Search

Multi‐instrument data from Jang Bogo Station (JBS) in Antarctica were utilized to study ionospheric responses to the 11 May 2019 moderate geomagnetic storm. These include Vertical Incident Pulsed Ionospheric Radar (VIPIR)/Dynasonde, Fabry‐Perot Interferometer (FPI), GPS vertical total electron content (vTEC), and magnetometer. The VIPIR/Dynasonde observed long‐lasting (>11 hr) severe depletion of the electron density in the F‐region ionosphere over JBS. During the depletion interval, GPS TEC also correspondingly decreased, FPI neutral temperature was significantly enhanced, and the polar magnetic field variations showed positive and negative excursions in the Y (east) and Z (vertical) components, respectively. GK‐2 A satellite, located ∼2.5 hr west of JBS, observed negative magnetic field perturbations in the azimuthal BD component at geosynchronous orbit during the depletion of ionospheric plasma. Such a BD perturbation at geosynchronous orbit is due to the field‐aligned currents flowing out of the ionosphere. From these observations we suggest that transpolar ionospheric currents connected to the field‐aligned currents flowing on a substorm wedge‐shaped circuit act as a source of polar atmospheric heating during the moderate geomagnetic storm interval and that elevated heavy molecular gases (O2 and N2) by atmospheric heating contribute to the electron density depletion via increased recombination rate. Plain Language Summary: Geomagnetic storms considerably influence the high‐latitude ionosphere in its density distributions as well as dynamics. In the present paper, we report results of multi‐instruments observations of the stom‐time ionospheric changes with simultaneously observed thermospheric anc magnetospheric changes. The Vertical Incident Pulsed Ionospheric Radar/Dynasonde and total electron contents measured by ground GPS receiver observed depletion of the ionospheric electron density. We confirmed from model results that the depletion was caused by the upwelling atmospheric molecular gases. The heated neutral atmosphere was also confirmed by the observations for the themosphere from a Fabry‐Perot interferometer. The current system is a key process to enhanced the lower atmospheric temperature. During the depletion interval, the magnetic field on the ground showed significant variations. The geosynchronous satellite also observed negative fluctuations in the azimuthal component at around Jang Bogo Station, which corresponds to the fluctuation of the ground magnetic field. Such fluctuations at geosynchronous orbit are strongly related with field‐aligned current that are part of a current system associated with substorm. These observations support that field‐aligned current plays as a source of polar ionospheric heating during the moderate geomagnetic storm. Key Points: The disappearance of the F‐region ionosphere was observed during storm in the polar cap regionThe disappearance is associated with the atmospheric upwelling and resulting enhancement of the recombinationThe polar cap ionosphere can be significantly affected by substorm‐induced field‐aligned currents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor synergies are neural organizations of a set of redundant motor effectors that interact with one another to compensate for each other's error and ensure the stabilization of a performance variable. Recent studies have demonstrated that central nervous system synergistically coordinates its numerous motor effectors through Bayesian multi-sensory integration. Deficiency in sensory synergy weakens the synergistic interaction between the motor effectors. Here, we scrutinize the neuromechanical mechanism underlying this phenomenon through spectral analysis and modeling. We validate our model-generated results using experimental data reported in the literature collected from participants performing a finger force production task with and without tactile feedback (manipulated through injection of anesthetic in fingers). Spectral analysis reveals that the error compensation feature of synergies occurs only at low frequencies. Modeling suggests that the neurophysiological structures involving short-latency back-coupling loops similar to the well-known Renshaw cells explain the deterioration of synergy due to sensory deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of British Journal of Surgery is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The relativistic magnetron is one of the most attractive high‐power microwave sources, due to its compactness with high efficiency. It can generate hundreds of megawatts of microwave power in the L‐ and S‐bands. However, the efficiency of the magnetron is often limited due to the mode stability. In this Letter, three‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulation suggests even further increase of total efficiency of the magnetron can be realised via mode stabilisation using a self‐excited extended interaction in a collector region. A six‐vaned radial relativistic magnetron with a single radial output port powered by 400 kV, <10 kA electron beam with a 70 ns pulse demonstrates >900 MW with an efficiency of ∼48%. This improvement is attributed to the mode locking of operating π‐mode by a power‐boosted TE315 mode excited in the extended cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococcus faecalis is a facultative anaerobic gram-positive commensal bacterium common in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of heat-killed E. faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on acute gastric ulcer using a murine model of ethanol (EtOH)-induced acute gastric injury. EF-2001 (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day) was administered by oral gavage for 5 days before EtOH treatment (10 mL/kg body weight). EF-2001 effectively attenuated EtOH-induced gastric mucosal injury with reduced gastric mucosal ulcer and histological damage score. Pretreatment of EF-2001 markedly suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; ERK1/2, JNK, and p38MAPK). In addition, EF-2001 significantly inhibited phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and subsequently suppressed the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interleukin 6 in gastric tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that EF-2001 exerts a gastroprotective effect against acute gastric injury, and the underlying mechanism might be associated with the suppression of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling and consequent reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators or cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although different injection locations for retrolaminar and erector spinae plane blocks have been described, the two procedures have a similar anatomical basis. In this cadaveric study we compared anatomical spread of dye in the thoracic region following these two procedures. Following randomisation, 10 retrolaminar blocks and 10 erector spinae plane blocks were performed on the left or right sides of 10 unembalmed cadavers. For each block, 20 ml of dye solution was injected at the T5 level. The back regions were dissected and the involvement of the thoracic spinal nerve was also investigated. Twenty blocks were successfully completed. A consistent vertical spread, with deep staining between the posterior surface of the vertebral laminae and the overlaying transversospinalis muscle was observed in all retrolaminar blocks. Moreover, most retrolaminar blocks were predominantly associated with fascial spreading in the intrinsic back muscles. With an erector spinae plane block, dye spread in a more lateral pattern than with retrolaminar block, and fascial spreading in the back muscles was also observed. The number of stained thoracic spinal nerves was greater with erector spinae plane blocks than with retrolaminar blocks; median 2.0 and 3.5, respectively. Regardless of technique, the main route of dye spread was through the superior costotransverse ligament to the ipsilateral paravertebral space. Although erector spinae plane blocks were associated with a slightly larger number of stained thoracic spinal nerves than retrolaminar blocks, both techniques were consistently associated with posterior spread of dye and with limited spread to the paravertebral space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the outermost layer of the tooth crown, dental enamel is the most mineralized tissue in mammals, consisting of hydroxyapatite crystallites separated by long and narrow nanochannels. A major challenge in dentistry is how various molecules can be infiltrated into these nanopores in an efficient and controlled way. Here we show a robust method to transport various ions of interest, such as fluoride (F-), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca++), and sodium (Na+), into these nanopores by electrokinetic flows. It is verified by fluorescence microscopy, laser-scanning confocal microscopy, mass spectrometry, and ion selective electrode technique. Different ions are demonstrated to infiltrate through the entire depth of the enamel layer (~1 mm), which is significantly enhanced penetration compared with diffusion-based infiltration. Meanwhile, transport depth and speed can be controlled by infiltration time and applied voltage. This is the first demonstration of reliably delivering both anions and cations into the enamel nanopores. This technique opens opportunities in caries prevention, remineralization, tooth whitening, and nanomedicine delivery in clinical dentistry, as well as other delivery challenges into various biomaterials such as bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which examined the negative surface ionization of hydrogen atoms and molecules. Experimental setup; Cesiation of the converter; Results.

The relativistic magnetron is one of the most attractive high-power microwave sources, due to its compactness with high efficiency. It can generate hundreds of megawatts of microwave power in the L- and S-bands. However, the efficiency of the magnetron is often limited due to the mode stability. In this Letter, three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation suggests even further increase of total efficiency of the magnetron can be realised via mode stabilisation using a self-excited extended interaction in a collector region. A sixvaned radial relativistic magnetron with a single radial output port powered by 400 kV, <10 kA electron beam with a 70 ns pulse demonstrates >900 MW with an efficiency of ~48%. This improvement is attributed to the mode locking of operating p-mode by a power-boosted TE315 mode excited in the extended cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species-specific cusp patterns result from the iterative formation of enamel knots, the epithelial signaling centers, at the future cusp positions. The expressions of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), especially Fgf4, in the secondary enamel knots in the areas of the future cusp tips are generally used to manifest the appearance of species-specific tooth shapes. However, the mechanism underlying the predictive role of FGFs in species-specific cusp patterns remains obscure. Here, we demonstrated that gerbils, which have a lophodont pattern, exhibit a striped expression pattern of Fgf4, whereas mice, which have a bunodont pattern, have a spotted expression pattern, and these observations verify the predictive role of Fgf4 in species-specific cusp patterns. By manipulating FGFs' signaling in the inner dental epithelium of gerbils, we provide evidence for the intracellular participation of FGF signaling, specifically FGF4 and FGF20, in Rac1- and RhoA-regulated cellular geometry remolding during the determination of different cusp patterns. Our study presents a novel explanation of how different FGF expression patterns produce different cusp patterns and implies that a conserved intracellular FGF-GTPase signaling module might represent an underlying developmental basis for evolutionary changes in cusp patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine magnetic and electric field perturbations associated with a sudden commencement (SC), caused by an interplanetary (IP) shock passing over the Earth's magnetosphere on 16 February 2013. The SC was identified in the magnetic and electric field data measured at Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS-E; THE-E: magnetic local time (MLT) = 12.4, L = 6.3), Van Allen Probe-A (VAP-A: MLT = 3.2, L = 5.1), and Van Allen Probe-B (VAP-B: MLT = 0.2. L = 4.9) in the magnetosphere. During the SC interval, THE-E observed a dawnward-then-duskward electric ( E) field perturbation around noon, while VAP-B observed a duskward E field perturbation around midnight. VAP-A observed a dawnward-then-duskward E field perturbation in the postmidnight sector, but the duration and magnitude of the dawnward E perturbation are much shorter and weaker than that at THE-E. That is, the E field signature changes with local time during the SC interval. The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network radar data indicate that the ionospheric plasma motions during the SC are mainly due to the E field variations observed in space. This indicates that the SC-associated E field in space plays a significant role in determining the dynamic variations of the ionospheric convection flow. By comparing previous SC MHD simulations and our observations, we suggest that the E field variations observed at the spacecraft are produced by magnetospheric convection flows due to deformation of the magnetosphere as the IP shock sweeps the magnetopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Mesiodens is the most common type of supernumerary tooth which includes a population prevalence of 0.15%-1.9%. Alongside evidence that the condition is heritable, mutations in single genes have been reported in few human supernumerary tooth cases. Gene sequencing methods in tradition way are time-consuming and labor-intensive, whereas next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics are cost-effective for large samples and target sizes. Materials and Methods We describe the application of a targeted next-generation sequencing ( NGS) and bioinformatics approach to samples from 17 mesiodens patients. Subjects were diagnosed on the basis of panoramic radiograph. A total of 101 candidate genes which were captured custom genes were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2500. Multistep bioinformatics processing was performed including variant identification, base calling, and in silico analysis of putative disease-causing variants. Results Targeted capture identified 88 non-synonymous, rare, exonic variants involving 42 of the 101 candidate genes. Moreover, we investigated gene co-occurrence relationships between the genomic alterations and identified 88 significant relationships among 18 most recurrent driver alterations. Conclusion Our search for co-occurring genetic alterations revealed that such alterations interact cooperatively to drive mesiodens. We discovered a gene co-occurrence network in mesiodens patients with functionally enriched gene groups in the sonic hedgehog ( SHH), bone morphogenetic proteins ( BMP), and wingless integrated ( WNT) signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies show that both activin and Bmp4 act as crucial mesenchymal odontogenic signals during early tooth development. Remarkably, mice lacking activin-βA ( Inhba-/-) and mice with neural crest-specific inactivation of Bmp4 ( Bmp4ncko/ncko) both exhibit bud-stage developmental arrest of the mandibular molar tooth germs while their maxillary molar tooth germs completed morphogenesis. In this study, we found that, whereas expression of Inhba and Bmp4 in the developing tooth mesenchyme is independent of each other, Bmp4ncko/nckoInhba-/- compound mutant mice exhibit early developmental arrest of all tooth germs. Moreover, genetic inactivation of Osr2, a negative regulator of the odontogenic function of the Bmp4-Msx1 signaling pathway, rescues mandibular molar morphogenesis in Inhba-/- embryos. We recently reported that Osr2 and the Bmp4-Msx1 pathway control the bud-to-cap transition of tooth morphogenesis through antagonistic regulation of expression of secreted Wnt antagonists, including Dkk2 and Sfrp2, in the developing tooth mesenchyme. We show here that expression of Dkk2 messenger RNAs was significantly upregulated and expanded into the tooth bud mesenchyme in Inhba-/- embryos in comparison with wild-type littermates. Furthermore, in utero treatment with either lithium chloride, an agonist of canonical Wnt signaling, or the DKK inhibitor IIIC3a rescued mandibular molar tooth morphogenesis in Inhba-/- embryos. Together with our finding that the developing mandibular molar tooth bud mesenchyme expresses significantly higher levels of Dkk2 than the developing maxillary molar tooth mesenchyme, these data indicate that Bmp4 and activin signaling pathways converge on activation of the Wnt signaling pathway to promote tooth morphogenesis through the bud-to-cap transition and that the differential effects of loss of activin or Bmp4 signaling on maxillary and mandibular molar tooth morphogenesis are mainly due to the differential expression of Wnt antagonists, particularly Dkk2, in the maxillary and mandibular tooth mesenchyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) is widely distributed in the environment, and humans can be exposed to As from various sources such as air, water, soil, and food. This study was performed to evaluate the As exposure levels in Korean adults by measuring total As in urine and its relation with the consumption of seafood, a favorite food in Korea. A total of 2077 adults were the study subjects; they ranged in age from 19 to 83, and they were recruited by probability sampling stratified by area, sex, and age. None of the subjects had been exposed to As occupationally. We collected information about the demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and food consumption of study subjects using a questionnaire and followed urine sampling. Diet was assessed in individual interviews using the 24-h recall method. Total As in urine was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (PerkinElmer NEXION 300S; Concord, Ontario, Canada). The geometric mean concentration of total As in urine was observed to be 97.6 μg/L and was higher in males (103.9 μg/L) than in females (93.0 μg/L). Total As levels in urine were affected by sex, age, seafood intake, and geographic location. In this study, total As in urine was positively correlated with fish and shellfish consumption, and was mainly determined by As intake through fish and shellfish/grains/flavors. These findings suggest that seafood consumption might be a major contributor to urinary As levels in Korean adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study that investigated the microwave absorbing characteristics and resonance of Y-type hexagonal ferrite-rubber composites. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion on the study; Conclusion.

Covering: up to February 2016 Identification of the target proteins of natural products is pivotal to understanding the mechanisms of action to develop natural products for use as molecular probes and potential therapeutic drugs. Affinity chromatography of immobilized natural products has been conventionally used to identify target proteins, and has yielded good results. However, this method has limitations, in that labeling or tagging for immobilization and affinity purification often result in reduced or altered activity of the natural product. New strategies have recently been developed and applied to identify the target proteins of natural products and synthetic small molecules without chemical modification of the natural product. These direct and indirect methods for target identification of label-free natural products include drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), stability of proteins from rates of oxidation (SPROX), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), thermal proteome profiling (TPP), and bioinformatics-based analysis of connectivity. This review focuses on and reports case studies of the latest advances in target protein identification methods for label-free natural products. The integration of newly developed technologies will provide new insights and highlight the value of natural products for use as biological probes and new drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Atopic dermatitis ( AD) is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical spectrum, and some forms of AD are associated with the initial steps of allergic march. The aims of this study were to determine AD phenotypes in school-age children and investigate their associations with the allergic march in each cluster. Methods We included 242 children (6-8 years) with current AD from the Children's HEalth and Environmental Research study, a 4-year prospective follow-up study with 2-year survey intervals. Latent class analysis was used. Serum IL-13 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin ( TSLP) levels at the time of enrollment were measured using ELISA. Results We identified four current AD phenotypes in children, characterized as 'early onset with low atopy' (26.4% of the sample; group 1), 'early onset with high atopy and high eosinophil percentages' (48.3%; group 2), 'late onset with low atopy' (9.9%; group 3), and 'late onset with high atopy and normal eosinophils' (15.3%; group 4). Although groups 2 and 4 demonstrated high atopic burden, children in group 2 showed the persistence of AD and eosinophilia associated with a high prevalence of new cases of bronchial hyper-responsiveness and asthma symptoms during follow-up. The serum IL-13 level was significantly increased in the early-onset AD groups, but there was no significant difference in the serum TSLP levels across all four groups. Conclusion An allergic march-associated AD phenotype exists that is characterized by early onset of AD with its persistence, increased serum IL-13 levels, high atopy, and a persistently increased blood eosinophil percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Cosmetic Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Multiple water swallows ( MWS) stimulates neural inhibition, resulting in abolition of contractions in the esophageal body and complete lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, which is followed by peristalsis and the lower esophageal sphincter contraction. We assessed the relationship between MWS and gastroesophageal reflux in patients with esophageal symptoms and with normal findings by high-resolution manometry ( HRM). We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who underwent HRM and a 24-hour ambulatory impedance- pH study. Correlation between the findings of the impedance- pH study and abnormal MWS responses without motility disorders was evaluated. Independent t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Of 28 patients, 20 (71%) had abnormal MWS responses: four (20%) had abnormal responses during MWS, six (30%) had abnormal responses after MWS, and 10 (50%) had abnormal responses both during and after MWS. Total acid exposure times were significantly longer in patients with abnormal MWS responses than in patients with normal MWS responses. In particular, upright acid exposure time and all reflux percent times were significantly longer in patients with abnormal MWS responses. However, bolus clearance time and longest reflux episode were not different between the two groups. Abnormal MWS responses predicted increased acid exposure times in patients with normal findings of HRM by the Chicago classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented Chlorella vulgaris was examined for its effects on growth performance, cecal microflora, tibia bone strength, and meat qualities in commercial Pekin ducks. A total of three hundred, day-old male Pekin ducks were divided into three groups with five replicates (n = 20 ducklings per replicate) and offered diets supplemented with commercial fermented C. vulgaris (CBT®) at the level of 0, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg, respectively for 6 wks. The final body weight was linearly (p = 0.001) increased as the addition of fermented C. vulgaris into diets increased. Similarly, dietary C. vulgaris linearly increased body weight gain (p = 0.001) and feed intake (p = 0.001) especially at the later days of the feeding trial. However, there was no C. vulgaris effect on feed efficiency. Relative weights of liver were significantly lowered by dietary fermented C. vulgaris (linear effect at p = 0.044). Dietary fermented C. vulgaris did not affect total microbes, lactic acid bacteria, and coliforms in cecal contents. Finally, meat quality parameters such as meat color (i.e., yellowness), shear force, pH, or water holding capacity were altered by adding fermented C. vulgaris into the diet. In our knowledge, this is the first report to show that dietary fermented C. vulgaris enhanced meat qualities of duck meats. In conclusion, our study indicates that dietary fermented C. vulgaris exerted benefits on productivity and can be employed as a novel, nutrition-based strategy to produce value-added duck meats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Controlling for day-to-day variation is a key issue in estimating long-term dietary exposure to heavy metals using 24-hour recall (24HR) data from a relatively small number of days.Objectives:This study was conducted to estimate long-term dietary exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury among Korean children using the Iowa State University (ISU) method and to assess the contributions of different food groups to heavy metal intake.Methods:We analyzed 2 days of 24HR data from 457 children between 0 and 6 years of age in 2010. Using bootstrapped concentration data for 118 representative foods, 93.5% of total intake was included in the exposure estimates in this study. Using the 2-day exposure data, we estimated long-term exposure by controlling for within-individual variation using the ISU method.Results:The long-term dietary exposure estimates (mean±standard deviation) for lead, cadmium, and mercury were 0.47±0.14, 0.38±0.20, and 0.22±0.08 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. For lead and cadmium, the percentages of children whose exposure was greater than the reference value were 35 and 42%, respectively. Fruits were an important source of lead exposure, and cereal and fish and shellfish made the greatest contributions to the total cadmium and mercury exposure.Conclusions:Our findings also suggest that the long-term exposure to lead and cadmium was somewhat greater than the reference values, whereas mercury exposure was well below than the reference value in this population. Further studies may be necessary to evaluate the food items contributing to heavy metal exposure, and continuous monitoring is needed to ensure the safety of food intake and dietary patterns among vulnerable groups in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of 49-year-old woman who was presented with swollen, erythematous, unilateral sclerosing patch on the right face. Topics mentioned include the use of type A injectable cosmetic botulinum toxin (BTX) for her wrinkles, the cellulitis diagnosis with no improvement on treatment, and the immunohistochemical studies that showed the embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) diagnosis.

Background Ingestion of cold fluids may induce pain in patients with esophageal motility disorders. Hot fluids, on the other hand, may help to relieve pain. We studied changes in esophageal motility as a variable of water bolus temperature using high-resolution manometry (HRM) in healthy human. Methods Thirty-two healthy subjects were recruited at Kosin University Hospital. HRM was performed in a sitting position, with room temperature (RT, 25 °C), hot (45 °C), and cold (2 °C) water swallowed in that order. This exam included single swallowing (10 swallows of 5 mL water, 30 s intervals) and multiple water swallows (MWS; 100 mL water within 30 s). Key Results In the single swallowing, hot water caused a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) residual pressure (5.87 ± 4.20 mmHg vs 7.45 ± 4.17 mmHg (RT), p = 0.001) and duration of esophageal body (EB) contraction (3.01 ± 0.80 s vs 3.15 ± 1.16 s (RT), p = 0.009). Cold water caused an increase in the duration of EB contraction (3.52 ± 0.87 s vs 3.15 ± 1.16 s (RT), p = 0.001) and a decrease in contractile front velocity (CFV) (4.43 ± 1.50 cm/s vs 4.90 ± 2.53 cm/s (RT), p = 0.007). Similarly, in the MWS, hot water caused a decrease in the duration of EB contraction (12.95 ± 5.02 s vs 16.33 ± 5.94 s (RT), p = 0.024) and an increase in the amplitude of EB contraction (114.27 ± 83.36 mmHg vs 82.70 ± 46.77 mmHg (RT), p = 0.007). Cold water caused an increase in the duration of EB contraction (27.38 ± 2.89 s vs 16.33 ± 5.94 s (RT), p = 0.03) and a decrease in the amplitude of EB contraction (51.68 ± 33.94 mmHg vs 82.70 ± 46.77 mmHg (RT), p = 0.001). Conclusions & Inferences This study showed changes in esophageal motility to be dependent on water temperature. Especially, MWS showed clear changes in esophageal motility at different temperatures of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare carcass characteristics and physico-chemical meat quality in two different genotype ducks raised under identical feeding and rearing conditions. A total of ninety 1-d-old Korean native ducks (KND, n = 45) and commercial meat-type ducks (Grimaud, n = 45) were fed same experimental diets during 56 d and 42 d, respectively to obtain similar slaughter weights. The experimental diet for starter period contained 20% crude protein (CP) and 2,900 kcal nitrogen corrected true metabolizable energy (TMEn)/kg of diet and that for grower period contained 17% CP and 3,050 TMEn/kg of diet. Average daily gain and feed efficiency of KND were inferior to those of commercial meat-type ducks (p<0.05). Carcass weight was not different between two genetically different ducks, but carcass yield of KND was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of commercial meat-type ducks. There were no significant differences in cooking loss and pH of breast meat between two genetically different ducks, but water holding capacity of KND was significantly higher than that of commercial meat-type ducks. The linoleic acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acid of breast meat from KND were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the corresponding part from commercial meat-type ducks. Significant differences were detected in water holding capacity and the content of linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid, which were significantly higher in KND, whereas growth performance tended to be superior in commercial ducks. At the market weight, the meat from KND was judged to have better qualities with regard to higher water holding capacity and greater content of polyunsaturated fatty acid compare with meat from commercial meat-type duck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood and can be associated with obesity. The aim of this study was to reveal the connection between ADHD symptoms, food habits and obesity. Methods We examined 12 350 children (6010 boys, 6340 girls) from 27 elementary schools in Cheonan, the Republic of Korea. The study subjects were 5- to 13-year-old children (9.4 ± 1.7 years). Parents completed the DuPaul ADHD Rating Scale. Food habits were measured by a questionnaire adapted from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey and a validated mini-dietary assessment tool. The full set of hypothesized associations was tested using covariance structural modelling. Results The prevalence of ADHD was 7.6% and that of obesity was 4.5% in our study population. The data was well fit by the model. ADHD was associated with body mass index ( BMI; standardized β = 0.086, P < 0.001). Bulimic dietary behaviours was related to BMI (standardized β = 0.548, P < 0.001). Socio-economic status was associated with BMI (standardized β = −0.017, P = 0.027). Conclusion Our analysis suggested that ADHD was a risk factor for obesity through dietary behavioural change and socio-economic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The main goal of this study was to develop a multiparametric cell population data ( CPD) model that combines information from several morphologic parameters generated by DxH800, in addition to the traditional parameters regularly reported in the CBC-diff, and to test the performance of this model in screening the general population for primary tuberculosis ( TB). Methods A total of 3741 study cases were divided into two groups, test and validation set at cut-off value of 6000 WBCs/μL. We developed multiparametric model for primary TB screening ( TB hemeprint), selected CPD, and calculated parameters which could discriminate primary TB from other non- TB diseases and normal control in test set. We applied it to the validation set, which was a set of completely different samples, to test its reproducibility if applied to a routine laboratory test. Results After screening primary TB using TB hemeprint, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 85.4%, 89.6%, 31.1%, and 99.1%, respectively, in primary TB with lower than 6000 WBCs/μL of test set (test set-L). In primary TB with higher than 6000 WBCs/μL of test set (test set-H), those values were 83.1%, 85.6%, 29.7%, and 98.6%, respectively. There were only 0.4% (2/461) and 0.6% (2/326) of normal control samples included in test set-L and -H, respectively. Diagnostic efficiencies except sensitivity in each validation set were very comparable with those in each test set. Conclusion Tuberculosis hemeprint may allow us to screen primary TB with acceptable sensitivity and specificity using combination of TB-specific CPD and calculated parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background As Korea has experienced rapid economic development, the lifestyles of Koreans have become more Westernized, in terms of urbanization and dietary habits. Also, the prevalences of allergic diseases, such as rhinitis, asthma, and dermatitis, have increased rapidly. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the symptoms of rhinitis conditions, including rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, overlapped rhinitis, and overlapped allergic rhinitis, among Korean children aged 6-7 years. Methods The study subjects were drawn from participants in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood ( ISAAC) study in 2010 and were aged 6-7 years. We analysed data for a total of 3804 children. Results The prevalences of symptoms suggestive of rhinitis and allergic rhinitis in the previous 12 months were 43.4% and 22.1%, respectively. For overlapped rhinitis and overlapped allergic rhinitis, only 2.5% and 1.9% of the children had overlapping symptoms, having rhinitis with asthma and eczema simultaneously. Gender, a parental history of allergic disease, mould or dampness at home, and the risk factors for 'sick building syndrome' ( SBS) were risk factors influencing rhinitis diseases. In particular, a history of moving to a newly built home in the child's infancy was strongly associated with symptoms of all the rhinitis diseases examined. Conclusions This study identified patterns of the prevalence of rhinitis conditions among Korean children that were similar to those reported in Western countries. We confirmed that a history of moving to a newly built home during infancy was associated with a considerable risk of rhinitis conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Cosmetic Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To propose a new and practical MRI grading method for cervical neural foraminal stenosis and to evaluate its reproducibility. Methods: We evaluated 50 patients (37 males and 13 females, mean age 49 years) who visited our institution and underwent oblique sagittal MRI of the cervical spine. A total of 300 foramina and corresponding nerve roots in 50 patients were qualitatively analysed from C4-5 to C6-7. We assessed the grade of cervical foraminal stenosis at the maximal narrowing point according to the new grading system based on T2 weighted oblique sagittal images. The incidence of each of the neural foraminal stenosis grades according to the cervical level was analysed by χ2 tests. Intra- and interobserver agreements between two radiologists were analysed using kappa statistics. Kappa value interpretations were poor (κ<0.1), slight (0.1⩽κ⩽0.2), fair (0.2<κ⩽0.4), moderate (0.4<κ⩽0.6), substantial (0.6<κ⩽0.8) and almost perfect (0.8<κ⩽1.0). Results: Significant stenoses (Grades 2 and 3) were rarely found at the C4-5 level. The incidence of Grade 3 at the C5-6 level was higher than that at other levels, a difference that was statistically significant. The overall intra-observer agreement according to the cervical level was almost perfect. The agreement at each level was almost perfect, except for only substantial agreement at the right C6-7 by Reader 2. No statistically significant differences were seen according to the cervical level. Overall kappa values of interobserver agreement according to the cervical level were almost perfect. In addition, the agreement of each level was almost perfect. Overall intra- and interobserver agreement for the presence of foraminal stenosis (Grade 0 vs Grades 1, 2 and 3) and for significant stenosis (Grades 0 and 1 vs Grades 2 and 3) showed similar results and were almost perfect. However, only substantial agreement was seen in the right C6-7. Conclusion: A new grading system for cervical foraminal stenosis based on oblique sagittal MRI provides reliable assessment and good reproducibility. This new grading system is a useful and easy method for the objective evaluation of cervical neural foraminal stenosis by radiologists and clinicians. Advances in knowledge: The use of the new grading system for cervical foraminal stenosis based on oblique sagittal MRI can be a useful method for evaluating cervical neural foraminal stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Exposure to ambient air pollution and bronchiolitis are risk factors for asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of air pollution on the development of asthma in children with past episodes of bronchiolitis. Methods A prospective 2-year follow-up survey consisting of parental responses to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood ( ISAAC) questionnaire, and allergy evaluations were conducted in 1743 children with a mean age of 6.8 years. Recent 5-year exposure to air pollution was estimated using a geographic information system. Results Higher exposure to ozone was associated with airway hyper-responsiveness ( PC20 ≤ 16 mg/ml) at enrollment (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.60, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.13-2.27) and with new episodes of wheezing during the 2-year period ( OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 0.96-3.83). Past episodes of bronchiolitis were associated with both current wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma. When the two factors were combined, the prevalence of bronchial hyper-reactivity ( OR = 2.96, 95% CI = 1.41-6.24) and new wheezing ( OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 0.89-19.66) as well as current wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma was even greater ( P for trend <0.05 for all). In children with both risk factors, lung function was significantly decreased, with atopic children being particularly vulnerable. Conclusion In children, the interaction between air pollution and past episodes of bronchiolitis resulted in a greater prevalence of asthma and pointed to an association with bronchial hyper-reactivity and decreased lung function. These results suggest mechanisms underlying the development of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) for evaluating portal hypertension by correlating the elasticity of liver cirrhosis, as measured by ARFI, with haemodynamic indices measured by Doppler ultrasound. Methods We evaluated the data of a total of 154 prospectively enrolled patients who underwent both duplex Doppler ultrasound and ARFI imaging. The duplex Doppler ultrasound indices, including the mean portal vein velocity, splenic index (SI) and splenoportal index (SPI) were evaluated to determine the statistical correlation with shear wave velocity (SWV) of ARFI. We also analysed the differences in the correlations between the SI, SPI and SWV of the group who had varices. The correlations were assessed with Spearman9s rank correlation coefficients. Results There was an increase of SWV in parallel with the increase of the SI (ρ =0.409, p<0.01) and SPI (ρ =0.451, p<0.01). In the patient group who did not have varices (n=74), the Doppler indices were found to be more correlated with the SWV (SI: ρ =0.447, SPI: ρ =0.552, p<0.01). However, the group with varices showed no correlation between the SWV and the Doppler parameters. Conclusion SWV of ARFI was well correlated statistically with Doppler parameters, but is of limited value in predicting portal hypertension directly owing to great variability of Doppler parameters. By evaluating the correlation between ARFI and Doppler ultrasound, we suggest that the SWV might be a non-invasive supplementary tool for predicting portal hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) by selective navigation using a microcatheter or microwire is a rare complication, and its timing of treatment has not been elucidated. We report two cases of direct CCFs resulting from injury to the cavernous posterior segment of the internal carotid artery during selective navigation. We did not plan to perform emergent endovascular treatment for these direct CCFs because no symptoms related to direct CCFs developed. Follow-up angiography revealed spontaneous healing of both direct CCFs. Close observation rather than emergent treatment may represent another option for direct CCF by selective navigation during the endovascular procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel injectable hydrogels have been formed at 37°C under physiological pH using a polymer-polymer crosslinking reaction. Three different formulations were tested. After 1-day cure time at body temperature, the elastic modulus of unswollen samples ranged between 3 and 5 kPa but after 11 additional days at 4°C exceeded the target modulus of 10 kPa. Modulus data showed good agreement with theoretical crosslink density, enabling the prediction of stiffer/faster curing gel formulations. Rubber elasticity theory provided a good fit to the experimental data up to 73% compressive true strain. Based on an analysis of modulus results, it was inferred that despite the presence of two aldehyde functional groups, only one mechanically significant crosslink can form per oxidized repeat unit on the alginate chain. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeWe compared visual and refractive outcomes after implantation of Visian toric implantable collamer lenses (toric ICLs) and iris-fixated toric pIOLs (toric Artisans).Patients and methodsA comparative retrospective analysis was performed. Toric ICLs were implanted into 30 eyes of 18 patients, and toric Artisans into 31 eyes of 22 recipients. We measured the logarithms of the minimum angle of resolution of uncorrected visual acuity (logMAR UCVA), logMAR of best spectacle-corrected corrected VA (logMAR BSCVA), MR, SE, and astigmatism (by the power vector method) before surgery and 1, 3, and 6 months thereafter. Differences between patients receiving each type of lens were compared by using a mixed model of repeated measures.ResultsVisual improvements were evident after operation in both groups. By comparing the attempted to the achieved SE values, we were able to confirm that correction of refractive error was similar in both groups. However, the logMAR UCVA was significantly higher in the toric ICL group at all postoperative time points. Although manifest cylinder power and astigmatism (calculated by using the power vector method) gradually decreased in the toric ICL group, cylinder power 1 month postoperatively increased from −2.62 to −2.75 D; astigmatism was also increased at this time in the toric Artisan group.ConclusionThe two tested toric pIOLs were similar in terms of the ability to correct refractive error, as assessed 3 months postoperatively. However toric ICLs corrected astigmatism more rapidly and safely. Notably, the large difference in astigmatism level between the two groups 1 month postoperatively indicates that toric ICLs are more effective when used to correct astigmatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J.W. Lee, H.-J. Kwon, P.-S. Jang, N.-G. Chung, B. Cho, D.-C. Jeong, J.-H. Kang, H.-K. Kim. Two children with differing outcomes after treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 520-523. All rights reserved. Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is a rare infectious complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but may be more significant in areas where the disease is endemic. Here, we present the clinical course of 2 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB after allogeneic HSCT. Both patients were treated for either probable or possible invasive fungal infection, as well as TB. One patient, diagnosed with TB 3 months after HSCT, showed remittent fever and symptoms that progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death, despite 3 modifications to the anti-TB regimen. In contrast, another patient who was diagnosed with TB 8 months after transplantation, responded well to anti-TB medication and completed 1 year of treatment with resolution of lung lesions. Co-morbid opportunistic infections, profound host immunosuppression early after transplantation, and potential risk of multi-drug resistant-TB may act as major barriers to effective treatment of TB after HSCT despite appropriate anti-TB medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate hydrologic impacts of potential climate and land use changes in a mountainous watershed in South Korea. The climatic data predicted by MIROC3.2 HiRes GCM A1B for three time periods (2010-2039, 2040-2069, and 2070-2099) were prepared using a change factor statistical downscaling method. The future land uses were predicted using the Conservation of Land Use and its Effects at Small regional extent (CLUE-s) model by establishing logistic regression model for five land use types with 11 driving forces represented by spatial information. By applying the climate and land use predictions to the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), the watershed hydrologic components (including evapotranspiration, surface runoff, groundwater recharge, and streamflow) were evaluated. For the predicted 2070-2099 temperature and precipitation changes (+4.8° C and +34.4%), and 6.2% decrease in forest areas and 1.7% increase in urban areas, the combined land use with climate change scenario resulted in more streamflow change (+55.4%) than the single climate and single land use change scenario (+39.8% and +10.8%), respectively. The predicted large increase in future precipitation and the corresponding decrease in forest land are predicted to have substantial impacts on watershed hydrology, especially on surface runoff and streamflow. Therefore, to mitigate negative hydrologic impacts and utilize positive impacts, both land use and climate changes should be considered in water resource planning for the Chungju dam watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sigmoid sinus diverticulum, a rare dural sinus anomaly, is regarded as one of the very rare causes of pulsatile tinnitus, and there have been only a few reports on their surgical or endovascular management. We describe a 31-year-old woman presenting with a three-year pulsatile tinnitus in her right ear. After finding the small bony defect in her right temporal bone on CT which was filled with contrast after enhancement, we confirmed the presence of sigmoid sinus diverticulum with the cerebral angiogram and embolized it with two detachable coils in awake status. Right after filling the two coils into the sac, thanks to her alert consciousness, she was able to refer the disappearance of her tinnitus. The operation was finished only with the detachment of the coils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]