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In structures manufactured using 3D concrete printing, cracks can easily propagate along the interface between printed layers. Therefore, it was necessary to determine the interlayer bond strength. In this study, direct shear and tensile tests were performed to determine the interlayer bond stability of the 3DCP members. To confirm the appropriateness of the mix proportion used to fabricate the specimens, the open time available for printing was identified via a mixing test, and the extrudability and buildability were verified via a printing test. In addition, direct shear and tensile tests were performed using the specimen manufacturing method (i.e., mold casting and 3D printing) and printing time gap (PTG) between the laminated layers as key test variables. The interlayer bond strengths of the specimens, according to the variables obtained from the test results, were compared and analyzed based on the interfacial shear strength standards presented in the current structural codes. In the direct shear test, failure occurred at the interlayers of all the specimens, and the interlayer bond strength tended to decrease with increasing PTG. In addition, the interlayer bond strength of the direct shear specimens exceeded the interfacial shear strength suggested by current structural codes. In contrast, in the direct tensile test, interlayer surface failure occurred only in some specimens, and there was no distinct change in the interlayer bond strength owing to PTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the variability of major glucosinolates in the leaf lamina of 134 Chinese cabbage accessions was investigated using Acquity ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A total of twenty glucosinolates were profiled, of which glucobrassicanapin and gluconapin were identified as the predominant glucosinolates within the germplasm. These two glucosinolates had mean concentration levels above 1000.00 μmol/kg DW. Based on the principal component analysis, accessions IT186728, IT120044, IT221789, IT100417, IT278620, IT221754, and IT344740 were separated from the rest in the score plot. These accessions exhibited a higher content of total glucosinolates. Based on the VIP values, 13 compounds were identified as the most influential and responsible for variation in the germplasm. Sinigrin (r = 0.73), gluconapin (r = 0.78), glucobrassicanapin (r = 0.70), epiprogoitrin (r = 0.73), progoitrin (r = 0.74), and gluconasturtiin (r = 0.67) all exhibited a strong positive correlation with total glucosinolate at p < 0.001. This indicates that each of these compounds had a significant influence on the overall glucosinolate content of the various accessions. This study contributes valuable insights into the metabolic diversity of glucosinolates in Chinese cabbage, providing potential for breeding varieties tailored to consumer preferences and nutritional demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates are sulfur-containing phytochemicals generally abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as pak choy. Glucosinolates participate in a range of biological activities essential for promoting a healthy human body. In this study, we aimed to elucidate glucosinolate variability present in pak choy germplasm that are under conservation at the Rural Development Administration Genebank, Jeonju, Republic of Korea. The Acquity Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) analytical system was used in profiling the glucosinolate content in leaf samples of various accessions. We identified a total of 17 glucosinolates in the germplasm. Based on principal compoment analysis performed, three separate groups of the accessions were obtained. Group 1 contained the cultivar cheongsacholong which recorded high content of glucobrassicin (an indole), glucoerucin (aliphatic), gluconasturtiin (aromatic) and glucoberteroin (aliphatic). Group 2 consisted of six accessions, BRA77/72, Lu ling gaogengbai, 9041, Wuyueman, RP-75 and DH-10, predominatly high in aliphatic compounds including glucoiberin, glucocheirolin, and sinigrin. Group 3 comprised the majority of the accessions which were characterized by high content of glucoraphanin, epiprogoitrin, progoitrin, and glucotropaeolin. These results revealed the presence of variability among the pak choy germplasm based on their glucosinolate content, providing an excellent opprtunity for future breeding for improved glucosinolate content in the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects >500 million people globally, and this number is expected to increase. OA management primarily focuses on symptom alleviation, using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including Celecoxib. However, such medication has serious side effects, emphasizing the need for disease-specific treatment. The meniscectomy and cranial cruciate ligament transection (CCLx)-treated beagle dog was used to investigate the efficacy of a modified-release formulation of SKI306X (SKCPT) from Clematis mandshurica, Prunella vulgaris, and Trichosanthes kirilowii in managing arthritis. SKCPT's anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been assessed via stifle circumference, gait, incapacitance, histopathology, and ELISA tests. The different SKCPT concentrations and formulations also affected the outcome. SKCPT improved the gait, histopathological, and ELISA OA assessment parameters compared to the control group. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases were significantly lower in the SKCPT-treated groups than in the control group. This study found that SKCPT reduces arthritic lesions and improves abnormal gait. The 300 mg modified-release formulation was more efficacious than others, suggesting a promising approach for managing OA symptoms and addressing disease pathogenesis. A high active ingredient level and a release pattern make this formulation effective for twice-daily arthritis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Won Kyoung Jhang [sup.1] , Young A. Kim [sup.1] , Eun Ju Ha [sup.1] , Yoon Jung Lee [sup.1] , Ju Hoon Lee [sup.1] , Young Seo Park [sup.1] [...], Background The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score is easy to calculate and has been well validated as an outcome predictor in critically ill adult patients. However, its use in children has been limited, mainly because of differences in basal reference levels of serum creatinine. Methods Data include 87 patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) between January 2005 and July 2011. We modified the SOFA score by excluding the renal component to an extrarenal SOFA score, based on the assumption that CRRT may mitigate the renal effect on outcome and investigated the utility in predicting outcome with comparison with pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) III, pediatric logistic organ dysfunction (PELOD), and SOFA scores. Results Results showed that 95.4 % (n = 83) had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome with an overall mortality of 50.6 %. The extrarenal SOFA score at CRRT initiation and [greater than or equal to]20 % fluid overload were significantly associated with mortality. In comparison with the predictive power of various scoring systems, the extrarenal SOFA score showed the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (extrarenal SOFA 0.774, SOFA 0.770, PRISM III 0.660, and PELOD 0.650). Conclusions The extrarenal SOFA score may be a useful prognostic marker in critically ill children treated with CRRT.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to have the potential to improve the motor recovery of the affected upper limbs in patients with stroke, and recently, several optimized tDCS methods have been proposed to magnify its effectiveness. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of personalized tDCS using brain MRI-based electrical field simulation and optimization, to enhance motor recovery of the upper limbs in the patients. This trial is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in the subacute to chronic rehabilitation phase. Forty-two adult stroke patients with unilateral upper limb involvement will be randomly allocated to three groups: (1) personalized tDCS with MRI-based electrical field simulation and optimized stimulation, (2) conventional tDCS with bihemispheric stimulation of the primary motor cortex, and (3) sham tDCS. All three groups will undergo 10 intervention sessions with 30 min of 2-mA intensity stimulation, during a regular upper limb rehabilitation program over two weeks. The primary outcome measure for the motor recovery of the upper limb impairment is the Fugl–Meyer assessment for the upper extremity score at the end of the intervention, and the secondary measures include changes in the motor evoked potentials, the frequency power and coherence of the electroencephalography, performance in activities of daily living, and adverse events with a 1-month follow-up assessment. The primary outcome will be analyzed on the intention-to-treat principle. There is a paucity of studies regarding the effectiveness of personalized and optimized tDCS that considers individual brain lesions and electrical field characteristics in the real world. No feasibility or pivotal studies have been performed in stroke patients using brain MRI, to determine a lesion-specific tDCS simulation and optimization that considers obstacles in the segmentation and analysis of the affected brain tissue, such as ischemic and hemorrhagic lesions. This trial will contribute to addressing the effectiveness and safety of personalized tDCS, using brain MRI-based electrical field simulation and optimization, to enhance the motor recovery of the upper limbs in patients with stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggplant is one of the most economically and nutritionally important vegetables worldwide. The study of the association of phenotypic traits with genetic factors is vital for the rapid and efficient identification and selection of eggplant genetic resources for breeding purposes with desired traits. The eggplant resources (587) collected from different countries, including Korea, were used for establishing the core collection. A total of 288 accessions were selected from 587 Solanum accessions based on 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers together with 17 morphological traits. This core collection was further used to analyze the genetic associations of eggplant morphological variations. A large variation was found among the evaluated eggplant accessions for some agro-morphological traits. Stem prickles and leaf prickles showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.83***), followed by days to flowering and days to maturity (r = 0.64***). A total of 114,981 SNPs were filtered and used for phylogenetic tree analysis, population structure analysis, and genome-wide association study (GWAS). Among the agro-morphological traits, significantly associated SNPs were found for six traits. A total of 377 significantly associated SNPs with six agro-morphological traits were identified. These six traits and the number of SNPs were: days to maturity (51), flower size (121), fruit width (20), harvest fruit color (42), leaf prickles (38), and stem prickles (105). The largest fraction of significant SNPs (11.94%) was obtained on chromosome Ch01, followed by Ch07 and Ch06 with 11.67% and 10.08%, respectively. This study will help to develop markers linked to the most important agro-morphological traits of eggplant genetic resources and support the selection of desirable traits for eggplant breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, it has been difficult to fabricate thin‐film field‐effect transistors (TFTs) based on inorganic halide perovskites (IHPs) due to their phase‐instability and uncontrollable trap density. Here, the bottom‐gate bottom‐contact structured p‐type TFTs are presented using the optimized IHP in the active layer. The stable cubic‐CsPbI3 phase is successfully synthesized by doping bismuth iodide and reduced defect densities by adding potassium bromide. The IHP TFTs based on the tailored cubic‐CsPbI3 show high hole mobility of ≈10 cm2 V−1 s−1, an on‐off current ratio of 103, and a low subthreshold swing voltage of 0.43 V dec−1. In addition, the operational stability of the fabricated device is demonstrated through the bias stress test. This study suggests that one of the key factors for fabricating an ideal p‐type IHP transistor is managing charge transport properties in the IHP layer through defect engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity between SB8, a bevacizumab biosimilar, and the European Union (EU) and United States (US) reference products (bevacizumab-EU, bevacizumab-US). Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, and single-dose study, healthy volunteers were randomized to receive a 3 mg/kg dose of SB8, bevacizumab-EU, or bevacizumab-US via intravenous infusion. Primary endpoints were area under the concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity (AUCinf) and to the last quantifiable concentration (AUClast), and maximum observed serum concentration (Cmax). Bioequivalence was achieved if 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the ratios of the geometric least squares means (LSMeans) of primary endpoints were within the predefined bioequivalence margins of 80.00–125.00%. Safety and immunogenicity were also investigated. Results: The 90% CIs for the geometric LSMean ratios of AUCinf, AUClast and Cmax were all within the prespecified bioequivalence margins. Geometric LSMean ratios for SB8/bevacizumab-EU, SB8/bevacizumab-US and bevacizumab-EU/bevacizumab-US were 88.01%, 88.48% and 100.54% for AUCinf, 88.65%, 89.08% and 100.49% for AUClast and 99.59%, 101.15% and 101.56% for Cmax, respectively. Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) across treatment groups was comparable (SB8: 50.0%, bevacizumab-EU: 37.5%, bevacizumab-US: 53.8%). Most TEAEs were mild and considered as not related to the study drug. No deaths or treatment discontinuations due to adverse events occurred. Incidence of anti-drug antibodies was also comparable between all groups and no neutralizing antibodies were detected. Conclusion: This study demonstrated pharmacokinetic bioequivalence and similar safety and immunogenicity profiles of SB8 to both reference products, bevacizumab-EU and bevacizumab-US, and of bevacizumab-EU to bevacizumab-US. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02453672 (submitted date); EudraCT number: 2015-001,026-41. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EPO analogues are representative glycoprotein drugs composed of heterogeneous, multiple antennary N‐glycans. NESP® and Aranesp® are hyperglycosylated EPO, marketed under the same international nonproprietary name as darbepoetin alfa. The multiple antennary N‐glycans are a key factor that increases the half‐life of the drug in the body, which is closely related to efficacy. Thus, control of N‐glycosylation is important in providing patients with consistent efficacy. This paper reports on the comprehensive characterization of N‐glycosylation of darbepoetin alfa products. The results of N‐glycan analysis of NESP® and Aranesp® showed difference in the ratio of N‐glycans containing N‐acetyllactosamine and O‐acetylated sialic acid. Although there were some differences, the overall N‐glycan structures and profiles were comparable. In particular, darbepoetin alfa products accounted for the largest proportion of tetra‐sialo N‐glycans, greater than 75%. This study increases understanding of N‐glycan profiles and structural information of darbepoetin alfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The M232R mutation has been exclusively reported in patients with CJD from Asia. • The clinical characteristics of M232R mutation are similar to those of sCJD. • The current case with M232R mutation showed negative DWI findings. • Clinical work-up for CJD should always be considered in patients with RPD. The familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (fCJD) usually has similar clinical and neuroimaging features as sporadic CJD (sCJD). A 57-year-old man presented with a four-month history of rapidly progressive dementia (RPD). Laboratory tests for RPD were all normal. Brain MRI demonstrated diffuse cortical atrophy and no abnormal cortical or striatal hyperintensities on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)/diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Electroencephalography revealed intermittent slow waves in the bilateral hemispheres. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed elevated cell counts and protein concentrations. After 10 days of empirical treatment with antiviral agents, the patient was eventually diagnosed with fCJD with M232R mutation based on the results of positivity for 14-3-3 protein, CSF PrPsc in real-time quaking-induced conversion assay and genetic test for PRNP gene. The striatal or cortical FLAIR/DWI hyperintensities are reliable radiographic markers in the diagnosis of both sCJD and fCJD. However, this case suggests that clinical work-up for CJD including genetic test is essential to do a differential diagnosis of RPD, regardless of FLAIR/DWI findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]