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The growing interest in Subseasonal to Seasonal (S2S) prediction data across different industries underscores its potential use in comprehending weather patterns, extreme conditions, and important sectors such as agriculture and energy management. However, concerns about its accuracy have been raised. Furthermore, enhancing the precision of rainfall predictions remains challenging in S2S forecasts. This study enhanced the sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) prediction skills for precipitation amount and occurrence over the East Asian region by employing deep learning-based post-processing techniques. We utilized a modified U-Net architecture that wraps all its convolutional layers with TimeDistributed layers as a deep learning model. For the training datasets, the precipitation prediction data of six S2S climate models and their multi-model ensemble (MME) were constructed, and the daily precipitation occurrence was obtained from the three thresholds values, 0 % of the daily precipitation for no-rain events, <33 % for light-rain, >67 % for heavy-rain. Based on the precipitation amount prediction skills of the six climate models, deep learning-based post-processing outperformed post-processing using multiple linear regression (MLR) in the lead times of weeks 2-4. The prediction accuracy of precipitation occurrence with MLR-based post-processing did not significantly improve, whereas deep learning-based post-processing enhanced the prediction accuracy in the total lead times, demonstrating superiority over MLR. We enhanced the prediction accuracy in forecasting the amount and occurrence of precipitation in individual climate models using deep learning-based post-processing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Here, we report an individual, eventually diagnosed with HMG-CoA synthase deficiency, who presented with a cyclic vomiting phenotype. HMG-CoA synthase deficiency is a rare disorder affecting ketone body synthesis in which affected individuals typically present at a young age with hypoketotic hypoglycemia, lethargy, encephalopathy, and hepatomegaly, usually triggered by catabolism (e.g., infection or prolonged fasting). This individual presented with recurrent episodes of vomiting and lethargy, often associated with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, at 3 years of age. Metabolic labs revealed nonspecific abnormalities in her urine organic acids (showing mild elevation of dicarboxylic acids with relatively low excretion of ketones) and a normal acylcarnitine profile. Given her clinical presentation, as well as a normal upper gastrointestinal series, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsies, and abdominal ultrasound, she was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome at 3 years of age. Molecular testing completed at 7 years of age revealed a previously reported pathogenic sequence variant (c.1016+1G>A) and a novel likely pathogenic deletion (1.57 kB deletion, including exon 1) within HMGCS2 consistent with HMG-CoA synthase deficiency. This individual's presentation, mimicking cyclic vomiting syndrome, widens the clinical spectrum of HMG-CoA synthase deficiency. In addition, this case highlights the importance of molecular genetic testing in such presentations, as this rare disorder lacks specific metabolic markers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed substantial burdens on the global society. To find an optimal combination of wastewater surveillance and clinical testing for tracking COVID-19, we evaluated the economic efficiency of hypothetical screening options at a single facility in Japan. To conduct cost-benefit analyses, we developed standard decision models in which we assumed model parameters from literature and primary data, such as screening policies used at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Village in 2021. We compared hypothetical 2-step screening options that used clinical PCR to diagnose COVID-19 after a positive result from primary screening using antigen tests (option 1) or wastewater surveillance (option 2). Our simulation results indicated that option 2 likely would be economically more justifiable than option 1, particularly at lower incidence levels. Our findings could help justify and promote the use of wastewater surveillance as a primary screening at a facility level for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Although decreased citrulline is used as a newborn screening (NBS) marker to identify proximal urea cycle disorders (UCDs), it is also a feature of some mitochondrial diseases, including MT-ATP6 mitochondrial disease. Here we describe biochemical and clinical features of 11 children born to eight mothers from seven separate families who were identified with low citrulline by NBS (range 3-5 μM; screening cutoff >5) and ultimately diagnosed with MT-ATP6 mitochondrial disease. Follow-up testing revealed a pattern of hypocitrullinemia together with elevated propionyl-(C3) and 3-hydroxyisovaleryl-(C5-OH) acylcarnitines, and a homoplasmic pathogenic variant in MT-ATP6 in all cases. Single and multivariate analysis of NBS data from the 11 cases using Collaborative Laboratory Integrated Reports (CLIR; https://clir.mayo.edu) demonstrated citrulline <1st percentile, C3 > 50th percentile, and C5-OH >90th percentile when compared with reference data, as well as unequivocal separation from proximal UCD cases and false-positive low citrulline cases using dual scatter plots. Five of the eight mothers were symptomatic at the time of their child(ren)'s diagnosis, and all mothers and maternal grandmothers evaluated molecularly and biochemically had a homoplasmic pathogenic variant in MT-ATP6, low citrulline, elevated C3, and/or elevated C5-OH. All molecularly confirmed individuals (n = 17) with either no symptoms (n = 12), migraines (n = 1), or a neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) phenotype (n = 3) were found to have an A or U mitochondrial haplogroup, while one child with infantile-lethal Leigh syndrome had a B haplogroup., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: A preliminary investigation of the impact of a serotonergic agent (fluoxetine) on symptom profile and neural response in youths with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) and a history of trauma exposure. Methods: There were three participant groups: (i) Youths with DBDs and trauma exposure who received fluoxetine treatment for 8 weeks ( n  = 11); (ii) A matched group of youths with DBDs and trauma exposure who received routine regular follow-up in an outpatient clinic ( n  = 10); and (iii) Typically developing youths ( n  = 18). All participants conducted an expression processing functional magnetic resonance imaging task twice, 8 weeks apart: (pretreatment and post-treatment for youths with DBDs). Results: Youths with DBDs and trauma exposure who received fluoxetine treatment compared to the other two groups showed: (i) significant improvement in externalizing, oppositional defiant disorder, irritability, anxiety-depression, and trauma-related symptoms; (ii) as a function of fearful expression intensity, significantly decreased amygdala response and increased recruitment of regions implicated in top-down attention control (insula cortex, inferior parietal lobule, and postcentral gyrus) and emotional regulation (ventromedial prefrontal cortex [vmPFC]); and (iii) correlation between DBD/irritability symptom improvement and increased activation of top-down attention control areas (inferior parietal lobule, insula cortex, and postcentral gyrus) and an emotion regulation area (vmPFC). Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that a serotonergic agent (fluoxetine) can reduce disruptive behavior and mood symptoms in youths with DBDs and trauma exposure and that this may be mediated by enhanced activation of top-down attention control and emotion regulation areas (inferior parietal lobule, insula cortex, and vmPFC).

Wuhan, China was the epicenter of the 2019 coronavirus outbreak. As a designated hospital for COVID-19, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital has received over 700 COVID-19 patients. With the COVID-19 becoming a pandemic all over the world, we aim to share our epidemiological and clinical findings with the global community. We studied 340 confirmed COVID-19 patients with clear clinical outcomes from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, including 310 discharged cases and 30 death cases. We analyzed their demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data and implemented our findings into an interactive, free access web application to evaluate COVID-19 patient's severity level. Our results show that baseline T cell subsets results differed significantly between the discharged cases and the death cases in Mann Whitney U test: Total T cells (p < 0.001), Helper T cells (p <0.001), Suppressor T cells (p <0.001), and TH/TSC (Helper/Suppressor ratio, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression model with death or discharge as the outcome resulted in the following significant predictors: age (OR 1.05, 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.10), underlying disease status (OR 3.42, 95% CI, 1.30 to 9.95), Helper T cells on the log scale (OR 0.22, 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.40), and TH/TSC on the log scale (OR 4.80, 95% CI, 2.12 to 11.86). The AUC for the logistic regression model is 0.90 (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.95), suggesting the model has a very good predictive power. Our findings suggest that while age and underlying diseases are known risk factors for poor prognosis, patients with a less damaged immune system at the time of hospitalization had higher chance of recovery. Close monitoring of the T cell subsets might provide valuable information of the patient's condition change during the treatment process. Our web visualization application can be used as a supplementary tool for the evaluation., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

STR analysis using capillary electrophoresis has been the most widely used method for forensic DNA typing. Recently, massive parallel sequencing (MPS) technique has been emerging as an innovative tool to supplement or replace the conventional CE process. In this study, we evaluated the application of commercial MiSeqFGx™ forensic signature kit (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) in the Korean population, including performance comparison with CE-based STR profiling kits. The genotyping results of 209 unrelated random Korean individuals were summarized according to the International Society for Forensic Genetics guideline. The study revealed that 26 novel sequence variations in autosomal STR were newly found that had not been previously reported in other forensic literature. This indicates that MPS may be an effective supplementary tool for forensic DNA typing and the database to increase the discriminatory power of individual identification., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: We monitored a group of students from Danwon High School who survived the Sewol ferry disaster for 27 months to examine the course of their psychological symptoms., Methods: We performed a chart review at the Danwon High School Mental Health Center at the following time points (T): 9 months (T1), 12 months (T2), and 15 months (T3) after the disaster. Additionally, we performed a follow-up review at 27 months (T4). Subjects completed the 'State' section of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression assessment, the Child Report of Post-traumatic Symptoms, and the Inventory of Complicated Grief. Data from the 32 subjects who completed all four assessments were used in the statistical analyses., Results: Scores of psychological variables tended to increase until T2 and then slowly decreased until T4. The severity of anxiety and complicated grief symptoms changed significantly over time, but the severity of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms did not., Conclusion: We found that the symptoms of anxiety and complicated grief reported by Sewol ferry survivors from Danwon High School were exacerbated at the first anniversary of the disaster, but these symptoms subsided after the students graduated from high school.

This study explored the links between two different methods of assessing children's attachment representations, a narrative task (the Manchester Attachment Story Task, MCAST) and a drawing task (the Family Drawing Task, FDT), in a clinical sample of 51 and a community sample of 45 Korean children aged 7-9. In both samples, attachment classifications derived from the MCAST were related to attachment classifications and global ratings derived from the FDT. In addition, rates of insecure attachment determined by MCAST classifications and by FDT global scales indicative of insecure attachment were higher in the clinical sample than the community sample. Variations in attachment patterns for these Korean samples are discussed in relation to Korean child-rearing customs. Results of this study contribute to the cross-cultural validation of both of these instruments, as well as extending our understanding of patterns of attachment in Korea from infancy to middle childhood.

Many of the irrigated spring wheat regions in the world are also regions with high poverty. The impacts of temperature increase on wheat yield in regions of high poverty are uncertain. A grain yield-temperature response function combined with a quantification of model uncertainty was constructed using a multimodel ensemble from two key irrigated spring wheat areas (India and Sudan) and applied to all irrigated spring wheat regions in the world. Southern Indian and southern Pakistani wheat-growing regions with large yield reductions from increasing temperatures coincided with high poverty headcounts, indicating these areas as future food security 'hot spots'. The multimodel simulations produced a linear absolute decline of yields with increasing temperature, with uncertainty varying with reference temperature at a location. As a consequence of the linear absolute yield decline, the relative yield reductions are larger in low-yielding environments (e.g., high reference temperature areas in southern India, southern Pakistan and all Sudan wheat-growing regions) and farmers in these regions will be hit hardest by increasing temperatures. However, as absolute yield declines are about the same in low- and high-yielding regions, the contributed deficit to national production caused by increasing temperatures is higher in high-yielding environments (e.g., northern India) because these environments contribute more to national wheat production. Although Sudan could potentially grow more wheat if irrigation is available, grain yields would be low due to high reference temperatures, with future increases in temperature further limiting production., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The defective fluorite-related Y 3 NbO 7 host lattice was doped with Eu 3+ ions to understand the influence of spark plasma sintering (SPS) process on this host lattice. The intrinsic disorder due to the occurrence of oxygen vacancies results in amorphous-type responses of the luminescent cations, and the spectral distribution varies as a function of the niobium content. Two spectral fingerprints of europium emissions were clearly enhanced. The correlation between luminescence, X-ray diffraction, and electron diffraction characterizations shows the existence of local inhomogeneity. Indeed, the particular nonequilibrium sintering conditions allowed pointing out a lack of miscibility within the Y 3 NbO 7 solid solution domain. Thus, the SPS pellet is a composite of two extreme compositions. This phase demixing is mainly induced by the pressure coupled with a current effect that makes possible ionic migration in this Y 3 NbO 7 ionic conductive matrix.

Objective: Prevalence of ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is lower than that of knee OA, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the difference remain unrevealed. In the present study, we developed mouse ankle OA models for use as tools to investigate pathophysiology of ankle OA and molecular characteristics of ankle cartilage., Design: We anatomically and histologically examined ankle and knee joints of C57BL/6 mice, and compared them with human samples. We examined joints of 8-week-old and 25-month-old mice. For experimental models, we developed three different ankle OA models: a medial model, a lateral model, and a bilateral model, by resection of respective structures. OA severity was evaluated 8 weeks after the surgery by safranin O staining, and cartilage degradation in the medial model was sequentially examined., Results: Anatomical and histological features of human and mouse ankle joints were comparable. Additionally, the mouse ankle joint was more resistant to cartilage degeneration with aging than the mouse knee joint. In the medial model, the tibiotalar joint was markedly affected while the subtalar joint was less degenerated. In the lateral model, the subtalar joint was mainly affected while the tibiotalar joint was less altered. In the bilateral model, both joints were markedly degenerated. In the time course of the medial model, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and Adamts5 expression were enhanced at early and middle stages, while Mmp13 expression was gradually increased during the OA development., Conclusion: Since human and mouse ankles are comparable, the present models will contribute to ankle OA pathophysiology and general cartilage research in future., (Copyright © 2015 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The side effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on growth remain a controversial concern. This study aimed to investigate the effect of MPH on clinical symptoms, growth, and physical fitness in Korean children., Methods: Fifty male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treated with methylphenidate (MPH-ADHD), 69 MPH-naïve male children with ADHD (Naïve-ADHD), and 60 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects were recruited. Intelligence quotient (IQ), clinical symptoms of ADHD, body index (height, weight, and body mass index [BMI]), and physical fitness (muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, agility, speed, and balance) were assessed., Results: Total IQ and performance IQ scores were significantly different among the three groups, as were mean Korean Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (K-ARS)-total, K-ARS-inattention, and K-ARS-hyperactivity scores. There was no significant difference in height, weight, or BMI among the three groups. There were significant differences in skill-related fitness scores for balance (healthy controls > MPH-ADHD > Naïve-ADHD) and agility shuttle test time (healthy controls < MPH-ADHD < Naïve-ADHD)., Conclusions: Our findings support the effectiveness of MPH treatment for improving IQ, attention, and balance and agility measures of skill-related fitness in Korean children with ADHD. MPH was not associated with growth delays in height, weight, and BMI., (Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of two bone substitute materials and the influence of different healing periods in guided bone regeneration therapy of osseous defects around implants., Materials and Methods: Twenty-four edentulous patients received implants in the region of the lost lower incisors. Around two standardized osseous defects were created, treated either with a 50:50 mixture of PepGen P-15® and OsteoGraf®/N-700 (test group) or with BioOss® (control group), and covered with titanium membranes. After healing periods of 2, 4, 6, or 9 months, the implants were removed together with the surrounding bone and subsequently prepared for histological evaluations., Results: Defect depths in both groups showed a clinical reduction after intervention. The histologically measured distance from the implant shoulder to the first point of bone-implant contact (BIC) after treatment did not differ between the two groups. The healing time influenced the level of the first point of BIC, with a longer healing period producing a more coronal first point of BIC. A greater percentage BIC and a higher fraction of mineralized bone were found in the pristine bone area compared with the augmented defect area., Conclusion: It can be concluded that in the treatment of osseous defects around oral implants, both materials were equally effective bone substitute materials when used in combination with guided bone regeneration., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

A technique for invisible image capture using a photosensor array based on transparent conducting oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors and transparent interconnection technologies is presented. A transparent conducting layer is employed for the sensor electrodes as well as interconnection in the array, providing about 80% transmittance at visible-light wavelengths. The phototransistor is a Hf-In-Zn-O/In-Zn-O heterostructure yielding a high quantum-efficiency in the visible range., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Technologies to harvest electrical energy from wind have vast potentials because wind is one of the cleanest and most sustainable energy sources that nature provides. Here we propose a flutter-driven triboelectric generator that uses contact electrification caused by the self-sustained oscillation of flags. We study the coupled interaction between a fluttering flexible flag and a rigid plate. In doing so, we find three distinct contact modes: single, double and chaotic. The flutter-driven triboelectric generator having small dimensions of 7.5 × 5 cm at wind speed of 15 ms(-1) exhibits high-electrical performances: an instantaneous output voltage of 200 V and a current of 60 μA with a high frequency of 158 Hz, giving an average power density of approximately 0.86 mW. The flutter-driven triboelectric generation is a promising technology to drive electric devices in the outdoor environments in a sustainable manner.

We show experimentally that poly-crystalline TiO2 spheres, 20-30 μm in diameter, exhibit a magnetic dipole Mie resonance in the terahertz (THz) frequency band (1.0-1.6 THz) with a narrow line-width (<40 GHz). We detect and investigate the magnetic dipole and electric dipole resonances in single high-permittivity TiO2 microspheres, using a near-field probe with a sub-wavelength (~λ/50) size aperture and THz time-domain spectroscopy technique. The Mie resonance signatures are observed in the electric field amplitude and phase spectra, as well as in the electric field distribution near the microspheres. The narrow line-width and the sub-wavelength size (λ/10) make the TiO2 microspheres excellent candidates for realizing low-loss THz metamaterials.

Recently, polymer gels have drawn much attention as scaffolds for regenerative medicines, soft actuators, and functional membranes. These applications need tough and robust polymer gels as represented by the double network gels. To fully understand this mechanism and develop further advanced polymer gels, we need to fully understand the molecular origin of fracture energy for conventional polymer gels, which is inhibited by the inherent heterogeneity. In this paper, we show the experimental results on the fracture of model polymer gels with controlled network structure, and discuss the mechanism of the fracture of polymer gels.

Silicon/carbon (Si/C) nanocomposites have recently received much attention as Li-ion battery negative electrodes due to their mutual synergetic effects in capacity and mechanical integrity. The contribution of Si to the total capacity of the Si/C nanocomposites determines their structural efficiency. Herein, we report on a multi-layered, one-dimensional nanostructure that exhibits the theoretical specific capacity of Si in the nanocomposite. Concentrically tri-layered, compartmentalized, C-core/Si-medium/C-shell nanofibers were fabricated by triple coaxial electrospinning. The pulverization of Si was accommodated inside the C-shell, whereas the conductive pathway of the Li-ions and electrons was provided by the C-core, which was proven by ex situ Raman spectroscopy. The compartmentalized Si in between the C-core and C-shell led to excellent specific capacity at a high current rate (>820 mA h g(-1) at 12000 mA g(-1)) and the realization of the theoretical specific capacity of the Li15Si4 phase of Si nanoparticles (3627 mA h g(-1)). The electrochemical characterization and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry provided direct evidence of full participation of Si in the electrochemical reactions.

A stretchable resistive pressure sensor is achieved by coating a compressible substrate with a highly stretchable electrode. The substrate contains an array of microscale pyramidal features, and the electrode comprises a polymer composite. When the pressure-induced geometrical change experienced by the electrode is maximized at 40% elongation, a sensitivity of 10.3 kPa(-1) is achieved., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We report the effects of various substrates and substrate thicknesses on electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-nanofiber-based energy harvesters. The electrospun PVDF nanofibers showed an average diameter of 84.6 ± 23.5 nm. A high relative β-phase fraction (85.2%) was achieved by applying high voltage during electrospinning. The prepared PVDF nanofibers thus generated considerable piezoelectric potential in accordance with the sound-driven mechanical vibrations of the substrates. Slide glass, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate), and paper substrates were used to investigate the effects of the intrinsic and extrinsic substrate properties on the piezoelectricity of the energy harvesters. The thinnest paper substrate (66 μm) with a moderate Young's modulus showed the highest voltage output (0.4885 V). We used high-performance 76, 66, and 33 μm thick papers to determine the effect of paper thickness on the output voltage. The thinnest paper substrate resulted in the highest voltage output (0.7781 V), and the numerical analyses of the sound-driven mechanical deformation strongly support the hypothesis that substrate thickness has a considerable effect on piezoelectric performance.

A gate-modulated nanowire oxide photosensor is fabricated by electron-beam lithography and conventional dry etch processing.. The device characteristics are good, including endurance of up to 10(6) test cycles, and gate-pulse excitation is used to remove persistent photoconductivity. The viability of nanowire oxide phototransistors for high speed and high resolution applications is demonstrated, thus potentially expanding the scope of exploitation of touch-free interactive displays., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We retrospectively studied the radiological and clinical results of a simple hemiresection arthroplasty, a modification of previous oblique distal ulnar resections, in 62 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (68 wrists) over a mean follow-up of 103 (range 60-173) months. Fourteen wrists (20%) became fused at the radiocarpal joint and 28 wrists fused (41%) at the midcarpal joints during follow-up. Severe ulnar translocation of the carpus was observed in two wrists (3%), radio-ulnar convergence in five wrists (7%), as well as a significant decrease of carpal height ratio, without any radiological findings of stylocarpal impingement. Improvements in forearm pronation and supination, and reduction in pain were maintained at the last follow-up. Grip strength was not significantly improved. The Jebsen-Taylor hand function test showed improvements in writing, card turning, and simulated feeding. Fifty-two patients (58 wrists, 85%) were satisfied with the results at the last follow-up. Simple hemiresection arthroplasty showed good long-term results with few complications.

We propose a hogel overlapping method for the holographic printer to enhance the lateral resolution of holographic stereograms. The hogel size is directly related to the lateral resolution of the holographic stereogram. Our analysis by computer simulation shows that there is a limit to decreasing the hogel size while printing holographic stereograms. Instead of reducing the size of hogel, the lateral resolution of holographic stereograms can be enhanced by printing overlapped hogels, which makes it possible to take advantage of multiplexing property of the volume hologram. We built a holographic printer, and recorded two holographic stereograms using the conventional and proposed overlapping methods. The images and movies of the holographic stereograms experimentally captured were compared between the conventional and proposed methods. The experimental results confirm that the proposed hogel overlapping method improves the lateral resolution of holographic stereograms compared to the conventional holographic printing method.

Given the shortage of studies on parental perceived benefits of OROS-methylphenidate treatment in Asian populations, we assessed parental response to OROS-methylphenidate treatment of Korean children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in relation to children's academic performance and behavioral symptoms as well as parental rearing stress and depressive symptoms.We enrolled 132 medication-naïve children with ADHD into a multicenter, open-label, 12-week trial of OROS-MPH. The outcome measures were the ADHD rating scale-IV (ADHD-RS), the comprehensive attention test and academic performance rating scale, and the clinical global impression (CGI)-severity/improvement instrument (for the children) and Beck depression inventory and parenting stress index (for their parents).We found parent-perceived improvements in children's ADHD-related behavioral symptoms and academic function and their parents' depressive symptoms and parenting stress. Investigator-rated ADHD symptoms and subjects' neuropsychological function were also improved (p<0.001).Parents of Korean children with ADHD perceive that OROS-methylphenidate treatment improves their children's academic function and behavior as well as their own child-rearing stress and emotional state. These findings must be interpreted with caution, due to a non-comparative open-label trial., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Stackable select devices such as the oxide p-n junction diode and the Schottky diode (one-way switch) have been proposed for non-volatile unipolar resistive switching devices; however, bidirectional select devices (or two-way switch) need to be developed for bipolar resistive switching devices. Here we report on a fully stackable switching device that solves several problems including current density, temperature stability, cycling endurance and cycle distribution. We demonstrate that the threshold switching device based on As-Ge-Te-Si material significantly improves cycling endurance performance by reactive nitrogen deposition and nitrogen plasma hardening. Formation of the thin Si₃N₄ glass layer by the plasma treatment retards tellurium diffusion during cycling. Scalability of threshold switching devices is measured down to 30 nm scale with extremely fast switching speed of ~2 ns.

Electrically induced resistive switching in metal insulator-metal structures is a subject of increasing scientific interest because it is one of the alternatives that satisfies current requirements for universal non-volatile memories. However, the origin of the switching mechanism is still controversial. Here we report the fabrication of a resistive switching device inside a transmission electron microscope, made from a Pt/SiO₂/a-Ta₂O5-x/a-TaO2-x/Pt structure, which clearly shows reversible bipolar resistive switching behaviour. The current-voltage measurements simultaneously confirm each of the resistance states (set, reset and breakdown). In situ scanning transmission electron microscope experiments verify, at the atomic scale, that the switching effects occur by the formation and annihilation of conducting channels between a top Pt electrode and a TaO2-x base layer, which consist of nanoscale TaO1-x filaments. Information on the structure and dimensions of conductive channels observed in situ offers great potential for designing resistive switching devices with the high endurance and large scalability.

Identifying species of insects used to estimate postmortem interval (PMI) is a major subject in forensic entomology. Because forensic insect specimens are morphologically uniform and are obtained at various developmental stages, DNA markers are greatly needed. To develop new autosomal DNA markers to identify species, partial genomic sequences of the bicoid (bcd) genes, containing the homeobox and its flanking sequences, from 12 blowfly species (Aldrichina grahami, Calliphora vicina, Calliphora lata, Triceratopyga calliphoroides, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya pinguis, Phormia regina, Lucilia ampullacea, Lucilia caesar, Lucilia illustris, Hemipyrellia ligurriens and Lucilia sericata; Calliphoridae: Diptera) were determined and analyzed. This study first sequenced the ten blowfly species other than C. vicina and L. sericata. Based on the bcd sequences of these 12 blowfly species, a phylogenetic tree was constructed that discriminates the subfamilies of Calliphoridae (Luciliinae, Chrysomyinae, and Calliphorinae) and most blowfly species. Even partial genomic sequences of about 500 bp can distinguish most blowfly species. The short intron 2 and coding sequences downstream of the bcd homeobox in exon 3 could be utilized to develop DNA markers for forensic applications. These gene sequences are important in the evolution of insect developmental biology and are potentially useful for identifying insect species in forensic science.

Tantalum-oxide-based bi-layered resistance-change memories (RRAMs) have recently improved greatly with regard to their memory performances. The formation and rupture of conductive filaments is generally known to be the mechanism that underlies resistive switching. The nature of the filament has been studied intensively and several phenomenological models have consistently predicted the resistance-change behavior. However, a physics-based model that describes a complete bi-layered RRAM structure has not yet been demonstrated. Here, a complete electro-thermal resistive switching model based on the finite element method is proposed. The migration of oxygen vacancies is simulated by the local temperature and electric field derived from carrier continuity and heat equations fully coupled in a 3-D geometry, which considers a complete bi-layered structure that includes the top and bottom electrodes. The proposed model accurately accounts for the set/reset characteristics, which provides an in-depth understanding of the nature of resistive switching.

Quantitative RNA analyses of autopsy materials to diagnose the cause and mechanism of death are challenging tasks in the field of forensic molecular pathology. Alterations in mRNA profiles can be induced by cellular stress responses during supravital reactions as well as by lethal insults at the time of death. Here, we demonstrate that several gene transcripts encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs), a gene family primarily responsible for cellular stress responses, can be differentially expressed in the occipital region of postmortem human cerebral cortices with regard to the cause of death. HSPA2 mRNA levels were higher in subjects who died due to mechanical asphyxiation (ASP), compared with those who died by traumatic injury (TI). By contrast, HSPA7 and A13 gene transcripts were much higher in the TI group than in the ASP and sudden cardiac death (SCD) groups. More importantly, relative abundances between such HSP mRNA species exhibit a stronger correlation to, and thus provide more discriminative information on, the death process than does routine normalization to a housekeeping gene. Therefore, the present study proposes alterations in HSP mRNA composition in the occipital lobe as potential forensic biological markers, which may implicate the cause and process of death.

We report a physical model for multilevel switching in oxide-based bipolar resistive memory (ReRAM). To confirm the validity of the model, we conduct experiments with tantalum-oxide-based ReRAM of which multi-resistance levels are obtained by reset voltage modifications. It is also noticeable that, in addition to multilevel switching capability, the ReRAM exhibits extremely different switching timescales, i.e. of the order of 10(-7) s to 10(0) s, with regard to reset voltages of only a few volts difference which can be well explained by our model. It is demonstrated that with this simple model, multilevel switching behavior in oxide bipolar ReRAM can be described not only qualitatively but also quantitatively.

Magnetic damping of the spin, the decay rate from the initial spin state to the final state, can be controlled by the spin transfer torque. Such an active control of damping has given birth to novel phenomena like the current-driven magnetization reversal and the steady spin precession. The spintronic devices based on such phenomena generally consist of two separate spin layers, i.e., free and pinned layers. Here we report that the dipolar coupling between the two layers, which has been considered to give only marginal effects on the current driven spin dynamics, actually has a serious impact on it. The damping of the coupled spin system was greatly enhanced at a specific field, which could not be understood if the spin dynamics in each layer was considered separately. Our results give a way to control the magnetic damping of the dipolar coupled spin system through the external magnetic field.

Present charge-based silicon memories are unlikely to reach terabit densities because of scaling limits. As the feature size of memory shrinks to just tens of nanometers, there is insufficient volume available to store charge. Also, process temperatures higher than 800 °C make silicon incompatible with three-dimensional (3D) stacking structures. Here we present a device unit consisting of all NiO storage and switch elements for multilevel terabit nonvolatile random access memory using resistance switching. It is demonstrated that NiO films are scalable to around 30 nm and compatible with multilevel cell technology. The device unit can be a building block for 3D stacking structure because of its simple structure and constituent, high performance, and process temperature lower than 300 °C. Memory resistance switching of NiO storage element is accompanied by an increase in density of grain boundary while threshold resistance switching of NiO switch element is controlled by current flowing through NiO film.

Artificial bones are useful for tissue augmentation in patients with facial deformities or defects. Custom-made artificial bones, produced by mirroring the bone structure on the healthy side using computer-aided design, have been used. This method is simple, but has limited ability to recreate detailed structures. The authors have invented a new method for designing artificial bones, better customized for the needs of individual patients. Based on CT data, three-dimensional (3D) simulation models were prepared using an inkjet printer using plaster. The operators applied a special radiopaque paraffin wax to the models to create target structures. The wax contained a contrast medium to render it radiopaque. The concentration was adjusted to achieve easy manipulation and consistently good-quality images. After the radiopaque wax was applied, the 3D simulation models were reexamined by CT, and data on the target structures were obtained. Artificial bones were fabricated by the inkjet printer based on these data. Although this new technique for designing artificial bones is slightly more complex than the conventional methods, and the status of soft tissue should also be considered for an optimal aesthetic outcome, the results suggest that this method better meets the requirements of individual patients., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Numerous candidates attempting to replace Si-based flash memory have failed for a variety of reasons over the years. Oxide-based resistance memory and the related memristor have succeeded in surpassing the specifications for a number of device requirements. However, a material or device structure that satisfies high-density, switching-speed, endurance, retention and most importantly power-consumption criteria has yet to be announced. In this work we demonstrate a TaO(x)-based asymmetric passive switching device with which we were able to localize resistance switching and satisfy all aforementioned requirements. In particular, the reduction of switching current drastically reduces power consumption and results in extreme cycling endurances of over 10(12). Along with the 10 ns switching times, this allows for possible applications to the working-memory space as well. Furthermore, by combining two such devices each with an intrinsic Schottky barrier we eliminate any need for a discrete transistor or diode in solving issues of stray leakage current paths in high-density crossbar arrays.

Using first-principles calculations of graphene having high-symmetry distortion or defects, we investigate band gap opening by chiral symmetry breaking, or intervalley mixing, in graphene and show an intuitive picture of understanding the gap opening in terms of local bonding and antibonding hybridizations. We identify that the gap opening by chiral symmetry breaking in honeycomb lattices is an ideal two-dimensional (2D) extension of the Peierls metal-insulator transition in 1D linear lattices. We show that the spontaneous Kekule distortion, a 2D version of the Peierls distortion, takes place in biaxially strained graphene, leading to structural failure. We also show that the gap opening in graphene antidots and armchair nanoribbons, which has been usually attributed to quantum confinement effects, can be understood with the chiral symmetry breaking.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate the surface morphology and electronic structure of graphene synthesized on Cu by low temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Periodic line patterns originating from the arrangements of carbon atoms on the Cu surface passivate the interaction between metal substrate and graphene, resulting in flawless inherent graphene band structure in pristine graphene/Cu. The effective elimination of metal surface states by the passivation is expected to contribute to the growth of monolayer graphene on Cu, which yields highly enhanced uniformity on the wafer scale, making progress toward the commercial application of graphene.

Cherry blossoms, an icon of spring, are celebrated in many cultures of the temperate region. For its sensitivity to winter and early spring temperatures, the timing of cherry blossoms is an ideal indicator of the impacts of climate change on tree phenology. Here, we applied a process-based phenology model for temperate deciduous trees to predict peak bloom dates (PBD) of flowering cherry trees (Prunus×yedoensis 'Yoshino' and Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan') in the Tidal Basin, Washington, DC and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic States in response to climate change. We parameterized the model with observed PBD data from 1991 to 2010. The calibrated model was tested against independent datasets of the past PBD data from 1951 to 1970 in the Tidal Basin and more recent PBD data from other locations (e.g., Seattle, WA). The model performance against these independent data was satisfactory (Yoshino: r(2) = 0.57, RMSE = 6.6 days, bias = 0.9 days and Kwanzan: r(2) = 0.76, RMSE = 5.5 days, bias = -2.0 days). We then applied the model to forecast future PBD for the region using downscaled climate projections based on IPCC's A1B and A2 emissions scenarios. Our results indicate that PBD at the Tidal Basin are likely to be accelerated by an average of five days by 2050 s and 10 days by 2080 s for these cultivars under a mid-range (A1B) emissions scenario projected by ECHAM5 general circulation model. The acceleration is likely to be much greater (13 days for 2050 s and 29 days for 2080s) under a higher (A2) emissions scenario projected by CGCM2 general circulation model. Our results demonstrate the potential impacts of climate change on the timing of cherry blossoms and illustrate the utility of a simple process-based phenology model for developing adaptation strategies to climate change in horticulture, conservation planning, restoration and other related disciplines.

This study assessed the clinical efficacy and acceptability of trehalose solution for oral dryness caused by dental treatment. The efficacy of trehalose on oral dryness under drying conditions was assessed by measuring the surface area of the fungiform papillae and the moisture content of the tongue in seven healthy volunteers. Based on the data from this pilot study, a clinical study was performed, in which the efficacy of oral trehalose spray was evaluated on oral dryness in 10 patients undergoing root canal treatment. The effects of trehalose on cell viability were also assessed under drying conditions in vitro. Trehalose suppressed oral dryness and associated pain caused by dental treatment and protected cells from dryness-related damage. These results indicate that pretreatment application of trehalose solution on the oral mucosa is effective in preventing oral dryness caused by dental treatment., (Copyright © 2010 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We investigate peculiar dopant deactivation behaviors of Si nanostrucures with first principle calculations and reveal that surface dangling bonds (SDBs) on Si nanostructures could be fundamental obstacles in nanoscale doping. In contrast to bulk Si, as the size of Si becomes smaller, SDBs on Si nanostructures prefer to be charged and asymmetrically deactivate n- and p-type doping. The asymmetric dopant deactivation in Si nanostructures is ascribed to the preference for negatively charged SDBs as a result of a larger quantum confinement effect on the conduction band. On the basis of our results, we show that the control of the growth direction of silicon nanowire as well as surface passivation is very important in preventing dopant deactivation.

We evaluated the clinical outcome of tendon reconstruction using tendon graft or tendon transfer and the parameters related to clinical outcome in 51 wrists of 46 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with finger extensor tendon ruptures. At a mean follow-up of 5.6 years, the mean metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint extension lag was 8 degrees (range, 0-45) and the mean visual analogue satisfaction scale was 74 (range, 10-100). Clinical outcome did not differ significantly between tendon grafting and tendon transfer. The MP joint extension lag correlated with the patient's satisfaction score, but the pulp-to-palm distance did not correlate with patient satisfaction. We conclude that both tendon grafting and tendon transfer are reliable reconstruction methods for ruptured finger extensor tendons in rheumatoid hands.