Search

Heart rate variability (HRV) is related to cardiac vagal control and emotional regulation and an index for cardiac vagal control and cardiac autonomic activity. This study aimed to develop the Taiwan HRV normative database covering individuals aged 20 to 70 years and to assess its diagnosing validity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). A total of 311 healthy participants were in the HRV normative database and divided into five groups in 10-year age groups, and then the means and standard deviations of the HRV indices were calculated. We recruited 272 patients with MDD for cross-validation, compared their HRV indices with the normative database, and then converted them to Z-scores to explore the deviation of HRV in MDD patients from healthy groups. The results found a gradual decline in HRV indices with advancing age in the HC group, and females in the HC group exhibit higher cardiac vagal control and parasympathetic activity than males. Conversely, patients in the MDD group demonstrate lower HRV indices than those in the HC group, with their symptoms of depression and anxiety showing a negative correlation with HRV indices. The Taiwan HRV normative database has good psychometric characteristics of cross-validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Visceral obesity is a risk factor for reflux esophagitis (RE). We investigated the risk of RE according to visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measured by deep neural network architecture using computed tomography (CT) and evaluated the longitudinal association between abdominal adipose tissue changes and the disease course of RE. METHODS: Individuals receiving health checkups who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and abdominal CT at Seoul National University Healthcare System Gangnam Center between 2015 and 2016 were included. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas and volumes were measured using a deep neural network architecture and CT. The association between the abdominal adipose tissue area and volume and the risk of RE was evaluated. Participants who underwent follow-up EGD and abdominal CT were selected; the effects of changes in abdominal adipose tissue area and volume on RE endoscopic grade were investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: We enrolled 6,570 patients who underwent EGD and abdominal CT on the same day. RE was associated with male sex, hypertension, diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, current smoking status, and levels of physical activity. The VAT area and volume increased the risk of RE dose-dependently. A decreasing VAT volume was significantly associated with improvement in RE endoscopic grade (hazard ratio: 3.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.82-5.71). Changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue volume and the disease course of RE were not significantly correlated. DISCUSSION: Visceral obesity is strongly associated with RE. VAT volume reduction was prospectively associated with improvement in RE endoscopic grade dose-dependently. Visceral obesity is a potential target for RE treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capturing and separating carbon dioxide, particularly using porous carbon adsorption separation technology, has received considerable research attention due to its advantages such as low cost and ease of regeneration. In this study, we successfully developed a one-step carbonization activation method using freeze-thaw pre-mix treatment to prepare high-nitrogen-content microporous nitrogen-doped carbon materials. These materials hold promise for capturing and separating CO2 from complex gas mixtures, such as biogas. The nitrogen content of the prepared carbon adsorbents reaches as high as 13.08 wt%, and they exhibit excellent CO2 adsorption performance under standard conditions (1 bar, 273 K/298 K), achieving 6.97mmol/g and 3.77mmol/g, respectively. Furthermore, according to Ideal Adsorption Solution Theory (IAST) analysis, these materials demonstrate material selectivity for CO2/CH4 (10 v:90 v) and CO2/CH4 (50 v:50 v) of 33.3 and 21.8, respectively, at 1 bar and 298 K. This study provides a promising CO2 adsorption and separation adsorbent that can be used in the efficient purification process for carbon dioxide, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions in industrial and energy production, thus offering robust support for addressing climate change and achieving more environmentally friendly energy production and carbon capture goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used scanning electron microscopy via 3D dissection coupled with synchrotron radiation with microfocal beams of both small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray diffraction to analyze the periodic crystal aggregates of unusual poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) dendritic cactus-arm-like ring bands upon crystallization with a diluent poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) that is capable of hydrogen bonding interactions with PPDO. Three-dimensional microscopy interior dissection clearly expounds that the banded periodic architectures are packed by alternately normal-oriented flat-on crystals underneath the valley, periodically interfaced/branched with horizontal-oriented edge-on fibrils underneath the ridge. The oblique angles between the valley's flat-on crystals with the branches are ca. 25–45° (depending on gradient inclines and bending), which is also proved by the azimuthal angle in microbeam X-ray diffraction. The grating-like strut-rib assembly in the PPDO cactus-arm-like ring bands is further proved by novel iridescence tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving realm of precision machinery, paramount importance is placed on the efficiency and performance of transmission systems. A central role is played by gears within these systems, with their thermal variations and distributions during operation critically influencing the stability and efficiency of the systems at large. Despite the theoretical support lent by traditional thermodynamic theories and empirical formulas, their prediction accuracy is found lacking, particularly in the face of complex operational environments and dynamic changes. To address this shortfall, this study introduces an advanced thermodynamic model, augmented by the application of a Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN). The integration of these methodologies facilitates a comprehensive thermal analysis and prediction specific to gear operation, aiming to provide enhanced accuracy and real-time thermal data support. This endeavor is vital for not only understanding but also optimizing the thermal behavior of gears in precision transmission systems, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fatty liver is associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We aimed to evaluate whether the severity of hepatic steatosis is associated with incident diabetes. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis using data from 1,798 participants who underwent a comprehensive health check- up and abdominal computed tomography (CT). We assessed the association between baseline liver attenuation value on non-contrast CT images and risk of incident diabetes. All the participants were categorized into three groups based on the baseline liver attenua- tion value on non-contrast CT images: without hepatic steatosis (>57 Hounsfield unit [HU]), mild hepatic steatosis (41–57 HU), and moderate to severe hepatic steatosis (≤40 HU). Results: During a median follow-up period of 5 years, 6.0% of the study participants progressed to diabetes. The incidence of diabe- tes was 17.3% in the moderate to severe hepatic steatosis group, 9.0% in the mild steatosis group, and 2.9% in those without hepatic steatosis. In a multivariate adjustment model, as compared with participants without hepatic steatosis, those with moderate to severe steatosis had a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64 to 4.2) for the development of diabetes, and those in the mild steatosis group had a HR of 2.33 (95% CI, 1.42 to 3.80). One standard deviation decrease in mean CT attenuation values of the liver was associated with a 40% increase in the development of diabetes (multivariate adjusted HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.63). Conclusion: We found a positive association between severity of hepatic steatosis and risk of incident diabetes. Greater severity of steatosis was associated with a higher risk of incident diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging studies found that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) showed abnormal functional connectivity in the fronto-limbic circuit, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and limbic system (amygdala). This study used electroencephalography (EEG) coherence as an indicator of functional connectivity in the fronto-limbic circuit and examined the group differences between the MDD group and healthy controls (HC group), and the associations between EEG coherence and depressive symptoms. 125 and 132 participants in the MDD and HC groups have measured the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and delta, theta, alpha, and beta1–beta4 EEG coherences in the fronto-limbic circuit and examined the differences between the two groups, and the associations between the EEG coherence and depressive symptoms were examined. Lower theta, alpha, beta1, beta3, and beta4 coherence in the fronto-limbic circuit and higher beta2 coherence between the PFC and limbic system in the MDD group than in the HC group. Negative correlations between delta, theta, beta1, beta3, and beta4 coherence and total depression, cognitive depression, and somatic depression; positive correlations between beta2 coherences in the PFC and limbic system, and total depression and cognitive depression scores in the MDD group. Whether low EEG coherence in the fronto-limbic circuit is applicable to other subtypes of MDD requires further study. Low EEG coherences in the fronto-limbic circuit were related to depressive symptoms, and increased functional connectivity in the fronto-limbic circuit can be applied by neurofeedback in future studies. • The fronto-limbic circuit plays an important role in emotional processing in major depressive disorder (MDD). • Lower theta, alpha, beta1, beta3, and beta4 and higher beta2 coherences in the fronto-limbic circuit in the MDD group. • EEG coherences were related to severity of depression, cognitive depression, and somatic depression in the MDD group [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the effects of different farmer organisations on smallholder farmers' economic performance. The average treatment effect of switching between different farmer organisations is examined. In addition, based on the premise that a higher level of social capital is accumulated through participation in multiple farmer organisations, we also investigate how the economic consequences of farmer organisation membership vary with the intensity of participation. Our conceptual model explicitly includes social capital to provide a micro-foundation and a theoretical justification for the linkage between farmer organisation participation and the economic outcome. This indicates that participating in different types of farmer organisations is beneficial for farm households only when the returns from social capital investment outweigh the time cost of participation. Our empirical results suggest that membership of farmer organisations that are more homogeneous in terms of member specialty and similarity in production and marketing activities results in a significant increase in farm sales revenue and net returns. This result supports the view that technological proximity accentuates knowledge spillovers within the farmer organisations, and thus leads to better economic outcomes. In line with the prediction of the theoretical model, the average treatment effect of participation is found to increase with the number of organisations that farmers belong to. Moreover, results from the quantile regression provide empirical evidence supporting increasing returns to social capital accumulated through participation in several farmer organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are important players in plant-bacteria interactions. Different AHL-producing bacteria can improve plant growth and resistance against plant pathogens. In nature, plants may host a variety of AHL-producing bacteria and frequently experience numerous AHLs at the same time. Therefore, a coordinated response to combined AHL molecules is necessary. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of AHL-priming using combined AHL molecules including N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone, N-3-oxo-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone, N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone, and N-3-oxo-tetradecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone and AHL-producing bacteria including Serratia plymuthica HROC48, Rhizobium etli CFN42, Burkholderia graminis DSM17151, and Ensifer meliloti (Sinorhizobium meliloti) Rm2011. We used transcriptome analysis, phytohormone measurements, as well as genetic and microbiological approaches to assess how the combination of structurally diverse AHL molecules influence Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Our findings revealed a particular response to a mixture of AHL molecules (AHL mix). Different expression patterns indicated that the reaction of plants exposed to AHL mix differs from that of plants exposed to single AHL molecules. In addition, different content of jasmonic acid (JA) and derivatives revealed that jasmonates play an important role in AHL mix-induced priming. The fast and stable decreased concentration of COOH-JA-Ile after challenge with the flagellin-derived peptide flg22 indicated that AHL mix modifies the metabolism of jasmonates. Study of various JA- and salicylic acid-related Arabidopsis mutants strengthened the notion that JA homeostasis is involved in AHL-priming. Understanding how the combination of AHLs primes plants for enhanced resistance has the potential to broaden our approaches in sustainable agriculture and will help to effectively protect plants against pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An important consideration for the risk assessment of transgenic plants is their overwintering potential in a natural ecosystem, which allows the survival of the seed bank and may lead to seed reproduction. Here, we investigated the overwintering of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds in the laboratory (temperatures: -5, -1, 5, and 10°C) and in the field (burial depth: 0, 5, 15, and 30 cm) as a case study to examine the invasiveness of transgenic crops. Results: Sunflower seeds germinated when incubated at 5°C and 10°C for 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks but not when incubated at -5°C or -1°C. However, the seeds incubated at -5°C or -1°C germinated when they were transferred to the optimal germination temperature (25°C). Up to 16.5% and 15.0% of seeds were dormant when cultured at sub-zero temperatures in a Petri dish containing filter paper and soil, respectively. In the field trial, soil temperature, moisture, and microbial communities differed significantly between soil depths. Germination-related microorganisms were more distributed on the soil surface. Seeds buried on the surface decayed rapidly from 4 weeks after burial, whereas those buried at depths of 15 cm and 30 cm germinated even 16 weeks after burial. No dormancy was detected for seeds buried at any depth. Conclusions: Although sunflower seeds did not overwinter in situ in this study, we cannot exclude the possibility that these seeds lie dormant at sub-zero temperatures and then germinate at optimal temperatures in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work introduces a novel synthesis method for MnCsPb (Br 0·4 /I 0.6)3 quantum dots, which demonstrate excellent optical and thermal stability. These quantum dots offer high luminescence intensity and tunable emission wavelengths. By optimizing key factors such as thermal injection temperature, chemical composition, and reaction duration, we were able to improve their crystal quality, reduce defects, and enhance optical properties like luminescence efficiency and emission peak sharpness. Surface treatments with TMOS, APTES, and TEOS further improved their stability, with APTES showing the best results for thermal resistance. In thermal degradation tests, APTES-coated quantum dots retained 76.7 % of their initial luminescence intensity and maintained 95 % of their brightness after 68 h of continuous heating at 85 °C. These quantum dots also showed strong resistance to blue shift in emission wavelength during long-term UV exposure, making them highly durable for applications requiring prolonged performance under harsh conditions. • This work introduces a novel synthesis method for MnCsPb (Br 0·4 /I 0.6) 3 quantum dots. • High luminescence and tunable emission for next-gen display technologies. • Enhanced thermal stability, retaining 76.7 % intensity at 85 °C. • Surface modifications improve quantum dot stability and reduce photodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a high linearity AlGaN/GaN HEMT integrated dual threshold coupling (DT) technology and Schottky–Ohmic drain (SOD) were fabricated and analyzed. Since the architecture of DT synthesized planar- and recess-HEMT periodically along the gate width, SOD alleviated the peak electric field (E-field) around the gate region and the peak transconductance (Gm-max) of 248 mS/mm with the associated transconductance plateau of ∼4.0 V at Vds = 28 V was obtained, which is evidently flatter than that of HEMT without the SOD structure. Attributed to the improved Gm linearity at high E-field, the DT-SOD HEMT exhibits the predicted linearity figure of merit of 5–13 dB when biased at class AB operation, which is ∼10 dB higher than that of DT-HEMT. Moreover, the fabricated device yields a nearly constant fT/fmax of 47/118 GHz over a wide gate voltage, and load-pull measurements at 30 GHz reveal that these devices deliver output power density (Pout) of 7.8 W/mm with the associated 1-dB compression point (P1dB) of 28.5 dBm at Vds = 28 V. The experimental results indicate that the employment of DT technology and SOD structure is an attractive approach to enhance the linearity at high E-field for millimeter wave devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTS11 and CPSF73 are metal-dependent endonucleases for Integrator and pre-mRNA 3′-end processing, respectively. Here, we show that the INTS11 binding partner BRAT1/CG7044, a factor important for neuronal fitness, stabilizes INTS11 in the cytoplasm and is required for Integrator function in the nucleus. Loss of BRAT1 in neural organoids leads to transcriptomic disruption and precocious expression of neurogenesis-driving transcription factors. The structures of the human INTS9-INTS11-BRAT1 and Drosophila dIntS11-CG7044 complexes reveal that the conserved C terminus of BRAT1/CG7044 is captured in the active site of INTS11, with a cysteine residue directly coordinating the metal ions. Inspired by these observations, we find that UBE3D is a binding partner for CPSF73, and UBE3D likely also uses a conserved cysteine residue to directly coordinate the active site metal ions. Our studies have revealed binding partners for INTS11 and CPSF73 that behave like cytoplasmic chaperones with a conserved impact on the nuclear functions of these enzymes. [Display omitted] • BRAT1/CG7044 is a binding partner that stabilizes INTS11 in the cytoplasm • BRAT1/CG7044 is required for Integrator function in the nucleus • The conserved C terminus of BRAT1-CG7044 is captured in the INTS11 active site • UBE3D is a binding partner of CPSF73 with a similar mechanism of action Lin et al. reveal BRAT1/CG7044 as a binding partner for the INTS11 endonuclease that behaves like a cytoplasmic chaperone and is required for Integrator function in the nucleus. UBE3D is also identified as a binding partner for the CPSF73 endonuclease in pre-mRNA 3′-end processing, with a similar mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, ultrathin barrier (∼6 nm) AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) with in situ SiN gate dielectric and slant-field plate (SFP) T-gates were fabricated and analyzed. Since the proposed scheme of gate dielectric and SFP effectively suppresses the gate leakage and alleviates the peak electric field (E-field) around gate region, the maximum breakdown voltage (VBK) was improved to 92 V, which is 54 V higher than that of the conventional device. The fabricated ultrathin AlGaN/GaN HEMT with 60-nm SFP-T-gate exhibited the peak fT of 177 GHz and peak fmax of 393 GHz, yielding high figure-of-merits of fT · VBK = 16 THz V and fmax·VBK = 36 THz V. Moreover, load-pull measurements at 30 GHz reveal that these devices deliver output power density (Pout) of 4.6 W/mm at Vds = 20 V and high power-added efficiency up to 52.5% at Vds = 10 V. Essentially, the experimental results indicate that the employment of SFP and in situ SiN gate dielectric is an attractive approach to balance the breakdown and speed for millimeter wave devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of new living modified (LM) crops may pose a latent threat to the biodiversity of each country. Here, we used sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) as a study system to investigate the potential for invasiveness of LM crops under different environmental conditions when released into a natural ecosystem in South Korea. We examined the seed germination, survival, and flowering of sunflowers under competition with wild plants at different sowing dates (March-December) and plot sizes (1 m × 1 m and 2 m × 2 m). Results: The germination rate showed a significant difference according to the sowing date. In addition, several sunflowers survived in plots with a high germination rate, which also led to a higher flowering rate. We found that the smaller the plot, the smaller the area available for inter-species competition, and the higher the number of surviving sunflower plants. The relative dominance and importance value of the species varied significantly between the sowing dates; in particular, sunflowers sown in March could compete with wild plants for longer than those sown on other sowing dates. Conclusions: These observations indicate that the potential for invasiveness of sunflowers differs depending on the environmental conditions and seed density at the time of release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on imaging the itinerant-to-localized transmutation of electrons across the metal-to-insulator transition in V2O3. Topics include the strong repulsion between electrons can inhibit their movement and result in a "Mott" metal-to-insulator transition (MIT), the fundamental phenomenon whose understanding has remained a challenge for over 50 years, and the wave-like itinerant electrons change into a localized-like state due to increased interactions.

Membrane proteins play critically important roles in many cellular activities such as ions and small molecule transportation, signal recognition, and transduction. In order to fulfill their functions, these proteins must be placed in different membrane environments and a variety of protein-lipid interactions may affect the behavior of these proteins. One of the key effects of protein-lipid interactions is their ability to change the dynamics status of membrane proteins, thus adjusting their functions. Here, we present a multi-scaled normal mode analysis (mNMA) method to study the dynamics perturbation to the membrane proteins imposed by lipid bi-layer membrane fluctuations. In mNMA, channel proteins are simulated at all-atom level while the membrane is described with a coarse-grained model. mNMA calculations clearly show that channel gating motion can tightly couple with a variety of membrane deformations, including bending and twisting. We then examined bi-channel systems where two channels were separated with different distances. From mNMA calculations, we observed both positive and negative gating correlations between two neighboring channels, and the correlation has a maximum as the channel center-to-center distance is close to 2.5 times of their diameter. This distance is larger than recently found maximum attraction distance between two proteins embedded in membrane which is 1.5 times of the protein size, indicating that membrane fluctuation might impose collective motions among proteins within a larger area. The hybrid resolution feature in mNMA provides atomic dynamics information for key components in the system without costing much computer resource. We expect it to be a conventional simulation tool for ordinary laboratories to study the dynamics of very complicated biological assemblies. The source code is available upon request to the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane proteins play critically important roles in many cellular activities such as ions and small molecule transportation, signal recognition, and transduction. In order to fulfill their functions, these proteins must be placed in different membrane environments and a variety of protein-lipid interactions may affect the behavior of these proteins. One of the key effects of protein-lipid interactions is their ability to change the dynamics status of membrane proteins, thus adjusting their functions. Here, we present a multi-scaled normal mode analysis (mNMA) method to study the dynamics perturbation to the membrane proteins imposed by lipid bi-layer membrane fluctuations. In mNMA, channel proteins are simulated at all-atom level while the membrane is described with a coarse-grained model. mNMA calculations clearly show that channel gating motion can tightly couple with a variety of membrane deformations, including bending and twisting. We then examined bi-channel systems where two channels were separated with different distances. From mNMA calculations, we observed both positive and negative gating correlations between two neighboring channels, and the correlation has a maximum as the channel center-to-center distance is close to 2.5 times of their diameter. This distance is larger than recently found maximum attraction distance between two proteins embedded in membrane which is 1.5 times of the protein size, indicating that membrane fluctuation might impose collective motions among proteins within a larger area. The hybrid resolution feature in mNMA provides atomic dynamics information for key components in the system without costing much computer resource. We expect it to be a conventional simulation tool for ordinary laboratories to study the dynamics of very complicated biological assemblies. The source code is available upon request to the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium dioxide (VO2), which exhibits a near-room-temperature insulator-metal transition, has great potential in applications of neuromorphic computing devices. Although its volatile switching property, which could emulate neuron spiking, has been studied widely, nanoscale studies of the structural stochasticity across the phase transition are still lacking. In this study, using in situ transmission electron microscopy and ex situ resistive switching measurement, we successfully characterized the structural phase transition between monoclinic and rutile VO2 at local areas in planar VO2/TiO2 device configuration under external biasing. After each resistive switching, different VO2 monoclinic crystal orientations are observed, forming different equilibrium states. We have evaluated a statistical cycle-to-cycle variation, demonstrated a stochastic nature of the volatile resistive switching, and presented an approach to study in-plane structural anisotropy. Our microscopic studies move a big step forward toward understanding the volatile switching mechanisms and the related applications of VO2 as the key material of neuromorphic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background While Korea maintains a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of newly diagnosed cases has been steadily rising, reaching approximately 1,000 annually in recent years. The 2022 annual report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed that women living with HIV (WLWH) constitute 6.4% of the total confirmed people living with the HIV population, totaling 1,219 individuals. Despite this, only a few studies have focused on WLWH in Korea. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of WLWH in Korea. Materials and Methods We retrospectively collected data by reviewing the medical records of all WLWH who visited 10 urban referral hospitals across Korea between January 2005 and May 2023. Results A total of 443 WLWH were enrolled in this study. The predominant risk exposure was heterosexual contact, with 235 (53%) participants either married or cohabiting with a male partner at their initial clinic visit. Among the participants, 334 (77.7%) were Korean, 27 (6.1%) were Southeast Asian, and 19 (4.3%) were African. Antiretroviral therapy was initiated by 404 WLWH (91.2%). We observed 118 pregnancies in WLWH following their HIV diagnosis, resulting in 78 live births (66.1%), 18 induced abortions (15.2%), 10 pre-viable fetal losses (8.5%), and four stillbirths (3.4%). Over a cumulative follow-up duration of 3,202.1 years, the incidence rates of breast and cervical cancers were both 2.18 per 1,000 person-years. Additionally, the incidence rates of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (above grade II), and osteoporosis were 4.67, 11.21, and 13.39 per 1,000 patient-years, respectively. Conclusion This is the first multicenter study to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of WLWH in Korea. The incidence and prevalence of diseases in women, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and chronic comorbidities, are high in WLWH in Korea; therefore, further research and efforts are needed to manage these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetogenetics was developed to remotely control genetically targeted neurons. A variant of magnetogenetics uses magnetic fields to activate transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels when coupled with ferritin. Stimulation with static or RF magnetic fields of neurons expressing these channels induces Ca2+ transients and modulates behavior. However, the validity of ferritin-based magnetogenetics has been questioned due to controversies surrounding the underlying mechanisms and deficits in reproducibility. Here, we validated the magnetogenetic approach Ferritin-iron Redistribution to Ion Channels (FeRIC) using electrophysiological (Ephys) and imaging techniques. Previously, interference from RF stimulation rendered patch-clamp recordings inaccessible for magnetogenetics. We solved this limitation for FeRIC, and we studied the bioelectrical properties of neurons expressing TRPV4 (nonselective cation channel) and transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A; chloride-permeable channel) coupled to ferritin (FeRIC channels) under RF stimulation. We used cultured neurons obtained from the rat hippocampus of either sex. We show that RF decreases the membrane resistance (Rm) and depolarizes the membrane potential in neurons expressing TRPV4FeRIC. RF does not directly trigger action potential firing but increases the neuronal basal spiking frequency. In neurons expressing TMEM16AFeRIC, RF decreases the Rm, hyperpolarizes the membrane potential, and decreases the spiking frequency. Additionally, we corroborated the previously described biochemical mechanism responsible for RF-induced activation of ferritincoupled ion channels. We solved an enduring problem for ferritin-based magnetogenetics, obtaining direct Ephys evidence of RF-induced activation of ferritin-coupled ion channels. We found that RF does not yield instantaneous changes in neuronal membrane potentials. Instead, RF produces responses that are long-lasting and moderate, but effective in controlling the bioelectrical properties of neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the topology optimization of linkage mechanisms have thus far focused mainly on mechanism synthesis considering only kinematic characteristics describing a desired path or motion. Here, we propose a new topology optimization method that synthesizes a linkage mechanism considering both kinematic and compliance (K&C) characteristics simultaneously, as compliance characteristics can also significantly affect the linkage mechanism performance; compliance characteristics dictate how elastic components, such as bushings in a vehicle suspension, are deformed by external forces. To achieve our objective, we use the spring-connected rigid block model (SBM) developed earlier for mechanism synthesis considering only kinematic characteristics, but we make it suitable for the simultaneous consideration of K&C characteristics during mechanism synthesis by making its zero-length springs multifunctional. Variable stiffness springs were used to identify the mechanism kinematic configuration only, but now in the proposed approach, they serve to determine not only the mechanism kinematic configuration but also the compliance element distribution. In particular, the ground-anchoring springs used to anchor a linkage mechanism to the ground are functionalized to simulate actual bushings and to identify the desired linkage kinematic chain. After the proposed formulation and numerical implementation are presented, case studies are considered. In particular, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated with a simplified two-dimensional vehicle suspension design problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We investigated the incidence and associated factors of liver cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease risks among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in a Thai cohort. Design: A prospective cohort analysis. Methods: Participants with at least one reliable transient elastography measurement during follow-up, who had pretreatment alanine transaminase, AST, and platelet count at HIV treatment initiation were included. Liver cirrhosis was defined as AST to Platelet Ratio Index >1.5 or fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) >3.25 or liver stiffness by transient elastography >12.5 kPa and confirmed by imaging or liver biopsy. Competing-risk regression was used to identify factors associated with liver cirrhosis. Time-updated 10-year atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risks were compared between PLHIV with or without liver cirrhosis. Results: A total of 1069 participants (33% women, 9% hepatitis C virus, and 16% hepatitis B virus) with the median age and CD4 at cART initiation of 32 years and 240 cells/mm3 were included. During 8232 person-years, 124 (12%) developed liver cirrhosis after a median of 6.9 (2.4-13.7) follow-up years [incidence, 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 1.8) per 100 person-years]. In multivariable analysis, the factors independently associated with liver cirrhosis were time-updated HIV viremia, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus coinfection, diabetes mellitus, high-density lipoproteins <40 mg/mL, and d4T exposure. The median time-updated 10-year ASCVD risk score was statistically higher among cirrhotic PLHIV vs. noncirrhosis [4.9% (interquartile range, 2.3-9.7) vs. 2.4% (interquartile range, 1.3-4.9), P < 0.001]. Conclusion: PLHIV with metabolic diseases were more likely to develop liver cirrhosis, independent of hepatitis coinfections, and ASCVD risks were higher among cirrhotic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the screening and surveillance of colorectal cancer (CRC). Due to concerns about COVID-19 and the efficient distribution of medical resources, elective procedures for asymptomatic patients, including CRC screenings, were postponed. The study conducted in Korea found that the management of CRC remained unaffected after the initial surge of COVID-19, and the number of monthly colonoscopic polypectomies rapidly recovered for all age groups. However, the study also highlighted that the elderly population was more vulnerable to CRC management during the pandemic due to their susceptibility to COVID-19 and limited access to medical facilities. The article suggests the use of telemedicine visits and alternative tests, such as stool DNA-based tests, to overcome the gap in CRC management during future pandemics. [Extracted from the article]

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) has attracted much attention owing to its metal-insulator transition near room temperature and the ability to induce volatile resistive switching, a key feature for developing novel hardware for neuromorphic computing. Despite this interest, the mechanisms for nonvolatile switching functioning as synapse in this oxide remain not understood. In this work, we use in situ transmission electron microscopy, electrical transport measurements, and numerical simulations on Au/VO2/Ge vertical devices to study the electroforming process. We have observed the formation of V5O9 conductive filaments with a pronounced metal-insulator transition and that vacancy diffusion can erase the filament, allowing for the system to "forget." Thus, both volatile and nonvolatile switching can be achieved in VO2, useful to emulate neuronal and synaptic behaviors, respectively. Our systematic operando study of the filament provides a more comprehensive understanding of resistive switching, key in the development of resistive switching-based neuromorphic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of bone tumor that typically occurs in the head and neck regions. Appropriate management strategies remain controversial. Herein, we report a case of Ewing sarcoma originating from the ethmoid sinus in a 38-year-old woman. The patient initially presented with unilateral nasal obstruction. Pathologic examination revealed a tumor composed of small round blue cells under hematoxylin and eosin staining with positive expressions for CD-99, CK, and FLI-1. The patient was successfully treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by complete surgical excision via the endoscopic modified Lothrop (Draf III) approach, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. There was no recurrence or complication up to the writing of this article. This study presents an appropriate management strategy for an extensive case of Ewing sarcoma invading the frontal sinus using an endoscopic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We validated the Data collection on Adverse events of anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) full-risk and short-risk score models for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Asian HIV cohorts. Settings: A validation study among people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged $18 years among the cohorts in the Asia- Pacific region. Methods: PLHIV with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate. 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were included for validation of the D:A:D CKD full version and short version without cardiovascular risk factors. Those with ,3 estimated glomerular filtration rate measurements from baseline or previous exposure to potentially nephrotoxic antiretrovirals were excluded. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate the probability of CKD development. The area under the receiver operating characteristics was also used to validate the risk score. Results: We included 5701 participants in full model {median 8.1 [interquartile range (IQR) 4.8-10.9] years follow-up} and 9791 in short model validation [median 4.9 (IQR 2.5-7.3) years follow-up]. The crude incidence rate of CKD was 8.1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.3 to 8.9] per 1000 person-years in the full model cohort and 10.5 (95% CI: 9.6 to 11.4) per 1000 personyears in the short model cohort. The progression rates for CKD at 10 years in the full model cohort were 2.7%, 8.9%, and 26.1% for low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups, and 3.5%, 11.7%, and 32.4% in the short model cohort. The area under the receiver operating characteristics for the full-risk and short-risk score was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.79 to 0.83) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.81 to 0.85), respectively. Conclusion: The D:A:D CKD full-risk and short-risk score performed well in predicting CKD events among Asian PLHIV. These risk prediction models may be useful to assist clinicians in identifying individuals at high risk of developing CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain damage research has been a focus of many experts in the agriculture machinery industry. A threshing test-bed was developed to investigate the movement and influence of different threshing and separating units on maize grains. The damage to maize grains was analyzed with a high-speed camera to observe the movement and damage received by the maize grains. The results showed that the threshing and separating effects of the perforated concave plate were obviously lower than that of the round steel concave plate, the threshing effects of the rigid rasp bar and polyurethane rasp bar were similar, and the damage ratio of the polyurethane rasp bar was relatively low. It also indicated that moisture content has a significant effect on the damage ratio and damage type of maize grains. The different threshing component types used in this study had an obvious effect on the degree of damage to high moisture content maize grains and the damage to high-moisture kernels during threshing could be further identified. The results can provide a reference for the design of threshing and separating devices in the maize combine harvesting machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging reports have indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in multiple cancers, containing cervical cancer. LncRNA ARAP1 antisense RNA 1 (ARAP1-AS1) was previously identified as a tumor-promoter in bladder cancer. However, the expression profile and possible modulation mechanism of ARAP1-AS1 in cervical cancer need to be further studied. In the current research, ARAP1-AS1 was discovered to exhibit a high level in cervical cancer cells. Besides, the knockdown of ARAP1-AS1 repressed cell proliferative and migratory capacities in cervical cancer, as detected by loss-of-function assays including CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, and transwell assays. Additionally, dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5), lowly expressed in cervical cancer cells, was found to be negatively modulated by ARAP1-AS1. In subsequence, mechanism experiments proved that ARAP1-AS1 recruited enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) to regulate DUSP5 expression. Finally, rescue assays certified the oncogenic function of ARAP1-AS1/EZH2/DUSP5 axis in cervical cancer. This research probed the expression level and regulatory mechanism of ARAP1-AS1 underlying cervical cancer, which might shed novel lights into the exploration on cervical cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ketone bodies are a well-known metabolite from the utilization of fatty acids in the fasting state. Some studies have demonstrated the metabolic benefits of urinary ketones in a specific population in whom ketone bodies were detected. However, other studies described the influence of associated factors on the presence of urinary ketone bodies. In the present study, we analyzed lifestyle factors that are hypothesized to be related to the presence of ketone bodies in urine. Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2014-2015) were analyzed. The urinary ketone-positive group was defined as the population in whom urinary ketones were detected. We compared differences in metabolic characteristics as well as lifestyle characteristics such as smoking, alcohol intake, education levels, and exercise between the urine ketone-positive and -negative groups. Results: Of the 9,379 identified eligible subjects, the urine-ketone group showed metabolic benefits with respect to several factors such as body mass index, waist circumference, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjustment for sex and age. A higher proportion of urinary ketones was associated with current smoking (P=0.050), high education level (P=0.008), and aerobic exercise (P=0.021). Conclusion: Aerobic exercise was identified as a factor associated with the presence of urinary ketones. It is also an important lifestyle intervention factor for the recovery of urinary ketones in patients with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etch-stop structure including the in-situ SiN and AlGaN/GaN barrier is proposed for high frequency applications. The etch-stop process is realized by placing an in-situ SiN layer on the top of the thin AlGaN barrier. F-based etching can be self-terminated after removing SiN, leaving the AlGaN barrier in the gate region. With this in-situ SiN and thin barrier etch-stop structure, the short channel effect can be suppressed, meanwhile achieving highly precisely controlled and low damage etching process. The device shows a maximum drain current of 1022 mA/mm, a peak transconductance of 459 mS/mm, and a maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of 248 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the topology optimization can be an effective means of synthesizing planar rigid-body linkage mechanisms to generate desired motion, as it does not require a baseline mechanism for a specific topology. While most earlier studies were mainly concerned with the formulation and implementation of topology optimization-based synthesis in a fixed grid, this study aims to realize the simultaneous shape and topology optimization of planar linkage mechanisms using a low-resolution spring-connected rigid block model. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of simultaneous optimization over a higher-resolution fixed-grid rigid block-based topology optimization process. When shape optimization to change the block shapes is combined with topology optimization to synthesize the mechanism, the use of low-resolution discretized models improves the computation efficiency considerably and helps to yield compact mechanisms with less complexity, making them more amenable to fabrication. After verifying the effectiveness of the simultaneous shape and topology optimization process with several benchmark problems, we apply the method to synthesize a mechanism which guides a planar version of a human's gait trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CASAC improves humoral immunity against HspX antigen with secretion of antigen-specific IgG 1 and IgG 2a antibody. • CASAC is a good adjuvant to induce Th1-mediated memory CD8+ T-cell response against HspX antigen. • Combination of HspX antigen and CASAC is effective to induce strong humoral and cellular immunity in C57BL/6 mouse model. Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest human diseases worldwide caused by mycobacterial infection in the lung. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine protects against disseminated TB in children, but its effectiveness is still questionable due to highly variable protections in adolescence and elderly individuals. Targeting the latency M.tb antigen is a recent therapeutic approach to eradicate dormant pathogen that could possibly lead to disease activation. In this study, we aimed to potentiate immune responses elicited against 16 kDa α-crystalline (HspX) tuberculosis latency antigen by incorporation of Combined Adjuvant for Synergistic Activation of Cellular immunity (CASAC). Histidine-tagged recombinant HspX protein was initially produced in Escherichia coli and purified using Ni-NTA chromatography. To evaluate its adjuvanticity, C57BL/6 mice (n = 5) were initially primed and intradermally immunised in 2-weeks interval for 4 rounds with recombinant HspX, formulated with and without CASAC. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses elicited against HspX antigen were evaluated using ELISA and Flow Cytometry. Our findings showed that CASAC improved humoral immunity with increased antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibody response. Stronger CD8+ and Th1-driven immunity was induced by CASAC formulation as supported by elevated level of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17A; and with low IL-10 secretion. Interestingly, adjuvanted HspX vaccine triggered a higher percentage of effector memory T-cell population than those immunised with unadjuvanted vaccine. In conclusion, CASAC adjuvant has great potential to enhance immunogenicity elicited against HspX antigen, which could be an alternative regimen to improve the efficacy of future therapeutic vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Although imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity may aggravate the patient's clinical condition and alter the treatment plan, the underlying mechanism of and factors influencing imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity have rarely been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting on the incidence of hepatotoxicity within 90 days after starting ima-tinib treatment and time to onset of imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods We retrospectively evaluated the records of 177 patients receiving imatinib from October 2012 to September 2017. The analyzed factors included sex, age, body weight, body surface area, underlying disease, and concomitant drugs. Results The proportion of patients with hepatotoxicity within 90 days after imatinib administration was 33.9%. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increased the incidence of hepatotoxicity approximately 3.8-fold and doubled the hazard of time to reach hepatotoxicity. Patients with liver disease or hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers had a more than 8-fold higher risk of hepatotoxicity and a 5.2-fold increased hazard of hepatotoxicity compared to those without liver disease or HBV. Patients with body weight under 55 kg had a 2.2-fold higher risk for occurrence of hepatotoxicity. Patients with an imatinib dose > 400 mg had a 2.3-fold increased hazard of time to reach hepatotoxicity compared to those with an imatinib dose ≤ 400 mg. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that the use of PPIs and presence of liver disease or HBV were associated with imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity. Thus, close liver function monitoring is recommended, especially in patients with liver impairment or using PPIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Metabolic characteristics of Leu. mesenteroides for carbon sources was investigated. • Metabolic characteristics were relatively similar regardless of culture conditions. • Metabolite profiles depending on the carbon source varied significantly. • Metabolic features of strain J18 were investigated through transcriptome analysis. • Fermentation of traditional fermented foods may be controlled using carbon sources. The metabolic characteristics of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides J18, which is mainly responsible for kimchi fermentation, on various carbon sources were investigated through carbon utilization, metabolite, and transcriptome analyses at different culture conditions (10 and 30 °C with/without 2.5% NaCl). The metabolic features of strain J18 were relatively similar across the four culture conditions. However, the metabolic characteristics of strain J18 showed significant variations depending on the carbon source. These distinct metabolic traits of strain J18 on various carbon sources were validated through transcriptomic analyses and the reconstruction of metabolic pathways. The transcriptional expression of the metabolic pathways in response to each carbon source consistently correlated with the production profiles of metabolites, including ethanol, acetoin, diacetyl, and riboflavin, in each carbon source. Our findings suggests that the abundance of Leu. mesenteroides during fermentation and the taste and flavor of fermented food products can be controlled by altering the carbon sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an evolutionary algorithm-based energy-saving control strategy to control a highly nonlinear and time-varying active magnetic bearing (AMB) positioning system that considers energy efficiency and control performance simultaneously. Most AMB control schemes use a bias current with a superimposed control current to improve the linearity and dynamic performance of the system. However, the bias current causes power losses even if no electromagnetic force is required. As such, a recurrent wavelet fuzzy neural network with adaptive differential evolution (RWFNN-ADE)-based dynamic bias current control strategy is proposed in this paper so as to minimize the energy consumed by an AMB without altering its positioning performance and robustness. To begin with, this paper analyzes the operation principle of the AMB positioning system with a differential driving mode. Subsequently, the proposed RWFNN-ADE control scheme, in which the control current and bias current are controlled by the RWFNN and ADE, respectively, is introduced in detail. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate the high-accuracy control and significant energy-saving performances of the proposed RWFNN-ADE-controlled AMB positioning system. In the tests corresponding to operation periods of 10 and 50 s, the energy improvements compared to the baseline values were 20.24% and 17.65%, respectively, in nominal cases, and 18.89% and 18.68%, respectively, in parameter variation cases, for the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of high maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) and breakdown voltage (Vbr) was achieved in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with N2O plasma treatment on the access region. The breakdown voltage is improved from 37 V to 80 V due to the formation of oxide layer in the gate region. A suppressed current collapse is obtained due to plasma treatment on the gate-source and the gate-drain regions. The effect of the present passivation method is almost the same with that of the conventional SiN passivation method, meanwhile it can avoid introducing additional parasitic capacitance due to thinner thickness. The small signal measurement shows that HEMT can yield fT and fmax of 98 and 322 GHz, respectively, higher than that of 70 and 224 GHz for the non-treated HEMT. By using the plasma treatment technique, the HEMT can simultaneously exhibit high fmax and Vbr with a record fmax ⋅ Vbr of 25 THz ⋅ V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common diseases in China. The incidence of CRS in the Chinese urban population is between 5 and 15%. It is difficult to cure with traditional surgery. Endoscopic sinus surgery is the first choice for the treatment of CRS. Compared with developed countries, the development of the clinical pathway of endoscopic sinus surgery in China is still unclear.Objectives: The aim is to explore whether the clinical pathway of endonasal sinus surgery is better than the traditional one in the Chinese population.Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Internet, Wanfang database of Chinese Journals, and VIP database of Chinese Journals. The last retrieval date was August 24, 2018. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for comprehensive quantification data analysis.Results: Fourteen papers involving 1,882 patients were included in this study. The results showed that compared with the traditional pathway, the clinical pathway can effectively shorten the average number of hospitalization days (mean difference, MD = -2.00, 95% CI: -2.50, -1.49). In total, 10 of the 14 papers, with a total of 1,500 patients, proved that the clinical pathway can effectively reduce the hospitalization costs of patients (standard mean difference, SMD = -3.15, 95% CI: -4.20, -2.10); 11 of the 14 papers, with a total of 1,488 patients, proved that the clinical pathway can effectively improve patients' knowledge of health (95% CI:1.03, 1.09); and 7 of the 14 papers, with a total of 810 patients, proved that the clinical pathway can effectively improve patient satisfaction (95% CI:1.10, 1.20).Conclusions: Our systematic review and meta-analysis support the use of the clinical pathway in patients with endoscopic sinus surgery in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Determining the precursor/product ion pair and optimal collision energy are the critical steps for developing a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) assay using triple quadruple mass spectrometer for protein quantitation. In this study, a platform consisting of stable isotope dimethyl labeling coupled with triple-quadruple mass spectrometer was used to quantify the protein components of the influenza vaccines. Dimethyl labeling of both the peptide N-termini and the ϵ-amino group of lysine residues was achieved by reductive amination using formaldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydrate. Dimethylated peptides are known to exhibit dominant a1 ions under gas phase fragmentation in a mass spectrometer. These a1 ions can be predicted from the peptide N-terminal amino acids, and their signals do not vary significantly across a wide range of collision energies, which facilitates the determination of MRM transition settings for multiple protein targets. The intrinsic a1 ions provide sensitivity for acquiring MRM peaks that is superior to that of the typical b/y ions used for native peptides, and they also provided good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.99) at the detected concentration range for each peptide. These features allow for the simultaneous quantification of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase in vaccines derived from either embryo eggs or cell cultivation. Moreover, the low abundant ovalbumin residue originated from the manufacturing process can also be determined. The results demonstrate that the stable isotope dimethyl labeling coupled with MRM Mass spectrometry screening of a1 ions (i.e., SIDa-MS) can be used as a high-throughput platform for multiple protein quantification of vaccine products. Highlights • A stable isotope labeling method for protein absolute quantification using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. • Simplifying the procedure for determining MRM transition settings. • Significant enhancement in MRM peak intensity. • Accurate and sensitive quantification of multiple proteins in complex mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) shows a very good prognosis, but older patients have a higher recurrence rate and those show poor prognosis than younger patients. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of thyroid cancer patients who experienced recurrence in old age according to the treatment strategy used. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Among DTC patients with no evidence of disease after initial treatment, we enrolled 86 patients who experienced recurrence at an age >65 years from 1994 to 2012. Sixty-nine patients had local recurrence and 17 patients showed distant metastasis. Results: The mean age of patients at recurrence was 72 years. Patients were followed up for a median of 4.1 years after recurrence. Sixty-three of the 69 patients with local recurrence received additional treatment, while the other six received conservative care. The cancer-specific mortality rate was 15.5% in the local recurrence group. Airway problems were the main cause of death in patients who did not receive further treatment for local recurrence. Among the 17 patients with distant metastasis, 10 underwent specific treatment for metastasis and seven received only supportive management. Seven of those 17 patients died, and the cancer-specific mortality rate was 35% in the distant metastasis group. Conclusion: The overall cancer-specific mortality rate was 20% in DTC patients in whom recurrence was first detected at an age >65 years. Mortality due to uncontrolled local disease occurred frequently in patients who did not receive definitive management for recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream can predict prognosis and survival in cancer patients. However, CTC rarity and heterogeneity pose challenges in using them as biomarkers. Recent publications have reported new classes of circulating, non-cancerous tumor-derived cells present in cancer patients but not in healthy controls; these include cancer-associated macrophages, tumor-endothelial clusters (TECs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Well-established marker-dependent CTC enrichment technologies will miss this group of circulating cells. To maximize our chance of finding useful circulating biomarkers in cancer patients, we propose the use of size-based enrichment technologies to isolate both cancerous and non-cancerous cells in circulation. We review their biological properties and discuss device features to consider in their enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present our experience in transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for hematoma formation related to variable causes. We analyzed the factors that could affect clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 50 patients (24 men, 36 women; mean age, 63.8 years) who were treated for a TAE to control bleeding. Computed tomography (CT) scans showed the formation of hematomas. We classified the patients into three groups depending on the underlying cause of the hematoma i.e., spontaneous, traumatic or iatrogenic groups. We evaluated relevant factors such as sex, age, hematoma size and liquefaction, extravasation on CT, injured artery, onset to procedure time, embolization material, hospital day. Results TAE was successfully performed in all patients. The proportions of patients in the spontaneous, traumatic, and iatrogenic bleeding groups were 36% (18/50), 42% (21/50), and 22% (11/50), respectively. Using the Mann Whitney U test, the international normalized ratio (INR) was statistically different for the spontaneous bleeding group (p = 0.013). In addition, the INR (p = 0.038) and platelet count (p = 0.004) were significant different for the traumatic group. Also, the platelet counts were related to clinical successes (p = 0.046). Conclusion Based our experience, TAE is a safe and effective treatment option for the management of hematoma formation. Furthermore, the interventional radiologist should consider the cause of hematoma formation in order to perform proper treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) emerged in southern China in late 2002 and caused a global outbreak with a fatality rate around 10% in 2003. Ten years later, a second highly pathogenic human CoV, MERS-CoV, emerged in the Middle East and has spread to other countries in Europe, North Africa, North America and Asia. As of November 2017, MERS-CoV had infected at least 2102 people with a fatality rate of about 35% globally, and hence there is an urgent need to identify antiviral drugs that are active against MERS-CoV. Here we show that a clinically available alcohol-aversive drug, disulfiram, can inhibit the papain-like proteases (PL pro s) of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. Our findings suggest that disulfiram acts as an allosteric inhibitor of MERS-CoV PL pro but as a competitive (or mixed) inhibitor of SARS-CoV PL pro . The phenomenon of slow-binding inhibition and the irrecoverability of enzyme activity after removing unbound disulfiram indicate covalent inactivation of SARS-CoV PL pro by disulfiram, while synergistic inhibition of MERS-CoV PL pro by disulfiram and 6-thioguanine or mycophenolic acid implies the potential for combination treatments using these three clinically available drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the ample efforts to address the attitude-behavior gap in individual pro-environmental actions, none of the previous research focused on the inconsistency between farmers' attitudes toward organic farming and their decisions to go green. Based on an integrated behavioral model of the TPB (theory of planned behavior) and ABC (attitude-behavior-context) theory, this study provides the first empirical evidence that uncovers the contextual and/or psychological factors driving farmers' attitude-behavior incongruity. The observed attitude-behavior relation indicates that there is a much higher share of conventional farmers exhibit attitude-behavior incongruity compared to their organic counterparts. As predicted by the TPB-ABC model, farmers' tendency to exhibit inconsistency between attitude and behavior is found to increase with their perception of policy support. The working hypothesis that drivers of the discrepancy between farmers' positive attitude and actual adoption behavior are different for the two groups of farmers is also confirmed in this study. Specifically, in addition to the contextual factors, personal capabilities play a role in driving conventional farmers' sustaining use of synthetic inputs and lock-in to unsustainable farming practices. Further analyses of the influence of holding a positive attitude on conventional farmers' economic performance suggest the presence of economic benefits associated with holding a favorable attitude toward organic farming. [Display omitted] • Explore farmers' planned behavior from an attitude-behavior-context perspective • Provide first evidence of factors for farmers' attitude-behavior incongruity • Identify the barriers to sustainable agri-food production • Contextual factors contribute to the lock-in to unsustainable farming practices • Conventional farmers holding positive attitudes outperform those who are neutral [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study provides an overview of the history of the civil service in South Korea, focusing on political appointments at the upper levels of the bureaucracy. We limit our investigation's scope to presidential appointments of ministers and underscore the necessity for additional scholarly attention to this subject. To empirically assess these appointments, we introduce a novel dataset and conduct an analysis that examines the demographic characteristics and career paths of past ministers, alongside the types of political patronage employed in their appointments. This analysis utilizes the analytical framework of loyalty versus competence as proposed by (Ouyang, Y., Haglund, E. T., & Waterman, R. W. (2017). The missing element: Examining the loyalty-competence nexus in presidential appointments. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 47(1), 62–91.) and the typology of patronage outlined by (Panizza, F., Peters, B. G., & Ramos Larraburu, C. R. (2019). Roles, trust and skills: A typology of patronage appointments. Public Administration, 97(1), 147–161), which is further elaborated by (Peters, B. G. (2023). Patronage in Asian political systems: A framework for research. In B. G. Peters, C. Knox, & B. Kim (Eds.), Political patronage in Asian bureaucracies (pp. 1–21). Cambridge University Press). Our findings reveal that, irrespective of the regime or ministry, programmatic technocrats are the most prevalent type of presidential appointee in South Korea, with nearly half being former bureaucrats. Although most ministers in South Korea align with this category, we also discern significant variations across different regimes and ministries. These findings provide insights into the practices of political appointments in South Korea's civil service and contribute to the literature on public administration and governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. However, little is known about how aberrant ERK signaling is associated with the defective bone development manifested in most CFC syndrome patients. In this study, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from dermal fibroblasts of a CFC syndrome patient having rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase B (BRAF) gain-of-function mutation. CFC-iPSCs were differentiated into mesenchymal stem cells (CFC-MSCs) and further induced to osteoblasts in vitro. The osteogenic defects of CFC-MSCs were revealed by alkaline phosphatase activity assay, mineralization assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting. Osteogenesis of CFC-MSCs was attenuated compared to wild-type (WT)-MSCs. In addition to activated ERK signaling, increased p-SMAD2 and decreased p-SMAD1 were observed in CFC-MSCs during osteogenesis. The defective osteogenesis of CFC-MSCs was rescued by inhibition of ERK signaling and SMAD2 signaling or activation of SMAD1 signaling. Importantly, activation of ERK signaling and SMAD2 signaling or inhibition of SMAD1 signaling recapitulated the impaired osteogenesis in WT-MSCs. Our findings indicate that SMAD2 signaling and SMAD1 signaling as well as ERK signaling are responsible for defective early bone development in CFC syndrome, providing a novel insight on the pathological mechanism and therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Hippocampus avoidance in whole brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) offers the feasibility of less-impaired cognitive function than conventional WBRT. The study aims to assess the radiological distribution of brain metastases (BMs) with relation to the hippocampus and peri-hippocampus region as defined by the RTOG 0933 for better understanding of margin definition in HA-WBRT treatment planning.Methods:Consecutive patients with diagnosis of BM from enhanced MRI between March 2011 and July 2016 were analysed. The pre-treatment T1 weighted, T2 weighted, T2 flair, three-dimensional spoiled gradient axial and contrast-enhanced axial cranial MR images of 226 patients are examined. The closest distances between the edge of hippocampus and the margin of tumours on different planes were measured.Results:A total of 226 patients with 1080 visible metastatic sites were reviewed. The origin of the primary tumors was in 72.6% lung (n = 164), in 45 cases (19.9%) breast cancer and in 7.5% other malignancies (n = 17). There were 758 (70.2%) lesions situated beyond the tentorium. The median size of single lesion was 13.9 ± 14.7 mm. Impossible, it seems that more of the patients are with only one lesion, to verify. The hippocampus involvement was found in 3.1% (n = 7, 95% CI 0.01–0.05) within 5 mm, 5.7% (n = 13, 95% CI 0.03–0.09) within 10mm and 8.4% (n = 19, 95% CI 0.05–0.12) within 20 mm. In multivariate analysis, the number 6 BM or higher was found to be an independent risk factor for hippocampal involvement (HI) (OR: 5.2, 5.38 and 3.84 in 5, 10 and 20 mm).Conclusion:This radiological study found that the incidence of hippocampus involvement is low in patients with BM. HA-WBRT can be delivered under the context of complete radiological diagnosis after careful delineation, proper margin definition and individual planning optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-frequency enhancement-mode (E-mode) AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) with plasma oxidation technology (POT) were fabricated through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. POT enables the formation of a thin oxide layer in the gate region, which decreases the gate leakage by at least two orders of magnitude compared with conventional recessed gate HEMTs. Ultra-low leakage was achieved in the fabricated device, with Ioff = 9.5×10-7mA/mm and a high ON/OFF ratio of over 109. Good suppression of current collapse was obtained after the application of POT in the access region. The enhancement-mode AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with POT showed an outstanding performance, with a Vth of 0.4V, a maximum drain current of 965mA/mm, and an fmax of 272GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]