Latest news with #ChungnamNationalUniversity
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Not only does sleep recharge your batteries - it might also stop you going deaf in your old age
Catching up on your sleep at the weekend could do much more than just recharge your batteries - it might also stop you going deaf in your old age. A new study involving nearly 7,000 people found those in their 40s and 50s who stayed in bed for an extra hour or so at the weekend were 40 per cent less likely to suffer age-related hearing loss when they got older. One in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or suffer with tinnitus – a ringing in the ears, according to the Royal National Institute For Deaf People (RNID). This rises to one in two in those aged 55 or over and by the time they reach their seventies, around 80 per cent of people will be struggling to hear properly. Age-related hearing loss is a major risk factor for dementia, loneliness and social isolation. Experts at Chungnam National University in South Korea studied the sleeping habits of 6,797 men and women aged over 40 and recorded how many were also showing signs of partial or complete deafness due to the ageing process. The results, in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, showed those enjoying regular weekend lie-ins were 42 per cent less likely to suffer mild hearing loss and 21 per cent less likely to have moderate loss. Those in their 40s and 50s seemed to benefit the most. But lie-ins did little to preserve the hearing of those over 65. Scientists said they think an extra hour or so of rest may preserve nerve connections in the brain that are vital for good hearing. Lack of proper sleep is known to cause inflammation which can damage the cochlea – the snail-shaped structure inside the ear that turns sounds into electrical signals for the brain. Previous studies have found snoozing at the weekend can also protect against heart disease and slash the risk of dementia by up to 70 per cent, especially in those who do not get enough sleep during the week. The researchers said: 'Our study suggests the association between weekend catch-up sleep and hearing loss may be more pronounced among middle-aged adults – those who are 40 to 64 – compared to adults aged 65 or older.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
There's Fecal Matter in Our Drinking Water — Here's What Scientists Are Doing About It
Researchers have developed a more precise method for detecting fecal contamination in water using viral DNA markers, allowing them to trace even low-level pollution and identify whether it's from humans, animals, or multiple sources. Traditional methods, like fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) testing, are limited because they only detect high levels of contamination and don't reveal the source, whereas the newer microbial source tracking (MST) technique is more detailed, cost-effective, and better suited for current climate challenges. Fecal contamination is a widespread and serious global issue, affecting nearly 2 billion people, and this improved testing could help public health officials respond faster and more accurately to threats, especially as aging infrastructure and climate-driven flooding increase have found a new way to test for water contamination. And it's thanks to our poop. In late 2024, researchers from Chungnam National University and Gyeongsang National University published their findings on a new technique for detecting fecal contamination in water using human viral DNA, known as microbial source tracking (MST), in the journal Water Research. And while this may make you let out a little "ew" under your breath, it's critical to know that fecal contamination is, in fact, a significant issue both globally and here in the United States. The World Health Organization explained, "In 2022, globally, at least 1.7 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with feces. Microbial contamination of drinking-water as a result of contamination with faeces poses the greatest risk to drinking-water safety." And as noted in a 2020 study published in the journal Current Environmental Health Reports, "Aging sewer infrastructure in the USA and elsewhere will require rapid methods to assess fecal contamination of water. The number of extreme weather events, including flooding events, is forecasted to increase with climate change and has been associated with contamination of water resources." Related: Your Cutting Board May Have 200 Times More Fecal Bacteria Than a Toilet Seat Runoff contamination can transfer harmful bacteria to humans, such as E. coli, leading to various health concerns. Therefore, recognizing fecal contamination in the water supply is crucial for your health. Thankfully, scientists are on the case. As Food Safety explained, conventional testing involved sampling water by adding droplets to a microbial culture (known as fecal indicator bacteria or FIB). Although this method is both cheap and easy, it can only detect fecal matter at higher contamination levels. However, a viral-DNA method employs microbial source tracking (MST), which can detect biomarkers of fecal matter at much lower levels. While the MST method itself isn't new — it's been around for roughly two decades — the real breakthrough is these researchers' deployment of human-specific crAss-like phage DNA markers, which is a really fancy way of saying they can now spot smaller traces of fecal matter and identify if it's human waste far more precisely than before. It can even detect where the fecal matter originated — i.e., if it's human or animal — or identify multiple sources at once. A 2024 study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment examined this updated MST method by "investigating the abundance, sources, and potential causes of fecal contamination" across three marine and seven freshwater stations in Vaughn Bay, Washington. This research included tests conducted in a shellfish growing district during both "base- and storm-flow events." Related: Is It Safe to Drink Water From a Glacier? We Asked a Glaciologist This research team evaluated the old-school FIB method, along with optical brightener assessment (a fluorescent compound that indicates fecal contamination), and the newer MST method, the last of which "targeted a broad range of hosts including, such as humans, birds, cows, horses, ruminants, dogs, and pigs, with sequencing-based MST in identifying fecal contamination sources." After testing the waters, they identified a few critical points. First, birds and humans are the primary culprits of contamination; second, stormwater runoff exacerbates contamination significantly; and third, the sequencing-based MST provides the most effective testing approach. The researchers noted that this method is more cost-effective per sample and yields much more detailed information, which is why they now recommend its use to officials. But here's a little other fun fact for you: Fecal contamination doesn't just happen in our waterways. As the Washington Post explained in 2023, there's fecal contamination on essentially everything. The paper pointed to a 2012 study that tested 85 grocery carts and found that 72% of them tested positive for fecal bacteria. Another 2017 study looked at "microbial contamination" in home kitchens, including fecal coliforms. It found fecal coliforms in 44% of homes, "most often in samples from kitchen sinks, sponges, and dishcloths," and E. coli in 15% of homes, "mostly in samples from kitchen sinks." So, go ahead and wash your hands right now. And be grateful for scientists who help us keep our waterways safe. Read the original article on Food & Wine
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Korea Herald
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] Hana honors parents
Hana Financial Group hosted a special concert for employees and their parents on Saturday at Chungnam National University in Daejeon, in celebration of Korea's upcoming 'Family Month' in May. The event featured a variety of activities, including performances of trot music -- a family-friendly genre of older Korean pop. Surprise video messages from parents and themed photo zones gave employees and their families a chance to create lasting memories. 'Hana Financial Group stands where it is today thanks to the sacrifice, dedication, trust and love of our parents,' said Chairman Ham Young-joo (sixth from left in the photo). (Hana Financial Group)
Korea Herald
20-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
88-year-old who overcame lifetime of hardship donates building to university
Yun Geun, 88, an inn owner in Busan, has donated her building worth 4 billion won ($2.73 million) to Chungnam National University in her hometown area of South Chungcheong Province. The self-made businesswoman, who never had the privilege of even attending elementary school, expressed her wishes that her donation would allow financially-challenged students to pursue their dreams. She owns a six-story building in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, which was erected in 1995, where she has runs the Dongnam Inn. "I earned my life's savings by overcoming hardships, never even stepping foot in an elementary school. I hope students with economic hardships can to focus on their studies, so they can become great leaders of the world," Yun said. Yun said she was inspired by the late Lee Bok-sun, also known as the "gimbap lady," who donated 5 billion won in real estate and money to the university in 1990. Her nickname came from her work selling gimbap and running an inn. She passed away in 1991 at the age of 79. The university said it is considering using Yun's building as educational facilities or a camp center for students. Born into a farming family in Cheongyang-gun, South Chungcheong Province, Yun and her two sisters lost their mother when she was three, and then their father when she was 13. Her family's poverty prevented her from getting an education. She married a miner when she was 17, and has worked as merchant since age 19. Her husband had two sons with another woman, despite the fact that it was Yun that provided the main source of income for the family. Yun relocated to Busan in the 1970s in search of opportunities, earning enough money to buy a two-story house that she turned into an inn. She ran a successful business that led to the inn expanding over the following decades, eventually into the six-story building that it is currently located in. CNU President Kim Jung-gyeom praised Yun, saying her life represents the history of the Korean people, spanning from the era of Japan's 1910-1945 colonization throughout the era of economic growth and to the current day. He vowed that the university will respect her wishes and do its best for the education of its students.
