To monitor peripheral vascular conditions, we developed a portable measurement device that utilizes a magnetoplethysmogram (MPG) sensor implemented using a permanent magnet and a Hall element together with a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor to acquire peripheral pulse waveforms. The user's hand length (L-H) divided by the temporal delay (Delta tau) between two peaks of pulse signals obtained from the two sensors is used to calculate the spatial pulse wave velocity (SPWV). Analysis of the MPG and PPG output waveforms demonstrated stable, clearly periodic signals. We confirmed a meaningful property of SPWV from the preliminary pilot study measured by using the SPWV1 and SPWV2 monitoring devices. The difference between SPWV1 and SPWV2 arises from the pulse period correction. Because Delta(tau ave2) = Delta(tau ave1) + T-period, the denominator in the SPWV2 calculation increases, resulting in characteristically smaller SPWV2 values. For participant #1, SPWV1 remained within a relatively narrow band of 2.8 m/s similar to 2.9 m/s, and SPWV2 within 27 cm/s similar to 28 cm/s over the 60 min measurement window, demonstrating stable behavior. For participant #2, SPWV1 showed greater variability, increasing to a maximum at approximately 40 min before decreasing, while SPWV2 remained within 24 cm/s similar to 26 cm/s. The SPWV measurement system based on MPG-PPG is expected to enable convenient, non-invasive monitoring of peripheral vascular health.
Objectives:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between regional inequality in emergency medical supply resources and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in South Korea. Methods:We analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database, focusing on 53,770 AMI patients admitted to emergency departments between 2012 and 2020. The inequality index of emergency medical supply resources was calculated based on the availability of emergency percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) within each region. Results:Among 53,770 AMI patients, 4,840 (9.0%) died in-hospital. After adjusting for covariates, patients residing in areas with higher inequality indices had increased risk of in-hospital mortality compared to those in areas with the lowest inequality (index 0.50-0.75: HR 1.504, 95% CI 1.198-1.889; index ≥0.75: HR 1.689, 95% CI 1.493-1.910). Conclusion:This study highlights the importance of equitable distribution of emergency medical resources to reduce in-hospital mortality among AMI patients. Policymakers should prioritize strategies to address regional disparities in emergency medical supply resources to improve health outcomes.
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) plays a pivotal role in global food security as a primary source of vegetable protein and oil. However, its production is increasingly jeopardized by the frequent concurrence of drought and heat stress, a scenario predicted to intensify under ongoing climate change. While the effects of individual stresses have been well documented, the combined occurrence of drought and heat imposes unique physiological challenges, such as the conflict between stomatal closure for water conservation and transpirational cooling, that critically impair yield stability. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the physiological and molecular mechanisms governing soybean responses to these combined stresses, with a specific focus on modifications of root system architecture and the sensitivity of biological nitrogen fixation. We critically analyze recent advances in genomic resources, highlighting key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and multi-omics integration. Furthermore, we propose integrated breeding strategies that bridge conventional breeding with cutting-edge technologies, including high-throughput phenotyping, speed breeding, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, underpinned by high-throughput phenotyping and speed breeding. By presenting a roadmap for developing climate-smart soybean cultivars, this review aims to support sustainable agricultural practices that ensure both adaptation and mitigation in a changing climate.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a cost-effective, sensitive, and minimally invasive tool for monitoring fish diversity in freshwater ecosystems. To evaluate its suitability for assessing fish biogeography and phylogeography in Korean streams, we analyzed fish assemblages in three streams—Gilan, Seom, and Oshipcheon—located in different Korean biogeographical subdistricts. Over two sampling campaigns at nine sites, a total of 107 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified, representing 20 families, 46 genera, and 76 species. Among the 76 detected species, 29 were endemic to freshwater habitats in South Korea and played a significant role in shaping fish communities across the surveyed streams. We identified potential sources of six translocated species to the eastern region by examining their ASVs. After excluding these potential translocations, no endemic fish species were simultaneously detected in all three streams, and the phylogeography of endemic fish species Odontobutis platycephala, Coreoperca herzi, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Nipponocypris koreanus, and Koreocobitis rotundicaudata was clearly observed across the three biogeographical regions. Additionally, analysis of relative abundance and presence-absence data of fish communities yielded comparable β-diversity metrics reflecting spatiotemporal variation. The fish communities in the streams exhibited distinct groups, with Gilan showing a closer relationship to Seom than to Oshipcheon, consistent with well-known allopatric studies of freshwater fishes in the Korean Peninsula. Interestingly, we did not find any differences in fish assemblages among the three mesohabitat types (riffle, run, and pool), regardless of the sampling site. Our results highlight the potential of water-derived eDNA metabarcoding for detecting endemic fish, unraveling the biogeography and phylogeography of allopatric populations of freshwater fishes, and providing genetic forensic tools to estimate the original sources of translocated species.
The genus Orostachys contains a single section (sect. Orostachys), which is subdivided into two subsections based on the presence or absence of spinose appendages at the leaf apex: subsect. Appendiculatae and subsect. Orostachys. Although numerous taxonomic studies have consistently raised questions regarding generic delimitation given that the two subsections do not form a monophyletic group, recent phylogenomic studies using complete chloroplast genome sequences and Angiosperms353 technology have provided strong evidence that these two subsections should be treated as separate genera. Therefore, in this study, we describe a new genus, Spinella H.-R. Lee & K.-S. Cheon, to accommodate taxa previously placed in Orostachys subsect. Appendiculatae. In accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), we present nine new nomenclatural combinations for taxa corresponding to this new genus and provide a key to distinguish Spinella from related genera.
