• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.377-388
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Determining the spatial structure of data is important in understanding within-field variability for site-specific crop management. An understanding of the spatial structures present in the data may help illuminate interrelationships that are important in subsequent explanatory analyses, especially when site variables are correlated or are a combined response to multiple causative factors. Methods: In this study, correlation, principal component analysis, and single and nested variogram models were applied to soil electrical conductivity and chemical property data of two fields in central Missouri, USA. Results: Some variables that were highly correlated, or were strongly expressed in the same principal component, exhibited similar spatial ranges when fitted with a single variogram model. However, single variogram results were dependent on the active lag distance used, with short distances (30 m) required to fit short-range variability. Longer active lag distances only revealed long-range spatial components. Nested models generally yielded a better fit than single models for sensor-based conductivity data, where multiple scales of spatial structure were apparent. Gaussian-spherical nested models fit well to the data at both short (30 m) and long (300 m) active lag distances, generally capturing both short-range and long-range spatial components. As soil conductivity relates strongly to profile texture, we hypothesize that the short-range components may relate to the scale of erosion processes, while the long-range components are indicative of the scale of landscape morphology. Conclusion: In this study, we investigated the effect of changing active lag distance on the calculation of the range parameter. Future work investigating scale effects on other variogram parameters, including nugget and sill variances, may lead to better model selection and interpretation. Once this is achieved, separation of nested spatial components by factorial kriging may help to better define the correlations existing between spatial datasets.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.386-392
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Changes in nutritional status during gestation and lactation have detrimental effects on offspring metabolism. Several animal studies have shown that maternal high-fat diet (HFD) can predispose the offspring to development of obesity and metabolic diseases, however the mechanisms underlying these transgenerational effects are poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the effect of maternal HFD consumption on metabolic phenotype and hepatic expression of involved genes in dams to determine whether any of these parameters were associated with the metabolic outcomes in the offspring. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD: 10% calories from fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD: 45% calories from fat) for three weeks before mating, and during pregnancy and lactation. Dams and their male offspring were studied at weaning. RESULTS: Dams fed an HFD had significantly higher body and adipose tissue weights and higher serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels than dams fed an LFD. Hepatic lipid levels and mRNA levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism, including $LXR{\alpha}$, SREBP-2, FXR, LDLR, and ABCG8 were significantly changed by maternal HFD intake. Significantly lower total liver DNA and protein contents were observed in dams fed an HFD, implicating the disturbed liver adaptation in the pregnancy-related metabolic demand. HFD feeding also induced significant oxidative stress in serum and liver of dams. Offspring of dams fed an HFD had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels, which were negatively correlated with liver weights of dams and positively correlated with hepatic lipid peroxide levels in dams. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal HFD consumption induced metabolic dysfunction, including altered liver growth and oxidative stress in dams, which may contribute to the disturbed cholesterol homeostasis in the early life of male mice offspring.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.1536-1541
• /
• 2000

The present study was carried out to measure changes of feed intake and thirst level caused by water deprivation in goats fed on dry feed and to elucidate the relationship between those two parameters. Water deprivation significantly (p<0.01) decreased cumulative feed intake and rate of eating at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min, respectively, after feed presentation. Cumulative feed intake, after completion of 2 h feeding, was reduced by about 20, 21 and 64 % due to water deprivation during feeding for 2 h (WD2), for 22 h (WD22) and for 46 h (WD46), respectively, compared to free access to water (FAW). Compared to the FAW, WD2, WD22 and WD46 increased thirst level by about 5, 5 and 9 times, respectively. Mean thirst level (X, g/30 min) was negatively correlated with cumulative feed intake (Y, g DM) after completion of 2h feeding (Y=1302-0.2 X, $r^2=0.97$, p<0.05). Water deprivation depressed plasma volume and there was a significant positive regression between plasma volume (X, ml) and cumulative feed intake (Y, g DM) after completion of 2h feeding (Y=-1003+0.6 X, $r^2=0.99$, p<0.01). Mean plasma osmolality (X, mOsmol/l) correlated significantly and negatively with cumulative feed intake (Y, g DM) after completion of 2h feeding (Y=27004-84.9 X, $r^2=0.95$, p<0.05). In conclusion, a decrease of feed intake during water deprivation is mainly due to an increase of thirst level quantitatively, and the act of feeding itself induces thirst more than the length of water-deprivation periods in goats fed on dry feeds. The present findings suggest that plasma osmolality and plasma volume which affect thirst level are involved in the decrease of feed intake in water-deprived goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.983-988
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between bovine casein (CN) mRNA expression levels in mammary epithelial cells and lactation period, the yields of milk proteins and other parameters. The cells were collected from each cow's milk, which contained somatic cell counts (SCC) of less than 100,000 cells/ml. The levels of ${\alpha}s1-$, ${\alpha}s2-$, ${\beta}$- and ${\kappa}$-CN mRNA expression were significantly correlated with each other in mammary epithelial cells (p<0.01). All cows produced either less than 30 kg/day/cow or a over 30 kg/day/cow level of milk yield (MY). It was shown that the CN mRNA expression levels decreased gradually from the calving period to late lactation, when MY was over 30 kg/day/cow. The SCC tended to increase gradually during the course of lactation, but it was negatively correlated with milk protein and CN yields (p<0.01) when MY was less than 30 kg/day/cow. Moreover, there was a tendency for a negative correlation between SCC and ${\alpha}s1$-CN and ${\beta}$-CN mRNA expression level, when MY was less than 30 kg/day/cow (p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1372-1376
• /
• 2011

The content of Ca in milk exceeds the typical saturation level of Ca salts, which is necessary for neonate growth. This calcium is distributed between the casein micelles in the colloidal and aqueous phases. Information on the properties of calcium activity in the aqueous phase is limited compared with that on the properties of bound or sequestrated calcium. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the changes in calcium activity in fresh milk using an ion-selective electrode and to assess the relationship between calcium activity and milk production in hot season. Milk samples collected from 10 cows at the National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region in June to October (Min-Max: 7.2-$35.2^{\circ}C$, 24.3-100% RH) were analyzed on total calcium concentrations and calcium activity. We observed that the rectal temperature of the cows increased according to elevation of ambient temperature but that the pH of the collected milk ($6.61{\pm}0.01$ (Mean${\pm}$SEM)) was not significantly influenced by rectal and ambient temperature. Total calcium concentrations and calcium activity in fresh milk decreased in July (Min-Max: 21.1-$33.5^{\circ}C$, 48.9-100.0% RH) compared with the values after August (Min-Max: 18.1-$35.0^{\circ}C$, 26.5-96.2% RH) (p<0.05); however, there was no significant correlation between the two parameters. The ratio of calcium activity to total calcium concentration decreased after August compared with the values in June and July (p<0.05). The calcium activity in fresh milk was positively correlated with milk yield (r = 0.45, p<0.01) and negatively correlated with milk lactose content (r = -0.53, p<0.01). These results suggest that the calcium activity in milk could be affected by ambient temperature and might be associated with milking production in hot season.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.287-301
• /
• 2018

It is common to encounter count data with excess zeros in various research fields such as the social sciences, natural sciences, medical science or engineering. Such count data have been explained mainly by zero-inflated Poisson model and extended models. Zero-inflated count data are also often correlated or clustered, in which random effects should be taken into account in the model. Frequentist approaches have been commonly used to fit such data. However, a Bayesian approach has advantages of prior information, avoidance of asymptotic approximations and practical estimation of the functions of parameters. We consider a Bayesian zero-inflated Poisson regression model with random effects for correlated zero-inflated count data. We conducted simulation studies to check the performance of the proposed model. We also applied the proposed model to smoking behavior data from the Regional Health Survey (2015) of the Korea Centers for disease control and prevention.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.141-151
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to elucidate the clinicopathological significance and diagnostic accuracy of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for determining the mesenchymal epidermal transition (c-MET) expression in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Materials and Methods: The present meta-analysis investigated the correlation between c-MET expression as determined by IHC and the clinicopathological parameters in 8,395 GC patients from 37 studies that satisfied the eligibility criteria. In addition, a concordance analysis was performed between c-MET expression as determined by IHC and c-MET amplification, and the diagnostic test accuracy was reviewed. Results: The estimated rate of c-MET overexpression was 0.403 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.327~0.484) and it was significantly correlated with male patients, poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, higher TNM stage, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity in IHC analysis. There was a significant correlation between c-MET expression and worse overall survival rate (hazard ratio, 1.588; 95% CI, 1.266~1.992). The concordance rates between c-MET expression and c-MET amplification were 0.967 (95% CI, 0.916~0.987) and 0.270 (95% CI, 0.173~0.395) for cases with non-overexpressed and overexpressed c-MET, respectively. In the diagnostic test accuracy review, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.56 (95% CI, 0.50~0.63) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.77~0.81), respectively. Conclusions: The c-MET overexpression as determined by IHC was significantly correlated with aggressive tumor behavior and positive IHC status for HER2 in patients with GC. In addition, the c-MET expression status could be useful in the screening of c-MET amplification in patients with GC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.168-174
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate correlation between soybean and their products consumption and risk factors for atherosclerosis in the healthyKorean adults. Health behaviors such as smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption and dietary patterns and nutrient intakes of 193 healthy adult subjects aged from 26 to 69 were assessed by using interview and semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The BMI, blood pressure and biochemical parameters of blood were examined as well as preferences for taste and family history of disease. Data were expressed as quartile according to soybean and their products consumption. The average daily soybean and their product consumption for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th percentile group were 36, 78, 112, and 182g, respectively. The more consumption of soybean and their products, the more intake of energy, protein, lipid, fiber, Ca, cholesterol as well as frequency of exercise, smoking and drinking. Serum TG, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and AI as risk factors of atherosclerosis were positively correlated with smoking and drinking (p<0.05). Especially, serum TG was positively correlated with hypertension and BMI (p<0.01). But, no correlation between exercise, salty taste, meat preference, soybean products consumption and atherosclerosis risk factors was found, which means that life styles such as smoking and drinking rather than dietary habits might influence atherosclerosis in healthy adults. In conclusion, present soy products consumption should be increased by way of developing new generation soy products in order to exert anti-atherosclerotic effect by soybean in human.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2004

This work aimed to study the effectiveness of cellular oxidative parameter (malondial-dehyde, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine). The experimental groups were aluminum treated rats and control rats. Aluminum treatd rats were given intraperitoneally aluminum nitrate nonahydrate ($Al^{3+}$, 0.2 mmol/kg) daily for 30 days except Sunday. Control rats were injected 1 ml of saline. After the dose, rats were decapitated and hippocampus and cerebral cortex were removed. The measured parameters were tissue malondialdehyde (MDA, index of lipid peroxidation), protein carbonyl (index of protein oxidation), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG, index of DNA oxidation), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels as well as glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase. AI concentrations in the tissues were also measured. All results were corrected by tissue protein levels. The results were as followed; 1. The concentrations of AI in the cortex and hippocampus were significantly higher in the AI-treated rats than in the control rats. 2. Antioxidative enzyme's activity, catalase and GR, were significantly higher in the AI-treated rats than the control rats. GSH levels were also higher in the AI-treated rats. 3. MDA, protein carbonyl, and 8-OHdG concentration of AI-treated rats were significantly higher than those of control rats. 4. The concentrations of antioxidants, and oxidative stress parameter were correlated with the concentrations of AI in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Catalase and GR activity were also correlated with the concentration of AI. Based on these results, it can be suggested that intraperitoneally injected AI was accumulated in the brain and induced the increase of antioxidant levels and antioxidative enzyme activity. Also, the oxidative products of cellular macromolecules are significantly related to tissue AI concentration. Therefore MDA, protein carbonyl, and 8-OHdG are useful markers for oxidative stress on cellular macromolecules.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.882-890
• /
• 2008

The present study investigated the influence of different volumes of red hot pepper juice on the quality characteristics of fresh Pasta noodle. Supplementation with 0% (control), 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, or 10% red hot pepper juice produced similar gelatinization characteristics of peak viscosity, temperature at peak viscosity, hot paste viscosity and numerical value of breakdown. However, increasing concentrations of red hot pepper juice produced progressively and significantly low cold paste viscosity and setback. The chromaticity of wet and cooked noodles was significantly lower in L value and significantly higher in +a and +b values with increasing volumes of red hot pepper juice. The texture of fresh noodles displayed no significant differences in hardness, adhesiveness and chewiness. The springiness and cohesiveness were lower and higher with the increase of added red hot pepper juice, respectively, but the differences just attained significance. For cooked noodles, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness tended to be higher with increasing volumes of red hot pepper juice, but again the differences just attained significance. Cooking characteristics of weight, volume, moisture absorptive power and turbidity decreased with increasing volumes of red hot pepper juice. Sensory characteristics of acceptability including appearance, color, flavor, taste, texture and overall-acceptability improved with increasing red hot pepper juice volume, in particular with 5% and 7.5%. Amylograph characteristics for initial paste temperature positively correlated with the texture characteristics for chewiness (p<0.05). Negatively correlated amylograph parameters included texture for springiness with for peak viscosity (p<0.01), texture for adhesiveness with hot paste viscosity (p<0.01) and breakdown with texture for adhesiveness, cohesiveness and chewiness (p<0.05).