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Background/Objectives:Decades of research have investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) and depression. Although it has been suggested that obesity lowers the risk of depression in elderly adults, the association of overweight and obesity with depression across age groups remains controversial. Thus, we aimed to investigate how the odds of depression vary between BMI groups in the general population.Subjects/Methods:In this study, data were collected from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2014 (KNHANES VI; n=7550), and 4932 adults were included in the study sample. We investigated the adjusted association between depression, which was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and BMI groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese class I, obese classes II and III).Results:In all adults, after adjusting for sex, age, income and presence of chronic illnesses, overweight had lower odds of depression than normal weight (OR, 0.811; 95% CI, 0.661–0.995), whereas underweight had higher odds of depression than normal-weight subjects (OR, 1.776; 95% CI, 1.241–2.540). Overweight elderly adults had lower odds of depression than normal-weight elderly adults (OR, 0.522, 95% CI, 0.367–0.743), and obese class I elderly adults also had lower odds of depression than normal-weight elderly adults in both men (OR, 0.482, 95% CI, 0.251–0.924) and women (OR, 0.637, 95% CI, 0.418–0.970). Furthermore, in the normal-weight-to-obese class I elderly adults group, we found that an increase of 1?kg?m-2BMI was significantly associated with a decreased prevalence of depression in both men (OR, 0.898, 95% CI, 0.808–0.997) and women (OR, 0.911, 95% CI, 0.844–0.982).Conclusions:We found that overweight and mild obesity significantly lowered the risk of depression in elderly adults. These findings suggest that mild increases in BMI beyond the normal range may be a protective factor for depression in elderly Korean adults.

Aims. Predicted and observed signatures of magnetic reconnection in the solar chromosphere are discussed.

Anomalous changes in the ionospheric conditions related to the Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008 are investigated using electron density (Ne) from Detection of Electro‐Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions (DEMETER) and CHAMP satellites, electric field from DEMETER, and GPS‐total electron content (TEC) maps. The normalized Nefrom the DEMETER satellite reveal that the previously reported TEC increments before the earthquake can be considered as fragments of the gradual equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) enhancements near the epicenter longitude that began approximately 1 month before the earthquake and reached its maximum with an exceptionally large strength index 8 days prior to the main shock. This feature is indirectly confirmed through the CHAMP Neand GPS TEC data. Following the EIA intensity peak, disturbances in the Neand O+density were observed in the nightside. Based on the concurrent electric field and Nechanges, it is suggested that EIA intensification could be triggered by the Efield disturbances over the epicenter. Ionospheric disturbances before the Wenchuan earthquake are analyzedThe TEC increase is revealed as the gradual EIA enhancementsThe nighttime data provide clues about geometry of seismo‐ionospheric coupling

Here we report multisatellite observations of ionospheric disturbances in relation to the occurrence of the M8.7 northern Sumatra earthquake of 28 March 2005. The DEMETER (Detection of Electro‐Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) and CHAMP (Challenging Minisatellite Payload) satellite data were investigated to find possible precursory and postevent phenomena. It was found that EIA (equatorial ionization anomaly) strength expressed in the apex height, derived from the CHAMP plasma density profile, was intensified along the orbits whose longitudes were close to the epicenter within about a week before and after occurrence of the earthquake. Increases in electron and O+density along the orbits close to the epicenter were also observed in the DEMETER measurements. The normalized equatorial plasma density derived from the DEMETER measurements showed intensification about a week before and after the earthquake reaching maximum the day after the shock and afterward disappearing. In addition, similar behavior of the EIA enhancements related to the M8.0 Pisco earthquake of 15 August 2007 was observed. Surveys of space weather and geomagnetic activities excluded the possibility that these fluctuations were caused by changes in space weather or by a geomagnetic storm. Statistical analyses of the longitudinal variation revealed that the EIA was enhanced in the west of the epicenter and reduced in the east of the epicenter, and this fits the “increased conductivity” model. Based on these observations, we proposed a revised view of seismo‐ionospheric coupling in the region of the geomagnetic equator, to explain the EIA features observed in this study. We report ionospheric disturbance in relation to the northern Sumatra earthquakeIntensified EIA related to the large earthquake observed by DEMETER and CHAMPWe proposed a view of seismo‐ionospheric coupling in the equator region

Influenced by recent global recession, the business environment and profitability of many firms are getting worse. Therefore, rather than struggling to win power over their supply chain participants and maximize their own goals using such power, many firms need to cooperate with their supply chain members and grow together. Because most competition these days are between supply chains rather than individual companies.This paper analyzes the structural problems of the logistics market through literature review and questionnaire analysis regarding the common practices of transaction between the shippers and logistics service providers and also between large logistics companies and subcontractors. And it studies problems and successes in collaboration between and among such supply chain participants through interviews and case studies. Based on such analyses, the cooperation model between shipper and logistics service provider and between large logistics firms and subcontractors is developed and finally practical guidelines for fair trade are developed.

This paper aims to investigate the fuel surcharge models that can be applied to the trucking industry in Korea. A fuel surcharge model is considered to compensate transportation costs as oil prices change. Unlike the ocean and air transportation industry, the fuel surcharge models in trucking companies have not yet been fully generalized. This results in strikes by the transportation service suppliers when oil prices increase rapidly. Therefore, this paper suggests a couple of fuel surcharge models to be used in the trucking industry in Korea.

In this study, β-SiC powder was prepared using a pyrolysed spherical precursor derived from the hydrolysis mixture of phenyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate. Before the pyrolysed experiment, an alkoxide precursor was characterised using 29Si solid nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The alkoxide precursor was heated at 1800°C for 4 h under an Ar atmosphere. To examine the pyrolysed residue after heat treatment, the sample was collected and analysed with X-ray diffraction. The X-ray diffraction results for the sample show diffraction peaks at ∼35, 60 and 73°, which correspond to the β-SiC phase. According to the results of chemical analysis, the SiC content of the powder that was prepared at 1800°C was determined to be 99·4%. The sintering behaviour of the prepared β-SiC powder was examined using B4C and C as sintering additives in the temperature range of 1900–2200°C.

This paper is focused on an analysis of Elevating Transfer Vehicle (ETV) System installed in an existing air cargo terminal. The operation of ETV System is very similar to that of Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS), and the existence of multi-input and output (I/O) points in ETVs is assumed. The proximity value (PV) is defined for the procedure of storage assignment in ETVs with multi-I/O points. The validity and usefulness of the PV in the assignment procedure of automated storage are shown through the simulation study. For a multi-I/O point ETV, dynamic time based PVs are more efficient for the storage policy while the class-based storage policy works better for a single I/O point system. Although, this study focuses mainly on an efficient policy for an ETV system, the proposed rule for the operation of the system would work with an AS/RS as well.

This study describes the preparation of hydroxyapatite microspheres for local drugs delivery. The formation of the hydroxyapatite microspheres was initiated by enzymatic decomposition of urea and accomplished by emulsification process (water-in-oil). The microspheres obtained were sintered at 500°C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated that the microspheres have various porous with random size, which maximizes the surface area. Cytotoxicity was not observed after sintering. Osteoporosis drugs, alendronate and BMP-2, were loaded into HAp microspheres and the releases of both molecules showed sustained releasing profiles.

Abstract: Droplet dynamics and emission of a supercritical droplet in crossing gas stream are numerically investigated. Effects of ambient pressure and velocity of nitrogen gas on the dynamics of the supercritical oxygen droplet are parametrically examined. Unsteady conservative axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations. in curvilinear coordinates are preconditioned and solved by dual-time stepping method. A unified property evaluation scheme based on a fundamental equation of state and extended corresponding-state principle is established to deal with thermodynamic non-idealities and transport anomalies. At lower pressures and velocities of nitrogen cross flows, both the diffusion and the convection are important in determining the droplet dynamics. Relative flow motion causes a secondary breakup and cascading vortices, and the droplet lifetime is reduced with increasing in ambient pressure. At higher ambient pressures and velocities, however, the droplet dynamics become convection-controlled while the secondary breakup is hindered by reduced diffusivity of the oxygen. Gas-phase mixing depends on the convection and diffusion velocities in conjunction with corresponding droplet deformation and flow interaction. Supercritical droplet dynamics and emission is not similar with respect to the pressure and velocity of the ambient gas and thus provides no scale.

Enantiomerically enriched β-substituted diphenylsilyl enol ethers, which can be prepared from Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction, are utilized in the Pd-catalyzed arylation of various aryl bromides. This new method provides a simple route to α-arylated cycloalkanones with excellent levels of enantiomeric and diastereomeric purity. The isolation of the intermediate, diphenylsilyl enol ethers is not necessary; the procedure can be carried out in one-pot.

We investigated characteristics of high performance GaN-based laser diodes grown on LEO-GaN/sapphire and free-standing GaN substrates. The maximum output power was 300 mW under cw operation. The operation current and voltage were 53 mA and 4.67 V, respectively, for 30 mW-output power. Thermal simulation and junction temperature measurement of laser diodes showed that epi-down bonding was essential for the use of sapphire substrate. It was proposed that Mg diffusion into active layers was responsible for the degradation mechanism of GaN-based laser diodes. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Coke formation on KVO3−B2O3/SA5203 catalysts during naphtha pyrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor was studied. As the KVO3 loading increased, the amount of coke deposited on KVO3−B2O3/SA5203 decreased, but CO2 formation increased, indicating that KVO3 plays a key role in retarding coke accumulation but not in enhancing the product yields. The coke layers formed on the support and KVO3−B2O3/SA5203 were different in their properties. The coke layer formed on KVO3−B2O3/ SA5203 was free of soluble coke, which dissolves in the CH2Cl2 solution, and consisted of mainly insoluble coke; in contrast, the coke layer formed on the support consisted of both soluble and insoluble coke. The coke layer on KVO3−B2O3/SA5203 catalyst was porous, whereas that on SA5203 was nonporous. KVO3 on the catalyst apparently plays a key role in catalyzing the gasification of soluble coke to CO2.

A highly regio- and stereoselective carbometalation reaction of fluoroalkylated internal alkynes with organocopper reagents is described. This reaction is utilized successfully in the short, stereoselective total synthesis of the antiestrogenic drug panomifene.

In the study of SO2removal using pulsed corona discharge, there exists a serious confusion, that is, which kind of reactions, the thermal chemical reactions or the radical chemical reactions, plays a dominant role in SO2removal? In this work, through some experiments together with qualitative analyses, this confusion has been clarified. Pulsed corona discharge induces the radical reactions that mainly contribute to oxidizing SO2. High relative humidity in flue gas is a basis of the heterogeneous radical reactions. Ammonia not only is an additive but also accelerates the oxidization of SO2. Only by synergistic effects of pulsed corona discharge, relative humidity and ammonia, can it be effective to oxidize SO2via the heterogeneous radical reactions. In the SO2removal, the essence of heterogeneous reactions is the radical reactions both in gas phase and at aerosol surface, which is the reason of the oxidization of SO2. It has also been evaluated that in an optimum process the oxidization of SO2in gas phase is responsible for about 30%, and at the aerosol surface is about 50%, while the thermal chemical reactions result in about 20%, of all the removed SO2.

The catalytic pyrolysis of naphtha has been carried out with 5 mm KVO3-impregnated α-Al2O3. The yields of ethylene and propylene exhibit about 10% and 5% higher values compared to the thermal pyrolysis in a vacant tube at the same operation condition. This increase in the olefin yield comes from the thermal effect through the better heat transfer. The amount of coke accumulated on the catalyst during the pyrolysis increases with an increase in the reaction temperature and the axial length of the reactor. The role of KVO3 is to suppress the coke deposition on the catalyst surface. The addition of B2O3 to the KVO3/α-Al2O3 system causes a strong interaction between KVO3 and α-Al2O3. The results of temperature-programmed reduction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggest that KVO3 may be reduced to KVO1.5 during the pyrolysis reaction. The weight loss of K and V in the catalyst occurs during the pyrolysis.

Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP) is an autosomal dominant disorder involving the abnormal function of ion channels and it is characterized by paralysis attacks of varying severity, accompanied by a fall in blood potassium levels. Linkage analysis showed that the candidate locus responsible for hypoPP was localized to chromosome 1q31-32, and this locus encoded the muscle dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel alpha(1)-subunit (CACNA1S). So far, three different mutations in CACNA1S gene have been identified in patients with hypoPP: Arg528His, Arg1239His and Arg1239Gly in Caucasian patients. However, there are few reports about the mutations of CACNA1S gene in other races.

Sleep deprivation can affect the waking EEG that may reflect information processing of the brain. We examined the effect of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on nonlinear dynamics of the waking EEG.

The tissue polarity genes control the polarity of hairs, bristles and ommatidia in the adult epidermis of Drosophila. We report here the identification of a new tissue polarity gene named starry night (stan). Mutations in this essential gene alter the polarity of cuticular structures in all regions of the adult body. The detailed polarity phenotype of stan on the wing suggested that it is most likely a component of the frizzled (fz) pathway. Consistent with this hypothesis, stan appears to be downstream of and required for fz function. We molecularly cloned stan and found that it encodes a huge protocadherin containing nine cadherin motifs, four EGF-like motifs, two laminin G motifs, and seven transmembrane domains. This suggests that Stan functions in signal reception, perhaps together with Fz.

Theileria sp.-specific small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene amplification confirmed the presence of the organism in cattle and in Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks collected from a cattle herd in Missouri. Blood from the index animal had type A and type D Theileria SSU rRNA genes. The type D gene was also found in blood from two cohort cattle and tick tissues. The type A SSU rRNA gene was previously reported from bovine Theileria isolates from Texas and North Carolina; the type D gene was reported from a Texas cow with theileriosis.

Fire safety of plastics is commonly characterized in terms of Oxygen Index (OI), or the limit oxygen concentration in oxidizing atmosphere that supports combustion. OI is determined in normal conditions (atmospheric pressure, room temperature, etc.) according to the procedure prescribing the ambient conditions, number of samples, their dimensions. However, polymer materials and products where they are used meet the variety of ambient conditions; low and high temperatures, pressures, flow velocities, accelerations, and etc. The methods of prediction of polymer flammability and OI in the wide range of operating conditions have not been available until now. In this study, a mathematical model is worked out and the theory of limits of polymer combustion is developed to predict OI and other critical values in non-standard conditions; pressure 0.1–100 atm; initial temperature of polymer 250–550 K; gravity force acceleration 0.1–50 g; velocity of oxidizing O2/N2stream 0–50 m/sec; different thickness of polymer layers covering the cold base and their simultaneous action. The model involves two-dimensional numerical simulation of the diffusion combustion of a polymer in the presence of heat losses. The main factor to be taken into account is the decrease of flame temperature due to the cooling effect of different agents. Therefore, the extinction criterion and OI are expressed in terms of the relationship between Damköhler and Peclet numbers. Two critical conditions, observed earlier in the experiments on polymer extinction limits, are explained. The predictions of the model were tested for PMMA and were found to be in good agreement with experimental data available.

We investigate the influence of seeing upon measurement of magnetic flux of photospheric fields. For this purpose we quantify seeing variation in one day's observation at Big Bear Solar Observatory in terms of the Fried function, a Modulation Transfer Function for the atmospheric seeing. The temporal variation of seeing quality is compared with that of magnetic flux measured in a quiet region with size 5′ \times 4′ near the solar disk center. A good correlation is found between the seeing change and apparent evolution of magnetic flux values, implying, as a possibility, that magnetic flux measurement might have been modulated by seeing. Based on a simple model of ensembles of Gaussian magnetic elements we argue that even the net flux as well as the total flux can change due to seeing variation if the magnetograph has a finite detection threshold and if the intrinsic fluxes in one and the other polarities are unbalanced.

The biooxidation capacity of an extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula (DSMZ 5348) was examined under bioenergetic challenges imparted by thermal or chemical stress in regard to its potential use in microbial bioleaching processes. Within the normal growth temperature range of M. sedula (70–79°C) at pH 2.0, upward temperature shifts resulted in bioleaching rates that followed an Arrhenius-like dependence. When the cells were subjected to supraoptimal temperatures through gradual thermal acclimation at 81°C (Han et al., 1997), cell densities were reduced but 3 to 5 times faster specific leaching rates (Fe³⁺ released from iron pyrite/cell/h) could be achieved by the stressed cells compared to cells at 79°C and 73°C, respectively. The respiration capacity of M. sedula growing at 74°C was challenged by poisoning the cells with uncouplers to generate chemical stress. When the protonophore 2,4-dinitrophenol (5–10 μM) was added to a growing culture of M. sedula on iron pyrite, there was little effect on specific leaching rates compared to a culture with no protonophore at 74°C; 25 μM levels proved to be toxic to M. sedula. However, a significant stimulation in specific rate was observed when the cells were subjected to 1 μM nigericin (+135%) and 2 μM (+63%); 5 μM levels of the ionophore completely arrested cell growth. The ionophore effect was further investigated in continuous culture growing on ferrous sulfate at 74°C. When 1 μM nigericin was added as a pulse to a continuous culture, a 30% increase in specific iron oxidation rate was observed for short intervals, indicating a potential positive impact on leaching when periodic chemical stress is applied. This study suggests that biooxidation rates can be increased by strategic exposure of extreme thermoacidophiles to chemical or thermal stress, and this approach should be considered for improving process performance. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 58: 617–624, 1998.

We report new properties of solar magnetic fields in a quiet region as found from their magnetic power spectra. The power spectra of network and intranetwork fields (non-network fields) are separately calculated from a Big Bear magnetogram obtained with moderately high spatial resolution of 1.5 arc sec and a high sensitivity reaching 2 Mx cm-2. The effect of seeing on the power spectrum has been corrected using Fried's (1966) Modulation Transfer Function with the seeing parameter determined in our previous analysis of the magnetogram. As a result, it is found that the two-dimensional power spectra of network and non-network fields appear in a form: Γ( $$k_0 $$ ≲ $$k $$ ≲ $$k $$ 1) ∼ $$k $$ -1and Γ( $$k $$ ≳ $$k $$ 1) ∼ $$k $$ -3.5. Here $$k $$ 0≈ 0.47 Mm-1for network fields and $$k $$ 0≈ 0.69 Mm-1for non-network fields, the latter of which corresponds to the size of mesogranulation; $$k $$ 1≈ 3.0 Mm-1for both, which is about the size of a large granule. The network field spectrum below $$k $$ 0appears nearly flat, whereas that of non-network fields instead decreases towards lower wave numbers as Γ( $$k $$ ) ∼ $$k $$ 1.3. The turnover behavior of magnetic field spectra around $$k $$ 1coincides with that found for the velocity power spectrum, which may justify the kinetic approach taken in previous theoretical studies of the solar magnetic power spectra.

In this study, CWM is combusted and combustion phenomena are investigated in fluidized bed combustor which has 140mm I.D. and 2300mm height. The bed material is sand of mean diameter 0.405mm and fixed bed height is 200mm. CWM is injected either over-or in-bed through water-colled injector by positive displacement pump. The exhaust gas composition, the elutriation rates, and the unburned carbon contents in elutriated ash are measured. The combustion efficiencies are also investigated according to the CWM injector locations, excess air ratios, and air preheat temperatures. When CWM injector is used, the combustion of CWM is proceeded in agglomeration condition regardless of the CWM injector positions. The contents of unburned carbon and the elutriation rates are lower for the case of over-bed injection than for in-bed injection. And the combustion efficiencies according to the excess air ratios show the same tendency regardless of the positions of CWM injector, when the fluidizing velocities are low.

Fowl typhoid (FT), caused by Salmonella gallinarum (SG), is responsible for heavy economic losses through morbidity, mortality, and reduced egg production to the poultry industry worldwide. The use of alternative medications to control FT is important in light of emergence of multiple drug-resistant strains of SG and the public’s desire to have organically grown poultry. We report the efficient utilization of tissue culture medium waste after harvest of Korean wild ginseng (TCM-KWG) (Panax ginseng) as an alternative medicine in the control of FT. In a series of experiments performed in this study, we found that oral administration of TCM-KWG through drinking water significantly reduced the mortality, organ invasiveness, and fecal shedding of SG in 1-d-old chickens experimentally infected with virulent SG. The results were positively correlated with higher dose and longer duration of pretreatment with TCM-KWG in relation to reduction in mortality caused by FT. The results of this work indicate that the TCM-KWG may be used as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative medicine to control and minimize the losses due to FT in chickens.