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This study explores the home language practice (HLP) of Korean-American mothers with children who have developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. Data was collected from an online forum where these mothers discussed their experiences and decision-making processes following their child's diagnosis. Thematic analysis was conducted on the collected data to identify and develop themes related to their experiences. The study's framework is based on family-centered practices, emphasizing the importance of equal partnerships, cultural responsiveness, and information sharing between families and early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) professionals. Factors that influence HLP decisions include mothers' perceptions of disabilities, professional advice, and children’s intervention progress. The study highlights the vital role of EI/ECSE professionals in sharing current research findings, their experiences with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families, and the long-term outcomes of families that chose bilingual or single-language environments. By offering this information, professionals can assist parents in making informed decisions about their child's HLP. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the value of online communities for CLD parents and the need for professionals to engage with these communities to provide accurate information on bilingualism for children with disabilities. Collaborating with ethnolinguistic communities and establishing parent support groups can create a nurturing environment for parents navigating EI/ECSE services for their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis of lung cancer to the skin is uncommon, presenting in 0.22% to 12% of lung cancer patients, and it is extremely rare for skin metastasis to be the first clinical manifestation of lung cancer. In the few cases where skin metastasis has been reported as the first sign of lung cancer, the patients were typically heavy smokers or had preexisting respiratory diseases and symptoms. This prompted clinicians to consider skin metastasis of a pulmonary malignancy. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare type of lung cancer that ac)counts for approximately 3% of lung cancers. LCNEC mainly metastasizes to visceral organs, such as the liver, bone, and brain, and it only shows metastasis to the skin in very rare cases. Herein, we report an unusual case of a metastatic skin lesion as the first sign of primary pulmonary LCNEC, in a 63-year-old woman with no pulmonary symptoms or personal history of smoking or pulmonary disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mandibular split fractures, in which the fracture occurs exclusively in the posterior wall, are uncommon. This study aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of mandibular split fractures and offer insights for future research. Methods: This study included six patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 and were diagnosed with mandibular split fractures. We retrospectively collected data from patients' medical records on their age, sex, symptoms, mechanism, impact site, associated injuries, and treatment method, as well as the location, pattern, and number of fractures observed on computed tomography (CT) and panoramic images. The frequency of split fractures among all mandibular fractures was calculated. Results: The six patients included three men (50%) and three women (50%), ranging in age from 20 to 71 years (mean age, 49.8 years). The split fractures were located in the symphysis in one patient (16.7%), symphysis to parasymphysis in two patients (33.3%), parasymphysis in one patient (16.7%), and parasymphysis to the body in two patients (33.3%). Four patients (66.7%) had condylar head fractures, while two patients (33.3%) had single split fractures. The mechanism of trauma was a slip-down incident in four cases (66.7%), while two cases (33.3%) were caused by motorcycle traffic accidents. Four patients (67%) underwent intermaxillary fixation, while two patients (33%) improved with conservative treatment. Split fractures were diagnosed in all six patients on CT, whereas the fracture line was not clearly visible on panoramic images. Mandibular split fractures accounted for 5.6% of all mandibular fractures. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics of rare mandibular split fractures and the diagnostic imaging findings. Furthermore, CT scans and three-dimensional image synthesis-instead of panoramic images-may be essential for accurately diagnosing mandibular fractures, including mandibular split fractures, in the future. Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; IMF, intermaxillary fixation; TMJ, temporomandibular joint; 3D, three-dimensional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A precise anatomical understanding of the adductor canal (AC) and its neural components is essential for discerning the action mechanism of the AC block. We therefore aimed to clarify the detailed anatomy of the AC using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histological evaluation, and immunofluorescence (IF) assays. Methods: Gross dissections of 39 thighs provided morphometric data relevant to injection landmarks. Serial sectional images of the AC were defined using micro-CT and ultrasonography. The fascial and neural structures of the AC proper were histologically evaluated using Masson's trichrome and Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining, and double IF staining using choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and neurofilament 200 antibodies. Results: The posteromedial branch insertion of the nerve to vastus medialis (NVM) into the lateral border of the AC proper was lower (14.5 ± 2.4 cm [mean ± SD] above the base of the patella) than the origin of the proximal AC. The AC consists of a thin subsartorial fascia in the proximal region and a thick aponeurosis-like vastoadductor membrane in the distal region. In the proximal AC, the posteromedial branch of the NVM (pmNVM) consistently contained both sensory and motor fibers, and more ChAT-positive fibers were observed than in the saphenous nerve (27.5 ± 11.2 / 104 vs. 4.2 ± 2.6 / 104 [counts/μm2], P < 0.001). Conclusions: Anatomical differences in fascial structures between the proximal and distal AC and a mixed neural component of the neighboring pmNVM have been visualized using micro-CT images, histological evaluation, and IF assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since December 2020, various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been developed and approved. As of February 2023, mRNA vaccines including bivalent vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna), recombinant protein vaccines (Novavax, SK Bioscience), and viral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca, Janssen) have been approved in Korea. COVID-19 vaccination can effectively reduce hospitalization and deaths due to symptomatic COVID-19, especially severe and critical COVID-19. The primary series vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for all adults aged ≥18 years in Korea. Booster vaccination with the bivalent mRNA vaccine is available for those ≥12 years who have completed the primary series vaccination, regardless of the type of vaccine previously received, and is recommended for all adults. Booster vaccination can be administered since 90 days after the last dose. Localized and systemic adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination are relatively common and more frequently documented in younger age groups. Rare but potentially serious specialized adverse reactions include anaphylaxis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, myocarditis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Previous severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, to any COVID19 vaccine or vaccine component are considered a contraindication for vaccination. The indications and schedule for COVID-19 vaccination are subject to change based on further research results and the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) autopilot flight requires a specific altitude when inspecting defective urban solar panels to avoid obstacles such as high-rise buildings, trees, and telegraph poles. Therefore, autopilot-based thermal imaging has severe data redundancy because the non-solar panel area occupies more than 99% of the ground target. We aim to explore the tracking capability of a UAV video stream for defective urban solar panels by comparing spatial and clustering patterns with autopilot-based photomosaics. The spatial patterns of distributions and clusters in defective solar panels have high similarity (80--100%) to those of autopilot-based photomosaics. The results of this study can serve as a valuable reference for video-stream-based thermal deficiency inspections of defective solar panels in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of coating with nano-structured carbon materials, such as carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene, on the characteristics of transparent conductive electrodes based on copper (Cu) meshes, particularly on the visibility related to their color properties, were examined. The electrical sheet resistance of the Cu meshes remained almost unchanged regardless of the coating with CNT and graphene. Through the electrophoretic deposition method, the CNT and graphene layers were selectively used to coat only the regions where Cu mesh patterns had been formed, which helped minimize the transmittance loss caused by the coating with CNT and graphene. The reflectance of the Cu mesh was substantially reduced by the coating with CNT and graphene, meaning that the CNT or graphene coating layer played the role of suppressing the visible light reflected from the Cu mesh. In addition, the reflectance reduction effect was greater when the Cu mesh was coated with CNT rather than with graphene, which was attributed to the difference in particle size between the CNT suspension and the graphene suspension. Furthermore, the chromatic parameters (e.g., redness, yellowness) of the Cu meshes approached almost zero as the thickness of the CNT or graphene coating layer increased, meaning that the Cu meshes became nearly colorless, while the primitive Cu mesh was tinged with a red-orange color. The experiment results presented in this study verified that the combined technology with CNT and graphene coating contributed to the amelioration of the poor visibility caused by the high reflectance and color-tinted nature of the conventional Cu mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated a nanoscale random rubbed structure (nRRS) used as a scattering layer in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) through an innovative manufacturing method. The rubbing technique, which is conventionally utilized only for liquid crystal alignment, is a manufacturing process with excellent merit in that it can form nanoscale random corrugation in a large area without vacuum equipment even at room temperature, and it is simple and inexpensive. The optimized nRRS, fabricated via rubbing, exhibited a high transmittance of 97.8% and haze of 17.8%, making it suitable as a scattering layer for OLEDs. Owing to its random nature, the scattering effect occurred effectively by rearranging the waveguided light inside the glass substrate. The OLED combined with the optimized nRRS showed a 25.4% improvement in the external quantum efficiency. Additionally, the spectral distortion according to the viewing angle was alleviated, which was confirmed by the negligible difference in the International Commission on Illumination 1931 color space coordinates (Δ(x, y) = (0.01, 0.013)). The optical performance of the nRRS--OLED was predicted through a finite-difference time-domain simulation and verified by showing results consistent with those of the fabricated device. This research is expected to be widely applied in many optical devices because it is possible to form a randomcorrugation on the outside of the device without the difficulty of simply fabricating a beneficial optical structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer have increased the patients' stress level and decreased the quality of life. A variety of instruments are currently available to evaluate patients with prostate cancer. However, only a few tools are available to assess Korean patients, and therefore we demonstrated a linguistic validation of Korean Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP). Methods: EPIC-CP was translated into Korean and the linguistic validation was evaluated. The evaluation process includes permission for translation, forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation, cognitive debriefing, and proofreading. Two bilingual translators independently translated the original questionnaire, discussed the feasibility and naturalness of initial translation, followed by revision to the reconciled version. Another translator then performed a backward translation into English. Ten patients with prostate cancer completed the translated questionnaire and performed cognitive debriefing. Results: The original EPIC-CP was translated into 2 Korean versions. The different wording in both versions and the ordinary words in the initial translations were changed considering the nuances and meanings of medical terms. During the backward translation, the panels made slight changes to clarify the meaning and nuances of the translated questionnaire. During cognitive debriefing, 10 patients answered the questionnaire and offered their opinions regarding comprehensibility and naturalness. Most patients agreed that the translation was comprehensible in general. Conclusions: Our study provides a successful linguistic validation of the EPIC-CP questionnaire. The translation is a helpful diagnostic tool to ensure the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer attending crowded clinics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasal bone fractures are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Although fracture reduction is simple and correction requires a short operative time, low patient satisfaction and relatively high complication rates remain issues for many surgeons. These challenges may result from inaccuracies in fracture recognition and assessment or inappropriate surgical planning. Findings from immediate postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and those performed at 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively were compared to evaluate the accuracy and outcomes of nasal fracture reduction. Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with nasal bone fractures at our department who underwent closed reduction surgery. Patients who did not undergo additional CT scans were excluded from the study. Clinical examinations, patient records, and radiographic images were evaluated in 20 patients with nasal bone fractures. Results: CT findings from immediately after surgery and a 1month follow-up were compared in 20 patients. Satisfactory nasal projection and aesthetically acceptable results were observed in patients with accurate correction or mild overcorrection, while undercorrection was associated with unfavorable results. Conclusion: Closed reduction surgery for correcting nasal bone fractures usually provides acceptable outcomes with relatively few complications. If available, immediate postoperative CT scans are recommended to guide surgeons in the choice of whether to perform secondary adjustments if the initial results are unsatisfactory. Based on photogrammetric data, nasal bone reduction with accurate correction or mild overcorrection achieved acceptable and stable outcomes at 1 month postoperatively. Therefore, when upward dislocation is observed on postoperative CT, one can simply observe without a subsequent intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate the effect of baseline test selection on progression detection of circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) in glaucomatous eyes by optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided progression analysis (GPA). Methods A total of 53 eyes with either RNFL or GCIPL progression determined using OCT-GPA were included. Three different baseline conditions were created by dividing eight serial OCT tests from each eye into three sets. Specifically, these sets presented baseline tests at exams 1-2 (1st set), 2-3 (2nd set) and 3-4 (3rd set), respectively. Agreement on progression detection was defined as the presence of 'Possible Loss' or 'Likely Loss' in the 2nd or 3rd sets at the same location in the 1st set. Results The proportion of eyes with agreement on progression detection was 47.1%, 20.0% and 31.0% for RNFL 'thickness map progression', 'thickness profiles progression' and 'average thickness progression', respectively. In GCIPL 'thickness map progression' and 'average thickness progression', 53.8% and 62.8% of eyes showed agreement, respectively. Eyes with disagreement showed a greater change in thickness (slope of change in the 3rd set-1st set) compared to the eyes with agreement (p<0.05), with the exception of RNFL 'thickness profiles progression' (p=0.064). Conclusion Glaucoma progression detection by OCTGPA was affected by baseline test selection, especially in eyes with a greater reduction in progression. GCIPL thickness was less influenced by baseline test selection compared to RNFL thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superficial angiomyxoma (SA) is a rare, benign, cutaneous soft tissue tumor. It is composed of myxoid matrix and blood vessels. Herein, we report a case of a solitary SA on the posterior neck of a 6-year-old boy. An analysis of the biopsied specimen showed a prominent myxoid stroma with thin-walled, branching blood vessels, revealing the presence of an SA. SA especially that originating in the posterior neck, is rarely seen and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for a solitary mass in the posterior neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Credible information regarding carbon stock is the fundamental underlying basis for forestry carbon trading. The current measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system uses various emission/absorption factors derived from biomass and land use/cover. However, this MRV system does not take into consideration the actual reduction in atmospheric CO2 concentration induced by the CO2 uptake of the above-ground biomass, which is closely related to the effects of on-site topographical factors on the capability of CO2 uptake of the above- ground biomass. This raises questions about the reliability of the actual atmospheric CO2 reduction of carbon stock presented in a project design document (PDD). The explainable range of 'ambient' CO2 concentrations measured using nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors from the ground level was evaluated to explore how the amount of carbon stock presented in the PDD reflects the variation in ground CO2 density in terms of the topographical above-ground biomass. Ground CO2 was measured using NDIR portable sensors at 182 points (August-September 2018) according to the World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) method. NDIR sensor signatures provide tangible quantitative values (correlation coefficient, R² = 0.28) for differentiating the interactive relationships between the carbon stock presented in the PDD as a dependent variable and a set of independent variables (topographical above-ground biomass). It is shown that the sensor signal is not a measure of the amount of carbon accumulated in the above-ground biomass itself but is seriously affected by the surrounding topographical terrain parameters (low solar radiation, solar duration, slope, and elevation). The results of this study provide a valuable reference for verifying the measurable range of carbon concentrations in the atmosphere, which fluctuate according to the carbon absorption capability of the above-ground biomass in forestry carbon project sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study related to the use of biological activities of mistletoes and hemiparasites in the cosmetics industry. It mentions that Mistletoe extracts contain various phenolic derivatives such as phenolic acids and flavonoids that have been attractive ingredients for cosmetics. It mentions about species of santalaceae and loranthaceae including V. album var. coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi (V. album) and Loranthus tanakae Franch. & Sav. (L. tanakae) that are families of mistletoe.

To address the problems associated with crowding in dissection laboratory, especially for dissections of the head and neck region, we adopted an alternate dissection strategy and explored its effects on student learning, and student perceptions of the approach. The alternate dissection approach was first introduced at our institution for dissection of the head and neck region in 2014, and was expanded to encompass the extremities in 2016. A survey on student perceptions of this new strategy was conducted at the end of anatomical courses held from 2014 to 2016, and practical and written examination scores from 2013 to 2016 were analyzed. The results showed that student perceptions were largely positive and became increasingly so each year. However, there was still some anxiety among the students regarding regions that they did not dissect themselves. Despite this, the alternate dissection strategy did not influence practical examination scores, with the exception of a transient decrease in 2014, i.e., the first year of implementation. Moreover, written examination scores improved both for the extremities and the head and neck regions in 2016. The alternate dissection strategy described herein solved the crowding problem in the dissection laboratory at our institution and had no negative effects on student learning outcomes. Therefore, this type of approach can be used to improve efficiency in dissection laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate whether innovative sous vide treatment has a significant influence on the beef semitendinosus muscle as compared to common sous vide treatment and traditional cooking. Methods: The innovative sous vide treatments were cooked at 45°C and 65°C for 6 h (SV45- 65), common sous vide treatment at 45°C and 65°C for 3 h (SV45 and SV65) and traditional cooking at 75°C for 30 min (CON75). Water loss and cooking loss, as well as the physical properties (color and shear force) and chemical properties (protein and collagen solubility) of the treated meat, were investigated. Results: The results obtained indicated that the innovative sous vide with double thermal treatment (SV45-65) and cooked with air presence (CON75) resulted to lower a* and higher b* values, respectively. The water loss and cooking loss increased when temperature increased from 45°C to 65°C, and lower water loss was recorded in SV45 and CON75. These samples presented higher water content and revealed strong correlation to protein solubility. Warner- Bratzler shear force (SF) analysis showed the marked interaction between cooking temperature and time. Sample cooked at a high temperature (CON75) and a long period (SV45-65) showed a significantly lower value of SF than sample SV65 (p<0.05). Interestingly, there was no difference in SF values between SV45-65 and CON75. Conclusion: The innovative sous vide treatment with double thermal effect appears an attractive cooking method as compared to common sous vide and traditional cooking method, as it has a potential for improving tenderness values of cooked beef semitendinosus muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chicken is a valuable model organism, especially in evolutionary and embryology research because its embryonic development occurs in the egg. However, despite its scientific importance, no transcriptome data have been generated for deciphering the early developmental stages of the chicken because of practical and technical constraints in accessing pre-oviposited embryos. Findings: Here, we determine the entire transcriptome of pre-oviposited avian embryos, including oocyte, zygote, and intrauterine embryos from Eyal-giladi and Kochav stage I (EGK.I) to EGK.X collected using a noninvasive approach for the first time. We also compare RNA-sequencing data obtained using a bulked embryo sequencing and single embryo/cell sequencing technique. The raw sequencing data were preprocessed with two genome builds, Galgal4 and Galgal5, and the expression of 17,108 and 26,102 genes was quantified in the respective builds. There were some differences between the two techniques, as well as between the two genome builds, and these were affected by the emergence of long intergenic noncoding RNA annotations. Conclusion: The first transcriptome datasets of pre-oviposited early chicken embryos based on bulked and single embryo sequencing techniques will serve as a valuable resource for investigating early avian embryogenesis, for comparative studies among vertebrates, and for novel gene annotation in the chicken genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduce a highly accurate NMR magnetometer, which is capable of measuring the magnetic field for inhomogeneous HTS magnets. The magnetometer is based on the pulsed and Fourier-transformed NMR and 1H NMR signal analyses. The magnetometer system was fabricated according to these concepts andmagnetic field measurements on a 3THTSmagnet were carried out using various mapping paths. The test results demonstrate that the magnetometer can measure magnetic fields accurately in inhomogeneous conditions as high as approximately 864 ppm with a spherical volume of 10 mm in diameter nearly centered at the magnet center. The stronger and hence shorter RF pulse resulting from the high-power amplification enables measurements of magnetic fields in more inhomogeneous conditions. Because the permissible field homogeneity range is very wide, the magnetometer can be used for mapping fields at the preshim stage of the inhomogeneous magnets. To also verify the high-resolution performance of the magnetometer, the results are compared with measurement data obtained with a Hall magnetometer ordinarily used in such an inhomogeneity range. We expect that the proposed magnetometer will enable the precise measurements of the magnetic fields over a wide homogeneity range, and thereby bring about improvement in the shimming process of the inhomogeneous magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a design concept of a multipole electromagnet using a parallel iron-core structure. An electromagnet can be used in many types ofmagnetic study area, such as work on magnetic susceptibility, the Hall effect research, the magnetooptical effect, and in hysteresis measurements. In electromagnets, generally, only a single probe can be used at a time due to the single pole structure, and it is challenging to measure many samples simultaneously. In this paper, a multipole electromagnet is proposed. It has a parallel iron-core structure and a high-temperature superconducting coil, unlike the conventional electromagnet system. The electromagnet with such a structure enables multiple probes to be used simultaneously. To verify the feasibility of the structure, a small-scale multipole electromagnet was designed using commercialized finite element method software. Based on the design results, a parallel iron-core and coil assemblywas fabricated and the performance of the magnet was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of a machine's rotation cycle and the unpredictable industrial interference encountered by rotating machinery can generate a time-varying noise signal. Such signals cause difficulty while detecting the quench voltage in superconducting rotating machinery. Quench detection is more difficult in hightemperature superconductors (HTS) than in low-temperature superconductors (LTS) because the normal zone propagation (NZP) velocity of HTS is lower than that of LTS. To detect the quench signal in an HTS, signal wires are widely used for voltage taps. However, owing to the low NZP velocity, it is difficult to detect the quench signal in HTS when the voltage taps are attached at short distances from the HTS devices. Furthermore, there is a possibility of the HTS burning out when voltage taps are attached to both ends of the HTS tape, because the hot spot is scarcely dissipative and thermal runaway may occur in the normal zone. Thus, detecting the quench in HTS rotating machinery is difficult. Moreover, the signal wires used in the voltage taps become twisted when the HTS rotor coil rotates to generate magnetic flux. Therefore, in this paper, a sensitive quench-detection method that uses electromagnetically coupled coils is presented for application to HTS rotating machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the characteristics analysis of the flux-switching synchronous generator (FSG) applying noinsulation (NI)-type high-temperature superconducting (HTS) field coils. The HTS FSG can be cost effective, since the field coils and armature windings are both installed in the stator, while the rotor is onlymade of iron corewith tooth. Alongwith lowcost, since HTS field coils in the FSGs are located in the stationary part of the generator, FSG can be a solution for the design complexities of the excitation and cooling systems for HTS field coils. In addition, several studies on HTS coils without turn-to-turn insulation (NI) have been reported for HTS field coils for applying in electrical rotating machines. The NI-type winding technique enhances the stability of the HTS field coil since the overcurrent is automatically bypassed through the contacts between winding turns. Nevertheless, there is still an issue about whether the NI-type HTS field coil can be applied to the electrical rotating machines. In this study, we fabricated and tested an NI-type HTS field coil. In addition, a 600-kW HTS FSG was designed using a fundamental design process and the characteristics analysis of the generator was performed based on the test results of the fabricated NI-type field coil. The results show that the HTS FSG having NI-type HTS field coils is able to operate normally under normal operating conditions. However, the field current charging problem issue has been revealed through this study. Therefore, further research will need to improve the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 5-T low-temperature superconducting magnet was designed and will be fabricated for electro-magnetic propertymeasurement system (EMPS) whose sample space is 50 mm in diameter. Since the sample space is twice larger than that of the conventional property measurement systems, it will be possible to measure the electro-magnetic properties of several samples at a time, therefore, measurement time could be reduced. With the genetic algorithm incorporated with the linear-programming, key design of the 5-T LTS EMPS magnet is introduced and followed by the detailed magnet specifications including field uniformity at 50-mm space, magnetic hoop stress, critical current margin, and dimensions. The linear-programming restricts the magnet space and structure to minimize the total volume of the wires. Meanwhile, the genetic algorithm calculates the layers, turns, and detailed dimensions of the magnet in the magnet space confined by the linear-programming. Furthermore, quench analysis on multicoils employing finite difference equations in liquid helium was carried out to verify the thermal stability of the LTS magnet. The quench simulation code calculates temperature profiles of the magnet considering heat transfer among the unit cells and joule heat of the magnet in three-dimensional space. The LTS magnet for 5-T EMPS will be fabricated according to the design results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenomics and comparative functional genomics of avian species were investigated in the Bird 10,000 Genomes (B10K) project because of the important evolutionary position of birds and their value as a research model. However, the systematic profiling of transcriptional changes prior to oviposition has not been investigated in avian species because of the practical difficulties in obtaining pre-oviposited eggs. In this study, a total of 137 preoviposited embryos were collected from hen ovaries and oviducts and subjected to RNA-sequencing analyses. Two waves of chicken zygotic genome activation (ZGA) were observed. Functionally distinct developmental programs involving Notch, MAPK, Wnt and TGFß signaling were separately detected during cleavage and area pellucida formation. Furthermore, the early stages of chicken development were compared with the human and mouse counterparts, highlighting chicken-specific signaling pathways and gradually analogous gene expression via ZGA. These findings provide a genome-wide understanding of avian embryogenesis and comparisons among amniotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Gastric juice plays a crucial role in the physiology of the stomach. The aim of this study is to evaluate associations among the pH of gastric juice, atrophic gastritis (AG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), pepsinogen, and Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: Gastric biopsies and juice were collected from 46 subjects who underwent endoscopies at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between November 2011 and March 2013. H. pylori , AG and IM were evaluated, and pepsinogen I or II, I/II ratio, and interleukin (IL)-1β levels were measured. Results: The mean pH of gastric juice was higher in the H. pylori-positive group (n=17) than that in the H. pylori-negative group (n=29) (4.54 vs 2.46, p=0.002). When patients were divided into pH <3 (n=28) and pH ≥3 (n=18) groups, H. pylori was lower in the pH <3 group (21.4%) than in the pH ≥3 group (61.1%) (p=0.007). The pH ≥3 group demonstrated AG and IM more frequently than the pH <3 group in the body (p=0.047 and p=0.051, respectively) but not in the antrum. There were no differences in pepsinogen I or II, I/II ratio, and IL-1β levels between the two groups. Conclusions: There is a relationship between chronic H. pylori infection and gastric juice pH ≥3, which may originate from AG and IM in the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore further the practical uses of highly active manganese (Mn*), a variety of alcohols were treated with Mn*, and the resulting complexes were coupled with acid chlorides and/or acetic anhydride in the absence of any extra catalyst. The subsequent reactions took place smoothly under mild conditions, providing the corresponding Oacylation products in good to excellent isolated yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing concentration of phosphorous in the water system is presented as a cause of the algal bloom, which is spreading severely as the climate changes. It is therefore necessary to develop the technology to remove algae and phosphorus effectively. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is effective in removing algae and phosphorous in water systems by using micro-bubbles. This study aims to increase the hydraulic loading rate by optimizing the internal hydraulic characteristics of the DAF process. The number of orifices in the nozzle has been diversified in order to optimize the volume and the size of micro-bubbles. Further, the slope baffle was optimized by enhancing the collision efficiency of micro-bubbles through the current control of the contact zone. An increase in the hydraulic loading rate as a function of the flow of the fluid was achieved by using a horizontal baffle and a perforated panel. According to the results of the tests, when the number of orifices in the nozzle is five, six, or seven, the diameter of the micro-bubbles decreases by approximately 37% and the bubble volume concentration increases by approximately 15%. In addition, the turbidity and T-P removal achieved were 96% and 98%, respectively. This represents increases of 28% and 23%, respectively, and was achieved by changing the height ratio of the slope baffle, including a horizontal baffle, and changing the perforation ratio of the perforation panel, as compared with the conventional DAF process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fruit of the tree has been widely used for the treatment of various disorders. Terminalia chebula Its anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects have been studied. Dental plaque bacteria (DPB) are intimately associated with gingivitis and periodontitis. In the quest for materials that will prove useful in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, we investigated the preventive effects of an ethanol extract of (EETC) on DPB-induced inflammation and bone resorption. Terminalia chebula Methods: The anti-bacterial effect of EETC was analyzed using the disc diffusion method. The anti-inflammatory effect of EETC was determined by molecular biological analysis of the DPB-mediated culture cells. Prevention of osteoclastic bone resorption by EETC was explored using osteoclast formation and pit formation assays. Results: EETC suppressed the growth of oral bacteria and reduced the induction of inflammatory cytokines and proteases, abolishing the expression of PGE2 and COX-2 and inhibiting matrix damage. By stimulating the DPB-derived lipopolysaccharides, EETC inhibited both osteoclast formation in osteoclast precursors and RANKL expression in osteoblasts, thereby contributing to the prevention of bone resorption. Conclusions: EETC may be a beneficial supplement to help prevent DPB-mediated periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linezolid, an oxazolidinone, substantially improves treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. We started a trial to test whether the use of linezolid instead of ethambutol could increase the rate of sputum culture conversion as of 8 weeks of treatment in patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis.Methods/design: This is a phase II, multicenter, randomized study with three arms. We are enrolling patients with pulmonary tuberculosis without rifampicin resistance screened by the Xpert MTB/RIF® assay. The standard treatment arm uses isoniazid (6 months), rifampicin (6 months), pyrazinamide (2 months), and ethambutol (2 months). Experimental arm 1 uses linezolid (600 mg/day) for 4 weeks instead of ethambutol. Experimental arm 2 uses linezolid (600 mg/day) for 2 weeks instead of ethambutol. The primary outcome is the sputum culture conversion rate on liquid media after 2 months of treatment. Secondary outcomes include the sputum culture conversion rate on solid media after 2 months of treatment, time to sputum culture conversion on liquid and solid media, cure rate, and treatment success rate. The frequencies of total adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs will be described and documented. Based on an α = 0.05 level of significance, a power of 85%, a 15% difference in the culture conversion rate after 2 months between the control arm and experimental arm 1 (75% vs. 90%), a 10% default (loss to follow-up) rate, and a 10% culture failure, the required number per arm was calculated to be 143 (429 in total).Discussion: This trial will reveal the effectiveness and safety of 2 or 4 weeks of use of linezolid instead of ethambutol for patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis. If a new regimen including linezolid shows a higher culture conversion rate by week 8, and is safe, it could be tested as a 4-month antituberculosis treatment regimen in the future.Trial Registration: ClincalTrials.gov, NCT01994460 . Registered on 13 November 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of functional gametes, have distinct characteristics and exhibit several unique molecular mechanisms to maintain pluripotency and germness in comparison to somatic cells. They express germ cell-specific RNA binding proteins (RBPs) by modulating tissue-specific cis- and trans-regulatory elements. Studies on gene structures of chicken vasa homologue (CVH), a chicken RNA binding protein, involved in temporal and spatial regulation are thus important not only for understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate germ cell fate, but also for practical applications of primordial germ cells. However, very limited studies are available on regulatory elements that control germ cell-specific expression in chicken. Therefore, we investigated the intricate regulatory mechanism(s) that governs transcriptional control of CVH. Results: We constructed green fluorescence protein (GFP) or luciferase reporter vectors containing the various 5' flanking regions of CVH gene. From the 5' deletion and fragmented assays in chicken PGCs, we have identified a CVH promoter that locates at -316 to +275 base pair fragment with the highest luciferase activity. Additionally, we confirmed for the first time that the 5' untranslated region (UTR) containing intron 1 is required for promoter activity of the CVH gene in chicken PGCs. Furthermore, using a transcription factor binding prediction, transcriptome analysis and siRNA-mediated knockdown, we have identified that a set of transcription factors play a role in the PGC-specific CVH gene expression. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that cis-elements and transcription factors localizing in the 5' flanking region including the 5' UTR and an intron are important for transcriptional regulation of the CVH gene in chicken PGCs. Finally, this information will contribute to research studies in areas of reproductive biology, constructing of germ cell-specific synthetic promoter for tracing primordial germ cells as well as understanding the transcriptional regulation for maintaining germness in PGCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), malnutrition may develop as renal function declines and the abdominal organs become enlarged. We investigated the relationship of intra-abdominal mass with nutritional status.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic. Anthropometric and laboratory data including serum creatinine, albumin, and cholesterol were collected, and kidney and liver volumes were measured. Total kidney and liver volume was defined as the sum of the kidney and liver volumes and adjusted by height (htTKLV). Nutritional status was evaluated by using modified subjective global assessment (SGA).Results: In a total of 288 patients (47.9% female), the mean age was 48.3 ± 12.2 years and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 65.3 ± 25.3 mL/min/1.73 m2. Of these patients, 21 (7.3%) were mildly to moderately malnourished (SGA score of 4 and 5) and 63 (21.7%) were at risk of malnutrition (SGA score of 6). Overall, patients with or at risk of malnutrition were older, had a lower body mass index, lower hemoglobin levels, and poorer renal function compared to the well-nourished group. However, statistically significant differences in these parameters were not observed in female patients, except for eGFR. In contrast, a higher htTKLV correlated with a lower SGA score, even in subjects with an eGFR ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m2. Subjects with an htTKLV ≥2340 mL/m showed an 8.7-fold higher risk of malnutrition, after adjusting for age, hemoglobin, and eGFR.Conclusions: Nutritional risk was detected in 30% of ambulatory ADPKD patients with relatively good renal function. Intra-abdominal organomegaly was related to nutritional status independently from renal function deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using higher acceleration energies than the displacement energy of Mo atoms, the electron irradiation on the layered MoS2 single crystals is found to be an effective and simple method to induce the diamagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition persisting up to room temperature. The easy axis can be controllable by regulating the electron dose and the acceleration energy. The ferromagnetic states are largely attributed to the strain around the vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melasma is a commonly acquired hypermelanosis that affects sun-exposed areas of the skin, with frequent facial involvement. Its histologic manifestations are evident in the epidermis, extracellular matrix, and dermis. In addition to epidermal pigmentation, pathologic findings of melasma include extracellular matrix abnormality, especially solar elastosis. The disrupted basement membrane has been described in melasma with variable incidences. In the dermis, an increase in vascularity and an increase in the number of mast cells were observed, indicating that dermal factors have critical roles in the pathogenesis of melasma, despite the fact that melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation. This review discusses such histologic characteristics of melasma, with consideration to their implications for melasma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient that affects immune responses. T cells are one of the main players in acquired immunity and have been reported to be influenced by in vivo vitamin C supplementation. Yet, the way by which T cells uptake vitamin C and what direct effects vitamin C exerts on the cells are not known. To elucidate, we isolated human peripheral blood T cells and analyzed the expression of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCT). T cells were activated in vitro in the absence or presence of vitamin C, before or after activation. As results, human T cells expressed SVCT2, but not SVCT1, and the expression level increased following activation. Vitamin C added in the culture media generally did not affect T-cell behaviors following activation, such as proliferation, apoptosis, expression of CD25 and CD69, and interleukin 2 secretion, regardless whether it was added before or after activation. However, exceptionally, high concentration vitamin C, when it was added before activation, but not after activation, did exert toxic effects on cell activation with respect to the above-mentioned parameters. In conclusion, we showed the expression of SVCT2 in human T cells for the first time. Vitamin C exerted toxic effects, at least in vitro, when the concentration was high and when it was given before activation. These toxic effects are not thought to be via anti-oxidant effects of vitamin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The management of job-related stress among health-care workers is critical for the improvement of healthcare services; however, there is no existing research on endoscopy unit workers as a team. Korea has a unique health-care system for endoscopy unit workers. In this study, we aimed to estimate job stress and job satisfaction among health-care providers in endoscopy units in Korea. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of health-care providers in the endoscopy units of three university-affiliated hospitals in Korea. We analyzed the job stress levels by using the Korean occupational stress scale, contributing factors, and job satisfaction. Results: Fifty-nine workers completed the self-administered questionnaires. The job stress scores for the endoscopy unit workers (46.39±7.81) were relatively lower compared to those of the national sample of Korean workers (51.23±8.83). Job stress differed across job positions, with nurses showing significantly higher levels of stress (48.92±7.97) compared to doctors (42.59±6.37). Job stress and job satisfaction were negatively correlated with each other (R2=0.340, p<0.001). Conclusions: An endoscopy unit is composed of a heterogeneous group of health-care professionals (i.e., nurses, fellows, and professors), and job stress and job satisfaction significantly differ according to job positions. Job demand, insufficient job control, and job insecurity are the most important stressors in the endoscopy unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports have shown the immunomodulatory effect of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic skin disease, caused by immune dysregulation among other factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on AD. We established an in vivo AD model by repeated local exposure of Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE; house dust mite extract) and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to the ears of mice. After oral administration of EF-2001 for four weeks, the epidermal and dermal ear thickness, mast cell infiltration, and serum immunoglobulin levels were measured. In addition, the gene expression levels of pathogenic cytokines in the ears, lymph nodes, and splenocytes were assayed. EF-2001 attenuated AD symptoms based on the ear thickness, histopathological analysis, and serum immunoglobulin levels. Moreover, EF-2001 decreased the DFE/DNCB-induced expression of various pathogenic cytokines in the ears, lymph nodes, and splenocytes. These results suggest that EF-2001 has therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD owing to its immunomodulatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HL156A is a novel AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. We aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of HL156A against peritoneal fibrosis (PF) in in vivo and in vitro models. The rat PF model was induced by daily intraperitoneally injection of chlorhexidine (CHX) solution containing 0.1% CHX gluconate and 15% ethanol for 4 wk. The rats in the treatment group were treated with HL156A (1 mg·kg-1·day-1). Control rats were injected with vehicle alone. In vitro, cultured rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs) were treated with either high glucose (HG; 50 mM), normal glucose (NG; 5 mM), NG+HL156A, or HG+HL156A. HL156A in supplemented rats ameliorated peritoneal calcification, cocoon formation, bowel obstruction, and PF. Immunohistochemistry showed reduced fibronectin accumulation in the peritoneum of HL156A-treated rats compared with those injected with CHX alone. HL156A treatment of RPMCs inhibited HG-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, HL156A ameliorated HG-induced transforming growth factor-β1, Smad3, Snail, and fibronectin expression in the RPMCs via AMPK upregulation. These results suggest that HL156A exhibits a protective effect in PF progression. Further research is warranted to seek the therapeutic potential of HL156A as an antifibrotic agent in peritoneal dialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted genome recombination has been applied in diverse research fields and has a wide range of possible applications. In particular, the discovery of specific loci in the genome that support robust and ubiquitous expression of integrated genes and the development of genome-editing technology have facilitated rapid advances in various scientific areas. In this study, we produced transgenic (TG) chickens that can induce recombinase-mediated gene cassette exchange (RMCE), one of the site-specific recombination technologies, and confirmed RMCE in TG chicken-derived cells. As a result, we established TG chicken lines that have, Flipase (Flp) recognition target (FRT) pairs in the chicken genome, mediated by piggyBac transposition. The transgene integration patterns were diverse in each TG chicken line, and the integration diversity resulted in diverse levels of expression of exogenous genes in each tissue of the TG chickens. In addition, the replaced gene cassette was expressed successfully and maintained by RMCE in the FRT predominant loci of TG chicken-derived cells. These results indicate that targeted genome recombination technology with RMCE could be adaptable to TG chicken models and that the technology would be applicable to specific gene regulation by cis-element insertion and customized expression of functional proteins at predicted levels without epigenetic influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]