Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by GLA mutations, leading to a deficiency in α-Galactosidase A activity and subsequent accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). This accumulation contributes to progressive multiorgan dysfunction, with cardiovascular complications, particularly endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy being major drivers of disease morbidity and mortality. Although enzyme replacement therapy is currently the standard treatment, its effectiveness is limited in addressing advanced cardiovascular pathology. To better understand Fabry-associated vascular and cardiac phenotypes, an isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model in which GLA was knocked out was developed using CRISPR/ Cas9. GLA-knockout (GLA-KO) hiPSCs were differentiated into endothelial cells (ECs) and cardiomyocytes (CMs) to evaluate disease-relevant phenotypes in vitro . GLA-KO ECs exhibited normal morphology and differentiation capacity but showed markedly impaired tube formation, high expression of inflammatory genes ICAM1, VCAM1, and SELE, and increased mitochondrial and cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species levels. GLA-KO CMs demonstrated enlarged cell size and nuclear translocation of NFATC4, consistent with hypertrophic remodeling. Together, these findings recapitulate key features of Fabry vasculopathy and cardiomyopathy in a genetically defined, human-derived system. This platform enables direct investigation of Gb3-induced oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms and provides a valuable model for the preclinical evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting the cardiovascular manifestations of Fabry disease.
This paper addresses a scheduling problem aimed at minimizing makespan in a permutation flow shop with two machines and an inspection process that must be conducted at least once every certain number of outcomes from the first machine. A mathematical programming approach and a genetic algorithm, incorporating Johnson's rule and a specific mutation process, were developed to solve this problem. Johnson's rule was used to generate an initial population, while the mutation process ensured compliance with the inspection constraints. The results showed that within a computation time limit of 300 seconds, the mathematical programming approach often failed to provide optimal or feasible solutions, especially for larger job sets. For instance, when the process times of both machines were similar and the inspection time was longer, the mathematical programming approach failed to solve all 10 experiments with just 15 jobs and only had a 50% success rate for 100 jobs. In contrast, the proposed genetic algorithm solved all instances and delivered equal or superior results compared to the mathematical programming approach.
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) cause substantial economic losses on the livestock industry. Therefore, vaccinations have been implemented as the control strategy in endemic countries. However, the potential adverse effects of administering vaccines for both diseases simultaneously have not been thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of vaccinating dairy cows with either or both LSD and FMD vaccines on milk production and physiological parameters such as milk temperature, rumination time and body weight. The experimental groups were divided into four according to the injection materials: 1) saline, 2) LSD vaccine, 3) FMD vaccine, and 4) both vaccines. The impact of vaccination on milk yield and physiological parameters was evaluated daily until 12 days post-vaccination, and milk components were analyzed twice, once per week. Among the experimental groups as well as each vaccine group, no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed at milk yield, milk components, or milk temperature. This suggests that simultaneous vaccination of LSD and FMD can be administered without adverse effects.
This study seeks to explore how key restaurant attributes differently influence customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction across pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods, as well as across various economic segments. By employing impact asymmetry analysis (IAA), the research identifies the primary drivers of customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction, examining their uneven on customer satisfaction in Korean restaurants. The findings underscore the non-linear and asymmetric nature of customer responses to various service attributes, highlighting the significant influence of economic factors and the pandemic on dining expectations and experiences. This research deepens our understanding of the factors shaping customer satisfaction dynamics, particularly in the context of the evolving post-pandemic restaurant industry.
Current investigations provide a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and biodiversity of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in the major citrusproducing regions of Jeju Island, South Korea. Our survey identified five genera and five species of PPNs from 82 infested Citrus unshiu field samples collected across 116 sites in the Jeju provinces. Community analysis revealed the highest prevalence of PPNs (39.02%) at Namwon-eup, significantly driven by Tylenchulus semipenetrans, followed by Paratylenchus sp., Helicotylenchus sp., Meloidogyne sp., and Pratylenchus sp. Data indicate that all 82 sites were infested with T. semipenetrans (70.68%), marking a considerable increase in prevalence compared to previous surveys and posing a significant threat to citrus cultivation. The study results also demonstrate the influence of soil type on PPNs communities, revealing correlations between soil texture and nematode diversity. Citrus orchards cultivated in black clay loam soil exhibited significant PPN infestations. Overall, the PPN survey underscores the economic importance of monitoring citrus nematode infection rates and maintaining economic threshold levels in citrus production. It also emphasizes the need for developing effective management strategies to control PPNs, which are essential for maintaining crop yield and ensuring agricultural sustainability.
This study examined consumer perceptions and market trends of Korean food products sold on Amazon, focusing on keyword and review analysis. As Korean cuisine gains global attention, particularly in the U.S., it is essential to understand how international consumers perceive these products. Data were collected from Amazon, encompassing product details and customer reviews of Korean food categories. Frequently mentioned keywords in the reviews were identified, and customer sentiments were explored using Python-based data analysis. The results suggest that taste, especially spiciness and sweetness, is a key determinant of consumer satisfaction. Although Korean food was generally well-received, packaging and delivery issues were common complaints. These findings provide strategic insights for Korean food manufacturers aiming to expand globally, emphasizing the need for tailored product development and enhanced logistics.
The AlSi10Mg alloy has garnered significant attention for its application in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), due to its lightweight properties and good printability using L-PBF. However, the low production speed of the L-PBF process is the main bottleneck in the industrial commercialization of L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloy parts. Furthermore, while L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloy exhibits excellent mechanical properties, the properties are often over-specified compared to the target properties of parts traditionally fabricated by casting. To accelerate production speed in L-PBF, this study investigated the effects of process parameters on the build rate and mechanical properties of the AlSi10Mg alloy. Guidelines are proposed for high-speed additive manufacturing of the AlSi10Mg alloy for use in automotive parts. The results show a significant increase in the build rate, exceeding the conventional build rate by a factor of 3.6 times or more, while the L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloy met the specifications for automotive prototype parts. This strategy can be expected to offer significant cost advantages while maintaining acceptable mechanical properties of topology-optimized parts used in the automobile industry.