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Background: This study examines integrating physical and mental healthcare for disadvantaged persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and mild-to-moderate depression in the community, using a mobile application within a public-private-academic partnership. Methods: The Korean Diabetes Association has developed a mobile application combining behavioral activation for psychological well-being and diabetes self-management, with conventional medical therapy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive the application with usual care or only usual care. Primary outcomes measured changes in psychological status and diabetes selfmanagement through questionnaires at week 12 from the baseline. Secondary outcomes assessed glycemic and lipid control, with psychological assessments at week 16. Results: Thirty-nine of 73 participants completed the study (20 and 19 in the intervention and control groups, respectively) and were included in the analysis. At week 12, the intervention group showed significant reductions in depression severity and perceived stress compared to the control group. Additionally, they reported increased perceived social support and demonstrated improved diabetes self-care behavior. These positive effects persisted through week 16, with the added benefit of reduced anxiety. While fasting glucose levels in the intervention group tended to improve, no other significant differences were observed in laboratory assessments between the groups. Conclusion: This study provides compelling evidence for the potential efficacy of a mobile application that integrates physical and mental health components to address depressive symptoms and enhance diabetes self-management in disadvantaged individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression. Further research involving larger and more diverse populations is warranted to validate these findings and solidify their implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to identify the risk of incident depression according to cumulative exposure to a low-household income status in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: For this retrospective longitudinal population-based cohort study, we used Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2002 to 2018. Risk of depression was assessed according to cumulative exposure to low-household income status (defined as Medical Aid registration) during the previous 5 years among adults (aged =20 years) with T2DM and without baseline depression who underwent health examinations from 2009 to 2012 (n=2,027,317). Results: During an average 6.23 years of follow-up, 401,175 incident depression cases occurred. Advance in cumulative number of years registered for medical aid during the previous 5 years from baseline was associated with an increased risk of depression in a dose-dependent manner (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.38 to 1.50]; HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.35 to 1.46]; HR, 1.42, [95% CI, 1.37 to 1.48]; HR, 1.46, [95% CI, 1.40 to 1.53]; HR, 1.69, [95% CI, 1.63 to 1.74] in groups with 1 to 5 exposed years, respectively). Insulin users exposed for 5 years to a low-household income state had the highest risk of depression among groups categorized by insulin use and duration of low-household income status. Conclusion: Cumulative duration of low-household income status, defined as medical aid registration, was associated with an increased risk of depression in a dose-response manner in individuals with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Body temperature monitoring is essential during the perioperative period. However, core body temperature measurement requires invasive device that may cause complications. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of non-invasive Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system (BHTMS) at the wrist compared with esophageal temperature under general anesthesia. Methods Twenty adult patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were enrolled. BHTMS sensor was applied at wrist region. After tracheal intubation, an esophageal probe was inserted. Bair Hugger™ upper body warming blankets were used. Esophageal temperature (Teso) and BHTMS at wrist (Twrist) were recorded every 10 min. Results Total of 257 pairs of data sets were analyzed: Teso and Twrist had no statistically significant difference (P = 0.103). Median of Teso and Twrist were 36.5℃ and 36.4℃. Bland-Altman analysis showed Teso - Twrist of 0.14℃ ± 1.44. Subsequently, 99 pairs of 0-40 min data set were analyzed and showed significant difference at 0 and 10 min (P < 0.001) but no significant difference at 20, 30 and 40 min. Bland-Altman plot by times showed difference (Teso - Twrist) of 1.49℃ ± 2.00, 0.82℃ ± 1.30, 0.29℃ ± 1.32, -0.03℃ ± 0.84, and -0.12℃ ± 0.82 at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 min respectively. Conclusions BHTMS at wrist area under the upper body warming blanket is a potential alternative other than esophageal temperature for monitoring body temperature after 30 min of anesthesia induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study argues that, from the standpoint of social suffering, the perspective that sees refugees in terms of their "bare life" (Agamben) over-represents the legal-political system and treats them as apolitical subjects. This study posits that when seen not only in the legal-political but also in personal-relationalsocial dimensions, refugees can be understood as political subjects during their transnational journeys from North to South Korea. In-depth interviews with North Korean refugees who have settled in South Korea are used to support this point. Other Asian states approach North Korean refugee migrations according to their own particular social and political circumstances and the refugees describe their experiences of exploitation and social dislocation as "bearable pain" or "temporary pain" in light of the hoped-for survival and legal asylum. While helpful in adapting psychologically or emotionally to adverse circumstances, such perceptions support the continuation of inhumane relationships and unjust practices in the formal and informal socio-economic arena made up of North Korean refugees and the local subjects who interact with them. The lived experiences and storytelling of refugees, however, expose contradictions in the social structure and demonstrate they are political subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed (1) to identify distinct subgroups of psychiatric patients referred for a mental health certificate for military service suitability and (2) to determine whether there is a difference in clinical features such as treatment responsiveness and prognosis among certain subgroups. Methods: We conducted latent profile analysis (LPA) using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) clinical profiles of the participants. Linear mixed model analysis was performed to examine changes in the severity of clinical symptoms and functional level according to the treatment period of the latent classes derived from the LPA. Results: The results indicated that the best-fitting model was a three-class model, comprising Class 1 (mild maladjustment), Class 2 (neurotic depression and anxiety), and Class 3 (highly vulnerable and hypervigilant). We demonstrated that the three subgroups displayed different characteristics in treatment responsiveness and clinical course based on their Clinical Global Impression-Severity and Global Assessment of Functioning scores over a treatment period of 6 months. While subjects in Classes 1 and 2 significantly improved over 6 months, those in Class 3 showed little or no improvement in our clinical parameters. Conclusion: This study has yielded data with clinical implications for treatment planning and interventions for each subgroup classified that were based on MMPI-2 clinical profiles of military recruits who might be maladjusted to serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how the modality of task presentation (spoken vs. written) influences the perception of sentences by native Korean speakers, focusing on ditransitive constructions. We conducted a spoken acceptability judgment experiment to collect acceptability scores and reaction times, examining both the judgment outcomes and processes. The spoken judgments were further compared with those obtained in a previous written judgment study by Park and Yi (2021) to directly assess the impact of presentation modality on ditransitive perception. The spoken experiment revealed general and construction-specific patterns in the relationship between acceptability scores and reaction times. Furthermore, we found the presentation modality significantly affects the acceptability scores and reaction times of ditransitives, with its precise influence varying depending on construction type and verb semantics. These results highlight the value of using spoken stimuli in acceptability judgment experiments and incorporating reaction time data in theoretical and psycholinguistic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although brachial plexus block in volar plating surgery for distal radius fractures is reportedly associated with lower postoperative pain scores, rebound pain has been reported to occur after the initial block wears off. Dexamethasone can be used in multimodal strategies for antiemesis and to control pain postoperatively. Although prior studies have suggested that anesthesia can be prolonged by adding dexamethasone to regional blocks, no randomized trials we are aware of have ascertained whether doing so will make a clinically important difference in pain after surgery for distal radius fractures. Questions/purposes Do patients who receive supplemental dexamethasone in a brachial plexus block for volar plating of unstable distal radius fractures have (1) better pain scores at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively than patients who have not received dexamethasone, and (2) lower fentanyl consumption and administration of antiemetic drugs without change in serum blood glucose, as well as a longer analgesic duration from the block after surgery than patients who have not received dexamethasone? Methods This randomized, double-blind trial included 69 patients undergoing surgery for distal radius fractures under ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks who were randomly allocated into two groups: a nondexamethasone group receiving a brachial plexus block with 0.5% ropivacaine and a dexamethasone group receiving 0.5% ropivacaine and 5 mg of dexamethasone. Thirty-four patients were allocated to the dexamethasone group and 35 were allocated to the nondexamethasone group. Nine patients (four in the dexamethasone group and five in the nondexamethasone group) were excluded after randomization because local anesthetics were used during their surgical procedures owing to an incomplete block or they requested patient-controlled analgesia after surgery. The treatment groups did not differ in any important ways, including age, gender, BMI, hand dominance, and AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification. All patients received the same surgical procedure and perioperative care protocol, except for the injected agents during their brachial plexus block. The primary outcome was postoperative pain, evaluated using a 10-mm VAS at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The minimum clinically important difference for the VAS score was 2 of 10 points. Secondary outcome variables included fentanyl administration as a rescue analgesic, the number of patients receiving antiemetic medications because of fentanyl administration, and the duration of brachial plexus block. Serum blood glucose was measured 1 day before, immediately after, and 24 hours after surgery. Patients, surgeons, and outcome assessors were blinded to treatment allocation. Results The only clinically important between-group difference in VAS pain scores was at 8 hours, favoring the group that received dexamethasone over the group that did not (1.9±1.6 versus 4.7±2.7; mean difference -2.8 [95% CI -3.9 to -1.6]; p < 0.001). After brachial plexus block, the most severe pain score in both groups was reported at 12 hours postoperatively and gradually diminished over time. There was no between-group difference in fentanyl use between those who received dexamethasone and those who did not (21±38 mcg versus 31±29 mcg; mean difference -10 [95% CI -27.4 to 7.4]; p = 0.26). Furthermore, the use of antiemetics did not differ between the groups (27% [eight of 30] versus 37% [11 of 30]; odds ratio 1.6 [95% CI 0.5 to 4.8]; p = 0.41). Baseline and 24-hour postoperative serum blood glucose level did not differ between the groups. However, the immediately postoperative serum blood glucose level was higher in the dexamethasone group than in the nondexamethasone group (121 ± 29 versus 104 ± 20; mean difference 16 [95% CI 3.3 to 28.8]; p = 0.02). The brachial plexus block duration was 3 hours longer (95% CI 0.8 to 5.2 hours) in the dexamethasone group than that in the nondexamethasone group (11 ± 5 hours versus 8 ± 3 hours; p = 0.01). Conclusion The postoperative pain level in patients who received supplemental dexamethasone in a regional block was not clinically different from that of patients who received conventional brachial plexus block anesthesia when undergoing volar plating for distal radius fractures. However, patients who received a brachial plexus block with dexamethasone experienced slight prolongation of their block and decrease in pain 8 hours after surgery. Level of Evidence Level I, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We explored the risk of death from pneumonia according to cumulative duration in low household income state (LHIS) among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Using Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2002 to 2018), the hazards of mortality from pneumonia were analyzed according to duration in LHIS (being registered to Medical Aid) during the 5 years before baseline (0, 1-4, and 5 years) among adults with T2DM who underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012 (n=2,503,581). Hazards of outcomes were also compared in six groups categorized by insulin use and duration in LHIS. Results: During a median 7.18 years, 12,245 deaths from pneumonia occurred. Individuals who had been exposed to LHIS had higher hazards of death from pneumonia in a dose-response manner (hazard ratio [HR], 1.726; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.568 to 1.899 and HR, 4.686; 95% CI, 3.948 to 5.562 in those exposed for 1-4 and 5 years, respectively) compared to the non-exposed reference. Insulin users exposed for 5 years to LHIS exhibited the highest outcome hazard among six groups categorized by insulin use and duration in LHIS. Conclusion: Among adults with T2DM, cumulative duration in LHIS may predict increased risks of mortality from pneumonia in a graded dose-response manner. Insulin users with the longest duration in LHIS might be the group most vulnerable to death from pneumonia among adults with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion ontologies have been developed to capture affect, a concept that encompasses discrete emotions and feelings, especially for research on sentiment analysis, which analyzes a customer's attitude towards a company or a product. However, there have been limited efforts to adapt and employ these ontologies. This research surveys and synthesizes emotion ontology studies to develop a Framework of Emotion Ontologies that can be used to help a user select or design an appropriate emotion ontology to support sentiment analysis and increase the user's understanding of the roles of affect, context, and behavioral information with respect to sentiment. The framework, which is derived from research on emotion ontologies, psychology, and sentiment analysis, classifies emotion ontologies as discrete emotion or one of two hybrid ontologies that are combinations of the discrete, dimensional, or componential process emotion paradigms. To illustrate its usefulness, the framework is applied to the development of an emotion ontology for a sentiment analysis application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy are at high risk of malnutrition. Nutritional support is an important part of treatment for patients with critical illness admitted to the intensive care unit. We aimed to investigate the status of nutritional provision and the effects of nutritional support on clinical outcomes. Methods and Study Design: Our institution’s medical records (from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021) were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. We included 43 patients aged >18 years who received continuous renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in the surgical intensive care unit. Results: The demographic characteristics were similar between the survivor and non-survivor groups. The protein supply per body weight (0.88 ± 0.37 g/kg vs. 0.47 ± 0.53 g/kg, p = 0.029) and the proportion of patients who met the target protein level (58.9 ± 24.9% vs. 30.8 ± 34.9%, p = 0.022) were significantly higher in the survivor group. Approximately 79.1% of the patients had a high malnutrition risk with a modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill score of ≥5. The lengths of hospital and intensive care unit stays were longer in the high nutritional risk group compared with that in the low nutritional risk group, but the result was not significant. Conclusions: The nutritional amount provided in patients with critical illness is significantly lesser than the recommended amount. Ensuring proper nutritional support can improve the clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women undergo various physical changes because of hormonal changes occurring after menopause. Some representative changes caused by the reduction in estrogen levels in these women are dyslipidemia, abnormal lipoprotein levels, obesity, weight gain, and changes in body fat distribution. A characteristic of women approaching menopause is the shift of fat from their hips and thighs to their abdomen. Notably, fat accumulation is common in internal organs, resulting in male-pattern obesity among women approaching menopause; therefore, these women require more exercise therapy than premenopausal women to prevent and treat obesity. To the best of our knowledge, no effective exercise therapy guidelines have been established for postmenopausal women; therefore, I aimed to suggest more effective diet and exercise therapies for postmenopausal women with obesity. For this purpose, I organized the diet and exercise protocol by collaborating with an obstetrician and a researcher specializing in sports medicine; further, this protocol was actually applied to all participants. The results indicated that the protocol is effective in reducing weight; however, joint pain was commonly noted in participants who dropped out of the program. Based on the evaluation of joint pain, this study found that it is necessary to perform exercise therapy by avoiding weight-bearing activities and reinforcing personalized joint strengthening exercises because reduced estrogen level is an important factor exacerbating arthritis in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hypothalamic damage may increase the risk of adulthood obesity and cardiovascular disease in patients with craniopharyngioma. We evaluated the effects of hypothalamic involvement (HI) and growth hormone (GH) discontinuation on cardiovascular risk factors during the transition period in patients with childhood-onset craniopharyngioma. Methods: Thirty-three patients (17 males, 16 females) underwent retesting for adult GH deficiency (GHD) between 2005 and 2020 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Postoperative HI was graded by Puget's criteria and data regarding GH replacement were collected. At retesting, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, and blood pressure were assessed. Results: The mean age of commencement and discontinuation of GH replacement for childhood GHD was 10.0±3.6 and 15.3±3.1 years, respectively. The mean age at retesting for adult GHD was 17.7±2.5 years. When patients were categorized by post-GH discontinuation duration, those with durations >6 months (n=27) showed lower HDL-C levels than those with <6 months (P=0.037). Patients with extensive HI (n=16) had higher BMI z-scores than did those with no HI or mild HI (P=0.020). Both the extent of HI and longer post-GH discontinuation duration were significantly predictive for decreased HDL-C levels (P<0.05, for both). Conclusion: The extent of HI and GH discontinuation duration during the transition period can increase cardiovascular risks in patients with childhood-onset craniopharyngioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the single-arm, phase 2 DESTINY-Breast01 trial, trastuzumab deruxtecan showed robust activity in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who were refractory or resistant to trastuzumab emtansine; a population with scarce effective treatments. In DESTINY-Breast02, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan with treatment of physician's choice in this patient population. This randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial was conducted at 227 sites (hospitals, university hospitals, clinics, community centres, and private oncology centres) in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Israel, and Türkiye. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, had unresectable or HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, previously received trastuzumab emtansine, disease progression, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, and adequate renal and hepatic function. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive trastuzumab deruxtecan (intravenously at 5·4 mg/kg once every 3 weeks) or treatment of physician's choice using block randomisation. Treatment of physician's choice was either capecitabine (1250 mg/m2; orally twice per day on days 1–14) plus trastuzumab (8 mg/kg intravenously on day 1 then 6 mg/kg once per day) or capecitabine (1000 mg/m2) plus lapatinib (1250 mg orally once per day on days 1–21), with a 21-day schedule. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival based on blinded independent central review in the full analysis set. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03523585. Between Sept 6, 2018, and Dec 31, 2020, 608 patients were randomly assigned to receive trastuzumab deruxtecan (n=406; two did not receive treatment) or treatment of physician's choice (n=202; seven did not receive treatment). 608 (100%) patients were included in the full analysis set. The median age was 54·2 years (IQR 45·5–63·4) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan group and 54·7 years (48·0–63·0) in the treatment of physician's choice group. 384 (63%) patients were White, 603 (99%) were female, and five (<1%) were male. The median follow-up was 21·5 months (IQR 15·2–28·4) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan group and 18·6 months (8·8–26·0) in the treatment of physician's choice group. Median progression-free survival by blinded independent central review was 17·8 months (95% CI 14·3–20·8) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan group versus 6·9 months (5·5–8·4) in the treatment of physician's choice group (HR 0·36 [0·28–0·45]; p<0·0001). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were nausea (293 [73%] of 404 with trastuzumab deruxtecan vs 73 [37%] of 195 with treatment of physician's choice), vomiting (152 [38%] vs 25 [13%]), alopecia (150 [37%] vs eight [4%]), fatigue (147 [36%] vs 52 [27%]), diarrhoea (109 [27%] vs 105 [54%]), and palmar–plantar erythrodysaesthesia (seven [2%] vs 100 [51%]). Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 213 (53%) patients receiving trastuzumab deruxtecan versus 86 (44%) receiving treatment of physician's choice; whereas drug-related interstitial lung disease occurred in 42 (10%; including two grade 5 death events) versus one (<1%). DESTINY-Breast02 shows the favourable benefit–risk profile of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer, as previously reported in DESTINY-Breast01, and is the first randomised study to show that one antibody-drug conjugate can overcome resistance to a previous one. Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a rare systemic fibroinflammatory condition characterized by organomegaly or tumefactive lesions associated with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration rich in IgG4 plasma cells. We report a case of IgG4-related disease involving the subcutaneous layer of the left upper arm in a 48-year-old female presenting with an unusual soft tissue mass. US and MRI showed an irregular infiltrative soft tissue mass, indicating possible malignancy or inflammation. We discuss the diagnostic criteria, histopathologic features, radiological features, and treatment of IgG4-related disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) are important immune-suppressive regulators in the tumor microenvironment. A vaccine-induced immune effect on tumor cells is blunted by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, we hypothesized that a dendritic cell (DC) vaccine combined with anti-PD-1 (αPD-1) antibodies could elicit a synergistic anti-tumor immunity in bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: We produced a model of subcutaneous transplantation in C3H/HeJ mice by transplanting murine MBT-2 bladder cancer cells. DCs were isolated from normal C3H/HeJ mice, followed by stimulation against MBT-2 lysate before injection. Two weeks later of MBT-2 inoculation, αPD-1 and stimulated DCs were injected two times at one-week interval intraperitoneally and intravenously, respectively. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells and splenocytes were analyzed using flow cytometry. T-cell-mediated anti-tumor responses were measured by interferon (IFN)-γ ELISPOT and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Results: The mice treated with DC+α PD-1 showed a significant decrease in tumor volume compared to the DC-treated mice and IgG-treated group. Survival of the DC+α PD-1–treated group was improved compared with that of the IgG-treated mice. IFN-γ secretion from splenocytes against tumor cells was significantly increased in the DC+α PD-1 group compared with that of αPD-1– treated mice. The frequency of CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells in spleens was statistically increased in the DC+αPD-1–treated mice compared to those receiving monotherapy (DC- or αPD-1–treated group). Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that the combination therapy of a DC vaccine and αPD-1 antibodies could enhance the anti-tumor immune response against bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic inflammatory condition associated with metallic implant insertion is a risk factor for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Metal ions play a role in the pathogenesis of lymphoma. We report a rare case of DLBCL in a patient who had a metallic implant in the proximal tibia for 15 months. Radiologic studies, including US and MRI, showed disproportionately large extraosseous soft-tissue mass and bone marrow involvement without prominent bone destruction. Multiple complications are associated with metallic implants, and misdiagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatment. Therefore, distinguishing lymphomas caused by a metallic implant-induced chronic inflammatory condition from other periprosthetic benign lesions and malignant soft tissue masses is challenging, but it is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random forests are considered a cornerstone in machine learning for their robustness and versatility. Despite these strengths, their conventional centralized training is ill-suited for the modern landscape of data that is often distributed, sensitive, and subject to privacy concerns. Federated learning (FL) provides a compelling solution to this problem, enabling models to be trained across a group of clients while maintaining the privacy of each client's data. However, adapting tree-based methods like random forests to federated settings introduces significant challenges, particularly when it comes to non-identically distributed (non-IID) data across clients, which is a common scenario in real-world applications. This paper presents a federated random forest approach that employs a novel ensemble construction method aimed at improving performance under non-IID data. Instead of growing trees independently in each client, our approach ensures each decision tree in the ensemble is iteratively and collectively grown across clients. To preserve the privacy of the client's data, we confine the information stored in the leaf nodes to the majority class label identified from the samples of the client's local data that reach each node. This limited disclosure preserves the confidentiality of the underlying data distribution of clients, thereby enhancing the privacy of the federated learning process. Furthermore, our collaborative ensemble construction strategy allows the ensemble to better reflect the data's heterogeneity across different clients, enhancing its performance on non-IID data, as our experimental results confirm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is a relatively rich literature measuring curiosity outside of sport, there is little research on measuring sport fans' curiosity. Based on Berlyne's (1960) two dimensions of curiosity, the current research project aimed to develop a reliable and valid measurement scale for sport fans' specific curiosity. Convenience samples of university students were used. Three studies were used to develop the 11-item Sport Fan Specific Curiosity Scale (SFSCS) was developed. Specifically, the SFSCS consisted of three factors: specific information (5 items), general information (3 items), and sport facility information (3 items). The SFSCS was found to be a reliable and valid scale to measure sport fans' specific curiosity. The scale should be useful in predicting aspects of sport fan behavior for sport fans at various stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, caregiving performance, stress levels, and mental health of family caregivers of terminal cancer patients with delirium, insofar as these characteristics are relevant for delirium. Methods: Between May 1, 2019, and June 1, 2020, 96 family caregivers of terminal cancer patients with delirium completed a structured survey, the results of which were analyzed. Results: The average correct answer rate for delirium-related knowledge was 53.2% across all subcategories, which included knowledge of causes (41.5%), symptoms (65.4%), and caregiving (51.7%). The average score for family caregivers' performance of caregiving for delirium was 2.60 ±0.5, with subcategories including caregiving for patients without delirium (2.16±0.95), caregiving for patients with delirium (2.84±1.01), and stress related to caregiving for delirium (39.88±16.55), as well as categories such as patient-related caregiving (44.32±28.98), duty-related caregiving (44.21±30.15), and interpersonal relationship-related caregiving (22.35±25.03). For mental health, the average score among family caregivers was 1.96± 0.70, with the highest score being for the category of additional items (2.28±0.84). Family caregivers of patients with hyperactive delirium as the delirium subtype had higher scores for caregiving performance than caregivers of patients with mixed delirium. Conclusion: Scores for the delirium-related knowledge and caregiving performance of family caregivers were low, while their caregiving stress levels were high due to their lack of knowledge and experience. This indicates the importance of delirium-related education for family members of patients with delirium and the necessity of developing nursing intervention programs to help manage stress and promote mental health among family caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospice palliative care refers to holistic care provided by an interdisciplinary team aimed at improving the quality of life of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases and their families. Among interdisciplinary team members, hospice advanced practice nurses (APNs) trained as master's-level advanced nursing professionals are leaders who play an important role in providing patient-centered care and improving the quality of services. The Medical Service Act revised in 2018 requires the scope of practice of APNs in each field to be specified in the Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Accordingly, discussions on the role and scope of practice of hospice APNs are actively underway. In this review, the curriculum of hospice APNs, their work responsibilities and roles, and their current status are reviewed, and the future direction of the hospice APN system is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing motivation is a crucial issue in pediatric obesity interventions, as behavioral changes related to food intake and physical exercise are difficult to carry out with an insufficient level of motivation. In the treatment setting, low motivation towards change may lead to early termination or inadequate treatment outcomes. This paper reviews widely-used models of motivation, including the transtheoretical model of change, self-determination theory, and motivational interviewing (MI). We introduce useful strategies based on each theoretical model to enhance motivation, such as an importance and confidence scale and a decisional balance technique. A review of recent MI interventions in children and adolescents is presented to discuss the efficacy of MI-based interventions and considerations for applying MI in pediatric obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can social problems be solved? The complicated and rapidly changing problems of modern society require all the actors of the economy to create social values to solve problems. Social enterprises create social value in the field of business and solve many social problems through employment. The increasing number of diverse social problems has stimulated interest in social enterprises. This study identifies employment in social enterprises in terms of its quantity and quality. The human resources required for social enterprises must be unique and valuable, but many social enterprises fail to utilize human resources by maintaining contractual and short-term employment relationships even though long-term and continuing employment relationships are valuable. Therefore, this study identifies the economic value created by social enterprises as a basis for the creation of high-quality jobs and confirms the role that government grants and return on assets play in that relationship. As a result of panel analysis of social enterprises, the direct effect of net income on the quantity of employment and its indirect effect on the quality of employment were confirmed. Additionally, in companies receiving significant government grants, the relationship between net income and the quantity of employment is found to be strong, and the return on assets found to strengthen the indirect effects of net income on the quality of employment. This study has academic and practical implications for social enterprises through its review of theory and empirical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four kinds of Si-nanocrystal (NC) multilayers (MLs) have been fabricated on n-type Si wafers by changing the optical bandgap gradually in the directions towards the Si substrate or towards the center of the MLs through the variation of the NC size in each layer. Photovoltaic behaviors of the graded-size p-type Si-NC MLs/n-type Si-wafer heterojunction solar cells are shown to strongly depend on the ML structure. The Si-NC ML solar cells with a stepwise increase in the bandgap towards the center of the MLs exhibit best energy-conversion efficiency at low doping levels. These results are discussed based on the radiative and nonradiative processes in the graded-size Si-NC MLs, as analyzed by continuous-wave and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to identify bovine blastocysts through in vitro fertilization (IVF) of matured oocytes with a large quantity of highquality sperm separated from a biomimetic cervix environment. We obtained high-quality sperm in large quantities using an IVF sperm sorting chip (SSC), which could mimic the viscous environment of the bovine cervix during ovulation and facilitates isolation of progressively motile sperm from semen. The viscous environment-on-a-chip was realized by formulating and implementing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based solutions for the SSC medium. Sperm separated from the IVF-SSC containing PVP 1.5% showed high motility, normal morphology and high DNA integrity. As a result of IVF, a higher rate of hatching blastocysts, which is the pre-implantation stage, were observed, compared to the conventional swim-up method. Our results may significantly contribute to improving livestock with superior male and female genetic traits, thus overcoming the limitation of artificial insemination based on the superior genetic traits of existing males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disorders are common in critically ill patients. Unfortunately, sleep assessment is challenging in many intensive care units (ICUs). The Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) is a simple subjective tool that has been validated and used in many countries. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the Korean version of the RCSQ (K-RCSQ). Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the ICUs of two hospitals. In total, 52 consenting patients answered questionnaires regarding their previous night's sleep (K-RCSQ) and the noise they experienced (range, 0-100). Results: The K-RCSQ showed excellent internal consistency of 0.960 by Cronbach's alpha. The mean total score of the K-RCSQ was 41.9±28.9 (range, 0-100). The mean perceived ICU noise score was 40.7±28.1 (range, 0-90). There was a significant linear correlation between noise score and average K-RCSQ score (r=-0.37, P<0.001). Conclusions: The K-RCSQ demonstrated excellent reliability (internal consistency). This simple tool may help assess sleep quality in critically ill patients and improve the quality of ICU care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a challenge for healthcare systems, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure. Protecting HCWs is of paramount importance to maintain continuous patient care and keep healthcare systems functioning. Used alongside administrative and engineering control measures, personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense and the core component of protection. Current data suggest that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact. Airborne transmission may occur during aerosol-generating procedures. However, the modes of transmission still remain uncertain, especially regarding the possibility of airborne transmission when aerosolgenerating procedures are not performed. Thus, there are some inconsistencies in the respiratory protective equipment recommended by international and national organizations. In Korea, there have been several modifications to PPE recommendations offering options in choosing PPE for respiratory and body protection, which confuses HCWs; they are often unsure what to wear and when to wear it. The choice of PPE is based on the risk of exposure and possible modes of transmission. The level of protection provided by PPE differs based on standards and test methods. Thus, understanding them is the key in selecting the proper PPE. This article reviews evidence on the mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, compares the current PPE recommendations of the World Health Organization with those in Korea, and discusses standard requirements and the proper selection of PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses bioinformatic and functional data link integrin-mediated cell adhesion to cellular senescence. It mentions that role for aberrant integrin signaling in senescence, but how senescence alters cell-matrix adhesion and how this contributes to the senescent phenotype are poorly understood. It also mentions that cellular senescence is associated with cell cycle arrest, which can be due to either increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.

As a central feature of neuroinflammation, microglial dysfunction has been increasingly considered a causative factor of neurodegeneration implicating an intertwined pathology with amyloidogenic proteins. Herein, we report the smallest synthetic molecule (N,N′- diacetyl-p-phenylenediamine [DAPPD]), simply composed of a benzene ring with 2 acetamide groups at the para position, known to date as a chemical reagent that is able to promote the phagocytic aptitude ofmicroglia and subsequently ameliorate cognitive defects. Based on our mechanistic investigations in vitro and in vivo, 1) the capability of DAPPD to restore microglial phagocytosis is responsible for diminishing the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) species and significantly improving cognitive function in the brains of 2 types of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) transgenic mice, and 2) the rectification of microglial function by DAPPD is a result of its ability to suppress the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins through its impact on the NF-κB pathway. Overall, our in vitro and in vivo investigations on efficacies andmolecular-level mechanisms demonstrate the ability of DAPPD to regulate microglial function, suppress neuroinflammation, foster cerebral Aβ clearance, and attenuate cognitive deficits in AD transgenic mouse models. Discovery of such antineuroinflammatory compounds signifies the potential in discovering effective therapeutic molecules against AD-associated neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curiosity has been regarded as a key intrinsic motivational drive for facilitating human exploratory behaviors in many domains, such as psychology, education, and sport. However, no attempt has been made to measure curiosity in a sport context. The purpose of this study was to develop an effective and efficient sport fan exploratory curiosity scale (SFECS). A total of 657 participants were recruited and completed surveys. Various statistical analyses were used to examine the reliability and validity of the scale. The analyses resulted in a reliable and valid scale with three factors (Excitement, New Sport Events, Sport Facility) and a total of 10-items. The SFECS was useful in predicting various sport fan behaviors. Future research should be done in an effort to further refine the scale and to examine the role of curiosity in various practical areas in a sport context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical description of the vibrational excitons in DNA is presented by using the vibrational basis mode theory developed in Papers I and II. The parameters obtained from the density functional theory calculations, such as vibrational coupling constants and basis mode frequencies, are used to numerically simulate two-dimensional (2D) IR spectra of dGn:dCn and dAn:dTn double helices with n varying from 1 to 10. From the molecular dynamics simulations of dG5C5 and dA5T5 double helices in D2O solution, it is found that the thermally driven internal motions of these systems in an aqueous solution do not induce strong fluctuations of basis mode frequencies nor vibrational couplings. In order to construct the two-exciton Hamiltonian, the vibrational anharmonicities of eight basis modes are obtained by carrying out B3LYP/6-31G* calculations for the nine basis modes. The simulated 2D IR spectra of dGn:dCn double helix in D2O solution are directly compared with closely related experimental results. The 2D IR spectra of dGn:dCn and dAn:dTn are found to be weakly dependent on the number of base pairs. The present work demonstrates that the computational procedure combining quantum chemistry calculation and molecular dynamics simulation methods can be of use to predict 2D IR spectra of nucleic acids in solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrying out density functional theory calculations of four DNA bases, base derivatives, Watson-Crick (WC) base pairs, and multiple-layer base pair stacks, we studied vibrational dynamics of delocalized modes with frequency ranging from 1400 to 1800 cm-1. These modes have been found to be highly sensitive to structure fluctuation and base pair conformation of DNA. By identifying eight fundamental basis modes, it is shown that the normal modes of base pairs and multilayer base pair stacks can be described by linear combinations of these vibrational basis modes. By using the Hessian matrix reconstruction method, vibrational coupling constants between the basis modes are determined for WC base pairs and multilayer systems and are found to be most strongly affected by the hydrogen bonding interaction between bases. It is also found that the propeller twist and buckle motions do not strongly affect vibrational couplings and basis mode frequencies. Numerically simulated IR spectra of guanine-cytosine and adenine-thymine bases pairs as well as of multilayer base pair stacks are presented and described in terms of coupled basis modes. It turns out that, due to the small interlayer base-base vibrational interactions, the IR absorption spectrum of multilayer base pair system does not strongly depend on the number of base pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass-resolved two-photon (1+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectra of the Ã-X transitions of various methylamine isotopomers (CH3NHD, CD3NH2, CD3NHD, and CD3ND2) cooled in the supersonic jet expansion have been measured and analyzed. The band analysis using the Hamiltonian for the internal and overall rotational motions provides the accurate vibrational band positions, allowing for unambiguous assignments for all observed vibrational bands of methylamine isotopomers in the à states. Amino wagging (ν9) and methyl rocking (ν7) modes are found to be Franck-Condon active, and associated anharmonicity constants are precisely determined to give the detailed shape of the potential energy surface in the vicinity of the minimum electronic molecular structure. The barrier height for the nearly free internal rotation about the C–N bond in the à state is calculated to be strongly dependent on the excitation of the other higher-frequency vibrational modes, and it is found that the trend is consistent with the experiment. Experimentally measured spectroscopic constants are compared with ab initio calculations, confirming all vibronic assignments. Experimental and theoretical results on all possible H/D isotopomers of methylamine in this work, with the earlier report on CH3NH2 and CH3ND2 Baek et al., [J. Chem. Phys. 118, 11026 (2003)], provide the complete spectroscopic characterization of the à state of methylamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• With globalization, returnee CCIs' psychological problems have become a critical issue. • Both low perceived social support and high re-acculturative stress cause social anxiety. • Re-acculturative stress mediates the influence of social support on social anxiety. • Self-compassion buffers harmful effect of re-acculturative stress on social anxiety. The current study examined the influence of perceived social support on social anxiety among Korean returnee cross-cultural individuals (CCIs)—defined as those who lived in two or more cultural environments during the developmental period ranging from birth to 18 years—focusing on the moderated mediation mechanism with re-acculturative stress as a mediator and self-compassion as a moderator. Study participants consisted of 175 Korean undergraduate students (97 females, mean age = 22.6, SD = 1.8). Results indicated that perceived social support decreased social anxiety via re-acculturative stress. However, the indirect effect of perceived social support on social anxiety through re-acculturative stress differed according to the level of returnee CCIs' self-compassion. Specifically, the mediating effect of re-acculturative stress on Korean returnee CCIs' relationships between perceived social support and social anxiety was significant only for those with low levels of self-compassion. It was insignificant for those who reported high levels of self-compassion, indicating that self-compassion had a buffering effect. These findings imply that providing returnee CCIs with sufficient social support and helping them reduce re-acculturative stress would decrease their social anxiety, particularly when they are self-compassionate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PMSM fault diagnosis method under variable operating conditions is proposed. • The method effectively diagnoses PMSM faults with signal units of small length. • The method alleviates frequency changes of stator current caused by speed change. • It eases amplitude changes of stator current by load torque and acceleration change. • It highlights small fault-related residual components of the stator current. This paper proposes a novel preprocessing method, namely stator current operation compensation (SCOC), for deep learning-based fault diagnosis of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) under variable operating conditions. To solve the problem that a change in operating conditions modifies characteristics of stator current signals in a way that makes it hard to discriminate fault modes, SCOC includes two stages: 1) tacho-less resampling and 2) main operating component subtraction with rescaling. First, the stator current signal is resampled to contain the same cycle for each deep learning input. Next, the signal is transformed to alleviate amplitude change by torque and to emphasize relatively small fault components. The effectiveness of the proposed method was validated by applying it to experimental data acquired under different types of PMSM operations. The results showed that each SCOC stage can reduce the variability between the data and effectively increase the fault diagnosis performance of PMSMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting education focuses on delivering knowledge to students. Most student are passive, behaving as bystanders or listeners in lecturer-oriented learning. However, student-centered learning requires active and positive engagement from students to generate effective learning. Board games represent a key driving tool in inducing student participation and interest in active learning. This study investigates whether the active participation of students in class activities has positive effects on accounting education. Specifically, it tests whether active student involvement in board game activities in introductory accounting courses contributes to effective learning. There were a few key findings. Firstly, the more actively that students participate in the game, the higher their favorable changes are in terms of perception of accounting. Secondly, the higher their positive perceptions are, the higher the effects of accounting education are. These results imply that the active involvement of learners is a precondition for the effect of accounting education activities, and that positive perception is a mediator for learning effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oriental Cymbidium ‘Sael Bit’ cultivar was developed as a hybrid in 2013 by the National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Korea. This hybrid was developed from a cross between C. faberi ‘Ilgyounguhwa’ and C. '98CD05-1’ in 2002. C. ‘Ilgyounguhwa’ has a sweet floral scent, and C. '98CD05-1’ was obtained from a germplasm from Vietnam. After the cross and successful planting and acclimatization in a greenhouse, 72 seedlings were obtained. In 2007, one line was selected on the basis of flower color, leaf shape, flower stalk, and vigorous growth, and it was named ‘Wongyuo F1-37’. The line with the code ‘02-0428-33’ had consistent uniformity and excellent characteristics. The line selected after the evaluation of secondary characteristics was named ‘Sael Bit’. This hybrid has bright yellow and green colored petals (GY1B), red spot lips (R53A), and a pleasant fragrance. Flower and plant size of ‘Sael Bit’ are medium and it has approximately 9.1 flowers per stalk, which can be considered as a good spike habit. Petals and sepals are generally narrow and acute and the inflorescence is erect. Under optimal culture condition, flowers start blooming in late October. (Registration No. 5754) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobility can indicate a powerful or privileged relationship with one's environment. The ability to exercise mobility or not (of oneself or others) is an exertion of power that demarcates where particular people belong and under what kind of environmental conditions. This essay focuses on the significance of borders in creating environmental privilege in the Anthropocene. Environmental privilege is accrued through the exercise of economic, political, and cultural power that enables the construction of exclusive environmental amenities such as clean air and water, open space, and safe neighborhoods. For years, environmental justice scholars have revealed the burdens and oppressive conditions associated with environmental inequality, but few studies consider the flipside of that reality. We argue that environmental privileges enjoyed by some rest upon the manipulation of the mobility of others – human and nonhuman. We believe border making will come under greater pressure as the effects of climate change increase, and the volume of resources required to maintain exclusive spaces intensifies. Continued mass migration will bring heightened anxieties about national identity and calls for greater border enforcement, despite the reality that borders – both literal and figurative – consistently fail to alleviate migratory pressures while exacerbating the effects of climate change and environmental injustice. Our research shows that greater ecological instability increases efforts to create privatized places as pristine spaces untouched by global turmoil, thereby reinforcing those social forces that produce environmental injustices in the first place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a finite element discretization for the dual Rudin--Osher--Fatemi model using a Raviart--Thomas basis for H0(div; \Omega). Since the proposed discretization has a splitting property for the energy functional, which is not satisfied for existing finite difference--based discretizations, it is more adequate for designing domain decomposition methods. In this paper, a primal domain decomposition method is proposed which resembles the classical Schur complement method for the second order elliptic problems, and it achieves O(1/n2) convergence. A primal-dual domain decomposition method based on the method of Lagrange multipliers on the subdomain interfaces is also considered. Local problems of the proposed primal-dual domain decomposition method can be solved at a linear convergence rate. Numerical results for the proposed methods are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota), Acaulospora koreana, was isolated from forest soils in South Korea. This novel fungus was collected from the rhizosphere of Lindera obtusiloba and Styrax obassia in forest and propagated with Sorghum bicolor in pot. Morphological characteristics of spores of A. koreana are rarely distinguished from Acaulospora mellea, which is reported as one of the most abundant mycorrhizal species in Korea. However, molecular evidence of rDNA sequence using improved primers for glomeromycotan fungal identification strongly supported that A. koreana is different from A. mellea but also any other species belonging to the genus Acaulospora. This is the first novel glomeromycatan fungus introduced in South Korea, but it suggests that there is a high possibility for discovering new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi considering the abundance of plant species and advanced phylogenetic analysis technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural amino acid hypusine (Nϵ-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl( lysine)) is derived from the polyamine spermidine, and occurs only in a single family of cellular proteins, eukaryotic translation factor 5A (eIF5A) isoforms. Hypusine is formed by conjugation of the aminobutyl moiety of spermidine to a specific lysine residue of this protein. The posttranslational synthesis of hypusine involves two enzymatic steps, catalyzed by deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase(DOHH). Hypusine is essential for eIF5A activity. Inactivation of either the eIF5A or the DHPS gene is lethal in yeast and mouse, underscoring the vital role of eIF5A hypusination in eukaryotic cell growth and animal development. The long and basic side chain of the hypusine residue promotes eIF5A-mediated translation elongation by facilitating peptide bond formation at polyproline stretches and at many other ribosome-pausing sites. It also enhances translation termination by stimulating peptide release. By promoting translation, the hypusine modification of eIF5A provides a key link between polyamines and cell growth regulation. eIF5A has been implicated in several human pathological conditions. Recent genetic data suggest that eIF5A haploinsufficiency or impaired deoxyhypusine synthase activity is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) occurs by various mechanisms and appears to be almost inevitable, even in patients with lung cancer who initially respond well to EGFR-TKIs. Consequently, considerable efforts have been made to develop more effective EGFR-TKIs. Therefore, an understanding of the mechanisms behind TKI resistance is essential for improving EGFR-TKI therapeutic efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we discovered that overexpression of antioxidant-responsive element (ARE)-containing Nrf2 target genes by increased transactivation of Nrf2 occurred because of an acquired Keap1 mutation in the gefitinib-resistant (GR) NSCLC cell line we established. These GR cells also acquired cross-resistance to the irreversible EGFR-TKIs, afatinib and osimertinib, and showed increased viability, invasiveness, proliferation, and tumorigenicity both in vitro and in vivo. These results were confirmed by the fact that inhibition of Nrf2 activity, either by treatment with brusatol or by inducing expression of exogenously introduced wild-type Keap1, suppressed tumor cell proliferation and tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that disruption of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway is one of the mechanisms by which EGFR-TKI resistance occurs, a fact that must be considered when treating patients with EGFR-TKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was to identify whether working memory (WM) can be clearly subdivided according to auditory and visual modality. To do this, we administered the most recent and universal clinical WM measures in a mixed psychiatric sample. Methods: A total of 115 patients were diagnosed on the basis of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and with MINI-Plus 5.0, a structured diagnostic interview. WM subtests of Korean version of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV and Korean version of Wechsler Memory Scale-IV were administered to assess WM. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to observe whether WM measures fit better to a one-factor or two-factor model. Results: CFA results demonstrated that a two factor model fits the data better than one-factor model as expected. Conclusion: Our study supports a modality model of WM, or the existence of modality-specific WM systems, and thus poses a clinical significance of assessing both auditory and visual WM tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed method to quantify impact sound from various impact and microphone positions. • Observed similar frequency spectra at positions with similar boundary conditions. • Central position impact contributed more than other impact positions. • Corner microphones near windows contributed more than other microphones. This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution of heavy-weight impact sound transmitted to a receiving room in 59 households within a concrete residential building. The performance of buildings is generally regulated by single number quantities such as L ′ iA , F m a x . To enhance performance, it is important to understand the effect of the impact sound pressure level at designated impact positions and microphones. Therefore, this study proposes a method to quantify the impac sound pressure level for determining L ′ iA , F m a x according to the impact and microphone positions. Analysis of the data revealed that significant similarities in frequency spectra were observed when generating impacts at two positions near the window, in addition to two at the area near the corridor, both of which have similar boundary conditions. The central impact position exhibited the highest contribution at 24.6%, while other positions had contributions of 18.2–19.5%. For the microphone positions, those located at the corners on either side of the window showed contributions of 22.8–23.7%, whereas the remaining positions demonstrated lower contributions of 17.3–18.5%. These results can serve as basic data for developing construction methods to reduce floor impact sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variation in the biceps brachii muscle is extremely frequent and has a clinical significance. During an educational dissection, third head of the biceps brachii muscle was found on the left side in a Korean cadaver The short and long heads showed normal morphology and course: however, additional head originated from the greater tubercle connected to long head of biceps brachii muscle and crossed the musculocutaneous nerve perpendicularly. And then, it was inserted into short head of the biceps brachii muscle. The author describes this previously novel case report and discusses the clinical implications of such a variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Udu-dong archeological site in Chuncheon, South Korea, dates back to the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period (approximately 100 BC to AD 350). Many artifacts, including some earthenware, have been excavated in these ancient dwelling sites. We applied three geochronological dating methods (radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and archeomagnetic dating) to the archeological remains of this large-scale human settlement and reconstructed the history of depositional processes prior to human settlement. The timing of the ancient community's settlement was investigated by radiocarbon dating of the charcoal fragments collected from old furnaces. Archeomagnetic dating allowed us to constrain the time period of the settlement's abandonment by dating the last use of fire. The timing and development of fluvial deposits underlying the settlement site were reconstructed by OSL dating combined with sedimentary facies analysis. Our results show that, following the deposition of coarse sediments starting 10,000 years ago, the region formed a stable floodplain environment starting around 3000 years ago; people began to form clustered settlements approximately 50 years later. For the subsequent 150 years or so, the area was heavily used as a settlement site, with people evenly distributed across it, before eventual abandonment of the site around AD 200-250. Because the sedimentary deposits do not show any significant facies change during this period, we conclude that any catastrophic events were not the main reason for settlement abandonment. This study suggests that combining scientific and archeological analyses have significant benefits for studies of such archeological sites. Therefore, continuous collection of such data can provide important information for the excavation and protection of prehistoric or historic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although stems improve initial mechanical stability in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA), ideal indications, proper lengths and diameters, and appropriate fixation methods remain controversial. The topics of the present article include the indications, selection of lengths and diameters, and fixation methods of stems in revision TKA. The use of a stem in revision TKA can protect the juxta-articular bone. A stem cannot be a substitute for optimal component fixation; it plays an adjunctive role in transferring the loads from the compromised metaphysis to the stronger diaphysis. Proper bone surface preparation and appropriate use of the stem based on a great store of knowledge are required to support the stemmed components effectively in revision TKA. The balance between overshielding and overloading the juxta-articular bone would provide excellent structural protection. The stem length and diameter should be tailored according to patients' anatomical characteristics and determined fixation strategy. There are two traditional methods of stem fixation including the total cementation technique and the hybrid technique with a cementless press-fit stem. Selection of a cementation technique should be based on thorough consideration of advantages and disadvantages of each technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric remnant necrosis after a subtotal gastrectomy is an extremely uncommon complication due to the rich vascular supply of the stomach. Despite its rareness, it must be carefully addressed considering the significant mortality rate associated with this condition. Patients vulnerable to ischemic vascular disease in particular need closer attention and should be treated more cautiously. When gastric remnant necrosis is suspected, an urgent endoscopic examination must be performed. We report a case of gastric remnant necrosis following a subtotal gastrectomy and discuss possible risk factors associated with this complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an improved analytical method for the detection of the colorant Brown FK in foods using high-performance liquid chromatography was developed. The method, which employed an RC-C18 column and diode array detection at 254nm with sodium acetate solution and methanol as mobile phases, exhibited good linearity (R2 = 1.0) and its limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 0.06 and 0.19μg/mL, respectively. The precision was found to be 0-1.2% and the accuracy was between 86.5% and 94.8%. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was also performed to identify Brown FK in peaks. The pretreatment method was optimized for three different food sample groups, i.e., seafood, noodles and other, affording recoveries of 86.5-92.8%, 90.8-94.8% and 90.0-92.3%, respectively. In addition, inter-laboratory testing was also conducted to check the precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) prefer three-dimensional (3D) culture systems to 2D ones for the maintenance of self-renewal. Of the many 3D culture systems, agar-based hydrogels are candidates for supporting porcine SSC self-renewal, and there are various types of agar powder that can be used. In this study, we sought to identify an agar-based 3D hydrogel system that exhibited strong efficacy in the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. First, 3D hydrogels with different mechanics were prepared with various concentrations of Bacto agar, lysogeny broth (LB) agar, and agarose powder, and the 3D hydrogel with the strongest alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and greatest increase in colony size was identified for the different types of agar powder. Second, among the porcine SSCs cultured in the different 3D hydrogels, we analyzed the colony formation, morphology, and size; AP activity; and transcription and translation of porcine SSC-related genes, and these were compared to determine the optimal 3D hydrogel system for the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. We found that 0.6% (w/v) Bacto agar-, 1% (w/v) LB agar-, and 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogels showed the strongest maintenance of AP activity and the most pronounced increase in colony size in the culture of porcine SSCs. Moreover, among these hydrogels, the strongest transcription and translation of porcine SSC-related genes and largest colony size were detected in porcine SSCs cultured in the 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel, whereas there were no significant differences in colony formation and morphology. These results demonstrate that the 0.2% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel can be effectively used for the maintenance of porcine SSC self-renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A marker chromosome (mar) is a structurally abnormal chromosome in which no part can be identified. The significance of a marker varies, depending on the material contained within the marker. Very few reports have been published of marker chromosomes associated with male infertility. Here, we report the case of an infertile man with a rare variant of a marker chromosome of a mos 47,XY,+mar[25]/46,XY[25] karyotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]