A systematic review of camera monitor system display layout designs: Integration of existing knowledge.

Despite the growing interest in mirrorless vehicles equipped with a camera monitor system (CMS), the human factors research findings on CMS display layout design have not been synthesized yet, hindering the application of the knowledge and the identification of future research directions. In an effort to address the 'lack of integration of the existing knowledge', this literature review addresses the following research questions: 1) what CMS display layout designs have been considered/developed by academic researchers and by automakers, respectively?; 2) among possible CMS display layout design alternatives, which ones have not yet been examined through human factors evaluation studies?; and 3) how do the existing human factors studies on the evaluation of different CMS display layout designs vary in the specifics of research? This review provides significant implications for the ergonomic design of CMS display layouts, including some potential design opportunities and future research directions.

Indoor air quality and its determinants in underground shopping malls in Korea.

Underground shopping malls (USMs) are often open or semi-open environments with interconnected passageways, resulting in the sharing of indoor air. However, indoor air quality (IAQ) within these spaces can vary due to many diverse emission sources. We investigated the relationships between IAQ and geographical areas, as well as IAQ and store types, within USMs, in Korea. In 2020, we studied 10 different USMs, with a total of 128 outlets. We conducted comprehensive IAQ assessments (including measurements of fine particles (PM2.5), aldehydes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) in stores, passages, and outdoor areas. The stores were categorized into three types: clothing, fashion accessories, and food services. Additionally, we measured environmental factors such as CO2 levels and presence of storefront walls. PM2.5 levels were higher outdoors, whereas aldehyde and VOC levels exhibited elevations within passages and the interior of stores than in the outdoor environment. The store-to-passage ratios for PM2.5, individual aldehydes, and VOC concentrations ranged from 1.06 to 4.93. Formaldehyde and total VOC (TVOC) concentrations were found to be elevated in clothing and fashion accessory stores, whereas PM2.5 concentrations were more prominent in food service establishments. Specific individual compounds, including propionaldehyde, hexaldehyde, benzene, n-heptane, toluene, n-octane, xylene, d-limonene, n-undecane, n-dodecane, and ethylbenzene concentrations exhibited associations with store types. Multivariate regression models demonstrated positive associations between most aldehydes and VOCs with CO2 concentrations and presence of storefront walls. This study underscored variations within USMs based on area and store type. Aldehyde and VOC concentrations were notably higher in clothing and fashion accessory stores than in food service outlets; these elevations were closely linked to CO2 levels and presence of storefront walls. These findings suggest that monitoring CO2 levels within USM stores, optimizing air-conditioning systems, and designing future stores without storefront walls can collectively contribute to an overall improvement of IAQ within USMs.

Characterization of urinary cotinine concentrations among non-smoking adults in smoking and smoke-free homes in the Korean national environmental health survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3 (2015-2017).

BACKGROUND: Although many indoor public places have implemented smoke-free regulations, private homes have remained sources of tobacco smoke pollutants. This study examined differences in urinary cotinine concentrations in the Korean non-smoking adult population between living in smoking and smoke-free homes, and the relationship of urinary cotinine concentrations with socio-demographic factors in smoke-free homes. METHODS: Samples from 2575 non-smoking adults (≥19 years old) in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey cycle 3 (2015-2017), a representative Korean study, were used. Smoking and smoke-free homes were defined based on whether there were smokers at homes. Weighted linear regression models were used to determine urinary cotinine concentrations and identify factors associated with urinary cotinine. RESULTS: The geometric mean of urinary cotinine concentrations for non-smoking adults living in smoking homes was 2.1 µg/L (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-2.4), which was significantly higher than the mean of 1.3 µg/L (95% CI = 1.2-1.4) for those living in smoke-free homes. Urinary cotinine concentrations were different significantly by home smoking status in most socio-demographic subgroups. Data from smoke-free home showed urinary cotinine concentration in adults was significantly higher in those who lived in homes with ventilation duration < 30 min/day, those who spent more time indoors at home, those who spent less time outdoors, and those who worked in non-manual or manual occupations. CONCLUSIONS: The urinary cotinine concentration in Korean non-smoking adults living in smoking homes was higher than that in adults living in smoke-free homes. Even in smoke-free homes, home-related factors, such as ventilation duration and time spent indoors, were associated with urinary cotinine concentration. Further study is warranted to examine potential sources of tobacco smoke pollution in smoke-free homes.

Volatile Organic Compounds in Underground Shopping Districts in Korea.

Underground shopping districts (USDs) are susceptible to severe indoor air pollution, which can adversely impact human health. We measured 24 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 13 USDs throughout South Korea from July to October 2017, and the human risk of inhaling hazardous substances was evaluated. The sum of the concentrations of the 24 VOCs was much higher inside the USDs than in the open air. Based on factor analysis, six indoor air pollution sources were identified. Despite the expectation of a partial outdoor effect, the impacts of the indoor emissions were significant, resulting in an indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio of 5.9 and indicating elevated indoor air pollution. However, the effects of indoor emissions decreased, and the contributions of the pollution sources reduced when the USD entrances were open and the stores were closed. Although benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde exhibited lower concentrations compared to previous studies, they still posed health risks in both indoor and outdoor settings. Particularly, while the indoor excess cancer risk (ECR) of formaldehyde was ~10 times higher than its outdoor ECR, benzene had a low I/O ratio (1.1) and a similar ECR value. Therefore, indoor VOC concentrations could be reduced by managing inputs of open air into USDs.

Silibinin inhibits the fibrotic responses induced by cigarette smoke via suppression of TGF-ß1/Smad 2/3 signaling.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is generally accepted as a major contributor to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is characterized by chronic inflammation, fibrotic response, and airway obstruction. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of silibinin, an active constitute of silymarin on CS and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure-induced fibrotic response. Mice were exposed to CS for 1 h per day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks. On day 12 and 26, mice were treated with LPS intranasally. Silibinin (10 or 20 mg/kg) was administered orally 1 h before CS exposure. Silibinin markedly decreased the inflammatory cell count in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and reduced levels of proinflammatory mediators. Silibinin suppressed CS + LPS-induced collagen deposition in lung tissue, as evidenced via immunohistochemistry and Masson's trichrome stain. Additionally, silibinin effectively inhibited CS + LPS-mediated expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and Smad 2/3 phosphorylation. Taken together, our data indicate that silibinin effectively inhibits the fibrotic response induced by CS + LPS exposure, possibly via suppression of TGF-ß1/Smad 2/3 signaling, which results in reduced collagen deposition. These findings suggest that silibinin has therapeutic potential for the treatment of COPD.

HemoHIM, a herbal preparation, alleviates airway inflammation caused by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide.

HemoHIM, herbal preparation has designed for immune system recovery. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of HemoHIM on cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mouse model. To induce COPD, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to CS for 1 h per day (eight cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks and intranasally received LPS on day 26. HemoHIM was administrated to mice at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg 1h before CS exposure. HemoHIM reduced the inflammatory cell count and levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1ß in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) induced by CS+LPS exposure. HemoHIM decreased the inflammatory cell infiltration in the airway and inhibited the expression of iNOS and MMP-9 and phosphorylation of Erk in lung tissue exposed to CS+LPS. In summary, our results indicate that HemoHIM inhibited a reduction in the lung inflammatory response on CS and LPS induced lung inflammation via the Erk pathway. Therefore, we suggest that HemoHIM has the potential to treat pulmonary inflammatory disease such as COPD.

Protective effect of HwangRyunHaeDok-Tang water extract against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide in a mouse model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hwangryunhaedok-tang is an oriental herbal formula treated to cure inflammation and gastric disorders in China, Japan, and Korea. We explored the protective effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang water extract (HRWE) against airway pathophysiological changes caused by cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed quantitative analyses of five marker components, namely geniposide, baicalin, coptisine, plamatine, and berberine, using high-performance liquid chromatography. Animals were received CS exposure (1h per day) for 7 days. LPS was administered intranasally on day 4. Mice were received HRWE at dose of 100 or 200mg/kg for 1h before CS exposure. RESULTS: Treatment with HRWE significantly suppressed the increased inflammatory cell count induced by CS and LPS exposure. In addition, reduction in IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1ß in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was observed after HRWE treatment. HRWE not only decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in lung, but also decreased the expression of iNOS, NF-κB and matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 in lung tissues. CONCLUSION: This study showed that HRWE can attenuate respiratory inflammation caused by CS and LPS exposure. Therefore, HRWE has potential for treating airway inflammatory disease.

Blood levels of cadmium and lead in residents near abandoned metal mine areas in Korea.

We analyzed national data on blood lead levels (BLL) and blood cadmium levels (BCL) in residents living near 38 abandoned metal mining areas (n = 5,682, 18-96 years old) in Korea that were collected by the first Health Effect Surveillance for Residents in Abandoned Metal mines (HESRAM) from 2008 to 2011. The geometric mean BCL and BLL were 1.60 µg/L (95 % CI = 1.57-1.62 µg/L) and 2.87 µg/dL (95 % CI = 2.84-2.90 µg/dL), respectively, notably higher than levels in the general population in Korea and other countries. We found significantly higher BLL and BCL levels in people living within 2 km of an abandoned metal mine (n = 3,165, BCL = 1.87 µg/L, BLL = 2.91 µg/dL) compared to people living more than 2 km away (n = 2,517, BCL = 1.31 µg/L, BLL = 2.82 µg/dL; P < 0.0001) and to the general population values reported in the literature.

Prenatal exposure to PM10 and NO2 and children's neurodevelopment from birth to 24 months of age: mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have suggested adverse effects of maternal exposure to air pollution on neurodevelopment in early childhood. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to particulates of less than 10 µm in diameter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and neurodevelopment in children during the first 24 months of their lives. METHODS: The MOCEH study is a prospective birth cohort study in South Korea. Average exposure levels to PM10 and NO2 during the entire pregnancy were estimated using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. A total of 520 mother-child pairs who completed neurodevelopmental assessments using the Korean Bayley Scale of Infant Development II (K-BSID-II) more than once at ages of 6, 12 and 24 months were included. Mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) from the K-BSID-II were used as outcome variables. RESULTS: There were negative associations between maternal exposure to PM10 and MDI (ß=-2.83; p=0.003) and PDI (ß=-3.00; p=0.002) throughout the first 24 months of life as determined by the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model. Maternal NO2 exposure was related with impairment of psychomotor development (ß=-1.30; p=0.05) but not with cognitive function (ß=-0.84; p=0.20). In a multiple linear regression model, there were significant effects of prenatal air pollution exposure on MDI (PM10: ß=-4.60; p<0.001, NO2: ß=-3.12; p<0.001) and PDI (PM10: ß=-7.24; p<0.001, NO2: ß=-3.01; p<0.001) at 6 months, but no significant association was found at 12 and 24 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that exposure to air pollution may result in delayed neurodevelopment in early childhood.

Hypertension resulting from overexpression of translationally controlled tumor protein increases the severity of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knock-out mice.

Hypertension is a well-established etiological factor for atherogenesis. We previously showed that transgenic mice overexpressing translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) develop systemic arterial hypertension. In this study we explored the cardiovascular effects of TCTP overexpression and possibly of the resultant hypertension on the severity of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Through multiple mating of TCTP-overexpressing transgenic mice (TCTP-TG) with apolipoprotein E knock-out mice (ApoE KO), we generated non-transgenic (nTG), TCTP-TG, nTG/ApoE KO and TCTP-TG/ApoE KO mice with similar genetic background. Male mice, 7-week old, were fed a lipid-enriched Western diet for 16 weeks, and blood pressure and body weight change were monitored every 2 weeks. Plasma lipid profiles and atherosclerotic lesions in aorta were quantified at the end of study. We found that blood pressure levels of TCTP-TG and TCTP-TG/ApoE KO, were similarly elevated while nTG and nTG/ApoE KO mice were normotensive. TCTP overexpression in ApoE KO mice led to significant exacerbation of atherosclerotic lesions. Feeding Western diet resulted in increases in total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein, and decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) in ApoE KO mice. No significant differences were found in plasma lipid profiles of nTG/ApoE KO and TCTP-TG/ApoE KO. This study suggests that overexpression of TCTP, which induces hypertension, also accelerates the development of atherosclerotic lesion caused by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet without significantly altering plasma lipid profiles. We conclude that TCTP-induced hypertension could increase the severity of atherosclerotic lesion and suggest that inhibition of TCTP or its signaling pathways may be a potential approach to the therapy of both diseases, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Human vesicular glutamate transporters functionally complement EAT-4 in C. elegans.

The vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) transports glutamate into pre-synaptic vesicles. Three isoforms of VGLUT have been identified in humans, but their functional differences remain largely unknown. EAT-4 is the only homologue of human VGLUT in C. elegans. Here we report that mutants of eat-4 exhibit hyperforaging behavior and that each of the isoforms of human VGLUT functionally rescues the defects in eat-4 worms.