliminated. In this paper, we propose an efficient CSI quantization technique for BD precoded systems with limited feedback where users supported by a base station are selected by dynamic scheduling. First, we express the received signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) when multiple data streams are transmitted to the user, and derive a lower bound expression of the expected received SINR at each user. Then, based on this measure, each user determines its quantized CSI feedback information which maximizes the derived expected SINR, which comprises both the channel direction and the amplitude information. From simulations, we confirm that the proposed SINR-based channel quantization scheme achieves a significant sum rate gain over the conventional method in practical MU-MIMO systems.

Poster Session:PS 1137;Gastroenterology (Liver):Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Sarcopenia in Cirrhotic Patients with Ascites

( Moon Chan Jung ),( Soon Young Kim ),( Ji Won Park ),( Ho Suk Kang ),( Hyun Lim ),( Jong Hyuk Kim ),( Choong Kee Park ),( Sung Eun Kim ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.1

Background: Sarcopenia has known as an independent predictor of clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of sarcopenia with the mortality and ascites control in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Methods: A total of 93 cirrhotic patients who admitted to control ascites were subjected. All enrolled patients had a computed tomography (CT) at the level of the third lumbar (L3) vertebrae to determine the L3 skeletal muscle index. Sarcopenia was defi ned as a muscle mass 2 SDs below sex-specifi c means of healthy young adults. They were followed up for a median 36 months (range, 1-90) Results : Median age was 56 years (range, 35-81), 81% of patients was male, 55% of patients wasalcoholic cirrhosis and 40% was positive for HBsAg. Sarcopenia was present in 53 patients (57%). By univariate Cox regression analysis, sarcopenia (HR, 2. 12;P=0. 025), INR (HR, 2. 85; P =0. 001),level of albumin (HR, 2. 19; P =0. 016), and Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (HR, 2. 48; P =0. 010) were associated with increased risks of mortality. By multivariate Cox regression analysis, sarcopenia (HR, 4. 29; P =0. 001),INR (HR, 3. 86; P<0. 001), level of albumin (HR, 2. 42; P =0. 029) were signifi cantly associated with mortality, not MELD score. There was no correlation with gender, age, renal function, body mass index, platelet count, bilirubin, sodium, hepatic encephalopathy, esophagogastric varix, Child-Pugh score and grade of ascites. And dosage of diuretics for control of ascites was not associated with sarcopenia. Conclusions : Our data suggested that sarcopenia may be associated with the mortality in cirrhotic patients with ascites.

Comparative toxicity of Alexandrium affine to finfish Thamnaconus modestus and shellfish Haliotis discus hannai

Sang­Jun Lee,Moon­Ho Son,Hae­Rim Kim,Hyun­Jeong Lim 한국패류학회 2023 The Korean Journal of Malacology Vol.39 No.4

A Korean strain of Alexandrium affine (TY­1509­02) was exposed to adult Thamnaconus modestus and Haliotis discus hannai for a comparative toxicity evaluation. Tests were done in two subsequent ways in the chamber (70 L carrying 30 L alga) for 24 hours. The first test was to find the first damage concentration (FDC) at 4 allocations (0, 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 × 103 cells mL-1) at 20℃. The second was to detail at a median concentration (MC) between FDC and its previous concentration at 20 and 25℃. In the first test FDC was 5.0 × 103 cells mL-1 for both species, calculating 3.75 × 103 cells mL-1 as an MC in common. The algal toxicities at FDC were species-specific with bigger toxicity to the finfish. Toxicities at MC were also species-specific: harmless to the shellfish and temperature-dependently toxic to the finfish with mortalities of 20% at 20℃ and 0% at 25℃. These results elucidated that A. affine is no longer harmless with an estimated potent concentrations near MC for the finfish and close to FDC for the shellfish. In the toxicity evaluation, particularly to T. modestus, temperature should be taken into account as it might be a parameter influencing the algal damage potential.

Whitening and Antioxidant Effects of 70% Ethanol Extract from Actinidia arguta Planchon

Sung-il Cho,Hyojoon Noh,Youn-moon Park,Hyun-seok Kim,Taehoon Kim,Taewan Kim 한국식품영양과학회 2015 한국식품영양과학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.2015 No.8

Assistive Technologies for People with Disabilities

( Hyun K. Kim ),( Sung H. Han ),( Heekyung Moon ),( Joohwan Park ) 한국감성과학회 2014 춘계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.-

Globally, the number of people with disabilities is increasing. Various types of assistive technology (AT) exist in the market to help them overcome the diverse challenges they face in a daily life. New ATs are still being actively developed through advances in information technology. In this study, a literature survey was conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of research in the field of AT for sensory and physical disabilities. Studies published since 2009 were considered, to identify the emerging research trends in AT. A total of 297 articles was collected from diverse sources (e.g., journals, proceedings, dissertations, books, etc.), and 405 ATs were identified from the articles. The basic statistical information in the articles was analyzed in terms of sources, regions, and the authors`backgrounds. The ATs were additionally analyzed considering disability types, applied devices, and assistive functions. The research trends of AT were analyzed, and several implications for designing ATs were suggested.